• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.32 no.5
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• pp.633-642
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• 2019

In this work, lightweight sandwich plates consisting of a functionally graded porous (FGP) core and two laminated composite face sheets resting on elastic foundation have been proposed. Three different profiles are considered for the distributions of porosities along core thickness. The main aim of this paper is the investigation of the buckling behavior of the proposed porous sandwich plates (PSPs) by reporting their critical mechanical loads and their corresponding mode shapes. A finite element method (FEM) based on first order shear deformation theories (FSDT) is developed to discretize governing equations for the buckling behavior of the proposed sandwich plates. The effects of porosity dispersion and volume, the numbers and angles of laminated layers, sandwich plate geometrical dimensions, elastic foundation coefficients, loading and boundary conditions are studied. The results show that the use of FGP core can offer a PSP with half weight core and only 5% reduction in critical buckling loads. Moreover, stacking sequences with only ${\pm}45$ orientation fibers offer the highest values of buckling loads.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.16 no.9
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• pp.3595-3604
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• 2015

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) has been one of the most fatal malignant tumors worldwide and its associated morbidity and mortality remain of significant concern. Based on in-depth reviews of serological diagnosis of HCC, in addition to AFP, there are other biomarkers: Lens culinaris agglutinin-reactive AFP (AFP-L3), descarboxyprothrombin (DCP), tyrosine kinase with Ig and eprdermal growth factor (EGF) homology domains 2 (TIE2)-espressing monocytes (TEMs), glypican-3 (GPC3), Golgi protein 73 (GP73), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and squamous cell carcinoma antigen (SCCA) have been proposed as biomarkers for the early detection of HCC. The diagnosis of HCC is primarily based on noninvasive standard imaging methods, such as ultrasound (US), dynamic multiphasic multidetector-row CT (MDCT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Some experts advocate gadolinium diethyl-enetriamine pentaacetic acid (Gd-EOB-DTPA) MRI and contrast-enhanced US as the promising imaging madalities of choice. With regard to recent advancements in tissue markers, many cuting-edge technologies using genome-wide DNA microarrays, qRT-PCR, and proteomic and inmunostaining studies have been implemented in an attempt to identify markers for early diagnosis of HCC. Only less than half of HCC patients at initial diagnosis are at an early stage treatable with curative options: local ablation, surgical resection, or liver transplant. Transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) is considered the standard of care with palliation for intermediate stage HCC. Recent innovative procedures using drug-eluting-beads and radioembolization using Yttrium-90 may exhibit beneficial effects in HCC treatment. During the past few years, several molecular targeted agents have been evaluated in clinical trials in advanced HCC. Sorafenib is currently the only approved systemic treatment for HCC. It has been approved for the therapy of asymptomatic HCC patients with well-preserved liver function who are not candidates for potentially curative treatments, such as surgical resection or liver transplantation. In the USA, Europe and particularly Japan, hepatitis C virus (HCV) related HCC accounts for most liver cancer, as compared with Asia-Pacific regions, where hepatitis B virus (HBV) may play a more important role in HCC development. HBV vaccination, while a vaccine is not yet available against HCV, has been recognized as a best primary prevention method for HBV-related HCC, although in patients already infected with HBV or HCV, secondary prevention with antiviral therapy is still a reasonable strategy. In addition to HBV and HCV, attention should be paid to other relevant HCC risk factors, including nonalcoholic fatty liver disease due to obesity and diabetes, heavy alcohol consumption, and prolonged aflatoxin exposure. Interestingly, coffee and vitamin K2 have been proven to provide protective effects against HCC. Regarding tertiary prevention of HCC recurrence after surgical resection, addition of antiviral treatment has proven to be a rational strategy.

