• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
• /
• v.15 no.12
• /
• pp.4977-4982
• /
• 2014

Background: Cytochrome P450 2E1 (CYP2E1) might be involved in the development of bladder cancer. However, previous studies of any association between CYP2E1 RsaI/PstI polymorphism and bladder cancer risk have yielded conflicting results. In this study, we performed a more precise estimation of the relationship by a meta-analysis based on the currently available evidence from the literature. Method: To assess the effect of CYP2E1 RsaI/PstI polymorphism on bladder cancer susceptibility, a meta-analysis of 6 available studies with 1,510 cases and 1,560 controls were performed through Feb 2014. Summary odds ratios (ORs) and corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were used to estimate the strength of association for CYP2E1 RsaI/PstI polymorphism under different genetic models. Results: When available studies were pooled into the meta-analysis, we found that the C1C2 and C2C2 genotypes of CYP2E1 RsaI/PstI polymorphism significantly decreased bladder cancer risk under different genetic models (heterozygote: OR=0.766, 95%CI=0.613-0.957, $P_{OR}$=0.019; homozygote: OR=0.51, 95%CI=0.303-0.858, $P_{OR}$=0.011; dominant: OR=0.733, 95%CI=0.593-0.905, $P_{OR}$=0.004; recessive: OR=0.565, 95%CI=0.337-0.947, $P_{OR}$=0.030). Subgroup analysis indicated that C2C2 genotype was significantly associated with decreased bladder cancer risk under the homozygote genetic model in Caucasians. There was no evidence of heterogeneity or publication bias. Conclusions: The current meta-analysis suggested that the CYP2E1 RsaI/PstI polymorphism might be associated with bladder cancer susceptibility, especially in Caucasians. Further studies are needed to validate the above conclusion.

• Journal of rehabilitation welfare engineering & assistive technology
• /
• v.5 no.1
• /
• pp.17-25
• /
• 2011

This paper aims to find the optimal control gain for enhancing the convenience of electric walking frames and design a control algorithm. With the recent advances in medical technology, there has been a rapid increase in the aging population and a variety of mobile walking frames have been developed for improvement of the quality of life. However, the manual walking frames of such mobile aids don't have any electric motor which helps facilitate elderly users' walking and thus are not efficient enough for the old people of weak strength to use especially when moving on uneven surfaces such as slopes or thresholds. The types of electric walking frames have been developed to overcome such inefficiency. Electric walking frames require users' control operations for motor driving unlike manual frames. Therefore, when they are not properly handled, it causes considerable inconvenience to their users. The present study compared the electric walking frames with manual ones in terms of operational convenience and attempted to improve the user convenience of walking frames varying the control value for user convenience based on certain standards. This paper presented a haptic sensor designed to recognize the will to walk and measure the degree of convenience and proposed a control algorithm for improvement of convenience. For user convenience, this paper evaluated the relative convenience of walking frames in view of changing differences between the center of vehicle (COV) and the center of position (COP). With the employment of an electric walking frame and a new measuring method, all the processes were experimentally tested and validated.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
• /
• v.14 no.3
• /
• pp.1615-1621
• /
• 2013

Background: Matrix metalloproteinase 9 (MMP-9) is related to tumor invasion and metastasis. However, the role of MMP-9 expression in breast cancer survival remains controversial. The purpose of this study was to accomplish a more accurate estimation of the association between MMP-9 expression and survival results in breast cancer patients through meta-analysis. Methods: A meta-analysis of published studies investigating the effects of positive MMP-9 expression on both relapse free survival (RFS) and overall survival (OS) was performed. Relevant literature was confirmed by searching electronic databases including PubMed, Ovid, EMBASE and China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI) before November 1, 2012. Individual hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were extracted and pooled HRs with 95% CIs were used to evaluate the strength of the association between positive MMP-9 expression and survival results of breast cancer patients. Funnel plot and Egger's regression tests were used to evaluate publication bias. Heterogeneity and sensitivity analysis was also conducted. All the work was completed using STATA. Results: A total of 2,344 patients from 15 evaluative studies were finally included. Pooled HRs and 95% CIs suggested that MMP-9 overexpression had an unfavorable impact on both OS (HR: 1.70, 95% CI: 1.41-2.04) and RFS (HR: 1.54, 95% CI: 1.17-2.01) in breast cancer patients. There was no significant heterogeneity observed in the studies reported for OS (P=0.360, $I^2$=8.8%), but not RFS (P=0.002, $I^2$=67%). Publication bias was absent among the studies both in OS and RFS cases (t=-0.54, P=0.605 and t=1.71, P=0.131, respectively). Omission of any single study had little effect on the combined risk estimates on sensitivity analysis. Conclusion: The results of this meta-analysis suggest that positive MMP-9 expression confers a higher risk of relapse and a worse survival in patients with breast cancer. Larger prospective studies are now needed to evaluate the clinical utility of MMP-9 expression.

