• Journal of Korean Society of Industrial and Systems Engineering
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• v.47 no.1
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• pp.41-50
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• 2024

Korea is facing a significant problem with historically low fertility rates, which is becoming a major social issue affecting the economy, labor force, and national security. This study analyzes the factors contributing to the regional gap in fertility rates and derives policy implications. The government and local authorities are implementing a range of policies to address the issue of low fertility. To establish an effective strategy, it is essential to identify the primary factors that contribute to regional disparities. This study identifies these factors and explores policy implications through machine learning and explainable artificial intelligence. The study also examines the influence of media and public opinion on childbirth in Korea by incorporating news and online community sentiment, as well as sentiment fear indices, as independent variables. To establish the relationship between regional fertility rates and factors, the study employs four machine learning models: multiple linear regression, XGBoost, Random Forest, and Support Vector Regression. Support Vector Regression, XGBoost, and Random Forest significantly outperform linear regression, highlighting the importance of machine learning models in explaining non-linear relationships with numerous variables. A factor analysis using SHAP is then conducted. The unemployment rate, Regional Gross Domestic Product per Capita, Women's Participation in Economic Activities, Number of Crimes Committed, Average Age of First Marriage, and Private Education Expenses significantly impact regional fertility rates. However, the degree of impact of the factors affecting fertility may vary by region, suggesting the need for policies tailored to the characteristics of each region, not just an overall ranking of factors.

• SUVANNABHUMI
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.303-343
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• 2024

Globalization and the flow of foreign direct investment (FDI) in the post-pandemic context continue to play a critical role in shaping the workforce of emerging countries. In Vietnam, evidence obtained during the pandemic revealed that the well-being of employees, especially migrant workers, was extremely poor due to both work and non-work factors. This paper examines the most significant factors that impact the well-being of workers employed by various FDI companies in two Vietnamese industrial parks. The survey evidence (n=200) shows that worker well-being is influenced by seven key factors categorized in three dimensions, namely material stressors, social stressors, and human stressors. A further qualitative analysis of 60 participants provides an understanding of the ways in which each factor affects workers' well-being and how elements of well-being in the Vietnamese context are different compared with other countries. Low salaries, lack of social support, work-life imbalance due to job demands, and the interplay between these three determinants significantly affect the overall well-being of workers. In the current business climate, it is important to have well-targeted policies that encourage high-tech investments as well as persuade domestic firms to address low salaries and economic migration. To manage valuable human resources and keep competitive advantages, foreign firms need to authentically implement corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiatives focusing on workers' benefits, especially providing workforce housing. This will bring about win-win outcomes of improved employee well-being and business sustainability.

• Journal of Korean Biological Nursing Science
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.250-258
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• 2024

Purpose: This study investigated the associations between intermediate hyperglycemia (IH) and increased body mass index (BMI), abdominal obesity (AO), high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), and leptin levels in Korean adults. Methods: The participants were 248 adults (≥ 19 years) who understood the purpose of the study, had no cognitive impairment, and were able to communicate. Physical examinations, BMI, AO measurements, and blood tests were performed. Data were analyzed using the t-test, chi-square test, Pearson correlation coefficients, and multiple logistic regression analyses. The risk factors for IH were predicted after adjusting for BMI, waist circumference (WC), age, hs-CRP and leptin levels, education, and economic status. Results: WC, hs-CRP and leptin levels, and age were higher in the IH group than in the non-IH group. According to the multiple logistic regression analysis, the factors affecting IH prevalence were WC, hs-CRP, leptin, and age. AO (male, WC ≥ 90 cm; female, WC ≥ 85 cm) exhibited an adjusted odds ratio of 5.45 for IH. IH was 2.43 times higher in those with hs-CRP > 3 mg than in those with hs-CRP < 1 mg. As leptin levels increased, the odds ratio for IH increased by 3.05 times. IH was 8.07, 8.79, 18.42, and 35.33 times more common for those in their 30s, 40s, 50s, and ≥ 60 years of age, respectively, than those 19-29 years old. Conclusion: This study provides evidence that interventions for AO should be included in IH management programs. Identifying the predictive factors for IH may contribute to the early detection of type 2 diabetes mellitus.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.24 no.7
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• pp.889-897
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• 2011

