• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.41 no.6
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• pp.759-767
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• 2014

Background Infection caused by nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) has been increasing. Awareness of this infection is crucial yet problematic. Delayed management may lead to destructive results. We empirically treated a series of patients with clinical suspicion of NTM infection prior to the identification of the pathogen. Methods A total of 12 patients who developed surgical site infections between January 2011 and February 2014 were reviewed. Patients with a skin and subcutaneous infection resistant to standard management over two weeks, and previous history of aesthetic procedures within three months were regarded as highly suspected of having an NTM infection. A variety of diagnostic modalities were examined simultaneously, along with starting empirical treatment including a combination of clarithromycin and moxifloxacin, and surgical debridement. Results All wounds healed completely within 4 weeks. The mean follow-up duration was 7.2 months, and none of the patients developed relapse. Specific NTM pathogens were identified in six patients. Eight patients showed caseating granuloma implying an NTM infection. One patient showed an uncommon Stenotrophomonas infection, which was successfully treated. Three patients had no evidence of a pathogen despite repeated microbial tests. Complications such as scarring, pigmentation, and disfigurement were common in all the patients. Conclusions NTM should be considered in the differential diagnosis of an unusual skin and soft-tissue infection. We propose an empirical regimen of clarithromycin and moxifloxacin as an efficient treatment option for an NTM infection.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Electrical and Electronic Material Engineers
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• v.28 no.12
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• pp.792-796
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• 2015

With high integration of electronic components, power inductors are also miniaturized. Recently, thick film processes for small size power inductors were developed and commercialized. However, the thick film process to prepare soft magnetic green sheets was not reported enough. In this study, we used Fe-Si magnetic and CIP (carbonyl iron powders) as starting materials to lead to a bimodal particle size distribution in the sheet. We proposed a newly developed 'Modified slurry preparation process' to get well dispersed condition even at high solid contents. Using the new process, it was possible to prepare a well dispersed slurry over 70 vol% of solid. BYK-103 was better than BYK-111 as dispersant in this slurry and the optimum amount was 0.6 wt%. The optimized slurry was formed into a sheet by tape casting process and then the sheet was laminated. We conformed that small size powder, large size powder, and epoxy resin were well dispersed in the green sheet.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.37 no.6
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• pp.769-774
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• 2010

Purpose: As the soft tissue defect around the knee is difficult to reconstruct, local flap or free flap is used. Distally based anterolateral thigh pedicled flap introduced by Zhang uses sufficient reverse flow supplied from the vascular network around the knee. We report successful reconstruction of defect around knee by this method. Methods: Four patients with skin & soft tissue defect around knee have been treated for reconstruction using the distally based anterolateral thigh pedicled flap. First, the doppler was used to check the perforator flap of the descending branch of the lateral circumflex femoral artery and to draw and dissect the perforator flap as much as needed. After the dissection, the proximal of the descending branch was clamped and checked for sufficient supply of blood flow from the reverse flow and then ligated. It was dissected along the descending branch and in order to prevent damage to the joined parts of the descending branch and the lateral superior geniculate artery, a more careful ligation was done starting from 10 cm superior to the knee. The defect was reconstructed after securing enough vascular pedicle to cover all the damaged parts. Results: Not all patients suffered from flap necrosis. In case of the patient with chronic osteomyelitis, slight venous congestion was observed right after the surgery but it disappeared the following day. All three patients had no occurences of additional complications. Conclusion: Distally based anterolateral thigh pedicled flap was enough to provide large flap for knee reconstruction. It had sufficient blood flow and vascular pedicle. It also had taken short operation time compared to the free flap operation. The distally based anterolateral thigh pedicled flap used by the authors is a very useful way of reconstructing the area around knee.

• The Journal of the Acoustical Society of Korea
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• v.21 no.1E
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• pp.12-17
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• 2002

Two improvements are discussed in measurement of the complex Young's modulus of the acoustic materials by using the transfer function method. It is found that the accelerometer misalignment might result in the severe measurement error, particularly in high frequency range. The supporting structure is modified to attach the upper and lower accelerometers along the vertical axis. Secondly, the method fur solving the equation associated with wave model is described. The solution of the lumped mass-spring model is chosen as the starting value for low frequency range, while in the mid and high frequency, the solution to the previous frequency step is used as the initial values. Measurements are done for hard and soft rubber specimens. It is shown that the erroneous peaks in the transfer function, due to the measurement error, cause highly incorrect Young's modulus and loss factors.

• The Transactions of the Korean Institute of Power Electronics
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.138-144
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• 2013

Most of the DC loads have had the sensitive characteristics electrically for input voltage. In this system, power converter is operated after connecting with DC loads to minimize the overshoot of the control voltage that may occur during connection of the loads. But whenever starting the power converter, parameters in circuit are different because power converter has been connected with diverse load types at each startup time. This is cause of a disadvantage to PI controller design of power converter. In this paper, the novel voltage control method using sliding mode control theory has proposed. This control method minimizes the overshoot of control voltage at startup of power converter. Despite the variations of the system parameters, the proposed voltage controller has fast response and robustness characteristics such as PI and sliding mode controllers. The proposed controller was applied to the three-phase AC/DC converter and each performance of controller was verified.

• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Information and Commucation Sciences Conference
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• 2001.05a
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• pp.423-426
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• 2001

In this paper, an electronic step-down transformer with output voltage stabilization characteristics is presented. The proposed electronic transformer has some advantages and features as follows: 1) It has 40 % weights lighter than that of commercial magnetic transformer, 2) It has output voltage stabilization characteristic with regulated output voltage over input variations, 3) It cab be operated as circuit breaker in the case of emergency, 4) It can be operated with so called soft starting function. Moreover, the electronic transformer may have stand-by power cutoff function and act as distortion compensator. This paper show the circuit diagram and present its features through various PSPICE simulations.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.23-29
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• 2011

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to determine whether there is a relationship between strength balance and joint position sense related to the ankle joint in healthy women. Methods: Twenty-six healthy women were recruited. Isokinetic strength and joint position sense (JPS) were measured using a Biodex System 4 pro Dynamometer and a Biodex Advantage Software Package. Prior to measuring the JPS and isokinetic strength, the dominant foot was determined according to the Waterloo Footedness Questionnaire. After the JPS test, isokinetic strength was evaluated in velocity $60^{\circ}s$, including practice trial ($90^{\circ}s$). Using the measured isokinetic strength, a Strength Balance Index (SBI) was calculated. Results: Relative to the SBI, the degree of imbalance was varied; but there were imbalances. For each starting position, JPS error showed no significant differences (p>0.05). The relationship between SBI and JPS was found during the inversion to eversion process, eversion to inversion, and dorsi flexion to plantar flexion. Conclusion: There are moderate to mild relationships between JPS and SBI during ankle movement. It is suggested that to prevent ankle injuries, strength balance should be considered along with the other potential factors including anatomical alignment, proprioception, and soft tissues problems.

• Journal of the Korea Institute of Information and Communication Engineering
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• v.5 no.2
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• pp.309-313
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• 2001

In this paper, a multifunctional three-phase electronic step-down transformer with output voltage stabilization characteristics is presented for custom power applications. The proposed electronic transformer has some advantages and features as follows: 1) It has 40 % weights lighter than that of commercial magnetic transformer, 2) It has output voltage stabilization characteristic with regulated output voltage over input variations, 3) It cab be operated as circuit breaker in the case of emergency, 4) It can be operated with so called soft starting function. Moreover, the electronic transformer may have stand-by power cutoff function and act as distortion compensator. This paper show the circuit diagram and present its features through various PSPICE simulations.

• Magazine of korean Tunnelling and Underground Space Association
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.101-112
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• 2019

This case study presented a simplified failure mechanism approach used as a preliminary deformation prediction for the Mexico City's metro system expansion. Because of the Mexico City's difficult subsoils, Line 12 project was considered one of the most challenging projects in Mexico. Mexico City's subsurface conditions can be described as a multilayered stratigraphy changing from soft high plastic clays to dense to very dense cemented sands. The Line 12 trajectory crossed all three main geotechnical Zones in Mexico City. Starting from to west of the City, Line 12 was projected to pass through very dense cemented sands corresponding to the Foothills zone changing to the Transition zone and finalizing in the Lake zone. Due to the change in the subsurface conditions, different constructions methods were implemented including the use of TBM (Tunnel Boring Machine), the NATM (New Austrian Tunneling Method), and cut-and-cover using braced Diaphragm walls for the underground section of the project. Preliminary crown and excavation front deformations were determined using a simplified failure mechanism prior to performing finite element modeling and analysis. Results showed corresponding deformations for the crown and the excavation front to be 3.5cm (1.4in) and 6cm (2.4in), respectively. Considering the complexity of Mexico City's difficult subsoil formation, construction method selection becomes a challenge to overcome. The use of a preliminary results in order to have a notion of possible deformations prior to advanced modeling and analysis could be beneficial and helpful to select possible construction procedures.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.43-51
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• 1999

Purpose : To discuss the technical aspect of interstitial brachytherapy including method of implant, insertion time of radioactive source, total radiation dose, and complication, we reviewed patients who had diagnoses of soft tissue sarcoma and were treated by conservative surgery, interstitial implant and external beam radiation therapy Materials and Methods : Between May 1995 and Dec. 1997, ten patients with primary or recurrent soft tissue sarcoma underwent surgical resection (wide margin excision) and received radiotherapy including interstitial brachytherapy. Catheters were placed with regular intervals of 1 ~l.5 cm immediately after tumor removal and covering the critical structures, such as neurovascular bundle or bone, with gelform, muscle, or tissue expander in the cases where the tumors were close to those structures. Brachytherapy consisted of high dose rate, iridium-192 implant which delivered 12~15 Gy to 1 cm distance from the center of source axis with 2~2.5 Gy/fraction, twice a day, starting on 6th day after the surgery, Within one month after the surgery, total dose of 50~55 Gy was delivered to the tumor bed with wide margin by the external beam radiotherapy. Results : All patients completed planned interstitial brachytherapy without acute side effects directly related with catheter implantation such as infection or bleeding. With median follow up duration of 25 months (range 12~41 months), no local recurrences were observed. And there was no severe form of chronic complication (RTOGIEORTC grade 3 or 4). Conclusion : The high dose rate interstitial brachytherapy is easy and safe way to minimize the radiation dose delivered to the adjacent normal tissue and to decrease radiation induced chronic morbidity such as fibrosis by reducing the total dose of external radiotherapy in the management of soft tissue sarcoma with conservative surgery.