• Journal of the Korean Society for Library and Information Science
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• v.55 no.4
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• pp.219-243
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• 2021

This study analyzes the effects of community-level socioeconomic deprivations (SED) on public libraries' book circulation in the Seoul metropolitan area. The study design draws upon the theory of local information landscapes, which explains the relationship between community characteristics and information behavior. Using four-year (2015-2018) open government and public library circulation data, we constructed a socioeconomic deprivation index by adjusting a multi-dimensional deprivation index and generated other variables. Multi-level robust linear regression models were used to examine the relationship between SED and public library circulation. In addition, we tested the moderating effects of the library collection size and the number of libraries per unit area, respectively, on library circulation. The results show that there is a significant negative relationship between socioeconomic deprivation and library circulation rate. Also, we found that the size of the library collection negatively moderates the effects of SED in areas with a large number of books, and the number of libraries per unit area was positvely related to the library book circulation, not moderating the effects of SED. These findings suggest that public libraries and policymakers should consider community characteristics in designing strategic plans for public libraries.

• Journal of Digital Convergence
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• v.16 no.11
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• pp.411-418
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• 2018

The purpose of this study was to estimate the current status and trends of healthcare utilization among people with ASD. Using National Health Insurance open database, from 2010 to 2017. We analyzed the treatment prevalence for people with ASD, the pattern of healthcare utilization, the difference in medical care utilization according to age, and the type and location of main medical institutions. The main results of the study are as follows: First, the medical utilization has been continuously increasing from 2010 to 2017. The total amount of medical utilization is increased by 50% in 2017 compared to 2010, and the treatment prevalence was estimated to be 79.1% in 2017 and medical uses for the next three years is also increasing. Second, the pattern of medical care utilization varied widely according to age, especially after 20 years of age. Third, the types of medical institutions that were mainly used were 45.6% in the medical clinic and 35.9% in Seoul. The results of this study can be used as a minimum reference point of evaluating the effectiveness of government policy on future autistic disorders. However, further studies are required to increase the prevalence of treatment for autistic patients and to find out the difference in medical use according to age.

• Journal of the Korea Convergence Society
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.163-171
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• 2021

The purpose of this study is to examine the current operation condition of fashion start-up companies and the characteristics of their founders in Fashion Creative Studio that is one of government programs supporting fashion start-up of rising fashion designer's brands in Korea and one of supporting facilities. For this purpose, this study surveyed 32 fashion start-up companies founders in Busan Fashion Creative Studio and analyzed the data based on the survey. The results are as follows. First of all, 82% of the founders have experience to start their business in 20s and 60% of founders with not more than 3 to 5 years of work experience related to fashion challenge to start a business. Secondly, major distribution channels of the fashion start-up companies are mainly on-line open-market consisting of 36% and SNS is up to 80% as the main promotion method. In addition, exports to China account for 71% of all exports. Lastly, 33% of businesses consider viral marketing by influencer and 50% of them make plan to export their items to East Asia. It is of research significance that this study can suggest the successful direction of establishing and operating fashion start-up companies through making good use of Fashion Creative Studio, the supporting program including facility.

• Safety and Health at Work
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.163-169
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• 2022

