• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.13 no.3
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• pp.979-983
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• 2012

Background : Previous studies have suggested a lack of complete cross-resistance between steroidal (exemestane) and non-steroidal aromatase inhibitors (nSAI). Methods : Eighty-eight metastatic breast cancer (MBC) patients who received 25 mg of exemestane orally once a day at the National Cancer Center, Korea, between 2003 and 2009, were reviewed retrospectively. All patients had received nSAI for metastatic disease prior to exemestane therapy. Results : The median age was 52 years (range, 33-79), and 13 (14.8%) patients were premenopausal who concomitantly received GnRH agonist. Exemestane was given as a second- (80.7%) or third-line (19.3%) hormone therapy. The clinical benefit (CB) rate (complete response + partial response + stable disease ${\geq}$ 24 weeks) was 30.7%, with a median CB duration of 10.0 months (range, 6.3-78.7). The median progression-free survival (PFS) was 3.0 months (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.99-4.01) and the overall survival (OS) 21.5 months (95% CI, 17.96-25.04), with a median followup of 50.3 months. Patients who achieved CB had longer OS than those patients who did not (29.6 vs 17.9 months; P=0.002). On univariate analysis of predictive factors, patients who had achieved CB from previous nSAI tended to show lower CB rate (24.6% vs 44.4%, respectively; P=0.063) and shorter PFS (2.8 vs 4.8 months, respectively; p=0.233) than patients who had not. Achieving CB from previous nSAI became independent predictive factor for CBR to exemestane on multivariable analysis (Odds ratio = 2.852, P = 0.040). Conclusions : Exemestane after nSAI failure was effective in prolonging CB duration. The drug's efficacy seemed to be inferior in patients who had benefit from previous nSAI use.

• Archives of Reconstructive Microsurgery
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.123-129
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• 2004

Lower extremity injuries are frequently accompanied with large soft-tissue defects. Such Injuries are difficult to manage for its poor vascularity, rigid tissue distensibility, easy infectability and a relatively long healing period. Also, osteomyelitis, and/or non-union of the fractured bones are relatively common in lower extremity injuries and its weight-bearing role should be considered. Therefore, it is important to select appropriate reconstruction method of the lower extremities, which is applicable to a variety of surgical techniques according to these considerations. The goal of flap coverage in the lower extremity should not only be satisfactory wound coverage, but also acceptable appearance and minimal donor site morbidity. In this article, we have tried to establish a reconstruction method in the lower extremity based on our experiences and clinical analysis of soft tissue reconstruction using free muscle flap transfer in 27 cases from Jan. 2000 to Dec. 2002. The results showed 96% flap survival, and flap failure noted in one of the cases due to vascular insufficiency. In conclusion, we believe that in cases of lower extremity soft-tissue defects especially with open comminuted fractures and infections, muscle free flaps should be considered as the first line of treatment.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.23 no.5
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• pp.407-413
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• 2015

Paraquat dichloride (N,N-dimethyl-4-4'-bipiridinium, PQ) is an extremely toxic chemical that is widely used in herbicides. PQ generates reactive oxygen species (ROS) and causes multiple organ failure. In particular, PQ has been reported to be an immunotoxic agrochemical compound. PQ was shown to decrease the number of macrophages in rats and suppress monocyte phagocytic activity in mice. However, the effect of PQ on macrophage cell viability remains unclear. In this study, we evaluated the cytotoxic effect of PQ on the mouse macrophage cell line, RAW264.7 and its possible mechanism of action. RAW264.7 cells were treated with PQ (0, 75, and $150{\mu}M$), and cellular apoptosis, mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP), and intracellular ROS levels were determined. Morphological changes to the cell nucleus and cellular apoptosis were also evaluated by DAPI and Annexin V staining, respectively. In this study, PQ induced apoptotic cell death by dose-dependently decreasing MMP. Additionally, PQ increased the cleaved form of caspase-3, an apoptotic marker. In conclusion, PQ induces apoptosis in RAW264.7 cells through a ROS-mediated mitochondrial pathway. Thus, our study improves our knowledge of PQ-induced toxicity, and may give us a greater understanding of how PQ affects the immune system.

