• Title/Summary/Keyword: Power System

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Haewon-sangsaeng Thought for the Future of Humanity and World (인간과 세계의 미래에 관한 해원상생사상 연구)

  • Bae, Kyu-han
    • Journal of the Daesoon Academy of Sciences
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    • v.30
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    • pp.1-57
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    • 2018
  • There are three purposes to this study: first, to understand comprehensively the meaning of Haewon-sangsaeng (Resolution of Grievances for Mutual Beneficence) Thought, which can be taken as representative thought regarding peace in Korean new religions. Next, Haewon-sangsaeng Thought and the works for Haewon (resolving grievances) will be examined as principles and practical mechanisms for building the paradise of the Later World and understanding the structure of this system of thought. Lastly, logical inferences will be made regarding the future of humanity and the world through the ideological characteristics implied by Haewon-sangsaeng Thought. Haewon-sangsaeng Thought contains the complicated concepts of Haewon and Sangsaeng. Haewon is the resolution of the enmity and grievances that have accumulated in the realms of humanity and deities. Sangsaeng indicates the action of mutually benefiting one another or a state wherein people live in prosperity and peace. In Daesoon Jinrihoe, the concept of Haewon-sangsaeng is expressed explicitly and has broad applications. It can be expanded for the global peace and the harmony of all humanity. As the result of an integrated analysis of previous studies, it can be stated that Haewon-sangsaeng has values and meanings in terms of principles, laws, ethics, and ideology all of which are commonly connected to Injon (Human Nobility), Sangsaeng, peace, harmony, the Later World, and paradise. This indicates that its valuable for the future of humanity and world is deeper and wider than its mere etymological meaning. The common factor among paired ideas such as human nobility and Sangsaeng, peace and harmony, and Later World and paradise is the realization of humanity's greatest wish. This is the reason why the value and meaning of Haewon-sangsaeng can be expanded globally. The works of Haewon were a religious act of Kang Jeungsan who resolved the grievances of the Former World which was under the rule of mutual conflict and built a Later World that will operate according to mutual beneficence. Therefore, the principle of Haewon-sangsaeng has a motivative power, through the Reordering Works of the Universe, which can transform the future of humanity and the world. In this study, it can be inferred that as Haewon-sangsaeng 'fulfills human desires' and forms a 'harmonious relations of Sangsaeng' between humans and world, humans will be transformed into Injon (Human Nobility) while the world turns into a paradise, and the future turns into period of peace. Therefore, Haewon-sangsaeng Thought works as a principle that changes society, the world, and the universe. The social actualization of Haewon-sangsaeng is tantamount to bringing the future of Injon, paradise, and peace into objective reality. Previous studies on Haewon-sangsaeng Thought had been carried out under difficult circumstances by a small number of scholars. For all the above reasons, I anticipate that there will be more and more studies made on the topic of Haewon-sangsaeng Thought, which seeks the realization of Haewon (the Resolution of Grievances), Sangsaeng (Mutual Beneficence), human nobility, paradise, and peace. I hope it will emerge as a main subject in global religious thought.

A stratified random sampling design for paddy fields: Optimized stratification and sample allocation for effective spatial modeling and mapping of the impact of climate changes on agricultural system in Korea (농지 공간격자 자료의 층화랜덤샘플링: 농업시스템 기후변화 영향 공간모델링을 위한 국내 농지 최적 층화 및 샘플 수 최적화 연구)

