• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.58-63
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• 2003

Ginseng has been recommended to alleviate the menopausal symptoms, which indicates that components of ginseng very likely contain estrogenic activity. We have examined the possibility that a component of Panax ginseng, $ginsenoside-R_{b1}$ acts by binding to estrogen receptor. We have investigated the estrogenic activity of $ginsenoside-R_{b1}$ in a transient transfection system using estrogen-responsive luciferase plasmids in MCF-7 cells. $ginsenoside-R_{b1}$ activated the transcription of the estrogen-responsive luciferase reporter gene in MCF-7 breast cancer cells at a concentration of 50 $\mu$M. Activation was inhibited by the specific estrogen receptor antagonist ICI 182,780, indicating that the estrogenic effect of $ginsenoside-R_{b1}$ is estrogen receptor dependent. Next, we evaluated the ability of $ginsenoside-R_{b1}$ to induce the estrogen-responsive gene c-fos by semi-quantitative RT-PCR assays and Western analyses. $ginsenoside-R_{b1}$ increased c-fos both at mRNA and protein levels. However, $ginsenoside-R_{b1}$ failed to activate the glucocorticoid receptor, the retinoic acid receptor, or the androgen receptor in CV-1 cells transiently transfected with the corresponding steroid hormone receptors and hormone responsive reporter plasmids. These data support our hypothesis that $ginsenoside-R_{b1}$ acts a weak phytoestrogen, presumably by binding and activating the estrogen receptor.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Propulsion Engineers
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• v.17 no.5
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• pp.1-9
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• 2013

Variable area nozzle, where both throat and exit area vary, is required for optimal expansion and optimal nozzle shape upon operation of after-burner. Steady-state and transient analyses are carried out for each condition with and without afterburner operation and as a function of the location of the nozzle flap. Effects of that nozzle displacement on flow and thrust characteristics are analyzed from numerical results. With variable area nozzle adopted, the combustion field is variable in time, leading to periodically variable thrust. For off-design conditions, flow separation shows up due to over expansion at the flap tips and shock wave does in the nozzle due to under expansion. The undesirable phenomena can be solved by control of variable area nozzle.

• International Journal of Oral Biology
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.45-51
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• 2006

R-type($Ca_v2.3$) calcium channel contributes to pain sensation in peripheral sensory neurons. Six isoforms of $Ca_v2.3$ that result from combinations of presence or deletion of three inserts(insert I and insert in the II-III loop, and insert III in N-terminal regions) have been demonstrated to be present in different mammalian tissues. However, the molecular basis of $Ca_v2.3$ in trigeminal ganglion(TG) neurons is not known. In the present study, we determined which isoforms of $Ca_v2.3$ are expressed in rat TG neurons using the RT-PCR analysis. Whole tissue RT-PCR analyses revealed that only two isoforms, $Ca_v2.3a$ and $Ca_v2.3e$, were present in TG neurons. From single-cell RT-PCR, we found that $Ca_v2.3e$ rather than $Ca_v2.3a$ was the major isoform expressed in TG neurons, and $Ca_v2.3e$ was preferentially detected in small-sized neurons that express nociceptive marker, transient receptor potential vanilloid 1(TRPV1). Our results suggest that $Ca_v2.3e$ in trigeminal neurons may be a potential target for the pain treatment.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Telematics and Electronics
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.18-26
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• 1973

In AM detection system, when the ratio of the frequency of the carrier to that of the modulating signal becomes less than a ratio of approximately 10:1, AM detectors become unable to detect the impressed signal in a satisfactory waveform. The failure of detecting such a super wide-band AM signal resulting from charging and discharging transient phenomena in associated diode circuit during the detecting of AM signal, has been a cause of limiting the channel capacity in AM or FM super multiplexing systems. This Paper presents the "Poly-phase Envelope Detection System" as a suitable method to solve the problem and the analyses of the system suggested. This system will make it possible to take the envelope out of the impressed AM signal to any desired degree of accuracy even when the ratio of the frequency of the carrier to that of the modulating signal approaches unity. Experiments were carried out to verify the validity of the theory of Poly-phase Envelope Detection System by adopting the frequency conversion method from among the two proposals.proposals.

• Journal of the Korean GEO-environmental Society
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• v.8 no.4
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• pp.67-74
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• 2007

Many studies for slope stability studies have indicated that the infiltration of rainwater into a slope decrease the slope stability. In order to minimize damage caused by slope failure, most design codes suggest that the slope stability be analyzed by saturated condition during rainy season. However it would be excessively conservative condition that every soil slope is saturated in rainy season irrespective of rainfall intensity, soil type and slope geometry. In addition, because most soil slopes are in an unsaturated state, it is necessary to consider the unsaturated characteristics of slope. This paper suggests a prediction method of saturation time for the weathered granite soil slopes due to rainfalls. The finite element analysis of transient water flow through unsaturated slope was used to investigate effects of soil-water characteristics, permeability at saturation, slope geometry, and rainfall intensity. From the result of these analyses, the prediction charts considering soil-water characteristics, permeability at saturation, and slope height were proposed in this study. It is possible to the time required to be saturated slope after rainfall.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Illuminating and Electrical Installation Engineers
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• v.23 no.12
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• pp.191-200
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• 2009

