• Journal of People, Plants, and Environment
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.355-364
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• 2019

This study was conducted to find out the effects of agro-healing activities and strolling on the physiological conditions of patients with chronic metabolic diseases. A total of 11 subjects participated in agro-healing activities, and their average age was 49.6±11.3. Changes in their salivary cortisol were compared and analyzed before and after participating in the agro-healing activity program, and it was found that the stress hormone decreased after participating in the program. Differences in brain wave between before and after participating in agro-healing activities and strolling were measured, and the ratio of alpha to high beta (RAHB) of subjects increased in most of the measured points after participating in agro-healing activities. In addition, the increase in the value in the temporal lobe (T3) that controls mortor skills and occipital lobe (O2) that controls visual functions indicates that the activities were effective in improving relaxation and stability. The relative low beta (RLB) power spectrum of subjects also statistically significantly decreased in the right occipital lobe (O2) that controls visual functions, the relative mid beta (RMB) and relative high beta (RHB) power spectrum decreased in the left temporal lobe (T3) and the right occipital lobe (O2). These results indicate that the activities were effective in improving relaxation under no stress and tension. The systolic and diastolic blood pressure of subjects after participating in agro-healing activities decreased from the prehypertension level to the normal level. These results indicate that horticultural activities and visual elements in healing farms, such as agro-healing activities and strolling, have positive impacts on patients with chronic metabolic diseases accompanied with diabetes or high blood pressure by increasing the brain activity and psycho-physiological conditions of participants.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.32 no.6
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• pp.378-382
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• 2020

Purpose: This study aimed to examine the effects of forward head posture on the flexion-relaxation ratio (FRR) and muscle activity during sustained neck flexion and to investigate the correlation between craniovertebral angle and FRR. Methods: Nineteen subjects participated in this study and were allocated to a forward head posture (FHP) group or a non-forward head posture (NFHP) group. Craniovertebral angle (CVA) and FRR were measured in all subjects, and all participants performed a standardized cervical flexion-extension movement in two phases: Phase I, sustained cervical full flexion for 5s; and Phase II, cervical extension with the return to the starting position for 5s. The value of CVA has calculated three times, and the value of FRR was measured three times in order to obtain the mean value. Results: FRR values in the FHP and NFHP group were significantly different (p<0.05). Phase I was significantly different, but the Phase II was not significantly different between the FHP and NFHP group (p>0.05). There was a significant correlation between the muscle activity of Phase I and CVA (p<0.05). However, FRR and the muscle activity of the Phase II were not a significant correlation with the CVA (p>0.05). Conclusion: FHP increases the muscle activity of the cervical erector spinae during sustained neck flexion and reduces FRR, which can cause fatigue in the cervical erector spinae. In addition, for those with a smaller CVA, muscle activity of the cervical erector spinae is increased during sustained neck flexion, which can increase neck muscle tension.

• Natural Product Sciences
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.169-174
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• 2017

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect and action mechanism of quercetin on penile corpus cavernosum smooth muscle (PCCSM). PCCSM precontracted with phenylephrine (Phe) was treated with four different concentrations of quercetin ($10^{-7}$, $10^{-6}$, $10^{-5}$ and $10^{-4}M$). PCCSM were preincubated with N-Nitro-L-arginine methyl ester hydrochloride (L-NAME) and 1H-[1,2,4]oxadiazolo[4,3-a]quinoxalin-1-one (ODQ) to block nitric oxide synthase and guanylate cyclase, respectively. The changes in PCCSM tension were recorded, and cyclic nucleotides in the perfusate were measured by radioimmunoassay. The interactions of quercetin with phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitors (PDE5-Is) such as sildenafil, udenafil and mirodenafil, were also evaluated. PCCSM relaxation induced by quercetin occurred in a concentrationdependent manner. The application of quercetin to PCCSM pre-treated with L-NAME and ODQ significantly inhibited the relaxation. Quercetin significantly increased cGMP in the perfusate. Furthermore, quercetin enhanced PDE5-Is-induced relaxation of PCCSM. Quercetin relaxed the PCCSM by activating the NO-cGMP signaling pathway, and it may be a therapeutic candidate or an alternative treatment for patients with erectile dysfunction who do not completely respond to PDE5-Is.