  • Minyoung Lee;Yongeun Kim;Jinsol Hong;Kijong Cho
    • Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
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    • v.39 no.4
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    • pp.526-535
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    • 2021
  • Spatial sampling design plays an important role in GIS-based modeling studies because it increases modeling efficiency while reducing the cost of sampling. In the field of agricultural systems, research demand for high-resolution spatial databased modeling to predict and evaluate climate change impacts is growing rapidly. Accordingly, the need and importance of spatial sampling design are increasing. The purpose of this study was to design spatial sampling of paddy fields (11,386 grids with 1 km spatial resolution) in Korea for use in agricultural spatial modeling. A stratified random sampling design was developed and applied in 2030s, 2050s, and 2080s under two RCP scenarios of 4.5 and 8.5. Twenty-five weather and four soil characteristics were used as stratification variables. Stratification and sample allocation were optimized to ensure minimum sample size under given precision constraints for 16 target variables such as crop yield, greenhouse gas emission, and pest distribution. Precision and accuracy of the sampling were evaluated through sampling simulations based on coefficient of variation (CV) and relative bias, respectively. As a result, the paddy field could be optimized in the range of 5 to 21 strata and 46 to 69 samples. Evaluation results showed that target variables were within precision constraints (CV<0.05 except for crop yield) with low bias values (below 3%). These results can contribute to reducing sampling cost and computation time while having high predictive power. It is expected to be widely used as a representative sample grid in various agriculture spatial modeling studies.

Analysis of Effect on Pesticide Drift Reduction of Prevention Plants Using Spray Drift Tunnel (비산 챔버를 활용한 차단 식물의 비산 저감 효과 분석)

  • Jinseon Park;Se-Yeon Lee;Lak-Yeong Choi;Se-woon Hong
    • Journal of Bio-Environment Control
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    • v.32 no.2
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    • pp.106-114
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    • 2023
  • With rising concerns about pesticide spray drift by aerial application, this study attempt to evaluate aerodynamic property and collection efficiency of spray drift according to the leaf area index (LAI) of crop for preventing undesirable pesticide contamination by the spray-drift tunnel experiment. The collection efficiency of the plant with 'Low' LAI was measured at 16.13% at a wind speed of 1 m·s-1. As the wind speed increased to 2 m·s-1, the collection efficiency of plant with the same LAI level increased 1.80 times higher to 29.06%. For the 'Medium' level LAI, the collection efficiency was 24.42% and 43.06% at wind speed of 1 m·s-1 and 2 m·s-1, respectively. For the 'High' level LAI, it also increased 1.24 times higher as the wind speed increased. The measured results indicated that the collection of spray droplets by leaves were increased with LAI and wind speed. This also implied that dense leaves would have more advantages for preventing the drift of airborne spray droplets. Aerodynamic properties also tended to increase as the LAI increased, and the regression analysis of quadric equation and power law equation showed high explanatory of 0.96-0.99.

The Genealogy of Forbidden Sound -Political Aesthetics of Ambiguity in the Criticism of Japanese Style in Korean Society of the 1960s (일본적인 것, 혹은 금지된 '소리'의 계보 -한일국교정상화 성립기 '왜색(倭色)' 비판담론과 양의성의 정치미학)

  • Jeong, Chang-Hoon
    • Journal of Popular Narrative
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    • v.25 no.1
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    • pp.349-392
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    • 2019
  • In the 1960s of Korea, the normalization of diplomatic relations between Korea and Japan led to a sense of a vigorous anxiety and fear that "Japan will once again come to the Korean peninsula". As a reaction to this, the discourse on the criticism of 'Japanese Style' strongly emerged. If the prior discourse of criticism was to express the national antipathy toward the colonial remnants that had not yet been disposed of, the critical discourse of the 1960s was the wariness of the newly created 'Japanese Style' in popular culture, and to grasp it as a symptomatic phenomenon that 'evil-minded Japan' was revealed. Thus, this new logic of criticism of the 'Japanese Style' had a qualitative difference from the existing ones. It was accompanied by a willingness to inspect and censor the 'masses' that grew up as consumers of transnational 'mass culture' that flowed and chained in the geopolitical order under the Cold War system. Therefore, the topology of 'popular things=Japanese things=consuming things' reveals the paradox of moral demands that existed within Korean society in the 1960s. This was to solidify the divisive circulation structure that caused them to avoid direct contact with the other called 'Japan', but at the same time, get as close to it as ever. It is a repetitive obsession that pushes the other to another side through the moral segregation that strictly draws a line of demarcation between oneself and the other, but on the other hand is attracted to the object and pulls it back to its side. This paper intends to listen to the different voices that have arisen in the repetitive obsession to understand the significance of the dissonance that has been repeated in the contemporary era. This will be an examination of the paradoxical object of Japan that has been repeatedly asked to build the internal control principle of Korean society, or to hide the oppressive and violent side of the power, and that can neither be accepted nor destroyed completely as part of oneself.

