• Nutrition Research and Practice
• /
• v.8 no.4
• /
• pp.368-376
• /
• 2014

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: The objectives of this study were to investigate the effects of lycopene on the migration, adhesion, tube formation capacity, and p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (p38 MAPK) activity of endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) cultivated with high glucose (HG) and as well as explore the mechanism behind the protective effects of lycopene on peripheral blood EPCs. MATERIALS/METHODS: Mononuclear cells were isolated from human peripheral blood by Ficoll density gradient centrifugation. EPCs were identified after induction of cellular differentiation. Third generation EPCs were incubated with HG (33 mmol/L) or 10, 30, and $50{\mu}g/mL$ of lycopene plus HG. MTT assay and flow cytometry were performed to assess proliferation and apoptosis of EPCs. EPC migration was assessed by MTT assay with a modified boyden chamber. Adhesion assay was performed by replating EPCs on fibronectin-coated dishes, after which adherent cells were counted. In vitro vasculogenesis activity was assayed by Madrigal network formation assay. Western blotting was performed to analyze protein expression of both phosphorylated and non-phosphorylated p38 MAPK. RESULTS: The proliferation, migration, adhesion, and in vitro vasculogenesis capacity of EPCs treated with 10, 30, and $50{\mu}g/mL$ of lycopene plus HG were all significantly higher comapred to the HG group (P < 0.05). Rates of apoptosis were also significantly lower than that of the HG group. Moreover, lycopene blocked phosphorylation of p38 MAPK in EPCs (P < 0.05). To confirm the causal relationship between MAPK inhibition and the protective effects of lycopene against HG-induced cellular injury, we treated cells with SB203580, a phosphorylation inhibitor. The inhibitor significantly inhibited HG-induced EPC injury. CONCLUSIONS: Lycopene promotes proliferation, migration, adhesion, and in vitro vasculogenesis capacity as well as reduces apoptosis of EPCs. Further, the underlying molecular mechanism of the protective effects of lycopene against HG-induced EPC injury may involve the p38 MAPK signal transduction pathway. Specifically, lycopene was shown to inhibit HG-induced EPC injury by inhibiting p38 MAPKs.

• Journal of Navigation and Port Research
• /
• v.26 no.4
• /
• pp.473-479
• /
• 2002

The estimation of the volume of a pit excavation is often required in many surveying, soil mechanics, highway applications and transportation engineering situations. The calculation of earthwork plays a major role in plan or design of many civil engineering projects such as seashore reclamation, and thus it has become very important to improve the accuracy of earthwork calculation. In this paper the spot height method, proposed formulas(A, B, C), and chen and Line method are compared with the volumes of the pits in these examples. And we proposed an algorithm of finding a terrain surface with the free boundary conditions and both direction spline method drawback, i.e., the modeling curves form peak points at the joints. To avoid this drawback, the cubic spline polynomial was chosen as the methematical model of the new method. From the characteristics of the cubic spline polynomial, the modeling curve of the new method was smooth and matched the ground profile well. As a result of this study, algorithm of proposed three methods to estimate pit excavation volume provided a better accuracy than spot height, chamber, chen and Lin method. And the mathematical model mentioned makes is thought to give a maximum acccuracy in estimating the volume of a pit excavation.

• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
• /
• v.10 no.3
• /
• pp.419-426
• /
• 1999

In this study, the reaction rate constant, activation energy, total crosslinking density, elastic constant, cure properties ($t_5,\;t_{90}$), modulus, and abrasion resistance of rubber compounds were investigated as a function of cure temperatures, cure systems and reinforcing filler loadings. Reaction rate constants showed strong dependence on thc carbon black loading, cure temperature and cure system, and increased sharply with increasing the reaction temperatures. The lowest activation energy was obtained in the efficient cure (EC) system which corresponds to the high level of sulfur to accelerator ratio, and the activation energy was decreased with decreasing the carbon black loadings. The change of carbon black loadings directly affects the modulus and abrasion resistance, but the change of cure system showed various effects on the rubber compounds. Increased carbon black loadings showed the high modulus, improved abrasion resistance and short scorch time but decrease in crosslinking density and elastic constant. Higher crosslinking density and elastic constant were shown in the EC cure system regardless of carbon black loadings, but scorch timc ($t_5$) was not affected by the change of the ratio of sulfur to accelerator. Rapid optimum cure time ($t_{90}$) were showen in the EC cure system. Also, the equivalent cure curve coefficient of rubber compound was 0.96 for conventional cure (CC) system, and 0.94 for semi-efficient cure (SEC) and EC system regardless carbon black loadings. As regarding the abrasion resistance, wear volume showed the logarithmic increase for the loaded weight.

