• Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.43 no.2
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• pp.246-253
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• 2019

Background: Water use efficiency (WUE) is an indicator of the trade-off between carbon uptake and water loss to the atmosphere at the plant or ecosystem level. Understanding temporal dynamics and the response of WUE to climatic variability is an essential part of land degradation assessments in water-limited dryland regions. Alternative definitions of and/or alternative methodologies used to measure WUE, however, have hampered intercomparisons among previous studies of different biomes and regions. The present study aims to clarify semantic differences among WUE parameters applied in previous studies and summarize these parameters in terms of their definition and methodology. Additionally, the consistency of the responses of alternative WUE parameters to interannual changes in moisture levels in Northeast Asia dryland regions (NADRs) was tested. Results: The literature review identified more than five different WUE parameters defined at leaf and ecosystem levels and indicates that major conclusions regarding the WUE response to climatic variability were partly inconsistent depending on the parameters used. Our demonstration of WUE in NADR again confirmed regional inconsistencies and further showed that inconsistencies were more distinct in hyper- and semi-arid climates than in arid climates, which might reflect the different relative roles of physical and biological processes in the coupled carbon-water process. Conclusions: The responses of alternative WUE parameters to drying and wetting may be different in different regions, and regionally different response seems to be related to aridity, which determines vegetation coverage.

• Proceedings of the KSRS Conference
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• v.2
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• pp.688-691
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• 2006

The current system of the East China Sea, a marginal sea in the northwest Pacific, has a seasonal variation. The Changjiang Diluted Water, Chinese coastal water in the East China Sea, has different seasonal paths. It flows southward along the Chinese coast within a narrow band in winter and does northeastward the Korea/Tsushima Strait in summer, which has been a subject to many researchers. In particular, low salinity in the South Sea of Korea in 1996 and 1998 was in discord with the Changjiang River discharge and the Changjiang Diluted Water seems to play an important role in occurrence of red tide in the South Sea of Korea in 1997 and on the contrary, disappearance in the next year. These facts suggested that the Changjiang Diluted Water does not flow along the same path in every summer. According to the analyses for path of the Changjiang Diluted Water using ocean color images by SeaWiFS and salinity observations by shipboard CTD in August for recent years, the Changjiang Diluted Water in summer flowed within the range of direction from southeastward to north-northeastward anticlockwise. However, the Changjiang Diluted Water flowed northeastward toward Jeju Island of Korea for the most part. It is necessary to examine the influence of major factors on path variability of the CDW in summer such as surface wind, the Changjiang River discharge and background current.

• Phonetics and Speech Sciences
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• v.5 no.3
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• pp.3-10
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• 2013

This study investigated the rhythmic accommodation of Korean English learners' interlanguage talk. Twelve Korean speakers, 6 native English speakers and 6 non-native English speakers in London participated in multiple conversations on different topics which produced 36 conversational data in interlanguage talk (ILT) settings. 190 utterances from the 36 conversational data were analyzed to investigate the rhythmic patterns of Korean English learners when they communicated with English speakers with different language backgrounds. Save for the final-syllable, the normalized duration of consecutive syllables was compared in order to derive a variability index (VI). It was found that there was no significant variability in the measurement of the syllable-to-syllable duration for the utterances of Korean English learners, regardless of their interlocutor's language background. Conversely, it was found that there was evidence that Korean English learners showed rhythmic accommodation in ILT when they conversed with non-native English speakers. The speaking rate became significantly slower when Korean English learners talked to non-native English speakers, than when they talked to other Korean English learners. Furthermore, there was a negative correlation between speaking rate and the VI in the utterances of Korean English learners in ILT.

• Proceedings of the Korean Institute Of Construction Engineering and Management
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• 2007.11a
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• pp.647-651
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• 2007

The Lean Construction is adopted from Lean Principle of Manufacturing Industry in the early of 1990, that has been providing theoretical background and good practical implementation for maximizing customers' satisfaction and improving productivity through minimizing the waste factors in the construction operations. The Last Planner System(LPS), one of the elementary techniques of Lean Construction, aims for improving the work reliability and reducing variability by measuring and managing the daily or weekly performance for overcoming the weakness of recent complex schedule management tools such as Critical Path Method. This research is propose a framework for implementation of LPS conducted by owner in plant construction.

