• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.14 no.10
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• pp.5625-5629
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• 2013

Occurrence of breast cancer is related to genetic as well as cultural, environmental and life-style factors. Variations in diversity of these factors among different ethnic groups and geographical areas emphasize the immense need for studies in all racial-ethnic populations. The incidence of breast cancer in Pakistan is highest in Asians after Jews in Israel and 2.5 times higher than that in neighboring countries like Iran and India, accounting for 34.6% of female cancers. The Pakistani population is deficient in information regarding breast cancer etiology and epidemiology, but efforts done so far had suggested consanguinity as a major risk factor for frequent mutations leading to breast cancer and has also shed light on genetic origins in different ethnic groups within Pakistan. World-wide research efforts on different ethnicities have enhanced our understanding of genetic predisposition to breast cancer but despite these discoveries, 75% of the familial risk of breast cancer remains unexplained, highlighting the fact that the majority of breast cancer susceptibility genes remain unidentified. For this purpose Pakistani population provides a strong genetic pool to elucidate the genetic etiology of breast cancer because of cousin marriages. In this review, we describe the known breast cancer predisposition factors found in the local Pakistani population and the epidemiological research work done to emphasize the importance of exploring factors/variants contributing to breast cance, in order to prevent, cure and decrease its incidence in our country.

• Safety and Health at Work
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.1-8
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• 2015

Time-loss injuries are still a major occurrence in Canada, injuring thousands of Canadian workers each year. With obesity rates on the rise across the country, as well as around the world, it is important that the possible effects of obesity in the workplace be fully understood, especially those effects linked to lost-time injuries. The aim of this paper was to evaluate predictors of workplace lost-time injuries and how they may be related to obesity or high body mass index by examining factors associated with lost-time injuries in the health care sector, a well-studied industry with the highest number of reported time loss injuries in Canada. A literature review focusing on lost-time injuries in Registered Nurses (RNs) was conducted using the keywords and terms: lost time injury, workers' compensation, occupational injury, workplace injury, injury, injuries, work, workplace, occupational, nurse, registered nurse, RN, health care, predictors, risk factors, risk, risks, cause, causes, obese, obesity, and body mass index. Data on predictors or factors associated with lost-time injuries in RNs were gathered and organized using Loisel's Work Disability Prevention Management Model and extrapolated upon using existing literature surrounding obesity in the Canadian workplace.

• Korean Journal of Construction Engineering and Management
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.15-23
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• 2015

In the construction industry, risk management has gained constant attention as the factor not only to evaluate global competitiveness of the country but also to secure competitiveness of public institutions and private companies. For effective construction risk management, the specific work process improvement that can be employed in the field in terms of risk management of the entire corporation such as financial, insurance and safety management is necessary. To manage construction risks, what is important is the step to identifying inherent risks in the construction project. The identification of risks will be followed by the step to seeking ways to establish and manage strategies responding to the risks. This study suggests ways and processes to make a checkslit to identify risks through case studies. To that end, the focus will be placed on working process improvement of risk identification among stages to manage construction risks such as risk identification and analyses, planning to respond to risks, risk monitoring and management. The case study checklists show that setting up the system to classify risks by stage is helpful to figure out causes of risks to reduce or eliminate risk factors. The checklist making process that considers features of the project is expected to contribute to successful completion of the project by enabling effective risk identification and systematic risk management.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.17 no.10
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• pp.4661-4664
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• 2016

Background: Artificial light at night (ALAN) has been linked to increased risk of cancers in body sites like the breast and colorectum. However exposure of ALAN as an environmental risk factor and its relation to cancers in humans has never been studied in detail. Objective: To explore the association of ALAN with all forms of cancers in 158 countries. Materials and Methods: An ecological study encompassing global data was conducted from January to June 2015, with age-standardized rates (ASR) of cancers as the outcome measure. ALAN, in the protected areas, as the exposure variable, was measured with reference to the Protected Area Light Pollution Indicator (PALI) and the Protected Area Human Influence Indicator (PAHI). Pearson's correlations were calculated for PALI and PAHI with ASR of cancers for 158 countries, adjusted for country populations, electricity consumption, air pollution, and total area covered by forest. Stratified analysis was conducted according to the country income levels. Linear regression was applied to measure the variation in cancers explained by PALI and PAHI. Results: PALI and PAHI were positively associated with ASR of all forms of cancer, and also the four most common cancers (p < 0.05). These positive correlations remained statistically significant for PAHI with all forms of cancer, lung, breast, and colorectal cancer after adjusting for confounders. Positive associations of PALI and PAHI with cancers varied with income level of the individual countries. Variation in all forms of cancers, and the four most common cancers explained by PALI and PAHI, ranged from 3.3 - 35.5%. Conclusion: Artificial light at night is significantly correlated for all forms of cancer as well as lung, breast, colorectal, and prostate cancers individually. Immediate measures should be taken to limit artificial light at night in the main cities around the world and also inside houses.

