• Smart Structures and Systems
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• v.12 no.3_4
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• pp.251-269
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• 2013

Measurement of deflections of certain bridges is usually hampered by corruption of the GPS signal by multipath associated with passing vehicles, resulting to unrealistically large apparent displacements. Field data from the Gorgopotamos train bridge in Greece and systematic experiments revealed that such bias is due to superimposition of two major effects, (i) changes in the geometry of satellites because of partial masking of certain satellites by the passing vehicles (this effect can be faced with solutions excluding satellites that get temporarily blocked by passing vehicles) and (ii) dynamic multipath caused from reflection of satellite signals on the passing trains, a high frequency multipath effect, different from the static multipath. Dynamic multipath seems to have rather irregular amplitude, depending on the geometry of measured satellites, but a typical pattern, mainly consisting of a baseline offset, wide base peaks correlating with the sequence of main reflective surfaces of the vehicles passing next to the antenna. In cases of limited corruption of GPS signal by dynamic multipath, corresponding to scale distortion of the short-period component of the GPS waveforms, we propose an algorithm which permits to reconstruct the waveform of bridge deflections using a weak fusion of GPS and RTS data, based on the complementary characteristics of the two instruments. By application of the proposed algorithm we managed to extract semi-static and dynamic displacements and oscillation frequencies of a historical railway bridge under train loading by using noisy GPS and RTS recordings. The combination of GPS and RTS is possible because these two sensors can be fully collocated and have complementary characteristics, with RTS and GPS focusing on the long- and short-period characteristics of the displacement, respectively.

• Smart Structures and Systems
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• v.21 no.6
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• pp.741-749
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• 2018

Structural health monitoring (SHM) systems are necessary to achieve smart predictive maintenance and repair planning as well as they lead to a safe operation of mechanical structures. In the context of vibration-based SHM the measured structural responses are employed to draw conclusions about the structural integrity. This usually leads to a mathematically illposed inverse problem which needs regularization. The restriction of the solution set of this inverse problem by using prior information about the damage properties is advisable to obtain meaningful solutions. Compared to the undamaged state typically only a few local stiffness changes occur while the other areas remain unchanged. This change can be described by a sparse damage parameter vector. Such a sparse vector can be identified by employing $L_1$-regularization techniques. This paper presents a novel framework for damage parameter identification by combining sparse solution techniques with an Extended Kalman Filter. In order to ensure sparsity of the damage parameter vector the measurement equation is expanded by an additional nonlinear $L_1$-minimizing observation. This fictive measurement equation accomplishes stability of the Extended Kalman Filter and leads to a sparse estimation. For verification, a proof-of-concept example on a quadratic aluminum plate is presented.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Near Infrared Spectroscopy Conference
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• 2001.06a
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• pp.2122-2122
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• 2001

The ultra-high pressure technology fur the preservation of foods is under intense research to evaluate its potential as an alternative or complementary process to traditional methods of food preservation. Traditional processing methods usually need a large amount of energy, may cause unwanted reactions in the food, leading to cooked flavor and loss of vitamins, etc. The application of ultra-high hydrostatic pressure for food processing consists of subjecting the food to pressures in the range of 100-1000 ㎫. The ultra-high pressure inactivates the microorganisms and some enzymes, promotes the germination of spores and extends the shelf-life of the foods. This new technology follows the “minimal processing” concept minimizing the quality degradation, saving the vitamins, essential nutrients and flavors as well as utilizing less energy. We joined the research team at our University involved in the mentioned technology using an ultra-high pressure equipment, recording of the near infrared spectra and signal response of a chemosensor array (electronic nose) of their meat (beef and pork), vegetable and fruit samples exposed to different pressure. The results of our investigations achieved by evaluating the measured data using PCA and PQS methods will be presented.

• Journal of Korean Society for Atmospheric Environment
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• v.32 no.4
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• pp.422-434
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• 2016

