• Health Policy and Management
• /
• v.28 no.3
• /
• pp.240-250
• /
• 2018

By the end of 2017, in a world of 7.6 billion people, there were inequalities in healthcare indices both within and between nations, and this gap continues to increase. Therefore, this study aims to understand the current status of regional inequalities in healthcare indices and to find an action plan to tackle regional health inequality through a geo-economic review in Korea. Since 2008, there was great inequality in life expectancy and healthy life expectancy by region in not only metropolitan cities but also districts in Korea. While the community health statistics from 2008-2017 show a continuous increase of inequality during the last 10 years in most healthcare indices related to noncommunicable diseases (except for some, like smoking), the inequality has doubled in 254 districts. Furthermore, health inequality intensified as the gap between urban (metropolitan cities) and rural regions (counties) for rates of obesity (self-reported), sufficient walking practices, and healthy lifestyle practices increased from twofold to fivefold. However, regionalism and uneven development are natural consequences of the spatial perspective caused by state-lead developmentalism as Korea has fixed the accumulation strategy as its model for growth with the background of export-led industrialization in the 1960s and heavy and chemical industrialization in the 1970s, although the Constitution of the Republic of Korea recognizes the legal value of balanced development within the regions by specifying "the balanced development of the state" or "ensuring the balanced development of all regions." In addition, the danger of a 30% decline or extinction of local government nationwide is expected by 2040 as we face not only a decline in general and ageing populations but also the era of the demographic cliff. Thus, the government should continuously operate the "Special Committee on Regional Balanced Development" with a government-wide effort until 2030 to prevent disparities in the health conditions of local residents, which is the responsibility of the nation in terms of strengthening governance. To address the regional inequalities of rural and urban regions, it is necessary to re-adjust the basic subsidy and cost-sharing rates with local governments of current national subsidies based mainly on population scale, financial independence of local government, or distribution of healthcare resources and healthcare indices (showing high inequalities) overall.

• Korean Journal of Community Nutrition
• /
• v.20 no.2
• /
• pp.129-140
• /
• 2015

Objectives: We examined the association between the adherence to dietary guidelines for breast cancer survivors and health-related quality of life in a cross-sectional study of Korean breast cancer survivors. Methods: A total of 157 women aged 21 to 79 years who had been diagnosed with stage I to III breast cancers according to the American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) and had breast cancer surgery at least 6 months before the baseline were included. We used a Korean version of the Core 30 (C30) and Breast cancer 23 (BR23) module of the European Organization for Research and Treatment Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire (EORTC-QLQ), both of which have been validated for Koreans. Participants were asked about their adherence to dietary guidelines for breast cancer survivors, suggested by the Korean breast cancer society, using a 5-point Likert scale. We summed dietary guideline adherence scores for each participant and calculated the least squares means of health-related quality of life according to dietary guideline adherence scores using the generalized linear model. Results: Breast cancer survivors who had higher adherence to dietary guidelines for breast cancer survivors had lower constipation scores than those with lower adherence (p for trend=0.01). When we stratified by the stage at diagnosis, this association was limited to those who had been diagnosed with stage II or III breast cancers. Also, sexual functioning scores increased significantly with increasing adherence scores of dietary guidelines among those with stage II or III breast cancers (p for trend < 0.001). However, among those who had been diagnosed with stage I, higher scores of dietary guidelines were associated with higher scores of pain (p for trend=0.03) and breast symptoms (p for trend=0.05). Conclusions: Our study suggested that the health-related quality of life levels of breast cancer survivors are associated with the adherence to dietary guidelines and may differ by the stage of the breast cancer.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Clothing and Textiles
• /
• v.28 no.910
• /
• pp.1273-1281
• /
• 2004

The primary purpose of this study is to suggest a new methodology for calibration of a continuous price response function and to compare the differences in the price response function with and without choice set information. Through the new methodology, the two-staged conjoint analysis, the continuous price response function far jeans market was calibrated. Three steps were required to complete the two-staged conjoint analysis. Step one provided respondents with both a written and a visual description of two different randomly selected styles and colors of denim jeans. In step two respondents were asked to choose the combination of attributes they intended to purchase. Based upon the literature review, these four attributes included: brand, style, price, and color. Respondents were required to assess their purchase intentions for 32 combinations by marking Yes if she/he would purchase a given combination and No if she/he would not purchase a given combination. This allowed for identification of each respondents choice set. Instructions in step three required respondents to rate each combination marked Yes on a scale of 1-100, with one as least likely to be purchased and 100 as most likely to be purchased. This value served as the dependent variable for estimating the parameters in the model. Furthermore, the empirical study shows that there is a difference in price response function with and without choice set information. Therefore, when one calibrates a price response function far a given brand, we can recommend to include choice set information in his/her research.

