• Journal of Korean Society of Rural Planning
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.33-42
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• 2018

The aim of our study was to provide a basic data for the development of a small greenhouse model suitable for urban farmers. The study analyzed installation inclination, positive and negative reasons for installation, location of installation, preferred crops in small greenhouses, plans for use of products, and expected effects by using small greenhouse. Positive opinion on small greenhouse installation was 80.4% of the survey respondents. The most positive reason for the installation of small greenhouses was fresh and safe food supply, and the negative reason was maintenance difficulties. The results obtained in our survey indicated that small greenhouses were more likely to be installed near the house, and urban farmers tended to grow organic leafy vegetables in soil. The expected benefits of small greenhouse operation were largely divided into 'benefit for the improvement of the quality of life' and 'benefit for economic profits', and expectation for the improvement of the quality of life was higher than economic benefit. As a result of the Likert 5-point scale analysis, 'benefit for the improvement of the quality of life' by using a small greenhouse was graded as high as 4.17~4.60. On the other hand, the 'benefit to economic profits' was rated as low as 3.51~4.14.

• Korean Journal of Biological Psychiatry
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.116-120
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• 1997

This study investigated the antidepressant efficacy and it's impact on the quality of life of depressed patients. We performed Hamilton Depression Rating Scale(HDRS), and Montgomery-Asberg Depression Rating Scale(MADRS), and Health-related Quality of Life Questionnaire(HQLQ) to both tricyclic antidepressant(TCA) and sertraline groups. There were 16 subjects in this study. The tricyclic group had 9 subjects and the sertraline group had 7. The TCA and sertraline produced a similar degree of response. Both groups experienced a reduction of 70% or more in mean HDRS and MADRS total score after 6wks. In HQLQ, the TCAs group also showed improved bed disability days, alertness behavior, and social interaction, the sertraline group showed improved health perception, alertness behavior, home management, and social interaction. We suggested that the improvement of "Quality of life" were not in proportion to the clinical symptom's improvement. Therefore, clinicians should consider the benefit of antidepressant treatment in terms of quality of life.

• Journal of Wetlands Research
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.39-48
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• 2020

The main function of artificial wetlands and the largest proportion of the purpose of artificial wetlands created is water purification. The public's interest and demand for water quality increased after the Four major rivers project, and the need for water quality improvement is expected to increase further as the use of waterfront increased due to the improvement of quality of life. Most of the projects focus on only one purpose, and research on the effects of one function is also being analyzed, which undervalues the actual creation of artificial wetlands. Therefore, in order to calculate the comprehensive benefits of artificial wetlands, the effects of flood reduction and water quality improvement were analyzed in this study among the various effects of artificial wetlands along riversides, and the benefits were calculated accordingly. In other words, the effects of flood mitigation and water quality improvement were calculated by comparing the artificial wetlands before and after the construction of artificial wetlands, and the benefits of each of them were calculated.

• Journal of Korea Water Resources Association
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• v.40 no.7
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• pp.503-510
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• 2007

In the area of such a nature-friendly stream improvement, it is not established yet which engineering method is suitable for stream environment, due to lack of technology. Therefore, although nature-friendly stream improvement was done with expensive engineering method, the effect has not been fully confirmed, which results from the absence of overall valuation tool of stream improvement. In this regard, it is necessary to develop and apply comprehensive and diverse valuation methods covering stream functions to the analysis of stream improvement. In this study, we collected data from years' of monitoring on the Gyeongcheon river, which is located in Sunchang-eup, Jeollabuk-do and recently underwent an nature-friendly stream improvement work. Based on the data, we developed a series of valuation methods such as stream naturalness evaluation, life cycle evaluation, amenity evaluation, and economic benefit analysis to consider the environmental function of stream from a comprehensive perspective. Stream naturalness evaluation is a quantitative analysis of how natural a stream is, and includes additional valuation items such as ecosystem and water quality for the purpose of overall valuation, unlike existing research focusing on physical elements and structural characteristics of a stream. We developed a method of stream valuation with life cycle assessment to river reorganization project. Amenity evaluation method was developed as a means to analyze residents' satisfaction with stream improvement through questionnaires. Economic benefit analysis was developed as a means to determine the attributes of environmental water supply, ecosystem, river maintenance, and water quality and predict economic benefits using contingent valuation method (CVM) and multi-attribute utility analysis (MAUA) method in order to analyze economic benefits brought in by stream improvement. It is considered that the four methods developed in this study make possible to conduct an overall and quantitative analysis of stream improvement.

• Environmental and Resource Economics Review
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.101-134
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• 2005

Economic feasibility analysis for the public projects such as sewer improvement project differs from the one for the project by profit organization in that the former has to take into consideration the public benefit that cannot be priced in the market. This study presents a model case study for the economic feasibility analysis for the sewer improvement project by the City of Gumi, Korea. The project is planned for the period of 2003~2021. It utilized Contingent Valuation Method(CVM) to assess the public benefits such as improvement of environmental quality and quality of life that can not be priced in the market. WTP(Willing-to-pay) of a household of the Gumi was estimated at 2,865 Korean Won on average. The result of an economic feasibility test including the estimated WTP indicates that B/C ratio of the project turned out to be 0.97, slightly less than 1. This study is the first application of WTP estimated by CVM to the economic feasibility analysis of public project in Korea. It is expected to contribute to the decision makings in the public policy domain as well as academic development.

