• Transactions of the Korean Society of Mechanical Engineers A
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• v.39 no.9
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• pp.859-869
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• 2015

In this study, we analyze the problem of wedge cracks, which are geometrically unsymmetrical in transversely piezoelectric materials. A single concentrated antiplane mechanical load and inplane electrical load are applied at the point of the wedge surface, while one concentrated antiplane load is applied at the crack surface. The crack surfaces are considered as permeable thin slits, where both the normal component of electric displacement and the electric potential are assumed to be continuous across these slits. Using Mellin transform method, the problem is formulated and the Wiener-Hopf equation is derived. By solving the equation, the solution is obtained in a closed form. The intensity factors of the stress and the electric displacement are obtained for any crack length as well as inclined and wedge angles. Based on the results, the intensity factors are independent of the applied electric loads. The electric displacement intensity factor is always dependent on that of stress intensity factor, while the electric field intensity factor is zero. In addition, the energy release rate is computed. These solutions can be used as fundamental solutions which can be superposed to arbitrary electromechanical loadings.

• Proceedings of the Acoustical Society of Korea Conference
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• spring
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• pp.269-273
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• 1999

Combination of mental stress task with noise background is a traditional tool employed in psychophysiology. However, intensity of background noise is a factor affecting both performance on test and psychophysiological responses associated with stress evoked by mental load in noisy environment. In the current study on 7 subjects we analyzed the influence of white noise (WN) intensity (55, 70, and 85 dB[A] ) on psychophysiological responses during word recognition test performed on noise background. There were recorded following physiological variables: electrodermal activity (EDA) , namely, skin conductance level (SCL), skin conductance response (SCR) amplitude (SCR-A), rise time and total number of SCRs (N-SCR); cardiovascular activity, e.g., heart rate (HR), respiratory sinus arrhythmia (RSA) index, pulse transit time (PTT), finger pulse volume (PV), skin temperature (SKT) and respiratory activity, such as respiration rate (RESP-R) and inspiration wane amplitude (RESP-A) during baseline resting state and 40 s long performance on 3 similar Korean word recognition tests with different WN intensity (55, 70, and 85 dB). Electrodermal responses (SCR-A, SCL, N-SCR) demonstrated gradual increment with increased intensity of noise, and this increase of response magnitude with higher intensity of noise was typical also for r skin temperature (phasic SKT decrease) and pulse volume (phasic and tonic PV decrease). However, some cardiovascular and respiratory responses did not exhibit same tendency of gradual increase of reactivity , namely HR, as well as RESP-R and RESP-A showed decrement of response magnitudes. Important finding in terms of cardiovascular reactivity was that 55 and 70dB evoked similar profiles, while 85dB WN resulted in significantly different profile of reactions, suggesting that there exists a threshold level after which intensive auditory stimulation elicits psychophyslological responses pattern of different quality. There are discussed potential autonomic mechanism involved in mediation of observed physiological responses.

• Progress in Medical Physics
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.272-276
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• 2016

To investigate the optimum x-ray tube design for the dental radiology, factors affecting x-ray beam characteristics such as tungsten target thickness and anode angle were evaluated. Another goal of the study was to addresses the anode heel effect and off-axis spectra for different target angles. MCNPX has been utilized to simulate the diagnostic x-ray tube with the aim of predicting optimum target angle and angular distribution of x-ray intensity around the x-ray target. For simulation of x-ray spectra, MCNPX was run in photon and electron using default values for PHYS:P and PHYS:E cards to enable full electron and photon transport. The x-ray tube consists of an evacuated 1 mm alumina envelope containing a tungsten anode embedded in a copper part. The envelope is encased in lead shield with an opening window. MCNPX simulations were run for x-ray tube potentials of 70 kV. A monoenergetic electron source at the distance of 2 cm from the anode surface was considered. The electron beam diameter was 0.3 mm striking on the focal spot. In this work, the optimum thickness of tungsten target was $3{\mu}m$ for the 70 kV electron potential. To determine the angle with the highest photon intensity per initial electron striking on the target, the x-ray intensity per initial electron was calculated for different tungsten target angles. The optimum anode angle based only on x-ray beam flatness was 35 degree. It should be mentioned that there is a considerable trade-off between anode angle which determines the focal spot size and geometric penumbra. The optimized thickness of a target material was calculated to maximize the x-ray intensity produced from a tungsten target materials for a 70 keV electron energy. Our results also showed that the anode angle has an influencing effect on heel effect and beam intensity across the beam.

