• Asia pacific journal of information systems
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.57-81
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• 2008

Knowledge is an essential strategic weapon for sustaining competitive advantage and is the key determinant for organizational growth. When knowledge is shared and disseminated throughout the organization, it increases an organization's value by providing the ability to respond to new and unusual situations. The growing importance of knowledge as a critical resource has forced executives to pay attention to their organizational knowledge. Organizations are increasingly undertaking knowledge management initiatives and making significant investments. Knowledge sourcing is considered as the first important step in effective knowledge management. Most firms continue to make an effort to realize the benefits of knowledge management by using various knowledge sources effectively. Appropriate knowledge sourcing strategies enable organizations to create, acquire, and access knowledge in a timely manner by reducing search and transfer costs, which result in better firm performance. In response, the knowledge management literature has devoted substantial attention to the analysis of knowledge sourcing strategies. Many studies have categorized knowledge sourcing strategies into intemal- and external-oriented. Internal-oriented sourcing strategy attempts to increase firm performance by integrating knowledge within the boundary of the firm. On the contrary, external-oriented strategy attempts to bring knowledge in from outside sources via either acquisition or imitation, and then to transfer that knowledge across to the organization. However, the extant literature on knowledge sourcing strategies focuses primarily on large organizations. Although many studies have clearly highlighted major differences between large and small firms and the need to adopt different strategies for different firm sizes, scant attention has been given to analyzing how knowledge sourcing strategies affect firm performance in small firms and what are the differences between small and large firms in the patterns of knowledge sourcing strategies adoption. This study attempts to advance the current literature by examining the impact of knowledge sourcing strategies on small firm performance from a holistic perspective. By drawing on knowledge based theory from organization science and complementarity theory from the economics literature, this paper is motivated by the following questions: (1) what are the adoption patterns of different knowledge sourcing strategies in small firms (i,e., what sourcing strategies should be adopted and which sourcing strategies work well together in small firms)?; and (2) what are the performance implications of these adoption patterns? In order to answer the questions, this study developed three hypotheses. First hypothesis based on knowledge based theory is that internal-oriented knowledge sourcing is positively associated with small firm performance. Second hypothesis developed on the basis of knowledge based theory is that external-oriented knowledge sourcing is positively associated with small firm performance. The third one based on complementarity theory is that pursuing both internal- and external-oriented knowledge sourcing simultaneously is negatively or less positively associated with small firm performance. As a sampling frame, 700 firms were identified from the Annual Corporation Report in Korea. Survey questionnaires were mailed to owners or executives who were most erudite about the firm s knowledge sourcing strategies and performance. A total of 188 companies replied, yielding a response rate of 26.8%. Due to incomplete data, 12 responses were eliminated, leaving 176 responses for the final analysis. Since all independent variables were measured using continuous variables, supermodularity function was used to test the hypotheses based on the cross partial derivative of payoff function. The results indicated no significant impact of internal-oriented sourcing strategies while positive impact of external-oriented sourcing strategy on small firm performance. This intriguing result could be explained on the basis of various resource and capital constraints of small firms. Small firms typically have restricted financial and human resources. They do not have enough assets to always develop knowledge internally. Another possible explanation is competency traps or core rigidities. Building up a knowledge base based on internal knowledge creates core competences, but at the same time, excessive internal focused knowledge exploration leads to behaviors blind to other knowledge. Interestingly, this study found that Internal- and external-oriented knowledge sourcing strategies had a substitutive relationship, which was inconsistent with previous studies that suggested complementary relationship between them. This result might be explained using organizational identification theory. Internal organizational members may perceive external knowledge as a threat, and tend to ignore knowledge from external sources because they prefer to maintain their own knowledge, legitimacy, and homogeneous attitudes. Therefore, integrating knowledge from internal and external sources might not be effective, resulting in failure of improvements of firm performance. Another possible explanation is small firms resource and capital constraints and lack of management expertise and absorptive capacity. Although the integration of different knowledge sources is critical, high levels of knowledge sourcing in many areas are quite expensive and so are often unrealistic for small enterprises. This study provides several implications for research as well as practice. First this study extends the existing knowledge by examining the substitutability (and complementarity) of knowledge sourcing strategies. Most prior studies have tended to investigate the independent effects of these strategies on performance without considering their combined impacts. Furthermore, this study tests complementarity based on the productivity approach that has been considered as a definitive test method for complementarity. Second, this study sheds new light on knowledge management research by identifying the relationship between knowledge sourcing strategies and small firm performance. Most current literature has insisted complementary relationship between knowledge sourcing strategies on the basis of data from large firms. Contrary to the conventional wisdom, this study identifies substitutive relationship between knowledge sourcing strategies using data from small firms. Third, implications for practice highlight that managers of small firms should focus on knowledge sourcing from external-oriented strategies. Moreover, adoption of both sourcing strategies simultaneousiy impedes small firm performance.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.39 no.2 s.259
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• pp.99-105
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• 2006

