• The Journal of Engineering Geology
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• 제23권3호
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• pp.201-216
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• 2013

Ground penetrating radar (GPR) surveys were conducted in a sand tank model in a laboratory and at an alluvial field site to detect the groundwater table and to investigate the influence of saturation on GPR response in the unsaturated zone. In the sand tank model, the groundwater table and saturation in the sand layer were altered by injecting water, which was then drained by a valve inserted into the bottom of the tank. GPR vertical reflection profile (VRP) data were obtained in the sand tank model for rising and lowering of the groundwater table to estimate the groundwater table and saturation. Results of the lab-scale model provide information on the sensitivity of GPR signals to changes in the water content and in the groundwater table. GPR wave velocities in the vadose zone are controlled mainly by variations in water content (increased travel time is interpreted as an increase in saturation). At the field site, VRP data were collected to a depth of 220 m to estimate the groundwater table at an alluvial site near the Nakdong river at Iryong-ri, Haman-gun, South Korea. Results of the field survey indicate that under saturated conditions, the first reflector of the GPR is indicative of the capillary fringe and not the actual groundwater table. To measure the groundwater table more accurately, we performed a GPR survey using the common mid-point (CMP) method in the vicinity of well-3, and sunk a well to check the groundwater table. The resultant CMP data revealed reflective events from the capillary fringe and groundwater table showing hyperbolic patterns. The normal moveout correction was applied to evaluate the velocity of the GPR, which improved the accuracy of saturation and groundwater table information at depth. The GPR results show that the saturation information, including the groundwater table, is useful in assessing the hydrogeologic properties of the vadose zone in the field.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine
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• 제32권4호
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• pp.365-373
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• 1998

Purpose: The conventional gamma camera is not ideal for scintimammography because of its large detector size (${\sim}500mm$ in width) causing high cost and low image quality. We are developing a small gamma camera dedicated for breast imaging. Materials and Methods: The small gamma camera system consists of a NaI (T1) crystal ($60 mm{\times}60 mm{\times}6 mm$) coupled with a Hamamatsu R3941 Position Sensitive Photomultiplier Tube (PSPMT), a resister chain circuit, preamplifiers, nuclear instrument modules, an analog to digital converter and a personal computer for control and display. The PSPMT was read out using a standard resistive charge division which multiplexes the 34 cross wire anode channels into 4 signals ($X^+,\;X^-,\;Y^+,\;Y^-$). Those signals were individually amplified by four preamplifiers and then, shaped and amplified by amplifiers. The signals were discriminated ana digitized via triggering signal and used to localize the position of an event by applying the Anger logic. Results: The intrinsic sensitivity of the system was approximately 8,000 counts/sec/${\mu}Ci$. High quality flood and hole mask images were obtained. Breast phantom containing $2{\sim}7 mm$ diameter spheres was successfully imaged with a parallel hole collimator The image displayed accurate size and activity distribution over the imaging field of view Conclusion: We have succesfully developed a small gamma camera using NaI(T1)-PSPMT and nuclear Instrument modules. The small gamma camera developed in this study might improve the diagnostic accuracy of scintimammography by optimally imaging the breast.

• Korean Journal of Microbiology
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• 제44권3호
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• pp.228-236
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• 2008

Validation of viral safety is essential in ensuring the safety of mammalian cell culture-derived biopharmaceuticals, because numerous adventitious viruses have been contaminated during the manufacture of the products. Mammalian cells are highly susceptible to Reovirus type 3 (Reo-3), and there are several reports of Reo-3 contamination during the manufacture of biopharmaceuticals. In order to establish the validation system for the Reo-3 safety, a real-time RT-PCR method was developed for quantitative detection of Reo-3 in cell lines, raw materials, manufacturing processes, and final products as well as Reo-3 clearance validation. Specific primers for amplification of Reo-3 RNA was selected, and Reo-3 RNA was quantified by use of SYBR Green I. The sensitivity of the assay was calculated to be $3.2{\times}10^0\;TCID_{50}/ml$. The real-time RT-PCR method was proven to be reproducible and very specific to Reo-3. The established real-time RT-PCR assay was successfully applied to the validation of Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cell artificially infected with Reo-3. Reo-3 RNA could be quantified in CHO cell as well as culture supernatant. When the real-time RT-PCR assay was applied to the validation of virus removal during a virus filtration process, the result was similar to that of virus infectivity assay. Therefore, it was concluded that this rapid, specific, sensitive, and robust assay could replace infectivity assay for detection and clearance validation of Reo-3.

