• Smart Structures and Systems
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• v.3 no.2
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• pp.189-200
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• 2007

As a functional material, shape memory alloy (SMA) has attracted much attention and research effort to explore its unique properties and its applications in the past few decades. Some of its properties, in particular the electrical resistance (ER) based self-sensing property of SMA, have not been fully studied. Electrical resistance of an SMA wire varies during its phase transformation. This variation is an inherent property of the SMA wire, although it is highly nonlinear with hysteresis. The relationship between the displacement and the electrical resistance of an SMA wire is deterministic and repeatable to some degree, therefore enabling the self-sensing ability of the SMA. The potential of this self-sensing ability has not received sufficient exploration so far, and even the previous studies in literature lack generality. This paper concerns the utilization of the self-sensing property of a spring-biased Nickel-Titanium (Nitinol) SMA actuator for two applications: ER feedback position control of an SMA actuator without a position sensor, and estimation of the opening of a SMA actuated valve. The use of the self-sensing property eliminates the need for a position sensor, therefore reducing the cost and size of an SMA actuator assembly. Two experimental apparatuses are fabricated to facilitate the two proposed applications, respectively. Based on open-loop testing results, the curve fitting technique is used to represent the nonlinear relationships between the displacement and the electrical resistance of the two SMA wire actuators. Using the mathematical models of the two SMA actuators, respectively, a proportional plus derivative controller is designed for control of the SMA wire actuator using only electrical resistance feedback. Consequently, the opening of the SMA actuated valve can be estimated without using an extra sensor.

• Journal of Sericultural and Entomological Science
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• v.47 no.2
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• pp.62-67
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• 2005

Much attention has been focused on the activity of the natural antioxidants present in fruits and vegetables, because potentially these components may reduce the level of oxidative stress. Especially, mulberry leaves containing many natural components are considerable resource far natural antioxidants. The antioxidant capacity of mulberry leaves was investigated with minilum L-100 device and ARAW-KIT (anti-radical ability of water-soluble substance), in comparison to the ascorbic acid. The appropriate conditions for pre-treatments of mulberry leaves were 80% MeOH, 30 sec. vortex mixing. The antioxidant capacity of 16 varieties was 3303.4 nmol (ascorbic acid equivalents) at opening stage of five leaves in spring. The highest stage of antioxidant capacity (3708.0 nmol) and yield rate was just before the coloration stare with anthocyanin in fruits, whereas the lowest stage was middle of June (2231.6 nmol) and about two months growing stage after summer pruning (2064.6 nmol). But after summer pruning, the antioxidant capacity of mulberry.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
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• v.31 no.6
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• pp.1012-1020
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• 2001

The purpose of this study was to describe physical health and depression status, as well as to assessing factors that influence the physical health status. Method: The data was collected from July to August 2000. Study participants were 252 community-dwelling elderly who were recruited from 10 senior centers located in Seoul, Korea. Their physical health status was measured using the Physical Health Status Measurement Scale developed by Choi and Jung (1991), and depression was measured using BDI-II developed by Beck et al. (1996). Results: 1) The physical health status score was 4.00 $\pm$0.68 (range :1- 5). The sub-dimension that showed the highest score was personal hygiene ability at 4.62$\pm$0.95, and the lowest score was sexual function at 2.20$\pm$1.38. 2. The depression score was 17.99+9.79 (range : 0-63). Regarding the sub-dimensions, the depression scores were higher in the domain of interest with sexuality, general weakness, difficulty in concentration, and fatigue. 3. Deeper levels of depression were correlated with a declining physical health status. 4. The most influential factor on physical health was depression, and the explaining variance was 31.68%. Conclusion: It is concluded that elder subjects in senior centers had fairly good physical health and self-care ability. Also, they did not have significantly high levels of depression. Therefor, health promotion of elderly, it is recommended that elder individuals should be regarded as a respectful and useful segment of our society. Along with this basic concept, there should be a social milieu that does not snow prejudice. Moreover, health care professionals should give more attention to helping the elderly achieve a minimal level of ALD, and, particularly, to raise sexuality and help energize the lives of elder individuals.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.531-535
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• 2015

