• Investigative Magnetic Resonance Imaging
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.125-134
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• 2022

Purpose: The aim of this study was to investigate the change in signal sensitivity over different acquisition start times and optimize the scanning window to provide the maximal signal sensitivity of [1-¹³C]pyruvate and its metabolic products, lactate and alanine, using spatially localized hyperpolarized 3D ¹³C magnetic resonance spectroscopic imaging (MRSI). Materials and Methods: We acquired 3D ¹³C MRSI data from the brain (n = 3), kidney (n = 3), and liver (n = 3) of rats using a 3T clinical scanner and a custom RF coil after the injection of hyperpolarized [1-¹³C]pyruvate. For each organ, we obtained three consecutive 3D ¹³C MRSI datasets with different acquisition start times per animal from a total of three animals. The mean signal-to-noise ratios (SNRs) of pyruvate, lactate, and alanine were calculated and compared between different acquisition start times. Based on the SNRs of lactate and alanine, we identified the optimal acquisition start timing for each organ. Results: For the brain, the acquisition start time of 18 s provided the highest mean SNR of lactate. At 18 s, however, the lactate signal predominantly originated from not the brain, but the blood vessels; therefore, the acquisition start time of 22 s was recommended for 3D ¹³C MRSI of the rat brain. For the kidney, all three metabolites demonstrated the highest mean SNR at the acquisition start time of 32 s. Similarly, the acquisition start time of 22 s provided the highest SNRs for all three metabolites in the liver. Conclusion: In this study, the acquisition start timing was optimized in an attempt to maximize metabolic signals in hyperpolarized 3D ¹³C MRSI examination with [1-¹³C] pyruvate as a substrate. We investigated the changes in metabolic signal sensitivity in the brain, kidney, and liver of rats to establish the optimal acquisition start time for each organ. We expect the results from this study to be of help in future studies.

• Journal of Drive and Control
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.1-8
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• 2021

An electro proportional pressure control valve is mainly used to control the clutch of an agricultural tractor's automatic transmission. During transmission, the operating, hydraulic oil is mix with many kinds of contaminants. The contaminants can be trapped between the valve body and spool of the proportional pressure control valve leading to abnormal operating conditions and finally critical damage to the transmission hydraulic system. The present study aimed to verify the valve control algorithm as a basic study of developing control logic that removes contaminants between the spool and the body of the proportional pressure control valve. To develop the algorithm, MATLAB/SIMULINK was used. PWM method was used to control the applied solenoid coil current. The effectiveness of the algorithm was verified by comparing the actual pressure of the normal valve with the actual pressure of the abnormal valve. Based on the present study findings, when the algorithm was applied, the response of the valve pressure according to the current became stable and oil contaminated particles were removed. In the future study, the control algorithm will be optimized for the stability of the proportional pressure reducing valve, and it will be verified in consideration with the driving of the clutch.

• Journal of Biomedical Engineering Research
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• v.43 no.4
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• pp.193-198
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• 2022

Contrast enhanced magnetic resonance imaging using gadolinium-based contrast agent (GBCA) is a very useful in vivo technique to visualize the inner ear pathology including endolymphatic hydrops. Although systemic intravenous (IV) administration can visualize the perilymph space, the visualization was possible by indirect passage of contrast agent through blood-perilymph barrier. All animal experimental procedures were performed under anesthesia with 5% isoflurane. Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) was instilled into the left tympanic cavity through the tympanic membrane using a sterile 27gauge needle to induce hydrops model. Tucker-Davis Technologies system was used to measure Auditory Brainstem Responses (ABRs). For intracerebroven-tricular (ICV) administration, 25 µmol of GADOVIST (Bayer, Berlin, Germany) was used and diluted GADOVIST injection was 10 µl. MR imaging was acquired with a 9.4 Tesla MRI scanner. Transmit-receive volume coil with 40 mm inner diameter and 75 mm out diameter was used. ICV administration well demonstrated the strong enhancement along the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) microcirculation pathway including CSF fluid in the subarachnoid space and CSF space of the inner ear structures. On the other hand, IV administration showed no contrast enhancement along the CSF microcirculation pathway and showed weak enhancement in the inner ear structures. In case of rat hydrops model, ICV administration showed that the reduced contrast enhancement in the perilymph space of the hydrops induced inner ear compared to the contrast enhancement in the perilymph space of the normal inner ear. New systemic ICV administration method provide contrast enhancement of GBCA in the inner ear through CSF microcirculation pathway.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.65 no.5
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• pp.710-718
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• 2022

