• Tunnel and Underground Space
• /
• v.29 no.6
• /
• pp.439-455
• /
• 2019

A buffer is the major component of a high level radioactive waste repository. Due to their thermal conductivity and low permeability, bentonites have been considered as a key component of a buffer system in most countries. The deep geological condition generates ground water inflow and results in swelling pressure in the buffer and backfill. Investigation of swelling pressure of bentonite buffer is an important task for the safe disposal system. The swelling pressure that can be critical is affected by mechanical and hydro properties of the system. Therefore, in this study, a sensitivity analysis was conducted to examine the effect of hydro-mechanical (HM) behaviors in the MX-80 bentonite. Based on the results of the swelling pressure generation with HM model parameters, a coupled HM analysis of an unsaturated buffer and backfill in a deep geological repository was also carried out to investigate the major factor of the swelling pressure generation.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
• /
• v.28 no.2
• /
• pp.219-224
• /
• 2011

The health status of three groups of Hanwoo steers (n=157) aged 2-3 years, raised at three different altitudes (600 m, n=50; 200-400 m, n=58; plane land, n=49) and environment with more or less similar management have been evaluated through hematological, biochemical and globulin examinations in order to determine the optimum environment suitable for raising cattle while at the same time minimizing the risk of disease. Five mL of blood samples from each animal were collected by jugular veinipuncture and 2 mL was transferred to a tube containing EDTA for complete blood count (CBC) and 3 mL in lithium heparin for chemistry screening (CS) and immunoassay. Among the CBC parameters a significantly higher white blood cell count (tWBC), total red blood cell count (tRBC), hemoglobin (Hb) and packed cell volume (PCV) were noticed in the high altitude groups, whereas those were lower in the plane land group. In the CS parameters higher levels of aspartate aminotransferase (AST), creatinine, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and total bilirubin (TBL) were found in the plane land group, whereas those were lower in the high altitude groups. The total protein (significantly) and globulins were higher in the 600 m group. The results of this study revealed that the overall health status of the Hanwoo cattle based on the hemato-biochemical indices was superior in the highest altitude and inferior in the plane land group but all the parameters were within the reference range in all the groups. Therefore, for recommendation of a suitable environment at an appropriate altitude for raising cattle there need to be further studied along with the hemato-biochemical parameters; considering, breeding, feeding, management, marketing, waste disposal and other factors.

• The Sea:JOURNAL OF THE KOREAN SOCIETY OF OCEANOGRAPHY
• /
• v.3 no.4
• /
• pp.203-213
• /
• 1998

To investigate impacts of waste disposal on the marine environment for 9 years since dumping activity commenced in the Yellow Sea, chemical analysis of seawater has been done in and around the ocean dumping site. Results show that biogeochemical changes have occurred locally in the dumping area compared with the reference area, resulting in low dissolved oxygen saturation, low pH, and high accumulation of nutrients in the bottom layer. According to cluster analysis, chemical environment of the study area can be largely divided into surface layer and bottom layer, and again the bottom layer can be divided into that of dumping area where nutrients are accumulated and that of reference area. Low pH, low dissolved oxygen, high COD and accumulation of nutrients mainly characterize the dumping area. Average concentration of total inorganic nitrogen in the bottom layer below the thermocline has increased from $3.7{\mu}M$ to $9.5{\mu}M$, 250% accumulation in the dumping area since 1988. Therefore, the present results clearly show that the dumping site of Yellow Sea has received excessive sewage input beyond the environmental assimilatory capacity during the last decade. It may result in serious aggravation of seawater quality and basic ecosystem, and devastation of overall fishing grounds of Yellow Sea in the near future.

