ABSTRACT
This study evaluated the structural stability of subway structures based on adjacent excavations by comparing automatically measured and numerically analyzed data. The reliability of the automated measurement methodology was evaluated by first applying probability statistical analysis to the measured results and then comparing these results with the numerically analyzed results. An improvement in the calculation method evaluation system, including the method of processing and analysis of the automatically measured data of subway structures through the average value of probability density, was proposed. As a result of the field measurement and numerical analysis, the measured results of tunnel displacement and track deformation exhibited some differences. However, it was determined that the construction stage and location where the maximum values of the tunnel displacement and track deformation occurred had similarities.
ABSTRACT
Ultrasonic concentration meters have widely been used at water purification, sewage treatment and waste water treatment plants to sort and transfer high concentration sludges and to control the amount of chemical dosage. When an unusual substance is contained in the sludge, however, the attenuation of ultrasonic waves could be increased or not be transmitted to the receiver. In this case, the value measured by a concentration meter is higher than the actual density value or vibration. As well, it is difficult to automate the residuals treatment process according to the various problems such as sludge attachment or sensor failure. An ultrasonic multi-beam concentration sensor was considered to solve these problems, but an abnormal concentration value of a specific ultrasonic beam degrades the accuracy of the entire measurement in case of using a conventional arithmetic mean for all measurement values, so this paper proposes a method to improve the accuracy of the sludge concentration determination by choosing reliable sensor values and applying a neuro-fuzzy learning algorithm. The newly developed meter is proven to render useful results from a variety of experiments on a real water treatment plant.
ABSTRACT
AIMS: Hepatic endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress plays a key role in the development of obesity-induced insulin resistance. This study evaluated the effects of peptides from black soybean (BSP) on ER stress and insulin signaling in vitro and in vivo. MAIN METHODS: Using C2C12 myotubes or HepG2 cells, we evaluated the effects of BSP on the expression of proteins involved in insulin signaling and in the ER stress response in insulin-sensitive or insulin-resistant cells. BSP was given orally to db/db mice for 5weeks to investigate its antidiabetic effects in vivo and the underlying mechanisms. KEY FINDINGS: BSP increased GLUT4 translocation and glucose transport in myotubes and stimulated Akt-mediated glycogen synthase kinase-3beta (GSK-3beta) and Foxo1 phosphorylation in HepG2 cells. BSP significantly restored the suppression of insulin-mediated Akt phosphorylation in insulin-resistant cells. BSP significantly inhibited the activation of ER stress-responsive proteins by thapsigargin. BSP also significantly reduced blood glucose and improved glucose tolerance in db/db mice. The serum lipid profile (triglyceride and high-density lipoprotein concentrations) improved concomitantly with the BSP-induced downregulation of hepatic fatty acid synthase expression in db/db mice. Consistent with the results observed in HepG2 cells, BSP downregulated the elevated hepatic ER stress response in diabetic mice concomitantly with an increased expression of phospho-Foxo1. SIGNIFICANCE: A peptide mixture, BSP, showed beneficial effects through multiple mechanisms involving the suppression of hepatic ER stress and restoration of insulin resistance, suggesting that it has potential as an antidiabetic agent.
Subject(s)
Endoplasmic Reticulum/metabolism , Glycine max/chemistry , Hypoglycemic Agents/pharmacology , Insulin Resistance , Peptides/pharmacology , Plant Proteins/pharmacology , Stress, Physiological/drug effects , Animals , Blood Glucose/genetics , Blood Glucose/metabolism , Down-Regulation/drug effects , Endoplasmic Reticulum/genetics , Enzyme Inhibitors/pharmacology , Fatty Acid Synthases/biosynthesis , Fatty Acid Synthases/genetics , Glucose Transporter Type 4/genetics , Glucose Transporter Type 4/metabolism , Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3/genetics , Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3/metabolism , Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3 beta , Hep G2 Cells , Humans , Hypoglycemic Agents/chemistry , Lipoproteins, HDL/blood , Lipoproteins, HDL/genetics , Liver/enzymology , Male , Mice , Mice, Knockout , Muscle Fibers, Skeletal/metabolism , Peptides/chemistry , Phosphorylation/drug effects , Phosphorylation/genetics , Plant Proteins/chemistry , Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt/genetics , Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt/metabolism , Thapsigargin/pharmacology , Triglycerides/blood , Triglycerides/geneticsABSTRACT
Stress-induced cardiomyopathy is described as an acute cardiomyopathy that occurs under the influence of an excessive level of catecholamine related to intense emotional stress. A 64-year-old woman presented with symptoms of acute myocardial infarction after emotional upset, but her coronary angiographic findings were revealed to be normal. Diffuse T wave inversions were observed in her electrocardiograms with akinetic wall motions sparing the basal segments in her left ventriculography. After four months, her electrocardiogram and echocardiogram findings had completely returned to normal. The precise diagnosis of this acute cardiomyopathy must be emphasized because it can initially be misdiagnosed as acute coronary syndromes. However in complete contrast to acute myocardial infarction, it has a rapid and favorable recovery with hardly any sequelae after a few months.