Vasculogenic mimicry (VM) refers to the unique ability of highly aggressive tumor cells to mimic the pattern of embryonic vasculogenesis, which was associated with invasion and metastasis. The grape seed proanthocyanidins (GSPs) had attracted much attention as a potential bioactive anti-carcinogenic agent. However, GSPs regulation of VM and its possible mechanisms in a triple-negative breast cancer cells (TNBCs) remain not clear. Therefore, we examined the effect of GSPs on VM information in HCC1937 cell model. In this study, we identified the VM structure via the three-dimensional (3D) matrix in vitro. Cell viability was measured using the CCK8 assay. The effects of GSPs on human triple-negative breast cancer cells (TNBCs) HCC1937 in terms of related proteins of VM information were determined using western blot analysis. In vitro, the tubular networks were found in highly invasive HCC1937 cells but not in the non-invasive MCF-7 cells when plated on matrigel. The number of vascular channels was significantly reduced when cells were exposed in GSPs ($100{\mu}g$/ml) and GSPs ($200{\mu}g/mL$) groups (all p<0.001). Furthermore, we found that treatment with GSPs promoted transition of the mesenchymal state to the epithelial state in HCC1937 cells as well as reducing the expression of Twist1 protein, a master EMT regulator.GSPs has the ability to inhibit VM information by the suppression of Twist1 protein that could be related to the reversal of epithelial-to-mesenchymal (EMT) process. It is firstly concluded that GSPs may be an p otential anti-VM botanical agent for human TNBCs.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.255-259
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• 2013

Background: Cancer is the leading cause of death in Taiwan. Spouses are generally the main caregivers of affectyed patients but previous studies have seldom investigated the needs of male spouses of patients with metastatic cancer. Purpose: To explore the lived experiences of such male spouses. Methods: A qualitative design using in-depth interviewswasconducted with male spouses of patients with metastatic cancer being treated at the oncology outpatient department in a teaching hospital in northern Taiwan. Results: Nine participants aged 31-78 were interviewed. Content analysis of the interviews revealed five themes: suffering and struggling, difficulty in focusing on communication and interaction, shouldering responsibility, cherishing the love between husband and wife, and enabling each other to live better. This study demonstrated how male spousse experienced physical and psychological suffering when their wives suffered from metastatic cancer. They had to bear the pain of their wife's suffering, and also had to shoulder the responsibility for everything. All their efforts were put towards enabling each other to live a better life. They cherished the rest of the time they could spend with their wives, even though they had to live a hard life. As the male spouses of patients with metastatic cancer, the participants exhibited both the masculinity of men and the ability to express care and tenderness. Conclusions: The results showed that male spouses need more attention in terms of communication and bearing with suffering. Health care professionals should more actively understand the needs and provide assistance when facing the male spouse of patients with cancer, so as make sure that they possess the ability to take care of their wives. Health care professionals should also assist and properly act as a bridge of communication between husbands and wives.

• Communications of Mathematical Education
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.19-37
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• 2013

In order to improve the problem-solving abilities and enhance the academic achievement of under achieving students for university basic mathematics, P-university has opened the basic mathematics and practice education courses. These education courses are operated as prerequisite subject of Calculus and we are progressing the class focused on presentation with variety learning materials by organizing level-based classes In this paper, we analyzed the acquired grade and the result of teaching assessment of 1,106 students registered in the 30 classes that the teaching portfolio of the basic mathematics and practice education courses were submitted to support 'Accreditation for Engineering Education of Korea'. In addition, we tried to find attention points and improved solutions on operating the level-based class of the basic mathematics and practice education courses based on the 'Continuous Quality Improvement Report' of teaching portfolio submitted by each professor who is in charge of this class.

