• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
• /
• v.17 no.4
• /
• pp.1861-1864
• /
• 2016

Although early diagnosis of thyroid nodule type is very important, the diagnostic accuracy of standard tests is a challenging issue. We here aimed to find an optimal combination of factors to improve diagnostic accuracy for distinguishing malignant from benign thyroid nodules before surgery. In a prospective study from 2008 to 2012, 345 patients referred for thyroidectomy were enrolled. The sample size was split into a training set and testing set as a ratio of 7:3. The former was used for estimation and variable selection and obtaining a linear combination of factors. We utilized smoothly clipped absolute deviation (SCAD) logistic regression to achieve the sparse optimal combination of factors. To evaluate the performance of the estimated model in the testing set, a receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was utilized. The mean age of the examined patients (66 male and 279 female) was $40.9{\pm}13.4years$ (range 15- 90 years). Some 54.8% of the patients (24.3% male and 75.7% female) had benign and 45.2% (14% male and 86% female) malignant thyroid nodules. In addition to maximum diameters of nodules and lobes, their volumes were considered as related factors for malignancy prediction (a total of 16 factors). However, the SCAD method estimated the coefficients of 8 factors to be zero and eliminated them from the model. Hence a sparse model which combined the effects of 8 factors to distinguish malignant from benign thyroid nodules was generated. An optimal cut off point of the ROC curve for our estimated model was obtained (p=0.44) and the area under the curve (AUC) was equal to 77% (95% CI: 68%-85%). Sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value and negative predictive values for this model were 70%, 72%, 71% and 76%, respectively. An increase of 10 percent and a greater accuracy rate in early diagnosis of thyroid nodule type by statistical methods (SCAD and ANN methods) compared with the results of FNA testing revealed that the statistical modeling methods are helpful in disease diagnosis. In addition, the factor ranking offered by these methods is valuable in the clinical context.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Service
• /
• v.31 no.3
• /
• pp.397-414
• /
• 2008

In order to evaluate conception rate of Hanwoo in northwestern region of Gyeongsang-nam-do, we investigated conception rate and reduction of reproductive disorder rate after artificial insemination (AI) in 1,000 heads of breeding cows, This study showed that 80.9% of cows were classified as fertility after 1st and 2nd AI. For a accurate pregnancy diagnosis with practicing ovariectomy and histeotomy, we comparatively investigated each of 80 slaughtered cows, including 30 of non-pregnancy, and used enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for estimation of plasma progesterone concentration and serum luteal hormone. The mean diameter of non-pregnant corpus luteum is $18.9{\pm}4.2{\times}15.6{\pm}3.6 mm$ and that of pregnant corpus luteum is $22.5{\pm}2.7{\times}18.7{\pm}2.9 mm$. This indicates that corpus luteum is more developed in the ovary of pregnant than non-pregnant cows (P<0.05). The diameter of pregnant corpus luteum according to the stage of pregnancy showed $21.3{\pm}2.4{\pm}18.4{\pm}2.6 mm$ in early stage (1-3 month), $23.4{\pm}2.8{\times}19.1{\pm}2.7 mm$ in middle stage (4-6 month) and $22.8{\pm}3.0{\times}18.8{\pm}2.4mm$, in last stage (7-9 month). This indicates that corpus luteum in middle and last stage is more significantly developed than that of early stage(P<0.05). The mean plasma progesterone concentration of cows showing size of non-pregnant corpus luteum was $4.58{\pm}0.92ng/ml$ and that of pregnant corpus luteum $8.26{\pm}0.98ng/ml$. Thus, it was more significantly increased in pregnant corpus luteum(P<0.02).. However, it was low to $0.58{\pm}0.39ng/ml$. in estrus (corpus albicans). The plasma progesterone concentration according to gestation period was high in proportion to the degree of development in corpus luteum and more significantly increased (P<0.05) and maintained in middle and last state than early state. The concentration was sharply decreased to $0.56{\pm}0.32ng/ml$ at parturition. As a consequence, we can practice the early pregnancy diagnosis by confirming non-pregnancy when the mean plasma progesterone concentration is below 1ng/ml 19 to 22 days after AI and this can be available to diagnose reproductive disorder.

