• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.50 no.1
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• pp.38-59
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• 2017

Objectives: Few attempts have been made to develop a generic health-related quality of life (HRQoL) instrument and to examine its validity and reliability in Korea. We aimed to do this in our present study. Methods: After a literature review of existing generic HRQoL instruments, a focus group discussion, in-depth interviews, and expert consultations, we selected 30 tentative items for a new HRQoL measure. These items were evaluated by assessing their ceiling effects, difficulty, and redundancy in the first survey. To validate the HRQoL instrument that was developed, known-groups validity and convergent/discriminant validity were evaluated and its test-retest reliability was examined in the second survey. Results: Of the 30 items originally assessed for the HRQoL instrument, four were excluded due to high ceiling effects and six were removed due to redundancy. We ultimately developed a HRQoL instrument with a reduced number of 20 items, known as the Health-related Quality of Life Instrument with 20 items (HINT-20), incorporating physical, mental, social, and positive health dimensions. The results of the HINT-20 for known-groups validity were poorer in women, the elderly, and those with a low income. For convergent/discriminant validity, the correlation coefficients of items (except vitality) in the physical health dimension with the physical component summary of the Short Form 36 version 2 (SF-36v2) were generally higher than the correlations of those items with the mental component summary of the SF-36v2, and vice versa. Regarding test-retest reliability, the intraclass correlation coefficient of the total HINT-20 score was 0.813 (p<0.001). Conclusions: A novel generic HRQoL instrument, the HINT-20, was developed for the Korean general population and showed acceptable validity and reliability.

• Fire Science and Engineering
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.37-43
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• 2014

The high predictive performance of fire detector models is essentially needed to assure the reliability of fire and evacuation modeling in the process of Performance-Based fire safety Design (PBD). The main objective of the present study is to measure input information in order to predictive the accurate activation time of fixed temperature heat detectors adopted in Fire Dynamics Simulator (FDS) as a representative fire model. To end this, Fire Detector Evaluator (FDE) which could be measured the device properties of detector was used, and the spot-type fixed temperature heat detectors of two thermistor types and one bimetal type were considered as research objectors. Activation temperature and Response Time Index (RTI) of detectors required for the fire modeling were measured, and then the RTI was measured for ceiling jet flow and vertical jet flow in consideration of the install location of detectors. The results of fire modeling using measured device properties were compared and validated with the experimental results of full-scale compartment fires. It was confirmed that, in result, the numerically predicted activation time of detector showed reasonable agreement with the measured activation time.

• Journal of the Institute of Convergence Signal Processing
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• v.5 no.4
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• pp.256-262
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• 2004

A key component of an autonomous mobile robot is to localize itself and build a map of the environment simultaneously. In this paper, we propose a vision-based localization and mapping algorithm of mobile robot using fisheye lens. To acquire high-level features with scale invariance, a camera with fisheye lens facing toward to ceiling is attached to the robot. These features are used in mP building and localization. As a preprocessing, input image from fisheye lens is calibrated to remove radial distortion and then labeling and convex hull techniques are used to segment ceiling and wall region for the calibrated image. At the initial map building process, features we calculated for each segmented region and stored in map database. Features are continuously calculated for sequential input images and matched to the map. n some features are not matched, those features are added to the map. This map matching and updating process is continued until map building process is finished, Localization is used in map building process and searching the location of the robot on the map. The calculated features at the position of the robot are matched to the existing map to estimate the real position of the robot, and map building database is updated at the same time. By the proposed method, the elapsed time for map building is within 2 minutes for 50㎡ region, the positioning accuracy is ±13cm and the error about the positioning angle of the robot is ±3 degree for localization.

• Journal of IKEEE
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• v.9 no.1 s.16
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• pp.7-18
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• 2005

A key component of an autonomous mobile robot is to localize itself accurately and build a map of the environment simultaneously. In this paper, we propose a vision-based mobile robot localization and mapping algorithm using scale-invariant features. A camera with fisheye lens facing toward to ceiling is attached to the robot to acquire high-level features with scale invariance. These features are used in map building and localization process. As pre-processing, input images from fisheye lens are calibrated to remove radial distortion then labeling and convex hull techniques are used to segment ceiling region from wall region. At initial map building process, features are calculated for segmented regions and stored in map database. Features are continuously calculated from sequential input images and matched against existing map until map building process is finished. If features are not matched, they are added to the existing map. Localization is done simultaneously with feature matching at map building process. Localization. is performed when features are matched with existing map and map building database is updated at same time. The proposed method can perform a map building in 2 minutes on $50m^2$ area. The positioning accuracy is ${\pm}13cm$, the average error on robot angle with the positioning is ${\pm}3$ degree.

