• Journal of Korea Water Resources Association
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• v.45 no.6
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• pp.607-616
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• 2012

The objective of this study is to evaluate the valid forecast lead time and the accuracy when AWS observed rainfall data are used for real-time river flow forecast. For this, Namhan river basin is selected as study area and SURF model is constructed during flood seasons in 2006~2009. The simulated flow with and without the assimilation of the observed flow data are well fitted. Effectiveness index (EI) is used to evaluate amount of improvement for the assimilation. EI at Chungju, Dalcheon, Hoengsung and Yeoju sites as evaluation points show 32.08%, 51.53%, 39.70% and 18.23% improved, respectively. In the results of the forecasted values using the limited observed rainfall data in each forecast time before peak flow occur, the peak flow under the 20% tolerance range of relative error at Chungju, Dalcheon, Hoengsung and Yeoju sites can be simulated in forecast time-11h, 2h, 3h and 5h and the flow volume in the same condition at those sites can be simulated in forecast time-13h, 2h, 4h and 9h, respectively. From this results, observed rainfall data can be used for real-time peak flow forecast because of basin lag time.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Environmental Restoration Technology
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• v.14 no.6
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• pp.97-109
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• 2011

Korea introduced the cooperation charge on conservation of ecosystem for minimizing damage of ecosystem due to development projects and their effects and for preparing resources for natural environment conservation projects. Advanced countries have made efforts by expanding investment in natural environment conservation and restoring projects to promote prevention of global warming and improvement of biological diversity, are establishing nationwide strategies and plans. To examine the reality of projects by returns of the cooperation charge on conservation of ecosystem, microsite projects in schools and public facilities take the largest share while their project budgets are only about 100~300 KRW, relatively small, which might be attributable to budget restrictions in accordance with the calculating method of levying cooperation charge on conservation of ecosystem and problems of project proceeding in the system of returning fund for projects in general. The conclusion which this study suggests on invigoration of cooperation charge on conservation of ecosystem and its operation are as followings. First, although the cooperation charge on conservation of ecosystem has been introduced in 2001, the amount of imposition per unit area remains unchanged. It is desirable to increase the amount into $1,400KRW/m^2$ as of August, 2011 as the price index has been continuously rising for the past 10 years and the upward adjustment of imposition per unit area should be notified by the decree of the Ministry of Environment every January. Second, the ceiling amount of the cooperation charge on conservation of ecosystem should be abolished. Now the ceiling amount is defined as 1 billion KRW but it was found that there was not any ceiling amount specified according to the comparative analysis of similar systems with the Korean environmental improvement fund. The ceiling should be abolished so that medium level businesses are carried out and ecosystem recovering projects in the true sense of the word can be made smoothly. Third, weight should be introduced in calculating amounts in accordance with ecologic and economic values. Harmony between development and environment can be achieved by applying differentiated weights of constant regional coefficient by use zone and ecologic and economic values. Continuous efforts of improving cooperation charge on conservation of ecosystem should be made more than anything else so that projects by returns of cooperation charge on conservation of ecosystem get effectiveness.

• Journal of Energy Engineering
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.246-257
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• 2009

Regarding climate change, the most significant challenge the world faces is achieving the goal of stabilizing the global concentration of greenhouse gases. However, this cannot be accomplished by greenhouse gas reduction efforts of developed countries alone. In this context, a "sectoral approach" has been brought up as a way to overcome the limit of the Kyoto Protocol and induce the participation of developing countries. This paper focuses on the different types of sectoral approaches that have been suggested so far, and their criteria, scope and effectiveness. It therefore explores the potential each approach has as a policy alternative under the post-2012 scheme. On top of that, with the possibility of these sectoral approaches becoming strong future policy alternatives in mind, this paper also analyzes their applicability to the Korean industry. For the steel, petrochemical and oil industries - in which energy efficiency exceeds the world average- a technology-based approach is proposed as an alternative. For the cement, paper and power generation industries - in which energy efficiency is about the same as the global average - a sectoral crediting mechanism or an index-based approach or a sector-wide transnational approach are proposed as alternatives. Lastly, this paper suggests a future research direction for their adoption and implementation.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Laryngology, Phoniatrics and Logopedics
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.117-121
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• 2015

