• Journal of Power Electronics
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.1048-1057
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• 2017

An indirect matrix converter (IMC) is a modern power generation system that enables a direct ac/ac conversion without the need for any bulky and limited lifetime electrolytic capacitor. This system also allows four-quadrant operation, generation of sinusoidal output voltage waveforms with variable frequency and amplitude, and control of input power factor. This study proposes a pulse-width modulation-based sliding-mode controller to achieve unity input-power factor operation of the IMC independently of the active power exchanged with the grid, as well as a fast dynamic response. The designed equivalent control law determines, at each sampling period, the appropriate q-axis component of the modulated input current to be injected into the grid through the LC input filter. An integral term of the error is included in the expression of the sliding surface to increase the accuracy of the control method. A double space vector modulation method is used to synthesize the direction of the space vector of the input currents as required by the sliding-mode controller and the space vectors of the target output voltages. Simulation and experimental results are provided to show the effectiveness and evaluate the performance of the proposed control method.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Manufacturing Process Engineers
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• v.20 no.10
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• pp.19-26
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• 2021

In fine-particle injection processing, hard fine particles, such as silicon carbide or aluminum oxide, are injected - using high-pressure air, and a small amount of material is removed by applying an impact to the workpiece by spraying at high speeds. In this study, a two-axis stage device capable of sequence control was developed to spray various shapes, such as circles and squares, on the surface during the micro-particle jetting process to understand the surface-shape micro-particle-processing characteristics. In the experimental device, two stepper motors were used for the linear movement of the two degree-of-freedom mechanism. The signal output from the microcontroller is - converted into a signal with a current sufficient to drive the stepper motor. The stepper motor rotates precisely in synchronization with the pulse-signal input from the outside, eliminating the need for a separate rotation-angle sensor. The major factors of the processing conditions are fine particles (silicon carbide, aluminum oxide), injection pressure, nozzle diameter, feed rate, and number of injection cycles. They were identified using the ANOVA technique on the design of the experimental method. Based on this, the surface roughness of the spraying surface, surface depth of the spraying surface, and radius of the corner of the spraying surface were measured, and depending on the characteristics, the required spraying conditions were studied.

• Nano
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• v.13 no.12
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• pp.1850140.1-1850140.9
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• 2018

An electrochemical sensor ($Cu^{2+}$-IIPs/GCE) was developed for detection of $Cu^{2+}$ in water. $Cu^{2+}$-IIPs/GCE was prepared by dispersing $Cu^{2+}$ imprinted polymers ($Cu^{2+}$-IIPs) on a preprocessed glassy carbon electrode. $Cu^{2+}$-IIPs were synthesized on the surface of modified carbon spheres by ion imprinting technology. The electrochemical performance of $Cu^{2+}$-IIPs/GCE was evaluated by differential pulse voltammetry method. The response of $Cu^{2+}$-IIPs/GCE to $Cu^{2+}$ was linear in $1.0{\times}10^{-5}mol/L$ to $1.0{\times}10^{-3}mol/L$. The detection limit was $5.99{\times}10^{-6}mol/L$ (S=N = 3). The current response value of $Cu^{2+}$-IIPs/GCE was 2.14 times that of the nonimprinted electrode. These results suggest that $Cu^{2+}$-IIPs/GCE can detect the concentration of $Cu^{2+}$ in water, providing a new way for heavy metal ions adsorption and testing.

• Journal of Power Electronics
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.922-933
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• 2019

The arm inductance (AI) of a modular multilevel converter (MMC) affects both the fault and circulating current magnitudes. In addition, it has an impact on the inverter efficiency and harmonic content. In this study, the AI of a three-phase MMC is optimized in a novel way in terms of DC voltage utilization, harmonics and efficiency. This MMC has 10 submodules (SM) per arm and the power circuit topology of the SM is a half-bridge. The optimum AI is adopted and verified in an MMC that has 100 SMs per arm. Then the phase shift (PS) and phase disposition (PD) pulse width modulation (PWM) methods are investigated for better DC voltage utilization, efficiency and harmonics. It is found that similar performances are obtained for both modulation techniques in terms of DC voltage utilization. However, the total harmonic distortion (THD) of the PS-PWM is found to be 0.02%, which is slightly lower than the THD of the PD-PWM at 0.16%. In efficiency calculations, the switching and conduction losses for all of the semiconductor are considered separately and the minimum efficiency of the 100-SM based MMC is found to be 99.62% for the PS-PWM and 99.64% for the PD-PWM with the optimal value of the AI. Simulation results are verified with an experimental prototype of a 6-SM based MMC.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.23 no.5
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• pp.317-328
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• 2019

