• The Journal of the Korea Contents Association
• /
• v.22 no.2
• /
• pp.147-161
• /
• 2022

This study examined changes in the ecological characteristics and design characteristics of Ban's exhibition space in three representative temporary exhibition halls and three permanent exhibition halls designed by Ban Shigeru since 2000. Through the investigation of the concepts and characteristics of ecological architecture, the design characteristics of exhibition space, the analysis framework of the design characteristics of exhibition space and the design elements of ecological architecture is obtained. The analysis results show that there are big changes between the temporary exhibition space and the permanent exhibition space in terms of building scale, space composition, function, materials and technology. On the one hand, the temporary exhibition space used recyclable materials, such as paper tubes, containers to be assembled on site into a single-layer space focused on display. The assembly method was simple and the construction period was short. After the exhibition, the exhibition space were dismantled. The materials were either transported to the next display site or recycled and reused. On the other hand, the permanent exhibition space used reinforced concrete as the main structure, and used a large amount of wood and glass materials to construct a multi-layered composite cultural space that separated the exhibition space and the leisure space. In terms of ecological characteristics, the building materials of the temporary exhibition space were recycled and no industrial wastes were generated after the demolition. The permanent exhibition hall uses eco-friendly wood for the roof and walls, so it is easy to replace and repair. Both types of exhibition halls are changing ecological architecture in a more sustainable direction by saving resources and energy through natural light and ventilation.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
• /
• v.61 no.3
• /
• pp.272-281
• /
• 2023

Chigger mites are the vector of scrub typhus. This study estimates the infestation status and ecological characteristics of chiggers on the chestnut white-bellied rat Niviventer fulvescens in Southwest China between 2001 and 2019. Chiggers were identified under the microscope, and infestation indices were calculated. The Preston's log-normal model was used to fit the curve of species abundance distribution. A total of 6,557 chiggers were collected in 136 of 342 N. fulvescens rats, showing high overall infestation indices (prevalence=39.8%, mean abundance=19.2, mean intensity=48.2) and high species diversity (S=100, H'=3.0). Leptotrombidium cangjiangense, Neotrombicula japonica, and Ascoschoengastia sifanga were the three dominant chigger species (constituent ratio=42.9%; 2,736/6,384) and exhibited an aggregated distribution among different rat individuals. We identified 100 chigger species, with 3 of them (Leptotrombidium scutellare, Leptotrombidium wenense, and Leptotrombidium deliense) as the main vectors of scrub typhus in China and nine species as potential vectors of this disease. Disease vector occurrence on N. fulvescens may increase the risk of spreading scrub typhus from rats to humans. Chigger infestation on N. fulvescens varied significantly in different environments. The species abundance distribution showed a log-normal distribution pattern. The estimated number of chigger species on N. fulvescens was 126 species.

• Computers and Concrete
• /
• v.32 no.3
• /
• pp.247-261
• /
• 2023

Due to the non-uniform distribution of meso-structure, the diffusion of chloride ions in concrete show the characteristics of characteristics of randomness and fuzziness, which leads to the non-uniform distribution of chloride ions and the non-uniform corrosion of steel rebar in concrete. This phenomenon is supposed as the main reason causing the uncertainty of the bearing capacity deterioration of reinforced concrete structures. In order to analyze and predict the durability of reinforced concrete structures under chloride environment, the random features of chloride ions transport in concrete were studied in this research from in situ meso-structure of concrete. Based on X-ray CT technology, the spatial distribution of coarse aggregates and pores were recognized and extracted from a cylinder concrete specimen. In considering the influence of ITZ, the in situ mesostructure of concrete specimen was reconstructed to conduct a numerical simulation on the diffusion of chloride ions in concrete, which was verified through electronic microprobe technology. Then a stochastic study was performed to investigate the distribution of chloride ions concentration in space and time. The research indicates that the influence of coarse aggregate on chloride ions diffusion is the synthetic action of tortuosity and ITZ effect. The spatial distribution of coarse aggregates and pores is the main reason leading to the non-uniform distribution of chloride ions both in spatial and time scale. The chloride ions concentration under a certain time and the time under a certain concentration both satisfy the Lognormal distribution, which are accepted by Kolmogorov-Smirnov test and Chi-square test. This research provides an efficient method for obtain mass stochastic data from limited but representative samples, which lays a solid foundation for the investigation on the service properties of reinforced concrete structures.

