• Korea Journal of Hospital Management
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.27-43
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• 2010

The present study was conducted to assess relative importance of hospital attributes considered by patients with spinal diseases in choosing specialty or general hospitals. A total of 230 patients hospitalized with spinal diseases in sampled study sites, including 2 specialty and 2 general hospitals, participated in a self-administered questionnaire survey from April 26 through May 8 2007. Patients were asked to rate the degree of agreement on each of the 15 attributes on a 5-point Likert-type scale (1 : strongly disagree, 5 : strongly agree) for which they chose the hospital because of that specific attribute. Based on a Factor analysis, the attributes were grouped into 4 : facility and environment, accessibility, interpersonal factor, and credibility. Both patient groups from specialty (mean scale score ; 3.75) and general hospitals (3.62) commonly considered 'credibility' to be the most important attribute, followed by 'facility and environment (3.05 and 3.21).' Logistic regression analysis showed that men(Odds ratio(OR)=0.333) and those with monthly income of $\geq$ 4 million won (OR=0.298) were less likely to choose specialty hospitals. Age groups of 30 to 39 years old (OR=5.140) and $\geq$ 60 years old(OR=4.761), and professionals (OR=5.207) tended to choose specialty hospitals. Patients expressing more importance on 'facility and environment' attribute were less likely to use specialty hospitals (OR=0.571), whereas those emphasizing 'accessibility' were more likely to use specialty hospitals(OR=1.487). The findings of significant difference in patient's demographic characteristics and consideration in hospital attributes would contribute to have a better understanding on patient's choice behaviour and to develop strategy to improve patient's satisfaction.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.12 no.3
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• pp.67-73
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• 2005

Prospective memory (PM) is related to remember to carry out a previously intented behaviour. The purpose of this study was to develop a paradigm for measuring PM function to diagnosis in mild cognitive impairment 1 or brain injury in patients 2. among brain injured patients Thirty-eight normal healthy subjects participated in current study. The paradigm was composed of four conditions: a baseline and three intention conditions (expectation, execution 1 and 2). In the expectation condition, subjects were asked to make a new response to intented stimuli during ongoing task, but the intented stimuli never occurred. In the execution 1 (one type of expected stimulus) and 2 (two types of expected stimuli), the intended stimuli did occur in 20% of trials. The reaction time and error rate were calculated in each condition. Repeated measures using ANOVA of subject's mean reaction times (RTs) and mean error rates (ERs) showed main effects of conditions during ongoing task. The comparison of PM tasks in executive condition 1 and 2 also showed significance in RTs and ERs. This paradigm reflects sufficiently the performance of prospective memory function during ongoing task in normal individuals. Thus, we suggest that the paradigm will be helpful to study neural network of PM function using brain imaging techniques and diagnosis of PM dysfunction.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.113-125
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• 2011

Seabirds have adapted to life in marine environments. More than 25% of the bird species observed in South Korea are seabirds, using the coast area of Korean peninsula as a stop-over and wintering, and breeding site. The aims of this review are to provide information about migratory and resident Korean seabirds and to discuss the methods that are currently employed to monitor the marine environment. In Korea, it has been reported that more than 400,000 individuals of seabirds breed on Nando Islet, Chilbaldo Islet, Guguldo Islet, Sasudo Islet, Hongdo Islet and Dokdo Islet. In 2010, approximately 160,000 seabirds also visited South Korea during the winter. Two of the main treats were introduced wildlife and habitat destruction by humans. Seabirds are monitored mainly at the population and individual levels. The assessment of population sizes and biomagnifications of pollutants are performed preferably at the community and population levels. Behaviour, growth, morphological characteristics, and breeding success is analyzed at the individual level and employed to gauge the health of the marine environment. In addition, we could suggest that molecular technique of seabirds successfully adopted to investigate the effects of pollutants and toxins in the marine environment.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.283-287
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• 2012

Objective: To explore the participation rates for breast and colorectal cancer screening and identify associated correlates among elderly women. Methods: Logistic regressions were conducted using data collected in 2006 from 1,533 elderly women aged 60 years or above who had completed a screening instrument, the Minimum Data Set-Home Care, while applying for long-term care services at the first time in Hong Kong. Results: The participation rates for breast and colorectal cancer screening among frail older Chinese women were 3.7% and 10.8% respectively. Cognitive status was inversely associated with the likelihood of participation in screening (breast: OR = 0.66, 95%CI = 0.47-0.94; colon: OR = 0.81, 95%CI = 0.66-0.99), as was educational level with the likelihood of participation in breast cancer screening (no formal education: OR = 0.20, 95%CI = 0.06-0.61, some primary education: OR = 0.31, 95%CI = 0.10-1.00). Conclusion: The delivery of cancer preventive health services to frail older women is less than ideal. Cognitive status and educational level were important factors in cancer screening behaviour. Tailor-made strategic promotion programmes targeting older women with low cognitive status and educational levels are needed to enhance awareness and acceptance within this vulnerable group.

• Korean Journal of Community Nutrition
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.72-82
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• 2006

The purpose of this study was to compare the body compositions and food behaviors of middle aged men with different obesity indices. The subjects were 62 middle aged men who lived Gunsan city. Heights, body weights, soft/lean masses, fat masses, percentages of body fat, and fat distributions were measured. Food habits and health-related lifestyle habits were evaluated based on questionnaires. The subjects were assigned to one of the following groups based on their percentage of body fat ($\%$Fat) ; normal, overweight and obesity. The results were as follows: their heights, fat masses, percentages of body fat, WHR, RBW, BMI and fitness scores were significantly higher in the obese subjects when compared to the normal and overweight subjects. Self-perceptions of weight and desires of weight control were significantly related with their percents of Fat. The overweight and the obese groups skipped meals, ate supper out, ate snacks, smoked tobacco, and exercised less frequently than the normal group. There were no significant differences in the scores of the dietary habits and drinking of alcohol among the three groups. Therefore, proper nutritional education on regular meals and intervention is required if middle aged men want to be of normal weight and have healthy lifestyles.

