• Title/Summary/Keyword: Biological information

Search Result 2,604, Processing Time 0.035 seconds

A Development of Telephone for the Hearing Impaired to Improve Listening Ability of Telephone Speech (난청인의 통화 청취도 향상을 위한 전화기 개발)

  • 이상민;송철규;이영묵;김원기
    • Journal of Biomedical Engineering Research
    • /
    • v.18 no.4
    • /
    • pp.457-466
    • /
    • 1997
  • We developed a new hearing aid telephone which helps the hearing impaired person to improve the listening ability of telephone speech. Recently, the hearing impaired person and the elderly who has hearing loss have been continuously increased and their desire for participating society as a producer has been increased also. So they strong1y want the hearing aid devices which make compensation fortheir handicap. The hearing aid telephone is one of the basic aid devices that helps the hearing impaired to communicate well with other poeple and to acquire easily useful information through the phone. We analyze the hearing ability of the hearing impaired, design the new model of the hearing aid telephone and test the telephone in three fields-electrical, word perception, user test. Our new tolephone has lour band pass filter channels and the center frequencies of these filters are 500, 1000, 2000, 3000Hz which are considered psychoacoustic factors and telephone line characteristics. The hearing impaired can adjust the total gain characteristics of receiving sound to his hearing ability by setting four volumes in the telelphone. This procedure is called fitting which is a very important factor for the hearing impaired to take meaning of speech. The total gain of this telephone is over 20dB from 250Hz to 3200Hz range. From the results of the tests we certify that our new model is better for the hearing impaired to understand the meaning or telephone speech than the old general models. The next step of developing the hearing aid telephone is to study about compressing sidetone and noise, dividing frequency bands, selecting hearing aid pattern and compensating psychoacoustic loudness. we expect that the advanced hearing aid telephone can be developed by the research about speech perception characteristics of the hearing impaired in engineering and clinical side.

  • PDF

Evaluation of MR-SENSE Reconstruction by Filtering Effect and Spatial Resolution of the Sensitivity Map for the Simulation-Based Linear Coil Array (선형적 위상배열 코일구조의 시뮬레이션을 통한 민감도지도의 공간 해상도 및 필터링 변화에 따른 MR-SENSE 영상재구성 평가)

  • Lee, D.H.;Hong, C.P.;Han, B.S.;Kim, H.J.;Suh, J.J.;Kim, S.H.;Lee, C.H.;Lee, M.W.
    • Journal of Biomedical Engineering Research
    • /
    • v.32 no.3
    • /
    • pp.245-250
    • /
    • 2011
  • Parallel imaging technique can provide several advantages for a multitude of MRI applications. Especially, in SENSE technique, sensitivity maps were always required in order to determine the reconstruction matrix, therefore, a number of difference approaches using sensitivity information from coils have been demonstrated to improve of image quality. Moreover, many filtering methods were proposed such as adaptive matched filter and nonlinear diffusion technique to optimize the suppression of background noise and to improve of image quality. In this study, we performed SENSE reconstruction using computer simulations to confirm the most suitable method for the feasibility of filtering effect and according to changing order of polynomial fit that were applied on variation of spatial resolution of sensitivity map. The image was obtained at 0.32T(Magfinder II, Genpia, Korea) MRI system using spin-echo pulse sequence(TR/TE = 500/20 ms, FOV = 300 mm, matrix = $128{\times}128$, thickness = 8 mm). For the simulation, obtained image was multiplied with four linear-array coil sensitivities which were formed of 2D-gaussian distribution and the image was complex white gaussian noise was added. Image processing was separated to apply two methods which were polynomial fitting and filtering according to spatial resolution of sensitivity map and each coil image was subsampled corresponding to reduction factor(r-factor) of 2 and 4. The results were compared to mean value of geomety factor(g-factor) and artifact power(AP) according to r-factor 2 and 4. Our results were represented while changing of spatial resolution of sensitivity map and r-factor, polynomial fit methods were represented the better results compared with general filtering methods. Although our result had limitation of computer simulation study instead of applying to experiment and coil geometric array such as linear, our method may be useful for determination of optimal sensitivity map in a linear coil array.

