• Journal of Korea Multimedia Society
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• v.13 no.7
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• pp.973-982
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• 2010

In this paper, we proposed the single-channel adaptive noise canceller for the enhancement of heart sound (HS) in the auscultation signal. In case of either normal or emergency, a HS diagnosis is difficult due to the various signal source in the chest. Therefore, the HS enhancement is necessary. The conventional active noise canceller(ANC) has two channel, main signal and reference signal. For signal channel, the reference signal in ANC was generated by the proposed HS analyser and BS-Gate based on the characteristic of HS. This reference signal is suitable to the ANC condition. Experimental data were acquisited from MP36, SS30L in BIOPAC Inc., By the experiment, we confirmed that the proposed single-channel ANC was efficient for HS enhancement. And by the comparison with active linear enhancement, it was validate that the proposed ANC is not affected by the variation of a heartbeat.

• Journal of the Institute of Electronics and Information Engineers
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• v.52 no.10
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• pp.108-117
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• 2015

If typical contrast enhancement algorithms for natural images are applied to X-ray images, they may cause artifacts such as overshooting or produce unnatural visual quality because they do not consider inherent characteristics of X-ray images. In order to overcome such problems, we propose a locally adaptive block-based contrast enhancement algorithm for X-ray images. After we derive a weighted cumulative distribution function for each block, we apply it to each block for contrast enhancement. Then, we obtain images that are removed from block effect by adopting block-based overlapping. In post-processing, we obtain the final image by emphasizing high frequency components. Experimental results show that the proposed block-based contrast enhancement algorithm provides at maximum 5-times higher visual quality than the exiting algorithm in terms of quantitative contrast metric.

• Journal of the Institute of Electronics and Information Engineers
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• v.52 no.10
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• pp.97-107
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• 2015

The initial X-ray images obtained from a digital X-ray machine have a wide data range and uneven brightness level than normal images. In particular, in Chest X-ray images, it is necessary to improve naturally all of the parts such as ribs, spine, tissue, etc. These X-ray images can not be improved enough from conventional image quality enhancement algorithms because their characteristics are different from ordinary images'. This paper proposes to eliminate unnecessary background from an input image and expand the histogram range of the image. Then, we adjust the weight per frequency band of the image for improvement of contrast and sharpness. Finally, jointly taking the advantages of global contrast enhancement and local contrast enhancement methods we obtain an improved X-ray image suitable for effective diagnosis in comparison with the existing methods. Experimental results show quantitatively that the proposed algorithm provides better X-ray images in terms of the discrete entropy and saturation than the previous works.

• Journal of the Institute of Electronics and Information Engineers
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• v.51 no.3
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• pp.105-111
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• 2014

Image resolution enhancement is a technique to generate high-resolution image through improving resolution of low-resolution obtained image. It is important to estimate correctly missing pixel value in low-resolution obtained image for image resolution enhancement. In this paper, multiple shortfall estimation method for image resolution enhancement is proposed. The proposed method estimate separate multiple shortfall by predictive degradation-restoration processing in sub-images of obtained image, and generate result image combining the estimated shortfall and interpolated obtained-image. Lastly, final reconstruction image is generated by deblurring of the result image. The experimental results demonstrate that the proposed method has the best results of all compared methods in objective image quality index: PSNR, SSIM, and FSIM. The quality of reconstructed image is superior to all compared methods, and the proposed method has better lower computational complexity than compared methods. The proposed method can be useful for image resolution enhancement.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Mechanical Engineers B
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• v.40 no.5
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• pp.275-281
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• 2016