Background: Interrupted aortic arch is a rare congenital heart anomaly which still shows high surgical mortality. In this study, we investigated the causes of and the risk factors for mortality to improve the surgical outcomes for this difficult disease entity. Material and Method: From 1984 to 2004, 42 patients diagnosed as IAA were reviewed retrospectively. Age, body weight at operation, preoperative diagnosis, preoperative PGE1 requirement, type of interrupted aortic arch, degree of left ventricular outflow stenosis, CPB time, and ACC time were the possible risk factors for mortality. Result: There were .14 hospital deaths. Preoperative use of PGE1, need for circulartory assist and aortic cross clamp time proved to be positive risk factors for mortality on univariate analysis. Preoperative left ventricular outflow stenosis was considered a risk factor for mortality but it did not show statistical significance (p-value=0.61). Causes of death included hypoxia due to pulmonary banding, left ventricular outtract stenosis, infection, mitral valve regurgitation, long cardiopulmonary bypass time and failure of coronary transfer failure in TGA patients. Conclusion: In this study, we demonstrated that surgical mortality is still high due to the risk factors including preoperative status and long operative time. However preoperative subaortic dimension was not related statistically to operative death statistically. Adequate preoperative management and short operation time are mandatory for better survival outcome.

• KOREAN JOURNAL OF CROP SCIENCE
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• v.53 no.1
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• pp.85-92
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• 2008

An RIL population from a Shinpaldalkong2/GC83006 cross was employed to identify quantitative trait loci (QTL) associated with agronomic traits in soybean. The genetic map consisted of 127 loci which covered about 3,000cM and were assigned into 20 linkage groups. Phenotypic data were collected for the following traits; plant height, leaf area, flowering time, pubescence color, seed coat color and hilum color in 2005. Seed weight was evaluated using seeds collected in 2003 to 2005 at Suwon and in 2005 at Pyeongchang and Miryang sites. Three QTLs were associated with 100-seed weight in the combined analysis across three years. Among the three QTLs related to seed weight, all GC83006 alleles on LG O ($R^2\;=\;12.5$), LG A1 ($R^2\;=\;10.1$) and LG C2 ($R^2\;=\;11.5$) increased the seed weight. A QTL conditioning plant height was linked to markers including Satt134 (LG C2, $R^2\;=\;25.4$), and the GC83006 allele increased plant height at this QTL locus. For two QTLs related to leaf area, 1aM on LG M ($R^2\;=\;10.0$) and laL on LG L ($R^2\;=\;8.6$), the Shinpaldalkong2 alleles had positive effect to increase the leaf area. Satt134 on LG C2 ($R^2\;=\;41.0$) was associated with QTL for days to flowering. Satt134 (LG C2) showed a linkage to a gene for pubescence color. Satt363 (LG C2) and Satt354 (LG I) were linked to the hilum color gene, and Sat077 (LG D1a) was linked to the seed coat color. The QTL conditioning plant height was in the similar genomic location as the QTLs for days to flowering in this population, indicating pleiotropic effect of one gene or the tight linkage of several genes. These linked markers would be useful in marker assisted selection for these traits in a soybean breeding program.

• Journal of Hospice and Palliative Care
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.91-100
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• 2011

Purpose: This study was performed to investigate patients' preferences on receiving life-sustaining treatments (LST) and to analyze the relationship between patients' characteristics and LST selection. We also examined any discrepancy between LST patients' choices regarding medical intervention and actual medical intervention given/not given within 48 hours before death. Methods: This cross-sectional study was performed from March 1, 2008 to August 31, 2008 in the Palliative Care Unit of Korea University Hospital. Electric medical records (EMR) of 102 hospice cancer patients were reviewed, and 74 patients with Glasgow coma scale (GCS) ${\geq}$10 at the time of signing the advance medical directives (AMD) were selected for the first analysis. Then, patients alive at the end of this study, transferred to other hospitals or dead within 48 hours were excluded, and the remaining 42 patients were selected for the second analysis. Results: Preferred LST included antibiotics, total parenteral nutrition, tube feeding, transfusion, and laboratory and imaging studies. The relationship between patients' characteristics and LST could not be analyzed due to skewed preferences. LST chosen at the time of signing the AMD and actual medical intervention given/not given in the last 48 hours showed discrepancy in most cases. Conclusion: When making AMD in hospice cancer patients, it is important to consider the time and possibility of changing the choices. Above all, patients must fully understand the AMD. Thus, LST should always be provided with careful consideration of all possibilities, because legal and social aspects of AMD have not been established yet.

