• Title/Summary/Keyword: model-free

Search Result 4,219, Processing Time 0.029 seconds

Gestational Exposure to Pesticides Induces Oxidative Stress and Lipid Peroxidation in Offspring that Persist at Adult Age in an Animal Model

  • Ndonwi, Elvis Ngwa;Atogho-Tiedeu, Barbara;Lontchi-Yimagou, Eric;Shinkafi, Tijjani S.;Nanfa, Dieudonne;Balti, Eric V.;Indusmita, Routray;Mahmood, Amena;Katte, Jean-Claude;Mbanya, Armand;Matsha, Tandi;Mbanya, Jean Claude;Shakir, Ali;Sobngwi, Eugene
    • Toxicological Research
    • /
    • v.35 no.3
    • /
    • pp.241-248
    • /
    • 2019
  • Pesticide exposure may induce biochemical alterations including oxidative stress and lipid peroxidation. However, in the context of developmental origin of health and disease, putative trans-generational effect of exposure to pesticides are insufficiently studied. We therefore aimed to evaluate the biochemical effect of gestational exposure to four pesticides on female Wistar rats and their offspring at adult age. We studied 30 female nulliparous Wistar rats divided into 5 equal groups. Group 1 served as the control group and received distilled water while group 2, 3, 4 and 5 received orally pesticide 1 (imidacloprid), pesticide 2 (chlorpyrifos), pesticide 3 (imidacloprid + lambda cyhalothrin) and pesticide 4 (oxamyl) respectively once daily throughout gestation at a dose equivalent to 1/10 lethal dose 50. The mothers were followed up until one month post gestation. The offspring were followed up from birth until adult age (12 weeks). In all animals at each time point we evaluated malondialdehyde (MDA), oxidative stress and liver function enzymes. There was similar variation of total body weight in all the groups during and after gestation. However, Female Wistar rats of the exposed groups had significant alterations in liver SOD (-30.8% to +64.1%), catalase (-38.8% to -85.7%) and GSH (-29.2% to -86.5%) and; kidney catalase (> 100%), GSH (> 100%). Moreover, MDA, alanine transaminase (ALT) and aspartate transaminase (AST) levels were significantly higher in pesticide exposed rats compared to the control group. Similar alterations in antioxidant enzymes, MDA and liver function enzymes were observed in offspring of treated rats evidenced at weaning and persisting until adult age. Exposure to pesticides causes oxidative stress and lipid peroxidation in exposed female Wistar rats and their offspring. The persistence in offspring at adult age suggests transgenerational adverse effects.

Smart City Energy Inclusion, Towards Becoming a Better Place to Live

  • Cha, Sang-Ryong
    • World Technopolis Review
    • /
    • v.8 no.1
    • /
    • pp.59-70
    • /
    • 2019
  • Where is a better place to live? In the coming era, this should be more than simply a livable place. It should be an adaptable place that has a flexible system adaptable to any new situation in terms of diversity. Customization and real-time operation are needed in order to realize this technologically. We expect a smart city to have a flexible system that applies technologies of self-monitoring and self-response, thereby being a promising city model towards being a better place to live. Energy demand and supply is a crucial issue concerning our expectations for the flexible system of a smart city because it is indispensable to comfortable living, especially city living. Although it may seem that energy diversification, such as the energy mix of a country, is a matter of overriding concern, the central point is the scale of place to build grids for realizing sustainable urban energy systems. A traditional hard energy path supported by huge centralized energy systems based on fossil and nuclear fuels on a national scale has already faced difficult problems, particularly in terms of energy flexibility/resilience. On the other hand, an alternative soft energy path consisting of small diversified energy systems based on renewable energy sources on a local scale has limitations regarding stability, variability, and supply potential despite the relatively light economic/technological burden that must be assumed to realize it. As another alternative, we can adopt a holonic path incorporating an alternative soft energy path with a traditional hard energy path complimentarily based on load management. This has a high affinity with the flexible system of a smart city. At a system level, the purpose of all of the paths mentioned above is not energy itself but the service it provides. If the expected energy service is fixed, the conclusive factor in choosing a more appropriate system is accessibility to the energy service. Accessibility refers to reliability and affordability; the former encompasses the level of energy self-sufficiency, and the latter encompasses the extent of energy saving. From this point of view, it seems that the small diversified energy systems of a soft energy path have a clear advantage over the huge centralized energy systems of a hard energy path. However, some insuperable limitations still remain, so it is reasonable to consider both energy systems continuing to coexist in a multiplexing energy system employing a holonic path to create and maintain reliable and affordable access to energy services that cover households'/enterprises' basic energy needs. If this is embodied in a smart city concept, this is nothing else but smart energy inclusion. In Japan, following the Fukushima nuclear accident in 2011, a trend towards small diversified energy systems of a soft energy path intensified in order to realize a nuclear-free society. As a result, the Government of Japan proclaimed in its Fifth Strategic Energy Plan that renewable energy must be the main source of power in Japan by 2050. Accordingly, Sony vowed that all the energy it uses would come from renewable sources by 2040. In this situation, it is expected that smart energy inclusion will be achieved by the Japanese version of a smart grid based on the concept of a minimum cost scheme and demand response.