• Korean Journal of Agricultural and Forest Meteorology
• /
• v.9 no.4
• /
• pp.234-246
• /
• 2007

The role of macropore in the hydrological processes is important at the hillslope scale. Developments and distribution of macropores have not been investigated in conjunction with the characteristics of the hillslope such as topography, soil property, and soil moisture. In this study, macropore properties, such as macropore flow and saturation hydraulic conductivity were measured at a hillslope located in Gwangneung Research Forest, Pochun-gun, Gyeonggi-do, South Korea. An intensive field survey provided a refined Digital Elevation Model (DEM) for surface and subsurface topography. Spatial distributions of upslope area and topographic index were obtained through the digital terrain analysis. The total number of monitoring points was 22, and the selected points were distributed along the transect of the digital contour map. Vertical fluxes through macropores were measured using a tension infiltrometer at the depth of 0.1 m from the surface. Spatial and temporal distributions of soil moisture were obtained using an on-line measurement system, TRASE, installed in the study area. Soil moisture for the aforementioned points was measured at 0.1 and 0.3m depths below the surface. The results from tension infiltrometer experiments present that the macropore flows ranged between 21 and 94%, and the measured macroporosities varied from 1.4 to 47%. Macropore flows and macroporosities tended to increase as the measurement location moved to downslope. The ability for water conduction through macropores becomes increasingly developed as the location approaches the outlet of the hillslope.

• Journal of Energy Engineering
• /
• v.26 no.3
• /
• pp.105-112
• /
• 2017

A lot of piping systems have been used from nuclear power systems to water supply systems. The maintenance of the piping systems is needed to ensure proper operation of the piping systems. Failure of the large pipe systems especially such as KDHC(Korea District Heating Corporation) can be a matter directly related to the enterprise productivity and profitability. It can also lead to very important issues in promoting public safety and convenience. Therefore a method of quick and safety repairs have been emerged as the most important problem. In this study, freezing seal isolation method using liquid nitrogen cryogenic refrigerant was developed for the maintenance of a pre insulated heat transport pipe of KDHC with a diameter of 300 mm. In this study, by employing computational analysis techniques we performed the flow and heat transfer analysis for the targeted pre insulated heat transfer pipe and freezing seal jacket(ice-Plug) and have selected for optimal system. The detailed design model based on the results of the computational analysis finally was produced. A laboratory-scale test apparatus were designed and the freezing seal isolation self-test carried out. Also the performance assessment tests in the test bed of KDHC were carried out for on-site application.

• Journal of Science Education
• /
• v.41 no.1
• /
• pp.80-97
• /
• 2017

The purpose of this study was to develop understanding-oriented materials based on backward course design model and analyze their effects on 'biology and environment' unit of elementary school science. Backward Design starts from a specification of learning outcomes and decisions on methodology and syllabus are developed from the learning outcomes. This method has a strength maintaining consistency between educational contents-evaluation-learning activities and also promoting student's authentic understanding. The 78 students 6th graders participated in this experiments. Data was collected using project activities, the science academic emotion scale and academic achievement. The collected data was analyzed by t-test and ANCOVA analysis using the SPSS 23 statistical program. The following major conclusions were drawn on the basis of data analysis. First, the experimental group showed a relatively accurate understanding of the contents of science but they could not produce creative output in two project activities. Second, the interaction effect of the instruction based on backward curriculum design and science academic emotion was not significant statistically. Third, the experimental group showed a significant improvement in the academic achievement of 'biology and environment' unit.

