• Journal of Information Processing Systems
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• v.8 no.4
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• pp.589-602
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• 2012

With the increasing demand for real time applications in the Wireless Senor Network (WSN), real time critical events anticipate an efficient quality-of-service (QoS) based routing for data delivery from the network infrastructure. Designing such QoS based routing protocol to meet the reliability and delay guarantee of critical events while preserving the energy efficiency is a challenging task. Considerable research has been focused on developing robust energy efficient QoS based routing protocols. In this paper, we present the state of the research by summarizing the work on QoS based routing protocols that has already been published and by highlighting the QoS issues that are being addressed. The performance comparison of QoS based routing protocols such as SAR, MMSPEED, MCMP, MCBR, and EQSR has also been analyzed using ns-2 for various parameters.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.413-423
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• 2005

This paper presents the solution of large static deflection due to uniformly distributed self weight and the critical or maximum applied uniform loading that a simply supported beam with variable-arc-length can resist. Two analytical approaches are presented and validated experimentally. The first approach is a finite-element discretization of the span length based on the variational formulation, which gives the solution of large static sag deflections for the stable equilibrium case. The second approach is the shooting method based on an elastica theory formulation. This method gives the results of the stable and unstable equilibrium configurations, and the critical uniform loading. Experimental studies were conducted to complement the analytical results for the stable equilibrium case. The measured large static configurations are found to be in good agreement with the two analytical approaches, and the critical uniform self weight obtained experimentally also shows good correlation with the shooting method.

• Computers and Concrete
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.25-36
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• 2019

In this paper, an algorithm is presented to simulate numerically the reinforced concrete (RC) columns having any geometric form of section, loaded eccentrically along one or two axes. To apply the algorithm, the columns are discretized into two macro-elements (MEs) globally and the critical sections of columns are discretized into fixed rectangular finite elements locally. A proposed triple simultaneous dichotomy convergence method is applied to find the equilibrium state in the critical section of the column considering the three strains at three corners of the critical section as the main characteristic variables. Based on the proposed algorithm a computer program has been developed for simulation of the nonlinear behavior of the eccentrically-loaded columns. A good agreement has been witnessed between the results obtained applying the proposed algorithm and the experimental test results. The simulated results indicate that the ultimate strength and stiffness of the RC columns increase with the increase in axial force value, but large axial loads reduce the ductility of the column, make it brittle, impose great loss of material, and cause early failure.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.13
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• pp.5181-5186
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• 2014

Tumors have evolved numerous mechanisms by which they can escape from immune surveillance. One of these is to produce immunosuppressive cytokines. Transforming growth factor-${\beta}$(TGF-${\beta}$) is a pleiotropic cytokine with a crucial function in mediating immune suppression, especially in the tumor microenvironment. TGF-${\beta}$ produced by T cells has been demonstrated as an important factor for suppressing antitumor immune responses, but the role of tumor-derived TGF-${\beta}$ in this process is poorly understood. In this study, we demonstrated that knockdown of tumor-derived TGF-${\beta}$ using shRNA resulted in dramatically reduced tumor size, slowing tumor formation, prolonging survival rate of tumor-bearing mice and inhibiting metastasis. We revealed possible underlying mechanisms as reducing the number of myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSC) and $CD4^+Foxp3^+$ Treg cells, and consequently enhanced IFN-${\gamma}$ production by CTLs. Knockdown of tumor-derived TGF-${\beta}$ also significantly reduced the conversion of na$\ddot{i}$ve $CD4^+$ T cells into Treg cells in vitro. Finally, we found that knockdown of TGF-${\beta}$ suppressed cell migration, but did not change the proliferation and apoptosis of tumor cells in vitro. In summary, our study provided evidence that tumor-derived TGF-${\beta}$ is a critical factor for tumor progression and evasion of immune surveillance, and blocking tumor-derived TGF-${\beta}$ may serve as a potential therapeutic approach for cancer.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.135-144
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• 2010

The pro-oxidative and pro-inflammatory pathways in vascular endothelium have been implicated in the initiation and progression of atherosclerosis. In fact, inflammatory responses in vascular endothelium are primarily regulated through oxidative stress-mediated signaling pathways leading to overexpression of pro-inflammatory mediators. Enhanced expression of cytokines, chemokines and adhesion molecules in endothelial cells and their close interactions facilitate recruiting and adhering blood leukocytes to vessel wall, and subsequently stimulate transendothelial migration, which are thought to be critical early pathologic events in atherogenesis. Although interleukin-4 (IL-4) was traditionally considered as an anti-inflammatory cytokine, recent in vitro and in vivo studies have provided robust evidence that IL-4 exerts pro-inflammatory effects on vascular endothelium and may play a critical role in the development of atherosclerosis. The cellular and molecular mechanisms responsible for IL-4-induced atherosclerosis, however, remain largely unknown. The present review focuses on the distinct sources of IL-4-mediated reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation as well as the pivotal role of ROS in IL-4-induced vascular inflammation. These studies will provide novel insights into a clear delineation of the oxidative mechanisms of IL-4-mediated stimulation of vascular inflammation and subsequent development of atherosclerosis. It will also contribute to novel therapeutic approaches for atherosclerosis specifically targeted against pro-oxidative and pro-inflammatory pathways in vascular endothelium.

