• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.17
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• pp.7169-7174
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• 2014

Background: NPAS2 is a product of the circadian clock gene. It acts as a putative tumor suppressor by playing an important role in DNA damage responses, cell cycle control and apoptosis. Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) appears to be an apoptosis related disorder and alteration in the NPAS2 gene might therefore be directly involved in the etiology of CLL. Here, the Ala394Thr polymorphism (rs2305160:G>A) in the NPAS2 gene was genotyped and melatonin concentrations were measured in a total of seventy-four individuals, including thirty-seven CLL cases and an equal number of age- and sex-matched healthy controls in order to examine the effect of NPAS2 polymorphism and melatonin concentrations on CLL risk in a Pakistani population. Materials and Methods: Genotyping of rs2305160:G>A polymorphism at NPAS2 locus was carried out by amplification refractory mutation system-polymerase chain reaction (ARMS-PCR). Melatonin concentrations were determined by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Statistical analysis was performed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences software. Results: Our results demonstrated no association of the variant Thr genotypes (Ala/Thr and Thr/Thr) with risk of CLL. Similarly, no association of rs2305160 with CLL was observed in either females or males after stratification of study population on a gender basis. Moreover, when the subjects with CLL were further stratified into shift-workers and non-shift-workers, no association of rs2305160 with CLL was seen in either case. However, significantly low serum melatonin levels were observed in CLL patients as compared to healthy subjects (p<0.05). Also, lower melatonin levels were seen in shift-workers as compared to non-shift-workers (p<0.05). There was no significant difference (p>0.05) in the melatonin levels across NPAS2 genotypes in all subjects, subjects with CLL who were either shift workers or non-shift-workers. General Linear Model (GLM) univariate analysis revealed no significant association (p>0.05) of the rs2305160 polymorphism of the NPAS2 gene with melatonin levels in any of the groups. Conclusions: While low melatonin levels and shift-work can be considered as one of the risk factors for CLL, the NPAS2 rs2305160 polymorphism does not appear to have any association with risk of CLL in our Pakistani population.

• Journal of the Korea Society of Computer and Information
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• v.24 no.12
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• pp.143-149
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• 2019

This study investigates the satisfaction of students who participated in 'Disaster Safety and On-Site Emergency Management' weekend course, the high school-university affiliated program, to provide the basic data on university's major linked program developing and teaching methods. 98 high school students attended the courses at D General high school and B University in North Jeonlla Province. Among the participants, 52%(51 students) were sophomores, while 56.1%(55 students) were male and 43.9%(43 students) were female. The collected data was analyzed by using the SPSS statistics version 21.0 program. 80.6%(79 students) among the participants chose the weekend course program by themselves, 85.7%(84 students) were with clear motivation and goal, and 42.9%(42 students) answered "so interested studying Emergency at a college in the future" The most important reasons to choose this program are as follows: score 4.68 for 'the degree to which the useful program for youth', score 4.58 for 'the leader's expertise', and score 4.53 for 'reflecting the opinion of youth.' After the program's experience, the 'certificate for cardiopulmonary resuscitation' was the most important and the most satisfactory with score 4.78 and score 4.83 respectively. As the university career program using various job experience can be a meaningful experience that enhance the level of career status and career decisions of high school students, this program will strengthen the affiliation between high school and university curriculum and establish the sufficient national social system environment.

