• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.19
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• pp.8245-8250
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• 2014

Previous studies investigating the association between 5,10-methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) gene polymorphisms and colon cancer risk have generated conflicting results. The aim of our meta-analysis was to clarify the precise association. A systematic literature search was conducted to identify all relevant studies. Pooled odds ratio (ORs) with 95% confidence interval (CI) were used to estimate the strength of the association. In this meta-analysis, a total of 13 articles, involving 5,386 cases and 8,017 controls met the inclusion criteria. Overall, a significant association was found between colon cancer risk and the MTHFR C667 polymorphism (TT vs CC+CT: OR=0.79; 95%CI=0.65-0.96; p=0.017). Stratification by ethnicity revealed that MTHFRC667 was associated with colon cancer risk in the non-Asian group (TT vs CC+CT:OR=0.77, 95%CI=0.68-0.89, p=0.000; TT vs CC: OR=0.84, 95%CI=0.73-0.97, p=0.016). Stratification by source of control indicated that MTHFR C667 also correlated with colon cancer risk in the population-based subgroup (TT vs CC: OR=0.85, 95%CI=0.74-0.97, p=0.017; TT vs CC+CT: OR=0.78, 95%CI=0.68-0.89, p=0.000) and hospital-based subgroup (TT vs CC+CT: OR=0.65, 95%CI=0.49-0.86, p=0.003). However, risk was significantly increased for MTHFR A1298C polymorphisms and colon cancer risk in hospital-based studies (C vs A: OR=1.52, 95%CI=1.26-1.83, p=0.000; CC+AC vs AA: OR=1.93, 95%CI=1.47-2.49, p=0.000) but reduced in population-based studies (CC vs AA: OR=0.83, 95%CI=0.70-0.99, p=0.042). In conclusion, the results of our meta-analysis suggest that the MTHFR C667 polymorphism is associated with reduced colon cancer risk, especially for non-Asian populations.

• The Journal of Korean Society for Radiation Therapy
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.53-59
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• 1999

The aim of this study is to improve the accuracy of field placement and junction between adjacent fields and block shielding through the use of a computed tomography(CT) simulator and virtual simulation. The information was acquired by assessment of Alderson Rando phantom image using CT simulator (I.Q. Xtra - Picker), determination of each field by virtual fluoroscopy of voxel IQ workstation AcQsim and colored critical structures that were obtained by contouring in virtual simulation. And also using a coronal, sagittal and axial view can determine the field and adjacent field gap correctly without calculation during the procedure. With the treatment planning by using the Helax TMS 4.0, the dose in the junction among the adjacent fields and the spinal cord and cribriform plate of the critical structure was evaluated by the dose volume histogram. The pilot image of coronal and sagittal view took about 2minutes and 26minutes to get 100 images. Image translation to the virtual simulation workstation took about 6minutes. Contouring a critical structure such as cribriform plate, spinal cord using a virtual fluoroscopy were eligible to determine a correct field and shielding. The process took about 20 minutes. As the result of the Helax planning, the dose distribution in adjacent field junction was ideal, and the dose level shows almost 100 percentage in the dose volume histogram of the spinal cord and cribriform plate CT simulation can get a correct therapy area due to enhancement of critical structures such as spinal cord and cribriform plate. In addition, using a Spiral CT scanner can be saved a lot of time to plan a simulation therefore this function can reduce difficulties to keep the patient position without any movements to the patient, physician and radiotherapy technician.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.16 no.12
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• pp.5007-5011
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• 2015

Background: Breast cancer is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in Jordan and worldwide. Abnormality of DNA methylation is a possible mechanism for the development of cancer. Methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) is involved in DNA methylation. Our aim was to study the association between genetic polymorphisms of MTHFR at two sites (C677T and A1298C) and their haplotypes and the risk of breast cancer among Jordanian females. Materials and Methods: A case-control study involving 150 breast cancer cases and 150 controls was conducted. Controls were age-matched to cases. Polymerase chain reaction/restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) technique and sequencing were conducted to determine the genotypes. Results: There was a significant difference in genotype frequency of C677T in the 41-60 year age category [cases: CC (37.4%), CT (49.5%) and TT (13.2%); controls: CC (56.3%), CT (35.6%) and TT (8%), p= 0.04; $OR_{TT\;vs.\;CC}$: 2.5, 95% CI: (0.9-6.9); $OR_{at\;least\;on\;T$: 2.1, 95%CI: (1.2-3.9)]. There was no significant difference in genotype frequency of A1298C between cases and controls [cases: AA (46.6%), AC (41.8%) and CC (11.6%); controls: AA (43%), AC (47.4%) and CC (9.6%); p= 0.6]. There was a significant difference of MTHFR genetic polymorphism haplotypes among breast cancer cases and controls [cases/control: CA: 38.3/45.4%; CC: 28.9/25.2%; TA: 29.2/21; TC: 3.6/8.3; p value= 0.01; $OR_{TA\;vs.\;CA}=1.6$; 95% CI (1.1-2.5); p= 0.02]. Conclusions: Genetic polymorphism of MTHFR C677T may modulate the risk of breast cancer especially in the 41-60 year age group. Additionally, TA haplotype amends the risk of breast cancer. Future studies with a larger sample size are needed to validate the role of MTHFR genetic polymorphisms in breast cancer.

