• Journal of the Korean Institute of Gas
• /
• v.27 no.4
• /
• pp.70-77
• /
• 2023

In response to climate change, each country is proposing a goal to reduce greenhouse gases in its energy supply and demand plan, and the use of hydrogen gas is a topic that is always prioritized as an energy resource for implementation. A popular way to use this hydrogen gas is the use of hydrogen fuel cell vehicles, and expansion of hydrogen charging stations is essential for using these hydrogen fuel cell vehicles. However, there are several limitations to the expansion of hydrogen refueling stations, the most representative of which is resident acceptance. Most of the hydrogen charging stations currently built in Korea are located in the outskirts with low population density, so the inconvenience to hydrogen fuel cell vehicle users has not been resolved, and as a result, there has been no progress in the spread of hydrogen fuel cell vehicles. In this paper, we analyzed the consequences of accident damage to determine the risks of constructing a hydrogen charging station on a railroad site frequently used by citizens. The target hydrogen charging station site was a railroad depot in Busan, and there are trains, national highways, and commercial facilities around this site. Assuming the worst-case scenario, we would like to consider the safety of the hydrogen refueling station site by analyzing the area affected by the accident and its consequence.

• Korean Journal of Radiology
• /
• v.25 no.1
• /
• pp.55-61
• /
• 2024

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the safety and efficacy of intranodal lymphangiography and thoracic duct embolization (TDE) for chyle leakage (CL) after thyroid surgery. Materials and Methods: Fourteen patients who underwent intranodal lymphangiography and TDE for CL after thyroid surgery were included in this retrospective study. Among the 14 patients, 13 underwent bilateral total thyroidectomy with neck dissection (central compartment neck dissection [CCND], n = 13; left modified radical neck dissection (MRND), n = 11; bilateral MRND, n = 2), and one patient underwent left hemithyroidectomy with CCND. Ten patients (76.9%) had high-output CL (> 500 mL/d). Before the procedure, surgical intervention was attempted in three patients (thoracic duct ligation, n = 1; lymphatic leakage site ligation, n = 2). Lymphangiographic findings, technical and clinical successes, and complications were analyzed. Technical success was defined as the successful embolization of the thoracic duct after access to the lymphatic duct via the transabdominal route. Clinical success was defined as the resolution of CL or surgical drain removal. Results: On lymphangiography, ethiodized oil leakage near the surgical bed was identified in 12 of 14 patients (85.7%). The technical success rate of TDE was 78.6% (11/14). Transabdominal antegrade access was not feasible due to the inability to visualize the identifiable cisterna chyli or a prominent lumbar lymphatic duct. Among patients who underwent a technically successful TDE, the clinical success rate was 90.1% (10/11). The median time from the procedure to drain removal was 3 days (with a range of 1-13 days) for the 13 patients who underwent surgical drainage. No CL recurrence was observed during the follow-up period (ranging from 2-44 months; median, 8 months). There were no complications, except for one case of chylothorax that developed after TDE. Conclusion: TDE appears to be a safe and effective minimally invasive treatment option for CL after thyroid surgery, with acceptable technical and clinical success rates.

• Journal of Internet Computing and Services
• /
• v.25 no.1
• /
• pp.91-98
• /
• 2024

With the advancement of ICT (Information and Communication Technology), searching for judgments through the internet has become increasingly convenient. However, predicting sentencing based on judgments remains a challenging task for individuals. This is because sentencing involves a complex process of applying aggravating and mitigating factors within the framework of legal provisions, and it often depends on the subjective judgment of the judge. Therefore, this research aimed to develop a model for predicting sentencing using artificial intelligence by focusing on structuring the data from judgments, making it suitable for AI applications. Through theoretical and statistical analysis of previous studies, we identified variables with high explanatory power for predicting sentencing. Additionally, by analyzing 50 legal judgments related to serious crimes that are publicly available, we presented a framework for extracting essential information from judgments. This framework encompasses basic case information, sentencing details, reasons for sentencing, the reasons for the determination of the sentence, as well as information about offenders, victims, and accomplices evident within the specific content of the judgments. This research is expected to contribute to the development of artificial intelligence technologies in the field of law in the future.

