• 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.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.363-370
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• 1984

In order to predict the possible fertilizer requirement from the K supplying capacity of soil, the relative K activity ratio, Kas/Kai and Gapon coefficients, KG. were determined for the soil samples before flooding and at heading stage of rice in pot experiment. These parameters assumed as the K supplying capacity of soils were discussed through correlation with other factors such as grain yields or the amounts of $K_2O$ uptake by the rice plant. The results may be summarized as follows: 1. The KGo values in soils before flooding were 7.8, 6.6, and 7.1, whereas the Kas/Kai values were 1.37, 1.26 and 2.11, respectively, in clay, loam and sandy loam soils. 2. The significant yield responses to the application of potassium fertilizer were observed whenever the KG values in soils at heading stage become larger to the original KG values, regardless of any levels of fertilizer application. 3. The linear correlations between the exchangeable cation ratios [Kex./(Ca+Mg) ex.:me/100g] in soils and the potassium activity ratios ($[K^+]/\sqrt{[Ca^{{+}{+}}+Mg^{{+}{+}}]}$: mole/l) in equilibrium solutions were observed with different linear gradients according to the soil properties. 4. The Kas/Kai in the soils, estimated prior to the experiment, showed high correlations with the grain yields or the amounts of $K_2O$ uptake in the all treatments, while the Kas/Kai and the KGo in the soils at heading stage showed high correlations with the grain yields or the amounts of $K_2O$ uptake in only N 15 Kg/10a treatments. 5. The Kas/Kai and the KGo values determined in the soil at heading stage of rice showed high negative correlation each other and they could be used as soil factors for predicting potassium fertilizer requirement.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• v.37 no.2
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• pp.59-65
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• 2004

Interactions of phosphorus and zinc in soils are important to determine the availability of the elements because those elements are closely related in the agricultural environment. The objective of this study was to investigate the interactions of P and Zn using desorption quantity (Q)-intensily(I) isotherms. Physically and chemically different soils, acidic Egan, acidic sandy Egeland, calcareous Glenham, and neutral Maddock, were used. The soils were enriched with different concentrations of P and Zn as $KH_2PO_4$ and $ZnSO_4$ solutions, respectively. Zinc enrichments affected availability of P in the Egan soil, which contained higher amounts of clay, organic matter, and exchangeable Fe than the other soils tested. After Zn enrichments, the pH drastically decreased in Egeland sandy soil, not changed in the calcarious Glenham soil, and slightly decreased in Egan and Maddock soil systems. The values of $Q_{max}$ and $I_0$ of phosphorus decreased with increasing Zn concentrations enriched in all soils, the changes of those values did not influence the P buffering power, |$BP_o$| values, in most soils. The influences of P treatment on Zn availability were varied. The values of Zn buffering capacity, $BC_{Zn}$, were lowest in the Egeland soil that had the lowest soil pH, amounts of clay minerals, organic matter, CEC, and exchangeable Fe, and were highest in the calcareous Glenham soil. The $BC_{Zn}$ values ranged from 202 to 4480. With P application, the changes of $BC_{Zn}$ values were more affected by the changes of soil solution Zn contents (I) than the changes of DTPA extractable Zn contents(Q). The change of Q and I values was found to be dependent upon soil properties, especially, soil pH.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.163-172
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• 1989

In order to study spatial variability of soil physical properties accross the land-partitioned boundary on Hwadong silt clay loam soil (Fine clayey, mixed, mesic family of Aquic Hapludalfs), all measured data were analyzed by means of kriging, fractile diagram, smooth frequency distribution, and autocorrelation. Sampling for soil particle size distribution analysis was made at 225 intersections of $15{\times}15$ grid with 10m interval. Field capacity, bulk density and saturated hydraulic conductivity were measured in situ at 594 intersections of $33{\times}18$ grid with 2.5m interval in only $6,000m^2$ reselected from $22,500m^2$ of sampling area for particle size distribution analysis. Sampled or measured soil depths were 0 to 10cm 25 to 35cm and 50 to 60cm at each intersections. The results are summarized as follows: 1. The coefficient of variance (CV) of various physical properties ranges from 4.8 to 128.8%. Saturated hydraulic conductivity is classified into the high variation group with CV greater than 100%, while the low variation group with CV smaller than 10% consists of bulk density. Other properties belong to the medium variation group with CV between 10 and 100%. 2. The appropriate number of soil samples for the determination of various physical properties with error smaller than 10% are calculated as one for bulk density, six for field moisture capacity, 16 for silt, 19 for clay, 69 for sand and 686 for saturated hydraulic conductivity. 3. Smooth frequency distribution and fractile diagram show that saturated hydraulic conductivity is in lognormal distribution while other physical properties are in normal distribution. 4. Serial correlation analysis reveals that the soil physical properties have spatial dependence between two nearest neighbouring grid points. Autocorrelation analysis of physical properties measured between the serial grid points in the direction of south to north following section boundary shows that the zone of influence showing stationarity ranges from 7.5 to 40m. In the direction of east to west across section boundary, the autocorrelogram of many physical properties shows peaks with the periodic interval of 30m, which are similar to the partitioned land width. This reveals that the land-partitioned boundary causes soil variability.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• v.2 no.1
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• pp.1-13
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• 1969

