Jung Hee Suh

An optimal 9-point, finite-difference, frequency-space, 2-D scalar wave extrapolator

In this study, a new finite-difference technique is designed to reduce the number of grid points needed in frequency-space domain modeling. The new algorithm uses optimal nine-point operators for the approximation of the Laplacian and the mass acceleration terms. The coefficients can be found by using the steepest descent method so that the best normalized phase curves can be obtained. This method reduces the number of grid points per wavelength to 4 or less, with consequent reductions of computer memory and CPU time that are factors of tens less than those involved in the conventional second-order approximation formula when a band type solver is used on a scalar machine.

Berberine Promotes Osteoblast Differentiation by Runx2 Activation With p38 MAPK

Berberine (BBR) has been implicated in bone biology. Although BBR reduces osteoporosis by enhancing BMD and inhibiting osteoclast activity, the effects of BBR on osteoblasts during the process of osteogenesis have not been thoroughly studied. In osteoblastic cells, BBR enhanced the expression of osteogenic marker genes including osteopontin and osteocalcin and promoted the transcriptional activity of the key osteogenic transcription factor Runx2. In osteoblasts, BBR increased the binding of Runx2 to the promoter region of osteopontin. The recruitment of co‐factors such as p300 and HDAC1 to the promoter regions of osteopontin and osteocalcin was regulated by BBR, resulting in an enhancement in the expression of those genes. Furthermore, BBR activated p38 mitogen‐activated protein kinase (MAPK) and increased cyclooxygenase 2 (COX2) expression, which are key factors in osteoblast differentiation. Consistently, a p38 MAPK‐specific inhibitor attenuated the effect of BBR on osteogenesis, whereas p38 MAPK overexpression augmented BBR‐induced osteogenic gene expression. Moreover, BBR stimulated bone area formation in calvarial organ culture. Taken together, these findings indicate that BBR promotes osteoblast differentiation through activation of Runx2 by p38 MAPK. Therefore, BBR may be a potential therapeutic agent to treat bone‐related disorders including osteoporosis.

Effects of tesmilifene, a substrate of CYP3A and an inhibitor of P-glycoprotein, on the pharmacokinetics of intravenous and oral docetaxel in rats

Objectives  It has been reported that docetaxel is a P‐glycoprotein substrate and is metabolized via the cytochrome P450 (CYP) 3A subfamily in rats. Tesmilifene is a substrate of the CYP3A subfamily and is an inhibitor of P‐glycoprotein. Thus, the effects of various doses of tesmilifene on the pharmacokinetics of intravenous and orally administered docetaxel have been investigated in rats.

Electromagnetic traveltime tomography using an approximate wavefield transform

We present an imaging scheme for mapping cross‐hole electrical conductivity using nonlinear traveltime tomography. Data used are peak arrival time estimates based on an approximate wavefield transform of the synthetic frequency‐domain electromagnetic (EM) field. Direct transformation of frequency‐domain EM fields to wavefields is known to be an ill‐posed problem because the kernel of integral transform is highly damped. In this study, instead of solving such an unstable problem, we approximate the wavefield in the transformed domain via a ray series expansion. If reflected and refracted energy is weak compared to that of direct wave, picking of the peak arrival time may be reduced to estimating the coefficients of the leading term in the ray series expansion. This simplification is valid when the conductivity contrast between background medium and the target anomalous body is small. The first three terms in the expansion are identical to the closed‐form solution for the vertical magnetic field caused by a...

A comparison of accuracy and computation time of three-dimensional magnetotelluric modelling algorithms

This paper presents a comparison of four different three-dimensional (3D) magnetotelluric (MT) modelling algorithms in terms of accuracy and computation time. Three of them use the finite difference method while the last one uses the edge finite-element method. The modelling algorithms are analysed with respect to governing equations, boundary conditions, solvers, preconditioners and static divergence correction. The accuracy of the algorithms is examined by simulating MT responses for two different models, both of which have anomalous bodies in simple background media. Although the simulated responses generally show good agreement, small discrepancies are observed over the anomalous bodies. These discrepancies are caused by the difference between the electric- and magnetic-field formulations used by the algorithms. The three algorithms using the finite difference method are adequate for 3D inversion of MT data since they produce solutions in a short computation time. Although the algorithm using the edge finite-element method requires longer computation time than the others, it can provide more accurate solutions and model surface topography.

