• Asia pacific journal of information systems
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.101-124
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• 2009

According to Wikipedia, virtual reality (VR) is defined as a technology that allows a user to interact with a computer-simulated environment. Due to a rapid growth in information technology (IT), the cost of virtual reality has been decreasing while the utility of virtual reality advertisements has dramatically increased. Nevertheless, only a few studies have investigated the effects of virtual reality advertisement on consumer behaviors. Therefore, the objective of this study is to empirically examine the effects of virtual reality advertisement. Compared to traditional online advertisements, virtual reality advertisement enables consumers to experience products realistically over the Internet by providing high media richness, interactivity, and telepresence (Suh and Lee, 2005). Advertisements with high media richness facilitate consumers' understanding of advertised products by providing them with a large amount and a high variety of information on the products. Interactivity also provides consumers with a high level of control over the computer-simulated environment in terms of their abilities to adjust the information according to their individual interests and concerns and to be active rather than passive in their engagement with the information (Pimentel and Teixera, 1994). Through high media richness and interactivity, virtual reality advertisements can generate compelling feelings of "telepresence" (Suh and Lee, 2005). Telepresence is a sense of being there in an environment by means of a communication medium (Steuer, 1992). Virtual reality advertisements enable consumers to create a perceptual illusion of being present and highly engaged in a simulated environment, while they are in reality physically present in another place (Biocca, 1997). Based on the characteristics of virtual reality advertisements, a research model has been proposed to explain consumer responses to the virtual reality advertisements. The proposed model includes two dimensions of consumer responses. One dimension is consumers' rational response, which is based on the Information Processing Theory. Based on the Information Processing Theory, product knowledge and perceived risk are selected as antecedents of intention to purchase. The other dimension is emotional response of consumers, which is based on the Attitude-Structure Theory. Based on the Attitude-Structure Theory, arousal, flow, and positive affect are selected as antecedents of intention to purchase. Because it has been criticized to have investigated only one of the two dimensions of consumer response in prior studies, our research model has been built so as to incorporate both dimensions. Based on the Attitude-Structure Theory, we hypothesized the path of consumers' emotional responses to a virtual reality advertisement: (H1) Arousal by the virtual reality advertisement increases flow; (H2) Flow increases positive affect; and (H3) Positive affect increases intension to purchase. In addition, we hypothesized the path of consumers' rational responses to the virtual reality advertisement based on the Information Processing Theory: (H4) Increased product knowledge through the virtual reality advertisement decreases perceived risk; and (H5) Perceived risk decreases intension to purchase. Based on literature of flow, we additionally hypothesized the relationship between flow and product knowledge: (H6) Flow increases product knowledge. To test the hypotheses, we conducted a free simulation experiment [Fromkin and Streufert, 1976] with 300 people. Subjects were asked to use the virtual reality advertisement of a cellular phone on the Internet and then answer questions about the variables. To check whether subjects fully experienced the virtual reality advertisement, they were asked to answer a quiz about the virtual reality advertisement itself. Responses of 26 subjects were dropped because of their incomplete answers. Responses of 274 subjects were used to test the hypotheses. It was found that all of six hypotheses are accepted. In addition, we found that consumers' emotional response has stronger impact on their intention to purchase than their rational response does. This study sheds much light into practical implications for both IS researchers and managers. First of all, while most of previous research has analyzed only one of the customers' rational and emotional responses, we theoretically incorporated and empirically examined both of the two sides. Second, we empirically showed that mediators such as arousal, flow, positive affect, product knowledge, and perceived risk play an important role between virtual reality advertisement and customer's intention to purchase. In addition, the findings of this study can provide a basis of practical strategies for managers. It was found that consumers' emotional response is stronger than their rational response. This result indicates that advertisements using virtual reality should focus on the emotional side, and that virtual reality can be served as an appropriate advertisement tool for fancy products that require their online advertisements to give an impetus to customers' emotion. Finally, even if this study examined the effects of virtual reality advertisement of cellular phone, its findings could be applied to other products that are suited for virtual experience. However, this research has some limitations. We were unable to control different kinds of consumers and different attributes of products on consumers' intention to purchase. It is, therefore, deemed important for future research to control the consumer and product types for more reliable results. In addition to the consumer and product attributes, other variables could affect consumers' intention to purchase. Thus, the future research needs to find ways t control other variables.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.976-982
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• 1998

