• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.11
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• pp.4697-4703
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• 2014

Background: Interleukin-16 (IL-16) is a multifunctional cytokine which plays a key role in inflammatory and autoimmune diseases as well as in cancer. Genetic polymorphisms of IL-16 have been implicated in susceptibility to cancer. However, associations remain inconclusive. The present meta-analysis was therefore carried out to establish a more conclusive association of IL-16 polymorphisms with cancer risk. Materials and Methods: Relevant studies were searched through the PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, Google Scholar and Wan fang electronic databases updated in October 2013. Odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) were used to assess the association between IL-16 polymorphisms and cancer risk. Results: Eight eligible studies (rs4778889 T/C: 8, rs11556218 T/G: 7, rs4072111 C/T: 6) that met our selection criteria were included. The meta-analysis indicated that rs11556218 T/G was associated with a significant increased risk of cancer (G vs. T, OR=1.321, 95% CI=1.142-1.528, P<0.001; TG vs. TT, OR=1.665, 95% CI=1.448-1.915, P<0.001; GG+TG vs. TT, OR=1.622, 95% CI=1.416-1.858, P<0.001),as well as nasopharyngeal carcinoma and colorectal cancer. Furthermore, in the subgroup of Chinese, significant associations were found between rs11556218 polymorphism and cancer risk. There was no statistically significant association between the other two variants (rs4778889, rs4072111) and risk of cancer. Conclusions: This meta-analysis suggests that the IL-16 rs11556218 polymorphism is associated with increased cancer risk. Large well-designed studies involving various cancer types and different populations are now needed.

• Journal of Animal Environmental Science
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.21-28
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• 1998

This study was carried out to estimate the economic impacts on operation cost and curtail the bulking agent between two kinds of plants in swine farms. Bulking agents and Plants have a variety of roles in the fields of the composting for livestock manure and also represent an economic problem in terms of plant operation costs and compost production. Two farms which have rotary(size of reactor : 10${\times}$35${\times}$1.5m) or bucket(size of reactor : 10${\times}$68${\times}$2m) plants were used for 24 weeks for bucket conveyor system, which are composed of refilling rice hull as a bulking agent every 3 weeks till decreasing volume, for 4 weeks for rotary conveyor system, which has continuous compost production system without refilling rice hull, respectively. Composts was produced in 24 weeks in the bucket conveyor system, in 4 weeks in the rotary conveyor system, respectively. The results are as follows : 1. The tissue change of Rice hull at the composts of 45 days pursuant to composting steps was more crumbling in bucket conveyor system than in rotary conveyor system. 2. Microbial counts of the final composts for safety and quality showed that total bacteria counts was 1.01${\times}$108 cfu/g in bucket conveyor system, 2.82${\times}$108 cfu/g in rotary conveyor system, Salmonella was 0.3${\times}$102 cfu/g in bucket conveyor system, 7.6${\times}$102 cfu/g in rotary conveyor system, colifom bacteria was 0.5${\times}$106 cfu/g in bucket conveyor system, 1.5${\times}$106cfu/g in rotary conveyor system, fungi 1.24${\times}$106 cfu/g in bucket conveyor system, 0.01${\times}$106 cfu/g in rotary conveyor system, respectively. However, Any system used in this trial could not be met the regulation of A grade compost of EPA and USA. 3. C:N ratio according to the composting was more rapidly changed in bucket conveyor system with 64.5 of 5 days compost to 25.4 of final products than in rotary conveyor system with 26.7 of 5 days compost to 25.9 of final products. 4. Based on the mechanical characteristics of plants used in trial and compared with Rotary conveyor system, the Bucket conveyor system in which has 0.72 ㎥/㎥ of bulking agent capacity per slurry could be curtailed 1.78 ㎥of rice hull for disposal of waste, 1㎥. It was proper facilities to produce composts quantitative in Rotary conveyor system, and to treat waste quantitative and obtain good results in compost quality in Bucket conveyor system.

• Journal of Nuclear Fuel Cycle and Waste Technology(JNFCWT)
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.151-159
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• 2017

A deep geological disposal at a depth of 500 m in stable host rock is considered to be the safest method with current technologies for disposal of spent fuels classified as high-level radioactive waste. The most important requirement is that the temperature of the bentonite buffer, which is a component of the engineered barrier, should not exceed $100^{\circ}C$. In Korea, the amount of spent fuel generated by nuclear power generation, which accounts for about 30% of the total electricity, is continuously increasing and accumulating. Accordingly, the area required to dispose of it is also increasing. In this study, various duplex disposal concepts were derived for the purpose of improving the disposal efficiency by reducing the disposal area. Based on these concepts, thermal analyses were carried out to confirm whether the critical disposal system requirements were met, and the thermal stability of the disposal system was evaluated by analyzing the results. The results showed that upward 75 m or downward 75 m apart from the reference disposal system location of 500 m depth would qualify for the double layered disposal concept. The results of this study can be applied to the establishment of spent fuel management policy and the design of practical commercial disposal system. Detailed analyses with data of a real disposal site are necessary.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Agriculture
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.200-204
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• 1998

