• Title/Summary/Keyword: Force chains

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Myoplasmic [$Ca^{2+}$], Crossbridge Phosphorylation and Latch in Rabbit Bladder Smooth Muscle

  • Kim, Young-Don;Cho, Min-Hyung;Kwon, Seong-Chun
    • The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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    • v.15 no.3
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    • pp.171-177
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    • 2011
  • Tonic smooth muscle exhibit the latch phenomenon: high force at low myosin regulatory light chains (MRLC) phosphorylation, shortening velocity (Vo), and energy consumption. However, the kinetics of MRLC phosphorylation and cellular activation in phasic smooth muscle are unknown. The present study was to determine whether $Ca^{2+}$-stimulated MRLC phosphorylation could suffice to explain the agonist- or high $K^+$-induced contraction in a fast, phasic smooth muscle. We measured myoplasmic [$Ca^{2+}$], MRLC phosphorylation, half-time after step-shortening (a measure of Vo) and contractile stress in rabbit urinary bladder strips. High $K^+$-induced contractions were phasic at both $22^{\circ}C$ and $37^{\circ}C$: myoplasmic [$Ca^{2+}$], MRLC phosphorylation, 1/half-time, and contractile stress increased transiently and then all decreased to intermediate values. Carbachol (CCh)-induced contractions exhibited latch at $37^{\circ}C$: stress was maintained at high levels despite decreasing myoplasmic [$Ca^{2+}$], MRLC phosphorylation, and 1/half-time. At $22^{\circ}C$ CCh induced sustained elevations in all parameters. 1/half-time depended on both myoplasmic [$Ca^{2+}$] and MRLC phosphorylation. The steady-state dependence of stress on MRLC phosphorylation was very steep at $37^{\circ}C$ in the CCh- or $K^+$-depolarized tissue and reduced temperature flattend the dependence of stress on MRLC phosphorylation compared to $37^{\circ}C$. These data suggest that phasic smooth muscle also exhibits latch behavior and latch is less prominent at lower temperature.

Micro/Nano Adhesion and Friction Properties of SAMs with Different Head and Functional Group according to the Coating Methods (코팅 방법에 따른 이종 SAMs의 관능기별 마이크로/나노 응착 및 마찰 특성)

  • Yoon Eui-Sung;Oh Hyun-Jin;Han Hung-Gu;Kong Hosung
    • Tribology and Lubricants
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    • v.21 no.3
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    • pp.107-113
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    • 2005
  • Micro/nano adhesion and friction properties of self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) with different head- and end-group were experimentally studied according to the coating methods. Various kinds of SAM having different spacer chains (C10 and C18), head-group and end-group were deposited onto Si-wafer by dipping and chemical vapour deposition (CVD) methods under atmospheric pressure, where the deposited SAM resulted in the hydrophobic nature. The adhesion and friction properties between tip and SAM surfaces under nano scale applied load were measured using an atomic force microscope (AFM) and also those under micro scale applied load were measured using a ball-on-flat type micro-tribotester. Surface roughness and water contact angles were measured with SPM (scanning probe microscope) and contact anglemeter respectively. Results showed that water contact angles of SAMs with the end-group of fluorine show higher relatively than those of hydrogen. SAMs with the end-group of fluorine show lower nano-adhesion but higher micro/nanofriction than those with hydrogen. Water contact angles of SAMs coated by CVD method show high values compared to those by dipping method. SAMs coated by CVD method show the increase of nano-adhesion but the decrease of nano-friction. Nano-adhesion and friction mechanism of SAMs with different end-group was proposed in a view of size of fluorocarbon molecule.

MD simulation of structural change of polyethylene induced by high energy ion bombardment

  • Kim, Chan-Soo;Ahmed, Sk. Faruque;Moon, Myoung-Woon;Lee, Kwang-Ryeol
    • Proceedings of the Korean Vacuum Society Conference
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    • 2010.02a
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    • pp.358-358
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    • 2010
  • Ion beam bombardment at low energy forms nanosize patterns such as ripples, dots or wrinkles on the surface of polymers in ambient temperature and pressure. It has been known that the ion beam can alter the polymer surface that induces skins stiffer or the density higher by higher compressive stress or strain energies associated with chain scissions and crosslinks of the polymer. Atomic scale structure evolution in polymers is essential to understand a stress generation mechanism during the ion beam bombardment, which governs the nanoscale surface structure evolution. In this work, Molecular Dynamics (MD) simulations are employed to characterize the phenomenon occurred in bombardment between the ion beam and polymers that forms nanosize patterns. We investigate the structure evolution of Low Density Polyethylene (LDPE) at 300 K as the polymer is bombarded with Argon ions having various kinetic energies ranging from 100 eV to 1 KeV with 50 eV intervals having the fluence of $1.45\;{\times}\;1014 #/cm2$. These simulations use the Reactive Force Field (ReaxFF), which can mimic chemical covalent bonds and includes van der Waals potentials for describing the intermolecular interactions. The results show the details of the structural evolution of LDPE by the low energy Ar ion bombardment. Analyses through kinetic and potential energy, number of crosslinks and chain scissions, level of local densification and motions of atoms support that the residual strain energies on the surface is strongly associated with the number of crosslinks or scissored chains. Also, we could find an optimal Ar ion beam energy to make crosslinks well.

