• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.34 no.6
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• pp.1287-1298
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• 2024

Ulcerative colitis (UC) is an inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) that is currently difficult to treat effectively. Both Bacillus natto (BN) and ginseng-soluble dietary fiber (GSDF) are anti-inflammatory and helps sustain the intestinal barrier. In this study, the protective effects and mechanism of the combination of B. natto JLCC513 and ginseng-soluble dietary fiber (BG) in DSS-induced UC mice were investigated. Intervention with BG worked better than taking BN or GSDF separately, as evidenced by improved disease activity index, colon length, and colon injury and significantly reduced the levels of oxidative and inflammatory factors (LPS, ILs, and TNF-α) in UC mice. Further mechanistic study revealed that BG protected the intestinal barrier integrity by maintaining the tight junction proteins (Occludin and Claudin1) and inhibited the LPS/TLR4/NF-κB pathway in UC mice. In addition, BG increased the abundance of beneficial bacteria such as Bacteroides and Turicibacter and reduced the abundance of harmful bacteria such as Allobaculum in the gut microbiota of UC mice. BG also significantly upregulated genes related to linoleic acid metabolism in the gut microbiota. These BG-induced changes in the gut microbiota of mice with UC were significantly correlated with changes in pathological indices. In conclusion, this study demonstrated that BG exerts protective effect against UC by regulating the LPS/TLR4/NF-κB pathway and the structure and metabolic function of gut microbiota. Thus, BG can be potentially used in intestinal health foods to treat UC.

• Computers and Concrete
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.391-407
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• 2017

Fiber reinforced polymer (FRP) bars have been recently used to reinforce concrete members in flexure due to their high tensile strength and especially in corrosive environments to improve the durability of concrete structures. However, FRPs have a low modulus of elasticity and a linear elastic behavior up to rupture, thus reinforced concrete (RC) components with such materials would exhibit a less ductility in comparison with steel reinforcement at the similar members. There were several studies showed the behavior of concrete beams with the hybrid combination of steel and FRP longitudinal reinforcement by adopting the experimental and numerical programs. The current study presents a numerical and analytical investigation based on the data of previous researches. Three-dimensional (3D) finite element (FE) models of beams by using ANSYS are built and investigated. In addition, this study also discusses on the design methods for hybrid FRP-steel beams in terms of ultimate moment capacity, load-deflection response, crack width, and ductility. The effects of the reinforcement ratio, concrete compressive strength, arrangement of reinforcement, and the length of FRP bars on the mechanical performance of hybrid beams are considered as a parametric study by means of FE method. The results obtained from this study are compared and verified with the experimental and numerical data of the literature. This study provides insight into the mechanical performances of hybrid FRP-steel RC beams, builds the reliable FE models which can be used to predict the structural behavior of hybrid RC beams, offers a rational design method together with an useful database to evaluate the ductility for concrete beams with the combination of FRP and steel reinforcement, and motivates the further development in the future research by applying parametric study.

• Membrane Journal
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.83-89
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• 2018

Hydrophobic porous PVDF hollow fiber membranes for Membrane Distillation (MD) were fabricated by a combination of thermally induced phase separation (TIPS) and stretching. The purpose of this study is to investigate the shape and operating conditions of the module and the effect of piping size on parallel connection. In the optimization experiment of the vacuum membrane distillation module, the flux decreased as the packing density and length of the membrane in the module increased. When the module was connected vertically, it was confirmed that the nearest to the inlet of the vacuum port was the highest flux. In selecting the size of the header pipe of the module, it was confirmed that the maximum flux is shown when the inner diameter area of the hollow fiber membrane and the inner diameter area of the header pipe are the same. Also, it is necessary to find the optimal linear velocity because the higher the linear velocity in the module, the higher the flux, but the pressure acting on the module also increases proportionally.

• Computers and Concrete
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.491-502
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• 2017

In this research, the application of ultrasonic pulse velocity (UPV) test as a nondestructive method for estimating some of the mechanical and dynamic properties of reactive powder concrete (RPC) containing steel and polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) fibers, as well as their combination was explored. In doing so, ten different mix designs were prepared in 19 experimental groups of specimens containing three different volume contents of steel fibers (i.e., 1, 2, and 3 %) and PVA fibers (i.e., 0.25, 0.5, and 0.75 %), as well as hybrid fibers (i.e., 0.25-0.75, 0.5-0.5, and 0.75-0.25 %). The specimens in these groups were prepared under the two curing regimes of normal and heat treatment. Moreover, the UPV test results were employed to estimate the compressive strength, dynamic modulus, shear modulus, and Poisson's ratio of the RPC concrete and to investigate the quality level of the used concrete. At the end, the effect of the specimen shape and in fact the measuring distance length on the UPV results was explored. The results of this research suggest that the steel fiber-containing RPC specimens demonstrate the highest level of ultrasonic pulse velocity as well as the highest values of the mechanical and dynamic properties. Moreover, heat treatment has a positive effect on the density, UPV, dynamic modulus, Poisson's ratio, and compressive strength of the RPC specimens, whereas it leads to a negligible increase or decrease in the shear modulus and static modulus of elasticity. Furthermore, the specimen shape affects the UPV of fiber-lacking specimens while negligibly affecting that of fiber-reinforced specimens.

