• Journal of Practical Agriculture & Fisheries Research
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.137-150
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• 2010

Traditionally, like many people in mountain region of the Himalaya, the Lwang communities depend on mix of subsistence agriculture, animal husbandry, and seasonal migrant labor for their livelihoods. These traditional systems are characterized by low productivity, diverse use of available natural resources (largely for home consumption), limited markets, and some aversion for innovation. The potential to generate wealth through commerce has largely been untapped by these mountain residents and thus is undervalued in local and national economies. Introduction of organic tea farming is a part of Lwang community's several initiatives to break the vicious poverty cycle Annapurna Conservation Area Project (ACAP) played facilitating roles in all their efforts since beginning. In five years, the tea plantation emerged as a new means for secured a livelihood. This study aims to analyze the current practices in tea farming both in terms of farm management and soil nutrient status(technical) and the prosperity of the tea farmers (social). The technical aspect covers the soil and tea leaf analysis of various nutrients contents in the soil and tea leaf. Originally, the technical aspect of the study was not planned but later during the consultation with the advisor it was taken into consideration which added value to the research study. The sample were collected from different locations and analyzed on the field itself. The other part of the study i.e. the social aspect was done through questionnaire survey and focus group discussion. the tea farming provided them not only a new opportunity but also earned an identity in the region. This initiative was undertaken as a piloting measure. Now that the tea is in production with processing unit established locally, more serious consideration has to be given for better yield and economic prosperity. This research finding will help the community to analyze their efforts and make correction measures in tea garden management and application of fertilizer. It is also expected to fill up the gaps of knowledge and information required to reduce economic stresses and enhance capacity of farmers to make the tea farming a sustainable and beneficial business. The findings are expected to Sustainability of organic tea farming has direct impacts on biodiversity conservation compared to the other traditional farming practices that are more resource intensive. The study will also contribute to identify key action points required for reducing poverty while conserving environment and enhancing livelihoods

• Journal of Korea Trade
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.139-158
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• 2023

Purpose - The study of co-movements between stock markets is a crucial area of finance and has recently received much interest in a variety of studies, especially in international finance. Stock market co-movements are a major phenomenon in financial markets, but they are not necessarily independent of the real market. Several studies support the idea that bilateral trade linkages significantly impact stock market correlations. Motivated by this perspective, this study investigates whether real market integration due to trade agreements brings about financial market integration in terms of stock market co-movement. Design/methodology - Over the 10 free trade agreements (FTAs) signed by the United States, using a dynamic conditional correlations (DCC) multivariate GARCH (MGRACH) model, we empirically measure the degree of integration by finding DCCs between the US market and the partner country's market. We then track how these correlations evolve over time and compare the results before and after trade agreements. Findings - According to the empirical results, there are positive return spillover effects from the US market to eight counterpart equity markets, except Jordan, Morocco, and Singapore. Especially Mexico, Canada, and Chile have large return spillover effects at the 1% significance level. All partner countries of FTAs generally have positive correlations with the US over the entire period, but the size and variance are somewhat different by country. Meanwhile, not all countries that signed trade agreements with the United States showed the same pattern of stock market co-movement after the agreement. Korea, Mexico, Chile, Colombia, Peru, and Singapore show increasing DCC patterns after trade agreements with the US. However, Canada, Australia, Bahrain, Jordan, and Morocco do not show different patterns before and after trade agreements in DCCs. These countries generally have the characteristic of relatively lower or higher co-movements in stock markets with the US before the signing of the FTAs. Originality/value - To our knowledge, few studies have directly examined the linkages between trade agreements and stock markets. Our approach is novel as it considers the problem of conditional heteroscedasticity and visualizes the change of correlations with time variations. Moreover, analyzing several trade agreements based on the United States enables the results of cross-country pairs to be compared. Hence, this study provides information on the degree of stock market integration with countries with which the United States has trade agreements, while simultaneously allowing us to track whether there have been changes in stock market integration patterns before and after trade agreements.

• Journal of Christian Education in Korea
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• v.73
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• pp.117-137
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• 2023

This is a case study of an extra-curricular program that designed and implemented maker education based on design thinking to foster a Christian worldview. The program was designed at K university in the course of 10 sessions as following stages; tinkering, providing a special lecture for motivation, finding issues, empathizing, making, sharing and reflecting. A total of 15 students in 5 teams participated in the program, progressed through each stage in the process of solving the problems they found around them so that their neighbors and the creative world could become better. As a result of operating this program, the participants became concerned about their neighbors and community and reflected on the change of perspective of the world from a Christian worldview. As a suggestion for follow-up research and projects, to develop a model of maker education based on design thinking for cultivating a Christian view of the world is proposed in order to support to easy design and management of the program even if there is a lack of professional related knowledge and experience. In addition, it is needed to develop a manual and guide book including a facilitator's role and an assessment tool like a rubric that can give feedback on the performance of the program and make improvement.