This study was conducted to understand roles of $NO_x(=NO+NO_2)$ on high $O_3$ episodes at an urban monitoring station in Seoul. Concentrations of NO, $NO_2$, $NO_y$ and $O_3$ were measured intensively at KIST monitoring station which located at urban center in Seoul metropolitan area during May 18~June 13, 2015. Sampling period was planed because high $O_3$ and PM occurred frequently during from late spring to early summer months in Seoul. The experimental site locates in NW from center of Seoul and is surrounded by residential area. Belt highway of the city runs from north to west side nearby experimental site. Vehicle exhaust emissions due to heavy traffic influenced $NO_x$ concentration at the site during northwesterly wind. Specific $NO_2$ concentration was measured by Blue Light photolytic converter, and it was compared to $NO_2$ concentration measured by molybedenum converter. $[NO_2]_{phtolysis}$ was usually lower than $[NO_2]_{molybedenum}$ during the experiment period; however their diurnal variations were very similar. The linear relationship between these $NO_2$ concentrations was found to be $[NO_2]_{phtolysis}$=0.64 $[NO_2]_{molybedenum}$ - 2.6, $r^2$=0.83 during May 16~8, 2015. The difference between $NO_2$ by molybdenum converter and by photolytic converter (${\Delta}NO_2=[NO_2]_{molybedenum}-[NO_2]_{phtolysis}$) accounted for residual $NO_y$ which can represent $NO_z$ (=$NO_y-NO_x$). $O_3$ concentration showed typical daily trend which has maximum at late afternoon and minimum during the night. $O_3$ increased at a rate of 7 ppb/hr since 8 am. and reached the maximum concentration (~80 ppb) at 3 pm.. The diurnal pattern of $O_3$ was inversely related with that of $NO_2$, suggesting that the formation of $O_3$ was the result of photochemical activity of $NO_2$.

• KSCE Journal of Civil and Environmental Engineering Research
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• v.34 no.3
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• pp.747-754
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• 2014

In spite of its usefulness for health monitoring of structures on steady external load, the statistical pattern recognition technology (SPRT), based on Mahalanobis distance theory (MDT), is not good enough for the health monitoring of structures on large variability external load like earthquake. Damage is usually determined by the difference between the average measured value of undamaged structure and the measure value of damaged one. So when external variability gets larger, the difference gets bigger along, which is thus easily mistaken for a damage. This paper aims to overcome the problem and develop an improved Mahalanobis distance theory (IMDT), that is, a SPRT with revised MDT in order to decrease external variability so that we will be able to continue to monitor the structure on uncertain external variability. This method is experimentally tested to see if it precisely evaluates the health of a cable-stayed bridge on each general random load and earthquake load. As a result, the IMDT is found to be valid in locating structural damage made by damaged cables by means of data from undamaged cables. So it is proved to be effectively applicable to the health monitoring of bridges on external load of variability.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Pharmacy
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• v.33 no.3
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• pp.195-201
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• 2023

Background: Hematocrit is usually measured from venous blood collected by invasive venipuncture. This study was performed to determine hematocrit accurately and precisely using minimally invasive volumetric absorptive microsampling (VAMS) technique. Such technique is to be applied to determining hematocrit in various clinical settings for the care, including therapeutic drug monitoring, of neonatal or epileptic patients, or patients with high risk of infection or bleeding. Methods: The study was performed using 31 VAMS samples obtained from 21 pancreatic cancer patients. Hematocrit was determined using the values of potassium concentrations obtained from blood in VAMS tips (Hct_VAMS). Hct_VAMS was compared with hematocrit measured from blood collected by venipuncture (Hct_VP). The accuracy and precision of Hct_VAMS in comparison to Hct_VP were evaluated using Bland-Altman plot, Deming regression and mountain plot. Results: Bland-Altman plot displayed a random scattering pattern of the differences between Hct_VAMS and Hct_VP with the mean bias of -0.010 and the 95% limit of agreement ranging from -0.063 to 0.044. Deming regression for Hct_VAMS and Hct_VP line demonstrated very small proportional and constant biases of 1.04 and -0.003, respectively. Mountain plot exhibited a narrow and symmetrical distribution of the differences with their median of -0.011 and central 95% range from -0.049 to 0.033. Conclusion: Hematocrit was accurately and precisely determined using less invasive VAMS technique. Such technique appears to be applicable to determining hematocrit in situations that venipuncture is not favorable or possible.

• KSCE Journal of Civil and Environmental Engineering Research
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• v.43 no.3
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• pp.297-308
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• 2023

Displacement of structures is the most important parameter for safety and performance assessment and is measured to use for diagnosis and maintenance of bridges. Usually LVDT, Laser and GNSS are used for displacement measurement but these measurement instruments have problems in terms of field condition and cost. Therefore, in this study, displacements were evaluated using rotational angle measured by inclinometers and the proposed algorithm was experimentally verified. As the result, vertical displacements of cable supported bridges with traffic and temperature load were properly evaluated through the proposed algorithm. Therefore it is considered that the proposed algorithm can be used for displacement measurement by vehicle load test and long term displacement monitoring.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.7-11
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• 2014

