• Journal of Korea Water Resources Association
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• v.50 no.3
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• pp.191-200
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• 2017

A robust parameter set (ROPS) selection framework for an unsteady flow model was developed by combining Pareto optimums obtained by outcomes of model calibration using multi-site observations with the minimax regret approach (MRA). The multi-site calibration problem which is a multi-objective problem was solved by using an aggregation approach which aggregates the weighted criteria related to different sites into one measure, and then performs a large number of individual optimization runs with different weight combinations to obtain Pareto solutions. Roughness parameter structure which can describe the variation of Manning's n with discharges and sub-reaches was proposed and the related coefficients were optimized as model parameters. By applying the MRA which is a decision criterion, the Pareto solutions were ranked based on the obtained regrets related to each Pareto solution, and the top-rated one due to the lowest aggregated regrets of both calibration and validation was determined as the only ROPS. It was found that the determination of variable roughness and the corresponding standardized RMSEs at the two gauging stations varies considerably depending on the combinations of weights on the two sites. This method can provide the robust parameter set for the multi-site calibration problems in hydrologic and hydraulic models.

• Journal of Convergence for Information Technology
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• v.11 no.11
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• pp.57-65
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• 2021

We propose a novel method to detect abnormal data of specific symptoms using deep learning in air pollution measurement system. Existing methods generally detect abnomal data by classifying data showing unusual patterns different from the existing time series data. However, these approaches have limitations in detecting specific symptoms. In this paper, we use DeepLab V3+ model mainly used for foreground segmentation of images, whose structure has been changed to handle one-dimensional data. Instead of images, the model receives time-series data from multiple sensors and can detect data showing specific symptoms. In addition, we improve model's performance by reducing the complexity of noisy form time series data by using 'piecewise aggregation approximation'. Through the experimental results, it can be confirmed that anomaly data detection can be performed successfully.

• Korean Chemical Engineering Research
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• v.57 no.3
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• pp.305-312
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• 2019

The discovery of nitric oxide (NO) as a major signaling molecule in a number of pathophysiological processes - vasodilation, immune response, platelet aggregation, wound repair, and cancer biology - has led to the development of various exogeneous NO delivery systems. However, the development of ideal delivery system for human body application is still left as a challenge due to its high reactivity and short half-life in physiological condition. In this article, an overview of several nano-structures as potential NO delivery system will be presented, along with their recent research results and biomedical applications. Nano-size delivery system has immense advantages compared to others due to its high surface-to-volume ratio and capability for surface modification; thus, it has been proven to be effective in delivering nitric oxide with enhanced performance. Through this novel nano-structure delivery system, we are expecting to achieve sustained release of nitric oxide within adequate range of concentration, which ensures desired drug effects at the target site. Among different nano-structures, in particular, nanoparticle, microemulsion and nanofilm will be reviewed and compared to each other in respect of nitric oxide release profile. The proposed nano-structures for exogeneous NO delivery have a biological significance in that it can be further utilized in diverse biomedical fields as a highly promising therapeutic method.

• Journal of Environmental Impact Assessment
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.258-269
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• 2021

The purpose of this study is to establish a system to evaluate the ecological soundness of the Geum river basin. The study target area is 14 sub-watersheds of the Geum river basin. For the selection of indicators to ensure transparency and consistency of the evaluation indicators, the ecological soundness indicators were secured by using the indicator adjustment method derived in consideration of the intrinsic weight change characteristics between indicators. The index with the greatest impact on the final composite index was identified as the index of the aquatic ecology among the water quantity, water quality, aquatic ecology, and habitat-riparian environment dimensions. As a result of analyzing the ecological health index of the river, the watershed upstream of the dam (based on the Daecheong -dam) was evaluated to be in relatively good condition until 2014 compared to the base year(2008), and the watershed downstream of the dam was evaluated to be in a poor condition. The annual trend of changes in the ecological soundness index on an annual basis is as follows. In the case of Yongdamdam, Yongdamdamdownstream, Bocheong-chun, Daechungdam, Daechungdamdownstream, and Nonsancheon, although there are differences by time period, the soundness index is in declining. On the other hand, Mujunamdaecheon, Yeongdongcheon, and Gapcheon were evaluated to have improved soundness, while Chogang, Daechungdamupstream, Mihocheon, Gongjugeumgang, and Geumgangestuary were evaluated to deteriorate again after soundness was improved.