Background: It is estimated that about 13 million artisanal and small-scale miners carry out their activities under harsh, precarious, unfriendly, and risky conditions. Yet, our understanding of the extent to which these workers use personal protective equipment (PPE) and navigate through the various risks and hazards they face is still limited. This article has two main objectives. First, it explores the extent of usage of PPE among artisanal and small-scale miners for the prevention of hazards and risks. Second, it examines the coping strategies used by these miners as a response to experiences of occupational injuries and risks Methods: A cross-sectional survey of small-scale miners was conducted in six communities across three districts in Ghana, West Africa. The mixed methods approach was adopted. A total of 148 small-scale miners participated in the study. Six focus group discussions (FGDs) were held across the six communities. The data were analysed using descriptive statistics. Chi-square tests were used to analyse the relationship between some socio-demographic characteristics (sex, age, and educational background) and the usage of PPE. Open-ended questions and responses from FGDs were analysed based on the content and verbatim quotations from miners. Results: Findings suggest that 78% of the miners interviewed do not use the appropriate PPE citing reasons such as cost, and their personal discomfort associated with use of PPE. There was no significant relationship between socio-demographic characteristics (i.e., sex, age, education and major mining activity) and the usage of PPE. The study further revealed four main coping strategies used by miners to handle the risks. These are rest, taking unprescribed medication and hard drugs, registration with health insurance scheme and savings and investments. Conclusion: This study shows that very few artisanal miners use PPE despite the significant hazards and risks to which they are exposed. The study recommends to the government to put in place measures to ensure that miners adhere to health and safety regulations before undertaking mining activities. This means that health and safety plans and use of PPE should be linked to the license acquisition process for miners.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Library and Information Science
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• v.57 no.3
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• pp.97-117
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• 2023

The purpose of this study is to suggest a mid- to long-term expansion plan to resolve the blind spot and alleviate the imbalance of public library services in Daegu City. The research methods for this purpose included literature review, related laws and statistical data analysis, case study, and opinion survey. As a result, the first service area was set as a total of 14 areas based on administrative districts(Jung-gu, Seo-gu, Nam-gu, and Dalseong-gun each have one, Dong-gu and Buk-gu each have two, and Suseong-gu and Dalseo-gu have three each). Second, the expansion scenario for public libraries in Daegu City was proposed to add 26 libraries by the final target year (2032) based on the trend of national library growth over the past 13 years (2008-2020) and the forecast for the next 10 years (2023-2032). Third, the construction scenarios for each basic local government, excluding the Daegu representative library, are as follows: One library each in Jung-gu, Seo-gu, and Nam-gu; two libraries in Suseong-gu; three libraries in Dalseong-gun; four libraries in Dong-gu; and seven libraries each in Buk-gu and Dalseo-gu. In terms of floor area, it is proposed to add a total of 17 branch libraries with a minimum legal standard of 330-2,499㎡, four central libraries with 2,500-4,999㎡ each, and four central libraries with 5,000-9,999㎡ each. On the premise of these conditions, Daegu City and public libraries should focus on creating an inclusive and open community space, creating a digital platform, strengthening the library operation and cooperation system centered on Daegu representative library, developing collections and specializing services for local hub libraries, enhancing various knowledge information and program services, managing key library indicators and improving social contribution.

• 한국노년학
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.371-380
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• 2011

This study was to address changes on hospital-based home care utilization after long-term care insurance(LTCI) was launched. National electronic data information(EDI) on hospital-based home care from Health Insurance Review Agency in 2007.7~2008.6(prior to LTCI) and in 2009(posterior to LTCI) was analyzed. After the launch of long-term care insurance, 40 hospital-based home health care agencies(HHCA) were diminished and regions not having any HHCA were increased from 53% to 59%. Hospital-based home care utilization was decreased in the elderly(clients 13.4%, visits 20.9%) as well as non-elderly(clients 3.5%, visits 3.9%). It is presumed that diminished HHCAs result in decreased accessibility to hospital-based home health care for non-elderly. The clients, visits, and reimbursed cost per agency were not changed. It is presumed that small agencies were closed already. The total reimbursed cost per agency in 2009 was 121,850,000 won. Results suggest that the government has to give support to open more HHCA to increase the accessibility for non-elderly. Also, hospital-based home care services utilization has to be monitoring regularly.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.33 no.4
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• pp.517-527
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• 2023

