• Journal of Digital Convergence
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• v.3 no.2
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• pp.73-116
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• 2005

When people contact the government they can use a variety of channels. That is, they go in person to an office, use a telephone service, access information via the Internet, send a letter, or use a third party. Since the Australian Government first recognised the potential of online technology to improve service delivery in its 1997 Investing for Growth statement, it has articulated its policies and strategies for e-government in a number of papers. E-government involves government agencies delivering better programs and services online through the use of new information and communication technologies. The policy papers included Government Online-The Commonwealth's Strategy, launched in April 2000, and a new framework for e-government, Better Services. Better Government, launched in November 2002. Most recently, the Government released Australia's Strategic Framework for the Information Economy in July 2004. These papers outlined the broad directions and priorities for the future of e-government in Australia, and sought to maintain the momentum of agencies' actions under Government Online. One of its key objectives was for agencies to achieve greater efficiency in providing services and a return on their investments in ICT (Information and Communication Technology)-based service delivery. They also stated that investing in e-government should deliver tangible returns, whether they take the form of cost reductions, increased efficiency and productivity, or improved services to business and the broader community Implementation of the Government policy has led to considerable agency investment in ICT-based service delivery. However government policy also requires managers to ensure that program and service delivery is efficient and effective. Efficient and effective use of ICT has the potential to improve service delivery and to make financial savings. This paper outlines how people are using the channels to contact the government in Australia. It also examines the level of satisfaction they have with those services and their preferences and expectations. In addition, this paper aims at identifying the methods used by Australian Government to measure the efficiency and effectiveness of their delivery of services, and at assessing the adequacy of these methods.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.36 no.4
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• pp.304-316
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• 2018

Purpose: The indication of elective neck treatment (ENT) for clinically N0 (cN0) paranasal sinus (PNS) carcinoma remains unclear. We aimed to investigate different treatment outcomes regarding ENT and propose optimal recommendations for ENT. Materials and Methods: We identified patients with cN0 PNS carcinoma who underwent curative-intent treatment between 1992 and 2015. Survival outcomes and pattern of failure were compared between patients who received ENT and those who did not. We sought to identify significant patient or pathologic factors regarding treatment outcomes. Results: Among 124 patients meeting the inclusion criteria, 40 (32%) received ENT ('ENT (+) group') and 84 (68%) did not ('ENT (-) group'). With a median follow-up of 54 months, the 5-year overall survival (OS) was 67%, and the 5-year progression-free survival (PFS) was 45%. There was no significant difference between the ENT (+) and ENT (-) groups regarding OS (p = 0.67) and PFS (p = 0.50). Neither group showed a significantly different pattern of failure, including regional failure (p = 0.91). There was no specific benefit, even in the subgroups analysis by tumor site, histologic type, and T stage. Nevertheless, patients who ever had regional and/or distant failure showed significantly worse prognosis. Conclusion: ENT did not significantly affect the survival outcome or pattern of failure in patients with cN0 PNS carcinomas, showing that ENT should not be generalized in this group. However, further discussion on the optimal strategy for ENT should continue because of the non-negligible regional failure rates and significantly worse prognosis after regional failure events.

• THE INTERNATIONAL COMMERCE & LAW REVIEW
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• v.37
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• pp.277-327
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• 2008

This paper is to provide for an analysis on the trade adjustment assistance program and the Case study affected by international trade and FTA. The paper offers a legal study on analysis about Korea's Trade Adjustment Assistance Law for the Manufacturing Industries, USA's TAA. and Japan's law for Industry revival. In general, USA's TAA measures are defined as assistance actions for business enterprises, farmers and manufacturing industries workers. We exclude farmers and fishermen under Korea's Trade Adjustment Assistance Law for the Manufacturing Industries's business enterprises and workers, but we give them the systemic supports under korea's special assistance law for the farmers and fishermen and so on after FTA. Especially this focuses on the trade adjustment assistance case about both Korea's agriculture-farmer assistance from FTA and USA's TAA from workers in layoffs of trade-impacted communities. Korea has provided TAA to the sphere of agriculture after special legislation in Korea-Chile helping closed orchard, modernizing high quality producing facility for agriculture competition, producing superior fruit saplings, and constructing the distribution center in the producing district. But for US-Korea FTA and rapid increase of import by FTA expansion, we must prepare such indemnity systems for loss as cash benefit and wider aids for closed farm. The USA's TAA program targets manufacturing workers affected by international trade, who may have fewer transferable skills and face greater challenges to reemployment than other dislocated workers. A large majority sought some assistance from their one-stop center. Relatively small numbers chose to enroll in training, but those who did it often used this opportunity to chart a new career path. Finally, we learned the importance of education and discipline from USA cases. The fast and accurate information providing can raise efficiencies. The infrastructure can maximize the effect of TAA. The effective application would help us get over difficulties of TAA at hand.

