• Journal of the Computational Structural Engineering Institute of Korea
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• v.34 no.1
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• pp.43-50
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• 2021

A Leg Mating Unit (LMU) is a device utilized during the float-over installation of offshore structures that include hyperelastic pads and mating part. The hyperelastic pads absorb the loads, whereas the mating part works as guidance between topside and supporting structures during the mating sequence of float-over installation. In this study, the design optimization of an LMU for the float-over installation of floating-type offshore structures is conducted to enhance the performance and to satisfy the requirements defined by classification society regulations. The initial dimensions of the LMU are referred to the dimensions of those used in fixed-type float-over installation because only the location and the number of LMUs are known. The two-parameter Mooney-Rivlin model is adopted to describe the hyperelastic pads under given material parameters. Geometric variables, such as the thickness, height, and width of members, as well as configuration variables, such as the angle and number of members, are defined as design variables and are parameterized. A sampling-based design sensitivity analysis based on latin hypercube sampling method is performed to filter the important design variables. The design optimization problem is formulated to minimize the total mass of the LMU under maximum von Mises stress and reaction force constraints.

• Advances in nano research
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• v.16 no.4
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• pp.375-394
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• 2024

The extensive utilization of concrete has given rise to environmental concerns, specifically concerning the depletion of river sand. To address this issue, waste deposits can provide manufactured-sand (MS) as a substitute for river sand. The objective of this study is to explore the application of machine learning techniques to facilitate the production of manufactured-sand concrete (MSC) containing stone nano-powder through estimating the splitting tensile strength (STS) containing compressive strength of cement (CSC), tensile strength of cement (TSC), curing age (CA), maximum size of the crushed stone (Dmax), stone nano-powder content (SNC), fineness modulus of sand (FMS), water to cement ratio (W/C), sand ratio (SR), and slump (S). To achieve this goal, a total of 310 data points, encompassing nine influential factors affecting the mechanical properties of MSC, are collected through laboratory tests. Subsequently, the gathered dataset is divided into two subsets, one for training and the other for testing; comprising 90% (280 samples) and 10% (30 samples) of the total data, respectively. By employing the generated dataset, novel models were developed for evaluating the STS of MSC in relation to the nine input features. The analysis results revealed significant correlations between the CSC and the curing age CA with STS. Moreover, when delving into sensitivity analysis using an empirical model, it becomes apparent that parameters such as the FMS and the W/C exert minimal influence on the STS. We employed various loss functions to gauge the effectiveness and precision of our methodologies. Impressively, the outcomes of our devised models exhibited commendable accuracy and reliability, with all models displaying an R-squared value surpassing 0.75 and loss function values approaching insignificance. To further refine the estimation of STS for engineering endeavors, we also developed a user-friendly graphical interface for our machine learning models. These proposed models present a practical alternative to laborious, expensive, and complex laboratory techniques, thereby simplifying the production of mortar specimens.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
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• v.82 no.5
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• pp.1218-1230
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• 2021

Purpose To compare the per-patient diagnostic performance of simulated abbreviated MRI (AMRI) to that of conventional MRI (CMRI) with full-sequence dynamic gadoxetic acid (GA) enhancement for early-stage hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) screening in high-risk patients. Materials and Methods A total of 201 consecutive patients at high-risk for HCC, who underwent 3T liver MRI, were included in this retrospective study. The AMRI protocol comprised T2-weighted imaging, hepatobiliary phase imaging after GA injection, and diffusion-weighted imaging. For each patient, two AMRI and CMRI image sets were independently reviewed by two radiologists. Inter-reader agreement was assessed using Cohen's kappa value. A composite reference standard was used to determine the diagnostic performance of each image set for each reader. Results A total of 93 HCCs were detected in 79 patients. The inter-reader agreement was almost perfect for both image sets (κ = 0.839, 0.948). In AMRI, the per-patient sensitivity and negative predictive values (NPV) were 94.9% and 96.4%, respectively. In CMRI, the per-patient sensitivity and NPV were 96.2% and 97.5%, respectively. Conclusion AMRI, using only three sequences, had a comparable diagnostic performance to CMRI in screening early-stage HCC. AMRI could be an alternative HCC screening tool for high-risk HCC patients.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.33 no.1
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• pp.43-48
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• 2017

