• Safety and Health at Work
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• v.3 no.4
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• pp.268-277
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• 2012

Objectives: 1) To determine mercury levels in urine samples from garbage workers in Southern Thailand, and 2) to describe the association between work characteristics, work positions, behavioral factors, and acute symptoms; and levels of mercury in urine samples. Methods: A case-control study was conducted by interviewing 60 workers in 5 hazardous-waste-management factories, and 60 matched non-exposed persons living in the same area of Southern Thailand. Urine samples were collected to determine mercury levels by cold-vapor atomic absorption spectrometer mercury analyzer. Results: The hazardous-waste workers' urinary mercury levels (10.07 ${\mu}g/g$ creatinine) were significantly higher than the control group (1.33 ${\mu}g/g$ creatinine) (p < 0.001). Work position, duration of work, personal protective equipment (PPE), and personal hygiene, were significantly associated with urinary mercury level (p < 0.001). The workers developed acute symptoms - of head-aches, nausea, chest tightness, fatigue, and loss of consciousness at least once a week - and those who developed symptoms had significantly higher urinary mercury levels than those who did not, at p < 0.05. A multiple regression model was constructed. Significant predictors of urinary mercury levels included hours worked per day, days worked per week, duration of work (years), work position, use of PPE (mask, trousers, and gloves), and personal hygiene behavior (ate snacks or drank water at work, washed hands before lunch, and washed hands after work). Conclusion: Changing garbage workers' hygiene habits can reduce urinary mercury levels. Personal hygiene is important, and should be stressed in education programs. Employers should institute engineering controls to reduce urinary mercury levels among garbage workers.

• Korean Journal of Air-Conditioning and Refrigeration Engineering
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.274-279
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• 2008

In the perspective of saving energy in buildings, high performance of insulation and air tightness for improving the heating and the cooling efficiency has brought the positive effect in an economical view. However, these building energy saving technologies cause the lack of ventilation, which is the direct cause of increasing the indoor contaminants, and it is also very harmful to residents because they spend over 90% of their time in the indoor area. Therefore, the ventilation is important to keep indoor environment clean and it can also save energy consumption. In this study, a HEPA type breathing wall is designed as a passive ventilation system to collect airborne particles and to supply fresh outdoor air. To make fine porous structures, polymer nano fibers which were made by electro spinning method are used as a precursor. The nano fibers are coated with SiO2 nano particles and finally the HEPA type breathing wall is made by sintering in the electric furnace at $300\sim500^{\circ}C$. The pressure drops of nano ceramic structure are 8.2, 25.5 and 44.9 mmAq at the face velocity of 2.0, 5.9 and 8.8 cm/s, respectively. Also the water vapor permeability is $3.6g/m^2{\cdot}h{\cdot}mmHg$. In this research, the porous nano ceramic structures are obtained and the possibility for the usage of a material for HEPA type breathing wall can be obtained.

• Journal of the East Asian Society of Dietary Life
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.227-233
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• 2007

The purpose of this research was to study the effects of the feeding of dietary citrus byproducts on the physicochemical properties and palatability of Hanwoo rump (HR). The samples for experimental samples consisted of the HR not fed without citrus byproducts pulp (CBP-0) and the HR rump fed with citrus byproducts pulp during the fattening period (CBP-1). The control (CBP-0) HR rump was fed by general practical feeding (roughages and concentrates were fed separately), while the CBP-1 was fed in the same manners as CBP-0 until 17 months but with citrus byproducts then fed fer the next 10 months. There were no significant differences in the $L^*$ (tightness), $a^*$ (redness) and $b^*$ (yellowness) of the HR between the CBP-0 and CBP-1 fed groups. There were no significant differences in the pH, VBN content and EDA between the samples, but the TBARS value of the CBP-1 fed group was lower than that of the CBP-0 fed group (p<0.05). There were no significant differences in the water holding capacity, freezing loss, thawing loss, boiling and roasting logs between the CBP-0 and CBP-1 fed groups. There were no significant differences in the hardness, cohesiveness, chewiness and shear force between the samples, but the springiness of the CBP-1 fed group was higher than that of the CBP-0 fed group (p<0.05). There were no significant differences in the sensory scores for the roasted beef between the CBP-0 and CBP-1 fed groups. There were no significant differences in the taste, flavor, juiciness and palatability of roasted beef the between samples, but the tenderness of the CBP-1 fed group was superior to that of the CBP-0 fed group.

