• Molecules and Cells
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.1-16
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• 2005

The peptidyl transferase center (PTC) is located in a protein free environment, thus confirming that the ribosome is a ribozyme. This arched void has dimensions suitable for accommodating the 3'ends of the A-and the P-site tRNAs, and is situated within a universal sizable symmetry-related region that connects all ribosomal functional centers involved in amino-acid polymerization. The linkage between the elaborate PTC architecture and the A-site tRNA position revealed that the A-to P-site passage of the tRNA 3'end is performed by a rotatory motion, which leads to stereochemistry suitable for peptide bond formation and for substrate mediated catalysis, thus suggesting that the PTC evolved by genefusion. Adjacent to the PTC is the entrance of the protein exit tunnel, shown to play active roles in sequence-specific gating of nascent chains and in responding to cellular signals. This tunnel also provides a site that may be exploited for local co-translational folding and seems to assist in nascent chain trafficking into the hydrophobic space formed by the first bacterial chaperone, the trigger factor. Many antibiotics target ribosomes. Although the ribosome is highly conserved, subtle sequence and/or conformational variations enable drug selectivity, thus facilitating clinical usage. Comparisons of high-resolution structures of complexes of antibiotics bound to ribosomes from eubacteria resembling pathogens, to an archaeon that shares properties with eukaryotes and to its mutant that allows antibiotics binding, demonstrated the unambiguous difference between mere binding and therapeutical effectiveness. The observed variability in antibiotics inhibitory modes, accompanied by the elucidation of the structural basis to antibiotics mechanism justifies expectations for structural based improved properties of existing compounds as well as for the development of novel drugs.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.32 no.2
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• pp.84-94
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• 2014

Purpose: To quantify the cardiac dose reduction during breathing adapted radiotherapy using Real-time Position Management (RPM) system in the treatment of left-sided breast cancer. Materials and Methods: Twenty-two patients with left-sided breast cancer underwent CT scans during breathing maneuvers including free breathing (FB), deep inspiration breath-hold (DIBH), and end inspiration breath-hold (EIBH). The RPM system was used to monitor respiratory motion, and the in-house self respiration monitoring (SRM) system was used for visual feedback. For each scan, treatment plans were generated and dosimetric parameters from DIBH and EIBH plans were compared to those of FB plans. Results: All patients completed CT scans with different breathing maneuvers. When compared with FB plans, DIBH plans demonstrated significant reductions in irradiated heart volume and the heart $V_{25}$, with the relative reduction of 71% and 70%, respectively (p < 0.001). EIBH plans also resulted in significantly smaller irradiated heart volume and lower heart $V_{25}$ than FB plans, with the relative reduction of 39% and 37%, respectively (p = 0.002). Despite of significant expansion of lung volume using inspiration breath-hold, there were no significant differences in left lung $V_{25}$ among the three plans. Conclusion: In comparison with FB, both DIBH and EIBH plans demonstrated a significant reduction of radiation dose to the heart. In the training course, SRM system was useful and effective in terms of positional reproducibility and patient compliance.

• Earthquakes and Structures
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• v.5 no.2
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• pp.161-205
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• 2013

We study seismically induced, anti-plane strain wave motion in a non-homogeneous geological region containing tunnels. Two different scenarios are considered: (a) The first models two tunnels in a finite geological region embedded within a laterally inhomogeneous, layered geological profile containing a seismic source. For this case, labelled as the first boundary-value problem (BVP 1), an efficient hybrid technique comprising the finite difference method (FDM) and the boundary element method (BEM) is developed and applied. Since the later method is based on the frequency-dependent fundamental solution of elastodynamics, the hybrid technique is defined in the frequency domain. Then, an inverse fast Fourier transformation (FFT) is used to recover time histories; (b) The second models a finite region with two tunnels, is embedded in a homogeneous half-plane, and is subjected to incident, time-harmonic SH-waves. This case, labelled as the second boundary-value problem (BVP 2), considers complex soil properties such as anisotropy, continuous inhomogeneity and poroelasticity. The computational approach is now the BEM alone, since solution of the surrounding half plane by the FDM is unnecessary. In sum, the hybrid FDM-BEM technique is able to quantify dependence of the signals that develop at the free surface to the following key parameters: seismic source properties and heterogeneous structure of the wave path (the FDM component) and near-surface geological deposits containing discontinuities in the form of tunnels (the BEM component). Finally, the hybrid technique is used for evaluating the seismic wave field that develops within a key geological cross-section of the Metro construction project in Thessaloniki, Greece, which includes the important Roman-era historical monument of Rotunda dating from the 3rd century A.D.

