• The Journal of the Acoustical Society of Korea
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• v.38 no.3
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• pp.290-301
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• 2019

The proposed algorithm deals with a detection problem of target echo for narrow-band continuous-wave active sonar in the underwater environment in this paper. In the active sonar systems, ping signal emitted for target detection produces a signal that consists of multiple reflections by many scatterers around, which is called reverberation. The proposed algorithm aims to detect the low-Doppler target echo in the reverberant environment. The proposed algorithm estimates the bearing, frequency, and temporal bases based on beamspace-domain multichannel nonnegative matrix factorization. In particular, the bases are divided into two basis groups - the reverberation group and the echo group, then the basis groups are estimated independently. In order to evaluate the proposed algorithm, a simulation with synthesized reverberation was performed. The results show that the proposed algorithm has enhanced performance than the conventional algorithms.

• Yonsei Medical Journal
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• v.59 no.9
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• pp.1064-1071
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• 2018

Purpose: To explore the influence of S100 calcium binding protein A4 (S100A4) knockout (KO) on methionine-choline-deficient (MCD) diet-induced non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) in mice. Materials and Methods: S100A4 KO mice (n=20) and their wild-type (WT) counterparts (n=20) were randomly divided into KO/MCD, Ko/methionine-choline-sufficient (MCS), WT/MCD, and WT/MCS groups. After 8 weeks of feeding, blood lipid and liver function-related indexes were measured. HE, Oil Red O, and Masson stainings were used to observe the changes of liver histopathology. Additionally, expressions of S100A4 and proinflammatory and profibrogenic cytokines were detected by qRT-PCR and Western blot, while hepatocyte apoptosis was revealed by TUNEL staining. Results: Serum levels of aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, triglyceride, and total cholesterol in mice were increased after 8-week MCD feeding, and hepatocytes performed varying balloon-like changes with increased inflammatory cell infiltration and collagen fibers; however, these effects were improved in mice of KO/MCD group. Meanwhile, total NAFLD activity scores and fibrosis were lower compared to WT+MCD group. Compared to WT/MCS group, S100A4 expression in liver tissue of WT/MCD group was enhanced. The expression of proinflammatory ($TGF-{\alpha}$, $IL-1{\beta}$, IL-6) and profibrogenic cytokines ($TGF-{\beta}1$, COL1A1, ${\alpha}-SMA$) in MCD-induced NAFLD mice were increased, as well as apoptotic index (AI). For MCD group, the expressions of proinflammatory and profibrogenic cytokines and AI in KO mice were lower than those of WT mice. Conclusion: S100A4 was detected to be upregulated in NAFLD, while S100A4 KO alleviated liver fibrosis and inflammation, in addition to inhibiting hepatocyte apoptosis.

• Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine
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• v.15 no.6
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• pp.751-760
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• 2018

BACKGROUND: Bone tissue engineering based on pluripotent stem cells (PSCs) is a new approach to deal with bone defects. Protocols have been developed to generate osteoblasts from PSCs. However, the low efficiency of this process is still an important issue that needs to be resolved. Many studies have aimed to improve efficiency, but developing accurate methods to determine efficacy is also critical. Studies using pluripotency to estimate efficacy are rare. Telomerase is highly associated with pluripotency. METHODS: We have described a quantitative method to measure telomerase activity, telomeric repeat elongation assay based on quartz crystal microbalance (QCM). To investigate whether this method could be used to determine the efficiency of in vitro osteogenic differentiation based on pluripotency, we measured the pluripotency pattern of cultures through stemness gene expression, proliferation ability and telomerase activity, measured by QCM. RESULTS: We showed that the pluripotency pattern determined by QCM was similar to the patterns of proliferation ability and gene expression, which showed a slight upregulation at the late stages, within the context of the general downregulation tendency during differentiation. Additionally, a comprehensive gene expression pattern covering nearly every stage of differentiation was identified. CONCLUSION: Therefore, this assay may be powerful tools for determining the efficiency of differentiation systems based on pluripotency. In this study, we not only introduce a new method for determining efficiency based on pluripotency, but also provide more information about the characteristics of osteogenic differentiation which help facilitate future development of more efficient protocols.

