PURPOSES : This study aimed to investigate the factors affecting the severity of traffic crashes caused by personal mobility (PM) devices compared with those involving victims. METHODS : Traffic crashes involving PM devices were used to build a non-parametric statistical model using a classification tree. Based on the results, the factors influencing both at-fault and victim-related crashes caused by PM devices were analyzed. The factors affecting accident severity were also compared. RESULTS : Common factors affecting the severity of traffic crashes involving both perpetrators and victims using PM devices include occurrences at intersections, crosswalks at intersections, single roads, and inside tunnels. Traffic law violations by PM device users (perpetrators) influence the severity of crashes. Meanwhile, factors such as the behavior of perpetrators using other modes of transportation, rear-end collisions, road geometry, and weather conditions affect the severity of crashes where PM device users are the victims. CONCLUSIONS : To reduce the severity of traffic crashes involving PM devices, it is essential to extend the length of physically separated shared paths for cyclists and pedestrians, actively enforce laws to prevent violations by PM device users, and provide systematic and regular educational programs to ensure safe driving practices among PM device users.

PURPOSES : This study aimed to derive the factors that contribute to crash severity in mixed traffic situations and suggest policy implications for enhancing traffic safety related to these contributing factors. METHODS : California autonomous vehicle (AV) accident reports and Google Maps based on accident location were used to identify potential accident severity-contributing factors. A decision tree analysis was adopted to derive the crash severity analyses. The 24 candidate variables that affected crash severity were used as the decision tree input variables, with the output being the crash severity categorized as high, medium, and low. RESULTS : The crash severity contributing factor results showed that the number of lanes, speed limit, bus stop, AV traveling straight, AV turning left, rightmost dedicated lane, and nighttime conditions are variables that affect crash severity. In particular, the speed limit was found to be a factor that caused serious crashes, suggesting that the AV driving speed is closely related to crash severity. Therefore, a speed management strategy for mixed traffic situations is proposed to decrease crash severity and enhance traffic safety. CONCLUSIONS : This paper presents policy implications for reducing accidents caused by autonomous and manual vehicle interactions in terms of engineering, education, enforcement, and governance. The findings of this study are expected to serve as a basis for preparing preventive measures against AV-related accidents.

The Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSHA) aims to maintain and promote the safety and health of workers. Additionally, violations of the act can result in imprisonment or fines, depending on the severity of the offense. This study examines whether the severity of OSHA violations is proportional to the size of the fines imposed. There are 120 items subject to fines, with penalties ranging from a minimum of 50,000 won to a maximum of 30 million won. To assess the severity of these items, pairwise comparisons were conducted, and the results were expressed numerically. In summary, no significant correlation was found between the severity of violations and the amount of the fines. Therefore, this study proposes calculating fines based on the severity of violations. In many small companies, resources (e.g., budget and manpower) are limited. Thus, greater attentions tend to be directed toward addressing items with higher fines. Consequently, aligning the severity of legal violations with the size of the fines may contribute to improving the industrial safety.

This study aims to enhance the accuracy of severity classification by examining the usage patterns and characteristics of emergency department visits. It focuses on adult and elderly patients who visited a public hospital in Seoul. This descriptive study retrospectively reviewed the electronic medical records of patients who visited the emergency department of a public hospital between November and December 2023. The total number of participants was 1,033, with 46.4% (n=479) being elderly and 53.6% (n=554) being adults. The chief complaints of the participants were as follows: for the elderly, nervous system symptoms at 8.2% (n=85) and digestive symptoms at 7.5% (n=77) were the most common, while for adults, gastrointestinal symptoms at 11.0% (n=114) and trauma at 8.6% (n=89) were more prevalent. In the case of the elderly, patients classified as urgent accounted for the highest percentage at 23.9% (n=247), while for adults, non-emergency were more prevalent at 32.2% (n=333). The initial severity classification error rate for elderly patients in the urgent was 3.8%, indicating that the suitability of KTAS for elderly patients with high severity was low. To minimize severity classification errors and enhance KTAS accuracy, it's essential to address its current limitation of only classifying adults and children separately by developing a KTAS classification system that reflects the diverse characteristics of elderly patients.

