• The Journal of the Convergence on Culture Technology
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• v.7 no.4
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• pp.675-681
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• 2021

With the recent growth of the AI speaker market, the demand for speech synthesis technology that enables natural conversation with users is increasing. Therefore, there is a need for a multi-speaker speech synthesis system that can generate voices of various tones. In order to synthesize natural speech, it is required to train with a large-capacity. high-quality speech DB. However, it is very difficult in terms of recording time and cost to collect a high-quality, large-capacity speech database uttered by many speakers. Therefore, it is necessary to train the speech synthesis system using the speech DB of a very large number of speakers with a small amount of training data for each speaker, and a technique for naturally expressing the tone and rhyme of multiple speakers is required. In this paper, we propose a technology for constructing a speaker encoder by applying the deep learning-based x-vector technique used in speaker recognition technology, and synthesizing a new speaker's tone with a small amount of data through the speaker encoder. In the multi-speaker speech synthesis system, the module for synthesizing mel-spectrogram from input text is composed of Tacotron2, and the vocoder generating synthesized speech consists of WaveNet with mixture of logistic distributions applied. The x-vector extracted from the trained speaker embedding neural networks is added to Tacotron2 as an input to express the desired speaker's tone.

• Journal of the Society of Cosmetic Scientists of Korea
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• v.49 no.1
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• pp.1-8
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• 2023

This study focused on the development of a vegetable recombinated oil to mimic the animal-derived mink oil. Various vegetable oils and fatty acid substrates were mixed and an immobilized enzyme was utilized in the reaction to synthesize a plant-derived mink oil through deacidification and purification processes. The chemical composition and thermal properties of the recombined oil were confirmed using gas chromatography and differential scanning calorimetry. Our results show a high similarity between mink oil and our synthesized plant-derived mink oil, revealing the potential of utilizing vegetable alternatives for the substitution of animal raw materials, which have been gradually discontinued as cosmetic ingredients.

• The Journal of Bigdata
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• v.6 no.2
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• pp.61-70
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• 2021

The objective of this study was to describe specific approaches for data extraction from graph when statistical information is not directly reported in some articles, enabling data intergration and meta-analysis for quantitative data synthesis. Particularly, meta-analysis is an important analysis tool that allows the right decision making for evidence-based medicine by systematically and objectively selects target literature, quantifies the results of individual studies, and provides the overall effect size. For data integration and meta-analysis, we investigated the strength points about the introduction and application of Adobe Acrobet Reader and Python-based Jupiter Lab software, a computer tool that extracts accurate statistical figures from graphs. We used as an example data that was statistically verified throught an previous studies and the original data could be obtained from ClinicalTrials.gov. As a result of meta-analysis of the original data and the extraction values of each computer software, there was no statistically significant difference between the extraction methods. In addition, the intra-rater reliability of between researchers was confirmed and the consistency was high. Therefore, In terms of maintaining the integrity of statistical information, measurement using a computational tool is recommended rather than the classically used methods.

• Resources Recycling
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• v.32 no.3
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• pp.9-17
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• 2023

Efforts are currently underway to develop a method for efficiently recovering lithium from the cathode material of waste lithium iron phosphate batteries (LFP). The successful application of lithium battery recycling can address the regional ubiquity and price volatility of lithium resources, while also mitigating the environmental impact associated with both waste battery material and lithium production processes. The isomorphic substitution leaching process was used to recover lithium from spent lithium iron phosphate batteries. Lithium was leached by the isomorphic substitution of Fe²⁺ in LFP using a relatively inexpensive ferric chloride etching solution as a leaching agent. In the study, the leaching rate of lithium was compared using the ferric chloride etching solution at various multiples of the LFP molar ratio: 0.7, 1.0, 1.3, and 1.6 times. The highest lithium leaching rate was shown at about 98% when using 1.3 times the LFP molar ratio. Subsequently, to eliminate Fe, the leachate was treated with NaOH. The Fe-free solution was then used to synthesize lithium carbonate, and the harvested powder was characterized and validated. The surface shape and crystal phase were analyzed using SEM and XRD analysis, and impurities and purity were confirmed using ICP analysis.

