• International conference on construction engineering and project management
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• 2013.01a
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• pp.640-647
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• 2013

Building Information Modelling (BIM) has become the new international benchmark for efficiency in design, construction and maintenance of buildings. It is the platform that brings about collaboration between project stakeholders and improvement of project outcomes. With all its potentials, not much of the impact of BIM technologies has been felt in the Nigerian construction industry. This research aimed at assessing the readiness of the Nigerian building design firms to adopt BIM technologies. The research was exploratory in nature. A field survey was conducted with the use of structured questionnaire, self administered to a sample of building design consultancy firms (architectural, structural, M&E, quantity surveying, and multi-disciplinary design firms) within Abuja and Kaduna. The questionnaire sought the perception of the responding firms on the factors affecting BIM adoption in the Nigerian construction industry, and their level of readiness to adopt BIM technologies in their practices based on the four categories of readiness-management, people, process and technology. 42.26% response rate was achieved and used for analysis. ANOVA and DUNCAN post-hoc tests were used to establish the differences between the responses of the groups of firms, while means and standard deviations were obtained to establish the important factors affecting BIM adoption in Nigeria. The survey revealed that all the groups of Nigerian design firms are appreciably ready for the adoption of BIM technologies in their practice, with slight variations in their respective levels of readiness. 'Lack of awareness of BIM technology among professionals' and clients and 'lack of knowledgeable and experienced partners' were identified as the most important barriers of BIM adoption in Nigeria; while the most significant drivers are 'availability of well trained professionals' and 'cooperation and commitment of professional bodies to the adoption'. Education and training of building design professionals and cooperation of all stakeholders in the design and construction supply chain were recommended as part of measures to ensure successful adoption of BIM in the Nigerian construction industry.

• Journal of dental hygiene science
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.330-342
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• 2023

Background: As the medical knowledge base grows at an accelerating rate, evidence-based clinical performance becomes increasingly important for providing quality care. Previous studies have highlighted the need to promote job crafting to actualize evidence-based practical skills in the medical field. This study aimed to investigate the degree of evidence-based practice among dental hygienists and assess the impact of job crafting on the evidence-based practical skills of dental hygienists. Methods: Dental hygienists working at dental hospitals and clinics in Seoul and Gyeonggi Province were surveyed between February 28 and April 6, 2023. The sample was comprised of 267 participants. The hypotheses were tested independent t-tests, one-way analysis of variance, Pearson's correlation coefficients, and multiple regression analyses using SPSS 29.0. Results: The degree of job crafting by dental hygienists demonstrated significant differences based on educational attainment, workplace size, and workplace type. Evidence-based practical skills exhibited significant variations based on educational attainment and job position. All job crafting subfactors demonstrated positive correlations with evidence-based practical skills. The job crafting subfactors affecting the evidence-based practical skills of dental hygienists were 'increasing structural job resources' and 'increasing challenging job demands,' which together explained 38.7% of the variance in evidence-based practical skills. Conclusion: This study demonstrates that job crafting was positively and significantly correlated with evidence-based practical skills. To strengthen the job crafting ability of dental hygienists, improving environmental conditions and fostering an organizational culture that motivates continued participation in education is necessary. The development and promotion of programs that enable learning of the latest evidence should be actively pursued. Additionally, regular attendance at workshops and participation in organizational evidence-based practice education programs are necessary.

• International Journal of Computer Science & Network Security
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.59-70
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• 2024

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic (the form of coronaviruses) developed at the end of 2019 and spread rapidly to almost every corner of the world. It has infected around 25,334,339 of the world population by the end of September 1, 2020 [1] . It has been spreading ever since, and the peak specific to every country has been rising and falling and does not seem to be over yet. Currently, the conventional RT-PCR testing is required to detect COVID-19, but the alternative method for data archiving purposes is certainly another choice for public departments to make. Researchers are trying to use medical images such as X-ray and Computed Tomography (CT) to easily diagnose the virus with the aid of Artificial Intelligence (AI)-based software. Method: This review paper provides an investigation of a newly emerging machine-learning method used to detect COVID-19 from X-ray images instead of using other methods of tests performed by medical experts. The facilities of computer vision enable us to develop an automated model that has clinical abilities of early detection of the disease. We have explored the researchers' focus on the modalities, images of datasets for use by the machine learning methods, and output metrics used to test the research in this field. Finally, the paper concludes by referring to the key problems posed by identifying COVID-19 using machine learning and future work studies. Result: This review's findings can be useful for public and private sectors to utilize the X-ray images and deployment of resources before the pandemic can reach its peaks, enabling the healthcare system with cushion time to bear the impact of the unfavorable circumstances of the pandemic is sure to cause

