• Development and Reproduction
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• v.13 no.4
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• pp.207-215
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• 2009

Numerous factors can affect the activities of hypothalamus-pituitary-gonad (HPG) hormonal axis, resulting in alteration of reproductive capacity or status such as onset of puberty and menopause. Soon after the finding of leptin, a multifunctional hormone secreted from adipocytes, a close relationship between reproduction and body energy balance have been manifested. Ghrelin, another multifunctional hormone from gastrointestinal tract, is an endogenous ligand of growth hormone secretagogue receptor (GHSR), and is thought to be a counterpart of leptin in the regulation of energy homeostasis. As expected, ghrelin can also modulate the reproductive capacity through the modulation of activities of HPG axis. This paper summarizes the current knowledge on the discovery, gene structures, tissue distribution and roles of ghrelin and GHSRs in mammalian reproduction in particular modulation of reproductive hormone secretion in HPG axis. Like POMC gene expression in pituitary gland, preproghrelin gene can generate a complex repertoire of transcripts which further undergo alternative splicing and posttranslational modifications. Concerning the roles of preproghrelin gene products in the control of body physiology except energy homeostasis, limited knowledge is available so far. Several lines of evidence, however, show the interplay of ghrelin between metabolism and reproduction. In rat and human, the distribution of ghrelin receptor GHSRs (GHSR1a and GHSR1b) has been confirmed not only in the hypothalamus and pituitary which were originally postulated as target of ghrelin but also in the testis and ovary. Expression of the preproghrelin gene in the brain and gonads was also verified, suggesting the local role (s) of ghrelin in HPG axis. Ghrelin might play a negative modulator in the secretions of hypothalamic GnRH, pituitary gonadotropins and gonadal steroids though the action on pituitary is still questionable. Recent studies suggest the involvement of ghrelin in regulation of puberty onset and possibly of menopause entry. It is now evident that ghrelin is a crucial hormomal component in 'brain-gut' axis, and is a strong candidate links between metabolism and reproduction. Opposite to that for leptin, ghrelin signaling is likely representing the 'hunger' state of body energy balance and is necessary to avoid the energy investment into reproduction which has not a top priority in maintaining homeostasis. Further researches are needed to gain a deep insight into the more precise action mechanism and role of ghrelin in reproduction, and to guarantee the successful biomedical applications.

• Restorative Dentistry and Endodontics
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.38-48
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• 2005

The purpose of this study was to compare and evaluate the shaping ability of the three different Ni-Ti file systems used by undergraduate students. Fifty undergraduate students prepared 150 simulated curved root canals in resin blocks with three Ni-Ti file systems - $ProFile^{(R)}$ (PF), Manual $ProTaper^{(R)}$ (MPT), Rotary $ProTaper^{(R)}$ (RPT). Every student prepared 3 simulated root canals with each system respectively. After root canal preparation, the Ni-Ti files were evaluated for distortion or breakage Assessments were made according to the presence of various types of canal aberrations. The pre- and post-instrumented canal images were attained and superimposed. The instrumented root canal width were measured and calculated for the net transportation (deviation) and the centering ratio. Under the condition of this study, both $ProTaper^{(R)}$ systems allowed significantly more removal of root canal wall than the $ProFile^{(R)}$ system. In the important other aspects such as the centering ratio, there was no significant differences between the systems. Novice dental students were able to prepare curved root canals with any kinds of Ni-Ti file systems with little aberration and great conservation of tooth structure. Students want to learn effective methods and at the same time simple rotary procedures. The rotary $ProTaper^{(R)}$ systems were one of the most compatible to these students from the point of view of cutting ability The $ProFile^{(R)}$ system was also compatible in safe and gentle shaping.