With ultraviolet and visible light exposure, some pharmaceutical substances applied systemically or topically may cause phototoxic skin irritation. The major factor in phototoxicity is the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) such as singlet oxygen and superoxide anion that cause oxidative damage to DNA, lipids and proteins. Thus, measuring the generation of ROS can predict the phototoxic potential of a given substance indirectly. For this reason, a standard ROS assay (ROS assay) was developed and validated and provides an alternative method for phototoxicity evaluation. However, negative substances are over-predicted by the assay. Except for ultraviolet A (UVA), other UV ranges are not a major factor in causing phototoxicity and may lead to incorrect labeling of some non-phototoxic substances as being phototoxic in the ROS assay when using a solar simulator. A UVA stimulator is also widely used to evaluate phototoxicity in various test substances. Consequently, we identified the applicability of a UVA simulator to the ROS assay for photoreactivity. In this study, we tested 60 pharmaceutical substances including 50 phototoxins and 10 non-phototoxins to predict their phototoxic potential via the ROS assay with a UVA simulator. Following the ROS protocol, all test substances were dissolved in dimethyl sulfoxide or sodium phosphate buffer. The final concentration of the test solutions in the reaction mixture was 20 to $200{\mu}M$. The exposure was with $2.0{\sim}2.2mW/cm^2$ irradiance and optimization for a relevant dose of UVA was performed. The generation of ROS was compared before and after UVA exposure and was measured by a microplate spectrophotometer. Sensitivity and specificity values were 85.7% and 100.0% respectively, and the accuracy was 88.1%. From this analysis, the ROS assay with a UVA simulator is suitable for testing the photoreactivity and estimating the phototoxic potential of various test pharmaceutical substances.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.16 no.14
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• pp.5635-5641
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• 2015

Background: Cirrhosis is regarded as a possible end stage of many liver diseases, including viral infection. It occurs when healthy liver tissue becomes damaged and is replaced by scar tissue and finally may lead to hepatocellular carcinoma. Interferons (IFNs)are two general categories, type I and II. Type I includes one beta interferon and over 20 different alpha interferons. Alpha interferons are very similar in how they work, interacting with other proteins on cells like receptors. The main objective of this study was to compare Mx gene productivity post different cell line treatment with imported and Egyptian biosimilar locally produced IFNs, as well as the efficacy of those tested IFNs. Also, an assessment was made of sensitivity of different cell lines as alternatives to that recommended for evaluation of antiviral activity. Materials and Methods: Different cell lines (Vero, MDBK and Wish) were employed to evaluate cytotoxicity using the MTT assay. Antiviral activity was evaluated compared with standard IFN against VSV, Indiana strain -156, on tested rh-IFNs (imported; innovated and Egyptian biosimilar locally produced IFNs) in the pre-treated cell lines previously mentioned. The virus was propagated in the Wish cell line as recommended. Finally we estimated up-regulation of the Mx gene as a biomarker. Results: Data recorded revealed that test IFNs were safe in test cell lines. Viability was around 100%. Locally tested interferon did not realize the international potency limits, while the imported one was accepted compared with the standard IFN. These results were the same either using infectivity titer reduction assay or crystal violet staining of residual non- infected cells. Mx protein production was cell type related and confirmed by the detected Mx gene expressed in imported and locally produced IFN pre-treated cell lines. The expression of the gene was arranged in the order of Vero> wish > MDBK for the imported IFN, while for the Egyptian biosimillar locally produced one it was MDBK> Vero> wish. With regard to the antiviral activity there was a significant difference of imported IFN potency compared with the locally produced IFN (P<0.05), the IFN potential (antiviral activity) was not cell line related and showed non-significant difference for each separate product. Conclusions: Vero cells can be used as an alternative cell line for evaluation of IFN potency in case of unavailable USP recommended cell lines. Alternative potency evaluation assay could be used and proved significant difference in IFN potency in case of local and imported agents. Evaluation of antiviral activity could be used in parallel to viral infectivity reduction assay for better accuracy. Mx gene can be used as a marker for IFN potential.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.37-41
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• 2012

