• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.43 no.5
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• pp.447-458
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• 2011

This paper proposes an approximated contact force model to identify the nonlinear behavior of a fuel rod with gap supports; also, the numerical prediction of interfacial forces in the mechanical contact of fuel rods with gap supports is studied. The Newmark integration method requires the current status of the contact force, but the contact force is not given a priori. Taylor's expansion can be used to predict the unknown contact force; therefore, it should be guaranteed that the first derivative of the contact force is continuous. This work proposes a continuous and differentiable contact force model with the ability to estimate the current state of the contact force. An approximated convex and differentiable potential function for the contact force is described, and a variational formulation is also provided. A numerical example that considers the particularly stiff supports has been studied, and a fuel rod with hardening supports was also examined for a realistic simulation. An approximated proper solution can be obtained using the results, and abrupt changes from the contacting state to non-contacting state, or vice versa, can be relieved. It can also be seen that not only the external force but also the developed contact force affects the response.

• International Journal of Ocean System Engineering
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• v.1 no.3
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• pp.120-135
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• 2011

This paper proposes a model based trajectory tracking control scheme for under-actuated underwater robotic vehicles. The difficulty in stabilizing a non-linear system using smooth static state feedback law means that the design of a feedback controller for an under-actuated system is somewhat challenging. A necessary condition for the asymptotic stability of an under-actuated vehicle about a single equilibrium is that its gravitational field has nonzero elements corresponding to non-actuated dynamics. To overcome this condition, we propose a continuous time-varying control law based on the direct estimation of vehicle dynamic variables such as inertia, damping and Coriolis & centripetal terms. This can work satisfactorily under commonly encountered uncertainties such as an ocean current and parameter variations. The proposed control law cancels the non-linearities in the vehicle dynamics by introducing non-linear elements in the input side. Knowledge of the bounds on uncertain terms is not required and it is conceptually simple and easy to implement. The controller parameter values are designed using the Taguchi robust design approach and the control law is verified analytically to be robust under uncertainties, including external disturbances and current. A comparison of the controller performance with that of a linear proportional-integral-derivative (PID) controller and sliding mode controller are also provided.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.158-164
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• 2017

Methylglyoxal (MGO) is a highly reactive metabolite of glucose which is known to cause damage and induce apoptosis in endothelial cells. Endothelial cell damage is implicated in the progression of diabetes-associated complications and atherosclerosis. Hypericin, a naphthodianthrone isolated from Hypericum perforatum L. (St. John's Wort), is a potent and selective inhibitor of protein kinase C and is reported to reduce neuropathic pain. In this work, we investigated the protective effect of hypericin on MGO-induced apoptosis in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs). Hypericin showed significant anti-apoptotic activity in MGO-treated HUVECs. Pretreatment with hypericin significantly inhibited MGO-induced changes in cell morphology, cell death, and production of intracellular reactive oxygen species. Hypericin prevented MGO-induced apoptosis in HUVECs by increasing Bcl-2 expression and decreasing Bax expression. MGO was found to activate mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs). Pretreatment with hypericin strongly inhibited the activation of MAPKs, including P38, JNK, and ERK1/2. Interestingly, hypericin also inhibited the formation of AGEs. These findings suggest that hypericin may be an effective regulator of MGO-induced apoptosis. In conclusion, hypericin downregulated the formation of AGEs and ameliorated MGO-induced dysfunction in human endothelial cells.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Precision Engineering
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• v.22 no.6 s.171
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• pp.207-212
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• 2005

The purpose of this work is to develop the FES controller that can cope with the muscle fatigue which is one of the most important problems of current FES (Functional Electrical Stimulation). The feasibility of the proposed FES controller was evaluated by simulation. We used a fitness function to describe the effect of muscle fatigue and recovery process. The FES control system was developed based on the biological neuronal system. Specifically, we used PD (Proportional and Derivative) and GC (Gravity Compensation) control, which was described by the neuronal feedback structure. It was possible to control of multiple joints and muscles by using the phase-based PD and GC control method and the static optimization. As a result, the proposed FES control system could maintain the cycling motion in spite of the muscle fatigue. It is expected that the proposed FES controller will play an important role in the rehabilitation of SCI patient.