• Journal of the Korean Applied Science and Technology
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.422-427
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• 2009

We have investigated the effects of polyols and NaCl on the rheological behaviours of surfactant mixtures. Sodium lauryl ether sulfate (SLES), cocamidopropyl betaine (CAPB), disodium cocoamphodiacetate (DSCA), cocamide DEA (CDEA) and lauroyl/myristoyl DEA (LMDE) were used as surfactants. The polyols added into the surfactant mixture were 1,3-butylene glycol, propylene glycol, glycerin, sorbitol, dipropylene glycol, PEG 1500 and PEG 400. The addition of amphoteric surfactant to SLES aqueous solution lead to increase the height of foam and the viscosity of the system. The addition of nonionic surfactant, LMDE or CDEA to the SLES aqueous solution increased the viscosity and the effect of LMDE was better than that of CDEA. The effect of adding polyols and NaCl into the surfactant mixture aqueous solution lead to increase or decrease the viscosity of the systems depending on the concentration of NaCl and the kinds of polyols. These results can be explained through the salting in or salting out of surfactant of the systems.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.303-315
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• 2017

This paper describes the finite element model for predicting the fundamental performance of embedded steel column base connections under monotonic and cyclic loading. Geometric and material nonlinearities were included in the proposed finite element model. Bauschinger and pinching effects were considered in the simulation of embedded column base connections under cyclic loading. The degradation of steel yield strength and accumulation of plastic damage can be well simulated. The accuracy of the finite element model is examined by comparing the predicted results with independent experimental dataset. It is demonstrated that the finite element model accurately predicts the behaviour and failure models of the embedded steel column base connections. The finite element model is extended to carry out evaluations and parametric studies. The investigated parameters include column embedded length, concrete strength, axial load and base plate thickness. Moreover, analytical models for predicting the initial stiffness and bending moment strength of the embedded column base connection were developed. The comparison between results from analytical models and those from experiments and finite element analysis proved the developed analytical model was accurate and conservative for design purposes.

• Smart Structures and Systems
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.55-80
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• 2014

The present work pays emphasis on investigating the effect of different types of debonding on the bending behaviour of active sandwich beam, consisting of both extension and shear actuators. An active sandwich beam finite element is formulated by using Timoshenko's beam theory, characterized by first order shear deformation for the core and Euler-Bernoulli's beam theory for the top and bottom faces. The problem of debondings of extension actuator and face are dealt with by employing four-region model for inner debonding and three-region model for the edge debonding respectively. Displacement based continuity conditions are enforced at the interfaces of different regions using penalty method. Firstly, piezoelectric actuation of healthy sandwich beam is assessed through deflection analysis. Then the effect of actuators' debondings with different boundary conditions on bending behavior is computationally evaluated and experimentally clamped-free case is validated. The results generated will be useful to address the damage tolerant design procedures for smart sandwich beam structures with structural control and health monitoring applications.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Agriculture
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• v.12 no.3
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• pp.281-297
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• 1993

Nitrogen is an element required to meet optimal plant growth. However, when it was applied (as chemical fertilizer or animal waste) more than the demand of plant and managed it unreasonably can be accumulated in subsoil and leached from soil system. Nitrogen also can be act as an pollutant to soil and water through water contamination if its concentration exceed the critical level. The concentration and downward movement of nitrate in soil is influenced by cultural practices and soil properties. High level of nitrate nitrogen in drinking water is harzadrous for animal and human health, especially for infants and the restoration of the quality of groundwater is impossible by now. Therefore it is the only way to prevent from leaching of nitrate nitrogen to keep the quality of groundwater as vital water resource. The aims of the presentation of this review paper are to understand the relationship between agricultural practices and the concentration of nitrate nitrogen in groundwater and to suggest further informations for the rational management methods to reduce the leaching of nitrate nitrogen in soil.

• Journal of Dairy Science and Biotechnology
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.39-49
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• 1999

Since IMF relief financing, domestic economy has been rapidly cooled down. At this point that we predict an overall decrease of production and sale of industries, cooperative marketing activities of the whole dairy industry are required to promote milk consumption. As everyone knows, advertisement is only one of the various factors that affect sales. Other factors include price, distribution, package, promotion, and consumer's needs and taste. The objectives of the cooperative advertising campaign should be trial purchase of new consumers, maintenance of brand loyalty of existing consumers, more positive experience of using the product, and increase of frequency of purchase. Long term analysis is essential to making these kinds of behaviour changes. Also the objectives of the communication program should be a shift of awareness of milk from 'a basic health food for children' to a substitute to the beverage even for adults. To share database of consumers among companies, we need to find ways to use interactive on-line services, the internet, D.M. events and so on as well as the mass media. It should be a precondition that the main body of the cooperative advertisement includes the milk processing board, dairy companies, livestock cooperations, farmers and the Government. To assure continuous, activities to promote milk consumption, the Government should take the lead in legislating 'An enforcement ordinance for milk promotion and research', and seek complementary measures and support to establish the ordinance.