Background : Cepstral analysis which is obtained from Fourier transformation of spectrum has been known to be effective indicator to analyze the voice disorder. To evaluate the voice disorder, phonation of sustained vowel /a/ sound or continuous speech have been used but the former was limited to capture hoarseness properly. This study is aimed to compare the effectiveness in analysis of cepstrum between the sustained vowel /a/ sound and continuous speech. Methods : From March 2012 to December 2014, total 72 patients was enrolled in this study, including 24 unilateral vocal cord palsy, vocal nodule and vocal polyp patients, respectively. The entire patient evaluated their voice quality by VHI (Voice Handicap Index) before and after treatment. Phonation of sustained vowel /a/ sample and continuous speech using the first sentence of autumn paragraph was subjected by cepstral analysis and compare the pre-treatment group and post-treatment group. Results : The measured values of pre and post treatment in CPP-a (cepstral peak prominence in /a/ vowel sound) was 13.80, 13.91 in vocal cord palsy, 16.62, 17.99 in vocal cord nodule, 14.19, 18.50 in vocal cord polyp respectively. Values of CPP-s (cepstral peak prominence in text-based speech) in pre and post treatment was 11.11, 12.09 in vocal cord palsy, 12.11, 14.09 in vocal cord nodule, 12.63, 14.17 in vocal cord polyp. All 72 patients showed subjective improvement in VHI after treatment. CPP-a showed statistical improvement only in vocal polyp group, but CPP-s showed statistical improvement in all three groups (p<0.05). Conclusion : In analysis of cepstrum, text-based analysis is more representative in voice disorder than vowel sound speech. So when the acoustic analysis of voice by cepstrum, both phonation of sustained vowel /a/ sound and text based speech should be performed to obtain more accurate result.

• Journal of Magnetics
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.161-169
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• 2014

The aim of this study is to investigate the efficacy of pulsed electromagnetic field (PEMF) on the alleviation of lumbar myalgia. This is a randomized, real-sham, double blind pilot study. 38 patients were divided into the PEMF group and the Sham group, each of which was composed of 19 patients (1 patient dropped out in the Sham group) of randomized allocation. The PEMF group was treated by using the PEMF device and the Sham group by using a sham device on the lumbar muscle and acupuncture points, three times a week for a total of two weeks. Evaluations of Visual Analogue Scale for bothersomeness (VASB), Visual Analogue Scale for pain intensity (VASP), Oswestry Disability Index (ODI), 36-Item Short Form Health Survey Instrument (SF-36), EuroQol-5Dimension (EQ-5D), Beck's Depression Inventory (BDI) and Roland-Morris Disability Questionnaire (RMDQ), etc. before and 1 week after treatment were carried out. The primary outcome measure was the VASB, measured 1 week after the end of the pulsed electromagnetic therapy. VASB scores for the PEMF group changed by $-2.06{\pm}2.12$ from the baseline, and that for the Sham group changed by $-0.52{\pm}0.82$ (p < 0.05). VASP scores for the PEMF group were reduced by $-2.10{\pm}2.12$ from the base line, and that for the Sham group was reduced by $-0.53{\pm}1.50$ (p < 0.05). PEMF group showed significant improvements in all VASB, VASP, ODI, SF-36, EQ-5D, BDI and RMDQ scores, while the Sham group showed significant improvements in all scores, except the VASP score. However, the VASB, VASP and RMDQ scores of the PEMF group were much lower than those of the Sham group. The two groups showed no significant difference in ODI, SF-36, EQ-5D and BDI. This study demonstrates the effectiveness of PEMF treatment for alleviating lumbar myalgia.

• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
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• v.34 no.1
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• pp.47-55
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• 2017

Objectives : The purpose of this study is to evaluate the feasibility of further acupuncture research as an effective alternative and safe treatment for abdominal pain control in patients with pancreatitis. Methods and Results : This study is an open-label, assessment-blind, parallel designed pilot clinical trial. Thirty participants will be assigned to the acupuncture group(n=15) and usual care group(n=15). All patients will receive the conventional standard-of-care(SOC) therapy, but only the experimental group will receive acupuncture therapy six times a week, and the duration of acupuncture therapy will be held up to 12 weeks or until the pains are to be resolved. For the conventional SOC therapy, painkiller will be given. In treatment group, the subjects will receive the identical SOC therapy in combination with electroacupuncture therapy on twelve acupuncture points(LI4, PC6, SP6, GB39, ST36, ST37), and auricular acupuncture therapy on five auricular acupuncture points(Sympathetic, Shen Men, Abdomen, Pancreas gall, and Spleen). The primary outcome will be measured using the visual analogue scale(VAS), and the secondary outcome will be measured using the painkiller demand, quality of life index and severity of pancreatitis by abdominal computed tomography(CT). Assessments will be made at baseline and at week 1, 4, 8 and 12. Results of abdominal CT will be evaluated at baseline and at week 12. Conclusions : The result of this trial will provide a basis for the effectiveness and safety of acupuncture treatment for abdominal pain in patients with pancreatitis.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.32 no.2
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• pp.217-227
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• 2015

