• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.59 no.2
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• pp.186-192
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• 2005

Background : Diagnosis of tuberculous pleurisy is sometimes difficult using conventional diagnostic methods. We have investigated the utility of pleural fluid cell $IFN-{\gamma}$ production assay in the diagnosis of tuberculous pleurisy. Methods : We prospectively performed pleural fluid cell $IFN-{\gamma}$ production assay in 39 patients with tuberculous pleural effusions (TPE) and in 26 patients with nontuberculous pleural effusions (NTPE) (13 malignant pleural effusions and 13 parapneumonic effusions). Pleural fluid cells were cultured in DMEM media and stimulated with purified protein derivatives (PPD), and phytohemagglutinin (PHA) for 24 hr. The amount of $IFN-{\gamma}$ released in the culture supernatant was quantitated by $IFN-{\gamma}$ ELISA assay. We have also measured adenosine deaminase (ADA) activities and $IFN-{\gamma}$ concentrations in the pleural fluid. Results : 1) The pleural fluid levels of ADA activity and $IFN-{\gamma}$ concentrations were significantly higher in TPE than NTPE (p<0.01). 2) $IFN-{\gamma}$ production in TPE cells stimulated by PPD ($755,266{\pm}886,636pg/ml$) was significantly higher than NTPE cells ($3,509{\pm}6,980pg/ml$) (p<0.01). By considering the fact that $IFN-{\gamma}$ concentrations over 10,000 pg/ml is a criteria for the diagnosis of TBE, sensitivity and specificity of the test were 97.4 and 92.3%, respectively. 3) The ratios of $IFN-{\gamma}$ production by the stimulation with PPD and PHA (PPD/PHA) were significantly higher in TPE cells ($59{\pm}85$) than NTPE cells ($5{\pm}18$)(p<0.01). Considering the criteria for the diagnosis of TBE as PPD/PHA ratio over 5, sensitivity and specificity of the test were 76.9 and 92.3%, respectively. Conclusion : Pleural fluid cell $IFN-{\gamma}$ production assay may be useful for the diagnosis of tuberculous pleurisy.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.62 no.6
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• pp.486-491
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• 2007

Background: This study examined the relationship between the pleural adenosine deaminase (ADA) level and the patterns of pleural enhancement in patients with a tuberculous pleural effusion (TPE) shown on a CT scan. Methods: The charts and CT findings of 44 patients with TPE from February 2002 to October 2006 were reviesed retrospectively. A diagnosis of TPE was made by the pleural ADA level with a follow-up (24/44), sputum smear or culture of sputum (16/44), pleural fluid culture (3/44) or pleural biopsy (1/44). The patients were divided into two groups according to the ADA level(Group I [n=12]: 40-70, Group II [n=32]: >70 U/L). The presence or absence, maximal thickness and patterns of pleural enhancement were analyzed. The pattern of pleural enhancement was classified into diffuse or focal, smooth or irregular and interrupted or continuous. The difference in CT findings between groups I and group II were analyzed using an unpaired T test, Chi-square test and Z test. Results: All 44 patients showed diffuse pleural enhancement on the CT scans. The maximal pleural thickness of groups I and II was $1.83{\pm}1.03mm$ (1-4 mm) and $3.63{\pm}1.78mm$ (1-8 mm), respectively (p =0.0002). Pleural thickening ${\geq}5mm$ was only demonstrated in 31.3% of patients in group II (10/32). Diffuse interrupted pleural thickening was noted in 91.7% (11/12) of patients in group I and 62.5% (20/32) in group II, respectively. Diffuse continuous pleural thickening was observed in 8.3% (1/12) of patients in group I and 37.5% (12/32) in group II, respectively (p=0.0748). Conclusion: Pleural thickening ${\geq}5mm$ on the contrast enhanced CT is rare in patients with lymphocyte-dominant TPE in whom the pleural ADA level is between 40-70 U/L.

• Proceedings of the KIEE Conference
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• 2001.11c
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• pp.187-190
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• 2001

A new ultrasound imaging technique based on simultaneous multiple transmit focusing using orthogonal modified Golay codes is presented. modified Golay codes are used to increase signal-to-noise-ratio(SNR) and maximize the transmit power efficiency(TPE). Conventional Golay codes consist of a pair of complementary codes with same length and can be compressed into a delta-like signal due to their complementary property. In the present work, two modified Golay codes focused at different depths are transmitted at the same time, which are mutually orthogonal. On receive, these orthogonal modified Golay codes are separately compressed into two short pulses and individually focused. These two focused beam are combined to form a frame of image with improved lateral resolution. Computer simulations are performed to verity the proposed method improves the lateral resolution of image compared with the conventional echo system.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Mechanical Engineers
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.43-49
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• 1986

The stability behavior of the cantilever beam carrying several masses and subjected to a follower force at its free end is investigated. The effects of the location and the mass ratio of the concentrated masses on the stability of the system are discussed. An optimal location of the concentrated mass is determined to give maximum critical follower force. Discontinuities of the flutter load are observed for the system with more than two concentrated masses.

