• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.1277-1280
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• 2015

Aim: To report epidemiologic and anatomoclinical transitions of inflammatory breast cancer (IBC) in Tunisia. Materials and Methods: Data including clinico-pathological data for 208 cases of T4d or PEV 3 non-metastatic breast cancer diagnosed between 2005 and 2010 were collected from patient records. Chi2 and Z tests were used to compare variables with two Tunisian historical series and a series about Arab-American patients. Results: Thirty three percent of our patients had their first child before 23 years of age and 56% had their menarche before 12 years, 75% never receiving oral contraception. Obesity was observed in 42% of women and IBC occurred during pregnancy in 13% of cases. Tumor grade was II-III in 90% of cases, HR was negative in 52%, HER2 was over expressed in 31% and invasion of more than 3 axillary nodes occurred in 18% of patients. We observed a pCR rate of 19% after neoadjuvant treatment (anthracyline-taxane used in 79%, trastuzumab in 27% ). Compared to historical Tunisian series (since 1996), IBC epidemiology remained stable in terms of median age, menopausal status and obesity. However we observed a significant decrease in median clinical tumor size and number of positive axillary lymph nodes. Comparison to IBC in Arab-Americans showed a significant difference in terms of median age, menopausal status, positivity of hormonal receptors and educational level. Conclusions: Our assessment of epidemiologic transition showed a reduction of clinco-pathological stage of IBC, keeping the same characteristics as compared to Tunisian historical series over a period of 14 years. Features seem to be different in Arab-American patients, probably related to migration, "occidentalization" of life style and improvement in socio-economic level.

• KSBB Journal
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.157-161
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• 2007

This study is to investigate the biological degradation and the characteristics of MEA, a pH regulator to be put in the cooling water circulation system for power plants, loading to elevate concentrations of COD and N when eluted into the water environment. MEA, $NH_4^+$ and CODcr were monitored in flask cultures and in a batch aerator. MEA was found to be biologically degradable, producing substantial amount of ammonia (max. 78.1%) in a form of $NH_4^+$ and other carboneous intermediates. The degradation reaction rates were similar one another over all MEA concentrations tested as the activated sludge (microbial consortium) was acclimated to MEA with the gradual and stepwise increase in MEA input into the batch aerator. Also, MLVSS kept increasing with increasing MEA input. The COD-based degradation reaction order was determined to be 1.

• Journal of Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.54 no.3
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• pp.218-224
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• 2011

This study was conducted to estimate the water quality of agricultural groundwater well located in Buan-gun, Jinan-gun, Sunchang-gun, and Jangsu-gun of Jeollabuk-do. The groundwater samples were collected at 328 sites (Buan-gun: 158, Jansu-gun: 45, Sunchang-gun: 32, Jinan-gun: 93, respectively). We measured 4 kinds of general contaminants (pH, $NO_3-N$, $Cl^-$, and COD) and 10 kinds of specific contaminants (Cd, As, $CN^-$, Hg, phenol, Pb, $Cr^{+6}$, organophosphorus, trichloroethylene, and tetrachloroethylene). Generally, the level of general contaminants and specific contaminants in the agricultural groundwater was suitable for water quality standard in all sites for agricultural irrigation water. Exceptionally, chloride concentrations were exceeded water quality standard of agricultural groundwater at some sites in western coast area of Jeollabuk-do. Although water quality standards in agricultural groundwater have been suitable, the water contaminants of agricultural groundwater in western coast area were gradually increased than eastern mountain area.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.107-114
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• 1993

For the blue sapphires from Santung, China, the color change before and after has been investigated by UV-Visible spectrophotometry method. The blue sapphires from Shantung show four groups of absorption bands: the bands A (374, 386 and 450 nm) being attributed to single $Fe^{3+}$ ion, the band B (560, 579 and $704n{\breve{m}}$) to $Fe^{2+}$/$Ti^{4+}$ pairs, the band C (-800 nm) to $Fe^{2+}$/$Fe^{3+}$ pairs, and the D (528 nm) to $Ti^{3+}$ dd transitions. From those UV-VIS characteristics the origin of blue color of the sapphires is confirmed to be attributed by the factors such as $Fe^{2+}$/$Fe^{3+}$ and $Ti^{3+}$/$Ti^{4+}$. The absorption spectra of natural blue sapphires before and after heat treatment show distintive features, comparing with those of sapphires from other localities: the bands of 689 nm and of $Cr^{3+}$ are not recorded on the spectra of sapphires from Shantung. The band (492 nm), which resulted from $Ti^{3+}$, is not shown and the intensity of the band 528 nm decreases after the heat treatment. Decoloration of ink-blue sapphires are found to be successful by heat treatment with the control of annealing and atmosphere. During the diffusion process the excess components of impurities contained originally in the host crystal were expelled to the surface of crystals, enhancing the transparency of the crystals noticeably.

