• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.79 no.4
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• pp.257-266
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• 2016

Background: Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis is a common interstitial lung disease; it is a chronic, progressive, and fatal lung disease of unknown etiology. Over the last two decades, knowledge about the underlying mechanisms of pulmonary fibrosis has improved markedly and facilitated the identification of potential targets for novel therapies. However, despite the large number of antifibrotic drugs being described in experimental pre-clinical studies, the translation of these findings into clinical practices has not been accomplished yet. NADH:quinone oxidoreductase 1 (NQO1) is a homodimeric enzyme that catalyzes the oxidation of NADH to $NAD^+$ by various quinones and thereby elevates the intracellular $NAD^+$ levels. In this study, we examined the effect of increase in cellular $NAD^+$ levels on bleomycin-induced lung fibrosis in mice. Methods: C57BL/6 mice were treated with intratracheal instillation of bleomycin. The mice were orally administered with ${\beta}$-lapachone from 3 days before exposure to bleomycin to 1-3 weeks after exposure to bleomycin. Bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) was collected for analyzing the infiltration of immune cells. In vitro, A549 cells were treated with transforming growth factor ${\beta}1$ (TGF-${\beta}1$) and ${\beta}$-lapachone to analyze the extracellular matrix (ECM) and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT). Results: ${\beta}$-Lapachone strongly attenuated bleomycin-induced lung inflammation and fibrosis, characterized by histological staining, infiltrated immune cells in BALF, inflammatory cytokines, fibrotic score, and TGF-${\beta}1$, ${\alpha}$-smooth muscle actin accumulation. In addition, ${\beta}$-lapachone showed a protective role in TGF-${\beta}1$-induced ECM expression and EMT in A549 cells. Conclusion: Our results suggest that ${\beta}$-lapachone can protect against bleomycin-induced lung inflammation and fibrosis in mice and TGF-${\beta}1$-induced EMT in vitro, by elevating the $NAD^+$/NADH ratio through NQO1 activation.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.34 no.5
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• pp.681-698
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• 2020

The paper addresses contribution to the modeling and optimization of major machinability parameters (cutting force, surface roughness, and tool wear) in finish dry hard turning (FDHT) for machinability evaluation of hardened AISI grade die steel D₃ with PVD-TiN coated (Al₂O₃-TiCN) mixed ceramic tool insert. The turning trials are performed based on Taguchi's L₁₈ orthogonal array design of experiments for the development of regression model as well as adequate model prediction by considering tool approach angle, nose radius, cutting speed, feed rate, and depth of cut as major machining parameters. The models or correlations are developed by employing multiple regression analysis (MRA). In addition, statistical technique (response surface methodology) followed by computational approaches (genetic algorithm and particle swarm optimization) have been employed for multiple response optimization. Thereafter, the effectiveness of proposed three (RSM, GA, PSO) optimization techniques are evaluated by confirmation test and subsequently the best optimization results have been used for estimation of energy consumption which includes savings of carbon footprint towards green machining and for tool life estimation followed by cost analysis to justify the economic feasibility of PVD-TiN coated Al₂O₃+TiCN mixed ceramic tool in FDHT operation. Finally, estimation of energy savings, economic analysis, and sustainability assessment are performed by employing carbon footprint analysis, Gilbert approach, and Pugh matrix, respectively. Novelty aspects, the present work: (i) contributes to practical industrial application of finish hard turning for the shaft and die makers to select the optimum cutting conditions in a range of hardness of 45-60 HRC, (ii) demonstrates the replacement of expensive, time-consuming conventional cylindrical grinding process and proposes the alternative of costlier CBN tool by utilizing ceramic tool in hard turning processes considering technological, economical and ecological aspects, which are helpful and efficient from industrial point of view, (iii) provides environment friendliness, cleaner production for machining of hardened steels, (iv) helps to improve the desirable machinability characteristics, and (v) serves as a knowledge for the development of a common language for sustainable manufacturing in both research field and industrial practice.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.64 no.4
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• pp.562-574
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• 2021