The effects of the glycoprotein (PAG) isolated from Pteridium aquilinum on the immune function was examined in mice. PAG was intraperitoneally administered into BALB/C mice for 14 days and the antibody forming ability to hen egg lysozyme (HEL) and the blastogenic responses of splenocytes were measured. PAG treatment significantly increased antibody formation to HEL in a dose-dependent manner. Blatogenesis of splenocytes in response to lipopolysaccharide (LPS, B-cell specific mitogen) or phytohemagglutinin (PHA, T-cell specific mitogen) was also increased after treatment with PAG, indicating that the PAG increases both humoral and cellular immunities. To examine whether the immune function of PAG was via a direct effect on the lymphocytes, splenocytes were isolated from BALB/C mice, exposed to various concentrations of PAG in vitro and the blastogenic responses were measured. In vitro exposure to PAG significantly increased blastogenesis of splenocytes to LPS up to $500{\;}{\mu}g/kg$, whereas the blastogenic response to PHA was not altered by PAG treatment. To identify the fraction responsible for the increase in the immune function, the effect of periodate digest, pronase digest or purified polysaccharide on the antibody production to HEL was examined. Crude protein fraction of PAG significantly increased the antibody formation to HEL. On the other hand, both crude and purified polysaccharide fractions did not have any effects on the antibody production ability. These data indicated that 1) PAG increased both humoral and cellular immune functions, 2) the increase in humoral immunity was probably via a direct action of PAG on lymphocytes and 3) the protein portion of PAG was responsible for the increase in humoral immunity.

• Resources Recycling
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.38-45
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• 1995

The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of temperature on the formation of CaCO, polymorphs(i.e.,calcite, aragonite, vaterite) and on the crystal shape of CaCO,.The reaction systems were rnvestigated at the temperature range of 2.0%-85.3r, at the fixed cmditions ofconcentration and pressure, 2X10-' M, atomospheric pressure, respectively.The reaction systems studied include a Ca(HCO.,),-Air bubble, O Ca(OH)s-CO,, @ Ca(OH),-H,CO, ,Ca(OH1,-Na>CO,, O Ca(OH),-K,CO,, @ Ca(OH),-(NH,),CO,, D CaC1,-Na,CO,, CaC1,-K3C03, 8 CaC1,-(NH,,),CO,, 0 Ca(N0,X-Na,CO,, 03 Ca(N0,X-QCO,. 0 Ca(NO,),-(NH,XCO,. The results obtained are summarizedas follows:Calcite is formed at the temperature range of 2t-80"C and the highest calcite yield was obtained at 30%.Aragonite begins to be formed at the temperature range of 41.0%-53.0%. and the higher temperature is thehigher yield is obtained. pH of the reaction system affect the yield of aragonite, and the yield reaches the highestpercentage at the pH range of 10.0-11.0, and at the conditions of pH 12.3 or over, aragonite is scarcely formed.Vaterlle is fnrmed at the temperature range of 40.0% or less, and transites utterly to calcite within 10-60mmutes in the case of bemg residenced in mother liqmd which C1 is not contained, and within 140hours inthe case of containing CI-.s in the case of containing CI-.

• Resources Recycling
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• v.9 no.6
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• pp.36-44
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• 2000

Fly ash was composed of the unburned carbon and mineral particles. The former was able to attach on the bubbles, while the latter was not. Therefore, it was possible to separate the unburned carbon and the mineral from fly ash using the froth flotation process. This study was carried out to evaluate the separation efficiency as a function of the ny ash particle properties in the column flotation. Separation efficiency was analyzed for various size fraction of -38 fm,38~125 fm and 1125 W, and for various fly ash samples containing 7, 11, and 20 wt% unburned carbon. For the size fractions of -38 fm containing 7 wt% unburned carbon, separation efficiency was 86ft, whereas separation efficiency was found to be 74% for the size fraction of +125$\mu\textrm{m}$ containing 20 wt% unburned carbon. The results indicated that separation efficiency increased with the decrease in the particle size and the unburned carbon content of the fly ash.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.35 no.7
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• pp.945-954
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• 2006

The purpose of this study is to present basic data for an improvement of school foodservice by indentifying students' preference level for school meal menu and assessing students' nutrition intake. The subjects participated in this study were 544 high school students on 1st grade served by self-operated school foodservice in Daegu. The frequency analysis, t-test analysis, and correlation analysis were carried out for the data analysis using SPSS 12.0 program. Based on the results toward students' preference and serving frequency, the most frequently offered food was soup sorts and then followed by the categories of boiled rice, kimchi, broiled food and hard-boiled food. Boiled rice, rice with assorted vegetables, mandu soup, salad and braised beef rib were highly preferred to the students. Male students scored higher preference to the menu related with meats than female students. However, the students' preference and serving frequency on the menu were not correlated significantly in this study. A substantial correlation was found between the degree of preference and the rate of intake (p<0.01). It would be generalized that preferences to menu items strongly sffected the level of intake by students. The nutrient analysis of food intake revealed that both male and female students were not consuming sufficient level of calorie, calcium and vitamin $B_2$. In conclusion, the results indicate that the students' preference is a very important variable influencing the consumption level of meal as well as balanced nutrient intake by students served in school foodservice. Menu planning should be integrated into school foodservice management for quality control. As limited control of the menu may also negatively influence on the food leftovers and ecological issues, professionals related to the school foodservice including administers, educators and dieticians need to check up the students' preference regularly and reflect their perception on the menu planning to improve the quality of school foodservice. The nutrient intake currently provided through school foodservice should be also assessed more thoroughly. These data could be incorporated into continuous quality improvement and strategic planning in school foodservice.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.35 no.9
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• pp.1151-1158
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• 2006

