• Title/Summary/Keyword: the South Pacific

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Redescription of Desmotimmia mirabilis (Timm, 1961) (Nematoda, Desmoscolecida, Desmoscolecidae) from South Korea

  • Chang, Cheon-Young
    • Animal Systematics, Evolution and Diversity
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    • v.24 no.2
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    • pp.199-203
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    • 2008
  • Desmotimmia mirabilis (Timm), a rarely known desmoscolecid nematode species, was discovered for the first time from the Yellow Sea off southwestern coast of Korea. This is the third record of the species, and the first report from the northwestern Pacific region. Redescription is prepared on the basis of a male specimen from South Korea.

Expression and Clinical Significance of REPS2 in Human Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma

  • Zhang, Hang;Duan, Chao-Jun;Zhang, Heng;Cheng, Yuan-Da;Zhang, Chun-Fang
    • Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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    • v.14 no.5
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    • pp.2851-2857
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    • 2013
  • Objective: REPS2 plays important roles in inhibiting cell proliferation, migration and in inducing apoptosis of cancer cells, now being identified as a useful biomarker for favorable prognosis in prostate and breast cancers. The purpose of this study was to assess REPS2 expression and to explore its role in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC). Methods: Protein expression of REPS2 in ESCCs and adjacent non-cancerous tissues from 120 patients was analyzed by immunohistochemistry and correlated with clinicopathological parameters and patient outcome. Additionally, thirty paired ESCC tissues and four ESCC cell lines and one normal human esophageal epithelial cell line were evaluated for REPS2 mRNA and protein expression levels by quantitative RT-PCR and Western blotting. Results: REPS2 mRNA and protein expression levels were down-regulated in ESCC tissues and cell lines. Low protein levels were significantly associated with primary tumour, TNM stage, lymph node metastasis and recurrence (all, P < 0.05). Survival analysis demonstrated that decreased REPS2 expression was significantly associated with shorter overall survival and disease-free survival (both, P < 0.001), especially in early stage ESCC patients. When REPS2 expression and lymph node metastasis status were combined, patients with low REPS2 expression/lymph node (+) had both poorer overall and disease-free survival than others (both, P < 0.001). Cox multivariate regression analysis further revealed REPS2 to be an independent prognostic factor for ESCC patients. Conclusions: Our findings demonstrate that downregulation of REPS2 may contribute to malignant progression of ESCC and represent a novel prognostic marker and a potential therapeutic target for ESCC patients.

Information Technology Continuance Research: Current State and Future Directions

  • Bhattacherjee, Anol;Barfar, Arash
    • Asia pacific journal of information systems
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    • v.21 no.2
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    • pp.1-18
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    • 2011
  • Contemporary research on information technology (IT) continuance is plagued by inadequate understanding of the continuance concept and inappropriate use of theories for studying this phenomenon. Following a review of the IT continuance literature, this paper identifies some of the extant misconceptions about continuance research and suggests theoretical avenues for advancing this research in a meaningful manner. Based on these insights, an extended expectation-confirmation theoretic model of IT continuance is proposed.

Comorbidity Relationship to Outcome of Radical Cystectomy in Chinese: a Single Institution Study with the ACE-27 Comorbidity Index

  • Xuan, Zhu;Zhong, Zhao-Hui;Zhang, Xuan-Zhi;Zhang, Lei;Zhao, Xiao-Kun;Lv, Chen;Xu, Ran;Ren, Wei-Gang;Li, Song-Chao
    • Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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    • v.13 no.3
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    • pp.827-831
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    • 2012
  • To determine the relationship between comorbidity and outcome after radical cystectomy in Chinese patients by using the Adult Comorbidity Evaluation (ACE)-27 index. Two-hundred-and-forty-six patients treated with radical cystectomy at the Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Hunan Province, China between 2000 and 2010 were retrospectively analyzed. Medical records were reviewed for age, gender, delayed time of radical cystectomy, urinary diversion type, pelvic lymphadenectomy status, TNM stage, and pathological grade. Comorbidity information was assessed by the ACE-27 index. The outcome measurement was overall survival. Univariate and multivariate Cox proportional hazards regression analyses were used to determine the association between comorbidity and outcome. The study population consisted of 215 (87.40%) males and 31 (12.60%) females with a mean age of $62{\pm}11$ years. Median duration of follow-up was $47{\pm}31$ months. A total of 151 (61.38%) patents died during follow-up. Of those, 118 (47.97%) had at least one comorbidity. According to the ACE-27 scores, 128 (52.03%) patients had no comorbidity, 79 (32.11%) had mild, 33 (13.41%) had moderate, and 6 (2.45%) had severe comorbidities. Multivariate analysis indicated that moderate (p=0.002) and severe (p<0.001) comorbidity was significantly associated with decreased overall survival. In addition, age ${\geq}70$ years (p=0.002), delayed time of radical cystectomy >12 weeks (p=0.044), pelvic lymphadenectomy status (p=0.014), and TNM stage >T3 (p<0.001) were determined to be independent risk factors of overall survival. Increasing severity of comorbidity statistically correlated with decreased overall survival after radical cystectomy.

