• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.32 no.10
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• pp.1275-1283
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• 2022

Understanding soil microbial community structure in the Arctic is essential for predicting the impact of climate change on interactions between organisms living in polar environments. The hypothesis of the present study was that soil microbial communities and soil chemical characteristics would vary depending on their associated plant species and local environments in Arctic mature soils. We analyzed soil bacterial communities and soil chemical characteristics from soil without vegetation (bare soil) and rhizosphere soil of three Arctic plants (Cassiope tetragona [L.] D. Don, Dryas octopetala L. and Silene acaulis [L.] Jacq.) in different local environments (coal-mined site and seashore-adjacent site). We did not observe any clear differences in microbial community structure in samples belonging to different plant rhizospheres; however, samples from different environmental sites had distinct microbial community structure. The samples from coal-mined site had a relatively higher abundance of Bacteroidetes and Firmicutes. On the other hand, Acidobacteria was more prevalent in seashore-adjacent samples. The relative abundance of Proteobacteria and Acidobacteria decreased toward higher soil pH, whereas that of Bacteroidetes and Firmicutes was positively correlated with soil pH. Our results suggest that soil bacterial community dissimilarity can be driven by spatial heterogeneity in deglaciated mature soil. Furthermore, these results indicate that soil microbial composition and relative abundance are more affected by soil pH, an abiotic factor, than plant species, a biotic factor.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.44 no.5
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• pp.663-680
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• 2012

Previous major earthquakes revealed that most damage of the buried segmented pipelines occurs at the joints of the pipelines. It has been proven that the differential motions between the pipe segments are one of the primary reasons that results in the damage (Zerva et al. 1986, O'Roueke and Liu 1999). This paper studies the combined influences of ground motion spatial variations and local soil conditions on the seismic responses of buried segmented pipelines. The heterogeneous soil deposits surrounding the pipelines are assumed resting on an elastic half-space (base rock). The spatially varying base rock motions are modelled by the filtered Tajimi-Kanai power spectral density function and an empirical coherency loss function. Local site amplification effect is derived based on the one-dimensional wave propagation theory by assuming the base rock motions consist of out-of-plane SH wave or combined in-plane P and SV waves propagating into the site with an assumed incident angle. The differential axial and lateral displacements between the pipeline segments are stochastically formulated in the frequency domain. The influences of ground motion spatial variations, local soil conditions, wave incident angle and stiffness of the joint are investigated in detail. Numerical results show that ground motion spatial variations and local soil conditions can significantly influence the differential displacements between the pipeline segments.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.27 no.12
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• pp.2180-2189
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• 2017

Psychrophilic phytases suitable for aquaculture are rare. In this study, a phytase of the histidine acid phosphatase (HAP) family was identified in Morchella importuna, a psychrophilic mushroom. The phytase showed 38% identity with Aspergillus niger PhyB, which was the closest hit. The M. importuna phytase was overexpressed in Pichia pastoris, purified, and characterized. The phytase had an optimum temperature at $25^{\circ}C$, which is the lowest among all the known phytases to our best knowledge. The optimum pH (6.5) is higher than most of the known HAP phytases, which is fit for the weak acidic condition in fish gut. At the optimum pH and temperature, MiPhyA showed the maximum activity level ($2,384.6{\pm}90.4{\mu}mol{\cdot}min^{-1}{\cdot}mg^{-1}$, suggesting that the enzyme possesses a higher activity level over many known phytases at low temperatures. The phytate-degrading efficacy was tested on three common feed materials (soybean meal/rapeseed meal/corn meal) and was compared with the well-known phytases of Escherichia coli and A. niger. When using the same amount of activity units, MiPhyA could yield at least $3{\times}$ more inorganic phosphate than the two reference phytases. When using the same weight of protein, MiPhyA could yield at least $5{\times}$ more inorganic phosphate than the other two. Since it could degrade phytate in feed materials efficiently under low temperature and weak acidic conditions, which are common for aquacultural application, MiPhyA might be a promising candidate as a feed additive enzyme.

• Journal of Soil and Groundwater Environment
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• v.16 no.6
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• pp.106-112
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• 2011

This study developed preliminary assessment methodology for priority listing of soil and groundwater contamination sources, considering source characteristics, local environments and risk receptors. Source characteristics were evaluated by scoring relative risk of contamination sources. Local environments were evaluated by scoring annual rainfall, hydraulic conductivity of aquifer, and annual groundwater use. Risk receptors were evaluated by scoring local population, direct distance to surface water, direct distance to drinking-water wells. Scores of each parameter were allocated by analysing distribution of parameter values obtained from government databases. Distributed scores of source characteristics local environments: risk receptors were 12 : 12 : 12. The preliminary assessment scored 0 to 36 for each soil and groundwater sources. Inventory of soil and groundwater sources consisted of 7 categories. This study applied the preliminary assessment methodology to Manan-Gu, Anyang City, Korea. The number of car repair and washing facility was the largest in the contamination source inventory. Petroleum storage facilities showed the highest assessment score. The preliminary assessment methodology also indicated that Anyang-Dong was the priority section among Anyang-Dong, Suksu-Dong, Bakdal-Dong. This study is the first trial for relative ranking soil and groundwater contamination sources by considering source and local characteristics. Therefore, further researches and revision of the preliminary assessment methodology need to be pursued for various applications.

