• Animal Bioscience
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• 제34권8호
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• pp.1253-1270
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• 2021

Assessment of male fertility is based on the evaluation of sperm. Semen evaluation measures various sperm quality parameters as fertility indicators. However, semen evaluation has limitations, and it requires the advancement and application of strict quality control methods to interpret the results. This article reviews the recent advances in evaluating various sperm-specific quality characteristics and methodologies, with the help of different assays to assess sperm-fertility status. Sperm evaluation methods that include conventional microscopic methods, computer-assisted sperm analyzers (CASA), and flow cytometric analysis, provide precise information related to sperm morphology and function. Moreover, profiling fertility-related biomarkers in sperm or seminal plasma can be helpful in predicting fertility. Identification of different sperm proteins and diagnosis of DNA damage has positively contributed to the existing pool of knowledge about sperm physiology and molecular anomalies associated with different infertility issues in males. Advances in methods and sperm-specific evaluation has subsequently resulted in a better understanding of sperm biology that has improved the diagnosis and clinical management of male factor infertility. Accurate sperm evaluation is of paramount importance in the application of artificial insemination and assisted reproductive technology. However, no single test can precisely determine fertility; the selection of an appropriate test or a set of tests and parameters is required to accurately determine the fertility of specific animal species. Therefore, a need to further calibrate the CASA and advance the gene expression tests is recommended for faster and field-level applications.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• 제45권2호
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• pp.88-93
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• 2018

Objective: The aim of this study was to measure reactive oxygen species (ROS) production and total antioxidant capacity (TAC) in the seminal fluid of the male partners in couples undergoing intrauterine insemination and to evaluate correlations between these values and their semen parameters. Methods: The study was conducted at Vamsam Fertility Center, Coimbatore, India and enrolled 110 male patients from whom semen samples were collected. ROS production was measured by a thiobarbituric acid reactive species assay, and TAC was measured by a 2,2-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl free radical assay. The differences in the TAC and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels between the subfertile and fertile groups were analysed. Correlations between sperm parameters and TAC and MDA levels were statistically analysed, and cutoff values with respect to the controls were determined. All hypothesis tests used were two-tailed, with statistical significance assessed at the level of p< 0.05. Results: A total of 87 subfertile and 23 fertile men were included in the study. The mean MDA level was significantly higher in the subfertile subjects than in the fertile subjects, and the mean antioxidant level was significantly lower in the subfertile subjects than in the fertile subjects. Seminal MDA levels were negatively associated with sperm concentration, motility, and morphology, whereas the opposite was seen with TAC levels. Conclusion: Measurements of seminal TAC and ROS are valuable for predicting semen quality, and hence predicting the outcomes of fertility treatment.

• 응용통계연구
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• 제32권2호
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• pp.229-263
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• 2019

우리나라 출산율은 2000년 이후 빠르게 감소하고 있으며, 시도별 출산율도 대체적으로 동일한 추이를 나타내고 있다. 특히 시도별 출산율은 지방자치단체에서 저출산 고령화 대책, 교육 및 복지 등의 지역정책을 마련하기 위한 필수 자료이다. KOSTAT (2017) 시도별 출산율 추계 방법은 최근 10년(5년)간 전국 평균 출산율 정보를 이용하고 있으므로 이질적인 시도별 추이를 반영하는데 한계점이 있다. 따라서 본 연구에서는 시도별 출산율 추계에서 중요한 연도별 안정적 패턴 유지와 시도 출산율 차별성을 동시에 고려하는 개선방안을 제시하고자 한다. 본 연구에서 제안한 방법(제안 1, 2)는 연도별 출산율의 시계열 자료를 활용함으로써 연령별로 과거부터 현재까지의 출산율의 변동추이 및 전국과 시도의 차이를 반영할 수 있는 장점이 있다. 또한 제안3은 전국과의 관계는 고려하지 않고 시도의 연령별로 출산율의 과거부터 현재까지의 독자적 추이를 반영한다. 연구결과 우리나라의 경우 전국 출산율과 시도 출산율 패턴이 유사하므로 제안1, 2와 같이 시도 출산율 예측시 전국과의 관계를 이용하는 게 바람직하다 볼 수 있다. 이런 제안은 연령별 출산율 추이에 안정성을 개선시켰다.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• 제31권6호
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• pp.842-850
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• 2018

