• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
• /
• v.21 no.1
• /
• pp.27-36
• /
• 2017

Angelicae Gigantis Radix (AGR, Angelica gigas) has been used for a long time as a traditional folk medicine in Korea and oriental countries. Decursinol angelate (DCA) is structurally isomeric decursin, one of the major components of AGR. This study was performed to confirm whether DCA augments pentobarbital-induced sleeping behaviors via the activation of $GABA_A$-ergic systems in animals. Oral administration of DCA (10, 25 and 50 mg/kg) markedly suppressed spontaneous locomotor activity. DCA also prolonged sleeping time, and decreased the sleep latency by pentobarbital (42 mg/kg), in a dose-dependent manner, similar to muscimol, both at the hypnotic (42 mg/kg) and sub-hypnotic (28 mg/kg) dosages. Especially, DCA increased the number of sleeping animals in the sub-hypnotic dosage. DCA (50 mg/kg, p.o.) itself modulated sleep architectures; DCA reduced the counts of sleep/wake cycles. At the same time, DCA increased total sleep time, but not non-rapid eye movement (NREM) and rapid eye movement (REM) sleep. In the molecular experiments. DCA (0.001, 0.01 and $0.1{\mu}g/ml$) increased intracellular Cl- influx level in hypothalamic primary cultured neuronal cells of rats. In addition, DCA increased the protein expression of glutamic acid decarboxylase ($GAD_{65/67}$) and $GABA_A$ receptors subtypes. Taken together, these results suggest that DCA potentiates pentobarbital-induced sleeping behaviors through the activation of $GABA_A$-ergic systems, and can be useful in the treatment of insomnia.

• Proceedings of the Korea Association of Information Systems Conference
• /
• 2000.11a
• /
• pp.1.2-24
• /
• 2000

The field of neural networks has been a recent surge in activity as a result of progress in developments of efficient training algorithms. For this reason, and coupled with the widespread availability of powerful personal computer hardware for running simulations of networks, there is increasing focus on the potential benefits this field can offer. The neural network may be viewed as an advanced pattern recognition technique and can be applied in many areas such as financial time series forecasting, medical diagnostic expert system and etc.. The intention of this study is to build and implement one simple artificial neural networks hereinafter called ANN. For this purpose, some literature survey was undertaken to understand the structures and algorithms of ANN theoretically. Based on the review of theories about ANN, the system adopted 3-layer back propagation algorithms as its learning algorithm to simulate one case of medical diagnostic model. The adopted ANN algorithm was performed in PC by using turbo PASCAL and many input parameters such as the numbers of layers, the numbers of nodes, the number of cycles for learning, learning rate and momentum term. The system output more or less successful results which nearly agree with goals we assumed. However, the system has some limitations such as the simplicity of the programming structure and the range of parameters it can dealing with. But, this study is useful for understanding general algorithms and applications of ANN system and can be expanded for further refinement for more complex ANN algorithms.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Safety
• /
• v.30 no.4
• /
• pp.1-7
• /
• 2015

Self-piercing riveting (SPR) process is gaining popularity due to its many advantages. The SPR does not require a pre-drilled hole and has capability to join a wide range of similar or dissimilar materials and combinations of materials. This study investigated the fatigue strength of self-piercing rivet joint with aluminum alloy (Al-5052) and steel (SPCC) sheets. Static and fatigue tests on tensile-shear specimens were conducted. From the static strength aspect, the optimal punching force for the specimen with upper SPCC (U.S) sheet and lower aluminum alloy(L.A) sheets was 34 kN. During static test the specimens fractured in pull-out fracture mode due to influence of plastic deformation of joining area. There was a relationship between applied load amplitude $P_{amp}$ and number of cycles N ; $P_{amp}=19588N_f^{-0.211}$ and $P_{amp}=4885N_f^{-0.083}$ for U.S-L.A and U.A-L.S specimens, respectively. U.A-L.S fatigue specimens failed due to fretting crack initiation around the rivet neck between upper and lower sheets.

