• Title/Summary/Keyword: stable population

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Factors Related to Serum Level of Carbohydrate Antigen 19-9 and Cancer Antigen 125 in Healthy Rural Populations in Korea (일부 농촌지역 주민에서 혈청 CA19-9 및 CA125 농도에 영향을 미치는 인자에 관한 연구)

  • Lee, SK;Yoo, KY;Park, SK;Kang, DH;Kim, JQ;Chung, JK;Lee, MC
    • The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine
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    • v.32 no.1
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    • pp.71-80
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    • 1998
  • This study examines the levels of carbohydrate antigen 19-9(CA19-9) and cancer antigen 125(CA125) in serum and its related factors in healthy Korean population. Although CA19-9 and CA125 have been widely used tumor markers for gastroenteric cancers and ovarian cancer in Western countries, there are no information available on the serum levels of CA19-9 and CA125 in healthy population and the factors affecting the levels of these tumor markers in Korea. A cross-sectional study was performed to measure CA19-9 and CA125 among 76 healthy males and 95 healthy females in Korea. CA19-9 and CA125 were quantitated using solid-phase radioimmunoassay kits. Informations on the factors which might be related to the levels of these markers were collected by questionnaire(e.g., smoking, alcohol consumption, menstruation, oral pill use, breast-feeding history, etc.). There was no statistically significant difference in the mean of CA19-9 concentration between men(10.4 u/ml) and women(10.1 u/ml), whereas the mean of CA125 levels(11.2 u/ml) was higher in women than that(2.5 u/ml) in men. Although there was a statistically significant association between CA19-9 and average number of cigarette consumed per day(r=0.59, p=0.026) and total number of cigarettes consumed in women(r=0.74, p=0.003), the significance disappeared by multiple regression analysis after adjusting age and body mass index. Later age of menopause(p=0.035) and longer duration of breast-feeding(p=0.050) were significant predictors for CA125 levels in women by multiple regression analysis after adjusting age and body mass index. In conclusion, CA19-9 can be used as a stable tumor marker in clinical practices, however, menstruation and breast-feeding should be considered when CA125 is used in women.

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Problems in the Korean National Family Planning Program (한국가족계획사업(韓國家族計劃事業)의 문제점(問題點))

