• KDI Journal of Economic Policy
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.1-31
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• 2008

Various opinions have been suggested to explain the slump in equipment investment, such as increased government regulations, shareholder-oriented management by expanded foreign equity investment, response against M&A threats, conservative investment trends seen after a series of bankruptcy of large conglomerates (amidst crumbling myth of "Too Big to Fail"), and financial restructuring. Some also argued that the increased uncertainty in business environment is mainly responsible for conservative management, though there are few domestic studies made regarding the situation. But, in other countries, including the U.S., studies have shown that more volatility is seen now surrounding stock prices, profitability, and sales growth rate reflecting business performance. Also, there are other studies showing such expanded volatility have led to conservative management by businesses. In this regard, this study reviews the volatility conditions of business performance of Korean companies based on profitability, and then attempts to analyze the impact on investment brought on by increased volatility. Each company's profitability volatility used here is from the standard deviation of companies for the past five years. As a profitability indicator, the ROA (= operating profit/total asset) is used. According to the analysis, profitability volatility has remarkably increased from the mid 3% in 1994 to low 5% in 2005. Profitability volatility of the Korean companies has expanded to a great extent since the financial crisis. The crisis might have served to raise the volatility in the macroeconomic conditions. If increased volatility observed during the economic crisis had gradually declined after the crisis, the situation could be interpreted as a temporary phenomenon, not to be too concerned over. But, this was not the case for Korea. The volatility level, after the crisis, has not dropped back to its pre-crisis level. Hence, in the Korea's case, high volatility cannot be explained by the impact of financial crisis. Not only that, the fact that such expansion is seen in every industrial sector indicates that this phenomenon cannot be explained by the composition change of industries alone. An undergoing study shows that with a rapid spread of globalization, industries fiercely competing with China experience more volatility. Such increased volatility tends to contract investment, and since the crisis the impact of volatility on investment has slightly increased. It is noteworthy that this study only includes a part of 'uncertainty' that could be measured statistically. For instance, the profitability volatility indicator used in this study is unable to reflect all the effects that the tacit reduction of protection by the government or regulations might have made. So, the result here also indicates that other 'uncertain' factors not mentioned in this study may have served to contract investment sentiment. It would be impossible for policies to completely remove uncertainties measured by profitability volatility, but at least it is necessary to put effort to reduce the macroeconomic volatility in the future economic management. Stabilized macroeconomic management may not be enough to diminish all volatility that occurs within each company, but it would make a meaningful contribution in encouraging investment.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.85-98
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• 2013

In order to propose effective conservation management plan, this study verified ecological characteristics, humanities and Social characteristics. The research site is private property which is owned belonging to the Kim's of Gimhae that have long history. The study site is more than a thousand years old and was created for protecting from typhoon. There held the religious ritual what is called Dongsinje until 1960s. There have been protected and managed by the villagers. As the results of analysis, the area of windbreak are $12,392.69m^2$. The windbreak is dominated old years deciduous broad-leaved tree such as Zelkova serrata, Celtis sinensis, Aphananthe aspera. Around there were farmlands(52.1%), urbanized area(26.3%), forest area(16.6%). The vegetation communities of windbreak were classified by considering the dominant species and current status of forest. The forest types are following as; A. aspera community(I) which is using less pressure, Platycarya strobilacea-Carpinus coreana-Z. serrata community(II). Z. serrata community(III) which is using high pressure, Z. serrata-A. aspera community(IV), Z. serrata community(V) which is damaged under canopy trees. The windbreak was in good condition whereas, there were concerns the some wrong status was being undermined such as the wrong forest restoration projects in the past, the trails that is penetrating inside the forest, building up education facilities. Therefore, in order to restore the value of windbreak what is so called Suwol forest, we should improve the problems of forest ecosystem such as wrong management, forest fragmentation by facilities and decline in forest by lack of growing the next generation trees. In addition, we should remove excessive resting facilities and lead to passive use of forest. to improve the way of wrong management, moreover, we should close off he trails that is penetrating inside the forest for improving fragmentation. We should restore vegetation restoration and fostering the next generation trees for forest ecosystem. In order to restore unique of histo-cultural and ecological forest landscape, the next generation trees should be grown up that is the dominant species in Suwol forest. Moreover, as a results of comparing the between good vegetation communities and damaged vegetation communities, it is necessary to complementary planting for demeged vegetation communities, therefore there needs to 10.8 under canopy trees, 79.7 shrubs.

