• Title/Summary/Keyword: quality change

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The Effect of the Degree of Competition of the Hospital Market Regions on Clinic's Rate of Antibiotics Prescription (병원시장지역 내 경쟁 정도가 의원급 의료기관의 항생제 처방률에 미치는 영향)

  • Jo, Changik;Lim, Jae-Young;Lee, Soo Yeon
    • KDI Journal of Economic Policy
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    • v.30 no.2
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    • pp.129-155
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    • 2008
  • The rate of antibiotics prescription for an acute airway infection significantly varies depending upon the diagnosis type, specialty, and the location of the hospital along with many other related factors. The objective of this study is to empirically investigate the possible relationship between the antibiotics prescription rates for an acute airway infection and the degree of competition in the hospital market regions of mainly the providers of primary medical care services such as clinics, internal medicines, pediatrics and otorhinolaryngology department. Using the data from Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service (HIRA) regarding the hospitals' antibiotics prescription rates for the acute airway infection and controlling for selected variables of demand and supply sectors, this study tries to figure out that the degree of competition in the hospital market, regardless of what type of competition indexes we employed, has a statistically significant effect on the variations of antibiotics prescription rate of the clinics in local areas. This result implies that as an economic consideration itself, the change in the degree of competition in the hospital market can play a crucial role influencing the treatment behaviors of the medical doctors. More specifically, this study reveals that as the degree of competition increases the antibiotics prescription rate goes up. This result means that if the market becomes more competitive in a specific region so that it might cause a reduction in doctor's income, doctors with rational decision-making process, recognize that the benefit created from inducing patients' seemingly unnecessary demand for medical care (income effect) would be higher than the costs associated with sustaining their targeted income (substitution effect). It is because that the doctors are more likely to prescribe antibiotics which create relatively higher margins than other medical care services in order to sustain their targeted income when the hospital market competition becomes tighter. Even though this study empirically confirms that antibiotics prescription can be affected by the economic incentives, it still raises following issues as limitations of the study: first issue is about the representativeness of the hospital regions segregated for this study, which might be weak in explaining whether these regions are mutually exclusive in reality. Patients actually consider the quality of services, transportation cost, time costs, and any other related factors choosing the doctors or hospitals, and in that sense, this study rules out 'border-crossing' in using the medical care services. Second issue arises in capturing the data of antibiotics prescription rate. Since we use the average rate for each medical institution, we cannot figure out the average rate for each patient so that we are not able to control for the variation of patients' medical conditions. It is because of the unavailability of data regarding each patient's medical condition from HIRA. Thirdly, since this study mainly analyzes the medical institutions providing primary care such as clinics, internal medicines, pediatrics, and otorhinolaryngology department, it is skeptical of whether those institutions can represent the hospital market in respective regions and truly reflect the degree of competition. It needs to extend the study areas and disease types as well as any micro data for future studies.

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Effect of ${\alpha}-Amylase$ Treatment of Brown Rice(Goami) Alcohol Fermentation By-Product (현미(고아미) 알코올발효 부산물의 ${\alpha}-amylase$처리 효과)

  • Woo, Seung-Mi;Kim, Tae-Young;Yeo, Soo-Hwan;Kim, Sang-Burm;Kim, Mi-Hyun;Woo, Sang-Chel;Jeong, Yong-Jin
    • Food Science and Preservation
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    • v.14 no.6
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    • pp.617-623
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    • 2007
  • To utilize the non-heat treated alcoholic by-products of brown rice(Goami) as food sources, the quality characteristics change according to the treatment conditions of ${\alpha}-amylase$ were evaluated. It resulted that the increase of hydrolysis temperature correspondingly increased the soluble solids, total dietary fiber and total sugar in the by-products of Goami, and the highest reducing sugar content was observed at $80^{\circ}C$. The free amino acids contents were tended to slowly decrease by the hydrolysis temperature more than $70^{\circ}C$, and the highest content of oligosaccharides were detected at the hydrolysis temperature of $80^{\circ}C$. The soluble solid according to the ${\alpha}-amylase$ concentration resulted to increase with the increase of the enzyme concentration and the total dietary fiber revealed similarly showing approximately 0.65%. The high content of reducing sugars was observed at the enzyme concentration around 0.08%(v/w). Total sugars and oligosaccharides contents tend to increase as the concentration of enzyme increased, and the content of oligosaccharides acquired at the enzyme concentration more than 0.10%(v/w) maintained to show rather similar contents. The soluble solids and total dietary fiber by hydrolysis time were found to show 6.66% and 0.65%, respectively at more than 60 min of hydrolysis, and the reducing sugars and total sugars were found to be 3,600 and 4,800 mg% in all treatment groups showing no significant difference. The content of oligosaccharides was increased with the increase of hydrolysis time, and the content was similar at more than 90 min of hydrolysis by ranging around 2,100 mg%. Based upon these results, the by-products of Goami are expected to be used as various food sources showing the highest dietary fiber and oligosaccharides contents by the hydrolysis at $80^{\circ}C$ for 90 min with the addition of 0.10%(v/w) of ${\alpha}-amylase$.