  • Hong, Jong-Kwan
    • Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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    • v.2 no.2
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    • pp.27-36
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    • 1975
  • The success of the family planning program in Korea is reflected in the decrease in the growth rate from 3.0% in 1962 to 2.0% in 1971, and in the decrease in the fertility rate from 43/1,000 in 1960 to 29/1,000 in 1970. However, it would be erroneous to attribute these reductions entirely to the family planning program. Other socio-economic factors, such as the increasing age at marriage and the increasing use of induced abortions, definitely had an impact on the lowered growth and fertility rate. Despite the relative success of the program to data in meeting its goals, there is no room for complacency. Meeting the goal of a further reduction in the population growth rate to 1.3% by 1981 is a much more difficult task than any one faced in the past. Not only must fertility be lowered further, but the size of the target population itself will expand tremendously in the late seventies; due to the post-war baby boom of the 1950's reaching reproductive ages. Furthermore, it is doubtful that the age at marriage will continue to rise as in the past or that the incidence of induced abortion will continue to increase. Consequently, future reductions in fertility will be more dependent on the performance of the national family planning program, with less assistance from these non-program factors. This paper will describe various approaches to help to the solution of these current problems. 1. PRACTICE RATE IN FAMILY PLANNING In 1973, the attitude (approval) and knowledge rates were quite high; 94% and 98% respectively. But a large gap exists between that and the actual practice rate, which is only 3695. Two factors must be considered in attempting to close the KAP-gap. The first is to change social norms, which still favor a larger family, increasing the practice rate cannot be done very quickly. The second point to consider is that the family planning program has not yet reached all the eligible women. A 1973 study determineded that a large portion, 3096 in fact, of all eligible women do not want more children, but are not practicing family planning. Thus, future efforts to help close the KAP-gap must focus attention and services on this important large group of potential acceptors. 2. CONTINUATION RATES Dissatisfaction with the loop and pill has resulted in high discontinuation rates. For example, a 1973 survey revealed that within the first six months initial loop acceptance. nearly 50% were dropouts, and that within the first four months of inital pill acceptance. nearly 50% were dropouts. These discontinuation rates have risen over the past few years. The high rate of discontinuance obviously decreases the contraceptive effectiveness. and has resulted in many unwanted births which is directly related to the increase of induced abortions. In the future, the family planning program must emphasize the improved quality of initial and follow-up services. rather than more quantity, in order to insure higher continuation rates and thus more effective contraceptive protection. 3. INDUCED ABORTION As noted earlier. the use of induced abortions has been increase yearly. For example, in 1960, the average number of abortions was 0.6 abortions per women in the 15-44 age range. By 1970. that had increased to 2 abortions per women. In 1966. 13% of all women between 15-44 had experienced at least one abortion. By 1971, that figure jumped to 28%. In 1973 alone, the total number of abortions was 400,000. Besides the ever incre.sing number of induced abortions, another change has that those who use abortions have shifted since 1965 to include- not. only the middle class, but also rural and low-income women. In the future. in response to the demand for abortion services among rural and low-income w~men, the government must provide and support abortion services for these women as a part of the national family planning program. 4. TARGET SYSTIi:M Since 1962, the nationwide target system has been used to set a target for each method, and the target number of acceptors is then apportioned out to various sub-areas according to the number of eligible couples in each area. Because these targets are set without consideration for demographic factors, particular tastes, prejudices, and previous patterns of acceptance in the area, a high discontinuation rate for all methods and a high wastage rate for the oral pill and condom results. In the future. to alleviate these problems of the methodbased target system. an alternative. such as the weighted-credit system, should be adopted on a nation wide basis. In this system. each contraceptive method is. assigned a specific number of points based upon the couple-years of protection (CYP) provided by the method. and no specific targets for each method are given. 5. INCREASE OF STERILIZA.TION TARGET Two special projects. the hospital-based family planning program and the armed forces program, has greatly contributed to the increasing acceptance in female and male sterilization respectively. From January-September 1974, 28,773 sterilizations were performed. During the same time in 1975, 46,894 were performed; a 63% increase. If this trend continues, by the end of 1975. approximately 70,000 sterilizations will have been performed. Sterilization is a much better method than both the loop and pill, in terms of more effective contraceptive protection and the almost zero dropout rate. In the future, the. family planning program should continue to stress the special programs which make more sterilizations possible. In particular, it should seek to add the laparoscope techniques to facilitate female sterilization acceptance rates. 6. INCREASE NUMBER OF PRIVATE ACCEPTORS Among the current family planning users, approximately 1/3 are in the private sector and thus do not- require government subsidy. The number of private acceptors increases with increasing urbanization and economic growth. To speed this process, the government initiated the special hospital based family planning program which is utilized mostly by the private sector. However, in the future, to further hasten the increase of private acceptors, the government should encourage doctors in private practice to provide family planning services, and provide the contraceptive supplies. This way, those do utilize the private medical system will also be able to receive family planning services and pay for it. Another means of increasing the number of private acceptors, IS to greatly expand the commercial outlets for pills and condoms beyond the existing service points of drugstores, hospitals, and health centers. 7. IE&C PROGRAM The current preferred family size is nearly twice as high as needed to achieve a stable poplation. Also, a strong boy preference hinders a small family size as nearly all couples fuel they must have at least one or more sons. The IE&C program must, in the future, strive to emphasize the values of the small family and equality of the sexes. A second problem for the IE&C program to work. with in the: future is the large group of people who approves family planning, want no more children, but do not practice. The IE&C program must work to motivate these people to accept family planning And finally, for those who already practice, an IE&C program in the future must stress continuation of use. The IE&C campaign, to insure highest effectiveness, should be based on a detailed factor analysis of contraceptive discontinuance. In conclusion, Korea faces a serious unfavorable sociodemographic situation- in the future unless the population growth rate can be curtailed. And in the future, the decrease in fertility will depend solely on the family planning program, as the effect of other socio-economic factors has already been maximumally felt. A second serious factor to consider is the increasing number of eligible women due to the 1950's baby boom. Thus, to meet these challenges, the program target must be increased and the program must improve the effectiveness of its current activities and develop new programs.

