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Studies on the Control of Bud Bright of Mulberry Tree when Intermediate-Cutting Harvest in Autumn (추기 중간벌채수확 뽕나무의 아고병방제에 관할 연구)

  • 유근섭
    • Journal of Sericultural and Entomological Science
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    • v.16 no.2
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    • pp.99-109
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    • 1974
  • These studies aimed to establishment of controlling measure of the bud blight of mulberry tree when intermediate cutting harvest in autumn. The results obtained as following. 1. Effect of chemicals a) Results of 1972 (1) Of the seventeen chemicals tested. according to in vitro, the mycelial growth of Gibberella lateritium f. sp. mori was highly inhibited by PTAB and Benlate. PTAB and Benlate were also highly effective under the conditions of pathogen inoculated to the piece of mulberry tree and fungicidal action of these chemicals were stronger than the others. (2) Topsin-M. organic fungicide and plant growth regulator were not effective to inhibition of mycelial growth. (3) The effectiveness of fungicides were reduced gradually as the time after treatment increased. PTAB and Benlate retained approximately 50 percent of the original activity even after 15 days. (t) Of the twelve chemicals tested in fold, Benlate combination of PTAB with Apion, Apion and PTAB were the most effective fungicides for the control of bud blight of mulberry tree. (5) There is a sigificant difference between the timing on spraying, but it is not greatly effective for the control of bud blight of mulberry tree. b) Results of 1975 (1) Of the ten chemicals tested, according to in vitro RH 893, combination of Benlate with TMTD and TMTD were the most effective to inhibition of mycelial growth, followed by Benlate and combination of Benlate with Topsin M. (2) Of the eleven chemicals tested, Benlate, combination of Benlate with Kinondu, combination of Benlate with Topsin-M and Topsin M were highly effective under the renditions of pathogen inoculated to the piece of mulberry tree. (3) Of the eleven chemical evaluation tests were conducted in 3 experiment fold of Seoul, Chuncheun and Pusan, Benlate, Topsin-M, Apion, TMTD. combination of Benlate with Topsin-M, combination of Benlate with TMTD, combination of Benlate with Apion were highly effective chemicals for the control of bud blight of mulberry tree. (4) There is no difference between the timing on the chemical spraying after intermediate cutting harvest mulberry tree in autumn. 2. Ecological Control. When the mulberry shoot were cut off one to two buds from the top of intermediate cutting from 15th to 30th on October, bud blight of mulberry tree was greatly reduced in next spring compared with the effective chemical spraying. 3. Economical analysis on the results of chemical and ecological tests. When the expenses of ecological control for bud blight of mulberry tree per one ha was 100. thats of chemical control was from 159 to 254 according to spraying machines.

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Attitudes of Physician, Nurse and Patient towards Physician's and Nurse's Uniform (의사와 간호사의 복장에 대한 의사, 간호사 및 환자의 견해)