Objective : This study is to evaluate the efficacy and safety of demineralized bone matrix (DBM) gel versus DBM gel with recombinant human bone morphogenetic protein-2 (rhBMP-2) used in transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (TLIF). Methods : This study was designed as a prospective, multi-center, double-blind method, randomized study. All randomized subjects underwent TLIF with DBM gel with rhBMP-2 group (40 patients) as an experimental group or DBM gel group (36 patients) as a control group. Post-operative observations were performed at 12, 24, and 48 weeks. The spinal fusion rate on computed tomography scans and X-rays films, Visual analog scale pain scores, Oswestry disability index and SF-36 quality of life (QOL) scores were used for the efficacy evaluation. The incidence rate of adverse device effects (ADEs) and serious adverse device effects (SADEs) were used for safety evaluation. Results : The spinal fusion rate at 12 weeks for the DBM gel with rhBMP-2 group was higher with 73.68% compared to 58.82% for the DBM gel group. The 24 and 48 weeks were 72.22% and 82.86% for the DBM gel with rhBMP-2 group and 78.79% and 78.13%, respectively, for the DBM gel group. However, there were no significant differences between two groups in the spinal fusion rate at 12, 24, and 48 weeks post-treatment (p=0.1817, p=0.5272, p=0.6247). There was no significant difference between the two groups in the incidence rate of ADEs (p=0.3836). For ADEs in the experimental group, 'Pyrexia' (5.00%) was the most common ADE, followed by 'Hypesthesia', 'Paresthesia', 'Transient peripheral paralysis', 'Spondylitis' and 'Insomnia' (2.50%, respectively). ADEs reported in control group included 'Pyrexia', 'Chest discomfort', 'Pain', 'Osteoarthritis', 'Nephropathy toxic', 'Neurogenic bladder', 'Liver function analyses' and 'Urticaria' (2.86%, respectively). There was no significant difference between the two groups in the incidence rate of SADEs (p=0.6594). For SADE in the experimental group, ''Pyrexia' and 'Spondylitis' were 2.50%. SADE reported in the control group included 'Chest discomfort', 'Osteoarthritis' and 'Neurogenic bladder'. All SADEs described above were resolved after medical treatment. Conclusion : This study demonstrated that the spinal fusion rates of DBM gel group and DBM gel with rhBMP-2 group were not significantly different. But, this study provides knowledge regarding the earlier postoperative effect of rhBMP-2 containing DBM gel and also supports the idea that the longer term follow-up results are essential to confirm the safety and effectiveness.

• Development and Reproduction
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.1-9
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• 2004

The potential importance of proteomic approaches has been clearly demonstrated in other fields of human medical research, including liver and heart disease and certain forms of cancer. However, reproductive researches have been applied to proteomics poorly. Proteomics can be defined as the systematic analysis of proteins for their identity, quantity, and function. It could increase the predictability of early drug development and identify non-invasive biomarkers of toxicity or efficacy. Proteome analysis is most commonly accomplished by the combination of two-dimensional gel electrophoresis(2DE) and MALDI-TOF(matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization-time of flight) MS(mass spectrometry) or protein chip array and SELDI-TOF(surface-enhanced laser desorption ionization-time of flight) MS. In addition understanding the possessing knowledge of the developing biomarkers used to assess reproductive biology will also be essential components relevant to the topic of reproduction. The continued integration of proteomic and genomic data will have a fundamental impact on our understanding of the normal functioning of cells and organisms and will give insights into complex cellular processes and disease and provides new opportunities for the development of diagnostics and therapeutics. The challenge to researchers in the field of reproduction is to harness this new technology as well as others that are available to a greater extent than at present as they have considerable potential to greatly improve our understanding of the molecular aspects of reproduction both in health and disease.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.161-168
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• 2001

The types of exposure data needed in an industry-based study depend on the diseases of interest and the study design to be used. The best situation occurs when we have quantified personal exposure estimates for the agents of interest, the least informative case occurs when we have only knowledge of the fact of employment in a plant, industry, or trade where exposure probability is high. Exposure information for most industry-based studies falls somewhere between these tow extremes. Job exposure matrices(JEM) are designed to link information on occupation with information on exposure to specific workplace hazards. Some forms of systematic error of bias may be less likely to occur in studies that utilize job-exposure matrices to indirectly infer exposures from job titles than in studies that assess exposures by asking subjects about their past exposure. JEM can be used effectively in industry-based studies for historic cohort studies, case-control study to assist with the retrospective assessment of occupational exposures among workers whose individual exposure histories are unavailable. JEM generally consist of a computerized database that links information about job categories and likely exposures. These two major axes may be stratified by calendar time. This article reviews the design of JEM in support of industry-based studies. Specific matrices may find broader applicability along with the increasing availability of detailed hygienic data.