• Journal of Korean society of Dental Hygiene
• /
• v.10 no.5
• /
• pp.935-945
• /
• 2010

Objectives : The purpose of this study was to examine the knowledge of dental hygienists on infection control in dental office and their attitude toward that in a bid to provide some information on ways of enhancing the level of infection control in dental office. Methods : The subjects in this study were 220 dental hygienists who worked in dental hospitals and clinics in Busan and South Gyeongsang Province. A survey was conducted from May 17 to June 17, 2010, and the answer sheets from 183 respondents were analyzed with a SPSS WIN 12.0 program. Statistical data on frequency, percentage and mean were obtained, and t-test, Pearson correlation coefficient and one-way ANOVA were utilized. Results : They got a mean of $4.59{\pm}.68$ in six categories of infection control knowledge. They had the best knowledge on dental waste disposal, followed by hand washing, post-sterilization management, instrument disinfection and sterilization, surface management of dental equipment and wearing personal protective equipment. They got a mean of $3.99{\pm}.54$ in attitude, and they scored lowest in practice of surface management of dental equipment. Overall, they scored higher in every aspect of knowledge than in attitude(t=11.410, p=.0.000). There was the greatest gap between their knowledge and practice in surface management of dental equipment (t=13.885, p=0.000), and there was the smallest gap between their knowledge and practice in hand washing(t=5.460, p=0.000). And a positive correlation was found between knowledge and attitude, as better knowledge of infection control led to better attitude toward that(p<.001). Finally, concerning infection control knowledge and attitude by general characteristics, the presence or absence of infection control guidelines made differences to infection control knowledge, and infection control attitude was statistically significantly different according to infection control education experiences(t=6.501, p=.012) and the presence or absence of infection control guidelines(t=22.836, p=.000). Conclusions : In order to bolster infection control in dental office, the related system should be improved to legally require dental personnels to implement infection control. Every dental office must be furnished with infection control guidelines, and sustained education should be provided for dental hygienists to carry out infection control.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
• /
• v.42 no.4
• /
• pp.335-342
• /
• 2009

The effects of bacterial lysis on the rate of quartz dissolution were investigated under pH 7 condition using Bacillus subtilis cells which were either irradiated or non-irradiated with gamma ray. The amount of dissolved organic carbon (DOC) which resulted from bacterial lysis increased in slurries of quartz and bacteria mixture over experimental period. Lysis of non-irradiated bacteria led to the elevated concentration of dissolved silicon when compared with abiotic control. Concomitant increase in the amounts of DOC and dissolved silicon over time indicated that lixiviation of silicon from quartz was due to bacterial lysis. Higher amounts of DOC and dissolved silicon were present in the irradiated bacterial slurries than those of non-irradiated bacteria. The enhancement of quartz dissolution in the irradiated bacterial slurries was likely attributed to disruption of organic molecules in the bacterial cells by gamma ray and formation of effective ligands for quartz dissolution. The results suggest that the effects of bacterial lysis on mineral weathering rate should be considered for prediction of time for released radionuclides to migrate to surface biosphere in high level radioactive waste disposal site.

• Analytical Science and Technology
• /
• v.23 no.6
• /
• pp.566-571
• /
• 2010

This paper describes the sorption behaviors of aqueous uranium ions on the K-birnessite. K-birnessite was synthesized by adding a concentrated HCl to an aqueous solution of $KMnO_4$. Physicochemical characteristics of the K-birnessite, such as structure, specific surface area and surface charge, were investigated. K-birnessite is a layered material and the $K^+$ ions exist in the interlayer of layered K-birnessite. BET specific surface area of the K-birnessite was 38.30 m2/g. The surface charge of K-birnessite was $-1.65\;C/m^2$ at pH 5.00 and ionic strength of 0.010 M $NaClO_4$, at which the sorption experiments of uranium ions were carried out. Uranium ions were incorporated into the interlayer of the K-birnessite by cation-exchange reaction with $K^+$ ions, and the distribution coefficient is quite similar to those of common ion-exchange materials. The results might be applicable in the retardation of migration of radioactive materials from the underground disposal site of high-level radioactive waste.

• Journal of Radiation Protection and Research
• /
• v.36 no.4
• /
• pp.209-215
• /
• 2011