• Korean Journal of Breeding Science
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• v.41 no.3
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• pp.220-227
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• 2009

This study was conducted to select superior families based on the open-pollinated (OP) progeny tests of P. densiflora. A total of 232 OP families were analyzed for relative height growth. The OP progeny test trials were established at 1 to 4 sites from 1975 to 1987. To minimize temporal and spatial variation, we applied the standardization method for family selection. In each progeny test, superior and inferior families were selected at ages of 10, 20 and 30. Relative height growth rate (RHGR), growth speed at a given time unit, was comparatively high at age of 10 with range from 0.1 to 0.6 and showed a large variation among families. However, after age 15, the RHGR was low (average 0.04) and also the variation was not significantly different among families. To reduce selection errors due to age differences (from age 23 to 35) of tests, we made the family selection after age 15 when the values of RHGR were stable. Height growth at each age was transformed to be height growth at age 35 based on the RHGR. As the results, family CB2, CB3, KW99 and KW2 were selected as superior families and KW158, KW22, KB40 and GG1 were considered as inferior ones, respectively. Rank correlations (r) between test ages and selection age 35 were high and statistically significant; r = 0.881 between age 30 and 35, 0.653 between age 20 and 35, and -0.222 between age 10 and 35.

• Cross-Cultural Studies
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• v.52
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• pp.277-312
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• 2018

First-order cybernetics during the 1940s and 1950s aimed for control of an observed system, while second-order cybernetics during the mid-1970s aspired to address the mechanism of an observing system. The former pursues an objective, subjectless, approach to a system, whereas the latter prefers a subjective, personal approach to a system. Second-order observation must be noted since a human observer is a living system that has its unique cognition. Maturana and Varela place the autopoiesis of this biological system at the core of second-order cybernetics. They contend that an autpoietic system maintains, transforms and produces itself. Technoscientific recreation of biological autopoiesis opens up to a new step in cybernetics: what I describe as third-order cybernetics. The formation of technoscientific autopoiesis overlaps with the Fourth Industrial Revolution or what Erik Brynjolfsson and Andrew McAfee call the Second Machine Age. It leads to a radical shift from human centrism to posthumanity whereby humanity is mechanized, and machinery is biologized. In two versions of the novel Demon Seed, American novelist Dean Koontz explores the significance of technoscientific autopoiesis. The 1973 version dramatizes two kinds of observers: the technophobic human observer and the technology-friendly machine observer Proteus. As the story concludes, the former dominates the latter with the result that an anthropocentric position still works. The 1997 version, however, reveals the victory of the techno-friendly narrator Proteus over the anthropocentric narrator. Losing his narrational position, the technophobic human narrator of the story disappears. In the 1997 version, Proteus becomes the subject of desire in luring divorcee Susan. He longs to flaunt his male egomaniac. His achievement of male identity is a sign of technological autopoiesis characteristic of third-order cybernetics. To display self-producing capabilities integral to the autonomy of machinery, Koontz's novel demonstrates that Proteus manipulates Susan's egg to produce a human-machine mixture. Koontz's demon child, problematically enough, implicates the future of eugenics in an era of technological autopoiesis. Proteus creates a crossbreed of humanity and machinery to engineer a perfect body and mind. He fixes incurable or intractable diseases through genetic modifications. Proteus transfers a vast amount of digital information to his offspring's brain, which enables the demon child to achieve state-of-the-art intelligence. His technological editing of human genes and consciousness leads to digital standardization through unanimous spread of the best qualities of humanity. He gathers distinguished human genes and mental status much like collecting luxury brands. Accordingly, Proteus's child-making project ultimately moves towards technologically-controlled eugenics. Pointedly, it disturbs the classical ideal of liberal humanism celebrating a human being as the master of his or her nature.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.23-62
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• 1969

