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Properties of CLC using Silica to Suppress Cracking due to Drying Shrinkage (건조수축에 따른 균열 억제를 위한 규사 혼입 CLC의 특성)

  • Lee, Chang-Woo;Lee, Sang-Soo
    • Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Building Construction Conference
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    • 2021.11a
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    • pp.125-126
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    • 2021
  • In order to improve the housing culture, construction changes for the utilization of diverse and multifunctional spaces are appearing in response to the increasing diverse needs of consumers. Cellular Light-weight Concrete (CLC) is being developed for use in fire-resistant heat-insulating walls and non-bearing walls. However, manufacturing non-uniformity has become a problem as a drawback due to the use of foamed bubbles and normal temperature curing, and additional research is required. Therefore, in order to suppress cracks due to drying shrinkage, silica sand is mixed with CLC to try to understand its characteristics. In the experiment, the compressive strength from 7 to 28 days of age was measured via a constant temperature and humidity chamber, and the drying shrinkage was analyzed according to each condition using a strain gauge. The compressive strength of matrix tends to decrease as the substitution rate of silica sand increases. This is judged by the result derived from the fact that the specific surface area of silica sand is smaller than that of slag. Based on KS F 2701 (ALC block), the compressive strength of 0.6 products is 4.9 MPa or more as a guide, so the maximum replacement rate of silica sand that satisfies this can be seen at 60%. Looking at the change in drying shrinkage for just 7 days, the shrinkage due to temperature change and drying is 0.7 mm, and the possibility of cracking due to shrinkage can be seen, and it seems that continuous improvement and supplementation are needed in the future.

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3D Printing in Modular Construction: Opportunities and Challenges

  • Li, Mingkai;Li, Dezhi;Zhang, Jiansong;Cheng, Jack C.P.;Gan, Vincent J.L.
    • International conference on construction engineering and project management
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    • 2020.12a
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    • pp.75-84
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    • 2020
  • Modular construction is a construction method whereby prefabricated volumetric units are produced in a factory and are installed on site to form a building block. The construction productivity can be substantially improved by the manufacturing and assembly of standardized modular units. 3D printing is a computer-controlled fabrication method first adopted in the manufacturing industry and was utilized for the automated construction of small-scale houses in recent years. Implementing 3D printing in the fabrication of modular units brings huge benefits to modular construction, including increased customization, lower material waste, and reduced labor work. Such implementation also benefits the large-scale and wider adoption of 3D printing in engineering practice. However, a critical issue for 3D printed modules is the loading capacity, particularly in response to horizontal forces like wind load, which requires a deeper understanding of the building structure behavior and the design of load-bearing modules. Therefore, this paper presents the state-of-the-art literature concerning recent achievement in 3D printing for buildings, followed by discussion on the opportunities and challenges for examining 3D printing in modular construction. Promising 3D printing techniques are critically reviewed and discussed with regard to their advantages and limitations in construction. The appropriate structural form needs to be determined at the design stage, taking into consideration the overall building structural behavior, site environmental conditions (e.g., wind), and load-carrying capacity of the 3D printed modules. Detailed finite element modelling of the entire modular buildings needs to be conducted to verify the structural performance, considering the code-stipulated lateral drift, strength criteria, and other design requirements. Moreover, integration of building information modelling (BIM) method is beneficial for generating the material and geometric details of the 3D printed modules, which can then be utilized for the fabrication.

