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Background Olfactory receptors are expressed in multiple extra-nasal tissues and these ectopic olfactory receptors mediate tissue specific functions and regulate cellular physiology. Ectopic olfactory receptors may play key roles in tissues constantly exposed to odorants, thus functionality of these receptors in genital tissues are of particular interest. The functionality of ectopic olfactory receptors expressed in VK2/E6E7 human vaginal epithelial cells was investigated. Results OR2H2 was functionally expressed in VK2/E6E7 cells and activation of OR2H2 by aldehyde 13–13, a ligand of OR2H2, increased the intracellular calcium and cAMP concentrations. Immunoblotting demonstrated that activation of OR2H2 by aldehyde 13–13 stimulated the CAMKKβ-AMPK-mTOR-autophagy signaling axis, and that these effects were negated by OR2H2 knockdown. Autophagy activation suppressed aging and cellular senescence. Activation of OR2H2 by aldehyde 13–13 restored proliferation, reduced the expression of senescence markers, P16 and P19 in H2O2-induced senescent cells. Additionally, aldehyde 13–13 showed senolytic activity by predominantly inducing apoptosis of H2O2-induced senescent cells compared with non-senescent normal cells. In vivo, aldehyde 13–13 increased the lifespan of Caenorhabditis elegans and budding yeast. Conclusions These findings demonstrate that OR2H2 is a functional receptor in VK2/E6E7 cells and activation of OR2H2 activates AMPK-autophagy axis, suppresses cellular aging and senescence, thus may increase cellular lifespan.

Post-menopausal depression (PMD) is a common psychological disorder accompanied by a cognitive deficit, which is caused by a series of uncontrolled emotional disruptions by strong environmental stressors during menopause. To overcome PMD-induced cognitive deficit, Green tea has been suggested as a dietary supplement because of its ameliorating effect on cognitive dysfunction induced by normal aging or neurodegenerative syndromes; however, its clinical use to improve PMD-accompanied cognitive deficit is still limited due to the controversy for the active ingredients and ambiguous mechanism of its action. Here, we developed modified high-temperature-processed green tea extract (HTP-GTE), which showed lower neuronal toxicity than the conventional green tea extract (GTE). We also demonstrated that HTP-GTE administration prevented the development of learned helplessness (LH) in a rat post-menopausal model. Additionally, HTP-GTE improved LH-induced cognitive impairments simultaneously with rescued the long-term synaptic plasticity. This occurred via the restoration of silent synapse formation by increasing the hippocampal BDNF-tyrosine receptor kinase B pathway in the helpless ovariectomized (OVX) rats. Likewise, we also identified that (−)-gallocatechin gallate was the main contributor of the HTP-GTE effect. Our findings suggested that HTP-GTE has a potential as a preventive nutritional supplement to ameliorate cognitive dysfunctions associated with PMD.

The sustainable resource management of end-of-life vehicles (ELVs) towards a circular economy has become an issue of concern around the world. An understanding of recycling and the quantitative flow of ELVs is important because of their potential for resource recovery as well as the environmental impacts posed by their toxic chemicals upon disposal. In this paper, the generation and recycling system of ELVs in South Korea has been discussed based on a review of the available statistics and literature and site visits to ELV-recycling facilities. A material-flow analysis (MFA) for ELVs was performed to elucidate the resource recovery from recycling, while the substance flow of polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) in automobile shredded residues (ASR) was also determined for proper management. Approximately one million tons of ELVs in 2020 were processed by dismantling and shredding treatment for the recovery of reusable and recyclable materials (803,000 tons), resulting in 78,300 tons of ASR. Approximately 97 tons of PBDEs as flame retardants were generated mainly from ASR in 2020 and processed via combustion, either with energy recovery (59.8%) or without heat recovery (39.2%). The monitoring of brominated dioxins and furans by unintentional release during the incineration processes of ASR is required in order to prevent the dispersion of the chemicals in the environment.

