• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.11 no.4
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• pp.334-339
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• 2017

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Telomere length is a useful biomarker for determining general aging status. Some studies have reported an association between alcohol consumption and telomere length in a general population; however, it is unclear whether the alcohol flush reaction, which is an alcohol-related trait predominantly due to acetaldehyde dehydrogenase deficiency, is associated with telomere length. This cross-sectional study aimed to evaluate the associations of alcohol consumption and alcohol flush reaction with leukocyte telomere length (LTL). SUBJECTS/METHODS: The study included 1,803 Korean adults. Participants provided blood specimens for LTL measurement assay and reported their alcohol drinking status and the presence of an alcohol flush reaction via a questionnaire-based interview. Relative LTL was determined by using a quantitative polymerase chain reaction. Statistical analysis used multiple linear regression models stratified by sex and age groups, and potential confounding factors were considered. RESULTS: Age-specific analyses showed that heavy alcohol consumption (> 30 g/day) was strongly associated with a reduced LTL in participants aged ${\geq}65years$ (P < 0.001) but not in younger participants. Similarly, the alcohol flush reaction was associated with a reduced LTL only in older participants who consumed > 15 g/day of alcohol (P < 0.01). No significant alcohol consumption or alcohol flush reaction associations with LTL were observed in the sex-specific analyses. CONCLUSIONS: The results suggest that older alcohol drinkers, particularly those with the alcohol flush reaction, may have an accelerated aging process.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.161-174
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• 2018

The present study investigates the soil-structure interaction (SSI) effects on the seismic performance of smart base-isolated structures. The adopted control algorithm for tuning the control force plays a key role in successful implementation of such structures; however, in most studied carried out in the literature, these algorithms are designed without considering the SSI effect. Considering the SSI effects, a linear quadratic regulator (LQR) controller is employed to seismic control of a smart base-isolated structure. A particle swarm optimization (PSO) algorithm is used to tune the gain matrix of the controller in both cases without and with SSI effects. In order to conduct a parametric study, three types of soil, three well-known earthquakes and a vast range of period of the superstructure are considered for assessment the SSI effects on seismic control process of the smart-base isolated structure. The adopted controller is able to make a significant reduction in base displacement. However, any attempt to decrease the maximum base displacement results in slight increasing in superstructure accelerations. The maximum and RMS base displacements of the smart base-isolated structures in the case of considering SSI effects are more than the corresponding responses in the case of ignoring SSI effects. Overall, it is also observed that the maximum and RMS base displacements of the structure are increased by increasing the natural period of the superstructure. Furthermore, it can be concluded that the maximum and RMS superstructure accelerations are significant influenced by the frequency content of earthquake excitations and the natural frequency of the superstructure. The results show that the design of the controller is very influenced by the SSI effects. In addition, the simulation results demonstrate that the ignoring the SSI effect provides an unfavorable control system, which may lead to decline in the seismic performance of the smart-base isolated structure including the SSI effects.

• Korean Journal of Remote Sensing
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.45-55
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• 2008

The impact on streamflow and groundwater recharge considering future potential climate and land use change was assessed using SLURP (Semi-distributed Land-Use Runoff Process) continuous hydrologic model. The model was calibrated and verified using 4 years (1999-2002) daily observed streamflow data for a $260.4km^2$ which has been continuously urbanized during the past couple of decades. The model was calibrated and validated with the coefficient of determination and Nash-Sutcliffe efficiency ranging from 0.8 to 0.7 and 0.7 to 0.5, respectively. The CCCma CGCM2 data by two SRES (Special Report on Emissions Scenarios) climate change scenarios (A2 and B2) of the IPCC (Intergovemmental Panel on Climate Change) were adopted and the future weather data was downscaled by Delta Change Method using 30 years (1977 - 2006, baseline period) weather data. The future land uses were predicted by CA (Cellular Automata)-Markov technique using the time series land use data of Landsat images. The future land uses showed that the forest and paddy area decreased 10.8 % and 6.2 % respectively while the urban area increased 14.2 %. For the future vegetation cover information, a linear regression between monthly NDVI (Normalized Difference Vegetation Index) from NOAA/AVHRR images and monthly mean temperature using five years (1998 - 2002) data was derived for each land use class. The future highest NDVI value was 0.61 while the current highest NDVI value was 0.52. The model results showed that the future predicted runoff ratio ranged from 46 % to 48 % while the present runoff ratio was 59 %. On the other hand, the impact on runoff ratio by land use change showed about 3 % increase comparing with the present land use condition. The streamflow and groundwater recharge was big decrease in the future.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Aeronautical & Space Sciences
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• v.47 no.10
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• pp.712-719
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• 2019

