• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.16 no.11
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• pp.4745-4749
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• 2015

Background: The aim of this study was to assess detection of circulating tumor cells (CTC) using anti-CEA pre and post surgery in Chilean patients with colo-rectal cancer. Materials and Methods: The presence of CTCs was evaluated in 80 colorectal cancer patients pre and post surgery using standard immunocytochemistry and the results were compared with findings for standard clinico-pathological parameters. Results: In patients presurgery CEA (+) CTCs were frequently found, with no relation to tumor size or nodal status. After surgery, the presence of CTCs was associated with such clinico-pathological parameters. The frequency of CTC detection in node positive patients did not change after surgery. In patients with metastasis there was also no change in the frequency of CTC detection, and clusters of 3 or more CTCs were evident. Conclusions: Secondary CTCs are associated with clinico-pathological parameters only after surgical removal of the primary tumor, and might be important in identifying patients at high risk of relapse. Primary CTCs detected before surgical removal are frequently found, are not associated with the clinico-pathological parameters and might have a role in cancer screening. These findings suggest the need for studies with a larger population of patients.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.43 no.1
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• pp.24-34
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• 2010

This study was carried out to analyze some influences on ecological health conditions, threaten by various stressors such as physical, chemical and biological parameters. We collected samples in 2008 from three zones of upstream, midstream and downstream, Gap Stream. We applied multi-metric fish assessment index (MFAI), based on biotic integrity model to the three zones along with habitat evaluations based on Qualitative Habitat Evaluation Index (QHEI). We also examined fish fauna and compositions, and analyzed relations with MFAI values, QHEI values, and various guild types. Chemical parameters such as oragnic matter (BOD, COD), nutrients (TP, $NH_3$-N), coli-form number (as MPN), and suspended solids (SS) were analyzed to identify the relationship among multiple stressor effects. Using the sentinel species of Zacco platypus, the population structures and condition factors were analyzed along with DNA damages related with genotoxicant effects by comet assay. This study using all these parameters showed that stream condition was degraded along the longitudinal gradient from upstream to downstream, and the downstream, especially, was impacted by nutrient enrichment and toxicant exposure from the point source, wastewater treatment plant. Overall results indicated that our approaches applying various parameters may be used as a cause-effect technique in the stream health assessments and also used as a pre-warning tool for diagnosis of ecological degradation.

• Computers and Concrete
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• v.11 no.6
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• pp.541-569
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• 2013

There is a wide variety of existing Genetic Algorithms (GA) operators and parameters in the literature. However, there is no unique technique that shows the best performance for different classes of optimization problems. Hence, the evaluation of these operators and parameters, which influence the effectiveness of the search process, must be carried out on a problem basis. This paper presents a comparison for the influence of GA operators and parameters on the performance of the damage identification problem using the finite element model updating method (FEMU). The damage is defined as reduction in bending rigidity of the finite elements of a reinforced concrete beam. A certain damage scenario is adopted and identified using different GA operators by minimizing the differences between experimental and analytical modal parameters. In this study, different selection, crossover and mutation operators are compared with each other based on the reliability, accuracy and efficiency criteria. The exploration and exploitation capabilities of different operators are evaluated. Also a comparison is carried out for the parallel and sequential GAs with different population sizes and the effect of the multiple use of some crossover operators is investigated. The results show that the roulettewheel selection technique together with real valued encoding gives the best results. It is also apparent that the Non-uniform Mutation as well as Parent Centric Normal Crossover can be confidently used in the damage identification problem. Nevertheless the parallel GAs increases both computation speed and the efficiency of the method.

• Journal of the Korean Geographical Society
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• v.47 no.5
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• pp.755-774
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• 2012

The main objective of the study is to propose GIS-based methods to assess the population distribution criteria for undesirable facilities such as nuclear power plants. First of all, a review of the relevant criteria was conducted for the official documents compiled by such institutions as IAEA (International Atomic Energy Agency), U.S. NRC (Nuclear Regulatory Commission), and some national institutes including the Korea Institute of Nuclear Safety. It is informed from the review that the fundamental principle underlying the various criteria is to maximize the distance between a plant and the nearest population center. It is realized that two interrelated GIS-based techniques need to be devised to put the principle into practice; sophisticated ways of representing population distribution and identifying population centers. A dasymetric areal interpolation is proposed for the former and cell-based and area-based critical density methods are introduced. Grid-based population distributions at various spatial resolutions are created by means of the dasymetric areal interpolation. By applying the critical density methods to the gridded population distribution, some population centers satisfying the population size and density criteria can be identified. These methods were applied to the case of the Gori-1 nuclear power plant and their strengths and limitations were discussed. It was revealed that the assessment results could vary depending upon which method was employed and what values were chosen for various parameters. This study is expected to contribute to foster the applications of methods and techniques developed in geospatial analysis and modeling to the site selection and evaluation.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.63 no.1
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• pp.119-135
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• 2020

