C.G. Kim

Exchange bias in NiFe∕FeMn∕NiFe trilayers

NiFe∕FeMn∕NiFe trilayer structure forms an integral part of many conventional and tunneling magnetoresistance spin valve structures with FeMn antiferromagnetic layer. A systematic investigation of the exchange bias variations of the seed and top pinned NiFe layers in the NiFe∕FeMn∕NiFe trilayer structure is reported as a function of thickness of all the three constituting layers, in multilayers prepared by rf magnetron sputtering. X-ray diffraction patterns show the (111) texture for the NiFe and FeMn layers, necessary for the development of antiferromagnetic γ-fcc phase. In thickness variation studies of all the three magnetic layers, seed NiFe layer shows greater bias (150Oe) than the top pinned NiFe layer (80Oe only). The exchange bias shows the expected 1∕t behavior for increasing NiFe layer thickness after initial maxima at low thickness. In the FeMn antiferromagnet layer thickness variation on the other hand, the large bias values attained around 5nm thickness is nearly retained up to a thickness of...

Differential pulsed eddy current sensor for the detection of wall thinning in an insulated stainless steel pipe

A differential probe which is used in the pulsed eddy current (PEC) system has been fabricated for the detection of wall thinning of insulated pipelines in a nuclear power plant (NPP). The differential PEC probe consists of two hall sensors in a differential arrangement. The tested sample is a stainless steel of thickness variation from 1 to 5 mm, the flat side of the sample is laminated by a plastic insulation having a uniform thickness to simulate the pipelines in NPP. The PEC response to varying metal thickness was measured at various thicknesses of insulations on the tested sample. The time-domain feature such as peak value of the detected pulse is used to interpret the thickness of the test sample. The signal analysis technique, such as power spectrum density, is applied to obtain an optimum parameter to describe the wall thinning of pipeline steel. This technique can be used as a potential tool to detect the corrosion or the wall thinning of the pipelines without removing the insulation.

Inequalities in Medical Care Utilization by South Korean Cancer Patients According to Income: A Retrospective Cohort Study

This study explores income inequalities in the utilization of medical care by cancer patients in South Korea, according to type of medical facilities and survival duration. The five-year retrospective cohort study used data drawn from the Korean Cancer Registry, the National Health Insurance database, and the death database of the Korean National Statistical Office. The sample consisted of 43,433 patients diagnosed with cancer in 1999. The authors found significant quantitative inequalities as a function of income in the patients utilization of medical care. Cancer patients from the highest income class used inpatient and outpatient care more frequently than did patients from the lowest income class. Those with higher incomes tended to use more inpatient and outpatient services at major tertiary hospitals, which were known as providing better medical care than other types of hospitals and clinics. Moreover, horizontal inequality in cancer-care expenditures favoring those with higher incomes was observed during earlier periods of treatment. In conclusion, income substantially affects the utilization of inpatient and outpatient services, amount of medical expenditures, and type of medical facilities.

Effect of ion irradiation on a Co-based amorphous ribbon

The effects of ion irradiation on a giant magnetoimpedance (GMI) have been investigated for a Co-based amorphous ribbon with various kinds of ions such as Xe, Ar, and N. The GMI ratio and M-H loop parameters were used to characterize the samples before and after the ion irradiation. The GMI ratio increased considerably in the ion irradiated samples and the GMI response showed a strong dependence on the irradiated ion species and driving frequencies. It was shown that the ion irradiations lead to a substantial modification of the magnetic properties including a large coercivity and shearing of the in-plane magnetization loops, thus suggesting the reduction of an exchange coupling.

Improvement of magnetic property of GaMnN by codoping of Mg

GaMnN and Mg-codoped GaMnN films were grown in molecular beam epitaxy using a GaN single precursor. The structural, electrical, and magnetic properties were examined. The Mg-codoped GaMnN layers revealed room-temperature ferromagnetism. Codoping with Mg reduces the Mn incorporation, but increases the conductivity of the GaMnN films. At the same time, the saturation magnetization and coercivity have increased at room temperature. As this improvement was obtained with much reduced Mn concentration of ∼0.3%, the crucial role of the carriers for carrier-induced ferromagnetism in magnetic semiconductors is observed.

Unmet healthcare needs depending on employment status

OBJECTIVESnThe purpose of study is to find relevance between unmet healthcare needs and employment status and if factors have relevance to unmet healthcare needs due to economic burden and no time to spare.nnnMETHODSnThe study conducted a survey of 9163 respondents who said they needed a medical treatment or checkup were asked why the need for care was unmet.nnnRESULTSn22.9% of the respondents said they did not receive a medical treatment or checkup they needed at least once. The rate of unmet healthcare needs caused by economic burden was higher among temporary workers (ORs=2.13), day workers (ORs=1.92). However, the rate of unmet needs due to no time to spare was lower for temporary workers (ORs=.58) than for regular workers, studies (ORs=.33), housework (ORs=.26), early retirement (ORs=.19) and disease or injury (ORs=.07).nnnCONCLUSIONnNon-regular waged workers were more likely to have an unmet need for healthcare due to economic burden than regular waged workers. On the other hand, regular waged workers were less likely to receive necessary healthcare services due to no time to spare than non-regular waged workers and economically inactive people.

