• Atmosphere
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• v.31 no.5
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• pp.577-592
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• 2021

This study evaluates the predictability of the number of days of heat and cold damages by growth stages of rice in South Korea using the hindcast data (1986~2020) produced by Pusan National University Coupled General Circulation Model-Weather Research and Forecasting (PNU CGCM-WRF) model chain. The predictability is accessed in terms of Root Mean Square Error (RMSE), Normalized Standardized Deviations (NSD), Hit Rate (HR) and Heidke Skill Score (HSS). For the purpose, the model predictability to produce the daily maximum and minimum temperatures, which are the variables used to define heat and cold damages for rice, are evaluated first. The result shows that most of the predictions starting the initial conditions from January to May (01RUN to 05RUN) have reasonable predictability, although it varies to some extent depending on the month at which integration starts. In particular, the ensemble average of 01RUN to 05RUN with equal weighting (ENS) has more reasonable predictability (RMSE is in the range of 1.2~2.6℃ and NSD is about 1.0) than individual RUNs. Accordingly, the regional patterns and characteristics of the predicted damages for rice due to excessive high- and low-temperatures are well captured by the model chain when compared with observation, particularly in regions where the damages occur frequently, in spite that hindcasted data somewhat overestimate the damages in terms of number of occurrence days. In ENS, the HR and HSS for heat (cold) damages in rice is in the ranges of 0.44~0.84 and 0.05~0.13 (0.58~0.81 and -0.01~0.10) by growth stage. Overall, it is concluded that the PNU CGCM-WRF chain of 01RUN~05RUN and ENS has reasonable capability to predict the heat and cold damages for rice in South Korea.

• Korean Journal of Agricultural and Forest Meteorology
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.201-217
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• 2022

The United States is one of the largest producers of major crops such as wheat, maize, and soybeans, and is a major exporter of these crops. Therefore, it is important to estimate the crop production of the country in advance based on reliable long- term weather forecast information for stable crops supply and demand in Korea. The purpose of this study is to improve the seasonal predictability of the agro-climatic indices over the United States by using regional-scale daily temperature. For long-term numerical weather prediction, a dynamical downscaling is performed using Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) model, a regional climate model. As the initial and lateral boundary conditions of WRF, the global hourly prediction data obtained from the Pusan National University Coupled General Circulation Model (PNU CGCM) are used. The integration of WRF is performed for 22 years (2000-2021) for period from June to December of each year. The empirical quantile mapping, one of the bias correction methods, is applied to the timeseries of downscaled daily mean, minimum, and maximum temperature to correct the model biases. The uncorrected and corrected datasets are referred WRF_UC and WRF_C, respectively in this study. The daily minimum (maximum) temperature obtained from WRF_UC presents warm (cold) biases over most of the United States, which can be attributed to the underestimated the low (high) temperature range. The results show that WRF_C simulates closer to the observed temperature than WRF_UC, which lead to improve the long- term predictability of the temperature- based agro-climatic indices.

• Journal of Korea Entertainment Industry Association
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• v.14 no.8
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• pp.447-454
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• 2020

The purpose of this study was to determine the clinical effects of blood flow regulation exercise for improving patients' health care and its usefulness as a rehabilitation model for various diseases by analyzing and examining the existing literature. A literature review of Korean academic journals published over a 10-year period, from 2010 to 2019, was conducted using words such as "blood flow regulation," "blood flow restriction," "low-intensity exercise," and "Kaatsu." Kaatsu is a blood flow regulation exercise developed in 1966 by Dr. Yoshiaki Sato of Japan. It is an efficient and effective exercise method that uses blood flow regulation bands that increase the secretion of growth hormones to develop muscles within a short time, improves blood circulation and metabolism to prevent and improve adult diseases, shortens the rehabilitation period, and improves cardiovascular function. The study participants consisted of 10 patients, of whom four were elderly, four had obesity, one was a stroke patient, and one was a trauma patient. The results of this study show that the blood flow regulation exercise, which is a low-intensity exercise, has the same effect as high-intensity exercise, which supports the evidence that it is a highly efficient exercise method for muscle development and rehabilitation of the elderly, adolescents, and patients with injuries who have difficulty in general exercising. For future studies, further reviews are necessary to verify the effectiveness of the exercise method according to blood flow regulation site and type of disease.

