• Korean Journal of Psychosomatic Medicine
• /
• v.17 no.2
• /
• pp.62-67
• /
• 2009

Objectives : The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of sociodrama for reducing burnout among health care workers and to investigate relationship between the job satisfaction, conflict with other professions, and burnout. Methods：15 nurses in general hospital participated in sociodrama directed by psychiatrist. One week after acting sociodrama, they were requested to complete ward organizational feature scale(WOFS) and maslach burnout inventory(MBI). The other twenty nurses in same ward requested to complete questionnaire without participating in sociodrama at the same time. Results : Sociodrama group(N=15) showed significantly lower score in burnout when compared to control group(N=17). Nurse/physician relationship was significantly correlated with job satisfaction and burnout. After controlling for interaction between variables by multivariate regression analysis, only job satisfaction was significant predictive factor to burnout. Conclusion : Our result suggests that the sociodrama can be effective in reducing burnout of health care workers in general hospital. These finding also underline the importance of relationship with physicians in job satisfaction and burnout of healthcare workers in general hospital.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
• /
• v.20 no.2
• /
• pp.136-145
• /
• 2002

A laboratory microcosm experiment was conducted to evaluate a major metal uptake route as well as chronic toxic effects of the clam, Macoma balthica exposed to Ag and Cu contaminated sediments. Twenty five clams were exposed to the sediments contaminated with four levels of Ag $Ag(0.01-0.87\mu{mol}\;g^{-1})$ and $Cu(0.75-5.55\mu{mol\;g^{-1})$ for 90 days. AVS (acid volatile sulfide) concentration in the sediments, considered as major factor controlling metal geochemistry and bioavailability, was manipulated to evaluate its effects on Ag and Cu bioaccumulation in M. balthica. Following 90-d exposure, the tissue Ag and Cu in M. balthica increased linearly with the Ag and Cu concentrations in sediments extracted with 1 N HCI (SEM, simultaneously extracted metals with AVS). The bioaccumulation of Ag and Cu in M. balthica was little influenced by difference in [SEM] - [AVS] values, suggesting a minor contribution of pore water metals to bioaccumulation. Tissue Ag and Cu concentrations directly influenced on the clearance rate and glycogen content of the clams. The clams with highest tissue Ag $(1.0\pm{0.2}\mu{mol}\;g^{-1})$ and Cu concentrations $(2.7\pm{0.3}\;\mu{mol}\;g^{-1})$ had only 18-43% of clearance of the clams exposed to uncontaminated sediments. Similarly, glycogen content of the exposed clams had a inverse relationship with tissue Ag and Cu concentrations. These results suggest that M. balthica exposed to Ag and Cu contaminated sediments accumulates metals largely by ingestion of contaminated sediments and can display chronic effects as reduced clearance rate and glycogen content.

• Health Policy and Management
• /
• v.23 no.1
• /
• pp.35-43
• /
• 2013

Background: Diagnosis procedure combination (DPC) has recently been introduced in Korea as a demonstration project and it has aimed the improvement of accuracy in bundled payment instead of Diagnosis related group (DRG). The purpose of this study is to investigate that the model of end-stage liver disease (MELD) score as the severity classification of liver diseases is adequate for improving reimbursement of DPC. Methods: The subjects of this study were 329 patients of liver disease (Korean DRG ver. 3.2 H603) who had discharged from National Health Insurance Corporation Ilsan Hospital which is target hospital of DPC demonstration project, between January 1, 2007 and July 31, 2010. We tested the cost differences by severity classifications which were DRG severity classification and clinical severity classification-MELD score. We used a multiple regression model to find the impacts of severity on total medical cost controlling for demographic factor and characteristics of medical services. The within group homogeneity of cost were measured by calculating the coefficient of variation and extremal quotient. Results: This study investigates the relationship between medical costs and other variables especially severity classifications of liver disease. Length of stay has strong effect on medical costs and other characteristics of patients or episode also effect on medical costs. MELD score for severity classification explained the variation of costs more than DRG severity classification. Conclusion: The accuracy of DRG based payment might be improved by using various clinical data collected by clinical situations but it should have objectivity with considering availability. Adequate compensation for severity should be considered mainly in DRG based payment. Disease specific severity classification would be an alternative like MELD score for liver diseases.

• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
• /
• v.30 no.9
• /
• pp.948-954
• /
• 2008

Membrane bioreactor(MBR) processes have been widely applied to wastewater treatment for last decades due to its excellent capability of solid-liquid separation. However, membrane fouling was considered as a limiting factor in wide application of the MBR process. Excess aeration into membrane surface is a common way to control membrane fouling in most MBR. However, the excessively supplied air is easily dissipated in the reactor, which results in consuming energy and thus, it should be modified for effective control of membrane fouling. In this study, cylindrical tube was introduced to MBR in order to use the supplied air effectively. Membrane fibers were immersed into the cylindrical tube. This makes the supplied air non-dissipated in the reactor so that membrane fouling could be controlled economically. Two different air supplying method was employed and compared each other; nozzle and porous diffuser which were located just beneath the membrane module. Transmembrane pressure(TMP) was monitored as a function of airflow rate, flux, and ratio of the tube area and cross-sectioned area of membrane fibers(A$_m$/A$_t$). Flow rate of air and liquid was regulated to obtain slug flow in the cylindrical tube. With the same flow of air supply, nozzle was more effective for controlling membrane fouling than porous diffuser. Accumulation of sludge was observed in the tube with the nozzle, if the air was not suppled sufficiently. Reduction of membrane fouling was dependent upon the ratio, A$_m$/A$_t$. For diffuser, membrane fouling was minimized when A$_m$/A$_t$ was 0.27, but 0.55 for nozzle.

• Ocean and Polar Research
• /
• v.30 no.3
• /
• pp.303-312
• /
• 2008

Despite the impacts of the climate changes on the pelagic ecosystem, few studies have examined the pelagic-benthic coupling in the adjacent East China Sea and Korea Strait. Therefore, the species composition and abundance of the macrobenthic community, as well as the potential food sources of benthic fauna were investigated in the present study using stable isotope analysis (${\delta}^{13}C\;and\;{\delta}^{15}N$) for suspended particulate organic matter (SPOM), sedimentary organic matter (SOM), phytoplankton, and zooplankton. A total of 157 macrobenthic fauna were collected, and the density of the macrobenthic fauna ranged from 4 to 434 ind./0.25 $m^2$, with an average density of 149 ind./0.25 $m^2$. The density of the benthic fauna increased moving from offshore shelf sites to coastal sites adjacent to the Korea Strait. Cluster analysis showed that the macrobenthic communities consisted of three distinct groups: group A in the Korea Strait, group B in the East China Sea, and group C near Ieodo. The dominant species in group A were the amphipods Photis japonica and Ampelisca miharaensis, followed by the polychaete Scolotoma longifolia. Environmental variables, such as the temperature of the seawater and sediment, and oxygen, and chlorophyll a levels, appeared to affect the structure of the community, suggesting the importance of coupling with the pelagic system. The ${\delta}^{13}C$ values of SPOM and zooplankton ranged from -22.97 to -23.5% and -19.92 to -21.86%, respectively, showing a relatively narrow range(<1%) between the two components. The difference between the ${\delta}^{13}C$ values of SOM and pelagic organic matter was also within 1%, suggesting that the SOM originated from the pelagic system, which is an important factor controlling the macrobenthic community.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
• /
• v.35 no.1
• /
• pp.86-96
• /
• 2002

