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The incidence of right-turning pedestrian accidents is increasing in South Korea. Most of the accidents occur when a large vehicle is turning right, and the main cause of the accidents was found to be the driver’s limited field of vision. After these accidents, the government implemented a series of institutional measures with the objective of preventing such accidents. However, despite the institutional arrangements in place, pedestrian accidents continue to occur. We focused on the many limitations that autonomous vehicles, like humans, can face in such situations. To address this issue, we propose a right-turn pedestrian collision avoidance system by installing a LiDAR sensor in the center of the intersection to facilitate pedestrian detection. Furthermore, the urban road environment is considered, as this provides the optimal conditions for the model to perform at its best. During this research, we collected data on right-turn accidents using the CARLA simulator and ROS interface and demonstrated the effectiveness of our approach in preventing such incidents. Our results suggest that the implementation of this method can effectively reduce the incidence of right-turn accidents in autonomous vehicles.

Polylactide (PLA) is an alternative to traditional petroleum-based polymers; however, its brittleness and tendency to produce rustling in the film form limit its applications in deep freeze packaging and at quiet public facilities. Herein, a PLA-based biodegradable packaging material was prepared by blending transparent flexible PLA (TF-PLA) with various lactic acid-based ester precursors (LAEPs), which were synthesized using l-lactic acid, poly (tetrahydrofuran), sebacic acid, and 1,4-butanediol, thereby producing TF-PLAs with good transparency and biodegradability, low-level migration, low rustling, and improved mechanical properties. The glass transition temperature (Tg) values and chemical structures of the synthesized LAEPs were studied using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) with the Gordon–Taylor equation and proton nuclear magnetic resonance (1H NMR) spectroscopy. The obtained TF-PLA showed better elongation at room temperature as well as flexibility, with a bending angle comparable to that of neat PLA at extremely low temperatures. The evaluated barrier property and migration level of the TF-PLA film indicated the untapped market potential of TF-PLA. The biodegradability test of sorted TF-PLAs over eight weeks indicated good biodegradability, similar to that of neat PLA. Therefore, TF-PLAs have a high potential for deep freeze packaging applications.

Interfacing the output of severe accident analysis with the input of radiological consequence analysis is an important and mandatory procedure at the beginning of Level 3 PSA. Such interfacing between the severe accident analysis code MELCOR and MACCS, one of the most commonly used consequence analysis codes, is relatively tractable since they share the same chemical groups, and the related interfacing software, MelMACCS, has already been developed. However, the linking between MAAP, another frequently used code for severe accident analyses, and MACCS has difficulties because MAAP employs a different chemical grouping method than MACCS historically did. More specifically, MAAP groups by chemical compound, while MACCS groups by chemical element. An appropriate interfacing method between MAAP and MACCS has therefore long been requested by users. This study suggests a way of extracting relevant information from MAAP results and providing proper source term information to MACCS by an appropriate treatment. Various parameters are covered in terms of magnitude and manner of release in this study, and special treatment is made for a bypass scenario. It is expected that the suggested approach will provide an important contribution as a guide to interface MAAP and MACCS when performing radiological consequence analyses.

The Jackson table has minimal effects on cardiac function because it does not elevate abdominal and thoracic pressures. In addition, it decreases venous congestion and increases exposure of the surgical field. However, the hips and knees are flexed with inappropriate padding, and venostasis is promoted and increased. Pulmonary thromboembolism (PTE) is fatal; thus immediate diagnosis and treatment are essential. However, clinical signs of intraoperative PTE are difficult to discern. Thrombolytic therapy can be considered as first-line therapy, but bleeding limits its use. The authors report a case of PTE resulting from patient positional change after spine surgery, and the use of immediate postoperative recombinant tissue-type plasminogen activator.

Background: Several studies have shown that acute exercise has a small positive effect on cognitive performance. However, it is still unclear what type of exercise has a sustained impact on cognitive performance during post-exercise recovery. Therefore, the purpose of our study was to investigate cognitive performance at the behavioral level, and their neural correlates after a 10-minute post-exercise recovery period with two different types of exercise intervention (high-intensity interval exercise (HIIE) vs. Moderate-intensity continuous exercise (MCE)). Methods: A total of 29 healthy young adults (7 women) between the ages of 19 and 33 with fair to good cardiovascular fitness were submitted to two different exercise protocols and a recovery session. Cognitive function was assessed using a digital Trail-Making-Test (dTMT). Cortical activity in the prefrontal and the motor cortex using functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) was measured before, after acute exercise, and during recovery. The statistical analysis of fNIRS data was performed by comparing the slope and mean of the hemodynamic response. Results: High levels of hemodynamic responses were observed in the prefrontal and motor cortex on the brain during performing the dTMT while walking from pre- to post-exercise and decreased again in post-recovery, accompanied by improvement and maintenance of cognitive performance. Notably, a high hemodynamic response in the left motor area of the brain was maintained by HIIE in post-recovery compared with MCE. Conclusions: The high cortical activation in the left motor area from post-exercise to recovery for the HIIE group may be due to the additional availability of neural resources for fine motor and postural control by high-intensity exercise-induced fatigue. Additionally, the improved cognitive performance may have effectively utilized the available neural resources in the frontal lobe, depending on the condition (sitting and walking) and the two types of exercise protocol (HIIE and MCE).

