• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.6 no.6
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• pp.459-477
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• 2006

A theoretical research project is undertaken to develop integrated analysis and design tools for long span composite beams in modern high-rise buildings, and it aims to develop non-linear finite element models for practical design of composite beams. As the first paper in the series, this paper presents the development study as well as the calibration exercise of the proposed finite element models for simply supported composite beams. Other practical issues such as continuous composite beams, the provision of web openings for passage of building services, the partial continuity offered by the connections to columns as well as the behaviour of both unprotected and protected composite beams under fires will be reported separately. In this paper, details of the finite elements and the material models for both steel and reinforced concrete are first described, and finite element studies of composite beams with full details of test data are then presented. It should be noted that in the proposed finite element models, both steel beams and concrete slabs are modelled with two dimensional plane stress elements whose widths are assigned to be equal to the widths of concrete flanges, and the flange widths and the web thicknesses of steel beams as appropriate. Moreover, each shear connector is modelled with one horizontal spring and one vertical spring to simulate its longitudinal shear and pull-out actions based on measured load-slippage curves of push-out tests of shear connectors. The numerical results are then carefully analyzed and compared with the corresponding test results in terms of load mid-span deflection curves as well as load end-slippage curves. Other deformation characteristics of the composite beams such as stress and strain distributions across the composite cross-sections as well as distributions of shear forces and slippages in shear connectors along the beam spans are also examined in details. It is shown that the numerical results of the composite beams compare well with the test data in terms of various load-deformation characteristics along the entire deformation ranges. Hence, the proposed analysis and design tools are considered to be simple and yet effective for composite beams with practical geometrical dimensions and arrangements. Structural engineers are strongly encouraged to employ the models in their practical work to exploit the full advantages offered by composite construction.

• Journal of the Korean earth science society
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• v.28 no.6
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• pp.699-706
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• 2007

The purpose of this study is to examine the perceptions of pre-service teachers, which directly affect the concepts and ways of thinking of students who are studying Earth science. This work further seeks to identify pre-service Earth science teachers' Earth science-centered ways of thinking regarding the components and the process of water cycle. The concept sketch method was used to survey 50 pre-service teachers who majored in Earth science education at a National Teachers' University. The survey analyzed the preservice teachers' perceptions of a subordinate concept of Earth systems from the applied components of water cycle, and to code the applied concepts with the components of the water cycle based on a subordinate concept of Earth systems including Hydrosphere, Atmosphere, Geosphere, and Biosphere. The preservice teachers only perceived the components of the water cycle as ones in Hydrosphere and Atmosphere. In Biosphere, many participants lack the knowledge about how the actions of plants and animals, and human beings impact the water cycle. About the process of water cycle, the majority of the participants only perceived evaporation and precipitation as the process of cycling: their understanding about the underground flow of water was more lacking than the surface flow.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Safety
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• v.35 no.6
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• pp.15-24
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• 2020

With the development of the chemical industry, the chemical accident is increasing every year, thereby increasing the risk of accidents caused by chemicals. The Ministry of Environment provides the criteria for determining shelter-in-place or outdoor evacuation by material, duration of accident, and distance from the toxic substance leak. However, it is hard to say that the criteria for determining the transition point are not clear. Transition point mean the time that evacuation method is switched from shelter-in-place to outdoor evacuation. So, the purpose of this study was to calculate appropriate transition point by comparing the cumulative toxic load. Namdong-gu in Incheon Metropolitan City was finally selected as the target area, considering the current status of the population of Incheon Metropolitan City in 2016 and the statistical survey of chemicals in 2016. The target materials were HCl, HF, and NH₃. Modeling was simulated by ALOHA and performed assuming that the entire amount would be leaked for 10 min. Residents' evacuation scenarios were assumed to be shelter-in-place, immediate outdoor evacuation, and outdoor evacuation at an appropriate time after shelter-in-place. Based on the above method, the appropriate transition point from residents located in A(800 m away), B(1,200 m away), C(1,400 m away) and D(2,200 m away) was identified. In HCl, appropriate transition point was after 15 min, after 16 min, after 17 min, after 20 min in order by A, B, C and D. In HF, appropriate transition point was before 1 min or after 16 min, before 4 min or after 19 min, before 5 min or after 20 min, before 14 min or after 26 min in order by A, B, C and D. In NH₃, appropriate transition point at A was before 4 min or after 16. Others are not in chemical cloud. This study confirmed the transition point to minimize the cumulative toxic load can be obtained by quantitative method. Through this, it might be possible to select evacuation method quantitatively that cumulative toxic load are minimal. In addition, if the shelter-in-place is maintained without transition to outdoor evacuation, the cumulative toxic load will increase more than outdoor evacuation. Therefore, it was confirmed that actions to reduce the concentration of chemicals in the room were necessary, such as conducting ventilation after the chemical cloud passed through the site.

