• Journal of the Korea Society of Computer and Information
• /
• v.28 no.12
• /
• pp.33-40
• /
• 2023

As South Korea enters the realm of an super-aging society, the demand for elderly welfare services has been steadily rising. However, the current shortage of welfare personnel has emerged as a social issue. To address this challenge, there is active research underway on elderly care robots designed to mitigate the social isolation of the elderly and provide emergency contact capabilities in critical situations. Nonetheless, these functionalities require direct user contact, which represents a limitation of conventional elderly care robots. In this paper, we propose a solution to overcome these challenges by introducing a care robot system capable of interacting with users without the need for direct physical contact. This system leverages commercialized elderly care robots and cameras. We have equipped the care robot with an edge device that incorporates facial expression recognition and action recognition models. The models were trained and validated using public available data. Experimental results demonstrate high accuracy rates, with facial expression recognition achieving 96.5% accuracy and action recognition reaching 90.9%. Furthermore, the inference times for these processes are 50ms and 350ms, respectively. These findings affirm that our proposed system offers efficient and accurate facial and action recognition, enabling seamless interaction even in non-contact situations.

• Health Policy and Management
• /
• v.33 no.4
• /
• pp.411-420
• /
• 2023

Background: The purpose of this study was to analyze the demand and supply status of patient beds by type of medical institution, categorized into 70 clinical privilege, in order to understand the regional bed supply situation. Methods: Utilizing the 70 clinical privilege defined by the Ministry of Health and Welfare, we calculated bed demand and supply quantities from 2019 to 2021 using data from Statistics Korea and the Health Insurance Statistical Yearbook. The bed demand calculation formula was based on the detailed guidelines for the medical sector by the Korea Development Institute and the 3rd edition of bed supply basic policies announced by the Ministry of Health and Welfare. Additionally, to mitigate distorted bed supply situations caused by factors such as regional levels and patient outflows, we classified bed supply types using the population decrease index indicator published by the Ministry of Public Administration and Security. Results: Among the 70 clinical privilege, it was analyzed that a relatively balanced bed supply situation exists overall, irrespective of the type of healthcare institution. However, in medical institutions at or above the level of hospitals, regions with bed supply ratios exceeding 20% compared to demand, particularly in institutions at or above the level of general hospitals, showed a relatively high rate of demand diversion. Conclusion: We have identified the bed supply types in the 70 clinical privilege in South Korea. Based on the results of this study, we emphasize the need for bed supply policies that consider regional characteristics. It is expected that this research can serve as fundamental data for future efforts aimed at managing or rectifying bed supply imbalances on a regional basis.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Crop Science Conference
• /
• 2023.04a
• /
• pp.32-32
• /
• 2023

Cadmium and salt exposure to crops is considered vulnerable for production as well as consumption. To address these challenges, the current study aimed to mitigate the toxicity induced by salt and cadmium in soybean plants through the application of bacterial strain Bacillus safensis KJW143 isolated from the rhizosphere of oriental melon..The bioassay analysis revealed that KJW143 is a highly salt-tolerant and cadmium-resistant (Cd) strain with an innate ability to produce melatonin, gibberellin (GA3), Indole-3-Acetic Acid (IAA), and organic acids (i.e., acetic, succinic, lactic, and propionic acids). Soybean plants at 20 days old were treated with KJW143 in a different form (pellet, broth, and together) and their effect on plant performance was investigated. Inoculation with KJW143enhanced plant biomass and growth attributes in soybean plants compared to the control (non-treated). In particular, we observed that only pellet-treated showed 65%, 27.5%, and 28.7% increase in growth (shoot fresh weight) compared to broth, broth with pellet, and control. In addition, bacterial strain KJW143 treatment (only pellet) modulated the physiochemical apparatus of soybean plants by increasing glucose (390%), arabinose (166%), citric acid (22.98%) and reducing hydrogen peroxide (29.7%), catalase (32.1%), salicylic acid (25.6%) compared to plants with combined stressed plants (cd and salinity). These findings suggest that bacterial strain KJW143 could be usedas a biofertilizer to minimize the probable risk of heavy metal and salinity stress on crops.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Crop Science Conference
• /
• 2023.04a
• /
• pp.51-51
• /
• 2023