Mycoplasma Pneumonia of swine (MPS) decreases the daily growth of pigs, and, co-infection with a virus sometimes causes severe pneumonia. Genetic selection of pigs resistant to the pulmonary MPS lesion might solve the economic loss due to MPS in animal production. Here, we examined the immunophenotype of Landrace line (Miyagino L2), genetically selected to reduce the incidence of pulmonary MPS lesion for 5 generations in Miyagi Prefecture Animal Industry Experiment Station. Although this line is expected to be resistant to the pulmonary MPS lesion, the biological characteristics of its immune function are not clear. We investigated details of the immunorelated phenotype of Miyagino L2 at the hematological and molecular biological level, including cytokine expression, and compared the results with that of non-genetically selected Landrace. Miyagino L2 showed decreased antigen-specific IgG and IgM production and increased CD8-positive T-cell population, and high levels of cortisol concentration, suggesting that the MPS-resistant phenotype is associated these immunological differences. Additionally, T-cell CD4 expression was highly correlated with the MPS expected breeding value. Although the detailed mechanisms underlying this high correlation remain unknown, our result suggested that the genetic selection of the expression level of CD4 might be useful to improve MPS resistance in pig production.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Service
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.493-496
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• 2008

Brucella spp. are small, non-motile Gram-negative coccobacilli known to cause disease in a number of vertebrate species including humans and brucellosis is one of the world's major zoonoses, alongside bovine tuberculosis and rabies. There are about 33.55 million goats and 1.16 million sheep in Bangladesh. The sheep and goats can significantly play an important role in the economic well being of the resource-poor farmer in Bangladesh. Sexually matured 362 female small ruminants(300 goats and 62 sheep) were examined. Approximately 3-5 ml of blood was collected from the jugular vein of each animal and sera samples were prepared. Samples were then tested for brucellosis by using Rose Bengal test(RBT), plate agglutination test(PAT) and tube agglutination test(TAT). Among 362 small ruminants, irrespective of species(sheep or goat), diagnosed highest in TAT, 2.21%(n=8) and lowest both by RBT & PAT, 1.93%(n=7) and it is concluded that TAT is superior than RBT and PAT.

• Quality Improvement in Health Care
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• v.2 no.2
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• pp.72-111
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• 1996

Background: Group occupational health program by non-for-profit agency, started five years ago, for management of health problems in small and medium sized industries, is one of the measures to cope with limited human and financial resources in occupational health. The program has been rapidly expanding to include 54 participating institutions, private as well as public, all over the country. In spite of its potential impact on health of employees and practice of occupational health in small and medium sized industries, comprehensive evaluation in terms of quality has not been tried. Objectives : The aim of this study are to develop and apply criteria to assess quality of newly developed Korean group occupational health program. Methods : By defining occupational health services, in particular for small and medium sized industries, as one of the primary health care, we included followings as core elements of sound occupational health program; accessibility, continuity, intersectoral collaboration, comprehensiveness, community participation, technical quality, adequacy, focus on preventive services, acceptability, and workers' satisfaction. Again we divided each elements into five major components of national health system infrastructures developed by World Health Organization; development of health resources organized arrangement or resources, delivery of health care, economic support, and management. In turn, we categorized each component into input, process and outcome aspects. After discussions in expert panel, several criteria were selected for evaluation of program. The criteria were modified according to each group of interviewees. Results: We developed five sets of questionnaire that evaluate the quality of 'Group occupational health program'. Conclusion : The refining of the measurement tool and the continuing evaluation process for the 'Group occupational health institute' should be done further.

• Korea Journal of Hospital Management
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.50-61
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• 2015

Advances in healthcare technology and rapid economic growth lead to the increased life expectancy and consequently the size of elderly population. Korea is one of the countries that are rapidly aging. Thus, it is particularly important to prepare for the aging society. Recently, the number of healthcare institutions for the elderly citizens has increased. The purpose of selecting a hospital for the elderly is, in general, maintenance of health rather than improvement of health receiving proper treatment. Unlike choosing a hospital for treatment, customers of a long term care hospital have a different set of factors to consider. Especially, when choosing a long term care hospital, the influence of patient's family is greater than the patient. This study examines the factors they consider for long term care hospital. A total of 198 questionnaires were collected from the families of actual patients of long term care hospitals. Twelve questionnaires were found to be non-usable because of missing and unsatisfactory responses. Consequently, 186 questionnaires were used for the analyses. Findings of this study are as follows. First, seven factors have been identified to consider when choosing a long term care hospital for the elderly. They include convenience of facilities, costs variety of facility programs, service hours, reputation, accessibility, quality of medical staff, medical facilities, and facility size. Second, This study measured both importance and satisfaction with these attributes and analyzed the difference between them. Satisfaction was lower than importance in the categories of convenience of facilities, costs, and programs, and accessibility. On the other hand, satisfaction was higher in terms of service hours, reputation, and quality of medical staff. Finally, the current study found positive impact of accessibility and quality of medical staff on reuse intention of a long term care hospital.

