• Current Research on Agriculture and Life Sciences
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• v.27
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• pp.7-11
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• 2009

Persimmon occupied the second largest cultivation area next to apple among the fruits in Korea. Since 70 % of its cultivating field is located at slope, the efficiency of its harvesting operation is very low. Also, the traditional high-ground trimmer show very low efficiency due to its structure problem.. In this paper, a high-ground trimmer which is a persimmon cultivator was developed by solving the problem of a traditional high ground trimmer. The results of the research are summarized as follows : 1. In case of the developed hydraulic type high ground trimmer, the required average lever tension is 2.9 N. 2. However, the required average tension force of the existing spring type is 25.5 N, which was 8.7 times greater than developed hydraulic lever type trimmer in this study.

• Journal of Biosystems Engineering
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.29-38
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• 2001

A navigation system was developed for autonomous guidance of a combine. It consisted of a DGPS, a machine vision system, a gyro sensor and an ultrasonic sensor. For an autonomous operation of the combine, target points were determined at first. Secondly, heading angle and offset were calculated by comparing current positions obtained from the DGPS with the target points. Thirdly, the fuzzy controller decided steering angle by the fuzzy inference that took 3 inputs of heading angle, offset and distance to the bank around the rice field. Finally, the hydraulic system was actuated for the combine steering. In the case of the misbehavior of the DGPS, the machine vision system found the desired travel path. In this way, the combine traveled straight paths to the traget point and then turned to the next target point. The gyro sensor was used to check the turning angle. The autonomous combine traveled within 31.11cm deviation(RMS) on the straight paths and harvested up to 96% of the whole rice field. The field experiments proved a possibility of autonomous harvesting. Improvement of the DGPS accuracy should be studied further by compensation variations of combines attitude due to unevenness of the rice field.

• Journal of the Korea Institute of Information and Communication Engineering
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.175-182
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• 2018

As Internet of things with a large number of nodes emerges, wireless-power communication networks (WPCN) based on a random access protocol needs to be investigated. In the random access-based WPCN, a terminal accessing later in given random access (RA) slots can harvest more energy before transmission and thus can transmit data with higher power and achieve higher throughput if the access is successful. On the basis of this property, the proposed random access control protocol gives the terminals priority and distinguishes the RA slots according to the priority level, so that a near terminal with access point allows to access preferentially other than a remote terminal. This operation decreases the throughput of near terminal and increases the throughput of remote terminal, and then, the doubly near-far problem in WPCN is resolved and the user fairness is improved. Results show that the proposed random access control improves both channel throughput and user fairness according to the priority level.

• Journal of Communications and Networks
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.188-194
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• 2012

Cognitive networks (CNs) are capable of enabling dynamic spectrum allocation, and thus constitute a promising technology for future wireless communication. Whereas, the implementation of CN will lead to the requirement of an increased energy-arrival rate, which is a significant parameter in energy harvesting design of a cognitive user (CU) device. A well-designed spectrum-sensing scheme will lower the energy-arrival rate that is required and enable CNs to self-sustain, which will also help alleviate global warming. In this paper, spectrum sensing in a multi-user cognitive ad hoc network with a wide-band spectrum is considered. Based on the prospective spectrum sensing, we classify CN operation into two modes: Distributed and centralized. In a distributed network, each CU conducts spectrum sensing for its own data transmission, while in a centralized network, there is only one cognitive cluster header which performs spectrum sensing and broadcasts its sensing results to other CUs. Thus, a wide-band spectrum that is divided into multiple sub-channels can be sensed simultaneously in a distributed manner or sequentially in a centralized manner. We consider the energy consumption for spectrum sensing only of an analog-to-digital convertor (ADC). By formulating energy consumption for spectrum sensing in terms of the sub-channel sampling rate and whole-band sensing time, the sampling rate and whole-band sensing time that are optimal for minimizing the total energy consumption within sensing reliability constraints are obtained. A power dissipation model of an ADC, which plays an important role in formulating the energy efficiency problem, is presented. Using AD9051 as an ADC example, our numerical results show that the optimal sensing parameters will achieve a reduction in the energy-arrival rate of up to 97.7% and 50% in a distributed and a centralized network, respectively, when comparing the optimal and worst-case energy consumption for given system settings.