Objective: Several studies have reported the development of new molecular methods for the prognosis and diagnosis of male fertility based on biomarkers aimed at overcoming the limitations of conventional male fertility analysis tools. However, further studies are needed for the field application of these methods. Therefore, alternative methods based on existing semen analysis methods are required to improve production efficiency in the animal industry. Methods: we examined the possibility of improving litter size in various pig breeds using combined Hoechst 33258/chlortetracycline fluorescence (H33258/CTC) staining. The correlation between field fertility and capacitation status by combined H33258/CTC staining in different ejaculates spermatozoa (n = 3) from an individual boar (20 Landrace, 20 Yorkshire, and 20 Duroc) was evaluated as well as overall accuracy. Results: The acrosome reacted (AR) pattern after capacitation (%) was positively correlated with the litter size of Landrace, Yorkshire, and Duroc pigs and the overall accuracy was 75%, 75%, and 70% in Landrace, Yorkshire, and Duroc pigs, respectively. The difference (${\Delta}$) in AR pattern before and after capacitation was positively correlated with the litter size of Landrace, Yorkshire, and Duroc pigs and the overall accuracy was 80%, 65%, and 55% in Landrace, Yorkshire, and Duroc pigs, respectively. However, the difference (${\Delta}$) in capacitated (B) pattern before and after capacitation was negatively correlated with the litter size of Landrace pigs and the overall accuracy was 75%. Moreover, average litter size was significantly altered according to different combined H33258/CTC staining parameters. Conclusion: These results show that combined H33258/CTC staining may be used to predict male fertility in various breeds. However, the selection of specific efficiency combined H33258/CTC staining parameters requires further consideration. Taken together, these findings suggest that combined H33258/CTC staining may constitute an alternative method for predicting male fertility until such time as fertility-related biomarkers are further validated.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• 제22권2호
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• pp.131-141
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• 1995

This study was designed to determine the relationship between sperm acrosome reaction following ionophore challenge(ARIC) and hamster ovum sperm penetration assay(SPA) as assessment of fertilizing capacity of male. ARIC test and SPA were performed in 23 fertile and 19 subfertile men. The results were as follows; Sperm concentration was significantly higher in fertile group compared with subfertile group: $114.6{\pm}64.40$ vs $61.3{\pm}46.50{\times}10^6/ml$. However, there were no significantly differences in seminal volume, motility and motility index, respectively. There was a significantly correlation between spontaneous and induced AR in fertile and subfertile group, respectively. ARIC value was significantly higher in fertile group, compared with subfertile group: $12.0{\pm}5.57%$ vs $2.6{\pm}4.96%$. Both Penetration rate(PR) and Penetration index(PI) were significantly higher in fertile group, compared with subfertile group: $97.4{\pm}7.40%$ vs $64.9{\pm}36$. 20% and $5.4{\pm}2.88$ vs $1.5{\pm}1.47$, respectively. The Positive predictive value(PPV), Negative predictive value(NPV), sensitivity and specificity of ARIC test (cut-off: 8.5) and SPA(PI cut-off : 3.0) in predicting fertility were 95.0%, 81.8%, 82.6%, 94.7% and 95.2%, 85.7%, 87.0% and 94.7%, respectively. There was no significantly difference in predicting fertility between ARIC test and SPA. In conclusion, ARIC test was shown to have a predictive value for fertilizing capacity comparable to that of the hamster ovum sperm penetration assay. Therefore, ARIC test may be a simple and cost-effective addition to existing semenology instead of SPA.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• 제43권2호
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• pp.126-132
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• 2016