  • Jung, Youn-Heui;Kim, Seok-Beam;Kang, Pock-Soo
    • Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
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    • v.13 no.2
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    • pp.324-346
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    • 1996
  • A survey was conducted to study attitudes of physician, nurse and patient towards physician's and nurse's uniform, from March 1 to March 31, 1996. The study population was 130 physicians and 147 nurses engaged in Yeungnam University Medical Center and 211 inpatients of Yeungnam University Medical Center. A questionnaire method was used to collect data. The following are summaries of findings: In the respect of physician's uniform, both physicians and nurses preferred other type of gown to the traditional coat-typed one and especially, nurses preferred more than physicians. Patients showed no difference in the preference of the traditional one and other form of gown as a whole but those who had higher educational level preferred other form of gown(p<0.01). Regarding the color of physician's gown, 73.6% of physicians and nurses liked white color, and 86.3% of the patients also liked the white color. Male physicians preferred the white color more than female physicians and nurses(p<0.01). Patients showed no meaningful difference for the color. The opinion of insisting on wearing a necktie when physician see patients was given by male physicians, physicians of fifty or more, physicians working in the field of medicine and professors, which showed significantly higher percentage than other groups(p<0.01). In the group of patiens, the same opinion was given by female, the group of sixty or more, the group of elementary school graduates or less and people residing in other cities and counties more than male, the group of other ages, the group of having higher educational level and people of Taegu city(p<0.01). It tended to agree wearing casual wear of physician during the working time of weekend and holiday as a whole. Younger physicians showed significantly higher preference for it(p<0.05). Regarding the nurse's uniform, both physicians and nurses preferred trousers, and 96% of the nurses did. Especially, nurses who were forty years old or more and who served at outpatient department and administrative and aid parts expressed 100 percent partiality to trousers. For the patients, those who had lower educational level preferred skirt and those who had higher educational level preferred trousers. As to the color of nurse's gown, 46.7% of the physicians and nurses liked white color. The physicians preferred white and nurses preferred other color(p<0.01). Of the patients, 79.1% liked white color. Regarding the wearing cap, 95.9% of the nurses replied it didn't have to wear the cap. The nurses who were fifty or more and who served at outpatient department and special parts gave whole answers of not having to wear the cap. On the other hand, 77.7% of the patients answered nurse had to wear the cap. From the above findings, it would be advisable to give a change to the forms and colors of the gowns to match with the trend and sense of the time instead of insisting on the traditional typical ones.

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A Study on Sexual Function of Women with Coronary Artery Disease (관상동맥질환 여성의 성기능에 관한 연구)

  • Kim, Choon Shim;So, Hyang Sook
    • Korean Journal of Adult Nursing
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    • v.12 no.1
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    • pp.99-111
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    • 2000
  • The purpose of this study was to identify risk factors related to sexual function of women with coronary artery disease, and to determine the predictors of sexual function. The study design, a descriptive correlational study, was done through structural questionnaire and interview. A total of 50 subjects from C University Hospital at Kwang-ju city who have undergone coronary angiography at department of cardiology were observed and interviewed from Feb. 22, 1999 to March. 23, 1999. The number of affected vessels, the level of total serum cholesterol, and the ejection fraction of 2-D echo cardiography were analyzed to evaluate the severity of coronary artery disease. And also type A behavior pattern, health behavior, Brief Index of Sexual Functioning for Women (BISF-W) were measured. The data obtained were analyzed using percentage, mean and standard deviation, t-test, ANOVA, Pearson's correlation coefficient, and stepwise multiple regression analysis via SPSS PC+. The results of this study were as follows: 1. The mean age of the subjects were 58.1 and 72.0% of those have been married over 30 years. Seventy two percentage were unemployed and monthly family income of 56.6% was less than 1,000,000 won (approximately $ 840). Eighty percent were in their postmenopausal state, and the frequency of sexual intercourse of 84.0% were two to three times per month. 2. The scores of type A behavior pattern were from 16 to 38(mean 24.94) and health behavior ranged from 21 to 43(mean 31.2). Abstinence from smoking, alcohol, and caffeine were best compliant factors and weight control and exercise were least abided ones. The result of 2D-ECHO EF showed that the half of the subjects were abnormal, and 24% had more than 240mg/dl of total serum cholesterol. The coronary angiography showed that 64% of the subjects had more than one affected vessels. 3. The predictors to explain the factor score of 'orgasm' were number of health examination, the pre- or post-menopausal state, protestant, number of coronary vessel affected, level of serum total cholesterol, and comorbid group of hypertension and diabetes, and it's total variance accounted for 52.4%. The predictors to explain the factor score of 'sexual activity' were comorbid group of hypertension and diabetes and type A behavior pattern, which accounted for 22.4% of total variance. The predictors to explain the factor score of 'sexual satisfaction' were type A behavior pattern, no religion, exercise, level of serum total cholesterol, and pre or post menopausal state, which accounted for 52.1%. The predictors to explain the factor score of 'sexual desire' were the period of marriage, type A behavior, employment or unemployment, and weight control, which accounted for 43.2%. The predictors to explain the factor score of 'external force of sexual functioning' were physical overload and exercise, which accounted for 41.1%. The predictors to explain the factor score of 'sexual activity' were family monthly income, catholics, and exercise, and which accounted for 35.4%. Above results lead us to some consensus that sexual function of women with coronary artery disease is related to various factors including vasogenic factors such as total serum cholesterol level, number of coronary vessel affected, an endocrinal factor such as menopausal state, and type A behavior pattern as a sociopshychological factor. And also health behaviors such as fitness care, overwork, weight control, and emotional tension are contributed to sexual function.

