• Title/Summary/Keyword: C2 Model

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Evaluation of the Radioimmunotherapy Using I-131 labeled Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor2 Antibody in Melanoma Xenograft Murine Model (흑색종에서의 I-131표지 혈관내피세포성장인자 수용체2항체를 이용한 방사면역치료 평가)

  • Kim, Eun-Mi;Jeong, Hwan-Jeong;Park, Eun-Hye;Cheong, Su-Jin;Lee, Chang-Moon;Jang, Kyu-Yun;Kim, Dong-Wook;Lim, Seok-Tae;Sohn, Myung-Hee
    • Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging
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    • v.42 no.4
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    • pp.307-313
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    • 2008
  • Purpose: Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and its receptor, fetal liver kinase 1 (Flk-1), play an important role in vascular permeability and tumor angiogenesis. The aim of this study is to evaluate the therapeutic efficacy of $^{131}I$ labeled anti-Flk-1 monoclonal antibody (DC101) on the growth of melanoma tumor, which is known to be very aggressive in vivo. Materials and Methods: Balb/c nude mice were injected subcutaneously with melanoma cells in the right flank. Tumors were allowed to grow up to $200-250\;mm^3$ in volume. Gamma camera imaging and biodistribution studies were performed to identify an uptake of $^{131}I$-DC101 in various organs. Mice with tumor were randomly divided into five groups (10 mice per group) and injected intravenously; control PBS (group 1), $^{131}I$-DC101 $50\;{\mu}g/mouse$ (group 2), non-labeled DC101 $50\;{\mu}g/mouse$ (group 3), $^{131}I$-DC101 $30\;{\mu}g/mouse$ (group 4) and $15\;{\mu}g/mouse$ (group 5) every 3 or 4 days for 20 days. Tumor volume was measured with caliper twice a week. Results: In gamma camera images, the uptake of $^{131}I$-DC101 into tumor and thyroid was increased with time. Biodistribution results showed that the radioactivity of blood and other major organ was gradually decreased with time whereas tumor uptake was increased up to 48 hr and then decreased. After 4th injection of $^{131}I$-DC101, tumor volume of group 2 and 4 was significantly smaller than that group 1. After 5th injection, the tumor volume of group 5 also significantly reduced. Conclusion: These results indicated that delivery of $^{131}I$ to tumor using FlK-1 antibody, DC101, effectively blocks tumor growth in aggressive melanoma xenograft model.

THE EFFECT OF ALTERED FUNCTIONAL FORCE ON THE EXPRESSION OF SPECIFIC MRNAS IN THE DEVELOPING MOUSE MANDIBLE (하악골의 발육중인 생쥐에서 기능력의 변화가 특이-유전자 발현에 미치는 영향)

  • Kim, Hyung-Tae;Park, Joo-Cheol;Lee, Chang-Seop;Park, Heon-Dong
    • Journal of the korean academy of Pediatric Dentistry
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    • v.30 no.2
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    • pp.308-319
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    • 2003
  • Mechanical forces are known to have an effect on bone formation, maintenance and remodeling, and there is evidence that the development of the mandibular condyle in the rat or mouse is influenced by altered functional force. However, studies are lacking in molecular-biologic mechanism such as the identification of differentiation factor induced from functional force. Here a mouse model was used to investigate the functional stress-responsive gene or factors which is related to the altered force by comparing the expression genes of functional state and hypo-functional state of the mouse mandible. ICR mice were provisioned with either a soft, mushy diet (soft-diet group) or hard rat pellets (hard-diet group) beginning at weaning for the alteration of functional force and subsequently sacrificed at 89 days of age. Incisor of mice in group 1 were trimmed twice a week to reduce occlusal forces. After killing the animals, mandibular bone including condyle were collected for RNA extraction, subtractive hybridization, northern blot analysis and mRNA in-situ hybridization. The results as follows; 1. A total of 39 clones were sequenced, and 11 individual sequence types were subsequently identified by subtractive hybridization, as 28 clones were represented twice in the analyzed sets. 2. Consequently four candidate clones, FS-s (functional stress-specific)2, -5, -18, and -22 were identified and characterized by homolgy search and northern analysis. Four of these clones, FS-s2, -5, -18, and -22, were shown to be expressed differentially in the hard-diet group. 3. Histologic sections showed that osteoblastic activity along the bone trabeculae and active bone remodeling were significantly lower in soft than in hard diet animals. A soft diet seems to enable a longer period of endochondral ossification in the mandibular condyle. 4. Although the mRNAs of FS-s2, -5, -18, and -22 were expressed rarely by cells of the soft-diet group, highest expression was detected in the cells of the hard-diet group. Together with the above results, it is suggested that FS-s2, -5, -18, and -22 could act as an important factors controlling the tissue changes in response to functional stress. The exact functional significance of these findings remains to be established.

