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Disasters are not easy to predict because they occur suddenly, and the scale of disasters is increasing compared to the past. Since a new type of disaster field always appears, when a disaster occurs, responders who are put into the site recognize the same risk as secondary damage and are put into the field. In this regard, the robot performs missions such as search and rescue in the initial response process at the disaster field. It is a technology with high potential to reduce damage to people and property. Most of the robots are equipped with site accessibility and monitoring through cameras and remote control, but considering the specificity of the disaster field, it is not easy to fully monitor the site with a camera sensor as the possibility of poor visibility is very high. LiDAR uses a laser to recognize the distance to a nearby object in a relatively wide range and acquires three-dimensional information, so its accuracy and precision are higher than other sensors.In this study, one multi-sensor module was manufactured by combining LiDAR and IMU sensor with a computing board for real-time monitoring so that it could be used in the field of robots. In addition, we studied how to stably mount this multi-sensor module to a robot so that it can maintain optimal accuracy at disaster field, and it is intended to be utilized as a prior research for field operation of robots equipped with sensors in the future.

As the risk of disaster scenes increases, the number of cases of acquiring disaster scenes information using unmanned robots is increasing. Because unmanned robots can be remotely controlled, sensors such as LiDAR and optical cameras are installed so that investigators can safely observe disaster scenes and acquire information. In particular, the information that can be acquired is different depending on the sensor characteristics, and a sensor module suitable for the purpose is being developed. Accordingly, the National Disaster Management research Institute(NDMI) also developed a investigation robot capable of acquiring information on disaster sites independently. Based on 3D point cloud data, we developed a multi-sensor module and SLAM algorithm customized to the investigation robot to collect quantitative information on the damage situation. To test the performance of the independently developed multi-sensor module, SLAM mapping was performed in a disaster building reproduced like a disaster scene, and various SLAM algorithms and distance comparison were performed. As a result, PackSLAM developed in this study showed the lowest error. In the future, to increase applicability at disaster sites, more precise experiments will be conducted by conducted by establishing a rough terrain environment.

Disasters that occur in recent years are linked to various factors and occur in a chain, and the scale is also increasing. In order to solve the more complex and serious disaster problem, it is necessary to expand the affect scope of the disaster and to acquire and manage information by integrating and operating various sensors. With the introduction of UAVs for disaster work, various studies such as investigation of the affected area, rescue of survivors, and establishment of emergency communication networks are being conducted. This is useful for strengthening the field of disaster management because it is very effective in terms of time and human resources. In addition, it is possible to acquire high-resolution images, and by using the 3D point cloud data and ortho-mosaic imagery generation, it is possible to produce a disaster scene close to the real world. Therefore, if UAV information can be linked to disaster types and characteristics prior to supporting disaster damage investigation, it is possible to establish a response method according to the disaster damage situation and help decision-making. In order to examine the applicability of UAV technology for actual disaster sites, this study conducted data collection and analysis of damaged areas targeting sites damaged by heavy rain and chemical accidents. In the heavy rain damage site, flooding damage occurred in the ginseng cultivation patches due to river overflow caused by the torrential rain, and the damaged area and lots were investigated. The site of the chemical accident was damaged by hydrochloric acid gas leaking into the atmosphere, and the surrounding forest, crops, and residential facilities were identified and the affected area was calculated. As a result of investigating the damage from heavy rain and chemical accidents using UAV, it was possible to quickly collect data on a wide disaster site. In addition, it was easy to calculate the damaged area based on ortho-imagery, and the limitations of spatial analysis were reduced, so that it could be used more specifically and efficiently to the disaster site.

This study aims to testify the applicability of UAV photogrammetry and artificial intelligence (AI) for the management of natural disaster. Recently artificial intelligence is considered as an emerging tool for recognizing disaster events from aerial imagery of drones. In this paper, we present firstly the approach related to use of AI techniques for disaster detecting and identification. Secondly, we suggest small easy-to-use UAV-based investigation procedure for natural disaster damaged area in the phase of disaster recovery in Korea. Finally, we evaluate the mapping accuracy and work efficiency of drone mapping for disaster investigation application through comparing with traditional investigation work process which was dependent on labor-intensive field survey. The resolution ortho-image map of within less 5cm of GSD generated by aerial photos acquired from UAVs at the altitude of 100m–250m enabled us to check damage information such as facilities destroy or the trace of soil erosion around the river flooded and reservoir collapsed area. The photogrammetry-based drone mapping technology for the disaster damage investigation is expected to be an alternative approach to support or replace the labor-intensive disaster site survey that needs to investigate the disaster site quickly and timely.

