• Safety and Health at Work
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.114-121
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• 2019

Background: The photolithography process in the semiconductor industry uses various chemicals with little information on their constitution. This study aimed to identify the chemical constituents of photoresist (PR) products and their by-products and to compare these constituents with material safety data sheets (MSDSs) and analytical results. Methods: A total of 51 PRs with 48 MSDSs were collected. Analysis consisted of two parts: First, the constituents of the chemical products were identified and analyzed using MSDS data; second, for verification of the by-products of PR, volatile organic compounds were analyzed. The chemical constituents were categorized according to hazards. Results: Forty-five of 48 products contained trade secrets in amounts ranging from 1 to 65%. A total of 238 ingredients with multiple counting (35 ingredients without multiple counting) were identified in the MSDS data, and 48.7% of ingredients were labeled as trade secrets under the Korea Occupational Safety and Health Act. The concordance rate between the MSDS data and the analytical result was 41.7%. The by-product analysis identified 129 chemicals classified according to Chemical Abstracts Service No., with 17 chemicals that are carcinogenic, mutagenic, and reprotoxic substances. Formaldehyde was found to be released from 12 of 21 products that use novolak resin. Conclusion: We confirmed that several PRs contain carcinogens, and some were not specified in the toxicological information in the MSDS. Hazardous chemicals, including benzene and formaldehyde, are released from PRs products as by-products. Therefore, it is necessary to establish a systematic management system for chemical compounds and the working environment.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.28 no.5
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• pp.437-454
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• 2022

The hydro-mechanical (HM) two-way sequential coupling in the TOUGH2-FLAC3D linking algorithm is validated completely and successfully in both M to H and H to M directions, which are initiated by mechanical surface loading for geomechanical validation and hydrological groundwater pumping for hydrogeological validation, respectively. For such complete and successful validation, a TOUGH2-FLAC3D linked numerical model is developed first by adopting the TOUGH2-FLAC3D linking algorithm, which uses the two-way (fixed-stress split) sequential coupling scheme and the implicit backward time stepping method. Two geomechanical and two hydrogeological validation problems are then simulated using the linked numerical model together with basic validation strategies and prerequisites. The second geomechanical and second hydrogeological validation problems are also associated with the Mandel effect and the Noordbergum and Rhade effects, respectively, which are three phenomenally well-known but numerically challenging HM effects. Finally, sequentially coupled numerical solutions are compared with either analytical solutions (verification) or fully coupled numerical solutions (benchmarking). In all the four validation problems, they show almost perfect to extremely or very good agreement. In addition, the second geomechanical validation problem clearly displays the Mandel effect and suggests a proper or minimum geometrical ratio of the height to the width for the rectangular domain to maximize agreement between the numerical and analytical solutions. In the meantime, the second hydrogeological validation problem clearly displays the Noordbergum and Rhade effects and implies that the HM two-way sequential coupling scheme used in the linked numerical model is as rigorous as the HM two-way full coupling scheme used in a fully coupled numerical model.

• Journal of the Korean Geotechnical Society
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.37-46
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• 2008

Application of resilient modulus, representing mechanical behavior of pavement materials, has become general concept for pavement design, analysis and maintenance after '86 AASHTO selected it as a basic input property of subgrade. It is known that resilient modulus of domestic subgrade soil is affected greatly by material factors, such as water content and dry weight unit, and stress components, such as deviatoric stress and confining stress, while effects of loading frequency and loading repeat were regarded negligible. If design based on resilient modulus is to be successfully implemented, design input variables of relevant models should be able to reflect local conditions. In this study, generalized mechanical model for subgrade is proposed. Model parameters are estimated from test results. Verification of the model was performed through finite element analysis using the proposed model, which showed good agreement with measured results of pavement deflections.

• Analytical Science and Technology
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• v.37 no.2
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• pp.98-113
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• 2024

