• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.56 no.2
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• pp.707-714
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• 2024

Different degrees of natural radioactivity found in quartz can have negative consequences on health. Quartz vein along the investigated Abu Ramad area, Egypt, had its natural radioactivity assessed. The HPGe spectrometer was used to determine the role played by the radionuclides ²³⁸U, ²³²Th, and ⁴⁰K in the gamma radiation that was emitted, and the results showed that these concentrations are 484.64 ± 288.4, 36.8 ± 13.1 and 772.2 ± 134.6 Bq kg^-1 were higher than the corresponding reported global limits of 33, 45, and 412 Bq kg^-1 for each radionuclide (²³⁸U, ²³²Th, and ⁴⁰K). Among the radiological hazard parameters, the excess lifetime cancer risk (ELCR) is estimated and it's mean value of ELCR (1.2) is higher than the permissible limit of 0.00029. The relationship between the radionuclides and the associated radiological hazard characteristics was investigated based on multivariate statistical methods including Pearson correlation, principal component analysis (PCA), and hierarchical cluster analysis (HCA). According to statistical research, the radioactive risk of quartz is primarily caused by the ²³⁸U, ²³²Thand ⁴⁰K. Finally, applying quartz to building materials would pose a significant risk to the public.

• Journal of agriculture & life science
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• v.44 no.6
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• pp.121-132
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• 2010

Soybean farms in Changnyeong were selected for hazard analysis to establish the Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) model of soybean, and physical, chemical(heavy metal) and biological(sanitary indications, foodborne pathogens) hazard analysis for cultivation environment (soil, water) was carried out. First, bow which is able to be mixed in soil and water was confirmed as physical hazard. Levels (Cd:0.01~0.103, Cu:0.001~6.036, As:0.006~3.045, Hg:ND~0.041, Pb:0.003~3.952, $Cr^{+6}$:0.007~0.496, Zn:0.001~66.500, Ni:0.003~18.010) of heavy metals in soil and water were appropriate for GAP criteria. In biological hazard, APC and coliform in soil were detected at the levels of $6.0{\pm}0.3$ and $3.6{\pm}1.6$ log CFU/g, and levels of water were $3.5{\pm}0.7$ and $1.9{\pm}0.7$ log CFU/mL, while E. coli wasn't detected in all sample. However, coliform in water wasn't appropriate for criteria, and E. coli O157 was detected about 22% in some farms, so it needs ways to prevent contamination by human and animals excrements. In conclusion, it needs proper management to prevent cross-contamination of hazards although physical and chemical hazard level were appropriate for GAP criteria while biological hazard wasn't.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.83-100
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• 2005

This paper presents results from a study to extend a performance-based shearwall selection procedure to take into account the contributions of nonstructural finish materials (such as stucco and gypsum wallboard), construction quality issues, and their effects on the displacement performance of engineered wood shearwalls subject to seismic loading. Shearwall performance is evaluated in terms of peak displacements under seismic loading (characterized by a suite of ordinary ground motion records) considering different combinations of performance levels (drift limits) and seismic hazard. Shearwalls are analyzed using nonlinear dynamic time-history analysis with global assembly hysteretic parameters determined by fitting to actual shearwall test data. Peak displacement distributions, determined from sets of analyses using each of the ground motion records taken to characterize the seismic hazard, are postprocessed into performance curves, design charts, and fragility curves which can be used for risk-based design and assessment applications.

• Earthquakes and Structures
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.111-125
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• 2014

Multiple level performance of seismically isolated elevated storage tank isolated with multi-phase friction pendulum bearing is investigated under totally 60 records developed for multiple level seismic hazard analysis (SLE, DBE and MCE). Mathematical formulations involving complex time history analysis have been proposed for analysis of typical storage tank by multi-phase friction pendulum bearing. Multi-phase friction pendulum bearing represent a new generation of adaptive friction isolation system to control super-structure demand in different hazard levels. This isolator incorporates four concave surfaces and three independent pendulum mechanisms. Pendulum stages can be set to address specific response criteria for moderate, severe and very severe events. The advantages of a Triple Pendulum Bearing for seismic isolation of elevated storage tanks are explored. To study seismic performance of isolated elevated storage tank with multi-phase friction pendulum, analytical simulations were performed with different friction coefficients, pendulum radii and slider displacement capacities.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.66 no.4
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• pp.515-529
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• 2018

Multiple hazards (multihazard) conditions may cause significant risk to structures that are originally designed for individual hazard scenarios. Such a multihazard condition arises when an earthquake strikes to a bridge pre-exposed to scour at foundations due to flood events. This study estimates the impact spectrum of flood-induced scour on seismic vulnerability of bridges. Characteristic river-crossing highway bridges are formed based on the information obtained from bridge inventories. These bridges are analyzed under earthquake-only and the abovementioned multihazard conditions, and bridge fragility curves are developed at component and system levels. Research outcome shows that bridges having pile shafts as foundation elements are protected from any additional seismic vulnerability due to the presence of scour. However, occurrence of floods can increase seismic fragility of bridges at lower damage states due to the adverse impact of scour on bridge components at superstructure level. These findings facilitate bridge design under the stated multihazard condition.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.66 no.1
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• pp.75-84
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• 2018