• Korean Journal of Materials Research
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• v.33 no.12
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• pp.525-529
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• 2023

β-Ga₂O₃ has become the focus of considerable attention as an ultra-wide bandgap semiconductor following the successful development of bulk single crystals using the melt growth method. Accordingly, homoepitaxy studies, where the interface between the substrate and the epilayer is not problematic, have become mainstream and many results have been published. However, because the cost of homo-substrates is high, research is still mainly at the laboratory level and has not yet been scaled up to commercialization. To overcome this problem, many researchers are trying to grow high quality Ga₂O₃ epilayers on hetero-substrates. We used diluted SiH4 gas to control the doping concentration during the heteroepitaxial growth of β-Ga₂O₃ on c-plane sapphire using metal organic chemical vapor deposition (MOCVD). Despite the high level of defect density inside the grown β-Ga₂O₃ epilayer due to the aggregation of random rotated domains, the carrier concentration could be controlled from 1 × 10¹⁹ to 1 × 10¹⁶ cm^-3 by diluting the SiH4 gas concentration. This study indicates that β-Ga₂O₃ hetero-epitaxy has similar potential to homo-epitaxy and is expected to accelerate the commercialization of β-Ga₂O₃ applications with the advantage of low substrate cost.

• Resources Recycling
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• v.33 no.3
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• pp.38-47
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• 2024

Molybdenite is the primary molybdenum resource and is extracted via flotation due to its unique hydrophobic surface. Meanwhile, the grade and crystal size of mined molybdenite are decreasing. As a result, the size of the molybdenum ore required for liberation is decreasing, and the flotation process's feed size input is also decreasing. Therefore, in order to secure molybdenum, it is necessary to perform research on the flotation for the fine molybdenite. In this study, we developed a method to enhance the flotation efficiency of fine molybdenite particles in the range of 5-30 ㎛. The methodology involved implementing bubble size reduction and particle aggregation. Through simulations of bubble-particle collision probability and flotation experiments, we were able to find the ranges of bubble size and particle aggregate size that make fine particles float more effectively. This range provided the conditions for effective flotation of fine molybdenite particles. Therefore, we will implement the flotation conditions established in this study for fine molybdenum ore to improve the flotation process in molybdenum mineral processing plants in the future.

• Journal of Environmental Policy
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.69-93
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• 2014

The aim of this research was to develop a climate change vulnerability index at the district level (Si, Gun, Gu) with respect to the health care sector in Korea. The climate change vulnerability index was esimated based on the four major causes of climate-related illnesses : vector, flood, heat waves, and air pollution/allergies. The vulnerability assessment framework consists of six layers, all of which are based on the IPCC vulnerability concepts (exposure, sensitivity, and adaptive capacity) and the pathway of direct and indirect impacts of climate change modulators on health. We collected proxy variables based on the conceptual framework of climate change vulnerability. Data were standardized using the min-max normalization method. We applied the analytic hierarchy process (AHP) weight and aggregated the variables using the non-compensatory multi-criteria approach. To verify the index, sensitivity analysis was conducted by using another aggregation method (geometric transformation method, which was applied to the index of multiple deprivation in the UK) and weight, calculated by the Budget Allocation method. The results showed that it would be possible to identify the vulnerable areas by applying the developed climate change vulnerability assessment index. The climate change vulnerability index could then be used as a valuable tool in setting climate change adaptation policies in the health care sector.

• Development and Reproduction
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• v.4 no.2
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• pp.161-173
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• 2000

The aim of this study was to assess the effect of the frequency of the L$N_2$ infusion on the ultrastructure, metabolism and development of the embryo after freezing and thawing by computerized cell freezer. Two-cell embryos of ICR mouse were randomly allocated into fresh (control), high-frequency freezing (group 1) and low-frequency freezing (group 2). For fresh and frozen-thawed intact 2-cell embryos, total ceil number in the blastocyst was counted by fluorescent microscope after Hoechst 33258 staining. Relative amount of $H_2O$$_2$ was measured by DCHFDA. Intracellular location and membrane potential of the mitochondria were evaluated by staining with rhodamine 123 and JC-1. The structure of actin filament was also evaluated by confocal microscope. DNA fragmentation was assessed by TUNEL method after development into blastocyst. The survival rate of intact embryo was higher in group 1 than group 2 (50.7％ vs. 34.6％ respectively, p<0.05). The blastocyst developmental rate was significantly low in group 2 (86.7％, 76.7％ vs. 44.0％ for control, group 1 and group 2 respectively, p<0.05). Total cell number in the blastocyst was also significantly lower in group 2 than control (79.5$\pm$12.9, 71.6$\pm$8.0, and 62.5$\pm$4.7 for control, group 1 and group 2 respectively, p<0.05). The relative amount of $H_2O$$_2$ was higher in group 2 than other groups (15.3$\pm$3.0, 16.6$\pm$1.6 vs. 23.4$\pm$1.8, p<0.05). After JC-1 staining, relative intensity of mitochondria with high membrane potential was significantly lower in group 2 than control and group 1 (17.2$\pm$3.8, 17.4$\pm$1.3 vs. 13.2$\pm$2.0, p<0.05). In group 2, partial deletion and aggregation of the actin filament was found. DNA fragmentation rate was also hieher for group 2 versus other groups (30.8％, 36.0％ vs. 65.6％, p<0.05). The frequency of the L$N_2$ infusion is an important factor for the development of frozen-thawed mouse embryo. High-frequency infusion may prevent damages of cytoskeleton and mitochondria in the embryo probably by preventing the temperature fluctuation during dehydration phase. We speculate that the application of high-frequency infusion method in human embryo may be promising.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.37 no.2
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• pp.99-113
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• 2010

