• Current Optics and Photonics
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• v.5 no.3
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• pp.229-237
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• 2021

The capabilities of the near-field scanning optical microscope (NSOM) for obtaining high resolution lateral topographical images as well as for mapping the spectroscopic and optical properties of a sample below the diffraction limit of light have made it an attractive research field for most researchers dealing with optical characteristics of materials in nano scales. The apertured NSOM technique involves confining light into an aperture of sub-wavelength size and using it to illuminate a sample maintained at a distance equal to a fraction of the sub-wavelength aperture (near-field region). In this article, we present a setup for developing NSOM using a cantilever with a sub-wavelength aperture at the tip. A single laser is used for both cantilever deflection measurement and near-field sample excitation. The laser beam is focused at the apex of the cantilever where a portion of the beam is reflected and the other portion goes through the aperture and causes local near-field optical excitation of the sample, which is then raster scanned in the near-field region. The reflected beam is used for an optical beam deflection technique that yields topographical images by controlling the probe-sample in nano-distance. The fluorescence emissions signal is detected in far-field by the help of a silicon avalanche photodiode. The images obtained using this method show a good correlation between the topographical image and the mapping of the fluorescence emissions.

• Atmosphere
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• v.31 no.5
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• pp.637-656
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• 2021

The United States has been known as the world's major producer of crops such as wheat, corn, and soybeans. Therefore, using meteorological long-term forecast data to project reliable crop yields in the United States is important for planning domestic food policies. The current study is part of an effort to improve the seasonal predictability of regional-scale precipitation across the United States for estimating crop production in the country. For the purpose, a dynamic downscaling method using Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) model is utilized. The WRF simulation covers the crop-growing period (March to October) during 2000-2020. The initial and lateral boundary conditions of WRF are derived from the Pusan National University Coupled General Circulation Model (PNU CGCM), a participant model of Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Climate Center (APCC) Long-Term Multi-Model Ensemble Prediction System. For bias correction of downscaled daily precipitation, empirical quantile mapping (EQM) is applied. The downscaled data set without and with correction are called WRF_UC and WRF_C, respectively. In terms of mean precipitation, the EQM effectively reduces the wet biases over most of the United States and improves the spatial correlation coefficient with observation. The daily precipitation of WRF_C shows the better performance in terms of frequency and extreme precipitation intensity compared to WRF_UC. In addition, WRF_C shows a more reasonable performance in predicting drought frequency according to intensity than WRF_UC.

• Journal of The Korean Astronomical Society
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• v.54 no.2
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• pp.61-70
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• 2021

We investigate 20 post-coronal mass ejection (CME) blobs formed in the post-CME current sheet (CS) that were observed by K-Cor on 2017 September 10. By visual inspection of the trajectories and projected speed variations of each blob, we find that all blobs except one show irregular "zigzag" trajectories resembling transverse oscillatory motions along the CS, and have at least one oscillatory pattern in their instantaneous radial speeds. Their oscillation periods are ranging from 30 to 91 s and their speed amplitudes from 128 to 902 km s-1. Among 19 blobs, 10 blobs have experienced at least two cycles of radial speed oscillations with different speed amplitudes and periods, while 9 blobs undergo one oscillation cycle. To examine whether or not the apparent speed oscillations can be explained by vortex shedding, we estimate the quantitative parameter of vortex shedding, the Strouhal number, by using the observed lateral widths, linear speeds, and oscillation periods of the blobs. We then compare our estimates with theoretical and experimental results from MHD simulations and fluid dynamic experiments. We find that the observed Strouhal numbers range from 0.2 to 2.1, consistent with those (0.15-3.0) from fluid dynamic experiments of bluff spheres, while they are higher than those (0.15-0.25) from MHD simulations of cylindrical shapes. We thus find that blobs formed in a post-CME CS undergo kinematic oscillations caused by fluid dynamic vortex shedding. The vortex shedding is driven by the interaction of the outward-moving blob having a bluff spherical shape with the background plasma in the post-CME CS.

