• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.177-187
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• 2021

Metabolic syndrome (MBS) is a widespread disease that has strongly related to unhealthy diet and low physical activity, which initiate more serious conditions such as obesity, cardiovascular diseases and type 2 diabetes mellitus. This study aimed to examine the therapeutic effects of morin, as one of the flavonoids constituents, which widely exists in many herbs and fruits, against some metabolic and hepatic manifestations observed in MBS rats and the feasible related mechanisms. MBS was induced in rats by high fructose diet feeding for 12 weeks. Morin (30 mg/kg) was administered orally to both normal and MBS rats for 4 weeks. Liver tissues were used for determination of liver index, hepatic expression of glucose transporter 2 (GLUT2) as well as both inflammatory and fibrotic markers. The fat/muscle ratio, metabolic parameters, systolic blood pressure, and oxidative stress markers were also determined. Our data confirmed that the administration of morin in fructose diet rats significantly reduced the elevated systolic blood pressure. The altered levels of metabolic parameters such as blood glucose, serum insulin, serum lipid profile, and oxidative stress markers were also reversed approximately to the normal values. In addition, morin treatment decreased liver index, serum liver enzyme activities, and fat/muscle ratio. Furthermore, morin relatively up-regulated GLUT2 expression, however, down-regulated NF-κB, TNF-α, and TGF-β expressions in the hepatic tissues. Here, we revealed that morin has an exquisite effect against metabolic disorders in the experimental model through, at least in part, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-fibrotic mechanisms.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.35 no.2
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• pp.121-133
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• 2023

The demand for cement and limestone crushed materials has increased many folds due to the tremendous increase in construction activities in Pakistan during the past few decades. The number of cement production industries has increased correspondingly, and so the rock-blasting operations at the limestone quarry sites. However, the safety procedures warranted at these sites for the blast-induced ground vibrations (BIGV) have not been adequately developed and/or implemented. Proper prediction and monitoring of BIGV are necessary to ensure the safety of structures in the vicinity of these quarry sites. In this paper, an attempt has been made to predict BIGV using artificial neural network (ANN) at three selected limestone quarries of Pakistan. The ANN has been developed in Python using Keras with sequential model and dense layers. The hyper parameters and neurons in each of the activation layers has been optimized using randomized and grid search method. The input parameters for the model include distance, a maximum charge per delay (MCPD), depth of hole, burden, spacing, and number of blast holes, whereas, peak particle velocity (PPV) is taken as the only output parameter. A total of 110 blast vibrations datasets were recorded from three different limestone quarries. The dataset has been divided into 85% for neural network training, and 15% for testing of the network. A five-layer ANN is trained with Rectified Linear Unit (ReLU) activation function, Adam optimization algorithm with a learning rate of 0.001, and batch size of 32 with the topology of 6-32-32-256-1. The blast datasets were utilized to compare the performance of ANN, multivariate regression analysis (MVRA), and empirical predictors. The performance was evaluated using the coefficient of determination (R²), mean absolute error (MAE), mean squared error (MSE), mean absolute percentage error (MAPE), and root mean squared error (RMSE)for predicted and measured PPV. To determine the relative influence of each parameter on the PPV, sensitivity analyses were performed for all input parameters. The analyses reveal that ANN performs superior than MVRA and other empirical predictors, andthat83% PPV is affected by distance and MCPD while hole depth, number of blast holes, burden and spacing contribute for the remaining 17%. This research provides valuable insights into improving safety measures and ensuring the structural integrity of buildings near limestone quarry sites.

• Korean Journal of Poultry Science
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• v.49 no.4
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• pp.229-237
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• 2022

This study investigated the growth characteristics of four strains of newly developed synthetic Korean native commercial chickens (KNCs). We investigated a suitable growth curve model in KNCs and estimated the number of days to reach a 2 kg market weight. Body weight was measured at 2-week intervals from birth to 12 weeks of age. The growth curves were estimated using von Berteralanffy, Gompertz, and logistic functions. The results showed that males were significantly heavier than females at all ages, but there were no significant differences in body weight between strains, except at birth and 2 and 6 weeks of age. The coefficients of determination and adjusted determination of growth function had high goodness-of-fit (97.4~99.7). Of the growth curve parameters, the mature weight and growth ratio were higher in males than in females, but the maturity rate was similar in males and females. The inflection point occurred at approximately 7 weeks of age for females and 8 to 9 weeks of age for males. The weights estimated from the growth curve functions almost agreed with the actual weights, except for male weights estimated using the von Bertalanffy function. The coefficients of determination of the regression equations for weight to age were 0.9583 to 0.9746. The 8- and 10-week-old body weights estimated using the regression equation, and the 12-week-old weight estimated using the logistic function were most similar to the actual weight. Using these models, the estimated age of KNCs to reach 2 kg was 62.0~64.6 days for males and 74.9~78.6 days for females.

• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
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• v.38 no.2
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• pp.47-55
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• 2016

In this study, WUA (Weighted Usable Area) based on the Instream Flow Incremental Methodology (IFIM) was calculated to determine ecological flow at JeonJu-Cheon by using River2D model. To calibrate River2D, simulation results for low flow conditions of River2D were compared with calibrated HEC-RAS simulation results and the optimum parameters were determined. The results were RMSE (0.18), NSE (0.71) and coefficient of determination (0.78) for velocity and RMSE (0.02), NSE (0.71), coefficient of determination (0.73) for water depth. The result shows that the model successfully simulates the water flows. A selected target fish species to build the habitat suitability index were composed of Zaccoplatypus and Coreoleuciscus splendidus. These species showed the highest occurrences over the past decade in f ish monitoring. Also, The WUA-Discharge curve was calculated with the suitability index in a medium flow conditions. From the result, WUA is changed according to flowrate. In the flowrate-WUA/A graph, ecological flow can be determined at $1.8{\sim}2.0m^3/s$ for Zaccoplatypus $2.0m^3/s$ and Coreoleuciscus splendidus $1.8m^3/s$ at JeonJu-Cheon upstream. When compared with flow-duration analysis, it is demonstrative that simulation results fitted ecological flow considering quantity of available habitat for each fish species.

• Animal Bioscience
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• v.37 no.5
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• pp.817-825
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• 2024

Objective: The aim of this study was to identify suitable polynomial regression for modeling the average growth trajectory and to estimate the relative development of the rib eye area, scrotal circumference, and morphometric measurements of Guzerat young bulls. Methods: A total of 45 recently weaned males, aged 325.8±28.0 days and weighing 219.9±38.05 kg, were evaluated. The animals were kept on Brachiaria brizantha pastures, received multiple supplementations, and were managed under uniform conditions for 294 days, with evaluations conducted every 56 days. The average growth trajectory was adjusted using ordinary polynomials, Legendre polynomials, and quadratic B-splines. The coefficient of determination, mean absolute deviation, mean square error, the value of the restricted likelihood function, Akaike information criteria, and consistent Akaike information criteria were applied to assess the quality of the fits. For the study of allometric growth, the power model was applied. Results: Ordinary polynomial and Legendre polynomial models of the fifth order provided the best fits. B-splines yielded the best fits in comparing models with the same number of parameters. Based on the restricted likelihood function, Akaike's information criterion, and consistent Akaike's information criterion, the B-splines model with six intervals described the growth trajectory of evaluated animals more smoothly and consistently. In the study of allometric growth, the evaluated traits exhibited negative heterogeneity (b<1) relative to the animals' weight (p<0.01), indicating the precocity of Guzerat cattle for weight gain on pasture. Conclusion: Complementary studies of growth trajectory and allometry can help identify when an animal's weight changes and thus assist in decision-making regarding management practices, nutritional requirements, and genetic selection strategies to optimize growth and animal performance.

• Investigative Magnetic Resonance Imaging
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.212-217
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• 2015

Purpose: For a single time-point hyperpolarized $^{13}C$ magnetic resonance spectroscopy imaging (MRSI) of animal models, scan-time window after injecting substrates is critical in terms of signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) of downstream metabolites. Pre-scans of time-resolved magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) can be performed to determine the scan-time window. In this study, based on two-site exchange model, protocol-specific simulation approaches were developed for $^{13}C$ MRSI and the optimal scan-time window was determined to maximize the SNR of downstream metabolites. Materials and Methods: The arterial input function and conversion rate constant from injected substrates (pyruvate) to downstream metabolite (lactate) were precalibrated, based on pre-scans of time-resolved MRS. MRSI was simulated using two-site exchange model with considerations of scan parameters of MRSI. Optimal scan-time window for mapping lactate was chosen from simulated lactate intensity maps. The performance was validated by multiple in vivo experiments of BALB/C nude mice with MDA-MB-231 breast tumor cells. As a comparison, MRSI were performed with other scan-time windows simply chosen from the lactate signal intensities of pre-scan time-resolved MRS. Results: The optimal scan timing for our animal models was determined by simulation, and was found to be 15 s after injection of the pyruvate. Compared to the simple approach, we observed that the lactate peak signal to noise ratio (PSNR) was increased by 230%. Conclusion: Optimal scan timing to measure downstream metabolites using hyperpolarized $^{13}C$ MRSI can be determined by the proposed protocol-specific simulation approaches.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.58 no.3
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• pp.459-473
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• 2016

