• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.13 no.11
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• pp.5665-5669
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• 2012

Background: The vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) mediates vasculogenesis and angiogenesis through promoting endothelial cell growth, migration and mitosis, and has involvement in cancer pathogenesis, progression and metastasis. However, the prognostic value of VEGF in patients with prostate cancer remains controversial. Objectives: The aim of our study was to evaluate the prognostic value of VEGF in prostate cancer, and summarise the results of related research on VEGF. Methods: In accordance with an established search strategy, 11 studies with 1,529 patients were included in our meta-analysis. The correlation of VEGF-expression with overall survival and progression-free survival was evaluated by hazard ratio, either given or calculated. Results: The studies were categorized by introduction of the author, demographic data in each study, prostate cancer-relatived information, VEGF cut-off value, VEGF subtype, methods of hazard ratio (HR) estimation and its 95% confidence interval (CI). High VEGF-expression in prostate cancer is a poor prognostic factor with statistical significance for OS (HR=2.32, 95%CI: 1.40-3.24). However, high VEGF-expression showed no effect on poor PFS (HR=1.30, 95%CI: 0.88-1.72). Using Begg's, Egger's test and funnel plots, we confirmed lack of publication bias in our analysis. Conclusion: VEGF might be regarded as a prognostic maker for prostate cancer, as supported by our meta-analysis. To achieve a more definitive conclusion enabling the clinical use of VEGF in prostate cancer, we need more high-quality interventional original studies following agreed research approaches or standards.

• Clinical and Experimental Vaccine Research
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• v.12 no.4
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• pp.337-345
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• 2023

Purpose: The global fight against the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) pandemic has led to widespread vaccination efforts, yet the optimal dosing schedule for SARS-CoV-2 vaccines remains a subject of ongoing research. This study aims to investigate the effectiveness of administering two booster doses as the third and fourth doses at different intervals to enhance vaccine protection. Materials and Methods: This study was conducted at a military regional hospital operated by the Ministry of National Defense in Taiwan. A cohort of vaccinated individuals was selected, and their vaccine potency was assessed at various time intervals following their initial vaccine administration. The study participants received booster doses as the third and fourth doses, with differing time intervals between them. The study monitored neutralizing antibody titers and other relevant parameters to assess vaccine efficacy. Results: Our findings revealed that the potency of the SARS-CoV-2 vaccine exhibited a significant decline 80 days after the initial vaccine administration. However, a longer interval of 175 days between booster injections resulted in significantly higher neutralizing antibody titers. The individuals who received the extended interval boosters exhibited a more robust immune response, suggesting that a vaccine schedule with a 175-day interval between injections may provide superior protection against SARS-CoV-2. Conclusion: This study underscores the importance of optimizing vaccine booster dosing schedules to maximize protection against SARS-CoV-2. The results indicate that a longer interval of 175 days between the third and fourth doses of the vaccine can significantly enhance the neutralizing antibody response, potentially offering improved protection against the virus. These findings have important implications for vaccine distribution and administration strategies in the ongoing battle against the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic. Further research and largescale trials are needed to confirm and extend these findings for broader public health implications.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Clothing and Textiles
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• v.2 no.1
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• pp.177-183
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• 1978

Byul-Gam is a low-ranking official who takes charge of sundry services in Yi-Dynasty court, and escorts his king when he make a honored going. Uniforms of Byul-Gam are noted for their gaiety. This study aims at inquiring into uniforms of Byul-Gam through historical records. The resultant findings are as follows: 1) Uniforms of Byul-Gam are divided into full dress and ordinary clothes. 2) The full dress has two kinds of style. One is Dan-Ryung, a kind of robe, clad together with Gun as a headdress. This robe is blue, Gun for king's Byul-Gam violet, and Gun for the Crown Prince's Byul-Gam blue. The other is a combination of yellow Cho-Rip and red Chup-Ri. This is a military uniform. 3) Ordinary dresses for Byul-Gam are orange Cho-Rip and red Jik-Ryung. Underwear in this case is Hyup-Joo-Um and Chup-Ri. Hyup-Joo-Um is a kind of robe. Inside it Korean style of jacket and slacks are usually clad. 4) As time passed, the uniform of Byul-Gam had been changed from Cheong-Dan-Ryung to Hong-Dan-Ryung, and Jik-Ryung had been shifted to a full dress. 5) Only five remains of Jik-Ryung for Byul-Gam have been handed down to us. The analysis of those indicate that they gradually became similar to Duru-Magi, a kind of Korean robe. This fact is common in the other transfiguring process of dresses of robe kind.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.50 no.4
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• pp.471-486
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• 2014

