• Title/Summary/Keyword: Factor Analysis

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Measuring Intracellular Mycobacterial Killing Using a Human Whole Blood Assay (인체 전혈 모델을 이용한 세포내 결핵균 살균력에 관한 연구)

  • Cheon, Seon-Hee;Song, Ho-Yeon;Lee, Eun-Hee;Oh, Hee-Jung;Kang, In-Sook;Cho, Ji-Yoon;Hong, Young-Sun
    • Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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    • v.53 no.5
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    • pp.497-509
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    • 2002
  • Background : The mechanisms through which cellular activation results in intracellular mycobacterial killing is only partially understood. However, in vitro studies of human immunity to Mycobacterium tuberculosis have been largely modeled on the work reported by Crowle, which is complicated by several factors. The whole blood culture is simple and allows the simultaneous analysis of the relationship between bacterial killing and the effect of effector cells and humoral factors. In this study, we attempted to determine the extent to which M. tuberculosis is killed in a human whole blood culture and to explore the role of the host and microbial factor in this process. Methods : The PPD positive subject were compared to the umbilical cord blood and patients with tuberculosis, diabetes and lung cancer. The culture is performed using heparinized whole blood diluted with a culture medium and infected with a low number of M. avium or M. tuberculosis $H_{37}Ra$ for 4 days by rotating the culture in a $37^{\circ}C$, 5% $CO_2$ incubator. In some experiments, methlprednisolone- or pentoxifyline were used to inhibit the immune response. To assess the role of the T-cell subsets, CD4+, CD8+ T-cells or both were removed from the blood using magnetic beads. The ${\Delta}$ log killing ratio was defined using a CFU assay as the difference in the log number of viable organisms in the completed culture compared to the inoculum. Results : 1. A trend was noted toward the improved killing of mycobacteria in PPD+ subjects comparing to the umbilical cord blood but there was no specific difference in the patients with tuberculosis, diabetes and lung cancer. 2. Methylprednisolone and pentoxifyline adversely affected the killing in the PPD+ subjects umbilical cord blood and patients with tuberculosis. 3. The deletion of CD4+ or CD8+ T-lymphocytes adversely affected the killing of M. avium and M. tuberculosis $H_{37}Ra$ by PPD+ subjects. Deletion of both cell types had an additive effect, particularly in M. tuberculosis $H_{37}Ra$. 4. A significantly improved mycobacterial killing was noted after chemotherapy in patients with tuberculosis and the ${\Delta}$ logKR continuously decreased in a 3 and 4 days of whole blood culture. Conclusion : The in vitro bactericidal assay by human whole blood culture model was settled using a CFU assay. However, the host immunity to M. tuberculosis was not apparent in the human whole blood culture bactericidal assay, and patients with tuberculosis showed markedly improved bacterial killing after anti-tuberculous chemotherapy compared to before. The simplicity of a whole blood culture facilitates its inclusion in a clinical trial and it may have a potential role as a surrogate marker in a TB vaccine trial.

A Survey on Consumption Behaviors of the Fast-Foods in University Students (대학생의 패스트푸드 소비행태에 관한 연구)

  • Cho, Kyu-Seok;Im, Byoung-Soon;Kim, Seok-Eun;Kim, Gye-Woong
    • Korean Journal of Human Ecology
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    • v.14 no.2
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    • pp.313-319
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    • 2005
  • This survey was conducted in order to obtain the basic data for desirable consumption habits through investigation and analysis of university students' fast food consumption behaviors. Questionnaires were collected from a total of 374 male and female students living in big or small and medium-sized cities in August, 2004. The contents surveyed were utilization and expenses of fast foods, choice of fast foods, relationship between fast foods and a diet, and characteristics of fast food restaurants. The results obtained are summarized as follows: 1. The ratio of the surveyees varied according to gender, residence, and the size of a city they're living in. For example, males took up 48.66% of the surveyees, while females did 51.34%. The ratio of residents in apartments and stand-alone houses was 54.81% and 45.19% each. 47.33% of the respondents were living in big cities, while 52.67% of them in small and medium-sized cities. 2. 70.1% of the surveyees responded that they are with friends when having fast foods. There was a highly significant difference between male and female in the type of eating companions (p<0.001). The average number of days that they eat fast foods was 1 to 2 times a week, which accounted for 63.7% of the respondents. However, in the case of eating foods, there was no significant differences between two sexes. 3. 64.2% of the surveyees paid more than 20,000 won to buy fast foods for a week, which showed no significant differences between genders. They tend to split a bill, rather than one person pays all. There was a highly significant difference between genders in paying method (p<0.001). 4. 52.1 % of the respondents chose a menu themselves. Their most favored food was chickens (26.5%), which showed a statistically significant difference between genders (p<0.001). 46.8% of them preferred coke as a drink, which had no significant difference between genders. 42.2% of the surveyees had fast foods between lunch and dinner, which also had no significant difference between genders. The most important factor in choosing a menu was its taste (62.8%), which indicated a significant difference between males and females (p<0.05). 5. The preference to fast foods was due to the influence of western culture (36.4%) and eating-out habits (29.1%), which was significantly different between genders (p<0.05). Those who eat fast foods answered they have normal weight and normal body type (49.5%). 24.3% of them were relatively fat with significant difference between genders (p<0.05). 63.4% of the surveyees thought themselves not picky with foods, and there was a significant difference between genders (p<0.05). 78.3% of them mostly preferred franchise restaurants because they are convenient and cheap.

