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Antidiabetic and Beta Cell-Protection Activities of Purple Corn Anthocyanins

  • Hong, Su Hee;Heo, Jee-In;Kim, Jeong-Hyeon;Kwon, Sang-Oh;Yeo, Kyung-Mok;Bakowska-Barczak, Anna M.;Kolodziejczyk, Paul;Ryu, Ok-Hyun;Choi, Moon-Ki;Kang, Young-Hee;Lim, Soon Sung;Suh, Hong-Won;Huh, Sung-Oh;Lee, Jae-Yong
    • Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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    • v.21 no.4
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    • pp.284-289
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    • 2013
  • Antidiabetic and beta cell-protection activities of purple corn anthocyanins (PCA) were examined in pancreatic beta cell culture and db/db mice. Only PCA among several plant anthocyanins and polyphenols showed insulin secretion activity in culture of HIT-T15 cells. PCA had excellent antihyperglycemic activity (in terms of blood glucose level and OGTT) and HbA1c-decreasing activity when compared with glimepiride, a sulfonylurea in db/db mice. In addition, PCA showed efficient protection activity of pancreatic beta cell from cell death in HIT-T15 cell culture and db/db mice. The result showed that PCA had antidiabetic and beta cell-protection activities in pancreatic beta cell culture and db/db mice.

Human Body Mechanics of Pushing and Pulling: Analyzing the Factors of Task-related Strain on the Musculoskeletal System

  • Argubi-Wollesen, Andreas;Wollesen, Bettina;Leitner, Martin;Mattes, Klaus
    • Safety and Health at Work
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    • v.8 no.1
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    • pp.11-18
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    • 2017
  • The purpose of this review is to name and describe the important factors of musculoskeletal strain originating from pushing and pulling tasks such as cart handling that are commonly found in industrial contexts. A literature database search was performed using the research platform Web of Science. For a study to be included in this review differences in measured or calculated strain had to be investigated with regard to: (1) cart weight/ load; (2) handle position and design; (3) exerted forces; (4) handling task (push and pull); or (5) task experience. Thirteen studies met the inclusion criteria and proved to be of adequate methodological quality by the standards of the Alberta Heritage Foundation for Medical Research. External load or cart weight proved to be the most influential factor of strain. The ideal handle positions ranged from hip to shoulder height and were dependent on the strain factor that was focused on as well as the handling task. Furthermore, task experience and subsequently handling technique were also key to reducing strain. Workplace settings that regularly involve pushing and pulling should be checked for potential improvements with regards to lower weight of the loaded handling device, handle design, and good practice guidelines to further reduce musculoskeletal disease prevalence.

Real-time Fault Diagnosis of Induction Motor Using Clustering and Radial Basis Function (클러스터링과 방사기저함수 네트워크를 이용한 실시간 유도전동기 고장진단)

  • Park, Jang-Hwan;Lee, Dae-Jong;Chun, Myung-Geun
    • Journal of the Korean Institute of Illuminating and Electrical Installation Engineers
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    • v.20 no.6
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    • pp.55-62
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    • 2006
  • For the fault diagnosis of three-phase induction motors, we construct a experimental unit and then develop a diagnosis algorithm based on pattern recognition. The experimental unit consists of machinery module for induction motor drive and data acquisition module to obtain the fault signal. As the first step for diagnosis procedure, preprocessing is performed to make the acquired current simplified and normalized. To simplify the data, three-phase current is transformed into the magnitude of Concordia vector. As the next step, feature extraction is performed by kernel principal component analysis(KPCA) and linear discriminant analysis(LDA). Finally, we used the classifier based on radial basis function(RBF) network. To show the effectiveness, the proposed diagnostic system has been intensively tested with the various data acquired under different electrical and mechanical faults with varying load.

Miniscrew insertion sites of infrazygomatic crest and mandibular buccal shelf in different vertical craniofacial patterns: A cone-beam computed tomography study

  • Matias, Murilo;Flores-Mir, Carlos;de Almeida, Marcio Rodrigues;da Silva Vieira, Bruno;de Freitas, Karina Maria Salvatore;Nunes, Daniela Calabrese;Ferreira, Marcos Cezar;Ursi, Weber
    • The korean journal of orthodontics
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    • v.51 no.6
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    • pp.387-396
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    • 2021
  • Objective: To identify optimal areas for the insertion of extra-alveolar miniscrews into the infrazygomatic crest (IZC) and mandibular buccal shelf (MBS), using cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) imaging in patients with different craniofacial patterns. Methods: CBCT reconstructions of untreated individuals were used to evaluate the IZC and MBS areas. The participants were divided into three groups, based on the craniofacial pattern, namely, brachyfacial (n = 15; mean age, 23.3 years), mesofacial (n = 15; mean age, 19.24 years), and dolichofacial (n = 15; mean age, 17.79 years). In the IZC, the evaluated areas were at 11, 13, and 15 mm above the buccal cusp tips of the right and left first molars. In the MBS, the evaluated areas were at the projections of the first molars' distal roots and second molars' mesial and distal roots, at a 4- and 8-mm distance from the cementoenamel junction. Intergroup comparisons were performed with analysis of variance and the Tukey test. Results: There was no statistically significant difference in the IZC bone thickness among the groups. For MBS bone availability, some comparisons revealed no difference; meanwhile, other comparisons revealed increased MBS bone thickness in the brachyfacial (first molars distal roots) and dolichofacial (second molars mesial and distal roots) patterns. Conclusions: There was no significant difference in the IZC bone thickness among the groups. The facial skeletal pattern may affect the availability of ideal bone thickness for the insertion of extra-alveolar miniscrews in the MBS region; however, this variability is unlikely to be clinically meaningful.

