• Tunnel and Underground Space
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• v.33 no.4
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• pp.228-243
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• 2023

Bentonite is widely recognized and utilized as a buffer material in high-level radioactive waste repositories, mainly due to its favorable characteristics such as swelling capability and low permeability. Bentonite buffers play an important role in ensuring the safe disposal of radioactive waste by providing a low permeability barrier and effectively preventing the migration of radionuclides into the surrounding rock. However, the long-term performance of bentonite buffers still remains a subject of ongoing research, and one of the main concerns is the erosion of the buffer induced by swelling and groundwater flow. The erosion of the bentonite buffer can significantly impact repository safety by compromising the integrity of buffer and leading to the formation of colloids that may facilitate the transport of radionuclides through groundwater, consequently elevating the risk of radionuclide migration. Therefore, it is very important to numerically quantify the erosion of bentonite buffer to evaluate the long-term performance of bentonite buffer, which is crucial for the safety assessment of high-level radioactive waste disposal. In this technical note, Two-region model is introduced, a proposed model to simulate the erosion behavior of bentonite based on a dynamic bentonite diffusion model, and quantitative evaluation is conducted for the bentonite buffer erosion with this model.

• Journal of Korean Tunnelling and Underground Space Association
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.175-186
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• 2023

The buffer materials in disposal hole are exposed to the decay heat from spent nuclear fuels and groundwater inflow through adjacent rockmass. Since understanding of thermal-hydro-mechanical-chemical (T-H-M-C) interaction in buffer material is crucial for predicting their long-term performance and safety of disposal repository, it is necessary to investigate the heating-hydration characteristics and consequent T-H-M-C behavior of the buffer materials under disposal conditions considering geochemical factors. In response, the Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute developed a laboratory-scale 'Lab.THMC' experiment system, which characterizes the T-H-M behavior of buffer materials under different geochemical conditions by analyzing heating-hydration process and stress changes. This technical report introduces the detail design of the Lab.THMC system, summarizes preliminary experimental results, and outlines future research plans.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.56 no.5
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• pp.515-532
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• 2023

Bentonite, predominantly consists of expandable clay minerals, is considered to be the suitable buffering material in high-level radioactive waste disposal repository due to its large swelling property and low permeability. Additionally, the bentonite has large cation exchange capacity and specific surface area, and thus, it effectively retards the transport of leaked radionuclides to surrounding environments. This study aims to review the thermodynamic sorption models for four radionuclides (U, Am, Se, and Eu) and eight bentonites. Then, the thermodynamic sorption models and optimized sorption parameters were precisely analyzed by considering the experimental conditions in previous study. Here, the optimized sorption parameters showed that thermodynamic sorption models were related to experimental conditions such as types and concentrations of radionuclides, ionic strength, major competing cation, temperature, solid-to-liquid ratio, carbonate species, and mineralogical properties of bentonite. These results implied that the thermodynamic sorption models suggested by the optimization at specific experimental conditions had large uncertainty for application to various environmental conditions.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Marine Environment & Safety
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• v.29 no.7
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• pp.819-827
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• 2023

If respiratory arrest occurs or cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) is performed for a long period on board ships, CPR with rescue breathing (not compression-only CPR) is required. Accordingly, ships must have resuscitation equipment for oxygen supply, and seafarers must have the maritime competence to use it. This study aimed to analyze the placement status of resuscitation equipment on ships and seafarers' intention to use them in order to increase the usability of resuscitation equipment on board ships and propose improvement measures. The study was conducted from February 2, 2023, to April 21, 2023, and a total of 340 seafarers were surveyed. The data were analyzed by frequency, percentage, and chi-square test using SPSS WIN 23.0. The results showed that the checking of resuscitation equipment was high among seafarers in the positions of officer, captain, deck department personnel, and ocean-going personnel. The intention of seafarers to use resuscitation equipment was low, and the main barrier was the lack of knowledge on how to use. Among the general characteristics of the study participants, those whose rank was that of officer or captain, whose working department was the deck, voyage who were ocean-going, and who managed a gross tonnage of 20,000 tons or more had a high intention to use resuscitation equipment. Participants who knew the necessity of rescue breathing and had received practice and equipment-based training were active in using resuscitation equipment. Therefore, a system should be developed so that all ships can be equipped with resuscitation equipment, and an environment must be created to increase accessibility to resuscitation equipment on board ships. In addition, an education system based on practical and resuscitation equipment training must be established to ensure that seafarers have maritime competence.

