• Journal of the Korean Geographical Society
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• v.49 no.6
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• pp.935-948
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• 2014

As chronic diseases have become more prevalent and problematic, effective cares for major chronic diseases have been a locus of the healthcare policy. In this regard, this study examines how region-specific characteristics affect the prevalence of hypertension in South Korea. To analyze, we combined a unique multi-year data set including key indicators of health conditions and health behaviors at the 237 small administrative districts. The data are collected from the Annual Community Health Survey between 2009 and 2011 by Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and other government organizations. For the purpose of investigating regional variations, we estimated using Geographically Weighted Regression (GWR) and decision tree model. Our finding first suggests that using the multi-year data is more legitimate than using the single-year data for the geographical analysis of chronic diseases, because the significant annual differences are observed in most variables. We also find that the prevalence of hypertension is more likely to be positively associated with the prevalence of diabetes and obesity but to be negatively associated with population density. More importantly, noticeable geographical variations in these factors are observed according to the results from the GWR. In line with this result, additional findings from the decision tree model suggest that primary influential factors that affect the hypertension prevalence are indeed heterogeneous across regional groups. Taken as a whole, accounting for geographical variations of health conditions, health behaviors and other socioeconomic factors is very important when the regionally customized healthcare policy is implemented to mitigate the hypertension prevalence. In short, our study sheds light on possible ways to manage the chronic diseases for policy makers in the local government.

• Journal of Digital Convergence
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• v.13 no.8
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• pp.375-385
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• 2015

This study aims to identify geographical variations and factors that affect smoking rates. The data are collected from the Community Health Survey conducted between 2009 and 2011 by Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and other government organizations. Correlation and multiple regression analysis were used to examine the factors influencing smoking rates. For the purpose of investigating regional variations, we employed a decision tree model. The study has found that the significant factors associated with geographical variations in the smoking rates were the rate of hazardous drinking, the completion rate of hypertension education, the experience rate of anti-smoking campaigns, stress awareness rate, hypertension prevalence, health insurance cost, diabetes prevalence, obesity rate, and strength training rate. Convergence-based analysis on geographical variations of the smoking rates is highly important when the regionally customized healthcare programs is implemented. In the future, it is necessary to develop effective program and customized approach for the regions of high smoking rates. Our study is expected to be used as meaningful data for the design of effective health care programs and assessments to lead effective non-smoking program.

• The Korean Journal of Ecology
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.39-50
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• 1993

The geographical variation of the germination response and the seedling growth of the seed populations of hemistepta lyrata bunge distributed in the southern area of korean peninsula (seoul, yongwol, andong, $Ch^{\prime}angwon, \;Sunch^{\prime}on$)was investigated. Five populations were divided into two principal groups according to the phases of their seed germination. The first group consisting of the seoul and yongwol population was 62% and 64%, respectively, in the final germination percentage of 32%, 24% and 28%, respectively, were Andong, $Ch^{\prime}angwon\;and\;Sunch^{\prime}on$ populations. The seed populations of hemistepta lyrata bunge which hardly germination. the germination of seoul and yongwol populations located at the higher latitudes took plase synchronously in early autumn. On the other hand, andong, $Ch^{\prime}angwon\;and\;Sunch^{\prime}on$ populations located at the lower latitudes showed a tendency to germinata asynchronously in late autumn. the speed of the seedling growth of the populations located at the higher latitudes was greater than that of the populations at the lower latitudes. Therefore the geographical variation in the germination response and the seedling growth of the seed populations of hemistepta lyrate bunge appeared to be an important ecological strategy to maintain their existence in the extreme environmental variations.

• Journal of the Korean Data and Information Science Society
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• v.20 no.5
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• pp.919-924
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• 2009

Geographical location carries information such as demography, local economy, environment, and life styles, which could be the sources of cancer occurrence. Analyzing geographical location associated with cancer occurrence can be instructive to physicians, patients, and health administrators regarding resource allocation, expenditures, prophylaxis and treatments. In this paper, we explored the correspondence relationship between geographical locations and mortality rates of the cancers using correspondence analysis and illustrated the approach with the mortality rates of the top 10 cancers in the 75 counties in Arkansas from 2001 to 2005. Geographical variations with respect to the mortality rates of cancers are evaluated across Arkansas counties. Based on the contingency table, correspondence analysis model is developed and the simple indices which indicate the degree to which the regions and the cancers affect each other are calculated. Quantitative results are visualized and mapped in two-dimensional graphs.