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Elevated C-reactive Protein Levels are a Sign of Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension in AECOPD (만성 폐쇄성 폐질환 급성 악화 시 C-반응단백과 폐동맥 고혈압의 관계)

  • Kim, So Ri;Choe, Yeong Hun;Lee, Ka Young;Min, Kyung Hoon;Park, Seoung Ju;Lee, Heung Bum;Lee, Yong Chul;Rhee, Yang Keun
    • Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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    • v.64 no.2
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    • pp.125-132
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    • 2008
  • Background: In chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients, the serum levels of C-reactive protein (CRP) are elevated and an increase of CRP is more exaggerated in the acute exacerbation form of COPD (AECOPD) than in stable COPD. Pulmonary arterial hypertension is a common complication of COPD. An increased level of CRP is known to be associated with the risk of systemic cardio-vascular disorders. However, few findings are available on the potential role of CRP in pulmonary arterial hypertension due to COPD. Methods: This study was performed prospectively and the study population was composed of 72 patients that were hospitalized due to AECOPD. After receiving acute management for AECOPD, serum CRP levels were evaluated, arterial oxygen pressure ($PaO_2$), was measured, and the existence of pulmonary arterial hypertension under room air inhalation was determined in the patients. Results: The number of patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension was 47 (65.3%)., There was an increased prevalence of pulmonary arterial hypertension and an increase of serum CRP levels in patients with the higher stages of COPD (e.g., patients with stage 3 and stage 4 disease; P<0.05). The mean serum CRP levels of patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension and without pulmonary arterial hypertension were $37.6{\pm}7.4mg/L$ and $19.9{\pm}6.6mg/L$, respectively (P<0.05). However, there was no significant difference of the mean values of $PaO_2$ between patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension and without pulmonary arterial hypertension statistically ($77.8{\pm}3.6mmHg$ versus $87.2{\pm}6.0mmHg). Conclusion: We conclude that higher serum levels of CRP can be a sign for pulmonary arterial hypertension in AECOPD patients.

The Effect of Habitat Size on Huanren Brown Frog (Rana huanrensis) Larvae's Growth Rate in Mt. Surak (수락산에 서식하는 계곡산개구리(Rana huanrensis Fei, Ye & Huang, 1991) 유생의 서식지 면적에 따른 생장률 연구)

  • Na, Sumi;Um, Yewon;Kim, Hyun-jung;An, Chi-Kyung;Yi, Hoonbok
    • Ecology and Resilient Infrastructure
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    • v.4 no.2
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    • pp.75-82
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    • 2017
  • This study was executed to know the effect of the habitat size on huanren brown frog (Rana huanrensis) larvae's growth. We've conducted the study on Mt. Surak in Sanggye-dong, Nowon-gu, Seoul. Our study site was discriminated the huanren brown frog larvae's habitat into the three different areas, such as small area (S1, $3.91m^2$), middle area (S2, $4.42m^2$), and large area (S3, $38.37m^2$) in the same water channel. We measured two times per a week the 15 huanren brown frog larvae's body length, and developmental stages (foreleg, hind leg, tail length) including the environmental factors (humidity, air temperature and water temperature) of the study site from March 30 to June 28 in 2016. The only hatching rate was measured for the three egg sacs at the S2 study site. We found that the average hatching rate was $76.84{\pm}18.23(%)$ at S2. Generally, because of less precipitation during our study periods, all habitat areas for our study site were gradually decreased. The middle area, S2, was not reduced, the small area, S1, was reduced more than a fourth, and the largest area, S3, was drastically reduced more than half from initial area. There was no statistically difference among the three study sites for the three environmental factors (average humidity, average air temperature, and average water temperature) by F-test, but there were significant difference among the three site for the larvae's body length (F-test p< 0.05). Therefore, the larger of habitat areas, the larger of the larvae length as well as the faster of the larvae's developmental stages. When we measured the body lengths of immature huanren brown frogs, the immature frog of S1 was smallest, the immature frog of S3 was middle lenght, and the immature frog of S2 was largest. There were statistically different among the three study sites for the immature huanren brown frogs (F-test, p< 0.05). Because the S2 study site was relatively stable without rarely changing the study area, it meant that huanren brown frog was sensitive to habitat areas. Based on the results of this study, if we study on the effect of the altitude on the growth rate of huanren brown frog, it must be helpful in understanding the habitat environment of the population of huanren brown frog.

