• Journal of Korea Water Resources Association
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• v.57 no.1
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• pp.45-58
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• 2024

Drought risk is expected to increase as the frequency, intensity, and duration of droughts increase due to climate change. Drought risk is related to not only hydro-meteorological factors, but also water supply and demand. Recently, along with climate change, socioeconomic factors have also been recognized to increase drought risk. Therefore, it is necessary to outlook the drought risk considering various conditions for coping with future extreme droughts in a timely manner. In addition, considering various drought scenarios help reduce the uncertainty in future drought outlook. In this study, drought scenarios considering climate change scenarios, population, and water demand were created to outlook drought risk for 160 administrative districts in Korea, then new levels of drought risk were assigned based on the results of drought risk outlook to suggest drought management measures. The results showed that the drought risk will increase in the future in 2020, 2025, and 2030, compared to past. Especially the drought risk is likely twice as high in 2030 under the baseline and high scenarios. Applying the drought outlook results from this study to the new methodology for setting the risk levels shows that most regions are in Response (V) in 2020 and 2030 for baseline and high scenarios.

• Analyses & Alternatives
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.87-115
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• 2024

This study examines the effect of R&D investment on firm performance and value of Chinese private firms. Through R&D investment, firms aim to acquire knowledge and technological resources to create innovation and competitive advantage, which ultimately enhances firm performance and value. However, unlike other investments, R&D investments are characterized by high adjustment costs and risks, uncertainty and asymmetric information. In addition, the effect of R&D investment on firm performance and value has been shown to be mixed results due to various internal and external contextual factors. Therefore, this study intends to consider how the ESG activities of firms, which have recently attracted attention, act as a contextual factor in the results of R&D investment. This is because interaction with stakeholders through ESG activities is considered to be an important factor in securing competitive advantages and sustainable growth. In this context, this study measures the effect of a firm's R&D investment on its business performance by dividing it into financial performance and value, respectively, and examines the moderating effect of ESG score on the relationship. Based on empirical analysis of all Chinese private firms from 2010 to 2019, the results show that a firm's R&D investment has a negative impact on performance and a positive impact on value. Furthermore, a high ESG score of private firms positively moderates each relationship, emphasizing the importance of ESG activities.

• The Journal of the Acoustical Society of Korea
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• v.43 no.4
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• pp.422-435
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• 2024

This study intended to verify the effects of face masks on the Korean language in terms of acoustic, aerodynamic, and formant parameters. We chose all types of face masks available in Korea based on filter performance and folding type. Two professional voice actors (a male and a female) with more than 20 years of experience who are native Koreans and speak standard Korean participated in this study as speakers of voice data. Face masks attenuated the high-frequency range, resulting in decreased Vowel Space Area (VSA) and Vowel Articulation Index (VAI)scores and an increased Low-to-High spectral ratio (L/H ratio) in all voice samples. This can result in lower speech intelligibility. However, the degree of increment and decrement was based on the voice characteristics. For female speakers, the Speech Level (SL) and Cepstral Peak Prominence (CPP) increased with increasing face mask thickness. In this study, the presence or filter performance of a face mask was found to affect speech acoustic parameters according to the speech characteristics. Face masks provoked vocal effort when the vocal intensity was not sufficiently strong, or the environment had less reverberance. Further research needs to be conducted on the vocal efforts induced by face masks to overcome acoustic modifications when wearing masks.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.34 no.1
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• pp.63-71
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• 2020