• Geotechnical Engineering
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• v.11 no.4
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• pp.125-140
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• 1995

Generally, the groundwater pressure is not considered in the design of concrete lining of bottom drainage tunnel. This design method implies that the phreatic surface is drawdown to the bottom of tullnel. When tile groundwater is continually supplied without changing of groundwater table, there is a possibility at which the groundwater pressure acting on the tunnel lining after the completion of tunnel. Therefore, the safety of tunnel lining must be checked in this case. In this paper, the stability of bottom drainage tunnel which is affected by groundwater discharge is analzed by using of the Finite Element Method at the 2 sections of subway where the groundwater level has a tittle change during the construction. As the result of analysis, the grouting for the water tightness and the permanent monitoring system of tunnel are required for maintaining of long-term stability of bottom drainage tunnel for the case of groundwater plassure acting on the tunnel lining is greater than that of design stage.

• Journal of the Korea institute for structural maintenance and inspection
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• v.22 no.6
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• pp.176-181
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• 2018

Concrete structures are degraded physically and chemically due to various reasons after construction. Because the deterioration of concrete structure reduces the service life, reasonable repair and maintenance techniques are needed. Recently, in order to efficiently repair concrete structures, many researches on hybrid repair materials having improved adhesion performance have been carried out actively. In this study, we developed a hybrid repair material containing rapid hardening cement, PVA powder, nylon fiber, and latex to improve adhesion and water-tightness of existing concrete. The compressive strength, drying shrinkage and the adhesion strength test were carried out to evaluate the performance of the repair material. In addition, the flexure bond performance was evaluated before and after repair. From the results, the bending strength was 110% ~ 150% in all specimens except for the specimen containing only the rapid hardening cement, and all the specimens behaved with the existing concrete in the crack pattern generated by the bending strength.

• Journal of the Korea institute for structural maintenance and inspection
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.61-69
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• 2024

An ultra-high strength prestressed prismatic beam of 100 MPa in compressive strength was developed by increasing the water-tightness of concrete by utilizing centrifugal molding processes without adding expensive admixtures. The centrifugal prismatic PSC beam developed as the superstructure of the avalanche tunnel was constructed on a rahmen bridge in a small local river. In this study, the centrifugal prismatic beam was compared and analyzed based on the results of measurements made through static load tests and the results of numerical analysis of the target structure. The common load-carrying capacity and safety of the rahmen bridge were evaluated. The static·dynamic load tests and finite element analysis results of this bridge were similar, and it was confirmed that the behavior of the centrifugal prismatic beam was well simulated. All centrifugally formed square beams that make up the composite rahmen bridge were evaluated to secure sufficient load carrying capacity under the design live load, and structural reliability was proven by ensuring safety.

• Journal of the Korea Concrete Institute
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• v.18 no.1 s.91
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• pp.57-64
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• 2006

The crack presented in concrete structures causes a structural defect, the durability decrease, and external damages etc. Therefore, it is necessary to improve durability through the effort to control the crack. Fluosilicic acid($H_2SiF_6$) is recovered as aqueous solution which absorbs $SiF_4$ produced from the manufacturing of industrial-graded $H_3PO_4$ or HF. Generally, fluosilicates prepared by the reaction between $H_2SiF_6$ and metal salts. Addition of fluosilicates to cement endows odd properties through unique chemical reaction with the fresh and hardened cement. Mix proportions for experiment were modulated at 0.45 of water to cement ratio and $0.0{\sim}2.0%$ of adding ratio of fluosilicate salt based inorganic compound. To evaluate correlation of concrete strength and adding ratio of fluosilicate salt based inorganic compound, the tests were performed about design strength(21, 24, 27 MPa) with 0.5% of adding ratio of fluosilicate salt based inorganic compound. Applications of fluosilicate salt based inorganic compound to reduce cracks resulted from plastic and drying shrinkage, to improve durability are presented in this paper. Durability was evaluated as neutralization, chloride ion penetration depth, freezing thawing resistant tests and weight loss according reinforcement corrosion. It is ascertained that the concrete added fluosilicate salt based inorganic compound showed m ability to reduce the total area and maximum crack width significantly as compared non-added concrete. In addition, the durability of concrete improved because of resistance to crack and watertightness by packing role of fluosilicate salt based inorganic compound obtained and pozzolanic reaction of soluble $SiO_2$ than non-added concrete.