• Wind and Structures
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• v.34 no.2
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• pp.199-213
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• 2022

The current study investigates the dynamic effects in the tornado-structure response of an aeroelastic self-supported lattice transmission tower model tested under laboratory simulated tornado-like vortices. The aeroelastic model is designed for a geometric scale of 1:65 and tested under scaled down tornadoes in the Wind Engineering, Energy and Environment (WindEEE) Research Institute. The simulated tornadoes have a similar length scale of 1:65 compared to the full-scale. An extensive experimental parametric study is conducted by offsetting the stationary tornado center with respect to the aeroelastic model. Such aeroelastic testing of a transmission tower under laboratory tornadoes is not reported in the literature. A multiaxial load cell is mounted underneath the base plate to measure the base shear forces and overturning moments applied to the model in three perpendicular directions. A three-axis accelerometer is mounted at the level of the second cross-arm to measure response accelerations to evaluate the natural frequencies through a free-vibration test. Radial, tangential, and axial velocity components of the tornado wind field are measured using cobra probes. Sensitivity analyses are conducted to assess the variation of the structural dynamic response associated with the location of the tornado relative to the lattice transmission tower. Three different layouts representing the change in the orientation of the tower model relative to the components of the tornado-induced loads are considered. The structural responses of the aeroelastic model in terms of base shear forces, overturning moments, and lateral accelerations are measured. The results are utilized to understand the dynamic response of self-supported transmission towers to the tornado-induced loads.

• PNF and Movement
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.451-459
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• 2022

Purpose: Temporomandibular disorder (TMD) is a common musculoskeletal problem that causes pain in and disability of masticatory muscles, the temporo-mandibular joint (TMJ), and related structures. The purpose of this study was to compare pressure pain thresholds (PPTs) of masticatory muscles, cervical ranges of motion (ROM), and pelvic mobility during gait of subjects with or without TMD. Methods: In this study, pain thresholds and changes in the mobility of the cervical vertebrae and pelvis were measured in 25 patients with TMD and 25 healthy controls. Using a pressure algometer, the pressure pain thresholds (PPTs) of the masseter and temporalis muscles were measured in both groups. A gyroscope sensor with a mobile application was used to determine cervical ROM in the frontal and sagittal planes. A 3D-motion analysis system was used to evaluate pelvic mobility in the sagittal, frontal, and transverse planes during gait. Results: The TMD group showed significantly decreased PPTs of masseter and temporalis muscles compared with the control group (p < 0.05). Cervical ROM in flexion, extension, and lateral bending were significantly decreased in the TMD group compared with the control group (p < 0.05). In addition, antero-posterior pelvic tilt was significantly decreased in the TMD group (p < 0.05). Conclusion: The results of the current study suggest that there are close anatomical and functional relationships between TMD and muscle chains related to the cervical spine and pelvis. Therefore, more comprehensive body posture assessments, especially of painful areas, should be undertaken when studying TMD patients.

• Journal of the Earthquake Engineering Society of Korea
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• v.27 no.5
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• pp.203-211
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• 2023

For fast-built and safe precast concrete (PC) construction, the dry mechanical splicing method is a critical technique that enables a self-sustaining system (SSS) during construction with no temporary support and minimizes onsite jobs. However, due to limited experimental evidence, traditional wet splicing methods are still dominantly adopted in the domestic precast industry. For PC beam-column connections, the current design code requires achieving emulative connection performances and corresponding structural integrity to be comparable with typical reinforced concrete (RC) systems with monolithic connections. To this end, this study conducted the standard material tests on mechanical splices to check their satisfactory performance as the Type 2 mechanical splice specified in the ACI 318 code. Two PC beam-column connection specimens with dry mechanical splices and an RC control specimen as the special moment frame were subsequently fabricated and tested under lateral reversed cyclic loadings. Test results showed that the seismic performances of all the PC specimens were fully comparable to the RC specimen in terms of strength, stiffness, energy dissipation, drift capacity, and failure mode, and their hysteresis responses showed a mitigated pinching effect compared to the control RC specimen. The seismic performances of the PC and RC specimens were evaluated quantitatively based on the ACI 374 report, and it appeared that all the test specimens fully satisfied the seismic performance criteria as a code-compliant special moment frame system.

• The Journal of Korean Academy of Orthopedic Manual Physical Therapy
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.81-93
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• 2023