A Study on the Effects of Brand Individuality of Specialty Coffee Shops on Brand Loyalty (커피 전문점의 브랜드 개성이 브랜드 충성도에 미치는 영향에 관한 연구)

  • Kim, Joon-Seok;Choi, Sung-Hwan
    • Culinary science and hospitality research
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    • v.17 no.1
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    • pp.124-141
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    • 2011
  • The domestic food culture in Korea has gone through great changes, among which dining out is considered most prominent. These changes are caused by a number of factors: development of several related industries, increase in dining out chances, diversification of consumer needs, change in consumption awareness and quality, increase in disposable income, women's advance into the society, etc. Under these circumstances, the fast food industry has been experiencing slow growth, whereas family restaurants and take out coffee franchises are consistently increasing the number of restaurants and shops as a part of aggressive management to increase sales. This study aims, first, to examine the effects of consumer's brand individuality and satisfaction on brand trust, brand emotion, brand identification, and brand loyalty of specialty coffee shops. Subsequently, this study observes how consumer's brand individuality and satisfaction affect the formation of brand trust, brand emotion, brand identification, and brand loyalty in accordance with preferred type of specialty coffee shops, frequency of experience, and life style in order to establish relevant strategies. The results of this study are as follows. First, brand individuality had a positive effect on customer satisfaction. Second, customer satisfaction had a positive effect on brand trust. Third, customer satisfaction had a positive effect on brand loyalty. Fourth, customer satisfaction had a positive effect on brand emotion. Fifth, brand trust had a positive effect on brand loyalty. Sixth, brand emotion had a positive effect on brand loyalty. These results have the following implications. First, the dimensions of brand individuality are presented as a means to form brand loyalty, thereby demonstrating the significance of the effect. Accordingly, developing a proper brand individuality in forming brand loyalty is imperative. Second, consumers using specialty coffee shops had the greatest effect on the relation between dimensions of brand individuality and customer satisfaction in this study, while the interrelation between customer satisfaction and brand loyalty was not concretely supported in the preceding studies.

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Recent Progress in Air-Conditioning and Refrigeration Research: A Review of Papers Published in the Korean Journal of Air-Conditioning and Refrigeration Engineering in 2011 (설비공학 분야의 최근 연구 동향: 2011년 학회지 논문에 대한 종합적 고찰)

  • Han, Hwa-Taik;Lee, Dae-Young;Kim, Seo-Young;Choi, Jong-Min;Paik, Yong-Kyoo;Kim, Su-Min
    • Korean Journal of Air-Conditioning and Refrigeration Engineering
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    • v.24 no.6
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    • pp.521-537
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    • 2012
  • This article reviews the papers published in the Korean Journal of Air-Conditioning and Refrigeration Engineering during 2011. It is intended to understand the status of current research in the areas of heating, cooling, ventilation, sanitation, and indoor environments of buildings and plant facilities. Conclusions are as follows. (1) Research trends of thermal and fluid engineering have been surveyed as groups of fluid machinery and fluid flow, thermodynamic cycle, and new and renewable energy. Various topics were presented in the field of fluid machinery and fluid flow. Research issues mainly focused on the rankine cycle in the field of thermodynamic cycle. In the new and renewable energy area, researches were presented on geothermal energy, fuel cell, biogas, reformer, solar water heating system, and metane hydration. (2) Research works on heat transfer area have been reviewed in the categories of heat transfer characteristics, pool boiling and condensing heat transfer, nanofluids and industrial heat exchangers. Researches on heat transfer characteristics included heat transfer above liquid helium surface in a cryostat, methane hydrate formation, heat and mass transfer in a liquid desiccant dehumidifier, thermoelectric air-cooling system, heat transfer in multiple slot impinging jet, and heat transfer enhancement by protrusion-in-dimples. In the area of pool boiling and condensing heat transfer, researches on pool boiling of water in low-fin and turbo-B surfaces, pool boiling of R245a, convective boiling two-phase flow in trapezoidal microchannels, condensing of FC-72 on pin-finned surfaces, and natural circulation vertical evaporator were actively performed. In the area of nanofluids, thermal characteristics of heat pipes using water-based MWCNT nanofluids and the thermal conductivity and viscosity were measured. In the area of industrial heat exchangers, researches on fin-tube heat exchangers for waste gas heat recovery and Chevron type plate heat exchanger were implemented. (3) Refrigeration systems with alternative refrigerants such as $CO_2$, hydrocarbons, and mixed refrigerants were studied. Heating performance improvement of heat pump systems were tried applying supplementary components such as a refrigerant heater or a solar collector. The effects of frost growth were studied on the operation characteristic of refrigeration systems and the energy performance of various defrost methods were evaluated. The current situation of the domestic cold storage facilities was analyzed and the future demand was predicted. (4) In building mechanical system fields, a variety of studies were conducted to achieve effective consumption of heat and maximize efficiency of heat in buildings. Various researches were performed to maximize performance of mechanical devices and optimize the operation of HVAC systems. (5) In the fields of architectural environment and energy, diverse purposes of studies were conducted such as indoor environment, building energy, and renewable energy. In particular, renewable energy and building energy-related researches have mainly been studied as reflecting the global interests. In addition, various researches have been performed for reducing cooling load in a building using spot exhaust air, natural ventilation and energy efficiency systems.

