• Journal of the Korea Safety Management & Science
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.73-81
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• 2023

This study uses FMECA (Failure Modes, Effects, and Criticality Analysis) and HAZOP (Hazard and Operability), which are widely applied in industrial areas, among risk assessment methods, and applies them to the same system. While FMECA evaluates system failure conditions and analyzes risks, HAZOP evaluates the system comprehensively by evaluating operational risks that may occur based on system parameters. According to data released by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, as of December 2021, the length of roads in Korea is 113,405 km, and the repair of guardrails that have expired must be fixed urgently in terms of traffic safety. Replacing all of these guardrails with new ones requires a very large cost, but if the guardrails are repaired with a vehicle equipped with the G-Save method, carbon emissions are reduced, the repair period is shortened, and great economic benefits can be obtained. However, risk assessment for guardrail coating vehicles has not been done so far. Focusing on this point, this study aims to evaluate the risk of these coating vehicles and describe the results. Finally, we found that the Risk Priority Numbers(RPN) in the FMECA risk assessment were greatly reduced, and 6 risk factors from HAZOP risk assessment and actions were taken.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.86 no.4
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• pp.272-283
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• 2023

Background: In patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), decreased muscle mass is a frequently encountered comorbidity in clinical practice. However, the evaluation of muscle mass in patients with COPD in real-world practice is rare. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the electronic medical records of all patients with COPD who underwent bioelectrical impedance analysis at least once between January 2011 and December 2021 in three hospitals. Then, we analyzed the performance rate of muscle mass measurement in the patients and the correlation between muscle mass, clinical parameters, and COPD prognosis. Results: Among the 24,502 patients with COPD, only 270 (1.1%) underwent muscle mass measurements. The total skeletal muscle mass index was significantly correlated with albumin, alanine transaminase, and creatinine to cystatin C ratio in patients with COPD (r=0.1614, p=0.011; r=0.2112, p=0.001; and r=0.3671, p=0.001, respectively). Acute exacerbation of COPD (AE COPD) was significantly correlated with muscle mass, especially the truncal skeletal muscle mass index (TSMI) in males (r=-0.196, p=0.007). In the multivariate analysis, TSMI and cystatin C were significant risk factors for AE COPD (hazard ratio, 0.200 [95% confidence interval, CI, 0.048 to 0.838] and 4.990 [95% CI, 1.070 to 23.278], respectively). Conclusion: Low muscle mass negatively affects the clinical outcomes in patients with COPD. Despite its clinical significance, muscle mass measurement is performed in a small proportion of patients with COPD. Therefore, protocols and guidelines for the screening of sarcopenia in patients with COPD should be established.

• Journal of Hydrogen and New Energy
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• v.34 no.5
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• pp.505-513
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• 2023

Hydrogen infrastructure is expanding. High-capacity hydrogen refueling stations offer advantages because they can refuel a variety of light and heavy-duty vehicles, and multi-port refueling technology is developing to reduce charging time for heavy-duty vehicles. In this study, we suggest directions to lower the risk by analyzing the risk factors for each process involved in the installation of a high-capacity multi-port hydrogen refueling station in Changwon city. We conducted both qualitative and quantitative risk assessments of the equipment to evaluate the station. A hazard and operability study was performed for qualitative risk assessment, and PHAST/SAFETI were used for quantitative risk assessment. Quantitative risk assessment was used to calculate the consequence analysis of the facility to ensure secure design prior to station development and to predict individual and societal risks in various scenarios. As a result, the station's risk level was determined to be as low as reasonably practicable.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Gas
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.92-101
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• 2023

To solve the problem of climate change, carbon neutrality has now become a necessity rather than an option. Hydrogen is not only a energy storage that can supplement the intermittent production of renewable energy, but is also considered a good alternative in the field of utilization as it does not emit carbon dioxide after reaction. In order to revitalize hydrogen vehicles, one of the fields of hydrogen utilization, the construction of hydrogen station infrastructure must be preceded. Prioritization of risk factors is necessary for efficient operation and risk assessment of hydrogen stations, but due to the short operation period of domestic hydrogen stations, there is a lack of frequency data on accidents and their reliability is low. In this study, we aim to identify the causes and consequences of deviations in hydrogen stations through HAZOP analysis. Additionally, we intend to analyze them using Fuzzy-AHP. Through this, we intend to derive the decision values for the causes of deviations in hydrogen stations and apply them to hydrogen accident cases and risk assessments to confirm the reliability and utility of the data.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
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• v.54 no.1
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• pp.18-31
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• 2024