So-Cheong-Ryong-Tang, which is a standardized Korean medicine of the National Health Insurance, is a traditional prescription for the treatment of allergic rhinitis, bronchitis, and bronchial asthma. Simultaneous analysis and development of SCRT is essential for its stability, efficacy, and risk management. In this study, a simple, reliable, and accurate method using ultrahigh-performance liquid chromatography (UPLC) fingerprinting with a diode array detector (DAD) was developed for the simultaneous analysis. The chromatographic separation of the analytes was performed by an ACQUITY UPLC BEH C18 column (1.7 μM, 2.1 × 100 mm, Waters) with a mobile phase of water containing 0.01% (v/v) phosphoric acid and acetonitrile containing 0.01% (v/v) phosphoric acid. The flow rate and detection wavelength were set at 0.4 mL/min and 215, 230, 254, and 280 nm. All calibration curves of the thirteen components showed good linearity (R2 > 0.999). The limit of detection and limit of quantification ranged 0.001–0.360 and 0.004–1.200 µg/mL, respectively. The relative standard deviation (RSD) of intra- and interday was less than 2.60%, and the recoveries were within the range 76.08–103.79% with an RSD value of 0.03–1.50%. The results showed that the developed method was simple, reliable, accurate, sensitive, and precise for the quantification of bioactive components of SCRT.

Severe neonatal intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH) patients incur long-term neurologic deficits such as cognitive disabilities. Recently, the intraventricular transplantation of allogeneic human umbilical cord blood-derived mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) has drawn attention as a therapeutic potential to treat severe IVH. However, its pathological synaptic mechanism is still elusive. We here demonstrated that the integration of the somatosensory input was significantly distorted by suppressing feed-forward inhibition (FFI) at the thalamocortical (TC) inputs in the barrel cortices of neonatal rats with IVH by using BOLD-fMRI signal and brain slice patch-clamp technique. This is induced by the suppression of Hebbian plasticity via an increase in tumor necrosis factor-α expression during the critical period, which can be effectively reversed by the transplantation of MSCs. Furthermore, we showed that MSC transplantation successfully rescued IVH-induced learning deficits in the sensory-guided decision-making in correlation with TC FFI in the layer 4 barrel cortex.

Summary Recent work has shown that thalamocortical (TC) inputs can be plastic after the developmental critical period has closed, but the mechanism that enables re-establishment of plasticity is unclear. Here, we find that long-term potentiation (LTP) at TC inputs is transiently restored in spared barrel cortex following either a unilateral infra-orbital nerve (ION) lesion, unilateral whisker trimming, or unilateral ablation of the rodent barrel cortex. Restoration of LTP is associated with increased potency at TC input and reactivates anatomical map plasticity induced by whisker follicle ablation. The reactivation of TC LTP is accompanied by reappearance of silent synapses. Both LTP and silent synapse formation are preceded by transient re-expression of synaptic GluN2B-containing N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptors, which are required for the reappearance of TC plasticity. These results clearly demonstrate that peripheral sensory deprivation reactivates synaptic plasticity in the mature layer 4 barrel cortex with features similar to the developmental critical period.

Highly flexible, biocompatible, large-scale production of BaTiO3 nanocube (BTO NC)/poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS) composite films (CFs) prepared via a simple, cost-effective solution casting technique are reported for the first time for high-performance piezoelectric nanogenerators (PNGs). The crystalline BTO NCs were synthesized via a simple low-temperature molten salt method. The piezoelectric output performance of the CF was investigated as a function of the weight ratio of the BTO NCs in the polymer matrix, electrical poling, constant mechanical loading, and low-frequency biomechanical energy harvesting. The composite PNG (CPNG) with 15 wt % of BTO NCs displayed an excellent peak-to-peak voltage (Vpp) of 126.3 V and current density (J) of 77.6 μA/cm2 and generated a maximum instantaneous areal power density of 7 mW/cm2 at 100 MΩ at the low input mechanical pressure of 988.2 Pa. The generated output was sufficient to drive commercial light-emitting diodes and low-powered consumer electronic devices. Nex...

A simple, large-scale fabrication of spherical composite (BaTiO3 nanoparticle/Ca-alginate) beads was developed using the ionotropic gelation (IG) method. The energy harvesting performance of a composite bead-based nanogenerator (CBNG) was studied using various device areas (3 cm2, 11.25 cm2), different mechanical pressures (170 Pa–1.77 kPa) and bending angles, rapid hand force, capacitive loadings and electrical poling. High output (82 V, 227 μA) was generated with a simple low mechanical pressure of 1.70 kPa, which is enough to drive low power electronic devices. We demonstrate that the strip-based CBNG (S-CBNG) device can act as a self-powered wearable flexion sensor for decoding right arm finger flexion/extension movements in a periodic manner without any external battery and additional sensory circuit. It is highly desirable to classify and detect finger movements for in-patient rehabilitation, finger Braille typing and directional bending of the human body. In this work, the average peak power of the flexible S-CBNG varied from 1.23 pW to 0.4 nW for flexion/extension movements of the right arm fingers. The reliability of the sensor depends on the generated electric potential, the location of the device on the forearm, the strain applied by the fingers, and the flexibility of the S-CBNG device. The proposed work is non-invasive, robust, cost-effective and it does not require external power for wearable and smart devices.