Distribution, vegetation characteristics and assessment of the conservation status of a rare and endemic plant, Coreanomecon hylomeconoides Nakai (희귀·특산식물 매미꽃의 분포와 자생지 식생특성 및 보전 지위 평가)

  • Song, Sung-Won;Chung, Jae-Min;Shin, Jae-Kwon;Lee, Byung-Chun;Park, Kwang-Woo;Park, SeonJoo
    • Korean Journal of Plant Taxonomy
    • /
    • v.42 no.2
    • /
    • pp.116-125
    • /
    • 2012
  • The distribution, vegetation characteristics and an assessment of the conservation status of the Korea endemic species Coreanomecon hylomeconoides Nakai were investigated to collect biological basic data to formulate a conservation strategy. According to the distribution map of C. hylomeconoides based on the literature, specimen information, and local field surveys, natural populations of C. hylomeconoides are intensively distributed in the Southern regions of the peninsula, around Gyeongsangnam-do and Jeollanan-do. C. hylomeconoides was distributed in the middle and low slope adjacent to a valley. The altitude ranged from 227 m to 744 m, with inclinations of $5-10^{\circ}$. As a result of a vegetation survey within natural populations, a total of 238 taxa were identified from 29 quadrates in 8 natural populations. The importance value of C. hylomeconoides is 25.34% based on the coverage and frequency of the herbaceous layer with in the populations. The species diversity of the occurrence of the species in 8 natural populations was 1.52, while the averages of species evenness and the dominance values were calculated to be 0.83 and 0.17, respectively. As a result of assessing the conservation status through IUCN Red List criteria, C. hylomeconoides was evaluated as Near Threatened (NT). Conservation strategies are also discussed for the sustainable conservation of C. hylomeconoides.

Egg Development and Early Life History of the Endangered Korean Spine Loach, Iksookimia pumila (Pisces: Cobitidae) (멸종위기어류 부안종개 Iksookimia pumila의 난 발생 및 초기 생활사)

  • Ko, Myeong-Hun;Park, Sang-Yong;Bang, In-Chul
    • Korean Journal of Ichthyology
    • /
    • v.25 no.2
    • /
    • pp.65-73
    • /
    • 2013
  • Egg development and early life history of the Korean spine loach, Iksookimia pumila was investigated to provide basic information regarding biological characteristics and restoration. Adult fish were sampled using spoon net in the Baek Stream, Sangseo-myeon, Buan-gun, Jeollabuk-do, Korea, 7 July 2010. Eggs and sperms were obtained from the females and male with Ovaprim injecting (0.5 mL/kg) and then fertilized using the dry method in the laboratory. Number of spawned eggs were 1,107 (352~1,440). Spawned eggs were slightly adhesive, light yellowish coloring and measured $1.3{\pm}0.04$ mm (mean${\pm}$SD) in diameter. Spawned eggs hatched out 52 (47~55) hours after fertilization at water temperature of $23^{\circ}C$, and newly hatched larvae an average were $4.7{\pm}0.14$ mm in total length. At 5 days after hatching, larvae averaged $7.1{\pm}0.20$ mm in total length and their yolk sacs had been completely absorbed. Beginning at 17 days after hatching, fish entered the juvenile stage and reached $11.0{\pm}0.50$ mm in total length. At 100 days after hatching, the band patterns and external form of juvenile fish were similar to those of adults, and they averaged $31.3{\pm}3.98$ mm in total length.

Evaluation of the Forest Bird Community in the Breeding Season by using the Sound Recording System (산림성 조류의 번식기 음성녹음을 이용한 조류군집 평가)

  • Yoo, Seung-Hwa;Han, Hyun-Jin;Kim, Dong-Won;Joo, Woo-Young
    • Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
    • /
    • v.32 no.1
    • /
    • pp.39-46
    • /
    • 2018
  • Breeding bird surveys provide the reference information for understanding bird community structure and function in the ecosystem and conserving biodiversity. Recent rapid change of biodiversity due to climate change and other factors has made it necessary to utilize acoustic sensors for accuracy and spatial expansion of forest bird survey data and for time-series monitoring of forest birds. The objective of this study is to investigate the possibility of using acoustic recording sensor to evaluate the diversity of forest birds at breeding season by comparing and analyzing the recorded data of bird songs and field bird survey data. We conducted the site survey and recording in 186 points in 48 areas of 4 regions of Gombaeryeong and Jochimryeong around Jeombongsan Mountain and Jugryeong and Gochiryeong around Sobaeksan Mountain from May 2nd to 16th in 2013. The analysis of the correlation between the recording result and Bird Community Index based on the field survey showed that the number of bird species, population, and the number of bird songs by recording was significantly correlated to the number of species and population by field survey. Moreover, the number of bird species and the number of bird songs by recording showed a significant correlation to species diversity and species richness but no or low significant correlation to species evenness by the field study (observation and listing in parallel). As a result, it was possible to check species composition and species diversity of bird communities by analyzing acoustic recording data on the field. The acoustic recordings of bird songs in the breeding period were more reliable than the non-breeding period in the correlation of recording result and species diversity and for utilization.

