• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• v.8 no.4
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• pp.130-136
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• 2008

Background: Human cytomegalovirus UL18, a MHC class I homologue, has been considered a natural killer (NK) cell decoy. It ligates LIR-1/ILT2 (CD85j), an NK inhibitory receptor, to prevent lysis of infected target cells. However, precise role of UL18 to NK cell cytotoxicity is yet elusive. Difficulty in clarifying the function of UL18 lies in complication in detecting UL18 mainly due to low level expression of UL18 on the surface and gradual loss of its expression. Methods: To overcome this hurdle, cDNA of cytoplasmic tail-less UL18 was constructed and expressed in swine endothelial cell (SEC). The expression level and its stability in the cell surface were monitored with FACS analysis. Results: Surface expression of UL18 is up-regulated by removing cytoplasmic tail portion from UL18F (a full sequence of UL18). SECs transfected with a cDNA of UL18CY (a cytoplasmic tail-less UL18) stably expressed UL18 molecule on the surface without gradual loss of its expression during 6 week continuous cultures. In the NK cytotoxicity assay, UL18 functions either inhibiting or activating NK cell cytotoxicity according to the source of NK cells. We found that there is individual susceptibility in determining whether the engagement of NK cell and UL18 results in overall inhibiting or activating NK cell cytotoxicity. Conclusion: In this study, we found that cytoplasmic tail is closely related to the regulatory function for controlling surface expression of UL18. Furthermore, by constructing stable cell line in which UL18 expression is up-regulated and stable, we provided a useful tool to clarify exact functions of UL18 on various immune cells having ILT2 receptor.

• The Journal of Korean Institute of Electromagnetic Engineering and Science
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• v.20 no.8
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• pp.688-693
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• 2009

In this paper, a half wave-length microstrip antenna was proposed to be able to continuously tune the resonant frequency in the stated area of UHF ISM band. By loading varactor diodes at both edges of the half wavelength antenna, where the electric field is the strongest, and varying the voltage in order to tune the electrical resonance length continuously, it is possible to automatically recover the resonant frequency and input impedance shifted by surrounding environment. When the microstrip antenna(center resonant frequency: 425 MHB) was tested, by adjusting the each voltages of varactor diodes from DC 0.6 to BC 3.0 volts, the resonant frequency under 20 dB return loss was varied 385 to 465 MHz. The peak gain was -0.2 dBd and return loss -10 dB bandwidth was 3.3 MHz(0.8 %).

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Mechanical Engineers A
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• v.40 no.4
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• pp.353-362
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• 2016

An accurate hysteresis model of an elastomer is important for quantifying viscoelastic energy loss. We suggest a highly nonlinear hyper-viscoelastic constitutive model of elastomers. The model captures a nonlinear viscoelastic characteristic by combining Yeoh's hyperelastic model and Hoofatt's hysteresis model used Neo-Hookean hyperelastic model. Analytical and numerical models were generated from uniaxial cyclic tests of an elastomer under a sinusoidal load with a mean strain of 150%, amplitudes of 20~80%, and frequencies of 0.02~0.2Hz. The viscoelastic model can highly capture the viscoelastic energy loss up to a strain of 230%.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.53 no.3
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• pp.211-222
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• 2011

The present review was aimed to assess the feasibility of increasing the slaughter weight (SW) of finishing pigs. Growth performance, including ADG, ADFI and gain:feed, does not change significantly with increasing SW between 110 and $135{\pm}5kg$ in lean-genotype pigs, whereas in non-lean pigs, ADG and gain:feed decrease with increasing SW within the similar range of BW. Backfat thickness (BFT) and marbling of the carcass, which are greater in barrows than in gilts, increase with the increase of SW. The SW could be increased by using a low-energy diet and thereby reducing the rate of fat deposition per weight gain. The yield of the belly increases with the increase of SW, which may be economically significant in Korea. However, yields of some other primal cuts do not change so much as to affect the carcass value. The redness and fat content of the muscle increase slightly with the increase of SW whereas moisture content is minimally influenced by SW. Muscular protein content rarely changes, but sometimes increases slightly, with increasing SW. Other physicochemical characteristics, including lightness, pH, drip loss, and cooking loss of the muscle, are barely influenced by SW. Marbling of fresh loin and ham increases with increasing SW. Sensory characteristics of fresh loin, ham, and belly, including color, aroma, off-flavor, drip, and acceptability, are not influenced significantly by SW. The eating quality of cooked pork also has almost no relation to SW. In conclusion, it is thought that the current SW for moderately lean barrows and gilts can be raised up to 125 and 135 kg, respectively, with BFT at these weights predicted to be approximately 24 mm near the last rib, without compromising the meat quality.

