• Analytical Science and Technology
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• v.27 no.5
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• pp.243-247
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• 2014

Formaldehyde is defined as carcinogen causing leukaemia, lymphoma or nasopharyngeal carcinoma at high level of exposure. Furniture-manufacturing workers can be exposed to formaldehyde, which implies serious impact on health of the workers. The authors carried out ambient monitoring of formaldehyde in the field, and identified the source of formaldehyde generated during the working process by testing the condition in the laboratory settings. After sampling formaldehyde in the air with 2,4-DNPH (2,4-dinitrophenylhydrazine) coated silica gel, we extracted formaldehyde derivative with acetonitrile and analyzed the extract using HPLC with UV detector at 360 nm. Formaldehyde was separated by ACQUITY UPLC BEH $C_{18}$ column at a flow rate of 0.5 mL/min using 45% acetonitrile as mobile phase. The workers were exposed to higher level of formaldehyde than normal air. Formaldehyde up to 0.31 ppm was detected in the process of veneer attachment, which exceeded 0.3 ppm, the ceiling value of ACGIH standard. The laboratory test of measuring formaldehyde generated from the glue and veneer used in the attachment process resulted in more formaldehyde generation as the temperature increased, and more from the veneer. Heating the veneer to $100-150^{\circ}C$ following the real condition of the manufacturing site generated 1.14-2.70 ppm of formaldehyde from the sample, which was 2-5 times higher level than Korean limit of exposure (0.5 ppm). As the workers handling and processing the veneer which was produced by wet process had high possibility to be exposed to formaldehyde, urgent improvement and management of working environment of furniture manufacturer is demanded.

• Journal of Korean Society for Atmospheric Environment
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• v.26 no.6
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• pp.633-648
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• 2010

The study was performed to elucidate the characteristics of VOCs at distinct monitoring sites in urban atmosphere; one is at a roadside in downtown inland city of Jeonju, and the other is at an industrial site in Gunsan near coastal area. The ambient samples were collected for 24 hours in two-bed adsorbent tubes by using MTS-32 sequential tube sampler equipped with Flex air pump every 16 days in a roadside and a industrial complex from February to November in 2009. VOCs were determined by thermal desorption coupled with GC/MSD. Major individual VOCs in roadside samples were shown as following order in magnitude: toluene>m,p-xylene>ethyl benzene>decanal; and those in the industrial complex samples were as follows: toluene>ethanol>ethyl acetate>decanal>m,pxylene. High benzene concentration in the roadside was more frequently occurred than in the industrial complex. However ambient level of toluene in the industrial complex was higher than that in the road side. Results from roadside sample analysis showed that nonane and 1,2,4-trimethylbenzene were very frequently observed with higher concentrations than those in the industrial complex. It seems that nonane and 1,2,4-trimethylbenzene could be the source characteristics for the roadside air. From the diurnal variation, it was found that concentrations of benzene, ethylbenzene, xylene, nonane and 1,2,4-trimethylbenznene in the roadside were higher during rush hours; but those in the industrial complex were higher from 10 to 16 LST when the industrial activities were animated. On weekly base, the concentration of benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene and m,p-xylene in the roadside were higher specifically on Wednesday, but those in the industrial complex were higher on Sunday. It was found that the general trends of VOCs levels at both sites significantly influence on seasonal changes. The results of factor analysis showed that the VOCs in the roadside were mainly affected by the emission of vehicles and the evaporation of diesel fuel, meanwhile those in the industrial complex were influenced by the evaporation of solvents and vehicular emission.

• Asian Journal of Atmospheric Environment
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• v.7 no.4
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• pp.177-190
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• 2013

Air pollution trends in Japan between 1970 and 2012 were analyzed, and the impact of air pollution countermeasures was evaluated. Concentrations of CO decreased from 1970 to 2012, and in 2012, the Japanese environmental quality standard (EQS) for CO was satisfied. Concentrations of $SO_2$ dropped markedly in the 1970s, owing to use of desulfurization technologies and low-sulfur heavy oil. Major reductions in the sulfur content of diesel fuel in the 1990s resulted in further decreases of $SO_2$ levels. In 2012, the EQS for $SO_2$ was satisfied at most air quality monitoring stations. Concentrations of $NO_2$ decreased from 1970 to 1985, but increased from 1985 to 1995. After 1995, $NO_2$ concentrations decreased, especially after 2006. In 2012, the EQS for $NO_2$ was satisfied at most air quality monitoring stations, except those alongside roads. The annual mean for the daily maximum concentrations of photochemical oxidants (OX) increased from 1980 to 2010, but after 2006, the $98^{th}$ percentile values of the OX concentrations decreased. In 2012, the EQS for OX was not satisfied at most air quality monitoring stations. Non-methane hydrocarbon (NMHC) concentrations generally decreased from 1976 to 2012. In 2011, NMHC concentrations near roads and in the general environment were nearly the same. The concentration of suspended particulate matter (SPM) generally decreased. In 2011, the EQS for SPM was satisfied at 69.2% of ambient air monitoring stations, and 72.9% of roadside air-monitoring stations. Impacts from mineral dust from continental Asia were especially pronounced in the western part of Japan in spring, and year-round variation was large. The concentration of $PM_{2.5}$ generally decreased, but the EQS for $PM_{2.5}$ is still not satisfied. The air pollution trends were closely synchronized with promulgation of regulations designed to limit pollutant emissions. Trans-boundary OX and $PM_{2.5}$ has become a big issue which contains global warming chemical species such as ozone and black carbon (so called SLCP: Short Lived Climate Pollutants). Cobeneficial reduction approach for these pollutants will be important to improve both in regional and global atmospheric environmental conditions.

