• Database Research
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• v.34 no.3
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• pp.148-158
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• 2018

The optical character recognition (OCR) is a technique to extract and recognize texts from images. It is an important preprocessing step in data analysis since most actual text information is embedded in images. Many OCR engines have high recognition accuracy for images where texts are clearly separable from background, such as white background and black lettering. However, they have low recognition accuracy for images where texts are not easily separable from complex background. To improve this low accuracy problem with complex images, it is necessary to transform the input image to make texts more noticeable. In this paper, we propose a method to segment an input image into text lines to enable OCR engines to recognize each line more efficiently, and to determine the final output by comparing the recognition rates of CLAHE module and Two-step module which distinguish texts from background regions based on image processing techniques. Through thorough experiments comparing with well-known OCR engines, Tesseract and Abbyy, we show that our proposed method have the best recognition accuracy with complex background images.

• Proceedings of the Korea Water Resources Association Conference
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• 2016.05a
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• pp.328-328
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• 2016

우리나라는 생활용수의 대부분을 지표수에 의존하고 있는 실정이다. 그러나 지표수는 가뭄과 같은 기상변화, 수질사고 등으로 물 공급의 안정성에 문제가 되기도 한다. 향후 기후변화는 가뭄의 빈도와 강도를 증대시킬 것으로 파악되므로 수질 및 수량의 문제를 더욱 악화시킬 것으로 예상된다. 이러한 문제점을 해결하기 위해 지표수를 대수층 내에 인공적으로 함양한 뒤 대수층의 자연정화 기능에 의해 여과된 양질의 청정원수를 생산하는 기술을 본 연구에서 현장에 실증 적용하는 시설을 구축하였다. 이러한 기술은 기존의 지하 대수층을 이용하는 강변여과 등이 갖는 장점을 취하고 단점을 보완하였으며 친환경적이며 지속가능한 용수공급뿐만 아니라 청정 원수 확보를 통해 정수처리비용을 절감, 장기간의 가뭄이나 지표수 수질사고 시에 비상용수 공급 등 기존 취수원들과 달리 많은 장점을 갖고 있는 대규모 청정지하저수지 시험시설이다. 청정 지하저수지 기술이 주로 적용되는 지역은 해안지역 또는 하구 델타지역을 대상으로 한다. 해안 또는 델타지역은 해수침투로 인하여 염지하수가 부존되어 있기 때문에 지하수자원 활용에 매우 제한적이다. 따라서 지표수(담수)를 전처리하여 대수층에 인공적으로 함양을 하여 염지하수 대수층 안에 담지하수(담수체)를 형성할 수 있다. 이는 염수와 담수의 밀도차에 의해 희석되지 않는 특성을 이용한 기술이다. 청정 지하저수지 시험시설은 크게 지표수 취수시설, 전처리시설, 주입정, 양수정, 운영시스템으로 나눌 수 있다. 주입정 및 양수정은 원형의 형태로 지하저수지 조성범위 중심부에 9개의 주입정과 외각에 8개의 양수정을 설치하였다. 시험시설의 운영 과정은 하천수를 취수하여 전처리시설에서 탁도를 제거한 후, 피압대수층 염지하수에 동력으로 주입을 한다. 이때 기존에 부존되어 있던 염지하수를 밀어내고 담수체 지하수 형성을 유도한다. 일정기간 주입을 통해 목표 담수체를 만들어 내면 양수정에서 담수를 취수하되, 대수층의 모래자갈층을 일정거리 이동하여 취수하는 방식이다. 즉, 하천수를 대수층에 함양하고, 일정거리를 이동하여 취수하는 ASTR 방식의 대체수자원 확보 기술이다. 시험시설은 통합운영센터를 통해 원격감시 및 각종 제어/계측을 실시하며, 모니터링된 자료는 운영시스템에서 관리한다. 본 연구시설에서는 대수층 주입, 관정폐색, 미생물/지화학 수질반응, 지하수모니터링, 지반변형 등이 주요 핵심 연구를 진행하고 있도록 시설을 구성하였다. 본 시험시설은 2015년 8월 착공하여 2016년 4월에 완공 예정이며, 2016년 3월부터 주입을 시작하여 6개월간 피압대수층에 주입을 실시하고 이후부터 주입과 양수를 병행할 계획이다.