• Journal of Soil and Groundwater Environment
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.72-83
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• 2024

Most of the slags generated from steel-making industry in Korea are recycled into media-contact aggregates such as fill and cover materials. For their use as media-contact aggregates, the slags must meet not only the waste quality criteria, but also the Daphnia magna acute toxicity test criteria. In this study, Korean Leaching Test ES 06150.e (Korea), Japanese Leaching Test JIS K 0058-1(Japan), Detuch Leaching Test DIN 19529 (Germany), Toxicity Characteristic Leaching Procedure (USA) were conducted for batch leaching test of slags from 6 Korean steel-making companies. In addition, Korean Standard up-flow percolation test (ES 06151.1) mimicking field conditions was conducted to assess the impact of the slag leachate on the surrounding environment indirectly. Heavy metals such as Cr⁶⁺ and Zn²⁺ were detected from both extractant and leachate samples, but all of them did not exceed waste quality criteria of each country. However, Daphnia magna acute toxicity tests using the leachate samples from up-flow percolation test with slag alone and slag/natural soil conditions exceeded ecotoxicity standard (TU=2) due to their high pH (11.3-12.5). After neutralizing the pH of the slag leachate to 6.5~8.5, the Daphnia magna mortality and immobilization were reduced to satisfy ecotoxicity standard. As the reducing pH of slag leachate would be extremely difficult, appropriate recycling management considering the physicochemical characteristics of he slags should be stuided further.

• Journal of the Korean GEO-environmental Society
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• v.25 no.6
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• pp.13-17
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• 2024

The general soil nailing method, which is currently used domestically and internationally to stabilize the slopes of sandy slopes, is to form a kind of gravity-type retaining wall by drilling the ground and grouting it with a single steel bar. This method can reduce construction costs, ease of construction, relative strength and displacement, and is highly efficient. The difference between grouting and rebar adhesion to the yield pullout force and the difference between the amount of deformation in relation to the same pullout resistance was analyzed through field tests to identify engineering excellence, and in terms of construction cost, the reduction effect was evaluated by analyzing the difference in the number of drillings and the impact on the overall construction cost, such as material cost, when the same strength constant is applied to the ground with the same resistance.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.37 no.3
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• pp.218-232
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• 2024

Background: Cynara scolymus has bioactive constituents and has been used for therapeutic actions. The present study was undertaken to investigate the mechanisms underlying pain-relieving effects of the hydroethanolic extract of C. scolymus (HECS). Methods: The antinociceptive activity of HECS was assessed through formalin and acetic acid-induced writhing tests at doses of 50, 100 and 200 mg/kg intraperitoneally. Additionally, naloxone (non-selective opioid receptors antagonist, 2 mg/kg), atropine (non-selective muscarinic receptors antagonist, 1 mg/kg), chlorpheniramine (histamine H₁-receptor antagonist, 20 mg/kg), cimetidine (histamine H₂-receptor antagonist, 12.5 mg/kg), flumazenil (GABA_A/BDZ receptor antagonist, 5 mg/kg) and cyproheptadine (serotonin receptor antagonist, 4 mg/kg) were used to determine the systems implicated in HECS-induced analgesia. Impact of HECS on locomotor activity was executed by open-field test. Determination of total phenolic content (TPC) and total flavonoid content (TFC) was done. Evaluation of antioxidant activity was conducted employing 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) free radical scavenging assay. Results: HECS (50, 100 and 200 mg/kg) significantly indicated dose dependent antinociceptive activity against pain-related behavior induced by formalin and acetic acid (P < 0.001). Pretreatment with naloxone, atropine and flumazenil significantly reversed HECS-induced analgesia. Antinociceptive effect of HECS remained unaffected by chlorpheniramine, cimetidine and cyproheptadine. Locomotor activity was not affected by HECS. TPC and TFC of HECS were 59.49 ± 5.57 mgGAE/g dry extract and 93.39 ± 17.16 mgRE/g dry extract, respectively. DPPH free radical scavenging activity (IC₅₀) of HECS was 161.32 ± 0.03 ㎍/mL. Conclusions: HECS possesses antinociceptive activity which is mediated via opioidergic, cholinergic and GABAergic pathways.

