• KSCE Journal of Civil and Environmental Engineering Research
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• v.28 no.5D
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• pp.695-703
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• 2008

China water market has huge potential for increased use of BOT mode and one of the most attractive markets of doing business. However, the current China water BOT market shows that many foreign companies are retreating from the market while Chinese water companies fast growing. From the view no domestic companies have track records in China BOT water market, the research identified twenty market access barriers in terms of construction laws, regulations, BOT-related policy and the recent market situation. These are evaluated based on interview results with 10 professionals direct or indirect having a China water BOT experience. All the factors are found to be highly influential to foreign company's decision on the market participation. Among those, no fixed return policy and low water price, difficulty in water price adjustment and approval, and no government guarantees, all directly related to the project viability and under the control of government, were the most critical factors, implying government's role is the key in increasing the market competition by attracting more foreign participation on the market. In addition, new construction law regulating foreign EPC contractor's construction work, namely Decree 113, and requirement of applying competitive bidding in selecting EPC contractor in a BOT project are also considered signigicant barriers on foreign participation, which contradicts international norm and therefore necessitates an adjustment on current decision process in domestic companies.

• Education of Primary School Mathematics
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.199-217
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• 2023

Affective characteristics have been consistently emphasized in mathematics education, but students' confidence or interest in mathematics has not changed significantly. This study analyzes the factors affecting the affective characteristics according to students' academic achievements, which have not been studied so far. The study was surveyed 593 students in the 5th and 6th grades, divided into school mathematics education and social-environmental factors. As a result of the study, students cited 'mathematics class at school' as the factor that had the most influence on their affective characteristics, regardless of academic achievement. Excluding 'mathematics classes at school', upper level students said that 'private education' and 'college entrance exams and jobs', had the most influence on their affective characteristics. Middle level students said that 'assessment at school' and 'private education' had the most influence on their affective characteristics. Lower-level students said that 'school evaluation' and 'mathematics textbook' had the most influence on the affective characteristics. In particular, as the academic achievement level decreased, students' participation in classes decreased rapidly. Most students said that the mathematics content they were learning was too difficult for that reason. Considering these research results, it would be effective to apply methods according to students' academic achievement to some extent in order to improve affective characteristics.

• The Mathematical Education
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• v.62 no.1
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• pp.151-173
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• 2023

In this study, we explored factors that affect high school student's affective attitude on mathematics with respect to the school mathematics instructoin, school mathematics assessment, mathematics textbook, private mathematics education, college entrance and career, and social atmosphere. Considering students' grade, major, academic level, gender, and school location, 1,029 high school students participated in the survey. To analyze the survey results, descriptive statistics, t-test, ANOVA, and chi-square test were conducted using SPSS ver 29.0. Results are as follows. First, generally, college entrance and career and school mathematics instruction affected students' affective attitude on mathematics. Second, according to student's academic level and gender, there was a statistically significant difference in the factors affecting the affective attitude on mathematics. Third, according to students' background, there was a statistically significant difference in students' responses to sub-categories of each factor. We suggested that to improve student's affective attitude on mathematics, diversity of the school mathematics instruction, improvement of the mathematics textbook, student's appropriate participation in the private mathematics education, improvement of student's perception of the utilization of the mathematics in the future and the importance of the mathemaitcs in the society, and parents' emotional support are needed.

• Asia Marketing Journal
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• v.9 no.3
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• pp.33-73
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• 2007

This paper explores major factors that drive relationship quality and strength in business-to-business transactions. Three major factors, including offering characteristics, managers' interpersonal factors (similarity, expertise), and relational factors (relationship length, cooperation, and dependence), were proposed to affect relationship quality, and indirectly affect relationship strength. In addition, both economic/instrumental dimension (offering characteristics) and affective, relational dimensions (trust and commitment) are also expected to influence relationship strength. In the empirical study which used the textile-dyeing company managers' ratings of local exporters, structural equation modeling presented a well-fit evidence that relationship quality variables and strength are influenced by their proposed antecedents. Specifically, it was found that all characteristics (except relationship length) have direct effect on their relationship quality with local exporters, and indirectly impact on relationship strength which was measured along dimensions of intention to continue the business relationship in the future and the current share of business given to a local exporter. Together with the minor influence that instrumental dimension (offering characteristics) has on relationship strength, this study suggests that the willingness to remain in business relationship or current proportion of business shared is influenced more by affective assessment like relationship quality than by calculative motivation.

