• Journal of Power Electronics
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• v.19 no.5
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• pp.1108-1121
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• 2019

The non-inverting buck-boost converter (NIBB) is a step-up and step-down DC-DC converter suitable for wide-input-voltage-range applications. However, when the input voltage is close to the output voltage, the NIBB needs to operate in the buck-boost mode, causing a significant efficiency reduction since all four switches operates in the PWM mode. Considering both the current stress limitation and the efficiency optimization, a novel design methodology for the optimal phase-shift modulation of a NIBB in the buck-boost mode is proposed in this paper. Since the four switches in the NIBB form two bridges, the shifted phase between the two bridges can serve as an extra degree of freedom for performance optimization. With general phase-shift modulation, the analytic current expressions for every duty ratio, shifted phase and input voltage are derived. Then with the two key factors in the NIBB, the converter efficiency and the switch current stress, taken into account, an objective function with constraints is derived. By optimizing the derived objective function over the full input voltage range, an offline design methodology for the optimal modulation scheme is proposed for efficiency optimization on the premise of current stress limitation. Finally, the designed optimal modulation scheme is implemented on a DSPs and the design methodology is verified with experimental results on a 300V-1.5kW NIBB prototype.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.251-258
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• 2019

Objective: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease(COPD) is characterized by persistent airflow limitations associated with chronic inflammatory response due to noxious particles or gases in the lung. Inflammation and oxidative stress are associated with COPD. The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship among inflammation, oxidative stress, and airflow limitation severity in retired miners with COPD. Methods: The levels of serum high-sensitivity C-reactive protein(hsCRP) as a biomarker for inflammation, degree of reactive oxygen metabolites(dROMs) and biological antioxidants potential(BAP) in plasma as biomarkers for oxidative stress were measured in 211 male subjects with COPD. Degree of airflow limitation severity as determined by spirometry was divided into three grades grouped according to the classification of the Global Initiatives for Obstructive Lung Disease(GOLD)(1, mild; 2, moderate; $3{\leq}$, severe or more) using a fixed ratio, post- bronchodilator $FEV_1/FVC$ < 0.7. Results: Mean levels of dROMs significantly increased in relation to airflow limitation severity(GOLD 1, 317.8 U.CARR vs. GOLD 2, 320.3 U.CARR vs. GOLD $3{\leq}$, 350.9 U.CARR, p=0.047) and dROMs levels were correlated with serum hsCRP levels(r=0.514, p<0.001). Mean levels of hsCRP were higher in current smokers(non-smoker, 1.47 mg/L vs. smoker, 2.34 mg/L, p=0.006), and tended to increase with degree of airflow limitation severity(p=0.071). Mean levels of BAP were lower in current smokers(non-smoker, $1873{\mu}mol/L$ vs. smoker, $1754{\mu}mol/L$, p=0.006). Conclusions: These results suggest that inflammation and oxidative stress are related to airflow limitation severity in retired miners with COPD, and there was a correlation between inflammation and oxidative stress.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.14 no.4
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• pp.859-862
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• 2004

An isolate of Pseudomonas putida has been found to aggressively colonize root tips and induce plant resistance to Fusarium wilt. However, P. putida mutants lacking Fe-superoxide dismutase (SOD) or both FeSOD and MnSOD activities are less competitive in root tip colonization. In the current study, the growth of an FeSOD mutant was found to be more sensitive than that of the wild-type or a MnSOD mutant to oxidative stress imposed by paraquat treatment and culturing with the soil fungus Talaromyces flavus, which generates reactive oxygen species. Also, the loss of culturability with an aging stationary-phase culture was greater for a double SOD mutant than an FeSOD mutant, while no reduction in culturability was observed with the wild-type and a MnSOD mutant under the same protracted stationary-phase conditions. Accordingly, it was concluded that FeSOD activity is the major form of SOD in P. putida and plays an essential role in survival under stress conditions when increased oxidative stress is encountered.

• Research in Community and Public Health Nursing
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.259-268
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• 2009

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to develop a mentoring program for stress management among Korean adolescents and to assess the effects of the program. Methods: The nonequivalent control group (CG) pretest-posttest design was used in this study. The mentoring intervention was delivered to 18 middle school students (males and females) but nothing was done to the control group consisting of 18 students. The mentoring intervention was conducted by seven nursing students who participated in the program as mentors using various methods such as individual meetings and group activities. The dependent variable was stress level. Results: The program consisted of group and individual mentoring. At follow-up, although the mentees's satisfaction was high and they stated qualitatively positive experience, the difference of stress level between the two groups was not significant. Conclusion: If future mentoring programs reflect the limitation of the current program, they may have potential as developmentally appropriate interventions for stress management of adolescents, and enable nursing students to gain confidence in their professional capability.