Objective: It has been recently reported that very small stem cells with pluripotency are detected in murine and human. The purposes of this study are to confirm whether very small putative stem cells (VSPSCs), which have the proper characteristics of stem cells as well as the expression of stem cell markers, are detected in human endometrium. Methods: The endometrial cells of 5 women, which were obtained by endometrial biopsy, were cultured for 2 weeks and were confirmed for the expressions of alkaline phosphatase, OCT-4 and CXCR4 by immunochemistry. Subsequently VSPSCs were separated by percoll density gradient method and were cultured. Also VSPSCs and their derived cells were confirmed for the expressions of OCT-4 and CXCR4. Results: The colonies, which is composed with VSPSCs less than 3 ${\mu}m$ and the 5~15 ${\mu}m$ sized hyperchromatic round cells, were detected in the endometrium of all of women and showed the strong expressions of alkaline phosphatase, OCT-4 and CXCR4. In culture after the separation of VSPSCs by percoll, these cells showed the morphological and functional characteristics of stem cells; self-renewal, colony formation, embryoid body-like formation and differential plasticity. VSPSCs formed gradually the 5~15 ${\mu}m$ sized hyperchromatic round cells and the 10~20 ${\mu}m$ sized sphere-shaped cells by cell-to-cell aggregation or cell fusion. Then these cells differentiated the various cells including fibroblast-like cells, nerve-like cells and endothelium-like cells. VSPSCs and their derived cells often showed the strong expressions of OCT-4 and CXCR4. Conclusion: VSPSCs less than 3 ${\mu}m$ and their derived cells are detected in human endometrium and these cells have the proper characteristics of stem cells and the expressions of stem cell markers as alkaline phosphatase, OCT-4 and CXCR4.

• Childhood Kidney Diseases
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• v.2 no.2
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• pp.138-144
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• 1998

Purpose : The use of cyclosporine and mitomycin in various immunologic or neoplastic disorders has been known to cause wide-ranged nephrotoxic effects including thrombotic microangiopathy. However, the mechanism of nephrotoxicity of these drugs has not been studied adequately, so that present experimental study has been undertaken to find out whether these drugs can cause direct damage to the kidney and to clarify the pathogenetic mechanism of nephrotoxic effect of these drugs. Materials and methods : Sprague-Dawley rats weighing 250-300 gm were used for experimental animals and unilateral renal perfusion technique, modified from the method described by Hoyer et al was used. Isolation of left kidney from systemic circulation was made by clamping aorta and left renal vein and a hole was punctured in the anterior wall of the left renal vein. Cyclosporine (2.5 mg in 4 ml solution) and mitomycin (1.6 mg in 4ml solution) were infused through left renal artery and normal saline was used in control rats. Forty-eight hours after infusion of the drugs, animals were sacrificed and left kidney removed and processed for histologic examination. Total ischemic time of left kidney was less than 15 minutes: Results : Cyclosporine-perfused group showed severe swelling of glomerular endothelial ceil along with swelling of glomerular epithelial cell and interstitial vascular endothelial cell. Mitomycin-perfused group also showed severe swelling of glomerular endothelial and epithelial cells. And in addition to these findings, they demonstrated platelets aggregation, swelling and degranulation of platelets and fibrin accumulation in some of the capillaries, indicating occurrance of thrombotic microangiopathy. Conclusion : present experiment indicates that cyclosporine and mitomycin can cause direct toxic injury to renal endothelial cell. And this direct toxic damage to endothelial cell seems to be an important initiating event for the development of thrombotic microangiopathy.