• Title/Summary/Keyword: environmental benefit

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Tuberculosis Infection Control in Health-Care Facilities: Environmental Control and Personal Protection

  • Lee, Ji Yeon
    • Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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    • v.79 no.4
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    • pp.234-240
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    • 2016
  • Transmission of tuberculosis (TB) is a recognized risk to patients and healthcare workers in healthcare settings. The literature review suggests that implementation of combination control measures reduces the risk of TB transmission. Guidelines suggest a three-level hierarchy of controls including administrative, environmental, and respiratory protection. Among environmental controls, installation of ventilation systems is a priority because ventilation reduces the number of infectious particles in the air. Natural ventilation is cost-effective but depends on climatic conditions. Supplemented intervention such as air-cleaning methods including high efficiency particulate air filtration and ultraviolet germicidal irradiation should be considered in areas where adequate ventilation is difficult to achieve. Personal protective equipment including particulate respirators provides additional benefit when administrative and environmental controls cannot assure protection.

A Study on University Student's Clothing Disposition Behavior Depending on their Personality and Environmental Consciousness (대학생의 개성과 환경의식에 따른 의류처분행동에 관한 연구)

  • Jeong, Yu-Jeong;Park, Ok-Lyun
    • Korean Journal of Human Ecology
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    • v.15 no.1
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    • pp.149-156
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    • 2006
  • The followings are the findings of a study on university student's clothing disposition behavior depending on their personality and environmental consciousness: 1. University student's personality factors were classified into perceived consumer effectiveness, globalism, alienation, conservatism, and a sense of social responsibility. 2. The personality factors are found to have significant influences on both economic and altruistic disposition behavior. 3. In terms of the economic disposition behavior, people in the groups with high environmental consciousness tend to trade unused clothing with other things rather than to sell them for the benefit of economic gains. With regard to the altruistic disposition behavior, they also tend to give the clothing to their close people, for example family members or relatives, rather than to donate them to churches or charitable organizations.

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The Environmental Applications of Wireless Sensor Networks

  • Ituen, Ima;Sohn, Gun-Ho
    • International Journal of Contents
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    • v.3 no.4
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    • pp.1-7
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    • 2007
  • There has been increased interest in wireless sensors in the last few years. This paper provides insight into the properties that make these sensors so attractive, specifically considering their efficiency, data reliability, and the ability to verify the data generated. Some advantages a wireless network presents over traditional information sensing are discussed as well. The paper considers how the environmental field can benefit from using these networks. Some of the possible challenges this industry will face in adopting this new method of data sampling and collection are also considered. A project we conducted raised concern over measures needed for the integrity of the communication system to be maintained, thus ensuring the integrity of the data being collected. From results of an experimental project conducted in York University, the reliability and usefulness of a sensor network is discussed.

The Present of Convention on Biological Diversity Maritime Agenda (해양관련 생물다양성협약 의제 소개)

  • Back, Jinwook;Lee, Kanghyun
    • Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
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    • v.32 no.4
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    • pp.397-402
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    • 2014
  • In June 1992, Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) was concluded by 158 countries in Rio de Janeiro. And now, 194 member nations are participating in discussions for their own profit. Recently, Nagoya Protocol regarding Access to genetic resources and Benefit-Sharing (ABS) was approved and took effect from October $12^{th}$, 2014. Thus, it is important to understand the impact of CBD and ABS functioning on researchers studying marine biodiversity. Until now, in the previous Conference of the parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity, the interest towards researching marine and marine living resources was relatively low, and accordingly, the discussions regarding marine and marine living resources were delayed. However, in the $12^{th}$ Pyeongchang Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity, the arguments concerning Ecologically or Biologically Significant marine Areas (EBSA) and the other marine related issues were discussed. Although, South Korea has not yet officially joined Nagoya Protocol, however the consultations in regard to Prior and Informed Consent (PIC), Mutually Agreed Terms (MAT) and Global Multilateral Benefit-Sharing Mechanism (GMBSM) were discussed. We belive that as a possessing nation of biological resources, South Korean government authorities should revise their management systems protocol and regulations concerning domestic biological resources, in order to strengthen the information system and help academia and industry to utilize the biological resources abroad easily and effectively.

