• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.34 no.1
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• pp.58-65
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• 2021

Background: Supraspinal delivery of neurotensin (NTS), which may contribute to the effect of a systemically administered agonist, has been reported to be either pronociceptive or antinociceptive. Here, we evaluated the effects of systemically administered NTSR1 agonist in a rat model of neuropathic pain and elucidated the underlying supraspinal mechanism. Methods: Neuropathic pain was induced by L5 and L6 spinal nerve ligation in male Sprague-Dawley rats. The effects of intraperitoneally administered NTSR1 agonist PD 149163 was assessed using von Frey filaments. To examine the role of 5-HT neurotransmission, a serotonin (5-HT) receptor antagonist dihydroergocristine was pretreated intrathecally, and spinal microdialysis studies were performed to measure the change in extracellular level of 5-HT in response to PD 149163 administration. To investigate the supraspinal mechanism, NTSR1 antagonist 48692 was microinjected into the rostral ventromedial medulla (RVM) prior to systemic PD 149163. Additionally, the effect of intrathecal DHE on intra-RVM PD 149163 was assessed. Results: Intraperitoneally administered PD 149163 exhibited a dose-dependent attenuation of mechanical allodynia. This effect was partially reversed by intrathecal pretreatment with dihydroergocristine and was accompanied by an increased extracellular level of 5-HT in the spinal cord. The PD 149163-produced antinociception was also blocked by intra-RVM SB 48692. Direct injection of PD 149163 into the RVM mimicked the maximum effect of the same drug delivered intraperitoneally, which was reversed by intrathecal dihydroergocristine. Conclusions: These observations indicate that systemically administered NTSR1 agonist produces antinociception through the NTSR1 in the RVM, activating descending serotonergic projection to release 5-HT into the spinal dorsal horn.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.34 no.1
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• pp.27-34
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• 2021

Background: Chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN) is a major reason for stopping or changing anticancer therapy. Among the proposed pathomechanisms underlying CIPN, proinflammatory processes have attracted increasing attention. Here we assessed the role of prostaglandin D2 (PGD2) signaling in cisplatin-induced neuropathic pain. Methods: CIPN was induced by intraperitoneal administration of cisplatin 2 mg/kg for 4 consecutive days using adult male Sprague-Dawley rats. PGD2 receptor DP1 and/or DP2 antagonists were administered intrathecally and the paw withdrawal thresholds were measured using von Frey filaments. Spinal expression of DP1, DP2, hematopoietic PGD synthase (H-PGDS), and lipocalin PGD synthase (L-PGDS) proteins were analyzed by western blotting. Results: The DP1 and DP2 antagonist AMG 853 and the selective DP2 antagonist CAY10471, but not the DP1 antagonist MK0524, significantly increased the paw withdrawal threshold compared to vehicle controls (P = 0.004 and P < 0.001, respectively). Western blotting analyses revealed comparable protein expression levels in DP1 and DP2 in the spinal cord. In the CIPN group the protein expression level of L-PGDS, but not of H-PGDS, was significantly increased compared to the control group (P < 0.001). Conclusions: The findings presented here indicate that enhanced PGD2 signaling, via upregulation of L-PGDS in the spinal cord, contributes to mechanical allodynia via DP2 receptors in a cisplatin-induced neuropathic pain model in rats, and that a blockade of DP2 receptor activation may present a novel therapeutic target for managing CIPN.