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Reanalysis of 2007 Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2007 KNHANES) Results by CAN-Pro 3.0 Nutrient Database (2007년도 국민건강영양조사 결과 재분석 : CAN-Pro 3.0 식품영양가표의 활용)

  • Shim, Youn-Jeong;Paik, Hee-Young
    • Journal of Nutrition and Health
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    • v.42 no.6
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    • pp.577-595
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    • 2009
  • This study aimed to reanalyze energy and nutrient intakes of 2007 Korean Nutrition and Health Examination Survey (KNHANES) using CAN-Pro 3.0, a commonly used nutrient analysis software in Korea. Food items and their codes were selected from 2007 KNHANES dietary intake file and converted to food codes of CAN-Pro 3.0 nutrient database (NDB). Of the 1,324 total food items, 1,155 items were converted by direct matching, 123 items were matched using other items in CAN-Pro 3.0 NDB and 42 items were matched using external sources. Consumption frequencies of items converted by direct matching contributed 94.5% of total consumption. Nutrient intakes of 4,091 participants of 2007 KNHANES, over 1 year old, were recalculated using CAN-Pro 3.0 NDB and compared with intakes in 2007 KNHANES dietary intake file. Intakes for energy and all nutrients except protein and Vitamin C calculated by two NDBs were significantly different by paired t-test (p < 0.001), but significantly correlated by Pearson' correlation coefficients (p < 0.001). Percent differences between the NDBs ranged from 0.3% to 15.1%, low for protein, energy, vitamin C, iron, vitamin B$_2$ (below 5%) but high for phosphorus, retinol, vitamin A, and $\beta$-carotene (over 10%). Age group, sex, and their interactions significantly influenced six nutrients (p < 0.05). Intake levels of zinc, vitamin B6, vitamin E, folate and cholesterol were not available in 2007 KNHANES but were calculated by CAN-Pro 3.0. Mean intake levels of zinc, vitamin B$_6$, vitamin E, and folate by age and sex groups revealed that some groups had mean levels below RI (Recommended Intake) or AI (Adequate Intake) levels. Intake level of cholesterol was higher than the recommended level (below 300 mg/day) in some groups, especially males. Results of the present study indicate the need for comparable and more comprehensive NDB to be used for dietary assessment of KNHANES and other researches. More rigorous evaluation of nutrients which have not been reported in KNHANES is needed.

The Effect of Mitomycin-c, Vinblastine, and Cisplatin(MVP) Combined Chemotherapy in Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (진행된 비소세포성 폐암에 대한 MVP 복합화학요법의 효과)