• The Journal of Fisheries Business Administration
• /
• v.49 no.3
• /
• pp.85-99
• /
• 2018

This study is to compare and evaluate the estimating method of WTP(willingness to pay) for the valuation of oceans and fisheries resources with non-market goods characteristics using contingent valuation method. In general, when estimating parameters of the WTP function, we should take into account the assumption of probability distribution, inclusion of covariates, method of inducement of payment, and the treatment of 0 payment intention and resistance responses. This study utilizes survey data that was used to estimate the value of fisheries resource protection zones, with a total of 1,200 samples. The main results of this study are summarized as follows: First, the final willness to pay amount is estimated at a statistical significance of less than 1 percent, and the distribution of the final willness to pay amount is from \6,926 of the double bounded dichotomous model to \10,721 of the spike model. Second, the willness to pay amount based on assumptions about the normal and logistic probability distributions are estimated to be \9,429 and \9,370 respectively, so there was no significant difference. Third, the willness to pay amount of the single bounded dichotomous model and the double bounded dichotomous model are estimated to be \8,951 and \6,926 respectively, making a relatively large difference. Fourth, the willness to pay amount of the model without covariates and the model with covariates are estimated to be \9,429 and \8,951, respectively, so the willness to pay amount is underestimated when the covariates are included. Fifth, the Spike model that considers zero payment intention and resistance response estimates \10,405 as the highest payment in this study. Finally, the CVM analysis guidelines proposed by the Korea Development Institute (KDI) are estimated to be \9,749 and \10,405 respectively, depending on including no covariates and with covariates. Compared to other models, the final willness to pay amount is not estimated underestimated. Therefore this study suggests the use of KDI's guidance under government public policy projects. In view of these results, the estimating model for willness to pay amount model will be selected by considering the sample size, the suitability of the model, the sign of the estimated coefficient, the statistical significance, the ratio of the zero payment intention and the payment rejection. And, for CVMs on government public policy projects, it is desirable to estimate by the method proposed by the KDI.

• Journal of the Korean Ceramic Society
• /
• v.49 no.5
• /
• pp.404-411
• /
• 2012

The reliability of solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs) particularly depends on the high quality of solid oxide electrolytes. The application of thinner electrolytes and multi electrolyte layers requires a more reliable characterization method. Most of the investigations on thin film solid electrolytes have been made for the parallel transport along the interface, which is not however directly related to the fuel cell performance of those electrolytes. In this work an array of ion-blocking metallic Ti/Au microelectrodes with about a $160{\mu}m$ diameter was applied on top of an ultrathin ($1{\mu}m$) yttria-stabilized-zirconia/gadolinium-doped-ceria (YSZ/GDC) heterolayer solid electrolyte in a micro-SOFC prepared by PLD as well as an 8-${\mu}m$ thick YSZ layer by screen printing, to study the transport characteristics in the perpendicular direction relevant for fuel cell operation. While the capacitance variation in the electrode area supported the working principle of the measurement technique, other local variations could be related to the quality of the electrolyte layers and deposited electrode points. While the small electrode size and low temperature measurements increaseed the electrolyte resistances enough for the reliable estimation, the impedance spectra appeared to consist of only a large electrode polarization. Modulus representation distinguished two high frequency responses with resistance magnitude differing by orders of magnitude, which can be ascribed to the gadolinium-doped ceria buffer electrolyte layer with a 200 nm thickness and yttria-stabilized zirconia layer of about $1{\mu}m$. The major impedance response was attributed to the resistance due to electron hole conduction in GDC due to the ion-blocking top electrodes with activation energy of 0.7 eV. The respective conductivity values were obtained by model analysis using empirical Havriliak-Negami elements and by temperature adjustments with respect to the conductivity of the YSZ layers.

