• Corrosion Science and Technology
• /
• v.23 no.2
• /
• pp.131-138
• /
• 2024

This paper introduces Primetals Technologies' Through-Process Optimization (TPO) Services and Through-Process Quality Control (TPQC) System, which integrate domain knowledge, software, and automation expertise to assist steel producers in achieving operational excellence. TPQC collects high-resolution process and product data from the entire production route, providing visualizations and facilitating quality assurance. It also enables the application of artificial intelligence techniques to optimize processes, accelerate steel grade development, and enhance product quality. The main objective of TPO is to grow and digitize operational know-how, increase profitability, and better meet customer needs. The paper describes the contribution of these systems to achieving operational excellence, with a focus on quality assurance. Transparent and traceable production data is used for manual and automatic quality evaluation, resulting in product quality status and guiding the product disposition process. Deviation management is supported by rule-based and AI-based assistants, along with monitoring, alarming, and reporting functions ensuring early recognition of deviations. Embedded root cause proposals and their corrective and compensatory actions facilitate decision support to maintain product quality. Quality indicators and predictive quality models further enhance the efficiency of the quality assurance process. Utilizing the quality assurance software package, TPQC acts as a "one-truth" platform for product quality key players.

• Proceedings of the Korean Statistical Society Conference
• /
• 2004.11a
• /
• pp.179-184
• /
• 2004

Statistical process control (SPC) and engineering process control (EPC) are based on different strategies for process quality improvement. SPC reduces process variability by detecting and eliminating special causes of process variation, while EPC reduces process variability by adjusting compensatory variables to keep the quality variable close to target. Recently there has been need for an integrated process control (IPC) procedure which combines the two strategies. This article considers a scheme that simultaneously applies SPC and EPC techniques to reduce the variation of a process. The process disturbance model under consideration is an IMA(1,1) model with a location shift. The EPC part of the scheme adjusts the process, while the SPC part of the scheme detects the occurrence of a special cause. For adjusting the process repeated adjustment is applied by compensating the predicted deviation from target. For detecting special causes the two kinds of exponentially weighted moving average (EWMA) control chart are applied to the observed deviations: One for detecting location shift and the other for detecting increment of variability. It was assumed that the adjustment of the process under the presence of a special cause may change any of the process parameters as well as the system gain. The effectiveness of the IPC scheme is evaluated in the context of the average cost per unit time (ACU) during the operation of the scheme. One major objective of this article is to investigate the effects of the process parameters to the ACU. Another major objective is to give a practical guide for the efficient selection of the parameters of the two EWMA control charts.

• Physical Therapy Korea
• /
• v.31 no.1
• /
• pp.72-78
• /
• 2024

Background: Limitations of shoulder range of motion (ROM), particularly shoulder internal rotation (SIR), are commonly associated with musculoskeletal disorders in both the general population and athletes. The limitation can result in connective tissue lesions such as superior labrum tears and symptoms such as rotator cuff tears and shoulder impingement syndrome. Maintaining the center of rotation of the glenohumeral joint during SIR can be challenging due to the compensatory scapulothoracic movement and anterior displacement of the humeral head. Therefore, observing the path of the instantaneous center of rotation (PICR) using the olecranon as a marker during SIR may provide valuable insights into understanding the dynamics of the shoulder joint. Objects: The aim of the study was to compare the displacement of the olecranon to measure the rotation control of the humeral head during SIR in individuals with and without restricted SIR ROM. Methods: Twenty-four participants with and without restricted SIR ROM participated in this study. The displacement of olecranon was measured during the shoulder internal rotation control test (SIRCT) using a Kinovea (ver. 0.8.15, Kinovea), the 2-dimensional marker tracking analysis system. An independent t-test was used to compare the horizontal and vertical displacement of the olecranon marker between individuals with and without restricted SIR ROM. The statistical significance was set at p < 0.05. Results: Vertical displacement of the olecranon was significantly greater in the restricted SIR group than in the control group (p < 0.05). However, no significant difference was observed in the horizontal displacement of the olecranon (p > 0.05). Conclusion: The findings of this study indicated that individuals with restricted SIR ROM had significantly greater vertical displacement of the olecranon. The results suggest that the limitation of SIR ROM may lead to difficulty in rotation control of the humeral head.