Experimental Study for Thermal Characteristics of Frozen Soil Samples (동토 시료의 열적 특성 분석을 위한 실험적 연구)

  • Sewon, Kim;Sangyeong, Park;Jongmuk, Won;YoungSeok, Kim
    • Journal of the Korean Geosynthetics Society
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    • v.21 no.4
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    • pp.31-40
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    • 2022
  • Recently, the Arctic resource development project, where undeveloped energy resources (oil, natural gas, etc.) are deposited, is actively being promoted for the perspective of diversifying the construction market and developing future energy resources. However, the frozen ground always has problems such as sinking and frost-heaving due to extreme weather. Therefore, it is necessary to analyze the thermal characteristics of the frozen soil to secure the stability of the ground structure. In this study, a series of laboratory tests were performed to evaluated the thermal characteristics of frozen soil samples in the oil sand field in Alberta, Canada. In additon, it was compared with the results of domestic(Gangwond-do) sample performed under the same conditions. As a comparison results of the experiments, it was clarified that the different frozen water content and thermal conductivity characteristics by temperature after completion of freezing could affect the frozen soil behavior.

Modeling Direct Shear Test of Crushed Stone Using DEM (개별요소법을 이용한 쇄석재료의 직접전단시험 모델링)

  • Cho, Nam-Kak;Yoo, Chung-Sik;Lee, Dae-Young
    • Journal of the Korean Geotechnical Society
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    • v.24 no.1
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    • pp.15-23
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    • 2008
  • In this study, modeling shear characteristics of a coarse material mainly containing crushed stones were implemented using PFC2D, a commercially available code based on DEM(Discrete Element Method). Using the DEM code, this study provides the methodology considering the shear characteristics due to a irregular grain shape, GSD(Grain Size Distribution) and porosity of coarse material which are not effectively incorporated in conventional continuum numerical codes. Direct shear test was simulated for the GSD and porosity generated sample using the code and the simulated results showed very good agreement with the laboratory test results. The current modeling approach can be applied to other coarse materials having various GSD and porosities. Using such application, prediction of the strength characteristics of coarse material in field scale would be possible, which is limited in laboratory scale so far.

Estimation of Rivers Discharge by Probabilistic Velocity Function Considering Hydraulic Characteristics (하천 수리특성을 고려한 확률론적 유속공식에 의한 하천유량 산정)

  • Choo, Tai Ho;Lee, Sang Jin;Park, Sang Woo;Oh, Ryun Su
    • KSCE Journal of Civil and Environmental Engineering Research
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    • v.29 no.6B
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    • pp.537-542
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    • 2009
  • To improve stage-discharge curve equation considering water level's function, this study suggested the method that can efficiently compute rivers discharge based on hydraulic characteristics such as river width, area, channel bed slope and entropy concept adopting probabilistic approach. This scheme is proposed to estimate discharge from the velocity formulation based on the entropy function in the equilibrium state derived from the relation between mean and maximum flow velocity. It has been tested using field and laboratory hydraulic data collected from the Alberta university in Canada. As a result it was found that the method proposed in this study was more efficient and accurate comparing with the traditional stage-discharge curve equation.

DYNAMIC ANALYSIS OF ATTENDANCE BEHAVIOR WITHIN CONSTRUCTION CREWS

  • Seungjun Ahn;Sungjoo Hwang;SangHyun Lee;Ian R. Gellatly;Moonseo Park
    • International conference on construction engineering and project management
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    • 2013.01a
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    • pp.539-545
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    • 2013
  • Although individual-level factors (e.g., attitudes, personality) have long been associated with day-to-day attendance decisions, increasingly researchers have recognized "the social nature of attendance dynamics and their susceptibility to social control (Johns, 2008)." Implications of this social approach for research would be to focus attention on the causes and effects of absence culture (i.e., absence-related perceptions, beliefs, values), and the effects of absence culture on individual and group attendance within social units. Construction projects typically require workers to work in teams or crews on highly interdependent projects, and, thus, are particularly relevant contexts to study absence culture. In this paper we apply a system dynamics (SD) model to study absence culture by utilizing the advantages of SD in capturing a feedback process and state changes. We were particularly interested in: (a) the awareness of social norms within construction crews that pertained to attendance, (b) the interplay between formal attendance rules (policy) and these social norms, and (c) how these sources of influence affected the decision-making process of construction crew members. We expect that the results of this work will help construction organizations evaluate (or re-consider) the effects of their attendance control policies (e.g., timing, strength, and frequency) within a social context. Moreover, our findings suggest that the key to reducing excessive absences might be to invest time in influencing absence culture directly rather than imposing frequent and strict regulations - which, in turn, may inadvertently fortify a culture that works against the organization's interests.

