• Journal of Korea Water Resources Association
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• v.56 no.3
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• pp.225-233
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• 2023

Urban rivers and their surrounding environments have been altered due to factors such as rapid economic growth and urban development. This alteration have caused the rivers to lose their original value and become exposed to various pollution, resulting decrease in citizens' quality of life. This study aims to estimate citizens' Willingness To Pay (WTP) for water quality improvement in Suyeong River in Busan. To estimate the non-market value of the Suyeong River, the WTP of Busan citizens for water quality improvement was estimated, applying Contingent Valuation Method (CVM). The WTP for improving the water quality from Grade 4(polluted water) to Grade 2(game fish like bass can live in it) was estimated using the water quality ladder concept of the US Environmental Protection Agency, assuming annual donations for five years. For the CVM, the logistic distribution and Spike Model were adopted. As a result, citizens residing in the surrounding area of Suyeong River expressed a higher WTP. Considering more than half of the Busan citizens are aware of the "conservation of nature and ecosystems" as a major function of the Suyeong River, this higher WTP could serve as a basis for improving the value of urban rivers.

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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• v.112 no.2
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• pp.248-257
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• 2023

Because of various societal changes, such as the recent improvement in income levels and extension of the flexible work system, the demand for forest recreation activities and their use patterns are undergoing a change. Accordingly, it is necessary to identify the characteristics of each type through the segmentation of the overall forest recreation and welfare markets and to plan differentiated policies for each market type. This study classifies the forest recreation and welfare activities according to four types of users (i.e., passive usage type, ordinary type, active lover type, and indifferent type) using the Latent Class Analysis and examines their demographic and socioeconomic characteristics to explain the differences between the groups. Three policy implications were derived from the results obtained: 1) the group experiencing forest recreation welfare is subdivided; 2) the socioeconomic characteristics that distinguish the groups undertaking forest recreation activities were identified; and 3) the policy targets and characteristics that can increase the experience of forest recreation welfare were identified. This study is insightful as it suggests differentiated policies for each group and proposes policy measures to move to the desirable group.

• Korea Trade Review
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• v.42 no.1
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• pp.283-301
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• 2017

As a consequence of the changed role and functions in port operations, the role of port hinterland has transformed to multi-functional logistic centre linking more efficiently elements of the supply chain. This paper analysed distribution centre selection factors in Busan new port hinterland, aiming to diagnose and evaluate the operational situations of port hinterland as multi-functional logistics centre. Based on a data collected from all 122 samples located in Busan new port hinterland, determinants for location competitiveness identified were: political support, market potentiality, infrastructure utilization, market niche, and connectivity. Comparing the difference between an importance and performance, it is revealed that the target port hinterland requires urgent improvement in political supports such as incentive programmes offered by host country, free trade system and related law, financial assistance in constructing distribution centers, and simplicity, ease and efficiency of administrative procedures. The results provide useful insights for establishing future improvement strategies and a strategic agenda to successfully respond to the demands of the companies located in port hinterlands and/or new customers those who want to move in.

• Health Policy and Management
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• v.32 no.4
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• pp.347-355
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• 2022

Background: Since November 2019, long-term care hospitals have been able to provide patients with discharging programs to support the elderly in the community. This study aimed to identify both patient- and hospital-level factors that affect successful community discharge from long-term care hospitals. Methods: A multilevel logistic regression model was performed using hospitals as a clustering unit. The dependent variable was whether a patient stayed in the community for at least 30 days after discharge from a long-term care hospital. As for the patient-level independent variables, an agreement between a patient and the family about discharge, length of hospital stay, patient category, and residence at discharge were included. The number of beds and the ratio of long-stay patients were selected for the hospital-level factors. The sample size was 1,428 patients enrolled in the discharging program from November 2019 to December 2020. Results: The number of patients who were discharged to the community and stayed at least for 30 days was 532 (37.3%). The intraclass correlation coefficient was 22.9%, indicating that hospital-level factors had a significant impact on successful community discharge. The odds ratio (OR) of successful community discharge increased by 1.842 times when the patients and their families agreed on discharge. The ORs also increased by 3.020 or 2.681 times, respectively when the patients planned to discharge to their own house or their child's house compared to those who didn't have a plan for residence at discharge. The ORs increased by 1.922 or 2.250 times when the hospitals were owned by corporate or private property compared to publicly owned hospitals. The ORs decreased by 0.602 or 0.520 times when the hospital was sized over 400 beds or located in small and medium-sized cities compared to less than 200 bedded hospitals or located in metropolitan cities. Conclusion: The results of the study showed that the patients' and their family's willingness for discharge had a great impact on successful community discharge and the hospital-level factors played a significant role in it. Therefore, it is important to acknowledge and support long-term care hospitals to involve active in the patient discharge planning process.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.780-788
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• 2023