• Journal of International Academy of Physical Therapy Research
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• v.11 no.3
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• pp.2140-2146
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• 2020

Background: Stroke patients exhibit arm global synkinesis (GS), involuntary movement due to muscle weakness and irregular muscle tension. But currently there are few studies examined the effects of GS on activates of daily living in stroke patients. Objectives: To investigate the effects the effects of task-oriented bilateral movements, which promote brain plasticity and are based on neurological theory, using the unaffected arm and the affected arm. Design: Quasi-randomized trial. Methods: Twenty stroke patients were randomly assigned to experimental group I (n=10) and experimental group II (n=10). Before the intervention, arm GS was measured using surface electromyography, and the Motor Activity Log evaluated the quantitative and qualitative uses of the affected arm in daily life. The same items were measured four weeks later. Results: The changes in the GS of the arm of experimental group I showed statistically significant differences only in bending motions (P<.05). Both groups showed statistically significant differences in the amount of use (AOU) and the quality of movement (QOM) scores (P<.01). Comparing the groups, statistically significant differences in GS appeared during bending motions (P<.05), and in the AOU (P<.01) and the QOM scores (P<.05). Conclusion: The intervention in GS reduced the abnormal muscle tension of the affected side by increasing the use of the ipsilateral motor pathway, indicating its effectiveness in improving upper limb functions with smooth contraction and relaxation of the muscles.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.33 no.6
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• pp.777-792
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• 2019

This paper presents a new efficient approach to estimate the S-N type fatigue life assessment curve for S550 high strength steels under low-cycle actions at -60℃. The proposed approach combines a single set of monotonic tension test and one set of fatigue tests to determine the key material damage parameters in the continuum damage mechanics framework. The experimental program in this study examines both the material response under low-cycle actions. The microstructural mechanisms revealed by the Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) at the low temperature, furthermore, characterizes the effect due to different strain ratios and low temperature on the low-cycle fatigue life of S550 steels. Anchored on the experimental results, this study validates the S-N curve determined from the proposed approach. The S-N type curve determined from one set of fatigue tests and one set of monotonic tension tests estimates the fatigue life of all specimens under different strain ratios satisfactorily.

• Korea-Australia Rheology Journal
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.165-170
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• 2005

In this study, high intensity ultrasound was employed to induce mechano-chemical degradation during melt mixing of polycarbonate (PC) and a series of styrene-acrylonitrile (SAN) copolymers. It was confirmed that generation of macroradicals of constituent polymers can lead to in-situ copolymer formation by their mutual combination, which should be an efficient path to compatibilize immiscible polymer blends and stabilize their phase morphology in the absence of other chemical agents. Based on the effectiveness of the compatibilization by ultrasound assisted mixing process, we investigated the effects of viscosity ratio of PC and SAN and AN content in SAN on the compatibilization of PC/SAN blends. It was found that effectiveness of compatibilization is optimal when the AN content is in the range of favorable interaction with PC and the viscosity of the matrix is higher than that of the dispersed phase. In addition, changes in the interfacial tension between PC and SAN were assessed by examining relaxation spectra which were obtained from measuring rheological properties of ultrasonically treated blends.

• The Korean Journal of Pharmacology
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.203-212
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• 1993

This study was designed to observe hypoxia-induced mechanical responses of porcine cerebral artery and to clarify their possible mechanisms. Hypoxia produced a transient vasoconstriction, recovering to the basal tension within 10 min and subsequent reoxygenation produced a biphasic (relaxalion-contraction) response in rings with endothelium under resting tension. Hypoxia produced a further contraction in rings precontracted with KCl or $PGF_{2{\alpha}}$, and following reoxygenation caused only sustained relaxation. Removal of the endothelium and pretreatment with nimodipine or indomethacin markedly attenuated the hypoxia- and reoxygenation-induced contractions. The KCl-induced contraction was not affected in hypoxic state, but contractions induced by $PGF_{2{\alpha}}$ or endothelin (ET) were inhibited in the hypoxia, the latter being more sensitive to the hypoxia. Upon reoxygenation, the attenuated contraction rapidly recovered to the original tension. Both hypoxia and reoxygenation significantly increased cyclic GMP content in the intact preparations, but not in the endothelium-removed ones. Acetylcholine (ACh) produced concentration-dependent relaxations in the intact endothelial rings precontracted with $PGF_{2{\alpha}}$ or endothelin, and the ACh-induced relaxation was inhibited by removal of endothelium and by hypoxia. ACh also increased cyclic GMP content in tissues pretreated with $PGF_{2{\alpha}}$ and the increase of cyclic GMP was abolished in hypoxic state. These results suggest that hypoxia- and reoxygenation-induced contractions are dependent on endothelium and extracellular calcium, and related to the release of prostaglandin-like substance(s).