• Restorative Dentistry and Endodontics
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• v.45 no.4
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• pp.54.1-54.16
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• 2020

Objectives: This study aimed to synthesize nanocrystals (NCs) of zinc oxide (ZnO) and calcium ion (Ca²⁺)-doped ZnO with different percentages of calcium oxide (CaO), to evaluate cytotoxicity and to assess the effects of the most promising NCs on cytotoxicity depending on lipopolysaccharide (LPS) stimulation. Materials and Methods: Nanomaterials were synthesized (ZnO and ZnO:xCa, x = 0.7; 1.0; 5.0; 9.0) and characterized using X-ray diffractometry, scanning electron microscopy, and methylene blue degradation. SAOS-2 and RAW 264.7 were treated with NCs, and evaluated for viability using the MTT assay. NCs with lower cytotoxicity were maintained in contact with LPS-stimulated (+LPS) and nonstimulated (-LPS) human dental pulp cells (hDPCs). Cell viability, nitric oxide (NO), and reactive oxygen species (ROS) production were evaluated. Cells kept in culture medium or LPS served as negative and positive controls, respectively. One-way analysis of variance and the Dunnett test (α = 0.05) were used for statistical testing. Results: ZnO:0.7Ca and ZnO:1.0Ca at 10 ㎍/mL were not cytotoxic to SAOS-2 and RAW 264.7. +LPS and -LPS hDPCs treated with ZnO, ZnO:0.7Ca, and ZnO:1.0Ca presented similar NO production to negative control (p > 0.05) and lower production compared to positive control (p < 0.05). All NCs showed reduced ROS production compared with the positive control group both in +LPS and -LPS cells (p < 0.05). Conclusions: NCs were successfully synthesized. ZnO, ZnO:0.7Ca and ZnO:1.0Ca presented the highest percentages of cell viability, decreased ROS and NO production in +LPS cells, and maintenance of NO production at basal levels.

• Journal of Practical Engineering Education
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• v.14 no.3
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• pp.505-512
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• 2022

The purpose of this study is to synthesize effects of the living lab-based education through meta-analysis. Seven primary studies reporting the effect of living lab-based education were carefully selected for data analysis. Research questions are as follows. First, what is the overall effect size of the living lab-based education? The overall effect size refers to the effect on the cognitive and affective domains. Second, what is the effect size of the living lab-based education according to categorical variables? Categorical variables are outcome characteristics, study characteristics, and design characteristics. Results are summarized as follows. First, the overall effect size of living lab-based education was 0.347. Second, the effect size according to the cognitive domain was 1.244 for information process, 0.593 for communication, 0.261 for problem solving, and 0.26 for creativity. Third, the effect size according to subject area was shown in the order of electrical and electronic engineering 1.146, technology and home economics 0.489, artificial intelligence 0.379, and practical arts 0.168. Fourth, the effect size according to school level was 1.058 for high school, 0.312 for middle school, and 0.217 for elementary school. Fifth, the effect size by grade level was 0.295 when two or more grades were integrated and 0.294 for a single grade.

• Journal of the Society of Cosmetic Scientists of Korea
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• v.49 no.4
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• pp.323-330
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• 2023

The skin's barrier structure is formed through the differentiation process of epidermal keratinocytes. It consists of corneocytes that are composed of keratin proteins and lipids that fill the spaces between them. During this process, the lipids such as phospholipid that made up the membrane of the basal layer cells of the epidermis are decomposed and replaced with newly synthesized components like ceramide. In this study, the effect of ginsenoside Rg3 components on the packing of the intercellular lipid structure of the skin barrier and the barrier function was confirmed. To confirm this, Rg3 components were treated during the differentiation process of 3D epidermal cells. The FT-IR and TEWL analysis on 3D epidermis showed an enhancement in the orthorhombic lipid packing and an improvement in barrier function. Additionally, in HaCaT cells, an increase in the expression of EVOL1 and EVOL4, which synthesize long-chain lipids, was detected, along with a decrease in CERS6, which synthesizes short-chain ceramide, and an increase in ACER6, which decomposes ceramide using phytosphingosine. This suggests the possibility that Rg3 affects lipid synthesis during the epidermal differentiation process, resulting in changes in barrier function.

