• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.38 no.2
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• pp.198-206
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• 2010

The aim of this work was to investigate the synergically bactericidal effects and cellular responses of tea polyphenols (TPP) and imipenem on imipenem-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Imipenem-resistant Ps. aeruginosa was isolated from patient in hospital. The bactericidal effects of TPP and imipenem were evaluated on the basis of its minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC). The combined use of TPP and imipenem resulted in 16-fold and 8-fold reductions in the MICs of imipenem for the imipenem-susceptible and imipenem-resistant Ps. aeruginosa, respectively. The bactericidal effects of the imipenem and TPP against the Ps. aeruginosa was evaluated using the time-kill assay. The synergetic effects of the combinations of TPP and imipenem against Ps. aeruginosa were confirmed. Western blot using anti-DnaK and anti-GroEL monoclonal antibodies was performed to investigate the expression of stress shock proteins (SSPs) in imipenem-susceptible and imipenem-resistant strains exposed to TPP. The amount of SSPs were induced as the exposure time increased and decreased. The molecular weights of DnaK and GroEL were 70 kDa and 60 kDa, respectively. SDS-PAGE with silver staining revealed that the amount of lipopolysaccharides (LPS) increased or decreased in the strain treated to different concentrations and exposing periods of TPP. Scanning electron microscopic analysis demonstrated the presence of umblicated and wrinkled surfaces for cells treated with TPP or imipenem.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.116-122
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• 2021

This study quantitatively evaluated the performance improvement of a circular reinforced concrete pier under dynamic load with strengthening using a steel plate. Various three-dimensional elements were applied using the finite element program ABAQUS. The analytical parameters included the ratios of the steel cover length to the pier's total height and the ratios of the steel cover thickness to the pier diameter for inelastic-nonlinear analysis. The lower part of the pier had fixed boundary conditions, and lateral repetitive loads were applied at the top of the pier. The pier was investigated to evaluate the dynamic performance based on the load-displacement curve, stress-strain curve, ductility, energy absorption capability, and energy ratio. The yield and ultimate loads of piers with steel covers increased by 3.76 times, and the energy absorption capability increased by 4 times due to the confinement effects caused by the steel plate. A plastic hinge part of the column with a steel plate improved the ductility, and the thicker the steel plate was, the greater the energy absorption capacity. This study shows that the reinforced pier should be improved in terms of the seismic performance.

• Journal of the Korean Crystal Growth and Crystal Technology
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• v.31 no.1
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• pp.24-31
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• 2021

We report structural, mechanical, and thermal properties of diecast ADC12 aluminum alloys characterized using synchrotron X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) analysis, thermal conductivity (λ), Vickers hardness (Hv), and stress-strain measurements. We also studied the effect of post-annealing performed in a vacuum atmosphere on the mechanical properties of diecast ADC12 alloys. EDX and XRD results revealed that Al2Cu and AlCu3 grains are formed, well dispersed in Al base and highly crystalline. Ultimate tensile strength (UTS) of 307.9 ± 9.1 MPa and elongation of 2.98 ± 0.62 % were estimated. λ was 129.3 ± 0.27 W/m·K and Hv was approximately 130. Both values were significantly higher than the reported values. At annealing temperatures ranging from 25 to 200℃, UTS and Hv values remained constant, while as the annealing temperature increased to 500℃, these values gradually decreased. This is because stabilization of the microstructure improves toughness and ductility.

• Journal of the Korean Geosynthetics Society
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.47-59
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• 2023

In this research, laboratory tests were conducted on clayey sand (SC) to analyze its physical properties, compaction/permeability characteristics, and stress-strain behavior. The main objective was to determine the transitional fines content at which the mechanical properties of sand transition to those of clay, resulting in a change in the geotechnical behavior of the material. Additionally, to assess the practical applicability of SC soil, field data from a soft ground improvement site with significant settlement issues were collected. The settlement characteristics derived from laboratory tests and numerical simulations were then compared and analyzed in relation to the actual settlement data obtained from the field, aiming to evaluate the suitability of the SC soil as a compaction target layer. The laboratory tests and compaction analysis showed that the SC soil exhibited a distinct change in mechanical properties, shifting from sandy behavior to clayey behavior when the fines content exceeded 25%. This transition in mechanical behavior was found to be closely correlated with the content of clay particles within the material. Through numerical simulations of the soft ground site, it was verified that the use of clayey sand with a fines content exceeding the transitional level as a compaction target layer resulted in settlements that closely aligned with the measured settlements, with an average agreement of 91.2%. Based on these findings, it is deemed advisable to incorporate clayey sand with a fines content exceeding the transitional level as part of the compaction target layer in the design of soft ground improvements.

