• Korea Journal of Hospital Management
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.37-47
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• 2024

Purpose: This study aimed to determine the effect of adjusted out-of-pocket maximum rules in the 'differential co-payment ceiling', which means having a higher burden of co-payment, that expanded to the entire ceiling level in long-stay admission patients in long-term care hospitals(LTCH). Methodology: We used health insurance claim data between January 1, 2022, and December 31, 2022 received from the National Health Insurance Service. The study populations were inpatients in long-term care hospitals more than 1 days during the study period. We performed the difference in characteristics of the LTCH patient of the differential and general ceiling by the chi-square test. We estimated the change of the population, cost, and co-payments per person under the assumption of restructuring. Finding: Based on adjusted out-of-pocket maximum rules in 2023, it was expected that the number of benefits decreases at the high-income level while increasing at the low-income level. The burden of health expenditure after reimbursement of co-payment ceiling, is expected to increase by 65.1% in the highest medical necessity, whereas the low medical necessity would decreases compared to 2022. Practical Implications: The results demonstrate that the current out-of-pocket maximum rules do not reflect the needs of medical necessity. This study suggested the need to reflect the medical necessity in LTCH on the out-of-pocket maximum rules in the future.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.32 no.3
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• pp.399-406
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• 2009

A three-dimensional panel system, which was offered as a new method for construction in Jordan using relatively high strength modular panels for walls and ceilings, is investigated in this paper. The panel consists of two steel meshes on both sides of an expanded polystyrene core and connected together with a truss wire to provide a 3D system. The top face of the ceiling panel was pored with regular concrete mix, while the bottom face and both faces of the wall panels were cast by shotcreting (dry process). To investigate the structural performance of this system, an extensive experimental testing program for ceiling and wall panels subjected to static and dynamic loadings was conducted. The load-deflection curves were obtained for beam and shear wall elements and wall elements under transverse and axial loads, respectively. Static and dynamic analyses were conducted, and the performance of the proposed structural system was evaluated and compared with a typical three dimensional reinforced concrete frame system for buildings of the same floor areas and number of floors. Compressive strength capacity of a ceiling panel is determined for gravity loads, while flexural capacity is determined under the effect of wind and seismic loading. It was found that, the strength and serviceability requirements could be easily satisfied for buildings constructed using the three-dimensional panel system. The 3D panel system is superior to that of conventional frame system in its dynamic performance, due to its high stiffness to mass ratio.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Mechanical Engineers B
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• v.27 no.8
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• pp.1042-1050
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• 2003

A heating flow discharged from a 4-way ceiling type indoor unit has been investigated to determine the design parameters for the optimal flow control. The flow was measured by a PIV(particle image velocimetry) system and an experimental model of 1/10 scale with a transparent room was devised by satisfying the Archimedes number. This similarity is generally used in cases where the forced convection has similar magnitude of the natural convection. To optimize the heating flow, several vane angles and vane control algorithms of cross and right angle controls were considered. Regarding the vane angle, experimental results show that 30$^{\circ}$is an optimal angle to avoid re-suction flows without significant increase in flow noise. Temperature distribution measured in the environmental chamber ensures the increased thermal comfort when compared to the case, 60$^{\circ}$angle. At the optimal angle, applying open/close control gives rise to more uniform distribution of the heating flow than without control. Especially, the cross-control seems to be satisfactory for thermal comfort.

• Korean Journal of Air-Conditioning and Refrigeration Engineering
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• v.12 no.9
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• pp.810-816
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• 2000

Thermal comfort plays an important role in modern office buildings. Four major factors affecting thermal comfort are air temperature, velocity, humidity and radiation temperature. Distribution of these thermal factors in indoor space depends largely on the air flow which is related to the method of supplying and extracting air. In this study, an experimental analysis on indoor thermal comfort is conducted to study the difference between a ceiling supply cooling system and a floor supply one. The two cooling systems are applied to an office space during summer season and the distributions of temperature, velocity, radiation temperature and PMV are measured. Results show that the floor supply cooling system is superior in terms of thermal comfort and energy saving. Studies need to be done, however, to reduce the vertical temperature difference of a floor supply air conditioning system.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Precision Engineering
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• v.21 no.8
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• pp.73-82
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• 2004

In this paper, implementation of obstacle avoidance of a nonholonomic mobile robot in unstructured environment is introduced. To avoid obstacles, first, a reference collision-free path for the MR is generated off-line using HJB-based optimal path planning method. A controller is designed using integrator backstepping method for tracking the generated reference path. To implement the designed controller, a control system are needed and composed of camera system and PIC-based controller. The workspace is observed by a ceiling-mounted USB camera as part of an un-calibrated camera system. Thus the positional information of the MR is updated frequently and the MR can get the useful inputs for its tracking controller. The whole control system is realized by integrating a computer with PIC-based microprocessor using wireless communication: the image processing control module and path planning module serve as high level computer control while the device control serves as low level PIC microprocessor control. The simulation and experimental results show the effectiveness of the designed control system.