• Journal of the Korea institute for structural maintenance and inspection
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• v.13 no.4 s.56
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• pp.170-179
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• 2009

Channel-type lining board(CLB) is a welded steel structure used in the field of open cut subway excavation and building basement construction. Lining board is generally installed at the underground environment which is exposed to corrosion factors such as humidity, temperature and corrosive gases. This study evaluates reusability of the corroded lining board by experimental and analytical method. Static loading tests were performed to know serviceability of corroded CLB after checking thickness loss of the used CLB parts. Strain of the plates and middle point deflection was measured simultaneously. According to experimental test results and comparison with numerical analysis, the thickness loss of the plates by corrosion makes more vertical displacements and stresses in members under the DB vehicle load considering impact factor. As a result, this paper is proposed a way to evaluate used and corroded CLB by checking the plates thickness and it makes construction engineers easy to know optimal time to replace their old CLBs with new one.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Railway
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• v.16 no.5
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• pp.386-393
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• 2013

In this study, the so-called repeated plate load bearing test (RPBT) used to get $E_{v2}$ values in order to check the degree of compaction of subgrade, and to get design parameters for determining the thickness of the trackbed foundation, is investigated. The test procedure of the RPBT method is scrutinized in detail. $E_{v2}$ values obtained from the field were verified in order to check the reliability of the test data. The $E_{v2}$ values obtained from high-speed rail construction sites were compared to converted modulus values obtained from resonant column (RC) test results. For these tests, medium-size samples composed of the same soils from the field were used after analyzing stress and strain levels existing in the soil below the repeated loading plates. Finite element analyses, using the PLAXIS and ABAQUS programs, were performed in order to investigate the impact of the strain influence coefficient. This was done by getting newly computed $I_z$ to get the precise strain level predicted on the subgrade surface in the full track structure; under wheel loading. It was verified that it is necessary to use precise loading steps to construct nonlinear load-settlement curves from RPBT in order to get correct $E_{v2}$ values at the proper strain levels.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.34 no.5
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• pp.461-470
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• 2001

The Shihung mine was restored in the early 90's after abandonment for 20 yews since 1973. Although disposed mine tailings were removed and the site was replaced by an incineration plant, still some residual mine tailings remain in the places including the old mine tailing ditposal area and the adjacent agricultural area. These residual mine tailings are prone to impose an adverse impact on the soil and groundwater and needs investigation for the potential contamination. Mine tailing samples were collected from the old tailing disposal area and the iii paddy. The porewater from the mine tailing were extracted and analysed to investigate chemical changes along the reaction path. Batch leaching tests were also carried out in the laboratory to find any supporting evidence found in the field analysis. Evidence of elemental leaching was confirmed both by the mine tailing and the porewater chemistry in them. The element concentrations of Cu, Cd, Pb, Zn in the porewater exceed the standard for drinking water of Korean government and US EPA. Leaching of heavy metals from the mine tailing seem to be responsible for the contamination. In batch leaching test. heavy metals were either continuous1y released or declined rapidly. Combining the information with porewater variation with depths and the geochemical meodeling results, most of elements are controlled by dissolution and/or precipitation processes, with some solubility controlling solid phases (Cu, Pb, Fe and Zn). Batch leaching test conducted at fixed pH 4 showed much higher releases for the heavy metals up to 400 times (Zn) and this area is becoming more vulnerable to soil and groundwater pollution as precipitation pH shifts to acidic condition.

• Journal of the Korean Geotechnical Society
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• v.17 no.6
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• pp.111-121
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• 2001

Rockfall protection fences are used for diminishing rockfall damage in roads side slopes. In order to install the fences in effective way, the conditions of rock slopes and total predicted impact energy of fa11ing rock should be considered. However, the fences have been constructed without any consideration for lithology, height and slope angle of rock slope in Korea. In addition, the information about the performance of the protection fences, which should be evaluated by in-situ test or laboratory test in order to check out the practical use in the field, is not available. Therefore, in design manual for the rockfall protection fence, the specific details for the installation of this type of fence are not provided yet. The full sized rockfall in situ test was carried out for the calculation of falling energy of rock and the evaluation of the maximum energy absorbing capacity of fence. For this test, the rock slopes whose heights are about 20 m and dip angle of 65 degree, have been chosen. This is because those geometries are mean height and slope angle of most road cut slopes along Korean national highway. Based on the preliminary simulation procedure, four different sizes of concrete ball (0.7, 1.3, 2.3 and 4.3 ton) were prepared and flour different types of protection fence were constructed. The results of this test provide information about the maximum energy absorbing capacity of the fence, kinetic energy of rockfall and restitution coefficient, and these results can be utilized in the establishment of rockfall fence design and construction manual.