• Journal of the Korean Geotechnical Society
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.61-71
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• 2006

A numerical procedure is presented fur evaluating seismic liquefaction on sloping ground sites. The procedure uses a fully coupled dynamic effective stress analysis with a plastic constitutive model called UBCSAND. The model was first calibrated against laboratory element behavior. This involved cyclic simple shear tests performed on loose sand with and without initial static shear stress. The numerical procedure is then verified by predicting a centrifuge test with a slope performed on loose Fraser River sand. The predicted excess pore pressures, accelerations and displacements are compared with the measurements. The results are shown to be in good agreement. The shear stress reversal patterns depend on static and cyclic shear stress levels and are shown to play a key role in evaluating liquefaction response in sloping ground sites. The sand near the slope has low effective confining stress and dilates more. When no stress reversals occur, the sand behaves in a stiffer manner that curtails the accumulated downslope displacements. The numerical procedure using UBCSAND can serve as a guide for design of new soil structures or retrofit of existing ones.

• Journal of Korean Society on Water Environment
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• v.39 no.1
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• pp.46-60
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• 2023

Climate change causes fluctuations in water quality in the aquatic environment, which can cause changes in water circulation patterns and severe adverse effects on aquatic ecosystems in the future. Therefore, research is needed to predict and respond to water quality changes caused by climate change in advance. In this study, we tried to predict the dissolved oxygen (DO), chlorophyll-a, and turbidity of the Paldang reservoir for about two weeks using long short-term memory (LSTM) and gated recurrent units (GRU), which are deep learning algorithms based on recurrent neural networks. The model was built based on real-time water quality data and meteorological data. The observation period was set from July to September in the summer of 2021 (Period 1) and from March to May in the spring of 2022 (Period 2). We tried to select an algorithm with optimal predictive power for each water quality parameter. In addition, to improve the predictive power of the model, an important variable extraction technique using random forest was used to select only the important variables as input variables. In both Periods 1 and 2, the predictive power after extracting important variables was further improved. Except for DO in Period 2, GRU was selected as the best model in all water quality parameters. This methodology can be useful for preventive water quality management by identifying the variability of water quality in advance and predicting water quality in a short period.

• Health Policy and Management
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• v.33 no.3
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• pp.295-310
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• 2023

Background: The long-term care (LTC) group has higher rates of chronic disease and disability registration compared to the general older people population. There is a need to provide integrated medical services and care for LTC group. Consequently, this study aimed to identify medical usage patterns based on the ratings of LTC and the characteristics of benefits usage in the LTC group. Methods: This study employed the National Health Insurance Service Database to analyze the effects of demographic and LTC-related characteristics on medical usage from 2015 to 2019 using a repeated measures analysis. A longitudinal logit model was applied to binary data, while a linear mixed model was utilized for continuous data. Results: In the case of LTC ratings, a positive correlation was observed with overall medical usage. In terms of LTC benefit usage characteristics, a higher overall level of medical usage was found in the group using home care benefits. Detailed analysis by medical institution classification revealed a maintained correlation between care ratings and the volume of medical usage. However, medical usage by classification varied based on the characteristics of LTC benefit usage. Conclusion: This study identified a complex interaction between LTC characteristics and medical usage. Predicting the requisite medical services based on the LTC rating presented a challenge. Consequently, it becomes essential for the LTC group to continuously monitor medical and care needs, even after admission into the LTC system. To facilitate this, it is crucial to devise an LTC rating system that accurately reflects medical needs and to broaden the implementation of integrated medical-care policies.

• Childhood Kidney Diseases
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.35-43
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• 2024

Purpose: Recurrent urinary tract infections (UTIs) in children is a major challenge for pediatricians. This study was designed to investigate the risk factors for recurrent UTIs and determine the association between recurrent UTIs and clinical findings, including growth patterns in infants and children younger than 24 months of age. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 147 patients <24 months of age with UTIs who were hospitalized between August 2018 and October 2021. The patients were divided into recurrent and single UTI episode groups. Clinical findings and anthropometric and laboratory data were compared between the two groups. Results: In the recurrent UTI group, the weight-for-length (WFL) percentile at the first UTI diagnosis was lower compared to the single UTI episode group, and the weight-for-age percentile at 3-month and 6-month follow-ups after the first UTI decreased (all P<0.05). In univariable logistic regression analysis, higher birth weight, lower WFL percentile, the presence of hydronephrosis, acute pyelonephritis or vesicoureteral reflux, the use of prophylactic antibiotics, and non-Escherichia coli infections were associated with the development of recurrent UTIs (all P<0.05). However, in the multivariable analysis, only the presence of hydronephrosis and prophylactic antibiotic use were independently related to UTI recurrence (P<0.05). Conclusions: The presence of hydronephrosis at the first UTI can be helpful for predicting UTI recurrence in young children aged <24 months. Antibiotic prophylaxis may be associated with UTI recurrence. Potential growth delay should be carefully monitored in infants with recurrent UTI.

