• Investigative Magnetic Resonance Imaging
• /
• v.5 no.2
• /
• pp.123-129
• /
• 2001

Purpose: The purposes of this study are to evaluate normal MR spectroscopy (MRS) data of the cerebellum and pons, and to evaluate intra-unit and inter-unit differences of the results. Materials and methods: Nine normal volunteers (mean age 23 years) were studied with two 1.5 Tesla MR units (A and B units). A total of four sessions of MRS study were performed with two sessions in ea.ch MR unit in each volunteer. In each session, MRS data were obtained from bilateral cerebellar hemisphere and pons. MRS was performed using spin-echo single voxel technique with repetition time of 2000 ms, echo time of 288ms and 128 averagings. Voxel size was $2{\;}{\times}{\;}2{\;}{\times}{\;}1.5{\;}cm$ in the cerebellum and $1.5{\;}{\times}{\;}1.5{\;}{\times}{\;}1.5{\;}cm$ in the pons. Metabolite ratios of NAA/Cho, NAAcCr, NAAc(Cho+Cr) and Cr/Cho (both peak heights and the peak areas) were compared among the results of four sessions of MRS for evaluation of intra-unit and inter-unit differences. Results: In the cerebellum, mean (SO values of peak height NAA/Cho, NAA/Cr, NAA/(Cho+Cr) and Cr/Cho ratios obtained in the first session of A unit were $1.08{\pm}O.16,{\;}1.44{\pm}O.286,{\;}0.61{\pm}O.09{\;}and{\;}O.76{\pm}0.13$, respectively. Comparing with the results of the second session, intra-unit differences were 3-7%. In B unit intra-unit differences were 1-9%, except for 22% of Cr/Cho ratio. Inter-unit differences between A and B units were 1-26%. In the pons, mean ISD values of peak height NANCho, NANCr, NANICho + Cr) and Cr/Cho ratios obtained in the first session of A unit were $1.51{\pm}O.35,{\;}3.35{\pm}O.78,{\;}1.02{\pm}0.16{\;}and{\;}0.47{\pm}O.14$, respectively. Mean NAAfCho, NANCr and NAAI(Cho+ Cr} ratios of the pons were significantly higher than those of the cerebellum. Intra-unit differences were 2-21 % in A unit and 4-18 % in B unit. Inter-unit differences between A and B units were 1-18%. The mean values obtained by using peak area were generally higher and wider in range than those of peak height in both units. Conclusion: Mean NAAfCho, NAAlCr and NAAf(Cho+Cr) ratios of the cerebellum were significanHy lower than those of the pons. Intra-unit differences of most metabolites ratios were generally not significant, whereas inter-unit differences were greater than intra-unit differences in more metabolite ratios. Therefore, normal MRS data of the cerebellum and the pons should be obtained in every MR unit, before MRS applications in the diseases of the cerebellum and the pons.

• Journal of Korean Society of Transportation
• /
• v.29 no.3
• /
• pp.73-82
• /
• 2011

Recent advancement in traffic surveillance systems has allowed the researchers to obtain more detailed vehicular movement such as individual vehicle trajectory data. Understanding the characteristics of interactions between leading and following vehicles in the traffic flow stream is a backbone for designing and evaluating more sophisticated traffic and vehicle control strategies. This study proposes a methodology for estimating rear-end crash potential, as a probabilistic measure, in real-time based on the analysis of vehicular movements. The methodology presented in this study consists of three components. The first predicts vehicle position and speed every second using a Kalman filtering technique. The second estimates the probability for the vehicle's trajectory to belong to either 'changing lane' or 'going straight'. A binary logistic regression (BLR) is used to model the lane-changing decision of the subject vehicle. The other component calculates crash probability by employing an exponential decay function that uses time-to-collision (TTC) between the subject vehicle and the front vehicle. The result of this study is expected to be adapted in developing traffic control and information systems, in particular, for crash prevention.

• Carbon letters
• /
• v.28
• /
• pp.72-80
• /
• 2018

In this study, an empirical relationship between the energy band gap of multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) and synthesis parameters in a chemical vapor deposition (CVD) reactor using factorial design of experiment was established. A bimetallic (Fe-Ni) catalyst supported on $CaCO_3$ was synthesized via wet impregnation technique and used for MWCNT growth. The effects of synthesis parameters such as temperature, time, acetylene flow rate, and argon carrier gas flow rate on the MWCNTs energy gap, yield, and aspect ratio were investigated. The as-prepared supported bimetallic catalyst and the MWCNTs were characterized for their morphologies, microstructures, elemental composition, thermal profiles and surface areas by high-resolution scanning electron microscope, high resolution transmission electron microscope, energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, thermal gravimetry analysis and Brunauer-Emmett-Teller. A regression model was developed to establish the relationship between band gap energy, MWCNTs yield and aspect ratio. The results revealed that the optimum conditions to obtain high yield and quality MWCNTs of 159.9% were: temperature ($700^{\circ}C$), time (55 min), argon flow rate ($230.37mL\;min^{-1}$) and acetylene flow rate ($150mL\;min^{-1}$) respectively. The developed regression models demonstrated that the estimated values for the three response variables; energy gap, yield and aspect ratio, were 0.246 eV, 557.64 and 0.82. The regression models showed that the energy band gap, yield, and aspect ratio of the MWCNTs were largely influenced by the synthesis parameters and can be controlled in a CVD reactor.

