• Current Photovoltaic Research
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.36-44
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• 2021

To endorse the reliability and durability of the solar photovoltaic (PV) device several tests were conducted before exposing to the outdoor field in a non-ideal condition. The PV module has high probability that intend to perform adequately for 30 years under operating conditions. To evaluate the long term performance of the PV module in diversified terrestrial conditions, one should use the outdoor performance data. However, no one wants to wait for 25 years to determine the module reliability. The accelerating stress tests performing in the laboratory by mimicking different field conditions are thus important to understand the performance of a PV module. In this review, we will discuss briefly about different accelerating stress types, levels and prioritization that are used to evaluate the PV module reliability and durability before using them in real field.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.50 no.5
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• pp.788-793
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• 2018

High-density spent fuel (SF) storage racks have been installed to increase SF pool capacity. In these SF racks, neutron absorber materials were placed between fuel assemblies allowing the storage of fuel assemblies in close proximity to one another. The purpose of the neutron absorber materials is to preclude neutronic coupling between adjacent fuel assemblies and to maintain the fuel in a subcritical storage condition. METAMIC neutron absorber has been used in high-density storage racks. But, neutron absorber materials can be subject to severe conditions including long-term exposure to gamma radiation and neutron radiation. Recently, some of them have experienced degradation, such as white spots on the surface. Under these conditions, the material must continue to serve its intended function of absorbing neutrons. For the first time in Korea, this article uses a neutron attenuation test to examine the performance of METAMIC surveillance coupons. Also, scanning electron microscope analysis was carried out to verify the white spots that were detected on the surface of METAMIC. In the neutron attenuation test, there was no significant sign of boron loss in most of the METAMIC coupons, but the coupon with white spots had relatively less B-10 content than the others. In the scanning electron microscope analysis, corrosion material was detected in all METAMIC coupons. Especially, it was confirmed that the coupon with white spots contains much more corrosion material than the others.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Tobacco Science
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.218-224
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• 1998

Long-term exposure of cigarette smoke or air pollutants to human can induce damages in the airway mucociliary function and can be closely related to the irritation and sputum formation in the respiratory system. This study was undertaken to investigate whether rat trachea can be used as a tool for evaluating the cigarette smoke quality. It was identified that, through the examination with inverted microscope, ciliary beating in 1 mm long cut of nat trachea ring was continued for at least 48 hours in saline solution at $25^{\circ}C$. The ciliostasis time in a KCN solution as a positive control was decreased with increasing the concentration of KCN. There were no significant differences in the ciliostasis time by body weight and individual variation of rats. Ciliotoxicity of whole smoke trapped in saline was not significantly changed by aging for more than 6 hrs. The ciliostasis time was in inverse proportion to the number of sample cigarettes applied. As moisture in the cigarette was increased, ciliostasis time was linearly increased. Therefore, these data indicate that the ciliotoxicity test using rat trachea in vitro can be applied to evaluate the cigarette smoke quality and to search factors for the irritation and sputum formation by cigarette smoke as well as air pollutants.

• Journal of the Korea Concrete Institute
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.137-144
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• 2013

The use of fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP) reinforcing bars in concrete structures has been increased as an alternative of steel reinforcement which has shown greater vulnerability to corrosion problem. However, the long-term performance of concrete members with FRP reinforcement is still questioned in comparison to the used of steel reinforcement. This study presents the results of an experimental study on the long-term behaviors of GFRP (glass fiber reinforced polymer) bar reinforced concrete beams after exposed to accelerated aging in an environmental chamber with temperature of $46^{\circ}C$ ($115^{\circ}F$) and 80% of relative humidity up to 300 days. The objectives of this research was to compare strength degradation and change of ductility between GFRP reinforced concrete beams and steel reinforcement beams after accelerated aging. Two types (wrapped and sand-coated surface) of GFRP bars and steel were reinforced. in concrete beams. Test results show that the failure modes of GFRP bar reinforced concrete beams are very similar with traditional RC beams, and the change of load-carrying capacity of steel reinforcing concrete beam is greater than that of GFRP bar reinforcing concrete beam under the accelerated aging. Test result also shows that the use of GFRP reinforcing in concrete could be introduced more brittle failure than that of steel reinforcing for practical application. The deformability factor up to compression failures indicates no significant variation before and after exposure of accelerated aging.