Purpose: The current case study focuses on identifying the effects of manual therapy and home self-therapeutic exercise including on mouth opening and pain relief in patients with continuous neck pain with myofascial temporomandibular disorders (TMDs) accompanied by headache induced by masticatory myalgia Subjects: The study participant was a 27-year-old woman who was treated a year ago for pain related to TMDs accompanied by a headache. Methods: Manual therapy of the cervical spine with upper cervical spine posterior-to-anterior mobilization (C1~C2), upper cervical spine flexion mobilization (C0~C2), upper cervical spine lateral flexion mobilization (C0~C1), upper cervical spine thrust manual therapy (C1~C2) and manual therapy of the temporomandibular joint and muscles with transverse medial accessory temporomandibular joint mobilization, manual therapies for the temporal, the masseter, and medial pterygoid muscles were performed twice a week for about 30 minutes for 4 weeks. This protocol included 3 sessions in total. The home self-therapeutic exercise was to be performed two to three times a day. Results: The values more improved MMO increased to 41.4 mm, left masseter muscle PPT to 2.9 kgf/cm², right masseter muscle PPT to 3.1 kgf/cm², KHIT-6 to 46 points, neck pain intensity (by NRS) to 2 points, headache frequency to per weeks, cervical kyphotic angle to -8.06%, and GCPS to grade 1 (low-intensity pain without pain-related disorder). Conclusion: Manual therapy and home self-therapeutic exercise can be helpful for mouth opening and pain relief in patients with myofascial TMDs accompanied by secondary headaches induced by masticatory myalgia.

• Korean Journal of Construction Engineering and Management
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.70-78
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• 2023

Inclinometer has several problems of 1)difficulty installing inclinometer casing, 2) measuring 2D local lateral displacement of retaining wall, 3) measurement by manpower. To solve such problems, a 2D LiDAR sensor-based retaining wall displacement measurement system was developed in previous studies. The purpose of this study is to select a displacement analysis algorithm to be applied in the retaining wall displacement measurement system. As a result of the displacement analysis algorithm selection, the M3C2 (Multiple Model to Model Cloud Comparison) algorithm with a displacement estimation error of 2mm was selected as the displacement analysis algorithm. If the M3C2 algorithm is applied in the system and the reliability of the displacement analysis result is secured through several field experiments. Convenient management of the displacement for the retaining wall is possible in comparison with the current measurement management.

• Oncology Letters
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• v.18 no.6
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• pp.5889-5896
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• 2019

The elimination of residual microscopic cancer cells is important cancer treatment. The immunoediting theory describes the balance between the immune system and cancer cells. The current study investigated changes in the immune system during the elimination of cancer cells and evaluated the influence of cluster of differentiation (CD)4 or CD8 depletion. A human squamous cell cancer cell line (SNU1041) was injected in the lateral tongue of immunocompetent mice and the changes in the CD4, CD8, CD11b, CD19, CD40 and CD40 ligand (L) populations in the blood, lymph nodes and spleen were evaluated using flow cytometry, and changes in serum cytokine levels were evaluated using a magnetic bead panel. Cancer cell elimination was delayed by CD4 depletion but not by CD8 depletion. The CD8-depleted group indicated increased levels of CD40L, interferon-gamma, interleukin (IL)-10, IL-6, and tumor necrosis factor-α. It was concluded that CD4 served a crucial role in the elimination of human cancer cells. Furthermore, the efficacies of CD40 agonist and programmed cell death protein 1 (PD1) antagonist treatments were assessed in CD4-depleted mice. CD40 agonist treatment resulted in faster cancer cell elimination and increased cytokine excretion. In conclusion, CD4 or CD40L significantly influenced cancer elimination. CD40 agonist antibodies may be potent adjuvant agents that can be used in patients with reduced CD4 or CD40L expression

• The korean journal of orthodontics
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• v.40 no.2
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• pp.106-114
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• 2010

Objective: The aim of this experimental study was to evaluate the effects of direct electrical current stimulation (DECS) on bone regeneration in response to an expansion of the inter-premaxillary suture in the rat. Methods: Sixteen 50 - 60 days old Wistar male rats were separated into two equal groups (control and experimental). Both groups were subjected to expansion, and 30-gram of force was applied to the maxillary incisors with helical-spring. In the experimental group, two metallic-screws were placed at lateral parts of the maxillary segments. Electrodes were connected to the screws. The device was activated with current adjustment to measure $10{\mu}A$ continuously and the current was monitored daily during the expansion and early-retention phase. Bone regeneration in the sutural area was histomorphometrically evaluated including new-bone area (${\mu}m^2$), bone perimeter (${\mu}m$), feret's diameter (${\mu}m$) and newly formed bone (%) parameters. Kruskal-Wallis rank and Mann-Whitney U tests were used for statistical evaluation at p < 0.05 level. Results: Statistical analysis showed significant differences between groups for all investigated histomorphometric parameters. New bone area (p = 0.002), bone perimeter (p = 0.004), feret's diameter (p = 0.002) and newly formed bone percentage (p = 0.002) measurements were significantly higher in the experimental group than the control group. Bone histomorphometric measurements revealed that bone architecture in the DECS group was improved. Conclusions: The application of DECS to an orthopedically expanded inter-premaxillary suture area during the early retention phase stimulated the formation of new bone.