US Indo-Pacific Strategy through the Lenses of International Political Theories (미(美) 인도태평양전략의 국제정치학적 해석)

  • LEE, SANGYUP
    • Strategy21
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    • s.45
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    • pp.5-32
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    • 2019
  • The paper introduces US Indo-Pacific Strategy and discusses its meanings and implications for international security and our strategy. It tries to look at the Indo-Pacific strategy(IPS) through the lenses of international political theories. The paper provides three important observations. First, the US Indo-Pacific strategy is a declaration of the national identity of the US as an Indo-Pacific nation. The paper argues that the IPS reflects the US leadership that would facilitate the formation of, so called, the Indo-Pacific community. In arguing these points, the paper notes that the IPS has rich elements of constructivist approaches including norms and national identity. Second, the paper observes that the IPS report serves as an effective deterrent strategy. The IPS does not call out China as an enemy. But, it tries to deter against a range of actors including China by warning that whoever violates the rules-based order in the region would have consequences. Third, the paper maintains that the IPS is an effort by the US to mitigate the risk of a great power war between the US (an established power) and China (a challenging power) because the IPS articulates the United States's willingness to work with China as long as it plays by the rules. There will be challenges to the US and other countries in the region including South Korea particularly because of economic interdependence. However, the paper argues that the IPS stands for an optimistic sign of the future security in the Indo-Pacific region because it is a manifestation of the US for its national will to defend the status quo characterized as Pax Americana which has been maintained since the end of the Second World War. It also argues that South Korea also can, and should make the most of this opportunity by enhancing our capacity in national defense.

The Roles of the 6th Industry for Job Creation in the Elderly: Korea Cases

  • Jung, Kil-soo;Kim, Jin-soo;Kwon, Ohbyung
    • Asia Pacific Journal of Business Review
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    • v.3 no.2
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    • pp.27-41
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    • 2019
  • As South Korean population is aging and the elderly have to continue their economic activities, the problem of jobs for the elderly is coming to the fore. In particular, in the situation where traditional agriculture is preferred over strategic mechanized agriculture, due to the reality of South Korean agriculture dominated by farming by the elderly, the paradigm of South Korean agriculture should be changed into completely new one in order to have new competitiveness. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to propose the $6^{th}$ industry as an alternative to create jobs for the elderly. To this end, 6th industry success cases in South Korea are analyzed with a view to discovering implications applicable to other countries too.

Roles of Cancer Registries in Enhancing Oncology Drug Access in the Asia-Pacific Region

  • Soon, Swee-Sung;Lim, Hwee-Yong;Lopes, Gilberto;Ahn, Jeonghoon;Hu, Min;Ibrahim, Hishamshah Mohd;Jha, Anand;Ko, Bor-Sheng;Lee, Pak Wai;MacDonell, Diana;Sirachainan, Ekaphop;Wee, Hwee-Lin
    • Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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    • v.14 no.4
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    • pp.2159-2165
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    • 2013
  • Cancer registries help to establish and maintain cancer incidence reporting system, serve as a resource for investigation of cancer and its causes, and provide information for planning and evaluation of preventive and control programs. However, their wider role in directly enhancing oncology drug access has not been fully explored. We examined the value of cancer registries in oncology drug access in the Asia-Pacific region on three levels: (1) specific registry variable types; (2) macroscopic strategies on the national level; and (3) a regional cancer registry network. Using literature search and proceedings from an expert forum, this paper covers recent cancer registry developments in eight economies in the Asia-Pacific region - Australia, China, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan, and Thailand - and the ways they can contribute to oncology drug access. Specific registry variables relating to demographics, tumor characteristics, initial treatment plans, prognostic markers, risk factors, and mortality help to anticipate drug needs, identify high-priority research area and design access programs. On a national level, linking registry data with clinical, drug safety, financial, or drug utilization databases allows analyses of associations between utilization and outcomes. Concurrent efforts should also be channeled into developing and implementing data integrity and stewardship policies, and providing clear avenues to make data available. Less mature registry systems can employ modeling techniques and ad-hoc surveys while increasing coverage. Beyond local settings, a cancer registry network for the Asia-Pacific region would offer cross-learning and research opportunities that can exert leverage through the experiences and capabilities of a highly diverse region.