• Journal of Korean Society for Atmospheric Environment
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• v.18 no.6
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• pp.539-546
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• 2002

The physicochemical properties of solid wastes generated from seven highway service areas, four branch offices, and one construction site were analyzed in concert with air pollutants including heavy metals emitted from near-by small-scale incinerators. The amount of solid wastes generated from highway areas has been increasing with recent increases in the number of highways and passengers. Twelve incinerators examined in this study generally had capacity smaller than 100 kg/hr, most of which were equipped with cyclone for dust removal. It was seen that the concentrations of the gas-phase air pollutants (e.g., SO$_2$, NO$_{x}$, HCl and H$_2$S) were above the acceptable emission standards except one or two sites. CO concentrations at all incinerators were also higher due to incomplete combustion. In addition, particulate matters showed concentration six times higher at their maximum. The results of heavy metal analysis showed that the concentrations of Cu, Cd, and Ni satisfied the emission standards. whereas Pb at one site and Zn at five sites exceeded the standards. Cr measurement results indicated that 9 of 12 incinerators had higher values than the standard; especially one branch office showed nine times higher than normal concentration. In order to satisfy more stringent emission standards in the near future, it is necessary to install air pollution control system and to develop an intensified management plan.n.

• Journal of Surface Science and Engineering
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• v.44 no.5
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• pp.173-178
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• 2011

Separator of stack in polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) is high cost and heavy. If we make it low cost and lighter, it will have a great ripple. In this study, low carbon steel is used as base metal of separator because the cost of low carbon steel is very cheaper commercial metal material than stainless steels, which is widely used as separator. Low carbon steel has not a good corrosion resistance. In order to improve the corrosion resistance and electrolytic conductivity, low carbon steel needs to be surface treated. We made Chromium electroplated layer of $5{\mu}m$, $10{\mu}m$ thickness on the surface of low carbon steel and it was nitrided for 2 hours at $1000^{\circ}C$ in a furnace with 100 torr nitrogen gas pressure. Cross-sectional and surface microstructures of surface treated low carbon steel are investigated using SEM. And crystal structures are investigated by XRD. Interfacial contact resistance and corrosion tests were considered to simulate the internal operating conditions of PEMFC stack. The corrosion test was performed in 0.1 N $H_2SO_4$ + 2 ppm $F^-$ solution at $80^{\circ}C$. Throughout this research, we try to know that low carbon steel can be replaced stainless steel in separator of PEMFC.

• Corrosion Science and Technology
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.9-14
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• 2012

The formation of the Fe-Al inhibition layer in hot-dip galvanizing is a confusing issue for a long time. This study presents a characterization result on the inhibition layer formed on C-Mn-Cr and C-Mn-Si dual-phase steels after a short time galvanizing. The samples were annealed at $800^{\circ}C$ for 60 s in $N_{2}$-10% $H_{2}$ atmosphere with a dew point of $-30^{\circ}C$, and were then galvanized in a bath containing 0.2 %Al. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) was employed for characterization. The TEM electron diffraction shows that only $Fe_{2}Al_{5}$ intermetallic phase was formed. No orientation relationship between the $Fe_{2}Al_{5}$ phase and the steel substrate could be identified. Two peaks of Al 2p photoelectrons, one from metallic aluminum and the other from $Al^{3+}$ ions, were detected in the inhibition layer, indicating that the layer is in fact a mixture of $Fe_{2}Al_{5}$ and $Al_{2}O_{3}$. TEM/EDS analysis verifies the existence of $Al_{2}O_{3}$ in the boundaries of $Fe_{2}Al_{5}$ grains. The nucleation of $Fe_{2}Al_{5}$ and the reduction of the surface oxide probably proceeded concurrently on galvanizing, and the residual oxides prohibited the heteroepitaxial growth of $Fe_{2}Al_{5}$.