• Journal of the Korean Geotechnical Society
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.23-32
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• 2010

This study was especially conducted to find out the characteristics of the lightweight air-mixed soil (slurry density 10 kN/$m^3$) containing silt related to water. Compression strength, permeability, and capillary height of the lightweight air-mixed soil were studied, and also to support these studies, the structure of that soil was analyzed in detail. Air bubbles of various sizes are inside the lightweight air-mixed soil, and its distribution in a location is almost constant. A numerous tiny pores are inside the air bubbles so that the lightweight air-mixed soil can be saturated with water. Porosity is also estimated through the image analysis. Peak strength of the lightweight air-mixed soil is not dependent on water, but behavior of stress-strain is affected by the water. Permeability is about $4.857{\times}10^{-6}cm/sec$, which is a little bit higher than the clay's permeability. Capillary rise occurs rapidly at the beginning of the test until the lapse of 100 minutes and then its increase rate becomes slow. The capillary rise causes the increase of the density of the lightweight air-mixed soil, and thus it is required to pay attention to this phenomenon during structure design and maintenance of the lightweight air-mixed soil.

• Journal of Biomedical Engineering Research
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• v.24 no.5
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• pp.401-410
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• 2003

This study investigates the biomechanical efficacies of various cement augmentation techniques with or without pressurization for varying degrees of osteoporotic femur. For this study, a biomechanical analysis using a finite element method (FEM) was undertaken to evaluate surgical procedures, Simulated models include the non-cemented(i.e., hip screw only, Type I), the cement-augmented(Type II), and the cemented augmented with pressurization(Type III) models. To simulate the fracture plane and other interfacial regions, 3-D contact elements were used with appropriate friction coefficients. Material properties of the cancellous bone were varied to accommodate varying degrees of osteoporosis(Singh indices, II∼V). For each model. the following items were analyzed to investigate the effect surgical procedures in relation to osteoporosis of varying degrees : (a) von Mises stress distribution within the femoral head in terms of volumetric percentages. (b) Peak von Mises stress(PVMS) within the femoral head and the surgical constructs. (c) Maximum von Mises strain(MVMS) within the femoral head, (d) micromotions at the fracture plane and at the interfacial region between surgical construct and surrounding bone. Type III showed the lowest PVMS and MVMS at the cancellous bone near the bone-construct interface regardless of bone densities. an indication of its least likelihood of construct loosening due to failure of the host bone. Particularly, its efficacy was more prominent when the bone density level was low. Micromotions at the interfacial surgical construct was lowest in Type III. followed by Type I and Type II. They were about 15-20% of other types. which suggested that pressurization was most effective in limiting the interfacial motion. Our results demonstrated the cement augmentation with hip screw could be more effective when used with pressurization technique for the treatment of intertrochanteric fractures. For patients with low bone density. its effectiveness can be more pronounced in limiting construct loosening and promoting bone union.

• Journal of the Computational Structural Engineering Institute of Korea
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• v.37 no.1
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• pp.67-76
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• 2024

In this paper, we present a DIP-MLS testing method that combines digital image processing with a rigid body-based MLS differencing approach to measure mechanical variables and analyze the impact of target location and image resolution. This method assesses the displacement of the target attached to the sample through digital image processing and allocates this displacement to the node displacement of the MLS differencing method, which solely employs nodes to calculate mechanical variables such as stress and strain of the studied object. We propose an effective method to measure the displacement of the target's center of gravity using digital image processing. The calculation of mechanical variables through the MLS differencing method, incorporating image-based target displacement, facilitates easy computation of mechanical variables at arbitrary positions without constraints from meshes or grids. This is achieved by acquiring the accurate displacement history of the test specimen and utilizing the displacement of tracking points with low rigidity. The developed testing method was validated by comparing the measurement results of the sensor with those of the DIP-MLS testing method in a three-point bending test of a rubber beam. Additionally, numerical analysis results simulated only by the MLS differencing method were compared, confirming that the developed method accurately reproduces the actual test and shows good agreement with numerical analysis results before significant deformation. Furthermore, we analyzed the effects of boundary points by applying 46 tracking points, including corner points, to the DIP-MLS testing method. This was compared with using only the internal points of the target, determining the optimal image resolution for this testing method. Through this, we demonstrated that the developed method efficiently addresses the limitations of direct experiments or existing mesh-based simulations. It also suggests that digitalization of the experimental-simulation process is achievable to a considerable extent.

