• Journal of the Korean Society of Manufacturing Technology Engineers
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• v.25 no.6
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• pp.517-521
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• 2016

General industrial robots are difficult to use for precision assembly because they are operated based on position control. Their position accuracy is also usually higher than the assembly clearance (several tens of ${\mu}m$). In previous researches, force control was suggested as a robotic assembly solution. However, this method is difficult to apply in reality because of speed and cost problems. The RCC provides high speed, but applications are limited because the compliance is fixed, and it cannot detect an assembly condition during a task. A variable passive compliance device (VPCD) was developed herein. The VPCD can detect the assembly condition during tasks. This device can provide proper compliance for successful assembly tasks. The pneumatic system and the Stewart platform with an LVDT sensor were applied for measuring the displacement and variable compliance, respectively. The concept design and analysis were conducted to prove the effectiveness of the developed VPCD.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.12 no.7
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• pp.3302-3309
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• 2011

This study showed the reduced greenhouse gas(GHG) emission through GHG inventory establishment and process diagnosis for a response to climatic change. Also, it presented a direction for company's response to climatic change. Ulsan from its industrial complex has many energy-intensive companies such as petrochemistry, automobile and shipbuilding, and as we judged that the systematic reduction of GHG emission would make a considerable reduction of GHG emission in national dimension we executed this study from 10 companies. It showed the high rate of direction GHG emissions by its process that 5 of 10 companies calculated GHG emission and built its inventory. Also, in order to reduce energy and GHG, it produced about 227,554 million won of its economic effect and 50,740 ton/yr of its sparing effect.

• Journal of Power Electronics
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.881-893
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• 2019

This paper proposes a practical sliding-mode controller design for shaping the impedances of cascaded boost-converter power decoupling circuits for reducing the second order harmonic ripple in photovoltaic (PV) current. The cascaded double-boost converter, when used as power decoupling circuit, has some advantages in terms of a high step-up voltage-ratio, a small number of switches and a better efficiency when compared to conventional topologies. From these features, it can be seen that this topology is suitable for residential (PV) rooftop systems. However, a robust controller design capable of rejecting double frequency inverter ripple from passing to the (PV) source is a challenge. The design constraints are related to the principle of the impedance-shaping technique to maximize the output impedance of the input-side boost converter, to block the double frequency PV current ripple component, and to prevent it from passing to the source without degrading the system dynamic responses. The design has a small recovery time in the presence of transients with a low overshoot or undershoot. Moreover, the proposed controller ensures that the ripple component swings freely within a voltage-gap between the (PV) and the DC-link voltages by the small capacitance of the auxiliary DC-link for electrolytic-capacitor elimination. The second boost controls the main DC-link voltage tightly within a satisfactory ripple range. The inverter controller performs maximum power point tracking (MPPT) for the input voltage source using ripple correlation control (RCC). The robustness of the proposed control was verified by varying system parameters under different load conditions. Finally, the proposed controller was verified by simulation and experimental results.

• Earthquakes and Structures
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.131-147
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• 2024

Damage caused by an earthquake depends on not just the intensity of an earthquake but also the region-specific construction practices. Past earthquakes in Asian countries have highlighted inadequate construction practices, which caused huge life and property losses, indicating the severe need to strengthen existing structures. Strengthening activities shall be proposed as per the proposed weighting factors, first at the higher weighted members to increase the capacity of the building immediately and thereafter, the other members. Through this study on gravity load-designed (GLD) buildings, relative weights are assigned to each storey and exterior and interior columns within a storey based on their contribution to the energy dissipation capacity of the building. The numerical study is conducted on mid-rise archetype GLD buildings, i.e., 4, 6, 8, and 10 stories with variable storey heights, in the high seismic zones. Non-linear static analysis is performed to compute weights based on energy dissipation capacities. The results obtained are verified with the non-linear time history analysis of 4 GLD buildings. It was observed that exterior columns have higher weightage in the energy dissipation capacity of the building than interior columns up to a certain building height. The damage in stories is distributed in a convex to concave parabolic shape from bottom to top as building height increases, and the maxima location of the parabola shifts from bottom to middle stories. Relative weighting factors are assigned as per the damage contribution. And the sequence for strengthening activities is proposed as per the computed weighting factors in descending order for regular RCC buildings. Therefore, proposals made in the study would increase the efficacy of strengthening activities.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.107-112
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• 2000