In order to investigate the soil-to-plant transfer factor (TF) of $^{99}Tc$ for Korean major upland crops (soybean, radish and Chinese cabbage), pot experiments were performed in a greenhouse. Soils were collected from four upland fields (two for soybean and two for radish and Chinese cabbage) around Gyeongju radioactive-waste disposal site. Three to four weeks before sowing, dried soils were mixed with a $^{99}Tc$ solution and the mixtures were put into pots and irrigated. TF values were expressed as the ratios of the $^{99}Tc$ concentrations in plants (Bq $kg^{-1}$-dry or fresh) to those in soils (Bq $kg^{-1}$-dry). There was no great difference in the TF value between soils. The TF values for soybean seeds were extremely lower than those for the straws, indicating a very low mobility of $^{99}Tc$ to seeds. As representative TF values of $^{99}Tc$, $1.8{\times}10^{-1}$, $1.2{\times}10^1$, $3.2{\times}10^2$ and $1.3{\times}10^2$ (for dry plants), arithmetic means for two soils, were proposed for soybean seeds, radish roots, radish leaves and Chinese cabbage leaves, respectively. In the case of the vegetables, proposals for fresh plants were also made. The proposed values are not sufficiently representative so successive updates are needed.

• Clean Technology
• /
• v.5 no.1
• /
• pp.49-61
• /
• 1999

Fenton's oxidation can improve the biodegradability of refractory organic wastewater by generating $OH{\cdot}$ which is one of the most reactive species. Fenton's reagent is used to treat a variety of industrial waste containing a range of toxic organic compounds. But this process cannot be economical because of high chemical cost of $H_2O_2$, ferrous ion solution and high sludge disposal cost. In this study, we proposed a modified Fenton's oxidation process which can reduce the reagent cost and obtain better removal efficiencies with less Fenton's reagents, and have a good potential of sludge recycling. In modified Fenton reaction, ferrous ion solution is adjusted to optimal pH with NaOH. Then it added to the sample and reacted to $H_2O_2$. For the experiment, synthetic wastewater made of phenol, which is one of the typical water pollutants, was used and the ionic strength of this wastewater was controlled by adding $NaHCO_3$. The effects of DO, ionic strength, and $H_2O_2$ dosing methods were investigated. As a result, modified Fenton's treatment efficiencies are better than conventional Fenton's reaction treating leachate and dyeing wastewater. And modified Fenton's treatment efficiencies combined to the sludge recycling for a half of Iron dosage are as good as the conventional Fenton's for a normal Iron dosage.

• Clean Technology
• /
• v.21 no.4
• /
• pp.241-247
• /
• 2015

Oyster shells are a waste product from mariculture that creates a major disposal problem in coastal regions of southeast Korea. To make practical use of unused oyster shells, calcined oyster shell (COS) collected from a local company was allowed to adsorb AITC (allyl isothiocyanate), and then tested the powder's ability to inhibit the growth of some potential food borne disease-causing bacteria. COS powder showed bacteriostatic effect that inhibited cell growth of Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus and Salmonella typhimurium from 3 to 5 log10 CFU/mL at concentrations around 1%. The MIC of pure AITC was found as 1 mg/mL, 0.8 mg/mL and 0.7 mg/mL for Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus and Salmonella typhimurium, respectively. The calcined powder adsorbed about 225 mg of AITC per gram of shell, indicating porous material was created by calcination. FTIR data confirmed the adsorption of AITC by COS. Characterization of particle data showed very fine particle size and highly convoluted surface. AITC adsorbed calcined oyster shell (ACOS) completely inhibited bacterial cell at 1% concentration. ACOS showed better antibacterial effect than COS, indicating synergistic effect of AITC and calcined oyster shell powder on bacteria.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
• /
• v.34 no.3
• /
• pp.199-206
• /
• 2001

Behavior of nutrients along the salinity gradients in the Seomjin River estuary was investigated in March July, September and November, 1999. Sampling sites were set based on the surface salinity during each cruise rather than geographic locations. The results suggest that source of nitrate and silicate was the Seomjin River discharge, while that of nitrite and phosphate was waste disposal from the Gwangynng Bay near the mouth of Seomjin River estuary. Ammonia was supplied inside the estuary at the region about $6\~8$ km far from Nancho Island. Strong removal behavior of some nutrient such as ammonia, phosphate and silicate was observed at $5\~15$ psu salinity area in November, where high concentrations of $chlorophyll\;a\;(>8{\mu}g/L$) occurred. High N : P ratios and entirely removal of phosphate at chlorophyll a peak region suggest that phosphate is the limiting factor for phytoplankton growth. Relatively high ratios of Rb to Ra (Rb: Fluorescence before acidification, Ra: Fluorescence after acidification) at $5\~15$ psu salinity region in November indicate that phytoplankton were in good physiological condition.