• 농업과학연구
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• 제47권2호
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• pp.381-394
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• 2020

Accelerated soil wind erosion still remains to date to cause severe economic and environmental impacts. Revised and updated models to quantitatively evaluate wind induced soil erosion have been made for specific factors in the wind erosion equation (WEQ) framework. Because of increasing quantities of accumulated data, the WEQ, the revised wind erosion equation (RWEQ), the wind erosion prediction system (WEPS), and other soil wind erosion models have been established. These soil wind erosion models provide essential knowledge about where and when wind erosion occurs although naturally, they are less accurate than the field-scale. The WEQ was a good empirical model for comparing the effects of various management practices on potential erosion before the RWEQ and the WEPS showed more realistic estimates of erosion using easily measured local soil and climatic variables as inputs. The significant relationship between the observed and predicted transport capacity and soil loss makes the RWEQ a suitable tool for a large scale prediction of the wind erosion potential. WEPS developed to replace the empirical WEQ can calculate soil loss on a daily basis, provide capability to handle nonuniform areas, and obtain predictions for specific areas of interest. However, the challenge of precisely estimating wind erosion at a specific regional scale still remains to date.

• Environmental Analysis Health and Toxicology
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• 제26권
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• pp.11.1-11.6
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• 2011

Objects: The prevalence of asthma has increased in recent decades globally. The objective of the present study is to elucidate whether hospitalization for bronchiolitis in infancy and low socioeconomic status interact for bronchial hyperreactivity during teenage years. Method: We studied 522 children age 13-14 years attending schools in rural and urban areas to investigate the risk factors for bronchial hyperreactivity (BHR), defined as a provocation concentration of methacholine that causes a decrease of 20% ($PC_{20}$) in forced expiratory volume within 1 second. Clinical examination, skin prick test, spirometry, and methacholine challenge were performed on all study subjects, who provided written consent. We used multivariate logistic regression to investigate the risk factors for BHR, and analyze the interaction between hospitalization for bronchiolitis in infancy and low socioeconomic status. Results: Forty-six (10.3%) positive BHR cases were identified. In the multivariate logistic analysis, as independent predictors of BHR, adjusted odds ratio of bronchiolitis diagnosed before 2 years of age in low income families was 13.7 (95% confidence interval, 1.4 to 135.0), compared to reference group, controlling for age, gender, parental allergy history, skin prick test, and environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) exposure. Interaction was observed between bronchiolitis before 2 years old and low socioeconomic status on children's bronchial hyperreactivity (p-interaction=0.025). Conclusions: This study showed that bronchiolitis diagnosed before 2 years of age and low socioeconomic status interacted on children's bronchial hyperreactivity. Prevention of acute respiratory infection in early childhood in low socioeconomic status is important to prevent BHR as a precursor of asthma.

• 한국환경보건학회지
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• 제46권6호
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• pp.685-693
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• 2020

Objectives: Recent data indicate that sensitization to mold contributes to the severity and persistence of asthma. The aim of this study was to investigate relationships between indoor mold concentrations and pulmonary function parameters in asthmatic children with mold sensitization. Methods: Asthmatic subjects who had a positive result in skin-prick testing to more than one mold allergen, such as Alternaria, Aspergillus, or Penicillium, were enrolled. Their pulmonary function and methacholine challenge test results were collected. Measurements of blood eosinophil, serum IgE, and fractional exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO) were taken. Indoor levels of VOC, CO2, PM10 and PM2.5 in each subject's house were measured. We counted mold and bacteria colonies from the subjects' house air samples. Results: The mean levels of FEV1, FVC, FEV1/FVC, and FEF25-75 were 82.8±19.7, 87.3±17.9, 85.8±8.3, and 82.3±28.9%, respectively. The mean FeNO level was 19.8±11.2 ppb and the geometric mean (range of one SD) of methacholine PC20 was 3.99 mg/mL (0.67-23.74 mg/mL). The average indoor air pollutant levels were below the recommended levels set by the Ministry of Environment for multiplex buildings. Indoor mold levels showed a significant inverse correlation with methacholine PC20, but not with the baseline pulmonary function parameters. Conclusion: Indoor mold concentrations are a risk factor for increased bronchial hyperresponsiveness among asthmatic children with mold sensitization. Targeted environmental intervention should be considered for selected asthmatic children with mold sensitization for avoiding severe airway hyperresponsiveness.

