• Journal of the Korea Society of Computer and Information
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• v.15 no.11
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• pp.47-56
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• 2010

In navigation, officers receive data about inside and outside of ship from several devices(ex, GPS / AIS / ECDIS / ARPA Radar / etc) in bridge, and use it to recognize and predict safety situations. However, observation work of a officer is still hard for a torrent of data from several devices, and the problem of inconsistent data among the devices. In previous research, we presented the conceptual model of Intelligent Navigation Safety Information System based on information fusion, and showed the example of the conceptual model using CF (Certainty Factor) expert system to solve this problem. The information fusion technology needs various reasoning skills, and CF expert system is not enough to express ambiguous or indefinite factors. In this paper, we propose the concept of an intelligent navigation information fusion using fuzzy expert system to describe the ambiguous factors, and show the validity of applying fuzzy expert system to the Navigation Safety Information System through the design and implementation of the proposed concept.

• Journal of the Institute of Electronics Engineers of Korea CI
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• v.45 no.5
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• pp.15-24
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• 2008

For high-dimensional classification tasks, such as face recognition, the number of samples is smaller than the dimensionality of the samples. In such cases, a problem encountered in linear discriminant analysis-based methods for dimension reduction is what is known as the small sample size (SSS) problem. Recently, to solve the SSS problem, a way of employing a dissimilarity-based classification(DBC) has been investigated. In DBC, an object is represented based on the dissimilarity measures among representatives extracted from training samples instead of the feature vector itself. In this paper, we propose a new method of optimizing DBCs using multi-level fusion strategies(MFS), in which fusion strategies are employed to represent features as well as to design classifiers. Our experimental results for benchmark face databases demonstrate that the proposed scheme achieves further improved classification accuracies.

• Asian Spine Journal
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• v.12 no.6
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• pp.1092-1099
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• 2018

Study Design: In-vitro biomechanical investigation. Purpose: To evaluate the biomechanical effects of the degeneration of the biodegradable cervical plates developed for anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF) on fusion and adjacent levels. Overview of Literature: Biodegradable implants have been recently introduced for cervical spine surgery. However, their effectiveness and safety remains unclear. Methods: A linear three-dimensional finite element (FE) model of the lower cervical spine, comprising the C4-C6 vertebrae was developed using computed tomography images of a 46-year-old woman. The model was validated by comparison with previous reports. Four models of ACDF were analyzed and compared: (1) a titanium plate and bone block (Tita), (2) strong biodegradable plate and bone block (PLA-4G) that represents the early state of the biodegradable plate with full strength, (3) weak biodegradable plate and bone block (PLA-1G) that represents the late state of the biodegradable plate with decreased strength, and (4) stand-alone bone block (Bloc). FE analysis was performed to investigate the relative motion and intervertebral disc stress at the surgical (C5-C6 segment) and adjacent (C4-C5 segment) levels. Results: The Tita and PLA-4G models were superior to the other models in terms of higher segment stiffness, smaller relative motion, and lower bone stress at the surgical level. However, the maximal von Mises stress at the intervertebral disc at the adjacent level was significantly higher in the Tita and PLA-4G models than in the other models. The relative motion at the adjacent level was significantly lower in the PLA-1G and Bloc models than in the other models. Conclusions: The use of biodegradable plates will enhance spinal fusion in the initial stronger period and prevent adjacent segment degeneration in the later, weaker period.

