• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
• /
• v.32 no.4
• /
• pp.548-555
• /
• 2019

Objective: The main objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of different feeding levels of a total mixed ration silage-based diet on feed intake, total tract digestion, enteric methane emissions, and energy partitioning in two beef cattle genotypes. Methods: Six mature bulls (three Thai natives, and three Thai natives - Charolais crossbreeds) were assigned in a replicated $3{\times}3$ Latin square design, with cattle breed genotype in separate squares, three periods of 21 days, and three energy feeding above maintenance levels (1.1, 1.5, and 2.0 MEm, where MEm is metabolizable energy requirement for maintenance). Bulls were placed in a metabolic cage equipped with a ventilated head box respiration system to evaluate digestibility, record respiration gases, and determine energy balance. Results: Increasing the feeding level had no significant effect on digestibility but drastically reduced the enteric methane emission rate (p<0.05). Increasing the feeding level also significantly increased the energy retention and utilization efficiency (p<0.01). The Thai native cattle had greater enteric methane emission rate, digestibility, and energy utilization efficiency than the Charolais crossbred cattle (p<0.05). The daily metabolizable energy requirement for maintenance in Thai native cattle ($388kJ/kg\;BW^{0.75}$, where $BW^{0.75}$ is metabolic body weight) was 15% less than that in Charolais crossbred cattle ($444kJ/kg\;BW^{0.75}$). Conclusion: Our results suggested that the greater feeding level in zebu beef cattle fed above maintenance levels resulted in improved energy retention and utilization efficiency because of the reduction in enteric methane energy loss. The results also indicated higher efficiency of metabolisable energy utilization for growth and a lower energy requirement for maintenance in Bos indicus than in Bos taurus.

• BMB Reports
• /
• v.52 no.3
• /
• pp.208-213
• /
• 2019

Chemoresistance is the primary obstacle in the treatment of locally advanced and metastatic nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). Recent evidence suggests that the transcription factor forkhead box M1 (FoxM1) is involved in chemoresistance. Our group previously confirmed that FoxM1 is overexpressed in NPC. In this study, we investigated the role of FoxM1 in cisplatin resistance of the cell lines 5-8F and HONE-1 and explored its possible mechanism. Our results showed that FoxM1 and NBS1 were both overexpressed in NPC tissues based on data from the GSE cohort (GSE12452). Then, we measured FoxM1 levels in NPC cells and found FoxM1 was overexpressed in NPC cell lines and could be stimulated by cisplatin. MTT and clonogenic assays, flow cytometry, ${\gamma}H2AX$ immunofluorescence, qRT-PCR, and western blotting revealed that downregulation of FoxM1 sensitized NPC cells to cisplatin and reduced the repair of cisplatin-induced DNA double-strand breaks via inhibition of the MRN (MRE11-RAD50-NBS1)-ATM axis, which might be related to the ability of FoxM1 to regulate NBS1. Subsequently, we demonstrated that enhanced sensitivity of FoxM1 knockdown cells could be reduced by overexpression of NBS1. Taken together, our data demonstrate that downregulation of FoxM1 could improve the sensitivity of NPC cells to cisplatin through inhibition of MRN-ATM-mediated DNA repair, which could be related to FoxM1-dependent regulation of NBS1.

• Physical Therapy Rehabilitation Science
• /
• v.8 no.2
• /
• pp.93-98
• /
• 2019

Objective: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of robot arm reach training on upper extremity functional movement in chronic stroke survivors. Design: One group pretest-posttest design. Methods: Thirteen chronic stroke survivors participated in this study. Robot arm reach training was performed with a Whole Arm Manipulator (WAM) and a 120-inch projective display to provide visual and auditory feedback. During the robotic arm reach training, WAM provided gravity compensation and assist-as-needed (AAN) force according to the robot control mode. When a participant could not move the arm toward the target for more than 2 seconds, WAM provided AAN force to reach the desired targets. All patients participated in the training for 40 minutes per day, 3 times a week, for 4 weeks. Main outcome measures were the Fugl-Meyer Assessment (FMA), Action Research Arm Test (ARAT) and Box and Block Test (BBT) to assess upper extremity functional movement. Results: After 4 weeks, significant improvement was observed in upper extremity functional movement (FMA: 42.15 to 46.23, BBT: 12.23 to 14.00, p<0.05). In the subscore analysis of the FMA upper extremity motor function domains, significant improvement was observed in upper extremity and coordination/speed units (p<0.05). However, there were no significant differences in the ARAT. Conclusions: This study showed the positive effects of robot arm reach training on upper extremity functional movement in chronic stroke survivors. In particular, we confirmed that robot arm reach training could have a positive influence by leading to improvement of motor recovery of the proximal upper extremity.