Objective : Although endovascular treatment for intracranial aneurysms is considered effective and safe, its durability is still debated. Also, few studies have described angiographic follow-up plan after endovascular treatment of intracranial aneurysm, especially in ruptured cases. Hence, we report the long-term results of follow-up angiography protocol. Methods : Radiological records of 639 cases of coil embolization with ruptured aneurysms from March 2003 to December 2016 were retrospectively reviewed. Patients who received treatment of a saccular aneurysm less than 7 mm resulted with near complete occlusion were included. Two hundred thirty-eight aneuryms which received the follow-up angiography at least once were enrolled. We classified four periods of follow-up as follows : post-treatment 1 year (defined as the first period), from 1 to 2 years (the second period), 2 to 5 years (the third period), and over 5 years (long-term). Results : We identified 14 cases (6.4%) of recurrence from 218 aneurysms in follow-up angiography in the first period. Among 143 aneurysms in the second period, five cases (3.5%) of recurrence were identified. There were no findings suspicious of recanalization in 97 patients in the third period. Of the total 238 cases, there were 19 recurrences, for a recurrence rate of 8.0%. Six (31.6%) out of 19 recurrences showed a tendency toward repeat recurrences even after additional treatment. Twenty-eight received long-term follow-up over 5 years and there was no recurrence. Conclusion : Most of the recurrence were found during the first and the second year. We suggest that at least one digital subtraction angiography examination may be necessary around post-treatment 2 years, especially in ruptured cases. If the angiographic results are favorable at 2 years post-treatment, long-term result should be favorable.

• Proceedings of the SCSK Conference
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• 2003.09a
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• pp.501-519
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• 2003

Silk Sericin(SS) is a natural protein extracted from cocoon of bombix mori and shows moisturizing effect to the skin due to a number of hydroxyl groups in the structure. But its application to cosmetics is limited due to its poor solubility in water. In order to solve this drawback and expand its application to cosmetics, polyethyleneglycol(PEG) was conjugated with sericin by reacting activated polyethyleneglycol(ActPEG). Reaction site of sericin is tyrosine residue, which was determined by using $^1$H-NMR. Random coil structure of sericin was transformed to beta-sheet structure by conjugating polyethyleneglycol. It was confirmed that melting point of sericin-PEG conjugate was lowered compared to that of each sericin and PEG due to the interaction between sericin and PEG in crystalline structure. Self-assembled sericin-PEG nanoparticle was obtained by dialyzing with alcohol solution of sericin-PEG conjugate against water. The particle is spherical and has 200-400nm of size. The moisturizing ability of sericin-PEG nanoparticle was much higher than that of sericin itself. Incorporation of vitamin A into sericin-PEG nanoparticle was carried out by diafiltration method. The content of incorporated Vitamin A in sericin-PEG nanoparticle was 8.9 wt％. Releasing behaviour of vitamin A incorporated into nanoparticle was tested in phosphate buffer, pH 7.4 at 37$^{\circ}C$. and half-life of Vitamin A release was 43hrs. Sericin-PEG nanoparticle exhibited higher moisturing effect than sericin itself and distilled water, respectively. No toxicity and irritation were observed in animal tests. It can be expected that the self-assembled sericin-PEG nanoparticle can be developed for cosmetics.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Electrical and Electronic Material Engineers
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• v.36 no.1
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• pp.81-87
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• 2023

Heaters using the resistance heating principle are used in various industrial fields that require heat and are also essentially used in bidet among small home appliances. A planar heater and a coil-inserted heater mounted on a conventional commercially used bidet have disadvantages and limitations of complicated manufacturing process and local heating. In this study, silver-palladium (Ag-Pd) powder material was used for a screen-printing process that is more advantageous in achieving simplification than the existing process, and a rod-type heater for bidet was manufactured. The on-off cycle test under actual conditions was conducted to confirm the durability and the capability of the fabricated heater, and the fabricated heater operated more than 2,600 on-off cycles, which means it could be applied for a commercial product. In addition, through the on-off cycles under harsh conditions, the cause of failure was identified after the test that the durability limit temperature of the heater was 850℃. Through Ag-Pd rod heater in this study, it is expected to contribute to the efficient development of electrode materials for heaters and the improvement of the durability of heaters in the future.

