• BMB Reports
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• v.54 no.10
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• pp.528-533
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• 2021

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a degenerative disorder that can result in the loss of articular cartilage. No effective treatment against OA is currently available. Thus, interest in natural health products to relieve OA symptoms is increasing. However, their qualities such as efficacy, toxicity, and mechanism are poorly understood. In this study, we determined the efficacy of avenanthramide (Avn)-C extracted from oats as a promising candidate to prevent OA progression and its mechanism of action to prevent the expression of matrix-metalloproteinases (MMPs) in OA pathogenesis. Interleukin-1 beta (IL-1β), a proinflammatory cytokine as a main causing factor of cartilage destruction, was used to induce OA-like condition of chondrocytes in vitro. Avn-C restrained IL-1β-mediated expression and activity of MMPs, such as MMP-3, -12, and -13 in mouse articular chondrocytes. Moreover, Avn-C alleviated cartilage destruction in experimental OA mouse model induced by destabilization of the medial meniscus (DMM) surgery. However, Avn-C did not affect the expression of inflammatory mediators (Ptgs2 and Nos) or anabolic factors (Col2a1, Aggrecan, and Sox9), although expression levels of these genes were upregulated or downregulated by IL-1β, respectively. The inhibition of MMP expression by Avn-C in articular chondrocytes was mediated by p38 kinase and c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) signaling, but not by ERK or NF-κB. Interestingly, Avn-C added with SB203580 and SP600125 as specific inhibitors of p38 kinase and JNK, respectively, enhanced its inhibitory effect on the expression of MMPs in IL-1β treated chondrocytes. Taken together, these results suggest that Avn-C is an effective candidate to prevent OA progression and a natural health product to relieve OA pathogenesis.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.54 no.5
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• pp.644-651
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• 2021

Viral hemorrhagic septicemia virus (VHSV) is a fish pathogen responsible for causing enormous economic loss to the aquaculture industry not only in Korea but worldwide. Thus, it is necessary to identify natural compounds that can be used to control the spread of VHSV. In this study, the anti-VHSV activities of five catechol derivatives, i.e., catechol, pyrogallol, 3-methyl catechol, veratrole, and 3-methyl veratrole-extracted from green tea-were assessed. The antiviral activities of these derivatives were found to be dependent on their structure, i.e., the hydroxyl or methoxyl group and their substituent groups-on the benzene ring. Catechol, pyrogallol, and 3-methyl catechol exhibited relatively high 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging activities than veratrole, and 3-methyl veratrole. Moreover, 3-methyl catechol harboring a methyl substituent group increased the viability of the virus-infected cells and resulted in a 2.86 log reduction in the gene copies of VHSV N (per mL) in real-time PCR analysis. In conclusion, the catechol derivatives harboring hydroxyl groups in their benzene ring exhibited higher antioxidant activities than those harboring the methoxyl groups. However, catechol derivatives with a methyl group at the 3'-position of the benzene ring exhibited higher antiviral activity than those harboring a hydroxyl group. To our knowledge, this is the first study to evaluate the relationship between the structure and the anti-VHSV activity of catechol derivatives.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.53 no.4
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• pp.1236-1249
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• 2021

Although there are still controversial opinions and uncertainty on application of SiC_f/SiC composite cladding as next-generation cladding material for its great oxidation resistance in high temperature steam environment and other outstanding advantages, it cannot deny that SiC_f/SiC cladding is a potential accident tolerant fuel (ATF) cladding with high research priority and still in the engineering design stage for now. However, considering its disadvantages, such as low irradiated thermal conductivity, ductility that barely not exist, further evaluations of its in-pile behaviors are still necessary. Based on the self-developed code we recently updated, relevant thermohydraulic and mechanical models in FROBA-ATF were applied to simulate the cladding behaviors under normal and accident conditions in this paper. Even through steady-state performance analysis revealed that this kind of cladding material could greatly reduce the oxidation thickness, the thermal performance of UO₂-SiC was poor due to its low inpile thermal conductivity and creep rate. Besides, the risk of failure exists when reactor power decreased. With geometry optimization and dopant addition in pellets, the steady-state performance of UO₂-SiC was enhanced and the failure risk was reduced. The thermal and mechanical performance of the improved UO₂-SiC was further evaluated under Loss of coolant accident (LOCA) and Reactivity Initiated Accident (RIA) conditions. Transient results showed that the optimized ATF had better thermal performance, lower cladding hoop stress, and could provide more coping time under accident conditions.