• Journal of the Korean Wood Science and Technology
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.9-17
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• 1999

This study was carried out to get some basic information on mechanical properties of Korean Lepidobalanus for the rational utilization of their woods, Five species of Quercus variabilis, Q. aliena, Q. serrata, Q. mongolica, Q. acutissima belonging to Lepidobalanus were investigated in this research. Relationship of anatomical characteristics with bending strength was analyzed using stepwise regression technique. All possible combination of 21 independent variables were regressed on bending strength. The summarized results in this study were as follows: 1) In the proportion of wood structural elements, the most important factors on bending strength appeared to be proportion of wood fiber in earlywood in Q. variabilis and Q. serrate, proportion of ray in earlywood in Q. aliena, proportion of vessel in earlywood in Q. mongolica and proportion of wood fiber in latewood in Q. acutissima, respectively. 2) In the other quantitative anatomical characteristics, the most important factors on bending strength appeared to be number of pore per $1mm^2$ in latewood in Q. variabilis, microfibril angle in Q. aliena and Q. mongolica, length of wood fiber in Q. serrata and height of uniseriate ray in Q. acutissima, respectively.

• Transactions of Materials Processing
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.37-43
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• 2015

The purpose of the current study is to improve the clinching joint strength of aluminum and fiber metal laminates (FMLs) comprised of three layers. The joining of FML and Al 5052 by a conventional clinching joint has some disadvantages such as necking of the upper sheet, lack of interlocking, defects caused by the vertical load, and especially loss of strength of the composite material due to the low ductility. In the current study, a tapered-hole clinching method is proposed as an alternative for the joining of Al 5052 and FMLs. A hole with a tapered shape is formed before the joining process. The design parameters were evaluated using the Taguchi method for the geometry of the tapered hole in order to determine the maximum separation load. The diameter of the punch corner, clearance, punch stroke and the tapered length were used as the main variables in the Taguchi method. In conclusion, the contribution ratio for each of the fours variable examined was 35.07%, 22.44%, 21.32% and 14.11%, respectively. In addition, the appropriate combination of the design parameters can make a 5% improvement in the vertical direction joint strength.

• Journal of the Korean Wood Science and Technology
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• v.15 no.3
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• pp.44-55
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• 1987

In order to study the effect of sawdustboard combined with plastic chips, 0.5mm($T_1$), 1mm($T_2$), 1.4mm($T_3$) thick nylon fiber. polypropylene rope fiber(RP), and 0.23mm thick moth-proof polypropylene net fiber(NP) were cut into 0.5, 1, 2cm long plastic chips. Thereafter, sawdustboard combined with plastic chips prepared as the above and plastic non-combined sawdustboard(control) were manufactured into 3 types of one-, two-, and three layer with 5 or 10% combination level. By the discussions and results at this study, the significant conclusions of mechanical and physical properties were summarized as follows: 1. The MORs were shown in the order of 3 layer> 2 layer> 1 layer among plastic non-combined boards, and $T_3$ < $T_2$ < $T_1$ < RP (NP(5%) < NP(l0%) among plastic combined boards. In 2cm long plastic chip in 1 layer board, the highest strength through all the composition was recognized. 1 layer board showing the lower strength with 0.5cm plastic chip rendered to the bending strength improvement by 2 or 3 layer board composition. On the other hand, 2 or 3 layer combined with 1, 2cm long polypropylene net fiber chips incurred MOR's conspicuous decrease requiring optimum plastic chip combined level and consideration to combined type. 2. MOE in plastic non-combined 3 layer board exhibited sandwich construction effect by higher resin content application to surface layer in the order of 3layer>1layer>2layer with the highest stiffness of the board combined with polypropylene chip, while nylon chip-combined board had little difference from plastic non-combined board. In relevant to length and layer effect, 3 layer board combined with the 0.5cm long polypropylene net fiber chip in 5% and 10% combined level presented 34-43% and 44-76% stiffness increase against plastic non-combined board(control), respectively. Moreover, in 1 layer board, 30% stiffness increase with 10% against 5% combined level in the 1 and 2cm long polypropylene net fiber chip was obtained. 3. Stress at proportional limit(Spl) showing the fiber relationship (r: 0.81-0.97) between MOR presented in the order of 1 layer<2 layer<3 layer in plastic non-combined board. Correspondingly, combined effect by layer and plastic chip length was similar to MOR's. 4. Differently from previous properties(MOR, MOE, Spl). work to maximum load(Wml) of 2 layer board approached to that of 3 layer board. Conforming the above phenomenon. 2 layer combined with 0.5cm long polypropylene net fiber chip kept the greater work than 1 layer. The polypropylene combined board superior to nylon -and plastic non - combined board seemed to have greater anti - failing capacity. 5. Internal bond strength(IB), in contrast to MOR's tendency. showed in the order of T1