It is known that top-down associative inputs terminate on distal apical dendrites in layer 1 while bottom-up sensory inputs terminate on perisomatic dendrites of layer 2/3 pyramidal neurons (L2/3 PyNs) in primary sensory cortex. Since studies on synaptic transmission in layer 1 are sparse, we investigated the basic properties and cholinergic modulation of synaptic transmission in layer 1 and compared them to those in perisomatic dendrites of L2/3 PyNs of rat primary visual cortex. Using extracellular stimulations of layer 1 and layer 4, we evoked excitatory postsynaptic current/potential in synapses in distal apical dendrites (L1-EPSC/L1-EPSP) and those in perisomatic dendrites (L4-EPSC/L4-EPSP), respectively. Kinetics of L1-EPSC was slower than that of L4-EPSC. L1-EPSC showed presynaptic depression while L4-EPSC was facilitating. In contrast, inhibitory postsynaptic currents showed similar paired-pulse ratio between layer 1 and layer 4 stimulations with depression only at 100 Hz. Cholinergic stimulation induced presynaptic depression by activating muscarinic receptors in excitatory and inhibitory synapses to similar extents in both inputs. However, nicotinic stimulation enhanced excitatory synaptic transmission by ~20% in L4-EPSC. Rectification index of AMPA receptors and AMPA/NMDA ratio were similar between synapses in distal apical and perisomatic dendrites. These results provide basic properties and cholinergic modulation of synaptic transmission between distal apical and perisomatic dendrites in L2/3 PyNs of the visual cortex, which might be important for controlling information processing balance depending on attentional state.

• Journal of IKEEE
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.947-953
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• 2019

The purpose of this paper is to explore an ASIC design for estimating sizes and concentrations of airborne micro-particles by the means of integrating, amplifying and digitizing electric charge signals generated by photo-sensors as it receives scattered photons by the presence of micro-particles, consisting of a pre-amplifier that detects and amplifies voltage or current signal from photo-sensor that generates charges (hole-electron pairs) when exposed to visible rays, infrared rays, ultraviolet rays, etc. according to the intensity of rays; a shaper for shaping the amplified signal to a semi-gaussian waveform; two discriminators and binary counters for outputting digital signals by comparing the magnitude of the shaped signal with an arbitrary reference voltages. The ASIC with the proposed architecture and functional blocks in this study was designed with a 0.18um standard CMOS technology from Global Foundries and the operation and performances of the ASIC has been verified by the silicons fabricated by using the process.

• Korean Journal of Metals and Materials
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• v.48 no.4
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• pp.369-375
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• 2010

Ti-6Al-4V ELI alloy, which is commonly used as a biomaterial, is associated with a high elastic modulus and poor biocompatibility. This alloy presents a variety of problems on several areas. Therefore, the development of good non-toxic biocompatible biomaterials with a low elastic modulus is necessary. Particularly, hydroxyapatite (HA) is an attractive material for human tissue implantation. This material is widely used as artificial bone due to its good biocompatibility and similar composition to human bone. Many scientists have studied the fabrication of HA as a biomaterial. However, applications of bulk HA compact are hindered by the low strength of HA when it is sintered. Therefore, HA has been coated on Ti or Ti alloy to facilitate good bonding between tissue and the HA surface. However, there are many problems when doing this, such as the low bonding strength between HA and Ti due to the different thermal expansion coefficients and mechanical properties. In this study, a Ti-HA composite with a porous surface was successfully fabricated by pulse current activated sintering (PCAS) and a subsequent leaching process.

