• Journal of Biomedical Engineering Research
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• v.31 no.3
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• pp.199-209
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• 2010

The locking compression plates-distal femur(LCP-DF) are being widely used for surgical management of the extra-articular complex fractures of the distal femur. They feature locking mechanism between the screws and the screw holes of the plate to provide stronger fixation force with less number of screws than conventional compression bone plate. However, their biomechanical efficacies are not fully understood, especially regarding the number of the screws inserted and their optimal configurations. In this study, we investigated effects of various screw configurations in the shaft and the condylar regions of the femur in relation to structural stability of LCP-DF system. For this purpose, a baseline 3-D finite element (FE) model of the femur was constructed from CT-scan images of a normal healthy male and was validated. The extra-articular complex fracture of the distal femur was made with a 4-cm defect. Surgical reduction with LCP-DF and bone screws were added laterally. To simulate various cases of post-op screw configurations, screws were inserted in the shaft (3~5 screws) and the condylar (4~6 screws) regions. Particular attention was paid at the shaft region where screws were inserted either in clustered or evenly-spaced fashion. Tied-contact conditions were assigned at the bone screws-plate whereas general contact condition was assumed at the interfaces between LCP-DF and bone screws. Axial compressive load of 1,610N(2.3 BW) was applied on the femoral head to reflect joint reaction force. An average of 5% increase in stiffness was found with increase in screw numbers (from 4 to 6) in the condylar region, as compared to negligible increase (less than 1%) at the shaft regardless of the number of screws inserted or its distribution, whether clustered or evenly-spaced. At the condylar region, screw insertion at the holes near the fracture interface and posterior locations contributed greater increase in stiffness (9~13%) than any other locations. Our results suggested that the screw insertion at the condylar region can be more effective than at the shaft during surgical treatment of fracture of the distal femur with LCP-DF. In addition, screw insertion at the holes close to the fracture interface should be accompanied to ensure better fracture healing.

• Geophysics and Geophysical Exploration
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.129-136
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• 2014

Electromagnetic (EM) methods are generally divided into frequency-domain EM (FDEM) and time-domain EM (TDEM) methods, depending on the source waveform. The FDEM and TDEM fields are mathematically related by the Fourier transformation, and the TDEM field can thus be obtained as the Fourier transformation of FDEM data. For modeling in time-domain, we can use fast frequency-domain modeling codes and then convert the results to the time domain with a suitable numerical method. Thus, frequency-to-time transformations are of interest to EM methods, which is generally attained through fast Fourier transform. However, faster frequency-to-time transformation is required for the 3D inversion of TDEM data or for the processing of vast air-borne TDEM data. The diffusion expansion method (DEM) is one of smart frequency-to-time transformation methods. In DEM, the EM field is expanded into a sequence of diffusion functions with a known frequency dependence, but with unknown diffusion-times that must be chosen based on the data to be transformed. Especially, accuracy of DEM is sensitive to the diffusion-time. In this study, we developed a method to determine the optimum range of diffusion-time values, minimizing the RMS error of the frequency-domain data approximated by the diffusion expansion. We confirmed that this method produces accurate results over a wider time range for a homogeneous half-space and two-layered model.

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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• v.101 no.2
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• pp.185-194
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• 2012

The purpose of this contribution is to develop the framework of a methodology for identifying potential errors in georeferencing and in an application of it using specimens of Ox-Knee, Achyranthes bidentata Blume in Korea. At infraspecific level, uncertainty of identification showed that 41% of A. bidentata var. japonica and 28% of var. bidentata were misidentified, suggesting that the uncertainty level was independent of the reliability of experts' identification. For georeference specimen records, 71 specimens out of total 303 were selected and utilized as occurrence data: Uncertainty was 32.4 km at maximum and was 0.1297 km at minimum (mean = 4,055 m, s.d. = 5,772 m). Var. japonica is common throughout most of the southeastern Korea and west coastal areas, while var. bidentata has been found as far north as Gyeonggi and Gangwon provinces. We modelled the potential distribution of two varieties using Bioclim approach in Korea based on several environmental factors. Our results indicated the most important region for var. japonica lies the west coast ranges and southern area, while for Chungcheongnam-do of potential high diversity occurs for var. bidentata. This study shows that the major factors to determine the distribution patterns of two varieties were thermal factors, rather than precipitation. The Bioclim model using geocode and georeferencing data makes the information increasingly useful and reliable. To improve data quality, it requires full management from data collection to final databases including data cleaning.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.224-234
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• 2006