• The Journal of the Convergence on Culture Technology
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• v.9 no.5
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• pp.523-528
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• 2023

The applicability as a material to improve solar cell performance was reviewed by synthesizing a phosphor that emits red wavelengths by a liquid synthesis method using a metal salt aqueous solution and a polymer medium as a starting material. An aqueous solution was prepared using nitrate of metals such as Ca, Zn, Al, and Eu, and a precursor impregnated with starch, a natural polymer, was sintered to synthesize CaZnAlO:Eu phosphor powder. The surface structure and composition analysis of the synthesized CaZnAlO:Eu phosphor powder were analyzed by scanning electron microscope(SEM) and energy-dispersed X-ray spectroscopy(EDS). The crystal structure of CaZnAlO:Eu phosphor particles was analyzed by an X-ray diffraction analyzer (XRD). As a result of measuring the photoluminescence(PL) characteristics of the phosphor, it was confirmed that a red phosphor with a light emitting wavelength of 650-780nm was successfully synthesized. According to SEM and EDS analysis, the synthesized Ca₁₄Zn₆Al_9.93O₃₅:Eu³⁺_0.07 phosphor powder has a uniform particle size, and Eu ions used as an activator are present. The synthesized CZA:Eu³⁺ phosphor can be used as a material that can increase the light absorption efficiency of the solar cell by converting ultraviolet or visible light down conversion into a wavelength in the near-infrared region.

• The Journal of Korea Institute of Information, Electronics, and Communication Technology
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• v.16 no.5
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• pp.217-222
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• 2023

The purpose of this paper was to synthesize a polymer organic hard mask that simplifies the manufacturing process, reduces process time significantly, and thereby lowers manufacturing costs. The results of measuring residual metals through vapor refining showed that 9-Naphthalen-1-ylcarbazole(9-NC) measured 101.75ppb in the 4th zone, 2-Naphthol (2-NA) measured 306.98ppb in the 5th zone, and 9-Fluorenone(9-F) measured between 129.05ppb across the 4th and 5th zones. After passing through a filtration system, the synthesized organic hard mask measured residual metals in the range of 9 to 7ppb. Additionally, the thermal analysis indicated a decrease of 2.78%, a molecular weight of 942, carbon content of 89.74%, and a yield of 72.4%. The etching rate was measured at an average of 18.22Å/s, and the coating thickness deviation was averaged at 1.19. For particle sizes below 0.2㎛ in the organic hard mask, no particles were observed. By varying the coating speed at 1,000, 1,500, and 1,800rpm and measuring the resulting coating thickness, the shrinkage rate ranged from 17.9% to 20.8%. The coating results demonstrated excellent adhesion to SiON, and it was evident that the organic hard mask was uniformly applied.

• Journal of the Microelectronics and Packaging Society
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.15-20
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• 2022

Aerogel is a material having a nanopore structure based on a high porosity. Due to this high porosity, it has excellent properties not found in conventional materials, but its application has been limited due to low mechanical strength. Therefore, to improve the mechanical strength of the aerogel, polyurea crosslinking was introduced and a precursor having an amine group essential for polyurea polymer formation was selected to synthesize a polyurea crosslinked aerogel composite. In addition, the crosslinking of polyurea was adjusted according to the number of amine groups present in aminosilane. It was confirmed through various analyses that the nanopore structure of the aerogel was maintained to have mesopores. The aerogel thus formed was able to improve the mechanical strength by about two times, and it was confirmed through field emission scanning electron microscope analysis that a one-dimensional polymer was formed on the silica aerogel surface through the introduction of ethylene diamine. The one-dimensional polymer thus formed has improved mechanical properties, resulting in securing an elastic modulus of about 2.66 MPa.