• Journal of the Korean Ceramic Society
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• v.53 no.3
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• pp.349-353
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• 2016

We prepared a number of reaction-bonded silicon carbides (RBSCs) made from various mixing ratios of raw SiC particles, and investigated their microstructure and etch characteristics by Reactive Ion Etch (RIE). Increasing the amount of $9.5{\mu}m$-SiC particles results in a microstructure with relatively coarser Si regions. On the other hand, increasing that of $2.6{\mu}m$-SiC particles produces much finer Si regions. The addition of more than 50 wt% of $2.6{\mu}m$-SiC particles, however, causes the microstructure to become partially coarse. We also evaluated their etching behaviors in terms of surface roughness (Ra), density and weight changes, and microstructure development by employing Confocal Laser Scanning Microscope (CLSM) and Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) techniques. During the etching process of the prepared samples, we confirmed that the residual Si region was rapidly removed and formed pits isolating SiC particles as islands. This leads to more intensified ion field on the SiC islands, and causes physical corrosion on them. Increased addition of $2.6{\mu}m$-SiC particles produces finer residual Si region, and thus decreases the surface roughness (Ra.) as well as causing weight loss after etching process by following the above etching mechanism.

• Journal of Korean Medicine Rehabilitation
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.155-167
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• 2009

Objectives : Psychological comorbidities are high in patients with obesity and are associated with a variety of medical and dietary problems. This study aims to examine the association between psychological factors and obesity. Methods : This study was performed in pre-menopausal obese($BMI{\geq}25kg/m^2$, waist circumference ${\geq}85cm$) women in Seoul, in 2008 (n=35). Every patient underwent the obesity treatment program. The program included dietary and exercise education, and abdominal mesotherapy for 6 weeks. Simple anthropometry including weight, BMI and Computed Tomography (CT) including Subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT), Visceral adipose tissue (VAT) and Visceral adipose tissue/Subcutaneous adipose tissue ratio (VSR) were done. To assess psychological factors, the Rosenberg self-esteem scale (SES) questionnaire, Beck depression inventory (BDI) questionnaire and stress response inventory(SRI) questionnaire were administered. Results : 1. All of the obesity indicators (except VSR) decreased significantly after the obesity treatment program. 2. There was a significant relationship between self esteem (SES score) and visceral obesity (VAT and VSR) measured at the end of the program. 3. During the intervention, the more weight, BMI, and subcutaneous adipose tissue decreased, the more self-esteem (SES) increased. There was no relationship between depression (BDI) and obesity. And the change in stress response (SRI) was associated with the change of deep subcutaneous adipose tissue and total abdominal adipose tissue. Conclusions : This study proves that visceral obesity may contribute to low self-esteem, and there is a possibility that the other psychological factors could also be related with obesity in Korean obese women. Individualised antiobesity therapy may be required depending on the patient's psychological characteristics and weight loss could be helpful in order to treat psychological problem in obese patients.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.34 no.6
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• pp.1763-1770
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• 2013

A series of the block copolymers were successfully synthesized from post-sulfonated hydrophilic and hydrophobic macromers via three-step copolymerization. The degrees of sulfonation (DS) of the copolymers (10%, 30%, or 50%) were controlled by changing the molar ratio of the hydrophilic and hydrophobic parts. The resulting block copolymers were characterized by $^1H$ NMR and other technologies. The membranes were successfully cast using dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) solution at $100^{\circ}C$. The copolymers were characterized to confirm chemical structure by $^1H$ NMR and FT-IR. Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) demonstrated that all sulfonated block copolymers exhibited good thermal stability with an initial weight loss at temperatures above $240^{\circ}C$. The membranes showed acceptable ion exchange capacity (IEC) and water uptake values in accordance with DS. The maximum proton conductivity was 184 mS $cm^{-1}$ in block copolymer-50 at $60^{\circ}C$ and 100% relative humidity, while the conductivity of Nifion-115 was 160 mS $cm^{-1}$ under the same measurement conditions. AFM images of the block copolymer membranes showed well separated the hydrophilic and hydrophobic domains. From the observed results it is that the prepared block membranes can be considered as suitable polymer electrolyte membranes for the application of polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells (PEMFC).

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Gas
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.32-37
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• 2018

Recently, the distributed power generation market using natural gas is expected to expand gradually according to the government's future energy conversion policy. Distributed power generation means small power generation source near the power demand site, which has the advantage of reducing the construction costs of the transmission and distribution infrastructure, operating cost and power loss. A typical example of distributed generation using natural gas is the trigeneration system. In this study, we conducted a basic study on the performance analysis of trigeneration desiccant system for dehumidifying / cooling / heating in the air conditioner room by using the cold and engine waste heat energy generated in the trigeneration system. It shows that the system efficiency increases and the energy consumption decreases as the temperature difference between the inlet and outlet of the trigeneration system increases compared with the general air conditioning system.

• Journal of Power Electronics
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• v.15 no.5
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• pp.1305-1317
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• 2015

Distributed generation systems (DGSs) have been getting more and more attention in terms of renewable energy use and new generation technologies in the past decades. The self-excited induction generator (SEIG) occupies an important role in the area of energy conversion due to its low cost, robustness and simple control. Unlike synchronous generators, the SEIG has to absorb capacitive reactive power from the outer device aiming to stabilize the terminal voltage at load changes. This paper presents a novel static VAR compensator (SVC) called a magnetic energy recovery switch (MERS) to serve as a voltage controller in SEIG powered DGSs. In addition, many small scale SEIGs, instead of a single large one, are applied and devoted to promote the generation efficiency. To begin with, an expandable mathematic model based on a d-q equivalent circuit is created for parallel SEIGs. The control method of the MERS is further improved with the objective of broadening its operating range and restraining current harmonics by parameter optimization. A hybrid control strategy is developed by taking both of the stand-alone and grid-connected modes into consideration. Then simulation and experiments are carried out in the case of single and double SEIG(s) generation. Finally, the measurement results verify that the proposed DGS with SVC-MERS achieves a better stability and higher feasibility. The major advantages of the mentioned variable reactive power supplier, when compared to the STATCOM, include the adoption of a small DC capacitor, line frequency switching, simple control and less loss.

• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
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• v.9 no.6
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• pp.811-816
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• 1998

Rebar corrosion in cement mortar containing chloride ions was investigated by electrochemical AC impedance spectroscopy. Corrosion of mild steel bar was accelerated by an acceleration test equipment in short period. Impedance values obtained from AC-impedance method could be adapted to the proposed electrochemical equivalent circuit model and they were consistent with calculated values obtained by CNLS fitting method. The weight loss of rebar could be calculated by charge transfer resistance($R_2$) with time and it was close to real value.

• Korea-Australia Rheology Journal
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.21-25
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• 2005

Rheological properties and crystallization kinetics of the polypropylene (PP) block copolymer and recycled PP block copolymer were studied by advanced rheometric expansion system (ARES), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and optical microscopy. In the study of the dynamic rheology, it is observed that the storage modulus and loss modulus for the PP block copolymer and recycled PP block copolymer did not change with frequency. In the study of the effect of the repeated extrusion on the crystallization rate, half crystallization time of the PP samples was increased with the number of repeated extrusion in isothermal crystallization temperature ($T_c$). From the isothermal crystallization kinetics study, the crystallization rate was decreased with the increase of the number of repeated extrusion. Also, from the result of Avrami plot, the overall crystallization rate constant (K) was decreased with the increase of the number of the repeated extrusion. From the study of the optical microscopy, the size of the spherulite of the PP samples did not change significantly with the number of repeated extrusion. However, it was clearly observed that the number of the spherulite growth sites was decreased with the number of repeated extrusion. From the results of the crystallization rate, isothermal crystallization kinetics, Avrami plots, and optical microscopy, it is suggested that the crystallization rate of the PP block copolymer is decreased with the increase of the number of repeated extrusion.

• Composites Research
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.38-45
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• 2011

In this paper, we present an optimization method for the single Dallenbach-layer type microwave absorbers composed of E-glass fabric/epoxy composite laminates. The composite prepreg containing carbon nanotubes (CNT) was used to control the electrical property of the composites laminates. The design technology using the genetic algorithm was used to get the optimal thicknesses of the laminates and the filler contents at various center frequencies, for which the numerical model of the complex permittivity of the composite laminate was incorporated. In the optimal design results, the content of CNT increased in proportion to the center frequency, but, on the contrary, the thickness of the microwave absorbers decreased. The permittivity and reflection loss are measured using vector network analyzer and 7 mm coaxial airline. The influence of the mismatches in between measurement and prediction of the thickness and the complex permittivity caused the shift of the center frequency, blunting of the peak at the center frequency and the reduction of the absorbing bandwidth.

• Korean Journal of Community Nutrition
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.124-132
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• 2006

The aim of this study is to evaluate the clinical outcome. Between January 1,2002 to September 30, 2002, we prospectively and retrospectively recruited III hospitalized patients who received Enteral Nutrition (EN group n = 52) and Total Parenteral Nutrition (TPNgroup n = 59) for more than seven days. The factors of clinical outcomes are costs, incidences of infection, lengths of hospital stay, and changes in weight. The characteristics of patients were investigated, which included nutritional status, disease severity CAP ACHE III score) and hypermetabolic severity Chypermetabolic score). Hypermeta-bolic scores were determined by high fever (> $38^{\circ}C$), rapid breathing (> 30 breaths/min) , rapid pulse rate (> 100 beats/min), leukocytosis (WBC > 12000 $mm^{3}$), leukocytopenia (WBC > 3000 $mm^{3}$), status of infection, inflammatory bowel disease, surgery and trauma. There was a positive correlation between hypermetabolic score and length of hospital stay (ICU), medical cost, weight loss, antibiotics adjusted by age while APACHEIII score did not show correlation to clinical outcome. Medical cost was higher by $18.2\%$ in the TPN group than the EN group. In conclusion, there was a strong negative correlation between the clinical outcome (cost, incidence of infection, hospital stay) and hypermetabolic score. Higher metabolic stress caused more malnutrition and complications. For nutritional management of patients with malnutrition, multiple factors, including nutritional assessment, and evaluation of hypermetabolic severity are needed to provide nutritional support for critically ill patients.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society for Bioinformatics Conference
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• 2005.09a
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• pp.361-365
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• 2005

Over the past few years, the complex and subtle roles of microRNA (miRNA) in gene regulation have been increasingly appreciated. Computational approaches have played one of important roles in identifying miRNAs from plant and animals, as well as in predicting their putative gene target. We present a new approach of comprehensive analysis of the evolutionarily conserved element scores and applied data compression technique to detect putative miRNA genes. We used the evolutionarily conserved elements [19] (see more detail on method and material) to calculate for base-by-base along the candidate pre-miRNA gene region by detecting common conserved pattern from target sequence. We applied the data compression technique [20] to detect unknown miRNA genes. This zipping method devises, without loss of generality with respect to the nature of the character strings, a method to measure the similarity between the strings under consideration [20]. Our experience to using our new computational method for detecting miRNA gene identification (or miRNA gene prediction) has been stratified and we were able to find 28 putative miRNA genes.