• Annals of Hepato-Biliary-Pancreatic Surgery
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.158-165
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• 2023

Backgrounds/Aims: Within two years of surgery, 70% of resected intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (iCCA) recur. Better biomarkers are needed to identify those at risk of "early recurrence" (ER). In this study, we defined ER and investigated whether preoperative neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR), and systemic-inflammatory index were prognostic of both overall relapse and ER after curative hepatectomy for iCCA. Methods: A retrospective cohort of patients who underwent curative-intent hepatectomy for iCCA between 2005 and 2017 were created. The cut-off timepoint for the ER of iCCA was estimated using a piecewise linear regression model. Univariable analyses of recurrence were conducted for the overall, early, and late recurrence periods. For the early and late recurrence periods, multivariable Cox regression with time-varying regression coefficient analysis was used. Results: A total of 113 patients were included in this study. ER was defined as recurrence within 12 months of a curative resection. Among the included patients, 38.1% experienced ER. In the univariable model, a higher preoperative NLR (> 4.3) was significantly associated with an increased risk of recurrence overall and in the first 12 months after curative surgery. In the multivariable model, a higher NLR was associated with a higher recurrence rate overall and in the ER period (≤ 12 months), but not in the late recurrence period. Conclusions: Preoperative NLR was prognostic of both overall recurrence and ER after curative iCCA resection. NLR is easily obtained before and after surgery and should be integrated into ER prediction tools to guide preoperative treatments and intensify postoperative follow-up.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Intelligent Systems
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.7-14
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• 2015

To implement an automatic picking system (APS) in distribution center with high precision and high dynamics, this paper presents a high gain observer-based robust speed controller design for a linear induction motor (LIM) drive. The force disturbance as well as the mechanical parameter variations such as the mass and friction coefficient gives a direct influence on the speed control performance of APS. To guarantee a robust control performance, the system uncertainty caused by the force disturbance and mechanical parameter variations is estimated through a high gain disturbance observer and compensated by a feedforward manner. While a time-varying disturbance due to the mass variation can not be effectively compensated by using the conventional disturbance observer, the proposed scheme shows a robust performance in the presence of such uncertainty. A Simulink library has been developed for the LIM model from the state equation. Through comparative simulations based on Matlab - Simulink, it is proved that the proposed scheme has a robust control nature and is most suitable for APS.

• Journal of Internet Computing and Services
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.23-35
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• 2006

This work presents o novel method which extract facial region und features from motion picture automatically and controls the 3D facial expression in real time. To txtract facial region and facial feature points from each color frame of motion pictures a new nonparametric skin color model is proposed rather than using parametric skin color model. Conventionally used parametric skin color models, which presents facial distribution as gaussian-type, have lack of robustness for varying lighting conditions. Thus it needs additional work to extract exact facial region from face images. To resolve the limitation of current skin color model, we exploit the Hue-Tint chrominance components and represent the skin chrominance distribution as a linear function, which can reduce error for detecting facial region. Moreover, the minimal facial feature positions detected by the proposed skin model are adjusted by using edge information of the detected facial region along with the proportions of the face. To produce the realistic facial expression, we adopt Water's linear muscle model and apply the extended version of Water's muscles to variation of the facial features of the 3D face. The experiments show that the proposed approach efficiently detects facial feature points and naturally controls the facial expression of the 3D face model.

• 제어로봇시스템학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2004.08a
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• pp.620-626
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• 2004

For general nonlinear processes, it is difficult to control with a linear model-based control method and nonlinear controls are considered. Among the numerous approaches suggested, the most rigorous approach is to use dynamic optimization. Many general engineering problems like control, scheduling, planning etc. are expressed by functional optimization problem and most of them can be changed into dynamic programming (DP) problems. However the DP problems are used in just few cases because as the size of the problem grows, the dynamic programming approach is suffered from the burden of calculation which is called as 'curse of dimensionality'. In order to avoid this problem, the Neuro-Dynamic Programming (NDP) approach is proposed by Bertsekas and Tsitsiklis (1996). To get the solution of seriously nonlinear process control, the interest in NDP approach is enlarged and NDP algorithm is applied to diverse areas such as retailing, finance, inventory management, communication networks, etc. and it has been extended to chemical engineering parts. In the NDP approach, we select the optimal control input policy to minimize the value of cost which is calculated by the sum of current stage cost and future stages cost starting from the next state. The cost value is related with a weight square sum of error and input movement. During the calculation of optimal input policy, if the approximate cost function by using simulation data is utilized with Bellman iteration, the burden of calculation can be relieved and the curse of dimensionality problem of DP can be overcome. It is very important issue how to construct the cost-to-go function which has a good approximate performance. The neural network is one of the eager learning methods and it works as a global approximator to cost-to-go function. In this algorithm, the training of neural network is important and difficult part, and it gives significant effect on the performance of control. To avoid the difficulty in neural network training, the lazy learning method like k-nearest neighbor method can be exploited. The training is unnecessary for this method but requires more computation time and greater data storage. The pH neutralization process has long been taken as a representative benchmark problem of nonlin ar chemical process control due to its nonlinearity and time-varying nature. In this study, the NDP algorithm was applied to pH neutralization process. At first, the pH neutralization process control to use NDP algorithm was performed through simulations with various approximators. The global and local approximators are used for NDP calculation. After that, the verification of NDP in real system was made by pH neutralization experiment. The control results by NDP algorithm was compared with those by the PI controller which is traditionally used, in both simulations and experiments. From the comparison of results, the control by NDP algorithm showed faster and better control performance than PI controller. In addition to that, the control by NDP algorithm showed the good results when it applied to the cases with disturbances and multiple set point changes.