• Communications of Mathematical Education
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.465-489
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• 2015

The purpose of this study is to suggest implications for the development and revision of future teaching materials for mathematically gifted students by using network text analysis of secondary mathematics materials. Subjects of the analysis were learning goals of 110 teaching materials in a gifted education center in science attached to a university from 2002 to 2014. In analysing the frequency of the texts that appeared in the learning goals, key words were selected. A co-occurrence matrix of the key words was established, and a basic information of network, centrality, centralization, component, and k-core were deducted. For the analysis, KrKwic, KrTitle, and NetMiner4.0 programs were used, respectively. The results of this study were as follows. First, there was a pivot of the network formed with core hubs including 'diversity', 'understanding' 'concept' 'method', 'application', 'connection' 'problem solving', 'basic', 'real life', and 'thinking ability' in the whole network from 2002 to 2014. In addition, knowledge aspects were well reflected in teaching materials based on the centralization analysis. Second, network text analysis based on the three periods of the Mater Plan for the promotion of gifted education was conducted. As a result, a network was built up with 'understanding', and there were strong ties among 'question', 'answer', and 'problem solving' regardless of the periods. On the contrary, the centrality analysis showed that 'communication', 'discovery', and 'proof' only appeared in the first, second, and third period of Master Plan, respectively. Therefore, the results of this study suggest that affective aspects and activities with high cognitive process should be accompanied, and learning goals' mannerism and ahistoricism be prevented in developing and revising teaching materials.

• Journal of the Korea Concrete Institute
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.457-464
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• 2009

Fiber is an important ingredient in fiber-reinforced cement composite (FRCC) which can control fracture of cement composite by bridging action. In compliance with the action of the fiber and the aggregate size, it also showed a different failure mechanism. For practical application, it is needed to investigate the fracture behavior of the FRCC and to understand the micro-mechanism of cement matrix with reinforcing fiber. In order to evaluate a characteristics of fracture process in the FRCC, acoustic emission (AE) technique was used for the analysis and evaluation of FRCC damage by acoustic emission under flexural and cyclic compressive loadings. The AE signals were monitored by AMSY4 AE instrument during the entire loading period. The specimens are reinforced with 0, 1.0, 1.5 and 2.0% (by volume) Polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) fiber. The test results showed that the damage progress of the FRCC was characteristic for the fiber replacement ratio. As a result of analyzing the felicity ratio (FR) values, it is shown that this values can be used for evaluating the degree of FRCC damage. On the whole the felicity ratio values of FRCC are shown between 0.4 and 1.1. And, the AE kaiser effect was shown in the all FRCC specimen. In addition, the damage behavior and the microscopic fracture process of the FRCC are evaluated using the AE parameters, such as calm ratio, b-value and felicity ratio. The purpose of this reserch was to advance the state of knowledge regarding the applicability of acoustic emission as an evaluation method for FRCC.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Safety
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• v.36 no.2
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• pp.49-57
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• 2021

