• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
• /
• v.17 no.6
• /
• pp.2781-2785
• /
• 2016

Background: Matric metalloproteinase (MMP) 13 gene expression is increased in esophageal squamous cell carcinomas (ESCCs) and associated with increasing tumor invasion, lymph node involvement and decreased survival rates. Levels of the circulating enzyme may be elevated and used as a marker of tumor progression. In this study, clinical application of MMP-13 serum levels was evaluated for early detection, prediction of prognosis and survival time of ESCC patients. Materials and Methods: Serum levels of MMP13 were determined by ELISA in 66 ESCC patients prior of any treatment and 54 healthy controls for comparison with clinicopathological data through statistical analysis with Man Whitney U and Log-Rank tests. In addition, clinical value of MMP13 levels for diagnosis was evaluated by receiver operating characteristic (ROC) test. Results: The serum level of MMP-13 in patients (>250 pg/ml) was significantly higher than in the control group (<100 pg/ml) (p value=0.004). Also the results showed a significant correlation between MMP-13 serum levels with tumor stage (p value = 0.003), depth of tumor invasion (p value=0.008), involvement of lymph nodes (p value = 0.011), tumor size (p value = 0.018) and survival time. While there were no significant correlation with grade and location of tumors. ROC analysis showed that MMP-13 level is an accurate diagnostic marker especially to differentiate pre-invasive/ invasive lesions from normal controls (sensitivity and specificity: 100%). Conclusions: These findings indicate a potential clinical significance of serum MMP13 measurement for early detection and prognostic assessment in ESCC patients.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
• /
• v.25 no.1
• /
• pp.1-16
• /
• 2021

Machine learning models have been widely used for landslide susceptibility assessment (LSA) in recent years. The large number of inputs or conditioning factors for these models, however, can reduce the computation efficiency and increase the difficulty in collecting data. Feature selection is a good tool to address this problem by selecting the most important features among all factors to reduce the size of the input variables. However, two important questions need to be solved: (1) how do feature selection methods affect the performance of machine learning models? and (2) which feature selection method is the most suitable for a given machine learning model? This paper aims to address these two questions by comparing the predictive performance of 13 feature selection-based machine learning (FS-ML) models and 5 ordinary machine learning models on LSA. First, five commonly used machine learning models (i.e., logistic regression, support vector machine, artificial neural network, Gaussian process and random forest) and six typical feature selection methods in the literature are adopted to constitute the proposed models. Then, fifteen conditioning factors are chosen as input variables and 1,017 landslides are used as recorded data. Next, feature selection methods are used to obtain the importance of the conditioning factors to create feature subsets, based on which 13 FS-ML models are constructed. For each of the machine learning models, a best optimized FS-ML model is selected according to the area under curve value. Finally, five optimal FS-ML models are obtained and applied to the LSA of the studied area. The predictive abilities of the FS-ML models on LSA are verified and compared through the receive operating characteristic curve and statistical indicators such as sensitivity, specificity and accuracy. The results showed that different feature selection methods have different effects on the performance of LSA machine learning models. FS-ML models generally outperform the ordinary machine learning models. The best FS-ML model is the recursive feature elimination (RFE) optimized RF, and RFE is an optimal method for feature selection.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
• /
• v.30 no.6
• /
• pp.487-500
• /
• 2021

To evaluate the geochemical characteristics and assess the pollution in surface sediments of the Nakdong River estuary, two sites adjacent to the estuary bank (Hh1 and Hh2) and one site at the upper part of the estuary bank (Hh3) were investigated. The surface sediments were analyzed for their contents of metals (Cu, Pb, Ni, Cr, Zn, and Al), organic matter (IL, COD, TOC, and TN), and grain size from 2018 to 2020. As a result of the pollution assessment, there was little anthropogenic contamination by most of the metals. The surface sediments in Hh2 had comparatively abundant silt and clay, whereas the other sites were mainly composed of sand. The organic index and contents of organic matter were highest at Hh2. Multivariate statistical analyses (cluster analysis and Pearson correlation analysis) showed that the contents of organic matter and pollution were associated with fine sediment. These results suggest that the geochemical characteristics were changed by the estuary bank built in the research area and that the increase in fine sediment attributable to the low-energy environment resulted in an increase in organic matter pollution.