Ecological Diagnosis on Korean Red Pine (Pinus densiflora Seibold & Zucc) Stands in Isolated Urban Forest (도시(都市) 내(內) 고립(孤立) 림지(林地)의 소나무림(林)에 대(對)한 생태학적(生態學的) 진단(診斷))

  • Cho, Hyun-Je
    • Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
    • /
    • v.96 no.4
    • /
    • pp.419-424
    • /
    • 2007
  • The urban forest offer many opportunities to maintain and enhance local and regional biological diversity. Pinus densiflora stands in isolated urban forest in five areas of Seoul, Incheon, Daegu, Ulsan, and Cheongju were investigated by landscape and community ecological methods for diagnosis of current status and construction of conservation plan. Species composition of five study areas revealed regional characteristics. As the result of stand dynamics, absence of pine seedlings and saplings were observed. Cheongju, significantly, revealed highest species diversity (H'=1.86) and richness (24) among study areas, and the opposite was true for Daegu (1.35 for H', and 14 for richness). Ratio of alien species was highest in Daegu (15.8%) (F=5.05, p=0.0016). Based on landscape analysis, complexity of pine patch was higher in local city than metropolitans, but statistically not significant (p=0.133). Complexity of pine patch revealed significant positive correlation with diversity and richness, but not with percentage of aliens. Synthetically, ecological management based on community and landscape ecological information was recommended. Cautious artificial regeneration strategy was necessary to regenerate pine forest in urban area.

Generating Rank-Comparison Decision Rules with Variable Number of Genes for Cancer Classification (순위 비교를 기반으로 하는 다양한 유전자 개수로 이루어진 암 분류 결정 규칙의 생성)

  • Yoon, Young-Mi;Bien, Sang-Jay;Park, Sang-Hyun
    • The KIPS Transactions:PartD
    • /
    • v.15D no.6
    • /
    • pp.767-776
    • /
    • 2008
  • Microarray technology is extensively being used in experimental molecular biology field. Microarray experiments generate quantitative expression measurements for thousands of genes simultaneously, which is useful for the phenotype classification of many diseases. One of the two major problems in microarray data classification is that the number of genes exceeds the number of tissue samples. The other problem is that current methods generate classifiers that are accurate but difficult to interpret. Our paper addresses these two problems. We performed a direct integration of individual microarrays with same biological objectives by transforming an expression value into a rank value within a sample and generated rank-comparison decision rules with variable number of genes for cancer classification. Our classifier is an ensemble method which has k top scoring decision rules. Each rule contains a number of genes, a relationship among involved genes, and a class label. Current classifiers which are also ensemble methods consist of k top scoring decision rules. However these classifiers fix the number of genes in each rule as a pair or a triple. In this paper we generalized the number of genes involved in each rule. The number of genes in each rule is in the range of 2 to N respectively. Generalizing the number of genes increases the robustness and the reliability of the classifier for the class prediction of an independent sample. Also our classifier is readily interpretable, accurate with small number of genes, and shed a possibility of the use in a clinical setting.

Software development for the visualization of brain fiber tract by using 24-bit color coding in diffusion tensor image

