• Title/Summary/Keyword: Under-utilization

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Elevational distribution ranges of vascular plant species in the Baekdudaegan mountain range, South Korea

  • Shin, Sookyung;Kim, Jung-Hyun;Dang, Ji-Hee;Seo, In-Soon;Lee, Byoung Yoon
    • Journal of Ecology and Environment
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    • v.45 no.1
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    • pp.62-71
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    • 2021
  • The climate is changing rapidly, and this may pose a major threat to global biodiversity. One of the most distinctive consequences of climate change is the poleward and/or upward shift of species distribution ranges associated with increasing temperatures, resulting in a change of species composition and community structure in the forest ecosystems. The Baekdudaegan mountain range connects most forests from the lowland to the subalpine zone in South Korea and is therefore recognized as one of the most important biodiversity hotspots. This study was conducted to understand the distribution range of vascular plants along elevational gradients through field surveys in the six national parks of the Baekdudaegan mountain range. We identified the upper and lower distribution limits of a total of 873 taxa of vascular plants with 117 families, 418 genera, 793 species, 14 subspecies, 62 varieties, two forms, and two hybrids. A total of 12 conifers were recorded along the elevational gradient. The distribution ranges of Abies koreana, Picea jezoensis, Pinus pumila, and Thuja koraiensis were limited to over 1000 m above sea level. We also identified 21 broad-leaved trees in the subalpine zone. A total of 45 Korean endemic plant species were observed, and of these, 15 taxa (including Aconitum chiisanense and Hanabusaya asiatica) showed a narrow distribution range in the subalpine zone. Our study provides valuable information on the current elevational distribution ranges of vascular plants in the six national parks of South Korea, which could serve as a baseline for vertical shifts under future climate change.

The Utilization of Dental Hygienists in Oral Healthcare Exchanges between the South and North Korea

  • Ahn, Eunsuk;Han, Ji-Hyoung;Kang, Kyung-Hee;Jang, Young-Eun;Jeon, Ki-Ha;Park, Jeong-Ran
    • Journal of dental hygiene science
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    • v.21 no.1
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    • pp.63-69
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    • 2021
  • Background: This study aimed to identify the role of dental hygienists in exchanges between North and South Korea to lower gaps in the level of dental healthcare between the two countries by conducting a Delphi survey with specialists and identifying alternative policies regarding the utilization of dental hygienists in such exchanges. Methods: Two Delphi surveys were conducted with the participation of nine specialists, and descriptive statistical analyses including mean and standard deviation were performed on the collected data. Results: Among methods of exchange and cooperation regarding oral healthcare under the current North Korean medical system, the issue considered most urgent was the "establishment of oral healthcare infrastructure." The most important short-term strategy was identified as the "selection and formation of partnerships in the field of inter-Korean oral health exchange and cooperation." The mid-term strategy was identified as the "establishment of cooperation in the dental industry, centered on educational cooperation projects." The long-term strategy included "joint R&D projects, oral health surveys, and business development." In order to determine how best to use dental hygienists during inter-Korean exchanges and cooperation, the respondents placed urgency on the "establishment of joint cooperation projects for oral health promotion and early examination and the treatment of dental diseases and planning of community research projects" and "the role of oral health education and media development for residents." Conclusion: Cooperation is necessary regarding the preparation of oral healthcare exchanges that aim to encourage unity between North and South Korea and reduce the gaps between the North and South regarding oral health conditions. Therefore, continuous and reasonable discussions and research are needed regarding the utilization of dental hygienists in such exchanges.

Comparative Analysis of Patients Visiting Department of Korean Internal Medicine in a Korean Medicine Hospital Before and During COVID-19 - From July 2018 to June 2021 at Wonkwang University Jeonju Korean Medicine Hospital - (COVID-19 전후 단일 한방병원 한방내과 내원환자들에 대한 비교 분석 - 2018년 7월부터 2021년 6월까지 원광대학교 전주한방병원을 중심으로 -)

  • Lee, Ji-eun;Shin, Yong-jeen;Shin, Sun-ho
    • The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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    • v.42 no.6
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    • pp.1255-1268
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    • 2021
  • Objectives: This study aimed to analyze the healthcare utilization behavior of patients visiting the department of Korean internal medicine in the Korean medicine hospital of Wonkwang University in Jeon-ju from July 2018 to June 2021. Methods: We retrospectively analyzed the medical records of 26,108 patients and sorted the data by period, month, visiting types, new or returning types, sex, and age group. IBM SPSS 26.0 and the R 4.05 'changepoint' package were used with various statistical methods, such as Independent t-test, Mann-Whitney test, Chi-square test, Simple regression analysis. The P-value was set at 0.05. Results and Conclusions: Females outnumbered males regardless of period, and the ratio of females fell after COVID-19. Regardless of visiting types, patients in their 50s, 60s, and 70s outrated any other age group. The average number of females among the returning patients decreased significantly after COVID-19, but did not in males. Outpatients under 10 and in their 10s decreased significantly after COVID-19, as did inpatients in their 40s and 60s. The average duration of hospitalization was extended significantly after COVID-19. The number of outpatients and inpatients decreased as time passed after COVID-19. We expect that the results of this study will be used as reference materials in analyzing the effects of COVID-19 on healthcare utilization.