• Journal of Power Electronics
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• v.16 no.4
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• pp.1288-1297
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• 2016

This study proposes a single-stage light-emitting diode (LED) tube lamp driver with input-current shaping for T8/T10-type fluorescent lamp replacements. The proposed AC-DC LED driver integrates a dual-boost converter with coupled inductors and a half-bridge series-resonant converter with a bridge rectifier into a single-stage power conversion topology. This paper presents the operational principles and design considerations for one T8-type 18 W-rated LED tube lamp with line input voltages ranging from 100 V rms to 120 V rms. Experimental results for the prototype driver show that the highest power factor (PF = 0.988), lowest input current total harmonic distortion (THD = 7.22%), and highest circuit efficiency (η = 92.42%) are obtained at an input voltage of 120 V. Hence, the proposed driver is feasible for use in energy-efficient indoor lighting applications.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.16 no.6
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• pp.894-902
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• 2003

Prebiotics (peptides, N-acetyglucoamine, fructo-oligosaccharides, isomalto-oligosaccharides and galactooligosaccharides) were added to skim milk in order to improve the growth rate of contained Lactobacillus acidophilus, Lactobacillus casei, Bifidobacterium longum and Bifidobacterium bifidum. The purpose of this research was to study the potential synergy between probiotics and prebiotics when present in milk, and to apply modern optimization techniques to obtain optimal design and performance for the growth rate of the probiotics using a response surface-modeling technique. To carry out response surface modeling, the regression method was performed on experimental results to build mathematical models. The models were then formulated as an objective function in an optimization problem that was consequently optimized using a genetic algorithm and sequential quadratic programming approach to obtain the maximum growth rate of the probiotics. The results showed that the quadratic models appeared to have the most accurate response surface fit. Both SQP and GA were able to identify the optimal combination of prebiotics to stimulate the growth of probiotics in milk. Comparing both methods, SQP appeared to be more efficient than GA at such a task.

• 한국정보디스플레이학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2006.08a
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• pp.1640-1644
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• 2006

The first issue that should be overcome in copper process is its poor adhesive strength between pure copper film and glass substrate. In this study, defining the adhesive strength of pure copper film on various substrates and clarifying the key deposition parameters are presented for the investigation of copper process. First, using different kinds of surface plasma treatments were studied and the results showed that the adhesive strength was not improved even though the roughness of glass substrate surface was increased. Second, adding an adhesive layer between glass substrate and pure copper film was used to enhance the adhesion. Based on the data in the present paper, adopting copper alloy film as an adhesive layer can have capability preventing peeling problem in copper process. Besides, Cu/Cu alloy structure could be etched with the same etchant with better taper angle than the one with single layer of Cu. Unlike Cu/Mo structure, there is no residual problem for Cu/Cu alloy structure during etching process. Finally, this structure was examined in electrical test without significant difference in comparison with the conventional metal process.

• JSTS:Journal of Semiconductor Technology and Science
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• v.13 no.4
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• pp.402-409
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• 2013

An innovative application of voltage-contrast (VC) inspection allowed inline detection of NMOS leakage in dense SRAM cells is presented. Cell sizes of SRAM are continual to do the shrinkage with bit density promotion as semiconductor technology advanced, but the resulting challenges include not only development of smaller-scale devices, but also intra-devices isolation. The NMOS leakage caused by the underneath n+/P-well shorted to the adjacent PMOS/N-well was inspected by the proposed electron-beam (e-beam) scan in which VC images were compared during the in-line process step of post contact tungsten (W) CMP (Chemical Mechanical Planarization) instead of end-of-line electrical test, which has a long response time. A series of experiments based on the mechanism for improving the intra-well isolation was performed and verified by the inline VC inspection. An optimal process-integration condition involved to the tradeoff between the implant dosage and photo CD was carried out.