• Journal of the Korea institute for structural maintenance and inspection
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.16-24
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• 2021

This experimental study was conducted to evaluate the in-plane and out-of-plane seismic performances of an unreinforced masonry walls (URMs) strengthened with prestressed steel-bar truss systems developed in the present investigation. The truss systems were installed on both faces of the walls. All the wall specimens were subjected to lateral in-plane or out-of-plane cyclic loads at the fixed gravity stress of 0.25 MPa. The seismic performance of the strengthened specimens was compared to that measured in the counterpart URM. When compared with the lateral load-displacement curve of the URM, the strengthened walls exhibited the following improvements: 190% for initial stiffness, 180% for peak strength, 610% for accumulated energy dissipation capacity, and 510% for equivalent damping ratio under the in-plane state; the corresponding improvements under the out-of-plane state were 230% for initial stiffness, 190% for peak strength, 240% for accumulated energy dissipation capacity, and 120% for equivalent damping ratio, respectively. These results indicate that the developed technique is very promising in enhancing the overall seismic performance of URM.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.30 no.8
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• pp.659-671
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• 2021

The physicochemical properties of soil and the yield and quality of rice (Oryza sativa L. cv. Sailmi) were assessed using Italian ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum Lam. cv. Kowinearly)-rice double cropping systems in the paddy fields at Goseong and Miryang in southern Korea. The average temperatures during the ripening period were approximately 1 ℃ higher than the optimal temperature for rice ripening and the sunshine duration was reduced by frequent rainfall. Consequently, it was slightly below the optimal conditions required for rice ripening. In the soil at Goseong, winter Italian ryegrass cropping increased the pH, electrical conductivity, and the contents of organic matter, total nitrogen (T-N), available P₂O₅, K, Ca, and Mg than winter fallowing. Particularly, the contents of T-N and available P₂O₅increased significantly. In the soil at Miryang, Italian ryegrass slightly increased the electrical conductivity and the T-N, Mg, and Na contents. Therefore, winter Italian ryegrass cropping improved the physicochemical properties of paddy soils; however, Italian ryegrass-rice double cropping slightly reduced the culm length at both Goseong and Miryang, without markedly changing the panicle length or number compared to fallow-rice cropping. Furthermore, at Goseong, Italian ryegrass-rice double cropping slightly decreased the spikelet number and milled rice yield, and increased the ripened grain rate; however, at Miryang, contrasting results were observed. In addition, fallow-rice cropping revealed no differences in the head rice or opaque rice rates. The protein content was slightly increased in Italian ryegrass-rice double cropping, without significant changes in the amylose content or Toyo value, compared to that in fallow-rice cropping. The peak and breakdown viscosities were slightly decreased. These results indicate that winter Italian ryegrass cropping might alter rice taste but may not exhibit remarkable negative effects on rice cultivation. Therefore, Italian ryegrass-rice double cropping system is recommended for paddy fields in southern Korea. Nevertheless, to increase the rice yield and quality, fertilization standards for rice cropping that consider the changes in the T-N and organic matter contents in paddy fields caused by winter Italian ryegrass cropping need to be established.

• Animal Bioscience
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• v.35 no.7
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• pp.989-998
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• 2022

Objective: This study investigated the effects of intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) during late pregnancy on the cell growth, proliferation, and differentiation in ovine fetal thymuses. Methods: Eighteen time-mated Mongolian ewes with singleton fetuses were allocated to three groups at d 90 of pregnancy: restricted group 1 (RG1, 0.18 MJ ME/body weight [BW]^0.75/d, n = 6), restricted group 2 (RG2, 0.33 MJ ME/BW^0.75/d, n = 6) and control group (CG, ad libitum, 0.67 MJ ME/BW^0.75/d, n = 6). Fetuses were recovered at slaughter on d 140. Results: The G0/G1 phase cell number in fetal thymus of the RG1 group was increased but the proliferation index and the expression of proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) were reduced compared with the CG group (p<0.05). Fetuses in the RG1 group exhibited decreased growth hormone receptor (GHR), insulin-like growth factor 2 receptor (IGF-2R), and their mRNA expressions (p<0.05). For the RG2 fetuses, there were no differences in the proliferation index and PCNA expression (p>0.05), but growth hormone (GH) and the mRNA expression of GHR were lower than those of the CG group (p<0.05). The thymic mRNA expressions of cyclin-dependent protein kinases (CDKs including CDK1, CDK2, and CDK4), CCNE, E2-factors (E2F1, E2F2, and E2F5) were reduced in the RG1 and RG2 groups (p<0.05), and decreased mRNA expressions of E2F4, CCNA, CCNB, and CCND were occurred in the RG1 fetuses (p<0.05). The decreased E-cadherin (E-cad) as a marker for epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) was found in the RG1 and RG2 groups (p<0.05), but the OB-cadherin which is a marker for activated fibroblasts was increased in fetal thymus of the RG1 group (p<0.05). Conclusion: These results indicate that weakened GH/IGF signaling system repressed the cell cycle progression in G0/G1 phase in IUGR fetal thymus, but the switch from reduced E-cad to increased OB-cadherin suggests that transdifferentiation process of EMT associated with fibrogenesis was strengthened. The impaired cell growth, retarded proliferation and modified differentiation were responsible for impaired maturation of IUGR fetal thymus.

