• Journal of the Korea Institute of Building Construction
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.203-210
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• 2018

Corrosion of the rebar is one of the main factors affecting the durability of reinforced concrete in the world which lead to the failure of the reinforced concrete structures. In this research, a new method of fixing $CO_2$ is practiced to improve the carbonation resistance of the concrete. Brucite($Mg(OH)_2$), a kind of common $CO_2$ fixation materials, was added into ordinary Portland cement paste. Samples containing 0%, 5%, 10%, and 15% $Mg(OH)_2$ were exposed to an accelerated carbonation curing regime with 20% concentration of $CO_2$, 60% relative humidity, and a temperature of $20^{\circ}C$ until tested at 3d, 7d, 14d and 28d. After 28d of $CO_2$ accelerated curing, in the paste containing $Mg(OH)_2$, magnesian calcite was detected by SEM-EDX. Meanwhile, the paste containing $Mg(OH)_2$ exhibit the better pore distribution than ordinary Portland cement paste and the compressive strength of the cement paste containing $Mg(OH)_2$ were more than 50Mpa.

• Journal of Bio-Environment Control
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.452-458
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• 2012

Rare earth elements fertilizer and Ca were sprayed on eight-year-old 'Fuji'/M.9 apple trees during two consecutive seasons, and fruit quality was quantified at harvest and 5-month long storing in a commercial cooling house at $4^{\circ}C$ and 80~85% RH. In the first season, single-sprayed of rare earth elements fertilizer showed appreciable accumulations of its elements (La, Pr, Gd, and Nd) in the fruit. In the following season, application of higher doses accumulated higher amount, indicating that the accumulation of rare earth elements was dose-dependent. However, rare earth elements did not affect the accumulations of Ca, Mg, and K in 'Fuji' apple fruit showed that there was no interaction between rare earth elements and these macronutrients. Double-spray of 0.2% rare earth elements increased fruit redness at harvest and had exhibited better color. Although at harvest it did not show significant effects on fruit weight, pulp firmness and titratable acidity (TA), but had pronounced effects on inhibiting fruit softness and retarded decrease of TA during storing. Furthermore, it reduced respiration rate and inhibited ethylene production during storing indicated that rare earth elements may be an alternative for prolonging the shelf life of 'Fuji'/M.9 apple fruit.

• Journal of Bio-Environment Control
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.445-451
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• 2012

The thinning effects of lime sulfur either alone or combined with fish oil on two apple cultivars 'Fuji'/M.9 and 'Hongro'/M.9 were investigated during two consecutive seasons. Either 1% or 2% lime sulfur at full bloom decreased the amounts of both terminal and axillary fruits compared with unsprayed 'Fuji' control trees in the first year. However, 1% or 2% lime sulfur did not decrease terminal fruit set in the second year. Only, triple applications of 1% lime sulfur significantly reduced the number of terminal and axillary fruits in both years. Multiple application of 1% lime sulfur was the most effective in thinning of 'Hongro'. In the first year, double or triple applications of 1% lime sulfur was effective in thinning terminal or axillary fruit, but one time applications of 1% or 2% lime sulfur was not reduced axillary fruit in 'Hongro' apple trees. In the second season, all treatments reduced terminal or axillary fruit in 'Hongro' clusters, except single application of 1% lime sulfur. Fish oil did not always improve the thinning effects of lime sulfur in 'Fuji' or 'Hongro' apple trees. None of treatments caused significant russeting in the harvested fruits. Most of thinning treatments had little effect on 'Fuji' or 'Hongro' fruit quality in terms of fruit weight, firmness, soluble solids concentration or titratable acidity.

• Resources Recycling
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• v.25 no.5
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• pp.28-35
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• 2016

The purpose of this study was to estimate greenhouse gas emissions using IPCC 1996 Guideline Tier 1, Good Practice Guidance 2000 Tier 2 and IPCC 2006 Guideline First Order Decay methods from landfill disposal facility. In addition, a comparative analysis evaluating the pros and cons of each method based on assumptions and default factors was considered for each method. The greenhouse gas emission computed using IPCC 1996 Guideline Tier 1 method (2,760 ton/yr) was higher than the estimation of GPG 2000 Tier 2 and IPCC 2006 Guideline First Order Decay Model which showed 1500 and 880 ton/yr respectively between 2000 and 2013.

• Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.17-22
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• 2015

Purpose: This study aims to investigate Saccharomyces boulardii CNCM I-745 during Helicobacter pylori eradication in children. Methods: One hundred ninety-four H. pylori positive children were randomized in two groups. Therapy (omeprazole+ clarithromycin+amoxicillin or omeprazole+clarithromycin+metronidazole in case of penicillin allergy) was given to both groups during two weeks. In the treatment group (n: 102) S. boulardii was added to the triple therapy, while the control group (n: 92) only received triple therapy. The incidence, onset, duration and severity of diarrhea and compliance to the eradication treatment were compared. A $^{13}C$ urea breath test was done 4 weeks after the end of eradication therapy in two groups of 21 patients aged 12 years and older to test the H. pylori eradication rate. Results: In the treatment group, diarrhea occurred in 12 cases (11.76%), starting after $6.25{\pm}1.24days$, lasting $3.17{\pm}1.08days$, and compliance to eradication treatment was 100%. In the control group, diarrhea occurred in 26 cases (28.26%), starting after $4.05{\pm}1.11days$, lasting $4.02{\pm}0.87days$, and in six cases eradication treatment was stopped prematurely (p<0.05). The $^{13}C$ urea breath test showed successful H. pylori eradication in 71.4% of the patients in the treatment and in 61.9 % in the control group (not significant). Conclusion: S. boulardii has a beneficial effect on the prevention and treatment of diarrhea during H. pylori eradication in children. Although S. boulardii did only slightly increase H. pylori eradication rate, compliance to eradication treatment was improved.

• Journal of Animal Environmental Science
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.35-44
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• 2005

The objectives of this study were to develop an image processing algorithm for finding the sick or the dead layers(SDL) rearing in the multi-tier layer battery, which is a core technology of remote monitoring systems for layers, and to test the performance of algorithm developed in the experimental poultry housing. Based on the literature study and experiment, the standing up of layer was set as a criterion for judging layers whether sick or dead. Then, by the criterion set, an algorithm was developed. The image processing algorithm developed was tested how well it could and SDL at the experimental poultry housing. Test results showed that its monitoring correctness of layers standing up in the cages having all healthy layers was $92\%$, and $96\%$ in the cages having SDL. Therefore, it would be concluded that the image processing algorithm developed in this study was well suited to the purpose of development.

• Korean Journal of Construction Engineering and Management
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• v.19 no.5
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• pp.32-42
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• 2018

Since the success or failure of VE projects depends on the capabilities of participants, including owners, construction managers, architects, general contractors and VE experts, it is important to follow systematic procedures. However, it is often the case that only a rough evaluation is performed, or the rough and detailed evaluations are integrated in actual VE tasks. In this case, it is difficult to analyze and evaluate the alternatives in terms of risk, even for the important alternatives. This in turn leads to the so-called returning alternatives where the alternatives proposed in the preceding stage are returned to the original plans in the following stage, and thus the repetitive work for the alternatives often decreases the efficiency of the VE task. In this regard, this study proposed a risk assessment process for VE alternatives in order to minimize the occurrence of returning alternatives based on the systematic analysis and evaluation of VE alternatives. It will increase the efficiency of VE tasks by reduces the number of regression alternatives.

• Allergy, Asthma & Immunology Research
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• v.10 no.6
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• pp.628-647
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• 2018

Purpose: Obesity is associated with metabolic dysregulation, but the underlying metabolic signatures involving clinical and inflammatory profiles of obese asthma are largely unexplored. We aimed at identifying the metabolic signatures of obese asthma. Methods: Eligible subjects with obese (n = 11) and lean (n = 22) asthma underwent body composition and clinical assessment, sputum induction, and blood sampling. Sputum supernatant was assessed for interleukin $(IL)-1{\beta}$, -4, -5, -6, -13, and tumor necrosis factor $(TNF)-{\alpha}$, and serum was detected for leptin, adiponectin and C-reactive protein. Untargeted gas chromatography time-of-flight mass spectrometry (GC-TOF-MS)-based metabolic profiles in sputum, serum and peripheral blood monocular cells (PBMCs) were analyzed by orthogonal projections to latent structures-discriminate analysis (OPLS-DA) and pathway topology enrichment analysis. The differential metabolites were further validated by correlation analysis with body composition, and clinical and inflammatory profiles. Results: Body composition, asthma control, and the levels of $IL-1{\beta}$, -4, -13, leptin and adiponectin in obese asthmatics were significantly different from those in lean asthmatics. OPLS-DA analysis revealed 28 differential metabolites that distinguished obese from lean asthmatic subjects. The validation analysis identified 18 potential metabolic signatures (11 in sputum, 4 in serum and 2 in PBMCs) of obese asthmatics. Pathway topology enrichment analysis revealed that cyanoamino acid metabolism, caffeine metabolism, alanine, aspartate and glutamate metabolism, phenylalanine, tyrosine and tryptophan biosynthesis, pentose phosphate pathway in sputum, and glyoxylate and dicarboxylate metabolism, glycerolipid metabolism and pentose phosphate pathway in serum are suggested to be significant pathways related to obese asthma. Conclusions: GC-TOF-MS-based metabolomics indicates obese asthma is characterized by a metabolic profile different from lean asthma. The potential metabolic signatures indicated novel immune-metabolic mechanisms in obese asthma with providing more phenotypic and therapeutic implications, which needs further replication and validation.

