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This paper focuses on the single machine sequencing and common due-date assignment problem for the objective of minimizing the sum of the penalties associated with earliness, tardiness and due-date assignment. Unlike the previous research articles on this class of scheduling problem, we consider sequence-dependent setup times that make the problem much more difficult. To solve the problem, a branch and bound algorithm, which incorporates the method to obtain lower and upper bounds as well as a dominance property to reduce the search space, is suggested that gives the optimal solutions for small-sized instances. Heuristic algorithms are suggested to obtain solutions for large-sized problems within a reasonable computation time. The performances of both the optimal and heuristic algorithms, in computational experiments on randomly generated test instances, are reported.

In order to grasp the concentration distribution and identify sources of PCBs, air and soil samples around Sihwa and Banwol industrial area in Korea were analyzed. In result, the polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) concentration of air and soil was ranged from 2.08 to 5.82 ng/m3 (0.0686–1.01 pg WHO-TEQ/m3) and 2.43 to 274 ng/g dry (0.116–60.5 pg WHO-TEQ/g dry), respectively. Air and soil samples showed the very similar isomer composition pattern in each homologue by matrix, respectively. As a result of MLR for soil samples, the whole contribution rate of PCBs products (Aroclor) to soil was ~2 times higher than combustion.

This study was conducted to investigate the effects of replacing whole crop corn silage (WCCS) with whole crop rice silage (WCRS) in the total mixed ration (TMR) on nutrient intake, milk yield and its composition in Holstein cows. The Chucheong rice variety (Oryza sativa L. Japonica) and corn (Pioneer 32 P75) were harvested at yellow-ripe stage and were ensiled in round bales and in trench silos, respectively. Two TMR containing either WCCS or WCRS were prepared. These diets were randomly assigned to 16 midlactating Holstein cows (8 cows per treatment) and were fed for 120 days. The first 20 days were used for dietary adaptation and for the next 100 days daily feed intake, milk yield and its composition were recorded. The pH, lactic acid, NDF, ADF, CP, Ca and P contents were similar in WCRS and WCCS. The DM, ash and EE contents of WCRS were greater compared with WCCS. Nutrient (DM, NDF, TDN and CP) intakes were similar in cows fed WCCS- and WCRS-based TMR. Daily and 4% fat corrected milk yield were not affected by the treatments. Milk composition (percent milk fat, protein, lactose and total solids) was similar in cows fed either WCCS- or WCRSbased TMR. The concentration of milk urea N was greater in cows fed WCRS-based TMR than those fed WCCS-based TMR. In conclusion, round-baled WCRS can replace WCCS in the diet of mid- to late-lactating Holsteins without any deleterious effects on feed consumption, milk yield and its composition. The present findings raise the possibility that WCRS can be used as an alternative roughage source in the diets of dairy cows in countries with surplus rice production.

The effects of corn-starch content and high-energy ball-milling time on the microstructure and electrical properties of porous Y-doped (Ba, Sr)TiO3 samples were investigated. All the (Ba, Sr)TiO3 samples at room temperature crystallized in the tetragonal structure and the crystal structure was independent of the corn-starch content and ball-milling time. We found that the corn-starch additive and the ball-milling time affected the microstructure and the electrical properties. The (Ba, Sr)TiO3 samples exhibited a large PTCR jump (>105) due to the high porosity. The PTCR jump of the samples increased with increasing corn-starch content, while it decreased with increasing ball-milling time. In addition, the resistivity increased with increasing corn-starch content, while it decreased with increasing ball-milling time.

We conducted differential hybridization using two different tissues (caryopses as a tester and pericarps as a driver) 14 days after fertilization (DAF) to characterize the molecular mechanisms inherent to barley kernel development. Genes that were predominantly expressed in caryopsis were then sequenced and divided into nine categories based on their putative functions. The transcripts of Hordeum vulgare disulfide isomerase (HvPDI), a cDNA encoding disulfide isomerase, were detected in abundance in the caryopses but were expressed only weakly in the pericarps, stems, and leaves. Additionally, expression of HvPDI was abundant in 5-DAF kernels; however, its expression gradually decreased to 20 DAF. In situ hybridization revealed that HvPDI transcripts were detected primarily in the starch endosperm, located near the aleurone layer, during the later stages of kernel development (i.e., 14 and 20 DAF). The HvPDI gene was up-regulated as a result of several different plant hormone treatments, including treatment with ABA, GA3, benzyladenine, and methyl jasmonate. These findings provide insight into the molecular mechanisms inherent in kernel development and assembly of seed storage proteins for accumulation into caryopses.

Ni57Ti18Zr20Si2Sn3 and Cu54Ni6Zr22Ti18 amorphous feedstock fabricated by gas atomization were deposited on mild steel substrate by the kinetic spray technique. These as-sprayed coating samples were annealed at each suitable temperature to form three different matrix structures: amorphous, partially crystallized on amorphous and fully crystallized. Each structure was confirmed by XRD, TEM and DSC analyses. In the results of electrochemical tests conducted in a simulated acid rain solution, the amorphous structured coatings exhibit a superior corrosion resistance to the crystallized coatings with high polarization resistance, and the corrosion resistance decreased with increasing fraction of crystallization. As a function of time, the amorphous structure coatings maintained high protective efficiency and low porosity for 9 days immersion. The Ni-based alloy coatings showed better corrosion resistance than the Cu-based ones for each type of structure.

Jungwon Precision Ind. Co., Ltd. has recently developed precise carbon-interspaced antiscatter grids by adopting the sawing process in order to employ them to digital radiographic (DR) systems. Twelve grid samples of strip densities ranging from 40 to 85 lines/cm at a fixed grid ratio of 5:1 and of grid ratios from 5:1 to 10:1 at a fixed strip density of 80 lines/cm were prepared and their physical characteristics were examined under a well-controlled test condition with the IEC standard fixture, in terms of the transmission of primary radiation, the transmission of scattered radiation, the transmission of total radiation, the contrast improvement factor, and the Bucky factor. We expect that these experimental results will be useful for the selection of antiscatter grids in the applications of DR imaging as well as for the improvement of grid design.

