• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.37 no.3 s.108
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• pp.344-354
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• 2004

A pilot study was performed from September 2000 to April 2004 to examine the feasibility of the wetland-pond system for the agricultural reuse of reclaimed water. The wetland system was a subsurface flow type, with a hydraulic residence time of 3.5 days, and the subsequent pond was 8 $m^3$ in volume (2 m ${\times}$ 2 m ${\times}$ 2 m) and operated with intermittent-discharge and continuous flow types. The wetland system was effective in treating the sewage; median removal efficiencies of $BOD_5$ and TSS were above 70.0%, with mean effluent concentrations of 27.1 and 16.8 mg $L^{-1}$, respectively, for these constituents. However, they did often exceed the effluent water quality standards of 20 mg $L^{-1}$. Removal of T-N and T-P was relatively less effective and mean effluent concentrations were approximately 103.2 and 7.2 mg $L^{-1}$, respectively. The wetland system demonstrated high removal rate (92 ${\sim}$ 90%) of microorganisms, but effluent concentrations were in the range of 300 ${\sim}$ 16,000 MPN 100 $mL^{-1}$ which is still high for agricultural reuse. The subsequent pond system provided further treatment of the wetland effluent, and especially additional microorganisms removal in addition to wetland-pond system could reduce the mean concentration to 1,000 MPN 100 $mL^{-1}$ from about $10^5$ MPN 100 $mL^{-1}$ of wetland influent. Other parameters in the pond system showed seasonal variation, and the upper layer of the pond water column became remarkably clear immediately after ice melt. Overall, the wetland system was found to be adequate for treating sewage with stable removal efficiency, and the subsequent pond was effective for further polishing. This study concerned agricultural reuse of reclaimed water using natural systems. Considering stable performance and effective removal of bacterial indicators as well as other water quality parameters, low maintenance, and cost-effectiveness, wetland- pond system was thought to be an effective and feasible alternative for agricultural reuse of reclaimed water in rural area.

• The Sea:JOURNAL OF THE KOREAN SOCIETY OF OCEANOGRAPHY
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.41-50
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• 2010

We have developed an in-situ benthic chamber (BelcI) for use in coastal studies that can be deployed from a small boat. It is expected that BelcI will be useful in studying the benthic boundary layer because of its flexibility. BelcI is divided into three main areas: 1) frame and body chamber, 2) water sampler, and 3) stirring devices, electric controller, and data acquisition technology. To maximize in-situ use, the frame is constructed from two layers that consist of square cells. All electronic parts (motor controller, pA meter, data acquisition, etc.) are low-power consumers so that the external power supply can be safely removed from the system. The hydrodynamics of BelcI, measured by PIV (particle image velocimetry), show a typical "radial-flow impeller" pattern. Mixing time of water in the chamber is about 30 s, and shear velocity ($u^*$) near the bottom layer was calculated at $0.32\;cm\;s^{-1}$. Measurements of diffusivity boundary layer thickness showed a range of $180-230\;{\mu}m$. Sediment oxygen consumption rate, measured in-situ，was $84\;mmol\;O_2\;m^{-2}\;d_{-1}$, more than two times higher than on-board incubation results. Benthic fluxes assessed from in-situ incubation were estimated as follows: nitrate + nitrite = $0.18\;{\pm}\;0.07\;mmol\;m^{-2}\;d^{-1}$ ammonium $23\;{\pm}\;1\;mmol\;m^{-2}\;d^{-1}$ phosphate = $0.09\;{\pm}\;0.02\;mmol\;m^{-2}\;d^{-1}$ and silicate = $23\;{\pm}\;1\;mmol\;m^{-2}\;d^{-1}$.

