• Journal of Power Electronics
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.894-906
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• 2019

In this paper, a DC-DC converter is proposed based on the Cuk converter. The proposed converter has high efficiency and it can be used in multilevel DC-DC converters. A reduction of the inductors size in comparison to Cuk converter and a reduction in the inductors resistance negative effects on efficiency are the important points of the proposed converter. Its voltage ripple is reduced when compared to other converters. Its output voltage has a high quality and does not contain spikes. A theoretical analysis demonstrates the positive points of the proposed converter. The design and analysis of the converter are done in continues conduction mode (CCM). Experiments confirm the obtained theoretical equations. The proposed converter voltage gain is similar to that of a conventional Boost converter. As a result, they are compared. The comparison illustrates the advantages of the proposed converter and its higher quality. Furthermore, a prototype of the proposed converter and its combination with a 2x multiplier are built in the lab. Experimental results validate the analysis. In addition, they are in good agreements with each other.

• Journal of Power Electronics
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• v.12 no.4
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• pp.548-558
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• 2012

In this paper, a novel offset-based single-state pulse width modulation (PWM) method for achieving zero common-mode voltage (CMV) and reducing switching losses in multilevel inverters is presented. The specific active switching state of the zero common-mode (ZCM) voltage that approximates the reference voltage can be deduced from the switching state sequence of the reduced CMV phase disposition PWM (CMV PD PWM) method. From the reference leg voltages for the zero common-mode voltage, an N-to-2-level transformation defines a virtual two-level inverter and the corresponding nominal leg voltage references. The commutation process of the reduced CMV PD PWM method in a multilevel inverter and its outputs can be simply followed in a nominal switching time diagram for the virtual inverter. The characteristics of the reduced CMV PD PWM and the single-state PWM for zero common-mode voltage are analyzed in detail in this paper. The theoretical analysis of the proposed PWM method is verified by experimental results.

• Research in Community and Public Health Nursing
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.337-345
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• 2016

Purpose: This study aims at identifying individual- and school-level factors associated with unintentional injuries to Korean adolescents at school by applying multilevel modeling. Methods: From the database of the eleventh Korea Youth Risk Behavior Web-based Survey (KYRBS), the researchers selected 68,043 adolescents from the $7^{th}$ to the $12^{th}$ grades. Data were analyzed using ${\chi}^2$ test for prevalence and multilevel modeling for related factors of unintentional injuries at school. Results: About 22.9 percent of the adolescents had treatment experiences for unintentional injuries at school in the past 12 months. At the individual level, the significant factors associated with unintentional injuries at school included gender, grade, academic achievement, current smoking, alcohol consumption, frequency of high caffeine intake, depression, and relief of fatigue after sleep. At the group level, the significant factors included number of physical education per week and safety education. Conclusion: School based injury prevention programs should be sensitive to both individual- and school-level factors associated with unintentional injury at school among Korean adolescents.

• Journal of Power Electronics
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.512-521
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• 2016

Cascaded H-bridge multilevel (CHBML) inverters usually include a large number of isolated dc-voltage sources. Some faults in the dc-voltage sources result in unequal cell dc voltages. Unfortunately, the conventional phase-shifted carrier (PSC) PWM method that is widely used for CHBML inverters cannot eliminate low frequency sideband harmonics when the cell dc voltages are not equal. This paper analyzes the principle of sideband harmonic elimination, and proposes an improved PSCPWM that can eliminate low frequency sideband harmonics under the condition of unequal dc voltages. In order to calculate the carrier phases, it is necessary to solve transcendental equations for low frequency sideband harmonic elimination. Therefore, an approach based on the artificial bee colony (ABC) algorithm is presented in this paper. The proposed PSCPWM method enhances the reliability of CHBML inverters. The proposed PSCPWM is not limited to CHBML inverters. It can also be applied to other types of multilevel inverters. Simulation and experimental result obtained from a prototype CHBML inverter verify the theoretical analysis and the achievements made in this paper.

• Journal of Power Electronics
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• v.16 no.6
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• pp.2139-2149
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• 2016

In this study, a new type of cascaded modular multilevel inverters (CMMLIs) is presented which is able to produce a considerable number of output voltage levels with a reasonable number of components. Accordingly, each series stage of the proposed CMMLI is comprised of two same basic units that are connected with each other through two unidirectional power switches without aiming any of the full H-bridge cells. In addition, since the potentiality for generating a higher number of output voltage levels in CMMLIs hinges on the magnitude of the dc voltage sources used in each series unit, in the rest of this paper, four different algorithms for determining an appropriate value for the dc sources' magnitude are also presented. In the following, a comprehensive topological analysis between some CMMLI structures reported in the literature and proposed structure along with several simulation and experimental results will be also given to validate the lucrative benefits and viability of the proposed topology.

