• Annals of Occupational and Environmental Medicine
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• v.35
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• pp.53.1-53.15
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• 2023

Background: Plastics are high-molecular-weight materials composed of long carbon chains. They are prevalent in daily life, present in various items such as food containers and microwavable packaging. Phthalates, an additive used to enhance their flexibility, are endocrine-disrupting chemicals. We utilized the data from the Korean National Environmental Health Survey (KoNEHS) cycle 3, representing the general South Korean population, to investigate the relationship between the use of plastics in refrigerator food storage and phthalate exposure. Methods: We assessed 3,333 adult participants (aged ≥ 19 years) including 1,526 men and 1,807 women, using data from KoNEHS cycle 3. Using the 75th percentile concentration, urine phthalate metabolites were categorized into high and low-concentration groups. χ² test was conducted to analyze variations in the distribution of each variable, considering sociodemographic factors, health-related factors, food intake, the use of plastics, and the concentration of urine phthalate metabolites as the variables. To calculate odds ratios (ORs) for the high-concentration group of urine phthalate metabolites based on the use of plastics in refrigerator food storage, logistic regression analysis was conducted. Results: In men, the use of plastics in refrigerator food storage had significantly higher adjusted ORs compared to those using the others. The adjusted ORs were calculated as follows: mono-(2-ethyl-5-hydroxyhexyl) phthalate (MEHHP) had an OR of 1.35 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.05-1.72), mono-(2-ethyl-5-oxohexyl) phthalate (MEOHP) had an OR of 1.48 (95% CI: 1.16-1.88), mono-(2-ethyl-5-carboxypentyl) phthalate (MECPP) had an OR of 1.32 (95% CI: 1.04-1.66), ∑di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (∑DEHP) had an OR of 1.37 (95% CI: 1.08-1.74) and mono-n-butyl phthalate (MnBP) had an OR of 1.44 (95% CI: 1.13-1.84). Conclusion: The concentrations of urine phthalate metabolites (MEHHP, MEOHP, MECPP, ∑DEHP, and MnBP) were significantly higher in men who used plastics in refrigerator food storage compared to those using the others.

• Journal of Korean Tunnelling and Underground Space Association
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• v.15 no.4
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• pp.401-413
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• 2013

Slurry shield tunnelling ensures stability by pressurizing the tunnel face with the slurry contained in the chamber. It resists water and earth pressure in order to prevent the failure in the tunnel face during tunnel excavation. If the ground is relatively coarse, slurry can not clog the tunnel face and excessive slurry infiltration will occur. In this case chemical compounds or additives should be added to the slurry in order to improve the clogging phenomena at the tunnel face. In this study, the effect of the carbon dioxide gas as an additive to the slurry instead of chemical compounds on the capability of enhancing the clogging in the tunnel face is investigated. Bubbles arising from the carbonate-added slurry are trapped in the soil voids enhancing the clogging capability. This effect is studied in this paper by performing laboratory model tests simulating in-situ conditions, and by adopting the fine particle clogging theory. Tunnel face stability analysis was also performed and it was found that the effective size ($D_{10}$) of soils which can guarantee tunnel stability utilizing the carbonate-added slurry increased from 1.0 mm up to 2.6 mm. Moreover, Stability analysis showed that the tunnel face is stable if the ${\lambda}$(deposition coefficient) value is greater than $0.007sec^{-1}$.

• Clean Technology
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.383-389
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• 2014

$CO_2$ absorption processes have a good potential for large scale capture of $CO_2$ but a large amount of absorbing solution has to be regenerated, undesirably increasing the consumption of energy such as sensible heat and latent heat of vaporization. In this study, a cooling crystallization process which would separate the $CO_2$-rich potassium bicarbonate crystals from $CO_2$-lean water was developed to reduce the energy penalty. Sterically hindered alkanolamine additives were used to enhance the $CO_2$ removal efficiency and their antisolvent effect on the crystallization was found in a continuous cooling crystallizer. The production yields of crystals were increased in the sequence of 2-amino-2-methyl-1-propanol (AMP) < 2-amino-2-methyl-1,3-propanediol (AMPD) < 2-amino-2-hydroxymethyl-1,3-propanediol (AHPD), which are related to the number of hydroxyl groups in the additive molecules. Using $^{13}carbon$ nuclear magnetic resonance, the additives favored the formation of bicarbonate ions by steric hindrance effect and increased the supersaturation of $KHCO_3$. It is shown that the additives increase the mean size of crystals and crystal growth rate by increasing supersaturation. The additives are promising for enhancing the $CO_2$ removal efficiency and reducing the regeneration energy cost of $CO_2$ absorbing solution by promoting $KHCO_3$ crystallization.