Purpose: This study aimed to investigate the impact of anthropometric indices of obesity (body mass index [BMI], waist circumference, waist hip ratio, and body fat percentage) on the incidence of hypertension in adults with prehypertension. Methods: A longitudinal study design using secondary data form the Korean Genome and Epidemiology Study was employed. The study included 1,838 adults with prehypertension tracked every two years from 2001 to 2018. Statistical analyses, including frequency assessments, number of cases per 1,000 person-years, log-rank tests, Kaplan-Meier curves, and Cox's proportional hazards regression, were conducted using SPSS version 25. Results: Over the observation period (15,783.6 person-years), 1,136 individuals developed hypertension. The incidence of hypertension was significantly higher in the obesity groups defined by BMI (hazard ratio [HR] = 1.33), waist circumference (HR = 1.34), waist hip ratio (HR = 1.29), and body fat percentage (HR = 1.31) compared to the non-obese group. These findings indicate an increased risk of hypertension associated with obesity as measured by these indices. Conclusion: The study underscores the importance of avoiding obesity to prevent hypertension in individuals with prehypertension. Specifically, BMI, waist circumference, waist hip circumference, and body fat percentage were identified as significant risk factors for hypertension. The results suggest the need for individualized weight control interventions, emphasizing the role of health professionals in addressing the heightened hypertension risk in this population.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.57 no.1
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• pp.70-78
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• 2024

Background: This study investigated the outcomes of biventricular repair using right ventricle to pulmonary artery (RV-PA) conduit placement in patients aged <1 year. Methods: Patients aged <1 year who underwent biventricular repair using an RV-PA conduit between 2011 and 2020 were included in this study. The outcomes of interest were death from any cause, conduit reintervention, and conduit dysfunction (peak velocity of ≥3.5 m/sec or moderate or severe regurgitation). Results: In total, 141 patients were enrolled. The median age at initial conduit implantation was 6 months. The median conduit diameter z-score was 1.3. The overall 5-year survival rate was 89.6%. In the multivariable analysis, younger age (p=0.006) and longer cardiopulmonary bypass time (p=0.001) were risk factors for overall mortality. During follow-up, 61 patients required conduit reintervention, and conduit dysfunction occurred in 68 patients. The 5-year freedom from conduit reintervention and dysfunction rates were 52.9% and 45.9%, respectively. In the multivariable analysis, a smaller conduit z-score (p<0.001) was a shared risk factor for both conduit reintervention and dysfunction. Analysis of variance demonstrated a nonlinear relationship between the conduit z-score and conduit reintervention or dysfunction. The hazard ratio was lowest in patients with a conduit z-score of 1.3 for reintervention and a conduit z-score of 1.4 for dysfunction. Conclusion: RV-PA conduit placement can be safely performed in infants. A significant number of patients required conduit reintervention and had conduit dysfunction. A slightly oversized conduit with a z-score of 1.3 may reduce the risk of conduit reintervention or dysfunction.

• Journal of the Computational Structural Engineering Institute of Korea
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• v.37 no.1
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• pp.57-65
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• 2024

In a fire-resistant structure, uncertainties arise in factors such as ventilation, material elasticity modulus, yield strength, coefficient of thermal expansion, external forces, and fire location. The ventilation uncertainty affects thefactor contributes to uncertainties in fire temperature, subsequently impacting the structural temperature. These temperatures, combined with material properties, give rise to uncertain structural responses. Given the nonlinear behavior of structures under fire conditions, calculating fire fragility traditionally involves time-consuming Monte Carlo simulations. To address this, recent studies have explored leveraging machine learning algorithms to predict fire fragility, aiming to enhance efficiency while maintaining accuracy. This study focuses on predicting the fire fragility of a steel moment frame building, accounting for uncertainties in fire size, location, and structural material properties. The fragility curve, derived from nonlinear structural behavior under fire, follows a log-normal distribution. The results demonstrate that the proposed method accurately and efficiently predicts fire fragility, showcasing its effectiveness in streamlining the analysis process.

