• Geomechanics and Engineering
• /
• v.8 no.6
• /
• pp.859-872
• /
• 2015

Pebble matrix filtration (PMF) is a water treatment technology that can remove suspended solids in highly turbid surface water during heavy storms. PMF typically uses sand and natural pebbles as filter media. Hand-made clay pebbles (balls) can be used as alternatives to natural pebbles in PMF treatment plants, where natural pebbles are not readily available. Since the high turbidity is a seasonal problem that occurs during heavy rains, the use of newly developed composite clay balls instead of pure clay balls have the advantage of removing other pollutants such as natural organic matter (NOM) during other times. Only the strength properties of composite clay balls are described here as the pollutant removal is beyond the scope of this paper. These new composite clay balls must be able to withstand dead and live loads under dry and saturated conditions in a filter assembly. Absence of a standard ball preparation process and expected strength properties of composite clay balls were the main reasons behind the present study. Five different raw materials from industry wastes: Red Mud (RM), Water Treatment Alum Sludge (S), Shredded Paper (SP), Saw Dust (SD), and Sugar Mulch (SM) were added to common clay brick mix (BM) in different proportions. In an effort to minimize costs, in this study clay balls were fired to $1100^{\circ}C$ at a local brick factory together with their bricks. A comprehensive experimental program was performed to evaluate crushing strength of composite hand-made clay balls, using uniaxial compression test to establish the best material combination on the basis of strength properties for designing sustainable filter media for water treatment plants. Performance at both construction and operating stages were considered by analyzing both strength properties under fully dry conditions and strength degradation after saturation in a water bath. The BM-75% as the main component produced optimum combination in terms of workability and strength. With the material combination of BM-75% and additives-25%, the use of Red Mud and water treatment sludge as additives produced the highest and lowest strength of composite clay balls, with a failure load of 5.4 kN and 1.4 kN respectively. However, this lower value of 1.4 kN is much higher than the effective load on each clay ball of 0.04 kN in a typical filter assembly (safety factor of 35), therefore, can still be used as a suitable filter material for enhanced pollutant removal.

• Agribusiness and Information Management
• /
• v.11 no.1
• /
• pp.27-39
• /
• 2019

Agricultural risks are exacerbated by a variety of factors ranging from climatevariability and change, frequent natural disasters, uncertainties in yields and prices, weakrural infrastructure, imperfect markets and lack of financial services including limited spanand design of risk mitigation instruments such as credit and insurance. Indian agriculture has little more than half (53%) of its area still rainfed and this makes it highly sensitive to vagaries of climate causing unstable output. Besides adverse climatic factors, there are man-made disasters such as fire, sale of spurious seeds, adulteration of pesticides and fertilizers etc., and all these severely affect farmers through loss in production and farm income, and are beyond the control of farmers. Hence, crop insurance' is considered to be the promising tool to insulate the farmers from risks faced by them and to sustain them in the agri-business. This paper critically evaluates the performance of recent crop insurance scheme viz., Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bhima Yojana (PMFBY) and its comparative performance with earlier agricultural insurance schemes implemented in the country. It is heartening that, the comparative performance of PMFBY with earlier schemes revealed that, the Government has definitely taken a leap forward in covering more number of farmers and bringing more area under crop insurance with the execution of this new scheme and on this front, it deserves the appreciation in fulfilling the objective for bringing more number of farmers under insurance cover. The use of mobile based technology, reduced number of Crop Cutting Experiments (CCEs) and smart CCEs, digitization of land record and linking them to farmers' account for faster assessment/settlement of claims are some of the steps that contributed for effective implementation of this new crop insurance scheme. However, inadequate claim payments, errors in loss/yield assessment, delayed claim payment, no direct linkage between insurance companies and farmers are the major shortcomings of this scheme. This calls for revamping the crop insurance program in India from time to time in tune with the dynamic changes in climatic factors on one hand and to provide a safety-net for farmers to mitigate losses arising from climatic shocks on the other. The future research avenues include: insuring the revenue of the farmer (Price × Yield) as in USA and more and more tenant farmers should be brought under insurance by doling out discounts for group coverage of farmers like in Philippines where 20 per cent discount in premium is given for a group of 5-10 farmers, 30 per cent for a group of 10-20 and 40 per cent for a group of >20 farmers.