One of the physiologically important ginseng diseases is red-colored phenomena (RCP) that is caused by accumulation of red-colored substances on the epidermis of ginseng roots. Although RCP severely deteriorates the quality of ginseng products, there has been little information on what red-colored substance is and how RCP occurs. Therefore, the heavy losses of cultivators and ginseng industry are suffering by RCP, For this reason, we have investigated with the morphochernical characteristics of RCP to find out main cause of it. The red-colored substances (RS) on the epidermis of red-colored ginseng (RCG) were examined using inverted light microscope, confocal laser scanning microscope (CLSM)and furier transform infrared (FT/IR) spectrometer. Red brown substances were accumulated in the cell wall of the epidermis from early stage to late stage of RCC. Especially, cell wall of the late stage of RCG was covered with the sub-stances with 80~ 130 fm thick. Therefore, the cell wall of RCG cannot protect the ginseng root cells from the mechanical damages, bacteria and fungi. To analyse red substances of roots, RS were isolated from epidermis of RCG and extracted using various solvents. RS is strongly insoluble but it was bleached by oxidizing agents including 12% (v/v) NaOCl. Therefore, RS was Presumed to make up of high chelation power. The proriles of FT/IR spectra or both healthy ginseng (HEG) and RCG showed a significant difference at two wavelength,2857 cm$\^$-1/(C-H) and 1032 cm$\^$-1/(S=O), respectively. Furthermore, absorption peak of 2857cm$\^$-l/ appears on the only epidermis of RCG. The other peak is shown lower absorption rate on the epidermis of RCG than that of healthy ginseng. Also, FT/IR spectra of the mixture of carboxym-ethylcellulose (CMC) and iron (Fe$\^$3+/) were very similar to RCG spectrum profiles. One of a interesting fact is that the contents of phenolic compounds at the epidermis of healthy ginseng were highest. The results of these experiments sup-port the RCP was closely related with the chemical interaction between inorganic elements (Fe) of rhizosphere and organic matters (cellulose, cellobiose, cell sap, etc.) of ginseng roots.

• Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.37 no.1
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• pp.43-48
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• 1994

A basic inducible protein, ICG, containing chitinase and ${\beta}-1,3-glucanase$ activity concomittantly was purified from cell suspension culture media of rice after the treatment of chitooligosaccharides. The isolated ICG enzyme gave a single band on native and SDS polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and its molecular weight was estimated to be 52.53 kd. The optimal temperature and optimal pH of both enzyme activities in ICG were $60^{\circ}C$, pH 6.0 for chitinase activity and $37^{\circ}C$, pH 4.0 for ${\beta}-1,3-glucanase$ activity. $K_M$ and $V_{max}$ values for chitinase were 0.474 mM. 2.997 nM/min., and those for ${\beta}-1,3-glucanase$ were 1.004 mM 0.739 nM/min. respectively. TLC analysis of the chitooligosaccharide hydrolysates with ICG enzyme indicated that ICG acts as endochitinase.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.8
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• pp.3369-3375
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• 2014

Background: C-reactive protein (CRP), considered as a prototypical inflammatory cytokine, has been proposed to be involved in tumor progression through inflammation. Recent studies have indicated CRP as a progostic predictor for urological cancers, but the results remain controversial. Materials and Methods: A systematic search of Medline, Scopus and the Cochrane Library was performed to identify eligible studies published between Jan 1, 2001 and Sep 1, 2013. Outcomes of interest were collected from studies comparing overall survival (OS), cancer-specific survival (CSS) and relapse-free survival (RFS) in patients with elevated CRP levels and those having lower levels. Studies were pooled, and combined hazard ratio (HR) of CRP with its 95% confidence interval (CI) for survival were used for the effect size estimate. Results: A total of 43 studies (7,490 patients) were included in this meta-analysis (25 for RCC, 10 for UC, and 8 for PC). Our pooled results showed that elevated serum CRP level was associated with poor OS (HR: 1.26, 95%CI: 1.22-1.30) and RFS (HR: 1.38 95%CI: 1.29-1.47), respectively. For CSS the pooled HR (HR: 1.33, 95%CI: 1.28-1.39) for higher CRP expression could strongly predict poorer survival in urological cancers. Simultaneously, elevated serum CRP was also significantly associated with poor prognosis in the subgroup analysis. Conclusions: Our pooled results demonstrate that a high serum level of CRP as an inflammation biomarker denotes a poor prognosis of patients with urological cancers. Further large prospective studies should be performed to confirm whether CRP, as a biomarker of inflammation, has a prognostic role in urological cancer progression.

• International Journal of Highway Engineering
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.49-58
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• 2015

