• International Journal of Highway Engineering
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.1-9
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• 2016

PURPOSES : The performance properties (indirect tensile strength, rutting resistance, and resilient modulus) of recycled aged CRM mixtures and their correlation with Superpave binder properties (viscosity, high failure temperature, $G^*sin{\delta}$, and stiffness) were investigated. METHODS: A series of Superpave binder tests was performed by using a rotational viscometer, DSR, and BBR to evaluate the performance properties. In addition, the CRM mixes were artificially aged through accelerated aging processes, and their properties were evaluated. The correlation between the properties of recycled aged CRM binders and the engineering properties of recycled aged CRM mixtures was experimentally determined. RESULTS : The rut depth values decreased and the ITS values increased with increasing high failure temperature. In general, the resilient modulus properties seemed to be poorly correlated with the high-temperature values, regardless of the aggregate source. CONCLUSIONS: The recycled aged CRM binders and mixtures can lead to satisfactory performance, and the properties of these binders are strongly correlated with the engineering properties of the mixtures.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.323-328
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• 2008

Eukaryotic cells continuously integrate intrinsic and extrinsic signals to adapt to the environment. When exposed to stressful conditions, cells activate compartment-specific adaptive responses. If these are insufficient, apoptosis ensues as an organismal defense line. The mechanisms that sense stress and set the transition from adaptive to maladaptive responses, activating apoptotic programs, are the subject of intense studies, also for their potential impact in cancer and degenerative disorders. In the former case, one would aim at lowering the threshold, in the latter instead to increase it. Protein synthesis, consuming energy for anabolic processes as well as for byproducts disposal, can be a significant source of stress, particularly when difficult-to-fold proteins are produced. Recent work from our and other laboratories on the differentiation of antibody secreting cells, revealed a regulatory circuit that integrates protein synthesis, secretion and degradation (proteostasis), into cell lifespan determination. The apoptotic elimination - after an industrious, yet short lifetime - of terminal immune effectors is crucial to maintain immune homeostasis. Linking proteostasis to cell death, this paradigm might prove useful for biotechnological purposes, and the design of novel anti-cancer therapies.

• Journal of Biomedical Engineering Research
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.197-202
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• 2006

Devices in current market to perform electrical stimulation therapy of the urinary incontinence frequent in aging women are very much impractical to us ε due to the wired configuration. The present study implemented new wireless device to enhance self as well as in-hospital therapy with the easiest and the most convenient application. The therapy system consisted of two modules, called 'master' and 'slave', communicating with each other by the wireless Bluetooth protocol. The patient controls therapy processes on the master module in hand, transmitting the required informations to operate the slave module placed within her pants with the viginal electrode connected, delivering appropriate electrical stimulation. Wireless communication enabled self therapy with clothes on, leading to a great convenience for the patient. The stimulation output signal was comparable to commercialized products in both waveform and stimulation capacity.

• The Journal of the Korea institute of electronic communication sciences
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• v.16 no.4
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• pp.749-754
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• 2021

In order to solve problems such as a decrease in the agricultural population and an aging population, research on agricultural robots is being actively conducted for the purpose of automating various agricultural tasks. The harvesting process is the most labor-intensive process among farm work and this process consumes about 2-3 times more compared to other processes. Since the transport of agricultural crops requires the most labor costs and there is a risk of injury during the operation, automating the transport operation through an agricultural robot can improve safety and significantly improve productivity. Therefore, this paper proposes an agricultural robot that is optimized for farm worksites and capable of autonomous driving.

• The Journal of Asian Finance, Economics and Business
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• v.9 no.6
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• pp.11-21
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• 2022

The perspectives on aging women's financial security during their retirement years are based on their behavior, planning, and decision-making processes during their working years. Elderly women are considered vulnerable and have a longer life expectancy, lower-income, and limited financial understanding compared to males; therefore, drastic steps need to be taken to improve their financial stability and quality of life. The current study sought to determine the most important contributors to retired women's financial health by measuring the value of four factors/variables: capability, opportunity, willingness, and biopsychosocial. This study used a mixed model approach, with qualitative analysis in the first phase involving a focus group discussion session, a pilot analysis, and quantitative analysis for phase two involving the distribution and collection of questionnaires completed by retired women. The surveys were distributed across Malaysia in five distinct zones and yielded 339 usable replies to support the theory. The outcomes of the Multiple Regression Analysis in Malaysia revealed that capability, opportunity, and biopsychosocial factors are significant predictors of retired women's financial security, whereas the willingness indicator lacked statistical significance.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.64 no.4
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• pp.654-670
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• 2022

