• International Area Studies Review
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.261-284
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• 2018

Global changeover to renewable energy is an inaugurate initiatives as one of the UN sustainable development goals. But the State alone can not achieve its goal, in particular, countries classified as bad governance. However, when the combination of innovative public-private partnerships including technology and operational innovation can be made, it can provide with rural remote villages of developing countries with more sustainable environment. In other words, we tried to show examples of success in energy supply by reducing costs and increasing marketability through various partnerships(technological innovation benefits). Base on the question, this paper examines the cases of Steama.Co, Ewang'an in Kenya, and Grameen Shakti in Bangladesh, and analyzes the developmental effects of differences in partnership types.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Rural Architecture
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.37-46
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• 2024

The city is developing into a smart city. Smart villages and smart farms are developing in rural areas. Architectural technology needs synergy with smart cities, smart villages, and smart factories (intelligent factories) to help architectural experts understand smart farms and build facilities and equipment. Smart farms require design and construction technology with architectural structure and function. The purpose of this study was to investigate the current status and cases of smart farms in Korea and to investigate cases abroad. The conclusion is as follows. ① Smart farms are developing rapidly. The Korean government is expanding smart farms by utilizing ICT technology and infrastructure. ② 'Smart Farm Innovation Valley', which has been promoted since 2018, is a cutting-edge convergence cluster industrial complex that integrates production, education, and research functions such as start-ups and technological innovation. ③ In domestic cases, smart farms are operated in subway stations, buildings, supermarkets, and restaurants. ④ In the Japanese case, a dome-type smart farm was being operated. It utilized factory wastewater, waste heat, renewable energy, and used new materials. Otemachi Ranch raised livestock and provided a lounge on the 13th floor of the building. ⑤ In the cases of Korea and Japan, the smart farm technology is very similar. As stated earlier, since the food culture and agricultural technology of both countries are similar, we hope to promote the development of smart farms that can reduce concerns about future food by communicating and sharing mutual technologies.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.56 no.6
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• pp.625-632
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• 2018

Malaria remains one of the leading health burdens in the developing world, especially in several sub-Saharan Africa countries; and Uganda has some of the highest recorded measures of malaria transmission intensity in the world. It is evident that the prevalence of malaria infection, the incidence of disease, and mortality from severe malaria remain very high in Uganda. Although the recent stable political and economic situation in the last few decades in Uganda supported for a fairly good appreciation of malaria control, the declines in infection, morbidity, and mortality are not sufficient to interrupt transmission and this country is among the top 4 countries with cases of malaria, especially among children under 5 years of age. In fact, Uganda, which is endemic in over 95% of the country, is a representative of challenges facing malaria control in Africa. In this study, we evaluated an active case detection program in 6 randomly selected villages, Uganda. This program covered a potential target population of 5,017 individuals. Our team screened 12,257 samples of malaria by active case detection, every 4 months, from February 2015 to January 2017 in the 6 villages (a total of 6 times). This study assessed the perceptions and practices on malaria control in Kiyuni Parish of Kyankwanzi district, Uganda. Our study presents that the incidence of malaria is sustained high despite efforts to scale-up and improve the use of LLINs and access to ACDs, based on the average incidence confirmed by RDTs.

• Journal of Information Science Theory and Practice
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.60-76
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• 2024

Broadband Internet has proven to be vital for economic growth in developed countries. Developing countries have implemented several initiatives to increase their broadband access. However, its full potential can only be realized through adoption and use. With lower-middle-income countries accounting for the majority of the world's unconnected population, this study employs the theory of planned behavior (TPB) to investigate users' intentions to adopt broadband. Rural Tanzania was chosen as a case study. A cross-sectional study was conducted over three weeks, using 155 people from seven villages with the lowest broadband adoption rates. Non-probability voluntary response sampling was used to recruit the participants. Using the TPB constructs: attitude toward behavior (ATB), subjective norms (SN), and perceived behavioral control (PBC), ordinal regression analysis was employed to predict intention. Descriptive statistical analysis yielded mean scores (standard deviation) as 3.59 (0.46) for ATB, 3.34 (0.40) for SN, 3.75 (0.29) for PBC, and 4.12 (0.66) for intention. The model adequately described the data based on a comparison of the model with predictors and the null model, which revealed a substantial improvement in fit (p<0.05). Moreover, the predictors accounted for 50.3% of the variation in the intention to use broadband Internet, demonstrating the predictive power of the TPB constructs. Furthermore, the TPB constructs were all significant positive predictors of intention: ATB (β=1.938, p<0.05), SN (β=2.144, p<0.05), and PBC (β=1.437, p=0.013). The findings of this study provide insight into how behavioral factors influence the likelihood of individuals adopting broadband Internet and could guide interventions through policies meant to promote broadband adoption.

