• Journal of Korea Foundry Society
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• v.40 no.3
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• pp.85-96
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• 2020

The effect of an aluminum scrap addition ratio on the tensile and solidification cracking properties of the AC4A aluminum alloy in the as-cast state and heat-treated state were investigated in this study. Generally, the expected problem of using scrap in aluminum casting is an increase of hydrogen and Fe element inside the aluminum melt. Another issue is an oxide film which has a weak interface with the molten aluminum and acts as potent nucleation sites for internal porosity and crack initiation. Solidification cracking is one of the critical defects that must be resolved to produce high quality castings. A conventional evaluation method for solidification cracking is a relative and qualitative analysis method which does not provide quantitative data on the thermal stress in the solidification process. Therefore, a newly designed solidification cracking test apparatus was used in this study, and the device can provide quantitative data. As a result, after conducting experiments with different scrap addition ratios (0%, 20%, 35%, 50%), the tensile strengths and elongations in the as-cast state were 214, 187.7, 182.1 and 170.4MPa and 4.6%, 3.4%, 3.1% and 2.3%, respectively. In the case of the T6 heat-treated state, the tensile strengths and elongations were 314.9, 294.6, 293.1 and 271.1MPa and 5.4%, 4.6%, 3.8% and 3.1%, respectively. The strength of the solidification cracking was 3.1, 2.4, 2.2and 1.6MPa as the scrap addition ratio increases.

• Molecular & Cellular Toxicology
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• v.1 no.2
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• pp.137-141
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• 2005

The critical role of folate in the remethylation pathway for methionine synthesis from homocysteine has been well documented. Hyperhomocysteinemia resulting from inadequate folate nutrition has been implicated in increased incidence of macrovascular diseases, colorectal cancer, neural tube defects, etc. Chronic exposure to ethanol impairs folate nutrition and one-carbon metabolism in the liver, which often results in fatty liver due to a defective remetylation process. This study was carried out to investigate the chronic effects of moderate levels of alcohol and dietary folate on plasma homocysteine levels, and on histopathology and biochemical functions of the liver. Rats were raised on experimental diets with three levels of folate (0, 2, 8 mg/kg diet), and 50% ethanol (1.8 ml/kg body weight) was administered intragastically by intubation tubes three times a week for 10 weeks. Plasma homocysteine concentrations were found to be significantly influenced by dietary folate intake and alcohol administration. Among all treatment groups, plasma homocysteine levels were the highest in the animals receiving a combined treatment of folate deficient diet and alcohol administration. Plasma homocysteine concentrations were negatively correlated with folate concentration in the plasma (p<0.01) and liver (p<0.05). Among alcohol treated rats, increase in plasma homocysteine values due to macrovascular and microvascular fatty changes and spotted necrosis were observed more frequently in folate-deficient animals diet than those on folate-adequate and folate supplemented diets in alcohol-treated rats. These results indicate that folate supplementation above the recommended level might be beneficial in the prevention of alcohol-related hyperhomocysteinemia and abnormal histologic changes in the liver.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.1285-1292
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• 2016

Background: It is well established that mutations in the BRCA1 gene are a major risk factor for breast cancer. Induction of cancer cell death and inhibition of survival are the main principles of cancer therapy. In this context, autophagy may have dual roles in cancer, acting on the one hand as a tumor suppressor and on the other as a mechanism of cell survival that can promote the growth of established tumors. Therefore, understanding the role of autophagy in cancer treatment is critical. Moreover, defects in apoptosis, programmed cell death, may lead to increased resistance to chemotherapy. Purpose: The aim of the present study was to detect BRCA1 gene mutations in order to throw more light on their roles as risk factors for breast cancer in Egypt. Secondly the role of autophagy and apoptosis in determining response to a fluorouracil, doxorubicin, cyclophosphamide (FAC) regimen was investigated. Materials and Methods: Forty-five female breast cancer cases and thirty apparently healthy females were enrolled in the present study. Serum levels of autophagic biomarkers, Beclin 1 and LC3 as well as the serum levels of apoptosis biomarkers Bcl-2 and Caspase-3 were measured before and after chemotherapy. Results: BRCA1 mutations were found in 5 (16.7%) and 44 (99.8%) of the controls and cancer patients, the most frequent being 5382insC followed by C61G and 185 delAG. The results revealed that chemotherapy caused elevation in serum concentration levels of the autophagic biomarkers (Beclin 1 and LC3). This elevation was associated with a significant decrease in serum concentration levels of Bcl-2 and significant increase in caspase-3 concentration levels (apoptotic markers). Conclusions: The results of the present study indicate a very high level of BRCA mutations in breast cancer cases in Egypt and point to involvement of autophagic and apoptotic machinery activation in response to FAC chemotherapy.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.52 no.2
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• pp.337-343
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• 2020