• The Journal of the Korea Contents Association
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• v.12 no.5
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• pp.280-292
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• 2012

Cognitive-pragmatic language ability decreases during the normal aging process. Evaluating the ability might be useful in testing predicting cognitive level and diseases such as dementia. The aim of this study is to analyze various assessment protocols for normal aging, and evaluate the content validity of the currently developing cognitive-pragmatic language test domains and items. Content Validity Index(CVI) was calculated based on ratings judged by 17 experts including speech-language pathologists and clinical psychologists. As a result, it was found that CVIs of all 7 domains including attention, memory, organization, reasoning, problem solving, executive function, pragmatic language were above .75. It was concluded that the test items contained the appropriate content validity to assess cognitive-pragmatic language for normal aging.

• Korean Journal of Biological Psychiatry
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.103-111
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• 2002

Neurocognitive research focusing on cognitive deficits in Depression has resulted in several important but yet potentially contradictory findings. Much literature documents the presence of significant neurocognitive impairments in depressive patients. Studies have shown that dysthymic disorder patients demonstrate a diffuse pattern of cognitive impairment which is frequently indistinguishable from that of focal braindamaged patients. Some reports have suggested that there is a focal pattern of deficit, such as anterior cingulate dysfunction, frontal lobe impairment, or dysfunction of the temporal-limbic cortex. The aim of this study is to evaluate the neurocognitive functions in dysthymic disorder patients, and to compare the functions with those of major depressive disorder patients. The subjects are 17 dysthymic disorder patients. And their neurocognitive functions are compared with those of 23 major depressive episode patients. Patients with a history of neurologic disease, alcohol dependence, substance abuse and mental retardation are excluded. They are assessed with a part of Vienna Test System which is computerized neurocognitive function tests and can evaluate attention, eductive ability, reproductive ability, visuoperceptual analysis, vigilance, visual immediate memory, the speed of information-processing, judgement, and fine motor coordinations. There are no other specific difference between two groups, except the result of cognitrone test. This study provides information about the neurocognitive functions and some difference between major depressive disorder patients and carefully diagnosed dysthymic disorder patients.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Costume
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• v.58 no.6
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• pp.110-123
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• 2008

The objectives of this study are to define the fundamental notions of collaboration in design field. The results of this study are summarized as follows: Firstly, collaboration means a cooperative work which are cooperatively done by collabarator and collaboratee on the equal status within a certain period of time, based on core ability of each of them. This cooperative work is presented with a visual image based on the identity of participants, and it creates an added value. Collaboration is different from convergence and hybrid in the methodological aspects and from brand alliance and strategic alliance in the aspects of the subject of project. Secondly, collaboration has been developing through step of using the specific ability, step of sharing each core abilities, and step of fusing their identities, in a view of the sphere of cooperative work and the intimate relations in reciprocity. Thirdly, according to strategic purpose, collaboration can be classified into value ascending collaboration, image changing collaboration, business-field extension collaboration, and event collaboration. Fourthly, production methods of collaboration consist of limited edition method, premium line method, common line method, producing a collaborative product, and so on. Fifthly, differentiation effect, image upgrade effect, production of higher value-added products, sale increase, diversification of business, sharing the targets, and promotion effect are achievable through collaboration. Sixthly, to make progress in collaboration successfully, the compatibility of combination between collaborator and collaboratee, the superiority of collaboratee, definitude of collaboration, the fit method of collaboration, the novelty of collatoration, possibility of issuing of collaboration, and perfection of collabo-product must be the points which deserve our attention.

• Journal of Practical Engineering Education
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.41-47
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• 2020

This study aims to investigate effects of brain-based learning. 27 primary studies were selected through rigorous search process and analyzed through meta-analytic methods. Research findings are as follows. First, the total effect size was .67. Second, the effect of dependent variables was academic achievement, cognitive domain, and affective domain in order. Third, with respect to types of cognitive domain, the effect was self-regulation, creativity, competence, communication, and research ability in order. Fourth, the effect of affective domains was sociality, learning interest, and subject attitude in order. Fifth, regarding development of cognitive ability, the effect size was combined, brain training, learning environments, and right brain activities in order. Sixth, the effect of learning activities was memory improvement and attention enhancement in order.