• Journal of the Korean Society for Railway
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.170-186
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• 2016

This paper introduces a multi-phase fuzzy risk graph model, representing a method for determining for SIL values for railway industry systems. The purpose of this paper is to compensate for the shortcomings of qualitative determination, which are associated with input value ambiguity and the subjectivity problem of expert judgement. The multi-phase fuzzy risk graph model has two phases. The first involves the determination of the conventional risk graph input values of the consequence, exposure, avoidance and demand rates using fuzzy theory. For the first step of fuzzification this paper proposes detailed input parameters. The fuzzy inference and the defuzzification results from the first step will be utilized as input parameters for the second step of the fuzzy model. The second step is to determine the safety integrity level and tolerable hazard rate corresponding to be identified hazard in the railway industry. To validate the results of the proposed the multi-phase fuzzy risk graph, it is compared with the results of a safety analysis of a level crossing system in the CENELEC SC 9XA WG A0 report. This model will be adapted for determining safety requirements at the early concept design stages in the railway business.

• Journal of Korean Society of Rural Planning
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.19-29
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• 2016

Disasters that occur most frequently in rural areas are drought, flood, damages from wind and cold weather. Among these, damages from storm and flood and drought are the main disasters and recently, these are occurring on a large scale due to unusual weather conditions. Under such circumstances, projects and researches on disasters in rural areas are under way but they are mostly targeting one area or making approaches focusing on repair facilities, maintenance project of facilities in small streams, and disaster management, so there have not been enough studies on the current status of overall damaged facilities in the rural areas. Against this backdrop, through the analysis of the current status of damaged facilities due to storm and flood in rural areas, this study aims to provide base data for policies needed for disaster recovery planning and maintenance work of rural areas. For the analysis of damaged facilities due to storm and flood in rural areas, using the annual report on disasters issued by Ministry of Public Safety and Security and based on the occurrence rate of estimated damage in each city and district for the past 10 years(2004~2013), 8 areas with the highest number of occurrence and cost of damage were found from each province and target areas were selected. Then, regarding the selected target areas, the General Plan for Reducing Damages from Storm and Flood, which is the report on top-level plan for preventing disasters, was secured and the current status of damaged facilities were analyzed. After organizing the analysis of current status, the tendency of damaged facilities due to storm and flood in rural areas, the items of damaged facilities depending on the types of storm and flood damages, and risk factors were suggested. Based on this result, in order to generalize the results of follow-up researches, it is thought that disaster recovery planning and establishing the system of remodeling items necessary for maintenance work would be possible by analyzing damage investigation items recorded in additional researches on rural areas, researches on natural disasters, and recovery plan instructions and by conducting on-site investigation on the damaged villages from storm and flood in rural areas.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Hazard Mitigation
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• v.11 no.3
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• pp.209-218
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• 2011

The present study proposes a new estimation relationship for the transmission rate of the steel breakwater which is expected to make up for the weakness points in existing hard solution for shore protection. The steel breakwater consists of the wave dissipator of the dual horizontal plates, the supporting columns and their foundations, and thus its respective designs should also be conducted one by one. Furthermore, the breakwater has to ensure both functions of shore protection and structure stabilization. The study produced experimental data for the stability and safety investigation of the steel breakwater. The forces acting on the steel breakwater were classified into two categories, one is vertical up and down loads for the pile resistance and the other was maximum difference of the vertical load acting on horizontally different position for the torsion. The study applied the stability force produced by the summation of maximum pressure at each point and the safety force acting on each point simultaneously. The regular wave corresponding to the significant wave was utilized for measuring wave pressure and force. The study showed the method for the proper position of submerged upper plate by considering occurrence frequency of tide level. The design process finally determined by trial and error is proposed in the present study.

• Korean Journal of Organic Agriculture
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.759-774
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• 2018

This study was conducted to establish scores according to the importance levels of each HACCP evaluation item in cattle farm. The importance levels and score of each HACCP evaluation item was derived through the non-compliance rate and severity levels of hazard. In order to change the score criteria according to the importance of each HACCP evaluation item, we analyzed the importance of each HACCP evaluation item by using the portfolio mapping method according to the occurrence frequency and severity levels of hazard. The scores were classified into 3 point, 2 point, and 1 point, respectively, by classifying the importance of each category as 'high', 'middle' and 'lower'. Accordingly, we have established a now scoring system of each HACCP evaluation item through this study. Through the result of this study, the objectivity of the comparative evaluation was verified by implementing the currently used HACCP evaluation item to the cattle farm. In conclusion, Implementation of the result of this study to cattle farm may help to increase the objectivity and also improve more safety and hygienic cattle management and raw milk production.

