• Applied Microscopy
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.26-51
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• 1995

The present study was designed to examine effect of long term weight-training on aging atrophy in the rat skeletal muscle. Male rats of 8, 15, and 24 month old were used. Each age groups included control and weight-training for 5 months by using body press apparatus. The histo- and cytochemical, ultrastructural and stereological changes in aging skeletal muscles of the rat were observed in the present study. During the training period the body weight and muscular weight in all groups except the rectus femoris and the gastrocnemius in young age groups remained constant, but muscular weights were increased in the rectus femoris and the gastrocnemius muscles in young age groups. In trained rat, the volume density of muscle fiber type IIA and IIB were increased, but those of type IIC was decreased. Type I remained constant in 8 and 15 month old age groups, but reduced in the tibialis anterior and the gastrocnemius muscles in the 24 month old groups. Some histotological and ultrastructural changes associated with age were found: numerical increase of cytiplasmic vacuoles, lysosomes, lipofuscins, and irregularity of myofibrils. At 24 month old groups some unusual formation of contraction band and muscle splitting were observed. After weight-training, ultrastructural degenerative changes occured in the type I muscle fiber, such as splitting of muscle fiber, disorganization of myofilaments, swelling of mitochondria, accumulation of many lipid droplets, appearance of many lysosomes and residual bodies and necrotic fibers, in the old age groups. But, in the type II muscle fibers hypertrophy of muscle fiber appeared without any noticible damage as the type I. The activities of $Mg^{++}$ -ATPase decreased with age and this enzyme activities in the trained rat were significantly decreased with age. Activities of the acid phosphatase were increased with age and significantly in the trained rat. In stereological analysis, volume density of the myofibrils and the tubular system were increased, on the other hand there mitochondrial capacity was decreased. These experimental results suggested that old rats are not susceptible to be affected by weight-training as young rats, and that physical capacity of the rats must be considered when old rats are exercised for training.

• Journal of the Korean Geosynthetics Society
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.51-61
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• 2013

This paper presents results from a study undertaken to quantitatively evaluate the geotextile pore sizes using optical image analysis. The evaluation was conducted by observing surfaces of coupons cut from resin-impregnated specimens of geotextile-geomembrane layered under various load conditions. Stereological concepts were applied to collect representative specimens from a series of laboratory tests. The sizes of voids enclosed by filaments were expressed in terms of the largest inscribing opening size (LIOS) distribution. The opening diameter corresponding to the 50% cumulative frequency decreased by about 45mm as the load increased from 10 to 300kPa and recovered to about 90% of its initial state on unloading back to 10kPa. The average void size was reduced by 32 and 16.5% as the geotextile was sheared against a textured geomembrane under normal stresses of 100 and 300kPa, respectively. The results showed how the LIOS distribution varied as a function of normal stress and interface shear displacement against a smooth and a textured geomembrane surfaces.

• Computers and Concrete
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• v.1 no.4
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• pp.389-400
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• 2004

The examinations carried out have confirmed a relationship existing between the character of fracture surfaces and the composition and structure of (basalt and gravel) concretes. For both concretes investigated, a very good correlation was obtained between the profile line development factor, $R_L$, and the fracture surface development factor, $R_S$. With the increase in the $R_L$ parameter, the fracture surface development factor $R_S$ also increased. Agreement between the proposed relationship of $R_S=f(R_L)$ and the proposal given by Coster and Chermant (1983) was obtained. Stereological examinations carried out along with fractographic examinations made it possible to obtain a statistical model for the determination of $R_L$ (or $R_S$) based on the volume of air voids in concrete, $V_{air}$, the specific surface of air pores, $S_V_{air}$ the specific surface of coarse aggregate, $S_{Vagg.}$, and the volume of mortar, $V_m$. An effect of coarse aggregate type on the obtained values of the profile line development factor, $R_L$, as well as on the relationship $R_S=f(R_L)$ was observed. The increment in the fracture surface development factor $R_S$ with increasing $R_L$ parameter was larger in basalt concretes than in gravel concretes, which was a consequence of the level of complexity of fractures formed, resulting chiefly from the shape of coarse aggregate grains.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.58 no.5
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• pp.454-461
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• 2015

Objective : In this study, we aimed to investigate the underlying ethiological factors in chiari malformation (CM) type-I (CMI) via performing volumetric and morphometric length-angle measurements. Methods : A total of 66 individuals [33 patients (20-65 years) with CMI and 33 control subjects] were included in this study. In sagittal MR images, tonsillar herniation length and concurrent anomalies were evaluated. Supratentorial, infratentorial, and total intracranial volumes were measured using Cavalieri method. Various cranial distances and angles were used to evaluate the platybasia and posterior cranial fossa (PCF) development. Results : Tonsillar herniation length was measured $9.09{\pm}3.39mm$ below foramen magnum in CM group. Tonsillar herniation/concurrent syringomyelia, concavity/defect of clivus, herniation of bulbus and fourth ventricle, basilar invagination and craniovertebral junction abnormality rates were 30.3, 27, 18, 2, 3, and 3 percent, respectively. Absence of cisterna magna was encountered in 87.9% of the patients. Total, IT and ST volumes and distance between Chamberlain line and tip of dens axis, Klaus index, clivus length, distance between internal occipital protuberance and opisthion were significantly decreased in patient group. Also in patient group, it was found that Welcher basal angle/Boogard angle increased and tentorial slope angle decreased. Conclusion : Mean cranial volume and length-angle measurement values significantly decreased and there was a congenital abnormality association in nearly 81.5 percent of the CM cases. As a result, it was concluded that CM ethiology can be attributed to multifactorial causes. Moreover, congenital defects can also give rise to this condition.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.50 no.4
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• pp.230-243
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• 2023

Objective: High temperatures can trigger cellular oxidative stress and disrupt spermatogenesis, potentially leading to male infertility. We investigated the effects of retinoic acid (RA), chitosan nanoparticles (CHNPs), and retinoic acid loaded with chitosan nanoparticles (RACHNPs) on spermatogenesis in mice induced by scrotal hyperthermia (Hyp). Methods: Thirty mice (weighing 25 to 30 g) were divided into five experimental groups of six mice each. The groups were as follows: control, Hyp induced by a water bath (43 ℃C for 30 minutes/day for 5 weeks), Hyp+RA (2 mg/kg/day), Hyp+CHNPs (2 mg/kg/72 hours), and Hyp+RACHNPs (4 mg/kg/72 hours). The mice were treated for 35 days. After the experimental treatments, the animals were euthanized. Sperm samples were collected for analysis of sperm parameters, and blood serum was isolated for testosterone measurement. Testis samples were also collected for histopathology assessment, reactive oxygen species (ROS) evaluation, and RNA extraction, which was done to compare the expression levels of the bax, bcl2, p53, Fas, and FasL genes among groups. Additionally, immunohistochemical staining was performed. Results: Treatment with RACHNPs significantly increased stereological parameters such as testicular volume, seminiferous tubule length, and testicular cell count. Additionally, it increased testosterone concentration and improved sperm parameters. We observed significant decreases in ROS production and caspase-3 immunostaining in the RACHNP group. Moreover, the expression levels of bax, p53, Fas, and FasL significantly decreased in the groups treated with RACHNPs and RA. Conclusion: RACHNPs can be considered a potent antioxidative and antiapoptotic agent for therapeutic strategies in reproductive and regenerative medicine.