• Environmental Engineering Research
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.85-90
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• 2013

This study is an attempt to quantify rainwater utilization and miscellaneous water demand in Tokyo's 23 special wards, the core of the urban area in Tokyo, Japan, in order to elucidate the potential of further rainwater utilization. The rainwater utilization for miscellaneous appropriate water demands, including toilet flushing, air conditioning, and garden irrigation, were calculated for six different types of building: residential house, office, department store, supermarket, restaurant, and accommodation. Miscellaneous water demands in these different types of building were expressed in terms of equivalent rainfall of 767, 1,133, 3,318, 1,887, 16,574, and 2,227 (mm/yr), respectively, compared with 1,528 mm of Tokyo's average annual precipitation. Building types, numbers and its height were considered in this study area using geographic information system data to quantify miscellaneous water demands and the amount of rainwater utilization in each ward. Area precipitation-demand ratio was used to measure rainwater utilization potential for miscellaneous water demands. Office and commercial areas, such as Chiyoda ward, showed rainwater utilization potentials of <0.3, which was relatively low compared to those wards where many residential houses are located. This is attributed to the relatively high miscellaneous water demand. In light of rainwater utilization based on building level, the introduction of rainwater storage mechanisms with a storage depth of 50 mm for six different types of buildings was considered, and calculated as rainfall of 573, 679, 819, 766, 930, and 787 (mm), respectively. Total rainwater utilization using such storage facilities in each building from 23 wards resulted in the retention of 102,760,000 $m^3$ of water for use in miscellaneous applications annually, and this volume corresponded to 26.3% of annual miscellaneous water demand.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.55 no.4
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• pp.389-397
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• 2022

Objectives: This study examined the effect of out-of-pocket (OOP) payment reduction on the potential utilization of low-value magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) across income groups. Methods: We conducted an experimental vignette survey using a proportional quota-based sample of individuals in Korea (n=1229). In two hypothetical vignettes, participants were asked whether they would be willing to use MRI if they had uncomplicated headache and non-specific low back pain, each before and after OOP payment reduction. To account for the possible role of physician inducement, half of the participants were initially presented with vignettes that included a physician recommendation for low-value care. The predicted probability, slope index of inequality (SII), and relative index of inequality (RII) were calculated using logistic regression. Results: Before OOP payment reduction, the lowest income quintile was least likely to use low-value MRI regardless of physician inducement (36.7-49.6% for low back pain; 30.5-39.3% for headache). After OOP payment reduction, almost all individuals in each income quintile were willing to use low-value MRI (89.8-98.0% for low back pain; 78.1-90.3% for headache). Absolute and relative inequalities concerning potential low-value MRI utilization decreased after OOP payments were reduced, even without physician inducement (SII: from 8.15 to 5.37%, RII: from 1.20 to 1.06 for low back pain; SII: from 6.99 to 0.83%, RII: from 1.20 to 1.01 for headache). Conclusions: OOP payment reduction for MRI has the potential to increase low-value care utilization among all income groups while decreasing inequality in low-value care utilization.

• Environmental Engineering Research
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.1-16
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• 2019

N-nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA) is a typical nitrogen disinfection by-product, which has posed a potential threat to human health during drinking water disinfection. Because of the well-known effects of mutagenesis, carcinogenesis and teratogenesis, the high detection rate in water engineering systems (such as coagulation, membrane filtration and biological systems), and difficulty to remove, it has received wide concern in the field of water engineering systems. The NDMA is a low molecular weight hydrophilic organic substance, which is difficult to remove. Also, the mechanism for NDMA formation is also recognized to be complex, and many steps still needed to be further evaluated. Therefore, the mechanistic knowledge on NDMA formation potential and their removal processes is of particularly interest. Few papers summarize the occurrence and control of NDMA in water engineering systems. It is for this reason that the content of this paper is particularly important for us to understand and control the amount of NDMA thus reducing the threat of disinfection by-products to drinking water. Four parts including the mechanisms for the NDMA formation potential, the factors affecting the NDMA formation potential, the technologies for removal of NDMA are summarized. Finally, some definite suggestions are given.

• Journal of Korean Public Health Nursing
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.182-196
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• 2010

Purpose: This study examined potential determinants of gender differences in utilization of health care services among Korean adults. Methods: The study population was 21,647 adults ${\geq}$25-years-of-age who had responded to a health interview survey conducted as part of the 2005 National Health and Nutrition Surveys. Relative gender differences in the use of each health service were assessed using chi-square test and sex ratios. The contribution of potential factors of sex differences in the use of health services was evaluated by comparing the odds ratio and sex ratio before and after adjustment for such variables. Results & Conclusions: More females had visited a physician and been admitted to hospital, but hospitalization time was longer for males. Adjustment for poor self-rated health, number of chronic disease and limit of full term for ADL led to a reduction in the odds ratio of females compared to males for health service utilization. However, adjustment for socioeconomic factors (household income, education, occupation, and health insurance) magnified the gender difference concerning length of hospitalization. Factors that explain gender-related differences in utilization of health care services are concluded to be different health needs and socioeconomic status.

