• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.57 no.1
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• pp.65-72
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• 2024

Objectives: Protecting people against financial hardship caused by illness stands as a fundamental obligation within healthcare systems and constitutes a pivotal component in achieving universal health coverage. The objective of this study was to analyze the prevalence and determinants of catastrophic health expenditures (CHE) in Iran, over the period of 2013 to 2019. Methods: Data were obtained from 7 annual national surveys conducted between 2013 and 2019 on the income and expenditures of Iranian households. The prevalence of CHE was determined using a threshold of 40% of household capacity to pay for healthcare. A binary logistic regression model was used to identify the determinants influencing CHE. Results: The prevalence of CHE increased from 3.60% in 2013 to 3.95% in 2019. In all the years analyzed, the extent of CHE occurrence among rural populations exceeded that of urban populations. Living in an urban area, having a higher wealth index, possessing health insurance coverage, and having employed family members, an employed household head, and a literate household head are all associated with a reduced likelihood of CHE (p<0.05). Conversely, the use of dental, outpatient, and inpatient care, and the presence of elderly members in the household, are associated with an increased probability of facing CHE (p<0.05). Conclusions: Throughout the study period, CHE consistently exceeded the 1% threshold designated in the national development plan. Continuous monitoring of CHE and its determinants at both household and health system levels is essential for the implementation of effective strategies aimed at enhancing financial protection.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.320-327
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• 2016

Intertidal zone has been restored by the Sihwa Lake tidal power plant is operating in 2012. After restoration, to check the difference of bird group's community change out, the examination has been carried out from 2009 to 2014 when sea dike sluicer runs, the intertidal zone area was increased to $20.3km^2$ after restoring in $5.3km^2$. There was no significant difference in the number of individuals congestion of the whole, but the results of analysis of the differences between the six bird group by number of individuals, it showed a significant difference in Diving ducks(p = 0.237) the Herons (p<0.001), Swans and Geese (p<0.01), Dabbling ducks (p<0.001), showed a significant difference in the Shore birds (p<0.001) gulls (p<0.001) except for diving of ducks. Sihwa Lake intertidal zone was only just been restored, but environment and the improvement of benthic ecosystem has been carried out, It is determined that waterfowls that living based on intertidal zone are also affected. This study is a good example of the restoration of the intertidal zone that disappeared, which hard to find a similar case. It will be utilized as basic data of ecological monitoring for the conservation and management of the future of the intertidal zone later.

• Korean Journal of Social Welfare
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• v.55
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• pp.103-130
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• 2003

This study examined resettlement and adaptation condition of North Korean(NK) refugees resettling in local areas and compared the results of the examination to the life conditions for those who are living in Seoul and its vicinities. As the result indicates, the first cohort is currently inferior to their counterpart in labor market activities, life satisfaction, and quantity and quality of resettlement assistance implemented by private voluntary agencies. The reason of selecting Busan as a specific case for this study is that: 1) Busan is the largest city in the number of NK refugees residence except for Seoul, 2) Busan has a couple of community welfare centers which are involved in the work of NK refugee resettlement as well as the reason that Busan provides convenience of conducting a survey to the researcher. The most significant contribution of this study to social work research and practice is that it applied the existing theoretical and practical approach of community resources development and networking of social supports to the field of NK refugee resettlement assistance. Based on the research findings, this study suggests that the roles and functions of Community Associations of NK Refugee Assistance should be more activating and that a community welfare center should a take critical role in organizing and activating the Community Associations. This paper also suggests specific ways of enhancing the role of community welfare centers in NK refugee assistance.

• Korean Journal of Materials Research
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• v.24 no.12
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• pp.671-676
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• 2014

It is known that bones get damaged by accidents and aging. Since the discovery of Bioglass, various kinds of ceramics have been also found to bond to living bone; some of these ceramics are already being clinically used as bone-repairing materials. In the present study, antibacterial calcium silicate gel ($Ag-30CaO{\cdot}70SiO_2$ gel) was prepared by sol-gel method in order to control the microstructure, which is related to the dissolution rate and induction period of apatite formation in body environment. In addition, biological $Ag-30CaO{\cdot}70SiO_2$ is tested. This was done to impart antimicrobial activity to the $30CaO{\cdot}70SiO_2$. Ag ion was added during sol-gel synthesis to replace the $H_2O$ added during the making of the $30CaO{\cdot}70SiO_2$ gel, which has silver solutions of various concentration. After the sol-gel process, 1N-$HNO_3$ solution was used to wash the gel when synthesizing the gel, in order to maintain the porous structure and remove PEG, water soluble polymers. Then, the apatite forming ability of the sol-gel derived CaO-$SiO_2$ gels was investigated using simulated body fluid (SBF), which had almost the same ion concentration as that of human blood plasma. The gels were analyzed by FT-IR spectroscopy, SEM observation, XRD, and fluorescent microscopy. The apatite was successfully created even after washing the gel; apatite is present in an amorphous state, and was found to affect the concentration of the Ag ion in cells in MC3T3 live & dead assay results. From these results, it is suggested that a good material that can be used to repair defects of nature bone is $Ag-30CaO{\cdot}70SiO_2$ gel.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
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• v.37 no.3
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• pp.351-361
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• 2019

