• International Journal of Naval Architecture and Ocean Engineering
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• 제7권3호
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• pp.435-451
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• 2015

Evaluation of the performance of aging structures is essential in the oil and gas industry, where the inaccurate prediction of structural performance can have significantly hazardous consequences. The effects of structure failure due to the significant reduction in wall thickness, which determines the burst strength, make it very complicated for pipeline operators to maintain pipeline serviceability. In other words, the serviceability of gas pipelines and elbows needs to be predicted and assessed to ensure that the burst or collapse strength capacities of the structures remain less than the maximum allowable operation pressure. In this study, several positions of the corrosion in a subsea elbow made of API X42 steel were evaluated using both design formulas and numerical analysis. The most hazardous corrosion position of the aging elbow was then determined to assess its serviceability. The results of this study are applicable to the operational and elbow serviceability needs of subsea pipelines and can help predict more accurate replacement or repair times.

• The Journal of Asian Finance, Economics and Business
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• 제8권12호
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• pp.411-420
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• 2021

Based on the Financial Management Information Systems (FMIS) variables and supporting arenas, the current study aims to highlight the importance of FMIS in supporting organizations to achieve organizational excellence (Managing Liabilities, Support Decision Making, Cost Efficiency, Financial Quality, and Security). A quantitative approach was utilized by adopting a questionnaire as a tool. A convenient sample of (249) individuals from different Kuwaiti SMEs answered the questionnaire. SPSS v. 26 was used to analyze gathered data. The study's findings revealed that FMIS has a significant impact on organizational trials to achieve organizational excellence. This impact was most noticeable on the level of cost-efficiency, with an R-value of 0.583, followed by a positive impact on security, with an R-value of 0.453. Based on the results, it can be widely generalized that FMIS can help the organization reach organizational excellence through managing its financial affairs. As a result, the study recommends paying more attention to the quality of data presented to FMIS, keeping in mind that human errors in data entry might result in incorrect and malfunctioned data, even if it is processed by FMIS. FMIS also improves the ability of an organization to schedule financial information, such as obligations, receivables, debts, payments, and expenses.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• 제51권1호
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• pp.214-220
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• 2019

Thermochemical cycles have been predominantly used for energy transformation from heat to stored chemical free energy in the form of hydrogen. The thermochemical cycle based on uranium (UTC), proposed by Oak Ridge National Laboratory, has been considered as a better alternative compared to other thermochemical cycles mainly due to its safety and high efficiency. UTC process includes three steps, in which only the first step is unique. Hydrogen production apparatus with hectogram reactants was designed in this study. The results showed that high yield hydrogen was obtained, which was determined by drainage method. The results also indicated that the chemical conversion rate of hydrogen production was in direct proportion to the mass of $Na_2CO_3$, while the solid product was $Na_2UO_4$, instead of $Na_2U_2O_7$. Nevertheless the thermochemical cycle used for hydrogen generation can be closed, and chemical compounds used in these processes can also be recycled. So the cycle with $Na_2UO_4$ as its first reaction product has an advantage over the proposed UTC process, attributed to the fast reaction rate and high hydrogen yield in the first reaction step.

• 한국미생물·생명공학회지
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• 제50권1호
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• pp.110-121
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• 2022

The effluents from industries processing vegetable oils are extremely rich in sulfates, often exceeding the maximum concentration allowed to release them to the environment. Biological sulfate reduction is a promising alternative for the removal of sulfates in this type of wastewater, which has other particularities such as an acidic pH. The ability to reduce sulfates has been widely described for a particular bacterial group (SRB: sulfate-reducing bacteria), although the reports describing its application for the treatment of sulfate-rich industrial wastewaters are scarce. In this work, we describe the use of a natural SRB-based consortium able to remove above 30% of sulfates in the wastewater from one of the largest edible oil industries in Peru. Metataxonomic analysis was used to analyse the interdependencies established between SRB and the native microbiota present in the wastewater samples, and the performance of the consortium was quantified for different sulfate concentrations in laboratory-scale reactors. Our results pave the way towards the use of this consortium as a low-cost, sustainable alternative for the treatment of larger volumes of wastewater coming from this type of industries.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• 제13권1호
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• pp.87-90
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• 2012

Cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) is the most common cancer in northeastern Thailand. At present, effective diagnosis of CCA either in humans or animals is not available. Monitoring the development and progression of CCA in animal models is essential for research and development of new promising chemotherapeutics. Ultrasonography has been widely used for screening of bile duct obstruction in CCA patients. In this study, we preliminarily investigated the applicability of ultrasonography to monitor the development and progression of CCA in Syrian golden hamsters (n=8) induced by Opisthorchis viverrini (OV)/dimethylnitrosamine (DMN) administration. Ultrasonography and histopathological examination of hamsters was performed at week 0, 20, 24 and 28 of OV infection or at the start of water/Tween-80 administration to controls. The ultrasonographic images of liver parenchyma and gallbladders of OV/DMN-induced CCA hamsters showed sediments in gallbladder, thickening of gallbladder wall, and hypoechogenicity of liver parenchyma cells. The ultrasonographic images of liver tissues were found to correlate well with histopathological examination. Although ultrasonography does not directly detect the occurrence of CCA, it reflects the thickening of bile ducts and abnormality of liver tissues. It may be applied as a reliable tool for monitoring the development and progression of CCA in animal models in research and development of new promising chemotherapeutics for CCA.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• 제17권3호
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• pp.953-956
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• 2016