Objective: The purpose of this study was to identify useful clinical factors for the identification of patients with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) who would benefit from in vitro maturation (IVM) treatment without exhibiting compromised pregnancy outcomes. Methods: A retrospective cohort study was performed of 186 consecutive patients with PCOS who underwent human chorionic gonadotropin-primed IVM treatment between March 2010 and March 2014. Only the first IVM cycle of each patient was included in this study. A retrospective case-control study was subsequently conducted to compare pregnancy outcomes between IVM and conventional in vitro fertilization (IVF) cycles. Results: Through logistic regression analyses, we arrived at the novel finding that serum $anti-M{\ddot{u}}llerian$ hormone (AMH) levels and the number of fertilized oocytes in IVM were independent predictive factors for live birth with unstandardized coefficients of 0.078 (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.005-1.164; p=0.037) and 0.113 (95% CI, 1.038-1.208; p=0.003), respectively. Furthermore, these two parameters were able to discriminate patients who experienced live births from non-pregnant IVM patients using cut-off levels of 8.5 ng/mL and five fertilized oocytes, respectively. A subsequent retrospective case-control study of patients with PCOS who had serum AMH levels ${\geq}8.5ng/mL$ showed that IVM had pregnancy outcomes comparable to conventional IVF, and that no cases of ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome were observed. Conclusion: Serum AMH levels are a useful factor for predicting pregnancy outcomes in PCOS patients before the beginning of an IVM cycle. IVM may be an alternative to conventional IVF for PCOS patients if the patients are properly selected according to predictive factors such as serum AMH levels.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• 제43권3호
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• pp.139-145
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• 2016

Measurements of ovarian reserve play an important role in predicting the clinical results of assisted reproductive technology (ART). The ideal markers of ovarian reserve for clinical applications should have high specificity in order to determine genuine poor responders. Basal follicle-stimulating hormone levels, antral follicle count, and serum anti-$M{\ddot{u}}llerian$ hormone (AMH) levels have been suggested as ovarian reserve tests that may fulfill this requirement, with serum AMH levels being the most promising parameter. Serum AMH levels have been suggested to be a predictor of clinical pregnancy in ART for older women, who are at a high risk for decreased ovarian response. We reviewed the prognostic significance of ovarian reserve tests for patients undergoing ART treatment, with a particular focus on the significance of serum AMH levels in patients at a high risk of poor ovarian response.

• 한국토양비료학회지
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• 제12권1호
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• pp.15-23
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• 1979

본(本) 연구의 제(第)1보(報)에서 추출(抽出)된 비옥도(肥沃度) 구성인자(構成因子)의 인자평점(因子評点) 및 현지조사(現地調査)에서 얻은 기타(其他) 환경인자(環境因子)를, 설명변수(說明變數)로 취(取)하고, 현지(現地)에서 청취조사(聽取調査)로부터 얻어진 쌀 수확량(收穫量)을 목적변수(目的變數)로 하여 다중회귀(多重回歸) 분석(分析)과 하야시의 수량화(數量化) 이론(理論) I (Hayashi's theory of quantification No.1)를 적용(適用)하여 생산력을 추정(推定)한 결과(結果)는 다음과 같다. (1) 시료(試料) 개체(個體)에 대하여 얻어진 다섯개의 인자평점(因子評点)을 설명변수(說明變數)로 하여 다중회귀분석(多重回歸分析)을 행(行)한 결과(結果) 중상관계수(重相關係數)가 0.43으로 추정(推定) 정도(程度)가 낮았다. (2) 비옥도(肥沃度) 인자간(因子間)의 상호작용(相互作用)을 고려(考慮)하여 직선회귀(直線回歸) 모델을 이차방정식(二次方程式)으로 변형(變形)시켜 생산력(生産力)을 추정(推定)한 결과(結果) 중상관계수(重相關係數)가 0.59로써 추정정도(推定精度)는 약간 높아졌으나 만족할 수 있는 추정식(推定式)은 얻지 못하였다. (3) 답(畓) 토양(土壤)에서 쌀의 생산력(生産力)을 지배(支配)하는 인자(因子)로서 비옥도(肥沃度)는 물론(勿論) 중요(重要)하지만 다른 환경인자(環境因子)의 영향(影響)도 받을 것으로 사료(思料)되어 비옥도군(肥沃度群), 수분공급(水分供給)의 양부(良否), 토양배수(土壤排水)의 양부(良否), 기후대(氣候帶), 표토(表土)의 점착성(粘着性), 표토(表士)의 결시성(結持性), 토성(土性) 및 하층토(下層土)의 구조발달정도(構造發達程度) 등(等)을 설명변수(說明變數)도 취(取)하여 하야시의 수량화(數量化) 이론(理論) 1을 적용(適用)하여 생산력(生産力)을 추정(推定)한 결과(結果) 중상관계수(重相關係數)가 0.9였고, 이들 인자(因子)들 중(中) 비옥도군(肥沃度群), 수분공급(水分供給) 및 기후대(氣候帶) 인자(因子)가 생산력(生産力)에 크게 기여(寄與)하고 있는 것으로 나타났다.