• Journal of Periodontal and Implant Science
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• v.51 no.5
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• pp.298-315
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• 2021

Purpose: Peri-implantitis therapy and implant maintenance are fundamental practices to enhance the longevity of zirconia implants. However, the use of physical decontamination methods, including hand instruments, polishing devices, ultrasonic scalers, and laser systems, might damage the implant surfaces. The aim of this systematic review was to evaluate the effects of physical decontamination methods on zirconia implant surfaces. Methods: A systematic search was conducted using 5 electronic databases: Ovid MEDLINE, PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Cochrane. Hand searching of the OpenGrey database, reference lists, and 6 selected dental journals was also performed to identify relevant studies satisfying the eligibility criteria. Results: Overall, 1049 unique studies were identified, of which 11 studies were deemed suitable for final review. Air-abrasive devices with glycine powder, prophylaxis cups, and ultrasonic scalers with non-metal tips were found to cause minimal to no damage to implantgrade zirconia surfaces. However, hand instruments and ultrasonic scalers with metal tips have the potential to cause major damage to zirconia surfaces. In terms of laser systems, diode lasers appear to be the most promising, as no surface alterations were reported following their use. Conclusion: Air-abrasive devices and prophylaxis cups are safe for zirconia implant decontamination due to preservation of the implant surface integrity. In contrast, hand instruments and ultrasonic scalers with metal tips should be used with caution. Recommendations for the use of laser systems could not be fully established due to significant heterogeneity among included studies, but diode lasers may be the best-suited system. Further research-specifically, randomised controlled trials-would further confirm the effects of physical decontamination methods in a clinical setting.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.43 no.4
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• pp.517-526
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• 2019

Background: The root of Panax ginseng, a member of Araliaceae family, has been used as herbal medicine and functional food in Asia for thousands of years. According to Traditional Chinese medicine, ginseng is the most widely used "Qi-invigorating" herbs, which provides tonic and preventive effects by resisting oxidative stress, influencing energy metabolism, and improving mitochondrial function. Very few reports have systematically measured cell mitochondrial bioenergetics after ginseng treatment. Methods: Here, H9C2 cell line, a rat cardiomyoblast, was treated with ginseng extracts having extracted using solvents of different polarity, i.e., water, 50% ethanol, and 90% ethanol, and subsequently, the oxygen consumption rate in healthy and tert-butyl hydroperoxideetreated live cultures was determined by Seahorse extracellular flux analyzer. Results: The 90% ethanol extracts of ginseng possessed the strongest antioxidative and tonic activities to mitochondrial respiration and therefore provided the best protective effects to H9C2 cardiomyocytes. By increasing the spare respiratory capacity of stressed H9C2 cells up to three-folds of that of healthy cells, the 90% ethanol extracts of ginseng greatly improved the tolerance of myocardial cells to oxidative damage. Conclusion: These results demonstrated that the low polarity extracts of ginseng could be the best extract, as compared with others, in regulating the oxygen consumption rate of cultured cardiomyocytes during mitochondrial respiration.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.58 no.6
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• pp.681-687
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• 2020

Giardia lamblia is a common enteric pathogen associated with diarrheal diseases. There are some reports of G. lamblia infection among different breeds of cattle in recent years worldwide. However, it is yet to know whether cattle in Jiangxi province, southeastern China is infected with G. lamblia. The objectives of the present study were to investigate the prevalence and examine the multilocus genotypes of G. lamblia in cattle in Jiangxi province. A total of 556 fecal samples were collected from 3 cattle breeds (dairy cattle, beef cattle, and buffalo) in Jiangxi province, and the prevalence and genotypes of G. lamblia were determined by the nested PCR amplification of the beta-giardin (bg) gene. A total of 52 samples (9.2%) were positive for G. lamblia. The highest prevalence of G. lamblia was detected in dairy cattle (20.0%), followed by that in beef cattle (6.4%), and meat buffalo (0.9%). Multilocus sequence typing of G. lamblia was performed based on sequences of the bg, triose phosphate isomerase and glutamate dehydrogenase loci, and 22, 42, and 52 samples were amplifiable, respectively, forming 15 MLGs. Moreover, one mixed G. lamblia infection (assemblages A and E) was found in the present study. Altogether, 6 novel assemblage E subtypes (E41*-E46*) were identified for the first time. These results not only provided baseline data for the control of G. lamblia infection in cattle in this southeastern province of China, but also enriched the molecular epidemiological data and genetic diversity of G. lamblia in cattle.