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Hydrogeochemical and Environmental Isotope Study of Groundwaters in the Pungki Area (풍기 지역 지하수의 수리지구화학 및 환경동위원소 특성 연구)

  • 윤성택;채기탁;고용권;김상렬;최병영;이병호;김성용
    • Journal of the Korean Society of Groundwater Environment
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    • v.5 no.4
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    • pp.177-191
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    • 1998
  • For various kinds of waters including surface water, shallow groundwater (<70 m deep) and deep groundwater (500∼810 m deep) from the Pungki area, an integrated study based on hydrochemical, multivariate statistical, thermodynamic, environmental isotopic (tritium, oxygen-hydrogen, carbon and sulfur), and mass-balance approaches was attempted to elucidate the hydrogeochemical and hydrologic characteristics of the groundwater system in the gneiss area. Shallow groundwaters are typified as the 'Ca-HCO$_3$'type with higher concentrations of Ca, Mg, SO$_4$and NO$_3$, whereas deep groundwaters are the 'Na-HCO$_3$'type with elevated concentrations of Na, Ba, Li, H$_2$S, F and Cl and are supersaturated with respect to calcite. The waters in the area are largely classified into two groups: 1) surface waters and most of shallow groundwaters, and 2) deep groundwaters and one sample of shallow groundwater. Seasonal compositional variations are recognized for the former. Multivariate statistical analysis indicates that three factors may explain about 86% of the compositional variations observed in deep groundwaters. These are: 1) plagioclase dissolution and calcite precipitation, 2) sulfate reduction, and 3) acid hydrolysis of hydroxyl-bearing minerals(mainly mica). By combining with results of thermodynamic calculation, four appropriate models of water/ rock interaction, each showing the dissolution of plagioclase, kaolinite and micas and the precipitation of calcite, illite, laumontite, chlorite and smectite, are proposed by mass balance modelling in order to explain the water quality of deep groundwaters. Oxygen-hydrogen isotope data indicate that deep groundwaters were originated from a local meteoric water recharged from distant, topograpically high mountainous region and underwent larger degrees of water/rock interaction during the regional deep circulation, whereas the shallow groundwaters were recharged from nearby, topograpically low region. Tritium data show that the recharge time was the pre-thermonuclear age for deep groundwaters (<0.2 TU) but the post-thermonuclear age for shallow groundwaters (5.66∼7.79 TU). The $\delta$$\^$34/S values of dissolved sulfate indicate that high amounts of dissolved H$_2$S (up to 3.9 mg/1), a characteristic of deep groundwaters in this area, might be derived from the reduction of sulfate. The $\delta$$\^$13/C values of dissolved carbonates are controlled by not only the dissolution of carbonate minerals by dissolved soil CO$_2$(for shallow groundwaters) but also the reprecipitation of calcite (for deep groundwaters). An integrated model of the origin, flow and chemical evolution for the groundwaters in this area is proposed in this study.

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Effect of Yeongyupaedog-san on Cytokine Levels of Mouse Th1/Th2 Cells and Anti-allergic Activity in Ovalbumin-sensitized Allergic Inflammation Model (연교적패독산(連翹敗毒散) 물 추출물(抽出物)의 마우스 Th1/Th2 사이토카인 조절(調節)에 의한 항알레르기 효과)