The corrosion characteristics of Cu–6% Ni–4% Sn– x % Cr alloys in an acid-chloride solution (0.1 M H 2 SO 4 + 0.0056 M NaCl) at pH 1.2, were studied as a function of the chromium content. Three kinds of Cu–6% Ni–4% Sn– x % Cr alloys were prepared by melting and casting, followed by thermomechanical treatments. The corrosion behavior of the Cu–6% Ni–4% Sn– x % Cr alloys was investigated using electrochemical corrosion test and surface analyses (optical microscopy, electron probe microanalysis and scanning electron microscopy). The addition of Cr was found to prevent the localized corrosion behavior, which is caused by the decreased Sn-rich precipitates in Cu–6% Ni–4% Sn– x % Cr alloys. These precipitates induced galvanic corrosion due to the difference of the chemical composition.

TiN films for metallic bipolar plates were synthesized by closed-field unbalanced magnetron sputtering (CFUBM) and the properties were controlled by adjusting the N 2 partial pressure. The corrosion behaviors of TiN films were investigated by potentiodynamic tests and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) measurements under the condition of an aerated 1 M H 2 SO 4 + 2 ppm HF solution at 70 °C with a constant potential of 600 mV SCE . The results revealed that the variation of N 2 pressure had an influence on the corrosion resistance of TiN coating. N 2 partial pressure of 0.4 mTorr showed good corrosion resistance with the lowest corrosion current density and the highest charge transfer resistance due to the low porosity.

An evidence-based (EB) approach has been a significant driver in reforming healthcare over the past two decades. This change has extended across a broad range of health professions, including oral healthcare. A key element in achieving an EB approach to oral healthcare is educating our practitioners, both current and future. This involves providing opportunities integrated within simulated and actual clinical settings for practitioners to learn and apply the principles and processes of evidence-based oral healthcare (EBOHC). Therefore, the focus of this discussion will be on ways in which EBOHC and associated research activities can be implemented into curricula, with the aim of improving patient care. This paper will initially define the scope of EBOHC and research, what these involve, why they are important, and issues that we need to manage when implementing EBOHC. This will be followed by a discussion of factors that enable successful implementation of EBOHC and research into curricula. The paper concludes with suggestions on the future of EBOHC and research in curricula.Key recommendations related to curricula include strengthening of the culture of a scientific approach to education and oral healthcare provision; complete integration of EBOHC into the curriculum at all levels; and faculty development to implement EBOHC based on their needs and evidence of effective approaches. Key recommendations to support implementation and maintenance of EBOHC include recognition and funding for high-quality systematic reviews and development of associated methodologies relevant for global environments; building global capacity of EBOHC researchers; research into improving translation of effective interventions into education and healthcare practice, including patient-reported outcomes, safety and harms, understanding and incorporation of patient values into EB decision-making, economic evaluation research specific to oral healthcare and effective methods for changing practitioner (faculty) behaviours; and extend access to synthesized research in 'user friendly' formats and languages tailored to meet users' needs. Realizing these recommendations may help to improve access to effective healthcare as a basic human right.

Epitaxial L1 0 FePd (001) thin films were successfully manufactured by sputtering deposition method. The structure and magnetic properties of FePd thin films were characterized as a function of Fe compositions. It was found that the order parameter had a maximum for the stoichiometric composition, whereas the magnetic anisotropy had a maximum as the Pd content is increased to slightly above the stoichiometric composition. This indicates that the stoichiometry is directly contributed to the chemical ordering and the magnetic anisotropy. These results imply that nonstoichiometric FePd compositions, with a slight excess of Pd, may in fact be preferred for applications that require high magnetic anisotropy.

The grain size and density of the sintered (Zn1 − xAlxO)mIn2O3 bodies decreased with the small Al2O3 content (≤ 0.012), and then increased gradually by further increasing the Al2O3 content. The addition of Al for Zn in the (ZnO)mIn2O3 led to an increase in both the electrical conductivity and the absolute value of the Seebeck coefficient. This indicates that the power factor was significantly enhanced by adding Al for Zn. The thermoelectric power factor was maximized to 1.67 × 10− 3 W m− 1 K− 2 at 1073 K for the (Zn0.992Al0.008O)mIn2O3 sample.

In order to develop a new corrosion sensor for monitoring the status of cathodic protection of buried pipelines, the correlation of sensor output to protection abilities (protection potential and current) was evaluated using two types of laboratory tests. The galvanic sensor uses the well-known principle of galvanic corrosion and consists of two dissimilar metals (acting as the anode and cathode) installed in the soil near the pipeline. In this paper, a copper-pipeline steel (Cu-CS) probe was used. The cathodic protection status of the pipeline was simulated by a galvanostatic test. The galvanic current density was measured using a zero-resistance ammeter for the Cu-CS probe with the anode (CS) either connected or disconnected to the pipeline. The results showed a good correlation between the protection potential/current of the pipeline and the sensor output. Especially when the protection current was induced to the pipeline, the measured sensor current was negative (−), whereas when the stray cu...

This paper describes the application of a genetically engineered microorganism, Pseudomonas putida mt-2 KG1206, to monitor toluene analogs in groundwater collected from petroleum hydrocarbon contaminated sites. KG1206 contains the intact TOL plasmid and a second plasmid with the Pm -lux gene allowing it to produce bioluminescence in the presence of toluene analogs and their derivatives such as toluene, xylenes, and m -toluate. The simple bioluminescence assay consisted of mixing one volume of groundwater sample with four volumes of broth culture followed by bioluminescence measurement after 30 min . The maximum bioluminescent response with pure chemicals followed the order: m -methyl benzyl alchohol>m-toluate>toluene>m-xylene>benzoate>p-xylene>o-xylene . The bioluminescence production was well correlated to the m -toluate concentrations ( R2 >0.97) in field samples, with concentrations predicted from the bioassay falling within 75–158% of true concentration. However, no strong correlation was observed bet...