Oxide dispersed strengthened (ODS) steel is an important candidate for Gen-IV reactors. Oxide embedded in Fe can help to trap irradiation defects and enhances the strength of steel. It was observed in this study that the size of oxide has a profound impact on the depinning mechanism. For smaller sizes, the oxide acts as a void; thus, letting the dislocation bypass without any shear. On the other hand, oxides larger than 2 nm generate new dislocation segments around themselves. The depinning is similar to that of Orowan mechanism and the strengthening effect is likely to be greater for larger oxides. It was found that higher shear deformation rates produce more fine-tuned stress-strain curve. Both molecular dynamics (MD) simulations and BKS (Bacon-Knocks-Scattergood) model display similar characteristics whereby establishing an inverse relation between the depinning stress and the obstacle distance. It was found that (110)_oxide || (111)_Fe (oriented oxide) also had similar characteristics as that of (100)_oxide || (111)_Fe but resulted in an increased depinning stress thereby providing greater resistance to dislocation bypass. Our simulation results concluded that critical depinning stress depends significantly on the size and orientation of the oxide.

• Journal of the Institute of Electronics Engineers of Korea SC
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• v.46 no.2
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• pp.22-27
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• 2009

In this paper, an automatic functional inspection system EVT (Emulated Vision Tester) for LCD drive module PCB has been proposed and implemented. Typical automatic inspection system such as probing methods and vision-based systems are widely known and used, however, there exist undetectable defects due to critical timing factors which they may miss to catch from LCD equipments. Especially typical vision-based systems have inconsistency on acquisition of images so that distinction between gray scales can be difficult which results in low level of performance and reliability on the inspection results. The proposed EVT system is pure hardware solution. It directly compares pattern signals from a pattern generator to output signals from LCD drive module. It also inspects variety of analog signals such as voltage, resistance, wave forms and so forth. The EVT system not only shows high performance in terms of reliability and processing speed but reduces costs on inspection and maintenance. Also, full automation of entire production line can be realized when EVT is applied in in-line inspection processes.

• Progress in Superconductivity and Cryogenics
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• v.15 no.4
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• pp.15-20
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• 2013

We investigated the flux pinning properties of both 10 mol% Zr-and Sn-doped $YBa_2Cu_3O_{7-{\delta}}$ (YBCO) films with the same thickness of ~350 nm for a comparative purpose. The films were prepared on the $SrTiO_3$ (STO) single crystal substrate by the metal-organic deposition (MOD) process. Compared with Sn-doped YBCO film, Zr-doped one exhibited a significant enhancement in the critical current density ($J_c$) and pinning force density ($F_p$). The anisotropic $J_{c,min}/J_{c,max}$ ratio in the field-angle dependence of $J_c$ at 77 K for 1 T was also improved from 0.23 for Sn-doped YBCO to 0.39 for Zr-doped YBCO. Thus, the highest magnetic $J_c$ values of 9.0 and $2.9MA/cm^2$ with the maximum $F_p$ ($F_{p,max}$) values of 19 and $5GN/m^3$ at 65 and 77 K for H // c, respectively, could be achieved from Zr-doped YBCO film. The stronger pinning effect in Zr-doped YBCO film is attributable to smaller $BaZrO_3$ (BZO) nanoparticles (the average size ${\approx}28.4$ nm) than $YBa_2SnO_{5.5}$ (YBSO) nanoparticles (the average size ${\approx}45.0$ nm) incorporated in Sn-doped YBCO film since smaller nanoparticles can generate more defects acting as effective flux pinning sites due to larger incoherent interfacial area for the same doping concentration.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Gas
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• v.4 no.4 s.12
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• pp.25-33
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• 2000

In recent years, the subject of remaining life assessment has drawn considerable attention in power plants, where various structural components typically operate at high temperature and pressure. Thus a life prediction methodology accounting for high temperature creep fracture is increasingly needed for the components. Critical defects in such structures are generally found in the form of semi-elliptical surface crack, and the analysis of which is consequently an important problem in engineering fracture mechanics. On this background, we first develop an auto mesh generation program for detailed 3-D finite element analyses of axial and circumferential semi-elliptical surface cracks in a piping system. A high temperature creep fracture parameter $C^{\ast}$-integral is obtained from the finite element analyses of generated 3-D models. Post crack growth module is further appended here to calculate the amount of crack growth. Finally the remaining lives of surface cracked pipes for various analytical parameters are assessed using the developed life assessment program.