We employed human SK-MEL-28 cells as a model system to identify cellular proteins that accompany N-(4-methyl)phenyl-O-(4-methoxy)phenyl-thionocarbamate (MMTC)-induced apoptosis based on a proteomic approach. Cell viability tests revealed that SK-MEL-28 skin cancer cells underwent more cell death than normal HaCaT cells in a dose-dependent manner after treatment with MMTC. Two-dimensional electrophoresis in conjunction with matrixassisted laser desorption/ionization-time of flight (MALDI-TOF) mass spectrometry analysis or computer matching with a protein database further revealed that the MMTC-induced apoptosis is accompanied by increased levels of caspase-1, checkpoint suppressor-1, caspase-4, NF-kB inhibitor, AP-2, c-Jun-N-terminal kinase, melanoma inhibitor, granzyme K, G1/S specific cyclin D3, cystein rich protein, Ras-related protein Rab-37 or Ras-related protein Rab-13, and reduced levels of EMS (oncogene), ATP synthase, tyrosine-phosphatase, Cdc25c, 14-3-3 protein or specific structure of nuclear receptor. The migration suppressing effect of MMTC on SK-MEL-28 cell was tested. MMTC suppressed the metastasis of SK-MEL-8 cells. It was also identified that MMTC had little angiogenic effect because it did not suppress the proliferation of HUVEC cell line. These results suggest that MMTC is a novel chemotherapeutic and metastatic agents against the SK-MEL-28 human melanoma cell line.

• Elastomers and Composites
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• v.47 no.1
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• pp.9-17
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• 2012

Herein, life time prediction based on the deterioration of physical properties of chloroprene rubber (CR)aged by heat and seawater was performed. CR samples were experienced an accelerated test at $80^{\circ}C$, $100^{\circ}C$, $120^{\circ}C$ for heat aging, and $40^{\circ}C$, $60^{\circ}C$, $80^{\circ}C$ for seawater aging for 20,000 hrs. The change in tensile strength, maximum elongation,hardness was measured. As a result, the decrease in elongation was a major factor causing failure. The life time estimated using an Arrhenius model was 125 years at $23^{\circ}C$ for thermal aging and 9 years at $23^{\circ}C$ for seawater aging. SEM and elemental analysis reveal that cracks were generated and the content of oxygen was increased for CR agined by seawater. FT-IR spectrum shows the new C-O and C = O bonds were generated by the chemical reaction with seawater. Also, the glass transtion temperature was increased and the thermal decomposition was decreased by seawater aging.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.40 no.1 s.182
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• pp.67-85
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• 2007

We have performed the CSAMT survey to examine the geoelectrical structure and groundwater distribution for two survey lines across the south-eastern region of Jeju Island. Three kinds of 1-D inversion techniques were employed taking account of the geological situation around the observation sites, and their inversion results were concurrently compared and analyzed to improve the reliability of interpretation. The resultant inverted resistivity structures reveals the three-layered structure, which is composed of the layers with a high-low-lower resistivity from the surface downward. Through the comparison of the inverted resistivity model and core log of deep borehole nearby observation sites, the lithology of each inverted layer was inferred. The first layer and second layer corresponded to the basaltic layer with a thickness of $100{\sim}250m$, and the third layer to the Seoguipo Formation and the U Formation; the thickness of the Seoguipo Formation could not be estimated due to the limitation of investigation depth and little resistivity difference between both Formations. Nevertheless, the Seoguipo Formation, which is strongly associated with the groundwater system in the south-eastern region of Jeju Island, showed the conspicuous spatial continuity from the middle mountain area to coastal area.

