• Journal of Electrical Engineering and Technology
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• v.10 no.3
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• pp.1075-1080
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• 2015

A hybrid electric vehicle (HEV) powertrain has more than one energy source including a high-voltage electric battery. However, for a high voltage electric battery, the average current is relatively low for a given power level. Introduced to increase the voltage of a HEV battery, a compact, high-efficiency boost converter, sometimes called a step-up converter, is a dc-dc converter with an output voltage greater than its input voltage. The inductor occupies more than 30% of the total converter volume making it difficult to get high power density. The inductor should have the characteristics of good thermal stability, low weight, low losses and low EMI. In this paper, Mega Flux^® was selected as the core material among potential core candidates. Different structured inductors with Mega Flux^® were fabricated to compare the performance between the conventional air cooled and proposed potting structure. The proposed inductor has reduced the weight by 75% from 8.8kg to 2.18kg and the power density was increased from 15.6W/cc to 56.4W/cc compared with conventional inductor. To optimize the performance of proposed inductor, the potting materials with various thermal conductivities were investigated. Silicone with alumina was chosen as potting materials due to the high thermo-stable properties. The proposed inductors used potting material with thermal conductivities of 0.7W/m·K, 1.0W/m·K and 1.6W/m·K to analyze the thermal performance. Simulations of the proposed inductor were fulfilled in terms of magnetic flux saturation, leakage flux and temperature rise. The temperature rise and power efficiency were measured with the 40kW boost converter. Experimental results show that the proposed inductor reached the temperature saturation of 107℃ in 20 minutes. On the other hand, the temperature of conventional inductor rose by 138℃ without saturation. And the effect of thermal conductivity was verified as the highest thermal conductivity of potting materials leads to the lowest temperature saturations.

• Journal of Radiation Protection and Research
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• v.32 no.3
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• pp.111-115
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• 2007

A deuterium oxide leakage accident occurred on October 4, 1999, at nuclear power plant in Korea. The concentration of tritium in air increased and 22 workers were exposed by tritium at that time. It is well known that tritium causes internal exposure. Therefore, we examined complete blood cell count, physical and biological dosimetry fur 13 workers among whole 22 workers to check the health effect and to evaluate the dose estimation of tritium exposure. The leukocyte count test, one of general blood test, was normal. The estimated doses were 0 - 4.44 mSv by physical dosimetry and 0-37 mGy by biological dosimetry. This dose does not exceed radiation dose limit, and the clinical symptoms of the exposed workers were not shown. The consistency between clinical sign and estimated dose means that physical and biological dosimetry were very useful especially in accident evaluation.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.29 no.12
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• pp.1577-1583
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• 2000

Objectives : Among the various types of minimally invasive spine surgeries, thoracoscopic surgery is becoming more widely accepted and increasingly utilized. This report delineates our clinical experience using thoracoscopy to resect herniated thoracic discs in 16 patients who suffered from myelopathy or intolerable radiculopathy. Patients and Methods : Between Mar. 1997 and Sep. 1999, 16 consecutive patients underwent thoracoscopic discectomy for treatment of herniated thoracic discs. There were 12 men and 4 women(mean age 43.5 years ; range 18-61 years). Eleven patients presented with myelopathic signs and symptoms from spinal cord compression and 5 patients had incapacitating thoracic radicular pain without myelopathy. The surgical level was varied between T3 and T12. The pathology of specimen were 11 hard discs and 5 soft discs herniations. Thoracoscopic techniques were performed with long narrow spine instruments and high speed drill through 3 or 4 ports under one lung ventilated general anesthesia. During the operation three patients were converted to open thoracotomy due to intolerable one lung ventilation, excessive bleeding and inadequate operation field. The mean operation time was 264min.(range : 100-420min.), and postoperative mean admission period was 11 days. Results : Clinical and neurological outcomes were good in all patients(mean follow-up period 20 months). Among the eleven myelopathic patients, 8 improved neurologically, and 3 stabilized. Among the five radiculopathic patients, 4 recovered completely and no patient had worsened. Postoperative complications were pleural effusion in one case, intercostal neuralgia in one, delayed hemopneumothorax in one, prolonged air leakage in one and pneumonia in one case. Conclusions : Thoracoscopic discectomy needs a steep learning curve to be familiar to anatomical space and handling of endoscopic instruments. However, it is technically feasible and can be effectively performed with acceptable results.

