• Journal of Astronomy and Space Sciences
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.101-112
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• 2008

Systematic CCD observations of times of minimum lights for eclipsing binaries has been carried out from 2002 to 2007 at Campus Station of Chungbuk National University Observatory which is located in Cheongju city, Korea. As a by-product of our observations, photometric data for stars in CCD images taken from 2005 to 2007 were used to determine 1st order atmospheric extinction coefficient (hereafter AEC) and seasonal and yearly variations of the AECs were studied. Total nights used for determination of AECs were 57 days in 2005, 51 days in 2006, and 63 days in 2007. As a result the annual mean value of the AECs per air mass is calculated as $0.^m34{\pm}0.^m18$ for 2005, $0.^m38{\pm}0.^m19$ for 2006, and $0.^m45{\pm}0.^m20$ for 2007. These values show that the AECs and their standard deviations are two and four times, respectively, larger than those of normal observatories which are not located near large cities. Annual comparison between concentration of atmospheric fine dust and coefficient of atmospheric extinction show strong correlation between two quantities of which time variations show similar patterns. The AECs for the east sky show larger than those for the west sky. It can be easily understood by the reasonable possibility that air pollutants remain more in the east sky than in the west because the east area of Cheongju city has been more developed than the west one. In conclusion the atmospheric extinction of the night sky of Cheongju city has an annual trend of increase of $0.^m06\;airrnass^{-1}\; year^{-1}$ implying that it may take only about 13 years for Cheongju city to have 2 times brighter night sky than the present one. Our study highlights that variations of AEC can be used as an important indicator of air pollution to monitor night skies.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine Technology
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.91-98
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• 2008

Purpose: Radio-isotopes (RI) use has been steadily developing due to industrial and technical development in the modern medical society. Particularly, popularization of domestic cyclotrons dramatically enable hospitals to produce and use diagnostic radio-isotopes. Generally, only specific facilities such as hospitals, research institutes, nuclear power plants and universities can use radio-isotopes, they are also responsible for ventilation system. The strength of radioactivity in the air is strongly regulated and controlled by korea atomic energy law in Korea Institue of Nuclear Safety (KINS), so that air radioactivity exposure can lead to environmental pollution surrounding places. In this study, we'd like to find out the investigation and the present condition of the controlled ventilation system in domestic hospitals by an emission standard from KINS, and try to reach an agreement about how to use the ventilation system. Result: Definition of filters, features and structures of pre-filters, hepa-filters, charcol filters, filter exchange procedures and precautions are explained. RI deflation concentration and filter exchange cycle have been presented as a standard prescribed in the rules of KINS. The Radiation Control Management System (RCMS) introduced by Seoul National University Bundang Hospital linking to digital pressure gauge with computer controller in another medical facilities were described in details. Conclusions: The system of medical facilities using RI has been remarkably developing in 21 century. Especially, radiation safety control system has also been grown rapidly into the subdivision, specialization, advanced technology along with international technical improvement. However, As far as current RI ventilation system is concerned, it has nothing better than doing in the past. Preferentially, to reinforce this, more sophisticated system with strict periodic filter exchange and exhaust air control guidance should be introduced by applying brilliant domestic information technology for RCMS and digital gauge method. From personal point of view as a radiation safety manager, I have provide with present problems and improvements. Futhermore, more improved guidance should be conducted.

• Journal of Korean Society of Transportation
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.35-47
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• 2001