This study was performed to investigate the effect of ethanol extract of Pimpinella brachycarpa (PB) on serum and liver lipid metabolism in rats. Male Sprague Dawley rats were administered 1% cholesterol and 0.25% sodium cholate to induce hypercholesterolemia. PB ethanol extract (200 mg/kg/day or 400 mg/kg/day) was also administered orally to rats with high cholesterol diet for 6 weeks. We divided 40 rats into five groups; normal diet group (NC), high cholesterol diet group (HC), normal diet and PB ethanol extract (200 mg/kg) administered group (NC-PB), high cholesterol diet and PB ethanol extract (200 mg/kg) administered group (HC-PBL), and high cholesterol diet and PB ethanol extract (400 mg/kg) administered group (HC-PBH). The growth rate and liver weight of the high cholesterol diet group was higher than those of the normal diet group, whereas those of the groups administered PB ethanol extract were gradually decreased. There was a signigicant increase in the activities of serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT), asparate aminotransferase (AST) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) in the high cholesterol diet group. The administration of PB ethanol extract decreased serum ALT, AST and ALP activities in a dose-dependent manners. The high cholesterol diet group showed increased serum triglyceride, total cholesterol, free cholesterol and LDL-cholesterol levels, and decreased atherogenic index, HDL-cholesterol and phospholipid levels as compared with the normal diet group. PB ethanol extract administrated groups showed increased HDL-C/T-C, HDL-cholesterol and phospholipid levels, and decreased serum triglyceride, total cholesterol, free cholesterol, and LDL-cholesterol levels as compared with the high cholesterol diet group. There were no differences in the concentrations of serum triglyceride, phopholipid, LDL-cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol and free cholesterol between normal diet groups. The hepatic concentrations of total cholesterol and triglyceride were also lower in PB ethanol extract administrated groups than in the high cholesterol diet group. These results suggest that ethanol extract of PB exerts hypocholesterolemic effect by reducing serum and liver cholesterol contents.

• Journal of dental hygiene science
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• v.12 no.6
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• pp.666-674
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• 2012

The purpose of this study was to examine the job-related characteristics of dental hygienists affecting their job satisfaction and turnover possibility. The subjects in this study were 297 dental hygienists who worked in dental hospitals and clinics in the metropolitan area. The dental hygienists who worked for three to less than five years, who were unmarried and who didn't benefit from any incentive systems expressed a greater satisfaction, and those who were married, whose workplaces were established jointly with other dental institutions in the form of a network and whose workplaces offered incentives were more likely to change their employment. As for influential factors for job satisfaction and turnover possibility, the respondents whose workplaces were established jointly with other dental institutions were less satisfied, and a larger number of patients and better communication led to higher satisfaction. Those who worked in general hospitals were more likely to change their employment, and better welfare benefits, more appropriate length of working hours and a larger number of patients led to lower turnover responsibility. The findings of the study ascertained that working environments were one of the factors to impact on job satisfaction and turnover possibility, and both of hospitals and dental hygienists should make an effort to improve working environments.

• Journal of dental hygiene science
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• v.12 no.6
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• pp.675-681
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• 2012

Korean Ministry of Health and Welfare started to implement oral health hub center to provide oral health preventive program and dental treatment to public, especially dental vulnerable class in 2006. But, there is no applicant area to implement it regardless of national budget arrangement in 2012. This study is aimed to investigate the reason not to be implemented and requirements of implementation. 293 among 1,000 public dental hygienists in the area where have not implemented oral health hub center were surveyed in Korea from April to July in 2012 through convenience sampling. The questionnaire consisted of the reason why oral health hub center have not been implemented, the requirement of implementation, duty area and duty position et al. After removal of insufficient responses, 217 questionnaires were analyzed by t-test and ANOVA using SPSS 20.0. The reason why oral health hub center have not been implemented were deficiency of the priority list as compared with other health program (72.4%), space insufficiency (71.4%), regional budget insufficiency (70.5%), will insufficiency of oral health promotion (70.5%) and manpower insufficiency (62.7%). The first requirement of implementation were space expansion and regional budget expansion, followed by reduction of record-originated and administrative tasks, understanding on oral health program of higher ranking public officials in health center, manpower expansion, reduction of other tasks than oral health program and volunteer source expansion. Budget insufficiency and manpower insufficiency in Metropolis were ranked higher than other area (p<0.05). The group not to discuss oral health hub center graded each reason not to be implemented significantly higher than the other group (p<0.05). We suggested that to promote the importance of public oral health program be needed to public and higher ranking public officials to implement oral health hub center. In addition, we insisted that more dental manpower and budget be needed for reduction of oral health inequity in metropolis.