• Journal of Mushroom
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.270-273
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• 2022

The present study investigated the optimum additive ratio of wheat straw pellet as a substitute for beet pulp during oyster mushroom cultivation. The chemical properties across treatments were pH of 4.8-5.5, total carbon content of 45.9-46.5%, total nitrogen content of 1.5-1.7%, and carbon-to-nitrogen ratio of 27.8-31.0. Mycelial growth was the fastest in a medium containing 20% wheat straw pellet (at 88.2 mm in 'Heuktari' and 70.3-79.6 mm in 'Suhan-1Ho'); however, there were no significant differences in mycelial density among the treatments. The characteristics of fruiting bodies by variety were as follows. In 'Heuktari', the valid stipe number per bottle (1,100 cc) was 22.5 and yield was 177.1 g/1,100 cc in the mixed medium containing 10% wheat straw pellet, with the values being comparable to those of controls. In 'Suhan-1Ho', the valid stipe number per bottle (1,100 cc) was 14.0 and yield was 151.2 g/1,100 cc in the mixed medium containing 10% wheat straw pellet, with the values being comparable to those of controls.

• Journal of the Korean GEO-environmental Society
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.15-23
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• 2023

The grouting method is a method of construction for the purpose of waterproofing and reinforcing soft ground. When grout is injected into the ground, there are various types of penetration and diffusion of grout depending on the shape of the ground, the size of soil, the porosity, and the presence or absence of groundwater. the current situation. Therefore, in this study, to investigate the penetration performance of the grouting to conductive material, laboratory tests were performed on the addition of the conductive material. In the injection test, 0%, 3%, and 5% of the mixed water were added as conductive materials to the grout, and the original ground condition was composed of various types of ground composed of gravel and silica sand. Conductive grout is injected by pressure into the model ground using a dedicated injection device, and the injection time (t), pressure (p), flow rate (v) and injection amount (q) are measured, and the hardened body injected in the model ground is collected. Penetration performance was evaluated. In the results of the grout injection experiment, the amount of conductive material used and the grout injection rate showed an inverse relationship, and it was confirmed that the penetration pattern was changed according to the size of the soil particles in the model ground. The grout containing the conductive material has relatively good penetration into the ground and excellent strength and durability of the hardened body, so it was judged that it could be used as an additive for measuring the penetration range of the grout.

• Composites Research
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• v.36 no.5
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• pp.355-360
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• 2023

Epoxy-based carbon fibers reinforced plastic (CFRP) exhibit limitations in their suitability for industrial applications due to high brittleness characteristics. To address this challenge, extensive investigations are underway to enhance their toughness properties. This research focuses on evaluating the toughening mechanisms achieved by Polyamide 6 particles(p-PA6) and Carboxyl-Terminated Butadiene-Acrylonitrile (CTBN) elastomer, with a specific emphasis on utilizing minimal additive quantities. The study explores the impact of varying concentrations of p-PA6 and CTBN additives, namely 0.5, 1, 2.5, and 5 phr, through comprehensive Mode I fracture toughness and tensile strength analyses. The inclusion of p-PA6 demonstrated improvements in toughness when introduced at a relatively low content of 1phr. This improvement manifested as a sustained fracture behavior, contributing to enhanced toughness, while simultaneously maintaining the material's tensile strength. Furthermore, the investigation revealed that the incorporation of p-PA6 affected in particle aggregation, thus influencing the overall toughening mechanism. Incorporation of CTBN, an elastomeric modifier, exhibited a pronounced increase in fracture toughness at higher concentrations of 2.5 phr and beyond. However, this increase in toughness was accompanied by a reduction in tensile strength, resulting in fracture behavior similar to conventional CFRP exhibiting brittleness. The synergy between pPA6, CTBN and CFRP appeared to marginally enhance tensile strength under specific content conditions. As a result of this study, optimized conditions for the application of the p-PA6, CTBN toughening technology have been identified and established.