• Journal of Power Electronics
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.163-172
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• 2016

The modular multilevel converter (MMC) has been receiving increased attentions in recent years. The new modular multilevel converter is a derivative topology from the traditional MMC in which the number of sub-modules (SMs) necessitated by each phase can be reduced by one. This paper presents a phase-shifted carrier pulse-width modulation (PSC-PWM) for the new MMC with an optimal phase-shifted angle to suppress the harmonics of the output voltage. Further, the harmonic features when the capacitor voltage of the middle SM is selected as two different values are also investigated. Moreover, in order to avoid introducing an unnecessary dc offset current at the ac terminals of the new MMC, a novel capacitor voltage balancing scheme is proposed by adjusting the amplitude of the reference signals rather than the offset. Finally, the validity and effectiveness of the proposed modulation and balancing schemes have been verified by experimental results based on a three-phase prototype of the new MMC.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.49 no.5
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• pp.308-322
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• 2016

Objectives: The objective of this study is to investigate associations between contextual characteristics and unmet healthcare needs in South Korea after accounting for individual factors. Methods: The present study used data from the 2012 Korean Community Health Survey (KCHS) of 228 902 adults residing within 253 municipal districts in South Korea. A multilevel analysis was conducted to investigate how contextual characteristics, defined by variables that describe the regional deprivation, degree of urbanity, and healthcare supply, are associated with unmet needs after controlling for individual-level variables. Results: Of the surveyed Korean adults, 12.1% reported experiencing unmet healthcare needs in the past. This figure varied with the 253 districts surveyed, ranging from 2.6% to 26.2%. A multilevel analysis found that the association between contextual characteristics and unmet needs varied according to the factors that caused the unmet needs. The degree of urbanity was associated with unmet need due to "financial burden" (odds ratio [OR], 0.53; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.42 to 0.66 for rural vs. metropolitan), but not unmet need due to "service not available when needed." There were no significant associations between these unmet need measures and regional deprivation. Among individual-level variables, income level showed the highest association with unmet need due to "financial burden" (OR, 5.63; 95% CI, 4.76 to 6.66), while employment status showed a strong association with unmet need due to "service not available when needed." Conclusions: Our finding suggests that different policy interventions should be considered for each at-risk population group to address the root cause of unmet healthcare needs.

• The Journal of Korean Society for School & Community Health Education
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.69-84
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• 2019

Objectives: The purpose of this study is to examine change in adolescent depression across time and to determine the relation between individual and neighborhood socioeconomic status (SES) and depression. Methods: This study employed multilevel latent growth analysis using longitudinal data from Korea Children and Youth Panel Survey. A sample of this study consists of 2,351 adolescents who were in first grade of middle school in 2010. Results: Results showed that both initial level and downward trajectory of depression varied significantly across individuals as well as across neighborhoods. On the individual level, self-rated economic condition(b=-0.203, p<.001) was related to the initial level of depression. Adolescents whose father had a high educational level(b=0.028, p<.001) or whose mother had a low educational level(b=-0.022, p=.011) had lower rates of decline in adolescent depression. On the neighborhood level, neighborhood deprivation index (b=0.003, p=.019) and gini coefficient(b=0.124, p=.040) were associated with lower rates of decline in depression. Conclusions: Low SES in adolescence is correlated with worse mental health, especially depression. Social disparities in depression likely originate before adulthood. The findings argue for the importance of understanding depression in adolescence from a multilevel or ecological framework.

• Journal of Electrical Engineering and Technology
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• v.7 no.4
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• pp.538-545
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• 2012

In this paper a novel cascaded transformer multilevel inverter is proposed. Each basic unit of the inverter includes two DC sources, single phase transformers and semiconductor switches. This inverter, which operates as symmetric and asymmetric, can output more number of voltage levels in the same number of the switching devices. Besides, the number of gate driving circuits is reduced, which leads to circuit size reduction and lower power consumption in the driving circuits. Moreover, several methods to determination of transformers turn ratio in proposed inverter are presented. Theoretical analysis, simulation results using MATLAB/SIMULINK and experimental results are provided to verify the operation of the suggested inverter.

• Journal of Power Electronics
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.33-39
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• 2012

This paper describes operating and capacitor voltage balancing of the modular multilevel converter. The paper focuses on sizing of the cell capacitor and establishes approximate expressions for the capacitor voltage. Simulations and experiments results obtained from three-level modular converter are used to demonstrate its viability in medium voltage applications. It is shown that the modular converter can operate over the full modulation index linear range independent of load power factor.