• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
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• v.21 no.6
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• pp.697-701
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• 2010

We investigate the cell performance and characteristics of a direct formic acid fuel cell (DFAFC) using palladium (Pd) as a catalyst for anode. Pd is deposited on the electrolyte using the "direct paint" method. From a continuous three time-test of the polarization curve of the DFAFC, it is found that the catalytic activity of Pd and the cell performance of DFAFC steadily degrade as the tests are proceeded. This behavior may be due to the deactivation of Pd by formate (COOH) and hydroxyl (OH) groups, which are electrochemically dissociated from formic acid solution. Estimations of the degradation, followed by reactivation in activity of Pd catalyst and DFAFC cell performance are implemented by linear voltage sweep tests going in both positive and negative directions. When the maximum voltage of 1.0 V versus DHE is applied to the cell while a linear voltage sweep test going in negative directions, the activity of Pd catalyst and the DFAFC cell performance recover by the rehabilitation in activity of the deactivated Pd.

• Journal of Biomedical Engineering Research
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• v.33 no.1
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• pp.39-46
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• 2012

Electrical impedance tomography(EIT) can produce functional images with conductivity distributions associated with physiological events such as cardiac and respiratory cycles. EIT has been proposed as a clinical imaging tool for the detection of stroke and breast cancer, pulmonary function monitoring, cardiac imaging and other clinical applications. However EIT still suffers from technical challenges such as the electrode interface, hardware limitations, lack of animal or human trials, and interpretation of conductivity variations in reconstructed images. We improved the KHU Mark2 EIT system by introducing an EIT electrode interface consisting of nano-web fabric electrodes and by adding a synchronized biosignal measurement system for gated conductivity imaging. ECG and respiration signals are collected to analyze the relationship between the changes in conductivity images and cardiac activity or respiration. The biosignal measurement system provides a trigger to the EIT system to commence imaging and the EIT system produces an output trigger. This EIT acquisition time trigger signal will also allow us to operate the EIT system synchronously with other clinical devices. This type of biosignal gated conductivity imaging enables capture of fast cardiac events and may also improve images and the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) by using signal averaging methods at the same point in cardiac or respiration cycles. As an example we monitored the beat by beat cardiac-related change of conductivity in the EIT images obtained at a common state over multiple respiration cycles. We showed that the gated conductivity imaging method reveals cardiac perfusion changes in the heart region of the EIT images on a canine animal model. These changes appear to have the expected timing relationship to the ECG and ventilator settings that were used to control respiration. As EIT is radiation free and displays high timing resolution its ability to reveal perfusion changes may be of use in intensive care units for continuous monitoring of cardiopulmonary function.

• Journal of Korean Society of Transportation
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.29-41
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• 2011

This study investigates the factor that influences commuting time to work when individuals allocate their time for different types of activities. The commuting time is an important indicator for an individual to determine the residence and choose the means of transportation. The analysis uses the data collected from people who live in Seoul metropolitan area including Seoul, Incheon and Gyeonggi Province, and commute to work and making the simple linkage travel (home-work-home) within the area. For the analysis, the Cox hazard proportional methodology was adopted. The method is known to be well applied without assuming any distribution in case of the dependent variable being continuous. For the covariate, the interaction effect between the space variable of the work place and the variable of transportation has been also included in the model. The commuting time to work has been estimated for both 1) the whole metropolitan area and 2) the separate regions i.e., Seoul, Incheon and Gyeonggi-Do. The result reveals that characteristic variables related to individual, household and travel properties influence the mode of transportation and the time allocated for commuting to work (p<0.01). This study also demonstrates the usefulness of the Cox hazard proportional model. The data used in this study is the actual household travel data surveyed in 2006 in the metropolitan area, and analyzing the survey data in 2010 is currently in progress. Comparison of the two survey data sets seeking any behavioral change is suggested for the future study.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Traditional Landscape Architecture
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• v.31 no.3
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• pp.54-60
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• 2013

This study carried out a phytosociological research by Z.-M. school's method describing vegetation structure and management solution about nutmeg tree's(Torreya nucifera ) forests. The nutmeg tree's forests have developed intervale and hills in warm-temperate evergreen broad-leaved forests zone. The nutmeg tree's forests composed 50 familly, 80 genus, 88 species divided two syntaxa(typical sub-community, Arachniodes aristata sub-community) by species composition and correspond to habitat condition. The nutmeg tree's forests show a uniform forest's structure which composed 3~4 layer of sub-tree and shrub. And it was worthy of special mention which characterized diagnostic species of Camellietea japonicae in the warm-temperate evergreen broad-leaved forests. In case of forests floor, were a high rate in order of Ophiopogon japonicus, Polystichum tripteron, Arisaema ringens. And Oplismenus undulatifolius which represent mantle communities as well. This indicates that the nutmeg tree's forests are exposed by humman effects sustainedly. The nutmeg tree's young trees appeared a high rate at half shade and shade. The vigorous tree species have to spacing cutting instead of the heavy thinning that consist in with a shout of declining astructur and function of the forest ecosystem for maintaining a nutmeg tree's forests. And we suggest for the density regulation of the sub-tree and shrub. In conclusion, need to the continuous monitoring about the vegetation structure and management solution for the sustainable nutmeg tree's forests.

