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This qualitative study explored the experiences of six Chinese and South Korean graduate students in the United States. Semistructured interviews and an interpretive phenomenological approach were used in which three major themes emerged: (a) academic challenges and acculturation, (b) academic support from host institute, and (c) cultural and pedagogical nuances. Challenges included language barriers during lectures, discussions and writing assignments, and lack of support services for international students. One significant finding was Chinese and South Korean students do not have the same graduate experiences in the United States. Participants shared how their prior homeland learning experiences (course delivery, relationships with instructors and assessments) impacted their learning, relationships, and academic challenges in the United States.

On 9 August 2022, the Hoengseong landslide was induced by heavy precipitation at a solar power plant in Gangwon Province, South Korea. The slope failed at the embankment of the solar power plant and subsequently transited to a high-mobilized debris flow. The fluidized mass, solar panels, and drainage components rushed down to National Route No. 6 and destroyed all vegetation along the valley. The debris mass killed one person and destroyed two houses. The Hoengseong landslide was initiated and had a long-runout distance of about 330 m, a total drop of 60 m, and a landslide volume of 1.5 × 104. This study presents to analyze the kinematic characteristics of a landslide-generated debris flow event with the PFC3D numerical model and linear contact bonding method. In order to analyze the distinctions between different processes, a combination of field surveys, unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) photogrammetry, and laboratory triaxial tests were utilized. These methods were employed to extract essential parameters, including the digital elevation model and shear strength, which are associated with the rheological properties of landslide-debris flow materials. In dynamic analysis, the velocity, displacement, and characteristics of landslide deposition were considered. The results indicate that the initial landslide stage started with overall acceleration, and the movement of soil mass lasted approximately 1000 s with double-peak velocity curves and nonsynchronous displacement. Based on the simulation results, it was determined that the landslide had an average velocity of 0.848 m/s and a local maximum velocity of 3.138 m/s. It was observed that around 400 to 600 s into the simulation, two houses were demolished and underwent significant deformation. The morphology of the deposit exhibited a satisfactory agreement with the findings of the on-site survey. By offering comprehensive insights into the Hoengseong landslide, this study serves as a valuable resource for enhancing our comprehension of landslide dynamics and mitigating the risks associated with the potential reactivation of the Hoengseong landslide. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to compare the changes in physical activity (PA), chronic disease, and mental health indicators of Koreans before and after the COVID-19 outbreak, using raw data from more than 400,000 representative samples from the 2019–2020 Community Health Survey by the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and to explore the correlations among them. We used two-way ANOVA to analyze changes and differences in PA and obesity levels. We assessed the influence of gender and recurrent PA using chi-square tests for mental health status and chronic disease. Finally, we performed a correlation analysis to determine the relationships among PA days, mental health, and chronic disease. The results showed that, compared to the levels before the COVID-19 period, moderate-intensity (Days: 1.415~1.217; Time: 114.688~107.321) and high-intensity (Days: 0.798~0.671; Time: 112.866~106.110) PA significantly decreased in Koreans during the COVID-19 period, while low-intensity (Time: 60.305~61.735) PA increased. Before and during the COVID-19 period, men (18,436 (8.1%)~16,124 (7.0%)) performed PA more regularly than women (13,207 (5.8%)~9382 (4.1%)). Compared to the number of regular PA participants before the COVID-19 period, regular PA participants (male, female) decreased from 31,643 (13.8%) to 25,506 (11.1%) during the COVID-19 period. Compared with the levels before the COVID-19 period, the experience rates of stress (3.1%~2.6%), depression (0.8%~0.6%), HBP (3.0%~2.2%), and diabetes (1.2%~0.9%) significantly changed under different levels of conventional PA intervention. In addition, the obesity rate during the COVID-19 period (23.957) was higher than it was before COVID-19 (23.477). During the COVID-19 period, the PA of Koreans was greatly restricted, but low-intensity PA was maintained and increased. PA is an effective activity for maintaining mental health and for preventing and reducing chronic diseases. Recommendations for appropriate intensity or a combination of high-, moderate-, and low-intensity PA should be based on the health status of Koreans to help them maintain mental health and to reduce the risk of chronic diseases during COVID-19 social distancing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]