• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.13 no.5
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• pp.1935-1941
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• 2012

Introduction: Uterine sarcomas are a group of heterogenous and rare malignancies of the female genital tract and there is a lack of consensus on prognostic factors and optimal treatment. Objective and Methodology: To perform a retrospective evaluation of clinicopathological characteristics, prognostic factors and treatment outcomes of 93 patients with uterine sarcomas who were diagnosed and treated at 4 different centers from November 2000 to October 2010. Results: Of the 93 patients, 58.0% had leiomyosarcomas, 26.9% malignant mixed Mullerian tumors, 9.7% endometrial stromal sarcomas, and 5.4% other histological types. According to the last International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) staging, 43.0% were stage I, 20.4% were stage II, 22.6% were stage III and 14.0 % were stage IV. Median relapse free survival (RFS) was 20 months (95% confidence interval (CI), 12.4-27.6 months), RFS after 1, 2, 5 years were 66.6%, 44.1%, 16.5% respectively. Median overall survival (OS) was 56 months (95% CI, 22.5-89.5 months), and OS after 1, 2, 5 years was 84.7%, 78%, 49.4% respectively. Multivariate analysis showed that age ${\geq}60$ years and high grade tumor were significantly associated with poor OS and RFS; patients administered adjuvant treatment with sequential chemotherapy and radiotherapy had longer RFS time. Among patients with leiomyosarcoma, in addition to age and grade, adjuvant treatment with sequential chemotherapy and radiotherapy after surgery had significant effects on OS. Conclusion: Uterine sarcomas have poor progrosis even at early stages. Prognostic factors affecting OS were found to be age and grade.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.17 no.7
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• pp.3545-3549
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• 2016

Background: The incidence of bladder cancer is lower in Asian than in Western countries. However, the crude incidence and mortality of bladder cancer have recently increased in Japan because of the increased number of senior citizens. We have already reported risk factors for urothelial cancer in a large population-based cohort study in Japan (JACC study). However, we did not evaluate the cancer risk in the upper and lower urinary tract separately in our previous study. Materials and Methods: Here we evaluated the risk of cancer death in the upper and lower urinary tracts, separately, using the database of the JACC study. The analytic cohort included 46,395 males and 64,190 females aged 40 to 79 years old. The Cox proportional hazard model was used to determine hazard ratios and their 95% confidence intervals. Results: Current smoking increased the risk of both upper and lower urinary tract cancer deaths. A history of kidney disease was associated with an increased risk of bladder cancer death, even after controlling for age, sex and smoking status. Conclusions: The present study confirmed that current smoking increases the risk of both upper and lower urinary tract cancer deaths and indicated the possibility that a history of kidney disease may be a risk factor for bladder cancer death in the Japanese population.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.21 no.10
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• pp.55-63
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• 2020

Road traffic noise is a major complaint. Porous pavement (PP) has been proposed as an effective method for reducing road traffic noise, but it has not been applied much due to the lack of quantitative evaluation. In this study, the noise reduction of single-layer porous pavement (SLPP) and double-layer porous pavement (DLPP) was evaluated. The noise was measured using the CPX method, and the driving speed was measured every 10km/h from 50km/h to 80km/h. The differences in noise level between the two PPs were statistically significant. The driving speed had no significant effect on the difference in noise between the two PPs. The DLPP showed a 6.6dB(A) reduction in average and a 6.3dB(A) reduction at the 95% confidence level compared to the SLPP. Reducing noise by 5dB(A) is equivalent to reducing traffic to 1/3 or lowering the vehicle's speed to 1/2. Sensitively, it is possible to recognize a 3dB(A) and 5dB(A) difference. The DLPP and SLPP were very effective in reducing traffic noise.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.26 no.10
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• pp.1474-1483
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• 2013

