• Safety and Health at Work
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• v.12 no.3
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• pp.396-402
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• 2021

Background: Styrene is one of the aromatic compounds used in acetonitrile-butadiene-styrene (ABS) producing petrochemicals, which has an impact on health of workers. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the health risks of styrene emitted from the petrochemical industry in Iran. Methods: Air samples were collected based on NIOSH 1501 method. The samples were analyzed by the Varian-cp3800 gas chromatograph. Finally, risk levels of styrene's health effects on employees were assessed by the quantitative method of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA) and the semiquantitative way by the Singapore Occupational Safety and Health Association. Results: Based on the results, the employees had the highest average exposure to styrene vapors (4.06 × 10^-1mg.(kg - day)^-1) in the polybutadiene latex (PBL) unit. Therefore, the most top predictors of cancer and non-cancer risk were 2.3×10^-4 and 7.26 × 10^-1, respectively. Given that the lowest average exposure (1.5 × 10^-2mg.(kg - day)^-1) was in the dryer unit, the prediction showed a moderate risk of cancer (0.8 × 10^-6) and non-cancer (2.3 × 10^-3) for the employees. The EPA method also predicted that there would be a definite cancer risk in 16% and a probable risk in 76% of exposures. However, according to the semiquantitative approach, the rate of risk was at the "low" level for all staff. The results showed that there was a significant difference (p < 0.05) between the units in exposure and health risk of styrene (p < 0.05). Conclusion: Given the high risk of styrene's health effects, appropriate control measures are required to reduce the exposure level.

• Journal of the Computational Structural Engineering Institute of Korea
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• v.34 no.5
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• pp.319-325
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• 2021

The 2011 East Japan Earthquake caused accidents at a number of nuclear power plants in Fukushima, highlighting the need for a study on the seismic safety of multiple NPP (Nuclear Power Plant) units. In the case of nuclear power plants built on a site that shows a similar seismic response, there is at least a correlation between the seismic damage of structures, systems, and components (SSCs) of nuclear power plants. In this study, a probabilistic seismic safety assessment was performed for the loss of essential power events of twin units. To derive an appropriate seismic damage correlation coefficient, a probabilistic seismic response analysis was performed. Using the external event mensuration system program, we analyzed the seismic fragility and seismic risk by composing a failure tree of multiple loss of essential power events. Additionally, a comparative analysis was performed considering the seismic damage correlation between SSCs as completely independent and completely dependent.

• Acute and Critical Care
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• v.33 no.4
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• pp.260-268
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• 2018

Background: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the clinical application of modified Burns Wean Assessment Program (m-BWAP) scoring at first spontaneous breathing trial (SBT) as a predictor of successful liberation from mechanical ventilation (MV) in patients with endotracheal intubation. Methods: Patients requiring MV for more than 72 hours and undergoing more than one SBT in a medical intensive care unit (ICU) were prospectively enrolled over a 3-year period. The m-BWAP score at first SBT was obtained by a critical care nursing practitioner. Results: A total of 103 subjects were included in this study. Their median age was 69 years (range, 22 to 87 years) and 72 subjects (69.9%) were male. The median duration from admission to first SBT was 5 days (range, 3 to 26 days), and the rate of final successful liberation from MV was 84.5% (n=87). In the total group of patients, the successful liberation from MV group at first SBT (n=65) had significantly higher m-BWAP scores than did the unsuccessful group (median, 60; range, 43 to 80 vs. median, 53; range, 33 to 70; P<0.001). Also, the area under the m-BWAP curve for predicting successful liberation of MV was 0.748 (95% confidence interval, 0.650 to 0.847), while the cutoff value based on Youden's index was 53 (sensitivity, 76%; specificity, 64%). Conclusions: The present data show that the m-BWAP score represents a good predictor of weaning success in patients with an endotracheal tube in place at first SBT.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Safety
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• v.37 no.6
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• pp.166-173
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• 2022

