• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Precision Engineering Conference
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• 2003.06a
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• pp.129-132
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• 2003

Used cutting fluid from machining processes is harmful to both environment and human health. Chemical substances that provide the lubrication function in the machining process are toxtc to the environment if the cutting fluid is released to soil and water and caused serious health problems to workers who are exposed to the cutting fluid in both liquid and mist form. Recently. cost of using cutting fluid is increasing as the number and the extensiveness of environmental protection laws and regulations increase. Therefore, the use of cutting fluid in machining processes place an enormous burden on manufacturing companies to cover the additional costs associated with their use and protection of our environment. Current trends in manufacturing are focused on minimizing or eliminating the use of metalworking fluids in machining processes. And the increased costs for the disposal of waste products (swarf, coolants and lubricants), especially in industrially developed countries, has generated interest in dry machining. A variety of new techniques are testimony that new technology has rationalized further efforts to research and implement dry machining processes. This paper presents the developed equipment, the process optimization and the applications in the field of surface grinding for the new cryogenic dry machining using a compressed cooling air. The investigated new machining process method shows many advantages compared to conventional techniques with cutting fluid.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing Administration
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.449-461
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• 2013

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to explore the relationship between cost and revenue for inpatient nursing activities in general wards. Methods: Data were collected from 12 medical-surgical wards in one general hospital from January 1 to December 31, 2010. The nursing activities were categorized into 2 groups according to nursing service payment type in terms of the Korea health insurance system. Descriptive statistics were used to identify nursing activities and nursing activity costs. Results: Of 140 nursing activities identified as performed in general wards, payment for 69 items was included in nursing management fees. The percentage of each cost for the nursing units was 90% for labor, 4% for materials, and 6% for operating expenses. The cost for medical support nursing service accounted for 38% of costs and nursing management fees, 62%. The average profit and loss was -237,257,000 won. The cost recovery rate for nursing service was only 44%. Conclusion: The results indicate a need to measure the economic value of nursing activities performed in general wards and use it as a basis for establishing an adequate reimbursement system for nursing service.

• Journal of Korean Society of Industrial and Systems Engineering
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• v.46 no.3
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• pp.101-108
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• 2023

Although the proportion of coal-fired power generation is decreasing, efficient operating technology is needed to continuously invest in facilities and reduce maintenance costs until it is abolished. Boilers, one of the main facilities of power plants, operate for a long time in harsh environments of high temperature and high pressure. In addition, damage due to deterioration is likely to occur depending on the fuel and tube material used. It is very important to judge soundness because damage caused by deterioration adversely affects facility operation. Previously, replication method was used to analyze the progress of deterioration. In the replication method, pre-treatment such as chemical treatment is performed on the boiler tube in the field, the area is reproduced by attaching a film, and the replicated film is determined by an expert in the laboratory with an expensive microscope. However, this method involves substantial costs and time requirements, as well as the possibility of human errors. To address these issues, we developed a mobile health assessment system in this research. Since it is detachable and takes images in real time, this system enables swift evaluations across a broad range and facilitates the assessment of preprocessing quality. In addition, it was intended to reduce existing human mistakes by developing a degradation classification algorithm using the merger cluster method.

• Korean System Dynamics Review
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• v.13 no.3
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• pp.23-46
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• 2012

The purpose of this paper is to estimate effects of healthy city policies on reducing social costs. The analyses were dune at the cities, counties, and communities levels in 2009, and covered Seoul Metropolitan Area(SMA). For estimation of reducing social costs, it developed a system dynamics(SD) model that analyzed causal relationships between physical inactivity rates, the number of deaths, medical expenses, and total social costs. Simulation period of SD was from 2009 to 2030. Three alternatives were proposed with combinations of length of bike lanes, number of bus routes, crime rates, self-reported good health status rates, and obesity rates. The total estimated cost of physical inactivities from 2009 to 2030 was 31.9 trillion won from the future forecast without policies. As a result of simulations with three alternatives, there were economic benefit approximately from 119.7 billion won to 1.16 trillion won. This study contributed to better understanding the economic benefits of healthy cities that were associated with design of built environment and physical activity. It also emphasized the importance of healthy cities planning as one of national welfare polices.

• Journal of the Korean Dietetic Association
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• v.7 no.3
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• pp.274-281
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• 2001

The purpose of this study was to improve menu management of welfare institutions for mental-disorders. Special objectives were: to analyze dietitians' special considerations for menu planning in the view of nutrition, recipients' food preferences, and foodservice management; and to interprete menus by food groups and food costs. An open-ended questionnaire was developed and sent to 55 dietitians of welfare institutions for mental-disorders by a fax. Dietitians were asked to write their special considerations for menu planning relating to the nutrition, recipients, and menu management. A total of 46 dietitians responded to the questionnaires. Also, 32 weekly menus were sent to analyze in this study. Results of this study showed that dietitians considered specially energy, proteins, vitamins, minerals, and fats for recipients's health conditions and daily RDA. However, dietitians wanted more information about right menu plan manuals for psychiatric patients. Analysis of weekly menus showed that milk and milk products were th most insufficient serving food group in these institutions. Also, snacks (p<0.05)and milk products (p<0.05) serving was significantly affected by higher food costs. The results implicated that future research on menu development should be necessary for nutritional balanced meal services in welfare institutions.

