• Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.36 no.1
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• pp.73-83
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• 2013

The object of this study was to evaluate lotic ecosystem health using multiple eco-metric approaches such as water chemistry diagnosis, physical habitat health evaluations, and biological integrity modeling at 100 streams of four major watersheds. For the study, eight chemical water quality parameters such as nutrients (N, P) and organic material were measured and 11-metric models of Qualitative Habitat Evaluation Index (QHEI) and multiple eco-metric health assessment model (MEHA) were applied to the four major watershed. Nutrient analysis of nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) in all watersheds indicated a eutrophic state depending on the locations of sampling streams. Physical habitat health, based on the QHEI model, averaged 114 (range: 56 - 194), judging as a "good condition" by the criteria of Plafkin et al. (1989). In addition, primary (H1 - H4), secondary (H5 - H7), and tertiary habitat metric variables (H8 - H11) were analyzed in relation to the physical habitat degradations. The plots of tolerant species ($P_{TS}$) and sensitive species ($P_{SS}$) to water quality showed that the proportions of $P_{TS}$ had positive linear functions with nutrients, and that the $P_{SS}$ had inverse linear relations with the chemical variables. The model of eco-metric health assessment showed that mean MEHA was 20.4, indicating a fair condition. Overall, our data suggest that water chemistry, based on nutrients and organic matter, directly modified the trophic structures in relation to food chain in the aquatic ecosystems, and then these directly influenced the compositions of tolerance/sensitive species, resulting in degradations of overall ecological health.

• Journal of KIISE:Computing Practices and Letters
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.25-36
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• 2004

This paper proposes and measures the performance of a distributed EIT (Electrical Impedance Tomography) image reconstruction algorithm which has a master-slave structure. The image construction is a computation based application of which the execute time is proportional to the cube of the unknowns. After receiving a specific frame from the master, each computing node extracts the basic elements by executing the first iteration of Kalman Filter in parallel. Then the master merges the basic element lists into one group and then performs the sequential iterations with the reduced number of unknowns. Every computing node has MATLAB functions as well as extended library implemented for the exchange of MATLAB data structure. The master implements another libraries such as threaded multiplication, partitioned inverse, and fast Jacobian to improve the speed of the serial execution part. The parallel library reduces the reconstruction time of image visualization about by half, while the distributed grouping scheme further reduces by about 12 times for the given target object when there are 4 computing nodes.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.129-152
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• 2008

This paper considers the solution of the stochastic differential equations (SDEs) with random operator and/or random excitation using the spectral SFEM. The random system parameters (involved in the operator) and the random excitations are modeled as second order stochastic processes defined only by their means and covariance functions. All random fields dealt with in this paper are continuous and do not have known explicit forms dependent on the spatial dimension. This fact makes the usage of the finite element (FE) analysis be difficult. Relying on the spectral properties of the covariance function, the Karhunen-Loeve expansion is used to represent these processes to overcome this difficulty. Then, a spectral approximation for the stochastic response (solution) of the SDE is obtained based on the implementation of the concept of generalized inverse defined by the Neumann expansion. This leads to an explicit expression for the solution process as a multivariate polynomial functional of a set of uncorrelated random variables that enables us to compute the statistical moments of the solution vector. To check the validity of this method, two applications are introduced which are, randomly loaded simply supported reinforced concrete beam and reinforced concrete cantilever beam with random bending rigidity. Finally, a more general application, randomly loaded simply supported reinforced concrete beam with random bending rigidity, is presented to illustrate the method.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.14 no.4
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• pp.412-422
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• 2020