• Korean Journal of Agricultural Science
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.147-161
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• 2001

Efficiency and competitive power in agribusiness management has became important issue due to the rapid changes in farming environment under new WTO agreement. To increase competitive power, small-sized petty farm should be restructured to be specialized large-scaled farming system. Trust farming corporation(TFC) has been introduced to increase farm productivity and competitive power through large scale farming system and refined management skills. Eventually, TFCs are expected to revitalize rural economy. TFCs are increasing in numbers, but they are unsatisfactory in quality often with insolvent operations. The typical problems with TFCs are internal conflicts among members, lack of management abilities and incentives, inefficiency in machinery use, and insolvent operations. The self effort by members and legal-institutional assistance can alleviate the negative factors against the rational for cooperative management and sustain TFCs. This study identifies the management problems of TFCs. To provide the methods for increasing management efficiency, improving rational management skills, and hence to help revitalizing the rural economy with competitive power, 20 TFCs in Nonsan County is surveyed. The major findings are as follows; 1) According to the survey result of 20 trust farming corporations, investments on the accumulation of knowledges and information, accounting management, machinery management are required due to the present lack of management/accounting ability. There also exist problems associated with revenue sources, labor uses, and public recognition. To increase management efficiency under current situation, corporations should import active business plans with expanding farming execution and off-farm season business. 2) Based on the result of corporations' business analysis, more than 50% of the corporations were not able to provide profit dividends to the members. It suggests that trust farming corporations need appropriate and stable revenue sources to sustain business. It is also required that corporations should reduce their excessive expenditure on fixed assets. 3) Theoretical amounts of consignment fees for tillage operation, planting, and harvesting were found to be 338,874 won, 216,596 won, and 332,318 won, respectively. Although actual levels of fee are 110%~120% of these theoretical levels of consignment fee, corporations' expected fee levels could not be acheived because of competency of consignment market.

• Smart Structures and Systems
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.145-164
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• 2012

In this paper, solar-powered, multi-scale, vibration-impedance sensor node on Imote2 platform is presented for hybrid structural health monitoring (SHM) in cable-stayed bridge. In order to achieve the objective, the following approaches are proposed. Firstly, vibration- and impedance-based hybrid SHM methods are briefly described. Secondly, the multi-scale vibration and impedance sensor node on Imote2-platform is presented on the design of hardware components and embedded software for vibration- and impedance-based SHM. In this approach, a solar-powered energy harvesting is implemented for autonomous operation of the smart sensor nodes. Finally, the feasibility and practicality of the smart sensor-based SHM system is evaluated on a full-scale cable-stayed bridge, Hwamyung Bridge in Korea. Successful level of wireless communication and solar-power supply for smart sensor nodes are verified. Also, vibration and impedance responses measured from the target bridge which experiences various weather conditions are examined for the robust long-term monitoring capability of the smart sensor system.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Environmental Restoration Technology
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• v.1 no.1
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• pp.18-27
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• 1998

To investigate the restoration progression on soil physical properties and vegetation at the surface of logging road affected by timber harvesting operation. This study was carried out at logging roads constructed from 1989 to 1994 in Mt. Baekwoon, Kwangyang, Chollanam-do. Judging from the analysis of soil hardness, there were significant changes in the depth of soil between 5 and 10cm. Soil hardness was recovered from the compacted condition to the natural forest condition after 9 years passed. Soil macroporous ratio (pF2.7) of topsoil was higher than that of deep soil. Soil moisture retention of topsoil was more improved than that of deep soil. From the view of soil bulk density, the necessary time for recovering to the undisturbed condition of forest soil was about 10 years in the logging road left. Soil physical properties such as soil bulk density and porous ratio were recovered as time passed. Improved soil physical properties promoted the plant recovery on the logging road surface. The dominant species on the logging roads were Comus kousa, Prunus sargentii as overstory species, Rubus crataegifolius, Lespedeza bicolor as understory species, and Saussurea gracilis, Pteridium aquilinum var. latiusculum as herbaceous species. The plant recovery of bank-slopes was faster than that of cut-slopes and road surface. In progress of year, average plant coverage were 70 to 90% in cut- and bank-slopes and 30 to 60% on the logging road, surface which was elapsed 9 years after logging road construction. Therefore, additional planting and seeding work could be effective to the soil condition and vegetation restoration.