• Journal of the Earthquake Engineering Society of Korea
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.53-58
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• 2021

Nuclear power plant's safety against seismic events is evaluated as risk values by probabilistic seismic safety assessment. The risk values vary by the seismic failure correlation between the structures, systems, and components (SSCs). However, most probabilistic seismic safety assessments idealized the seismic failure correlation between the SSCs as entirely dependent or independent. Such a consideration results in an inaccurate assessment result not reflecting real physical phenomenon. A nuclear power plant's seismic risk should be calculated with the appropriate seismic failure correlation coefficient between the SSCs for a reasonable outcome. An accident scenario that has an enormous impact on a nuclear power plant's seismic risk was selected. Moreover, the probabilistic seismic response analyses of a nuclear power plant were performed to derive appropriate seismic failure correlations between SSCs. Based on the analysis results, the seismic failure correlation coefficient between SSCs was derived, and the seismic fragility curve and core damage frequency of the loss of essential power event were calculated. Results were compared with the seismic fragility and core damage frequency of assuming the seismic failure correlations between SSCs were independent and entirely dependent.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.20 no.8
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• pp.156-163
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• 2019

In this paper, we present the process of developing an automatic carrying and arming system for testing ammunition. When carrying out shooting tests at a domestic rifle range, most of the ammunition operations are carried out by human manpower The series of test processes, such as transporting, arming and firing of heavy munitions, is repeated by employing human. If the ammunition is loaded via manpower, then problems can occur such as loss of reliability of test results, musculoskeletal disorders of humans and also safety accidents can occur. To address these problems, an automated system was developed for the transport and operation of ammunition. This paper covers the design, manufacture and operation of the developed system. In addition, this study validated the effectiveness of the system as compared to the human operation. Our results show that the developed system can be easily adapted to testing ammunition at a domestic rifle range.

• Journal of Korean Society of Disaster and Security
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.83-89
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• 2018

The significant sedimentation at the estuary in the eastern coast of Korea frequently causes river mouth occlusion where disconnection between the river and sea is observed. River mouth occlusion causing watershed retention raises the environmental risk of the area as it impairs water quality and threatens the area's safety in the event of floods. This study proposes a plan to maintain stability of river channel and flow of flood discharge at the estuary with loss of its function for disaster prevention. To this end, the study tries to change the location and width of stream path, focusing on the center line of stream near the sand bar of river mouth. This allows to identify a shape of stream path that leads the most stable flow. To review the result, this study uses the SRH-2D, a model for two-dimensional hydraulic analysis, and conduct numeric simulation. The simulation result showed that the most effective plan for maintaining the stable flow of running water without having the area sensitive to changes in hydraulic characteristics is to lower the overall river bed height of the sand bar near the center line of stream to a equal level.

• Tribology and Lubricants
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• v.34 no.6
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• pp.254-261
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• 2018

In order to reduce resistance torque and energy loss, minimizing friction between race surface and rolling elements of a bearing is necessary. Recently, to reduce friction in bearing element, solid lubricant coating for the bearing raceway surface has been receiving much attention. Considering the operating conditions of real bearings, verifying the effect of solid lubricant coatings under extreme conditions of high load that is more than 1 GPa is necessary. In this study, we evaluated the friction and wear characteristics of SUJ2 bearing steels deposited by carbon-based coatings (Si-DLC, ta-C), $MoS_2$ and graphite. In case of $MoS_2$ and graphite coatings, different surface treatments were applied to the coatings to verify the effect of surface treatment. A pin-on-disc type tribotester was used to evaluate the tribological characteristics of the coatings. It was possible to quantitatively estimate the friction and wear characteristics of solid lubricant under dry and lubrication conditions. The carbon-based coatings improved the friction and wear properties of SUJ2 bearing steels under the high load condition, but $MoS_2$ and graphite coatings were not suitable for high load conditions due to its low hardness. Different friction and wear behaviors were found for different substrate surface treatment method. Also, it was confirmed that solid lubricant coatings had a more positive effect than just applying the lubricant for improving the tribological characteristics.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
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• v.49 no.4
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• pp.495-504
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• 2019

