• Journal of Radiation Industry
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• v.11 no.3
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• pp.123-130
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• 2017

Concerns about high radiation exposure to the hands of radiation workers who may contact with radioactive contamination on surfaces in a nuclear power plant (NPP) had been raised, and the Korean regulatory body required the extremity dose estimation during contact tasks with radioactive materials. Korean NPPs conducted field tests to identify the incident radiation to the hands of radiation workers who may contact with radioactive contamination during maintenance periods. The results showed that the radiation fields for contact tasks are dominated by high energy photons. It was also found that the radiation doses to the hands of radiation workers in Korean NPPs were much less than the annual dose limits for extremities. This approach can be applicable to measure and estimate the extremity dose to the hands of medical workers who handle the radioactive materials in a hospital.

• Journal of Soil and Groundwater Environment
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• v.26 no.6
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• pp.82-94
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• 2021

Facilities for low impact development (LID) or groundwater recharge have the high potential spreading groundwater nitrate contamination because of the rapid infiltration. This study was initiated to remove nitrate from the waters using agricultural byproducts as organic sources for denitrification during infiltration. As the first step of this purpose, we experimentally tested the denitrifying efficiency of 4 organic materials (pine tree woodchips, cherry leaves, rice straws, and rice hulls) and tried to identify the key factors controlling the efficiency. For this study, we precisely investigated the change of chemical reactions during the experiment by analyzing various geochemical parameters. The result shows that the denitrification efficiency is not simply linked to the availability of the easily decomposable contents in the organic matter. It is found that avoiding the severe pH decrease due to the CO₂ generation is the essence to derive the efficient denitrifying conditions when organic matters were used.

• The Journal of the Convergence on Culture Technology
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.569-574
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• 2023

For maintenance of concrete structures, it is necessary to identify and maintain various defects. With the current method, there are problems with efficiency, safety, and reliability when inspecting large-scale social infrastructure, so it is necessary to introduce a new inspection method. Recently, with the development of deep learning technology for images, concrete defect classification research is being actively conducted. However, studies on contamination and spalling other than cracks are limited. In this study, a variety of concrete defect type classification models were developed through transfer learning on a pre-learned deep learning model, factors that reduce accuracy were derived, and future development directions were presented. This is expected to be highly utilized in the field of concrete maintenance in the future.

• Journal of Soil and Groundwater Environment
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.1-12
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• 2017

Nitrate ($NO_3^-$), a common surface water and groundwater pollutant, poses a serious environmental problem in regions with intensive agricultural activities and dense population. It is thus important to identify the source of nitrate contamination to better manage water quality. Due to the distinct isotope compositions of nitrate among different origins, the dual isotope analysis (${\delta}^{15}N$ and ${\delta}^{18}O$) of nitrate has been widely applied to track contamination sources. This paper provided the underlying backgrounds in the isotope analysis of nitrate, which included typical ranges of ${\delta}^{15}N$ and ${\delta}^{18}O$ from various nitrate sources, isotope fractionation, the analytical methods used to concentrate nitrate from samples, and the potential limitations of the dual isotope analysis along with the resolutions. To enhance the applicability of the dual isotope analysis as well as increase the ability to interpret field data, this paper also introduced several case studies. Furthermore, other environmental tracers including ${\delta}^{11}B$ and $Cl^-/Br^-$ ratios were discussed to accompany the dual isotope analysis for better assignment of contamination sources even when microbial transformation of nitrate and/or mixing between contaminant plumes occur.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Groundwater Environment
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• v.5 no.3
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• pp.141-147
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• 1998

This study was initiated to identify the general groundwater quality and the effects of heavy-metal enrichments in the black shales and coal materials in Dukpyung area. Groundwater quality could be divided into three groups based on the major weathering processes in the groundwater system; Group I of carbonate weathering, Group II of silicate weathering with the probable effects of acidic mine drainage, and Group III of silicate weathering with relatively high concentrations of chloride components in anions. Metal contamination of groundwater was not observed. Locally, however, acidic mine drainage appeared to be produced and recharged into the groundwater system. In addition, contamination by NO$_3$-N ranged 2 to 3 times higher than the drinking water standards, probably due to infiltration of domestic sewage and/or fertilizers into the shallow aquifer.

• Journal of radiological science and technology
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• v.38 no.4
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• pp.395-401
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• 2015

The purpose is to determine the degree of contamination of the equipment for infection control in chest radiography of the radiology department. We confirmed by chemical and bacterial identification of bacteria of the equipment and established a preventive maintenance plan. Chest X-ray radiography contact area on the instrument patients shoulder, hand, chin, chest lateral radiography patient contact areas with a 70% isopropyl alcohol cotton swab were compared to identify the bacteria before and after sterilization on the patient contact area in the chest radiography equipment of the department. The gram positive Staphylococcus was isolated from side shoots handle before disinfection in the chest radiography equipment. For the final identification of antibiotic tested that it was determined by performing the nobobiocin to the sensitive Staphylococcus epidermidis. Chest radiography equipment before disinfecting the handle side of Staphylococcus epidermidis bacteria were detected using a disinfectant should be to prevent hospital infections.

