• Advances in aircraft and spacecraft science
• /
• 제3권1호
• /
• pp.61-75
• /
• 2016

Climate changes brought on by human interventions have proved to be more devastating than predicted during the recent decades. Recognition of seriousness of the situation has led regulatory organisations to impose strict targets on allowable carbon dioxide emissions from automotive vehicles. As a possible solution, it has been proposed that Fibre Metal Laminate (FML) system is used to reduce the weight of future vehicles. To facilitate this investigation, FML based on steel and self-reinforced polypropylene was stamp formed into dome shapes under different blank holder forces (BHFs) at room temperature and its forming behaviour analysed. An open-die configuration was used in a hydraulic press so that a 3D photogrammetric measurement system (ARAMIS) could capture real-time surface strains. This paper presents findings on strain evolutions at different points along and at $45^{\circ}$ to fibre directions of circular FML blank, through various stages of forming. It was found initiation and rate of deformation varied with distance from the pole, that the mode of deformations range from biaxial stretching at the pole to drawing towards flange region, at decreasing magnitudes away from the pole in general. More uniform strain distribution was observed for the FML compared to that of plain steel and the most significant effects of BHF were its influence on forming depth and level of strain reached before failure.

• Safety and Health at Work
• /
• 제11권4호
• /
• pp.425-430
• /
• 2020

Background: Asbestos exposure is associated with the development of the cancer malignant mesothelioma (MM). Measurement of soluble mesothelin-related protein (SMRP) has been suggested as a method for detection of MM in its early stages. We prospectively examined SMRP levels in participants with asbestos exposure who are a group at a high risk of development of MM. Methods: This study was a follow-up of our cohort of 322 asbestos-exposed participants. No further participants developed MM or malignancy over the study period. Mean follow-up time was 22.9 months. Results: Mean (standard deviation) SMRP levels at baseline and follow-up were 0.94 (0.79) and 0.91 (0.86) nmol/L (p = 0.1033), respectively. Mean SMRP levels of the healthy individuals exposed to asbestos at baseline was significantly lower than those of participants with asbestosis and pleural plaques alone; similar patterns were found on follow-up measurements. There was a statistically significant effect of age on serial SMRP measurements. Our study confirms higher levels in participants with nonmalignant asbestos-related disorders. Levels decreased in asbestos-related disorders other than asbestosis, where a small increase was observed. We did not detect any further cases of malignancy. Conclusion: Monitoring programs for early detection of MM need to take into account increased SMRP levels found in benign asbestos-related diseases.

• Safety and Health at Work
• /
• 제13권3호
• /
• pp.364-371
• /
• 2022

Background: Respiratory masks can provide healthcare workers with protection from biological hazards when they have good performance. There is a direct relationship between the visual specifications of a mask and its efficacy; thus, the aim of this study was to develop tools for qualitative assessment of the performance of masks used by healthcare workers. Methods: A mixed-methods design was used to develop a qualitative assessment tool for medical face masks (MFM) and particle filtering half masks (PFHM). The development of domains and items was undertaken using observation and interviews, the opinions of an expert panel, and a review of texts and international standards. The second phase evaluated the psychometric properties of tools. Finally, the validated Mask Qualitative Assessment Tools (MQAT) were used to assess six samples from 10 brands of the two types of masks. Results: MQAT-MFM and MQAT-PHFM shared 42 items across seven domains: "cleanliness," "design," "marking, labeling and packaging," "mask layers," "mask strap," "materials and construction," and "nose clip." MQAT-MFM included one additional item. MQAT-PHFM included another nine items associated with an eighth "Practical Performance" domain, and the valve version had another additional "Exhalation Valve" domain and six items. The evaluation indicated 80% compliance for MFM and 71% compliance for PFHM. "Marking, labeling and packaging" and "Layers" were associated with the least compliance in both types of masks and should be checked carefully for defining mask quality. Conclusion: MQAT can be used for immediate screening and initial assessment of MFM and PHFM through appearance, simple tools, and visual inspection.