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: This study investigates correlations between circulating microRNAs (miRNAs) and obesity-related parameters among young women (aged 20-30 years old) in Korea. SUBJECTS/METHODS: We analyzed TaqMan low density arrays (TLDAs) of circulating miRNAs in 9 lean (body mass index [BMI] < 25 kg/㎡) and 15 obese (BMI > 25 kg/㎡) women. We also performed gene ontology (GO) analyses of the biological functions of predicted miRNA target genes, and clustered the results using the database for annotation, visualization and integrated discovery. RESULTS: The TLDA cards contain 754 human miRNAs; of these, the levels of 8 circulating miRNAs significantly declined (> 2-fold) in obese subjects compared with those in lean subjects, including miR-1227, miR-144-5p, miR-192, miR-320, miR-320b, miR-484, miR-324-3p, and miR-378. Among them, miR-484 and miR-378 displayed the most significant inverse correlations with BMI (miR-484, r = -0.5484, P = 0.0056; miR-378, r = -0.5538, P = 0.0050) and visceral fat content (miR-484, r = -0.6141, P = 0.0014; miR-378, r = -0.6090, P = 0.0017). GO analysis indicated that genes targeted by miR-484 and miR-378 had major roles in carbohydrate and lipid metabolism. CONCLUSION: Our result showed the differentially expressed circulating miRNAs in obese subjects compared to lean subjects. Although the mechanistic study to reveal the causal role of miRNAs remains, these miRNAs may be novel biomarkers for obesity.

• Journal of Institute of Control, Robotics and Systems
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• v.20 no.8
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• pp.875-881
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• 2014

The redundancy resolution of the seven DOF (Degree of Freedom) upper limb exoskeleton is key to the synchronous motion between a robot and a human user. According to the seven DOF human arm model, positioning and orientating the wrist can be completed by multiple arm configurations that results in the non-unique solution to the inverse kinematics. This paper presents analysis on the kinematic and dynamic aspect of the human arm movement and its effect on the redundancy resolution of the seven DOF human arm model. The redundancy of the arm is expressed mathematically by defining the swivel angle. The final form of swivel angle can be represented as a linear combination of two different swivel angles achieved by optimizing two cost functions based on kinematic and dynamic criteria. The kinematic criterion is to maximize the projection of the longest principal axis of the manipulability ellipsoid of the human arm on the vector connecting the wrist and the virtual target on the head region. The dynamic criterion is to minimize the mechanical work done in the joint space for each of two consecutive points along the task space trajectory. The contribution of each criterion on the redundancy was verified by the post processing of experimental data collected with a motion capture system. Results indicate that the bimodal redundancy resolution approach improved the accuracy of the predicted swivel angle. Statistical testing of the dynamic constraint contribution shows that under moderate speeds and no load, the dynamic component of the human arm is not dominant, and it is enough to resolve the redundancy without dynamic constraint for the realtime application.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.23 no.11
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• pp.1595-1603
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• 2002

In this paper we have presented the results of diffusion behavior of model systems for eight liquid n-alkanes ($C_{12}$-$C_{44}$) in a canonical (NVT) ensemble at several temperatures using molecular dynamics simulations. For these n-alkanes of small chain length n, the chains are clearly <$R_{ee}^2$>/6<$R_g^2$>>1 and non-Gaussian. This result implies that the liquid n-alkanes over the whole temperatures considered are far away from the Rouse regime, though the ratio becomes close to the unity as n increases. Calculated self-diffusion constants $D_{self}$ are comparable with experimental results and the Arrhenius plot of self-diffusion constants versus inverse temperature shows a different temperature dependence of diffusion on the chain length. The global rotational motion of n-alkanes is examined by characterizing the orientation relaxation of the end-to-end vector and it is found that the ratio ${\tau}1/{\tau}2$ is less than 3, the value expected for a isotropically diffusive rotational process. The friction constants ${\xi}$of the whole molecules of n-alkanes are calculated directly from the force auto-correlation (FAC) functions and compared with the monomeric friction constants ${\xi}_D$ extracted from $D_{self}$. Both the friction constants give a correct qualitative trends: decrease with increasing temperature and increase with increasing chain length. The friction constant calculated from the FAC's decreases very slowly with increasing temperature, while the monomeric friction constant varies rapidly with temperature. By considering the orientation relaxation of local vectors and diffusion of each site, it is found that rotational and translational diffusions of the ends are faster than those of the center.

