• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.13 no.8
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• pp.4067-4073
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• 2012

Obesity is an established risk factor for colorectal cancer. Pioglitazone is a peroxisome proliferator activated receptor$receptor{\gamma}$ ($PPAR{\gamma}$) agonist that induces differentiation in adipocytes and induces growth arrest and/or apoptosis in vitro in several cancer cell lines. In the present study, we investigated the effect of pioglitazone on the development of azoxymethane-induced colon aberrant crypt foci (ACF) in KK-$A^{\mathcal{Y}}$ obesity and diabetes model mice, and tried to clarify mechanisms by which the $PPAR{\gamma}$ ligand inhibits ACF development. Administration of 800 ppm pioglitazone reduced the number of colon ACF/mouse to 30% of those in untreated mice and improved hypertrophic changes of adipocytes in KK-$A^{\mathcal{Y}}$ mice with significant reduction of serum triglyceride and insulin levels. Moreover, mRNA levels of adipocytokines, such as leptin, monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 and plasminogen activator inhibitor-1, in the visceral fat were decreased. PCNA immunohistochemistry revealed that pioglitazone treatment suppressed cell proliferation in the colorectal epithelium with elevation of p27 and p53 gene expression. These results suggest that pioglitazone prevented obesity-associated colon carcinogenesis through improvement of dysregulated adipocytokine levels and high serum levels of triglyceride and insulin, and increase of p27 and p53 mRNA levels in the colorectal mucosa. These data indicate that pioglitazone warrants attention as a potential chemopreventive agent against obesity-associated colorectal cancer.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.13 no.8
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• pp.3879-3887
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• 2012

Background: Development of effective educational strategies should accompany increases in public awareness and the availability of genetic testing for breast cancer (BC). These educational strategies should be designed to fulfill the knowledge gap while considering factors that influence women's interest in order to facilitate decision making. Objective: To determine the possible correlates of Saudi women's interest in BC genes testing including socio-demographics, the level of awareness towards BC genes, the family history of BC and the perceived personal risk among adult Saudi women in Al Hassa, Saudi Arabia. Subjects and methods: This cross-sectional study was carried out during the second BC community-based campaign in Al Hassa, Saudi Arabia. All Saudi women aged ${\geq}18$ years (n=781) attending the educational components of the campaign were invited to a personal interview. Data collection included gathering information about sociodemographics, family history of BC, the perceived personal risk for BC, awareness and attitude towards BC genes and the women's interest in BC genes testing. Results: Of the included women (n=599), 19.5% perceived higher risk for BC development, significantly more among < 40 years of age, and with positive family history of BC before 50 years of age. The participants demonstrated a poor level of awareness regarding the inheritance, risk, and availability of BC genetic testing. The median summated knowledge score was 1.0 (out of 7 points) with a knowledge deficit of 87.8%. The level of knowledge showed significant decline with age (> 40 years). Of the included women 54.7% expressed an interest in BC genetic testing for assessing their BC risk. Multivariate regression model showed that being middle aged (Odds Ratio 'OR'=1.88, confidence intervals 'C.I'=1.14-3.11), with higher knowledge level (OR=1.67, C.I=1.08-2.57) and perceiving higher risk for BC (OR=2.11, C.I=1.61-2.76) were the significant positive correlates for Saudi women interest in BC genetic testing. Conclusion: Saudi women express high interest in genetic testing for BC risk despite their poor awareness. This great interest may reflect the presence of inappropriate information regarding BC genetic testing and its role in risk analysis.