This study characterized the spatial and seasonal patterns of light pollution in the Deogyusan National Park and examined the potential effects of light pollution on ecosystems in the park using light intensities derived from VIIRS (Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite) DNB (Day and Night Band) nightlight images collected in January and August 2018. Results showed that the Muju Deogyusan resort had the greatest light intensity than other sources of light pollution in the park, and light intensity of the resort was much higher in January than in August, suggesting that artificial lights in ski slopes and facilities were the major source of light pollution in the park. An analysis of an urban-natural light pollution gradient along a neighboring urban area through the inside of the park indicated that light radiated from a light pollution source permeated for up to 1km into the adjacent area and contaminated the edge area of the park. Of the legally protected species whose distributions were reported in literature, four mammals (Martes flavigula, Mustela nivalis, Prionailurus bengalensis, Pteromys volans aluco), two birds (Falco subbuteo, Falco tinnunculus), and nine amphibians and reptiles (Onychodactylus koreanus, Hynobius leechii, Karsenia koreana, Rana dybowskii, Rana huanrenensis, Elaphe dione, Rhabdophis tigrinus, Gloydius ussuriensis, Gloydius saxatilis) inhabited light-polluted areas. Of those species inhabiting light-polluted areas, nocturnal species, such as Prionailurus bengalensis and Pteromys volans aluco, in particular, were vulnerable to light pollution. These results implied that protecting ecosystems from light pollution in national parks requires managing nighttime light in the parks and surrounding areas and making a plan to manage nighttime light pollution by taking into account ecological characteristics of wild animals in the parks.

• Journal of Technology Innovation
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.149-175
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• 2014

This study analyzed the effect of corporate innovation strategies on patent production and ultimately on technological change and new product development of firms in South Korea. The intent was to derive efficient strategies for enhancing technological performance of the firms. For the empirical analysis, three sources of data were combined: four waves of the Human Capital Corporate Panel Survey (HCCP) data collected by the Korea Research Institute for Vocational Education and Training (KRIVET), corporate financial data obtained from the Korea Information Service (KIS), and corporate patent data provided by the Korean Intellectual Property Office (KIPO). The patent production function was estimated by zero-inflated negative binomial (ZINB) regression. The technological performance function was estimated by two-stage regression, taking into account the endogeneity of patent production. An ordered logit model was applied for the second stage regression. Empirical results confirmed the critical role of corporate innovation strategies in patent production and in facilitating technological change and new product development of the firms. In patent production, the firms' R&D investment and human resources were key determinants. Higher R&D intensity led to more patents, yet with decreasing marginal productivity. A larger stock of registered patents also led to a larger flow of new patent production. Firms were more prolific in patent production when they had high-quality personnel, intensely investing in human resource development, and adopting market-leading or fast-follower strategy as compared to stability strategy. In technological performance, the firms' human resources played a key role in accelerating technological change and new product development. R&D intensity expedited new product development of the firm. Firms adopting market-leading or fast-follower strategy were at an advantage than those with stability strategy in technological performance. Firms prolific in patent production were also advanced in terms of technological change and new product development. However, the nexus between patent production and technological performance measures was substantially reduced when controlling for the endogeneity of patent production. These results suggest that firms need to strengthen the linkage between patent production and technological performance, and take strategies that address each firm's capacities and needs.

• Journal of Climate Change Research
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• v.1 no.3
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• pp.189-203
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• 2010

The objective of this study is the estimate of $CO_2$ emissions by the energy consumption of functional technology introduced by classifying energy use in households according to functions as well as energy resources. This study also intends to provide the practical basis data in order to establish specific alternatives for GHG mitigation in residential sector with examining the cause analysis affecting $CO_2$ emission increases from 1995 to 2007. The results of this study show a 6.6% increase in the total $CO_2$ from 60,636 thousand tons in 1995 to 64,611 thousand tons in 2007 by using energy in residential sector. Heating is the greatest $CO_2$ emission sector by use, followed electric appliances, cooking, lighting and cooling. Heating sector shows 56.6% reductions from 71.5% in 1995 and as do cooling and electric home appliances, with a 2.4% increase from 0.6% and a 21.8% increase from 14.2% respectively. To analyze factors resulted in $CO_2$ emissions in residential sector, the relevant indicator change rate from 2005 to 2007 was examined. The results find that population, the number of household, housing areas, family patterns, and family income resulted in the $CO_2$ emissions increase in residential sector from 1995 to 2007. On the other hand, carbon intensity and energy intensity contribute to $CO_2$ reduction in residential sector with -2% and -38.7% respectively because of the energy conversion and the improvement of energy efficiency in electronic appliances. This study can be used as a reference when taken account of the reality and considered the introduction of highly effective measures to increase the possibility of mitigation potential in residential sector hereafter.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• v.11 no.4
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• pp.213-233
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• 1979