Traffic represents one of the largest sources of primary air pollutants in urban area. As a consequence. numerous abatement strategies are being pursued to decrease the ambient concentration of pollutants. A characteristic of most of the these strategies is a requirement for accurate data on both the quantity and spatial distribution of emissions to air in the form of an atmospheric emission inventory database. In the case of traffic pollution, such an inventory must be compiled using activity statistics and emission factors for vehicle types. The majority of inventories are compiled using passive data from either surveys or transportation models and by their very nature tend to be out-of-date by the time they are compiled. The study of current trends are towards integrating urban traffic control systems and assessments of the environmental effects of motor vehicles. In this study, a methodology of motor vehicle emission calculation by using real-time traffic data was studied. A methodology for estimating emissions of CO at a test area in Seoul. Traffic data, which are required on a street-by-street basis, is obtained from induction loops of traffic control system. It was calculated speed-related mass of CO emission from traffic tail pipe of data from traffic system, and parameters are considered, volume, composition, average velocity, link length. And, the result was compared with that of a method of emission calculation by VKT(Vehicle Kilometer Travelled) of vehicles of category.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.29 no.6
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• pp.724-734
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• 2019

The present study investigated the cytotoxicity of particulate matter (PM) derived from car air filter (outdoor PM) and home cleaner filter (indoor PM) in the various human cell lines. Each outdoor and indoor PM were harvested by ethanol extraction method, subsequently sieved with 10 um filter paper, sterilized with autoclave and added to culture media. The half maximal inhibitory concentration ($IC_{50}$) values was significantly (p<0.05) lower in the outdoor PM, compared with indoor PM, and the significantly (p<0.05) higher $IC_{50}$ values were observed in the cancer cell lines (A-549 lung adenocarcinoma and AGS stomach adenocarcinoma), than those of normal MRC-5 fibroblasts and dental papilla tissue derived-mesenchymal stem cells (DSC). After being exposed to $100{\mu}g/ml$ outdoor PM for 7 days, the population doubling time (PDT) was significantly (p<0.05) increased in especially MRC-5 and DSC cell lines, compared with untreated cell lines. Further, the expression of senescence-associated ${\beta}$-galactosidase activity was up-regulated in all the cells exposed to outdoor PM than those of untreated control. Besides, the expression level of inflammation-associated genes, such as cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) was found to be significantly (p<0.05) increased in the outdoor PM-treated cell lines than those of untreated cell lines. Our results showed that PM induces the cytotoxicity via arrest of cell growth, cell damage and inflammation response.

• Clean Technology
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.31-38
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• 2023

Due to water shortages caused by water pollution and climate change, total organic carbon (TOC) standards have been implemented for wastewater discharged from public sewage treatment facilities. Furthermore, there is a growing interest and body of research pertaining to the reuse of sewage treatment water as a secure alternative water resource. The membrane bio-reactor (MBR) method is commonly used for advanced wastewater treatment because it can remove organic and inorganic ions and it does not require or emit any chemicals. However, the MBR process uses a separation membrane (MF), which requires frequent film cleaning due to fouling caused by a high concentration of mixed liquor suspended solid (MLSS). In this study, process improvement and microbubble cleaning efficiency were evaluated to improve the differential pressure, water flow, and MF fouling, which are the biggest disadvantages of operating the MF. The existing MBR method was improved by installing a precipitation tank between the air tank and the MBR tank in which raw water was introduced. Microbubbles were injected into a separation membrane tank into which the supernatant water from the precipitation tank was introduced. The microbubble generator was operated with a 15 day on, 15 day off cycle for 5 months to collect discharged water samples (4L) and measure TOC. As the supernatant water from the precipitation tank flowed into the separation membrane tank, about 95% of the supernatant water MLSS was removed so the MF fouling from biological contamination was prevented. Due to the application of microbubbles to supernatant water from the precipitation tank, the differential pressure of the separation membrane tank decreased by 1.6 to 2.3 times and the water flow increased by 1.4 times. Applying microbubbles increased the TOC removal rate by more than 58%. This study showed that separately operating the air tank and the separation membrane tank can reduce fouling, and suggested that applying additional microbubbles could improve the differential pressure, water flow, and fouling to provide a more efficient advanced treatment method.