• Transactions of the Korean Society for Noise and Vibration Engineering
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• v.25 no.10
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• pp.707-713
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• 2015

This paper proposes experimental results for control performance deterioration of a piezoelectric actuator under high temperature conditions due to external heat environment. In this work, a heat environment from 30 ℃ to 190 ℃ is established by a heat chamber which is capable of high temperature of heat environment. Inside the heat chamber, an experimental apparatus consisting of the stack type of piezoelectric actuator, laser sensor, gap sensor and temperature sensor is established. After evaluating temperature dependent blocking force, displacement and time response of a piezoelectric actuator inside the heat chamber, tracking control performances are evaluated under various temperature conditions via proportional-integral-derivative(PID) feedback controller. The desired position trajectory has a sinusoidal wave form with a fixed frequency. Control performances are experimentally evaluated at both room temperature and high temperature and presented in time domain.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.48 no.6
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• pp.611-623
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• 2023

This work considered an optimal control formulation in the sense of Caputo derivatives. The optimality of the fractional optimal control problem. The tumor immune interaction in fractional form provides an excellent tool for the description of memory and hereditary properties of inter and intra cells. So the interaction between effector-cells, tumor cells and are modeled by using the definition of Caputo fractional order derivative that provides the system with long-time memory and gives extra degree of freedom. In addiltion, existence and local stability of fixed points are investigated for discrete model. Moreover, in order to achieve more efficient computational results of fractional-order system, a discretization process is performed to obtain its discrete counterpart. Our technique likewise allows the advancement of results, such as return time to baseline that are unrealistic with current model solvers.

• Journal of Korean Library and Information Science Society
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• v.11
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• pp.69-99
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• 1984

A dramatic development in the new technology of copying materials has presented us with massive problems on reconciling the conflicts between copyright owners and potential users of copyrighted materials. The adaptation to this changing condition led some countries to revise their copyright laws such as in the U. S. in 1976 and in Korea in 1984 for merging with the international or universal copyright conventions in the future. Copyright defined as exclusive rights given to copyright owners aims to secure a fair return for an author's creative labor and to stimulate artistic creativity for the general public good. The exclusive rights on copyrightable matters, generally for reproduction, preparation of derivative works, public distribution, public performance, and public display, are limited by fair use for scholarship and criticism and by library reproduction for its preservation and interlibrary loan. These limitations on the exclusive rights are concerned with all aspects of library services and cause a great burden on librarian's daily duty to provide balance between the rights of creators and the needs of library patrons. The fair use as one of the limitations on it has been coupled with enormous growth of a new technology and extended from xerography to online database systems. The implementation of the fair use and library reprography in Korean law to the local practices is examined on the basis of the new American copyright act of 1976. Under the draft revision of Korean law, librarians will face many potential problems as summarized below. 1. Because the new provision of 'life time plus 50 years' will tie up substantial bodies of material longer than the old law, until that date librarians would need permissions from the owners and should pay attention to the author's death date. 2. Because the copyright can be sold, distributed, given to the heirs, donated, as a whole or a part, librarians should chase down the heirs and other second owners. In case of a derivative work, this is a real problem. 3. Since a work has its protection from the moment of its creation, the coverage of copyrightable matter would be extended to the published or the unpublished works and librarian's work load would be heavier. Without copyright registration, no one can be certain that a work is in the public domain. Therefore, librarians will need to check with an authority. 4. For implementation of limitations on exclusive rights, fair use and library reproduction for interlibrary loan, there can be no substantial aggregate use and there can be no systematic distribution of multicopies. Therefore, librarians should not substitute reproductions for subscriptions or purchases. 5. For the interlibrary loan by photocopying, librarians should understand the procedure of royalty payment. 6. Compulsory licenses should be understood by librarians. 7. Because the draft revision of Korean law is a reciprocal treaty, librarians should take care of other countries' copyright law to protect foreign authors from Korean law. In order to solve the above problems, some suggestions are presented below. 1. That copyright clearinghouse or central agency as a centralized royalty payment mechanism be established. 2. That the Korean Library Association establish a committee on copyright. 3. That the Korean Library Association propose guidelines for each occasion, e.g. for interlibrary loan, books and periodicals and music, etc. 4. That the Korean government establish a copyright office or an official organization for copyright control other than the copyright committee already organized by the government. 5. That the Korean Library Association establish educational programs on copyright for librarians through seminars or articles written in its magazines. 6. That individual libraries provide librarian's copyright kits. 7. That school libraries distribute subject bibliographies on copyright law to teachers. However, librarians should keep in mind that limitations on exclusive rights are not for an exemption from library reprography but as a convenient access to library resources.

