• Journal of Korea Water Resources Association
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• v.56 no.10
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• pp.619-629
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• 2023

Recent intensification of climate change has led to an increase in damages caused by droughts. Currently, in Korea, the Standardized Precipitation Index (SPI) is used as a criterion to classify the intensity of droughts. Based on the accumulated precipitation over the past six months (SPI-6), meteorological drought intensities are classified into four categories: concern, caution, alert, and severe. However, there is a limitation in classifying drought intensity solely based on precipitation. To overcome the limitations of the meteorological drought warning criteria based on SPI, this study collected emergency water supply damage data from the National Drought Information Portal (NDIP) to classify drought intensity. Factors of SPI, such as precipitation, and factors used to calculate evapotranspiration, such as temperature and humidity, were indexed using min-max normalization. Coefficients for each factor were determined based on the Genetic Algorithm (GA). The drought intensity based on emergency water supply was used as the dependent variable, and the coefficients of each meteorological factor determined by GA were used as coefficients to derive a new Drought Severity Classification Index (DSCI). After deriving the DSCI, cumulative distribution functions were used to present intensity stage classification boundaries. It is anticipated that using the proposed DSCI in this study will allow for more accurate drought intensity classification than the traditional SPI, supporting decision-making for disaster management personnel.

• Journal of Korea Water Resources Association
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• v.49 no.12
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• pp.1027-1034
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• 2016

One of the most important purpose of multi-purpose reservoir is storing a large amount of water for utilization in a dry season. However, multi-purpose reservoirs that were constructed according to the limited hydrologic information available at the time of construction may encounter problems such as decreased water inflow due to climate change and an inability to cope with a water shortage. To solve these problems, in 2015, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport suggested a revised water supply standard in case of water shortage for reservoirs. However, the revised standard has not been sufficiently discussed to determine its effectiveness. In addition, multi-purpose reservoirs in South Korea have secured and stored water for emergencies, but there is currently no way to utilize the stored water. Determining how to utilize the stored water effectively may be a useful method for preparing drought. Therefore, this article discusses the revised water supply standard as it relates to a water shortage in reservoirs and a method of utilizing the water stored for emergencies in multi-purpose reservoirs. The options for utilizing the water storage were evaluated using a water shortage safety degree index, and the results showed that the options may slightly and limitedly increase the water supply capacity. However, the evaluation also showed that a complex application of two options may overcome the exisiting problem and to supply water more effectively.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Clinical Toxicology
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.122-130
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• 2017

Purpose: To evaluate the effects of low-dose intravenous N-acetylcysteine on the prevention of contrast-induced nephropathy (CIN) in patients undergoing computed tomography (CT). Methods: All patients presenting to our emergency department and undergoing CT with intravenous contrast media between August 2014 and April 2016 were retrospectively enrolled. We included hospitalized patients with renal dysfunction [estimated glomerular filtration rate (GFR) between 30 and $89mL/min/1.73m^2$]. A 600-mg injection of N-acetylcysteine was given to patients once before and once immediately after CT, depending on the preference of physician. The primary outcome was CIN defined as an increase in creatinine level of ${\geq}25%$ or ${\geq}0.5mg/dL$ from the baseline within 48 to 72 hours after CT. A trained person blindly reviewed all medical records. Results: Of the 1903 admitted patients, CIN occurred in 9.8% of patients who received 1200 mg intravenous N-acetylcysteine (24/244) and 6.8% of patients who did not (113/1659, p=0.090). In a multivariable regression analysis, N-acetylcystine was not relevant to the prevention of CIN (odds ratio=1.42 [95% CI, 0.90-2.26]). Even in the stratified analysis using the propensity score matching, N-acetylcysteine was irrelevant (GFR 30-59: odds ratio=1.06 [95% CI, 0.43-2.60]; GFR 60-89: odds ratio=1.76 [95% CI, 0.75-4.14]). After adjustment, crystalloids were significantly associated with the reduction in CIN compared with dextrose water (odds ratio=0.60 [95% CI, 0.37-0.97]). Conclusion: No effect was found when low-dose intravenous N-acetylcysteine was used to prevent CIN. However, there seems to be an association between crystalloids and reduction in CIN.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Clinical Toxicology
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.42-45
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• 2019

Dioscorea tokoro has long been used in Korean traditional medicine as a pain killer and anti-inflammatory agent. A 53-year-old male who consumed water that had been boiled with raw tubers of D. tokoro as tea presented with numbness and spasm of both hands and feet. Laboratory results showed hypocalcemia, hypoparathyroidism, and vitamin D insufficiency. During his hospital stay, colitis, acute kidney injury, and toxic encephalopathy developed. The patient received calcium gluconate intravenous infusion and oral calcium carbonate with alfacalcidol. His symptoms improved gradually, but hypocalcemia persisted despite the calcium supplementation. We suggest that ingestion of inappropriately prepared D. tokoro can cause symptomatic hypocalcemia in patients with unbalanced calcium homeostasis.

• Proceedings of the Korean Geotechical Society Conference
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• 2006.10a
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• pp.191-201
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• 2006

The flood control ability improvement project on existing dams is the project for prevention of disasters from excessive flood due to climate changes and thus protects lives and property damages by increasing safety of dams. The collapse of dam brings unimaginable disasters, so the project needs to be swiftly conducted by Government's funding. This paper introduces tile examples of the flood control ability improvement projects of multi-purpose and water supply dams, which is conducted in the way of structural measures among 26 dams operated by Kwater.

