• Smart Structures and Systems
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• 제26권5호
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• pp.545-558
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• 2020

A design method of a Multiple Tuned Mass Damper (MTMD) system is presented for wind induced vibration control of a cable-supported roof structure. Modal contribution analysis is carried out to determine the dominating modes of the structure for the MTMD design. Two MTMD systems are developed for two most dominating modes. Each MTMD system is composed of multiple TMDs with small masses spread at multiple locations with large responses in the corresponding mode. Frequencies of TMDs are distributed uniformly within a range around the dominating frequencies of the roof structure to enhance the robustness of the MTMD system against uncertainties of structural frequencies. Parameter optimizations are carried out by minimizing objective functions regarding the structural responses, TMD strokes, robustness and mass cost. Two optimization approaches are used: Single Objective Approach (SOA) using Sequential Quadratic Programming (SQP) with multi-start method and Multi-Objective Approach (MOA) using Non-dominated Sorting Genetic Algorithm-II (NSGA-II). The computation efficiency of the MOA is found to be superior to the SOA with consistent optimization results. A Pareto optimal front is obtained regarding the control performance and the total weight of the TMDs, from which several specific design options are proposed. The final design may be selected based on the Pareto optimal front and other engineering factors.

• 대한간호학회지
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• 제38권3호
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• pp.410-419
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• 2008

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to develop a stress measurement scale for Korean nursing students. Methods: Sixty preliminary items were selected by classifying 229 basic items extracted via literature review and Q-sorting method. In order to verify the reliability and validity of the preliminary instrument, data were collected from 617 nursing students in 2 colleges of nursing in Korea. Results: As a result of the item analysis, 58 items were selected. They consisted of 2 types of stress which were college-based stress (38 items) and clinical-based stress (20 items). Ten factors in college-based stress and four factors in clinical-based stress were extracted by factor analysis, and each had a total variance of 63.01%, and 64.93%. Cronbach's Alpha of those 58 items were .937 in college-based stress and .922 in clinical-based stress, which was high. Conclusion: This paper is meaningful in a way that it has developed a tool capable of measuring stress for nursing students, which reflects the characteristics of our country. It is recommended for further study to re-verify the relevance and stability of this measurement.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• 제31권4호
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• pp.425-433
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• 2023

During liver injury, hepatic stellate cells can differentiate into myofibroblast-like structures, which are more susceptible to proliferation, migration, and extracellular matrix generation, leading to liver fibrosis. Anaerobic glycolysis is associated with activated stellate cells and glyceraldehyde (GA) is an inhibitor of glucose metabolism. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the anti-fibrotic effects of GA in human stellate LX-2 cells. In this study, we used cell viability, morphological analysis, fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS), western blotting, and qRT-PCR techniques to elucidate the molecular mechanism underlying the anti-fibrotic effects of GA in LX-2 cells. The results showed that GA significantly reduced cell density and inhibited cell proliferation and lactate levels in LX-2 cells but not in Hep-G2 cells. We found that GA prominently increased the activation of caspase-3/9 for apoptosis induction, and a pan-caspase inhibitor, Z-VAD-fmk, attenuated the cell death and apoptosis effects of GA, suggesting caspase-dependent cell death. Moreover, GA strongly elevated reactive oxygen species (ROS) production and notably increased the phosphorylation of ERK and JNK. Interestingly, it dramatically reduced α-SMA and collagen type I protein and mRNA expression levels in LX-2 cells. Thus, inhibition of ERK and JNK activation significantly rescued GA-induced cell growth suppression and apoptosis in LX-2 cells. Collectively, the current study provides important information demonstrating the anti-fibrotic effects of GA, a glycolytic metabolite, and demonstrates the therapeutic potency of metabolic factors in liver fibrosis.

