• Journal of the Korean Institute of Intelligent Systems
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.500-506
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• 2012

A method to model left ventricular assist device (LVAD) and detect suction occurrence for safe LVAD operation is presented. An axial flow blood pump as a LVAD has been used to assist patient with heart problems. While an axial flow blood pump, a kind of a non-pulsatile pump, has relative advantages of small size and efficiency compared to pulsatile devices, it has a difficulty in determining a safe pump operating condition. It can show different pump operating statuses such as a normal status and a suction status whether suction occurs in left ventricle or not. A fuzzy subtractive clustering method is used to determine a model of the axial flow blood pump with this pump operating characteristic and the developed pump model can provide blood flow estimates before and after suction occurrence in left ventricle. Also, a fuzzy subtractive clustering method is utilized to develop a suction detection model which can identify whether suction occurs in left ventricle or not.

• Journal of Sericultural and Entomological Science
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• v.46 no.2
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• pp.58-64
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• 2004

The current study was performed to clarify the pupation disorder symptoms in silkworm which herbicide, molinate has been regarded as a causal origin. Molinate residues in mulberry leaves was monitored in major rearing area of silkworm; Yeacheon, Sangju and Namwon. Detected range of the molinate in mulberry leaves was 0.002 to 0.013 mg/kg and detection frequency was 30.0 to 81.8%. Molinate concentration in the air of mulberry tree growing area was $0.004\;{\mu}g/m^3$. Water diluted solution of molinate at the concentration of 1, 10, 100 mg/l gave no abnormal symptoms in silkworm irrespective of spraying to silkworm or spiking to diet. Exposing the silkworm to the air containing 250, 2,500, and $10,000\;{\mu}g/m^3$ also revealed no abnormal symptom. These results illustrated that the abnormal growth of silkworm encountered in the field was not caused by pesticide contamination.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.59 no.3
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• pp.279-285
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• 2005

Background : Ambient particles during Asian dust events are usually less than $10{\mu}m$ in size, and known to be associated with the adverse effects on the general population. There is little evidence linking Asian dust to adverse effects on the airways. In 2002, the authors found that particulate matter during Asian dust events had an effect on the symptoms and pulmonary function of patients with bronchial asthma. An aggravating factor might be that of a viral infection, but this remains unclear. Conversely, it has been speculated that African dust may carry the virus responsible for foot and mouth disease. Asian dust events are also likely to be responsible for transporting viruses, some of which are pathogenic, and common in many environments. Therefore, in this study, air samples were screened for the presence of viruses. Methods : Air samples were collected 20 times each during Asian dust events and under non-dust conditions, for at least 6 hours per sample, using a high volume air sampler (Sibata Model HV500F), with an airflow rate of 500L/min, between April and August 2003, and between April and August 2004. The samples were then screened for the presence of targeted viruses (Influenza A, B, Hog cholera virus, and Aphthovirus) using a polymerase chain reaction method. Results : One Asian dust event occurred between April and August 2003, and 3 between April and August 2004, with a 24 hour average PM10 level of $148.0{\mu}g/m^3$. The 24 hour average PM10 level was $57{\mu}g/m^3$. There was a significant difference in the PM10 concentration between dusty and clear days. No viruses (Influenza virus, Aphthovirus, and Hog cholera virus) were identified in the air samples obtained during the dusty days. Conclusions : Although no virus was detected in this study, further studies will be needed to identify suspected viruses carried during Asian dust events, employing more appropriate virus detection conditions.