A total of 129 surface(upto 30 cm depth) soil samples were selected from the profile samples collected during reconnaissance soil survey in 1967, for the determination of phosphorus absorption co-efficient. The distribution range for each soil association has been established. The physicochemical factors affecting the phosphorus absorption coefficient have also been examined. The following general conclusions can be drown: 1. In general, the phosphorus absorption coefficient of the soil association of presently arable land are lower than the soils which are not in cultivation. 2. The higher the cation exchange capacity of soils, the higher is the phosphorus absorption coefficient. The factors governing phosphorus absorption coefficient in various soil associations are as follows: Parent Material Soil Association Governing Factor Fluvio marine Low Humic Gley Fluvio marine Alluvial Complex Narrow valley Siliceo mafic materials Red-yellow podzolic Redish Siliceo mafic materials Brown Lateritic Clay content Siliceous crystalline materials Lithosols C.E.C. & Clay content Alluvium Low Humic Alluvium Gley Alluvial Organic matter Siliceous crystalline materials Red-Yellow Podzolic Organic matter and clay content 4. The relation between phosphorus absorption coefficient determined by $(NH_4)_2HPO_4(y)$ and by the P 700 ppm $NaH_2PO_4(x)$ is $Y=2.716X+37(r=0.96^{**})$ which shows highly significant positive correlation and linear regression.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.44 no.5
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• pp.599-606
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• 2002

This study was carried out to determine the physico-chemical components and to examine it the consumers can tell the difference in eating quality of loins of Hanwoo with grade and sex. Loins of 36 carcasses were selected and their intramuscular fat, color, pH, water holding capacity, shear force, the amount of myoglobin and moisture content were measured. The result was that only intramuscular fat was significantly different with grades. In Pearson correlation coefficients among quality factors, moisture content increased significantly with the amount of myoglobin(0.514) and shear force(0.503) and decreased as intramuscular fat(－0.957) and water holding capacity(－0.491) increased. Also, content of intramuscular fat decreased as shear force(－0.565) increased. According to descriptive analysis, aroma and acceptability in the 2nd grade steer showed the highest score. Aroma, juiciness and tenderness may affect acceptability of cooked meat. Also, juiciness, tenderness and acceptability had a negative correlation with moisture content and the intramuscular fat did not affect tenderness directly.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.43 no.3
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• pp.377-387
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• 1996

Background : In 1980, WHO made a definition in which the term "impairment" as applied to the respiratory system is used to describe loss of lung function, "disability" the resulting diminution in exercise capacity. The measurement of pulmonary function during exercise would give us information about overall functional capacity and respiratory performance that would be lacking in tests performed at rest. We conducted this study to investigate the role of resting pulmonary function test and exercise test for assessing impairment/disability in patients with chronic airflow obstruction(CAO). Method : We studied 19 patients with CAO. The spirometry and body plethysmograph were performed in stable condition. And then patients performed a progressive incremental exercise test to a symptom-limited maximum using cycle ergometer. Patients were divided in two groups, severe and non-severe impairment, according to the resting PFTs and compaired each other. A patient was considered to be severely impaired if FVC < 50 %, FEV1 < 40 % or FEV1/FVC < 40 %. Results : 1) The airway obstruction and hypoxemia of severe impairment group were more severe and exercise performance was markedly reduced compairing to non-severe impairment group. 2) The severe impairment group showed ventilatory limitation during exercise test and the limiting symptomes ware dyspnea in 9/10 patients. 3) The impairment and disability of the patients with tuberculous destructed lung were most marked in patients with CAO. 4) The FEV1 was the most prevalent criterion for the determination of severe impairment based on resting PFTs and was the valuable best correlated to V02max(r=0.81, p < 0.001). 5) The sensitivity of exercise limits for predicting severe disability according to resting PFTs was 80 % and specificity 89 %. Conclusion : In patients with severe CAO, FEV1 is a good predictive of exercise performance and impairment measured by resting PFTs can predict a disability by exercise test.