• Korea Trade Review
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• v.44 no.2
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• pp.109-126
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• 2019

Import refusals can be considered a new method of non-tariff barriers. This study aims to analyze reputation spillover effects on fish and fishery products imported from ASEAN countries to the U.S. FDA. The supply of aquatic products is not stable due to various factors such as reduction of fish stocks and climate change. Fish is a basic food ingested directly, but there are many ways to control the safety of aquatic products. ASEAN countries account for about 20% of U.S.imports in fish and fishery products. For Southeast Asian countries, fish and fishery products comprise a high proportion of exports revenue. Despite the large share of exports to the U.S., Southeast Asia countries have been receiving many import refusals from the United States. In this study, a theoretical model for examining import refusals is suggested using the negative binomial counting process. The reputation spillover effect, was divided into two spillover effects of 'neighbor reputation' and 'sector reputation'. Results show that there exists a neighbor reputation spillover effect. It can be said if there was a import refusal of the same product from neighboring countries in the preceding year, the home country have a possibility to experience import refusals of the same product. Therefore, it is interpreted that neighboring countries have good standard compliance can help home countries to effectively reach the target markets. Our findings have a important policy implication for ASEAN exporters of fish and fishery products.

• Journal of the Korean Physical Society
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• v.73 no.11
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• pp.1703-1707
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• 2018

Ferromagnetic ${\tau}-phase$ $Mn_{54}Al_{46}C_{2.44}$ particles were synthesized, and its composites with commercial $Sm_2Fe_{17}N_3$ and synthesized $Fe_{65}Co_{35}$ powders were fabricated. Smaller grain size than the single domain size of the $Mn_{54}Al_{46}C_{2.44}$ without obvious grain boundaries and secondary phases is the origin for the low intrinsic coercivity. It was confirmed that the magnetic properties of the $Mn_{54}Al_{46}C_{2.44}$ can be enhanced by magnetic exchange coupling with the hard magnetic $Sm_2Fe_{17}N_3$ and soft magnetic $Fe_{65}Co_{35}$. The high degrees of the exchange coupling were verified by calculating first derivative curves. Thermo-magnetic stabilities of the composites from 100 to 400 K were measured and compared. It was demonstrated that the $Mn_{54}Al_{46}C_{2.44}$ based composites containing $Sm_2Fe_{17}N_3$ and $Fe_{65}Co_{35}$ could be promising candidates for future permanent magnetic materials with the proper control of purity, magnetic properties, etc.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.131-137
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• 2021

Aging is the process spontaneously occurred in living organisms. Cardiac fibrosis is a pathophysiological process of cardiac aging. Mangiferin is a well-known C-glucoside xanthone in mango leaves with lots of beneficial properties. In this study, rat model of cardiac fibrosis was induced by injected with 150 mg/kg/d D-galactose for 8 weeks. The age-related cardiac decline was estimated by detecting the relative weight of heart, the serum levels of cardiac injury indicators and the expression of hypertrophic biomakers. Cardiac oxidative stress and local inflammation were measured by detecting the levels of malondialdehyde, enzymatic antioxidant status and proinflammatory cytokines. Cardiac fibrosis was evaluated by observing collagen deposition via masson and sirius red staining, as well as by examining the expression of extracellular matrix proteins via Western blot analysis. The cardiac activity of profibrotic TGF-β1/p38/MK2 signaling pathway was assessed by measuring the expression of TGF-β1 and the phosphorylation levels of p38 and MK2. It was observed that mangiferin ameliorated D-galactose-induced cardiac aging, attenuated cardiac oxidative stress, inflammation and fibrosis, as well as inhibited the activation of TGF-β1/p38/MK2 signaling pathway. These results showed that mangiferin could ameliorate cardiac fibrosis in D-galactose-induced aging rats possibly via inhibiting TGF-β/p38/MK2 signaling pathway.

• International Journal of Naval Architecture and Ocean Engineering
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.399-413
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• 2020

The numerical simulation of liquid sloshing in the three-dimensional tanks under horizontal excitation and roll excitation was carried out, and the inhibition effect of different baffles on the sloshing phenomenon was investigated. The numerical calculations were carried out by the nonlinear Boundary Element Method (BEM) with Green's theorem based on the potential flow, which was conducted with the governing equation corresponding to the boundaries of each region. The validity of the method was verified by comparing with experimental values and published literatures. The horizontal baffle, the vertical baffle and the T-shaped baffle in the sloshing tanks were investigated respectively, and the baffles' position, dimension and the liquid depth were provided and discussed in detail. It is drawn that the baffle shape plays a non-negligible role in the tank sloshing. The vertical baffle is a more effective way to reduce the sloshing amplitude when the tank is under a horizontal harmonic excitation while the horizontal baffle is a more effective way when the tank is under a roll excitation. The amplitude of free surface elevation at right tank wall decreases with the increasing of the horizontal baffle length and the vertical baffle height. Although the T-shaped baffle has the best suppression effect on tank sloshing under horizontal excitation, it has limited suppression effect under roll excitation and will complicate the sloshing phenomenon when changing baffle height.