• Food Science of Animal Resources
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• v.38 no.2
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• pp.403-416
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• 2018

In this study, the dietary effects of probiotics with a liquid application system on meat quality and physicochemical characteristics of pigs were evaluated. A total of 80 Landrace${\times}$Yorkshire${\times}$Duroc (LYD) 3-way crossbred pigs (average age $175{\pm}5d$) were assigned to a conventional farm and a probiotics farm equipped with a liquid probiotics application system (40 pigs in each farm). The two treatments were: CON (diet without probiotics) and PRO (diet with probiotics). Dietary probiotics decreased shear force in the longissimus muscle compared to the control group (p<0.05). The treatment diet did not affect backfat thickness, carcass weight, meat color, cooking loss, water holding capacity (WHC), and drip loss. Dietary probiotics significantly reduced ash, salinity, and pH (at 5 and 15 d) (p<0.05). There was no significant effect on thiobarbituric acid reactive substance (TBARS) values. Polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) and omega fatty acids (${\omega}3$ and ${\omega}6$) were significantly (p<0.05) higher in the PRO group, whereas monounsaturated fatty acid (MUFA) was decreased. The free amino acid composition, serine, lysine, histidine, and arginine levels were significantly lower in the PRO than in the control group. The treatment group exhibited higher nucleotide compounds (hypoxanthine, inosine, GMP, IMP) than the controls. Also, levels of ascorbic acid and thiamin were significantly different (p<0.05), while minerals were not significantly different between the groups. In conclusion, feeding of probiotics had effects on shear force, ash, salinity, pH, PUFA, and some amino acids which related to taste and flavor without any negative effects on the pigs' carcass traits.

• Journal of Welding and Joining
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• v.33 no.4
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• pp.37-43
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• 2015

Characteristics of dissimilar metal welds between STS 316L and carbon steel ASTM A516 Gr.70 made with GTAW have been evaluated in terms of microstructure, ferrite content, chemical analysis, hardness and corrosion resistance. Three heat inputs of 9.00, 11.25, 13.00kJ/cm were employed to make joints of dissimilar metals with ER309 wire. Based on microstructural examination, the amount of vermicular type of ${\delta}$-ferrite was increased with increasing heat input due to the increase of Creq/Nieq in the second layer of welds. Based on the EDX analysis of weld metals, Cr and Ni content in the 2nd layer increased while those content in the first layer of welds decreased with heat inputs. Cellular solidification mode in the 1st layer and dendritic solidification mode in the 2nd layer due to different cooling rates were prevailed, respectively. Heat affected zone which formed hard microstructure showed higher hardness than the weld metal. The salt spray test of dissimilar metals weld joints showed that the carbon steel surfaces only corroded. The weight loss rate due to corrosion increased up to 100hours but it decreased above 100 hours. There was little difference in the weight loss caused by corrosion regardless of heat inputs.

• Korean Journal of Materials Research
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• v.3 no.4
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• pp.372-380
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• 1993

In order to improve the oxidative resistance of carbon/carbon composites, aluminium-isopropoxide and aluminium-tri-sec-butoxide sol were coated on the surface of 2D--carbon/carbon composiles and the effects uf coating were investigated. The effects of oxidative resistance were dominant in the case of catalyst/alkoxide mole ratio, 0.07, and $H_2O$/alkoxide mole ratio, 100. Through the dynamic TGA analysis with the heating rate of 20%/min, oxidative initiation tempera~ ture was enhanced about $80^{\circ}C$. The oxidative resistance effects of alkoxide sol were improved according to the times of coating. Also the 20% weight loss time of coated samples by TGA analysis was 20% better than that of un~ coated samples. The thickness of 1^{st} coated layer was about 3${\mu}$m and that of $2^{nd}$ and $3^{nd}$ coated layers was about respectively 4~5${\mu}$m and the weight loss were increased with the increasing of thermal shock test times.