The number of explosive attacks on civilian structures has recently increased. Protection of structure subjected to blast load remains quite sophisticated to predict. The use of the pyramid cover system (PCS) to strengthen sandwich structures against a blast terror has great interests from engineering experts in structural retrofitting. The sandwich steel structure performance under the impact of blast wave effect is highlighted. A 3-D numerical model is proposed to study the PCS layer to strengthen sandwich steel structures using finite element analysis (FEA). Hexagonal core sandwich (XCS) steel panels are used to study structural retrofitting using the PCS layer. Field blast test is conducted. The study presents a comparison between the results obtained by both the field blast test and the FEA to validate the accuracy of the 3-D finite element model. The effects are expressed in terms of displacement-time history of the sandwich steel panels and pressure-time history effect on the sandwich steel panels as the explosive wave propagates. The results obtained by the field blast test have a good agreement with those obtained by the numerical model. The PCS layer improves the sandwich steel panel performance under impact of detonating different TNT explosive charges.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.67 no.1
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• pp.122-129
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• 2024

Paragangliomas are rare neuroendocrine tumors that are usually benign in nature. They may be either familial or sporadic in their occurrence. Numerous neuroendocrine tumors are collectively included under the umbrella of paragangliomas. Among them, carotid body tumors and glomus jugulare tumors are extremely rare. Thus, we present a rare case of 29-year-old male who was admitted with hearing difficulties and tinnitus in the left ear, with swelling on the left side of the neck. Based on clinical and radiological findings, a diagnosis of left-sided glomus jugulare with carotid body tumor was made. The patient underwent a two-stage surgery with an interval of approximately 2 months. Histopathology revealed a paraganglioma. Herein, we present the clinical features, imaging findings, management, and a brief review of literature on the classification, evaluation, and management of carotid body and glomus jugulare tumors. Paraganglioma is a slow-growing tumor. The synchronous occurrence of carotid body and glomus jugulare tumors is infrequent. Microsurgical resection remains the primary treatment modality. Therefore, our patient underwent two-stage surgery. The rarity of occurrence and the proximity and adherence to vital neurovascular structures have resulted in the treatment of paragangliomas remaining a challenge.

• Clinical and Experimental Vaccine Research
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.226-229
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• 2022

A 38-year-old female patient, with healthy history, was vaccinated with ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 (Astra Zeneca Cambridge, UK). Five days after the second injection, the patient presented headache, vertigo, then fatigue, nervousness, palpitations, shortness of breath, small amplitude tremors, and sweating episodes. Laboratory investigation revealed a suppressed thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), with elevated free thyroxine. However, the TSH receptor antibody and anti-thyroid peroxidase antibody were normal and thyroid-stimulating immunoglobulin negative. The patient was maintained on Metoprolol, and no specific treatment was added. After 3 months of following, the patient now feels comfortable. Our literature review found that 21 cases of subacute thyroiditis (SAT) following coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccines were reported. Most patients were young women who presented neck pain and systemic symptoms, with or without fever. These symptoms can appear as early (3 to 5 days), or later (1 month) after vaccination, regardless of vaccine type and mechanism of action. Laboratory tests showed decreased levels of TSH and elevated thyroid hormone. The mechanism of this event remains unknown. Further study is recommended to investigate the possible predisposing factors to developing SAT after receiving the COVID-19 vaccine.