It is generally agreed that the country's population will grow up to the level of 52 million by the year of 2000 and that due the active growth of industry, urbanization and road constructions, sizable portion of existing arable lands will be utilized for other purposes than agriculture in near future. From 1966 to 1977, it was estimated that, the average annual conversion of arable lands to other uses, was 12,909 ha. If this trend persists, it is predicted that from 1978 to 1991 when the 6th Five Years Economic Development Plan will terminate, approximately 181,000 ha of arable lands will be converted for other uses again. On the other hand, it is certain that the increased population (39 million in 1981, 45 million in 1991, 52 million in 2001) and the changes in food pattern along with the enhancement of living standards will bring about the phenomenal increase in demands for not only the staple food but also the livestock products such as meat, milk and eggs, vegetables and fruits. These future increased demands for various foods, naturally mean the increased needs for the expansion of arable lands at the same time. It is predicted that, if more activities than present scale are not taken for the expansion of arable lands, the national food self sufficiency level will drop from 79% in 1977 down to 62% in 1991. To meet the increased food demands in future, there are several ways and means. These will include the increased land use intensity, elevation of unit area yield levels, minimization of conversion of arable lands to other uses and expansion of arable lands through the reclamations of idle hillside lands and tidal lands. Among these, the expansion of arable lands through reclamations of idle hillside lands and tidal lands are more positive measures to cope with the increased production of foods in future. The reclamation of hillside lands demands more attention because it needs more advanced technologies in agronomical and engineering aspects, larger scale fundings and integrated socioeconomic considerations. In agromical aspects, the thechniques for early improvement of chemical and physical properties of soils, proper soil conservation measures and rational cropping systems are of particular importance. As to the financial supports to encourage the farmings in hillside land, much bold fund inputs are essential for the construction of roads, installation of irrigation and drainage facilities, soil conservation mechanisms, which will ensure the stabilized farming with reasonable incomes in the newly reclaimed lands.

• Journal of Korean Ophthalmic Optics Society
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• v.12 no.4
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• pp.111-117
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• 2007

The visual evoke potential(VEP) is the effective method to diagnose and treat the amblyopia or to check the infants visual ability. In order to evaluate the changes of P100 latencies and amplitudes of VEP by intensity of illumination and refractive errors, we measured latencies and amplitudes of 41 normal adults (20/20 VA) who have no ocular diseases and neurologic diseases. The results were as follows: In the scotopic condition, the latencies were N75$75.83{\pm}3.69$ msec, P100$103.48{\pm}5.34$ msec, the P100 amplitude was $14.86{\pm}2.43$ msec, and in the photopic condition, the latencies were N75$76.71{\pm}3.11$ msec, P100$107.26{\pm}5.54$ msec and the P100 amplitude was $10.35{\pm}1.75$ msec. The latencies and amplitudes of P100 in the photopic condition had higher values than those in the scotopic condition and the measures were significantly different between the scotopic and photopic condition (p<0.01). The P100 latencies were delayed both in the scotopic and photopic condition with the refractive errors and those measures were delayed more than in the photopic condition. The P100 amplitudes in the induced myopic and hyperopic conditionsreduced than in the emmetopes in both illumination conditions. The P100 latencies and amplitudes in emmetropes showed a correlation with the induced myopic conditions in the scotopic condition. Those results showed that P100 latencies and amplitudes are dependent on the illumination conditions and refractive errors. And we suggest that those results would be useful to determine and evaluate the normal range for the person considering patients' refractive errors and illumination of the test room.