Life Cycle Assessment and Eco-efficiency Analysis for the Resource-circulation Network of Waste Heat Generated from Industrial Process (공정폐열의 자원순환 네트워크 구성을 위한 전과정 평가 및 생태효율성 분석)

  • Shin, Choon-Hwan;Park, Do-Hyun;Kim, Ji-Won
    • Journal of Environmental Science International
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    • v.22 no.3
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    • pp.281-289
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    • 2013
  • For the purpose of evaluating the eco-efficiency(EE) on surplus heat generated from industrial process, techniques of life cycle assessment are adopted in this study. Because it can be indicated both environmental impacts and economic benefits, EE is well known as a useful tool for symbiosis network on the sustainable development of new projects and businesses. To evaluate environmental impacts, the categories were divided into two areas of resource depletion and global warming potential. It can be seen that environmental impact increased a little but much higher economic benefit on the company, environmental performance and economic value were improved on the apartment by the district heating, respectively. In result, eco-industrial park(EIP) project on surplus heat should be found sustainable new business because the EE was in the area of fully positively eco-efficiency and, moreover resource depletion was taken place than the reduction of greenhouse gas.

Eco-efficiency of Energy Symbiosis for the Energy Network of Surplus Heat

  • Shin, Choon-Hwan;Kim, Ji-Won
    • Journal of Environmental Science International
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    • v.21 no.5
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    • pp.545-553
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    • 2012
  • Eco-efficiency considers both environmental impacts and economic values. It is a useful tool for communicating with stakeholders for business decision making. This study evaluated the eco-efficiency factor (EEF) for the energy network of a dyeing company that supplies surplus heat to a neighboring apartment during the night. This symbiosis network is one of the eco-industrial park (EIP) projects in Korea and aims to benefit local residents and the industrial complex by utilizing surplus heat. In this study, two categories were annualized. The first quantified environmental burden based on $CO_2$ emissions and quantified product value in terms of steam sales. The second used a variety of environmental factors, such as fossil fuel, water and waste, to quantify environmental burden and used steam sales to quantify value. The EEF of the symbiosis network was 1.6, using the global warming impact, and determined using the multiple variable, was 1.33. This study shows that the EEF depends on variable details of environmental burden but the values of this project were very high contrast to other business or EIP project.

Application of Probabilistic Health Risk Analysis in Life Cycle Assessment -Part I : A General Framework for Uncertainty and Variability Analysis of Health Risk in Life Cycle Assessment (전과정평가에 있어 확률론적 건강영향분석기법 적용 -Part I : 전과정평가에 있어 확률론적 위해도 분석기법 적용방안에 관한 연구)

  • Choi, Kwang-Soo;Park, Jae-Sung
    • Journal of Environmental Impact Assessment
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    • v.9 no.3
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    • pp.185-202
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    • 2000
  • Uncertainty and variability in Life Cycle Assessment(LCA) have been significant key issues in LCA methodology with techniques in other research area such as social and political science. Variability is understood as stemming from inherent variations in the real world, while uncertainty comes from inaccurate measurements, lack of data, model assumptions, etc. Related articles in this issues were reviewed for classification, distinguish and elaboration of probabilistic/stochastic health risk analysis application in LCA. Concept of focal zone, streamlining technique, scenario modelling and Monte Carlo/Latin Hypercube risk analysis were applied to the uncertainty/variability analysis of health risk in LCA. These results show that this general framework of multi-disciplinary methodology between probabilistic health risk assessment and LCA was of benefit to decision making process by suppling information about input/output data sensitivity, health effect priority and health risk distribution. There should be further research needs for case study using this methodology.