• Journal of Animal Reproduction and Biotechnology
• /
• v.35 no.2
• /
• pp.171-176
• /
• 2020

Advancing the estrous cycle of mares is an essential breeding strategy that is routinely conducted by Thoroughbred breeders to improve economic outcomes. For this purpose, Equilume light masks have been developed as an alternative to existing technologies such as artificial lighting or hormonal treatments because they are considered as valid as existing methods with additional animal welfare advantages. For example, with the Equilume light masks, horses can be let out into the pasture, whereas they have to be kept indoors during lighting treatment. Because the function of Equilume light mask on the estrous cycle of mares is influenced by environmental factors such as nutrition condition and temperature, Equilume light mask should be studied in various environments. The objective of the present study was thus to verify the effect of Equilume light masks on the onset of the estrous cycle in Thoroughbred mares in South Korea. Mares were randomly selected and separated into two groups at two Thoroughbred horse breeding farms. The mares in the treatment group were equipped with Equilume light masks from November 18 to February 10 the following year. The body condition, the number and size (> 35 mm) of uterine follicles, and the uterine horn score of the mares were assessed on January 6 and February 10. The body condition scores were not different between the two groups. The treatment with the Equilume light mask had no positive effects on developing follicles and the reproductive tract. In conclusion, the use of Equilume light masks did not influence the seasonal resumption of the estrus cycles in Thoroughbred mares in South Korea.

• Steel and Composite Structures
• /
• v.18 no.6
• /
• pp.1569-1582
• /
• 2015

This study explores the lateral deflections of diagonal braces in concentrically-braced earthquake-resisting frames. The performance of this widely-used system is often compromised by the flexural buckling of slender braces in compression. In addition to reducing the compressive resistance, buckling may also cause these members to undergo sizeable lateral deflections which could damage surrounding structural components. Different approaches have been used in the past to predict the mid-length lateral deflections of cyclically loaded steel braces based on their theoretical deformed geometry or by using experimental data. Expressions have been proposed relating the mid-length lateral deflection to the axial displacement ductility of the member. Recent experiments were conducted on hollow and concrete-filled circular hollow section (CHS) braces of different lengths under cyclic loading. Very slender, concrete-filled tubular braces exhibited a highly ductile response, undergoing large axial displacements prior to failure. The presence of concrete infill did not influence the magnitude of lateral deflection in relation to the axial displacement, but did increase the number of cycles endured and the maximum axial displacement achieved. The corresponding lateral deflections exceeded the deflections observed in the majority of the previous experiments that were considered. Consequently, predictive expressions from previous research did not accurately predict the mid-height lateral deflections of these CHS members. Mid-length lateral deflections were found to be influenced by the member non-dimensional slenderness (${\bar{\lambda}}$) and hence a new expression was proposed for the lateral deflection in terms of member slenderness and axial displacement ductility.

• Journal of Radiation Protection and Research
• /
• v.11 no.2
• /
• pp.139-145
• /
• 1986

An improved mothod of assessing fuel status by analyzsis of the fission product in the reactor coolant system is proposed. The release mechanism of specific fission products is established for determination of the coefficients in the equations which relate the radioactivities with the amount of defected fuel. Knock-out and migration models are employed in the formulation of the release mechanism. The influence of the tramp uranium is quantified. Sample calculations were made for KNU 1 reactor system using the I-131 and I-133 concentrations in the primary coolant. The estimated number of defected fuel pins in the third and sixth cycles appeared to be $9.34{\pm}1.13\;and\;0.294{\pm}0.092$, respectively.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
• /
• v.15 no.4
• /
• pp.1581-1584
• /
• 2014

Background: The overall prognosis for cancers of unknown primary (CUP) is poor, median overall survival (OS) being 6-12 months. We evaluated our multicentric retrospective experience for CUP administered docetaxel and cisplatin combination therapy. Materials and Methods: A total of 29 patients that were pathologically confirmed subtypes of CUP were included in the study. The combination of docetaxel ($75mg/m^2$, day 1) and cisplatin ($75mg/m^2$, day 1) was performed as a first line regimen every 21 days. Results: The median age was 51 (range: 27-68). Some 17 patients had multimetastatic disease on the inital diagnosis. Histopathological diagnoses were well-moderate differentiated adenocarcinoma (51.7%), undifferentiated carcinoma (27.6%), squamous cell cancer (13.8%), mucoepidermoid carcinoma (3.4%) and neuroendocrine differentiated carcinoma (3.4%). Median number of cycles was 3 (range: 1-6). Objective response rate was 37.9% and clinical benefit was 58.6%. Median progression free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) were 6 months (range: 4.3-7.7 months) and 16 months (range: 8.1-30.9 months), respectively. Fourteen patients (60.8%) were treated in a second line setting. There was no treatment related death. Most common toxicities were nausia-vomiting (44.6%) and fatigue (34.7%), serious cases (grade 3/4) suffering nausia-vomiting (10.3%), neutropenia (13.8%) and febrile neutropenia (n=1). Conclusion: The combination of cisplatin and docetaxel is an effective regimen for selected patients with CUP.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Safety
• /
• v.29 no.4
• /
• pp.9-14
• /
• 2014