• The Journal of Korean Academic Society of Nursing Education
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.84-94
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• 2002

The purpose of this descriptive study was to identify problems and solving strategies on student evaluation of clinical nursing education. Subjects were 239 nurses in 18 hospitals from February to July, 1999. Content analysis using qualitative research method was used to analyze data taking into account the semi-structured questionnaire. The results of this study were as follows: Four categories about problems and solving strategies on the evaluation of clinical nursing education were identified: 'The environment of the clinical nursing education'; 'contents and items of evaluation tool'; 'criteria of evaluation tool'; and 'problems with evaluators in clinical settings'. The problems of the environment of the clinical nursing education were due to the lack of co-ordination between nursing schools and hospitals. In order to solve these problems, the following strategies were suggested: 'initiate a joint meeting between nursing schools and hospitals'; 'do not change the clinical settings frequently'; 'evaluate students after being familiar with them'; and 'evaluate them immediately after clinical practice was ended'. In the problems of contents and items of the evaluation tool, the contents of the tool were very abstract and general. The strategies for treating these problems were to evaluate student using the concrete evaluation items'; refrain from evaluation of nursing knowledge', develop the evaluation tools that are fit for a specific clinical setting'; develop the evaluation tools in line with students' knowledge level; and 'carry out evaluation using the proper contents of tool. The problems of criteria of the evaluation tools were the results of the lack of the clear criteria. The strategies for treating these problems were 'develop the criteria of the evaluation tool'; simplify the range of the cores or evaluate students using check-list'; to evaluate students in objective manner'. The problem of evaluators in clinical settings was due to the failure by evaluators who were not prepared for the task. The strategies were 'to educate and prepare the evaluators before evaluation'.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.35 no.6
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• pp.677-697
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• 2010

This paper focuses on geometrically non-linear static analysis of a simply supported beam made of hyperelastic material subjected to a non-follower transversal uniformly distributed load. As it is known, the line of action of follower forces is affected by the deformation of the elastic system on which they act and therefore such forces are non-conservative. The material of the beam is assumed as isotropic and hyperelastic. Two types of simply supported beams are considered which have the following boundary conditions: 1) There is a pin at left end and a roller at right end of the beam (pinned-rolled beam). 2) Both ends of the beam are supported by pins (pinned-pinned beam). In this study, finite element model of the beam is constructed by using total Lagrangian finite element model of two dimensional continuum for a twelve-node quadratic element. The considered highly non-linear problem is solved by using incremental displacement-based finite element method in conjunction with Newton-Raphson iteration method. In order to use the solution procedures of Newton-Raphson type, there is need to linearized equilibrium equations, which can be achieved through the linearization of the principle of virtual work in its continuum form. In the study, the effect of the large deflections and rotations on the displacements and the normal stress and the shear stress distributions through the thickness of the beam is investigated in detail. It is known that in the failure analysis, the most important quantities are the principal normal stresses and the maximum shear stress. Therefore these stresses are investigated in detail. The convergence studies are performed for various numbers of finite elements. The effects of the geometric non-linearity and pinned-pinned and pinned-rolled support conditions on the displacements and on the stresses are investigated. By using a twelve-node quadratic element, the free boundary conditions are satisfied and very good stress diagrams are obtained. Also, some of the results of the total Lagrangian finite element model of two dimensional continuum for a twelve-node quadratic element are compared with the results of SAP2000 packet program. Numerical results show that geometrical nonlinearity plays very important role in the static responses of the beam.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.35 no.1
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• pp.93-97
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• 2014

A kinetic study is reported on nucleophilic substitution reactions of 4-nitrophenyl X-substituted-2-methylbenzoates (5a-e) with a series of cyclic secondary amines in MeCN at $25.0{\pm}0.1^{\circ}C$. The Hammett plots for the aminolysis of 5a-e are nonlinear, e.g., substrates possessing an electron-donating group (EDG) in the benzoyl moiety deviate negatively from the linear line composed of substrates bearing no EDG. In contrast, the Yukawa-Tsuno plots for the same reactions exhibit excellent linear correlations with ${\rho}_X$ = 0.30-0.59 and r = 0.90-1.15, indicating that the nonlinear Hammett plots are caused by stabilization of the substrates possessing an EDG through resonance interactions but are not due to a change in the rate-determining step (RDS). The Br${\phi}$nsted-type plots are linear with ${\beta}_{nuc}$ = 0.66-0.82. Thus, the aminolysis of 5a-e has been suggested to proceed through a stepwise mechanism in which departure of the leaving group occurs at the RDS. The ${\rho}_X$ and ${\beta}_{nuc}$ values for the aminolysis of 5a-e increase as the reactivity of the substrates and amines increases, indicating that the reactivity-selectivity principle is not applicable to the current reactions.