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An Empirical Study on Influencing Factors, Practice Level, and Performance of Green Supply Chain Management (친환경 공급사슬관리의 영향요인, 실행수준, 그리고 기업성과간의 구조적 인과관계)

  • Lee, Young-Chan;Oh, Hyung-Jin
    • The Journal of Information Systems
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    • v.21 no.1
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    • pp.173-203
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    • 2012
  • In this paper, we arrange the concept of 'Green' in SCM after literature study of Green SCM and investigate causal relationships between influencing factors, practice level and environmental performance focused on Korean firms empirically and conduct path analysis for hypothesis test using partial least squares regression with bootstrap. Firstly, we divide influencing factors of Green SCM into environmental and organizational factors through the previous studies of innovation diffusion theory and environmental management theory, and then we selected 'uncertainty', 'competitiveness' as the environmental factors and 'top management support', 'perceived benefit', 'training' as the organizational factors. Secondly, we classify practice level of Green SCM into 'internal environmental management', 'green purchasing', 'eco-design'. Finally, we selected 'financial performance', 'environmental performance' as the organizational performance. We conducted a survey on the middle manager of manufacturing companies implementing SCM and an empirical analysis. The results of analysis show that there exist causal relationships between influencing factors, practice level, and environmental performance of Green SCM. We expect that the result of this study will suggest useful information to managers who are responsible for SCM to design and execute Green SCM in strategic perspectives.

Valuation of Forest Habitat Functions of Endangered Mammals Using Species Distribution Model

  • Kim, Jung Teak;Kim, Jaeuk;Lee, Woo-Kyun;Jeon, Seong Woo;Kim, Joon Soon
    • Journal of Forest and Environmental Science
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    • v.31 no.3
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    • pp.207-213
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    • 2015
  • It is estimated that there is a total of approximately 100,000 species in Korea. However, the number is currently about 30,000 and only 16,027 species are listed in the 'Species Korea' (as of December, 2014). Of the listed species, 51 species are designated as the Endangered Species Class I while 195 species are in the Class II, totaling 246 endangered species including 20 mammals. Under the circumstances that development (e.g., roads) is increasingly threatening the persistence of endangered mammals, it is significant to identify and preserve suitable habitats for them. In this context, evaluating the values of the suitable habitat environment would serve as essential information for development decision making. This study estimated the values of endangered mammals' forest habitats through spatialization of habitat services. In doing so, a species distribution model, Maximum Entropy Model (MaxEnt) was utilized for a group of endangered mammals including, mountain goat, wildcat, marten cat, and flying squirrel. To calculate the values per unit area, a benefit transfer method was used based on the point-estimate technique with the best available values estimated previously. The range of discount rate of 3.0 to 5.5 percent was applied taking the notion of social discount rate into account. As a result, the province with the highest values for endangered mammal habitats appeared to be Gangwon, followed by Gyeongbuk and Gyeongnam. The monetary values of the endangered mammal habitats were estimated to be 330 billion to 421 billion won per year.

Application of a Simulation Model for Dairy Cattle Production Systems Integrated with Forage Crop Production: the Effects of Whole Crop Rice Silage Utilization on Nutrient Balances and Profitability

  • Kikuhara, K.;Hirooka, H.
    • Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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    • v.22 no.2
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    • pp.216-224
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    • 2009
  • In Japan, since rice consumption has been decreasing with the westernization of Japanese eating habits, surplus paddy fields have been increasing. If these surplus paddy fields can be utilized for forage rice production as feed for animal production and excretions (feces and urine) from animal production can be applied to the paddy fields as manure, then the problems of surplus paddy fields and excretions from animal production may be solved, and the environment kept sustainable. The objectives of the present study were to apply a bio-economic model to dairy and forage rice integration systems in Japan and to examine the merit of introducing whole crop rice silage (WCRS), as well as economic and environmental effects of various economic and management options in the systems. Five simulations were conducted using this model. The use of WCRS as a home-grown feed increased environmental loads and decreased economic benefit because of the higher amount of purchased feed, when compared to the use of typical crops such as maize, alfalfa and timothy silage (simulation 1). Higher economic benefits from higher forage rice yields and higher milk production of a dairy cow were obtained (simulations 2, 3). There were no economic and environmental incentives for utilizing crude protein (CP) rich WCRS, because an increase in the CP content in WCRS led to the use of more chemical fertilizers, resulting in high production costs and nitrogen outputs (simulation 4). When evaluated under the situation of a fixed herd size, increasing forage rice yields decreased the total benefit of the production, in spite of the fact that the amount of subsidies per unit of land increased (simulation 5). It was indicated that excess subsidy support may not promote yield of forage rice. It was, however, observed in most cases that dairy and forage rice integration systems could not be economically established without subsidies.