• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• 제53권12호
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• pp.4098-4105
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• 2021

The aim of this study is to calculate the JO-IMRT dose distributions based on the AAPM TG-119 using Monte Carlo (MC) simulation and Prowess Panther treatment planning system (TPS) (Panther, Prowess Inc., Chico, CA). JO-IMRT dose distributions of AAPM TG-119 were calculated by the TPS and were recalculated by MC simulation. The DVHs and 3D gamma index using global methods implemented in the PTW-VeriSoft with 3%/3 mm were used for evaluation. JO-IMRT dose distributions calculated by TPS and MC were matched the TG-119 goals. The gamma index passing rates with 3%/3 mm were 98.7% for multi-target, 96.0% for mock prostate, 95.4% for mock head-and-neck, and 96.6% for C-shape. The dose in the planning target volumes (PTV) for TPS was larger than that for the MC. The relative dose differences in D99 between TPS and MC for multi-target are 1.52%, 0.17% and 1.40%, for the center, superior and inferior, respectively. The differences in D95 are 0.16% for C-shape; and 0.06% for mock prostate. Mock head-and-neck difference is 0.40% in D99. In contrast, the organ curve for TPS tended to be smaller than MC values. JO-IMRT dose distributions for the AAPM TG-119 calculated by the TPS agreed well with the MC.

• International Neurourology Journal
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• 제22권4호
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• pp.246-251
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• 2018

Purpose: To determine whether responses to serotonin are altered in bladder strips from cats diagnosed with a naturally occurring form of bladder pain syndrome/interstitial cystitis termed feline interstitial cystitis (FIC). Methods: Full thickness bladder strips were isolated from aged matched healthy control cats and cats with clinically verified FIC. Bladder strips were mounted in an organ bath and connected to a tension transducer to record contractile activity. A serotonin dose response ($0.01-10{\mu}M$) was determined for each strip with the mucosa intact or denuded. Results: Bladder strips from control and FIC cats contracted in response to serotonin in a dose-dependent manner. The normalized force of serotonin-evoked contractions was significantly greater in bladder strips from cats with FIC (n=7) than from control cats (n=4). Removal of the mucosa significantly decreased serotonin-mediated responses in both control and FIC bladder preparations. Furthermore, the contractions in response to serotonin were abolished by $1{\mu}M$ atropine in both control and FIC bladder strips. Conclusions: The effect of serotonin on contractile force, but not sensitivity, was potentiated in bladder strips from cats with FIC, and was dependent upon the presence of the mucosa in control and FIC groups. As atropine inhibited these effects of serotonin, we hypothesize that, serotonin enhances acetylcholine release from the mucosa of FIC cat bladder strips, which could account for the increased force generated. In summary, FIC augments the responsiveness of bladder to serotonin, which may contribute to the symptoms associated with this chronic condition.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• 제36권1호
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• pp.33-37
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• 2019

Background: This study was designed to investigate the potential effects of Galgeungyulpitang for whitening and elasticity treatment by examining its effect on melanoma cells. Methods: The effects of Galgeungyulpitang on B16/F10 melanoma cell viability, production of melanin, tyrosinase and elastase, were investigated. Cell viability was measured by colorimetric assay that assesses cell metabolic activity (MTT assay). Melanin was measured by Hosei's method, tyrosinase was measured by Yogi's method and elastase was measured by James's method. Results: At concentrations higher than $500{\mu}g/mL$ Galgeungyulpitang, cell viability was significantly reduced ($p{\leq}0.05$). At concentrations of $500{\mu}g/mL$ and lower, morphological changes were not observed. The rate of melanin synthesis was significantly reduced to $73.49%{\pm}2.92%$ at a concentration of $500{\mu}g/mL$ Galgeungyulpitang compared with untreated cells (p < 0.05). Extracellular tyrosinase production was not significantly decreased in vitro, however, intracellular tyrosinase production was significantly reduced to $76.06%{\pm}2.17%$ when treated with Galgeungyulpitang at a concentration of $500{\mu}g/mL$ compared with the control (p < 0.05). Elastase Type 1 production was significantly reduced to $74.98%{\pm}3.24%$ and $69.62%{\pm}4.66%$ at concentrations of 250 and $500{\mu}g/mL$ Galgeungyulpitang, respectively (p < 0.05). Elastase Type 4 production was significantly reduced to $72.77%{\pm}3.52%$ at concentrations of 250 and $500{\mu}g/mL$ (p < 0.05). Conclusion: The results in this study showed that Galgeungyulpitang may inhibit melanin and tyrosinase synthesis, and inhibit elastase production, suggesting that Galgeungyulpitang may be potentially beneficial for skin whitening and loss of skin elasticity treatments.

