• KCI Concrete Journal
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• v.14 no.4
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• pp.171-177
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• 2002

Antifungal agents are used to impart antibacterial or bactericidal properties to commodities and various articles used in industries and can be classified into two broad groups i.e organic and inorganic. Inorganic antifungal agents comprise of Ag, Zn, or Cu, etc. These elements tend to exhibit high level of antifungal activities, non-uniform dispersion in substrates, and have poor properties in expensive and cheap adhesiveness. In this study, the organic antifungal agent was used for the purpose of investigating the antifungal activity of antifungal agent activated-cement mortar (AACM) on the aspergilus niger of various fungus which can be easily discovered in the interiors and exteriors of buildings. In addition, an experiment on the basic physical properties of AACM such as compressive and flexural strength was carried out. The conclusion of this investigation revealed that a dosage increase of antifungal agent exhibits a high inhibitory effect on the aspergilus niger, and although there is a slight decrease in the strength of AACM, the strength of AACM was almost equal to that of inactivated cement mortar.

• Advances in concrete construction
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.29-45
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• 2018

This paper investigates the effect of inclusion of glass fibers on mechanical and fracture properties of binary blend geopolymer concrete produced by using fly ash and ground granulated blast furnace slag. To study the effect of glass fibers, the mix design parameters like binder content, alkaline solution/binder ratio, sodium hydroxide concentration and aggregate grading were kept constant. Four different volume fractions (0.1%, 0.2%, 0.3% and 0.4%) and two different lengths (6 mm, 13 mm) of glass fibers were considered in the present study. Three different notch-depth ratios (0.1, 0.2, and 0.3) were considered for determining the fracture properties. The test results indicated that the addition of glass fibers improved the flexural strength, split tensile strength, fracture energy, critical stress intensity factor and critical crack mouth opening displacement of geopolymer concrete. 13 mm fibers are found to be more effective than 6 mm fibers and the optimum dosage of glass fibers was found to be 0.3% (by volume of concrete). The study shows the enormous potential of glass fiber reinforced geopolymer concrete in structural applications.

• Computers and Concrete
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• v.18 no.6
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• pp.1065-1082
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• 2016

The main aim of this study is to predict the compressive and flexural strengths of self-compacting mortar (SCM) containing $nano-SiO_2$, $nano-Fe_2O_3$ and nano-CuO using wavelet-based weighted least squares-support vector machines (WLS-SVM) approach which is called WWLS-SVM. The WWLS-SVM regression model is a relatively new metamodel has been successfully introduced as an excellent machine learning algorithm to engineering problems and has yielded encouraging results. In order to achieve the aim of this study, first, the WLS-SVM and WWLS-SVM models are developed based on a database. In the database, nine variables which consist of cement, sand, NS, NF, NC, superplasticizer dosage, slump flow diameter and V-funnel flow time are considered as the input parameters of the models. The compressive and flexural strengths of SCM are also chosen as the output parameters of the models. Finally, a statistical analysis is performed to demonstrate the generality performance of the models for predicting the compressive and flexural strengths. The numerical results show that both of these metamodels have good performance in the desirable accuracy and applicability. Furthermore, by adopting these predicting metamodels, the considerable cost and time-consuming laboratory tests can be eliminated.

• Computers and Concrete
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.215-229
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• 2015

The emerging technology of self compacting concrete, fiber reinforcement together reduces vibration and substitute conventional reinforcement which help in improving the economic efficiency of the construction. The objective of this work is to find the regression model to determine the response surface of mix proportioning Steel Fiber Reinforced Self Compacting Concrete (SFSCC) using statistical investigation. A total of 30 mixtures were designed and analyzed based on Design of Experiment (DOE). The fresh properties of SCC and mechanical properties of concrete were studied using Response Surface Methodology (RSM). The results were analyzed by limited proportion of fly ash, fiber, volume combination ratio of two steel fibers with aspect ratio of 50/35: 60/30 and super plasticizer (SP) dosage. The center composite designs (CCD) have selected to produce the response in quadratic equation. The model responses included in the primary stage were flowing ability, filling ability, passing ability and segregation index whereas in harden stage of concrete, compressive strength, split tensile strength and flexural strength at 28 days were tested. In this paper, the regression model and the response surface plots have been discussed, and optimal results were found for all the responses.

