• Journal of Soil and Groundwater Environment
• /
• v.22 no.6
• /
• pp.29-36
• /
• 2017

Universal soil loss equation (USLE) has been frequently employed to estimate potential soil loss in land since it was developed based on the statewide data measured and collected in the United States. The equation is an empirical model mainly used for U.S. soil, thus it has been recently modified to reflect Korean soil conditions and named as Korean Soil Loss Equation (KORSLE). The modified equation was implemented in ArcGIS software, and used for estimation of potential soil loss from 2003 to 2016 in the thirty-eight Water Protection Districts. Five out of the thirty-eight districts were identified as the area of potential soil erosion most severly. In those five districts, potential soil erosion were estimated to be more than 50 Mg/ha/year that requires site investigation under supervision of the Korean Ministry of Environment. Distinctive site characteristics were found in the potential soil loss estimation such that the districts of low potential soil loss had low five factors in the aggregate. However, if one of more factors are dominantly large, the potential soil loss significantly increased. This study provides a useful tool to identify the potential areas for soil erosion and the important factors that play an important role in the estimation process.

• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
• /
• v.25 no.1
• /
• pp.58-65
• /
• 2014

In this work, we constructed the sulfur-solidified materials using coal bottom ash from four thermal power stations in Korea and investigated their practical data for the production of industrial construction compounds. To manufacture the sulfur-solidified materials, we used a continuous mixer with the uniaxial screw-type. Also, coal bottom ash was used as a fine aggregate below 1.2 mm because of the operation characteristics for the continuous mixer. When the sulfur-solidified materials were produced with diverse sulfur concentrations (15, 20, 25, 30 wt%), compressive strength properties were analyzed. In addition, when the coal bottom ash was used with a high calcium oxide content, crack was found in the test product and pH of submerged liquid was above 12. These experimental results could be effectively applied to the recycling technology of coal bottom ash.

• Journal of the Korean Recycled Construction Resources Institute
• /
• v.7 no.3
• /
• pp.216-223
• /
• 2019

The objective of this study is to propose a reliable stress-strain model in compression for lightweight concrete using bottom ash aggregates and air foam(LWC-BF). The slopes of the ascending and descending branches in the fundamental equation form generalized by Yang et al. were determined from the regression analyses of different data sets(including the modulus of elasticity and strains at the peak stress and 50% peak stress at the post-peak performance) obtained from 9 LWC-BF mixtures. The proposed model exhibits a good agreement with test results, revealing that the initial slope decreases whereas the decreasing rate in the stress at the descending branch increases with the increase in foam content. The mean and standard deviation of the normalized root-square mean errors calculated from the comparisons of experimental and predicted stress-strain curves are 0.19 and 0.08, respectively, for the proposed model, which indicates significant lower values when compared with those(1.23 and 0.47, respectively) calculated using fib 2010 model.

• Smart Structures and Systems
• /
• v.15 no.1
• /
• pp.135-150
• /
• 2015

Large concrete structures are prone to cracks and damages over time from human usage, weathers, and other environmental attacks such as flood, earthquakes, and hurricanes. The health of the concrete structures should be monitored regularly to ensure safety. A reliable method of real time communications can facilitate more frequent structural health monitoring (SHM) updates from hard to reach positions, enabling crack detections of embedded concrete structures as they occur to avoid catastrophic failures. By implementing an unconventional mode of communication that utilizes guided stress waves traveling along the concrete structure itself, we may be able to free structural health monitoring from costly (re-)installation of communication wires. In stress-wave communications, piezoelectric transducers can act as actuators and sensors to send and receive modulated signals carrying concrete status information. The new generation of lead zirconate titanate (PZT) based smart aggregates cause multipath propagation in the homogeneous concrete channel, which presents both an opportunity and a challenge for multiple sensors communication. We propose a time reversal based pulse position modulation (TR-PPM) communication for stress wave communication within the concrete structure to combat multipath channel dispersion. Experimental results demonstrate successful transmission and recovery of TR-PPM using stress waves. Compared with PPM, we can achieve higher data rate and longer link distance via TR-PPM. Furthermore, TR-PPM remains effective under low signal-to-noise (SNR) ratio. This work also lays the foundation for implementing multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) stress wave communication networks in concrete channels.