Agmatine suppresses peripheral sympathetic tone by modulating Cav2.2 channels in peripheral sympathetic neurons. However, the detailed cellular signaling mechanism underlying the agmatine-induced Cav2.2 inhibition remains unclear. Therefore, in the present study, we investigated the electrophysiological mechanism for the agmatine-induced inhibition of Cav2.2 current (ICav2.2) in rat celiac ganglion (CG) neurons. Consistent with previous reports, agmatine inhibited ICav2.2 in a VI manner. The agmatine-induced inhibition of the ICav2.2 current was also almost completely hindered by the blockade of the imidazoline I2 receptor (IR2), and an IR2 agonist mimicked the inhibitory effect of agmatine on ICav2.2, implying involvement of IR2. The agmatine-induced ICav2.2 inhibition was significantly hampered by the blockade of G protein or phospholipase C (PLC), but not by the pretreatment with pertussis toxin. In addition, diC8-phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate (PIP2) dialysis nearly completely hampered agmatine-induced inhibition, which became irreversible when PIP2 resynthesis was blocked. These results suggest that in rat peripheral sympathetic neurons, agmatine-induced IR2 activation suppresses Cav2.2 channel voltage-independently, and that the PLC-dependent PIP2 hydrolysis is responsible for the agmatine-induced suppression of the Cav2.2 channel.

A flexible, lightweight, and highly efficient poly(vinylidene fluoride)-activated carbon (C-PVDF-AC) composite film in 30 V/V% concentration was derived using the sonication process, followed by heat treatment, and studied for unconventional energy conversion and active sensing purposes (without battery energy). The use of the sonication process originates the high electroactive β-phase of PVDF without the requirement for an additional electrical poling process. The substitution of AC fillers in PVDF stabilized and improved the electroactive β-phase of PVDF and also acted as electrical conduction paths between –CH2–/–CF2– electric dipoles of PVDF. The frequency-dependent dielectric constant and electrical conductivity of the sonication-process-derived PVDF and composite films showed a better response, which was due to the improvement in the electric dipole–dipole interactions and interfacial interactions between the AC fillers and PVDF molecular chains. An unpoled PVDF nanogenerator (P-NG) and composite nanogenerator (C-NG) generated high peak-to-peak VOC and ISC values of 37.77 V and 299 nA and 37.87 V and 0.831 μA, respectively, under 6.6 kPa pressure. No electrical poling effect was observed in P-NG output, whereas C-NG (30 V/V%)'s output showed a significant voltage increment (≈30%) and current increment (≈96%). The obtained instantaneous power density ≈63.07 mW m−2 of C-NG was sufficient to drive low-power electronic devices such as LEDs and displays. It was experimentally verified that the C-NG device itself can act as a self-powered acceleration sensor (SAS) and the output voltage showed a linear behavior between the input accelerations from 0.5 to 5 m s−2 and the shaft load.

A laterally aligned flexible composite linear worm-based piezoelectric energy harvester made up of piezoelectric barium titanate nanoparticles and a three dimensional gel network of calcium alginate biopolymer was aimed to harness the low frequency mechanical energy. It is highly desirable to fabricate innovative micro/nanostructures for high performance energy harvesting beyond the conventional thin films, and small scale fabrication of nanowires (or rods). The open circuit voltage of a single composite worm-based energy harvester (diameter ≈ 550 μm, length ≈ 2.5 cm) increases up to 5 times by increasing the frequency of mechanical load (11 N) from 3 to 20 Hz. Similarly, 1.5 times voltage increment was observed by increasing the length of the composite worm from 1.5 to 3.5 cm upon the bio-mechanical hand force. The energy harvester can function as an efficient portable/wearable self-powered device due to its good flexibility, and multiple lengths of composite linear worms can be utilized to drive low-power electronic devices. In this work, the composite worms were prepared by an ionotropic gelation approach, which is eco-friendly, non-toxic, having low processing temperature/time, and potential for cost-effective, large-scale fabrication, making it suitable for low frequency based self-powered devices.