Objective : To investigate the epidemiology of newly-diagnosed, histologically-confirmed (NDHC) central nervous system (CNS) tumours and its changes over a 21-year period in a regional hospital in Hong Kong. Methods : This is a single-institute retrospective descriptive study of patients undergoing surgery for CNS tumours in a regional hospital of Hong Kong in the period from January 1996 to December 2016. The histological definition of CNS tumours was according to the World Health Organization classification, while the site definition for case ascertainment of CNS tumours was as set out by the Central Brain Tumour Registry of the United States. Patients of any age, who had NDHC CNS tumours, either primary or secondary, were included. The following parameters of the patients were retrieved : age at diagnosis, gender, tumour location, and histological diagnosis. Population data were obtained from sources provided by the Government of Hong Kong. The incident rate, estimated by the annual number of cases per 100000 population, for each histology grouping was calculated. Statistical analyses, both including and excluding brain metastases, were performed. Statistical analysis was performed with Microsoft Excel, 2016 (Microsoft, Redmond, WA, USA). Results : Among the 2134 cases of NDHC CNS tumours, there were 1936 cases of intracranial tumours and 198 cases of spinal tumours. The annual number of cases per 100000 population of combined primary intracranial and spinal CNS tumours was 3.6 in 1996, and 11.1 in 2016. Comparing the 5-year average annual number of cases per 100000 population of primary CNS tumours from the period 1996-2000 to 2011-2015, there was an 88% increase, which represent an increase in the absolute number of cases by 4.52 cases/100000 population. This increase was mainly contributed by benign histologies. In the aforementioned periods, meningiomas increased by 1.45 cases/100000 population; schwannomas by 1.05 cases/100000 population, and pituitary adenomas by 0.91 cases/100000 population. While gliomas had a fluctuating 5-year average annual number of cases per 100000 population, it only had an absolute increase of 0.51 cases/100000 population between the 2 periods, which was mainly accounted for by the change in glioblastomas. Conclusion : This retrospective study of CNS tumour epidemiology revealed increasing trends in the incidences of several common CNS tumour histologies in Hong Kong, which agrees with the findings in large-scale studies in Korea and the United States. It is important for different geographic locations to establish their own CNS tumour registry with well-defined and structured data collection and analysis system to meet the international standards.

• Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.31 no.3
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• pp.183-191
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• 2008

To determine the age structure of a Hynobius leechii breeding population and analyze relationships between the order of entrance to breeding ponds and physical parameters and age, we studied a wild population of the species in the Research Forests of Kangwon National University in Chuncheon, Kangwon, South Korea from March 16 to April 13, 2005. The age of breeding males ranged one to nine years old and that of females ranged from three to nine years old. The asymptotic sizes of males and females were 6.36 and 6.51 cm, respectively, and the growth coefficients of males and females were 0.71 and 0.81, respectively. The snout-vent length (SVL), head length, and body mass of males were all positively correlated with their age, but female age did not show a significant relationship with any physical parameter. The tail depth, body mass, and condition factors (SVL/body mass $\times$ 100) of both males and females were negatively related with the order of entrance to the breeding pond. The head width and SVL of males were also negatively correlated with the order of entrance, but the SVL of females was positively related with the order of entrance. These results suggest that physical parameters are more important determinants of breeding migration patterns than age. We discuss which of two hypotheses, the mate opportunity hypothesis and the susceptibility hypothesis, is better able to explain the order of entrance to breeding ponds for male and female H. leechii.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.53 no.2
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• pp.96-101
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• 2013

Objective : The purpose of this study was to analyze the differences of spinopelvic parameters between degenerative spondylolisthesis (DSPL) and isthmic spondylolisthesis (ISPL) patients. Methods : Thirty-four patients with DSPL and 19 patients with ISPL were included in this study. Spinopelvic parameters were evaluated on whole spine X-rays in a standing position. The following spinopelvic parameters were measured : pelvic incidence (PI), sacral slope, pelvic tilt (PT), lumbar lordosis (LL), and sagittal vertical axis from C7 plumb line (SVA). The population of patients was compared with a control population of 30 normal and asymptomatic adults. Results : There were statistically significant differences in LL (p=0.004) and SVA (p=0.005) between the DSPL and ISPL group. The LL of DSPL ($42{\pm}13^{\circ}$) was significantly lower than that of the control group ($48{\pm}11^{\circ}$; p=0.029), but that of ISPL ($55{\pm}6^{\circ}$) was significantly greater than a control group (p=0.004). The SVA of DSPL ($55{\pm}49$ mm) was greater than that of a control group (<40 mm), but that of ISPL ($21{\pm}22$ mm) was within 40 mm as that of a control group. The PT of DSPL ($24{\pm}7^{\circ}$) and ISPL ($21{\pm}7^{\circ}$) was significantly greater than that of a control group ($11{\pm}6^{\circ}$; p=0.000). Conclusion : Both symptomatic DSPL and ISPL patients had a greater PI than that of the asymptomatic control group. In conclusion, DSPL populations are likely to have global sagittal imbalance (high SVA) compared with ISPL populations because of the difference of lumbar lordosis between two groups.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.53 no.4
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• pp.544-550
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• 2020