Physical and chemical properties of artificial soil produced by firing process were analyzed and compared with normal dry field soil and soil quality standards. Material used for production was water and wastewater treatment sludge, chabizite, and lime. The mixed material was thermally treated in the firing kiln at about $300^{\circ}C$ and $1,000^{\circ}C$, respectively, as per designed process. General properties of the artificial soil were classified as sand by unified soil classification method and similar to the dry-field soil, and even soil conditioning effect were expected when it is mixed properly with normal soil. The artificial soil is high in pH and permeability compared to the dry-field soil. Heavy metal concentrations of the artificial soil met the soil quality standards for the farmland. Overall, the artificial soil was thought to be an appropriate soil which can be returned safely to the nature without significant adverse effect. The cost for the artificial soil production process needs to be lowered for practical application as a sludge treatment, therefore, commercializing of the artificial soil is under review.

• Journal of the Korea Organic Resources Recycling Association
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• v.14 no.3
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• pp.85-90
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• 2006

The purpose of this research is to design an imitation boiler similar to the waste heat boiler installed on a plasma melting furnace in order to acquire a capability of a thermal design as to the circulation of heat and the discharge of noxious gas inside a boiler and to improve the efficiency of a waste heat boiler using the CFD (Computation Fluid Dynamics) program. The position of corrosion and the generation of a clinker inside a boiler due to temperature changes, combustion gas flows, and corrosive gases inside a boiler are examined to design the structure of an efficient boiler and recycle energy. As a result of this research, the boiler installed on a plasma melting furnace met the conditions of design by cooling the combustion gases discharged after the second combustion from an exhaust port, originally at 1,200 degrees Celsius, down to around 450 degrees Celsius. On the other hand, the circulation of corrosive gases (SOx and HCL) may lead to the generation of corrosion or a clinker in the upper and lower parts of an exhaust port more easily than any other parts of a boiler. Accordingly, the corrosion on the inside and outside walls of a boiler may result in a shortened lifespan of a boiler and an inability to recycle waste heat in an efficient manner. A prevention against corrosion at high and low temperatures needs to be considered in detail.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.32 no.1
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• pp.23-30
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• 2014

Purpose: The goal of this study is to determine whether the magnitude of overlap between planning target volume (PTV) and rectum ($Rectum_{overlap}$) or PTV and bladder ($Bladder_{overlap}$) in prostate cancer volumetric-modulated arc therapy (VMAT) is predictive of the dose-volume relationships achieved after optimization, and to identify predictive equations and cutoff values using these overlap volumes beyond which the Quantitative Analyses of Normal Tissue Effects in the Clinic (QUANTEC) dose-volume constraints are unlikely to be met. Materials and Methods: Fifty-seven patients with prostate cancer underwent VMAT planning using identical optimization conditions and normalization. The PTV (for the 50.4 Gy primary plan and 30.6 Gy boost plan) included 5 to 10 mm margins around the prostate and seminal vesicles. Pearson correlations, linear regression analyses, and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were used to correlate the percentage overlap with dose-volume parameters. Results: The percentage $Rectum_{overlap}$ and $Bladder_{overlap}$ correlated with sparing of that organ but minimally impacted other dose-volume parameters, predicted the primary plan rectum $V_{45}$ and bladder $V_{50}$ with $R^2$ = 0.78 and $R^2$ = 0.83, respectively, and predicted the boost plan rectum $V_{30}$ and bladder $V_{30}$ with $R^2$ = 0.53 and $R^2$ = 0.81, respectively. The optimal cutoff value of boost $Rectum_{overlap}$ to predict rectum $V_{75}$ >15% was 3.5% (sensitivity 100%, specificity 94%, p < 0.01), and the optimal cutoff value of boost $Bladder_{overlap}$ to predict bladder $V_{80}$ >10% was 5.0% (sensitivity 83%, specificity 100%, p < 0.01). Conclusion: The degree of overlap between PTV and bladder or rectum can be used to accurately guide physicians on the use of interventions to limit the extent of the overlap region prior to optimization.

• Journal of the Korean Crystal Growth and Crystal Technology
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• v.20 no.6
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• pp.278-282
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• 2010

The doping effect of thulium on electrical properties and degradation behavior in barium titanate ceramics ($BaTiO_3$) was investigated in terms of generations of core-shell structure and micro-chemical changes through highly accelerated degradation test. The dielectric specimens of pellet type and multi-layered sheets were prepared by using $BaTiO_3$ with undoped and doped with 1 mol% $Tm_2O_3$. The $BaTiO_3$ ceramics doped with 1 mol% $Tm_2O_3$ had 40% higher dielectric constant (${\varepsilon}$ = 2700) than that of the undoped $BaTiO_3$ specimen at curie temperature and met X7R specification. According to the result of highly accelerated degradation test conducted at $150^{\circ}C$, 70 V, and 24 hr, the oxygen diffusion was declined in dielectrics doped with 1 mol% $Tm_2O_3$. The $Tm^{3+}$ ion substituted selectively Ba site and Ti site and contributed to the generation of the core-shell structure. Oxygen vacancies occurred by substitution for Ti site could reduce excess oxygen that reacted to the Ni electrode.

