• 제목/요약/키워드: health impacts

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Environmental Changes after Timber Harvesting in (Mt.) Paekunsan (백운산(白雲山) 성숙활엽수림(成熟闊葉樹林) 개벌수확지(皆伐收穫地)에서 벌출직후(伐出直後)의 환경변화(環境變化))

  • Park, Jae-Hyeon
    • Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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    • v.84 no.4
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    • pp.465-478
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    • 1995
  • The objective of this study was to investigate the impacts of large-scale timber harvesting on the environment of a mature hardwood forest. To achieve the objective, the effects of harvesting on forest environmental factors were analyzed quantitatively using the field data measured in the study sites of Seoul National University Research Forests [(Mt.) Paekunsan] for two years(1993-1994) following timber harvesting. The field data include information on vegetation, soil mesofauna, physicochemical characteristics of soil, surface water runoff, water quality in the stream, and hillslope erosion. For comparison, field data for each environmental factor were collected in forest areas disturbed by logging and undisturbed, separately. The results of this study were as follows : The diversity of vegetational species increased in the harvested sites. However, the similarity index value of species between harvested and non-harvested sites was close to each other. Soil bulk density and soil hardness were increased after timber harvesting, respectively. The level of organic matter, total-N, avail $P_2O_5$, CEC($K^+$, $Na^+$, $Ca^{{+}{+}}$, $Mg^{{+}{+}}$) in the harvested area were found decreased. While the population of Colembola spp., and Acari spp. among soil mesofauna in harvested sites increased by two to seven times compared to those of non-harvested sites during the first year, the rates of increment decreased in the second year. However, those members of soil mesofauna in harvested sites were still higher than those of non-harvested sites in the second year. The results of statistical analysis using the stepwise regression method indicated that the diversity of soil mesofauna were significantly affected by soil moisture, soil bulk density, $Mg^{{+}{+}}$, CEC, and soil temperature at soil depth of 5(0~10)cm in the order of importance. The amount of surface water runoff on harvested sites was larger than that of non-harvested sites by 28% in the first year and 24.5% in the second year after timber harvesting. The level of BOD, COD, and pH in the stream water on the harvested sites reached at the level of the domestic use for drinking in the first and second year after timber harvesting. Such heavy metals as Cd, Pb, Cu, and organic P were not found. Moreover, the level of eight factors of domestic use for drinking water designated by the Ministry of Health and Welfare of Korea were within the level of the first class in the quality of drinking water standard. The study also showed that the amount of hillslope erosion in harvested sites was 4.77 ton/ha/yr in the first year after timber harvesting. In the second year, the amount decreased rapidly to 1.0 ton/ha/yr. The impact of logging on hillslope erosion in the harvested sites was larger than that in non-harvested sites by seven times in the first year and two times in the second year. The above results indicate that the large-scale timber harvesting cause significant changes in the environmental factors. However, the results are based on only two-year field observation. We should take more field observation and analyses to increase understandings on the impacts of timber harvesting on environmental changes. With the understandings, we might be able to improve the technology of timber harvesting operations to reduce the environmental impacts of large-scale timber harvesting.

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Analyses of the Efficiency in Hospital Management (병원 단위비용 결정요인에 관한 연구)