Gene therapy is a suitable alternative to chemotherapy due to the complications of drug resistance and toxicity of drugs, and is also known to reduce the occurrence of cellular mutation through the use of gene carriers. In this study, gene carrier nanoparticles with minimal toxicity and high transfection efficiency were fabricated from a biocompatible and biodegradable polymer, l-tyrosine polyurethane (LTU), which was polymerized from presynthesized desaminotyrosyl tyrosine hexyl ester (DTH) and polyethylene glycol (PEG), by using double emulsion and solvent evaporation techniques, resulting in the formation of porous nanoparticles, and then used to evaluate their potential biological activities through molecular controlled release and transfection studies. To assess cellular uptake and transfection efficiency, two model drugs, fluorescently labeled bovine serum albumin (FITC-BSA) and plasmid DNA-linear polyethylenimine (LPEI) complex, were successfully encapsulated in nanoparticles, and their transfection properties and cytotoxicities were evaluated in LX2 as a normal cell and in HepG2 and MCF7 as cancer cells. The morphology and average diameter of the LTU nanoparticles were confirmed using light microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, and dynamic light scattering, while confocal microscopy was used to validate the cellular uptake of FITC-BSA-encapsulated LTU nanoparticles. Moreover, the successful cellular uptake of LTU nanoparticles encapsulated with pDNA-LPEI and the high transfection efficiency, confirmed by gel electrophoresis and X-gal assay transfection, indicated that LTU nanoparticles had excellent cell adsorption ability, facilitated gene encapsulation, and showed the sustained release tendency of genes through transfection experiments, with an optimal concentration ratio of pDNA and LPEI of 1:10. All the above characteristics are ideal for gene carriers designed to transport and release drugs into the cytoplasm, thus facilitating effective gene therapy.

Encountering a patient with unanticipated laryngotracheal stenosis (LTS) during anesthetic induction is challenging for an anesthesiologist. Because routine history taking and pre-anesthetic evaluation cannot rule out the possibility of LTS, other measures should be taken. Perioperative airway maintenance is considered crucial for avoiding complications such as airway edema, bleeding, obstruction, collapse, and ultimately respiratory failure and arrest. We report an unanticipated tracheal stenosis discovered during anesthetic induction that hindered endotracheal intubation. Because airway maintenance was difficult, we postponed surgery until determining the cause of the difficult entry, considered possible therapeutic approaches (both anesthetic and surgical), and provided successful surgery with a continuous epidural block.

Gangliosides exist in glycosphingolipid-enriched domains on the cell membrane and regulate various functions such as adhesion, differentiation, and receptor signaling. Ganglioside GM3 by ST3GAL5 enzyme provides an essential function in the biosynthesis of more complex ganglio-series gangliosides. However, the role of gangliosides GM3 in porcine oocytes during in vitro maturation and early embryo development stage has not yet understood clear. Therefore, we examined ganglioside GM3 expression patterns under apoptosis stress during maturation and preimplantation development of porcine oocytes and embryos. First, porcine oocytes cultured in the NCSU-23 medium for 44 h after H2O2 treated groups (0.01, 0.1, 1 mM). After completion of meiotic maturation, the proportion MII (44 h) was significantly different among control and the H2O2 treated groups (76.8±0.3 vs 69.1±0.4; 0.01 mM, 55.7±1.0; 0.1 mM, 38.2±1.6%; 1 mM, P