The objective was to evaluate the use of prediction equations based on the chemical composition of feedstuffs to estimate the values of apparent metabolisable energy corrected for nitrogen balance (AMEn) of corn and soybean meal for broilers. For performance and carcass characteristics, 1,200 one-d-old birds (male and female) were allotted to a completely randomised factorial $2{\times}8$ (two genders and eight experimental diets) with three replicates of each sex with 25 birds. In the metabolism trial, 240 eight-d-old birds were distributed in the same design, but with a split plot in time (age of evaluation) with five, four and three birds per plot, respectively, in stages 8 to 21, 22 to 35, and 36 to 42 d of age. The treatments consisted of the use of six equations systems to predict the AMEn content of feedstuffs, tables of food composition and AMEn values obtained by in vivo assay, totalling eight treatments. Means were compared by Scott-Knott test at 5% probability and a confidence interval of 95% was used to check the fit of the energy values of the diets to the requirements of the birds. As a result of this study, the use of prediction equations resulted in better adjustment to the broiler requirements, resulting in better performance and carcass characteristics compared to the use of tables, however, the use of energy values of feedstuffs obtained by in vivo assay is still the most effective. The best equations were: AMEn = 4,021.8-227.55 Ash (for corn) combined with AMEn = -822.33+69.54 CP-45.26 ADF+90.81 EE (for soybean meal); AMEn = 36.21 CP+85.44 EE+37.26 NFE (nitrogen-free extract) (for corn) combined with AMEn = 37.5 CP+46.39 EE+14.9 NFE (for soybean); and AMEn = 4,164.187+51.006 EE-197.663 Ash-35.689 CF-20.593 NDF (for corn and soybean meal).

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.14
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• pp.5691-5696
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• 2014

Background: Many clinical trials have been conducted to evaluate sorafenib for the treatment of advanced NSCLC, but the results for efficacy have been inconsistent. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of sorafenib in patients with advanced NSCLC in more detail by meta-analysis. Methods: This meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) was performed after searching PubMed, EMBASE, ASCO Abstracts, ESMO Abstracts, and the proceedings of major conferences for relevant clinical trials. Two reviewers independently assessed the quality of the trials. Outcomes analysis were disease control rate (DCR), progression- free survival (PFS), overall survival (OS) with 95% confidence intervals (CI) and major toxicity. Subgroup analysis was conducted according to sorafenib monotherapy, in combination with chemotherapy or EGFR-TKI to investigate the preferred therapy strategy. Results: Results reported from 6 RCTs involving 2, 748 patients were included in the analysis. Compared to sorafenib-free group, SBT was not associated with higher DCR (RR 1.31 (0.96- 1.79), p=0.09), PFS (HR 0.82 (0.66-1.02), p=0.07) and OS (HR 1.01 (0.92-1.12), p=0.77). In terms of subgroup results, sorafenib monotherapy was associated with significant superior DCR and longer PFS, but failed to show advantage with regard to OS. Grade 3 or greater sorafenib-related adverse events included fatigue, hypertension, diarrhea, oral mucositis, rash and HFSR. Conclusions: SBT was revealed to yield no improvement in DCR, PFS and OS. However, sorafenib as monotherapy showed some activity in NSCLC. Further evaluation may be considered in subsets of patients who may benefit from this treatment. Sorafenib combined inhibition therapy should be limited unless the choice of platinum-doublet regimen, administration sequence or identification of predictive biomarkers are considered to receive better anti-tumor activity and prevention of resistance mechanisms.

• The Journal of the Acoustical Society of Korea
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• v.23 no.6
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• pp.488-496
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• 2004

This paper describes a music information retrieval system which uses humming as the key for retrieval Humming is an easy way for the user to input a melody. However, there are several problems with humming that degrade the retrieval of information. One problem is a human factor. Sometimes people do not sing accurately, especially if they are inexperienced or unaccompanied. Another problem arises from signal processing. Therefore, a music information retrieval method should be sufficiently robust to surmount various humming errors and signal processing problems. A retrieval system has to extract pitch from the user's humming. However pitch extraction is not perfect. It often captures half or double pitches. even if the extraction algorithms take the continuity of the pitch into account. Considering these problems. we propose a system that takes multiple pitch candidates into account. In addition to the frequencies of the pitch candidates. the confidence measures obtained from their powers are taken into consideration as well. We also propose the use of an algorithm with three dimensions that is an extension of the conventional DP algorithm, so that multiple pitch candidates can be treated. Moreover in the proposed algorithm. DP paths are changed dynamically to take deltaPitches and IOIratios of input and reference notes into account in order to treat notes being split or unified. We carried out an evaluation experiment to compare the proposed system with a conventional system. From the experiment. the proposed method gave better retrieval performance than the conventional system.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.123-142
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• 2010