• Journal of the Korea institute for structural maintenance and inspection
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.56-63
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• 2016

This experiment was compared and analyzed between the original surface paint through chloride penetration, neutralization, freeze-thaw and chemical corrosion resistance measuring internal structure and volume of voids in order to evaluate the effect of increase in durability of the newly modeled nano synthesized polymer paint painted on concrete surface which results improvement on air permeability to increase the durability of concrete structures. The test result of measuring volume of void and inner structure, concrete, spreaded with nano synthesized polymer paint, showed decreasing trend of pore volume in the range of less than $0.1{\mu}m$ and more than $0.3{\mu}m$. Also, using an electron microscope inside showed tightness of hydration texture. Chloride penetration depth of concrete, painted with nano synthesized polymer paint, was decreased more than 92% compared to non-painted concrete and 70% with water-based epoxy painted concrete. Especially, chemical corrosion resistance test set with aqueous solution of 5% sulfuric acid, non-painted concrete and water-based epoxy painted concrete showed weight loss of 4% after dipping for 12 days. On the other hand, concrete painted with nano synthesized polymer paint showed 1.7% weight loss under the same condition. Also, it showed great result of appearance under the criteria of Tsivilis et al.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.528-534
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• 2010

Garlic (Allium sativum) has been well-known as a folk remedy for a variety of ailments since ancient times, and it is well documented that enhanced garlic consumption leads to a decrease in incidences of cancer. Tight junctions (TJs) are critical structures for the maintenance of cellular polarity, acting as paracellular permeability barriers and playing an essential role in regulating the diffusion of fluid, electrolytes and macromolecules through the paracellular pathway. Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) have been implicated as possible mediators of invasiveness and metastasis in some cancers. In this study, we investigated the potential effects of water extract of aged black garlic (ABG) on the correlation between tightening of TJs and anti-invasive activity in human gastric carcinoma AGS cells. The inhibitory effects of ABG on cell motility and invasiveness were found to be associated with increased tightness of TJs, which was demonstrated by an increase in transepithelial electrical resistance. Additionally, the activities of MMP-2 and -9 in AGS cells were inhibited by treatment with ABG, and this was also correlated with a decrease in the expression of their mRNA and proteins. Furthermore, RT-PCR and immunoblotting results indicated that ABG repressed the levels of the claudin proteins, major components of TJs that play a key role in the control and selectivity of paracellular transport. In conclusion, these results suggest that ABG treatment may inhibit tumor metastasis and invasion, and therefore may act as a dietary source to decrease the risk of developing cancer.

• Journal of the Korea institute for structural maintenance and inspection
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• v.23 no.6
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• pp.92-98
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• 2019

In this study, we developed a repair material incorporating PVA powder resin and nylon fiber into cemented carbide used in the existing field to improve adhesion performance and water tightness with existing concrete. Flexural behavior evaluation was performed. The main experimental variables were PVA powder resin, nylon fiber mixing rate and damage type, and performance tests were conducted to evaluate compressive strength and flexural behavior after repairing materials. It was found that all formulations fully satisfied the required performance of the repair material. The flexural strength test results of the repaired tube specimens showed that the performance of the repaired materials was maximized when the nylon fiber was added and the PVA powder was added in an appropriate amount. The flexural behavior of all the specimens showed the flexural behavior of the structural members with a low rebar ratio, suggesting that the amount of iron wire in the domestic fume pipe was somewhat insufficient. That is, it was confirmed that the amount of reinforcement of the steel wire was somewhat small, so that the concrete was cracked before the behavior of the concrete and the steel wire reached the extreme state, and the concrete was immediately destroyed beyond the tensile strength of the concrete.