• Development and Reproduction
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.93-96
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• 2006

The total length, head length, head height, eye diameter, retina thickness, and lens diameter of the dotted gizzard shad, Konosirus punctatus, showed positive allometric relationships between hatching and 30 days post-hatching (dph). The increase in total length relative to head length and head height, head length growth relative to eye and lens diameter, head height growth relative to eye diameter and lens diameter, and thickness of the retina relative to eye diameter, lens diameter, head length, and head height were showed allometric relationships. The eyes were formed completely at 9 dph. At this age, the eye has a lens, an optic nerve fiber layer, a ganglion cell layer, an inner plexiform layer, an inner nuclear layer, an outer plexiform layer, an outer nuclear layer, an outer limiting membrane, a rod and cone layer, and an epithelial layer. The essential demands that must be met by the retina in this species pertain to light sensitivity and spatial resolution.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.7
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• pp.3035-3039
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• 2014

Background: Lung cancer is one of the most prevalent malignancies in the world and both incidence and mortality rates are continuing to rise in Pakistan. However, epidemiological studies to identify common lung cancer determinants in the Pakistani population have been limited. Materials and Methods: In this retrospective case-control study, 400 cases and 800 controls were enrolled from different hospitals of all provinces of Pakistan. Information about socio-demographic, occupational, lifestyle and dietary variables was extracted by questionnaire from all subjects. Odd ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated. and dose-response associations were also assessed for suitable factors. Results: Strong associations were observed for smoking (OR=9.4, 95%CI=6.9-12.8), pesticide exposure (OR=5.1, 95%CI=3.1-8.3), exposure to diesel exhaust (OR=3.1, 95%CI=2.1-4.5), red meat consumption (OR=2.9, 95%CI=1.8-4.7) and chicken consumption (OR=2.8, 95%CI=1.7-49). Other associated factors observed were welding fumes (OR=2.5, 95%CI=1.0-6.5), sedentary living (OR=2.0, 95%CI=1.6-2.6), family history (OR=2.0, 95%CI=0.8-4.9), wood dust (OR=1.9, 95%CI=1.2-3.1), tea consumption (OR=1.8, 95%CI=1.2-2.6), coffee consumption (OR=1.8, 95%CI=1.1-2.8), alcoholism (OR=1.7, 95%CI=1.1-2.5) and asbestos exposure(OR=1.5, 95%CI=0.5-4.4). Consumption of vegetables (OR=0.3, 95%CI=0.2-0.4), juices (OR=0.3, 95%CI=0.3-0.4), fruits (OR=0.7, 95%CI=0.5-0.9) and milk (OR=0.6, 95%CI=0.5-0.8) showed reduction in risk of lung cancer. Strongest dose-response relationships were observed for smoking ($X^2=333.8$, $p{\leq}0.0000001$), pesticide exposure ($X^2=50.9$, $p{\leq}0.0000001$) and exposure to diesel exhaust ($X^2=51.8$, $p{\leq}0.0000001$). Conclusions: Smoking, pesticide exposure, diesel exhaust and meat consumption are main lung cancer determinants in Pakistan. Consuming vegetables, fruits, milk and juices can reduce the risk of lung cancer risk, as in other countries.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.14 no.10
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• pp.5929-5934
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• 2013

Background: Primary brain tumors constitute a small percent of all malignant cancers, but their etiology remains poorly understood. ${\beta}3$ integrin (ITGB3) has been recognized to play influential roles in angiogenesis, tumor growth and metastasis. Intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) is a surface glycoprotein important for tumor invasion and angiogenesis. The aim of this study was to investigate whether specific genetic polymorphisms of ICAM-1 and ITGB3 could be associated with brain cancer development and progression in a Turkish population. Our study is the first to our knowledge to investigate the relationship between brain tumor risk and ICAM-1 and ${\beta}3$ integrin gene polymorphisms. Materials and Methods: The study covered 92 patients with primary brain tumors and 92 age-matched healthy control subjects. Evaluation of ${\beta}3$ integrin (Leu33Pro (rs5918)) and ICAM-1 (R241G (rs1799969) and K469E (rs5498)) gene polymorphisms was performed by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP). Results: According to results of our research, the A allele of the ICAM-1 R241G gene polymorphism appeared to be a risk factor for primary brain tumors (p<0.001). Similarly, the frequency of the A mutant allele of ICAM-1 R241G was statistically significant in patients with brain tumors classified as glioma (p<0.001). When allele and genotype distributions of ICAM-1 K469E, ICAM-1 R241G and ${\beta}3$ integrin Leu33Pro gene polymorphisms were evaluated with age, sex, and smoking, there were no statistically significant differences. Haplotype analysis revealed that the frequencies of GAC (rs1799969-rs5498-rs5918) and GAT (rs1799969-rs5498-rs5918) haplotypes were significantly lower in patients as compared with controls (p=0.001; p=0.036 respectively). Conclusions: This study provides the first evidence that ICAM-1 R241G SNP significantly contributes to the risk of primary brain tumors in a Turkish population. In addition, our results suggest that ICAM-1 R241G in combination ICAM-1 K469E may have protective effects against the development of brain cancer.