• Journal of Climate Change Research
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• v.3 no.1
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• pp.71-88
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• 2012

The global warming is probably the most significant issue of concern all over the world and according to the report published by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), the average temperature and extent of global warming around the globe have been on the rise and so have the uncertainty for the future. Such effects of global warming have adverse effects on basic foundation of the mankind in numerous ways and water resource is no exception. The researches on water resources assessment for climate change are significant enough to be used as the preliminary data for researches in other fields. In this research, a total of 124 peer-reviewed publications and 57 reports on the subject of research on climate change related to water resources, that has been carried out so far in Korea has been reviewed. The research on climate change in Korea (inclusive of the peer-reviewed articles and reports) has mainly focused on the future projection and assessment. In the fields of hydrometeorology tendency and projection, the analysis has been carried out with focus on surface water, flood, etc. for hydrological variables and precipitation, temperature, etc. for meteorological variables. This can be attributed to the large, seasonal deviation in the amount of rainfall and the difficulty of water resources management, which is why, the analysis and research have been carried out with focus on those variables such as precipitation, temperature, surface water, flood, etc. which are directly related to water resources. The future projection of water resources in Korea may differ from region to region; however, variables such as precipitation, temperature, surface water, etc. have shown a tendency for increase; especially, it has been shown that whereas the number of casualties due to flood or drought decreases, property damage has been shown to increase. Despite the fact that the intensity of rainfall, temperature, and discharge amount are anticipated to rise, appropriate measures to address such vulnerabilities in water resources or management of drainage area of future water resources have not been implemented as yet. Moreover, it has been found that the research results on climate change that have been carried out by different bodies in Korea diverge significantly, which goes to show that many inherent uncertainties exist in the various stage of researches. Regarding the strategy in response to climate change, the voluntary response by an individual or a corporate entity has been found to be inadequate owing to the low level of awareness by the citizens and the weak social infrastructure for responding to climate change. Further, legal or systematic measures such as the governmental campaign on the awareness of climate change or the policy to offer incentives for voluntary reduction of greenhouse gas emissions have been found to be insufficient. Lastly, there has been no case of any research whatsoever on the anticipated effects on the economy brought about by climate change, however, there are a few cases of on-going researches. In order to establish the strategy to prepare for and respond to the anticipated lack of water resources resulting from climate change, there is no doubt that a standardized analysis on the effects on the economy should be carried out first and foremost.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.44 no.6
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• pp.1296-1307
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• 1997

Background : Erdosteine is a thiol derivative developed for the treatement of chronic obstructive bronchitis, including acute infective exacerbation of chronic bronchitis. Erdosteine has mucomodulating and antioxidant properties and especially exhibits excellent gastrointestinal tolerability. Methods : The study was conducted as a prospective evaluation, with 2 comparative groups orally treated with erdosteine 300mg (bid.) or ambroxol 30mg (b.i.d.) for 7 days and the design of trial was double-blind. The treatments have been assigned randomly to patients (n=80) with acute or chronic bronchitis. The primary end-point used to determine efficacy in this study was subjective symptoms including expectorating frequence, expectoration volume, expectorating difficulty, expectoration viscosity, cough intensity and dyspnea. The secondary end-points of efficacy was the result of arterial blood gas analysis and pulmonary function test. Safety was evaluated with adverse drug reactions and laboratory tests monitoring. 61 patients was included in the efficacy analysis, due to the fact that 19 patients drop-out for different reasons. The obtained values have been analyzed with paired Hest., ANOVA test., multivariate $t^2$-test, repeated measures analysis of covariance, two sample t-test, loglinear-logit model analysis, Fisher's exact test. Results : 1) There was no significant difference on demographic data and vital signs between erdosteine and ambroxol treated groups. 2) The comparison between erdosteine and ambroxol treated groups showed no significant difference in improvement of each symptom in spite of the more favorable efficacy obtained with erdosteine. No difference on the contrary was observed for arterial blood gas analysis and pulmonary function test. 3) As safety is concerned, no clinical significant changes in laboratory test and symptom were induced in erdosteine and ambroxol treated group and two patients in ambroxol treated group drop-out for adverse reactions in symptom. 4) In the evaluation of final clinical efficacy, erdosteine improved more effectively patient's overall symptoms {very good effect (11/31), good effect (12/31), moderate effect (6/31), no effect (2/31), aggravation (0/31)} than ambroxol {very good effect (6/30), good effect (14/30), moderate effect (5/30), no effect (4/30), aggravation (2/30)}. And the probability of symptomatic improvement by erdosteine compared to ambroxol was 2.5 times. (p<0.05). Conclusion : This study showed that erdosteine was clinically effective and safe drug for treatment of acute and chronic bronchitis.