• International Journal of Concrete Structures and Materials
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• v.7 no.4
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• pp.253-264
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• 2013

A major difference between high-strength reinforcing steel and conventional steel in concrete is that the service-load steel stress is expected to be greater. Consequently, the service-load steel strains are greater affecting cracking behavior. A parametric study investigating crack widths and patterns in reinforced concrete prisms is presented in order to establish limits to the service-load steel stress and strain. Additionally, based on the results of available flexural tests, crack widths at service load levels were evaluated and found to be within presently accepted limits for highway bridge structures, and were predictable using current AASHTO provisions. A limitation on service-level stresses of $f_s{\leq}414$ MPa (60 ksi) is nonetheless recommended.

• The Transactions of The Korean Institute of Electrical Engineers
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• v.57 no.2
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• pp.179-183
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• 2008

In case of a line-to-ground fault at transmission lines, a portion of fault current will flow into the earth through the footings of the faulted tower causing electrical potential rise nearby the faulted tower footings. In this situation, any buried pipelines or structures nearby the faulted tower can be exposed to the electrical stress by earth potential rise. Although many research works has been conducted on this phenomena, there has been no clear answer of the required separation distance between tower footings and neary buried pipeline because of its dependancy on the soil electrical charactersics of the concerned area and the faulted system. In this paper, an analytical formula to calculate the requried sepeartion distance from the faulted tower has been derived.

• Journal of Digital Convergence
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• v.16 no.10
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• pp.545-555
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• 2018

The current study uses photovoice, a participatory and quantitative method of research, to understand the stress in the youth through the experiences of university students. The study was conducted in the order of education, data collection, data analysis for six session college students in J city. The results was largely categorized into three themes as follows. Firstly, as sub-themes of meaning of stress, there were 'Spider web that clogs the head', 'Seemingly endless passage', 'Anxiety that keeps hands fidgeting', Secondly, factors of stress, there were 'Life does not depend on the class rank', Financial hardships,' Frustrated with getting a job', 'Difficulty in time management', Thirdly, how to cope with stress, there were 'A friend you can freely talk to and laugh with', 'Grab some food and release some stress', 'Get away from daily life', Positive thinking relaxes body and spirit'. Based 0n the analyzed results, we can understand the causes and coping strategies of college students in depth, suggested the practical suggestions and limitation of college society about stress and the educational implication of utilizing photovoice.

• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Electrical and Electronic Material Engineers Conference
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• 2002.05c
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• pp.15-17
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• 2002

Leakage inductance and temperature rise are two of the more impotent problems facing the magnetic core technology of today's high frequency transformers. Excessive leakage inductance increases the stress on the switching transistors and limits the duty-cycle, and excessive temperature rise can lead the design limitation of high frequency transformer with high current. The flat transformer technology provides a very good solution to the problems of leakage inductance and thermal management for high frequency power. The critical magnetic components and windings are optimized and packaged within a completely assembled module. The turns ratio in a flat transformer is determined as the product of the number of elements or modules times the number of primary turns. The leakage inductance increase proportionately to the number of elements, but since it is reduced as the square of the turns, the net reduction can be very significant. The flat transformer modules use cores which have no gap. This eliminates fringing fluxes and stray flux outside of the core. The secondary windings are formed of flat metal and are bonded to the inside surface of the core. The secondary winding thus surrounds the primary winding, so nearly all of the flux is captured.

• Proceedings of the KIEE Conference
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• 1989.11a
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• pp.114-118
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• 1989

Due to the increased integration density of VLSI circuits a highly reliable thin oxide film is required to fabricate a small geometry MOS device. The behavior of thermal $SiO_2$ under high electric field and current condition has a major effect on MOS device degration and also the practical use of MOS device under irradiation has cause the degration of thin oxide films. In this paper, in order to evaluate the reliability of thin oxides with no stress applied and stressed by the irradiation under low electric field, the tests of TDDB (Time-dependent-dielectric breakdown) are used. Failure times against electric field are examined and acceleration factor is obtained for each case. Based on the experimental data, breakdown wear out limitation for thin oxide films is characterised.

• Proceedings of the Computational Structural Engineering Institute Conference
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• 2007.04a
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• pp.457-462
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• 2007

The high tensile strength of steel cable enabled the development of long span cable bridges which that a better tensile element can break the limitation of current bridge design. A carbon fiber has at least strength as steel cable and is very light material relatively. Due to its characteristics. commercial carbon fiber cables are already used in place of steel prestress tendons. This study proposes a parallel carbon fiber(CF) cable for cable based on NPWS and CFCC cables. Static and nonlinear analyses reveal that the CF cable develops much less stress than the NPWS cable cyclic loads.