• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.14 no.12
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• pp.7529-7536
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• 2013

Background and Aims: MicroRNA-21 (miR-21) is reported to be overexpressed and to contribute to proliferation, apoptosis and gemcitabine resistance in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinomas (PDACs). The aims of this study were to explore regulation of miR-21 expression by epigenetic change and its impact on chemoresistance and malignant properties of of pancreatic cancer. Materials and methods: We retrospectively collected 41 cases of advanced pancreatic cancer patients who were sensitive or resistant to gemcitabine and assessed levels of serum circulating miR-21 for correlation with cytotoxic activity. Histone acetylation in the miR-21 promoter was also studied in gemcitabine-sensitive and gemcitabine-resistant PDAC cells. Gemcitabine-resistant HPAC and PANC-1 cells were transfected with pre-miR-21 precursors (pre-miR-21) and antisense oligonucleotides (anti-miR-21), and were treated with TSA. Finally, invasion and metastasis assays were performed and alteration in mir-21, PTEN, AKT and pAKT level was evaluated in these cells. Results: Serum miR-21 levels were increased in gemcitabine-resistant PDAC patients compared with gemcitabine-sensitive subjects. The miR-21 levels were increased in 6 PDAC cells treated with gemcitabine significantly, associated with 50% inhibitory concentrations ($IC_{50}s$). Histone acetylation levels at miR-21 promoter were increased in PDAC cells after treatment with gemcitabine. Enhanced invasion and metastasis, increased miR-21 expression, decreased PTEN, elevated pAKT level were demonstrated in gemcitabine-resistant HPAC and PANC-1 cells. Pre-miR-21 transfection or TSA treatment further increased invasion and metastasis ability, decreased PTEN, and elevated pAKT levels in these two lines. In contrast, anti-miR-21 transfection could reverse invasion and metastasis, and PTEN and pAKT expressions induced by gemcitabine. Conclusions: MiR-21 upregulation induced by histone acetylation in the promoter zone is associated with chemoresistance to gemcitabine and enhanced malignant potential in pancreatic cancer cells.

• Journal of the Institute of Electronics Engineers of Korea TC
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• v.47 no.4
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• pp.63-72
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• 2010

This paper proposes a new authentication protocol for the LR-WPAN. In order to guarantee the reliability and safety of a protocol, this protocol uses the hierarchical authentication approach. In addition, in order to reduce the impact of the denial of service attack, the proposed protocol performs the authentication between a parent router and a joiner device prior to the authentication between a trust center and the joiner device. Moreover, this protocol reduces the authentication delay by decreasing the number of message exchanges during authentication procedure. This paper evaluates the safety of the proposed protocol by the security analysis and reliability of the proposed protocol by the GNY analysis. This paper also compares the number of message exchanges of the ZigBee authentication protocol and the proposed protocol when denial of service attack occurs to evaluate the resistance of the proposed protocol against the denial of service attack. We also analyze the delay for authentication of the joiner device through the implementation of both protocols. Those results show that the proposed protocol effectively protects networks from the denial of service attack and reduces the time for authenticating the joiner device up to maximum 30% as the number of hops increases.

• Journal of the Korea Concrete Institute
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• v.21 no.6
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• pp.681-688
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• 2009

The railroad bridges have been usually experienced by vibration and impact in service state. With this reason, it is important that the effective strengthening capacity should be considered to resist the kind of service loading. In this study, NSM strengthening technique is recommended for the concrete railroad bridge because of its better effective resistance for dynamic loading condition and strengthening cost than the conventional externally bonded strengthening using fiber sheet. However, to widely apply NSM method for the concrete railroad bridge, it needs that the strengthening ratio has to be reasonably evaluated with geometrical and material uncertainties, especially for the concrete bridge under long-term service state without the apparent design history and detail information such as concrete compressive strength, reinforcing ratio, railroad characteristics. The purpose of this study is to propose the critical strengthening ratio of CFRP plate for the targeted concrete railroad bridge with uncertainties of deterioration of the structures. To do this, Monte Carlo Simulation (MCS) for geometrical and material uncertainties have been applied so that this approach may bring the reasonable strengthening ratio of CFRP plate considering probabilistic uncertainties for the targeted concrete railroad bridge. Finally, the critical strengthening ratio of NSM strengthened by CFRP plate is calculated by using the limit state function based on the target reliability index of 3.5.