  • Kim, Young-Woo;Park, Neung-Hwa;Ji, Sang-Keun;Choi, Hyun-Muck;Lee, Sin-Hwa;Lee, Keum-Hee;Jang, Tae-Won;Jung, Maan-Hong
    • Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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    • v.42 no.1
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    • pp.76-83
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    • 1995
  • Background: Despite advances in chemotherapy, the treatment of inoperable non-small cell carcinoma of the lung remains poor. According to the recent reports, the response rates of mitomycin, vinblastine, and cisplatin(MVP) chemotherapy are higher than those of other cisplatin based polychemotherapy and MVP chemotherapy can be used as neoadjuvant chemotherapeutic regimen. But the overall response rates of MVP chemotherapy range from 17 to 53 percent, so we studied the effect of MVP chemotherapy in advanced non-small cell lung cancer. Method: We treated forty patients with stage III or IV non-small cell lung cancer with two courses of MVP chemotherapy($8mg/m^2$ of mitomycin on day 1, $6mg/m^2$ of vinblastine on day 2 & day 14, and $100mg/m^2$ of cisplastin on day 1) at 4 weeks interval. Then all patients were evaluated the response of chemotherapy 4 weeks later, and received further chemotherapy, palliative radiotherapy or supportive therapy according to the patient's condition. We also determined the median survival time and prognostic factors. Results: 1) Nine patients(23%) had a partial reponse, 23 patients(57%) had a stable disease, and disease progressed in 8 patients(20%). There were no patients with complete response. 2) The overall median survival time was 36 weeks(range, 9 to 119+ weeks). The median survival time of responder(partial response) and non-responder(stable and progressed) groups were 60 weeks(range, 36 to 82+ weeks) and 31 weeks(range, 9 to 119+ weeks) respectively(p=0.03). 3) The median survival time of the female group was 71 weeks and significantly prolonged in comparision with 35 weeks of the male group(p=0.01). But, the other prognostic factors didn't affect the survival time and response rate. 4) The median survival times of chemotherapy group and chemotherapy with palliative radiotherapy group were not significantly different. Conclusion: MVP combined chemotherapy is unsatisfactory in improving survival in advanced non-small cell lung cancer. Therefore, further studies are needed to find more active new agents and to estabilish the efficacy of the combined treatment with radiotherapy and/or surgery.

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Composition and Physicochemical Properties of Unripe Korean Peaches According to Cultivars (국내산 복숭아 유과의 품종별 성분 분석 및 품질특성)

  • Kim, Da-Mi;Kim, Kyung-Hee;Choi, In-Ja;Yook, Hong-Sun
    • Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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    • v.41 no.2
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    • pp.221-226
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    • 2012
  • For the investigation of a possibility as a useful functional material, 6 cultivars (Takinosawa Gold, Kawanakawase Hakuto, Madoka, Yumefuji, Nagasawa Hakuho, Hong Bak) of Prunus persica L. Batsch were studied at unripe stage to determine the physicochemical properties and chemical compositions. The cultivars were picked in late May, and all samples were analyzed for external properties, physicochemical properties, pH, Brix value, Hunter's color value, hardness, vitamin C, and reducing sugar. The size of the fruit from all six cultivars was compared, and it was determined that cultivars, fruit from Madoka was the largest, while that from Yumefuji was the smallest. Comparing fresh weight, the fruit from Yumefuji was lowest in moisture contents (89.13~89.96%), and that from Nagasawa Hakuho had significantly higher crude protein (1.02~1.62%). The contents of crude lipids (0.18~0.23%) and carbohydrates (8.00~9.35%) were not significantly different between cultivars and Madoka included higher crude ash contents (0.32~0.69%) than other cultivars. The pH of 6 cultivars from unripe peaches were significantly higher from Kawanakawase Hakuto, and the Brix value was also highest from Kawanakawase Hakuto, followed by Yumefuji, Madoka, Nagasawa Hakuho, Takinosawa Gold, and Hong Bak. In chromaticity, the L value, the indicator of brightness, was significantly higher in fruit from Nagasawa Hakuho. The a value, the indicator of redness, was the highest with Hong Bak and overall lower than -5. The b value, the indicator of yellowness, was the highest in fruit from Madoka and ranged from 16.51 to 18.33. In physical characteristics, the hardness of the unripe peaches was the highest in fruit from Hong Bak, and overall, white peaches have a higher hardness value than yellow peaches. The vitamin C content of the fruit didn't show any significant differences between cultivars, and the reducing sugar showed a higher percent than 6.34% in fruit from all cultivars. These results suggest that unripe peaches were commensurate with the development of natural pigment and as a functional foods.