Mechanical behavior of coiled tubing over wellhead and analysis of its effect on downhole buckling

  • Zhao, Le;Gao, Mingzhong;Li, Cunbao;Xian, Linyun
    • Steel and Composite Structures
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    • v.44 no.2
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    • pp.199-210
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    • 2022
  • This study build finite element analysis (FEA) models describing the bending events of coiled tubing (CT) at the wellhead and trips into the hole, accurately provide the state of stress and strain while the CT is in service. The bending moment and axial force history curves are used as loads and boundary conditions in the diametrical growth models to ensure consistency with the actual working conditions in field operations. The simulation diametrical growth results in this study are more accurate and reasonable. Analysis the factors influencing fatigue and diametrical growth shows that the internal pressure has a first-order influence on fatigue, followed by the radius of the guide arch, reel and the CT diameter. As the number of trip cycles increase, fatigue damage, residual stress and strain cumulatively increase, until CT failure occurs. Significant residual stresses remain in the CT cross-section, and the CT exhibits a residual curvature, the initial residual bending configuration of CT under wellbore constraints, after running into the hole, is sinusoidal. The residual stresses and residual bending configuration significantly decrease the buckling load, making the buckling and buckling release of CT in the downhole an elastic-plastic process, exacerbating the helical lockup. The conclusions drawn in this study will improve CT models and contribute to the operational and economic success of CT services.

Case Studies on Import Clearance Disputes Facing Korean Companies' Trade Counterparts under Korea·ASEAN FTA and Countermeasures (한·아세안 FTA에서 한국 기업 거래상대방의 수입통관 분쟁 사례분석과 대응방안 연구)

  • Bae, Eun-Ju;Park, Sae-Woon;Kim, Hee-Ho
    • Korea Trade Review
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    • v.43 no.1
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    • pp.153-176
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    • 2018
  • Since entering into force on June 1st, 2007, the Korea·ASEAN FTA has had great strategic importance as it represents a massive export market for Korea. For more than 10 years since its implementation, the trade in both goods and services have greatly increased, and ASEAN has become the second largest export market for Korea. However, Korea's FTA utilization rate for exports is approximately 46%, which is far lower than the average rate of 72% for all FTAs, despite several revisions. In this study, we investigate the problems causing this low rate of FTA utilization for export by analyzing import clearance disputes faced by the counterpart. Our recommended countermeasures for such disputes are : Since form requirements for C/O (certificate of origin) are important considerations for ASEAN countries, C/O needs to be written accurately. Understanding of the administrative system and regulative procedures of ASEAN countries is also necessary. Accurate HS code of importing countries must be obtained. Korean government authorities should make diplomatic effort to ease the import clearance procedures in counterpart countries and contact customs offices to facilitate communication.

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Utilization Status of Emergency Medical Service for Children (아동의 응급의료서비스 이용실태)

  • Jeon, Hye-Jin;Kim, So-Sun;Bae, Hyun-A;Yoo, Il-Young
    • Child Health Nursing Research
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    • v.14 no.1
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    • pp.5-13
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    • 2008
  • Purpose: This study was done to describe utilization status of emergency medical service for children at one university affiliated hospital located in Seoul. Data were obtained from the medical records of patients under 13 years of age who visited the ER from January 1 to December 31, 2006. Method: Medical records missing the time of discharge were excluded in the analysis of waiting time, which resulted in 19,766 cases. Data were analyzed using SPSS WIN 14.0 version. Result: There were slightly more boys (58.4%), average age of the children was 3.97 years of age. More children at the aged 1 to 3 years (51.3%) visited the ER. Fever was the most frequent complaint: 5,180 cases (24.38%). The other complaints were head or facial laceration (10.55%), vomiting (9.63%), abdominal pain (8.06%), cough (7.67%), and painful limb swelling (6.34%). Average waiting time before the first medical examination was 17 minutes, and average ER stay time was 3 hours and 23 minutes. Conclusion: The results suggest the need to assign a nurse specialist for pediatric ER to provide more efficient care for the children. Also, extra staff assignment during the evening shift or extending office hours of local pediatricians should be considered.

