• Journal of Forest and Environmental Science
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• v.33 no.3
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• pp.202-225
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• 2017

Non Timber Forest Products (NTFPs) has gained a lot of significance over the years as a means of income generation. Forests are playing a vital role in the supply of these products, however, due to their continuous extraction, the population of many species might have depleted. Very little information is known about community structure and population status of NTFPs. No specific studies have been made to find out the occurrence, availability of species and population status in the forests, supplying the resources. The present study has been carried out in community forests of the naturally occurring NTFPs in the temperate forest of the Ziro valley of Arunachal Pradesh. The main aim is to determine community structure, species composition and population status of NTFPs. Three forest stands viz., Nyilii, Dura and Gyachi were selected which are used by the Apatani tribe for extraction of the NTFPs. For evaluation of species composition and community characteristics, the sampling of the vegetation was done using the quadrat method. A total 137 species representing 68 families and 116 genera were recorded. Herbs represent the maximum diversity with 71 species followed by 35 shrub species and 31 tree species. The families Asteraceae and Rosaceaeae exhibited maximum representation followed by Urticaceae. The species under Fagaceae, Lauraceae, Rosaceae and Rutaceae were found to be important NTFP yielding species. Highest species richness was recorded in Nyilii having 124 species, while lowest in Dura with 102 species. Density of tree, shrub and herb ranged between 376 to $456\;individuals\;ha^{-1}$, 2848 to $3696\;individuals\;ha^{-1}$ and 31.44 to $36.64\;individuals\;m^{-2}$, respectively. The total basal area was found to be highest ($51.64m^2\;ha^{-1}$) in Dura followed by Nyilii ($25.32m^2\;ha^{-1}$) and lowest in Gyachi ($22.82m^2\;ha^{-1}$). In all the three study stands the species diversity indices showed the trend, herbs > shrubs > trees while the evenness index showed the trend as shrubs > herbs > trees. The overall species similarity index was highest (82.35%) between Dura and Gyachi. About 80% of the total recorded species showed clumped distribution while, no regular distribution was shown by any species. The three selected stands harbor about 50 important NTFP yielding species which are being used commonly by the Apatani people in their day to day life. Among the three study sites, overall diversity of NTFP was found highest in the Nyilii stand while the density of population was found better in Dura and Gyachi stands. The population of many species was found to be low due to continue harvesting without any sustainable management by the communities. All the selected forest stands have the potentiality to grow the high value NTFP yielding species and if managed properly, they can support the livelihood and economy of the local communities.

• Health Policy and Management
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• v.34 no.2
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• pp.141-155
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• 2024

Background: This study aimed to identified the relationship between the risk of obstructive sleep apnea, subjective health, and health-related quality of life among the middle-aged and elderly population in Korea. Methods: Adults aged 40 or older were extracted from the total 22,559 respondents to the 2019-2020 Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey VIII, and secondary analysis was conducted on a total of 6,659 middle-aged and elderly people with no missing values. Logistic regression analysis and multiple regression analysis were conducted to examine the relationship between obstructive sleep apnea risk factors and subjective health as well as quality of life. Results: The subjective health status decline in the high-risk group compared to the non-risk group for obstructive sleep apnea was statistically significantly higher, with an odds ratio of 1.84 (p<0.001). The health-related quality of life was also statistically significantly lower by 0.02 points (β, -0.02; p<0.001). As a result of subgroup analysis on specific variables, the association between the risk of obstructive sleep apnea and subjective health and health-related quality of life was statistically significant depending on gender, sleep time, presence of depression, household income, and number of household members. Based on the obstructive sleep apnea risk group, women had a higher correlation with low subjective health and lower health-related quality of life scores than men. Sleeping time of more than 8 hours or less than 6 hours was more associated with low subjective health and lower health-related quality of life score than sleeping time of 6-8 hours. Patients with depression were more likely to have low subjective health than those without depression. The lower the household income level and the smaller the number of household members, the higher the association with low subjective health and the lower the health-related quality of life score. Conclusion: It is essential to recognize that the risk of obstructive sleep apnea not only directly affects sleep disorders but also impacts individuals' subjective health and quality of life. Consequently, social support and education should be provided to raise awareness of this issue. Particularly, programs for preventing and managing obstructive sleep apnea should target vulnerable groups such as women, individuals in single-person households, low household income, and those with depression, aiming to improve their subjective health and quality of life.

