• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.311-320
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• 2022

TBM concrete segment requires a higher level of material properties compared to general concrete structures due to difficulties in maintenance and uncertainty in ground conditions. In this regard, recently, as one of the methods to achieve enhancement effect on concrete strength, many researchers have been focusing on adding CNTs to concrete mixture. However, even CNTs do not compensate the weakness that concrete exhibits brittle behavior after cracking. Separately, over the past few decades, a number of studies have been conducted on fiber reinforced concrete which exhibits ductile behavior due to fibers bridging cracks. However, only limited studies have been conducted to employ the advantages of the both materials together. In this study, an experimental program has been conducted to investigate the effect of CNTs on the workability and the compressive behavior of PVA-ECC which exhibits ductile tensile behavior with well-distributed cracks even without a conventional rebar. In addition to the compression test, SEM analysis has been also conducted for detailed investigation in the microstructure. The variable was the CNTs mix ratio, which were set to 0.00, 0.25, and 0.50 wt.% to the binding materials. It was observed though the test results that as the CNTs mix ratio increased, the workability considerably decreased with the reduced slump and slump flow. From the compression test results, it was also investigated that the compressive behavior was improved since the compressive strength, the strain corresponding to the compressive strength, and the modulus of elasticity increased with an increase of CNTs mix ratio. The contents of this paper will be useful for relevant research areas such as fiber reinforced concrete with CNTs which might be applied for high performance TMB concrete segments.

• Smart Structures and Systems
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.383-397
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• 2018

Traditional base isolation systems focus on isolating the seismic response of a structure in the horizontal direction. However, in regions where the vertical earthquake excitation is significant (such as near-fault region), a traditional base-isolated building exhibits a significant vertical vibration. To eliminate this shortcoming, a rocking-isolated system named Telescopic Column (TC) is proposed in this paper. Detailed rocking and isolation mechanism of the TC system is presented. The seismic performance of the TC is compared with the traditional elastomeric bearing (EB) and friction pendulum (FP) base-isolated systems. A 4-storey reinforced concrete moment-resisting frame (RC-MRF) is selected as the reference superstructure. The seismic response of the reference superstructure in terms of column axial forces, base shears, floor accelerations, inter-storey drift ratios (IDR) and collapse margin ratios (CMRs) are evaluated using OpenSees. The results of the nonlinear dynamic analysis subjected to multi-directional earthquake excitations show that the superstructure equipped with the newly proposed TC is more resilient and exhibits a superior response with higher margin of safety against collapse when compared with the same superstructure with the traditional base-isolation (BI) system.

• Nano
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• v.13 no.10
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• pp.1850116.1-1850116.14
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• 2018

In this study, we report the mercury ions ($Hg^{2+}$) mediated phosphorus-containing carbon dots (PCDs) as a selective "off-on" fluorescence probe for glutathione (GSH), cysteine (Cys) and homocysteine (Hcys). PCDs obtained by hydrothermal reaction are sensitive to $Hg^{2+}$ ions and its fluorescence can be significantly quenched owing to the electron transfer from the lowest unoccupied molecular orbital (LUMO) of PCDs to $Hg^{2+}$. Interestingly, the weak fluorescence of $Hg^{2+}$-mediated PCDs could be gradually recovered with the addition of GSH, Cys and Hcys. This can be attributed to the formation of $Hg^{2+}-S$ complex due to the super affinity of $Hg^{2+}$-sulfydryl bond. The formation of $Hg^{2+}-S$ complex extremely reduces the oxidation ability of $Hg^{2+}$ that inhibits the electron transfer from LUMO of PCDs to $Hg^{2+}$ and re-opens the native electron transition from LUMO to the highest occupied molecular orbital (HOMO) of PCDs. Thus, the green fluorescence of PCDs is switched on. Furthermore, the present $Hg^{2+}$-mediated PCDs assay exhibits a high selectivity for GSH, Cys and Hcy and has been successfully used to detect the total biothiols content in human urine samples.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.32 no.8
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• pp.563-572
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• 2023

Scoria from Jeju-island (Jeju scoria) was converted into zeolitic material (Z-SA) via zeolitification using the fusion/hydrothermal method. Jeju scoria could be synthesized into Z-SA to from a surface covered with Na-A zeolite crystals, which was confirmed through an analysis of X-ray diffraction peak patterns and scanning electron microscopy images. Jeju scoria and Z-SA were employed as adsorbents to evaluate the adsorption rate and adsorption capacities for Cu²⁺ and Zn²⁺ ions. The adsorption rates and isothermal adsorption capacities could be well fitted by the pseudo-quadratic adsorption kinetics and Langmuir adsorption isotherm, respectively. The maximum adsorption capacities (q_m) of Z-SA for Cu²⁺ and Zn²⁺ ions were found to be 163.36 mg/g and 120.51 mg/g, respectively, using the Langmuir adsorption isotherm. When Z-SA is synthesized from Jeju scoria via zeolitification using the fusion/hydrothermal method, Z-SA exhibits an adsorption capacity that is more than approximately 100 times the value exhibited by Jeju scoria. As a result, the synthesized Z-SA was regarded as an effective, economic adsorbent.