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Community Residents' Knowledge, Attitude, and Needs for Hospice Care (일부 지역주민들의 호스피스에 대한 인지와 태도 및 간호요구 조사)

  • Ro, You-Ja;Han, Sung-Suk;Ahn, Sung-Hee;Yong, Jin-Sun
    • Journal of Hospice and Palliative Care
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    • v.2 no.1
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    • pp.23-35
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    • 1999
  • Purpose : The hospice movement began about 30 years ago in Korea. However, basic studies have seldom been conducted about the general public's knowledge concerning hospice care and their needs for it. The purpose of this study was to investigate the general public's knowledge of and attitude toward hospice, and their needs for hospice care, and to analyze the needs for hospice care in relation to their knowledge and attitude in residents from a specific community. Methods : The survey was conducted with 924 people randomly selected from a district in Seoul. The data were collected through a self-reporting questionnaire constructed by the authors. With 30 items given in the questionnaire, the level of hospice needs showed Cronbach's alpha .89 in a pilot study and .92 in this study and the items were classified into four areas by a factor analysis. The data collected were analyzed by means of t-test and ANOVA. Results : 1) The average age of the respondents was 38. The majority of the respondents were well-educated. 2) Regarding awareness of hospice care, 54%(501 people) indicated they have heard of hospice. About 74% thought that people should be able to prepare for death in advance. About 83% wanted to be informed when they have life threatening illnesses such as terminal cancer. Also, about 63% responded that patients with terminal diseases should be provided with physical, spiritual, and psychological care for minimizing pain and peaceful death. Regarding the attitude toward hospice care, 74% responded that they would use hospice care if needed. The number of the respondents who preferred home visitation by the hospice team to care for the terminally ill ranked first with 34%. Concerning needs for hospice care : 1) By needs area, physical need showed highest mean(M=4.37), followed by social need(M=3.96), emotional need(M=3.87), and the spiritual need(M=3.79). The overall need level showed the mean value of 4.00 which reflects a considerable need for hospice care. 2) By demographic characteristics, people age over 50, the married, and the unemployed indicated higher level of needs for hospice care. Women showed higher level of needs than did men, and Catholics demonstrated higher level of needs than believers of other religion(P<0.0001). 3) As for the knowledge of and attitude toward hospice rare, the level of hospice care needs was significantly higher in the following groups: those who have heard of hospice, those who are aware of death preparation, those who want information on terminal diseases, those who want to use every method to sustain life, and those who are aware of hospice needs(P<0.001). Conclusion : It is assumed that the findings of this study on the knowledge, attitude, and needs for hospice care in the public can contribute to planning a successful hospice care program. Furthermore, the findings of this study will serve as useful data for the promotion of home hospice care to improve the quality of life of community residents, and contribute to the development of hospice care as a whole.