• Atmosphere
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.373-386
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• 2016

The future variability of Wind Energy Density (WED) over the Korean Peninsula under RCP climate change scenario is projected using ensemble analysis. As for the projection of the future WED, changes between the historical period (1981~2005) and the future projection (2021~2050) are examined by analyzing annual and seasonal mean, and Coefficient of Variation (CV) of WED. The annual mean of WED in the future is expected to decrease compared to the past ones in RCP 4.5 and RCP 8.5 respectively. However, the CV is expected to increase in RCP 8.5. WEDs in spring and summer are expected to increase in both scenarios RCP 4.5 and RCP 8.5. In particular, it is predicted that the variation of CV for WED in winter is larger than other seasons. The time series of WED for three major wind farms in Korea exhibit a decrease trend over the future period (2021~2050) in Gochang for autumn, in Daegwanryeong for spring, and in Jeju for autumn. Through analyses of the relationship between changes in wind energy and pressure gradients, the fact that changes in pressure gradients would affect changes in WED is identified. Our results can be used as a background data for devising a plan to develop and operate wind farm over the Korean Peninsula.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.202-206
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• 2006

Background: Stellate ganglion block (SGB) might be associated with changes in the blood pressure (BP) and heart rate (HR). The heart rate variability (HRV) shows the balance state between sympathetic and parasympathetic activities of the heart. The changes in these parameters of the HRV were studied to evaluate the possible mechanism of SGB in changing the BP. Methods: SGB was performed on 26 patients, using a paratracheal technique at the C6 level, and 8 ml of 1% mepivacaine injected. The success was confirmed by check the Horner's syndrome. The BP, HR and HRV were measured before and 5, 15, 30, 45 and 60 minutes after the SGB. Results: The increases in the BP from the baseline throughout the study period were statistically, but not clinically significant. The HR and LF/HF (low frequency/high frequency) ratio were increased at 5 and 45 min, respectively, after the administration of the SGB. In a comparison of left and right SGB, no significant differences were found in the BP, HR and HRV. A correlation analysis showed that an increased BP was significantly related with the changes in the LF/HF ratio and LF at 15 and 30 minutes, respectively, after the SGB. Dividing the patients into two groups; an increased BP greater and less than 20% of that at the baseline INC and NOT groups, respectively, hoarseness occurred more often in the INC group (P = 0.02). Conclusions: It was concluded that SGB itself does not clinically increase the BP and HR in normal hemodynamic patients. However, the loss of balance between the sympathetic and parasympathetic nerve system, attenuation of the baroreceptor reflex and hoarseness are minor causes of the increase in the BP following SGB; therefore, further studies will be required.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.78-86
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• 2020

Background: Flat-footed persons with collapsed medial longitudinal arch lose flexibility after skeletal maturity, resulting in several deformities and soft tissue injuries. Although arch support taping is usually applied in the clinic to support the collapsed arch, research on the use of different types of tape for more efficient arch support in flat-footed persons is lacking. Objects: The purpose of this study was to examine three conditions (barefoot, kinesio tape, and dynamic tape) and compare their effects on static and dynamic balance in persons with asymptomatic flexible flatfoot. Methods: Twenty-two subjects (9 females and 13 males) with asymptomatic flexible flatfoot participated in this study. The subjects performed the Y-balance test to measure the composite reach score. The subjects also performed a 30-second standing test to measure the center of pressure (COP) path length and a walking test to measure anteroposterior and lateral variability using the Zebris FDM system. One-way repeated-measures analysis of variance compared the three conditions applied to the subjects' feet for each balance variable. Results: The composite reach score significantly increased following the application of dynamic tape compared with barefoot and that of kinesio tape compared with barefoot. There was no significant difference in the COP path length during standing among the three conditions. Anteroposterior and lateral variability during walking significantly with dynamic tape application compared with barefoot. Conclusion: The results of this study suggest that, in persons with asymptomatic flexible flatfoot, application of kinesio tape and dynamic tape may be effective in increasing the composite reach score in Y-balance test, whereas application of dynamic tape may be effective in reducing anteroposterior and lateral variability during walking.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.268-274
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• 2023