• Journal of Bio-Environment Control
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.365-372
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• 2020

This study was conducted to compare the effects of foliar spray and sub-irrigation of the triazole fungicide diniconazole on the regulation of stem elongation and to investigate the stimulation of root system development during the seedling stage. Comparing the two application approaches, there were significant differences in the leaf area, leaf area ratio (LAR), plant height, compactness, fresh shoot and root production, relative growth rate (RGR), and root to shoot ratio (R/S). At the same application concentration, the sub-irrigation showed a better retarding effect on growth than the foliar spray, because the PGR activity of diniconazole in root absorption was higher than that in shoot absorption. For reaching a target of 20% to 30% inhibition rate of stem length, foliar application concentration of diniconazole exceeded 10, however, only approximately 1 was required in the sub-irrigation application. The root system of tomato seedlings responded strongly to diniconazole application. Total root length, root volume, root average diameter, and the number of root tips increased when diniconazole was sub-irrigation application at 1. A reduction in fine roots (diameter range of 0 to 0.3 mm) and an increase in the roots with a diameter range of 0.3 to 0.6 mm was observed, and this may contribute to the increase in average diameter. The increase in root average diameter may be positive because root penetration increases with root diameter. Our results suggested that sub-irrigation maximized the PGR activity of diniconazole to enhance the retarding effect. And it also possible to enhance the tomato seedling root system by diniconazole stimulating with a lower concentration.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.963-976
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• 1999

This study was undertaken to investigate the general characteristics of students, which include the degree of satisfaction, motives of admission, the recognition of advantages and disadvantages, opinion of students on self-directed learning, and planning and anticipatory effects after graduation. Data was collected through a questionnaire survey over a period of four months, from May 1997 to August 1997. The subjects used for this study consisted of 322 RN students sampled from six RN-to-BSN programs in Korea using the census sampling method. Statistical methods employed for this study included discriptive statistics, M ANOVA, and F-test. The results of the study are as follows 1. The RN students' motives of admission to RN-to-BSN programs were ‘for personal advancement’, ‘to earn a BSN degree’, and ‘for professional development’ in this order. 2. The RN students' responses to the advantages of RN-to-BSN programs were ‘acquisition of new knowledge and a BSN degree’ and ‘to gain professional thinking and a broader view’, while as the disadvantages of RN-to-BSN programs were ‘geographical isolation of institutions’, ‘limitation of information’, and ‘underdeveloped school environments’ in this order. 3. The survey based on opinions toward self-directed learning showed that there was a need of detailed guidelines for self-directed learning. Most agreed that it was a very effective learning method for a RN student, and the self-directed learning method Increases motives for learning. 4. The students' anticipatory effect after graduation were ‘self-achievement’, ‘development of professional skills’, and ‘admission to post-graduate school or programs to study abroad’. 5. The students were very satisfied with the quality of faculty members, and satisfied with the quality of lectures and teaching. However, students were unsatisfied with rented lecture rooms, and very unsatisfied with self-directed learning methods. 6. School nurses showed higher statistical significances in the need for teaching material and anticipatory effect after graduation than other RN students working in hospitals and public health agencies. Also, school nurses, public health nurses, and industry nurses showed higher statistical significances in motives of admission than RN students working in hospitals. Further more, staff nurses, school nurses, and industry nurses showed higher levels of satisfaction toward a RN-to-BSN programs than nurses in higher positions, such as administrators or directors of nursing. 7 City residents were more satisfied with RN-to-BSN programs than rural residents. Otherwise, the rural residents had higher motives for admission, a bigger need for teaching materials, and recognition of the disadvantages of RN-to-BSN programs than city residents. Finally, RN students who earned below a monthly income of ￦1,000,000 showed higher motivation for admission than those who earned more than ￦1,000,000.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Mechanical Engineers B
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• v.40 no.4
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• pp.201-212
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• 2016