• Molecules and Cells
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• 제43권5호
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• pp.438-447
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• 2020

The aim of this study was to explore the role of IL-6-miR-210 in the regulation of Tregs function and atrial fibrosis in atrial fibrillation (AF). The levels of interleukin (IL)-6 and IL-10 in AF patients were detected by using ELISA. Proportions of Treg cells were detected by fluorescence activated cell sorting analysis in AF patients. The expression of Foxp3, α-SMA, collagen I and collagen III were determined by western blot. The atrial mechanocytes were authenticated by vimentin immunostaining. The expression of miR-210 was performed by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). TargetScan was used to predict potential targets of miR-210. The cardiomyocyte transverse sections in AF model group were observed by H&E staining. The myocardial filaments were observed by masson staining. The level of IL-6 was highly increased while the level of IL-10 (Tregs) was significantly decreased in AF patients as compared to normal control subjects, and IL-6 suppressed Tregs function and promoted the expression of α-SMA, collagen I and collagen III. Furthermore, miR-210 regulated Tregs function by targeting Foxp3, and IL-6 promoted expression of miR-210 via regulating hypoxia inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α). IL-6-miR-210 suppresses regulatory T cell function and promotes atrial fibrosis by targeting Foxp3.

• 복식
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• 제64권5호
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• pp.91-107
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• 2014

This purpose of this study is to analyze the pursuit of current fashion trends and fashion image types of middle-aged women in Korea. This study attempted to investigate the standards and properties of these different types of fashion images. The overall characteristics of middle-aged women and the concepts of personal image and fashion image were investigated through literature research. Survey and analysis based on Q methodology was conducted. Factors of personal image, fashion image and components of fashion image were analyzed by collecting information from in-depth workshops and focus group interview of an expert group. The results of this study are as follows: 1) The main factors influencing the current fashion image of women in their forties and fifties in Korea are classified into six types. 2) The elements of fashion image that Korean women in their 40s and 50s pursue are divide into four types. 3) Each type can be recognized by specific fashion image components and colors. 4) This shows that middle-aged Korean women are highly conscious of how others perceive them and have a desire to not stand out from others. It also shows that they are very active in pursuing fashion and following trends, which is the image of an active and dignified woman. This study provides the framework that enables sorting of the fashion images types that middle-aged Korean women want to pursue. The results from analyzing the factors can be used to recognize specific fashion images, and can be used in the planning and designing of fashion items for middle-aged Korean women.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• 제33권11호
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• pp.1824-1836
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• 2020

Objective: On the hypothesis that grazing of cattle prompts organs to secrete or internalize circulating microRNAs (c-miRNAs) in parallel with changes in energy metabolism, we aimed to clarify biological events in adipose, skeletal muscle, and liver tissues in grazing Japanese Shorthorn (JSH) steers by a transcriptomic approach. Methods: The subcutaneous fat (SCF), biceps femoris muscle (BFM), and liver in JSH steers after three months of grazing or housing were analyzed using microarray and quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR), followed by gene ontology (GO) and functional annotation analyses. Results: The results of transcriptomics indicated that SCF was highly responsive to grazing compared to BFM and liver tissues. The 'Exosome', 'Carbohydrate metabolism' and 'Lipid metabolism' were extracted as the relevant GO terms in SCF and BFM, and/or liver from the >1.5-fold-altered mRNAs in grazing steers. The qPCR analyses showed a trend of upregulated gene expression related to exosome secretion and internalization (charged multivesicular body protein 4A, vacuolar protein sorting-associated protein 4B, vesicle associated membrane protein 7, caveolin 1) in the BFM and SCF, as well as upregulation of lipolysis-associated mRNAs (carnitine palmitoyltransferase 1A, hormone-sensitive lipase, perilipin 1, adipose triglyceride lipase, fatty acid binding protein 4) and most of the microRNAs (miRNAs) in SCF. Moreover, gene expression related to fatty acid uptake and inter-organ signaling (solute carrier family 27 member 4 and angiopoietin-like 4) was upregulated in BFM, suggesting activation of SCF-BFM organ crosstalk for energy metabolism. Meanwhile, expression of plasma exosomal miR-16a, miR-19b, miR-21-5p, and miR-142-5p was reduced. According to bioinformatic analyses, the c-miRNA target genes are associated with the terms 'Endosome', 'Caveola', 'Endocytosis', 'Carbohydrate metabolism', and with pathways related to environmental information processing and the endocrine system. Conclusion: Exosome and fatty acid metabolism-related gene expression was altered in SCF of grazing cattle, which could be regulated by miRNA such as miR-142-5p. These changes occurred coordinately in both the SCF and BFM, suggesting involvement of exosome in the SCF-BFM organ crosstalk to modulate energy metabolism.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• 제13권1호
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• pp.58-63
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• 2019