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: This study examined the relationship between famine exposure in early life and the risk of type 2 diabetes in adulthood during the 1959-1961 Chinese Famine. SUBJECTS/METHODS: A total of 3,418 individuals aged 35-74 years free of diabetes from two studies in 2006 and 2009 were followed up prospectively in 2009 and 2012, respectively. Famine exposure was classified as unexposed (individuals born in 1962-1978), fetal exposed (individuals born in 1959-1961), child exposed (individuals born in 1949-1958), and adolescent/adult exposed (born in 1931-1948). A logistic regression model was used to assess the relationship between famine exposure and diabetes after adjustment for potential covariates. RESULTS: During a three-year follow-up, the age-adjusted incidence rates of type 2 diabetes were 5.7%, 14.5%, 12.7%, and 17.8% in unexposed, fetal-exposed, child-exposed, and adolescent/adult-exposed groups, respectively (P < 0.01). Relative to the unexposed group, the relative risks (95% confidence interval) for diabetes were 2.15 (1.29-3.60), 1.53 (0.93-2.51), and 1.65 (0.75-3.63) in the fetal-exposed, child-exposed, and adolescent/adult-exposed groups, after controlling for potential covariates. The interactions between famine exposure and obesity, education level, and family history of diabetes were not observed, except for the urbanization type. Individuals living in rural areas with fetal and childhood famine exposure were at a higher risk of type 2 diabetes, with relative risks of 8.79 (1.82-42.54) and 2.33 (1.17-4.65), respectively. CONCLUSIONS: These findings indicate that famine exposure in early life is an independent predictor of type 2 diabetes, particularly in women. Early identification and intervention may help prevent diabetes in later life.

• 한국체육학회지인문사회과학편
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• v.57 no.5
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• pp.269-279
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• 2018

The purpose of this study is to examine the association between resistance exercise frequency, muscular strength, and health-related quality of life in Korean cancer patients. We performed complex sample general linear model and logistic regression analysis using data from a total of 647 cancer patients in the 2014~2016 Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES). Participants who were participating in resistance exercise 0~1 day per week had lower EQ-5D index (0.852±0.016 vs. 0.890±0.020; p=0.006) and a significantly higher risk of having problems in mobility (Odd ratio[OR]=4.07; 95% confidence interval [CI]=1.31-12.63) compared to those who were participating in resistance exercise ≥ 5 days per week. Participants with low hand-grip strength had lower EQ-5D index (0.850±0.018 vs. 0.911±0.016; p<0.001) and a significantly higher risk of having problems in mobility (OR=4.94, 95% CI=2.14-11.41), usual activities (OR=5.18, 95% CI=1.56-17.14), and pain/discomfort (OR=2.46, 95% CI=1.33-4.55) compared to those with high hand-grip strength. This study showed that resistance exercise frequency and muscular strength were associated with health-related quality of life in Korean cancer patients.

• 한국노년학
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.529-546
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• 2009

Depression in old age not only is prevalent but also causes a considerable amount of burden in physical, psychosocial, and economic terms. Intervention, however, is often delayed due to the understanding that considers depressive symptoms as a normal process of aging or signs of physical illnesses. Since the recognition of symptoms often initiate one's help seeking process, a correct identification of symptoms can contribute to early detection and intervention to depression in oneself as well as in others. This study interviewed 104 older adults living in an urban area, and explored their ability to correctly identify depressive symptoms and factors related to identification. The study results show that respondents who were able to correctly identify symptoms of depression were only 14%, and the rest defined the symptoms as social, economic, and other psychological issues. Of the factors in the logistic regression model, age being 75 and over and mass media as source of mental health information affected negatively their ability to correctly identify symptoms; mental health education programs affected positively their ability. Based on these results, it is suggested that such strategies as employing a face-to-face provision of concrete information and counseling can be more effective than delivering information via large-scale lectures. Additionally, a future research deems necessary to conduct an in-depth examination of mental health/illness-related contents on mass media.