• Journal of the Korean Geographical Society
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.699-715
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• 1996

This paper examines the cross-sectional development of children's conception of place. Previous research by Piaget and Weil, Jahoda, Daggs has questioned how young children develop the ablity to comprehend place. Oral interview and graphic test were made vy the children at the age of 5-14, in order to attain information on their knowledge, understanding and feeling about place. These data were used ti indentify developmental stages through cluster analysis. The results suggest that young children's conception of place develops with an identifiable 4 stages. There is no significant difference in development of conception of place between the 2nd year of kindergarten and the 1st year of elementary school, or the between the 5th, 6th year of elementary school and 1st, 2nd year of middle school. Rather, the 4th year of elementary school is an important and crucial truning point in the development of children's conception of place. It is concluded that children's conception of place develops in line with Piaget's general cognitive developmental theory in which the pre-conceptual stage ends at age 7 and the concrete-operation stage starts at age 11 to 12.

• Journal of the korean academy of Pediatric Dentistry
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• v.34 no.1
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• pp.62-72
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• 2007

The purpose of present study was to determine whether different kinds of curing lights can alter microtensile bond strength(MTBS) of class I cavity pulpal and axial wall specimens in primary molar. Thirty clean mandibular 2nd primary molar's occlusal enamel were removed and class I cavity, size of $2{\times}4{\times}2mm$ was prepared. Dentin bonding agent was applied according to manufacturer's manual. Each group was cured with Halogen Curing Unit, Plasma Curing Unit and LED Curing Unit. Composite resin was bulk filled and photo cured with same curing unit. MTBS specimens which size is $0.7{\times}0.7{\times}4mm$ were prepared with low speed saw. Specimens were coded by their curing lights and wall positions (Halogen - Axial wall group, Halogen - Pulpal wall group, Plasma - Axial wall group, Plasma - Pulpal wall group, LED - Axial wall group, LED - Pulpal walt group). MTBS were tested at 1 mm/min cross Head speed by Universal Testing Machine. Fractured surface and bonding surface was observed with SEM. T-test between axial and pulpal specimens in each curing lights, one-way ANOVA among different curing light specimens in each wall positions were done. Weibull distribution analysis was done. The results were as follows : Mean MTBS of pulpal wall specimens were significantly greater than that of axial wall specimens at each curing units(p<.05). There was no significant difference in the MTBS among three curing units at axial wall and pulpal wall. In Weibull distribution, pulpal wall specimens were more homogeneous than axial wall specimens.

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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• v.104 no.4
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• pp.578-587
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• 2015

Nuclear SSR (nSSR) and chloroplast SSR (cpSSR) markers were analyzed to assess the parameters of mating system in seed orchard, such as outcrossing rates, the number of potential pollen contributors, paternal contribution rates, degree of pollen contamination, and biparental inbreeding ($t_m-t_s$). In 2006, 2007, seeds were collected from the seed orchard of Pinus densiflora, established in 1977 at Anmyeon island. Estimates of outcrossing rates ranged from 94.9 to 100% (mean 98.9%) in 2006 and from 91.2 to 100% (mean 97.7%) in 2007 on the basis of the analysis of cpSSR haplotypes and from 90.3 to 100% (mean 95.9%) in 2006 and from 81.6 to 100% (mean 95.3%) in 2007 on the basis of the analysis of nSSR genotypes. By cross checking of both DNA markers, mean cumulative outcrossing rates of 100% and 98.9% were estimated in each year. Mean contamination rates were estimated as 48.9% and 42.4%, respectively. On the basis of cpSSR haplotype observed in each seed, paternal contribution rates (the number of pollen contributors) were estimated as 0.458 (mean 16.2) in 2006 and 0.512 (mean 14.8) in 2007. In conclusion, considering pretty high level of outcrossing rates observed in a seed orchard, there might be little to be influenced by inbreeding depression for genetic potential of the seeds induced by selfing. Estimates of the mating system parameters obtained from the two reproductive years were not statistically different, which revealed stable genetic quality of seeds produced in different years. Observed results from this study may provide useful information for the management and establishment of the seed orchard of the progressive generation.