Introduction of the Best Practices in the Pakistan Gulpur HEPP (파키스탄 Gulpur 수력발전 현장의 Best Practices 소개)

  • JANG, Ock Jae;HONG, Won Pyo;CHAE, Hee Moon
    • Proceedings of the Korea Water Resources Association Conference
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    • 2022.05a
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    • pp.216-217
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    • 2022
  • Gulpur 수력발전 프로젝트는 전력난을 겪고 있는 파키스탄에 102 MW 규모의 수력발전소를 건설하여 30년 동안 운영 관리한 후 파키스탄 정부로 양도하는 IPP(Independent Power Producing) 형식의 투자사업이다. 남동발전과 DL E&C, 롯데건설이 Sponsor로서 출자한 자본금과, ADB, IFC, K-EXIM 등의 대주단로부터의 차입금을 재원으로 하여 소요 사업비를 조달하고 사업을 개발하였다. DL E&C와 롯데건설이 EPC(Engineering, Procurement, Construction)를 수행하였고, 이산이 Design consultant의 역할을 수행하였다. Gulpur 수력발전 프로젝트의 발전형식은 수로식(run-of-river)으로 201 m3/s의 발전유량과 102 MW의 발전 시설용량을 이용하여 연평균예상발전량은 398 GWh이다. 주요 구조물로는 설계 재현빈도 1년의 유수전환시설(가물막이댐 & 가배수터널)과 콘크리트 중력식댐(H 67 m, L 205 m), 도수터널(D 6.7 m, L 215 m, 2기), 옥외형 발전소 (H 51 m, W 60 m, L 38 m, Kaplan 2기)가 있으며, 2015년 10월 착공하여 2020년 3월 상업발전을 시작하였다. 본 프로젝트는 DL E&C의 첫 번째 EPC 해외수력발전 프로젝트이다. 따라서 프로젝트의 성공적 수행을 위한 경제적 설계, 시공의 효율성 및 안정성 확보 등을 위하여 많은 연구를 수행하는 과정에서 다양한 기술 개선을 이룰 수 있었다. 본고에서는 Gulpur 프로젝트를 통하여 도출된 성공 사례들을 소개 및 공유하고자 한다. 첫 번째로 콘크리트 중력식댐 시공을 위한 유수전환시설의 최적 설계빈도를 산정하였다. 일반적으로 유수전환시설의 규모는 설계기준에 제시된 설계 재현빈도를 이용하는데, 해외 설계기준에서는 10년, 국내 설계기준에서는 1~2년으로 다르게 제시되어 있는 문제점이 있다. 유수전환시설의 규모는 프로젝트의 경제성에 큰 영향을 미치기 때문에 최적 설계빈도의 결정이 필요하며, 위험도분석기법(Risk Analysis)과 기대화폐가치법(Expected Monetary Value)을 이용하여 유수전환시설의 최적 설계 재현빈도와 이에 영향을 미치는 인자를 분석하였다. 