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Measurement of Delivery Service Environment for Cold Chain EPS Packaging System of Fresh Food (신선식품 콜드체인 EPS 패키징 시스템의 택배 유통환경 계측)

  • KORAKOT, CHAROENSRI;Kim, SY;Shin, YJ;Jung, HM;Park, JM
    • KOREAN JOURNAL OF PACKAGING SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
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    • v.28 no.1
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    • pp.67-73
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    • 2022
  • The food cold chain refers to a technology and distribution supply chain applied to maintain a constant temperature suitable for the product from production (harvest) to delivery to consumers. In particular, in Korea, the insulation material used in the food cold chain is mostly EPS (Expanded Polystyrene), which is used as a transport container for various food cold chains. However, according to the government's eco-friendly policy, companies charge environmental contributions to the use of EPS, but due to its low price and convenience of handling, it is still used as a container for delivering food. In this study, in order to measure the domestic delivery environment of general refrigerated foods, changes in impact, temperature, and humidity during transport of the EPS packaging system containing foods and ice pack refrigerants were measured. As a result, there were 2?3 sections in which a high impact force of 40 G or more was generated during transport. This can cause damage to the product and EPS container. The difference in temperature and humidity changes by parcel transport routes is more than 30%, so it is necessary to present accurate standards for the domestic cold chain distribution environment. As a result of microbial experiments. the transportation period had a dominant effect on the increase in total viable count and E. coli count.

Microencapsulation of Iron Oxide Nanoparticles and Their Application in Magnetic Levitation of Cells (산화철 나노입자의 마이크로캡슐화와 이를 이용한 세포의 자력부상 배양)

  • Lee, Jin Sil;Lee, Joon ho;Shim, Jae Kwon;Hur, Won
    • Applied Chemistry for Engineering
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    • v.31 no.1
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    • pp.13-18
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    • 2020
  • Iron oxide nanoparticles were microencapsulated using fibroin, a protein polymer of silk fiber, for theragnostic applications. The content of iron oxide was determined to be 4.28% by thermogravimetric analysis and 5.11% by magnetometer. A suspension of murine fibroblast 3T3 cells grown in medium supplemented with iron oxide-microcapsules turned clear in response to the magnetic force and the cells aggregated to the magnet direction. Neodymium magnets placed on the top of the culture dish, and attracted cells to the center of the culture surface. The cells collected on the culture surface aggregated to form a rough spheroid of 2 mm in a diameter after 72 h. In the outer layer of the cell aggregate, cells were relatively large and gathered together to form a dense tissue, but the central part was observed to undergo cell death due to the mass transfer restriction. In the outer layer, iron oxide-microcapsules were lined up like chains in the direction of magnetic force. Using microCT, it was demonstrated that the iron oxides inside the cell aggregate were not evenly distributed but biased to the magnetic direction.

Morphological and Photoluminescence Characteristics of Laterally Self-aligned InGaAs/GaAs Quantum-dot Structures (수평 자기정렬 InGaAs/GaAs 양자점의 형태 및 분광 특성 연구)

  • Kim J. O.;Choe J. W.;Lee S. J.;Noh S. K.
    • Journal of the Korean Vacuum Society
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    • v.15 no.1
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    • pp.81-88
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    • 2006
  • Laterally self-aligned InGaAs/GaAs quantum-dots (QDs) have been fabricated by using a multilayer stacking technique. For the growth optimization, we vary the number of stacks and the growth temperature in the ranges of 1-15 periods and $500-540^{\circ}C$. respectively, Atomic force microscope (AFM) images and photoluminescence (PL) spectra reveal that the lateral alignment of QDs is enhanced in extended length by an increased stack period, but severely degrades into film-like wires above a critical growth temperature. The morphological and the photoluminescence characteristics of laterally self-aligned InGaAs QDs have been analyzed through mutual comparisons among four samples with different parameters. An anisotropic arrangement develops with increasing number of stacks, and high-temperature capping allows isolated QDs to be spontaneously organized into a one-dimensionally aligned chain-like shape over a few ${\mu}m$, Moreover, the migration time allowed by growth interruption plays an additional important role in the chain arrangement of QDs. The QD chains capped at high temperature exhibit blue shifts in the emission energy, which may be attributed to a slight outdiffusion of In from the InGaAs QDs.