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Yield and Fruit Quality of Hardy Kiwifruit (Actinidia arguta) as Affected by the Length of Fruit Bearing Mother Branches in Pergola Cultivation (평덕형을 활용한 다래 재배에서 결과모지 전정 길이에 따른 수확량 및 열매 특성 분석)

  • Jiae Seo;Hanna Shin;Moon Sup Kim;Young Ki Kim;Jeong Ho Song
    • Proceedings of the Plant Resources Society of Korea Conference
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    • 2020.08a
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    • pp.57-57
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    • 2020
  • 다래(Actinidia arguta (Siebold & Zucc.) Planch. ex Miq.)의 재배에서 현재 많이 이용되고 있는 평덕형은 기존의 T덕형에 비해 가지의 배치가 자유롭고 수확량이 많은 장점이 있다. 평덕형을 활용한 다래 재배에서 결과모지의 전정 길이에 대한 연구는 미흡한 실정이며, T덕형과 마찬가지로 15cm 길이의 단초전정이 권장되어 있다. 본 연구에서는 평덕형에서 품종별로 수확량을 증대하면서 과실 품질을 향상시킬 수 있는 적정한 결과모지 길이를 결정하고자 하였다. 이를 위해 과실 특성이 다른 '오텀센스'와 '대보' 품종을 이용하여 결과모지가 30, 50, 100, 150 및 200cm 길이가 되도록 전정하고, 수확기인 9월에 수확량 및 열매 특성을 조사하였다. 평덕형의 경우 품종과 결과모지 전정길이에 따라서 가지수, 결과지의 수, 총 착과 수, 열매무게 및 총 수확량에서 유의적인 차이를 보였다. 두 품종 모두 150cm로 결과모지를 전정하였을 때 결과모지당 착과 수가 각각 129±71개 및 27±8개로 가장 좋았으며, 총 수확량 역시 각각 1,697.0±990.4g 및 849.0±243.2g으로 가장 좋았다. '오텀센스'와 '대보' 품종은 평덕재배시 결과모지를 150cm로 전정하는 것이 생산량 증대 및 품질 특성이 우수한 것으로 나타났다.

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Yield and Fruit Quality of Hardy Kiwifruit (Actinidia arguta) as Affected by the Length of Fruit Bearing Mother Branches in T-Trellis Cultivation (T덕형을 활용한 다래 재배에서 결과모지 전정 길이에 따른 수확량 및 열매 특성 분석)

  • Jiae Seo;Hanna Shin;Moon Sup Kim;Young Ki Kim;Jeong Ho Song
    • Proceedings of the Plant Resources Society of Korea Conference
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    • 2020.08a
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    • pp.58-58
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    • 2020
  • 다양한 품종이 개발되어 재배되고 있는 다래(Actinidia arguta (Siebold & Zucc.) Planch. ex Miq.)의 재배유형이 T덕형과 평덕형으로 나누어지고, 덕 형태 및 품종에 따라 다래의 생육 양상에 차이가 있음에도 불구하고 결과모지 길이를 15cm 길이의 단일한 형태로 전정해 왔다. 본 연구에서는 T덕형을 활용한 다래 재배에서 품종별로 수확량을 증대하면서 과실 품질을 향상시킬 수 있는 적정한 결과모지 길이를 결정하고자 하였다. 이를 위해 국립산림과학원에서 개발한 '새한', '대성' '칠보' 및 '오텀센스' 등 4품종을 대상으로 하여 결과모지 길이가 15, 30 및 50cm가 되도록 전정하였다. 동일한 방법으로 재배한 후 수확기인 9월에 수확량 및 열매 특성을 조사하였다. 그 결과 품종과 가지수, 결과지의 수와 미결실지 수, 열매 무게, 총 수확량 에서 유의한 차이가 있었고, 전정 길이에 따라서는 총 착과 수, 열매 무게 및 총 수확량에서 차이가 있었다. 모든 품종에서 결과모지 길이가 길어질수록 총 수확량은 증가하였으며, 총 수확량은 품종에 따라 2~7배까지 증가하는 경향을 보였다. 결과모지 전정은 '새한', '대성' 및 '오텀센스'는 50cm 전정에서 칠보는 30cm 전정에서 생산량 및 품질특성이 우수하였다.