Studies on Germination Characteristics and Differential Responses to Herbicides in Setaria Spp. (강아지풀 종류별 종자발아특성과 제초반응 차이)

  • Kim, J.S.;Kim, T.J.;Cho, K.Y.
    • Korean Journal of Weed Science
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    • v.16 no.3
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    • pp.187-193
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    • 1996
  • To supply seeds with a good quality as plant materials for herbicide screening and to know whether the germination characteristics could be associated with a differential response to herbicides, germination characteristics and differential responses to herbicides were investigated with 3 species of a genus Setaria ; Yellow foxtail(Setaria glauca P. Beauv, SETGL), Giant foxtail(Setaria faberi Hetrm, SETFA), and Green foxtail(Setaria viridis P. Beauv, SETVI). Degree of dormancy was high in the order of SETGL, SETVI and SETFA. The dormancy of SETGL seed was relatively well removed by room temperature and drying storage, but SETFA and SETVI by low temperature and wetting storage(stratification). For breaking dormancy of SETGL, SETVI and SETFA, it was necessary for being kept under the above storage conditions for at least 2, 4 and 4-5 months, respectively. When the dormancy-breaked seeds were transfered to low temperature($4^{\circ}C$) and drying condition, SETGL showed germination rate of 96% even after 2 month storage. However, SETVI and SETFA showed a decreased germination of 54% and 69%, respectively, with a decreased velocity of germination, indicating that secondary dormancy might be induced. On the other hand, a significant change in germination rate was not observed as the seeds were transfered to room temperature($25^{\circ}C$) and drying condition. The germinability of SETGL seed began to decline from 6th year after storage in room temperature and drying condition. All of 3 species showed relatively high germination rate at alternating temperature of $30^{\circ}C$/$20^{\circ}C$(14hr/10hr) and their germination were not increased by light. All of 3 species exhibited similar responses to cycloxydim, sethoxydim and primisulfuron in greenhouse experiment. In contrast, SETVI and SETFA were relatively susceptible to fenoxapropethyl, SETFA to fluazifop-butyl, SETGL and SETFA to clorimuron-ethyl, and SETGL to EK-2612. The difference in herbicidal response among 3 species was the highest in the treatment of EK-2612. These results suggest that there is no a consistent tendency in responses of 3 species to herbicides which have the same target site. And the relationship between germination characteristics and differential responses to herbicides was not found.

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Effect Assessment and Derivation of Ecological Effect Guideline on CO2-Induced Acidification for Marine Organisms (이산화탄소 증가로 인한 해수 산성화가 해양생물에 미치는 영향평가 및 생태영향기준 도출)

