• Smart Media Journal
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• v.11 no.3
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• pp.39-53
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• 2022

Cloud of Things (CoT) can provide IoT applications with unlimited storage functions and processing power supported by cloud services. However, in a centralized cloud of things, it can create a single point of failure that can lead to bottleneck problems, outages of the CoT network. In this paper, to solve the problem of centralized cloud of things and interoperate between different service domains, we propose an IoT service interoperability system using distributed fog computing and blockchain technology. Distributed fog is used to provide real-time data processing and services in fog systems located at a geographically close distance to IoT devices, and to enable service interoperability between each fog using smart contracts and distributed ledgers of the blockchain. The proposed system provides services within a region close to the distributed fog entrusted with the service from the cloud, and it is possible to access the services of other fogs without going through the cloud even between fogs. In addition, by sharing a service right token issuance information between the cloud and fog nodes using a blockchain network, the integrity of the token can be guaranteed and reliable service interoperability between fog nodes can be performed.

• Animal Bioscience
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• v.36 no.1
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• pp.43-52
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• 2023

Objective: This study aimed to examine the influence of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection on pregnancy in cytokeratin-18 (K18)-hACE2 transgenic mice. Methods: To determine the expression of hACE2 mRNA in the female reproductive tract of K18-hACE2 mice, real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was performed using the ovary, oviduct, uterus, umbilical cord, and placenta. SARS-CoV-2 was inoculated intranasally (30 μL/mouse, 1×10⁴ TCID₅₀/mL) to plug-checked K18-hACE2 homozygous female mice at the pre-and post-implantation stages at 2.5 days post-coitum (dpc) and 15.5 dpc, respectively. The number of implantation sites was checked at 7.5 dpc, and the number of normally born pups was investigated at 20.5 dpc. Pregnancy outcomes, including implantation and childbirth, were confirmed by comparison with the non-infected group. Tissues of infected mice were collected at 7.5 dpc and 19.5 dpc to confirm the SARS-CoV-2 infection. The infection was identified by performing RT-PCR on the infected tissues and comparing them to the non-infected tissues. Results: hACE2 mRNA expression was confirmed in the female reproductive tract of the K18-hACE2 mice. Compared to the non-infected group, no significant difference in the number of implantation sites or normally born pups was found in the infected group. SARS-CoV-2 infection was detected in the lungs but not in the female reproductive system of infected K18-hACE2 mice. Conclusion: In K18-hACE2 mice, intranasal infection with SARS-CoV-2 did not induce implantation failure, preterm labor, or miscarriage. Although the viral infection was not detected in the uterus, placenta, or fetus, the infection of the lungs could induce problems in the reproductive system. However, lung infections were not related to pregnancy outcomes.

• Journal of Korean Medicine Rehabilitation
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• v.32 no.3
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• pp.1-11
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• 2022

Objectives This study was designed to evaluate the healing effect of Cordyceps Militaris (CM) on collagen II-induced arthritis rats. Methods Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into 6 groups (normal, control, positive control, CM with low/medium/high dosage each). Type II collagen mixed with complete Freund's adjuvant (with 1:1 v/v) was injected subcutaneously, and the mixture was injected in a same manner one week after the first injection to boost arthritis. Arthritis index, paw thickness and von Frey test were conducted to observe physical changes. hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining was performed to observe knee cartilage. The levels of messenger RNA (mRNA) expressions of interleukin (IL)-1𝛽, IL-6, tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-𝛼) in spleen were assessed by real-time polymerase chain reaction. Results Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease that occurs on multiple joints and can lead to temporary shape change of bones or organ failure in severe cases. Here, we aimed to determine the effect of CM extract on rheumatoid arthritis by measuring paw thickness, arthritis index, conducting von Frey test and H&E staining, and evaluating the level of IL-1𝛽, IL-6, TNF-𝛼. As a result, paw thickness, arthritis index significantly decreased in low concentration group, hind leg became less sensitive in all expermental groups. Also, histological analysis showed that the damage of knee cartilage was prevented in all experimental groups. The level of mRNA of IL-1𝛽, IL-6, and TNF-𝛼 in spleen was analyzed to decide the effectiveness of CM extract. IL-1𝛽 did not show significant change, but IL-6 and TNF-𝛼 showed significant decrease in at least one of the experimental groups. Conclusions CM showed protective effect on knee tissue destruction and improved the physical conditions of the leg involving arthritis. Also, it showed that CM has anti-inflammatory effect on specific cytokines inducing rheumatoid arthritis. In conclusion, this study demonstrated that the therapeutic potential of CM for the treatment rheumatoid arthritis, and set the foundation for the further studies.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.240-246
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• 2018

