• Smart Structures and Systems
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• v.25 no.5
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• pp.605-617
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• 2020

The existence of damages in structures causes changes in the physical properties by reducing the modal parameters. In this paper, we develop a two-stages approach based on normalized Modal Strain Energy Damage Indicator (nMSEDI) for quick applications to predict the location of damage. A two-dimensional IsoGeometric Analysis (2D-IGA), Machine Learning Algorithm (MLA) and optimization techniques are combined to create a new tool. In the first stage, we introduce a modified damage identification technique based on frequencies using nMSEDI to locate the potential of damaged elements. In the second stage, after eliminating the healthy elements, the damage index values from nMSEDI are considered as input in the damage quantification algorithm. The hybrid of Teaching-Learning-Based Optimization (TLBO) with Artificial Neural Network (ANN) and Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO) are used along with nMSEDI. The objective of TLBO is to estimate the parameters of PSO-ANN to find a good training based on actual damage and estimated damage. The IGA model is updated using experimental results based on stiffness and mass matrix using the difference between calculated and measured frequencies as objective function. The feasibility and efficiency of nMSEDI-PSO-ANN after finding the best parameters by TLBO are demonstrated through the comparison with nMSEDI-IGA for different scenarios. The result of the analyses indicates that the proposed approach can be used to determine correctly the severity of damage in beam structures.

• Advances in concrete construction
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• v.10 no.5
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• pp.443-454
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• 2020

In recent years, many studies have been done on the performance of concrete containing glass powder (GP). For the purpose of widespread use of GP in concrete mixes, a knowledge of the performance of such a mixture after a fire is essential for the perspective of structural use. This research work was carried out to evaluate the performance of High Performance Concrete (HPC) made with GP after being exposed to elevated temperature. The studied mixtures include partial replacement of cement by GP with up to 30%. The mechanical performance and structural alterations were assessed after high temperature treatment from 200℃ to 800℃. The mechanical performance was evaluated by testing the specimens to the compressive and tensile strength. In addition, the mass loss and the porosity were measured to notice the structural alterations. Changes in microstructure due to temperature was also investigated by the X-ray diffraction (XRD) and thermal gravimetric analyses (TGA) as well as porosity adsorption tests. The results of the concrete strength tests showed a slight difference in compressive strength and the same tensile strength performance when replacing a part of the cement by GP. However, after high temperature exposition, concrete with GP showed better performance than the reference concrete for temperature below 600℃. But, after heating at 800℃, the strength of the concrete with GP drop slightly more than reference concrete. This is accompanied by an important increase in mass loss and water porosity. After the microstructure analysis, no important changes happened differently for concrete with GP at high temperature except a new calcium silica form appears after the 800℃ heating.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.18
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• pp.7843-7847
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• 2014

Background: Although breast cancer (BC) is one of the most common malignant diseases in women, the majority of the studies describing the characteristics of BC in elderly patients have been limited to survival assessments or tumor features, without using younger BC patients as a reference group. The aim of our study was to describe and compare tumor characteristics and management patterns in elderly versus younger breast cancer patients in Turkey. Materials and Methods: We retrospectively analyzed 152 patients with invasive breast cancer who underwent surgery in our institution between 2002 and 2012. Patients were divided into 2 groups according to age at the time of diagnosis. Results: There were 62 patients in the elderly group (${\geq}65$ years) and 90 patients in the younger group (<65 years). Compared to the younger group, tumors in the elderly group were more likely to be larger (p=0.018), of lower grade (p=0.005), and hormone receptor-positive (p>0.001). There were no significant differences regarding histology, localization, lymph node involvement, or types of surgical procedures between the 2 groups. Comorbidities were more common in elderly patients (p<0.001). In addition, elderly patients were more likely to receive hormonal therapy (p<0.001) and less likely to receive radiotherapy (p=0.08) and chemotherapy (p=0.003). There was no difference in survival and locoregional recurrence rates between the groups. Conclusions: The results of this study demonstrate that breast cancer in elderly patients has more favorable tumor features, warranting less aggressive treatment regimens after surgery.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.44 no.10
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• pp.1583-1587
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• 2015

Bile acids are endogenous metabolites that aid in the digestion and absorption of ingested fat and fat-soluble vitamins. However, high concentrations of deoxycholic acid (DCA) in the colon are associated with high incidence of colorectal cancer. In the present study, the binding of persimmon extracts to DCA in order to decrease inflammatory stress induced by DCA in a small intestinal epithelial cell line, Caco-2, was investigated. Young and ripened persimmons were extracted with distilled water (DW), ethanol, and acidic ethanol. Further, DW extract residue was re-extracted with acidic ethanol. Of the obtained extracts, acidic ethanol extract of young persimmon showed the highest bile-acid binding capacity. Moreover, acidic ethanol extract of young persimmon significantly inhibited nitric oxide production in Caco-2 cells stimulated with DCA and prevented significant reduction of trans-epithelial electric resistance. Based on these results, acidic ethanol extract of young persimmon can be used as a functional ingredient to enhance gastrointestinal health.