• Health Policy and Management
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.411-422
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• 2018

Background: Whether there is a difference in outcomes for trauma patients transferring to the helicopter emergency medical service (HEMS) according to their previous team composition is controversial. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness of trauma team-staffed-HEMS (TTS-HEMS) when transferring to a trauma center. Methods: A retrospective comparison was conducted on patients transported to a trauma center over a 6-year period by the TTS-HEMS and paramedic-staffed-HEMS (119-HEMS). Inclusion criteria were blunt trauma with age ${\geq}15years$. Patient outcomes were compared with the Trauma and Injury Severity Score (TRISS) (30-day mortality) and the Cox proportional hazard ratio of mortality (in hospital). Results: There were 321 patients of TTS-HEMS and 92 patients of 119-HEMS. The TTS-HEMS group had a higher Injury Severity Score and longer transport time but a significantly shorter time to emergency surgery. The prehospital data showed that the trauma team performed more aggressive interventions during transport. An additional 7.6 lives were saved per 100 TTS-HEMS deployments. However, the TRISS results in the 119-HEMS group were not significant. In addition, after adjusting for confounders, the hazard ratio of mortality in the 119-HEMS group was 2.83 times higher than that in the TTS-HEMS group. Conclusion: HEMS was likely to improve the survival rate of injured patients when physicians were involved in TTS-HEMS. Survival benefits in the TTS-HEMS group appeared to be related to the fact that the trauma team performed both more aggressive prehospital resuscitation and clinical decision making during transportation.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.53 no.3
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• pp.239-244
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• 2021

In the present study, liquid chromatography tandem-mass spectrometry was used to conduct a risk assessment of ethoxyquin and ethoxyquin dimer residues in 288 farmed fish sold in wholesale and traditional markets in Seoul. The detection range (detection rate) of ethoxyquin and ethoxyquin dimer was 0.005~0.309 mg/kg (4.9%) and 0.001~2.828 mg/kg (69.8%), respectively. Ethoxyquin was detected only in freshwater eels, loaches, catfish, and flatfish, whereas ethoxyquin dimer was present in all fish species. To estimate the dietary exposure levels of ethoxyquin and ethoxyquin dimer, the hazard index, calculated using the acceptable daily intake and estimated daily intake, ranged from 0.001 to 0.300%. Our results indicate that there is no significant exposure risk to humans from these farmed fish despite 10 farmed fish samples exceeding the maximum residue level (1.0 mg/kg as the sum of ethoxyquin and ethoxyquin dimer).

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.56 no.3
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• pp.282-290
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• 2023

Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate the potential interaction between kidney function and the non-linear association between serum calcium levels and cardiovascular disease (CVD) mortality. Methods: This study included 8927 participants enrolled in the Dong-gu Study. Albumin-corrected calcium levels were used and categorized into 6 percentile categories: <2.5th, 2.5-25.0th, 25.0-50.0th, 50.0-75.0th, 75.0-97.5th, and >97.5th. Restricted cubic spline analysis was used to examine the non-linear association between calcium levels and CVD mortality. Cox proportional hazard regression was used to estimate hazard ratios (HRs) for CVD mortality according to serum calcium categories. All survival analyses were stratified by the estimated glomerular filtration rate. Results: Over a follow-up period of 11.9±2.8 years, 1757 participants died, of whom 219 died from CVD. A U-shaped association between serum calcium and CVD mortality was found, and the association was more evident in the low kidney function group. Compared to the 25.0-50.0th percentile group for serum calcium levels, both low and high serum calcium tended to be associated with CVD mortality (<2.5th: HR, 6.23; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.16 to 33.56; >97.5th: HR, 2.56; 95% CI, 0.76 to 8.66) in the low kidney function group. In the normal kidney function group, a similar association was found between serum calcium levels and CVD mortality (<2.5th: HR, 1.37; 95% CI, 0.58 to 3.27; >97.5th: HR, 1.65; 95% CI, 0.70 to 3.93). Conclusions: We found a non-linear association between serum calcium levels and CVD mortality, suggesting that calcium dyshomeostasis may contribute to CVD mortality, and kidney function may modify the association.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.86 no.2
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• pp.133-141
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• 2023

