• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.185-190
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• 2014

Influence of loneliness on human survival has been established epidemiologically, but genomic research remains undeveloped. We identified 34 loneliness-associated genes which were statistically significant for high-lonely and low-lonely individuals. With the univariate Cox proportional hazards regression model, we obtained corresponding regression coefficients for loneliness-associated genes fo individual cancer patients. Furthermore, risk scores could be generated with the combination of gene expression level multiplied by corresponding regression coefficients of loneliness-associated genes. We verified that high-risk score cancer patients had shorter mean survival time than their low-risk score counterparts. Then we validated the loneliness-associated gene signature in three independent brain cancer cohorts with Kaplan-Meier survival curves (n=77, 85 and 191), significantly separable by log-rank test with hazard ratios (HR) >1 and p-values <0.0001 (HR=2.94, 3.82, and 1.78). Moreover, we validated the loneliness-associated gene signature in bone cancer (HR=5.10, p-value=4.69e-3), lung cancer (HR=2.86, p-value=4.71e-5), ovarian cancer (HR=1.97, p-value=3.11e-5), and leukemia (HR=2.06, p-value=1.79e-4) cohorts. The last lymphoma cohort proved to have an HR=3.50, p-value=1.15e-7. Loneliness-associated genes had good survival prediction for cancer patients, especially bone cancer patients. Our study provided the first indication that expression of loneliness-associated genes are related to survival time of cancer patients.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.14 no.5
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• pp.3085-3091
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• 2013

Associations between ABCB1 and XPC genetic polymorphisms and risk of developing colorectal cancer (CRC) as well as clinical outcomes in CRCs with chemotherapy were investigated. A case-control study was performed on the ABCB1 C3435T, G2677T/A and XPC Lys939Gln polymorphisms in 428 CRC cases and 450 hospitalbased, age and sex frequency-matched controls using polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) assays. We observed that the ABCB1 3435CT or CC+CT variants were significantly linked with increasing risk of developing CRC (adjusted OR (95% CI): 1.814 (1.237-2.660), P=0.0022; adjusted OR (95% CI): 1.605 (1.117-2.306), P=0.0102, respectively). Moreover, the distribution frequency of XPC AC genotype or AC+CC genotypes also showed a tendency towards increasing the suscepbility for CRC (P=0.0759 and P=0.0903, respectively). Kaplan-Meier curves showed that the ABCB1 C3435T variant was associated with a tendency toward longer progression-free survival (PFS) (n=343, Log-rank test: P=0.063), and the G2677T/A variant genotypes (GT+TT+GA+AA) with a tendency for longer OS in postoperative oxaliplatin-based patients (n=343, Log-rank test: P=0.082). However, no correlation of the XPC Lys939Gln polymorphism was found with PFS and OS in patients with postoperative oxaliplatin-based chemotherapy (n=343). Our study indicated that ABCB1 polymorphisms might be candidate pharmacogenomic factors for the prediction of CRC susceptibility, but not for prognosis with oxaliplatin chemosensitivity in CRC patients.

• Current Research on Agriculture and Life Sciences
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• v.31 no.1
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• pp.18-24
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• 2013

This work attempted to fabricate organic/inorganic nanocomposite by combining organic cellulose nanofibrils (CNFs), isolated by 2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidine-1-oxy radical (TEMPO)-mediated oxidation of native cellulose with inorganic nanoclay. The morphology and dimension of CNFs, and tensile properties and thermal stability of CNF/clay nanocomposites were characterized by transmission electron microscope (TEM), tensile test, and thermogravimetry (TG), respectively. TEM observation showed that CNFs were fibrillated structure with a diameter of about $4.86{\pm}1.341nm$. Tensile strength and modulus of the hybrid nanocomposite decreased as the clay content of the nanocomposite increased, indicating a poor dispersion of CNFs or inefficient stress transfer between the CNFs and clay. The elongation at break increased at 1% clay level and then continuously decreased as the clay content increased, suggesting increased brittleness. Analysis of TG and derivative thermogravimetry (DTG) curves of the nanocomposites identified two thermal degradation peak temperatures ($T_{p1}$ and $T_{p2}$), which suggested thermal decomposition of the nanocomposites to be a two steps-process. We think that $T_{p1}$ values from $219.6^{\circ}C$ to $235^{\circ}C$ resulted from the sodium carboxylate groups in the CNFs, and that $T_{p2}$ values from $267^{\circ}C$ to $273.5^{\circ}C$ were mainly responsible for the thermal decomposition of crystalline cellulose in the nanocomposite. An increase in the clay level of the CNF/clay nanocomposite predominately affected $T_{p2}$ values, which continuously increased as the clay content increased. These results indicate that the addition of clay improved thermal stability of the CNF/clay nanocomposite but at the expense of nanocomposite's tensile properties.

