• Journal of Korean Clinical Nursing Research
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.296-306
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• 2012

Purpose: This study was done to compare the physical injury, emotional response and unplanned self-removal of medical devices in patients with physical restraints and patients not restrained. Methods: Eighty patients admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) of a university hospital in Seoul participated in this study. Forty patients made up each group and the group not restrained was matched with the restraint group for age and history of smoking and alcohol consumption. Data on occurrence of physical injury, intensity of anxiety, stage of agitation and unplanned self-removal of medical devices were collected by observation and medical chart review using a structured instrument. Statistical processing of collected data was done with the SPSS WIN 17.0 program. Results: The physically restrained group experienced more physical injuries and recorded significantly higher levels of anxiety and agitation than the unrestrained group. However, there were no significant differences between the groups in occurrence of unplanned self-removal of medical devices. Conclusion: Results indicate a need for critical care nurses to carefully monitor physical injuries and emotional responses of physically restrained patients and to develop nursing interventions to prevent adverse effects associated with restraint use. There is also a need to develop patient safety guidelines when using physical restraints.

• BMB Reports
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• v.49 no.1
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• pp.51-56
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• 2016

Glycogen synthase kinase-3β (GSK-3β) is a serine/threonine protein kinase that is known to mediate cancer cell death. Here, we show that B-cell lymphoma 2 (Bcl-2), an anti-apoptotic protein, is regulated by GSK-3β and that GSK-3β-mediated regulation of Bcl-2 is crucial for mitochondrial-dependent cell death in paclitaxel-stimulated cells. We demonstrate that MCF7 GSK-3β siRNA cells are more sensitive to cell death than MCF7 GFP control cells and that in the absence of GSK-3β, Bcl-2 levels are reduced, a result enhanced by paclitaxel. Paclitaxel-induced JNK (c-Jun N-terminal kinase) activation is critical for Bcl-2 modulation. In the absence of GSK-3β, Bcl-2 was unstable in an ubiquitination-dependent manner in both basal- and paclitaxel-treated cells. Furthermore, we demonstrate that GSK-3β-mediated regulation of Bcl-2 influences cytochrome C release and mitochondrial membrane potential. Taken together, our data suggest that GSK-3β-dependent regulation of Bcl-2 is crucial for mitochondria-dependent cell death in paclitaxel-mediated breast cancer therapy. [BMB Reports 2016; 49(1): 51-56]

• Smart Structures and Systems
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• v.17 no.6
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• pp.917-933
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• 2016

In a prestressed concrete bridge, the magnitude of the prestress force (PF) decreases with time. This unexpected loss can cause failure of a bridge which makes prestress force identification (PFI) critical to evaluate bridge safety. However, it has been difficult to identify the PF non-destructively. Although some research has shown the feasibility of vibration based methods in PFI, the requirement of having a determinate exciting force in these methods hinders applications onto in-service bridges. Ideally, it will be efficient if the normal traffic could be treated as an excitation, but the load caused by vehicles is difficult to measure. Hence it prompts the need to investigate whether PF and moving load could be identified together. This paper presents a synergic identification method to determine PF and moving load applied on a simply supported prestressed concrete beam via the dynamic responses caused by this unknown moving load. This method consists of three parts: (i) the PF is transformed into an external pseudo-load localized in each beam element via virtual distortion method (VDM); (ii) then these pseudo-loads are identified simultaneously with the moving load via Duhamel Integral; (iii) the time consuming problem during the inversion of Duhamel Integral is overcome by the load-shape function (LSF). The method is examined against different cases of PFs, vehicle speeds and noise levels by means of simulations. Results show that this method attains a good degree of accuracy and efficiency, as well as robustness to noise.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.39 no.4
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• pp.365-370
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• 2015

