• Journal of the Korea institute for structural maintenance and inspection
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.48-56
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• 2013

Prestressed concrete (PSC) members are readly available in civil engineering applications due to the convenience of construction and easy of quality control in the manufacturing process of the member. Especially, half-depth precast concrete composite slab, which is one of the PSC flexural members is developed recently using the long-line method. The half-depth precast concrete composite slabs are composed of the precast concrete and the in-situ concrete placed at the site. In this paper, we present the results of experimental investigations pertaining to the pretensioning efficiency and the flexural behavior of half-depth precast concrete composite slab which is made of precast PSC manufactured by the long-line method. In the long-line method, the pretensioned precast member is manufactured simultaneously, by tensioning tendons at once. In addition, we suggest the equation that can estimate the flexural strength of half-depth precast concrete composite slab reasonably by considering the effects of rebar embedded in the precast PSC flexural member.

• BLOOD RESEARCH
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• v.53 no.4
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• pp.320-324
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• 2018

Background Recent studies have devoted much attention to non-protein-coding transcripts in relation to a wide range of malignancies. MALAT1, a long non-coding RNA, has been reported to be associated with cancer progression and prognosis. Thus, we here determined MALAT1 gene expression in chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), a genetically heterogeneous disease, and explored its possible relationships with cytogenetic abnormalities. Methods MALAT1 expression level was evaluated using real-time quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) on blood mononuclear cells from 30 non-treated CLL patients and 30 matched healthy controls. Cytogenetic abnormalities were determined in patients by fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH). Results MALAT1 expression level was up-regulated in the CLL group compared to healthy controls (P=0.008). Del13q14, followed by Del11q22, were the most prevalent cytogenetic abnormalities. We found no association between the FISH results and MALAT1 expression in patients. Conclusion Altered expression of MALAT1 is associated with CLL development. Further investigations are required to assess the relationship between this long non-coding RNA and CLL patient survival and prognosis.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.19 no.12
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• pp.1672-1678
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• 2009

We studied the effects of aged total petroleum hydrocarbons (aged TPH) on the survival of allochthonous diesel-degrading Rhodococcus sp. strain YS-7 in both laboratory and field investigations. The aged TPH extracted from a crude-oil-contaminated site were fractionized by thin-layer chromatography/flame ionization detection (TLC/FID). The three fractions identified were saturated aliphatic (SA), aromatic hydrocarbon (AH), and asphaltene-resin (AR). The ratio and composition of the separated fractions in the aged TPH were quite different from the crude-oil fractions. In the aged TPH, the SA and AH fractions were reduced and the AR fraction was dramatically increased compared with crude oil. The SA and AH fractions (2 mg/l each) of the aged TPH inhibited the growth of strain YS-7. Unexpectedly, the AR fraction had no effect on the survival of strain YS-7. However, crude oil (1,000 mg/l) did not inhibit the growth of strain YS-7. When strain YS-7 was inoculated into an aged crude-oil-contaminated field and its presence was monitored by fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH), we discovered that it had disappeared on 36 days after the inoculation. For the first time, this study has demonstrated that the SA and AH fractions in aged TPH are more toxic to an allochthonous diesel-degrading strain than the AR fraction.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.44 no.4
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• pp.201-206
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• 2017

Objective: The aim of this study was to compare the efficacy of swim-up and density gradient centrifugation (DGC) for reducing the amount of sperm with fragmented DNA, sex chromosome aneuploidy, and abnormal chromatin structure. Methods: Semen samples were obtained from 18 healthy male partners who attended infertility clinics for infertility investigations and were processed with swim-up and DGC. The percentages of sperm cells with fragmented DNA measured by the sperm chromatin dispersion test, normal sex chromosomes assessed by fluorescence in situ hybridization, and abnormal chromatin structure identified by toluidine blue staining were examined. Results: The percentage of sperm cells with fragmented DNA was significantly lower in the swim-up fraction (9.7%, p= 0.001) than in the unprocessed fraction (27.0%), but not in the DGC fraction (27.8%, p= 0.098). The percentage of sperm cells with normal X or Y chromosomes was comparable in the three fractions. The percentage of sperm cells with abnormal chromatin structure significantly decreased after DGC (from 15.7% to 10.3%, p= 0.002). The swim-up method also tended to reduce the percentage of sperm cells with abnormal chromatin structure, but the difference was not significant (from 15.7% to 11.6%, p= 0.316). Conclusion: The swim-up method is superior for enriching genetically competent sperm.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.125-140
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• 2018

Tianjin, which is located on the west shore of the Bohai Sea, is part of China's Circum-Bohai-Sea Region, where very weak clay is deposited. From the 1970s to the early $21^{st}$ century, Tianjin marine clay deposits have been the subject of numerous geotechnical investigations. Because of these deposits' geological complexity, great depositional thickness, high water content, large void ratio, excessive settlement, and low shear strength, the geotechnical properties of Tianjin marine clay need to be summarized and evaluated based on various in situ and laboratory tests so that Tianjin can safely and economically sustain more infrastructure in the coming decades. In this study, the properties of Tianjin marine clay, especially its consolidation properties, are summarized, evaluated and discussed. The focus is on establishing correlations between the geotechnical property indexes and mechanical parameters of Tianjin marine clay. These correlations include the correlations between the water content and the void ratio, the depth and the undrained shear strength, the liquid limit and the compression index, the tip resistance and the constrained modulus, the plasticity index and the ratio of undrained shear strength and the preconsolidation pressure. In addition, the primary consolidation properties of Tianjin marine clay, such as the intrinsic compression line (ICL), sedimentation compression line (SCL), compression index, $C_c$, coefficient of consolidation, $C_v$, and hydraulic conductivity change index, $C_{kv}$, are evaluated and discussed. A secondary consolidation property, i.e., the secondary compression index, $C_a$, is also investigated, and the results show that the ratio of $C_a/C_c$ for Tianjin marine clay can be used to calculate $C_a$ in secondary consolidation settlement predictions.