• Korean Journal of Community Nutrition
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• v.7 no.6
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• pp.863-871
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• 2002

To compare the costs incurred by infant feeding between mothers who breastfed their infants and those who fed them infant formula, a questionnaire survey was carried out to 136 mothers living in Seoul, Cheongju and Chungju who breastfed and 199 mothers who formula-fed their infants. The cost of formula-feeding was estimated based on the expenditures for formula and feeding apparatus, and the time needed to wash bottles and prepare formula. The cost of breastfeeding was estimated based on the expenditures for food for the additional nutritional intake of these mothers. The mean cost of formula-feeding was ￦ 1,870,125 during the first year of the baby＇s life. The food cost for the additional nutritional intake of the breastfeeding mothers was ￦ 203.004 per year. The extra medical cost for respiratory illnesses in the formula-fed group compared to the breastfed group was W 62,920 because the formula-fed infants required medical attention for respiratory illnesses more often than the breast-fed infants. Therefore, breastfeeding could save ￦ 1,730,041 during the first year of an infant＇s life. We may have underestimated the cost savings from breastfeeding because we did not take into account the potentially decreased costs of fertility control and the health benefits for mothers. as well as the decreased usage of water and gas. Analyses showed that breastfeeding is not only nutritionally advantageous, but also economically advantageous for families and society.

• Journal of Korean Clinical Nursing Research
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.321-332
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• 2013

Purpose: Korean health insurance extended application of the Diagnosis Related Groups (DRG) payment system to tertiary and general hospitals from July, 2013. This study was done to develop a DRG fee adjustment mechanism applied to levels of nurse staffing to assure quality nursing service. Methods: Nurse stafffing grades among hospitals in Korea were analyzed. Differences and ratio of inpatient costs by nurse staffing grades in DRG fees and differences of DRG fee between tertiary and general hospitals were compared. Results: In 2013, nurse staffing grades in tertiary and general hospitals had improved, but other hospital nurse staffing grades remained at the 2001 level. Gaps of inpatient costs between first and seventh nurse staffing grades were over 10% in 4 out of 7 DRG diagnosis; However differences of DRG fee between tertiary and general hospitals were only 4.51% and 4.72% respectively. A DRG fee adjustment mechanism was developed that included nurse staffing grades and hospitalization days as factors of the formula. Conclusion: Current DRG fees motivate hospitals to decrease nurse staffing grades because cost reduction is bigger than compensation. This DRG fee adjustment mechanism reflects nurse staffing supply to motivate hospitals to hire more nurses as a reasonable compensation system.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.395-404
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• 2011

Weather forecasting is one of the key elements to improve health through the prevention and mitigation of health problems. Health forecasting is a potential resource creating enormous added value as it is effectively used for people. The purpose of this study is to estimate 'Willingness to Pay' for health forecasting. This survey was carried out to derive willingness to pay from 400 people who lived in Busan and Kyungnam Province and over 30 years of age during the period of July 1-31, 2009. The results showed that a 47.50% of people had intention to willingness to pay for health forecasting, and the pay was 7,184.21 won per year. Willing to pay goes higher depending on 'tax burden as to benefit of weather forecasting', 'importance of the weather forecasting in the aspect of health', 'satisfaction to the weather forecasting', and 'frequency of health weather index check'. This study followed the suggestion of the Korea Meteorological Administration generally and the values derived through surveys could be reliable. It can be concluded that a number of citizens who are willing to pay for health forecasting are high enough to meet the costs needed to provide health forecasting.

• The Korean Journal of Health Service Management
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• v.13 no.3
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• pp.93-103
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• 2019

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to analyze the association between health status and physical activity levels in older adults (over 65 years) in Korea. Methods: The participants were selected from the database of the Seventh Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES VII), conducted by the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in 2017. A chi-square test and logistic regression analysis were used to analyze data. Results: The findings showed that health conditions such as hypertension and diabetes were related to physical activity levels of the older adults. In addition to health status, social and economic factors such as gender, age, and geographic region should be considered in order to initiate the practice of aerobic and strength exercise in the older adults. Conclusions: To initiate physical activity levels in the older adults, it is necessary to consider support for costs involved, policies required for the development of integrated exercise programs, expansion of public exercise facilities, and improved facilities.

• Journal of Oriental Neuropsychiatry
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.135-144
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• 2018

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to analyze the medical cost for patients with vertigo and to examine associations between chronic vertigo and mental disorder using 2014 Health Insurance Review & Assessment Service-National Patients Sample (HIRA-NPS). Methods: We analyzed sociodemographic characteristics, medical cost and medical care use pattern for vertigo patients. We used hierarchical multiple logistic regression analysis to examine odds ratio between chronic vertigo and mental disorder. Results: A total of 46,502 people and 118,504 claims data were identified for vertigo cases. Characteristics of vertigo patients have significant differences on proportion of female patients (68.36%), patients' average age (54.98) and proportion of medical assistance (5.76%) compared with non-vertigo patients. Results revealed that Korean medicine are one of frequent methods among total treatments for vertigo patients. Total days of medical care and total costs are 2.78 days and 111,362 won, respectively, and days for outpatients in Korean medical care (mean: 2.26 days) are more than those (mean: 5.05 days) in Western medical care. There is significant difference relative to sex between acute vertigo and chronic vertigo. The odds ratio between chronic vertigo and mental disorder is estimated as 1.34, that means risk of becoming chronic is 34% higher for vertigo patients with mental disorder. Conclusions: This study assessed socio-demographic characteristics, medical care use and expenses related to vertigo, and estimated associations between chronic vertigo and mental disorder. Findings provide a basis for economic evaluation studies on vertigo patients and development of clinical practice guidelines for vertigo patients with mental disorder.