Multifunctional biopolymer-piezoelectric composite worm structures (wavy and linear) derived by ionotropic gelation technique is fundamentally reported. Mass production of composite wavy pattern worms (CWPWs) enable high energy conversion from low frequency mechanical energy to electrical energy, tunable piezoelectricity by tailored length dependent CWPWs, weight ratio of piezoelectric nanoparticles. Interestingly we found that, the peak–peak voltage and current decreases around 87% and 71% for CWPW devices when the CWPWs length decreased to 56.4% (L = 1.95 to 0.85 cm) respectively. We also tested, the pH dependent conductivity of composite linear worm (CLW) for clinical, food monitoring applications. Next, we demonstrate the generated piezoelectric potential of CWPW device holds as a promising independent power source unit to drive the CLW sensor under different pH solutions. The proposed work is non-invasive, flexible with robustness in long-term effective usage, biocompatibility, and battery-less operation for self powered biosensor in theranostics, blood pH measurement.

The aim of this study was to confirm pharmacokinetic screening of multiple components in healthy Korean subjects after oral administration of Samso-eum and perform quantitation of active components in the human plasma. Thirteen potential bioactive components [puerarin (PRR), daidzin, nodakenin, ginsenoside Rb1, 18β-glycyrrhetinic acid (18β-GTA), 6-shogaol, naringin, glycyrrhizin, hesperidin, platycodin D, naringenin, hesperetin, and 6-gingerol] were screened based on literature. The results showed that three analytes (daidzin, naringenin, and hesperetin) were detected in trace amounts. In addition, PRR and 18β-GTA were detected in human plasma after the oral administration of Samso-eum. In this study, a liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization-tandem mass spectrometry method was validated for the simultaneous determination of PRR and 18β-GTA in human plasma. This was the first study to evaluate pharmacokinetics of PRR and 18β-GTA after the usual oral dose of Samso-eum (30 g containing 102.48 mg PRR, 48.18 mg glycyrrhizin) in human subjects.

Background: Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is an autoimmune disease presenting diverse manifestation involving multiple organs, such as liver and kidney. Endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress has been revealed as the one of the contributing factors of lupus pathogenesis. Objectives: The purpose of the present study was to investigate whether ER stress inhibition suppresses organ inflammation including liver and kidney in lupus murine model and the activation of mitogen activated protein kinases (MAPK) and NF-kB. Methods: A murine lupus model was induced through a 4-week treatment with Resiquimod, a toll-like receptor agonist 7. From the 8th week, the mice were treated with phosphate buffered saline, 4-phenylbutyric acid (4-PBA), and dexamethasone for 4 weeks. The increment of body weight, liver weight, inflammation mediator level, and the pathology of hepatitis and nephritis were analyzed at 12 weeks of age. The level of phosphorylated MAPK expression and activation of NF-kb were also evaluated. Results: 4-PBA-treated group showed lower level of body weight increment with liver to body weight ratio compared with vehicle-treated group. 4-PBA group showed decreased inflammatory cell infiltration and fibrosis in the histologic finding of liver and kidney and lower level of inflammatory mediators, including TNF-α and IL-6, compared to vehicle-group. GRP78 and CHOP expression was decreased in the spleen of 4-PBA treated mice compared to vehicle-treated mice and 4-PBA group showed the lower expression level of phosphorylated JNK, ERK, p38 and NF-kB of the spleen. Conclusion: Our results suggest that 4-PBA attenuates the inflammation on liver and kidney of experimental lupus model through suppression of MAPK and NF-kB activation. Thus, inhibition of ER stress could be function as anti-inflammatory therapeutics for SLE. References: [1] Navid F, Colbert RA. Causes and consequences of endoplasmic reticulum stress in rheumatic disease. Nat Rev Rheumatol2017;13:25-40 [2] Hosoi T, Ozawa K. Endoplasmic reticulum stress in disease: mechanisms and therapeutic opportunities. Clin Sci (Lond)2009;118:19-29 Disclosure of Interests: None declared

