• Research in Mathematical Education
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.107-114
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• 2004

University teachers of linear algebra often feel annoyed and disarmed when faced with the inability of their students to cope with concepts that they consider to be very simple. Usually, they lay the blame on the impossibility for the students to use geometrical intuition or the lack of practice in basic logic and set theory. J.-L. Dorier [(2002): Teaching Linear Algebra at University. In: T. Li (Ed.), Proceedings of the International Congress of Mathematicians (Beijing: August 20-28, 2002), Vol. III: Invited Lectures (pp. 875-884). Beijing: Higher Education Press] mentioned that the situation could not be improved substantially with the teaching of Cartesian geometry or/and logic and set theory prior to the linear algebra. In East Asian countries, science-orientated mathematics curricula of the high schools consist of calculus with many other materials. To understand differential and integral calculus efficiently or for other reasons, students have to learn a lot of content (and concepts) in linear algebra, such as ordered pairs, n-tuple numbers, planar and spatial coordinates, vectors, polynomials, matrices, etc., from an early age. The content of linear algebra is spread out from grades 7 to 12. When the high school teachers teach the content of linear algebra, however, they do not concern much about the concepts of content. With small effort, teachers can help the students to build concepts of vocabularies and languages of linear algebra.

• Journal of Korean Medical classics
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.85-98
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• 2013

Objectives : Final assessment of realized on forecasting studies of the literature sector on traditional Korean medicine (2000-2010) revealed results as follows. Methods : We investigated the related peer-reviewed papers and research project reports through Oriental Medicine Advanced Searching Integrated System(OASIS) of Korea Institute of Oriental Medicine(KIOM) and several publishers. Results : Of total five projects, two were realized and three were partially done. The projects 'It wil be standardized by establishing the concept of traditional Korean medical terms' and 'CDs containing traditional medicine books from China, Japan and Korea wiil be released' were decided to be realized. In addition to those, the projects 'Systematic database will be build up for TKM books', 'translation and annotation versions on TKM old books will be completed', and 'A wide range of literature related to traditional medicine of each Asian countries' were concluded to be partially realized. Five projects on predicting TKM in the year 2006-2007 analyzed in 1996 were evaluated as realized or partially realized. Likewise, the five predictions should be reviewed whether it will be necessary in the future after assessment on their realization. Conclusion : Furthermore, it should be studies if the new projects are needed for the future in addition to the existing challenges.

• Journal of Electrical Engineering and Technology
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.521-531
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• 2018

This paper presents a procedure for field measurements which provides a generalized Narrowband Power Line Communications (NB-PLC) channel model for low voltage (LV) access network in order to deploy advanced metering infrastructure (AMI) within Lahore, Pakistan. The measurements of allocated sites were performed in the residential (urban and rural), industrial and commercial electricity consumers for the NB-PLC channel modeling of overhead transmission lines (TLs). On the basis of extensive field measurement results, the average attenuation profile and transfer functions are presented. The results obtained from field measurements are validated by comparing them with a proposed Simulink model. A close agreement in the measured and simulated transfer function (TF) results is observed. The proposed Simulink model is an effort to model the NB-PLC channels in an effective way, especially in South Asian countries.

• The Journal of Asian Finance, Economics and Business
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• v.9 no.6
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• pp.325-329
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• 2022

Enterprises play an increasingly important role in economic development in each country. Effective businesses will make the economies of countries also become efficient and develop. Enterprises play a role in creating jobs, improving labor productivity, and connecting foreign trade and import-export activities. The study aims to evaluate the factors affecting the profitability of small and medium enterprises in Hanoi by using a study of 210 enterprises in the area as well as advanced econometric regression analysis. The research results show that firm size and human capital have no impact on business performance. However, older firms are likely to have higher firm performance, and conversely, younger firms have lower firm performance. The research also confirms that the growth of businesses often has higher firm performance than low-growth ones. Furthermore, a firm with greater value is also more likely to stimulate business performance than lower its value, and this effect is the largest among the analyzed factors. Finally, the study also has some recommendations for the Vietnamese government to develop small and medium enterprises. Specifically, the government needs to create an open mechanism for the start-up movement and create a favorable financial mechanism for small and medium-sized enterprises to be able to access.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.16 no.16
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• pp.7167-7170
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• 2015