• Journal of Information Technology Services
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• v.15 no.3
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• pp.173-193
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• 2016

Start-ups do not have enough resources such as financial capital and established customer base. Knowledge base of start-up team members is the crucial and unrivaled resource. This study tries to explicate the knowledge sharing process occurring in this knowledge base of start-up teams. Adopting the knowledge process view, detail process of knowledge sharing process model is constructed consisting of knowledge sharing speed, quality and quantity in a form of nomological net and empirically tested. In addition, preceding antecedents and consequential outcomes of this knowledge sharing is also posited as part of the research model : knowledge state of the team leading to team creativity and agility via the explicated knowledge sharing process model. Also, as this knowledge based view are triggered by the advance of IT in general, IT support is conceptualized as an antecedent and measures are operationalized. 230 data points were collected from start-up teams. Via data analysis using PLS, theoretical relationships from knowledge state, IT support, knowledge sharing process and knowledge consequences are found to be empirically supported except a few not supported. Most of all, team agility and team creativity are theoretically supported and empirically validated as critical outcome variables beyond performance measures. Though agility and creativity has been discussed as critical construct in start-up teams, it has not be much validated empirically. Also, interestingly, IT support are found to be significantly impacting the knowledge sharing process as expected. Academic contributions and implications for practice are discussed at the end with limitations and further research.

• Journal of Powder Materials
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• v.22 no.5
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• pp.344-349
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• 2015

$MgB_2$ bulk superconductors are synthesized by the solid state reaction of ($MgB_4$+xMg) precursors with excessive Mg compositions (x=1.0, 1.4, 2.0 and 2.4). The $MgB_4$ precursors are synthesized using (Mg+B) powders. The secondary phases ($MgB_4$ and MgO) present in the synthesized $MgB_4$ are removed by $HNO_3$ leaching. It is found that the formation reaction of $MgB_2$ is accelerated when Mg excessive compositions are used. The magnetization curves of $Mg_1+_xB_2$ samples show that the transition from the normal state to the superconducting state of the Mg excessive samples with x=0.5 and x=0.7 are sharper than that of $MgB_2$. The highest $J_c-B$ curve at 5 K and 20 K is achieved for x=0.5. Further addition of Mg decreases the $J_c$ owing to the formation of more pores in the $MgB_2$ matrix and smaller volume fraction of $MgB_2$.

• BMB Reports
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• v.39 no.4
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• pp.406-411
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• 2006

Signaling lymphocyte activation molecule (SLAM; also known as CD150) is a newly identified cellular receptor for measles virus (MV). The interaction between MV Haemagglutin (MVH) and SLAM is an initial step for MV entry. We have identified several novel SLAM binding sites at residues S429, T436 and H437 of MVH protein and MVH mutants in these residues dramatically decrease the ability to interaction with the cell surface SLAM and fail to co-precipitation with SLAM in vivo as well as malfunction in syncytium formation. At the same time, K58, S59 and H61 of SLAM was also identified to be critical for MVH and SLAM binding. Further, these residues may be useful targets for the development of measles therapy.

• The Transactions of The Korean Institute of Electrical Engineers
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• v.59 no.5
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• pp.860-865
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• 2010

When a circuit breaker is opened, a large capacitance around the buses, the circuit breaker and the potential transformer (PT) might cause PT ferroresonance. During PT ferroresonance, the iron core repeats saturation and unsaturation even though the supplied voltage is a rated voltage. This paper describes an analytical analysis of PT ferroresonance in the transient-state. To analyze ferroresonance analytically, the iron core is modelled by a simplified two-segment core model in this paper. Thus, a nonlinear ordinary differential equation (ODE) for the flux linkage is changed into a linear ODE with constant coefficients, which enables an analytical analysis. In this simplified model, each state, which is either saturated or unsaturated state, corresponds to one of the three modes, i.e. overdamping, critical damping and underdamping. The flux linkage and the voltage in each state are obtained analytically by solving the linear ODE with constant coefficients. The proposed transient analysis is effective in the more understanding of ferroresonance and thus can be used to design a ferroresonance prevention or suppression circuit of a PT.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.18 no.6
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• pp.627-638
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• 2019

Estimation of representative elementary volume (REV) of jointed rock masses is critical to predict the mechanical behavior of field-scale rock masses. The REV of jointed rock masses at site is strongly influenced by stress state. The paper proposed a method to systematically studied the influence of confining stress on the REV of jointed rock masses with various strengths (weak, medium and strong), which were sourced from the water inlet slope of Xiaowan Hydropower Station, China. A finite element method considering material heterogeneity was employed, a series of two-dimensional (2D) models was established based on the Monte-Carlo method and a lot of biaxial compressive tests were conducted. Numerical results showed that the REV of jointed rock masses presented a step-like reduction as the normalized confining stress increased. Confining stress weakened the size effect of jointed rock masses, indicating that the REV determined under uniaxial compression test can be reasonably taken as the REV of jointed rock masses under complexed in-situ stress environment.