• Journal of Soil and Groundwater Environment
• /
• v.10 no.1
• /
• pp.18-25
• /
• 2005

For economic impact analysis on a R&D project of groundwater remediation in the metropolitan areas conducted as a fundamental research programme of KIGAM from 1998 to 2002, benefit/cost ratio(BCR), net present value(NPV), and internal rate of return(IRR) were calculated using a contingent valuation method(CVM). Measurable direct benefit parameters among the major outputs of this project consist of setup of drinking water facilities and groundwater information data valuation. In this study, economic impact of the project in NPV of year 2002, with applying a discount rate of $10.0\%$, was identified and estimated as 5.09 billion won in cost, 67.69 billion won in benefit, 62.60 billion won in NPV, 13.3 points in BCR, and $152\%$ in IRR, respectively.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
• /
• v.30 no.6
• /
• pp.553-561
• /
• 2022

Chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) is a slowly progressing hematopoietic cell disorder. Sphingosine kinase 1 (SPHK1) plays established roles in tumor initiation, progression, and chemotherapy resistance in a wide range of cancers, including leukemia. However, small-molecule inhibitors targeting SPHK1 in CML still need to be developed. This study revealed the role of SPHK1 in CML and investigated the potential anti-leukemic activity of hirsuteine (HST), an indole alkaloid obtained from the oriental plant Uncaria rhynchophylla, in CML cells. These results suggest that SPHK1 is highly expressed in CML cells and that overexpression of SPHK1 represents poor clinical outcomes in CML patients. HST exposure led to G2/M phase arrest, cellular apoptosis, and downregulation of Cyclin B1 and CDC2 and cleavage of Caspase 3 and PARP in CML cells. HST shifted sphingolipid rheostat from sphingosine 1-phosphate (S1P) towards the ceramide coupled with a marked inhibition of SPHK1. Mechanistically, HST significantly blocked SPHK1/S1P/S1PR1 and BCR-ABL/PI3K/Akt pathways. In addition, HST can be docked with residues of SPHK1 and shifts the SPHK1 melting curve, indicating the potential protein-ligand interactions between SPHK1 and HST in both CML cells. SPHK1 overexpression impaired apoptosis and proliferation of CML cells induced by HST alone. These results suggest that HST, which may serve as a novel and specific SPHK1 inhibitor, exerts anti-leukemic activity by inhibiting the SPHK1/S1P/S1PR1 and BCR-ABL/PI3K/Akt pathways in CML cells, thus conferring HST as a promising anti-leukemic drug for CML therapy in the future.

• Proceedings of the Korean Geotechical Society Conference
• /
• 1999.10a
• /
• pp.233-240
• /
• 1999

The laboratory tests on geogrid-reinforced sand were conducted with considering embedment effect. The relative densities of sand are 60% and 80%, respectively. The embedment depths of foundation were varied as D$\_$f/B=0, 0.5, 1.0. Based on the model test results, (u/B)$\_$cr/, BCR$\_$u/, and (b/B)$\_$cr/, were determined. The optimum depth of reinforcement was determined. The embedment depth of foundation is greatly contributed on the bearing capacity of geogrid-reinforced sand.

• Proceedings of the Korea Society for Simulation Conference
• /
• 2003.06a
• /
• pp.135-140
• /
• 2003

반도체 제조 공정 중 FAB공정은 수많은 단위공정들로 이루어져 있고, 한 Lot에 대한 모든 공정을 진행하는 데에는 약 1개월 이상이 소요된다. 반도체 산업의 특성상 고객이 원하는 제품을 최단 시간 내에 생산을 해서 적기에 제품을 공급해야만 최대의 수익을 올릴 수가 있다. 그러므로 FAB공정의 공기단축은 반도체 생산에서 중요한 부분이 된다고 할 수 있다. 본 연구는 FAB공정 중 단위공정과 단위공정 사이에서 이루어지는 작업을 라인자동화를 통한 새로운 모델을 적용해서 단위공정에서 소요되는 시간을 단축함으로써, 반도체 제조의 생산성향상 및 공기단축을 목적으로 한다.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
• /
• v.49 no.4
• /
• pp.183-196
• /
• 2016

