• Earthquakes and Structures
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• 제7권2호
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• pp.179-199
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• 2014

The steel tube-reinforced concrete (ST-RC) composite column is a novel type of composite column, consisting of a steel tube embedded in reinforced concrete. The objective of this paper is to investigate the effect of cumulative damage on the seismic behavior of ST-RC columns through experimental testing. Six large-scale ST-RC column specimens were subjected to high axial forces and cyclic lateral loading. The specimens included two groups, where Group I had a higher amount of transverse reinforcement than Group II. The test results indicate that all specimens failed in a flexural mode, characterized by buckling and yielding of longitudinal rebars, failure of transverse rebars, compressive crushing of concrete, and steel tube buckling at the base of the columns. The number of loading cycles was found to have minimal effect on the strength capacity of the specimens. The number of loading cycles had limited effect on the deformation capacity for the Group I specimens, while an obvious effect on the deformation capacity for the Group II specimens was observed. The Group I specimen showed significantly larger deformation and energy dissipation capacities than the corresponding Group II specimen, for the case where the lateral cyclic loads were repeated ten cycles at each drift level. The ultimate displacement of the Group I specimen was 25% larger than that of the Group II counterpart, and the cumulative energy dissipated by the former was 2.8 times that of the latter. Based on the test results, recommendations are made for the amount of transverse reinforcement required in seismic design of ST-RC columns for ensuring adequate deformation capacity.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• 제29권4호
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• pp.259-267
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• 2002

Objective: This study was performed to compare the clinical outcomes of GnRH antagonist (Cetrorelix) single dose and multiple dose protocols for controlled ovarian hyperstimulation with GnRH agonist long protocol. Materials and Method: From September 2001 to March 2002, 48 patients (55 cycles) were performed controlled ovarian hyperstimulation for ART using by either GnRH antagonist and GnRH agonist. Single dose of 3 mg GnRH antagonist was administered in 15 patients (17 cycles, single dose group) at MCD #8 and multiple dose of 0.25 mg of GnRH antagonist was administered in 15 patients (18 cycles, multiple dose group) from MCD #7 to hCG injection day. GnRH agonist was administered in 18 patients (20 cycles, control group) by conventional GnRH agonist long protocol. We compared the implantation rate, number of embryos, and clinical pregnancy rate among three groups. Student-t test and Chi-square were used to determine statistical significance. Statistical significance was defined as p<0.05. Results: There were no significant differences in ampules of used gonadotropins, number of mature oocytes, obtained embryos between single and multiple dose group, but compared with control group, ampules of used gonadotropins, number of mature oocytes, obtained embryos were decreased significantly in both groups. Clinical pregnancy rate and implantation rate were not different in three groups. There were no premature LH surge and ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome in three groups. Multiple pregnancy were occurred 1 case in multiple dose group and 2 case in control group. Conclusions: GnRH antagonist is a safe, effective, and alternative method in the controlled ovarian hyperstimulation compared with GnRH agonist. Clinical outcomes and efficacy of both single and multiple dose protocol are similar between two groups.

• 전자공학회논문지C
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• 제36C권5호
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• pp.76-85
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• 1999

신경회로망을 동적 정보처리에 응용하기 위해서는 비대칭 결합 신경회로망에서 생성되는 동적 상태천이에 관한 직관적 이해가 필요하다. 본 논문에서는 각 뉴런이 최근접 뉴런에만 이진화된 결합하중 +1 및 -1로 연결된 순환결합형 신경회로망의 동적인 상태천이 특성을 해석하였다. 상태천이 해석 알고리즘을 이용한 시뮬레이션 결과, 네트워크는 고정점, 베이슨을 갖는 리미트사이클 및 베이슨이 없는 리미트사이클의 3가지 어트랙터를 가진다. 또한, 네트워크에서 생성되는 리미트사이클의 수와 주기를 이론적으로 해석하여 정식화하고, 리미트사이클을 구성하는 상태벡터의 필요조건을 나타내었다. 이론 해석의 결과는 네트워크에서 생성되는 리미트사이클의 수가 뉴런(소자)의 수 n에 대해서 지수 함수적으로 증가함을 보여준다. 따라서 순환 결합형 신경회로망은 많은 동적 정보를 저장할 수 있는 메모리 시스템으로 이용할 수 있다.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• 제35권5호
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• pp.571-592
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• 2010

