• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.16 no.5
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• pp.343-348
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• 2012

Blocking or regulating $K^+$ channels is important for investigating neuronal functions in mammalian brains, because voltage-dependent $K^+$ channels (Kv channels) play roles to regulate membrane excitabilities for synaptic and somatic processings in neurons. Although a number of toxins and chemicals are useful to change gating properties of Kv channels, specific effects of each toxin on a particular Kv subunit have not been sufficiently demonstrated in neurons yet. In this study, we tested electro-physiologically if heteropodatoxin2 ($HpTX_2$), known as one of Kv4-specific toxins, might be effective on various $K^+$ outward currents in CA1 neurons of organotypic hippocampal slices of rats. Using a nucleated-patch technique and a pre-pulse protocol in voltage-clamp mode, total $K^+$ outward currents recorded in the soma of CA1 neurons were separated into two components, transient and sustained currents. The extracellular application of $HpTX_2$ weakly but significantly reduced transient currents. However, when $HpTX_2$ was added to internal solution, the significant reduction of amplitudes were observed in sustained currents but not in transient currents. This indicates the non-specificity of $HpTX_2$ effects on Kv4 family. Compared with the effect of cytosolic 4-AP to block transient currents, it is possible that cytosolic $HpTX_2$ is pharmacologically specific to sustained currents in CA1 neurons. These results suggest that distinctive actions of $HpTX_2$ inside and outside of neurons are very efficient to selectively reduce specific $K^+$ outward currents.

• Journal of Korean Society of Steel Construction
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.77-85
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• 2015

This paper describes the development of force limiting device(FLD). The FLD could induce compressive yield before occurring elastic buckling for slender member under compressive load. Therefore, it might prevent reduction of load carrying capacity by elastic buckling and the structures with the devices would behave stable. A new type of FLD reduced cross area is proposed in this study different to existing studies like as out of plane type, slit type and folded plate type. The parameters of specimens are depth, width and number of cutting. The structural capacity and characteristics of proposed types were verified by experiment and FEM analysis. The FLD of cutting type is efficient in compressive member.

• Journal of Korean Society of Industrial and Systems Engineering
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• v.31 no.3
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• pp.125-130
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• 2008

Multivariate analysis is a rapidly expanding approach to data analysis. One specific technique in multivariate analysis is Principal Component Analysis (PCA). PCA is a statistical technique that linearly transform a given set of variables into a new set of composite variables. These new variables are orthogonal to each other and capture most of the information in the original variables. PCA is used to reduce the number of control points to be checked by measurement system. Therefore, the structure of the data set is simplified significantly It is also shown that eigenvectors obtained by conducting principal component analysis on the basis of the covariance matrix can be used to physically interpret the pattern of relative deformation for the points. This case study reveals the twisting deformation pattern of the underbody which is the largest mode of the total variation.

• Journal of the Earthquake Engineering Society of Korea
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.85-92
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• 2015

Response spectra of a building are made with a SDOF system taking into account a first mode shape, even though higher modes may affect on the dynamic responses of a high-rise building. A soft soil layer under a building also affects on the responses of a building. In this study, seismic responses of a MDOF system were investigated to examine the effects of higher modes on the response of a tall building by comparing them with those of a SDOF system including the kinematic interaction effect. Study was performed using a pseudo 3D finite element program with seven bedrock earthquake records downloaded from the PEER database. Effects of higher modes on the seismic responses of a tall building were investigated for base shear force and base moment of a MDOF system including story shear forces and story moments. Study results show that higher modes of a MDOF system contribute to a reduction of base shear force up to 1/4-1/5 of KBC and base moment. The effect of higher modes is more significant on the base shear force than on the base moment. Maximum story shear force and moment occurred at the top part of a building rather than at a base in the cases of tall buildings differently from short buildings, and higher modes of a tall building affected on the base forces making them almost constant at the base. A soft soil layer also affects some on the base shear force of a high-rise building independently on the soft soil type, but a soft soil effect is prominent on the base moment.