Malondialdehyde (MDA), used as an oxidative stress marker, is commonly assayed by measuring the thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) using HPLC, as an indicator of the MDA concentration. Since the HPLC method, though highly specific, is time-consuming and expensive, usually it is not suitable for the rapid test in large-scale environmental epidemiologic surveys. The purpose of this study is to develop a simple and rapid method for estimating TBARS levels by using a multiple regression equation that includes TBARS levels measured with a microplate reader as an independent variable. Twelve hour urine samples were obtained from 715 subjects. The concentration of TBARS was measured at three different wavelengths (fluorescence: ${\lambda}-_{ex}$ 530 nm and ${\lambda}-_{em}$ 550 nm; ${\lambda}-_{ex}$ 515 nm and ${\lambda}-_{em}$ 553 nm; and absorbance: 532 nm) using microplate reader as well as HPLC. 500 samples were used to develop a regression equation, and the remaining 215 samples were used to evaluate the validity of the regression analysis. The induced multiple regression equation is as follows: TBARS level (${\mu}M$) = -0.282 + 1.830 ${\times}$ (TBARS level measured with a microplate reader at the fluorescence wavelengths ${\lambda}-_{ex}$ 530 nm and ${\lambda}-_{em}$ 550 nm, ${\mu}M$) -0.685 ${\times}$ (TBARS level measured with a microplate reader at the fluorescence wavelengths ${\lambda}-_{ex}$ 515 nm and ${\lambda}-_{em}$ 553 nm, ${\mu}M$) + 0.035 ${\times}$ (TBARS level measured with a microplate reader at the absorbance wavelength 532 nm, ${\mu}M$). The estimated TBARS levels showed a better correlation with, and are closer to, the corresponding TBARS levels measured by HPLC compared to the values obtained by the microplate method. The TBARS estimation method reported here is simple and rapid, and that is generally in concordance with HPLC measurements. This method might be a useful tool for monitoring of urinary TBARS level in environmental epidemiologic surveys with large sample sizes.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Gas
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.38-43
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• 2015

For buried gas pipelines, cathodic protection system shall be installed to protect against corrosion. The surveys of pipe-to-soil potentials for the gas pipelines should be carried out at the test box more than once a year. In urban, the test box is usually located on the driveway, therefore, it is difficult to measure the potentials. That is, traffic control is needed when carrying out the measurements of the potentials on daytime, or measurements of pipe-to-soil potentials at the test box located on the driveway have to be carried out in the late night when the traffic is light. We have developed remote potential monitoring system using the solid reference electrode and the wireless communication technology for the purpose of removing above problems. We have installed the developed solid reference electrodes at a site and monitored the potentials by wireless communication. Measured potential values were transferred to the server in office and analyzed. We have found the pipe-to-soil potentials transferred to the web server make no difference to the potentials measured directly on the site.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.12 no.3
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• pp.240-253
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• 1997

The main problems contributing to food poisoning outbreaks in institutional settings and a home were reviewed and analyzed through the epidemiological investigations of food poisoning. The major documented factors included improper holding temperatures, inadequate cooking, poor personal hygiene, cross-contamination and contaminated equipment, food from unsafe sources, failure to follow food hygiene policies, and lack of education, training, monitoring and superivision. Usually more than one factor contributed to the development of an outbreak. (1) Use of improper holding temperatures was the single most important factor contributing to food poisoning. They included improper cooling, allowing a laps of time (12 hours or more) between preparing food and eating it, improper hot holding, and inadequate or improper thawing. Food thermometers were not used in most of the instances. (2) In inadequate cooking, the core temperature of food during and after cooking had not been measured, and routine monitoring was limited to recording the temperature of plated meals. Compared with conventional methods of cooking, microwave ovens did not protect against food poisoning as effectively. Centralized food preparation potentially increased the risk of food poisoning outbreaks. (3) Poor personal hygiene both at the individual level (improper handwashing and lack of proper hygienic practices) and at the institutional level (poor general sanitization) increased the risk of transmission. Person to person transmission of enteric pathogens through direct contact and via fomites has been noted in several instances. (4) Obtaining food from unsafe sources was a risk factor in outbreaks of food poisoning. Food risks were high when food was grown or harvested from contaminated areas. Possibilities included contamination in the field, in transport, at the retail site, or at the time it was prepared for serving. (5) Cross-contamination and inadequate cleaning/handling of equipment became potential vehicles of food poisoning. Failure to separate cooked food from raw food was also a risk factor. (6) Failure to follow food hygiene policies also provided opportunities for outbreaks of food poisoning. It included improper hygienic practices during food preparation, neglect of personnel policies (involvement of symptomatic workers in food preparation), poor results on routine inspections, and disregarding the results and recommendations of an inspection. (7) Lack of formal and in-service education, training, monitoring, and supervision of food handlers or supervisors were critical and perhaps neglected elements in occurrences of food poisoning.