• Health Policy and Management
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.513-522
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• 2019

Background: South Korea operates a Medical Aid (MA) program targeting selected low-income individuals to ensure medical service delivery to the disadvantaged while enhancing self-sufficiency of work-capable beneficiaries. However, as reasons behind welfare exits are diverse and do not always infer poverty relief or the provision of appropriate levels of health care services, this study aimed to investigate the association between changes in MA status and health care utilization. Methods: This study used the 2006 to 2015 National Health Insurance claims data. The impact of changes in annual MA status on health care utilization (yearly number of outpatient visits, inpatient visits, length of stay, and emergency department [ED] visits) was investigated using the generalized estimating equation model. Results: In 117,943 adult subjects aged 20 to 64, compared to the 'MA to MA' group, the 'MA to MA exit' group showed general decreases in utilization (outpatient visits: β=-3.93, p<0.0001; hospital admissions: relative risk [RR], 0.87; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.83-0.91; length of stay: β=-3.64, p<0.0001; ED visits: RR, 0.83; 95% CI, 0.77-0.90). Similar patterns were found in the 'MA exit to MA exit' group (outpatient visits: β=-5.72, p<0.0001; admissions: RR, 0.91; 95% CI, 0.87-0.94; length of stay: β=-5.87; p<0.0001; ED visits: RR, 0.81; 95% CI, 0.75-0.88). Likewise, in 74,747 older adult subjects aged 65 or above, the 'MA to MA exit' group showed reduced levels of utilization (outpatient visits: β=-1.51; p=0.0020), as well as the 'MA exit to MA exit' group (admissions: RR, 0.92; 95% CI, 0.89-0.95; length of stay: β, -5.45; p<0.0001; ED visits: RR, 0.90; 95% CI, 0.83-0.97). Conclusion: MA exit was associated with general decreases in health care utilization. Utilization patterns of individuals with experiences of receiving MA benefits should be monitored to promote the ideal use of health care services while preventing potential financial barriers present in accessing medical care.

• Journal of the Korean Geotechnical Society
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.115-124
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• 2004

Granular compaction pile has the load bearing capacity of the soft ground increase and has the settlement of foundation built on the reinforced soil reduce. The granular compaction group piles also have the consolidation of the soft ground accelerate and prevent the liquefaction caused by earthquake using the granular materials such as sand, gravel, stone etc. However, this method is not widely used in Korea. The granular compaction piles are constructed by grouping them with a raft system. The confining pressure at the center of bulging failure depth is a major variable in estimating the ultimate bearing capacity of the granular compaction piles. Therefore, a share of loading is determined considering the effect of load concentration ratio between the granular compaction piles and surrounding soils, and the variation of the magnitude of the confining pressure. In this study, a method for the determination of the ultimate bearing capacity is proposed to apply a change of the horizontal pressure considering bulging failure depth, surcharge, and loaded area. Also, the ultimate bearing capacity of the granular compaction pile is evaluated on the basis of previous study(Kim et al., 1998) on the estimation of the ultimate bearing capacity and compared with the results obtained from laboratory scale model tests and DEM numerical analysis using the PFC-2D program.

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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• v.88 no.3
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• pp.285-291
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• 1999

Loblolly(Pinus taeda L.) and slash(Pinus elliottii Engelm.) pines are the most important timber producing species in the Southern United States. Site index equations to estimate site index curves(base age 25 years) for loblolly pine and slash pine plantations have been developed based on long-term repeated measurement data sets. To check magnitude of errors in estimating site index, each cumulative measurement cycle data sets and all combined data sets were used to recalculate site index values. The Chapman-Richards' growth function was selected for stand height prediction. Anamorphic base age invariant site index curves were presented based on this height prediction equation. Statistics used in the evaluation were mean of the differences and mean of the absolute differences. For plantation ages less than 5 years, site index values showed very sensitive fur both species based on the evaluation test.