A Study on Degree of Daily Living Activities among Women with Osteoarthritis (여성 골관절염 환자의 일상생활 수행능력)

  • Yang, Kyeong-Ra;Rhee, Seon-Ja
    • Journal of muscle and joint health
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    • v.5 no.1
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    • pp.57-71
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    • 1998
  • This study purports to examine sociodemographic characteristics and those factors associated with osteoarthritis in women experiencing the disease in order to make suggestions for the prevention and management of osteoarthritis in women. The subjects were 143 women who were diagnosed to have osteoarthritis and under follow-up care at an outpatient department of a university-affiliated hospital. The data were collected through personal interviews by using the structured questionnaire between October 6 and October 24, 1997. The degree of daily living activities was measured with 24 items, which were made based upon Katz Index, Barthel Index and Functional Status Index. Each item has 4 response categories : (1) being able to do alone with any difficulty, (2) being able to do alone with some difficulty, (3) being able to do alone with the help of a person or an instrument, (4) not being able to do at all. The data was analyzed with correlation analysis, t-test, ANOVA, and regression analysis. The results are summarized as follows : 1. As for the age of the subjects, 59.4% were between 45 and 64 years, while 28% were 65 years and above. The subjects having religion were 71.7% and 44.1% of the subjects were protestants. The educational level was low : 31.5% graduated from elementary school, while 30.1% had no formal education. Those married subjects were 72%. Fifty nine percent of the subjects evaluated their economic status as middle class. 2. Those people from whom the subjects currently receive some help were spouses in 35.8% of the subjects. Likewise, 50% of the subjects indicated spouse as the people from whom they want to receive help. 3. The score of the ability of daily living activities ranged between 48 and 96, with the mean of 78.94. Those means of physical activity, ADL(activities of daily living) and IADL(instrumental activities of daily living) were 14.89, 13.97 and 50.09, respectively. Except for the items of carrying heavy stuff and of washing clothes in the sitting position the subjects showed independence in more than 90% of the items, where Independence is defined as being able to do alone or with the help of a person or an instrument. 4. The increase in age was a significant predictor of the decrease in the ability of daily living activities. Those graduated from middle school and above showed a significantly higher degree in the ability of daily living activities than those with less educational level. The married women revealed significantly higher scores in physical activity, ADL, and IADL than the unmarried ones. The ability of daily living activities was not significantly related to having religion, economic status and living with family. 5. The average duration of experiencing osteoarthritis was 4 years and 7 months. Regarding the site of the onset, 65% of the subjects indicated knees. The women with osteoarthritis for less than 3 years were 65%. The ability of daily living activities was significantly different by the duration of illness : the longer the duration of illness, the less the ability of activities. The above findings suggest the need for developing those programs for prevention disabilities in performing daily living activities and for managing diseases targeting the women of middle and old age, with low educational level, and with unmarried status. In addition, there should be developed an instrument for measuring the ability of daily living activities which reflects daily lives of Korean women with osteoarthritis in order to examine comprehensive effects of osteoarthritis on women's daily lives in this country.

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Quantitative Comparisons in $^{18}F$-FDG PET Images: PET/MR VS PET/CT ($^{18}F$-FDG PET 영상의 정량적 비교: PET/MR VS PET/CT)

  • Lee, Moo Seok;Im, Young Hyun;Kim, Jae Hwan;Choe, Gyu O
    • The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine Technology
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    • v.16 no.2
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    • pp.68-80
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    • 2012
  • Purpose : More recently, combined PET/MR scanners have been developed in which the MR data can be used for both anatometabolic image formation and attenuation correction of the PET data. For quantitative PET information, correction of tissue photon attenuation is mandatory. The attenuation map is obtained from the CT scan in the PET/CT. In the case of PET/MR, the attenuation map can be calculated from the MR image. The purpose of this study was to assess the quantitative differences between MR-based and CT-based attenuation corrected PET images. Materials and Methods : Using the uniform cylinder phantom of distilled water which has 199.8 MBq of $^{18}F$-FDG put into the phantom, we studied the effect of MR-based and CT-based attenuation corrected PET images, of the PET-CT using time of flight (TOF) and non-TOF iterative reconstruction. The images were acquired from 60 minutes at 15-minute intervals. Region of interests were drawn over 70% from the center of the image, and the Scanners' analysis software tools calculated both maximum and mean SUV. These data were analyzed by one way-anova test and Bland-Altman analysis. MR images are segmented into three classes(not including bone), and each class is assigned to each region based on the expected average attenuation of each region. For clinical diagnostic purpose, PET/MR and PET/CT images were acquired in 23 patients (Ingenuity TF PET/MR, Gemini TF64). PET/CT scans were performed approximately 33.8 minutes after the beginnig of the PET/MR scans. Region of interests were drawn over 9 regions of interest(lung, liver, spleen, bone), and the Scanners' analysis software tools calculated both maximum and mean SUV. The SUVs from 9 regions of interest in MR-based PET images and in CT-based PET images were compared. These data were analyzed by paired t test and Bland-Altman analysis. Results : In phantom study, MR-based attenuation corrected PET images generally showed slightly lower -0.36~-0.15 SUVs than CT-based attenuation corrected PET images (p<0.05). In clinical study, MR-based attenuation corrected PET images generally showed slightly lower SUVs than CT-based attenuation corrected PET images (excepting left middle lung and transverse Lumbar) (p<0.05). And percent differences were -8.01.79% lower for the PET/MR images than for the PET/CT images. (excepting lung) Based on the Bland-Altman method, the agreement between the two methods was considered good. Conclusion : PET/MR confirms generally lower SUVs than PET/CT. But, there were no difference in the clinical interpretations made by the quantitative comparisons with both type of attenuation map.

