Commutative Energetic Subsets of BCK-Algebras

The notions of a C-energetic subset and (anti) permeable C-value in BCK-algebras are introduced, and related properties are investigated. Conditions for an element t in [0, 1] to be an (anti) permeable C-value are provided. Also conditions for a subset to be a C-energetic subset are discussed. We decompose BCK-algebra by a partition which consists of a C-energetic subset and a commutative ideal

Ordered homomorphisms and kernels of ordered BCI-algebras

Recently Yang-Roh-Jun introduced the notion of ordered BCI-algebras as a generalization of BCI-algebras. They also introduced the notions of homomorphisms and kernels of ordered BCI-algebras and investigated related properties. Here we extend their investigation to ordered homomorphisms, i.e., order-preserving homomorphisms. To this end, the notions of ordered homomorphism and kernel of ordered BCI-algebras are first defined. Next, properties associated with (ordered) subalgebras, (ordered) filters and direct products of ordered BCI-algebras are addressed

Dissolved Organic Matter Fractions and Their Removal in Full-Scale Drinking Water Treatment Process

Objectives The objective of this study is to investigate characteristics about removal of dissolved organic matter (DOM) and its fraction for improving operation efficiency in an advanced water treatment plant. Methods The monitoring of water quality was conducted at five processes such as raw water, pre-oxidation, after sedimentation, post-ozonation, after biological activated carbon (BAC) from July 2020 to August 2021 in advanced water treatment process (AWTP) supplying 180,000m3/day. The concentration of DOC (dissolved organic carbon) and number of algae were monitored and LC-OCD was used to fractionate DOC to four species, biopolymer (BP), humic substance (HS), building blocks (BB), and low molecular weights (LMWs). Results and Discussion The characteristics of raw water showed that the concentration of DOC and the number of algae increased with an increase in water temperature. The portion of BP and HS significantly increased at low and high water temperature, respectively, while BB and LMWs maintained the similar portion. The removal efficiency of DOC in the AWTP was achieved at 59% with each species of BP, HS, BB, and LMWs obtaining removal efficiency of 87%, 65%, 26%, and 52%, respectively. Coagulation/sedimentation/filtration showed removal efficiency of 84%, 56%, 20%, and 18% for BP, HS, BB, and LMWs, respectively, corresponding to their molecular weight. The effect of post-ozonation would be negligible except for BP. In BAC, removal efficiency of 49% and 12% were obtained for LMWs and BB (low molecular weight, respectively. As a result, the BP portion significantly decreased due to high removal efficiency, while BB portion was increased in the final treated water compared to raw water. Conclusion Most of DOM was removed in coagulation/sedimentation/filtration and BAC, whereas oxidation process such as pre-chlorination, pre-ozonation and post-oxidation did not have an effect on DOM removal. In coagulation/sedimentation/filtration, 84% and 54% of the BP and HS were removed, while BAC removed 49% and 12% of LMWs and BB, respectively. It has been recommended to improve the removal efficiency of BB, which obtained the lowest removal efficiency in AWTP, and to enhance the removal efficiency of LMWs in BAC to inhibit microbial regrowth in the distribution system

Nanomechanical behavior of biodegradable metallic glass for transient electrodes

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Native speaker and nonnative speaker identities in repair practices of English conversation

Within the theoretical and methodological framework of Conversation Analysis, the present study explores the nature of the native speaker (NS) and nonnative speaker (NNS) identities in repair practices of English conversation. It has identified and analyzed in detail repair sequences in the data and has also conducted quantitative analyses in order to investigate the relationship between NS/NNS identities and repair practices. The results show that the categories of NS and NNS identities are social products that are invoked during and through the participants ongoing interaction. First of all, the participants did not invariably make their NS/NNS identities relevant to their repair work; specifically, more than half of the repair practices were irrelevant to these identities. Secondly, when the participants NS/NNS identities were made relevant to repair, both the NS and the NNS participants initiated repair in order to solve interactional problems that had resulted from the NNS participants insufficient linguistic abilities. The participants orientation to their NS/NNS identities was frequently triggered by the NNS participants repair-initiation while the NS participants invoked these linguistic identities only in a limited range of interactional environments. The findings of this study provide a further empirical basis for arguing the importance of an emic approach to NS-NNS interactions and the potential to learn new vocabulary through repair.OAIID:oai:osos.snu.ac.kr:snu2013-01/102/0000031138/1SEQ:1PERF_CD:SNU2013-01EVAL_ITEM_CD:102USER_ID:0000031138ADJUST_YN:NEMP_ID:A076162DEPT_CD:707CITE_RATE:0FILENAME:bae&oh_2013_ns and nns identities in repair practices of english conversation.pdfDEPT_NM:영어교육과CONFIRM:

Pharmacoeconomic Guidelines and Their Implementation in the Positive List System in South Korea

ABSTRACTThis article reviews the change in the reimbursement and pricing system in South Korea, which was the precursor to the eventual implementation of evidence-based decision-making. There has been pressure on Korea's National Health Insurance system to control its skyrocketing expenditures on drugs. As a result, a series of cost-containment policies have been implemented. The idea of economic evidence-based decision-making was first introduced in Korea in 2001 when the government announced cost-effectiveness as one of the criteria for reimbursement decisions. After this announcement, the Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service (HIRA) developed guidelines, which became the standard for economic evaluations.In 2006, the drug listing system for reimbursement was changed from a negative to a positive system under the drug expenditure rationalization plan. Under this new system, only drugs that are proven economically and clinically valuable can be listed, and applicants have to submit economic evaluation studies to support the cost-effectiveness of their drugs. Once new applications are submitted, HIRA reviews them, and the Drug Reimbursement Evaluation Committee (DREC) decides whether or not to recommend the submitted drugs. In its reimbursement decisions, the DREC considers not only cost-effectiveness but also the availability of therapeutic alternatives, the severity of the condition treated, and the impact on the budget, among other measures. After the introduction of the positive list system, 56% of drugs were determined to be appropriate for reimbursement by the DREC. Despite limited human resources, experience, and quality local data, Korea is continuing to make efforts to establish a system of evidence-based decision-making

Values, challenges, and responses associated with high-priced potential cures: perspectives of diverse stakeholders in South Korea

Background: The emergence of high-priced potential cures has sparked significant health policy discussions in South Korea, where the healthcare system is funded through a single-payer National Health Insurance model. We conducted focus group interviews (FGIs) and accompanying surveys with diverse stakeholders to comprehensively understand related issues and find better solutions to the challenges brought by these technologies. Methods: From October to November 2022, 11 FGIs were conducted with stakeholders from various sectors, including government payers, policy and clinical experts, civic and patient organisations, and the pharmaceutical industry, involving a total of 25 participants. These qualitative discussions were supplemented by online surveys to effectively capture and synthesise stakeholder perspectives. Results: Affordability was identified as a critical concern by 84% of stakeholders, followed by clinical uncertainty (76%) and limited value for money (72%). Stakeholders expressed a preference for both financial-based controls and outcome-based pricing strategies to mitigate these challenges. Despite the support for outcome-based refunds, payers raised concerns about the feasibility of instalment payment models, whether linked to outcomes or not, due to the specific challenges of the Korean reimbursement system and the potential risk of ‘cumulative liabilities’ from ongoing payments for previously administered treatments. In addition, the FGIs highlighted the need for clear budgetary limits for drugs with high uncertainties, with mixed opinions on the creation of special silo funds (64.0% agreement). Less than half (48%) endorsed the use of external reference pricing, currently applied to such essential drugs in South Korea. A significant majority (84%), predominantly non-pharma stakeholders, advocated for addressing cost-effectiveness uncertainty through re-assessment once long-term clinical data become available. Conclusions: This study uncovers a broad agreement among stakeholders on the need for more effective value assessment methodologies for high-priced potential cures, stressing the importance of more robust and comprehensive re-assessment supported by long-term data collection, rather than primarily relying on external reference pricing. Each type of stakeholders exhibited a cautious approach to their specific uncertainties, suggesting that new funding strategies should accommodate these uncertainties with predefined guidelines and agreements prior to the initiation of managed entry agreements

Ordered subalgebras of ordered BCI-algebras based on the MBJ-neutrosophic structure

The neutrosophic set consists of three fuzzy sets called true membership function, false membership function and indeterminate membership function. MBJ-neutrosophic structure is a structure constructed using interval-valued fuzzy set instead of indeterminate membership function in the neutrosophic set. In general, the indeterminate part appears in a wide range. So instead of treating the indeterminate part as a single value, it is treated as an interval value, allowing a much more comprehensive processing. In an attempt to apply the MBJ-neutrosophic structure to ordered BCI-algebras, the notion of MBJ-neutrosophic (ordered) subalgebras is introduced and their properties are studied. The relationship between MBJ-neutrosophic subalgebra and MBJ-neutrosophic ordered subalgebra is established, and MBJ-neutrosophic ordered subalgebra is formed using (intuitionistic) fuzzy ordered subalgebra