Approximate solutions of the shape function and the electrophoretic movement of a bubble in an aqueous medium with ionized detergent and a small number of electrolytes under the influence of uniform electric field are derived. Specifically, a bubble that has the interface saturated and densely packed with detergent molecules is considered, and the charges were deemed to be fixed provided the position change among the detergent molecules is hindered relative to the free molecule. The surface tension at the interface is weakened with the addition of the detergent, and the deformation can be significant. The variation of the shape of the bubble was represented by the Legendre polynomial and the perturbed velocity profile was used to derive the drag force for the deformed bubble. The speed and size of the bubble was assumed to be very small so that the flow around it is in the creeping flow regime. The shape of the bubble with fixed surface charge undergoes a prolate deformation with axial symmetry around the...

The as-sintered Mn1.1Ni1.4Co0.5−xCrxO4 (0 ≤ x ≤ 0.35) samples were crystallized in a cubic spinel Mn- and Ni-rich oxides. The substituted Cr led to a significant decrease in the resistivity change of the Mn1.1Ni1.4Co0.5−xCrxO4 negative temperature coefficient (NTC) thermistors after the thermal constraint. This indicates that the Cr-substituted Mn1.1Ni1.4Co0.5−xCrxO4 NTC thermistors have good electrical stability in comparison to the Cr-free Mn1.1Ni1.4Co0.5O4 thermistors. We strongly propose that the Cr substitution is highly desirable for the fabrication of stable high-performance NTC thermistors.

The introduction of an electrically biased two-grid attachment inside a conventional physical vapor deposition process system produces a reactive coating deposition and increases the metal ion-to-neutral ratio in the plasma, resulting in denser and smoother films. The corrosion behavior of titanium nitride (TiN) coatings was investigated by electrochemical methods, such as potentiodynamic polarization test and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) in deaerated 3.5% NaCl solution. Electrochemical tests were used to evaluate the effect of microstructure on the corrosion behavior of TiN coatings exposed to a corrosive environment. The crystal structure of the coatings was examined by X-ray diffractometry and the microstructure of the coatings was investigated by scanning electron microscopy. In the potentiodynamic polarization test and EIS measurement, the corrosion current density of TiN deposited by the modified two-grid attachment magnetron sputtering process was lower than for TiN deposited by conventional magnetron type and also presented higher charge-transfer resistance values during 240 h total immersion time. The modified process promotes the grain refinement, which yields lower porosity.

To apply a sacrificial anode cathodic protection system to automotive muffler materials, the reliability of various sacrificial anode materials and their protective ability were evaluated by conducting laboratory tests in synthetic condensed water. Three kinds of sacrificial anodes were selected for the anode performance evaluations: Al, Zn, and Mg. The muffler materials were Al-coated steel and uncoated steel. The corrosion behavior of the muffler materials and sacrificial anodes in synthetic condensed water was investigated by conducting potentiodynamic tests. The cathodic protection ability was evaluated using the weight-loss test. The results of the potentiodynamic test indicated that Al was less suitable for the sacrificial anode because it became passive. Mg was also disqualified due to its high dissolution rate. However, Zn was found to be suitable for the sacrificial anode because of its low dissolution rate, high stability, and satisfactory potential difference. The results of the weight...

Contents The present study compared the efficiency of transgenic (TG) cloned embryo production by somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT) with fetal-derived fibroblast cells (FFCs) which were transfected with pEGFP-N1 to in vitro-fertilized (IVF), parthenogenetic and SCNT counterparts by evaluating the rates of cleavage and blastocyst formation, apoptosis rate at different developmental stages, cell number, ploidy and gene expression in blastocysts. In SCNT and TG embryos, the rates of cleavage and blastocyst formation were significantly lower (p

Transition metal-doped TiO2 powders as a photocatalyst were prepared by sol-gel process and Sb, Bi and Nb were introduced into them as dopants. The photocatalytic behaviors of the doped TiO2 powder were studied as a function of dopant, doping concentration and preparation conditions. X-ray diffraction, FT-Raman, B.E.T. and scanning electron microscopy were applied for structural and microstructural studies. Optical properties of the doped TiO2 powders were studied by UV-Visible Spectrometer and photocatalytic activity of the doped TiO2 was characterized in terms of the degradation of 1,4-dichlorobenzene. X-ray difraction analysis showed that doping with a transition metal ion suppresses anatase-to-rutile phase transition compared with the pure TiO2. The Sb and Nb-doped TiO2 powders did not exhibit any other diffraction peaks except those belonging to TiO2. On the other hand, a diffraction peak of Bi4Ti3O12 appears for 5 at.% Bi-doped samples. All of the doped TiO2 powders had higher specific surface area than undoped TiO2. Surface area increased with increasing dopant concentration depending on the dopant, from 33.9 m2/g to 55.4m2/g. The UV-visible absorption spectra of doped samples were red-shifted by 20~50nm according to the doping level. Also transition metal doped TiO2 powders exhibited better photocatalytic activity than the undoped TiO2. The increase in photoactivity is probably due to the increase in the interfacial electron transfer, red shifts, and better crystallinity.

SUMMARYIn this study, the developmental ability and cellular composition of porcine IVF, parthenote and somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT) embryos were evaluated following differentin vitroculture systems. Group 1, embryos were cultured in NCSU-23 with 5.55 mMD-glucose (NCSU+) until day 6 on 20% O2or 5% O2(Group 2). Group 3, embryos were cultured inD-glucose-free NCSU-23 (NCSU−) with 0.17 mM Na pyruvate/2.73 mM Na lactate for 58 h and subsequently cultured in NCSU+ until day 6 (NCSU −/+) on 20% O2or 5% O2(Group 4). IVF blastocysts did not differ significantly with O2concentrations, but differed significantly with major energy source (glucose and pyruvate/lactate). In Group 3 and 4 IVF blastocysts, the total cell number and apoptosis rates were not significantly different with different O2concentrations. Blastocyst rate, total cell number and apoptosis rate in Groups 3 and 4 parthenote embryos also were not significantly different. Parthenote and SCNT, under the same culture treatment, exhibited significant differences in blastocyst and apoptosis rates (47.5 ± 16.1 vs. 24.0 ± 4.0 and 4.9 ± 9.0 vs. 22.8 ± 23.3). Apoptosis-generating rate increased in the order parthenote, IVF and then SCNT. In conclusion,in vitrodevelopment of porcine embryos was not affected by O2concentrations but was affected by major energy source. Even so, the concentration of each major energy source and the timing of its inclusion in culture could accomplish relatively high embryonic development, the apoptosis rate stressed that more work still needs to be done in developing a better defined culture system that could support SCNT embryos equivalent toin vivopreimplantation porcine embryos.