• 한국콘텐츠학회논문지
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• 제19권7호
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• pp.220-233
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• 2019

올라퍼 엘리아슨은 <날씨 프로젝트>(2003)을 통해 설치라는 낯선 장르를 대중의 의식에 깊이 각인시켰다. 그 동안 엘리아슨의 작업에 대해서는 그 동안 다양한 각도에서 접근이 이루어져왔다. 여기서는 그 다양한 해석의 시도들을 크게 신체미학 정치미학 기술미학적 접근의 세 유형으로 분류한 후, 비판적 검토를 통해 그 각각에 담긴 합리적 핵심들을 하나로 종합하게 될 것이다. 하지만 이 과정에서 기존의 해석들에는 엘리아슨을 비롯해 최근 설치예술가들이 빈번히 사용하는 '빛'의 효과에 대한 언급이 거의 등장하지 않는다는 사실이 드러난다. 그것은 현재 우리가 사용하는 미학에 빛의 분위기 효과를 기술하는 데에 적합한 개념도구가 존재하지 않기 때문이다. 이 논문에서는 엘리아슨의 작업을 제대로 이해하는 데에는 이 빛의 효과에 대한 분석이 필수적이며, 그 분석에 필요한 이론의 결핍을 보충하기 위해 중세의 신학적 광학이 다시 참조할 필요가 있음을 강조하게 될 것이다. 중세의 '빛의 미학'은 설치미술을 넘어 디지털시대의 시각성 일반의 특징을 규명하는 데에도 도움이 될 수 있다.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• 제31권6호
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• pp.601-615
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• 2019

In cold-formed steel (CFS) structures, such as trusses, wall frames and columns, the use of back-to-back built-up CFS angle sections are becoming increasingly popular. In such an arrangement, intermediate fasteners are required at discrete points along the length, preventing the angle-sections from buckling independently. Limited research is available in the literature on the axial strength of back-to-back built-up CFS angle sections. The issue is addressed herein. This paper presents the results of 16 experimental tests, conducted on back-to-back built-up CFS screw fastened angle sections under axial compression. A nonlinear finite element model is then described, which includes material non-linearity, geometric imperfections and explicit modelling of the intermediate fasteners. The finite element model was validated against the experimental test results. The validated finite element model was then used for the purpose of a parametric study comprising 66 models. The effect of fastener spacing on axial strength was investigated. Four different cross-sections and two different thicknesses were analyzed in the parametric study, varying the slenderness ratio of the built-up columns from 20 to 120. Axial strengths obtained from the experimental tests and finite element analysis were used to assess the performance of the current design guidelines as per the Direct Strength Method (DSM); obtained comparison showed that the DSM is over-conservative by 13% on average. This paper has therefore proposed improved design rules for the DSM and verified their accuracy against the finite element and test results of back-to-back built-up CFS angle sections under axial compression.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• 제56권6호
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• pp.577-581
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• 2018