• Journal of the Institute of Electronics Engineers of Korea CI
• /
• v.47 no.2
• /
• pp.54-64
• /
• 2010

Localization is the most important feature in the sensor network environment because it is a basic element enabling people and things to aware the circumference environment. Existing localization methods can be categorized as either range-based or range-free. While range-based is known to be not suitable because of the irregularity of radio propagation and the additional device requirement. range-free is much appropriated for the resource constrained sensor network because it can actively locate by means of the communication radio. But its location accuracy is just depended on the density of circumference nodes; it is very low in low-density sensor network environment. This paper proposes a mobile object tracking method, named DRTS(Distributed Range-hybrid Tracking Scheme), with combining range-based and range-free. It is optimally making use of the location, communication range, and received signal strength from circumference nodes. Especially, it can greatly improve the mobile tracking accuracy by adapting a new prediction method, named EGP(Estimative Gird Points) into the proposed location estimation method. The simulation results show that our method outperforms the other localization and tracking methods in the tracking accuracy point of view.

• Journal of the Korea Concrete Institute
• /
• v.18 no.5 s.95
• /
• pp.579-588
• /
• 2006

In recent years, the availability of high-strength reinforcing and prestressing steels leads us to build economically and efficiently designed concrete structural members. One of critical problems faced to the structural engineers dealing with these types of structural member is controls of crack width that is used as a criterion for the serviceability in the limit state design. Especially, flexural cracking must be controlled to secure the structural safety and to improve the durability as well as serviceability of the load carving members. The proposed method utilizes the results of pure tension test in which tensile loads are applied both side of specimen, done by Ikki. The bond characteristics of deformed reinforcing bar under pure tension is considered by the area of concrete and rib area. The results of proposed method are compared with the test data and the results show that the proposed method can take into account the dimensions, variation of sectional properties, and direction of reinforcing and gives more accurate maximum bond stress and corresponding relative slip than the existing methods. the characteristics of bonding is considered by using dimensionless slip magnitude and effective reinforcement ratio. The validity of the proposed equation is verified by test experimental data.

• KSCE Journal of Civil and Environmental Engineering Research
• /
• v.32 no.6A
• /
• pp.347-354
• /
• 2012

In this study, the equations of torsional and warping constants of a I-shaped plate girder with sine corrugated web are suggested. Because of geometric characteristics of the section, a I-shaped plate girder with corrugated web shows high out-of-plane stiffness, shear strength, and torsional stiffness. Torsional constant and warping constant definitely affect lateral-torsional buckling loads. Therefore, exact estimation of the sectional properties is quite important. But, it is difficult to estimate these properties by former methods. So, this study was focused on suggestion of the rational equations to calculate torsional and warping constants. In order to investigate the effects of geometric characteristics of sine-corrugated webs on torsional stiffness and warping torsional constant, finite element analyses for pure torsional behavior and warping torsional behavior of I-shaped plate girders were performed. By regression analyses of the analytical results, rational equations of the torsional constant and warping constant were suggested. Suggested equations for the properties were validated based on the analytical results of lateral-torsional buckling of simply supported I-shaped plate girder. By suggested equations, torsional and warping constants of I-shaped plate girders with a sine-corrugated web can be rationally estimated and more exact lateral-torsional buckling load can be simply calculated.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
• /
• v.16 no.9
• /
• pp.3645-3651
• /
• 2015

