With recent increasing interest from both safe society expectation and technological advancement in fields of sensors, microelectonics, and wireless communication, nondestructive monitoring technologies based on wireless solutions have been researched in many structures for construction performance evaluation and infrastructure durability inspection. To support robust wireless monitoring system, there are still technical barriers to overcome, such as low power consumption, battery-less operation, robust wiress communication and small system size. In this paper, recent research trends and challenges in infrastructure durability monitoring technology with wireless communication will be reviewed.

Purpose - To control exorbitant interest rates, implementation of an interest rate ceiling is a standard practice in microfinance. However, there are pros and cons of such market intervention. Hence, the aim of this short note is to highlight issues and challenges regarding the interest rate cap in microfinance, both from the perspective of clients and institutions. Research design, data, and methodology - While the nature of this short note is explanatory and descriptive, the research methodology used relevant data from the MixMarket and Microcredit Regulatory Authority (MRA) annual reports in Bangladesh. Results - We argue that an interest rate ceiling is detrimental both for the clients and microfinance institutions (MFIs). This market intervention substantially reduces the outreach of MFIs and clients are most likely to pay a higher price in the long-run. Additionally, an interest rate cap also puts severe pressure on new-born and high-cost MFIs to cope with the interest rate ceiling. Conclusions - Although market intervention may be necessary in the short-run, it should not be the ultimate solution to abate high interest in microfinance. Understanding the operational dynamics of MFIs, as well as promoting productivity, efficiency and competition could help to lower the interest rates.

The purpose of this paper is to analyze maritime piracy and its economic implications with particular attention to attacks registered in the Gulf of Aden, The paper also aims to investigate how the International community, along with Sovereign States, should allocate resources in order to make the seas a safer place and describe how closely inter-related maritime piracy, preventive and punitive measures put in place by Governments are. Elements of economics and ergonomics are taken into account in order to properly investigate the major legal issues relating to maritime security. The paper proposes a cost-benefit analysis in order to investigate in theory what is the rationale behind engaging in criminal behavior and recommend some solutions to the issue to be undertaken by the International community. It is concluded that in order to cost effectively fight piracy, a mix of more coordinated National and International laws, standardized and increased punishment levels among jurisdictions and extended patrol controls are needed.

As concerns have been raised about health effects of children's products containing hazardous chemicals on children, the Korea Ministry of Environment announced 135 environmental hazardous substances in children’s products (EHSCP) which were subject to risk assessment. Therefore, it is necessary to identify the current status of EHSCP for management due to their various exposure routes and types. In this study, we investigated the exposure assessment of EHSCP as well as relevant policies implemented in domestic and foreign countries. Domestic and foreign cases of detection of EHSCP were reviewed in the literature and websites of related agencies. Due to the lack of reference values for child-specific toxicity of EHSCP, those for adults and regulatory status of EHSCP were also investigated and reviewed with literature. The related agencies of foreign countries provided 13 child-specific reference doses (RfDs), 76 RfDs, and 42 reference concentrations as toxicity reference values of the EHSCP. Among substances investigated in the studies to assess exposure of hazardous substances in children’s products by the Korea Ministry of Environment, 23 substances were included in 135 EHSCP. The same studies identified 9 substances which were excluded from the 135 EHSCP. For regulatory status for hazardous substances in children’s products, 44 substances (32.6 %) and 84 substances (62.2 %) of 135 EHSCP were under regulation in Korea and foreign countries, respectively. In the present study, we found that a list of 135 EHSCP should be revised to ensure children’s safety.

The comprehensive review of the STCW 1978, as amended in 1995 and associated Code was carried out from 2006 to 2010. These amendments will have a certain degree of impact on Maritime Education and Training(MET) institutes in terms of education and training of seafarer worldwide. Particularly, the Far East region countries are effected more than other regions since they covered about 30% of officers and 37% ratings in the world. In view of these facts this dissertation conceived to analyze the problems in the Far East main seafarer supply countries faced the implementation of “STCW Manila Amendments” To analyze these problems, this dissertation carried out questionnaire research to 7 targeted main MET of major Far East seafarer supply countries. After research this dissertation suggests the possible solutions such as, Joint On-Board Training Center; Joint Asia Maritime E-learning Systems; methods to reducing work-load, ship inspection burden and determine mandatory minimum safety manning standards in a safe way; technical cooperation fund to installation of training equipment; and clarify vague terminology of STCW Manila Amendments, to solve problems identified through the questionnaires.