A variety of input parameters are taken into consideration while performing a Level 3 PSA. Some parameters related to plume segments, spatial grids, and particle size distribution have flexible input formats. Fine modeling performed by splitting a number of segments or grids may enhance the accuracy of analysis but is time-consuming. Analysis speed is highly important because a considerably large number of calculations is required to handle Level 2 PSA scenarios for a single-unit or multi-unit Level 3 PSA. This study developed a sensitivity analysis supporting interface called MACCSsense to compare the results of the trials of plume segmentation with the results of the base case to determine its impact (in terms of time and accuracy) and to support the development of a modeling approach, which saves calculation time and improves accuracy. MACCSense is an automation tool that uses a large amount of plume segmentation analysis results obtained from MUST Converter and Mr. Manager developed by KAERI to generate a sensitivity report that includes impact (time and accuracy) by comparing them with the base-case result. In this study, various plume segmentation approaches were investigated, and both the accuracy and speed of offsite consequence analysis were evaluated using MACCS as a consequence analysis tool. A simultaneous evaluation revealed that execution time can be reduced using multi-threading. In addition, this study can serve as a framework for the development of a modeling strategy for plume segmentation in order to perform accurate and fast offsite consequence analyses.

• Journal of Korean Critical Care Nursing
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.56-70
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• 2023

Purpose : This study aimed to identify the effects of a multifaceted pediatric delirium education program for pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) nurses on their delirium knowledge, confidence in delirium nursing, and delirium evaluation accuracy. Methods : This study used a one-group pretest-posttest design. The participants were 50 nurses in two units of the PICU at S General Hospital in Seoul. All participants took a 1-hour lecture with case-based practice for the first two weeks, and received feedback as they applied the program to clinical practice over the next two weeks. Test measures were completed before and after the four week intervention period for all participants. The delirium evaluation accuracy was measured using the Korean version of the Cornell Assessment of Pediatric Delirium. Data were analyzed using the chi-square and paired t-tests. Results : After the Pediatric Delirium Education Program, nurses' delirium knowledge (x²=11.65, p =.001), confidence in delirium nursing (t=9.71, p<.001), and delirium evaluation accuracy (t=6.07, p<.001) improved significantly. Conclusions : Pediatric delirium education programs for PICU nurses were effective. For active application of the program in clinical practice in the future, various cases of childhood delirium and specific strategies for each subject must be developed. To achieve this, long-term intervention and research for multiple organizations are required.

• KSCE Journal of Civil and Environmental Engineering Research
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• v.30 no.1D
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• pp.89-98
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• 2010

The goal of this study is to investigate the achievement of street improvement projects based on district unit plans aiming at improving the urban streetscape. Post assessments are conducted for three streetscape improvement projects - Noyu street improvement project, Hanaro street improvement project next to Sungshin women's university, Chatgoshipun street improvement project in front of Ehwa women's university. The results of the post assessment indicate that the initial quality of streetscape has been improved after the projects. The long-term sustainability of the streetscape, however, was not achieved for the street improvement project applied at the street next to Sungshin women's university due to the lack of support from the community. It is found that the key component of success for the street improvement project is the strong cooperation between public and private parties.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.47-51
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• 1980

This study attempts to assess the effect of the 1st class health insurance program to the income redistribution among the participants in a unit health insurance cooperative. One health insurance cooperative, located in Seoul, with 1558 members and 768 households was selected for this purpose. The relationships between amount of premium payed and benefits from the cooperative were compared. Necessary data were obtained from the bills submitted to the health insurance cooperative by the contracted medical institutions from 1st January 1977 to 30th June 1979. Households and individuals were the unit of the assessment. The indicators measuring income redistribution effect were the ratios between the benefit and expected benefit and the ratios between the benefit and the mean benefit. The major findings were: 1. The ratios between the benefits and the expected benefits were lower than 1 in the high income group and greater than 1 in the middle and lower income groups. This fact imply that the income redistribution effect was shown in the studied groups. It was shown that the middle income group received the greatest benefit, and then the lower income group. 2. The ratios between the benefit ana the mean benefit of the households in the higher standard income grade, were found to be higher. This means that the equity of the benefits of households were not achieved by the policy of the health insurance plan. 3. The health insurance utilization rates of the higher standard income group, measured by the household unit, were higher, and by the individual unit, the same rates of the middle income group were higher than other groups.