• Journal of the Earthquake Engineering Society of Korea
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.57-65
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• 2010

To determine the static buckling loads and evaluate the structural performance of slender steel pipe-arches such as for greenhouse structures, a series of modal tests using a fixed hammer and roving sensors was carried out, by providing no load, then a range of vertical loads, on an arch rib in several steps. More attention was given to an internal arch where vertical and horizontal auxiliary members are not placed, unlike an end arch. Modal parameters such as natural frequencies, mode shapes and damping ratios were extracted using more advanced system identification methods such as PolyMAX (Polyreference Least-Squares Complex Frequency Domain), and compared with those predicted by commercial FEA (Finite Element Analysis) software ANSYS for various conditions. A good correlation between them was achieved in an overall sense, however the reduction of natural frequencies due to the existence of preaxial loads was not apparent when the vertical load level was about up to 38% of its resistance. Some difficulties related to the field testing and parameter extraction for a very slender arch, as might arise from the influences of neighboring members, are carefully discussed.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.34 no.12
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• pp.3695-3702
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• 2013

A nickel(II) complex $[Ni(H_2biim)_2(H_2O)_2](ClO_4)_2{\cdot}H_2O$ (1) of biimidazole ligand has been synthesized and characterized (Where $H_2biim$ = 2,2'-biimidazole). The single crystal X-ray diffraction of the complex shows a dimeric structure with six coordinated psudo-octahedral geometry. The cyclic voltammograms of complex exhibited one quasireversible reduction wave ($E_{pc}=-0.61V$) and an irreversible oxidation wave ($E_{pa}=1.28V$) in DMF solution. The interaction of the complex with Calf-Thymus DNA (CT-DNA) has been investigated by absorption and fluorescence spectroscopy. The complex is an avid DNA binder with a binding constant value of $1.03{\times}10^5M^{-1}$. The results suggest that the nickel(II) complex bind to CT-DNA via intercalative mode and can quench the fluorescence intensity of EB bind to CT-DNA with $K_{app}$ value of $3.2{\times}10^5M^{-1}$. The complex also shown efficient oxidative cleavage of supercoiled pBR322 DNA in the presence of hydrogen peroxide as oxidizing agent. The DNA cleavage by complex in presence of quenchers; viz. DMSO, KI, $NaN_3$ and EDTA reveals that hydroxyl radical or singlet oxygen mechanism is involved. The complex showed invitro antimicrobial activity against four bacteria and two fungi. The antimicrobial activity was nearer to that of standard drugs and greater than that of the free ligand.

• Korean Journal of Agricultural Science
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• v.37 no.3
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• pp.501-508
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• 2010

A swirl chamber type diesel engine attachable to 18 kW agricultural tractors was improved to reduce exhaust emissions. Compression ratio and throat area ratio of the combustion chamber were varied to determine optimum combustion conditions. Tests were composed of full load and 8-mode emission tests. Compression ratio was fixed as 21, but the swirl chamber volume was increased by 3.8%. Output power, torque, specific fuel consumption, exhaust gas temperature, and smoke level were not considerably different for compression ratios of 21.5 (reference condition) and 21 (test condition), while NOx, HC, CO and PM levels for the compression ratio of 21 were decreased by 11%, 46%, 28%, 11%, respectively, from those for the compression ratio of 21.5. The tests were also conducted with a compression ratio of 22 and 4.3% increased chamber volume. Output power, torque, exhaust gas temperature and smoke level were greater, while specific fuel consumption was less for the compression ratio of 22 than those for the compression ratio of 21.5. Increase of compression ratio decreased HC and CO levels by 24%, 39%, but increased NOx and PM levels by 24%, 39%. Based on these results, a compression ratio of 21 was selected as an optimum value. Then, full load tests with the selected compression ratio of 21 were carried out for different throat ratios of 1.0%, 1.1%, 1.2%. Output power and torque were greatest and smoke was lowest when throat area ratio was 1.1%, which satisfied the target values of specific fuel consumption (less than 272 g/$kW{\cdot}h$) and exhaust gas temperature (less than $550^{\circ}C$). Therefore, a throat area ratio of 1.1% was selected as an optimum value.