• Journal of Radiation Protection and Research
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.215-223
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• 2003

Against major release of radioactive material in nuclear power plant, Emergency Planning Zone(EPZ)s are typically established around nuclear power plants to effectively perform the public protective measures. The domestic methodology to determine the size of the EPZ is similar to that of Japan established in 1980, where calculations were based on the conservative accident source term. The objective of this study is to re-evaluate the validity of established EPZ, the area within the radius of $8{\sim}10km$ around domestic nuclear power plants, using the source terms covering full spectrum of accidents obtained from PSA study of ULJIN 3&4. To evaluate the risks of health effects, the computer code MACCS2(MELCOR Accident Consequence Code System2) was used. The result shows that the existing EPZ can reduce the probability of early fatality adequately for most of the source term categories(STCs) except for STC-14 and STC-19. In case of STC-14 and 19, the evacuation distance of 16km and 13km, respectively, are required. These distances can be reduced by improving emergency preparedness since the sensitivity studies for the public protective actions show that the magnitude of early fatality is largely affected by the time delays in notification and evacuation.

• Journal of Digital Convergence
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• v.18 no.6
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• pp.451-457
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• 2020

In this study, the degree of motion sickness displayed according to actions in virtual reality is measured based on the SSQ tool, a measuring tool, and factors and symptoms affecting cyber motion sickness are investigated through comparative analysis. In the first experiment, the operation method experiment, the simple operation method is measured to be highly affected by the Nausea factor. As symptoms of this, nausea, burp and headache symptoms were developed. In the second experiment, the larger the body rotation radius, the higher the motion sickness was measured, and the greater the influence of Nausea factors. Symptoms of this were the symptoms of burping, headaches, and a full head. In the third experiment, the physical mobility experiment, motion sickness was measured highly in the non-action controller. It was measured to be greatly affected by the Nausea factor. Symptoms of this include fever, headache, and a full head. Through this study, we found that the more fixed and simple the body is operated in virtual reality, the more sensitive the user is to motion sickness, and the larger the radius of rotation, the more sensitive it is to motion sickness. This study is meaningful in identifying factors and symptoms that affect motion sickness and VR manipulation, and is expected to be used by developers in the future to recognize the degree and symptoms of motion sickness of users and to develop content.

• Journal of the Korean Geographical Society
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• v.49 no.2
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• pp.113-138
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• 2014

Despite the growing numbers of regional problems (e.g. conflicts between the state and localities, inter-local conflicts, etc.) associated with the state-led developmental projects, the Korean social sciences have been unable to offer satisfying explanations and solutions to the regional problems. This is mainly because the existing works, which have been taken captured by the assumptions of "methodological nationalism", significantly lack the socio-spatial understandings of the state actions and the relations between the state and localities, thereby seeing the issues of regional development mainly in terms of either the economic efficiency defined at the national scale, or the plan rationality of the national bureaucrats. With this problem orientation in mind, this paper aims to explore the ways in which the state and localities are interacting, conflicting and negotiating with one another through the mediation of the state-led developmental projects. Focusing on the developmental processes of Masan Export Processing Zone from the mid-1960s to the early 1970s, it examines the multi-scalar processes through which the state-led industrial complex developmental processes have been influenced by the complex and dynamic interactions among social forces and actors acting at diverse geographical scales (e.g. the global, national, local, urban, etc.). This analysis shows that the regional policies of the Korean developmental state were more heavily influenced by the interactions, contestations, and collaborations among social forces and actors, acting in and through the state, at various geographical scales, rather than by the economic and techno-bureaucratic rationality.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.32 no.6
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• pp.482-490
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• 2022

Sarcopenia, a geriatric and multifactorial syndrome characterized by progressive systemic skeletal muscle disorder, may be associated with many comorbidities. Sarcopenia caused by a decrease in muscle mass and muscle strength is accompanied by the aggravation of various pathological conditions, and as life expectancy increases, its prevalence will continue to increase in the future. During the aging process, chronic oxidative stress and increased inflammatory responses act as major contributors to skeletal muscle loss. In addition, disruption of autophagy and apoptosis signals associated with dysfunction of mitochondria, which are essential for energy metabolism, accelerates the loss of muscle proteins. The pharmacological effect of cordycepin, a major physiologically active substance in the genus Cordyceps, which has been widely used for the prevention and treatment of various diseases for a long time, is directly related to its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory actions. In this review, we present the correlation between apoptosis, autophagy, protein catabolism, and satellite cell activity important for muscle regeneration using cordycepin for the prevention and treatment of sarcopenia. Although there have been few studies so far on the use of cordycepin for sarcopenia, previous studies suggest that cordycepin may contribute to inhibiting the age-related weakening of mitochondrial function and blocking the breakdown of muscle proteins. In addition, the protective effect of cordycepin on muscle cell damage is considered to be closely related to its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities. Therefore, it is considered that more continuous basic research is needed, focusing on the molecular biological mechanism of cordycepin, which is involved in the anti-aging of muscle cells.

