• Korean Journal of Radiology
• /
• v.22 no.11
• /
• pp.1797-1808
• /
• 2021

Objective: To determine whether volumetric CT texture analysis (CTTA) using fully automatic tumor segmentation can help predict recurrence-free survival (RFS) in patients with intrahepatic mass-forming cholangiocarcinomas (IMCCs) after surgical resection. Materials and Methods: This retrospective study analyzed the preoperative CT scans of 89 patients with IMCCs (64 male; 25 female; mean age, 62.1 years; range, 38-78 years) who underwent surgical resection between January 2005 and December 2016. Volumetric CTTA of IMCCs was performed in late arterial phase images using both fully automatic and semi-automatic liver tumor segmentation techniques. The time spent on segmentation and texture analysis was compared, and the first-order and second-order texture parameters and shape features were extracted. The reliability of CTTA parameters between the techniques was evaluated using intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs). Intra- and interobserver reproducibility of volumetric CTTAs were also obtained using ICCs. Cox proportional hazard regression were used to predict RFS using CTTA parameters and clinicopathological parameters. Results: The time spent on fully automatic tumor segmentation and CTTA was significantly shorter than that for semi-automatic segmentation: mean ± standard deviation of 1 minutes 37 seconds ± 50 seconds vs. 10 minutes 48 seconds ± 13 minutes 44 seconds (p < 0.001). ICCs of the texture features between the two techniques ranged from 0.215 to 0.980. ICCs for the intraobserver and interobserver reproducibility using fully automatic segmentation were 0.601-0.997 and 0.177-0.984, respectively. Multivariable analysis identified lower first-order mean (hazard ratio [HR], 0.982; p = 0.010), larger pathologic tumor size (HR, 1.171; p < 0.001), and positive lymph node involvement (HR, 2.193; p = 0.014) as significant parameters for shorter RFS using fully automatic segmentation. Conclusion: Volumetric CTTA parameters obtained using fully automatic segmentation could be utilized as prognostic markers in patients with IMCC, with comparable reproducibility in significantly less time compared with semi-automatic segmentation.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
• /
• v.14 no.3
• /
• pp.378-381
• /
• 2001

Sulfamethazine has been widely used in swine for prevention or treatment of infections. Recently, the safety of the drug to consumers has been questioned because of carcinogenic effects. To prevent unwanted drug residues entering the human food chain, both government authorities and industries have established extensive control measures. The demands for reliable, simple, sensitive, rapid and low-cost methods for residue analysis of foods are increasing nowadays. In this study, we established a rapid prediction test for the detection of cattle with violative tissue residues of sulfamethazine. The recommended therapeutic dose of sulfamethazine (withdrawal time, 15 days) was administered to each of 10 cattle. Blood was sampled before drug administration and during the withdrawal period. The concentration of sulfamethazine in plasma, determined by a semi-quantitative ELISA, was compared to that of an internal standard (10 ppb). The absorbance ratio of internal standard to sample (B/Bs) was employed as an index to determine whether drug residues in cattle tissues were negative or positive. That is, a B/Bs ratio less than 1 was considered residue positive and if larger than 1 was considered negative. All 10 plasma samples from non-treated cattle showed negative to sulfamethazine. Sulfamethazine was detected in plasmas of treated cattle until Day 7 of withdrawal period. The present study showed that the semi-quantitative ELISA could be easily adapted in predicting residues of sulfamethazine in live cattle.

• The Plant Pathology Journal
• /
• v.30 no.4
• /
• pp.425-431
• /
• 2014

Leaf scald caused by the infection of Rhynchosporium secalis, is a worldwide crop disease resulting in significant loss of barley yield. In this study, a systematic sequencing of expressed sequence tags (ESTs) was chosen to obtain a global picture of the assembly of genes involved in pathogenesis. To identify a large number of plant ESTs, which are induced at different time points, an amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) display of complementary DNA (cDNA) was utilized. Transcriptional changes of 140 ESTs were observed, of which 19 have no previously described function. Functional annotation of the transcripts revealed a variety of infection-induced host genes encoding classical pathogenesis-related (PR) or genes that play a role in the signal transduction pathway. The expression analyses by a semi-quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) revealed that Rar1 and Rpg4 are defense inducible genes, and were consistent with the cDNA-AFLP data in their expression patterns. Hence, the here presented transcriptomic approach provides novel global catalogue of genes not currently represented in the EST databases.

