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With the dissemination of knowledge in higher education, the publish or perish principle has become the norm for academics around the world to remain competitive. The Social Sciences Citation Index (SSCI) phenomenon has thus emerged in academia and been utilized as a benchmark for research excellence and tenure considerations. While research has revealed that the publish or perish principle could have a multitude of issues in higher education, little attempts have been made to explore academics' outlook on the SSCI phenomenon in a broader geographical area, particularly in the field of English language teaching (ELT). To bridge this gap, twelve ELT academics were recruited from China, Japan, South Korea, and Taiwan with an aim to explore their perceptions, attitudes, and their perceived pros and cons of the SSCI phenomenon in their own institutions. Qualitative data were collected and analyzed through an interview protocol based on a matrix analysis via phenomenology. The findings demonstrate four conceptualizations that are formed and predicated on the SSCI phenomenon. Data also evince that although these academics were recruited from different countries, the SSCI phenomenon seems to be identical with regard to how academics are evaluated for promotion and tenure at the expense of several salient practices in ELT.

Participatory Design (PD) is a commonly used method in Western cultures with roots in Scandinavia. After the COVID-19 pandemic, many PD practitioners have transitioned to an online space, where researchers and participants from different geographical locations can co-design together. Yet, we do not fully understand how different cultures collide, mix and blend in the online co-design space. By understanding how one's culture influences the participation of a child, researchers can better structure sessions to elicit diverse input. This study examines a case study of researchers and participants from South Korea and the United States co-designing together. Close analysis of video recordings, analytic memos, and parent/child interview data demonstrates the ways in which children participated in design sessions. Facilitators paid special attention to various cultural sensitivities. Applying the theory of cultural awareness from public health literature, we offer implications on how scholars who are not fully embedded in the culture where co-design happens can understand other cultural norms and in response, create spaces in which co-design can occur successfully despite different cultural norms. Our findings show how different parts of the ecological systems from ideology, education systems, and ethnicity all influence children's participation in sessions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article considers a conflated ontological space where national projections named Koreanness are conjoined through national educational reform discourses associated with "excellence" and "equality." It focuses on the shifting educational reform narratives that made appeals to notions of crisis before and after the IMF (International Monetary Fund) occurrence of 1997 in South Korea. Using Foucault's concept of biopower and Lyotard's concept of performativity, two representative Korean language newspapers (1995-1997 and 2005-2007) are analysed. The article concludes that the appeal to a sense of crisis through references to globalization (1995-1997) and the IMF (2005-2007) was utilized to elaborate the ontological shift in Koreanness-as-race from blood-tie (biology-as-nation-race) to label-based codification (biology-as-biopolitical species). The shifting nature of Koreanness elaborated here may ultimately offer suggestions for scenarios beyond its geopolitical realm, provoking reconsideration of convenient binaries, economic reductionism, and the frequent naturalization of biological rationalities in educational research.

The advancement of computer technologies has brought a plethora of technological innovations in educational settings. It is no exception in teacher training and education programmes around the world as the growth of professionalism has made the distance doctoral programmes possible for mid-career English language teaching (ELT) practitioners. The aim of this article was to probe the perceptions and career prospects of online distance doctoral degree based on the experiences of 12 mid-career ELT tertiary instructors from China, Japan, South Korea and Taiwan. Qualitative data were collected and analysed through the interview protocol based on a matrix analysis using a phenomenology framework, which focused on human consciousness as the data interpretation. The results of this inquiry indicated that mid-career ELT instructors generally perceived the doctoral distance learning model positively pertaining to its convenience, accessibility and multiculturalism underpinning the overall experience through technology. However, the limitations of time and distance were further identified influencing their learning process adversely. It was also revealed that the career prospects of obtaining a distance doctorate in ELT might not be as promising as they previously anticipated. This article concludes with several pedagogical implications and recommendations for distance doctoral programme directors, instructors and potential candidates aspiring to pursue an online degree in the future.