This study was conducted to estimate the genetic improvements by selection criteria using the genetic parameters and breeding values for population of abalone Haliotis discus hannai. Genetic parameters and breeding values were estimated using all measurement data of growth traits (shell length, shell width and total weight) at 18 and 30 months old after artificial fertilization for 3,029 individuals produced in April 2014. Growth traits all exhibited moderate heritability (0.253-0.354). So it is considered that family selection will be more advantageous than individual selection. It was found that a higher genetic improvement could be expected when selecting the top 10% based on the breeding values of total weight rather than other traits. In particular, a higher genetic improvement could be expected when selecting the top 10% at 30 months old than 18 months old after artificial fertilization. This seems to be because the selection differential and heritability were higher at the 30 months old. Therefore, by estimating genetic parameters and breeding values of a population for production of the next generations by stage of growth, if they are used properly in selection and mating according to the improvement direction, it is considered that more breeding effects can be expected.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.44 no.1
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• pp.15-18
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• 2008

Objective : C2 laminar screw fixation is considered as an excellent alternative to Magerl's transfacetal approach or Harms construct for the atlantoaxial stabilization. However, to our knowledge, there is no report on the feasibility of the new approach to Korean population. We investigated morphometric parameters of the dorsal arch of the C2 to provide the quantitative data for the feasibility of laminar screw fixation. Methods : One-hundred-and-two patients' cervical computed tomography had been reconstructed and investigated on the anatomical parameters related with C2 laminar screw placement. Sixty patients were male and forty-two patients were female. Measurements included the laminar thickness and slope, spino-laminar angle, and maximal screw length. Results : Ages ranged from 20 to 81 and the mean age was 48.4. Mean laminar thickness was 5.7 mm (${\pm}1.0$) (5.8 mm in male and 5.4 mm in female). Fifty-one patients (50%) had a laminar thickness smaller than 5.5 mm at least unilaterally, therefore the patients were considered as inappropriate candidates for the laminar screw fixation in the smaller side of the laminae. Mean value of maximal length of screw was 33.3 mm (34.3 mm in male and 31.9 mm in female). Mean spino-laminar angle was $43.2^{\circ}$ and mean slope angle was $32.9^{\circ}$. Conclusion : Half of patients had inappropriate laminar profiles to accommodate a 3.5 mm screw in at least one side of the axis. The three-dimensional computed tomography reconstruction is mandatory for the preoperative assessment for the feasibility of the C2 lamina.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.50 no.1
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• pp.43-48
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• 2010

Animal disease surveillance system, defined as the continuous investigation of a given population to detect the occurrence of disease or infection for control purposes, has been key roles to assess the health status of an animal population and, more recently, in international trade of animal and animal products with regard to risk assessment. Especially, for a system aiming to determine whether or not a disease is present in a population sensitivity of the system should be maintained high enough not to miss an infected animal. Therefore, when planning the implementation of surveillance system a number of factors that affecting surveillance sensitivity should be taken into account. Of these parameters sample size is of important, and different approaches are used to calculate sample size, usually depending on the objective of surveillance systems. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the sensitivity of the current national serological surveillance programs for four selected bovine diseases assuming a specified sampling plan, to examine factors affecting the probability of detection, and to provide sample sizes required for achieving surveillance goal of detecting at least an infection in a given population. Our results showed that, for example, detecting low level of prevalence (0.2% for bovine tuberculosis) requires selection of all animals per typical Korean cattle farm (n = 17), and thus risk-based target surveillance for high risk groups can be an alternative strategy to increase sensitivity while not increasing overall sampling efforts. The minimum sample size required for detecting at least one positive animal was sharply increased as the disease prevalence is low. More importantly, high reliability of prevalence estimation was expected with increased sampling fraction even when zero-infected animal was identified. The effect of sample size is also discussed in terms of the maximum prevalence when zero-infected animals were identified and on the probability of failure to detect an infection. We suggest that for many serological surveillance systems, diagnostic performance of the testing method, sample size, prevalence, population size, and statistical confidence need to be considered to correctly interpret results of the system.