• The Journal of Engineering Geology
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• v.33 no.1
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• pp.15-25
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• 2023

The effects of forest fires on the activity of microbial communities in topsoil and subsoil were investigated. Samples were collected from Korean forest soils comprising mainly igneous and sedimentary rocks. Analysis of beta-glucosidase, found higher microbial activity in sedimentary rocks than in igneous rocks. Enzyme activity was not observed immediately after fire, but was restored over time. The enzyme activity of subsoil was inhibited by 33~46% compared with that in the topsoil, regardless of soil damage. The effect of fire on the availability of microbial substrate was investigated using EcoPlate. The percentages of average well color development values of damaged and normal topsoil were 52.7~56.8% and 62.3~83.6%, respectively. Forest fires appear to affect the diversity and substrate availability of the subsoil microbial community by accelerating the decomposition of soil organic matter. The Shanon index, representing microbial biodiversity, was high in the topsoil of all samples; it was higher for soil microorganisms in sedimentary rocks than in igneous rocks, and higher in topsoil than in subsoil.

• Coupled systems mechanics
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• v.6 no.3
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• pp.229-249
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• 2017

A new technique to mitigate irregular buildings with soil structure interaction (SSI) effect subjected to critical seismic waves is presented. The L-shape in plan irregular building for various reasons was selected, subjected to seismic a load which is a big problem for structural design especially without separation gap. The L-shape in plan building with different dimensions was chosen to study, with different rectangularity ratios and various soil kinds, to show the effect of the irregular building on the seismic response. A 3D building subjected to critical earthquake was analyzed by structural analysis program (SAP2000) fixed and with SSI (three types of soils were analyzed, soft, medium and hard soils) to find their effect on top displacement, base shear, and base torsion. The straining actions were appointed and the treatment of the effect of irregular shape under critical earthquake was made by using tuned mass damper (TMD) with different configurations with SSI and without. The study improve the success of using TMDs to mitigate the effect of critical earthquake on irregular building for both cases of study as fixed base and raft foundation (SSI) with different TMDs parameters and configurations. Torsion occurs when the L-shape in plan building subjected to earthquake which may be caused harmful damage. TMDs parameters which give the most effective efficiency in the earthquake duration must be defined, that will mitigate these effects. The parameters of TMDs were studied with structure for different rectangularity ratios and soil types, with different TMD configurations. Nonlinear time history analysis is carried out by SAP2000 with El Centro earthquake wave. The numerical results of the parametric study help in understanding the seismic behavior of L-shape in plan building with TMDs mitigation system.

• Korean Journal of Agricultural Science
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• v.47 no.1
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• pp.43-58
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• 2020

Mulching plastic is used for the purpose of maintaining soil temperature, moisture, and weed and pest prevention in agriculture. Any remaining plastic after use may contaminate the soil and damage crop growth. To solve this problem, mulching plastic wrappers have been studied and developed, but the actual use rate is quite low due to their poor performance and frequent tearing of the plastic on the field. In this study, we developed a tractor attachable mulching plastic wrapper to minimize the tearing of the mulched plastic. The developed mulching plastic wrapper consists of hydraulic motors and pumps, valves, a microcontroller, and sensors. The collecting speed of the plastic mulch was calculated considering the tractor's travel speed and the radius of the collecting drum. A proportional controller was designed to control the rotating speed of the hydraulic motor as the plastic was wound around the collection drum and the radius increased. The performance of an indoor experiment was quite promising because the difference between the collecting speed predicted by the calculation and the actual collecting speed was 2.71 rpm. Based on a field verification test, the speed difference was max. 14.28 rpm; thus, the, proportional integral derivative (PID) controller needs to be considered to control the drum speed precisely. Another issue was found when the soil covered at the edge of the plastic was hardened or the road surface was uneven, the speed control was unstable, and the plastic was torn. In future research, vibrational plows will be equipped to break-up the harden soil for collecting the plastic smoothly.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.22 no.5
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• pp.599-608
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• 2013