Background: Previous studies evaluating the association between the xeroderma pigmentosum group G (XPG) Asp1104His polymorphism and head and neck cancer susceptibility have proven controversial. This meta-analysis of the literature was performed to obtain a more precise estimation of the relationship. Materials and Methods: We systematically searched PubMed, Embase and Web of Science with a time limit of Dec 18, 2014. Odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were used to assess the strength of any association. Results: We performed a meta-analysis of eight published case-control studies, including 3,621 cases and 5,475 controls. Overall, no significant association was found between the XPG Asp1104His polymorphism and head and neck cancer susceptibility under all genetic models. In the subgroup analysis by ethnicity, the XPG Asp1104His polymorphism had statistically significant association with elevated head and neck cancer risk under CC vs GG (OR=1.24, 95% CI=1.00~1.54) and the recessive model (OR=1.22, 95%CI=1.01~1.46) in Asian populations. A similar result was found under CC vs GG (OR =1.22, 95%CI=1.01~1.47) in the population based subgroup by source of control. When performed by tumor site, the XPG Asp1104His polymorphism had statistically significant association with elevated laryngeal cancer under all genetic models (CC vs GG: OR=1.59, 95% CI=1.16~2.19; GC vs GG: OR=1.38, 95%CI=1.10~1.72; dominant model: OR=1.42, 95% CI=1.15~1.74; recessive model: OR=1.36, 95% CI=1.02~1.81). Conclusions: This meta-analysis suggested that the XPG Asp1104His polymorphism is a risk factor for head and neck cancer susceptibility, especially for laryngeal cancer and in Asian populations.

• KSCE Journal of Civil and Environmental Engineering Research
• /
• v.3 no.2
• /
• pp.127-135
• /
• 1983

A new approach is developed to analyze the reliability of the earth retaining wall using the concept of probability of failure, instead of conventional factor of safety. Many uncertainties, which are included in the conventional stability analysis, can be excluded by using the stochastic approach. And the reliability, more consistent with the reality, can be obtained by the simulation. The strength parameters of soil properties are assumed to be random variables to follow a generalized beta distribution. The interval [A, B] of the random variables could be determined using the maximum likelihood estimation. The pseudo-random values corresponding to the proposed beta distribution are generated using the rejection method. The probability of failure defined as follows, is obtained by using the Monte Carlo Method. $$P_f=\frac{M}{N}$$ where, $P_f$ : Probability of failure N : Total number of trials M : Total number of failure out of N A computer program is developed for the computation procedure mentioned above. Finally, a numerical example is solved using the developed program.

• KSCE Journal of Civil and Environmental Engineering Research
• /
• v.4 no.3
• /
• pp.75-83
• /
• 1984

The probability of failure is used to analyze the reliability of three dimensional slope failure, instead of conventional factor of safety. The strength parameters are assumed to be normal variated and beta variated. These are interval estimated under the specified confidence level and maximum likelihood estimation. The pseudonormal and beta random variables are generated using the uniform probability transformation method according to central limit theorem and rejection method. By means of a Monte-Carlo Simulation, the probability of failure is defined as; $P_f=M/N$ N: Total number of trials M: Total number of failures Some of the conclusions derived. from the case study include; 1. Three dimensional factors of safety are generally much higher than 2-D factors of safety. However situations appear to exist where the 3-D factor of safety can be lower than the 2-D factor of safety. 2. The $F_3/F_2$ ratio appears to be quite sensitive to c and ${\phi}$ and to the shape of the 3-D shear surface and the slope but not to be to the unit weight of soil. 3. From the two models (normal, beta) considered for the distribution of the factor of safety, the beta distribution generally provides lager than normal distribution. 4. Results obtained using the beta and normal models are presented in a nomgraph relating slope height and slop angle to probability of failure.

• KSCE Journal of Civil and Environmental Engineering Research
• /
• v.35 no.5
• /
• pp.1025-1037
• /
• 2015

Flexible base isolation bearings that separate superstructure from ground have been widely used in the construction field because they make a significant contribution to increasing the fundamental period of the structure, thereby decreasing response acceleration transmitted into the superstructure. However, the established bearing devices installed to uphold the whole building give rise to some problems involved with failure and collapse due to lack of the capacity as modern structures are getting more massive and higher. Therefore, this study suggests new isolation bearings assembled with additional restrainers enabled to reinforcing and recentering, and then evaluates their performance to withstand the seismic load. The superelastic shape memory alloy (SMA) bars are installed into the conventional lead-rubber bearing (LRB) devices in order to provide recentering forces. These new systems are modeled as component spring models for the purpose of conducting nonlinear dynamic analyses with near fault ground motion data. The LRB devices with steel bars are also designed and analyzed to compare their responses with those of new systems. After numerical analyses, ultimate strength, maximum displacement, permanent deformation, and recentering ratio are compared to each model with an aim to investigate which base isolation models are superior. It can be shown that LRB models with superelastic SMA bars are superior to other models compared to each other in terms of seismic resistance and recentering effect.