Q-methodology analysis of Perceived Risks in Tourists and Local residents towards Natural Disaster: The 2016 Gyeongju Earthquake in Republic of Korea

The impact of disasters on the tourism industry, such as reducing the demand for domestic tourists as well as inbound tourism from foreign tourists, is enormous. As disasters also increased, safety-related issues became a major concern for tourists. On September 12, 2016, the largest earthquake of 5.8 occurred in Gyeongju, Korea\u27s major tourist city. The purpose of this study is to compare how tourists and local residents behave and are to be influenced in the economic, socio - cultural, political and psychological aspects by Gyeongju earthquake and to provide some suggestions. To obtain the purpose, this study firstly investigated the changes and influences of society caused by the racing earthquake objectively, systematically, and comprehensively for tourists and local residents in various aspects of the Gyungju earthquake. Second, we analyzed in depth the difference of perception and coping behaviors experienced by tourists and local residents. Finally, the implications for tourism in the occurrence of Gyeongju earthquake were suggested. This study adopted the Q methodology. The Q methodology is an approach in which subjects themselves make their opinions and meanings. A total of 7 types were derived from Q methodology for tourists. The seven types are: Functional risk, Psychological risk, Physical risk, Time Risk, Social Risk, Financial Risk, Satisfaction risk. A total of 7 types were also derived from Q methodology for local residents. The seven types are: Functional risk, Psychological risk, Physical risk, Time Risk, Social Risk, Financial Risk, Media Risk. Seven types were derived from each side. Tourists are exposed to the element of satisfaction risk, and local residents are exposed to media risk. Also, there were differences in factors that were important. The results of this study will contribute to overcome the crisis of tourism due to disaster such as an earthquake. Keywords: Disaster, Natural disaster, 2016 Gyeongju earthquake, Q methodolog

Fundamental social motives measured across forty-two cultures in two waves

How does psychology vary across human societies? The fundamental social motives framework adopts an evolutionary approach to capture the broad range of human social goals within a taxonomy of ancestrally recurring threats and opportunities. These motives—self-protection, disease avoidance, affiliation, status, mate acquisition, mate retention, and kin care—are high in fitness relevance and everyday salience, yet understudied cross-culturally. Here, we gathered data on these motives in 42 countries (N = 15,915) in two cross-sectional waves, including 19 countries (N = 10,907) for which datawere gathered in both waves. Wave 1 was collected from mid-2016 through late 2019 (32 countries, N = 8,998; 3,302 male, 5,585 female; Mage = 24.43, SD = 7.91). Wave 2 was collected from April through November 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic (29 countries, N = 6,917; 2,249 male, 4,218 female; Mage = 28.59, SD = 11.31). These data can be used to assess differences and similarities in people’s fundamental social motives both across and within cultures, at different time points, and in relation to other commonly studied cultural indicators and outcomes

Long-term efficacy, safety and immunogenicity in patients with rheumatoid arthritis continuing on an etanercept biosimilar (LBEC0101) or switching from reference etanercept to LBEC0101: an open-label extension of a phase III multicentre, randomised, double-blind, parallel-group study

Background To evaluate the long-term efficacy, safety and immunogenicity of continuing LBEC0101; the etanercept (ETN) biosimilar; or switching from the ETN reference product (RP) to LBEC0101 in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Methods This multicentre, single-arm, open-label extension study enrolled patients who had completed a 52-week randomised, double-blind, parallel phase III trial of LBEC0101 vs ETN-RP. Patients treated with ETN-RP during the randomised controlled trial switched to LBEC0101; those treated with LBEC0101 continued to receive LBEC0101 in this study. LBEC0101 (50 mg) was administered subcutaneously once per week for 48 weeks with a stable dose of methotrexate. Efficacy, safety and immunogenicity of LBEC0101 were assessed up to week 100. Results A total of 148 patients entered this extension study (70 in the maintenance group and 78 in the switch group). The 28-joint disease activity scores (DAS28)-erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) were maintained in both groups from week 52 to week 100 (from 3.068 to 3.103 in the maintenance group vs. from 3.161 to 3.079 in the switch group). ACR response rates at week 100 for the maintenance vs. switch groups were 79.7% vs. 83.3% for ACR20, 65.2% vs. 66.7% for ACR50 and 44.9% vs. 42.3% for ACR70. The incidence of adverse events and the proportion of patients with newly developed antidrug antibodies were similar in the maintenance and switch groups (70.0% and 70.5%, 1.4% and 1.3%, respectively). Conclusions Administration of LBEC0101 showed sustained efficacy and acceptable safety in patients with RA after continued therapy or after switching from ETN-RP to LBEC0101. Trial registration ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT02715908. Registered 22 March 2016.This extension study was funded by LG Chem, Ltd. (formerly, LG Life Sciences, Ltd), Mochida Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. and Korea Health Industry Development Institute

