• Smart Structures and Systems
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.163-181
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• 2015

This research investigates the structural health monitoring of nonlinear structures after a major seismic event. It considers the identification of flag-shaped or pinched hysteresis behavior in response to structures as a more general case of a normal hysteresis curve without pinching. The method is based on the overall least squares methods and the log likelihood ratio test. In particular, the structural response is divided into different loading and unloading sub-half cycles. The overall least squares analysis is first implemented to obtain the minimum residual mean square estimates of structural parameters for each sub-half cycle with the number of segments assumed. The log likelihood ratio test is used to assess the likelihood of these nonlinear segments being true representations in the presence of noise and model error. The resulting regression coefficients for identified segmented regression models are finally used to obtain stiffness, yielding deformation and energy dissipation parameters. The performance of the method is illustrated using a single degree of freedom system and a suite of 20 earthquake records. RMS noise of 5%, 10%, 15% and 20% is added to the response data to assess the robustness of the identification routine. The proposed method is computationally efficient and accurate in identifying the damage parameters within 10% average of the known values even with 20% added noise. The method requires no user input and could thus be automated and performed in real-time for each sub-half cycle, with results available effectively immediately after an event as well as during an event, if required.

• Safety and Health at Work
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• v.6 no.4
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• pp.312-316
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• 2015

Background: Unleaded petrol contains significant amounts of monocyclic aromatic hydrocarbons such as benzene, toluene, and xylenes (BTX). Toxic responses following occupational exposure to unleaded petrol have been evaluated only in limited studies. The main purpose of this study was to ascertain whether (or not) exposure to unleaded petrol, under normal working conditions, is associated with any hepatotoxic or nephrotoxic response. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study in which 200 employees of Shiraz petrol stations with current exposure to unleaded petrol, as well as 200 unexposed employees, were investigated. Atmospheric concentrations of BTX were measured using standard methods. Additionally, urine and fasting blood samples were taken from individuals for urinalysis and routine biochemical tests of kidney and liver function. Results: The geometric means of airborne concentrations of BTX were found to be $0.8mg\;m^{-3}$, $1.4mg\;m^{-3}$, and $2.8mg\;m^{-3}$, respectively. Additionally, means of direct bilirubin, alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, blood urea and plasma creatinine were significantly higher in exposed individuals than in unexposed employees. Conversely, serum albumin, total protein, and serum concentrations of calcium and sodium were significantly lower in petrol station workers than in their unexposed counterparts. Conclusion: The average exposure of petrol station workers to BTX did not exceed the current threshold limit values (TLVs) for these chemicals. However, evidence of subtle, subclinical and prepathologic early liver and kidney dysfunction was evident in exposed individuals.

• Korean Journal of Plant Resources
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.323-330
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• 2004

Effects of Guemengja (Rosae Laevigatae Michx.) Extracts on serum and liver lipid composition and antioxidative capacity were investigated in rat fed high oxidized fat. Twenty eight male Sprague-Dawley rats weighing 159.35$\pm$2.17g were blocked into four groups according to body weight and raised seven weeks with basal diet (normal group, I), basal diet and 10% oxidized fat (control group, II), basal diet, 10% oxidized fat and 100mg/kgg Guemengja Extracts (100mg/kg Guemengja Extracts group, III) and basal diet, 10% oxidized fat and 200mg/kg Guemengja Extracts (200mg/kg Guemengja Extracts group, IV). The level of plasma total cholesterol and triglyceride showed a tendency to decrease, whereas the plasma HDL-cholesterol concentration revealed a tendency to increase in guemengja extracts groups. The level of liver total cholesterol showed no significantly different in all treatment groups, however the level of liver triglyceride showed a tendance to decrease in guemengja extracts groups. Thiobarbituric acid(TBARS) values in plasma and liver showed a tendence to decrease in guemengja extracts groups. The guemengja extracts samples have also decreased the plasma GOT and GPT activities, whereas they have increased the liver glutathione peroxidase, superoxide dismutase and catalase activity.

