• Journal of Korean Medicine for Obesity Research
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.96-105
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• 2018

Objectives: The aim of this study was to examine the effect of Asparagus cochinchinensis (AC) and fermented AC (fAC) on microorganisms and efficacies. Methods: AC was fermented for four weeks without using any bacterial strains. Then we investigated fermentation characteristics including potential of hydrogen (pH), total sugar, microbial profiling and antioxidant compound contents such as total polyphenol and total flavonoid. The anti-obesity effects of AC and fAC were evaluated by using Oil Red O staining in 3T3-L1 adipocyte. Also anti-diabetic effects of them were evaluated by using 2-[N-(7-nitrobenz-2-oxa-1,3-diazol-4-yl)amino]-2-deoxy-d-glucose (2-NBDG) uptake in C2C12 skeletal muscle cell. Results: Both pH and total sugar of fAC were decreased significantly compared to unfermented AC. And the abundance of total bacteria and lactic acid bacteria increased during fermentation, especially Lactobacillus plantarum. Also fermentation of AC increased the content of total polyphenol. On the metabolic aspects, we found that AC and fAC suppressed fat accumulation. Conclusions: After four weeks of fermentation, AC increased concentrations of active compounds, altered microbial composition, and inhibited fat accumulation such as triglyceride. These results indicate that fermentation of AC might be a beneficial therapeutic approach for obesity.

• Korean Journal of Chemical Engineering
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• v.35 no.11
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• pp.2207-2219
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• 2018

Activated carbon (AC) was synthesized from Phoenix dactylifera stones and then modified by $CoFe_2O_4$ magnetic nanocomposite for use as a Cr(VI) adsorbent. Both $AC/CoFe_2O_4$ composite and AC were fully characterized by FTIR, SEM, XRD, TEM, TGA, and VSM techniques. Based on the surface analyses, the addition of $CoFe_2O_4$ nanoparticles had a significant effect on the thermal stability and crystalline structure of AC. Factors affecting chromium removal efficiency like pH, dosage, contact time, temperature, and initial Cr(VI) concentration were investigated. The best pH was found 2 and 3 for Cr adsorption by AC and $AC/CoFe_2O_4$ composite, respectively. The presence of ion sulfate had a greater effect on the chromium sorption efficiency than nitrate and chlorine ions. The results illustrated that both adsorbents can be used up to seven times to adsorb chromium. The adsorption process was examined by three isothermal models, and Freundlich was chosen as the best one. The experimental data were well fitted by pseudo-second-order kinetic model. The half-life ($t_{1/2}$) of hexavalent chromium using AC and $AC/CoFe_2O_4$ magnetic composite was obtained as 5.18 min and 1.52 min, respectively. Cr(VI) adsorption by AC and $AC/CoFe_2O_4$ magnetic composite was spontaneous and exothermic. In general, our study showed that the composition of $CoFe_2O_4$ magnetic nanoparticles with AC can increase the adsorption capacity of AC from 36 mg/L to 70 mg/L.

• KIEE International Transaction on Electrical Machinery and Energy Conversion Systems
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• v.5B no.2
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• pp.181-188
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• 2005

In this paper, a DC smoothing filterless soft switching pulse modulated high frequency AC power conversion circuit connected to utility. frequency AC power source is proposed for consumer induction heating hot water producer, steamer and super heated steamer. The operating principle of DC link filterless utility frequency AC-high frequency AC (HF AC) power conversion circuit defined as high frequency cycloinverter is described, which can operate under a principle of ZVS/AVT and power regulation based on alternate asymmetrical PWM in synchronization with the utility frequency single phase AC positive or negative half wave voltage. The dual mode modulation control scheme based on high frequency PWM and commercial frequency AC voltage PDM for the proposed high frequency cycloinverter are discussed to enlarge its soft switching commutation operating range for wide HF AC power regulation. This high frequency cycloinverter is developed for high frequency IH Dual Packs Heater (DPH) type boiler used in consumer and industrial fluid pipeline systems. Based on the experiment and simulation results, this high frequency cycloinverter is proved to be suitable for the consumer use IH-DPH boiler and hot water producers. The cycloinverter power regulation and power conversion efficiency characteristics are evaluated and discussed.

• Journal of Power Electronics
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.197-205
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• 2013

In energy injection resonant AC-AC converters, due to the low frequency effect of the AC input envelope and the low energy injection losses requirement, the constant and steady control of the high frequency AC output envelope is still a problem that has not been solved very well. With the aid of system modeling, this paper analyzes the mechanism of the envelope pit on the resonant AC current. The computing methods for the critical damping point, the falling time and the bottom value of the envelope pit are presented as well. Furthermore, this paper concludes the stability precondition of the system AC output. Accordingly, an optimal control method for the AC output envelope is put forward based on the envelope prediction model. This control method can predict system responses dynamically under different series of control decisions. In addition, this control method can select best series of control decisions to make the AC output envelope stable and constant. Simulation and experimental results for a contactless power transfer system verify the control method.

• Journal of Power Electronics
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• v.9 no.5
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• pp.736-747
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• 2009

A new type of single-phase Z-source AC/AC converter based on a single-phase matrix converter is proposed in this paper. The proposed single-phase Z-source AC/AC converter has unique features; namely that the output voltage can be bucked and in-phase/out-of-phase with the input voltage; that the output voltage can be boosted and in-phase/out-of-phase with the input voltage. The converter employs a safe-commutation strategy to conduct along a continuous current path, which results in the elimination of voltage spikes on switches without the need for a snubber circuit. The operating principles of the proposed single-phase Z-source AC/AC converter are described, and a circuit analysis is provided. To verify the performance of the proposed converter, a laboratory prototype based on a TMS320F2812 DSP was constructed. The simulation and the experimental results verified that the output voltage can be bucked-boosted and in-phase with the input voltage, and that the output voltage can be bucked-boosted and out-of-phase with the input voltage.

