• Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
• /
• v.16 no.2
• /
• pp.219-227
• /
• 1999

Background: In contrast to a healthy person, patients who have acute lower respiratory tract infection with underlying pulmonary diseases have various pathogens, a rapidly progressive downhill course, and a poor response to prior antimicrobial therapy. Broad spectrum antibacterial therapy is needed for full evaluation. Materials and Methods: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of cefpirome, we administered 1gm cefpirome, twice a day to 30 patients, who had signs and symptoms of acute lower respiratory infection regardless of their underlying disease, except to those who had an allergic history to antibiotics or severe systemic diseases. Results: The results were as follows: 1) Among 30 cases, 21 cases(70.0%) showed excellent improvement, and 7 cases(23.3%) showed good improvement in their symptoms and signs of acute lower respiratory infection. 2) In 14 cases with isolated pathogens, we observed bacteriologic eradication in 11 cases(78. 6%). 3) Significant side effects were not found. Conclusion: Above results suggest that cefpirome was effective as a monotherapy in patients with acute lower respiratory infection, especially on those with an underlying chronic obstructive pulmonary disease(COPD).

• Journal of the Korean Society of Safety
• /
• v.31 no.1
• /
• pp.95-104
• /
• 2016

In general, the crash reduction effect of the rumble strip is reported to be about 30% in Korea, while it is about 40-60% in the United States. However, the effect is erroneously overestimated because the simple comparison was only made before and after the installation. Accordingly, this study will reassess the crash reduction effect of the rumble strip. The study will also examine the former's geometric characteristics as well as its effect on the causes of the crash. This study analyzed the crash effect while taking into consideration the changes in the horizontal and vertical alignment, including the width of pavement shoulders, using the crash data for two years before and after the installation of the rumble strip. The types of crash caused by the rumble strip were identified using the classification discriminant function. The crash effect on the rumble strip is estimated to be 28.3%, but the pure effect, with the exception of the effect by other elements, was analyzed to be 7.4%. For each expressway design element, the downhill section (2.0-3.0%), the section with less than 3,000 m and more than 10,000 m of the curve radius, and the section with less than 3.0 m of the pavement shoulder width were found to be effective in crash reduction. For each cause of crash, the rumble strip was analyzed to be effective in the reduction of crash caused by "not keeping the safe distance", "sleeping", "negligence in keeping eyes forward", and "excessive handle operation". In particular, the rumble strip was analyzed and seen to be especially effective in preventing crash caused by "not keeping a safe distance," and "sleeping". The installation of the rumble strip was found to be effective in the prevention of crash caused by "not keeping the safe distance" and "sleeping". The results of this study may thus be used in deciding the causes of crash and the installation location of the tailored rumble strip that would be suitable for the geometric characteristics of the roads. This study will also be helpful in the establishment of future traffic safety measures.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Intelligent Systems
• /
• v.22 no.3
• /
• pp.361-366
• /
• 2012

This paper presents speed control of an electric motorcycle using a fuzzy controller. The electric motorcycle required to meet not only fast throttle response but also stability, when it is on a cruise. However, a 1.5KW (50cc) electric motorcycles selling in the current market are difficult to cruise under the following conditions which are occupant's weight, load weight, wind resistance and road conditions (dirt roads, asphalt road). Because of these reasons, the rapid speed changing occurs in uphill and downhill road. To solve these problems, The input value for Improved fuzzy controller use the speed error and error variance. The output value for improved fuzzy controller uses Q-axis of the motor controlled variable. The D-axis of the motor output for improved fuzzy control uses D-axis controlled variable in proportional to Q-axis controlled variable. Improved fuzzy controller drives the electric motorcycle equipped with IPMSM. The control subject used in this paper is a 1.5KW electric motorcycle equipped with improved fuzzy controller that was used to control the motor speed. To control IPMSM Type of motor torque, D, Q-axis current controller was used. The Fuzzy controller using the proposed algorithm is demonstrated by experimental hardware simulator.

• The Journal of The Korea Institute of Intelligent Transport Systems
• /
• v.18 no.2
• /
• pp.12-28
• /
• 2019

Road geometry is one of the many factors that cause crashes, but the effect on traffic accident depends on weather conditions even under the same road geometry. This study identifies the variables affecting the crash severity by matching the highway accident data and weather data for 14 years from 2001 to 2014. A hierarchical ordered Logit model is used to reflect the effects of road geometry and weather condition interactions on crash severity, as well as the correlation between individual crashes in a region. Among the hierarchical models, we apply a random intercept model including interaction variables between road geometry and weather condition and a random coefficient model including regional weather characteristics as upper-level variables. As a result, it is confirmed that the effects of toll, ramp, downhill slope of 3% or more, and concrete barrier on the crash severity vary depending on weather conditions. It also shows that the combined effects of road geometry and weather conditions may not be linear depending on rainfall or snowfall levels. Finally, we suggest safety improvement measures based on the results of this study, which are expected to reduce the severity of traffic accidents in the future.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
• /
• v.32 no.1
• /
• pp.111-123
• /
• 2023