• Journal of Gastric Cancer
• /
• 제23권2호
• /
• pp.340-354
• /
• 2023

Purpose: Gastric cancer (GC) is the second most lethal cancer globally and is associated with poor prognosis. Fatty acid-binding proteins (FABPs) can regulate biological properties of carcinoma cells. FABP5 is overexpressed in many types of cancers; however, the role and mechanisms of action of FABP5 in GC remain unclear. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the clinical and biological functions of FABP5 in GC. Materials and Methods: We assessed FABP5 expression using immunohistochemical analysis in 79 patients with GC and evaluated its biological functions following in vitro and in vivo ectopic expression. FABP5 targets relevant to GC progression were determined using RNA sequencing (RNA-seq). Results: Elevated FABP5 expression was closely associated with poor outcomes, and ectopic expression of FABP5 promoted proliferation, invasion, migration, and carcinogenicity of GC cells, thus suggesting its potential tumor-promoting role in GC. Additionally, RNA-seq analysis indicated that FABP5 activates immune-related pathways, including cytokine-cytokine receptor interaction pathways, interleukin-17 signaling, and tumor necrosis factor signaling, suggesting an important rationale for the possible development of therapies that combine FABP5-targeted drugs with immunotherapeutics. Conclusions: These findings highlight the biological mechanisms and clinical implications of FABP5 in GC and suggest its potential as an adverse prognostic factor and/or therapeutic target.

• Earthquakes and Structures
• /
• 제22권5호
• /
• pp.503-515
• /
• 2022

This paper presents the development of seismic fragility curves for a precast reinforced concrete bridge instrumented with a structural health monitoring (SHM) system. The bridge is located near an active seismic fault in the Dominican Republic (DR) and provides the only access to several local communities in the aftermath of a potential damaging earthquake; moreover, the sample bridge was designed with outdated building codes and uses structural detailing not adequate for structures in seismic regions. The bridge was instrumented with an SHM system to extract information about its state of structural integrity and estimate its seismic performance. The data obtained from the SHM system is integrated with structural models to develop a set of fragility curves to be used as a quantitative measure of the expected damage; the fragility curves provide an estimate of the probability that the structure will exceed different damage limit states as a function of an earthquake intensity measure. To obtain the fragility curves a digital twin of the bridge is developed combining a computational finite element model and the information extracted from the SHM system. The digital twin is used as a response prediction tool that minimizes modeling uncertainty, significantly improving the predicting capability of the model and the accuracy of the fragility curves. The digital twin was used to perform a nonlinear incremental dynamic analysis (IDA) with selected ground motions that are consistent with the seismic fault and site characteristics. The fragility curves show that for the maximum expected acceleration (with a 2% probability of exceedance in 50 years) the structure has a 62% probability of undergoing extensive damage. This is the first study presenting fragility curves for civil infrastructure in the DR and the proposed methodology can be extended to other structures to support disaster mitigation and post-disaster decision-making strategies.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
• /
• 제18권1호
• /
• pp.98-109
• /
• 2024

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: The efficacy of Lab4 probiotic and vitamin C combination on the prevention of upper respiratory tract infections (URTIs) was investigated in two studies with children. Our objective was to pool dataset of 57 preschool children from the PROCHILD study (ISRCTN28722693) and the dataset of 50 preschool matched cohort from the PROCHILD-2 study (ISRCTN26587549) to evaluate the impact of probiotic/vitamin C combination on the prevention of upper respiratory tract symptoms and provide a more robust assessment of effect using detailed individual level data. SUBJECTS/METHODS: The children were supplemented daily for 6 months with either the multistrain probiotic (1.25×10¹⁰ cfu/tablet consisting of two strains of Lactobacillus acidophilus CUL21 and CUL60, Bifidobacterium bifidum CUL20 and Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis CUL34) plus 50 mg vitamin C or a placebo. RESULTS: In the pooled analysis of the individual participant data (per protocol population), significant reductions were observed for the incidence (-25%; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.66, 0.85; P < 0.0001) and duration (-14.9 days; 95% CI, -24.8, -5.1; P = 0.0030) of typical URTI symptoms in the active group compared with the placebo. The incidence rates of absenteeism from preschool (IR ratio, 0.75; 95% CI, 0.66, 0.86; P < 0.0001), paediatric visits (IR ratio, 0.56; 95% CI, 0.47; 0.68; P < 0.0001) and antibiotic usage (IR ratio, 0.53; 95% CI, 0.39, 0.71; P < 0.0001) were also significantly reduced. CONCLUSION: The pooled analysis findings of comparable preschool cohorts from two studies indicate that the supplementation with probiotic and vitamin C combination is beneficial in the prevention and management of URTI symptoms.