We have prepared polycrystalline Mn 1.4 Ni 1.2 Co 0.4− x Mg x O 4 (0 ≤ x ≤ 0.25) samples using a solid-state reaction process and investigated the MgO doping effect on the microstructure and the electrical properties. It was found that, as the amount of Mg content in the Mn 1.4 Ni 1.2 Co 0.4− x Mg x O 4 samples increased, both the grain size and density decreased. The as-sintered Mn 1.4 Ni 1.2 Co 0.4− x Mg x O 4 samples contained Mn- and Ni-rich phases with cubic spinel structure. The MgO-doped Mn 1.4 Ni 1.2 Co 0.4− x Mg x O 4 negative temperature coefficient (NTC) thermistors provided various electrical properties, depending on Mg content. The electrical resistivity, B 25/85 constant, and activation energy of the Mn 1.4 Ni 1.2 Co 0.4− x Mg x O 4 NTC thermistors increased with increasing Mg content. The values of ρ 25 , B 25/85 constant, and activation energy of the NTC thermistors were 11,185–20,016 Ω cm, 3635–4032 K, and 0.313–0.348 eV, respectively.

This study evaluated the effects of two different oxygen (O2) concentrations on in vitro embryo development, embryo quality, and gene expression and the in vivo development following embryos transfer to recipients of natural and synchronized estrus in bovines. Cumulus oocyte complexes were in vitro matured in TCM199 supplemented with FSH (10 µg/ml), LH (10 µg/ml), and 10% (v/v) FBS. Presumptive zygotes were cultured in SOF medium either under 5% (low) or 20% (high) O2 in air. Cleavage rates did not differ between groups. Blastocyst and hatched blastocyst development in 5% O2 were significantly (P

In the present study, we have characterized an isolated population of porcine bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) for multilineage commitment and compared the developmental potential of cloned embryos with porcine MSCs and fetal fibroblasts (FFs). MSCs exhibited robust alkaline phosphatase activity and later transformed into mineralized nodules following osteoinduction. Furthermore, MSCs underwent adipogenic and chondrogenic differentiation by producing lipid droplets and proteoglycans, respectively. Primary cultures of FFs from a female fetus at ~30 day of gestation were established. Donor cells at 3-4 passage were employed for nuclear transfer (NT). Cell cycle analysis showed that the majority of MSCs in confluence were in the G0/G1 stage. Cumulus-oocyte complexes were matured and fertilized in vitro (IVF) as control. The cleavage rate was significantly (P0.05) higher in IVF than in NT embryos with MSCs and FFs (84.54.6% vs. 52.25.4% and 50.85.2%, respectively). However, blastocyst rates in IVF and NT embryos derived from MSCs (20.62.5% and 18.43.0%) did not differ, but were significantly (P0.05) higher than NT derived from FFs (9.52.1%). Total cell number and the ratio of ICM to total cells among blastocysts cloned from MSCs (34.45.2 and 0.380.08, respectively) were significantly (P0.05) higher than those from FFs (22.65.5 and 0.180.12, respectively). Proportions of TUNEL positive cells in NT embryos from FFs (7.31.8%) were significantly (P0.05) higher than in MSCs (4.61.3%) and IVF (2.50.9%). The results clearly demonstrate that multipotent bone marrow MSCs have a greater potential as donor cells than FFs in achieving enhanced production of cloned porcine embryos.

The as-sintered Zn1−xAlxO (0 ≤ x ≤ 0.05) samples crystallized in the ZnO with a wurtzite structure, along with a small amount of the cubic spinel ZnAl2O4. The addition of Al2O3 to ZnO gave rise to a decrease in grain size, ranging from 7.3 to 2.7 μm and in relative density, ranging from 99.2 to 90.1% of the theoretical density. In the Zn0.97Al0.03−yTiyO samples, as the amount of TiO2 increased, the grain size of ZnO grains and second phases, such as Zn2TiO4 and ZnAl2O4, as well as density increased. The co-doping of Al and Ti led to a significant increase in both the electrical conductivity and the absolute value of the Seebeck coefficient, resulting in an increase in the power factor. The highest value of power factor (3.8 × 10−4 W m−1 K−2) was attained for Zn0.97Al0.02Ti0.01O at 800 °C. It is demonstrated that the Al and Ti co-doping is fairly effective for enhancing thermoelectric properties.

When a ship advances in a seaway, it undergoes 6-degree-of-freedom motion. The ship motions and wave loads are very important from operability and survivability points of view. The resistance increase due to waves is also important from the economic point of view. Although the accurate prediction of these seakeeping characteristics should be done using the unsteady CFD computations, the analytical method based on the linear potential flow theory have been widely used to evaluate them at the early design stage since the latter does not require large computing resources. In the present paper, the added resistance of a ship advancing in waves was calculated using both Maruo’s far-field formula and the near-field method. The radiation-diffraction potential over the wetted surface of the ship has been obtained using the three-dimensional frequency-domain forward-speed free-surface Green function (Brard 1948) and the forward-speed Green integral equation (Hong 2000). Numerical solutions are obtained by making use of the 9-node second-order inner collocation boundary element method (Hong et al. 2014b). In the present paper, Maruo’s far-field formula was combined with the exact three-dimensional Kochin function so that the added resistance thereby obtained could show good comparison with experimental results over the entire wave range including the short wave range. The near-field added resistance is the time mean value of the 2nd-order forces acting on the advancing ship in waves. The time-mean hydrodynamic force, obtained by using direct integration of the hydrodynamic pressure due to the sum of the unsteady potential and steady potential approximated by the double-body potential over the wetted surface of the ship, was also presented. Comparison of the present far-field and simplified near-field numerical values and the experimental values reported by Journee (1992) of the added resistance for the Wigley ship models I and II has been made in order to find appropriate numerical values of the far-field added resistance over the entire frequency range of interest.Copyright © 2015 by ASME