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AN EXPERIMENTAL STUDY ON TUMOR INHIBITORY EFFECT OF RED GINSENG IN MICE AND RATS EXPOSED TO VARIOUS CHEMICAL CARCINOGENS

  • Yun Taik Koo;Yun Yeon Sook;Han In Won
    • Proceedings of the Ginseng society Conference
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    • 1980.09a
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    • pp.87-113
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    • 1980
  • This experiment was carried out to evaluate the effects of Korean ginseng extract on carcinogenesis induced by various chemical carcinogens. Red ginseng extract was used for this study and was administered orally to the experimental animals. Carcinogens that were injected in subscapsular region of ICR newborn mice within 24 hours after birth were 9,10-dimethyl-1,2-benzan-thracene (DMBA), urethane, N-2-fluorenylacetamide(AAF), aflatoxin $B_1$ and tobacco smoke condensate. N -methyl-N -nitroso-N'-nitroguani-dine(MNNG) was injected subcutaneously at the back of wistar rats. Experimental animals were autopsied in immediately after being sacrificed. All major organs were examined grossly and weighted. After fixation histopathological preparations were made for microscopical study. Following results were obtained. In DMBA group sacrificed at the 26th week after the treatment with DMBA, the incidence of lung adenoma was $77\%$ and the average number of the tumor was 17. However, in DMBA combined with red ginseng group, the incidence was $78\%$ and the average number of lung adenoma was 14.1. This indicates that ginseng extract had no effect on the incidence of lung adenoma but decreased the average number of lung adenoma by $17\%.$ In DMBA group sacrificed at the 48th week after the injection of DMBA, the lung adenoma incidence was $88\%.$ The average diameter of the largest lung adenoma was 3.5 cm, the incidence of diffuse pulmonary infiltration was $18\%$ and the average lung weight of male experimental mice was $528.2{\pm}469.1\;gm.$ On the other hand, in DMBA combined with red ginseng group sacrificed at the 48th week, the incidence of lung adenoma was $96\%.$ The average diameter of the largest adenoma was 2.7 cm, the incidence of diffuse pulmonary infiltration was $7\%$ and the average lung weight of male mice was $418.0{\pm}520\;gm.$ These observations show that ginseng extract did not have any inhibitory effect on the incidence of lung adenoma but decreased the average diameter of the largest lung adenoma by $23\%,$ the incidence of duffuse pulmonary infiltration by $63\%$ and the average lung weight of male experimental mice by $21\%.$ From these results we have found that the prolonged administration with ginseng extract showed no inhibitory effect on the incidence of adenoma but it had the inhibitory effect on the proliferation of lung adenomas induced by DMBA. In urethane group sacrificed at the 28th week after the injection of urethane, the incidence of lung adenoma was $94\%$ and the average number of lung adenoma was 8.6. In urethane combined with red ginseng group, the. incidence of lung adenoma was $73\%$ and the average number of adenoma was 6.0. These results indicate that there were $22\%$ decrease of the lung adenoma incidence and $31\%$ decrease of the average number of adenoma in urethane combined with red ginseng group. And in urethane group sacrificed at the 50th week, the incidence of lung adenoma was $98\%$ and the incidence of diffuse pulmonary infiltration was $14\%$. In urethane combined with ginseng group the incidence of lung adenoma was $85\%$ and the incidence of diffuse pulmonary infiltration was $12\%$. Therefore the ginseng administration resulted in $15\%$ decrease of the lung adenoma incidence and $14\%$ decrease of the diffuse pulmonary infiltration incidence. From these results we knew that the prolonged administration with ginseng extract inhibited the incidence and also the proliferation of the lung adenoma induced by urethane. Lung adenoma and hepatoma were induced in the experimental mice sacrificed at the 68th week but not in the experimental mice sacrificed at the 28th week after the injection of AAF. In AAF group sacrificed at the 68th week after the injection of AAF the incidence of lung adenoma was $18\%$ and the incidence of hepatoma was $27\%$. And in AAF combined with ginseng group the lung adenoma incidence was $12\%$ and the hepatoma incidence was $37\%$. So the ginseng seemed to decrease the lung adenoma incidence by AAF, but we were unable to conclude the significant inhibitory effect of the ginseng extract on the incidence of lung adenoma by AAF because the above incidence of lung adenoma were similar to that of control group which was $11\%$. And these experimental data revealed that ginseng extract didn't have any inhibitory effect on the incidence of hepatoma induced by AAF. In aflatoxin $B_1$ group sacrificed at the 56th week, the incidence of lung adenoma was $24\%$ and hepatoma was $11\%$. However in aflatoxin $B_1$ combined with ginseng group the incidence of lung adenoma was $17\%$ and hepatoma was $3\%$ These results indicate that there were $29\%$ decrease of the lung adenoma incidence and $75\%$ decrease of the hepatoma incidence in aflatoxin $B_1$ combined with ginseng group. In tobacco smoke condensate experimental group sacrificed at 67th week, no tumors were induced except just a few lung adenoma. The lung adenoma incidence both in tobacco smoke condensate group and in tobacco smoke condensate combined with ginseng group was $8\%$. And this incidence rate was similar to that of control group. These results indicate that the injection of 320 ug tobacco smoke condensate per ICR newborn mouse was unable to induce lung adenoma in our experiments. In MNNG group sacrificed at the 27th week the tumor incidence was $38.5\%$ and in MNNG combined with ginseng extract group was $37\%$. In MNNG group for investigation of the life span of tumor bearing rats the tumor incidence was $93\%$ and the average life span of tumor bearing rats was 318 days. And in MNNG combined with ginseng extract group the tumor incidence was $96\%$ and the average life span was 337 days. Tumor induced by MNNG was almost sarcoma. This indicates that there was no inhibitory effect of ginseng extract on the tumor incidence, but the extract prolonged the average life span of tumor bearing rats by approximately 19 days.