• Archives of design research
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• v.15 no.4
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• pp.275-284
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• 2002

To improve the social and economic position of the disabled people and secure their human rights, an integrated society should be buill. To build such a society, an adequate access should be provided to the movement or in using buildings or facilities. The inconveniences from social life on the part of the disabled people might not result from their impairment or disability, but from physical and social barriers in the environment surrounding them. Therefore, it is necessary to reconstruct entire systems of the society as a disabled people-friendly structure in order to remove those barriers, make them stand their own feet in our communities and freely participate in the social activities. This will eventually lead to build a society in which all people including the disabled people can use those facilities in a more convenient way. It is almost impossible for the disabled people to safely and conveniently access to and use facilities and equipments and freely move to their desired places, without any help from others in Korea. Even though, there are currently many disabled people-related convenience facilities, they have been independently built without a connection with other facilities and buildings, thus not greatly useful. Even when convenience facilities have been built, mostly they are superficially set up; therefore, in many cases, the disabled peOple cannot use those facilities. In this. research, I tried a new concept of mobile wheelchair lift design, which the disabled people can operate without restrictions, when using the public facilities. The key to this research was to develop the existing import-oriented simple functional products to a new system with functional safety and high quality orientation. Also, this research aimed at bringing an. import substitution effect, as well as preempting the mobile wheelchair lift market by advancing into overseas markets through application of new image designs in the field of disabled people aid equipments.

• Korean Journal of Heritage: History & Science
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• v.53 no.4
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• pp.188-197
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• 2020

Termites play an important role as decomposers of the forest ecosystem, while simultaneously causing enormous damage to wooden structures. Currently, two species of subterranean termites have been reported in Korea, and termite damage to historical wooden buildings is occurring nationwide due to climate change, forest fertility, and the locational characteristics of historical wooden buildings. Subterranean termites make their nests underground or inside timber. Termites move underground and access wooden structures through the lower parts of the buildings, adjacent to the ground. Once termites attack the wooden structures, it not only spoils the authenticity of cultural heritage structure, but also hampers structural stability due to the decrease in the strength of the material. Therefore, it is important to prevent termite damage before it occurs. Chemical treatments are mainly used in Korea to control and prevent the damage. In foreign countries, physical barriers are also used to prevent entry to wooden buildings, along with chemical treatments. Physical barriers involve installing nets or particles that termites cannot pass through in the lower part of the building, around the pipes, and between the edges of the building or exterior walls and interior materials. Advantages of a physical barrier are that it is an eco-friendly method, maintains long-term effect after installation, and does not require the use of chemical treatments. Prior to applying physical barriers, studies into the characteristics of termite species must be undertaken. In this study, we evaluated the minimum passage size that each caste of Reticulitermes speratus kyushuensis can move through. We found that workers, soldiers, and secondary reproductive termites were able to pass through diameters of 0.7mm, 0.9mm, and 1.1mm respectively. Head height of termites was an important factor in determining the minimum passing size. Results from the current study will be used as a basis to design the mesh size for physical barriers to prevent damage by termites in historical wooden buildings in Korea.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.31 no.5
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• pp.375-379
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• 2016

Atmospheric pressure plasma (APP) was applied to examine microbial safety and qualities of commercial Sunsik. APP was generated in a square-shaped plastic container (250 W, 15 kHz, ambient air) and dielectric barrier discharge plasma treatment was applied for periods of 0, 5, 10, and 20 minutes. The total aerobic bacterial count in the control was 4.44 log CFU/g. Under plasma treatment for 20 minutes, Sunsik samples inoculated with Bacillus cereus, B. subtilis, and Escherichia coli O157:H7 resulted in a reduction of bacterial counts by approximately 2.20, 2.22, and 2.52 log CFU/g, respectively. The pH of the sample was found to decrease after APP treatment. Although hunter color $L^*$ of Sunsik increased, $a^*$ and $b^*$ value decreased as a result of APP. Increasing the APP time also enhanced the peroxide value. Further, sensory evaluation revealed that APP decreased color, flavor, taste and overall acceptability. The results of this study indicated that APP treatment improved the microbial quality of Sunsik, although further studies should be conducted to reduce the deterioration of sensory quality induced by APP.