지형적인 이질성이 심한 강원도, 경상북도에 집중되고 있는 대형 산불을 관리하기 위해서는 위성 영상을 활용하여 효율적이고 신속한 피해 평가를 통한 의사 결정 과정이 필수적이다. 이에 본 연구는 2022년 3월 5일에 강원도 강릉 및 동해에서 발화하여 3월 8일 19시경 진화된 대형 산불을 대상으로, dNBR을 활용한 산불 심각도 산정과 등급에 영향을 미치는 환경요인을 도출하고자 하였다. 환경요인으로는 식생 또는 연료 유형을 대표하는 정규식생지수, 수종을 구분한 임상도, 수분함양을 나타내는 정규수분지수, 지형과 관련해서는 DEM 등을 수치화한 후 산불 심각도와의 상관 관계를 분석하였다. 산불 심각도는 산불 피해 없음(Unbured)이 52.4%로 가장 넓었고, 심각도 낮음 42.9%, 심각도 보통-낮음 4.3%, 심각도 보통-높음 0.4% 순이었다. 환경요인의 경우 dNDVI, dNDWI와는 음의 상관관계를, 경사도와 는 양의 상관관계를 나타내었다. 식생과 관련해서는 산불 심각도에 영향을 미치는 것으로 분석된 dNDVI, dNDWI, 경사도 모두에서 침엽수, 활엽수, 기타의 집단간 차이가 p-value < 2.2e-16로 유의미한 것으로 분석되었다. 특히, 침엽수 와 활엽수의 차이가 명확하였는데, 강원도 지역에서 우점종인 소나무를 비롯하여 잣나무, 리기다소나무, 곰솔 등의 산불 심각도가 높아 침엽수가 활엽수에 비해 피해를 받는 것이 확인되었다.

PURPOSES : The main purpose of this study is to identify directions for improvement of triangular islands installation warrants through analysis of the characteristics of crashes and severity with and without triangular islands on intersections. METHODS : The data was collected by referring to the literature and analyzed using statistical analysis tools. First, an independence test analyzed whether statistically significant differences existed between crashes depending on the installation of triangular islands. As a result of the analysis, individual prediction models were developed for cases with significant differences. In addition, each crash factor was derived by comparison with each model. RESULTS : Significant differences appeared in the "crash frequency of serious or fatal" and "crash severity" owing to the installation of triangular islands. As a result of comparing crash factors through the individual models, it was derived that the differences were dependent on the installation of the triangular islands. CONCLUSIONS : As a result of reviewing previous studies, it is found that improving the installation warrants of triangular islands is reasonable. Through this study, the need to consider the volume and composition ratio of right-turn vehicles when installing a triangular island was also derived; these results also need to be referred to when improving the triangular island installation warrants.

PURPOSES : In this study, the main factors affecting the severity of traffic accidents among elderly drivers were reviewed, and accident factors with a high accident risk were analyzed. This provided basic data for preparing a traffic safety system for elderly drivers and establishing policies. METHODS : Based on machine learning, the major factors influencing accident severity (from the analysis of traffic accident data for elderly drivers) were analyzed and compared with existing statistical analysis results. The machine learning algorithm used the Scikit-learn library and Python 3.8. A hyperparameter optimization process was performed to improve the safety and accuracy of the model. To establish the optimal state of the model, the hyperparameters were set (K = 5) using K-fold cross-validation. The hyperparameter search applied the most widely utilized grid search method, and the performance evaluation derived the optimal hyperparameter value using neutral squared error indicators. RESULTS : The traffic laws, road sections of traffic accidents, and time zones of accidents were analyzed for accidents involving elderly drivers in Daejeon Metropolitan City, and the importance of the variables was examined. For the analysis, a linear regression model, machine learning-based decision tree, and random forest model were used, and based on the root mean square error, the random forest accuracy performance was found to be the best. Ultimately, 18 variables were analyzed, including traffic violations, accident time zones, and road types. The variables influencing the accident severity were the speed, signal violation, intersection section, late-night driving, and pedestrian protection violation, with the relative importance of the variables in the order of speed (0.3490966), signal violation (0.285967), and late-night driving (0.173108). These can be seen as variables related to the expansion of life damage owing to physical aging and reduced judgment abilities arising from decreases in cognitive function. CONCLUSIONS : Restricting the driving of the elderly on the expressway and at night is reasonable, but specific standards for driving restrictions should be prepared based on individual driving capabilities.