• Journal of radiological science and technology
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• v.43 no.5
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• pp.323-329
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• 2020

The purpose of this study is to investigate the effect of radiation shielding on the thyroid organ dose and image quality during Chest PA examination using automatic exposure control system. This study was conducted in the patient posture and examination conditions such as Chest PA using human model phantom. An experiment without shielding was set as a control group (non) and the cases of using paper coated with a contrast agent (contrast) and bismuth (bismuth) were used as experimental groups. Compared to non-shielded(non), the dose at bismuth increased about 7% in C(cervical vertebrae)5 and C6 and 14% in C7 and contrast showed dose increases of about 17 to 19% in C5 and C6 and about 21% in C7. As a result of the image quality comparison, when measured in the center of the cervical vertebrae, both SNR and CNR in bismuth increased about 40% higher than non, and contrast showed about 8 to 9% improvement. Compared with soft tissues of the cervix, bismuth reduced SNR by about 15% and CNR by about 13%, in contrast, SNR decreased by 11%, and CNR decreased by about 10%. In the Chest PA using AEC, the method of using the shield in front of the collimator has the advantage to observe the anatomical structure of the neck area well compared to the method using the lead. However, the dose at the neck can be increased by 7-21% depending on shielding materials.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.7 no.6
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• pp.460-465
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• 2013

The hepatoprotective activity of Acanthopanax koreanum Nakai extract (AE) was investigated against D-Galactosamine/Lipopolysaccharide (D-GalN/LPS)-induced liver failure rats compared with that of acanthoic acid (AA) isolated from AE. Although D-GalN/LPS (250 mg/kg body weight/$10{\mu}g/kg$ body weight, i.p.) induced hepatic damage, pretreatments with AE (1 and 3% AE/g day) and AA (0.037% AA, equivalent to 3% AE/g day) alleviated the hepatic damage. This effect was the result of a significant decrease in the activity of alanine transaminase. Concomitantly, both the nitric oxide and IL-6 levels in the plasma were significantly decreased by high-dose AE (AE3) treatment compared to the GalN/LPS control (AE0). This response resulted from the regulation of pro-inflammatory signaling via a decrease in TLR4 and CD14 mRNA levels in the liver. While a high degree of necrosis and hemorrhage were observed in the AE0, pretreatment with AE3 and AA reduced the extent of hepatocyte degeneration, necrosis, hemorrhage and inflammatory cell infiltrates compared to the AE0. In conclusion, these results suggest that especially high-dose AE are capable of alleviating D-GalN/LPS-induced hepatic injury by decreasing hepatic toxicity, thereby mitigating the TLR 4-dependent cytokine release. The anti-inflammatory effect of AE could be contributing to that of AA and AE is better than AA.

• Food Science of Animal Resources
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• v.34 no.6
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• pp.829-835
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• 2014

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is caused by dysregulation of colon mucosal immunity and mucosal epithelial barrier function. Recent studies have reported that lipoteichoic acid (LTA) from Lactobacillus plantarum K8 reduces excessive production of pro-inflammatory cytokine. In this study, we investigated the preventive effects of lysate of Lb. plantarum K8 in dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced colitis. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were orally pretreated with lysate of Lb. plantarum K8 (low dose or high dose) or live Lb. plantarum K8 prior to the induction of colitis using 4% DSS. Disease progression was monitored by assessment of disease activity index (DAI). Histological changes of colonic tissues were evaluated by hematoxylin and eosin (HE) staining. Tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-${\alpha}$), interleukin-6 (IL-6) levels were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The colon mRNA expressions of TNF-${\alpha}$, IL-6, and toll like receptor-2 (TLR-2) were examined by quantitative real-time-transcription polymerase chain reaction (qPCR). Lysate of Lb. plantarum K8 suppressed colon shortening, edema, mucosal damage, and the loss of DSS-induced crypts. The groups that received lysate of Lb. plantarum K8 exhibited significantly decreased levels of the pro-inflammatory cytokines TNF-${\alpha}$ and IL-6 in the colon. Interestingly, colonic expression of toll like receptor-2 mRNA in the high-dose lysate of Lb. plantarum K8 group increased significantly. Our study demonstrates the protective effects of oral lysate of Lb. plantarum K8 administration on DSS-induced colitis via the modulation of pro-inflammatory mediators of the mucosal immune system.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.38 no.12
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• pp.1044-1053
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• 2015