Interprofessional education (IPE) for patient safety is becoming increasingly important worldwide. However, Korea lacks a systematic approach toward patient safety, despite the high demand for teamwork and patient communication education. This study aims to determine the effectiveness of a patient safety IPE program using medical error scenarios. The program was developed to enhance patient safety motivation and interprofessional learning attitudes among medical and nursing students, and evaluate the design of the program and students' satisfaction levels. The program comprises two modules, each consisting of lectures, team-based case analysis, role-play, and high-fidelity simulation activities. This study followed a quasi-experimental pre-post test design to determine program outcomes. An online survey for the Readiness for Interprofessional Learning Scale (RIPLS), patient safety motivation, program design evaluation, and program satisfaction was conducted before and after the program. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, paired sample t-tests, and Pearson's correlation. The pre-post RIPLS and patient safety results were significant (t = −5.21, p <.001;t = −3.20, p =.002). The results of the medical scenario examination of the patient safety IPE program showed improved motivation for patient safety among students, and contributed to the improvement of IPE learning attitudes by improving team work and collaboration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The KASD was established on July 4th, 2003, with professor Dae-Gyun Choi as the head of the association, and with the participation of 104 clinicians who are interested in this subject. Currently (July, 2008) there are about 240 active members. The objectives of the KASD are to prevent sports injuries occurring during institutional or social physical exercise and to enhance the performance of professional athletes. KASD is still in its infancy with the need to improve academically, financially and in human resources. To overcome these challenges, we are anticipating the improvement of academic skills and knowledge of sports dentistry by inviting internationally renowned speakers to regular conferences, and increase financial revenue by holding hands-on mouthguard fabrication courses. At the same time, we are expecting to recruit more members to join this association through continuing education and promotion of sports dentistry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The aim of this study was to examine the correlation between the number of remaining natural teeth (NRT) and the appendicular skeletal muscle mass index (SMI) in older adults. Methods: This study was based on data from the 2008-2010 Korea National Health and Nutritional Examination Surveys. The participants were 2,378 older participants (984 men and 1,394 women) aged over 65 years. Survey dentists conducted oral health examinations, and ASM was measured using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. Results: The participants with NRT≥20 had more ASM and SMI than those with NRT<20 in both sexes. SMI was correlated with NRT in men (r=0.018, p<0.001) and in women (r=- 0.007, p<0.001). The positive correlation between the NRT and SMI remained significant in men even after adjusting for age, marital status, income, smoking, drinking, physical activity, protein intake, energy intake, calcium intake, body mass index, fasting blood glucose level, medications, and prostheses (β=0.011, p=0.001). In women, the correlation disappeared after adjustment for smoking, alcohol, physical activity, protein intake, energy intake, calcium intake, marital status, income, fasting basal glucose, medication administration, and prostheses. Conclusion: This study showed a correlation between NRT and SMI in those ≥65 years of age in Korea. The relationship persisted in men, but not in women, even after adjusting for confounders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: In Korea, there are two types of medical doctors: one practises conventional medicine (hereafter called a physician), and the other practises traditional medicine (hereafter called a Korean medical doctor). This study aimed to compare the provision of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) by these providers to CAM use per self-judgement in Korea. Methods: We analysed 1668 Korean people via an internet survey with the Korean adopted version of the I-CAM-Q, namely, the International Questionnaire to measure use of CAM, to understand whether respondents used CAM based either on a prescription or advice from a physician or a Korean medical doctor or on self-judgement. Results: In the previous 12 months, the proportions of respondents who were treated by a physician, who were treated by a Korean medical doctor and who were not treated by anyone were 67.9, 20.7 and 14.2%, respectively. Among the respondents who received CAM based on a prescription or advice from a physician, traditional Korean medicine practices and dietary supplements were commonly used; only a small percentage used other CAM therapies. Respondents who received CAM based on a prescription or advice from a Korean medical doctor showed similar results. Acupuncture and moxibustion, traditional Korean medicines (decoction), or cupping were more commonly used. Korean traditional medicines as over-the-counter (OTC) drugs were more commonly used by respondents who received CAM therapy based on a prescription or advice from a physician than by those who received CAM therapy based on a prescription or advice from a Korean medical doctor. A total of 74% of the responders used any CAM by self-judgement in the previous 12 months. Conclusions: For the use of CAM in Korea, in addition to the Korean traditional medical care provided by Korean medical doctors, general physicians advised people regarding Korean traditional medical care and dietary supplements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

- The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of stabilization splints and mouthguards on the athletic ability of professional golfers. For this study, eight professional golfers with a mean age of 20.5 were selected. These participants performed four trials of 10 driver swings and 10 putts with or without a stabilization splint (control group) or mouthguard. For the 4th trial, the splints were adjusted using a simple blind test so that the participants were unaware of the unilateral molar contact. The drive distance, club head speed, initial ball speed, and putting accuracy were compared and analyzed before and after the application of equal bilateral molar occlusion. When the bilateral molar occlusion was applied using a mouthguard or stabilization splint, the club head speed and driving distance in the presence of the oral appliances were significantly increased compared with those without the presence of either appliance ( P < 0.05). Alternatively, the initial ball speed and putting accuracy in the presence of these appliances were increased compared with those without the presence of an appliance; however, this effect was not statistically significant. When the mouthguards or stabilization splints were adjusted to result in unilateral molar occlusion, the club head speed and driving distance in the presence of the appliances were significantly decreased compared with those that were obtained without these appliances ( P < 0.05). The initial ball speed and the putting accuracy were not affected by the use of the appliances. No difference was observed in the effectiveness of the stabilization splint and mouthguard when bilateral molar occlusion was performed. The occlusion stability that results from stabilization splints and mouthguards is thought to increase the club head speed and driving distance in professional golf players. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]