Characterization of Entomopathogenic Fungus from Trialeurodes vaporariorum and Evaluation as Insecticide (온실가루이 병원성 곰팡이의 특성 및 살충제 개발을 위한 평가)

  • Yoon, Hwi Gun;Shin, Tae Young;Yu, Mi Ra;Lee, Won Woo;Ko, Seung Hyun;Bae, Sung Min;Choi, Jae Bang;Woo, Soo Dong
    • Korean Journal of Microbiology
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    • v.49 no.1
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    • pp.64-70
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    • 2013
  • The greenhouse whitefly, Trialeurodes vaporariorum, is an economically important pest for greenhouse crops because they cause direct damage by feeding on plant nutrients and indirect damage as transmits many virus vectors. It has recently become a serious problem because of the continuous use of insecticide resulting in resistance among greenhouse whitefly population. To overcome these problems, in this study, the biological characteristics and virulence of an entomopathogenic fungus isolated from the cadaver of nymph greenhouse whitefly were investigated. Isolated fungus was identified as Isaria fumosorosea by morphological examinations and genetic identification using sequences of the ITS, ${\beta}$-tubulin, and EF1-${\alpha}$ regions. This fungus was named as I. fumosorosea SDTv and tested for the virulence against nymphs T. vaporariorum and the cold activity, the thermotolerance and the stability of UV-B irradiation on conidia. Mortality rate of greenhouse whitefly showed from 84 to 100% and the virulence increased with increasing conidial concentrations, $1{\times}10^5$ to $10^8$ conidia/ml. Conidia were stable at $35^{\circ}C$, 0.1 $J/cm^2$ of UV irradiation and germinated after 8 days at $4^{\circ}C$. Additionally, the activities of chitinases and proteases produced by I. fumosorosea SDTv were varied according to the medium. In conclusion, I. fumosorosea SDTv which showed high mortality rate against greenhouse whitefly will be used effectively in the integrated pest management programs against the greenhouse whitefly.

Change in Fertilizer Characteristics during Fermenting Process of Organic Fertilizer and Effect on Lettuce Growth (혼합발효 유기질비료의 제조과정 중 비료 특성 변화 및 상추 생육에 미치는 영향)

  • An, Nan-Hee;Lee, Sang-min;Oh, Eun-mi;Lee, Cho-Rong;Gong, Min-Jae
    • Journal of the Korea Organic Resources Recycling Association
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    • v.28 no.3
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    • pp.27-36
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    • 2020
  • This study investigates the changes in inorganic composition and the microbial counts during the process of fermentation of mixed domestic organic resources for the development of alternatives for imported oil cake, and examines the characteristics of mixed fermentation organic fertilizer (MFOF). The effect of the MFOF on the lettuce growth is investigated in order to evaluate the possibility of replacing the existing mixed oil cake with the MFOF. Six kinds of domestic by-product resources, which are rice bran, distiller's dried grains, sesame meal, fish meal, and spent mushroom substrate, are mixed by mixing ratio and the composition was analyzed during the fermentation process for 90 days under moisture content 30% and sealed condition. During the 90 days of fermentation, the pH change of the MFOF was little, and the moisture content was maintained at 34-35% until the 60th day of fermentation, and then decreased to 30-31% on the 90th day. Total nitrogen content remained unchanged during the fermentation period, but total carbon content showed a significant difference on the 21st day of fermentation. It was confirmed that the content of fertilizer composition (nitrogen, phosphate, and potash) of the MFOF was 8.7% or more, which is suitable for the minimum amount standard of the main nutrients to be contained in the organic fertilizer. During the fermentation process of organic fertilizer, the density of bacteria and actinomycetes increased until 60 days and 30 days, respectively, and thereafter little changes were shown, and fungal population showed an increasing trend. As a result of lettuce cultivation test in the greenhouse by applying the MFOF, the growth and yield were comparable to that of using the existing mixed oil cake fertilizer when 100% was applied based on crop standard nitrogen fertilizer level. The use of mixed fermentation organic fertilizer made with domestic by-product resources can be used for use in farms in the future and is expected to contribute to the stable production of environment friendly agricultural products.