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.33 no.4
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• pp.623-633
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• 2020

Objective: Substituting starch with digestible fiber (dF) can improve digestive health of rabbits and reduce costs. Therefore, it is necessary to develop a criterion for dF and starch supply. Effects of the dietary dF-to-starch ratio on pellet quality, growth and cecal microbiota of Angora rabbits were evaluated. Methods: Five isoenergetic and isoproteic diets with increasing dF/starch ratios (0.59, 0.66, 0.71, 1.05, and 1.44) were formulated. A total of 120 Angora rabbits with an average live weight of 2.19 kg were randomly divided into five groups with four replicates. At the end of 40 day feeding trial, cecal digesta were collected to analyse microbiota. Results: The results showed that the dF/starch ratio had linear effects on pellet variables (p<0.01). When the dF/starch ratio was 1.44, the pellets had the lowest powder and highest durability. The dF/starch ratio had unfavorable linear effects on growth variables (p<0.001). When analyzed by quadratic regression, the optimal dF/starch ratios for average weight gain and feed/gain were 0.59 and 0.74, respectively. There were differences in wool yield, fiber length and fiber diameter caused by the dF/starch ratio (p<0.05), and the dF/starch ratios that ranged from 0.66 to 1.06 were appropriate for good results. The cecal microbiota operational taxonomic unit (OTU) number index in the 1.05 dF/starch treatment was higher than that in the 0.66 and 0.71 dF/starch treatments. The higher dF/starch ratio resulted in a higher cecal microbiota OTU number index (p<0.05). The proportion of Ruminococcus in the 0.71 dF/starch treatment was higher than that in the 0.59 dF/starch treatment (p<0.05) Conclusion: The most suitable dF/starch ratio for feed pellet quality is 1.44, and for rabbit growth the optimal range of ratios is from 0.59 to 0.74. With combination of the wool growth, output cost, and cecal microbiota, we suggest that a dietary dF/starch ratio ranging from 0.74 to 1.06 is optimal.

• Advances in materials Research
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• v.12 no.4
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• pp.331-349
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• 2023

Foam concrete can be considered as environmental friendly material due to its low weight, its minimal cost and a possibility to add waste materials in its production. This paper investigates the possibility of producing foam concrete with waste glass as powder and aggregate. Then, the effect of using waste glass on strength and drying shrinkage of foam concrete was examined. Also, the effect of incorporating polypropylene fibers (12 mm length and proportion of 0.5% of a mix volume) on distribution of waste glass as coarse particles within 1200 kg/m³ foam concrete mixes was evaluated. Waste glass was used as powder (20% of cement weight), as coarse particles (25%, 50% and 100% instead of sand volume) and as fine particles (25% instead of sand volume). From the results, the problem of non-uniform distribution of coarse glass particles was successfully solved by adding polypropylene fibers. It was found that using of waste glass as coarse aggregate led to reduce the strength of foam concrete mixes. However, using it with polypropylene fibers in combination helped in increasing the strength by about 29- 50% for compressive and 55- 71% for splitting tensile and reducing the drying shrinkage by about (31- 40%). In general, not only the fibers role but also the uniformly distributed coarse glass particles helped in improving and enhancing the strength and shrinkage of the investigated foam concrete mixes.

• Journal of the Korea Concrete Institute
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.109-116
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• 2014

The flexural behavior test of UHPC segmental box girder which has 160 MPa compressive strength and 15.4 m length was carried out. The effect of steel fibers in combination with reinforcing bars on improving the ductile performance of UHPC box girder was evaluated by comparing the flexural behavior of the UHPC segmental box girders made by the two kinds of mixing portion. The test variables are volume fraction of steel fibers and the arrangement of reinforcing bars. The behavior of UHPC box girder BF2 composed of 1% volume fraction of steel fibers and longitudinal reinforcing bars in web and upper flange with stirrup showed the similar ductile behavior with the girder BF1 composed of 2% volume fraction without stirrup in elastic stress region. But BF1 had the better stiffness and showed the more ductile behavior in inelastic stress region. Segmental interfaces of UHPC box girder have not any crack and slide until the final flexural collapse load.