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The Influence of Ventilation and Shade on the Mean Radiant Temperature of Summer Outdoor (통풍과 차양이 하절기 옥외공간의 평균복사온도에 미치는 영향)

  • Lee, Chun-Seok;Ryu, Nam-Hyung
    • Journal of the Korean Institute of Landscape Architecture
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    • v.40 no.5
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    • pp.100-108
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    • 2012
  • The purpose of the study was to evaluate the influence of shading and ventilation on Mean Radiant Temperature(MRT) of the outdoor space at a summer outdoor. The Wind Speed(WS), Air Temperature(AT) and Globe Temperature(GT) were recorded every minute from $1^{st}$ of May to the $30^{th}$ of September 2011 at a height of 1.2m above in four experimental plots with different shading and ventilating conditions, with a measuring system consisting of a vane type anemometer(Barini Design's BDTH), Resistance Temperature Detector(RTD, Pt-100), standard black globe(${\O}$ 150mm) and data acquisition systems(National Instrument's Labview and Compfile Techs' Moacon). To implement four different ventilating and shading conditions, three hexahedral steel frames, and one natural plot were established in the open grass field. Two of the steel frames had a dimension of $3m(W){\times}3m(L){\times}1.5m(H)$ and every vertical side covered with transparent polyethylene film to prevent lateral ventilation(Ventilation Blocking Plot: VP), and an additional shading curtain was applied on the top side of a frame(Shading and Ventilation Blocking Plot: SVP). The third was $1.5m(W){\times}1.5m(L){\times}1.5m(H)$, only the top side of which was covered by the shading curtain without the lateral film(Shading Plot: SP). The last plot was natural condition without any kind of shading and wind blocking material(Natural Open Plot: NP). Based on the 13,262 records of 44 sunny days, the time serial difference of AT and GT for 24 hour were analyzed and compared, and statistical analysis was done based on the 7,172 records of daytime period from 7 A.M. to 8 P.M., while the relation between the MRT and solar radiation and wind speed was analyzed based on the records of the hottest period from 11 A.M. to 4 P.M.. The major findings were as follows: 1. The peak AT was $40.8^{\circ}C$ at VP and $35.6^{\circ}C$ at SP showing the difference about $5^{\circ}C$, but the difference of average AT was very small within${\pm}1^{\circ}C$. 2. The difference of the peak GT was $12^{\circ}C$ showing $52.5^{\circ}C$ at VP and $40.6^{\circ}C$ at SP, while the gap of average GT between the two plots was $6^{\circ}C$. Comparing all four plots including NP and SVP, it can be said that the shading decrease $6^{\circ}C$ GT while the wind blocking increase $3^{\circ}C$ GT. 3. According to the calculated MRT, the shading has a cooling effect in reducing a maximum of $13^{\circ}C$ and average $9^{\circ}C$ MRT, while the wind blocking has heating effect of increasing average $3^{\circ}C$ MRT. In other words, the MRT of the shaded area with natural ventilation could be cooler than the wind blocking the sunny site to about $16^{\circ}C$ MRT maximum. 4. The regression and correlation tests showed that the shading is more important than the ventilation in reducing the MRT, while both of them do an important role in improving the outdoor thermal comfort. In summary, the results of this study showed that the shade is the first and the ventilation is the second important factor in terms of improving outdoor thermal comfort in summer daylight hours. Therefore, it can be apparently said that the more shade by the forest, shading trees etc., the more effective in conditioning the microclimate of an outdoor space reducing the useless or even harmful heat energy for human activities. Furthermore, the delicately designed wind corridor or outdoor ventilation system can improve even the thermal environment of urban area.

A study on the Degradation and By-products Formation of NDMA by the Photolysis with UV: Setup of Reaction Models and Assessment of Decomposition Characteristics by the Statistical Design of Experiment (DOE) based on the Box-Behnken Technique (UV 공정을 이용한 N-Nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA) 광분해 및 부산물 생성에 관한 연구: 박스-벤켄법 실험계획법을 이용한 통계학적 분해특성평가 및 반응모델 수립)

