• Journal of Environmental Policy
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• v.9 no.4
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• pp.103-123
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• 2010

Many former industrial cities such as Cleveland, Ohio are trying to transform their identities from blue-collar manufacturing centers to white-collar professional hubs. As a result, the re-use of land previously occupied by industrial firms has been on the rise as an important sustainable land-use strategy in the United States. Ohio's Cuyahoga County offers a Brownfield Redevelopment Fund to overcome the environmental barriers inherent in re-use in order to obtain full use of underutilized properties in the county. This study estimates externality effects of brownfield redevelopment projects (BRPs) on nearby housing sales prices in Cuyahoga County. Typical hedonic regression models that employ "difference-in-difference" techniques are used to compare proximal housing sale prices before and after the completion of BRPs.

• Journal of The Korean Astronomical Society
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• v.48 no.1
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• pp.21-55
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• 2015

If the Universe is dominated by cold dark matter and dark energy as in the currently popular ${\Lambda}CDM$ cosmology, it is expected that large scale structures form gradually, with galaxy clusters of mass $M{\geq}10^{14}M_{\odot}$ appearing at around 6 Gyrs after the Big Bang (z ~ 1). Here, we report the discovery of 59 massive structures of galaxies with masses greater than a few times $10^{13}M_{\odot}$ at redshifts between z = 0.6 and 4.5 in the Great Observatories Origins Deep Survey fields. The massive structures are identified by running top-hat filters on the two dimensional spatial distribution of magnitude-limited samples of galaxies using a combination of spectroscopic and photometric redshifts. We analyze the Millennium simulation data in a similar way to the analysis of the observational data in order to test the ${\Lambda}CDM$ cosmology. We find that there are too many massive structures (M > $7{\times}10^{13}M_{\odot}$) observed at z > 2 in comparison with the simulation predictions by a factor of a few, giving a probability of < 1/2500 of the observed data being consistent with the simulation. Our result suggests that massive structures have emerged early, but the reason for the discrepancy with the simulation is unclear. It could be due to the limitation of the simulation such as the lack of key, unrecognized ingredients (strong non-Gaussianity or other baryonic physics), or simply a difficulty in the halo mass estimation from observation, or a fundamental problem of the ${\Lambda}CDM$ cosmology. On the other hand, the over-abundance of massive structures at high redshifts does not favor heavy neutrino mass of ~ 0.3 eV or larger, as heavy neutrinos make the discrepancy between the observation and the simulation more pronounced by a factor of 3 or more.

• Investigative Magnetic Resonance Imaging
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.153-161
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• 2015

Purpose: To identify the differential MRI findings between myxoid tumors and benign peripheral nerve sheath tumors (BPNSTs) in the musculoskeletal system. Materials and Methods: The study participants included a total of 35 consecutive patients who underwent MRI between September 2011 and December 2013. The patients were pathologically diagnosed with myxoid tumors (22 patients) or BPNSTs (13 patients). Evaluation was done by two radiologists, based on the following characteristics: size, margin, degree of signal intensity (SI) on T2-weighted images (T2WI), homogeneity of SI on T2WI, enhancement pattern, enhancement homogeneity, presence of cystic portion, internal fat component, presence of fat split sign, presence of target sign, presence of continuation with adjacent neurovascular bundle, and presence of surrounding halo. Results: Large size, high SI on T2WI, heterogeneous enhancement, and internal fat component were commonly observed in myxoid tumors, while homogenous enhancement, fat split sign, target sign were common in BPNSTs. The differences were statistically significant (P < 0.05). Other findings, such as margin, homogeneity of SI on T2WI, enhancement pattern (peripheral or solid), internal cystic portion, continuation with neurovascular bundle, and surrounding halo, did not show significant difference between myxoid tumors and BPNSTs (P > 0.05). Conclusion: In the differential diagnosis of myxoid tumors and BPNSTs involving the musculoskeletal system, several MRI findings such as degree of SI on T2WI, enhancement homogeneity, internal fat component, fat split sign, and target sign, may be helpful in establishing the diagnosis.

• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.111-116
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• 2014

Human neutrophils play an essential role in the innate immune response and are involved in the pathogenesis of the severe and corticosteroid-resistant asthma. Asthma is characterized by an infiltration of inflammatory cells into the lung and by a cytokine release. The aim of this study is to investigate the effects of a bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) on the chemotaxis and apoptosis of neutrophils which were isolated from healthy subjects. The BALF of subjects with asthma induces the blood neutrophil chemotaxis in the opposite of that in normal subjects. The IL-8, IL-6, and monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) levels in BALF were higher in subjects with asthma than in normal subjects. The BALF of normal and asthmatic subjects has no effect on neutrophil apoptosis of BALF. MCP-1 delays the constitutive apoptosis of normal blood neutrophils, but has no effect in normal BALF neutrophils. These results may indicate that inflammatory factors secreted by the lung tissue of patients with asthma trigger the neutrophil chemotaxis and also induce the neutrophil dysregulation.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.37 no.12
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• pp.888-898
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• 2014

Pancreatic cancer is one of the most fatal cancers and is associated with limited diagnostic and therapeutic modalities. Currently, gemcitabine is the only effective drug and represents the preferred first-line treatment for chemotherapy. However, a high level of intrinsic or acquired resistance of pancreatic cancer to gemcitabine can contribute to the failure of gemcitabine treatment. To investigate the underlying molecular mechanisms for gemcitabine resistance in pancreatic cancer, we performed label-free quantification of protein expression in intrinsic gemcitabine-resistant and -sensitive human pancreatic adenocarcinoma cell lines using our improved proteomic strategy, combined with filter-aided sample preparation, single-shot liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry, enhanced spectral counting, and a statistical method based on a power law global error model. We identified 1931 proteins and quantified 787 differentially expressed proteins in the BxPC3, PANC-1, and HPDE cell lines. Bioinformatics analysis identified 15 epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT) markers and 13 EMT-related proteins that were closely associated with drug resistance were differentially expressed. Interestingly, 8 of these proteins were involved in glutathione and cysteine/methionine metabolism. These results suggest that proteins related to the EMT and glutathione metabolism play important roles in the development of intrinsic gemcitabine resistance by pancreatic cancer cell lines.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.51 no.5
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• pp.227-233
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• 2018

Objectives: Chronic diseases, including back pain, result in significant patient morbidity and societal burden. Overall improvement in physical fitness is recommended for prevention and treatment. Walking is a convenient modality for achieving initial gains. Our objective was to determine whether neighbourhood walkability, acting as a surrogate measure of physical fitness, was associated with the presence of chronic disease. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study of prospectively collected data from a prior randomized cohort study of 227 patients referred for tertiary assessment of chronic back pain in Ottawa, ON, Canada. The Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI) was calculated from patient-completed questionnaires and medical record review. Using patients' postal codes, neighbourhood walkability was determined using the Walk Score, which awards points based on the distance to the closest amenities, yielding a score from 0 to 100 (0-50: car-dependent; 50-100: walkable). Results: Based on the Walk Score, 134 patients lived in car-dependent neighborhoods and 93 lived in walkable neighborhoods. A multivariate logistic regression model, adjusted for age, gender, rural postal code, body mass index, smoking, median household income, percent employment, pain, and disability, demonstrated an adjusted odds ratio of 2.75 (95% confidence interval, 1.16 to 6.53) times higher prevalence for having a chronic disease for patients living in a car-dependent neighborhood. There was also a significant dose-related association (p=0.01; Mantel-Haenszel chi-square=6.4) between living in car-dependent neighbourhoods and more severe CCI scores. Conclusions: Our findings suggest that advocating for improved neighbourhood planning to permit greater walkability may help offset the burden of chronic disease.

• Journal of Gifted/Talented Education
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.529-546
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• 2015

The purpose of the present study was to verify the structural relationship among task commitment, self regulation learning ability, parent support, satisfaction and achievement in gifted education. In this study, factors affecting the performance of gifted education are based on Differentiated Model of Gifted and Talent($Gagn{\acute{e}}$, 2004). Participants attended a 182 student in institutes for the gifted education in the city office of education in Korea. A hypothetical model was proposed, which was composed of task commitment, self regulation learning ability and parent support as exogenous variables; and satisfaction and achievement as endogenous variables. The results of this study are as follows: First, task commitment, self regulation learning ability and parent support had significant effects on gifted education's satisfaction. Second, task commitment and parent support had significant effects on gifted education's achievement.