• Journal of Ocean Engineering and Technology
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• v.25 no.6
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• pp.91-96
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• 2011

In this paper, friction welded joints were constructed to investigate the mechanical properties of welded 15-mm diameter solid bars of Mg alloy (AZ31B). The main friction welding parameters were selected to endure reliable quality welds on the basis of visual examination, tensile tests, impact energy test, Vickers hardness surveys of the bonds in the area and heat affected zone (HAZ), and macrostructure investigations. The study reached the following conclusions. The tensile strength of the friction welded materials (271 MPa) was increased to about 100% of the AZ31B base metal (274 MPa) under the condition of a heating time of 1 s. The metal loss increased lineally with an increase in the heating time. The following optimal friction welding conditions were determined: rotating speed (n) = 2000 rpm, heating pressure (HP) = 35 MPa, upsetting pressure (UP) = 70 MPa, heating time (HT) = 1 s, and upsetting time (UT) = 5 s, for a metal loss (Mo) of 10.2 mm. The hardness distribution of the base metal (BM) showed HV55. All of the BM parts showed levels of hardness that were approximately similar to friction welded materials. The weld interface of the friction welded parts was strongly mixed, which showed a well-combined structure of macro-particles without particle growth or any defects. In addition, an acoustic emission (AE) technique was applied to derive the optimum condition for friction welding the Mg alloy nondestructively. The AE count and energy parameters were useful for evaluating the relationship between the tensile strength and AE parameters based on the friction welding conditions.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.33 no.2
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• pp.212-218
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• 2020

Objective: Agu pigs are indigenous to the Okinawa prefecture, which is the southernmost region of Japan. Agu pigs were exposed to a genetic bottleneck during the 20th century, due to the introduction of European pig breeds. The objective of this study was to elucidate the genetic structure of Agu pigs and to determine their relationships with those of five European breeds, two Chinese breeds and Ryukyu wild boar using microsatellite markers. Methods: A total of 203 DNA samples from 8 pig breeds were used in this study. Genotyping was performed using 21 microsatellite markers distributed across 17 chromosomes. Results: Numbers of effective alleles in Agu pigs were fewer than in European breeds and Ryukyu wild boar. Among domestic pigs, Agu pigs had the lowest heterozygosity (0.423) and highest inbreeding coefficient (F_IS = 0.202), indicating a severe loss of heterozygosity in Agu pigs possibly due to inbreeding. Neighbor-joining tree analysis was performed based on Reynolds' genetic distances, which clustered Agu pigs with Duroc pigs. However, principal component analysis revealed a unique genetic position of the Agu pig, and the second principal component separated Agu pigs from all other breeds. Structure analysis with the optimal assumption of seven groups (K = 7) indicated that Agu pigs form an independent cluster from the other breeds. In addition, high and significant F_ST values (0.235 to 0.413) were identified between Agu pigs and the other breeds. Conclusion: This study revealed a substantial loss of genetic diversity among Agu pigs due to inbreeding. Our data also suggest that Agu pigs have a distinctive genetic structure, although gene flows from European breeds were observed.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.22
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• pp.9985-9996
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• 2014

Background and Aim: Laparoscopic and open rectum surgery for rectal cancer remains controversial. This systematic review compared the short-term and long-term efficiency and complications associated with laparoscopic and open resection for rectal cancer. Materials and Methods: We searched PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, ISI Web of Knowledge and the China Biology Medicine Database to identify potential randomized controlled trials from their inception to March 31, 2014 without language restriction. Additional articles were identified from searching bibliographies of retrieved articles. Two reviewers independently assessed the full-text articles according to the pre-specified inclusion and exclusion criteria as well as the methodological quality of included trials. The meta-analysis was performed using RevMan 5.2. Results: A total of 16 randomized controlled trials involving 3,045 participants (laparoscopic group, 1,804 cases; open group, 1,241 cases) were reviewed. Laparoscopic surgery was associated with significantly lower intraoperative blood loss, earlier return of bowel movement and reduced length of hospital stay as compared to open surgery, although with increased operative time. It also showed an obvious advantage for minimizing late complications of adhesion-related bowel obstruction. Importantly, there were no significant differences in other postoperative complications, oncological clearance, 3-year and 5-year or 10 year recurrence and survival rates between two procedures. Conclusions: On the basis of this meta-analysis we conclude that laparoscopic surgery has advantages of earlier postoperative recovery, less blood loss and lower rates of adhesion-related bowel obstruction. In addition, oncological outcome is comparable after laparoscopic and open resection for rectal cancer.