• Smart Structures and Systems
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• v.21 no.5
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• pp.687-694
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• 2018

The problem of wheel tread defects has become a major challenge for the health management of high-speed rail as a wheel defect with small radius deviation may suffice to give rise to severe damage on both the train bogie components and the track structure when a train runs at high speeds. It is thus highly desirable to detect the defects soon after their occurrences and then conduct wheel turning for the defective wheelsets. Online wheel condition monitoring using wheel impact load detector (WILD) can be an effective solution, since it can assess the wheel condition and detect potential defects during train passage. This study aims to develop an FBG-based track-side wheel condition monitoring method for the detection of wheel tread defects. The track-side sensing system uses two FBG strain gauge arrays mounted on the rail foot, measuring the dynamic strains of the paired rails excited by passing wheelsets. Each FBG array has a length of about 3 m, slightly longer than the wheel circumference to ensure a full coverage for the detection of any potential defect on the tread. A defect detection algorithm is developed for using the online-monitored rail responses to identify the potential wheel tread defects. This algorithm consists of three steps: 1) strain data pre-processing by using a data smoothing technique to remove the trends; 2) diagnosis of novel responses by outlier analysis for the normalized data; and 3) local defect identification by a refined analysis on the novel responses extracted in Step 2. To verify the proposed method, a field test was conducted using a test train incorporating defective wheels. The train ran at different speeds on an instrumented track with the purpose of wheel condition monitoring. By using the proposed method to process the monitoring data, all the defects were identified and the results agreed well with those from the static inspection of the wheelsets in the depot. A comparison is also drawn for the detection accuracy under different running speeds of the test train, and the results show that the proposed method can achieve a satisfactory accuracy in wheel defect detection when the train runs at a speed higher than 30 kph. Some minor defects with a depth of 0.05 mm~0.06 mm are also successfully detected.

• Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.19 no.10
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• pp.40.1-40.14
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• 2016

Background: Due to the paucity of oceanic resources utilized in the preparation of diets for cultured fish, commercial feed producers have been trying to replace fishmeal (FM) using alternative protein sources such as vegetable protein meals (VMs). One of the main drawbacks of using VMs in fish feed is related to the presence of a variety of anti-nutritional factors, which could trigger an inflammation process in the distal intestine. This reduces the capacity of the enterocytes to absorb nutrients leading to reduced fish growth performances. Methods: We evaluated the mitigating effects of butyrate and taurine used as feed additives on the morphological abnormalities caused by a soybean meal (SBM)-based diet in the distal intestine of sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax). We used three experimental diets, containing the same low percentage of FM and high percentage of SBM; two diets were supplemented with either 0.2% sodium butyrate or taurine. Histological changes in the intestine of fish were determined by light and transmission electron microscopy. Infiltration of $CD45^+$ leucocytes in the lamina propria and in the submucosa was assessed by immunohistochemistry. We also quantified by One-Step Taqman$^{(R)}$ real-time RT-PCR the messenger RNA (mRNA) abundance of a panel of genes involved in the intestinal mucosa inflammatory response such as $TNF{\alpha}$ (tumor necrosis factor alpha) and interleukins: IL-8, IL-$1{\beta}$, IL-10, and IL-6. Results: Fish that received for 2 months the diet with 30% soy protein (16.7% SBM and 12.8% full-fat soy) developed an inflammation in the distal intestine, as confirmed by histological and immunohistochemistry data. The expression of target genes in the intestine was deeply influenced by the type of fish diet. Fish fed with taurine-supplemented diet displayed the lowest number of mRNA copies of IL-$1{\beta}$, IL-8, and IL-10 genes in comparison to fish fed with control or butyrate-supplemented diets. Dietary butyrate caused an upregulation of the $TNF{\alpha}$ gene transcription. Among the quantified interleukins, IL-6 was the only one to be not influenced by the diet. Conclusions: Histological and gene expression data suggest that butyrate and taurine could have a role in normalizing the intestinal abnormalities caused by the SBM, but the underling mechanisms of action seem different.