• Proceedings of the Korea Water Resources Association Conference
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• 2011.05a
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• pp.8-9
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• 2011

On 4 September 2010 an earthquake of magnitude 7.1 on the Richter scale occurred on the Canterbury Plains in the South Island of New Zealand. The Canterbury Plains are an area of extensive groundwater and spring fed surface water systems. Since the September earthquake there have been several thousand aftershocks (Fig. 1), the largest being a 6.3 magnitude quake which occurred close to the centre of Christchurch on 22February 2011. This second quake caused extensive damage to the city of Christchurch including the deaths of 189 people. Both of these quakes had marked hydrological impacts. Water is a vital natural resource for Canterburywith groundwater being extracted for potable supply and both ground and surface water being used extensively for agricultural and horticultural irrigation.The groundwater is of very high quality so that the city of Christchurch (population approx. 400,000) supplies untreated artesian water to the majority of households and businesses. Both earthquakes caused immediate hydrological effects, the most dramatic of which was the liquefaction of sediments and the release of shallow groundwater containing a fine grey silt-sand material. The liquefaction that occurred fitted within the empirical relationship between distance from epicentre and magnitude of quake described by Montgomery et al. (2003). . It appears that liquefaction resulted in development of discontinuities in confining layers. In some cases these appear to have been maintained by artesian pressure and continuing flow, and the springs are continuing to flow even now. In spring-fed streams there was an increase in flow that lasted for several days and in some cases flows remained high for several months afterwards although this could be linked to a very wet winter prior to the September earthquake. Analysis of the slope of baseflow recession for a spring-fed stream before and after the September earthquake shows no change, indicating no substantial change in the aquifer structure that feeds this stream.A complicating factor for consideration of river flows was that in some places the liquefaction of shallow sediments led to lateral spreading of river banks. The lateral spread lessened the channel cross section so water levels rose although the flow might not have risen accordingly. Groundwater level peaks moved both up and down, depending on the location of wells. Groundwater level changes for the two earthquakes were strongly related to the proximity to the epicentre. The February 2011 earthquake resulted in significantly larger groundwater level changes in eastern Christchurch than occurred in September 2010. In a well of similar distance from both epicentres the two events resulted in a similar sized increase in water level but the slightly slower rate of increase and the markedly slower recession recorded in the February event suggests that the well may have been partially blocked by sediment flowing into the well at depth. The effects of the February earthquake were more localised and in the area to the west of Christchurch it was the earlier earthquake that had greater impact. Many of the recorded responses have been compromised, or complicated, by damage or clogging and further inspections will need to be carried out to allow a more definitive interpretation. Nevertheless, it is reasonable to provisionally conclude that there is no clear evidence of significant change in aquifer pressures or properties. The different response of groundwater to earthquakes across the Canterbury Plains is the subject of a new research project about to start that uses the information to improve groundwater characterisation for the region. Montgomery D.R., Greenberg H.M., Smith D.T. (2003) Stream flow response to the Nisqually earthquake. Earth & Planetary Science Letters 209 19-28.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• v.43 no.6
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• pp.930-936
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• 2010

There is very important to investigate long-term trend of soil chemical properties and quality index for sustainable agriculture and production of agricultural safety products. Monitoring on soil chemical properties in paddy soils was conducted as one cycle with 4 years from 1999 to 2007. Paddy soil samples were taken from 4,007, 1,970, 2,070 sites in 1999, 2003 and 2007, respectively. With these data, soil quality index (SQI) was evaluated by method that Yoon et al suggested in 2004. Chemical properties of paddy soils were 5.8 for pH, 24 g $kg^{-1}$ for organic matter, 132 mg $kg^{-1}$ for available phosphate, 0.29 cmol_c\; kg-1 for exchangeable potassium, 4.7 $cmol_c\;kg^{-1}$ for exchangeable calcium, 1.3 $cmol_c\;kg^{-1}$ for exchangeable magnesium and 126 mg $kg^{-1}$ for available silicate in 2007. Long-term change was shown that pH has increased gradually whereas exchangeable potassium has decreased. However, reasonably large changes were found. Exchangeable calcium and available silicate level in 1999 was 4.0 $cmol_c\;kg^{-1}$, 86 mg $kg^{-1}$, but had risen to 4.7 $cmol_c\;kg^{-1}$, 126 mg $kg^{-1}$ in 2007, respectively. The change of paddy soils quality index was increased gradually and increasement of silicate quality index was higher than other quality indicators.