• Journal of the Korean Electrochemical Society
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• v.1 no.1
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• pp.33-39
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• 1998

To AC impedance study was performed in this study on the interfacial reaction between organic electrolyte and amorphous tungsten oxides thin film, cathodically coloring oxide, prepared by e-beam evaporation method in the 1 M $LiClO_4/PC$ organic solution. The electrochemical reactions at the interface were analyzed by the transient method and the complex impedance spectroscopy. The impedance spectrums showed that the electro-chemical intercalation of lithium cations was consisted of the following three steps; the first step, the charge transfer reaction of lithium cation at the interface between amorphous tungsten oxides thin film and the organic electrolyte, the second step, the adsorption of lithium atom on the surface of amorphous tungsten oxides thin film, and then the third step, the absorption and the diffusion of lithium atom into amorphous tungsten oxides thin layer. The bleaching and the coloring characteristics of amorphous tungsten oxides thin film were explained in terms of thermodynamic and kinetic variables, the simulated $R_{ct},\;C_{dl},\;D$ and $\sigma_{Li}$ by CNLS fitting method. Especially it was found that the limiting values of electrochromic reaction were the molar ratio of lithium, y=0.167 and the electrode potential, E=2.245 V (vs. Li).

• Progress in Medical Physics
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.3-17
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• 1996

Dose compensators have been widely used in radiotherapy fields. But, few reliable verification methods have been reported. We have developed the verification method for the evaluation of the effect of dose compensator using exit beam dose profile. The exit beam dose profiles were measured with and without dose compensator. For this purpose X-Omat V films and lead screened cassettes are used and dose distibutions are compared. Phantom data are collected using CT simulator(Picker, AcQ Sim) and compensator information can be obtained from Render Plan 3-D planning System. Aluminum Compensators are generated by computer controlled milling machine. The real dose distribution in the phantom and the exit beam dose profile can be obtained simultaneously with the films in the phantom and the opposite site of the beam. Dose compensations effects for oblique beam, parallel opposing beam and inhomogeneous human phantom can be obtained using above tools. And we could simate those effects with exit beam dose profile using the method that we have developed in this study.

• The Journal of the Korea institute of electronic communication sciences
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• v.16 no.6
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• pp.1223-1230
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• 2021

Recently, energy resource management is a major concern around the world. Energy management activities minimize environmental impacts of the energy production. This paper presents design and prototyping of a home electric energy monitoring system that provides residential consumers with real time information about their electricity use. The developed system is composed of an in-house sensing system and a server system. The in-home sensing system is a set of wireless smart plug which have an AC power socket, a relay to switch the socket ON/OFF, a CT sensor to sense current of load appliance and a Kmote. The Kmote is a wireless communication interface based on TinyOS. Each sensing node sends its detection signal to a home gateway via wireless link. The home gateway stores the received signals into a remote database. The server system is composed of a database server and a web server, which provides web-based monitoring system to residential consumers. We analyzed and presented energy consumption data from electrical appliances for 3 months in home. The experimental results show the promising possibilities to estimate the energy consumption patterns and the current status.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Safety
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• v.36 no.2
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• pp.10-17
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• 2021

This paper presents the robust design of each component used in the development of an induction bolt heating system for dismantling the high-temperature high-pressure casing heating bolts of turbines in power plants. The induction bolt heating system comprises seven assemblies, namely AC breaker, AC filter, inverter, transformer, work coil, cable, and CT/PT. For each of these assemblies, the various failure modes are identified by the failure mode and effects analysis (FMEA) method, and the causes and effects of these failure modes are presented. In addition, the risk priority numbers are deduced for the individual parts. To ensure robust design, the insulated-gate bipolar transistor (IGBT), switched-mode power supply (SMPS), C/T (adjusting current), capacitor, and coupling are selected. The IGBT is changed to a field-effect transistor (FET) to enhance the voltage applied to the induction heating system, and a dual-safety device is added to the SMPS. For C/T (adjusting current), the turns ratio is adjusted to ensure an appropriate amount of induced current. The capacitor is replaced by a product with heat resistance and durability; further, coupling with a water-resistant structure is improved such that the connecting parts are not easily destroyed. The ground connection is chosen for management priority.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.13 no.4
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• pp.1599-1603
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• 2012

