• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.13 no.7
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• pp.3349-3355
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• 2012

Background and objectives: Chromosomal abnormalities play an important role in genesis of acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) and have prognostic implications. Five major risk stratifying fusion genes in ALL are BCR-ABL, MLL-AF4, ETV6-RUNX11, E2A-PBX1 and SIL-TAL1. This work aimed to detect common chromosomal translocations and associated fusion oncogenes in adult ALL patients and study their relationship with clinical features and treatment outcome. Methods: We studied fusion oncogenes in 104 adult ALL patients using RT-PCR and interphase-FISH at diagnosis and their association with clinical characteristics and treatment outcome. Results: Five most common fusion genes i.e. BCR-ABL (t 9; 22), TCF3-PBX1 (t 1; 19), ETV6-RUNX1 (t 12; 21), MLL-AF4 (t 4; 11) and SIL-TAL1 (Del 1p32) were found in 82/104 (79%) patients. TCF3-PBX1 fusion gene was associated with lymphadenopathy, SIL-TAL1 positive patients had frequent organomegaly and usually presented with a platelets count of less than $50{\times}10^9/l$. Survival of patients with fusion gene ETV6-RUNX1 was better when compared to patients harboring other genes. MLL-AF4 and BCR-ABL positivity characterized a subset of adult ALL patients with aggressive clinical behaviour and a poor outcome. Conclusions: This is the first study from Pakistan which investigated the frequency of5 fusion oncogenes in adult ALL patients, and their association with clinical features, treatment response and outcome. Frequencies of some of the oncogenes were different from those reported elsewhere and they appear to be associated with distinct clinical characteristics and treatment outcome. This information will help in the prognostic stratification and risk adapted management of adult ALL patients.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.7
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• pp.2951-2957
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• 2014

Background: Gastric carcinogenesis is a complicated process that involves environmental and genetic factors like interleukin-4 (IL-4) and IL-8. Single nucleotide polymorphisms in their genes are associated with changed levels of gene expression. Here, we investigated the association between IL4-590 C>T and IL8-251T>A and gastric cancer (GC) risk in Sichuan of Southwestern China. Materials and Methods: We surveyed the research subjects using a self-designed questionnaire with questions on demographic factors and putative risk factors. Approximately 2-5ml of whole blood was collected after field survey to analyze IL4-590 C>T and IL8-251T>A genotypes using MALDI-TOF MS. Results: Our study recruited 308 pairs of GC patients and controls, including 224 (72.7%) men and 84 (27.3%) women in each group. There were 99 cardia and 176 noncardia GC patients in the case group. The case and control groups had an average age of $57.7{\pm}10.6$ ($mean{\pm}SD$) and $57.6{\pm}11.1$ years. GC patients reported a significantly greater proportion of family history of cancer (29.9% vs 10.7%, p<0.01) and drinking (54.6% vs 43.2%, p<0.01) than did controls. Variant genotypes of IL-4-590 C>T and IL-8-251 T>A were not associated with overall GC risk (adjusted OR, 0.89; 95%CI, 0.61-1.28 for CT or CC vs TT; adjusted OR, 1.14; 95%CI, 0.86-1.79 for TA or AA vs TT). Stratification analysis of two SNPs for risk by subsites only found that variant IL-8-251 TA or AA genotype was associated with increased noncardia GC risk (adjusted OR, 2.58; 95%CI, 1.19-5.57). We did not observe interactions between the IL-8-251 T>A genotype and smoking (adjusted OR, 0.38; 95%CI, 0.08-1.79) or drinking (adjusted OR, 0.36; 95%CI, 0.08-1.65) for risk of noncardia GC. Conclusions: Our data indicate no association between the two SNPs of IL-4-590 and IL-8-251 with overall GC risk, while the IL-8-251 TA or AA genotype conferred risk of cardia GC. Our findings contribute to the evidence body for risk of SNPs associated with the development of gastric cancer in this region.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.945-950
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• 2014