Background: The beneficial effects of ginsenoside species have been well demonstrated in a number of studies. However, the function of ginsenoside Ro (GRo), an oleanane-type saponin, has not been sufficiently investigated. Thus, the aim of the present study was to investigate the anti-inflammatory effects of GRo in vitro using the Raw 264.7 mouse macrophage cell line treated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS), and to clarify the possible mechanism of GRo involving heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1), which itself plays a critical role in self-defense in the presence of inflammatory stress. Methods: Raw 264.7 cells were pretreated with GRo (up to $200{\mu}M$) for 1 h before treatment with 1 mg/mL LPS, and both cell viability and inflammatory markers involving HO-1 were evaluated. Results: GRo significantly increased cell viability in a dose dependent manner following treatment with LPS, and decreased levels of reactive oxygen species and nitric oxide. GRo decreased inflammatory cytokines such as nitric oxide synthase and cyclooxygenase-2 induced by LPS. Moreover, GRo increased the expression of HO-1 in a dose dependent manner. Cotreatment of GRo with tin protoporphyrin IX, a selective inhibitor of HO-1, not only inhibited upregulation of HO-1 induced by GRo, but also reversed the anti-inflammatory effect of GRo in LPS treated Raw 264.7 cells. Conclusion: GRo induces anti-inflammatory effects following treatment with LPS via upregulation of HO-1.

• Annals of Clinical Neurophysiology
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• v.5 no.2
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• pp.171-176
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• 2003

Backgrounds and Objectives: Despite of enormous clinical and laboratory researches focused on the useful markers in status epilepticus(SE), clinically applicable methods are not yet available. Although ketogenic diet (KD) is an old method of treating epilepsies, its outstanding antiepileptic effect in some epileptic patients needs re-evaluation of this methods. This study was performed to evaluate the effect of KD on the change of nitric oxide(NO) during the SE. Methods: After the determination of critical EEG stages in the pilocarpine-induced SE model, serum NO levels were measured with Griess reaction. Open cardiac puncture was done immediately after the four different EEG stages of SE in the KD rats and regular diet (RD) rats. Cessation of SE was done with the 10~20 mg/Kg of diazepam i.p. injection in each stages of SE in KD and RD rats. Results: Pilocarpine-induced SE showed reliable EEG and behavioral patterns in all rats. Also, KD did not affect the SE induced by pilocarpine in terms of the SE induction time and SE severity. Serum NO was consistently higher in KD rats than RD rats in all SE stages. Conclusions: KD significantly increases NO during the pilocarpine-induced SE. These finding might contribute the neuroprotective effect of KD in the SE.

• Corrosion Science and Technology
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.203-210
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• 2020

The corrosion behavior of super austenitic stainless steel was studied by examining the characteristics of the sigma phase formed in the steel. A range of experimental and analytical methods was employed, including potentiodynamic polarization tests, critical pitting temperature tests, transmission electron microscopy, and energy-dispersive spectroscopy. Three steel samples with different sigma phase levels were obtained by intentionally adjusting the manufacturing process. The results showed that the corrosion resistance of the samples was strongly dependent upon the size and distribution of the sigma phase precipitated in the samples. The larger the size of the sigma phase, the higher the Mo content in the sigma phase and the higher the depletion level of Mo at the interface between the matrix/sigma phase, the more samples with a coarse-sized sigma phase were susceptible to localized pitting corrosion at the interface. These results suggest that various manufacturing processes, such as welding and the post-heat treatment of the steel, should be optimized so that both the size and fraction of the sigma phase precipitated in the steel are small to improve the resistance to localized corrosion.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.42 no.4
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• pp.447-454
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• 1995