• Animal Bioscience
• /
• v.36 no.7
• /
• pp.991-1002
• /
• 2023

Objective: This study aimed to elucidate the underlying gene regions responsible for productive, phenotypic or adaptive traits in different ecological types of Tibetan sheep and the discovery of important genes encoding valuable traits. Methods: We used whole-genome resequencing to explore the genetic relationships, phylogenetic tree, and population genetic structure analysis. In addition, we identified 28 representative Tibetan sheep single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and genomic selective sweep regions with different traits in Tibetan sheep by fixation index (Fst) and the nucleotide diversity (θπ) ratio. Results: The genetic relationships analysis showed that each breed partitioned into its own clades and had close genetic relationships. We also identified many potential breed-specific selective sweep regions, including genes associated with hypoxic adaptability (MTOR, TRHDE, PDK1, PTPN9, TMTC2, SOX9, EPAS1, PDGFD, SOCS3, TGFBR3), coat color (MITF, MC1R, ERCC2, TCF25, ITCH, TYR, RALY, KIT), wool traits (COL4A2, ERC2, NOTCH2, ROCK1, FGF5, SOX9), and horn phenotypes (RXFP2). In particular, a horn-related gene, RXFP2, showed the four most significantly associated SNP loci (g. 29481646 A>G, g. 29469024 T>C, g. 29462010 C>T, g. 29461968 C>T) and haplotypes. Conclusion: This finding demonstrates the potential for genetic markers in future molecular breeding programs to improve selection for horn phenotypes. The results will facilitate the understanding of the genetic basis of production and adaptive unique traits in Chinese indigenous Tibetan sheep taxa and offer a reference for the molecular breeding of Tibetan sheep.

• ALGAE
• /
• v.38 no.2
• /
• pp.141-150
• /
• 2023

Light quality is a common environmental factor which influences the metabolism of biochemical substances in algae and leads to the response of algal growth and development. Pyropia yezoensis is a kind of economic macroalgae that naturally grows in the intertidal zone where the light environment changes dramatically. In the present study, P. yezoensis thalli were treated under white light (control) and monochromatic lights with primary colors (blue, green, and red) for 14 days to explore their physiological response to light quality. During the first 3 days of treatment, P. yezoensis grew faster under blue light than other light qualities. In the next 11 days, it showed better adaptation to green light, with higher growth rate and photosynthetic capacity (reflected by a higher rETR_max = 61.58 and E_k = 237.78). A higher non-photochemical quenching was observed in the treatment of red light than others for 14 days. Furthermore, the response of P. yezoensis to light quality also results in the difference of photosynthetic pigment contents. The monochromatic light could reduce the synthesis of all pigments, but the reduction degree was different, which may relate to the spectral absorption characteristics of pigments. It was speculated that P. yezoensis adapted to a specific or changing light environments by regulating the synthesis of pigments to achieve the best use of light energy in photosynthesis and premium growth and metabolism.

