• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.39 no.5
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• pp.447-455
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• 2013

Objectives: This study aims to understand the concentration, diversity, and antibiotic characteristics of staphylococci present in the indoor air of child-care facilities. Methods: Air sampling was performed from October 2012 to January 2013 in 120 child-care facilities in Seoul, Korea. Methicillin-resistant bacteria were selected from the total obtained airborne bacteria and subjected to 16S rRNA analysis for methicillin-resistant staphylococcal species determination. Identified staphylococcal strains were tested for resistance to a range of antibiotics. Results: Average total airborne bacterial concentration was $508.9{\pm}246.3CFU/m^3$. Indoor concentration of total airborne bacteria had a significant positive correlation with the $CO_2$ concentration in the child-care facilities. Methicillin-resistant staphylococci were present in 13.3% of the child-care facilities studied. A total of four species (S. epidermidis, S. cohnii, S. saprophyticus, S. sp.) and 55 strains were identified from the indoor air of the child-care facilities. Staphylococcus cohnii was the most common species (54.5%), followed by S. epidermidis (38.2%). All of the isolated staphylococcal strains exhibited high resistance to oxacillin, erythromycin, mupirocin, and ceftizoxime. Especially, S. saprophyticus strains showed more multidrug resistance to oxacillin, vancomycin, clindamycin, erythromycin, lincomycin, ceftizoxime, mupirocin, and tetracycline than did other species. Conclusion: The results of this study showed that a monitoring system for multidrug-resistant bacteria is needed in facilities for children, as the community-associated infections of these bacteria are increasing.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.26 no.11
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• pp.1223-1233
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• 2017

The purposes of this study are to analyze the degree of satisfaction on forest experience among children, based on a survey of teachers and parents who lead them, and to make proposals based upon the findings. The survey was performed in forest experience for children at Apsan Park in Daegu. The results are as follows. First, there were 78 respondents comprising 34 teachers, 39 parents, and 5 others. The teachers' age groups were distributed evenly between the 20s and 40s and parents' 51.3% were in their 30s and 46.2% in their 40s. Second, all participants responded that forest experience is necessary for children. 80.8% of respondents required continually additional construction. Specifically, parents insisted that forest experience for children should be built up more than the teachers did. Third, as a result of the management and program satisfaction of forest experience for children, 38.5% of respondents wanted increased access and another 38.5% desired unlimited access. In addition, the older teachers preferred more flexible access. Fourth, the safe facility topped the list of the four facilities ranked by importance with 0.39 points, followed by the learning experience field, the shelter facility, and the discretional facility. This study aims to build up basic data in order to make and practically manage forest experiences for children. Therefore, through continuous research, forest experience for children should be established as a practical experience spaces for children.

• Human Ecology Research
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• v.54 no.1
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• pp.83-95
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• 2016

This study explored the processes of parental divorce and adaptation in single-parent families as well as examined how the experience of living in family welfare facilities influences the adaptation process of such families. The research question to achieve the study objective was, "What is the adaption process for a singlefather family, and what influence does living in a single-father family welfare facility have on that process?" Data collection was conducted between June 2013 and April 2014 that included an in-depth interview process and continuous participatory observations on 14 children residing in the facility. The study results were as follows. The theme in a two-parent family period was 'changes in reduction of family: serious conflicts between parents.' Children directly witnessed intense conflicts between parents and experienced anxiety from situations that involved verbal and physical violence during the two-parent family period. The experience of children prior to entering the facility was represented by "loss and confusion experienced." The theme for children of singlefather family in entering a facility was "selecting a realistic alternative." Children's daily activities consisted of being with friends of a similar age, which allowed them to play and support each other in building social skills. The facility departure theme for the children was "hope for a new life."

• Journal of Korean Society for Atmospheric Environment
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• v.25 no.5
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• pp.382-391
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• 2009

The aim of the study was to assess the levels in typical central borough of phthalate exposure by monitoring children's facilities (19 kindergartens and 21 elementary schools) and households (17 old apartments and 22 new apartments) via sampling indoor floor dust. A vacuum cleaner specifically prepared for sampling dust was attached to a filter of a vacuum cleaner dust collecting container. During the sample preparation process, containers made of glass were used and analysis was performed using GC-MSD. The mean concentration of DEHP was $412{\mu}g/g$, DnBP was $24{\mu}g/g$, and BBzP was $10{\mu}g/g$ dust. The indoor characteristics including floor, wall materials, years after construction, water leakage history for the past three years, and ventilation were also examined to categorize phthalate esters from the dust samples. From the flooring and wallpaper materials of kindergartens and elementary schools, DEHP in the dust sample appeared at a statistically significant level (p<0.05) when PVC materials were present. DEHP in the indoor dust also increased significantly (p<0.01) during the construction period. The daily intake of DEHP measured from indoor dust was 0.08~$19.7{\mu}g/kg/day$ for children and 0.02~$1.1{\mu}g/kg/day$ for adults (women). The results clearly revealed that phthalate exposure is greater in children than in adults (women) due to the indoor dust.