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Predictors of Catastrophic Outcome after Endovascular Thrombectomy in Elderly Patients with Acute Anterior Circulation Stroke

  • Younsu Ahn;Seul Kee Kim;Byung Hyun Baek;Yun Young Lee;Hyo-jae Lee;Woong Yoon
    • Korean Journal of Radiology
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    • v.21 no.1
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    • pp.101-107
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    • 2020
  • Objective: Avoiding a catastrophic outcome may be a more realistic goal than achieving functional independence in the treatment of acute stroke in octogenarians. This study aimed to investigate predictors of catastrophic outcome in elderly patients after an endovascular thrombectomy with an acute anterior circulation large vessel occlusion (LVO). Materials and Methods: Data from 82 patients aged ≥ 80 years, who were treated with thrombectomy for acute anterior circulation LVO, were analyzed. The association between clinical/imaging variables and catastrophic outcomes was assessed. A catastrophic outcome was defined as a modified Rankin Scale score of 4-6 at 90 days. Results: Successful reperfusion was achieved in 61 patients (74.4%), while 47 patients (57.3%) had a catastrophic outcome. The 90-day mortality rate of the treated patients was 15.9% (13/82). The catastrophic outcome group had a significantly lower baseline diffusion-weighted imaging-Alberta stroke program early CT score (DWI-ASPECTS) (7 vs. 8, p = 0.014) and a longer procedure time (42 minutes vs. 29 minutes, p = 0.031) compared to the non-catastrophic outcome group. Successful reperfusion was significantly less frequent in the catastrophic outcome group (63.8% vs. 88.6%, p = 0.011) compared to the non-catastrophic outcome group. In a binary logistic regression analysis, DWI-ASPECTS (odds ratio [OR], 0.709; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.524-0.960; p = 0.026) and successful reperfusion (OR, 0.242; 95% CI, 0.071-0.822; p = 0.023) were independent predictors of a catastrophic outcome. Conclusion: Baseline infarct size and reperfusion status were independently associated with a catastrophic outcome after endovascular thrombectomy in elderly patients aged ≥ 80 years with acute anterior circulation LVO.

Egg Antibody Farming and IgY Technology for Food and Biomedical Applications (식품과 생의학을 위한 계란 항체생산과 IgY 기술의 활용)

  • Sim, Jeong S.;Sunwoo, Hoon H.
    • Proceedings of the Korea Society of Poultry Science Conference
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    • 2003.07b
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    • pp.37-54
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    • 2003
  • It has been recognized that the hen. like its mammalian counterparts. provides young chicks with antibodies as protection against hostile invaders. This system facilitates the transfer of specific antibodies from serum to egg yolk. and provides a supply of antibodies called immunoglobulin Y(IgY) to the developing embryo and the hatched chick. The protection against pathogens that the relatively immuno-incompetent newly hatched chick has. is through transmission of antibodies from the mother via the egg. Egg yolk. therefore. can be loaded with a large amount of IgY against pathogens which can immobilize the existing or invading pathogens during the embryo development or in day-old chicks. Thus. the immunization of laying hens to various pathogens results in production of different antigen-specific IgY in eggs. Egg yolk contains 8~20 mg of immunoglobulins (IgY) per $m\ell$ or 136~340 mg per yolk suggesting that more than 30 g of IgY can be obtained from one immunized hen in a year. By immunizing laying hens with antigens and collecting IgY from egg yolk. low cost antibodies at less than $10 per g compared to more than $20.000 per g of mammalian IgG can be obtained. This IgY technology opens new potential market applications in medicine. public health veterinary medicine and food safety. A broader use of IgY technology could be applied as biological or diagnostic tool. nut-raceutical or functional food development. oral-supplementation for prophylaxis. and as pathogen-specific antimicrobial agents for infectious disease control. This paper has emphasized that when IgY-loaded chicken eggs are produced and consumed. the specific antibody binds. immobilizes and consequently reduces or inhibits the growth or colony forming abilities of microbial pathogens. This concept could serve as an alternative agent to replace the use of antibiotics. since today. more and more antibiotics are less effective in the treatment of infections. due to the emergence of drug-resistant bacteria.

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