Purpose: To explore the value of systemic inflammatory markers as independent prognostic factors and the extent these markers improve prognostic classification for patients with inoperable advanced or metastatic gastric cancer (GC) receiving palliative chemotherapy. Methods: We studied the prognostic value of systemic inflammatory factors such as circulating white blood cell count and its components as well as that combined to form inflammation-based prognostic scores (Glasgow Prognostic Score (GPS), Neutrophil-Lymphocyte Ratio (NLR), Platelet Lymphocyte Ratio (PLR), Prognostic Index (PI) and Prognostic Nutritional Index (PNI)) in 384 patients with inoperable advanced or metastatic gastric cancer (GC) receiving first-line chemotherapy. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to examine the impact of inflammatory markers on overall survival (OS). Results: Univariate analysis revealed that an elevated white blood cell, neutrophil and/or platelet count, a decreased lymphocyte count, a low serum albumin concentration, and high CRP concentration, as well as elevated NLR/PLR, GPS, PI, PNI were significant predictors of shorter OS. Multivariate analysis demonstrated that only elevated neutrophil count (HR 3.696, p=0.003) and higher GPS (HR 1.621, p=0.01) were independent predictors of poor OS. Conclusion: This study demonstrated elevated pretreatment neutrophil count and high GPS to be independent predictors of shorter OS in inoperable advanced or metastatic GC patients treated with first-line chemotherapy. Upon validation of these data in independent studies, stratification of patients using these markers in future clinical trials is recommended.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Landscape Architecture
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• v.41 no.6
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• pp.84-95
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• 2013

Recently, to prevent damage to the landscape, outstanding landscape areas have been designated in advance. In particular, as a fundamental way to evaluate landscape elements, landscape diversity is an important criterion to assess an area with a high conservative value. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to develop a quantitative evaluation model of landscape diversity based on landscape elements and to verify the model by applying it to the study sites. The assessment indicators derived from the literature analysis are topography, vegetation, land-use pattern, and unusual landscape. Topography diversity is subdivided into land undulation and land-form. Vegetation diversity is subdivided into plant community diversity and stratification diversity. To quantitatively analyse each indicator's diversity, SHDI was selected as the central metric. All of the quantitative measures were implemented by using the statistical tool, FRAGSTATS. Through the process of each indicator's standardization and summary, the final landscape diversity index was calculated. The results of the study are significant as it was the initial study of landscape diversity evaluation to seek applicability. However, the results of the Landscape Diversity Evaluation Model in this study based on 4 indicators synthetically demonstrate that more than one or two outstanding indicators can be underrated. Therefore, each 4 assessment indicator results should be considered individually. Furthermore, using the maximum value for each indicator's standardization reflects that it is necessary to analyse various examples to obtain higher objectivity later.

• Asia-Pacific Journal of Business Venturing and Entrepreneurship
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• v.10 no.5
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• pp.105-115
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• 2015

This study examined what effect the educational satisfaction level in the grey job project had on the business effectiveness and verified the effect the participant education satisfaction level had on the project business effectiveness ultimately by influencing the job satisfaction. This study utilized the source data of the senior job project old participant status survey of the Korea senior manpower development center which was conducted in 2013, and the non-proportional stratification sample extracting method was used which considered the project type, regional size, and cities/provinces. Sejong City was excluded from the survey target and the survey targeted 2,005 persons except for non-response or response-irrelevant persons concerning this study question. The collected material was analyzed by using SPSS WIN 21.0 program. The frequency and percentage were calculated to apprehend the general characteristic of the study target. Also, the regression analysis was conducted to examine the effect the educational satisfaction level had on the business effectiveness of the senior job project, and the hierarchical regression analysis was conducted in order to examine the mediated effect of the job satisfaction level in the effect the educational satisfaction level had on the business effectiveness of the senior job project. The main result of this study is as follows. First, among the effects the educational satisfaction level had on the business effectiveness, both interest level of educational contents and the job utilization of education had a significant effect on the psychological effect, and the interest level of the educational contents had a significant level on the physical/social effect, and the job utilization of education had a significant effect on the economic effect. Second, in the effect the educational satisfaction level had on the business effectiveness, the job satisfaction level was confirmed the job satisfaction level had a partial mediated effect in the effect the educational satisfaction level had on the psychological/physical/social effect. The job satisfaction level was confirmed the job satisfaction level had a complete mediated effect in the effect the educational satisfaction level had on the economic effect. Also, The job satisfaction level was confirmed the job satisfaction level had a partial mediated effect in the effect the educational satisfaction level had on the business effectiveness. Consequently, the educational contents according with the demand of job participants will have to be developed and the exclusive manpower must be arranged to conduct the education effectively. Also, making participants feel a pride on the job fully will largely contribute to raising the business effectiveness because the job satisfaction level has a positive effect on the business effectiveness.