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A Data Burst Assembly Algorithm in Optical Burst Switching Networks

  • Oh, Se-Yoon;Hong, Hyun-Ha;Kang, Min-Ho
    • ETRI Journal
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    • v.24 no.4
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    • pp.311-322
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    • 2002
  • Presently, optical burst switching (OBS) technology is under study as a promising solution for the backbone of the optical Internet in the near future because OBS eliminates the optical buffer problem at the switching node with the help of no optical/electro/optical conversion and guarantees class of service without any buffering. To implement the OBS network, there are a lot of challenging issues to be solved. The edge router, burst offset time management, and burst assembly mechanism are critical issues. In addition, the core router needs data burst and control header packet scheduling, a protection and restoration mechanism, and a contention resolution scheme. In this paper, we focus on the burst assembly mechanism. We present a novel data burst generation algorithm that uses hysteresis characteristics in the queueing model for the ingress edge node in optical burst switching networks. Simulation with Poisson and self-similar traffic models shows that this algorithm adaptively changes the data burst size according to the offered load and offers high average data burst utilization with a lower timer operation. It also reduces the possibility of a continuous blocking problem in the bandwidth reservation request, limits the maximum queueing delay, and minimizes the required burst size by lifting up data burst utilization for bursty input IP traffic.

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Utilization of Sewage Sludge on Agriculture (하수(下水)슬러지의 농경지(農耕地) 이용(利用))

  • Choi, Eui-So;Park, Hoo-Won;Park, Won-Mok
    • Korean Journal of Environmental Agriculture
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    • v.14 no.1
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    • pp.72-81
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    • 1995
  • Utilization of municipal sewage sludge(MSS) for agriculture was reviewed in this paper. Sewage sludge applied to rice and corn resulted in higher products of grains which showed lower heavy metal contents at an application rate of 20 to 80 dry ton/ha than the cases without sludge application. Most of heavy metals and nitrogen applied remained in soil. Our MSS could be classified as a high-quality sludge with regards to US 503 sludge rule, but this sludge could not be applied under our current regulations, which must be reviewed at intra-governmental levels.

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Economic Feasibility and Introducing Strategy of Woody Bioenergy in Korea (국내 목질바이오에너지의 경제적 타당성과 도입전략)

  • Choi Don-Ha;Lee Seong Youn;Son Yeong Mo;Park Kyung Seok
    • 한국신재생에너지학회:학술대회논문집
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    • 2005.06a
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    • pp.482-486
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    • 2005
  • Total forest growing stock and growing stock per ha in Korea are $470\times10^6m^3\;and\;73m^3$, respectively. Those figures mean that forest growing stock was increased 4.7 times more during last 30 years. The annual production of forest biomass comes from forest tending executed by Korea Forest Service was estimated about $1.07\times10^6m^3$ M/T, which was equivalent to $0.45\%$ of total imported crude oil of Korea at 2002. The production is expected to increase and reach up to $1.9\times10^6 M/T$ till 2008. The analysis of economic feasibility showed that the production cost of wood chip(134,786Won/T) was about 30,389 Won/T higher than heat value of wood chip, 104,397 Won/T estimated from that of kerosene. For the promotion of forest bioenergy utilization, more efforts need to be given for the education and public relations to induce publicity a willingness-to-pay for the environment friendly fuels under the good understanding for the use of bioenergy. In addition, we need to provide a community-based biomass utilization program by region to allocate the role of each participant and to increase the profitability of bioenergy.

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The Utilization of Medical Care Benefits of School Personnel on Duty (교직원의 공무상 요양급여제도 이용 현황)

  • Lee, Hee-Woo;Shin, Sun-Mi;Kim, Joo-Ja;Kang, Se-Won
    • Journal of the Korean Society of School Health
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    • v.21 no.2
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    • pp.107-117
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    • 2008
  • Purpose: To investigate the utilization of medical care benefits of school personnel on duty in Seoul. Method: The subjects were 551 workers under Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education(male 301, female 250) who got medical care benefits from March 2000 to February 2005. To analyze the data, frequency, chi-square test, and t-test by SAS package 9.12 were used. Result: The results show that elementary school personnel got the highest ranking, 314(57.0%). Among subjects, 57.2% personnel got accident when they were working on their own duty, 21% during school events and 13.5% were during commutes. They got medical care from orthopedics 75.9%, neurosurgery 7.6%, dental 4%, and 8 male and 2 female died during these days. The most frequent diseases of males and female were fracture and joints related disease. The reason of most health problem was due to injury(92.3%). Conclusion: The results of this study suggest that the continuous health care services like regular health check for school personnel, or social safety network to prevent injury are needed.