• Title/Summary/Keyword: non homogenous

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Synthesis of Solution-Processed Cu2ZnSnSe4 Thin Films on Transparent Conducting Oxide Glass Substrates

  • Ismail, Agus;Cho, Jin Woo;Park, Se Jin;Hwang, Yun Jeong;Min, Byoung Koun
    • Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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    • v.35 no.7
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    • pp.1985-1988
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    • 2014
  • $Cu_2ZnSnSe_4$ (CZTSe) thin films were synthesized on transparent conducting oxide glass substrates via a simple, non-toxic, and low-cost process using a precursor solution paste. A three-step heating process (oxidation, sulfurization, and selenization) was employed to synthesize a CZTSe thin film as an absorber layer for use in thin-film solar cells. In particular, we focused on the effects of sulfurization conditions on CZTSe film formation. We found that sulfurization at $400^{\circ}C$ involves the formation of secondary phases such as $CuSe_2$ and $Cu_2SnSe_3$, but they gradually disappeared when the temperature was increased. The formed CZTSe thin films showed homogenous and good crystallinity with grain sizes of approximately 600 nm. A solar cell device was tentatively fabricated and showed a power conversion efficiency of 2.2% on an active area of 0.44 $cm^2$ with an open circuit voltage of 365 mV, a short current density of 20.6 $mA/cm^2$, and a fill factor of 28.7%.

Asymmetrical Volume Loss in Hippocampal Subfield During the Early Stages of Alzheimer Disease: A Cross Sectional Study

  • Kannappan, Balaji
    • Journal of Integrative Natural Science
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    • v.11 no.3
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    • pp.139-147
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    • 2018
  • Hippocampal atrophy is a well-established imaging biomarker of Alzheimer disease (AD). However, hippocampus is a non-homogenous structure with cytoarchitecturally and functionally distinct sub-regions or subfield, with each region performing distinct functions. Certain regions of the subfield have shown selective vulnerability to AD. Here, we are interested in studying the effects of normal aging and mild cognitive impairment on these sub-regional volumes. With a reliable automated segmentation technique, we segmented these subregions of the hippocampus in 101 cognitively normal (CN), 135 early mild cognitive impairment (EMCI), 67 late mild cognitive impairment (LMCI) and 48 AD subjects. Thereby, dividing the hippocampus into hippocampal tail (tail), subiculum (SUB), cornu ammonis 1 (CA1), hippocampal fissure (fissure), presubiculum (PSUB), parasubiculum (ParaSUB), molecular layer (ML), granule cells/molecular layer/dentate gyrus (GCMLDG), cornu ammonis 3(CA3), cornu ammonis 4(CA4), fimbria and hippocampal-amygdala transition area (HATA). In this cross sectional study of 351 ADNI subjects, no differences in terms of age, gender, and years of education were observed among the groups. Though, the groups had statistically significant differences (p < 0.05 after the multiple comparison correction) in the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) scores. There was asymmetrical volume loss in the early stages of AD with the left hemisphere showing volume loss in regions that were unaffected in the right hemisphere. Bilateral parasubiculum, right cornu ammonis 1, 3 and 4, right fimbria and right HATA regions did not show any volume loss till the late MCI stages. Our findings suggest that the hippocampal subfield regions are selectively vulnerable to AD and also that these vulnerabilities are asymmetrical especially during the early stages of AD.

Hemiarthroplasty for Distal Humerus Fracture: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis for Functional Outcome

  • Kwak, Jae-Man;Kholinne, Erica;Sun, Yucheng;Lee, Gwan Bum;Koh, Kyoung Hwan;Chun, Jae-Myeung;Jeon, In-Ho
    • Clinics in Shoulder and Elbow
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    • v.21 no.3
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    • pp.120-126
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    • 2018
  • Background: Treatment of distal humerus fractures in osteoporotic elderly patients is often challenging. For non-reconstructible fractures with open reduction and internal fixation, total elbow arthroplasty (TEA) is an acceptable alternative. However, the relatively high complication rates and lifelong activity restrictions make TEA less ideal for elderly or low-demand patients. Efforts to identify or develop alternate procedures that benefit relatively young, high-demand patients have resulted in increased interest in hemiarthroplasty. This systematic review reports the clinical outcomes of hemiarthroplasty for distal humeral fractures. Methods: We systematically reviewed the databases of PubMed, Ovid MEDLINE, and Cochrane Library. All English-language studies published before June 2017 were considered for possible inclusion. Search terms included 'distal humerus fracture' and 'hemiarthroplasty'. Studies reporting outcomes (and a minimum of 1 year clinical follow-up) in human subjects after hemiarthroplasty (Latitude system) for distal humeral fractures were assessed for inclusion. Patient demographics, clinical and radiographic outcomes, and complications were recorded, and homogenous outcome measures were analyzed. Results: Nine studies with a total of 115 patients met the inclusion criteria. Among the included studies, the weighted mean follow-up time was 35.4 months. Furthermore, the weighted mean of the postoperative range of motion ($107.6^{\circ}$ flexion-extension, $157.5^{\circ}$ for pronation-supination) and functional outcomes (Mayo elbow performance scores: 85.8, Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand score: 19.6) were within the acceptable range. Conclusions: Our study indicates that hemiarthroplasty is a viable option for comminuted distal humerus fracture. Satisfactory functional outcomes were observed in most patients.