Abstract Background How cigarette smoke (CS) and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) affect severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV2) infection and severity is controversial. We investigated the effects of COPD and CS on the expression of SARS-CoV-2 entry receptor ACE2 in vivo in COPD patients and controls and in CS-exposed mice, and the effects of CS on SARS-CoV-2 infection in human bronchial epithelial cells in vitro. Methods We quantified: (1) pulmonary ACE2 protein levels by immunostaining and ELISA, and both ACE2 and/or TMPRSS2 mRNA levels by RT-qPCR in two independent human cohorts; and (2) pulmonary ACE2 protein levels by immunostaining and ELISA in C57BL/6 WT mice exposed to air or CS for up to 6 months. The effects of CS exposure on SARS-CoV-2 infection were evaluated after in vitro infection of Calu-3 cells and differentiated human bronchial epithelial cells (HBECs), respectively. Results ACE2 protein and mRNA levels were decreased in peripheral airways from COPD patients versus controls but similar in central airways. Mice exposed to CS had decreased ACE2 protein levels in their bronchial and alveolar epithelia versus air-exposed mice. CS treatment decreased viral replication in Calu-3 cells, as determined by immunofluorescence staining for replicative double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) and western blot for viral N protein. Acute CS exposure decreased in vitro SARS-CoV-2 replication in HBECs, as determined by plaque assay and RT-qPCR. Conclusions ACE2 levels were decreased in both bronchial and alveolar epithelial cells from COPD patients versus controls, and from CS-exposed versus air-exposed mice. CS-pre-exposure potently inhibited SARS-CoV-2 replication in vitro. These findings urge to investigate further the controversial effects of CS and COPD on SARS-CoV-2 infection.

The effectiveness of the treatment of acute tonsillitis directly depends on the etiological diagnosis and adherence to the principles of rational etiotropic antibiotic therapy. Currently, streptococcal genesis of inflammation is considered as the only indication for the appointment of systemic antibiotic therapy. The article presents the results of clinical and statistical analysis of calls to patients with acute tonsillitis and express diagnostics of streptococcal infection using «Streptatest». For the period from 30.07.2018 until 30.11.2018 Doctors of the emergency department teams for adults and children performed express diagnostics of group A β-hemolytic streptococcus in 252 patients with acute tonsillitis complaining of «sore throat», whose age ranged from 3 to 44 years. This rapid diagnostic system «Streptatest», based on the method of immunochromatographic analysis, made it possible to identify as early as possible in 117 (46.4%) patients β-hemolytic streptococcus group A and promptly prescribe etiotropic antibiotic therapy to them. The second group consisted of 135 (53.6%) patients with a negative result of the «Streptatest» rapid test. In the group with a positive result of the express test, the main part was made up of children of preschool and school age — 92 (78.6%) patients. In 114 (97.5%) patients with diagnosed group A β-hemolytic streptococcus, clinical symptoms according to the McIsaас modified Centor scale were rated from 3 to 5 points. Early etiological verification of acute tonsillitis made it possible to follow the strategy of preventing the sp read of antimicrobial resistance and reducing the resistance of microorganisms to antibacterial drugs.

Due to abnormal weather caused by climate change in recently years, natural disaster damages caused by local torrential rains have been increased over the world. Particularly, Korea is very vulnerable to landslide disasters because more than 63% of the country is mountainous and it suffers from unpredictable localized heavy rainfall during monsoon season every year. This paper presents experimental results for risk assessment of steep slope using drone mapping and terrestrial LiDAR survey. First, we acquired the aerial imagery of steep slope site by small UAV and conducted a drone mapping process with the Pix4D software. For collecting the more detailed geological data and analysing quantitatively damage of steep slopes (crack length, bedrock weathering area, etc.), we scanned steep slope area using terrestrial LiDAR system. Finally, we evaluated the applicability of public safety for outputs of UAV photogrammetry and 3D point clouds derived from terrestrial LiDAR data to analyse and assess the risk of steep slope.

Recently, UAVs are being used in various fields such as photography, precision agriculture, remote monitoring, surveying, mapping, and disaster management. In particular, UAVs can acquire real-time data and access hard-to-reach areas, which is advantageous for rapid spatial information generation. Spatial information can be generated by mounting a camera on the UAV and performing the geocoding process of image data using the location/location information acquired from the GPS/INS sensor. The use of multiple GCPs during the geocoding process can increase the image position accuracy. However, since a lot of time is consumed for surveying, it is disadvantageous to be used in disaster fields that require urgent data generation. Therefore, in this study, fast geocoding process of UAV image using the minimum GCP is proposed. The results obtained through this process can be used as basic data for on-site monitoring and decision-making in disasters and emergencies.