Spermatogenesis and testis development are highly structured physiological processes responsible for post-pubertal fertility in stallions. Spermatogenesis comprises spermatocytogenesis, meiosis, and spermiogenesis. Although germ cell degeneration is a continuous process, its effects are more pronounced during spermatocytogenesis and meiosis. The productivity and efficiency of spermatogenesis are directly linked to pubertal development, degenerated germ cell populations, aging, nutrition, and season of the year in stallions. The multiplex interplay of germ cells with somatic cells, endocrine and paracrine factors, growth factors, and signaling molecules contributes to the regulation of spermatogenesis. A cell-tocell communication within the testes of these factors is a fundamental requirement of normal spermatogenesis. A noteworthy development has been made recently on discovering the effects of different somatic cells including Leydig, Sertoli, and peritubular myoid cells on manipulation the fate of spermatogonial stem cells. In this review, we discuss the self-renewal, differentiation, and apoptotic roles of somatic cells and the relationship between somatic and germ cells during normal spermatogenesis. We also summarize the roles of different growth factors, their paracrine/endocrine/autocrine pathways, and the different cytokines associated with spermatogenesis. Furthermore, we highlight important matters for further studies on the regulation of spermatogenesis. This review presents an insight into the mechanism of spermatogenesis, and helpful in developing better understanding of the functions of somatic cells, particularly in stallions and would offer new research goals for developing curative techniques to address infertility/subfertility in stallions.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.105-112
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• 2023

Oxidative stress in skin cells can induce the formation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), which are critical for pathogenic processes such as immunosuppression, inflammation, and skin aging. In this study, we confirmed improvements from gamma-irradiated silk sericin (I-sericin) and gamma-irradiated silk fibroin (I-fibroin) to skin cells damaged by oxidative stress. We found that I-sericin and I-fibroin effectively attenuated oxidative stress-induced ROS generation and decreased oxidative stress-induced inflammatory factors COX-2, iNOS, tumor necrosis factor-α, and interleukin-1β compared to the use of non-irradiated sericin or fibroin. I-sericin and Ifibroin effects were balanced by competition with skin regenerative protein factors reacting to oxidative stress. Taken together, our results indicated that, compared to non-irradiated sericin or fibroin, I-sericin, and I-fibroin had anti-oxidation and antiinflammation activity and protective effects against skin cell damage from oxidative stress. Therefore, gamma-irradiation may be useful in the development of cosmetics to maintain skin health.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Grassland and Forage Science
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• v.43 no.1
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• pp.42-49
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• 2023

The plant-specific NAC transcription factors control various biological processes, including plant development and stress responses. We have isolated an ANAC032 gene, one of the NAC transcription factor family, which was highly activated by multi-abiotic stresses, including high salt and drought in Arabidopsis. Here, we generated transgenic plants constitutively expressing ANAC032 and its knockout to identify the functional roles of ANAC032 in Arabidopsis under abiotic stress responses. The ANAC032-overexpressing plants showed enhanced tolerance to salinity and drought stresses. The anac032 knockout mutants were observed no significant changes under the high salt and drought conditions. We also monitored the expression of high salt and drought stress-responsive genes in the ANAC032 transgenic plants and anac032 mutant. The ANAC032 overexpression upregulated the expression of stress-responsive genes, RD29A and ERD10, under the stresses. Thus, our data identify that transcription factor ANAC032 plays as an enhancer for salinity and drought tolerance through the upregulation of stress-responsive genes and provides useful genetic traits for generating multi-abiotic stress-tolerant forage crops.

• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• v.23 no.5
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• pp.36.1-36.16
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• 2023

Thymic epithelial cells (TECs) play a critical role in thymic development and thymopoiesis. As individuals age, TECs undergo various changes that impact their functions, leading to a reduction in cell numbers and impaired thymic selection. These age-related alterations have been observed in both mice and humans. However, the precise mechanisms underlying age-related TEC dysfunction remain unclear. Furthermore, there is a lack of a comprehensive study that connects mouse and human biological processes in this area. To address this gap, we conducted an extensive transcriptome analysis of young and old TECs in mice, complemented by further analysis of publicly available human TEC single-cell RNA sequencing data. Our analysis revealed alterations in both known and unknown pathways that potentially contribute to age-related TEC dysfunction. Specifically, we observed downregulation of pathways related to cell proliferation, T cell development, metabolism, and cytokine signaling in old age TECs. Conversely, TGF-β, BMP, and Wnt signaling pathways were upregulated, which have been known to be associated with age-related TEC dysfunctions or newly discovered in this study. Importantly, we found that these age-related changes in mouse TECs were consistently present in human TECs as well. This cross-species validation further strengthens the significance of our findings. In conclusion, our comprehensive analysis provides valuable insight into the biological and immunological characteristics of aged TECs in both mice and humans. These findings contribute to a better understanding of thymic involution and age-induced immune dysfunction.

• International Journal of Oral Biology
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• v.48 no.4
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• pp.33-44
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• 2023

In this review, the regulatory mechanisms of autophagy were described, and its interaction with apoptosis was identified. The role of autophagy in embryogenesis, tooth development, and cell differentiation were also investigated. Autophagy is regulated by various autophagy-related genes and those related to stress response. Highly active autophagy occurrences have been reported during cell differentiation before implantation after fertilization. Autophagy is involved in energy generation and supplies nutrients during early birth, essential to compensate for their deficient supply from the placenta. The contribution of autophagy during tooth development, such as the shape of the crown and root formation, ivory, and homeostasis in cells, was also observed. Genes control autophagy, and studying the role of autophagy in cell differentiation and development was useful for understanding human aging, illness, and health. In the future, the role of specific mechanisms in the development and differentiation of autophagy may increase the understanding of the pathological mechanisms of disease and development processes and is expected to reduce the treatment of various diseases by modulating the autophagic phenomenon.