• Journal of the Korean Geotechnical Society
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• v.24 no.8
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• pp.125-135
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• 2008

Rigid-soft particle mixtures, which consist of sand and rubber, are investigated for the understanding of the stress-deformation and elastic moduli. Specimens are prepared with various size ratio sr between sand and rubber particles, and different volumetric sand fraction sf. Small strain shear waves are measured under $K_o$-loading condition incorporated with the stress-deformation test by using oedometer cell with bender elements. The stress-deformation and small strain shear wave characteristics of rigid-soft particle mixtures show the transition from a rigid particle behavior regime to a soft particle behavior regime under fixed size ratio. A sudden rise of $\Lambda$ factor and the maximum value of the $\zeta$ exponent in $G_{max}=\;{\Lambda}({\sigma}'_{o}/kPa)^{\zeta}$ are observed at $sf\;{\approx}\;0.4{\sim}0.6$ regardless of the size ratio sf. Transition mixture shows high sensitivity to confining stress. The volume fraction for the minimum porosity may depend on the applied stress level in the rigid-soft particle mixtures because the soft rubber particles easily distort under load. In this experimental study, the size ratio and volumetric sand fraction are the important factors which determine the behavior of rigid and soft particle mixtures.

• Journal of the Korean Geotechnical Society
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• v.22 no.6
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• pp.15-26
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• 2006

Although numerous investigations have been performed over the years to predict the behavior and bearing capacity of piles, the mechanisms are not yet entirely understood. The prediction of bearing capacity is a difficult task, because large numbers of factors affect the capacity and also have complex relationship one another. Therefore, it is extremely difficult to search the essential factors among many factors, which are related with ground condition, pile type, driving condition and others, and then appropriately consider complicated relationship among the searched factors. The present paper describes the application of Artificial Neural Network (ANN) in predicting the capacity including its components at the tip and along the shaft from dynamic load test of the driven piles. Firstly, the effect of each factor on the value of bearing capacity is investigated on the basis of sensitivity analysis using ANN modeling. Secondly, the authors use the design methodology composed of ANN and genetic algorithm (GA) to find optimal neural network model to predict the bearing capacity. The authors allow this methodology to find the appropriate combination of input parameters, the number of hidden units and the transfer structure among the input, the hidden and the out layers. The results of this study indicate that the neural network model serves as a reliable and simple predictive tool for the bearing capacity of driven piles.

• Investigative Magnetic Resonance Imaging
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.20-31
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• 2022

Purpose: To assess conventional MRI features associated with residual soft-tissue sarcomas following unplanned excision (UPE), and to compare the diagnostic performance of conventional MRI only with that of MRI including diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) for residual tumors after UPE. Materials and Methods: We included 103 consecutive patients who had received UPE of a soft-tissue sarcoma with wide excision of the tumor bed between December 2013 and December 2019 and who also underwent conventional MRI and DWI in this retrospective study. The presence of focal enhancement, soft-tissue edema, fascial enhancement, fluid collections, and hematoma on MRI including DWI was reviewed by two musculoskeletal radiologists. We used classification and regression tree (CART) analysis to identify the most significant MRI features. We compared the diagnostic performances of conventional MRI and added DWI using the McNemar test. Results: Residual tumors were present in 69 (66.9%) of 103 patients, whereas no tumors were found in 34 (33.1%) patients. CART showed focal enhancement to be the most significant predictor of residual tumors and correctly predicted residual tumors in 81.6% (84/103) and 78.6% (81/103) of patients for Reader 1 and Reader 2, respectively. Compared with conventional MRI only, the addition of DWI for Reader 1 improved specificity (32.8% vs. 56%, 33.3% vs. 63.0%, P < 0.05), decreased sensitivity (96.8% vs. 84.1%, 98.7% vs. 76.7%, P < 0.05), without a difference in diagnostic accuracy (76.7% vs. 74.8%, 72.9% vs. 71.4%) in total and in subgroups. For Reader 2, diagnostic performance was not significantly different between the sets of MRI (P > 0.05). Conclusion: After UPE of a soft-tissue sarcoma, the presence or absence of a focal enhancement was the most significant MRI finding predicting residual tumors. MRI provided good diagnostic accuracy for detecting residual tumors, and the addition of DWI to conventional MRI may increase specificity.

