• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.129-147
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• 2022

The properties of soil are naturally highly variable and thus, to ensure proper safety and reliability, we need to test a large number of samples across the length and depth. In pile foundations, conducting field tests are highly expensive and the traditional empirical relations too have been proven to be poor in performance. The study proposes a state-of-art Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO) hybridized Artificial Neural Network (ANN), Extreme Learning Machine (ELM) and Adaptive Neuro Fuzzy Inference System (ANFIS); and comparative analysis of metaheuristic models (ANN-PSO, ELM-PSO, ANFIS-PSO) for prediction of bearing capacity of pile foundation trained and tested on dataset of nearly 300 dynamic pile tests from the literature. A novel ensemble model of three hybrid models is constructed to combine and enhance the predictions of the individual models effectively. The authenticity of the dataset is confirmed using descriptive statistics, correlation matrix and sensitivity analysis. Ram weight and diameter of pile are found to be most influential input parameter. The comparative analysis reveals that ANFIS-PSO is the best performing model in testing phase (R² = 0.85, RMSE = 0.01) while ELM-PSO performs best in training phase (R² = 0.88, RMSE = 0.08); while the ensemble provided overall best performance based on the rank score. The performance of ANN-PSO is least satisfactory compared to the other two models. The findings were confirmed using Taylor diagram, error matrix and uncertainty analysis. Based on the results ELM-PSO and ANFIS-PSO is proposed to be used for the prediction of bearing capacity of piles and ensemble learning method of joining the outputs of individual models should be encouraged. The study possesses the potential to assist geotechnical engineers in the design phase of civil engineering projects.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.31 no.6
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• pp.682-691
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• 2023

Cell transformation induced by epidermal growth factor (EGF) and 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA) is a critical event in cancer initiation and progression, and understanding the underlying mechanisms is essential for the development of new therapeutic strategies. Licorice extract contains various bioactive compounds, which have been reported to have anticancer and anti-inflammatory effects. This study investigated the cancer preventive efficacy of licochalcone D (LicoD), a chalcone derivative in licorice extract, in EGF and TPA-induced transformed skin keratinocyte cells. LicoD effectively suppressed EGF-induced cell proliferation and anchorage-independent colony growth. EGF and TPA promoted the S phase of cell cycle, while LicoD treatment caused G1 phase arrest and down-regulated cyclin D1 and up-regulated p21 expression associated with the G1 phase. LicoD also induced apoptosis and increased apoptosis-related proteins such as cleaved-caspase-3, cleaved-caspase-7, and Bax (Bcl2-associated X protein). We further investigated the effect of LicoD on the AKT signaling pathway involved in various cellular processes and found decreased p-AKT, p-GSK3β, and p-NFκB expression. Treatment with MK-2206, an AKT pharmacological inhibitor, suppressed EGF-induced cell proliferation and transformed colony growth. In conclusion, this study demonstrated the potential of LicoD as a preventive agent for skin carcinogenesis.

• Current Optics and Photonics
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• v.8 no.4
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• pp.355-365
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• 2024

Wavefront coding (WFC) imaging systems can redistribute the energy of an interference laser spot on an image plane sensor by wavefront phase modulation and reduce the peak intensity, realizing laser protection while maintaining imaging functionality by leveraging algorithmic post-processing. In this paper, a spiral axicon WFC imaging system is proposed, and the performance for laser protection is investigated by constructing a laser transmission model. An Airy disk on an image plane sensor is refactored into a symmetrical hollow ring by a spiral axicon phase mask, and the maximum intensity can be reduced to lower than 1% and single-pixel power to 1.2%. The spiral axicon phase mask exhibits strong robustness to the position of the interference laser source and can effectively reduce the risk of sensor damage for an almost arbitrary lase propagation distance. Moreover, we revealed that there is a sensor hazard distance for both conventional and WFC imaging systems where the maximum single-pixel power reaches a peak value under irradiation of a power-fixed laser source. Our findings can offer guidance for the anti-laser reinforcement design of photoelectric imaging systems, thereby enhancing the adaptability of imaging systems in a complex laser environment. The laser blinding-resistant imaging system has potential applications in security monitoring, autonomous driving, and intense-laser-pulse experiments.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.19
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• pp.8225-8228
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• 2014