Schistosomiasis is prevalent in Nigeria, and the foremost pathogen is Schistosoma haematobium, which affects about 29 million people. Single dose of the drug praziquantel is often recommended for treatment but the efficacy has not been documented in certain regions. Therefore, this study was designed to assess the impact of single dose praziquantel treatment on S. haematobium infection among school children in an endemic community of South-Western Nigeria. Urine samples were collected from 434 school children and 10 ml was filtered through Nucleopore filter paper before examination for egg outputs by microscopy. The prevalence was 24.9% at pre-treatment. There was no statistically significant difference for the prevalence of infection between males (14.7%) and females (10.2%), although the mean egg count for the females (9.87) was significantly more (P<0.05) than the males (6.06). At 6 and 12 months post-treatment there was 74.4% and 86.4% reduction in the mean egg count, respectively. Interestingly, an increased prevalence of infection from 2.1% at 6 months to 7.7% at 12 months post-treatment was observed, nonetheless the mean egg count was reduced to 0.27 at 12th month from 1.98 at 6 months post-treatment. Resurgence in the prevalence rate between 6 and 12 months post-treatment with praziquantel is herein reported and the need for a follow-up treatment in endemic areas for adequate impact on schistosomiasis control is discussed.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• 제28권12호
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• pp.2079-2094
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• 2018

Sunflower trypsin inhibitor (SFTI) is a 14-amino-acid bicyclic peptide that contains a single internal disulfide bond. We initially constructed chimeras of SFTI with N-terminal secretion signals from the Escherichia coli OmpA and Pseudomonas aeruginosa ToxA, but only detected small amounts of protease inhibition resulting from these constructs. A substantially higher degree of protease inhibition was detected from a C-terminal SFTI fusion with E. coli YebF, which radiated more than a centimeter from an individual colony of E. coli using a culture-based inhibitor assay. Inhibitory activity was further improved in YebF-SFTI fusions by the addition of a trypsin cleavage signal immediately upstream of SFTI, and resulted in production of a 14-amino-acid, disulfide-bonded SFTI free in the culture supernatant. To assess the potential of the secreted SFTI to protect the ability of a cytotoxic protein to kill tumor cells, we utilized a tumor-selective form of the Pseudomonas ToxA (OTG-PE38K) alone and expressed as a polycistronic construct with YebF-SFTI in the tumor-targeted Salmonella VNP20009. When we assessed the ability of toxin-containing culture supernatants to kill MDA-MB-468 breast cancer cells, the untreated OTG-PE38K was able to eliminate all detectable tumor cells, while pretreatment with trypsin resulted in the complete loss of anticancer cytotoxicity. However, when OTG-PE38K was co-expressed with YebF-SFTI, cytotoxicity was completely retained in the presence of trypsin. These data demonstrate SFTI chimeras are secreted in a functional form and that co-expression of protease inhibitors with therapeutic proteins by tumor-targeted bacteria has the potential to enhance the activity of therapeutic proteins by suppressing their degradation within a proteolytic environment.

• Toxicological Research
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• 제35권2호
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• pp.181-190
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• 2019

Lentinus squarrosulus (Mont.) is an edible wild mushroom with tough fruiting body that belongs to the family Polyporaceae. It is used in ethnomedicine for the treatment of ulcer, anaemia, cough and fever. Recent studies have demonstrated its anticancer, anti-diabetic and antioxidant properties. However, little or no information is available regarding the bioactive components and toxicological study of wild dried L. squarrosulus. Therefore, this study investigated the bioactive components of aqueous extract of boiled wild dried L. squarrosulus and its toxicological effects in rats. The extract of L. squarrosulus was subjected to GC-MS analysis. The acute toxicity test was performed by oral administration of a single dose of up to 5,000 mg/kg extract of L. squarrosulus. In subacute study, the rats were orally administered extract of L. squarrosulus at the doses of 500, 1,000 and 1,500 mg/kg body weight daily for 14 days. The haematological, lipid profile, liver and kidney function parameters were determined and the histopathology of the liver and kidney were examined. The GC-MS analysis revealed the presence of bioactive compounds; 1-tetradecene, fumaric acid, monochloride, 6-ethyloct-3-yl ester, 9-eicosene, phytol, octahydropyrrolo[1,2-a]pyrazine and 3-trifluoroacetoxypentadecane. In acute toxicity study, neither death nor toxicity sign was recorded. In the sub-acute toxicity study, significant differences (p < 0.05) were observed on creatinine, aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, total cholesterol, triglycerides and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol. Whilst no significant differences (p > 0.05) were observed on packed cell volume, heamoglobin, red blood cell, white blood cell and alkaline phosphatase, in all the tested doses. No histopathological alterations were recorded. Our findings revealed that aqueous extract of L. squarrosulus may have antimicrobial, antinocieptive and antioxidant properties based on the result of GC-MS analysis. Results of the toxicity test showed no deleterious effect at the tested doses, suggesting that L. squarrosulus is safe for consumption at the tested doses.