• Journal of Korean Tunnelling and Underground Space Association
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• v.11 no.4
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• pp.373-385
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• 2009

A new indexing methodology so called KTH-index was developed to quantitatively evaluate a potential level for tunnel collapse hazard, which has been successfully applied to tunnel construction sites to date. In this study, an attempt is made to apply this methodology for validating an outcome of tunnel design by checking the variation of KTH-index along longitudinal tunnel section. In this KTH-index simulation, it is the most important to determine the input factors reasonably. The design factor and construction condition are set up based on the designed outcome. Uncertain ground conditions are arranged based on borehole test and electro-resistivity survey data. Two scenarios for ground conditions, best and worst scenarios, are set up. From this simulation, it is shown that this methodology could be successfully applied for providing quantitative validity of a tunnel design and also potential hazard factors which should be carefully monitored in construction stage. The hazard factors would affect sensitively the hazard level of the tunnel site under consideration.

• KSCE Journal of Civil and Environmental Engineering Research
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• v.29 no.6D
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• pp.719-726
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• 2009

In this study, a series of push-off tests for lean concrete, aggregate, asphalt subbases mainly used in Korea were performed to investigate the friction characteristics between the slab and subbase layers. Use of separation membrane and wet condition of subbase were other parameters in the tests. Horizontal displacements of the slabs and friction coefficients were measured at 1st loading, stable condition (2nd and 3rd loadings), and wet condition (4th loading) by applying 40mm/hour horizontal loadings. Larger maximum friction coefficients were measured in order of the lean concrete, asphalt, aggregate, and subbases using the separation membrane at 1st loading, and in order of the asphalt, aggregate, lean concrete, and subbases using the separation membrane at stable and wet conditions. The friction coefficients of the aggregate and asphalt subbases which did not used the separation membrane decreased by the wet condition while the subbases using the separation membrane were not affected. Additional push-off tests for effects of slab thickness and temperature sensitivity of asphalt will be performed. And, effects of the friction characteristics between the slab and subbase layers on behavior and performance of concrete pavements will be investigated by structural analyses using the test results.

• Asia Marketing Journal
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• v.15 no.4
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• pp.33-49
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• 2014

Environmental concern has been an important issue for a few decades, and the extent of consumer demand for eco-friendly consumption has been increased. This study seeks to investigate consumers' willingness to pay (WTP) a premium for eco-friendly cosmetics. This study evaluates how much more a consumer is willing to pay for eco-friendly cosmetics and examines significant factors influencing consumers' WTP for eco-friendly cosmetics. Consumers' WTP is measured using four different ecofriendly cosmetics: low-priced skin care cosmetics, low-priced makeup cosmetics, high-priced skin care cosmetics, and high-priced makeup cosmetics. This study uses the contingent valuation method (CVM) to estimate consumer's WTP for eco-friendly cosmetics. Survey questions were designed using both dichotomous choice and payment card method of CVM. Through face to face interviews and on-line surveys, the data were collected from women between 20 and 49 years old residing in Seoul and Kyeonggi area, Korea, in May 2010. A total of 226 questionnaires (132 from interviews and 94 from on-line) were included for the analytical sample in this study. The data were analyzed using descriptive analysis, T-test and Log-Logit analysis. The findings are as follows: First, the WTP measured by dichotomous choice method was estimated using the Log-Logit analysis. The results showed that the estimated WTP for low-priced skin care cosmetics was 19,152 won, which was 27.7% higher than the reference price, 15,000 won. For low-priced makeup cosmetics, the estimated WTP was 18,524 won, and its green premium was 21.0%. The estimated WTP for high-priced skin care cosmetics was 59,128 won, which was 18.3% higher than the reference price, 50,000 won. For high-priced makeup cosmetics was 57,666 won, and its green premium was 15.3%. Second, the WTP measure by payment card method was estimated using descriptive analysis. The results showed that the respondents were willing to pay 17,955 won for low-priced skin care cosmetics, which was 19.7% higher than the reference price, 15,000 won and 17,595 won for low-priced makeup cosmetics, which was 17.3% higher than the reference price. For high-priced skin care cosmetics, the average WTP was 56,950 won which was 13.9% higher than the reference price, 50,000 won. For high-priced makeup cosmetics, the average WTP was 55,650 won, which was 11.3% higher than the reference price. Overall, the WTP was higher in order of low-priced skin care, low-priced makeup, high-priced skin care, and high-priced makeup. It means that consumers decide degree of premium based on the price and the attributes of eco-friendly products. Third, the findings showed that age, monthly income, and having children or not were statistically significant factors that influenced consumers' willingness to pay for eco-friendly cosmetics. Other explanatory variables such as education, marital status, job, purchase experience of eco-friendly products, and environmental concerns did not show any statistical significance. The major contribution of this study is the investigation of the value of green attributes of the products by using CVM. Unlike most previous researches, this research used two methods of CVM, the dichotomous choice and the payment card, so it enhanced the reliability of research. According to this study, consumers showed price sensitivity when they pay green premium. These findings can be used as useful information to establish marketing strategies for green cosmetics.