• Corrosion Science and Technology
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.99-105
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• 2015

The structures of reinforced concrete have been extensively increased with rapid development of industrial society. Futhermore, these reinforced concretes are easy to expose to severe corrosive environments such as seawater, contaminated water, acid rain and seashore etc.. Thus, corrosion problem of steel bar embedded in concrete is very important in terms of safety and economical point of view. In this study, specimens having six different coating thickness (W/C:0.5) were prepared and immersed in flowing seawater for five years to evaluate the effect of coating thickness and immersion time on corrosion property. The polarization characteristics of these embedded steel bars were investigated using electrochemical methods such as corrosion potential, anodic polarization curve, and impedance. At the 20-day immersion, the corrosion potentials exhibited increasingly nobler values with coating thickness. However, after 5-yr. immersion their values were shifted in the negative direction, and the relationship between corrosion potential and coating thickness was not shown. Although 5-yr. immersion lowered corrosion potential, 5-yr. immersion did not increase corrosion rate. In addition, after 5-yr. immersion, the thinner cover thickness, corrosion current density was decreased with thinning coating thickness. It is due to the fact that ease incorporation of water, dissolved oxygen and chloride ion into a steel surface caused corrosion and hence, leaded to the formation of corrosion product. The corrosion product plays the role as a corrosion barrier and increases polarization resistance. The corrosion probability evaluated depending on corrosion potential may not be a good method for predicting corrosion probability. Hence, the parameters including cover thickness and passed aged years as well as corrosion potential is suggested to be considered for better assessment of corrosion probability of reinforced steel exposed to partially or fully in marine environment for long years.

• Journal of agricultural medicine and community health
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• v.45 no.2
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• pp.89-99
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• 2020

Objective: This study aimed to report the relationship between walking activity and perceived physical activity barriers after classifying the age group(≤64, 65-74, ≥75). Methods: The subjects were conducted on 1500 residents of two areas, and the walking activity was defined as five or more times a week, 10 minutes or more at a time, and 30 minutes or more per day. Perceived physical activity barriers were lack of time, lack of social support, lack of energy, lack of willpower, and fear of falling. Results: In the group under 64 year, the lack of time (exp(B)=0.819, p=0.002) and the lack of willpower (exp(B)=0.656, p<0.001) were significantly associated. In the 65-74 year old group, the lack of willpower (exp(B)=0.714, p<0.001) and fear of falling (exp(B)=0.787, p=0.003) were a significant association. In the group aged 75 years and over, lack ofwill power (exp(B)=0.734, p<0.001) and fear of falling (exp(B)=0.807, p=0.003) were significantly associated. Conclusion: In order to solve the lack of willpower and lack of time, a walking activity should be performed together at a certain time in the village, and the elderly in the late ages should reduce the fear of falling by performing a fall prevention exercise in parallel.

• Journal of Nuclear Fuel Cycle and Waste Technology(JNFCWT)
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• v.5 no.4
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• pp.273-281
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• 2007

Hyperalkaline groundwater formed by groundwater-cement components and its reaction with bedrock in a nuclear waste repository were simulated by geochemical modeling. The result of groundwater-cement components reaction showed that the pH of water was 13.3 and the precipitated minerals were Brucite, Katoite, Calcium Silicate Hydrate(CSH1.1), Ettringite, Hematite, and Portlandite. The result of interaction between such minerals and groundwater sampled in Gyeongju area also showed that the pH of groundwater reached 12.4. Interaction between such hyperalkaline groundwater and granite was simulated by kinetic model during $10^3$ years. This result showed that the final pH of groundwater reached 11.2 and the variation of pH was controlled by dissolution/precipitation of silicate and CSH minerals. Groundwater quality was also determined by dissolution/precipitation of silicate, CSH, oxide minerals. Our results show that geochemical modeling of long-term hyperalkaline groundwater and rock interaction can contribute to the safety assessment of engineered barrier by predicting geochemical condition in repository site.