• Journal of the Earthquake Engineering Society of Korea
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• v.6 no.6
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• pp.33-39
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• 2002

Response Modification Factor(R-factor) approach is currently implemented to reflect inelastic ductile behavior of the structures and to reduce elastic spectral demands from earthquakes to the design level. However R factors were set empirically and simply based on the professional committee consensus on observed performance of building structures during past earthquakes. Consequently some major shortcomings linked to the current R factor approach have been pointed out. Using reinforced concrete intermediate moment-resisting frames(RC IMRFs), an analytical procedure is presented in this paper to establish R factor rationally. To this end, analytical R values were evaluated based on N2 Method and compared with the values recommended by IBC 2000. Overall, the analytical results correlated well with the code values. However the results also revealed that R factor might strongly depend on the system fundamental period. As evidenced by the interstory drift index(IDI) analysis results of this study, current R-factor based(or, Life Safety based) design tends to fail in fulfilling other implicit and hopeful performance objectives such as immediate Occupancy and Collapse Prevention. Performance based design(PBD) appears to be a promising approach to meet the multi level seismic performance objectives assigned to the building structures of nowadays.

• Journal of environmental and Sanitary engineering
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.95-110
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• 1992

Much progress has been made in understanding the subcellular events of the human lung injuries after acute exposure to environmental air pollutants. Host of those events represent oxidative damages mediated by reactive oxygen species such as superoxide, hydrogen peroxide, and the hydroxy, free radical. Recently, nitric oxide (NO) was found to be endogenously produced by endothelial cells and cells of the reticulo-endothelial system as endothelialderived relaxation factor (EDRF) which is a vasoactive and neurotransmitter substance. Together with superoxide, NO can form another strong oxidant, peroxonitrite. The relative importance of exogenous sources of $N0/N0_2$ and endogenous production of NO by the EDRF producing enzymes in the oxidative stresses to the heman lung has to be elucidated. The exact events leading to chronic irreversible damage are still yet to be known. From chronic exposure to oxidant gases, progressive epithelial and interstitial damages develop. Type I epithelial cells become thicker and cover a smaller average alveolar surface area while thee II cells proliferate instead. Under acute damages, the extent of loss of the alveolar epithelial cell lining, especially type II cells appears to be a good predictor of the ensuing irreversible damage to alveolar compartment. Interstitial matrix undergo remodeling during chronic exposure with increased collagen fibers and interstitial fibroblasts. However, Inany of these changes can be reversed after cessation of exposure. Among chronic lung injuries, genetic damages and repair responses received particular attention in view of the known increased lung cancer risks from exposure to several air pollutants. Heavy metals from foundry emission, automobile traffics, and total suspended particulate, especially polycystic aromatic hydrocarbons have been positively linked with the development of lung cancer. Asbestos in another air pollutant with known risk of lung cancer and mesothelioma, but asbestos fibers are nonauthentic in most bioassays. Studies using the electron spin resonance spin trapping method show that the presence of iron in asbestos accelerates the production of the hydroxy, radical in vitro. Interactions of these reactive oxygen species with particular cellular components and disruption of cell defense mechanisms still await further studies to elucidate the carcinogenic potential of asbestos fibers of different size and chemical composition. The distribution of inhaled pollutants and the magnitude of their eventual effects on the respiratory tract are determined by pollutant-independent physical factors such as anatomy of the respiratory tract and level and pattern of breathing, as well as by pollutant-specific phyco-chemical factors such as the reactivity, solubility, and diffusivity of the foreign gas in mucus, blood and tissue. Many of these individual factors determining dose can be quantified in vitro. However, mathematical models based on these factors should be validated for its integrity by using data from intact human lungs.

• Journal of Advanced Marine Engineering and Technology
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• v.39 no.7
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• pp.744-753
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• 2015

This paper presents the results of research on developing marine unified communications to provide VoIP service based on marine satellites. With the recent popularity of smart-phones and other mobile devices, the demand for Internet-based wired and wireless unified technology has been growing in marine environments, and increasing interest is being directed to VoIP products and service models with high price competitiveness and the ability to deliver a variety of services. In this regard, this research designed three instruments, developed their unit modules, and verified their performances. These three instruments included the following: (1) a marine VoIP module equipped with an analogue gateway that can be linked to the existing devices used in vessels, which is more than 80% smaller than that of a land system; (2) a text/voice/video engine for marine satellite communications that runs on technology that minimizes communication data usage, which is a core technology for a marine VoIP service; and (3) a unified communication service that can support multilateral cloud-based message conversations, telephone number-based call functions, and voice/video calling between a private space in a ship and shore.

