• Smart Structures and Systems
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• v.6 no.3
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• pp.197-209
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• 2010

The structural state of a bridge is currently examined by visual inspection or by wired sensor techniques, which are relatively expensive, vulnerable to inclement conditions, and time consuming to undertake. In contrast, wireless sensor networks are easy to deploy and flexible in application so that the network can adjust to the individual structure. Different sensing techniques have been used with such networks, but the acoustic emission technique has rarely been utilized. With the use of acoustic emission (AE) techniques it is possible to detect internal structural damage, from cracks propagating during the routine use of a structure, e.g. breakage of prestressing wires. To date, AE data analysis techniques are not appropriate for the requirements of a wireless network due to the very exact time synchronization needed between multiple sensors, and power consumption issues. To unleash the power of the acoustic emission technique on large, extended structures, recording and local analysis techniques need better algorithms to handle and reduce the immense amount of data generated. Preliminary results from utilizing a new concept called Acoustic Emission Array Processing to locally reduce data to information are presented. Results show that the azimuthal location of a seismic source can be successfully identified, using an array of six to eight poor-quality AE sensors arranged in a circular array approximately 200 mm in diameter. AE beamforming only requires very fine time synchronization of the sensors within a single array, relative timing between sensors of $1{\mu}s$ can easily be performed by a single Mote servicing the array. The method concentrates the essence of six to eight extended waveforms into a single value to be sent through the wireless network, resulting in power savings by avoiding extended radio transmission.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.1801-1810
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• 2016

Recent discovery showing the presence of microRNAs (miRNAs) in the circulation sparked interest in their use as potential biomarkers. Our previous studies showed the diagnostic potential of miR-451 as a serological marker for inflammatory breast cancer (IBC), miR-337-5p and miR-30b for non-inflammatory breast cancer (non-IBC). The aim of this study is to investigate the prognostic values of circulating miRNAs by comparing the amounts of 12 circulating miRNAs in the serum of IBC and non-IBC from Tunisian breast cancer patients, and by determinating whether correlated pairs of miRNAs could provide useful information in the diagnosis of IBC and non-IBC patients. TaqMan qPCR was performed to detect circulating expression of miRNAs in serum of 20 IBC, 20 non-IBC and 20 healthy controls. Nonparametric rank Spearman rho correlation coefficient was used to examine the prognostic value of miRNAs and to assess the correlation profile between miRNAs expression. Further, a large number of miRNAs were highly correlated (rho>0.5) in both patients groups and controls. Also, the correlations profiles were different between IBC, non-IBC and healthy controls indicating important changes in molecular pathways in cancer cells. Our results showed that miR-335 was significantly overexpressed in premenopausal non-IBC patients; miR-24 was significantly overexpressed in non-IBC postmenopausal patients. Patients with previous parity had higher serum of miR-342-5p levels than those without. Furthermore, patients with HER2+ IBC present lower serum levels of miR-15a than patients with HER2-disease. Together, these results underline the potential of miRNAs to function as diagnostic and prognostic markers for IBC and non-IBC, with links to the menopausal state, Her2 status and parity.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Environmental Restoration Technology
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.69-79
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• 2014

Coastal wetlands are among the most productive biomes in the Earth. The economic values include the direct use of a coastal wetland's ecosystem services, such as food, raw materials, recreation, and tourism. Other values comprise the indirect use of a coastal wetland's ecosystem services, such as carbon sequestration, waste-water treatment, and erosion prevention. In particular, Suncheon Bay is recently attracting attention as the most successful case of the preservation and restoration. This study applies Travel Cost Method (TCM) to estimate the economic value by drawing the demand curve for trips to Suncheon Bay. The TCM is an approach used for economic valuation of non-market goods and services. Based on the results of TCM, this study shows that the economic benefit from recreational uses of the site adds up to \174.7 billion per year. It is also significant in the sense that monetary information is suggested to help local policy makers evaluate the realistic values of coastal wetlands.

• Korean Institute of Interior Design Journal
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• no.25
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• pp.111-118
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• 2000

This study examines the space composition and character of Elizabethan Theater base on the theory of drama and Shakespeares play in the english traditional theater. Contemporary multi purpose theater and public space is considered as a symbolic representation of the Elizabethan theaters organization and renaissance culture. In the historical theory, the Shakespeares theater was a common tool and best systeme in reflecting peoples lives. This role of theater as mass culture and new style of theater permanent design has get its value with the population increase and the urban centralization of the city and urban common sense. This study attempts to reevaluate the need of public space in modern society through a critical review of theater and its use as a open space design. Content analysis was used to discuss the topics of this study including the historical background of the theater, the relationship between Greek culture and modern design, and the role of scenery, auditorium and its impact on urban environment. The scope of the study is limited to the comparison of Elizabethan theater and space use program from the space critic and sociologist. Today the concept of theatrical space is altered with the advent of non-objects and multi media space. This study provides insights for the future implications of theatrical space in developing public space for its a new definition as cultural representation.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Agriculture
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.169-179
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• 2005

With the industrialization in Korea, the economy has invested more resources on industry and less on agricultural production. However, agriculture is still an important industry, since the whole nation depends on rice for their living. And the proportion of agricultural land is relatively large, which leads issuing environmental aspects of agriculture in this country. This study was conducted to evaluate the environmental and economical aspects of agriculture in Korea, using system ecological concept, Emergy. The total Emergy inflow of Korean agriculture was $336.57{\times}10^{20}\;sej{\cdot}yr^{-1}$ in 2003. Emergy yield ratio, the ratio of non-renewable and imported Energy use to renewable Emergy use, was 5.21, which shows the agriculture in Korea has such a value as that of the world oil resources in 1986. Also, total agricultural product was $13.55{\times}10^{16}\;J{\cdot}yr^{-1}$ in 2003 and the Energy inflow was $121.09{\times}10^{20}\;sej{\cdot}yr^{-1}$. From these data, solar transformity of Korean agriculture was estimated as $8.68{\times}10^4\;sej{\cdot}J^{-1}$.

