• Asian Journal of Atmospheric Environment
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.101-113
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• 2015

Air quality index (AQI) or air pollution index (API) is commonly used to report the level of severity of air pollution to public. A number of methods were developed in the past by various researchers/environmental agencies for determination of AQI or API but there is no universally accepted method exists, which is appropriate for all situations. Different method uses different aggregation function in calculating AQI or API and also considers different types and numbers of pollutants. The intended uses of AQI or API are to identify the poor air quality zones and public reporting for severity of exposure of poor air quality. Most of the AQI or API indices can be broadly classify as single pollutant index or multi-pollutant index with different aggregation method. Every indexing method has its own characteristic strengths and weaknesses that affect its suitability for particular applications. This paper attempt to present a review of all the major air quality indices developed worldwide.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.39 no.1
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• pp.35-50
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• 2021

Eccentrically braced frames (EBFs) are utilized as a lateral resisting system in high seismic zones. Links are the primary source of energy dissipation and they are exposed to high deformation, which may lead to buckling. Web stiffeners were introduced to prevent buckling of shear link. AISC 341 provides the required vertical stiffeners for a shear link. In this study, different stiffener configurations were examined. The main objective is to improve the behavior of short links using different stiffener configurations. Pursuant to this goal, a comprehensive numerical study is conducted using ABAQUS. Shear links with different stiffener configurations were subjected to cyclic loading using loading protocol mandated by AISC 341. The results are compared in terms of energy dissipation and shear capacities and rupture index. The proposed stiffener configurations were further verified with different link length ratios, I-shapes and thickness of stiffener. Based on the results, the stiffener configuration with two vertical and two diagonal stiffeners perpendicular to each other is recommended. The proposed stiffener configuration can increase the shear capacity, energy dissipation capacity and the ratio of energy/weight up to 27%, 38% and 30%, respectively. Detailing of the proposed stiffener configuration is presented.

• Geophysics and Geophysical Exploration
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.29-36
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• 2007

Recent seismic surveys have shown that the presence of methane hydrate (MH) in sediments has significant influence on seismic attenuation. I have used vertical seismic profile (VSP) data from a Nankai Trough exploratory well, offshore Tokai in central Japan, to estimate compressional attenuation in MH-bearing sediments at seismic frequencies of 30-110 Hz. The use of two different measurement methods (spectral ratio and centroid frequency shift methods) provides an opportunity to validate the attenuation measurements. The sensitivity of attenuation analyses to different depth intervals, borehole irregularities, and different frequency ranges was also examined to validate the stability of attenuation estimation. I found no significant compressional attenuation in MH-bearing sediments at seismic frequencies. Macroscopically, the peaks of highest attenuation in the seismic frequency range correspond to low-saturation gas zones. In contrast, high compressional attenuation zones in the sonic frequency range (10-20 kHz) are associated with the presence of methane hydrates at the same well locations. Thus, this study demonstrated the frequency-dependence of attenuation in MH-bearing sediments; MH-bearing sediments cause attenuation in the sonic frequency range rather than the seismic frequency range As a possible reason why seismic frequencies in the 30-110 Hz range were not affected in MH-bearing sediments, I point out the effect of thin layering of MH-bearing zones.

• Journal of Korean Tunnelling and Underground Space Association
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.235-244
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• 2016

Grouting is frequently used before the construction of subsea tunnels to mitigate problems that can occur in weak ground zones such as joints, faults or unconsolidated settlements during construction. The grout material injected into rock mass often flows through the discontinuities present in the host rock and hence, joint properties such as its distribution, roughness and thickness greatly affect the properties of grouting-improved rocks. The grouting-improved zones near subsea tunnels are also subjected to high water pressures that can cause long-term weathering in the form of changes in grout microstructure and crack formation and lead to subsequent changes in ground properties. Therefore, an assessment method is needed to accurately measure changes in the grouting-improved zones near subsea tunnels. In this study, the elastic wave propagation characteristics in grouting-improved rocks were tested for various axial stress levels, curing time, joint roughness and thickness conditions under laboratory conditions and the results were compared with wave velocity standards in different Korean rock mass classification systems to provide a basis for inferring improvement in grouted rock-mass.

• Journal of the Korean Solar Energy Society
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• v.36 no.2
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• pp.19-29
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• 2016

Whilst there are growing interests in pursuing energy efficiency and zero-energy buildings in built environment, it is widely recognised that Building-Integrated Photovoltaic (BIPV) is one of the most promising and required technologies to achieve these goals in recent years. Although BIPV is a broadly utilized technique in variety of fields in built environments, it is required that generation of BIVP should be analysed and calculated by external specialists. The aim of this research is to focus on developing a new diagram for prediction of the pre-estimation model in early design stage to harness solar radiation data, PV types, slopes, azimuth and so forth. The results of this study show as follows: 1) We analysed 162 districts in a national level and the examined areas were categorised into five zones. The standard deviation of the results was 2.9 per cent; 2) The increased value of solar radiation on a vertical plane in five categorised zones was 42kWh/m3, and the result was similar to the average value of 43.8kWh/m3; and 3) The pre-estimation of diagram was developed based on the categorisation of zones and azimuth as well as the results of the developed diagram showed little difference compared to the previously utilised method. The suggested diagram in this paper will contribute to estimate BIPV without any external contribution to calculate the value. Even though the result of this study shows little difference, it is required to investigate a number of different variables such as BIPV types, modules, slope angle and so forth in order to develop an integrated pre-estimation diagram.

• Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.44 no.2
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• pp.62-71
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• 2020

Understanding vegetation structure and the relationship with environmental factors has been crucial for restoration and conservation of riparian zones. In this study, we conducted field survey in a riparian zone of Namhan River in South Korea both before and after flooding in order to understand temporal and spatial variations of riparian vegetation. There were significant temporal and spatial variations in species composition, and distribution patterns of vegetation were different along a gradient of elevation above the water level. At low elevation, Zizania latifolia was dominant throughout the field survey periods, and Bidens frondosa began to grow late and dominated both in post-flooding 1 and 2. Prior to flooding, Scirpus radicans and Polygonum thunbergii were widely distributed at middle elevation, while Artemisia vulgaris, Phragmites australis, and Miscanthus sacchariflorus were dominant at high elevation. After flooding, P. thunbergii was dominant at middle elevation with most other species decreasing, and more invasive or pioneer plants, including Artemisia princeps, H. scandens, and Sicyos angulatus, were observed at high elevation. Species composition and distribution patterns were homogeneous at low elevation, whereas dynamic variations of vegetation were observed both temporally and spatially at higher elevations. Elevation and distance from the water front were the most principal factors governing vegetation structure. Furthermore, soil physicochemical properties were also found to determine species composition and distribution patterns. These results indicate that vegetation structure in the riparian zones is formed by the combined effects of hydrological regime and soil physicochemical properties, inherent characteristics of species, and interspecific competition. Understanding of temporal and spatial variations of riparian vegetation may provide useful insights into ecological restoration and conservation of the vegetation within the riparian zones.

• The Journal of the Institute of Internet, Broadcasting and Communication
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• v.15 no.5
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• pp.155-162
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• 2015

This paper proposes a deterministic optimization algorithm to solve economic load dispatch problem with quadratic convex fuel cost function. The proposed algorithm primarily partitions a generator with prohibited zones into multiple generators so as to place them afield the prohibited zone. It then sets initial values to $P_i{\leftarrow}P_i^{max}$ and reduces power generation costs of those incurring the maximum unit power cost. It finally employs a swap optimization process of $P_i{\leftarrow}P_i-{\beta}$, $P_j{\leftarrow}P_j+{\beta}$ where $_{max}\{F(P_i)-F(P_i-{\beta})\}$ > $_{min}\{F(P_j+{\beta})-F(P_j)\}$, $i{\neq}j$, ${\beta}=1.0,0.1,0.01,0.001$. When applied to 3 different 15-generator cases, the proposed algorithm has consistently yielded optimized results compared to those of heuristic algorithms.

• Journal of the Korean Wood Science and Technology
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• v.39 no.6
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• pp.531-537
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• 2011

This research was performed to evaluate the decay hazard for exterior above-ground wood in Korea. The Scheffer index (decay hazard index) was determined using the climate data of 72 different locations obtained from the website of Korea Meteorological Administration (KMA), and the wood decay hazard map was created. Jeju, Seogwipo, Gwangju, and Jeonju showing above 65 of Scheffer index values were considered to be high decay hazard zones. The rest showed the values in the range between 35 and 65, meaning the moderate decay hazard zones. However, the annual Scheffer indexes largely varied, which suggests that many moderate decay zones could turn into high decay regions with the climate change. Especially, considering that Korean weather tends to turn into the weather of subtropical region, the decay hazard of Korea seems to have high possibility to be gradually increased.

• Korean Journal of Materials Research
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• v.12 no.4
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• pp.259-263
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• 2002

Three different ribbons of amorphous $Til_{1-x}Be_x$ alloys such as $Ti_{0.59}Be_{0.41},\;Ti_{0.61}Be_{0.39}\;and\;Ti_{0.63}Be_{0.37}$ were made by melt-spinning method to be used as brazing filler metals for joining Zircaloy-4 nuclear fuel cladding tubes, and their crystallization behavior as well as microstructure of the brazed zone were examined. The crystallization behavior was investigated in teams of thermal stability, crystallization temperature and activation energy. The crystallization of the $Ti_{1-x}Be_x$ alloys proceeded in two steps by the formation of ${\alpha}$-Ti at a lower temperature and of TiBe at a higher temperature. The crystallization temperature and activation energy of $Ti_{1-x}Be_x$ alloys were higher and larger than those of $Zr_{1-x}Be_x$ alloys and PVD Be. Those resulted thinner joining layer with $Ti_{1-x}Be_x$ alloys, which kept sound thickness of Zircaloy-4 nuclear fuel cladding tubes after brazing. But in the brazed zones made by $Ti_{1-x}Be_x$ filler metals, a little solid-solution layers composed of Zr and Ti were formed toward the Zr cladding tube and Zr was detected in the brazed zones. Microstructure of brazed zone was changed from globular to dentrite with decreasing Be content in the $Ti_{1-x}Be_x$ filler metal.

• Journal of Crop Science and Biotechnology
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• v.10 no.4
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• pp.223-230
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• 2007

Vitellaria paradoxa commonly called shea is an important agro forestry and fruit-bearing species present in four agro-ecological zones of Cameroon. The goal of this work was the morphological characterization of certain populations of V. paradoxa which will serve as a necessary step for a subsequent genetic study of the species. Morphological observations related to 20 agronomic traits, studied on 8-13 trees selected from each of the eight shea populations across four different agro-ecological zones located in four provinces of Cameroon were studied. The study showed that there was a variation between the populations, related to the traits measured on the trunk, fruit, nut, and leaf. Three shapes of the tree(ball, broom, and trained), five shapes of the fruit(round, oblong, reversed pear, ovoid, and oblong), three colors of the nut(clear brown, dark brown, and blackish brown) were identified. The principal component analysis(PCA) carried out on the quantitative characters revealed 72% of the total variance expressed on the first and second main axis. This variation was essentially explained by the traits measured on the fruits and on the nuts. The analyses showed that only the traits of the fruits and the nuts were discriminative. The shea populations studied were structured into two distinct groups using these discriminative traits.