• Proceedings of the KSEG Conference
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• 2005.04a
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• pp.101-106
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• 2005

The three-dimensional Tomography developed by Kim and Bae(2004) was applied to 64,024 P and 64,618 S wave arrival times observed at 238 seismic stations for 4050 local earthquakes in the depth range from 0 to 300 km in and around Hokkaido, Japan. High and low velocity zones for Vp/Vs were clearly imaged in and around Hokkaido. The upper seismic planes of the double seismic zone (DSZ) were found in the subducted Pacific Plate beneath Hokkaido at depth of 40- 80 km, which produced high seismicity around Hokkaido. The findings of high Vp/Vs anomalies beneath the Moho discontinuity supports an evidence of a surface triple-collision hypothesis prepared by Moriya(1994) that the Kuril Arc(Okhotsk Plate or North American Plate) is colliding against the NE Japanese Arc(Amurian Plate or Eurasian Plate), along and beneath the Hidaka Mountain Range, and at the same time the Pacific Plate is subducting into these two plates, making an equilibrium of tectonic forces along the Hikada Mountain Range (HMR) corner and the central tectonic axis(142 ~ 143E) in Hokkaido. The low Vp and Vs were also found in east and west along the central tectonic axis in which the focal mechanism represents the extensional forces. These phenomena are also consistent with low Bouguer gravity anomalies in this region. It is understood why most of great earthquakes occurred outside Hokkaido where the balance of tectonic forces are breaking from the triple junction of three tectonic forces in Hokkaido.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.16 no.13
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• pp.5557-5563
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• 2015

Background: Cholelithiasis is associated in 54%-98% of patients with carcinoma of the gallbladder, and a high incidence among females suggests a role of female hormones in the etiology of the disease. Cytochrome $P450C17{\alpha}$ (CYP-17) is a key enzyme involved in estrogen metabolism and polymorphisms in CYP-17 are associated with altered serum levels of estrogens. Thus, we investigated whether the CYP-17 MspA1 gene polymorphism might impact on risk of gall bladder cancers or gallstones, as well as to determine if this gene polymorphism might be linked with estrogen serum levels and lipid profile among the North Indian gall bladder cancer or gallstone patients. Materials and Methods: CYP-17 gene polymorphisms (MspA1) were genotyped with PCR-RFLP in cancer patients (n=96), stone patients (n=102), cancer + stone patients (n=52) and age/sex matched control subjects (n= 256). Lipid profile was estimated using a commercial kit and serum estrogen was measured using ELISA. Results: The majority of the patients in all groups were females. The lipid profile and estrogen level were significantly higher among the study as compared to control groups. The frequency of mutant allele A2 of CYP17 MspA1 gene polymorphism was higher among cancer (OR=5.13, 95% CI+3.10-8.51, p=0.0001), stone (OR=5.69, 95%CI=3.46-9.37, p=0.0001) and cancer + stone (OR=3.54, 95%CI=1.90-6.60, p=0.0001) when compared with the control group. However there was no significant association between genotypes of CYP17 MspA1 gene polymorphism and circulating serum level of estrogen and lipid profile. Conclusions: A higher frequency of mutant genotype A1A2 as well as mutant allele A2 of CYP-17 gene polymorphism is significantly associated with risk of gallbladder cancer and stones. Elevated levels of estrogen and an altered lipid profile can be used as predictors ofgall bladder stones and cancer in post menopausal females in India.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.13 no.7
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• pp.3451-3454
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• 2012

Background: Esophageal cancer in Iran is the sixth most common cancer and is particularly important in east Azerbaijan. The aim of this study was to calculate survival rates and define prognostic factors in esophageal cancer patients. Methods: In this study, all patients with esophageal cancer registered in the Radiation Therapy Center, during March 2006 to March 2011, were analyzed and followed up for vital status. Data were analyzed using the Kaplan-Meier method and the Cox proportional hazard models. Results: Out of 532 patients, survival information was available for 460, including 205 (44/ 5%) females and 255 (55/4%) males. The mean age was $65.8{\pm}12.2$, ranging from 29 to 90 years at the time of diagnosis. 1-, 3- and 5-year survival rates after diagnosis were 55%, 18% and 12%, respectively, with a median survival time of $13.2{\pm}.7$ (CI 95% =11.8-14.6) months. In the univariate analysis, age (P=0/001), education (P=0/001), smoking status (P= 0/001), surgery (P= 0/001), tumor differentiation (P= 0/003) and tumor stage (P= 0/001) were significant prognostic factors. Tumor morphology, sex, place of residence, tumor histology and tumor location did not show any significant effects on the survival rate. In multivariate analysis, age (P = 0/003), smoking (P= 0/01) and tumor stage (P= 0/001) were significant independent predictors of survival. Conclusion: In summary, prognosis of esophageal cancer in North West of Iran is poor. Therefore, reduction in exposure to risk factors and early detection should be emphasized to improve survival.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.13 no.3
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• pp.999-1002
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• 2012