  • Chang, Soon-Woong;Lee, Si-Jin;Cho, Il-Hyoung
    • Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
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    • v.32 no.1
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    • pp.33-46
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    • 2010
  • We investigated and estimated at the characteristics of decomposition and by-products of N-Nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA) using a design of experiment (DOE) based on the Box-Behken design in an UV process, and also the main factors (variables) with UV intensity($X_2$) (range: $1.5{\sim}4.5\;mW/cm^2$), NDMA concentration ($X_2$) (range: 100~300 uM) and pH ($X_2$) (rang: 3~9) which consisted of 3 levels in each factor and 4 responses ($Y_1$ (% of NDMA removal), $Y_2$ (dimethylamine (DMA) reformation (uM)), $Y_3$ (dimethylformamide (DMF) reformation (uM), $Y_4$ ($NO_2$-N reformation (uM)) were set up to estimate the prediction model and the optimization conditions. The results of prediction model and optimization point using the canonical analysis in order to obtain the optimal operation conditions were $Y_1$ [% of NDMA removal] = $117+21X_1-0.3X_2-17.2X_3+{2.43X_1}^2+{0.001X_2}^2+{3.2X_3}^2-0.08X_1X_2-1.6X_1X_3-0.05X_2X_3$ ($R^2$= 96%, Adjusted $R^2$ = 88%) and 99.3% ($X_1:\;4.5\;mW/cm^2$, $X_2:\;190\;uM$, $X_3:\;3.2$), $Y_2$ [DMA conc] = $-101+18.5X_1+0.4X_2+21X_3-{3.3X_1}^2-{0.01X_2}^2-{1.5X_3}^2-0.01X_1X_2+0.07X_1X_3-0.01X_2X_3$ ($R^2$= 99.4%, 수정 $R^2$ = 95.7%) and 35.2 uM ($X_1$: 3 $mW/cm^2$, $X_2$: 220 uM, $X_3$: 6.3), $Y_3$ [DMF conc] = $-6.2+0.2X_1+0.02X_2+2X_3-0.26X_1^2-0.01X_2^2-0.2X_3^2-0.004X_1X_2+0.1X_1X_3-0.02X_2X_3$ ($R^2$= 98%, Adjusted $R^2$ = 94.4%) and 3.7 uM ($X_1:\;4.5\;$mW/cm^2$, $X_2:\;290\;uM$, $X_3:\;6.2$) and $Y_4$ [$NO_2$-N conc] = $-25+12.2X_1+0.15X_2+7.8X_3+{1.1X_1}^2+{0.001X_2}^2-{0.34X_3}^2+0.01X_1X_2+0.08X_1X_3-3.4X_2X_3$ ($R^2$= 98.5%, Adjusted $R^2$ = 95.7%) and 74.5 uM ($X_1:\;4.5\;mW/cm^2$, $X_2:\;220\;uM$, $X_3:\;3.1$). This study has demonstrated that the response surface methodology and the Box-Behnken statistical experiment design can provide statistically reliable results for decomposition and by-products of NDMA by the UV photolysis and also for determination of optimum conditions. Predictions obtained from the response functions were in good agreement with the experimental results indicating the reliability of the methodology used.

The efficacy of continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) for patient with left breast cancer (좌측 유방암 방사선치료에서 CPAP(Continuous Positive Airway Pressure)의 유용성 평가)

  • Jung, Il Hun;Ha, Jin Sook;Chang, Won Suk;Jeon, Mi Jin;Kim, Sei Joon;Jung, Jin Wook;Park, Byul Nim;Shin, Dong Bong;Lee, Ik Jae
    • The Journal of Korean Society for Radiation Therapy
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    • v.31 no.2
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    • pp.43-49
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    • 2019
  • Purpose: This study examined changes in the position of the heat and lungs depending on the patient's breathing method during left breast cancer radiotherapy and used treatment plans to compare the resulting radiation dose. Materials and methods: The participants consisted of 10 patients with left breast cancer. A CT simulator(SIMENS SOMATOM AS, Germany) was used to obtain images when using three different breathing methods: free breathing(FB), deep inspiration breath hold(DIBH with Abches, DIBH), inspiration breath hold(IBH with CPAP, CPAP). A Ray Station(5.0.2.35, Sweden) was used for treatment planning, the treatment method was volumetric modulated arc therapy (VMAT) with one partial arc of the same angle, and the prescribed dose to the planning target volume (PTV) was a total dose of 50Gy(2Gy/day). In treatment plan analysis, the 95% dose (D95) to the PTV, the conformity index(CI), and the homogeneity index (HI) were compared. The lungs, heart, and left anterior descending artery (LAD) were selected as the organs at risk(OARs). Results: The mean volume of the ipsilateral lung for FB, DIBH, and CPAP was 1245.58±301.31㎤, 1790.09±362.43 ㎤, 1775.44±476.71 ㎤. The mean D95 for the PTV was 46.67±1.89Gy, 46.85±1.72Gy, 46.97±23.4Gy, and the mean CI and HI were 0.95±0.02, 0.96±0.02, 0.95±0.02 and 0.91±0.01, 0.90±0.01, 0.92±0.02. The V20 of Whole Lung was 10.74±4.50%, 8.29±3.14%, 9.12±3.29% and The V20 of the ipsilateral lung was 20.45±8.65%, 17.18±7.04%, 18.85±7.85%, the Dmean of the heart was 7.82±1.27Gy, 6.10±1.27Gy, 5.67±1.56Gy, and the Dmax of the LAD was 20.41±7.56Gy, 14.88±3.57Gy, 14.96±2.81Gy. The distance from the thoracic wall to the LAD was measured to be 11.33±4.70mm, 22.40±6.01mm, 20.14±6.23mm. Conclusion: During left breast cancer radiotherapy, the lung volume was 46.24% larger for DIBH than for FB, and 43.11% larger for CPAP than FB. The larger lung volume increases the distance between the thoracic wall and the heart. In this way, the LAD, which is one of the nearby OARs, can be more effectively protected while still satisfying the treatment plan. The lung volume was largest for DIBH, and the distance between the LAD and thoracic wall was also the greatest. However, when performing treatment with DIBH, the intra-fraction error cannot be ignored. Moreover, communication between the patient and the radiotherapist is also an important factor in DIBH treatment. When communication is problematic, or if the patient has difficulty holding their breath, we believe that CPAP could be used as an alternative to DIBH. In order to verify the clinical efficacy of CPAP, it will be necessary to perform long-term follow-up of a greater number of patients.