• Experimental and Molecular Medicine
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• v.50 no.12
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• pp.12.1-12.14
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• 2018

Osteoporosis develops with high prevalence in both postmenopausal women and hypogonadal men. Osteoporosis results in significant morbidity, but no cure has been established. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) critically contribute to bone homeostasis and possess potent immunomodulatory/anti-inflammatory capability. Here, we investigated the therapeutic efficacy of using an infusion of MSCs to treat sex hormone-deficient bone loss and its underlying mechanisms. In particular, we compared the impacts of MSC cytotherapy in the two genders with the aim of examining potential gender differences. Using the gonadectomy (GNX) model, we confirmed that the osteoporotic phenotypes were substantially consistent between female and male mice. Importantly, systemic MSC transplantation (MSCT) not only rescued trabecular bone loss in GNX mice but also restored cortical bone mass and bone quality. Unexpectedly, no differences were detected between the genders. Furthermore, MSCT demonstrated an equal efficiency in rectifying the bone remodeling balance in both genders of GNX animals, as proven by the comparable recovery of bone formation and parallel normalization of bone resorption. Mechanistically, using green fluorescent protein (GFP)-based cell-tracing, we demonstrated rapid engraftment but poor inhabitation of donor MSCs in the GNX recipient bone marrow of each gender. Alternatively, MSCT uniformly reduced the $CD3^+T$-cell population and suppressed the serum levels of inflammatory cytokines in reversing female and male GNX osteoporosis, which was attributed to the ability of the MSC to induce T-cell apoptosis. Immunosuppression in the microenvironment eventually led to functional recovery of endogenous MSCs, which resulted in restored osteogenesis and normalized behavior to modulate osteoclastogenesis. Collectively, these data revealed recipient sexually monomorphic responses to MSC therapy in gonadal steroid deficiency-induced osteoporosis via immunosuppression/anti-inflammation and resident stem cell recovery.

• Experimental and Molecular Medicine
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• v.50 no.11
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• pp.5.1-5.14
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• 2018

Oxidative stress-induced mitochondrial dysfunction is implicated in the pathogenesis of intervertebral disc degeneration (IVDD). Sirtuin 3 (SIRT3), a sirtuin family protein located in mitochondria, is essential for mitochondrial homeostasis; however, the role of SIRT3 in the process of IVDD has remained elusive. Here, we explored the expression of SIRT3 in IVDD in vivo and in vitro; we also explored the role of SIRT3 in senescence, apoptosis, and mitochondrial homeostasis under oxidative stress. We subsequently activated SIRT3 using honokiol to evaluate its therapeutic potential for IVDD. We assessed SIRT3 expression in degenerative nucleus pulposus (NP) tissues and oxidative stress-induced nucleus pulposus cells (NPCs). SIRT3 was knocked down by lentivirus and activated by honokiol to determine its role in oxidative stress-induced NPCs. The mechanism by which honokiol affected SIRT3 regulation was investigated in vitro, and the therapeutic potential of honokiol was assessed in vitro and in vivo. We found that the expression of SIRT3 decreased with IVDD, and SIRT3 knockdown reduced the tolerance of NPCs to oxidative stress. Honokiol ($10{\mu}M$) improved the viability of NPCs under oxidative stress and promoted their properties of anti-oxidation, mitochondrial dynamics and mitophagy in a SIRT3-dependent manner. Furthermore, honokiol activated SIRT3 through the AMPK-PGC-$1{\alpha}$ signaling pathway. Moreover, honokiol treatment ameliorated IVDD in rats. Our study indicated that SIRT3 is involved in IVDD and showed the potential of the SIRT3 agonist honokiol for the treatment of IVDD.