• Journal of the korean academy of Pediatric Dentistry
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• v.40 no.3
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• pp.177-184
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• 2013

Calcium hydroxide mixture medicaments can nearly be considered to be the ideal primary tooth filling material. However, long-term application of calcium hydroxide combinations as an intra canal medicament softens dentin. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of calcium hydroxide on the microhardness of root dentin of primary tooth. For the study, 60 extractedprimary incisors were divided into 3 groups (no medicament, calcium hydroxide/iodorform mixture, and calcium hydroxide/distilled water mixture). After the cleansing and shaping of canals, calcium hydroxide medicaments were applied and stored for different periods of time (1, 7, 30, 90 days). The root was horizontally sectioned into 2 mm thick specimens and the microhardness was measured using Vickers microhardness tester. The results were as follows : Root dentin microhardness of primary teeth decreased with long term exposure to calcium hydroxide medicaments according to the experimental period and showed statistically significance (p < 0.05). Root dentin microhardness of primary tooth filled with calcium hydroxide mixed with distilled water showed more decrease than filled with Vitapex and showed statistically significance (p < 0.05). Root dentin microhardness of a control group without exposure to calcium hydroxide decreased according to the experimental period and showed statistically significance (p < 0.05).

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.61-67
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• 2015

Purpose: This study was conducted in order to investigate the effectiveness of an 8-week virtual reality exercise program designed around the Nintendo Wii (Wii), in improving balance among patients with Multiple Sclerosis (MS). Methods: The study included 16 patients with MS (10 female, 6 male) who were assigned randomly to experimental (n=8) or control group (n=8). Experimental group performed three 40-minute Wii balance-training sessions per week, for 8 weeks. The control group did not perform any of the training programs. A computerized dynamic posturography (Sensory Organizing Test, SOT) was used to evaluate all patients at baseline and at the end of the treatment protocol. Statistical significance was tested in between the patients before and after treatment by t-test. Results: After 24 training sessions, SOT showed significant difference on condition 5, 6, and vestibular ratios within the experimental group from baseline to post-intervention. By contrast, no significant difference was observed within the control groups. Conclusion: These findings demonstrated that the virtual reality training program could improve the outcomes in terms of balance in the MS population. Long term follow ups and the development of more efficient virtual reality training programs are needed.

• Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
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• v.37 no.3
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• pp.217-225
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• 2020

Background: This study was performed to provide a long-term bacterial seal through the formation of reparative dentin bridge, calcium silicate-based pulp capping materials have been used at sites of pulpal exposure. The aim of this study was to evaluate the mineralization-inducing potentials of calcium silicate-based pulp capping materials (ProRoot MTA [PR], Biodentine [BD], and TheraCal LC [TC]) in human dental pulp cells (HDPCs). Methods: Specimens of test materials were placed in deionized water for various incubation times to measure the pH variation and the concentration of calcium released. The morphology of HDPCs cultured on the specimens was examined using a confocal laser scanning microscope (CLSM). Alizarin red S staining and alkaline phosphatase assays were used to evaluate mineralization-inducing potentials of the capping materials. Results: BD showed the highest calcium release in all test periods, followed by PR and TC. (p<0.05). All experimental groups showed high alkalinity after 1 day, except at 14 days. BD showed the highest cell viability compared with PR and TC after 1 and 3 days, while TC showed the lowest value (p<0.05). The CLSM analysis showed that cells were well adhered and expressed actin filaments for all pulp capping materials. Mineralization by PR and BD groups was higher than that by TC group based on alizarin red S staining. BD showed significantly higher alkaline phosphatase activity than PR and TC, while TC showed the lowest value (p<0.05). Conclusion: Within the limitations of the in vitro study, BD had higher mineralization-inducing potential than PR and TC.