• The Journal of Asian Finance, Economics and Business
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.151-156
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• 2020

Small and medium enterprises (SMEs) play a very important role in developing countries. In Vietnam, SMEs operating in the field of handicrafts, besides contributing to the economy, also tasked to maintain and develop traditional handicrafts. However, accessing loans from banks of SMEs faces many difficulties. This study explores the determinants of bank lending decision for SMEs, particular, in traditional handicrafts business. Using dataset based on a survey conducted in Binh Duong province, Vietnam, we investigated to what determinant effects for loan approval. The analytical methods used include descriptive statistics for overall assessment, principal component analysis and regression to examine determinants of lending decisions. The results indicate that company's collateral was the most positive determinant to bank lending decision, follow by company's business plan. The role of company's leader is very important for banks considers to approve credit because company's leaders experience and relationship with stakeholders as well as banks have positive relations with bank's lending decision. Agreed with previous studies, the company's financial statement and company's credit history with banks are also significant determinants for lending decision. Whereas, the business environment seam unaffected lending decision as their relations is not significant..

• Journal of Appropriate Technology
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• v.6 no.2
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• pp.94-102
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• 2020

Renewable energy (RE) is essential to comprise sustainable societies, especially, in rural villages of developing countries. Furthermore, application of off-grid RE systems to health care can improve the quality of life. In this research, a RE-based vaccination supply management system was constructed to enlarge the cold-chain in developing countries for the safe storage and delivery of vaccines. The system was comprised of the construction of RE plants and development of vaccine carriers. RE plants were constructed and connected to health posts in local villages. The cooling mechanism of vaccine carriers was improved and monitoring devices were installed. The effect of the system on vaccine cold-chain was evaluated from the field test and topographical analysis in the southern village of Nepal. RE plants were normally operated for the vaccine refrigerator in the health post. The modified vaccine carriers had a longer operation time and better temperature control via monitoring and RE-based recharging functionality. The topographical analysis estimated that the system can cover larger region. The system prototype showed great potential regarding the possibility of a sustainable and enlarged cold-chain. Thus, RE-based vaccine supply management is expected to facilitate vaccine availability while minimizing waste in the supply chain.

• Journal of Forest and Environmental Science
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• v.35 no.2
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• pp.102-114
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• 2019

The issue of sustainable forest management (SFM) continues to emerge as part of the REDD+ mechanism mitigation efforts. Especially for some developing countries, such as Indonesia, forest management is required to provide benefits to the welfare of local communities in addition to forest conservation efforts. This study aims to identify the economic, social, and environmental impacts of community-based forest management (CBFM) implementation activities, which is one of the implementations of SFM at field level. The primary objectives were to find out the impacts of CBFM activities based on local people's perceptions and to identify what factors need to be considered to increase local people's satisfaction on CBFM activities. The data from 6 sub-villages was derived through surveys with local people involved in CBFM activities, interviews with a key informant, and supported by secondary data. The results of the study state that CBFM activities have increased the local people's income as well as their welfare, strengthening the local institution, and help to resolve conflicts in the study area. CBFM has also been successful in protecting forests by rehabilitating unproductive lands and increase forest cover area. By using binary logistic regression analysis, it found that income, business development opportunities, access to forests, conflict resolution, institutional strengthening, and forest rehabilitation variable significantly affected the local people's satisfaction of CBFM activities.

• Journal of Wetlands Research
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.79-89
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• 2007