• Korean Journal of Social Welfare
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• v.53
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• pp.129-153
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• 2003

This study examines the socio-economic impacts of recent welfare reform in the United States. Based on the neo-conservative critique to the traditional public assistance system for low-income families, the 1996 welfare reform has given greater emphases on reducing welfare dependency and increasing work effort and self-sufficiency among welfare recipients. In particular, the welfare reform legislation instituted 60-month lifetime limits on cash assistance, expanded mandatory work requirements, and placed financial penalties for noncompliance. With the well-timed economic boom in the second half of the 1990s, the welfare reform seems to achieve considerable progress; welfare caseload has declined sharply to reach less than 50% of its 1994 peak, single mothers' labor force participation has increased substantially, and child poverty has decreased. In spite of these good signals, the welfare reform also has several potential problems. Many welfare leavers participate in the labor market, but not all (or most) of them. The economic well being of working welfare leavers did not increased significantly, because earnings increase was canceled out by parallel decrease in welfare benefits. Furthermore, most of working welfare leavers are employed in jobs with poor employment stability and low wages, making them highly vulnerable to frequent layoff, long-time joblessness, persistent poverty, and welfare recidivism. Another serious problem of the welfare reform is that a substantial number of welfare recipients are faced with extreme difficulties in finding jobs, because they have severe barriers to employment. The new welfare system with 5-year time limit can severely threaten the livelihoods of these people. The welfare reform presupposes that welfare recipients can achieve self-reliance by increasing their labor market activities. However, empirical evidences suggest that many people are unable to respond to the new, work-oriented welfare strategy. It may be a very difficult task to achieve both objectives of the welfare reform((1) providing adequate income security for low-income families and (2) promoting self-sufficiency) at the same time, because sometimes they are conflicting each other. With this in mind, a possible solution can be to distinguish welfare recipients into "(Very)-Hard-to-Employ" group and "(Relatively)-Ready-to-Work" group, based on elaborate examinations of a wide range of personal conditions. For the former group, the primary objective of welfare policies should be the first one(providing income security). For the "Ready-to-Work" group, follow-up services to promote job retention and advancement, as well as skill-training and job-search services, are very important. The U. S. experiences of the welfare reform provide some useful implications for newly developing Korean public assistance policies for the able-bodied low-income population.

• Korean Journal of Social Welfare
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• v.56 no.2
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• pp.71-91
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• 2004

The National Basic Livelihood Security System implemented from October 2000 has expanded cash assistance to cover the poor households that have work ability. The cash assistance for the households with work ability has positive aspects of providing basic livelihood security for all people, but many people have worried about its negative aspects such as the decrease of labor supply among the low-income people with work ability. However, there has been few study that evaluated the effects of the NBLS implementation on labor supply. One of the reason for this may be related with the difficulty of research methodology that there were neither program group nor control group, because NBLS was implemented for all the people at the same time. This study suggests alternative program groups and control groups based on work ability and education. Using wave1 to wave5 data of the Korean Labor and Income Survey, this study estimated the effects of the NBLS implementation on employment and work hours. A difference-in-difference approach was applied to these alternative program and control groups. I found that the implementation of NBLS did not have any statistically significant effects on employment an work hours. It is too early to conclude from this result that cash assistance for the poor households with work ability does not induce any labor supply decrease in Korea. Rather, I interpret this result as reflecting that the NBLS system was too limited to induce any sizable decrease of labor supply or that the work requirement imposed on the recipients with work ability was effective in deterring work disincentive among the low-income population. Future research need to explore better program and control groups and investigate long-term effects.