Purpose: Nursing students experience a high degree of perceived stress during skills training. The resulting academic sentiment is worthy of research. This study examined the learning motivation as a mediator in the association between perceived stress and positive deactivating academic emotions in nursing students undergoing skills training. Methods: A survey was conducted on 386 third-year undergraduate nursing students at a university in Changchun, China, in 2017. The survey included the items on perceived stress, learning motivation during nursing skill training, and general academic emotion. There were 381 valid responses (response rate=98.7%). Based on the results of partial correlation and stepwise multiple regression equations, the study examined the mediation model between perceived stress, learning motivation and positive-deactivating academic emotions using process 2.16 (a plug-in specifically used to test mediation or moderation effect in SPSS). Results: There was a significant negative correlation between students' perceived stress and learning motivation during nursing skills training and positive-deactivating academic emotions. Nervousness, loss of control, and interest in developing reputation had significant predictive effects on positive-deactivating academic emotions. The mediating model was well supported. Conclusion: Learning motivation during nursing skills training lessened the damage of perceived stress on positive-deactivating academic emotions. Improving students' motivation to learn could reduce their perceived stress and build more positive emotions. Positive emotions during learning played an important role in helping nursing students improve skills and enhance their nursing competence.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.32 no.4
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• pp.519-526
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• 2019

Objective: We determined the risk factors limiting first service conception (FSC) rate in dairy cows and their economic impact. Methods: Data were collected from 790 lactations regarding cow parity, peri- and postpartum disorders, body condition score (BCS), reproductive performance, and expenses associated with reproductive management (treatment, culling, and others). Initially, we identified the risk factors limiting FSC rate in dairy cows. Various biological and environmental factors, such as herd, cow parity, BCS at 1 month postpartum and first artificial insemination (AI), resumption of cyclicity within 1 month of calving, year, AI season, insemination at detected estrus or timed AI, peri- and postpartum disorders, and calving to first AI interval, were evaluated. Next, we evaluated the economic impact of the success or failure of FSC by comparing the expense associated with reproductive management until conception between cows that did or did not conceive at their first service. Results: Cows with BCS <3.0 had a lower probability of conceiving at first insemination (odds ratio [OR] = 0.64, p<0.05) than cows with $BCS{\geq}3.0$. Cows inseminated during summer were less likely to conceive (OR = 0.44, p<0.001) than cows inseminated during spring. Cows with peri- or postpartum disorders were less likely to conceive (OR = 0.55, p<0.001) than cows without disorders. Survival curves generated using MedCalc showed an 81 day extension in the mean interval between calving and conception in cows that failed to conceive over those that did conceive at first insemination. Cows failing conceive required additional expenditure on reproductive treatment ($55.40) and other management ($567.00) than cows that conceived at first insemination. Conclusion: Lower BCS, hot weather at first insemination, and peri- and postpartum disorders are risk factors limiting FSC, which result in an economic loss of $622.40 per dairy cow.

• Food Science of Animal Resources
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• v.39 no.2
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• pp.229-239
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• 2019

The objectives of this study were to determine the interaction between porcine myofibrillar proteins and various gelatins (bovine hide, porcine skin, fish skin, and duck skin gelatins) and their impacts on gel properties of porcine myofibrillar proteins. Porcine myofibrillar protein was isolated from pork loin muscle (M. longissimus dorsi thoracis et lumborum). Control was prepared with only myofibrillar protein (60 mg/mL), and gelatin treatments were formulated with myofibrillar protein and each gelatin (9:1) at the same protein concentration. The myofibrillar protein-gelatin mixtures were heated from $10^{\circ}C$ to $75^{\circ}C$ ($2^{\circ}C/min$). Little to no impacts of gelatin addition on pH value and color characteristics of heat-induced myofibrillar protein gels were observed (p>0.05). The addition of gelatin slightly decreased cooking yield of heat-induced myofibrillar protein gels, but the gels showed lower centrifugal weight loss compared to control (p<0.05). The addition of gelatin significantly decreased hardness, cohesiveness, gumminess, and chewiness of heat-induced myofibrillar gels. Further, sodium dodecyl poly-acrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) showed no interaction between myofibrillar proteins and gelatin under non-thermal conditions. Only a slight change in the endothermic peak (probably myosin) of myofibrillar protein-gelatin mixtures was found. The results of this study show that the addition of gelatin attenuated the water-holding capacity and textural properties of heat-induced myofibrillar protein gel. Thus, it could be suggested that well-known positive impacts of gelatin on quality characteristics of processed meat products may be largely affected by the functional properties of gelatin per se, rather than its interaction with myofibrillar proteins.