The Abolition Type and The Regional Characteristics of The Elementary Schools in Chungbuk Province (忠淸北道의 國民學校 廢校類型과 그 地域的 特性)

  • ;Chae, Son-Ha
    • Journal of the Korean Geographical Society
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    • v.29 no.1
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    • pp.84-104
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    • 1994
  • The migration of population into the city has been on the increase according as Korea has been industrialized repidly since the 1960's. And there is a steady decrease in rural population. Thus lack of the number of the students forced many elementary Schools to be abolished. The aim of this study is to grasp the abolition types and the regional characteristics with the subject region of Chungbuk province. From the viewpoint of the increasing abolition of the elementary schools, I think it is very important to understand how the elementary schools have been abolished so far and predict how the subject region will have been changed in geography. Data for this study are based on Annual Establishment-Abolition Situation of the Schools published by Chungbuk office of Education in 1992, and many Kinds of the statistical reports, and the interview with the related. The results are as follows: 1. By examining the change of the number of the elementary schools and students in Chnugbuk, the numder of the students had also decreased since 1969 and was less than the half in 1990. As the number of the schools began to decrease ten years later than the students began to, the abolition of the elementary schools has started in reality from 1980's. 2. The 72 elementary schools were aboilshed between 1980 and 1992: the principal school is 9.7%, the branch school is 90.3%. The most fifteen schools are abolished in Yongdong-county and Chechon-county, and the least one school is abolished in Chechon-city and Okchon-county, and there is no abolition in Chongju-city and Chungju-city: According to the type of the abolition process, the least seven principal schools are abolished, and the principal school is reorganized as a branch school and twenty eight branch schools are abolished, and the most thirty seven branch schools are abolished. 3. When special change of the abolition is classified into the first perio (1980-1986) and the second period (1987-1992), in the first period the principal and branch schools were abolished and they are 13.9% of total abolition. The abolition out of them by building a dam is 60%. The principal schools in the submerged area though they have many students, were abolished. In the second period sixty two branch schools are abolished and they are 86.1% of total abolition. The most fifteen schools are abolished in Yongdong-county, thirteen in Chechon-county, seven in Tanyang-county, six in Chongwon-county, five in Chungwon-county and Koesan-county. Unlike the first period, the schools were abolished in this period because the number of students was so small. In this period sixty branch schools were abolished. All the students in the abolished schools except six schools transfered to the principal schools. The 58 school authorities help the students attend school by bus or support the expenses for attending school after that. 4. The abolition types of city, county and myon are classified into five types by the number of the abolished schools. The most forty nine abolished schools in type II are 68.1 of the total abolition. The least three abolished ones in type I are 12.5%. Considering the relation between the abolition type ane the number of schools and students, the number of the schools, increased in type I, II, III, V except IV from 1980 and then have decreased by abolition since 1980, while the more students decreased than they did in 1970 and the more the abolished school increases, the less the students decreases. The average students per school decreased in every abolition type and the most students decreased in type IV. 5. Considering the relation between the abolition type and the regional characteristics, most abolished schools were located between 100m and 300m above the sea level and it is 71% of the total abolition. The region without the abolition is high in the ratio of the cultivate land, ratio of rice field, and the part-time farmer, but the region with many abolition is low in the ratio of cultivated land. As for the manufacturing there are the most city, county and myon in the abolition type in Youngdong-county and Chechon-county where the manufacturing ratio of employing is low but Chongju-city without the abolition is a region where the manufacturing ratio is high. Consequently the development of the manufacturing causes the population to emigation out and the decrease of the population leads the transport is difficult of access, the facilities sold after being abolished are not being used in many ways. 7. Take an example of Youndong-county where the most schools were abolished, I have examined the school district and the population characteristics of the abolition. Though there were more villages, households, populations in the region that is higher than low above the sea level, the schools were abolished. Therefore we know that above the sea level had a great effect on the abolition. As a result of the regional analysis of the abolition, many schools were abolished by the artificial buildings such as a dam in the early 1980's but the schools in the late 1980's were abolished ten years later after the students decreased. More schools were abolished in the region where the manufacturing industry didn't develop. And the higher the school position was above the sea level, the sooner the school was abolished. It is also proved that both the beautiful natural scenery and accessibility are the important factor in using the abolished facilities practically.