• Journal of the Society of Naval Architects of Korea
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• v.49 no.1
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• pp.79-86
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• 2012

It is very important to investigate and understand the motion of a FPSO on waves because green water phenomenon occurs owing to the relative motions between incident waves and a ship on them. In this research, both experimental and some numerical approaches have been performed in head sea conditions with regular waves. As an object model of this research, a FPSO model is set free to heave and pitch during the experiments. Also, the motions of the FPSO model which are the results of the experiments are used for the corresponding numerical computations. The purpose of this study is to clarify the effect of bow flare on green water load. In this research, it is found that the amount of green water entered from the side of bow is decreased by the increase of bow flare angle. Moreover, the relation between the green water on the bow upper deck and the impact load on the vertical wall located at turrethead is investigated. The results of this research could be used as one of the fundamental data to design bow flares. Also, an optimized bow flare angle is proposed in this study.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• v.6 no.3
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• pp.257-266
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• 2011

Purpose : To assess the relationship between post-stroke shoulder pain, motor function, and pain-related quality of life(QOL) Methods : Volunteer sample of 62 chronic stroke survivors with post-stroke shoulder pain and glenohumeral subluxation. The patients answered the question in shoulder pain with the Brief Pain Inventory question 12 (BP1-12), Pain-related Quality of life(BPI-23). Therapists measured the performance of combined upper-limb movement including the hand-behind-neck(HBN), hand-behind-beck(HBB) maneuver, added passive pain-free shoulder external rotation range of motion, and Modified Ashworth Scale(MAS) score of the elbow flexors. Physical performance assessments were used to measure basic activity daily living(Modified Barthel Index-self care, MBI-S/C), motor function of upper limb(Fugl-Meyer Upper/Lower Extremity, FM-U/E). Results : Stepwise regression analyses indicated that post-stroke shoulder pain is associated with the BPI 23, but not with the FM-U/E, MBI-S/C. Thus, the presence of shoulder pain is more important predicting pain-related QOL than its degree in predicting motor function of upper limb and basic activity daily living. Conclusion : Post-stroke shoulder pain was associated with reduced quality of life related to pain. The pain was not associated with the motor function of upper limb and basic activity daily living. The result imply that management of shoulder pain & anatomical position of shoulder joint after stroke should be emphasized. This provides a further incentive to develop effective rehabilitation prevention and treatment strategies for post-stroke shoulder pain.

• Maxillofacial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.12-20
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• 1994

Generally, the totally paralyzed face can never be made normal by any of the current methods of reconstruction. Careful selection of patients based on sound judgment of what can and cannot be achieved by the proposed surgical technique is paramount to a successful operation and a satisfied patient. The results are related to time of delayed between injury and repair ; the shorter the delay the better are the results. The objectives in correcting facial paralysis are to achieve normal appearance at rest ; symmetry with voluntary motion ; control of the ocular, oral, and nasal sphincter ; symmetry with involuntary emotion and controlled balance when expressing when expressing emotion ; and no significant functional deficit secondary to the reconstructive surgery. It must be employed a number of concepts, for treatment of the paralyzed face by surgeon, depending on the cause, time interval, and wound characteristics, as well as the availability of and necessity for neuromuscular substitution. Nerve grafts, crossovers, muscle transfers, free muscle and nerve-muscle grafts, micronuerovascular muscle transfers, and regional muscle transposition are the principal methods being developed. We applied the temporal musle transposition for reanimation of unilatrally paralyzed faces for long times on two patients. The results of muscle transposition can be enhanced by the patient's learning to activate the transposed muscle by voluntary effort, and are best in patients who are motivated to learn the necessary motor-sensory coordination techniques.

• Journal of the Earthquake Engineering Society of Korea
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.223-234
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• 2016

To investigate earthquake responses of structures with basements affected by soil deposits, centrifuge tests were performed using an in-flight earthquake simulator. The test specimen was composed of a single-degree-of-freedom structure model, a basement and sub-soil deposits in a centrifuge container. The test parameters were the dynamic period of the structure model, boundary conditions of the basement, existence of soil deposits, centrifugal acceleration level, and type and level of input earthquake accelerations. When soil deposits did not exist, the earthquake responses of the structures with fixed basement were significantly greater than those of the structure without basement. Also, the earthquake responses of the structures with the fixed basement surrounded by soil deposits were amplified, but the amplifications were smaller than those of the structures without basement. The earthquake responses of the structures with the half-embedded basement in the soil deposits were greater than those estimated by the fixed base model using the measured free-field ground motion. The test showed that the basement and the soil deposit should be simultaneously considered in the numerical analysis model, and the stiffness of the half-embedded was not effective.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.1-36
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• 2016

