• Economic Analysis
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.1-33
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• 2020

Recent discussions about a minimum wage increase (MWI) and its influence on the economy have mainly focused on the quantitative aspects, such as labor costs and employment. However, concerning the qualitative aspects, an MWI could have positive effects by enhancing firm productivity and crowding out marginal firms from the market. These positive effects of an MWI can offset, to some extent, its potential negative effects - increasing labor costs and decreasing employment, among others. In this regard we empirically examine the impact of an MWI on firm productivity (total factor productivity). Using firm level panel data from the manufacturing industry in Korea, we calculate the influence rates of a minimum wage by sector and by firm size (number of workers), and analyze its effects on firm productivity. In particular, the production functions of the firms are estimated by taking into account endogeneity among the input factors, in order to resolve the drawbacks of existing studies - underestimating the capital factor coefficient and overestimating the labor factor coefficient. This study finds that the influences of an MWI on wages, employment, and productivity are substantially different across sectors and firm sizes. While an MWI has shown to have positive influences on productivity growth in the manufacturing industry as a whole, each sector demonstrates a different direction of effect, and the degree of productivity change also varies by sector. The impacts of an MWI on firm productivity are generally estimated to be more negative for smaller firms, but in some sectors the effects are found to be positive. In addition, the wage increases resulting from an MWI seem to cause a productivity enhancement across all sectors in the manufacturing industry. The policy implications of this study are as follows. Considering the empirical findings that an MWI causes an increase in productivity in many sectors of the manufacturing industry, it would be desirable to take into consideration not only the negative side effects but also the positive effects of an MWI when designing any future minimum wage policy. Moreover, in spite of there being a uniform minimum wage, this study finds that the diverse influence rates of a minimum wage across firms have different impacts on wages, employment, and productivity across sectors or firm size. This finding could be conducive to discussions about differentiation among minimum wage schemes by sector or firm size.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Agriculture
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• v.42 no.1
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• pp.35-43
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• 2023

The fine particulate structure of biochar limits its use as a heavy metal adsorbent, and makes separation of the biochar from the solution technically challenging, thereby reducing recovery of the heavy metals. To address this issue, this study prepared biochar beads under various mixing conditions and investigated their efficiency in removing Pb from aqueous solutions using adsorption models. The biochar beads were produced by mixing alginate and biochar at different ratios: alginate bead (AB), 1% biochar + bead (1-BB), 2.5% biochar + bead (2.5-BB), and 5% biochar + bead (5-BB). The results revealed that the Freundlich isothermal adsorption pattern of the biochar beads to Pb was of the L-type. The highest Langmuir isothermal adsorption capacity (28.736 mg/g) was observed in the 2.5-BB treatment. The dominant mechanism among the kinetic adsorption characteristics of biochar beads for Pb was chemical adsorption. Additionally, the optimal pH range for Pb adsorption was found to be between 4 and 5.5. The highest Pb removal efficiency (97.9%) was achieved when 26.6 g/L of biochar beads were used. These findings suggest that biochar beads are an economical and highly efficient adsorbent that enables separation and recovery of fine biochar particles.

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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• v.112 no.1
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• pp.83-92
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• 2023

This study was established to investigate the site environment of mixed forests in Korea and to estimate the growth and yield of stands using national forest resources inventory data. The growth of mixed forests was derived by applying the Chapman-Richards model with diameter at breast height (DBH), height, and cross-sectional area at breast height (BA), and the yield of mixed forests was derived by applying stepwise regression analysis with factors such as cross-sectional area at breast height, site index (SI), age, and standing tree density per ha. Mixed forests were found to be growing in various locations. By climate zone, more than half of them were distributed in the temperate central region. By altitude, about 62% were distributed at 101-400 m. The fitness indexes (FI) for the growth model of mixed forests, which is the independent variable of stand age, were 0.32 for the DBH estimation, 0.22 for the height estimation, and 0.18 for the basal area at breast height estimation, which were somewhat low. However, considering the graph and residual between the estimated and measured values of the estimation equation, the use of this estimation model is not expected to cause any particular problems. The yield prediction model of mixed forests was derived as follows: Stand volume =-162.6859+6.3434 ∙ BA+9.9214 ∙ SI+0.7271 ∙ Age, which is a step- by-step input of basal area at breast height (BA), site index (SI), and age among several growth factors, and the determination coefficient (R²) of the equation was about 96%. Using our optimal growth and yield prediction model, a makeshift stand yield table was created. This table of mixed forests was also used to derive the rotation of the highest production in volume.

