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This study evaluates a novel biopolymer-based material reinforcement method. A real-scale experiment minimizing flood disasters and economic losses incurred by the collapse of river levees due to overtopping was conducted. At the Andong River Experiment Center, lateral overflow was reproduced to induce levee collapse using sand, reinforced novel materials, and vegetation levees represented as cases 1, 2, and 3, respectively. The flow in the upstream and downstream areas was measured, and fluctuations in the lateral overflow discharge were calculated using an acoustic Doppler current profiler. To quantitatively verify the performance of this method, the collapse delay effect based on the surface loss rate of the levee slope was analyzed using image pixel analysis and three-dimensional point cloud modeling. Comparing the collapse delay effect of the new-material levee with that of the non-reinforced levees, we found a time delay of approximately 2.7–7 times from the occurrence of overtopping via the lateral flow to the end of the test. These results indicate that we can secure time for emergency repairs and operations by reinforcing the levee surface using the material proposed in this study. These research findings are expected to provide the basis for the proper design and construction of river levees.

Informed by the psychological theory of mindsets, we establish how “fixed” and “growth” mindsets divergently influence luxury travel behaviors. Across three experiments, we found that the relative preference for luxury travel is higher when consumers adopt a fixed rather than growth mindset (studies 1a and 1b). The effect of mindsets is also evident within consumer evaluations of luxury hotel advertisements. Specifically, providing detailed information about the luxury hotel’s facilities via advertising improves evaluations when travelers adopt a growth mindset, but such information has no effect when they adopt a fixed mindset (study 2). Moreover, while fixed mindsets show more positive evaluations of luxury hotels when an advertisement employs affective language, employing cognitive language results in more positive evaluations among growth mindsets (study 3). Taken together, these results illustrate that fixed mindsets value luxury travel for self-enhancement benefits, while growth mindsets – for superior quality.

MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conventions and Exhibitions/Events) have been established as one of the most important industries. Limited attention, however, has been given to understanding the underlying mechanisms of a sustainable market environment. In order to build such an environment, this research investigates a way to enhance the identity between local businesses and the MICE industry that make up the MICE environment by employing the brand concept in marketing. This study examines the effect of venue name and type of events being exposed on brand formation. The main purpose of this study is to investigate the relationship between brand identity and the impact on residents&rsquo, perceived brand value. The findings of this research suggest that consistent exposure of content-specific brand names and similar types of events increases the identity between local businesses and the MICE industry, and the identity mediates the relationship.

Recently, urban inundation disasters resulting from torrential rain have led to serious problems in many countries worldwide. To mitigate the damage of urban inundation, various structural strategies have been carried out, one of which is the creation of underground storage chambers attached to sewerage systems. In this strategy, part of the storm water within a sewer pipe is diverted over the side weir into the storage chamber. The function of this storage chamber is to manage the storm water runoff at a developed site to prevent flooding, and it is essential for providing a temporary storage area for excess storm water. In this study, the differences in the effects of the storage chamber using an urban inundation model due to several conditions such as the rainfall type, changes in the weir shape, installation locations that have different areal features, and changes in the storage capacity volume are verified. Lastly, a suitable installation site is verified via assessments of the inundation damage costs. The results show that the criteria for the degree of mitigation that can be expected in these conditions.

This study proposes an earthen levee reinforcement method with a new biopolymer-based material to prevent levee scour and breach. It is an eco-friendly method that can efficiently protect the levee slope as it enhances soil strength, even at a very low concentration of biopolymer, and has high resistance to surface runoff in addition to promoting vegetation growth. The function and effectiveness of this method were demonstrated through an overflow-based semi-scale experiment in a previous study. In this study, we examined the effect of biopolymer-mixed soil layer on levee stability against an overflow-induced breach. In these experiments, biopolymer-mixed soils were sprayed on the crest and land-side levee surface. Two full-scale tests were conducted (2.5&ndash, 2.7 m high and 14 m wide on bottom). Case 1 (control case) consisted of bare sand without any treatment, while Case 2 consisted of a 1.0% biopolymer-mixed soil sprayed on the crest and landside slope of the levee and turf put on it. By applying an image analysis technique, we analyzed the breach phenomenon and breach retardation effect of the levee treated with a biopolymer and covered with vegetation. In this experiment, the slope loss rate of Case 2 was retarded 1.5 to 2.3 times over time as compared to Case 1. During the experiment, we observed that soil erosion followed through the narrow water channel formed by the stripped turfs. This means that the grasses did not root firmly enough to protect the surface. In this regard, although the experimental results may seem unsatisfactory, the biopolymer was found to help improve erosion retardation. In 2020, we will conduct more experiments with different compositions and concentrations of the biopolymer regardless of levee vegetation. With this research, we expect to confirm that the new technology of using biopolymer-treated soils is promising for solving the levee overflow breach problem.

Cement and other similar compounds have been used to prevent a levee breach during a flood. However, the demand is increasing for eco-friendly and sustainable alternatives to replace the conventional method for levee stabilization and strengthening. To improve the durability and environmental friendliness of a levee, the Andong River Experiment Center applied a biopolymer, which is a new eco-friendly substance, to fabricate a levee model, and conducted a hydraulic model experiment to evaluate the reliability and stability of the new type of levee. An image analysis was applied to calculate the scale of the breaches of the levee slopes. Based on the experimental results obtained, the characteristics of the breach between an earthen levee and the proposed levee were compared. The stability of the levee body was also evaluated according to the thickness of the new substance. The ultimate aim of this study was to derive the optimal conditions by verifying the performance and effectiveness of the new substance in terms of levee breach factors such as overflow, seepage, or piping in a series of hydraulic experiments. In the future, the field application of these optimal conditions will be verified through a real-scale experiment.

Previous studies have shown that Medicare beneficiaries do not tend to switch their prescription drug plans (Part D), even though they can greatly save on the money spent on drugs by switching plans. To explore this occurrence, the present study focused on the concept of social exclusion&mdash, one of the most important characteristics prevalent in the elderly. This study compared the impact of two types of social exclusion on the association between psychological cost and plan switching: active (or rejected) social exclusion and passive (or ignored) social exclusion. The study&rsquo, s aim was to examine the moderating effect of social exclusion on the relationship between the cost of switching and willingness to switch plan to build sustainable health care system. The Prescription Drug Study supplementary to the Health and Retirement Study (HRS) data were utilized for analysis by applying a Hierarchical Linear Model (HLM) (N = 1042). The findings suggest that active social exclusion moderates the relationship between the switching cost and willingness to switch plan. This study&rsquo, s findings will help policymakers better understand the elderly&rsquo, s decision-making process pertaining to plans and promote their informed plan decisions to build sustainable health care system.