Global warming has significant effects on the growth and development of wheat and can cause a reduction in grain yield and quality. Grain quality is a major factor determining the end-use quality of flour and a reduction in quality can result economic losses. Therefore, it is necessary to study the physiological characteristic of wheat to understand its response to temperature elevation, which can aid in the development of strategies to mitigate the negative effects of high temperature and sustain wheat production. This study investigated the effects of elevated temperature on grain characteristics and quality during the grain filling period of two Korean bread wheat cultivars Baekkang and Jokyoung. These two bread wheat cultivars were subjected to an increasing temperature conditions regime; T0 (control), T1 (T0+1℃), T2 (T0+2℃) and T3 (T0+3℃). The results showed that high temperature, particularly in T3 condition, caused a significant decrease in the number of grains per spike and grain yield compared to the T0 condition. The physical properties, such as grain weight and hardness, as well as chemical properties, such as starch, protein, gluten content and SDSS, which affect the quality of wheat, were changed by high temperature during the grain filling period. The grain weight and hardness increased, while the grain size not affected by high temperature. On the other hand, amylose content decreased, whereas protein, gluten content and SDSS increased in T3 condition. In this study, high temperature within 3℃ of the optimal growth temperature of wheat, quantity properties decreased while quality-related prosperities increased. To better understand the how this affects the grain's morphology and quality, further molecular and physiological studies are necessary.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
• /
• v.56 no.5
• /
• pp.413-421
• /
• 2023

Objectives: This study explored the effect of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic on psychosocial stress in prime working-age individuals in Korea, focusing on gender inequalities. We hypothesized that the impact of COVID-19 on mental health would differ by age and gender, with younger women potentially demonstrating heightened vulnerability relative to men. Methods: The study involved data from the Korea Community Health Survey and included 319 592 adults aged 30 years to 49 years. We employed log-binomial regression analysis, controlling for variables including age, education, employment status, marital status, and the presence of children. The study period included 3 phases: the period prior to the COVID-19 outbreak (pre-COVID-19), the early pandemic, and the period following the introduction of vaccinations (post-vaccination). Results: The findings indicated that women were at a heightened risk of psychosocial stress during the early pandemic (relative risk [RR], 1.01; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.98 to 1.05) and post-vaccination period (RR, 1.07; 95% CI, 1.04 to 1.10) compared to men. This pattern was prominent in urban women aged 30-34 years (pre-COVID-19: RR, 1.06; 95% CI, 1.02 to 1.10; early pandemic: RR, 1.16; 95% CI, 1.08 to 1.25; post-vaccination period, RR, 1.22; 95% CI, 1.14 to 1.31). Conclusions: The COVID-19 pandemic has exerted unequal impacts on psychosocial stress among prime working-age individuals in Korea, with women, particularly those in urban areas, experiencing a heightened risk. The findings highlight the importance of addressing gender-specific needs and implementing appropriate interventions to mitigate the psychosocial consequences of the pandemic.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Safety
• /
• v.38 no.5
• /
• pp.1-7
• /
• 2023

This study analyzes the operational characteristics of 311 aged and non-aged residual current circuit breakers (RCCBs) in low-voltage consumer contexts. It investigates the influence of external temperature and harmonics based on the rated current multiples. To simulate temperature variations, a convectional oven was used around the circuit breakers. Additionally, the generation of harmonic reference signals and data measurement for overcurrent experiments were conducted using NI SCXI, myDAQ, and LabVIEW. An observation revealed that as the ambient temperature increased, the operating time of RCCBs decreased in the time delay region. This was attributed to the faster response or bending of the bimetal, which is the tripping element. However, aged RCCBs encountered challenges with tripping outside the protective curve. The operating time of the circuit breakers exhibited an acceleration influenced by the order and content of harmonic currents, potentially leading to malfunctions. Aged RCCBs demonstrated faster operating times than their non-aged counterparts. However, the difference in operating time varied based on the manufacturer's and operating environment of the RCCBs. Frequent malfunctions of RCCBs can result in power outages. In cases where these circuit breakers fail to operate, they can lead to secondary damages, including electrical fires and shocks. Consequently, it is imperative to consider the operating environment of RCCBs and provide appropriate replacement cycles to mitigate these risks.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Agriculture
• /
• v.42 no.4
• /
• pp.269-278
• /
• 2023