• Phonetics and Speech Sciences
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.125-131
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• 2012

The patients with incomplete glottic closure have an important feature decreasing the maximum phonation time (MPT) because airflow rate or air leakage is greater than people without voice disorders. Also they can appear a problem in the intensity regulation. This study analyzed MPT difference based on the comfortable intensity and louder intensity and the correlation between MPT and respiration volume of unilateral vocal fold palsy (UVFP) and sulcus vocalis (SV) group. The twenty with UVFP, the 21 with SV, the 21 normal subjects measured MPT in /a/ vowel prolongation task with comfortable intensity and louder intensity and compared analysis by measuring FVC, $FEV_1$, $FEV_1/FVC$ to analyze the correlation between MPT and respiration volume. First, a comparison of MPT according to the intensity between groups is that MPT of the normal group was statistically significant long compared to the patient group in comfortable intensity, but MPT between groups was not statistically significant difference in the louder intensity. Second, an analysis of the correlation between MPT and respiration volume is that this was statistically significant correlation between MPT in comfortable intensity and MPT in louder intensity. But this did not show statistically significant correlation between intensity and respiration volume. This study can be supported the preceding study results deduced that shorting MPT of the patient group compared to the normal group was originated in the problem of laryngeal valving mechanism at the level of vocal folds rather than a problem of respiratory function. Also at the phonation by varying the intensity, the result can deduce that in the case of patient group, the length of MPT had been improved by increasing the glottal closure ratio in the louder intensity. These results can support the theoretical basis that should be applied to the clinicians by varying the intensity at the voice evaluation and voice therapy for the patients with the glottis incompetence.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.33 no.1
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• pp.131-134
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• 2006

The closed suction drain is commonly inserted after various surgical procedures. It has an important role to prevent possible hematoma or seroma that can cause postoperative wound problems. But there is still no consensus on managing the insertion site of suction drain after operation. Suture-tie fixation of drain to skin and classical Y shape gauze dressing is a usually accepted method, but it has many limitations. We introduce a new approach to the care for the insertion site of suction drain by using occlusive transparent film dressing, $IV3000^{(R)}$(Smith & Nephew, London, UK). By using transparent film, insertion site of drain can be easily checked without removal of dressing. Because it can reduce the tension of suture-tie fixation, it helps to prevent skin injury. Furthermore, occlusive film dressing can block air leakage from insertion site of drain, and the water-proof character of film allows patients to take a shower without dressing change. This new method is more convenient, more efficient, and less harmful to skin than classic one.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.25 no.12
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• pp.1508-1515
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• 1992

Between 1975 and 1992, forty five patients with trachea stenosis received tracheoplasty for relief of obstruction. The causes of airway problem are brain contusion[19 cases, 40%], cerebrovascular disease[3 cases, 7%], drug intoxication[8 cases, 18%], psychotic problem[2 cases, 4%], trachea tumor[3 cases, 7%], adult respiratory distress syndrome[9 cases, 20%] and direct trauma[1 case, 2%]. Direct causes of trachea stenosis were complications of tracheostomy[36 cases, 80%], complications of nasotracheal intubation[5 cases, 11%], tumor[3 cases, 6%] and trauma[1 case, 2%]. Thirty one patients underwent the sleeve resection and end-to-end anastomosis. Five patients performed a wedge resection and end-to-end anastomosis. Forteen patients received the Montgomery T-tube for relief of airway obstruction. Four patients have done simple excision of granulation tissue. Two, subglottic stenosis patients were received Rethi procedure[anterior division of cricoid cartilage, wedge partial resection of lower thyroid cartilage and Montgomery T-tube molding] and the other subglottic stenosis patient underwent permanent trachea fenestration. Including cervical flexion in all patients postoperatively, additional surgical techniques for obtain tension-free anastomosis were hyoid bone release technique in two cases, and hilar mobilization, division of inferior pulmonary ligament and mobilization of pulmonary vessel at the pericardium were performed in one case. Cervical approach was used in 39 cases, cervicomediastinal in 12 cases and transthoracic in one case. Complications of tracheoplasty were formation of granulation tissue at the anastomosis site[3 cases], restenosis[9 cases], trachea-innominate artery fistula[2 cases], wound infection[2 cases], separation of anastomosis[2 cases], air leakage[3 cases], injury to a recurrent laryngeal nerve[temporary 8 cases, permanent 2 cases] and hypoxemia[1 case]. Surgical mortality for resection with primary reconstruction was 6.7%, with one death due to postoperative respiratory failure and two deaths due to tracheo-innominate artery fistula.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.26 no.6
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• pp.470-474
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• 1993

A clinical evaluation was performed on 56 patients[ 60 cases ] of open thoracotomy in spontaneous pneumothorax who were admitted and treated at department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, Chung Ang University, Yong San Hospital during the past 3 years from March 1990 to February 1993. The results were as follows. 1. The sex ratio was male predominence [ M:F = 7:1 ]. 2. The most common age group were 2nd, 3rd decades. 3. The most common chief complaints were dyspnea and chest pain [46.3% ]. 4. The etiologic factors of spontaneous pneumothorax were primary spontaneous pneumothorax [ 78.3%], secondary tuberculosis [ 18.3%], and others [ 3.4% ]. 5. The site of spontaneous pneumothorax was 50% in right, 40% in left, and 10% in both. 6. The state of activity on attack was almost in the usual life [ 98.3% ]. 7. Average height was 172.5 $\pm$ 5.39 cm in male and 164.0 $\pm$ 3.51 cm in female, average weight was 59.1 $\pm$ 7.06 kg in male and 52.0 $\pm$ 4.97 kg in female. 8. The common indications of open thoracotomy were recurrence [ 34.4% ] and persistent air leakage [ 17.8% ]. 9. The operative procedures were bullectomy [ 73.3% ], partial resection [ 11.7% ], lobectomy [ 11.7% ], and others [ 3.3% ]. 10. The most frequent location of bulla or bleb were apical segment of RUL [ 43.3 % ] and apicoposterior segment of LUL [ 40.0% ]. 11. The number of visible bulla or bleb were mainly 1 to 5, and size was about 1 to 3 cm.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.299-306
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• 1988