• Journal of Distribution Science
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• v.14 no.7
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• pp.101-114
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• 2016

Purpose - The aim of this study is to investigate the benefit-sharing activities. They affect contract renewal intention between franchisers and franchisees that are linked through a contract with the intention of building their relationship from the level based on dynamic trust. This study will show a new approach on qualitative growth and consolidation of competitive power and may well be able to suggest practical ways to strengthen directions in the field of franchise industries. Research design, data, and methodology - In this study, based on literature review, we separated logistical-supporting activities and non-logistical-supporting activities from benefit-sharing activities. We modeled how benefit-sharing activities influence contract renewal intention of franchisees by dynamic trust. In particular, considering the possibility of trading concepts and characteristics of trust between providers opportunistic behaviors was defined as variables, depending on the situation and dynamic characters reveal their relationship trust concept. That is, dynamic trust having the possibility of changing depending on opportunistic risks and interdependencies by Lewis & Weigert(1985, 2012) was classified into transitional-based trust, calculated based trust, relational-based trust and balance-based on trust. The total of 104 samples from domestic franchisees being with franchisees were collected by using a structural composed questionnaire. Results - The results are as following. Benefit-sharing activities in logistical supporting activities appeared to affect the multidimensional concept of transitional trust, calculated based on trust, relationship-based trust and balance based on trust dynamic trust with all-defined impact. Non-logistical supporting activities appeared to affect significantly the positive (+) to the dynamic trust concept except transitional trust. Lewis & Weigert(1985; 2012) have proposed a dynamic confidence calculated from relations within-based trust relationship based on trust appears to affect the significant positive (+) to the balance-based confidence transactions confidence mechanism of the system side in the verified relationship. Finally, a relationship based on trust and confidence in the balance based on the Influence of dynamic renewed confidence showed significantly affect the positive(+). In particular, the balance based trust showed the acts as a mediating factors between relational trust and confidence and renew calculated. Conclusion - From the above these results, the significance from this study is as following. First, the proposed activity is to share and validate the approach by identifying the potential in the relationship from the contract with building dynamic trust, and one of the ways from the franchise headquarters and affiliated merchants mutual growth through win-win cooperation in sharing activities. Next, the dynamic segmentation confidence to suggest the possibility can be broken down over the validity and reliability test for each concept. In addition, by identifying the relationship between the dynamic level of confidence granular multi-dimensional concept, to determine the level of trust with a dynamic relationship between risk and interdependencies can be possible in franchise industries. In order to maintain and develop their mutual relationship, franchise industries should propose confidence-building steps to promote their quality improvement.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.57 no.3
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• pp.140-148
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• 2014

Purpose: Lowe syndrome is a rare, X-linked recessive disorder caused by mutations in the OCRL gene. It involves multiple anatomic systems, particularly the eyes, central nervous system, and kidneys, and leads to profound growth failure and global developmental delay. This study evaluated the clinical and genetic characteristics of Korean patients with Lowe syndrome. Methods: The clinical findings and results of genetic studies were reviewed for 12 male patients diagnosed with Lowe syndrome at a single medical institution. Results: The mean age of the patients at presentation was 2.2 months (range, 0-4 months), although the diagnosis was delayed by a mean of 2.8 years (range, 0-9.7 years). The mean follow-up period was 9.0 years (range, 0.6-16.7 years). Nine mutations in OCRL were identified in 11 patients (92%), with three novel mutations. The main presentation was congenital cataract in both eyes necessitating early cataract removal in the 11 patients with impaired visual acuity. Profound short stature and developmental delay were observed in all patients, and seizures occurred in 50% of the patients. All patients suffered from proximal renal tubular dysfunction, and one patient developed chronic renal failure. Other manifestations included pathologic fracture (50%), cutaneous cysts (42%), and cryptorchidism (42%). However, there was no bleeding tendency, and none of the patients died during the study period. Conclusion: This study describes the clinical and genetic characteristics of Korean patients with Lowe syndrome. The observations are helpful for understanding the natural courses of Lowe syndrome and for appropriate genetic counseling.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.33 no.4
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• pp.547-555
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• 2020