Background: Although 3D image based brachytherapy is currently the standard of treatment in cervical cancer, most of the centres in developing countries still practice orthogonal intracavitary brachytherapy due to financial constraints. The quest for optimum dose and fractionation schedule in high dose rate (HDR) intracavitary brachytherapy (ICBT) is still ongoing. While the American Brachytherapy Society recommends four to eight fractions of each less than 7.5 Gy, there are some studies demonstrating similar efficacy and comparable toxicity with higher doses per fraction. Objective: To assess the treatment efficacy and late complications of HDR ICBT with 9 Gy per fraction in two fractions. Materials and Methods: This is a prospective institutional study in Southern India carried on from $1^{st}$ June 2012 to $31^{st}$ July 2014. In this period, 76 patients of cervical cancer satisfying our inclusion criteria were treated with concurrent chemo-radiation following ICBT with 9 Gy per fraction in two fractions, five to seven days apart. Results: The median follow-up period in the study was 24 months (range 10.6 - 31.2 months). The 2 year actuarial local control rate, disease-free survival and overall survival were 88.1%, 84.2% and 81.8% respectively. Although 38.2% patients suffered from late toxicity, only 3 patients had grade III late toxicity. Conclusions: In our experience, HDR brachytherapy with 9 Gy per fraction in two fractions is an effective dose fractionation for the treatment of cervical cancer with acceptable toxicity.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.16
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• pp.6745-6748
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• 2014

Background: Nowadays, molecular biomarkers have critical roles for cancer diagnosis and prognosis in clinical laboratories. Human papillomaviruses are the main agents for etiology of cervical carcinoma. The present survey was conducted to evaluate the genes methylation in cervical cancer and precancerous lesions involvement with HPV genotypes. Materials and Methods: C13orf18 and C10rf166 (MULl or Mulan) DNA methylation as potential biomarkers and risk factors was investigated in 112 liquid based cytology and Formalin-Fixed Paraffin-Embedded tissue specimens in Iranian females with cervical intraepithelial neoplasia and dysplasia. Results: In this survey, HPV18 (61.6%) and HPV16 (42.9%) proved to be the most common HPV genotypes identified by In-House Multiplex Real Time PCR. There were no significant relationship between HPV positivity and the methylated DNA genes mentioned above (p>0.05). Conclusions: Our MethyLight data demonstrated that these genes could not be considered as specific, sensitive and suitable prognostic biomarkers in cervical dysplasia related HPV. It is suggested that further studies with more patients should be done on candidate methylated markers in different countries in order to plan for cervical cancer prevention.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.3
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• pp.1211-1217
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• 2014

Background: Cancer in infants younger than one year of age represents a unique problem with distinct epidemiological, clinical and genetic characteristics compared with older age groups. No report is yet available from Iran regarding epidemiological and survival rate of cancers diagnosed in this age group. Materials and Methods: The population under study comprised of patients which were diagnosed and admitted to Ali-Asghar hospital between years 1996-2005. In total, 287 infants were included in the retrospective descriptive survey. Patient files were evaluated for age of patient at the time of diagnosis, sex, geographical residence, consanguinity of parents, histological diagnosis, site of cancer involvement, type of therapy, date of last follow-up and cause of death (if applicable). Results: The average age at the time of diagnosis was 7.2 months old. The most frequent malignancy was retinoblastoma (44%), followed by leukemia (19%) and neuroblastoma (10%), with five-year overall survival rates of 77.7%, 41% and 90%, respectively Parents of 40 infants (13.9%) had consanguinity relationships. Conclusions: Although we cannot make any conclusions regarding the incidence of infant cancer subtypes based on this study, survival rates for major types were similar to the developed countries, which signifies strict adherence to standards of care in Ali-Asghar hospital, the main infant cancer care centre in Iran. A Childhood Cancer Registry with high-resolution data collection and also advanced genetic testing is advocated for in-depth analysis of variation in incidence and survival.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.6
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• pp.2607-2612
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• 2014