• Journal of agricultural medicine and community health
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• v.48 no.4
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• pp.275-284
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• 2023

Objectives: This study aimed to assess hand grip strength and femoral neck bone mineral density levels among Korean fishery workers and investigate their association. Methods: Hand grip strength and femoral neck bone mineral density were measured in a survey and health examination conducted in 2021 among fishery workers in a southern region of South Korea. Covariates including gender, age, education level, income level, smoking behavior, drinking behavior, family history of hip fractures, use of calcium and vitamin D supplements, hypertension, diabetes, regular exercise, and body mass index were investigated. Multiple regression analysis was employed to assess the association between hand grip strength and femoral neck bone mineral density. Results: Among 147 fishery workers, 8.16% exhibited low hand grip strength levels indicative of possible sarcopenia, and a significant association was found between low hand grip strength and decreased femoral neck bone mineral density (β = -89.14, 95% CI = -160.50, -17.78). Additionally, factors such as women gender, advanced age, family history of hip fractures, and a body mass index below 25 kg/m² were associated with decreased femoral neck bone mineral density. In the subgroup analysis by gender, a correlation between low hand grip strength and decreased femoral neck bone mineral density was observed only in men. Conclusions: Further research is needed to explore various determinants and intervention strategies to prevent musculoskeletal disorders among fishery workers, ultimately enhancing their quality of life and well-being.

• Journal of Periodontal and Implant Science
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.183-192
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• 1993

The purpose of this epidermiological analysis was to evaluate the periodontal status of Korean young adults(twenties) in order to provide detail & baseline data for frequence of periodontal disease. Two hundred and fifty young adults, aged 20-29 years, were selected by random sampling. Dental visity, scaling treatment, education, income, toothbrushing frequence & method were checked, and plaque index(Loe and silness), calculus index(Ramfjord), gingival index(Loe and silness), attached gingival width, perio probing depth, gingival recession were measured. The obtained results were as follows. 1. Average plaque index(1.96), calculus index(1.43), gingival index(1.7) were higher in mandible than maxillar. It was most prevalent in lst molar. 2. Average attached gingival width(4.0mm) was wider in maxillar than mandible. It was most prominent in lateral incisor. 3. Pocket depth(>4mm) was distributed in 42% subject, it was higher in mandible than maxilla and most prevalent in 1st molar. 4. Gingival recession(>1mm) was distributed in 94% subject, it was higher in mandible than maxilla, and most prevalant in canine. 5. According to unpaired t-test, palque index, calculus index, gingival index were not statistically significant in history of scaling treatment, level of eduction and account of income, but were showed statistically significant in histrory of dental clinic.(PB0.05) 6. According to ANOVA test, correlation between tooth-brushing(frequence, method) and gingival index was showed statistically significant.(P<0.05) 7. There was gingival recessionof 87% subject in only one time brushing, 80% subject in two time, and 68% subject in three times. There was gingival recessionof 68% subject in leftright direction tooth brushing, 73% subject in upper-low method and 77% subject in combination method.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.43 no.4
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• pp.330-340
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• 2010

Objectives: This study aims to evaluate and explain the socioeconomic inequalities of all-cause mortality after breast cancer surgery in South Korea. Methods: This population based study included all 8868 females who underwent radical mastectomy for breast cancer between January 2002 and June 2003. Follow-up for mortality continued from January 2002 to June 2006. The patients were divided into 4 socioeconomic classes according to their socioeconomic status as defined by the National Health Insurance contribution rate. The relationship between socioeconomic status and all-cause mortality after breast cancer surgery was assessed using the Cox proportional hazards model with adjusting for age, the Charlson’s index score, emergency hospitalization, the type of hospital and the hospital ownership. Results: Those in the lowest socioeconomic status group had a significantly higher hazard ratio of 2.09 (95% CI =1.50 - 2.91) compared with those in the highest socioeconomic group after controlling for all the identifiable confounding variables. For allcause mortality after radical mastectomy, all the other income groups showed significantly higher 3-year mortality rates than did the highest income group. Conclusions: The socioeconomic status of breast cancer patients should be considered as an independent prognostic factor that affects all-cause mortality after radical mastectomy, and this is possibly due to a delayed diagnosis, limited access or minimal treatment leading to higher mortality. This study may provide tangible support to intensify surveillance and treatment for breast cancer among low socioeconomic class women.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.13 no.12
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• pp.6289-6294
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• 2012