  • Khwag, Nyo-Gyu;Kang, Hee;Myung, Eu-Gene;Park, Sung-Min;Shim, Bum-Sang;Kim, Sung-Hoon;Choi, Seung-Hoon;Ahn, Kyoo-Seok
    • Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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    • v.20 no.4
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    • pp.844-852
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    • 2006
  • This study was to evaluate the effect of Yeongyupaedog-san (YGPDS) on mouse Thl and Th2 cells' differentiation and ovalbumin (OVA)-induced allergic inflammation. The proliferation of mouse CD4 T cells and the secretion of Th1/Th2 cytokines under the influence of YGPDS extract were measured as well as the amount of ${\beta}-hexosaminidase$ in RBL-2H3 cells and the levels of $TNF-{\alpha}$ and 1L-6 secretion in Raw264.7 cells. BALB/c mice were orally administered with YGPDS extract and simultaneously inoculated with OVA to induce allergic reaction and measure the level of total IgE, OVA-specific IgE and the production of IFN- g, IL-4, IL-5 by the spleen cells. When mouse CD4 T cell were stimulated with anti-CD3 and anti-CD28 for 48 hours in various concentrations of YGPDS extract, it increased proliferation of CD4 cells by 11% in $100\;{\mu}g/^{ml}$ concentration but it showed an inhibition by 37% at $200\;{\mu}g/^{ml}$ CD4 T cells under Th1/Th2 polarizing conditions for 3 days with YGPDS resulted in mild decrease of IFN- g in Thl cells and significant decrease of IL-4 in Th2 cells at $500\;{\mu}g/^{ml}\;and\;100\;{\mu}g/^{ml}$ by 18% and 21%, respectively. YGPDS extract had a dose-dependent inhibitory effect on antigen-induced release of ${\beta}-hexosaminidase$ in RBL-2H3 cells. Treatment of YGPDS extract on LPS stimulated Raw 264.7 cells showed dose-dependent decrease in TNF-n production. Oral administration of YGPDS extract on OVA-induced allergic mice showed an inhibitory effect on the levels of total serum IgE and OVA-specific IgE by 25% and 34% , respectively. Culture of spleen cells with OVA resulted in significant increase of IFN- g by 44% and significant decrease of IL-4 and IL-5 by 56%, and 24%, respectively. The results show that YGPDS does not strongly induce mouse T cells to transform into Thl or Th2 but it has an anti-allergic effect in vitro, and that it also corrects the unbalance between the reactions of Th cells in allergic diseases.

The Effect of Corporate Association on the Perceived Risk of the Product (소비자의 제품 지각 위험에 대한 기업연상과 효과: 지식과 관여의 조절적 역활을 중심으로)