• Journal of the Korea Concrete Institute
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.237-248
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• 2017

Frequent terror or military attack by explosion, impact, fire accidents have occurred recently. These attacks and incidents raised public concerns and anxiety of potential terrorist attacks on important infrastructures. However, structural behavioral researches on prestressed concrete (PSC) infrastructures such as Prestressed Concrete Containment Vessel (PCCV) and Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) storage tanks under extreme loading are significantly lacking at this time. Also, researches on possible secondary fire scenarios after terror and bomb explosion has not been performed yet. Therefore, a study on PSC structural behavior from an blast-induced fire scenario was undertaken. To evaluate the blast-fire combined resistance capacity and its protective performance of bi-directional unbonded PSC member, blast-fire tests were carried out on $1,400mm{\times}1,000mm{\times}300mm$ PSC specimens. Blast loading tests were performed by the detonation of 25 kg ANFO explosive charge at 1.0 m standoff distance. Also, fire and blast-fire combined loading were tested using RABT fire loading curve. The test results are discussed in detail in the paper. The results can be used as basic research references for related research areas, which include protective design simulation under blast-fire combined loading.

• Journal of the Korean Recycled Construction Resources Institute
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• v.1 no.3
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• pp.189-196
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• 2013

In order for efficient recycling and eco-friendly treatment of construction waste, there is a need to apply a building separation and dismantling technique early on in the stage of waste generation. This study was conducted to analyze the relevant domestic circumstances and propose the applicable range of buildings in order to introduce a building separation and dismantling system to Korea. For this purpose, related policies and systems implemented overseas and the current situation of buildings were examined, and the workability of separation and dismantling of buildings according to their uses was compared. Also, the economic impact of the separation and dismantling system was examined and a survey was conducted, seeking the opinions of the relevant companies regarding the need for the system and the selection criteria for eligible buildings. Based on the results, it was determined that it would be impossible to apply the separation and dismantling system to all buildings in Korea, considering the current technical power and economic situation, and that the system should be introduced in phases, according to the building classification determined based on floor area and use, as the cost may vary depending on a number of variables including the level of difficulty and field conditions.

• KSCE Journal of Civil and Environmental Engineering Research
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• v.31 no.1D
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• pp.91-98
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• 2011

Recently, the usage of elastic paving using EPDM Chip instead of pedestrian sidewalk blocks or permeable concrete used mostly for pedestrian walk, trails and in parks has been increassed as it can absorb impact during walking and produce wide range of colors and designs. However, the properties of EPDM Chip including elasticity and durability are decreased when exposed to ultraviolet ray and scenic paving functions through various colors are lowered due to the yellowing phenomenon. In this study, ultraviolet ray accelerated weathering test has been conducted to analyze the color changes in EPDM Chip and polyurethane resin, which are the main ingredients of elastic paving, when exposed to ultraviolet ray. The color differences are quantitatively analyzed through the color value coordination of the colored space by using the color difference scheme. The experimental results show that the color changes in BL polyurethane resin which is used most frequently at present was larger than that of EPDM Chip. Moreover, the total color difference, ${\Delta}E$, of BC polyurethane resin are 3.162 on the $14^{th}$ day of commencement of acceleration, which is 6 times greater color change resistance against ultraviolet ray than that of BL polyurethane resin with total color difference of 20.639. Therefore, the usage of BC polyurethane resin, which is manufactured to have chain-type molecular structure by using the isocyanate as the HMDI at the time of producing polymer, as binder in elastic paving with EPDM Chip is found to be a highly efficient method of restraining the color changes due to the ultraviolet ray.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Marine Environment & Safety
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• v.22 no.5
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• pp.490-499
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• 2016

In this study, the marine ecological impacts of dephosphorized slag and steel slag on the initial life cycle of the rotifer Brachionus plicatilis and benthic copepod Tigriopus japonicus (in marine trophic structure as a first consumer) exposure to slag extracts have been considered using a marine ecotoxicological assessment. In the results of a screen test on slag extracts, the pH of an undiluted solution was measured to have high alkalinity (pH 8.89-12.16), but a toxic reaction to this undiluted solution before and after aging was divided according to test species. For non-aged slag, the toxic effect ($LC_{50}$) of neonate on B. plicatilis was seen to be severe with dephosphorized slag (20.8 %) than steel slag (63.8 %) with under pH-uncontrolled conditions. The toxic values of dephosphorized and steel slag were estimated to be 35.3 % and 36.0%, respectively, for nauplius with T. japonicus. However, the toxicity of slag extracts before and after aging were different for T. japonicus than for B. plicatilis based on the characteristics of the test materials, with pH-controlled conditions. In conclusion, the results of this study suggest that slag can be relatively stable after aging and may not be likely to influence marine environments, even given repetitive extracting under pH-uncontrolled conditions. This study confirms that a marine ecotoxicological assessment method applied to mechanically activated samples can give an idea of the resistance a marine environment has against the introduction of hazardous materials due to precipitation and weathering.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.13 no.4
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• pp.1457-1461
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• 2012