Background: Research evidence suggests a debilitating impact of the diagnosis of cancer on the quality of life of the afflicted individuals, their spouses and their families. However, relatively few studies have been carried out on the impact on the QOL of adolescents living with parents diagnosed with cancer. This paper presents a sub-analysis on the impact of parental cancer (colorectal, breast and lung) on adolescents. Materials and Methods: This is a cross-sectional study on adolescents aged 13-18 years old. Upon ethical clearance obtained from UMMC Medical Ethics Committee, patients with colorectal, breast or lung cancer and their adolescent children were recruited from the Clinical Oncology Unit of University of Malaya Medical Centre. Respondents who gave consent completed a demographic questionnaire and the Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory, via the post, email, home visit or meetings at the clinics. Results: 95 adolescents from 50 families responded, giving a response rate of 88 percent. The adolescent's mean age was 16 years (ranging between 13-18 years). Adolescents with parental cancer had the lowest mean score in emotional functioning (p<0.05). Male adolescents had significantly higher quality of life overall and in physical functioning compared to female adolescents. Adolescents with a father with cancer had better school functioning compared to adolescents whose mothers had cancer. Families with household income of RM 5000 and above have significantly better quality of life compared to families with lower household income. Conclusions: Adolescent sons and daughters of parents with a cancer diagnosis show lowered QOL, particularly with reference to emotional functioning and school performance. Addressing the needs of this young group has been slow and warrants special attention. Revisiting the risk and resilience factors of adolescents might also inform tailored programs to address the needs of this neglected adolescent population.

• Journal of the Korean Home Economics Association
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• v.40 no.4
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• pp.179-200
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• 2002

The purposes of this study are as follows: (1) how are marital relationships classified by wives' perception of marital conflict and intimacy? (2) how do these types differ in terms of demographic variables (age, income, educational level, and employment status), individual psychological variables (self-esteem, differentiation) and interaction-related variables (affective self-disclosure, conflict resolution styles)?, and what are the relative discriminant powers of these variables in explaining marriage types? The data for this study were collected from 944 married women in Dajeon, who had one or more children, using the structured questionnaire. Classification using median and discriminant analysis were used with SPSS-PC for windows program. The major findings are as follows: The characteristics of each type are as follows: (1) The 'devitalized couples' consist of 18.2% of the whole sample. The levels of positive self-concept and positive interaction are the lowest. (2) The 'intimate couples' consist of 32.6% of the sample. They tend to be found most frequently in the population which is high in the educational level and income level and low in age. While the levels of positive self-concept and positive interaction are the highest, the levels of negative conflict resolution styles are the lowest. (3) The 'intimacy-persuaded couples' take 17.3% of the sample. The levels of positive self-concept and interaction are similar to the 'intimate couples'. (4) The 'conflict-habituated couples' take 31.9% of the sample. Whereas the levels of negative conflict resolution styles are the highest, the levels of positive self-concept and positive interaction are the lowest. The results of this study suggest several implications for the family-life education. It needs to apply different approaches to improve marital quality for each type of marriage.

• Journal of the Korean housing association
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• v.18 no.6
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• pp.45-55
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• 2007

The study is based on a two-year research study titled 'A study on the Development of the Programs for Housing Policy to support Multi-family Housing Remodeling in Korea'. The primary purpose of this two-year study was to recommend governmental program initiatives for supporting multi-family housing remodeling activities in Korea. As a part of this research study, this article was written based on the results from the two surveys regarding multi-family housing remodeling in the United States and Korea, and a focus group with housing researchers affiliated to the Joint Center for Housing Studies. Major research findings are presented as follows: First, there have been various types of supportive programs for single- and multi-family housing remodeling in the United States. Those have focused on lower income families than middle income families. Compared with the programs in the United States, the apartment remodeling in Korea has been focusing on small population of the multi-family housing owners. Apartment remodeling in Korea needs supportive programs for rental housing remodeling and the housing remodeling for low-incomes. Second, there have been various types of remodeling activities made in multi-family housing properties in the United States. Size of remodeling project also varied. Their remodeling activities were based on the long-term repairing plans initiated by professional apartment management groups. For making our multi-family housing properties more sustainable, we also need to have the long-term repairing plans. Third, the apartment property remodeling has been regarded as a substitute of reconstruction of apartment properties. However, remodeling should be regarded as one of the most efficient ways to extend the life-cycle of apartment buildings. Thus, benefits and executive plans of apartment remodeling should be studied by a professional research center under our governmental responsibilities as done in the United States.