• Journal of the Korean Vacuum Society
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.16-22
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• 2008

We studied plasma etching of polycarbonate in $O_2/SF_6$, $O_2/N_2$ and $O_2/CH_4$. A capacitively coupled plasma system was employed for the research. For patterning, we used a photolithography method with UV exposure after coating a photoresist on the polycarbonate. Main variables in the experiment were the mixing ratio of $O_2$ and other gases, and RF chuck power. Especially, we used only a mechanical pump for in order to operate the system. The chamber pressure was fixed at 100 mTorr. All of surface profilometry, atomic force microscopy and scanning electron microscopy were used for characterization of the etched polycarbonate samples. According to the results, $O_2/SF_6$ plasmas gave the higher etch rate of the polycarbonate than pure $O_2$ and $SF_6$ plasmas. For example, with maintaining 100W RF chuck power and 100 mTorr chamber pressure, 20 sccm $O_2$ plasma provided about $0.4{\mu}m$/min of polycarbonate etch rate and 20 sccm $SF_6$ produced only $0.2{\mu}m$/min. However, the mixed plasma of 60 % $O_2$ and 40 % $SF_6$ gas flow rate generated about $0.56{\mu}m$ with even low -DC bias induced compared to that of $O_2$. More addition of $SF_6$ to the mixture reduced etch of polycarbonate. The surface roughness of etched polycarbonate was roughed about 3 times worse measured by atomic force microscopy. However examination with scanning electron microscopy indicated that the surface was comparable to that of photoresist. Increase of RF chuck power raised -DC bias on the chuck and etch rate of polycarbonate almost linearly. The etch selectivity of polycarbonate to photoresist was about 1:1. The meaning of these results was that the simple capacitively coupled plasma system can be used to make a microstructure on polymer with $O_2/SF_6$ plasmas. This result can be applied to plasma processing of other polymers.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine
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• v.4 no.2
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• pp.11-27
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• 1970

Cardiac output, plasma volume and renal plasma flow were determined to evaluate hemodynamic changes in 29 patients with cirrhosis of the liver. The results obtained were as follows. 1. The mean plasma volume was 3793+895ml and it was significantly higher than the normal controls. The mean blood volume ($5266{\pm}1222ml$) and blood volume per kg body weight ($95.7{\pm}23.41ml$) were also increased significantly. The mean plasma volume per kg body weight ($69.1{\pm}19.1ml$) showed increased tendency and the mean difference between blood volume and plasma volume per kg body weight ($26.4{\pm}7.05ml$) was in lower limit of normal range. 2. The mean cardiac output was $7708{\pm}2652ml/min$ and it was significantly increased. The mean cardiac index ($4924{\pm}1998ml/min/M^2$), stroke volume ($96.2{\pm}34.2ml/beat$), stroke index ($62.3{\pm}27.34ml/M^2$) and fractional cardiac index ($1.54{\pm}0.577$) were also increased significantly. The mean total -peripheral resistance was $1664{\pm}753.8\;dynes\;sec\;cm^{-5}M^2$ and it was significantly lower than the normal controls. 3. The mean renal plasma flow was $537{\pm}146.8ml/min/1.73M^2$ and it was normal to decreased tendency. The mean endogenous creatinine clearance ($66.7{\pm}23.0ml/min/1.73M^2$) was significantly decreased. Filtration fraction was variable, but it was slightly lower than normal in most cases. The mean renal fraction of cardiac output ($11.4{\pm}6.27%$) was relatively decreased. 4. Although renal plasma flow was normal or decreased in general, it was definitely diminished in patients with creatinine clearance less than $60ml/min/1.73M^2$, resistant ascites, and signs of azotemia (elevated BUN and serum creatinine). 5. Diminished glomrular filtration rate with low filtration fraction and decreased renal fraction of cardiac output observed strongly supported increased renal afferent arteriolar resistance. 6. Renal circulatory impairment preceded azotemia or oroliguria in cirrhosis. 7. Clinical findigns and liver function were not correlated with hemodynamic changes, except for esophageal varices associated with high cardiac output obsedved. 8. No definite correlation of renal hemodynamics with plasma volume or cardiac output was found.

• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
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• v.31 no.11
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• pp.1007-1018
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• 2009

Hydrocyclone is widely used in industry, because of its simplicity in design, high capacity, low maintenance and operational cost. The separation action of a hydrocyclone treating particulate slurry is a consequence of the swirling flow that produces a centrifugal force on the fluid and suspended particles. In spite of hydrocyclone have many advantage, the application for treatment of urban stormwater case study were rare. We conducted a laboratory scale study on treatable potential of micro particles using hydrocyclone filter (HCF) that was a combined modified hydrocyclone with perlite filter cartridge. Since it was not easy to use actual storm water in the scaled-down hydraulic model investigations, it was necessary to reproduce ranges of particles sizes with synthetic materials. The synthesized storm runoff was made with water and addition of particles; ion exchange resin, road sediment, commercial area manhole sediment, and silica gel particles. Experimental studies have been carried out about the particle separation performance of HCF-open system and HCF-closed system. The principal structural differences of these HCFs are underflow zone structure and vortex finder. HCF was made of acryl resin with 120 mm of diameter hydrocyclone and 250 mm of diameter filter chamber and overall height of 800 mm. To determine the removal efficiency for various influent concentrations of suspended solids (SS) and chemical oxygen demand (COD), tests were performed with different operational conditions. The operated maximum of surface loading rate was about 700 $m^3/m^2$/day for HCF-open system, and 1,200 $m^3/m^2$/day for HCF-closed system. It was found that particle removal efficiency for the HCF-closed system is better than the HCF-open system under same surface loading rate. Results showed that SS removal efficiency with the HCF-closed system improved by about 8~20% compared with HCF-open system. The average removal efficiency difference for HCF-closed system between measurement and CFD particle tracking simulation was about 4%.

• Clean Technology
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.375-382
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• 2014

This work investigated the plasma-catalytic decomposition of isopropyl alcohol (IPA) and the behavior of the byproduct compounds over monolith-supported metal oxide catalysts. Iron oxide ($Fe_2O_3$) or copper oxide (CuO) was loaded on a monolithic porous ${\alpha}-Al_2O_3$ support, which was placed inside the coaxial electrodes of plasma reactor. The IPA decomposition efficiency itself hardly depended on the presence and type of metal oxides because the rate of plasma-induced decomposition was so fast, but the behavior of byproduct formation was largely affected by them. The concentrations of the unwanted byproducts, including acetone, formaldehyde, acetaldehyde, methane, carbon monoxide, etc., were in order of $Fe_2O_3/{\alpha}-Al_2O_3$ < $CuO/{\alpha}-Al_2O_3$ < ${\alpha}-Al_2O_3$ from low to high. Under the condition (flow rate: $1L\;min^{-1}$; IPA concentration: 5,000 ppm; $O_2$ content: 10%; discharge power: 47 W), the selectivity towards $CO_2$ was about 40, 80 and 95% for ${\alpha}-Al_2O_3$, $CuO/{\alpha}-Al_2O_3$ and $Fe_2O_3/{\alpha}-Al_2O_3$, respectively, indicating that $Fe_2O_3/{\alpha}-Al_2O_3$ is the most effective for plasma-catalytic oxidation of IPA. Unlike plasma-alone processes in which tar-like products formed from volatile organic compounds are deposited, the present plasma-catalyst hybrid system did not exhibit such a phenomenon, thus retaining the original catalytic activity.

• Ecology and Resilient Infrastructure
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• v.9 no.3
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• pp.183-193
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• 2022