• Journal of Electrochemical Science and Technology
• /
• v.6 no.2
• /
• pp.65-74
• /
• 2015

This work examines the characterization and corrosion behaviour of laser alloyed UNSG10150 steel with three different premixed composition Zn-Sn binary powders using a 4.4 kW continuous wave (CW) Rofin Sinar Nd:YAG laser processing system. The steel alloyed samples were cut to corrosion coupons, immersed in sulphuric acid (0.5 M H₂SO₄) solution at 30℃ using electrochemical technique and investigated for its corrosion behaviour. The morphologies and microstructures of the developed coated and uncoated samples were characterized by Optic Nikon Optical microscope (OPM) and scanning electron microscope (SEM/EDS). Moreover, X-ray diffractometer (XRD) was used to identify the phases present. An enhancement of 2.7-times the hardness of the steel substrate was achieved in sample A₁ which may be attributed to the fine microstructure, dislocations and the high degree of saturation of solid solution brought by the high scanning speed. At scanning speed of 0.8 m/min, sample A₁ exhibited the highest polarization resistance R_p (1081678 Ωcm² ), lowest corrosion current density i_corr (4.81×10⁻⁸A/cm² ), and lowest corrosion rate Cr (0.0005 mm/year) in 0.5 M H₂SO₄. The polarization resistance R_p (1081678 Ωcm² ) is 67,813-times the polarization of the UNSG10150 substrate and 99.9972% reduction in the corrosion rate.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
• /
• v.24 no.6
• /
• pp.463-472
• /
• 2020

Direct reprogramming, also known as a trans-differentiation, is a technique to allow mature cells to be converted into other types of cells without inducing a pluripotent stage. It has been suggested as a major strategy to acquire the desired type of cells in cell-based therapies to repair damaged tissues. Studies related to switching the fate of cells through epigenetic modification have been progressing and they can bypass safety issues raised by the virus-based transfection methods. In this study, a protocol was established to directly convert fully differentiated fibroblasts into diverse mesenchymal-lineage cells, such as osteoblasts, adipocytes, chondrocytes, and ectodermal cells, including neurons, by means of DNA demethylation, immediately followed by culturing in various differentiating media. First, 24 h exposure of 5-azacytidine (5-aza-CN), a well-characterized DNA methyl transferase inhibitor, to NIH-3T3 murine fibroblast cells induced the expression of stem-cell markers, that is, increasing cell plasticity. Next, 5-aza-CN treated fibroblasts were cultured in osteogenic, adipogenic, chondrogenic, and neurogenic media with or without bone morphogenetic protein 2 for a designated period. Differentiation of each desired type of cell was verified by quantitative reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction/western blot assays for appropriate marker expression and by various staining methods, such as alkaline phosphatase/alizarin red S/oil red O/alcian blue. These proposed procedures allowed easier acquisition of the desired cells without any transgenic modification, using direct reprogramming technology, and thus may help make it more available in the clinical fields of regenerative medicine.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Nondestructive Testing
• /
• v.19 no.3
• /
• pp.173-179
• /
• 1999

The defects on the metal surface. such as the ended circular pressed hole. the penetrated circular drilled hole, and the linear hollow lanes have been investigated by means of the microwave. In this experiment, frequency was set at 9.2GHz with 3kHz modulation, and the methods of reflection, transmission, fixed carrier frequency, and mod-demodulated technique have been used for investigating defects. The magnitudes of the microwave signals have been changed at the ended circular pressed hole and the penetrated circular drilled hole. The defect sizes that were estimated from the reflected microwave signals had the dimensions enlarged by twice the original size of the penetrated circular drilled hole and 2.5 times the original size of the ended circular pressed hole. The magnitudes of the reflected microwave signals from the linear hollow lane have increased with expansion of the width of the notch. In the linear hollow lane with the depth of 2.4mm, the reflected microwave signals versus the defect widths had a maximum value at the defect width of 50mm, and in the linear hollow lanes with the depths of 1.2mm and 0.45mm, the reflected microwave signals versus the defects widths had the maximum values each at the defect depths of 55mm.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
• /
• v.45 no.5
• /
• pp.731-738
• /
• 2003

The technique known as proteomics is useful for characterizing the protein expression pattern of a particular tissue or cell type as well as quantitatively identifying differences in the levels of individual proteins. In present study, we carried out the comparative expression patterns of white and red muscles. We used the two-dimensional electrophoresis(2-DE) for analyzing the protein expression. Proteins isolated from porcine white and red muscles were separated by 12% poly-acrylamide gel and then were detected by coomassie blue and silver staining. More than 600 protein spots were detected on each 2-DE gel. By visual analysis of the stained gel, five proteins were identified to be differentially expressed in the white vs red muscle. By database searching based on the molecular weights and pI(isoelectric point) of the five proteins, three of them were found to be most close to troponin I, T and myoglobin. However, further researche is needed for identification and functional analysis of the unidentified proteins. In conclusion, we found five proteins, which are differentially expressed in the white vs red muscle. The functional analysis of the differentially expressed proteins will provide valuable information on biochemical characteristics of the muscle type.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
• /
• v.27 no.12
• /
• pp.1712-1720
• /
• 2014