• Journal of Korean Elementary Science Education
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• v.42 no.4
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• pp.538-559
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• 2023

In this study, the interplay between models and theories was explored through a series of focus group discussions (FGDs) involving five experts in science education. The FGDs were held seven times, beginning with the question of what is modeling in relation to models, which is a current area of research in science education. Throughout the discussion, several key issues regarding models and modeling were addressed, with a particular emphasis on their relationship to theory. A notable finding from this study is that the participants' discussions did not converge into a single viewpoint regarding the relationship between theory and models; instead, multiple related issues emerged, leading to attempts to reframe existing concepts and seek new understanding. The study findings relate to three main areas of inquiry: What is the meaning of models or modeling? What is the nature of the relationship between models and theories?, and Is modeling possible without a foundation in theory? Particularly, the relationship between models and theories was discussed in reference to the following points: 1) Is a model to be understood as derived from theory, and is modeling the application of theory to phenomena? 2) Can a model be inferred from theory? 3) Does modeling originate from a specific, structured foundational theory (a framework of empirical knowledge), or is it to be understood through the integration of various resources without explicit reference to a foundational theory? Based on the study outcomes, implications are presented for philosophy of science and for researchers and educators working in the realm of science education.

• Journal of The Korean Association For Science Education
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.354-365
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• 2007

The purpose of this study was to understand the undergraduate students' response characteristics by their cognitive conflict levels and result predictions when they were confronted with the learning tasks of action & reaction and electric circuits. The 147 engineering college students who were enrolled at the introductory physics classes were selected as the subjects for this study. The students were grouped by cognitive levels and result predictions. First, in action and reaction task, the trend of suspecting experimental results and finding the reasons was dominant; however, in electric circuits, the trend of accepting the results was dominant. Second, the reasons for the responses on the subcategories of cognitive conflict were different by the level of cognitive conflict. The responses were influenced by students' preexisting knowledge, former experiences, learning habits, learning motivation, and epistemological beliefs, etc. The high conflict group recognized what they do not consider and was positive to reappraise their preconceptions, while the low conflict group showed the tendency of accepting the situation without doubt and low interest on learning physics. In conclusion, students responses showed differences in cognitive conflict levels, result predictions and presented conflict tasks. The research results, especially the response characteristics, suggest that more research on effective cognitive conflict strategies appropriate for different tasks and students' conflicts are necessary for effective physics teaching.

• Journal of The Korean Association For Science Education
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• v.44 no.4
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• pp.343-360
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• 2024

The purpose of this study is to analyze the difficulties with scientific research faced by leading Korean scientists and suggest implications for science education. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews with 13 leading Korean scientists and were qualitatively analyzed using constructivist grounded theory. The results of the study showed that the leading scientists encountered 11 subcategories of difficulties, which were grouped into three main categories: uncharted territory, unexpected situations, and a lack of resources in domestic research environments. 'Uncharted territory' comprised anxiety due to uncertainty about research performance, insufficient knowledge accumulation in the field of research, and the burden of maintaining research influence as an academic leader. 'Unexpected situations' included encountering new phenomena that cannot be explained by existing theories, an inability to utilize research results, and repeated failures. 'A lack of resources in domestic research environments' included inadequate research funding support systems, a shortage of expert networks, limitations on employment and career opportunities for students, poor research equipment, and insufficient support policies for retired researchers. This study provides science educators with implications for the direction of science education and R&E. For students, it can serve as career education material, their attitudes towards science and their understanding of its nature. Lastly, the study may contribute to finding ways to improve scientific research policies and to developing a culture that fosters expertise in science.

• Korean Journal of Health Education and Promotion
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.34-60
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• 1993