Efferent and afferent sympathetic nerves are closely related to the development of hypertension and heart failure. Catheter-based renal sympathetic denervation (RDN) is implemented as a strategy to treat resistant hypertension. We investigated whether RDN procedure causes inflammatory damage on myocardium in the early phase of sympathetic denervation. Twenty-five female swine were divided into 3 groups: normal control (Normal, n=5), sham-operated control (Sham, n=5), and RDN groups (RDN, n=15). The RDN group was further subdivided into 3 subgroups according to the time of sacrifice: immediately (RDN-0, n=5), 1 week (RDN-1, n=5), and 2 weeks (RDN-2, n=5) after RDN. There were no significant changes in the clinical parameters between the normal control and sham-operated group using contrast-media. In the myocardium, inflammatory cytokines, $IL-1{\beta}$ and $TNF-{\alpha}$ increased at the first week, and then decreased at the second week after RDN. Anti-inflammatory cytokine, IL-10 increased immediately, and then decreased at the second week after RDN. Caspase-1 activity and apoptosis-associated speck-like protein containing a caspase recruitment domain (ASC) expression increased immediately after RDN until the second week. However, nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain, leucine rich repeat and pyrin domain containing protein 3 (NLRP3) expression did not show any significant differences among the groups. The RDN can cause acute myocardial inflammation through activation of caspase-1 and $IL-1{\beta}$. We should pay attention to protecting against early inflammatory myocardial damage after RDN.

• Asia-Pacific Journal of Business Venturing and Entrepreneurship
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• v.11 no.3
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• pp.1-15
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• 2016

This study has analyzed predication capabilities leveraging multi-variate model, logistic regression model, and artificial neural network model based on financial information of medium-small sized companies list in KOSDAQ. 83 delisted companies from 2009 to 2012 and 83 normal companies, i.e. 166 firms in total were sampled for the analysis. Modelling with training data was mobilized for 100 companies inlcuding 50 delisted ones and 50 normal ones at random out of the 166 companies. The rest of samples, 66 companies, were used to verify accuracies of the models. Each model was designed by carrying out T-test with 79 financial ratios for the last 5 years and identifying 9 significant variables. T-test has shown that financial profitability variables were major variables to predict a financial risk at an early stage, and financial stability variables and financial cashflow variables were identified as additional significant variables at a later stage of insolvency. When predication capabilities of the models were compared, for training data, a logistic regression model exhibited the highest accuracy while for test data, the artificial neural networks model provided the most accurate results. There are differences between the previous researches and this study as follows. Firstly, this study considered a time-series aspect in light of the fact that failure proceeds gradually. Secondly, while previous studies constructed a multivariate discriminant model ignoring normality, this study has reviewed the regularity of the independent variables, and performed comparisons with the other models. Policy implications of this study is that the reliability for the disclosure documents is important because the simptoms of firm's fail woule be shown on financial statements according to this paper. Therefore institutional arragements for restraing moral laxity from accounting firms or its workers should be strengthened.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.117-124
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• 2010