• Journal of Biosystems Engineering
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• v.34 no.2
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• pp.120-126
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• 2009

The purpose of this study was to develop a visibility evaluation system for cabin type combine. Human's field of view was classified into five levels (perceptive, effective, stable gaze, induced, and auxiliary) depending on rotation of human's head and eye. Divider, reaper lever, gearshift, dashboard, and conveying part were considered as major viewpoints of combine. Visibilities of combine was evaluated quantitatively using the viewpoints and the human's field of view levels. The visibility evaluation system for cabin type combine was consisted of a laser pointer, stepping motors to control the direction of view, gyro sensors to measure horizontal and vertical angle, and I/O interface to acquire the signals. Tests were conducted with different postures ('sitting straight', 'sitting with $15^{\circ}$ tilt', 'standing straight', and 'standing with $15^{\circ}$ tilt'). The LSD (least significant difference) multiple comparison tests showed that the visibilities of viewpoints were different significantly as the operator's postures were changed. The results showed that the posture at standing with $15^{\circ}$ tilt provided the best visibility for operators. The divider of the combine was invisible due to blocking with the cabin frame at many postures. The reaper lever showed good visibilities at the postures of sitting or standing with $15^{\circ}$ tilt. The gearshift, the dashboard, and the conveying part had reasonable visibilities at the posture of sitting with $15^{\circ}$ tilt. However, most viewpoints of the combine were out of the stable gaze field of view level. Modifications of the combine design will be required to enhance the visibility during harvesting operation for farmers' safety and convenience.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.45 no.5
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• pp.301-307
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• 2012

Background: Perioperative transfusion of red blood cell (RBC) may cause adverse effects. Bloodless-cardiac surgery has been spotlighted to avoid those problems. Off pump coronary artery bypass (OPCAB) surgery can decrease the transfusion. However, the risk factors of transfusions in OPCAB have not been investigated properly. Materials and Methods: One hundred and thirteen patients (male:female=35:78, mean age=$66.7{\pm}9.9$ years) who received isolated OPCAB were retrospectively analyzed from March 2006 to September 2007. The threshold of RBC transfusion was 28.0% of hematocrit. Bilateral internal thoracic arteries graft were used for 99 patients (87.6%). One hundred and three (91.1%) and 35 patients (31.5%) took aspirin and clopidogrel just before surgery. Results: Sixty-five patients (47.5%) received the RBC transfusion (mean $2.2{\pm}3.2$ units). Mortality and major complications were not different between transfusion and no-transfusion group. But, ventilator support time, intensive care unit stay and hospitalization period had been reduced in no-transfusion group (p<0.05). In multivariate analysis, patients risk factors for RBC transfusion were preoperative low hematocrit (<37.5%) and clopidogrel medication. Surgical risk factors were longer graft harvesting time (<75 minutes) and total operation time (<5.5 hours, p <0.05). Conclusion: We performed the transfusion according to transfusion guideline; over 40% cases could conduct the OPCAB without transfusion. There were no differences in major clinical results between transfusion and non-transfusion group. In addition, when used together with accurate understanding of transfusion risk factors, it is expected to increase the proportion of patients that do not undergo transfusions.

• The Journal of the Korea institute of electronic communication sciences
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• v.14 no.3
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• pp.619-626
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• 2019

The advances of semiconductor and circuitry technology dovetailed with nano processing techniques have further enhanced micro-miniaturization, sensitivity, longevity and reliability in MID(Medical Implant Device). Nevertheless, one of the remaining challenges is whether power can sufficiently and continuously be supplied for the operation of the MID. Self-powered MID that harvest biomechanical energy from human motion, respiratory and muscle movement are part of a paradigm shift. In this paper, we developed a rechargeable pacemaker through self-power generation with the triboelectric nanogenerator. We demonstrate a fully implanted pacemaker based on an implantable triboelectric nanogenerator, which act as a storage as well as active movement on a large-animal(dog) scale. The self-power pacemaker harvested from animal motion is 2.47V, which is higher than the required pacemaker device sensing voltage(1.35V).