• KNOM Review
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• 제21권2호
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• pp.26-34
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• 2018

클라우드 컴퓨팅 및 서비스의 확산으로 인터넷 트래픽과 서비스 품질 향상에 대한 요구가 증가하면서 데이터 센터 내부 서버의 리소스를 보다 효율적으로 사용하는 서버 가상화와 네트워크 가상화 기술에 대한 관심이 증가하고 있다. 트래픽 모니터링을 위해 패킷을 복제하는 기존의 하드웨어 TAP (Test Access Port) 장비는 서버 가상화 환경에서 구성된 가상 데이터 경로 (datapath)에 적합하지 않기 때문에 하드웨어 TAP 장비를 소프트웨어로 구현한 Virtual TAP (vTAP)을 통해 가상 스위치에서 패킷을 복제한다. 그러나 가상 스위치에서 vTAP을 구현하면 호스트 머신의 컴퓨팅 리소스를 가상 스위치 및 가상 머신과 공유하기 때문에 성능 저하 문제가 발생한다. 이 문제를 극복하기 위해 고속 패킷 처리 기술인 eBPF (Extended Berkeley Packet Filter) 기반의 vTAP 구현 기술을 제안하고 기존 방법과 성능을 비교한다.

• KNOM Review
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• 제21권2호
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• pp.1-9
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• 2018

네트워크 가상화 (Network virtualization)는 물리 네트워크상에서 각 사용자 별로 독립된 가상의 네트워크 환경을 생성하는 기술을 지칭한다. 네트워크 가상화 기술은 물리 네트워크 자원을 공유하여 사용자 별로 네트워크를 구축하는 데 필요한 비용을 절감할 수 있으며, 네트워크 관리자가 요구사항에 따라 동적으로 네트워크를 관리할 수 있도록 돕는다. 하지만 동적으로 네트워크 관리를 수행할 수 있다는 장점에도 불구하고, 관리자가 여전히 직접 판단을 내리고 관리 기능을 실행하는 과정은 동일하다. 네트워크 관리 기능 실행 전까지 관리자에 의해 네트워크 상황을 파악하고 결정을 내리는 과정에는 많은 시간이 소요될 수 있기 때문에 네트워크 가상화로 얻을 수 있는 동적 네트워크 관리라는 장점을 최대화 하지 못하고 있다. 본 논문에서는 기계학습 (Machine Learning) 기술을 도입하여 사람의 도움 없이 네트워크가 스스로 학습하여 동적으로 네트워크 관리를 수행하는 방법을 제안한다. 제안하는 방법은 가상 네트워크 관리에서 핵심적이고 필수적인 문제인 자원관리 최적화 문제를 서비스 펑션 체인(Service Function Chaining) 문제로 정의하고, VNF의 자원 수요를 예측하여 적절한 자원을 동적으로 할당해 서비스 중단이 일어나는 것을 방지하면서 네트워크 운용비용을 절감하는 것을 목표로 한다.