• Journal of the Korea Organic Resources Recycling Association
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• v.31 no.1
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• pp.69-84
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• 2023

Despite the continuous installation and regular inspection of waste treatment facilities, complaints about excessive incineration and illegal dumping stench continue to occur at on-site treatment facilities. In addition, field surveys were conducted on the waste treatment facilities currently in operation (6 type) to understand the waste treatment process for each field, to grasp the main operating factors applied to the inspection. In addition, we calculated the material·energy balance for each main process and confirmed the proper operation of the waste disposal facility. As a result of the site survey, in the case of heat treatment facilities such as incineration, cement kilns, and incineration heat recovery facilities, the main factors are maintenance of the temperature of the incinerator required for incineration and treatment of the generated air pollutants, and in the case of landfill facilities Retaining wall stability, closed landfill leachate and emission control emerged as major factors. In the case of sterilization and crushing facilities, the most important factor is whether or not sterilization is possible (apobacterium inspection).In the case of food distribution waste treatment facilities, retention time and odor control during fermentation (digestion, decomposed) are major factors. Calculation results of material balance and energy resin for each waste treatment facility In the case of incineration facilities, it was confirmed that the amount of flooring materials generated is about 14 % and the amount of scattering materials is about 3 % of the amount of waste input, and that the facility is being operated properly. In addition, among foodwaste facilities, in the case of an anaerobic digestion facility, the amount of biogas generated relative to the amount of inflow is about 17 %, and the biogas conversion efficiency is about 81 %, in the case of composting facility, about 11 % composting of the inflow waste was produced, and it was comfirmend that all were properly operated. As a result, in order to improve the inspection method for waste treatment facilities, it is necessary not only to accumulate quantitative standards for detailed inspection methods, but also to collect operational data for one year at the time of regular inspections of each facility, Grasping the flow and judging whether or not the treatment facility is properly operated. It is then determined that the operation and management efficiency of the treatment facility will increase.

• Journal of the Korea Organic Resources Recycling Association
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• v.31 no.1
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• pp.35-45
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• 2023

In this study, the sludge formation in the wastewater drain from the advanced packaging process mechanisms are revealed as well as the key factors, materials, and sludge prevention methods using surfactant. Compared with that of conventional packaging process, advanced packaging process employ similar process to the semiconductor fabrication process, and thus many processes may generate wastewater. In specific, a large amount of wastewater may generate during the carrier wafer bonding, photo, development, and carrier wafer debonding processes. In order to identify the key factors for the formation of sludge during the advanced packaging process, six types of chemicals including bonding glue, HMDS, photoresist (PR), PR developer, debonding cleaner, and water are utilized and mixing evaluation is assessed. As a result, it is confirmed that the black solid sludge is formed, which is originated by the sludge seed formation by hydrolysis/dehydration reaction of HMDS and sludge growth via hydrophobic-hydrophobic binding with sludge seed and PR. For the sludge prevention investigation, three surfactants of CTAB, PEG, and shampoo are mixed with the key materials of sludge, and it is confirmed that the sludge formations are successfully suppressed. The underlying mechanism behind the sludge formation is that the carbon tails of the surfactant bind to PR with hydrophobic-hydrophobic interaction and inhibit the reaction with HMDS-based slurry seeds to prevent the sludge formation. In this regard, it is expected that various problems like clogging in drains and pipes during the advanced packaging process may effectively solve by the injection of surfactants into the drains.