• 한국과학교육학회지
• /
• 제31권2호
• /
• pp.181-197
• /
• 2011

본 연구의 주요 내용은 한국과 싱가포르의 초, 중, 고 학생들이 지구 온난화 완화를 위한 행동들에 대해 어느 정도의 신념과 행동 의지를 가지고 있으며 그 둘 사이의 일관성 정도는 어떠한지 조사하는 것이다. 또 한 신념과 행동 의지 사이의 회귀 분석을 통해 교육에 의해 행동 의지를 개선할 수 있는 가능성이 높은 행동 이 무엇인지에 대해 시사점을 얻고자 하였다. Boyes et al.(2009)에 의해 개발된 설문을 이용하여 지구 온난화의 완화를 위한 행동 16가지에 대한 학생들의 신념과 행동 의지를 5단계 척도의 문항을 통해 조사하였다. 설문 대상은 한국과 싱가포르 6, 7, 8, 9, 10학년학생 2,389명이다(한국 1,446명, 싱가포르 943명). 연구 결과 행동 의지 면에서는 한국과 싱가포르에서 공통적으로 '가정에서 전기를 절약하는 것'에 대한 행동 의지가 가장 높은 반면 '원자력 발전에 의한 전기 사용'에 대한 행동 의지가 가장 낮았다. 또한 가정에서 혹은 사회적으로 공동으로 실천할 수 있는 행동에 대한 행동 의지가 다른 기타의 항목들에 비해 상대적으로 높은 경향이 있었다. 신념 면에서는 개인 승용차 보다는 대중 교통을 이용하는 것, 나무를 많이 심는 것, 재활용을 늘이는 것 등 이산화탄소의 배출을 줄이는 대표적인 행동은 지구 온난화 완화를 위한 행동으로 양국에서 모두 널리 인식되고 있었으나 육식을 줄이는 것(즉 메탄의 발생을 줄이는 것)이 지구온난화 완화를 위한 행동이라는 것은 양국 모두에서 가장 낮게 인식되었다. 전반적으로 싱가포르 학생들이 지구 온난화 완화를 위한 행동들에 대한 행동 의지가 한국보다 높았으며 보다 많은 항목들에 대해 높은 수준의 신념을 나타냈다. 신념과 행동 의지 사이의 일관성을 살펴보면 신념이 행동 의지보다 높은 문항이 많았는데 대표적인 것으로 한국의 경우 '교통 수단 이용과 관련된 것', '발전 방식과 관련된 것'이 차이가 많이 났으며 싱가포르의 경우 '발전 방식과 관련된 것'에서만 차이가 많았다. 이들 내용에 대해서는 강한 신념을 보인 학생 수가 강한 행동 의지를 보인 학생 수보다 전체의 30%이상 많았다. 개인별로 신념과 행동 의지 사이의 일관성 정도를 살펴보기 위해 행동 의지 점수에서 신념의 수를 뺀 값으로 개인의 반응 지수를 구하여 분석한 결과 한국이 -0.14, 싱가포르가 -0.05의 값을 나타냈다. (-)값은 신념에 비해 행동 의지가 낮은 것을 나타내며 싱가포르의 반응 지수가 한국에 비해 유의미하게 높았다. 즉 싱가포르 학생들이 신념과 행동의지가 좀 더 일관적이었다. 신념과 행동 의지 사이의 회귀 계수와 현재 낮은 행동 의지를 '원자력 발전에 의한 전기 사용'이었다. 이상과 같은 결과를 종합해 보면 지구 온난화 완화에 대한 행동 의지, 신념, 그리고 그 둘 사이의 연관성 정도는 특정 행동에 따라 그리고 국가에 따라 다른 양상으로 나타나지만 양국 사이에 많은 공통점이 있다는 것을 알 수 있다. 또한 전반적으로 볼 때 싱가포르 학생들이 지구 온난화에 대한 행동 의지와 신념이 높았고 이 둘 사이의 일관성도 좀 더 높은 것으로 나타났다.