• Asian Spine Journal
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• v.12 no.6
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• pp.1017-1027
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• 2018

Study Design: This retrospective study was conducted including 18 patients who underwent posterior-only stabilization and fusion procedure for pseudoarthrosis in the ankylosed spine from October 2007 to May 2015. Purpose: This study aimed to describe the treatment outcomes in 18 patients with Andersson lesion (AL) who were managed using the posterior-only approach. Literature Review: AL is an unstable, localized, vertebral, or discovertebral lesion of the spine. It is observed in patients with ankylosing spondylitis. The exact etiology of this disorder remains unclear, and the treatment guidelines are not clearly described. Methods: We analyzed 18 patients with AL who were treated with posterior long segment spinal fusion without any anterior interbody grafting or posterior osteotomy. Pre- and postoperative radiography, computed tomography, and recent follow-up images were examined. The pre- and postoperative Visual Analog Scale score and the Oswestry Disability Index score were evaluated for all patients. Whiteclouds' outcome analysis criteria were applied at the follow-up. Moreover, at study completion, patient feedback was collected; all the patients were asked to provide their opinion regarding the surgery and were asked whether they would recommend this procedure to other patients and them self undergo the same procedure again if required. Results: The most common site was the thoracolumbar junction. The symptom duration ranged from 1 month to 10 years preoperatively. Most patients experienced fusion by the end of 1 year, and the fusion mass could be observed as early as 4 months. Pseudoarthrosis void of up to 2.5 cm was noted to be healed in subsequent imaging. In addition, clinically, the patients reported good symptomatic relief. No patient required revision surgery. Whiteclouds' outcome analysis score at the latest follow-up revealed goodto-excellent outcomes in all patients. Conclusions: ALs can be treated using the posterior-only approach with long segment fixation and posterior spinal fusion. This is a safe, simple, and quick procedure that prevents the morbidity of anterior surgery.

• Smart Media Journal
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• v.12 no.9
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• pp.134-141
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• 2023

In this paper, we propose a ToF-Stereo fusion sensor system for 3D space scanning that increases the recognition rate of 3D objects, guarantees object detection quality, and is robust to the environment. The ToF-Stereo sensor fusion system uses a method of fusing the sensing values of the ToF sensor and the Stereo RGB sensor, and even if one sensor does not operate, the other sensor can be used to continuously detect an object. Since the quality of the ToF sensor and the Stereo RGB sensor varies depending on the sensing distance, sensing resolution, light reflectivity, and illuminance, a module that can adjust the function of the sensor based on reliability estimation is placed. The ToF-Stereo sensor fusion system combines the sensing values of the ToF sensor and the Stereo RGB sensor, estimates the reliability, and adjusts the function of the sensor according to the reliability to fuse the two sensing values, thereby improving the quality of the 3D space scan.

• The Journal of the Korea institute of electronic communication sciences
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.301-307
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• 2024

This study introduces a novel cascade fusion architecture aimed at enhancing thermal images across various scale conditions. The processing of thermal images at multiple scales has been challenging due to the limitations of existing methods that are designed for specific scales. To overcome these limitations, this paper proposes a unified framework that utilizes cascade feature fusion to effectively learn multi-scale representations. Confidence maps from different image scales are fused in a cascaded manner, enabling scale-invariant learning. The architecture comprises end-to-end trained convolutional neural networks to enhance image quality by reinforcing mutual scale dependencies. Experimental results indicate that the proposed technique outperforms existing methods in multi-scale thermal image enhancement. Performance evaluation results are provided, demonstrating consistent improvements in image quality metrics. The cascade fusion design facilitates robust generalization across scales and efficient learning of cross-scale representations.

• Asian Spine Journal
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• v.12 no.6
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• pp.1010-1016
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• 2018

