• Title/Summary/Keyword: Assist system

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Effects of dietary enzyme cocktail on growth performance, intestinal morphology, and nutrient digestibility of weaned pigs

  • Kim, Yunkang;Baek, Jangryeol;Jang, Kibeom;Kim, Junsu;Kim, Sheena;Mun, Daye;Kim, Byeonghyeon;Kim, Younghwa;Park, Juncheol;Choe, Jeehwan;Song, Minho
    • Korean Journal of Agricultural Science
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    • v.44 no.4
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    • pp.513-518
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    • 2017
  • Soybean, one of most widely used swine feed component in the world, contains non-starch polysaccharides (NSP). The digestive system of weaned pigs is not yet fully developed, and thus weaned pigs cannot easily digest diets based on corn and soybean meal. Dietary exogenous enzymes supplementation has been intensively investigated to assist digestion of anti-nutritional factors, such as NSP. This experiment was conducted to investigate the effects of dietary enzyme cocktail on growth performance, intestinal morphology, and nutrient digestibility of weaned pigs. A total 36 weaned pigs ($5.92{\pm}0.48kg\;BW$; 28 d old) were randomly allotted to 2 dietary treatments (3 pigs/pen, 6 replicates/treatment) in a randomized complete block design. The dietary treatments were a typical diet based on corn and soybean meal (CON) and CON with 0.05% enzyme cocktail (Cocktail; mixture of xylanase, ${\alpha}-amylase$, protease, ${\beta}-glucanase$, and pectinase). Pigs were fed their respective diets for 6 wk. Growth performance, morphology of ileum, apparent ileal digestibility (AID) and apparent total tract digestibility (ATTD) of dry matter, crude protein, and energy of weaned pigs were measured. No significant differences (p > 0.05) were observed for growth performance for the duration of the experimental period, and morphology of ileum, and nutrient digestibility between CON and Cocktail treatment groups. Therefore, the results from the current study indicated that enzyme cocktail supplementation in diets had no influence on growth performance, intestinal morphology, and nutrient digestibility of weaned pigs.

Effects of all-trans retinoic acid on expression of Toll-like receptor 5 on immune cells (All-trans retinoic acid가 면역세포의 Toll-like receptor 5 발현에 미치는 영향)

  • Kim, Ki-Hyung;Park, Sang-Jun
    • Journal of the Korean Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons
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    • v.36 no.6
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    • pp.481-489
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    • 2010
  • Introduction: TLR-5, a member of the toll-like receptor (TLR) family, is a element of the type I transmembrane receptors, which are characterized by an intracellular signaling domain homolog to the interleukin-1 receptor. These receptors recognize microbial components, particularly bacterial flagellin. All-trans retinoic acid (atRA, tretinoin), a natural metabolite of vitamin A, acts as a growth and differentiation factor in many tissues, and is also needed for immune functions. In this study, THP-1 human macrophage-monocytes were used to examine the mechanisms by which atRA regulated the expression of TLR-5. Because the molecular mechanism underlying this regulation at the transcriptional level is also unclear, this study examined which putative transcription factors are responsible for TLR-5 expression by atRA in immune cells. Materials and Methods: This study examined whether atRA induces the expression of TLR-5 in THP-1 cells using reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), and which transcription factors are involved in regulating the TLR-5 promoter in RAW264.7 cells using a reporter assay system. Western blot analysis was used to determine which signal pathway is involved in the expression of TLR-5 in atRA-treated THP-1 cells. Results: atRA at a concentration of 10 nM greatly induced the expression of TLR-5 in THP-1 cells. Human TLR-5 promoter contains three Sp-1/GC binding sites around -50 bp and two NF-kB binding sites at -380 bp and -160 bp from the transcriptional start site of the TLR-5 gene. Sp-1/GC is primarily responsible for the constitutive TLR-5 expression, and may also contribute to NF-kB at -160 bp to induce TLR-5 after atRA stimulation in THP-1 cells. The role of NF-kB in TLR-5 expression was further confirmed by inhibitor pyrrolidine dithiocarbamate (PDTC) experiments, which greatly reduced the TLR-5 transcription by 70-80%. Conclusion: atRA induces the expression of the human TLR-5 gene and NF-kB is a critical transcription factor for the atRA-induced expression of TLR-5. Accordingly, it is conceivable that retinoids are required for adequate innate and adaptive immune responses to agents of infectious diseases. atRA and various synthetic retinoids have been used therapeutically in human diseases, such as leukemia and other cancers due to the antiproliferative and apoptosis inducing effects of retinoids. Therefore, understanding the molecular regulatory mechanism of TLR-5 may assist in the design of alternative strategies for the treatment of infectious diseases, leukemia and cancers.