• Journal of Powder Materials
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• v.31 no.1
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• pp.30-36
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• 2024

The aerospace and power generation industries have an increasing demand for high-temperature, high-strength materials. However, conventional materials typically lack sufficient fracture toughness and oxidation resistance at high temperatures. This study aims to enhance the high-temperature properties of Nb-Si-Ti alloys through ball milling. To analyze the effects of milling time, the progression of alloying is evaluated on the basis of XRD patterns and the microstructure of alloy powders. Spark plasma sintering (SPS) is employed to produce compacts, with thermodynamic modeling assisting in predicting phase fractions and sintering temperature ranges. The changes in the microstructure and variation in the mechanical properties due to the adjustment of the sintering temperature provide insights into the influence of Nb solid solution, Nb5Si3, and crystallite size within the compacts. By investigating the changes in the mechanical properties through strengthening mechanisms, such as precipitation strengthening, solid solution strengthening, and crystallite refinement, this study aims to verify the applicability of Nb-Si-Ti alloys in advanced material systems.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Agricultural Engineers
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• v.66 no.4
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• pp.1-15
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• 2024

In recent years, climate change has been responsible for unusual weather patterns on a global scale. Droughts, natural disasters triggered by insufficient rainfall, can inflict significant social and economic consequences on the entire agricultural sector due to their widespread occurrence and the challenge in accurately predicting their onset. The frequency of drought occurrences in South Korea has been rapidly increasing since 2000, with notably severe droughts hitting regions such as Incheon, Gyeonggi, Gangwon, Chungbuk, and Gyeongbuk in 2015, resulting in significant agricultural and social damage. To prepare for future drought occurrences resulting from climate change, it is essential to develop long-term drought predictions and implement corresponding measures for areas prone to drought. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Sixth Assessment Report outlines a climate change scenario under the Shared Socioeconomic Pathways (SSPs), which integrates projected future socio-economic changes and climate change mitigation efforts derived from the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project 6 (CMIP6). SSPs encompass a range of factors including demographics, economic development, ecosystems, institutions, technological advancements, and policy frameworks. In this study, various drought indices were calculated using SSP scenarios derived from 18 CMIP6 global climate models. The SSP5-8.5 scenario was employed as the climate change scenario, and meteorological drought indices such as the Standardized Precipitation Index (SPI), Self-Calibrating Effective Drought Index (scEDI), and Standardized Precipitation Evapotranspiration Index (SPEI) were utilized to analyze the prediction and variability of future drought occurrences in South Korea.

• Anatomy and Cell Biology
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• v.56 no.3
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• pp.313-321
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• 2023

The details of the facial nerve pattern were clearly explained in the parotid gland (PG), lateral area of the face, and periorbital areas to prevent the unexpected outcome of medical intervention. However, it remains unclear whether information about the zygomatico-buccal plexus (ZBP) in the masseteric and buccal regions. Therefore, this study aimed to help clinicians avoid this ZBP injury by predicting their common location. This study was conducted in forty-two hemifaces of twenty-nine embalmed cadavers by conventional dissection. The characteristics of the buccal branch (BB) and the ZBP were investigated in the mid-face region. The results presented that the BB gave 2-5 branches to emerge from the PG. According to the masseteric and buccal regions, the BB were arranged into ZBP in three patterns including an incomplete loop (11.9%), a single-loop (31.0%), and a multi-loop (57.1%). The mean distance and diameter of the medial line of the ZBP at the corner of the mouth level were 31.6 (6.7) and 1.5 (0.6) mm respectively, while at the alar base level were 22.5 (4.3) and 1.1 (0.6) mm respectively. Moreover, the angular nerve arose from the superior portion of the ZBP at the alar base level. The BB formed a multiloop mostly and showed a constant medial line of ZBP in an area approximately 30 mm lateral to the corner of the mouth, and 20 mm lateral to the alar base. Therefore, it is recommended that physicians should be very careful when performing facial rejuvenation in the mid-face region.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.38 no.3
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• pp.215-229
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• 2024

