• Animal cells and systems
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• v.16 no.4
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• pp.329-336
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• 2012

This study evaluated ecological health, using various biomarkers and bioindicators, of pale chub (Zacco platypus) as a sentinel species, in Daejeon Stream, South Korea, during AprilMay 2011. The biomarkers and bioindicators were compared among three sites of control: Reference ($C_z$), transition ($T_z$), and the urban zones ($U_z$); and the 7-Ethoxyresorufin-O-deethylase (EROD) activity, DNA damage, acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity, and vitellogenin (VTG) concentrations were more significantly increased in the $U_z$ than in the $C_z$. Also, physiological markers such as condition factor, liver somatic index, visceral somatic index, and gonad somatic index were significantly increased in the $U_z$ than in the $C_z$. For the health assessments, three categorized parameters of blood chemistry, molecular biomarkers, and physiological bioindicators were standardized and calculated as a star-plot, representing values of Integrated Health Response (IHR). Values of IHR had more significant (P<0.05) increases in the $U_z$ than any other zones, indicating an impairment of ecological health by organic matter, nutrients (N, P), and toxic chemicals. This study is based on low levels of biological organization approach of molecular and physiological biomarkers and bioindicators, so further study of high-levels of biological organization approach such as community and population is required for overall range of health assessments. The approach of IHR values, however, may be useful in providing early warning of future impacts on ecological health.

• Journal of the Korean Magnetics Society
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• v.8 no.5
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• pp.249-254
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• 1998

In relation to the application of magnetic method to the evaluation of irradiation damage (embrittlement) changes in the magnetic parameters(hysteresis loop and Barkhausen noise) and Vickers microhardness due to neutron irradiation and heat treatment were measured and compared. In the case of irradiation $(2.3{\times}10^{19}\;n/cm^2,\; E{\ge}1\;Mev,\; 288{\circ}C)$ hysteresis loop measurements show that susceptibility decreases as coercivity increase. Saturation magnetization do not show any change. Barkhausen noise amplitude and Barkhausen noise energy have decreased while Vickers microhardness has increased. For isothermally heat treated condition of irradiated specimen at 470 $^{\circ}C$ and 540 $^{\circ}C$, Barkhausen noise energy has increased while Vickers microhardness has decreased. Results of BNE and Vickers microhardness are reversed to the results on irradiated condition. All these consistent changes in magnetic parameter and Vickers microhardness measurement, which are thought to be resulted from the interaction between irradiation-induced defects and dislocation, and magnetic domain, respectively, show a possibility that magnetic measurement may be used to the evaluation of material degradation and recovery due to neutron irradiation and heat treatment, respectively, if a relevant large database in prepared.

• Journal of Korea Water Resources Association
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• v.39 no.12 s.173
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• pp.1031-1042
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• 2006

In recent years, a growing concern exists in watershed and stream improvement projects. Under these circumstances, this paper estimates monetary value of the attributes of alternatives for rehabilitation of hydrologic cycle using choice experiments. Choice experiments shows vivid image and estimates a willingness to pay based on their preference for environmental goods. A preliminary survey shows that the attributes of the Anyangcheon watershed are flood-damage possibilities, Instreamflow, water quality, river characteristic and estimates the tax for the Anyangcheon watershed improvements. We surveyed 200 citizens were selected as samples of watershed beneficing in Seoul and Gyeonggi Province and used conditional logit model to analyze the implicit values of the attributive per household. The benefit of the attributes by province based on the implicit price obtained from estimated parameters were calculated. This study is expected to contribute to the decision-making process for policy-makers by providing useful methodological framework and quantitative information related to watershed improvement projects.

• Journal of Dental Anesthesia and Pain Medicine
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.63-68
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• 2015

Background: Conventional anesthetic nerve block injections into the mandibular foramen risk causing nerve damage. This study aimed to compare the efficacy and safety of the anterior technique (AT) of inferior alveolar nerve block using felypressin-propitocaine with a conventional nerve block technique (CT) using epinephrine and lidocaine for anesthesia via the mandibular foramen. Methods: Forty healthy university students with no recent dental work were recruited as subjects and assigned to two groups: right side CT or right side AT. Anesthesia was evaluated in terms of success rate, duration of action, and injection pain. These parameters were assessed at the first incisor, premolar, and molar, 60 min after injection. Chi-square and unpaired t-tests were used for statistical comparisons, with a P value of < 0.05 designating significance. Results: The two nerve block techniques generated comparable success rates for the right mandible, with rates of 65% (CT) and 60% (AT) at both the first molar and premolar, and rates of 60% (CT) and 50% (AT) at the lateral incisor. The duration of anesthesia using the CT was $233{\pm}37min$, which was approximately 40 min shorter than using the AT. This difference was statistically significant (P < 0.05). Injection pain using the AT was rated as milder compared with the CT. This difference was also statistically significant (P < 0.05). Conclusions: The AT is no less successful than the CT for inducing anesthesia, and has the added benefits of a significantly longer duration of action and significantly less pain.