• The Sea:JOURNAL OF THE KOREAN SOCIETY OF OCEANOGRAPHY
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.291-306
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• 2021

From the climate change scenario experiments of 21 models participating in Coupled Climate Model Inter-comparison Project Phase 6, future changes of sea surface temperature (SST) and Kuroshio in the Northwest Pacific were analyzed. The spatial feature of SST change was found to be related to the change of the current speed and spatial distribution of Kuroshio. To investigate the relationship between the change in latitude of the Kuroshio extension region, which flows along the boundary between the subtropical gyre and the subarctic gyre in the North Pacific, and the large-scale atmospheric circulation due to global warming, the zero-windstress curl line for each climate change experiment from 9 out of 21 models were compared. As the atmospheric radiative forcing increases due to the increase of greenhouse gases, it was confirmed that the zero-windstress curl line moves northward, which is consistent with the observation. These results indicate that as the Hadley Circulation expands to the north due to global warming, the warming of the mid-latitudes to which the Korean Peninsula belongs may be accelerated. The volume transport and temperature of the Tsushima Warm Current flowing into the East Sea through the Korea Strait also increased as the atmospheric radiative forcing increased.

• Korean Journal of Materials Research
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• v.31 no.12
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• pp.682-689
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• 2021

NbC, HfC, TaC, and their solid solution ceramics have been identified as the best materials for ultrahigh-temperature ceramics. However, their structural stability and elastic properties are mostly unclear. Thus, we investigated structure and elastic properties of (Nb_1-xTa_x)C and (Nb_1-xHf_x)C solid solutions via ab initio calculations. Our calculated results show that the stability of (Nb_1-xTa_x)C and (Nb_1-xHf_x)C increases with the increase of Hf and Ta content, and (Nb_1-xHf_x)C is more stable than (Nb_1-xTa_x)C at the same content of Hf and Ta. The lattice constants decrease with increasing of Hf and Ta content. (Nb_1-xTa_x)C and (Nb_1-xHf_x)C carbides are mechanically stable and brittle. Bulk modulus of (Nb_1-xTa_x)C increases with increasing Ta content. In contrast, bulk modulus of (Nb_1-xHf_x)C decreases with increasing Hf content. Hardness of solid solutions shows the highest values at the (Nb_0.25Ta_0.75)C and (Nb_0.75Hf_0.25)C. In particular, (Nb_0.75Hf_0.25)C shows the highest hardness for the current system. The results indicate that the overall mechanical properties of (Nb_1-xHf_x)C solid solutions are superior to those of (Nb_1-xTa_x)C solid solutions. Therefore, controlling the Hf and Ta element and content of the (Nb_1-xTa_x)C and (Nb_1-xHf_x)C Solid solution is crucial for optimizing the material properties.