• PNF and Movement
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.47-53
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• 2015

Purpose: This study examined the effects of space fabric type air insole pressure differences on young adults' dynamic balance ability. Method: The subjects of this study were 17 young female adults without musculoskeletal system disease. Balance ability was measured by dividing the subjects into three groups: an experimental group which did not wear an air insole (insole-off group), an experimental group which wore an air insole to which air pressure of $0.55kg/cm^2$ was applied (insole-0.55 group), and an experimental group which wore an air insole to which air pressure of $0.75kg/cm^2$ was applied (insole-0.75 group). For dynamic balance, the subjects stood on a balance pad, and perimeter length and medium speed were measured three times. The averaged values were recorded and statistically processed. Result: There were significant differences in average speed, and the insole-0.75 group's average speed decreased compared to the insole-off group and the insole-0.55 group. Although the total movement distance did not statistically differ, the insole-75 group's movement distance decreased compared to the insole-off group and the insole-0.55 group. Conclusion: Application of a space fabric type air insole, in particular insole-0.75, was helpful in improving balance ability. This is considered to occur because the space fabric structure was conducive to decreasing sway and producing balance.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.84 no.4
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• pp.274-281
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• 2021

Background: The Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES) is a well-designed survey to collect national data, which many researchers have used for their studies. In KNHANES, although portable spirometry was used, its reliability has not been verified. Methods: We prospectively enrolled 58 participants from four Korean institutions. The participants were classified into normal pattern, obstructive pattern, and restrictive pattern groups according to their previous spirometry results. Lung function was estimated by conventional spirometry and portable spirometry, and the results were compared. Results: The intraclass correlation coefficients of forced vital capacity (FVC) (coefficient, 9.993; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.988-0.996), forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV₁) (coefficient, 0.997; 95% CI, 0.995-0.998), FEV₁/FVC ratio (coefficient, 0.995; 95% CI, 0.992-0.997), and forced expiratory flow at 25-75% (FEF25-75%; coefficient, 0.991; 95% CI, 0.984-0.994) were excellent (all p<0.001). In the subgroup analysis, the results of the three parameters were similar in all groups. In the overall and subgroup analyses, Pearson's correlation of all the parameters was also excellent in the total (coefficient, 0.986-0.994; p<0.001) and subgroup analyses (coefficient, 0.915-0.995; p<0.001). In the paired t-test, FVC, FEV₁/FVC, and FEF25-75% estimated by the two instruments were statistically different. However, FEV₁ was not significantly different. Conclusion: Lung function estimated by portable spirometry was well-correlated with that estimated by conventional spirometry. Although the values had minimal differences between them, we suggest that the spirometry results from the KNHANES are reliable.

• Journal of Advanced Navigation Technology
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• v.25 no.5
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• pp.370-376
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• 2021

development of the aerospace industry is increasing the research of projectiles. In addition, many tests are under way and many failures occur accordingly. Projectiles should be able to minimize failures because they are more dangerous than other electronic equipment. Therefore, it is necessary to verify wiring before powering the projectile. Accordingly, the wiring status was verified by resistance measurements. However, the wiring test of the previous resistance measurement method cannot be accurately measured due to devices such as capacitors and inductors in the projectile circuit. In this paper, impedance is measured in the connection state of cables and projectiles using a TDR meter. The Z-Segmentation algorithm is used to set the reference value for the measured steady state impedance. The Z-Segmentation algorithm first finds the peak values of the impedance waveform using a Kalman filter and obtains the final impedance peak segment through segmentation. In this way, the wiring status is determined based on the reference value for the normal state of the wiring.

• Journal of Radiation Protection and Research
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• v.46 no.3
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• pp.134-142
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• 2021

Background: From 2018 to 2020, the Expert Study on Public Understanding after the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant Accident (the Expert Study Group) identified and analyzed activities designed to promote public understanding of science and radiation since the Fukushima accident, and held discussions on how to achieve public understanding in the situation where public confidence has been lost, and how experts should prepare for dealing with the public. This panel session was held at the 53^rd meeting of the Japan Health Physics Society on June 30, 2020. Materials and Methods: First, three subgroup (SG) leaders reported their research methods and results. Then, two designated speakers, who participated as observers of the Expert Study Group, commented on the activities. Next, the five speakers held a panel discussion. Finally, the rapporteur summarized. Results and Discussion: SG leaders presented reports from researchers and practitioners in health physics and environmental risks who provided information after the Fukushima accident. During the discussion, experts in sociology and ethics discussed the issues, focusing on the overall goals of the three groups, local (personal) and mass communication, and ethical values. Many of the activities instituted by the experts after the accident were aimed at public understanding of science (that is, to provide knowledge to residents), but by taking into account interactions with residents and their ethical norms, the experts shifted to supporting the residents' decision-making through public engagement. The need to consider both content and channels is well known in the field of health communication, and overlaps with the above discussion. Conclusion: How to implement and promote the public engagement in society was discussed in both the floor and designated discussions. Cooperation between local communities and organizations that have already gained trust is also necessary in order to develop relationships with local residents in normal times, to establish an information transmission system, and to make it work effectively.