• Food Science and Preservation
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• 제22권6호
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• pp.893-900
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• 2015

In this study, we evaluated the antidiabetic effect of a submerged culture of Ceriporia lacerata mycelium (CL01) on hematological indices, as well as protein and mRNA expression of the insulin-signaling pathway, in db/db mice. After CL01 was administrated for 4 weeks, blood glucose levels decreased consistently, and plasma insulin and c-peptide levels each decreased by roughly 55.8%, 40% of those in the negative control (p<0.05). With regard to HOMA-IR, an insulin resistance index, insulin resistance of the CL01-fed group improved over that of the negative control group by about 62% (p<0.05). In addition, we demonstrated that the protein expression levels of pIR, pAkt, pAMPK, and GLUT4 and the mRNA expression levels of Akt2, IRS1, and GLUT4 in the muscle cells of db/db mice increased in the CL01-fed group compared to the corresponding levels in the control group. These results demonstrate that CL01 affects glucose metabolism, upregulates protein and gene expression in the insulin-signaling pathway, and decreases blood glucose levels effectively by improving insulin sensitivity. More than 90% of those who suffer from type 2 diabetes are more likely to suffer from hyperinsulinemia, hypertension, obesity, and other comorbidities because of insulin resistance. Therefore, it is possible that CL01 intake could be used as a fundamental treatment for type 2 diabetes by lowering insulin resistance, and these results may prove be useful as basic evidence for further research into the mechanisms of a cure for type 2 diabetes.

• Journal of Radiation Protection and Research
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• 제40권2호
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• pp.79-86
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• 2015

$^3He$ gas has been used for neutron monitors as the neutron converter owing to its advantages such as high sensitivity, good ${\gamma}$-discrimination capability, and long-term stability. However, $^3He$ is becoming more difficult to obtain in last few years due to a global shortage of $^3He$ gas. Accordingly, the cost of a neutron monitor using $^3He$ gas as a neutron converter is becoming more expensive. Demand on a neutron monitor using an alternative neutron conversion material is widely increased. $^{10}B$ has many advantages among various $^3He$ alternative materials, as a neutron converter. In order to develop a neutron converter using $^{10}B$ (actually $B_4C$), we calculated the optimal thickness of a neutron converter with a Monte Carlo simulation using MCNP6. In addition, a neutron converter was fabricated by the Ar sputtering method and the neutron signal detection efficiencies were measured with respect to various thicknesses of fabricated a neutron converter. Also, we developed a 2-dimensional multi-wire proportional chamber (MWPC) for neutron beam profile monitoring using the fabricated a neutron converter, and performed experiments for neutron response of the neutron monitor at the 30 MW research reactor HANARO at the Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute. The 2-dimensional MWPC with boron ($B_4C$) neutron converter was proved to be useful for neutron beam monitoring, and can be applied to other types of neutron imaging.

• Investigative Magnetic Resonance Imaging
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• 제14권2호
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• pp.103-114
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• 2010

Purpose : To generate a Korean specific brain template, especially in patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD) by optimizing the voxel-based analysis. Materials and Methods : Three-dimensional T1-weighted images were obtained from 123 subjects who were 43 cognitively normal subjects and patients with 44 mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and 36 AD. The template and the corresponding aprior maps were created by using the matched pairs approach with considering differences of age, gender and differential diagnosis (DDX). We measured several characteristics in both our and the MNI templates, including in the ventricle size. Also, the fractions of gray matter and white matter voxels normalized by the total intracranial were evaluated. Results : The high resolution template and the corresponding aprior maps of gray matter, white matter (WM) and CSF were created with the voxel-size of $1{\times}1{\times}1\;mm$. Mean distance measures and the ventricle sizes differed between two templates. Our brain template had less gray matter and white matter areas than the MNI template. There were volume differences more in gray matter than in white matter. Conclusion : Gray matter and/or white matter integrity studies in populations of Korean elderly and patients with AD are needed to investigate with this template.

• Journal of Korean Society of Coastal and Ocean Engineers
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• 제29권2호
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• pp.109-120
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• 2017

A discounted cost model for preventive maintenance of armor units of rubble-mound breakwaters is mathematically derived by combining the deterioration model based on a discrete-time stochastic process of shock occurrence with the cost model of renewal process together. The discounted cost model of condition-based maintenance proposed in this paper can take into account the nonlinearity of cumulative damage process as well as the discounting effect of cost. By comparing the present results with the previous other results, the verification is carried out satisfactorily. In addition, it is known from the sensitivity analysis on variables related to the model that the more often preventive maintenance should be implemented, the more crucial the level of importance of system is. However, the tendency is shown in reverse as the interest rate is increased. Meanwhile, the present model has been applied to the armor units of rubble-mound breakwaters. The parameters of damage intensity function have been estimated through the time-dependent prediction of the expected cumulative damage level obtained from the sample path method. In particular, it is confirmed that the shock occurrences can be considered to be a discrete-time stochastic process by investigating the effects of uncertainty of the shock occurrences on the expected cumulative damage level with homogeneous Poisson process and doubly stochastic Poisson process that are the continuous-time stochastic processes. It can be also seen that the stochastic process of cumulative damage would depend directly on the design conditions, thus the preventive maintenance would be varied due to those. Finally, the optimal periods and scale for the preventive maintenance of armor units of rubble-mound breakwaters can be quantitatively determined with the failure limits, the levels of importance of structure, and the interest rates.