Self-piercing riveting(SPR) is a mechanical fastening technique which is put pressure on the rivet for joining the sheets. Unlike a spot welding, SPR joining does not make the harmful gas and $CO_2$ and needs less energy consumption. In this study, static and fatigue tests were conducted using tensile-shear specimens with Al-5052 plates for evaluation of fatigue strength of the SPR joints. During SPR joining process for the specimen, using the current sheet thickness and a rivet, the optimal applied punching force was found to be 21 kN. And, the maximum static strength of the specimen produced at the optimal punching force was 3430 N. During the fatigue tests for the specimens, interface failure mode occurred on the top substrate close to the rivet head in the most high-loading range region, but on the bottom substrate close to the rivet tail in the low -loading range region. There was a relationship between applied load amplitude $P_{amp}$ and lifetime of cycle N for the tensile-shear, $P_{amp}=3395.5{\times}N^{-0.078}$. Using the stress-strain curve of the Al-5052 from tensile test, the simulations for fatigue specimens have been carried out using the implicit finite element code ABAQUS. The relation between von-Mises equivalent stress amplitude and number of cycles was found to be ${\sigma}_{eq}=514.7{\times}N^{-0.033}$.

• Restorative Dentistry and Endodontics
• /
• v.45 no.3
• /
• pp.37.1-37.8
• /
• 2020

Objectives: This study aims to compare the cyclic fatigue resistance of VDW.ROTATE, TruNatomy, 2Shape, and HyFlex CM nickel-titanium (NiTi) rotary files at body temperature. Materials and Methods: In total, 80 VDW.ROTATE (25/0.04), TruNatomy (26/0.04), 2Shape (25/0.04), and HyFlex CM (25/0.04) NiTi rotary files (n = 20 in each group) were subjected to static cyclic fatigue testing at body temperature (37℃) in stainless-steel artificial canals prepared according to the size and taper of the instruments until fracture occurred. The number of cycles to fracture (NCF) was calculated, and the lengths of the fractured fragments were measured. The data were statistically analyzed using a 1-way analysis of variance and post hoc Tamhane tests at the 5% significance level (p < 0.05). Results: There were significant differences in the cyclic fatigue resistance among the groups (p < 0.05), with the highest to lowest NCF values of the files as follows: VDW.ROTATE, HyFlex CM, 2Shape, and TruNatomy. There was no significant difference in the lengths of the fractured fragments among the groups. The scanning electron microscope images of the files revealed typical characteristics of fracture due to cyclic fatigue. Conclusions: The VDW.ROTATE files had the highest cyclic fatigue resistance, and the TruNatomy and 2Shape files had the lowest cyclic fatigue resistance in artificial canals at body temperature.

• Journal of Pharmaceutical Investigation
• /
• v.26 no.4
• /
• pp.299-308
• /
• 1996

In order to develop the controlled release of a drug from the suppsitories, in vitro drug release and in vivo absorption in rabbits were investigated. Various suppository forms with hollow cavities, into which drugs in the form of fine powder or solid dispersion system(SDS) could be placed, were utilized. The polyvinyl alcohol(PVA) hydrogel as a base, and propranolol HCl(PPH) as a model drug were employed. In vitro drug dissolution studies showed that the dissolved amounts(%) of PPH from PPH-methylcellulose(MC)-SDS and PPH-ethylcellulose(EC)-SDS reached 100% and 63% in 4.5-hours, respectively. In the relative strength test for PVA hydrogel, PVA hydrogel became harder and more rigid when the number of freezing-thawing cycles and the ratio of PVA 2000 were increased. In vitro drug release profile revealed that the release rate(%) of PPH from PPH-EC-SDS and PPH-MC-SDS hollow type suppositories were sustained. The release amount(%) of PPH from PPH-EC-SDS hollow type suppositories was not affected by storage time, but since the use of hydrophilic MC made PPH diffuse into the hydrogel after it absorbed the water of base, the various release patterns were appeared as the storage time went by. In vivo absorption experiments with rabbits showed that PPH-EC-SDS(PPH : EC=1:3) hollow type suppository delayed the absorption of PPH, significantly. The $C_{max}$, $AUC_{0{\rightarrow}8}$ and MRT of PPH powder hollow type suppository were $196.37{\pm}5.63\;ng/ml$, 1105.26 ng/ml/min and 8.66 min, respectively. The $C_{max}$, $AUC_{0{\rightarrow}8}$ and MRT of PPH-EC-SDS(PPH : EC=1:3) were $91.30{\pm]14.14\;ng/ml$, 554.69 ng/ml/min, 235.99 min, respectively.