• Korean Institute of Interior Design Journal
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• no.26
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• pp.35-41
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• 2001

This study examines the space composition and character of Baroque Theater base on the theory of drama and play in the european traditional theater. Contemporary multi purpose theater and public space is considered as a symbolic representation of the baroque theater's organization. In the historical theory, baroque theater was a common tool and best systeme in reflecting people's lives. The role of theater as mass culture and new style of theater permanent design had get its value with the population increase and the urban centralization of the city and urban common sense. This study attempts to reevaluate the need of public space in modern society through a critical review of theater and its use as a open space design. Content analysis was used to discuss the topics of this study including the historical background of the theater, the relationship between renaissance culture and modern theater design, and the role of scenery, auditorium and its impact on urban environment. The scope of the study is limited to the comparison of baroque theater and space use program from the space critic and sociologist. Today the concept of theatrical space is altered with the advent of non-objects and multi media space. This study provides insights for the future implications of theatrical space in developing public space for its a new definition as cultural representation.

• Journal of ILASS-Korea
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• v.11 no.4
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• pp.220-227
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• 2006

Experimental studies has been conducted to investigate the effect of orifice diameter ratio on the mixing characteristics of the split element of doublet and triplet elements. The spray characteristics of non-reacting immiscible liquids have been investigated using a patternator. The local volume fraction is measured by use of mean value of each component. This volume measurement represents the mixing characteristics of the liquid, which affect the overall combustion efficiency. The ratio of the orifice diameter, ranging from 1 to 1.5, and that of the jet-momentum, ranging from 0.5 to 6.0, we used. The jet impinging behavior with use of various ratios exhibits substantially different mixing characteristics. Mixing efficiency is maximized when the jet-momentum ratio is increased; this behavior is particularly prominent when the orifice diameter ratio is greater than unity. The split of the triplet element yields better mixing characteristics and is more effective than that of the doublet element in regard to achieving high combustion efficiency. The optimum mixing factor for the triplet element is found to be 0.75, according to our measurement.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Fisheries and Ocean Technology
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• v.46 no.3
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• pp.265-275
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• 2010

The main purpose of this study is to estimate willingness to pay (WTP) by the general publics, assuming that they pay tax or charge for protecting marine living resources and environment through developing and supplying biodegradable fishing nets. This study employed a contingent valuation method (CVM) which is an econometric method. The survey was conducted by using both double-bounded dichotomous choice and open-ended survey. Tobit model was used for the analysis. The variables included concerns about marine environment and fishing net discarded, sex, age profile, number of family members, educational level and personal disposable income. Annual average WTP per family for the biodegradable fishing net development and supply was estimated at 5,294 won and national WTP amounted to some 84.2 billion won. This includes both of use and non-use value of biodegradable fishing nets.

• Journal of Biomedical Engineering Research
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• v.16 no.4
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• pp.457-462
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• 1995

Unlike the usual bone plate and screw fracture fixation, an improved plate fixation method, which can transfer gradually physiological load to bones, is described. The key feature of the present method is to use washers between the plate and the screw. Bio-absorbable materials or non-ferrous materials with good damping characteristics are used to manufacture the washers. The purpose of this paper is to discuss potential advantages of the proposed method, and to show experimentally its improved impact-absorbing characteristics. Vibration experiments are carried out for pig femurs and cow tibias with and without the proposed washers. This experiments show that the washers can drop the first peak value suite substantially in the FRF plots. Although in-vivo experiments have not been conducted, the present fixation method appears to be a simple and effective alternative to the presently used method.

• The Journal of Asian Finance, Economics and Business
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• v.7 no.11
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• pp.421-428
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• 2020

The study investigates the causal factors affecting mobile banking services acceptance by customers in Thailand. This study employs quantitative research methodology and non-probability sampling to draw 400 mobile banking users from the population who are the mobile banking users of commercial banks in Thailand. The online questionnaires were used as a research tool to collect data with the Cronbach's alpha coefficient as 0.931. By using the structural equation model to analyze data, the results have shown that service quality, perceived usefulness, perceived ease-of-use, safety in use, and social factors influenced mobile banking services acceptance by customers in Thailand.By checking the harmony with the statistics χ² = 108.618, df. = 86, χ²/df. = 1.263, p-value = .050, CMIN/DF =1.263, GFI = .989, AGFI=.962, TLI= .962, CFI = .976, RMSEA = .037,along with testing the weight factor. In conclusion, the research model was found to be harmonious with the empirical data at the significance level 0.05. The findings of this study suggest that the commercial banks should apply this research to understand the acceptance behavior of mobile banking users, also to determining marketing strategies, identifying opportunities and creating a competitive advantage for their services in the future.