• Computational Structural Engineering
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.109-116
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• 1994

In this paper, various reliability analysis methods for calculating a probability of failure are investigated for their accuracy and efficiency. Crude Monte Carlo method is used as a basis for the comparison of various numerical results. For the sampling methods, Importance Sampling method and Directional Simulation method are considered for overcoming a drawback of Crude Monte Carlo method. For the approximate methods, conventional Rackwitz-Fiessler method. 3-parameter Chen-Lind method, and Rosenblatt transformation method are compared on the basis of First order reliability method. As a Second-order reliability method, Curvature-Fitting paraboloid method, Point-fitting paraboloid method, and Log-likelihood function method are explored in order to verify the accuracy of the reliability calculation results. These methods mentioned above would have some difficulty unless the limit state equation is expressed explicitly in terms of random design variables. Thus, there is a need to develop some general reliability methods for the case where an implicit limit state equation is given. For this purpose, Response surface method is used where the limit state equation is approximated by regression analysis of the response surface outcomes resulted from the structural analysis. From the application of these various reliability methods to three examples, it is found that Directional Simulation method and Response Surface method are very efficient and recommendable for the general reliability analysis problem cases.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.341-346
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• 2014

Lubiprostone is a chloride ($Cl^-$) channel activator derived from prostaglandin $E_1$ and used for managing constipation. In addition, lubiprostone affects the activity of gastrointestinal smooth muscles. Interstitial cells of Cajal (ICCs) are pacemaker cells that generate slow-wave activity in smooth muscles. We studied the effects of lubiprostone on the pacemaker potentials of colonic ICCs. We used the whole-cell patch-clamp technique to determine the pacemaker activity in cultured colonic ICCs obtained from mice. Lubiprostone hyperpolarized the membrane and inhibited the generation of pacemaker potentials. Prostanoid $EP_1$, $EP_2$, $EP_3$, and $EP_4$ antagonists (SC-19220, PF-04418948, 6-methoxypyridine-2-boronc acid N-phenyldiethanolamine ester, and GW627368, respectively) did not block the response to lubiprostone. L-NG-nitroarginine methyl ester (L-NAME, an inhibitor of nitric oxide synthase) and 1H-[1,2,4]oxadiazolo[4,3,-a]quinoxalin-1-one (ODQ, an inhibitor of guanylate cyclase) did not block the response to lubiprostone. In addition, tetraethylammonium (TEA, a voltage-dependent potassium [$K^+$] channel blocker) and apamin (a calcium [$Ca^{2+}$]-dependent $K^+$ channel blocker) did not block the response to lubiprostone. However, glibenclamide (an ATP-sensitive $K^+$ channel blocker) blocked the response to lubiprostone. Similar to lubiprostone, pinacidil (an opener of ATP-sensitive $K^+$ channel) hyperpolarized the membrane and inhibited the generation of pacemaker potentials, and these effects were inhibited by glibenclamide. These results suggest that lubiprostone can modulate the pacemaker potentials of colonic ICCs via activation of ATP-sensitive $K^+$ channel through a prostanoid EP receptor-independent mechanism.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• v.42 no.6
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• pp.513-521
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• 2009

The primary goal of this research was to develop an optimized analytical procedure for soil analysis based on ion-selective microelectrodes for agricultural purposes, which can perform on-site measurement of various ions in soil easily and rapidly. For the simple and rapid on-site diagnosis, an analysis of soil chemicals was performed employing a multicomponent-in-situ-extractant and an evaluation of ionselective microelectrodes were conducted through the regressive correlation method with a standard analytical approach widely employed in this area. Examination of sensor responses between various soil nutrient extractants revealed that 0.01M HCl and 1M LiCl provided the most ideal Nernstian response. However, 1M LiCl deteriorated the selective response for analytes due to high concentration (1M) of lithium cation. Thus, employing either 0.1M HCl as an extractant followed by 10 times dilution, or 0.01M HCl as an extractant without further dilution was chosen as the optimal extractant composition. A study of regressive correlation between results from ion-selective microelectrodes and those from the standard analytical procedure showed that analyses of $K^+$, $Na^+$, $Ca^{2+}$, and $NO_3{^-}$ showed the excellent consistency between two methods. However, the response for $NH_4{^+}$ suffered the severe interference from $K^+$. In addition, the selectivity for $Mg^{2+}$ over $Ca^{2+}$ was not sufficient enough since available ionophores developed so far do not provide such a high selectivity for $Mg^{2+}$. Therefore, as an agricultural on-site diagnostic instrument, the device in development requires further research on $NH_4{^+}$ analysis in the soil sample, development of $Mg^{2+}$-selective ionophore, and more detailed study focused on potassium, one of the most important plant nutrients.