We have reviewed 330 cases of spontaneous pneumothorax from Jan. 1980 to Jul. 1987 at the department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, College of Medicine, Korea University. The ratio of male to female was 8.4:1, predominant in male. The incidence according to the age group was highest as 32% in the adolescence between 21 and 30 years old. The site of pneumothorax was right in 48%, left in 45% and bilateral in 7%. The initial symptoms were frequently dyspnea in 85%, chest pain in 63%. The etiologic factors were as follows; bleb origin in 31%, tuberculous origin in 30%, COPD in 3.3%, lung cancer in 1.5%, unknown in 29%. There was no significant difference in seasonal incidence irrespective of tuberculous or sex. The employed managements were as follows; bed rest with oxygen inhalation in 4 cases, closed thoracostomy in 326 cases, open thoracotomy in 122 cases, median sternotomy in 23 cases. The operative procedures at thoracotomy were as follows; simple pleurodesis in 5 cases, bleb excision or wedge resection in 113 cases, segmentectomy or lobectomy in 17 cases, decortication in 42 cases. Recurrence rate of each treatment was as follow; 50% in conservative treatment, 19% in closed thoracostomy, 2% in open thoracotomy, 4% in median sternotomy. Therefore overall recurrence rate was 12%. Open thoracotomy was the most effective procedure in recurrent pneumothorax, previous contralateral pneumothorax, bilateral simultaneous pneumothorax, visible bleb or bullae on the chest x-ray and persistent air leakage. 23 cases of unilateral spontaneous pneumothorax was examined whether or not underlying pathology of pneumothorax at opposite lung. 18 cases[78%] were positive findings. Therefore, bilateral thoracotomy by median sternotomy was a good operative method preventing contralateral pneumothorax.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.27 no.12
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• pp.1015-1022
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• 1994

Over the past few years, video-assisted thoracic surgery [VATS] has been used increasingly for intrathoracic pathologic problems as a less invasive operative techniques. Today it is viewed as a sparing and safe alternative to thoracotomy for a wide spectrum of indications. Using video-assisted operative thoracoscopy, we performed consecutive 150 operations on 148 patients during the initial 2 years of our experience from July 1992 with the following indications: pneumothorax [n=53], hyperhidrosis [n=29], mediastinal mass [n=23], pleural disease [n=13], diffuse parenchymal or interstitial lung disease [n=12], benign pulmonary nodule [n=7], metastatic lung mass [n=3], primary lung cancer [n=3], bronchiectasis [n=2], malignant pericardial effusion [n=2], endobronchial tuberculosis [n=1], esophageal achalasia [n=1], and pulmonary parenchymal foreign body [n=1]. There were no death, and overall complicaton rate was 24.0%[n=36]. The most prevalent complication was persistent air leakage [longer than 5 days] in 14 cases [9.3%]. Persistent pleural effusion [longer than 5 days] occurred in 6 cases [4.0%]. Six patients were converted to an open thoracotomy because of inability to control the operative bleeding [n=3], failed adhesiolysis in bronchiectasis [n=2], and radical excision of an lung cancer [n=1]. Pneumothorax recurred in 3 cases[2.0%]. Other complications were Horner`s syndrome, diaphragm tears, temporary phrenic nerve palsy, hoarseness, subsegmental atelectasis, transient respiratory difficulty, and esophageal mucosal tear. The advantages of this minimally traumatizing operative technique lie in improved visualization, decreased pain, shortened hospital stay, and less postoperative morbidity. The indications of VATS has been extended increasingly to intrathoracic pathologies, but its role in the managements of primary lung cancer and esophageal disease remains to be defined.

• Fire Science and Engineering
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.48-55
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• 2011

This paper presents the failure analysis of the rate of rise spot type heat detectors on artificially accelerated aging. The failures of heat detector turned out by two reasons. The first one is the separation of binder from plastic moulding, resulting in the leakage of air from heat chamber. The second reason is the crack of plastic. The large cracks were maybe created by these reasons, thermal expansion difference, mechanical stress, or growth of microcrack. In the sound detector, the separation and the crack were not occurred or not developed to the critical size. The glass fibers which increase the mechanical strength were added in the binder of detector 2010G. The densities of binder or plastic of each detector were similar. However, the TGA result shows that the thermal characteristics of 2005A and 2005B were not similar.