• Earthquakes and Structures
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.371-386
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• 2016

During the last decades, many destructive earthquakes occurred in Algeria, particularly in the northern part of the country (Chlef (1980), Constantine (1985), Tipaza (1989), Mascara (1994), Ain-Benian (1996), Ain Temouchent (1999), Beni Ourtilane (2000), and recently $Boumerd{\acute{e}}s$ (2003), causing enormous losses in human lives, buildings and equipments. In order to reduce this risk and avoid serious damages to the strategic existing buildings, the authorities of the country, aware of this risk and in order to have the necessary elements that let them to know and estimate the potential losses in advance, with an acceptable error, and to take the necessary countermeasures, decided to invest into seismic upgrade, strengthening and retrofitting of those buildings. To do so, seismic vulnerability study of this category of buildings has been considered. Structural analysis is performed based on the site investigation (inspection of the building, collecting data, materials characteristics, general conditions of the building, etc.), and existing drawings (architectural plans, structural design, etc.). The aim of these seismic vulnerability studies is to develop guidelines and a methodology for rehabilitation of existing buildings. This paper presents the methodology, based on non linear and seismic analysis of existing buildings, followed in this study and summarizes the vulnerability assessment and strengthening of one of the strategic buildings according to the new Algerian code RPA 99/version 2003. As a direct application of this methodology, both, static equivalent method and non linear dynamic analysis, of composite concrete masonry existing building in the city of "CONSTANTINE", located in the east side of ALGERIA, are presented in this paper.

• KOREAN JOURNAL OF CROP SCIENCE
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• v.48
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• pp.13-23
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• 2003

The trace mineral, selenium (Se), is an essential nutrient of fundamental importance to human health. It is also very toxic and can cause Se poisoning (selenosis) in human and animals when its intake exceeds a suitable amount. Se functions within mammalian systems primarily in the form of solenoprotein. About 35 selenoproteins have been identified, though many have not yet been fully elucidated. Selenoproteins contain Se as selenocyseine (Sec) and perform variety of structural and enzymic roles; the enzymic roles are best-known as the antioxidants for hydrogen peroxides and lipid peroxides, and the catalysts for production of activity thyroid hormone. Glutathione peroxidases ($\textrm{GP}_X$) among the selenoproteins prevent the generation of free radicals and decrease the risk of oxidative damage to tissues, as does thioredoxin reductase (TR). TR also provides reducing power for several biochemical processes. Selenoproteins P and W are involved with oxidant defense in plasma and muscle, respectively, A selenoprotein is also required for sperm motility and may reduce the risk of miscarriage. Some epidemiological studies have revealed an inverse correlation between Se status and cardiovascular disease, and there is considerable evidence 1mm population com-parison data and animal studies that Se is anticarcinogenic. It is also suggested that Se should be needed for the proper functioning of the immune system, and appear to be a key nutrient in counteracting the development of virulence and inhibiting HIV progression to AIDS. As research continues, the role of selenium in the etiology of chronic diseases like appropriate medical nutrition therapy can be delivered and its effectiveness assessed. Se status in individuals is affected by diet and the availability of the Se. The Se content of plants is affected by the content and availability of the element in the soil in which they are grown, and so greatly varies from country to country, while the Se composition of meat reflects the feeding patterns of livestock. This paper provides an overview on Se as an essential trace mineral for human.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.37 no.1
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• pp.1-7
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• 2016

Objectives: This study aimed to investigate the sociodemographic factors of stroke patients.Methods: Patients were hospitalized at Korean medical hospitals with cerebral hemorrhage and infarction and then discharged between September 2013 and August 2014. We investigated the patients’ general character and risk factors, then the patients were classified according to the regions where they reside.Results: The results indicated that having hypertension and diabetes mellitus as an underlying disease was more common in stroke patients from the country. No other statistical significance was noted among the indexes of any other results.Conclusions: Based on these results, hypertension, and diabetes mellitus were more important risk factors in patients from the country than they were for city residents. Further large-scale studies are needed to generalize the findings of this study.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.16 no.17
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• pp.7507-7512
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• 2015