• Research in Community and Public Health Nursing
• /
• v.32 no.4
• /
• pp.415-429
• /
• 2021

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to develop the Self-Care Non-adherence Risk Assessment Scale (SCNRAS) for patients with chronic illness in South Korea. Methods: This study was conducted from April to July, 2020 and utilized a convenience sampling method to recruit 336 patients with chronic illness from three hospitals located in South Korea. The content, factorial structure, item-convergent/discriminant validity, convergent validity, internal consistency reliability, and test-retest reliability of the scale were evaluated. The data were analyzed using exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses, Pearson's correlation coefficient, Cronbach's α, and intra-class correlation coefficient. Results: The exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses yielded six-factors. Convergent validity was demonstrated using measures of defining issues. Internal consistency reliability and test-retest reliability were found to be acceptable, as indicated by a Cronbach's α of .65~.81 and an intra-class correlation coefficient of .93~.98. The Self-Care Non-adherence Risk Assessment Scale for patients with chronic illness is a new instrument that comprehensively measures the knowledge, skill, physical function status, access to health care, social support, motivation, and confidence. It comprises 18 items scored on a 5-point Likert scale. The validity and reliability of the scale were verified. Conclusion: The scale developed through this study is expected to screen those who need nursing intervention early by predicting the self-care non-adherence risk group.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
• /
• v.52 no.1
• /
• pp.52-65
• /
• 2022

Purpose: This study was conducted to develop a scale to measure spiritual distress in cancer patients. Methods: A total of 69 preliminary items for the spiritaul distress assessment tool (SDAT) were compiled, based on a literature review, selection of empirically relevant items through concept analysis of hybrid models, confirmation of content validity by experts, cognitive interviews, and a pretest. Self-administered questionnaires were collected between April 1 and July 31, 2018, from 225 cancer patients at four medical institutions and one nursing home. The data were analyzed using item analysis, exploratory factor analysis, convergent and discriminant validity, and Pearson correlation for criterion validity. Reliability was tested by Cronbash's α coefficient. Results: The final version of the SDAT consisted of 20 items. Five-factors, loss of peace, burden of family, avoidance of confronting death, guilt and remorse, regret for not being able to apololgize and forgive were extracted, and showed 62.8% of total variance. The factors were confirmed through convergent and discriminant validity. Criterion validity was confirmed by functional assessment chronic illness therapy spiritual well-being scale 12 (FACIT-Sp12). The overall Cronbach's α was .91, and the coefficients of each subscale ranged from .78~.83. Conclusion: The SDAT for cancer patients is valid and reliable. It is suggested that the tool can be used to measure spiritual distress in cancer patients.

• Journal of Korean Dental Hygiene Science
• /
• v.5 no.2
• /
• pp.145-153
• /
• 2022

Background: The purpose of this study was to analyze the association between the Geriatric Oral Health Assessment Index (GOHAI) and Quality of Life (QoL) between urban and rural residents in Koreausing data from the Korea Longitudinal Study of Aging (KLoSA). Methods: This study was analyzed using the SPSS 20.0 program (IBM SPSS Statistics), and a t-test was performed for difference between GOHAI and QoL, and a multiple regression analysis was used for association between the independent and dependent variables with confounding variables corrected. The statistical significance was p<0.05. Results: Urban residents' average QoL was statistically significantly higher rural residents'(Table 1, p>0.05). For subjects under the age of 65, the QoL increased by 0.30 points for urban residents and 0.39 points for rural residents according to GOHAI increased by one unit (Table 2, p>0.05). Also, for subjects aged 65 years or older, the QoL increased by 0.42 points for urban residents and 0.61 points for rural residents according to the GOHAI, increasing by one unit (Table 3, p>0.05). Conclusion: Through the results of this study, the quality of life of rural residents was lower than that of urban residents. The GOHAI had a stronger impact on QoL among rural residents than in urban areas. In order to address the disparity in QoL between urban and rural residents, it was believed that policies aimed at improving oral health for rural residents should b etaken in to account.