Various vague and unstructured problems encountered the civil engineering/designers that persuaded by their experiences. One of these problems is the structural failure of the reinforced concrete (RC) building determination. Typically, using the traditional Limit state method is time consuming and complex in designing structures that are optimized in terms of one/many parameters. Recent research has revealed the Artificial Neural Networks potentiality in solving various real life problems. Thus, the current work employed the Multilayer Perceptron Feed-Forward Network (MLP-FFN) classifier to tackle the problem of predicting structural failure of multistoried reinforced concrete buildings via detecting the failure possibility of the multistoried RC building structure in the future. In order to evaluate the proposed method performance, a database of 257 multistoried buildings RC structures has been constructed by professional engineers, from which 150 RC structures were used. From the structural design, fifteen features have been extracted, where nine features of them have been selected to perform the classification process. Various performance measures have been calculated to evaluate the proposed model. The experimental results established satisfactory performance of the proposed model.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.64 no.5
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• pp.671-681
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• 2017

This study investigates the structural performance of 3D steel pipe rack suspended scaffolding systems. For the purpose, a standard full scale 3D steel pipe rack suspended scaffolding system considering two frames, two plane trusses, purlins and wooden floor is constructed in the laboratory. A developed load transmission system was placed in these experimental systems to distribute single loads to the center of a specific area in a step-by-step manner using a load jack. After each load increment, the displacements are measured by means of linear variable differential transducers placed in several critical points of the system. The tests are repeated for five different system conditions to determine the structural performance. The means of system conditions is the numbers of the tie bars which are used to connect plane trusses under level. Finite elements models of the 3D steel pipe rack suspended scaffolding systems considering different systems conditions are constituted using SAP2000 software to support the experimental tests and to use the models in future studies. Each of models including load transmission platform is analyzed under a single loading and the displacements are obtained. In addition, to calibrate the numerical models some uncertain parameters such as elasticity modulus of wooden floor and connection rigidity of purlins to plane trusses are assessed experimentally. The results of this work demonstrate that when increasing numbers of tie bars the displacement values are decreased. Also the results obtained from developed numerical models have harmony with those of experimental. In addition, the scaffolding system with two tie bars at the beginning and at the end of the plane truss has the optimum structural performance compared the results obtained for other scaffolding system conditions.

• Journal of IKEEE
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.586-593
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• 2019

In this paper, we introduce the wood pellet electric power generation system, which is an eco - friendly solid fuel processed pure wood, which is one of the largest capacity renewable power fuels in Korea, The Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Energy notified the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism of the Ministry of Land, Transport and Maritime Affairs of the Ministry of Land, Transport and Maritime Affairs. Derived and validated. It is confirmed that the performance of the generator and the voltage control characteristics of excitation system are good even for the change of generator fuel. It can contribute to future reference at the plant that wants to replace fossil fuels with renewable fuels.

• Korean Journal of Materials Research
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• v.29 no.7
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• pp.412-424
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• 2019

Global fitting functions for Fe-selective chlorination in ilmenite($FeTiO_2$) and successive chlorination of beneficiated $TiO_2$ are proposed and validated based on a comparison with experimental data collected from the literature. The Fe-selective chlorination reaction is expressed by the unreacted shrinking core model, which covers the diffusion-controlling step of chlorinated Fe gas that escapes through porous materials of beneficiated $TiO_2$ formed by Fe-selective chlorination, and the chemical reaction-controlling step of the surface reaction of unreacted solid ilmenite. The fitting function is applied for both chemical controlling steps of the unreacted shrinking core model. The validation shows that our fitting function is quite effective to fit with experimental data by minimum and maximum values of determination coefficients of $R^2$ as low as 0.9698 and 0.9988, respectively, for operating parameters such as temperature, $Cl_2$ pressure, carbon ratio and particle size that change comprehensively. The global fitting functions proposed in this study are expressed simply as exponential functions of chlorination rate(X) vs. time(t), and each of them are validated by a single equation for various reaction conditions. There is therefore a certain practical merit for the optimal process design and performance analysis for field engineers of chlorination reactions of ilmenite and $TiO_2$.