• Journal of the Architectural Institute of Korea Planning & Design
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• v.34 no.10
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• pp.83-94
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• 2018

In many theoretical and empirical studies on the design issues of therapeutic healthcare facilities, spatial configuration that promotes users' wayfinding behavior, has been emphasized as a significant factor to mitigate stressful experiences and to enhance restorative quality in the healthcare environment. This is also applicable to the healthcare setting for children. However, not much evidence has been reported with regard to the relationship between spatial configuration and wayfinding behaviors in this specific setting. Moreover, healthcare facilities for children with physical disabilities need more attention to provide easy wayfinding due to various physical restrictions. The aim of this study is therefore, to unfold the relationship between spatial configuration and visual cognitive qualities of outpatient spaces in the selected children's rehabilitation hospitals in Seoul, by examining visual cognitive attributes such as visibility, accessibility, and intelligibility. In the first phase, the spatial layout of the hospitals was analyzed, with an emphasis on the major outpatient areas such as the entrance lobby, doctors' examination, and physical therapy zones. In the second phase, a space syntax tool was implemented to examine visual cognitive characteristics of the spatial configuration. The spatial configuration parameters measured were integration, integration core, visual isovist field continuity, correlation between integration and step depth, and the correlation between integration n and integration 3. As a result, the integration was higher in the hall type configuration. Circulation intersections acted mostly as integration cores for better visibility. Some areas showed the lack of continuity in the visual isovist fields overlap and irregular correlation between integration and step depth. The intelligibility was higher in the circulation area and social interaction spaces such as a cafe, reception waiting, and therapy waiting areas. Based on the analysis, design implication and possible future improvement were discussed to enhance wayfinding experiences in the hospitals for children with physical disabilities.

• Korean Journal of Human Ecology
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• v.13 no.5
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• pp.751-763
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• 2004

This study aims to identify children's after-school facilities in Cheonan, to evaluate their programs, and to further suggest desirable directions of those programs. During this study, we found that the facilities in Cheonan are much less in numbers and no better than we expected. Especially, it is shown that most of the study rooms there are evaluated as relatively the worst facilities in terms of space organization, health care and safety, daily schedule and management, and program evaluation process. In conclusion, this study proposes that such facilities should be greatly expanded and improved in the program development as well as in the working environment. We also propose to newly establish a regional center which supports and certifies educational programs of each after-school facility.

• Korean Journal of Community Nutrition
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• v.12 no.3
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• pp.299-309
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• 2007

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of nutrition education with nutrition services provided by dietitians who were placed in child care facilities from the Korean Dietetic Association. For this, we investigated the levels of nutrition knowledge and dietary intakes of children who attended child-care centers as well as dietary practices of children assessed by their parents. The treatment for children consisted of nutrition education and food service activities that are provided by the dietitian who have 3 to 5 years experience. Nutrition education was implemented during 10 weeks, 20 times, and a total 400 min and it's effectiveness was evaluated by questionnaire. Data were obtained for 123 children aged 4 to 5 years old who attended four child-care centers, one for a control group and 3 for intervention groups. Dietary intakes were investigated by measuring one-serving size and plate waste a of child for one-day dietary records before and after nutrition education. The levels of nutrition knowledge of children improved showing 70.80 points before to 83.45 points after nutrition education (p<0.001). Dietary intakes of the children after nutrition service increased significantly on cooked rice (133.66 g), Kimchi (19.41 g), side dish of meat/fish (48.40 g), and side dish of vegetables (24.88 g). Dietary practices of children after treatment also improved especially 'eat diverse meat, fish, egg, and bean' and 'never leave plate waste'. To summarize, this study pointed out that nutrition service and nutrition education provided by dietitians had influences on increases of the nutrition knowledge, dietary intake, and dietary practices. Therefore, placement of dietitians needs to extend to child care facilities from the 100 persons-over-capacity facility to the 50 persons-over-capacity facility, for providing professional service such as nutrition education and nutrition counseling.