Objectives: We examine cases of chemical poisoning that occurred in the cleaning of metal parts and the regulations on halogenated solvents in other countries and propose regulations necessary to prevent chemical poisoning from halogenated solvents. Methods: We collected cases of chemical poisoning through the website of the Korea Occupational Safety and Health Agency. A review of the literature was conducted focusing on regulations related to halogenated solvents in the United States and the European Union, particularly for cleaning metal parts. Among the Material Safety Data Sheets submitted to the government, MSDS containing eleven substances were extracted to confirm the composition and product use. We investigated cleaning methods for metal parts used in South Korea. For the hazard classification, the European Chemicals Agency or Japan's NITE's website was used. Results: In the case of poisoning, the cleaning methods involving trichloromethane were dipping and dry, which was not found in the literature. It was confirmed that many halogenated solvents and dimethyl carbonate were used for metal cleaning in South Korea. In vapor degreasing using TCE in the USA, even if the facility is strictly managed, such as by installing cooling coils in open cleaning facilities, the risk of exposure to TCE is considered to be not only carcinogenic but also a concern for acute and chronic effects. In comparison, exposure through Korean work methods such as dipping and drying operations is inevitably much higher. Conclusions: The transition to water-based cleaning with low-hazard chemicals should be a priority in the cleaning process. In the case of metal parts that require precise cleaning, if the use of a halogenated solvent is inevitable, a closed degreasing facility should be used to minimize exposure. The current regulations in the Occupational Safety and Health Act, the Chemical Substances Control Act, and the Air Environment Conservation Act do not require cleaning facilities to minimize emissions. To protect the health of workers using halogenated solvents to clean metal parts, regulations that require a fundamental reduction in exposure will be necessary.

• The Korean Journal of Applied Statistics
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• v.37 no.4
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• pp.509-523
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• 2024

This study estimates connectedness index among the US, China, Europe, Japan, and South Korea using monthly economic policy uncertainty (EPU) data from January 2000 to December 2023. The connectedness index allows us to analyze the effect of global economic uncertainty on domestic economic uncertainty. The EPU is used as a proxy for economic uncertainty. Inter-country connectedness index is computed from variance decomposition. The findings from forecast error variance decomposition show that three-fourths of total uncertainty comes from economic uncertainty in the own country and one-fourth of total uncertainty comes from economic uncertainty in the others. The analysis on net pairwise connectedness reveals that, even though the extent of the effect of economic uncertainty in one country from economic uncertainty in another country varies over time, economic uncertainty in South Korea, a small-open economy, is mainly affected by economic uncertainty in the others. The reverse situation rarely happens except in the specific occurrence such as the collapse of the credit bubble in 2003 and the subsequent years, the inter-Korean summit and North Korea-the US summit in 2018, and the period from the first outbreak of COVID-19 on the implementation of the government's severe regulation against COVID-19.

• The Korean Nurse
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• v.36 no.1
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• pp.108-117
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• 1997