Epirus is a rural area of North-Western Greece. We reviewed data from 4 hospitals for 4.975 patients who underwent prostate biopsy in Epirus in the twelve year period from 1999 to 2010. Two six -year periods were compared (1999-2004 and 2004-2010). All cases of prostate cancer confirmed by biopsy were recorded and age-standardized incidence rates per 100,000 males were calculated. We also recorded the clinical stage for patients diagnosed in our hospital and correlated this with PSA and Gleason scores. Percentage of positive prostate biopsies was also calculated. There were a total of 1714 new cases during 1999-2010 and the mean annual age-adjusted incidence was 34/100.000. The mean incidences during 1999-2004 and 2005-2010 were 26/100,000 and 42/100,000, respectively. The mean age at diagnosis was 74. The most common Gleason score was 6 and the prevalent clinical stage was T2. Median PSA at diagnosis was 10.8 ng/ml. There was a significant difference between stage cT4 and all other stages regarding PSA value (p=0.000). A positive correlation was found between Gleason score and PSA (p=0.013). These results are in accordance with the incidence rise recorded in neighboring countries of South-East Europe. However we should keep in mind the risk of overdiagnosis and the detection of low-risk cancers that would not have caused morbidity or death during a man's lifetime anyway.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.17 no.7
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• pp.3431-3436
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• 2016

Background: Carcinogenesis is a multifaceted intricate cellular mechanism of transformation of the normal functions of a cell into neoplastic alterations. Metastasis may result in failure of conventional treatment and death Hence, research on metastatic suppressors in cancer is a high priority. The metastatic suppressor gene CD82, also known as KAI1, is a member of the transmembrane 4 superfamily which was first identified in carcinoma of prostate. Little work has been done on this gene in breast cancer. Herein, we aimed to determine the gene and protein level expression of CD82/KAI1 in breast cancer and its role as a prognosticator. Materials and Methods: In this study, 83 histologically proven cases of breast cancer and a similar number of controls were included. Patient age ranged from 18-70 years. Quantitative Real Time Polymerase Chain Reaction (q-RT PCR) and immunohistochemistry (IHC) were used to investigate KAI1 expression at gene and protein levels, respectively. Statistical analysis was done to correlate expression of KAI1 and clinicopathological parameters. Results: It was revealed that: (i) KAI1 was remarkably diminished in metastatic vs non metastatic breast cancer both at the gene and the protein levels (P < .05); (ii) KAI1 expression levels were strongly correlated with TNM staging, histological grade and advanced stage (p<0.001) and no association was found with any other studied parameter; (iii) Lastly, a significant correlation was observed between expression of KAI1 and overall median survival of BC patients (P = 0.04). Conclusions: Our results suggest that lack of expression of the KAI1 might indicate a more aggressive form of breast cancer. Loss of KAI1 may be considered a significant prognostic marker in predicting metastatic manifestation. When evaluated along with the clinical and pathological factors, KAI1 expression may be beneficial to tailor aggressive therapeutic strategies for such patients.

• Atmosphere
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.565-571
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• 2014

A long-range prediction system of tropical cyclone (TC) activity over the western North Pacific (WNP) has been operated in the National Typhoon Center of the Korea Meteorological Administration since 2012. The model forecasts the spatial distribution of TC tracks averaged over the period June~October. In this study, we separately developed TC prediction models for summer (June~August) and autumn (September~November) period based on the current operating system. To perform the three-month WNP TC activity prediction procedure readily, we modified the shell script calling in environmental variables automatically. The user can apply the model by changing these environmental variables of namelist parameter in consideration of their objective. The validations for the two seasons demonstrate the great performance of predictions showing high pattern correlations between hindcast and observed TC activity. In addition, we developed a post-processing script for deducing TC activity in the Korea emergency zone from final forecasting map and its skill is discussed.

• Journal of Korean Society for Atmospheric Environment
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.487-498
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• 2006

Total 438 precipitation samples were collected in Jeju City between 1997 and 2005, and their major ionic components were analyzed. The comparison tests using ion balance, electric conductivity and acid fraction were performed. It was found their correlation coefficients were in the range of 0.977$\sim$0.994, indicating the good quality of collected dam. The volume-weighted mean pH and electric conductivity were 4.8 and 23.0 $\mu$S/cm, respectively. with the ionic strength of 0.23$\pm$0.20 mM. The marine ($Na^+$, $Mg^{2+}$, and $CI^-$), anthropogenic (nss$SO_4{2-}$, $NO_3^-$, and $NH_4^+$) and soil (nss-$Ca^{2+}$) species have contributed to the ionic components of precipitation samples with 43$\sim$74%, 16$\sim$37% and $\sim$5%, respectively. The seasonal variations of $NO_3^-$ and nss-$SO_4^{2-}$ showed a distinct seasonality with higher concentrations in winter than summer, indicating an increase of fossil fuel consumption and a possibility of long-range transport of those pollutants from continental area along the dominant winter westerly. The levels of nss-$Ca^{2+}$ also were appeared the highest in winter and increased comparatively in spring season. possibly due to the soil influences including the Asian Dust. The acidification contribution of nss-$SO_4^{2-}$ and $NO_3^-$ showed 88$\sim$96%, and the free acidity was in the range of 6.0$\sim$40.1%. Interestingly, the backward trajectories for the case of upper 10% nss-$SO_4^{2-}$ and $NO_3^-$ levels have passed through the China continent before their arrival to Jeju. The precipitation of pH below 4.5 has been occurred frequently when the trajectory's path lied over the China continents. On the other hand, the air masses from the North Pacific area were characterized by lower 10% of nss-$SO_4^{2-}$- and $NO_3^-$ concentration, which demonstrated that air mass from the North Pacific was the cleanest among air masses moved to Jeju.