• Journal of Radiation Protection and Research
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• v.47 no.4
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• pp.237-245
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• 2022

Background: The current study reports measurements of activity concentrations of radon (²²⁰Rn) and thoron (²²⁰Rn) in dwellings, followed by inhalation dose assessment of the public, and then by the development of regulation and the national radon action plan (NRAP) in Cameroon. Materials and Methods: Radon, thoron, and thoron progeny measurements were carried out from 2014 to 2017 using radon-thoron discriminative detectors (commercially RADUET) in 450 dwellings and thoron progeny monitors in 350 dwellings. From 2019 to 2020, radon track detectors (commercially RADTRAK) were deployed in 1,400 dwellings. It was found that activity concentrations of radon range in 1,850 houses from 10 to 2,620 Bq/㎥ with a geometric mean of 76 Bq/㎥. Results and Discussion: Activity concentrations of thoron range from 20 to 700 Bq/㎥ with a geometric mean of 107 Bq/㎥. Thoron equilibrium factor ranges from 0.01 to 0.6, with an arithmetic mean of 0.09 that is higher than the default value of 0.02 given by UNSCEAR. On average, 49%, 9%, and 2% of all surveyed houses have radon concentrations above 100, 200, and 300 Bq/㎥, respectively. The average contribution of thoron to the inhalation dose due to radon and thoron exposure is about 40%. Thus, thoron cannot be neglected in dose assessment to avoid biased results in radio-epidemiological studies. Only radon was considered in the drafted regulation and in the NRAP adopted in October 2020. Reference levels of 300 Bq/㎥ and 1,000 Bq/㎥ were recommended for dwellings and workplaces. Conclusion: Priority actions for the coming years include the following: radon risk mapping, promotion of a protection policy against radon in buildings, integration of the radon prevention and mitigation into the training of construction specialists, mitigation of dwellings and workplaces with high radon levels, increased public awareness of the health risks associated with radon, and development of programs on the scientific and technical aspects.

• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.216-223
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• 2022

Objectives: Oxidative stress plays a key role in chronic and acute brain disorders and neuronal damage associated with Alzheimer disease (AD) and other neurodegeneration symptoms. The neuroprotective effects of berberine and Berberis vulgaris (barberry) root extract against apoptosis induced by hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) in the human SH-SY5Y cell line were studied. Methods: The methanolic extraction of barberry root was performed using a maceration procedure. Oxidative stress was induced in SH-SY5Y cells by H₂O₂, and an MTT assay was applied to evaluate the neuroprotective effects of berberine and barberry root extract. The cells were pretreated with the half maximal inhibitory concentration (IC₅₀) of each compound (including berberine, barberry root extract, and H₂O₂), and the anti-apoptotic effects of all components were investigated using RT-PCR. Results: The SH-SY5Y cell viability increased in both groups exposed to 75 and 150 ppm barberry extract compared with that in the H₂O₂-treated group. The data showed that exposing SH-SY5Y cells to 30 ppm berberine significantly increased the cell viability compared with the H₂O₂-treated group; treatment with 150 and 300 ppm berberine and H₂O₂ significantly decreased the SH-SY5Y cell viability and was associated with berberine cytotoxicity. The mRNA levels of Bax decreased significantly under treatment with berberine at 30 ppm compared with the control group. A significant increase in Bcl-2 expression was observed only after treatment with the IC₅₀ of berberine. The expression level of Bcl-2 in cells exposed to both berberine and barberry extracts was also significantly higher than that in cells exposed to H₂O₂. Conclusion: The outcomes of this study suggest that treatment of SH-SY5Y cells with barberry extract and berberine could suppress apoptosis by regulating the actions of Bcl-2 family members.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.31 no.7
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• pp.631-640
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• 2021

Houttuynia cordata Thunberg has been studied for a variety of pharmacological actions in traditional oriental medicine. In this study, we investigated the effects of Houttuynia cordata ethanol extract (HCE) on benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) models induced by castration and testosterone propionate (TP) injection. Thirty rats were divided into six groups. One group was used as a normal control, and the other groups were castrated and had intraperitoneal injections of TP for 14 days to induce BPH. A positive control group was given daily doses of finasteride (5 mg/kg) to the BPH model. Rats administered HCE (0.5, 1 or 2 mg/kg) instead of finasteride were compared with controls as experimental groups. There was no statistical significance in terms of prostate weight based on 100 g of body weight. The concentrations of 5-α reductase and dehydroxytestosteronre (DHT) were determined via ELISA tests, and there was a significant decrease in all experimental groups. The 0.5 mg/kg HCE group had the lowest level of 5-α reductase, and the 2 mg/kg HCE group had the lowest level of DHT. In the histopathological observation of prostates, the control and the 2 mg/kg HCE groups had normal cell shapes and no swelling. However, in the negative control group and the 1 mg/kg HCE group, the cells were swollen, and the gap between the cells was narrowed. In particular, in the 0.5 mg/kg HCE group, some cells were bursting. Therefore, the administration of more than 2 mg/kg of HCE is suitable to protect against BPH.