• KSII Transactions on Internet and Information Systems (TIIS)
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.126-148
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• 2015

Different from the existing works on coverage problems in wireless sensor networks (WSNs), this paper considers the exposure-path prevention problem by using the percolation theory in three dimensional (3D) WSNs, which can be implemented in intruder detecting applications. In this paper, to avoid the loose bounds of critical density, a bond percolation-based scheme is proposed to put the exposure-path problem into a 3D uniform lattice. Within this scheme, the tighter bonds of critical density for omnidirectional and directional sensor networks under random sensor deployment-a 3D Poisson process are derived. Extensive simulation results show that our scheme generates tighter bounds of critical density with no exposure path in 3D WSNs.

• Health Policy and Management
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• v.31 no.1
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• pp.5-16
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• 2021

Both access to healthcare services and income security in case of personal illness are being needed to achieve universal health coverage, which is enshrined in the human rights to health and social security and international standards on social protection. Income security acts on both the social determinants and the adverse consequences of ill health and thus would break the vicious disease-poverty cycle. The government is supposed to implement a demonstration project of sickness benefit in 2022 and to publicize its more specific blueprint for all workers. This study is to suggest basic principles and a framework to design a new sickness benefit for universal health coverage, which is based on reviews on previous studies, related issues, and institutional conditions. This is to provide a theoretical basis to promote further discussion and to support its decision-making.

• Journal of Communications and Networks
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.600-609
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• 2016

In this paper, we propose a two-stage base station (BS) sleeping scheme to save energy consumption in cellular networks. The BS sleeping mode is divided into a light sleeping stage and a deep sleeping stage according to whether there is a user in the BS's coverage. In the light sleeping stage, a BS will retain its coverage and frequently switch between the on state and the doze state according to the service characteristics. While in the deep sleeping stage analysis, the BS will shut down its coverage, and neighbor BSs will patch the coverage hole. Several closed-form formulas are derived to demonstrate the power consumption in each sleeping stage and the stage switching conditions are discussed to minimize the average power consumption. The average traffic delay caused by BS sleeping and the average deep sleeping rate under a given traffic load have also been studied. In addition, it is shown that BS sleeping is not always possible because of the limited quality of service (QoS) requirements. Simulation results show that the proposed scheme can effectively reduce the average BS power consumption, at the cost of some extra traffic delay. In summary, our proposed framework provides an essential understanding of the design of future green networks that aim to take full advantage of different stages of BS sleeping to obtain the best energy efficiency.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.24 no.6
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• pp.812-822
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• 2014

Metagenomic analysis of the human intestinal microbiota has extended our understanding of the role of these bacteria in improving human intestinal health; however, a number of reports have shown that current total fecal DNA extraction methods and 16S rRNA universal primer sets could affect the species coverage and resolution of these analyses. Here, we improved the extraction method for total DNA from human fecal samples by optimization of the lysis buffer, boiling time (10 min), and bead-beating time (0 min). In addition, we developed a new long-range 16S rRNA universal PCR primer set targeting the V6 to V9 regions with a 580 bp DNA product length. This new 16S rRNA primer set was evaluated by comparison with two previously developed 16S rRNA universal primer sets and showed high species coverage and resolution. The optimized total fecal DNA extraction method and newly designed long-range 16S rRNA universal primer set will be useful for the highly accurate metagenomic analysis of adult and infant intestinal microbiota with minimization of any bias.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.17 no.7
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• pp.3541-3544
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• 2016

Background: As the treatment modalities for oral cancer have been relatively consistent during the last two-decades, this study was conducted to compare survivals of oral cancer patients in Khon Kaen Province before and after the universal coverage scheme (UC) was launched in Thailand. Materials and Methods: The data were retrieved from the population-based cancer registry of Khon Kaen for oral cancer patients diagnosed during 1992-2001 (pre-UC), and 2004-2012 (post-UC). To compare survival of the two cohorts, Kaplan Meier and log rank tests were employed. Results: Of 1,196 patients, 65% were females and the median age was 65 years. The most common primary sites were lip (31.0%), tongue (29.9%), and buccal mucosa (14.6%). The proportion of early stage cancer increased from 20.4 % in pre-UC to 41.3% in post-UC. The overall 5-year survival rate was 36.5% (95% CI =32.6-40.9) for pre-UC and 32.4% (95% CI = 28.8-36.4) for post-UC. The declining survival was mainly due to an increasing proportion of tongue cancer. However, no survival improvement was demonstrated on subgroup analysis of the tongue cancer patients. Conclusions: After the universal coverage scheme had been launched, early diagnosis increased, but no significant gain in survival for oral cancer patients was achieved.