s / Osteoarthritis and Cartilage 23 (2015) A82eA416 A361 Conclusions: A single IA administration of 40 mg of FX006 maintained pharmacologically active synovial fluid concentrations of TCA for at least 12 weeks, while TCA IR produced levels that are below the lower limit of quantitation by 6weeks. These data underpin the differentiation of FX006 from TCA IR and provide pharmacokinetic basis for previously demonstrated prolongation and amplification of pain relief compared to TCA IR in OA patients following a single IA injection. FX006 also has the potential for an improved systemic safety profile as evidenced by peak plasma concentrations that are 40-fold lower than TCA IR at the same dose, seen in the aggregate of clinical studies with FX006 to date. 592 GASTROINTESTINAL SAFETY AND TOLERABILITY OF LONG-TERM GCSB-5 OF DRIED EXTRACTS OF SIX HERBS IN PATIENTS WITH OSTEOARTHRITIS: A 24 WEEKS, MULTI-CENTERS, SINGLE ARM PHASE IV STUDY C.-W. Ha y, Y.-B. Park y, H.-S. Kyung z, H.-C. Lim x, S.-E. Park k, M.-C. Lee ¶, Y.-Y. Won#, D.-C. Lee yy, C.-W. Kim zz, J.-G. Kim xx, J.-S. Kang kk, J.-K. Seon ¶¶, S.-I. Bin ##. y Samsung Med. Ctr., Sungkyunkwan Univ. Sch. of Med., Seoul, Republic of Korea; zKyungpook Natl. Univ. Hosp., Kyungpook Natl. Univ. Sch. of Med., Daegu, Republic of Korea; xKorea Univ. Guro Hosp., Korea Univ. Sch. of Med., Seoul, Republic of Korea; kDongguk Univ. Intl. Hosp., Dongguk Univ. Sch. of Med., Goyang, Republic of Korea; ¶ Seoul Natl. Univ. Hosp., Seoul Natl. Univ. Sch. of Med., Seoul, Republic of Korea; Ajou Univ. Hosp., Ajou Univ. Sch. of Med., Suwon, Republic of Korea; yy Yeungnam Univ. Hosp., Yeungnam Univ. Univ. Sch. of Med., Daegu, Republic of Korea; zzBusan Paik Hosp., Inje Univ. Sch. of Med., Seoul, Republic of Korea; xx Seoul Paik Hosp., Inje Univ. Sch. of Med., Seoul, Republic of Korea; kk Inha Univ. Hosp., Inha Univ. Sch. of Med., Incheon, Republic of Korea; Chonnam Natl. Univ. Hwasun Hosp., Chonnam Natl. Univ. Sch. of Med., Hwasun, Republic of Korea; Asan Med. Ctr., Ulsan Univ. Sch. of Med., Seoul

We have investigated the relationship between the microstructural change and giant magnetoresistance of insulating Co–Al–O granular films as a function of the annealing time. The temperature dependence of electrical resistivity (ρ) showed the tunneling behavior for all the annealed samples. The magnetoresistance (MR) decreased largely with increasing annealing time, although the size of Co granules estimated from transmission electron microscopy (TEM) observation showed a small change. The comparison between the granule size estimated from the magnetization curves and the TEM observation has made it possible to distinguish between the geometrical size and the magnetic size of the granules. Parameter fits of magnetization curves to the Langevin function suggest that large clusters consisting of several small, ferromagnetically-coupled Co granules result from the decrease of MR on annealing.

Cu-substituted Na(Co 1− y Cu y ) 2 O 4 (0 ≤ y ≤ 0.2) polycrystalline samples have been prepared using a solid-state reaction method and their thermoelectric properties studied. The electrical conductivity of Na(Co 1− y Cu y ) 2 O 4 decreased with increasing temperature, indicating metallic behavior. The electrical conductivity ( σ ) of Cu-substituted Na(Co 1− y Cu y ) 2 O 4 was much higher than that of Cu-free NaCo 2 O 4 . In addition, the Seebeck coefficient ( α ) of Na(Co 1− y Cu y ) 2 O 4 increased with increasing temperature and the Cu substitution led to an increase in the Seebeck coefficient. The power factor ( σα 2 ) increased with an increase in temperature and the highest value of power factor (3.08 × 10 −3 W m −1 K −2 ) was attained for Na(Co 0.9 Cu 0.1 ) 2 O 4 at 1073 K. We demonstrate that the Cu substitution is effective for enhancing thermoelectric properties.

The partial substitution of Cu for Co in Na(Co 1− z Ni z ) 2 O 4 (0 ≤ z ≤0.15) led to an increase in the electrical conductivity ( σ ) mainly because of an increase in the hole concentration, density, and grain size of sintered bodies. On the other hand, the partial substitution of Ni for Co in Na(Co 1− y Cu y ) 2 O 4 (0 ≤ y ≤ 0.15) gave rise to a decrease in the electrical conductivity mainly because of a decrease in the density and grain size. In particular, the Cu and/or Ni substitution led to a significant increase in the Seebeck coefficient ( α ). The power factor ( σα 2 ) was substantially improved by the partial co-substitution of Cu and Ni for Co in NaCo 2 O 4 . The highest value of power factor (3.27 × 10 −3 Wm −1 K −2 ) was attained for Na(Co 0.7 Cu 0.15 Ni 0.15 ) 2 O 4 at 1073 K. It is concluded that the Cu and Ni co-substitution is effective for enhancing high-temperature thermoelectric properties.