The distributions of suspended particulate matter (SPM), chlorophyll a, particulate organic carbon (POC) and nitrogen (PON) and particulate biogenic silica (PBSi) along the salinity gradient were investigated in the Seomjin River estuary from March 1999 to April 2001. Sampling sites were set based on the surface salinity during each cruise rather than geographic locations. Concentrations of SPM were less than 20 mg/L, suggesting relatively low input of terrestrial SPM despite large freshwater discharge through Seomiin River, Chlorophyll a peaks occurred at 5$\~$ 15 psu salinity zone (10$\~$20 km from Nan Cho Island) in November 1999, at 15$\~$25 psu (10$\~$20 km) salinity zone in April 2000 and at 1$\~$15 psu salinity zone (15$\~$20 km) in October 2000 (ca. 8$\~$58%\mu$g/L). Concentrations of POC, PON and PBSi were also high at the same zone. Relatively low ratios of POC to chlorophyll a in mid-salinity zone where POM peak occurred suggests high contribution of living phytoplankton to the total POC. On the other hand, relatively high ratios of POC to chlorophyll $\alpha$ in very low salinity zone and the mouth of estuary indicated relatively high portions of detrital POC. Consequently, the low concentrations of SPM in this estuary and the high concentrations of chlorophyll $\alpha$ and the low ratios of POC to chlorophyll $\alpha$ in the mid-salinity zone suggest that production of living phytoplankton is primary factor in controlling distribution of POM along the salinity gradients in the Seomjin River estuary.

• Korean Chemical Engineering Research
• /
• v.58 no.3
• /
• pp.458-465
• /
• 2020

Isotherms, kinetics and thermodynamic properties for adsorption of acid fuchsin (AF) dye by activated carbon were carried out using variables such as dose of adsorbent, pH, initial concentration and contact time and temperature. The effect of pH on adsorption of AF showed a bathtub with high adsorption percentage in acidic (pH 8). Isothermal adsorption data were fitted to the Freundlich, Langmuir, and Dubinin-Radushkevich isotherm models. Freundlich isothem model showed the highest agreement and confirmed that the adsorption mechanism was multilayer adsorption. It was found that adsorption capacity increased with increasing temperature. Freundlich's separation factor showed that this adsorption process was an favorable treatment process. Estimated adsorption energy by Dubinin-Radushkevich isotherm model indicated that the adsorption of AF by activated carbon is a physical adsorption. Adsorption kinetics was found to follow the pseudo-second-order kinetic model. Surface diffusion at adsorption site was evaluated as a rate controlling step by the intraparticle diffusion model. Thermodynamic parameters such as activation energy, Gibbs free energy, enthalpy entropy and isosteric heat of adsorption were investigated. The activation energy and enthalpy change of the adsorption process were 21.19 kJ / mol and 23.05 kJ / mol, respectively. Gibbs free energy was found that the adsorption reaction became more spontaneously with increasing temperature. Positive entropy was indicated that this process was irreversible. The isosteric heat of adsorption was indicated physical adsorption in nature.

• Clean Technology
• /
• v.26 no.1
• /
• pp.30-38
• /
• 2020

The kinetic and thermodynamic parameters of Acid Red 66, adsorbed by granular activated carbon, were investigated on areas of initial concentration, contact time, and temperature. The adsorption equilibrium data were applied to Langmuir, Freundlich, Temkin, Redlich-Peterson, and Temkin isotherms. The agreement was found to be the highest in the Freundlich model. From the determined Freundlich separation factor (1/n = 0.125 ~ 0.232), the adsorption of Acid Red 66 by granular activated carbon could be employed as an effective treatment method. Temkin's constant related to adsorption heat (B_T = 2.147 ~ 2.562 J mol^-1) showed that this process was physical adsorption. From kinetic experiments, the adsorption process followed the pseudo-second order model with good agreement. The results of the intraparticle diffusion equation showed that the inclination of the second straight line representing the intraparticle diffusion was smaller than that of the first straight line representing the boundary layer diffusion. Therefore, it was confirmed that intraparticle diffusion was the rate-controlling step. From thermodynamic experiments, the activation energy was determined as 35.23 kJ mol^-1, indicating that the adsorption of Acid Red 66 was physical adsorption. The negative Gibbs free energy change (ΔG = -0.548 ~ -7.802 kJ mol^-1) and the positive enthalpy change (ΔH = +109.112 kJ mol^-1) indicated the spontaneous and endothermic nature of the adsorption process, respectively. The isosteric heat of adsorption increased with the increase of surface loading, indicating lateral interactions between the adsorbed dye molecules.