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Multi-Objective Onboard Measurement from the Viewpoint of Safety and Efficiency (안전성 및 효율성 관점에서의 다목적 실선 실험)

  • Sang-Won Lee;Kenji Sasa;Ik-Soon Cho
    • Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Navigation and Port Research Conference
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    • 2023.11a
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    • pp.116-118
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    • 2023
  • In recent years, the need for economical and sustainable ship routing has emerged due to the enforced regulations on environmental issues. Despite the development of weather forecasting technology, maritime accidents by rough waves have continued to occur due to incorrect weather forecasts. In this study, onboard measurements are conducted to observe the acutal situation on merchant ships in operation encountering rough waves. The types of measured data include information related to navigation (Ship's position, speed, bearing, rudder angle) and engine (engine revolutions, power, shaft thrust, fuel consumption), weather conditions (wind, waves), and ship motions (roll, pitch, and yaw). These ship experiments was conducted to 28,000 DWT bulk carrier, 63,000 DWT bulk carrier, 20,000 TEU container ship, and 12,000 TEU container ship. The actual ship experiment of each ship is intended to acquire various types of data and utilize them for multi-objective studies related to ship operation. Additionally, in order to confirm the sea conditions, the directional wave spectrum was reproduced using a wave simulation model. Through data collection from ship experiments and wave simulations, various studies could be proceeding such as the measurement for accurate wave information by marine radar and analysis for cargo collapse accidents. In addition, it is expected to be utilized in various themes from the perspective of safety and efficiency in ship operation.