• Journal of Sensor Science and Technology
• /
• v.17 no.2
• /
• pp.133-142
• /
• 2008

Respiration is induced by muscular contraction of the chest and abdomen, resulting in the abdominal volume change. Thus, continuous measurement of the abdominal dimension enables to monitor breathing activity. Conductive rubber cord has been previously introduced and tested to develop wearable application for respiratory measurements. The present study implemented wireless wearable respiratory monitoring system with the conductive rubber cord in the patient's pants. Signal extraction circuitry was developed to obtain the abdominal circumference changes reflecting the lung volume variation caused by respiratory activity. Wireless transmission was followed based on the zigbee communication protocol in a size of 65mm${\times}$105mm easily put in pocket. Successful wireless monitoring of respiration was performed in that breathing frequency was accurately estimated as well as different breathing patterns were easily recognized from the abdominal signal. $CO_2$ inhalation experiment was additionally performed in purpose of quantitative estimation of tidal volume. Air mixed with $0{\sim}5%\;CO_2$was inhaled by 4 normal males and the respiratory air flow rate, abdominal dimension change, and end tidal $CO_2$ concentration were simultaneously measured in steady state. $CO_2$ inhalation increased the tidal volume in normal physiological state with a correlation coefficient of 0.90 between the tidal volume and the end tidal $CO_2$ concentration. The tidal volume estimated from the abdominal signal linearly correlated with the accurate tidal volume measured by pneumotachometer with a correlation coefficient of 0.88 with mean relative error of approximately 8%. Therefore, the tidal volume was accurately estimated by measuring the abdominal dimension change.

• The Journal of Korean Institute of Electromagnetic Engineering and Science
• /
• v.25 no.6
• /
• pp.664-670
• /
• 2014

Generally, the properties of metamaterials are analyzed based on the infinite array of the unit cells. In real application of the metamaterial, however, the array has to be finite. Hence, it is important that a method can analyze the effect of the finite array of the metamaterial. In this paper, a model is proposed which can calculate the scattering by a large-size finite array of an I-shaped metamaterial without a full-wave simulation. The proposed model is based on the surface current estimation of each unit cells. The ratio of the current distribution on a finite array of the metamaterial to that of the infinite array of the same metamaterial for a TM polarized incident wave is approximated as a quartic polynomial. The coefficients of the polynomial are a function of the physical dimension of the metallic patch. Hence, the current distribution of the finite metamaterial can be estimated based on the proposed polynomial and the current of the infinite array. The scattered field is calculated by using the surface current model. The proposed model is numerically and experimentally verified by comparing calculated and measured RCS(Radar Cross Section) data.

• Journal of Biomedical Engineering Research
• /
• v.38 no.2
• /
• pp.62-73
• /
• 2017

To identify a solution for the restricted availability of healthy lungs and the high risk of immune rejections following organ transplantation, tissue engineering techniques for culturing lungs have been studied by many research groups. The most promising method for culturing lungs is the utilization of a bio-scaffold that was prepared using harvested organs from human donors or other animals by removing their original cells. In this study, a pulsatile perfusion pump was used to alleviate the cell removal effect with the high fluid-dynamic power of the perfusion stream during the decellularization process, while other conventional studies focused on chemical methods to identify efficient detergents. The purpose of this study was to analyze the developed device by using energy equivalent pressure (EEP), which is an indicator of pulsatility, to understand the characteristics of pulsatile energy transmitted according to the load size by using the artificial model and compare it with the measured EEP. The pulsatility of the device can be estimated with the concept of fluid-dynamic energy during a particular constant time period or fluid-dynamic power represented as EEP and EEP increment. Because the measured EEP of perfusion flow during decellularization can be changed by the amount of fluid leakage and the degree of clogging in the capillary vessels, EEP should be measured to determine whether the decellularization is progressing without problems. The decrement of EEP caused by the high perfusion resistance was observed from some experimental results that were obtained with artificial models. EEP can be used to monitor the decellularization process after analyzing the varying EEP according to the amount of load. It was confirmed that the EEP was maintained at a high level in the experiment using the harvested lungs from 12-13-week-old rats. In addition, it was confirmed that the cell removal time was faster than when continuous perfusion was performed. In this study, pulsatile power delivered to the lungs was measured to monitor the process of cell removal, and it serve as the evidence for efficient decellularization.