• Korean Journal of Ichthyology
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.87-94
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• 2011

To find the preliminary environmental conditions for a short-time transport of living olive flounder, Paralichthys olivaceus, the stress response and physiological metabolic activity of the cultured fish to feed deprivation and slow temperature descending ($15.8^{\circ}C{\rightarrow}13.3^{\circ}C$) were monitored for 8 days. The monitored variables were the plasma alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), glucose (GLU), total protein (TP), electrolytes ($Na^+$, $K^+$, $Cl^-$) and thyroid hormones ($TT_4$, $TT_3$, $FT_4$ and $FT_3$). In food deprivation experiment for 8 days, we did not find any statistical change of level in AST, ALT and electrolytes ($Na^+$, $K^+$, $Cl^-$), but found a significant decrease in TP and GLU. In thyroid hormones, the levels of four hormones in plasma were all showing a tendency to decrease. Especially, $FT_4$ and $TT_3$ were significantly decreased, indicating a withering of physiologic activity. In the temperature test, although no any significant change in AST, TP and electrolytes ($Na^+$, $K^+$, $Cl^-$), we observed a significant decrease of ALT and GLU following to temperature descending from $15.8^{\circ}C$ to $13.3^{\circ}C$ (P<0.05). In the levels of thyroid hormones, any significant change was not observed for experimental period. We conclude that the stress response and physiological activity of olive flounder were more influenced by feed deprivation than slow temperature descending at a transport of living fish, and plasma GLU appears to be sensitive factor to physiological metabolic activity, indicating that it could be used as a monitering mark or index for a health inspection of the fish.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.21 no.9
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• pp.1205-1213
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• 2011

The optimal concentrations of salts in medium for cell growth and the production of carboxymethylcellulase (CMCase) by a recombinant E. coli JM109/DL-3 were established using two statistical methods: orthogonal array method (OAM) and response surface method (RSM). The analysis of variance (ANOVA) of data based on OAM indicated that $K_2HPO_4$ gave maximum sum of square (S) and percentage contribution (P) for cell growth as well as production of CMCase. The optimal concentrations of $K_2HPO_4$, NaCl, $MgSO_4{\cdot}7H_2O$, and $(NH_4)_2SO_4$ in medium for cell growth extracted by Qualitek-4 (W32b) Software were 10.0, 1.0, 0.2, and 0.6 g/l, respectively, whereas those for the production of CMCase by E. coli JM109/DL-3 were 5.0, 1.0, 0.4, and 0.6 g/l. The analysis of variance (ANOVA) resulting from RSM indicated that a highly significant salt for cell growth was $K_2HPO_4$ ("probe>F" less than 0.0001), whereas $K_2HPO_4$ and $MgSO_4{\cdot}7H_2O$ were significant for the production of CMCase. The optimal concentrations of $K_2HPO_4$, NaCl, $MgSO_4{\cdot}7H_2O$, and $(NH_4)_2SO_4$ for cell growth extracted by Design Expert Software were 7.44, 1.08, 0.22, and 0.88 g/l, respectively, whereas those for production of CMCase were 5.84, 0.69, 0.28, and 0.54 g/l. The optimal concentrations of salts and their influences on cell growth and production of CMCase extracted by OAM were almost the same as those by RSM. Production of CMCase by a recombinant E. coli JM109/DL-3 under optimized concentration of salts was 1.93 times higher than that by Bacillus amyloliquifaciens DL-3.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.33 no.5
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• pp.1734-1740
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• 2012