• KOREAN JOURNAL OF CROP SCIENCE
• /
• v.50 no.6
• /
• pp.394-399
• /
• 2005

Near Infrared Spectroscopy (NIRS) has been used as a tool for the rapid, accurate and nondestructive assay of the fresh rice leaf in nitrogen content. NIRS used in this study was visible and near infrared spectroscopy type instrument, Foss model 6500. To obtain a useful calibration equation, standard regression between the data was analyzed by chemical analysis and by NIRS method. Accuracy of calibration equation for nitrogen content on fresh leaf of rice were 0.879, 0.858 and 0.819, respectively. Accuracy of calibration equation after outlier treatment increased as 0.017, 0.02 and 0.061 improved each with 0.896, 0.878 and 0.880, respectively. Calibration equation combined using merge function after accuracy of calibration equation more increased by 0.911. Difference analysis value between calibration equation and lab value by kjeldahl showed $0.001\%$. With this as same result is the possibility of closing the deterioration of the sample in order to omit a construction and pulverization process it is judged with the fact that the nitrogen content measurement of the fresh rice leaf which the possibility of reducing an hour and an expense is by a near infrared spectroscopy technique will be possible.

• Journal of Fashion Business
• /
• v.15 no.5
• /
• pp.69-86
• /
• 2011

The objective of this research is to unveil the dynamic changes of the trends in wedding dresses during the 20th Century. The studies were carried out in two forms; firstly by observing the actual wedding dresses worn by people at that time, and secondly by conducting formative comparisons between those dresses with the ones appeared in movies corresponding to that period. Movies provide an invaluable insight into the era's wedding dresses fashion trends since they function as intimate bridges in connection with the time's audience, and the visible imageries accurately reflect the characteristics embedded within that time frame. As there are no precedent studies regarding this topic, this thesis can serve as vital research data for the wedding dress industry. Research data regarding the actual wedding dresses were collected from books and museum web sites. The object of movies were films produced before World War II that contained both the background settings of the 20th Century and wedding dresses, of which photographic imageries were captured. Research analysis was then conducted by merging these data with findings from relevant books and internet materials. The results of the thesis are as the following: The 1900s was an extension of the 19th Century's popular fashion trend which can be characterized as the S curve silhouettes of the Edwardian period when long trains and long veils symbolized wealth and social power. In the 1910s, high waist silhouettes with soft wrinkles were prevalent as attire suitable for active mobility with practical functionality were highly regarded. During the 1920s, the flapper style became the dominant trend. Hem lines of the skirts were curled in the form of the scallop and laces were the most widely used raw materials. By the 1930s, wedding dresses that reinterpreted the glamorous sheath lines, practical two piece styles, and retro-styles became predominant. The 1940s saw the advent of ready-made wedding dresses made of synthesized materials; practical military style suits and casuals sometimes substituted the wedding dresses. And although the wedding dresses in the movies were primarily costumes to express the personalities of the characters, they were also reinterpreted as manifestations of the formative characteristics of each relative period that pursued very distinct and diverse features.

• Journal of the Korea institute for structural maintenance and inspection
• /
• v.17 no.2
• /
• pp.10-20
• /
• 2013

To evaluate the safety of a beam structure, strains are measured as an indicator of structural states. However, unless strain sensors are installed exactly on where maximum or other representative strains occur, the techniques by which rational assessment through measured strains is accomplished are required. Thus, this study suggests a process to estimate strain distribution on the steel beam from discrete strains measured by sensors. In the presented technique, the targeted beam is regarded to be subjected to unknown loads so that applicability is enhanced. Final strain distribution is given as form of a function after regression analysis. To verify the performance of estimation, a bending test for steel beam on which distributed and concentrated loads simultaneously act is conducted. From the comparison between estimated and directly measured strains in the test, the curve of strain distribution and the strain at arbitrary location could be predicted within maximum relative error 3.32% and maximum absolute error of $2.32{\mu}{\varepsilon}$, respectively. Thus reliable and practical monitoring is expected to apply effectively for the steel beam structure.