• Design & Manufacturing
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• v.1 no.1
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• pp.45-50
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• 2007

Recently, the study for filling imbalance in thermoplastic polymer has gradually been increased. However, it is hard to find the researches for filling imbalance of thermoplastic elastomer(TPE). The experiment of filling imbalance was conducted for thermoplastic vulcanize(TPV) and PP, ABS polymers in the mold with un-geometrically balanced runner system(Branch Type Runner System). In this experiment, the effects of the melt temperature, injection pressure and injection speed on the filling imbalance were investigated.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Precision Engineering
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.47-52
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• 2008

Recently, the study for filling imbalance in thermoplastic polymer has gradually been increased. However, it is hard to find the researches for filling imbalance of thermoplastic elastomer(TPE). The experiment of filling imbalance was conducted for the three kinds of thermoplastic vulcanizes(TPVs) and PP polymer in the mold with geometrically balanced runner system(Unary Branch Type Runner System). In this experiment, the effects of the melt temperature, injection pressure and injection speed on the filling imbalance were investigated. There was also the imbalance in TPV injection molding process as well as in conventional injection molding with plastics. The tendency of filling imbalance in TPV injection molding specially decreased by taking place the hesitation of TPV melt.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Mechanical Engineers A
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• v.32 no.11
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• pp.1022-1027
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• 2008

TPE is used as alternative for rubber, the best example is the weather strip for automobile. The nonlinear material properties of weather strip were important to predict the behaviors of weather strip. Uniaxial tension and equi-biaxial tension tests were performed to achieve the nonlinear material constant and stress-strain curves. The nonlinear material constant of weather strip is evaluated by using the nonlinear finite element analysis. In this paper, the prediction for weather strip is analyzed by using commercial finite element program, ANSYS. The nonlinear finite element analysis of weather strip is executed to predict the behavior of weather strip for automobile.

• Design & Manufacturing
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• v.2 no.4
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• pp.5-10
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• 2008

Recently, the study for filling imbalance in thermoplastic polymer has gradually been increased. However, it is hard to find the researches for filling imbalance of thermoplastic elastomer(TPE). The experiment of filling imbalance was conducted for the three kinds of thermoplastic vulcanizes(TPVs) and PP polymer in the mold with geometrically balanced runner system(Unary Branch Type Runner System). In this experiment, the effects of the melt temperature, injection pressure and injection speed on the filling imbalance were investigated. There was also the imbalance in TPV injection molding process as well as in conventional injection molding with plastics. The tendency of filling imbalance in TPV injection molding specially decreased by taking place the hesitation of TPV melt.

• Elastomers and Composites
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• v.53 no.4
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• pp.226-233
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• 2018

Elastomers based on the thermoplastics are widely used in rubber industries. Thermoplastic elastomers have the advantages of an easy shaping process and elimination of recycling problems. Thermoplastic polyester elastomer (TPE) is used for making rubber bands in wearable devices and its applications are increasing. In this study, five wrist bands were designed and their mechanical behaviors were examined by computer simulation, using hyper elastic models, Mooney-Rivlin and Ogden models, and a linear elastic model. Simulation results were compared and discussed in terms of band design and material model.

• Journal of Biomedical Engineering Research
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.217-231
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• 2003

Coded excitation with complementary Golay sequences is an effective means to increase the SNR and penetration of ultrasound imaging. in which the two complementary binary codes are transmitted successively along each scan-line, reducing the imaging frame rate by half. This method suffers from low frame rate particularly when multiple transmit focusing is employed, since the frame rate will be further reduced in proportion to the number of focal zones. In this paper. a new ultrasound imaging technique based on simultaneous multiple transmit focusing using modified orthogonal Golay codes is proposed to improve lateral resolution with no accompanying decrease in the imaging frame rate, in which a pair of orthogonal Golay codes focused at two different focal depths are transmitted simultaneously. On receive, these modified orthogonal Golay codes are separately compressed into two short pulses and individually focused. These two focused beams are combined to form a frame of image with improved lateral resolution. The Golay codes were modified to improve the transmit power efficiency (TPE) for practical imaging. Computer simulations and experimental results show that the proposed method improves significantly the lateral resolution and penetration of ultrasound imaging compared with the conventional method.