An energy-based fatigue life prediction framework was previously developed by the authors for prediction of axial, bending and shear fatigue life at various stress ratios. The framework for the prediction of fatigue life via energy analysis was based on a new constitutive law, which states the following: the amount of energy required to fracture a material is constant. In the first part of this study, energy expressions that construct the constitutive law are equated in the form of total strain energy and the distortion energy dissipated in a fatigue cycle. The resulting equation is further evaluated to acquire the equivalent stress per cycle using energy based methodologies. The equivalent stress expressions are developed both for biaxial and multiaxial fatigue loads and are used to predict the number of cycles to failure based on previously developed prediction criterion. The equivalent stress expressions developed in this study are further used in a new finite element procedure to predict the fatigue life for two and three dimensional structures. In the second part of this study, a new Quadrilateral fatigue finite element is developed through integration of constitutive law into minimum potential energy formulation. This new QUAD-4 element is capable of simulating biaxial fatigue problems. The final output of this finite element analysis both using equivalent stress approach and using the new QUAD-4 fatigue element, is in the form of number of cycles to failure for each element on a scale in ascending or descending order. Therefore, the new finite element framework can provide the number of cycles to failure at each location in gas turbine engine structural components. In order to obtain experimental data for comparison, an Al6061-T6 plate is tested using a previously developed vibration based testing framework. The finite element analysis is performed for Al6061-T6 aluminum and the results are compared with experimental results.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• 제42권2호
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• pp.67-71
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• 2015

Objective: Elevated serum progesterone (P) levels on triggering day have been known to affect the pregnancy rate of in vitro fertilization (IVF). This study aimed to identify the possible factors influencing serum P levels on triggering day in stimulated IVF cycles. Methods: Three hundred and thirty consecutive fresh IVF cycles were included in the study. All cycles were first attempts and were performed in a single infertility center. The indications for IVF were male factor infertility (n=114), ovulatory infertility (n=84), endometriosis (n=61), tubal infertility (n=59), unexplained infertility (n=41), and uterine factor infertility (n=39). A luteal long protocol of a gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) agonist (n=184) or a GnRH antagonist protocol (n=146) was used for pituitary suppression. Ovarian sensitivity was defined as the serum estradiol level on triggering day per 500 IU of administered gonadotropins (OS[a]) or the retrieved oocyte number per 500 IU of administered gonadotropins (OS[b]). Results: Univariate analysis revealed that the serum P level on triggering day was associated with the serum estradiol level on triggering day (r=0.379, p<0.001), the number of follicles ${\geq}14mm$ (r=0.247, p<0.001), the number of retrieved oocytes (r=0.384, p<0.001), and ovarian sensitivity (OS[a]: r=0.245, p<0.001; OS[b]: r=0.170, p=0.002). The woman's age, body mass index, antral follicle count, and basal serum follicle stimulating hormone and estradiol levels were not associated with serum P level on triggering day. The serum P level on triggering day did not show significant variation depending on the type or cause of infertility, pituitary suppression protocol, or the type of gonadotropins used. Conclusion: The serum P level on triggering day was closely related to the response to ovarian stimulation.

• Journal of Astronomy and Space Sciences
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• 제30권3호
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• pp.163-168
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• 2013

Parameters associated with solar minimum have been studied to relate them to solar activity at solar maximum so that one could possibly predict behaviors of an upcoming solar cycle. The number of active days has been known as a reliable indicator of solar activity around solar minimum. Active days are days with sunspots reported on the solar disk. In this work, we have explored the relationship between the sunspot numbers at solar maximum and the characteristics of the monthly number of active days. Specifically, we have statistically examined how the maximum monthly sunspot number of a given solar cycle is correlated with the slope of the linear relationship between monthly sunspot numbers and the monthly number of active days for the corresponding solar cycle. We have calculated the linear correlation coefficient r and the Spearman rank-order correlation coefficient $r_s$ for data sets prepared under various conditions. Even though marginal correlations are found, they turn out to be insufficiently significant (r ~ 0.3). Nonetheless, we have confirmed that the slope of the linear relationship between monthly sunspot numbers and the monthly number of active days is less steep when solar cycles belonging to the "Modern Maximum" are considered compared with rests of solar cycles. We conclude, therefore, that the slope of the linear relationship between monthly sunspot numbers and the monthly number of active days is indeed dependent on the solar activity at its maxima, but that this simple relationship should be insufficient as a valid method to predict the following solar activity amplitude.

• 한국분무공학회지
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• 제18권3호
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• pp.155-160
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• 2013

Worldwide harmonized light-duty vehicle test procedure (WLTP) for emission certification has been developed in WP.29 forum in UN ECE since 2007. The test procedure is expected to be applied to Korean light-duty diesel vehicles at the same time of adoption in Europe. The air pollutant emissions from light-duty vehicles have been regulated with weight per distance travelled which means the driving cycles can affect the results. The six Euro-5 light-duty diesel vehicles including sedan, SUV and truck have been tested with WLTP, NEDC which is used for emission certification for light-duty diesel vehicles, and CVS-75 to estimate how much particle number emission can be affected by different driving cycles. The averaged particle number emissions have not shown statistically meaningful difference. The maximum particle number emission have been found in Low speed phase of WLTP which is mainly caused by cooled engine conditions. The amount of particle number emission in cooled engine condition is much different as test vehicles. It means different technical solution is required in this aspect to cope with WLTP driving cycle.