The nanostructural and optical features of hydrogenated nanocrystalline silicon (nc-Si:H) thin films, which were prepared by plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition (PECVD), were investigated as a function of deposition conditions. It was found that the crystallite size varied with the relative fraction of Si-H3 bonds in the films, [ ] eger n n n H Si H Si int 3 1 3 / ] [ = = ∑ − − , which was sensitively related with the flow rate of SiH4 reaction gas. The silicon nanocrystallites in the films enlarged from ~2.0 to ~8.0 nm in their size with increasing gas flow rate, while the PL emission energy varied from 2.5 to 1.8 eV; the relative fractions of the Si-H3, Si-H2, and Si-H bonds in the amorphous matrix were also varied sensitively with the SiH4 flow rate. A model for the nanostructure of the nc-Si:H films was suggested to discribe the variations in the size and chemical bonds of the nanocrystallites as well as the amorphous matrix depending on the deposition conditions.

Highly porous organic–inorganic hybrids have been prepared from 3-(2,4-dinitrophenylamino)propyltriethoxysilane (DNPTES) and tetraethylorthosilicate (TEOS) by sol-gel method. The hybrids were characterized by FT-IR spectroscopy, UV–vis spectroscopy and elemental analysis, and their pore characteristics were studied by nitrogen sorption porosimetry. The applicability of the hybrids as adsorbent of amines was investigated, and it was demonstrated that aniline and ethylenediamine could be removed from their hexane solutions.

The success of AI technology is based on both semen quality and freezing process. In order to establish the semen freezing techniques in Korean native bucks, factors affecting the success were evaluated in the present study. Semen collected by electro-ejaculation from bucks during four distinct seasons was evaluated for semen volume and pH, sperm motility and survivability. The semen volume, concentration and total cell were higher in spring, summer and less in winter. Yet, there were no seasonal differences in the proportional data of live sperm, motility score and pH of semen among seasons. The percentage of live sperm after thawing was found to increase with increased concentration of lactose in Tris-Egg yolk-glycerol (TY-G), being highest in TY-G supplemented with 180 mm lactose (TYL180-G), but did not differ between TY-G and TYL120-G. Sperm motility was enhanced by employing 2.0 h equilibration time with rapid freezing method. In conclusion, semen could be frozen with high success rates for further use of AI in breeding techniques and to preserve the Korean native bucks.

Closely correlating with {200} plane of cubic phase, {103} plane of hexagonal phase of Ge(2)Sb(2)Te(5) plays a crucial role in achieving fast phase change process as well as formation of modulation structures, dislocations and twins in Ge(2)Sb(2)Te(5). The behaviors of {103} plane of hexagonal phase render the phase-change memory process as a nanoscale shape memory.

Helicobacter pylori associated gastric cancer arises via a multistage process, with atrophic gastritis being the precursor lesion. Helicobacter pylori is typically acquired in childhood, yet little is known of the prevalence of atrophic gastritis in childhood.To study atrophic gastritis among children from countries with high gastric cancer incidence.Sections from topographically mapped gastric biopsy specimens from children undergoing clinically indicated endoscopy in Korea and Colombia were evaluated using visual analogue scales. Atrophy was defined as loss of normal glandular components, including replacement with fibrosis, intestinal metaplasia (IM), and/or pseudopyloric metaplasia of the corpus (identified by the presence of pepsinogen I in mucosa that was topographically corpus but phenotypically antrum).One hundred and seventy three children, 58 from Korea (median age, 14 years) and 115 from Colombia (median age, 13 years), were studied. Helicobacter pylori was present in 85% of Colombian children versus 17% of Korean children (p0.01). Atrophic mucosa near the antrum-corpus border was present in 16% of children, primarily as pseudopyloric metaplasia (31%, IM; 63%, pseudopyloric metaplasia; 6%, both). The median age of children with corpus atrophy was 15 (range, 7-17) years.Gastric atrophy occurs in H pylori infected children living in countries with high gastric cancer incidence. Identification and characterisation of the natural history of H pylori gastritis requires targeted biopsies to include the lesser and greater curve of the corpus, starting just proximal to the anatomical antrum-corpus junction, in addition to biopsies targeting the antrum and cardia.

Thrombocytopenia (TP) is a frequent complication after allogeneic stem cell transplantation (SCT) and regarded as a poor prognostic factor when assessed beyond day 100. However, little is known about the clinical significance of the platelet recovery pattern before chronic graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) develops. Eighty-five patients undergoing HLA-identical sibling SCT were stratified according to their platelet recovery pattern between day +30 and +90 and the transplant outcomes analyzed, along with the association of each component of the acute GVHD grading system. Fifteen patients (18%) were classified with persistent TP, 33 patients (39%) with unstable TP, and 37 patients (43%) as non-TP. Persistent TP, which was strongly associated with severe acute GVHD (P

The catalytic performance of Au/Al 2 O 3 catalyst is highly sensitive to preparation procedure. EXAFS and TEM characterization of key steps in the preparation in conjunction with activity measurements result in deeper insights into precautions needed and the complex manner residual chloride impacts catalytic activity. Chloride affects the morphological (Au particle size), chemical (reducibility) as well as the catalytic (poisoning) properties of Au. Alternate preparation procedures to the conventional calcination of a catalyst prepared with deposition–precipitation at neutral pH were explored to increase Au loadings. It was found that low temperature H 2 reduction of a catalyst prepared at low pH but washed with NaOH is an effective preparation method.

Polymer-like thin films have been deposited on glass, silicon, and copper substrates at a room temperature to 100 °C by the plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition method using cyclohexane (C6H12) as a precursor for analysis of these substrates electrochemical and optical characteristics. Cyclohexane was utilized as an organic precursor and hydrogen and Ar (argon) were used as a bubbler and carrier gases, respectively. In order to compare the difference between the corrosion-resistant and the optical properties of the plasma-polymerized organic thin films, conditions of various radio frequencies (rf) using 13.56 MHz power in the range of 20–50 W and deposition temperature were used. The optical and electrical properties of the as-grown plasma polymerized thin films were analyzed by Fourier transform infrared spectrophotometer, ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy, current–voltage, and capacitance-voltage curves. The corrosion-protective abilities of cyclohexane were also examined by ac impedance measurement...