This paper, which consists of two parts, dealt with the parameter tuning of the power system stabilizer for a 612[MVA] thermal power plant in KEPCO system and its validation in field test. In Part 1 of the paper, the selection of parameters such as lead-lag time constants for phase compensation, system gain was optimized by using linear & eigenvalue analyses and they were verified through the time-domain transient stability analysis. In part 2, the performance of PSS was finally verified by the generator's on-line field test. Through the comparisons of simulation results and measured data before and after tuning of the PSS, the models of generator and its controllers including AVR, Governor and PSS used in the simulation are validated and confirmed.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.31 no.5
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• pp.476-485
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• 1999

In order to evaluate the gravity-injection capability to maintain core cooling after a loss-of-shutdown-cooling event during shutdown operation, the plant conditions of the Yong Gwang Units 3&4 were reviewed. The six cases of possible gravity-injection paths from the refueling water tank (RWT) were identified and the thermal-hydraulic analyses were performed using the RELAP5/MOD3.2 code. The core cooling capability was significantly dependent on the gravity-injection path, the RCS opening, and the injection rate. In the cases with the pressurizer manway opening higher than the RWT water level, the coolant was held up in the pressurizer and the system pressure continued increasing after gravity-injection. The gravity injection eventually stopped due to the high system pressure and the core was uncovered. In the cases with the injection path and opening on the same leg side, the core cooling was dependent on whether the water injected from the RWT passed the core region or not. However, in the cases with the injection path and opening on the different leg side, the system was well depressurized after gravity-injection and the core boiling was successfully prevented for a long-term transient. In addition, from the sensitivity study on the gravity-injection flow rate, it was found that about 54 kg/s of injection rate was required to maintain the core cooling and the core cooling could be provided for about 10.6 hours after event with that injection rate from the RWT. Those analysis results would provide useful information to operators coping with the event.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.32 no.3
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• pp.178-186
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• 2019

Background: Epidural steroid injections (ESIs) have been widely used in managing spinal pain. Dexamethasone has recently emerged as a useful drug in this setting, relative to particulate steroids, although the associated systemic effects have not been fully elucidated. This study aimed to investigate the incidences and types of systemic effects after fluoroscopically guided ESI with dexamethasone. Methods: This retrospective study included 888 ESIs with dexamethasone (fluoroscopically guided at the cervical and lumbosacral levels) performed on 825 patients during January to June 2017. Data regarding systemic effects were collected via telephone interviews using a standardized questionnaire at 2 weeks after the procedure. Data on patient demographic, clinical, and procedural characteristics were collected and analyzed to identify factors that were associated with systemic effects. All statistical analyses were performed using the chi-squared test. Results: Among the 825 patients, 40 patients (4.8%) experienced systemic effects during the 2-week follow-up period. The most common systemic effect was facial flushing (12 patients, 1.5%), which was followed by urticaria (7 patients, 0.8%) and insomnia (7 patients, 0.8%). A history of spine surgery was significantly associated with the occurrence of systemic effects (P = 0.036). Systemic effects were significantly more common for injections at the cervical level than at the lumbar level (P = 0.019). Conclusions: Approximately 4.8% of the patients who underwent ESI with dexamethasone experienced minor and transient systemic effects. These effects were more common in patients who had undergone a previous spine surgery or received a cervical ESI.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.59 no.2
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• pp.59-67
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• 2019

We investigated whether ${\beta}$-carotene (${\beta}-CA$) or ellagic acid (EA), originating from various fruits and vegetables, has a preventive effect against male infertility induced by exogenous scrotal hyperthermia. ICR adult mice were intraperitoneally treated with 10 mg/kg of ${\beta}-CA$ or EA daily for 13 days consecutively. During this time, mice were subjected to transient scrotal heat stress in a water bath at $43^{\circ}C$ for 20 min on day 7, and their testes and blood were obtained on day 14 for histopathologic and biochemical analyses. Heat stress induced significant testicular weight reduction, germ cell loss and degeneration, as well as abnormal localization of phospholipid hydroperoxide glutathione peroxidase (PHGPx) and manganese superoxide dismutase (MnSOD) in spermatogenic and Leydig cells. Heat stress also altered the levels of oxidative stress (lipid peroxidation, SOD activity, and PHGPx, MnSOD, and $HIF-1{\alpha}$ mRNAs), apoptosis (Bax, Bcl-xL, caspase 3, $NF-{\kappa}B$, and $TGF-{\beta}1$ mRNAs), and androgen biosynthesis (serological testosterone concentration and $3{\beta}$-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase mRNA) in testes. These changes were all improved significantly by ${\beta}-CA$ treatment, but only slightly improved by EA treatment. These findings indicate that ${\beta}-CA$, through modulations of oxidative stress, apoptosis, and androgen biosynthesis, is a potent preventive agent against testicular injuries induced by scrotal hyperthermia.

• Journal of the Korean Geotechnical Society
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• v.24 no.5
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• pp.99-106
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• 2008

This study is concernsed with the effect of a chimney drainage system installed at the back of reinforced soil block on preventing the pore water pressure development. A series of finite-element analyses based on transient seepage analysis were performed for a number of cases with different patterns of the chimney drainage system. The results were thoroughly analyzed to get insight into the mechanism of pore water pressure reduction effect of the chimney drainage system. It is shown that a vertical drainage system installed at the back of reinforced zone can be an effective means of maintaining the wall stability during rainfall by preventing pore pressure increase in the reinforced as well as the backfill zones. Also shown is that the optimum height of the chimney drain is 50% of the wall height. Practical implications of the findings were discussed.