The slope of an open cut tunnel is located above the exit of the Leijia tunnel on the Changgan high-speed railway. During the excavation of the open cut tunnel foundation pit, the slope slipped twice, a large landslide of 92500 m³ formed. The landslide body and unstable slope body not only caused the foundation pit of the open cut tunnel to be buried and the anchor piles to be damaged but also directly threatened the operational safety of the later high-speed railway. Therefore, to study the stability change in the slope of the open cut tunnel under heavy rain and excavation conditions, a 3D numerical calculation model of the slope is carried out by Midas GTS software, the deformation mechanism is analyzed, anti-sliding measures are proposed, and the effectiveness of the anti-sliding measures is analyzed according to the field monitoring results. The results show that when rainfall occurs, rainwater collects in the open cut tunnel area, resulting in a transient saturation zone on the slope on the right side of the open cut tunnel, which reduces the shear strength of the slope soil; the excavation at the slope toe reduces the anti-sliding capacity of the slope toe. Under the combined action of excavation and rainfall, when the soil above the top of the anchor pile is excavated, two potential sliding surfaces are bounded by the top of the excavation area, and the shear outlet is located at the top of the anchor pile. After the excavation of the open cut tunnel, the potential sliding surface is mainly concentrated at the lower part of the downhill area, and the shear outlet moves down to the bottom of the open cut tunnel. Based on the deformation characteristics and the failure mechanism of the landslides, comprehensive control measures, including interim emergency mitigation measures and long-term mitigation measures, are proposed. The field monitoring results further verify the accuracy of the anti-sliding mechanism analysis and the effectiveness of anti-sliding measures.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Safety
• /
• v.38 no.2
• /
• pp.96-103
• /
• 2023

Generally, human stampedes and crowd collapses occur when people press against each other, causing falls that may result in death or injury. Particularly, crowd accidents have become increasingly common since the 1990s, with an average of 380 deaths annually. For instance, in Korea, a stampede occurred during the Itaewon Halloween festival on October 29, 2022, when several people crowded onto a narrow, downhill road, which was 45 meters long and between 3.2 and 4 meters wide. Precisely, this stampede was primarily due to the excessive number of people relative to the road size. Essentially, stampedes can occur anywhere and at any time, not just at events, but also in other places where large crowds gather. More specifically, the likelihood of accidents increases when the crowd density exceeds a turbulence threshold of 5-6 /m². Meanwhile, festivals and events, which have become more frequent and are promoted through social media, garner people from near and far to a specific location. Besides, as cities grow, the number of people gathering in one place increases. While stampedes are rare, their impact is significant, and the uncertainty associated with them is high. Currently, there is no scientific system to analyze the risk of stampedes due to crowd concentration. Consequently, to prevent such accidents, it is essential to prepare for crowd disasters that reflect social changes and regional characteristics. Hence, this study proposes using digital topographic maps and crowd-density risk simulations to develop a 3D model of the region. Specifically, the crowd density simulation allows for an analysis of the density of people walking along specific paths, which enables the prediction of danger areas and the risk of crowding. By using the simulation method in this study, it is anticipated that safety measures can be rationally established for specific situations, such as local festivals, and preparations may be made for crowd accidents in downtown areas.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
• /
• v.40 no.5 s.274
• /
• pp.341-350
• /
• 2007

Background: We present here the early and midterm surgical results for infective endocarditis and we especially focus on the effect of aggressive reconstruction or root implantation after wide debridement. Material and Method: Between January 1995 and Jun 2006, we enrolled 79 adult infective endocarditis patients who underwent surgical treatment. There were 63 and 16 native and prosthetic valve endocarditis cases, respectively. They included 27 cases of culture negative endocarditis. With performing valve replacement or repair, 28 of the patient underwent a more aggressive surgical option, for example, aortic root replacement or reconstruction, or heart base reconstruction etc. Result: There were statistical relationships between the in-hospital mortality and staphylococcal infection, urgent-based operation and operation during the active phase of endocarditis. Wide debridement and aggressive reconstruction were not related to either the post operative mortality or the early morbidity. Culture negative endocarditis was not related to the postoperative mortality and morbidity. Conclusion: Physicians must pay attention to patients' medical treatment during the preoperative period of the infective endocarditis. If surgery is considered for treating infective endocarditis, it should be performed before the downhill course of the disease so that the surgical outcome is improved. Wide debridement and more aggressive reconstruction are also warranted.