• Korean Journal of Exercise Nutrition
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.65-71
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• 2012

Oxygen is the final acceptor of electron transport from fat and carbohydrate oxidation, which is the rate-limiting factor for cellular ATP production. Under altitude hypoxia condition, energy reliance on anaerobic glycolysis increases to compensate for the shortfall caused by reduced fatty acid oxidation [1]. Therefore, training at altitude is expected to strongly influence the human metabolic system, and has the potential to be designed as a non-pharmacological or recreational intervention regimen for correcting diabetes or related metabolic problems. However, most people cannot accommodate high altitude exposure above 4500 M due to acute mountain sickness (AMS) and insulin resistance corresponding to a increased levels of the stress hormones cortisol and catecholamine [2]. Thus, less stringent conditions were evaluated to determine whether glucose tolerance and insulin sensitivity could be improved by moderate altitude exposure (below 4000 M). In 2003, we and another group in Austria reported that short-term moderate altitude exposure plus endurance-related physical activity significantly improves glucose tolerance (not fasting glucose) in humans [3,4], which is associated with the improvement in the whole-body insulin sensitivity [5]. With daily hiking at an altitude of approximately 4000 M, glucose tolerance can still be improved but fasting glucose was slightly elevated. Individuals vary widely in their response to altitude challenge. In particular, the improvement in glucose tolerance and insulin sensitivity by prolonged altitude hiking activity is not apparent in those individuals with low baseline DHEA-S concentration [6]. In addition, hematopoietic adaptation against altitude hypoxia can also be impaired in individuals with low DHEA-S. In short-lived mammals like rodents, the DHEA-S level is barely detectable since their adrenal cortex does not appear to produce this steroid [7]. In this model, exercise training recovery under prolonged hypoxia exposure (14-15% oxygen, 8 h per day for 6 weeks) can still improve insulin sensitivity, secondary to an effective suppression of adiposity [8]. Genetically obese rats exhibit hyperinsulinemia (sign of insulin resistance) with up-regulated baseline levels of AMP-activated protein kinase and AS160 phosphorylation in skeletal muscle compared to lean rats. After prolonged hypoxia training, this abnormality can be reversed concomitant with an approximately 50% increase in GLUT4 protein expression. Additionally, prolonged moderate hypoxia training results in decreased diffusion distance of muscle fiber (reduced cross-sectional area) without affecting muscle weight. In humans, moderate hypoxia increases postprandial blood distribution towards skeletal muscle during a training recovery. This physiological response plays a role in the redistribution of fuel storage among important energy storage sites and may explain its potent effect on changing body composition. Conclusion: Prolonged moderate altitude hypoxia (rangingfrom 1700 to 2400 M), but not acute high attitude hypoxia (above 4000 M), can effectively improve insulin sensitivity and glucose tolerance for humans and antagonizes the obese phenotype in animals with a genetic defect. In humans, the magnitude of the improvementvaries widely and correlates with baseline plasma DHEA-S levels. Compared to training at sea-level, training at altitude effectively decreases fat mass in parallel with increased muscle mass. This change may be associated with increased perfusion of insulin and fuel towards skeletal muscle that favors muscle competing postprandial fuel in circulation against adipose tissues.

• Korean Circulation Journal
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• v.54 no.6
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• pp.339-350
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• 2024