Objective: Apoptosis of ovarian granulosa cells (GCs) affects mammalian follicular development and fecundity. This study aimed to explore the regulatory relationship between microRNA-26a (miR-26a) and the 3β-hydroxysteroid-Δ24-reductase gene (DHCR24) gene in porcine follicular granular cells (pGCs), and to provide empirical data for the development of methods to improve the reproductive capacity of pigs. Methods: The pGCs were transfected with miR-26a mimic, miR-26a inhibitor and DHCR24-siRNA in vitro. The cell apoptosis rate of pGCs was detected by the flow cytometry. The secretion levels of estradiol (E2) and progesterone (P) in pGCs were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Double luciferase validation system was used to detect the binding sites between miR-26a and DHCR24 3'-UTR region. Qualitative real-time polymerase chain reaction and Western blotting were used to verify the DHCR24 mRNA and protein expression in pGCs, respectively, after transfecting with miR-26a mimic and miR-26a inhibitor. Results: Results showed that enhancement of miR-26a promoted apoptosis, and inhibited E2 and P secretion in pGCs. Meanwhile, inhibition of DHCR24 also upregulated the Caspase-3 expression, reduced the BCL-2 expression, promoted pGCs apoptosis, and inhibited E2 and P secretion in pGCs. There were the binding sites of miR-26a located within DHCR24 3'-UTR. Up-regulation of miR-26a inhibited DHCR24 mRNA and protein expression in pGCs. Conclusion: This study demonstrates that miR-26a can promote cell apoptosis and inhibit E2 and P secretion by inhibiting the expression of DHCR24 in pGCs.

• Land and Housing Review
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• v.7 no.4
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• pp.239-249
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• 2016

This study aims to find implications for urban economic regeneration strategies of local initiative by analyzing of promoting regional strategic industries, both Seongnam and Goyang in terms of regional industrial policy, institution and specialized service agency. The main results based on the case studies are as follows. First, It is a top priority to formulate the policy direction, such as selecting strategic industries and prepare means for improving it. It should keep reliability and continuity for inducing economic units. Second, It is necessary to consider the effectiveness and diversity of institutions. The institutions to be formalized by municipal ordinance and rules for making the successful implementing system of policies. It is necessary to implement strategic industry policy linked with the central government or public organizations for expanding of a diversity of policies. It is necessary to change in viewpoint on the deregulation and tax break for the private sectors as inducements to achieve the regional economy activation. Third, It is necessary to introduce the specialized service agency to improve an effectiveness and efficiency of institutions and accelerate a network within economic units.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.17 no.8
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• pp.508-516
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• 2016

This study was conducted to investigate the fitness of major courses according to the development and application of new curricula based on the NCS (National Competency Standards) of health-related departments at junior colleges. To accomplish this, 300 students of the health-related departments at junior colleges were surveyed from March 11 to March 30, 2016. The overall findings showed that their awareness of NCS, intent of integration and understanding of curriculum contents had a significant effect on the fitness for linkage and combination with existing education. Competency unit elements based on the newly developed NCS (job, work, qualification and training standardization of major courses) were linked with existing education. And students - who accept this - are rapidly assimilated into the new curriculum contents. In particular, they have a high understanding of the integrated development of standardized curricula between three major departments, unlike existing textbooks. In conclusion, the high perception and understanding of knowledge integration education are expected to have a positive effect on healthcare education, establishing an early health-related NCS system in the future, and improving site fitness for development of the contents of NCS.