Our previous study shows that the angle of linear polarization (AOLP) of solar radiation that is scattered from clouds at near-backscatter angles can be used to detect super-thin cirrus clouds over oceans. Such clouds are too thin to be sensed using any current passive satellite instruments that only measure light's total intensity, because of the uncertainty in surface reflection. In this report, we show that with a method similar to the super-thin cloud detection algorithm, dust aerosols may also be detected and differentiated from clouds. We also show that the degree of polarization of reflected light can be used for retrieving the optical depth of dust aerosols in the neighborhood of the backscatter angle, regardless of the reflecting surface conditions. This is a simple and robust algorithm, which could be used to survey dust aerosols over midlatitude and tropical oceans.

As natural disaster occurs, the local and the central government should investigate the damaged fields promptly, analyze quantitatively the degree of damage, and establish an appropriate disaster recovery plan in accordance with Framework Act on the Management of Disasters and Safety in Korea. The purpose of this study is to assess the applicability of UAV photogrammetry for the management of natural disaster. First, we suggest small easy-to-use UAV-based investigation procedure for natural disaster damaged area in the phase of disaster recovery in Korea. Before drone-based aerial surveying, the field survey can be performed with DGPS RTK for GCPs setting-up around disaster site. In this paper, we generate three dimensional terrain information and high-resolution ortho-imagery and then analyse quantitatively damage degree by natural disaster using commercial UAVs and drone mapping technique. Finally, we evaluate the mapping accuracy and work efficiency of drone mapping for disaster investigation application through comparing with traditional investigation work process which was dependent on labour-intensive field survey. The resolution ortho-image map of within less 5cm of GSD generated by aerial photographs acquired from UAVs at the altitude of 100m~250m enabled us to check damage information such as facilities destroy or the trace of soil erosion around the river flooded and reservoir collapsed area. In addition, three dimensional point cloud data of landslide-damaged areas enabled us to more accurately measure the width and the depth of outflows caused by landslides, soil runoff distance, and landslide damage area. The photogrammetry-based drone mapping technology for the disaster damage investigation is expected to be an alternative approach to support or replace the labour-intensive disaster site survey that needs to investigate the disaster site quickly and timely.

Temperature programmed reduction (TPR) method was introduced to analyze the structural change and thermal stability of LixCoO2 (LCO) cathode material. The reduction peaks of delithiated LCO clearly represented the different phases of LCO. The reduction peak at a temperature below 250 °C can be attributed to the transformation of CoO2–like to Co3O4–like phase which is similar reduction patterns of CoO2 phase resulting from delithiation of LCO structure. The 2nd reduction peak at 300~375 °C corresponds to the reduction of Co3O4–like phase to CoO–like phase. TPR results indicate the thermal instability of delithiated LCO driven by CoO2–like phase on the surface of the delithiated LCO. In the TPR kinetics, the activation energies (Ea) obtained for as-synthesized LCO were 105.6 and 82.7 kJ mol-1 for Tm_H1 and Tm_H2, respectively, whereas Ea for the delithiated LCO were 93.2, 124.1 and 216.3 kJ mol-1 for Tm_L1, Tm_L2 and Tm_L3, respectively. As a result, the TPR method enables to identify the structural changes and thermal stability of each phase and effectively characterize the distinctive thermal behavior between as-synthesized and delithiated LCO.