• Journal of Oral Medicine and Pain
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• v.31 no.3
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• pp.199-210
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• 2006

The epidemiological researches on the inpatients hospitalized at the oral medicine ward have been continuously carried out since 1970, and most researches have been performed by centering around the oral medicine wards of college hospitals. Numerous specialists have been produced after the establishment of oral medicine, and they have been active in various fields. As dental clinics have gotten bigger, the function of oral medicine in the secondary clinics is being brought out. As admissive channel, case features, case composition and otherwise have not been researched for a long time, the related researches should be carried out from now on. Hereupon, this study was carried out by targeting the 100 inpatients hospitalized at the oral medicine ward of Sun Hospital located in Daejeon Korea, through questionnaire. As the result, the following results were derived. 1. The ages of the inpatients in Sun Hospital were $29.21{\pm}11.31$ on the average; 71 females' mean average was $29.63{\pm}11.29$ and 29 males' mean average was $28.17{\pm}11.48$. In regard of school career, the patients who finished high-school course or higher accounted for 78%; the patients' school career seemed to be relatively high. The patients who complained of temporomandibular pain accounted for the highest proportion with 65%. In motivation to visit this hospital, internet surfing was 11%, mass media was 10%, acquaintance's introduction was 38%. The patients, who were hospitalized at another hospital due to the same symptom, accounted for 56%. The dental clinics, which made the patients visit this hospital, accounted for 20%. The patients, who were previously aware that the present symptom should be treated by oral medicine, accounted for 38%. The patients, who were not aware of the fact in advance, were 62%. The respondents of 51% answered that they were aware of the fact one month or below before hospitalization. 2. The patients, who complained of craniocervical ache, accounted for 58%; the patients, whose ache aches affect dailylife, were 22%. Continuous ache was 14% and intermittent ache was 68%, and dull pain was 23%. 3. Life variations were compared with each other by using SRRS (Social Readjustment Rating Scale). In consequence, the variation within 3 years indicated a significant difference in the both groups but the variation within 6 months did not indicate any differences. 4. In regard of the questionnaire on the incidents happened for a week, the ache-group was compared with the group free from the ache. As the result, the number of strain arisen for a week, the decrease of favorite works and sudden fear indicated a significant difference. Pleasant feeling and the decrease of interests in looks did not indicate a significant difference, but came close to the significance. 5. In the questionnaire on impatience, the ache-group indicated higher value but there was not a significant difference. 6. In the questionnaire on the symptoms caused by stress, the two groups indicated significant differences in the item of 'the teethridge itches and feels a tooth rising' and 'the occiput or the nape is stiff.' In the item 'the inside of the cheek or the teethridge are widely peeled off, accompanied with ache and hemorrhage', 'the face has acne or pimple' and 'headache frequently attacks', a significant difference was not observed but the two groups came close to the significance.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.26 no.8
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• pp.955-962
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• 2016

Fish-meat gel is an intermediate product used in a variety of surimi-based seafood. One of the most-used raw materials of fish-meat gel is Alaska Pollock due to its high-quality meat in terms of gel strength and texture. However, increasing demand for fish-meat gel, along with overexploitation of the wild catch Alaska Pollock, has put the industry in need of low-cost sustainable alternative sources for fish-meat gel. Pagrus major (PM) is a widely aquacultured fish known for having white meat that is low in fat. The current study compares the quality of fish-meat gel prepared from aquacultured PM to that of high and mid-grade Alaska Pollock fish-meat gel. Gels were compared in terms of gel strength, texture, color, and protein pattern. Results indicated that fish-meat gels prepared from PM were superior to Alaska Pollock fish-meat gels with regard to gel strength, hardness, springiness, chewiness, cutting strength, and breaking force. In addition, although not matching in quality, PM exhibited a cohesiveness, whiteness, and expressible moisture content comparable to Alaska Pollock of both grades. Protein pattern analysis also showed that PM and Alaska Pollock fish-meat gels had similar protein profiles before and after gel preparation. Therefore, P. major is suggested as a potential substitute for Alaska Pollock in fish-meat gel production.