• Smart Structures and Systems
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.53-64
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• 2018

Nondestructive testing methods are required to assess the condition of civil structures and formulate their maintenance programs. Axial force identification is required for several structural members of truss bridges, pipe racks, and space roof trusses. An accurate evaluation of in situ axial forces supports the safety assessment of the entire truss. A considerable redistribution of internal forces may indicate structural damage. In this paper, a novel compressive force identification method for prismatic members implemented using static deflections is applied to steel beams. The procedure uses the Euler-Bernoulli beam model and estimates the compressive load by using the measured displacement along the beam's length. Knowledge of flexural rigidity of the member under investigation is required. In this study, the deflected shape of a compressed steel beam is subjected to an additional vertical load that was short-term measured in several laboratory tests by using fiber Bragg grating-differential settlement measurement (FBG-DSM) sensors at specific cross sections along the beam's length. The accuracy of midspan deflections offered by the FBG-DSM sensors provided excellent force estimations. Compressive load detection accuracy can be improved if substantial second-order effects are induced in the tests. In conclusion, the proposed method can be successfully applied to steel beams with low slenderness under real conditions.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.427-432
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• 2005

The purpose of this study was performed as model study using four animals to investigate the correction between the changes in Differential Scanning Calorimetry thermogram of muscle proteins during storage and meat freshness. M. longissimus dorsi of pork was obtained immediately after slaughter and chilled/stored at either $-2^{\circ}C$ or $25^{\circ}C$ for up to 96 h for analyses. DSC thermograms were determined and compared with pH values, ATP-related compounds, K-values, volatile basic nitrogen (VBN) levels, bacterial counts and electrophoretic behavior. Changes in pH, bacterial counts, VBN and K-values were associated with increased storage temperature and time. The levels of pH values, bacterial counts, VBN and K-values of pork samples stored at $25^{\circ}C$ were higher than those of the pork samples stored at $-2^{\circ}C$. ATP concentration decreased faster in samples stored at $25^{\circ}C$. Only IMP increased in samples stored at $-2^{\circ}C$, whereas the concentration of hypoxanthine and inosine increased in samples stored at $25^{\circ}C$. One exothermic peak and two endothermic peaks appeared on the thermograms of pork stored at either temperature. Lower transition temperature of myosin, sarcoplasmic protein and actin peaks were observed. The freshness parameters of K-value, VBN and hypoxanthine showed highly negative correlations (-0.742- -0.9980) to the changes in transition temperature. Therefore, the shift temperature on DSC thermogram can be used as an indicator of the freshness parameters of meat.

• Journal of Korean Society for Atmospheric Environment
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.135-151
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• 2013

This study has been carried out to analyze the sensitivity of ozone concentrations by employing different options of cumulus parameterization schemes (CPSs) and microphysics schemes in MM5 models. These sensitivity tests were applied to long-range transport case of higher ozone over Northeast Asia. Employed CPS schemes are Betts-Miller (BM), Grell (GR), Kain-Fritsch2 (KF2), Anthes-Kuo (AK), None scheme (grid scale physics only), and four microphysics used here are Simple ice, Reisner1, Reisner2, Schultz scheme in MM5. We chose two cases of high ozone long range transport case by employing both concentrations ozone level and backward trajectory model. The results showed that modeled ozone concentrations indicated about 10% differences among CPSs. Of the all options, GR and KF2 (for CPS), and Rersiner-1 and Resiner-2 (for microphysics) showed relatively good and stable variations against ensemble mean values. For both CPS and microphysics schemes, the difference of precipitation arising from different parameterization schemes was significant by itself, but the resultant ozone variations showed only marginal. But the cloud fraction differences arising from different parameterization schemes showed better correlation with ozone variations than precipitation differences, indicating that the photochemical ozone generation variations is more dominant by cloud fraction than wet removal process for high and long-ranged transported ozone cases over Northeast Asia.