• Steel and Composite Structures
• /
• v.48 no.2
• /
• pp.207-233
• /
• 2023

Steel-concrete composite box girder bridges are widely used in the construction of highway and railway bridges both domestically and abroad due to their advantages of being light weight and having a large spanning ability and very large torsional rigidity. Composite box girder bridges exhibit the effects of shear lag, restrained torsion, distortion and interface bidirectional slip under various loads during operation. As one of the most commonly used calculation tools in bridge engineering analysis, one-dimensional models offer the advantages of high calculation efficiency and strong stability. Currently, research on the one-dimensional model of composite beams mainly focuses on simulating interface longitudinal slip and the shear lag effect. There are relatively few studies on the one-dimensional model which can consider the effects of restrained torsion, distortion and interface transverse slip. Additionally, there are few studies on vehicle-bridge integrated systems where a one-dimensional model is used as a tool that only considers the calculations of natural frequency, mode and moving load conditions to study the dynamic response of composite beams. Some scholars have established a dynamic analysis model of a coupled composite beam bridge-train system, but where the composite beam is only simulated using a Euler beam or Timoshenko beam. As a result, it is impossible to comprehensively consider multiple complex force effects, such as shear lag, restrained torsion, distortion and interface bidirectional slip of composite beams. In this paper, a 27 DOF vehicle rigid body model is used to simulate train operation. A two-node 26 DOF finite beam element with composed box beams considering the effects of shear lag, restrained torsion, distortion and interface bidirectional slip is proposed. The dynamic analysis model of the coupled composite box girder bridge-train system is constructed based on the wheel-rail contact relationship of vertical close-fitting and lateral linear creeping slip. Furthermore, the accuracy of the dynamic analysis model is verified via the measured dynamic response data of a practical composite box girder bridge. Finally, the dynamic analysis model is applied in order to study the influence of various mechanical effects on the dynamic performance of the vehicle-bridge system.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
• /
• v.17 no.4
• /
• pp.682-697
• /
• 2023

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Tibetan tea is a kind of dark tea, due to the inherent complexity of natural products, the chemical composition and beneficial effects of Tibetan tea are not fully understood. The objective of this study was to unravel the composition of Tibetan tea using knowledge-guided multilayer network (KGMN) techniques and explore its potential antioxidant and hypolipidemic mechanisms in mice. MATERIALS/METHODS: The C57BL/6J mice were continuously gavaged with Tibetan tea extract (T group), green tea extract (G group) and ddH2O (H group) for 15 days. The activity of total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) in mice was detected. Transcriptome sequencing technology was used to investigate the molecular mechanisms underlying the antioxidant and lipid-lowering effects of Tibetan tea in mice. Furthermore, the expression levels of liver antioxidant and lipid metabolism related genes in various groups were detected by the real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) method. RESULTS: The results showed that a total of 42 flavonoids are provisionally annotated in Tibetan tea using KGMN strategies. Tibetan tea significantly reduced body weight gain and increased T-AOC and SOD activities in mice compared with the H group. Based on the results of transcriptome and qPCR, it was confirmed that Tibetan tea could play a key role in antioxidant and lipid lowering by regulating oxidative stress and lipid metabolism related pathways such as insulin resistance, P53 signaling pathway, insulin signaling pathway, fatty acid elongation and fatty acid metabolism. CONCLUSIONS: This study was the first to use computational tools to deeply explore the composition of Tibetan tea and revealed its potential antioxidant and hypolipidemic mechanisms, and it provides new insights into the composition and bioactivity of Tibetan tea.

• Animal Bioscience
• /
• v.35 no.9
• /
• pp.1434-1443
• /
• 2022

Objective: This study was designed to investigate the hypothesis that dietary quercetin (QUE) and coated sodium butyrate (SB) supplementation alleviate oxidative stress in the small intestine of diquat (DIQ)-challenged pullets. Methods: A total of 200 13-week-old pullets were divided into four groups: the control group (CON), the DIQ group, the QUE group, and the coated SB group, and injected intraperitoneally with either saline (CON) or diquat (DIQ, QUE, and SB) to induce oxidative stress on day 0. Results: On the first day, the malondialdehyde and superoxide dismutase (SOD) concentrations in the SB group were significantly different from those in the DIQ and QUE groups (p<0.05), and dietary supplementation with SB increased serum glutathione peroxidase (GSH-PX) levels compared with the DIQ group (p<0.05). Quercetin and SB increased the levels of CLAUDIN-1 and zonula occludens-1 (ZO-1) in the jejunum. On the tenth day of treatment, QUE attenuated the decrease in GSH-PX levels compared to those of the CON group (p<0.05), while SB increased SOD, GSH-PX, and total antioxidant capacity levels compared to those of the DIQ group. Nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (NRF2) and heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) mRNA levels in the QUE and SB groups increased (p<0.05) and CLAUDIN-1 mRNA levels in the QUE and SB groups were upregulated compared to those in the DIQ group ileum tissue. Conclusion: Supplementation of QUE and SB demonstrated the ability to relieve oxidative stress in pullets post DIQ-injection with a time-dependent manner and QUE and SB may be potential antioxidant additives for relieving oxidative stress and protecting the intestinal barrier of pullets.