Study Design: Retrospective cohort study. Purpose: To report on spinal fusion assessment using computed tomography (CT) after adult spinal deformity (ASD) surgery using ultra-low dose recombinant human bone morphogenetic protein 2 (RhBMP-2). Overview of Literature: The reported dose of RhBMP-2 needed for successful spinal posterolateral fusion in ASD ranges from 10 to 20 mg per spinal level. This study reports the use of ultra-low dose of RhBMP-2 (0.07 mg per facet) to achieve spinal fusion in multilevel ASD surgery. Methods: Consecutive patients who underwent ASD surgery using ultra-low dose RhBMP-2 were recruited. Routine postoperative CT analysis for spinal fusion was performed by two spine surgeons. Inter-observer agreement was calculated for facet fusion (FF) and interbody fusion (IBF) at 6 and 12 months after the procedure. Results: Six consecutive ASD patients with a mean age of 62 years (28-72 years) were examined. Each patient received a total dose of 12 mg with an average dose of $0.69{\pm}0.2mg$ (0.42-1 mg) per single FF and $1.38{\pm}0.44mg$ (0.85-2 mg) for IBF. Total 131 FF and 15 IBF were examined in the study, with 88 FFs and nine IBFs being analyzed specifically at 6 months after the surgery. FF and IBF reported by surgeons A and B at 6 months were 97.7% vs. 91.9% FF, respectively (${\kappa}=0.95$) and 100% vs. 100% IBF, respectively (${\kappa}=1$). Two patients underwent longitudinal follow-up CT at 12 months, and the FF rates reported by surgeons A and B were 100% vs. 95.8%, respectively (${\kappa}=0.96$). Five out of nine facet (56%) non-unions were identified at the cross-links. The remaining four facet pseudarthrosis were noted at 1-2 spinal levels caudal to the cross-links. At the final clinical follow-up, there was no rod breakage, deformity progression, neurological deficit, or symptom recurrence. The Oswestry Disability Index improved by an average of $32.8{\pm}6.3$, while the mental component summary of the 36-item Short-Form Health Survey improved by an average of $4.7{\pm}2.1$, and physical component summary improved by an average of $10.5{\pm}2.1$. Conclusions: To our knowledge, this is the first study to report a CT that defined 92%-98% FF and 100% IBF using the lowest reported dose of RhBMP-2 in multilevel ASD surgery. The use of ultra-low dose RhBMP-2 reduces the RhBMP-2 related complications and healthcare costs.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Mechanical Engineers A
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• v.37 no.4
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• pp.537-545
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• 2013

The elastic recovery of a metal seal is a factor that can be used to assess its sealing performance. In this study, a compliant mechanism topology optimization has been performed to find a structure of a metal O-ring seal that can maintain excellent sealing performance with a maximized elastic recovery over extended operation. An evolutionary structural optimization (ESO) was used as a topology optimization algorithm with two different types of objective functions considering both flexibility and stiffness. In particular, a circular design domain was adopted to consider the outer shape of the metal O-ring seal. The elastic recovery of the optimal topology was calculated and compared to that of a commercial product.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Precision Engineering
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• v.28 no.9
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• pp.1094-1102
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• 2011

Recent trends for the miniaturization and weight reduction of portable electronic parts is the use of subminiature components. Assembly of the miniaturized components requires subminiature screws of which pitch sizes are in a micrometer scale. To produce such a subminiature screw with high precision threads, not only a precision forming technology but also high-precision measurement technique is required. In the present work, a vision inspection system is developed to measure the thread profile of a subminiature screw. Optical simulation based on a ray tracing method is used to design and analyze the optical system of the vision inspection apparatus. Through this simulation, optical performance of the developed vision inspection system is optimized. The image processing algorithm for the precision screw inspection is also discussed.

• Journal of IKEEE
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.558-564
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• 2018

In distributed estimation where each node can collect only partial information on the parameter of interest without communication between nodes and quantize it before transmission to a fusion node which conducts estimation of the parameter, we consider a novel quantization technique employed at local nodes. It should be noted that the performance can be greatly improved if each node can transmit its measurement to one designated node (namely, head node) which can quantize its estimate using the total rate available in the system. For this case, the best strategy at the head node would be simply to partition the parameter space using the generalized Lloyd algorithm, producing the global codewords, one of which is closest to the estimate is transmitted to a fusion node. In this paper, we propose an iterative design algorithm that seeks to efficiently assign the codewords into each of quantization partitions at nodes so as to achieve the performance close to that of the system with the head node. We show through extensive experiments that the proposed algorithm offers a performance improvement in rate-distortion perspective as compared with previous novel techniques.