• 한국노년학
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.991-1007
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• 2008

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to compare depression and quality of life(QOL) according to the severity of insomnia in elderly. Method: The survey participants were 463 community-dwelling adults aged 65 or older. Severity of insomnia was measured by assessing a time-length to get to sleep, the number of breaks in sleep, a time-length to get to sleep after awakening, and a usual sleep pattern. Depression and QOL was measured, respectively, a modified Zung's depression scale and SF-36. The data were collected from May to June in 2005 and analyzed using the SPSS program for descriptive statistics, ${\chi}^2$-test, t-test, and ANOVA with Scheffe test. Results: A majority of the participants(75.6%) presented mild(65.0%) or severe(10.6%) insomnia. Severity of insomnia was different depending on sex, a marriage status, and sleep patterns such as hours of sleep on average, time to go to bed, and time of awakening(p<0.05). Depression and QOL were related to the severity of insomnia(p<0.05). The elderly suffering from insomnia needs nursing interventions considering demographics and sleep patterns in oder to prevent depression and to improve QOL. Future research is in need for predicting and preventing depression and QOL in elderly.

• Journal of Korean Society of Coastal and Ocean Engineers
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• v.33 no.6
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• pp.308-320
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• 2021

An integrated sediment management approach that includes the recovery of the amount of declined sediment supply is effective as a fundamental solution to coastal erosion. During planning, it is essential to analyze the transfer mechanism of the sediments generated from estuaries (the junction between a river and sea) to assess the amount and rate of sediment discharge (from the river to sea) supplied back to the coast. Although numerical models that interpret the tidal sand bar flushing process during flooding have been studied, thus far, there has been no study focusing on the formation and development processes of tidal sand bars. Therefore, this study aims to construct wave deformation, flow regime calculation, and topographic change analysis models to assess the amount of recovered sediment discharge and reproduce the tidal sand bar formation process through numerical analysis for integrated littoral drift management. The tidal sand bar formation process was simulated, and the wave energy and duration of action concepts were implemented to predict the long-term littoral movement. The river flux and wave conditions during winter when tidal sand bars dominantly develop were considered as the external force conditions required for calculation. The initial condition of the topographic data directly after the Maeupcheon tidal sand bar flushing during flooding was set as the initial topography. Consequently, the tidal sand bar formation and development due to nearshore currents dependent on the incident wave direction were reproduced. Approximately 66 h after the initial topography, a sand bar formation was observed at the Maengbang estuary.

• Journal of Korea Entertainment Industry Association
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.111-121
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• 2021

This study was conducted with the elderly who used a senior welfare center to help their health improvement. After the status of body composition, senior fitness, life habits, and nutrition levels in the elderly were investigated, a wellness health improvement program was conducted for 12 weeks. Effects before and after the program were examined. The following conclusions were drawn. 1. For the changes of body composition by age associated with sex, while elderly men had a significant difference in BMI, elderly women had a significant difference in B.M.I and body fat percentage. 2. For the changes of senior fitness by age associated with sex, while elderly men had a significant difference in lower body muscle, upper body muscle, upper body flexibility, and transformed general endurance, elderly women had a significant difference in lower body muscle and upper body muscle. 3. For the changes of life habits and nutrition levels by age associated with sex, while elderly men had a significant difference in diet habits and exercise habits, elderly women had a significant difference in exercise habits, stress relief habits, and total nutrition level. Based on the findings, the elderly's participation in the wellness improvement program can enhance lower body muscle which is a risk factor of daily activities and fall and increase upper body muscle which is good to carry and move everyday objects. In addition, it may play a positive role in improving diet habits and changing stress relief and exercise habits, resulting in better health and quality of life of the elderly.

• Composites Research
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• v.35 no.4
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• pp.277-282
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• 2022

In this study, a smart material applicable to speed bumps was developed using low-cost starch and waterbased suspensions, and their properties were investigated. Viscosity and shear stress according to the shear rate was measured by a rheometer to observe shear thickening behavior according to starch concentration. The shear thickening phenomenon and applicability to speed bumps were identified macroscopically via drop weight test and bike driving test, measuring the vibration after impact with a driving speed of 5-25 km/h. As a result of the viscosity measurement, shear thickening occurred after the shear thinning region at the beginning, and the critical strain causing the shear thickening phenomenon decreased as the concentration of starch increased. Also, the viscosity and shear stress increased significantly with the increase of the starch concentration. As a result of the drop weight test and the bike driving test, the suspension was changed to a solid-like state in a short time, and the impact energy was absorbed in the fluid. The shear thickening phenomenon easily occurred as the concentration of the fluid and the applied impact (velocity) increased. Therefore, it can be proposed the development of a smart speed bump material that operates in the range of 5-25 km/h with a Non-Newtonian fluid based on water and starch.