In this study, we investigate the pool boiling enhancement caused by perforated plates on top of a smooth surface. We conduct tests using R-123 at atmospheric pressure. It was shown that perforated plates significantly enhanced the pool boiling of the smooth surface. The reason may be attributed to the increased bubble contact area between the plates. The results showed that the enhancement ratio was dependent on the heat flux. At high heat flux, the enhancement ratio increased as the porosity increased. However, at low heat flux, the enhancement ratio decreased as the porosity increased. For the present investigation, the optimum configuration had a pore diameter of 2.0 mm, pore pitch of $2.5mm{\times}5.0mm$ or $5.0mm{\times}5.0mm$, and a gap width of 0.5 mm, which yielded heat-transfer coefficients that are close to those of GEWA-T. The optimum porosity for R-123 was significantly larger than that of water or ethanol. The reason for this may be the large liquid-to-vapor density ratio along with the small latent heat of vaporization of R-123. The perforated plates yielded smaller boiling hysteresis compared with that of the smooth surface.

• Investigative Magnetic Resonance Imaging
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.153-161
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• 2015

Purpose: To identify the differential MRI findings between myxoid tumors and benign peripheral nerve sheath tumors (BPNSTs) in the musculoskeletal system. Materials and Methods: The study participants included a total of 35 consecutive patients who underwent MRI between September 2011 and December 2013. The patients were pathologically diagnosed with myxoid tumors (22 patients) or BPNSTs (13 patients). Evaluation was done by two radiologists, based on the following characteristics: size, margin, degree of signal intensity (SI) on T2-weighted images (T2WI), homogeneity of SI on T2WI, enhancement pattern, enhancement homogeneity, presence of cystic portion, internal fat component, presence of fat split sign, presence of target sign, presence of continuation with adjacent neurovascular bundle, and presence of surrounding halo. Results: Large size, high SI on T2WI, heterogeneous enhancement, and internal fat component were commonly observed in myxoid tumors, while homogenous enhancement, fat split sign, target sign were common in BPNSTs. The differences were statistically significant (P < 0.05). Other findings, such as margin, homogeneity of SI on T2WI, enhancement pattern (peripheral or solid), internal cystic portion, continuation with neurovascular bundle, and surrounding halo, did not show significant difference between myxoid tumors and BPNSTs (P > 0.05). Conclusion: In the differential diagnosis of myxoid tumors and BPNSTs involving the musculoskeletal system, several MRI findings such as degree of SI on T2WI, enhancement homogeneity, internal fat component, fat split sign, and target sign, may be helpful in establishing the diagnosis.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.21 no.6
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• pp.1624-1630
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• 2007

This study was designed to investigate the clinical effect of Kamkil-tang on the dyspnea. In this study, we measured the variations of the breathing volume of 20 patients after taking Kamkil-tang. Picrometer is used for the measurement of the volume. The investigation had been performed since from January 1st to August 31th of 2005. The patients for the experiment were mainly composed of patients who had trouble in breathing due to the pneumonectasis, asthmas, pneumonias. The percent of men is 65% in sex distribution and the ratio of persons over 50's was 90%. The results are as follows: After Kamkil-tang was taken to the patients, the enhancement ratio of breathing volume was appeared as 6.6%. The analysis based on an age was that the patients of 50's show the highest volumetric advancement. The ratio of breathing volume was higher as the patients were younger. From this, Kamkil-tang has more efficient on the younger patients. From the relations between the breathing volume before treatment and the enhancement ratio, the increase of the enhancement ratio and the better response to the medicine were shown to the more serious patients. The period of treatment was 22.4 days average. The enhancement ratio of smoker was 25.5, and that of non-smoker was 31.1. At the test of relation between the trouble rate in breathing and the enhancement ratio, Grade I shows the highest enhancement. From the experimental results, It is found that Kamkil-tang gives a noticeable benefit for the patients whose main symptom was breathing problem. Long-term treatments for the serious and younger patients will make much more efficient to the reduction of the symptoms.