PURPOSES : The use of environmentally friendly construction methods has been recently encouraged to reduce fuel consumption and the effects of global warming. For this purpose, the roller compacted concrete pavement (RCCP) construction method has been developed. RCCP is more environmentally friendly and economically efficient than general concrete by reducing the amount of CO2 generated through the application of a smaller amount of cement. RCCP has a number of advantages such as an easy construction method, low cost, high structural hydration performance, and aggregate interlocking. However, mix design standards and construction guidelines of RCCP are required for domestic application. In addition, a study on aggregate selection, which has an effect on the characteristics of RCCP, is necessary owing to a limited number of researches. Thus, the aggregate effect on the performance of RCCP in securing the required strength and workability was evaluated in consideration of domestic construction. METHODS : Sand and coarse aggregates of both 19mm and 13mm in maximum size were used in this study. Four types of aggregate gradations (s/a = 30%, 58%, and 70% for the sand and coarse aggregate of 19mm in maximum size, and s/a = 50% for a combination of the three types of aggregates) were set up to investigate the effects of the PCA band on the RCC characteristics. The conditions of s/a = 30% and 70% were evaluated to check the gradation effect outside of the recommended band. The conditions of s/a = 58% and 50% were used because they are the optimum combination of the two and three types of aggregates, respectively. RCCP gradation band was suggested gradation with a proper construction method of RCCP by synthetically comparing and analyzing the correlation of optimum water content, maximum dry density, and strength of requirements through its consistency and compaction test. RESULTS : The lower and upper limit lines are insufficient to secure a relatively strong development and workability compared to an aggregate gradation in the RCCP gradation band region. On the other hand, the line in the RCCP gradation band and the 0.45 power curve in the RCCP gradation band region were satisfactory, ensuring the required strength and workability. CONCLUSIONS : The suitable aggregate gradation on RCCP process should meet the RCCP gradation band area; however, fine particles passing through a #60 sieve do not need to be within the recommended gradation band because the influence of this region on such fine particles is small.

• Investigative Magnetic Resonance Imaging
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.102-109
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• 2018

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to compare the performance of the T1 3D subtraction technique and the conventional 2D dynamic contrast enhancement (DCE) technique in diagnosing Cushing's disease. Materials and Methods: Twelve patients with clinically and biochemically proven Cushing's disease were included in the study. In addition, 23 patients with a Rathke's cleft cyst (RCC) diagnosed on an MRI with normal pituitary hormone levels were included as a control, to prevent non-blinded positive results. Postcontrast T1 3D fast spin echo (FSE) images were acquired after DCE images in 3T MRI and image subtraction of pre- and postcontrast T1 3D FSE images were performed. Inter-observer agreement, interpretation time, multiobserver receiver operating characteristic (ROC), and net benefit analyses were performed to compare 2D DCE and T1 3D subtraction techniques. Results: Inter-observer agreement for a visual scale of contrast enhancement was poor in DCE (${\kappa}=0.57$) and good in T1 3D subtraction images (${\kappa}=0.75$). The time taken for determining contrast-enhancement in pituitary lesions was significantly shorter in the T1 3D subtraction images compared to the DCE sequence (P < 0.05). ROC values demonstrated increased reader confidence range with T1 3D subtraction images (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.94-1.00) compared with DCE (95% CI: 0.70-0.92) (P < 0.01). The net benefit effect of T1 3D subtraction images over DCE was 0.34 (95% CI: 0.12-0.56). For Cushing's disease, both reviewers misclassified one case as a nonenhancing lesion on the DCE images, while no cases were misclassified on T1 3D subtraction images. Conclusion: The T1 3D subtraction technique shows superior performance for determining the presence of enhancement on pituitary lesions compared with conventional DCE techniques, which may aid in diagnosing Cushing's disease.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.43 no.6
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• pp.602-613
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• 2010

Background: As life expectancy has been increased, the cardiac valve disease has been increased. In past, mechanical valve for valve replacement surgery was used widely, but it has many weaknesses, such as hemorrhage, teratogenic effect caused by warfarin, acute mechanical failure, taking warfarin during life, etc. So, the tissue valve is used widely and researches for durability of tissue valve are in progress. Tissue valves being used are all imported in Korea, and there is a lack of information on its geometry and design. So, we studied the geometry of porcine aortic and pulmonary valve, and tried to suggest theoretical basis for making the aortic and pulmonary valve. Material and Method: We harvested aortic and pulmonary valves of 25 pigs and measured the geometry of valve at fresh and glutaraldehyde (GA) fixed state. In each group, we measured the diameter of the base, diameter of commissure, valve height, commissural height, etc. Also, for making implantable porcine and bovine pericardial valve, we designed the valve stent form, thickness, height, and leaflet size, form, thickness by different size of valve. Result: The aortic and pulmonary valve geometry and ratio were measured in each group. The right coronary cusp of aortic valve and right facing cusp of pulmonary valve was bigger than other cusps and non coronary cusp was smaller than others (RCC: NCC : LCC=1 : 0.88 : 1). Valve height was correlated to the leaflet size. We designed the outer diameter of stented porcine aortic valve from 19 mm to 33 mm and designed stent height and width, using previous measured ratio of each structure, stent thickness, working thickness (for making valve). Also, we designed the size of stent and form for stented bovine pericardial valve, considering diameter of valve, leaflet length, height and leaflet minimum coaptation area. Conclusion: By measuring of 25 pig's aortic and pulmonary valve geometry and ratio, we can make theoretical basis for making implantable stented porcine valve and bovine pericardial valve in various size. After making implantable valve using these data, it is necessary to do in vivo and in vitro researches, furthermore.