• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.303-307
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• 2003

Tributyltin (TBT) used world-wide in antifouling paints toy ships is a wide-spread environmental pollutant. At low doses, antiproliferative modes of action have been shown to be involved, whereas at higher doses apoptosis seems to be the mechanism of toxicity in reproductive organs by TBT. In this study, we investigated that the mechanisms underlying apoptosis induced by TBT in R2C cell. Effects of TBT on intracellular $Ca^{2+}$ level and reactive oxygen species (ROS) were investigated in R2C cells by fluorescence detector. TBT significantly induced intracellular $Ca^{2+}$ level in a time-dependent manner. The rise in intracellular $Ca^{2+}$ level was followed by a time-dependent generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) at the cytosol level. Simultaneously, TBT induced the release of cytochrome c from the mitochondrial membrane into the cytosol. Furthermore, ROS production and the release of cytochrome c were reduced by BAPTA, an intracellular $Ca^{2+}$ chelator, indicating the important role of $Ca^{2+}$ in R2C during these early intracellular events. In addition, Z-DEVD FMB, a caspase -3 inhibitor, decreased apoptosis by TBT. Taken together, the present results indicated that the apoptotic pathway by TBT might start with an increase in intracellular $Ca^{2+}$ level, continues with release of ROS and cytochrome c from mitochondria, activation of caspases, and finally results in DNA fragmentation.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Precision Engineering
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• v.27 no.10
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• pp.69-76
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• 2010

This study examined how the fracture toughness is affected according to the variation of the initial crack length and the fiber arranged angle using FEA method and experimental method. Therefore, the energy release rates were calculated and compared by J-integral method and VCCT(Virtual Crack Closure Technique). The results of fracture toughness test verified these results. At this time, the locus method was used in order to determine the energy release rate. When the results of FEA were compared with those of experiment, all of those decreased with the increase of angle between load and the fiber arranged direction. The decrease was due to reducing maximum load and stiffness, and the reason of reduction has been judged that the inplane shear stress.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Safety
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.7-13
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• 2011

A study on reliability estimation of sequential-ordered multiple failure modes, which are sequentially ordered between failure modes in a considering system, was performed. Especially, an approach to estimate the probabilities of failure modes has been proposed under an assumption that failure modes are mutually exclusive and sequentially ordered by only a critical variable. A feasibility of the proposed approach were studied by a practical example, which is a reliability estimation of passive safety systems for a probabilistic safety assessment(PSA) of a very high temperature reactor(VHTR) that is under development as a future nuclear system with enhanced safety features. It is difficult to define a robust failure state of this nuclear system because of its enhanced radiation release characteristics, so the new approach is a useful concept to estimate not only its safety but also a PSA. A feasibility study applied two failure modes(e.g., small and large release of radioactive materials) with considering the integrated behavior of this nuclear system. It is expected that the multiple release states for a practical estimation can be easily extended to the aforementioned example. It was found out that the proposed approach was a useful technique to cover the unfavorable features of this nuclear system as to performing a VHTR PSA.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.71 no.2
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• pp.153-163
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• 2019

Longitudinal fracture behavior of non-linear elastic beam configurations is studied in terms of the strain energy release rate. It is assumed that the beams exhibit continuous material inhomogeneity along the width as well as along the height of the crosssection. The Ramberg-Osgood stress-strain relation is used for describing the non-linear mechanical behavior of the inhomogeneous material. A solution to strain energy release rate is derived that holds for inhomogeneous beams of arbitrary cross-section under combination of axial force and bending moments. Besides, the solution may be applied at any law of continuous distribution of the modulus of elasticity in the beam cross-section. The longitudinal crack may be located arbitrary along the beam height. The solution is used to investigate a longitudinal crack in a beam configuration of rectangular cross-section under four-point bending. The crack is located symmetrically with respect to the beam mid-span. It is assumed that the modulus of elasticity varies continuously according a cosine law in the beam cross-section. The longitudinal fracture behavior of the inhomogeneous beam is studied also by applying the J-integral approach for verification of the non-linear solution to the strain energy release rate derived in the present paper. Effects of material inhomogeneity, crack location along the beam height and non-linear mechanical behavior of the material on the longitudinal fracture behavior are evaluated. Thus, the solution derived in the present paper can be used in engineering design of inhomogeneous non-linear elastic structural members to assess the influence of various material and geometrical parameters on longitudinal fracture.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.16 no.7
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• pp.988-995
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• 2003