• Design Convergence Study
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• v.16 no.5
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• pp.125-140
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• 2017

This study explores potential capability of a machine learning approach for monitoring urban morphology based on an evident case study. The case study conveys year 2006 investigations on interpreting urban morphology of Boston Main Streets by applying a machine learning approach. From the lesson of the precedent study, in 2016, another field research and interview was conducted to compare changes in urban situation, data commons culture, and technology innovation during the decade. This paper describes open possibilities to advance urban monitoring for morphological changes. Most of all, a multi-participatory data platform enables managing urban data system in real time. Second, collaboration with machines with artificial intelligence can intervene the framework of the urban management system as well as transform it through new demands of innovative industries. Recently, urban regeneration became a dominant urban planning strategy in Korean, therefore, urban monitoring is on demand. It is timely important to correspond to in-situ problems based on empirical research.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.5 no.4
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• pp.363-377
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• 2013

Any structure constructed on the earth is supported by the underlying soil. Foundation is an interfacing element between superstructure and the underlying soil that transmits the loads supported by the foundation including its self weight. Foundation design requires evaluation of safe bearing capacity along with both immediate and long term settlements. Weak and compressible soils are subjected to problems related to bearing capacity and settlement. The conventional method of design of footing requires sufficient safety against failure and the settlement must be kept within the allowable limit. These requirements are dependent on the bearing capacity of soil. Thus, the estimation of load carrying capacity of footing is the most important step in the design of foundation. A number of theoretical approaches, in-situ tests and laboratory model tests are available to find out the bearing capacity of footings. The reliability of any theory can be demonstrated by comparing it with the experimental results. Results from laboratory model tests on square footings resting on sand are presented in this paper. The variation of bearing capacity of sand below a model plate footing of square shape with variation in size, depth and the effect of permissible settlement are evaluated. A steel tank of size $900mm{\times}1200mm{\times}1000mm$ is used for conducting model tests. Bearing capacity factor $N_{\gamma}$ is evaluated and is compared with Terzaghi, Meyerhof, Hansen and Vesic's $N_{\gamma}$ values. From the experimental investigations it is found that, as the depth of sand cushion below the footing ($D_{sc}$) increases, ultimate bearing capacity and settlement values show an increasing trend up to a certain depth of sand cushion.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.16 no.6
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• pp.643-654
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• 2018

Tunnel excavation leads to a disturbance on the initial stress balance of surrounding soils, which causes convergences around the tunnel and settlements at the ground surface. Considering the effective impact of settlements on the structures at the surface, it is necessary to estimate them, especially in urban areas. In the present study, ground settlements due to the excavation of East-West Line 7 of the Tehran Metro (EWL7) and the Abuzar tunnels are evaluated and the effect of the lateral earth pressure coefficient ($K_0$) on their extension is investigated. The excavation of the tunnels was performed by TBMs (Tunnel Boring Machines). The coefficient of lateral earth pressure ($K_0$) is one of the most important geotechnical parameters for tunnel design and is greatly influenced by the geological characteristics of the surrounding soil mass along the tunnel route. The real (in-situ) settlements of the ground surface were measured experimentally using leveling methods along the studied tunnels and the results were compared with evaluated settlements obtained from both semi-empirical and numerical methods (using the finite difference software FLAC3D). The comparisons permitted to show that the adopted numerical models can effectively be used to predict settlements induced by a tunnel excavation. Then a numerical parametric study was conducted to show the influence of the $K_0$ values on the ground settlements. Numerical investigations also showed that the shapes of settlement trough of the studied tunnels, in a transverse section, are not similar because of their different diameters and depths of the tunnels.

• Journal of Electrochemical Science and Technology
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.54-62
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• 2022

The preparation of low-cost, simple, and scalable electrodes is crucial for the commercialization of water electrolyzers for H₂ production. Herein, we demonstrate the fabrication of cathodes through Mo-modified Zn phosphating of Ni foam (NiF) for water electrolysis, which has been largely utilized in surface coating industry. In situ growth of electrocatalytically active layers in the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) was occurred after 1 min of phosphating to form ZnNiMoP_i, and subsequent thermal treatment and electrochemical activation resulted in the formation of ZnNiMoPO_xH_y. ZnNiMoPO_xH_y exhibited superior HER performance than NiF, primarily because of the increased electrochemically active surface area of ZnNiMoPO_xH_y compared to that of bare NiF. Although further investigations to improve the intrinsic electrochemical activity toward the HER and detailed mechanistic studies are required, these results suggest that phosphating is a promising coating method and will possibly advance the fabrication procedure of electrodes for water electrolyzers with better practical applications.

• Journal of the Korean Geotechnical Society
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• v.39 no.6
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• pp.13-19
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• 2023

Lunar ice is a resource available for future human exploration in deep space and long-term extraterrestrial habitat. However, the origin and nature of lunar ice remains unclear. In addition to remote sensing, international space agencies are competitively planning and conducting missions for lunar surface exploration to determine the existence and resource extent of lunar ice. If a sufficient amount of lunar ice is confirmed, its future in-situ resource utilization is expected to be greatly beneficial. However, due to ice extraction, settlement may occur, which should be taken into account from a geotechnical engineering perspective. Herein, experimental investigations of the potential settlement caused by lunar ice extraction were conducted and different textures of lunar ice were simulated. Consequently, it was confirmed that significant settlement occurs even at the initial water content of ~10% in lunar regolith simulant-ice-mixed soil.