• Advances in nano research
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.59-69
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• 2021

Electrospinning is a cost-effective and versatile method for producing submicron fibers. Although this method is relatively simple, at the theoretical level the interactions between process parameters and their influence on the fiber morphology are not yet fully understood. In this paper, the aim was finding optimal electrospinning parameters in order to obtain the smallest fiber diameter by using Taguchi's methodology. The nanofibers produced by electrospinning a solution of Thermoplastic Polyurethane (TPU) in Dimethylformamide (DMF). Polymer concentration and process parameters were considered as the effective factors. Taguchi's L9 orthogonal design (4 parameters, 3 levels) was applied to the experiential design. Optimal electrospinning conditions were determined using the signal-to-noise (S/N) ratio with Minitab 17 software. The morphology of the nanofibers was studied by a Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM). Thereafter, a tensile tester machine was used to assess mechanical properties of nanofibrous scaffolds. The analysis of DoE experiments showed that TPU concentration was the most significant parameter. An optimum combination to reach smallest diameters was yielded at 12 wt% polymer concentration, 16 kV of the supply voltage, 0.1 ml/h feed rate and 15 cm tip-to-distance. An empirical model was extracted and verified using confirmation test. The average diameter of nanofibers at the optimum conditions was in the range of 242.10 to 257.92 nm at a confidence level 95% which was in close agreement with the predicted value by the Taguchi technique. Also, the mechanical properties increased with decreasing fibers diameter. This study demonstrated Taguchi method was successfully applied to the optimization of electrospinning conditions for TPU nanofibers and the presented scaffold can mimic the structure of Extracellular Matrix (ECM).

• Geophysics and Geophysical Exploration
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• v.5 no.4
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• pp.223-235
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• 2002

Since weak Bones or geological lineaments are likely to be eroded, there may develop weak Bones beneath rivers, and a careful evaluation of ground condition is important to construct structures passing through a river. DC resistivity method, however, has seldomly applied to the investigation of water-covered area, possibly because of difficulties in data aquisition and interpretation. The data aquisition having high quality may be the most important factor, and is more difficult than that in land survey, due to the water layer overlying the underground structure to be imaged. Through the numerical modeling and the analysis of a case history, we studied the method of resistivity survey at the water-covered area, starting from the characteristics of measured data, via data acquisition method, to the interpretation method. We unfolded our discussion according to the installed locations of electrodes, ie., floating them on the water surface, and installing them at the water bottom, because the methods of data acquisition and interpretation vary depending on the electrode location. Through this study, we could confirm that the DC resistivity method can provide fairly reasonable subsurface images. It was also shown that installing electrodes at the water bottom can give the subsurface image with much higher resolution than floating them on the water surface. Since the data acquired at the water-covered area have much lower sensitivity to the underground structure than those at the land, and can be contaminated by the higher noise, such as streaming potential, it would be very important to select the acquisition method and electrode array being able to provide the higher signal-to-noise ratio (S/N ratio) data as well as the high resolving power. Some of the modified electrode arrays can provide the data having reasonably high S/N ratio and need not to install remote electrode(s), and thus, they may be suitable to the resistivity survey at the water-covered area.

• Investigative Magnetic Resonance Imaging
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.95-122
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• 2020

In this article, we evaluated the performance of radiofrequency (RF) coils in terms of the signal-to-noise ratio (S/N) and homogeneity of magnetic resonance images when used for ultrahigh-frequency (UHF) 7T magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). High-quality MRI can be obtained when these two basic requirements are met. However, because of the dielectric effect, 7T magnetic resonance imaging still produces essentially a non-uniform magnetic flux (|B₁|) density distribution. In general, heterogeneous and homogeneous RF coils may be designed using electromagnetic (EM) modeling. Heterogeneous coils, which are surface coils, are used in consideration of scalability in the |B₁| region with a high S/N as multichannel loop coils rather than selecting a single loop. Loop coils are considered state of the art for their simplicity yet effective |B₁|-field distribution and intensity. In addition, combining multiple loop coils allows phase arrays (PA). PA coils have gained great interest for use in receiving signals because of parallel imaging (PI) techniques, such as sensitivity encoding (SENSE) and generalized autocalibrating partial parallel acquisition (GRAPPA), which drastically reduce the acquisition time. With the introduction of a parallel transmit coil (pTx) system, a form of transceiver loop arrays has also been proposed. In this article, we discussed the applications and proposed designs of loop coils. RF homogeneous coils for volume imaging include Alderman-Grant resonators, birdcage coils, saddle coils, traveling wave coils, transmission line arrays, composite right-/left-handed arrays, and fusion coils. In this article, we also discussed the basic operation, design, and applications of these coils.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Nondestructive Testing
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• v.28 no.5
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• pp.436-442
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• 2008