• Journal of the Society of Disaster Information
• /
• v.20 no.1
• /
• pp.169-176
• /
• 2024

Purpose: In this paper, an experimental study was conducted to analyze the difference in shear strength caused by the problem of excluding coarse particles due to the size of the test specimen in the direct shear test. Method: A large-scale direct shear test was conducted on three weathered soils containing coarse aggregates with a maximum diameter of 50mm. In addition, a small-scale direct shear test was performed using a sample with a maximum diameter of 5 mm, excluding coarse aggregates. Result: In the case of the small-scale direct shear test, compared to the results of the large-scale direct shear test containing large particles, the internal friction angle was about 2.3% smaller, and there was no significant difference. In terms of cohesion, compared to the large-scale direct shear test, the small-scale direct shear test derived about 80.3% smaller value, showing a relatively large difference. Conclusion: In the large-scale direct shear test, it was analyzed that the coarse particles had a greater impact on the cohesion than the internal friction angle. Therefore, granite weathered clay containing coarse particles is judged to have the same shear strength as the cohesive force that is not affected by vertical stress. In this study, it was analyzed that the small-scale direct shear test, which excludes the coarse particles that are commonly used, provides results on the safety side by excluding the effect of coarse particles.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
• /
• v.44 no.4
• /
• pp.41-58
• /
• 2023

Objectives: This retrospective observational study aimed to investigate the efficacy and safety of Cheongpebaedok-tang, a traditional Korean herbal medicine, provided via telemedicine to patients with asymptomatic to mild COVID-19 in Korea. Methods: From February to April 2020, a retrospective analysis investigated COVID-19 patients treated via Korean telemedicine. The study involved asymptomatic to mild cases receiving Cheongpebaedok-tang more than three times, along with continuous Korean medicine care in convalescence. Diagnoses and treatment adhered to the telemedicine guidelines of the Association of Korean Medicine, with varied Cheongpebaedok-tang prescriptions based on symptom severity. Symptom evaluation involved a detailed assessment using a 15-item tool at initial and final sessions. Results: The study included 27 patients, with a mean age of 48.7 ± 2.3 years (mean ± standard error). Patients began self-administering oral Cheongpebaedok-tang for an average of 19.4 ± 1.8 days after the date of COVID-19 diagnosis confirmation and continued the medication for 15.8 ± 1.2 days. The reported side effects of the Cheongpebaedok-tang included palpitations (11.1%), insomnia (7.4%), dizziness (3.7%), and diarrhea (3.7%). All side effects disappeared after adjusting the prescription according to standard treatment guidelines. The occurrence of all COVID-19-related adverse symptoms, except fatigue and myalgia, decreased. Fatigue was the most common chronic symptom persisting after 6 months (51.9%), followed by ocular symptoms (37.0%) and sore throat (22.2%). Conclusions: This study implies Cheongpebaedok-tang may offer a potentially safe, symptom-alleviating approach for managing mild COVID-19 cases via telemedicine, although further comprehensive research is warranted.

• Journal of the Korean Regional Science Association
• /
• v.40 no.1
• /
• pp.37-51
• /
• 2024

To respond to local extinction, South Korea, under the leadership of the Ministry of the Interior and Safety, identified depopulated areas in 2021 and launched the Local Extinction Response Fund in 2022. However, due to its early stage of implementation, analyzing the characteristics and changes of policy response to local extinction at the central government level remains a challenge. In contrast, Japan, facing similar issues of local extinction as South Korea, has established a robust central government-led response system based on the Regional Revitalization Act and the Comprehensive Strategy and Basic Policy on Community-Population-Job Creation. Hence, this study examines Japan's policy responses to local extinction by analyzing the first and second periods of the Comprehensive Strategy and Basic Policy on Community-Population-Job Creation. For the analysis, topic modeling was employed to enhance text analysis efficiency and accuracy, complemented by expert interviews for validation. The results revealed that the first-period strategy's topics encompassed economy and society, start-up, local government, living condition, service, and industry. Meanwhile, the second-period strategy's topics included resource, the New Normal, woman, digital transformation, industry, region, public-private partnership, and population. The analysis highlights that the policy target, policy direction, and environmental change significantly influenced these policy shifts.