• Journal of the Korean Magnetics Society
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.94-99
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• 2009

We have studied the effects of oxygen partial pressure change on the physical properties of the $La_{0.7}Ca_{0.3}MnO_3$ thin films grown by Pulsed laser Deposition. Contrary to the previous reports, thin films of high curie temperature were successfully synthesized at very low oxygen partial pressure ($1.0{\times}10^{-5}$, $1.0{\times}10^{-6}Torr$). These observations indicate that the shape of plasma plume and the kinetic energy of the ablated species in it play an important role in determining the quality of samples. We also fabricated p-n heterojunction of $La_{0.7}Ca_{0.3}MnO_3$ and Nb-doped $SrTiO_3$. The current-voltage curves show rectifying behavior and, furthermore, the current responses to the applied magnetic field, indicating a potential possibility of device applications.

• JSTS:Journal of Semiconductor Technology and Science
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.1-7
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• 2014

A bidirectional transient voltage suppression (TVS) diode consisting of specially designed $p^--n^{{+}+}-p^-$ multi-junctions was developed using low temperature (LT) epitaxy and fabrication processes. Its electrostatic discharge (ESD) performance was investigated using I-V, C-V, and various ESD tests including the human body model (HBM), machine model (MM) and IEC 61000-4-2 (IEC) analysis. The symmetrical structure with very sharp and uniform bidirectional multi-junctions yields good symmetrical I-V behavior over a wide range of operating temperature of 300 K-450 K and low capacitance as 6.9 pF at 1 MHz. In addition, a very thin and heavily doped $n^{{+}+}$ layer enabled I-V curves steep rise after breakdown without snapback phenomenon, then resulted in small dynamic resistance as $0.2{\Omega}$, and leakage current completely suppressed down to pA. Manufactured bidirectional TVS diodes were capable of withstanding ${\pm}4.0$ kV of MM and ${\pm}14$ kV of IEC, and exceeding ${\pm}8$ kV of HBM, while maintaining reliable I-V characteristics. Such an excellent ESD performance of low capacitance and dynamic resistance is attributed to the abruptness and very unique profiles designed very precisely in $p^--n^{{+}+}-p^-$ multi-junctions.

• Journal of Gastric Cancer
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.393-407
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• 2019

Purpose: To identify the potential therapeutic role of postoperative radiotherapy (RT) in patients with locally advanced (stage II and stage III) gastric signet ring cell carcinoma (SRC). Materials and methods: Patients with locally advanced gastric SRC from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results program database between 2004 and 2012 were included in our study. Univariate and multivariate Cox proportional models were performed, and survival curves were generated to evaluate the prognostic effect of postoperative RT and surgery alone on SRC patients. Propensity score matching (PSM) was used to avoid selection bias among the study cohorts. Results: We found that patients with postoperative RT had better probability of survival compared with those who did not receive RT (overall survival [OS], P<0.001; cancer-specific survival [CSS], P<0.001). After PSM, analysis of both overall and CSS showed that patients who underwent postoperative RT had better prognosis than those receiving surgery alone in the matched cohort (OS, P=0.00079; CSS, P=0.0036). Multivariate Cox proportional model indicated that postoperative RT had better effect on prognosis compared with surgery alone with respect to both overall (hazard ratio [HR], 0.716; 95% confidence interval [95% CI], 0.590-0.87; P=0.001) and CSS (HR, 0.713; 95% CI, 0.570-0.890; P=0.003). Conclusions: Postoperative RT had better prognosis compared with surgery alone for both overall and CSS for patients with locally advanced gastric SRC.

