• Journal of the Korea Concrete Institute
• /
• v.19 no.3
• /
• pp.367-375
• /
• 2007

Critical chloride content for corrosion initiation is a crucial parameter in determining the durability and integrity of reinforced concrete structures, however, the value is still ambiguous. Most of the studies reporting critical threshold chloride content have involved the experimental measurement of the average amount of the total chloride content at arbitrary time. The majority of these researches have not dealt with this issue combined with carbonation of concrete, although carbonation can significantly impact on critical threshold chloride content. Furthermore, the studies have tried to define the critical chloride content within the scope of their experimental concrete mix proportion at arbitrary time. However, critical chloride content for corrosion initiation is known to be affected by a lot of factors including cement content, type of binder, chloride binding, concentration of hydroxyl ions, and so on. It is necessary to define the unified formulation to express the critical chloride content for various mix proportions of concrete. The purpose of this study is to establish an analytical formulation of the critical chloride content of concrete. In this formulation, affecting factors, such as mix proportion, environment, chemical evolution of pore solution with elapsed time, carbonation of concrete and so on are taken into account. Based on the Gouda's experimental results, critical chloride content is defined as a function of $[Cl^-]$ vs. $[OH^-]$ in pore solution. This is expressed as free chloride content with mass unit to consider time evolution of $[OH^-]$ content in pore solution using the numerical simulation programme of cementitious materials, HYMOSTRUC. The result was compared with other experimental studies and various codes. It is believed that the approach suggested in this study can provide a good solution to determine the reasonable critical chloride content with original source of chloride ions, for example, marine sand at initial time, and sea water penetration later on.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Marine Environment & Safety
• /
• v.24 no.6
• /
• pp.717-725
• /
• 2018

IMO developed VIMSAS for effective application of IMO instruments related to maritime safety and environmental protection and was implemented from 2006 to 2016. Based on this, the purpose and procedures of VIMSAS applied to IMO member states by trial, and IMSAS was enforced from January 1st 2016. IMSAS was implemented to ensure that IMO Member States, such as flag states, coastal states and port states that ratified the IMO Convention, are properly performing their given responsibilities and to ensure the effective implementation of the IMO instruments through the improvement of identified non-conformities. In this study, the auditing contents and procedures were verified based on IMO documents in order to prepare for the IMSAS audit of Republic of Korea scheduled for 2020. For this purpose, this study proposed an update of a directory, development of monitoring system for information reporting required by IMO instruments, designation of relevant experts, preparation of an English version of related national laws, training of IMSAS auditors and establishment of an IMSAS audit response team for audit of IMSAS in 2020 by referring to the results of the VIMSAS for Republic of Korea, major findings of the VIMSAS of other IMO member states, and Consolidated Audit Summary Report (CASR), which was submitted at the 5th IMO III sub-committee.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
• /
• v.16 no.17
• /
• pp.7547-7554
• /
• 2015

