• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
• /
• v.25 no.4
• /
• pp.383-389
• /
• 2017

Dexmedetomidine is an ${\alpha}2$-adrenergic receptor agonist that exhibits a protective effect on ischemia-reperfusion injury of the heart, kidney, and other organs. In the present study, we examined the neuroprotective action and potential mechanisms of dexmedetomidine against ischemia-reperfusion induced cerebral injury. Transient focal cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury was induced in Sprague-Dawley rats by middle cerebral artery occlusion. After the ischemic insult, animals then received intravenous dexmedetomidine of $1{\mu}g/kg$ load dose, followed by $0.05{\mu}g/kg/min$ infusion for 2 h. After 24 h of reperfusion, neurological function, brain edema, and the morphology of the hippocampal CA1 region were evaluated. The levels and mRNA expressions of interleukin-$1{\beta}$, interleukin-6 and tumor nevrosis factor-${\alpha}$ as well as the protein expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase, cyclooxygenase-2, nuclear factor-${\kappa}Bp65$, inhibitor of ${\kappa}B{\alpha}$ and phosphorylated of ${\kappa}B{\alpha}$ in hippocampus were assessed. We found that dexmedetomidine reduced focal cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury in rats by inhibiting the expression and release of inflammatory cytokines and mediators. Inhibition of the nuclear factor-${\kappa}B$ pathway may be a mechanism underlying the neuroprotective action of dexmedetomidine against focal cerebral I/R injury.

• Membrane and Water Treatment
• /
• v.9 no.3
• /
• pp.181-188
• /
• 2018

A sidestream contains the filtrate or concentrate from the belt filter press, filter backwash and supernatant from sludge digesters. The sidestream flow, which heads back into the sewage treatment train, is about 1-3% less than the influent flow. However, the sidestream can increase the nutrient load since it contains high concentrations of phosphorus and nitrogen. In this study, the removal of PO4-P with organic matter characteristics and bacteriological changes during the sidestream treatment via ladle furnace (LF) slag was investigated. The sidestream used in this study consisted of 11-14% PO4-P and 3.2-3.6% soluble chemical oxygen demand in influent loading rates. LF slag, which had a relatively high $Ca^{2+}$ release compared to other slags, was used to remove $PO_4-P$ from the sidestream. The phosphate removal rates increased as the slag particle size decreased 19.1% (2.0-4.0 mm, 25.2% (1.0-2.0 mm) and 79.9% (0.5-1.0 mm). The removal rates of dissolved organic carbon, soluble chemical oxygen demand, color and aromatic organic matter ($UV_{254}$) were 17.6, 41.7, 90.2 and 77.3%, respectively. Fluorescence excitation-emission matrices and liquid chromatography-organic carbon detection demonstrated that the sidestream treatment via LF slag was effective in the removal of biopolymers. However, the removal of dissolved organic matter was not significant during the treatment. The intact bacterial biomass decreased from $1.64{\times}10^8cells/mL$ to $1.05{\times}10^8cells/mL$. The use of LF slag was effective for the removal of phosphate and the removal efficiency of phosphate was greater than 80% for up to 100 bed volumes.

• Journal of Wetlands Research
• /
• v.19 no.3
• /
• pp.296-302
• /
• 2017

Generally, a parking lot is constructed using asphalt or concrete. Such materials are impermeable, which means that a parking lot will directly release pollutants to any nearby water system during a rainfall event. An increased quantity of nonpoint source pollutants harms the ecohydrological system and causes further environmental damage leading to dysfunctional water circulation systems. Therefore, there is an urgent need for the design and application of Low Impact Development (LID) systems that allow more effective prevention of water circulation problems and management of nonpoint source pollution. This study aims to support such efforts by analyzing a permeable paver parking lot constructed using one of the LID techniques and comparing it to a conventional one in terms of the concentration of pollutants, nonpoint source pollution load and runoff rainfall lag effects during a rainfall event; it could serve as a reference for the construction of permeable paver parking lots in the future.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Aeronautical & Space Sciences
• /
• v.40 no.5
• /
• pp.439-445
• /
• 2012

The COMS(Communication, Ocean, and Meteorological Satellite) is subjected to shock loads when the stage or fairing of a launch vehicle is separated and the satellite is separated from the launch vehicle during the launch vehicle flight. And, after the satellite is separated from the launcher, the COMS is subjected to shock loads when the solar array is deployed, Ka-Band communication antenna is deployed, and meteorological imager radiator cover is released. In order to validate the satellite safety against these shock loads on ground, shock tests were performed. In this paper, the shock tests performed in the course of the COMS development are described, and the method to assess the test result is presented with an example of Geostationary Ocean Color Imager(GOCI). In Ariane-5 launch vehicle, the clampband release shock for satellite separation is lower than the fairing or stage separation. In this paper, the extrapolation method to take into account the maximum shock load from the launch vehicle by using the satellite separation shock test result is also introduced.