Background: Ankle sprains occur frequently among humans who undertake various body movements. Diverse walking environments and dual tasks, that can affect ankle sprains, have been studied. However, there is a lack of research on inter-trial variability according to the changes in gait speed. Objects: The purpose of this study was to compare the adaptive ability of walking between the subjects with chronic ankle instability and healthy adults while performing a walking task with different walking speeds. Methods: In this study, 24 people in the chronic ankle instability group and 24 people in the healthy ankle group were selected as subjects. The length of the pre-measurement and the actual walking measurement were both set to 4.6 m. Once the subjects entered the measurement section, they changed their gait speed according to the randomly assigned speed change. Gait was measured twice and the average value was used for the analysis. Results: The coefficient of variation (CV) of cycle time in subjects with chronic ankle instability showed a significant difference in all cases except when the subjects changed their speed from preferred to slow and from slow to preferred. The CV of step length demonstrated a significant difference in all cases except for the change from slow to preferred and from preferred to fast. The cycle time and step length differential showed a significant difference only when the subjects changed the speed from slow to fast. Conclusion: The subjects with chronic ankle instability were found to have significantly reduced walking adaptability while performing inter-trial variability tasks with different gait speeds compared to healthy subjects.

• Journal of the Korean Geographical Society
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• v.49 no.6
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• pp.833-848
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• 2014

The assessment of the current and future climate change-induced potential wind energy is an important issue in the planning and operations of wind farm. Here, the authors analyze spatiotemporal characteristics and variabilities of wind energy over Korean Peninsula in the near future (2006-2040) using Representative Concentration Pathway(RCP) scenarios data. In this study, National Institute of Meteorological Research (NIMR) regional climate model HadGEM3-RA based RCP 2.6 and 8.5 scenarios are analyzed. The comparison between ERA-interim and HadGEM3-RA during the period of 1981-2005 indicates that the historical simulation of HadGEM3-RA slightly overestimates (underestimates) the wind energy over the land (ocean). It also shows that interannual and intraseasonal variability of hindcast data is generally larger than those of reanalysis data. The investigation of RCP scenarios based future wind energy presents that future wind energy density will increase over the land and decrease over the ocean. The increase in the wind energy and its variability is particularly significant over the mountains and coastal areas, such as Jeju island in future global warming. More detailed analysis presents that the changes in synoptic conditions over East Asia in future decades can influence on the predicted wind energy abovementioned. It is also suggested that the uncertainty of the predicted future wind energy may increase because of the increase of interannual and intra-annual variability. In conclusion, our results can be used as a background data for devising a plan to develop and operate wind farm over the Korean Peninsula.

• Diabetes and Metabolism Journal
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• v.42 no.6
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• pp.496-512
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• 2018

Background: This study aimed to investigate the association between the presence and severity of cardiovascular autonomic neuropathy (CAN) and development of long-term glucose fluctuation in subjects with type 2 diabetes mellitus. Methods: In this retrospective cohort study, subjects with type 2 diabetes mellitus who received cardiovascular autonomic reflex tests (CARTs) at baseline and at least 4-year of follow-up with ${\geq}6$ measures of glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) were included. The severity of CAN was categorized as normal, early, or severe CAN according to the CARTs score. HbA1c variability was measured as the standard deviation (SD), coefficient of variation, and adjusted SD of serial HbA1c measurements. Results: A total of 681 subjects were analyzed (294 normal, 318 early, and 69 severe CAN). The HbA1c variability index values showed a positive relationship with the severity of CAN. Multivariable logistic regression analysis showed that CAN was significantly associated with the risk of developing higher HbA1c variability (SD) after adjusting for age, sex, body mass index, diabetes duration, mean HbA1c, heart rate, glomerular filtration rate, diabetic retinopathy, coronary artery disease, insulin use, and anti-hypertensive medication (early CAN: odds ratio [OR], 1.65; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.12 to 2.43) (severe CAN: OR, 2.86; 95% CI, 1.47 to 5.56). This association was more prominent in subjects who had a longer duration of diabetes (>10 years) and lower mean HbA1c (<7%). Conclusion: CAN is an independent risk factor for future higher HbA1c variability in subjects with type 2 diabetes mellitus. Tailored therapy for stabilizing glucose fluctuation should be emphasized in subjects with CAN.