Glioma is one of the most common tumors in China and chemotherapy is critical for its treatment. Recent studies showed that benzyl isothiocyanate (BITC) could inhibit the growth of glioma cells, but the mechanisms are not fully understood. This study explored the inhibitory effect of BITC on invasion and angiogenesis of U87MG human glioma cells in vitro and in vivo, as well as potential mechanisms. It was found that BITC could inhibit invasion and angiogenesis of human glioma U87MG cells by inducing cell cycle arrest at phase G2/M. It also was demonstrated that BITC decreased expression of cyclin B1, p21, MMP-2/9, VE-cadherin, CD44, CXCR4 and MTH1, the activity of the telomerase and $PKC{\zeta}$ pathway. Microarray analysis was thus useful to explore the potential target genes related to tumorigenic processes. BITC may play important roles in the inhibition of invasion and angiogenesis of human glioma cells.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Aeronautical & Space Sciences
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• v.46 no.4
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• pp.324-331
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• 2018

The thermal environment on lunar surface is more severe than that of earth's surface or low earth orbit because of the long daytime and nighttime due to 28 days of rotation cycle of moon. Thus, analyzing heat flux on lunar lander at potential landing sites is important to determine the landing site in its initial design phase. In this study, thermal model of lunar regolith that can simulate lunar surface temperature was constructed for analyzing thermal characteristics according to the potential landing sites of lunar lander. The heat flux analyses were performed various latitudes of equator, mid-latitude, polar regions, lunar mare and highland. In addition, we also investigated the heat flux of lunar lander when it is landed on adjacent area to hill.

• The Journal of Korean Institute of Electromagnetic Engineering and Science
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• v.29 no.8
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• pp.594-598
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• 2018

The tangential electric polarizability of a electrically small square patch, which is commonly used in metasurfaces, is calculated using electric potential continuity. Since the potential at the patch surface is not uniform due to the equivalent electric dipole located at the center, there is a problem in that the polarizability is not uniquely defined. To obtain equivalent polarizability, the meshes in the analysis area are divided on the patch surface, and the equivalent polarizability is calculated by averaging the polarizabilities obtained at each point. The results of the proposed method, third-power series approximation, and experimental equations are compared and verified. Finally, the magnitude and phase of the reflection coefficient of patch metasurface calculated by generalized sheet transition conditions(GSTCs) are in good agreement with the HFSS simulation results.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.223-232
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• 2020

Sesamin, a lipid-soluble lignin originally isolated from sesame seeds, which induces cancer cell apoptosis and autophagy. In the present study, has been reported that sesamin induces apoptosis via several pathways in human lung cancer cells. However, whether mitophagy is involved in sesamin induced lung cancer cell apotosis remains unclear. This study, the anticancer activity of sesamin in lung cancer was studied by reactive oxygen species (ROS) and mitophagy. A549 cells were treated with sesamin, and cell viability, migration ability, and cell cycle were assessed using the CCK8 assay, scratch-wound test, and flow cytometry, respectively. ROS levels, mitochondrial membrane potential, and apoptosis were examined by flow cytometric detection of DCFH-DA fluorescence and by using JC-1 and TUNEL assays. The results indicated that sesamin treatment inhibited the cell viability and migration ability of A549 cells and induced G₀/G₁ phase arrest. Furthermore, sesamin induced an increase in ROS levels, a reduction in mitochondrial membrane potential, and apoptosis accompanied by an increase in cleaved caspase-3 and cleaved caspase-9. Additionally, sesamin triggered mitophagy and increased the expression of PINK1 and translocation of Parkin from the cytoplasm to the mitochondria. However, the antioxidant N-acetyl-L-cysteine clearly reduced the oxidative stress and mitophagy induced by sesamin. Furthermore, we found that cyclosporine A (an inhibitor of mitophagy) decreased the inhibitory effect of sesamin on A549 cell viability. Collectively, our data indicate that sesamin exerts lethal effects on lung cancer cells through the induction of ROS-mediated mitophagy and mitochondrial apoptosis.