Ethnophamacological relevance Sam So Eum (SSE), used in traditional Korean medicine, has been prescribed for the treatment of various ailments including emesis, and fever for centuries. SSE is known by several different names (Shen Su Yin in traditional Chinese medicine; Jin So In traditional Japanese Kampo medicine). It is a mixture of medicinal plants including Panax ginseng C. A. Mey., Perilla frutescens (L.) Britton, and Peucedanum praeruptorum Dunn. Studies have revealed that SSE has many pharmacological effects including anti-inflammatory, anti-cancer, and anti-allergic properties, but its toxic effects have not been evaluated in vivo. Recently, the use of traditional medicinal herbs to treat various diseases has increased, owing to increased number of studies supporting their efficacy. However, safety evaluations for toxicity and other adverse effects have not been extensive. It is commonly considered that natural products extracted from traditional medicinal herbs are safer than synthetic drugs, but this lacks a scientific basis. Thus, in this study, we evaluated the toxicity of SSE in male and female rats. Aim of the study To evaluated the safety of SSE in male and female rats. Materials and methods SSE was administered orally for 13 weeks at 1000, 2000, and 4000 mg kg−1·day−1, and then the rats were maintained for 4 weeks without SSE administration (recovery evaluation). Results We observed the animals for changes in clinical signs, including hematological parameters, and food consumption; serum chemistry profiling and urinalysis were also carried out. Creatinine levels in the serum were significantly increased following oral administration of SSE at 2000 and 4000 mg kg−1·day−1 in male and female rats, but returned to the normal levels during the recovery period. In addition, SSE administration does not cause kidney and liver toxicity. Thus, we determined that the no-observed-adverse-effect level of SSE is 4000 mg kg−1·day−1. The no-observed-effect level of SSE was determined to be 1000 mg kg−1·day−1, because serum creatinine was increased by oral administration of SSE at 2000 and 4000 mg kg−1·day−1 in male and female rats. Conclusions SSE administration does not cause toxicity at 4000 mg kg−1·day−1 in male and female rats.

This study investigates workers' favoured rotation types by their age and compares means between subjective and actual scores on productivity, quality and musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs). The subjects of research were 422 assembly line units in Hyundai Motor Company. The survey of 422 units focused on the workers' preference for 11 different rotation types and subjective scores for each type's perceived benefits, both by the workers' age. Then, actual scores on production-related indices were traced over a five-year period. The results suggest that different rotation types lead to different results in productivity, product quality and MSDs. Workers tend to perceive job rotation as a helpful method to enhance satisfaction, productivity and product quality more so than the actual production data suggests. Job rotation was especially effective in preventing MSDs for workers aged under 45, while its effects were not clear for the workers aged 45 years or older. Practitioner's Summary: This research presents appropriate rotation type for different age groups. Taking workers' age into account, administrators can use the paper's outcomes to select and implement the suitable rotation type to attain specific goals such as enhancing productivity, improving product quality or reducing MSDs.

This study was carried out to evaluate the optimum operational condition of Semi-continuously Fed and Mixed Reactor (SCFMR) to treat the dairy cow manure and saw dust mixture. Step-wise increase in organic loading rates (OLRs) or decrease in hydraulic retention times (HRTs) were utilized until the biogas volume became significantly decreased at mesophilic temperature (35°C). The optimum operating condition of the SCFMR fed with TS 13% dairy cow manure and saw dust mixture was found to be an HRTs of 25 days and its corresponding OLRs of 4.45 kg VS/m-day. At this condition the biogas and methane production rates were 1.44 v/v-d and 1.12 v/v-d (volume of biogas per volume of reactor per day), respectively and the TVS removal efficiency of 37% was achieved. The successful operation with such a high OLR was due to the high reactor alkalinity concentration of 14,500~15,600 mg/L as CaCO3 as a result of the characteristic of the original substrate, dairy cow manure and saw dust mixture whose alkalinity was more than 8,000 mg/L as CaCO3. The parameters for the reactor stability, the ratios of volatile acids and alkalinity concentrations (V/A) and the ratio of propionic acid and acetic acid concentrations (P/A) appeared to be 0.11 and 0.43, respectively, that were greatly stable in operation. Free ammonia toxicity was not experienced due to the long term acclimation by the reactor TS content ranged 7.2~10.4% during the entire operational period.