• Journal of Gastric Cancer
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.306-318
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• 2017

Purpose: Guidelines in Western countries recommend retrieving ${\geq}15$ lymph nodes (LNs) during gastric cancer resection. This study sought to determine whether the number of examined lymph nodes (eLNs), a proxy for lymphadenectomy, effects survival in node-negative disease. Materials and Methods: The US National Cancer Database (2003-2011) was reviewed for node-negative gastric adenocarcinoma. Treatment was categorized by neoadjuvant therapy (NAT) vs. initial resection, and further stratified by eLN. Kaplan-Meier and Weibull models were used to analyze overall survival. Results: Of the 1,036 patients who received NAT, 40.5% had ${\leq}10eLN$, and most underwent proximal gastrectomy (67.8%). In multivariate analysis, greater eLN was associated with improved survival (eLN 16-20: HR, 0.71; P=0.039, eLN 21-30: HR, 0.55; P=0.001). Of the 2,795 patients who underwent initial surgery, 42.5% had ${\leq}10eLN$, and the majority underwent proximal gastrectomy (57.2%). In multivariate analysis, greater eLN was associated with improved survival (eLN 11-15: HR, 0.81; P=0.021, eLN 16-20: HR, 0.73; P=0.004, eLN 21-30: HR, 0.62; P<0.001, and eLN >30: HR, 0.58; P<0.001). Conclusions: In the United States, the majority of node-negative gastrectomies include suboptimal eLN. In node-negative gastric cancer, greater LN retrieval appears to have therapeutic and prognostic value, irrespective of initial treatment, suggesting a survival benefit to meticulous lymphadenectomy.

• Journal of the Korea Fashion and Costume Design Association
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.71-90
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• 2017

The purpose of this study is to identify the characteristics of currently targeted consumers of the fashion enterprises. It also aims to assess the value of consumer-related variables that are related to market segmentation. In order to identify the characteristics of targeted consumers, the contents of brand concept and target of 143 brands for women's clothing, and 79 brands for men's clothing were qualitatively analyzed. The results are as follows. First, the demographic characteristics of both male and female included the desire to appear younger, and be more youthful in sensibilities than their actual age. In terms of occupation, male had more variety and concreteness than female. Male and female were above middle class, with an emphasis on being a part of the new generation, one that is young, free, healthy, and leisurely. Second, the psychological and behavioral characteristics of both male and female consumers included the benefit sought of the following: rationality, economy, practicality, functionality, individuality, fashionability, and aesthetics. Their fashion orientations were found to be practical, rational, fashionable, expressive of individual style, and aesthetic sensibilities. Their lifestyles were characterized by elements such as rationality, smartness, urban, active, healthy, young, leisurely, and stable. In terms of the spirit, female had a tendency to be intelligent, elegant, and sensitive, while also being self-reliant, self-disciplined, and unafraid of challenging situations. The male consumers had a tendency to be rational, progressive, passionate, and embracing change, with emphasis on legitimacy, honor, success, pride, and affluence. Third, the usefulness of consumer-related variables in targeting consumers was different according to male and female. These results show that there is a need for these variables to be looked at more closely during market segmentation process. This research may be used as base material in setting up the brand concept and the target market.