To investigate the temporal distribution of planktonic larvae of Tegillarca granosa and Anadara kagoshimensis in the Boseong coastal waters of South Korea, samples of planktonic bivalve larvae were taken from the coastal waters from June to September 2018 (this consisted of monthly sampling in June, July, and September with three- or four-day interval sampling in August). The samples were analyzed using metagenomic next-generation sequencing methods (target gene: mitochondria cytochrome c oxidase 1 region). In this study, a total of 21 bivalve operational taxonomic units (OTUs) were detected with the most abundant bivalve OTUs (relative mean abundance >1%) belonging to Magallana sikamea, Xenostrobus atratus, Musculista senhousia, Magallana gigas, Sinonovacula constricta, Anadara kagoshimensis, Kurtiella aff. bidentata, and Tegillarca granosa. In particular, Tegillarca granosa and Anadara kagoshimensis (the main fishery resources on the Boseong coast) accounted for 0.51-12.50% (average 4.00%) and 0.01-12.50% (1.92%), respectively. The planktonic bivalve larvae were most abundant from July to August. Anadara kagoshimensis was most abundant in early August but rare in the other investigated periods, whereas Tegillarca granosa was more abundant in late August. Bivalve larvae monitoring is important to predict the production of bivalve fisheries. Therefore, intensive monitoring is needed to understand the changes in planktonic bivalve larvae because potentially rapid turnover can respond to the ecological interaction of spawning bivalves.

• Health Policy and Management
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.30-71
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• 1999

There has been a dramatic increase in public awareness regarding dementia during recent years. However, dementia remains a family affair and patients do not receive adequate care in Korea. This study aims to assist patients and their caregivers by establishing Home and Community based Long-Term Care in a city. The data collected for analysis include five main categories: dementia prevalence, limitations of daily activities of patients, burden of caregivers, the services that patient's family want to utilize, the resources that handle dementia in the community. Major findings can be summarized as follows: 1)The prevalence rate of dementia for elderly people is 13.1 per 100 persons. Alzheimer's disease amount to 38.9% of dementia patients and vascular dementia account for 36.7% of them 2)Eight out of ten patients have mild dementia. Almost all patients have normal ADL. IADL, however, shows different picture. In every items of IADL, about 60% of patients reveals some limitations. 3)The proportion of patients who had medical diagnosis is as low as 20%. Families of patients think dementia as normal aging process and medical doctors in the community do not give special concern to dementia patients. 4)Caregivers does not have proper social support. They suffer from long care time, experience large obstacles in respect of health, daily living, and social activity. 5)Health center and Community welfare center have launched some programs-consultation, home-visiting nursing, day care center, voluntary force mobilization and so on-for dementia patients. But they do not perform expected roles and functions because of lack of skilled personnels and inadequate coordination of relevant organizations for dementia care. 6)Families of dementia patients prefer home helper and home-visiting nurse to hospitalization. For the future, however, demand for institution-based long-term services will increase. We develope community dementia care model based on above findings as follows: 1)Health center execute community cardiovascular control program for the prevention of vascular dementia. 2)Refer to epidemiologic characteristics of patients and preference of family, the most urgent task for dementia care in this city is to expand and organize Home and Community based Long-Term Care. 3)For the continuous and comprehensive care, care plan for a patient must be prepared. Case management team should be builded to prepare this plan and coordinate relevant resources. 4)Special long-term care unit for dementia will be needed in a near future. This unit should have multiple functions, such as day-care center, short stay facility, training center for relevant personnels, besides long-term nursing home considering effective care of dementia and efficient operation of the facility. 5)Voluntary workers deserve their due efforts. Incentive mechanisms must be developed to activate voluntary activities.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.44 no.5
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• pp.633-642
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• 2002

