• Resources Recycling
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• v.28 no.6
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• pp.3-8
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• 2019

Recently, plastic waste in Korea has been recognized as a critical issue due to an increase in massive production of plastics, difficulty in disposal of waste plastics, and public recognition of toxicity in micro-plastics, etc. To resolve those problems, the regulation to reduce plastics consumption may be primarily considered but, in this case, clarification should be made on the rationales and the action plans in the regulation for individual waste plastic items. Another problem is the small capital sizes of domestic recycling companies, which leads to poor R&D capacity, low recycling yields and thus lowering values of recycling items. This adversely affects consumers' perception. The R&D toward recycling technical progress should take into account the environmental friendliness and recyclability from the early product design stages. Certainly, this should be supported in governmental policy and public action plans. In addition, by referring to advanced policies of i.e. European Union, the recycling industry should be recognized as an opportunity toward new investment & employment. If necessary, the regulation of plastic consumption through a formal evaluation process such as Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) will also be helpful. The values of recycled plastics should be improved through the identification and elimination of harmful chemical substances potentially contained in the products.

• Journal of the Korean association of regional geographers
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.553-565
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• 2016

Population aging has been an increasing social issue and the elderly health has become one of the most urgent public attentions in Korea. The aims of this paper are to compare the subjective health status according to the personal characteristics, social networks, and daily leisure activities of the urban-rural elderly, and to analyze the influencing factors of their subjective health status. Using 2011 elderly survey data, ordered logit Model was established to extract influencing factors of the elderly health status. The results show that socioeconomic and demographic characteristics of individual as well as frequent social contacts and daily activities within neighborhood environments influence the level of health status of the elderly. The most significant factors affecting the elderly health are personal economic conditions such as the education achievement level and household income. The elderly who visit an elderly welfare center in Seoul has almost 1.82 times higher odds of increasing health status level than not to visit an elderly welfare center. This study may give some important policy implications of the elderly health promotion strategy in urban-rural communities.

• KSCE Journal of Civil and Environmental Engineering Research
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• v.38 no.4
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• pp.595-599
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• 2018

Sufficient understanding of oversea construction market status is crucial to get profitability in the international construction project. Plenty of researchers have been considering the news article as a fine data source for figuring out the market condition, since the data includes market information such as political, economic, and social issue. Since the text data exists in unstructured format with huge size, various text-mining techniques were studied to reduce the unnecessary manpower, time, and cost to summarize the data. However, there are some limitations to extract the needed information from the news article because of the existence of various topics in the data. This research is aimed to overcome the problems and contribute to summarization of market status by performing topic modeling with Latent Dirichlet Allocation. With assuming that 10 topics existed in the corpus, the topics included projects for user convenience (topic-2), private supports to solve poverty problems in Africa (topic-4), and so on. By grouping the topics in the news articles, the results could improve extracting useful information and summarizing the market status.

• Journal of the Korea Concrete Institute
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.25-34
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• 2003

The degradation of reinforced concrete (RC) structures due to physical and chemical attacks has been a major issue in construction engineering. Deterioration of RC structures by chloride attack followed by reinforcement corrosion is one of the serious problems. An objective of this study is to develop a form of mathematical model of chloride ingress into concrete. In order to overcome some limits of the previous approaches, a chloride ingress model, consisting of chloride solution intrusion through the capillary pore and chloride ion diffusion through the pore water, was proposed. Moreover, the variability of chloride ion diffusivity due to the degree of hydration of cement, relative humidity in pore, exposure condition, and variation of chloride binding, was considered in the model. In order to verify the proposed model, the results predicted by the proposed model were compared with analysis results of Life-365, a computer program for predicting the service life of reinforced concrete structures exposed to chlorides. In conclusion, the proposed model would be promising to predict the chloride ion profile and to estimate the service life of RC structures.

• Environmental Mutagens and Carcinogens
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.85-93
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• 2003

Welders working in a confined space, like in the shipbuilding industry, are at risk of being exposed to high concentrations of welding fumes and developing pneumoconiosis or other welding-fume exposure related diseases. Among such diseases, manganism resulting from welding-fume exposure remains a controversial issue, as the movement of manganese into specific brain regions has not been clearly established. Accordingly, to investigate the distribution of manganese in the brain after welding-fume exposure, male Sprague Dawley rats were exposed to welding fumes generated from manual metal arc stainless steel (MMA-SS) at concentrations of $63.6{\pm}4.1$ $mg/m^3$ (low dose, containing 1.6 $mg/m^3$ Mn) and $107.1{\pm}6.3$ $mg/m^3$ (high dose, containing 3.5 $mg/m^3$ Mn) total suspended particulates for 2 hrs per day, in an inhalation chamber over a 60-day period. Blood, brain, lungs and liver samples were collected after 2 hr, 15, 30, and 60 days of exposure and the tissues analyzed for their manganese concentrations using an atomic absorption spectrophotometer. Although dose- and time-dependent increases in the manganese concentrations were found in the lungs and livers of the rats exposed for 60 days, only slight manganese increases were observed in the blood during this period. Major statistically significant increases in the brain manganese concentrations were detected in the cerebellum after 15 days of exposure and up until 60 days. Slight increases in the manganese concentrations were also found in the substantia nigra, basal ganglia (caudate nucleus, putamen, and globus pallidus), temporal cortex, and frontal cortex, thereby indicating that the pharmacokinetics and distribution of manganese inhaled from welding fumes would appear to be different from those resulting from manganese-only exposure.

• Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.41 no.11
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• pp.302-309
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• 2017

Background: Large-scale land-use change is being caused by various socioeconomic problems. Land-use change is necessarily accompanied by changes in the regional carbon balance in terrestrial ecosystems and affects climate change. Therefore, it is crucial to understand the correlation between environmental factors altered by land-use change and the carbon balance. To address this issue, we studied the characteristics of soil carbon flux and soil moisture content related to rainfall events in mountain pastures converted from deciduous forest in Korea. Results: The average soil moisture contents (SMC) during the study period were 23.1% in the soil respiration (SR) plot and 25.2% in the heterotrophic respiration (HR) plot. The average SMC was increased to 2.1 and 1.1% in the SR and HR plots after rainfall events, respectively. In addition, saturated water content was 29.36% in this grassland. The soil water content was saturated under the consistent rainfall of more than $5mm\;h^{-1}$ rather than short-term heavy rainfall event. The average SR was increased to 28.4% after a rainfall event, but the average HR was decreased to 70. 1%. The correlation between soil carbon flux rates and rainfall was lower than other environmental factors. The correlation between SMC and soil carbon flux rates was low. However, HR exhibited a tendency to be decreased when SMC was 24.5%. In addition, the correlation between soil temperature and respiration rate was significant. Conclusions: In a mountain pasture ecosystem, rainfall induced the important change of soil moisture content related to respiration in soil. SR and HR were very sensitive to change of SMC in soil surface layer about 0-10-cm depth. SR was increased by elevation of SMC due to a rainfall event, and the result was assumed from maintaining moderate soil moisture content for respiration in microorganism and plant root. However, HR was decreased in long-time saturated condition of soil moisture content. Root has obviously contributed to high respiration in heavy rainfall, but it was affected to quick depression in respiration under low rainfall. The difference of SMC due to rainfall event was causative of a highly fluctuated soil respiration rate in the same soil temperature condition. Therefore, rainfall factor or SMC are to be considered in predicting the soil carbon flux of grassland ecosystems for future climate change.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.39 no.3
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• pp.239-246
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• 2013

Objectives: Antimicrobial resistance and multidrug resistance patterns have been studied with a total of 189 samples of Salmonella Enteritidis and Salmonella Typhimurium isolated from diarrhea patients in Incheon from 2008 to 2012. Methods: Antimicrobial resistance tests were determined by Disc Diffusion method. Results: The serological distribution of Salmonella spp. showed 108 strains (30.1%) of S. Enteritidis, 81 strains (22.6%) of S. Typhimirium, eight strains (8.0%) of S. Typhi, 11 strains ( 3.1% ) of S. Paratyphi, and the 151 other strains (42.1%). The separation rate of Salmonella spp. by year showed 14.5% (52 strains) in 2008, 13.6% (49 strains) in 2009, 22.8% (82 strains) in 2010, 25.3% (91 strains) in 2011, and 23.7% (85 strains) in 2012. Additionally, the separation rate of S. Enteritidis and S. Typhimirium in 2010 was the highest. The Salmonella spp. isolated from diarrhea patients showed significant differences according to age (p<0.05), gender (p<0.01) and medical institution (p<0.05). The highest resistance was found to the following antimicrobial agents: imipenem 77 strains, ampicillin 47 strains, ciprofloxacin 34 strains, nalidixic acid 29 strains for S. Enteritidis, and ampicillin 45 strains, nalidixic acid 45 strains for S. Typhimurium. Separated S. Enteritidis and S. Typhimurium resistance to the antibiotics by the year showed significant differences (p<0.05). The patterns of multidrug resistance rates were 43.1% (47 strains) for one drug, 8.3% (9 strains) for two drugs, 11.0% (12 strains) for three drugs, 15.62% (17 strains) for four drugs, and 13.7% (15 strains) for five or more drugs for S. Enteritidis. For S. Tyhpimurium, the rates were 15.0% (12 strains) for one drug, 10.0% (8 strains) for two drugs, 6.3% (five strains) for three drugs, 18.7% (15 strains) for four drugs, and 23.8% (19 strains) for five or more drugs. Conclusion: The antibiotic resistance issue is directly related to people's lives. Thus, the usage of antibiotics should be reduced in order to manage antibiotic resistance.