• Smart Structures and Systems
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• v.13 no.6
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• pp.1015-1039
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• 2014

The widening project on Freeway No.1 in Taiwan has a total length of roughly 14 kilometers, and includes three special bridges, namely a 216 m long-span bridge crossing the original freeway, an F-bent double decked bridge in a co-constructed section, and a steel and prestressed concrete composite bridge. This study employed in-situ monitoring in conjunction with numerical modeling to establish a real-time monitoring system for the three bridges. In order to determine the initial static and dynamic behavior of the real bridges, forced vibration experiments, in-situ static load experiments, and dynamic load experiments were first carried out on the newly-constructed bridges before they went into use. Structural models of the bridges were then established using the finite element method, and in-situ vehicle load weight, arrangement, and speed were taken into consideration when performing comparisons employing data obtained from experimental measurements. The results showed consistency between the analytical simulations and experimental data. After determining a bridge's initial state, the proposed in-situ monitoring system, which is employed in conjunction with the established finite element model, can be utilized to assess the safety of a bridge's members, providing useful reference information to bridge management agencies.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.31 no.3
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• pp.285-297
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• 2023

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disease with progressive memory loss and the cognitive decline. AD is mainly caused by abnormal accumulation of misfolded amyloid β (Aβ), which leads to neurodegeneration via a number of possible mechanisms such as down-regulation of brain-derived neurotrophic factor-tropomyosin-related kinase B (BDNF-TRKB) signaling pathway. 7,8-Dihydroxyflavone (7,8-DHF), a TRKB agonist, has demonstrated potential to enhance BDNF-TRKB pathway in various neurodegenerative diseases. To expand the capacity of flavones as TRKB agonists, two natural flavones quercetin and apigenin, were evaluated. With tryptophan fluorescence quenching assay, we illustrated the direct interaction between quercetin/apigenin and TRKB extracellular domain. Employing Aβ folding reporter SH-SY5Y cells, we showed that quercetin and apigenin reduced Aβ-aggregation, oxidative stress, caspase-1 and acetylcholinesterase activities, as well as improved the neurite outgrowth. Treatments with quercetin and apigenin increased TRKB Tyr516 and Tyr817 and downstream cAMP-response-element binding protein (CREB) Ser133 to activate transcription of BDNF and BCL2 apoptosis regulator (BCL2), as well as reduced the expression of pro-apoptotic BCL2 associated X protein (BAX). Knockdown of TRKB counteracted the improvement of neurite outgrowth by quercetin and apigenin. Our results demonstrate that quercetin and apigenin are to work likely as a direct agonist on TRKB for their neuroprotective action, strengthening the therapeutic potential of quercetin and apigenin in treating AD.

• Korean Journal of Radiology
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• v.22 no.7
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• pp.1021-1033
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• 2021

Objective: To assess the expression of vascular normalization genes in different molecular subtypes of breast cancer and to determine whether molecular subtypes with a higher vascular normalization gene expression can be identified using dynamic contrast-enhanced (DCE) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and intravoxel incoherent motion (IVIM) diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI). Materials and Methods: This prospective study evaluated 306 female (mean age ± standard deviation, 50 ± 10 years), recruited between January 2014 and August 2017, who had de novo breast cancer larger than 1 cm in diameter (308 tumors). DCE MRI followed by IVIM DWI studies using 11 different b-values (0 to 1200 s/mm²) were performed on a 1.5T MRI system. The Tofts model and segmented biexponential IVIM analysis were used. For each tumor, the molecular subtype (according to six [I-VI] subtypes and PAM50 subtypes), expression profile of genes for vascular normalization, pericytes, and normal vascular signatures were determined using freshly frozen tissue. Statistical associations between imaging parameters and molecular subtypes were examined using logistic regression or linear regression with a significance level of p = 0.05. Results: Breast cancer subtypes III and VI and PAM50 subtypes luminal A and normal-like exhibited a higher expression of genes for vascular normalization, pericyte markers, and normal vessel function signature (p < 0.001 for all) compared to other subtypes. Subtypes III and VI and PAM50 subtypes luminal A and normal-like, versus the remaining subtypes, showed significant associations with K^trans, k_ep, v_p, and IAUGC_BN90 on DEC MRI, with relatively smaller values in the former. The subtype grouping was significantly associated with D, with relatively less restricted diffusion in subtypes III and VI and PAM50 subtypes luminal A and normal-like. Conclusion: DCE MRI and IVIM parameters may identify molecular subtypes of breast cancers with a different vascular normalization gene expression.

