• Earthquakes and Structures
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• v.5 no.2
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• pp.161-205
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• 2013

We study seismically induced, anti-plane strain wave motion in a non-homogeneous geological region containing tunnels. Two different scenarios are considered: (a) The first models two tunnels in a finite geological region embedded within a laterally inhomogeneous, layered geological profile containing a seismic source. For this case, labelled as the first boundary-value problem (BVP 1), an efficient hybrid technique comprising the finite difference method (FDM) and the boundary element method (BEM) is developed and applied. Since the later method is based on the frequency-dependent fundamental solution of elastodynamics, the hybrid technique is defined in the frequency domain. Then, an inverse fast Fourier transformation (FFT) is used to recover time histories; (b) The second models a finite region with two tunnels, is embedded in a homogeneous half-plane, and is subjected to incident, time-harmonic SH-waves. This case, labelled as the second boundary-value problem (BVP 2), considers complex soil properties such as anisotropy, continuous inhomogeneity and poroelasticity. The computational approach is now the BEM alone, since solution of the surrounding half plane by the FDM is unnecessary. In sum, the hybrid FDM-BEM technique is able to quantify dependence of the signals that develop at the free surface to the following key parameters: seismic source properties and heterogeneous structure of the wave path (the FDM component) and near-surface geological deposits containing discontinuities in the form of tunnels (the BEM component). Finally, the hybrid technique is used for evaluating the seismic wave field that develops within a key geological cross-section of the Metro construction project in Thessaloniki, Greece, which includes the important Roman-era historical monument of Rotunda dating from the 3rd century A.D.

• Journal of IKEEE
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.34-44
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• 2012

This paper proposes a practical compensation method by using digital signal processing over the creep error which is representative in strain gauge loadcell. The signal compensation method carry out the simulation by deciding compensation constant (time constant) and coefficient measuring the loadcell output response. Then, compensation constant and coefficient are stored on the microprocessor. By using calculated on microprocessor creep error compensation values, weighting value is showed as a digital signal by reducing error values measured through output signals of loadcell. In addition, we apply error compensation method in order to have a dedicated software for loadcell electronic scale. This technique is useful because it has great influence on error rate reduction that has been produced by conventional electronic scales (0.03%). As a result our technique gives better accuracy (0.01%~0.003%) as what is given by digital electronic scale, while it has less complex operation processing.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.115-121
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• 2018

Upon sensing of microbial infections or endogenous danger signals in macrophages, inflammasome signaling plays a significant role in triggering inflammatory responses via producing interleukin (IL)-$1{\beta}$. Recent studies revealed that active caspase-1, a product of the inflammasome complex, causes maturation of inactive pro-IL-$1{\beta}$ into the active form. However, the underlying mechanism by which this leaderless cytokine is secreted into the extracellular space remains to be elucidated. In this study, we demonstrated that prolonged lipopolysaccharide (LPS) treatment to macrophages could trigger the unexpected maturation and extracellular release of IL-$1{\beta}$ through a nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain-like receptor family, pyrin domain-containing 3 (NLRP3)-independent manner. Short-term treatment (less than 6 h) of LPS induced robust production of the IL-$1{\beta}$ precursor form inside cells but did not promote the maturation and secretion of IL-$1{\beta}$ in bone marrow-derived macrophages or peritoneal macrophages. Instead, prolonged LPS treatment (more than 12 h) led to a significant release of matured IL-$1{\beta}$ with no robust indication of caspase-1 activation. Intriguingly, this LPS-triggered secretion of IL-$1{\beta}$ was also observed in NLRP3-deficient macrophages. In addition, this unexpected IL-$1{\beta}$ release was only partially impaired by a caspase-1 and NLRP3 inflammasome inhibitor. Collectively, our results propose that prolonged exposure to LPS is able to drive the maturation and secretion of IL-$1{\beta}$ in an NLRP3 inflammasome-independent manner.

• KSII Transactions on Internet and Information Systems (TIIS)
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• v.4 no.3
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• pp.243-257
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• 2010

Rapid developments in wireless sensor networks have extended many applications, hence, many studies have developed wireless sensor network positioning systems for indoor environments. Among those systems, the Global Position System (GPS) is unsuitable for indoor environments due to Line-Of-Sight (LOS) limitations, while the wireless sensor network is more suitable, given its advantages of low cost, easy installation, and low energy consumption. Due to the complex settings of indoor environments and the high demands for precision, the implementation of an indoor positioning system is difficult to construct. This study adopts a low-cost positioning method that does not require additional hardware, and uses the received signal strength (RSS) values from the receiver node to estimate the distance between the test objects. Since many objects in indoor environments would attenuate the radio signals and cause errors in estimation distances, knowing the path loss exponent (PLE) in an environment is crucial. However, most studies preset a fixed PLE, and then substitute it into a radio propagation loss model to estimate the distance between the test points; such method would lead to serious errors. To address this problem, this study proposes a Path Loss Exponent Estimation Algorithm, which uses only four beacon nodes to construct a radio propagation loss model for an indoor environment, and is able to provide enhanced positioning precision, accurate positioning services, low cost, and high efficiency.

• Journal of Sensor Science and Technology
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• v.13 no.5
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• pp.383-391
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• 2004

In this study, we implemented the pulse transit time (PTT) system to examine usefulness of the monitoring method of distensibility and elasticity using photoplethysmography sensor in vivo. PTT is defined as the time interval between the peak of QRS complex in ECG signal and the maximum slope point of photoplethysmography. these two signals were converted to digital data by means of AID converter, then PTT was evaluated by heartbeat using PC. Results of analysis were displayed as a graph using spline interpolation method. The variance of PTT was measured repetitiously to verify efficiency of PTT system in resting state and hyperemic state. Repeated measurement of PTT was not same value but showed that coefficients of correlation were related with each other as 0.8302 (P<0.01) in resting state. And also repeated measurement of PTT showed significant correlation as 0.868 (P<0.01) in the hyperemic state. These result showed that PTT is reflect on transient pressure variance in the artery and is very useful method for the evaluation of prognosis of the hypertension and arteriosclerosis.