• Korean Journal of Materials Research
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.192-195
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• 2011

The electro-deposition of compound semiconductors has been attracting more attention because of its ability to rapidly deposit nanostructured materials and thin films with controlled morphology, dimensions, and crystallinity in a costeffective manner (1). In particular, low band-gap $A_2B_3$-type chalcogenides, such as $Sb_2Te_3$ and $Bi_2Te_3$, have been extensively studied because of their potential applications in thermoelectric power generator and cooler and phase change memory. Thermoelectric $Sb_xTe_y$ films were potentiostatically electrodeposited in aqueous nitric acid electrolyte solutions containing different ratios of $TeO_2$ to $Sb_2O_3$. The stoichiometric $Sb_xTe_y$ films were obtained at an applied voltage of -0.15V vs. SCE using a solution consisting of 2.4 mM $TeO_2$, 0.8 mM $Sb_2O_3$, 33 mM tartaric acid, and 1M $HNO_3$. The stoichiometric $Sb_xTe_y$ films had the rhombohedral structure with a preferred orientation along the [015] direction. The films featured hole concentration and mobility of $5.8{\times}10^{18}/cm^3$ and $54.8\;cm^2/V{\cdot}s$, respectively. More negative applied potential yielded more Sb content in the deposited $Sb_xTe_y$ films. In addition, the hole concentration and mobility decreased with more negative deposition potential and finally showed insulating property, possibly due to more defect formation. The Seebeck coefficient of as-deposited $Sb_2Te_3$ thin film deposited at -0.15V vs. SCE at room temperature was approximately 118 ${\mu}V/K$ at room temperature, which is similar to bulk counterparts.

• Corrosion Science and Technology
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• v.14 no.6
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• pp.261-266
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• 2015

The capacity of passive metal to repassivate after film damage determines the development of local corrosion and the resistance to corrosion failures. In this work, the repassivation kinetics of 316L stainless steel (316L SS) was investigated in borate buffer solution (pH 9.1) using a novel abrading electrode technique. The repassivation kinetics was analyzed in terms of the current density flowing from freshly bare 316L SS surface as measured by a potentiostatic method. During the early phase of decay (t < 2 s), according to the Avrami kinetics-based film growth model, the transient current was separated into anodic dissolution ($i_{diss}$) and film formation ($i_{film}$) components and analyzed individually. The film reformation rate and thickness were compared according to applied potential. Anodic dissolution initially dominated the repassivation for a short time, and the amount of dissolution increased with increasing applied potential in the passive region. Film growth at higher potentials occurred more rapidly compared to at lower potentials. Increasing the applied potential from 0 $V_{SCE}$ to 0.8 $V_{SCE}$ resulted in a thicker passive film (0.12 to 0.52 nm). If the oxide monolayer covered the entire bare surface (${\theta}=1$), the electric field strength through the thin passive film reached $1.6{\times}10^7V/cm$.

• Korean Journal of Construction Engineering and Management
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.13-22
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• 2011

Many studies on cause and prevention of claim have been carried out but they were mostly intended to come up with the improvement measures, improvement system or the measures to deal with the claim, which consequently lacked the substantial ways to identify the details of claim for prevention purpose. That is, there's in fact no tool, in preparation for potential claims, to identify and review the major potential causes at design stage to mitigate the claim and thus, it's necessary to develop the tool such as checklist needed to prepare the claim-supporting documents, check the relevant laws as well as to identify the cause of claim. Hence the study, given the fact that cause of claim is mostly generated at the design stage though the claim itself tends to occur at the construction stage, was aimed at developing the checklist based on contract document such as design documents at design stage for public construction projects in a bid to prevent the potential claim occurred at the design stage.