• Journal of Nuclear Fuel Cycle and Waste Technology(JNFCWT)
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.149-164
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• 2023

As part of the safety case development for generic disposal sites in Korea, it is necessary to develop generic assessment models using various geosphere-biosphere interfaces (GBIs) and potentially exposed groups (PEGs) that reflect the natural environmental characteristics and the lifestyles of people in Korea. In this study, a unique modeling strategy was developed to systematically construct and select Korean generic biosphere assessment models. The strategy includes three process steps (combination, screening, and experts' scoring) for the biosphere system conditions. First, various conditions, such as climate, topography, GBIs, and PEGs, were combined in the biosphere system. Second, the combined calculation cases were configured into interrelation matrices to screen out some calculation cases that were highly unlikely or less significant in terms of the exposure dose. Finally, the selected calculation cases were prioritized based on expert judgment by scoring the knowledge, probability, and importance. The results of this study can be implemented in the development of biosphere assessment models for Korean generic sites. It is believed that this systematic methodology for selecting the candidate calculation cases can contribute to increasing the confidence of future site-specific biosphere assessment models.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Environmental Restoration Technology
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• v.2 no.2
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• pp.78-87
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• 1999

This study was aimed to establish the method and process of the Biotope Mapping System.(B.M.S.) The main aspects of research for biotope were divided by 4 schemes such as biosphere, geosphere, antroposphere and evaluation informations. The cartographic function of GIS(geographic information system) was also used to mapping them. The B.M.S. had been progressed with 5 steps : (1) making research goals, (2) constructing the graphic and attribute databases, (3) classifying 3 types of biotope such as tree/shrub biotop, grass biotop and wetland biotop. (4) cross-analyzing biotope types against land use, habitat characters, relief characters and danger/disturbance elements, (5) evaluating the biotope's potentialities. Only 3 steps of them were done in this study. The results of applicating the B.M.S on the research site as followings : 1. The interdisciplinary researches were needed to develop the B.M.S in Korea since ecological habitat conditions of Germany, England are differed from them of Korea. 2. The distributions of the land uses in Maejuri, Seunghwan eup in Chonan city were mainly recorded by forest(29.82%), orchard(14.11%) and landscaping around building site(9.05%). 3. The percentages of the Tree/Shrub Biotope type were ranged by the orchard type(23.8%), natural and artificial deciduous type with natural coniferous(23.6%) and etc. 4. The Grass Biotope type was mainly recorded by the wild grassland type(27.99%), garden type(14.21%) and peddy field with wild grassland(13.24%). 5. The distributions of the wetland were pointed high at the wetland type with reed marsh and edge vegetation around wetland(54.79%) and etc.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Clothing and Textiles
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• v.38 no.3
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• pp.372-385
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• 2014

Lignin is an abundant natural polymer in the biosphere and second only to cellulose; however, it is under-utilized and considered a waste. In this study, lignin was fabricated into nanofibers via electrospinning. The critical parameters that affected the electrospinnability and morphology of the resulting fibers were examined with the aim to utilize lignin as a resource for a new textile material. Poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) was added as a carrier polymer to facilitate the fiber formation of lignin, and the electrospun fibers were deposited on polyester (PET) nonwoven substrate. Eleven lignin/PVA hybrid solutions with a different lignin to PVA mass ratio were prepared and then electrospun to find an optimum concentration. Lignin nano-fibers were electrospun under a variety of conditions such as various feed rates, needle gauges, electric voltage, and tip-to-collector distances in order to find an optimum spinning condition. We found that the optimum concentration for electrospinning was a 5wt% PVA precursor solution upon the addition of lignin with the mass ratio of PVA:lignin=1:5.6. The viscosity of the lignin/PVA hybrid solution was determined as an important parameter that affected the electrospinning process; in addition, the interrelation between the viscosity of hybrid solution and the electrospinnability was examined. The solution viscosity increased with lignin loading, but exhibited a shear thinning behavior beyond a certain concentration that resulted in needle clogging. A steep increase in viscosity was also noted when the electrospun system started to form fibers. Consequently, the viscosity range to produce bead-free lignin nanofibers was revealed. The energy dispersive X-ray analysis confirmed that lignin remained after being transformed into nanofibers. The results indicate the possibility of developing a new fiber material that utilizes biomass with resulting fibers that can be applied to various applications such as filtration to wound dressing.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Environmental Restoration Technology
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• v.2 no.1
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• pp.48-57
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• 1999