A Cultural Comparison of Sex Role Identity and Attitude toward Grooming and Recreational Apparel Shopping Behavior among Male Consumers

  • Lee, Jaeil;Lee, Yoon-Jung
    • Fashion & Textile Research Journal
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    • v.15 no.4
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    • pp.565-573
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    • 2013
  • This study focused on the cultural differences between South Korea and the U.S. in terms of male consumers' sex role attitude and its influence on grooming and apparel shopping behavior. Purposive samples of American and South Korean males aged between 20 and 40 years were surveyed. The sample sizes were 219 and 233 for American and South Korean consumers, respectively. The data were analyzed by structural equation modeling and ANOVA using SPSS 12.0 and AMOS 14.0. The results indicated that only grooming was influenced by the perceived femininity in the case of South Korean men; however, the model for American men indicated a significant positive influence of femininity on grooming and recreational apparel shopping behavior. In other words, American male consumers who perceive themselves feminine were more likely to be engaged in grooming and recreational apparel shopping behavior. On the other hand, for South Korean men, recreational apparel shopping behavior was not influenced by their sex role attitude, or whether they considered themselves feminine or masculine. This means that recreational apparel shopping behavior is a gender-specific behavior in the U.S., but not in South Korea. The findings of this study indicated that culture has influence on consumers' approach to shopping and appearance. South Korean male consumers were more likely to acknowledge themselves as being feminine, enjoy apparel shopping and grooming compared to American male consumers.

Reproductive Characteristics of Pacific Anchovy Engraulis japonicus from the Southern Waters of Korea (남해안에 서식하는 멸치(Engraulis japonicus)의 산란 특성)

  • Moon, Seong Yong;Baeck, Gun Wook;Lee, Mi Hee;Kim, Heeyong;Jung, Kyung Mi
    • Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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    • v.55 no.6
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    • pp.927-937
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    • 2022
  • The reproductive characteristics of Pacific anchovy, Engraulis japonicus were investigated using samples randomly collected from the southern waters of Korea between January and December 2021. We analyzed monthly changes in maturity stages, gonadosomatic index (GSI), egg diameter, fecundity, and fork length (FL) at sexual groups maturity of 50%, 75% and 97.5%, and sex ratio (female:male). GSI value showed two peaks in May and August; however, microscopic analysis of E. japonicus gonad tissue revealed that the spawning period was from March to October. The main spawning seasons for the entire populations were from April to June and August to September. The overall sex ratio was female-biased (1 females, 0.89 male). The fecundity (F) of female anchovies ranged from 429 eggs at an FL of 8.0 cm to 13,824 eggs at an FL of 14.9 cm and the relationship between FL and F was 0.0788FL4.422. The FL at 50% group maturity was 8.26 cm for female anchovies. Based on the results, we suggest that the reproductive cycle in Pacific anchovies may be related to pulses in water temperature and the sexual cycle of the fish.

Characteristics of tropical cyclones over the western North Pacific in 2007 (2007년 태풍 특징)

  • Cha, Eun-Jeong;Park, Yun-Ho;Kwon, H. Joe
    • Atmosphere
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    • v.18 no.3
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    • pp.183-197
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    • 2008
  • The purpose of this study is to summarize tropical cyclone activity in 2007. 24 tropical cyclones of tropical storm (TS) intensity or higher formed in the western North Pacific and the South China Sea in 2007. The total number is less than the thirty-year (1971~2000) average frequency of 26.7. Out of twenty four tropical cyclones, 14 TCs reached typhoon (TY) intensity, while the rest 10 only reached severe tropical storm (STS) and tropical storm (TS) intensity - four STS and six TS storms. The tropical cyclone season in 2007 began in April with the formation of KONG-REY (0701). From April to May, two TCs formed in the western North Pacific in response to enhanced convective activity there. From June to July, convective activity turned inactive over the sea around the Philippines and in the South China Sea, and the subtropical high was weak over the south of Japan. MAN-YI (0704) and USAGI (0705) moved northwestward and hit Japan, bringing serious damage to the country. After August, convective activity became enhanced over the sea east of the Philippines, and the subtropical high turned strong over the sea south of Japan. Many TCs, which formed over the sea east of the Philippines and in the South China Sea, moved westward and hit China and Vietnam. PABUK (0706), WUTIP (0707), SEPAT (0708), WIPHA (0712), LEKIMA (0714) and KROSA (0715) brought serious damage to some countries including China, the Philippines and Vietnam. On the other hand, FITOW (0709) and NARI (0711) moved northward, bringing serious damage to Japan and Korea. After HAIYAN (0716), all four TCs except FAXAI (0720) formed over the sea east of $140^{\circ}E$. Three typhoons among them affected Republic of Korea, MAN-YI (0704), USAGI (0705) and NARI (0711). Particularly, NARI (0711) moved northward and made landfall at Goheng Peninsula ($34.5^{\circ}N$, $127.4^{\circ}E$) in 1815 KST 16 September. Due to $11^{th}$ typhoon NARI, strong wind and record-breaking rainfall amount was observed in Jeju Island. It was reported that the daily precipitation was 420.0 mm at Jeju city, Jeju Island on 16 September the highest daily rainfall since Jeju began keeping records in 1927. This typhoon hit the southern part of the Korean peninsula and Jeju Island. 18 people lost their lives, 14,170 people were evacuated and US$ 1.6 billion property damage was occurred.