• Journal of Power System Engineering
• /
• v.22 no.1
• /
• pp.48-55
• /
• 2018

It has recently been reported that methanol fuel has been used in the product carrier with established duel fuel engine, which has been greatly reducing emissions of $CO_2$, NOx and SOx from the engine. However, to use methanol alone as fuel oil in a general diesel engine, design modification of cylinder head is needed because the ignition aid device or the duel fuel injection system is needed. On the other hand, only if the mixer is installed on the fuel oil supply line, diesel oil - methanol blending oil can be used as fuel oil for the diesel engine, but there is a problem of the phase separation when two fuels are mixed. In this study, diesel oil and methanol were blended compulsorily in preventing the phase separation with installing agitators and a fuel oil boost pump on fuel line of a test engine. Also, cylinder pressure and fuel consumption quantity were measured according to engine load and methanol blending ratio, and indicated mean effective pressure, heat release rate and combustion temperature obtained from the single zone combustion model were analyzed to investigate the effects of latent heat of vaporization of methanol on combustion stability and characteristics. As a result, the combustion stability and characteristics of 10% methanol blending oil are closest to the those of diesel oil, and it could be used as fuel oil in existing diesel engines without deterioration of engine performance and combustion characteristics.

• Journal of the Ergonomics Society of Korea
• /
• v.30 no.6
• /
• pp.757-764
• /
• 2011

Objective: The aim of this study was to provide a method to improve the compliance and reduce the time by reducing the workload during the model change work. Background: The enterprises are constructing the small quantity batch production system by increasing the number of model change and reducing model-changing. However, the compliance is low because the work is strenuous and high skills are needed, so the system management is facing with many difficulties. Method: After classifying the model change work according to the purposes(preparation, change and adjustment) with the target of mascara filling machine, element tasks time were measured and the motion analysis(therblig symbol) and REBA analysis were performed. The study incorporated 3 independent variables as the number of motion, REBA score and the element time. The dependent variable is the type of element work as preparation, change and adjustment. The statistical test was performed by one-way ANOVA(${\alpha}$ < 0.05). Results: For the preparation, the number of motions appeared in the order of Use(U), Transport Loaded(TL), and Position(P). The order appeared in change is Use(U), Release Load(RL), and Grasp (G). The adjustment appeared in the order of Position(P) and Use(U). The results of average motion time as the element work times divided by the number of motion appeared in the order of adjustment(1.85sec/motion), preparation(1.11sec/motion), and change(0.62sec/motion). The results of REBA showed that the average risk level of change and adjustment were medium, but 53.1% of change and 42.9% of adjustment were evaluated as high. Conclusion: Reducing the avoidance and improving the compliance of work could be expected if the job autonomy were improved by improving the working postures with high risk level. Application: It is expected to solve the problem of reducing the time of model change work in the small quantity batch production system. The future work is to carry out the improvement directions found in the results and compare the results after improvement.

• KCI Concrete Journal
• /
• v.12 no.1
• /
• pp.57-68
• /
• 2000

The effect of structure size on the nominal strength of unidirectional fiber-polymer composites, failing by propagation of a kink band with fiber microbuckling, is analyzed experimentally and theoretically. Tests of novel geometrically similar carbon-PEEK specimens, with notches slanted so as to lead to a pure kink band (without shear or splitting cracks), are conducted. The specimens are rectangular strips of widths 15.875, 31.75. and 63.5 mm (0.625, 1.25 and 2.5 in and gage lengths 39.7, 79.375 and 158.75 mm (1.563, 3.125 and 6.25 in.). They reveal the existence of a strong (deterministic. non-statistical) size effect. The doubly logarithmic plot of the nominal strength (load divided by size and thickness) versus the characteristic size agrees with the approximate size effect law proposed for quasibrittle failures in 1983 by Bazant This law represents a gradual transition from a horizontal asymptote, representing the case of no size effect (characteristic of plasticity or strength criteria), to an asymptote of slope -1/2 (characteristic of linear elastic fracture mechanics. LEFM) . The size effect law for notched specimens permits easy identification of the fracture energy of the kink bandand the length of the fracture process zone at the front of the band solely from the measurements of maximum loads. Optimum fits of the test results by the size effect law are obtained, and the size effect law parameters are then used to identify the material fracture characteristics, Particularly the fracture energy and the effective length of the fracture process zone. The results suggest that composite size effect must be considered in strengthening existing concrete structural members such as bridge columns and beams using a composite retrofitting technique.