The current standard for testing tetrodotoxin (TTX) in foodstuffs is the mouse bioassay (MBA) in Korea as in many other countries. However, this test suffers from potential ethical concerns over the use of live animals. In addition, the mouse bioassay does not test for a specific toxin thus a sample resulting in mouse incapacitation would need further confirmatory testing to determine the exact source toxin (e.g., TTX, STX, brevotoxin, etc.). Furthermore, though the time of death is proportional to toxicity in this assay, the dynamic range for this proportional relationship is small thus many samples must be diluted and new mice be injected to yield a result that falls within the quantitative dynamic range. Therefore, in recent years, there have been many efforts in this field to develop alternative assays. High performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) coupled with mass spectrometry (MS) has been emerged as one of the most promising options. A LC-MS-MS method involves solid-phase extraction (SPE) and followed by analysis using an electrospray in the positive ionization mode and multiple reactions monitoring (MRM). To adopt LC-MS-MS method as alternative standard for testing TTX, we performed a validation study for the quantification of TTX in puffer fish. This LC-MS-MS method showed good sensitivity as limits of detection (LOD) of $0.03{\sim}0.08{\mu}g/g$ and limits of quantification (LOQ) of $0.10{\sim}0.25{\mu}g/g$. The linearity ($r^2$) of tetrodotoxin were 0.9986~0.9997, the recovery were 80.9~103.0% and the relative standard deviations (RSD) were 4.3~13.0%. The correlation coefficient between the mouse bioassay and LC/MS/MS method was higher than 0.95.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.55 no.12
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• pp.474-480
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• 2012

Purpose: For evaluating the immunogenicity of an influenza vaccine, the microneutralization (MN) test has a higher sensitivity and specificity as compared to the hemagglutination inhibition (HI) test. However, the MN test is more time consuming and is difficult to standardize. We performed the MN test to determine its usefulness as an alternative or complementary test to the HI test for evaluating the immunogenicity of influenza vaccines. Methods: We compared the MN test with the HI test using 50 paired samples taken from a previous clinical study (2008-2009) in Korean children under 18 years of age. Results: The linear correlation coefficients of the 2 tests for H3N2, H1N1, and influenza B were 0.69, 0.70, and 0.66, respectively. We identified a high index of coincidence between the 2 tests. For an influenza vaccine, the postvaccination seroprotection rates and seroconversion rates determined by the MN test were 78.0% and 96.0%, 90% and 42.0%, and 42.0% and 48.0% for H3N2, H1N1, and influenza B, respectively. Geometric mean titer fold increases of H3N2, H1N1, and influenza B were 2.89, 5.04, and 4.29, respectively, and were 2.5-fold higher. We obtained good results in the evaluation of the immunogenicity of the 2008-2009 seasonal influenza vaccines. Conclusion: We found that the MN test was as effective as the HI test. Therefore, we suggest that the MN test can be used as an alternative or complementary test to the HI test for evaluating the immunogenicity of influenza vaccines.

• Archives of design research
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• v.18 no.3 s.61
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• pp.15-24
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• 2005

There is a large waste of time, money, and production through the infelicitous product design process in small and medium enterprises. They don't possess enough career-manpower with respect to design. Especially, the objective and scientific approach process isn't presented very well on the 'establishment concept' of the embodiment phase or 'Sketch and Rendering' of the development phase which are the most important design processes. So, this research is applied to the conception of the AHP method. It uses the basic concept of relativity to decrease risk from the calculational quantity data, and supplement the decision making phase. Generally, human beings can conclude by relative judgement which is more influenceable than absolute judgement. So we must use the relative comparison concept rather than the comparison of two items with variable sketches based on characteristics of human beings. Thus, efficiency judgement is dependent on design sketch comparisons which help the consistency progress of variable alternative plans. We can decrease risk when we chose the final design and increase efficiency of the design decision making. That is now a perfect selection of each alternative's ranking and sensitive design result but this research will provide consistency criterion on filtering and lead to variable design alternatives. The significance of this research is the efficiency method that overcomes differences of character and sensitivity on many phases of the process. Finally, this research proposes a new ideal process that where applied improves quality and evidence of propriety through comparison to existing methods result in method application research for improvement quality.