This paper explores an implementation of finite element analysis and experiment in the design process of a tape spring hinge used for various CubeSat missions. Tape spring hinges consist of short-length hardened-steel strips with one-sided curvature, and thus the behavior is subject to large deformation with unpredicted non-linearity. Precise dimensions of a commercial tape spring are traced by the use of high-resolution digital camera, and thin-shell FEM analysis is conducted using ABAQUS program. Based on the rotation-moment analysis suggested in previous studies, parametric analysis is conducted by adjusting the contributing factors such as strip thickness and the subtended angle of the cross section. Finally the behaviors are investigated by both analytical and non-linear finite element methods, and the results are compared with the simple measurements. Further studies suggest a possible application in dynamic characteristics of hinges during CubeSat operations.

• Journal of Information Science Theory and Practice
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• v.7 no.3
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• pp.6-20
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• 2019

Learning analytics, or educational data mining, is an emerging field that applies data mining methods and tools for the exploitation of data coming from educational environments. Learning management systems, like Moodle, offer large amounts of data concerning students' activity, performance, behavior, and interaction with their peers and their tutors. The analysis of these data can be elaborated to make decisions that will assist stakeholders (students, faculty, and administration) to elevate the learning process in higher education. In this work, the power of Excel is exploited to analyze data in Moodle, utilizing an e-learning course developed for enhancing the information computer technology skills of school teachers in primary and secondary education in Greece. Moodle log files are appropriately manipulated in order to trace daily and weekly activity of the learners concerning distribution of access to resources, forum participation, and quizzes and assignments submission. Learners' activity was visualized for every hour of the day and for every day of the week. The visualization of access to every activity or resource during the course is also obtained. In this fashion teachers can schedule online synchronous lectures or discussions more effectively in order to maximize the learners' participation. Results depict the interest of learners for each structural component, their dedication to the course, their participation in the fora, and how it affects the submission of quizzes and assignments. Instructional designers may take advice and redesign the course according to the popularity of the educational material and learners' dedication. Moreover, the final grade of the learners is predicted according to their previous grades using multiple linear regression and sensitivity analysis. These outcomes can be suitably exploited in order for instructors to improve the design of their courses, faculty to alter their educational methodology, and administration to make decisions that will improve the educational services provided.

• Journal of the Korea Convergence Society
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• v.10 no.11
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• pp.71-77
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• 2019

This paper defines a multi-selection knapsack problem and presents an algorithm for seeking its optimal solution. Multi-selection means that all members of the particular group be selected or excluded. Our branch-and-bound algorithm introduces a simplex containing the feasible region of the original problem to exploit the fact that the most tightly underestimating function on the simplex is linear. In bounding operation, the subproblem defined over the candidate simplex is minimized. During the branching process the candidate simplex is splitted into two one-less dimensional subsimplices by being projected onto two hyperplanes. The approach of this paper can be applied to solving the global minimization problems under various types of the knapsack constraints.