• Journal of Periodontal and Implant Science
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.103-116
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• 1996

This study was performed to observe the bacterial adhesion and penetration to e-PTFE membrane following guided tissue regeneration(GTR) procedure and to evaluate the association of the membrane exposure and bacterial contamination with the clinical outcome. For the study, ten infrabony defects in 9 patient were treated by mucoperiosteal flap operation including placement of the e-PTFE membrane. The treated teeth were monitored weekly for the membrane exposure, gingival recession and gingival inflammation. The membranes were retrieved after 4 to 6 weeks, examined by SEM for bacterial contamination and adherent connective tisue elements, and observed under LM for the bacterial penetration into membrane. Three months postsurgery, the defect sites were clinically reexamined for the changes in attachment level and probing depth. Comparison of the ultrastuctural findings and clinical outcome revealed that extent of membrane exposure and bacterial contamination of the membrane was inversely associated with clinical attachment gain. From this finding, the extent of membrane exposure and the bacterial contamination on the apical portion of the e-PTFE membrane at the time of removal seemed to be a critical determinant on the clinical outcome of GTR and the membrane exposure needs to be controlled for optimal results.

• Journal of Korea Foundry Society
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.165-174
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• 2004

The pore formation characteristic of Mg alloy during Lost Foam Casting(LFC) was investigated with reduced pressure test and real casting, which was compared with the results of previous work for Al alloy. Cast Mg alloys in LFC had much lower porosities in comparison with those of Al alloys. Also, the proper pouring temperature gave the minimum porosity like Al alloy although it was higher than that of Al alloys due to the worse fluidity of Mg alloy. The pore formation mechanism of Mg alloy in LFC was similar to that of AI alloy but the critical temperature showing the different mechanism is higher than that of Al alloy as much as $30{\sim}50^{\circ}C$. The result that Mg alloy in LFC had the lower porosity comparing with Al alloy was due to the extra solubility of hydrogen gas although the solubility of Al alloy was easily exceeded by the external sources like pyrolyzed polystyrene products. The mold evacuation gave the lower porosity due to the removal of polystyrene pyrolysis products, and reduced shrinkage defects. Also, there was a proper evacuation pressure that gave a porosity of almost 0vol%. But much higher vacuum degree than this proper pressure caused the severe entrapment of polymer pyrolysis products that gave the large porosity.

• Journal of the Korean Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons
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• v.43 no.6
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• pp.373-387
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• 2017

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to introduce our three experiments on bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) and its carriers performed using the critical sized segmental defect (CSD) model in rat fibula and to investigate development of animal models and carriers for more effective bone regeneration. Materials and Methods: For the experiments, 14, 16, and 24 rats with CSDs on both fibulae were used in Experiments 1, 2, and 3, respectively. BMP-2 with absorbable collagen sponge (ACS) (Experiments 1 and 2), autoclaved autogenous bone (AAB) and fibrin glue (FG) (Experiment 3), and xenogenic bone (Experiment 2) were used in the experimental groups. Radiographic and histomorphological evaluations were performed during the follow-up period of each experiment. Results: Significant new bone formation was commonly observed in all experimental groups using BMP-2 compared to control and xenograft (porcine bone) groups. Although there was some difference based on BMP carrier, regenerated bone volume was typically reduced by remodeling after initially forming excessive bone. Conclusion: BMP-2 demonstrates excellent ability for bone regeneration because of its osteoinductivity, but efficacy can be significantly different depending on its delivery system. ACS and FG showed relatively good bone regeneration capacity, satisfying the essential conditions of localization and release-control when used as BMP carriers. AAB could not provide release-control as a BMP carrier, but its space-maintenance role was remarkable. Carriers and scaffolds that can provide sufficient support to the BMP/carrier complex are necessary for large bone defects, and AAB is thought to be able to act as an effective scaffold. The CSD model of rat fibula is simple and useful for initial estimate of bone regeneration by agents including BMPs.