• Journal of Korean Society on Water Environment
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.111-121
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• 2007

The experimental design and response surface methodologies haven been applied to the investigation of the chemical coagulation of livestock wastewater. The chemical coagulation reactions were mathematically described as a function of parameters raping mixing (rpm) of chemical coagulation ($X_1$), slow mixing (rpm) of chemical coagulation ($X_2$), $FeCl_3 $ concentration (mg/L) ($X_3$) and pH ($X_4$) being modeled by use of the central composite design. Empirical models were developed to describe relationship between the experimental variables and response. Statistical analysis indicates that three factors ($X_1$: raping mixing (rpm), $X_2$: slow mixing (rpm), $X_3$: $FeCl_3 $ concentration (mg/L) on the linear term (main effect), slow mixing (rpm) (${X_2}^2$) on the non-linear term (quadratic), and two factors ($X_1-X_3$, $X_2-X_3$) on the non-linear term (cross-product) had significant effects, respectively. The estimated ridge of maximum responses and optimal conditions for CODcr using canonical analysis was 87.44% ($X_1$: 229 rpm, $X_2$: 51 rpm, $X_3$: 877 mg/L, $X_4$: 4.3). To confirm this optimum condition, three additional experiments were performed and the mean CODcr removal (%) and concentration (mg/L) with a standard deviation of $87{\pm}1.2%$ ($576{\pm}34ppm$) were obtained.

• BMB Reports
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• v.55 no.6
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• pp.281-286
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• 2022

Hepatocellular carcinoma is a major health burden, and though various treatments through much research are available, difficulties in early diagnosis and drug resistance to chemotherapy-based treatments render several ineffective. Cancer stem cell model has been used to explain formation of heterogeneous cell population within tumor mass, which is one of the underlying causes of high recurrence rate and acquired chemoresistance, highlighting the importance of CSC identification and understanding the molecular mechanisms of CSC drivers. Extracellular CSC-markers such as CD133, CD90 and EpCAM have been used successfully in CSC isolation, but studies have indicated that increasingly complex combinations are required for accurate identification. Pseudogene-derived long non-coding RNAs are useful candidates as intracellular CSC markers - factors that regulate pluripotency and self-renewal - given their cancer-specific expression and versatile regulation across several levels. Here, we present the use of microarray data to identify stemness-associated factors in liver cancer, and selection of sole pseudogene-derived lncRNA ZNF204P for experimental validation. ZNF204P knockdown impairs cell proliferation and migration/invasion. As the cytosolic ZNF204P shares miRNA binding sites with OCT4 and SOX2, well-known drivers of pluripotency and self-renewal, we propose that ZNF204P promotes tumorigenesis through the miRNA-145-5p/OCT4, SOX2 axis.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.17 no.12
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• pp.5095-5099
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• 2016

The relative lack of information on breast cancer etiology in Burkina Faso led us to undertake the present work to highlight risk factors. This prospective study was conducted using a questionnaire between January 2015 and February 2016 on women admitted to Yalgado OUEDRAOGO hospital, for consultation or supervision. The characteristics of multiparous breast cancer patients (n = 44) were compared with their non-multiparous counterparts (n = 36). The study found that increased risk of breast cancer among non-multiparous cases was related to body mass index (BMI) (p <0.001), age at menopause (p <0.004) and use of oral contraception (p <0.021) while abortion (p <0.002) was a risk factor among multiparous cases. These results suggest that even if multiparity is associated with a decreased risk in some women, avoidance of abortion during reproductive life should be recommended. The results provide preliminary information, which now need to be supplemented by survey of a larger sample in the national territory.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Navigation
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.115-138
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• 1986