• Journal of Wetlands Research
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.237-247
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• 2023

Paddy fields not only provide a variety of ecosystem services but also serve as crucial habitats for biodiversity conservation. Recently, their ecological value and significance have been increasingly emphasized. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the characteristics of soil seed banks and analyze their correlation with soil environmental factors in Conventional Paddy field (CP) and Organic Paddy field (OP) with different farming practices. Our results revealed that the vegetation in CP was simple, resulting in low plant diversity in the soil seed banks. On the other hand, the vegetation in OP was relatively diverse, leading to higher plant diversity in the soil seed banks. Additionally, distinct differences in soil environmental characteristics were observed between OP (K, Ca, Mg, Na, Fe, Mn, B↓) and CP (K, Ca, Mg, Na, Fe, Mn, B↑). These results suggest that variations in agricultural practices for rice cultivation have influenced the structure and diversity of vegetation and soil seed banks. Furthermore, these agricultural practices have had both direct and indirect effects on soil environmental factors. Our findings can serve as fundamental data for evaluating biodiversity conservation in agricultural ecosystems, ecosystem restoration, and ecological value assessment.

• Korean Journal of Community Nutrition
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• v.28 no.6
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• pp.466-479
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• 2023

Objectives: A mobile health intervention program was provided for employees with overweight and obesity for 12 weeks, and a process evaluation was completed at the end of the program. We investigated participant engagement based on app usage data, and whether engagement was associated with the degree of satisfaction with the program. Methods: The program involved the use of a dietary coaching app and a wearable device for monitoring physical activity and body composition. A total of 235 employees participated in the program. App usage data were collected from a mobile platform, and a questionnaire survey on process evaluation and needs assessment was conducted during the post-test. Results: The engagement level of the participants decreased over time. Participants in their 40s, high school graduates or lower education, and manufacturing workers showed higher engagement than other age groups, college graduates, and office workers, respectively. The overall satisfaction score was 3.6 out of 5. When participants were categorized into three groups according to their engagement level, the upper group was more satisfied than the lower group. A total of 71.5% of participants answered that they wanted to rejoin or recommend the program, and 71.9% answered that the program was helpful in improving their dietary habits. The most helpful components in the program were diet records and a 1:1 chat with the dietary coach from the dietary coaching app. The barriers to improving dietary habits included company dinners, special occasions, lack of time, and eating out. The workplace dietary management programs were recognized as necessary with a need score of 3.9 out of 5. Conclusions: Participants were generally satisfied with the mobile health intervention program, particularly highly engaged participants. Feedback from a dietary coach was an important factor in increasing satisfaction.

• Journal of the Korea Society of Computer and Information
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• v.28 no.12
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• pp.267-279
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• 2023

The objective of this paper is to examine the legal framework governing the import and export of grain in China, a pivotal factor in shaping policies aimed at stabilizing South Korea's foreign trade and grain imports. Through this analysis, it is observed that China's foreign trade system, governed by the Foreign Trade Act, exhibits a notable absence of clear delineation regarding the scope and responsibility for the delegation of authority to foreign trade management agencies. In contrast, Korea's Foreign Trade Law, along with its enforcement decree and management regulations, explicitly outlines the scope and responsibilities pertaining to the delegation of authority to foreign trade management. However, in the case of China's revised Foreign Trade Law, there exists a lack of precision in specifying the delegation of authority to foreign trade management. This creates a potential for discretionary intervention by local governments or other administrative bodies. While China's legal system concerning grain imports and exports aligns with WTO regulations in its institutional framework, attention is warranted due to the vagueness in laws or regulations, as well as the presence of irrational and non-transparent procedures during system operation. As conclusion remarks, while China's legal structure related to grain imports and exports conforms to WTO guidelines overall, the identified issues such as legal ambiguity and non-transparent procedures underscore the need for caution. To safeguard against potential challenges in future trade interactions with China, proactive measures are crucial to address these concerns.