• Journal of agricultural medicine and community health
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.15-28
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• 2005

Objectives: The purpose of this cross-sectional study was aimed to investigate the status of bowel health behaviors, prevalence of constipation and risk factors related to self-reported constipation in high school students. Methods: The study subjects were 1,882 students of six high schools located in a metropolitan city, who were selected by the accidental sampling from June to August, 2002. We analyzed the data by frequency analysis, chi-square test, and multivariate logistic regression using SPSS ver. 10.0. Results: The result of this study were summarized as follows: 1. A prevalence rate of self-reported constipation was 25.2%. A rate in male students was 13.4% and in female students 36.5%. 2. In regard to therapeutic behavior, 52.1% of study student with change in bowel habit had not find particular counsellor, 38.9% of the student had counselling with parents. 16.3% of students in constipation group had taken laxative medicine for treating the constipation. 73.5% of the student in constipation group had suffered from anal pain during defecation, but 48.0% in normal group. 41.6% of the student in constipation group had a experience of rectal bleeding after defecation, but 23.7% in normal group. So constipation related symptoms distribution had showed statistically significant difference between two group. 3. From the multivariate analysis by self-reported method, the risk factors related to the constipation were sex(female), experience of diet for weight reduction, absence of the breakfast and intake of vegetable more than 3 times per weeks. Conclusions: we had reconfirmed that we should improve eating habits to prevent and treat the constipation in a result of this study. Intervention that is target to girl students, abstain from weight reduction diet, regularity of taking meals, intake more vegetables, stress management should be provided to prevent the constipation especially in Korean high school students. Further prospective designed study are needed to establish the causal-effect relationship between so many risk factors with constipation.

• Journal of the Mineralogical Society of Korea
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.367-375
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• 2010

Understanding the interactions between earth materials and fluids is essential for studying the diverse geological processes in the Earth's surface and interior. In order to better understand the interactions between earth materials and fluids, we explore the effect of specific surface area and porosity on structural parameters of pore structures. We obtained 3D pore structures, using random packing simulations of porous media composed of single sized spheres with varying the particle size and porosity, and then we analyzed configurational entropy for 2D cross sections of porous media and cube counting fractal dimension for 3D porous networks. The results of the configurational entropy analysis show that the entropy length decreases from 0.8 to 0.2 with increasing specific surface area from 2.4 to $8.3mm^2/mm^3$, and the maximum configurational entropy increases from 0.94 to 0.99 with increasing porosity from 0.33 to 0.46. On the basis of the strong correlation between the liquid volume fraction (i.e., porosity) and configurational entropy, we suggest that elastic properties and viscosity of mantle melts can be expressed using configurational entropy. The results of the cube counting fractal dimension analysis show that cube counting fractal dimension increases with increasing porosity at constant specific surface area, and increases from 2.65 to 2.98 with increasing specific surface area from 2.4 to $8.3mm^2/mm^3$. On the basis of the strong correlation among cube counting fractal dimension, specific surface area, and porosity, we suggest that seismic wave attenuation and structural disorder in fluid-rock-melt composites can be described using cube counting fractal dimension.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.47 no.2
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• pp.113-123
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• 2014

Purpose: Vitamin D has been known to play an important role in the central nervous system and brain functions in the human body, and cumulative evidence has shown that vitamin D deficiency might be linked with various mental health conditions. Epidemiologic studies have shown that vitamin D deficiency may be associated with higher risk of depression in the US and European populations. However, limited information is available regarding the association between vitamin D status and depression in the Korean population. The objective of this study was to examine the associations between vitamin D levels and prevalence of depression. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional analysis using nationally representative data from the 2008-2010 Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey from which serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D concentrations were available. A total of 18,735 adults who had available demographic, dietary, and lifestyle information were included in our analysis. We defined "depression" with a diagnosis by a physician. "Depressed condition" was defined as having feelings of sadness or depression without diagnosis by a physician. Results: The prevalence of depression was 1.63% and 5.43% in Korean men and women, respectively; 12.5% of men and 26.1% of women were defined as the group having depressed conditions. In multivariate logistic regression models, no significant associations were observed between vitamin D status and prevalence of depression or depressed conditions in Korean men and women. Conclusion: We found no association between vitamin D insufficiency and depression/depressed conditions in Korean adults. Future large prospective studies and randomized controlled trials are needed to confirm this relationship.