A study on maneuverability evaluation by the research vessel JERA (조사선 제라호의 조종성능 평가에 관한 연구)

  • LEE, Chang-Heon;AHN, Jang-Young;KIM, Suk-Jong;KIM, Min-Son;CHOI, Chan-Moon
    • Journal of the Korean Society of Fisheries and Ocean Technology
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    • v.53 no.2
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    • pp.177-186
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    • 2017
  • This study is intended to provide navigator with specific information necessary to assist in the avoidance of collision and in operation of ships to evaluate the maneuverability of research vessel Jera. Authors carried out full-scale sea trials for turning test, zig-zag test, and spiral test at actual sea-going condition, which were performed on starboard and port sides with 10-20 rudder angle at service speed of 10 knots. The turning circle was much different at both of the turning of port and starboard which was longer at the starboard than at the port. In the zig-zag test results, the port and starboard was $10^{\circ}$ the first and second overshoot angles were $6.0^{\circ}$, $5.8^{\circ}$ and $6.3^{\circ}$, $7.1^{\circ}$ respectively and the first overshoot angles were $16.4^{\circ}$, $17.6^{\circ}$ when using $20^{\circ}$. Her maneuverability index T and N can be easily determined by using an analogue computer with the data obtained from the zig-zag tests where K is a constant representing the turning ability and T is a constant representing her quick response. In the zig-zag tests under $10^{\circ}$ or $20^{\circ}$ at rudder angle, the value K is 0.149. 0.123 sec- and T is 11.853 and 6.193 sec and angular velocity is $0.937^{\circ}/sec$ and $1.636^{\circ}/sec$. In the spiral test, the loop width was unstable at $+0.51^{\circ}$ and $-1.19^{\circ}$ around the midship of rudder, but the tangent line at $0^{\circ}$ was close to vertical. From the sea trial results, we found that she did comply with the present criterion in the standards of maneuverability of IMO.

Development of a Hospital Service-based Costing System and Its Application (병원서비스별 원가분석모형의 개발과 적용)

  • 박하영
    • Health Policy and Management
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    • v.5 no.2
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    • pp.35-69
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    • 1995
  • The managerial environment of hospitals in Korea characterized by low levels of medical insurance fees is worsening by increasing government regulations as to the utilization of medical services, rising costs of labor, material, and medical equipments, growing patient expectations concerning the quality of services, and escalating competitions among large hospitals in the market. Hospitals should seek for their survival strategies in this harsh environment and they should have information about costs of their products in doing so. However, it has not been available due to the complexity of the production process of hospital services. The objectives of this study were to develop a service-based cost accounting model and to apply the developed model to a study hospital to obtain cost information of hospital services. A model commonly used for the job-order product cost accounting in the manufacturing industry was modified for the use in hospitals in Korea. Actual costs, instead of standard costs, incurred to produce a unit of services during a given period of time were estimated in the model. Data required to implement the model included financial information, statistics for the allocation of supportive cost center costs to final cost centers, statistics for the allocation of final cost center costs to services, and the volume of each services charged to patients during a study period. The model was executed using data of a university teaching hospital located in Seoul for the fiscal year 1992. Data for financial information, allocation statistics fo supportive service costs, and the volume of services, most of them in electronic form, were available to the study. Data for allocation statistics of final cost center costs were collected in the study. There were 15 types of evaluation and management service, 2, 923 types of technical service, and 2, 608 types of drug and material service charged to patients in the study hospital during the fiscal year 1992. Labor costs of each of seven types of pesonnel, material costs of 611 types of drugs and materials, and depreciation costs of 212 types of medical equipments, miscellaneous costs, and indirect costs incurred in producing a unit of each services were estimated. Medical insurance fees for basic services such as evaluation and management of inpatients and outpatients, injection, and filling prescriptions, and for operating procedures were found to be set lower than costs. Infrequent services which use expensive medical equipments showed negative revenuse as well. On the other hand, fees for services not covered by the insurance such as CT, MRI and Sonogram, and for laboratory tests were higher than costs. This study has a significance in making it possible for a hospital to obtain cost information for all types of services which produced income based on all types of expenses incurred during a given period of time. This information can assist the management of a hospital in finding an effective cost reduction strategy, an efficient service-mix strategy under a given fee structure, and an optimum strategy for within-hospital resource allocations.