Basic Marine Environmental Characteristics of Suspended Sediments in the Inner Shelf Zone off Tae-An Peninsula, West Coast of Korea (한반도 서해 태안반도 연근해 부유퇴적물의 기초 해양환경적 특성)

  • 최진용;박용안
    • The Sea:JOURNAL OF THE KOREAN SOCIETY OF OCEANOGRAPHY
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    • v.1 no.1
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    • pp.46-54
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    • 1996
  • A study on the concentrations of total suspended matters (TSM) and their distribution pattern was conducted off the west coast of Tae-An Peninsula during the spring season. Especially non-destructive and fine-tuned analysis for the size-distribution of suspended matters was made using SPECTREX instrument. Water masses were characterized by the typical tidal front, with vertically homogenous coastal waters and the strong thermoclines on the offshore area. Concentrations of suspended matters were generally less than 10 mg/l, but the concentrations increased up to 25 mg/l at the bottom waters and mid-depth waters. Mean particle size of the suspended matters were generally 5-6$\mu\textrm{m}$ and 8-10$\mu\textrm{m}$ for the fine-grained suspended matters and the coarse-grained suspended matters, respectively. They are considered to be composed dominantly of detrital materials. On the coastal area, landward side of tidal front, bottom sediments can be easily resuspended by the strong tidal currents, and therefore, deposition of suspended materials are thought to be rather limited. On the offshore area, however, suspended sediments mostly supplied from the northern part of the present study area near Kyunggi Bay are thought to be transported southward and/or southwestward along the mid- depth layer of strong thermocline.

Diethylnitrosamine-induced hepatic tumorigenesis in rats 3. Electron microscopic observation of liver tissue (Diethylnitrosamine을 투여한 rat 간장의 tumorigenesis에 관하여 3. 간장조직의 전자현미경적 관찰)

  • Kwak, Soo-dong;Kim, Chong-sup;Koh, Phil-ok;Yang, Je-hoon;Seo, Deuk-lok
    • Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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    • v.39 no.6
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    • pp.1057-1065
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    • 1999
  • The study was designated to investigate the electron microscopic findings following diethylnitrosamine (DEN) treatment in rats. Forty four male (Srague Dawley) rats were continuously given water containing 0.01% DEN for 13 weeks and livers of five rats with more tumor lesions at 16 and 17 weeks after initial treatment were used as EM materials. In transmission electron microscopic findings, most small-sized hepatocytes were active cells containing large mount of organelles, but light (pale staining) hepatocytes among small-sized hepatocytes were injured cells containg disorganized organelles. Tumor cells among small-sized hepatocytes were irregularly arranged and have pleomorphic nuclei containing electron dense chromatin but the organelles in cytoplasm were swelled. Large-sized hepatocytes were active cells with condensed chromatin but the cytoplasm of these cells were pale due to be injured and dilated organelles. Dark hepatocytes were apoptotic cells with homogenous pyknotic nuclei and cytoplasm, and the cytoplasm of these cells contained dilated smooth endoplasmic reticulum (sER) but these sER were non-vesiculated. Cholangiocarninoma cells were crowded and were pale by far less number of organelles in cytoplasm and nuclei. In scanning electron microscopic findings, the lumens of portal veins, bile canaliculi, bile ductules, bile ducts and sinusoids were dilated and have irregular folded inner surface by protruded parenchyma.