• Journal of Bio-Environment Control
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• v.32 no.2
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• pp.97-105
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• 2023

Concentration of nitrogen, one of the major elements, and ratio of two nitrogen forms (NH₄⁺ and NO₃^-) in the nutrient solution affect the quality and food safety of fresh vegetable produce. This study was conducted to find an appropriate strength and NH₄⁺:NO₃^- ratio of a nutrient solution for growth and development of a Romaine lettuce (Lactuca sativa L. var. longiflora) 'Caesar Green', a representative leafy vegetable, grown in a home hydroponic system. In the first experiment, plants were grown using three types of nutrient solution: A commercial nutrient solution (Peters) and two strengths (GNU1 and GNU2) of a multipurpose nutrient solution (GNU solution) developed in a Gyeongsang National University lab. Plants grown with the GNU1 and GNU2 had greater shoot length, leaf length and width, and biomass yield than Peters. On the other hand, the root hairs of plants grown with Peters were short and dark in color. Tissue NH₄⁺ content in the Peters was higher than that of the GNU1 and GNU2. The higher contents of NH₄⁺ in this solution may have caused ammonium toxicity. In the second experiment, eight treatment solutions, combining GNU1 and GNU2 solutions with four ratios of NO₃^- :NH₄⁺ named as 1, 2, 3 and 4 were used. Both experiments showed more growth in the GNU2 group, which had a relatively low ionic strength of the nutrient solution. The growth of Romaine lettuce showed the greatest fresh weight along with low tissue NO₃^- content in the GNU2-2. This was more advantageous in terms of food safety in that it suppressed the accumulation of surplus NO₃^- in tissues due to the low ionic trength of the GNU2 subgroup. In addition, this is preferable in that it can reduce the absolute amount of the input of inorganic nutrients to the nutrient solution.

• Korea Science and Art Forum
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• v.27
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• pp.277-288
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• 2017

The number of science museums in Korea has expanded quantitatively from 72 in 2008 to 128 in 2016. This study started with the fact that the government puts a lot of budget into building a science museum, but there are more than one quarter of science museums with less than 50 spectators per day and many inefficient institutions. The number of visitors is an important factor in improving the efficiency of the science museum operation. The purpose of this study is to analyze the relation between the service quality of the science museum and the customer satisfaction and the intention to revisit and to find out what kind of effort should be concentrated in the science museum to attract more visitors. Questionnaires were written in the exhibition, education, and culture fields of the Gwacheon National Science Museum. The results were derived by frequency analysis, reliability analysis, factor analysis, and multiple regression analysis. The results and contents of the study are as follows. First, in the field of exhibition, the quality of exhibition facilities was expected to affect customer satisfaction and intention to return, but did not have a meaningful relationship. Second, the education sector has been found to affect customer satisfaction and return intention in all aspects of service quality (operation and contents, instructors, educational facilities and environment). Third, in the field of culture (event), the quality of the cultural program influences the visitor satisfaction, but it does not affect the intention to revisit. The science museum can provide satisfaction to visitors by combining activities such as science and arts. Despite the limitations, it is necessary to make efforts to improve the visitor satisfaction and revisit by proceeding with the convergence research on the entire National Science Museum in the future.

• Korean Journal of Mineralogy and Petrology
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• v.36 no.2
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• pp.147-166
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• 2023

This study aimed to develop and apply guidelines for calculating greenhouse gas emissions to activate the contribution of the Korea Institute of Geoscience and Mineral Resources (KIGAM) for institutional-level research activities. In addition, we intended to improve awareness by identifying greenhouse gas emissions from KIGAM's basic research and development (R&D) activities in fiscal 2022. Herein, the research plan and budget contents of individual projects were analyzed, whilst the boundaries and scopes of greenhouse gas emissions were determined, with 22 cases being derived as either direct, indirect, or other sources of emissions. Subsequently, research activity emissions were calculated by emission source. The greenhouse gas emissions of KIGAM's 2022 basic project R&D activities were 2,041.506 tCO2eq, of which direct emissions were 793.235 tCO2eq (38.86%), indirect emissions comprised 305.647 tCO2eq (14.97%), whilst other emissions were 942.624 tCO2eq (46.18%). In particular, greenhouse gas emissions per 100 million won in the KIGAM's basic projects for fiscal 2022 (a total of 96.661 billion won) was calculated as 2.11 tCO2eq, whilst greenhouse gas emissions per participating researcher (was 4.800 tCO2eq. Such calculations should be carried out annually rather than once and accumulated for at least 5 years. Accordingly, it will be possible to standardize specific matters that influence emissions according to differences in research field characteristics and methods, thus guiding greenhouse gas emission reduction management in the future and evaluating the contributions of Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) management to the environmental sector.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.56 no.3
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• pp.300-314
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• 2023