• Journal of Institute of Control, Robotics and Systems
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• v.18 no.12
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• pp.1106-1114
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• 2012

To achieve synchronized motion between a wearable robot and a human user, the redundancy must be resolved in the same manner by both systems. According to the seven DOF (Degrees of Freedom) human arm model composed of the shoulder, elbow, and wrist joints, positioning and orientating the wrist in space is a task requiring only six DOFs. Due to this redundancy, a given task can be completed by multiple arm configurations, and thus there exists no unique mathematical solution to the inverse kinematics. This paper presents analysis on the kinematic and dynamic aspect of the human arm movement and their effect on the redundancy resolution of the human arm based on a seven DOF manipulator model. The redundancy of the arm is expressed mathematically by defining the swivel angle. The final form of swivel angle can be represented as a linear combination of two different swivel angles achieved by optimizing different cost functions based on kinematic and dynamic criteria. The kinematic criterion is to maximize the projection of the longest principal axis of the manipulability ellipsoid for the human arm on the vector connecting the wrist and the virtual target on the head region. The dynamic criterion is to minimize the mechanical work done in the joint space for each two consecutive points along the task space trajectory. As a first step, the redundancy based on the kinematic criterion will be thoroughly studied based on the motion capture data analysis. Experimental results indicate that by using the proposed redundancy resolution criterion in the kinematic level, error between the predicted and the actual swivel angle acquired from the motor control system is less than five degrees.

• Journal of the Institute of Electronics Engineers of Korea SD
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• v.46 no.3
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• pp.10-19
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• 2009

In this paper, an efficient optical watermark method using multiple phase wrapping and real-valued decoding key is proposed. In the embedding process, two zero-padded original images placed in two quadrants on input plane are multiplied with two statistically independent random phase patterns and are Fourier transformed, respectively. Two encoded images are obtained by taking the real-valued data from these Fourier transformed images. And then two phase-encoded patterns, used as a hidden image and a decoding key, are generated by the use of multiple phase wrapping from each of the encoded images. A transmitted image is made from the linear superposition of the weighted hidden images and a cover image. In reconstruction process, the mirror reconstructed images can be obtained at all quadrants by the inverse-Fourier transform of the product of the transmitted image and the decoding key. Computer simulation and optical experiment are demonstrated in order to confirm the proposed method.

• Korean Journal of Optics and Photonics
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• v.5 no.3
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• pp.349-355
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• 1994

Superrsolution of an optical imaging system, which resolves $\epsilon_O$ (half width of the square top amplitude impulse function) less than the Rayleigh's resolution limit $\epsilon_R$, is theoretically treated by using the diffraction theory, and an experimental system is proposed. Initially superresolution is stated as an inverse problem, and an integral equation is derived as a function of parameter $\beta$, which is positive. The integration is numerically carried out for the given aperture and those given values of $\beta$, which is 1, 5, 10, 15, and 20. 1/2$\times$FWHM's of the amplitude impulse functions are meassured for the cases of diffrent value of {J and in the case of $\beta=5$, the half-width already approaches to $\epsilon_O=0.1$,urn, which is, in the case of the present work, one fifth of the Rayleigh's resolution limit. It is found both the pupil function and the phase of the Huygens wave are to be modified, and theories of the pupil function modulation plate and the phase modulation hologram plate are also presented. The result obtained may be useful in ultrafine optical lithography.graphy.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Mechanical Engineers
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.101-111
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• 1993

Many processes such as machining, injection-moulding and metal-forming are usually operated by hydraulic servo-systems. The dynamic characteristics of these systems are complex and highly non-linear and are often subjected to the uncertain external disturbances associated with the processes. Consequently, the conventional approach to the controller design for these systems may not guarantee accurate tracking control performance. An effective neuro-fuzzy controller is proposed to realize an accurate hydraulic servo-system regardless of the uncertainties and the external disturbances. For this purpose, first, we develop a simplified fuzzy logic controller which have multidimensional and unsymmetric membership functions. Secondly, we develop a neural network which consists of the parameters of the fuzzy logic controller. It is show that the neural network has both learning capability and linguistic representation capability. The proposed controller was implemented on a hydraulic servo-system. Feedback error learning architecture is adopted which uses the feedback error directly without passing through the dynamics or inverse transfer function of the hydraulic servo-system to train the neuro-fuzzy controller. A series of simulations was performed for the position-tracking control of the system subjected to external disturbances. The results of simulations show that regardless of inherent non-linearities and disturbances, an accuracy tracking-control performance is obtained using the proposed neuro-fuzzy controller.