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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• v.108 no.4
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• pp.592-599
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• 2019

This study aimed to develop an equation for estimating stem volume for Larix kaempferiin South Korea using independent variables, diameter at breast height (DBH), and height as being closely associated with stem volume. Analysis was conducted on the growth performance of 2,840 Larix kaempferi samples across South Korea after felling them and gleaning diameter data according to both stem height and stem analyses. In order to test the fitness of six different stem taper equations, empirical assessment was conducted for fitness index (FI), bias, mean, and absolute deviation (MAD), and coefficient variation (%CV). The two selectedmodels found to be optimal were the following: model one (V=a+bDBH²), established by employing DBH only; and model four (V=a+bDBH²H), established by utilizing DBH and height, respectively. The findings of non-linear regression indicated statistical significance (p < 0.05) in a and b, which were the coefficients for the intercepts and slopes of the models. The FI of the models ranged between 94% and 99%, and the bias was close to zero, while MAD ranged from 0.01 to 0.05, and %CV from 5.97 to 14.43, indicating a high level of fitness. Thus, using the suggested models, the basic information necessary for forest management was obtained, and an estimation of the stem volume was effected without delay soon after effecting DBH and height measurements.

• Journal of Radiation Protection and Research
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.73-90
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• 2004

The Reg. Guide 1.109 model was reviewed against its applicability to calculating radionuclide concentrations in agricultural products for operating nuclear facilities and an improved method was proposed. The model was so modified that the radionuclides deposited since the start of operation could be considered in assessing the root uptake. Translocation factors were introduced in the equation for calculating the concentrations in edible parts due to direct plant deposition. Values specific to Korea were set up for the input parameters of the modified model. The concentrations of $^{54}Mn,\;^{60}Co,\;^{90}Sr\;and\;^{137}Cs$ in rice seeds, Chinese cabbage and radish root were calculated for various hypothetical deposition histories using the Reg. Guide 1.109 model and the modified model with parameter values in the guide and those specific to Korea put in alternately. Through comparisons among the results, it could be expected that the use of the modified model with the input of parameter values specific to Korea would result In a more resonable and realistic assessment.

• Journal of the Korean Geotechnical Society
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.35-45
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• 2013

The void ratio is an important parameter for reflecting the soil behavior including physical property, compressibility, and relative density. The void ratio can be obtained by laboratory test with extracted soil samples. However, the specimen has a possibility to be easily disturbed due to the stress relief when extracting, vibration during transportation, and error in experimental process. Thus, the theoretical equations have been suggested for obtaing the void ratio based on the elastic wave velocities. The objective of this paper is to verify the accuracy of the proposed analytical solution through the error norm. The paper covers the theoretical methods of Wood, Gassmann and Foti. The elastic wave velocity is determined by the Field Velocity Probe in the southern part of Korean Peninsular. And the rest parameters are assumed based on the reference values. The Gassmann method shows the high reliability on determining the void ratio. The error norm is also analyzed as substitution of every parameter. The results show every equation has various characteristics. Thus, this paper may be widely applied for obtaining the void ratio according to the field condition.

• Journal of the Korean Wood Science and Technology
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.10-18
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• 2000

Nondestructive testing(NDT) by using ultrasonic sound is widely applied to wood for grading, moisture and defect detecting, estimating degree of decay, etc. Before practicing such application, basic relationships between ultrasonic transmission and wood properties shall be studied first. In this study, ultrasonic NDT was applied to larch and red pine to investigate the effects of moisture content and slope of grain on ultrasonic transmission speed. Specimens for testing about moisture content were prepared to have moisture content of green state, 30%, 20%, 10% and oven-dry state. Specimens for testing about slope of grain were prepared to have grain angle of 0, 15, 30, 45, 60, 75 and 90 degree in the tangential direction. Ultrasonic transmission speed was inversely proportional to moisture content in low range of moisture content under around 30% that was considered to be close to fiber saturation point. In high moisture content range above 30%, the ultrasonic transmission speed was almost constant. The same trend was observed in the relationships between compressive strength and moisture content. Slope of grain also had inversely proportional relationship with ultrasonic transmission speed and compressive strength. The relationship between compressive strength and ultrasonic transmission speed could be expressed by a linear equation.