Background: Pronated foot posture (PFP) contributes to excessive dynamic knee valgus (DKV). Although foot orthoses such as medial arch support (MAS) are widely and easily used in clinical practice and sports, few studies have investigated the effect of MAS on the improvement of DKV during stair descent in individuals with a PFP. Moreover, no studies reported the degree of improvement in DKV according to the severity of PFP when MAS was applied. Objects: This study aimed to examine the immediate effect of MAS on DKV during stair descent and determine the correlation between navicular drop distance and changes in DKV when MAS is applied. Methods: Twenty individuals with a PFP (15 males and five females) participated in this study. The navicular drop test was used to measure PFP severity. The frontal plane projection angle (FPPA) was calculated under two conditions, with and without MAS application, using 2-dimensional video analysis. Results: During stair descent, the FPPA with MAS (173.1° ± 4.7°) was significantly greater than that without MAS (164.8° ± 5.8°) (p < 0.05). There was also a significant correlation between the navicular drop distance and improvement in the FPPA when MAS was applied (r = 0.453, p = 0.045). Conclusion: MAS application can affect the decrease in DKV during stair descent. In addition, MAS application should be considered to improve the knee alignment for individuals with greater navicular drop distance.

The severity of acute pancreatitis (AP) is classified into mild, moderately severe, and severe, considering the presence and duration of organ failure and local complications. Since patients with AP show a large difference in mortality and morbidity according to AP severity, evaluation of the severity of patients with AP in the early stage is important for predicting the prognosis and determining treatment plans including transfer to the intensive care unit or advanced facilities. In order to evaluate the initial severity of AP, it is necessary to confirm the presence of organ failure and objective evaluation using imaging or clinical examinations. In this guideline, it is recommended that evaluation using various severity indices such as bedside index for severity in acute pancreatitis (BISAP), systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS), and acute physiology and chronic health evaluation (APACHE)-II scores be considered.

급성 췌장염은 사망에 이를 수 있는 질환으로, 발병 초기 2주 내 기관부전으로 인한 사망과 이후 몇 주 혹은 몇 달 후 기관부전과 국소 합병증의 문제로 사망하는 두 개의 국면을 보인다. 중증 급성 췌장염을 예측하기 위한 다양한 임상 평가 및 다원적 평가 척도, 영상 검사 및 분자 혈청 검사가 있으나, 현재 가장 우월하게 급성 췌장염의 중증도를 예측하는 척도와 검사가 없고, 사망의 시기를 구분하지 않는 경우가 대부분으로 향후 대규모 연구를 통해 사망의 시기 및 예후를 예측하는 평가 척도의 개발이 필요하다.

PURPOSES : For vehicle-alone accidents with a high mortality rate, it is necessary to analyze the factors influencing the severity of roadside fixed-object traffic accidents. METHODS : A total of 313 roadside fixed obstacle traffic accidents, variables related to fixed obstacles, and variables related to road geometry were collected. The estimation model was constructed with data collected using an ordinal probit regression model. RESULTS : Piers, vertical slopes, and distances between roads and objects were the primary causes of increased accident severity. CONCLUSIONS : Countermeasures, such as object removal, relocation, clear zones, frangibles, breakaway poles, etc., are required for accident-prone or dangerous points.

Service failure of high severity can lead to high recovery satisfaction when recovery efforts are seen very fair. Customers satisfied with recovery efforts and displaying high attachment anxiety will continue to repurchase. Attachment avoidance did not have an impact on the behavioural intentions and neither did the brand authenticity perception.

PURPOSES: The purpose of this study is to investigate factors that affect the severity of children’s traffic accidents using the ordered probit model, and to contribute to a safer road environment for children. METHODS: This study used children’s traffic accident data during the last four years in the Incheon Metropolitan area. At this point, to analyze only the direct damage caused to children, the analysis was made of accidents where the victim was under 13 years old. Data from a total of 1,110 accidents was collected. When the model was constructed, as it was judged that there could be a difference in factors affecting accident occurrence depending on the zone characteristics, the model was divided into school and non-school zones. RESULTS: The accident content (severity) is divided into four stages (fatal injury, serious injury, minor injury and injury report) to construct the order-typed probit model. For the analysis, 65 variables of 17 categories were included in the model. The statistical package STATA 13.1 was used to analyze the variables affecting the accident severity with a confidence level of 90% (α·=0.1). Consequently, a total of 15 variables were found to have a statistically significant effect on accident severity in a school zone. In contrast, a total of 22 variables were found to have a statistically significant effect on accident severity in non-school zones. Four variables (daytime, weekday, victim age, intersection) were significant in both models. CONCLUSIONS: Among the significant variables found in school zones, signal violation and type of vehicle (line bus, rent car, bus, business other vehicles) had a relatively greater effect on the accident severity than the other variables. In non-school zones, eight variables comprising daytime, head-on collision, crossing, over-speed, gender of victim (male), victim age, type of vehicle (construction machinery), driver age (50-59) were found to be significant variables. In conclusion, as well as eliminating factors that can lead to accident reductions, it is necessary to consider zone characteristics to reduce the severity of children’s accidents and promote children’s traffic safety.

