Deformation Characteristics of Hydraulic-Filled Choesionless Soils in Korea

In this study, deformation characteristics of hydraulic-tilled cohesionless soils in Korea were investigated using resonant column tests. Seven representative hydraulic-tilled soil samples, which mostly classified as SM, SP or SP-SM, were collected along the coastal area in Korea, and the deformational characteristics at small to medium strains (10-4 % ~ 0.1 %) were investigated. The predicting equation of small-strain shear modulus, Gmax was suggested using Hardin model. At strains above elastic threshold, the variations of shear modulus (G) and damping ratio (D) with strain amplitude were investigated at various densities and confining pressures. The normalized modulus reduction curve (G/Gmax- log γ) was almost independent of density for a given soil but it was affected by confining pressure. The G/Gmax- log γ curve of hydraulic filled soils moves to the right as confining pressure increases. The representative modulus reduction curves of hydraulic-tilled soils in Korea were determined for 5 confining pressure levels using Ramberg-Osgood model and the proposed curve was composed and compared with the well-known modulus reduction curves. The variations in damping ratio with strain amplitude were also determined and the representative damping curves were proposed for 5 confining pressure levels. The proposed modulus reduction and damping ratio curves would be used as a valuable database for the site response analysis during earthquake

Sodium-Glucose Cotransporter-2 Inhibitors Ameliorate Liver Enzyme Abnormalities in Korean Patients With Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus and Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease

Sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors (SGLT2is) are reported to reduce body fat in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), and SGLT2i-induced weight reduction may help improve comorbid nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). This study aimed to investigate the potential benefit of SGLT2is over other oral antidiabetic drugs (OADs) in patients with T2DM-associated NAFLD. We enrolled real-world Korean patients with T2DM-associated NAFLD in whom initial metformin therapy had been modified by stepwise addition of OAD(s) due to insufficient glucose control. Propensity score (PS) matching was used for the comparison of changes in clinical and biochemical parameters to balance potential covariates. Among the 765 enrolled patients, 663 patients received additional OADs other than SGLT2i and 102 patients received SGLT2i therapy. PS matching selected 150 and 100 patients from the control and the SGLT2i group, respectively. The SGLT2i group lost more weight than the control group at 6 months (mean –1.3 kg vs. 0.0 kg; P < 0.001). Alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels also decreased more in the SGLT2i group at 3 (–11 U/L vs. –1 U/L), 6 (–12 U/L vs. –1 U/L), and 12 months (–14 U/L vs. –2 U/L) (all P < 0.05). Addition of SGLT2is was an independent predictor of ALT improvement in a multivariate logistic regression model (odds ratio 1.91; P = 0.016). Compared with other OADs, addition of SGLT2is was more effective in weight reduction and ALT improvement in patients with T2DM and comorbid NAFLD

Sp1 up-regulates cAMP-response-element-binding protein expression during retinoic acid-induced mucous differentiation of normal human bronchial epithelial cells.

CREB [CRE (cAMP-response element)-binding protein] is an important transcription factor that is differentially regulated in cells of various types. We recently reported that RA (retinoic acid) rapidly activates CREB without using RARs (RA receptors) or RXRs (retinoid X receptors) in NHTBE cells (normal human tracheobronchial epithelial cells). However, little is known about the role of RA in the physiological regulation of CREB expression in the early mucous differentiation of NHTBE cells. In the present study, we report that RA up-regulates CREB gene expression and that, using 5\u27-serial deletion promoter analysis and mutagenesis analyses, two Sp1 (specificity protein 1)-binding sites located at nt -217 and -150, which flank the transcription initiation site, are essential for RA induction of CREB gene transcription. Furthermore, we found that CREs located at nt -119 and -98 contributed to basal promoter activity. Interestingly, RA also up-regulated Sp1 in a time- and dose-dependent manner. Knockdown of endogenous Sp1 using siRNA (small interfering RNA) decreased RA-induced CREB gene expression. However, the converse was not true: knockdown of CREB using CREB siRNA did not affect RA-induced Sp1 gene expression. We conclude that RA up-regulates CREB gene expression during the early stage of NHTBE cell differentiation and that RA-inducible Sp1 plays a major role in up-regulating human CREB gene expression. This result implies that co-operation of these two transcription factors plays a crucial role in mediating early events of normal mucous cell differentiation of bronchial epithelial cells

Temperature dependence of Mott transition in VO_2 and programmable critical temperature sensor

The temperature dependence of the Mott metal-insulator transition (MIT) is studied with a VO_2-based two-terminal device. When a constant voltage is applied to the device, an abrupt current jump is observed with temperature. With increasing applied voltages, the transition temperature of the MIT current jump decreases. We find a monoclinic and electronically correlated metal (MCM) phase between the abrupt current jump and the structural phase transition (SPT). After the transition from insulator to metal, a linear increase in current (or conductivity) is shown with temperature until the current becomes a constant maximum value above T_{SPT}=68^oC. The SPT is confirmed by micro-Raman spectroscopy measurements. Optical microscopy analysis reveals the absence of the local current path in micro scale in the VO_2 device. The current uniformly flows throughout the surface of the VO_2 film when the MIT occurs. This device can be used as a programmable critical temperature sensor.Comment: 4 pages, 3 figure

Strategy for Improving Efficiency of Supply Chain Quality Management in Buyer-Supplier Dyads: The Suppliers’ Perspective

This study analyzes the efficiency of supply chain quality management (SCQM) by grouping buyers and suppliers and conducting an empirical analysis of aspects affecting SCQM efficiency from the supplier’s perspective. Two stages of data analysis were conducted: (1) classify buyer and supplier efficiency by means of data envelopment analysis (DEA) and sort the data results into a 2×2 matrix and (2) conduct a statistical analysis to verify influential aspects. The results depict the average value of Group I to be higher than that of Group II, while the average value of Group IV was found to be much lower than that of Group III. In addition, specific aspects have a significant impact on certain groups: Groups I and II are affected by infrastructure, delivery of quality, talent development, and risk management in that order; Groups II and III are likewise influenced by risk management, talent development, and delivery of quality, whereas Groups III and IV are influenced by talent development, delivery of quality, and risk management in that order