Purpose: Non small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is the leading worldwide source of cancer-related deaths. Although some drugs targeting EGFR mutations have been developed, most advanced cases are still incurable. New targets for anticancer drugs are demanded. The kringle 1 domain of hepatocellular growth factor alpha chain (HGFK1) is a potent anti-angiogenesis factor. It has also emerged as a potential anticancer factor in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The expression of HGFK1 protein in patients with NSCLC has not been reported to date. Method: Here, we assessed HGFK1 expression by Western blotting in 103 cases with advanced NSCLC to investigate the impact of HGFK1 on survival. Results: Results revealed 33 (30.1%) patients were classified as high expressors, this being significantly associated with less remote metastasis (P = 0.002) but not with lymph node metastasis (P = 0.062). There was also a significant association between HGFK1 expression and tumor size (P = 0.025) as well as clinical stage (P = 0.012). Kaplan-Meier survival analysis showed that both overall survival (OS) and progression free survival (PFS) of patients with HGFK1 expression were longer than those of patients without HGFK1 expression (P = 0.004 and P = 0.001 respectively). HGFK1 reversed gefitinib inhibition in the resistent NSCLC cell line A431/GR but did not inhibit the proliferation of NSCLC cells A431 and A431/GR directly. Reversion of gefitinib inhibition in A431/GR cells by HGFK1 was related to decreased phosphorylation of ERK and STAT5. Conclusions: HGFK1 may be a useful prognostic factor of advanced NSCLC patients and a potential drug for gefitinib resistant patients.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Agriculture
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• v.33 no.3
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• pp.220-230
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• 2014

BACKGROUND: Excessive metals in the soil have become one of the most significant environmental problems. Phytoremediation has received considerable attention as a method for restoring the contaminated soils. The microbes having remarkable metal tolerance and plant growth-promoting abilities could also play a significant role in remediation of metal-contaminated soils, because bioaugmentation with such microbes could promote phytoextraction of metals. Therefore, the present study was focused on evaluating the phytoextraction of heavy metals (Co, Pb and Zn) in Helianthus annuus (sunflower) induced by bioaugmentation of a phosphate solubilizing bacterium. METHODS AND RESULTS: A phosphate solubilizing bacterium was isolated from metal-contaminated soils based on the greater halo size (>3 mm) with solid NBRIP agar medium containing 10 g glucose, 5 g $Ca_3(PO_4)_2$, 5 g $MgCl_2{\cdot}6H_2O$, 0.25 g $MgSO_4.7H_2O$, 0.2 g KCl, 0.1 g $(NH_4)_2SO_4$ in 1 L distilled water. Isolated bacterial strain was assessed for their resistance to heavy metals; $CoCl_2.6H_2O$, $2PbCO_3.Pb(OH)_2$, and $ZnCl_2$ at various concentrations ranging from $100-400{\mu}g/mL$ (Co, Pb and Zn) using the agar dilution method. A pot experiment was conducted with aqueous solutions of different heavy metals (Co, Pb and Zn) to assess the effect of bacterial strain on growth and metal uptake by Helianthus annuus (sunflower). The impact of bacterial inoculation on the mobility of metals in soil was investigated under laboratory conditions with 50 mL scaled polypropylene centrifuge tubes. The metal contents in the filtrate of plant extracts were determined using an atomic absorption spectrophotometer (Perkinelmer, Aanalyst 800, USA). CONCLUSION: Inoculation with Enterobacter ludwigii PSB 28 resulted in increased shoot and root biomass and enhanced accumulation of Co, Pb and Zn in Helianthus annuus plants. The strain was found to be capable of promoting metal translocation from the roots to the shoots of H. annuus. Therefore, Enterobacter ludwigii PSB 28 could be identified as an effective promoter of phytoextraction of Co, Pb and Zn from metal-contaminated soils.

• Journal of the Society of Naval Architects of Korea
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• v.51 no.5
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• pp.380-387
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• 2014

Piper Alpha disaster drew attention to the damage likely to arise from explosions and fires on an offshore platform. And great concerns have been increased to prevent these hazards. Blast wall is one of the passive safety systems; it plays a key part of minimizing the consequences. However, a buckling due to explosion loads is a factor which can reduce the strength of blast wall. The buckling often occurs between web and flange at the center of blast wall. This study aims to find a solution for reinforcing its strength by installing a flat plate at the spot where the buckling occurs. First of all, ANSYS finite element method is adopted to numerically compute the structural resistance characteristic of blast wall by using a quasi-static approach. Sequentially, the impact response characteristics of blast wall are investigated the effect on thickness of flat plate by using ANSYS/LS-DYNA. Finally, pressure-impulse diagrams (P-I diagram) are presented to permit easy assessment of structural response characteristics of stiffened blast wall. In this study, effective use is made to increase structural intensity. of blast wall and acquired important insights have been documented.