• Membrane and Water Treatment
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• v.14 no.3
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• pp.121-128
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• 2023

This study introduces a NaOH/Zn-assisted hydrothermal method for the synthesis of zeolites derived from coal ash (CA). A zeolite/Zn adsorbent is successfully prepared by the activation of CA with NaOH and Zn; it is characterized by a high surface area and a negative surface charge.Methylene blue (MB) and methyl orange (MO) are selected as dye pollutants, and their adsorption onto the zeolite/Zn adsorbent is investigated. Results show the high adsorption capacities of MB and MO and that the negative surface charge facilitates electrostatic interactions between the adsorbates and adsorbents. The zeolite/Zn adsorbents shows the selective adsorption of positively charged dye MB via electrostatic interactions between the =NH+ group (positive dipole) and the oxygen functional group of the adsorbents (negative dipole). The selectivity for the positively charged dye is sufficiently high, with the removal efficiency reaching 99.41% within 10 min. By contrast, the negatively charged dye MO exhibits negligible absorption. These findings confirm the role of electrostatic interactions in the adsorption of MB, in addition to the effect of a large surface area. The results of this study are expected to facilitate the development of simple, eco-friendly, and cost-effective zeolite-based adsorptive composites from CA residuals for the selective removal of dye pollutants from CA waste.

• Journal of the Korean earth science society
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• v.37 no.7
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• pp.465-475
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• 2016

The diurnal and semidiurnal tides in the global atmosphere are examined using 3-hourly geopotential height field of the state-of-the-art reanalysis data. Unlike the previous studies, the spatial structure and seasonality of those tides are analyzed from the surface of the earth to the stratosphere. It is found that, at most levels, diurnal tide is strong in the midlatitudes while semidiurnal tide is predominant in the tropics. The former shows strong seasonal cycle with a larger amplitude in summer than in winter in both hemispheres. This is different from the semidiurnal tide which has essentially no seasonal cycle. In term of the vertical structure, while semidiurnal tide has a barotropic structure, diurnal tide exhibits a distinct vertical structure with increased amplitude and height. Especially tropical diurnal tide exhibits a nearly opposite phase from the surface to the free troposphere, and to the upper stratosphere. Its amplitude also varies nonlinearly with height, possibly influenced by water vapor, ozone, gravity waves and solar radiation.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.15-23
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• 2020

The determination of soil characteristics is important in the simulation of rainfall runoff using a distributed FLO-2D model in catchment analysis. Digital maps acquired using remote sensing techniques have been widely used in modern hydrology. However, the determination of a representative parameter with spatial scaling mismatch is difficult. In this investigation, the FLO-2D rainfall-runoff model is utilized in the Yongdam catchment to test sensitivity based on three different methods (mosaic, arithmetic, and predominant) that describe soil surface characteristics in real systems. The results show that the mosaic method is costly, but provides a reasonably realistic description and exhibits superior performance compared to other methods in terms of both the amount and time to peak flow.

• Journal of Korean Society for Atmospheric Environment
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.107-117
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• 2010

The atmospheric geochemistry of mercury is generalls represented by gaseous elemental phase that exhibits the high environmental mobility and relatively long atmospheric residence time (c.a., 1 year) with its high chemical stability. In the recognition of the environmental significance of its global cycling, enormous efforts have been devoted to the measurements of Hg exchange across air-soil boundary. To be able to describe the fundamental aspects on this subject, the current development in the measurements of atmospheric exchange rates of mercury has been summarized using the current database reported worldwide. As a first step, different techniques commonly employed in its measurements are introduced with the discussions on their merits and disadvantages. Then, the results derived from various field measurement campaigns are also compared and discussed. The direction for the future study of mercury is presented at last.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.376-382
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• 2013

[6]-Gingerol, a major polyphenol of ginger (Zingiber officinale), exhibits a variety of biological properties including anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer activity. However, the radioprotective effect of [6]-gingerol is still unknown. The aim of this study was to investigate the radioprotective effect of [6]-gingerol against radiation-induced cell cytotoxicity and oxidative stress in HepG2 cells. [6]-Gingerol pretreatment attenuated radiation-induced cell cytotoxicity caused by 5Gy (half lethal dose, $LD_{50}$ of HepG2 cells). The measurements of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) activity were also performed. The results showed that [6]-gingerol pretreatment reduced increasing SOD and CAT activity after exposure of IR, indicating that [6]-gingerol protected oxidative stress by regulating cellular antioxidant enzyme (SOD and CAT) activity. These findings suggest that [6]-gingerol acts as a radioprotector by attenuating cell cytotoxicity and oxidative stress.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.330-337
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• 2018

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), including naphthalene, are widely distributed in nature. Naphthalene has been regarded as a model PAH compound for investigating the mechanisms of bacterial PAH biodegradation. Pseudomonas sp. AS1 isolated from an arseniccontaminated site is capable of growing on various aromatic compounds such as naphthalene, salicylate, and catechol, but not on gentisate. The genome of strain AS1 consists of a 6,126,864 bp circular chromosome and the 81,841 bp circular plasmid pAS1. Pseudomonas sp. AS1 has multiple dioxygenases and related enzymes involved in the degradation of aromatic compounds, which might contribute to the metabolic versatility of this isolate. The pAS1 plasmid exhibits extremely high similarity in size and sequences to the well-known naphthalene-degrading plasmid pDTG1 in Pseudomonas putida strain NCIB 9816-4. Two gene clusters involved in the naphthalene degradation pathway were identified on pAS1. The expression of several nah genes on the plasmid was upregulated by more than 2-fold when naphthalene was used as a sole carbon source. Strains have been isolated at different times and places with different characteristics, but similar genes involved in the degradation of aromatic compounds have been identified on their plasmids, which suggests that the transmissibility of the plasmids might play an important role in the adaptation of the microorganisms to mineralize the compounds.