• Journal of the Korea Institute of Building Construction
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• v.23 no.6
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• pp.751-760
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• 2023

Enhancing productivity in earthwork projects is crucial, significantly affecting both time and cost efficiencies. However, existing research in this domain predominantly relies on qualitative data and methodologies, which may not suffice given its critical significance. This study employed the fuzzy DEMATEL method to conduct a structural analysis of variables affecting productivity in construction projects. The findings reveal that plan changes possess the most substantial overall influence on earthwork productivity, with a comprehensive strength rating of 4.58. Additionally, it was observed that precipitation data exerted the most pronounced positive impact, with a rating of 0.48. These insights are anticipated to aid in identifying and prioritizing areas for productivity enhancement in construction projects.

• Korean Chemical Engineering Research
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• v.62 no.2
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• pp.191-199
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• 2024

A study was conducted on a tubular heat exchanger to improve its heat transfer rate by using a novel baffle plate design with discontinuous swirling patterns. The design consisted of perforated baffle plates with rectangular air deflectors positioned at varying angles. The tubes in the heat exchanger were arranged in a consistent alignment with the airflow direction and exposed to a uniform heat flux on their surfaces. Each baffle plate included sixteen deflectors inclined at the same angle and arranged in a clockwise pattern. This arrangement induced a swirling motion of the air inside a circular duct where the heated tubes were located, leading to increased turbulence and improved heat transfer on the tube surfaces. The spacing between the baffle plates was adjusted at different pitch ratios, and the Reynolds number was controlled within a range of 16,000 to 29,000. The effects of pitch ratios and inclination angles on the heat exchanger's performance were analyzed. The results indicated that using a baffle plate with rectangular deflectors inclined at 30° and a pitch ratio of 1.2 resulted in an average increase of 1.29 in the thermal enhancement factor.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.56 no.2
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• pp.477-484
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• 2024

Experimental investigations on gamma - rays attenuation parameters and dielectric spectroscopic properties were done on a polymeric mixture with chemical composition (100-x) polyethylene + x basalt, where x = 0, 1, 3, 5, 10, and 20 wt%. Using the melting blending technique,six nanocomposite polymeric samples were prepared. The linear attenuation coefficient µ of each prepared set of samples was measured using a gamma-ray spectrometer including High Purity Germanium detector (HPGe) at energies 662.5, 1173.24, and 1332.51 keV. Based on the measured values of (µ) and sample density, the other effective shielding parameters were calculated. The values of µ showed an increase with increasing the dopant ratios from 0.0 up to 20.0 wt%. In addition, the µ values decreased with the photon's energy. The µ values were found 0.0847 up to 0.1175 cm^-1, 0.0571 up to 0.0855 cm^-1, and 0.0543 up to 0.075 cm^-1 at 662.5, 1173.24, and 1332.51 keV. for B0 up to B20, respectively. The ATR spectroscopy was done on the prepared samples, and a good evidence of adding the filler to the pure polyethylene (HDPE) was obtained. Besides, an enhancement in dielectric constant by insertion of basalt NPs also recorded and can be attributed to the large dielectric constant of basalt compared to pure HDPE.

• Journal of Radiation Industry
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.63-70
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• 2024

Phlorocyclin (PC) and isophorocyclin (IPC) are rare benzofuran derivaitves obtained from the representive dihydrochalcone glucoside, phloridzin (PZ) and are a type of neolignan backbone with a potential anti-glycative agents. However, research related to the enhancement of biological functionallites to inflammation of the newly converted products is very limited. This research was directed with the purpose of discovery more effective anti-inflammatory agents in macrophages of newly radiolysis products PC and IPC. The anti-inflammatory capacities of the characterized products in RAW 264.7 and DH82 macrophages treated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) to stimulate an inflammation response were examined. The pro-inflammatory factors such as prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), nitric oxide (NO), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and IL-10, without cytotoxicity in LPS-stimulated macrophages, were significantly inhibited after treatment with PC and IPC, when compared to PZ. Moreover, PC and IPC decreased the appearance of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) and inducible NO synthase (iNOS) proteins in macrophages. The cyclization products modified by radiolysis showed the greatest anti-inflammatory effects in macrophage cells, indicating PC and IPC are a potential candidate for use in anti-inflammatory agents.