  • Ro, Kong-Kyun;Lee, Seon
    • Korea Journal of Hospital Management
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    • v.9 no.1
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    • pp.66-94
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    • 2004
  • The objective of this study is to examine how to maximize the efficiency of hospital management by minimizing the unit cost of hospital operation. For this purpose, this paper proposes to develop a model of the profit maximization based on the cost minimization dictum using the statistical tools of arriving at the maximum likelihood values. The preliminary survey data are collected from the annual statistics and their analyses published by Korea Health Industry Development Institute and Korean Hospital Association. The maximum likelihood value statistical analyses are conducted from the information on the cost (function) of each of 36 hospitals selected by the random stratified sampling method according to the size and location (urban or rural) of hospitals. We believe that, although the size of sample is relatively small, because of the sampling method used and the high response rate, the power of estimation of the results of the statistical analyses of the sample hospitals is acceptable. The conceptual framework of analyses is adopted from the various models of the determinants of hospital costs used by the previous studies. According to this framework, the study postulates that the unit cost of hospital operation is determined by the size, scope of service, technology (production function) as measured by capacity utilization, labor capital ratio and labor input-mix variables, and by exogeneous variables. The variables to represent the above cost determinants are selected by using the step-wise regression so that only the statistically significant variables may be utilized in analyzing how these variables impact on the hospital unit cost. The results of the analyses show that the models of hospital cost determinants adopted are well chosen. The various models analyzed have the (goodness of fit) overall determination (R2) which all turned out to be significant, regardless of the variables put in to represent the cost determinants. Specifically, the size and scope of service, no matter how it is measured, i. e., number of admissions per bed, number of ambulatory visits per bed, adjusted inpatient days and adjusted outpatients, have overall effects of reducing the hospital unit costs as measured by the cost per admission, per inpatient day, or office visit implying the existence of the economy of scale in the hospital operation. Thirdly, the technology used in operating a hospital has turned out to have its ramifications on the hospital unit cost similar to those postulated in the static theory of the firm. For example, the capacity utilization as represented by the inpatient days per employee tuned out to have statistically significant negative impacts on the unit cost of hospital operation, while payroll expenses per inpatient cost has a positive effect. The input-mix of hospital operation, as represented by the ratio of the number of doctor, nurse or medical staff per general employee, supports the known thesis that the specialized manpower costs more than the general employees. The labor/capital ratio as represented by the employees per 100 beds is shown to have a positive effect on the cost as expected. As for the exogeneous variable's impacts on the cost, when this variable is represented by the percent of urban 100 population at the location where the hospital is located, the regression analysis shows that the hospitals located in the urban area have a higher cost than those in the rural area. Finally, the case study of the sample hospitals offers a specific information to hospital administrators about how they share in terms of the cost they are incurring in comparison to other hospitals. For example, if his/her hospital is of small size and located in a city, he/she can compare the various costs of his/her hospital operation with those of other similar hospitals. Therefore, he/she may be able to find the reasons why the cost of his/her hospital operation has a higher or lower cost than other similar hospitals in what factors of the hospital cost determinants.

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Study on the Methodology of the Microbial Risk Assessment in Food (식품중 미생물 위해성평가 방법론 연구)

  • 이효민;최시내;윤은경;한지연;김창민;김길생
    • Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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    • v.14 no.4
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    • pp.319-326
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    • 1999
  • Recently, it is continuously rising to concern about the health risk being induced by microorganisms in food such as Escherichia coli O157:H7 and Listeria monocytogenes. Various organizations and regulatory agencies including U.S.FPA, U.S.DA and FAO/WHO are preparing the methodology building to apply microbial quantitative risk assessment to risk-based food safety program. Microbial risks are primarily the result of single exposure and its health impacts are immediate and serious. Therefore, the methodology of risk assessment differs from that of chemical risk assessment. Microbial quantitative risk assessment consists of tow steps; hazard identification, exposure assessment, dose-response assessment and risk characterization. Hazard identification is accomplished by observing and defining the types of adverse health effects in humans associated with exposure to foodborne agents. Epidemiological evidence which links the various disease with the particular exposure route is an important component of this identification. Exposure assessment includes the quantification of microbial exposure regarding the dynamics of microbial growth in food processing, transport, packaging and specific time-temperature conditions at various points from animal production to consumption. Dose-response assessment is the process characterizing dose-response correlation between microbial exposure and disease incidence. Unlike chemical carcinogens, the dose-response assessment for microbial pathogens has not focused on animal models for extrapolation to humans. Risk characterization links the exposure assessment and dose-response assessment and involve uncertainty analysis. The methodology of microbial dose-response assessment is classified as nonthreshold and thresh-old approach. The nonthreshold model have assumption that one organism is capable of producing an infection if it arrives at an appropriate site and organism have independence. Recently, the Exponential, Beta-poission, Gompertz, and Gamma-weibull models are using as nonthreshold model. The Log-normal and Log-logistic models are using as threshold model. The threshold has the assumption that a toxicant is produce by interaction of organisms. In this study, it was reviewed detailed process including risk value using model parameter and microbial exposure dose. Also this study suggested model application methodology in field of exposure assessment using assumed food microbial data(NaCl, water activity, temperature, pH, etc.) and the commercially used Food MicroModel. We recognized that human volunteer data to the healthy man are preferred rather than epidemiological data fur obtaining exact dose-response data. But, the foreign agencies are studying the characterization of correlation between human and animal. For the comparison of differences to the population sensitivity: it must be executed domestic study such as the establishment of dose-response data to the Korean volunteer by each microbial and microbial exposure assessment in food.