• KSII Transactions on Internet and Information Systems (TIIS)
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.767-785
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• 2021

With the rapid development of information technology, it is now possible to analyze the spatial patterns of cultivated land and its evolution by combining GIS, geostatistical analysis models and spatiotemporal big data for the dynamic monitoring and management of cultivated land resources. The spatial pattern of cultivated land and its evolutionary patterns in Luoyang City, China from 2009 to 2019 were analyzed using spatial autocorrelation and spatial autoregressive models on the basis of GIS technology. It was found that: (1) the area of cultivated land in Luoyang decreased then increased between 2009 and 2019, with an overall increase of 0.43% in 2019 compared to 2009, with cultivated land being dominant in the overall landscape of Luoyang; (2) cultivated land holdings in Luoyang are highly spatially autocorrelated, with the 'high-high'-type area being concentrated in the border area directly north and northeast of Luoyang, while the 'low-low'-type area is concentrated in the south and in the municipal area of Luoyang, and being heavily influenced by topography and urbanization. The expansion determined during the study period mainly took place in the Luoyang City, with most of it being transferred from the 'high-low'-type area; (3) elevation, slope and industrial output values from analysis of the bivariate spatial autocorrelation and spatial autoregressive models of the drivers all had significant effects on the amount of cultivated land holdings, with elevation having a positive effect, and slope and industrial output having a negative effect.

• Smart Media Journal
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• v.7 no.4
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• pp.44-51
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• 2018

The purpose of this research is to collect atmospheric environmental information at specific altitudes in a range of 0 to 1 km above the surface and to monitor it using drones. The corresponding temperature and humidity were measured with the meteorological factors, and the amounts of fine dust and $CO_2$ were observed by the environmental factors so that they could receive the normal values. Monitoring the status of atmospheric gas emission in specific enterprises, industrial complexes and regions through the measurement is meant to help establish policies to reduce pollution factors. In conventional means previously practiced, exhaust gas detection accompanies a great deal of risks in terms of safety because the surveyor is directly exposed to the source of contamination such as the holes installed in the chimney. However, in our proposed method, the drone can collect information in a wide range under safe circumstances, which can be utilized through wide industrial areas.

• Korean Journal of Ophthalmology
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• v.32 no.6
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• pp.445-450
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• 2018

Purpose: To compare the tear film lipid layer thickness (LLT) between patients with incomplete nasolacrimal duct obstruction (NLDO) and normal controls and to analyze the changes in tear film LLT and blinking pattern after silicone tube intubation in NLDO patients. Methods: We reviewed the medical records of 68 eyes in 52 incomplete NLDO patients who underwent silicone tube intubation from January 2017 to July 2017. The LLT, blinking pattern, and Meibomian gland image were measured with the LipiView II ocular surface interferometer. The Meibomian gland drop-out ratio was measured using the polygon selection tool in the Image J program. Tear meniscus height, which is the other lacrimal indicator, was assessed with spectral-domain optical coherence tomography. Results: Tear meniscus height was significantly decreased after silicone tube intubation (p < 0.01). Preoperative minimum, maximum, and average LLT values were $62.4{\pm}24.0$, $86.7{\pm}17.9$, and $71.7{\pm}23.3nm$, respectively. Significant changes in the minimum, maximum, and average LLT ($74.8{\pm}23.6$, $98.8{\pm}11.0$, and $91.6{\pm}16.1nm$, respectively) were observed after silicone tube intubation (p < 0.001, p = 0.001, and p < 0.001). The partial blinking/total blinking ratio in 20 seconds and the Meibomian gland drop-out ratio showed no significant change after silicone tube intubation. Conclusions: Overall, the LLT was increased after silicone tube intubation. Silicone tube intubation may be helpful in maintaining LLT with a normalized of amount of tears.