• Journal of Climate Change Research
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• v.3 no.1
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• pp.25-37
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• 2012

This research proposes the direction for the assessment of local government infrastructure vulnerabilities relating to climate change driven flood and analyzes the assessment result. In this research, the local government infrastructures are evaluated by three indices such as exposure, infrastructure sensitivity, adaptive capacity and each index is calculated by selected alternative variable. Climate change scenario(A1B) developed on National Institute of Environmental Research is used to calculate present and future(2020, 2050, 2100s) exposure. As the result of infrastructure vulnerability assessment on present, the infrastructures in Seoul, Northern Gyeonggi-do, Gangwon-do, coastal area of Gyeongsangnam-do are vulnerable to flooding. For future, although the spatial pattern of flooding vulnerable infrastructure are similar, the flooding vulnerabilities of infrastructure in Gyeonggido and Ganwon-do would be increased as close to 2100s. It is expected that this research can be utilized as the preliminary analysis for climate change adaptation in local government infrastructure because this research propose the method for the assessment of local government infrastructure vulnerability relating to climate change driven flood and the result such as a trend of infrastructure vulnerability to flooding and the level of contribution of each index and alternative variable.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.163-168
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• 2007

Background: Temporomandibular joint disorder (TMD) is a group of musculoskeletal conditions characterized by pain in the pre-auricular area, limitation of jaw movement and palpable muscle tenderness. Thermography is a nonionizing, noninvasive diagnostic alternative for the evaluation of TMD. This study was conducted to evaluate the usefulness of thermography in the assessment of TMD. Methods: Thermography was conducted on the 61 patients who had been diagnosed with TMD, and on the 34 normal symptom-free volunteers. The temperature differences between opposite sides of the temporomandibular joint (${\Delta}T_{TMJ}$) and the masseter muscle (${\Delta}T_{MST}$) were calculated. The sensitivity and specificity of thermography was calculated at the cut off values of 0.2, 0.3, and $0.4^{\circ}C$. Results: In the patient group, the ${\Delta}T_{TMJ}$ was $0.42{\pm}0.38^{\circ}C$ and the ${\Delta}T_{MST}$ was $0.38{\pm}0.33^{\circ}C$, whereas in the control group the ${\Delta}T_{TMJ}$ was $0.10{\pm}0.07^{\circ}C$ and the ${\Delta}T_{MST}\;0.15{\pm}0.10^{\circ}C$. In addition, the patient group demonstrated a significantly lower level of thermal symmetry than the control group (P < 0.001) in both the temporomandibular joints and the masseter muscles. The sensitivity of thermography at the cut off values of 0.2, 0.3 and $0.4^{\circ}C$ was 67.2, 49.2, and 42.6% in the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) and 60.7, 49.2 and 37.7% in the masseter muscle, respectively. The specificity of thermography at the cut off values of 0.2, 0.3 and $0.4^{\circ}C$ was 88.2, 100, and 100% in the TMJ and 61.8, 91.2 and 100% in the masseter muscles, respectively. The accuracy of thermography at the cut off values of 0.2, 0.3 and $0.4^{\circ}C$ was 74.7, 67.4, and 63.2% in TMJ and 61.1, 64.2 and 60.0% in the masseter muscles, respectively. Conclusions: Temperature differences exist between the opposite sides of the TMD and masseter muscles in patients with TMD. Although the sensitivity of thermography in the diagnosis of TMD is low, it has high specificity in the evaluation of TMD, and is therefore applicable to patients with TMD.