Monthly Joint Operations for the Nakdong Multi-reservoir System in Korea

Abstract

This study applies a state-of-art optimization technique, SSDP/ESP (Sampling Stochastic Dynamic Programming with Ensemble Streamflow Prediction), to derive a monthly joint operating policy for the Nakdong multi-reservoir system in Korea. A rainfall-runoff model, SSARR (Streamflow Synthesis And Reservoir Regulation), is linked to the SSDP/ESP model to provide ESP scenarios for runoff during the next month in the Nakdong River basin. The primary advantage of the SSDP/ESP is that it updates the derived operating policy as new ESP forecasts become available. Another SSDP model that employs historical runoff scenarios (SSDP/Hist) is also developed. The main difference between the two SSDP models is that SSDP/Hist is an off-line model whereas the SSDP/ESP is on-line. The developed operating policies are tested with a simulation model using an object-oriented simulation software, STELLA. The simulation results show that SSDP/ESP is superior to SSDP/Hist with respect to the water supply criterion, although both models perform similarly with respect to the hydroelectric energy production criterion.     

Deep-sea water supplementation and swimming exercise improves bone metabolism in growing rats fed a high-fat diet

This study was examined the effects of deepsea water (DSW) supplementation and swimming exercise on bone metabolism in growing male rats. Thirty-two Sprague-Dawley male rats, 6 weeks of age, were randomly divided into high-fat diet sedentary (HS, n=8) or exercised group (HE, n=8) and DSW supplemented sedentary (DS, n=8) or exercised group (DE, n=8), given a high fat diet to all groups for 8 weeks. In the results, serum osteocalcin level of the DS was significantly lower than that of the HS (p<0.01). In addition, femoral bone mineral density (BMD), tibial bone mineral content (BMC), and breaking force of the DS were significantly higher than that of the HS (p<0.05). Furthermore, femoral BMD and tibial weight of DE were significantly higher than that of the HE (p<0.05). These results suggest that drinking deep-sea water and exercise has a crucial role for prevent osteoporosis and increase peak bone mass in growing male rats.     

Effect of Phellinus linteus extract supplementation on cortisol and related cytokines in young male adults

This study investigated the anti-inflammatory effects of Pellinus linteus (PL) extract supplementation in healthy young men. The subjects were 18 healthy young males 20 years of age that were given 1.5 L of 0.12% PL extract orally (n=8) or a placebo (control group, n=10) daily for 4 weeks. The body composition, the white blood cell (WBC) count and differential as well as the serum cortisol, interleukin (IL)-1β, and IL-6 concentrations were measured before and after the supplementation. Serum concentrations of cortisol and IL-1β at rest after oral supplementation were significantly decreased compared to before treatment (p<0.01, p<0.05, respectively). However, there was no change in the IL-6. And also, these factors in PL extract supplement group were significantly reduced after performing the exercise compared to control group. These results suggest that oral PL extract supplements for 4 weeks had a significant effect on inhibition of inflammatory markers in healthy young men.     

Adaptive Reservoir Management by Reforming the Zone-based Hedging Rules against Multi-year Droughts

In this study, the zone-based hedging rule, which is the main operating policy adopted from multipurpose reservoirs in Korea is adjusted to reflect the multi-year droughts caused by climate change. Annual synthetic inflow series with different magnitudes of long memory were generated using the autoregressive fractional integrated moving average (ARFIMA) model. The generated inflow series were then disaggregated into 10-day series and utilized as input variables to derive the alternative hedging rules. The alternative hedging rules from this study were used in adaptive reservoir management by newly updated information. Finally, the performance of the suggested policy is measured in terms of frequency and magnitude under the historical inflow series. As a result, adaptive reservoir management demonstrated improvements in the following terms of the frequency of critical failures (water deficit ratio greater than 30%): 6.14% of the simulation period in the status quo (SQ) policy, and 2.99% in the adaptive management. However, the overall reliability of the reservoir during the simulation horizon was better when operated with the SQ policy (41.19%) than the results from adaptive management (26.42%). Because this result is in a good agreement with the original objective of the hedging rules, the adaptive policy suggested in this study holds promise and may be utilized in further reservoir management with an increase of potential drought risk from climate change.

     

Effect of oligonol intake on cortisol and cytokines,and body temperature after leg immersion into hot water

This study investigated the effects of oligonol intake on cortisol, interleukin (IL)-1β, and IL-6 concentrations in the serum as well as body temperature after leg immersion into hot water. Thirteen healthy male volunteers participated in this study. Each subject received oligonol (100 mg) before leg immersion into hot water. Skin and tympanic temperatures were measured and mean body temperatures were calculated. Serum concentrations of cortisol, IL-1β, and IL-6 were measured during and after leg immersion. Individuals who received oligonol had significantly decreased cortisol concentrations and serum levels of IL-1β and IL-6 compared to ones who did not receive oligonol. In addition, skin, tympanic, and mean body temperatures of oligonol group were maintained at lower degree overall recovery period compared with placebo group. These results suggest that oral oligonol intake before hot water immersion had a significant effect on inhibition of pyrogenic cytokine response and thermal suppression in healthy young men.     

Effect of caffeine on the metabolic responses of lipolysis and activated sweat gland density in human during physical activity

This study measured caffeine-induced changes in activated sweat gland density (ASGD) and fat oxidation using a randomized crossover design with 10 healthy volunteers given caffeine (Caffe-I, 3 mg/kg ingested 30 min before experiment) and non-caffeine (No-Caff). Subjects were 173.0±3.2 cm in height, 72.5±4.3 kg in weight, and 21.5±2.5 years in age. All experiments were performed in an automated climate chamber (24.0±0.5°C, relative humidity 50±3%, air velocity less than 1 m/sec) between 2–5 p.m. The ASGD on the chest, upper arm, upper back, and lower back were measured (after 30 min running at 60% VO_2max), and blood samples were taken (at 40 min before, immediately before and after 30 min running). Activated sweat gland density levels were higher in Caffe-I (Chest p<0.05 and U-Back p<0.01) and free fatty acids (FFA) were higher in Caffe-I compared to No-Caff immediately before (p<0.05) and after running (p<0.01). In summary, caffeine increases ASGD and FFA by stimulating the sympathetic nervous system and increasing of lipolysis.     

Time-Varying Discrete Hedging Rules for Drought Contingency Plan Considering Long-Range Dependency in Streamflow

Water Resources Management - This study proposed a simple and efficient method for developing time-varying discrete hedging rules. The novelty of the proposed methodology is that long-range...