• The Journal of the Acoustical Society of Korea
• /
• v.34 no.4
• /
• pp.321-327
• /
• 2015

In this paper, we propose an algorithm for achieving robust Visual Voice Activity Detection (VVAD) for enhanced speech recognition. In conventional VVAD algorithms, the motion of lip region is found by applying an optical flow or Chaos inspired measures for detecting visual speech frames. The optical flow-based VVAD is difficult to be adopted to driving scenarios due to its computational complexity. While invariant to illumination changes, Chaos theory based VVAD method is sensitive to motion translations caused by driver's head movements. The proposed Local Variance Histogram (LVH) is robust to the pixel intensity changes from both illumination change and translation change. Hence, for improved performance in environmental changes, we adopt the novel threshold estimation using total variance change. In the experimental results, the proposed VVAD algorithm achieves robustness in various driving situations.

• Safety and Health at Work
• /
• v.1 no.2
• /
• pp.149-157
• /
• 2010

Objectives: To quantify disability level in salespeople with concurrent low back pain (LBP) and to determine the relative associations between demographic, occupational, psychosocial and clinical factors and back disability. LBP is the most common cause of work-related disability in people under 45 years of age and the most expensive cause of work-related disability, in terms of workers' compensation and medical expenses. Evidence suggests high prevalence of LBP in salespeople. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted in which 184 saleswomen with a current episode of self-reported LBP working in a large up-scale department store filled out a battery of 6 self-administered questionnaires and received a standardised physical examination. Results: Saleswomen with concurrent LBP had low disability levels. Factors significantly associated with disability were pain intensity, measured by a visual analogue scale, in the past week (p < 0.001), physical and mental health status (p < 0.001, p = 0.003, respectively), fear avoidance scores for both work and physical activities (p = 0.031, p = 0.014, respectively), past history of LBP (p = 0.019), and self-reported frequency of pushing or pulling objects placed in high positions during work (p = 0.047). A significant level (45%) of the variance in disability status was explained by these variables. Conclusion: In clinical management of LBP workers who required prolonged standing, such as salespeople, clinicians should look for modifiable risk factors associated with disability. Specific measures need to be taken to prevent disability due to LBP among salespeople.

• Journal of electromagnetic engineering and science
• /
• v.18 no.2
• /
• pp.78-87
• /
• 2018

This paper describes specular reflectance measurements of dielectric plates in three waveguide frequency bands: D-band (110-170 GHz), G-band (140-220 GHz), and J-band (220-325 GHz). The transmit (Tx) part of the proposed specular reflectance measurement system is stationary, while the receive (Rx) part and the material under test (MUT) holder are concentric-rotating with a 2:1 speed ratio for specular reflectance measurements. In specular reflectance measurements, the first step measures the specular reflection coefficients of an MUT and a metal plate on the MUT holder located at the center of the Tx and Rx parts, and the second step calculates the specular reflectance defined by the specular reflection power (i.e., intensity) of the MUT normalized to that of the metal plate. Multiple reflection effects between the Tx and Rx antennas and the MUT on the measured specular reflectance are minimized by averaging out the multiple specular reflectances measured with changing the separation distance between the two antennas by ${\lambda}/8$ intervals. Measurement results of the perpendicular-polarized specular reflectance of commonly used dielectric plates are verified by comparing those with the analytic results and show that the results measured over the overlapped frequency range of the D-/G-bands and at the boundary frequency of the G-/J-bands agree well with the results for the other band, respectively.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
• /
• v.33 no.3
• /
• pp.226-233
• /
• 2020

Background: We aimed to compare interlaminar epidural steroid injections (ILESI) and bilateral transforaminal epidural steroid injections (TFESI) on pain intensity, functional status, depression, walking distance, and the neuropathic component in patients with lumbar central spinal stenosis (LCSS). Methods: The patients were divided into either the ILESI or the bilateral TFESI groups. Prime outcome measures include the numerical rating scale (NRS), Oswestry disability index (ODI), Beck depression inventory (BDI), and pain-free walking distance. The douleur neuropathique en 4 questions score was used as a secondary outcome measure. Results: A total of 72 patients were finally included. NRS, ODI, and BDI scores showed a significant decline in both groups in all follow-ups. Third-month NRS scores were significantly lower in the ILESI group (P = 0.047). The percentages of decrease in the ODI and BDI scores between the baseline and the third week and third month were significantly higher in the ILESI group (P = 0.017, P = 0.001 and P = 0.048, P = 0.030, respectively). Pain-free walking distance percentages from the baseline to the third week and third month were significantly higher in the ILESI group (P = 0.036, P < 0.001). The proportion of patients with neuropathic pain in the bilateral TFESI group significantly decreased in the third week compared to the baseline (P = 0.020). Conclusions: Both ILESI and TFESI are reliable treatment options for LCSS. ILESI might be preferred because of easier application and more effectiveness. However, TFESI might be a better option in patients with more prominent neuropathic pain.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Agricultural Engineers
• /
• v.53 no.2
• /
• pp.67-74
• /
• 2011