This study presents the reliability-based analysis of nonlinear structures using the analytical fragility curves excited by random earthquake loads. The stochastic method of ground motion simulation is combined with the random vibration theory to compute structural failure probability. The formulation of structural failure probability using random vibration theory, based on only the frequency information of the excitation, provides an important basis for structural analysis in places where there is a lack of sufficient recorded ground motions. The importance of frequency content of ground motions on probability of structural failure is studied for different levels of the nonlinear behavior of structures. The set of simulated ground motion for this study is based on the results of probabilistic seismic hazard analysis. It is demonstrated that the scenario events identified by the seismic risk differ from those obtained by the disaggregation of seismic hazard. The validity of the presented procedure is evaluated by Monte-Carlo simulation.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Hazard Mitigation
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.39-43
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• 2008

Determination of strain associated with shear modulus and damping ratio during torsional test is complicated. This is due to nonuniform stress-strain variation occurring linearly with radius in a soil specimen in torsion. A conventional equivalent radius approach proposed by Chen and Stokoe appears to be adequate for evaluating strain associated with shear modulus at low to intermediate strain levels. This approach is less accurate for damping measurement, particularly at high strain. Modified equivalent radius approach was used to account for the nonuniform stress-strain effect more precisely. The modified equivalent radius approach was applied for hyperbolic, modified hyperbolic, and Ramberg-Osgood models. The results illustrate the usefulness of the modified equivalent radius approach and suggest that using a single value of equivalent radius ratio to calculate strains is not appropriate.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Hazard Mitigation
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.97-103
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• 2008

Determination of stress-strain relationship in torsional tests is complicated due to nonuniform stress-strain variation occurring linearly with the radius in a soil specimen in torsion. The equivalent radius approach is adequate when calculating strain at low to intermediate strains, however, the approach is less accurate when performing the test at higher strain levels. The modified equivalent radius approach was developed to account for the problem more precisely. This approach was extended to generate the plots of equivalent radius ratio versus strain using modified hyperbolic and Ramberg-Osgood models. Results showed the effects of soil nonlinearity on the equivalent radius ratio curves were observed. Curve fitting was also performed to find the stress-strain relationship by fitting the theoretical torque-rotation relationship to measured torque-rotation relationship.

• Health Policy and Management
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.85-107
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• 2008

This study aims to describe levels and distribution of the continuity of primary care among children and adolescent patients who are 2-19 years old, and analyze the effects of it on the risk of hospitalization. Study population was 2-19 year old child and adolescent patients as of 2002, who had more than three ambulatory care visits in the years of 2002-3 and whose most frequent provider was the primary care practices (189,660 persons). Association of levels of primary care with the risk of hospitalization was evaluated using multiple event survival analysis. Outcome variables were whether the patient had hospitalized or not, and whether the patient had hospitalized due to ambulatory care-sensitive conditions or not. Multiple event survival analysis revealed statistically significant association of the levels of primary care with the risk of hospitalization. Hazard ratio was 1.34 [1.27-1.41] at the medium level of continuity and 1.47 [1.39-1.55] at the lower level where outcome variable was whether the patient had been hospitalized or not. Hazard ratios were 1.35 [1.21-1.50] at the medium level of continuity and 1.60 [1.44-1.78] at the lower level, where outcome variable was whether the patient been had hospitalized due to ambulatory care-sensitive conditions or not. This study produced some evidences on the benefits of continuity of care, which will in turn support the introduction of personal doctor registration program in the future.

• Journal of Korean Society on Water Environment
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• v.22 no.6
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• pp.1107-1108
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• 2006

As expanding municipal and industrial areas since started the economic development plan in earnest in 1970's, the water resource, mainly river surface water has been seriously polluted. Nevertheless, being upgraded in their treatment technologies for the drinking water, the safety has been issued one of crucially social problem in Korea. The water authorities has tried to improve the quality such as amending the drinking water quality standard to be monitored; hazardous chemicals and microorganis have been added and now 55 items, before 47 items, since in 2002. The Water Authorities of Seoul, the capital city of Korea, planned to assess the safty of drinking water quality after amended the standard. This study was conducted to assess the risk due to polluted chemicals including 21 heavy metals, VOCs, pesticides, PAHs, DBPs and organic chemicals among the regulated items. The risk assessment were undertaken hazard identification, exposure assessment, dose-response assessment and risk characterization. For the exposoure assessment, tap water, bottled water and purified water were sampled and analyzed in February, 2004. Risk characterization of detected chemicals was categorized into carcinogenecity and noncarcinogenecity, and estimated the excess of carcinogens and compapared with the reference dose (RfD) of noncarcinogenns. The excess risk of carcinogens from samples were considered comparatively in the acceptable levels; $10^{-6}$ for cancer risk and hazard quotient (HQ) 1.0 for noncancer risk. The deteced levels were estimated in $10^{-5}{\sim}10^{-6}$ of cancer risk and below 1.0 of HQ of noncancer risk. While three kinds of water were determined within the acceptal levels, DBPs were detected in tap water and purified were and some undesireable chemicals such as more fluoride detected rather than the quality stanadard. For the drinking water safety, it shoud be continuously monitored, assessed and managed as well risk communiction between the authoritis and public.