• KSCE Journal of Civil and Environmental Engineering Research
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• v.33 no.6
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• pp.2381-2391
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• 2013

In general, ground's thermal properties, types of heat exchanger, operational method, thermal interference between piles can be considered as key factors which affect the thermal performance of energy pile. This study focused on the effect of these factors on the performance by a numerical model reflecting a real ground condition. Depending on the degree of saturation of ground, pile's heat transfer rate showed a maximum difference of three times, and the thermal resistance of pile made a maximum difference of 8.7%. As for the type of heat exchanger effects on thermal performance, thermal efficiency of 3U type energy pile had a higher value than those of W and U types. The periodic operation (8 hours operation, 16 hours pause) can preserve about 20% of heat efficiency compared to continuous operation, and hence it has an advantage of preventing the thermal accumulation phenomenon. Thermal interference effect in group piles may vary depending on the ground condition because the extent decreases as the ground condition varies from saturated to dry. The optimal separation distance that maintains the decreasing rate of heat efficiency less than 1% was suggested as 3.2D in U type, 3.6D in W type, and 3.7D in 3U type in a general ground condition.

• Korean Chemical Engineering Research
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• v.51 no.2
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• pp.240-244
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• 2013

Although forward osmosis desalination technology has drawn substantial attention as a next-generation desalination method, the energy efficiency of its draw solution treatment process should be improved for its commercialization. When ammonium bicarbonate is used as the draw solute, the system consists of forward-osmosis membrane modules, draw solution separation and recovery processes. Mixed gases of ammonia and carbon dioxide generated during the draws solution separation, need to be recovered to re-concentrate ammonium bicarbonate solution, for continuous operation as well as for the economic feasibility. The diluted ammonium bicarbonate solution has been proposed as the absorbent for the draw solution regeneration. In this study, experiments are conducted to investigate performance and features of the absorption corresponding to absorbent concentration. It is concluded that ammonium bicarbonate solution can be used to recover the generated ammonia and carbon dioxide. The results will be applied to design and operation of pilot-scale forward-osmosis desalination system.

• Journal of the Ergonomics Society of Korea
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• v.35 no.4
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• pp.205-223
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• 2016

Objective:This study introduced the status of studies and the projects related with agricultural accident prevention carried out by the Rural Development Administration. This study was conducted to promote Korean farmers' agricultural safety activation by analyzing study trends on farmers' agricultural work safety. Background: Agriculture is one of the dangerous industries, and the agricultural accident rate is on the rise, due to recent serious aging and increased female work force. Such a phenomenon emerges as a serious problem from the social perspective, and therefore measures for farmers' healthy and safe agricultural activities and accident prevention are required. Method: This study conducted literature review related with domestic and international agricultural safety and health. This study also examined the hazard factors of agricultural labor and injuries, agricultural safety and health system and policy, support and education for farmers' safety practice, and the status of convenience tools and protection equipment, based on major study activities performed by the Rural Development Administration for recent four to five years. Results: Through the study results, the status of Korea's agricultural safety system, compensation support policy, safety education of farmers for actual practice, and diverse channels including media were confirmed. This study also presented the R&D implementation status on convenience equipment and protective gear to prevent agricultural diseases and safety accidents. Conclusion: This study found out that continuous monitoring and efforts are required to prevent accidents for the Korea's agricultural labor environment and agricultural safety, and that social bond of sympathy formation is demanded through effect analysis on the implemented projects including education and support projects. Furthermore, it can be understood that agricultural accident prevention should be carried out through shift from current government-led top down approach to bottom-up approach from itself. Application: The results of this study can be utilized as useful data for farmers' safety and health.

• Journal of Distribution Science
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• v.12 no.4
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• pp.31-39
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• 2014

Purpose - This study investigates the following two issues. First, we attempt to find the important determinants of housing investment and to identify their significance rank using survey panel data. Recently, the expansion of global uncertainty in the real estate market has directly and indirectly influenced the Korean housing market; households demonstrate a sensitive reaction to changes in that market. Therefore, this study aims to draw conclusions from understanding how the impact of financial strength of the household is related to house investment. Second, we attempt to verify the effectiveness of diverse indices of financial strength such as DTI, LTV, and PIR as measures to monitor the housing market. In the continuous housing market recession after the global crisis, the government places top priority on residence stability. However, the government still imposes forceful restraints on indices of financial strength. We believe this study verifies the utility of these regulations when used in the housing market. Research design, data, and methodology - The data source for this study is the "National Survey of Tax and Benefit" from 2007 (1st) to 2011 (5th) by the Korea Institute of Public Finance. Based on this survey data, we use panel data of 3,838 households that have been surveyed continuously for 5 years. We sort the base variables according to relevance of house investment criteria using the decision tree model (DTM), which is the standard decision-making model for data-mining techniques. The DTM method is known as a powerful methodology to identify contributory variables for predictive power. In addition, we analyze how important explanatory variables and the financial strength index of households affect housing investment with the binary logistic multi-regressive model. Based on the analyses, we conclude that the financial strength index has a significant role in house investment demand. Results - The results of this research are as follows: 1) The determinants of housing investment are age, consumption expenditures, income, total assets, rent deposit, housing price, habits satisfaction, housing scale, number of household members, and debt related to housing. 2) The impact power of these determinants has changed more or less annually due to economic situations and housing market conditions. The level of consumption expenditure and income are the main determinants before 2009; however, the determinants of housing investment changed to indices of the financial strength of households, i.e., DTI, LTV, and PIR, after 2009. 3) Most of all, since 2009, housing loans has been a more important variable than the level of consumption in making housing market decisions. Conclusions - The results of this research show that sound financing of households has a stronger effect on housing investment than reduced consumption expenditures. At the same time, the key indices that must be monitored by the government under economic emergency conditions differ from those requiring monitoring under normal market conditions; therefore, political indices to encourage and promote the housing market must be divided based on market conditions.

• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• v.1 no.2
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• pp.104-108
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• 2001

Aging is a senescence and defined as a normal physiologic and structural alterations in almost all organ systems with age. As Leonard Hayflick, one of the first gerontologists to propose a theory of biologic aging, indicated that a theory of aging or longevity satisfies the changes of above conditions to be universal, progressive, intrinsic and deleterious. Although a number of theories have been proposed, it is now clear that cell aging (cell senescence) is multifactorial. No single mechanism can account for the many varied manifestations of biological aging. Many theories have been proposed in attempt to understand and explain the process of aging. Aging is effected in individual by genetic factors, diet, social conditions, and the occurrence of age-related diseases as diabetes, hypertension, and arthritis. It involves an endogenous molecular program of cellular senescence as well as continuous exposure throughout life to adverse exogenous influences, leading to progressive infringement on the cell's survivability so called wear and tear. So we could say the basic mechanism of aging depends on the irreversible and universal processes at cellular and molecular level. The immediate cause of these changes is probably an interference in the function of cell's macromolecules-DNA, RNA, and cell proteins-and in the flow of information between these macromolecules. The crucial questions, unanswered at present, concerns what causes these changes in truth. Common theories of aging are able to classify as followings for the easy comprehension. 1. Biological, 1) molecular theories - a. error theory, b. programmed aging theory, c. somatic mutation theory, d. transcription theory, e. run-out-of program theory, 2) cellular theories - a. wear and tear theory, b. cross-link theory, c. clinker theory, d. free radical theory, e. waste product theory, 3) system level theory-a. immunologic/autoimmune theory, 4) others - a. telomere theory, b. rate of living theory, c. stress theory, etc. Prevention of aging is theoretically depending on the cause or theory of aging. However no single theory is available and no definite method of delaying the aging process is possible by this moment. The most popular action is anti-oxidant therapy using vitamin E and C, melatonin and DHEA, etc. Another proposal for the reverse of life-span is TCP-17 and IL-16 administration from the mouse bone marrow B cell line study for the immunoglobulin VDJ rearrangement with RAG-1 and RAG-2. Recently conclusional suggestion for the extending of maximum life-span thought to be the calory restriction.

• The Journal of Art Theory & Practice
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• no.16
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• pp.225-256
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• 2013

As the great catastrophe in the modern and contemporary history of China, the Cultural Revolution(CR) is an object, which must have sutured the past of darkness. At the same time it is a continuous event and also a scar of memory. In other words, for history is "a dialog between the past and the reality"(E.H.Kar), CR intervenes in the reality and, on the contrary, the reality recomposes CR. From this point of view, CR is a historical event, which so far is not ended, and it is an object of memory, which is still being composed at the moment. As the saying: "Poetry is greater than history"(Aristoteles), artistic works more intensively reflect the past. The works related to CR can not be an exception. And CR is endlessly exposed in the contemporary Chinese fine arts and the works of the contemporary Chinese artists-Wang Guangyi, Yue Minjun, Zhang Xiaogang and others are proved to be those who suffer from the trauma of CR and who feel no liberty from CR. For example, CR probably is a symbol showing the "identity" of the Chinese artists. And the diversity of the symbol is the experience and pattern of the dialog between artistic works and CR (i.e., intervention in reality). For example, with withering of grand-narrative and appearance of micro-narrative, the CR critical works of Guan Zhoudao were the root of the Chinese fine arts in the late 70s and early 80s. In the contemporary cultural situation, the literary works about CR actively analyzed the history (CR) from the personal point of views and explained in the way of monolog and micro-method led the 1990s' works. In this way they tried to recompose the history "randomly", like looking at reality with their own eyes. In this process, CR is continuously exposing new features and the real facts are appearing before us as unfamiliar phenomena. This is a way of combination and "reappearance" of contemporary arts and reality. In conclusion, the purpose of this article is to make it possible to see a section of the contemporary Chinese fine arts through the study of the icon image of CR and to analyze the way of fine arts recomposing the history and the intervening in the reality. In this sense, the author has entitled the article "Icon and Form". It means how to reshape (the present) the typically formed icon of the CR (the past).