Magnetic tunnel junctions with Hf oxide and modified Hf oxide tunnel barriers

Magnetic tunnel junctions (MTJ’s) with Hf oxide and modified Hf oxide barriers were fabricated by ozone oxidation. The tunnel magnetoresistance (TMR) ratio in Hf oxide junction was 13% at room temperature and 21% at 77 K. In order to understand the low TMR ratio in MTJ’s with Hf oxides compared to those with Al oxides, tunnel barriers were modified by inserting a thin Al oxide layer of 0.3 nm at the interfaces between ferromagnetic electrodes and Hf oxide insulating layers. As the Al layer of 0.3 nm was inserted at top and bottom interfaces, the TMR ratio was restored to the value of the junctions with Al oxides. This implies that the polarization of CoFe contacted with Al oxide is larger than that of CoFe contacted with Hf oxide and the low TMR ratio in MTJ’s with Hf oxides may be attributed to the reduction of spin polarization of the CoFe electrodes due to CoFe/Hf oxide interface interaction.

The Incidence of Stroke by Socioeconomic Status, Age, Sex, and Stroke Subtype: A Nationwide Study in Korea

Objectives To date, studies have not comprehensively demonstrated the relationship between stroke incidence and socioeconomic status. This study investigated stroke incidence by household income level in conjunction with age, sex, and stroke subtype in Korea. Methods Contributions by the head of household were used as the basis for income levels. Household income levels for 21 766 036 people were classified into 6 groups. The stroke incidences were calculated by household income level, both overall within income categories and further by age group, sex, and stroke subtype. To present the inequalities among the six ranked groups in a single value, the slope index of inequality and relative index of inequality were calculated. Results In 2005, 57 690 people were first-time stroke patients. The incidences of total stroke for males and females increased as the income level decreased. The incidences of stroke increased as the income level decreased in those 74 years old and under, whereas there was no difference by income levels in those 75 and over. Intracerebral hemorrhage for the males represented the highest inequality among stroke subtypes. Incidences of subarachnoid hemorrhage did not differ by income levels. Conclusions The incidence of stroke increases as the income level decreases, but it differs according to sex, age, and stroke subtype. The difference in the relative incidence is large for male intracerebral hemorrhage, whereas the difference in the absolute incidence is large for male ischemic stroke.

Pulsed eddy current differential probe to detect the defects in a stainless steel pipe

Pulsed eddy current (PEC) is an electromagnetic nondestructive technique widely used to detect and quantify the flaws in conducting materials. In the present study a differential Hall-sensor probe which is used in the PEC system has been fabricated for the detection of defects in stainless steel pipelines. The differential probe has an exciting coil with two Hall-sensors. A stainless steel test sample with electrical discharge machining (EDM) notches under different depths of 1–5 mm was made and the sample was laminated by plastic insulation having uniform thickness to simulate the pipelines in nuclear power plants (NPPs). The driving coil in the probe is excited by a rectangular current pulse and the resultant response, which is the difference of the two Hall–sensors, has been detected as the PEC probe signal. The discriminating time domain features of the detected pulse such as peak value and time to zero are used to interpret the experimental results with the defects in the test sample. A feature extra...

The Effect of Thoracic Epidural Anesthesia on Pulmonary Shunt Fraction and Arterial Oxygenation During One-Lung Ventilation

OBJECTIVEnTo compare the effect of thoracic epidural local anesthetic, epidural opioid, and intravenous opioid on pulmonary shunt fraction, arterial oxygenation, and hemodynamic changes during one-lung ventilation (OLV) in patients undergoing thoracic surgery.nnnDESIGNnA prospective, randomized, double-blind study.nnnSETTINGnA university hospital.nnnPARTICIPANTSnThirty-nine patients undergoing OLV for pulmonary resection.nnnINTERVENTIONSnPatients were randomized into 1 of 3 groups: epidural bupivacaine (TEA-B group, n = 13), epidural sufentanil (TEA-S group, n = 13), or intravenous remifentanil (IV-R group, n = 13) during general anesthesia with propofol. A double-lumen tube was inserted, and mechanical ventilation with 100% oxygen was used in the lateral decubitus position.nnnMEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTSnHemodynamic variables and arterial and mixed venous blood gas analysis from the radial and pulmonary artery catheter were measured and shunt fraction was calculated during two-lung ventilation (TLV), 15, 30, and 60 minutes after the initiation of OLV, and 15 minutes after the reinstitution of TLV. Although mean arterial pressures 15 and 30 minutes after OLV in the IV-R group were significantly higher than the value in TEA-S group, cardiac output and pulmonary vascular resistance were maintained. Decreases in PaO(2), SaO(2), PvO(2), and SvO(2) and an increase in the shunt fraction after OLV were not different among groups and returned to baseline value after the resumption of TLV.nnnCONCLUSIONSnThoracic epidural bupivacaine, epidural sufentanil, and intravenous remifentanil-combined general intravenous anesthesia have comparable effects on shunt fraction and arterial oxygenation during OLV in patients undergoing thoracic surgery.