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Telomeres are located at the chromosomal ends and progressively shortened during each cell cycle. Telomerase, which is regulated by hTERT and c-MYC, maintains telomeric DNA sequences. Especially, telomerase is active in cancer and stem cells to maintain telomere length for replicative immortality. Recently we reported that walnut phenolic extract (WPE) can reduce cell viability in a colon cancer stem cell (CSC) model. We, therefore, investigated the effect of WPE on telomere maintenance in the same model. MATERIALS AND METHODS: $CD133^+CD44^+$ cells from HCT116, a human colon cancer cell line, were sorted by Fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS) and treated with WPE at the concentrations of 0, 10, 20, and $40{\mu}g/mL$ for 6 days. Telomere lengths were assessed by quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) using telomere specific primers and DNA extracted from the cells, which was further adjusted with single-copy gene and reference DNA ($ddC_t$). Telomerase activity was also measured by qRT-PCR after incubating the PCR mixture with cell protein extracts, which was adjusted with reference DNA ($dC_t$). Transcriptions of hTERT and c-MYC were determined using conventional RT-PCR. RESULTS: Telomere length of WPE-treated cells was significantly decreased in a dose-dependent manner ($5.16{\pm}0.13$ at $0{\mu}g/mL$, $4.79{\pm}0.12$ at $10{\mu}g/mL$, $3.24{\pm}0.08$ at $20{\mu}g/mL$ and $3.99{\pm}0.09$ at $40{\mu}g/mL$; P = 0.0276). Telomerase activities concurrently decreased with telomere length ($1.47{\pm}0.04$, $1.09{\pm}0.01$, $0.76{\pm}0.08$, and $0.88{\pm}0.06$; P = 0.0067). There was a positive correlation between telomere length and telomerase activity (r = 0.9090; P < 0.0001). Transcriptions of both hTERT and c-MYC were also significantly decreased in the same manner. CONCLUSION: In the present cell culture model, WPE reduced telomere maintenance, which may provide a mechanistic link to the effect of walnuts on the viability of colon CSCs.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• 제31권2호
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• pp.218-224
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• 2018

Objective: This study evaluated the effects of different levels of protein concentrate supplementation on the growth performance of yak calves, and correlated the growth rate to changes occurring in the plasma- amino acids, -insulin profile, and signaling activity of mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) cascade to characterize the mechanism through which the protein synthesis can be improved in early weaned yaks. Methods: For this study, 48 early (3 months old) weaned yak calves were selected, and assigned into four dietary treatments according to randomized complete block design. The four blocks were balanced for body weight and sex. The yaks were either grazed on natural pasture (control diet) in a single herd or the grazing yaks was supplemented with one of the three protein rich supplements containing low (17%; LP), medium (19%; MP), or high (21%; HP) levels of crude proteins for a period of 30 days. Results: Results showed that the average daily gain of calves increased (0.14 vs 0.23-0.26 kg; p<0.05) with protein concentrates supplementation. The concentration of plasma methionine increased (p<0.05; 8.6 vs $10.1-12.4{\mu}mol/L$), while those of serine and tyrosine did not change (p>0.05) when the grazing calves were supplemented with protein concentrates. Compared to control diet, the insulin level of calves increased (p<0.05; 1.86 vs $2.16-2.54{\mu}IU/mL$) with supplementation of protein concentrates. Addition of protein concentrates up-regulated (p<0.05) expression of mTOR-raptor, mammalian vacuolar protein sorting 34 homolog, the translational regulators eukaryotic translation initiation factor 4E binding protein 1, and S6 kinase 1 genes in both Longissimus dorsi and semitendinosus. In contrast, the expression of sequestosome 1 was down-regulated in the concentrate supplemented calves. Conclusion: Our results show that protein supplementation improves the growth performance of early weaned yak calves, and that plasma methionine and insulin concentrations were the key mediator for gene expression and protein deposition in the muscles.