Dose-dependent pharmacokinetics of SP-8203 in rats.

The pharmacokinetics of SP-8203, a potential protective agent for the treatment of cerebral infarction, were evaluated after its intravenous (10, 20 and 30 mg/kg) and oral (10, 20, 30 and 100 mg/kg) administration in rats. After the intravenous administration of SP-8203, the AUCs of SP-8203 were dose-dependent; the dose-normalized AUCs were significantly greater with increasing doses. After the oral administration of SP-8203, plasma concentrations of SP-8203 were much lower than those after intravenous administration. This could be due to considerable hepatic and intestinal metabolism and the high percent of the dose recovered from the gastrointestinal tract (including its contents and feces) at 24 h as unchanged drug.

Water bottom seismic refraction survey for engineering applications

ABSTRACT The accurate mapping of the basement is one of the most crucial factors in construction of harbour facilities and bridges in the coastal areas. In shallow waters, the seismic reflection method often fails to image the basement geometry beneath the sediment due to reverberation. We present the result of a shallow marine seismic refraction survey using two ships, 12-channel hydrophone arrays deployed on the bottom and a borehole sparker or percussion powder as sources. Velocity structure could be computed by tomography algorithm since more than 6 different source points had been applied for one spread. The comparison of the results of the refraction survey with drilling logs demonstrates remarkable consistency in basement geometry. It thus appears that the refraction method in this study is an efficient and cost- effective way to investigate the basement structure in coastal area, river, and lake.

The potential of fracture imaging using high-frequency, single-hole electromagnetic data

This paper presents an inversion scheme for high‐frequency electromagnetic (EM) data from a single borehole for detection and characterization of fluid‐filled fractures. Water in the fracture zone may be characterized by its high electrical permittivity and, if saline, by high electrical conductivity. High electrical conductivity results in increased attenuation of EM fields, whereas high electrical permittivity reduces the phase velocity of propagating EM fields. Taking advantage of these effects, we use high‐frequency EM fields to detect and characterize fluid‐filled fractures. To demonstrate the feasibility of single‐hole EM imaging, we develop a three‐step inversion scheme to map a fluid‐filled fracture near the borehole and to evaluate its electrical conductivity and permittivity.We assume that a fluid‐filled fracture can be simulated by a conductive thin sheet. To test our inversion scheme, we generated synthetic data using the thin‐sheet integral equation method. A vertical magnetic dipole was used...

3-D Kirchhoff Migration of GPR Data to Image the Inside of a Stone Pagoda

We have chosen the GPR method for investigating the inner structure of a stone pagoda in a non-destructive way. The selection of a suitable source frequency of the GPR antenna is the key because the main frequency of its pulse controls the resolution and the depth of the investigation. Through theoretical consideration and numerical simulation, we found that 500 to 800 MHz is suitable for a field model with a foundation part of 3 to 4 m. To image the inner structure we selected 3-D Kirchhoff prestack depth migration technique used in seismic processing. We have used the modified migration algorithm for the source and receiver configurations of common offset GPR data. To verify the scheme, we calculated the synthetic data using the 3-D FDTD algorithm and applied the migration technique to it. Through these experiments, we confirmed that the 3-D Kirchhoff prestack depth migration technique is a very powerful tool to image the inside of a stone pagoda with high resolution. We have also applied the technique to the field data of the foundation of a five-story stone pagoda at Jeongnim temple site in Buyeo City, Korea. Based on the 3-D migrated images, we inferred that the structure of the foundation of this pagoda seemed to be preserved quite well and the thickness of the outer wall was about 0.5 m.