• Journal of Broadcast Engineering
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.552-560
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• 2011

In this paper, a new no-reference sharpness measure using frequency domain coefficients is proposed. Although most existing sharpness measures used pixel intensity to compute the blur degree, the proposed sharpness measure computes the sharpness using frequency coefficients. To assess the perceived sharpness of a given image, the image is re-blurred by a Gaussian low pass filter and a new quality measure function was defined using the frequency domain coefficients of the given image and the re-blurred image. To evaluate the proposed algorithms, TID2008 quality assessment database was used. Experimental results show that the proposed quality assessment method showed high correlation with the subjective scores.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.50 no.6
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• pp.907-914
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• 2018

In this article, we conducted molecular dynamics simulations to investigate the effect of applied strain and temperature on irradiation-induced damage in alpha-zirconium. Cascade simulations were performed with primary knock-on atom energies ranging between 1 and 20 KeV, hydrostatic and uniaxial strain values ranging from -2% (compression) to 2% (tensile), and temperatures ranging from 100 to 1000 K. Results demonstrated that the number of defects increased when the displacement cascade proceeded under tensile uniaxial hydrostatic strain. In contrast, compressive strain states tended to decrease the defect production rate as compared with the reference no-strain condition. The proportions of vacancy and interstitial clustering increased by approximately 45% and 55% and 25% and 32% for 2% hydrostatic and uniaxial strain systems, respectively, as compared with the unstrained system, whereas both strain fields resulted in a 15-30% decrease in vacancy and interstitial clustering under compressive conditions. Tensile strains, specifically hydrostatic strain, tended to produce larger sized vacancy and interstitial clusters, whereas compressive strain systems did not significantly affect the size of defect clusters as compared with the reference no-strain condition. The influence of the strain system on radiation damage became more significant at lower temperatures because of less annealing than in higher temperature systems.

• Wind and Structures
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.139-147
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• 2019

One of the most important factors in tall buildings design in urban spaces is wind. The present study aims to investigate the aerodynamic behavior in the square and triangular footprint forms through aerodynamic modifications including rounded corners, chamfered corners and recessed corners in order to reduce the length of tall buildings wake region. The method used was similar to wind tunnel numerical simulation conducted on 16 building models through Autodesk Flow Design 2014 software. The findings revealed that in order to design tall 50 story buildings with a height of about 150 meters, the model in triangular footprint with aerodynamic modification of chamfered corner facing wind direction came out to have the best aerodynamic behavior comparing the other models. In comparison to the related reference model (i.e., the triangular footprint with sharp corners and no aerodynamic modification), it could reduce the length of the wake region about 50% in general. Also, the model with square footprint and aerodynamic modification of chamfered corner with the corner facing the wind could present favorable aerodynamic behavior comparing the other models of the same cluster. In comparison to the related reference model (i.e., the square footprint with sharp corners and no aerodynamic modification), it could decrease the wake region up to 30% lengthwise.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.55 no.1
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• pp.222-228
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• 2023

This study aimed to analyze the applicability of the improved median filter in positron emission tomography (PET)/magnetic resonance (MR) fusion images based on parallel imaging using generalized autocalibrating partially parallel acquisition (GRAPPA). In this study, a PET/MR fusion imaging system based on a 3.0T magnetic field and ¹⁸F radioisotope were used. An improved median filter that can set a mask of the median value more efficiently than before was modeled and applied to the acquired image. As quantitative evaluation parameters of the noise level, the contrast to noise ratio (CNR) and coefficient of variation (COV) were calculated. Additionally, no-reference-based evaluation parameters were used to analyze the overall image quality. We confirmed that the CNR and COV values of the PET/MR fusion images to which the improved median filter was applied improved by approximately 3.32 and 2.19 times on average, respectively, compared to the noisy image. In addition, the no-reference-based evaluation results showed a similar trend for the noise-level results. In conclusion, we demonstrated that it can be supplemented by using an improved median filter, which suggests the problem of image quality degradation of PET/MR fusion images that shortens scan time using GRAPPA.