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The Correlation Among Health Status, Burden and Quality of Life of the Adult Stroke Patient's Family and the Elderly Stroke Patient's Family (노인층과 청·장년층 뇌졸중 환자가족의 건강상태·부담감 및 삶의 질과의 관계)

  • Kim, Kwuy-Bun;Lee, Kyung-Ho
    • Korean Journal of Adult Nursing
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    • v.13 no.2
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    • pp.262-276
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    • 2001
  • The purpose of this study is to investigate the correlation among the stroke patient family's health, burden and quality of life which is based upon the comparative appreciation of the adult stroke patient's family and elderly stroke patient's family. For this purpose, data were collected from the family care-givers for two groups of stroke patients under sixty years old and over sixty years of age, admitted at K Hospital and H Hospital in Seoul. The instruments for this research are based on the tool for measuring physical health and psychological health developed by Yang, Young-hee(1992), the tool for measuring the sense of burden by Seo, Mee-hae and Oh, Ga-sil(1993), and the tool for the quality of life by Noh, Yoo-ja(1988). The sampling for this study was done from December, 2000 until February, 2001. Questionnaire data were drawn up by personal interviews aided by the staff nurses. The analysis of collected data are based on general characteristics calculated at the rate of 100 percent of the average, t-test, ANOVA(some difference on a level with p<.05 being subsquently confirmed by DMR) for Health Status, Burden, Quality of Life and Pearson Correlation to verify the hypothetical correlation among the subjects. The results of this study are as follows: 1. In the adult stroke patient family, the factors influencing the physical health proved to be age, present occupation and family-formation. Here, the factors influencing psychological health turned out to be age, matrimonial status, present occupation and family-formation. In the elderly stroke patient family, the factors influencing physical health proved to be age, gender, final academic status, matrimonial status, present occupation, and relation with the patient. Here, the factors influencing the psychological health were age, final academic status, matrimonial status, present occupation, relation with the patient and family-formation. In the former case, the influencing factors upon the burden were shown to be age, final academic status, matrimonial status, relation with the patient and family-formation. In the latter case, the influences upon the burden were age, gender, final academic status, matrimonial status, present occupation and relation with the patient. In the former case, the influences on the quality of life were gender, and economic situation. In the later case, the influencing factors on the quality of life were age, final academic status, matrimonial status, present occupation, and relation with the patient. 2. The rate of the physical condition in the former case turned out to be 2.83, and the psychological condition 2.37. The physical condition of the latter case was 2.76, and the psychological condition 2.46. The rate of the burden in the former case was 3.14, and that of the latter case was 3.04. The rate of quality of life in the former case proved to be 2.46, and that of the latter case 2.55. 3. The rate of correlation between the burden and the quality of life appeared to be the high counter-correlation (r= -.573). The rate of correlation between the psychological health and the burden of a simialr (r= -.565). The rate of correlation between the physical health and the psychological health proved to be a moderate correlation (r= .372), The rate of correlation between physical health and the burden turned out to be a low counter-correlation (r= -.276). According to this study, there proved to be a very close correlation among the stroke patient family's health, the burden and quality of life. Thus, it would be necessary to find out various nursing interventions in order to mitigate the stroke patient family's burden in the process of caring for the patients.