위험도는 몬테카를로 시뮬레이션으로 산정된 가물막이댐 파괴확률과 재현빈도를 이용하여 산정된 가물막이댐 월류확률을 고려하였으며, 비용 및 피해액으로는 유수전환시설의 공사비, 가물막이댐 파괴시의 재건설비용과 지체보상금, 가물막이댐 월류시의 복구비용을 고려하였다. 이에 대한 연구결과로, 유수전환시설의 사용기간과 월류시의 복구비용이 유수전환시설의 설계 재현기간 결정에 가장 큰 영향을 미치는 것으로 나타났고, 특히 월류시의 복구비용이 작을수록 낮은 설계 재현빈도를 선택하는 것이 타당한 것으로 나타났다. 예를 들어, 유수전환시설의 사용기간이 3 ~ 5년, 복구비용이 0.5 ~ 1.0 mil USD 이하인 조건에서 가물막이시설의 최적 설계빈도는 1년 ~ 2년인 것으로 나타났다. 또한, 유수전환시설의 사용기간은 본댐의 규모와 시공기간 등을 고려하여 결정되는 사항으로 설계자가 임의 조정할 수 없지만, 복구비용은 시공 관리자에 따라 결정되는 부분으로, 적극적 홍수 피해 저감 및 복구방안을 마련하는 것이 프로젝트의 경제성을 향상시킬 수 있다는 것을 알 수 있었다. 두 번째로 프로젝트의 경제성 향상, 홍수기 댐 시공시의 안전성 확보를 위하여 홍수 조기경보시스템(Early Warning System)을 개발 및 활용하였다. 수로식(Run-of-river) 수력발전댐은 대부분 산악지역에 위치하기 때문에 국지성 강우 및 급한 지형 경사로 인하여 돌발홍수(flash flood)의 발생 가능성이 높다. 따라서 시공 중 홍수(월류) 발생을 미리 감지하고 현장에 전파할 수 있는, 수로식(Run-of-river) 수력발전댐 현장을 위한 홍수 조기경보시스템이 필요하며, 이를 리스크 인식, 모니터링 및 경보, 전파 및 연락, 반응 능력 향상의 4가지 부분으로 나누어 구축하였다. 리스크 인식 부분에서는 가물막이댐 월류 발생 상황에 대한 위험도, 취약성, 리스크를 제시하였으며, 모니터링 및 경보 부분에서는 상류 측정수위에서 유도된 현장 예상수위와 실제 현장 측정 수위를 대상으로 경보홍수위와 위험홍수위로 나누어 관리하였다. 전파 및 연락 부분에서는 현장 시공 조직을 활용하여 홍수시를 대비한 비상연락체계도(Emergency communication flow chart)를 운영하였으며, 반응 능력 향상을 위해 비상연락체계도의 팀별 Action plan을 상세화 하였다. 세 번째로 현장의 지질특성과 50여 차례 발파시험으로 현장 고유의 발파진동감쇄곡선을 도출하였으며, 이를 통해 현장의 시공성과 콘크리트 품질 확보를 동시에 달성할 수 있는 방안을 제시하였다. 콘크리트댐 공사에서는 제한된 공기 내에 공사를 완료하기 위해 사면부 굴착과 콘크리트 타설이 동시에 수행될 수밖에 없는 문제점을 가지고 있다. 그러나 신규 콘크리트 타설면 근처에서 발파를 수행하는 경우 발파로 발생되는 탄성파가 일정 수준을 초과하게 되면, 콘크리트 양생에 영향을 주게 된다. 따라서 다수의 현장 발파시험을 통해 발파거리와 최대진동속도의 상관관계 즉, 발파진동감쇄곡선을 도출함으로써 현장의 발파진동특성을 도출할 수 있었다. 또한, 기존 연구 논문들을 통해 콘크리트 재령기간 별 안전진동속도를 선정하고, 해당 안전진동속도를 초과하지 않는 범위에서 콘크리트 타설면과 발파위치의 거리에 따라 1회 발파 가능한 장약량을 산정하여 적용하였다. 이와 같은 체계적인 접근을 통해 콘크리트 타설과 발파 작업 동시 수행에 대한 논란을 해소할 수 있었다.