• Journal of the Korean Recycled Construction Resources Institute
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• v.10 no.3
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• pp.307-313
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• 2022

In this study, the correlation between Half Cell Potential(HCP) and the corrosion influencing factors was analyzed with considering three levels of water-cement ratio, the concentration of chloride solution, and cover depth. As a result of long-term corrosion monitoring, HCP behavior was close to the critical corrosion potential(-350 mV) in all water-cement ratios in the case of 3.5 % and 7.0 % chloride concentration. Regarding the passed charge test in 548 curing days, the passed charge results were improved to 'Moderate' grade. Multiple regression analysis was performed to evaluate the correlation between corrosion influencing factors and HCP, and it was evaluated that the effects of influencing factors to HCP were in the order of chloride concentration, water-cement ratio, and cover depth. In the case of the relationship between HCP and the passed charge, the coefficient of determination showed a high level of 0.9, which yielded a close correlation between the passed charge and HCP.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.280-287
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• 2009

High-tech microelectronics industry is known as one of the most chemical-intensive industries. In Korea, Microelectronics industry occupied 38% of export and 16% of working employees work in microelectronics industry. But, chemical information and health hazards of high-tech microelectronics manufacturing are poorly understood because of rapid development and its penchant for secrecy. We need to investigate on chemical use and exposure control. We Site-visits to 6 high-tech microelectronics manufacturing company which have cleanroom work using over 1,000kg organic solvents (5 semi-conductor chips and its related parts company, 1 liquid crystal display (LCD)). We reviewed their data on chemical use and ventilation system, and measured TVOCs (Total Volatile Organic Compounds) and carbon dioxide concentration. All cleanroom air passed through hepa filters to acheive low particle levels and only 1 cleanroom uses carbon filters to minimize the organic solvents exposures In TVOC screening test, Cleanroom for semi-conductor chips and its related parts company with laminar down flow system (e.g. class 1~100) showed nondetectable level of TVOCs concentration, but Cleanroom for liquid crystal display (LCD) with conventional flow system (e.g. class 1,000~10,000) showed 327 ppm as TVOCs. Acetone concentration in cleanroom for Jig cleaning, LC Injection, Sealing processes were 18.488ppm (n=14), 49.762 ppm (n=15), 8.656 ppm (n=14) as arithmetric mean. Acetone concentration in cleanroom for LCD inspection process was 40ppm (n=55) as geometric mean, where the range was 7.8~128.7ppm and weakly correlated with ventilation rate efficiency(r=0.44, p<0.05). To control organic solvents in cleanrooms, chemical and carbon filters should be installed with hepa filters. Even though their volatile organic compounds concentration was not exceed to occupational exposure limits, considering of entrance limited cleanroom environment, long-term period exposure effects and adverse health effects of cleanroom worker need further reseach.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.41 no.6
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• pp.651-657
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• 1994

Asbestos is widely used in the textile, asbestos cement, construction products, friction material, paper products, insulation products, chemical and plastic products because of its heat resistance, flexibility, tensile strength, and texturability. It is now generally recognized that longterm and excessive inhalation of asbestos dust causes asbestosis, lung cancer, malignant mesothelioma and malignancies in other organs such as cancer of gastrointestinal tract, leukemia, lymphoma. Although eighty thousand tons of asbestos has been annually consumed since 1979 in korea, it has not been reported asbestos and lung cancer by asbestos dust so far, while a case of mesothelioma was officially diagnosis as a occupational disease at 1993. We experienced firstly a case of asbestosis and lung cancer caused simultanously by occupational asbestos exposure 11 years, which was confirmed by chest x-ray, pulmonary function test, chest CT and HRCT, bronchoalveolar lavage, and gallium scan. And so We present a case of asbestosis, pleural effusion and lung cancer with a review literature.