This study was aimed to establish biotop unit of the mixed rural city for the method and process of the biotop mapping system. Survey site was Maejuri of Seunghwan(158ha), Gisanri of Mokchon(132ha) and Namkwanri, Pungsemeon(214ha). So the main process was divided by 4 schemes such as Biosphere, Geosphere, Antrosphere and Evaluation. Also the GIS(geographic information system) was used to make the database of the biotop and biotop complex, analyze the cross-combinations and analyze the characters of the biotop. Biotop mapping system had 5 steps which were proceeded with research goals, constructing the spatial database and attribute database, classifying the 3 types of biotop such as tree/shrub biotop, grass biotop and wetland biotop, cross-analyzing 3 biotop types with land use, habitat characters, relief characters and danger/disturbance elements and evaluating the 3 types of biotop. The results of applicating the biotop mapping system on the research site as followings : The distributions of the land uses in Maejuri, Seunghwan eup in Chonan city were recorded by forest(29.8%), orchard(14.1%) and landscaping around building site(9.0%). Gisanri, Mokchonmeon were composed of forest(64.5%), farm(12.8%) and Namkwanri, Pungsemeon were concentrated rice field(39.6%), dwell district(22.4%). The Tree/Shrub biotop type was reclassed by the forest type, natural and artificial decidous type with natural coniferous. The Grass biotop type was reclassed by the wild grassland type, garden type and peddy field with wild grassland. The distributions of the wet land were pointed high at the wet land type with reed marsh and edge vegetation around wet land in reservoir and river. The evaluation of the mapped bitopes was completed to the following aspect, "amenity" and "environmental education". A high value of 7.13%(1 class) was shown Maejuri, Seunghwan eup. The regions which were studied synthetically are divided to three parts ; the area where have nature and art mixed(Seunghwan), the area which is more artificial because people inhabit there for a long time(Pungsemeon) and the area that ecological environment is threatened by development pressure(Mokchonmeon). Therefore, ecological restoration plan which depends on specific property of the regions should be established. Also the interdisplinary researches were needed to develop the BMS(Biotop Mapping System) in Korea because of the differences with Germany, England's ecological habitat conditions.

• Journal of Bio-Environment Control
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• v.14 no.3
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• pp.218-231
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• 2005

This paper reviews the engineering approach needed to support humans during their long-term missions in space. This approach includes closed plant production systems under microgravity or low pressure, mass recycling, air revitalization, water purification, waste management, elimination of trace contaminants, lighting, and nutrient delivery systems in controlled ecological life support system (CELSS). Requirements of crops f3r space use are high production, edibility, digestibility, many culinary uses, capability of automation, short stems, and high transpiration. Low pressure on Mars is considered to be a major obstacle for the design of greenhouses fer crop production. However interest in Mars inflatable greenhouse applicable to planetary surface has increased. Structure, internal pressure, material, method of lighting, and shielding are principal design parameters for the inflatable greenhouse. The inflatable greenhouse operating at low pressure can reduce the structural mass and atmosphere leakage rate. Plants growing at reduced pressure show an increasing transpiration rates and a high water loss. Vapor pressure increases as moisture is added to the air through transpiration or evaporation from leaks in the hydroponic system. Fluctuations in vapor pressure will significantly influence total pressure in a closed system. Thus hydroponic systems should be as tight as possible to reduce the quantity of water that evaporates from leaks. And the environmental control system to maintain high relative humidity at low pressure should be developed. The essence of technologies associated with CELSS can support human lift even at extremely harsh conditions such as in deserts, polar regions, and under the ocean on Earth as well as in space.