• Journal of Wetlands Research
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.1-15
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• 2017

Wetland function assessment is not only a basic step to understand wetland ecosystems in detail but also an important process as a base of the term, ecosystem service to recognize wetland ecosystems as valuable and useful resources and goods for human being. WET (wetland evaluation technique), EMAP (environmental monitoring assessment program)-wetlands, and HGM (hydrogeomorphic method) were developed as pioneer wetland function assessments in U.S. at the end of $20^{th}$-century. RAMs (rapid assessment methods) became a major function assessment tool which is relatively simpler and easier assessment tool at the beginning of $21^{th}$-century. After that, the hierarchy of three levels of assessment (landscape assessment, rapid assessment, and intensive assesment) has been prepared and strategically utilized according to the objectives and purposes of function assessments. In South Korea, RAM and HGM were used to assess wetland functions with reforming a couple of items and contents at 2001. And, modified and reformed function assessments have been developed to complement and improve upon the existing RAMs and HGMs. Via the trend analysis on wetland function assessments, some needs which require supplements in terms of function assessment are pointed out: 1) wetland function assessments using useful indicators such as birds are needed with considering our environmental characteristics. 2) optimized wetland function assessments for coastal wetlands are also needed. 3) the network construction and further expansion to lead communications and co-operations between researchers and policy makers is needed in the field of wetland function assessment.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.15 no.3
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• pp.1724-1733
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• 2014

This paper presents a pattern recognition analysis of two spirals problem and optimization of Cascade Correlation learning algorithm using in combination with a non-monotone function as CosExp(cosine-modulated symmetric exponential function) and a monotone function as sigmoid function. In addition, the algorithm's optimization is attempted. By using genetic algorithms the optimization of the algorithm will attempt. In the first experiment, by using CosExp activation function for candidate neurons of the learning algorithm is analyzed the recognized pattern in input space of the two spirals problem. In the second experiment, CosExp function for output neurons is used. In the third experiment, the sigmoid activation functions with various parameters for candidate neurons in 8 pools and CosExp function for output neurons are used. In the fourth experiment, the parameters are composed of 8 pools and displacement of the sigmoid function to determine the value of the three parameters is obtained using genetic algorithms. The parameter values applied to the sigmoid activation functions for candidate neurons are used. To evaluate the performance of these algorithms, each step of the training input pattern classification shows the shape of the two spirals. In the optimizing process, the number of hidden neurons was reduced from 28 to15, and finally the learning algorithm with 12 hidden neurons was optimized.

• International Journal of Highway Engineering
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• v.14 no.3
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• pp.151-162
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• 2012

It is not surprising to hear news about irresistible natural disasters all over the world due to climate change. Korean Government has focused on developing a variety of green technologies to reduce green house gasses, in particular, carbon dioxide. This study suggested 18 technology divisions for achieving green highway technology development in six different sub-sectors considering life-cycle of roadway and surveyed 29 highway and/or transportation professionals of three institutes using AHP(Analytical Hierarchy Process) analysis to construct "Green Highway"and realize carbon emission reductions and energy use efficiency in a road sector in Korea. Expert Choice Software was used to rank 18 technology divisions weighted by two-level choices. Transport Operating Infrastructure Improvement, Roadway Policy Implementation, Green Transportation(such as Pedestrian and Bicycle) were highly ranked by respondents according to results of the AHP modeling. Among the 18 divisions, technology policy for supporting R&D investments from development to commercialization was ranked as the most significant one to be focused. Green Transportation Facility Design/Construction/Operation and Eco-Friendly Roadway Plan were followed as expected since professionals have thought that the planning/design step of the life-cycle is a starting point to reduce carbon dioxide from roads more and more. Additionally, comparing the results with the Government investment trend 2006-2011 for the roads, it can be interpreted that the Government should invest to the R&D area more widely than before to promote element and core technology development for Green Highway Construction. Above all, small and mid-sized businesses have to be invested as well as encouraged to undertake green highwayrelated objects to accomplish the divisions which ranked high.

• Clean Technology
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.78-85
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• 1999

In the Kimchi manufacturing industry that has recently been on its greatest growth, the rinsing process for salt-pickled Chinese cabbage in a brining step generates a vast amount of rinsing wastewater containing salts, colloids, and organics released from the raw material. In this study, the experimental method was developed to optimize the rinsing water consumption and thus to minimize the rinsing wastewater generation. The continuous counter-current rinsing basin in the actual plant was simulated through the lab-scale three batch-wise rinsing tanks. Rinsing efficiencies for the brined cabbage from the same brining tank were almost in the same level, whereas those varied substantially from source to source in the raw Chinese cabbage provided. When rinsing water used were decreased from 3.3 L/head to 2.7 L/head, no significant change was observed with respect to COD, turbidity, conductivity, $Na^+$, and $Cl^-$ concentrations in the extracted solution of the rinsed cabbage. However, the quality of the extracted solution was badly deteriorated as the amount of rinsing water used dropped down to below 2.7 L/head. The reduction of rinsing water up to 18% was proved to be possible without any negative effect on the quality of the product, Kimchi.