Objectives: There is no systematic review on economic evaluations of telemedicine in Japan, despite over 1000 trials implemented. Our systematic review aims to examine whether Japan's telemedicine is cost-saving or cost-effective, examine the methodological rigorousness of the economic evaluations, and discuss future studies needed to improve telemedicine's financial sustainability. Methods: We searched five databases, including two Japanese databases, to find peer-reviewed articles published between January 1, 2000 and December 31, 2014 in English and Japanese that performed economic evaluations of Japan's telemedicine programs. The methodological rigorousness of the economic analyses was assessed with a well-established checklist. We calculated the benefit-to-cost ratio (BCR) when a reviewed study reported related data but did not report the BCR. All cost values were adjusted to 2014 US dollars. Results: Among the 17 articles identified, six studies reported on settings connecting physicians for specialist consultations, and eleven studies on settings connecting healthcare providers and patients at home. There are three cost-benefit analyses and three cost-minimization analyses. The remaining studies measured the benefit of telemedicine only, using medical expenditure saved or users' willingness-to-pay. There was substantial diversity in the methodological rigorousness. Studies on teledermatology and teleradiology indicated a favorable level of economic efficiency. Studies on telehomecare gave mixed results. One cost-benefit analysis on telehomecare indicated a low economic efficiency, partly due to public subsidy rules, e.g., a too short budget period. Conclusions: Overall, telemedicine programs in Japan were indicated to have a favorable level of economic efficiency. However, the scarcity of the economic literature indicates the need for further rigorous economic evaluation studies.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Soil and Groundwater Environment Conference
• /
• 2002.04a
• /
• pp.262-262
• /
• 2002

2001년 12월과 2002년 1월에 걸쳐 조간대 환경에 위치하는 어느 해양사격장 중위에서 일정한 간격으로 표층(<5 cm) 해양퇴적물(총22개소)과 해양생물체(굴; 총10개소)를 샘플링하고, Pb, Cu, Cd, Zn를 위시한 중금속원소의 공간적 농도 분포와 생흡수도(bioavailability)를 분석 고찰하였다. 본 논문에서는 예비 연구 결과를 간단히 소개한다. 해양퇴적물에 대한 전함량 분석, 0.1N HCl에 의한 부분 분석 및 BCR법에 의한 연속추출 분석 결과는 다음과 같다. Pb, Cu, Cd, Zn을 위시한 중금속은 대체적으로 점오염원인 사격장으로 갈수록 전함량 및 부분함량이 높아지는 경향을 보여주었다. 사격장 주변에서 가장 중요한 오염물질로 알려져 있는 Pb는 오염원 주변에서만 높은 함량을 보여주어, 해양 환경 하에서 이동도( 및 생흡수도)가 비교적 낮은 것으로 나타났다. 반면, Cu, Cd, Zn의 경우에는 보다 넓은 영역에 걸쳐 퇴적물 내의 부화(enrichment)가 인지되어 연구지역의 갯벌 환경에 의미있는 정도로 영향을 미치고 있는 것으로 나타났다. 이 곳의 생물체(굴) 역시 Pb에 대해서는 낮은 흡수도(-값의 생농축계수)를 나타낸 반면, Cu, Cd, Zn에 대해서는 의미있는 생흡수도를 나타내었다. BCR 연속추출법에 의한 퇴적물 중금속의 존재형태 해석 결과를 보면, fraction 1(F1; exchangeable+acidic phase) 및 fraction 2(F2; reducible phase)의 기여도가 지배적이고, 또한 오염원으로 갈수록 그 기여도는 점차 증가됨을 나타내었다. 특이하게도 유기물과의 친화력이 높은 것으로 알려진 Cu 역시 F1과 F2에 대하여 높은 함량을 나타내어 오염원으로부터의 Cu의 확산을 지시하였다. 외국에 비하여, 그동안 국내에서는 사격장 주변의 자연환경변화에 관하여 연구된 결과가 거의 전무하였다. 본 연구 결과는, 이와 유사한 사격장 주변 환경에서의 중금속 분포와 거동 특성에 대하여 종합적인 모니터링(즉, 체계적인 환경지구화학적 조사ㆍ연구)이 시급함을 시사해 주고 있다.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
• /
• v.9 no.2
• /
• pp.69-75
• /
• 2005