The risk of developing cervical cancer in women infected with human papillomavirus (HPV) may be influenced by an individual's genetic susceptibility. Published data linking single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-${\alpha}$) promoter region at positions -308G>A (rs1800629) and -238G>A (rs361525) to cervical cancer risk have been inconclusive. In this study, we examined 251 cervical specimens and classified them into two groups according to their cytological findings: 121 cancer cases and 130 controls (low-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion and normal cytology). All specimens were typed by PCR and sequencing for TNF-${\alpha}$ promoter -308G>A (rs1800629) and -238G>A (rs361525). The genotype distribution of SNPs in either rs1800629 or rs361525 did not significantly demonstrate higher frequency in the cancer group (p=0.621 and p=0.68, respectively). Based on these results, neither the TNF-${\alpha}$ promoter -308G>A (rs1800629) nor the -238G>A (rs361525) polymorphism presents a major risk factor for cervical cancer among Thai women. Larger studies are necessary to elucidate possible genetic mechanisms influencing cervical cancer development.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• 제31권1호
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• pp.13-18
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• 2018

Objective: Meat quality including muscle color in chickens is an important trait and continuous selective pressures for fast growth and high yield have negatively impacted this trait. This study was conducted to investigate genetic variations responsible for regulating muscle color. Methods: Whole genome re-sequencing analysis using Illumina HiSeq paired end read method was performed with pooled DNA samples isolated from two broiler chicken lines divergently selected for muscle color (high muscle color [HMC] and low muscle color [LMC]) along with their random bred control line (RAN). Sequencing read data was aligned to the chicken reference genome sequence for Red Jungle Fowl (Galgal4) using reference based genome alignment with NGen program of the Lasergene software package. The potential causal single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) showing non-synonymous changes in coding DNA sequence regions were chosen in each line. Bioinformatic analyses to interpret functions of genes retaining SNPs were performed using the ingenuity pathways analysis (IPA). Results: Millions of SNPs were identified and totally 2,884 SNPs (1,307 for HMC and 1,577 for LMC) showing >75% SNP rates could induce non-synonymous mutations in amino acid sequences. Of those, SNPs showing over 10 read depths yielded 15 more reliable SNPs including 1 for HMC and 14 for LMC. The IPA analyses suggested that meat color in chickens appeared to be associated with chromosomal DNA stability, the functions of ubiquitylation (UBC) and quality and quantity of various subtypes of collagens. Conclusion: In this study, various potential genetic markers showing amino acid changes were identified in differential meat color lines, that can be used for further animal selection strategy.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• 제19권11호
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• pp.1415-1420
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• 2009

The aim of the present study was to examine the prevalence of thermophilic Campylobacter spp. (Campylobacter jejuni and Campylobacter coli) in soil, poultry manure, irrigation water, and freshly harvested vegetables from vegetable farms in Malaysia. C. jejuni was detected in 30.4% and 2.7% of the soil samples, 57.1 % and 0% of the manure samples, and 18.8% and 3% of the vegetable samples from farm A and farm B, respectively, when using the MPN-PCR method. Campylobacter spp. was not found in any of the irrigation water samples tested. Therefore, the present results indicate that the aged manure used by farm A was more contaminated than the composted manure used by farm B. Mostly, the leafy and root vegetables were contaminated. C. coli was not detected in any of the samples tested in the current study. Both farms tested in this study were found to be contaminated by campylobacters, thereby posing a potential risk for raw vegetable consumption in Malaysia. The present results also provide baseline data on Campylobacter contamination at the farm level.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• 제52권3호
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• pp.613-632
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• 2014

In the early design stage of ships, the two most important structural analyses are performed to identify the structural capacity and safety. The first step is called global strength analysis (longitudinal strength analysis or hull girder strength analysis) and the second step is local buckling analysis (stiffened panel strength analysis). This paper deals with the ultimate strength performance of Arctic Sea Route-going commercial ships considering the effect of low temperature. In this study, two types of structural analyses are performed in Arctic sea conditions. Three types of ship namely oil tanker, bulk carrier and container ship with four different sizes (in total 12 vessels) are tested in four low temperatures (-20, -40, -60 and $-800^{\circ}C$), which are based on the Arctic environment and room temperature ($20^{\circ}C$). The ultimate strength performance is analysed with ALPS/HULL progressive hull collapse analysis code for ship hulls, then ALPS/ULSAP supersize finite element method for stiffened panels. The obtained results are summarised in terms of temperature, vessel type, vessel size, loading type and other effects. The important insights and outcomes are documented.

• 대한조선학회논문집
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• 제52권2호
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• pp.153-160
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• 2015

Pipelines are one of the most important structures in subsea equipment. It is the main equipment for transportation of crude oil and natural gas to the downstream facilities. Crude oil and natural gas leak will be carry out not only political and financial issues but also pollution to the environment. Inaccurate predictions of corrosion behavior will make hazardous consequences. The serviceability assessment of corroded structures is essential especially for subsea pipelines. As corrosion is concerned, the effects of failure due to significant reduction will make it hard to the pipeline operator to maintain the serviceability of pipelines. In this paper, the serviceability assessment of corroded crude oil pipeline is performed using the industry design code (Shell92, DNV RP F101, ASME B31G, BS 7910, PCORRC) and FEA depending on corrosion area. In last step, the future integrity of the subsea crude oil pipeline is assessed to predict the remaining year in service of crude oil pipelines.