• The KIPS Transactions:PartB
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• v.19B no.1
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• pp.1-8
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• 2012

Mosaic is to make a big image by gathering lots of small materials having various colors. With advance of digital imaging techniques, photomosaic techniques using photos are widely used. In this paper, we presents an automatic photomosaic algorithm based on adaptive tiling and block matching. The proposed algorithm is composed of two processes: photo database generation and photomosaic generation. Photo database is a set of photos (or tiles) used for mosaic, where a tile is divided into $4{\times}4$ regions and the average RGB value of each region is the feature of the tile. Photomosaic generation is composed of 4 steps: feature extraction, adaptive tiling, block matching, and intensity adjustment. In feature extraction, the feature of each block is calculated after the image is splitted into the preset size of blocks. In adaptive tiling, the blocks having similar similarities are merged. Then, the blocks are compared with tiles in photo database by comparing euclidean distance as a similarity measure in block matching. Finally, in intensity adjustment, the intensity of the matched tile is replaced as that of the block to increase the similarity between the tile and the block. Also, a tile redundancy minimization scheme of adjacent blocks is applied to enhance the quality of mosaic photos. In comparison with Andrea mosaic software, the proposed algorithm outperforms in quantitative and qualitative analysis.

• Journal of Dental Anesthesia and Pain Medicine
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.195-202
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• 2020

Background: Nasotracheal intubation is the most commonly used method to secure the field of view when performing surgery on the oral cavity or neck. Like orotracheal intubation, nasotracheal intubation uses a laryngoscope. Hemodynamic change occurs due to the stimulation of the sympathetic nervous system. Recently, video laryngoscope with a camera attached to the end of the direct laryngoscope blade has been used to minimize this change. In this study, we investigated the optimal effect-site concentration (Ce) of remifentanil for minimizing hemodynamic responses during nasotracheal intubation with a video laryngoscope. Methods: Twenty-one patients, aged between 19 and 60 years old, scheduled for elective surgery were included in this study. Anesthesia was induced by slowly injecting propofol. At the same time, remifentanil infusion was initiated at 3.0 ng/ml via target-controlled infusion (TCI). When remifentanil attained the preset Ce, nasotracheal intubation was performed using a video laryngoscope. The patient's blood pressure and heart rate were checked pre-induction, right before and after intubation, and 1 min after intubation. Hemodynamic stability was defined as an increase in systolic blood pressure and heart rate by 20% before and after nasotracheal intubation. The response of each patient determined the Ce of remifentanil for the next patient at an interval of 0.3 ng/ml. Results: The Ce of remifentanil administered ranged from 2.4 to 3.6 ng/ml for the patients evaluated. The estimated optimal effective effect-site concentrations of remifentanil were 3.22 and 4.25 ng/ml, that were associated with a 50% and 95% probability of maintaining hemodynamic stability, respectively. Conclusion: Nasotracheal intubation using a video laryngoscope can be successfully performed in a hemodynamically stable state by using the optimal remifentanil effect-site concentration (Ce₅₀, 3.22 ng/ml; Ce₉₅, 4.25 ng/ml).

• Journal of the Institute of Electronics Engineers of Korea SD
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• v.48 no.8
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• pp.25-32
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• 2011

Networks-on-chip (NoC) is emerging as a key technology to overcome severe bus traffics in ever-increasing complexity of the Multiprocessor systems-on-chip (MPSoC); however traditional electrical interconnection based NoC architecture would be faced with technical limits of bandwidth and power consumptions in the near future. In order to cope with these problems, a hybrid optical NoC architecture which use both electrical interconnects and optical interconnects together, has been widely investigated. In the hybrid optical NoCs, wormhole switching and simple deterministic X-Y routing are used for the electrical interconnections which is responsible for the setup of routing path and optical router to transmit optical data through optical interconnects. Optical NoC uses circuit switching method to send payload data by preset paths and routers. However, conventional hybrid optical NoC has a drawback that concurrent transmissions are not allowed. Therefore, performance improvement is limited. In this paper, we propose a new routing algorithm that uses circuit switching and adaptive algorithm for the electrical interconnections to transmit data using multiple paths simultaneously. We also propose an efficient method to prevent livelock problems. Experimental results show up to 60% throughput improvement compared to a hybrid optical NoC and 65% power reduction compared to an electrical NoC.