Background and Objectives: Ultimaster^TM, a third-generation sirolimus-eluting stent using biodegradable polymer, has been introduced to overcome long term adverse vascular events, such as restenosis or stent thrombosis. In the present study, we aimed to evaluate the 12-month clinical outcomes of Ultimaster^TM stents in Korean patients with coronary artery disease. Methods: This study is a multicenter, prospective, observational registry across 12 hospitals. To reflect real-world clinical evidence, non-selective subtypes of patients and lesions were included in this study. The study end point was target lesion failure (TLF) (the composite of cardiac death, target vessel myocardial infarction [MI], and target lesion revascularization [TLR]) at 12-month clinical follow up. Results: A total of 576 patients were enrolled between November 2016 and May 2021. Most of the patients were male (76.5%), with a mean age of 66.0±11.2 years. Among the included patients, 40.1% had diabetes mellitus (DM) and 67.9% had acute coronary syndrome (ACS). At 12 months, the incidence of TLF was 4.1%. The incidence of cardiac death was 1.5%, MI was 1.0%, TLR was 2.7%, and stent thrombosis was 0.6%. In subgroup analysis based on the presence of ACS, DM, hypertension, dyslipidemia, or bifurcation, there were no major differences in the incidence of the primary endpoint. Conclusions: The present registry shows that Ultimaster^TM stent is safe and effective for routine real-world clinical practice in non-selective Korean patients, having a low rate of adverse events at least up to 12 months.

• Korean Circulation Journal
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• v.52 no.7
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• pp.544-555
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• 2022

Background and Objectives: The outcome benefits of β-blockers in chronic coronary artery disease (CAD) have not been fully assessed. We evaluated the prognostic impact of β-blockers on patients with chronic CAD after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). Methods: A total of 3,075 patients with chronic CAD were included from the Grand Drug-Eluting Stent registry. We analyzed β-blocker prescriptions, including doses and types, in each patient at 3-month intervals from discharge. After propensity score matching, 1,170 pairs of patients (β-blockers vs. no β-blockers) were derived. Primary outcome was defined as a composite endpoint of all-cause death and myocardial infarction (MI). We further analyzed the outcome benefits of different doses (low-, medium-, and high-dose) and types (conventional or vasodilating) of β-blockers. Results: During a median (interquartile range) follow-up of 3.1 (3.0-3.1) years, 134 (5.7%) patients experienced primary outcome. Overall, β-blockers demonstrated no significant benefit in primary outcome (hazard ratio [HR], 0.88; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.63-1.24), all-cause death (HR, 0.87; 95% CI, 0.60-1.25), and MI (HR, 1.25; 95% CI, 0.49-3.15). In subgroup analysis, β-blockers were associated with a lower risk of all-cause death in patients with previous MI and/or revascularization (HR, 0.38; 95% CI, 0.14-0.99) (p for interaction=0.045). No significant associations were found for the clinical outcomes with different doses and types of β-blockers. Conclusions: Overall, β-blocker therapy was not associated with better clinical outcomes in patients with chronic CAD undergoing PCI. Limited mortality benefit of β-blockers may exist for patients with previous MI and/or revascularization.

• Korean Circulation Journal
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• v.54 no.2
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• pp.63-75
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• 2024

Background and Objectives: Evidence regarding the efficacy and safety of intracardiac echocardiography (ICE) for guidance during transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) is limited. This study aimed to compare the clinical efficacy and safety of ICE versus transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) for guiding TAVR. Methods: This prospective cohort study included patients who underwent TAVR from August 18, 2015, to June 31, 2021. Eligible patients were stratified by echocardiographic modality (ICE or TEE) and anesthesia mode (monitored anesthesia care [MAC] or general anesthesia [GA]). Primary outcome was the 1-year composite of all-cause mortality, rehospitalization for cardiovascular cause, or stroke, according to the Valve Academic Research Consortium-3 (VARC-3) definition. Propensity score matching was performed, and study outcomes were analyzed for the matched cohorts. Results: Of the 359 eligible patients, 120 patients were matched for the ICE-MAC and TEEGA groups, respectively. The incidence of primary outcome was similar between matched groups (18.3% vs. 20.0%; adjusted hazard ratio, 0.94; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.53-1.68; p=0.843). ICE-MAC and TEE-GA also had similar incidences of moderate-to-severe paravalvular regurgitation (PVR) (4.2% vs. 5.0%; adjusted odds ratio, 0.83; 95% CI, 0.23-2.82; p=0.758), new permanent pacemaker implantation, and VARC-3 types 2-4 bleeding. Conclusions: ICE was comparable to TEE for guidance during TAVR for the composite clinical efficacy outcome, with similar incidences of moderate-to-severe PVR, new permanent pacemaker implantation, and major bleeding. These results suggest that ICE could be a safe and effective alternative echocardiographic modality to TEE for guiding TAVR.