Since the start of the industrial revolution, human activities have caused a rapid increase in atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2) concentrations, which have, in turn, had an impact on climate leading to global warming and ocean acidification. Various approaches have been proposed to reduce atmospheric CO2. The Martin (or iron) hypothesis suggests that ocean iron fertilization (OIF) could be an effective method for stimulating oceanic carbon sequestration through the biological pump in iron-limited, high-nutrient, low-chlorophyll (HNLC) regions. To test the Martin hypothesis, 13 artificial OIF (aOIF) experiments have been performed since 1990 in HNLC regions. These aOIF field experiments have demonstrated that primary production (PP) can be significantly enhanced by the artificial addition of iron. However, except in the Southern Ocean (SO) European Iron Fertilization Experiment (EIFEX), no significant change in the effectiveness of aOIF (i.e., the amount of iron-induced carbon export flux below the winter mixed layer depth, MLD) has been detected. These results, including possible side effects, have been debated amongst those who support and oppose aOIF experimentation, and many questions concerning the effectiveness of scientific aOIF, environmental side effects, and international aOIF law frameworks remain. In the context of increasing global and political concerns associated with climate change, it is valuable to examine the validity and usefulness of the aOIF experiments. Furthermore, it is logical to carry out such experiments because they allow one to study how plankton-based ecosystems work by providing insight into mechanisms operating in real time and under in situ conditions. To maximize the effectiveness of aOIF experiments under international aOIF regulations in the future, we therefore suggest a design that incorporates several components. (1) Experiments conducted in the center of an eddy structure when grazing pressure is low and silicate levels are high (e.g., in the SO south of the polar front during early summer). (2) Shipboard observations extending over a minimum of ∼ 40 days, with multiple iron injections (at least two or three iron infusions of ∼ 2000 kg with an interval of ∼ 10–15 days to fertilize a patch of 300 km2 and obtain a ∼ 2 nM concentration). (3) Tracing of the iron-fertilized patch using both physical (e.g., a drifting buoy) and biogeochemical (e.g., sulfur hexafluoride, photosynthetic quantum efficiency, and partial pressure of CO2) tracers. (4) Employment of neutrally buoyant sediment traps (NBST) and application of the water-column-derived thorium-234 (234Th) method at two depths (i.e., just below the in situ MLD and at the winter MLD), with autonomous profilers equipped with an underwater video profiler (UVP) and a transmissometer. (5) Monitoring of side effects on marine/ocean ecosystems, including production of climate-relevant gases (e.g., nitrous oxide, N2O; dimethyl sulfide, DMS; and halogenated volatile organic compounds, HVOCs), decline in oxygen inventory, and development of toxic algae blooms, with optical-sensor-equipped autonomous moored profilers and/or autonomous benthic vehicles. Lastly, we introduce the scientific aOIF experimental design guidelines for a future Korean Iron Fertilization Experiment in the Southern Ocean (KIFES).

This study reports the synthesis of a few-layered graphene (GF) thin film on Ni foam by chemical vapor deposition (CVD) technique and investigation of its electrochemical performance as a negative electrode for lithium-ion batteries (LIBs). A standard deposition procedure with a methane precursor was employed to prepare the GF films. The SEM studies revealed the formation of a dark uniform film on the surface of Ni foam’s wires upon the CVD deposition. The film consisted of numerous GF sheets replicating the shape of the Ni grain boundaries over the Ni wire surface. The Raman spectroscopy of the prepared films on the Ni foam confirmed that the samples are a few-layered GF with high quality and purity. In order to evaluate the potential of the use of the prepared materials as an anode in LIBs, their electrochemical performance was studied in coin-type lithium half-cells using cyclic voltammetry (CV) and galvanostatic cycling. The results of CV showed that both graphene and native oxide layer (NiO) on nickel foam exhibit electrochemical activity with respect to lithium ions. Galvanostatic cycling revealed that both GF and NiO contribute to the overall capacity, which increases upon cycling with a stable Coulombic efficiency of around 99%. The designed 3D GF coated NiO/Ni anode demonstrated a gradual increase of its areal charge capacity from 65 μAh cm-2 at the initial cycle to 250 μAh cm-2 at the final 250th cycle.

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Long term observations of full-disk Lyman-α irradiance have been made by the instruments on various satellites. In addition, several sounding rockets dating back to the 1950s and up through the present have measured the Lyman-α irradiance. Previous full disk Lyman-α images of the sun have been very interesting and useful scientifically, but have been only five-minute ``snapshots" obtained on sounding rocket flights. All of these observations to date have been snapshots, with no time resolution to observe changes in the chromospheric structure as a result of the evolving magnetic field, and its effect on the Lyman-α intensity. The Lyman-α Imaging Solar Telescope(LIST) can provide a unique opportunity for the study of the sun in the Lyman-α region with the high time and spatial resolution for the first time. Up to the 2nd year development, the preliminary design of the optics, mechanical structure and electronics system has been completed. Also the mechanical structure analysis, thermal analysis were performed and the material for the structure was chosen as a result of these analyses. And the test plan and the verification matrix were decided. The operation systems, technical and scientific operation, were studied and finally decided. Those are the technical operation, mechanical working modes for the observation and safety, the scientific operation and the process of the acquired data. The basic techniques acquired through the development of satellite based solar telescope are essential for the construction of space environment forecast system in the future. The techniques which we developed through this study, like mechanical, optical and data processing techniques, could be applied extensively not only to the process of the future production of flight models of this kind, but also to the related industries. Also, we can utilize the scientific achievements which are obtained throughout the project. And these can be utilized to build a high resolution photometric detectors for military and commercial purposes. It is also believed that we will be able to apply several acquired techniques for the development of the Korean satellite projects in the future.