Enteric colibacillosis has economically become an important disease of young animals as a result of increasing intensification of farrowing management. The objective of this experiment is to isolate fimbrial antigen from enterotoxigenic E. coli F41, to develop specific polyclonal IgY which can effectively neutralize or reduce the proliferation of pathogens in feed or living animal system, and to apply IgY technologies to animal industry. The results obtained were as follows: The molecular weight of the purified F41 antigen was 29,500 dalton on sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gels. Fimbrial antigen was confirmed by the western blot method. It was observed that after immunization the level of serum antibody titer of laying hen was shown in two weeks and gradually increased. The antibody titer in egg yolk appeared two weeks after it was shown in serum antibody. The titers of egg yolk antibody were gradually increased to the maximum level of 320,000 (antigen 50${\mu}g$/$m\ell$), 450,000 (antigen 200${\mu}g$/$m\ell$), and 320,000 (antigen 600${\mu}g$/$m\ell$). According to the results of specificity test by ELISA, the anti-F41 antibodies from chicken serum and egg yolk reacted only with ETEC F41 antigen. There was no cross reaction with other ETEC strains (K88, K99, and 987P). In vitro condition, as a result of antigen binding ability of yolk antibodies, bacterial concentration was rapidly decreased to $10^5$ CFU/$m\ell$ from $10^9$ CFU/$m\ell$ when 2${\sim}$4 mg/$m\ell$ of freeze dried WSF (water soluble fraction) was added.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Landscape Architecture
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• v.35 no.3
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• pp.82-91
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• 2007

Rural areas dominate country landscape, where the population is rich in traditional and natural heritage. Dangsan forests and Rural community forests (RCF) have been maintained by local residents for hundreds of years. However, many of these forests have been disturbed, and only small amount of Dangsan forests and the RCF remain due to the efforts of local residents. Recently, the remnants of Dangsan forests and RCF have been regarded as living traditional landscapes representing the cultural and rural background of Korea. But the value of Dangsan forests and the RCFs has not been recognized by many. This study aims to understand the characteristics and management status of Dangsan forests in Sungnam-ri, Wonju. Sungnam-ri has four villages, each of which is bordered by a Dangsan forest at the riparian buffer. Sungnam-ri has been selsected as a site for a rural village development project by the Ministry of Agriculture & Forestry of Korea. Sunghwanglim (the Upper Dangsan forest) is designated as Natural Monument No.93 and entrance is limited in this area. The size of Sunghwanglim is $21,133m^2$, and the major tree species are Kalopanax pictus (Dangsan tree, Divine tree), Pinus densiflora, Abies holophylla, Acer triflorum, Ulmus davidiana, Fraxinus rhynchophylla and Quercus serrata. In total, 124 trees with more than 40 cm in DBH are at this site. As for cultural activities, the Dangsan festival is held on April 8th and September 9th of the lunar calendar at shrines in the forests. Although other Dangsan forests are smaller than Sunghwanglim, they also have similar cultural activities. The landscape of the Dangsan forests have been managed for several hundred years by the local people, and they intend to continue maintaining the Dangsan forests for the purpose of festivals and other cultural activities. The findings in this study suggest that Dangsan forests have the potential for the development of rural villages and for the improvement of cultural and natural landscapes in Korea.

• Journal of Convergence for Information Technology
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• v.10 no.6
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• pp.200-208
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• 2020

The purpose of this study was to investigate and compare health, medical and welfare service providers' and local residents' perception on community care. The participants were 68 service providers and 95 local residents. The data were analyzed using independent t-test and chi-square test. The results showed that the degree of agreement of service providers on the need for policy, and visiting services were higher. Service providers' ability to link local residents with a need for care to community resources was higher, but in the activation of self-help group in community, local residents agreed more. In add budget of policy to health insurance, local residents agreed less. In perception on priority for community care policy, high priorities were preparation of financial resources and care culture. To effectively operate community care policy, it is necessary to establish a care culture through active exchanges for reducing differences in policy and opinions of recipients.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Fisheries and Ocean Technology
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• v.40 no.4
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• pp.295-303
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• 2004

In order to estimate the effect of ceramic artificial reefs on the fisheries resources enhancement, we have studied the variation of catch and species, which were caught by trammel net on the three fishing grounds of ceramic artificial reef, natural reef, and control(non-reef)in the coast of Geomun-do, Korea from 2001 to 2003. Catch per unit effort (CPUE ; g/panel) of fishing ground with the ceramic artificial reef area was 1,621.9g, it was about 67.9% higher than the natural reef area 333.3% higher than the control area. The catch of fish with the ceramic artificial and the natural reef area was not significantly different based on statistical analysis of Tukey test, whereas the relationship between the ceramic artificial reef and the control area was significantly different (p<0.05). Monthly mean number of species caught by the artificial reef area, the natural reef area and the control area was no difference by ANOVA test. The catch of fish was highest in November and lowest in May, whish was associated with the natural reef and the control area. The dominant species were demersal fishes living around rock such as Pagrus majir, Thamnaconus modestus, Stephanolepis sirrhifer, Pleuronichthys curntus, and Ostracion cubicus in the artificial reef area, but demersal of migratory fishes in the natural reef and the control area.