• Journal of Sensor Science and Technology
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• v.5 no.6
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• pp.15-24
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• 1996

In this study, as a part of the basic study for the application of optical fiber sensors to smart composite structures, the integrity of optical fiber sensors embedded within the composite structures was examined and then the laser signal transmitted through optical fiber sensors during the deformation of host structures was investigated. Firstly, it was found that bending test could be substituted for tensile test by comparing cumulative failure distribution based on weakest link theory and introducing the correction factor. Weibull parameters were obtained through the experiments and the correction factor was found to be applied to cumulative failure distribution derived from bending test. The integrity of embedded optical fiber sensors due to the thermal effect was evaluated by the comparison of the mean tensile strengths of cured and uncured optical fibers. Secondly, relationships between stress-strain curve obtained in tensile test of composite laminate and the intensity of laser signal transmitted through embedded optical fibers were examined and the possibility of the effective damage detection using optical fiber sensors was studied.

• Transactions of the Society of Information Storage Systems
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• v.2 no.2
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• pp.130-137
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• 2006

The HDD(hard disk drive) using Load/unload(L/UL) technology includes the benefits which are increased areal density, reduced power consumption and improved shock resistance than those of contact-start-stop(CSS). It has been widely used in portable hard disk drive and will become the key technology for developing the small form factor hard disk drive. The main objects of L/UL are no slider-disk contact or no media damage. For realizing those, we must consider many design parameters in L/UL system. In this paper, we focus on lift-off force. The 'lift-off' force, defined as the minimum air bearing force, is another very important indicator of unloading performance. A large amplitude of lift-off force increases the ramp force, the unloading time, the slider oscillation and contact-possibility. To minimize 'lift-off' force we optimizes the slider and suspension using the integrated optimization frame, which automatically integrates the analysis with the optimization and effectively implements the repetitive works between them. In particular, this study is carried out the optimal design considering the process of modes tracking through the entire optimization processes. As a result, we yield the equation which can easily find a lift-off force and structural optimization for suspension.

• Journal of the Korea institute for structural maintenance and inspection
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• v.7 no.3
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• pp.183-191
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• 2003

A four-story reinforced concrete moment resisting frame damaged from an ultimate limit state earthquake is upgraded with prestressing cable bracing. The purpose of this study is to investigate the bracing configuration effects on the 3-D building response using thee different locations of the bracing systems for the retrofitted building. Since the previous work done by the author proved that static incremental loads to collapse analysis as a substitute to dynamic non-linear time history analysis was a valid alternative tool. Thus, static load to collapse analysis is solely applied to evaluate the seismic performance parameters of both the original and upgraded buildings in this study. In results, the exterior bracing system is effective in restraining torsional behavior of the structure under seismic loads, and no sudden failure occurs in this system that enhances the ductility of the building due to the gradual change of building stiffness as the lateral load increases.

• Journal of the Korea institute for structural maintenance and inspection
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.131-139
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• 2012

The lateral reinforcements of concrete such as hoops and spiral bars are known to confine concrete to compensate the strength loss due to fire by reducing explosive spalling and improving the capacity of ductility. In this context, a study was conducted to investigate the residual mechanical properties of confined and unconfined concrete($f_{ck}$=60MPa) after a single thermal cycle at 300, 600, $800^{\circ}C$. The main parameters required to establish the stress-strain relationship are the peak stress, the elastic modulus, and the strain at peak stress. The knowledge of the residual mechanical properties of concrete is necessary whenever the thermally damaged structure is required to bear a significant share of the loads, even after a severe thermal accident. Based on the results obtained in this study, the residual stress of confined concrete under thermal damage is higher according to the level of confinement and the larger strain made it to have better ductility. The decreasing ratio of elastic modulus from the relationship of stress and strain was also smaller than that of unconfined concrete.

• Transactions on Electrical and Electronic Materials
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.196-200
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• 2016

We have developed new electrostatic discharge (ESD) protection devices with, bidirectional flip chip transient voltage suppression. The devices differ in their epitaxial (epi) layers, which were grown by reduced pressure chemical vapor deposition (RPCVD). Their ESD properties were characterized using current-voltage (I-V), capacitance-voltage (C-V) measurement, and ESD analysis, including IEC61000-4-2, surge, and transmission line pulse (TLP) methods. Two BD-FCTVS diodes consisting of either a thick (12 μm) or thin (6 μm), n-Si epi layer showed the same reverse voltage of 8 V, very small reverse current level, and symmetric I-V and C-V curves. The damage found near the corner of the metal pads indicates that the size and shape of the radius governs their failure modes. The BD-FCTVS device made with a thin n- epi layer showed better performance than that made with a thick one in terms of enhancement of the features of ESD robustness, reliability, and protection capability. Therefore, this works confirms that the optimization of device parameters in conjunction with the doping concentration and thickness of epi layers be used to achieve high performance ESD properties.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Nondestructive Testing
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.348-353
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• 2004

This study is aimed for the implementation of ultrasonic method to assess the reliability of turbine bearings. A modified ultrasonic immersion technique was carried out in both laboratory experiment and field application. From the laboratory results, we confirmed that the condition of interface layer between the babbitt and base metal be monitored by the C-Scan. The C-scan image by the ultrasonic immersion test can be used successfully to observe the condition of interface layer. The testing with a focused transducer provides a promising approach for estimating the extent of the damaged region and observing the interface layer effectively. The difference of the ultrasonic reflection ratio between the bonding and debonding area at the interface layer is one of the key parameters for assessing the extent of the damaged area; additionally, the reflection amplitude exhibits a favorable correlation with the overall damage level. The technique developed in this study was applied to the inspection of the turbine bearings at several power plants in Korea whereby the applicability in the field can be ascertained.