• Journal of the Korean Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.105-115
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• 2005

Purpose: The lymph node status assessed by conventional histological examination is the most important prognostic factor in patients undergoing surgery for oral squamous cell carcinoma. The presence of lymph node metastasis has a strong adverse impact on patient survival even after extended radical resection. Despite these findings, tumour recurrence is not rare after surgery, even when histological examination shows no lymph node metastasis. Recently, molecular-genetically and immunohistochemically demonstrated micrometastasis to the lymph nodes has been shown to have a significant adverse influence on survival in patients with squamous cell carcinoma and histologically negative nodes. The present study sought to determine the incidence and clarify the clinical significance of molecular-genetically and immunohistochemically demonstrated nodal micrometastases and to correlate these data with the stage of oral cancer. Methods: Lymph nodes systematically removed from 71 patients who underwent curative resection between 1998 and 2003 with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma were examined molecular-genetically to detect cytokeratin 5 mRNA with RT-PCR and immunohistochemically to detect cells that stained positively for cytokeratins with the monoclonal antibody cocktail AE1/AE3. The postoperative course and survival rates were compared among patients with and without micrometastases, after numerical classification of overt metastatic nodes. Results: micrometastases were detected in 43(60%) of 71 patients by RT-PCR and 26(36%) of 71 patients by immunohistochemistry. By RT-PCR analysis, patients exhibiting a positive band for CK 5 mRNA had a significantly worse prognosis than those were RT-PCR negative. By immunohistochemistry, the presence of micrometastasis did not predict patient outcome. Conclusion: Micrometastases detected by RT-PCR may be of clinical value in identifying patients who may be at high risk for recurrence and who are therefore likely to benefit from systemic adjuvant therapy.

• THE INTERNATIONAL COMMERCE & LAW REVIEW
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• v.46
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• pp.133-158
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• 2010

Independent guarantee is a creation of the need from the both sides, i.e. the applicant (principal debtor) and the beneficiary (creditor). The former used to have to deposit cash in favor of the beneficiary in case of his default, which laid a burden on his liquidity while the latter still wanted to have the equivalent to cash. Independent guarantee satisfied the both parties by freeing the applicant of a deposit and maintaining the beneficiary's right at the same time. The fact that independent guarantee has three payment mechanisms is not widely known to the public. They are (i) payment on first demand, (ii) payment upon submission of third-party documents, (iii) payment upon submission of an arbitral or court decision. From the applicant's point of view, the order in his favor is (iii), followed by (ii) and (i). As there shouldn't be a case where one party is at a disadvantage against the other, useful insight is being sought for the benefit of the applicant. First, the applicant can offer his intention to provide a payment mechanism (ii) or (iii) rather than (i) if he must deliver it. Second, if the beneficiary still wants to have (i) and the applicant is in a position not to reject it, the latter should thoroughly check any provisions that may work against him later. Third, the applicant could use counterbalancing provisions in underlying contract to cope with protective clauses in the guarantees. Forth, the applicant should review the beneficiary's sincerity to prevent unfair calling risks. The applicant may use an ECA(Export Credit Agency) in his country to which he can transfer not only unfair calling risks, but also political risks. On the other hand, a bank needs to keep the following advice in mind. The foremost important thing for the bank not to forget is that it provides a guarantee as a service provider, not as a responsible party for the feasibility of the project, etc. Credit risk of the applicant should require the greatest attention when issuing a guarantee: the bank should look into the possibility that it can procure immediate reimbursement from its customers after payment to the beneficiary. Second, the applicant's ability to complete the project should be reviewed by checking its track records, techniques and reputation, etc. Third, the bank may also use an ECA to cover the beneficiary's unfair calling risks as well as political risks. In the case of Korea, as Korea Export Insurance Corporation(KEIC) can cover all the risks mentioned above, the bank could use its service called 'Export Bond Insurance.' What's better for the bank is that ECA cover can enhance the bank's asset quality by putting it zero on its risk weighted asset.