Purpose: To analyze the postoperative radiotherapy results and prognostic factors in patients with WHO grade 3 and 4 gliomas. Materials and Methods: A total of 99 patients with malignant gliomas who underwent postoperative radiotherapy between 1988 and 2007 were enrolled in this study. Total resections, subtotal resections ($\geq$50%), partial resections (<50%), and biopsies were performed in 16, 38, 22, and 23 patients, respectively. In total there were 32, 63 and 4 WHO grade 3, 4, and unspecified high grade gliomas, respectively. The biologically equivalent dose was in the range of 18.6 to $83.3\;Gy_{10}$ (median dose, $72.2\;Gy_{10}$). We retrospectively analyzed survival rate, patterns of failure, prognostic factors, and adverse effects. Results: The median follow-up time was 11 months and there were 54 patients (54.5%) with local failure. The one and 2-year survival rates were 56.6% and 29.3%, respectively, and the median survival duration was 13 months. The one and 2-year progression-free survival rates (PFS) were 31.3% and 18.2%, respectively, and the median PFS was 7 months. The prognostic factors for overall survival were age (p=0.0001), surgical extents (subtotal resection, p=0.023; partial resection, p=0.009; biopsy only, p=0.002), and enhancement of tumor in postoperative imaging study (p=0.049). The factors affecting PFS were age (p=0.036), tumor enhancement of the postoperative imaging study (p=0.006). There were 3 patients with grade 3 and 4 side effects during and after radiotherapy. Conclusions: In addition to age and surgical extents, tumor enhancement of the postoperative imaging study was included in the prognostic factors. The most common relapse patterns were local failures and hence, additional studies are needed to improve local control rates.

• Journal of the Korea institute for structural maintenance and inspection
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.47-56
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• 2020

In this study, three levels of W/B(Water to Binder) ratio (0.37, 0.42, 0.47) and substitution ratio of GGBFS (Ground Granulated Blast Furnace Slag) rate (0 %, 30 %, 50 %) were considered to perform RCPT (Rapid Chloride Diffusion Test) at the 1,095 aged day. Accelerated chloride diffusion coefficient and passed charge of each concrete mixture were assessed according to Tang's method and ASTM C 1202, and improving behaviors of durability performance with increasing aged days are analyzed based on the test results of previous aged days from the preceding study. As the age of concrete increases, the passed charge and diffusion coefficient have been significantly reduced, and especially the concrete specimens containing GGBFS showed a significantly more reduction than OPC(Ordinary Portland Cement) concrete specimen by latent hydraulic activity. In the case of OPC concrete's results of passed charge, at the 1,095 days, two of them were still in the "Moderate" class. So, if only OPC is used as the binder of concrete, the resistance performance for chloride attack is weak. In this study, the time-parameters (m) were derived based on the results of the accelerated chloride diffusion coefficient, and the deterministic and probabilistic analysis for service life were performed by assuming the design variable as a probability function. For probabilistic service life analysis, durability failure probabilities were calculated using Monte Carlo Simulation (MCS) to evaluate service life. The service life of probabilistic method were lower than that of deterministic method, since the target value of PDF (Probability of Durability Failure) was set very low at 10 %. If the target value of PDF suitable for the purpose of using structure can be set and proper variability can be considered for each design variable, it is believed that more economical durability design can be made.

• Journal of Korean Society of Coastal and Ocean Engineers
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.174-183
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• 2014

Seabed beneath and near coastal structures may undergo large excess pore water pressure composed of oscillatory and residual components in the case of long durations of high wave loading. This excess pore water pressure may reduce effective stress and, consequently, the seabed may liquefy. If liquefaction occurs in the seabed, the structure may sink, overturn, and eventually increase the failure potential. In this study, to evaluate the liquefaction potential on the seabed, numerical analysis was conducted using the expanded 2-dimensional numerical wave tank to account for an irregular wave field. In the condition of an irregular wave field, the dynamic wave pressure and water flow velocity acting on the seabed and the surface boundary of the composite breakwater structure were estimated. Simulation results were used as input data in a finite element computer program for elastoplastic seabed response. Simulations evaluated the time and spatial variations in excess pore water pressure, effective stress, and liquefaction potential in the seabed. Additionally, the deformation of the seabed and the displacement of the structure as a function of time were quantitatively evaluated. From the results of the analysis, the liquefaction potential at the seabed in front and rear of the composite breakwater was identified. Since the liquefied seabed particles have no resistance to force, scour potential could increase on the seabed. In addition, the strength decrease of the seabed due to the liquefaction can increase the structural motion and significantly influence the stability of the composite breakwater. Due to limitations of allowable paper length, the studied results were divided into two portions; (I) focusing on the dynamic response of structure, acceleration, deformation of seabed, and (II) focusing on the time variation in excess pore water pressure, liquefaction, effective stress path in the seabed. This paper corresponds to (II).

