• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.58-64
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• 2007

The previous study reported the biological effect of magnetic field exerted by acting on endocrine and anti-oxidant system. The present study aims to study whether ELF-MF (extremely low frequency magnetic field) affects the physiological endocrine systems such as thyroid and whether ELF-MF affects the defense system against oxidative stress when it alters the function of thyroid. Finally, we correlate the effects of MF on oxidative stress, and adrenal and thyroid with an environmental stress factor. We exposed sham or MF to rats for 5 or 25 days. After the exposure, we determined pain sensitivity, level of TSH, $T_3$ and free $T_4$ in plasma. We also assayed in whole brain, lipid peroxidation, the activity of enzymatic anti-oxidant defense including superoxide dismutase(SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx), and non enzymatic defense such as reduced or oxidized glutathione contents. MF induced the hypersensitivity to thermal stimuli with the reduction of latency. $T_3$ and $T_4$ levels were also increased by the exposure of MF. In addition, we observed the rise of MDA level in rat brain by MF although the MF did not change superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase activity. The effect of MF on both reduced and oxidized glutathione results in decrease in reduced or oxidized glutathione in whole brain. In every experiment, there was no significant difference in MF influence between short term (5 days) and long term (25 days) exposure. Taken together, MF exposure affects the thyroid hormonal control in brain. The elevated thyroid hormone acts on brain, leading to hyper-utilization of oxygen. This phenomenon may be correlated with oxidative stress resulting from MF exposure. In conclusion, we suggest that MF exposure may be an environmental stress by exerting oxidative stress.

• Journal of the Korea Concrete Institute
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.283-290
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• 2008

The repair technique using surface impregnation of reactive compound is so effective for deteriorated concrete structures that many researches are recently focused on these works. Particularly, inorganic impregnant is regarded as ecofriendly material because there is no air-pollution during manufacturing process as well as field coating works. Furthermore, The delamination between old concrete and impregnated surface does not occur, resulting from different material characteristics. In order to evaluate the durability performance of surface-impregnated concrete, durability evaluation through the long-term exposure tests is significant, however, experiments are usually limited to the temporary and qualitative laboratorial scope. In this study, durability characteristics for inorganic and organic/inorganic impregnated concrete specimens are evaluated through longterm chloride exposure test. The specimens with 21MPa and 34MPa strength have been prepared and exposed to chloride attack in the atmospheric, tidal, and submerged conditions. Evaluation for compressive strength, chloride penetration, and electrical potential (half cell potential) for steel corrosion are performed for the specimens exposed for 2 years. From the results, no distinct strength gaining is observed but the resistance to chloride penetration and steel corrosion is evaluated to be improved through surface impregnation. The more improved resistance to chloride attack is measured in the inorganic impregnated concrete and the results from atmospheric condition show more improved resistance to chloride attack than those from submerged and tidal condition.

• 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.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.48 no.3
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• pp.138-150
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• 2022

Background: Epidemiology is a fundamental study of public health, including environmental health, since the features and causes of diseases discovered through epidemiology provide crucial information for developing successful disease prevention strategies. Objectives: This paper tried to define the role and function of epidemiologic research in the field of environmental health, summarize examples of epidemiological studies with regard to selected environmental health events in South Korea, and address important issues that should be considered when conducting epidemiological research in the future. Methods: Epidemiological studies of selected environmental health events were reviewed and summarized in terms of their contribution to environmental health in South Korea. Based on the information, important issues were suggested for future epidemiological studies in environmental health. Results: The role and function of epidemiologic research in the field of environmental health includes the systematic description of the health effects caused by environmental exposure, verification of the causal relationship between environmental exposure and health effects, and provision of background data for conducting prevention strategies and developing policies. A number of epidemiological studies have contributed to characterizing and assessing the environmental risks involved in a series of environmental health events in South Korea. Conclusions: Important issues for future epidemiological studies may include health effects from chronic low-level environmental exposure, application of analytical epidemiology to elucidate causal relationships, use of exposure/disease/susceptibility biomarkers, accurate reconstruction of past exposure status, cohort recruitment and long-term follow-up, and in-advance surveillance of diseases with environmental causes.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Mechanical Engineers
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.598-607
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• 1992

The environment degradation of structural steel under high temperature is one of the key phenomena governing the availability and life of plant. This degradation resulted from the microstructural changes due to the long exposure at high temperature affect the mechanical properties such as creep strength and toughness. For instance, boiler tube materials usually tend to degrade, after long term operation, by precipitates, spherodizing, coarsening, and change in chemical composition of carbides. In this study, the material degradation under high temperature exposure was investigated by evaluating the carbide precipitation. The electrochemical polarization method was facilitated to investigate the precipitation and coarsening of carbides. It was shown by the modified electrochemical potentiokinetic reactivation (EPR) tests that the passivation of Mo-rich carbides did not occur even in the anodic peak current (Ip) which indicates the precipitation of Mo$_{6}$C was also observed. And it was assured that special electrolytic cell assembled in this research can be used for the detection of Mo$_{6}$C precipitation in the field.eld.