  • Gim, Byeong-Mo;Choi, Tae Seob;Lee, Jung-Suk;Park, Young-Gyu;Kang, Seong-Gil;Jeon, Ei-Chan
    • Journal of the Korean Society for Marine Environment & Energy
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    • v.17 no.2
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    • pp.153-165
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    • 2014
  • Carbon dioxide capture and storage (CCS) technology is recognizing one of method responding the climate change with reduction of carbon dioxide in atmosphere. In Korea, due to its geological characteristics, sub-seabed geological $CO_2$ storage is regarded as more practical approach than on-land storage under the goal of its deployment. However, concerns on potential $CO_2$ leakage and relevant acidification issue in the marine environment can be an important subject in recently increasing sub-seabed geological $CO_2$ storage sites. In the present study effect data from literatures were collected in order to conduct an effect assessment of elevated $CO_2$ levels in marine environments using a species sensitivity distribution (SSD) various marine organisms such as microbe, crustacean, echinoderm, mollusc and fish. Results from literatures using domestic species were compared to those from foreign literatures to evaluate the reliability of the effect levels of each biological group and end-point. Ecological effect guidelines through estimating level of pH variation (${\delta}pH$) to adversely affect 5 and 50% of tested organisms, HC5 and HC50, were determined using SSD of marine organisms exposed to the $CO_2$-induced acidification. Estimated HC5 as ${\delta}pH$ of 0.137 can be used as only interim quality guideline possibly with adequate assessment factor. In the future, the current interim guideline as HC5 of ${\delta}pH$ in this study will look forward to compensate with supplement of ecotoxicological data reflecting various trophic levels and indigenous species.

Evaluation of Cat Brain infarction Model Using MicroPET (마이크로 PET을 이용한 고양이 뇌 경색 모델의 평가)

  • Lee, Jong-Jin;Lee, Dong-Soo;Kim, Yun-Hui;Hwang, Do-Won;Kim, Jin-Su;Lim, Sang-Moo;Chung, June-Key;Lee, Myung-Chul
    • The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine
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    • v.38 no.6
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    • pp.528-531
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    • 2004
  • Purpose: PET has some disadvantage in the imaging of small animal due to poor resolution. With the advent of microPET scanner, it is possible to image small animals. However, the image quality was not good enough as human image. Due to larger brain, cat brain imaging was superior to mouse or rat. In this study, we established the cat brain infarction model and evaluate it and its temporal charge using microPET scanner. Materials and Methods: Two adult male cats were used. Anesthesia was done with xylazine and ketamine HCl. A burr hole was made at 1cm right lateral to the bregma. Collagenase type IV 10 ${\mu}l$ was injected using 30 G needle for 5 minutes to establish the infarction model. $^{18}F$-FDG microPET (Concorde Microsystems Inc., Knoxville, TN) scans were performed 1, 11 and 32 days after the infarction. In addition, $^{18}F$-FDG PET scans were performed using human PET scanner (Gemini, Philips medical systems, CA, USA) 13 and 47 days after the infarction. Results: Two cat brain infarction models were established. The glucose metabolism of an infarction lesion improved with time. An infarction lesion was also distinguishable in the human PET scan. Conclusion: We successfully established the cat brain infarction model and evaluated the infarcted lesion and its temporal change using $^{18}F$-FDG microPET scanner.

A Study on the Fallow of Depopulation Area in Rural Korea - The Case Study of Deoggali, Sangju Gun - (과소농촌지역(過疎農村地域)의 휴경요인(休耕要因)과 유형(類型) - 경북 상주시 사벌면 덕기리의 사례연구 -)

  • Lee, Han-Bang
    • Journal of the Korean association of regional geographers
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    • v.7 no.3
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    • pp.74-90
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    • 2001
  • Serious depopulation has occurred since the rapid economic growth after $1965{\sim}1995$. As a result, nowadays most of mountain villages face difficulty in maintaining and managing their settlement, because of the elderly population and the extremely small size of the settlement. Population change is understood as the origin of depopulation problems and the criterion for the depopulation. This study aims to identify the problems of over-depopulation in rural Korea and to classify the patterns and process of follow and to provide policy alternatives. It consists with the three parts : identifying the problems of over- depopulation, classifying the socio-economic factors of fallow land, analyzing a detailed case study of follow land in over-depopulation rural area-Sangju Gun and to provide policy alternatives. The results are summarizes as follows: 1) In the study area, the amount of fallow and abandoned cultivated land has increased since 1975. With the increased urbanization, the cause of the increase in fallow and abandoned cultivated-land is the labor shortage of quantity and quality. The underlying reasons for the abandonment of farmland are poor field conditions and the lack of rented farmland. 2) The secondary cause is a relative labor shortage through specialization into intensive horticulture. In the study area, specialization into pear requires intensive labor input. It has caused a relative labor shortage. 3) The third causes are landowner and the lack of rented farmland due to labor shortage. The declining of agriculture and forestry have caused out-migration and increased non-residents' landowner. 4) The fallow patterns are devided into two types the less favored farmland fallow type, non-residents' landowner(out-migrator) fallow type. The significant causes of the increase in fallow and abandoned cultivated land are the labor shortage, intensive farming, less favored farmland conditions, non-residents' landowner. The factors which caused the follow processes in Korea are socio-economic factors (labor shortage, intensive farming, less favored farmland conditions) and cultural factor(non-residents' landowner, psychological ties between rural areas and urban areas).

