• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.14 no.6
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• pp.3653-3661
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• 2013

Along with rapid economic growth and enhanced agricultural productivity, particulate matter emissions in the northern cities of Thailand have been increasing for the past two decades. This trend is expected to continue in the coming decade. Emissions of particulate matter have brought about a series of public health concerns, particularly chronic respiratory diseases. It is well known that lung cancer incidence among northern Thai women is one of the highest in Asia (an annual age-adjusted incidence rate of 37.4 per 100,000). This fact has aroused serious concern among the public and the government and has drawn much attention and interest from the scientific community. To investigate the potential causes of this relatively high lung cancer incidence, this study employed Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) transmission spectroscopy to identify the chemical composition of the $PM_{2.5}$ collected using Quartz Fibre Filters (QFFs) coupled with MiniVol$^{TM}$ portable air samplers (Airmetrics). $PM_{2.5}$ samples collected in nine administrative provinces in northern Thailand before and after the "Haze Episode" in 2013 were categorised based on three-dimensional plots of a principal component analysis (PCA) with Varimax rotation. In addition, the incremental lifetime exposure to $PM_{2.5}$ of both genders was calculated, and the first derivative of the FTIR spectrum of individual samples is here discussed.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.6 no.2
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• pp.16-31
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• 1999

The purpose of this study was to assess the fatigue in lumbar and abdominal muscles in patients with chronic low back pain compared with normal subjects using spectral analysis with mean power frequency and median power frequency. The experimental group consisted of twenty subjects who had experienced chronic low back pain for over one year after the onset day. A control group consisted of twenty normal subjects with no history of low back pain. All subjects stood in an apparatus to perform sustained contraction in the lumbar and abdominal muscles for 30 seconds with 60% maximal voluntary isometric contraction (MVIC). The resulting electromyographic (EMG) recorded time serial data were transformed into frequency serial data by Fast Fourier Transformation (FFT). The results were as follows: 1) lumbar muscles measured, the frequency change ratio of both median power frequency and mean power frequency was significantly greater for experimental group compared with control group group (p<0.05). In measured two abdominal muscles (inferior rectus abdominis, obliquus externus abdominis) except superior rectus abdominis, the frequency change ratio of both median power frequency and mean power frequency was significantly greater for experimental group compared with control group (p<0.05). 2) In all three (longissimus thoracis, iliocostalis lumborum, multifidus) lumbar muscles measured, the initial frequency value of both median power frequency and mean power frequency was significantly lower for the experimental group compared with the control group (p<0.05). In the two (inferior rectus abdominis, obliquus externus abdominis) abdominal muscles measured (superior rectus abdominis not included), the initial frequency value of both median power frequency and mean power frequency was significantly lower for the experimental group compared with the control group (p<0.05). These results suggest that in patients with chronic low back pain there is a trend for more fatigue to occur in both lumbar and abdominal muscles than in the normal control group. This would seem to suggest that in treatment programs for patients with chronic low back pain, improvement of endurance in all trunk muscles should be considered.

• Journal of the Korean Electrochemical Society
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• v.3 no.1
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• pp.5-10
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• 2000

In the present work, corrosion rate W and corrosion potential tow were simultaneously measured as a function of relative humidity RH employing the electrochemical wet and dry method as an accelelated atmospheric corrosion method. The W versus (vs.) RH curve is classified into .three regions, namely, the first W plateau region, the second region of the linear relationship between logarithmic W and RH, finally, followed by an abrupt decay region. Based upon the atmospheric corrosion mechanism of mild steel, we introduced another diagram of $\varepsilon_{corr}$ vs. RH which is divided into three regions. In the first region, the corrosion scales are composed of single lepidocrocite-phase $(\gamma-FeOOH)$; in the second region, $\gamma-FeOOH$-phase coexists with magnetite-phase $(Fe_3O_4)$ in the scales and finally the oxide scales change into a single Fe304-phase in the third region. The three distinct regions of both representations share almost each other, which is validated by FT-IR (Fourier transform infra-red) analysis and surface observation. Both representations prove to be convenient and complementary for surveying the spectrum of the atmospheric corrosion of mild steel.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.46 no.2
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• pp.120-126
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• 2018

As a basic study for environment-friendly production of bacterial cellulose (BC) dressing with antimicrobial activity, we isolated and identified acetic acid bacteria which are resistant to silver ions and can biosynthesize silver nanoparticles. Furthermore, conditions of BC production by selected strain were also investigated. Strain G7 isolated from decayed grape skin was able to grow in the presence of 0.1 mM $AgNO_3$ which was identified as Acetobacter intermedius based on 16S rRNA gene analysis. BC production was the highest in a medium containing 2% glucose as a carbon source, 2% yeast extract as a nitrogen source, and 0.115% acetic acid as a cosubstrate. Structural properties of BC produced in optimal medium were studied using Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy and X-ray diffractometer, and it was found that BC produced was cellulose type I that was the same as a typical native cellulose. When strain G7 was cultured in an optimal medium containing 0.1 mM $AgNO_3$, the color of the culture broth turned into reddish brown, indicating that silver nanoparticles were formed. As a result of UV-Vis spectral analysis of the culture, it was found that a unique absorption spectrum of silver nanoparticles at 425 nm was also observed. Scanning electron microscopic observations showed that silver nanoparticles were formed on the surface and pores of BC membrane.

• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
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• v.31 no.11
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• pp.965-974
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• 2009

This study evaluated the degradation efficiency of malodorous sulfurized-organic compounds by utilizing N- and Sdoped titanium dioxide under visible-light irradiation, and examined the catalyst deactivation and regeneration. Catalyst surface was characterized by employing Fourier-Transform-Infrared-Red (FTIR) spectra. The visible-light-driven photocatalysis techniques were able to efficiently degrade low-level dimethyl sulfide (DMS) and dimethyl disulfide (DMDS) with degradation efficiencies exceeding 97%, whereas they were not effective regarding the removal of high-level DMS and DMDS, with degradation efficiencies of 84 and 23% within 5 hrs of photocatalytic processes. As compared with DMS, DMDS which containes one more sulfur element revealed quick catalyst deactivation. Catalyst deactivation was confirmed by the equality between input and output concentrations of DMD or DMDS, the obsevation of no $CO_2$ generation during a photocatalytic process, and the FTIR spectrum peaks related with sulfur ion compounds, which are major byproducts formed on catalyst surfaces. The mineralization efficiency of DMS at 8 ppm, which was a peak value during a photocatalytic process, was calculated as 144%, exceeding 100%. The catalyst regenerated by high-temperature calcination exhibited higher catalyst recovery efficiency (53 and 58% for DMDS and DMS, respectively) as compared with dry-air and humid-air regeneration processes. However, even the calcined method was unable to totally regenerate deactivated catalysts.

• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Information and Commucation Sciences Conference
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• 2015.05a
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• pp.951-953
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• 2015

Learning for thinking says the behavior of the organism changes as a result of practice or experience. It is very difficult to identify focusing ability objectively when students study. But, brain of the body is not so. EEG signal means continuously electric records of brain potential variation between two points on the scalp when brain activities take place. In types of EEG, there are delta(0~4Hz), theta(4~8Hz), alpha(8~13Hz), beta(13~30Hz) and gamma waves(30~50Hz). SMR waves and Mid-beta waves appear when focused for studying. Part for the most influence on concentrating reported that Mid-beta waves. In relation to brain activities, EEG has been actively researched for evaluating brain focus index system during learning and study. So, By using Biopac system for this study, measured brain wave was converted into FFT for extracting Mid-beta domain signals that are related to learning after giving focus invoked subjects to a small number of people. When concentrating, we measured the change in the power of the Mid-beta frequency domain and presented a correlation. Based on these results, we analyzed whether students are concentrated objectively on learning or not. and hope to offer more efficient learning method.

• Journal of the Institute of Electronics Engineers of Korea SP
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• v.47 no.1
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• pp.103-119
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• 2010

In this paper, we propose a subpixel shift estimation method using phase correlation with a local region for the registration of noisy images. Phase correlation is commonly used to estimate the subpixel shift between images, which is derived from analyzing shifted and downsampled images. However, when the images are affected by additive white Gaussian noise and aliasing artifacts, the estimation error is increased. Thus, instead of using the whole image, the proposed method uses a specific local region that is less affect by noises. In addition, to improve the estimation accuracy, iterative phase correlation is applied between selected local regions rather than using a fitting function. the restricted range is determined by analyzing the maximum peak and the two adjacent values of the inverse Fourier transform of the normalized cross power spectrum. In the experiments, the proposed method shows higher accuracy in registering noisy images than the other methods. Thus, the edge-sharpness and clearness in the super-resolved image is also improved.

• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
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• v.28 no.6
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• pp.670-678
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• 2017

Self-emulsifiable polyethylene (PE) wax was prepared using acrylic acid grafted PE wax with potassium hydroxide and various emulsifiers for the economic production of PE wax emulsion. Modification reaction completion was confirmed that the peak from carbonyl group of acrylic acid disappeared and the new peak from carboxylic acid salts appeared in the FT-IR (Fourier transform infrared) spectrum data. Self-emulsifiable properties of the modified PE wax were investigated by the emulsion size and the stability of wax emulsion without any additional emulsifiers. According to self-emulsifiable properties, the emulsion size and stability were varied on the concentration and structure of the emulsifier. The greater emulsion concentration and hydrophilic poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) characteristics of the emulsifier resulted in the smaller emulsion size and better emulsion stability. In addition, the use of emulsifiers mixture was more effective to obtain smaller size and uniform distribution of emulsion than that of single emulsifier in PE wax modification reaction. Especially, modified PE wax with OAE-5 and LAE-15 emulsifiers mixture shows excellent performance in terms of the smallest emulsion size ($4.34{\mu}m$) and emulsion stability.

• Proceedings of the Korean Vacuum Society Conference
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• 2014.02a
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• pp.324-325
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• 2014

Quantum wells infrared photodetectors (QWIPs) have been used to detect infrared radiations through the principle based on the localized stated in quantum wells (QWs) [1]. The mature III-V compound semiconductor technology used to fabricate these devices results in much lower costs, larger array sizes, higher pixel operability, and better uniformity than those achievable with competing technologies such as HgCdTe. Especially, GaAs/AlGaAs QWIPs have been extensively used for large focal plane arrays (FPAs) of infrared imaging system. However, the research efforts for increasing sensitivity and operating temperature of the QWIPs still have pursued. The modification of heterostructures [2] and the various fabrications for preventing polarization selection rule [3] were suggested. In order to enhance optical performances of the QWIPs, double barrier quantum well (DBQW) structures will be introduced as the absorption layers for the suggested QWIPs. The DBWQ structure is an adequate solution for photodetectors working in the mid-wavelength infrared (MWIR) region and broadens the responsivity spectrum [4]. In this study, InGaAs/GaAs/AlGaAs double barrier quantum well infrared photodetectors (DB-QWIPs) are successfully fabricated and characterized. The heterostructures of the InGaAs/GaAs/AlGaAs DB-QWIPs are grown by molecular beam epitaxy (MBE) system. Photoluminescence (PL) spectroscopy is used to examine the heterostructures of the InGaAs/GaAs/AlGaAs DB-QWIP. The mesa-type DB-QWIPs (Area : $2mm{\times}2mm$) are fabricated by conventional optical lithography and wet etching process and Ni/Ge/Au ohmic contacts were evaporated onto the top and bottom layers. The dark current are measured at different temperatures and the temperature and applied bias dependence of the intersubband photocurrents are studied by using Fourier transform infrared spectrometer (FTIR) system equipped with cryostat. The photovoltaic behavior of the DB-QWIPs can be observed up to 120 K due to the generated built-in electric field caused from the asymmetric heterostructures of the DB-QWIPs. The fabricated DB-QWIPs exhibit spectral photoresponses at wavelengths range from 3 to $7{\mu}m$. Grating structure formed on the window surface of the DB-QWIP will induce the enhancement of optical responses.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Laryngology, Phoniatrics and Logopedics
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.117-121
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• 2015

Background : Cepstral analysis which is obtained from Fourier transformation of spectrum has been known to be effective indicator to analyze the voice disorder. To evaluate the voice disorder, phonation of sustained vowel /a/ sound or continuous speech have been used but the former was limited to capture hoarseness properly. This study is aimed to compare the effectiveness in analysis of cepstrum between the sustained vowel /a/ sound and continuous speech. Methods : From March 2012 to December 2014, total 72 patients was enrolled in this study, including 24 unilateral vocal cord palsy, vocal nodule and vocal polyp patients, respectively. The entire patient evaluated their voice quality by VHI (Voice Handicap Index) before and after treatment. Phonation of sustained vowel /a/ sample and continuous speech using the first sentence of autumn paragraph was subjected by cepstral analysis and compare the pre-treatment group and post-treatment group. Results : The measured values of pre and post treatment in CPP-a (cepstral peak prominence in /a/ vowel sound) was 13.80, 13.91 in vocal cord palsy, 16.62, 17.99 in vocal cord nodule, 14.19, 18.50 in vocal cord polyp respectively. Values of CPP-s (cepstral peak prominence in text-based speech) in pre and post treatment was 11.11, 12.09 in vocal cord palsy, 12.11, 14.09 in vocal cord nodule, 12.63, 14.17 in vocal cord polyp. All 72 patients showed subjective improvement in VHI after treatment. CPP-a showed statistical improvement only in vocal polyp group, but CPP-s showed statistical improvement in all three groups (p<0.05). Conclusion : In analysis of cepstrum, text-based analysis is more representative in voice disorder than vowel sound speech. So when the acoustic analysis of voice by cepstrum, both phonation of sustained vowel /a/ sound and text based speech should be performed to obtain more accurate result.