• Korean Circulation Journal
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• v.53 no.8
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• pp.550-562
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• 2023

Background and Objectives: To identify the factors associated with adverse outcomes following surgery for functional insufficiency of the mitral valve (MV) or tricuspid valve (TV) associated with atrial fibrillation (AF). Methods: We evaluated 100 patients (age, 66.5±10.0 years; 47 males) who consecutively underwent surgery for functional insufficiency of the MV or TV associated with AF between January 2000 and December 2020 at our center. The primary outcome was a composite endpoint of all-cause death, valve reoperation, congestive heart failure (CHF) requiring rehospitalization, and stroke. Results: During follow-up (532 patients-years [PYs]), adverse events included death in 16 (3.0%/yr), MV reoperation in 1 (0.2%/yr), CHF in 14 (2.6%/yr), and stroke in 5 (0.9%/yr) patients, demonstrating a 5-year rate of freedom from the primary endpoint of 69.5%. The rate of postoperative AF was high even in those who underwent AF ablation (n=92), with cumulative rates of 48.1% at 1 year and 60.2% at 5 years. In multivariable analyses, the primary outcome was significantly associated with age (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR], 1.06; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.02-1.10; p=0.005), chronic kidney disease (aHR, 7.76; 95% CI, 2.28-26.38; p=0.001), left atrial appendage exclusion (aHR, 0.35; 95% CI, 0.16-1.78; p=0.010), and postoperative AF as a time-varying covariate (aHR, 3.33; 95% CI, 1.50-7.40; p=0.003). Conclusion: Among patients undergoing surgery for functional atrioventricular insufficiency associated with AF, a significant proportion showed recurrence of AF over time after concomitant AF ablation, which was significantly associated with poor clinical outcomes.

• Journal of the Korea Society of Computer and Information
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.191-198
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• 2024

Korea is an import and export-oriented economy that relies on shipping transportation, and sea ports play an important role in national economic growth. To secure and maintain the competitiveness of these ports, hardware and software investments are required, but policy support can also be expected to have an effect. This study identified the irrationality of the system by exploratory analysis of the port facility fee discount system for Ulsan Port, an energy hub port, and suggested improvement measures to resolve it.This study analyzed the volume of Ulsan Port and the reduction of port facility usage fees for about 10 years and identified irrational factors that despite a special port for liquid cargo, a considerable reduction for container cargo is concentrated, and even because it was a passing ship, 100% reduction for entrance and clearance fees were provided to them, which could cause serious moral hazard.. As a way to improve the port facility charge discount system at Ulsan Port, this study proposed strengthening support for eco-friendly activities to support containers, adjusting the reduction rate for passing ships, or improving the reduction and exemption application process.

• Journal of the Korean Dietetic Association
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.95-111
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• 2024

The Smart Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point (HACCP) management system, which integrates information technology (IT) to automate and analyze big data, has been introduced into school food services. This study investigated the job performance, job satisfaction, and job stress of employees in school food services using Smart HACCP. Data were collected via questionnaires from 350 employees in school food services who utilized Smart HACCP and worked in Gyeonggi-do or Incheon. The questionnaire included general information, workplace characteristics, HACCP education status, job performance, and job satisfaction according to the use of Smart HACCP, and general job stress. The responses showed that 92.3% of the participants had received HACCP education in the workplace, and 66.6% understood the content of the education. Among the HACCP process stages, CCP2 (Food Handling and Cooking) and CCP3 (Cooking Completion and Distribution) were the stages at which all participants were using Smart HACCP. CCP3 had the highest percentage (61.4%) of participants who experienced feeling the maximum reduction in their tasks by using Smart HACCP. The Smart HACCP job performance at CCP1 (Inspection) and Smart HACCP job satisfaction were higher in workplaces with 6~10 employees, compared to those with 10≤ employees (both P<0.05). The Smart HACCP job performances at of CP1 (Refrigeration and Freezer Temperature Management) and CP2 (Cleaning and Disinfection of Food Contact Surfaces) were significantly affected by the work area. General job stress was significantly higher in cooks than in cook practitioners, higher in employees with cook certification than in those without it, and higher in employees with work experience (<1 year), compared to those with 5~10 years or 10~15 years' experience. In conclusion, employees' job performance and satisfaction with Smart HACCP need to be enhanced to improve hygiene in school food service. This requires the effective management of their job stress.