• Computers and Concrete
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• 제29권2호
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• pp.93-105
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• 2022

The degrees of freedom (DOFs) of high-rise structures increase rapidly due to the need for refined analysis, which poses a challenge toward a computationally efficient method for numerical analysis of high-rise structures using the finite element method (FEM). This paper presented an efficient iterative method, an algebraic multigrid (AMG) with a Jacobi overrelaxation smoother preconditioned conjugate gradient method (AMG-CG) used for solving large-scale structural system equations running on heterogeneous platforms with parallel accelerator graphics processing units (GPUs) enabled. Furthermore, an AMG-CG FEM application framework was established for the numerical analysis of high-rise structures. In the proposed method, the coarsening method, the optimal relaxation coefficient of the JOR smoother, the smoothing times, and the solution method for the coarsest grid of an AMG preconditioner were investigated via several numerical benchmarks of high-rise structures. The accuracy and the efficiency of the proposed FEM application framework were compared using the mature software Abaqus, and there were speedups of up to 18.4x when using an NVIDIA K40C GPU hosted in a workstation. The results demonstrated that the proposed method could improve the computational efficiency of solving structural system equations, and the AMG-CG FEM application framework was inherently suitable for numerical analysis of high-rise structures.

• 한국환경성돌연변이발암원학회지
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• 제18권2호
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• pp.71-76
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• 1998

환경독성물질에 의한 폭로는 세포내 DNA의 수복과정에 영향을 미쳐 돌연변이나 암을 유발할 수 있다. 독성물질에 의해 유도된 DNA의 비정상 수복효과를 판단하기 위하여.in vivo에서 MNNG 또는 Benzo(a)pyrene을 투여하고 in vitro에서 Bleomycin을 처리하여 나타나는 염색체이상효과를 관찰하였다. 실험결과, MNNG를 투여 후 Bleomycin을 처리하였을 때 염색체이상의 상승효과가 나타났다. 한편, Benzo(a)pyrene 투여 후 Bleomycin을 처리하였을 패는 높은 농도에서 염색체이상의 상승효과가 나타났다. 이같은 결과는 MNNG나 Benzo(a)pyrene 같은 유전독성물질들이 in vivo에서 세포내 비정상 DNA수복을 일으킬 수 있으며, 이러한 작용은 관련 유전독성물질의 염색체손상성에 무관하며 투여용량에 의존되는 것으로 판단된다.

• Smart Structures and Systems
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• 제20권2호
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• pp.231-246
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• 2017

A recent work by the authors has demonstrated the feasibility of scour evaluation for Kao-Ping-Hsi Cable-Stayed Bridge simply based on ambient vibration measurements. To further attain the goal of scour monitoring, a key challenge comes from the interference of several environmental factors that may also significantly alter the pier frequencies without the change of scour depth. Consequently, this study attempts to investigate the variation in certain modal frequencies of this bridge induced by several environmental factors. Four sets of pier vibration measurements were taken either during the season of plum rains, under regular summer days without rain, or in a period of typhoon. These signals are analyzed with the stochastic subspace identification and empirical mode decomposition techniques. The variations of the identified modal frequencies are then compared with those of the corresponding traffic load, air temperature, and water level. Comparison of the analyzed results elucidates that both the traffic load and the environmental temperature are negatively correlated with the bridge frequencies. However, the traffic load is clearly a more dominant factor to alternate the identified bridge deck frequency than the environmental temperature. The pier modes are also influenced by the passing traffic on the bridge deck, even though with a weaker correlation. In addition, the variation of air temperature follows a similar tendency as that of the passing traffic, but its effect on changing the bridge frequencies is obviously not as significant. As for the effect from the alternation of water level, it is observed that the frequency baselines of the pier modes may positively correlate with the water level during the seasons of plum rains and typhoon.