Antecedents of Manufacturer's Private Label Program Engagement : A Focus on Strategic Market Management Perspective (제조업체 Private Labels 도입의 선행요인 : 전략적 시장관리 관점을 중심으로)

  • Lim, Chae-Un;Yi, Ho-Taek
    • Journal of Distribution Research
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    • v.17 no.1
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    • pp.65-86
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    • 2012
  • The $20^{th}$ century was the era of manufacturer brands which built higher brand equity for consumers. Consumers moved from generic products of inconsistent quality produced by local factories in the $19^{th}$ century to branded products from global manufacturers and manufacturer brands reached consumers through distributors and retailers. Retailers were relatively small compared to their largest suppliers. However, sometime in the 1970s, things began to slowly change as retailers started to develop their own national chains and began international expansion, and consolidation of the retail industry from mom-and-pop stores to global players was well under way (Kumar and Steenkamp 2007, p.2) In South Korea, since the middle of the 1990s, the bulking up of retailers that started then has changed the balance of power between manufacturers and retailers. Retailer private labels, generally referred to as own labels, store brands, distributors own private-label, home brand or own label brand have also been performing strongly in every single local market (Bushman 1993; De Wulf et al. 2005). Private labels now account for one out of every five items sold every day in U.S. supermarkets, drug chains, and mass merchandisers (Kumar and Steenkamp 2007), and the market share in Western Europe is even larger (Euromonitor 2007). In the UK, grocery market share of private labels grew from 39% of sales in 2008 to 41% in 2010 (Marian 2010). Planet Retail (2007, p.1) recently concluded that "[PLs] are set for accelerated growth, with the majority of the world's leading grocers increasing their own label penetration." Private labels have gained wide attention both in the academic literature and popular business press and there is a glowing academic research to the perspective of manufacturers and retailers. Empirical research on private labels has mainly studies the factors explaining private labels market shares across product categories and/or retail chains (Dahr and Hoch 1997; Hoch and Banerji, 1993), factors influencing the private labels proneness of consumers (Baltas and Doyle 1998; Burton et al. 1998; Richardson et al. 1996) and factors how to react brand manufacturers towards PLs (Dunne and Narasimhan 1999; Hoch 1996; Quelch and Harding 1996; Verhoef et al. 2000). Nevertheless, empirical research on factors influencing the production in terms of a manufacturer-retailer is rather anecdotal than theory-based. The objective of this paper is to bridge the gap in these two types of research and explore the factors which influence on manufacturer's private label production based on two competing theories: S-C-P (Structure - Conduct - Performance) paradigm and resource-based theory. In order to do so, the authors used in-depth interview with marketing managers, reviewed retail press and research and presents the conceptual framework that integrates the major determinants of private labels production. From a manufacturer's perspective, supplying private labels often starts on a strategic basis. When a manufacturer engages in private labels, the manufacturer does not have to spend on advertising, retailer promotions or maintain a dedicated sales force. Moreover, if a manufacturer has weak marketing capabilities, the manufacturer can make use of retailer's marketing capability to produce private labels and lessen its marketing cost and increases its profit margin. Figure 1. is the theoretical framework based on a strategic market management perspective, integrated concept of both S-C-P paradigm and resource-based theory. The model includes one mediate variable, marketing capabilities, and the other moderate variable, competitive intensity. Manufacturer's national brand reputation, firm's marketing investment, and product portfolio, which are hypothesized to positively affected manufacturer's marketing capabilities. Then, marketing capabilities has negatively effected on private label production. Moderating effects of competitive intensity are hypothesized on the relationship between marketing capabilities and private label production. To verify the proposed research model and hypotheses, data were collected from 192 manufacturers (212 responses) who are producing private labels in South Korea. Cronbach's alpha test, explanatory / comfirmatory factor analysis, and correlation analysis were employed to validate hypotheses. The following results were drawing using structural equation modeling and all hypotheses are supported. Findings indicate that manufacturer's private label production is strongly related to its marketing capabilities. Consumer marketing capabilities, in turn, is directly connected with the 3 strategic factors (e.g., marketing investment, manufacturer's national brand reputation, and product portfolio). It is moderated by competitive intensity between marketing capabilities and private label production. In conclusion, this research may be the first study to investigate the reasons manufacturers engage in private labels based on two competing theoretic views, S-C-P paradigm and resource-based theory. The private label phenomenon has received growing attention by marketing scholars. In many industries, private labels represent formidable competition to manufacturer brands and manufacturers have a dilemma with selling to as well as competing with their retailers. The current study suggests key factors when manufacturers consider engaging in private label production.

