• Journal of Apiculture
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• v.33 no.4
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• pp.227-237
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• 2018

The majority parasitic bee mites of Thailand in genus Tropilaelaps are infesting colonies of native bees (Apis dorsata) and introduced bees (A. mellifera). The investigation aims to study morphological and genetic variation of Tropilaelaps mites infected different hosts. Adult mites were collected from honey bee brood throughout Thailand. Traditional and geometrical morphometrics were measured on photograph by using TPS program. Additional, COI gene variations were examined by PCR-RFLP and nucleotides sequencing. Tree of mites relationships were constructed by NJ and MP assumptions. Morphometric results indicated T. mercedesae were major species infesting on A. dorsata and A. mellifera. Mophological variation represented at anal and epigynial plate, which the shape of the anal plate apex margin has been key character to identify between T. mercedesae (bell to blunt shape) and T. koenigerum (pear shape). However, the discriminant analysis suggested that geometric results were potential to classify Thai Tropilaelaps populations from different hosts better than traditional morphometric. Otherwise, PCR-RFLP clearly detected the site of Dra I and Xba I digestion of Thai Tropilaelaps morphotypes. The COI sequences of T. koenigerum were founded infesting only A. dorsata in Thailand and four sequences that related to the Thai T. mercedesae morphotypes. The NJ and MP tree were clearly classified Thai Tropilaelaps species which were suggested both from morphological and molecular analysis. This information might be basically of taxonomic status, but this should have implication for controlling these mites in Thailand and other countries.

• Imaging Science in Dentistry
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• v.51 no.2
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• pp.167-174
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• 2021

Purpose: Sex determination can be done by morphological analysis of different parts of the body. The mastoid region, with its anatomical location at the skull base, is ideal for sex identification. Statistical shape analysis provides a simultaneous comparison of geometric information on different shapes in terms of size and shape features. This study aimed to investigate the geometric morphometry of the inter-mastoid triangle as a tool for sex determination in the Iranian population. Materials and Methods: The coordinates of 5 landmarks on the mastoid process on the 80 cone-beam computed tomographic images(from individuals aged 17-70 years, 52.5% female) were registered and digitalized. The Cartesian x-y coordinates were acquired for all landmarks, and the shape information was extracted from the principal component scores of generalized Procrustes fit. The t-test was used to compare centroid size. Cross-validated discriminant analysis was used for sex determination. The significance level for all tests was set at 0.05. Results: There was a significant difference in the mastoid size and shape between males and females(P<0.05). The first 2 components of the Procrustes shape coordinates explained 91.3% of the shape variation between the sexes. The accuracy of the discriminant model for sex determination was 88.8%. Conclusion: The application of morphometric geometric techniques will significantly impact forensic studies by providing a comprehensive analysis of differences in biological forms. The results demonstrated that statistical shape analysis can be used as a powerful tool for sex determination based on a morphometric analysis of the inter-mastoid triangle.

• Anatomy and Cell Biology
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• v.55 no.4
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• pp.433-440
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• 2022

This study aimed to investigate the general mandibular symphysis (MS) shape variation among Class III skeletal base, using geometric morphometric analysis. Pre-treatment lateral cephalometric radiographs of 254 patients aged 11-40 years old, with Class III skeletal base (ANB <1°) and lower incisor angle (<99°) were included. Nine-landmarks with x and y coordinates were identified on MS using TPSDig2 software, then exported into Morpho J for shape and statistical analysis. Principal component analysis showed that three main shape dimensions with a total variance of 74.6% represented the majority variation of samples. Procrustes Anova showed the shape of MS in Class III skeletal base to be mainly influenced by gonial angle, incisor inclination and sex (P<0.0001). Canonical variate analysis showed that high gonial angle groups had significantly narrower and elongated MS whereas low gonial angle groups had wider, bulbous and rounded MS (P<0.0001). The ratio of alveolar part to basal part was 1:5 in low gonial angle and 2:3 in high gonial angle. Males had significantly taller MS with narrower B point area compared to females (P<0.0001). Retroclined incisors exhibited taller and retroclined alveolar parts (P<0.0001). The shape of MS in Class III skeletal base varied at the alveolar part, basal part or both and it is influenced by gonial angle, incisor inclination and sex. Hence, understanding the shape variation of MS is important to aid orthodontic treatment planning.

