• Journal of Aerospace System Engineering
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• v.14 no.5
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• pp.130-138
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• 2020

In this paper, a plan to expand the scale of the domestic MRO industry was proposed by finding the technical common points between the aviation MRO and naval vessel MRO industries. The aviation MRO industry is led by Europe, North America, and Singapore. Europe and North America have very large aviation industries. The reason for the development of the MRO industry in Singapore is that the aviation MRO and ship MRO industries gathered to expand the industrial scale. The MRO field is an industry that spans all fields from research & development, production, manufacturing, operation, disposal, and crew training. The MRO industry is divided into military and civilian use. However, most of them are only differences in the needs of users, and there are no significant technical differences. The weapon system used by the military is steadily developing. It is impossible for the military to maintain all equipment at a time when troops are reduced. For that reason, it is necessary to share roles in each field. There is a need for an MRO industry in which civil and military operations cooperate to maintain all weapon systems at optimal performance. And the MRO industry development should be based on the civil market. The scale of the MRO industry should be expanded by gathering equipment commonly used in aircraft and naval vessels. This can increase military availability and reduce maintenance budgets.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.19 no.12
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• pp.717-724
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• 2018

To prepare for the explosive increase in maintenance costs of bridges according to the aging of infrastructure, future maintenance costs of bridges should be predicted. For this purpose, the management status of bridges was investigated and modeled as the upper limit of the performance level and the target management level according to the life cycle. This paper proposes methodologies and procedures for estimating the bridge maintenance costs using two models and existing cost and performance prediction models that consist of unit repair cost model according to the safety score, performance degradation model of bridges, unit reconstruction cost, and average reconstruction time. To verify the applicability, future maintenance costs can be forecasted for specific management agency considering the number of bridges, degree of aging, and current management status. As a result, it is possible to obtain the maintenance cost and safety level of an individual bridge level for each year. In addition, by summing them up to the agency level, the average safety score, ratio of the safety level, inspection costs, repair costs, and reconstruction costs can be obtained. In a further study, the changes in maintenance costs can be analyzed according to the changes in the target management levels using the developed method. The optimal management level can be suggested by reviewing the results.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.333-352
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• 2017

A comparison study is made between the dynamic properties of an argillaceous siltstone and its grouting-reinforced body. The purpose is to investigate how grout injection can help repair broken soft rocks. A slightly weathered argillaceous siltstone is selected, and part of the siltstone is mechanically crushed and cemented with Portland cement to simulate the grouting-reinforced body. Core specimens with the size of $50mm{\times}38mm$ are prepared from the original rock and the grouting-reinforced body. Impact tests on these samples are then carried out using a Split Hopkinson Pressure Bar (SHPB) apparatus. Failure patterns are analyzed and geotechnical parameters of the specimens are estimated. Based on the experimental results, for the grouting-reinforced body, its shock resistance is poorer than that of the original rock, and most cracks happen in the cementation boundaries between the cement mortar and the original rock particles. It was observed that the grouting-reinforced body ends up with more fragmented residues, most of them have larger fractal dimensions, and its dynamic strength is generally lower. The mass ratio of broken rocks to cement has a significant effect on its dynamic properties and there is an optimal ratio that the maximum dynamic peak strength can be achieved. The dynamic strain-softening behavior of the grouting-reinforced body is more significant compared with that of the original rock. Both the time dependent damage model and the modified overstress damage model are equally applicable to the original rock, but the former performs much better compared with the latter for the grouting-reinforced body. In addition, it was also shown that water content and impact velocity both have significant effect on dynamic properties of the original rock and its grouting-reinforced body. Higher water content leads to more small broken rock pieces, larger fractal dimensions, lower dynamic peak strength and smaller elastic modulus. However, the water content plays a minor role in fractal dimensions when the impact velocity is beyond a certain value. Higher impact loading rate leads to higher degree of fragmentation and larger fractal dimensions both in argillaceous siltstone and its grouting-reinforced body. These results provide a sound basis for the quantitative evaluation on how cement grouting can contribute to the repair of broken soft rocks.