• Journal of the Korea Society of Computer and Information
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• v.11 no.1 s.39
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• pp.71-85
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• 2006

The environment of computational grid is composed of the LAN/WAN each of which has different efficiency and heterogeneous network conditions, and where various programs are running. In this environment, the role of the resource selection broker is very important because the work of each node is performed by considering heterogeneous network environment and the computing power of each node according to the characteristics of a program. In this paper, a new resource selection broker is presented that decides the number of work processes to be allocated at each node by considering network state information and the performance of each node according to the characteristics of a program in the environment of computational grid. The proposed resource selection broker has three steps as follows. First, the performance ratio of each node is computed using latency-bandwidth-cpu mixture information reflecting the characteristics of a program, and the number of work processes that will be performed at each node are decided by this ratio. Second, RSL file is automatically made based on the number of work processes decided at the previous step. Finally, each node creates work processes by using that RSL file and performs the work which has been allocated to itself. As experimental results, the proposed method reflecting characteristics of a program, compared with the existing (uniformity) and latency-bandwidth method is improved $278%\sim316%,\;524%\sim595%,\;924%\sim954%$ in the point of work amount, work process number, and node number respectively.

• Journal of The Korean Association For Science Education
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• v.34 no.4
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• pp.375-383
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• 2014

The purpose of this study is to find out how middle school students evaluate scientific information in terms of hypothetico-deductive reasoning. A total of 66 middle school students completed a paper-and-pencil test on scientific information evaluation and 14 of them were individually interviewed for triangulation. The test includes six topics related to scientific or pseudoscientific information, and questions about each topic were sequenced based on a hypothetico-deductive reasoning. The hypothetico-deductive process consists of three steps: identifying predictions made by explanations in the information, identifying data actually obtained, and determining the fit between predictions and data to judge the validity of the explanations. Data analyses have focused on students' response types at each step, whether students used hypoethetico-deductive reasoning, and students' preference to evidence types in making decisions. The middle school students in this study answered the questions in various ways based on how they used the information given or personal knowledge and beliefs. A small portion of students evaluated information based on hypothetico-deductive reasoning. These students tended to give priority to scientific data in determining the validity of the information. On the other hand, students who did not use hypoethetico-deductive reasoning tended to prefer first-hand experience in the decision. The results provide implications for science lessons and the curriculum for scientific literacy. Further research should include student evaluation of the validity of data and other types of reasoning.

• KSCE Journal of Civil and Environmental Engineering Research
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• v.33 no.2
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• pp.719-727
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• 2013

Four-step travel-demand modeling based on a trip-level has been widely used over many decades. However, there has been a wide variance between forecasted- and real-travel demands, which leads less reliable on the model implications. A primary reason is that person's real travel behavior is not properly captured throughout the model developments. An activity-based modeling (ABM) approach was proposed and developed toward increasing the accuracy and reality of person's travel behavior in the U.S. since 1990', and stands as a good alternative to replace the existing trip-based approach. The paper contributes to the understanding of how the ABM approaches are dissimilar to the trip-based modeling approach in terms of estimation units, estimation process, their pros and cons and etc. We examined three activity-based travel demand model systems (DaySim, CT-Ramp, and CEMDAP) that are most commonly applied by many MPOs (Metropolitan Planning Organization). We found that the ABM approach can effectively explain multi-dimensional travel decision-makings and be expected to increase the predictive accuracy. Overall, the ABM approach can be a good substitute for the existing travel-demand methods having unreliable forecasts.

• Elastomers and Composites
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• v.42 no.1
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• pp.47-54
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• 2007

Reaction kinetics of polyurethane elastomers (PU) were studied using dynamic DSC and TGA for three PU samples of general purpose (Sample A), high temperature cross-likable CASE purpose with MOCA (Sample B), and RT cross-likable CASE purpose grade (Sample C). From DSC results, sample with MOCA(Sample B) showed lower shift of peak temperature, while showing broader thermograms than those of general purpose grade (Sample A). On the other hand, RT cross-linkable PU grade (Sample C) showed an interesting double mode reaction patterns, i.e., a lower temperature reaction at about $70\;^{\circ}C$, and a higher temperature reaction in the range of $140{\sim}170\;^{\circ}C$, indicating that it requires 2-step reaction process in order to complete the reaction. Once the cross-linking reaction completed, however, TGA results showed that all the samples would be considered to have similar chemical structures, showing similar decomposition processes. Sample C, especially, had showed decomposition properties of both Sample A and Sample B. Formation activation energies calculated from Kissinger method showed 10.39, 65.85, 36.52(Low $T_p$) and 18.21(High $T_p$) kcal/mol, while decomposition activation energies were 31.94, 30.84, 24.16 kcal/mol, respectively.