• Journal of Dental Anesthesia and Pain Medicine
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• v.15 no.4
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• pp.221-227
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• 2015

Background: Endotracheal intubation induces clinically adverse cardiovascular changes. Various pharmacological strategies for controlling these responses have been suggested with opioids being widely administered. In this study, the optimal effect-site concentration (Ce) of remifentanil for minimizing hemodynamic responses to fiberoptic nasotracheal intubation was evaluated. Methods: Thirty patients, aged 18-63 years, scheduled for elective surgery were included. Anesthesia was induced with a propofol and remifentanil infusion via target-controlled infusion (TCI). Remifentanil infusion was initiated at 3.0 ng/mL, and the response of each patient determined the Ce of remifentanil for the next patient by the Dixon up-and-down method at an interval of 0.5 ng/mL. Rocuronium was administered after propofol and remifentanil reached their preset Ce; 90 seconds later fiberoptic nasotracheal intubation was initiated. Non-invasive blood pressure and heart rate (HR) were measured at pre-induction, the time Ce was reached, immediately before and after intubation, and at 1 and 3 minutes after intubation. The up-and-down criteria comprised a 20% change in mean blood pressure and HR between just prior to intubation and 1 minute after intubation. Results: The median effective effect-site concentration ($EC_{50}$) of remifentanil was $3.11{\pm}0.38ng/mL$ by the Dixon's up-and-down method. From the probit analysis, the $EC_{50}$ of remifentanil was 3.43 ng/mL (95% confidence interval, 2.90-4.06 ng/mL). In PAVA, the EC50 and EC95 of remifentanil were 3.57 ng/mL (95% CI, 2.95-3.89) and 4.35 ng/mL (95% CI, 3.93-4.45). No remifentanil-related complications were observed. Conclusions: The $EC_{50}$ of remifentanil for minimizing the cardiovascular changes and side effects associated with fiberoptic nasotracheal intubation was 3.11-3.43 ng/mL during propofol TCI anesthesia with a Ce of 4 ug/mL.

• Journal of the Institute of Electronics and Information Engineers
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• v.50 no.9
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• pp.68-73
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• 2013

In this paper, we proposed a readout circuit of pulse waveform and rate for a U-health system to monitor health condition. For long-time operation without replacing or charging a battery, either pulse waveform or pulse rate is selected as the output data of the proposed readout circuit according to health condition of a user. The proposed readout circuit consists of a simple digital logic discriminator and a dual-mode ADC which operates in the ADC mode or in the count mode. Firstly, the readout circuit counts pulse rate for 4 seconds in the count mode using the dual-mode ADC. Health condition is examined after the counted pulse rate is accumulated for 1 minute in the discriminator. If the pulse rate is out of the preset normal range, the dual-mode ADC operates in the ADC mode where pulse waveform is converted into 10-bit digital data with the sampling frequency of 1 kHz. These data are stored in a buffer and transmitted by 620 kbps to an external monitor through a RF transmitter. The data transmission period of the RF transmitter depends on the operation mode. It is generally 1 minute in the normal situation or 1 ms in the emergency situation. The proposed readout circuit was designed with $0.11{\mu}m$ process technology. The chip area is $460{\times}800{\mu}m^2$. According to measurement, the power consumption is $161.8{\mu}W$ in the count mode and $507.3{\mu}W$ in the ADC mode with the operating voltage of 1 V.

• The Journal of the Korea Contents Association
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• v.13 no.11
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• pp.1004-1013
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• 2013

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of education of natural disaster on eco-friendly attitude of children in integrated class in the lower grades in elementary school. For the above mentioned purpose, 2 children with developmental delay and 45 general children enrolled in two integrated classes in the first grade in C Elementary School located in G City. The class that wanted to participate in this program was designated as an experimental group and the other class as a comparative group. Total 18 times of session of experimental treatment were performed during the second semester of the first grade. The effect of education of natural disaster was measured by using the tool revised and adapted by Heoh, Yun Jeong on the basis of CATES-PV designed by Musser and Diamond. As results, it was appeared that education of natural disaster was effective to increase eco-friendly attitude of children in integrated class in the lower grades in elementary school. The results that ability and attitude which were goals of the current education related to environment such as love and concern for animals and plants, life respect consciousness, preference for natural environment rather than artificial environment, conservation of nature and resources saving etc of children who received education of natural disaster suggest necessity to rethink the meaning and scope about education of natural disaster for Korean children in the preset.

• Journal of Biosystems Engineering
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• v.39 no.2
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• pp.101-110
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• 2014

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to develop a system to optimize drying potential energy of the exhausted hot air by changing relative humidity of the air. This study modified the conventional drying method into a drying method changing exhaust cycle and time in order to control the relative humidity of the exhausted hot air during drying process. Method: A valve on the vent was controlled according to a preset time to change the exhaust cycle and time. This study analyzed the influence of the two different types of drying method on the drying characteristics, required energy, and quality of the dried peppers: conventional drying method exhausting hot air continuously and new drying method controlling exhaust cycle and time. Results: Drying characteristics based on exhaust time showed that drying time increased with exhaust time, and specific energy consumption was reduced by 28% from 18.39 MJ/kg (conventional method) to 13.24 MJ/kg when exhaust time was set to one minute. Drying characteristics based on heating time showed that drying time increased with heating time and specific energy consumption was reduced by 30% from 18.39 MJ/kg (conventional method) to 12.87 MJ/kg when exhaust time was set to 22 minutes. Drying characteristics based on exhaust cycle showed that drying time increased with exhaust cycle, and specific energy consumption was reduced by 31% from 18.39 MJ/kg (conventional method) to 12.69 MJ/kg when exhaust time was set to one minute and exhaust cycle was set to 22 minutes before drying and 40 minutes after drying. The quality of the dried red peppers showed that capsaicin, color, and sugar content were high as 34.87 mg/100g, 66.33, and 11.87%, respectively, when exhaust time was set to one minute and exhaust cycle was set to 22 minutes before drying and 40 minutes after drying. Conclusions: In order to utilize the drying potential energy of the exhausted air during drying process, the conventional drying method was modified into the drying method controlling exhaust cycle and time. The results showed that drying with exhaust cycle of one minute was more efficient in terms of drying time, required energy, and quality of the dried peppers than the one with exhaust cycle of 20~40 minutes.