• Korean Chemical Engineering Research
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• v.44 no.2
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• pp.207-215
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• 2006

The characteristic floc growth of Al-based coagulants was investigated in the aspect of mixing intensity and visualization of generated flocs during coagulation and flocculation processes. Zeta potential of turbid particles in the artificial water nearly approached to zero at pH 8-9, in which TDS and conductivity were minimized. The removal rate of turbidity and phosphate was maximized at the optimal mixing intensity of rapid and slow mixing stages. After the rapid mixing stage of coagulation process, small particles ($3-5{\mu}m$) were abruptly generated, and higher mixing intensity made more numbers of flocs. With the progress of slow mixing stage, the number of small particles were decreased with the simultaneous increase of intermediate particles ($7-21{\mu}m$). The number of large particles (>$23{\mu}m$) were maximized at the lowest rapid mixing intensity of $95.1sec^{-1}$, whereas small particles (<$5{\mu}m$) were maximized at the highest rapid mixing intensity of $760.7sec^{-1}$.

• Journal of the Korean Physical Society
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• v.73 no.10
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• pp.1577-1583
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• 2018

Tumor-treating fields therapy involves placing pads onto the patient's skin to create a low- intensity (1 - 3 V/cm), intermediate frequency (100 - 300 kHz), alternating electric field to treat cancerous tumors. This new treatment modality has been approved by the Food and Drug Administration in the USA to treat patients with both newly diagnosed and recurrent glioblastoma. To deliver the prescribed electric field intensity to the tumor while minimizing exposure of organs at risk, we developed an optimization method for the electric field distribution in the body and compared the electric field distribution in the body before and after application of this optimization algorithm. To determine the electric field distribution in the body before optimization, we applied the same electric potential to all pairs of electric pads located on opposite sides of models. We subsequently adjusted the intensity of the electric field to each pair of pads to optimize the electric field distribution in the body, resulting in the prescribed electric field intensity to the tumor while minimizing electric fields at organs at risk. A comparison of the electric field distribution within the body before and after optimization showed that application of the optimization algorithm delivered a therapeutically effective electric field to the tumor while minimizing the average and the maximum field strength applied to organs at risk. Use of this optimization algorithm when planning tumor-treating fields therapy should maintain or increase the intensity of the electric field applied to the tumor while minimizing the intensity of the electric field applied to organs at risk. This would enhance the effectiveness of tumor-treating fields therapy while reducing dangerous side effects.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.63-69
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• 2019

Background: Both the rapid concentric and eccentric contractions during exercise repeatedly impose excessive stress on muscle tissue. The hamstring muscles are very susceptible to injury due to the tensile stress. Various interventions are currently being undertaken to prevent strain injury before exercise. Stretching is the most common method and is known to have a positive effect on flexibility and muscle performance. However, relatively few studies have investigated the potential negative factors of stretching. Objects: The purpose of this study was to examine changes in pain following the different intensity of the stretching and types of physical stress. Methods: The subjects were divided into three groups based on the intensity of stretching: 100% (S100), 75% (S75), and 50% (S50) of the measured force at the point of discomfort in static stretching and 100% (P100), 75% (P75), and 50% (P50) of the maximum voluntary isometric contraction in Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation (PNF) stretching. The pain individual subjects perceived after stretching was measured via a Visual Analog Scale (VAS) and compared between the groups Results: Despite the decrease in the intensity of static stretching, no decrease in VAS value was observed. In PNF stretching, a significant decrease was observed at P50 compared to P100. S100 was significantly higher than P75 and P50. Conclusion: Previous studies have shown that PNF has a superior or the same effect on flexibility in comparison with static stretching. This effect was maintained even in moderate intensity. PNF stretching performed under moderate rather than high intensive static stretching, which causes pain and discomfort, might be recommended in clinical settings.

• Journal of Korean Society for Quality Management
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• v.49 no.1
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• pp.17-29
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• 2021