  • Cho, Hyun-Chul;Kang, Suk-Hou;Kim, Jin-Yong
    • Journal of Global Scholars of Marketing Science
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    • v.18 no.4
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    • pp.1-32
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    • 2008
  • Brown and Dacin (1997) have investigated the relationship between corporate associations and product evaluations. Their study focused on the effects of associations with a company's corporate ability (CA) and its corporate social responsibility (CSR) on consumers' product evaluations. Their study has found that both of CA and CSR influenced product evaluation but CA association has a stronger effect than CSR associations. Brown and Dacin (1997) have, however, claimed that there are few researches on how corporate association impacts product responses. Accordingly, some of researchers have found the variables to moderate or to mediate the relationship between the corporate association and the product responses. In particular, there has been existed a few of studies that tested the influence of the reputation on the product-relevant perceived risk, but the effects of two types of the corporate association on the product-relevant perceived risk were not identified so far. The primary goal of this article is to identify and empirically examine some variables to moderate the effects of CA association and CSR association on the perceived risk of the product. In this articles, we take the concept of the corporate associations that Brown and Dacin (1997) had proposed. CA association is those association related to the company's expertise in producing and delivering its outputs and CSR association reflected the organization's status and activities with respect to its perceived societal obligations. Also, this study defines the risk, which is the uncertainty or loss of the product and corporate that consumers have taken in a particular purchase decision or after having purchased. The risk is classified into product-relevant performance risk and financial risk. Performance risk is the possibility or the consequence of a product not functioning at some expected level and financial risk is the monetary loss one perceives to be incurring if a product does not function at some expected level. In relation to consumer's knowledge, expert consumers have much of the experiences or knowledge of the product in consumer position and novice consumers does not. The model tested in this article are shown in Figure 1. The model indicates that both of CA association and CSR association influence on performance risk and financial risk. In addition, the effects of CA and CSR are moderated by product category knowledge (product knowledge) and product category involvement (product involvement). In this study, the relationships between the corporate association and product-relevant perceived risk are hypothesized as the following form. For example, Hypothesis 1a($H_{1a}$) is represented that CA association has a positive influence on the performance risk of consumer. Also, the hypotheses that identified some variables to moderate the effects of two types of corporate association on the perceived risk of the product are laid down. One of the hypotheses of the interaction effect is Hypothesis 3a($H_{3a}$), it is described that consumer's knowledges of the product moderates the negative relationship between CA association and product-relevant performance risk. A field experiment was conducted in order to examine our model. The company tested was not real but imagined to meet the internal validity. Water purifiers were used for our study. Four scenarios have been developed and described as the imaginary company: Type A with both of superior CA and CSR, Type B with superior CSR and inferior CA, Type C with superior CA and inferior CSR, and Type D with both inferior of CA and CSR. The respondents of this study were classified into four groups. One type of four scenarios (Type A, B, C, or D) in its questionnaire was given to the respondent who filled out questions. Data were collected by means of a self-administered questionnaire to the respondents, chosen in convenience. A total of 300 respondents filled out the questionnaire but 207 were used for further analysis. Table 1 indicates that the scales in this study are reliable because the range of coefficients of Cronbach's $\alpha$ are from 0.85 to 0.92. The composite reliability is in the range of 0,85 to 0,92 and average variance extracted is in 0.72-0.98 range that is higher than the base level of 0.6. As shown in Table 2, the values for CFI, NNFI, root-mean-square error approximation (RMSEA), and standardized root-mean-square residual (SRMR) are acceptably close to the standards suggested by Hu and Bentler (1999):.95 for CFI and NNFI,.06 for RMSEA, and.08 for SRMR. We also tested discriminant validity provided by Fornell and Larcker (1981). As shown in Table 2, we found strong evidence for discriminant validity between each possible pair of latent constructs in all samples. Given that these batteries of overall goodness-of-fit indices were accurate and that the model was developed on theoretical bases, and given the high level of consistency across samples, this enables us to proceed the previously defined scales. We used the moderated hierarchical regression analysis to test the influence of the corporate association(CA and CSR associations) on product-relevant perceived risk(performance and financial risks) and to identify the variables moderating the relationship between the corporate association and product-relevant performance risk. In this study, dependent variables are performance and financial risk. CA and CSR associations are described the independent variables. The moderating variables are product category knowledge and product category involvement. The results are, as expected, found that CA association has statistically a significant influence on the perceived risk of the product, but CSR association does not. Product category knowledge and involvement moderate the relationship between the CA association and the perceived risk of the product. However, the effect of CSR association on the perceived risk of the product is not moderated by the consumers' knowledge and involvement. For this result, it is necessary for a corporate to inform its customers CA association more than CSR association so that they could be felt to be the reduction of the perceived risk. The important theoretical contribution of this research is the meanings that two types of corporate association that Brown and Dacin(1997), and Brown(1998) have proposed replicated the difference of the effects on product evaluation. According to Hunter(2001), it was an important affair to accomplish the validity of a particular study and we had to take about ten studies to deduce a strict study. Next, there is the contribution of the this study to find that the effects of corporate association on the perceived risk of the product are varied by the moderator variables. In particular, the moderating effect of knowledge on the relationship between corporate association and product-relevant perceived risk has not been tested in Korea. In the managerial implications of this research, we suggest the necessity to stress the ability that corporate manufactures the product well(CA association) than the accomplishment of corporate's social obligation(CSR association). This study suffers from various limitations that imply future research directions. The moderating effects of product category knowledge and involvement on the relationship between corporate association and perceived risk need to be replicated. Next, future research could explore whether the mediated effects of the perceived risk has the relationship between corporate association and consumer's product purchase. In addition, to ensure the external validity of the study will be needed to use realistic company, not artificial.