• Journal of Korean society of Dental Hygiene
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.125-139
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• 2009

Objective : This study was performed in order to provide basic data for halitosis prevention and establish a device to efficiently eliminate halitosis and to analyze the factors that affect the halitosis. Methods : Oral examination on the Gingival index, CPITN, Tongue Plaque index, and OHI-S as well as halitosis measurement among 293 rural residents. Results : Gingival index was high at mild on female and at moderate on male(p=0.025). Sorting the result by age, mild was 54.1% in the 40s, and moderate was 49.5%, 42.0% and 70.0% each in the 50s, 60s, and the 70s(p=0.005). The need for dental plaque management was 100%. The need for scaling was high with 78.3%, 93.0%, 89.9%, and 90.0% each for the 40s, 50s, 60s, and 70s. The need for complex periodontal treatment was also high with 32.4%, 47.5%, 48.7% and 60.0%, each for the 40s, 50s, 60s, and 70s(p=0.050). The highest bad condition for OHI-S was 69.5%, and good being 18.9%, and very bad being 11.6%. For moderate tongue plaque index was 74.4% as the highest. As the level of education increased, the slight tongue plague was increased, but in contrast, the moderate and higher tongue plague index was decreased(p=0.010). OG under 50ppm was 61.1% on male and OG over 50ppm was 50.9% on female(p=0.041). In OG over 50ppm, CPITN was 52.1% and 41.9% in scaling and complex periodontal treatment group(p=0.018). OHI-S, in bad and very bad condition with OG, over 50ppm, was 48.7% and 46.9%(p=0.019). The higher tongue plague index showed significant amount of increase at OG and EG above 50ppm(p=0.006). $NH_3$, as the tongue plaque index increased, the wider range of distribution was shown(p=0.000). As for the multiple regression analysis result, there have been selected females and tongue plaque index as factors affecting OG. There have been selected age and tongue plaque index as factors affecting EG and there have been selected females as factors affecting on $NH_3$. Conclusions : With the aforementioned results in mind, the status of halitosis among rural residents is considered to bare a close relation with oral environments. we have to focus on correct tooth brushing methods and tongue brushing, with using tongue cleaner to remove fur of tongue plaque. Also, in order to analyze exactly the factors of individual halitosis, we need continuous and systematic study.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.42 no.4
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• pp.390-397
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• 2010

Residual solvents in foods are defined as organic volatile chemicals used or produced in manufacturing of extracts or additives, or functional foods. The solvents are not completely eliminated by practical manufacturing techniques and they also may become contaminated by solvents from packing, transportation or storage in warehouses. Because residual solvents have no nutritional value but may be hazardous to human health, there is a need to remove them from the final products or reduce their amounts to below acceptable levels. The purpose of this study was to develop and evaluate an analytical method for the screening of residual solvents in health functional foods. Furthermore, the aim of this study was to constitute a reasonable management system based on the current state of the market and case studies of foreign countries. Eleven volatile solvents such as MeOH, EtOH, trichloroethylene and hexane were separated depending on their column properties, temp. and time using Gas Chromatography (GC). After determining the GC conditions, a sample preparation method using HSS (Head Space Sampling) was developed. From the results, a method for analyzing residual solvents in health functional foods was developed considering matrix effect and interference from the sample obtained from the solution of solvents-free health functional foods spiked with 11 standards solutions. Validation test using the developed GC/HSS/MS (Mass Spectrometry) method was followed by tests for precision, accuracy, recovery, linearity and adequate sensitivity. Finally, examination of 104 samples grouped in suits was performed by the developed HSS/GC/MS for screening the solvents. The 11 solvents were isolated from health functional foods based on vapor pressure difference, and followed by separation within 15 minutes in a single run. The limt of detection (LOD), limit of quantification (LOQ), recovery and coefficient of variation (C.V.) of these compounds determined by the HSS/GC/MS were found to be 0.1 pg/mL, 0.1-125 pg/g, 51.0-104.6%, and less than 15%, respectively. Using the developed HSS/GC/MS method, residual solvent from 16 out of 104 health functional products were detected as a EtOH. This method therefore seems t o be a valuable extension ofanalytical method for the identification of residual solvents in health functional food.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.382-392
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• 2018