• Journal of Gifted/Talented Education
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.119-138
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• 2015

This study analyzed the academic achievements on above-level testing of mathematics, physics, chemistry, and English in newly entering students of science specialized high schools. It can be expected that newly students of science high specialized schools have reached ceiling level in the middle school mathematics and science academic scores. Above-level testing(or off-level testing) is a test tool used to evaluate student's ability which are above-grade level. In this study, above-level testing tools were used to develop the same type examination paper of the 2013 Korean College Scholastic Ability Test(CSAT) in mathematics, physics, chemistry, and English. The conclusions of this study were as follow: First, the academic achievement level of science specialized high school freshmen were higher the average level of general high school senior because that over 50% of them are within the 5 grade of CSAT in mathematics, physics, and chemistry. In English, 19.3% science specialized high school freshmen have reached within the 5 grade of CSAT. Second, as a result of examining characteristics of academic achievement with respect to units of subjects, in mathematics, it was showed that the academic achievement of 'continuity and limit of a function' unit was higher, 'statistics' unit was lower. In physics, the academic achievement of 'Electricity and Magnetism' unit was higher, 'Waves and particles' unit was lower. In chemistry, the academic achievement of 'compounds in life' unit was higher, 'Air' unit was lower. In English, the academic achievement of 'practical sentence' of reading area was higher, 'Sentence' of writing area was lower. In conclusion, above-level testing provided a good strategy for identifying and determining appropriate programming interventions for gifted students who are two or more grade levels above their age-mates in achievements, aptitude, or ability.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.36 no.5
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• pp.402-410
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• 2010

The objectives of this study were to evaluate the air quality surrounding an indoor swimming pool, to estimate the cancer risk based on the airborne exposure to trihalomethanes (THMs), and to examine the ventilation efficiency by Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD). Chlorine and THMs were measured poolside, and in the staff room and reception area. The indoor swimming pool was modeled using the Airpak program, with ventilation drawings and actual survey data. Temperature, flow and mean age of the air were analyzed. Levels of chlorine poolside, and in the staff room, and reception area were $203\;{\mu}g/m^3$, $5\;{\mu}g/m^3$, and $10\;{\mu}g/m^3$, respectively. Chloroform was the dominant THM in all sampling sites and mean concentrations were $16.30\;{\mu}g/m^3$, $0.51\;{\mu}g/m^3$, and $0.06\;{\mu}g/m^3$ poolside, in the staff room and reception area, respectively. Bromodichloromethane and Dibromochloromethane levels were respectively estimated as $10.3\;{\mu}g/m^3$ and $1.7\;{\mu}g/m^3$ poolside, $1.3\;{\mu}g/m^3$ and $0.1\;{\mu}g/m^3$ in the staff room, and were not detected in the reception area. The cancer risks from inhalation exposure to THMs were estimated between $3.37{\times}10^{-7}$ and $1.84{\times}10^{-5}$. A short circulation phenomenon was observed from the supply air vents to the exhaust air vents located in the ceiling. A high temperature layer was formed within one meter of the ceiling, and a low temperature layer was formed under this layer due to the low velocity and high temperature of the supply air, and the improper locations of the supply air vents and exhaust air vents. The stagnation was evident at the above adult pool and the mean age of the air was 22 minutes. Disinfection by-products in the indoor swimming pool were present in higher concentrations than in the outdoor air. In order to increase the removal of pollutants, adjustment was required of the supply air volume and the supply/exhaust position.

• Fire Science and Engineering
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• v.20 no.4 s.64
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• pp.1-12
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• 2006

In this study, CFD computer simulations by FDS are carried out in order to confirm the performance of the combined operation of both sprinkler system and smoke curtain of 0.54 m depth installed for cooling and blocking the smoke which propagates beneath the sloped ceiling of a stairway corridor of which dimensions are 17.92 m long, 4.00 m wide, and 6.12 m high. It is shown that the response time of sprinklers decreases with fire size and it increases more about 1.1 second in case without smoke curtain than in case with smoke curtain, that the time of smoke transport from the fire source to the stairway outlet decreases considerably with fire size, and that the delay effect of smoke transport is not related to the sprinkler system, whether it is operated or not. This study shows that the combined operation of both sprinkler system and smoke curtain is very effective in smoke cooling, but it is a little for effect on smoke blockage. Although the hazard of skin burn due to radiative heat flux from hot smoke layer is decreased by spray cooling effect, the hazard of smoke suffocation and the weakening of visibility is increased by smoke downdrag and the turbulence of smoke-air mixing due to water spray. These conditions may result in preventing occupants from going out of the stairway during evacuation.