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The Radioprotective Effect of Ginseng Extracts on the liver in Mice that was irradiated by radiation (방사선이 조사된 생쥐 간에서 인삼추출물이 방사선 방어효과에 미치는 영향)

  • Ko, In-Ho;Chang, Chae-Chul;Koh, Jeong-Sam
    • Journal of radiological science and technology
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    • v.27 no.2
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    • pp.35-43
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    • 2004
  • Radioprotective effects of ginseng extracts on liver damage induced by high energy x-ray were studied. To one group of ICR male mice were given white(50 mg/kg/day for 7days, orally) and fermenta ginseng extracts(500 mg/kg/day for 7days, orally) before irrdiation. To another group were irradiated by 5 Gy dose of high energy x-ray. Contrast group were given with saline(0.1 ml). This study also investigated the radioprotective effect between SOD, CAT, hydrogen peroxide and ginseng extracts on hepatic damage. This study measured the level of superoxide dismutase(SOD), catalase(CAT), hydrogen peroxide($H_2O_2$) in liver tissue. Administrating orally white (50 mg/kg/day for 7days, orally) and fermenta ginseng extracts(500 mg/kg/day), the activity of SOD, CAT were generally increased and the hydrogen peroxide($H_2O_2$) was decreased. After irradiation, the activity of SOD, CAT were generally decreased and the hydrogen peroxide($H_2O_2$) was increased. Therefore, ginseng extracts increased antioxidative enzyme activity. And We know that the antioxidatant effect of extracts from white and fermenta ginseng protect radiation damage by direct antioxidant effect involving SOD, CAT. It was included that ginseng can protect against radiation damage through its antioxidatant properties.

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Effect of Bulhwangeumjeonggi-san on Cytokine Levels of Mouse Th1/Th2 Cells and Anti-allergic Activity in Ovalbumin-sensitized Allergic Inflammation Model (불환금정기산(不換金正氣散)이 마우스 Th1/Th2 분화(分化) 및 알레르기 염증 반응 조절에 미치는 효과)

  • Lim, Kang-Min;Kang, Hee;Park, Sung-Min;Shim, Bum-Sang;Kim, Sung-Hoon;Choi, Seung-Hoon;Ahn, Kyoo-Seok
    • Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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    • v.20 no.6
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    • pp.1467-1476
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    • 2006
  • This study was to evaluate the effect of Bulhwangeumjeonggi-san (BS) on mouse Th1 and Th2 cells' differentiation and ovalbumin (OVA)-induced allergic inflammation. The proliferation of mouse CD4 T cells and the secretion of Th1/Th2 cytokines under the influence of BS extract were measured as well as the amount ${\beta}$-hexosaminidase in RBL-wH3 cells and the levels of TNF-${\alpha}$ and IL-6 secretion in Raw264.7 cells. BALB/c mice were orally administered with BS extract and simultaneously inoculated with OVA to induce allergic reaction and measure the level of total lgE, OVA-specific lgE and the production of IFN- g, IL-4, IL-5 by the spleen cells. When mouse CD4- T cell were stimulated with anti-CD3 and anti-CD28 for 48 hours in various concentrations of BS extract, it increased proliferation of CD4 cells by 14% in 50 ${\mu}g/m{\ell}$ concentration but it showed an inhibition in higher concentrations. CD4 T cells under Th1/Th2 polarizing conditions for 3 days with BS resulted in mild decrease of IFN- g in Th1 cells and mild increase of IL-4 in Th2 cell at 50 ${\mu}g/m{\ell}$ but the level of IL-4 decreased by 18% at 100 ${\mu}g/m{\ell}$. BS extract had a dose-dependent inhibitory effect on antigen-induced release of ${\beta}$-hexosaminidase in RBL-2H3 cells. Treatment of BS extract on LPS stimulated Raw 264.7 cells showed dose-dependent decrease in TNF-${\alpha}$ production. Oral administration of BS extract on OVA-induced allergic mice showed an inhibitory effect on the levels of total serum lgE and OVA-specific lgE by 50% and 55%, respectively. Culture of spleen cells with OVA resulted in significant increase of IFN- g by 25% and significant decrease of IL-4 and IL-5 by 53%, and 38%, respectively. The results show that BS does not strongly induce mouse T cells to transform into Th1 or Th2 but it has an anti-allergic effect in vitro, and that it also corrects the unbalance between the reactions of Th cells in allergic diseases.