• Journal of The Korean Association For Science Education
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.71-82
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• 1998

The main purpose of Iowa Chautauqua Program(ICP) and Iowa-Scope, Sequence. and Coordination (Iowa-SS&C) was to educate K-12 science teachers so that they could teach science in a human context using the constructivist strategies. The major task for the participating teachers to perform was to develop modules with the emphasis on STS and constructivist approach. which were supposed to be taught in the respective classrooms. Teachers worked together for two weeks for the development of modules during the summer, and attempted the modules with their students. The participating teachers met regularly during the autumn semester to share and reflect their experiences and obtain additional information on science education reform and its implications. During the winter break. the teachers improved and extended the STS modules. The Iowa Chautauqua Program and Iowa-SS&C had two important implications for Korean science education. First, they made the most of the resources they had in order to provide the practicing teachers with recent research findings on the nature of science. science learning and teaching, that is. the constructivist approach. Second, they emphasized both cooperation of teachers and long-term training to realize the reform in school science education.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.25 no.11
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• pp.1331-1337
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• 2015

S-allylcysteine (SAC) is an aged garlic derived water soluble organosulfur compound and has been suggested to have anticarcinogenic activity against diverse types of cancer cells. This review summarizes the cellular signaling pathways and molecular mechanisms whereby SAC exerts its effects on cellular proliferation, apoptosis, cell cycle progression and metastasis based on the results from both in vitro and in vivo studies. SAC activates proapoptotic proteins including Bax and caspase-3, but suppresses antiapoptotic Bcl-2 family proteins to bring about cancer cell death through mitochondria-mediated intrinsic pathway. SAC also inhibits cellular proliferation by inducing cell cycle arrest in which SAC reduces expression and activation of NF-κB, cyclins, Cdks, PCNA and c-Jun, but elevates expression of cell cycle inhibitor proteins p16 and p21 through suppression of both PI3K/Akt/mTOR and MAPK/ERK signaling pathways. And, SAC inhibits invasion and metastasis of cancer cells by inducing suppression of both angiogenesis and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) through decreased cyclooxygenase (COX)-2 expression and increased E-cadherin expression which were then caused by suppression of inhibitory transcription factors Id-1 and SLUG from SAC-mediated inactivation of both MAPK/ERK and PI3K/Akt/mTOR/NF-κB signaling pathways. Furthermore, SAC prevents toxic compound-induced carcinogenesis by inducing antioxidant enzymes such as glutathione-s-transferase (GST). Thus, SAC can be considered as a potential chemotherapeutic agent for the prevention and treatment of cancer.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.14 no.5
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• pp.3017-3021
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• 2013

Background: Health Related Quality of Life (HRQoL) is an important aspect in identifying cancer patients' perceptions of being diagnosed with cancer and the assessment of treatment outcomes. The present study aimedto assess the profile and predicators of HRQoL of Malaysian oncology patients. Materials and Methods: A cross sectional study adopting the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire (EORTC QLQ-C30) was conducted. All cancer patients attending Penang General Hospital between August-November 2011 were approached. Descriptive statistics were used to assess demographic and disease related characteristics of the patients. All analyses were performed using SPSS v 16.0. Results: Three hundred and ninety three cancer patients met the inclusion criteria and were enrolled in the study. The mean age was 53.9 ($SD{\pm}13$) years. The cohort was dominated by females (n=260, 66.2%). Nearly half (n=190, 48.3%) of the participants were of Malay ethnicity, practicing Islam as their religion (n=194, 494%). Two hundred and ninety six (n=296, 75.3%) had beene diagnosed with cancer within six months to 3 years previously. The most common primary cancer site was breast (n=143, 36.4%). The mean Global Health Status (GHS) score was 60.7 (SD=21.3). Females (mean GHS score of 62.3, p=0.035) with Malay ethnicity (mean GHS score of 63.8, p=0.047), practicing Islam as their religion (mean GHS score of 63.0, p=0.011) had better GHS scores. Patients having medical insurance had good scores (mean 65.6, p-0.021). Marital status was significantly associated with GHS scores (p=0.022). Bone cancer patientshad the lowest mean GHS score of 49.2 (p=0.044). Patients at very advanced stages of cancer featured a low GHS mean score of 52.2 (p<0.001). Conclusions: The present study identified many demographic and disease related factors which may contribute to the HRQoL of cancer patients, pointing to the necessity for improved management of disease symptoms and provision of psychological and financial support.