Objective: Allergic diseases such as asthma due to fungal exposure in houses have increased, and proper management is urgent. Mold can grow in the air, floor, walls, and other areas according to environmental conditions, and there are many limitations to the conventional methodology for examining fungal exposure. For this reason, the degree of fungal contamination is being evaluated by ERMI (Environmental Relative Moldiness Index), a quantitative analysis method proposed by the EPA. In this study, we compared ERMI values between water-damaged dwellings and non-damaged ones to evaluate the effectiveness of Korean ERMI values. We also explored the association of ERMI values with the level of airborne mold and characteristics of dwellings. Methods: Floor dust was collected after installing a Dustream collector on the suction port of a vacuum cleaner. The collected samples were filtered to remove only 5 mg of dust, and DNA was extracted using the FastDNA SPIN KIT protocol. Results: The ERMI values were found to be 19.6 (-6.9-58.8) for flooded houses, 7.5 (-29.2-48.3) for leaks/condensation, and 0.8 (-29.2-37.9) for non-damaged dwellings. The airborne concentration of mold for flooded, leakage or condensed, and non-damaged houses were $684CFU/m^3$, $566CFU/m^3$, and $378CFU/m^3$, respectively. The correlation between ERMI values and the levels of airborne mold was low (R = 0.038), but a weakly significant association of the ERMI values with the concentration of particulate matter ($PM_{10}$) was observed as well(R=0.231,P<0.05). Conclusions: Our findings show that the reference value using ERMI can be used to distinguish water-damaged and non-damaged dwellings. It is believed that ERMI values could be a promising tool for assessing long-term fungal exposure in dwellings.

• Journal of Korean society of Dental Hygiene
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• v.3 no.2
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• pp.209-220
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• 2003

The purpose of this study was to examine how clients who visited dental institutions perceived client services, what sorts of client services were provided to them and to what extent they were satisfied with them. It's ultimately meant to seek ways to enhance and enlarge client services. A survey was conducted on 379 residents who used dental institutions in Seoul and Gyeonggi provinces, and the findings of this study were as follows: 1. 64.6 percent of the people investigated weren't aware of client services, and 33.0 percent viewed them as part of medical services. 77.5 percent had grievances about dental institutions they'd ever used. 2. The biggest complaint was that the dental treatments they received weren't covered by the dental insurance. As for how to solve their grievances, the largest group of them told the employees of the dental institutions about their complaints or didn't use them again. When asked whether the dental institutions took any steps to get rid of their grievances, the greatest group replied they had no idea. and the second largest group answered they took no measure. 3. By age and educational level, those who were in their 60s and up and stopped at elementary school were best cognizant of client services. Among client service variables, they were most satisfied with how the employees handled their complaints, and as to overall satisfaction, their willingness to revisit ranked highest. 4. Concerning connections among client service awareness, service variables and overall satisfaction level, their awareness of client services had a positive correlational relationship with every service variable and satisfaction level. Among the service variables, prompt client services and employee attitude were positively correlated to overall satisfaction level, but service procedure, facilities and information services exercised little impact on that. 5. As for what factors affected their content with client services, their client service awareness was identified as one of the important factors to influence their use of dental institutions, the outcome of their visit and their willingness to revisit. The above-mentioned findings suggested that dental institutions should strengthen publicity activities to inform people of client services, and encourage them to express their grievances. In addition, they should take an immediate action to remove their complaints, and try to get a successful feedback to offer higher-quality medical services and customer-oriented services.

