This study was conducted to investigate the effect of chronic alcohol supplementation on muscle atrophy in growing rats. Eighteen male Sprague Dawley rats were randomly divided into two groups: CG group (control group, n=9) and AG group (alcohol supplemented group, n=9). Alcohol group (3 g/kg BW) was orally supplemented every day. After the experimental period, serum components and muscle Akt, p-Akt, FoxO, p-FoxO, MuRF1, and P38 protein expressions were analyzed. In the results, the values of EDL and soleus muscle weights of AG group did not have significant differences compared to the value of the CG group. In the serum components, the value of the serum TG concentration of AG group was significantly increased compared to the value of the CG group. The value of the p-Akt/Akt and p-FoxO/FoxO of the AG group was significantly decreased compared to the value of the CG group (p<0.01). The MuRF1 protein expression of AG group was significantly increased compared to the value of the CG group (p<0.01). However, the values of p-P38/P38 between two groups did not have any significant difference. From these results, it was suggested that 4 weeks of chronic alcohol supplementation induced muscle atrophy via activated protein degradation pathway involving the inhibition of Akt phosphorylation and increased FoxO and MuRF1 protein expression of muscle in growing rats.

PURPOSES: Owing to the growth of income and socio-economic levels, demands from road users have diversified. Accordingly, new road policies are being actively sought. The metropolitan city government of Busan has been focused on constructing and expanding roads to accommodate the increasing traffic demand. Given the increase in functional characteristics, we need to re-evaluate the hierarchy and function of roads, and specifically remodel the road planning and operations that fit into their functions.METHODS : First, this study focuses on introducing the minimum condition required to redefine the hierarchy of the roads. Second, the authors propose a new model that identifies the impact level of road hierarchy adopting discriminated analysis technique.RESULTS: Authors suggest that we redefine the hierarchy of roads in the central business distinct in Busan, and specifically the arterial roads in Busan, namely, Joonang-daero and Gaya-ro. These roads need to be reequipped with cross walks, a lower speed limit, and exclusive bus lanes to improve their accessibility.CONCLUSIONS: The authors found that the sub-arterial and collector roads have been subjected to excessive loads, owing to inappropriate functions being assigned to the main arterial road. Moreover, given that through traffic is concentrated on the sub-arterial and collector roads, over-speeding and other safety issues are consequently created.

PURPOSES : Although signalized intersections have been considered the best way to control traffic volume in urban areas for several decades, roundabouts are currently being discussed as an alternative way to control traffic volume, especially when traffic is light. Because a roundabout’s efficiency depends on the load geometry as well as the traffic volume, design guidelines for roundabouts are recommended only if the incoming traffic volume is very low. It is rare to substitute a roundabout for an existing signalized intersection in urban areas. This study aims to estimate the benefits from the transformation of an existing signalized intersection into a roundabout in an urban area. When there is a more moderate volume of traffic, roundabouts can be effectively used by optimizing signals located at an approaching roadway. METHODS : The methodologies of this paper are as follows: First, a signalized intersection was analyzed to determine the traffic characteristics. Second, the signalized intersection was transformed into a roundabout using VISSIM microscopic traffic simulation. Then, we estimated and analyzed the effects and the performance of the roundabout. In addition, we adjusted a method to improve the benefits of the transformation via the optimization of signals located at an approaching road to control the incoming traffic volume. RESULTS : The results of this research are as follows: The signal-optimized roundabout improved delays compared with the signalized intersection during the morning peak hour, non-peak hour, and evening peak hour by 1.78%, 12.45%, and 12.72%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS : According to the simulation results of each scenarios, the signal-optimized roundabout had less delay time than the signalized intersection. If optimized signal control algorithms are installed in roundabouts in the future, this will lead to more efficient traffic management.

첨단교통정보시스템(Advanced Traveler Information System : ATIS) 환경에서 운전자는 최단거리나 최소시간 이외의 다른 기준에 의한 운전경로를 원하기도 한다. 이 연구에서는 최단거리, 최소시간, 최소사고, 최소교차로, 최다차선 등의 다양한 기준을 적용하기 위하여 교통패턴데이터를 이용한 운전자정의 경로안내 App을 구현하였다. 실험을 위한 교통패턴데이터는 3개월 간의 서울시 UTIS (Urban Traffic Information System) 자료로부터 생성하여 서버 DBMS (database management system)를 통해 제공되도록 하였다. 교통패턴데이터에 기초한 운전경로는 클라이언트 측 스마트폰앱에서 표출되며, 서버와 클라이언트 사이의 통신은 중개 미들웨어가 담당하도록 구성하였다. 강남구를 대상으로 한 실험평가에서는 첨두시와 비첨두시 모두 최소사고 경로가 가장 효과적인 것으로 나타났다. 이러한 운전자정의 경로안내는 정보가 제한적인 운전자들에게 유용하며, 스마트기기를 통해 맞춤형정보로 제공될 수 있다.