• Computers and Concrete
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• v.15 no.4
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• pp.589-606
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• 2015

It is well-documented that the major deterioration of coastal RC structures is chloride-induced corrosion. Therefore, regional investigations are necessary for durability based design and evaluation of the proposed service life prdiction models. In this paper, four reinforced concrete jetties exposed to severe marine environment were monitored to assess the long term chloride penetration at 6 months to 96 months. Also, some accelerated durability tests were performed on standard samples in laboratory. As a result, two time-dependent equations are proposed for basic parameters of chloride diffusion into concrete and then the corrosion initiation time is estimated by a developed probabilistic service life model Also, two famous service life prediction models are compared using chloride profiles obtained from structures after about 40 years in the tidal exposure conditions. The results confirm that the influence of concrete quality on diffusion coefficients is related to the concrete pore structure and the time dependence is due to chemical reactions of sea water ions with hydration products which lead a reduction in pore structure. Also, proper attention to the durability properties of concrete may extend the service life of marine structures greater than fifty years, even in harsh environments.

• Journal of Magnetics
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.326-332
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• 2017

The effects of exposure to an extremely low-frequency magnetic field (25 Hz 20G) on animal cells have been studied. In some reports, stimulation was performed for fixed frequency and variations in magnitude; however, animal-cell experiments have established that both parameters play an important role. The present work undertook the modeling, simulation, and development of a uniform-magnetic-field generation system with variable frequency and stimulation intensity (0-60 Hz, 1-25G) for experimentation with cell cultures in situ. The results showed a coefficient of variation less than 1 % of the magnetic-field dispersion at the working volume, which is consistent with the corresponding simulation results demonstrating a uniform magnetic field. On the other hand, long-term tests during the characterization process indicated that increments of only $0.4^{\circ}C$ in the working volume temperature will not be an interfering factor when experiments are carried out in in situ cell cultures.

• Magazine of korean Tunnelling and Underground Space Association
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.103-116
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• 2019

Permanent sprayed concrete tunnel linings waterproofed with bonded membranes have been used at a number of important traffic projects over the last decade. Research has been carried out in several teams in order to increase the understanding of the function, properties and behavior of such linings under different loading and boundary conditions. The basic layout of this lining gives fundamental different system properties compared to the traditional lining systems. The main differences pertain to the groundwater exposure and the resulting hydraulic loading, the response of the concrete and membrane materials to this loading, as well as the geomechanically induced loading of the lining structure. The current understanding of the function and properties of such lining structures is presented in the paper based on review of recent research carried out in Norway, as well as field observations and monitoring carried over a several years. The influence of the water exposure on the final condition of the concrete and membrane materials has proven to be of vital importance for proper material testing and acceptance, assessments of the mechanical contribution of the bonded membrane, as well as assessments of the longterm durability of such linings. Obtaining realistic material parameters for the concrete and membrane materials subject to the boundary conditions posed by the groundwater exposure in an undrained structure is emphasized. Finally, some recent results from currently ongoing research on such linings, particularly the hydraulic response of the rock mass and the long term behavior of the concrete and membrane materials are presented.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.32 no.4
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• pp.381-392
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• 2022

Objectives: Objective of this study is to review briefly exposure characteristics, monitoring instruments and threshold limit values for extremely low frequency-magnetic field (ELF-MF) methods. This study was undertaken through brief literature review. We performed a literature search in PubMed to identify ELF-MF studies conducted in workplaces. Initial search keywords such as 'extremely low frequency-magnetic field (ELF-MF)' and 'electromagnetic fields (EMF)' combined or singly. We limited our review to occupational rather than general nonworkplace environmental exposures. Methods: The contents we reviewed: key industry and occupations generating ELF-MF, several direct-reading instruments monitoring ELF-MF and threshold limit values (TLV) preventing health effects may be caused by the exposure to ELF-MF. Results: The industries related to the generation and supply of electricity, electrolytic installations, welding, and induction heating and more were regarded as high ELF-MF exposure industries. All jobs handling or employed performed in power cable lines, electrical wiring, and electrical equipment are found to be exposed to ELF-MF. Threshold or ceiling limit, 1,000 µT, is established to prevent acute effects of exposure to low-frequency EMFs on the nervous system: the direct stimulation of nerve and muscle tissues and the induction of retinal phosphenes. The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) has classified ELF-MF as possibly carcinogenic to humans chiefly based on epidemiological studies on childhood leukemia. However, a causal relationship between magnetic fields and several types of cancer including childhood leukemia has not been established nor has any other long-term effects. Risk management using precautionary measures, has been initiated by the US and EU to prevent chronic health effects related to ELF-MF exposure in workplaces. Conclusion: This study recommends the implementation of various measures such as theestablishment of occupational exposure limit values for ELF-MF and precautionary principle to prevent potential chronic occupational health effects may be caused by ELF-MF in Korea.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.120-131
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• 1988

A souce term model describes mathematically the source of radionuclides as they begin slow migration and decay in deep groundwater. Various source term models based on mass-transfer analysis and measurement-based source term models are reviewed. Ganerally, two processes are involved in leaching or dissolution: (1) chemical reactions and (2) mass transfer by diffusion. The chemical reaction controls the dissolution rates only during the early stage of exposure to groundwater. The exterior-field mass transfer may control the long term dissolution rates from the waste solid in a geologic repository. Mass-transfer analyses re3y on detailed and careful application of the governing equations that describe the mechanistic processes of transport of material between and within phases. If used correctly, source term models based on mass-transfer theory are valuable and necessary tools for developing reliable predictions.