• Proceedings of the KIEE Conference
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• 2011.07a
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• pp.1934-1935
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• 2011

In order for a service robot to perform several tasks, basically autonomous navigation technique such as localization, mapping, and path planning is required. The localization (estimation robot's pose) is fundamental ability for service robot to navigate autonomously. In this paper, we propose a new system for point pattern matching based visual global localization using spot lightings in ceiling. The proposed algorithm us suitable for system that demands high accuracy and fast update rate such a guide robot in the exhibition. A single camera looking upward direction (called ceiling vision system) is mounted on the head of the mobile robot and image features such as lightings are detected and tracked through the image sequence. For detecting more spot lightings, we choose wide FOV lens, and inevitably there is serious image distortion. But by applying correction calculation only for the position of spot lightings not whole image pixels, we can decrease the processing time. And then using point pattern matching and least square estimation, finally we can get the precise position and orientation of the mobile robot. Experimental results demonstrate the accuracy and update rate of the proposed algorithm in real environments.

• Korean Institute of Interior Design Journal
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.197-206
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• 2015

The purpose of this study is to analyze characteristic interior spaces for TV news center studio. Based on eight channels including public and comprehensive programming broadcasting stations the method for this research is to make differentiate existing relevant literature by creating analysis items for interior spaces through various case studies as well as find out characteristics of spatial forms, colors, materials, decorations, and etc. The conclusions are as follows. Firstly, spatial form of desk and ceiling are similar shapes but floor and wall are different comparing with public and comprehensive programming broadcasting stations. Secondly, preferred color for floor and ceiling is black, for wall and desk are blue and gray. Thirdly, various materials are preferred between public and comprehensive programming broadcasting stations. Fourthly, Flat and elevated floors are preferred as well as space and logos of broadcasting station are preferred for background images as decoration elements. Lastly, Soffit ceiling, desk accommodating more than 4 people, spotlight for public broadcasting stations, and architectural lighting for comprehensive programming broadcasting stations are preferred.

• The Journal of Industrial Distribution & Business
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• v.8 no.3
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• pp.19-22
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• 2017

Purpose - To control exorbitant interest rates, implementation of an interest rate ceiling is a standard practice in microfinance. However, there are pros and cons of such market intervention. Hence, the aim of this short note is to highlight issues and challenges regarding the interest rate cap in microfinance, both from the perspective of clients and institutions. Research design, data, and methodology - While the nature of this short note is explanatory and descriptive, the research methodology used relevant data from the MixMarket and Microcredit Regulatory Authority (MRA) annual reports in Bangladesh. Results - We argue that an interest rate ceiling is detrimental both for the clients and microfinance institutions (MFIs). This market intervention substantially reduces the outreach of MFIs and clients are most likely to pay a higher price in the long-run. Additionally, an interest rate cap also puts severe pressure on new-born and high-cost MFIs to cope with the interest rate ceiling. Conclusions - Although market intervention may be necessary in the short-run, it should not be the ultimate solution to abate high interest in microfinance. Understanding the operational dynamics of MFIs, as well as promoting productivity, efficiency and competition could help to lower the interest rates.

• Proceedings of the KSME Conference
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• 2002.08a
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• pp.533-536
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• 2002

A heating flow discharged from a 4-way ceiling type indoor unit has been investigated using a PIV(particle image velocimetry) system For the PIV measurements, an experimental model of 1/10 scale with a transparent room was devised by satisfying the Archimedes number, which is generally used in case that the forced convection has the similar magnitude as the natural convection. To optimize the heating flow, several vane angles and vane control algorithms of cross and right angle controls were considered. Regarding the vane angle, the experimental results show that it should be less than $30^{\circ}$ to avoid re-suction flows which decrease the performance of the air-conditioner. At the vane angle of $30^{\circ}$, applying open/close control gives nae to more uniform distribution of the heating flow than without control. Especially, the cross-control seems to be satisfactory for the thermal comfort.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society for Noise and Vibration Engineering Conference
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• 2008.04a
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• pp.689-692
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• 2008

Noises from ceiling mounted air-conditioning units were recorded in various actual situations such as offices, classrooms and libraries. Eight specimens of air-conditioners from major domestic and foreign manufacturers' were investigated in this study. A head and torso simulator was located 1.5 m beneath the air-conditioner panel for the measurements and sound pressure levels of the recording sounds were varied from 28 to 55 dBA with 3 dB steps for subjective evaluations. A total of 88 stimuli was randomly presented to subjects using a headphone system in semi-anechoic chamber. Two-categorized (noisiness and amenity) nine-point scale was used as evaluation method. The third scale ('point 3') among the nine-point scale was set as the threshold of allowable level of the air-conditioning sounds in consideration of the real situations. The results indicate that the allowable sound pressure level is around 34 dBA for both noisiness and amenity categories.