• Journal of the Korea Society for Simulation
• /
• v.28 no.1
• /
• pp.109-115
• /
• 2019

The probability of lethality of personnel targets inside a room is a key issue at assessing effectiveness of a weapon system. In this study, the minimum charge weight to achieve 100% lethality of personnel targets inside a box-type room is proposed at each side length of a base of a room. A fast running blast wave model is used to simulate the pressure-time histories of the blast generated by an internal explosion inside a room, and Axelsson SP method is used to evaluate the lethality of personnel targets under the blast. 176 different internal explosion scenarios are simulated for cases of TNT weights ranging from 20kg to 170kg inside a room whose square base has a side length ranging from 5m to 15m. A linear model and a charge-density model were developed to predict the minimum charge weight to achieve 100% lethality inside a room given a length of a base of a room.

• Advances in concrete construction
• /
• v.7 no.2
• /
• pp.87-96
• /
• 2019

Self-compacting concretes (SCC) are highly fluid concrete which can flow without any vibration. Their composition requires a large quantity of fines to limit the risk of bleeding and segregation. The use of crushed sand rich in limestone fines could be an adequate solution for both economic and environmental reasons. This paper investigates the influence of quarry limestone fines from manufactured crushed sand on rheological, mechanical and durability properties of SCC. For this purpose, five mixtures of SCC with different limestone fines content as substitution of crushed sand (0, 5, 10, 15 and 20%) were prepared at constant water-to-cement ratio of 0.40 and $490kg/m^3$ of cement content. Fresh SCC mixtures were tested by slump flow test, V-funnel flow time test, L-box height ratio, segregation resistance and rheological test using a rheometer. Compressive and flexural strengths of SCC mixtures were evaluated at 28 days. Regarding durability properties, total porosity, capillary water absorption and chloride-ion migration were studied at 180 days. For the two test modes in fresh state, the results indicated compatibility between slump flow/yield stress (${\tau}_0$) and V-funnel flow time/plastic viscosity (${\mu}$). Increasing the substitution level of limestone fines in SCC mixtures, contributes to the decrease of the slump flow and the yield stress. All SCC mixtures investigated achieved adequate filling, adequate passing ability and exhibit no segregation. Moreover, the inclusion of limestone fines as crushed sand substitution reduces the capillary water absorption, chloride-ion migration and consequently enhances the durability performance.

• International journal of steel structures
• /
• v.18 no.4
• /
• pp.1336-1349
• /
• 2018

Generally, a precast prestressed concrete (PSC) beam is used as girders for short-to-medium span (less than 30 m) bridges due to the advantages of simple design and construction, reduction of construction budget, maintenance convenience. In order to increase the span length beyond 50 m of precast PSC girder, PSC hollow box girder with unbonded prestressed H-type steel beam placed at the compressive region is proposed. The unbonded compressive prestressing in the H-type steel beams in the girder is made to recover plastic deflection of PSC girder when the pre-stressing is released. Also, the H-steel beams allow minimization of depth-to-length ratio of the girder by reducing the compressive region of the cross-section, thereby reducing the weight of the girder. A quasi-static 3-point bending test with 4 different loading steps is performed to verify safety and plastic deflection recovery of the girder. The experimental results showed that the maximum applied load exceeded the maximum design load and most of the plastic deflection was recovered when the compressive prestressing of H-type steel beams is released. Also using prestressed H-type steel as compression reinforcements in the upper part of cross section, repair and restoration difficulty and cost of PSC girders should be significantly reduced. The study result and analysis are discussed in detail in the paper.