• Restorative Dentistry and Endodontics
• /
• v.12 no.1
• /
• pp.119-129
• /
• 1986

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the marginal leakage of glass ionomer cement with different cavosurface margins. 192 class V cavities were prepared on freshly extracted non-carious teeth and glass ionomer cement were inserted according to the manufacturer's instructions. Cavity preparations for this investigation were performed in four groups. The experimental specimens were made by packing the glass ionomer cement (Fuji Ionomer Type II G-C Co. Japan) into the prepared 192 cavities of four groups with different modes: Group I. - The 48 cavities with $90^{\circ}$ butt-joint cavosurface preparation and restored with glass ionomer cement. Group II. - The 48 cavities with butt-joint preparation modified by $135^{\circ}$ beveling the cavosurface in the dentin and restored with glass ionomer cement. Group III. - The 48 cavities with butt-joint preparation modified by cutting a chamfer in the dentin and restored with glass ionomer cement. Group IV. - The same 48 cavities as group I, and overfilled with glass ionomer cement beyond the cavosurface angle. And four groups above described divided into three subgroups by means of conditioning the cavity walls: Control group. - Glass ionomer cement filled in the prepared 64 cavities after being cleaned with a stream of tap water. Phosphoric acid treatment group. - Glass ionomer cement filled in the prepared 64 cavities after being conditioned with a 50% phosphoric acid. Citric acid treatment group. - Glass ionomer cement filled in the prepared 64 cavities after being conditioned with a 50% citric acid. All 192 specimens were immersed in the 2.0% basic fuchsin solution and subjected to thermal stress at one-minute intervals ($4{\pm}2^{\circ}C$ to $60{\pm}2^{\circ}C$) for 70 minutes before exposure to the dye. The specimens were sectioned ecclesiologically through the center of the restorations for different periods of immersion time, 24 hours, 7 days, 14 days 30 days. The sections were examined under a stereoscopic microscope. The results were as follows: 1. The degree of marginal leakage in group II and III was greater than that in group I and IV. 2. The degree of marginal leakage in phosphoric acid treatment group was similar with that in control group. 3. The degree of marginal leakage in citric acid treatment group was less than that in control group. 4. In all groups, the degree of marginal leakage in phosphoric acid treatment group was greater than that in citric acid treatment group. 5. There is no statistical difference of the degree of marginal leakage according to the immersion time in the dye solution.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
• /
• v.30 no.4
• /
• pp.703-709
• /
• 2001

To compare the hypolipidemic effects of perilla oil with different kinds of dietary fat and oil forty eight 20 days old male Wistar rats were fed one of the following diets for 4 weeks: basal diet for control containing 9.4 w/w% corn oil(CO), 9.4 w/w% beef tallow (BO), 9.4 w/w% perilla oil(PO) and 4.7 w/w% beef tallow plus 4.7% perilla oil(BP). The amount of diet consumed and body weight gain rate were not significantly different among the four dietary groups. The levels of plasma triglyceride and total cholesterol in PO group were significantly lower than those of BO and BP groups. PO group also had significantly lower LDL-cholesterol in BP group were than other groups. The levels of plasma triglyceride tatal-cholesterol and LDL-cholesterol in BP group were significantly lower than those in BO group by 9.2%, 10.3% and 18.6% respectively. Plasma glutamic oxaloacetic transferase and alkaline phosphatase activities and uric acid levels in PO group were significantly higher than other groups and were somewhat beyond the normal levels. These findings showed that perilla oil with hypolicpidemic effects could have some adverse effects on hepatic and other organic functions in rats.

• Journal of Internet Computing and Services
• /
• v.17 no.6
• /
• pp.71-79
• /
• 2016

As computer technology continues to evolve, the Computational Sciences utilized in Physics, Chemistry, Materials Science, and Life Sciences have been attracting more attention. In Korea, to compensate for the drawbacks in Computational Science, students and researchers have been using the EDISON platform. The EDISON platform provides a web portal service for education and research and an environment for addressing complex issues involving five fields, e.g., Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD), Nanophysics, Computational Chemistry, Structural Dynamics, and Computational Design. As the platform and user scale increase beyond service provision, the need for efficient operation of its currently running data management system is on the rise. In this study, we resolve the data synchronization issues between the existing EDISON platform and web portal. As the EDISON platform is integrated with the web portal, a file management service is implemented to integrate the management of user data and files, which ultimately improves the overall efficiency of file management.