• Proceedings of the Korean Biophysical Society Conference
• /
• 2003.06a
• /
• pp.23-23
• /
• 2003

It has been suggested that the impairment of smooth muscle cell (SMC) function by alterations in the $Ca^{2+}$-activated $K^{+}$ ( $K_{Ca}$ ) channels accounts for the reduction in coronary reserve during left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH). However, this hypothesis has not been fully investigated. The main goal of this study was to assess whether the properties of $K_{Ca}$ channels in coronary SMCs were altered during LVH. New Zealand white rabbits (0.8-1.0 kg) and Sprague-Dawley rats (300-400 g) were randomly selected to receive either an injection of isoproterenol (300 $\mu\textrm{g}$/kg body weight) or an equal volume of 0.9％ saline (1 mL/kg body weight). The animals developed LVH 10 days after injection. In patch-clamp experiments, the unitary current amplitude and open probability for the $K_{Ca}$ channels were significantly reduced in LVH patches compared with control patches. The concentration-response curve of the $K_{Ca}$ channel to [C $a^{2+}$]$_{i}$ was shifted to the right. Inhibition of the $K_{Ca}$ channels with TEA was more pronounced in LVH cells than in the control cells. The whole-cell currents of $K_{Ca}$ channels were reduced during LVH. Western blot analysis indicated no differences in $K_{Ca}$ channel expression between the control and LVH coronary SM membranes. In contraction experiments, the effect of a high $K^{+}$concentration on the resting tension of the LVH coronary artery was greater than on that of the control. The effect of TEA on the resting tension of the LVH coronary artery was reduced as compared with the effect on the control. Our findings imply a novel mechanism for reduced coronary reserve during LVH.ing LVH.

• Korean Journal of Ichthyology
• /
• v.18 no.1
• /
• pp.45-54
• /
• 2006

Age and growth of the small yellow croaker, Larimichthys polyactis were estimated using right sagittal otoliths of 506 fish specimens from March to December, 2002 and from January to February, 2005 in the South Sea, part of the East China Sea of Korea. Examination of outer margins of the otolith showed that the opaque zone was formed once a year. Marginal increment of the otolith formed annual rings from May and June at the beginning of spawning season. In the relationship between total length and body weight, a multiplicative error structure was assumed because variability in growth increased as a function of the length, and the estimated equation was $BW=0.0044TL^{3.2502}$ ($R^2=0.97$). The relative growth as body weight at total length has significant difference between females and males (P<0.05). For describing growth of the small yellow croaker, Larimichthys polyactis a von Bertalanffy growth model was adopted. The von Bertalanffy growth curve had an additive error structure and the growth parameters estimated from non-linear regression were $L_{\infty}=33.88cm$, K=0.20/year and $t_0=-2.39year$. Growth at age of males and females shows no significant difference (P>0.05). Most examined fish were 1, 2 and 3 years old, although the oldest fish were 7 old for males and 8 for females.

• Journal of the Earthquake Engineering Society of Korea
• /
• v.8 no.1
• /
• pp.67-76
• /
• 2004

This study presents the evaluation of CSM(Capacity Spectrum Method, ATC-40) in developing fragility curves for a sample concrete bridge. The CSM is originally developed as one of the simplified procedures for building structures, while this study adopts the CSM to develop fragility curves of bridge structures. Four(4) different approaches are demonstrated and the fragility curves developed are compared those by the nonlinear time history analysis. Fragility curves in this study are represented by lognormal distribution functions with two parameters and developed as a function of PGA. The sixty(60) ground acceleration time histories for the Los Angeles area developed for the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) SAC(SEAOC-ATC-CUREe) steel project are used for the bridge analysis. The comparison of fragility curves by the CSM with those by the time history analysis indicates that the agreement is excellent for one of the methods investigated in this study. In this respect. it is recommended that the demand spectrum might be improved according to the guidelines suggested in this study. However, this observation might not always apply, depending on the details of specific bridge characteristic

• Journal of the Korean Crystal Growth and Crystal Technology
• /
• v.20 no.1
• /
• pp.21-24
• /
• 2010

The effects of mole ratio(A/B) m and Ti-ion on the dielectric properties and microstructure of the microwave dielectric ceramics $(Ca_{0.7}Sr_{0.3})_m(Ti_yZr_{1-y})O_3$ were investigated. Ti ions substituted on Zr-sites in these modified $CaZrO_3$ composition strongly affect the sintering density and microstructure of the fired ceramic body. With increasing the amount of Ti substituted on Zr-sites, the sintered density rapidly increased and the dense microstructure was obtained for the compositions having mole ratio of 1.01, whereas the sintered density and microstructure are nearly constant with the content of Ti-ion for the compositions having mole ratio of 0.99. With increasing the content of Ti ion, the curve of TCC (Temperature Coefficient of Capacitance) as a function of temperature rotated clockwise and satisfied the COG characteristics for both of compositions with mole ratio of 0.99 and 1.01. The content of Ti ion seems to be more effective than mole with respect to the controlling of firing and TCC.