The Relationship between the Cognitive Impairment and Mortality in the Rural Elderly (농촌지역 노인들의 인지기능 장애와 사망과의 관련성)

  • Sun, Byeong-Hwan;Park, Kyeong-Soo;Na, Baeg-Ju;Park, Yo-Seop;Nam, Hae-Sung;Shin, Jun-Ho;Sohn, Seok-Joon;Rhee, Jung-Ae
    • Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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    • v.30 no.3 s.58
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    • pp.630-642
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    • 1997
  • The purpose of this study was to examine the mortality risk associated with cognitive impairment among the rural elderly. The subjective of study was 558 of 'A Study on the Depression and Cognitive Impairment in the Rural Elderly' of Jung Ae Rhee and Hyang Gyun Jung's study(1993). Cognitive impairment and other social and health factors were assessed in 558 elderly rural community residents. For this study, a Korean version of the Mini-Mental State Examination(MMSEK) was used as a global indicator of cognitive functioning. And mortality risk factors for each cognitive impairment subgroup were identified by univariate and multivariate Cox regression analysis. At baseline 22.6% of the sample were mildly impaired and 14.2% were severely impaired. As the age increased, the cognitive function was more impaired. Sexual difference was existed in the cognitive function level. Also the variables such as smoking habits, physical disorders had the significant relationship with cognitive function impairment. Across a 3-year observation period the mortality rate was 8.5% for the cognitively unimpaired, 11.1% for the mildly impaired, and 16.5% for the severly impaired respendents. And the survival probability was .92 for the cognitively unimpaired, .90 for the mildly impaired, and .86 for the severly impaired respondents. Compared to survival curve for the cognitively unimpaired group, each survival curve for the mildly and the severely impaired group was not significantly different. When adjustments models were not made for the effects of other health and social covariates, each hazard ratio of death of mildly and severely impaired persons was not significantly different as compared with the cognitively unimpaired. But, as MMSEK score increased, significantly hazard ratio of death decreased. Employing Cox univariate proportional hazards model, statistically other significant variables were age, monthly income, smoking habits, physical disorders. Also when adjustments were made for the effects of other health and social covariates, there was no difference in hazard ratio of death between those with severe or mild impairment and unimpaired persons. And as MMSEK score increased, significantly hazard ratio of death did not decrease. Employing Cox multivariate proportional hazards model, statistically other significant variables were age, monthly income, physical disorders. Employing Cox multivariate proportional hazards model by sex, at men and women statistically significant variable was only age. For both men and women, also cognitive impairment was not a significant risk factor. Other investigators have found that cognitive impairment is a significant predictor of mortality. But we didn't find that it is a significant predictor of mortality. Even though the conclusions of our study were not related to cognitive impairment and mortality, early detection of impaired cognition and attention to associated health problems could improve the quality of life of these older adults and perhaps extend their survival.

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Assessment of Carsington Dam Failure by Slope Stability and Dam Behavior Analyses (사면안정 해석과 댐 거동분석을 통한 Carsington Dam 파괴의 고찰)

  • 송정락;김성인
    • Proceedings of the Korean Geotechical Society Conference
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    • 1991.10a
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    • pp.87-102
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    • 1991
  • It has been reported that the failure of Carsington Dam in Eng1and occured due to the existence of a thin yellow clay layer which was not identified during the design work, and due to pre-existing shears of the clay layer. The slope stability analyses during the design work, which utilized traditional circular arc type failure method and neglected the existence of the clay layer, showed a safety factor of 1.4. However, the post-failure analyses which utilized translational failure mode considering the clay layer and the pre-existing shear deformation revealed the reduction of safety factor to unity. The post-failure analysis assumed 10。 inclination of the horizontal forces onto each slice based on the results of finite element analyses. In this paper, Bishop's simplified method, Janbu method, and Morgenstern-Price method were used for the comparison of both circular and translational failure analysis methods. The effects of the pre-existing shears and subsquent movement were also considered by varying the soil strength parameters and the pore pressure ratio according to the given soi1 parameters. The results showed factor of safefy 1.387 by Bishop's simplified method(STABL) which assumed circular arc failure surface and disregarding yellow clay layer and pre-failure material properties. Also the results showed factor of safety 1.093 by Janbu method(STABL) and 0.969 by Morgenstern-Price method(MALE) which assumed wedge failure surface and considerd yellow clay layer using post failure material properties. In addition, dam behavior was simulated by Cam-Clay model FEM program. The effects of pore pressure changes with loading and consolidation, and strength reduction near or at failure were also considered based on properly assumed stress-strain relationship and pore pressure characteristics. The results showed that the failure was initiated at the yellow clay layer and propagated through other zones by showing that stress and displacement were concentrated at the yel1ow clay layer.