• Journal of the Korean Solar Energy Society
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• v.39 no.3
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• pp.29-45
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• 2019

As the solar energy market grows, the need to investigate the potential of photovoltaic system is being highlighted. However, due to the lack of plain field, the system on top of buildings is being exploited. This paper analyzes the potential to install PV systems on the rooftops. First of all, with the aid of a photovoltaic system simulation software, buildings were designed in a specific area based on the architectural data. And then, with the same software, the potential to install photovoltaic system was explored by placing PV modules on the buildings' rooftops. The installation potential was calculated and simulated with consideration for obstacles on the rooftops. The parameters are composed of available area for system installation, area utilization rate, PV system power capacity, operation yield hour per day and performance ratio. In the simulation, 5 sites were analyzed based on their architectural data. In the end, reliable data that can be utilized were collected for the potential to install the system with the photovoltaic system simulation software.

• Proceedings of the Korean Association of Geographic Inforamtion Studies Conference
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• 2008.10a
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• pp.151-152
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• 2008

The planning and management of the watershed environment require huge amount of information regarding almost all aspects of natural and manmade features of the area. Until lately this study could be achieved through days of exhaustive surveys map generation and tedious calculations. Remote sensing and GIS provides huge temporal database for an area and GIS provides the powerful tool for spatial and non-spatial analysis of remotely sensed data. The paper highlights the assessment of land potentiality using weighed overlay analysis with drainage density, soil, slope and lineament, LULC map was used to identify the utilization area of the watershed. The arithmetic overlay analysis was performed with potential and utilization layer to assess the availability of land for the future development.

• 한국신재생에너지학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2005.06a
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• pp.669-673
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• 2005

World geothermal resources potential is estimated to supply 189 EJ annually, which can take charge approximately a half of annual world energy consumpt ion, from considering identified resources and supplies in USA and Iceland. Present annual use of geothermal energy, on the other hand, is only $0.1\%$ of its potential, but still has $70\%$ share among total new renewables. World-wide installed capacity of geothermal power generation reaches 8,900 MWe and 27,825 MWt for direct uses in 2005 which is almost two-fold increase over 2000. This increase is mainly due to exploding expansion of geothermal heat pump utilization: USA and western European countries lead these trends. Although geothermal heat pump distribution in Korea is still in its starting phase, comparing to Swiss achievement in terms of areal utilization sense, we expect to come up with national supply of over 600,000 toe in near future.

• Journal of Forest and Environmental Science
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.110-130
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• 2004

This study aims to study the definition and characteristics of forest biomass as an alternative energy and to estimate the energy potential and feasibility of forest biomass utilization in domestic. Especially, significant attention is given to woody biomass such as forest residue, thinning log, etc. due to their renewable, sustainable and abundant properties. The results were summarized as follows. The utilization of these forest biomass could play an important role to activate the forest industry and increase the public benefit functions of forest, but more attention on their utilization is required and how they can be utilize more efficiently is the new task assigned to our forestry for sustainable forest management.

• 한국신재생에너지학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2007.06a
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• pp.823-828
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• 2007

In compare with a major developed countries, Korea consumes much energy, but also eliminates much carbon dioxide. Agricultural sector eliminate much carbon dioxide than industrial sector. In Kyoto protocol, Korea needs to reduce carbon dioxide. One way to reduce carbon dioxide is utilization of biomass in rural area. This paper focus on utilization of biomass in rural area. If use 20% potential amount of biomass, it obtain 50% of TPES on agricultural sector. The condition of utilization biomass is connected with agricultural policy, environmental policy, and energy policy. And environmental restriction keep pace with economical incentive.

• Journal of the Korea Furniture Society
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.75-84
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• 2000

Ginkgo trees have long been planted in Korea as roadside trees and ornamental trees, but the wood was seldom used except some utilization for small artifacts. Soaring prices of imported wood and future uncertainty about long-term supply of foreign woods have stimulated research on value-added utilization of less-utilized domestic wood resources such as Ginkgo wood. The properties of Ginkgo wood were investigated to determine its utilization potential in this study, and the results of anatomical, physical, and mechanical studies were presented with chemical compositions.