Graphite material has been recognized as a very competitive candidate for reflector, moderator, and structural material for very high temperature reactor (VHTR). Since VHTR is operated up to $900-950^{\circ}C$, small amount of impurity may accelerate the oxidation and degradation of carbon graphite, which results in increased porosity and lowered fracture toughness. In this study, ultrasonic wave propagation properties were investigated for both as-received and degradated material, and the feasibility of ultrasonic testing (UT) was estimated based on the result of ultrasonic property measurements. The ultrasonic properties of carbon graphite were half, more than 5 times, and 1/3 for velocity, attenuation, and signal-to-noise (S/N) ratio respectively. Degradation reduces the ultrasonic velocity slightly by 100 m/s, however the attenuation is about 2 times of as-receive state. The results of probability of detection (POD) estimation based on S/N ratio for side-drilled-hole (SDHs) of which depths were less than 100 mm were merely affected by oxidation and degradation. This result suggests that UT would be reliable method for nondestructive testing of carbon graphite material of which thickness is not over 100 mm. In accordance with the result produced by commercial automated ultrasonic testing (AUT) system, human error of ultrasonic testing is barely expected for the material of which thickness is not over 80 mm.

• Journal of the Korean Vacuum Society
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.160-164
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• 2008

The Characterization of $MgB_2$ Thin Film by Slow Positron Annihilation Spectroscopy Enhance signal-to-noise ratio, slow positron coincidence Doppler Broadening method has been applied to study of characteristics of $MgB_2$ superconductor film, which were performed at 30 K and 50 K sample temperature near Tc of it. In this investigation the numerical analysis of the Doppler spectra was employed to the determination of the shape parameter, S, defined as the ratio between the amount of counts in a central portion of the spectrum and the total counts of whole spectrum. The S-parameter values were increased then decreased while the positron implantation energies were increasing, that indicated the diffusion into the samples. The S-parameters of the anisotropic 1 ${\mu}m$ $MgB_2$ thin film which were implanted by positrons at 10 keV are 0.567 at 30 K and 0.570 at 50 K. It is believed that the positrons annihilate with normal-electrons instead of super-electrons in the $MgB_2$ superconductor.

• Korean Journal of Biological Psychiatry
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• v.15 no.4
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• pp.288-296
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• 2008

Objectives : We investigated the association of Val108/158Met polymorphism on catechol-O-methyl transferase(COMT) gene with smooth pursuit eye movement(SPEM) abnormality in Korean schizophrenia patients. Methods : We measured SPEM in 217 Korean schizophrenia patients(male 116, female 101) and divided them into two groups, one was a good SPEM function group and the other was a poor SPEM function group. Then we analyzed Val108/158Met polymorphism on COMT gene. We compared the differences of genotype and allele distributions of the polymorphism on COMT gene between the two groups. Results : The natural logarithm value of signal/noise ratio(Ln S/N ratio) of the good SPEM function group was $4.39{\pm}0.33$(mean${\pm}$s.d.) and that of poor SPEM function group was $3.17{\pm}0.71$. There were no statistically significant differences of age and male/female ratio between the two groups. There were no significant differences of genotype or allele distributions of the Val108/158Met polymorphism on COMT gene between the two schizophrenic groups. Conclusions : The results suggest that Val108/158Met polymorphism on COMT gene is not related to SPEM function abnormality in schizophrenia.

• Korean Journal of Materials Research
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• v.9 no.12
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• pp.1245-1251
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• 1999

Phase-change optical disk very rapid recording, high densification of data, resulting in high feedback rate and good C/N(carrier to noise) ratio of a feedback signal. However, repetitive thermal energy may cause the deformation of a disk or the lowering of an eliminability and a cyclability of the recording. The lowering of the cyclability can be reduced by insertion of thin layer of ZnS-$SiO_2$ dielectric thin film in appropriate disk structure between the upper and lower part of the recording film. Using the Taguchi method, optimum conditions satisfying both the optimized quality characteristic values and the scattering values for film formation were found to be the target R.F. power of 200W, the substrate R.F. power of 20W, the Ar pressure of 6mTorr, and the electrode distance of 6cm. From the refractive index data, the existence of the strong interaction between the electrode distance and Ar pressure was confirmed, and so was the large effect of the electrode distance on transmittance. According to the analysis of TEM and XRD, the closer the electrode distance was, the finer was the grain size due to the high deposition rate. However, the closer electrode distance brought the negative effect on the morphology of the film and caused the reduction of transmittance. AFM and SEM analyses showed that the closer the electrode distance was, the worse was the morphology due to the high rate of the deposition. Under optimum condition, the deposited thin film showed a good morphology and dense microstructure with less defects.