• Korean Journal of Agricultural Science
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• v.38 no.4
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• pp.753-759
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• 2011

Protected crop production has been popular in Korea as well as in other countries. Intensive and continuous monitoring and control of the environment, which is labor- and time-consuming, is critical for stable crop productivity and profitability, otherwise damage could be happened due to unfavorable ambient and soil conditions. In the study, potential utilization of smartphone and remote access application in protected crop production environment was investigated. Tested available remote access applications provided functions of mouse click (left and right buttons), zooming in and out, and screen size and color resolution control. Wi-Fi data communication speeds were affected by signal intensity and user place. Data speeds at high (> -55 dBm), medium (-70~-56 dBm), and low (< -71 dBm) signal intensity levels were statistically different (${\alpha}=0.05$). Means of data communication speed were 6.642, 4.923, and 2.906 Mbps at hot spot, home, and office, respectively, and the differences were significant at a 0.05 level. Smart phone and remote access application were applied successfully to remote monitoring (inside temperature and humidity, and outside precipitation, temperature, and humidity) and control (window and light on/off) of green house environment. Response times for monitoring and control were less than 1 s at all places for high signal intensity (> -55 dBm), but they were increased to 1 ~ 10 s at home and office and to 10 ~ 30 s at hot spot for low signal intensity (< -71 dBm) for Wi-Fi. Results of the study would provide useful information for farmers to apply these techniques for their crop production.

• Journal of Korean Society for Atmospheric Environment
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• v.32 no.3
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• pp.320-328
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• 2016

Among biogenic volatile organic compounds (BVOCs) in the natural ecosystem, monoterpenes, along with isoprene, play important roles in atmospheric chemistry and make significant impacts on air pollution and climate change, especially due to their contribution to secondary organic aerosol production and photochemical ozone formation. It is essential to measure monoterpene concentrations accurately for understanding their oxidation processes, emission processes and estimation, and interactions between biosphere and atmosphere. Thus, traceable calibration standards are crucial for the accurate measurement of monoterpenes at ambient levels. However, there are limited information about developing calibrations standards for monoterpenes in pressured cylinders. This study describes about developing primary standard gas mixtures (PSMs) for monoterpenes at about 2 nmol/mol, near ambient levels. The micro-gravimetric method was applied to prepare monoterpene (${\alpha}$-pinene, 3-carene, R-(+)-limonene, 1,8-cineole) PSMs at $10{\mu}mol/mol$ and then the PSMs were further diluted to 2 nmol/mol level. To select an optimal cylinder for the development of monoterpene PSMs, three different kinds of cylinders were used for the preparation and were evaluated for uncertainty sources including long-term stability. Results showed that aluminum cylinders with a special internal surface treatment (Experis) had little adsorption loss on the cylinder internal surface and good long-term stability compared to two other cylinder types with no treatment and a special treatment (Aculife). Results from uncertainty estimation suggested that monoterpene PSMs can be prepared in pressured cylinders with a special treatment (Experis) at 2 nmol/mol level with an uncertainty of less than 4%.

• Korean Journal of Agricultural and Forest Meteorology
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• v.10 no.4
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• pp.132-140
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• 2008

Two different sensitivity classes of black cherry (Prunus serotina) under the natural growing environmental conditions were assessed adjacent to Air Monitoring Station located at Horton research center in Giles County, Virginia, USA. Ambient ozone concentrations, leaf gas exchange, and visible foliar injury were measured on-site during the growing seasons of 2000, 2001, and 2002. Ambient ozone exposures were sufficient to induce typical foliar visible injury corresponding with the reduction in photosynthetic activities only in sensitive black cherry. There were positive correlations between increasing cumulative ozone concentration and percent reduction in maximum net photosynthetic rates ($Pn_{MAX}$) under saturating light conditions and in quantum yield for carbon reduction (${\Phi}CO_2$) of sensitive black cherry compared to tolerant black cherry. There was a negative correlation between chlorophyll content and percent leaf injury in sensitive black cherry. Furthermore, $Pn_{MAX}$ was inversely related to percent leaf injury.