• International Journal of Stem Cells
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• v.15 no.4
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• pp.384-394
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• 2022

Background and Objectives: Dental pulp stem cells (DPSCs) play an important role in the repair of tooth injuries. Electrogenic sodium bicarbonate cotransporter 1 (NBCe1) is a Na⁺-coupled HCO₃^- transporter encoded by the solute carrier 4A4 (SLC4A4) gene and plays a crucial role in maintaining the pH of DPSCs. Our previous research confirmed that NBCe1 is highly expressed in odontoblasts during the development of the tooth germ. Therefore, in this study, we aimed to investigate the effect of NBCe1 on odontogenic differentiation of DPSCs and further clarify the underlying mechanisms. Methods and Results: DPSCs were isolated and identified, and the selective NBCe1 inhibitor S0859 was used to treat DPSCs. We used a cell counting Kit-8 assay to detect cell proliferative ability, and intracellular pH was assessed using confocal microscopy. Odontogenic differentiation of DPSCs was analyzed using real-time PCR and Alizarin Red S staining, and the NF-κB pathway was assessed using western blotting. Our results indicated that 10 µM S0859 was the optimal concentration for DPSC induction. Intracellular pH was decreased upon treatment with S0859. The mRNA expressions of DSPP, DMP1, RUNX2, OCN, and OPN were upregulated in the NBCe1 inhibited group compared to the controls. Moreover, NBCe1 inhibition significantly activated the NF-κB pathway, and a NF-κB inhibitor reduced the effect of NBCe1 on DPSC differentiation. Conclusions: NBCe1 inhibition significantly promotes odontogenic differentiation of DPSCs, and this process may be regulated by activating the NF-κB signaling pathway.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.44 no.3
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• pp.202-209
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• 2017

Background No consensus exists on the optimal treatment protocol for orofacial clefts or the optimal timing of cleft palate closure. This study investigated factors influencing speech outcomes after two-stage palate repair in adults with a non-syndromal complete unilateral cleft lip and palate (UCLP). Methods This was a retrospective analysis of adult patients with a UCLP who underwent two-stage palate closure and were treated at our tertiary cleft centre. Patients ${\geq}17$ years of age were invited for a final speech assessment. Their medical history was obtained from their medical files, and speech outcomes were assessed by a speech pathologist during the follow-up consultation. Results Forty-eight patients were included in the analysis, with a mean age of 21 years (standard deviation, 3.4 years). Their mean age at the time of hard and soft palate closure was 3 years and 8.0 months, respectively. In 40% of the patients, a pharyngoplasty was performed. On a 5-point intelligibility scale, 84.4% received a score of 1 or 2; meaning that their speech was intelligible. We observed a significant correlation between intelligibility scores and the incidence of articulation errors (P<0.001). In total, 36% showed mild to moderate hypernasality during the speech assessment, and 11%-17% of the patients exhibited increased nasalance scores, assessed through nasometry. Conclusions The present study describes long-term speech outcomes after two-stage palatoplasty with hard palate closure at a mean age of 3 years old. We observed moderate long-term intelligibility scores, a relatively high incidence of persistent hypernasality, and a high pharyngoplasty incidence.

• Journal of KIISE:Computing Practices and Letters
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.195-205
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• 2002

Crew scheduling is the problem of pairing crews with each of the vehicles in operation during a certain period of time. A typical procedure of crew schedule optimization consists of enumerating all possible pairings and then selecting the subset which can cover all the operating vehicles, with the goal of minimizing the number of pairings in the subset. The linear programming approach popularly adopted for optimal selection of pairings, however, is not applicable when the objective function cannot be expressed in a linear form. This paper proposes a method of integrating integer programming and heuristic search to solve difficult crew scheduling problems in which the objective function cannot be expressed in linear form and at the same time the number of crews available is limited. The role of heuristic search is to improve the incomplete solution generated by integer programming through iterative repair. Experimental results show that our method outperforms human experts in terms of both solution quality and execution time when applied to real world crew scheduling Problems which can hardly be solved by traditional methods.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.220-227
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• 2021

PCT (Power Cable Tunnel) and UT (Utility Tunnel), which are non-transport underground infrastructures, are mostly RC (Reinforced Concrete) structures, and their durability decreases due to the deterioration caused by carbonation over time. In particular, since the rate of carbonation varies by use and region, a predictive model based on actual carbonation data is required for individual maintenance. In this study, a carbonation prediction model was developed for non-transport underground infrastructures, such as PCT and UT. A carbonation prediction model was developed using multiple regression analysis and deep neural network techniques based on the actual data obtained from a safety inspection. The structures, region, measurement location, construction method, measurement member, and concrete strength were selected as independent variables to determine the dependent variable carbonation rate coefficient in multiple regression analysis. The adjusted coefficient of determination (Ra2) of the multiple regression model was found to be 0.67. The coefficient of determination (R2) of the model for predicting the carbonation of non-transport underground infrastructures using a deep neural network was 0.82, which was superior to the comparative prediction model. These results are expected to help determine the optimal timing for repair on carbonation and preventive maintenance methodology for PCT and UT.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.16 no.10
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• pp.1583-1590
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• 2006