• Asia Pacific Journal of Corpus Research
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• v.4 no.2
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• pp.1-39
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• 2023

Recent research in usage-based Second Language Acquisition has provided new insights into second language (L2) learners' development of formulaic language (Wulff, 2019). The current study examines the use of phrase-frames, which are recurring sequences of words including one or more variable slots (e.g., it is * that), in written and oral production data from Asian learners of English across four proficiency levels (beginner, low-intermediate, high-intermediate, advanced) and native English speakers. The variability, predictability, and discourse functions of the most frequent 4-word phrase-frames from the written essay and spoken dialogue sub-corpora of the International Corpus Network of Asian Learners of English (ICNALE) were analyzed and then compared across groups and modes. The results revealed that while learners' phrase-frames in writing became more variable and unpredictable as proficiency increased, no clear developmental patterns were found in speaking, although all groups used more fixed and predictable phrase-frames than the reference group. Further, no developmental trajectories in the functions of the most frequent phrase-frames were found in both modes. Additionally, lower-level learners and the reference group used more variable phrase-frames in speaking, whereas advanced-level learners showed more variability in writing. This study contributes to a better understanding of the development of L2 phraseological competence.

• Information Systems Review
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.219-238
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• 2015

As Internet and IT have been developed, people have been exposed to large amounts of information. So, many online information providers recommend relevant information to users to relieve an information overload. However, information recommendation which is based on the taste and preference of a user can lead to a problem of unbalanced information consumption. Prior research about online information has not investigated the side-effect of a recommendation function. This research suggests IT solutions for alleviating unbalanced information consumption behavior. Based on adaptation level theory and expectancy theory, we proposed self-reference point diagnosticity interface and social-reference point diagnosticity interface to help people to consume information following their own information consuming goal. We hypothesized positive impacts of these two interfaces on the self-awareness about information consuming pattern. And we predicted that self-awareness has a positive impact on the motivation and actual behavior to conform the ideal information consuming pattern which the user sets. Laboratory experiment was executed as a research method. As a result, the self-reference diagnosticity interface leaded to higher self-awareness and mitigated the unbalanced information consumption. But, the social-reference diagnosticity interface and the motivation to improve the information consuming behavior had no significant results. Academic and practical implications are discussed.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.13 no.12
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• pp.6391-6395
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• 2012

Background: Ovarian cancer is ranked as the fifth most common cause of cancer death in women. In Malaysia, it is the fourth most common cancer in females. CA125 has been the tumor marker of choice in ovarian cancer but its diagnostic specificity in early stages is only 50%. Hence, there is a critical need to identify an alternative tumor marker that is capable of detecting detect ovarian cancer at an early stage. HE4 is a new tumor marker proposed for the early diagnosis of ovarian cancer and disease recurrence. Currently, none of the normal ranges of HE4 quoted in the literature are based on data for a multiethnic Asian population. Therefore, the aim of this study was to determine reference intervals for HE4 in an Asian population presenting in University Malaya Medical Centre, a tertiary reference hospital. Materials and Methods: 300 healthy women were recruited comprising 150 premenopausal and 150 postmenopausal women, aged from 20-76 years. All women were subjected to a pelvic ultrasonograph and were confirmed to be free from ovarian pathology on recruitment. Serum HE4 levels were determined by chemiluminescent microparticle immunoassay (CMIA, Abbott Architect). The reference intervals were determined following CLSI guidelines (C28-A2) using a non-parametric method. Results: The upper limits of the $95^{th}$ percentile reference interval (90%CI) for all the women collectively were 64.6 pmol/L, and 58.4 pmol/L for premenopausal) and 69.0 pmol/L for postmenopausal. The concentration of HE4 was noted to increase with age especially in women who were more than 50 years old. We also noted that our proposed reference limit was lower compared to the level given by manufacturer Abbott Architect HE4 kit insert (58.4 vs 70 pmol/L for premenopausal group and 69.0 vs 140 pmol/L in the postmenopausal group). The study also showed a significant difference in HE4 concentrations between ethnic groups (Malays and Indians). The levels of HE4 in Indians appeared higher than in Malays (p<0.05), while no significant differences were noted between the Malays and Chinese ethnic groups. Conclusions: More data are needed to establish a reference interval that will better represent the multiethnic Malaysian population. Probably a larger sampling size of equal representation of the Malay, Chinese, Indians as well as the other native ethnic communities will give us a greater confidence on whether genetics plays a role in reference interval determination.