This research focused on the investigation of runoff and nonpoint sources (NPS) pollution characteristics from small soil box plots treated by livestock waste composts. An indoor rainfall simulation was performed over the plots for 60 minutes. Simulated rainfall intensities were 32.4, 43.2, 50.3 and 57.1 mm/hr respectively. Slope of soil box plots was $10^{\circ}$ and $20^{\circ}$, respectively. Rainfall simulation replicated 5 times and the experiment was conducted every four days five times. As the slope of soil box increased, NPS pollution loads increased. And as rainfall intensity was increased from 32.4 to 57.1 mm/hr, NPS pollution loads gradually increased, too. Discharge of NPS pollution loads was the largest in the first simulation and thereafter decreased gradually. Discharged BOD load to the total applied load from $10^{\circ}$ plots, ranged 0.2 to 0.7 %, was 8.4 to 50.0 % lower than slope $20^{\circ}$ plots. When the application rate increased twice, the increase of pollution load was between 1.7~5.7 times. Analysis of Pearson's correlation coefficient showed that organic matter content in pig compost and NPS pollution loads were correlated well. While under liquid compost application, the correlation coefficients between them were not good. It was concluded that application of livestock resources need to consider long-term weather forecast and if necessary, NPS reduction measures must be preceded in order to reduce NPS pollution discharge.

• Journal of the Korea Institute of Information and Communication Engineering
• /
• v.17 no.1
• /
• pp.1-7
• /
• 2013

The interference among the rain radars and interference in the adjacent wireless station due to the spurious signals from the rain radar were analyzed in this paper. The rain radar measures the rain intensity using S-band signal. The measured data are utilized in forecasting the rainfall. The interference among the rain radars or in the adjacent wireless stations may be caused by the operation with low elevation angle and the high output power. Based on the propagation analysis of S band signal and the deduced interference protection ratio of rain radar, the interference due to the rain radar are analyzed. Also, the radiation spectrum characteristics of a rain radar are deduced from the caused interference effects by the spurious signals of the rain radar. To minimize the interference effects for adjacent wireless stations, it is required to get the rejection characteristics of spurious signals above 105 dB. In viewpoints of interference for rain radars, it is necessary to operate the rain radar with a different PRF and operation time opposite to adjacent rain radars.

• International Journal of High-Rise Buildings
• /
• v.10 no.4
• /
• pp.323-334
• /
• 2021

Concrete structures may rarely collapse in fire incidents but fire induced damage to structural members is inevitable as a result of material degradation and thermal expansion. This requires certain repairing measures to be applied to restore the performance of post-fire members. A brief review on investigation of post-fire damage of concrete material and concrete structural members is presented in this paper, followed by a review of post-fire repair research regarding various types of repairing techniques (FRP, steel plate, and concrete section enlargement) and different type of structural members including columns, beams, and slabs. Particularly, the fire scenarios adopted in these studies leading to damage are categorized as three levels according to the duration of gas-phase temperature above 600℃ (t₆₀₀). The repair effectiveness in terms of recovered performance of concrete structural members compared to the initial undamaged performance has been summarized and compared regarding the repairing techniques and fire intensity levels. The complied results have shown that recovering the ultimate strength is achievable but the stiffness recovery is difficult. Moreover, the current fire loading scenarios adopted in the post-fire repair research are mostly idealized as constant heating rates or standard fire curves, which may have produced unrealistic fire damage patterns and the associated repairing techniques may be not practical. For future studies, the realistic fire impact and the system-level structural damage investigation are necessary.