• The Korean Journal of Health Service Management
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.89-99
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• 2018

Objectives : To compare the degree of achievement of Universal Health Coverage (UHC) among 39 developing countries in Africa and to investigate the correlation between health care financing and the UHC index. Methods : For data, 14 UHC indexes were used in 2015 supplied by the World Health Organization (WHO). In addition, this study used a 10% of threshold point corresponding to the catastrophic health expenditures and a 25% of threshold points as a health care financing index. Results : It was found that there were significant difference among Least Low Developed Countries (LLDCs), Other Low Income Countries (Other LICs), Lower Middle Income Countiies (LMICs), Upper Middle Income Countires (UMICs) to compare the average value by nation on the UHC index. This study showed that the UHC index of LLDCs was lowest, but the average value was higher as it moved towards LMICs and UMICs. In addition, it was found that there was an average value difference among the groups like LLDCs, Other LICs, LMICs and UMICs. As a result of comparison, it was found that the spending of household health expenditure increased as LLDCs moved towards UMICs when the burden of household health expenditure was 25%. Conclusions : This study aimed to compare the UHC indexes of African nations and to investigate the correlation between the degree of spending of total expenditure on health and burden of household health expenditure and UHC, and its effect.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.55 no.2
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• pp.125-133
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• 2022

Objectives: No systematic review has explored the challenges related to worldwide universal health coverage (UHC). This study reviewed challenges on the road to UHC. Methods: A systematic electronic search of all studies that identified the challenges of worldwide UHC was conducted, without any restrictions related to the publication date or language. A hand search and a bibliographic search were also conducted to identify which texts to include in this study. These sources and citations yielded a total of 2500 articles, only 26 of which met the inclusion criteria. Relevant data from these papers were extracted, summarized, grouped, and reported in tables. Results: Of the 26 included studies, 7 (27%) were reviews, 6 (23%) were reports, and 13 (50%) had another type of study design. The publication dates of the included studies ranged from 2011 to 2020. Nine studies (35%) were published in 2019. Using the World Health Organization conceptual model, data on all of the challenges related to UHC in terms of the 4 functions of health systems (stewardship, creating resource, financing, and delivering services) were extracted from the included studies and reported. Conclusions: This study provides a straightforward summary of previous studies that explored the challenges related to UHC and conducted an in-depth analysis of viable solutions.

• Journal of Korea Technology Innovation Society
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• v.3 no.3
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• pp.18-35
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• 2000

Universal service policy is the core of telecommunications policy and, therefore, in many countries, governments have been accomplished universal service as the critical goal of telecommunications policy. In the past when the market was under monopoly, the monopolist had the responsibility of supplying for universal service, whereas supply cost complemented through internal assistance. From 1998 when WTO basic telecommunications negotiation took effect, however, telecommunications markets fully opened, it was impossible to supply of universal service under the past system. Therefore, governments of major countries are trying to renew laws and institutions for policies compatible with competition environments. In this paper, I analyse and compare major countries' policies for the universal services and try to find out policy implication for Korea.

• Health Policy and Management
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.267-271
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• 2017

This year marks the 40th anniversary of the introduction of National Health Insurance (NHI) which has contributed to improving public health and accessibility. This article aims to show the trends of main indicators during the last 40 years. NHI has achieved rapid expansion of target population (1977-1989). The percentage of population covered increased from 8.8% in 1977 to 94% in 1990. The average number of visit days per person was 0.75 in 1977 but significantly increased to 31.11 in 2015. In 2015, NHI revenues were 52.4 trillion won and expenditures were 48.2 trillion won which is 9.5 times and 9.6 times higher than in 1995. NHI achieved universal coverage in short period of time and has contributed to improving the healthcare status. However, there still remain problems including low-benefit coverage and high out of pocket money. Therefore, the effort to reform these problems is needed.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.16 no.8
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• pp.3593-3593
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• 2015