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The Effects of Nursing Work Environment and Role Conflict on Job Embeddedness among Nurses of Long-term Care Hospital (요양병원 근무 간호사의 직무배태성에 미치는 영향: 근무환경과 역할갈등 중심으로)

  • Son, Sookyeon;Kim, Shinmi
    • 한국노년학
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    • v.39 no.4
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    • pp.663-677
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    • 2019
  • This study was performed to identify the relationship and effects of nursing work environment and role conflict on job embeddedness among nurses working in long-term care hospitals. The data were collected from 200 nurses working in 10 long-term care hospitals from G - province from July to August 2018. Structured questionnaires assessing general characteristics and three major variables were distributed to the study participants and final 190 data set were analyzed using SPSS ver 25.0 program. Study results were as follows; mean score of job embeddedness was 2.98±0.46 out of 5 and the score of sub-domains were in order of fit, links, and sacrifice. The average score of the nursing work environment was 3.14 ± 0.42 and the leadership was the highest sub-domain followed by the working system, the relationship with peers, and the support of the institution. Overall role conflicts score was 3.43 ± 0.51, and environmental disorder, role ambiguity, lack of ability, lack of cooperation were reported in order as sub-domains. Job embeddedness of the study participants showed a statistically significant positive correlation with the nursing work environment and negative correlation with the role conflict. Factors affecting job embeddedness were nursing work environment, age, and role conflict, and the explanatory power of the model was 50.4%. The findings suggest that the overall level of job embeddedness of nurses working in long-term care hospitals is below middle level and efforts to improve job embeddedness through strategies related to nursing work environment and role conflict in organizational level. In addition, the relationship between age and job embeddedness needs to be studied further.

A Review on Solution Plans for Preventing Environmental Contamination as the Trend Changes of Cryptocurrency (암호화폐의 트랜드 변화에 따른 환경오염 방지 해결방안에 대한 고찰)

  • Kim, Jeong-hun;Song, Sae-hee;Ko, Lim-hwan;Nam, Hak-hyun;Jang, Jae-hyuck;Jung, Hoi-yun;Choi, Hyuck-jae
    • Journal of Venture Innovation
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    • v.5 no.1
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    • pp.91-106
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    • 2022
  • Cryptocurrency, stood out the sharp cost rising of Bitcoin has been spotlighted by means of the solution for stagflation because it is decentralized with an existing currency differently. Especially getting into 4th industrial revolution, technologies using block chain and internet of things have been used in the many fields, and the power of influence is also widespread. Nevertheless like a remark of Elon Musk of Tesla CEO, the problems of environmental contamination for cryptocurrency have been pointed out continuously and the most representative of them is an enormous electric usage as the use of fossil fuels. Also the amount generated of carbon dioxide result in the acceleration of global warming mainly based on the climate changes of earth if the existing mining method is continued. On the other hand, review researches have been conducted restrictively as the connection with environmental contamination as the mining of cryptocurrency. In this study, it intended to review problems for environmental contamination as the diversification of ecological system of cryptocurrency concretely. Upon investigation existing prior documents on the putting recent data first, the mining of cryptocurrency has affected on the environmental contamination conflicting with carbon neutrality as increasement of the electric usage and electronic wastes. And POS method without the mining process appeared, but it had a demerit collapsing a decentralization and then we met turning point on appearing various environmental-friendly cryptocurrency. Finally the appearance of cryptocurrency using new renewable energy acted on the opportunity of the usage maximization of energy storage apparatus and the birth of national government intervention. Based on these results, we mention clearly that hereafter cryptocurrency will regress if not go abreast the value of currency as well as environmental approach.

Venture Capital Investment and the Performance of Newly Listed Firms on KOSDAQ (벤처캐피탈 투자에 따른 코스닥 상장기업의 상장실적 및 경영성과 분석)