• Korean Journal of Heritage: History & Science
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• v.52 no.1
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• pp.272-287
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• 2019

The Korean Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) was established in 1953 by the Korean War Armistice Agreement. It extends from the estuary of the Imjin River, in the west, to the coast of the East Sea. It is 4 km in width and 148 km in length. However, the ecosystems of the civilian control zone (CCZ) located between the southern border of the DMZ and the civilian control line (CCL) and the CCZ in the estuary of the Han River and the Yellow Sea are similar to those in the DMZ, and, therefore, the ecosystems of the DMZ and the CCZ are collectively known as the "ecosystems of the DMZ and its vicinities." The flora in the DMZ and its vicinities is composed of 1,864 species, which accounts for about 42% of all the vascular plant species on the Korean Peninsula and its affiliated islands. Conducting a detailed survey on the vegetation, flora, and fauna in the DMZ is almost impossible due to the presence of landmines and limitations on the time allowed to be spent in the DMZ. However, to assess the environmental impact of the Munsan-Gaesong railroad reconstruction project, it was possible to undertake a limited vegetation survey within the DMZ in 2001. The vegetation in Jangdan-myeon, in Paju City within the DMZ, was very simple. It was mostly secondary forests dominated by oaks such as Quercus mongolica, Q. acutissima, and Q. variabilis. The other half of the DMZ in Jangdan-myeon was occupied by grassland composed of tall grasses such as Miscanthus sinensis, M. sacchariflorus, and Phragmites japonica. Contrary to the expectation that the DMZ may be covered with pristine mature forests due to more than 60 years of no human interference, the vegetation in the DMZ was composed of simple secondary forests and grasslands formed on former rice paddies and agricultural fields. At present, the only legal protection system planned for the DMZ is the Natural Environment Conservation Act, which ensures that the DMZ would be managed as a nature reserve for only two years following Korean reunification. Therefore, firstly, the DMZ should be designated as a site of domestic legally protected areas such as nature reserve (natural monument), scenic site, national park, etc. In addition, we need to try to designate the DMZ as a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve or as a World Heritage site, or as a Ramsar international wetland for international cooperation. For nomination as a world heritage site, we can emphasize the ecological and landscape value of the wetlands converted from the former rice paddies and the secondary forests maintained by frequent fires initiated by military activities. If the two Koreas unexpectedly reunite without any measures in place for the protection of nature in the DMZ, the conditions prior to the Korean War, such as rice paddies and villages, will return. In order to maintain the current condition of the ecosystems in the DMZ, we have to discuss and prepare for measures including the retention of mines and barbed-wire fences, the construction of roads and railroads in the form of tunnels or bridges, and the maintenance of the current fire regime in the DMZ.

• Journal of Nuclear Fuel Cycle and Waste Technology(JNFCWT)
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.73-86
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• 2015

The use of complimentary indicators, other than radiation dose and risk, to assess the safety of radioactive waste disposal has been discussed in a number of publications for providing the reasonable assurance of disposal safety and convincing the public audience. In this study, the radionuclide flux was selected as performance indicator to appraise the performance of engineered barriers and natural barrier in the Wolsong low- and intermediate-level waste disposal facility. Radionuclide flux showing the retention capability by each compartment of the disposal system is independent of assumptions in biosphere model and exposure pathways. The scenario considered as the normal scenario of disposal facility has been divided into intact or degraded silo concrete conditions. In the intact silo concrete, the radionuclide flux has been assessed with respect to the radionuclide retardation performance of each engineered barrier. In the degraded silo concrete, the radionuclide flux has been explored based on the performance degradation of engineered barriers and the relative significance of natural barrier quantitatively. The results can be used to optimally design the near-surface disposal facility being planned as the second project phase. In the future, additional complimentary indicators will be employed for strengthening the safety case for improving the public acceptance of low- and intermediate-level waste disposal facility.