Purpose - The objective of this paper is to explain how the Chinese distribution market will continue to bring tremendous business opportunities to commercial enterprises given the relatively strong economic fundamentals and substantial government-led measures for boosting domestic demand. Research design, data, and methodology - The study conducted a survey on China’s 2011 retail market data. After empirically analyzing the data on retail sales, online retail markets, and franchises, we believe that online retailing in China will maintain its growth momentum. Results - This study shows that 2012 is expected to be a challenging year for the retail sector, as both external and internal pressures are likely to persist. Some of the major challenges facing retailers in China are mentioned below. Conclusions - Retailers in China face several major challenges. First, the uncertain economic outlook is having a considerable impact on China’s retail market. Second, China’s retailers face an unfair competition environment. Third, they are suffering the impacts of product safety problems.

The production practices, productivity and economic performance of organic and nonchemical rice farming were compared in Jeonnam Province, Korea. Korean organic rice farming showed a lack of use of resistant varieties and rotational cropping systems as well as less use of farm wastes and a high dependency upon external inputs. When compared with no-chemical rice production practices very little differences were found. However, organic rice farming showed 15% to 18% higher profits than no-chemical farming even though the productivity was arguably similar between the two farming types. This may encourage more farmers to convert to organic production rather than non-chemical farming as the farming practices are very similar, thereby resulting in increased supply of organic products and decreased prices for organic rice near future. There is a need to more greatly differentiate organic farming practices and products from those of no-chemical farming.

이 연구는 이 연구는 다문화가정에서 실제로 일어나고 있는 자녀교육 현장에서 체감하는 다문화가정 자녀교육의 현실과 이러한 문제를 해결하기 위한 과제가 무엇인가를 심층적으로 탐색하기 위해서 시도되었다. 이 연구는 S시에 거주하는 6명의 국제결혼이주자를 대상으로 심층면접을 통해서 이루어졌다. 이들은 모두 출신국이 달랐으며, 연령 및 학력도 다양하였다. 이 연구의 결과를 주제별로 요약해서 제시하면 다음과 같다. 첫째, 다문화가족이 겪고 있는 자녀교육의 문제는 사례마다 다르다는 점이며, 다문화가정 지원정책은 획일적이 아니라 가족이 처한 상황에 따른 맞춤형 지원이 이루어져야 소기의 성과를 기대할 수 있다는 점이다. 둘째, 다문화가정 자녀교육의 성공을 위해서는 가정의 안정을 전제로 하며, 가정의 안정은 부부간의 사랑과 신뢰가 바탕이 된다는 점이다. 셋째, 다문화가정 어머니의 한국어 능력은 자녀교육의 성공을 위한 가장 기본적인 역량으로 다문화가정 어머니에 대한 한국어능력 향상을 위한 지원이 무엇보다도 선행되어야 한다는 점이다. 넷째, 다문화가정 자녀에 대한 적절한 학습지원이 요구된다는 점이다. 이를 위해서는 현재의 지원으로는 절대 부족하며, 다문화센터 뿐만 아니라 정규학교의 적극적인 참여와 자원봉사의 확대가 절실히 요청된다. 다섯째, 학교의 다문화 교육에 대한 이해와 다문화 자녀에 대한 배려와 지원이 절실하게 요구된다는 점이다. 그리고 마지막으로, 다문화가정 자녀교육이 성공적으로 이루어지기 위해서는 다문화가정 가족이나 다문화가정 지원 관계자뿐만 아니라, 교사와 학생, 이웃, 그리고 사회 전체의 변화를 동반해야 한다는 점이다. 이 연구에서 살펴본 다문화가정 어머니들이 겪은 경험에서 나타난 현실은 다문화가정의 문제를 심층적으로 이해하고 각 사례에 적합한 지원방안을 수립, 추진하는데 가장 생생한 기초자료가 될 수 있을 것이다. 또한 이 연구의 결과는 다문화가정 및 다문화가정 자녀교육의 문제를 심층적으로 이해를 바탕으로 실효성 있는 지원정책을 추진하는데 중요한 기초자료로 활용될 수 있을 것이다.

원자력의 중흥기를 맞이하여 민감한 핵연료주기 기술의 무분별한 확장을 억제하고자 다양한 핵연료주 기 다자 방안이 제시되고 있다. 현재 원자력 공급국 위주의 핵연료주기 다자화가 추진되고 있는 실정에서 후행 핵연료주기 기술의 다자화 추진 추이를 파악하고자 사용후핵연료 공동 관리 시설에 대한 분석 결과 를 검토하였다. 또한 후행 핵연료주기 연구개발 시설의 다자화를 제안하고 기대효과와 문제점을 검토한 후 이를 실현하기 위한 추진방안을 도출하였다.