• Journal of National Security and Military Science
• /
• s.4
• /
• pp.83-118
• /
• 2006

This study is to develop digital leadership in a field of national defense. Today, korean society is facing the crisis of national security. But national defense leadership is not show in the circumstance of national security crisis. As you know, national defense leadership is a process that make use of influence. Which means it converges people's interest and demands well and also show people the right vision of national defense and make them to comply the policy about national security. Because of the environmental change, our national defense leadership is having a new turning point. First, international order, which is under post-cold war, raises possibility of guarantee of peace and security in international society but also, cause the increase of multiple uncertainty and small size troubles in security circumstance. In addition, Korean society is rushing into democratization and localization period by success in peaceful change of political power went through about three times. The issue of political neutralization of military is stepping into settlement but still, negative inheritance of old military regime is worrying about it. In this situation, we can't expect rise in estimation about the importance of security and military's reason for being. So, military have to give their concern to not only internal maintenance of order and control and growth of soldiers but also developing external leadership to strength influence to society and military's the reason for being. So for these alternative I'm suggesting a digital leadership of national defense which fits digital era. This digital leadership is the leadership which can accept and understand digital technology and lead the digital organization. To construct digital national defense we need a practical leadership. The leadership has to be digital leadership with digital competence that can direct vision of digital national defense and carry out the policy. A leader who ha s digital leadership can lead the digital society. The ultimate key to construct digital government, digital corporate and digital citizen depends on digital leader with digital mind. To be more specific, digital leadership has network leadership, next generation leadership, knowledge driven management leadership, innovation oriented leadership. A leader with this kind of leadership is the real person with digital leadership. From now on, to rise this, we have to build up human resource development strategy and develop educational training program.

• Journal of the Korean Geosynthetics Society
• /
• v.17 no.1
• /
• pp.65-74
• /
• 2018

The degree of compaction of embankments is generally measured using the sand replacement method or a soil density gauge. However, these methods include coarse particles, which are relatively large. The degree of compaction is overestimated if the in-situ soil density is simply compared with the density obtained from a Proctor compaction test (KS F 2312, 2001), because the density of coarse particles is higher than that of soil. However, there is no recommended correction for the coarse particle ratio in Korea, thus intentionally increasing the degree of compaction for structures to which large loads are applied or for which compaction is critical. Here, a correction considering the Korean Proctor compaction test and the difference between the maximum allowable particle sizes was recommended after corrections for coarse particle ratios in other countries were collected and analyzed. The degree of compaction was re-estimated by applying the recommended correction to the results of both Proctor compaction and sand replacement tests. The degree of compaction without the correction of coarse particle ratio was overestimated, because the re-estimated degree of compaction decreased as the coarse particle ratio increased. The relatively accurate results obtained from the field application of the correction will offer long-term cost savings due to reduced maintenance fees during operation.

• The Journal of Korean Institute of Electromagnetic Engineering and Science
• /
• v.24 no.5
• /
• pp.534-540
• /
• 2013

Interest of the hand effect on the electromagnetic wave are internationally increasing with the increase of the use of the mobile phone. IEC TC106(International Electrotechnical Commission, Technical Committee 106) promotes international research exchange program in order to reflect the effect of human hands in the standard assessment method of human exposure dosimetry by the electromagnetic wave of mobile phones. Since current commercialized hand phantom is manufactured by taking into account the average size of westerners and provides only one grip posture, it imposes many restrictions on the accurate SAR measurement. Therefore, the development of proper hand phantom accounting for domestic situation and various grip posture capability is essential in order to analyze the accurate effect of human hand on the exposure estimation. In this paper, a jelly hand phantom suitable for Korean was manufactured with various grip posture capability at 835 MHz and 1,800 MHz bands. Although the tolerances of permittivity and conductivity of the manufactured hand phantom are with ${\pm}10%$ each, it was much less than CTIA(Cellular Telecommunication Industry Association) tolerance of ${\pm}20%$ at both bands. Its 3D CAD(3 Dimensional Computer Aided Design) file which was developed can be utilized for the simulation of human hand effect on SAR measurement of mobile phones. The findings in this study can be utilized for the analysis of human hand effect on SAR measurement of a mobile phone.