A Wind resource assessment and optimal micrositing of wind turbines were implemented for the development of an onshore wind farm of 30 MW capacity on Gadeok Island in Busan, Republic of Korea. The wind data measured by the automatic weather system (AWS) that was installed and operated in the candidate area were used, and a reliability investigation was conducted through a data quality check. The AWS data were measured for one year, and were corrected for the long term of 30 years by using the modern era retrospective analysis for research and application (MERRA) reanalysis data and a measure- correlate-predict (MCP) technique; the corrected data were used for the optimal micrositing of the wind turbines. The micrositing of the 3 MW wind turbines was conducted under 25 conditions, then the best-optimized layout was analyzed with a various wake model. When the optimization was complete, the estimated park efficiency and capacity factor were from 97.6 to 98.7 and from 37.9 to 38.3, respectively. Furthermore, the annual energy production (AEP), including wake losses, was estimated to be from 99,598.4 MWh to 100,732.9 MWh, and the area was confirmed as a highly economical location for development of a wind farm.

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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• v.95 no.1
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• pp.124-130
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• 2006

To explore the development of photoprotective mechanisms, chlorophyll a fluorescence, chlorophyll and carotenoid content and antioxidant enzyme activity in leaves were investigated at different vitality and leaf development stage of Alnus firma Sieb. et Zucc under tailing condition. The lowest maximum photochemical efficiency (Fv/Fm) in leaves of high- and low-vitality plants were observed at 12:00 pm and 2:00 pm, respectively, and the decrease of Fv/Fm in leaves of all plants were almost completely restored at 6:00 pm. Fv/Fm of full-expansion leaves was higher than that of emergence leaves at all measurement time. Chlorophyll, ${\beta}$-carotene and xanthophyll content in leaves of high-vitality plants and in full-expansion leaves were higher when compared to those of low-vitality plants and emergence leaves. Especially xanthophyll contents in both stage leaves of high-vitality plants were higher than 8.7 times and 18.8 times those of low-vitality plants. Only SOD activity was seen significant difference between leaf stage in leaves of high-vitality plants.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.32 no.6
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• pp.798-802
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• 1999

This study was performed to compare the effect of enrichement of rotifer and Artemia fed marine bacteria (Erythrobacter sp. S$\pi$-1) with those fed the different diets-(Super Selco, $\omega$-yeast and marine Chlorella) on the slime flounder larvae, Microstomus achne. Because the ratio of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) to fatty acids in rotifer (dry weight $\%$) fed on Super Selco and ESP-SR including Erythrobacter sp. S$\pi$-1 was higher than that in rotifer fed marine Chlorella, the growth of the slime larvae fed the former showed better than the latter. And the ratio of DHA and highly unsaturated fatty acid (n-3 HUFA) to fatty acids in Artemia (dry weight $\%$) enriched by ESP-A including Erythrobacter sp. S$\pi$-1 were also higher than those in Artemia enriched by others or Artemia without enrichment. Larvae fed on Artemia enriched by ESP-A showed better growth and survival rate than those fed on Artemia enriched by others or Artemia without enrichment. With regard to dietary value of Erythrobacter sp. S$\pi$-1, its use could improve the quality of the live foods for the slime flounder larvae.