PURPOSES: This study aims to contribute to a better road environment, which can result in accident reduction from two-wheeled vehicles, by analyzing factors affecting the two-wheeled vehicles’ accident severities in Incheon Metropolitan City. METHODS: In this study, the two-wheeled vehicles’ accident severity was classified into four categories (fatal injury, serious injury, minor injury, and injury report) as a dependent variable, and 97 independent variables out of 14 categories were considered to construct an ordered probit model. To determine the factors affecting accident severity, the statistical package LIMDEP was used. RESULTS: Among the variables used in the analysis, variables related to accident occurrence date (first quarter), region (8-district), accident type (passing the edge of the road of the vehicle for a pedestrian accident, fixed object collision, and overturn of vehicle-only accident), violation type (unobtained safety distance, failure to perform safe driving, violation of intersection driving, and violation of others), the type of road (at the intersection, near the intersection, at the crosswalk, near the crosswalk, etc.), gender of assailant (male), vehicle of victim (pedestrian and motorcycle), and age of victim (under 20) were found to have a statistically significant effect on the severity of the accident. CONCLUSIONS: The variables related to accident type (fixed object collision and overturn of vehicle-only accident), gender of assailant (male), and vehicle of victim (pedestrian and motorcycle) have turned out increasing the accident severity. In addition, accident occurrence for two-wheeled vehicles is more diverse and vulnerable to damage than automobile accidents. Therefore, it is time to recognize the seriousness of two-wheeled vehicle accidents and to improve the environment and systems for safe driving.

Wildfire, which may effect on the spatial distribution of many insects, is one of important disturbances in forests. Because Monochamus beetles are known as vector insects of pine wood nematodes in Korea and burned pine trees can be used as oviposition habitats for Monochamus beetles, we investigated the changes in spatial and temporal distributions of M. alternatus and M. saltuarius across fire severity classes. We also studied other saproxylic beetles, such as cerambycid, scolytid, and bark beetles, which are potential insect pests for pine trees. Study area was classified by fire severity, such as unburned, light (<25% burned), moderate (25~75%), and severe (>75%). Spatial distribution of saproxylic beetles were significantly related to the fire severity.

Wildfire is one of important disturbances in forests, which may effect on insects distribution. In Sangju, about 13 haof pine forests was burned in March, 2017. We investigated the response of insects to fire severity in burned pine forests,Sangju. Study area was classified by fire severity as 5 classes, such as unburned, light, light-moderate, moderate-severe,and severe. We placed 4 multi-funnel traps in each fire severity class. A total of 729 insects belonging to 42 specieswere collected during May 24 to October 12, 2017. Spondylis buprestoides (447 individuals), Sipalinus gigas (50 individuals),and Acanthocinus carinulatus (43 individuals) were dominant species accounted for 74.1% of total. According to fire severity,abundance and species richness were increased with fire severity, especially in high-medium area. Interestingly, two Monochamusspecies, vector insects of pine wood nematodes, were more caught in more severed area than in other classes.

Purpose: The study was to investigate the effect of fatigue severity on dry eye syndrome in adults. Methods: Structured questionnaires were used for 365 adults (97 males, 268 females), participants of sex, age, ocular history including basic population, sociological variables and with the investigation of lifestyles, including, were to write to self-evaluate FSS (Fatigue Severity Scale), OSDI (Ocular Surface Disease Index). Results: The mean fatigue severity of 365 subjects was examined as 4.52 ± 1.37. When divided by 3.22 into the low fatigue group and the high fatigue group as node, the low fatigue group was 19.5% (71 people) and the high fatigue group was 80.5% (294 people). The prevalence of dry eye syndrome was 88.8% (324 people), mild 21.6% (79 people), moderate 15.9% (58 people) and severe 51.3% (18 people). Dry eye syndrome was on the severity of the low fatigue group in severe 29.6% (21 people), moderate 21.1% (15 people), mild 32.4% (23 people), normal 16.9% (12 people), in the high fatigue group severe 56.5% (166 people), moderate 32.5% (23 people), mild 19.1% (56 people), normal 9.9% (29 people). Dry eye syndrome was significantly different according to fatigue severity (F = 70.851, P = 0.000). Conclusions: The results of the analysis of the effect of dry eye syndrome according to fatigue severity showed that the higher the fatigue, the more eye fatigue is considered to be dry.