• The Korean Journal of Physiology
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.27-35
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• 1993

Effects of the endothelium on the contractile responses to norepinephrine (NE) were investigated in isolated helical strips of the proximal and distal coronaries artery of pigs. The helical strips were immersed in Tris-buffered Tyrode's solution equilibrated with 100% $O_2$ at $35^{\circ}C$ and its isometric tension was measured. NE relaxed the strips precontracted with acetylcholine from both the proximal and distal coronary artery. NE-induced relaxation, which might be induced mainly by $\beta$-adrenoceptor function was dominant in the distal coronary arteries. NE-induced relaxation was converted to a contraction after $\beta$-adrenoceptor blockade with propranolol $(3{\times}10^{-6}M)$. ${\alpha}$-adrenoceptor-mediated contraction by NE was greater in the proximal coronary artery than the distal coronary artery. Quantitatively, ${\alpha}_1$-adrenoceptor mediated contraction by NE was greater than ${\alpha}_2$-adrenoceptor mediated contraction by NE in both arteries. NE-induced relaxation was decreased by rubbing of endothelium in both arteries. ${\alpha}_1-and\;{\alpha}_2$-adrenoceptor mediated contraction by NE were potentiated by rubbing of endothelium in both arteries. Pretreatment with methylene blue, an inhibitor of soluble guanylate cyclase, increased ${\alpha}_1-\;and\;{\alpha}_2$-adrenoceptor mediated contraction by NE in both arteries with endothelium. From the above results, we suggest that the effect of activation of $\alpha$-adrenoceptors by NE may be modulated by endothelium in the proximal and distal coronary arteries of pigs. This effect may be mediated via endothelium derived relaxing factor.

• Proceedings of the Ginseng society Conference
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• 1993.09a
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• pp.40-48
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• 1993

Intravenous administration of saponin extracted from the root of Panax ginseng lowered the blood pressure dose-dependently (10-200 mg/kg, B.W) in anesthetized rats. Therefore, experiments were designed to study the hypothesis that the lowering of blood pressure is associated with the release of endothelium-derived relaxing factor and the accumulation of guanosine 3, 5-cyclic monophosphate (cGMP). Rings of thoracic aorta with and without endothelium were suspended for the measurement of isometric tension in organ chamber and the tissue content of cGMP was measured by radioimmunoassay. All experiments were performed in the presence of $indomethacin(10^{-5}M).$ Ginseng saponin $(10^{-5}-3{\times}10^{-6}g/ml)$ relaxed contractions induced by phenylephrine $10^{-6}M)$ in the aorta with endothelium but not in that without endothelium. Treatment of aortic rings with $N^G$ monomethyl-L-arginine (L-NMMA, $10^{-4}M$ for 30 min), a competitive inhibitor of nitric oxide synthase, and methylene blue $(MB,\;3{\times}10^{-7}M$ for 30 min). an inhibitor of soluble guanylate cyclase, diminished the relaxation induced by Ginseng saponin. Ginseng saponin $10^{-4}g/ml$ for 2 min) increased the accumulation of cGMP in rings with endothelium. L-NMMA and MB inhibited the accumulation of cGMP induced by Ginseng saponin. These data suggest that vascular relaxations induced by Ginseng saponin are mediated by release of endothelium-derived relaxing factor and the accumulation of cGMP. The effect of Ginseng saponin on endothelial function in hypercholesterolemic rabbits was examined. In hypercholesterolemic rabbits fed with $2\%$ cholesterol for 8 weeks, relaxation of aortic rings to acetylcholine was impaired. The impaired relaxations of aortic rings in hypercholesterolemic rabbits were improved by dietary supplementation of Ginseng saponin, probably because of an improved release of endothelium - derived relaxing factor.

• Journal of the Korean GEO-environmental Society
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• v.16 no.10
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• pp.15-22
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• 2015

In this study, to evaluate the long-term behavior characteristics and the loss of prestress force, the long-term measurement of the tensile anchors in the actual construction was performed and the results were analyzed comparing with the existing estimation. As the reinforcement member used for the purpose of slope stability or uplift-resisting of the permanent structure, etc, the permanent anchor should maintain the functions during the performance period of the structure differently from the temporary anchor. However, as the time passes by, since the relaxation and the creep of the anchor occur constantly, the management for the loss of tensile force is essential to perform the functions stably. So far, the loss of the tensile force has been estimated according to the reduction of the prestress using elasticity theory and using the relaxation value according to the type of tension member and the test using the long-term measurement is limited. Therefore, in this study, the site condition and the ground were investigated for the tensile anchor in the actual construction and the long-term measurement results more than 500 days was analyzed by installing the loadcell, inclinometer and the groundwater level gauge. In addition, the long-term behavior characteristics were evaluated by comparing the disposition of the measured earth retaining wall and the tension force loss of the anchor with the existing interpretation results. In the evaluation results, the most of the tension force loss occurs within 90 days and the loss was measured less than the estimated values.