• ALGAE
• /
• v.37 no.3
• /
• pp.227-237
• /
• 2022

Knowledge on the seaweeds of eastern Sorsogon in the Philippines is uneven. Not only is eastern Sorsogon among the areas of high seaweed diversity but locals there have interacted with seaweeds for ages. Despite seaweeds' assumed importance to Sorsoganon, ethnobotanical records are missing. In this study, we documented the traditional knowledge on seaweed use and determined the rate of knowledge transmission among the locals of eastern Sorsogon. Vernacular names and modes of preparation were given of the 12 identified species bearing culinary and medicinal importance. Ten species were eaten while three were used therapeutically. Based on ethnobotanical indices, Caulerpa chemnitzia ecad turbinata and Gelidiella acerosa were the most important seaweeds. The least cited was Caulerpa racemosa. Our study demonstrated that most of the seaweed resources in eastern Sorsogon remain largely untapped, as the identified ethnotaxa were only about 5% of the total seaweed species diversity reported for the area. The seaweed knowledge in eastern Sorsogon appeared to be homogenous across age groups with primary sources of knowledge biased towards female relatives (mothers and grandmothers) and to children as inheritors. Cessation of seaweed knowledge may come at a potential cost, as a significant fraction of the population did not transmit their knowledge to others. Our study furthered the interest in providing sophisticated resource management recommendations that consider the relationships of traditional and scientific knowledge of seaweed selection and use in eastern Sorsogon and beyond.

• KOREAN JOURNAL OF PACKAGING SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
• /
• v.22 no.3
• /
• pp.95-102
• /
• 2016

This study investigated the effects of the oxygen permeability of vacuum packaging film and the storage temperature on the quality and shelf life of Hamburg steaks during storage for 14 days. Control samples (C) were packaged in a polyamide/polyethylene (PA/PE) film and stored at $5^{\circ}C$. Treatment samples were either packaged in an ethylene vinyl alcohol/polyethylene (EVOH/PE) copolymer film and stored at $5^{\circ}C$ (T1), and in a PA/PE film and stored at $-18^{\circ}C$ (T2). The initial total plate count (TPC) was 3.6 log cfu/g. In T1 samples, TPC and Brochothrix thermosphacta counts were increased, similar to those in C samples, whereas Pseudomonas spp. counts were significantly lower than those in C samples during storage. Over the storage period, the volatile basic nitrogen values increased most rapidly in C samples, followed by T1 and then T2 samples. The values of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances steadily increased in all samples during storage. The colour parameters were not significantly different among the samples during storage. T1 samples maintained sensory qualities in flavour and off-odour parameters for two days longer than C samples did. At day 12, T2 samples were evaluated as being below the marketability score of 5.0 for texture. In conclusion, using high oxygen barrier films like EVOH/PE copolymer for packaging Hamburg steaks could extend the sensory qualities in view of flavour and off-odour during chilled storage. However, frozen storage at $-18^{\circ}C$ is recommended when the storage period is extended beyond 14 days at $5^{\circ}C$.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Agriculture
• /
• v.23 no.2
• /
• pp.92-98
• /
• 2004

The adsorption and desorption of Pb, Cd, Co, Zn, Cr, Co, Ni, and Mo on the waste Undaria sp. were studied. Except for Pb. the mono adsorption rate for all heavy metals were lower than that of the heavy metals mixed. However, the adsorption capacity of the heavy metals by 1g of biosorption, in mixed heavy metals increased According to FT-IR analysis of the biosorbent after heavy metal biosorption, the replacement of the functional group by the heavy metals ions could be confirmed and the inverted peaks became larger after heavy metals adsorption. The adsorption equilibrium of heavy metals was reached in about 1 hour. The equilibrium parameters were determined based on Langmuir and Freundlich isotherms. The affinity of metals on the biosorbent decreased in the following order: Pb>Cu>Cr>Cd>Co. The desorption rate decreased in the following sequence: NTA>$H_2SO_4$>HCl>EDTA. The desorption rate of heavy metals by NTA increased with increase in the concentration from 0.1 to 0.3% but the desorption rate became constant beyond 0.3%. Therefore, it represented that desorption rate of heavy metals was suitable under optimized condition ($30^{\circ}C$, pH 2 and 0.3% NTA solution) and was fast with 80% or more the uptake occurring within 10 min of contact time.

