• Tunnel and Underground Space
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• v.32 no.1
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• pp.59-77
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• 2022

Currently, the design reference temperature of the buffer material for disposing of high-level radioactive waste is less than 100℃, so if the heat dissipation capacity of the buffer material is improved, the spacings of the disposal tunnel and the deposition hole in the repository can be reduced. First of all, this study tries to analyze the criteria for thermal-hydraulic-mechanical performance of the buffer materials and to investigate the researches regarding the enhanced buffer materials with improved thermal conductivity. First, the thermal conductivity should be as high as possible and is affected by dry density, water content, temperature, mineral composition, and bentonite type. the organic content of the buffer material can have a significant effect on the corrosion performance of a canister, so the organic content should be low. In addition, hydraulic conductivity of the buffer material should be less than that of near-field rock and swelling pressure should be appropriate for buffer materials to function properly. For the development of enhanced buffer materials, additives such as sand, graphite, and graphite oxide are typically used, and a thermal conductivity can be greatly improved with a very small amount of graphite addition compared to sand.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.55 no.3
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• pp.219-229
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• 2022

Bentonite is being considered as a candidate for buffer material in geological disposal systems for high-level radioactive wastes. In this study, the effect of cement-bentonite interactions on bentonite alteration was investigated by reviewing the literature on studies of cement-bentonite interactions. The major bentonite alteration by hyperalkaline fluids produced by the interaction of cementitious materials with groundwater includes cation exchange, montmorillonite dissolution, secondary mineral precipitation, and illitization. When the hyperalkaline leachate from the reaction of the cementitious material with the groundwater comes into contact with bentonite, montmorillonite, the main component of bentonite, is dissolved and a small amount of secondary minerals such as zeolite, calcium silicate hydrate, and calcite is produced. When montmorillonite is continuously dissolved, the physicochemical properties of bentonite may change, which may ultimately causes changes in bentonite performance as a buffer material such as adsorption capacity, swelling capacity, and hydraulic conductivity. In addition, the bentonite alteration is affected by various factors such as temperature, reaction period, pressure, composition of pore water, bentonite constituent minerals, chemical composition of montmorillonite, and types of interlayer cations. This study can be used as basic information for the long-term stability verification study of the buffer material in the geological disposal system for high-level radioactive wastes.

• Korean Journal of Organic Agriculture
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.241-256
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• 2021

The current study was to evaluate the antioxidant activity of Phyllostachys bambusoides (PHB) as a feed additives and investigate whether its antioxidant activity could be helpful for increasing rumen fermentation characteristics and methane reduction. The antioxidant activity results showed that total polyphenols and flavonoids contents were 43.54 ± 8.68 mg CE/g and 17.13 ± 0.45 mg QE/g, respectively, and the IC₅₀ values for 1,1-diphenyl-2-prcrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and 2,2'-azino-bis (3- ethylbenzthiazoline-6- sulphonic acid) (ABTS) radical scavenging activity were 163.13 ± 19.25 ㎍/mL and 97.07 ± 4.46 ㎍/mL, respectively. Two heads of cannulated Hanwoo (450 ± 30 kg), consuming timothy hay and a commercial concentrate (60:40, w/w) twice daily (at 09:00 and 17:30) at 2% of body weight, with free access to water and a mineral block, were used as rumen fluid donors. An in vitro incubation experiment was performed after 6, 12, 24, 48, and 72 hr with PHB added at concentration of 2, 4, and 6% of timothy hay basis. Total gas emission decreased as the amount of PHB addition increased at 6 and 24 hr of incubation. However, PHB addition did not affect total volatile fatty acid production, and methane and carbon dioxide emission also decreased as the amount of addition increased at 48 hr of incubation. Therefore, PHB was expected to be used as methane reducing additives in the ruminants.