• Plant Biotechnology Reports
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.71-77
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• 2011

Drought and salinity are the most important abiotic stresses that affect the normal growth and development of plants. Glycine betaine is one of the most important osmolytes present in higher plants that enable them to cope with environmental stresses through osmotic adjustment. In this study, a betaine aldehyde dehydrogenase (BADH) gene from spinach under the control of the stress-induced promoter rd29A from Arabidopsis thaliana was introduced into potato cultivar Gannongshu 2 by the Agrobacterium tumefaciens system. Putative transgenic plants were confirmed by Southern blot analysis. Northern hybridization analysis demonstrated that expression of BADH gene was induced by drought and NaCl stress in the transgenic potato plants. The BADH activity in the transgenic potato plants was between 10.8 and 11.7 U. There was a negative relationship (y = -2.2083x + 43.329, r = 0.9495) between BADH activity and the relative electrical conductivity of the transgenic potato plant leaves. Plant height increased by 0.4-0.9 cm and fresh weight per plant increased by 17-29% for the transgenic potato plants under NaCl and polyethylene glycol stresses compared with the control potato plants. These results indicated that the ability of transgenic plants to tolerate drought and salt was increased when their BADH activity was increased.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.232-243
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• 1999

In the Oriental Medicine, the breathing problem is defined as one of the symptoms such as Cheon-Jeung, Hyo-Jeung and chronic respiratory organs disease. Its source is heard to be the functional reduction of descending of Lung and Kidney. The organs for breathing are known as Lung, Spleen and Kidney. In this research, some remarkable results are referred which were detected by measuring the variations of the breathing volume of 20 patients after taking Keumsuyukunjeon. Picrometer is used for the measurement of the volume. The investigation had been performed since from January 1 st to August 31th of 1998. The patients for the experiment were mainly composed of patients who had trouble in breathing due to the pneumonectasis, sthmas, pneumonias. The percent of men is 67% in sex distribution and the ratio of persons over 50's was 85%. After Keumsuyukunjeon was taken to the patients, the enhancement ratio of breathing volume was appeared as 7.7%. The analysis based on an age was that the patients of 40's show the highest volumetric advancement. The ratio of breathing volume was the aged patients whose lung or kidney is weak and it can be used as the prescription for supplement of body and lung. From the relations between the breathing volume before treatment and the enhancement ratio, the increase of the enhancement ratio and the better response to the medicine were shown to the more serious patients. The period of treatment was 27.5 days average. The enhancement ratio of smoker was 23. and that of non-smoker was 50. At the test of relation between the trouble rate in breathing and the enhancement ratio. Grade Ⅲ shows the highest enhancement value 50%. From the experimental results, It is found that Keumsuyukunjeon gives a noticeable benefit for the patients whose main symptom was breathing problem. Long-term treatments for the serious and aged patients will make much more efficient to the reduction of the symptoms.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Manufacturing Technology Engineers
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• v.22 no.3_1spc
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• pp.537-543
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• 2013

A water-$Al_2O_3$ nanofluid was manufactured, and its thermal conductivity was measured in this study. The measurement was performed at volumetric concentrations of 0.5%, 1%, 2%, and 3%, and the nanoparticle sizes were 20 nm and 70 nm. Experimental test equipment, using the transient hot wire method, was installed to measure the thermal conductivity of the nanofluid, and the measured results were confirmed by measuring pure water with a measurement error of 0.92% at $20^{\circ}C$. The thermal conductivity enhancement ranged from 4.8% to 13.6% for the 20 nm particle size, and from 3.1% to 8.8% for the 70 nm particle size at a concentration range of 0.5% to 3%. The enhancement increased with a decrease in particle size and an increase in concentration. With the elapse of time after manufacturing the nanofluid, the thermal conductivity enhancement decreased significantly from 5 to 9 h, and this trend was measured under all of the measurement conditions. After 24 h, the enhancement ranged from 1.2% to 3.5% for the 20 nm particles, and from 0.6% to 2.3% for the 70 nm particles. The enhancement trends with the elapse of time were almost identical with and without stirring the nanofluid. SDBS (Sodium Dodecyl Benzene Sulfonate) was added as a dispersing agent, and the decrease in the thermal conductivity enhancement was delayed.