• International Area Studies Review
• /
• v.13 no.2
• /
• pp.66-88
• /
• 2009

This paper studies optimal discretionary monetary policy in the presence of uncertainty in the housing sector. In particular, we allow two possible regimes regarding the evolution of housing price inflation and the effects of housing price inflation on the aggregate demand. Estimation results with the US data confirm the presence of two distinctive regimes, one 'normal' and the other more akin to the housing price 'bubble' state. The optimal policy is 'asymmetric' in that the optimal responses in the 'normal' regime require the central bank to lean against the wind to inflationary pressure from CPI and housing inflation, while the central bank is recommended to accommodate it in the other regime.

• Restorative Dentistry and Endodontics
• /
• v.44 no.3
• /
• pp.25.1-25.10
• /
• 2019

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate discoloration of teeth undergoing regenerative endodontic procedures (REPs) using blood clot or platelet-rich fibrin (PRF) as the scaffolds and different calcium silicate-based materials as the intracanal coronal barriers in an ex vivo model. Materials and Methods: Forty-eight bovine incisors were prepared and disinfected using 1 mg/mL double antibiotic paste (DAP). The specimens were then randomly divided into 2 groups (n = 24) according to the scaffolds (blood or PRF). After placement of scaffolds each group was divided into 2 subgroups (n = 12) according to the intracanal coronal barriers (ProRoot MTA or Biodentine). The pulp chamber walls were sealed with dentin bonding agent before placement of DAP and before placement of scaffolds. The color changes (${\Delta}E$) were measured at different steps. The data were analyzed using 2-way analysis of variance. Results: Coronal discoloration induced by DAP was not clinically perceptible (${\Delta}E{\leq}3.3$). Regarding the type of the scaffold, coronal discoloration was significantly higher in blood groups compared with PRF groups at the end of REP and after 1 month (p < 0.05). However, no significant difference was found between PRF and blood clot after 6 months (p > 0.05). Considering the type of intracanal coronal barrier, no significant difference existed between ProRoot MTA and Biodentine (p > 0.05). Conclusions: With sealing the dentinal tubules of pulp chamber with a dentin bonding agent and application of DAP as an intracanal medicament, coronal color change of the teeth following the use of PRF and blood sealed with either ProRoot MTA or Biodentine was not different at 6-month follow-up.

• Restorative Dentistry and Endodontics
• /
• v.44 no.2
• /
• pp.17.1-17.10
• /
• 2019

Objectives: Root resorption is an unexpected complication after replantation procedures. Combining anti-osteoclastic medicaments with retrograde root filling materials may avert this resorptive activity. The purpose of this study was to assess effects of a cathepsin K inhibitor with calcium silicate-based cements on osteoclastic activity. Methods: MC3T3-E1 cells were cultured for biocompatibility analyses. RAW 264.7 cells were cultured in the presence of the receptor activator of nuclear factor-kappa B and lipopolysaccharide, followed by treatment with Biodentine (BIOD) or ProRoot MTA with or without medicaments (Odanacatib [ODN], a cathepsin inhibitor and alendronate, a bisphosphonate). After drug treatment, the cell counting kit-8 assay and Alizarin red staining were performed to evaluate biocompatibility in MC3T3-E1 cells. Reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction, tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP) staining and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays were performed in RAW 264.7 cells to determine the expression levels of inflammatory cytokines, interleukin $(IL)-1{\beta}$, IL-6, tumor necrosis $factor-{\alpha}$ ($TNF-{\alpha}$) and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2). Data were analyzed by one-way analysis of variance and Tukey's post hoc test (p < 0.05). Results: Biocompatibility results showed that there were no significant differences among any of the groups. RAW 264.7 cells treated with BIOD and ODN showed the lowest levels of $TNF-{\alpha}$ and PGE2. Treatments with BIOD + ODN were more potent suppressors of inflammatory cytokine expression (p < 0.05). Conclusion: The cathepsin K inhibitor with calcium silicate-based cement inhibits osteoclastic activity. This may have clinical application in preventing inflammatory root resorption in replanted teeth.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
• /
• v.19 no.12
• /
• pp.7-13
• /
• 2018

The strength of concrete is affected significantly not only by the internal influence factors of cement, water, sand, aggregate, and admixture, but also by the external influence factors of concrete placement delay and curing temperature. The objective of this research was to predict the concrete strength considering both the internal and external influence factors when concrete is placed at the construction site. In this study, a concrete strength test was conducted on the 24 combinations of internal and external influence factors, and a neural network model was constructed using the test data. This neural network model can predict the concrete strength considering the external influence factors of the concrete placement delay and curing temperature when concrete is placed at the construction site. Contractors can use the concrete strength prediction neural network model to make concrete more robust to external influence factors during concrete placement at a construction site.