This study was carried out to examine the standards for evaluation of laboratory facilities and equipment. These constitute the most important yet vulnerable area of our system of higher education among the six school evaluation categories provided by the Korean Council for University Education. To obtain data on the present situation of holdings and management of laboratory facilities and equipment at nursing schools in Korea, questionnaires were prepared by members of a special committee of the Korea Nursing Education Society on the basis of the Standards for University Laboratory Facilities and Equipment issued by the Ministry of Education. The questionnaires were sent to nursing schools across the nation by mail on October 4, 1995. 39 institutions completed and returned the questionnaires by mail by December 31 of the same year. The results of the analysis of the survey were as follows: 1. The Physical Environment of Laboratories According to the results of investigation of 14 nursing departments at four-year colleges, laboratories vary in size ranging from 24 to 274.91 pyeong ($1{\;}pyeong{\;}={\;}3.3m^2).$. The average number of students in a laboratory class was 46.93 at four-year colleges, while the number ranged from 40 to 240 in junior colleges. The average floor space of laboratories at junior colleges, however, was almost the same as those, of laboratories at four-year colleges. 2. The Actual State of Laboratory Facilities and Equipment Laboratory equipment possessed by nursing schools at colleges and universities showed a very wide distribution by type, but most of it does not meet government standards according to applicable regulations while some types of equipment are in excess supply. The same is true of junior colleges. where laboratory equipment should meet a different set of government standards specifically established for junior colleges. Closer investigation is called for with regard to those types of equipment which are in short supply in more than 80 percent of colleges and universities. As for the types of equipment in excess supply, investigation should be carried out to determine whether they are really needed in large quantities or should be installed. In many cases, it would appear that unnecessary equipment is procured, even if it is already obsolete, merely for the sake of holding a seemingly impressive armamentarium. 3. Basic Science Laboratory Equipment Among the 39 institutions, five four-year colleges were found to possess equipment for basic science. Only one type of essential equipment, tele-thermometers, and only two types of recommended equipment, rotators and dip chambers, were installed in sufficient numbers to meet the standards. All junior colleges failed to meet the standards in all of equipment categories. Overall, nursing schools at all of the various institutions were found to be below per in terms of laboratory equipment. 4. Required Equipment In response to the question concerning which type of equipment was most needed and not currently in possession, cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) machines and electrocardiogram (ECG) monitors topped the list with four respondents each, followed by measuring equipment. 5. Management of Laboratory Equipment According to the survey, the professors in charge of clinical training and teaching assistants are responsible for management of the laboratory at nursing schools at all colleges and universities, whereas the chief of the general affairs section or chairman of the nursing department manages the laboratory at junior colleges. This suggests that the administrative systems are more or less different. According to the above results, laboratory training could be defined as a process by which nursing students pick up many of the nursing skills necessary to become fully qualified nurses. Laboratory training should therefore be carefully planned to provide students with high levels of hands-on experience so that they can effectively handle problems and emergencies in actual situations. All nursing students should therefore be thoroughly drilled and given as much on-the-job experience as possible. In this regard, there is clearly a need to update the equipment criteria as demanded by society's present situation rather than just filling laboratory equipment quotas according to the current criteria.

• Journal of the Daesoon Academy of Sciences
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• v.41
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• pp.27-61
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• 2022

Documentation related to Mugeuk-do (Limitless Dao) is rare in comparison to other Korean new religions given that it has been open to the public and translated since the 1970s. Due to its rarity, the documentation has been used uncritically, without there being any comparative study or historical research. It is undeniable that distortions and fallacies are embedded in these documents, and this has resulted in quite a few problems in precisely understanding Mugeuk-do and Daesoon Jinrihoe (The Fellowship of Daesoon Truth), an order that has inherited the legacy of Mugeuk-do. In this regard, this study aims to critically define the characteristics and limitations of the major documents related to Mugeuk-do that were published by the colonial government in the 1920s~1930s and recorded by multiple orders in the 1970s-1980s through comparisons. An attempt to conduct this research allows for the discovery of a solution to the problem of uncritical usage of those materials. The documents produced by the colonial government that can be used as basic texts to study Mugeuk-do are The General Conditions of the Religion Mugeuk-do (無極大道敎槪況) and Unofficial Religions of the Korea (朝鮮の類似宗敎). These can be found through bibliography, comparison, and historical research. Chapters 6, 7, and 8 of The General Conditions of the Religion Mugeuk-do are a possible source on the order that reflects the circumstances of Mugeuk-do until 1925. In the case of Unofficial Religions of the Korea, if the descriptive perspective on unofficial religions is excluded, the articles written about the circumstances post 1925 have credibility. Another document that describes multiple orders and can be used as a basic text is chapter 2 of 'Progress of the Order' in Daesoon Jinrihoe's The Canonical Scripture. This is because its record precisely reflects the conditions of the era, with regard to the fact that it is the freest from distortions caused by changes in the belief system and it is less biased towards certain sects or denominations. Furthermore, the collection period of the articles is the earliest. Accordingly, as basic texts, Chapters 6, 7, and 8 of The General Conditions of the Religion Mugeuk-do and the articles from Unofficial Religions of the Korea after 1925, as well as chapter 2 of 'Progress of the Order' in The Canonical Scripture are appropriate for studying Mugeuk-do. In addition, Overview of Bocheonism, History of Jeungsan-gyo, and The True Scripture of the Great Ultimate can be utilized as references after removing distortions and fallacies through comparative study. Henceforth, relevant documents should be utilized to establish comprehensive data on Mugeuk-do through comparative and historical research.