• Korean Journal of Social Welfare
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• v.67 no.1
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• pp.83-107
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• 2015

The present study examines the development of self-esteem from young adulthood to old age, as well as predictors of change in self-esteem over time. The eight waves of Korean Welfare Panel Data(KOWEPS) were used for analyses, and a nationally representative sample of 15,511 individual aged 19 years and above were included. The multilevel growth curve model was specified to address the research questions. The result shows that the self-esteem trajectory differed across different age groups with those in early adulthood and adulthood showed an increasing linear trajectories while the old age showed a declining slope. Furthermore, predictors of changes in self-esteem also differed across the age groups that while depression and relationship variables were constant in predicting self-esteem change for all three age groups, some variables such as marital status, poverty status, and employment status predicted individuals in certain age groups. Such results demonstrate the need to understand and examine the change in self-esteem at the individual level.

• Journal of the Earthquake Engineering Society of Korea
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• v.22 no.6
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• pp.323-332
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• 2018

Recent two moderate earthquakes (2016 $M_w=5.4$ Gyeongju and 2017 $M_w=5.5$ Pohang) in Korea provided the unique chance of developing a set of relations to estimate instrumental seismic intensity in Korea by augmenting the time-history data from MMI seismic intensity regions above V to the insufficient data previously accumulated from the MMI regions limited up to IV. The MMI intensity regions of V and VI was identified by delineating the epicentral distance from the reference intensity statistics in distance derived by using the integrated MMI data obtained by combining the intensity survey results of KMA (Korea Meteorological Administration) and 'DYFI (Did You Feel It)' MMIs of USGS. The time-histories of the seismic stations from the MMI intensity regions above V were then preprocessed by applying the previously developed site-correction filters to be converted to a site-equivalent condition in a manner consistent with the previous study. The average values of the ground-motion parameters for the three ground motion parameters of PGA, PGV and BSPGA (Bracketed Summation of PGA per second for 30 seconds) were calculated for the MMI=V and VI and used to generate the dataset of the average values of the ground-motion parameters for the individual MMIs from I to VI. Based on this dataset, the linear regression analysis resulted in the following relations with proposed valid ranges of MMI. $MMI=2.36{\times}log_{10}(PGA(gal))+1.44$ ($I{\leq}MMI$$MMI=2.44{\times}log_{10}(PGV(kine))+4.86$ ($I{\leq}MMI$$MMI=2.59{\times}log_{10}(BSPGA(gal{\cdot}sec))-1.02$ ($I{\leq}MMI$

• Maxillofacial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
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• v.41
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• pp.4.1-4.10
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• 2019

Background: The mandibular third molar (M3) is typically the last permanent tooth to erupt because of insufficient space and thick soft tissues covering its surface. Problems such as alveolar bone loss, development of a periodontal pocket, exposure of cementum, gingival recession, and dental caries can be found in the adjacent second molars (M2) following M3 extraction. The specific aims of the study were to assess the amount and rate of bone regeneration on the distal surface of M2 and to evaluate the aspects of bone regeneration in terms of varying degree of impaction. Methods: Four series of panoramic radiographic images were obtained from the selected cases, including images from the first visit, immediately after extraction, 6 weeks, and 6 months after extraction. ImageJ software^® (NIH, USA) was used to measure linear distance from the region of interest to the distal root of the adjacent M2. Radiographic infrabony defect (RID) values were calculated from the measured radiographic bone height and cementoenamel junction with distortion compensation. Repeated measures of analysis of variance and one-way analysis of variance were conducted to analyze the statistical significant difference between RID and time, and a Spearman correlation test was conducted to assess the relationship between Pederson's difficulty index (DI) and RID. Results: A large RID (> 6 mm) can be reduced gradually and consistently over time. More than half of the samples recovered nearly to their normal healthy condition (RID ≤ 3 mm) by the 6-month follow-up. DI affected the first 6 weeks of post-extraction period and only showed a significant positive correlation with respect to the difference between baseline and final RID. Conclusions: Additional treatments on M2 for a minimum of 6 months after an M3 extraction could be recommended. Although DI may affect bone regeneration during the early healing period, further study is required to elucidate any possible factors associated with the healing process. The DI does not cause any long-term adverse effects on bone regeneration after surgical extraction.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Mechanical Engineers B
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• v.40 no.1
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• pp.39-45
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• 2016