• Survey Research
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.1-32
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• 2009

This study examines the changes of income, everyday life and living condition of consumer in the aftermath of financial crisis. In this period financial crisis was the crucial factor behind various social problems such as the dissolution of families and individuals. This research explores the range and degree of impact on individuals and social groups after the financial crisis. We explore the social mobility in terns of maintaining middle class and falling into the lower class measured by middle class identification. The 60% of the middle class before the financial crisis maintained the middle class position and the rest of people left out of middle class and fell into lower class. The 60% of those who has been maintained and has just became the members of middle class were college - educated people. The great part of people whose income and assets has increased after financial crisis belongs to college - educated group. Many of those whose income have decreased belong to the high school educated group and blow, the older than 50 years old, self - employed without employee and unpaid family employee. Those whose income and assets decreased and those who experienced downward mobility have undergone changes in everyday life and living conditions as a consumer. Many of them experienced the unemployment, nonpayment or credit - delinquency, dissolution of family, worsening health condition, depression, feeling the impulse to commit suicide simultaneously. The poor consumer disposition, reduction of living expenses, sound consumer culture have expanded to people since economic crisis. The middle class reported that the cost of private education often goes beyond the family ability to pay. The lower class has suffered from the cost of living. In a meanwhile luxury goods preference, consumer consciousness for status symbol have continuously increased among all the classes since 1997. Thus fluctuations of one's income and social mobility during past 10 years were some of the major determinants which brought about the various damaging life events, changes of living conditions and everyday lives as a consumer.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
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• v.38 no.1
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• pp.47-60
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• 2020

To assess the characteristics of phytoplankton community structures related to environmental factors, seasonal surveys were conducted in the vicinity of Dokdo. In 2019, phytoplankton of four phyla and 69 species were observed. During winter, unidentified nanoflagellates dominated, with an average of 3.19×10⁴ cells L^-1. In spring, unidentified nanoflagellates occupied about 50% of the composition and a variety of dinoflagellates appeared. The summer phytoplankton population showed very low abundance. In autumn, various species of Chaetoceros appeared, along with diatoms, such as Bacteriastrum spp., Guinardia striata, and Pseudo-nitzschia spp. In addition, tropical species Amphisolenia sp. and Ornithocercus sp. were observed in both 2018 and 2019. The diversity was high in the summer of 2018 and the winter of 2019 and the characteristics of each index varied. Cluster analysis was divided into four groups according to species and population characteristics regardless of the season. The stratification of spring was particularly weak. In the autumn of 2018, the water mass was stabilized in the same way as in the summer, which is considered a suitable condition for phytoplankton growth. However, in 2019, the water masses were mixed, resulting in a low population. In a phytoplankton comparison, the dominant group showed seasonal differences, except for summer when the population was low, and the difference was most pronounced in autumn. Therefore, the waters surrounding Dokdo have different environmental and ecological characteristics from the East Sea, but the seasonal characteristics of each year are considered to be different depending on the topography, various currents, the island effect, and other factors.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.177-185
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• 1994

Pharmacologic coronary vasodilation in conjunction with myocardial perfusion scintigraphy has become an alternative to dynamic exercise test for the diagnosis and risk stratification of coronary artery disease, especially in patients who are unable to perform adequate exercise. Dipyridamole and adenosine have been used for pharmacologic stress testing with myocardial perfusion imaging. Adenosine is a potent coronary vasodilator with rapid onset of action, short half-life, near maximal coronary vasodilation and less serious side effects. ST segment depression has been reported in about 7-15% of patients with coronary artery disease receiving dipyridamole in conjunction with myocardial perfusion imaging. The exact cause and clinical significance are not known. In order to evaluate the relationship between adenosine-induced ST segment depression during $^{99m}Tc$-MIBI myocardial perfusion scintigraphy and the severity of coronary artery disease, we performed $^{99m}Tc$-MIBI imaging after intravenous Infusion of adenosine In 120 patients with suspected coronary artery disease. Of the 120 patients, 28 also performed coronary angiography. There were 24 patients with ST segment depression during $^{99m}Tc$-MIBI scintigraphy and 96 patients without ST segment depression. Adenosine was infused Intravenously at a dose of 0.14mg/kg per minute lot 6minutes and $^{99m}Tc$-MIBI was injected at 3 minute. We then com-pared the hemodynamic changes, side effects, scintigraphic and angiographic findings. Heart rate increased $90{\pm}19$ beats/minute in the group with ST depression compared with $80{\pm}16$ beats/minute in the group without ST depression(p<0.05). Baseline systolic blood pressure was significantly higher in the group with ST depression($152{\pm}27$ mmHg) than in the group without 57 depression($140{\pm}21$mmHg, p<0.05). Double product at baseline($10.90{\pm}2.77$ versus $9.55{\pm}2.34\;beats/minute{\times}mmHg$) and during adenosine infusion($12.72{\pm}3.89$ versus $10.83{\pm}2.98\;beats/minute{\times}mmHg$) were significantly higher in the group with ST depression(p<0.05). The incidence of anginal chest pain was also significantly higher in the group with ST depression(ST versus 29%, p<0.0001). The $^{99m}Tc$-MIBI images were abnormal in 23(96%) patients with ST segment depression and 66(69%) patients without ST segment depression(p<0.05). In patients with ST segment depression, there were more reversible perfusion defects than in patients without ST segment depression(83 versus 55%, p<0.05). The number of abnormal segments were significantly higher in the group with ST depression($3.05{\pm}2.01$ versus $1.51{\pm}1.45$, p<0.005). In patients with ST segment depression, there were more segments of reversible perfusion defects than in patients without segment depression($2.15{\pm}2.11$ versus $0.89{\pm}1.24$, p<0.05). There were no differences in the angiographic severity by vessel(p ; NS). We concluded that ST segment depression during $^{99m}Tc$-MIBI myocardial perfusion scintigraphy with Intravenous adenosine is related to the severity of coronary artery disease.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.50 no.1
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• pp.29-45
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• 2017