The growth inhibitory effect of Microcystis aeruginosa according to the ultrasonic irradiation time was evaluated using a large algae sample volume (10 L) for various ultrasonic irradiation times (0.5, 1, 1.5, 2, 2.5 and 3 hr) at a laboratory scale. Based on the analysis of Chl-a and cell number of M. aerginosa, algae growth inhibition was observed with the decrease in Chl-a and cell number in all experimental groups after the ultrasonic irradiation. For the experimental group (T_B, T_C, T_D) with an ultrasonic irradiation time of less than 2 hours, rapid regrowth of algae was observed after growth inhibition, but the experimental group (T_E, T_F, T_G) with an irradiation time of more than 2 hours successfully inhibited algal growth lasting one or two more days. Based on the comparison of the recovery time to initial cell number the experimental group (T_B, T_C, T_D) took less than 20 days whereas the experimental group (T_E, T_F, T_G) took about 30 days. Correspondingly, the experimental group showed a high first order decay rate (𝜅) in proportion to the ultrasonic irradiation time during the growth inhibition period. Additionally, the specific growth rates (𝜇) during regrowth in the experimental group with irradiation time of more than 2 hours were relatively low compared to those in the experimental group with less than 2 hours. Therefore, ultrasonic irradiation for more than 2 hours is required for long-term (30 days) inhibition of algal growth in stagnant waters. However, the appropriate ultrasonic irradiation time for algae growth inhibition should be determined according to various field conditions such as the volume of stagnant water, water depth, flow rate, algae concentration, etc. Finally, damages to the algal cell surface and cell membrane were clearly observed, and both destruction and disturbance of gas vesicles of M. aeruginosa in the experimental group were discovered, indicating the growth inhibitory effect of Microcystis aeruginosa according to the ultrasonic irradiation time was confirmed.

• Health Policy and Management
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.273-275
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• 2017

It has been forty years since the implementation of National Health Insurance (NHI) in South Korea. Following the 1977 legislature mandating medical insurance for employees and dependents in firms with more than 500 employees, South Korea expanded its health insurance to urban residents in 1989. Resultantly, total expenses of the National Health Insurance Service (NHIS) have greatly increased from 4.5 billion won in 1977 to 50.89 trillion won in 2016. With multiple insurers merging into the NHI system in 2000, a single-payer healthcare system emerged, along with separation policy of prescribing and dispensing. Following such reform, an emerging financial crisis required injections from the National Health Promotion Fund. Forty years following the introduction of the NHI system, both praise and criticism have been drawn. In just 12 years, the NHI achieved the fastest health population coverage in the world. Current medical expenditure is not high relative to the rest of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development. The quality of acute care in Korea is one of the best in the world. There is no sign of delayed diagnosis and/or treatment for most diseases. However, the NHI has been under-insured, requiring high-levels of out-of-pocket money from patients and often causing catastrophic medical expenses. Furthermore, the current environmental circumstances of the NHI are threatening its sustainability. Low birth rate decline, as well as slow economic growth, will make sustainment of the current healthcare system difficult in the near future. An aging population will increase the amount of medical expenditure required, especially with the baby-boomer generation of those born between 1955 and 1965. Meanwhile, there is always the problem of unification for the Korean Peninsula, and what role the health insurance system will have to play when it occurs. In the presidential election, health insurance is a main issue; however, there is greater focus on expansion and expenditure than revenue. Many aspects of Korea's NHI system (1977) were modeled after the German (1883) and Japanese (1922) systems. Such systems were created during an era where infections disease control was most urgent and thus, in the current non-communicable disease (NCD) era, must be redesigned. The Korean system, which is already forty years old, must be redesigned completely. Although health insurance benefit expansion is necessary, financial measures, as well as moral hazard control measures, must also be considered. Ultimately, there are three aspects that we must consider when attempting redesign of the system. First, the health security system must be reformed. NHI and Medical Aid must be amalgamated into one system for increased effectiveness and efficiency of the system. Within the single insurer system of the NHI must be an internal market for maximum efficiency. The NHIS must be separated into regions so that regional organizers have greater responsibility over their actions. Although insurance must continue to be imposed nationally, risk-adjustment must be distributed regionally and assessed by different regional systems. Second, as a solution for the decreasing flow of insurance revenue, low premium level must be increased to an appropriate level. Likewise, the national reserve fund (No. 36, National Health Insurance Act) must be enlarged for re-unification preparation. Third, there must be revolutionary reform of benefit package. The current system built a focus on communicable diseases which is inappropriate in this NCD era. Medical benefits must not be one-time events but provide chronic disease management. Chronic care models, accountable care organization, patient-centered medical homes, and other systems that introduce various benefit packages for beneficiaries must be implemented. The reimbursement system of medical costs should be introduced to various systems for different types of care, as is the case with part C (Medicare Advantage Program) of America's Medicare system that substitutes part A and part B. Pay for performance must be expanded so that there is not only improvement in quality of care but also medical costs. Moreover, beneficiaries of the NHI system must be aware of the amount of their expenditure through a deductible payment system so that spending can be profiled and monitored. The Moon Jae-in Government has announced its plans to expand the NHI system; however, it is important that a discussion forum is created so that more accurate analysis of the NHI, its environments, and current status of health care system, can take place for reforming NHI.