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Comparison of postural control between subgroups of persons with nonspecific chronic low back and healthy controls during the modified Star Excursion Balance Test

  • Shallan, Amjad;Lohman, Everett;Alshammari, Faris;Dudley, Robert;Gharisia, Omar;Al-Marzouki, Rana;Hsu, Helen;Daher, Noha
    • Physical Therapy Rehabilitation Science
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    • v.8 no.3
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    • pp.125-133
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    • 2019
  • Objective: To compare the postural control between non-specific chronic low back pain (NSCLBP) subgroups and healthy people during dynamic balance performance using a modified Star Excursion Balance Test (mSEBT). Design: Cross-sectional study. Methods: Eighteen NSCLBP subjects (9 active extension pattern [AEP], 9 flexion pattern [FP]), and 10 healthy controls were enrolled in this study. All subjects performed mSEBT on their dominant leg on a force plate. Normalized reach distance and balance parameters, including the center of pressure (COP) displacement and velocity, were recorded. Results: There were significant differences in mean reach distances in both posterolateral and posteromedial (PM) reach directions between AEP and healthy subjects (p<0.001) and between FP and healthy subjects (p<0.001). However, there were no significant differences among the three groups in the anterior reach direction. Also, the results showed no significant differences in mean COP variables (velocity and displacement) between pooled NSCLBP and healthy subjects. However, the subjects were reclassified into AEP, FP and healthy groups and the results showed a significant difference in mean COP velocity in the PM direction between AEP and FP subjects (p=0.048), and between AEP and healthy subjects (p=0.024). Conclusions: The findings in this study highlight the heterogeneity of the individuals with NSCLBP and the importance of identifying the homogenous subgroups. Individuals with AEP and FP experience deficits in dynamic postural control compared to healthy controls. In addition, the findings of this study support the concept of the Multidimensional Classification System.

Theoretical models of threshold stress intensity factor and critical hydride length for delayed hydride cracking considering thermal stresses

  • Zhang, Jingyu;Zhu, Jiacheng;Ding, Shurong;Chen, Liang;Li, Wenjie;Pang, Hua
    • Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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    • v.50 no.7
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    • pp.1138-1147
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    • 2018
  • Delayed hydride cracking (DHC) is an important failure mechanism for Zircaloy tubes in the demanding environment of nuclear reactors. The threshold stress intensity factor, $K_{IH}$, and critical hydride length, $l_C$, are important parameters to evaluate DHC. Theoretical models of them are developed for Zircaloy tubes undergoing non-homogenous temperature loading, with new stress distributions ahead of the crack tip and thermal stresses involved. A new stress distribution in the plastic zone ahead of the crack tip is proposed according to the fracture mechanics theory of second-order estimate of plastic zone size. The developed models with fewer fitting parameters are validated with the experimental results for $K_{IH}$ and $l_C$. The research results for radial cracking cases indicate that a better agreement for $K_{IH}$ can be achieved; the negative axial thermal stresses can lessen $K_{IH}$ and enlarge the critical hydride length, so its effect should be considered in the safety evaluation and constraint design for fuel rods; the critical hydride length $l_C$ changes slightly in a certain range of stress intensity factors, which interprets the phenomenon that the DHC velocity varies slowly in the steady crack growth stage. Besides, the sensitivity analysis of model parameters demonstrates that an increase in yield strength of zircaloy will result in a decrease in the critical hydride length $l_C$, and $K_{IH}$ will firstly decrease and then have a trend to increase with the yield strength of Zircaloy; higher fracture strength of hydrided zircaloy will lead to very high values of threshold stress intensity factor and critical hydride length at higher temperatures, which might be the main mechanism of crack arrest for some Zircaloy materials.

Effect of Implant Length on the Immediate Loading at the Anterior Maxilla (즉시하중시 상악 전치부에 식립된 임플란트 길이 변화에 따른 응력 분포의 삼차원 유한요소 연구)

  • Lee, Joon-Seok;Kim, Myung-Joo;Kwon, Ho-Beom;Lim, Young-Jun
    • Journal of Dental Rehabilitation and Applied Science
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    • v.25 no.3
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    • pp.255-265
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    • 2009
  • Recently many studies have been published on application of immediate loaded implants. However, the immediate loading protocol has not been well documented. The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the stress distribution between bone-implant interfaces and the effect of implant length in the anterior maxilla using 3 dimensional finite element analyses. The diameter 4.0 mm threaded type implants with different length(8.5 mm, 10.0 mm, 11.5 mm, 13.0 mm, 15.0 mm) were used in this study. The bone quality of anterior maxillary bone block was assumed to D3 bone. Bone-implant interfaces of immediately loaded implant were constructed using a contact element for simulating the non osseointegration status. For simplification of all the processing procedures, all of the material assumed to be homogenous, isotropic, and linearly elastic. The 178 N of static force was applied on the middle of the palatoincisal line angle of the abutment with $120^{\circ}$ angle to the long axis of abutment. Maximum von Mises stress were concentrated on the labial cortical bone of the implant neck area, especially at the cortical-cancellous bone interfaces. Compared the different length, highest peak stress value was observed at the 8.5 mm implants and the results indicated a tendency towards favorable stress distribution on the bone, when the length was increased. Presence of cortical bone was very important to immediate loading, and it appears that implants of a length more than 13 mm are preferable for immediate loading at the anterior maxilla.