Background: The present study evaluated the association between participation in a rehabilitation program during a hospital stay and 1-year survival of patients requiring at least 21 days of mechanical ventilation (prolonged mechanical ventilation [PMV]) with various respiratory diseases as their main diagnoses that led to mechanical ventilation. Methods: Retrospective data of 105 patients (71.4% male, mean age 70.1±11.3 years) who received PMV in the past 5 years were analyzed. Rehabilitation included physiotherapy, physical rehabilitation, and dysphagia treatment program that was individually provided by physiatrists. Results: The main diagnosis leading to mechanical ventilation was pneumonia (n=101, 96.2%) and the 1-year survival rate was 33.3% (n=35). One-year survivors had lower Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation (APACHE) II score (20.2±5.8 vs. 24.2±7.5, p=0.006) and Sequential Organ Failure Assessment score (6.7±5.6 vs. 8.5±2.7, p=0.001) on the day of intubation than non-survivors. More survivors participated in a rehabilitation program during their hospital stays (88.6% vs. 57.1%, p=0.001). The rehabilitation program was an independent factor for 1-year survival based on the Cox proportional hazard model (hazard ratio, 3.513; 95% confidence interval, 1.785 to 6.930; p<0.001) in patients with APACHE II scores ≤23 (a cutoff value based on Youden's index). Conclusion: Our study showed that participation in a rehabilitation program during hospital stay was associated with an improvement of 1-year survival of PMV patients who had less severe illness on the day of intubation.

• Safety and Health at Work
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.141-152
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• 2023

Objective: We performed a meta-analysis of epidemiological results for the association between occupational exposure as a firefighter and cancer as part of the broader evidence synthesis work of the IARC Monographs program. Methods: A systematic literature search was conducted to identify cohort studies of firefighters followed for cancer incidence and mortality. Studies were evaluated for the influence of key biases on results. Random-effects meta-analysis models were used to estimate the association between ever-employment and duration of employment as a firefighter and risk of 12 selected cancers. The impact of bias was explored in sensitivity analyses. Results: Among the 16 included cancer incidence studies, the estimated meta-rate ratio, 95% confidence interval (CI), and heterogeneity statistic (I²) for ever-employment as a career firefighter compared mostly to general populations were 1.58 (1.14-2.20, 8%) for mesothelioma, 1.16 (1.08-1.26, 0%) for bladder cancer, 1.21 (1.12-1.32, 81%) for prostate cancer, 1.37 (1.03-1.82, 56%) for testicular cancer, 1.19 (1.07-1.32, 37%) for colon cancer, 1.36 (1.15-1.62, 83%) for melanoma, 1.12 (1.01-1.25, 0%) for non-Hodgkin lymphoma, 1.28 (1.02-1.61, 40%) for thyroid cancer, and 1.09 (0.92-1.29, 55%) for kidney cancer. Ever-employment as a firefighter was not positively associated with lung, nervous system, or stomach cancer. Results for mesothelioma and bladder cancer exhibited low heterogeneity and were largely robust across sensitivity analyses. Conclusions: There is epidemiological evidence to support a causal relationship between occupational exposure as a firefighter and certain cancers. Challenges persist in the body of evidence related to the quality of exposure assessment, confounding, and medical surveillance bias.

• Korean Journal of Radiology
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• v.22 no.12
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• pp.1974-1984
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• 2021

Objective: This study aimed to compare the efficacy between no-touch (NT) radiofrequency ablation (RFA) and conventional RFA using twin internally cooled wet (TICW) electrodes in the bipolar mode for the treatment of small hepatocellular carcinomas (HCC). Materials and Methods: In this single-center, two-arm, parallel-group, prospective randomized controlled study, we performed a 1:1 random allocation of eligible patients with HCCs to receive NT-RFA or conventional RFA between October 2016 and September 2018. The primary endpoint was the cumulative local tumor progression (LTP) rate after RFA. Secondary endpoints included technical conversion rates of NT-RFA, intrahepatic distance recurrence, extrahepatic metastasis, technical parameters, technical efficacy, and rates of complications. Cumulative LTP rates were analyzed using Kaplan-Meier analysis and the Cox proportional hazard regression model. Considering conversion cases from NT-RFA to conventional RFA, intention-to-treat and as-treated analyses were performed. Results: Enrolled patients were randomly assigned to the NT-RFA group (37 patients with 38 HCCs) or the conventional RFA group (36 patients with 38 HCCs). Among the NT-RFA group patients, conversion to conventional RFA occurred in four patients (10.8%, 4/37). According to intention-to-treat analysis, both 1- and 3-year cumulative LTP rates were 5.6%, in the NT-RFA group, and they were 11.8% and 21.3%, respectively, in the conventional RFA group (p = 0.073, log-rank). In the as-treated analysis, LTP rates at 1 year and 3 years were 0% and 0%, respectively, in the NT-RFA group sand 15.6% and 24.5%, respectively, in the conventional RFA group (p = 0.004, log-rank). In as-treated analysis using multivariable Cox regression analysis, RFA type was the only significant predictive factor for LTP (hazard ratio = 0.061 with conventional RFA as the reference, 95% confidence interval = 0.000-0.497; p = 0.004). There were no significant differences in the procedure characteristics between the two groups. No procedure-related deaths or major complications were observed. Conclusion: NT-RFA using TICW electrodes in bipolar mode demonstrated significantly lower cumulative LTP rates than conventional RFA for small HCCs, which warrants a larger study for further confirmation.