• Journal of Pharmaceutical Investigation
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.167-172
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• 2000

The purpose of this study is to develop a transurethral liquid suppository containing prostaglandin $E_1\;(PGE_1)-loaded$ microemulsion, which undergoes a phase transition to gels at body temperature. The effects of oils, ethanol as solvent and HCl as pH-controlling agent on the physicochemical properties of liquid suppositories composed of poloxamer P 407, P 188 and carbopol was investigated. The stability of $PGE_1$ and release of $PGE_1$ from liquid suppository were evaluated. Oils such as Neobee and soybean oil significantly decreased the gelation temperature but increased the gel strength of liquid suppository due to their strongly binding with the components of liquid suppository base. However, ethanol slightly did the opposite. The pH of liquid suppositories hardly affected the gelation temperature and gel strength due to addition of very small HCl (0.005-0.01%). A liquid suppository [$PGE_1/P$ 407/P 188/carbopol/Neobee/ethanol/HCl (0.2/14/14/0.4/7/2/0.005%)], which had the gelation temperature $(34.2{\pm}0.6^{\circ}C)$ and gel strength $(31.35{\pm}4.37\;sec)$ suitable for liquid suppository system, was easily administered and not leak out from the body. About 60% of $PGE_1$ was released out within 2 h from this formulation. It was shown that the release of $PGE_1$ was proportional to the square root of time, indicating that $PGE_1$ might be released from the suppository by Fickian diffusion. It was stable at $4^{\circ}C$ for at least 2 months. The results suggest that transurethral liquid suppository containing prostaglandin $E_1-loaded$ microemulsion is thought to be a convenient, safe and effective dosage form for $PGE_1$. However, it should be further developed as a more convenient and stable dosage form for $PGE_1$.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.14 no.3
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• pp.72-80
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• 2007

The purpose of this study was to verify the effects on fine motor, muscle strength (hand-grip), explosive muscular strength (vertical jump) and muscular endurance (sit-up) after ingesting coffee. Hence this study targeted a sample group of 38 healthy men in their twenties, without cardiac disorders and muscle disorders and none of them were hypersensitive to caffeine with symptoms such as palpitation and dyspnea. Nineteen of them ingested coffee, whereas the other nineteen men ingested decaffeinated coffee at the same amount. The amount of coffee was controlled by weight so as to regulate intake to 6 mg caffeine per kg. Research material was evaluated through O'Conner's finger dexterity test, hand-grip strength test, vertical jump test and sit-up test. The data were analyzed by means of paired t-test and ANCOVA. The material was then, analyzed by means of two-way ANOVA in order to verify the effect of one or two cups of coffee on fine motor and hand-grip strength. All parameters were measured by an independent observer. The results were as follows: There were no significant differences to fine motor, hand-grip strength, vertical jump, sit-up before and after drinking decaffeinated coffee, but there was a difference to those before and after drinking caffeine coffee. There was no significant difference to hand dexterity and hand-grip strength in one or two cups of coffee. Intake of a certain dosage of caffeine effects activation of muscles working in a short period based on the results. As a consequence, intake of certain dosages of caffeine was beneficial to enhance efficiency of activity during exercises, but it is will be difficult to obtain the desired result with only one or two cups of coffee.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.33 no.1
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• pp.29-40
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• 2023