The purpose of this study was to explore the nature of the relationship between several factors representing the mental health enumerated in the psychology literature and the dadaptability to group life which all of th KMU students encounter. An empirical study was carried out to examine not only the differences in mental health of 4 kinds of students groups but also the impact of interaction which mental health affects to the adaptability to group life among grades. The several factors of the mental health can be utilized in suggesting the theoretical bases for the countermeasures of the effective group life along with the motivation of KMU students. The data investigating the impact of interaction between mental health and the adaptability to group life were collected from 537 KMU students selected from 4 different kinds of population-(1) Freshman group (2) Sophomore group (3) Junior group (4) Senior group-by the use of questionnaire method and interview. The 2-way analysis of variance (MANOVA) were used to analyze the data. The results of this study were found as follows; (1) There are significant difference in the cognition of gloom, personal sensitiveness, anagonism, anxiety and total score among 4 grade groups, (2) The freshmen group and the sophomore group have perceived gloom, personal sensitiveness, antagonism, and total score more acutely than the junior group and senior group have. (3) There are significant differences in perceiving an obession and personal sensitiveness according to the adaptation types to the group life; adaopted type, non-adapted type. The non-adapted group has recognized an obsession and personal sensitiveness more seriously than the adapted group has. (4) The interaction between grades and the adaptation status doesn't have an direct influence on the mental health.

• Journal of Sleep Medicine
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.55-61
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• 2018

Objectives: Despite the accumulating evidence of the effectiveness of positive airway pressure (PAP) therapy in obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) syndrome, adherence to PAP therapy is not high. Several factors reportedly affect PAP adherence; however, it remains unclear whether patients' symptoms were detrimental to adherence rate. This study is aimed at investigating the relationship between insomnia symptoms and adherence. Methods: Retrospective analyses were performed in 359 patients with OSA (mean age $58.4{\pm}13.2$ years; females, n=80). Logistic regression analyses were performed between PAP adherence with clinical factors and questionnaires, such as Epworth Sleepiness Scale, Insomnia Severity Index, and Beck Depression Inventory (BDI). Results: PAP adherence was defined as the use of PAP for ${\geq}4h$ per night on 70% of nights during 30 consecutive days. The median follow-up time was 55 days (interquartile range, 30-119 days), and 54.3% showed poor adherence. Non-adherent patients showed more severe sleep onset insomnia, higher BDI, and higher nadir oxygen saturation ($SaO_2$). Patients with good adherence had higher apnea-hypopnea index, oxygen desaturation index, and respiratory arousal to total arousal ratio. Sleep onset insomnia [odds ratio (OR)=1.792, p=0.012], BDI (OR = 1.055, p=0.026), and nadir $SaO_2$ (OR=1.043, p=0.040) were independently associated with PAP non-adherence. Conclusions: Not the severity of insomnia but sleep onset insomnia was associated with PAP adherence, as well as depressive mood. It suggests that different interventions for reducing insomnia and depressive mood are needed to increase PAP adherence in patients with OSA.

• The Journal of Asian Finance, Economics and Business
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• v.8 no.4
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• pp.201-212
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• 2021

This study aims to investigate variables affecting the business performance of Muslim women entrepreneurs in Sri Lanka. A multidimensional analysis was proposed with five potentially defined antecedents of business performance which included psychological characteristics, human capital, social capital, industrial factor, and cultural factor. Data was collected from 286 respondents through the use of a self-administered questionnaire. The results of structural equation modeling indicate that the model meets the goodness-of-fit indices and that generally, all five factors have significant positive relationships with business performance. Amongst the dimensions of psychological characteristics, only risk-taking had a notable effect on business performance. Amongst the dimensions of human capital, two of the three dimensions (business experience and business skills) were significantly associated with business performance; in the case of social capital, one of the two dimensions (non-familial affiliations) was significantly associated with business performance; and in the case of industrial factor, resource accessibility was significantly associated with business performance. A strong positive correlation with business performance has also been demonstrated by the cultural factor which was a new concept to the paradigm as a whole. This study has broadened the understanding of existing literature on Muslim women entrepreneurship and contributed practical implications to government, policymakers and other related agencies, chambers of commerce, the general public, as well as the Muslim women entrepreneurs themselves.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.67 no.5
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• pp.439-455
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• 2018

