• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.36 no.4
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• pp.337-341
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• 2010

The modified simultaneous differential staining technique, which enables double staining of cartilage and bones, needs to be improved to prevent soft tissues from being damaged during the staining process. Key factors influencing the extent to which soft tissues are damaged include the fixative used, macerating time, potassium hydroxide concentration, incubation temperature and the removal of skin from specimens. Here we describe a protocol that enables the hardening of tissues during bleaching and maceration. We also describe a method for objectively measuring rates of cartilage and bone growth. The use of formalin as a fixative rendered soft tissues more rigid due to the resulting chemical bonds formed between proteins. Blotted specimens were immersed in 1% potassium hydroxide (KOH) and incubated at $37^{\circ}C$ for 1 day (smaller specimens) or 2-3 days (larger specimens). The 1% KOH solution was also used as the diluent solution for the subsequent immersion in a graded series of 30%, 50%, 70%, 90%, 100% glycerol solutions, a procedure that made soft tissues even more transparent and hardened. It was not necessary to remove the skin of specimens shorter than 2 cm, since the macerating solution could easily penetrate their thin skin layer and continuously remove those pigments hindering visibility. Since excessive osmosis is another factor that can damage soft tissues in the macerating process by causing the rupture of those cells not able to withstand the osmotic pressure, here it was minimized by balancing the salt concentration between the interior and exterior of cells with the addition of 0.9% sodium chloride (NaCl) in the macerating solution. Finally, to determine the proportions of cartilage and bone growth, photographs of the stained specimens were taken with a dissecting microscope and sections corresponding to the cartilage and bones were cut out from the printed pictures and weighed. Our results show that this method is suitable for the objective evaluation of bone and cartilage growth.

• The Transactions of the Korean Institute of Power Electronics
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.351-355
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• 2016

Welding machines are high-capacity systems used in a low-frequency range using IGBT. As their system is similar to a large transformer, most welding machines suffer a great loss because of hard switching and vast leakage inductance. A voltage-balancing circuit is designed to overcome these shortcomings. This circuit can reduce the transformer size by making it into a high frequency and reducing the input voltage by half and by adopting a serial structure that connects two full-bridges in a series to use a MOSFET with a good property at high frequency. In addition, a Schottky diode is used in the primary rectifier to overcome the low efficiency of most welding machines. To use the Schottky diode with a reliably relatively low withstanding voltage, an active snubber is adopted to effectively limit the ringing voltage of the diode cut-off voltage.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.39 no.4
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• pp.471-491
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• 2021

In this study, we estimate the ultimate load of rectangular concrete-filled steel tubes (CFST) by developing a novel hybrid predictive model (ANN-BCMO) which is a combination of balancing composite motion optimization (BCMO) - a very new optimization technique and artificial neural network (ANN). For this aim, an experimental database consisting of 422 datasets is used for the development and validation of the ANN-BCMO model. Variables in the database are related with the geometrical characteristics of the structural members, and the mechanical properties of the constituent materials (steel and concrete). Validation of the hybrid ANN-BCMO model is carried out by applying standard statistical criteria such as root mean square error (RMSE), coefficient of determination (R²), and mean absolute error (MAE). In addition, the selection of appropriate values for parameters of the hybrid ANN-BCMO is conducted and its robustness is evaluated and compared with the conventional ANN techniques. The results reveal that the new hybrid ANN-BCMO model is a promising tool for prediction of the ultimate load of rectangular CFST, and prove the effective role of BCMO as a powerful algorithm in optimizing and improving the capability of the ANN predictor.

• Journal of Animal Reproduction and Biotechnology
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• v.37 no.1
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• pp.34-41
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• 2022

In vivo oocytes grow and mature in ovarian follicles whereas oocytes are matured in vitro in plastic culture dishes with a hard surface. In vivo oocytes show a superior developmental ability to in vitro counterparts, indicating suboptimal environments of in vitro culture. This study aimed to evaluate the influence of an agarose matrix as a culture substrate during in vitro maturation (IVM) on the development of pig oocytes derived from small antral follicles (SAFs). Cumulus-oocyte complexes (COCs) retrieved from SAFs were grown in a plastic culture dish without an agarose matrix and then cultured for maturation in a plastic dish coated without (control) or with a 1% or 2% (w/v) agarose hydrogel. Then, the effect of the soft agarose matrix on oocyte maturation and embryonic development was assessed by analyzing intra-oocyte contents of glutathione (GSH) and reactive oxygen species (ROS), expression of VEGFA, HIF1A, and PFKP genes, and blastocyst formation after parthenogenesis. IVM of pig COCs on a 1% (w/v) agarose matrix showed a significantly higher blastocyst formation, intra-oocyte GSH contents, and transcript abundance of VEGFA. Moreover, a significantly lower intra-oocyte ROS content was detected in oocytes matured on the 1% and 2% (w/v) agarose matrices than in control. Our results demonstrated that IVM of SAFs-derived pig oocytes on a soft agarose matrix enhanced developmental ability by improving the cytoplasmic maturation of oocytes through redox balancing and regulation of gene expression.