• Molecules and Cells
• /
• v.43 no.10
• /
• pp.870-879
• /
• 2020

Dendrites require precise and timely delivery of protein substrates to distal areas to ensure the correct morphology and function of neurons. Many of these protein substrates are supplied in the form of ribonucleoprotein (RNP) complex consisting of RNA-binding proteins (RBPs) and mRNAs, which are subsequently translated in distal dendritic areas. It remains elusive, however, whether key RBPs supply mRNA according to local demands individually or in a coordinated manner. In this study, we investigated how Drosophila sensory neurons respond to the dysregulation of a disease-associated RBP, Ataxin-2 (ATX2), which leads to dendritic defects. We found that ATX2 plays a crucial role in spacing dendritic branches for the optimal dendritic receptive fields in Drosophila class IV dendritic arborization (C4da) neurons, where both expression level and subcellular location of ATX2 contribute significantly to this effect. We showed that translational upregulation through the expression of eukaryotic translation initiation factor 4E (eIF4E) further enhanced the ATX2-induced dendritic phenotypes. Additionally, we found that the expression level of another disease-associated RBP, fragile X mental retardation protein (FMRP), decreased in both cell bodies and dendrites when neurons were faced with aberrant upregulation of ATX2. Finally, we revealed that the PAM2 motif of ATX2, which mediates its interaction with poly(A)-binding protein (PABP), is potentially necessary for the decrease of FMRP in certain neuronal stress conditions. Collectively, our data suggest that dysregulation of RBPs triggers a compensatory regulation of other functionally-overlapping RBPs to minimize RBP dysregulation-associated aberrations that hinder neuronal homeostasis in dendrites.

• Reproductive and Developmental Biology
• /
• v.33 no.3
• /
• pp.163-169
• /
• 2009

Many biological systems are regulated by an intricate set of feedback loops that oscillate with a circadian rhythm of roughly 24 h. This circadian clock mediates an increase in body temperature, heart rate, blood pressure, and cortisol secretion early in the day. Recent studies have shown changes in the amplitude of the circadian clock in the hearts and livers of streptozotocin (STZ)-treated rats. It is therefore important to examine the relationships between circadian clock genes and growth factors and their effects on diabetic phenomena in animal models as well as in human patients. In this study, we sought to determine whether diurnal variation in organ development and the regulation of metabolism, including growth and development during the juvenile period in rats, exists as a mechanism for anticipating and responding to the environment. Also, we examined the relationship between changes in growth factor expression in the liver and clock-controlled protein synthesis and turnover, which are important in cellular growth. Specifically, we assessed the expression patterns of several clock genes, including Per1, Per2, Clock, Bmal1, Cry1 and Cry2 and growth factors such as insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-1 and -2 and transforming growth factor (TGF)-${\beta}1$ in rats with STZ-induced diabetes. Growth factor and clock gene expression in the liver at 1 week post-induction was clearly increased compared to the level in control rats. In contrast, the expression patterns of the genes were similar to those observed after 5 weeks in the STZ-treated rats. The increase in gene expression is likely a compensatory change in response to the obstruction of insulin function during the initial phase of induction. However, as the period of induction was extended, the expression of the compensatory genes decreased to the control level. This is likely the result of decreased insulin secretion due to the destruction of beta cells in the pancreas by STZ.

• Laboraroty Animal Research
• /
• v.34 no.4
• /
• pp.176-184
• /
• 2018

In this study, we observed chronological changes in the immunoreactivity and expression level of myelin basic protein (MBP), one of the most abundant proteins in the central nervous system, in the hippocampus of Zucker diabetic fatty (ZDF) rats and their control littermates (Zucker lean control; ZLC). In the ZLC group, body weight steadily increased with age; the body weight of the ZDF group, however, peaked at 30 weeks of age, and subsequently decreased. Based on the changes of body weight, animals were divided into the following six groups: early (12-week), middle (30-week), and chronic (52-week) diabetic groups and their controls. MBP immunoreactivity was found in the alveus, strata pyramidale, and lacunosum-moleculare of the CA1 region, strata pyramidale and radiatum of the CA3 region, and subgranular zone, polymorphic layer, and molecular layer of the dentate gyrus. MBP immunoreactivity was lowest in the hippocampus of 12-week-old rats in the ZLC group, and highest in 12-week-old rats in the ZDF group. Diabetes increased MBP levels in the 12-week-old group, while MBP immunoreactivity decreased in the 30-week-old group. In the 52-week-old ZLC and ZDF groups, MBP immunoreactivity was detected in the hippocampus, similar to the 30-week-old ZDF group. Western blot results corroborated with immunohistochemical results. These results suggested that changes in the immunoreactivity and expression of MBP in the hippocampus might be a compensatory response to aging, while the sustained levels of MBP in diabetic animals could be attributed to a loss of compensatory responses in oligodendrocytes.

• Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
• /
• v.8 no.1
• /
• pp.38-42
• /
• 2005

We evaluated the effects of different feeding strategies on the growth of young Nile tilapia, Oreochromis niloticus L., in a freshwater recirculating system during summer. Each of twenty fish (Mean body weight$\pm$ SD; 37. 7$\pm$0.10 g) were randomly distributed into each of 24 tanks. Eight treatments were prepared in triplicate. Control fish were hand-fed commercial feed twice daily without starvation. The other seven treatments employed different feeding and starvation strategies ranging from I day starved and 1 day fed (1DS+ 1DF) to 7 days starved to 7 days fed (7DS+7DF). All fish survived to the end of the 44-day feeding trial. The amount of food supplied was highest for the control fish in the control. Food supplied to fish in the 3DS+3DF and 4DS+4DF treatments was significantly lower than that of fish in the 1DS+1DF and 2DS+2DF treatments, but significantly higher than that of fish in the 5DS+5DF, 6DS+6DF and 7DS+7DF treatments. The weight gain of control fish was significantly higher than that of fish in other treatments. Feed efficiency ratio (FER) for fish in the 7DS+7DF treatment was significantly higher than that of fish in the control group, but it did not differ from that of fish in the 1DS+1DF and 2DS+2DF treatments. We concluded that young Nile tilapia raised with different starvation and feeding regimes during the summer in a freshwater recirculating system did not catch up in growth to fish fed daily. However, the enhanced FER of Nile tilapia in the 7DS+ 7DF, 2DS+ 2DF, and 1 DS+ I DF treatments partly explains the compensatory growth of the fish, although their weight gain was relatively low.