• Journal of the Economic Geographical Society of Korea
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.192-210
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• 2011

This paper attempts to analyze the Park regime's labor control strategy. Specifically, the research questions are twofold: (i) what strategy was it the Park regime adopted? and (ii) why did the Park regime adopt it? According to the analysis, the Park regime chose a mixed strategy based on state corporatism in the 1960s, while adopting a market mechanism strategy in the 1970s. The former tried to control unions by a state-created worker organization with the market, and the latter attempted to weaken unions as bargaining agent to a maximum extent by using market mechanism. The basic reason why the Park regime changed its labor control strategy was complex, (i) appearance of the unstable political ad economic signals and (ii) the ineffectiveness of the labor control strategy in the 1960s.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.24 no.9
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• pp.1211-1216
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• 2011

Sexual maturity in poultry is controlled by a complex neural circuit located in the basal forebrain, which integrates the central and peripheral signals to activate hypothalamic gonadotrophin-releasing hormone (GnRH) secretion. This study demonstrated the changes of GnRH-I, POMC and NPY mRNA transcription in hypothalamus and IGF-I and leptin levels in serum of Shaoxing ducks during puberty. Body weight increased progressively from d30 to d120 and at d120 the flock reached 5% of laying rate. A significant upregulation of hypothalamic GnRH-I mRNA expression was observed from d60, reaching the peak at d120. POMC and NPY mRNA expression in hypothalamus showed a similar pattern, which increased from d30 to d60, followed by a significant decrease towards sexual maturity. Serum IGF-I levels exhibited two peaks at d30 and d120, respectively. Serum leptin displayed a single peak at d90. The results indicate that the down-regulation of POMC and NPY genes in hypothalamus coincides with the up-regulation of GnRH-I gene to initiate sexual maturation in ducks. In addition, peripheral IGF-I and leptin may relay the peripheral metabolic status to the central system and contribute to the initiation of the reproductive function in ducks.

• Journal of Korea Multimedia Society
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.66-73
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• 2007

SDR technology is a fundamental wireless access technology that combines and accommodates multiple wireless communication standards in one transceiver system through just modifying software using modular communication platforms without any hardware modifications for RF and IF signal processing on the basis of high performance DSP devices. Various communication systems that are designed under diverse and complex network environments require the communication platforms on the basis of SDR supporting reorganization to guarantee simple and fast communication interfaces among the respective wireless networks. This paper introduces a main idea on the implementation of platform on the basis of SDR and a communication platform is designed for experiments that is composed of a DSP board with TMS320C6713 CPU, a FPGA board processing IF signals, and a module with RF transceiver processing wireless LAN frequency bandwidth. Various modulation schemes(BPSK, QPSK, and 16QAM) used in communication systems are applied and tested on the designed platform and the test results shows that it is possible to design a reconfigurable communication terminal platform.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.4 no.4
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• pp.259-269
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• 2010

Resistance training (RT) is associated with reduced risk of low grade inflammation related diseases, such as cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes. The majority of the data studying cytokines and exercise comes from endurance exercise. In contrast, evidence establishing a relationship between RT and inflammation is more limited. This review focuses on the cytokine responses both following an acute bout, and after chronic RT. In addition, the effect of RT on low grade systemic inflammation such as individuals at risk for type 2 diabetes is reviewed. Cytokines are secreted proteins that influence the survival, proliferation, and differentiation of immune cells and other organ systems. Cytokines function as intracellular signals and almost all cells in the body either secrete them or have cytokine receptors. Thus, understanding cytokine role in a specific physiological situation such as a bout of RT can be exceedingly complex. The overall effect of long term RT appears to ameliorate inflammation, but the specific effects on the inflammatory cytokine, tumor necrosis factor alpha are not clear, requiring further research. Furthermore, it is critical to differentiate between chronically and acute Interleukin-6 levels and its sources. The intensity of the RT and the characteristics of the training protocol may exert singular cytokine responses and as a result different adaptations to exercise. More research is needed in the area of RT in healthy populations, specifically sorting out gender and age RT acute responses. More importantly, studies are needed in obese individuals who are at high risk of developing low grade systemic inflammatory related diseases. Assuring adherence to the RT program is essential to get the benefits after overcoming the first acute RT responses. Hence RT could be an effective way to prevent, and delay low grade systemic inflammatory related diseases.

• Journal of Korea Multimedia Society
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• v.15 no.4
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• pp.485-491
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• 2012

This paper proposes 'Coding Unit Tree' based on quadtree efficiently with motion vector to represent splitting information of a Coding Unit (CU) in HEVC. The new international video coding, High Efficiency Video Coding (HEVC), adopts various techniques and new unit concept: CU, Prediction Unit (PU), and Transform Unit (TU). The basic coding unit, CU is larger than macroblock of H.264/AVC and it splits to process image-based quadtree with a hierarchical structure. However, in case that there are complex motions in CU, the more signaling bits with motion information need to be transmitted. This structure provides a flexibility and a base for a optimization, but there are overhead about splitting information. This paper analyzes those signals and proposes a new algorithm which removes those redundancy. The proposed algorithm utilizes a type code, a dominant value, and residue values at a node in quadtree to remove the addition bits. Type code represents a structure of an image tree and the two values represent a node value. The results show that the proposed algorithm gains 13.6% bit-rate reduction over the HM-1.0.