• The Journal of Engineering Geology
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• v.34 no.1
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• pp.39-49
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• 2024

The construction of underground infrastructure is garnering growing increasing research attention owing to population concentration and infrastructure overcrowding in urban areas. An important associated task is establishing a monitoring system to evaluate stability during infrastructure construction and operation, which relies on developing techniques for ground investigation that can evaluate ground stability, verify design validity, predict risk, facilitate safe operation management, and reduce construction costs. The method proposed here uses satellite imaging in a cost-effective and accurate ground investigation technique that can be applied over a wide area during the construction and operation of infrastructure. In this study, analysis was performed using Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) data with the time-series radar interferometric technique to observe surface displacement during the construction of urban underground roads. As a result, it was confirmed that continuous surface displacement was occurring at some locations. In the future, comparing and analyzing on-site measurement data with the points of interest would aid in confirming whether displacement occurs due to tunnel excavation and assist in estimating the extent of excavation impact zones.

• Tunnel and Underground Space
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• v.34 no.1
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• pp.28-53
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• 2024

In general, high-level radioactive waste (HLW) generated as a result of nuclear power generation should be disposed within the country. Determination of the disposal site and host rock for HLW deep geological repository is an important issue not only scientifically but also politically, economically, and socially. Considered host rock types worldwide for geological disposal include crystalline rocks, sedimentary rocks, volcanic rocks, and salt dome. However, South Korea consists of various rock types except salt dome. This paper not only analyzed the geological and rock mechanical characteristics on a nationwide scale with the preliminary results on various rock type studies for the disposal host rock, but also reviewed the characteristics and possibility of various rock types as a host rock through deep drilling surveys. Based on the nationwide screening for host rock types resulted from literature review, rock distributions, and detailed case studies, Jurassic granites and Cretaceous sedimentary rocks (Jinju and Jindong formations) were derived as a possible candidate host rock types for the geological disposal. However, since the analyzed data for candidate rock types from this study is not enough, it is suggested that the disposal rock type should be carefully determined from additional and detailed analysis on disposal depth, regional characteristics, multidisciplinary investigations, etc.

• Tunnel and Underground Space
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• v.34 no.1
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• pp.15-27
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• 2024

In this case study, detailed survey of the Excavation Damaged Zone (EDZ) evaluation for the deep geological repository for high level nuclear waste was conducted. Oversea and Domestic case studies were compiled and investigated. EDZ is considered a crucial factor in the performance assessment of spent fuel disposal, leading to numerous studies worldwide aiming to understand the characteristics of the EDZ and quantitatively assessment of its extent through field and laboratory tests at Underground Research Laboratory (URL) sites. To enhance the understanding of EDZ, this study begins with defining and exploring the history of EDZ, compiling factors influencing EDZ, and summarizing the impacts caused by EDZ. Subsequently, an analysis of EDZ and rock properties is performed, followed by presenting generalized outcomes, limitations drawn from previous research, and proposing future research directions.

• Journal of the Society of Disaster Information
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.156-168
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• 2024

Purpose: The trend of highway traffic accidents shows a repeating pattern of increase and decrease, with the fatality rate being highest on highways among all road types. Therefore, there is a need to establish improvement measures that reflect the situation within the country. Method: We conducted accident severity analysis using Random Forest on data from accidents occurring on 10 specific routes with high accident rates among national highways from 2019 to 2021. Factors influencing accident severity were identified. Result: The analysis, conducted using the SHAP package to determine the top 10 variable importance, revealed that among highway traffic accidents, the variables with a significant impact on accident severity are the age of the perpetrator being between 20 and less than 39 years, the time period being daytime (06:00-18:00), occurrence on weekends (Sat-Sun), seasons being summer and winter, violation of traffic regulations (failure to comply with safe driving), road type being a tunnel, geometric structure having a high number of lanes and a high speed limit. We identified a total of 10 independent variables that showed a positive correlation with highway traffic accident severity. Conclusion: As accidents on highways occur due to the complex interaction of various factors, predicting accidents poses significant challenges. However, utilizing the results obtained from this study, there is a need for in-depth analysis of the factors influencing the severity of highway traffic accidents. Efforts should be made to establish efficient and rational response measures based on the findings of this research.