• Journal of the Korean Physical Society
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• v.80
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• pp.1076-1080
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• 2022

For preventing a sneak current in the 3D cross-point array, the selection device is essentially necessary and an n-MOSFET has been used for the selection device. However, the three-terminal electrodes of n-MOSFET make to achieve a high density of a cross-point array difficult. As a solution, using a selector having two terminal electrodes has been intensively researched. We presented that the CuGeS₂/GeS₂-based super-linear-threshold-switching (SLTS) selector device with the insertion of optimal TiN liner thickness exhibited outstanding electrical characteristics and reliability. The dependency of electrical characteristics and reliability on various TiN liner thicknesses were investigated. In addition, the principles of reliability and electrical characteristics improvement were understood through the energy dispersive spectroscopy elemental mapping and line profile of Cu. The adequate amount of Cu distributed in GeS₂ resistive switching layer is a key factor to achieve excellent electrical characteristics and reliability for an ultra-high-density 3D cross-point array cell.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.51-60
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• 2005

Purpose : Selective inhibition of multiple molecular targets may improve the antitumor activity of radiation. Two specific inhibitors of selective cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) and epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) were combined with radiation on the HeLa cell line. To investigate cooperative mechanism with selective COX-2 inhibitor and EGFR blocker, in vitro experiments were done. Materials and Methods : Antitumor effect was obtained by growth inhibition and apoptosis analysis by annexin V-Flous method. Radiation modulation effects were determined by the clonogenic cell survival assay. Surviving fractions at 2 Gy ($SF_2$) and dose enhancement ratio at a surviving fraction of 0.25 were evaluated. To investigate the mechanism of the modulation of radiosensitivity, the cell cycle analyses were done by flow cytometry. The bcl-2 and bax expressions were analyzed by western blot. Results : A cooperative effect were observed on the apoptosis of the HeLa ceil line when combination of the two drugs, AG 1478 and NS 398 with radiation at the lowest doses, apoptosis of $22.70\%$ compare with combination of the one drug with radiation, apoptosis of $8.49\%$. In cell cycle analysis, accumulation of cell on $G_0/G_l$ phase and decrement of S phase fraction was observed from 24 hours to 72 hours after treatment with radiation, AG 1478 and NS 398. The combination of NS 398 and AG 1478 enhanced radiosensitivity on a concentration-dependent manner in HeLa cells with dose enhancement ratios of 3.00 and $SF_2$ of 0.12 but the combination of one drug with radiation was not enhanced radlosensitivity with dose enhancement ratios of 1.12 and SF2 of 0.68 (p=0.005). The expression levels of bcl-2 and bax were reduced when combined with AG 1478 and NS 398. Conclusion : Our results indicate that the selective COX-2 inhibitor and EGFR blocker combined with radiation have potential additive or cooperative effects on radiation treatment and may act through various mechanisms including direct inhibition of tumor cell proliferation, suppression of tumor cell cycle progression and inhibition of anti-apoptotic proteins.

• BMB Reports
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• v.39 no.3
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• pp.304-310
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• 2006

Transcription factor NF-E2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) regulates the induction of Phase II detoxifying enzymes and antioxidant enzymes in response to many cancer chemopreventive compounds. In this study, we investigated the role of receptor associated coactivator (RAC3) or steroid receptor coactivator-3 (SRC3) and other nuclear co-regulators including CBP/p300 (CREB-binding protein), CARM1 (Coactivator-associated arginine methyltransferase), PRMT1 (Protein arginine methyl-transferase 1), and p/CAF (p300/CBP-associated factor) in the transcriptional activation of a chimeric Gal4-Nrf2-Luciferase system containing the transactivation domain (TAD) of Nrf2 in HepG2 cells. The results indicated that RAC3 up-regulated the transactivation activity of Gal4-Nrf2-(1-370) in a dose-dependent manner. The enhancement of transactivation domain activity of Gal4-Nrf2-(1-370) by RAC3 was dampened in the presence of dominant negative mutants of RAC3. Next we studied the effects of other nuclear co-regulators including CBP/p300, CARM1, PRMT1 and p/CAF, and the results showed that they had different level of positive effects on this transactivation domain activity of Gal4-Nrf2-(1-370). But importantly, synergistic effects of these co-regulators in the presence of RAC3/SRC3 on the transactivation activity of Gal4-Nrf2-(1-370) were observed. In summary, our present study showed for the first time that the 160 RAC3/SRC3 is involved in the functional transactivation of TAD of Nrf2 and that the other nuclear co-regulators such as CBP/p300, CARM1, PRMT1 and p/CAF can also transcriptionally activate this TAD of Nrf2 and that they could further enhance the transactivation activity mediated by RAC3/SRC3.