In the case of military supplies, any potential failure and causes of failures must be considered. This study is aimed at examining the failure modes of a rotorcraft landing system to identify the priority items. Failure mode and effects analysis (FMEA) is applied to the rotorcraft landing system. In general, the FMEA is used to evaluate the reliability in engineering fields. Three elements, specifically, the severity, occurrence, and detectability are used to evaluate the failure modes. The risk priority number (RPN) can be obtained by multiplying the scores or the risk levels pertaining to severity, occurrence, and detectability. In this study, different weights of the three elements are considered for the RPN assessment to implement the FMEA. Furthermore, the FMEA is implemented using a fuzzy rule base, similarity aggregation model (SAM), and grey theory model (GTM) to perform a comparative analysis. The same input data are used for all models to enable a fair comparison. The FMEA is applied to military supplies by considering methodological issues. In general, the fuzzy theory is based on a hypothesis regarding the likelihood of the conversion of the crisp value to the fuzzy input. Fuzzy FMEA is the basic method to obtain the fuzzy RPN. The three elements of the FMEA are used as five linguistic terms. The membership functions as triangular fuzzy sets are the simplest models defined by the three elements. In addition, a fuzzy set is described using a membership function mapping the elements to the intervals 0 and 1. The fuzzy rule base is designed to identify the failure modes according to the expert knowledge. The IF-THEN criterion of the fuzzy rule base is formulated to convert a fuzzy input into a fuzzy output. The total number of rules is 125 in the fuzzy rule base. The SAM expresses the judgment corresponding to the individual experiences of the experts performing FMEA as weights. Implementing the SAM is of significance when operating fuzzy sets regarding the expert opinion and can confirm the concurrence of expert opinion. The GTM can perform defuzzification to obtain a crisp value from a fuzzy membership function and determine the priorities by considering the degree of relation and the form of a matrix and weights for the severity, occurrence, and detectability. The proposed models prioritize the failure modes of the rotorcraft landing system. The conventional FMEA and fuzzy rule base can set the same priorities. SAM and GTM can set different priorities with objectivity through weight setting.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.48 no.6
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• pp.921-932
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• 2006

Management to improve beef tenderness is always been a historical idea, but during the recent past it has become an issue of prime importance to the meat scientists and the industries as well. Variation in tenderness is the prime explanation for consumer’s dissatisfaction for the concern meat. It has been well documented that both postmortem proteolysis and sarcomere length have significant effect on meat tenderness and its consistency. Electrical stimulation and tenderstretch techniques have been used by a number of countries to underpin carcass quality assurance schemes focused on eating quality. The mechanism(s) by which the postmortem interventions improve tenderness (or prevent toughness) has not been fully elucidated. However, it is evident that electrical stimulation accelerates the development of rigor mortis so that prevention of cold shortening is possible and ageing commences at higher temperatures. On the other hand, tendersretch appears to prevent meat toughness via placing tension of the myofibrils and connective matrix during rigor development. Previous findings indicated that electrical stimulation and tenderstretch improved beef tenderness even for fattened cattle under moderate chilling conditions. Recent studies demonstrate beef tenderness to be one of the most important factors determining satisfaction levels of Korean beef consumers. There are number of studies which reported that electrical stimulation and tenderstretch techniques improved Hanwoo tenderness and color. It is believed that the techniques are mostly useful wherein controls of carcass size, fatness and/or chilling regimes are not easy such as Korean beef industry. However, Korean beef industry is one such area where postmortem intervention techniques have not been adopted so far. Taking into consideration of the Korean beef industry, wherein carcass size and fatness varies the post-slaughter intervention technique could be the most feasible measurement to ensure eating quality. The manuscript attempts to highlight the current knowledge aiming primarily towards the assurance of beef tenderness.

• Journal of KIISE:Databases
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• v.37 no.3
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• pp.127-136
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• 2010

With rapid growth of information and computer communication technologies, the numbers of digital documents including multimedia data have been recently exploded. In particular, news video database and news video mining have became the subject of extensive research, to develop effective and efficient tools for manipulation and analysis of news videos, because of their information richness. However, many research focus on browsing, retrieval and summarization of news videos. Up to date, it is a relatively early state to discover and to analyse the plentiful latent semantic knowledge from news videos. In this paper, we propose the news video mining system based on multi-modal approach and text mining, which uses the visual-textual information of news video clips and their scripts. The proposed system systematically constructs a taxonomy of news video stories in automatic manner with hierarchical clustering algorithm which is one of text mining methods. Then, it multilaterally analyzes the topics of news video stories by means of time-cluster trend graph, weighted cluster growth index, and network analysis. To clarify the validity of our approach, we analyzed the news videos on "The Second Summit of South and North Korea in 2007".