• Journal of Soil and Groundwater Environment
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.23-36
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• 2024

Miryang City, the study area, has a water supply rate of 87.4%, which is 12% lower than the national water supply rate of 99.4%, but has a high dependence on groundwater due to the high ratio of farms. In agricultural areas, contamination becomes relatively more critical, requiring significant attention to the management and conservation of groundwater resources. This study aims at estimate groundwater vulnerability of Miryang City using the DRASTIC index map, Piper diagram, and water quality data to correlated with the DRASTIC index. The results from DRASTIC map were divided into five classes: very high, high, moderate, low, and very low. The areas in central and southern part of study area, which are characterize by a very high index with [Ca-Cl] and [Na-Cl] water types, covering a large alluvium with the Miryang River and Nakdonggang River. In addition, a correlation analysis between groundwater quality parameters and the DRASTIC index was carried out. Chloride, sodium, and sulfate ions showed a weak relationship with DRASTIC index, with correlation coefficient was 0.507, 0.487 and 0.344, respectively. These results suggest that aquifer media, soil media, hydraulic conductivity, and chloride ion are important factors for groundwater vulnerability.

• Korean Journal of Radiology
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.569-579
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• 2019

Objective: To investigate the usefulness of computed tomography (CT) texture analysis (CTTA) in estimating histologic tumor grade and in predicting disease-free survival (DFS) after surgical resection in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Materials and Methods: Eighty-one patients with a single HCC who had undergone quadriphasic liver CT followed by surgical resection were enrolled. Texture analysis of tumors on preoperative CT images was performed using commercially available software. The mean, mean of positive pixels (MPP), entropy, kurtosis, skewness, and standard deviation (SD) of the pixel distribution histogram were derived with and without filtration. The texture features were then compared between groups classified according to histologic grade. Kaplan-Meier and Cox proportional hazards analyses were performed to determine the relationship between texture features and DFS. Results: SD and MPP quantified from fine to coarse textures on arterial-phase CT images showed significant positive associations with the histologic grade of HCC (p < 0.05). Kaplan-Meier analysis identified most CT texture features across the different filters from fine to coarse texture scales as significant univariate markers of DFS. Cox proportional hazards analysis identified skewness on arterial-phase images (fine texture scale, spatial scaling factor [SSF] 2.0, p < 0.001; medium texture scale, SSF 3.0, p < 0.001), tumor size (p = 0.001), microscopic vascular invasion (p = 0.034), rim arterial enhancement (p = 0.024), and peritumoral parenchymal enhancement (p = 0.010) as independent predictors of DFS. Conclusion: CTTA was demonstrated to provide texture features significantly correlated with higher tumor grade as well as predictive markers of DFS after surgical resection of HCCs in addition to other valuable imaging and clinico-pathologic parameters.

• Journal of Gastric Cancer
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.300-315
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• 2024

Purpose: Gastric cancer (GC) is among the deadliest malignancies and the third leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide. Galectin-1 (Gal-1) is a primary protein secreted by cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs); however, its role and mechanisms of action of Gal-1 in GC remain unclear. In this study, we stimulated GC cells with exogenous human recombinant galectin-1 protein (rhGal-1) to investigate its effects on the proliferation, migration, and resistance to cisplatin. Materials and Methods: We used simulated rhGal-1 protein as a paracrine factor produced by CAFs to induce GC cells and investigated its promotional effects and mechanisms in GC progression and cisplatin resistance. Immunohistochemical (IHC) assay confirmed that Gal-1 expression was associated with clinicopathological parameters and correlated with the expression of neuropilin-1 (NRP-1), c-JUN, and Wee1. Results: Our study reveals Gal-1 expression was significantly associated with poor outcomes. Gal-1 boosts the proliferation and metastasis of GC cells by activating the NRP-1/C-JUN/Wee1 pathway. Gal-1 notably increases GC cell resistance to cisplatin The NRP-1 inhibitor, EG00229, effectively counteracts these effects. Conclusions: These findings revealed a potential mechanism by which Gal-1 promotes GC growth and contributes to chemoresistance, offering new therapeutic targets for the treatment of GC.