• Korean Journal of Microbiology
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• v.51 no.1
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• pp.1-6
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• 2015

The term "P2 sir-associated helper inefficiency" has been used to define the inefficient helper capability of P2 sir mutants for their satellite bacteriophage P4. The aim of this study was to investigate the factors overcoming P2 sir-associated helper inefficiency. At first, we verified whether the P2 cos region containing P4 sid71 cosP2 could overcome P2 sir-associated helper inefficiency with P2 sir3. The result was that P4 sid71 cosP2 could not overcome P2 sir-associated helper inefficiency with P2 sir3. Instead of cos region of P2, the size of the DNA packaged into a $P2_{sir}$-sized head seems to be important for overcoming P2 sir-associated helper inefficiency. In the present work, three kinds of P4 derivatives with packaged DNA sizes between those of P4 ost1 and P4 ost2, were constructed through DNA manipulation. In one P4 derivative, P4 sid71 delRI::apr, the size of the packaged DNA was identified with a CsCl buoyant equilibrium density gradient experiment. According to the burst sizes of the P4 derivatives, they could overcome P2 sir3-associated helper inefficiency. The size of the P4 derivative DNA suitable for packaging into a $P2_{sir3}$-sized head was 28-29 kb.

• International Journal of Oral Biology
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• v.37 no.3
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• pp.91-102
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• 2012

Bcl-2 protects tumor cells from the apoptotic effects of various anti-neoplastic agents. Increased expression of Bcl-2 has been associated with a poor response to chemotherapy in various malignancies, including leukemia. Hence, bypassing the resistance conferred by anti-apoptotic factors such as Bcl-2 represents an attractive therapeutic strategy against cancer cells, including leukemic cells. This study was undertaken to examine whether the anticancer drug, cisplatin and the synthetic chenodeoxycholic acid (CDCA) derivative, HS-1200 show anti-tumor activity in U937 and U937/Bcl-2 cells. Viability assays revealed that HS-1200 overcomes the resistance conferred by Bcl-2 in human leukemic U937 cells. Various apoptosis assessment assays further demonstrated that HS-1200 overcomes the resistance conferred by Bcl-2 in human leukemic U937 cells by inducing apoptosis. In addition HS-1200, but not cisplatin, overcomes the anti-apoptotic effects of Bcl-2 in Bcl-2 over-expressing human leukemic cells (U937/Bcl-2 cells). Notably, we observed that the HS-1200-induced formation of mature promyelocytic leukemia (PML) nuclear bodies (NBs) correlates with a suppression of the anti-apoptotic effects of Bcl-2 in human leukemic cells over-expressing this protein (U937/Bcl-2 cells). Furthermore, HS-1200 was found to induce the association between PML and SUMO-1, Daxx, Sp100, p53 or CBP in the aggregated PML-NBs of U937/Bcl-2 cells. Thus, PML protein and the formation of mature PML-NBs could be considered as therapeutic targets that may help to bypass the resistance to apoptosis conferred by Bcl-2. Elucidating the exact mechanism by which PML regulates Bcl-2 will require further work.

• Smart Structures and Systems
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.85-97
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• 2017

The aim of this research is to develop a new method to use magnetorheological (MR) damper for vibration control. It is a new way to achieve the MR damper response without the need to have detailed constant parameters estimations. The methodology adopted in designing the control structure in this work is based on the experimental results. In order to investigate and understand the behaviour of an MR damper, an experiment is first conducted. Force-displacement and force-velocity responses with varying current have been established to model the MR damper. The force for upward and downward motions of the damper piston is found to be increasing with current and velocity. In cyclic motion, which is the combination of upward and downward motions of the piston, the force with hysteresis behaviour is seen to be increasing with current. In addition, the energy dissipated is also found to be linear with current. A proportional-integral-derivative (PID) controller, based on the established characteristics for a quarter car suspension model, has been adapted in this study. A fuzzy rule based PID controller (F-PID) is opted to achieve better response for a varying frequency input. The outcome of this study can be used in the modelling of MR damper and applied to control engineering. Moreover, the identified behaviour can help in further development of the MR damper technology.