• The Journal of the Korea institute of electronic communication sciences
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• v.8 no.4
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• pp.619-629
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• 2013

This study was conducted to compare the effect improving balance abilities of 3 balance training programs by randomized intervention trial. Study subjects were 29 female students recruited from a university in Gwanju, who allocated randomly to 3 intervention groups, aqua group(modified Halliwick 10 point program, N=10), visual bio-feedback balance training group(N=10), and balance-pad plus trampolin group(N=9). As the results of repeated musure ANOVA, Wilcoxon signed rank test, major research findings were as follows; 1. Regarding SI or BIEMG measured at upright posture on hard platform, bio-feedback group under the condition with opening both eye and aqua group under the condition with closing both eye showed signigicant improvement in balance ability, respectively. 2. Regarding SI or BIEMG measured at upright posture on soft platform, bio-feedback group under the condition with opening both eye and aqua group under the condition with closing both eye showed signigicant improvement in balance ability, respectively. 3. Regarding all 3 sensory ratios, bio-feedback group showed significantly higher increasement in them than other 2 groups. The results suggested that visual bio-feedback training program improve the all 3 sensory functions required for balancing, and aqua training modified from Halliwick 10 point program contribute to improve vestibular function principally.

• Journal of the Korean Orthopaedic Association
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• v.56 no.2
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• pp.134-141
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• 2021

Purpose: Patellar dislocations have a range of causes. This study examined the results of treatment aimed at balancing soft tissues around the patella. Materials and Methods: Thirty-two patellar dislocations in 28 patients (21 females and seven males) were examined. The mean patient age at the time of surgery was 11.5 years, and the mean follow-up period was 4.6 years. Dislocations were 19 chronic, six habitual, six congenital, and one acute. Soft tissue balancing surgery included lateral capsular release, medial capsular plication, and inferolateral transfer of the vastus medialis obliquus. Medial transfer of the patellar tendon, partial strip of the rectus femoris and patella tendon, and distal femoral osteotomy were also performed selectively. The preoperative Q angle, femoral anteversion angle, tibial external rotation angle, tibial tubercle-trochlear groove distance (TT-TG distance), mechanical femoral-tibial angle, and femoral trochlear dysplasia according to Dejour were measured, and the pre- and postoperative Lysholm-Tegner scores were used to analyze the clinical results. Results: The mean preoperative Q angle, TT-TG distance, femoral anteversion angle, tibial external rotation angle, mechanical femoraltibia angle, and Lysholm-Tegner score were 9.3°, 15.5 mm, 25.6°, 30.4°, 3.0°, and 75.8, respectively. Eleven patients had systemic ligament laxity with a Beighton score of five or more. Twenty-two patients had femoral trochlear dysplasia: four type A (3 patients), 16 type B (15 patients), one type C (1 patient), and four type D (3 patients). Of the 32 cases, 28 were corrected successfully by the first operation. Of four cases of postoperative subluxation, three were corrected by the second operation, and one of them was corrected after a third operation. The last patient is currently being followed-up. The mean Lysholm-Tegner score improved to 85.6 after the operation. Conclusion: Correcting all the causes of patella dislocation simultaneously is difficult. Nevertheless, satisfactory outcomes were obtained with soft tissue balancing surgery around the patella and a corrective osteotomy for an abnormal mechanical axis of the femur-tibia and torsion.