  • Shin, Hyeran;Han, Ingoo;Joo, Jihwan
    • Asia-Pacific Journal of Business Venturing and Entrepreneurship
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    • v.17 no.2
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    • pp.33-51
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    • 2022
  • This study analyzes newly listed companies on KOSDAQ from 2011 to 2020 for both firms having experience in attracting venture investment before listing (VI) and those without having experience in attracting venture investment (NVI) by examining differences between two groups (VI and NVI) with respect to both the level of listing performance and that of firm performance (growth) after the listing. This paper conducts descriptive statistics, mean difference, and multiple regression analysis. Independent variables for regression models include VC investment, firm age at the time of listing, firm type, firm location, firm size, the age of VC, the level of expertise of VC, and the level of fitness of VC with investment company. Throughout this paper, results suggest that listing performance and post-listed growth are better for VI than NVI. VC investment shows a negative effect on the listing period and a positive effect on the sales growth rate. Also, the amount of VC investment has negative effects on the listing period and positive effects on the market capitalization at the time of IPO and on sales growth among growth indicators. Our evidence also implies a significantly positive effect on growth after listing for firms which belong to R&D specialized industries. In addition, it is statistically significant for several years that the firm age has a positive effect on the market capitalization growth rate. This shows that market seems to put the utmost importance on a long-term stability of management capability. Finally, among the VC characteristics such as the age of VC, the level of expertise of VC, and the level of fitness of VC with investment company, we point out that a higher market capitalization tends to be observed at the time of IPO when the level of expertise of anchor VC is high. Our paper differs from prior research in that we reexamine the venture ecosystem under the outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 which stimulates the degradation of the business environment. In addition, we introduce more effective variables such as VC investment amount when examining the effect of firm type. It enables us to indirectly evaluate the validity of technology exception policy. Although our findings suggest that related policies such as the technology special listing system or the injection of funds into the venture ecosystem are still helpful, those related systems should be updated in a more timely fashion in order to support growth power of firms due to the rapid technological development. Furthermore, industry specialization is essential to achieve regional development, and the growth of the recovery market is also urgent.

Research for Space Activities of Korea Air Force - Political and Legal Perspective (우리나라 공군의 우주력 건설을 위한 정책적.법적고찰)

  • Shin, Sung-Hwan
    • The Korean Journal of Air & Space Law and Policy
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    • v.18
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    • pp.135-183
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    • 2003
  • Aerospace force is a determining factor in a modem war. The combat field is expanding to space. Thus, the legitimacy of establishing aerospace force is no longer an debating issue, but "how should we establish aerospace force" has become an issue to the military. The standard limiting on the military use of space should be non-aggressive use as asserted by the U.S., rather than non-military use as asserted by the former Soviet Union. The former Soviet Union's argument is not even strongly supported by the current Russia government, and realistically is hard to be applied. Thus, the multi-purpose satellite used for military surveillance or a commercial satellite employed for military communication are allowed under the U.S. principle of peaceful use of space. In this regard, Air Force may be free to develop a military surveillance satellite and a communication satellite with civilian research institute. Although MTCR, entered into with the U.S., restricts the development of space-launching vehicle for the export purpose, the development of space-launching vehicle by the Korea Air Force or Korea Aerospace Research Institute is beyond the scope of application of MTCR, and Air Force may just operate a satellite in the orbit for the military purpose. The primary task for multi-purpose satellite is a remote sensing; SAR sensor with high resolution is mainly employed for military use. Therefore, a system that enables Air Force, the Korea Aerospace Research Institute, and Agency for Defense Development to conduct joint-research and development should be instituted. U.S. Air Force has dismantled its own space-launching vehicle step by step, and, instead, has increased using private space launching vehicle. In addition, Military communication has been operated separately from civil communication services or broadcasting services due to the special circumstances unique to the military setting. However, joint-operation of communication facility by the military and civil users is preferred because this reduces financial burden resulting from separate operation of military satellite. During the Gulf War, U.S. armed forces employed commercial satellites for its military communication. Korea's participation in space technology research is a little bit behind in time, considering its economic scale. In terms of budget, Korea is to spend 5 trillion won for 15 years for the space activities. However, Japan has 2 trillion won annul budget for the same activities. Because the development of space industry during initial fostering period does not apply to profit-making business, government supports are inevitable. All space development programs of other foreign countries are entirely supported by each government, and, only recently, private industry started participating in limited area such as a communication satellite and broadcasting satellite, Particularly, Korea's space industry is in an infant stage, which largely demands government supports. Government support should be in the form of investment or financial contribution, rather than in the form of loan or borrowing. Compared to other advanced countries in space industry, Korea needs more budget and professional research staff. Naturally, for the efficient and systemic space development and for the prevention of overlapping and distraction of power, it is necessary to enact space-related statutes, which would provide dear vision for the Korea space development. Furthermore, the fact that a variety of departments are running their own space development program requires a centralized and single space-industry development system. Prior to discussing how to coordinate or integrate space programs between Agency for Defense Development and the Korea Aerospace Research Institute, it is a prerequisite to establish, namely, "Space Operations Center"in the Air Force, which would determine policy and strategy in operating space forces. For the establishment of "Space Operations Center," policy determinations by the Ministry of National Defense and the Joint Chief of Staff are required. Especially, space surveillance system through using a military surveillance satellite and communication satellite, which would lay foundation for independent defense, shall be established with reference to Japan's space force plan. In order to resolve issues related to MTCR, Air Force would use space-launching vehicle of the Korea Aerospace Research Institute. Moreover, defense budge should be appropriated for using multi-purpose satellite and communication satellite. The Ministry of National Defense needs to appropriate 2.5 trillion won budget for space operations, which amounts to Japan's surveillance satellite operating budges.