• Childhood Kidney Diseases
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• v.4 no.2
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• pp.127-135
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• 2000

Purpose: Cyclosporine(CsA) is a potent immunosuppressant but the use of CsA is associated with various side effects, especially nephrotoxicity. In tile kidney, salt depletion activates tile renin-angiotensin-aldosteron(RAS) system and accentuates chronic CsA nephropathy. We postulate that angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors(ACEI) can prevent chronic CsA nephropathy, since ACEI may inhibit this cascades. This study was aimed to assess the effect of ACEI on chronic cyclosporin nephropathy in salt depleted rats. Methods: 36 Fischer-344 rats were divided into 6 goups. Group I received normal salt diet(NSD). Group II received a low salt diet(LSD). Group III received CsA with a NSD. Group IV received CsA with a LSD. Group V received NSD+CsA with ACEI. Group VI received LSD+CsA with ACEI. Rats were sacrificed after six weeks and the glomerular filtration rate(GFR), serum sodium, potassium and whole blood cyclosporine levels were measured. Renal tissues me sampled for the observation of histological changes. Results: No differences in blood CsA level & serum sodium were found between groups during the course of this experiment. Serum potassium in group VI was significantly increased compared with group IV and V (P<0.05). In groups treated with CsA only and in those where CsA was combined with ACEI, GFR was found to be significantly more decreased in LSD than NSD, and GFR in group V was significantly decreased in comparison with group III (P<0.05). Renal histologic lesions associated with CsA which consisted of cortical interstitial fibrosis, tubular atrophy and hyalinization of arterioles were more severe in tile LSD group. But, no differences were observed between tile groups treated with CsA and ACEI, and the groups treated with only CsA. Conclusion: Salt depletion associated with the activation of the RAS system accentuated chronic CsA nephrotoxicity, but, ACEI could not reduce the functional and morphological changes of salt depleted kidneys, in which nephropathy can be exacerbated in spite of the blocking of the angiotensin II pathway. further studies are required to elucidate whether Am ameliorated the effect of salt-depleted CsA nephrotoxicity upon the effective renal blood flow.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.42 no.3
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• pp.350-363
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• 2009

Inter- and intra-specific differences in removal activities, filtering rates (FR) and production of feces-and pseudo-feces (PF) between a native freshwater bivalve in Korea, Anodonta woodiana Lea and Unio douglasiae Griffith et Pidgeon, were compared using a continuous removal of organic matters (CROM) system. The CROM system comprised five steps; input of polluted water, control of water flow, mussel treatment, analysis of water quality and discharge of clean water. The study was designed to compare the removal activity of organic matters between A. woodiana and U. douglasiae, and the intra-specific differences between density and length in A. woordiana. Results clearly indicate that two kinds of mussels had obvious removal activities of seston in the eutrophic reservoir. First, if both are similar in shell length, there were no significant inter-specific differences in removal activity between A. woordiana and U. douglasiae (P>0.5), but FRs of U. douglasiae was relatively high due to low ash-fee dry weight. Second, if both are same in animal density, the smaller mussels (1$\sim$2 years old) showed a higher filtering rate and production of feces- and pseudo-feces and less release of ammonium than the larger mussels. Third, if both are same in biomass, FRs and PF of mussels were higher in the low-density tank than the high-density tank, While the Concentration of $NH_4$-N and $PO_4$-P released WRS similar to each other (P>0.5). Therefore, these results suggest that CROM system using a young bivalve A. woordiana can be applied to control the nuisance seston in eutrophic lake system, if a relevant species and density were selected. Additional pilot tests to optimize the age and density of domestic bivalves were needed for the generalization of CROM operation.