• Journal of the Korea Concrete Institute
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• v.21 no.5
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• pp.669-677
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• 2009

Twenty-four beam specimens were tested to examine the effect of the maximum aggregate size on the shear behavior of lightweight concrete continuous beams. The maximum aggregate size varied from 4 mm to 19 mm and shear span-to-depth ratio was 2.5 and 0.6 in each all-lightweight, sand-lightweight and normal weight concrete groups. The ratio of the normalized shear capacity of lightweight concrete beams to that of the company normal weight concrete beams was also compared with the modification factor specified in ACI 318-05 for lightweight concrete. The microphotograph showed that some unsplitted aggregates were observed in the failure planes of lightweight concrete beams, which contributed to the enhancement of the shear capacity of lightweight concrete beams. As a result, the normalized shear capacity of lightweight concrete continuous beams increased with the increase of the maximum aggregate size, though the increasing rate was lower than that of normal weight concrete continuous beams. The modification factor specified in ACI 318-05 was generally unconservative in the continuous lightweight concrete beams, showing an increase of the unconservatism with the increase of the maximum aggregate size. In addition, the conservatism of the shear provisions of ACI 318-05 was lower in lightweight concrete beams than in normal weight concrete beams.

• KOREAN JOURNAL OF CROP SCIENCE
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• v.59 no.3
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• pp.263-281
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• 2014

Transcription factors are essential for the regulation of gene expression in plant. They are binding to either enhancer or promoter region of DNA adjacent to the gene and are related to basal transcription regulation, differential enhancement of transcription, development, response to intercellular signals or environment, and cell cycle control. The mechanism in controlling gene expression of transcription can be understood through the assessment of the complete sequence for the maize genome. It is possible that the maize genome encodes 4,000 or more transcription factors because it has undergone whole duplication in the past. Previously, several transcription factors of maize have been characterized. In this review article, the transcription factors were selected using Pfam database, including many family members in comparison with other family and listed as follows: ABI3/VP1, AP2/EREBP, ARF, ARID, AS2, AUX/IAA, BES1, bHLH, bZIP, C2C2-CO-like, C2C2-Dof, C2C2-GATA, C2C2-YABBY, C2H2, E2F/DP, FHA, GARP-ARR-B, GeBP, GRAS, HMG, HSF, MADS, MYB, MYB-related, NAC, PHD, and WRKY family. For analyzing motifs, each amino acid sequence has been aligned with ClustalW and the conserved sequence was shown by sequence logo. This review article will contribute to further study of molecular biological analysis and breeding using the transcription factor of maize as a strategy for selecting target gene.

• Journal of Korean Society on Water Environment
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.347-358
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• 2012

The SWAT (Soil and Water Assessment Tool) should be calibrated and validated with observed data to secure accuracy of model prediction. Recently, the SWAT-CUP (Calibration and Uncertainty Program for SWAT) software, which can calibrate SWAT using various algorithms, were developed to help SWAT users calibrate model efficiently. In this study, three algorithms (GLUE: Generalized Likelihood Uncertainty Estimation, PARASOL: Parameter solution, SUFI-2: Sequential Uncertainty Fitting ver. 2) in the SWAT-CUP were applied for the Soyang-gang dam watershed to evaluate these algorithms. Simulated total streamflow and 0~75% percentile streamflow were compared with observed data, respectively. The NSE (Nash-Sutcliffe Efficiency) and $R^2$ (Coefficient of Determination) values were the same from three algorithms but the P-factor for confidence of calibration ranged from 0.27 to 0.81 . the PARASOL shows the lowest p-factor (0.27), SUFI-2 gives the greatest P-factor (0.81) among these three algorithms. Based on calibration results, the SUFI-2 was found to be suitable for calibration in Soyang-gang dam watershed. Although the NSE and $R^2$ values were satisfactory for total streamflow estimation, the SWAT simulated values for low flow regime were not satisfactory (negative NSE values) in this study. This is because of limitations in semi-distributed SWAT modeling structure, which cannot simulated effects of spatial locations of HRUs (Hydrologic Response Unit) within subwatersheds in SWAT. To solve this problem, a module capable of simulating groundwater/baseflow should be developed and added to the SWAT system. With this enhancement in SWAT/SWAT-CUP, the SWAT estimated streamflow values could be used in determining standard flow rate in TMDLs (Total Maximum Daily Load) application at a watershed.