T4 endonuclease V (T4 endo V) [EC 3. 1. 25. 1], found in bacteriophage T4, is responsible for excision repair of damaged DNA. The enzyme possesses two activities: a cyclobutane pyrimidine dimer DNA glycosylase (CPD glycosylase) and an apyrimidic/apurinic endonuclease (AP lyase). T4 denV (414 bp cDNA) encoding T4 en do V (138 amino acid) was synthesized and expressed using either an expression vector, pTriEx-4, in E. coli or a baculovirus AcNPV vector, pBacPAK8, in insect cells. The recombinant His-Tag/T4 endo V (rHis-Tag/T4 endo V) protein expressed from bacteria was purified using one-step affinity chromatography with a HiTrap Chelating HP column and used to make rabbit anti-His-Tag/T4 endo V polyclonal antibody for detection of recombinant T4 endo V (rT4 endo V) expressed in insect cells. In the meantime, the recombinant baculovirus was obtained by cotransfection of BacPAK6 viral DNA and pBP/T4 endo V in Spodoptera frugiperda (Sf21) insect cells, and used to infect Sf21 cells to overexpress T4 endo V protein. The level of rT4 endo V protein expressed in Sf21 cells was optimized by varying the virus titers and time course of infection. The optimal expression condition was set as follows; infection of the cells at a MOI of 10 and harvest at 96 h post-infection. Under these conditions, we estimated the amount of rT4 endo V produced in the baculovirus expression vector system to be 125 mg/l. The rT4 endo V was purified to homogeneity by a rapid procedure, consisting of ion-exchange, affinity, and reversed phase chromatographies, based on FPLC. The rT4 endo V positively reacted to an antiserum made against rHis-Tag/T4 endo V and showed a residual nicking activity against CPD-containing DNA caused by UV. This is the first report to have T4 endo V expressed in an insect system to exclude the toxic effect of a bacterial expression system, retaining enzymatic activity.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.38 no.5 s.250
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• pp.366-370
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• 2005

Background: In general, cardiac surgery has been performed via median sternotomy. During the past decade, improvements in endoscopic equipment and operative techniques have resulted in development of minimally invasive cardiac operation using small incisions. With the advent of a voice controlled camera-holding robotic arm (AESOP 3000, Automated Endoscope System for Optimal Positioning), cardiac surgery entered the robotic age. Material and Method: Between April 2004 and December 2004, a total of seventy eight patients underwent robotic cardiac surgery, of whom sixty four patients underwent robot-assisted minimally invasive cardiac surgery via 5cm right lateral minithoracotomy using voice controlled robotic arm, femoral vessels cannulation, percutaneous internal jugular cannulation, transthoracic aortic cross clamp. Other fourteen patients underwent MIDCAB via internal mammary artery harvesting using AESOP. Result: Robotic cardiac surgery were mitral valve repair in 37 cases, mitral valve replacement in 10 cases, aortic valve replacement in 1 case, MIDCAB in 14 cases, ASD operation in 9 cases, and isolated Maze procedure in 1 case. In mitral operation, mean CPB time was $165.3\pm43.1$ minutes and mean ACC time was $110.4\pm48.2$ minutes. Median length of hospital stay was 6 days (range 3 to 30) in mitral operation, 4 days (range 2 to 7) in MIDCAB, and 4 days (range 2 to 6) in ASD operation. For complications, 3 patients were required by reoperation for bleeding. There was no hospital mortality. Conclusion: Our experience of robot cardiac surgery suggests that many cardiovascular surgeons will be able to perform minimally invasive cardiac operations through small incisions with robot-assisted video-direction. Well-designed studies and close long-term follow-up will be required to analyze the benefits of robot-assisted operation.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.4 no.2
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• pp.99-105
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• 1986

Optimal balance between control probability and risk of complication is emphasized even in present time, Although certain incidence of intestinal injury is accepted as an inevitable consequence after abdominopelvic irradiation, these complications still remain as problems. 60 mice were irradiated with 250 kVp orthovoltage x-ray machine and $200rad{\times}5/wk$ regimen. Histpathologic findings of colorectum and the relationship with occult blood test were analyzed and possible tolerable dose which would be safe from permanent complication was also estimated. Followings are the results: Mild mucosal and submucosal edema were observed in 1,000 rad irradiated group. Congestion of small vessels was prominent in 2,000 rad irradiated group and infiltration of inflammatory cells was observed in 3,000 rad irradiated group. Denuded mucosa was observed in 3,000 rad irradiated group. Occult blood test is not a proper indicator for rectal denuding or rectal ulcer, but our results suggest the possibility of using this as a relative scale of intestinal damage. Mitotic figures of crypt cells were observed even in 5,000 rad irradiated group, these suggest that the repair capacity of crypt cells are still functioning.