• The Journal of Korean Academy of Orthopedic Manual Physical Therapy
• /
• v.19 no.1
• /
• pp.49-54
• /
• 2013

Background: The purposed of this study is to examine the static and dynamic plantar foot pressure in chronic low back pain patients and normal adults. Methods: The subjects were divided into a group of 30 patients with chronic low back pain and a control group of 30 healthy persons. While static posture and dynamic posture at comfortable walking speeds, the low back pain group and the control group measured their plantar foot pressure and the trajectory of their center of pressure (COP) using the Matscan(R) system. Independent t-tests were measured to compare differences in plantar foot pressure characteristics between the left side and right side of the low back pain group and the control group. Results: In the comparison of differences in plantar foot pressure characteristics between the left side and right side of the low back pain group and the control group, the anteroposterior (AP) displacement of COP showed significant differences (p<.05). Although the low back pain group and the control group did not show any significant differences in leg length, weight distribution, mediolateral (ML) displacement of COP, static contract area, dynamic contract areas (p>.05), increases in the contract area values were shown in the hind foot in general. Conclusion: In this study, it was shown that patients with chronic low back pain were walking with short AP displacement of the COP as a compensatory action to avoid pain.

• Maxillofacial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
• /
• v.16 no.3
• /
• pp.290-302
• /
• 1994

This study was aimed to clarify the histopathological changes in the experimental animal model subjcted to rigid fixation performed across the frontonasal sutrue in growing rabbits. Sixteen rabbits aged 6 weeks used. In experimental group(n=12), rigid fixation with miniplates and screws was performed across the frontonasal suture. Control group(n=4) was those with periosteal elevation only. Experimental animals were sacrificed on the 2nd, 4th, 8th, and 12th week after operation, and frontonasal suture area was excised for light microscopic and scanning electron microscopic examination. The results obtained were as follows : 1. In control groups, collagen fiber bundles ran in the midportion of bone sutrue and cambial layers were seen at bone surface. Sutural surfaces are beveled and external and internal bony projected portions were observed. 2. In experimental groups, distance of bone suture was decreased by new bone formation on the 2nd week, while increased by bone resorption at the miniplate applied area and bone formation in the adjacent bone on the 4th week. 3. In experimental groups, the original bone surface was almost resorbed and new bone formation was found on the 8th week. Regulary-run collagen fibers, smooth and dense bone surfaces were similar to the bone patterns of control groups on the 12th week. Above results suggest that bone formation is restricted where the miniplate is applied, while compensatory growth is appeared in the adjacent bont. It is considered that rigid fixation with miniplates and acrews results in a little disturbance of sutural growth of the craniofacial bone in infancy and children when applied for short duration.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
• /
• v.9 no.5
• /
• pp.305-314
• /
• 2005

Diabetes mellitus is associated with vascular complications, including an impairment of vascular function and alterations in the reactivity of blood vessels to vasoactive substances in various vasculature. In the present study, the authors have observed endothelin-B ($ET_B$) receptor agonist-induced relaxation in precontracted mesenteric arterial segments from streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats, which was not shown from control rats or in other arterial segments from diabetic rats. Accordingly, the goal of this study was to investigate in what way STZ-induced diabetes altered reactivity of the mesenteric arterial bed and to examine the causal relaxation, if any, between this $ET_B$ receptor-mediated relaxation and endothelial paracrine function, especially nitric oxide (NO) production. The relaxation induced by $ET_B$ agonists was not observed in mesenteric arteries without endothelium. The relaxation to $ET_B$ agonists was completely abolished by pretreatment with BQ788, but not by BQ610. $N_{\omega}-nitro-L-arginine$ methyl ester and soluble guanylate cyclase inhibitors, methylene blue or LY83583 significantly attenuated the relaxant responses to $ET_B$ agonists, respectively. When the expression of eNOS and iNOS was evaluated on agarose gel stained with ethidium bromide, the expression of eNOS mRNA in diabetic rats was significantly decreased, but the expression of iNOS was increased compared with control rats. Furthermore, the iNOS-like immunostaining was densely detected in the endothelium and slightly in the arterial smooth muscle of diabetic rats, but not in control rats. These observations suggest that $ET_B$ receptor may not play a role in maintaining mesenteric vascular tone in normal situation. However, the alterations in $ET_B$ receptor sensitivity were found in diabetic rats and lead to the $ET_B$ agonist-induced vasorelaxation, which is closely related to NO production. In the state of increased vascular resistance of diabetic mesenteric vascular bed, enhanced NO production by activation of iNOS could lead to compensatory vasorelaxation to modulate adequate perfusion pressure to splanchnic area.