Objectives : This study is an evaluation of the effectiveness of treatments combined with Korean medical methods, such as relaxative Chuna and Gangchuk herbal medicines, for patients with failed back surgery syndrome. Methods : In this study, medical records of ten patients who experienced failed back surgery syndrome and participated in intensive Korean medical treatment were reviewed. All patients received relaxative Chuna and acupuncture along with Gangchuk herbal medicines during hospitalization. Numeric rating scale(NRS) in the degree of 0 to 10, pain-free walking distance(PFWD) and oswestry disability index(ODI) were measured before and after treatments. Results : The patients were hospitalized for an average of 22 days. The average NRS of lumbar pain in all patients decreased from $7.7{\pm}1.6$ to $3.2{\pm}2.2$ and the average NRS decline of leg pain was from $7.7{\pm}1.7$ to $3.2{\pm}2.2$, both of which indicate statistical significance(p < 0.05). PFWD in all patients increased from 113.3 m to 798.1 m on average. The average ODI in all patients significantly improved from $63.9{\pm}7.0$ to $43.9{\pm}6.9$(p < 0.05). Conclusions : The treatments combined with Korean medical methods for failed back surgery syndrome patients are clinically effective and viable.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
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• v.50 no.4
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• pp.571-582
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• 2020

Purpose: This study aimed to determine the effects of a 12-week metabolic syndrome BeHaS (Be Happy and Strong) program in elderly people with metabolic syndrome living alone, based on a community-based participatory research (CBPR). Methods: A nonequivalent control group pre-posttest design was used, and the participants were 43 elderly people living alone (experimental group 24, control group 19). The experimental group received a one-hour program per week and two individual health consultations during 12 weeks. The control group received two sessions about the metabolic syndrome and two individual health consultations. The effects of health behavior, blood pressure, blood sugar levels, abdominal circumference, triglycerides, and self-esteem were evaluated. The data were analyzed using the independent t-test and Mann-Whitney U test. Results: The health behavior with respect to the metabolic syndrome in the experimental group increased significantly (t = - 3.19, p = .002). Both diastolic blood pressure and abdominal circumference decreased in the experimental group (t = 2.00, p = .028 and t = 3.91, p < .001). No significant differences were observed between the groups in systolic blood pressure, fasting blood sugar levels, triglycerides, and self-esteem. Conclusion: The 12-week metabolic syndrome BeHaS program using community resources improves the health of elderly people with metabolic syndrome living alone. Based on these findings, further studies on the effectiveness of the metabolic syndrome BeHaS program and the experiences of those who participated in the CBPR are warranted.

• Journal of Digital Convergence
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• v.18 no.10
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• pp.547-555
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• 2020

To investigate the effects of self-management programs for chronic low back pain (LBP), 63 subjects were assigned to three groups; self-exercise group (SEG), hot pack and low-frequency electrical stimulation group (HEG), and thermo-massage group (TMG). Parameters were the pain numeric rating scale (PNRS), Oswestry Disability Index (ODI), Roland Morris Disability Questionnaire (RMDQ) and Relapse frequency (RF). PNRS, ODI and RMDQ of SEG and TMG sustained effectiveness, however, PNRS, which improved after treatment in HEG, worsened in 6 month. Between the groups, all parameters were better in SEG and TMG compare to HEG. Exercise and thermo-massage can be considered as useful self-management performed at home to prevent the relapse of chronic LBP.

• Journal of Korean Medicine for Obesity Research
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.1-8
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• 2015

Objectives: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of electroacupuncture for non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Methods: A randomized, controlled pilot trial was conducted. Twenty-two participants were randomized into one of the two groups: an acupuncture group (n=11) and wait-list group (n=11). The treatment group received 8 sessions of electroacupuncture over 8 weeks. Twenty points (CV4, CV12, both LR14, GB26, ST25, ST34, ST40, ST36, SP4, SP6, LR3) were selected for needling. The control group did not receive acupuncture treatment during study period and followup were done in the 4th and 8th weeks after randomization in both groups. The primary outcome was body fat computed tomography and the secondary outcomes included blood test (aspartate aminotransferase, alanine transferase, triglyceride, total cholesterol, high density lipoproteincholesterol, low density lipoprotein-cholesterol, blood sugar test, ${\gamma}$-guanosine triphosphate) and body composition test (body mass index, weight, body fat mass, body fat rate, waist hip ratio). Safety was assessed at every visit. Results: There was no significant differences in between the experimental group and control group. There were no adverse events. Conclusions: The results suggest that In patients with NAFLD, electroacupuncture treatment did not induce worsening of liver disease and liver function, but it was no improvement symptoms of fatty liver. Study of herb medicine treatments and other acupuncture therapy of NAFLD are required later.