• Progress in Superconductivity and Cryogenics
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• v.10 no.4
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• pp.23-28
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• 2008

As a part of the plasma control system (PCS) for the first plasma campaign of KSTAR, seven sets of fast feedback control loop for the superconducting poloidal field magnet power supply (PF MPS) have been implemented. A special real-time digital communication interface has been developed for the simultaneous exchanges of the current/voltage data from the 7 sets of 12-thyristor power supplies in a 200 microsecond control cycle. Preliminary power supply tests have been performed before actual cooldown of the device. A $29mH/50m{\Omega}$ solenoid dummy has been fabricated for a series of single power supply tests. Connectivity and response speed of the plasma control system have been verified. By changing hardware cabling, this load was also used to estimate mutual inductance coupling effects of two geometrically adjacent solenoid coils on each power supply. After the cooldown was complete, each pair of the up/down symmetric PF coils has been serially connected and tested as part of the device commissioning process. Bipolar operation and longer pulse attempts have been investigated. The responses of the coils and power supplies corresponding to the plasma magnetic controls in plasma discharges are also analyzed for the future upgrades.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.45 no.1
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• pp.1-10
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• 2024

Objectives: This study investigated the pattern identification (PI) and clinical index of Parkinson's disease (PD) for personalized diagnosis and treatment. Methods: This prospective observational multi-center study recruited 100 patients diagnosed with PD from two Korean medicine hospitals. To cluster new subtypes of PD, items on a PI questionnaire (heat and cold, deficiency and excess, visceral PI) were evaluated along with pulse and tongue analysis. Gait analysis was performed and blood and feces molecular signature changes were assessed to explore biomarkers for new subtypes. In addition, unified PD rating scale II and III scores and the European quality of life 5-dimension questionnaire were assessed. Results: The clinical index obtained in this study analyzed the frequency statistics and hierarchical clustering analysis to classify new subtypes based on PI. Moreover, the biomarkers and current status of herbal medicine treatment were analyzed using the new subtypes. The results provide comprehensive data to investigate new subtypes and subtype-based biomarkers for the personalized diagnosis and treatment of PD patients. Ethical approval was obtained from the medical ethics committees of the two Korean medicine hospitals. All amendments to the research protocol were submitted and approved. Conclusions: An objective and standardized diagnostic tool is needed for the personalized treatment of PD by traditional Korean medicine. Therefore, we developed a clinical index as the basis for the PI clinical evaluation of PD. Trial Registration: This trial is registered with the Clinical Research Information Service (CRIS) (KCT0008677)

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.67 no.2
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• pp.88-94
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• 2009

Background: From November 2006, The national health insurance system in the Republic of Korea began to cover prescribed long-term oxygen therapy (LTOT) in patients with chronic respiratory insufficiency. This study examined the current status of LTOT after national health insurance coverage. Methods: Between November 1, 2006 and June 30, 2008, the medical records of patients who were prescribed LTOT by chest physicians were reviewed. The data was collected from 13 university hospitals. Results: 197 patients (131 male and 66 female) were prescribed LTOT. The mean age was 64.3${\pm}$13.0 years. The most common underlying disease was chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (n=103, 52.3%). Chest physicians prescribed LTOT using arterial blood gas analysis or a pulse oxymeter (74.6%), symptoms (14%), or a pulmonary function test (11.2%). The mean oxygen flow rate was 1.56${\pm}$0.68 L/min at rest, 2.08${\pm}$0.91 L/min during exercise or 1.51${\pm}$0.75 L/min during sleep. Most patients (98.3%) used oxygen concentrators. Only 19% of patients used ambulatory oxygen supplies. The oxygen saturation before and after LTOT was 83.18${\pm}$10.48% and 91.64${\pm}$7.1%, respectively. After LTOT, dyspnea improved in 81.2% of patients. The mean duration of LTOT was 16.85${\pm}$6.71 hours/day. The rental cost for the oxygen concentrator and related electricity charges were 48,414${\pm}$15,618 won/month and 40,352${\pm}$36,815 won/month, respectively. Approximately 75% of patients had a regular visit by the company. 5.8% of patients had personal pulse oxymetry. 54.9% of patients had their oxygen saturation checked on each visit hospital. 8% of patients were current smokers. The most common complaint with LTOT was the limitation of daily activity (53%). The most common complaint with oxygen concentrators was noise (41%). Conclusion: The patients showed good compliance with LTOT. However, only a few patients used an ambulatory oxygen device or had their oxygen saturation measured.