• Wind and Structures
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.211-229
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• 2016

In recent years, the frequency and duration of supply interruption in electric power transmission system due to flashover increase yearly in China. Flashover is usually associated with inadequate electric clearance and often takes place in extreme weathers, such as downbursts, typhoons and hurricanes. The present study focuses on the wind-induced oscillation of conductor during the process when a downburst is passing by or across a specified transmission line. Based on a revised analytical model recently developed for stationary downburst, transient three-dimensional wind fields of moving downbursts are successfully simulated. In the simulations, the downbursts travel along various motion paths according to the certain initial locations and directions of motion assumed in advance. Then, an eight-span section, extracted from a practical 500 kV ultra-high-voltage transmission line, is chosen. After performing a non-linear transient analysis, the transient displacements of the conductors could be obtained. Also, an extensive study on suspension insulator strings' rotation angles is conducted, and the electric clearances at different strings could be compared directly. The results show that both the variation trends of the transient responses and the corresponding peak values vary seriously with the motion paths of downburst. Accordingly, the location of the specified string, which is in the most disadvantageous situation along the studied line section, is picked out. And a representative motion path is concluded for reference in the calculation of each string's oscillation for the precaution of wind-induced flashover under downburst.

• Advances in environmental research
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• v.3 no.3
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• pp.231-251
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• 2014

The present study examines the phosphate adsorption potential and behavior of mixture of Ground Burnt Patties (GBP), a solid waste generated from cooking fuel used in earthen stoves and Red Soil (RS), a natural substance in fixed bed column mode operation. The characterization of adsorbent was done by Proton Induced X-ray Emission (PIXE), and Proton Induced ${\gamma}$-ray Emission (PIGE) methods. The FTIR spectroscopy of spent adsorbent reveals the presence of absorbance peak at $1127cm^{-1}$ which appears due to P = O stretching, thus confirming phosphate adsorption. The effects of bed height (10, 15 and 20 cm), flow rate (2.5, 5 and 7.5 mL/min) and initial phosphate concentration (5 and 15 mg/L) on breakthrough curves were explored. Both the breakthrough and exhaustion time increased with increase in bed depth, decrease in flow rate and influent concentration. Thomas model, Yoon-Nelson model and Modified Dose Response model were used to fit the column adsorption data using nonlinear regression analysis while Bed Depth Service Time model followed linear regression analysis under different experimental condition to evaluate model parameters that are useful in scale up of the process. The values of correlation coefficient ($R^2$) and the Sum of Square Error (SSE) revealed the Modified Dose Response model as the best fitted model to the experimental data. The adsorbent mixture responded effectively to the desorption and reusability experiment. The results of this finding advocated that mixture of GBP and RS can be used as a low cost, highly efficient adsorbent for phosphate removal from aqueous solution.

• Journal of the Society of Naval Architects of Korea
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• v.57 no.1
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• pp.23-34
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• 2020

This paper covers the development of prediction techniques for ice load on ice-breakers operating in continuous ice-breaking under level ice conditions using particle-based continuum mechanics. Ice is assumed to be a linear elastic material until the fracture occurs. The maximum normal stress theory is used for the criterion of fracture. The location of the crack can be expressed using a local scalar function consisting of the gradient of the first principal stress and the corresponding eigen-vector. This expression is used to determine the relative position of particle pair to the new crack. The Hertz contact model is introduced to consider the collisions between ice fragments and the collisions between hull and ice fragments. In order to verify the developed technique, the simulation results for the three-point bending problems of ice-specimen and the continuous ice-breaking problem around a wedge-type model ship with bow angle of 20° are compared with the experimental results carrying out at Korea Research Institute of Ships and Ocean Engineering (KRISO).

• Geophysics and Geophysical Exploration
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.97-103
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• 2005

Recent development of marine magnetic gradient systems, using arrays of sensors, has made it possible to survey large contaminated areas very quickly. However, underwater Unexploded Ordnances (UXO) can be moved by water currents. Because of this mobility, the cleanup process in such situations becomes dynamic rather than static. This implies that detection should occur in near real-time for successful remediation. Therefore, there is a need for a fast interpretation method to rapidly detect signatures of underwater objects in marine magnetic data. In this paper, we present a fast method for location and characterization of underwater UXOs. The approach utilises gradient interpretation techniques (analytic signal and Euler methods) to locate the objects precisely. Then, using an iterative linear least-squares technique, we obtain the magnetization characteristics of the sources. The approach was applied to a theoretical marine magnetic anomaly, with random errors, over a known source. We demonstrate the practical utility of the method using marine magnetic gradient data from Japan.