Purpose: This study sought to predict the reasons for skipping breakfast by adolescents aged 13-18 years using the 7^th Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES). Methods: The participants included 1,024 adolescents. The data were analyzed using a complex-sample t-test, the Rao Scott χ²-test, and the classification and regression tree (CART) algorithm for decision tree analysis with SPSS v. 27.0. The participants were divided into two groups, one regularly eating breakfast and the other skipping it. Results: A total of 579 and 445 study participants were found to be breakfast consumers and breakfast skippers respectively. Breakfast consumers were significantly younger than those who skipped breakfast. In addition, breakfast consumers had a significantly higher frequency of eating dinner, had been taught about nutrition, and had a lower frequency of eating out. The breakfast skippers did so to lose weight. Children who skipped breakfast consumed less energy, carbohydrates, proteins, fats, fiber, cholesterol, vitamin C, vitamin A, calcium, vitamin B1, vitamin B2, phosphorus, sodium, iron, potassium, and niacin than those who consumed breakfast. The best predictor of skipping breakfast was identifying adolescents who sought to control their weight by not eating meals. Other participants who had low and middle-low household incomes, ate dinner 3-4 times a week, were more than 14.5 years old, and ate out once a day showed a higher frequency of skipping breakfast. Conclusion: Based on these results, nutrition education targeted at losing weight correctly and emphasizing the importance of breakfast, especially for adolescents, is required. Moreover, nutrition educators should consider designing and implementing specific action plans to encourage adolescents to improve their breakfast-eating practices by also eating dinner regularly and reducing eating out.

• Exercise Science
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.231-242
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• 2012

The purpose of this study was to develop the prediction model of VO₂max using submaximal metabolic responses from the Bruce protocol, HR responses at several stages and 1,200 m running record, and to compare and analyse the validity of these prediction models. The subjects were consisted of 255 male(133 male for 1,200 m running). They were participated maximal exercise testing with Bruce protocol, and the metabolic responses were measured in the end of the first(3 minute), second stage(6 minute), and 1,200 m running record. Measurement items were VO₂(㎖/kg/min), VCO₂(㎖/kg/min), VE(L/min), HR(bpm) of 3 and 6 minute, time to HR 150 bpm and 170 bpm, HR difference between Bruce protocol 6 and 3 minute, 1,200 m running record. Analyzing with all variables using enter method, the multiple R of total variable model was 0.642(p<.01), SEE was 4.38 ㎖/kg/min, CV was 10.8 %, but multicolinearity was appeared. The multiple R of 3 minutes model 1 and model 2 were 0.341 and 0.461, SEE was 6.05 and 5.72 ㎖/kg/min, CV was 14.9 and 14.1%, and multicolinearity did not appeared. The multiple R of 6 minutes model 1 and model 2 were 0.350 and 0.456, SEE was 6.03 and 5.74 ㎖/kg/min, CV was 14.9 and 14.2%, and multicolinearity did not appeared. The R of HR 170 and HR 170 model were 0.151 and 0.154, SEE were 6.36~6.37 ㎖/kg/min, CV were 15.7%. The R of 1,200 m running model was 0.444, SEE was 4.82 ㎖/kg/min, CV were 11.9%. In conclusion, with considering usefulness and convenience through the validity of these prediction models, the prediction model of VO₂max recommended 6 and 3 minute model, and the validity of HR model and 1,200 m running model were moderately low.