  • Oh, Jung-Su;Song, In-Chan;Ik hwan Cho;Kim, Jong-Hyo;Chang, Kee-Hyun;Park, Kwang-Suk
    • Proceedings of the KSMRM Conference
    • /
    • 2002.11a
    • /
    • pp.133-133
    • /
    • 2002
  • Purpose: The purpose of paper is to implement software to visualize brain fiber tract using a 24-bit color coding scheme and to test its feasibility. Materials and Methods: MR imaging was performed on GE 1.5 T Signa scanner. For diffusion tensor image, we used a single shot spin-echo EPI sequence with 7 non-colinear pulsed-field gradient directions: (x, y, z):(1,1,0),(-1,1,0),(1,0,1),(-1,0,1),(0,1,1),(0,1,-1) and without diffusion gradient. B-factor was 500 sec/$\textrm{mm}^2$. Acquisition parameters are as follows: TUTE=10000ms/99ms, FOV=240mm, matrix=128${\times}$128, slice thickness/gap=6mm/0mm, total slice number=30. Subjects consisted of 10 normal young volunteers (age:21∼26 yrs, 5 men, 5 women). All DTI images were smoothed with Gaussian kernel with the FWHM of 2 pixels. Color coding schemes for visualization of directional information was as follows. HSV(Hue, Saturation, Value) color system is appropriate for assigning RGB(Red, Green, and Blue) value for every different directions because of its volumetric directional expression. Each of HSV are assigned due to (r,$\theta$,${\Phi}$) in spherical coordinate. HSV calculated by this way can be transformed into RGB color system by general HSV to RGB conversion formula. Symmetry schemes: It is natural to code the antipodal direction to be same color(antipodal symmetry). So even with no symmetry scheme, the antipodal symmetry must be included. With no symmetry scheme, we can assign every different colors for every different orientation.(H =${\Phi}$, S=2$\theta$/$\pi$, V=λw, where λw is anisotropy). But that may assign very discontinuous color even between adjacent yokels. On the other hand, Full symmetry or absolute value scheme includes symmetry for 180$^{\circ}$ rotation about xy-plane of color coordinate (rotational symmetry) and for both hemisphere (mirror symmetry). In absolute value scheme, each of RGB value can be expressed as follows. R=λw|Vx|, G=λw|Vy|, B=λw|Vz|, where (Vx, Vy, Vz) is eigenvector corresponding to the largest eigenvalue of diffusion tensor. With applying full symmetry or absolute value scheme, we can get more continuous color coding at the expense of coding same color for symmetric direction. For better visualization of fiber tract directions, Gamma and brightness correction had done. All of these implementations were done on the IDL 5.4 platform.

  • PDF

Analysis of the Effect of the Havruta Method in Engineering Education (공학교육에서 하브루타 수업방식의 효과 분석)

  • Eom, Mi Ri;Lee, Young In
    • Journal of Convergence for Information Technology
    • /
    • v.10 no.1
    • /
    • pp.149-157
    • /
    • 2020
  • This study aimed to explore the change of engineering students' competencies through the havruta class. In the havruta class, engineering students' competencies were compared with pre-test and post-test. The research tool was developed by selecting learning readiness, academic self-efficacy, and communication ability as the learner's competence in the havruta class. Finally, 105 data were analyzed with SPSS 21.0 for windows. First, there was a statistically significant difference in learning readiness. Second, there was no statistically significant difference in academic self-efficacy. Third, there was a statistically significant difference in communication ability. It was found that there was a positive change of competencies in learning readiness ability and communication ability in the havruta class. Although the findings are difficult to generalize to all majors, these results will be a useful basis for instructors who want to apply the havruta class.

Endless debates on the extant basal-most angiosperm (현생 기저 피자식물에 대한 끝나지 않는 논쟁)

  • Kim, Sangtae
    • Korean Journal of Plant Taxonomy
    • /
    • v.40 no.1
    • /
    • pp.1-15
    • /
    • 2010
  • Recognizing a basal group in a taxon is one of the most important factors involved in understanding the evolutionary history of that group of life. Many botanists have suggested a sister to all other angiosperms to understand the origin and rapid diversification of angiosperms based on morphological and fossil evidence. Recent technical advances in molecular biology and the accumulation of molecular phylogenetic data have provided evidence of the extant basal-most angiosperm which is a sister to all other angiosperms. Although it is still arguable, most plant taxonomists agree that Amborella trichopoda Baill., a species (monotypic genus and monotypic family) distributed in New Caledonia, is a sister to all other extant angiosperms based on evidence from the following molecular approaches: 1) classical phylogenetic analyses based on multiple genes (or DNA regions), 2) analyses of a tree network of duplicated gene families, and 3) gene-structural evidence. As an alternative hypothesis with relatively minor evidence, some researchers have also suggested that Amborella and Nymphaeaceae form a clade that is a sister to all other angiosperms. Debate regarding the basal-most angiosperms is still ongoing and is currently one of the hot issues in plant evolutionary biology. We expect that sequencing of the whole genome of Amborella as an evolutionary model plant and subsequent studies based on this genome sequence will provide information regarding the origin and rapid diversification of angiosperms, which is Darwin's so called abominable mystery.