• International Journal of Costume and Fashion
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.35-47
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• 2013

We know that humans are able to live comfortably when there is a balance between the living environment that surrounds us and us. Clothing, one of the necessities of life, serves a dual purpose of functioning as protection for the body as well as providing visual satisfaction, and so is the most effective bonding mechanism. A different type of comfort that has been provided through industrialization and advancements in technology has resulted in pollution problems in the environment, and it has reached a point of seriously thinking about its effects. The biggest problems in environmental pollution are air pollution and waste disposal, and something that cannot be ignored is that environmental hormones and harmful heavy metals have been discovered in the synthetic dyes used in the clothing product, and not only are they harmful to the body, but they also have adverse effects on skin allergies such as atopic dermatitis. Its effects on clothing, especially underwear and baby products, can become a serious issue. The use of natural vegetable dye can be considered the basis for the traditional Korean dyeing process, however not all natural dyeing process can be thought of as traditional Korean dyeing. This is because natural dyeing used to be the most common method of dyeing before synthetic dyes came along and became the dye of choice for most clothing. Natural dyes are beneficial to the body, and the nature colors, achieved from the natural materials, relieve eye strains as well as have a healing effect for people who are suffering from psychological instability such as stress. However, the use of mordant in order to increase the fastness and get better color effects can lead to even more damage to the environment, and it cannot be a dyeing method that is good for the body. Traditional natural dyeing is different from regular natural dyeing because it uses colors that the Korean people can identify with and applies specific methods in order to achieve those colors. Even though experimental study with dyestuff and practical use of the dyeing methods for traditional Korean dyeing has been started(Soh, H., 1983) and has been ongoing, it is still not easy for regular people to use the method on their own. At the present time, natural dye materials are getting made and sold more than ever, but there is a lot of confusion among consumers regarding the difference between traditional Korean dyeing and natural dyeing, as companies are using the two terms interchangeably to market their natural dye products. So getting a better understanding of the characteristics of traditional Korean dyeing and traditional colors should be considered first priority at this time. The purpose of this thesis is to study the traditional Korean view of color, which developed the culture of traditional dyeing in Korea, and the characteristics of traditional Korean dyeing, a method that pursued achieving Korea's color through natural dyeing.

• Resources Recycling
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.12-27
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• 2011

DOWA group has been working on metal recycling applying the smelting and refining process of KOSAKA Smelter. DOWA has developed it's metal recycling technologies through the treatment of black ore(complex sulfide ores) that contain many kinds of non-ferrous metals. In addition to these special technologies, DOWA has strengthened its hydrometallurgical process of precious metals and ability to deal with low-grade materials such as used electrical appliances or vehicles. On the other hand, JX Nippon Mining & Metals Corporation(JX-NMMC) carries out its metal recycling and industrial waste treatment businesses employing advanced separation, extraction and refining technologies developed through its extensive experience in the smelting of non-ferrous metals. JX-NMMC collects approximately 100,000t/y of copper and precious metal scraps from waste sources such as electronic parts, mobile phones, catalytic converters, print circuit boards and gold plated parts. These items are recycled through the smelting and refining operations of Saganoseki smelter and Hitachi Metal-recycling complex(HMC). In this like, metal recycling industries combined with environmental business service in Japan have been developed through excellent technologies for mineral processing and non-ferrous smelting. Also, both group, Dowa and JX-NMMC, were contributed to establish Japan's recycling-oriented society as the typical leading company of non-ferrous smelting. Now. it is an important issue to set up the collection system for e-waste.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Landscape Architecture
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• v.37 no.2
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• pp.78-89
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• 2009

The purpose of this study is to build fundamental data for the classification of landscape type as a base for landscape planning and management practices. To do this, prior dissertations and landscape plan reports were analyzed, which presented the classification criteria for landscape type. Based on this, classification criteria for landscape type which could be usable in zoning ordinances has been suggested. The result is as follows: Firstly, in landscape analysis and assessment study based on ecological and formal aesthetic models, landscape type is classified by the character of the landscape element. Secondly, there is no logical classification of landscapetype in urban landscape planning according to mixed use of landscape type for analysis and planning. It is therefore difficult to identify the object of landscape planning, which is intimately linked with the shortage of concrete practice for landscape management. In connection with this issue, classification criteria for landscape type are suggested based on utility in landscape planning. This could be divided into internal criteria and external criteria. The former are land-use, topographical characteristics, characteristics of the view object, and landscape elements while the latter are viewpoint, distance to view object, and urban form. Applying the landscape type classified by the criteria suggested in this paper, it is possible to manage an entire urban area. In addition, landscape type could be reference data for operating a zoning system.