• Korean Journal of Microbiology
• /
• v.49 no.4
• /
• pp.313-320
• /
• 2013

Biofilm formed on stainless and copper in water treatment plant was investigated for sixteen weeks. Biofilm reactor was specially designed for this study. It was similar to that of a real distribution pipe. Raw water, coagulated, settled, filtered and treated water were used in this study. The average number of heterotrophic bacteria counts was $1.6{\times}10^4CFU/ml$, $5.8{\times}10^3CFU/ml$, $1.8{\times}10^3CFU/ml$, $1.3{\times}10^2CFU/ml$, 1 CFU/ml, respectively. Density of biofilm bacteria formed on stainless and copper pipes in raw, coagulated and settled water increased above $2.9{\times}10^3CFU/cm^2$ within second weeks while more biofilm bacteria counts were found on the stainless pipe than on the copper pipe. In case of filtered water (free residue chlorine 0.44 mg/L), there was no significant difference in the number of biofilm bacteria on both pipes and biofilm bacteria below $18CFU/cm^2$ were detected on both pipe materials after fifth weeks. Biofilm bacteria were not detected on both pipe materials in treated water (free residue chlorine 0.88 mg/L). According to the results of DGGE analysis, Sphingomonadacae was a dominant species of biofilm bacteria formed on the stainless pipe while the copper pipe had Bradyrhizobiaceae and Sphingomonadaceae as dominant bands. In case of filtered water, a few bands (similar to Propionibacterium sp., Sphingomonas sp., Escherichia sp., and etc.) that have 16S rRNA sequences were detected in biofilm bacteria formed on both pipes after fifth weeks. Stainless pipe had higher species richness and diversity than the copper pipe.

• The Korean Journal of Air & Space Law and Policy
• /
• v.35 no.2
• /
• pp.3-40
• /
• 2020

The term "accident" in the Warsaw Convention of 1929 and the Montreal Convention of 1999, which govern carrier liability in international air transport, is an important criterion for determining carrier liability. However, because there is no explicit definition of the term in the treaty provisions, the term is largely subjected to the judgment and interpretation of the courts. Although there have been numerous changes in purpose and circumstance in the transition from the Warsaw regime to the conclusion of the Montreal Convention, there was no discussion on the concept of "accident" therefore, even after the adoption of the Montreal Convention, there is no doubt that the term is to be interpreted in the same manner as before. On this point, the United States Supreme Court's Air France v. Saks clarified the concept of "accident" and is still cited as an important precedent. Recently, the CJEU, in GN v. ZU, presented a new concept of "accident" introduced in the Montreal Convention: that "reference must be made to the ordinary meaning" in interpreting "accident" and that the term "covers all situations occurring on aboard an aircraft." Furthermore, the CJEU ruled that the term does not include the applicability of "hazards typically associated with aviation," which was controversial in previous cases. Such an interpretation can be reasonably seen as the court's expansion of the concept of "accident," with a focus on "protecting consumer interests," a core tenet of both the Montreal convention and the European Union Regulations(EC: No 889/2002). The CJEU's independent interpretation of "accident" is a departure from the Warsaw Convention and the Saks case, with their focus on "carrier protection," and instead focuses on the "passenger protection" standard of the Montreal Convention. Consequently, this expands both the court's discretion and the carrier's risk management liability. Such an interpretation by the CJEU can be said to be in line with the purpose of the Montreal Convention in terms of "passenger protection." However, there are problems to be considered in tandem with an expanded interpretation of "accident." First, there may be controversy concerning "balance" in that it focused on "passenger protection" in relation to the "equitable balance of interests" between air carriers and passengers, which is the basic purpose of the agreement. Second, huge losses are expected as many airlines fly to countries within the European Union. Third, there is now a gap in the interpretation of "accident" in Europe and the United States, which raises a question on the "unity of rules," another basic tenet of the Convention. Fourth, this interpretation of "accident" by the CJEU raises questions regarding its scope of application, as it only refers to the "hazards typically associated with aviation" and "situations occurring aboard an aircraft." In this case, the CJEU newly proposed a novel criterion for the interpretation of "accident" under the Montreal Convention. As this presents food for thought on the interpretation of "accident," it is necessary to pay close attention to any changes in court rulings in the future. In addition, it suggests that active measures be taken for passenger safety by recognizing air carriers' unlimited liability and conducting systematic reforms.