• Korean Journal of Radiology
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• v.19 no.6
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• pp.1161-1171
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• 2018

Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate diffusion tensor (DT) imaging-derived properties of benign oligemia, true "at risk" penumbra (TP), and the infarct core (IC) during the first 3 hours of stroke onset. Materials and Methods: The study was approved by the local animal care and use committee. DT imaging data were obtained from 14 rats after permanent middle cerebral artery occlusion (pMCAO) using a 7T magnetic resonance scanner (Bruker) in room air. Relative cerebral blood flow and apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) maps were generated to define oligemia, TP, IC, and normal tissue (NT) every 30 minutes up to 3 hours. Relative fractional anisotropy (rFA), pure anisotropy (rq), diffusion magnitude (rL), ADC (rADC), axial diffusivity (rAD), and radial diffusivity (rRD) values were derived by comparison with the contralateral normal brain. Results: The mean volume of oligemia was $24.7{\pm}14.1mm^3$, that of TP was $81.3{\pm}62.6mm^3$, and that of IC was $123.0{\pm}85.2mm^3$ at 30 minutes after pMCAO. rFA showed an initial paradoxical 10% increase in IC and TP, and declined afterward. The rq, rL, rADC, rAD, and rRD showed an initial discrepant decrease in IC (from -24% to -36%) as compared with TP (from -7% to -13%). Significant differences (p < 0.05) in metrics, except rFA, were found between tissue subtypes in the first 2.5 hours. The rq demonstrated the best overall performance in discriminating TP from IC (accuracy = 92.6%, area under curve = 0.93) and the optimal cutoff value was -33.90%. The metric values for oligemia and NT remained similar at all time points. Conclusion: Benign oligemia is small and remains microstructurally normal under pMCAO. TP and IC show a distinct evolution of DT-derived properties within the first 3 hours of stroke onset, and are thus potentially useful in predicting the fate of ischemic brain.

• Korean Journal of Exercise Nutrition
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.65-71
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• 2012