• Tunnel and Underground Space
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• v.32 no.6
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• pp.518-529
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• 2022

In Task C of the DECOVALEX-2023 project, nine institutes from six nations are developing their numerical codes to simulate thermo-hydro-mechanical coupled behavior for the FE experiment performed at Mont Terri underground rock laboratory, Switzerland. Currently, Step 1 for comparing the simulation results to field data is the ongoing stage, and we used the OGS-FLAC simulator for a series of numerical simulations. As a result, temperature increase depending on the heating hysteresis was well simulated, and saturation variation in the bentonite depending on phase change was observed. However, due to the suction overestimation, relative humidity and temperature change in the bentonite and the pressure variation in the Opalinus clay showed a difference compared to the field data. From the observation, it is confirmed that the effect of the bentonite capillary pressure is dominant to the flow analysis in the disposal system. We further plan to draw improved results considering tunnel support material and accurate initial water pressure distribution. Additionally, the thermal, hydrological, and mechanical anisotropy of the Opalinus clay was well simulated. From the simulation results, we confirmed the applicability of the OGS-FLAC simulator in the disposal system analysis.

• The Journal of Engineering Geology
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• v.32 no.4
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• pp.437-448
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• 2022

This work aims to assess the threat to human health of hazardous materials in groundwater that is used domestically and for drinking. Two distinct sub-assessments are considered: cancer and non-cancer risk. The studied groundwater is in an agricultural area of Gyeongnam Province, Korea, and is contaminated by arsenic at a mean level of 16.27 ㎍/L, far greater than the WHO guideline (10 ㎍/L for drinking water). We collected groundwater data from the National Groundwater Information Center (gims.go.kr) and assessed the risk to human health following the methodology of the United States Environmental Protection Agency. We considered three exposure scenarios: domestic use (scenario 1) and drinking use with different doses (scenarios 2 and 3). Scenario 1 had a median hazard quotient (HQ) of 0.77 and a cancer risk (CR) of 0.013. Scenario 2 had a median HQ of 0.08 and a CR of 3.69 × 10^-5, and the values for scenario 3 were 0.11 and 4.82 × 10^-5, respectively. Scenario 1 is likely the most hazardous to human health. Further study of the origin of arsenic in groundwater in the study area is required, as are remedial measures to mitigate its health effects.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.55 no.4
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• pp.421-428
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• 2022

This study analyzes emerging earthquake and space use technologies from the latest Korean and Japanese scientific and technological foresights in 2022 and 2019, respectively. Unlike the earthquake prediction and early warning technologies presented in the 2017 study, the emerging earthquake technologies in 2022 in Korea was described as an earthquake/complex disaster information technology and public data platform. Many detailed future technologies were presented in Japan's 2019 survey, which includes largescale earthquake prediction, induced earthquake, national liquefaction risk, wide-scale stress measurement; and monitoring by Internet of Things (IoT) or artificial intelligence (AI) observation & analysis. The latest emerging space use technology in Korea and Japan were presented in more detail as robotic mining technology for water/ice, Helium-3, and rare earth metals, and manned station technology that utilizes local resources on the moon and Mars. The technological realization year forecasting in 2019 was delayed by 4-10 years from the prediction in 2015, which could be greater due to the Corona 19 epidemic, the declaration of carbon neutrality in Korea and Japan in 2020 and the Russo-Ukrainian War in 2022. However, it is required to more active research on earthquake and space technologies linked to information technology.

• The Journal of Engineering Geology
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• v.33 no.1
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• pp.69-83
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• 2023

Forest fires increase the risk of subsequent soil erosion and mass movement in burned areas, even under rainfall conditions below landslide alert thresholds, by destroying plants and vegetation and causing changes to soil properties. These effects of forest fires can alter runoff in burned areas by altering soil composition, component minerals, soil water repellency, soil mass stability, and soil fabric. Heat from forest fires not only burns shallow organic matter and plants but also spreads below the surface, affecting soil constituents including minerals. This study analyzed X-ray diffraction and physical properties of topsoil and subsoil obtained from both burned and non-burned areas to identify the composition and distribution of clay minerals in the soil. Small amounts of mullite, analcite, and hematite were identified in burned soils. Vermiculite and mixed-layer illite/vermiculite (I/V) were found in topsoil samples from burned areas but not in those from non-burned areas. These findings show changes in soil mineral composition caused by forest fires. Expansive clay minerals increase the volume of soil during rainfall, degrading the structural stability of slopes. Clay minerals generated in soil in burned areas are therefore likely to affect the long-term stability of slopes in mountainous areas.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.38 no.5
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• pp.9-19
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• 2023