Environmentally sound management of plastic packaging waste is an issue of concern around the world because it causes potential threats to oceans and the environment upon disposal and mismanagement. This study examines the current efforts on recycling of the waste by extended producer responsibility (EPR) in South Korea as well as other countries. Material flow analysis (MFA) was performed on plastic packaging by life cycle. Based on the results in this study, material footprint of common single use plastics (i.e., PET water bottles, plastic cups, plastic bags, and plastic containers and cutlery by food delivery) by consumption was estimated to be on average 11.8 kg or 638 disposable plastics per capita a year, resulting in 32.6 billion disposable plastics and 603,000 ton of waste for disposal in South Korea. Approximately, 3 million ton of plastic packaging waste from household waste streams in 2017 in South Korea was generated and treated by energy recovery with solid refuse fuels and heat recovery, incineration without energy recovery, material recycling, and landfilling. Material recycling and recovery rates of plastic packaging waste from households were relatively low at 13.5% and 50.5%, respectively. It was estimated that as much as 3.6 million ton of CO2eq was generated from 2.7 million ton of plastic waste by incineration in 2017. Approximately 6.6 million ton CO2eq could be avoided by material recycling. Challenges and efforts have been discussed to improve current recycling system of plastic packaging waste towards a circular economy.

Neuroplasticity is considered essential for recovery from brain injury in developing brains. Recent studies indicate that it is especially effective during early postnatal development and during the critical period. The current study used functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) and local field potential (LFP) electrophysiological recordings in rats that experienced neonatal hypoxic-ischemic (HI) injury during the critical period to demonstrate that physical exercise (PE) can improve cortical plasticity even when performed during adulthood, after the critical period. We investigated to what extent the blood oxygen level-dependent (BOLD)-fMRI responses were increased in the contralesional spared cortex, and how these increases were related to the LFP electrophysiological measurements and the functional outcome. The balance of excitation and inhibition was assessed by measuring excitatory and inhibitory postsynaptic currents in stellate cells in the primary somatosensory (S1) cortex, which was compared with the BOLD-fMRI responses in the contralesional S1 cortex. The ratio of inhibitory postsynaptic current (IPSC) to excitatory postsynaptic current (EPSC) at the thalamocortical (TC) input to the spared S1 cortex was significantly increased by PE, which is consistent with the increased BOLD-fMRI responses and improved functional outcome. Our data clearly demonstrate in an experimental rat model of HI injury during the critical period that PE in adulthood enhances neuroplasticity and suggest that enhanced feed-forward inhibition at the TC input to the S1 cortex might underlie the PE-induced amelioration of the somatosensory deficits caused by the HI injury. In summary, the results of the current study indicate that PE, even if performed beyond the critical period or during adulthood, can be an effective therapy to treat neonatal brain injuries, providing a potential mechanism for the development of a potent rehabilitation strategy to alleviate HI-induced neurological impairments.

Postoperative cognitive dysfunction (POCD) may be driven by transference of the innate immune response to the brain after aseptic surgical damage. Macrophages are key mediators of innate immunity that can display a pro-inflammatory M1 phenotype or an anti-inflammatory M2 phenotype. Erythropoietin (EPO) is a hematopoietic hormone that exerts anti-inflammatory effects by influencing macrophage function. We hypothesized that EPO would prevent POCD by promoting macrophage phenotype switching to the M2 phenotype post-surgery. To evaluate the effects of EPO on POCD and macrophage polarization post-surgery, we administered EPO (5,000 U/kg) with or without an arginase inhibitor (amino-6-boronohexanoic acid, 10 mg/kg) to ICR mice before and after abdominal surgery. Forty-eight hours post-surgery, we assessed memory, synapse function, and macrophage/microglial phenotypes in the spleen and hippocampus. We also investigated M1/M2 phenotypes in RAW264.7 and BV2 cells stimulated with lipopolysaccharide and interferon- (M1 inducers) in the presence or absence of EPO. EPO prevented POCD, decreased surgery-related synaptic dysfunction, and attenuated pro-inflammatory cytokine generation in the hippocampus. Moreover, EPO suppressed M1-related genes expression and promoted M2 genes expression in the spleen and hippocampus post-surgery. Furthermore, EPO decreased the proportions of macrophages/microglia expressing an M1 surface marker (CD40) and increased those expressing an M2 surface marker (CD206). Arginase inhibition abolished the beneficial effects of EPO on POCD. In vitro, EPO treatment promoted switching of RAW264.7 and BV2 cells stimulated with M1 inducers to an M2 phenotype. In conclusion, EPO prevents POCD by promoting macrophage phenotype switching towards the M2 phenotype.