• Journal of Biomedical Engineering Research
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.183-190
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• 1999

The purpose of this study was to develop a portable and convenient closed-loop contrel type electrical stimulator for patients with foot drop. This system restores walking movement as well as prevents from atrophy or necrosis of lower limb muscles and increases blood circulation in hemiplegic patients caused by traffic accident, industrial disaster or stoke. This system detects the changes of the ankle joint angle during walking, and then controls the stimulus intensity automatically to maintain the programmed level of the ankle joint angle. Also, this automatic system controls the stimulus intensity which is affected by increased electrode impedance resulting from long time use. The system detects the joint angle by an optical sensor and includes modified PID control which adjusts the stimulus intensity if the joint angle deviates from the preset value. Stimulus parameters are 30~80 volt, 40 Hz, and 0.2 ms. The system was applied to five hemiplegic patients for 42 days. Duration of stimulation was 15 min/day for the first week and then the duration was gradually increased to 30, 60, 90 and 120 min/day. The muscle force was increased up to 29.7%, muscle fatigue was decreased compared with the level before stimulation and the pattern of locomotion was improved. These results suggest that the electrical stimulator with closed-loop control type is more convenient and effective in restoration of locomotion of patients with foot drop than open-loop system.

• Korean Journal of Digital Imaging in Medicine
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.32-44
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• 2002

The role of radiology department has been greatly increased in the past few years as the technology in the medical imaging devices improved and the introduction of PACS (Picture Archiving and Communications System) to the conventional film-based diagnostic structure is a truly remarkable factor to the medical history. In addition, the value of using digital information in medical imaging is highly expected to grow as the technology over the computer and the network improves. However, the current medical practice, using PACS is somewhat limited compared to the film-based conventional one due to a poor image quality. The image quality is the most important and inevitable factor in the PACS environment and it is one of the most necessary steps to more wide practice of digital imaging. The existing image quality control tools are limited in controlling images produced from the medical modalities, because they cannot display the real image changing status. Thus, the image quality is distorted and the ability to diagnosis becomes hindered compared to the one of the film-based practice. In addition, the workflow of the radiologist greatly increases; as every doctor has to perform his or her own image quality control every time they view images produced from the medical modalities. To resolve these kinds of problems and enhance current medical practice under the PACS environment, we have developed a program to display a better image quality by using the ROI optical density of the existing gray level values. When the LUT is used properly, small detailed regions, which cannot be seen by using the existing image quality controls are easily displayed and thus, greatly improves digital medical practice. The purpose of this study is to provide an easier medical practice to physicians, by applying the technology of converting the H-D curves of the analog film screen to the digital imaging technology and to preset image quality control values to each exposed body part, modality and group of physicians for a better and easier medical practice. We have asked to 5 well known professional physicians to compare image quality of the same set of exam by using the two different methods: existing image quality control and the LUT technology. As the result, the LUT technology was enormously favored over the existing image quality control method. All the physicians have pointed out the far more superiority of the LUT over the existing image quality control method and highly praised its ability to display small detailed regions, which cannot be displayed by existing image quality control tools. Two physicians expressed the necessity of presetting the LUT values for each exposed body part. Overall, the LUT technology yielded a great interest among the physicians and highly praised for its ability to overcome currently embedded problems of PACS. We strongly believe that the LUT technology can enhance the current medical practice and open a new beginning in the future medical imaging.

• KIPS Transactions on Software and Data Engineering
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• v.2 no.8
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• pp.535-542
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• 2013

Since case-based reasoning(CBR) has many advantages, it has been used for supporting decision making in various areas including medical checkup, production planning, customer classification, and so on. However, there are several factors to be set by heuristics when designing effective CBR systems. Among these factors, this study addresses the issue of selecting appropriate neighbors in case retrieval step. As the criterion for selecting appropriate neighbors, conventional studies have used the preset number of neighbors to combine(i.e. k of k-nearest neighbor), or the relative portion of the maximum similarity. However, this study proposes to use the absolute similarity threshold varying from 0 to 1, as the criterion for selecting appropriate neighbors to combine. In this case, too small similarity threshold value may make the model rarely produce the solution. To avoid this, we propose to adopt the coverage, which implies the ratio of the cases in which solutions are produced over the total number of the training cases, and to set it as the constraint when optimizing the similarity threshold. To validate the usefulness of the proposed model, we applied it to a real-world target marketing case of an online shopping mall in Korea. As a result, we found that the proposed model might significantly improve the performance of CBR.