• Journal of Korean Society of Coastal and Ocean Engineers
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.160-173
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• 2014

Seabed beneath and near coastal structures may undergo large excess pore water pressure composed of oscillatory and residual components in the case of long durations of high wave loading. This excess pore water pressure may reduce effective stress and, consequently, the seabed may liquefy. If liquefaction occurs in the seabed, the structure may sink, overturn, and eventually increase the failure potential. In this study, to evaluate the liquefaction potential on the seabed, numerical analysis was conducted using the expanded 2-dimensional numerical wave tank to account for an irregular wave field. In the condition of an irregular wave field, the dynamic wave pressure and water flow velocity acting on the seabed and the surface boundary of the composite breakwater structure were estimated. Simulation results were used as input data in a finite element computer program for elastoplastic seabed response. Simulations evaluated the time and spatial variations in excess pore water pressure, effective stress, and liquefaction potential in the seabed. Additionally, the deformation of the seabed and the displacement of the structure as a function of time were quantitatively evaluated. From the results of the analysis, the liquefaction potential at the seabed in front and rear of the composite breakwater was identified. Since the liquefied seabed particles have no resistance to force, scour potential could increase on the seabed. In addition, the strength decrease of the seabed due to the liquefaction can increase the structural motion and significantly influence the stability of the composite breakwater. Due to limitations of allowable paper length, the studied results were divided into two portions; (I) focusing on the dynamic response of structure, acceleration, deformation of seabed, and (II) focusing on the time variation in excess pore water pressure, liquefaction, effective stress path in the seabed. This paper corresponds to (I).

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.38 no.2 s.247
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• pp.152-156
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• 2005

Background: Occlusive complications after arterial revascularization are difficult to treat and have high recurrence rate. This study was performed to establish an effective treatment modality and to evaluate the factors affecting the occlusive complications by analysis of clinical data. Material and Method: During the period of 5 years. 33 patients (55 reoperations) were studied at the Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, Pusan National University Hospital following 173 arterial revascularization surgeries. The clinical characteristics, operating methods, the time intervals of reoperation, used graft, and the results of treatment were evaluated retrospectively. Result: All the patients were men except one and the mean age was 63.5 years old. The mean time internal from first operation to reoperation was 11.9 months. The cause of arterial occlusive diseases were 28 atherosclerosis and 5 Burger's diseases, Associated diseases were Hypertension $(57.6\%)$, Diabetes mellitus $(33.3\%)$, heart failure $(18.2\%)$, and so on. The mean rate of reoperation was 1.67 times and the most common type of first operation was femoro-popliteal bypass grafting $(57.6\%)$. The graft that used revascularization surgery were 25 cases of PTFE and 6 case were Dacron. There was no statistical difference between two groups. The kinds of reoperations were thrombectomy in 20 cases, angioplasty 18 cases, re-bypass surgery in 13 cases, and lumbar sympathectomy in 4 cases. The results of reoperation were 15 cases of functional recovery, 7 cases of limb salvage, 5 cases of above-knee amputation. 3 cases of below-knee amputation and 3 deaths. Conclusion: The main cause of occlusive complications are occlusion of inflow or outflow artery. Treatments were different according to the first operation methods and graft used. The most frequent time of reoperation was within one year after the first operation. We believe that graft surveillance especially during the first year is very important factor in observing the patient. We can look forward to improving limb salvage rate to perform additional treatment such as radiological interventions and lumbar sympathectomy.