• Corrosion Science and Technology
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• v.9 no.5
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• pp.187-195
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• 2010

Hyper duplex stainless steels have been developed in Korea for the purpose of application to the seawater system of Korean nuclear power plants. This system supplies seawater to cooling water heat exchanger tubes, related pipes and chlorine injection system. In normal operation, seawater is supplied to heat exchanger through the exit of circulating water pump headers, and the heat exchanged sea water is extracted to the discharge pipes in circulating water system connected to the circulating water discharge lines. The high flow velocity of some part of seawater system in nuclear power plants accelerates damages of components. Therefore, high strength and high corrosion resistant steels need to be applied for this environment. Hyper duplex stainless steel (27Cr-7.0Ni-2.5Mo-3.2W-0.35N) has been newly developed in Korea and is being improved for applying to nuclear power plants. In this study, the physical & mechanical properties and corrosion resistance of newly developed materials are quantitatively evaluated in comparative to commercial stainless steels in other countries. The properties of weld & HAZ (heat affected zone) are analyzed and the best compositions are suggested. The optimum conditions in welding process are derived for ensuring the volume fraction of ferrite(${\alpha}$) and austenite(${\gamma}$) in HAZ and controlling weld cracks. For applying these materials to the seawater heat exchanger, CCT and CPT in weldments are measured. As a result of all experiments, it was found that the newly developed hyper duplex stainless steel WREMBA has higher corrosion resistance and mechanical properties than those of super austenitic stainless steels including welded area. It is expected to be a promising material for seawater systems of Korean nuclear power plants.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.43 no.5
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• pp.393-400
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• 2017

This study was investigated on pH, heavy metals, oils and solvents in 34 surface soil samples and the samples are collected at two times for 17 farmland sites around 7 industrial areas in Northern Gyeonggi Province. As a result of pH for soil contamination monitoring network, the range of pH showed 4.4~8.4 and average was 6.3. The range of pH for Agricultural land around industrial area was 6.7~7.5 and average indicated 7.1 that mostly showed neutral condition in this area. he average concentrations of Cu, Pb, Ni, As and $Cr^{6+}$ are lower than Korea soil contamination worrisome levels at region 1 and the mean levels of farmland from the soil quality monitoring network. The average concentrations of Zn, Cd and Hg didn't exceed the soil contamination worrisome levels at region 1 but slightly higher than the mean levels of farmland from the soil quality monitoring network. The heavy metal levels of all samples are within Korea soil contamination worrisome levels at region 1. The results showed that the detected heavy metal concentrations ranged from N.D. to ~32.7% of Korea soil contamination worrisome levels at region 1. BTEX, TPH, TCE and PCE were not detected in all samples and thus the farmland around the industrial areas were free from oils and solvents contamination.

• Journal of Communications and Networks
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• v.17 no.6
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• pp.622-633
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• 2015

The coexistence among different systems is a major problem in communications. Mutual interference between different systems should be analyzed and mitigated before their deployment. The paper focuses on two aspects that have an impact on the system performance. First, the coexistence analysis, i.e. evaluating the mutual interference. Second aspect is the coexistence techniques, i.e. appropriate system modifications that guarantee the simultaneous use of the spectrum by different technologies. In particular, the coexistence problem is analyzed between ultra-wide bandwidth (UWB) and narrow bandwidth (NB) systems emphasizing the role of spectrum sensing to identify and classify the NB interferers that mostly affect the performance of UWB system. A direct sequence (DS)-time hopping (TH) code design technique is used to mitigate the identified NB interference. Due to the severe effect of Narrowband Interference on UWB communications, we propose an UWB transceiver that utilizes spectrum-sensing techniques together with mitigation techniques. The proposed transceiver improves both the UWB and NB systems performance by adaptively reducing the mutual interference. Detection and avoidance method is used where spectrum is sensed every time duration to detect the NB interferer's frequency location and power avoiding it's effect by using the appropriate mitigation technique. Two scenarios are presented to identify, classify, and mitigate NB interferers.