Differential mRNA expression patterns were evaluated between germinal vesicle oocytes (pgvo), four-cell (p4civv), blastocyst (pblivv), and in vitro-produced four-cell (p4civp) and in vitro-produced blastocyst (pblivp) stage embryos to determine key transcripts responsible for early embryonic development in the pig. Five comparisons were made: pgvo to p4civv, p4civv to pblivv, pgvo to pblivv, p4civv to p4civp, and pblivv to pblivp. ANOVA (P < 0.05) was performed with the Benjamini and Hochberg false-discovery-rate multiple correction test on each comparison. A comparison of pgvo to p4civv, p4civv to pblivv, and pgvo to pblivv resulted in 3214, 1989, and 4528 differentially detected cDNAs, respectively. Real-time PCR analysis on seven transcripts showed an identical pattern of changes in expression as observed on the microarrays, while one transcript deviated at a single cell stage. There were 1409 and 1696 differentially detected cDNAs between the in vitro- and in vivo-produced embryos at the four-cell and blastocyst stages, respectively, without the Benjamini and Hochberg false-discovery-rate multiple correction test. Real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analysis on four genes at the four-cell stage showed an identical pattern of gene expression as found on the microarrays. Real-time PCR analysis on four of five genes at the blastocyst stage showed an identical pattern of gene expression as found on the microarrays. Thus, only 1 of the 39 comparisons of the pattern of gene expression exhibited a major deviation between the microarray and the real-time PCR. These results illustrate the complex mechanisms involved in pig early embryonic development.

The aqueous corrosion characteristics of low-carbon steel (CS) with small amounts of Cr, Co, Cu, Ni, and Ca in synthetic groundwater were studied using electrochemical corrosion tests (potentiodynamic test and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy [EIS] measurements) and analytical techniques. Neither CS nor new alloy steels showed passive behavior in this synthetic groundwater. New alloy steels containing Cr-Co, Cr-Cu-Ni, and Cr-Cu-Ni-Ca showed higher corrosion resistance than CS in the potentiodynamic tests. EIS measurements showed that the Nyquist plot presented two time constants. The high-frequency resistance component (Rrust) low-frequency resistance component (Rct) were affected by the alloying elements. The polarization resistance (Rp = Rrust + Rct) of steels could be clearly ranked as Cr-Cu-Ni-Ca steel ≫ Cr-Cu-Ni steel > Cr-Co steel > CS. Results of surface analyses (x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy [XPS] and electron probe microanalysis [EPMA]) showed that Cr and Cu were concentrated i...

In the present study, metal-ion-doped TiO2 powders were prepared by a sol-gel process using titanium isopropoxide as a Ti precursor and cobalt, gallium, or neodymium as a dopant. For the prepared doped TiO2 nanopowders, the photocatalytic behaviors in the decomposition of aqueous 1,4-dichlorobenzene (DCB) were investigated as a function of doping level and preparation conditions. We found that all of the metal ion doping improved the photocatalytic activity of TiO2, though Nd doping was the most effective and Co doping was least effective. XRD analyses showed that doping with Ga and Nd ions suppresses the anatase-to-rutile phase transition for TiO2, whereas doping with Co did not influence the phase transition. The UV-visible absorption spectra for these metal-ion-doped samples were red-shifted by ∼ 20–40 nm depending upon the doping level.

Few studies have addressed the incidence of graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) or survival after ABO-incompatible allogeneic peripheral blood stem cell transplantation (PBSCT). We analyzed the clinical outcome of ABO incompatibility after allogeneic PBSCT. A total of 89 consecutive adult patients with hematological diseases including 49 ABO-identical, 20 major, 15 minor, and five bidirectional ABO-incompatible transplants were enrolled from four medical centers in Korea. No significant difference in engraftment times, graft failure, or transfusion requirements between groups was noted. A clinical diagnosis of severe immune hemolysis or pure red cell aplasia was not made for any patient after transplantation. The incidence of acute or chronic GVHD did not statistically differ between groups. With a median follow-up duration of 13 months (range, 0.5-61 months), the 3-year overall survival estimates for the ABO-identical, major/bidirectional, and minor group were 44.6.0+/-9.0, 43.1+/-11.6, and 43.8+/-13.5%, respectively (P=0.8652), while the 3-year disease-free survival estimates were 33.8+/-7.6, 39.9+/-11.4, and 45.7+/-13.1%, respectively (P=0.8546). We observed that time to neutrophil, platelet, and red blood cell engraftment, transfusion requirements, incidence of acute or chronic GVHD, relapse, and survival were not influenced by ABO incompatibility after allogeneic PBSCT from HLA-matched sibling donors.

Porous n-BaTiO3 ceramics are synthesized by the addition of pore-forming agent into the (Ba,Sr)TiO3 powder. From the DTA-TGA analysis for samples containing the PEG and corn-starch, it was found that an exotherm occurred at 262 and 315°C, respectively, weight loss commenced at 165 and 252°C, and was virtually complete by 265 and 472°C, respectively. The porosity of n-BaTiO3 ceramics increased and the grain size decreased with increasing the pore-forming agent. From the XRD analysis at high angles, all the samples with and without the pore-forming agent at room-temperature exhibit the tetragonal structure. PTCR jump of the samples containing pore-forming agent is 1-2 orders higher than that of sample without the pore-forming agent. It is also found that the development of PTCR characteristic in the porous n-BaTiO3 ceramics containing pore-forming agent is related to grain boundaries, which basically equals that in ordinary BaTiO3 without pore-forming agent, from the complex impedance results.