The current investigation entails the characterization of five degradation products (DPs) formed under different stress conditions of loteprednol using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). In addition, this study developed a stable high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) method for evaluating loteprednol along with impurities. The method conditions were meticulously fine-tuned which involved the exploration of the appropriate solvent, pH, flow of the mobile phase, columns, and wavelength. The method conditions were carefully chosen to successfully resolve the impurities of loteprednol and were employed in subsequent validation procedures. The stability profile of loteprednol was exposed to stress degradation experiments conducted under five conditions, and DPs were structurally characterized by employing LC-MS/MS. The chromatographic resolution of loteprednol and its impurities along with DPs was effectively achieved using a Phenomenex Luna 250 mm C18 column using 0.1 % phosphoric acid, methanol, and acetonitrile in 45:25:30 (v/v) pumped isocratically at 0.8 mL/min with 243 nm wavelength. The method produces an accurate fit calibration curve in 50-300 ㎍/mL for loteprednol and LOQ (0.05 ㎍/mL) - 0.30 ㎍/mL for its impurities with acceptable precision, accuracy, and recovery. The stress-induced degradation study revealed the degradation of loteprednol under basic, acidic, and photolytic conditions, resulting in the formation of seven distinct DPs. The efficacy of this method was validated through LC-MS/MS, which allowed for the verification of the chemical structures of the newly generated DPs of loteprednol. This method was appropriate for assessing the impurities of loteprednol and can also be appropriate for structural and quantitative assessment of its degradation products.

• The Journal of Korean Society for Radiation Therapy
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.23-30
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• 2012

Purpose: There was a problem with using MU verification programs for the reasons that there were errors of MU when using MU verification programs based on Pencil Beam Convolution (PBC) Algorithm with radiation treatment plans around lung using Analytical Anisotropic Algorithm (AAA). On this study, we studied the methods that can verify the calculated treatment plans using AAA. Materials and Methods: Using Eclipse treatment planning system (Version 8.9, Varian, USA), for each 57 fields of 7 cases of Lung Stereotactic Body Radiation Therapy (SBRT), we have calculated using PBC and AAA with dose calculation algorithm. By developing MU of established plans, we compared and analyzed with MU of manual calculation programs. We have analyzed relationship between errors and 4 variables such as field size, lung path distance of radiation, Tumor path distance of radiation, effective depth that can affect on errors created from PBC algorithm and AAA using commonly used programs. Results: Errors of PBC algorithm have showned $0.2{\pm}1.0%$ and errors of AAA have showned $3.5{\pm}2.8%$. Moreover, as a result of analyzing 4 variables that can affect on errors, relationship in errors between lung path distance and MU, connection coefficient 0.648 (P=0.000) has been increased and we could calculate MU correction factor that is A.E=L.P 0.00903+0.02048 and as a result of replying for manual calculation program, errors of $3.5{\pm}2.8%$ before the application has been decreased within $0.4{\pm}2.0%$. Conclusion: On this study, we have learned that errors from manual calculation program have been increased as lung path distance of radiation increases and we could verified MU of AAA with a simple method that is called MU correction factor.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Agriculture
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.288-294
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• 2011

BACKGROUND: Methylmercury is analyzed by HPLC-ICP/MS because of the simplicity for sample preparation and interference. However, most of the pre-treatment methods for methylmercury need a further pH adjustment of the extracted solution and removal of organic matter for HPLC. The purpose of this study was to establish a rapid and accurate analytical method for determination of methylmercury in fish by using HPLC-ICP/MS. METHOD AND RESULTS: We conducted an experiment for pre-treatment and instrument conditions and analytical method verification. Pre-treatment condition was established with aqueous 1% L-cysteine HCl and heated at $60^{\circ}C$ in microwave for 20 min. Methylmercury in $50{\mu}L$ of filtered extract was separated by a C18 column and aqueous 0.1% L-cysteine HCl + 0.1% L-cysteine mobile phase at $25^{\circ}C$. The presence of cysteine in mobile phase and sample solution was essential to eliminate adsorption, peak tailing and memory effect problems. Correlation coefficient($r^2$) for the linearity was 0.9998. The limits of detection and quantitation for this method were 0.15 and $0.45{\mu}g/kg$ respectively. CONCLUSION: Result for analytical method verification, accuracy and repeatability of the analytes were in good agreement with the certified reference materials values of methylmercury at a 95% confidence level. The advantage of the established method is that the extracted solution can be directly injected into the HPLC column without additional processes and the memory effect of mercury in the ICP-MS can be eliminated.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.47 no.1
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• pp.64-77
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• 2021