This study first investigated the effects of corn gluten hydrolysate (CGH) (1.5 g/day) administration for 7 days on appetite-responsive genes in lean Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats. In a second set of experiments, the metabolic changes occurring at multiple time points over 8 weeks in response to CGH (35.33% wt/wt) were observed in high-fat (HF, 60% of energy as fat) diet-fed SD rats. In lean rats, the hypothalamus neuropeptide-Y and proopiomelanocortin mRNA levels of the CGH group were significantly changed in response to CGH administration. In the second part of the study, CGH treatment was found to reduce body weight and perirenal and epididymal fat weight. CGH also prevented an increase in food intake at 2 weeks and lowered plasma leptin and insulin levels in comparison with the HF group. This reduction in the plasma and hepatic lipid levels was followed by improved insulin resistance, and the beneficial metabolic effects of CGH were also partly related to increases in plasma adiponectin levels. The Homeostasis Model of Assessment - Insulin Resistance (HOMA-IR), an index of insulin resistance, was markedly improved in the HF-CGH group compared with the HF group at 6 weeks. According to the microarray results, adipose tissue mRNA expression related to G-protein coupled receptor protein signaling pathway and sensory perception was significantly improved after 8 weeks of CGH administration. In conclusion, the present findings suggest that dietary CGH may be effective for improving hyperglycemia, dyslipidemia and insulin resistance in diet-induced obese rats as well as appetite control in lean rats.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.67-73
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• 2016

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: This study was aimed at examining the association between dietary flavanones intake and lipid profiles according to the presence of metabolic syndrome (MetS) in Korean women with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). SUBJECTS/METHODS: A cross-sectional analysis was performed among 502 female T2DM patients (non-MetS group; n = 129, MetS group; n = 373) who were recruited from the Huh's Diabetes Clinic in Seoul, Korea between 2005 and 2011. The dietary intake was assessed by a validated semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) and the data was analyzed using the Computer Aided Nutritional Analysis program (CAN-Pro) version 4.0 software. The intake of flavanones was estimated on the basis of the flavonoid database. RESULTS: In the multiple linear regression analysis after adjustment for confounding factors, daily flavanones intake was negatively associated with CVD risk factors such as total cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, and apoB and apoB/apoA1 ratio only in the MetS group but not in the non-MetS group. Multiple logistic regression analysis revealed that the odds ratio for a higher apoB/apoA1 ratio above the median (${\geq}0.74$) was significantly low in the $4^{th}$ quartile compared to that in the $1^{st}$ quartile of dietary flavanones intake [OR: 0.477, 95% CI: 0.255-0.894, P for trend = 0.0377] in the MetS group. CONCLUSIONS: Dietary flavanones intake was inversely associated with the apoB/apoA1 ratio, suggesting a potential protective effect of flavanones against CVD in T2DM women with MetS.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.7 no.4
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• pp.302-308
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• 2013

The emerging role of endothelial inflammation in diabetes has stimulated research interest in the effects of nutrition on related indices. In the current study we investigated whether the nutrient composition of dietary formula as reflected in glycemic index (GI) may be predictive of postprandial endothelial inflammation in non-diabetic subjects. A double-blinded, randomized, crossover study was conducted in non-diabetic subjects (n = 8/group). Each subject consumed three types of diabetes-specific dietary formulas (high-fiber formula [FF], high-monounsaturated fatty acid (MUFA) formula [MF] and control formula [CF]) standardized to 50 g of available carbohydrates with a 1-week interval between each. The mean glycemic index (GI) was calculated and 3-hour postprandial responses of insulin, soluble intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (sICAM-1), nitrotyrosine (NT) and free fatty acids (FFA) were measured. The MF showed the lowest mean GI and significantly low area under the curve (AUC) for insulin (P = 0.038), but significantly high AUCs for sICAM-1 (P<0.001) and FFA (P < 0.001) as compared to the CF and FF. The FF showed intermediate mean GI, but significantly low AUC for NT (P<0.001) as compared to the CF and MF. The mean GI was not positively correlated to any of the inflammatory markers evaluated, and in fact negatively correlated to changes in FFA (r = -0.473, P = 0.006). While the MF with the lowest GI showed the highest values in most of the inflammatory markers measured, the FF with intermediate GI had a modest beneficial effect on endothelial inflammation. These results suggest that nutrient composition of dietary formula as reflected in the GI may differently influence acute postprandial inflammation in non-diabetic subjects.