Antibiotics either kill or inhibit the growth of bacteria. However, antibiotic-resistant bacteria are difficult to treat with antibiotics. Infections caused by such bacteria often lead to severe diseases. Antibiotic resistance genes (ARG) can be horizontally transmitted across different bacterial species, necessitating a comprehensive understanding of how ARGs spread across various environments. In this study, we analyzed the plasmid sequences of 33 extended-spectrum beta-lactamases (ESBL) producing Escherichia coli isolated from pigs, farms, and their owners. We conducted an antibiotic susceptibility test (AST) with aztreonam and seven other antibiotics, as well as whole genome sequencing (WGS) of the strains using MinION. Our results demonstrated that the plasmids that did not harbor ARGs were mostly non-conjugative, whereas the plasmids that harbored ARGs were conjugative. The arrangement of these ARGs exhibited a pattern of organization featuring a series of ARG cassettes, some of which were identical across the isolates collected from different sources. Therefore, this study suggests that the sets of ARG cassettes on plasmids were mostly shared between pigs and their owners. Hence, enhanced surveillance of ARG should be implemented in farm environments to proactively mitigate the risk of antibiotic-resistant bacterial infections.

• International conference on construction engineering and project management
• /
• 2011.02a
• /
• pp.168-175
• /
• 2011

Construction accidents are major problem in Turkish Construction industry and especially fatally rates are very high. Current legislative system on occupational safety in Turkey enforces employers to implement safety measures as well as safety management systems. However level of consciousness in the industry is unsatisfactory and safety are perceived as extra cost and unnecessary expenditure. Moreover, especially in small residential building constructions which have a big share in the industry and unfortunately safety measures to mitigate or abate construction risks do not exist. The study focuses on small residential building construction sites and in the scope of this study, thirty building projects are examined. For each building project, project cost including labour and material costs, service and consultancy costs for mechanical, electrical systems as well as architectural and structural services, costs for supervision and finally general expenditures for construction site facilities were calculated. On the other hand, occupational safety costs for personal protective equipment, collective protective measures, consultancy and training were determined. Work breakdown structures were established and for each work item firstly occupational risks were evaluated and furthermore according to risk scores safety measures to be implemented were defined and related costs were calculated. The study gave results for total safety cost on average, in terms of percentage of total project cost (3.73% of total project cost), safety cost per man-hour (0.40 USD) and safety cost in terms of unit construction area (11.60 USD per square meter). Since safety management is a part of whole project management process, study gives suggestions and techniques to calculate safety costs and implement safety measures as a part of project management service for professionals. Authors believe that suggested approach may easily developed by the usage of more data to establish a model for estimation not only for building construction sites but also for all construction projects.

• Journal of the Korea Institute of Building Construction
• /
• v.23 no.6
• /
• pp.797-807
• /
• 2023

This research aims to investigate the alterations in typhoon patterns attributable to climate change and to quantitatively assess the risk of damage to residential structures. The increasing prevalence of climate anomalies and severe weather events, a consequence of global warming, is causing escalating damage globally. Notably, numerous countries are facing substantial devastation due to shifts in typhoon trajectories. Despite this, there exists a gap in empirical research quantifying the impact of these changes on building integrity and the associated risk alterations driven by climate change. In addressing this gap, our study analyzes the frequency and intensity of typhoons impacting Korea, examining the evolution of these meteorological phenomena. Furthermore, we employ the Korean Typhoon Vulnerability Function for residential facilities to quantify the altered risk posed by these changing patterns. The outcomes of this study provide the private sector with essential data to formulate diverse scenarios and business strategies in response to the escalating risks of typhoon-related damage. Additionally, it equips governmental bodies with the necessary insights to develop comprehensive risk management strategies to mitigate the effects of future typhoons.

• Resources Recycling
• /
• v.33 no.1
• /
• pp.37-47
• /
• 2024

In grouting, the LW method is commonly employed to induce the gelation of cementitious material using water glass, thereby restricting the extent of material injection. Nevertheless, challenges manifest when materials are lost before gelation, particularly in regions with high groundwater flow rates or significant subsurface voids. This study developed a thixotropic grout material using LFS and GGBFS to mitigate material loss during injection, with an assessment of its flow characteristics, durability in marine exposure, strength, and injection properties. The outcomes revealed that the thixotropic grout material exhibited flow ranging from 105 to 143 mm and enhanced strength and durability compared to the LW method. Furthermore, field tests substantiated that applying vibration and impact improved impermeability.