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Validation of the Korean Version of the St. George's Respiratory Questionnaire for Patients with Chronic Respiratory Disease (한국어판 세인트조지 호흡기설문의 타당도와 신뢰도 검정)

  • Kim, Young Sam;Byun, Min Kwang;Jung, Wou Young;Jeong, Jae Hee;Choi, Sang Bong;Kang, Shin Myung;Moon, Ji Ae;Han, Jung Suk;Nam, Chung-Mo;Park, Moo Suk;Kim, Se Kyu;Chang, Joon;Ahn, Chul Min;Kim, Sung Kyu
    • Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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    • v.61 no.2
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    • pp.121-128
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    • 2006
  • Background: The "health-related quality of life" (HRQL) for patients with chronic respiratory disease has been emphasized, because chronic respiratory disease (CRD) is chronic and progressive, and it finally causes disability. HRQL instruments may be useful for monitoring patients' progress or for determining the most appropriate choice of treatment. We describe the adapting St George's Respiratory Questionnaire (SGRQ), which is a self-administered questionnaire developed by Jones et al. (1991), into the Korean version for covering three domains of health for the patients suffering with airways disease. Method: We obtained the original SGRQ from the author after gaining permission. For adaptation, we created an expert panel and translated the original questionnaire into Korean language. The translated questionnaire was then back-translated by bilingual experts and we compared it with the original questionnaire. After correction and feasibility testing, 74 patients with chronic respiratory disease (COPD, asthma, destroyed lung) completed the Korean version of the SGRQ. The clinical status of each patients was evaluated concurrently with measurement of their health status. Result: The Korean version of the SGRQ was acceptable and easy to understand. Cronbach's alpha reliability coefficient was 0.92 for the overall scale and 0.63 for the "Symptoms", subscale, 0.87 for the "Activity", subscale, and 0.89 for the "Impacts" subscales. The correlation coefficients between the overall score and the Borg scale score, oxygen saturation, and forced expiratory volume in one second ($FEV_1$) were 0.52, -0.32 and -0.26, respectively. These results support that the Korean SGRQ was correlated with other measurements. Conclusion: The Korean SGRQ was reliable and valid for patients with chronic respiratory disease, such as COPD, asthma, and destroyed lung. The SGRQ score was well correlated with other respiratory measurements as well. Although further studies should complete the adaptation work, our results suggest that the SGRQ may be used in Korea and also for international studies involving Korean CRD patients.

Analysis of Physical Status on COVID-19: Based on Impacts of Physical Activity (COVID-19에 대한 운동중재효과 분석)

  • Kim, Kwi-Baek;Kwak, Yi Sub
    • Journal of Life Science
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    • v.31 no.6
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    • pp.603-608
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    • 2021
  • The purpose of this perspective research is to discuss the potential role of exercise-interventions in COVID-19, terms of prevention and prognosis in the periods of the COVID-19 vaccine. SARCO-CoV-2. COVID-19 was detected as a new virus causing severe cardiovascular and respiratory complications. It emerged as a global public health emergency and national pandemic. It caused more than 1 million deaths in the first 6 months of the pandemic and resulted in huge social and economic fluctuations internationally. Unprecedented stressful situations, such as COVID-19 blue and COVID-19 red impact on many health problems. In healthy individuals, COVID-19 infection may induced no symptoms (i.e., asymptomatic), whereas others may experience flu-like symptoms, such as ARDS, pneumonia, and death. Poor health status, such as obesity and cardiovascular and respiratory complications, are high risk factors for COVID-19 prevention, occurrence, and prognosis. Several COVID-19 vaccines are currently in human trials. However, the efficacy and safety of COVID-19 vaccines, including potential side effects, such as anaphylaxis (a life-threatening allergic reaction) and rare blood clots, still need to be investigated. On the basis of direct and indirect evidence, it seems that regular and moderate physical exercise can be recommended as a nonpharmacological, efficient, and safe way to cope with COVID-19. Physical inactivity and metabolic abnormalities are directly associated with reduced immune responses, including reduced innate, CMI, and AMI responses. Due to prolonged viral shedding, quarantine in inactive, obese and disease people should likely be longer than physical active people. Multicomponent and systemic exercise should be considered for the obese, disease, and elderly people. More mechanism research is needed in this area.