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Sr, Nd and Pb isotopic investigations of ultramafic xenoliths and their host basalts from Jeju Island, Baekryeong Island, Boeun and Ganseong, Korea: Implications for a large-scale difference in the source mantle beneath East Asia

  • Park, Seong-Hee;Kwon, Sung-Tack;Hee Sagong;Cheong, Chang-Sik
    • Proceedings of the Mineralogical Society of Korea Conference
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    • 2001.06a
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    • pp.75-75
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    • 2001
  • We report Sr, Nd and Pb isotope data of clinopyroxene separates from ultramafic xenoliths and their host basaltic rocks in Jeju Island, Baekryeong Island, Boeun and Ganseong, Korea. The isotopic data of the xenoliths and host basalts are distinctly different from those of Korean basement rocks. Except for two xenoliths from Ganseong, all samples in this study have isotopic ratios within the combined range of MORB-OIB data. All basaltic rocks have Nd-Sr-Pb isotope compositions different from those of xenoliths, indicating that the host basaltic magma did not derive from the lithospheric mantle where the xenoliths originated. The range of isotopic composition of xenoliths is much greater than that observed in host basalts, which reflects small-scale heterogeneity of the lithospheric mantle. The greater isotopic heterogeneity of the lithospheric mantle probably reflects its long-term stability. The spinel peridotite xenolith data of Jeju Island, Baekryeong Island and Boeun display mixing hyperbolas between DMM and EM II end members. Since Jeju basalts have EM II-like isotopic signature, the mixing relationship shown by the isotopic data of the Jeju xenoliths can be interpreted as the result of infiltration of metasomatic fluid or melt derived from basaltic magma into DMM-like lithospheric mantle. In contrast to other xenolith sites, the Ganseong xenoliths are dominantly clinopyroxene megacryst and pyroxenite. Clinopyroxene megacrysts have different isotopic ratios from their host basalt, reflecting its exotic origin. Two Ganseong xenoliths (wherlite and clinopyroxenite) have much enriched Sr and Nd isotopic ratios and Nd model ages of 2.5-2.9 Ga, and plot in an array away from the MORB-OIB field. The mantle xenoliths from Korean Peninsula have similar $\^$87/Sr/$\^$86/Sr,$\^$143/Nd/$\^$144/Nd and $\^$207/Pb/$\^$204/Pb ratios to, but higher $\^$208/Pb/$\^$204/Pb ratios than, those from eastern China, indicating that Korean xenoliths are derived from the lithospheric mantle with higher Th/U ratio compared with Chinese ones. The isotopic data of xenolith-bearing basalts of Baekryeong Island and Ganseong, along with Ulreung and Dok Islands, show a mixing trend betlveen DMM and EM I in Sr-Nd-Pb isotopic correlation diagrams, which is also observed in tile northeastern Chinese basalts. However, the Jeju volcanic rocks show an EM II signature that is observed in southeastern Chinese basalts. The isotopic variations in volcanic rocks from the northern and southern portions of the East Asia reflect a large-scale isotopic heterogeneity in their source mantle.

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음향공에 의한 LOX-RP1 고주파 음향-연소안정화에 관한 연구