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How to Reflect Sustainable Development, exemplified by the Equator Principles, in Overseas Investment (해외투자(海外投資)와 지속가능발전 원칙 - 프로젝트 파이낸스의 적도원칙(赤道原則)을 중심으로 -)

  • Park, Whon-Il
    • THE INTERNATIONAL COMMERCE & LAW REVIEW
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    • v.31
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    • pp.27-56
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    • 2006
  • Today's financial institutions usually take environmental issues seriously into consideration as they could not evade lender liability in an increasing number of cases. On the international scene, a brand-new concept of the "Equator Principles" in the New Millenium has driven more and more international banks to adopt these Principles in project financing. Sustainable development has been a key word in understanding new trends of the governments, financial institutions, corporations and civic groups in the 21st century. The Equator Principles are a set of voluntary environmental and social guidelines for sustainable finance. These Principles commit bank officers to avoid financial support to projects that fail to meet these guidelines. The Principles were conceived in 2002 on an initiative of the International Finance Corporation(IFC), and launched in June 2003. Since then, dozens of major banks, accounting for up to 80 percent of project loan market, have adopted the Principles. Accordingly, the Principles have become the de facto standard for all banks and investors on how to deal with potential social and environmental issues of projects to be financed. Compliance with the Equator Principles facilitates for endorsing banks to participate in the syndicated loan and help them to manage the risks associated with large-scale projects. The Equator Principles call for financial institutions to provide loans to projects under the following circumstances: - The risk of the project is categorized in accordance with internal guidelines based upon the environmental and social screening criteria of the IFC. - For Category A and B projects, borrowers or sponsors are required to conduct a Social and Environmental Assessment, the preparation of which must meet certain requirements and satisfactorily address key social and environmental issues. - The Social and Environmental Assessment report should address baseline social and environmental conditions, requirements under host country laws and regulations, sustainable development, and, as appropriate, IFC's Environmental, Health and Safety Guidelines, etc. - Based on the Social and Environmental Assessment, Equator banks then make agreements with borrowers on how they mitigate, monitor and manage the risks through a Social and Environmental Management System. Compliance with the plan is included in the covenant clause of loan agreements. If the borrower doesn't comply with the agreed terms, the bank will take corrective actions. The Equator Principles are not a mere declaration of cautious banks but a full commitment of lenders. A violation of the Principles in the process of project financing, which led to an unexpected damage to the affected community, would not give rise to any specific legal remedies other than ordinary lawsuits. So it is more effective for banks to ensure consistent implementation of the Principles and to have them take responsible measures to solve social and environmental issues. Public interests have recently mounted up with respect to environmental issues on the occasion of the Supreme Court's decision (2006Du330) on the fiercely debated reclamation project at Saemangeum. The majority Justices said that the expected environmental damages like probable pollution of water and soil were not believed so serious and that the Administration should continue to implement the project seeking ways to make it more environment friendly. In this case, though the Category A Saemangeum Project was carried out by a government agency, the Supreme Court behaved itself as a signal giver to approve or stop the environment-related project like an Equator bank in project financing. At present, there is no Equator bank in Korea in contrast to three big banks in Japan. Also Korean contractors, which are aggressively bidding for Category A-type projects in South East Asia and Mideast, might find themselves in a disadvantageous position because they are generally ignorant of the environmental assessment associated with project financing. In this regard, Korean banks and overseas project contractors should care for the revised Equator Principles and the latest developments in project financing more seriously. It's because its scope has expanded to the capital cost of US$10 million or more across all industry sectors regardless of developing countries or not. It should be noted that, for a Korean bank, being an Equator bank is more or less burdensome in a short-term period, but it must be conducive to minimizing risks and building up good reputation in the long run.

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