Oxygen is the final acceptor of electron transport from fat and carbohydrate oxidation, which is the rate-limiting factor for cellular ATP production. Under altitude hypoxia condition, energy reliance on anaerobic glycolysis increases to compensate for the shortfall caused by reduced fatty acid oxidation [1]. Therefore, training at altitude is expected to strongly influence the human metabolic system, and has the potential to be designed as a non-pharmacological or recreational intervention regimen for correcting diabetes or related metabolic problems. However, most people cannot accommodate high altitude exposure above 4500 M due to acute mountain sickness (AMS) and insulin resistance corresponding to a increased levels of the stress hormones cortisol and catecholamine [2]. Thus, less stringent conditions were evaluated to determine whether glucose tolerance and insulin sensitivity could be improved by moderate altitude exposure (below 4000 M). In 2003, we and another group in Austria reported that short-term moderate altitude exposure plus endurance-related physical activity significantly improves glucose tolerance (not fasting glucose) in humans [3,4], which is associated with the improvement in the whole-body insulin sensitivity [5]. With daily hiking at an altitude of approximately 4000 M, glucose tolerance can still be improved but fasting glucose was slightly elevated. Individuals vary widely in their response to altitude challenge. In particular, the improvement in glucose tolerance and insulin sensitivity by prolonged altitude hiking activity is not apparent in those individuals with low baseline DHEA-S concentration [6]. In addition, hematopoietic adaptation against altitude hypoxia can also be impaired in individuals with low DHEA-S. In short-lived mammals like rodents, the DHEA-S level is barely detectable since their adrenal cortex does not appear to produce this steroid [7]. In this model, exercise training recovery under prolonged hypoxia exposure (14-15% oxygen, 8 h per day for 6 weeks) can still improve insulin sensitivity, secondary to an effective suppression of adiposity [8]. Genetically obese rats exhibit hyperinsulinemia (sign of insulin resistance) with up-regulated baseline levels of AMP-activated protein kinase and AS160 phosphorylation in skeletal muscle compared to lean rats. After prolonged hypoxia training, this abnormality can be reversed concomitant with an approximately 50% increase in GLUT4 protein expression. Additionally, prolonged moderate hypoxia training results in decreased diffusion distance of muscle fiber (reduced cross-sectional area) without affecting muscle weight. In humans, moderate hypoxia increases postprandial blood distribution towards skeletal muscle during a training recovery. This physiological response plays a role in the redistribution of fuel storage among important energy storage sites and may explain its potent effect on changing body composition. Conclusion: Prolonged moderate altitude hypoxia (rangingfrom 1700 to 2400 M), but not acute high attitude hypoxia (above 4000 M), can effectively improve insulin sensitivity and glucose tolerance for humans and antagonizes the obese phenotype in animals with a genetic defect. In humans, the magnitude of the improvementvaries widely and correlates with baseline plasma DHEA-S levels. Compared to training at sea-level, training at altitude effectively decreases fat mass in parallel with increased muscle mass. This change may be associated with increased perfusion of insulin and fuel towards skeletal muscle that favors muscle competing postprandial fuel in circulation against adipose tissues.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.19
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• pp.8311-8317
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• 2014

Background: Evidence supporting an association between the 8q24 rs4242382-A polymorphism and prostate cancer (PCa) risk has been reported in North American and Europe populations, though data from Asian populations remain limited. We therefore investigated this association by clinical detection in China, and meta-analysis in Asian, Caucasian and African-American populations. Materials and Methods: Blood samples and clinical information were collected from ethnically Chinese men from Northern China with histologically-confirmed PCa (n=335) and from age-matched normal controls (n=347). The 8q24 (rs4242382) gene polymorphism was genotyped by polymerase chain reaction-high-resolution melting analysis. We initially analyzed the associations between the risk allele and PCa and clinical covariates. A meta-analysis was then performed using genotyping data from a total of 1,793 PCa cases and 1,864 controls from our study and previously published studies in American and European populations, to determine the association between PCa and risk genotype. Results: The incidence of the risk allele was higher in PCa cases than controls (0.222 vs 0.140, $P=7.3{\times}10^{-5}$), suggesting that the 8q24 rs4242382-A polymorphism was associated with PCa risk in Chinese men. The genotypes in subjects were in accordance with a dominant genetic model (ORadj=2.03, 95%CI: 1.42-2.91, $Padj=1.1{\times}10^{-4}$). Presence of the risk allele rs4242382-A at 8q24 was also associated with clinical covariates including age at diagnosis ${\geq}65$ years, prostate specific antigen >10 ng/ml, Gleason score <8, tumor stage and aggressive PCa, compared with the non-risk genotype ($P=4.6{\times}10^{-5}-3.0{\times}10^{-2}$). Meta-analysis confirmed the association between 8q24 rs4242382-A polymorphism and PCa risk (OR=1.62, 95%CI: 1.39-1.88, $P=1.0{\times}10^{-5}$) across Asian, Caucasian and African American populations. Conclusions: The replicated data suggest that the 8q24 rs4242382-A variation might be associated with increased PCa susceptibility in Asian, Caucasian and African American populations. These results imply that this polymorphism may be a useful risk biomarker for PCa in multi-ethnic populations.