• 정보화정책
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• 제26권4호
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• pp.20-35
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• 2019

본 연구에서는 육아에 대한 공포 등 심리적 요인이 출산율에 미치는 영향을 실증적으로 분석하였다. 2000년~2018년까지 육아에 대한 부정적인 기사가 전체 사회 기사에서 차지하는 비중을 바탕으로 지표를 산출하였다. 지표 분석 결과, 지표가 증가하면 3년 뒤의 출산율은 떨어지는 것으로 나타났다. 이러한 결과는 상관관계 분석, 단순 회귀분석, VAR 분석에서도 일관적으로 나타났다. 그랜져 인과관계 분석 결과, 지표와 3년 뒤 출산율의 관계는 단순 상관관계가 아닌 인과관계에 있음을 알 수 있었다. 연령대별로도 차이를 보였는데, 20~30대 여성의 출산율은 지표에 유의한 반응을 보였으나, 40대 출산율은 반응을 보이지 않았다. 또한 지표가 상승하면 1아 출산율에는 영향을 미치지만, 2아/3아 이상의 출산율에는 영향을 미치지 않는 것으로 나타났다. 이것은 여성의 나이가 어릴수록 육아에 대한 부정적인 기사에 영향을 많이 받지만, 이미 출산/육아를 경험해본 사람들에게는 큰 영향을 미치지 못한다는 직관과도 일치한다. 본 연구는 뉴스 빅데이터를 단순한 키워드 언급량 변화 모니터링이라는 한정된 용도를 벗어나, 사회 현상을 예측하는데 유의미한 지표를 추출해 냈다는데 의미가 있다. 또한 이러한 빅데이터 기반의 지표는 출산율에 대한 3년의 선행성이 있기 때문에 미리 감지할 수 정보를 제공한다는 장점이 있다.

• International Journal of Computer Science & Network Security
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• 제21권1호
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• pp.220-225
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• 2021

Human population growth rate is an important parameter for real-world planning. Common approaches rely upon fixed parameters like human population, mortality rate, fertility rate, which is collected historically to determine the region's population growth rate. Literature does not provide a solution for areas with no historical knowledge. In such areas, machine learning can solve the problem, but a multitude of machine learning algorithm makes it difficult to determine the best approach. Further, the missing feature is a common real-world problem. Thus, it is essential to compare and select the machine learning techniques which provide the best and most robust in the presence of missing features. This study compares 17 machine learning techniques (base learners and ensemble learners) performance in predicting the human population growth rate of the country. Among the 17 machine learning techniques, random forest outperformed all the other techniques both in predictive performance and robustness towards missing features. Thus, the study successfully demonstrates and compares machine learning techniques to predict the human population growth rate in settings where historical data and feature information is not available. Further, the study provides the best machine learning algorithm for performing population growth rate prediction.