• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.21-27
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• 2002

To investigate an effect of bum on the cardiac function, we studied some biochemical assay, ultrastructural changes and stereological analysis in heart tissue. Sprague-Dawley rats were induced a 15% total body surface area scald burn. 5 and 24 hours later, the heart was excised. Burned rats showed the decrease of heart weight per body weight (%) compared with control. The activity of serum aspartate aminotransferase was significantly increased at 5 (p＜0.001) and 24 hours (p＜0.01) after burn compared with control. And the activity of serum LDH was decreased at 5 hours after burn but increased at 24 hours compared with control. Ultrastructurally, enlargement of interstitium and destruction of sarcolemma were observed at 5 and 24 hours after burn. Especially at 5 hours postburn, hypercontraction band was noted and at 24 hours, wavy fiber and muscle fraying were noted. In stereological changes, volume density of mitochondria and myofibril was significantly decreased at postburn 5 and 24 hours. But volume density of sarcoplasmic reticulum was significantly increased at postburn 5 hours. Our data suggest that dermal scald bum causes myocardial dysfunction.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.50 no.3
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• pp.160-169
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• 2023

Objective: Cryptorchidism is one of the main causes of infertility and can result in testicular cancer. This study aimed to present quantitative data on the damage caused by cryptorchidism using stereological analysis. Methods: Thirty newborn rats were randomly divided into control and experimental groups. The experimental group underwent surgery to induce unilateral cryptorchidism in the left testis, whereas the control group underwent a sham surgical procedure 18 days after birth. The testes were removed at designated time points (40, 63, and 90 days after birth) for stereological evaluation and sperm analysis. Total testicular volume, interstitial tissue volume, seminiferous tubule volume and length, and seminiferous epithelium volume and surface area were measured. Other parameters, such as sperm count, sperm morphology, and sperm tail length, were also examined. Results: Statistically significant differences (p<0.05) were observed between the experimental and the control groups at different ages regarding the volumes of various parameters, including the surface area of the germinal layer, the length of the seminiferous tubules, sperm count, and sperm morphology. However, no significant differences were observed in the epithelial volume and the sperm tail length of the groups. Conclusion: Given the substantial effect of cryptorchidism on different testicular parameters, as well as the irreversible damage it causes in the testes, it is important to take this abnormality seriously to prevent these consequences.

• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.107-113
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• 2004

This study was conducted to investigate an effect of Mori Cortex in the cardiac injury following dermal scald burn in rats. Sprague-Dawley rats were induced scald bum (15％ of total body surface area). Heart was removed at 5 h postburn and examined with biochemical assay, ultrastructural observations and stereological analysis. The activity of serum aspartate aminotransferase and creatinine was increased at 5 h postburn compared with them of control. Administration of heat extracts of Mori Cortex after scald burn inhibited the production of KC (neutrophil chemoattractant cytokine) and increased the activity of protein kinase C (PKC) in heart tissue. The activity of myeloperoxidase (MPO) in heart tissue was decreased both at 5 h postburn and in case of Mori Cortex administration after scald burn. Ultrastructurally, many contraction bands and separation of intercalated disk induced by scald burn were decreased by administration of heat extracts of Mori Cortex. In stereological analysis, administration of Mori Cortex after scald burn resulted the volume densities of myofibril and mitochondria were increased compared with them of burn control. These data suggest that Mori Cortex may be a useful stuff to the range of available treatments for cardiac injury induced by skin burn.

• Applied Microscopy
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• v.32 no.3
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• pp.291-301
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• 2002

The present study was performed to compare the morphological differences of flight muscles among 3 species from insects (Xylocopa appendiculata circumvolans Smith, Davidins lunatus B. and Serrognathus platymelus castanicdor M.) by investigating ultrastructural observation and stereological analysis. Xylocopa appendiculata circumvolans Smith has the most flight hours. In addition, the number and arrangement of mitochondria and the structure of sarcomere were similar to those of vertebrates. However sarcomere structure of Davidins lunatus B. was irregular and the sarcomere length was longer than that of Xylocopa appendiculata circumvolans Smith. In Serrognathus platymelus castanicdor M. which has the least flight hours, the length of sarcomere appeared longer than that of Davidins lunatus B. In results of stereological analysis, Serrognathus platymelus castanicdor M. had the highest volume density of myofibrils in all species. The volume and numerical density of mitochondria and the volume density of sarcoplasmic reticulum were highest Xylocopa appendiculata circumvolans Smith and Davidins lunatus B. respectively. This study suggests that the flight hours and flight pattern by different ecological habitats may cause the morphological changes of flight muscle.

• Tunnel and Underground Space
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.10-18
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• 2002

Rock joint system makes a heavy effect on the behavior of rock structures. The definition of a 3D rock joint system is very important in 2D or 3D numerical analysis for the prediction of the behavior of a discontinuous rock mass. To enhance the reality of a 3D definition of rock joint system, it is essential to estimate the unbiased statistics of basic geometric attributes of rock joints. In this study, we have proposed the statistical analysis and derived the related equations for an estimation of statistics of joint size and intensity. Geometry of rock joints in 3 dimensional space can be defined by the aggregate of location, size, orientation and intensity. The dimensional limit of survey method and its data makes 3D geometric attributes probabilistic. In the estimation of statistics of joint size, we have discussed the technique to correct the bias from a dimensional limit and derived the equation of 3D joint intensity by stereological approaches.

• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.6 no.4
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• pp.269-279
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• 2000

This present study was investigated to elucidate degenerative changes according to the change of habitual environment on the myocytes of doves by restricting them from flight that is instinct behavior of this animal and strong exercise. To restrict doves from flight, they were confined in the cage (1 $m^3$) for 2 months. After this period, the myocardium of the experimental group was compared to that of wild doves in the ultrastructural and cytochemical ways. In addition, stereological changes were also examined. The results were as followings: 1. The body weight of the confined experimental groups was higher than that of the wild doves, but the ratios of the pectoral muscle/body weight (p<0.05) and the heart/body weight were lower. 2. At the ultrastructural level, the myocardium of confined doves appeared as wavy fibers in the smaller area than in the myocardium of wild doves. Also, the length of sarcomeres was longer in the confined doves. The number of sarcoplasmic reticulum and capillary was smaller in the myocardium of confined doves. 3. Cytochemical examinations showed that the activities of cytochrome oxidase were lowered in the confined doves. 4. Stereological analysis revealed that the density of myofibrils was greater in the confined doves. In contrast the volume density of sarcoplasmic reticulum (p<0.05) and the surface density of mitochondrial inner membrane (p<0.05) was lower in the confined doves, while the numerical density of mitochondrial inner membrane was higher (p<0.05). These results suggest that even the short period of restricted exercise can induce negative effects on the functions of myocytes of doves that are adapted for the strong exercise such as flight. Therefore, the maintenance of prolonged exercise seems to be one of the important factors that are critical to retain the functions of myocardium.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.40 no.3
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• pp.115-121
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• 2013

Objective: Letrozole and estradiol valerate are used to treat some hormonally-responsive symptoms and also in modeling of the polycystic ovary syndrome. However, the stereological analysis of the ovary has received less attention. Estimation of the whole ovary volume using the Cavalieri method can be applied in any orientation desired, but estimation of the mean volume of the oocytes requires isotropic uniform random sectioning. Here, a combined method was developed for estimating the parameters. To our knowledge, no comparison has been made of the effects of letrozole and estradiol on the ovary. Methods: Sixty rats were divided into 4 groups receiving estradiol (4 mg/kg), olive oil, letrozole (1 mg/kg), or normal saline. After 21 days, their ovaries were studied. Results: Relative to the control group, the total volume of the ovary and the cortex increased in the letrozole-treated and estradiol-treated rats. In addition, the number of the preantral, antral, and granulosa cells decreased by 43% to 56% in the letrozole- and estradiol-treated rats. On average, a 19% increase was observed in the atretic oocytes of the letrozole-treated and estradiol-treated rats, but the mean oocyte volume decreased by 29% to 44% in letrozole- and estradiol-treated rats. Furthermore, the letrozole-treated rats showed a 5-fold and 7-fold increase in the volume of the cysts and corpus luteum, respectively. A 3-fold increase was found in the volume of both the cysts and corpus luteum in the estradiol group. Conclusion: The structural changes of the ovary were most pronounced in the letrozole-treated animals.

• Applied Microscopy
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• v.33 no.4
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• pp.299-313
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• 2003

The aim of the present study was to assess the role of protein kinase C (PKC) in the development of cardiac injury following scald burn. Sprague-Dawley rats were induced a scald burn a 15% total body surface area. Phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA, 2 mg/kg) and bisindolylmaleimide (BIS, 0.05 mg/kg) were immediately administered i.p. after burn injury. 5 h and 24 h later, heart was removed and examined biochemical assay, ultrastructural changes and stereological analysis. The activity of serum aspartate aminotransferase was significantly increased at 5h (p<0.01) and 5h+BIS (p<0.001) after burn compared with that of control. The activity of serum creatinine was significantly decreased in PMA-treated groups after burn compared with postburn 5 h. PMA caused a decrease in MPO activity and induced wavy fibers in cardiac myocytes at postburn 5 and 24h. BIS induced contraction band, separation of intercalated disk and abnormal mitochondria in cardiac myocytes at postburn 5 and 24h. In stereological analysis, treatment of rats with PMA increased volume density of myofibril and mitochondria compared with postburn 5 and 24h. Our data suggest that the activation of PKC in scald burned heart decreases inflammation and protects the myocardium.

• Journal of the Korean Electrochemical Society
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.53-58
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• 2003

It is well known that the anode substrate of anode-supported type SOFC should have high electrical conductivity and high gas permeability to minimize the polarization loss of the cell performance during operation. In this study, we made anode substrates of SOFC with two different methods, which gave different anode microstructures, especially different pore structures with each other. We performed electrical and microstructural characterization of Ni/YSZ cermet anode via extensive measurements of its electrical conductivity and gas permeability combined with adequate image analysis based on quantitative stereological theory

• Computers and Concrete
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• v.5 no.2
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• pp.101-116
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• 2008

The microscopic determination of air void characteristics in hardened concrete, defined in EN 480-11 as the linear-traverse method, is an extremely time-consuming and tedious task. Over past decades, several researchers have proposed relatively expensive mechanical automated systems which could replace the human operator in this procedure. Recently, the appearance of new high-resolution flatbed scanners has made it possible for the procedure to be automated in a fully-computerized and thus cost-effective way. The results of our work indicate the high sensitivity of such image analysis automated systems firstly to the quality of sample surface preparation, secondly to the selection of the air void threshold value, and finally to the selection of the probe system. However, it can be concluded that in case of careful validation and the use of the approach which is proposed in the paper, such automated systems can give very good estimate of the air void system parameters, defined in EN 480-11. The amount of time saved by using such a procedure is immense, and there is also the possibility of using alternative stereological methods to assess other, perhaps also important, characteristics of air void system in hardened concrete.