Background: The use of smokeless tobacco (SLT) among women is increasing in India, especially among those with limited education and resources. Preventing the initiation of SLT among women is critical since it has known negative consequences for oral and reproductive health. Most research on tobacco initiation in India focuses on adolescents. This paper addresses the unrecognized issues of post marital initiation among women of reproductive age, highlighting the importance of reproductive stages in women's tobacco initiation. The objective is to examine the correlates of SLT initiation among low income women in Mumbai from pre-marriage through early marriage, first pregnancy and beyond, using case examples to illustrate initiation during each of these stages. Materials and Methods: In 2011-2012, cross-sectional community level survey data were collected from a representative sample of 409 daily SLT-using married women aged 18-40 years in a low income community in Mumbai. Information on socio-demographics, initiation by reproductive stage, types of tobacco use, childhood exposure to tobacco, learning to use, and initiation influences and reasons were collected through a researcher-administered survey. Univariate and bivariate analysis assessed factors influencing initiation of SLT use by reproductive stage. In addition 42 narratives of tobacco use were collected from a purposive sample of pregnant and non-pregnant married women addressing the same questions in detail. Narratives were transcribed, translated, and coded for key concepts including initiation of tobacco use. Results: Thirty-two percent of women initiated SLT use before marriage, 44% initiated after marriage but before pregnancy, 18.1% initiated during their first pregnancy and the remainder started after their first pregnancy. Mean age of marriage among women in this study was 16 years. Younger women (i.e. age at time of the interview of less than 30 years) were 0.47 [95% CI (0.32, 0.87)] percent less likely to initiate after marriage than women aged more than 30 years. Women who got married before 18 years of age were 2.34 [95% CI (1.40, 3.93)] times more likely to initiate after marriage than their counterparts. Childhood exposure was a predictor for initiating SLT use prior to marriage but not after. Women reporting tooth and gum pain were 1.85 times more likely to initiate after marriage than their counterparts. Husband and neighbours were the most significant influences on post-marital initiation. Narratives highlighted differences in processes of initiation pre and post marriage and during pregnancy. Conclusions: Most tobacco prevention interventions are directed to adolescents in school. This study suggests that especially for low literate or illiterate women, school based interventions are ineffective. To be effective strategies to prevent SLT initiation must reach women in urban areas at or immediately after marriage and during their first pregnancy. Messages must negate culturally rooted beliefs about the health benefits of SLT in order to prevent initiation and onset of daily use.

• International Journal of Highway Engineering
• /
• v.19 no.3
• /
• pp.19-30
• /
• 2017

PURPOSES : This study proposes the road asset valuation approach using alternative depreciation methods. It has become necessary to have asset management system according to the adoption of accrual basis accounting for governmental financial reporting and the amendment of the road act. Therefore, it is very important to analyze the effect of depreciation methods on road asset value as a basic research for road asset management system. METHODS : The Ministry of Strategy and Finance (MOSF) has mainly performed road asset valuation based on Write down Replacement Cost and Straight Line depreciation method. This study suggests some appropriate asset valuation methods for road assets through case analysis using three depreciation methods: Consumption-based depreciation method, Condition-based depreciation method, and Straight Line depreciation method. A road asset valuation data of national highway route 1 (year 2014) is used to analyze the effect of three depreciation methods on the road asset value. Road assets include land and structures (pavement, bridge, and tunnel). This study mainly focuses on structures such as bridges and tunnels, because according to governmental accounting standards, land and road pavement assets do not depreciate. RESULTS : The main results of this study are as follows. Firstly, overall asset value of national highway route 1 was estimated at 6.97 trillion KRW when MOSF's method (straight-line depreciation method) is applied. Secondly, asset value was estimated at 4.85 trillion KRW on application of consumption-based depreciation method. Thirdly, asset value was estimated at 4.37 trillion KRW when condition-based depreciation method is applied. Therefore, either consumption-based or condition-based depreciation methods would be more appropriate than straight-line depreciation method if we can use the condition data of road assets including land that are available in real time. CONCLUSIONS : Since road assets such as pavements, bridges, and tunnels have various patterns of deterioration and condition monitoring period, it is necessary to consider a specific valuation method according to the condition of each road asset. Firstly, even though road pavements do not depreciate, asset valuation through condition-based depreciation method would be more appropriate when requirements for application of non-depreciation approach are not satisfied. Since bridge and tunnel facilities show various patterns of deterioration and condition monitoring period by type and condition level, consumption-based depreciation method based on deterioration model would be appropriate. Therefore, it is necessary to have a reasonable asset management system to apply condition-based depreciation method and a periodic condition investigation to manage road assets well.

• Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
• /
• v.24 no.2
• /
• pp.137-147
• /
• 2007

Background : Interpretative reporting is an important aspect of laboratory medicine. The large menu of laboratory tests available today makes it increasingly difficult for the non-specialist to order and interpret all laboratory tests. The aim of this study was to determine the usefulness of an expert system to interpret laboratory tests and help physicians order the appropriate tests. Materials and Methods : In order to interpret laboratory tests, a rules-based expert system was developed. In this module, if-then rules were used to interpret the given test result patterns (e.g. urinalysis, anemia, hepatitis B virus, hypercholesterolemia, glucose, syphilis, and tumor markers) and select matching text elements. The system was used to evaluate 535 subjects who visited a health-check program. Results : The overall abnormal rate was 50.5% in the expert system; 34% for cholesterol, 9.9% for urinalysis, 8.0% for anemia, 7.7% for thyroid function tests, 4.5% for tumor marker study, 4.7% for hepatitis virus antigen, 4.3% for serum glucose, and 1.1% for syphilis. Conclusion : These results indicate that the application of the expert system for the interpretation of laboratory tests may provide a useful method for the interpretation of reports. However more rules are needed for the application to in-patients.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
• /
• v.16 no.10
• /
• pp.4339-4345
• /
• 2015

Occupational exposure to wood dust is one cause of nasopharyngeal cancer (NPC); however, assessing this exposure remains problematic. Therefore, the objective of this study was to develop a semi-quantitative exposure assessment method and then utilize it to evaluate the association between occupational exposure to wood dust and the development of NPC. In addition, variations in risk by histology were examined. A case-control study was conducted with 327 newly diagnosed cases of NPC at the National Cancer Institute and regional cancer centers in Thailand with 1:1 controls matched for age, gender and geographical residence. Occupational information was obtained through personal interviews. The potential probability, frequency and intensity of exposure to wood dust were assessed on a job-by-job basis by experienced experts. Analysis was performed by conditional logistic regression and presented in odds ratio (ORs) estimates and 95% confidence intervals (CI). Overall, a non significant relationship between occupational wood dust exposure and NPC risk for all subjects was observed (ORs=1.61, 95%CI 0.99-2.59); however, the risk became significant when analyses focused on types 2 and 3 of NPC (ORs=1.62, 95%CI 1.03-2.74). The significant association was stronger for those exposed to wood dust for > 10 year (ORs=2.26, 95%CI 1.10-4.63), for those with first-time exposure at age > 25 year (ORs=2.07, 95%CI 1.08-3.94), and for those who had a high cumulative exposure (ORs=2.17, 95%CI 1.03-4.58) when compared with those considered unexposed. In conclusion, wood dust is likely to be associated with an increased risk of type 2 or 3 NPC in the Thai population. The results of this study show that semi-quantitative exposure assessment is suitable for occupational exposure assessment in a case control study and complements the information from self-reporting.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Marine Environment & Energy
• /
• v.14 no.1
• /
• pp.51-64
• /
• 2011

Carbon dioxide Capture and Storage (CCS) is one of the key players in greenhouse gas (GHG) reduction portfolio for mitigating climate change. CCS makes simultaneously it possible not only to reduce a huge amount of carbon dioxide directly from the emission sources (e.g., coal power plant) but also to maintain the carbon concentrated-energy and/or industry infrastructure. Internationally, the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) is dealing the agenda for considering the possibility of including CCS project as one of Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) projects. Despite its usefulness, however, there are the controversies in including CCS as the CDM project, whose issues include i) non-permanence, including long-term permanence, ii) measuring, reporting and verification (MRV), iii) environmental impacts, iv) project activity boundaries, v) international law, vi) liability, vii) the potential for perverse outcomes, viii) safety, and ix) insurance coverage and compensation for damages caused due to seepage or leakage. In this paper, those issues in considering CCS as CDM are summarized and analyzed in order to suggest some considerations to policy makers in realizing the CCS project in Korea in the future.