• Proceedings of the Korea Water Resources Association Conference
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• 2022.05a
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• pp.8-12
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• 2022

Water loss is one of the typical but challenging problems in water management. To reduced water loss or increase water efficiency, the pilot projects were implemented in the TTD's irrigation area. Modern soil moisture technology and local level water user training were conducted together as a mean to achieve improved water efficiency. In terms of technology, soil moisture sensors and monitoring system were used to estimate crop water requirement to reduce unnecessary irrigation. This was found to save 16.47% of irrigated water and 25.20% of irrigation supply. Further improvement of water efficiency was gained by means of local level water user training in which stakeholders were engaged in the network of communications and co-planning. The lessons learnt from the TTD pilot project was translated into good water management practices at local level.

• Computers and Concrete
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• v.8 no.6
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• pp.693-715
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• 2011

The main object of this study is to evaluate the seismic response effects on a reinforced concrete building isolated by triple concave friction pendulum (TCFP) bearings. The site-response effects arise from the difference in the local soil conditions at the support points of the buildings. The local soil conditions are, therefore, considered as soft, medium and firm; separately. The results on the responses of the isolated building are compared with those of the non-isolated. The building model used in the time history analysis, which is a two-dimensional and eight-storey reinforced concrete building with and without the seismic isolation bearings and/or the local soil conditions, is composed of two-dimensional moment resisting frames for superstructure and of plane elements featuring plane-stress for substructure. The TCFP bearings for isolating the building are modelled as of a series arrangement of the three single concave friction pendulum (SCFP) bearings. In order to investigate the efficiency of both the seismic isolation bearings and the site-response effects on the buildings, the time history analyses are elaborately conducted. It is noted that the site-response effects are important for the isolated building constructed on soft, medium or firm type local foundation soil. The results of the analysis demonstrate that the site-response has significant effects on the response values of the structure-seismic isolation-foundation soil system.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.6 no.3
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• pp.293-320
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• 2014

In this study, in order to evaluate adequacy of considering local site effect, excluding soil-structure interaction (SSI) effects in inelastic dynamic analysis and design of mid-rise moment resisting building frames, three structural models including 5, 10, and 15 storey buildings are simulated in conjunction with two soil types with the shear wave velocities less than 600 m/s, representing soil classes $D_e$ and $E_e$ according to the classification of AS1170.4-2007 (Earthquake actions in Australia) having 30 m bedrock depth. Structural sections of the selected frames were designed according to AS3600:2009 (Australian Standard for Concrete Structures) after undertaking inelastic dynamic analysis under the influence of four different earthquake ground motions. Then the above mentioned frames were analysed under three different boundary conditions: (i) fixed base under direct influence of earthquake records; (ii) fixed base considering local site effect modifying the earthquake record only; and (iii) flexible-base (considering full soil-structure interaction). The results of the analyses in terms of base shears and structural drifts for the above mentioned boundary conditions are compared and discussed. It is concluded that the conventional inelastic design procedure by only including the local site effect excluding SSI cannot adequately guarantee the structural safety for mid-rise moment resisting buildings higher than 5 storeys resting on soft soil deposits.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.35 no.1
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• pp.67-80
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• 2023

Due to the nature of the conjunctive Cone Penetration Test(CPT), which does not verify the actual sample directly, geotechnical engineers commonly classify the underground geomaterials using CPT results with the classification diagrams proposed by various researchers. However, such classification diagrams may fail to reflect local geotechnical characteristics, potentially resulting in misclassification that does not align with the actual stratification in regions with strong local features. To address this, this paper presents an objective method for more accurate local CPT soil classification criteria, which utilizes C4.5 decision tree models trained with the CPT results from the clay-dominant southern coast of Korea and the sand-dominant region in South Carolina, USA. The results and analyses demonstrate that the C4.5 algorithm, in conjunction with oversampling, outlier removal, and pruning methods, can enhance and optimize the decision tree-based CPT soil classification model.

• Coupled systems mechanics
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• v.5 no.4
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• pp.285-304
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• 2016

The effects of large rotations and p-delta on the dynamic response of a structure subjected to seismic loading and local uplift of its foundation were analyzed in this work. The structure was modeled by an equivalent flexible mat mounted on a rigid foundation that is supported either by a Winkler soil type or a rigid soil. The equations of motion of the system were derived by taking into account the equilibrium of the coupled foundation-mat system where the structure was idealized as a single-degree-of-freedom. The obtained nonlinear coupled system of ordinary differential equations was integrated by using an adequate numerical scheme. A parametric study was performed then in order to evaluate the maximum response of the system as function of the intensity of the earthquake, the slenderness of the structure, the ratio of the mass of the foundation to the mass of the structure. Three cases were considered: (i) local uplift of foundation under large rotation with the p-delta effect, (ii) local uplift of foundation under large rotation without including the p-delta effect, (iii) local uplift of foundation under small rotation. It was found that, in the considered ranges of parameters and for moderate earthquakes, assuming small rotation of foundation under seismic loading can yield more adverse structural response, while the p-delta effect has almost no effect.

• Proceedings of the Korean Geotechical Society Conference
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• 2010.09a
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• pp.1081-1086
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• 2010

The general soil nailing support system may result in excessive deformations particularly in an excavation zone of the existing weak subsoils. Pretensioning the soil nails then, could play important roles to reduce deformations mainly in part of the nailed-soil excavation system as well as to improve local stability. Morever, soil nails are installed underneath roads, underground structures, and subway structures, thereby resulting in difficulties in nail remval after completion of temporary soil nailed walls. Hence, to date, in order to solve the technical difficulties and avoid legal issues related to the construction of soil nails underneath the surrounding areas and structures, the removable soil nailing system has been developed and used. But, Therefore, a new soil nailing technique called Removable Post-tensioned Soil Nailing(RPTN) system has been developed in the current study. In this study, an investigation of the RPTN system has been conducted by carrying out field measurement. Hence, the RPTN system can reduce ground displacement and enhance stability of the soil nailed walls.