• Journal of Radiation Protection and Research
• /
• v.43 no.4
• /
• pp.160-169
• /
• 2018

Background: This study aims to develop an integrated optical system that can simultaneously or selectively measure the signals obtained from radioluminescence (RL), thermoluminescence (TL), and optically stimulated luminescence (OSL), which are luminescence phenomena of materials stimulated by radioactivity, heat, and light, respectively. The luminescence mechanism of various materials could be investigated using the glow curves of the luminescence materials. Materials and Methods: RL/TL/OSL integrated measuring system was equipped with a X-ray tube (50 kV, $200{\mu}A$) as an ionizing radiation source to irradiate the sample. The sample substrate was used as a heating source and was also designed to optically stimulate the sample material using various light sources, such as high luminous blue light emitting diode (LED) or laser. The system measured the luminescence intensity versus the amount of irradiation/stimulation on the sample for the purpose of measuring RL, TL and OSL sequentially or by selectively combining them. Optical filters were combined to minimize the interference of the stimulation light in the OSL signal. A long-pass filter (420 nm) was used for 470 nm LED, an ultraviolet-pass filter (260-390 nm) was used for detecting the luminescence of the sample by PM tube. Results and Discussion: The reliability of the system was evaluated using the RL/OSL characteristics of $Al_2O_3:C$ and the RL/TL characteristics of LiF:Mg,Cu,Si, which were used as dosimetry materials. The RL/OSL characteristics of $Al_2O_3:C$ showed relatively linear dose-response characteristics. The glow curve of LiF:Mg,Cu,Si also showed typical RL/OSL characteristics. Conclusion: The reliability of the proposed system was verified by sequentially measuring the RL characteristics of radiation as well as the TL and OSL characteristics by concurrent thermal and optical stimulations. In this study, we developed an integrated measurement system that measures the glow curves of RL/TL/OSL using universal USB-DAQs and the control program.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
• /
• v.56 no.6
• /
• pp.625-632
• /
• 2018

Malaria remains one of the leading health burdens in the developing world, especially in several sub-Saharan Africa countries; and Uganda has some of the highest recorded measures of malaria transmission intensity in the world. It is evident that the prevalence of malaria infection, the incidence of disease, and mortality from severe malaria remain very high in Uganda. Although the recent stable political and economic situation in the last few decades in Uganda supported for a fairly good appreciation of malaria control, the declines in infection, morbidity, and mortality are not sufficient to interrupt transmission and this country is among the top 4 countries with cases of malaria, especially among children under 5 years of age. In fact, Uganda, which is endemic in over 95% of the country, is a representative of challenges facing malaria control in Africa. In this study, we evaluated an active case detection program in 6 randomly selected villages, Uganda. This program covered a potential target population of 5,017 individuals. Our team screened 12,257 samples of malaria by active case detection, every 4 months, from February 2015 to January 2017 in the 6 villages (a total of 6 times). This study assessed the perceptions and practices on malaria control in Kiyuni Parish of Kyankwanzi district, Uganda. Our study presents that the incidence of malaria is sustained high despite efforts to scale-up and improve the use of LLINs and access to ACDs, based on the average incidence confirmed by RDTs.

• Journal of dental hygiene science
• /
• v.19 no.2
• /
• pp.113-121
• /
• 2019

Background: We investigated somatization symptoms experienced by dental hygienists due to stress from emotional labor. Our aim was to provide basic research data that could be useful in the development of efficient stress management schemes for this occupational group. Methods: We analyzed data collected from 208 dental hygienists working in Jeollabuk-do Province, Korea. To measure the level and intensity of emotional labor among research participants, we used the Korean Emotional Labor Questionnaire. We used the Somatization Symptom Checklist-90-Revised (SCL-90-R) to measure the level of somatization symptoms among participants. Results: On analyzing the level of emotional labor and somatization symptoms according to general characteristics, participants aged 23~25 years showed high scores for stress due to emotional labor (p<0.05). Working 5 days per week, subjective health status, and organizational support and protection systems were found to correlate with the level of stress due to emotional labor (p<0.05). In the analysis of correlations between emotional labor and somatization symptoms, scoring high across all domains of emotional labor was associated with scoring high for somatization symptoms in the subdomains of emotional labor. When emotional labor and demographical variables were used as independent variables, having higher scores for emotional labor and having poor subjective health status were found to be associated with having higher levels of somatization symptoms (p<0.05). Conclusion: Our results showed that working at night and organizational support and protection systems were correlated with emotional labor and somatization symptoms. Measures must be taken at the organizational level to reduce emotional labor and somatization symptoms.