Purpose: During 2015-2019, the average amount of political donation to the national assembly members in Korea was 1,000 won per person. Despite its benefits such as receiving tax credits, the donation system has not been actively practiced. This paper aims to promote political donations by suggesting a recommendation system of national assembly members by analysing the bills they proposed. Methods: In this paper, we propose a recommendation system based on two aspects: how similar the newly proposed or ammended bills are to the sponsors' interest (similarity index) and how much effort national assembly members put into those bills (intensity index). More than 25,000 bills were used to measure the recommendation quality index consisted with both the similarity and the intensity indices. Word2vec was used to calculate the similarity index of the bills proposed by the national assembly member to the sponsor's interest. The intensity index is calculated by diving the number of newly proposed or entirely revised bills with the number of senators who took part in those bills. Subsequently, we multiply the similarity index by the intensity index to obtain the recommendation quality index that can assist sponsors to identify potential assembly members for their donation. Results: We apply the proposed recommendation system to personas for illustration. The recommendation system showed an average f1 score about 0.69. The analysis results provide insights in recommendation for donation. Conclusion: n this study, the recommendation system was proposed to promote a political donation for national assembly members by creating the recommendation quality index based on the similarity and the intensity indices. We expect that the system presented in this paper will lower user barriers to political information, thereby boosting political sponsorship and increasing political participation.

• Horticultural Science & Technology
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• v.32 no.5
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• pp.584-589
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• 2014

Jeffersonia dubia is a spring-flowering perennial found in rich forests in Korea and Northern China and has potential as an ornamental or medicinal plant. However, illegal picking and land use change have decreased the number of populations and overall population size of this plant in its natural habitat. Although J. dubia has been reported to be a shade-preferring plant, no study has determined the optimum light intensity for its growth. The objectives of this work were to observe the effects of various shading levels on the physiological responses of J. dubia and to determine the proper shading level for cultivation. Treatments consisted of four shading levels (0%, 50%, 75%, and 95% shade) imposed using black mesh cloth. The number of leaves and dry weight increased with decreased shading. The shoot-to-root ratio increased with increased shading, mainly due to decreased root dry weight under shading. Plants showed low net $CO_2$ assimilation rates and $F_v/F_m$ values combined with low dry matter levels when grown under 0% shade (full sunlight). These results indicate that J. dubia plants experience excessive irradiance without shading, resulting in damage to the photosynthetic apparatus. By contrast, the net photosynthesis rate increased as the shading level increased. $F_v/F_m$, the potential efficiency of PSII, was 0.8 under 95% shade, indicating that J. dubia is well-adapted under heavy shading. However, the low dry matter of plants in the 95% shade treatment indicated that the low light intensity under 95% shade led to a decline in plant growth. Thus, moderate light (50% shading) is recommended for cultivating J. dubia without physiological defects.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.36 no.4
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• pp.276-284
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• 2018

Purpose: Traditionally, three-dimensional conformal radiation therapy (3D-CRT) is used for neoadjuvant chemoradiation in locally advanced rectal cancer. Intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) was later developed for more conformal dose distribution, with the potential for reduced toxicity across many disease sites. We sought to use the National Cancer Database (NCDB) to examine trends and predictors for IMRT use in rectal cancer. Materials and Methods: We queried the NCDB from 2004 to 2015 for patients with rectal adenocarcinoma treated with neoadjuvant concurrent chemoradiation to standard doses followed by surgical resection. Odds ratios were used to determine predictors of IMRT use. Univariable and multivariable Cox regressions were used to determine potential predictors of overall survival (OS). Propensity matching was used to account for any indication bias. Results: Among 21,490 eligible patients, 3,131 were treated with IMRT. IMRT use increased from 1% in 2004 to 22% in 2014. Predictors for IMRT use included increased N stage, higher comorbidity score, more recent year, treatment at an academic facility, increased income, and higher educational level. On propensity-adjusted, multivariable analysis, male gender, increased distance to facility, higher comorbidity score, IMRT technique, government insurance, African-American race, and non-metro location were predictive of worse OS. Of note, the complete response rate at time of surgery was 28% with non-IMRT and 21% with IMRT. Conclusion: IMRT use has steadily increased in the treatment of rectal cancer, but still remains only a fraction of overall treatment technique, more often reserved for higher disease burden.

• Magazine of the Korean Society of Agricultural Engineers
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• v.43 no.1
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• pp.66-74
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• 2001

Pollutant loading potential was evaluated for manure application practices on farm fields, through survey and pot experiments. The survey indicated that most farmers applied the manure during the early spring. About 74% farmers apply the manure during the period from December to May. Considering the monthly rainfall amount in this period, the pollutant loading potential is not high. Leachate obtained from pot piled up with manure compost, using a rainfall simulator, showed that average concentrations of COD, SS, TKN, N $O_{3-}$N, TP were up to 2,000mg/L, 240mg/L, 107mg/L, 10mg/L, 50mg/L, respectively. These concentrations could be affected by rainfall intensity and the amount of piled manure compost. Therefore, implementation of management practices are recommended to control or minimize of leachate from manure compost piled on farm field.