Upregulation of Carbonyl Reductase 1 by Nrf2 as a Potential Therapeutic Intervention for Ischemia/Reperfusion Injury during Liver Transplantation

  • Kwon, Jae Hyun;Lee, Jooyoung;Kim, Jiye;Kirchner, Varvara A.;Jo, Yong Hwa;Miura, Takeshi;Kim, Nayoung;Song, Gi-Won;Hwang, Shin;Lee, Sung-Gyu;Yoon, Young-In;Tak, Eunyoung
    • Molecules and Cells
    • /
    • v.42 no.9
    • /
    • pp.672-685
    • /
    • 2019
  • Currently, liver transplantation is the only available remedy for patients with end-stage liver disease. Conservation of transplanted liver graft is the most important issue as it directly related to patient survival. Carbonyl reductase 1 (CBR1) protects cells against oxidative stress and cell death by inactivating cellular membrane-derived lipid aldehydes. Ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury during living-donor liver transplantation is known to form reactive oxygen species. Thus, the objective of this study was to investigate whether CBR1 transcription might be increased during liver I/R injury and whether such increase might protect liver against I/R injury. Our results revealed that transcription factor Nrf2 could induce CBR1 transcription in liver of mice during I/R. Pre-treatment with sulforaphane, an activator of Nrf2, increased CBR1 expression, decreased liver enzymes such as aspartate aminotransferase and alanine transaminase, and reduced I/R-related pathological changes. Using oxygen-glucose deprivation and recovery model of human normal liver cell line, it was found that oxidative stress markers and lipid peroxidation products were significantly lowered in cells overexpressing CBR1. Conversely, CBR1 knockdown cells expressed elevated levels of oxidative stress proteins compared to the parental cell line. We also observed that Nrf2 and CBR1 were overexpressed during liver transplantation in clinical samples. These results suggest that CBR1 expression during liver I/R injury is regulated by transcription factor Nrf2. In addition, CBR1 can reduce free radicals and prevent lipid peroxidation. Taken together, CBR1 induction might be a therapeutic strategy for relieving liver I/R injury during liver transplantation.

Influence of Temperature and Affinity of Disperse Dye on Dyeing of PET(Polyethylene Terephthalate) Microfiber (PET 초극세사 염색에서 분산염료의 친화력과 온도 의존성)

  • Lee, Hun
    • Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
    • /
    • v.20 no.9
    • /
    • pp.532-540
    • /
    • 2019
  • PET microfibers with various diameters (0.5, 0.2, 0.06, and 0.01 dpf) were dyed with a dispersed dye (C.I. Disperse Blue 56) at various temperatures. The dyeing process was conducted under infinite dyebath conditions at constant temperatures. The effects of the dyeing temperature and diameter on the partition coefficient, affinity, and diffusion coefficient of disperse dyes were studied. The curve of isotherms was fitted well to Nernst-type model in a large range of initial dye concentrations. At the same temperature, the partition coefficient and affinity decreased with increasing sample diameter due to the increase in surface area. At all deniers, the partition coefficient and affinity decreased with increasing temperature because the dyeing process is an exothermic reaction. In addition, the decrease in radius of the sample gives rise to a decrease in the heat of dyeing. The fine diameter of the sample resulted in an increased surface area but decreased space between the microfibers. Consequently, decreasing the diameter of the microfibers leads to a decrease in the diffusion coefficient. At the same diameter, the diffusion coefficient increased with increasing temperature because of rapid dye movement and the large free volume of the sample inside. In addition, thermal dependence of the diffusion coefficient increased when the diameter of the sample increased.