• Journal of People, Plants, and Environment
• /
• v.22 no.3
• /
• pp.255-268
• /
• 2019

Horticultural therapy, as a kind of complementary alternative therapies using nature as a medium, is an intervention method that can be applied to various subjects by utilizing horticultural activities that anyone can enjoy as a leisure activity. This research defined the resilience of individuals as a personal characteristic, and examined differences in the intervention effect of horticultural activities depending on the level of resilience. The results obtained in this study can be utilized in planning a horticultural activity program and setting the purpose and goals of horticultural activity programs. The subjects of this study were divided into the high resilience experimental group (Group A), the low resilience experimental Group (Group C), the high resilience control group (Group B), and the low resilience control group (Group D). The experiment was conducted in the campus of G University from September to November 2017, and the experimental group participated in the program once per week, a total of 10 sessions. The Korean version of the Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale, autonomic nervous assessment, and the interpersonal relationship change scale were carried out as pre- and post-assessment. Statistical analysis was performed using a non-parametric test. Group A showed statistically significant positive changes in relaxation of physical tension and stability. In conclusion, those with high resilience showed the higher intervention effects of horticultural activities on physical relaxation and stability than those with low resilience. However, there were some possible limitations in this study. Since the number of subjects was small and subjects were limited to college students, it is impossible to generalize the results of this study. Therefore, it is necessary to conduct follow-up studies to address and overcome these limitations.

• Industry Promotion Research
• /
• v.8 no.4
• /
• pp.29-36
• /
• 2023

In order to prevent industrial accidents, this study presented a methodology to ensure that risk aggravating factors are reflected in risk assessments at manufacturing sites and demonstrated it by applying it to actual manufacturing sites. As a result of a statistical analysis of all 242,906 accidents that occurred in the manufacturing industry over the past 10 years, new workers less than 6 months old, foreign workers, older workers over 55 years old, and jobs where hands and arms are exposed to risk areas, Non-routine work performed from 9 o'clock to 12 o'clock showed a significantly high accident rate. In addition, a weighted value was applied to estimate the possibility of an accident at the risk determination stage through focus group interviews. Through the results of this study, risk weighting factors can be quantitatively reflected in risk assessment, which is meaningful in preventing accidents by evaluating the size of the identified risk closer.

• Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
• /
• v.27 no.1
• /
• pp.7-16
• /
• 2024

Fishing is considered one of the most dangerous industries alongside mining that needs further efforts to improve safety. In this study, we have investigated safety management of the gillnet fishing industry in South Korea through identifying safety level and classifying common accident types from the statements of accident com-pensation insurance payments for the last 5 years (2016-2020). There were in total 3,895 accidents and 159 fatalities with an average accident frequency of 5.34 × 10^-2 per year per fisher and an average fatality of 2.18 × 10^-3 fishers per year. We have also identified that 62.4% of the accidents occurred during Fishing (FS), and the most common and the most severe accident type is Slips and Trips (ST) and Other (OT) marine accidents such as collision and capsizing, respectively. The hand was most frequently injured. Finally, the risk assessment indicated that most of the accident types of gillnet fishing in South Korea have unacceptable levels of risks, and it is urgent to implement improved safety measures to reduce accidents during gillnet fishing operation. The findings of this study are expected to provide valuable data to create a safer working environment for fishers working on gillnet fishing vessels.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Environmental Restoration Technology
• /
• v.26 no.6
• /
• pp.117-133
• /
• 2023

This study assessed the ecological health of border areas using the ecological health index and suggested Indicators for maintaining and promoting ecological values. We analyzed the change trends, pressures, and resilience of ecosystems and services in border areas, and identified their current status and sustainability. The main findings were: (1) ecological assets and ecosystem services in border areas could be compared through ecosystem health assessment; (2) it can be used to set priorities for management and conservation by identifying the relative importance and vulnerability of ecosystems and ecosystem services in each border area; and (3) the index presented in this study can be judged to have explanatory power for the characteristics of border areas and ecosystem health when compared to previous studies. Limitations of this study include the lack of literature and statistical data at the local government level and the resulting limited application of evaluation methods, which limited direct regional comparisons. To overcome the research limitations, further studies are needed, such as establishing ecological information in border areas, mapping and assessment of ecosystem services, and developing and applying assessments that reflect the opinions and participation of various stakeholders. This study was the first attempt to assess the health of ecosystems and ecosystem services in border areas and provided an important baseline for future changes in border areas. In the future, it will be helpful in national and local government policies and ecological assetecosystem management by supplementing insufficient information and presenting clear goals.