Jeju island, which is located along the moving path of typhoon, suffers from flooding and overflow by torrential rain. So abrupt runoff occurring, damages of downstream farm field and shore culturing farms are increasing. In this study, Oaedo stream, one of the mountainous streams on Jeju island, was selected as the basin of study subject and was classified into 3 sub-basins, and after the characteristics of subject basin, the soil erosion amount and the sediment delivery of the stream by land usage distribution were estimated with the use of SATEEC ArcView GIS, the sediment yield amount of 2000 and 2005 was analyzed comparatively. As a result of estimating the sediment yield amount of 2000, the three sub-basins were respectively 12,572.7, 14,080 and 157,761 tons/year. and sediment yield amounts were estimated as 35,172.9, 5,266 and 258,535 tons/year respectively in 2005. The soil erosion and sediment yield amount of 2005 using single storm rainfall were estimated high compared with 2000, but for sub-basin 2, the values rather decreased due to changes in land use, and the land coverage of 2005, since there are many classifications of land usage compared with 2000, enabling to reflect more accurate land usage condition, could deduce appropriate results. It is anticipated that such study results can be utilized as basic data to propose a direction to predict the amount of sediment yield that causes secondary flooding damage and deteriorates water quality within detention pond and grit chamber, and take action against damages in the downstream farm field and shore culturing farms.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.23 no.12
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• pp.1737-1746
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• 2013

IbMYB1, a transcription factor (TF) for R2R3-type MYB TFs, is a key regulator of anthocyanin biosynthesis during storage of sweet potatoes. Anthocyanins provide important antioxidants of nutritional value to humans, and also protect plants from oxidative stress. This study aimed to increase transgenic potatoes' (Solanum tuberosum cv. LongShu No.3) tolerance to environmental stress and enhance their nutritional value. Transgenic potato plants expressing IbMYB1 genes under the control of an oxidative stress-inducible peroxidase (SWPA2) promoter (referred to as SM plants) were successfully generated through Agrobacterium-mediated transformation. Two representative transgenic SM5 and SM12 lines were evaluated for enhanced tolerance to salinity, UV-B rays, and drought conditions. Following treatment of 100 mM NaCl, seedlings of SM5 and SM12 lines showed less root damage and more shoot growth than control lines expressing only an empty vector. Transgenic potato plants in pots treated with 400 mM NaCl showed high amounts of secondary metabolites, including phenols, anthocyanins, and flavonoids, compared with control plants. After treatment of 400 mM NaCl, transgenic potato plants also showed high DDPH radical scavenging activity and high PS II photochemical efficiency compared with the control line. Furthermore, following treatment of NaCl, UV-B, and drought stress, the expression levels of IbMYB1 and several structural genes in the flavonoid biosynthesis such as CHS, DFR, and ANS in transgenic plants were found to be correlated with plant phenotype. The results suggest that enhanced IbMYB1 expression affects secondary metabolism, which leads to improved tolerance ability in transgenic potatoes.

• Journal of the Korean Geotechnical Society
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• v.34 no.6
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• pp.25-36
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• 2018

Soil liquefaction is one of the types of major seismic damage. Soil liquefaction is a phenomenon that can cause enormous human and economic damages, and it must be examined before designing geotechnical structures. In this study, we proposed a practical method of developing a multi-hazard fragility surface for liquefaction of levee considering earthquake magnitude and water level. Limit state for liquefaction of levee was defined by liquefaction potential index (LPI), which is frequently used to assess the liquefaction susceptibility of soils. In order to consider the uncertainty of soil properties, Monte Carlo Simulation based probabilistic analysis was performed. Based on the analysis results, a 3D fragility surface representing the probability of failure by soil liquefaction as a function of the ground motion and water level has been established. The prepared multi-hazard fragility surface can be used to evaluate the safety of levees against liquefaction and to assess the risk in earthquake and flood prone areas.

• Journal of the Earthquake Engineering Society of Korea
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• v.12 no.3
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• pp.37-44
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• 2008

This study investigates the influence of various soil properties on the seismic performance of a three-span FCM bridge. Piers that are vulnerable to seismic vibration are identified through numerical study of plastic hinges possibly occurring at the top and bottom of the piers. The fragility curve is obtained as a lognormal distribution function with respect to peak ground acceleration(PGA). The median and logarithmic standard deviation, which are two parameters of a lognormal distribution function, are estimated using the maximum likelihood method. In order to consider the different soil properties of each support, an equivalent spring based on the Korean Standard Specifications for Highway Bridges(KSSHB) is adopted in this study. For seismic fragility analysis, the rotational ductility demands of bridge piers are used as a damage index of the structure.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.37 no.6
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• pp.577-590
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• 2024