Voltammetric characterization of hydrophilic anion transfer processes across a 66 microhole array interface between the water and polyvinylchloride-2-nitrophenyloctylether gel layer is demonstrated. Since the transfer of hydrophilic anions including $Br^-$, $NO_3{^-}$, $I^-$, $SCN^-$ and $ClO_4{^-}$ across the liquid/gel interface usually sets the potential window within a negative potential region, a highly hydrophobic organic electrolyte, tetraoctylammonium tetrakis(pentafluorophenyl)borate, providing a wider potential window was incorporated into the gel phase. The transfer reaction of perchlorate anions across the microhole-water/gel interface was first studied using cyclic voltammetry and differential pulse voltammetry. The full voltammetric response of perchlorate anion transfer was then used as a reference for evaluating the half-wave transfer potentials, the formal transfer potentials and the formal Gibbs transfer energies of more hydrophilic anions such as $Br^-$, $NO_3{^-}$, $I^-$, and $SCN^-$. The current response associated with the perchlorate anion transfer across the micro-water/gel interface versus the perchlorate concentration was also demonstrated for sensing applications.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.13 no.9
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• pp.4793-4799
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• 2012

Hypoxia is commonly featured during glioma growth and plays an important role in the processes underlying tumor progression to increasing malignancy. Here we compared the gene expression profiles of rat C6 malignant glioma cells under normoxic and hypoxic conditions by cDNA microarray analysis. Compared to normoxic culture conditions, 180 genes were up-regulated and 67 genes were down-regulated under hypoxia mimicked by $CoCl_2$ treatment. These differentially expressed genes were involved in mutiple biological functions including development and differentiation, immune and stress response, metabolic process, and cellular physiological response. It was found that hypoxia significantly regulated genes involved in regulation of glycolysis and cell differentiation, as well as intracellular signalling pathways related to Notch and focal adhesion, which are closely associated with tumor malignant growth. These results should facilitate investigation of the role of hypoxia in the glioma development and exploration of therapeutic targets for inhibition of glioma growth.

• Journal of Biomedical Engineering Research
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.280-286
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• 2007

The wearable sensor glove was developed using EDA sensors and conducting fabric. EDA(Electro-dermal Activity) signal is an electric response of human skin. There are SIL(Skin Impedance Level) and SIR(Skin Impedance Response) in EDA. SIL consists mostly of a DC component while SIR consists of an AC component. The relationship between drowsiness and the EDA signal is utilized. EDA sensors were made using a conducting fabric instead of AgCl electrodes, for a more suitable, more wearable device. The EDA signal acquisition module was made by connecting the EDA sensor gloves through conductive fabric lines. Also, the EDA signal acquisition module can be connected to a PC that shows the results of the EDA signal processing analysis and gives proper feedback to the user. This system can be used in various applications to detect drowsiness and prevent accidents from drowsiness for automobile drivers.

• KSBB Journal
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.268-272
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• 2012

Microbially induced calcite precipitation (MICP) has been explored for protection and consolidation of construction materials such as concrete. In this study, we isolated 54 calcite forming bacteria from concrete pavement and selected 5 isolates which showed high specific urease activity. Also response of the 5 strains against various environmental stresses was examined. BC 4 and BC 5 showed 35% and 26% viability at heat stress ($50^{\circ}C$), respectively. BC 1 and BC 4 maintained 60.4% and 70.4% viability upon osmotic stress (1 M NaCl), respectively. Among the 5 isolates BC 4 had the highest viability upon alkaline stress (pH 10).

• The Korean Journal of Physiology
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.137-141
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• 1992

The present study was aimed at elucidating the mode of inhibitory action of tricyclic antidepressants on the smooth muscle. Effects of amitriptyline on the isolated detrusor muscle strips of the urinary bladder of the rabbit were examined. The spontaneous rhythmic movement of the muscle preparation was frequently observed, which was decreased or abolished by addition of amitriptyline $(10^{-5}{\sim}10^{-3}\;M)$. The muscle preparation responded with contraction dose dependently to carbachol, of which dose response curve shifted to the right in the presence of either amitriptyline or atropine. However, amitriptyline produced a nonparallel shift, whereas atropine caused a parallel one. In calcium free medium, the contraction response to carbachol was markedly decreased, which was resumed by the addition of $CaCl_2$ (2.5mM), but not in the presence of either amitriptyline or nifedipine. KCI (60 mM) produced a potent contraction, which was abolished in the presence of amitriptyline or nifedipine. These results suggest that amitriptyline, unlike atropine, not only acts as a noncompetitive antagonist at cholinergic muscarine receptors but also inhibits Ca-influx through the muscle cell membrane.