• Journal of Digital Convergence
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• v.17 no.6
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• pp.439-446
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• 2019

Poststroke depression can have a secondary effect on social cognition, and this can lead to behavioral problems. The purpose of this study was to verify the effects of a Cognitive Stimulation Circulative Program(CSCP) based on occupational therapy. The participants of this study were 12 stroke patients. The CSCP was organized in such a way to promote the cognitive process. This program were carried out as a circuit program(16 sessions). As a result of this study, the depression scale of the subjects had statistically significant benefit(p<.05). Also, the evaluation results verified partial improvement in quality of life, and the relationship change scale which was used to evaluate role of physical and social cognitive function ability had statistically significant benefit(p<.05). The above results of this study verified that the CSCP was an efficient intervention program that reduces the depression of stroke patients and improve their social cognitive function ability, thus enhancing the quality of life.

• Investigative and Clinical Urology
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• v.59 no.6
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• pp.399-409
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• 2018

Purpose: To analyze data from an observational, prospective, cumulative registry study in 805 hypogonadal men stratified by mild or moderate-to-severe lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) according to International Prostate Symptom Score. Materials and Methods: A total of 412 men underwent testosterone therapy (TTh) with injectable testosterone undecanoate, 393 men served as untreated controls. Measures of urinary function, anthropometric and metabolic parameters were performed at least twice per year. Results: Data from 615 men with mild LUTS (253 treated, 362 untreated) and 190 with moderate-to-severe LUTS (159 treated, 31 untreated) were available. During a follow-up period of 8 years a significant improvement of LUTS was noted for all TTh-patients whereas the control-groups showed deterioration or fluctuation around initial values. Despite advancing age, TTh fully prevented worsening of symptoms. In parallel, a considerable improvement of anthropometric parameters, lipids and glycemic control, blood pressure, C-reactive protein, and quality of life was found. Moderate-to-severe LUTS was associated with worse cardiometabolic risk profile at baseline as well as worse cardiovascular outcomes during follow-up in comparison to mild LUTS. Effect size of TTh was more pronounced in men with moderate-to-severe than with mild LUTS. Conclusions: Correcting hypogonadism by TTh is highly effective and safe for improving LUTS in hypogonadal men. TTh may also improve cardiometabolic risk and major adverse cardiovascular events.

• The Journal of The Korea Institute of Intelligent Transport Systems
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.89-105
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• 2024

Bus stop improvement conveys users their usability. It is essential that transportation jurisdictions should identify quantitative effects of a bus stop improvement to invest effectively and expand consistently. Nevertheless, there is currently no research to estimate the quantitative effect on bus stops improvement. In this study, the willingness to pay and the benefit-cost ratio for the bus stops improvement were estimated through a contingent valuation method based on user satisfaction. It was found that the bus stop improvement located in urban areas can achieve high-cost benefits, and it in suburban areas has a great impact on improving the quality of life of local residents. The results of this study will be used as a basis for expanding the bus stop facility improvement project.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.31 no.1
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• pp.27-38
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• 2018

Background: Related to escalating health care costs and the questionable effectiveness of multiple interventions including lumbar facet joint interventions, cost effectiveness or cost utility analysis has become the cornerstone of evidence-based medicine influencing coverage decisions. Methods: Cost utility of therapeutic lumbar facet joint nerve blocks in managing chronic low back pain was performed utilizing data from a randomized, double-blind, controlled trial with a 2-year follow-up, with direct payment data from 2016. Based on the data from surgical interventions, utilizing the lowest proportion of direct procedural costs of 60%, total cost utility per quality adjusted life year (QALY) was determined by multiplying the derived direct cost at 1.67. Results: Patients in this trial on average received $5.6{\pm}2.6$ procedures over a period of 2 years, with average relief over a period of 2 years of $82.8{\pm}29.6$ weeks with $19{\pm}18.77$ weeks of improvement per procedure. Procedural cost for one-year improvement in quality of life showed USD $2,654.08. Estimated total costs, including indirect costs and drugs with multiplication of direct costs at 1.67, showed a cost of USD $4,432 per QALY. Conclusions: The analysis of therapeutic lumbar facet joint nerve blocks in the treatment of chronic low back pain shows clinical effectiveness and cost utility at USD $2,654.08 for the direct costs of the procedures, and USD $4,432 for the estimated overall cost per one year of QALY, in chronic persistent low back pain non-responsive to conservative management.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.56-65
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• 2012

This study examines the effects of a rehabilitation program on quality of life (QOL), cardiopulmonary function and fatigue during radiotherapy for breast cancer patients. The program includes aerobic exercise, stretching and strengthening exercises. Sixty-five women participated in this study and they were asked to perform supervised exercises that last for 60 minutes five times a week for six weeks. The European organization for research and treatment of cancer-cancer (EORTC QLQ-C30) and the breast (EORTC QLQ-BR23), predicted maximal volume of oxygen consumption ($VO_{2max}$) and fatigue severity scale (FSS) were assessed before and after the rehabilitation program. The 60-minute program consisted of a 10-minute warm-up, 30-minute of aerobic exercises, and 15-minute of strengthening exercises, followed by a five-minute cool-down. Heart rates were monitored throughout the exercise class to ensure that patients were exercising at the target heart rate of 40~75% of the age-adjusted heart rate maximum. There were statistically significant differences in the changes of physical function and cancer related symptoms in the EORTC QLQ-C30 and EORTC QLQ-BR23 (p<.05). There was a statistically significant improvement in the predicted $VO_{2max}$ (p<.05), although there were no significant differences in the FSS (p>.05). The results of our study suggest that a supervised rehabilitation program may benefit the physical aspects and QOL of patients receiving radiotherapy for breast cancer.