TRPM7, a cation channel protein permeable to various metal ions such as $Mg^{2+}$, is ubiquitously expressed in variety of cells including lymphocytes. The activity of TRPM7 is tightly regulated by intracellular $Mg^{2+}$, thus named $Mg^{2+}$-inhibited cation (MIC) current, and its expression is known to be critical for the viability and proliferation of B lymphocytes. In this study, the level of MIC current was compared between immature (WEHI-231) and mature (Bal-17) B lymphocytes. In both cell types, an intracellular dialysis with $Mg^{2+}$-free solution (140 mM CsCl) induced an outwardly-rectifying MIC current. The peak amplitude of MIC current and the permeability to divalent cation ($Mn^{2+}$) were several fold higher in Bal-17 than WEHI-231. Also, the level of mRNAs for TRPM7, a molecular correspondence of the MIC channel, was significantly higher in Bal-17 cells. The amplitude of MIC was further increased, and the relation between current and voltage became linear under divalent cation-free conditions, demonstrating typical properties of the TRPM7. The stimulation of B cell receptors (BCR) by ligation with antibodies did not change the amplitude of MIC current. Also, increase of extracellular $[Mg^{2+}]_c$ to enhance the $Mg^{2+}$ influx did not affect the BCR ligation-induced death of WEHI-231 cells. Although the level of TRPM7 was not directly related with the cell death of immature B cells, the remarkable difference of TRPM7 might indicate a fundamental change in the permeability to divalent cations during the development of B cells.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
• /
• v.17 no.2
• /
• pp.677-684
• /
• 2016

Background: Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is a heterogeneous disease which requires a risk-stratified approach for appropriate treatment. Specific chromosomal translocations within leukemic blasts are important prognostic factors that allow identification of relevant subgroups. In this study, we developed a multiplex RT-PCR assay for detection of the 4 most frequent translocations in ALL (BCR-ABL, TEL-AML1, MLL-AF4, and E2A-PBX1). Materials and Methods: A total of 214 diagnosed ALL samples from both adult and pediatric ALL and 14 cases of CML patients (154 bone marrow and 74 peripheral blood samples) were assessed for specific chromosomal translocations by cytogenetic and multiplex RT-PCR assays. Results: The results showed that 46 cases of ALL and CML (20.2%) contained the fusion transcripts. Within the positive ALL patients, the most prevalent cryptic translocation observed was mBCR-ABL (p190) at 8.41%. In addition, other genetic rearrangements detected by the multiplex PCR were 4.21% TEL-AML1 and 2.34% E2A-PBX1, whereas MLL-AF4 exhibited negative results in all tested samples. Moreover, MBCR-ABL was detected in all 14 CML samples. In 16 samples of normal karyotype ALL (n=9), ALL with no cytogentic result (n=4) and CML with no Philadelphia chromosome (n=3), fusion transcripts were detected. Conclusions: Multiplex RT-PCR provides a rapid, simple and highly sensitive method to detect fusion transcripts for prognostic and risk stratification of ALL and CML patients.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
• /
• v.14 no.12
• /
• pp.7501-7508
• /
• 2013

Background: Chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) is a myeloproliferative disorder of hematopoietic stem cell scarrying the Philadelphia (Ph) chromosome and an oncogenic BCR-ABL1 fusion gene. The tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) of BCR-ABL1 kinase is a treatment of choice for control of CML. Objective: Recent studies have demonstrated that miRNAs within exosomes from cancer cells play crucial roles in initiation and progression. This study was performed to assess miRNAs within exosomes of K562 cells. Methods: miRNA microarray analysis of K562 cells and K562 cell-derived exosomes was conducted with the 6th generation miRCURYTM LNA Array (v.16.0). Gene ontology and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) analyses were also carried out. GO terms and signaling pathways were categorized into 66 classes (including homophilic cell adhesion, negative regulation of apoptotic process, cell adhesion) and 26 signaling pathways (such as Wnt). Results: In exosomes, 49 miRNAs were up regulated as compared to K562 cells, and two of them were further confirmed by quantitative real-time PCR. There are differentially expressed miRNAs between K562 cell derived-exosomes and K562 cells. Conclusion: Selectively expressed miRNAs in exosomes may promote the development of CML via effects on interactions (e.g. adhesion) of CML cells with their microenvironment.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
• /
• v.14 no.3
• /
• pp.1629-1633
• /
• 2013

Background: Gene set analysis (GSA) incorporates biological with statistical knowledge to identify gene sets which are differentially expressed that between two or more phenotypes. Materials and Methods: In this paper gene sets differentially expressed between acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL) with BCR-ABL and those with no observed cytogenetic abnormalities were determined by GSA methods. The BCR-ABL is an abnormal gene found in some people with ALL. Results: The results of two GSAs showed that the Category test identified 30 gene sets differentially expressed between two phenotypes, while the Hotelling's $T^2$ could discover just 19 gene sets. On the other hand, assessment of common genes among significant gene sets showed that there were high agreement between the results of GSA and the findings of biologists. In addition, the performance of these methods was compared by simulated and ALL data. Conclusions: The results on simulated data indicated decrease in the type I error rate and increase the power in multivariate (Hotelling's $T^2$) test as increasing the correlation between gene pairs in contrast to the univariate (Category) test.