• Journal of the Korean Geotechnical Society
• /
• v.32 no.2
• /
• pp.53-62
• /
• 2016

Among several factors controlling soil compaction, temperature is the factor that varies with region and season. Although earthwork is performed in many projects in the cold regions of the earth, studies on quantifying soil compaction associated with temperature are limited. This experimental study investigates the temperature effect on the soil compaction of cohesionless soil. Jumunjin sand was selected for the tests to represent cohesionless clean sand, which is widely used as an engineering fill at petrochemical projects such as northern Alberta of Canada and Russia. The laboratory test program consists of performing a series of standard proctor tests varying temperature of soil samples ranging from $-10^{\circ}C$ to $17^{\circ}C$. Test results indicate that soil specimen volume expansion occurred from bulking and its range was 0% to 6% with zero above temperature. For increasing temperature from $0^{\circ}C$ to $17^{\circ}C$, water content corresponding to maximum volume (minimum dry unit weight) was decreased and water content corresponding to minimum volume (maximum dry unit weight observed after reaching minimum dry unit weight) was slightly increased with increasing temperature. In zero below temperature, dry unit weight gradually decreased with increasing water content. In this case, no bulking effect was found and soil specimen volume increased due to the higher unit volume of ice.

• The Journal of Korean Academy of Prosthodontics
• /
• v.38 no.2
• /
• pp.200-213
• /
• 2000

Lasers have given dentistry a new rapid, economic, and accurate technique for metal joining. Although laser welding has been recommended as an accurate technique, there are some limitations with this technique. For example, the two joining surfaces must have a tight-fitting contact, which may be difficult to achieve in some situations. The tensile samples used for this study were made from a custom-made pure titanium and type III gold alloy plates. 27 of 33 specimens were sectioned perpendicular to their long axis with a carborundum disk and water coolant. Six specimens remained and served as the control group. A group of 6 specimens was posed as butt joints in custom parallel positioning device with a feeler gauge at each of three gaps : 0.00, 0.25. and 0.50mm. All specimens were then machined to produce a uniform cross-sectional dimension, none of the specimens was subjected to any subsequent form of heat treatment. Scanning electron microscopy was performed on representative tested specimens at fractured surfaces in both the parent metal and the weld. Vickers hardness was measured at the center of the welds with a micropenetrometer using a force of 300gm for 15 seconds. Measurement was made at approximately $200{\mu}m\;and\;500{\mu}m$ deep from each surface. One-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) and Scheffe's test was calculated to detect differences between groups. The purpose of this study is to compare the strength and properties of the joint achieved at various butt Joint gaps by the laser welding of type III gold alloy and pure titanium tensile specimens in an argon atmosphere. The results of this study were as follows : 1. When indexing and welding pure titanium, there was no decrease in ultimate tensile strength as compared with the unsectioned alloys for indexing gaps of 0.00 to 0.50mm, although with increasing gap size may come increased distortion (p>0.05). 2. When indexing and welding type III gold alloy, there were significant differences in ultimate tensile strength among groups with weld gaps of 0.00mm, 0.25 and 0.50mm, and the control group. Group with butt contact without weld gap demonstrated a significant higher ultimate tensile strength than groups with weld gaps of 0.25 and 0.50mm (p<0.05). 3. When indexing and welding the different metal combination of type III gold alloy and pure titanium, there were significant differences in ultimate tensile strength between groups with weld gaps of 0.00, 0.25, and 0.50mm. However, the mechanical properties of the welded joint would become too brittle to be acceptable clinically (p<0.05). 4. The presence of large pores in the laser welded joint appears to be the most important factor in controlling the tensile strength of the weld in both pure titanium and type III gold alloy.