• Journal of the Korean Recycled Construction Resources Institute
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.82-93
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• 2024

Since the cement industry generates more than 60 % of CO₂ during the clinker production process, supplementary cementitious materials are used worldwide to reduce CO₂ efficiently. Mainly used supplementary cementitious materials such as blast furnace slag and fly ash, which are used in various industries including the cement industry, concrete admixtures, and ground solidification materials. However, since their availability is expected to decrease in the future according to the carbon neutrality strategy of each industry, new supplementary cementitious materials should be used to achieve the cement industry's goal for increasing the additive content of Portland cement. Limestone is a material that already has a large amount in the cement industry and has the advantage of high grinding efficiency, so overseas developed countries established Portland limestone cement standards and succeeded in commercialization. This study was an experimental study conducted to evaluate the possibility of utilizing domestic PLC, the effect of fineness and replacement ratio on the physical properties of cement was investigated, and the environmental impact of cement was evaluated by analyzing CO₂ emissions.

• Journal of Mushroom
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.9-21
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• 2009

This study was executed in an attempt to investigate a artificial requisites of fruitbody occurrence. Environmental requirements on habitat for fruitbody occurrence of collected cultures resulted in leading to $13-16^{\circ}C$ and 75% relative humidity, and requiring silt loam of soil texture which had more nutritional substances than a dry field. Optimal temperature was $25^{\circ}C$, medium PDB, and pH 5.0 in cultural conditions. Mannose required of 5% in ASI 59002, 59003, 59004, but 3% in ASI 59001 was selected as optimum carbon source. The substrates stimulating sclerotium formation were cotton waste, or cotton waste + oak sawdust (mixture ratio of 8:2), which had 20% additive of wheat barn respectively. Sclerotium was formed well in the substrate adjusted chemical properties by applying 2% of calcium sulfate. Sclerotium formation was the most effective in the treatment of peat moss + oak sawdust (mixture ratio of 5:5) + 30% of wheat barn.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.49 no.5
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• pp.329-341
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• 2016

Objectives: The goal of this study was to investigate the short-term effect of ambient air pollution on emergency department (ED) visits in Seoul for asthma according to patients' prior history of allergic diseases. Methods: Data on ED visits from 2005 to 2009 were obtained from the Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service. To evaluate the risk of ED visits for asthma related to ambient air pollutants (carbon monoxide [CO], nitrogen dioxide [$NO_2$], ozone [$O_3$], sulfur dioxide [$SO_2$], and particulate matter with an aerodynamic diameter <$10{\mu}m$ [$PM_{10}$]), a generalized additive model with a Poisson distribution was used; a single-lag model and a cumulative-effect model (average concentration over the previous 1-7 days) were also explored. The percent increase and 95% confidence interval (CI) were calculated for each interquartile range (IQR) increment in the concentration of each air pollutant. Subgroup analyses were done by age, gender, the presence of allergic disease, and season. Results: A total of 33 751 asthma attack cases were observed during the study period. The strongest association was a 9.6% increase (95% CI, 6.9% to 12.3%) in the risk of ED visits for asthma per IQR increase in $O_3$ concentration. IQR changes in $NO_2$ and $PM_{10}$ concentrations were also significantly associated with ED visits in the cumulative lag 7 model. Among patients with a prior history of allergic rhinitis or atopic dermatitis, the risk of ED visits for asthma per IQR increase in $PM_{10}$ concentration was higher (3.9%; 95% CI, 1.2% to 6.7%) than in patients with no such history. Conclusions: Ambient air pollutants were positively associated with ED visits for asthma, especially among subjects with a prior history of allergic rhinitis or atopic dermatitis.

• Journal of Soil and Groundwater Environment
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• v.8 no.4
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• pp.45-52
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• 2003

A gas-substrate degrading bacterium, Nocardia SW3, was isolated from the gasoline contaminated aquifer using propane and butane as carbon and energy sources. We have examined the effects of substrate concentration, temperature and pH on the gas substrate degradation as well as MTBE cometabolic degradation. The result for the effect of substrate concentration showed that the maximum degradation rates of propane and butane were 30.6 and 25.4 (n㏖/min/mg protein) at 70 $\mu$㏖, respectively. The optimum temperature and pH for the degradation of gas substrate were $30^{\circ}C$ and 7, respectively. Substrate degradation activity, however, was still active in broad range of pH from 5 to 8 and temperature between $15^{\circ}C$and$35^{\circ}C$. The degradation activity of Nocardia SW3 for the MTBE was similar to the both substrates. The observed maximal transformation yields ($T_y$) were 46.7 and 35.0 (n㏖ MTBE degraded $\mu$㏖ substrate utilized), and the maximal transformation capacities ($T_c$) were 320 and 280 (n㏖MTBE degraded/mg biomass used) for propane and butane oxidizing activity on MTBE, respectively. And also, TBA was detected as by-product of MTBE and it was continuously degraded further.