Objectives : The knee pain is the main reason of getting acupuncture treatment. In order to have confidence in the results of a study, it is necessary to establish that questionnaire is both valid and reliable in questionnaire related study. The aim of this study was to review the instruments that are currently in sue for assessing the knee joint. Methods : A literature study was performed to choose appropriate scales for assessment for pain and the function of the knee. Theoretically based scales were selected for review. Therefore, 18 scales for knee and 9 scale for pain were reviewed. the status of scales involved in knee treatment of acupuncture throughout several countries was evaluated. Results & Conclusion : Lysholm Knee Scoring Scale, Cincinnati knee rating system(CKRS) are adequate for ligament injury in knee. International Knee Documentation Committee scoring system(IKDC) may become a publication requirement for journals in view of the international standing of the committee. The available outcome measure for use in osteoarthritis are Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index(WOMAC), Lequesne Functional Severity Index(LFI) and Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score(KOOS), and in rheumatoid arthritis are McMaster-Toronto Arthritis patient function preference questionnaire(MACTAR), Quality of Life-Rheumatoid Arthritis Scale(QoL-RA Scale). Visual analog scale(VAS), verbal rating scale(VRS) are commonly used for the standard pain scale. For long term follow-up study The Medical Outcomes Study Short Form-36(SF-36), Arthritis Impact Measurement Scales(AIMS), Health Assessment Questionnaire(HAQ) should be included. Each measurement has its own composition and characteristics. Their validity, reliability, responsiveness and practical characteristics were already evaluated. We found 20 domestic and 28 overseas papers about knee treatment using acupuncture assessed with knee scales.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.21 no.9
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• pp.32-38
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• 2020

Cargo train braking uses the pressure changes in the air braking pipe to operate the braking tightening and releasing service repeatedly. Air-braking release failure means partial braking caused by a failure of the variable load valve after the driver handling the brake release. This phenomenon causes wheel flaws while driving a wagon, resulting in wheel breakage or train derailment. This study developed the air-braking release failure proof valve considering the technical requirements of the railway operation corporations. In addition, a durability test of the valve was carried out using a braking performance simulator, and its operating performance was evaluated from the pneumatic history under cyclic braking conditions. The warranty life of this valve was assessed by performing 160,000 cycles of testing of 12 prototypes in accordance with the zero-failure test method, considering the number of braking cycles while driving the wagon. During the durability test, the pneumatic input time, output time, and release velocity were almost constant. The warranty life of this valve was 59,860 times the 95% confidence level, which means that it can be operated without trouble for four years when the valve is installed in the bogie of the wagon.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.34 no.9
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• pp.1381-1387
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• 2005

This study was intended to evaluate the weight control program for 18 obese female college students during 9 weeks. The weight control program was composed of periodical counsel for self-control of dietary attitude and exercise with personal/group program. The female college students were average 21.3 years old and average 161.8 cm of height. The subjects were classified into 2 groups based on BMI: overweight group $25\le{BMI}<27$, obese group BMI$\ge$27. The subjects were average 71.56 kg of weight and $27.25 kg/m^2$ of BMI before they joined the program. The prompt of joining was less self-confidence for appearance. After 9 weeks, the overweight group lost their weight about 3.28 kg and also reduced 1.61 percentage of body fat. The obese group also lost their weight about 3.0 kg but reduced only 0.8 percentage of body fat. The serum levels of total cholesterol and LDL-cholesterol dropped significantly (p<0.05) in the overweight group. The $VO_2$ max inclosed 2.71 mL/kg/min in the overweight group. The obese group reduced caloric intakes from $109.2\%\;to\;86.5\%$ of RDA. The scores of dietary attitude such as eating speed, snack frequency, watching TV or reading during the eating were significantly increased (p<0.05) in obese group. These overall results suggest this program would be effective in self-weight control of overweight people. But the obese group assumed negative attitude in self-exercise program. So it is necessary to manage weight control programs, as considering obesity degree of subjects.

• Analytical Science and Technology
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• v.27 no.6
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• pp.357-363
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• 2014

Isoprene is a one of the biogenic volatile organic compounds (BVOCs) and it is known as a source of the tropospheric ozone and formaldehyde. In addition, isoprene is a trace component of the exhaled breath and it is a potential biomarker for the diagnosis of diseases such as lung cancer. In these regards, isoprene gas standards are required for the accurate measurement of isoprene in air samples. To establish a standard for isoprene gas, gravimetric preparation and characterization of primary gas standards were studied. The primary gas standards were produced independently in 4 aluminum cylinders and concentrations were examined by GC-FID. As a result, the uncertainty of the gravimetric preparations including purity of the raw material was 0.01% and reproducibility of the preparation of independent 4 cylinders was 0.08%. The primary gas standards for isoprene showed 14 months of long-term stability. The relative expended uncertainty of 2.8% (95% of confidence level, k=1.96) was assigned to the certified value of 10 ${\mu}mol$/mol level of isoprene based on the quantitative evaluation of the purity, weighing, reproducibility, adsorption and long-term stability.