• Journal of the Society of Cosmetic Scientists of Korea
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• 제42권2호
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• pp.103-109
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• 2016

Efficacy of cosmetics has been mainly evaluated by qualitative and quantitative methods based on visual sense, tactile sense and skin structure until now. In this study, we suggested a novel evaluation method for skin status based on sound; measuring and analyzing the rubbing noise generated by applying cosmetics. First, the rubbing noise was measured at a close range by a high-sensitivity microphone in anechoic environment, and the noises were analyzed by 1/3 octave band analysis in frequency-domain. Three conditions, 1) before washing, 2) after washing and 3) after application of cosmetics, were compared. As a result, sound pressure level (SPL) of rubbing noise after washing was larger than that of before washing, and the SPL of rubbing noise after cosmetic application was the smallest. Furthermore, the energy of rubbing noise after application was higher than that of the before and after washing conditions in a low frequency band (lower than 2 kHz region). Conversely, the energy of rubbing noise after application was much lower than the others in a high-frequency band (upper than 2 kHz region). This change of energy distribution was described as a balloon-skin model. High SPL in the low frequency region after the cosmetic applications was due to the increase of "flexibility index", while SPL in the high frequency region significantly decreased because of the attenuation which is related to "softness index". Therefore, we developed two indices based on the spectrum-energy difference for evaluating skin conditions. This proposed method and indices were verified via skin flexibility and roughness measurement using cutometer and primos respectively. These results suggest that acoustic measurement of skin friction noise may be a new skin status evaluation method.

• Journal of IKEEE
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• 제27권1호
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• pp.122-126
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• 2023

In this paper, a control system for a complex microbial incubator was proposed. The proposed control system consists of a control unit, a communication unit, a power supply unit, and a control system of the complex microbial incubator. The controller of the complex microbial incubator is designed and manufactured to convert analog signals and digital signals, and control signals of sensors such as displays using LCD panels, water level sensors, temperature sensors, and pH concentration sensors. The water level sensor used is designed and manufactured to enable accurate water level measurement by using the IR laser method with excellent linearity in order to solve the problem that existing water level sensors are difficult to measure due to foreign substances such as bubbles. The temperature sensor is designed and used so that it has high accuracy and no cumulative resistance error by measuring using the thermal resistance principle. The communication unit consists of two LAN ports and one RS-232 port, and is designed and manufactured to transmit signals such as LCD panel, PCT panel, and load cell controller used in the complex microbial incubator to the control unit. The power supply unit is designed and manufactured to supply power by configuring it with three voltage supply terminals such as 24V, 12V and 5V so that the control unit and communication unit can operate smoothly. The control system of the complex microbial incubator uses PLC to control sensor values such as pH concentration sensor, temperature sensor, and water level sensor, and the operation of circulation pump, circulation valve, rotary pump, and inverter load cell used for cultivation. In order to evaluate the performance of the control system of the proposed complex microbial incubator, the result of the experiment conducted by the accredited certification body showed that the range of water level measurement sensitivity was -0.41mm~1.59mm, and the range of change in water temperature was ±0.41℃, which is currently commercially available. It was confirmed that the product operates with better performance than the performance of the products. Therefore, the effectiveness of the control system of the complex microbial incubator proposed in this paper was demonstrated.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• 제55권1호
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• pp.60-75
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• 2022

The Bayesian algorithm model is a model algorithm that calculates probabilities based on input data and is mainly used for complex disasters, water quality management, the ecological structure between living things or living-non-living factors. In this study, we analyzed the main factors affected Korean Estuary Trophic Diatom Index (KETDI) change based on the Bayesian network analysis using the diatom community and physicochemical factors in the domestic estuarine aquatic ecosystem. For Bayesian analysis, estuarine diatom habitat data and estuarine aquatic diatom health (2008~2019) data were used. Data were classified into habitat, physical, chemical, and biological factors. Each data was input to the Bayesian network model (GeNIE model) and performed estuary aquatic network analysis along with the nationwide and each coast. From 2008 to 2019, a total of 625 taxa of diatoms were identified, consisting of 2 orders, 5 suborders, 18 families, 141 genera, 595 species, 29 varieties, and 1 species. Nitzschia inconspicua had the highest cumulative cell density, followed by Nitzschia palea, Pseudostaurosira elliptica and Achnanthidium minutissimum. As a result of analyzing the ecological network of diatom health assessment in the estuary ecosystem using the Bayesian network model, the biological factor was the most sensitive factor influencing the health assessment score was. In contrast, the habitat and physicochemical factors had relatively low sensitivity. The most sensitive taxa of diatoms to the assessment of estuarine aquatic health were Nitzschia inconspicua, N. fonticola, Achnanthes convergens, and Pseudostaurosira elliptica. In addition, the ratio of industrial area and cattle shed near the habitat was sensitively linked to the health assessment. The major taxa sensitive to diatom health evaluation differed according to coast. Bayesian network analysis was useful to identify major variables including diatom taxa affecting aquatic health even in complex ecological structures such as estuary ecosystems. In addition, it is possible to identify the restoration target accurately when restoring the consequently damaged estuary aquatic ecosystem.