• Research in Community and Public Health Nursing
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.67-79
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• 2000

In recent years, the recipients of the services of the health centers in Korea have been shifted from individual sick persons to families as a unit. As a result, the home visiting care records which are all filled out manually, will be increased. Since there is virtually no increase in the number of community health nurses, the CHNs are required to work more efficiently. One of the ways to make the CHNs' work more efficient is to reduce recording time by using a computer. However, a computer system that can manage the families as a unit has not yet been developed. In response to this need, we developed a database system that can be utilized in home visiting care service. The family assessment data is collected. diagnosed. and evaluated according to the family diagnosis classification. The system for family diagnosis consists of seven areas. Those areas are family structure. maintenance of the family system, interaction and interchange. support. coping and adaptation, health management. and housing environment. The areas of the family diagnosis consists of 99 items in all. We expect the following from this system. First. the CHNs will be able to identify family problems more easily. Second. the community's health level can be confirmed by the statistics the system produces. Thirdly, the CHNs' nursing services will be cost effective via reduced recording time. Finally, the family problems of the sick individuals which have been neglected under the health system oriented on individual persons can be effectively managed.

• KIEAE Journal
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• v.10 no.4
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• pp.101-109
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• 2010

As global warming progresses, nations around the world are trying to reduce emission of $CO_2$ that accounts for the greatest portion of greenhouse gases. To reduce $CO_2$ emission, it is first necessary to estimate $CO_2$ emission of each industry. Government authorities estimate basic unit of $CO_2$ emission from re-bar that is one of the key materials of construction industry with LCA technique (Life Cycle Assessment). However, basic unit of $CO_2$ emission varies from organization to organization. The Ministry of Land, Transport and Maritime Affairs (2004) publishes it 3.48($TCO_2/ton$) and 0.30($TCO_2/ton$) with input-output analysis while the Korea Environmental Industry & Technology Institute (2008) defines it as 0.34($TCO_2/ton$) with process analysis, which indicates ambiguity in application of basic unit of $CO_2$emission. Based on the analysis of conventional methods used for estimating the $CO_2$ emission, therefore, this research suggests existing problems on the methods and focuses on proposing an strategy to effectively estimate the basic unit of $CO_2$ emission according to the energy consumption limited to the re-bar production in steel mill in order to overcome the problems. The result of this research is expected to be helpful in calculating and reducing $CO_2$ emission.

• Journal of Korean Critical Care Nursing
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• v.1 no.1
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• pp.73-83
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• 2008

Purpose: Purpose of this study was to analyze the nursing focuses for standardization of ICU nursing records. Methods: The data were collected from 1,000days'nursing records of 197 ICU patients at a tertiary hospital in Seoul. Nursing focuses were unified at the consulting group meeting and they were cross-mapped with the NANDA nursing diagnoses. Results: The 62 nursing focuses in 7 NANDA categories were extracted from nursing record. Among total nursing focuses 41 correspond to the NANDA nursing diagnoses and 21 were added to ICU nursing focuses. The 10 most frequently used nursing focuses are 'Ineffective airway clearance', 'Impaired gas exchange', 'Ineffective tissue perfusion: cardiopulmonary', 'Ineffective breathing pattern', 'Ineffective tissue perfusion: renal', 'Ineffective infant feeding pattern', 'Risk for impaired skin integrity', 'Hyperthermia', 'Impaired skin integrity', 'Decreased cardiac output', Conclusion: Nursing focuses list of ICU was extracted from the result of this study. These nursing focuses might form a framework for development of research-based assessment guideline and care plans for ICU patients through standardization of nursing records.