• Korean Journal of Ichthyology
• /
• v.19 no.2
• /
• pp.88-92
• /
• 2007

The effect of dexamethasone injection on the burden of marine birnavirus (MABV) in asymptomatically infected olive flounder (Paralichthys olivaceus) fingerlings was investigated. In real time PCR analysis, the threshold cycle (Ct) value of the fish injected with dexamethasone was significantly lower than that of the fish in the PBS-injected and no-handling groups. The higher amplification of the MABV gene in the dexamethasone-injected group than the 2 control groups was confirmed also by semi-quantitative RT-PCR. The results indicate an increase of MABV burden in olive flounder fingerlings after a single injection with dexamethasone.

• Smart Structures and Systems
• /
• v.24 no.1
• /
• pp.27-35
• /
• 2019

This paper proposes a quantitative criterion for optimization of actuator placement for the Prestress-Accumulation Release (PAR) strategy of mitigation of vibrations. The PAR strategy is a recently developed semi-active control approach that relies on controlled redistribution of vibration energy into high-order modes, which are high-frequency and thus effectively dissipated by means of the natural mechanisms of material damping. The energy transfer is achieved by a controlled temporary removal of selected structural constraints. This paper considers a short-time decoupling of rotational degrees of freedom in a frame node so that the bending moments temporarily cease to be transferred between the involved beams. We propose and test a quantitative criterion for placement of such actuators. The criterion is based on local modal strain energy that can be released into high-order modes. The numerical time complexity is linear with respect to the number of actuators and potential placements, which facilitates quick analysis in case of large structures.

• YAKHAK HOEJI
• /
• v.55 no.2
• /
• pp.106-115
• /
• 2011

Systematic toxicological analysis (STA) means the process for general unknown screening of drugs and toxic compounds in biological fluids. In order to establish STA, in previous study we investigated pattern of drugs & poisons in autopsy cases during 2007~2009 in Korea, and finally selected 62 drugs as target drugs for STA. In this study, rapid and simple drug identification and quantitative analytical program by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry(GC-MS) was developed. The in-house program, "DrugMan", consisted of modified chemstation data analysis menu and newly developed macro modules. Total 55 drugs among 62 target drugs were applied to this program, they were 14 antidepressants, 8 anti-histamines, 5 sedatives/hypnotics, 5 narcotic analgesics, 3 antipsychotic drugs, and etc. For calibration curves, fifty five drugs were divided into four groups of range considering their therapeutic or toxic concentrations in blood specimen, i.e. 0.05~1 mg/l, 0.1~1 mg/l, 0.1~5 mg/l or 0.5~10 mg/l. Standards spiked bloods were extracted by solid-phase extraction (SPE) with trimipramine-D3 as internal standard. Parameters such as retention times, 3 mass fragment ions, and calibration curves for each drug were registered to DrugMan. A series of identification, semi quantitation of target drugs and reporting the results were performed automatically. Calibration curves for most drugs were linear with correlation coefficients exceeding 0.98. Sensitivity rate of DrugMan was 0.90 (90%) for 55 drugs at the level of 0.5 mg/l. For standard spiked bloods at the level of 0.5 mg/l for 29 drugs, semi quantitative concentrations were ranged 0.36~0.64 mg/l by DrugMan. If more drugs are registered to database in DrugMan in further study, it will be useful tools for STA in forensic toxicology.