• Journal of the Korean BIBLIA Society for library and Information Science
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• v.2 no.1
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• pp.211-235
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• 1974

A. The principal geographical descriptions compiled by the government during Yi dynasty started from the Shinchan-Paldo-Chiriji(新撰八道地理志) which was compiled by the royal decree in the sixth year (1424) of King Sejong(世宗) and it ended in the Jungbo-Munhonbiko(增補文獻備考) which was published in the second year(1908) of Yunghyi(隆熙). The process of their compilations can be divided into four steps according to the compilatory work's contents of the principal geographical descriptions which were compiled through the Yi dynasty. We can say that the first step (1424-1454) of those works began at the date of the compilation of the Shinchan-Paldochiriji and it ended in the date of the compilation of the "Sejongsilok-Chiriji"(世宗實錄地理志), and during that period the Kyonsangdo-Chiriji(慶尙道地理志) was published. In the second step(1455-1531), were published the Paldochiriji,(八道地理志), Kyongsangdosokchanchiriji(慶尙道續撰地理志), DonggukYojisungnam(東國與地勝覽) and the third step (1532-1769) began at the date of the compilation of the Dongguk-Munhonbiko(東國文獻備考) and it ended in the date of the publication of the Jungbo-Munhonbiko(東國文獻備考), and in that period the Jongjung-Munhonbiko(訂增文獻備考) was published. The works of compilation of the Eubjis in the period of King Kojong(高宗) came within the category of the fourth step. B. Generally speaking, the state geographical descriptions were composed of the regional data of the country which were collected and arranged. In other words, firstly, the Eubjis were compiled in each county, secondly, the Dojis(道誌) were compiled based upon the collections of all the Kunjis(郡誌), lastly, the government collected all the Dojis and compiled them into the state geographical descriptions. The Eubjis in the early days of Yi dynasty were compiled as the data for the compilation of the nation-wide geographical descriptions, but the Eubjis in the age of King Kojong were compiled as the administrative data. C. The main contents of the Eubjis were composed of the descriptions on the geography, history, industry, naval and military affairs, traffics, communication, administration, economy and society, and of the matters on the prose and poetry, persons of loyalty, historic remains, social customs and schools. Consequently, the above-mentioned data will be contributed to the study on the structures of the geography, history, economy, administration, education, naval and military affairs and traffics as well as the study on the literature, social customs and bibliography. Especially, they will be important data for the arrangement of cultural assets of our country. Furthermore, because the traditional study of national literature was centered around the study on the central government ignoring the study on the regional matters, the study of the Eubjis will be worthy of being valued.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Marine Environment & Safety
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• v.20 no.5
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• pp.571-578
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• 2014

The boundaries of ROK maritime jurisdictional area remains unclear as two Koreas failed to draw clear maritime boundaries at the armistice agreement and there are no clear maritime boundaries with China and Japan. After the Korean War, the United Nations Command established the northern limit line(NLL) as well as the area of operations(AO) to enforce the DPRK's compliance with the armistice agreement and has been controlling all of the maritime and air activities in the region. ROK also has been controlling the passage of DPRK vessels in the area. Within the AO, third nation vessels have freedom of navigation, Yet, due to the division followed by the Korean War, ROK classifies DPRK as a hostile state and unique controling system is applied to DPRK vessels. Since the establishment of the AO, many changes have been occurring such as adoption of the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea(UNCLOS) and two Koreas' joining the UN. Also, there are continuous inter-Korean conflicts. Therefore, the geographical span of the AO needs to be reconsidered. Furthermore, a legal measure which ensures ROKN vessel's functional capability of controling DPRK vessels must be introduced. This thesis examines post-Korean War DPRK vessel control system in the Korean peninsula as well as how it should be improved.

• SUVANNABHUMI
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.117-148
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• 2022