• Journal of Korean Medicine Rehabilitation
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.85-96
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• 2018

Objectives This study was performed to compare the electrical methods of motor points mapping using surface EMG and electric probe (Pointer Excel II). Methods 32 healthy adults (male 16, female 16) were selected. and classified into two groups; surface EMG group, electric probe (Pointer Excel II) group. In surface EMG group, motor points were searched by recoding the compound muscle potentials. In electric probe (Pointer Excel II) group, motor points were searched by scanning the skin with Pointer Excel II at low level stimulation. The locations of the motor points were expressed as X and Y values in relation to the reference line. The horizontal reference line was set as elbow crease and the vertical reference line was set as the line connecting coracoid process to the center of the horizontal reference line. The data was analyzed by 'Independent T-test' and 'equivalence test'. Results 1. The motor points of short head and long head of biceps brachii muscle were located at about 2/3 length of the vertical reference line from coracoid process and about 1/5~1/4 length of the half of the horizontal reference line from the vertical reference line in both group. 2. The motor points of the short head were located more distally and close to the vertical reference line (p<0.001). 3. In surface EMG group, the motor points of the long head were located more laterally in the female than male. And the motor points of the long head were located more distally in the left side than right side (p<0.05). In electric probe (Pointer Excel II) group, similar tendency was observed but there was no statistically significant difference (p>0.05). 4. As a result of the equivalence test between surface EMG group and electric probe (Pointer Excel II) group, the confidence intervals of the difference were within the equivalence limit. Therefore, the locations of the motor points searched by two ways are equa l (p>0.05, equivalence interval=3%). Conclusions The results indicate that electric probe (Pointer Excel II) can be used to search the motor points instead of surface EMG. This might improve the clinical efficiency when using the motor points to treat muscle dysfunction.

• Korean Journal of Logic
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.347-380
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• 2013

In this paper I will try to show how Wittgenstein criticized Frege's theory of meaning. Frege's theory of meaning can be compressed as sense-reference theory. Frege distinguishes between sense and reference on all the linguistic expressions. In particular, he regards that a sentence has sense and reference. This distinction was raised from, so to speak, the problem of identity sentences. Wittgenstein's "fundamental thought" of Tractatus Logico-Philosophicus is the key of his direct criticism of Frege's sense-reference theory. That is, it is an attack on Frege's thought that the reference of a sentence is a truth value and truth values are "objects themselves" (in Frege's meaning). According to Wittgenstein, such an object does not exist and according to his picture theory, the function of a name and that of a proposition are fundamentally different. By the way, Frege can reply justly to this criticism that it is insufficient. In short, Frege's 'sense' and 'reference' etc, are the technical terms. Hence Wittgenstein's decisive criticism of Frege's theory consists in accusing his theory of logical flaws. There is an another route to the sense and reference of a sentence which Frege introduces. In discourses of judgement stroke and content stroke in his Begriffsshrift and in those of horizontal stroke since his "Function and Concept", Frege deals with the sense and reference of a sentence. Wittgenstein criticize that the sense of a complex sentence such as ~p would by no means be determined by Frege's determination.

• Journal of the Korean Magnetics Society
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.121-126
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• 2011

Spin dynamics of magnetic tunnel junctions with free and fixed reference layers is investigated by ferromagnetic resonance micromagnetic simulations. First, in magnetic tunnel junctions with an exchange biased synthetic ferrimagnetic reference layer, a magnetization direction of each layer and the tunneling magnetoresistance are calculated for a DC magnetic field. To investigate the spin exciting modes in magnetic tunnel junctions, we simulate the ferromagnetic resonance frequency spectra with small RF magnetic fields. Exciting modes of the tunneling magnetoresistance calculated by an included angle between free and reference layers is interpreted from those of each layer. Spin exciting modes are different according to a signs of the DC magnetic field. In a negative magnetic field, FMR frequency spectra of free and reference layers are well elucidated by the modified Kittel's equation. However, in a positive magnetic field, there is no simple analytic solution related to FMR frequency spectra due to the coupled modes. Since ferromagnetic layers in magnetic tunnel junctions are interactive each other, careful considerations of the reference and fixed layer as well as the free layer are required for understanding on the spin dynamics of magnetic tunnel junctions with an exchange biased synthetic ferrimagnetic reference layer.