This paper provides a comprehensive overview of the present status of several environmental problems caused by emerging toxic substances such as persistent organic pollutants (POPs), endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs), and arsenic in various environmental media in Vietnam. Monitoring data reported during the 1990s demonstrated elevated contamination of DDTs in most of these compartments in Vietnam. Studies in frame of the Asia-Pacific Mussel Watch Program revealed that fish, mussels and resident birds from Vietnam contained higher concentrations of DDTs as compared to other countries in region, suggesting the role of Vietnamese environment as a significant emission source of DDT in the Southeast Asian region. The estimated dietary intakes of PCBs and DDTs for Vietnamese were relatively high among Asian developing countries, suggesting potential risk for humans posed by thesechemicals. Widespread contamination of some endocrine active compounds such as alkylphenols and phthalates was observed at various sites along the coasts of northern and middle Vietnam. The presence of significant source of bisphenol-A along Red River estuary was revealed with the concentrations comparable to those reported for developed nations. A case study on seasonal variation of alkylphenols and phthalates in surface water of river delta and estuary of north and middle Vietnam indicated the differences in distribution of these compounds between dry and rainy seasons. Higher concentrations of alkylphenols and phthalates were found in dry season in estuary; while the contrasting pattern was observed in the river delta, showing elevated residues in rainy season. This result suggests the different behavior of alkylphenols and phthalates in river delta and coastal environment. From ecotoxicological perspectives, concentrations of bis-phenol A and di(2-ethylhexyl)phthalates [DEHP] in surface water from some locations in Vietnam exceeded the guideline values for Ecotoxicological Effects and the Environmental Risk Limit, respectively, suggesting potential for toxic implications on aquatic wildlife. Widespread and elevated arsenic contamination was discovered inour recent surveys in groundwater in a large area of suburban areas of Hanoi city, the capital of Vietnam. The most recent investigation in 4 villages showed about more than 50 % of groundwater samples contained As concentrations exceeding 50 g/L (the WHO and Vietnamese standard). In particular, in Son Dong villages, 58 % of samples analyzed contained As concentrations higher than 200 g/L. Good correlations were found in As concentrations in water and hair and urine of peoples in corresponding families, suggesting the chronic exposure to As by people living in As-contaminated ground water areas. In Son Dong village, As levels in hair (mean: 1.7 mg/kg dry wt) and urine (g/g creatinine) exceeding the reference values recommended by WHO, suggesting potential for human risk posed by long term accumulation of As in human body. Future studies should be focused on the time trends of POPs and EDCs in biota in Vietnam in order to predict future trend of contamination and to reveal new clues for understanding possible toxic impacts on aquatic organisms. The issues of arsenic contamination in groundwater and their chronic toxic implications on human health should be systematically investigated in the future.

• Journal of Korean Society of Rural Planning
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.137-144
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• 2018

The purpose of this study is to measure the cost-benefit of a road construction project in Vietnam through international development cooperation, which includes private grants and Official Development Assistance(ODA). In developing countries, it is difficult and costly to use data on markets, the CVM(Contingent Valuation Method) to measure the WTP(Willingness-to-Pay) as the benefits of road construction are used. A total of 232 villagers in 16 villages of Lao Cai Province in Northern Vietnam have been surveyed. It is found that the Benefit-Cost Ratio(B/C) in all 3 models are found to be well over 1.0, ranging from 2.8 to 3.64 with the discount rate of 0.06. These BC ratios imply the road construction project in Lao Cai can be justified. Also, it is found that the shortened travel time is the most relevant factor for WTP among direct benefits and the enhanced academic achievement of the children is the most relevant factor among indirect benefits, due to easier and faster access to schools, which in turn increase the school attendance rate. The result of this study can be used to justify other similar projects in Vietnam, even though the benefits may have to be reassessed in other countries.

• Journal of the Korean Geographical Society
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• v.41 no.4 s.115
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• pp.491-506
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• 2006

In terms of the importance of ocean as a present and future resource and the Korean peninsular location, it is strongly urged to develop renewed recognition and educational programs on ocean, so as to respond properly to the newly emerging political changes surrounding the country. By setting up the purpose of marine education as engendering greater interests in and knowledge of ocean, this research suggests that the frame of marine education can be founded appropriately on four educational sub-categories: humanity education, territory education, economy education, and resources and environment education. At an operational scale, this paper particularly analyzed ocean- related contents in the 7th national curriculum in order to find substantial ways for strengthening marine education. The study simultaneously compared the result of content analysis with the curriculum of marine education in other countries, and founded that explicit ocean-related contents in the 7th curriculum were significantly limited. Yet, the study alternatively points out that it is possible to use a variety of teaching materials and apply them for writing textbooks or developing teaching-teaming curriculum. I provide some of the ways for strengthening marine education by using marine-related themes in the curriculum of geography education. Marine is not simply one of the key elements in the discipline of geography. But, more importantly, I suggest that geography is particularly useful in developing various and familiar themes such as swimming beach, fishing villages, ports, marine-bound industrial district and port cities into teaching materials.