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Characteristics of Aquatic Environment and Algal Bloom in a Small-scaled Agricultural Reservoir (Jundae Reservoir) (소규모 농업용 전대저수지의 수환경 변화와 조류발생 특성)

  • Nam, Gui-Sook;Lee, Eui-Haeng;Kim, Mirinae;Pae, Yo-Sup;Eum, Han-Young
    • Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
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    • v.31 no.4
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    • pp.429-439
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    • 2013
  • This study was conducted to identify the relationship between environmental factors and algal bloom, and provide information for efficient management based on the results of monitoring the environmental parameters and algal diversity in the Jundai reservoir from March 2011 to October 2013. Little change in the weather conditions was observed during the study period except for a slight decrease in rainfall. Concentration of TN and TP in the reservoir exceeded water quality standards for agriculture and significant correlation between algal growth and environmental factors was observed. Phytoplankton in Jundai reservoir included 6 classes, 40 genus, 62 species, and the phytoplankton abundance was in the range of $1.3{\times}10^4{\sim}2.8{\times}10^6$ cells $mL^{-1}$. The annual average of phytoplankton abundance and Chl-a gradually decreased as TN and TP concentrations decreased. Overall Anabaena sp., Oscillatoria sp., and Microcystis sp. were the dominant species in Jundai reservoir. As the water temperature increased, the dominant species were Anabaena sp., Microcystis sp. and Oscillatoria sp., in that order. Anabaena sp. was dominant from spring to early summer with increase in water temperature and pollutant concentrations, and high correlation with environmental factors was observed. Microcystis sp. was dominant depending on changes in the nutrient levels. In the case of Oscillatoria sp., there was no significant correlation between phytoplankton biomess and Chl-a. However, efficient management of water environment and practical control of algal bloom in small scale reservoir polluted by livestock and farm irrigation should be achieved by identification of the relationship between algal growth and environmental factors.

Study of the Influence of a Park Project within Unpleasant Facilities on Residents' Satisfaction in the Community - Targeting Maru Park (Tancheon Sewage Treatment Center) - (혐오시설 공원화에 따른 주민만족도가 커뮤니티 의식에 미치는 영향 연구 - 마루공원(탄천 물 재생센터)을 대상으로 -)

  • Choi, Bong-Soo;Cho, Yeong-Eun;Kang, Eun-Jee;Kim, Yong-Geun
    • Journal of the Korean Institute of Landscape Architecture
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    • v.42 no.6
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    • pp.39-49
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    • 2014
  • Unpleasant facilities have been unwelcomed by residents within the region since they are considered to negatively influence the living conditions of the region. Yet recently, a park project within these unpleasant facility areas has begun to improve the negative impression of the region and the satisfaction of local residents has been shown to be very high. Also a park project within unpleasant facilities is found to have significant influence on the community, including resolving conflicts and building mutual friendships among residents by creating pleasant living conditions and improving the quality of life of local residents. The purpose of this study is to investigate how the park project within unpleasant facilities changes the satisfaction level of local residents and affects the sense of community. In order to do so, surveys were given to visitors of Seoul Maru Park, which was turned into a park from a sewage treatment center. According to the analysis result, after the sewage treatment center was recreated as Maru Park, citizen satisfaction was found to be very high. The sense of community that the visitors feel was found to be high in general, but the 'sense of connection and neighbor bonds' turned out to be lower compared to the 'sense of settlement and belonging.' A regression analysis was performed to determine the relative influence of visitor satisfaction on the sense of community. As a result, in the division of 'sense of settlement and belonging,' the satisfaction with ecological health was affected the most, followed by satisfaction with scenic beauty, whereas satisfaction with cleanness had no influence. In the division of 'sense of connection and neighbor bond,' none of the satisfaction with cleanness, ecological health and scenic beauty showed any influence in the analysis. According to the above result, a park project within unpleasant facilities brings a positive influence on the 'sense of settlement and belonging,' yet in order to improve the 'sense of connection and neighbor bond,' which is not influenced by the project, the adequate facilities and activity programs are considered to be necessary to change the residents' of sense of community.