• Science of Emotion and Sensibility
• /
• v.14 no.1
• /
• pp.17-26
• /
• 2011

Health care service's added value and sustainability has been formed, through the product developing about sports equipment and special equipment for disabled in order to improve the life quality, with the increasing population of elderly and the attention about health care. This research's design and 3 testing sections has been done according to design process for design development of functional bike. 1st test is done through researching from 4 aspects: structure, aesthetic, function and using. In the 2nd testing, 10 universal design items were used to evaluate 10 modeling samples, and sample F which has high evaluation overall was chosen. In 3rd test, evaluation was done from the user service scene about the mock-up with 1/4 scale size. PPP (product performance program) which is constructed with 60 evaluation items about functional bike's service was tested, and these items were fixed through discussing with experts. Through the result we knew the aesthetic elements had relationship with proportion, unity and typicality. In 10 items (55 survey items), the scores of items with physical exposure's minimization, simple and intuitively usage showed high, on the contrary, the other items' scores was very low, such as information delivery's consideration and thought, failure preventing. The evaluation will be done once more by health care experts, designers and elderly together if the physical model could be made for getting accurate measurement about above test result in the future.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
• /
• v.39 no.4 s.118
• /
• pp.471-480
• /
• 2006

The field scale experiment was performed to examine the performance of the constructed wetland for nonpoint source (NPS) pollution loading reduction. Four sets (each set of 0.88 ha) of wetland (0.8 ha) and pond (0.08 ha) systems were used. Water flowing into the Seokmoon estuarine reservoir from the Dangjin stream was pumped into wetland systems. Water depth was maintained at 0.3-0.5 m and hydraulic retention time was managed to about 2-5 days; emergent plants were allowed to grow in the wetland. The wetland effluent concentrations of $BOD_5$, TSS, and T-N were higher in winter than in the growing season excepting the T-P, and effluent $BOD_5$ concentration was higher than influents in winter. Mass retention of T-N and T-P was stable throughout the year, whereas mass retention of $BOD_5$ and TSS was decreased in winter. $BOD_5$, TSS, T-N, and T-P performance of the experi-mental system was compared with the existing database (North American Treatment Wetland Database), and was within the range of general system performance. From the first-order analysis, T-P was virtually not temperature dependent, and $BOD_5$ and TSS were more temperature dependent than T-N. Overall, the wetland system was found to be an adequate alternative for treating polluted stream water with stable removal efficiency and recommended as a NPS control measures.

• Journal of the Korean GEO-environmental Society
• /
• v.13 no.3
• /
• pp.29-37
• /
• 2012

This study is to find out the characteristics of the behavior of Geosyntehtic Reinforced Retaining Earth Wall(GRREW) through the laboratory experiment with the reduced-scale model, and to verify the effect of reinforcement by materials of GRREW. The loading tests after combining nonwoven geosynthetic, re-bar mesh nets and drainage blocks respectively among the components of the GRREW were performed in three cases of their slopes. In the cases of the behavior analysis including all of the components of the GRREW, the maximum horizontal displacement was generated 8.4mm at the location of 0.57H in the slope of 1:0.3; 3.8mm at the location of 0.57H in the slope of 1:0.6; 3.6mm at the location of 0.86H in the slope of 1:1.0. On average, the horizontal displacements of the GRREW were reduced by 83.8% against those of the original slopes. Lastly, seepage analysis and slope stability analysis were performed by modelling section of field, to confirm the effect of installation of drainage block in GRREW. We can confirm to compare increasing the slope safe factor and decreasing ground water in accordance with drainage blocks.

• Journal of the Korean Geotechnical Society
• /
• v.20 no.2
• /
• pp.115-124
• /
• 2004

Granular compaction pile has the load bearing capacity of the soft ground increase and has the settlement of foundation built on the reinforced soil reduce. The granular compaction group piles also have the consolidation of the soft ground accelerate and prevent the liquefaction caused by earthquake using the granular materials such as sand, gravel, stone etc. However, this method is not widely used in Korea. The granular compaction piles are constructed by grouping them with a raft system. The confining pressure at the center of bulging failure depth is a major variable in estimating the ultimate bearing capacity of the granular compaction piles. Therefore, a share of loading is determined considering the effect of load concentration ratio between the granular compaction piles and surrounding soils, and the variation of the magnitude of the confining pressure. In this study, a method for the determination of the ultimate bearing capacity is proposed to apply a change of the horizontal pressure considering bulging failure depth, surcharge, and loaded area. Also, the ultimate bearing capacity of the granular compaction pile is evaluated on the basis of previous study(Kim et al., 1998) on the estimation of the ultimate bearing capacity and compared with the results obtained from laboratory scale model tests and DEM numerical analysis using the PFC-2D program.