• Journal of Engineering Education Research
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• v.13 no.5
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• pp.20-24
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• 2010

The total number of deaths by traffic accidents is decreasing every year in our country. However, in 2009, children died in traffic accidents at a rate of 2.3 deaths per 100,000 children, which was higher than the average of OECD countries (1.9 deaths per 100,000 children). In particular, traffic accidents are showing rapid increase in school zone during the past 2 years because of problems in the designation and management of school zone. Traffic safety facilities such as road sign, reflector mirror, speed bump have the ultimate limit of vehicle accidents prevention. Thus, in school zone, children safety is still not guaranteed due to illegal parking and the absence of driver's awareness of safety. Therefore, In order to protect children from traffic accidents within school zones, we have realized a safe school zone system, which enables the drivers to better know the intended school zones and creates pedestrian environment through unmanned monitoring camera, using LabVIEW.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Industry Convergence
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• v.6 no.4
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• pp.405-412
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• 2003

Children of three-to-eighteen-years-old have been brought up in the institution (Orphanage) for several reasons such as family dissoultion, divorce and poverty since the Korean War of 1950. The Cottage, where these children are housed and brought up has dining room, living room and bedrooms. Psychological aspects of children are being observed distracted and differentiated to some degree according to the sizes of bedroom floor spaces ranging from 2.3 square meters to 9.0 square meters per child. Since the most facilities were built during the 1950-1960s period, most of the cottages are now in the condition of being rebuilt or remodelled. This study was conducted to obtain some basic data necessary for design of spaces in the orphanages by examining the relations between the meal and sleeping activities of children and residence types.

• The Journal of Korean Society for School & Community Health Education
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• v.14 no.3
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• pp.27-40
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• 2013

Objectives: This study was conducted at a request for cooperation through an analysis of the effect of toothbrushing facilities at a public health center in Seongdong-gu. Also, with the aim of furnishing basic data to the proposal of a program for improving the ability of school aged children in managing oral cavities and developing a correct toothbrushing habit, the study conducted an investigation of how toothbrushing facilities affect change in the oral environment management ability and behavior of oral health care. Methods: From among elementary schools located in Seongdong-gu, Seoul the study selected A Elementary School where toothbrushing facilities were established and have been operated since 2008, B Elementary School in an adjacent region within the jurisdiction of Seongdong-gu where the demographic environment was similar among schools where toothbrushing facilities were newly established in 2012, and C Elementary School without toothbrushing facilities. Then the study was aimed at first grade students of the schools and an investigation was carried out from April to December 2012. Through a dental checkup, the study evaluated the teeth and periodontal health conditions, and a test of the oral environment management ability was undertaken three times. Regarding change of oral health care behavior, the study carried out a self-recording survey. Results: 1. Concerning decayed and filled tooth(dft) and decayed and filled surface (dfs), A Elementary School where toothbrushing facilities have been established and operated from the past showed a relatively lower decayed, missing, and filled teeth index than B Elementary School where toothbrushing facilities were established in 2012 or C Elementary School without toothbrushing facilities; however, there was no significant difference (p>0.05). For CPI, there was no significant difference by school; however, in looking into the difference between boy students and girl students, Code (0) was discovered higher in boy students whereas Code (1) was shown higher in girl students. 2. In the PHP index test in accordance with the existence of toothbrushing facilities before the installation of toothbrushing facilities, for A Elementary School where toothbrushing facilities have been established and operated from the past, the school recorded 4.28 points whereas B Elementary School where the facilities were established in 2012 recorded 3.51 points. Meanwhile C Elementary School without the facilities posted 4.30 points. Therefore there was a statistically significant difference according to the existence of toothbrushing facilities (p<0.05). 3. In a comparison of teeth health care behavior according to the existence of toothbrushing facilities, the number of answers that the respondent did not brush their teeth after lunch over the past one week was higher in B Elementary School and C Elementary School where there were no toothbrushing facilities. Regarding the average number of brushing after lunch for one week, it was discovered higher in A Elementary School (p<0.01). 4. In change of teeth health care behavior before and after the establishment of toothbrushing facilities, the case of answering that the respondents did not brush their teeth after lunch for one week increased more after establishment than before establishment. Also the average number of teeth brushings after lunch for one week decreased further after the establishment of toothbrushing facilities; however, it did not show a significant difference (p>0.05). One of the reasons that they do not brush their teeth, "the lack of a place", decreased significantly after establishment than before establishment (p<0.05), whereas the answer, "because their friends do not brush their tooth" increased greatly after establishment than before establishment; however, there was no significant difference (p>0.05). 5. In the comparison of the degree of knowledge about dental health according to the existence of toothbrushing facilities, the degree of knowledge about dental health was shown significantly higher in A Elementary School with toothbrushing facilities than in B Elementary School and C Elementary School where there were no toothbrushing facilities (p<0.01). Conclusions: Given the above results, it is difficult to attract change in behavior only with an environmental improvement; therefore, it is deemed necessary to develop an educational program that will help children to make a habit of oral health care not only through a school but also through a related policy and financial support of government organizations as well as the construction of the basis of a systematic and consistent cooperative system with relevant organizations.