Biodegradable polyfumarateurethane (PFU) for use as a bupivacaine delivery vehicle, synthesized using di-(2-hydroxypropyl fumarate) (DHPF), polyethylene glycol (PEG) and 1,6-hexamethylene diisocyanate (HMDI), was designed to be degradable through the hydrolysis and enzymatic degradation of the ester bonds in its polymer backbone. Using a water-in-oil-in-water double emulsion techniques, nanoparticles encapsulating water or fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC) were fabricated to avoid the immune system owing to the presence of PEG on their surface. The morphologies of these nanoparticles were characterized by DLS, TEM, FE-SEM, and fluorescent microscopies. The present study explored the encapsulation, loading efficiency and in vitro drug release of bupivacaine encapsulated with biodegradable PFU nanoparticles for the treatment of local anesthesia. Various concentrations of bupivacaine were encapsulated into nanoparticles and their encapsulation efficiencies and drug loading were investigated. Encapsulation efficiency was highest when 2.5% bupivacaine was encapsulated. Drug release behavior from the bupivacaine-loaded PFU nanoparticles followed a sustained release profile.

Following the Fukushima accident, a special safety inspection was conducted in Korea. The inspection results show that Korean nuclear power plants have no imminent risk for expected maximum potential earthquake or coastal flooding. However long- and short-term safety improvements do need to be implemented. One of the measures to increase the mitigation capability during a prolonged station blackout (SBO) accident is installing injection flow paths to provide emergency cooling water of external sources using fire engines to the steam generators or reactor cooling systems. This paper illustrates an evaluation of the effectiveness of external cooling water injection strategies using fire trucks during a potential extended SBO accident in a 1,000 MWe pressurized water reactor. With regard to the effectiveness of external cooling water injection strategies using fire engines, the strategies are judged to be very feasible for a long-term SBO, but are not likely to be effective for a short-term SBO.

ABSTRACT: The main objective of this paper is to propose a new Finite Element (FE) model updating technique for damped beam structures. The present method consists of a FE model updating, a Degree of Freedom (DOF) reduction method and a damping matrix identification method. In order to accomplish the goal of this study, first, a sensitivity-based FE model updating method using the natural frequencies and the zero frequencies is introduced. Second, an Iterated Improved Reduced System (IIRS) technique is employed to reduce the number of DOF of FE model. Third, a damping matrix is estimated using modal damping ratios identified by a curve-fitting method and modified matrices which are obtained through the model updating and the DOF reduction. The proposed FE model updating method is verified using a real cantilever beam attached damping material on one side. The updated result shows that the proposed method can lead to accurate model updating of damped structures. KEY WORDS: Damping matrix identification, FE model updating, Sensitivity, Natural frequency, Zero frequency

Recently, in our society, as the MZ generation in their 20s and 30s enters society, changes are occurring in their values and career views that are different from those of the older generation. In order to harmonize with the MZ generation, whose mindset, work patterns, communication methods, and values are completely different from the older generation, some companies are making efforts to improve work productivity by abolishing ranks and forming a horizontal and flexible organizational culture. However, in public institutions with a vertical and conservative organizational culture structure of top-down, things that impede organizational efficiency, such as human rights violations and turnover due to conflicts between the older generation and the MZ generation, frequently occur. Accordingly, this study attempted to analyze the impact of rapport between members on conflict resolution and job commitment in order to resolve intergenerational conflicts occurring in public institutions and suggest ways to improve organizational commitment. As a result of the study, mutual trust relationship rapport in public organizations was found to have no effect on generational conflict, work conflict, emotional commitment, and continuous commitment, but facilitative relationship rapport was positively significant on emotional commitment and continuous commitment. This shows that it is necessary to activate facilitative relationship rapport in order to resolve generational conflicts that cause work conflicts among members. Therefore, if public institutions strengthen rapport among members through continuous rapport formation programs and legal compliance education and training to activate facilitative relationship rapport and develop and manage evaluation indicators, it is expected that members' job immersion and work performance can be increased. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Manufacturing-oriented small companies have difficulty performing tasks such as production planning, process management, material management, and quality control suitable for small quantity production of various products to respond to diverse customer demands and changing market environments due to a lack of manpower and facilities. To solve these problems, the government is actively promoting smart factory support projects, and many small companies are participating in this project, and are building and operating MES (Manufacturing Execution System). However, most small companies are unable to build a system that suits the characteristics of the company. In other words, the introduced system is a generalpurpose platform, and MES is not being utilized properly due to the absence of IT experts, the negative perception by existing personnel, and the CEO's neglect. Accordingly, in this study, we presented the causes of MES construction failure and improvement cases of company O., a small manufacturing company located in Daejeon city, where Root Industries is the main axis. That is, major problems in the introduction and operation of existing MES were identified, and improvements derived from the perspective of production workers were applied to the field. As a result, quantitatively, an improvement of 15% to 57% was achieved in terms of productivity, quality, cost, and delivery date, and qualitatively, the workload of both managers and production workers was reduced and work could be handled more easily. These research results can be used as a practical example for the successful construction and operation of MES in Korean small manufacturers producing a large variety of products. In the future, research will be needed to successfully develop MES from the basic level to the upper level. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the face of the recently worsening climate change crisis, the importance of non-financial values such as ESG is emerging. Under this trend, demands for ESG management from various stakeholders are continuously spreading throughout the industry. There is a need to introduce corporate ESG management, due to strengthening regulations by governments in each country and demands for ESG practice from institutional investors and customers. However, small and medium-sized enterprises still lack awareness of ESG management, and even if they are aware of it, it is very difficult to introduce ESG management in poor environments such as finances, human resources, and technology. Accordingly, this study developed an ESG integrated management system to help small and medium-sized enterprises adopt ESG management. First, we analyzed the requirements structure and content of domestic and foreign standards (ISO 14001, ISO 50001, KS I 7001, ISO 26000, ISO 45001, ISO 27001, ISO 37001, ISO 37301, K-ESG Guidelines), and integrated the requirements in accordance with the HLS (High Level Structure) of ISO/IEC Annex SL. As a result, one type of ESG integrated manual and 12 types of work procedures for each field were developed, and a gap analysis of the developed ESG integrated manual was performed to verify that there were no omissions in the requirements of the applied standards. This integrated management system is expected to be very useful in introducing and operating ESG management along with existing management systems in small and medium-sized businesses. The developed ESG integrated management system is currently being applied and operated by K-Company. In the future, continued researches to verify the effectiveness of the ESG-integrated management system are needed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