• Journal of the Korean Orthopaedic Association
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• v.55 no.6
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• pp.534-539
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• 2020

The management of severe scoliosis remains a challenge to spine surgeons. The rapid intraoperative correction of severe scoliosis may increase the risk of perioperative complications, such as neurological compromise and implant failure. To minimize these risks, various preoperative traction methods have been employed to achieve partial correction before performing definitive corrective surgery. On the other hand, some studies have shown that one of the complications associated with halo traction could lead to cranial nerve palsy, with the sixth nerve (abducens nerve) being most commonly affected. To reduce the complications, gradual increases in the traction weight and detailed neurological examinations are needed, particularly for patients who have previously undergone brain or cervical surgery. The authors report a case of sixth cranial nerve palsy by preoperative halo-pelvic traction in patients with severe scoliosis who underwent previous decompression surgery for a Chiari I malformation with a review of the relevant literature.

• Journal of the Computational Structural Engineering Institute of Korea
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• v.35 no.4
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• pp.243-248
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• 2022

Weight optimization was performed for a rotorcraft shaft system using one-dimensional Euler-Bernoulli beam elements. Torsion, shaft support stiffness such as bearings, flange mass are all considered. To guarantee structural dynamic stability, eigenvalue analysis was performed to avoid critical speed and tooth mesh excitation form the gearbox. The weight optimization was performed by adjusting the thickness and radius while the length of the shaft was fixed, and the optimization process was divided into two stages. In the first, the weight is optimized with the torsional strength constraint. In the second, the difference between the primary mode of shaft and the critical speed is maximized so that the primary mode of the shaft can avoid the critical speed while the constraint on the torsional strength of the shaft is satisfied according to the standard for shaft system stability (AMC P 706-201, 1974). The proposed method was verified by comparing the results of the optimal design using the given one-dimensional beam elements with the stress results of the 3D finite element and the actual manufactured shaft.

• Korean Chemical Engineering Research
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• v.60 no.3
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• pp.398-406
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• 2022

The outer membrane of Gram-negative bacteria is the outermost layer of cellular environment in which numerous biophysical and biochemical processes are in action sustaining viability. Advances in cell engineering enable modification of bacterial genetic information that subsequently alters membrane physiology to adapt bacteria to specific purposes. Surface display of a functional molecule on the outer membranes is one of strategies that directs host cells to respond to a specific extracellular matter or stimulus. While intracellular expression of a functional peptide or protein fused to a membrane-anchoring motif is commonly practiced for surface display, the method is not readily applicable to exogenous or large proteins inexpressible in bacteria. Chemical conjugation at reactive groups naturally occurring on the membrane might be an alternative, but often compromises fitness due to non-specific modification of essential components. Herein, we demonstrated two distinct approaches that enable site-specific decoration of the outer membrane with a fluorescent agent in Escherichia coli. An unnatural amino acid genetically incorporated in a surface-exposed peptide could act as a chemoselective handle for bioorthogonal dye labeling. A surface-displayed α-helical domain originating from a part of a selected heterodimeric coiled-coil complex could recruit and anchor a green fluorescent protein tagged with a complementary α-helical domain to the membrane surface in a site- and hetero-specific manner. These methods hold a promise as on-demand tools to confer new functionalities on the bacterial membranes.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.33 no.1
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• pp.91-101
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• 2023

Bacteriocins are antimicrobial peptides synthesized on ribosomes, produced by bacteria, that inhibit the growth of similar or closely related bacterial strains. Since the discovery of nisin, many bacteriocins with unique structures and various modes of antibacterial activity have been described, and genes encoding production, secretion, and immunity have been reported. Nisin is one of the bacteriocins applied in cheese, liquid eggs, sauces and canned foods. Many of the bacteriocins of the genus Bacillus belong to lantibiotics, which are modified peptides after translation. Other genus Bacillus also produce many non-lantibiotic bacteriocins. Bacteriocins of the genus Bacillus are sometimes becoming more important because of their broader antibacterial spectrum. Bacteriocins are considered attractive compounds in the food and pharmaceutical industries to prevent food spoilage and growth of pathogenic bacteria. Bacteriocins can be used as biological preservatives in a variety of ways in the food system. Biopreservation refers to extending shelf life and improving safety of foods using microorganisms and/or their metabolites. The demand for new antimicrobial compounds has generated great interest in new technologies that can improve food microbiological safety. Applications of bacteriocins are expanding from food to human health. Today, many researchers are shifting their interest in bacteriocins from food preservation to the treatment of bacteria that cause infections and antibiotic-resistant diseases. This exciting new era in bacteriocin research will undoubtedly lead to new inventions and new applications. In this review, we summarize the various properties and applications of bacteriocins produced by the genus Bacillus.