Little is known about the gender differences in energetic requirements of goats in early life. In this study, we determined the energy requirements for maintenance and gain in intact male, castrated male and female Saanen goat kids using the comparative slaughter technique and provide new data on their body composition and energy efficiency. To determine the energy requirements for maintenance, we studied 21 intact males, 15 castrated males and 18 females ($5.0{\pm}0.1kg$ initial body weight (BW) and $23{\pm}5d$ of age) using a split-plot design with the following main factors: three genders (intact males, castrated males, and females) and three dry matter intake levels (ad libitum, 75% and 50% of ad libitum intake). A slaughter group included three kids, one for each nutritional plane, of each gender, and all three animals within a group were slaughtered when the ad libitum kid reached 15 kg in BW. Net energy requirements for gain were obtained for 17 intact males, eight castrated males and 15 females ($5.1{\pm}0.4kg$ BW and $23{\pm}13d$ of age). Animals were fed ad libitum and slaughtered when they reached 5, 10, and 15 kg in BW. A digestion trial was performed with nine kids of each gender to determine digestible energy, metabolizable energy and energy metabolizability of the diet. Our results show no effect of gender on the energy requirements for maintenance and gain, and overall net energy for maintenance was $205.6kJ/kg^{0.75}$ empty body weight gain (EBW) ($170.3kJ/kg^{0.75}$ BW) from 5 to 15 kg BW. Metabolizable energy for maintenance was calculated by iteration, assuming heat production equal to metabolizable energy intake at maintenance, and the result was $294.34kJ/kg^{0.75}$ EBW and $k_m$ of 0.70. As BW increased from 5 to 15 kg for all genders, the net energy required for gain increased from 9.5 to 12.0 kJ/g EBW gain (EWG), and assuming $k_g=0.47$, metabolizable energy for gain ranged from 20.2 to 25.5 kJ/g EWG. Our results indicate that it is not necessary to formulate diets with different energetic content for intact male, castrated male and female Saanen goat kids weighing from 5 to 15 kg.

• Journal of radiological science and technology
• /
• v.39 no.2
• /
• pp.143-148
• /
• 2016

The purpose of this study was examined the measurement error factor on AMARES of jMRUI method for magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) quantitative analysis by skilled and unskilled observer method and identified the reason of independent observers. The Point-resolved spectroscopy sequence was used to acquired magnetic resonance spectroscopy data of 10 weeks male Sprague-Dawley rat liver. The methylene protons ($(-CH_{2-})n$) of 1.3 ppm and water proton ($H_2O$) of 4.7 ppm ratio was calculated by LCModel software for using the reference data. The seven unskilled observers were calculated total lipid (methylene/water) using the jMRUI AMARES technique twice every 1 week, and we conducted interclass correlation coefficient (ICC) statistical analysis by SPSS software. The inter-observer reliability (ICC) of Cronbach's alpha value was less than 0.1. The average value of seven observer's total lipid ($0.096{\pm}0.038$) was 50% higher than LCModel reference value. The jMRUI AMARES analysis method is need to minimize the presence of the residual metabolite by identified metabolite MRS profile in order to obtain the same results as the LCModel.

• Investigative Magnetic Resonance Imaging
• /
• v.12 no.2
• /
• pp.100-106
• /
• 2008

The purpose of this study was to confirm the exactitude of in vitro nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy(NMRS) and to complement the defect of in vivo NMRS. It has been difficult to understand the metabolism of a cerebellum using in vivo NMRS owing to the generated inhomogeneity of magnetic fields (B0 and B1 field) by the complexity of the cerebellum structure. Thus, this study tried to more exactly analyze the metabolism of a canine cerebellum using the cell extraction and high resolution NMRS. In order to conduct the absolute metabolic quantification in a canine cerebellum, the spectrum of our phantom included in various brain metabolites (i.e., NAA, Cr, Cho, Ins, Lac, GABA, Glu, Gln, Tau and Ala) was obtained. The canine cerebellum tissue was extracted using the methanol-chloroform water extraction (M/C extraction) and one group was filtered and the other group was not under extract processing. Finally, NMRS of a phantom solution and two extract solution (90% D2O) was progressed using a 500MHz (11.4 T) NMR machine. Filtering a solution of the tissue extract increased the signal to noise ratio (SNR). The metabolic concentrations of a canine cerebellum were more close to rat’s metabolic concentration than human’s metabolic concentration. The present study demonstrates the absolute quantification technique in vitro high resolution NMRS with tissue extraction as the method to accurately measure metabolite concentration.