Because of the various patterns of deep-water inrush and complicated mechanisms, accurately predicting mine water inflows is always a difficult problem for coal mine geologists. In study presented in this paper, the water inrush channels were divided into four basic water diversion structures: aquifer, rock fracture zone, fracture zone and goaf. The fluid flow characteristics in each water-conducting structure were investigated by laboratory tests, and multistructure and multisystem coupling flow analysis models of different water-conducting structures were established to describe the entire water inrush process. Based on the research of the water inrush flow paths, the analysis model of different water inrush space structures was established and applied to the prediction of mine water inrush inflow. The results prove that the conduction sequence of different water-conducting structures and the changing rule of permeability caused by stress changes before and after the peak have important influences on the characteristics of mine water-gushing. Influenced by the differences in geological structure and combined with rock mass RQD and fault conductivity characteristics and other mine exploration data, the prediction of mine water inflow can be realized accurately. Taking the water transmitting path in the multistructure as the research object of water inrush, breaking through the limitation of traditional stratigraphic structure division, the prediction of water inflow and the estimation of potentially flooded area was realized, and water bursting intensity was predicted. It is of great significance in making reasonable emergency plans.

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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• v.106 no.2
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• pp.249-257
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• 2017

This study was conducted to analyze the relationship between tree-ring growth of Pinus densiflora and climate factors based on national forest inventory(NFI) data. Annual tree-ring growth data of P. densiflora collected by the $5^{th}$ NFI were first organized to analyze yearly growth patterns of the species. Yearly growing degree days and standard precipitation index based on daily mean temperature and precipitation data from 1951 to 2010 were calculated. Using the information, yearly temperature effect index(TEI) and precipitation effect index(PEI) were estimated to analyze the effect of climate conditions on the tree-ring growth of the species. A tree-ring growth estimation equation appropriate for P. densiflora was then developed by using the TEI and PEI as independent variables. The tree-ring growth estimation equation was finally applied to the climate change scenarios of RCP 4.5 and RCP 8.5 for predicting the changes in tree-ring growth of P. densiflora from 2011 to 2100. The results indicate that tree-ring growth of P. densiflora is predicted to be decreased over time when the tree-ring growth estimation equation is applied to the climate change scenarios of RCP 4.5 and RCP 8.5. It is predicted that the decrease of tree-ring growth over time is relatively small when RCP 4.5 is applied. On the other hand, the steep decrease of tree-ring growth was found in the application of RCP 8.5, especially after the year of 2050. The results of this study are expected to provide valuable information necessary for estimating local growth characteristics of P. densiflora and for predicting changes in tree-ring growth patterns caused by climates change.

• Journal of Korea Water Resources Association
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• v.45 no.8
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• pp.795-804
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• 2012

Recently, changes in rainfall intensity and patterns have been causing increasing soil loss worldwide. As a result, the water ecosystem becomes worse and crops yield are reduced with soil loss and nutrient loss with it. Many studies have been proposed to estimate runoff and soil loss to predict or decrease non-point source pollution. Although the USLE has been used for many years in estimating soil losses, the USLE cannot reflect effects on soil loss of changes in rainfall intensity and patterns. The WEPP, physically based model, is capable of predicting soil loss and runoff using various rainfall intensity. In this study, the WEPP model was simulated for sediment yield, runoff and peak runoff using data of 5, 10, 30, 60 minute term rainfall, Huff's method and design rainfall. In case of rainfall interval of 5 minutes and 60 minutes, the sediment and runoff values decreased by 24% and 19%, respectively. The peak rate runoff values decreased by 16% when rainfall interval changed from 5 minutes to 60 minutes, indicating the peak rate runoff values are affected by rainfall intensity to some degrees. As a result of simulating using Huff's method, all values (sediment yield, runoff, peak runoff) were found to be the greatest at third quartile. According to the analysis under various design rainfall conditions (2, 3, 5, 10, 20, 30, 50, 100, 200, 300 years frequency), sediment yield, runoff, and peak runoff of 906.2%, 249.4% and 183.9% were estimated using 2 year to 300 year frequency rainfall data.