Xanthan gum and starch compound biopolymer (XS), an environmentally friendly soil-binding material produced from natural resources, has been suggested as a slope protection material to enhance soil strength and erosion resistance. Insufficient wet strength and the consequent durability concerns remain, despite XS biopolymer-soil treatment showing high strength and erosion resistance in the dried state, even with a small dosage of soil mass. These concerns need to be solved to improve the field applicability and post-stability of this treatment. This study explored the utilization of an alkaline-based cation crosslinking method using calcium hydroxide and sodium hydroxide to induce non-thermal gelation, resulting in the enhancement of the wet strength and durability of biopolymer-treated soil. Laboratory experiments were conducted to assess the unconfined compressive strength and cyclic wetting-drying durability performance of the treated soil using a selected recipe based on a preliminary gel formation test. The results demonstrated that the uniformity of the gel structure and gelling time varied depending on the ratio of crosslinkers to biopolymer; consequently, the strength of the soil was affected. Subsequently, site soil treated with the recipe, which showed the best performance in indoor assessment, was implemented on the field slope at the bridge abutment via compaction and pressurized spraying methods to assess feasibility in field implementation. Moreover, the variation in surface soil hardness was monitored periodically for one year. Both slopes implemented by the two construction methods showed sufficient stability against detachment and scouring, with a higher soil hardness index than the natural slope for a year.

• Resources Recycling
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.45-54
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• 2018

This study aimed to investigate the effects of mechanical factors such as agitation speed and air rate in fly ash flotation. Specifically, we used thermal power plant fly ash with unburned carbon content of 3.4 to 3.7%. The effect of pH, agitation speed, collector dosage, and frother dosage - the key factors of froth flotation - showed unburned carbon recovery and unburned carbon content of 63% and 34%, respectively, when the dosage of safflower oil used as collector was 800 g/ton, pH was 7, agitation speed was 1,200 rpm, and frother dosage was 400 g/ton. The SEM/EDS analysis of fly ash in that case indicated that the spherical fly ash particles lowered the unburned carbon content as they floated with the air bubbles without being dissolved in the unburned carbon or settled in the ore solution. The other experiment of changing the mechanical factors such as agitation speed and air rate resulted in unburned carbon recovery and unburned carbon content of 74% and 67%, respectively, at air rate of 8 L/min and agitation speed of 900 rpm. The recovery and unburned carbon content increased as the low agitation speed and additional air injection decreased the strength of the eddy current in the ore solution and consequently prevented the floating of fine fly ash particles with unburned carbon. In addition, the recovery rate and unburned carbon increased further to 80% and 70%, respectively, showing the best performance when the agitation speed and air rate were lowered to 800 rpm and 6 L/min, respectively.

• Journal of the Korea institute for structural maintenance and inspection
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.39-47
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• 2015

In this study, the properties of strength and drying shrinkage of alkali-activated slag cement (AASC) with magnesium oxide (MgO) contents between 0 and 16 wt% were investigated. The ground granulated furnace blast slag (GGBFS) was activated by potassium hydroxide (KOH) and dosage of activator was 2M and 4M. The MgO was replaced with 2% to 16% of GGBFS by weight. The water-binder ratio (w/b) was 0.5. In the result, the higher MgO content leads to a slightly higher degree of reaction and thus to a higher compressive strength at all ages. The compressive strength and ultra sonic velocity (UPV) increased with increases MgO contents. The drying shrinkage of AASC was decreased as the contents of MgO increases. The results from SEM confirmed that there were densified reaction product of higher MgO content specimens.

• Journal of the Korean Recycled Construction Resources Institute
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• v.4 no.3
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• pp.299-306
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• 2016

In this research, influence of low quality aggregate on engineering properties of concrete was evaluated experimentally. From the experiment, the fresh properties of slump and air content were controlled with unit water and AE dosage and all mixture were designed to have similar fresh properties of slump and air content with various quality of aggregate. Under this conditions, comparing with the mixture with high quality aggregate, the mixture with low quality aggregate showed the unit water and AE dosage were increased about 18 and 98%, respectively, because of poor grading and quantity of fines. For compressive strength, the low quality aggregate, specifically, exploded debris, clay sand, and sea sand contributed on decreasing compressive strength about 20~35%. Additionally, the concrete mixture including low quality fine and coarse aggregate showed adverse quality in not only compressive strength but also durability of freeze-thawing resistance, drying shrinkage, carbonation, and chloride ingression. Therefore, it is considered that for low quality aggregate, extra treatment processes such as washing or controlling gradation, and regulation to limit the use of low quality aggregate are needed.