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The Study on the Critical Success Factors of the Adoption and Use of the ASP-based ERP Systems (ASP방식의 ERP 도입 및 이용의 핵심성공요인에 관한 연구 : 중소제조업체를 중심으로)

  • Jeong Jung-Sik;Kwon Sun-Dong
    • Journal of Information Technology Applications and Management
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    • v.13 no.3
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    • pp.29-57
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    • 2006
  • Small and medium-sized companies (SMEs) face a number of different kinds of barriers to adopt information technology, including the lack of information, limited financial and technical resources, and absence of the well-trained work force in the realm of information technology. But application service provider (ASP)enables these SMEs to informatize. This paper is focused on studying the cases of the adoption and use of the ASP-based ERP systems that 7 SME shad adopted. The factors that influence the adoption and use of SMEs' ASP-based ERP systems are divided into the user companies that adopted the systems, the systems vendors, and environment. From the viewpoint of the user company, the successful adoption and use of the systems is significantly influenced by the clear motive of adopting the systems, the financial readiness, and the strong intention of CEO for pushing ahead with e-Business. From the systems vendor, it is influenced by the technical expertise of the vendor, the knowledge of the user company, and the experience of the systems development. From the perspective of environment, it is influenced by the push from the players in the value chains. The companies that had adopted the ASP-based ERP systems and that had extended the level of systems use had the benefits through reducing the cost, improving the internal business process, and achieving the learning and growth of the organization.

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Coffee Middlemen in Dak Lak, Vietnam: A key stakeholder of coffee value chain as an intermediary of changes in local economies (베트남 닥락성의 커피 중개상인: 지역 경제 변화의 매개체로서 역할을 하는 커피가치 사슬의 주요 이해 관계자)

  • Lee, Sung-Cheol
    • Journal of the Economic Geographical Society of Korea
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    • v.16 no.3
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    • pp.372-388
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    • 2013
  • A series of coffee middlemen has come to be regarded as an exploitative force in the lives of small and poor coffee farmers, which is called 'coyote', controlling production, paying unfair prices for labor and goods, and participating in fraudulent practices to maximize their own profits. However, the reality of gains captured by coffee middlemen in the value chain might be exaggerated and even unfair. Therefore, the main aim of this paper is to reconsider the implication of coffee middlemen for the development of coffee value chain in Vietnam. It also attempts to identify their characteristics by investigating relations among coffee farmers, middlemen and processing/exporting firms. In terms of middlemen's margin in the coffee sub-sector, their margin is quite small when compared to other actors higher in the value chain. Rather, coffee middlemen in Vietnam have played a critical role as an intermediary of change in local economies. More specifically, coffee middlemen in Dak Lak has played a significant role as a market facilitator by stimulating the access of farmers to markets by providing buyers for farmers thanks to changes in institutional environment. Also, they have played a critical role as an agent of sustainable coffee production by encouraging sustainable coffee production in accordance with the demand of processing and exporting firms.

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Shear Strength Characteristics of Geo - Soluble - Materials (용해재료가 포함된 지반의 전단강도 특성)

  • Tran, M. Khoa;Park, Jung-Hee;Byun, Yong-Hoon;Shin, Ho-Sung;Lee, Jong-Sub
    • Journal of the Korean Geotechnical Society
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    • v.27 no.12
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    • pp.17-25
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    • 2011
  • A fabric of soil media may change due to certain factors such as dissolution of soluble particles, desiccation, and cementation. The fabric changes affect the mechanical behavior of soils. The purpose of this study is to investigate the effects of geo-material dissolution on shear strength. Experiments and numerical simulations are carried out by using a conventional direct shear and the discrete element method. The dissolution specimens are prepared with different volumetric salt fraction in sand soils. The dissolution of the specimens is implemented by saturating the salt-sand mixtures at different confining stresses in the experimental study or reducing the sizes of soluble particles in the numerical simulations. Experimental results show that the angle of shearing resistance decreases with the increase in the soluble particle content and the shearing behavior changes from dilative to contractive behavior. The numerical simulations exhibit that macro-behavior matches well with the experimental results. From the microscopic point of view, the particle dissolution produces a new fabric with the increase of local void, the reduction of contact number, the increase of shear contact forces, and the anisotropy of contact force chains compared with the initial fabric. The shearing behavior of the mixture after the particle dissolution is attributed to the above micro-behavior changes. This study demonstrates that the reduction of shearing resistance of geo-material dissolution should be considered during the design and construction of the foundation and earth-structures.