  • 이길용;윤웅섭;조용호
    • Proceedings of the Korean Society of Propulsion Engineers Conference
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    • 2000.04a
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    • pp.5-5
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    • 2000
  • 액체 추진 로켓 엔진의 고주파 연소 불안정 관련 이론은 대체로 연소기 내부의 음향 공명 모드와 분무 연소 과정의 상호 작용을 구동 메커니즘으로 전제하며 Rayleigh Criterion의 재해석에 기초하여 불안정성 평가를 위한 매개변수를 도입하고 연소 불안정성을 예측한다. 여기에는 음향장 분석 이론, 음향 불안정 이론, 연소응답 및 기화반응 이론 등이 포함된다. 본 연구에서는 LOX/RPl 추진제 조합의 액체 추진 로켓 엔진 연소기를 대상으로 다차원 순수 음향장 해석과 연소-음향장 분석을 통해 대상 엔진의 고주파 연소 불안정 특성을 예측하였다. 수동 제어 기기인 음향공 설치에 따른 연소기의 음향장 및 연소-음향장의 특성 변화를 고찰하고 위 결과를 종합하여 음향공의 연소 불안정 억제 성능 및 대상 엔진의 연소 불안정성을 평가하였다. 연소기 형상 및 음향공 설치에 따른 다차원 순수 음향장 해석은 상용코드인 ANSYS를 사용하여 수행하였다. 내부 유체는 압축성, 비점성 유체로 유체의 평균 유동은 무시하며 위치에 관계없이 균일한 물성치를 부여하였다. 정상상태 연소과정을 가정하고 평형 화학을 이용한 분석 결과로부터 연소 기체의 관련 물성치를 결정하였다. 연소기 길이 방향, 반경 방향, 원주 방향 격자점들의 음향 특성을 주파수 영역에 대해 해석하고 3차원 음향 모드 형상을 토대로 음향장을 분석하였다. 연소-음향장 해석은 음향 불안정 이론 중 n- $\tau$ 2 매개변수 기법을 사용하였다. 연료 액적의 분무 연소 과정을 1차원적으로 가정하고 정상상태의 평형 화학 계산 결과를 이용하여 엔진의 연소면을 1차원적으로 설정하였다. 상류 연소응답과 중립 안정 곡선을 토대로 대상 엔진의 연소 불안정 특성을 분석하였다.구 분석 결과 기술적 문제점으로는 배기 가스온도가 낮은데 따른 출구 부분의 Bearing, Sealing이 문제가 될 수 있다고 판단되며 배기 가스 자체에 대기 공기중에 함유되어 있던 습기가 얼어붙는(Icing화) 문제가 발생하기 때문에 배기가스의 Icing을 방지하기 위하여 압축기 끝단에서 공기를 추출하여 배기부분에 송출할 필요성이 있는 것으로 판단되었다. 출구가스의 기체 유동속도가 매우 빠르므로 (100-l10m.sec) 이를 완화하기 위한 디퓨저의 설계가 요구된다고 판단된다. 또 연소기 후방에 물을 주입하는 경우 열교환기 및 기타 부분품에 발생할 수 있는 부식 및 열교환 효율 저하도 간과할 수 없는 문제로 파악되었다. 이러한 기술적 문제가 적절히 해결되는 경우 비활성 가스 제너레이터는 민수용으로는 대형 빌딩, 산림, 유조선 등의 화재에 매우 적절히 사용되어 질 수 있을 뿐 아니라 군사적으로도 군사작전 중 및 공군 기지의 화재 그리고 지하벙커에 설치되어 있는 고급 첨단 군사 장비 등의 화재 뿐 아니라 대간첩작전 등에 효과적으로 활용될 수 있을 것으로 판단된다.가 작으며, 본 연소관에 충전된 RDX/AP계 추진제의 경우 추진제의 습기투과에 의한 추진제 물성 변화는 미미한 것으로 나타났다.의 향상으로, 음성개선에 효과적이라고 사료되었으며, 이 방법이 편측 성대마비 환자의 효과적인 음성개선의 치료방법의 하나로 응용될 수 있으리라 생각된다..7%), 혈액투석, 식도부분절제술 및 위루술·위회장문합술을 시행한 경우가 각 1례(2.9%)씩이었다. 13) 심각한 합병증은 9례(26.5%)에서 보였는데 그중 식도협착증이 6례(17.6%), 급성신부전증 1례(2.9%), 종격동기흉과 폐염이 병발한 경우와 폐염이 각 1례(2.9%)였다. 14)

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Wavelet Thresholding Techniques to Support Multi-Scale Decomposition for Financial Forecasting Systems