• Journal of Cardiovascular Imaging
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.307-319
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• 2022

BACKGROUND: Current guidelines indicate electrical dyssynchrony as the major criteria for selecting patients for cardiac resynchronization therapy, and 25-35% of patients exhibit unfavorable responses to cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT). We aimed to evaluate different cardiac mechanical dyssynchrony parameters in heart failure patients using current echo-Doppler modalities and we analyzed their association with electrical dyssynchrony. METHODS: The study included 120 heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) who underwent assessments for left ventricular mechanical dyssynchrony (LVMD) and interventricular mechanical dyssynchrony (IVMD). RESULTS: Patients were classified according to QRS duration: group I with QRS < 120 ms, group II with QRS 120-149 ms, and group III with QRS ≥ 150 ms. Group III had significantly higher IVMD, LVMD indices, TS-SD speckle-tracking echocardiography (STE) 12 segments (standard deviation of time to peak longitudinal strain speckle tracking echocardiography in 12 LV-segments), and LVMD score compared with group I and group II. Group II and group III were classified according to QRS morphology into left bundle branch block (LBBB) and non-LBBB subgroups. LVMD score, TS-SD 12 TDI, and TS-SD 12 STE had good correlations with QRS duration. CONCLUSIONS: HFrEF patients with wide QRS duration (> 150 ms) had more evident LVMD compared with patients with narrow or intermediate QRS. Those patients with intermediate QRS duration (120-150 ms) had substantial LVMD assessed by both TDI and 2D STE, regardless of QRS morphology. Subsequently, we suggest that LVMD indices might be employed as additive criteria to predict CRT response in that patient subgroup. Electrical and mechanical dyssynchrony were strongly correlated in HFrEF patients.

• Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.231-239
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• 2024

Geray Reservoir is home to some fish species including Varicorhinus beso, Cyprinus carpio, Carasius carasius, Oreochromis niloticus, and Tilapia randelli. The V. beso is among the top fish-farming species for the reservoir. However, this data on total fish catch showed that the fish population is declining as a result of overexploitation of the stock. The purpose of this study was to set some management measures for the Geray reservoir using some biometric data on the most commonly caught fish-V. beso. A total of 170 fish samples (102 females and 68 males) ranging from 21 to 40.2 cm in total length (TL) and 94.6 to 618.4 g in total weight (TW) were gathered between October 2022 and May 2022 using a cast net with a mesh size of 6 cm. Nonetheless, it is thought that the sampling period is sufficient because the fish were spawning more during the month when the data was collected because of the high concentration of nutrients during that time. The overall male-to-female sex ratio in the population was 1:1.5, which differed considerably from the real ratio of 1:1 (x² = 6.8; p < 0.01). V. beso in the Geray reservoir exhibited virtually an isometric growth (b = 3) considering the length-weight relationships of males (TW = 0.0122TL^2.993) and females (TW = 0.0114TL^3.0139). The V. beso had an absolute fecundity (AF) of 2,190 to 11,265 eggs. AF was significantly correlated with TL, TW, and gonad weight (p < 0.01). V. beso's reproductive season peaked between November and May, with the gonadosomatic index ranging from 0.02 to 20.12 for females and 0.03 to 5.67 for males. The average V. beso condition factors for both sexes were higher than 1, indicating that the fish in the reservoir had properly developed, which may be the result of favorable habitat conditions.

• Journal of Korean Society of Coastal and Ocean Engineers
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• v.26 no.5
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• pp.278-284
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• 2014

Water temperature due to climate change can be estimated using the air temperature because the air and water temperatures are closely related and the water temperatures have been widely used as the indicators of the environmental and ecological changes. It is highly necessary to estimate the frequency distribution of the air and water temperatures, for the climate change derives the change of the coastal water temperatures. In this study, the distribution function of the air temperatures is estimated by using the long-term coastal air temperature data sets in Korea. The candidate distribution function is the bi-modal distribution function used in the previous studies, such as Cho et al.(2003) on tidal elevation data and Jeong et al.(2013) on the coastal water temperature data. The parameters of the function are optimally estimated based on the least square method. It shows that the optimal parameters are highly correlated to the basic statistical informations, such as mean, standard deviation, and skewness coefficient. The RMS error of the parameter estimation using statistical information ranges is about 5 %. In addition, the bimodal distribution fits good to the overall frequency pattern of the air temperature. However, it can be regarded as the limitations that the distribution shows some mismatch with the rapid decreasing pattern in the high-temperature region and the some small peaks.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.13 no.11
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• pp.5615-5622
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• 2012

Seasonal distributions of the viral abundance and physicochemical parameters were analyzed at three different regions in Gwangyang Bay. Morphological structure of marine virus was observed using transmission electron microscopy. Most of marine virus had bacteriophage-like structure, but some were similar with eukaryotic microalgal virus, Ectocarpus siliculosus virus (EsV). Viral abundance at Group 1 (closed eutrophic region) was higher than viral abundances at Group 2 (closed oligotrophic region) and Group 3 (open oligotrophic region). Seasonal abundances of marine virus at Group 1 were dynamically changed. The viral density was variably changed from maximum $7.33{\times}10^8ml^{-1}$ in August to minimum $0.3{\times}10^8ml^{-1}$ in December and maintained middle value in spring and autumn. The concentration of nitrogen and phosphate sources was correlated with viral abundance. Particularly, seasonal change of dissolved oxygen concentration was opposite to the variation of viral abundance. These results showed that viral abundances were closely related with fluctuation of marine physicochemical environment in Gwangyang bay.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.590-595
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• 2008