• Journal of the Computational Structural Engineering Institute of Korea
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• v.36 no.4
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• pp.251-257
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• 2023

This study entailed an investigation of a tensile stress measurement method for prestressed concrete (PSC) tendons by utilizing external magnetization. The target of this study are PS structures that have been constructed and in use. An optimal external magnetization based elasto-magnetic (EM) sensor was designed using finite element analysis considering various factors, such as coil arrangement and size, that could influence the PS tendons inside the PSC girder. The residual tensile stress resulting from the external magnetization of the girder was then determined. Further, theoretical verification was performed using the numerical and material data used in the finite element analysis for sensor design. The calculated values of strength of magnetization at the target location were matched with the finite element analysis results. Thus, the designed sensor and the feasibility of magnetizing the tendons inside the PSC I-girder using an EM sensor were validated.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Safety
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• v.38 no.3
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• pp.35-42
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• 2023

This study analyzed the current and temperature characteristics of major components of an induction motor during normal and abnormal operations as functions of the difference in the rated capacities of medium and large-sized motors widely used in industrial settings. The temperature rise equation of the induction motor winding was derived through locked-rotor operation experiments and linear regression analysis. When the ambient temperature is 40 ℃, the time to reach 155 ℃, the temperature limit of the insulation class (F class) of the winding of the induction motor, was confirmed to be 48 seconds for the 2.2 kW induction motor and 39 seconds for the 3.7 kW induction motor. This means that when the rated capacity is large or the installation environment is high temperature, the time to reach the temperature limit of the insulation class during locked-rotor operation is short, and the risk of insulation deterioration and fire is high. In addition, even if the EOCR (Electronic Over Current Relay) is installed, if the setting time is excessively set, the EOCR does not operate even if the normal and locked-rotor operation of the induction motor is repeated, and the temperature limit of the insulation grade of the winding of the induction motor is exceeded. The results of this study can be used for preventive measures such as the promotion of electrical and mechanical measures for the failure of induction motors and fire prevention in industrial sites, or the installation of fire alarm systems.

• Transactions of the Korean hydrogen and new energy society
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• v.34 no.4
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• pp.350-357
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• 2023

In this study, the experimental investigation and theoretical analysis were conducted to verify the cooling capacity of the cryocooler used for pre-cooling of hydrogen gas. The effect of the flow rate on a copper pipe attached to the bottom of the cryocooler, which has a coil shape in a hydrogen line, was investigated. Temperature sensors were strategically placed at various positions on the cryocooler to analyze the temperature variations with respect to the flow rate. In this study, the thermal properties of hydrogen for the pressure and temperature were utilized using REFPROP to analyze the cooling capacity of the cryocooler. Based on the experimental results derived from this study, the cooling capacity of the cryocooler for pre-cooling hydrogen gas was considered by calculating the cooling temperature according to the flow rate through theoretical analysis.

• Progress in Superconductivity and Cryogenics
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.37-41
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• 2008

Superconducting Electrodynamic suspension(EDS) system is generated by the interaction between the magnetic field made by the induced the eddy current in the ground conductor and the moving magnetic field made by onboard superconducting magnet. The levitation force of EDS system, which is proportional to the strength of the moving magnetic field, becomes saturated according to the increase of the velocity. Especially, the levitation force is influenced by the structure of HTS magnet and ground magnet. This paper deals with the optimal design condition for the HTS levitation magnet. The 3-D numerical analysis with FEM was used to find the distribution of the magnetic field, the optimal coil structure, and the calculation of the levitation force.