• Korean Journal of Social Welfare Studies
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• v.41 no.4
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• pp.277-311
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• 2010

The powerful association between poverty and mental health has been recognized for many decades in the Western Countries. Despite growing poverty studies, there has been little attention to the association between poverty and mental health in Korea. In this article we examine the effects of the mental health on the poverty status transition. In this study we draw on nationally representative data from the The Korean Welfare Panel Study, to estimate the effects of depression and self-respects on the poverty status transition. Major findings are as follows. First, we find that there are mental health disparities between poor and non-poor classes. The mental health conditions of the poor are worse than the non-poor. Second, we find the strong correlations between the mental health and poverty status transition. Whether poor family exits poverty or not depends on the household head's mental health. Third, poverty experiences are different depending on the mental health conditions. To the mental ill-health family, the probabilities of poverty-exit are much lower and poverty duration is more long. Fourth, we find that family poverty status transitions are very significantly related with household head's mental health from the logistic model analysis. These findings suggest that there is a strong relationship between poor mental health and the experience of poverty in Korea. They also suggest that intervention programs to enhance the mental health of the poor are needed in order to reduce the poverty problem in Korea.

• Asia-Pacific Journal of Business Venturing and Entrepreneurship
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.53-66
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• 2023

Role models are also known to influence an individual's job or career choice. The positive effect of role models on entrepreneurship has already been revealed through many precious researches. It is said that people choose not only family members who are related by blood, such as parents, siblings, and relatives, but also acquaintances whom they have met through social relationships as role models. In this study, we divided into entrepreneurs with no role models other than themselves and entrepreneurs with role models. In addition, we classified parental siblings and relative role models as role models with strong ties, and acquaintance role models as role models with weak ties. We analyzed the differences in personal attributes, entrepreneurial orientation factors, and learning orientation between the entrepreneurs with role models and those without role models. Also, the differences in personal attributes, innovativeness, proactiveness, risk-taking propensity, and learning orientation between the entrepreneurs with strong ties role models and those with weak ties role models were examined. The empirical analysis results are as follows. First, it was found that the proportion of women entrepreneurs without role models is higher. Second, the entrepreneurs with role models with weak ties tend to run larger scale start-ups. Third, it was found that the entrepreneurs with role models of weak ties tend to have higher learning orientation. Fourth, gender shows the greatest influence on th absence or presence of role models. Fifth, it was found that learning orientation and startup size have the greatest influence on the decision of the role model with weak ties or that with strong ties.

• Korean Journal of Radiology
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• v.22 no.6
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• pp.994-1004
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• 2021

Objective: To extract pulmonary and cardiovascular metrics from chest CTs of patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) using a fully automated deep learning-based approach and assess their potential to predict patient management. Materials and Methods: All initial chest CTs of patients who tested positive for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 at our emergency department between March 25 and April 25, 2020, were identified (n = 120). Three patient management groups were defined: group 1 (outpatient), group 2 (general ward), and group 3 (intensive care unit [ICU]). Multiple pulmonary and cardiovascular metrics were extracted from the chest CT images using deep learning. Additionally, six laboratory findings indicating inflammation and cellular damage were considered. Differences in CT metrics, laboratory findings, and demographics between the patient management groups were assessed. The potential of these parameters to predict patients' needs for intensive care (yes/no) was analyzed using logistic regression and receiver operating characteristic curves. Internal and external validity were assessed using 109 independent chest CT scans. Results: While demographic parameters alone (sex and age) were not sufficient to predict ICU management status, both CT metrics alone (including both pulmonary and cardiovascular metrics; area under the curve [AUC] = 0.88; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.79-0.97) and laboratory findings alone (C-reactive protein, lactate dehydrogenase, white blood cell count, and albumin; AUC = 0.86; 95% CI = 0.77-0.94) were good classifiers. Excellent performance was achieved by a combination of demographic parameters, CT metrics, and laboratory findings (AUC = 0.91; 95% CI = 0.85-0.98). Application of a model that combined both pulmonary CT metrics and demographic parameters on a dataset from another hospital indicated its external validity (AUC = 0.77; 95% CI = 0.66-0.88). Conclusion: Chest CT of patients with COVID-19 contains valuable information that can be accessed using automated image analysis. These metrics are useful for the prediction of patient management.