• THE INTERNATIONAL COMMERCE & LAW REVIEW
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• v.58
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• pp.215-236
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• 2013

It is quite true that the more Korean contractors receive overseas contracts, the more they need guarantees. The top market for them is the Middle East countries, consisting of more than the half of the total amount awarded last year and the trend is increasing as well. The problem, however, is that employers in these countries are reluctant to use international rules for guarantee such as URDG or ISP98 and easily make unfair callings. However, Korean contractors(applicants), especially small and medium sized enterprises(SMEs) tend to hurriedly enter a contract without looking into its contents as well as guarantees. They do not realize the importance of the guarantees until they receive callings from the employers(beneficiaries). Being independent from the underlying contracts, guarantee is the equivalent to cash in that it usually does not require any proof of demand when calling and the guarantor should make a payment within usually 5 business days after the request. It is often observed these days that several Korean SMEs go bankrupt due to liquidity risks after receiving unfair callings from employers in the Middle East countries. In retrospect, some cases could be obviated if contractors were a little more careful in checking the contents of a guarantee at the time of concluding a contract. For example, there is one case where the underlying contract includes a reduction clause in the Advance Payment bond and the guarantee does not have that clause. In the end, the Korean contractor had to take the whole burden of the bond amount though it had finished 81% of the project. Nobody could argue that contractors should take a full responsibility if they fail in their obligations. However, the employer's wrongful callings need to be prevented in the first place, if possible. As there shouldn't be a case where one party is at a disadvantage against the other like the case mentioned above, useful insight is being sought to minimize unfair calling risks for the benefit of the applicant. First, the applicant should carefully look into every detail of the potential guarantee before signing a contract, heeding especially that there is a reduction clause in the AP bond. Second, the governing principles for guarantee should be the ones that are internally used such as URDG758 that is objective in terms of callings given that, for example, it specifies that the requirement for a supporting statement when making a demand is a default rule. It is also recommended that the form of guarantees be the standard demand guarantee. Third, parties involved in issuing guarantees are advised to understand international rules for guarantee like URDG758 and ISP98 and to play a key role in guiding SME contractors in Korea so that they can protect themselves from possible wrongful callings, particularly from employers in the Middle East countries. I hope this study would give a wake-up call for Korean SMEs wishing to do business in the Middle East countries and remind them of the importance of guarantee itself and its governing principles.

• Journal of Korean Home Economics Education Association
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.37-48
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• 2012

The goal of this research is to determine the variables which influence adolescents' environmental-friendly clothing consumption behaviors. A questionnaire was prepared to survey 768 students in 8 different middle and high schools throughout Seoul. The results of the studies are as follows; First, the experiences in environmental activities were higher than the average. Second, the level of environmental-friendly values was found to be higher than the average. Among the values, environmental-preservation scored the highest, whereas selfishness scored the lowest. Third, adolescents have the strongest desire to express their individuality by means of clothing, which includes comfortableness, price, fashion, and brand. Fourth, the environmental-friendly clothing consumption awareness was average. In this field's subcategory, disposal awareness was above the average. But when buying clothes, the awareness of environmental problems was lower than the common level. Fifth, adolescents were lower in environmental-friendly clothing consumption behavior than the common level. In the subcategory, using behavior and disposal behavior were on the average, but buying behavior was executed in an anti-eco-friendly manner. Sixth, adolescents' price pursuit and clothing disposal consciousness were important factors of environmental-friendly clothing consumption behavior.

• Land and Housing Review
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• v.7 no.3
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• pp.157-164
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• 2016

Recently, the paradigm of land development has been transformed from the joint development to the step-by-step development due to changes in socio-economic conditions. Nevertheless, the introduction of large-scale transportation facilities such as new transportation system tends to employ the joint development. Although new transportation system is eco-friendly, it occasionally fails at the beginning of the project because of high installation cost. Such phenomenon is caused by not only the system did not reflect the local characteristics but also did not respond to the step-by-step development. Accordingly, in order to introduce transportation system rationally, introducing new methods corresponding to the step-by-step development should be sought. In this study, we assumed that large-scaled land development site be achieved step-by-step development. and suggested the need for a phased introduction through benefit-cost analysis. The findings illustrated that the phased introduction shows economic efficiency with 30% increase of B/C compared to the bulk introduction. It also demonstrates that the bulk introduction under step-by-step development is more efficient than the bulk introduction under joint development.