Throughout the studies the following experimental results were obtained and are summarized: 1. Multiplication of agents in primary cell cultures of both GF classical and CR-64 acute strain of Marek's disease infected chicken kidneys was accompanied by the formation of distinct transformed cell foci. This characteristic nature of cell transformation was passaged regularly by addition of dispersed cell from infected cultures to normal chicken kidney cell cultures, and also transferred was the nature of cell transformation to normal chick-embryo liver and neuroglial cell cultures. No cytopathic changes were noticed in inoculated chick-embryo fibroblast cultures. 2. The same cytopathic effects were noticed in normal kidney cell monolayers after the inoculation of whole blood and huffy coat cells derived from both forms of Marek's disease infected chickens. In these cases, however, the number of transformed cell foci appearing was far less than that of uninoculated monolayers prepared directly from the kidneys of Marek's disease infected chickens. 3. The change in cell culture IS regarded as a specific cell transformation focus induced by an oncogenic virus rather than it plaque in slowly progressing cytopathic effect by non-oncogenic viruses, and it is quite similar to RSV focus in chick-embryo fibroblasts in many respects. 4. The infective agent (cell transformable) were extremely cell-associated and could not be separated in an infective state from cells under the experimental conditions. 5. The focus assay of these agents was valid as shown by the high degree of linear correlation (r=0.97 and 0.99) between the relative infected cell concentration (in inoculum) and the transformed cell foci counted. 6. No differences were observed between the GF classical strain and the CR-64 acute strain of Marek's disease as far as cell culture behavior. 7. Characterization of the isolates by physical and chemical treatments, development of internuclear inclusions in Infected cells, and nucleic acid typing by differential stainings and cytochemical treatments indicated that the natures of these cell transformation agents closely resemble to those described fer the group B herpes viruses. 8. Susceptible chicks inoculated with infected kidney tissue culture cells developed specific lesions of Marek's disease, and in a case of prolonged observation after inoculation (5 weeks) the birds developed clinical symptoms and gross lesions of Marek's disease. Kidney cell cultures prepared from those inoculated birds and sacrificed showed a superior recovery of cell transformation property by formation of distinct foci. 9. Electron microscopic study of infected kidney culture cells (GF agent) by negative staining technique revealed virus particles furnishing the properties of herpes viruses. The particle was measured about $100m{\mu}$ and, so far, no herpes virus envelop has been seen from these preparations. 10. No relationship of both isolates to avian leukosis/sarcoma group viruses and PPLO was observed.

• Journal of the Korea Concrete Institute
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.3-11
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• 2008

An experimental investigation was conducted with half-scale representations of the reinforced concrete shear walls with the opening subjected to cyclic loads. Specimens were half scale representations of a one-story wall in the apartment built in 1980. The area ratio of the opening section, as well as the size and critical section of coupling slabs, were decided based on results from a previous researches. The test result of WS-0.23 specimen, which has artificial damages to install the opening, the strength of the wall decreased due to the opening. It is apparent that influence of cutting reinforcing bars and decrease of effective section area lead to early first yield of the reinforcing bars before the allowable limit of drift ratio of the shear walls was reached. Therefore, proper reinforcing method is needed to prevent this. The decrease of strength of the shear walls by installation of openings shows a great deal of difference compared to previous researches. This is because flexural capacity of the slabs is working as coupling elements for the shear walls. The critical section of coupling slabs that works as coupling elements for shear walls was a little different from the results of previous researches.

• KSCE Journal of Civil and Environmental Engineering Research
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• v.34 no.2
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• pp.377-387
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• 2014

This study mainly treats a new type of the bracing friction damper system, which is able to minimize structural damage under earthquake loads. The slotted bolt holes are placed on the shear faying surfaces with an intention to dissipate considerable amount of friction energy. The superelastic shape memory alloy (SMA) wire strands are installed crossly between two plates for the purpose of enhancing recentering force that are able to reduce permanent deformation occurring at the friction damper system. The smart recentering friction damper system proposed in this study can be expected to reduce repair cost as compared to the conventional damper system because the proposed system mitigates the inter-story drift of the entire frame structure. The response mechanism of the proposed damper system is firstly investigated in this study, and then numerical analyses are performed on the component spring models calibrated to the experimental results. Based on the numerical analysis results, the seismic performance of the recentering friction damper system with respect to recentering capability and energy dissipation are investigated before suggesting optimal design methodology. Finally, nonlinear dynamic analyses are conducted by using the frame models designed with the proposed damper systems so as to verify superior performance to the existing damper systems.