Thermal management of a fuel cell is important to satisfy the requirements of durability and efficiency under varying load conditions. In this study, a linear state feedback controller was designed to maintain the temperature within operating conditions. Due to the nonlinearity of automotive fuel cell system, the state feedback controller results in marginal stable under load condition from $0.5A/cm^2$ to $0.7A/cm^2$. A PWM (Pulse Width Modulation) and the modified state feedback controller are applied to control the temperature under the load condition from $0.5A/cm^2$ to $0.7A/cm^2$. The cooling system model is composed of a reservoir, radiator, bypass valve, fan, and a water pump. The performance of the control algorithm was evaluated in terms of the integral time weighted absolute error (ITAE). Additionally, MATLAB/SIMULINK$^{(R)}$ was used for the development of the system models and controllers. The modified state feedback controller was found to be more effective for controlling temperature than other algorithms when tested under low load conditions.

• Macromolecular Research
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• v.11 no.4
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• pp.207-223
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• 2003

For last five years, we are developing the novel local drug delivery devices using biodegradable polymers, especially polylactide (PLA) and poly(D,L-lactide-co-glycolide) (PLGA) due to its relatively good biocompatibility, easily controlled biodegradability, good processability and only FDA approved synthetic degradable polymers. The relationship between various kinds of drug [water soluble small molecule drugs: gentamicin sulfate (GS), fentanyl citrate (FC), BCNU, azidothymidine (AZT), pamidronate (ADP), $1,25(OH)_2$ vitamin $D_3$, water insoluble small molecule drugs: fentanyl, ipriflavone (IP) and nifedipine, and water soluble large peptide molecule drug: nerve growth factor (NGF), and Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV)], different types of geometrical devices [microspheres (MSs), microcapsule, nanoparticle, wafers, pellet, beads, multiple-layered beads, implants, fiber, scaffolds, and films], and pharmacological activity are proposed and discussed for the application of pharmaceutics and tissue engineering. Also, local drug delivery devices proposed in this work are introduced in view of preparation method, drug release behavior, biocompatibility, pharmacological effect, and animal studies. In conclusion, we can control the drug release profiles varying with the preparation, formulation and geometrical parameters. Moreover, any types of drug were successfully applicable to achieve linear sustained release from short period ($1{\sim}3$ days) to long period (over 2 months). It is very important to design a suitable formulation for the wanting period of bioactive molecules loaded in biodegradable polymers for the local delivery of drug. The drug release is affected by many factors such as hydrophilicity of drug, electric charge of drug, drug loading amount, polymer molecular weight, the monomer composition, the size of implants, the applied fabrication techniques, and so on. It is well known that the commercialization of new drug needs a lot of cost of money (average: over 10 million US dollar per one drug) and time (average: above 9 years) whereas the development of DDS and high effective generic drug might be need relatively low investment with a short time period. Also, one core technology of DDS can be applicable to many drugs for the market needs. From these reasons, the DDS research on potent generic drugs might be suitable for less risk and high return.

• Geophysics and Geophysical Exploration
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• v.10 no.4
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• pp.252-258
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• 2007

We have studied the feasibility of geostatistics approach to enhancing analysis of sparsely obtained seismic data by combining with satellite gravity data. The shallow depth and numerous fishing nets in The Yellow Sea, west of Korea, makes it difficult to do seismic surveys in this area. Therefore, we have attempted to use geostatistics to integrate the seismic data along with gravity data. To evaluate the feasibility of this approach, we have extracted only a few seismic profile data from previous surveys in the Yellow Sea and performed integrated analysis combining with the results from gravity data under the assumption that seismic velocity and density have a high physical correlation. First, we analyzed the correlation between extracted seismic profiles and depths obtained from gravity inversion. Next, we transferred the gravity depth to travel time using non-linear indicator transform and analyze residual values by kriging with varying local means. Finally, the reconstructed time structure map was compared with the original seismic section given in the previous study. Our geostatistical approach demonstrates relatively satisfactory results and especially, in the boundary area where seismic lines are sparse, gives us more in-depth information than previously available.