Objective: Biological monitoring of trace elements in human blood samples has become an important indicator of the health environment. The purpose of this study was to detect and evaluate multiple metal items in blood samples based on ICP-MS, to perform comparative evaluation with the existing analysis method, and to develop and verify a new method. Methods: 100 μL of whole blood from 80 healthy subjects was used to analyze ten metals (Sb, tAs, Cd, Pb, Mn, Hg, Mo, Ni, Se, Tl) using ICP-MS. Verification of the analysis method included calculation of linearity, accuracy, precision and detection limits. In addition, a comparative test with the conventional graphite furnace atomic absorption spectroscopy (GF-AAS) method was performed. In the case of Pb, Cd, and Hg in whole blood, cross-analysis between Pb, Cd, and Hg analysis methods was performed to confirm the difference between the existing method and the new method (ICP-MS). Results: The coefficient of determination (R2) was 0.999 or higher in seven items and 0.995 or higher in three items. The Pb result showed that Pearson's correlation coefficient was very high at 0.983, and the intraclass correlation coefficient was 0.966. The Cd result showed that Pearson's correlation coefficient was 0.917 between the existing method and the new analysis concentration value. Its intraclass correlation coefficient was 0.960, and there was no significant difference between the two groups. Hg had a low correlation at 0.687, and the intraclass correlation coefficient was 0.761, which was lower than that of Pb and Cd. The intra-day and inter-day accuracy of Pd and Cd were satisfactory, but Hg did not meet the criteria for both accuracy and precision when compared with the conventional analysis method. Conclusion: This study can be meaningful in that it proposes a more efficient and feasible analysis method by verifying a blood heavy metal concentration experiment using multiple simultaneous analyses. All samples were processed and analyzed using the new ICP-MS. It was confirmed that the agreement between the two methods was very high, with the agreement between the current and new methods being 0.769 to 0.998. This study proposes an efficient simultaneous methodology capable of analyzing multiple elements with small samples. In the future, studies of various applications and the reliability of ICP-MS analysis methods are required, and research on the verification of accurate, precise, and continuous analysis methods is required.

• Computers and Concrete
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.163-176
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• 2011

By virtue of chord-length density function from the field of statistical physics, this paper introduced a quantitative approach to estimate the distribution of cement paste thickness between aggregates in concrete. Dynamics mixing method based on molecular dynamics was employed to generate one model structure, then image analysis algorithm was used to obtain the distribution of thickness of cement paste in model structure for the purpose of verification. By comparison of probability density curves and cumulative probability curves of the cement paste thickness among neighboring aggregates, it is found that the theoretical results are consistent with the simulation. Furthermore, for the model mortar and concrete mixtures with practical volume fraction of Fuller-type aggregate, this analytical formula was employed to predict the influence of aggregate volume fraction and aggregate fineness. And evolution of its mean values were also investigated with the variation of volume fraction of aggregate as well as the fineness of aggregates in model mortars and concretes.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.33 no.2
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• pp.239-255
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• 2009

In the companion paper, a simple but effective analysis procedure termed an Improved Modal Pushover Analysis (IMPA) is proposed to estimate the seismic capacities of multi-span continuous bridge structures on the basis of the modal pushover analysis, which considers all the dynamic modes of a structure. In contrast to previous studies, the IMPA maintains the simplicity of the capacity-demand curve method and gives a better estimation of the maximum dynamic response in a bridge structure. Nevertheless, to verify its applicability, additional parametric studies for multi-span continuous bridges with large differences in the length of adjacent piers are required. This paper, accordingly, concentrates on a parametric study to review the efficiency and limitation in the application of IMPA to bridge structures through a correlation study between various analytical models including the equivalent single-degree-of-freedom method (ESDOF) and modal pushover analysis (MPA) that are usually used in the seismic design of bridge structures. Based on the obtained numerical results, this paper offers practical guidance and/or limitations when using IMPA to predict the seismic response of a bridge effectively.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.32 no.3
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• pp.371-382
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• 2009

Response of harbor structure to environmental loads such as wave load, impact load, ship's contacting load, is a fundamental factor in designing of the structure's optimal configuration. In this paper, typical environmental loads against coastal structures are investigated for designing of the optimal harbor structure. Loads to be considered here are wave load, impact load and contacting load due to ship mooring. Statistical analysis for several harbor structure types under the corresponding loads is carried out, followed by investigation of effect of individual environmental load. Based on these, the optimal configuration for the harbor structure is obtained after considerable engineering process. Estimation of contacting load of the ship is suggested using effective energy concepts for the load, and analysis of structural behavior is done for the optimal designing of the structure in the particular load. A guideline for the design process of the harbor structure is established, and safety of the structure is examined by proposed scheme. For verification of the analytical approach, various steel-piled coastal structures and caissons are chosen and relevant structural analyses are carried out using the Finite Element Methods combined with MIDAS/GTS and ANSYS code. It is found using the Morison equation that impact load cannot be a major load in the typical harbor structure compared with the original wave load, and that configuration shape of the structure may play an important role in consideration of the response criteria.