• Korean journal of applied entomology
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• v.53 no.4
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• pp.457-460
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• 2014

Toxicity of several insecticides was tested against the brown marmorated stink bug, Halyomorpha halys (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae), and adult Gymnosoma rotundatum (Diptera: Tachinidae) in a sweet persimmon orchard. H. halys was captured using black light traps and G. rotundatum adults were collected using sticky traps lured with an aggregation pheromone, methyl-(E,E,Z)-2,4,6-decatrienoate of Plautia stali. Five insecticides, namely, bifenthrin 2 WP, buprofenzine+dinotefuran (20+15) WP, clothianidin 8 SC, dinotefuran 10 WP, and thiamethoxam 10 WP, were moderately toxic to G. rotundatum, resulting in 55.3% to 74.3% mortality. Bifenthrin 2 WP caused 93.1% mortality at 72 h within cages as a residual toxicity, and others caused varied mortalities.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.63 no.6
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• pp.747-756
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• 2020

Objective : To evaluate the effectiveness and long-term outcome predictors of percutaneous sacroplasty (PSP). Methods : This single-center study assessed 40 patients with sacral insufficiency fractures using the short-axis technique under C-arm flat-panel detector computed tomography (CT). Two radiologists reviewed the patients' magnetic resonance and CT images to obtain imaging findings before PSP and determine technical success, respectively. The short-term outcomes were visual analog scale score changes and opioid usage reductions. Long-term outcomes were determined using telephone interviews and the North American Spine Society (NASS) patient-satisfaction index at least one year after PSP. Results : Technical success was achieved without any significant complications in 39 patients (97.5%). Telephone interviews were possible with 12 patients and failed in 10 patients; death was confirmed in 18 patients. Fifteen patients (50%) re-visited the hospital and received conservative treatment, including spinal injections. Nine patients reported positive satisfaction (NASS patient-satisfaction index 1 or 2), while the negative satisfaction group (NASS patient-satisfaction index 3 or 4, n=3) showed a higher incidence of compression fractures at the thoracolumbar spine level (66.7% vs. 22.2%) and previous spinal injection history (66.7% vs. 33.3%). The poor response group also showed higher incidences of facet joint arthrosis (100% vs. 55.6%), central canal stenosis (100% vs. 22.2%), neural foraminal stenosis (33.3% vs. 22.2%), scoliosis (100% vs. 33.3%), and sagittal malalignment (100% vs. 44.4%). Conclusion : PSP was effective for sacral insufficiency fractures and showed good long-term outcomes. Combined compression fractures in the thoracolumbar spine and degenerative lumbar pathologies could be possible poor outcome predictors.

• International Journal of Oral Biology
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• v.39 no.4
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• pp.201-206
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• 2014

This study investigated the antimicrobial activity of methanol extract of mulberry leaf against 16 strains of mutans streptococci and four species of periodontopathogens: Porphyromonas gingivalis, Prevotella intermedia, Fusobacterium nucleatum, and Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans. The antimicrobial activities of the crude extracts or silica gel chromatography fractions of methanol-extracted mulberry leaf were evaluated by determining minimal inhibitory concentrations using an established microdilution method. The cytotoxicity of the extracts of mulberry leaf on KB cells was tested by the methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium assay. Chromatography fraction 12 displayed the most potent antimicrobial activity against all 16 strains of mutans streptococci, P. gingivalis, and P. intermedia. No KB cell cytotoxicity was evident up to $128{\mu}g/ml$ of fraction 12. The methanol extract had no antimicrobial activity against F. nucleatum and A. actinomycetemcomitans. These results suggest chromatography fraction 12 methanol extract of mulberry leaf could be useful in the development of oral hygiene products, such as dentifrice and oral hygiene solution, for the prevention of dental caries.