Jeong-Ho Kim

Graded finite elements are presented within the framework of a generalized isoparametric formulation. Such elements possess a spatially varying material property field, e.g. Young’s modulus E and Poisson’s ratio ν for isotropic materials; and principal Young’s moduli E11,E22, in-plane shear modulus G12, and Poisson’s ratio ν12 for orthotropic materials. To investigate the influence of material property variation, both exponentially and linearly graded materials are considered and compared. Sever

Abstract This paper is directed towards finite element computation of fracture parameters in functionally graded material (FGM) assemblages of arbitrary geometry with stationary cracks. Graded finite elements are developed where the elastic moduli are smooth functions of spatial co‐ordinates which are integrated into the element stiffness matrix. In particular, stress intensity factors for mode I and mixed‐mode two‐dimensional problems are evaluated and compared through three different approache

Red blood cells (RBCs) exhibit a unique deformability, which enables them to change shape reversibly in response to an external force. The deformability of RBCs allows them to flow in microvessels while transporting oxygen and carbon dioxide. In this review, we discussed the major determinants of RBC deformability, which include cell geometry, internal viscosity, rheological properties of the membrane, osmotic pressure, calcium, nitric oxide, temperature, ageing, and depletion of adenosine triph

The proinflammatory cytokine interleukin (IL)-6 has been proposed to be one of the mediators that link obesity-derived chronic inflammation with insulin resistance. Signaling through the mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) has been found to impact insulin sensitivity under various pathological conditions, through serine phosphorylation and inhibition of insulin receptor substrate by the downstream effector of mTOR, ribosomal S6 kinase 1 (S6K1). However, an involvement of mTOR in IL-6-induced in

The interaction integral method provides a unified framework for evaluating fracture parameters (e.g., stress intensity factors and T stress) in functionally graded materials. The method is based on a conservation integral involving auxiliary fields. In fracture of nonhomogeneous materials, the use of auxiliary fields developed for homogeneous materials results in violation of one of the basic relations of mechanics, i.e., equilibrium, compatibility or constitutive, which naturally leads to thre

AIMS: We sought to demonstrate geometric changes in the tricuspid valve (TV) apparatus after tricuspid annuloplasty (TAP) and to identify predictors of residual tricuspid regurgitation (TR) in patients with functional TR using real-time three-dimensional echocardiography (RT3DE). METHODS AND RESULTS: RT3DE and two-dimensional colour Doppler echocardiography were performed in 59 consecutive patients before and 4.7 ± 2.1 days after TAP. The tenting angles of the three leaflets were significantly i

Rgt1 is a glucose-responsive transcription factor that binds to the promoters of several HXT genes encoding glucose transporters in Saccharomyces cerevisiae and regulates their expression in response to glucose. Rgt1 contains a Zn(2)Cys(6) binuclear cluster responsible for DNA binding. Most proteins that contain this sequence motif bind as dimers to regularly spaced pairs of the sequence CGG. However, there are no CGG pairs with regular spacing in promoters of genes regulated by Rgt1, suggesting

The yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae deploys two different types of glucose sensors on its cell surface that operate in distinct glucose signaling pathways: the glucose transporter-like Snf3 and Rgt2 proteins and the Gpr1 receptor that is coupled to Gpa2, a G-protein alpha subunit. The ultimate target of the Snf3/Rgt2 pathway is Rgt1, a transcription factor that regulates expression of HXT genes encoding glucose transporters. We have found that the cAMP-dependent protein kinase A (PKA), which is a

Degradation of the extracellular matrix (ECM), a critical step in cancer metastasis, is determined by the balance between MMPs (matrix metalloproteinases) and their inhibitors TIMPs (tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases). In cancer cells, this balance is shifted towards MMPs, promoting ECM degradation. Here, we show that EZH2 plays an active role in this process by repressing the expression of TIMP2 and TIMP3 in prostate cancer cells. The TIMP genes are derepressed by knockdown of EZH2 expres