• Journal of the Korean Geotechnical Society
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• v.38 no.4
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• pp.33-45
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• 2022

A series of model tests were performed in this study to demonstrate the clogging mechanism created during the installation of a compaction pile to improve soft ground. The application of an air-jet to extrude sand or aggregates from a casing during the installation of a compaction pile imposes a remarkably high-pressure difference between the composite soil layers of clay and sand (or aggregates), resulting in severe clogging. Therefore, a one-dimensional testing system was developed to simulate composite soil layers consisting of clay and sand (or aggregates) and to apply a high-pressure differential at both boundaries, thus replicating the extrusion process used in compaction pile installation. Herein, the performance of two construction materials for compaction piles of crushed stone and grading-controlled aggregates was compared. A series of one-dimensional model tests were performed under multiple pressure settings, with clogging depth and permeability measured in each case. Results indicate that, blinding clogging mechanisms and blocking defined by previous studies were observed for crushed stone, and a new mechanism of "infiltration" was revealed and defined. Whereas, the controlled aggregates performed excellently against clogging because only blinding was observed.

• International Journal of Computer Science & Network Security
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• v.22 no.7
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• pp.259-267
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• 2022

With the rapid development and introduction of digital technologies, both everyday human life and technological processes of any production are changing, which stimulates the transformation of the economy and education. Digital technologies are not only a tool, but also a living environment of modern human, which opens up new opportunities: learning at any convenient time, continuing education, the ability to form individual educational learning trajectories and more. However, the digital environment requires teachers to take a modern approach to the organization of the educational process, the formation of new skills and abilities to work in the digital educational environment. As a result of the study, it was found that the system of vocational education should provide training for masters of industrial training who have a high level of digital competence. The purpose of the article is to single out, theoretically substantiate and determine the level of formation of structural components of digital competence of future masters of agricultural training. The structure of digital competence of agricultural master was analyzed on the basis of domestic and foreign scientists researches. Systematized research results indicate that digital competence consists of four components: motivational-value (combination of internal and external motives for the use of digital technologies in future professional activities), cognitive (a set of theoretical knowledge, skills and abilities of future master of industrial training to effectively build educational process with the use of digital technologies), activity-professional (expansion and deepening of knowledge, skills, necessary skills for effective implementation of digital technologies in the educational process) and evaluative-reflexive (ability to analyze and self-analyze own activities and its results taking into account professional characteristics, self-realization in professional activities through the use of digital technologies). These components are comparable with the indicators that describe the knowledge, skills and abilities needed by the future master of industrial training to organize the modern educational process. A questionnaire was conducted to determine the levels of this competence formation, which allows us to conclude that it is necessary to increase the level of formation of all components of digital competence of future masters of industrial training in agriculture. The results of the study can be used as a basis for the development of disciplines that form the special competencies of masters of industrial training in agriculture and programs of advanced training of teachers.

• Journal of Naturopathy
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.68-78
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• 2022

Background: Integrative medical research is needed to explore the development direction of new yoga therapy. Purposes: A systematic literature review is conducted to analyze the current status of clinical research on yoga therapy into scientific categories, and to explore the content and development direction of yoga therapy. Methods: Through electronic databases such as RISS, NDSL, DBpia, e-article, and KISS, 530 domestic academic papers were selected from 2010 to 2018 and the final 28 were extracted based on PRISMA guidelines. Results: As a result of the study, in terms of quality, it remained at 3b of the CEBM level of evidence, and in terms of quantity, the number of experimental groups in the entire clinical study was 288, so domestic clinical studies of yoga therapy are insufficient. It was found that 80% of yoga therapy was exercise therapy focusing on asana movements. This seems to be due to a lot of researchers in the field of physical education. Conclusions: These results indicate that understanding and practice of the Ashtanga-yoga's training system and Pancha-kosha theory from the perspective of integrative medicine are necessary. In other words, yoga therapy is required to develop into an integrated mind-body therapy program that integrates holistic healing yoga based on individual mental and physical constitution, meditation therapy based on Ayurveda, and exercise therapy.