• 한국의류학회지
• /
• 제33권6호
• /
• pp.841-852
• /
• 2009

본 논문의 목적은 자신의 의복 및 착용 경험 즉, 의복 선호, 개성 요인, 감성, 무드, 새로움, 자신 의복의 친숙성 및 사회적 상호작용의 분석을 통해 외모관리의 일반적인 상관관계를 조사하고 정량화하는 것이다. 무작위로 추출된 의복10 사이즈의 12명 여성표본을 사용하여 실험적, 정량적, 정성적 연구가 수행되었다. 개성 설문지는 연구에 앞서 간단히 완성되었다. 언제 어디서 의복을 착용한 지에 대한 기록을 위해 10일간의 “착용 일지”를 작성하도록 하였다. 의복을 갈아 입기 전에(일일 기준) 그리고 의복을 입고 있을 때나 갈아 입을 때(다이내믹 무드)의 감성과 무드를 측정하기 위해 두 가지 설문이 완성되었다. 정성적 정보가 기록되었으며, 이는 참여자들이 촬영한 사진에 대한 질문보다는 그들의 생각과 느낌을 포함하였다. 10일 동안 착용한 후 각 의복들에 대해 선호, 사회성 및 새로움에 대한 순위가 기록되었다. SPSS를 이용하여 상관관계를 확인하였으며, 선형 회귀 해석으로 선호 요인을 확인하였다. 주제 해석으로 자신의 의복을 착용했을 때 무드, 개성 및 사회성 요인의 관리에 관련된 9테마를 확인하였다. 그 결과로 감성, 무드, 개성 및 선호간에는 강한 관련성이 있고, 그리고 새로움과 다른 계층의 사회적 작용이 이러한 요인들에 얼마나 큰 영향을 미치는 지 확인되었다. 참가자들은 의복을 선택할 때 무드와 개성을 조화시키려는 경향이 있었으며, 반면 어떤 경우는 상호보완하려 하였다. 이 연구로 외모관리에 포함된 소비자 심리적 과정의 중요성을 인식하였으며, 나아가 제품의 관여, 구입 후 행동 및 판매원의 소매 전략에 대한 후속연구를 제안한다.

• ALGAE
• /
• 제26권2호
• /
• pp.193-200
• /
• 2011

The stress tolerance ability of Pelvetia canaliculata (L.) Dcne. Et Thur. and Fucus spiralis L. to temporary and periodic emersion stress was examined in order to test the following hypotheses: The upper shore alga, P. canaliculata is more tolerant to desiccation than F. spiralis in the germling stage and the former outgrows the latter under desiccation stress; Germling stress tolerance of the two species is age-specific; Crowding of germlings protects them from desiccation, irrespective of the species involved. Germling growth of the two species was retarded with increasing exposure period and was age-specific, as they were air-exposed at an earlier stage. After 16 days, the length of Pelvetia germlings was similar between 2-day-old germlings (125-140 ${\mu}m$) and 7-day-old germlings (134-140 ${\mu}m$), which were air-exposed during the same period (0, 6, 12, 24, 48, and 72 h) at the two different ages. However, Fucus germlings were significantly larger at 7-day-old germlings (211-277 ${\mu}m$) than at 2-day-old germlings (184-278 ${\mu}m$), especially in the treatments of 48 and 72 h. These results indicate that Fuscus grow faster than Pelvetia and that the growth response of germlings to temporary emersion stress is more sensitive in Fucus than that in Pelvetia. Growth of germlings of both species was reduced with increasing density under favorable growth conditions (submerged control and 6 h / 12 h exposure treatments) in the periodic air-exposed experiments using tidal tanks, but was enhanced under severe emersion stress conditions. P. canaliculata showed better growth at 6 h exposure treatment than that of the control, under continuous submergence, indicating that Pelvetia germlings require a periodic exposure period. Fucus germlings always grew faster than those of Pelvetia and did best in mixed cultures, whereas Pelvetia did least well when mixed with Fucus germlings. The adverse effects of F. spiralis on P. canaliculata were greater than those of Pelvetia cohorts. The outcome of interspecific competition between F. spiralis and P. canaliculata gemlings was slightly altered by exposure period but not to such an extent as to change the outcome.

• 생물정신의학
• /
• 제20권1호
• /
• pp.12-20
• /
• 2013

Objectives We investigated the tolerability, safety, and treatment response to flexible-dose paliperidone ER in patients with non-acute schizophrenia in whom previous antipsychotic drugs were ineffective. Methods This 24-week interim analysis of the 48-week multicenter, prospective, open-label study assessed effectiveness using the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS), Clinical Global Impression-Schizophrenia-Severity (CGI-SCH-S) Scale, Personal and Social Performance (PSP) and Drug Attitude Inventory (DAI). Safety and tolerability were assessed using the Drug-Induced Extrapyramidal Symptoms Scale (DIEPSS) and Liverpool University Neuroleptic Side Effect Rating Scale (LUNSERS). Results Effectiveness was assessed in 169 patients. Significant improvement in the PANSS total score was observed by week-1 and continued until week-24. The response rate was 33%. The CGI-SCH-S and PSP total scores significantly improved during 24 weeks ; however, no change occurred in the total DAI. Fifty-nine percent of patients reported adverse events, of which extrapyramidal symptoms were the most frequent (19.0%). The DIEPSS and LUNSERS scores were improved after 24 week. Conclusions Switching to the flexible-dose paliperidone ER from an ineffective antipsychotic drug was safe, tolerable, and showed a good treatment response in Korean patients with schizophrenia.