Erratum to “Prediction of fracture parameters of circumferential throughwall cracks in the interface between an elbow and a pipe under internal pressure”

Journal of Mechanical Science and Technology - There are two corrections to make to the original article. Firstly, Table 2 in the original article, was erroneously given. The Table 2 should read as...     

A perturbation analysis on solid polymer surfaces

A linear stability model was formulated to analyze the perturbation of solid polymer surfaces. Surface energy and thermal stress were considered as the main variables. The surface tends to more unstable as the temperature increase. This is interpreted as the dominancy of the lattice vacancy diffusion over surface mass diffusion and the increase in thermal stress.     

Optimal synthesis of a wrist-type 6 degree-of-freedom force/ torque sensor using Stewart Platform Structure

The F/T sensor investigated in this study utilizes the Stewart Platform Mechanism Structure. Normally-employed 6-prismatic joints are replaced by 6-prismatic bars, which are extensible and compressible only along the axial direction of the bars. The complete analyses for the design of this kind of F/T sensor are conducted: the position analysis, the first-order and second-order kinematic analyses, and the force-deformation analysis based on the first-order kinematic characteristics of the system. Lastly, a dimensional synthesis for the F/T sensor is performed based on the kinematic isotropic index.     

Hypoxia Promotes Angiogenic Effect in Extracranial Arteriovenous Malformation Endothelial Cells

Arteriovenous malformation (AVM) is characterized by high-flow blood vessels connecting arteries and veins without capillaries. This disease shows increased angiogenesis and a pathophysiological hypoxic environment in proximal tissues. Here, we analyzed the effects of hypoxia on angiogenesis in the endothelial cells (ECs) of AVM and normal tissues. ECs from human normal and AVM tissues were evaluated using immunocytochemistry with CD31. In vitro tube formation under hypoxia was tested in both ECs using Matrigel. The relative expression of angiogenesis-related genes was measured using real-time PCR. Under normoxia, CD31 was significantly higher in AVM ECs (79.23 ± 0.65%) than in normal ECs (74.15 ± 0.70%). Similar results were observed under hypoxia in AVM ECs (63.85 ± 1.84%) and normal ECs (60.52 ± 0.51%). In the tube formation test under normoxic and hypoxic conditions, the junction count and total vessel length were significantly greater in AVM ECs than normal ECs. Under both normoxia and hypoxia, the angiogenesis-related gene FSTL1 showed a significantly higher expression in AVM ECs than in normal ECs. Under hypoxia, CSPG4 expression was significantly lower in AVM ECs than in normal ECs. Accordingly, the angiogenic effect was increased in AVM ECs compared with that in normal ECs. These results provide a basic knowledge for an AVM treatment strategy.     

Immortalization of neuroendocrine pinealocytes from transgenic mice by targeted tumorigenesis using the tryptophan hydroxylase promoter

Tryptophan hydroxylase (TPH) is the first enzyme in both serotonin and melatonin biosynthesis in neuroendocrine cells of the pineal gland. The lack of immortalized neuroendocrine pineal cell lines has been a major obstacle to the study of the tissue-specific and circadian regulation of TPH gene expression in the pineal gland. Previously, we demonstrated that a 6.1 kb 5' upstream region of the mouse TPH gene directs the restricted expression of a lacZ reporter gene to the pineal gland and the raphe nuclei of transgenic mice. Therefore, to develop TPH-expressing pineal cell lines we first established transgenic mice carrying a construct consisting of 6.1 kb of 5' flanking region fused to the SV40 T-antigen. These animals developed highly invasive pineal tumors and died at 12-15 weeks of age. The pineal tumors obtained from the transgenic mice were utilized to establish the immortalized pinealocyte-derived cell lines. These cells express two marker enzymes, TPH and serotonin N-acetyltransferase (NAT). In pineal gland TPH and NAT expressions have been known to be regulated during circadian cycle. The two established cell lines therefore promise to be a valuable in vitro model system for the study of the rhythmic nature of the pineal function at molecular level in mammal.     

Molecular and biologic characterization of a newly established Philadelphia-positive acute lymphoblastic leukemia cell line (Z-33) with an autocrine response to GM-CSF

We have recently established a new Philadelphia chromosome (Ph1)-positive acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) cell line, designated Z-33. This line has L2 morphology, ultrastructural characteristics of lymphoblasts and typical B lineage surface markers identical to those observed in the Ph1-positive ALL patient from whom the line was derived. In addition, a rearranged immunoglobulin heavy-chain gene (JH) band was found in Z-33 cells by Southern blot analysis, confirming B cell clonality. Cytogenetic analysis of the cell line revealed t(9;22)(q34;q11.2). Polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-amplified cDNA from Z-33 cells demonstrated an e1-az BCR-ABL junction, and the p190BCR-ABL protein was detected in them by the immune complex kinase assay. Z-33 cells produce interleukin (IL)-1 beta, IL-6, granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF), granulocyte-macrophage CSF (GM-CSF), tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha, and transforming growth factor (TGF)-beta, Neither IL-1 beta, G-CSF, TNF-alpha, nor their corresponding antibodies affected the cell line's growth. In contrast, anti-GM-CSF neutralizing antibodies suppressed Z-33 colony formation, and GM-CSF stimulated it in a dose-dependent fashion. In addition, receptor studies with biotinylated GM-CSF demonstrated specific binding to Z-33 cells, indicating that the cells express GM-CSF receptors. Taken together, our data suggest that the Ph1-positive Z-33 ALL cells produce GM-CSF, express GM-CSF receptors, and show an autocrine proliferative response to this cytokine.     

Locally recurrent carcinoma of the breast. Results of radiation therapy

Local and regional recurrences are frequent problems in breast cancer management. Radiation therapy is effective in producing long term remission. This study evaluates the results of radiation therapy of 215 patients with recurrent disease limited to the chest wall and/or regional lymph node areas. The local results showed complete control in 67% of cases (mean and median durations 32 months and 22 months, respectively), partial control in 24% of cases (mean and median 11 and 8 months, respectively) and no control in the remaining 9%. The radiation dose recommended for the treatment of recurrent mammary carcinoma is 5000 rads in 5 weeks for relatively small lesions. Supplementary local doses of 500-1000 rads in 1 week may be given to bulky lesions as necessary for residual disease. Although local relapse indicates a poor prognosis, it is by no means totally hopeless. Of 215 patients treated 44 (21%) survived 5 years and 10 (5%) survived 10 years following radiation therapy of recurrent disease. There were seven patients, or 3%, who were free of cancer at 5 to 15 years. Radiation therapy was valuable in controlling local lesions, and thus, in improving quality of survival, even in those patients who eventually died of metastatic disease.     

On-line recognition of hand-printed Korean characters

The Korean alphabet is a set of phonetic symbols which are combined to form characters, somewhat in the Chinese style. The phonetic quality of the symbols naturally limits the combinations that are useful, and character formation constraints further limit these combinations. Advantage of this is made in an on-line computer recognition system. Korean characters are entered by means of a graphic tablet, using the standard stroke sequences taught in schools. Recognition is perfect for carefully drawn characters and nearly so for characters written at an unhurried rate, provided the system is tuned to the writer's style.