The Impact of Environmental Factors and Job Satisfaction of Medical Institution Workers on Reduction Rate Based on Life Style (라이프 스타일에 따른 의료기관 종사자의 환경요인과 직무만족도가 삭감률에 미치는 영향)

  • Yang, Yu-Jeong;Baek, Jae-Seong
    • Journal of Korea Entertainment Industry Association
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    • v.14 no.4
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    • pp.381-392
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    • 2020
  • This study identified the impact of environmental factors and job satisfaction of health organization workers on a reduction rate depending on their lifestyles. The research used 575 questionnaires as final assay data, which were obtained by health care workers who work for hospitals or higher-level hospitals, which are located in Jeolla-do through direct survey method. The results are as follows. First, with the result, which is an analysis of differences in environmental factors, job satisfaction, and reduction rates (inpatient/outpatient), there was a significant difference in the environmental factors of medical institutions based on the age, marital status, job position, and the years of employment, and there was also a significant difference in job satisfaction based on the age, academic career, marital status, occupational description, and monthly income. In an inpatient reduction rate, a significant difference was shown in the age, academic career, and occupational description. In an outpatient reduction rate, a significant difference was shown in the age, marital status, job position, and the years of employment. Second, with the results of correlation analysis, which are determinations of a relationship between environmental factors, job satisfaction, and reduction rate, it was figured out that there is a negative correlation between inpatient reduction rate and job satisfaction, a negative correlation between inpatient reduction rate and the environmental factors, and also a negative correlation between outpatient reduction rate and job satisfaction. There is a significant positive correlation between the outpatient reduction rate and environmental factors, and between job satisfaction and environmental factors. Third, with the results of the impacts that the environmental factors and job satisfaction have on the reduction rate, there was a negative influence of the environmental factors on the inpatient reduction rate, and also a negative influence of job satisfaction on the inpatient reduction rate. There was a significant positive influence of the environmental factors on the outpatient reduction rate, but there was no negative influence of job satisfaction on the outpatient reduction rate.

The Effects of Self-Efficacy and Social Support on the Quality of Life of the Elderly with Depression (자기효능감과 사회적 지원이 우울증 노인의 삶의 질에 미치는 영향에 관한 연구)

  • Kang, Sun-Kyung
    • 한국노년학
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    • v.29 no.2
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    • pp.629-643
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    • 2009
  • The purpose of this study is, by using the demographic variables, to identify self-efficacy, social support, and quality of life of the elderly with depression and to assess the impacts of these factors upon their quality of life. By analyzing the factors which have an impact upon the life quality of the elderly with depression, this study aims to provide important information which help understand them, and to find out what kind of care is necessary for their happy and satisfactory life. The study took purposive sampling and survey of 215 people among the elderly with depression who were under care of the outpatient clinics, day hospitals, and mental health clinics located in Seoul and Kyunggi Province, Korea. This study was conducted from November 10th to 20th, 2008 and the data were collected using the questionnaires of self-efficacy, social support, and quality of life scales. Using a SPSS/WIN 15.0 program, the analysis of the data showed the following results. First, among the demographic characteristics, the elderly with depression who were male, had spouse, higher education, no public assistance, shorter period of depression, and were healthy turned out to have higher self-efficacy. In terms of social support, the participants who had higher education, no public assistance, and were healthy turned out to have more social support. Further, in terms of quality of life, the variables of spouse, public assistance, period of depression, and health condition were statistically significant. Second, as a result of hierarchical regression, it appeared that the elderly with depression, who had higher self-efficacy, more social support, spouse, good health, no public assistance, and shorter period of depression, turned out to have higher quality of life. Based on the study findings, the implications of social work practice, policy, and future research were discussed.

Golfers' Intention to Adopt UV Specialized Clothing as Innovation: Based on Rogers Theory (골퍼의 자외선 차단의복의 수용 의도: Rogers의 혁신확산이론을 중심으로)