• Journal of Korean Society of Transportation
• /
• v.20 no.3
• /
• pp.115-128
• /
• 2002

Dislike the tangent sections, the horizontal curve sections of roads should be designed, considering several factors : one of such factors is widening. In other words, since widening results from that when a vehicle runs on the horizontal curve sections, the rear wheels of the vehicle run not along with tracks of the front wheels but out of that, such offtracking should be exactly investigated and reflected in design of the curve sections. Especially in the case of industrial roads which semi-trailers and large trucks run frequently or arterial roads with small curve radiuses in mountainous regions. serious offtracking Phenomenons result in increasing the risk of accidents. decreasing the capacities and jeopardizing pedestrians' safety on the curve sections. For the offtracking, widening amounts of roads has been determined under the traditional presumption that vehicles run at a low speed and there is no superelevation. In fact, however, since the vehicles run at a high speed as well as at a low speed and the superelevation is installed on the horizontal curve sections in the structural aspect of roads, the existing standards for installing widening have a limitation to reflect exactly actual Phenomenons. In particular, for articulated wheel axles of a tractor and a trailer and long articulated vehicles, not only the offtracking degree is very high but also the interpretation shows different aspects from one of single axles. Comparing and reviewing the results of Korean and foreign studies related to the trailer offtracking model theory and the standards for installing widening, this study developed a realistic dynamic offtracking model which considers geometric structures of roads and speeds of vehicles, suggested how to measure widening with this model and examined applicability of the model. The findings of this study are as follows ; First. a dynamic offtracking model. which considers dynamic movements of a tractor and a trailer and the superelevation, was developed. Second, a new method to measure widening with the developed dynamic offtracking model was developed and a method to measure widening with swept path width was suggested as well. Finally, validity of the current standards for installing widening was examined by determining actual offtracking and widening amounts with the developed model and the applicability was investigated through the case studies. Compared with the existing offtracking models, the dynamic offtracking model developed in this study can reflect practically vehicle speed. dimension and geometric structural aspects of roads. In conclusion, the meaning of this study is that it reviews validity of the current standards for installing widening and provides a base to establish such standards by suggesting new methods to measure the widening with this dynamic offtracking model.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
• /
• v.42 no.1
• /
• pp.72-78
• /
• 2009

Background: Mediastinal neurogenic tumors are generally benign lesions and they are ideal candidates for performing resection via video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS). However, benign neurogenic tumors at the thoracic apex present technical problems for the surgeon because of the limited exposure of the neurovascular structures, and the optimal way to surgically access these tumors is still a matter of debate. This study aims to clarify the feasibility and safety of the VATS approach for performing surgical resection of benign apical neurogenic tumors (ANT). Material and Method: From January 1996 to September 2008, 31 patients with benign ANT (15 males/16 females, mean age: 45 years, range: 8~73), were operated on by various surgical methods: 14 VATS, 10 lateral thoracotomies, 6 cervical or cervicothoracic incisions and 1 median sternotomy. 3 patients had associated von Recklinhausen's disease. The perioperative variables and complications were retrospectively reviewed according to the surgical approaches, and the surgical results of VATS were compared with those of the other invasive surgeries. Result: In the VATS group, the histologic diagnosis was schwannoma in 9 cases, neurofibroma in 4 cases and ganglioneuroma in 1 case, and the median tumor size was 4.3 cm (range: 1.2~7.0 cm). The operation time, amount of chest tube drainage and the postoperative stay in the VATS group were significantly less than that in the other invasive surgical group (p<0.05). No conversion thoracotomy was required. There were 2 cases of Hornor's syndrome and 2 brachial plexus neuropathies in the VATS group; there was 1 case of Honor's syndrome, 1 brachial plexus neuropathy, 1 vocal cord palsy and 2 non-neurologic complications in the invasive surgical group, and all the complications developed postoperatively. The operative method was an independent predictor for postoperative neuropathies in the VATS group (that is, non-enucleation of the tumor) (p=0.029). Conclusion: The VATS approach for treating benign ANT is a less invasive, safe and feasible method. Enucleation of the tumor during the VATS procedure may be an important technique to decrease the postoperative neurological complications.