TISSUE REACTION IN RESPONSE TO AUGMENTATION OF SOFT TISSUE DEFECTS ACCORDING TO THE DERMIS GRAFT MATERIALS IN RABBITS (연조직 결손을 일으킨 가토에서 진피 이식재에 따른 조직반응 비교)

  • Ha, Hyun;Kim, Sun-Kook;Ryu, Sun-Youl
    • Journal of the Korean Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons
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    • v.33 no.2
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    • pp.114-120
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    • 2007
  • The augmentation of soft tissue defects is one of the critical problems in the oral and maxillofacial surgery. Various types of graft materials, both autologous and non-autologous, have been used for the augmentation of soft tissue in the facial region. However, it is not easy to choose an ideal material for soft tissue augmentation because each has its advantages and disadvantages. An ideal graft material should meet the following criteria : it should not leave a scar at the area from which it was taken; should have less likelihood of causing infection; should feel natural after implanted; and should be not absorbed. Among the materials meeting these criteria, human dermis and artificial dermis are commonly used for clinical purposes. The present study was aimed to investigate and compare the resorption rate and the histological change following the use of the autologous dermis, the human homogenous dermis $Alloderm^{(R)}$, and the artificial dermis $Terudermis^{(R)}$ to reconstruct the soft tissue defect. Twenty mature rabbits of either sex, weighing about 2 ㎏, were used. Each rabbit was transplanted with the autologous dermis, $Alloderm^{(R)}$, and $Terudermis^{(R)}$ size $1{\times}1-cm$ at the space between the external abdominal oblique muscle and the external abdominal oblique fascia. They were then divided into 4 groups (n=5 each) according to the time elapsed after the surgery: 1, 2, 4, and 8 weeks. The resorption rate was calculated by measuring the volume change before and after the transplantation, and H-E stain was preformed to observe the histological changes. The resorption rate after 8 weeks was 21.5% for the autologous dermis, 16.0% $Alloderm^{(R)}$, and 36.4% $Terudermis^{(R)}$, suggesting that $Alloderm^{(R)}$ is the most stable while $Terudermis^{(R)}$ is the most unstable. In microscopic examinations, the autologous dermis graft was surrounded by inflammatory cells and showed foreign body reactions. The epidermal inclusion cyst was observed in the autologous dermis graft. $Terudermis^{(R)}$ and $Alloderm^{(R)}$ demonstrated neovascularization and the progressive growth of new fibroblast. The results suggest that $Terudermis^{(R)}$ and $Alloderm^{(R)}$ can be availably for substituting the autologous dermis.

Airborne In-situ Measurement of CO2 and CH4 in Korea: Case Study of Vertical Distribution Measured at Anmyeon-do in Winter (항공기를 이용한 온실가스 CO2와 CH4의 연속관측: 안면도 겨울철 연직분포사례 분석)

  • Li, Shanlan;Goo, Tae-Young;Moon, Hyejin;Labzovskii, Lev;Kenea, Samuel Takele;Oh, Young-Suk;Lee, Haeyoung;Byun, Young-Hwa
    • Atmosphere
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    • v.29 no.5
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    • pp.511-523
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    • 2019
  • A new Korean Meteorological Administration (KMA) airborne measurement platform has been established for regular observations for scientific purpose over South Korea since late 2017. CRDS G-2401m analyzer mounted on the King Air 350HW was used to continuous measurement of CO2, CH4 and CO mole fraction. The total uncertainty of measurements was estimated to be 0.07 ppm for CO2, 0.5 ppb for CH4, and 4.2 ppb for CO by combination of instrument precision, repeatability test simulated in-flight condition and water vapor correction uncertainty. The airborne vertical profile measurements were performed at a regional Global Atmosphere Watch (GAW) Anmyeon-do (AMY) station that belongs to the Total Carbon Column Observing Network (TCCON) and provides concurrent observations to the Greenhouse Gases Observing Satellite (GOSAT) overpasses. The vertical profile of CO2 shows clear altitude gradient, while the CH4 shows non-homogenous pattern in the free troposphere over Anmyeon-do. Vertically averaged CO2 at the altitude between 1.5 and 8.0km are lower than AMY surface background value about 7 ppm but higher than that observed in free troposphere of western pacific region about 4 ppm, respectively. CH4 shows lower level than those from ground GAW stations, comparable with flask airborne data that was taken in the western pacific region. Furthermore, this study shows that the combination of CH4 distribution in free troposphere and trajectory analysis, taking account of convective mixing, is a useful tool in investigating CH4 transport processes from tropical region to Korean region in winter season.