• Industry Promotion Research
• /
• v.8 no.4
• /
• pp.267-276
• /
• 2023

Based on the tourism input-output data of five provinces and cities in China's Bohai Rim region from 2015~2021, this study analyzes the efficiency of regional tourism using DEA-BCC and DEA-Malmquist index, as well as its contribution to regional economic efficiency, and identifies factors influencing the comprehensive efficiency. The research results indicate that the comprehensive efficiency of the tourism industry in the China Bohai Sea region has reached an optimal level of 88.9%, but there is still room for improvement, with overall fluctuations. The overall productivity of the tourism industry exhibits a "U"-shaped fluctuating pattern, with growth mainly driven by technological advancements. Due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, the region experienced a nearly 50% decrease in total factor productivity in 2019~2020. However, in 2021, with the implementation of various government stimulus policies, the tourism efficiency rapidly recovered to 80% of pre-pandemic levels. In terms of the impact of the tourism industry on the regional economy in the China Bohai Sea region, Hebei Province stands out as a significant contributor. Based on the aforementioned research findings, the following recommendations are proposed in three aspects: optimizing the supply structure, increasing innovation investment, and strengthening internal collaboration. These recommendations provide valuable insights for enhancing regional tourism efficiency and promoting regional synergy.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
• /
• v.47 no.6
• /
• pp.755-765
• /
• 2023

Background: Caveolin-1, the scaffolding protein of cholesterol-rich invaginations, plays an important role in store-operated Ca²⁺ influx and its phosphorylation at Tyr14 (p-caveolin-1) is vital to mobilize protection against myocardial ischemia (MI) injury. SOCE, comprising STIM1, ORAI1 and TRPC1, contributes to intracellular Ca²⁺ ([Ca²⁺]_i) accumulation in cardiomyocytes. The purified extract of steamed Panax ginseng (EPG) attenuated [Ca²⁺]_i overload against MI injury. Thus, the aim of this study was to investigate the possibility of EPG affecting p-caveolin-1 to further mediate SOCE/[Ca²⁺]_i against MI injury in neonatal rat cardiomyocytes and a rat model. Methods: PP2, an inhibitor of p-caveolin-1, was used. Cell viability, [Ca²⁺]_i concentration were analyzed in cardiomyocytes. In rats, myocardial infarct size, pathological damages, apoptosis and cardiac fibrosis were evaluated, p-caveolin-1 and STIM1 were detected by immunofluorescence, and the levels of caveolin-1, STIM1, ORAI1 and TRPC1 were determined by RT-PCR and Western blot. And, release of LDH, cTnI and BNP was measured. Results: EPG, ginsenosides accounting for 57.96%, suppressed release of LDH, cTnI and BNP, and protected cardiomyocytes by inhibiting Ca²⁺ influx. And, EPG significantly relieved myocardial infarct size, cardiac apoptosis, fibrosis, and ultrastructure abnormality. Moreover, EPG negatively regulated SOCE via increasing p-caveolin-1 protein, decreasing ORAI1 mRNA and protein levels of ORAI1, TRPC1 and STIM1. More importantly, inhibition of the p-caveolin-1 significantly suppressed all of the above cardioprotection of EPG. Conclusions: Caveolin-1 phosphorylation is involved in the protective effects of EPG against MI injury via increasing p-caveolin-1 to negatively regulate SOCE/[Ca²⁺]_i.