• Korean Journal of Heritage: History & Science
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• v.53 no.4
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• pp.188-197
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• 2020

Termites play an important role as decomposers of the forest ecosystem, while simultaneously causing enormous damage to wooden structures. Currently, two species of subterranean termites have been reported in Korea, and termite damage to historical wooden buildings is occurring nationwide due to climate change, forest fertility, and the locational characteristics of historical wooden buildings. Subterranean termites make their nests underground or inside timber. Termites move underground and access wooden structures through the lower parts of the buildings, adjacent to the ground. Once termites attack the wooden structures, it not only spoils the authenticity of cultural heritage structure, but also hampers structural stability due to the decrease in the strength of the material. Therefore, it is important to prevent termite damage before it occurs. Chemical treatments are mainly used in Korea to control and prevent the damage. In foreign countries, physical barriers are also used to prevent entry to wooden buildings, along with chemical treatments. Physical barriers involve installing nets or particles that termites cannot pass through in the lower part of the building, around the pipes, and between the edges of the building or exterior walls and interior materials. Advantages of a physical barrier are that it is an eco-friendly method, maintains long-term effect after installation, and does not require the use of chemical treatments. Prior to applying physical barriers, studies into the characteristics of termite species must be undertaken. In this study, we evaluated the minimum passage size that each caste of Reticulitermes speratus kyushuensis can move through. We found that workers, soldiers, and secondary reproductive termites were able to pass through diameters of 0.7mm, 0.9mm, and 1.1mm respectively. Head height of termites was an important factor in determining the minimum passing size. Results from the current study will be used as a basis to design the mesh size for physical barriers to prevent damage by termites in historical wooden buildings in Korea.

• Maxillofacial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
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• v.31 no.5
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• pp.365-374
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• 2009

Purpose : This research evaluates the effect of the use of absorbable membrane barrier with deproteinized bovine bone (Bio-$Oss^{(R)}$, Switzerland) on bone healing in surgically created critical-sized defects in rat calvaria. Materials and Methods : Two standardized transosseous circular calvarial defects (5 mm in diameter) are made in each calvarium of 30 rats. These rats are divided into negative control group(n=15), positive control group(n=15) and two experimental groups(n=15). In the negative control group, defects are only filled with blood clots. In the positive control group, defects are filled with autogenous bone obtained from calvarium; in the experimental group 1, defects are filled with deproteinized bovine bone; and in the experimental group 2, defects are filled with deproteinized bovine bone with absorbable membrane. At the postoperative 1 week, 3 weeks. and 6 weeks, clinical. histologic and histomorphometric evaluations of the defects are performed. Results : 1. The grafted bone without membrane in the calvarial bone defect was scattered but, the grafted bone with membrane was stable. 2. $BioMesh^{(R)}$ membrane was absorbed beginning at 3 weeks, and was absorbed considerably at 6 weeks while maintaining the structural form of the membrane. 3. The use of membrane blocked soft tissue invasion. 4. In histomorphometric analysis. it showed the greatest amount of new bone formation in the positive control group. The amount of new bone formation was greater in the experimental group 2 than experimental group 1. At 6 weeks. the amount of new bone formation was greater in the positive control group than experimental group l(p<0.005). Conclusion : These results suggest that membrane increase the stability of grafted bone and protects from soft tissue invasion, and the use of the membrane may promote new bone formation in deproteinized bovine bone graft area.