Adsorption Characteristics of Brilliant Green by Coconut Based Activated Carbon : Equilibrium, Kinetic and Thermodynamic Parameter Studies (야자계 입상 활성탄에 의한 brilliant green의 흡착 특성 : 평형, 동력학 및 열역학 파라미터에 관한 연구)

  • Lee, Jong-Jib
    • Clean Technology
    • /
    • v.25 no.3
    • /
    • pp.198-205
    • /
    • 2019
  • The adsorption equilibrium, kinetic, and thermodynamic parameters of brilliant green adsorbed by coconut based granular activated carbon were determined from various initial concentrations ($300{\sim}500mg\;L^{-1}$), contact time (1 ~ 12 h), and adsorption temperature (303 ~ 323 K) through batch experiments. The equilibrium adsorption data were analyzed by Langmuir, Freundlich, Temkin, Harkins-Jura, and Elovich isotherm models. The estimated Langmuir dimensionless separation factor ($R_L=0.018{\sim}0.040$) and Freundlich constant ($n^{-1}=0.176{\sim}0.206$) show that adsorption of brilliant green by activated carbon is an effective treatment process. Adsorption heat constants ($B=12.43{\sim}17.15J\;mol^{-1}$) estimated by the Temkin equation corresponded to physical adsorption. The isothermal parameter ($A_{HJ}$) by the Harkins-Jura equation showed that the heterogeneous pore distribution increased with increasing temperature. The maximum adsorption capacity by the Elovich equation was found to be much smaller than the experimental value. The adsorption process was best described by the pseudo second order model, and intraparticle diffusion was a rate limiting step in the adsorption process. The intraparticle diffusion rate constant increased because the dye activity increased with increases in the initial concentration. Also, as the initial concentration increased, the influence of the boundary layer also increased. Negative Gibbs free energy ($-10.3{\sim}-11.4kJ\;mol^{-1}$), positive enthalpy change ($18.63kJ\;mol^{-1}$), and activation energy ($26.28kJ\;mol^{-1}$) indicate respectively that the adsorption process is spontaneous, endothermic, and physical adsorption.

The psychological factors of creation of virtue women based on the relationship between Mrs. Park in and Samganghaengsildo's the virtuous women volume (<열녀함양박씨전>의 박씨와 『삼강행실도: 열녀편』의 관계를 통해 본 열녀제작의 심리적 요인)

  • Seo, Eun-A
    • Journal of Korean Classical Literature and Education
    • /
    • no.16
    • /
    • pp.273-296
    • /
    • 2008
  • The author analyzed the psychological factors which affected on the way of Mrs. Park in the became a virtuous woman and compared these psychological factors with a virtuous women in Samganghaengsildo based on the relationship between Mrs. Park in and Samganghaengsildo's the virtuous women volume. First of all, it's about the power of authority on women. The volume of Samganghaengsildo's virtuous women was about the group of women who were recognized as virtuous women by the king who had absolute power at the time period. The volume of Samganghaengsildo's virtuous women was very well known for women. This book had a huge impact on women since the government authority educated the women using this book. In addition, the incredible events which were written in Samganghaengsildo indicated that the behavior of virtue was the right thing to follow since even super power recognized it as a good thing to do and the woman might be punished when she didn't follow the behavior of virtue. Second, it was based on the similarity of circumstance and uncertainty for the future. Mrs. Park in showed similar behavioral patterns with a virtuous woman in Samganghaengsildo since she took her role model from the virtuous woman. When Mrs. Park lost her husband, she was not sure about her future and the volume of Samganghaengsildo pointed out that there was another world after the death and she would meet her husband again after the death. In addition, the incorrect information that she would feel better psychologically when she followed her dead husband instead of living herself. Third, it is about the resemblance of obsessive mind and self internalization. The examination of the record of Mrs. Park showed that Mrs. Park tried to internalize integrity, loyalty, and virtue of virtuous women in Samganghaengsildo and became herself like virtuous women. In addition, the woman's obsessive mindset remarkly reflected in Samganghaengsildo. For instance, Mrs. Park in held to the time of death of her husband and the writer who wrote about the behavior of Mrs. Park also emphasized that the time of death of Mrs. Park was closed to the time of the death of her husband. This explained that the obsessive mindset of women in the epic of virtue women could have influence on the women's mind who tried to show the similar behavior with a virtue woman and internalize it. Finally, the people of the day also were not free from it.

Numerical Reproducibility of Wave Response for an Oscillating Wave Surge Converter Using Inverted Triangle Flap (역삼각형 플랩을 이용한 진자형 파력발전장치의 파랑응답에 대한 수치적 재현 가능성)

  • Kim, Tag-Gyeom;Kim, Do-Sam;Cho, Yong-Hwan;Lee, Kwang-Ho
    • Journal of Korean Society of Coastal and Ocean Engineers
    • /
    • v.33 no.5
    • /
    • pp.203-216
    • /
    • 2021
  • Analyzing various wave interactions with oscillating wave surge converters (OWSC) is essential because they must be operated efficiently under a wide range of wave conditions and designed to extract optimal wave energy. In the conceptual design and development stage of OWSC, numerical analysis can be a good alternative as a design tool. This study performed a numerical analysis on the behavioral characteristics of the inverted triangle flap against the incident waves using open source CFD to examine the essential behavioral attributes of OWSC. Specifically, the behavioral characteristics of the structure were studied by calculating the free water surface displacement and the flap rotation angle near the inverted triangular flap according to the change of the period under the regular wave conditions. By comparing and examining the numerical analysis results with the hydraulic model experiments, the validity of the analysis performed and the applicability in analyzing the wave-structure interactions related to OWSC was verified. The numerical analysis result confirmed that the hydrodynamic behavior characteristic due to the interactions of the wave and the inverted triangle flap was well reproduced.