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The Difference between Career Barrier Recognition and Career Preparation Behavior by Mandatory military service Planning Level among Male College Students (남자대학생의 군 의무복무계획 수준에 따른 진로장벽인식과 진로준비행동의 차이)

  • Hong, Hye-Young;Kang, Hye-Young
    • 대한공업교육학회지
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    • v.38 no.2
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    • pp.218-239
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    • 2013
  • This study aims to understand the status of mandatory military service planning and career barrier recognition as well as to analyze the difference between how students perceive mandatory military service as a potential barrier to their future careers(career barrier recognition) and career preparation behavior by the mandatory military service planning level among male college students. For the purpose, inquiries for the subject were set up as follows. 1. What are the levels of mandatory military service planning and career barrier recognition? 2. Is there a difference in career barrier recognition depending on the level of mandatory military service planning? 3. Is there a difference in career preparation behaviour depending on the level of mandatory military service planning? This study found out the level of mandatory military service, military barrier recognition and career preparation behavior of 284 male students from 4 universities in Daejeon and Chungnam area. Along with that, descriptive statistic, correlation analysis and t-test were conducted with SPSS 17.0 program The results of this study are as follows: First, 79.2% of male students have higher mandatory military service planning than the average value. Meanwhile, considering 3 sub-factors of mandatory military service planning, the ratio of those with high scores in practicality is lower than importance and concreteness. Based on this, it is assumable that they have a low perception for practical and concrete behaviors such as data collection in mandatory military service planning, which indicates their awareness has not developed into concrete behaviors even though they recognize the importance of planning. Also 73.9% of male students responded higher career barrier recognition than the average value shows that they recognize mandatory military service as a barrier relatively highly. Especially, those who answered "Very much" (7 scores) for every inquiry in career barrier recognition accounted for 16.9%, which forms the biggest group. and considering the response by each inquiry, it is ascertained that they consider the absence by mandatory military service time or military service as the biggest difficulty. Second, the difference in career barrier recognition between the top 30% and bottom 30% of mandatory military service planning is not statistically significant. However, in terms of importance and the sub-factor of mandatory military service planning, a significant inter-group difference in career barrier recognition is shown. In other words, to join the military is recognized as an obstacle in their career barrier recognition regardless of the mandatory military service planning level. Also, a group which considers the importance of the mandatory military service planning highly recognizes the military as the bigger obstacle compared to the other groups which are not considered in this way. Third, the difference in career barrier recognition between the top 30% and the bottom 30% of the mandatory military service planning is statistically significant. The need of mandatory military service planning is marked by the fact that those with a high level of mandatory military service planning show stronger career barrier recognition than those without plans. Through the study, the need of mandatory military service planning is suggested to both male students and career consultants considering the mandatory military service from a perspective of career based on Korean reality. Also, as precedent studies on pre-inducted men can be hardly found currently, this study is significant in accumulating empirical data about mandatory military service, a unique characteristic of the Korean career development process.