Objectives : Osteoporosis is a systemic skeletal disorder characterized by reduced bone mineral density and increased risk of fractures. Bisphosphonates and selective estrogen receptors, which are bone resorption inhibitors that are currently widely used as osteoporosis treatments, show serious side effects when administered for a long time. Research on bone resorption inhibitors that complement the problems of existing treatments is needed. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of inhibiting osteoclast differentiation and activity on the tuberous root of Ampelopsis japonica (Thunb.) Makino (AM). Methods : After extracting AM using distilled water and ethanol, the inhibitory effects of the two solvents on osteoclast differentiation were compared using the RANKL-induced in vitro experimental model and the TRAP assay kit. The impact of AM on bone resorption was investigated through the pit formation assay, and its effect on F-actin formation was assessed through fluorescent staining. Additionally, protein and mRNA expression levels of osteoclast differentiation markers (NFATc1, c-Fos, TRAP and ATP6v0d2) and resorption markers (MMP-9, CTK, and CA2) were analyzed via western blot and RT-PCR. Results : AM treatment significantly decreased the number of TRAP-positive cells and pit formation area. Furthermore, AM suppressed both the protein and mRNA expression of NFATc1 and c-Fos, key transcription factors involved in osteoclast differentiation and it downregulated the expression of osteoclast-associated genes such as TRAP, CTK, MMP-9, CA2, and ATP6v0d2. Conclusions : These results suggest that AM can inhibit bone resorption and osteoclast differentiation, indicating its potential for use in the treatment and prevention of osteoporosis.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.55 no.6
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• pp.583-596
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• 2022

The rock surface of Bangudae petroglyphs is mainly dark brown hornfelsified shales by contact metamorphism. The surface form a weathered layer of a invariable depth, and there is a difference with mineral and chemical composition between weathered and non-weathered layers. Surface of the petroglyphs has been discolored to light brown over the face due to biological and chemical weathering. As the measuring chromaticity based on the non-weathered layer, the whiteness and yellowness increased in the weathered layer, and the color difference (ΔE) was 5.54 to 36.89 (mean 17.26). In the weathered layer of the petroglyph surface, the CaO content was reduced by about 90% compared to the non-weathered layer, and Sr also showed the same trend. In particular, the mean porosity of the non-weathered layer was 0.4%, but it was estimated as 25.0% in the weathered layer. This is interpreted as the fact that calcite reacts with water, and forms a weathered layer from the surface as it is eluted. Based on the weathering depth modeling of the petroglyphs using the penetration characteristics of X-rays, the weathering depth of rock faces was found to be 1 to 2mm. However, the area classified as 2mm or more estimated to be a maximum of 3 to 4mm, considering the weathering depth around the petroglyphs surface.

• Journal of the Korean Geotechnical Society
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• v.25 no.6
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• pp.17-29
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• 2009

There has been an increase in the investigation of deep sea sediments with a consequent increase in the amount of energy required to undertake these investigations. The geotechnical characteristics of Ulleung Basin sediment are explored by using depressurized specimens following methane production tests carried out on pressured core samples obtained at 2,100 m water depth and 110 m below sea floor. Geotechnical index tests, X-ray diffraction, and scanning electron microscope are conducted to identify the geotechnical index parameters, clay mineralogy, chemical composition, and microstructure of the sediments. Compressibility, and elastic and electromagnetic wave parameters are investigated for two samples by using a multi sensing instrumented oedometer cell. The strength chatracteristics are obtained by the direct shear tests. The dominant clay minerals are mostly kaolinite, illite, chlorite, and calcite. The SEM shows a well-developed flocculated structure of the microfossil. Void ratio, electrical resistivity, real permittivity, conductivity, and shear wave velocity show bi-linear behavior with the effective vertical stress: as the vertical effective stress increases. The friction angle obtained by the direct shear test is about $21^{\circ}$, which is similar to the value observed in the Ulleung Basin sediments. This study shows that the understanding of the behavior acting on the diatomaceous marine sediment is important because it often maintains the useful energy resources such as gas hydrate and so will be the new engineering field in the next generation.