Effects of Storage Temperature on the Survival of Vibrio mimicus K-1 in Seawater and Arkshell (해수와 피조개에서 Vibrio mimicus K-1의 생존에 대한 보관온도의 영향)

  • KOH Byeong-Ho;LEE Won-Dong;ANN Sung-Kee;KIM Ji-Hoe;LEE Myung-Suk
    • Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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    • v.30 no.2
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    • pp.277-281
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    • 1997
  • The cell density changes of Vibrio mimicus K-1 in sea water and arkshell feeding it were examined at various temperature. The strain was suspended in sterilized sea water and storaged at experimental temperature $(5,\;10,\;15,\;20,\;and\;28^{\circ}C)$). At intervals of up to 10 days, aliquots of each suspension were plated onto BHI agar. At 5 and $10^{\circ}C$, the plate counts of V. mimicus K-1 showed a rapid decline, which 3s known to be a reault of this bacterium's entering into the viable but non culturable state. At 20 and $28^{\circ}C$, however, V. mimicus K-1 are stable over the 10 days experimental periods. V. mimicus K-1 was fed to arkshell, which was subsequently stored at temperatures ranging from 5 to $20^{\circ}C$ for 10 days. The samples of arkshell were homogenized and plated at intervals to determine the cell density of V. mimicus K-1 and total aerobic population of bacteria present. At 5 and $10^{\circ}C$, the numbers of V. mimicus K-1 in sea water rapid decreased over the 10 days experimental periods. However, little change of V. mimicus K-1 density was observed in shellstock arkshell at 5 and $10^{\circ}C$. While, V. mimicus K-1 density was decreased more rapidly to level below limit of dectection in shucked arkshell at same temperature. Incubation at the higher temperature $(20^{\circ}C)$ resulted in large increase in total aerobic bacterial number of shellstock arkshell. These results suggest that even with proper storage, indigenous levels of V. mimicus may remain sufficiently high in shellstock arkshell to produce infection in compromise hosts.

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Examining the Formation of Entrepreneurial Activities through Cognitive Approach (기업가적 활동 형성에 미치는 영향요인: 인지론적 접근)

  • Lee, Chaewon
    • Asia-Pacific Journal of Business Venturing and Entrepreneurship
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    • v.12 no.3
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    • pp.65-74
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    • 2017
  • There have been questions how entrepreneurs think, act and why individuals become entrepreneurs. The trait-based explanation of entrepreneurial activities has been main stream. However, the trait-based theory has been criticized because it assumes that entrepreneurial traits are inherited, stable and enduring over time. This research accepts the cognitive theory to see how entrepreneurs learn or accept others' values, how entrepreneurial perceptions of opportunity impact entrepreneurial actions and how individuals acquire the social legitimation of the formation of entrepreneurial activities. In order to capture the attitudes, activities and motivations of people who are involved in entrepreneurial activities, the author uses the GEM Korea 2016 data. The data from the Global Entrepreneurship Monitor(GEM) has been well known for the data to capture individuals early-stage entrepreneurial activities. This paper used the sample from the APS(Adult Population Survey) of the GEM which was completed by a representative sample of two thousand adults in Korea by the qualified survey vendor, with strict procedures and oversight by the GEM central data team. The hypotheses are tested with logit regression analysis to estimate the probability of the influence of perceptual variables such as individual perception in social learning, the opportunity recognition in the environment, and social legitimation in the entrepreneurial activities. Based on the results, individuals tend to have high entrepreneurial activities if individuals have high self-efficacy. Also, the existence of role models around the entrepreneurs encourages the individuals involve in entrepreneurial activities more however the perception of opportunity in the environment is not strongly associated with entrepreneurial activities. The media exposure of successful entrepreneurs is more important than others' perception of entrepreneurs on the desirable career option or respect from communities. This paper can contribute to the cognitive processes, particular perception about oneself, as well as perception which is impacted by a community or a society.

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Characteristics of Recent Foraminifera and Surface Sediments in Gomso- Bay Tidal Flat, West Coast of Korea: Potential for Paleoenvironmental Interpretations (곰소만 조간대의 현생 유공충과 표층 최적물의 특성: 고환경 해석에 적용 가능성)