• Journal of Korean Society on Water Environment
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.474-481
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• 2007

With population growth, industrialization, and urbanization within the watershed, the hydrologic response changed dramatically, resulting in increases in peak flow with lesser time to peak and total runoff with shortened time of concentration. Infiltration is directly affected by initial soil moisture condition, which is a key element to determine runoff. Influence of the initial soil moisture condition on hydrograph analysis should be evaluated to assess land use change impacts on runoff and non-point source pollution characteristics. The Long-Term Hydrologic Impact Assessment (L-THIA) model has been widely used for the estimation of the direct runoff worldwide. The L-THIA model was applied to the Little Eagle Creek (LEC) watershed and Its estimated direct runoff values were compared with the BFLOW filtered direct runoff values by other researchers. The $R^2$ value Was 0.68 and the Nash-Sutcliffe coefficient value was 0.64. Also, the L-THIA estimates were compared with those separated using optimized $BFI_{max}$ value for the Eckhardt filter. The $R^2$ value and the Nash-Sutcliffe coefficient value were 0.66 and 0.63, respectively. Although these higher statistics could indicate that the L-THIA model is good in estimating the direct runoff reasonably well, the Antecedent Moisture Condition (AMC) was not adjusted in that study, which might be responsible for mismatches in peak flow between the L-THIA estimated and the measured peak values. In this study, the L-THIA model was run with AMC adjustment for direct runoff estimation. The $R^2$ value was 0.80 and the Nash-Sutcliffe coefficient value was 0.78 for the comparison of L-THIA simulated direct runoff with the filtered direct runoff. However there was 42.44% differences in the L-THIA estimated direct runoff and filtered direct runoff. This can be explained in that about 80% of the simulation period is classified as 'AMC I' condition, which caused lower CN values and lower direct runoff estimation. Thus, the coefficients of the equation to adjust CN II to CN I and CN III depending on AMC condition were modified to minimize adjustments impacts on runoff estimation. The $R^2$ and the Nash-Sutcliffe coefficient values increase, 0.80 and 0.80 respectively. The difference in the estimated and filtered direct runoff decreased from 42.44% to 7.99%. The results obtained in this study indicate the AMC needs to be considered for accurate direct runoff estimation using the L-THIA model. Also, more researches are needed for realistic adjustment of the AMC in the L-THIA model.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Gas
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.7-19
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• 2019

In this study, a model was developed for estimating deliverability considering the pressure dependent permeability and predicting production profile with Material Balance Equation(MBE) for Coalbed Methane(CBM) fields. The estimated deliverability was compared with the conventional deliverability based on CBM well testing data with coefficient of determination($R^2$). As a result, the former was 0.76 and the latter was 0.69. It was confirmed that the deliverability which consider the pressure dependent permeability is more adoptable when representing the productivity of CBM fields. Through this process, in order to calculate pressure dependent permeability when well testing data exist, a method to infer reservoir pressure within the radius of investigation was proposed. The production profile of 31 gas wells was predicted for 15 years, using the estimated deliverability and the MBE. After that, the results was compared with simulation results of the literature. The simulation results did not account the pressure dependent permeability and the developed model results considered that. As the applied field permeability rised 1.17 times, field production rate was increased approximately 15% than the literature results. According to other researches, the permeability of CBM fields can be rise 6 ~ 25 times. For these cases, the production profiles may have significant difference with conventional gas fields.

• Journal of the Korean Geotechnical Society
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• v.35 no.4
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• pp.15-26
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• 2019

The stability of the gravity quay wall against earthquakes is evaluated on the basis of the allowable displacement of the wall. To estimate the displacement caused by external forces, empirical equations based on the Newmark sliding block method or numerical analysis are widely used. In numerical analysis, it is possible to analyze precisely a complicated site and structure, but difficult to set the appropriate parameters and environments; there are limitations in obtaining reliable results, depending on one's level of expertise. The Newmark method, with only seismic motions, is widely used because it is simpler than numerical simulations when estimating permanent displacement. However, the empirical equations do not have any parameters for the response characteristics and sliding block of the structure, and sliding blocks being assumed as rigid bodies does not consider the nonlinear behavior of the soil and interaction with the structure. Therefore, in order to evaluate the seismic stability of the gravity quay wall, a newly-developed empirical equation is needed to overcome the above-mentioned limitations. In this study, numerical simulations are performed to analyze the response characteristics of the backfill of the structure, and to propose an optimal method of calculating the active area. For this purpose, finite element analyses were performed to analyze the response characteristics, and stress-strain relationships for various seismic motions. As a result, the response characteristics, sliding block, and failure surface of the backfill vary depending on the input seismic motions.