• Environmental Analysis Health and Toxicology
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• v.29
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• pp.13.1-13.11
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• 2014

Objectives This study examined variations in the perceptions of dioxin risk among social groups defined by geographical living location, environmental education, and occupation. Dioxin risk perceptions were analyzed according to values, risk awareness, knowledge, and behavioral preferences. Methods A quasi-experimental survey was designed and conducted on individuals from seven experimental groups in Jeonju city, South Korea, including: people living near incineration facilities; people living far from incineration facilities; governmental experts; non-governmental organization members; office workers in developmental institutes or banks; students who were enrolled in environmental-related classes; and students who were enrolled in business-related classes. Results The results show variations among groups in values, awareness and behavioral preferences. Particular attention should be given to the result that groups with higher connectedness-to-nature values show higher willingness-to-act (WTA) for risk reduction. Result s can be summarized as follows. First, awareness is associated with one's geographical setting. Second, values and WTA behaviors are related to one's environmental-related education and occupation. Third, values are significantly related to WTA behaviors. Conclusions Different cultures, in terms of values or worldview, among groups influence their perceptions of dioxin risk and choices of risk reduction behaviors. It is important to consider values in communicating complicated long-term risk management involving public participation. Further research should be continuously conducted on the effects of multiple dimensions of values on one's WTA for risk reduction behaviors.

• Journal of the Korean Geographical Society
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• v.37 no.5
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• pp.536-550
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• 2002

This paper investigated the spatial variations of nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) concentrations for 38 watersheds in Pennsylvania using 7 years of hydroclimatic and water quality data. Watersheds with higher percentage of urban and agricultural land uses exhibited larger variations of nutrient concentrations than forested watersheds. N and P concentrations were strongly associated with agricultural and urban land uses, respectively. The principle component analysis identified three components - land use and topography related, hydroclimate related factors, and size. Results of partial redundancy analysis showed the joint effect of climate, land cover, and topographic variables for explaining 28.1% of the variance of nitrogen concentrations and a pure effect of land cover for explaining 41.8% of total variance of P concentrations. The geographical pattern of statewide nutrient concentrations demonstrated a strong spatial gradient; low concentration in northwestern PA and high concentrations in southeastern PA. This pattern is associated with combined effects of hydroclimate, land use, topography, and water quality at the regional scale.

• Plant Resources
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.86-94
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• 2002

This study characterized the genetic variations of 13 populations of Asplenium antiquum and its relative species using randomly amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) markers. A total 88 scorable RAPD bands were generated by the 12 random oligo primers and were analyzed by Nei and Li's genetic distance. High genetic variability was detected between A. antiquum and A. nidus, with the range from 0.568 to 0.682. And slightly low genetic variations showed within the populations of same species. Seven populations of A. antiquum showed slight differences (0.000-0.216), and five populations of A. nidus showed similar low genetic variations (0.114 to 0.171). Two individuals from Sup-seom Island which are growing in might be the regenerated one from abroad. A. antiquum were clustered as two groups (Group I, Group II) by UPGMA phenogram. And five populations of A. nidus were clustered as two groups correlated with geographical distribution. The RAPD data was very useful to define the genetic variations and to discuss the phylogenetic relationships among A. antiquum and the related species..

• Plant Resources
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.48-52
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• 2001

Seven genetic lines of Bupleurum falcatum L. from different geographical regions were analysed for saikosaponin contents and chromosomal numbers. The somatic chromosome numbers of B. falcatum originated from Euisong, Iri, Milyang, Sangnam, Taejon, and Youngchon were 2n=20 while Mishimasaiko showed 2n=26. However, chromosome features were different in plants grown in different geographical regions. Generally, Korean lines had higher saikosaponin contents than Mishimasaiko which is Japanese and Sangnam lines had highest saikosaponin contents compared to other tested lines.

• KOREAN JOURNAL OF CROP SCIENCE
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• v.45 no.2
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• pp.139-142
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• 2000

The experiment was carried out to study the variations and geographical distribution of $\beta$-amylase isozyme by isoelectric focusing (IEF) within Korean, Chinese and Japanese soybean land races. In pH 3-10 gel of IEF, the amylase of soybean accessions was separated into low pI group isozymes (TEX>${$Sp_1$}^b$) and high pI group isozymes(${$Sp_1$}^a$). In pH4-6.5 gel, isoelectric points were at 5.07, 5.15, 5.25, 5.40, and 5.94, and h, j, and k bands also were found. The distribution of Sp$_1$$^{a}$ allele (high pI type) was 29.3% in soybean accessions from Korea, 10.1 % in those from China, and 6.9% in Japanese accessions. The percentage of ${$Sp_1$}^a$) allele was the highest in soybean accessions from Kyungsang province (35 %) in Korea, then central China (32 %) in China, and Honshu (10%) in Japan.

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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• v.84 no.1
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• pp.71-76
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• 1995

This study on Pinus desiflora in Kangwon Province has been performed for the purpose of classifying its growth area by geographical factors. To classify its growth area, the basic data which had were the measured values for annual ring width from cores were used. Individual variations in the measured values were removed through the standardization. Regional mean chronologies were estimated from the standardized values. The growth area was classified by the cluster analysis on the basis of the regional mean standardized indices. The results of this study shown that annual growth patterns to be clustered similar to geographical distribution in Kangwon Province. And the regional variations of annual growth patterns in the western part of Kangwon province were greater than those in the eastern part of Kangwon province.