• Tribology and Lubricants
• /
• v.37 no.2
• /
• pp.71-76
• /
• 2021

As opposed to using fossil fuels, we need to use eco-friendly resources such as sunlight, raindrops and wind to produce electricity and combat environmental pollution. A triboelectric nanogenerator (TENG) is a device that converts mechanical energy into electricity by inducing repetitive contact and separation of two dissimilar materials. During the contact and separation processes, electron flow occurs owing to a change in electric potential of the contacting surface caused by contact electrification and electrostatic induction mechanisms. A solid-solid contact TENG is widely known, but it is possible to generate electricity via liquid-solid contact. Therefore, by designing a hydrophobic TENG, we can gather electricity from raindrop energy in a feasible manner. To fabricate the superhydrophobic surface of TENGs, we employ a dip coating technique to synthesize an octadecylamine (ODA)- and polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS)-based coating on polyethylene terephthalate (PET). The synthesized coating exhibits superhydrophobicity with a contact angle greater than 150° and generates a current of 2.2 ㎂/L while water droplets fall onto it continuously. Hence, we prepare a box-type TENG, with the ODA/PDMS coating deposited on the inside, and place a 1.5 mL water droplet into it. Resultantly, we confirm that the induced vibration causes continuous impacts between the ODA/PDMS coating and the water, generating approximately 100 pA for each impact.

• The Journal of Korean Obstetrics and Gynecology
• /
• v.34 no.4
• /
• pp.1-11
• /
• 2021

Objectives: Nephrotic syndrome is a kidney disorder, which is characterized by proteinuria, edema (swelling), and hyperlipidemia. Maydis Stigma (Corn silk) has been widely used in Asia as a traditional medicine and is known to have a diuretic effect and is used for the treatment of edema and indigestion. Methods: The aim of this study is to investigate the improvement effect of Maydis Stigma in treating nephrotic syndrome induced by puromycin aminonucleoside. Sprague-Dawley rats were intravenously injected with 75 mg/kg/day puromycin aminonucleoside, then treated with either Losartan or 200 mg/kg/day Maydis Stigma for seven days. Results: Maydis Stigma significantly decreased ascites and proteinuria level. Plasma levels of blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and plasma creatinine reduced significantly by Maydis Stigma. In addition, treatment with Maydis Stigma attenuated histological damage. Treatment with Maydis Stigma also restored podocin expression and reduced inflammation markers such as intracellular adhesion molecules (ICAM-1), monocyte chemotactic protein-1 (MCP-1), tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) and high-mobility group box-1 (HMGB1). Conclusions: Maydis Stigma ameliorates kidney injury in nephrotic syndrome rat models. Maydis Stigma exerts a renoprotective effect owing to its anti-inflammatory effects and reductions of ascites and proteinuria. Thus, these results indicate that Maydis Stigma is likely to be a promising agent in the treatment of nephrotic syndrome.

• Journal of Digital Convergence
• /
• v.17 no.10
• /
• pp.417-426
• /
• 2019

The purpose of this study is to analyze the success and failure of the movie made by the original game by comparing the box office environment of the movie made by the original game and to derive the necessary elements to make a good original movie. The specific analytical content studied the specific successes and failure factors of the remake of the game with , , and . Analyzes of the research show that the audience can be divided into game fan and non - game fans, and how to reflect the expectation on both sides of the movie is an important factor in making the movie. Also, games of different styles and genres from other themes can not be created in the same way as remixing movies, but flexible diversity and management are needed. Unconditional scenarios of games or game switching of movies can not be popular among the public, and it is very important to analyze specific target audiences.

• The Journal of the Korea Contents Association
• /
• v.21 no.2
• /
• pp.1-14
• /
• 2021

Recently, crowdfunding platforms have received attention as one of the content investment platforms for the public. This research attempts to explore the influencing factors on the success of movie euqity crowdfunding project. We use 'number of texts', 'number of images', 'star influence power', 'IP-based movie project', 'movie production stage', 'box office prediction', 'investment capital ratio', 'amount of surplus available investment', 'profit calculation method' and 'minimum investment amount' as independent variables. And we examined how these factors affects the achievement rate of movie crowdfunding. As a result of multiple regression analysis, 'movie production stage', 'investment capital ratio', 'amount of surplus available investment' and 'profit calculation method' have a significant effect on the crowdfunding achievement rate. In addition, the results of this research can be used for reference when planning film crowdfunding projects.