Physiological parameters were measured on six primiparous, non-pregnant Holstein cows prior to peak lactation over a 3-month summer season in southwestern Taiwan. The objectives were to characterize heat stress-induced change in functionality of mammary gland under natural climates of tropical summer and to establish physiological indices applicable to this environment in referring to this change. Environmental and physiological readings, milk and blood samples were taken at 15:00 h biweekly for totally five time points during the study. Climate readings showed that the afternoon humidex value reached the highest (53.5) around mid summer. Rectal temperature of cows taken simultaneously varied between $38.26^{\circ}C$ and $40.02^{\circ}C$ in parallel to humidex. Milk production declined drastically from 29.2 to 22.2 kg/d the first month entering summer but leveled up at end of the summer season suggesting effects exerted by heat stress rather than stages of lactation. Lactose content decreased linearly (p<0.05) with times in summer, from 4.69 to 4.38%. On the other hand, activity of N-acetylglucosaminidase (NAGase) in milk increased linearly to over two folds (p<0.05) during the same intervals. Elevations of fractional constituent of BSA in whey protein and serum cortisol level were also noticed in the course. Measurement of arteriovenous concentration (A-V) difference across the mammary gland demonstrated net uptake of glucose and net release of urea throughout the study period. The amount of urea released from mammary gland increased (p<0.05) progressively from 1.54 to 7.76 mg/dl during summer. It is concluded that gradual regression of mammary gland occurred along the humid tropical summer season. This regression is likely initiated through elevation of body temperature, which is irreversible above certain point. The increased release of urea from mammary gland during heat stress suggests its potential role as an early indicator of suboptimal mammary function.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.14 no.3
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• pp.127-132
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• 2010

Reactive oxygen species (ROS), which include hydrogen peroxide ($H_2O_2$), the superoxide anion (${O_2}^-{\cdot}$), and the hydroxyl radical ($OH{\cdot}$), are generated as by-products of oxidative metabolism in cells. The cerebral cortex has been found to be particularly vulnerable to production of ROS associated with conditions such as ischemia-reperfusion, Parkinson's disease, and aging. To investigate the effect of ROS on inhibitory GABAergic synaptic transmission, we examined the electrophysiological mechanisms of the modulatory effect of $H_2O_2$ on GABAergic miniature inhibitory postsynaptic current (mIPSCs) in mechanically isolated rat cerebral cortical neurons retaining intact synaptic boutons. The membrane potential was voltage-clamped at -60 mV and mIPSCs were recorded and analyzed. Superfusion of 1-mM $H_2O_2$ gradually potentiated mIPSCs. This potentiating effect of $H_2O_2$ was blocked by the pretreatment with either 10,000-unit/mL catalase or $300-{\mu}M$ N-acetyl-cysteine. The potentiating effect of $H_2O_2$ was occluded by an adenylate cyclase activator, forskolin, and was blocked by a protein kinase A inhibitor, N -(2-[p-bromocinnamylamino] ethyl)-5-isoquinolinesulfonamide hydrochloride. This study indicates that oxidative stress may potentiate presynaptic GABA release through the mechanism of cAMP-dependent protein kinase A (PKA)-dependent pathways, which may result in the inhibition of the cerebral cortex neuronal activity.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Gas
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.1-6
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• 2008

The notched Charpy impact test is one of the most prevalent techniques used to characterize the effect of high impulse loads on polymeric materials. In this study, a method of analysis in nylon plastic materials is suggested to evaluate the critical strain energy release rate for variation of notch angles from the Charpy impact energy measurement. Instrumented Charpy impact tester was used to extract ancillary information concerning fracture parameters in addition to total fracture properties and maximum critical load. The dynamic stress intensity factor of nylon plastic material was calculated for the ASTM Charpy specimen from the obtained maximum critical load. Also, the finite element model was developed to figure out the stress distributions for Charpy specimen with different notch angles subject to 3 point bending load which is equivalent to the load applied in the experiment.

• Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.51 no.1
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• pp.79-83
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• 2008

The present study describes glutamate which is known as excitatory neurotransmitter is related with oxidative damages and the Viola mandshurica extracts. Showed protective effects against glutamate-induced cytotoxicity. The protective effect of antioxidant on the glutamate treated N18-RE-I05 cells was determined by a MTT reduction assay. The neuroprotective effect of methanol, ethanol, and acetone extracts from V. mandshurica against glutamate-induced cytotoxicity was assessed by the results of an MTT reduction assay. Among the three extracts, the acetone extract showed the highest protective effect by the results of an lactate dehydrogenase release assay. Therefore, these results suggest that V. mandshurica extracts could be a new potential candidate against glutamate-induced oxidative stress.

• Journal of Korean Biological Nursing Science
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.36-42
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• 2016

Purpose: Stress activates the sympathetic nervous system and hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis and induces the release of glucocorticoids. Saccharin is 300 times sweeter than sucrose, but does not increase blood insulin levels. Thus, this study was designed to evaluate the effect of saccharin intake in restraint-induced stress response reduction in rats. Methods: Adult male Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats had stress induced by restraint for 2 hours/day for 1 week. Saccharin was provided in sufficient amounts to allow them to intake it voluntarily at 0.1% diluted in water. The Y-maze test and forced swim test (FST) were performed to evaluate cognitive function and the depressive behavior of the rats. The protein expression of the glucocorticoid receptor (GR) in hippocampal cornu ammonis (CA) 1 was investigated by using immunohistochemistry. Results: It was found that, the percentage of alternation in the Y-maze test was significantly (p<.01) higher in the Stress + saccharin group than in the Stress group. Immobility time in the FST was significantly (p<.01) lower in the Stress + saccharin group than in the Stress group. Also, the positive cells of GR in hippocampus CA1 were significantly (p<.05) lower in the Stress + saccharin group than in the Stress group. Conclusion: This study showed that there was an effect of saccharin intake in restraint-induced stress response reduction in rats.

• Korean Journal of Community Nutrition
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.337-352
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• 2011

This study was conducted to vitalize life through analysis on lifestyles, stress and dietary habits of male employees. For this study, questionnaire survey and physical measurements to examine BMI and waist circumference were performed with male employees in four companies located in Gyeongnam. Total 350 copies of the questionnaire were distributed and 327 ones were finally analyzed. The results of analysis on dietary liferelated problems and stress were as follows. First, according to BMI, 56.9% were overweight and waist circumference recorded less than 90 cm in 90.5%. For lifestyles, 54.1%, 79.2%, 60.9% and 52.3% smoked, drank alcohol, didn't exercise and didn't sleep sufficiently. Second, for the correlation with job stress, the subjects graduating junior college or lower academic institution, production employees and sleeping insufficiently showed higher compared to the others. Analysis on the correlation with life stress found that conjugal relation stress was higher in alcohol-drinkers, the males not taking dietary supplements, those with a normal weight or more compared to underweight ones. Stress from relation with a child was higher aged 35~49 years than in those aged 20~34 years, and stress from economic life was higher aged less than 50 years, in those graduating junior colleges compared to those graduating colleges, in those sleeping insufficiently. Health life stress was found to be higher in those without religion compared to those with it such as Protestant Christianity and Catholicism, in alcohol drinkers and in those sleeping insufficiently and having a disease. Based on this, in order to improve the lifestyles and dietary habits and release stress effectively, practical nutrition education program should be carried out.