• The Korean Journal of Health Service Management
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• v.2 no.1
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• pp.37-55
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• 2008

This study aims to enhance work efficiency and satisfaction by offering data that make a physical therapist cope with stress coming from the job efficiently by identifying and analyzing the job satisfaction and work stress perceived by a physical therapist, and the level of reaction of a physical therapist. The study distributed survey questionnaires to 300 physical therapists working in medical institutions in Busan via mail and by visit from March 3, 2007 by selecting them simply and randomly from the physical therapist list, and collected the questionnaires by March 20, 2007, 103 respondents were working at 17 general hospitals including a university hospital, 65 respondents at 12 medical centers, and 79 respondents at 39 doctor's offices. The study collected 251 copies, which showed the collection rate of 83.7%, and analyzed 247 copies (82.3%) excluding 4 copies of insincere answers. As a research tool for measuring job satisfaction the study used a tool employed for research into the job satisfaction of physical therapists who work at medical institutions in Gwangju, Jeonnam, and Jeonbuk by Kim Hee-Gwon(1992) and research regarding job satisfaction by Jeong Jeong-Hee(2004) as well as research regarding the factors of job satisfaction by Flippo(1980) & Seberhagen(1970) after adjusting the research tools to the purpose of the study. Also for questions about work stress, the study employed nurses' job stress measurement tool developed by Kim Mae-Ja and em Mi-Ok(1984) by modifying the tool to the purpose of the study, and for a measurement tool for reaction to stress, the study used a tool employed for research into reaction to stress of nurses at general hospitals by Choi Eun-Deok(2005) without modification. For data analysis, the study used the SPSS12.0 as a statistical method, and then used t-test or ANOVA for verifying actual numbers, percentile, average :score, standard deviation, rank, and difference. Also, the study conducted which is a post-test method for variables that show a significant difference at the level of p<.05 level after the analysis. The findings include the following. 1) The respondents' job satisfaction score was 3.21 points on the average (out of 5 full points). The peer relationship ranked the highest, posting 4.02 points on the average, and the job satisfaction with rewards was proven the lowest, posting 2.51 points. For the job satisfaction level by characteristics, there were significant differences (p<.05) in gender, hospital type, weekly working hours, monthly working days, number of patients per day, department in charge of therapy, and number of peers, and there was no significant difference in characteristics other than that. 2) The respondents' work stress score was 2.72 points (out of 5 full points) on the average. The respondents were shown to be under the highest stress when they suffered from excessive workload, posting 3.49 points on the average, and they were shown to be under the least stress when they had a conflict with peers at another department, recording 1.90 points on the average. for the job stress level by the characteristics of job, there was a significant difference in the reflection of job assessment(p<.05). 3) 1n respondents' reaction to stress, most of them were shown to make efforts in coping with stress, posting 2.80 points (out of 5 full points). For their experience of being wider stress, they answered that 'they felt depressed (2.85 points)" for their experience of coping with stress, they answered that 'they were indifferent to it or thought about something else' (2.62 points). Also, for their efforts in coping with stress, they answered that 'they were motivated to remove their strain by taking leave, playing, or using their preferences' (3.52 points), which ranked higher. For the level of reaction to stress by characteristics, there were significant differences by age, gender, marital status, total service years as a physical therapist, monthly working days, and department in charge of therapy(p<.05). It is necessary to offer correct information by conducting an in-depth analysis of the stressful situations of physical therapists who exert efforts in rehabilitating patients at hospitals by factor, and seeking management plans based on the research results. Also, it is necessary to develop a program for coping with stress efficiently for removing stress and to conduct research into the understanding and cooperation of administrators and persons in charge of physical therapists for reducing physical therapists' stress at hospitals.

• Journal of Environmental Policy
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• v.3 no.2
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• pp.113-137
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• 2004