• Tunnel and Underground Space
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• v.34 no.2
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• pp.89-103
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• 2024

In the disposal environment, gases can be generated at the interface between canister and buffer due to various factors such as anaerobic corrosion, radiolysis, and microbial degradation. If the gas generation rate exceeds the diffusion rate, the gas within the buffer may compress, resulting in physical damage to the buffer due to the increased pore pressure. In particular, the rapid movement of gases, known as gas breakthroughs, through the dilatancy pathway formed during this process may lead to releasing radionuclide. Therefore, understanding these gas generation and movement mechanism is essential for the safety assessment of the disposal systems. In this study, an experimental apparatus for investigating gas migration within buffer was constructed based on a literature review. Subsequently, a gas injection experiment was conducted on a compacted bentonite block made of Bentonile WRK (Clariant Ltd.) powder. The results clearly demonstrated a sharp increase in stress and pressure typically observed at the onset of gas breakthrough within the buffer. Additionally, the range of stresses induced by the swelling phenomenon of the buffer, was 4.7 to 9.1 MPa. The apparent gas entry pressure was determined to be approximately 7.8 MPa. The equipment established in this study is expected to be utilized for various experiments aimed at building a database on the initial properties of buffer and the conditions during gas injection, contributing to understanding the gas migration phenomena.

• Tunnel and Underground Space
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• v.34 no.2
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• pp.169-184
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• 2024

This study investigates acoustic emission (AE) and micro-deformation characteristics of circular openings through biaxial compression experiments. The experimental results showed a significant increase in the frequency, count, energy, and amplitude of AE signals immediately before damage occurred in the circular opening. The differences in frequency and count between before and after damage initiation were significantly pronounced, indicating suitable factors for identifying damage occurrence in circular openings. The results for digital image correlation (DIC) technique revealed that micro-deformation was concentrated around the openings, as evidenced by the spatial distribution of strain. In addition, spalling was observed at the end of the experiments. The AE and micro-deformation characteristics presented in this study are expected to serve as fundamental data for evaluating the stability of underground openings and boreholes for deep subsurface projects.

• Journal of Cardiovascular Imaging
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.99-108
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• 2022

BACKGROUND: Adding pulsation to the Fontan circulation might change the fate of patients palliated by this procedure. Our aim was to compare the pulsatility index (PI) of the pulmonary artery (PA) between the various modifications of Fontan palliation. METHODS: Doppler-derived PI was measured in PA branches of a cohort of 28 patients palliated by 6 modifications of Fontan procedure. A group of normal individuals was included for comparison. RESULTS: Atriopulmonary connection (APC) group had the highest PA branches PI and statistically was close to the PI of the normal individuals (right pulmonary artery [RPA] PI of 1.58 vs. 1.63; p = 0.99 and left pulmonary artery [LPA] PI of 1.54 vs. 1.68; p = 0.46, respectively). The lowest PA branches PI was seen in the group of extracardiac total cavopulmonary connection (RPA PI of 0.62 and LPA PI of 0.65). Other 4 modifications including the extracardiac conduit with oversewn pulmonary valve, extracardiac conduit with preserved adjusted antegrade flow, extracardiac conduit from inferior vena cava onto the rudimentary right ventricle and lateral tunnel had a mean "RPA and LPA" PI of "1.19 and 1.17", "1.16 and 1.11", "1.13 and 1.11", "0.82 and 0.84", respectively. The modified Dunnett's post hoc test has shown a significant statistical decline in PI of all modifications compared to the normal individuals except for the APC group. CONCLUSIONS: Fontan palliated patients in different groups of surgical modification showed a spectrum of Doppler-derived PI with the highest amounts belong to the groups of pulsatile Fontan.