• Journal of Korean Society of Water and Wastewater
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• v.12 no.4
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• pp.97-105
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• 1998

The goal of the present research was to develop a mean to determine indices of drought warning and emergency necessary to manage drought and establish water supply contingency plan for the municipal and industrial water supply system in urban areas. To do this, we worked on the Sayun catchment which is the main water source of Ulsan and used measured hydrologic data (storage, inflow, supply, outflow) from 1980 to 1996. The indices of drought calculated by the method of Phillips drought index based only on monthly precipitation do not pertinently represent drought phenomena in case water supply is from dam or reservoir in an urban area. Therefor, we developed the drought index technique including inflow, storage, outflow and supply which are the chief factors of drought management. The result showed that the method of Phillips drought index considering the capacity of water supply was excellent when applied to practical drought phenomena.

• Journal of Korea Water Resources Association
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• v.53 no.7
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• pp.521-531
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• 2020

The purpose of this study is to suggest a quantitative assessment of wetland damage considering the effects of topsoil erosion and deposition from rainfall. In the Cheoncheon Basin located upstream of the Yongdam Dam, 16 wetlands are located, but the lacustrine and small palustrine wetland were analyzed for possible damage to erosion and deposition. As a result of applying typhoon events in 2002 and 2003, the sediment load from the upper basin was the highest at 2.30% (22,548 ㎥) of low water capacity. The average sediment load in the mountain areas was found to be 0.03% of the low water capacity, and it was analyzed to be less damaging than the lacustrine with relatively large watershed. as a result of the model, the lacustrine wetland, where a large area is used as agricultural land, shows a high probability of sediment yield, so it is highly likely to damage the wetland by topsoil erosion.

• Journal of the Korean housing association
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• v.24 no.6
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• pp.41-49
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• 2013

This study finds out the aged consumers' needs on the developing elderly friendly and sensitive bathtub. This bathtub focuses on enhancement of multi-senses and enhancement of health, safety & convenience during bath. The enhancing multi-senses would have four functions; therapy with color and aroma, the massage with micro water bubbles, the visual and auditory with TV & cinema, and the auditory with music and radio. Also, enhancing others of bathtub would have seven functions; emergency bell, blood-pressure check system for health condition, water temperature indicator, keeping water warm, reading a book in that, and controlling of house entrance door and a getting the phone during bath. The aged consumers' needs find throughout a questionnaire survey, and 497 data was analyzed. The main results are as follow. They consider a full bath behavior as a healthcare. They have an intention to purchase or use the elderly and friendly bathtub, and they prefer using it in common facilities to using it at home. They highly need health related function of bathtub, which are massage (64.4%), blood-pressure check system (55.1%) and aroma therapy (45.7%). The emergency bell (67.0%), keeping water warm (62.2%), and water temperature indicator (49.7%), related to safety & information function of bathtub, are needed. Also, they think tolerance for error and low physical effort in bathtub design alternative, opening door and inside sitting support, to be important.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.125-134
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• 2017

Unusual precipitation caused by typhoons and severe rain stormscan threaten human life and property. Thus, various organizations prepare emergency action plans (EAPs) to provide proper guidelines for operators, experts, and emergency response personnel to protect and enhance critical infrastructure. For example, FEMA and DHS have various types of EAPs for dams, levees, and other structures to protect people and property. FEMA defines EAPs as official documents to decrease the damage and impact in emergency situations and to reduce casualties. These documents should consider all possible situations in an emergency and can reduce problems in facility management. This study analyzes EAPs for infrastructure from the USA, Japan, and Korea in order to suggest an ideal EAP framework. EAPcontent can include how to guide experts and operators in disaster stages (mitigation, preparedness, response, and recovery), how to operate emergency equipment, and how to protect critical infrastructure and life. The suggested EAP framework performed very well in a test location. It can therefore be used for infrastructure organizations in Korea and to inform of the appropriate processes and methods for risk reduction in flood disasters.

• The Journal of the Korea Contents Association
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• v.15 no.3
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• pp.101-113
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• 2015

This study aims to prepare countermeasures to prevent and minimize drowning accident in inland waters by examining the current status of inland water safety management in Korea and diagnosing the defects. The defects in current inland water safety management is analyzed in four aspects. First is the legal defect that includes the absence of legislation that directs the inland water safety management. Second is the instructional defect such as the absence of educational program for prevention of inland water accidents and lack of professional water rescue experts. Third is cooperation defect such as dispersed reporting system and lack of private-public partnership in accident response. Fourth is the defect of emergency response ability, professionalism and accident response skills due to the dispersion and overlaps of safety management systems. In order to improve these defects, this study finds the countermeasures based on the survey of water sports professions and users and its analysis as follows: legislation of '(tentatively named) special act for water safety management in inland waters' is suggested in the legal aspects. A development of inland waters safety education program and training of water accident experts are suggested in the instructional aspects. Integrated operational system for water accident management, activation of safety network and re-establishment of private-public partnership are suggested in the cooperation aspects. Systematic and efficient inland water safety management plans such as enhancement of accident response skills and expertise and integrated inland water safety management with fire department-centered system were suggested in the aspects of emergency response ability.