In the present study, the nonlinear magneto-electro-mechanical free vibration behavior of rectangular double-bonded sandwich microbeams based on the modified strain gradient theory (MSGT) is investigated. It is noted that the top and bottom sandwich microbeams are considered with boron nitride nanotube reinforced composite face sheets (BNNTRC-SB) with electrical properties and carbon nanotube reinforced composite face sheets (CNTRC-SB) with magnetic fields, respectively, and also the homogenous core is used for both sandwich beams. The connections of every sandwich beam with its surrounding medium and also between them have been carried out by considering Pasternak foundations. To take size effect into account, the MSGT is introduced into the classical Timoshenko beam theory (CT) to develop a size-dependent beam model containing three additional material length scale parameters. For the CNTRC and BNNTRC face sheets of sandwich microbeams, uniform distribution (UD) and functionally graded (FG) distribution patterns of CNTs or BNNTs in four cases FG-X, FG-O, FG-A, and FG-V are employed. It is assumed that the material properties of face sheets for both sandwich beams are varied in the thickness direction and estimated through the extended rule of mixture. On the basis of the Hamilton's principle, the size-dependent nonlinear governing differential equations of motion and associated boundary conditions are derived and then discretized by using generalized differential quadrature method (GDQM). A detailed parametric study is presented to indicate the influences of electric and magnetic fields, slenderness ratio, thickness ratio of both sandwich microbeams, thickness ratio of every sandwich microbeam, dimensionless three material length scale parameters, Winkler spring modulus and various distribution types of face sheets on the first two natural frequencies of double-bonded sandwich microbeams. Furthermore, a comparison between the various beam models on the basis of the CT, modified couple stress theory (MCST), and MSGT is performed. It is illustrated that the thickness ratio of sandwich microbeams plays an important role in the vibrational behavior of the double-bonded sandwich microstructures. Meanwhile, it is concluded that by increasing H/lm, the values of first two natural frequencies tend to decrease for all amounts of the Winkler spring modulus.

• Journal of Ocean Engineering and Technology
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• v.28 no.5
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• pp.387-395
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• 2014

In this paper, a numerical analysis for an internal turret moored vessel located at a 400-m water depth is conducted. The target vessel has an internal turret that is located at the 0.2 Lpp position from the fore-side, with $3{\times}4$ complex mooring lines installed around the turret circumference. To investigate the motion response of the vessel and the structural reliability of the lines, model tests were conducted. The KRISO ocean basin has a water depth of 3.2 m, which represents 192m using a scaling of 1:60. In order to precisely represent the real-scale condition, equivalent mooring lines needed to be designed. Truncated mooring lines were designed to supplement the restriction of the flume's water depth and increase the reliability of the model testing. These truncated mooring lines were composed of two different chains in order to match the pre-tension, simultaneously restoring the curve and variation in the effective line tension. The static similarities were compared using a static pull-out test and free decaying test, and the dynamic similarities were matched via a regular wave test and combined environments test. Consequently, the designed truncated mooring system could represent the prototype mooring system relatively well in the aspects of kinematics and dynamics.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.405-422
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• 2018

In this research, experimental tensile test and manufacturing of carbon nanotube reinforced composite beam (CNTRC) is presented. Also, bending, buckling, and vibration analysis of CNTRC based on various beam theories such as Euler-Bernoulli, Timoshenko and Reddy beams are considered. At first, the experimental tensile tests are carried out for CNTRC and composite beams in order to obtain mechanical properties and then using Hamilton's principle the governing equations of motion are derived for Euler Bernoulli, Timoshenko and Reddy theories. The results have a good agreement with the obtained results by similar researches and it is shown that adding just two percent of carbon nanotubes increases dimensionless fundamental frequency and critical buckling load as well as decreases transverse deflection of composite beams. Also, the influences of different manufacturing processes such as hand layup and industrial methods using vacuum pump on composite properties are investigated. In these composite beams, glass fibers used in an epoxy matrix and for producing CNTRC, CNTs are applied as reinforcement particles. Applying two percent of CNTs leads to increase the mechanical properties and increases natural frequencies and critical buckling load and decreases deflection. The obtained natural frequencies and critical buckling load by theoretical method are higher than other methods, because there are some inevitable errors in industrial and hand layup method. Also, the minimum deflection occurs for theoretical methods, in bending analysis. In this study, Young's and shear modulli as well as density are obtained by experimental test and have not been used from the results of other researches. Then the theoretical analysis such as bending, buckling and vibration are considered by using the obtained mechanical properties of this research.