This study explored spatiotemporal variability of water quality in correspondence with hydro-meteorological factors in the four stations of Euiam Reservoir located in the upstream region of the North-Han River from May 2012 to December 2015. Seasonal effect was apparent in the variation of water temperature, DO, electric conductivity and TSS during the study period. Stratification in the water column was observed in the near dam site every year and vanished between August and October. Increase of nitrogen nutrients was observed when inflowing discharge was low, while phosphorus increase was distinct both during the early season with increase of inflowing discharge and the period of severe draught persistent. Duration persisting high concentration of Chl-a (>$25mg\;m^{-3}$: the eutrophic status criterion, OECD, 1982) was 1~2 months of the whole year in 2014~2015, while it was almost 4 months in 2013. Water quality of Euiam Reservoir appeared to be affected basically by geomorphology and source of pollutants, such as longitudinally linked instream islands and Aggregate Island, inflowing urban stream, and wastewater treatment plant discharge. While inflowing discharge from the dams upstream and outflow pattern causing water level change seem to largely govern the variability of water quality in this particular system. In the process of spatiotemporal water quality change, factors related to climate (e.g. flood, typhoon, abruptly high rainfall, scorching heat of summer), hydrology (amount of flow and water level) might be attributed to water pulse, dilution, backflow, uptake, and sedimentation. This study showed that change of water quality in Euiam Reservoir was very dynamic and suggested that its effect could be delivered to downstream (Cheongpyeong and Paldang Reservoirs) through year-round discharge for hydropower generation.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Marine Environment & Energy
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• v.15 no.3
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• pp.257-262
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• 2012

This study was conducted to verify the performance of the solar water circulation apparatus that was installed in a semi-closed sea area of Tongyeong to improve the water quality through removing thermocline and oxygen depleted water mass, and to prevent the occurrence of red tides caused by eutrophication. From 8 weeks of experiments, we found that the thermocline in the semi-closed sea area has been removed gradually after installation of the apparatus. The initial temperature of surface and bottom was $27.9^{\circ}C$ and $23.8^{\circ}C$, respectively and it was changed to $22.1^{\circ}C$ in both depth. In case of DO concentration, there was a big gap between surface (5.49 mg/L) and bottom (2.61 mg/L) and was an oxygen depleted water mass in the bottom area at initial. However DO concentration in bottom layer has increased gradually after operation (6.19 mg/L) and the oxygen depleted water mass has removed. Due to the effects of seasonal variation and the operation of the solar water circulation apparatus for 8 weeks, COD concentration decreased from 5.61 mg/L to 2.36 mg/L in surface area, and from 6.08 mg/L to 1.73 mg/L in bottom area. Dissolved inorganic nitrogen concentration also decreased from 0.135 mg/L to 0.050 mg/L in surface area, and from 0.076 mg/L to 0.051 mg/L in bottom area. This research was conducted from July to September, and it might be possible that the variation of water quality was affected by both seasonal variation and the operation of the water circulation apparatus. Hence a further research is required to verify the performance of the water circulation apparatus itself and to monitor dissolved inorganic nitrogen and phosphorous concentrations as well as Chl-a.