• Strategy21
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• s.38
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• pp.321-347
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• 2015

중국은 지난 10년간 아시아에서의 영향력 확대를 위한 팽창정책의 일환으로 인도양 주변 국가들과의 관계발전을 위해 국가 차원의 노력을 기울여왔다. '진주목걸이 전략(String of Pearls Strategy')으로 묘사되는 중국의 인도양 정책의 개괄적 성격에 관한 연구는 여러 학자들에 의해서 시도되어 왔으나, 인도양 주변 개별국과들과의 협력과 개입의 정도(The variation in the extent of China's Engagement and Collaboration with States along Its Indian Ocean sea lines of communication)에 영향을 미치는 구조적 요인에 대한 연구는 부재해 왔다. 이 논문에서는 인도양 주변 국가들에 대한 개입 및 관계발전을 위한 중국의 인도양정책을 국제정치학의 이론 중 '방어적 신현실주의(Defensive Neorealism)'의 이론적 틀에 근거한 '연성적 힘의 균형(Soft Balancing)'의 관점에서 고찰해 보고, 중국의 인도양 정책은 이 지역에서 중국의 팽창에 대한 미국의 견제 및 반발(Backlash)을 억제하고 중국의 에너지 안보를 보장하기 위한 전략적 정책의 결과임을 조명해 본다. 더불어 중국의 인도양 진출에 따른 미국의 정책대안을 예측해 본다. 본 연구의 목적을 위해 이론적 틀에 기반한 가설을 설정하고 인도양 주변의 11개 국가에 대한 교차 사례연구(Cross-sectional Case Analysis)를 통해 타당성을 검증한다.

• Korean Journal of Optics and Photonics
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• v.6 no.3
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• pp.188-200
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• 1995

A design of unit magnification 2-mirror system with high resolution is presented. It is for soft X-ray(wavelength of 13 nm) projection imaging and suitable for preparation of high density semiconductor chip. In general, a holosymmetric system with unit magnification has the advantage that both coma and distortion are completely eliminated. In our holosymmetric 2-mirror system, spherical aberration is addtionally removed by using two identical paraboloidal mirror surfaces and field curvature aberration is also corrected by balancing Petzval sum and astigmatism which depends on the distance between two mirrors, so that the system is a aplanatic flat-field paraboloidal 2-mirror holosymmetric system. This 2-mirror system is small in size, and has a simple configuration with rotational symmetry about optical axis, and has also small central obscuration. Residual finite aberrations, spot diagrams, and diffraction-based MTF's are analyzed for the check of performances as soft X-ray lithography projection system. As a result, the image sizes for the resolutions of$0.25\mum$and $0.18\mum$are 4.0 mm, 2.5 mm respectively, and depths of focus for those are $2.5\mum$, $2.4\mum$respectively. This system should be useful in the fabrication of 256 Mega DRAM or 1 Giga DRAM. DRAM.

• Journal of the korean academy of Pediatric Dentistry
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• v.36 no.1
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• pp.108-113
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• 2009

The functional regulator(FR) appliances act to remove the restrictive forces that prevent the normal maturation of the maxilla and mandible. FR appliances are different from other functional jaw orthopedic appliances(e.g., the twin block, bionator, and activator). $Fr{\ddot{a}}nkel$ has based his treatment philosophy on the concept that the capacity to regulate growth residues in the soft tissue environment, and that adequate space must be available for the proper development of the hard tissue. In class II malocclusion with mandibular retrusion, FR-II treatment is not only the change in the postural position of mandible, but also expansion of the dental arches. By balancing the neuromuscular environment, not only can severe malocclusions be treated successfully, but also the tendency toward relapse is minimized because the neural and soft tissue factors associated with the skeletal malocclusion have been addressed as well. We report cases using by FR-II that is applicated in cases of Class II malocclusion without fixed appliance, only FR-II and space supervision.

• Korean Journal of Human Ecology
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.665-680
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• 2014

The purpose of this study was to develop the construction process of orthopedic compression garments (OCG) for balancing of the left and right lumbar muscle power and strength to prevent low back pain. One male subject having low back pain was involved for investigating of the lumbar muscle power. EMG (Telemyo DTS2, Noraxon, U.S.A) was measured with/ without 3 types of waist assistant belt around the waist area of the subject. Based on the electromyogram value of left and right body, OCG were constructed as follows. Firstly, stretchable t-shirts type with supportive waist belt was selected for the convenience of wearing and laundering the OCG. The design lines of the front and back waist parts were created depending on the anatomy of the torso. Secondly, 3D pattern was developed using 3D Clo, RapidForm XOR, 2C-AN, and Yuka CAD program to increase the fit of the OCG. Finally, stretchable power-net was layered as linings in two ways, a single lining and double layered linings, and evaluated measuring lumbar muscle EMG by five subjects with low back pain. As the results, they were effective to balance the left and right lumbar muscle power and strength. Also the OCG with the double layered power-net lining was superior to the one layered lining in terms of fit and comfort.