• Computers and Concrete
• /
• v.26 no.6
• /
• pp.467-482
• /
• 2020

This research focused on analyzing the post-fire behavior of high-performance concrete-filled steel tube (CFST) columns, with the concrete containing tire rubber and steel fibers, under axial compressive loading. The finite element (FE) modeling of such heated columns containing recycled aggregate is a branch of this field which has not received the proper attention of researchers. Better understanding the post-fire behavior of these columns by measuring their residual strength and deformation is critical for achieving the minimum repair level required for structures damaged in the fire. Therefore, to develop this model, 19 groups of confined and unconfined specimens with the variables including the volume ratio of steel fibers, tire rubber content, diameter-to-thickness (D/t) ratio of the steel tube, and exposure temperature were considered. The ABAQUS software was employed to model the tested specimens so that the accurate behavior of the FE-modeled specimens could be examined under test conditions. To achieve desirable results for the modeling of the specimens, in addition to the novel procedure described in this research, the modified versions of models presented by previous researchers were also utilized. After the completion of modeling, the load-axial strain and load-lateral strain relationships, ultimate strength, and failure mode of the modeled CFST specimens were evaluated against the test data, through which the satisfactory accuracy of this modeling procedure was established. Afterward, using a parametric study, the effect of factors such as the concrete core strength at different temperatures and the D/t ratio on the behavior of the CFST columns was explored. Finally, the compressive strength values obtained from the FE model were compared with the corresponding values predicted by various codes, the results of which indicated that most codes were conservative in terms of these predictions.

• Journal of Forest and Environmental Science
• /
• v.37 no.2
• /
• pp.116-127
• /
• 2021

Predicting carbon distribution of soil aggregates is difficult due to complexity in organo-mineral formation. This limits global warming mitigation through soil carbon sequestration. Therefore, knowledge of land use effect on carbon stabilization requires quantification of soil mineral cations. The study was conducted to quantify carbon and base cations on soil mineral fractions in Natural Forest, Plantation Forest and Farm Land. Five 0.09 ha were demarcated alternately along 500 m long transect with an interval of 50 m in Natural Forest (NF), Plantation Forest (PF) and Farm Land (FL). Soil samples were collected with soil cores at 0-15, 15-30 and 30-45 cm depths in each plot. Soil core samples were oven-dried at 105℃ and soil bulk densities were computed. Sample (100 g) of each soil core was separated into >2.0, 2.0-1.0, 1.0-0.5, 0.5-0.05 and <0.05 mm aggregates using dry sieve procedure and proportion determined. Carbon concentration of soil aggregates was determined using Loss-on-ignition method. Mineral fractions of soil depths were obtained using dispersion, sequential extraction and sedimentation methods of composite soil samples and sieved into <0.05 and >0.05 mm fractions. Cation exchange capacity of two mineral fractions was measured using spectrophotometry method. Data collected were analysed using descriptive and ANOVA at α_0.05. Silt and sand particle size decreased while clay increased with increase in soil depth in NF and PF. Subsoil depth contained highest carbon stock in the PF. Carbon concentration increased with decrease in aggregate size in soil depths of NF and FL. Micro- (1-0.5, 0.5-0.05 and <0.05 mm) and macro-aggregates (>2.0 and 2-1.0 mm) were saturated with soil carbon in NF and FL, respectively. Cation exchange capacity of <0.05 mm was higher than >0.05 mm in soil depths of PF and FL. Fine silt (<0.05 mm) determine the cation exchange capacity in soil depths. Land use and mineral size influence the carbon and cation exchange capacity of Gambari Forest Reserve.