• Pediatric Infection and Vaccine
• /
• v.11 no.1
• /
• pp.73-80
• /
• 2004

Purpose : The serial clinical findings, biochemical results, and serological hepatitis B virus(HBV) markers in Korean children with chronic HBV infection were analyzed to determine the relationships among these factors. Methods : Ninety children have been chosen from those who have visited to the Department of Pediatrics at St. Vincent's Hospital in The Catholic University of Korea from July 1st, 1995 to June 30th, 2000. The sample patients were followed up for over six months. HBV markers and liver function tests were all performed. Results : All children were asymptomatic at presentation. Eighty-three percent of the children had a history of chronic HBV infection in their families. Eighty-one percent were HBeAg positive, 16% were anti-HBe positive, while 3% were all HBeAg and anti-HBe negative. The prevalence of HBeAg among three age groups : 0~5; 6~10; and 11~15 year-old was 90%, 96% and 61% respectively. The prevalence of HBeAg in less than 10 year-old group was significantly higher than 11~15 year-old group(P=0.001). Serum ALT levels were within 40 IU/L in 64% children, 41~80 IU/L in 17%, 81~200 IU/L in 10%, and beyond 201 IU/L in 9%. The percentage of abnormality of ALT levels in HBeAg positive patients was significantly higher than that of HBeAg negative(P=0.036). Eleven of the 73 HBeAg positive children lost their HBeAg and seroconverted to anti-HBe. In these cases, all had transient elevations in ALT levels before HBeAg seroconversions. The annual rates of spontaneous seroconversion of HBeAg and HBsAg were 9.7% and 0.6%, respectively. Conclusion : Recognition of the dynamics of these changes in viral markers and biochemical findings is needed in the selection and evaluation of therapeutic regimens, establishment of treatment, and calling for controlled trials with adequate follow-up. The hepatitis B carrier state may be asymptomatic in children however, continued surveillance of carriers is important to determine the individual adverse prognostic factors of chronic HBV infections.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
• /
• v.45 no.5
• /
• pp.575-587
• /
• 2002

Objective : To investigate the understanding of breast-feeding in pregnant woman and the proper way of encouraging breast-feeding. Methods : Each questionnaire included items about demographic characteristics and the understanding of breast-feeding. The questionnaires were filled up by pregnant women visiting obstetric clinics in Seoul and its vicinities, Busan, Choongjoo and Chungjoo from July 2001 to August 2001. One thousand, two hundred ninety questionnaires were analysed by Chi square tests and multiple logistic regressions. Results : The majority of pregnant women(87.4%) planned breast-feeding. Forty three percent of them had plans to breast-feed for 4-6 months. There were no differences in the level of education, the family size and the source of information about breast-feeding in planning to breast-feed (P>0.05). The main reasons for not choosing to breast-feed were returns to work(41.3%), previous failures of breast-feeding(17.4%), concerns about insufficient amount of breast milk(10.9%), breast and nipple problems(10.3%) and maternal illness(9.4%). The average score on the test of the understanding about breast-feeding was 59.7/100. The average scores on the understanding about the methods and advantages of breast-feeding were 45.3/100 and 86.1/100, respectively. The maternal status of employment, previous history of breast-feeding, the time of decision to breastfeed, person advocating breast-feeding and the understanding on the advantages of breast-feeding were significant determinant factors in planning to breast-feed(P<0.05). Conclusion : Pediatricians should take steps to make an effort to increase the breast-feeding rate and to encourage breast-feeding by timely education. Beyond the medical field, political and social supports for breast-feeding are urgently needed.