• Journal of Astronomy and Space Sciences
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• v.40 no.3
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• pp.101-111
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• 2023

We conducted a statistical study of polar mesospheric summer echoes (PMSEs) in relation to magnetic local time (MLT), considering the geomagnetic conditions using the K-index (or K). Additionally, we performed a case study to examine the velocity profile, specifically for high velocities (≥ ~100 m/s) varying with high temporal resolution at high K-index values. This study utilized the PMSE data obtained from the mesosphere-stratosphere-troposphere radar located in Esrange, Sweden (63.7°N, 21°E). The change in K-index in terms of MLT was high (K ≥ 4) from 23 to 04 MLT, estimated for the time PMSE was present. During the near-midnight period (0-4 MLT), both PMSE occurrence and signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) displayed an asymmetric structure with upper curves for K ≥ 3 and lower curves for K < 3. Furthermore, the occurrence of high velocities peaked at 3-4 MLT for K ≥ 3. From case studies focusing on the 0-3 MLT period, we observed persistent eastward-biased high velocities (≥ 200 m/s) prevailing for ~18 min. These high velocities were accompanied with the systematic motion of profiles at 85-88 km, including large shear formation. Importantly, the rapid variations observed in velocity could not be attributed to neutral wind effects. The present findings suggest a strong substorm influence on PMSE, especially in the midnight and early dawn sectors. The large zonal drift observed in PMSE were potentially energized by local electromagnetic fields or the global convection field induced by the electron precipitation during substorms.

• The Bulletin of The Korean Astronomical Society
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• v.44 no.2
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• pp.68.1-68.1
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• 2019

Turbulence plays a crucial role in controlling star formation as it produces density fluctuation as well as non-thermal pressure against gravity. Therefore, turbulence controls the mode and tempo of star formation. However, despite a plenty of previous studies, the properties of turbulence remain poorly understood. As part of the Taeduk Radio Astronomy Observatory (TRAO) Key Science Program (KSP), "mapping Turbulent properties In star-forming MolEcular clouds down to the Sonic scale (TIMES; PI: Jeong-Eun Lee)", we mapped the Orion A and the Ophiuchus clouds, in three sets of lines (13CO 1-0/C18O 1-0, HCN 1-0/HCO+ 1-0, and CS 2-1/N2H+ 1-0) with a high-velocity resolution (~0.1 km/s) using the TRAO 14-m telescope. The mean Trms for the observed maps are less than 0.25 K, and all these maps show uniform Trms values throughout the observed area. These homogeneous and high signal-to-noise ratio data provide the best chance to probe the nature of turbulence in two different star-forming clouds, the Orion A and Ophiuchus clouds. We present comparisons between the line intensities of different molecular tracers as well as the results of a Principal Component Analysis (PCA).

• Geophysics and Geophysical Exploration
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• v.2 no.4
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• pp.180-183
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• 1999

A proto-type seismic measurement system with a reference was developed to improve S/N (signal-to-noise ratio) of seismic data, especially in noisy urban areas. Two pairs of correlation measurements (the one for microphone and geophone, and another for electromagnetic (EM) loop and geophone) were carried out near Kimpo Airport and at Kimje. The spectrum analyses were also performed to investigate the correlation of two pairs of time series; one for microphone and geophone, and another for EM loop and geophone. The sound waves measured with the microphone and the geophone are highly correlated. However, differences in the reponses are readily identifiable across 200 Hz; in the vicinity of 100 Hz, the spectral energy for geophone is 20 dB higher than that for microphone, and at near 500 Hz, the spectral energy for microphone is 30 dB higher than that for geophone. Overall, the spectral energy appears concentrated on the frequency window below 600 Hz for geophone. It contrasts with the observation of dominant frequency at the range of above 200 Hz for microphone. The wave forms of EM noise (due to an ACDC inverter) measured with EM loop and geophone are consistently and highly correlated each other. The power spectrum of the EM noise for EM loop shows that the spectral energies at odd harmonic frequencies of 60 Hz are higher than those at even harmonic frequencies of 60 Hz. It is compared to the power spectrum for geophone; the spectral energies at odd harmonics are nearly same as those at even harmonic frequencies.