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Traumatic Disc Injuries and the Iatrogenic Spinal Disability (외상성 추간판 손상과 의원성 척추장애인 만들기)

  • Lee, Kyeong-Seok;Doh, Jae-Won;Yoon, Seok-Mann;Bae, Hack-Gun;Yun, Il-Gyu
    • Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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    • v.29 no.7
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    • pp.935-939
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    • 2000
  • Objective : Traumatic disc lesion is a lesion with tremendous controversies. The causal relationships of this lesion are not established along with pathogenesis, diagnostic criteria, methods of treatment and the outcome. However, a significant number of patients with back pain after a trauma underwent spinal operations under the diagnosis of traumatic disc lesions. Such an ill-directed operation eventually produce a person with an iatrogenic disability. We present two illustrative cases, and tried to make a preventive method. Methods : We examined the path from mild trauma after a road traffic accident into the iatrogenic disability in two illustrative cases, who requested disability assessment and medical appraisement. We evaluated the reason and background for such an unwanted outcome and tried to find a method to reduce or prevent it by a literature review. Results : These two patients were admitted to the hospital with the diagnosis of lumbar sprain after a road traffic accidents. They eventually underwent spinal surgery under another diagnosis such as traumatic disc herniation or internal disc disruption. They stayed at the hospital for more than six months and finally lost their jobs. They became the disabled at last. Although they complained back pain, they never insisted by themselves that their symptoms were due to the traumatic disc lesion. To prevent such an iatrogenic disability, the doctors should assist them to go-back to the workplace promptly instead of a reckless extension of the treatment period. It may be necessary to evaluate the certificates to extend the treatment period with an additional diagnosis by a medical expert. To reduce the unnecessary long-term admission, a new billing system such as a partial share for the high cost of the treatment by the patients may be needed. Conclusion : It is not the patient but the doctors, who has the responsibility to avoid the unnecessary operations. All treating doctors should try to reduce or prevent such an iatrogenic complication caused by ourselves before we are forced to do so.

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Development of Collision Scenario-Based Evaluation System for the Cognitive Performance of Marine Officers (충돌시나리오 기반의 항해사 인지능력 평가시스템 개발)

  • Kim, Hong-Tae;Barentt, Mike;Yang, Won-Jae
    • Journal of Navigation and Port Research
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    • v.31 no.8
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    • pp.629-635
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    • 2007
  • Reduced crew performance is frequently cited as a major causal factor in maritime accident causation. Although considerable research has been conducted on the hours of work undertaken by seafarers through interviews and the analysis of records, experimental studies to observe the effects of factors such as high workload, shift patterns, stress, sleep deprivation and disturbance on the cognitive performance of mariners have been limited. Other safety-critical transport industries, such as aviation and rail, have developed fatigue management tools to help manage the work patterns of their operators. Such a tool for mariners would assist shipboard crew, marine pilots and shore management in planning and improving work schedules. The overall aim of this paper is to determine a fatigue factor, which can be applied to human performance data, as part of a software program that calculates total cognitive performance. This program enables us to establish the levels of cognitive performance of a group of marine pilots to test a decision-making task based on radar information. This paper addresses one of the factors that may contribute to the determination of various fatigue factors: the effect of different work patterns on the cognitive performance of a marine pilot.

Study of Registry Designing for the Hydrographic Data Standard Technology Operation (수로정보 표준기술 운용을 위한 등록소 설계 연구)

  • Kim, Ho-Yoon;Oh, Se-Woong;Shim, Woo-Sung;Suh, Sang-Hyun
    • Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Navigation and Port Research Conference
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    • 2012.06a
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    • pp.87-88
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    • 2012
  • The IHO developed the S-100 standard for Digital Hydrographic Data in order to assist the proper and efficient use of hydrographic data and information for the safety of navigation and the protection of marine environment. The former model, S-57, was considered outdated to be utilized as the basis for the next-generation Electronic Chart(ENC) product specification. The key feature of the S-100 standard is the use of Registry and its components, Registers. This online-based Registry provides a universal standard that can be implemented in the actual performance of the navigation system with convenience. In the current situation, the only registry is owned by the IHO and it is available to domain experts. However, since S-100 is an international standard operated by an international organization, the process of the changes and updates of the data requires time before immediate implementation when demanded. Therefore, regarding the safety of navigation of the domestic users and mariners, a separate domestic registry is necessary to develop a domestic Information Registry. This study specifically aims to build a Registry based on IHO published S-99 through designing an adequate website dedicated for its purpose to provide collection of definitions and hydrographic data.

