• Fire Science and Engineering
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.44-51
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• 2017

Accurate predictions of the activation time for smoke detectors using a fire simulation is are required to ensure the reliability of the RSET (Required Safe Egress Time) calculation in the process of PBD (Performance-Based Design). The objective of this study was to enhance the accuracy of input parameters for the numerical models of smoke detector based on the FDS. To this end, a Fire Detector Evaluator (FDE) developed in previous studies was improved. The uniformities of flow and smoke inside the FDE were improved and accurate measurements of the obscuration per meter (OPM) related to detector operation were also performed through a decrease in the forward scattering of smoke particles. The input parameters using the improved FDE showed a significant difference from the previous FDE quantitatively. In particular, a larger difference was found in a photoelectric detector compared to an ionization detector. Considering that the operating conditions of smoke detectors are affected by the detector type, combustibles, smoke particulars, and color, the database (DB) on the input parameters for various detectors and combustibles should be built to improve the reliability of PBD in future studies.

• Mycobiology
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• v.50 no.1
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• pp.86-95
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• 2022

Inflammaging in male reproductive organs covers a wide variety of problems, including sexual dysfunction and infertility. In this study, the beneficial effects of cordycepin (COR), isolated from potential medicinal fungi Cordyceps militaris, in aging-associated testicular inflammation and serum biochemical changes in naturally aged rats were investigated. Male Sprague Dawley rats were divided into young control (YC), aged control (AC), and COR (5, 10, and 20 mg/kg) treated aged rat groups. Aging-associated serum biochemical changes and inflammatory parameters were analyzed by biochemical assay kits, Western blotting, and real-time RT-PCR. Results showed a significant (p < 0.05) alteration in the total blood cell count, lipid metabolism, and liver functional parameters in AC group when compared with YC group. However, COR-treated aged rats ameliorated the altered biochemical parameters significantly (p < 0.05 and p < 0.01 at 5, 10, and 20 mg/kg, respectively). Furthermore, the increase in the expression of inflammatory mediators (COX-2, interleukin (IL)-6, IL-1β, and tissue necrosis factor-alpha) in aged rat testis was significant (p < 0.05) when compared with YC group. Treatment with COR at 20 mg/kg to aged rats attenuated the increased expression of inflammatory mediators significantly (p < 0.05). Mechanistic studies revealed that the potential attenuating effects exhibited by COR in aged rats was mediated by regulation of NF-κB activation and MAPKs (c-Jun N-terminal kinase, extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2, and p38) signaling. In conclusion, COR restored the altered serum biochemical parameters in aged rats and ameliorated the aging-associated testicular inflammation proving the therapeutic benefits of COR targeting inflammaging-associated male sexual dysfunctions.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.34 no.1
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• pp.45-50
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• 2022

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to compare the spatiotemporal and kinematic gait parameters and muscle activity of the lower extremities between forward walking on sand (FWS) and backward walking on sand (BWS) in normal adults. Methods: This study was conducted on 13 healthy adults. Subjects performed FWS and BWS and the spatiotemporal and kinematic gait parameters of stride time, stride length, velocity, cadence, step length, stance, swing, double support, and hip range of motion (ROM), knee ROM were measured by a wearable inertial measurement unit system. In addition, the muscle activity of the rectus femoris (RF), biceps femoris (BF), tibialis anterior (TA), and gastrocnemius (GA) was measured. Results: The stride length, stride velocity, cadence, and step length in the BWS were significantly lower than FWS (p<0.05), and stride time was significantly greater (p<0.05). However, there was no significant difference in the ratio of stance, swing, and double support between the two (p>0.05). The kinematic gait parameters, including hip and knee joint range of motion in BWS, were significantly lower than FWS (p<0.05). The muscle activity of the RF in BWS was significantly higher than FWS (p<0.05), but the muscle activity of the BF, TA, GA did not show any significant differences between the two movements (p>0.05). Conclusion: A strategy to increase stability by changing the gait parameters is used in BWS, and this study confirmed that BWS was a safe and effective movement to increase RF muscle activity without straining the joints. Therefore, BWS can be recommended for effective activation of the RF.

• The Bulletin of The Korean Astronomical Society
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• v.46 no.1
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• pp.42.1-42.1
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• 2021

In this study, we present a visual explanation of a deep learning solar flare forecast model and its relationship to physical parameters of solar active regions (ARs). For this, we use full-disk magnetograms at 00:00 UT from the Solar and Heliospheric Observatory/Michelson Doppler Imager and the Solar Dynamics Observatory/Helioseismic and Magnetic Imager, physical parameters from the Space-weather HMI Active Region Patch (SHARP), and Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite X-ray flare data. Our deep learning flare forecast model based on the Convolutional Neural Network (CNN) predicts "Yes" or "No" for the daily occurrence of C-, M-, and X-class flares. We interpret the model using two CNN attribution methods (guided backpropagation and Gradient-weighted Class Activation Mapping [Grad-CAM]) that provide quantitative information on explaining the model. We find that our deep learning flare forecasting model is intimately related to AR physical properties that have also been distinguished in previous studies as holding significant predictive ability. Major results of this study are as follows. First, we successfully apply our deep learning models to the forecast of daily solar flare occurrence with TSS = 0.65, without any preprocessing to extract features from data. Second, using the attribution methods, we find that the polarity inversion line is an important feature for the deep learning flare forecasting model. Third, the ARs with high Grad-CAM values produce more flares than those with low Grad-CAM values. Fourth, nine SHARP parameters such as total unsigned vertical current, total unsigned current helicity, total unsigned flux, and total photospheric magnetic free energy density are well correlated with Grad-CAM values.

• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.327-332
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• 2013

Batch experiments were carried out for adsorption equilibrium, kinetics and thermodynamic parameters of the brilliant brown R onto granular activated carbon. The operating variables studied were the initial dye concentration, contact time and temperature. Experimental equilibrium adsorption data were fitted to Langmuir and Freundlich adsorption isotherm by linear regression method. The equilibrium process was well described by Freundlich isotherm model and from the determined separation factor (1/n), granular activated carbon could be employed as an effective treatment for the removal of bismarck brown R. From kinetic experiments, the adsorption processes were found to confirm the pseudo second order model with a good correlation and the adsorption rate constant ($k_2$) increased with increasing adsorption temperature. Thermodynamic parameters like the activation energy, change of Gibbs free energy, enthalpy, and entropy were also calculated to predict the nature of adsorption in the temperature range of 298~318 K. The activation energy was determined as 8.73 kJ/mol for 100 mg/L. It was found that the adsorption of bismarck brown R on the granular activated carbon was physical process. The negative Gibbs free energy change (${\Delta}G$ = -2.59~-4.92 kJ/mol) and the positive enthalpy change (${\Delta}H$ = +26.34 kJ/mol) are indicative of the spontaneous and endothermic nature of the adsorption process.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.227-232
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• 1985

Previously, we had reported that the electrical stimulation of peripheral nerve with stimlatory parameters of 20 V strength and 2 Hz frequency for 60 min resulted in reducing the pain reaction. The present study was performed to evaluate if the pain reaction was affected by the peripheral nerve stimulation with different stimulatory parameters in the decerebrated cat. The flexion reflex was used as an index of the pain reaction. The reflex was elicited by stimulating the sural nerve (stimulus strength of 20 $V\;\times\;0.5$msec) and recorded as a compound action potential from the motor nerve innervated to the posterior biceps femoris muscle. The common perneal nerve was selected as a peripheral nerve on which the electrical stimulation of various intensities and frequencies was applied. The results are summarized as follows : 1) The peripheral nerve stimulation with 100 mV strength, regardless of frequencies, did not affect the pain reaction induced by the sural nerve stimulation. 2) When the stimulus of 1V intensity and slow frequency (2 Hz) was applied to the peripheral nerve for 30 min or 60 min, the pain reaction was significantly reduced comparing to the control. However, this reduced pain reaction by the peripheral nerve stimulation was not reversed by the injection of naloxone (0.02 mg/kg) 3) High frequency stimulus (60 Hz) of 1V intensity for 30 or 60 min did not show any effects of affecting the pain reaction. These results suggest that the stimulus of relatively high intensity (at least 1V) and low frequency (2 Hz) is needed to elicite the analgesic effect by the peripheral nerve stimulation. By the 1V stimulus, $A\delta$ nerve fiber is activated. Therefore, an $A\delta$ or smaller nerve fibers must be activated for showing analgesia by the peripheral nerve stimulation. However, the mechanism of analgesia by the $A\delta$ nerve activation alone was not related to the endogeneous morphine system since the reduced pain reaction by the $A\delta$ fiber activation alone was not reversed by the treatment of naloxone.

• Korean Chemical Engineering Research
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• v.56 no.1
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• pp.112-118
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• 2018

Adsorption equilibrium, kinetic and thermodynamic parameters of a brilliant green from aqueous solutions at various initial dye concentration (10~30 mg/L), contact time (1~24 h) and temperature (298~318 K) on zeolite were studied in a batch mode operation. The equilibrium adsorption values were analyzed by Langmuir, Freundlich and Dubinin-Radushkevich model. The results indicate that Langmuir and Freundlich model provides the best correlation of the experimental data. Base on the estimated values of Langmuir dimensionless separation factor ($R_L=0.041{\sim}0.057$) and Freundlich constant (1/n=0.30~0.47), this process could be employed as effective treatment method. calculated values of adsorption energy by Dubinin-Radushkevich model were 1.564~1.857 kJ/mol corresponding to physical adsorption. The adsorption kinetics of brilliant green were best described by the pseudo second-order rate model and followed by intraparticle diffusion model. Thermodynamic parameters such as activation energy, free energy, enthalpy and entropy were calculated to estimate nature of adsorption. negative Gibbs free energy (-10.3~-11.4 kJ/mol), positive enthalpy change (49.48 kJ/mol) and Arrehenius activation energy (27.05 kJ/mol) indicates that the adsorption is spontaneous, endothermic and physical adsorption process, respectively.

• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.96-102
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• 2014

Adsorption of metanil yellow onto granular activated carbon were studied in a batch system. Various operation parameters such as adsorbent dosage, pH, initial concentration, contact time and temperature were optimized. Experimental equilibrium adsorption data were analyzed by Langmuir and Freundlich adsorption isotherm. The equilibrium process was described well by Freundlich isotherm model. From determined separation factor (1/n), adsorption of metanil yellow by granular activated carbon could be employed as effective treatment method. By analysis of kinetic experimental data, the adsorption process were found to confirm to the pseudo second order model with good correlation and the adsorption rate constant ($k^2$) decreased with increasing initial concentration. Thermodynamic parameters like activation energy, change of free energy, enthalpy, and entropy were also calculated to predict the nature adsorption in the temperature range of 298~318 K. The activation energy was determined as 23.90 kJ/mol. It was found that the adsortpion of metanil yellow on the granular activated carbon was physical process. The negative Gibbs free energy change (${\Delta}G=-2.16{\sim}-6.55kJ/mol$) and the positive enthalpy change (${\Delta}H=+23.29kJ/mol$) indicated the spontaneous and endothermic nature of the adsorption process, respectively.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.35 no.2
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• pp.121-133
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• 2023

The demand for cement and limestone crushed materials has increased many folds due to the tremendous increase in construction activities in Pakistan during the past few decades. The number of cement production industries has increased correspondingly, and so the rock-blasting operations at the limestone quarry sites. However, the safety procedures warranted at these sites for the blast-induced ground vibrations (BIGV) have not been adequately developed and/or implemented. Proper prediction and monitoring of BIGV are necessary to ensure the safety of structures in the vicinity of these quarry sites. In this paper, an attempt has been made to predict BIGV using artificial neural network (ANN) at three selected limestone quarries of Pakistan. The ANN has been developed in Python using Keras with sequential model and dense layers. The hyper parameters and neurons in each of the activation layers has been optimized using randomized and grid search method. The input parameters for the model include distance, a maximum charge per delay (MCPD), depth of hole, burden, spacing, and number of blast holes, whereas, peak particle velocity (PPV) is taken as the only output parameter. A total of 110 blast vibrations datasets were recorded from three different limestone quarries. The dataset has been divided into 85% for neural network training, and 15% for testing of the network. A five-layer ANN is trained with Rectified Linear Unit (ReLU) activation function, Adam optimization algorithm with a learning rate of 0.001, and batch size of 32 with the topology of 6-32-32-256-1. The blast datasets were utilized to compare the performance of ANN, multivariate regression analysis (MVRA), and empirical predictors. The performance was evaluated using the coefficient of determination (R²), mean absolute error (MAE), mean squared error (MSE), mean absolute percentage error (MAPE), and root mean squared error (RMSE)for predicted and measured PPV. To determine the relative influence of each parameter on the PPV, sensitivity analyses were performed for all input parameters. The analyses reveal that ANN performs superior than MVRA and other empirical predictors, andthat83% PPV is affected by distance and MCPD while hole depth, number of blast holes, burden and spacing contribute for the remaining 17%. This research provides valuable insights into improving safety measures and ensuring the structural integrity of buildings near limestone quarry sites.

• Preventive Nutrition and Food Science
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• v.2 no.4
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• pp.354-359
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• 1997

Optimal cultivation conditions for the production of phenylalanine ammonia-lyase(PAL) from Rhodotorula aurantiaca K-505 were selected, and the kinetic parameters of the produced PAL were determined. The most suitable carbon and nitrogen sources were glucose and tryptone, respectively. The strain expressed PAL constituttively when using the optimized semi-complex media. High cell density culture could be critical for maximal production of PAl since the PAL ynthesis was growth associated. maximum PAL activity was observed at initial pH 6.0. although the ll growth was not markedly affected by temperature between 22 and 28$^{\circ}C$, the cells yielded the maximum PAL activity when cultivated at 22$^{\circ}C$. The maximum activity for deamination of L-phenylalnine to trans-cinnamic acid was observed around pH 8.8. The PAL activity gave the maximum at 45$^{\circ}C$, and greatly decreased at higher than 5$0^{\circ}C$. Activation energy({TEX}$E_{a}${/TEX}) calculated from Arrhenius equation was 6.28 kcal/mol in the range of 22$^{\circ}C$ to 4$0^{\circ}C$. A oolf plot showed that the enzyme reaction follows Michaelis-Menten equation, whose {TEX}$K_{M}${/TEX} and {TEX}$V_{max}${/TEX} values were 4.65$\times${TEX}$10^{-3}${/TEX} M and 0.89$\mu$ mol/mg-min respectively.