• International Journal of Concrete Structures and Materials
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.327-341
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• 2017

Openings in slabs are usually required for many different applications such as aeriation ducts and air conditioning. Opening in concrete slabs due to cutouts significantly decrease the member stiffness. There are different techniques to strengthen slabs with opening cutouts. This study presents experimental and numerical investigations on the use of Carbon Fiber Reinforced Polymers (CFRP) as strengthening material to strengthen and restore the load carrying capacity of R.C. slabs after having cutout in the hogging moment region. The experimental program consisted of testing five (oneway spanning R.C. flat slabs) with overhang. All slabs were prismatic, rectangular in cross-section and nominally 2000 mm long, 1000 mm width, and 100 mm thickness with a clear span (distance between supports) of 1200 mm and the overhang length is 700 mm. All slabs were loaded up to 30 kN (45% of ultimate load for reference slab, before yielding of the longitudinal reinforcement), then the load was kept constant during cutting concrete and steel bars (producing cut out). After that operation, slabs were loaded till failure. An analytical study using finite element analysis (FEA) is performed using the commercial software ANSYS. The FEA has been validated and calibrated using the experimental results. The FE model was found to be in a good agreement with the experimental results. The investigated key parameters were slab aspect ratio for the opening ratios of [1:1, 2:1], CFRP layers and the laminates widths, positions for cutouts and the CFRP configurations around cutouts.

• The Journal of Korean Institute of Communications and Information Sciences
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• v.19 no.12
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• pp.2508-2519
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• 1994

In this thesis, two possible schemes for power feeding are considered. The first one is the network power feeding, and the other is the power feeding from the rechargeable battery. Though each scheme has its merits and demerits, the domestic network operator has proposed the latter due to the large deviation of line resistance, high power loss, and safety. This scheme, however, has several problems. The usage is limited by the life of battery leading to the failure of minimal voice service for many hours. The space occupation of that battery is another serious problem. Moreover, the network opeator should have overhead of maintenance and repair. In order to alleviate such the difficulties, the sealing current is introduced through the subscriber loop. Flowing the current into the loop prevents from rusting. This thesis designs a power controller using PEB2025 to control various amount, duration, and period of this sealing current, to achieve the optimum current supply for sealing.

• The Journal of Korean Institute of Communications and Information Sciences
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• v.39C no.3
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• pp.307-315
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• 2014

Existing level crossing obstruction detecting system occurs section of not detecting an obstruction by line detecting. Due to installation of decentralized equipment, it has become a problem in terms of safety and maintenance costs. accordingly, We have developed level crossing obstruction detecting system using laser radar sensor in order to solve these problems. In this paper, Describe results of functional test for the developed level crossing obstruction detecting system. functional tests are normal operation test(control unit and sensor unit) and test to display the fault information in event of a failure(control unit and sensor unit). It was confirmed that it works properly all according to functional test of level crossing obstruction detecting system using laser radar sensor.

• International Journal of Aerospace System Engineering
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• v.2 no.1
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• pp.1-5
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• 2015

The Unmanned Air Vehicle (UAV) systems are indispensable tools of air surveillance and reconnaissance nowadays. Via this systems, hazardous end risky intelligence gathering activities are handled easily. Although they are named as "Unmanned" the UAV systems are commanded by pilots/operators. So, because of weather conditions, enemy attacks etc. as well as pilot error it is possible to face with sudden Round per Minute (RPM) drops and subsequently engine cut/stop during a mission flight at high altitudes. In this case, there are some very urgent decisions to make and rapid "emergency procedure" steps to take in a very short time before Line of Sight (LOS) is lost. The time before crash and the distance to landing air base need to be calculated, the Return Home route need to be checked and the landing/crash side need to be determined. Therefore it is a vital necessity that UAV pilots have some extra qualifications like being determined, well instructed and trained, experienced apart from operating ability. Within this scope, for an education process of a UAV pilot experience sharing and lessons learned are as important as simulators even more. By means of lessons learned it is possible to find out the reasons, mistakes and prevent the likely UAV accidents. In this study it is told about a real UAV crash, experienced of the pilot, the dos and don'ts and the difficulties. Thus it is aimed to help the people who can experience the same or similar situations in future.