• Journal of the Korean Home Economics Association
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.65-73
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• 1980

The purpose of this study is ti find out a desirable way to stability and improvement of household economy by studying the changes of consumption level and consumption pattern of urban salary and wage earners' households during the years from 1970 to 1978. For this study, "Annual Report on the Family Income and Expenditure survey" (Published by the Bureau of Statistics, Economics Planning Board) has been used as basic material, and the methods of analysis used here are the time series analysis. We have gained the results as follows: 1) From 1970 to 198, the total income level increased at the rate of 416.2% in nominal price, but only 74.4% in reql price, while the total expenditure level showed 338.5% increase in nominal price, but its real increased proved only 418.2% in consideration of inflation. APC decreased from 95.1%(in 1970) to 80.7%(in 1978). 2) As for the expenditure pattern for the above mentioned nine years, the rate of food expenditure increased until 1975 under the price influence, but it trended to decease there after on . The rate of housing expenditure showed a gradual increase while that of fuel and light expenditure was on the decrease. The rate of clothing expenditure had been on the decease until 1974 but it began to increase gradually thereafter on. The trend of miscellaneous expenditures was irregularly up and down, educational expences being the first rank among them, Non-living expenditure had been constant until 1974 but it decreased a little after that. From the results it was found that the consumption level of the salary and wage earners' household in all cities from 1970 to 1978 was not practically improved because of rise in prices, nor was the Engel's coefficient and the rate of miscellaneous expenditure changed distinctively. However, as the successive decrease of APC suggests the possibility of economic development, we must try to put stress on economy in consumption and on encouraging. This will help run our household economy in safety and stability.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Agricultural Engineers
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• v.57 no.5
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• pp.101-111
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• 2015

Establishment of appropriate data in certain formats is essential for agricultural water cycle analysis, which involves complex interactions and uncertainties such as climate change, social & economic change, and watershed environmental change. The main objective of this study was to develop web-based Data processing and Model linkage Techniques for Agricultural Water-Resource analysis (AWR-DMT). The developed techniques consisted of database development, data processing technique, and model linkage technique. The watershed of this study was the upper Cheongmi stream and Geunsam-Ri. The database was constructed using MS SQL with data code, watershed characteristics, reservoir information, weather station information, meteorological data, processed data, hydrological data, and paddy field information. The AWR-DMT was developed using Python. Processing technique generated probable rainfall data using non-stationary frequency analysis and evapotranspiration data. Model linkage technique built input data for agricultural watershed models, such as the TANK and Agricultural Watershed Supply (AWS). This study might be considered to contribute to the development of intelligent watercycle analysis by developing data processing and model linkage techniques for agricultural water-resource analysis.

• Bulletin of the Society of Naval Architects of Korea
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.21-30
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• 1985

This paper deals whth the buckling as well as postbuckling analysis of axisymmertric shells taking the initial deflection effects into account. Incremental equilibrium equations, based on the principle of virtual work, were derived by the finite element method, the successive step-by-step Newton-Raphson iterative technique was adopted. To define the transition pattern of postbuckling behavior from the prebuckling state more accurately, a simple solution method was developed, i.e. the critical load was calculated by the load extrapolation method with the determinant of tangent stiffness matrix and the equilibrium configuration in the immediate postbuckling stage was obtained by perturbation scheme and eigenvalue analysis. Degenerated isoparametric shell elements were used to analyse the axisymmetric shell of revolution. And by the method developed in this paper, the computer program applicable to the nonlinear analysis of both thin and moderately thick shells was constructed. To verify the capabilities and accuracies of the present solution method, the computed results were compared with the results of analytical solutions. These results coincided fairly well in both the small deflection and large deflection ranges. Various numerical analyses were done to show the effect of initial deflection and shape of shells on buckling load and postbuckling behavior. Futhermore, corrected directions of applied loads at every increment steps were used to determine the actual effects of large deflection in non-conservative load systems such as hydrostatic pressure load. The following conclusions can be obtained. (1) The method described in this paper was found to be both economic and effective in calculating buckling load and postbuckling behavior of shell structure. (2) Buckling and postbuckling behavior of spherical caps is critically dependent upon their geometric configuration, i.e. the shape of spherical cap and quantities of the initial deflection. (3) In the analysis of large deflection problems of shells by the incremental method, corrections of the applied load directions are needed at every incremental step to compensate the follower force effects.