Within a probabilistic framework, this paper addresses the determination of the static structural response of beams and frames with partially restrained (semi-rigid) connections. The flexibility of the nodal connections is incorporated via an idealized linear-elastic behavior of the beam constraints through the use of rotational springs, which are here considered uncertain for taking into account the largely scattered results observed in experimental findings. The analysis is conducted via the Probabilistic Transformation Method, by modelling the spring stiffness terms (or equivalently, the fixity factors of the beam) as uniformly distributed random variables. The limit values of the Eurocode 3 fixity factors for steel semi-rigid connections are assumed. The exact probability density function of a few indicators of the structural response is derived and discussed in order to identify to what extent the uncertainty of the beam constraints affects the resulting beam response. Some design considerations arise which point out the paramount importance of probability-based approaches whenever a comprehensive experimental background regarding the stiffness of the beam connection is lacking, for example in steel frames with semi-rigid connections or in precast reinforced concrete framed structures. Indeed, it is demonstrated that resorting to deterministic approaches may lead to misleading (and in some cases non-conservative) outcomes from a design viewpoint.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.1-13
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• 2012

Metabolic syndrome has become quite prevalent within our society. Over the past two decades, the prevalence of metabolic syndrome has sharply increased worldwide and it has become a major public health problem in several countries. It is associated with the global epidemic of obesity and diabetes mellitus and imposes numerous cardiovascular risks. Prostate cancer is the second most common cancer among men, surpassed only by non-melanoma skin cancer. A considerable body of evidence exists suggesting that some components of the metabolic syndrome have been associated with the risk of prostate cancer. These components include obesity, an abdominal fat distribution, and hyperinsulinemia. Androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) is the most widely used therapeutic modality in prostate cancer. It changed the body composition and lipid profile of men with prostate cancer. Androgen deficiency is associated with increased levels of total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein (LDL)-cholesterol, increased production of proinflammatory factors, and increased thickness of the arterial wall and contributes to endothelial dysfunction. The aim of this review is to evaluate the association between metabolic syndrome and prostate cancer and to discuss the implications of androgen deficiency in men with cardiovascular risk factors. A comprehensive literature search was carried out with the use of PubMed from 1980 through 2011, and relevant articles pertinent to metabolic syndrome and prostate cancer are evaluated and discussed.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.313-324
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• 1993

Sister chromatid exchange(SCE) has recently become a common cytogenic assay system for detecting exposure to chemical mutagens and carcinogens. One application of SCE is the monitoring of populations believed to be exposed to such agents. A cross-sectional study of SCE frequency in peripheral blood lymphocytes from 40 college students aged 18 to 26 years was conducted. The effects of cigarette smoking alcohol and coffee consumption, dietary and environmental factors on SCE were assessed. A mean spontaneous SCE per cell for the smokers(4.88$\pm$0.17). The SCE levels of the smokers were associated with the personal smoking amount ; the observed increase in the SCE frequency correlated with the number of cigarettes smoked per day (P<0.05). There was no effect of age on SCE. There were positive linear relationship between SCE and food frequency score of meat and fish group (P<0.05) or instant food group(P<0.01) in non-smokers. But in smokers, a significant inverse association between SCE and food frequency score of green and yellow vegetable group(P<0.05). Alcohol intake produced a significant increase(P<0.01) of SCE in comparison with the mean SCE for those not drinking alcohol in combine subjects. Other dietary parameters, including coffee intake, use of artificial sweetners and processed foods, did not show any increase in SCE. SCEs were inversely related to blood glucose and serum cholesterol levels of the combine subjects. No significant correlations were found between SCE frequencise and any other hematological parameters of the subjects.

• Proceedings of the Korea Concrete Institute Conference
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• 2004.11a
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• pp.751-754
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• 2004

There are many factors that affect on the flowing properties of high flowing concrete(HFC), which are fluidity, compactibility, non-segregation ability and fillingability. And because the aggregate which is one of the factors occupies high volume in concrete, it has a much effect on the properties of high flowing concrete according to its size, quality and quantity etc. This is an experimental study to analyze the effect of admixture and volume of coarse aggregate in concrete on the flowing properties of high flowing concrete. For this purpose, the kinds of admixture are fly-ash and blast furnace slag. Also volume of coarse aggregate in concrete are 280, 290, 300, 310, 320 $(\ell/m^3)$. The test of flowablity properties is slump-flow, Air content, V-lot, L-Flow. According to test results, it was found that the compactibility of HFC is more superior to use blast furnace slag than other, and according .to kind of admixture, most compatible volume of coarse are different. Also when used blast furnace slag, the volume of coarse are increased than used fly-ash.