• Fire Science and Engineering
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• v.32 no.3
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• pp.67-75
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• 2018

To reduce the number of casualties in the case of fire, an alarm sound needs to be delivered to the people who remain in the apartment unit. On the other hand, it was reported that the fire alarm sound generated in the elevator hall was not delivered sufficiently to the people staying in the apartment units. In this study, the background noise level and noise level generated in an apartment unit were measured during the day and night time. In addition, the transmission of the fire alarm sound into the each room of apartment units was simulated and compared with the background noise level. The fire alarm sound generated in the elevator halls was reduced by the fire door and doors, and was not transmitted sufficiently into the internal spaces of the apartment units. Starting evacuation action was difficult after hearing the fire alarm sound generated outside the apartment units. To improve the transmission of an alarm sound to the inner spaces of apartment units, an acoustic simulation was carried out for cases where the alarm sound generator was installed on a wall-pad in the living room and the alarm sound generator was installed on the ceiling of each rooms in apartment units. Background noise of + 15 dB and 75 dB (A) were satisfied when alarm sound generator was installed on the ceiling of each room.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Gas
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.13-21
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• 2021

Because of the recent expansion of hydrogen vehicle supply, the installation of hydrogen filling station is expected to gradually expand. This study attempts to predict the damage scale and propose a safer design form based on the scenario that assumes the worst case of a hydrogen station. A Flacs solver using computational fluid dynamics (CFD) was used to predict the damage scale, and the accuracy was verified by comparing it with the experimental results of previous researchers. The damage scale prediction was conducted for hydrogen leakage and explosion, and the prediction target was the KR model based on the measured values. And as a comparative review model, a roofless model was selected without a ceiling. As a result of analyzing the two models, it was possible to confirm the accumulation and retention of hydrogen gas up to 60 vol% or more in the KR model, whereas in the case of the Roofless model, the phenomenon of discharge and diffusion to the outside of the charging station by riding the wall after leakage. I was able to check. In conclusion, it was reviewed that the type of hydrogen charging station without ceiling is more advantageous for safety than the hydrogen filling station model.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.32 no.4
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• pp.381-392
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• 2022

Objectives: Objective of this study is to review briefly exposure characteristics, monitoring instruments and threshold limit values for extremely low frequency-magnetic field (ELF-MF) methods. This study was undertaken through brief literature review. We performed a literature search in PubMed to identify ELF-MF studies conducted in workplaces. Initial search keywords such as 'extremely low frequency-magnetic field (ELF-MF)' and 'electromagnetic fields (EMF)' combined or singly. We limited our review to occupational rather than general nonworkplace environmental exposures. Methods: The contents we reviewed: key industry and occupations generating ELF-MF, several direct-reading instruments monitoring ELF-MF and threshold limit values (TLV) preventing health effects may be caused by the exposure to ELF-MF. Results: The industries related to the generation and supply of electricity, electrolytic installations, welding, and induction heating and more were regarded as high ELF-MF exposure industries. All jobs handling or employed performed in power cable lines, electrical wiring, and electrical equipment are found to be exposed to ELF-MF. Threshold or ceiling limit, 1,000 µT, is established to prevent acute effects of exposure to low-frequency EMFs on the nervous system: the direct stimulation of nerve and muscle tissues and the induction of retinal phosphenes. The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) has classified ELF-MF as possibly carcinogenic to humans chiefly based on epidemiological studies on childhood leukemia. However, a causal relationship between magnetic fields and several types of cancer including childhood leukemia has not been established nor has any other long-term effects. Risk management using precautionary measures, has been initiated by the US and EU to prevent chronic health effects related to ELF-MF exposure in workplaces. Conclusion: This study recommends the implementation of various measures such as theestablishment of occupational exposure limit values for ELF-MF and precautionary principle to prevent potential chronic occupational health effects may be caused by ELF-MF in Korea.