• Korean journal of applied entomology
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• v.61 no.3
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• pp.399-408
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• 2022

There has been much debate on the morphometric divergence between the recently identified Apis cerana koreana and Apis cerana honey bees. The aim of this study was to obtain phenotypic information that can be used to compare A. c. koreana data with other A. cerana subspecies data from open resources and determine breeding results on the basis of morphometric traits. To differentiate A. c. koreana, we investigated 22 classic morphological characteristics; royal jelly secretion; and the weight of workers, queens, and drones of A. c. koreana bred in Korea. To define the selection results, we used the geometric morphometric method. The artificially selected A. c. koreana secreted significantly more royal jelly (1.18 times) than the naturally selected A. c. koreana, which positively influenced the health of the colonies. These honey bees were identified more clearly with the geometric morphometric method than with the classic morphometric method, which is traditionally used to determine the subspecies. Large trends were noted for A. c. koreana on the basis of our results and literature from the 1980s regarding A. cerana sizes in Korea (tarsal index, length of forewing, and cubital index were measured). The cluster analysis revealed the proximity of A. c. koreana, A. cerana in China, and A. c. indica on the basis of eight classic characters, which, perhaps, relay the origin of the honey bees. The results of this study defined the morphometric responses of A. c. koreana honey bees to geographic isolation, climate change, and selection, which are important to identify, protect, and preserve honey bee stock in Korea.

• Journal of Fisheries and Marine Sciences Education
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• v.28 no.6
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• pp.1848-1857
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• 2016

In order to discriminate the morphologically analogous smallscale blackfish, Girella leonina and largescale blackfish, G. punctata, various methods were used by using biometric and geometric approaches. Morphometric analysis showed considerable 19 differences of total 44 morphometric dimensions: classical dimension 1 part; truss dimension 12 parts; and head part dimension 6 parts (P < 0.05). Some differences of morphological features primarily involved in caudal part of truss dimension. Our results of this study confirmed that two species adequately can distinguish with external body shape, and we hope that the results of our study could be used to identify in Girellidae family as taxonomical parameters.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
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• v.39 no.1
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• pp.6-15
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• 2021

Various biometric and geometric measures were used to discriminate between the morphologically similar river puffer, Takifugu obscurus, tiger puffer, T. rubripes, their hybrids, and their triploid hybrids. The hybrids and triploid hybrids had greater anal fin width, nostril width, and snout length than the parental species (p<0.05). However, they had less caudal peduncle depth, inter-orbital width, head length, and head width(p<0.05). The morphometric and meristic characteristics of the hybrids and triploid hybrids were either intermediate between the parental species or more similar to those of one parental species. However, the external morphology of the hybrids and triploid hybrids was predominantly maternal. The triploid hybrids had asymmetry in the fin rays and gill raker numbers. This study identified phenotypic characteristics by distinguishing the morphological variables of river puffer, tiger puffer, their hybrids, and their triploid hybrids.

• International Journal of Aeronautical and Space Sciences
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• v.15 no.4
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• pp.419-433
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• 2014

The Mars Exploration Rover Opportunity investigated plains at Meridiani Planum, where laminated sedimentary rocks are present. The Opportunity rover's Athena morphological investigation showed microstructures organized in intertwined filaments of microspherules: a texture we have also found on samples of terrestrial (biogenic) stromatolites and other microbialites. We performed a quantitative image analysis to compare images (n=45) of microbialites with the images (n=30) photographed by the rover (corresponding, approximately, to 25,000/15,000 microstructures). Contours were extracted and morphometric indexes were obtained: geometric and algorithmic complexities, entropy, tortuosity, minimum and maximum diameters. Terrestrial and Martian textures present a multifractal aspect. Mean values and confidence intervals from the Martian images overlapped perfectly with those from the terrestrial samples. The probability of this occurring by chance is $1/2^8$, less than p<0.004. Terrestrial abiogenic pseudostromatolites showed a simple fractal structure and different morphometric values from those of the terrestrial biogenic stromatolite images or Martian images with a less ordered texture (p<0.001). Our work shows the presumptive evidence of microbialites in the Martian outcroppings: i.e., the presence of unicellular life on the ancient Mars.