The full impact of COVID-19 has yet to be felt: while it may not define the new decade, it is clear that its immediate significance was to test many of the basic operating assumptions and procedures of global civilization. Even as vaccines are developed and utilized and even as it is possible to see the beginning of the end of COVID-19 as a discrete historical event, it remains unclear as to its ultimate importance. That said, it is evident that the academic exploration of Southeast Asia will also be affected by both the global and regional experiences of the pandemic. "Breakthroughs of Area Studies and ASEAN in the Era of Homo Untact" promises to help reconceptualize the study of the region by highlighting the importance of redefined spatial relationships and new potentially depersonalized modes of communication. This paper acknowledges these issues by suggesting that the transformations caused by the pandemic should motivate scholars to raise new questions about how to understand humanity-particularly as it is defined by societies, nations and regions. Given that COVID-19 (and the response to it) has altered many of the fundamental rhythms of globalized regions, there is sufficient warrant for re-examining both the ways in which disease, health and their related spaces affect the perceptions of Southeast Asia. To achieve "breakthroughs" into the investigation of the region, it makes sense to have another glance at the ways in which the discourses about diseases and health may have helped to inscribe definitions of Southeast Asia-or, at the very least, the nations, societies and peoples who live within it. In order to at least consider these larger issues, the discussion will concentrate on a formative moment in the conceptualization of Southeast Asia-British engagement with the region in the late 18^th and early 19^th centuries. To that end three themes will be highlighted: (1) the role that British diplomatic and military narratives played in establishing the information priorities required for the construction of colonial knowledge; (2) the importance not only of "colonial knowledge" but information making in its own right; (3) in anticipation of the use of big data, the manner in which manufactured information (related to space and disease) could function in shaping early British perceptions of Southeast Asia-particularly in Batavia and Java. This discussion will suggest that rather than see social distancing or increased communication as the greatest outcome of COVID-19, instead it will be the use of data-that is, big, aggregated biometric data which have not only shaped responses to the pandemic, but remain likely to produce the reconceptualization of both information and knowledge about the region in a way that will be at least as great as that which took place to meet the needs of the "New Imperialism." Furthermore, the definition and articulation of Southeast Asia has often reflected political and security considerations. Yet, the experience of COVID-19 could prove that data and security are now fused into a set of interests critical to policy-makers. Given that the pandemic should accelerate many existing trends, it might be foreseen these developments will herald the triumph of homo indicina: an epistemic condition whereby the human subject has become a kind of index for its harvestable data. If so, the "breakthroughs" for those who study Southeast Asia will follow in due course.

• Strategy21
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• s.34
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• pp.128-148
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• 2014

In south Korea, the so-called 'conservative-liberal' rivalry over the assessment of the government's North Korean policies is seen to be impeding the road to right policy choices. For example, the liberals accused former President Lee Myung-bak's hardline policy of provoking Pyongyang and leading to a deterioration of inter-Korean relations, while the conservatives appreciated it for helping nurture mutually beneficial inter-Korean relations in the longer term by compelling North Korea to observe international norms. However, such debate over the vices and virtues of Seoul's North Korea policies is hardly meaningful as the measuring sticks used by the liberals and the conservatives are entirely different matters. The two major goals South Korea must pursue with its North Korean policies should be 'peaceful management of division' and 'change in North Korea'. The former is related to maintaining stability within South Korea and promoting co-prosperity with North Korea. For this, the nation needs to engage, encompass and assist the Pyongyang regime. The second goal is also necessary since South Korea, as a divided nation, must seek a unified Korea under the system of democracy and market economies by bringing change in North Korea. For this, South Korea needs powerful leverages with which it can persuade and coerce the North. This means that the nation is destined to simultaneously chase the above-mentioned two goals, while also both recognizing and negating the legitimacy of the North Korean regime. This situation necessitates Seoul to apply flexibility in reconciling with Pyongyang while applying firm principles to sever the vicious circle involving the North's military provocations. The May 25 Measures, which banned trade and economic cooperation with the North except those related to humanitarian assistance, were taken as sanctions against Pyongyang for sinking the South Korean corvette Chonan in March 2010. The Measures were taken by the Seoul government immediately after a multinational investigation team discovered evidence confirming that the South Korean naval ship had been torpedoed by a midget North Korean submarine. Naturally, the May 24 Measures have since then become a major stumbling block in inter-Korean exchange, prompting opposition politicians and concerned entrepreneurs to demand Seoul to unilaterally lift the Measures. Given the significant damages the Measures have inflicted on inter-Korean economic relations, removing them remains as homework for both Koreas. However, the Measures pertains to the 'principles on national security' the Seoul government must adhere to under all circumstances. This is why North Korea's apology and promises not to repeat similar provocations must come first. For now, South Korea has no alternative but to let North Korea solve the problems it has created. South Korea's role is to help the North do so.