Background: Cancer screening rates in Japan are much lower than those in Western countries. This study evaluated the relationship between cancer screening rates and strategies used to improve screening rates, and determined which strategy is the most effective. Materials and Methods: All municipalities are responsible for conducting gastric, lung, colorectal, cervical, and breast cancer screenings in Japan. Of the 1,746 municipalities in total, 92-99% were included in the analyses for each cancer screening. Using national data in 2009, the correlations between cancer screening rates and strategies for improving screening rates of all municipalities, both large (populations of over 30,000) and small (populations of under 30,000), were determined. The strategies used were as follows: sending personal invitation letters, personal visits by community health workers, use of a clinical setting for screening, and free screening. Results: Of all four strategies used to improve cancer screening rates, sending personal invitation letters had the highest correlations with all screening rates, with the exception of breast cancer screening. The partial correlation coefficients linking this strategy with the screening rates in all municipalities were 0.28, 0.32, 0.30, and 0.26 for gastric, lung, colorectal, and cervical cancer screening, respectively. In large municipalities, the correlations between the number of examinees in a clinical setting and the screening rates were also relatively high, particularly for cervical cancer screening (r=0.41). Conclusions: Sending personal invitation letters appears to be particularly effective in improving cancer screening rates in all municipalities. All municipalities should implement a system that sends personal invitation letters for cancer screening. In large municipalities, increasing the availability of screening in a clinical setting is also effective in improving cancer screening rates.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.793-796
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• 2015

Background: Chronic lymphoid leukemia (CLL) is not an uncommon hematological malignancy which primarily affects elderly individuals. It is more common in developed world than in developing countries. The rational of this study was to determine the clinico-hematological profile in Pakistan. Materials and Methods: In this prospective cross sectional study, sixty patients with CLL were enrolled from January 2011 to June 2013. Data were analyzed with SPSS version 21. Results: The mean age was $59.0{\pm}9.2years$ (range 40-82) and the male to female ratio was 2.1:1. Peak age group was 60-70 years (38.3%) and 18.3% were under 50 years old. Major complaints were weakness (51.7%), fever (18.3%) and abdominal discomfort (13.3%). Main clinical findings were splenomegaly (46.6%), lymphadenopathy (36.6%) and pallor (26.7%). Some 16.7% were diagnosed incidentally. The mean hemoglobin was $10.8{\pm}2.4g/dl$, with a total leukocyte count of $91.5{\pm}87.8{\times}10^9/l$ and platelets $197.8{\pm}103.2{\times}10^9/l$. Anemia and thrombocytopenia were seen in 26.7% and 21.7% of cases, respectively. High LDH and hyperuricemia were detected in 15% each and elevated serum creatinine was seen in 11.6%. According to Rai staging 11.6% were in stage 0, 13.3% stage 1, 26.7% each for stage II and stage III while 21.7% patients were in stage IV. Conclusions: CLL in our patients in Pakistan, unlike in the West, is seen in a relatively young population with male predominance. Primarily disease is of B-cell origin and about 2/3 of the patients present at advanced stage.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.395-400
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• 2015

Both Japan and Korea provide population-based screening programs. However, screening rates are much higher in Korea than in Japan. To clarify the possible factors explaining the differences between these two countries, we analyzed the current status of the cancer screening and background healthcare systems. Population-based cancer screening in Korea is coordinated well with social health insurance under a unified insurer system. In Japan, there are over 3,000 insurers and coordinating a comprehensive strategy for cancer screening promotion has been very difficult. The public healthcare system also has influence over cancer screening. In Korea, public healthcare does not cover a wide range of services. Almost free cancer screening and subsidization for medical cost for cancers detected in population-screening provides high incentive to participation. In Japan, on the other hand, a larger coverage of medical services, low co-payment, and a lenient medical audit enables people to have cancer screening under public health insurance as well as the broad range of cancer screening. The implementation of evidence-based cancer screening programs may be largely dependent on the background healthcare system. It is important to understand the impacts of each healthcare system as a whole and to match the characteristics of a particular health system when designing an efficient cancer screening system.