• The Journal of the Convergence on Culture Technology
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• v.9 no.5
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• pp.19-25
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• 2023

This study was conducted to confirm the level of stress and infection prevention behavior of nursing college freshman during the COVID-19 pandemic. 119 nursing college freshmen who took remote classes because face-to-face classes were not possible due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The collected data were analyzed by descriptive statistics, Independent t-test, one-way ANOVA, and Pearson's correlation coefficient using SPSS WIN/PC 26.0 statistics program. As a result of this study, the sensitivity to stress was significantly higher when the attitude towards college life was passive (F=5.92, p=.004), and when people perceived themselves as healthy, their stress was significantly lower (t=-2.22, p=.029). In addition, those who responded that they were very uncomfortable due to activity restrictions due to COVID-19 had a significantly higher level of infection prevention behavior than those who responded that they did not feel any discomfort (F=3.51, p=.018). In a pandemic environment such as COVID-19, efforts to promote a positive attitude and awareness of health conditions are needed to reduce the stress of college freshmen and increase infection prevention behavior.

• Journal of the Microelectronics and Packaging Society
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.21-27
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• 2022

Flexible pressure sensor was developed using low-cost conductive graphite as printed electronics. Flexible pressure sensors are attracting attention as materials to be used in future industries such as medical, games, and AI. As a result of evaluating various electromechanical properties of the printed electrode for flexible pressure sensors, it showed a constant resistance change rate in a maximum tensile rate of 20%, 30° tension/bending, and a simple pulse test. A more appropriate matrix pattern was designed by simulating the electrodes for which this verification was completed. Utilizing the Serpentine pattern, we utilized a process that allows simultaneous fabrication and encapsulation of the matrix pattern. One side of the printed graphite electrode was O₂ plasma surface treated to increase adhesive strength, rotated 90 times, and two electrodes were made into one through a lamination process. As a result of pasting the matrix pattern prepared in this way to the wrist pulse position of the human body and proceeding with the actual measurement, a constant rate of resistance change was shown regardless of gender.

• Korean Journal of Radiology
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• v.22 no.6
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• pp.959-969
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• 2021

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the role of preoperative two-dimensional (2D) shear wave elastography (SWE) in assessing the stages of liver fibrosis in patients with suspected biliary atresia (BA) and compared its diagnostic performance with those of serum fibrosis biomarkers. Materials and Methods: This study was approved by the ethical committee, and written informed parental consent was obtained. Two hundred and sixteen patients were prospectively enrolled between January 2012 and October 2018. The 2D SWE measurements of 69 patients have been previously reported. 2D SWE measurements, serum fibrosis biomarkers, including fibrotic markers and biochemical test results, and liver histology parameters were obtained. 2D SWE values, serum biomarkers including, aspartate aminotransferase to platelet ratio index (APRi), and other serum fibrotic markers were correlated with the stages of liver fibrosis by METAVIR. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves and area under the ROC (AUROC) curve analyses were used. Results: The correlation coefficient of 2D SWE value in correlation with the stages of liver fibrosis was 0.789 (p < 0.001). The cut-off values of 2D SWE were calculated as 9.1 kPa for F1, 11.6 kPa for F2, 13.0 kPa for F3, and 15.7 kPa for F4. The AUROCs of 2D SWE in the determination of the stages of liver fibrosis ranged from 0.869 to 0.941. The sensitivity and negative predictive value of 2D SWE in the diagnosis of ≥ F3 was 93.4% and 96.0%, respectively. The diagnostic performance of 2D SWE was superior to that of APRi and other serum fibrotic markers in predicting severe fibrosis and cirrhosis (all p < 0.005) and other serum biomarkers. Multivariate analysis showed that the 2D SWE value was the only statistically significant parameter for predicting liver fibrosis. Conclusion: 2D SWE is a more effective non-invasive tool for predicting the stage of liver fibrosis in patients with suspected BA, compared with serum fibrosis biomarkers.

• Journal of the Korean Geotechnical Society
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• v.40 no.3
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• pp.93-100
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• 2024

Pore water freezes in low-temperature compaction, which leads to different compaction characteristics compared to room temperature conditions. In regions like Alberta, Canada, where organic soils are prevalent, compaction performance is influenced by the high water retention and compressibility of organic soils, as well as their sensitivity to freezing and thawing. Alberta's strict environmental regulations demand the reuse of excavated soil for backfill, and the long winter season creates challenging conditions for civil engineering projects. In this study, a laboratory compaction test was conducted to evaluate the low-temperature compaction characteristics of organic soils with varying organic content. The results indicate that the optimum moisture content increases as the organic content increases, and the maximum dry unit weight decreases by up to 21.9%. In addition, under temperature conditions below -4℃, no optimum moisture content was observed, and the dry unit weight decreased as the moisture content increased.