With increasing demand for nuclear power generation, nuclear structures are being planned and constructed worldwide. A grave safety concern is that these structures are sensitive to large-magnitude shaking, e.g., during earthquakes. Seismic response analysis, which requires P- and S-wave velocities, is a key element in nuclear structure design. Accordingly, it is important to determine the P- and S-wave velocities in the Gyeongju and Pohang regions of South Korea, which are home to nuclear power plants and have a history of seismic activity. P- and S-wave velocities can be obtained indirectly through a correlation with physical properties (e.g., N values, Young's modulus, and uniaxial compressive strength), and researchers worldwide have proposed regression equations. However, the Gyeongju and Pohang regions of Korea have not been considered in previous studies. Therefore, a database was constructed for these regions. The database includes physical properties such as N values and P- and S-wave velocities of the soil layer, as well as the uniaxial compressive strength, Young's modulus, and P- and S-wave velocities of the bedrock layer. Using the constructed database, the geological characteristics and distribution of physical properties of the study region were analyzed. Furthermore, models for predicting P- and S-wave velocities were developed for soil and bedrock layers in the Gyeongju and Pohang regions. In particular, the model for predicting the S-wave velocity for the soil layers was compared with models from previous studies, and the results indicated its effectiveness in predicting the S-wave velocity for the soil layers in the Gyeongju and Pohang regions using the N values. The proposed models for predicting P- and S-wave velocities will contribute to predicting the damage caused by earthquakes.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.52 no.1
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• pp.44-54
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• 2024

One of the serious modern environmental problems is pollution caused by highly toxic pesticides. Only small amounts of applied pesticides reach their target, and the rest ends up in soil and water. Chlorpyrifos is a toxic, broad-spectrum organophosphate insecticide. In humans, chlorpyrifos inhibits acetylcholinesterase (AChE) in the peripheral and central nervous system, and particularly in children, small amounts of this pesticide cause neurotoxic damage. As the toxic effects of chlorpyrifos and its persistence in the environment require its removal from contaminated sites, it is essential to study the biological diversity of chlorpyrifos-degrading microorganisms. In this study, we sought to determine the chlorpyrifos-degrading ability of the bacterial strain Ochrobactrum intermedium PDB-3. This strain was isolated from soil contaminated with various pesticides and identified as PDB-3 based on morpho-cultural characteristics, MALDI-TOF MS, and 16S rRNA. Studies were conducted for 30 days in sterile soils containing initial concentrations of 50, 75, 100, and 125 mg/kg of chlorpyrifos. To determine the degradation of chlorpyrifos, a liquid culture of the strain was added to the soil at three optical densities: 0, and after 24 and 48 h (OD = 0.03, 0.2 and 0.32). Using GX-MS, we determined that chlorpyrifos was converted to 3,5,6-trichloro-2-pyridinol (TCP). We also found that with increasing optical density, rapid degradation of the initial concentration of chlorpyrifos occurred. Sterile soil without strain PDB-3 was used as a control sample.

• Journal of the Earthquake Engineering Society of Korea
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• v.28 no.5
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• pp.233-247
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• 2024

The damage to structures during an earthquake can be varied depending on the frequency characteristics of seismic waves and the geological properties of the ground. Therefore, considering such attributes in the design ground motions is crucial. The Korean seismic design standard (KDS 17 10 00) provides design response spectra for various ground classifications. If required for time-domain analysis, ground motion time series can be either selected and adjusted from motions recorded at rock sites in intraplate regions or artificially synthesized. Ground motion time series at soil sites should be obtained from site response analysis. However, in practice, selecting suitable ground motion records is challenging due to the overall lack of large earthquakes in intraplate regions, and artificially synthesized time series often leads to unrealistic responses of structures. As an alternative approach, this study provides a case study of generating ground motion time series based on the hybrid broadband ground motion simulation of selected scenario earthquakes at sites in the Nakdonggang delta region. This research is significant as it provides a novel method for generating ground motion time series that can be used in seismic design and response analysis. For large-magnitude earthquake scenarios close to the epicenter, the simulated response spectra surpassed the 1000-year design response spectra in some specific frequency ranges. Subsequently, the acceleration time series at each location were used as input motions to perform nonlinear 1D site response analysis through the PySeismoSoil Package to account for the site response characteristics at each location. The results of the study revealed a tendency to amplify ground motion in the mid to long-period range in most places within the study area. Additionally, significant amplification in the short-period range was observed in some locations characterized by a thin soil layer and relatively high shear wave velocity soil near the upper bedrock.