The objective of this study is to introduce the definitions and classification methods of wastes in international agreements and legislations, examine the concept of wastes and their classification systems in Korea, and finally analyze and compare the concept of wastes in different countries for finding better solutions and suggestions. The study summarizes the concept of wastes as introduced in the Basel Convention, OECD, EU, US, and UK. First, each of the member countries adapt to the same concepts of wastes as defined in their international agreements; second, the intention of the wastes holder and the conditions of the wastes are considered at the same time when defining the concepts. Upon close examination of the classification of wastes systems as introduced in the Basel Convention, OECD, EU, US, and UK, the wastes are classified into toxic and non-toxic wastes according to the existence of poisonous substances. Therefore, it is classified as a toxic waste when any toxic substance on its list is included in the waste, while others are considered as a non-toxic waste if they don't contain poisonous substances. Secondly, in the UK, the matter of toxic or non-toxic wastes are classified, not according to the existence of the poisonous substances, but based on the generation of sources. In Korea, the concepts of wastes are divided into the two categories - a concept as defined in actual legislations and a concept in its translation. The Korean classification of the wastes include Wastes Management Act, amended in 1995, which stipulates that toxic substances should be managed in a special way as the designated wastes. It appears that the Act utilizes the classification method that classifies the wastes according to the existence of poisonous substance. Korea's concepts of wastes should be changed after recognition of the concepts in international agreement (Basel Convention, EU) and other foreign laws(US, UK) that consider subjective and objective standards at the same time when they define the concepts. Also, the development of technology in recycling and reuse of the wastes can remove the current absolute notion of the wastes so that it also should not be passed over. Also, because a classification structure of wastes has a close relationship with a disposal structure, its classification system should be fixed gradually to come up with the development of wastes disposal technology and its policy.

• Journal of Korean Society of Water and Wastewater
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.13-25
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• 2007

The water treatment plants in Seoul Metropolitan Area, which are under Korea Water Resources Corporation(KOWACO)'s management, take water from Paldang Reservoir in Han River System for drinking water supply. There are taste and odor (T&O) problems in the finished water because the conventional treatment processes do not effectively remove the T&O compounds. As part of countermeasures for taste and odor control, KOWACO is planning to introduce advanced water treatment process such as ozone and GAC in near future. This study evaluated the removal characteristics of T&O and dissolved organic matter (DOM) to find design and operation parameters of advanced water treatment processes in a pilot-scale treatment plant. The GAC adsorption capacity for DOC in the two GAC system (GAC and $O_3$-GAC) at an EBCT of 14min was mostly exhausted after 9months. The differency of the removal efficiency of DOC between $O_3$-GAC and GAC increased with increasing operation time because the bioactivity in $O_3$-GAC process was enhanced by post-ozone process. Removal by conventional treatment was unable to reach the target TON(threshold odor number) of 3 but GAC systems at an EBCT(empty bed contact time) of 14 min were able to archive the target with few exception. During the high T&O episodes, PAC as a pretreatment together with GAC could be useful option for T&O control. However, substantial TON removal continued for more than two year (> 90,000 bed volumes). At the spiking of less concentration 26 to 61 ng/L in the influent of GAC systems, GAC absorber and $O_3$-GAC processes could meet the treatment target. The better spike control after 12 and 19 months of operation compared to that after 7 months of operation is a strong indication of biological control. The results presented in this study had shown that $O_3$-GAC process was found to be more effective for T&O control than GAC process. And the main removal mechanism in GAC systems were adsorption capacity and biodegradation.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.38 no.2 s.247
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• pp.146-151
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• 2005

Background: Preoperative elevated serum creatinine values are associated with increased risk for both morbidity and mortality in patients undergoing on-pump coronary artery bypass surgery (CABG). We investigated the postoperative changes of renal function and proper management in the patients. Material and Method: Among 74 consecutive patients who underwent isolated on-pump CABG, 17 patients with increased serum creatinine level $(creatinine\;\geqq\;1.5\;mg/dL)$ within preoperative one week wereincluded in the study. Seven patients showed pre­operative serum creatinine level of 2.0 mg/dL or higher, and 3 of them had been undergoing hemodialysis. Preoperative hemodialysis was performed in the 3 patients due to end-stage renal failure (ESRD) the day before the operation. We started peritoneal dialysis immediately after the cardiopulmonary bypass in patients with ESRD or postoperative acute renal failure if it was necessary to remove intravascular volume and lower serum creatinine level. Result In most of the patients with CABG, postoperative serum creatinine level increased and recovered to the preoperative level at the discharge. In 2 of the 4 patients with serum creatinine level of 2.0 mg/dL or higher and 3 patients with ESRD, intravascular volume, serum creatinine level and serum electrolyte were controlled with peritoneal dialysis. Conclusion: Postoperative serum creatinine level increased transiently in most of CABG patients, and intravascular volume and serum creatinine level were controlled by peritoneal dialysis only in the patients with acute renal failure postoperatively and those depending on hemodialysis.