• Journal of Radiation Protection and Research
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• v.41 no.2
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• pp.117-121
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• 2016

Background: Definition and grouping of initiating events (IEs) are important basics for probabilistic safety assessment (PSA). An IE in a spent fuel reprocessing plant (SFRP) is an event that probably leads to the release of dangerous material to jeopardize workers, public and environment. The main difference between SFRPs and nuclear power plants (NPPs) is that hazard materials spread diffusely in a SFRP and radioactive material is just one kind of hazard material. Materials and Methods: Since the research on IEs for NPPs is in-depth around the world, there are several general methods to identify IEs: reference of lists in existence, review of experience feedback, qualitative analysis method, and deductive analysis method. While failure mode and effect analysis (FMEA) is an important qualitative analysis method, master logic diagram (MLD) method is the deductive analysis method. IE identification in SFRPs should be consulted with the experience of NPPs, however the differences between SFRPs and NPPs should be considered seriously. Results and Discussion: The plutonium uranium reduction extraction (Purex) process is adopted by the technics in a model reprocessing plant. The first extraction cycle (FEC) is the pivotal process in the Purex process. Whether the FEC can function safely and steadily would directly influence the production process of the whole plant-production quality. Important facilities of the FEC are installed in the equipment cells (ECs). In this work, IEs in the FEC process were identified and categorized by FMEA and MLD two methods, based on the fact that ECs are containments in the plant. Conclusion: The results show that only two ECs in the FEC do not need to be concerned particularly with safety problems, and criticality, fire and red oil explosion are IEs which should be emphatically analyzed. The results are accordant with the references.

• Transactions of the Korean Society for Noise and Vibration Engineering
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• v.18 no.8
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• pp.879-885
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• 2008

A rotordynamic analysis was performed with a decant-type centrifuge, which is a kind of industrial centrifuge. The system is composed of screw rotor, bowl rotor, driving motors, gear box, and support rolling element bearings. These rotors have a rated speed of 4300 rpm, and were modeled utilizing a rotordynamic FE method for analysis, which was verified through 3-D FE analysis. Design goals are to achieve wide separation margins of lateral critical speeds, and favorable unbalance responses of the rotor in the operating range. Then, a complex analysis rotordynamic analysis of the system was carried out to evaluate its forward synchronous critical speeds and mode shapes, whirl natural frequencies, and unbalance responses under various balance grade. As a result of analysis, the rotordynamic analysis performed by separating a screw rotor and bowl rotor may cause an error in predicting critical speed of entire system. Therefore, the rotordynamic analysis of a coupled rotor combining a screw and bowl rotor must be performed in order to more accurately estimate dynamic characteristics of the decanter-type centrifuge as presented in this paper. Also, rolling element bearings with suitable stiffness should be selected to keep enough separation margin. In addition, in establishing balance grade of a screw and bowl rotor, ISO G2.5 balance grade is more recommended than ISO G6.3, in particular balancing correction of a screw rotor based on ISO G2.5 grade is strongly recommended.

• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Information and Commucation Sciences Conference
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• 2011.05a
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• pp.132-135
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• 2011

This paper describes a multi-mode LDPC decoder which supports three block lengths(648, 1296, 1944) and four code rates(1/2, 2/3, 3/4, 5/6) of IEEE 802.11n WLAN standard. To minimize hardware complexity, it adopts a block-serial (partially parallel) architecture based on the layered decoding scheme. A novel memory reduction technique devised using the min-sum decoding algorithm reduces the size of check-node memory by 47% as compared to conventional method. The designed LDPC decoder is verified by FPGA implementation, and synthesized with a $0.18-{\mu}m$ CMOS cell library. It has 219,100 gates and 45,036 bits RAM, and the estimated throughput is about 164~212 Mbps at 50 MHz@2.5v.