• Journal of the Korea institute for structural maintenance and inspection
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.34-45
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• 2017

Cyclic loading tests for a total of nine test specimens were performed to evaluate the seismic performance of the exposed steel column-base plate connections. From the tests, flexural strength, deformation capacity, energy dissipation, and initial stiffness were investigated. The primary test parameters were the thickness of base-plate, embedment length of anchor bolt, the presence of hook, and rib plates. Test results showed that flexural behavior of column base-plate connection was substantially affected by the base-plate thickness, embedment length and the number of anchor bolts. On the other hand, the effect of rib plates on the increase of the flexural performance was not observed. The initial stiffness of the test specimens was about 15% of the flexural stiffness obtained by assuming that the support is fixed. As a result, even if the exposed column base-plate is designed in accordance with current design recommendations, in case that bond strength between concrete and the anchor bolts is not sufficient, the base-plate connection showed an unaccceptable load-displacement behavior.

• Journal of the Korea Concrete Institute
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• v.15 no.5
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• pp.689-696
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• 2003

Recently, Appendix A of ACI 318∼02 Code introduced the Strut-and-Tie Model(STM) procedure in shear design of deep flexural members. The STM procedure is widely used in the design of concrete regions where the distribution of longitudinal strains is significantly nonlinear, such as deep beams, beams with large openings, corbels, and dapped-end beams. Experimental study included five high-strength reinforced concrete deep beams with different detailing schemes for the horizontal and vertical reinforcement. The specimens were designed as simply supported beams subjected to concentrated loads on the top face and supported on the bottom face. At failure, all specimen exhibited primary diagonal crack running from the support region to the point load. Specimens which had mechanical anchorages(terminators) gives better representation of the load-carrying mechanism than the specimen had standard 90-degree anchorage at failure in deep flexural members. Based on the test results, shear design procedures contained in the ACI 318-99 Code, Appendix A of the ACI 318-02 Code, CSA A23.3-94 Code and CIRIA Guide-2 were evaluated. The Shear design of ACI 318-99 Code, Appendix A of the ACI 318-02 Code and CIRIA Guide-2 shown to be conservative predictions from 10% to 36% in the shear strength of the single-span deep beam which was tested. ACI 318-99 Code was the lowest standard deviation.

• Journal of the Korea Concrete Institute
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• v.14 no.5
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• pp.645-652
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• 2002

This paper presents the flexural behavior and strengthening effect of reinforced concrete beams bonded with carbon FRP plate. Parameters involved in this experimental study were plate bond length and sheet web anchorage length. Test beams were strengthened with FRP plate on the soffit and anchored with FRP sheet on the web. In general, strengthened beams with no web anchorage were failed by concrete cover failure along the longitudinal reinforcement. On the other hand, strengthened beams with web anchorage were finally failed by delamination shear failure within concrete after breaking of CFRP sheet wrapping around web. The ultimate load and deflection of strengthened beams increased with an increased bond length of FRP plate. Also, the ultimate load and deflection increased with an increased anchorage length of FRP sheet. Particularly, the strengthened beams with web anchorage maintained high ultimate load resisting capacity until very large deflection. The shape of strain distribution of CFRP plate along beam was very similar to that of bending moment diagram. Therefore, an assumption of constant shear stress in shear span could be possible in the analysis of delamination shear stress of concrete. In the case of full bond length, the ultimate resisting shear stress provided by concrete and FRP sheet Increased with an increase of web anchorage length. In the resisting shear force, a portion of the shear force was provided by FRP anchorage sheet.