  • Sung Heewon;Slocum Ann C.
    • Journal of the Korean Society of Clothing and Textiles
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    • v.28 no.12 s.138
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    • pp.1554-1561
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    • 2004
  • In the U.S., outdoor enthusiasts such as golfers have been focused on skin cancer prevention practices since their outdoor activities lead to extensive sun exposure during peak sun hours. The purposes of this study were to investigate golfers current sun protection behaviors and five attributes and their impacts on the intention to adopt UV specialized clothing based on Rogers' theory. UV specialized clothing as a preventive innovation is related to sun protection behaviors. However, there has been little effort to explain the intention to adopt a preventive innovation regarding health-related practices. With a convenience sampling method, a total of 158 useful questionnaires were collected. Ninety one percent were male golfers, and their age ranged from 16 to 80 years old(mean age=30 years). About $25\%$ reported to practice sun protection behaviors. About $70\%$ disagreed on the relative advantage, compatibility, observability, and triability of UV specialized shirts and reported the low intention to purchase it. Current sun protection behaviors and five attribute variables were entered in the multiple regression equation to explain the dependent variable of intention to adopt the innovation. Triability was the best predictor of the intention to adopt UV specialized shirts, followed by current sun protection behaviors, compatibility, and relative advantage. With four predictors, $45\%$ of the variance of intention to adopt was explained. The present study provides how the golfers current sun protection behaviors play important roles in explaining the intention to adopt the preventive innovation. Physical and functional features of UV specialized clothing were also significantly associated with their intentions to adopt it.

Monitoring of Particulate Matter and Analysis of Black Carbon and Some Particle Containing Toxic Trace in the City of Yaoundé, Cameroon

  • Tchuente, Siaka Y.F.;Saidou, Saidou;Yakum, N.Y.;Kenmoe, N.X.;Abdourahimi, Abdourahimi
    • Asian Journal of Atmospheric Environment
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    • v.7 no.2
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    • pp.120-128
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    • 2013
  • The concentration and composition of particulate matter (PM) in the atmosphere can directly reflect the environmental pollution. The atmospheric pollution in some Cameroonian cities is increasing with the industrial development and urbanization. Air pollution is inherently complex, containing PM of varied size and composition. This PM exists as a dynamic cloud interacting with sunlight and is modified by the meteorology. The reflectometer and the EDXRF spectrometry are applied to determine the concentration of some specific elements at four sites in the city of Yaound$\acute{e}$. The particular aim of the present work is to put in place data base on air pollution in urban area and elaborate regulations on the emissions issued to industrial and vehicle activities. This study provides an overview of the concentration of black carbon and some specific elements in the air, which have impacts on human health. The measurement was done by distinguishing the size of particle. So that, the particle with aerodynamic diameter between $2.5-10{\mu}m$ (so-called coarse particle) and aerodynamic diameter < $2.5{\mu}m$ (so-called fine particle) were considered to obtain more information about levels of the inhalable fraction of the location. The results obtained in four locations of the city of Yaound$\acute{e}$ show that the black carbon concentration is very considerable, the element sulfur is a major pollutant and the concentration of fine particle is very greater. The results obtained of fine and coarse filters range from $5-17{\mu}g/m^3$ and $10-18{\mu}g/m^3$ for the black carbon. S, Cu, Zn, Pb, Cd, As, Se and Hg are the specific findings of this work. The pollutants with a greater concentration are S, Pb, and Zn. These later seem to be non-uniformly, non-regular in some location and high compared to other countries. This work allows us to make a potential relation between pollutants and emission sources. In this framework, some suggestions have been proposed to reduce emissions for an improvement of the air quality in the environment and thus, the one of the city of Yaound$\acute{e}$.

Quality Characteristics of Kimchi Added with Blue Crab (꽃게를 첨가한 김치의 품질특성)

  • Kim, Ji-Hyun;Park, Gi-Soon
    • Culinary science and hospitality research
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    • v.20 no.2
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    • pp.246-259
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    • 2014
  • This study was carried out to investigated the quality characteristics of kimchi, made by adding blue crab. Kimchi is made into a fermented vegetable food by adding red pepper powder, garlic, ginger and fermented salted fish to the salted cabbage or radish. Chitin/chitosan, found in the shell of crab is the biopolymer. Chitin possesses many beneficially biological properties. Salt consumption impacts on human health problems such as hypertension and cardiovascular disease. In this study, we hypothesized that kimchi added with raw blue crab would reduce excessive salt consumption and increase protein supplementation. We analyzed lactic acid bacteria level, pH, acidity, salinity and free amino acid of kimchi added with blue crab during 1, 15 and 30 days storage period at $5^{\circ}C$. Lactic acid bacteria, pH, salinity increased significantly in kimchi added with blue crab compared to the control. Accordingly, this result suggested that kimchi should be manufactured by adding raw fish rather than fermented salted fish.