Background: In the low incoming country Bangladesh, breast cancer is second most common neoplasm and is increasing at an alarming rate among females. Lack of awareness and illiteracy are contributory factors for late presentation and therefore mortality. Purpose: To examine associations of different factors with breast cancer mortality and to raise awareness among the women of society in Bangladesh. Materials and Methods: This descriptive case-control study was conducted on 160 participants from April 2011 till July 2014. Through a valid questionnaire covering personal and family history, data were collected by face to face interview. For analyzing correlations among factors with breast cancer data, binary logistic regression, Pearson's ${\chi}^2$-value, odd ratios and p-value tests were conducted with SPSS version 20. Results: The mean age of the patients was 43.0 ($SD={\pm}11.12$). In ascending order the leading significant factors were hormone therapy (p<0.0000, OR=4.897), abortion (p<0.0001, OR=3.452), early start menarche (p<0.0002, OR=3.500), family history (p<0.0022, OR=3.235), and late menopause (p<0.0093, OR=3.674) with both ${\chi}^2$ test and logistic regression analyses. Non-significant factors were cancer experience, fatty food habits, marital status and taking alcohol. Conclusions: Regarding the investigation of this study, significant and insignificant factor's correlation visualization with breast cancer will be helpful to increase awareness among Bangladeshi women as well as all over the world.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.13 no.7
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• pp.3335-3341
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• 2012

Objective: gastric cancer is the fourth most common cancer worldwide. While it is one of the most common cancers in Iran, there are only limited data regarding incidence trends in the country. This study is the first of its type to investigate trends across six geographical areas during 2000-2005 using cancer registry data. Materials and methods: The registered data for gastric cancer cases in National Cancer Registry System were extracted from the Ministry of Health and Medical Education, Center for Disease Control & Management, code C16. First, according to WHO population, the sex-standardized incidence rate in both sexes and then the trends of incidence rate during 2000-2005 were investigated separately for different geographical areas of the country. Results: the incidence rates of gastric cancer in Iran and its six geographical areas during 2000-2005 were increasing albeit with differences in their slopes. The overall incidence rate increased from 2.8 in 2000 to 9.1 per 100,000 persons per year in 2005, rising from 4.1 to 13.2 in men. The average six-year incidence of gastric cancer in the central and northwestern border of Caspian Sea was 7.8 per 100,000 persons per year, while it was 0.9 per 100,000 persons per year in the border of the Persian Gulf. Generally the incidence rate in men was higher than in women. Conclusion: Iran is one of the high-risk areas for gastric cancer. Increase in incidence might continue in the future partly because of improvement in cancer registry systems as well as increase in risk of this cancer.

• Journal of Korea Trade
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• v.24 no.7
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• pp.73-92
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• 2020

Purpose - The letter of credit has been playing a major role to diminish overall risks which exist among concerned parties even though there are differences such as language, culture, law, and distance. This paper reviews essence of the letter of credit and its transaction principles, as well as overall practical questions based on the L/C transaction principle. It also investigates the risk of fraud occurrences in L/C transactions and the importance of fraud prevention and preventive measures in international L/C transactions, including the Fraud Rule, which is a major topic to consider in business transactions. Design/methodology - It is considered that an importing country's concerned parties and an exporting country's concerned parties face different situations. This study employs the existing framework to identify liability, responsibility, and obligation for all concerned parties across countries. Using a quite direct measurement of principles in the letter of credit, such as principle of independence, principle of abstraction, and principle of strictness and coincidence, we studied these differences. Findings - Our main findings can be summarized as follow. The paper enhances the efficiency of the L/C payment method to provide fraud generated from L/C transactions, presentation of a theoretical framework about fraud and fraud prevention, which international trading companies should acknowledge in a material way based on fraud risk resulting from taking advantage of L/C transaction principles. Originality/value - Existing studies focus on fraud accidents in L/C transactions by taking bad advantage of the characteristics of the letter of credit without suggesting risks of fraud. This paper attempts to evaluate and provide preventive measures as a solution for fraud and risky international business in a letter of credit transaction. This area of trade studies is underexplored, both empirically and theoretically, although the issue has long been important to Korean and world community foreign trade.