• 한국지반공학회:학술대회논문집
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• 한국지반공학회 2001년도 가을 학술발표회 논문집
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• pp.29-62
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• 2001

Based on the results from investigation of behaviour of pulverized fly ashes (PFA) at laboratory and field, the way how to reduce the environmental impacts to geotechnical practices Is considered and described. In order to reduce discharged industrial by-products, it should primarily be emphasized that an effort are made as much as possible not to put into homing. Secondarily, an effort must be made to increase amount of utilization to geotechnical engineering practices. In addition, from an environmental point of view, we should challenge to create innovative materials which are eligible for controlling other wastes and remedying contamination m soils by using industrial byproducts which belong to wastes This Is a new concept in which the polluting materials can be eliminated by making use of wastes. Based on the above-stated concept, the previous and possible utilization of PFA is classified into: (1 ) reclamation, embankment or backfill material, (2) light weight geo-material, (8) soil stabilization/improvement, and (4) environmental material. The reason why PFA, in particular, slurry PFA has been used and will possibly be used more widely is due to the fact that PFA has the advantages : (i) low specific gravity leading to a light weight geomaterial, (ii) high pozzolanic activity enhancing strength, especially due to cement addition, and (iii) spherical shape of particles producing isotropy and then pumpability. As well as the concept of reducing geo-environmental impacts, the present text mainly describes the successful results at laboratory and field which have been obtained by the authors. The most important issue hi application of byproducts including PFA for geotechnical practices is to prevent leakage of polluted substances from sedimentary deposits, ground and earth structures. As one of possible techniques far achieving this purpose, a method of washing off the polluted substances by hot water is described.

• 한국환경보건학회지
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• 제21권3호
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• pp.28-37
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• 1995

This study is performed to find out the effects of selenium against cadmium toxicity. The experimental mice were divided into 6 gruops such as control group, cadmium alone treatment group, selenium treatment groups and two simultaneous treatment groups of selenium and cadmium. Mice were given intraperitoneal administration with two dosage of sodium selenite such as 1.0 mg/kg, 2.5 mg/kg body weight and cadmium chloride was administered 3.0 mg/kg body weight. After giving the challenge dose, the concentration of cadmium and metallothionein and histopathological change of liver and kidney were determined. The results were summarized as follows on 1. The simultaneously administration of selenium and cadmium significantly more decreased cadmium concentration in kidney and iiver tissues compared to the administration of cadmium only(P<0.05). 2. The simultaneously administration of selenium and cadmium more increased metallothionein concentration compared to administration of cadmium only. 3. The simultaneously administration of selenium and cadmium more decreased cadmium concentration in urine compared to the administration of cadmium only. 4. When liver and kidney tissues were observed with optical microscope, no obvious changes were visible in those tissues.

• Environmental Engineering Research
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• 제22권3호
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• pp.237-244
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• 2017

At present, in India, handling of solid waste has become a major challenge for the municipal authorities. Composting of solid waste, especially organic waste, can be one of the solutions to tackle the issue of handling solid waste. The present study is focused on agitated piles composting of flower waste (FW). Five combinations of FW with dry leaves (DL) and cow dung (CD) were prepared to conduct the study. Significant changes were observed due to the addition of bulking agent. The bulking material helps to reduce the production of leachate and also to maintain the aerobic condition within the piles. The reduction of total organic carbon was 21% in FW composting which increased by 36.48% during the composting of FW on addition of DL and CD. On the 120th day of composting, the pH of pile five (70 kg FW + 20 kg CD + 15 kg DL) was 7.33, electrical conductivity 2.77 mS/cm, total organic carbon 26.9%, total nitrogen 2.2%, and C:N ratio was 12. Appropriate proportion of waste mixture played an important role in providing favorable conditions for the microbial transformation of flower waste to stabilized compost. Finally, FW with the combination of CD and DL was found to be successful during pile composting.

• 환경생물
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• 제31권1호
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• pp.10-18
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• 2013

Oil spills have occurred throughout the years of industrialization and represent a global challenge as they affect vast areas of the ocean. The toxicity of crude oil to aquatic organisms has been extensively investigated, but the potential impacts of crude oil on vertebrate development remain largely unknown. Here, we investigated the effects of dispersants used in treating a recent oil spill, as well as that of crude oil, on vertebrates by using the zebrafish (Danio rerio) model species, which has been widely used in empirical studies of both early embryonic development and adult physiology. Chronic exposure to crude oil resulted in marked developmental abnormalities, including pericardial edema, abnormal trunk vessel development, retardation of axonal branching, and abnormal jaw development. Embryonic development was affected more severely by exposure to the oil-dispersant combination than to the oil alone. Thus, the zebrafish in vivo model system suggests that dispersant treatment can have detrimental developmental effects on vertebrates and its potential impact on marine life, as well as humans, should be carefully considered in clean-up efforts at the site of an oil spill.