• The Bulletin of The Korean Astronomical Society
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• v.38 no.2
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• pp.63.1-63.1
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• 2013

We present the results of time monitoring observations of $^{28}SiO$ v = 1, 2, J = 1-0, $^{29}SiO$ v = 0, J = 1-0 and $H_2O$ $6_{16}-5_{23}$ maser lines toward radio Source I in Orion KL. The observations have been performed from 2009 June to 2013 April using the 21m single dish radio telescopes of the Korean VLBI Network. Both SiO and $H_2O$ maser lines were simultaneously obtained at 20 epochs. In particular, the third outburst of $H_2O$ maser emission (the first: 1985, the second: 1998) was detected and the flux density variation curve was obtained. The maximum flux density flared up to an order of $10^5$ Jy during 2012 May-July at peak velocity of 7.33 km $s^{-1}$. Hirota et al. (2011) reported that the bursting maser features are located at 8" from Source I and coincident with the interacting region between the outflow from Source I and a dense ambient gas, Orion Compact Ridge. In the case of SiO masers arising from close to the Source I, the peak emission of the v = 1, J = 1-0 maser line appeared in 2010 April. We are investigating the possible relation between this SiO maser peak emission and the third $H_2O$ maser flaring.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.327-335
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• 2018

This paper presents structural assessment of a steel railway bridge for current condition using modal parameter to upgrade finite element modeling in order to gather accurate result. An adequate monitoring, such as acceleration, displacement, strain monitoring, is important tool to understand behavior and to assess structural performance of the structure under surround vibration by means of the dynamic analysis. Evaluation of conditions of an existing steel railway bridge consist of 4 decks, three of them are 14 m, one of them is 9.7 m, was performed with a numerical analysis and a series of dynamic tests. Numerical analysis was performed implementing finite element model of the bridge using SAP2000 software. Dynamic tests were performed by collecting acceleration data caused by surrounding vibrations and dynamic analysis is performed by Operational Modal Analysis (OMA) using collected acceleration data. The acceleration response of the steel bridge is assumed to be governing response quantity for structural assessment and provide valuable information about the current statute of the structure. Modal identification determined based on response of the structure play significant role for upgrading finite element model of the structure and helping structural evaluation. Numerical and experimental dynamic properties are compared and finite element model of the bridge is updated by changing of material properties to reduce the differences between the results. In this paper, an existing steel railway bridge with four spans is evaluated by finite element model improved using operational modal analysis. Structural analysis performed for the bridge both for original and calibrated models, and results are compared. It is demonstrated that differences in natural frequencies are reduced between 0.2% to 5% by calibrating finite element modeling and stiffness properties.

• Asian Journal of Atmospheric Environment
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.8-20
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• 2011

Atmospheric visibility is one of the indicators used to evaluate the status of air quality. Based on a conceptual definition of visibility as the maximum distance at which the outline of the selected target can be recognized, an image analysis technique is introduced here and an algorithm is developed for visibility monitoring. Although there are various measurement techniques, ranging from bulk and precise instruments to naked eye observation techniques, each has their own limitations. In this study, a series of image analysis techniques were introduced and examined for in-situ application. An imaging system was built up using a digital camera and was installed on the study sites in Incheon and Seoul separately. Visual range was also monitored by using a dual technology visibility sensor in Incheon and transmissometer in Seoul simultaneously. The Sobel mask filter was applied to detect the edge lines of objects by extracting the high frequency from the digital image. The root mean square (RMS) index of variation among the pixels in the image was substantially correlated with the visual ranges in Incheon and Seoul with correlations of $R^2$=0.88 and $R^2$=0.71, respectively. The regression line equations between the visual range and the RMS index in Incheon and Seoul were VR=$2.36e^{0.46{\times}(RMS)}$ and VR=$3.18e^{0.15{\times}(RMS)}$, respectively. It was also confirmed that the fine particles ($PM_{2.5}$) have more impacts to the impairment of visibility than coarse particles.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
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• v.32 no.2
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• pp.95-101
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• 2014

In order to investigate effects of elevated $CO_2$ concentration and temperature on the ecological niche of Quercus serrata in Korea. We divided experimental condition in the greenhouse that are control (ambient condition) and treatment with elevated $CO_2$ (approximately 1.6 above than control) and increased air temperature (approximately $2.2^{\circ}C$ above than control). We measured twenty kind characters of seedlings and calculated the ecological niche breadth. As a result, the ecological niche breadth, treatment was widened in the light gradient than the control, was narrowed in the moisture and nutrient gradient. This is may be predicted when the global warming progress, Q. serrata is increases resistance to light environment, and decrease resistance to moisture and nutrient environment. According to the principal component analysis (PCA), control and treatment were arranged based on factor 1 and 2 in each environment gradients. Ecological response is involved variety characters. Among them, indicating that Characters of production is involved in many a parts.