This study was done for the improvement of dental health of rural villagers and the dental health education, through finding of the types of brushing teeth and dental treatment of 812 people in Sunsan, Kyungpook province for 35days from March 27 to April 30 in 1992. Summaries are as follows ; 1. 58.5 percent of respondents were women, 56.3 percent were 40′s, 28.0 percent were 30′s, 12.3 percent were 50′s, and the over 60′s were 3.4 percent Elementary school graduates were 36.1 percent and most of them were middle school graduates, 33.5 percent. In view of the occupation, farmers were 56.5 percent, factory workers were 17.9 percent, the middle class (monthly pay amounting to 500,000∼990,000 won) were 49 percent and the lower class(less than 500,000 won) were 30.9 percent. In the standpoint of religion, Buddhists were 42.5 percent. 2. In the number and times of respondents brushing, 35.5 percent is "after dinner", 25.6 percent is "Before going to bed", 15.8 percent is "After breakfast", 13.3 percent is "After every meal", 5.2 percent is "Before breakfast" and 4.7 percent is "The sometimes it occurs to them". 3. The acquirement process of knowledge on the dental health were clinics or health center dentists (27.6%), TV(24.5%), magazine(9.2%), school(7.8%), relatives(5.3%). and 25.6 percent has never acquired. 28.3 percent of the farmers learned something by clinics and 28.1 percent of them haven′t heard about dental health. 4. The rate of persons who experienced oral diseases during 1 year period was 76.1 percent, and that of the educated was 19.9 percent and that of the uneducated 80.1 percent. The authorities concerned with treatment were dentist′s(41.6%), health center(30.3%), and the unlicensed person(2.9%). The rate of negligence was 6.3 percent, farmers experienced oral disease was 75.2 percent and they utilized the health center most often(36.2%). 5. The rate of person who had experienced dental prosthesis during ten year period was 71.9 percent, and the final place or man for dental prosthesis was dental clinic(59.4%), the unlicensed person(27.1%), and health center(13.5%). The rate of farmers experienced dental prosthesis was 70.4 percent. They utilized the dental clinic, the unlicensed person and the health center with the rates of 51.5 percent, 32.2 percent, and 16.7 percent respectively. 6. As to the results of dental prosthesis using the dental clinic, "being satisfied now" was 72.4 percent, "being dissatisfied" 14.4 percent, "being unable to use it" 3.1 percent, "its being somewhat usable" 10.1 percent, "having some problem" 38.7 percent, and "there being no problems" 61.3 percent. About utilizing the unlicensed person, "being satisfied now" was 65.8 percent, "being dissatisfied" was 10.7 percent, "being unable to use it" 5.1 percent and "its being some what usable" was 18.4 percent. 7. The rate of missing teeth holders amounted to 89.8 percent, the rate of the educated to the uneducated was 19.2 percent to 80.8 percent The reasons of neglecting that illness were due to "Endurable"(28.3%), and "No money" (24.3%). In the case of farmers 89.1 percent of them were the missing-teeth holders, the "Endurable" were 29.8 7. percent, and "No money" lay in 27.4 percent. 8. Their hopeful centers for dental prosthesis were the dental clinics(76.6%), and the health center(16.9%).

• Asia-Pacific Journal of Business Venturing and Entrepreneurship
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• v.11 no.5
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• pp.77-90
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• 2016

This study is to examine the importance of site selection and service quality in franchise business as food service franchise became one of the fastest-growing service industries today. The chief finding of this study is as follows: First, a survey in locational and service quality factors affecting food service franchise shows that responders are more concerned with hygiene and visibility of the store than proximity and transportation advantages which reflects low statistical significance, thus the distance did not seem to be a big problem for the responders in the context that they mostly visit nearby food franchise. Second, the examination of the influence by the service quality factors and customer satisfaction shows significant positive relation with customer response, speed and accuracy, and accuracy factors which reveals that the responders prefer prompt response and swift judgment toward the customer's needs and expectations, professional knowledge services to the credibility factors in which little correlation with the customer satisfaction were found. Third, the examination of the influence by the service quality factors, locational factors, and re-visit reveals that customer response and specialty showed statistically significant correlation with intention of WOM (Word of Mouth) and revisit, which suggests that swift judgment and response toward the customer's needs and expectations, professional knowledge services is of great importance to both customer satisfaction and revisit. The study on the aspects of locational and service quality factors affecting franchise industry's customer satisfaction was conducted as above, an investigation in both factors' influence on the customer satisfaction was made, and based on the results of the analysis, this research seeks an optimal operation strategy of a franchise business. Food service franchise are relatively very competent to business adminstration and reaction capability to consumption changes due to the already established market, and there are stores springing up everywhere inspired by the founders who are too confident of their success in the franchise business. However, it is necessary for the franchise beginners to figure out a zone oriented, regular customer oriented business strategy than just complying with the head office manual. Owing to an increasing trend of opening medium to large sized stores and investments in the wake of converting to multiple business type Korean food franchise, there is growing need to set up new concept of store development and operational management strategy in order to overcome the excessive competition and limited sales volume of the old-fashioned small sized, small capital franchise stores. Furthermore, as most business category of food service franchise serve very similar menus, from a product differentiation point of view, it is required to map out flexible sales concept including the adoption of competitive and low-price strategy. In conclusion, as is shown in the analytical research, the customers' optimal choice fluctuate over their preferences like customer convenience and circumstances rather than insisting on specific brand, thus it will be necessary for the franchise stores to draw up aggressive strategy and planning in running food service franchise to maximize their profits.