• The Journal of the Korea Contents Association
• /
• v.15 no.11
• /
• pp.397-409
• /
• 2015

The Global Financial Crisis and introduction of International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) urged the banks to strengthen their asset qualities. The banks dispose their non performing loans(NPLs) consistently to maintain a sufficient BIS capital adequacy ratio. Accordingly, the interests in auctions, as a disposal method, of real estates that secured for NPLs are on the increasing. This study suggest an alternative for fairness consolidation of real estate auctions which secured for NPLs. First, the impartial entry barriers for NPL sales markets need to be eliminated for fair bidding competition in auctions for real estate that secured for NPLs. In addition, the portion of NPL disposal by real estate auctions need to be expanded. Second, the asymmetry of trade information in the retail markets of NPLs and the abuse of offset by NPL owners' also should be restricted. The Fairness improvement of NPL trading process and real estate auction process that secured for them would of great use in the protection of bidders. Futhermore, it would also contribute to the revitalization of real estate auction markets and the resolution of NPLs of banks through fair disposal of distressed assets.

• YAKHAK HOEJI
• /
• v.52 no.2
• /
• pp.137-146
• /
• 2008

Even though driving under the influence of drug (DUID) is a worldwide problem, we, Korea has no regulation system yet except for alcohol, and there are little cases reported related to DUID. In order to investigate the type of abused drugs for drivers in Korea, we tried to analyze controlled and non-controlled drugs in alcohol-positive blood samples. 275 whole bloods, which were positive for alcohol on the roadside test, were collected from the police for two months ($Nov.{\sim}Dec.$ 2006). The analytical strategy was constituted of three steps: First, alcohol in blood samples were confirmed and quantified by gas chromatography. Second, controlled drugs were screened by $Evidence_{investigator}\;^{TM}$ (Randox, U.K.) as preliminary test. It was based on immunoassay by biochip array analyzer. Nine groups of drug abuse were screened: amphetamines, methamphetamines, cannabis, cocaine, opiates, barbiturates, methadone, benzodiazepines I (oxazepam) & II (lorazepam). Finally, confirmation of these drugs was performed by GC-MS. Blood samples were extracted by solid-phase extraction by $RapidTrace^{TM}$ (Zymark, U.S.A.). After trimethylsilyl (TMS) derivatization, eluates were analyzed to GC-MS. Total 49 drugs were investigated in this study including controlled drugs, antidepressants, 1st generation antihistamines, dextromethorphan, nalbuphine, ketamine, etc. For rapid detection, we developed the automated identification system. It was made up a new software, "DrugMan", modified Chemstation data analysis menu and newly developed macro modules. A series of peak selection, identification and reporting of the results were performed automatically by this system. Concentrations of alcohol in 275 blood samples were ranged from 0.011 to 0.249% (average, 0.119%). Among 149 blood samples, just six samples (4.0%) were showed positive results to the immunoassay: one methamphetamine and five benzodiazepines group I. By GC-MS confirmation, only benzodiazepines were detected and methamphetamine was not detected from immunoassay positive blood sample. Besides these drugs, 5 chlorpheniramines, dextromethorphan, diazepam, doxylamine, ibuprofen, lidocaine and topiramate were also detected in whole bloods by GC-MS. Conclusively, the frequency of drug abuse for Korean drivers was relatively low. There was none case which illegal drug was detected. However these results were limited to alcohol positive blood samples, so it is necessary to analyze more samples including alcohol negative blood.

• Management & Information Systems Review
• /
• v.35 no.1
• /
• pp.143-154
• /
• 2016

In this research, The new CEO is expected to increase a reporting income through earning management for individual benefit such as a good reputation, high compensation and CEO' s contract extension in the early years of service, of which may influence value relevance of the accounting numbers. We investigate the change of value relevance from 2004 to 2014, compare firms with a change of CEO and firms with non-change of CEO and analysis the value relevance in the early years and in the late years of the new CEO. The results of research are as follows. First, value relevance of EPS of firms with change of CEO are decreased, whereas value relevance of BPS are increased in the regression of all sample. Second, value relevance of EPS are decreased, whereas value relevance of BPS are increased in the early years of the new CEO. This research makes a contribution to provide the first proof about influence of value relevance by the earning management in the early years of the new CEO in Korea.