• The Journal of the Convergence on Culture Technology
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• v.10 no.4
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• pp.389-395
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• 2024

This study aims to deeply analyze the military strategies and tactics used in the battles between Israel and Hamas, to understand the military approaches, technical capabilities, and their impact on the outcomes of the conflict. To achieve this, methodologies such as literature review, data analysis, and case studies were utilized. The research findings confirm that Hamas employed asymmetric tactics, such as rocket attacks and surprise attacks through underground tunnels, to counter Israel's military superiority. On the other hand, Israel responded to Hamas's attacks with the Iron Dome interception system and intelligence-gathering capabilities, but faced difficulties due to Hamas's underground tunnel network. After six months of fighting, the casualties in the Gaza Strip exceeded 30,000, and more than 1.7 million people became refugees. Israel also suffered over 1,200 deaths. Militarily, neither side achieved a decisive victory, resulting in a war of attrition. This study suggests that the Israel-Hamas war exemplifies the complexity of modern asymmetric warfare. Furthermore, it recommends that political compromise between the two sides and active mediation efforts by the international community are necessary for the peaceful resolution of the Israel-Palestine conflict.

• Journal of Korean Society of Disaster and Security
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.1-11
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• 2024

Most reservoirs in South Korea are earthen dams, mainly because they are cost-effective and easy to construct. However, earthen dams are highly vulnerable to seepage and overtopping, making them prone to sudden failure during excessive flooding. Such sudden failures can lead to a rapid increase in flood discharge, causing significant damage to downstream rivers and inhabited areas. This study investigates the effect of riprap placement on the slopes of earthen dams in delaying dam failure. Delaying the failure time is crucial as it allows more time for evacuation, significantly reducing potential casualties, which is essential from a disaster response perspective. Hydraulic experiments were conducted in a straight channel, using two different sizes of riprap for protection. Unlike previous studies, these experiments were performed under unsteady flow conditions to reflect the impact of rising water levels inside the dam. The target dam for the study was a cofferdam installed in a diversion tunnel. Experimental results indicated that the presence of riprap protection effectively prevented slope failure under the tested conditions. Without riprap protection, increasing the size of the riprap delayed the failure time. This delay can reduce peak discharge, mitigating damage downstream of the dam. Furthermore, these findings can serve as critical reference material for establishing emergency action plans (EAP) for reservoir failure.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.47 no.4
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• pp.431-439
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• 2014

The purposes of this research were to investigate the enrichment of metal-reducing bacteria from KURT groundwater and the identification of the microbial diversity by 16S rRNA as well as to examine microbial Fe(III)/Mn(IV) reduction and to analyze morphological features of interactions between microbes and precipitates and their mineralogical composition. To cultivate metal-reducing bacteria from groundwater sampled at the KURT in S. Korea, different electron donors such as glucose, acetate, lactate, formate, pyruvate and Fe(III)-citrate as an electron accepter were added into growth media. The enriched culture was identified by 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis for the diversity of microbial species. The effect of electron donors (i.e., glucose, acetate, lactate, formate, pyruvate) and electron acceptors (i.e., akaganeite, manganese oxide) on microbial iron/manganese reduction and biomineralization were examined using the 1st enriched culture, respectively. SEM, EDX, and XRD analyses were used to determine morphological features, chemical composition of microbes and mineralogical characteristics of the iron and manganese minerals. Based on 16S rRNA gene analysis, the four species, Fusibacter, Desulfuromonas, Actinobacteria, Pseudomonas sp., from KURT groundwater were identified as anaerobic metal reducers and these microbes precipitated metals outside of cells in common. XRD and EDX analyses showed that Fe(III)-containing mineral, akaganeite (${\beta}$-FeOOH), reduced into Fe(II)/Fe(III)-containing magnetite ($Fe_3O_4$) and Mn(IV)-containing manganese oxide (${\lambda}-MnO_2$) into Mn(II)-containing rhodochrosite ($MnCO_3$) by the microbes. These results implicate that microbial metabolism and respiratory activities under anaerobic condition result in reduction and biomineralization of iron and manganese minerals. Therefore, the microbes cultivated from groundwater in KURT might play a major role to reduce various metals from highly toxic, mobile to less toxic, immobile.