• Korean Journal of Agricultural Science
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.145-155
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• 1997

The large scaled field test by prefabricated vertical drains was performed to evaluate the superiority of vertical discharge capacity for drain materials through compare and analyze the time-settlement behavior with drain spacing and the compression index and consolidation coefficient obtained by laboratory experiments and field monitoring system. 1. The relation of measurement settlement($S_m$) versus design settlement($S_t$) and measurement consolidation ratio($U_m$) versus design consolidation ratio($U_t$) were shown $S_m=(1.0{\sim}1.1)S_t$, $U_m=(1.13{\sim}1.17)U_t$ at 1.0m drain spacing and $S_m=(0.7{\sim}0.8)S_t$, $U_m=(0.92{\sim}0.99)U_t$ at l.5m drain spacing, respectively. 2. The relation of field compressing index($C_{cfield}$) and virgin compression index($V_{cclab.}$) was shown $C_{cfield}=(1.0{\sim}1.2)V_{cclab.}$, But it was nearly same value when considered the error with determination method of virgin compression index and prediction method of total settlement. 3. Field consolidation coefficient was larger than laboratory consolidation coefficient, and the consolidation coefficient ratio($C_h/C_v$) were $C_h=(2.4{\sim}3.0)C_v$. $C_h=(3.5{\sim}4.3)C_v$ at 1.0m and 1.5m drain spacing and increased with increasing of drain spacing. 4. The evaluation of vertical discharge capacity with drain spacing from the results of the consolidation coefficient ratio showed largely superior in case the Mebra drain and Amer drain than other drain materials at 1.0m and 1.5m drain spacing, while the values showed nearly same value in case same drain spacing.

• Journal of Korea Water Resources Association
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• v.51 no.9
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• pp.827-837
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• 2018

The stabilities of sliding and overturning of caisson and bearing capacity of mound against eccentric and inclined loads, which possibly happen to a composite caisson breakwaters, have been analyzed by using the technique of multiple failure modes. In deterministic approach, mathematical functions have been first derived from the ultimate limit state equations. Using those functions, the minimum cross section of caisson can straightforwardly be evaluated. By taking a look into some various deterministic analyses, it has been found that the conflict between failure modes can be occurred, such that the stability of bearing capacity of mound decreased as the stability of sliding increased. Therefore, the multiple failure modes for the composite caisson breakwaters should be taken into account simultaneously even in the process of deterministically evaluating the design cross section of caisson. Meanwhile, the reliability analyses on multiple failure modes have been implemented to the cross section determined by the sliding failure mode. It has been shown that the system failure probabilities of the composite breakwater are very behaved differently according to the variation of incident waves. The failure probabilities of system tend also to increase as the crest freeboards of caisson are heightening. The similar behaviors are taken place in cases that the water depths above mound are deepening. Finally, the results of the first-order modal are quite coincided with those of the second-order modal in all conditions of numerical tests performed in this paper. However, the second-order modal have had higher accuracy than the first-order modal. This is mainly due to that some correlations between failure modes can be properly incorporated in the second-order modal. Nevertheless, the first-order modal can also be easily used only when one of failure probabilities among multiple failure modes is extremely larger than others.

• Journal of Bio-Environment Control
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.336-342
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• 2012

Inorganic materials were commonly used as container media in domestic plant factories. Objective of this research was to secure the information in soil physical and chemical properties of inorganic materials such as vermiculites and perlites. To achieve this, 12 gold and silver vermiculites from China, Zimbabwe, and South Africa and 5 perlites from China were collected based on the marketing grades (MG) in particle sizes and analyzed for determination of their characteristics. The percentage of particles larger than $710{\mu}m$, in China perlite MG 3~5 mm, China silver vermiculites MG > 8 mm and MG 3~8 mm were 99.9%, 99.8%, and 99.7%, respectively, which were much higher than 28.4% in China gold vermiculite MG 0.3~1.0 mm, 14.0% in perlite MG < 1.0 mm, and 12.6% of Zimbabwe silver vermiculite MG < 1.0 mm. The container capacities of perlite MG < 1.0 mm and South Africa silver vermiculite MG 0.25~1.0 mm were 72.0% and 71.1%, respectively. The air space in China silver vermiculite MG 3~8 mm was 49.3% which was higher than other materials tested. However, the China gold and silver vermiculites MG 0.3~1 mm had 3.5% and 2.4% in air space indicating that possible problems could occur in soil aeration when they are used for container media. The percentage of easily available and buffering water of China gold vermiculite MG 0.3~1 mm and perlite MG < 1.0 mm were the highest among test materials. The ranges of pH and electrical conductivity were 6.36 to 10.7 and 0.032 to $0.393dS{\cdot}m^{-1}$ in vermiculites and 7.78 to 8.62 and 0.030 to $0.041dS{\cdot}m^{-1}$ in perlite, respectively. The cation exchange capacity of China silver vermiculite MG 0.3~1 mm were $14.7cmol{\cdot}kg^{-1}$ that was 10 times as high as $0.34cmol{\cdot}kg^{-1}$ in perlite MG 1~2.5 mm. The vermiculites had the higher contents of exchangeable cations such as Ca, K, and Na, than those of perlites.