Verification of Graphite Isotope Ratio Method Combined With Polynomial Regression for the Estimation of Cumulative Plutonium Production in a Graphite-Moderated Reactor

Graphite Isotope Ratio Method (GIRM) can be used to estimate plutonium production in a graphite-moderated reactor. This study presents verification results for the GIRM combined with a 3-D polynomial regression function to estimate cumulative plutonium production in a graphite-moderated reactor. Using the 3-D Monte-Carlo method, verification was done by comparing the cumulative plutonium production with the GIRM. The GIRM can estimate plutonium production for specific sampling points using a function that is based on an isotope ratio of impurity elements. In this study, the 10B/11B isotope ratio was chosen and calculated for sampling points. Then, 3-D polynomial regression was used to derive a function that represents a whole core cumulative plutonium production map. To verify the accuracy of the GIRM with polynomial regression, the reference value of plutonium production was calculated using a Monte-Carlo code, MCS, up to 4250 days of depletion. Moreover, the amount of plutonium produced in certain axial layers and fuel pins at 1250, 2250, and 3250 days of depletion was obtained and used for additional verification. As a result, the difference in the total cumulative plutonium production based on the MCS and GIRM results was found below 3.1% with regard to the root mean square (RMS) error

Evaluation of regulated and unregulated emissions from a diesel powered vehicle fueled with diesel/biodiesel blends in Korea

The emission characteristics of diesel powered vehicles using conventional diesel fuel and six different biodiesel blends at proportions of 1% (B1), 3% (B3), 5% (B5), and 20% (B20) by volume were investigated. The emission tests were performed following the NEDC (New European Driving Cycle) and regulated and unregulated emissions were measured for two vehicles - one equipped with a DOC (diesel oxidation catalyst) and the other equipped with a DPF (diesel particulate filter). Emissions of THC (total hydrocarbon), CO, and PM (particulate matter) generally decreased with increasing biodiesel content in the fuel, while NOx emissions increased slightly in both vehicles. CO2 emissions were virtually identical. The extent of PM reduction in the DPF-equipped vehicle was almost 40 times higher than in the DOC-equipped vehicle. PAH (polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon) emissions decreased with increasing biodiesel content in the fuel, with average reduction rates of the six biodiesels for particle-phase PAHs compared to the base diesel fuel in the range of 18.2-27.2% and 48.9-79.7% for the DOC- and DPF-equipped vehicles, respectively. Nanoparticle emissions from the DOC- and DPF-equipped vehicles were predominantly in the size range of 25.5-191.1 nm and <25.5 nm, respectively.close6

Performance and emission characteristics of a vehicle fueled with enriched biogas and natural gases

This study aimed to investigate the characteristics of exhaust emissions and the fuel economy of a compressed natural gas (CNG) vehicle fueled with biogas and natural gases. A large CNG vehicle currently used as a city bus in Korea was tested on a chassis dynamometer under the European Transient Cycle (ETC) and the National Institute of Environmental Research (NIER) 06 cycles. One CH4-enriched biogas (97.6% CH4) and 5 natural gases with different CH4 contents (81.6-94.0% CH4) were used as test fuels. Total hydrocarbons (THC), CO, NOx and CO2 emissions in the NIER 06 cycle were higher than those in the ETC cycle for all tested fuels, while the fuel economy in the NIER 06 cycle was 43.7-51.5% lower than that in the ETC cycle. Total VOC emissions increased with increasing CH4 content in the fuel, with toluene being the highest proportion of the BTEX emissions in both the ETC cycle (72-80%) and the NIER 06 cycle (73-78%). Emissions of elemental/organic carbon exhibited a similar trend to that of nanoparticle emissions. Total organic carbon was mainly comprised of organic compounds at 97-99% (ETC cycle) and 95-99% (NIER 06 cycle). Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon emissions in the NIER 06 cycle were 133.3-577.8% higher than in the ETC cycle because of incomplete combustion and an increase in unburned fuel in the NIER 06 cycle, which is a low-speed driving mode. Nanoparticle number concentrations were lowest for M91 among the 6 tested fuels; the total number of particles in the NIER 06 cycle was 33.2-123.8% higher than in the ETC cycle.close7