• Proceedings of the Korea Institute of Fire Science and Engineering Conference
• /
• 1997.11a
• /
• pp.439-449
• /
• 1997

Studies have been carried out to determine the effect of sprinklers on fires typical of a number of occupancies including simulated of office furniture, supermarkets, carpet displays, libraries, video stores and liquor stores. After surveys of actual fire loads, the experiments were conducted in a specially designed sprinklered fire-calorimeter with a collecting hood 6 m x6 m leading to a vertical duct 1 m in diameter. Details of the rig are given elsewhere [1]. Only well ventilated fires were studied. Rate of heat release and production of various toxic chemicals were monitored during the tests. Both sprinklered and unsprinklered fires were used. The results were used to establish the unsprinklered burning behaviour and the fire-control effects of sprinklers. Before sprinkler operation, the rate of fire growth could be modelled as 12_fires as given in NFPA 92B (1991 Edition) [2]. It was found that operation of sprirnklers controlled but did not extinguish the fires. This was expected as parts of the fire load were shielded from the spray. Also there were significant increases in the concentration of carbon monoxide when the sprinklers operated. Sprinklers had little effect on the concentrations of other toxic products measured. The results from the tests were extrapolated to large single storey buildings for the same occupancy classes and the results used to compare the required and the available escape times for different occupancies, particularly whether the use of sprinklers would improve the chances of escape from those premises. It was found that in most of the cases studied, adequate escape times will be available without any special measures. For very rapid fire growths, however, special measures, such as availability of trained staff may be needed. Standard response sprinklers will have little impact.

• Biomaterials Research
• /
• v.22 no.4
• /
• pp.235-248
• /
• 2018

Background: Injectable hydrogels have been extensively researched for the use as scaffolds or as carriers of therapeutic agents such as drugs, cells, proteins, and bioactive molecules in the treatment of diseases and cancers and the repair and regeneration of tissues. It is because they have the injectability with minimal invasiveness and usability for irregularly shaped sites, in addition to typical advantages of conventional hydrogels such as biocompatibility, permeability to oxygen and nutrient, properties similar to the characteristics of the native extracellular matrix, and porous structure allowing therapeutic agents to be loaded. Main body: In this article, recent studies of injectable hydrogel systems applicable for therapeutic agent delivery, disease/cancer therapy, and tissue engineering have reviewed in terms of the various factors physically and chemically contributing to sol-gel transition via which gels have been formed. The various factors are as follows: several different non-covalent interactions resulting in physical crosslinking (the electrostatic interactions (e.g., the ionic and hydrogen bonds), hydrophobic interactions, ${\pi}$-interactions, and van der Waals forces), in-situ chemical reactions inducing chemical crosslinking (the Diels Alder click reactions, Michael reactions, Schiff base reactions, or enzyme-or photo-mediated reactions), and external stimuli (temperatures, pHs, lights, electric/magnetic fields, ultrasounds, or biomolecular species (e.g., enzyme)). Finally, their applications with accompanying therapeutic agents and notable properties used were reviewed as well. Conclusion: Injectable hydrogels, of which network morphology and properties could be tuned, have shown to control the load and release of therapeutic agents, consequently producing significant therapeutic efficacy. Accordingly, they are believed to be successful and promising biomaterials as scaffolds and carriers of therapeutic agents for disease and cancer therapy and tissue engineering.

• Journal of Industrial and Engineering Chemistry
• /
• v.68
• /
• pp.229-237
• /
• 2018

Medical silicone tubes are generally used as implants for the treatment of nasolacrimal duct stenosis. However, side effects such as allergic reactions and bacterial infections have been reported following the silicone tube insertion, which cause surgical failure. These drawbacks can be overcome by modifying the silicone tube surface using a functional coating. Here, we report a biocompatible and superhydrophilic surface coating based on a polysaccharide multilayer nanofilm, which can load and release antibacterial and anti-inflammatory agents. The nanofilm is composed of carboxymethylcellulose (CMC) and chitosan (CHI), and fabricated by layer-by-layer (LbL) assembly. The LbL-assembled CMC/CHI multilayer films exhibited superhydrophilic properties, owing to the rough and porous structure obtained by a crosslinking process. The surface coated with the superhydrophilic CMC/CHI multilayer film initially exhibited antibacterial activity by preventing the adhesion of bacteria, followed by further enhanced antibacterial effects upon releasing the loaded antibacterial agent. In addition, inflammatory cytokine assays demonstrated the ability of the coating to deliver anti-inflammatory agents. The versatile nanocoating endows the surface with anti-adhesion and drug-delivery capabilities, with potential applications in the biomedical field. Therefore, we attempted to coat the nanofilm on the surface of an ophthalmic silicone tube to produce a multifunctional tube suitable for patient-specific treatment.