Cytokine release from alveolar macrophages and subsequent interaction of these cytokines with the bronchial epithelium can induce epithelial cells to release inflammatory mediators. Nitric oxide(NO), a highly reactive gas formed from arginine by nitric oxide synthase(NOS), is known to be involved in inflammation and edema formation, and the inducible form of NOS(iNOS) can be increased by cytokines. In this context, we hypothesized that lung epithelial cells could be stimulated by cytokines released by alveolar macrophages to express iNOS. To test this hypothesis, the murine lung epithelial cell line, LA-4, or the human lung epithelial cell line, A549, were stimulated with culture supernatant fluids from alveolar macrophages. NO production was assessed by evaluating the culture supernatant fluids for nitrite and nitrate, the stable end products of NO. Both murine and human cell culture supernatant fluids demonstrated an increase in nitrite and nitrate which were time- and dose-dependent and attenuated by $TNF{\alpha}$ and IL-$1{\beta}$ antibodies(p<0.05, all comparisons). Consistent with these observations, cytomix a combination of $TNF{\alpha}$, IL-$1{\beta}$, and $\gamma$-interferon, stimulated the lung epithelial cell lines as well as primary cultures of human bronchial epithelial cells to increase their NO production as evidenced by an increase in nitrite and nitrate in their culture supernatant fluids, an increase in the iNOS staining by immunocytochemistry, and an increase in iNOS mRNA by Northern blottin(p<0.05, all comparisons). The cytokine effects on iNOS were all attenuated by dexamethasone. To determine if these in vitro observations are reflected in vivo, exhaled NO was measured and found to be increased in asthmatics not receiving corticosteroids. These data demonstrate that alveolar macrophage derived cytokines increase iNOS expression in lung epithelial cells and that these in vitro observations are mirrored by increased exhaled NO levels in asthmatics. Increased NO in the lung may contribute to edema formation and airway narrowing.

• Journal of Korea Port Economic Association
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.249-270
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• 2009

This paper analyses the results of the survey questionnaires which are made for logistics services users in Shanghai, China. Based an 158 valid users' responses, the study results show that the typical outsourcing logistics users prefer to set up long term relationship with providers and buy services from multiple providers. Most users are satisfied with their providers and believe that outsourcing logistics services has led to positive impact on their customer satisfaction, logistics service levels and revenue improvement. Price levers, core competences, reputation are critical in the selection of an outsourcing logistics provider for users in this study. This study indicates that the market for 3PL services in China has a reasonable potential fur further development, though 3PL practices are still at a nascent stage in China. This paper presents full details and implications of the results of th￡ survey and then provides some helpful suggestion for th￡ development of Chinese logistics industry and Chinese logistics companies.

• Journal of the Korea Society for Simulation
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.13-21
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• 2006

Due to the exhaustion of resources and increasing concerns about the environment, reverse logistics has become a critical issue in recent years. We discuss the conventional logistics operations and the reverse logistics operations in the automotive industry. The traditional supply chain (TSC) and the reverse supply chain (RSC) models are developed to compare performance between two systems. In addition, results of the simulation models are discussed in respect to total costs, inventory levels and stock-outs to analyze the effects of introducing of reverse logistics system.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.308-313
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• 2006

Amygdalin is a cyanogenic glycoside compound which is commonly found in the pits of many fruits and raw nuts. Although amygdalin itself is not toxic, it can release cyanide (CN) after hydrolysis when the pits and nuts are crushed, moistened and incubated, possibly within the gastrointestinal tract. CN reversibly inhibits cellular oxidizing enzymes and cyanide poisoning generates a range of clinical symptoms. As some pits and nuts may contain unusually high levels of amygdalin such that there is a sufficient amount to induce critical CN poisoning in humans, the detection of abnormal content of amygdalin in those pits and nuts can be a life-saving measure. Although there are various methods to detect amygdalin in food extracts, an enzyme immunoassay has not been developed for this purpose. In this study we immunized New Zealand White rabbits with an amygdalin-KLH (keyhole limpet hemocyanin) conjugate and succeeded in raising anti-sera reactive to amygdalin, proving that amygdalin can behave as a hapten in rabbits. Using this polyclonal antibody, we developed a competition enzyme immunoassay for determination of amygdalin concentration in aqueous solutions. This technique was able to effectively detect abnormally high amygdalin content in various seeds and nuts. In conclusion, we proved that enzyme immunoassay can be used to determine the amount of amygdalin in food extracts, which will allow automated analysis with high throughput.