• Development and Reproduction
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• v.13 no.4
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• pp.207-215
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• 2009

Numerous factors can affect the activities of hypothalamus-pituitary-gonad (HPG) hormonal axis, resulting in alteration of reproductive capacity or status such as onset of puberty and menopause. Soon after the finding of leptin, a multifunctional hormone secreted from adipocytes, a close relationship between reproduction and body energy balance have been manifested. Ghrelin, another multifunctional hormone from gastrointestinal tract, is an endogenous ligand of growth hormone secretagogue receptor (GHSR), and is thought to be a counterpart of leptin in the regulation of energy homeostasis. As expected, ghrelin can also modulate the reproductive capacity through the modulation of activities of HPG axis. This paper summarizes the current knowledge on the discovery, gene structures, tissue distribution and roles of ghrelin and GHSRs in mammalian reproduction in particular modulation of reproductive hormone secretion in HPG axis. Like POMC gene expression in pituitary gland, preproghrelin gene can generate a complex repertoire of transcripts which further undergo alternative splicing and posttranslational modifications. Concerning the roles of preproghrelin gene products in the control of body physiology except energy homeostasis, limited knowledge is available so far. Several lines of evidence, however, show the interplay of ghrelin between metabolism and reproduction. In rat and human, the distribution of ghrelin receptor GHSRs (GHSR1a and GHSR1b) has been confirmed not only in the hypothalamus and pituitary which were originally postulated as target of ghrelin but also in the testis and ovary. Expression of the preproghrelin gene in the brain and gonads was also verified, suggesting the local role (s) of ghrelin in HPG axis. Ghrelin might play a negative modulator in the secretions of hypothalamic GnRH, pituitary gonadotropins and gonadal steroids though the action on pituitary is still questionable. Recent studies suggest the involvement of ghrelin in regulation of puberty onset and possibly of menopause entry. It is now evident that ghrelin is a crucial hormomal component in 'brain-gut' axis, and is a strong candidate links between metabolism and reproduction. Opposite to that for leptin, ghrelin signaling is likely representing the 'hunger' state of body energy balance and is necessary to avoid the energy investment into reproduction which has not a top priority in maintaining homeostasis. Further researches are needed to gain a deep insight into the more precise action mechanism and role of ghrelin in reproduction, and to guarantee the successful biomedical applications.

• Management & Information Systems Review
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.253-292
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• 2011

This study is significant of groping for the autonomous perspective of a medication system for the establishment of harmonious regional labor-management relationship and investigating a plan to minimize previously labor disputes through both analyzing mediation cases and finding out any core issue from the labor-management relationship, with matters experienced in the mediation field when I had served as a mediator. Specially, this study has also objectives to prevent previously any labor dispute through analyzing and minimizing the issue of the labor dispute by case and to establish harmonious labor-management relationship thereby. Further since it is necessary to understand the organization and roles of the regional labor relations commission in order to understand the concrete matters in respect of the labor dispute mediation, this study shall be to explore in detail the matters relating hereto and to acquire general knowledge of mediation through case analysis. Additionally, there is little studies exploring alternative research for the establishment of reasonable labor-management relationship with core issues referred a mediation to the labor relations commission through both the position heightening of the labor relations commission and the analysis of core issues until now. Thus, this study may provide a theoretical base for raising a technique to enhance negotiation skill through acquiring the previous training or full knowledge on the approaching manner to be taken by the labor and management in the collective bargaining or wage bargaining on the basis of items analyzed by core issue. The heightening perspectives to be acquired through the analysis of 50 or more mediation cases are as follows. First, it deems to be important what position each mediation party takes. Second, the information acquired by an investigator in the preliminary investigation before holding the mediation is very importantly utilized in the mediation. Third, the gumption of mediators in charge of the mediation is very helpful for the resolution of a case. Fourth, it shall be preceding to understand dispute issues. After reviewing fully the investigation report of an investigator, if separate review is required, it is tried to hold a separate meeting and then reduce the number of issues asserted by the labor & management and, if the number of such issues is reduced, the mediation may approach to be concluded. Fifth, it shall be kept in mind that any matter other than the scope of the law be based on not the judgement of mediator but the legal interpretation. Sixth, it is necessary for both labor and management parties to take a positive approach so as to make the healthy labor & management relationship anchored. Seventh, notwithstanding the mediators are part-time and take a service attitude, it shall be encouraged to abstain from slandering or inveighing against the mediators because the mediation is taken against oneself. Eighth, it is necessary to convert the management's recognition about a labor union. Ninth, it is necessary to not raise any issue on the matters, such as time-off system and multiple labor union, etc., which are legally enforced. Tenth, it is confirmed that the regional labor relations commission plays a bridge role of narrowing down the issue difference between the labor and management.