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Importance of End User's Feedback Seeking Behavior for Faithful Appropriation of Information Systems in Small and Medium Enterprises (중소기업 환경에서의 합목적적 정보시스템 활용을 위한 최종사용자 피드백 탐색행위의 중요성)

  • Shin, Young-Mee;Lee, Joo-Ryang;Lee, Ho-Geun
    • Asia pacific journal of information systems
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    • v.17 no.4
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    • pp.61-95
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    • 2007
  • Small-and-medium sized enterprises(SMEs) represent quite a large proportion of the industry as a whole in terms of the number of enterprises or employees. However researches on information system so far have focused on large companies, probably because SMEs were not so active in introducing information systems as larger enterprises. SMEs are now increasingly bringing in information systems such as ERP(Enterprise Resource Planning Systems) and some of the companies already entered the stage of ongoing use. Accordingly, researches should deal with the use of information systems by SME s operating under different conditions from large companies. This study examined factors and mechanism inducing faithful appropriation of information systems, in particular integrative systems such as ERP, in view of individuals` active feedback-seeking behavior. There are three factors expected to affect end users` feedback-seeking behavior for faithful appropriation of information systems. They are management support, peer IT champ support, and IT staff support. The main focus of the study is on how these factors affect feedback-seeking behavior and whether the feedback-seeking behavior plays the role of mediator for realizing faithful appropriation of information systems by end users. To examine the research model and the hypotheses, this study employed an empirical method based on a field survey. The survey used measurements mostly employed and verified by previous researches, while some of the measurements had gone through minor modifications for the purpose of the study. The survey respondents are individual employees of SMEs that have been using ERP for one year or longer. To prevent common method bias, Task-Technology Fit items used as the control variable were made to be answered by different respondents. In total, 127 pairs of valid questionnaires were collected and used for the analysis. The PLS(Partial Least Squares) approach to structural equation modeling(PLS-Graph v.3.0) was used as our data analysis strategy because of its ability to model both formative and reflective latent constructs under small-and medium-size samples. The analysis shows Reliability, Construct Validity and Discriminant Validity are appropriate. The path analysis results are as follows; first, the more there is peer IT champ support, the more the end user is likely to show feedback-seeking behavior(path-coefficient=0.230, t=2.28, p<0.05). In other words, if colleagues proficient in information system use recognize the importance of their help, pass on what they have found to be an effective way of using the system or correct others' misuse, ordinary end users will be able to seek feedback on the faithfulness of their appropriation of information system without hesitation, because they know the convenience of getting help. Second, management support encourages ordinary end users to seek more feedback(path-coefficient=0.271, t=3.06, p<0.01) by affecting the end users' perceived value of feedback(path-coefficient=0.401, t=6.01, p<0.01). Management support is far more influential than other factors that when the management of an SME well understands the benefit of ERP, promotes its faithful appropriation and pays attention to employees' satisfaction with the system, employees will make deliberate efforts for faithful appropriation of the system. However, the third factor, IT staff support was found not to be conducive to feedback-seeking behavior from end users(path-coefficient=0.174, t=1.83). This is partly attributable to the fundamental reason that there is little support for end users from IT staff in SMEs. Even when IT staff provides support, end users may find it less important than that from coworkers more familiar with the end users' job. Meanwhile, the more end users seek feedback and attempt to find ways of faithful appropriation of information systems, the more likely the users will be able to deploy the system according to the purpose the system was originally meant for(path-coefficient=0.35, t=2.88, p<0.01). Finally, the mediation effect analysis confirmed the mediation effect of feedback-seeking behavior. By confirming the mediation effect of feedback-seeking behavior, this study draws attention to the importance of feedback-seeking behavior that has long been overlooked in research about information system use. This study also explores the factors that promote feedback-seeking behavior which in result could affect end user`s faithful appropriation of information systems. In addition, this study provides insight about which inducements or resources SMEs should offer to promote individual users' feedback-seeking behavior when formal and sufficient support from IT staff or an outside information system provider is hardly expected. As the study results show, under the business environment of SMEs, help from skilled colleagues and the management plays a critical role. Therefore, SMEs should seriously consider how to utilize skilled peer information system users, while the management should pay keen attention to end users and support them to make the most of information systems.