• Korean Journal of Mineralogy and Petrology
• /
• v.33 no.4
• /
• pp.427-437
• /
• 2020

Manganese nodules, which are evaluated as potential metal resources, have been found in the Arctic Ocean as well as in the abyssal plains of the Pacific and Indian Oceans. Manganese nodules exhibit strong variations in the morphology, internal texture, chemical composition and mineralogy as they grow. The relationship between the texture and chemical elemental composition during the growth process is well documented, but the mineral composition variation during the growth process is not. Because the manganese oxide minerals in nodules are fine-grained and poorly crystalline, quantitative analysis for the mineral composition is challenging for the bulk nodule sample. This study investigated the internal texture and Mn-oxide mineral composition of manganese nodules obtained from the East Siberian Sea. Semi-quantitative analysis was attempted for three main Mn-oxide minerals constituting the manganese nodules (i.e., todorokite, buserite and birnessite) using the peak area ratio of X-ray diffraction analysis graphs. In the East Siberian Sea manganese nodules, birnessite is more abundant than buserite or todorokite, and no correlation is found between the mineral composition and the internal texture. Instead a correlation is found between the relative content of todorokite and the lamellae depth. The todorokite content tends to increase from the surface to the core of the nodules, which can be attributed to a recrystallization process or difference in the growth rate within the nodule. This study shows that semi-quantitative analysis of manganese oxide minerals using the peak area ratio is useful in the mineralogical study of manganese nodules.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Mechanical Engineers A
• /
• v.41 no.1
• /
• pp.69-76
• /
• 2017

In this study, design of a small hybrid rocket is carried out using Failure Mode and Effects Analysis (FMEA) and Criticality Analysis(CA), which is a method for qualitative and semi-quantitative reliability analysis. In order to carry out FMEA, the structure of the hybrid rocket is divided into 31 parts and 72 potential failure modes. As a result of the FMEA, the relationship between potential failure modes, causes and effects, and their severity are evaluated qualitatively. Criticality analysis is followed for the failure modes, in which the criticality number is estimated using the failure rate information available from the handbook. Moreover, the failure modes with higher criticality and severity are chosen for improvement, and a series of design or material changes are made for the improvement of the hybrid rocket reliability.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
• /
• v.13 no.12
• /
• pp.5969-5973
• /
• 2012

Introduction: Andhra Pradesh (AP) is one of the largest tobacco producing states in India. About 29% of adults in AP currently use tobacco in some form. Almost 24% of males and 4% of females are smokers. The prevalence of tobacco use in the state is higher than the national average of 15% for male and 2% for female smokers. However, few attempts have been made to understand the current situation of tobacco control resources, activities and strategies in the context of such a high tobacco prevalence state. The present study aimed to identify the gaps in existing tobacco control program and areas where tobacco control efforts can be integrated. Methods: Data were collected using both quantitative and qualitative methods. Semi-structured interviews were undertaken with a total of 95 key officials of state health departments, program managers, and project directors in six districts to understand ongoing tobacco control efforts. To facilitate the interviews, semi-structured guides were developed. Simple descriptive statistical analysis was conducted on the quantitative data using SPSS version 17. Results: The results of the situational analysis suggest that a sufficient health workforce and infrastructure with the potential to integrate tobacco control activities is available in the surveyed districts. However, lack of integration of the tobacco control program intothe tuberculosis control program and the National Rural Health Mission was observed. Information, education and communication activities were lacking at block level health facilities. Conclusions: Our findings indicate that lack of trained health professionals, paucity of dedicated funds, lack of information, education and communication materials and low priority given to tobacco control activities are some of the factors which impede integration of tobacco control into existing health and developmental programmes in the districts of Andhra Pradesh, India.

• The Journal of The Korea Institute of Intelligent Transport Systems
• /
• v.12 no.3
• /
• pp.19-28
• /
• 2013

This study evaluated the quantitative effects of the deployment of semi-actuated signal systems using field data. For this, a semi-actuted signal system was deployed in the regional roadway network extensively. This paper investigated an operating strategy of semi-actuated signal systems for field application, and implemented the functional strategy into the standard signal controller. The performance was evaluated using three measures of effectiveness such as traffic volume, travel time, and the number of delayed vehicle. From the analysis results, traffic volume increased about 9.4% and 11.3% for morning and evening peak periods, respectively. The average travel time was reduced about 6.3% and 7.8% during morning and evening peak periods, respectively because of the expansion of bandwidths for major streets. In addition, the number of delayed vehicles was reduced about 36.4% and 23.9% for morning and evening peak periods, respectively. It is expected that the effectiveness of signal control system can be improved by incorporating a properly designed semi-actuated signal system in regional roadways with directional demand variation.