• Journal of Korean Society of Steel Construction
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• v.18 no.6
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• pp.697-706
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• 2006

Tower crane's wall tie is generally used for extending of mast height according to rising of lifting height. In order to get wall tie member force this problem, this study concerning wall tie is based on load data described in manual book of 290HC model. This study made the equation of wall tie member force and computer programming for calculating wall tie member force and then get ${\theta}-P$ curves(angle-wall tie force). After considering the ${\theta}-P$ curves, optimum angle range ($48.4^{\circ}{\sim}77.2^{\circ}$) about wall ties (A), (C) members was obtained. Member force of wall tie (B) was changed from tension to compression or from compression to tension at $74^{\circ}$ in service and $54^{\circ}$ in out of service. When both horizontal force($H_A$) and torsional moment ($M_D$) were varied from (+) to (-), wall tie force(A, B, C) were changed almost symmetrically about ${\theta}$-axis. Because this study was based on wall tie analysis conditions, wall tie members in symmetric and ideal geometry shape used for analizing wall tie of tower crane, it is necessary to have more careful verification in order to apply generally the results of this study.

• Journal of the Korean Geographical Society
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• v.40 no.6 s.111
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• pp.770-788
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• 2005

In this article, major research trends are examined mainly from articles published in Journal of the Korean Geography, academic society journals of sub-fields in geography and Ph.D. dissertations in geography of universities in Korea. Based on the research trends up to current point, issues and research directions in order to raise the status of Korean Geography in the twenty first century are prospected. Sixty years of Korean Geography can be divided into 4 periods such as before 1970s, during the 1980s, during the 1990s, and the period after the 2001. Each period of time revealed distinct aspects of development both quantitatively and qualitatively. For the last 60 years, the study of Korean Geography has gone through enormous changes in the number of articles with dynamics and variety in contents and methodology, breathing with the changes of the Korean society. Experiencing urbanization and industrialization along with rapid economical growth, the study of Korean Geography has progressed by analyzing the issues and problems of national space and conducting various researches from the case studies for problem-solving to the theoretical and policy oriented studies. The key-words such as 'knowledge based information society', 'aged society', and 'the era of globalization' will be realized in the twenty flit century. And environment-friendly policies for sustainable development will be more stressed in a globalized world. In order to provide research methods and alternatives suitable for newly transformed global society and for utilizing the essence of Geography in the future, the studies on Korean Geography should actively focus on integrative studies between physical and human geography, on interdisciplinary studies, on regional studies related to foreign countries and North Korea, and on the establishment of Korean geographical theory and model.

• Information Systems Review
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.107-132
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• 2009

The purpose of this research is to define the consulting competence of IT consultants and empirically analyze the perceptual differences between the IT consultant group and the client group. Based on the previous researches and the opinion of the actual IT consultants, the consulting capability model has been established, which consists of six categories and eighteen factors. Six categories are (1) IT domain expertise, (2) problem solving ability, (3) project management capability, (4) communication skills, (5) human relations skills, and (6) professional ethics and attitude. Two field surveys have been performed and the responses of 174 IT consultants 116 clients have been acquired. It is shown that the level of possessed proficiency of IT consulting capability is far lower than the level of the required proficiency. And there exist the perceptual difference between two responding groups with respect to the level required proficiency but no difference exists in terms of the level of possessed proficiency. The findings of this research can provide some useful information in order to fully understand the differences between the IT consultant group and the client group.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Nondestructive Testing
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.138-149
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• 2000

Various modeling techniques for ultrasonic wave propagation and scattering problems in finite solid media are presented. Elastodynamic boundary value problems in inhomogeneous multi-layered plate-like structures are set up for modal analysis of guided wave propagation and numerically solved to obtain dispersion curves which show propagation characteristics of guided waves. As a powerful modeling tool to overcome such numerical difficulties in wave scattering problems as the geometrical complexity and mode conversion, the Boundary Element Method(BEM) is introduced and is combined with the normal mode expansion technique to develop the hybrid BEM, an efficient technique for modeling multi mode conversion of guided wave scattering problems. Time dependent wave forms are obtained through the inverse Fourier transformation of the numerical solutions in the frequency domain. 3D BEM program development is underway to model more practical ultrasonic wave signals. Some encouraging numerical results have recently been obtained in comparison with the analytical solutions for wave propagation in a bar subjected to time harmonic longitudinal excitation. It is expected that the presented modeling techniques for elastic wave propagation and scattering can be applied to establish quantitative nondestructive evaluation techniques in various ways.