Donor doped BaTiO3 (n-BaTiO3) ceramics were fabricated by adding polyethylene glycol (PEG) at 20 wt %. The effects of reducing and oxidizing atmospheres on the PTCR characteristics of the porous n-BaTiO3 ceramics were investigated. The PTCR characteristics of the porous n-BaTiO3 ceramics is strongly affected by chemisorbed oxygen at the grain boundaries and are recovered as the atmosphere is changed from the reducing gas to oxidizing gas. The low room-temperature resistivity of the porous n-BaTiO3 ceramics in reducing atmospheres may be caused by the decrease in potential barrier height, which originates from an increase in the number of electrons owing to the desorption of chemisorbed oxygen atoms at the grain boundaries. In addition, the high room-temperature resistivity of the porous n-BaTiO3 ceramics in oxidizing atmospheres may be caused by the increase in potential barrier height, which results from the adsorption of chemisorbed oxygen atoms at the grain boundaries.

The objective was to understand how two forms of folate-binding protein interact to accomplish folate transport during pregnancy in swine. Specific folate binding was measured in uterine flushings during the estrous cycle and early pregnancy and in allantoic fluid (secreted form) and placental membranes (membrane form) throughout later pregnancy. In addition, the localization of the secreted form of folate-binding protein (sFBP) in uterine wall sections was assessed. Uterine flushings were collected on Days 10, 13, and 15 of the estrous cycle and pregnancy. Allantoic fluid and placentas were collected on Days 20, 35, 50, 70, 90, and 105 of pregnancy. Uterine-wall sections were collected on all days of the experiment. Folate binding was measured by incubation of aliquots of uterine flushings, allantoic fluid, or placental microsomal membranes with 0.5–4 nM [3H]folate. Uterine-wall sections were incubated with purified anti-FBP IgG or normal rabbit serum IgG to localize sFBP. Folate binding did not...

Conducting drop tests to investigate impact behavior and identify failure mechanisms of small-size electronic products is generally expensive and time-consuming. Nevertheless, strict drop/impact performance criteria for hand-held electronic products such as cellular phones play a decisive role in the design because they must withstand unexpected shocks. The design of product durability on impact has heavily relied on the designer's intuition and experience. In this study, a reliable drop/impact simulation for a cellular phone is carried out using the explicit code LS-DYNA. Subsequently globallocal experimental verification is accomplished by means of high-speed photography and impact response measurement. Using this methodology, we predict potential damage locations in a cellular phone and compare them with real statistical data. It is envisaged that development of a reliable methodology of drop/impact simulation will provide us with a powerful and efficient vehicle for improvement of the design quality and reduction of the product development cycle.

During rapid development of the fetus, levels of high density lipoprotein (HDL) are elevated in pregnant women. The receptor for HDL, scavenger receptor class B type I (SR-BI), mediates selective cholesteryl ester uptake and is highly expressed in the human placenta. Because of the rapid growth of uterus during early pregnancy and differences in placentation between swine and humans, we hypothesized that SR-BI may be expressed in porcine endometrium to take up HDL cholesterol. The objectives of this study were to obtain the full coding region for porcine SR-BI, determine endometrial expression of SR-BI mRNA during the estrous cycle and early pregnancy, and map the gene. By iterative screening of a porcine expressed sequence tag library, we obtained the full coding region of SR-BI. Endometrial expression of SR-BI in White composite gilts (n = 3-4 each) was determined by Northern blotting on Days 10, 13, and 15 cyclic gilts and Days 10, 13, 15, 20, 30, and 40 pregnant gilts. In cyclic gilts, endometrial expression of SR-BI did not change between Days 10 and 13, but increased (P0.01) between Days 13 and 15. In pregnant gilts, endometrial expression of SR-BI increased (P0.01) between Days 10 and 13, remained elevated until Day 30, and decreased (P = 0.015) on Day 40. The SR-BI gene was mapped to 46.3 cM on chromosome 14. These results show that endometrial expression of SR-BI changes during the estrous cycle and early pregnancy, and suggest that SR-BI takes up HDL for endometrial development during early pregnancy.

Hickman catheter site infections are known to increase transplant-related mortality. A retrospective analysis of 103 patients who received allogeneic stems cell transplants was performed to define the incidence and outcomes of Hickman infections. Seventy-six patients received peripheral blood stem cells (PBSC) (73.8%) and 29 patients (28.2%) nonmyeloablative conditioning. During the median follow-up of 9 months, Hickman infections were observed in 10 patients (9.7%) at a median onset of 32 days posttransplant (range 2 to 102 days). The causative organisms identified in five cases included Staphylococcus species (n = 4) and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (n = 1). Six events successfully resolved with antibiotic treatment, while the other four required the removal of the Hickman catheter with subsequent death in two cases. The survival duration for infected patients was shorter than that for the noninfected group (83 days vs 366 days, P < .001). Myeloid engraftment was delayed in the infected group (18.0 days vs 15.0 days, P = .038) and this complication was more frequently observed among the BMT compared with PBSC group (22.2% vs 5.3%, P = .019). Hickman infections were associated with transplant-related mortality especially during the first 3 months posttransplant. As such, the current results emphasize both the importance of Hickman catheter care and the need for surveillance cultures after stem cell transplantation.

Lateral wet oxidation of thin (1000 A) films of AlAs0.1Sb0.9 was performed at temperatures ranging from 300 to 450 °C. Oxidation kinetics and morphology were studied to assess the utility of an AlAs0.1Sb0.9 oxidation process. Oxidation rates up to 2.15 μm/min and maximum oxidation depths up to 130 μm were achieved at temperatures below 350 °C. The oxidation starts out reaction rate limited, becoming diffusion rate limited at longer oxidation times and higher oxidation temperatures. At higher temperatures, the apparent diffusion constant decreases, limiting maximum oxide depth in a phenomenon called self-limiting oxidation, as has also been observed during oxidation of AlAs0.56Sb0.44. Surface and oxidation front morphology are studied to help understand the transport of reactants through the oxide. Composition and structure of the oxide are studied to shed more light on the oxidation kinetics. In particular, we suggest a physical explanation for how self-limiting oxidation occurs in this material.