The aim of our study was to research the effect of overfeeding on plasma parameters and mRNA expression of genes associated with hepatic lipogenesis in the Sichuan white goose and Landes goose. Fifty-four male Landes geese and 57 male Sichuan white geese were hatched on the same day under the same feeding conditions. After overfeeding for 14 days, (1) extrahepatic adipose tissues grew greatly in the Sichuan white geese, while more lipid accumulated in liver tissue in the Landes geese. (2) Sichuan white geese had a higher plasma concentration of triacylglycerols (TG), lipoproteins and insulin than the Landes geese. However, the Landes geese exhibited higher increase of plasma concentrations of TG, lipoproteins and insulin, with greater decrease of the diacylglycerol acyltransferase 2 (DGAT2) activity and DGAT2 mRNA level and a smller decrease of plasma glucose concentration. In addition, the mRNA level of MTP and LPL in liver was down- and up- regulated by overfeeding, respectively. (3) The correlations between the activity of LPL and the proportions of subcutaneous adipose tissue, abdominal adipose tissue, and liver weight, and the plasma concentration of VLDL were different in the two breeds. (4) The proportion of fatty liver weight was positively correlated to plasma concentrations of VLDL and TG in the overfed Sichuan white geese. Such a relationship did not exist in the Landes geese. (5) The activity of DGAT2 and its mRNA abundance in liver had significant negative correlations with the TG content in liver lipid and plasma insulin level in the Landes geese, while in the Sichuan white geese they had negative correlation (p>0.05) with TG concentration in liver lipid and had significant positive correlation with VLDL and TG concentrations in plasma.

• Journal of the Earthquake Engineering Society of Korea
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• v.24 no.6
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• pp.253-266
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• 2020

The extended slip-weakening model was investigated by using a compiled set of source-spectrum-related parameters, i.e. seismic moment M_o, S-wave velocity V_s, corner-frequency f_c, and source-controlled high-cut frequency fmax, for 113 shallow crustal earthquakes (focal depth less than 25 km, M_W 3.0~7.5) that occurred in Japan from 1987 to 2016. The investigation was focused on the characteristics of stress drop, radiation energy-to-seismic moment ratio, radiation efficiency, and fracture energy release rate, G_c. The scaling relationships of those source parameters were also investigated and compared with those in previous studies, which were based on generally used singular models with the dimensionless numbers corresponding to f_c given by Brune and Madariaga. The results showed that the stress drop from the singular model with Madariaga's dimensionless number was equivalent to the breakdown stress drop, as well as Brune's effective stress, rather than to static stress drop as has been usually assumed. The scale dependence of stress drop showed a different tendency in accordance with the size category of the earthquakes, which may be divided into small-moderate earthquakes and moderate-large earthquakes by comparing to M_o = 10¹⁷~10¹⁸ Nm. The scale dependence was quite similar to that shown by Kanamori and Rivera. The scale dependence was not because of a poor dynamic range of recorded signals or missing data as asserted by Ide and Beroza, but rather it was because of the scale dependent V_r-induced local similarity of spectrum as shown in a previous study by the authors. The energy release rate G_c with respect to breakdown distance D_c from the extended slip-weakening model coincided with that given by Ellsworth and Beroza in a study on the rupture nucleation phase; and the empirical relationship given by Abercrombie and Rice can represent the results from the extended slip-weakening model, the results from laboratory stick-slip experiments by Ohnaka, and the results given by Ellsworth and Beroza simultaneously. Also the energy flux into the breakdown zone was well correlated with the breakdown stress drop, ${\tilde{e}}$ and peak slip velocity of the fault faces. Consequently, the investigation results indicate the appropriateness of the extended slip-weakening model.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Hazard Mitigation
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• v.8 no.5
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• pp.59-64
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• 2008

The urban is possessing of various landuses such as commercial, industrial, residential and official areas. All of these landuses is including the paved areas that are roads and parking lots. The NPS (nonpoint sources) pollutants are generally originated from pavement areas in urban by human activities. Especially the roads are stormwater intensive landuses because of high vehicle activities and high imperviousness. The main NPS pollutants from roads are particulates and metals from vehicles and pavements. The Korea MOE (Ministry of Environment) is developing the NPS control program to reduce the NPS pollutants from the basins. However, it is not easy to control the NPS because it has high uncertainty by characteristics of rainfalls and watersheds. Therefore, this research was conducted on characterizing the runoff and providing mean EMC from roads. The monitoring were performed for total 16 rainfall events from a road in Youngin City since 2006. The results show that the TSS is highly correlated with other pollutant parameters. The statistical regression models using TSS EMC have been developed to easily determine the EMC of other pollutant parameters.