• Journal of the Korean Wood Science and Technology
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• v.33 no.5 s.133
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• pp.66-75
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• 2005

Soybean-based adhesives have recently been reconsidered as alternatives to petroleum-based adhesives due to the uncertainty of availability of petrochemical products and the increased demand for wood adhesives. This study was conducted to investigate the adhesive properties of alkaline phenolic soy (APS) resin for hybrid poplar flakeboard. The APS resin was formulated by crosslinking an alkaline soy flour hydrolyzate with lab-prepared PF resin in the soy hydrolyzate to PF resin weight ratios of 70/30, 60/40, and 50/50. The APS resins were used to fabricate homogeneous hybrid poplar flakeboards with different resin solid levels (5%, 7%, and 9%), press temperatures (175 and $200^{\circ}C$), and press times of 8 and 10 minutes. The IB, wet MOR, and dimensional stability properties of board improved with increasing press time, press temperature, and PF level in APS resins. Increasing press time can be used to offset poor IB strength associated with a 9% resin solid level and the excessive moisture content in the mat. The following conditions were concluded to meet the requirements of the CSA standard for exterior-grade flakeboard: a 50% PF level, a 5% resin content, a $200^{\circ}C$ press temperature, and an 8 minute press time.

• Journal of Nuclear Fuel Cycle and Waste Technology(JNFCWT)
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.407-414
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• 2020

Thermal decomposition of the uranyl phosphate mineral phase meta-ankoleite (KUO₂PO₄·3H₂O) has been considered in relation to high temperature thermal sintering for the immobilisation of a uranyl phosphate containing waste. Meta-ankoleite thermal decomposition was studied across the temperature range 25 - 1200℃ under an inert N₂ atmosphere at 1 atm. It is shown that the meta-ankoleite mineral phase undergoes a double de-hydration event at 56.90 and 125.85℃. Subsequently, synthetically produced pure meta-ankoleite remains stable until at least 1150℃ exhibiting no apparent phase changes. In contrast, when present in a mixed waste the meta-ankoleite phase is not identifiable after thermal treatment indicating incorporation within the bulk waste either as an amorphous phase and/or as uranium oxide. Visual inspection of the waste post thermal treatment showed evidence of self-sintering owing to the presence of glass former materials, namely, silica (SiO₂) and antimony(V) oxide (Sb₂O₅). Therefore, incorporation of the uranium phase into the waste as part of waste sentencing and immobilisation via high temperature sintering for the purpose of long-term disposal is deemed feasible.

• ETRI Journal
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• v.37 no.4
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• pp.717-726
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• 2015

In this paper, we study an asymmetric two-way relaying network where two source nodes intend to exchange information with the help of multiple relay nodes. A hybrid time-division broadcast relaying scheme with joint relay selection (RS) and power allocation (PA) is proposed to realize energy-efficient transmission. Our scheme is based on the asymmetric level of the two source nodes' target signal-to-noise ratio indexes to minimize the total power consumed by the relay nodes. An optimization model with joint RS and PA is studied here to guarantee hybrid relaying transmissions. Next, with the aid of our proposed intelligent optimization algorithm, which combines a genetic algorithm and a simulated annealing algorithm, the formulated optimization model can be effectively solved. Theoretical analyses and numerical results verify that our proposed hybrid relaying scheme can substantially reduce the total power consumption of relays under a traffic asymmetric scenario; meanwhile, the proposed intelligent optimization algorithm can eventually converge to a better solution.

• KSII Transactions on Internet and Information Systems (TIIS)
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• v.8 no.9
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• pp.3286-3301
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• 2014

Jung and Yoo proposed the first image interpolation-based reversible data hiding algorithm. Although their algorithm achieved superior interpolation results, the embedding capacity was insufficient. Lee and Huang proposed an improved algorithm to enhance the embedding capacity and the interpolation results. However, these algorithms present limitations to magnify the original image to any resolution and pixels in the boundary region of the magnified image are poorly manipulated. Furthermore, the capacity and the image quality can be improved further. This study modifies the pixel mapping scheme and adopts a bilinear interpolation to solve boundary artifacts. The modified reference pixel determination and an optimal pixel adjustment process can effectively enhance the embedding capacity and the image quality. The experimental results show our proposed algorithm achieves a higher embedding capacity under acceptable visual distortions, and can be applied to a magnified image at any resolution. Our proposed technique is feasible in reversible data hiding.