• Childhood Kidney Diseases
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.83-90
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• 2020

Purpose: To investigate the association between urinary neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (uNGAL) and leukocyte differential count in children with urinary tract infections (UTIs). Methods: A retrospective chart review was performed in children undergoing uNGAL measurements between June 2018 and September 2019. Patients with suspected or diagnosed UTIs were included. The relationship between uNGAL and blood leukocyte differential count was investigated in children. Results: A total of 197 children were included in this study, 119 of whom (60%) had UTIs. The non-UTI patients (n=78) were diagnosed with pneumonia, acute gastroenteritis, viral upper respiratory infection, and others. After adjusting for age, gender, and fever duration, the leukocyte count, monocyte count, and uNGAL levels were higher in the UTI group than in the non-UTI group (P<0.05). uNGAL showed positive correlations with neutrophil counts, monocyte counts, the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio, and the monocyte-to-lymphocyte ratio in the UTI group (P<0.05). uNGAL levels were only associated with the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio in the non-UTI group (P<0.05). In a multivariable logistic regression analysis, only uNGAL was associated with the presence of UTI (P<0.05). The area under the receiver operating characteristic curves for uNGAL and monocyte counts to identify UTI were 0.89 (95% confidence interval (CI): 0.824-0.939; P=0.025) and 0.7 (95% CI: 0.627-0.774; P=0.038), respectively. Conclusions: In children with UTIs, uNGAL levels may be associated with blood leukocyte differential counts. uNGAL measurements and monocyte counts can be helpful in children with suspected UTIs.

• KSCE Journal of Civil and Environmental Engineering Research
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• v.38 no.4
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• pp.567-578
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• 2018

In this study, to investigate the effect of the stress reduction of group piles by dynamic loading, a dynamic p-y curve was established and the dynamic p-multiplier was calculated. Dynamic numerical analysis was performed by input sinusoidal waves to the bottom of the pile - ground system for $2{\times}2$ group pile, single pile and $5{\times}5$ group pile, single pile in dry sandy soil, and the pile spacing was changed to 2.5 and 5.0 times of the pile diameter. By establishing and comparing the dynamic p-y curves of the single pile and group piles, the dynamic group pile effect of the piles according to the pile center spacing and row position of the group pile piles is analyzed. $5{\times}5$ showed symmetry of the dynamic P-multiplier value around the pile origin coordinate. The dynamic p-multiplier value at the single pile, $5{\times}5$ pile (pile spacing: 2.5D) is 0.26 ~ 0.30 at the pile number 3, pile number 23, 0.14 pile number 13, and 0.14 ~ 0.38 at the pile number 5, pile number 18. These values differed from the static p-multiplier, especially due to the different loading conditions. The dynamic p-multiplier ($P_{dm}$) estimation through various types of input dynamic loads is expected to be used for dynamic design and analysis of group pile-ground systems of civil foundation structures.

• Journal of the Korean Geotechnical Society
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• v.36 no.1
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• pp.5-15
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• 2020

Dynamic behavior of pile foundation is significantly influenced by the dynamic interaction between soil and pile. Especially, in the sloping ground, the soil-pile interaction becomes very complex due to different resistance according to loading direction, soil residual displacement and so on. In this study, dynamic centrifuge tests were performed on the piles in the sloping ground. The model structures consisted of a single pile and 2×2 group pile. The soil-pile interaction has been investigated considering various conditions such as slope, single and group piles, and amplitude of input motions. The phase differences between soil and pile displacement and dynamic p-y curves were evaluated. The analysis results showed that the pile behavior was largely influenced by the kinematic forces between soil and pile. In addition, the dynamic p-y curve showed the complex hysteresis loop due to the effect of slope, residual displacement, and kinematic forces.

• Korean Journal of Materials Research
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• v.25 no.6
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• pp.288-292
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• 2015

New lead-free piezoelectric ceramics $0.96[\{Bi_{0.5}(Na_{0.84}K_{0.16})_{0.5}\}_{1-x}La_x(Ti_{1-y}Nb_y)O_3]-0.04SrTiO_3$ (BNKT-ST-LN, where $x=y=0.00{\leq}(x=y){\leq}0.015)$ were synthesized using the conventional solid-state reaction method. Their crystal structure, microstructure, and electrical properties were investigated as a function of the La and Nb (LN) content. The X-ray diffraction patterns revealed the formation of a single-phase perovskite structure for all the LN-modified BNKT-ST ceramics in this study. The temperature dependence of the dielectric curves showed that the maximum dielectric constant temperature ($T_m$) shifted towards lower temperatures and the curves became more diffuse with an increasing LN content. At the optimum composition (LN 0.005), a maximum value of remnant polarization ($33C/cm^2$) with a relatively low coercive field (22 kV/cm) and high piezoelectric constant (215 pC/N) was observed. These results indicate that the LN co-modified BNKT-ST ceramic system is a promising candidate for lead-free piezoelectric materials.