  • Shin, Taeksoo;Han, Ingoo
    • Proceedings of the Korea Database Society Conference
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    • 1999.06a
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    • pp.175-186
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    • 1999
  • Detecting the features of significant patterns from their own historical data is so much crucial to good performance specially in time-series forecasting. Recently, a new data filtering method (or multi-scale decomposition) such as wavelet analysis is considered more useful for handling the time-series that contain strong quasi-cyclical components than other methods. The reason is that wavelet analysis theoretically makes much better local information according to different time intervals from the filtered data. Wavelets can process information effectively at different scales. This implies inherent support fer multiresolution analysis, which correlates with time series that exhibit self-similar behavior across different time scales. The specific local properties of wavelets can for example be particularly useful to describe signals with sharp spiky, discontinuous or fractal structure in financial markets based on chaos theory and also allows the removal of noise-dependent high frequencies, while conserving the signal bearing high frequency terms of the signal. To date, the existing studies related to wavelet analysis are increasingly being applied to many different fields. In this study, we focus on several wavelet thresholding criteria or techniques to support multi-signal decomposition methods for financial time series forecasting and apply to forecast Korean Won / U.S. Dollar currency market as a case study. One of the most important problems that has to be solved with the application of the filtering is the correct choice of the filter types and the filter parameters. If the threshold is too small or too large then the wavelet shrinkage estimator will tend to overfit or underfit the data. It is often selected arbitrarily or by adopting a certain theoretical or statistical criteria. Recently, new and versatile techniques have been introduced related to that problem. Our study is to analyze thresholding or filtering methods based on wavelet analysis that use multi-signal decomposition algorithms within the neural network architectures specially in complex financial markets. Secondly, through the comparison with different filtering techniques' results we introduce the present different filtering criteria of wavelet analysis to support the neural network learning optimization and analyze the critical issues related to the optimal filter design problems in wavelet analysis. That is, those issues include finding the optimal filter parameter to extract significant input features for the forecasting model. Finally, from existing theory or experimental viewpoint concerning the criteria of wavelets thresholding parameters we propose the design of the optimal wavelet for representing a given signal useful in forecasting models, specially a well known neural network models.

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METHYLMERCURY EXPOSURE IN CURRENT JAPANESE: ESTIMATION FROM HAIR ANALYSIS

  • Yasutake, Akira;Hachiya, Noriyuki
    • Proceedings of the Korean Environmental Health Society Conference
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    • 2005.12a
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    • pp.4-15
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    • 2005
  • Methylmercury (MeHg) is an environmental pollutant with neurotoxic effects on the central nervous system. The major exposure route of MeHg to humans is via consumption of fish and shellfish which accumulate the chemical through the food web in an aquatic environment. Hair mercury level is an excellent marker for MeHg exposure. We have been conducting a survey on hair mercury contents among general populations from 14 districts to estimate the current Japanese MeHg exposure level. Total mercury levels of all hair samples collected (12923 in total) were analyzed by the oxygen combustion-gold amalgamation method using an atomic absorption mercury detector. Multiple regression analysis revealed that mercury levels were significantly correlated with several covariates, such as sex, age, the amount of daily intake of total fish/shellfish, a preference for certain fish such as tuna or bonito, and artificial waving. The geometric means for the population without artificial waving were 2.47 and 1.65 ${\mu}g/g$ for males (n = 5623) and females (n = 3470), respectively. Hair mercury levels varied with age, and the variations were more significant in males. Since the difference between sexes was not evident at younger ages, some hormonal control might also be involved in the mercury uptake by human hair. The average mercury levels in our hair samples varied among the sampling districts. Tuna is a major carnivorous fish with high mercury accumulations that is often consumed in Japan. The amount of fish consumption and the preference rate far tuna would appear to be responsible far the regional variation in hair mercury levels in Japan. Recently, a provisional tolerable weekly intake (PTWI) of MeHg was revised by 61st JECFA to 1.6 ${\mu}g/kg/week$, which was about half that of the Japanese standard, and corresponded to a hair level of 2.2 ppm. The distribution of hair mercury levels in Japanese populations in the present study indicated that 25% of the Japanese females of child-bearing age were estimated to be exposed to MeHg over the PTWI level. This would reflect the high Japanese consumption of marine products. However, not only mercury contamination, but also the nutritional benefit may have to be considered when discussing the risk involved in the current level of fish and shellfish consumption in Japan.

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