• Analytical Science and Technology
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.1-10
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• 2014

The $PM_{10}$ and $PM_{2.5}$ samples were collected at Gosan Site of Jeju Island, and analyzed, in order to investigate the size distribution and pollution characteristics of their components. $NH{_4}{^+}$, nss-$SO{_4}^{2-}$, $K^+$, and $CH_3COO^-$ were mostly existed in fine particles. Meanwhile, $NO{_3}{^-}$ was distributed in both fine and coarse particles, and $Na^+$, $Cl^-$, $Mg^{2+}$, nss-$Ca^{2+}$ were rich in coarse particle mode. The concentrations of nss-$Ca^{2+}$ and $NO{_3}{^-}$ were increased 36.7 and 3.2 times in coarse particles, and 15.0 and 3.1 times in fine particles during the Asian Dust periods. Especially, the concentrations of crustal elemental species such as Al, Fe, Ca, K, Mg, Ti, Mn, Sr, Ba were highly increased for those periods. In the haze events, the concentrations of secondary air pollutants were increased 1.3~2.6 and 1.5~4.2 times in coarse and fine particles, respectively. Moreover, the remarkable increase of $NO{_3}{^-}$ concentration was also observed in fine particle mode. The factor analysis showed that the composition of coarse particles was influenced mainly by marine sources, followed by soil and anthropogenic sources. On the other hand, the fine particles were influenced by anthropogenic sources, followed by marine and soil sources.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• v.43 no.5
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• pp.578-583
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• 2010

Acid rain and its problem to environment such as acid precipitation and environmental problems related to the air pollution in East Asia has been emerging. To evaluate the acidity and chemical characteristics of rainwater precipitated in western Korea, Suwon and Taean, its pH and ion concentrations were investigated during farming season (April to November) in 2009. Also, ion composition and cation-affected neutralization were determined to evaluate the contribution of cations on the acidity of rainwater. Ion and electrical conductivity between the measured and the estimated showed high correlation. The $Na^+$ in rainwater was the main cation followed by ${NH_4}^+>Ca^{2+}>H^+>Mg^{2+}>K^+$. Sum of $Na^+$ and ${NH_4}^+$ contents was over 65% of total cations contents. In the case of anions, the concentration was in order of ${SO_4}^{2-}>{NO_3}^->Cl^-$. The ${SO_4}^{2-}$ among anions in rainwater composed about 61%, which showed on average 130.2 ${\mu}eq\;L^{-1}$ and 121.3 ${\mu}eq\;L^{-1}$ during monitoring at Suwon and Taean, respectively. Also, 89.6 and 88.6% of soluble sulfate in rainwater at Suwon and Taean area was NSS-${SO_4}^{2-}$ (Non-Sea Salt sulfate). Especially, ${NH_4}^+$ and $Ca^{2+}$ contributed greatly in neutralizing the acid rain in dry season. Total nitrogen content flowed into soil from rain was around 1~2 kg $ha^{-1}$ in each month, but in July at Suwon, it reached 6 kg $ha^{-1}$ due to heavy rain (over 7.3 mm).

• Resources Recycling
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.55-61
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• 2020

Selective catalytic reduction (SCR) has been a promising technology to reduce the air pollution caused by nitrogen oxides (NOx) in several industries. The consumption of SCR catalysts increases every year as technology evolves, however those have a limited lifespan and usually end up in landfills after they deactivate. Currently, the most widely used catalyst for and stationary applications is V₂O₅-WO₃/TiO₂ which can contain around 50% wt V₂O₅ and 7-10% wt of WO₃. The vast uses for both vanadium and tungsten and the worldwide interest in recycling methods that allow for the extraction of metals from secondary sources represent the major motivation for this research. The extraction time, pH dependency, extraction concentration studies were carried out using Aliquat 336 in exxol D80 as the extractant. It was determined that to optimize the extraction of both metals 30min of contact time with an organic phase containing 0.5mol/L of Aliquat 336 are needed at a slightly acidic pH (~5.0). In addition, counter McCabe-Thiele studies allowed us to determine that one stage is necessary for the removal of 99% of vanadium while 2 stages are necessary for the extraction of tungsten and counter current simulations proved that the theoretical approach was correct.