The production of electricity from wind energy is noticed as economic power generation system in the natural resource. Lately, since lots of wind turbine have installed globally, the accidents have increased gradually. In this paper, we classified domestic information for 10 years, information of new energy and industrial technology development organization(NEDO) for 4years and caithness windfarms information forum(CWIF) for 15 years according to part and cause of wind turbine accident . We found that the main causes of accidents are storm, lightening and carelessness. The results of classifying and analyzing the informations, should be used to take measures on the accident prevention of wind turbine. Key Words ：Wind turbine, Natural resource, CWIF, Accident prevention **†정지현(교신저자) : 제주대학교 기계공학전공E-mail : badaro@jejunu.ac.kr, Tel : 064-754-3627 * 김귀식 : 제주대학교 기계공학전공 **†Ji-Hyun Jeong(corresponding author) : Major of Mechanical Engineering, Jeju National University.E-mail : badaro@jejunu.ac.kr, Tel : 064-754-3627* Gui-Shik Kim : Major of Mechanical Engineering, Jeju National University.

Anaerobic mesophilic batch test of several organic wastes were carried out by a graphical statistic analysis (GSA) to evaluate their ultimate biodegradability and two distinctive decay rates (k1 and k2) with their corresponding degradable substrate fractions (S1 and S2). Each 3 L batch reactor was operated for more than 100 days at the substrate to inoculum ratio (S/I) of 0.5 as an initial total volatile solids (TVS) mass basis. Their Ultimate biodegradabilities were obtained respectively as follow; 69% swine waste, 45% dairy cow manure, 66% slaughterhouse waste, 79% food waste, 87% food waste leachate, 68% primary sludge and 39% waste activated sludge. The readily biodegradable fraction of 89% (S1) of Swine Waste BVS (So) degraded with in the initial 31 days with k1 of 0.116 day, where as the rest 11% slowly biodegradable fraction (S2) of BVS degraded for more than 100 days with the long term batch reaction rates (k2) of 0.004 day. For the Food Waste and Waste Activated Sludge, their readily biodegradable portions (S1) appeared 89% and 80%, which degrades with k1 of 0.195 day and 0.054 day for an initial 15 days and 28 days, respectively. Their corresponding long term batch reaction rates (k2) were 0.003 day and 0.002 day. Results from other organic wastes are addressed in this paper. The theoretical hydraulic retention times (HRTs) of anaerobic digesters treating organic wastes are easily determined by the analysis of multiple decay rate coefficients (k1 and k2) and their corresponding biodegradable substrate fractions (S1 and S2).

The food waste that occurs in one year is very high in our country and disposal is expensive. However, disposers for food waste are not used wisely at real life. This is because most of them some kind of problem, for example big volume, complicated construction, high cost, lots of troubles, low energy efficiency and so on. In this study, we propose the new dryer system to decrease drying times by injecting hot air in down the side of the drying bucket. The designed drying bucket has inclined inlet holes down both sides. The inlet holes have variable gradients, we adjust the inlet velocity of the hot air to find a suitable vortex in the drying bucket. We verify the properties of the proposed system though simulation. The results show the proposed dryer system can improve the drying time and save energy for food waste disposal.

Some patients experience impaired cognitive functioning after surgery, a phenomenon referred to as postoperative cognitive dysfunction (POCD). Signs of POCD are closely associated with the development of systemic or hippocampal inflammation. However, the precise pathophysiological mechanisms of prevention/treatment options for POCD still remain unclear. After injury, the transcriptional factor nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) is thought to regulate or stimulate inflammation amplification. Therefore, we designed a cell-penetrating fusion protein called nt-p65-TMD, which inhibits NF-κB p65 activation by translocating into the nucleus. In the present study, we discovered that nt-p65-TMD exerted effects on surgery-induced cognitive impairment in mice. Specifically, nt-p65-TMD exhibited strong immunoregulatory properties that were able to reduce surgery-induced elevations in cerebrovascular integrity impairment, subsequent peripheral immune-cell recruitment, and inflammation amplification, which ultimately lead to cognitive decline. The nt-p65-TMD has the unique ability to regulate and reduce systemic inflammation and inflammation amplification, suggesting a new strategy for preventing development of cognitive decline that occurs in POCD.