Estimation of Populations Exposed to Road Traffic Noise in Districts of Seoul Metropolitan Area of Korea

This study aims to model road traffic noise levels and estimate the human exposure at the 25 districts in the metropolitan Seoul, Republic of Korea. The SoundPLAN® Version 7.1 software package was used to model noise levels and simulated road traffic noise maps were created. The people exposed to daytime/nighttime road traffic noise were also estimated. The proportions of the population exposed to road traffic noise in major cities in the EU were also estimated and compared. Eight (8) districts show the exceeded rate (percentage of the exposed population exceeding the daytime standard) of 20% or more, and eleven (11) districts show 10%-20% and six (6) districts show less than 10%, which indicates considerable variation among districts. Two districts (Nowon-gu and Yangcheon-gu) show the highest exposure rate during the daytime (35.2%). For nighttime noise levels, fourteen (14) districts show the exceeded rate (percentage of exposed population exceeding the nighttime standard) over 30%. The average percentages of the exposed population exceeding the daytime/nighttime standards in Seoul and the EU were 16.6%/34.8% and 13.0%/16.1%, respectively. The results show that road traffic noise reduction measures should urgently be taken for the nighttime traffic noise in Seoul. When the grid noise map and the 3-D façade noise map were compared, the 3-D façade noise map was more accurate in estimating exposed population in citywide noise mapping

Prognostic artificial intelligence model to predict 5 year survival at 1 year after gastric cancer surgery based on nutrition and body morphometry

Abstract Background Personalized survival prediction is important in gastric cancer patients after gastrectomy based on large datasets with many variables including time‐varying factors in nutrition and body morphometry. One year after gastrectomy might be the optimal timing to predict long‐term survival because most patients experience significant nutritional change, muscle loss, and postoperative changes in the first year after gastrectomy. We aimed to develop a personalized prognostic artificial intelligence (AI) model to predict 5 year survival at 1 year after gastrectomy. Methods From a prospectively built gastric surgery registry from a tertiary hospital, 4025 gastric cancer patients (mean age 56.1 ± 10.9, 36.2% females) treated gastrectomy and survived more than a year were selected. Eighty‐nine variables including clinical and derived time‐varying variables were used as input variables. We proposed a multi‐tree extreme gradient boosting (XGBoost) algorithm, an ensemble AI algorithm based on 100 datasets derived from repeated five‐fold cross‐validation. Internal validation was performed in split datasets (n = 1121) by comparing our proposed model and six other AI algorithms. External validation was performed in 590 patients from other hospitals (mean age 55.9 ± 11.2, 37.3% females). We performed a sensitivity analysis to analyse the effect of the nutritional and fat/muscle indices using a leave‐one‐out method. Results In the internal validation, our proposed model showed AUROC of 0.8237, which outperformed the other AI algorithms (0.7988–0.8165), 80.00% sensitivity, 72.34% specificity, and 76.17% balanced accuracy. In the external validation, our model showed AUROC of 0.8903, 86.96% sensitivity, 74.60% specificity, and 80.78% balanced accuracy. Sensitivity analysis demonstrated that the nutritional and fat/muscle indices influenced the balanced accuracy by 0.31% and 6.29% in the internal and external validation set, respectively. Our developed AI model was published on a website for personalized survival prediction. Conclusions Our proposed AI model provides substantially good performance in predicting 5 year survival at 1 year after gastric cancer surgery. The nutritional and fat/muscle indices contributed to increase the prediction performance of our AI model