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A Semantic-Based Mashup Development Tool Supporting Various Open API Types (다양한 Open API 타입들을 지원하는 시맨틱 기반 매쉬업 개발 툴)

  • Lee, Yong-Ju
    • Journal of Internet Computing and Services
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    • v.13 no.3
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    • pp.115-126
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    • 2012
  • Mashups have become very popular over the last few years, and their use also varies for IT convergency services. In spite of their popularity, there are several challenging issues when combining Open APIs into mashups, First, since portal sites may have a large number of APIs available for mashups, manually searching and finding compatible APIs can be a tedious and time-consuming task. Second, none of the existing portal sites provides a way to leverage semantic techniques that have been developed to assist users in locating and integrating APIs like those seen in traditional SOAP-based web services. Third, although suitable APIs have been discovered, the integration of these APIs is required for in-depth programming knowledge. To solve these issues, we first show that existing techniques and algorithms used for finding and matching SOAP-based web services can be reused, with only minor changes. Next, we show how the characteristics of APIs can be syntactically defined and semantically described, and how to use the syntactic and semantic descriptions to aid the easy discovery and composition of Open APIs. Finally, we propose a goal-directed interactive approach for the dynamic composition of APIs, where the final mashup is gradually generated by a forward chaining of APIs. At each step, a new API is added to the composition.

Analysis on the Assist Characteristics for the Knee Extension Motion of Lower Limb Orthosis Using Muscular Stiffness Force Feedback (근육 강성도 힘 피드백을 이용한 하지 보조기의 무릎 신전 운동 보조 특성 분석)

  • Kim, K.;Kang, S.R.;Jeong, G.Y.;Joo, S.J.;Kim, N.G.;Kwon, T.K.
    • Journal of Biomedical Engineering Research
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    • v.31 no.3
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    • pp.217-226
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    • 2010
  • The lower limb orthosis with a pneumatic rubber actuator, which is intended for the assistance and the enhancement of muscular activities of lower limbs was developed in this study. Compared to other knee extension assistive devices being developed by other researchers, our device is designed especially for the elderly people and intended only for slight assistance so that the subjects can keep their muscular strength. For the effectiveness of system, muscular activities of major muscles in lower limbs during sit-to-stand (STS) and squat motion were measured and analyzed. Subjects were performed the STS and squat motion with and without lower limb orthosis. We made comparison muscular activities between with and without lower limb orthosis. Lower limb orthosis was controlled using muscular stiffness force feedback that is controlled by muscular activities of the measured muscle from force sensor. For analysis of muscular activities, electromyography of the subjects was measured during STS and squat motion, and these were measured using MP 150(BIOPAC Systems, Inc.). Muscles of interest were rectus femoris(RF), vastus lateralis(VL), vastus medialis(VM) and vastus intermedius(VI) muscles in lower limbs of the right side. A biodex dynamometer was used to measure the maximal concentric isokinetic strength of the knee extensors of wearing and not wearing orthosis on right side. The test were performed using the concentric isokinetic mode of test with the velocity set at 60°/s for muscles around the knee joints. The experimental result showed that muscular activities in lower limbs wearing orthosis using muscular stiffness force of a vastus medialis muscle was reduced and knee extension torque of an knee joint wearing lower limb orthosis was increased. With this, we confirmed the effectiveness of the developed lower limb orthosis.

The Salt Removal Efficiency Characteristics of Carbon Electrodes Using Fabric Current Collector with High Tensile Strength in a Capacitive Deionization Process (인장강도가 뛰어난 직물집전체를 이용한 탄소전극의 축전식 탈염공정에서의 제염효과)

  • Seong, Du-Ri;Kim, Dae Su
    • Korean Chemical Engineering Research
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    • v.58 no.3
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    • pp.466-473
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    • 2020
  • Fabric current collector can be a promising electrode material for Capacitive Deionization (CDI) system that can achieve energy-efficient desalination of water. The one of the most attractive feature of the fabric current collector is its high tensile strength, which can be an alternative to the low mechanical strength of the graphite foil electrode. Another advantage is that the textile properties can easily make shapes by simple cutting, and the porosity and inter-fiber space which can assist facile flow of the aqueous medium. The fibers used in this study were made of woven structures using a spinning yarn using conductive LM fiber and carbon fiber, with tensile strength of 319 MPa, about 60 times stronger than graphite foil. The results were analyzed by measuring the salt removal efficiency by changing the viscosity of electrode slurry, adsorption voltage, flow rate of the aqueous medium, and concentration of the aqueous medium. Under the conditions of NaCl 200 mg/L, 20ml/min and adsorption voltage 1.5 V, salt removal efficiency of 43.9% in unit cells and 59.8% in modules stacked with 100 cells were shown, respectively. In unit cells, salt removal efficiency increases as the adsorption voltage increase to 1.3, 1.4 and 1.5 V. However, increasing to 1.6 and 1.7 V reduced salt removal efficiency. However, the 100-cell-stacked module showed a moderate increase in salt removal efficiency even at voltages above 1.5 V. The salt removal rate decreased when the flow rate of the feed was increased, and the salt removal rate decreased when the concentration of the feed was increased. This work shows that fabric current collector can be an alternative of a graphite foil.