One of the key challenges in assessing cognitive performance is to detect not only apparent impairment but to also pick up on subtle differences. Computerized tests benefit especially from the acquisition of fine-grained outcome measures. However, the equivalency of paper-based and computerized tests cannot be assumed. The Trail-Making-Test is a paper-pencil cognitive assessment tool (ppTMT) that has been used in many research studies to evaluate visuomotor abilities and mental flexibility. A digital version of the extended TMT (including a condition measuring fine motor speed) called the dTMT has been developed. This study aims to test (1) reliability, (2) equivalence, and (3) agreement of the ppTMT and dTMT. A total of 53 healthy individuals aged 19 to 82 years of age (22 men, 31 women; mean age 42.2, SD = 22.8) completed three trials per ppTMT and dTMT condition. Part M involves following a predefined path, Part A links numbers randomly distributed in space, in ascending order, and Part B alternates between linking numbers and letters. dTMT scores were highly reproducible, correlated strongly with paper-pencil administered durations, and discriminated young from older adults. Measures of reliability, sensitivity, and clinical meaning for dTMT scores were favorable compared with ppTMT-based testing. Our findings support the comparability of TMT-indices in computerized assessments. While many digital biomarker efforts are in progress (e.g., neurodegenerative disorders), the dTMT sets itself apart through its high sensitivity, the alternate forms, and the additional component measures. In this light, it could serve as a starting point for an early diagnostic tool. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Although an extensive body of literature is trying to verify the acute effects of exercise, findings are highly contradictory due to many different study protocols. The number of studies using an intermittent exercise (IE) protocol is limited, especially with regard to comparison across the life span. We examined whether the effects of a HIIE protocol on performance in a perceptual-cognitive task (NeuroTracker® (NT)) differed between children, young adults, and older adults to address this gap. Methods: A total of 36 participants participated in the present study: 12 children (CH, 6 females, 9.83 ± 1.19 years), 12 young adults (YA, 6 females, 23.5 ± 3.55 years), and 12 older adults (OA, 4 females, 66.92 ± 4.08 years). The IE treadmill protocol used in the present study consisted of eleven 30- second intervals at 90% VO2max, interspersed with 2-minute active recovery periods at 50% VO2max. Before and during this exercise protocol, three series of the NeuroTracker® task were performed after 5, 15, and 25 minutes. Results: We observed a significant main effect time and a significant main effect group regarding absolute NT scores and progression during IE. YA had significantly higher absolute NT scores than CH and OA. The normalized perceptual-cognitive task progression was observed in OA and YA but not in CH. YA, in particular, showed progression in the NT performance during IE. Conclusions: The present study confirmed previous findings on age-related differences in NT performance. Based on these findings, the effects of different exercise protocols (e.g., continuous vs. intermittent) seem to be a worthwhile subject for future investigations. Normalized speed thresholds should best capture improvement differences between groups to compare results across studies better, as pre-test values are taken as the baseline. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]