Objectives: Since methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) maintains the balance of circulating folate and methionine and blocks the formation of homocysteine, its regulation in relation to different cancers has extensively been studied in different populations. However, information on Pakistani breast cancer patients is lacking. The MTHFR gene has two most common mutations that are single nucleotide additions which result in change of amino acids C677T to Ala222val and A1298C to Glu429Ala. Methodology: 110 sporadic breast patients with no prior family history of cancer or any other type of genetic disorders along with 110 normal individuals were screened for mutations in exons 1 to exon 9 using single strand conformational polymorphism, RFLP and sequencing analyzer. Results: The p values for the 677CC, 677CT, and 677TT genotypes were 0.223, 0.006, and 0.077, respectively. Those for the 1298AA, 1298AC, and 1298CC genotypes were 0.555, 0.009, and 0.003, respectively. Conclusions: We found an overall a significant, weak inverse association between breast cancer risk and the 677TT genotype and an inverse association with the 1298C variant. These results for MTHFR polymorphism might be population specific in sporadic breast cancer affected patients but many other factors need to be excluded before making final conclusions including folate intake, population and disease heterogeneity.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Illuminating and Electrical Installation Engineers
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• v.17 no.5
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• pp.36-42
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• 2003

This paper presents a new current-source PWM inverter based on Buck-boost configuration to interface between photovoltaic system and utility line. Proposed inverter is consisted by two set of buck-boost topology, and the input inductor is designed to be operated on the discontinuous current conduction mode. So high power factor can be achieved without additional input CtUTent controller. As a result, overall system has simple structure, and it can obtain higher ac output rms voltage than the terminal voltage of the photovoltaic system without additional boosting procedure. The operational modes are theoretically analyzed, and then the validity of the proposed system was verified through simulation and experimental results using a prototype.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.41-46
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• 2001

Objective : The exact position of the lesion during the pallidotomy is critical to obtain the clinical improvement of parkinson's disease without damage to surrounding structure. Ventriculogrphy, CT(computed tomograpy) or MRI(magnetic resonance imaging) have been used to determine the initial coordinates of stereotactic target for pallidotomy. The goal of this study was to determine whether microelectrode recording significantly improves the neurophysiologic localization of the target obtained from MRI. Methods : Twenty patients were studied. They underwent a unilateral pallidotomy. Leksell frame was applied and T1 axial images parallel to the AC-PC(anterior commissure-posterior commissure) plane using a 1.5 Tesla MRI with 3mm slice thickness were obtained. Anteroposterior coordinate of target was chosen at 2mm in front of the midcommissural point and lateral coordinate between 19 and 22mm from the midline. The vertical coordinate was calculated on coronal slice using a fast spin echo inversion recovery sequence(FSEIR) related to the position of the choroidal fissure and ranged over 4-5mm below the AC-PC plane. Confirmation of the anatomical target was done on axial slices using the same FSEIR sequence . Microrecording was done at the pallidum contralateral to the symptomatic side using an electrode with a tip diameter of $1{{\mu}m}$ diameter tip and 1.1-1.4 mOhm impedance at 1000Hz. Electrophysiologic localization of the target was also confirmed intraoperatively by macrostimulation. Results : Microrecording techniques were reliable to define the transition from the base of the pallidum which was characterized by the disappearance of spike activity and by the change of the audible background activity. Signals from high amplitude neurons firing at 200-400Hz were recorded in the pallidal base. X, Y and Z coordinates of target obtained from the MRI were within 1mm from the X, Y, Z coordinates obtained with microrecording in 16 patients (80%), 15 patients(75%), 10 patients(50%) respectively. The difference of Y coordinate between on MRI and on microrecording was 4mm in only one patient. Conclusion : The MRI was accurate to localize the target within 1mm of the error from microrecording target in 70% of the patients. 4mm discrepancy was observed only once. We conclude that MRI alone can be used to determine the target for pallidotomy in most patients. However, microrecording technique can still be extremely valuable in patents with aberrant anatomy or unusual MRI coordinates. We also consider physiologic confirmation of the target using macrostimulation to be mandatory in all cases.