• Korean Journal of Agricultural and Forest Meteorology
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.209-218
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• 2024

The National Institute of Agricultural Sciences (NAS) operates in-house long-range climate forecasting system to support the agricultural use of climate forecast data. This system, developed through collaborative research with Pusan National University, is based on the PNU/RDA Coupled General Circulation Model (CGCM) and includes the regional climate model WRF (Weather Research and Forecasting). It generates detailed climate forecast data for periods ranging from 1 to 6 months, covering 20 key variables such as daily maximum, minimum, and average temperatures, precipitation, and agricultural meteorological elements like solar radiation, soil moisture, and ground temperature-factors essential for agricultural forecasting. The data are provided at a daily temporal resolution with a spatial resolution of a 5km grid, which can be used in point form (interpolated) or averaged across administrative regions. The system's seasonal temperature and precipitation forecasts align closely with observed climatological data, accurately reflecting spatial and topographical influences, confirming its reliability. These long-range forecasts from NAS are expected to offer valuable insights for agricultural planning and decision-making. The detailed forecast data can be accessed through the Climate Change Assessment Division of NAS.

• Korean journal of communication and information
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• v.53
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• pp.29-52
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• 2011

The purpose of this study is to explore the influence exerted by integration of newsroom upon creation, organization, and operation of news, efficiency during the process of creating news, and the qualitative level of journalism. This study has also utilized a quantitative and qualitative survey method that compares the results of survey on perception of media personnel with the results of case studies. The survey on perception is based on a questionnaire survey separately conducted on changes to organizational operation after integration among executives of top 170 newspapers in USA selected based on circulation. The details of survey include the influence of 1) Change in the system of news coverage and reporting, 2) Qualitative change to journalism, and 3) The differing backgrounds of constituent members upon operation of the integrated newsroom. Moreover, to find out whether the quantitative index shown by the perception survey is actually reflected on the media which operates an integrated newsroom, this study has conducted an in depth interview with related personnel of New York Times and Media General in USA, TMG of UK, Nordjyske of Denmark, and CBS in Korea and also engaged in literature survey. The results of the surveys are as follows. First, this study found that unlike the assertions of many earlier studies, integration of the newsroom generally exerts positive influence upon the organizational operation of a media corporation. Second, after integration, inefficiency of the past for the organization in general including coverage and reporting system, communication within and outside the organization, output of journalists, etc. decreased, and synergistic effect was created. Third, integration of the newsroom generally exercised positive influence upon enhancing the qualitative level of journalism. Fourth, while the current personnel of media generally offered positive assessment of integrating constituent members of differing backgrounds as one newsroom, the case study also showed that there are many negative aspects to it.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Landscape Architecture
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• v.48 no.2
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• pp.34-44
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• 2020

The purpose of this study was to investigate the difference in perceptions between gardens and park functions as recognized by two groups, Group A and Group B, in order to confirm the distinction between concepts and functions and then establish the importance of individual functions. The AHP was used to analyze the importance of each group's perceptions by dividing them into garden and park, Group A and non-Group A, respectively. In Group A, the importance of garden functions were considered in descending order of importance to be cultural function, ecological function, and social function. In the general group, ecological function, cultural function, and social function also appeared, but in a different order of importance. As for the park functions, Group A recognized the importance of functions in a similar order of importance to the gardens: cultural function, ecological function, and social function. Group B thought that social function, ecological function, and cultural function have the same significance. At the major classification level, Group A and Group B emphasized the social function of the parks. Group A recognized the importance of the garden's cultural function as the most important, whereas the general group emphasized the importance of the garden's ecological function. As for the mid-class level, Group A recognized the aesthetic beauty, health, ecological environment protection, and water circulation as important functions of the garden. For Group B, the ecological environment protection, aesthetic beauty, water cycle, and health were important. The concepts and functions of gardens and parks are still largely mixed but are gradually becoming differentiated. As a follow-up study, it is important to systematically manage the functions of gardens by establishing design, construction, and monitoring DB techniques for the garden type and examine the hierarchy of various other gardens.