Roll and pitching motions of a vessel can seriously degrade the performance of mechanical systems and the effectiveness of personnel. Many studies on roll stabilization and trimming control system design have focused on stabilizing the vessel through the use of fins, tanks, rudders and flaps. However the ultimate objective of such approaches must be to improve boarding sensitivity. This paper presents an anti-seasickness bed that consists of a rotator and bearing system that does not make use of electric power. The advantages of this system are its simple construction, usefulness, and safe operation. In this study, the rotation angles of the upper plate of a bed according to change weight of the rotator have been calculated to determine the stability. As a result, it can be concluded that proposed stabilizing bed can be of practical use in the field.

The purpose of this paper is to manufacture the non-sintered ceramic used lime and industrial waste. The used materials were basalt powder sludge, calcium hydroxide(Ca(OH)2) and additives such as calcium stearate and TiO  . The mixing ratios between Ca(OH)2 and sludge were 5:5, 6:4 and 8:2, respectively. The ceramic forms were pressured by 100, 200 and 300 bar and cured in 14% CO2 for 12 days. The behaviors of compressive strength, specific gravity, water absorption and pH of ceramic form were investigated. The results were compressive strength of over 36 MPa, water absorption of over 8.8%, pH value of over 12.3. And these results satisfied GR F 4006 and 4031 standard. Key Words ：Basalt Powder Sludge, Calcium Hydroxide, Carbonation, Compressure Strength *†정지현(교신저자) : 제주대학교 기계공학전공E-mail : badaro@jejunu.ac.kr, Tel : 064-754-3627 *김귀식 : 제주대학교 기계공학전공**김정윤 : 제주대학교 산업대학원 *†Ji-Hyun Jeong(corresponding author) : Major of MechanicalEngineering, Jeju National University.E-mail : badaro@jejunu.ac.kr, Tel : 064-754-3627*Gui-Shik Kim : Major of Mechanical Engineering, Jeju NationalUniversity.**Jung-Yun Kim : Industial Graduate School, Jeju National University.

The automation of container cranes is one of the significant factors of global competitiveness, by improving the celerity of distribution processing in container terminals. Most container terminals operate with Rubber-Tired Gantry Crane (RTGC) type container cranes. However, the RTGC displays various uncertainties, including slips and scarcities of air pressure of tires during tracking mode, and position error during suspension, and therefore it is difficult to secure reliability for the automation level, and systematic research developments remain in inadequate status. First, the problem of tracking control that tracks the route determined at the yard with high speed and accuracy must be solved, to achieve automation of the RTGC. Since it is virtually impossible to use the steering unit of the RTGC, there exist constraints of having to perform tracking control through the speed control of both drive units. Thus, the RTGC is a system with nonholonomic constraint, as the typical nonlinear system driven by tires. In this study, the nonholonomic system is applied to conduct the overall system modeling, through kinematic modeling and dynamic modeling of the RTGC. Furthermore, the sliding mode control technique is applied as one of the discontinuous time invariant control techniques, for the purpose of simultaneously accomplishing system stabilization, and overcoming model uncertainties. The gains of sliding planes will be analytically found by using the LMI technique, and performance of the proposed control unit will be confirmed through the experiment.

The shortwave aerosol direct radiative forcing (SWARF) was analyzed using the Clouds and Earth's Radiant Energy System (CERES) data in the East Asian region from 2001 to 2010. In the Yellow Sea and the Korean Peninsula, located in the leeward side of China, significantly negative high SWARF at the top of atmosphere (TOA) occurs due to the long-range transport of anthropogenic (e.g. sulphate) and natural aerosols (e.g. mineral dust) from the East Asian continent. Conversely, eastern China has much higher levels of SWARF at the surface (SFC) due to anthropogenically emitted aerosol than in the Yellow Sea and the Korean Peninsula. Since the radiative forcing of aerosols in the atmosphere are different in type, aerosol types were classified into sea salt+sulphate, smoke, sulphate and dust by using satellite data. The analysis on the SWARF by the classified aerosol types indicated that sulphate occupies a predominant portion of the atmosphere in the Yellow Sea and the Korean Peninsula in the summer. In particular, the annual averages of the summer TOA SWARF increased in the Yellow Sea and the Korean Peninsula from 2001 to 2010.