• Journal of international Conference on Electrical Machines and Systems
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• v.1 no.1
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• pp.67-76
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• 2012

Due to the increasing amount of applications of power electronic ac-dc converters, it is necessary to design a single-stage converter that can reliably perform both buck and boost operations. Traditionally, this can be achieved by double-stage conversion (ac/dc-dc/dc) which ultimately leads to less efficiency and a more complex control system. This paper discusses two types of modern ac-dc converters. First, the novel impedance-source ac-dc converter, abbreviated as custom Z-source rectifier, is analyzed; and then, switched inductor (SL) Z-source ac-dc converter is proposed. This paper describes the Z-source rectifiers' operating principles, the concepts behind them, and their superiorities. Analysis and simulation results show that the proposed custom Z-source rectifier can step up and step down voltage; and the main advantage of the SL Z-source ac-dc converter is its high step-up capability. Low ripple of the output dc voltage is the other advantage of the proposed converters. Finally, the SL Z-source ac-dc converter is compared with the custom Z-source ac-dc converter.

• Journal of Electrical Engineering and Technology
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• v.3 no.2
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• pp.152-161
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• 2008

This paper deals with a new wave shaping technique for cost effective harmonic mitigation in ac-dc converter feeding Vector Controlled Induction Motor Drives(VCIMD's) for improving power quality at the point of common coupling(PCC). The proposed harmonic mitigator consists of a polygon connected autotransformer based twelve-pulse ac-dc converter and a small rating passive shunt filter tuned for $11^{th}$ harmonic frequency. This ac-dc converter eliminates the most dominant $5^{th},\;7^{th},\;and\;11^{th}$ harmonics and imposes the reduction of other higher order harmonics from the ac main current, thereby improving the power quality at ac mains. The design of autotransformer is carried out for the proposed ac-dc converter to make it suitable for retrofit applications, where presently a 6-pulse ac-dc converter is used. The effect of load variation on VCIMD is also studied to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed ac-dc converter in a wide operating range of the drive. Experimental results obtained on the developed laboratory prototype of the proposed harmonic mitigator are used to validate the model and design of the ac-dc converter.

• Proceedings of the KIPE Conference
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• 2017.07a
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• pp.38-39
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• 2017

This paper proposes a new control method for an AC-DC Buck converter which is utilized as a front-end converter of a 2-stage high power density adapter. In the conventional adapter applications, 2-stage configuration shows higher power transfer efficiency and higher power density than those of the single stage flyback converter. In the 2-stage AC-DC converter, the boost converter is widely used as a front-end converter. However, an efficiency variation between high AC line and low AC line is large. On the other hand, the proposed conduction band control method for a buck front-end converter has an advantage of small efficiency variation. In the proposed control method, switching operation is determined by a band control voltage which represents output load condition, and an AC line voltage. If the output load increasesin low AC line, the switching operation range is expanded in half of line cycle. On the contrary, in light load and high line condition, the switching operation is narrowed. Thus, the proposed control method reduces switching loss under high AC line and light load condition. A 60W prototype which is configured the buck and LLC converter with the proposed control method is experimented on to verify the validity of the proposed system. The prototype shows 92.16% of AC-DC overall efficiency and 20.19 W/in 3 of power density.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.31 no.5
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• pp.270-276
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• 2017

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of the water extract of Albizziae Cortex (AC) on the learning and memory impairments. AC was administered to normal mouse and scopolamine-injected amnesia mouse model. Passive avoidance test, Y-maze test, and Morris water maze test were conducted to confirm the cognitive-enhancing activities of AC. Acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity and acetylcholine (Ach) content were measured after oral administration of AC. On the passive avoidance test, AC (200 mg/kg) significantly increased latency time and recovered scopolamine-impaired learning and memory in mice. In addition, AC (200 mg/kg) reduced Exploration time in target quadrant and reversed the scopolamine-induced cognitive impairments in the Y-maze test. Moreover, AC (200 mg/kg) increased exploration time in target quadrant and improved scopolamine-reduced escape latencies in the Morris water maze test. These effects were presented by regulatory effects of AC on AChE activity and Ach content. Taken together, AC increases cognitive-enhancing activities and ameliorates scopolamine-induced learning and memory impairment. AC might be a potential agent for prevention and treatment of amnesia and dementia.

• Journal of Power Electronics
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.24-33
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• 2019

A new modeling method for AC-AC switched capacitor converters (SCCs) is introduced in this study. The proposed analytical method aims to accurately describe the input-output characteristics of AC-AC SCCs and establish a mathematical model for static voltage conversion ratio and equivalent resistance, which are key performance metrics for SCCs. A quantitative analysis of converter regulation capability is addressed on the basis of the modeling method. In this analysis, the effects of the control parameters and individual components on SCCs are illustrated extensively. Component stresses, such as the peak value and transient variation of the voltage/current of the converter, are also presented. The effectiveness of the proposed method is verified by comparing it with the existing modeling method and applying it to an AC-AC SCC with a conversion ratio of three. Two 1 kW prototypes are built in a laboratory, and their experimental results exhibit good agreement with the theoretical analysis.