  • 우한준;장진호
    • 한국해양학회지
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    • v.30 no.3
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    • pp.184-196
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    • 1995
  • The line-SW is located in the mouth of Gomso Bay (20 Km long and 5-8 Km wide),west coast of Korea. This area is composed of sand flat, mud flat, sand shoal and chenier, The difference of physical, geological and geomorphic conditions in subenvironments of the bay may control and produce distingtive foraminiferal populations and assemblages. This study investigates whether five a priori subenvironments (five local zonations) in Gomso-Bay tidal flat can be distinguished from each other on the basis of total (living plus dead) foraminiferal assemblages. Seventy-four species (67 benthic; 7 planktonic) were recorded in total assemblages of surface sediments from 10 stations. Ammonia beccarii tepida, Discorbis candeiana, Elphidium etigoense and Eponides nipponicus were most dominant species in living and total assemblages. The relative abundance (%) of living population was high at upper flat and decreased from upper to lower flat. The low percentages of living populations in middle to lower flat are probably influenced by the decreasing reproduction of foraminifera caused by high energy condition and addition of dead species from offshore. The occurence of planktonic foraminifera in middle to lower flat (5.3∼6.6%) indicates introduction of planktonic foraminifera from offshore by storm and/or tidal current. The relatively high numbers of species in lower middle to lower flat are probably caused by a mixing of faunas from these areas and offshore. The high numbers of total individuals per 50 ml of sediment in upper flat indicate that this area is a relatively stable environment where waves and currents are protected by the chenier. Five biofacies of the total foraminiferal assemblages were established on the basis of dominant species (those representing more than 20% of the total assemblages in any station) in the five a priori subenvironments recognized along the Line-SW transect in Gomso-Bay tidal flat. Five biofacies are potentially useful in paleoenvironmental interpretation in late Quaternary Gomso-Bay tidal deposits.

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CHANGES IN WATER USE AND MANAGEMENT OVER TIME AND SIGNIFICANCE FOR AUSTRALIA AND SOUTH-EAST ASIA

  • Knight, Michael J.
    • Proceedings of the Korean Society of Soil and Groundwater Environment Conference
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    • 1997.11a
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    • pp.3-31
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    • 1997
  • Water has always played a significant role in the lives of people. In urbanised Rome, with its million people. sophisticated supply systems developed and then fled with the empire. only to be rediscovered later But it was the industrial Revolution commencing in the eighteenth century that ushered in major paradigm shifts In use and altitudes towards water. Rapid and concentrated urbanisation brought problems of expanded demands for drinking supplies, waste management and disease. The strategy of using water from local streams, springs and village wells collapsed under the onslaughts of rising urban demands and pollution due to poor waste disposal practices. Expanding travel (railways. and steamships) aided the spread of disease. In England. public health crises peaks, related to water-borne typhoid and the three major cholera outbreaks occurred in the late eighteenth and early nineteenth century respectively. Technological, engineering and institutional responses were successful in solving the public health problem. it is generally accepted that the putting of water into pipe networks both for a clean drinking supply, as well as using it as a transport medium for removal of human and other wastes, played a significant role in towering death rates due to waterborne diseases such as cholera and typhoid towards the end of the nineteenth century. Today, similar principles apply. A recent World Bank report Indicates that there can be upto 76% reduction in illness when major water and sanitation improvements occur in developing countries. Water management, technology and thinking in Australia were relatively stable in the twentieth century up to the mid to late 1970s. Groundwater sources were investigated and developed for towns and agriculture. Dams were built, and pipe networks extended both for supply and waste water management. The management paradigms in Australia were essentially extensions of European strategies with the minor adaptions due to climate and hydrogeology. During the 1970s and 1980s in Australia, it was realised increasingly that a knowledge of groundwater and hydrogeological processes were critical to pollution prevention, the development of sound waste management and the problems of salinity. Many millions of dollars have been both saved and generated as a consequence. This is especially in relation to domestic waste management and the disposal of aluminium refinery waste in New South Wales. Major institutional changes in public sector water management are occurring in Australia. Upheveals and change have now reached ail states in Australia with various approaches being followed. Market thinking, corporatisation, privatisation, internationalisation, downsizing and environmental pressures are all playing their role in this paradigm shift. One casualty of this turmoil is the progressive erosion of the public sector skillbase and this may become a serious issue should a public health crisis occur such as a water borne disease. Such crises have arisen over recent times. A complete rethink of the urban water cycle is going on right now in Australia both at the State and Federal level. We are on the threshold of significant change in how we use and manage water, both as a supply and a waste transporter in Urban environments especially. Substantial replacement of the pipe system will be needed in 25 to 30 years time and this will cost billions of dollars. The competition for water between imgation needs and environmental requirements in Australia and overseas will continue to be an issue in rural areas. This will be especially heightened by the rising demand for irrigation produced food as the world's population grows. Rapid urbanisation and industrialisation in the emerging S.E Asian countries are currently producing considerable demands for water management skills and Infrastructure development. This trend e expected to grow. There are also severe water shortages in the Middle East to such an extent that wars may be fought over water issues. Environmental public health crises and shortages will help drive the trends.

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