• Proceedings of the Microbiological Society of Korea Conference
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• 2000.05a
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• pp.94-101
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• 2000

We investigated the viral contamination of water environment including tap water in Korea. River water used for source water was analyzed about monthly between 1997 and 1999 over a period 26 months. A total of 22 tap water samples were collected in 10 sites in 2 urban areas between 1997 and 1998 over a 11 months. All samples were examined for infectious enteroviruses and adenoviruses by a cell culture technique followed by PCR amplification. To identify the recovered viruses from tap water, sequence analysis of PCR products was performed. Infectious viral particles were detected in river water all year round, ranging from 0.93 to 17.3 Most Probable Number of Infectious Unit (MPNIU) /100L. Tap water samples also contained infectious viral particles. The frequency of enteroviruses and adenoviruses in tap water were $50.0\%$ (11/22) and $36.7\%$ (8/22), respectively. Both enteroviruses and adenoviruses were detected in five tap water samples $(22.7\%)$. The level of viral contamination in tap water was quite high, ranging from 0.2 to 2.9 MPNIU/100L, far above the recommended virus level in drinking water set by the U.S. EPA. Poliovirus type 1 derived from vaccine was frequently detected and the remainder comprised coxsackievirus B type or echovirus type 6, which were causative agents of aseptic meningitis in Korea in 1997 and 1998, respectively. Several types of adenovirus were detected in tap water samples and some water samples were found to contain adenoviruses which were closely related to enteric adenovirus type 40 and 41. This stusy shows that surface water and tap water in Korea may be exposed to the risk of viral contamination, especially from recently recognized viruses and this constitutes a potential public health hazard.

• Perspectives in Nursing Science
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.65-76
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• 2013

Purpose: To identify an associations between health care workers' uniforms and health care-associated infection. Methods: Electronic databases, including Ovid-Medline, the Cochrane Library, CINAHL, EMBASE, KMbase, and KoreaMed, were searched. The search terms included doctor, nurse, health care worker/staff/assistant, clothing, (white) gown, uniform, (neck)tie, and attire. Only papers published in English and Korean were included. Results: 16 studies were selected from 1,900 references screened. All of the studies were non-comparative studies except for one. Four were conducted with doctors, six with nurses, one with health care workers including physiotherapists and one for medical staff plus visitors in a neonatal intensive care unit. Doctors more frequently changed their uniforms than neckties; therefore, the degree of contamination was more serious in neckties. The cuff zone was more likely to be heavily contaminated than other areas of long-sleeve gowns. Coats become contaminated quickly once worn, and colony counts reached a similar level within the first few hours after wearing them. Wearing a plastic apron or protective clothing did not prevent the bacterial contamination of nurses' uniforms, and the best way to decrease the contamination was changing to newly laundered uniforms before starting every duty. Conclusion: Healthcare workers' uniforms are a potential source of health care-associated infection although there was no robust evidence. The government must establish standards for laundering of uniforms or a requirement for institutions to provide a laundering service for healthcare workers' uniforms.

• The Journal of Engineering Geology
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• v.12 no.4
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• pp.379-394
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• 2002

This study was initiated to identify groundwater quality and contamination at present in the 'A' section of Seoul Metropolitan Subway. Groundwater samples were collected at 21 boreholes along the 'A' section and appeared to show mainly $Ca-HCO_3$ type. In 20 samples, concentration of $SO_4$, Cd, Pb, Fe, Mn, Al, F and $NO_3-N$ were higher than those of Korean drinking water quality standards. From chemical data and saturation Indices, contaminant sources of individual chemical elements were inferred to be buried wastes and surface sediments over the study area. The result of factor analysis suggested that the pollution factor should account for about 47% of data variation.

• Journal of Soil and Groundwater Environment
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.17-23
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• 2019

Clean soil environment is of crucial importance to sustain lives of ecosystem and humans. With rapid industrialization, there has been a great increase of soil contamination by accidental releases of petroleum products. In general, soil remediation is an expensive and time-consuming process as compared to cleanup of water and air. Moreover, determining the source and responsible parties of soil pollution often turns into legal conflicts and that further delay the cleanup process of contaminated sites. In practice, total petroleum hydrocarbon (TPH) analysis has been employed to determine the petroleum species and to track down the responsible polluters. However, this approach often suffers from differentiating similar TPH species. In this study, we analyzed TPH chromatogram patterns of 24 domestic petroleum products in specific carbon ranges (${\sim}C_{10}$, $C_{10}-C_{12}$, $C_{12}-C_{36}$, and $C_{36}{\sim}$) and the fractional changes of THP ratio in the mixture products of gasoline, kerosene and diesel. The proposed TPH analysis method in this study could serve as a useful tool to better analyze the petroleum species in soils contaminated with complex oil mixtures, and ultimately be used to identify the polluters of soil.