Leverage and Corporate Failure: Analysis of Leverage Impact according to Company Size through Survival Analysis (레버리지와 기업실패: 생존분석을 응용한 기업규모에 따른 레버리지 영향분석)

  • Kim, Bong-Min;Kim, Byoung-Gon;Kim, Dong-Wook
    • Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
    • /
    • v.22 no.1
    • /
    • pp.275-284
    • /
    • 2021
  • Survival analysis was used to analyze whether there is a difference in the effect of leverage on corporate failure according to the firm size. A total of 25,250 (year-company) companies listed on the Korea Stock Exchange and KOSDAQ market from 1999 to 2019 were analyzed. First, the increase in leverage generally acts as a factor that increases the possibility of corporate failure. On the other hand, the increase in the trade payable ratio lowered the possibility of failure of the company. The increase in corporate trade payable was perceived as a factor in reducing the possibility of corporate failure because it was considered the active development of business activities or active use of interest-free debt rather than leading to an increase in corporate risk. Second, a higher leverage ratio and trade payable ratio in large firms lowered the possibility of corporate failure. In the SMEs, all types of leverage increases are a factor that increases corporate failure. Overall, the effect of leverage on corporate failure differs according to the size of the company.

Trade Payable and Corporate Failure: Analysis of Trade Payable Impact according to Company Size through Survival Analysis (매입채무와 기업실패: 생존분석을 응용한 기업규모에 따른 매입채무 영향분석)

  • Kim, Bong-Min;Kim, So Ra
    • Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
    • /
    • v.22 no.6
    • /
    • pp.283-290
    • /
    • 2021
  • Survival analysis was used to determine whether there are differences in the impact of trade payables on business failure according to the size of the company. A total of 41,781 firms from 1999 to 2019 were analyzed. The analysis period was divided into the entire period and before and after the financial crisis. The trade payable ratio is a proxy variable. The increase in trade payables over the entire period increases the possibility of business failure of Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs). However, in large firms, a significant relationship between the increase in the trade payable ratio and the possibility of corporate failure could not be confirmed. Second, in SMEs during the sub-periods of 1999-2007 and 2009-2019, it was found that an increase in trade payables acts as a factor that increases the possibility of corporate failure. However, in large corporations, the increase in trade payables in the period from 2009 to 2019 has been shown to reduce the rate of failure. An increase in trade payables is recognized as the active development of business activities or the active use of interest-free debt. Therefore, it was confirmed that the impact of trade payables on corporate failure differs depending on the size of the company.

Characteristics and Parameters for Adsorption of Carbol Fuchsin Dye by Coal-based Activated Carbon: Kinetic and Thermodynamic (석탄계 활성탄에 의한 Carbol Fuchsin의 흡착 특성과 파라미터: 동력학 및 열역학)

  • Lee, Jong Jib
    • Applied Chemistry for Engineering
    • /
    • v.32 no.3
    • /
    • pp.283-289
    • /
    • 2021
  • Adsorption characteristics of carbol fuchsin (CF) dye by coal-based activated carbon (CAC) were investigated using pH, initial concentration, temperature and contact time as adsorption variables. CF dissociates in water to have a cation, NH2+, which is bonded to the negatively charged surface of the activated carbon in the basic region by electrostatic attraction. Under the optimum condition of pH 11, 96.6% of the initial concentration was adsorbed. Isothermal adsorption behavior was analyzed using Langmuir, Freundlich, Temkin and Dubinin-Radushkevich models. Langmuir's equation was the best fit for the experimental results. Therefore, the adsorption mechanism was expected to be adsorbed as a monolayer on the surface of activated carbon with a uniform energy distribution. From the evaluated Langmuir's dimensionless separation coefficients (RL = 0.503~0.672), it was found that CF can be effectively treated by activated carbon. The adsorption energies determined by Temkin and Dubinin-Radushkevich models were E = 15.31~7.12 J/mol and B = 0.223~0.365 kJ/mol, respectively. Therefore, the adsorption process was physical (E < 20 J/mol, B < 8 kJ/mol). The experimental result of adsorption kinetics fit better the pseudo second order model. In the adsorption reaction of CF dye to CAC, the negative free energy change increased as the temperature increased. It was found that the spontaneity also increased with increasing temperature. The positive enthalpy change (40.09 kJ/mol) indicated an endothermic reaction.