• 한국자동차공학회논문집
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• 제15권4호
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• pp.101-107
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• 2007

This study investigated the wear of the valve and seat insert seating faces. A tester, an exhaust valve and a seat insert were used. Test variables were cycle numbers ($2{\times}10^6,\;4{\times}10^6,\;6{\times}10^6\;and\;8{\times}10^6$) and Hz (10Hz and 25Hz). The other test conditions such as temperature ($350^{\circ}C$), fuel (LPG) and load (1960N) were fixed. The 10Hz tests indicated that the average Rmax of the valve increased at the rate of $7.76{\mu}m/10^6$ cycles starting from $29.42{\mu}m$ at the $2{\times}10^6$ cycles and that of the seat insert increased at the rate of $8.57{\mu}m/10^6$ cycles starting from $34.19{\mu}m$ at the $2{\times}10^6$ cycles. The 25Hz tests indicated that the average Rmax of the valve increased at the rate of $1.58{\mu}m/10^6$ cycles starting from $74.2{\mu}m$ at the $2{\times}10^6$ cycles and that of the seat insert increased at the rate of $1.25{\mu}m/10^6$ cycles starting from $83.95{\mu}m$ at the $2{\times}10^6$ cycles. The tribochemical reaction product covered the two seating faces, preventing the wear of the seating faces. As cycle numbers became greater, the average Rmax of the seating faces became greater, but the increase rate varied significantly depending on the Hz. The wear mechanism of the two faces was investigated through the tribochemical reaction.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• 제47권3호
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• pp.213-220
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• 2020

Objective: The aim of this study was to explore the potential adverse effect of spontaneously decreasing serum estradiol (SE) levels on in vitro fertilization (IVF) outcomes. Methods: This retrospective single-subject study analyzed IVF cycles conducted at a hospital IVF unit between 2010 and 2017. Overall, 2,417 cycles were analyzed. Only cycles with spontaneously decreasing SE before human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) triggering were included. Each patient served as her own control, and subsequent cycles were analyzed for recurrent SE decreases. The main outcome was the number of oocytes retrieved. Results: Cycle characteristics were similar between the study (SE decrease) and control groups, with the exception of the median SE on the day of hCG triggering (899.7 pg/mL; interquartile range [IQR], 193-2,116 pg/mL vs. 1,566.8 pg/mL; IQR, 249-2,970 pg/mL; p< 0.001). The study group, relative to the control group, had significantly fewer total oocytes (5 [IQR, 2-9] vs. 7 [IQR, 3-11]; p= 0.002) and significantly fewer metaphase II (MII) oocytes (3 [IQR, 1-6] vs. 4 [IQR, 2-8]; p= 0.001) retrieved. The study group had fewer cleavage-stage embryos than the control cycles (3 [IQR, 1-6] vs. 4 [IQR, 2-7]; p= 0.012). Compared to cycles with a ≤ 20% SE decrease, cycles with a > 20% decrease had significantly fewer total and MII oocytes retrieved. SE decrease recurred in 12% of patients. Conclusion: A spontaneous decrease in SE levels adversely affected IVF outcomes, with a linear correlation between the percentage decrease and the number of oocytes retrieved. SE decrease can repeat in later cycles.

• 소성∙가공
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• 제14권1호
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• pp.71-77
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• 2005

Thermal stability and dry sliding wear behavior of ultra-fine grained 6061 Al alloy fabricated by an accumulative roll-bonding (ARB) process have been investigated. After 4 ARB cycles, an ultra-fine grained microstructure of the 6061 Al alloy composed of grains with average size of 500nm, and separated mostly by high-angle boundaries was obtained. Though hardness and tensile strength of the ARB processed Al alloy increased with ARB cycles up to 4 cycles, the processed alloy exhibited decreased ductility and little strain hardening. Thermal stability of the ARB-processed microstructure was studied by annealing of the severely deformed alloy at $423K{\sim}573K$. The refined microstructure of the alloy remained stable up to 473K, and the peak aging treatment of the alloy at 450K for 8 hrs increased the thermal stability of the alloy. Sliding-wear rates of the alloy increased with the number of ARB cycles in spite of the increased hardness with the cycles. Wear mechanisms of the ultra-fine grained alloy were investigated by examining worn surfaces, wear debris, and cross-sections by a scanning electron microscopy (SEM).