• 한국지구과학회지
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• 제25권7호
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• pp.615-628
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• 2004

대조차 조간대에서 방조제 건설 후 발생하는 퇴적물의 분포특성과 퇴적환경의 계절적 변화를 파악하기 위해서 4계절을 대표하는 표층퇴적물을 채취, 분석하였으며, 4개의 측선에서 2년 동안 퇴적물과 퇴적률에 대한 조사가 병행되었다. 그 결과, 방조제를 축조함으로써 반폐쇄성 연안에서 개방형 연안으로 바뀐 이원 조간대의 동측 조간대 지역은 개방형 연안에서 나타나는 일반적인 계절 변화, 즉 몬순 계절풍의 영향으로 여름에는 세립질 퇴적물이 퇴적되고 겨울에는 강한 북서계절풍에 의해서 세립질 퇴적물이 제거되는 계절 변화를 보인다. 또한 측선 경사도와 퇴적물 분표양상 등을 고려할 때, 북부 지역은 조석보다는 파랑작용에 크게 영향을 받고, 남부 지역은 파랑보다는 조석작용이 크게 영향을 미치고 있지만 강한 조류, 파랑 그리고 태풍 등에 의해 시간이 지남에 따라서 조립화 현상을 보이고 있다. 반면 방조제 건설에 의해 새로운 형태로 변화된 서측 끝 지역은 조간대의 발달방향이 남동방향으로 향하고 있어 북서계절풍의 영향에서 보호되는 지역으로 동측 조간대에서 보여지는 계절변화 양상과는 약간 다르게 봄에 세립하고 불량한 분급을 그리고 여름에는 상대적으로 조립하고 양호한 분급을 나타낸다. 이는 방조제 건설에 따른 지형적 원인에 의한 것으로 판단되어진다. 따라서 연구 지역의 세립질 퇴적물 이동은 방조제에 의해서 겨울철에 동측 조간대에서 방조제 서측 끝 지역으로 이동하고 다시 여름철에는 동측 조간대로 이동되어지는 시계방향의 순환현상이 진행되는 것으로 보인다. 방조제 건설 이후 이원 조간대 지역은 2년 동안 많은 변화를 보이고 있지만 이것은 변화과정 중인 것으로 보이고 계속적인 모니터링이 필요할 것으로 보인다.EX>$s^{-1}$ 값을 보인다. 그러나, 지반의 S파 속도와 Q$s^{-1}$를 결정하는 다른 많은 요인들이 있으므로 이를 일반화하기 위해서는 연약지반의 S파 속도와Q$s^{-1}$에 관한 자료와 연구가 집적되어야 할 것이다. 매듭이 필요하였고, Field와 Giant 매듭법은 2개의 추가 반 매듭이 필요하였다. 100 N이상의 부하를 견디기 위해서는 SMC 매듭법은 3개의 추가 반 매듭이 필요하였고, 다른 3가지의 매듭법은 4개의 추가 반 매듭이 필요하였다. 추가 반 매듭이 증가함에 따라 봉합사는 풀리는 것보다 끊어지는 양상을 보였다. Duncan매듭법은 5개의 추가 반 매듭 이후에도 풀림현상을 보였고, 다른 3개의 매듭법은 3개의 추가 반 매듭 이후엔 75%이상이 봉합사의 풀림 현상보다는 끊어지는 양상을 보였다. (SMC, Field 매듭법은 92%, Ciant 매듭법은 75%)결론: 어떤 매듭법이라도 이동 매듭법 만으로는 주기적 부하 검사를 견디지 못했다. 모든 종류의 실험에서 SMC 매듭법은 최소2개의 두개의 추가 반 매듭이 필요하였다. Duncan 매듭법은 최적 매듭 유지력을 위해 3개 이상의 추가 반 매듭이 필요하였다. 모든 매듭법에서 3개나 그 이상의 추가 반 매듭이 최적 유지력에서 정점에 가까운 양상을 보였다.Knee Ligament Arthrometed의 결과에 영향을 주는 인자는 슬관절 주변 근육의 이완, 슬관절의 굴곡 각도, 경골의 회전. 전위력의 강도, 적용시점, 그리고 키, 체중등의 신체적 요인 등이 있으나 능숙한 기계사용과 정확한 슬관절 위치에서 검사할 때 전방 십자 인대 파열에 대한 진단에 유용한 기구이다