• Water Engineering Research
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• v.6 no.2
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• pp.91-99
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• 2005

One of the most important factors for estimating a flood runoff from streams is the lag time. It is well known that the lag time is affected by the morphometric properties of basin which can be expressed by catchment shape descriptors. In this paper, the notion of the geometric characteristics of an equivalent ellipse proposed by Moussa(2003) was applied for calculating the lag time of geomorphologic instantaneous unit hydrograph(GIUH) at a basin outlet. The lag time was obtained from the observed data of rainfall and runoff by using the method of moments and the procedure based on geomorphology was used for GIUH. The relationships between the basin morphometric properties and the hydrological response were discussed based on application to 3 catchments in Korea. Additionally, the shapes of equivalent ellipse were examined how they are transformed from upstream area to downstream one. As a result, the relationship between the lag time and descriptors was shown to be close, and the shape of ellipse was presented to approach a circle along the river downwards. These results may be expanded to the estimation of hydrological response of ungauged catchment.

• Proceedings of the Korea Water Resources Association Conference
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• 2005.05b
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• pp.199-203
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• 2005

One of the most important hydrological response characteristics is the lag time. It is well known as being under the influence of the morphometric properties of the basin, which could be expressed by catchment shape descriptors. In this paper, the geometric characteristics of an equivalent ellipse proposed by Moussa(2003) is applied for the lag time analysis. The lag time is obtained from the rainfall-runoff observed data by the method of moments suggested by Nash(1960) and the relationships between the basin morphometric properties and the lag time are discussed as applied to 3 catchments in Korea. Additionally, the shapes of equivalent ellipse are examined how they are transformed from upstream area to downstream one. As a result, the relationship between descriptors based on a equivalent ellipse a+b and $a+b+{\epsilon}OM$, and the lag time is shown to be close and the shape of ellipse is presented to approach a circle along the river downwards. Also, the notion of compactness which is used to express the shape of an irregular plan-form is tried to apply.

• The korean journal of orthodontics
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• v.53 no.3
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• pp.185-193
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• 2023

Objective: The growth and development of the mandible strongly depend on modeling changes occurring at its ramus. Here, we investigated covariance patterns between the morphology of the ramus and the rest of the face. Methods: Lateral cephalograms of 159 adults (55 males and 104 females) with no history of orthodontic treatment were collected. Geometric morphometrics with sliding semi-landmarks was used. The covariance between the ramus and face was investigated using a two-block partial least squares analysis (PLS). Sexual dimorphism and allometry were also assessed. Results: Differences in the divergence of the face and anteroposterior relationship of the jaws accounted for 24.1% and 21.6% of shape variation in the sample, respectively. Shape variation was greater in the sagittal plane for males than for females (30.7% vs. 17.4%), whereas variation in the vertical plane was similar for both sexes (23.7% for males and 25.4% for females). Size-related allometric differences between the sexes accounted for the shape variation to a maximum of 6% regarding the face. Regarding the covariation between the shapes of the ramus and the rest of the face, wider and shorter rami were associated with a decreased lower anterior facial height as well as a prognathic mandible and maxilla (PLS 1, 45.5% of the covariance). Additionally, a more posteriorly inclined ramus in the lower region was correlated with a Class II pattern and flat mandibular plane. Conclusions: The width, height, and inclination of the ramus were correlated with facial shape changes in the vertical and sagittal planes.