• Korean Journal of Culture and Social Issue
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.165-187
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• 2002

This study examines Korean representation of the biotechnology and psychological factors which can influence lay people's perception and attitude about biotechnology. Korean college students(N=433) and lay adults(N=90) whom had college education participated in the study. Participants of the study 1 were asked to list words which comes to mind when associate with the biotechnology in broad sense, and several specific applications in health, medicines, agriculture and research. Participants of the study 2 were asked to list possible benefits and costs of biotechnology and their specific applications. In study 3, Participants responded the questionnaires about perceptions and attitudes of biotechnology. Korean people associated the biotechnology with its costs or risks and benefits. Korean college students mainly got the informations of the biotechnology from TV, newspapers, or internet. They trusted the scientist group and NGO group on their judgements about the assessment of risk and benefit of the biotechnology. College students showed the positive attitude with the applications in medicines and negative attitude with the applications in agriculture and public using of individual's genetic information. The radicalism, sensitivity in behavioral activation system, and trust/cynicism were to be found as a significant influencing factor for interest/knowledge and behavioral intention in related with biotechnology. Finally, more extensive knowledge of biotechnology did not lead to greater acceptance of it.

• Korean Journal of Radiology
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.402-412
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• 2020

Objective: To evaluate the performance of predicting early recurrence using preoperative factors only in comparison with using both pre-/postoperative factors. Materials and Methods: We retrospectively reviewed 549 patients who had undergone curative resection for single hepatcellular carcinoma (HCC) within Milan criteria. Multivariable analysis was performed to identify pre-/postoperative high-risk factors of early recurrence after hepatic resection for HCC. Two prediction models for early HCC recurrence determined by stepwise variable selection methods based on Akaike information criterion were built, either based on preoperative factors alone or both pre-/postoperative factors. Area under the curve (AUC) for each receiver operating characteristic curve of the two models was calculated, and the two curves were compared for non-inferiority testing. The predictive models of early HCC recurrence were internally validated by bootstrap resampling method. Results: Multivariable analysis on preoperative factors alone identified aspartate aminotransferase/platelet ratio index (OR, 1.632; 95% CI, 1.056-2.522; p = 0.027), tumor size (OR, 1.025; 95% CI, 0.002-1.049; p = 0.031), arterial rim enhancement of the tumor (OR, 2.350; 95% CI, 1.297-4.260; p = 0.005), and presence of nonhypervascular hepatobiliary hypointense nodules (OR, 1.983; 95% CI, 1.049-3.750; p = 0.035) on gadoxetic acid-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging as significant factors. After adding postoperative histopathologic factors, presence of microvascular invasion (OR, 1.868; 95% CI, 1.155-3.022; p = 0.011) became an additional significant factor, while tumor size became insignificant (p = 0.119). Comparison of the AUCs of the two models showed that the prediction model built on preoperative factors alone was not inferior to that including both pre-/postoperative factors {AUC for preoperative factors only, 0.673 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.623-0.723) vs. AUC after adding postoperative factors, 0.691 (95% CI, 0.639-0.744); p = 0.0013}. Bootstrap resampling method showed that both the models were valid. Conclusion: Risk stratification solely based on preoperative imaging and laboratory factors was not inferior to that based on postoperative histopathologic risk factors in predicting early recurrence after curative resection in within Milan criteria single HCC patients.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.57 no.2
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• pp.263-270
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• 2024

In this study, impact factors for dehydration with KOMIR-Tube system using flocculant and dewatering tube were evaluated for mine drainage sludges. The experiments were conducted on semi-active facility sludges with water contents above 90 % using KOMIR-Tube system. The flocculant and input amount were determined from laboratory experiment and the dewatering efficiency was verified onsite experiment. The sludge characteristics were identified by instrumental analysis such as zeta potential measurement, particle size analysis, XRD, XRF and SEM-EDS. Selection of flocculants for sludge dewatering treatment need to consider not only precipitated rate but also filterated rate. Floc size has to keep at least 0.7 mm. From on-site experiments, sludge dewatering using KOMIR-Tube system suggests to carry out April and May that is low rainfall and humidity considering to climate conditions. Also, dewatering rate depends on the crystal degree of mineral that mainly makes up sludges. Particularly, goethite of the iron hydroxides has better dewatering rate than ferrihydrite. Ferrihydrite is low degree of crystallinity and uncleared or broad shaped crystal, goethite is good crystallinity with needle shaped crystal so that the effect of flocculation and dewatering showed to depend on the crystal. In results, impact factors of dewatering for mine drainage sludges are related to flocculant, climate, crystallinity and shape of iron hydroxides.