• Journal of the Korean association of regional geographers
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• v.2 no.2
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• pp.103-111
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• 1996

I followed the results of Lee and Min(1996) for classification of the months of cold and warm winter. The winter of 1992 and 1984 recorded extraordinary cold and warm. Study of the Synoptic Climatology on the January's cold and warm winter is below: (1) Climatology's characteristic. Temperature of extremely high temperature month is higher compared with extremely low temperature month. Also precipitation is more than over low temperature month compared with extremely high temperature month. (2) In circulation of 500hPa surface. (1) Extremely high temperature month At 500hPa, negative geopotential height anomalies in high latitude, three trough developed over eastern Canada. In midlatitude, a deep trough persisted in the central North Pacific and conspicuous positive height anomalies showed over northwestern Europe, Where a blocking anticyclone developed. It had been warmer than normal since last year in Korea due mainly to positive height anomalies stretched from central Siberia (2) Extremely low temperature month Appeared the strong meridional circulation and negative height anomalies showed from Far East to the Mid-Pacific and appeared ridge in the west of the North America and Atlantic. Alutien Low shows negative deviation during 1984. In northern hemisphere shows negative deviation. Therefore, we can show that the surface pressure distribution and height distribution of 500hPa level are closely connected with each other as parts of general circulation. (3) The characteristics of the general circulation pattern of the 500hPa (1) Extremely high temperature month is high than extremely low temperature month1984 in Zonal index (2) The majority type is S type in 500hPa level circulation of extremely high temperature month but extremely high temperature month is M type (3) The wave number in 500hPa all shows 3 wave. So can not distinguished by only predominant wave number pattern.

• Journal of the Korean Geographical Society
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• v.46 no.3
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• pp.277-290
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• 2011

Changes of the characteristics in summer rainfall in the Republic of Korea by the regime shift and their causes were examined by analyzing long-term observational data. There has been an abrupt increase in rainfall variability since 1998, which was mainly due to the enhanced rainfall during August~September, although the gradual increase was also detected in June~July. In June~July, the enhanced rainfall developed as a band type covering the whole East Asia while in August~September, it is only found over the Republic of Korea with the greatest increase of 130 mm over Seoul and Gyeonggi area. The two intensified anticyclonic anomalies over the north-northwest/east of the Republic of Korea resulted in producing northerlies/southeasterlies, transporting cold/warm-wet air flows, respectively. The center of the convergence zone from the two separate systems located in the Republic of Korea, leading to a favorable condition for the development of the extreme rainfall. The enhanced barotropic anticyclonic anomalies also affected in warming the sea surface temperature anomalies covering from the eastern coast of East Asia to North Pacific Ocean, which in turn leaded to enhance warm air transporting back to the Republic of Korea.

• Journal of the Korean earth science society
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.223-233
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• 2009

Three-dimensional (3-D) optimally-interpolated sea surface temperature (SST) field was produced by using AQUA/AMSR-E satellite data, and its limitations were described by comparing the temporal average of sea surface temperatures. The 3-D OI (Optimum Interpolation) SST showed a small error of less than $0.05^{\circ}C$ in the central North Pacific, but yielded large errors of greater than $0.4^{\circ}C$ at the coastal area where the satellite microwave data were not available. OI SST composite around pixels with no observation due to heavy rainfall or cloudy pixels had estimation errors of $0.1-0.15^{\circ}C$. Comparison with temporal means showed a tendency that overall OI SSTs were underestimated around heavy cloudy pixels and smoothed out by reducing the magnitude of SST fronts. In the low-latitude areas near the equator, OI SST field produced discontinuity, originated from the window size for the OI procedure. This was mainly caused by differences in the spatial scale of oceanic features. Infernal Rossby deformation radius, as a measure of spatial stale, showed dominant latitudinal variations with O(1) difference in the North Pacific. This study suggests that OI SST methodology should consider latitudinally-varying size of window and the characteristics of spatial scales of oceanic phenomena with substantial dependency on latitude and vertical structure of density.