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Preliminary Report of the $1998{\sim}1999$ Patterns of Care Study of Radiation Therapy for Esophageal Cancer in Korea (식도암 방사선 치료에 대한 Patterns of Care Study ($1998{\sim}1999$)의 예비적 결과 분석)

  • Hur, Won-Joo;Choi, Young-Min;Lee, Hyung-Sik;Kim, Jeung-Kee;Kim, Il-Han;Lee, Ho-Jun;Lee, Kyu-Chan;Kim, Jung-Soo;Chun, Mi-Son;Kim, Jin-Hee;Ahn, Yong-Chan;Kim, Sang-Gi;Kim, Bo-Kyung
    • Radiation Oncology Journal
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    • v.25 no.2
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    • pp.79-92
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    • 2007
  • [ $\underline{Purpose}$ ]: For the first time, a nationwide survey in the Republic of Korea was conducted to determine the basic parameters for the treatment of esophageal cancer and to offer a solid cooperative system for the Korean Pattern of Care Study database. $\underline{Materials\;and\;Methods}$: During $1998{\sim}1999$, biopsy-confirmed 246 esophageal cancer patients that received radiotherapy were enrolled from 23 different institutions in South Korea. Random sampling was based on power allocation method. Patient parameters and specific information regarding tumor characteristics and treatment methods were collected and registered through the web based PCS system. The data was analyzed by the use of the Chi-squared test. $\underline{Results}$: The median age of the collected patients was 62 years. The male to female ratio was about 91 to 9 with an absolute male predominance. The performance status ranged from ECOG 0 to 1 in 82.5% of the patients. Diagnostic procedures included an esophagogram (228 patients, 92.7%), endoscopy (226 patients, 91.9%), and a chest CT scan (238 patients, 96.7%). Squamous cell carcinoma was diagnosed in 96.3% of the patients; mid-thoracic esophageal cancer was most prevalent (110 patients, 44.7%) and 135 patients presented with clinical stage III disease. Fifty seven patients received radiotherapy alone and 37 patients received surgery with adjuvant postoperative radiotherapy. Half of the patients (123 patients) received chemotherapy together with RT and 70 patients (56.9%) received it as concurrent chemoradiotherapy. The most frequently used chemotherapeutic agent was a combination of cisplatin and 5-FU. Most patients received radiotherapy either with 6 MV (116 patients, 47.2%) or with 10 MV photons (87 patients, 35.4%). Radiotherapy was delivered through a conventional AP-PA field for 206 patients (83.7%) without using a CT plan and the median delivered dose was 3,600 cGy. The median total dose of postoperative radiotherapy was 5,040 cGy while for the non-operative patients the median total dose was 5,970 cGy. Thirty-four patients received intraluminal brachytherapy with high dose rate Iridium-192. Brachytherapy was delivered with a median dose of 300 cGy in each fraction and was typically delivered $3{\sim}4\;times$. The most frequently encountered complication during the radiotherapy treatment was esophagitis in 155 patients (63.0%). $\underline{Conclusion}$: For the evaluation and treatment of esophageal cancer patients at radiation facilities in Korea, this study will provide guidelines and benchmark data for the solid cooperative systems of the Korean PCS. Although some differences were noted between institutions, there was no major difference in the treatment modalities and RT techniques.