Brand Equity and Purchase Intention in Fashion Products: A Cross-Cultural Study in Asia and Europe (상표자산과 구매의도와의 관계에 관한 국제비교연구 - 아시아와 유럽의 의류시장을 중심으로 -)

  • Kim, Kyung-Hoon;Ko, Eun-Ju;Graham, Hooley;Lee, Nick;Lee, Dong-Hae;Jung, Hong-Seob;Jeon, Byung-Joo;Moon, Hak-Il
    • Journal of Global Scholars of Marketing Science
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    • v.18 no.4
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    • pp.245-276
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    • 2008
  • Brand equity is one of the most important concepts in business practice as well as in academic research. Successful brands can allow marketers to gain competitive advantage (Lassar et al.,1995), including the opportunity for successful extensions, resilience against competitors' promotional pressures, and the ability to create barriers to competitive entry (Farquhar, 1989). Branding plays a special role in service firms because strong brands increase trust in intangible products (Berry, 2000), enabling customers to better visualize and understand them. They reduce customers' perceived monetary, social, and safety risks in buying services, which are obstacles to evaluating a service correctly before purchase. Also, a high level of brand equity increases consumer satisfaction, repurchasing intent, and degree of loyalty. Brand equity can be considered as a mixture that includes both financial assets and relationships. Actually, brand equity can be viewed as the value added to the product (Keller, 1993), or the perceived value of the product in consumers' minds. Mahajan et al. (1990) claim that customer-based brand equity can be measured by the level of consumers' perceptions. Several researchers discuss brand equity based on two dimensions: consumer perception and consumer behavior. Aaker (1991) suggests measuring brand equity through price premium, loyalty, perceived quality, and brand associations. Viewing brand equity as the consumer's behavior toward a brand, Keller (1993) proposes similar dimensions: brand awareness and brand knowledge. Thus, past studies tend to identify brand equity as a multidimensional construct consisted of brand loyalty, brand awareness, brand knowledge, customer satisfaction, perceived equity, brand associations, and other proprietary assets (Aaker, 1991, 1996; Blackston, 1995; Cobb-Walgren et al., 1995; Na, 1995). Other studies tend to regard brand equity and other brand assets, such as brand knowledge, brand awareness, brand image, brand loyalty, perceived quality, and so on, as independent but related constructs (Keller, 1993; Kirmani and Zeithaml, 1993). Walters(1978) defined information search as, "A psychological or physical action a consumer takes in order to acquire information about a product or store." But, each consumer has different methods for informationsearch. There are two methods of information search, internal and external search. Internal search is, "Search of information already saved in the memory of the individual consumer"(Engel, Blackwell, 1982) which is, "memory of a previous purchase experience or information from a previous search."(Beales, Mazis, Salop, and Staelin, 1981). External search is "A completely voluntary decision made in order to obtain new information"(Engel & Blackwell, 1982) which is, "Actions of a consumer to acquire necessary information by such methods as intentionally exposing oneself to advertisements, taking to friends or family or visiting a store."(Beales, Mazis, Salop, and Staelin, 1981). There are many sources for consumers' information search including advertisement sources such as the internet, radio, television, newspapers and magazines, information supplied by businesses such as sales people, packaging and in-store information, consumer sources such as family, friends and colleagues, and mass media sources such as consumer protection agencies, government agencies and mass media sources. Understanding consumers' purchasing behavior is a key factor of a firm to attract and retain customers and improving the firm's prospects for survival and growth, and enhancing shareholder's value. Therefore, marketers should understand consumer as individual and market segment. One theory of consumer behavior supports the belief that individuals are rational. Individuals think and move through stages when making a purchase decision. This means that rational thinkers have led to the identification of a consumer buying decision process. This decision process with its different levels of involvement and influencing factors has been widely accepted and is fundamental to the understanding purchase intention represent to what consumers think they will buy. Brand equity is not only companies but also very important asset more than product itself. This paper studies brand equity model and influencing factors including information process such as information searching and information resources in the fashion market in Asia and Europe. Information searching and information resources are influencing brand knowledge that influences consumers purchase decision. Nine research hypotheses are drawn to test the relationships among antecedents of brand equity and purchase intention and relationships among brand knowledge, brand value, brand attitude, and brand loyalty. H1. Information searching influences brand knowledge positively. H2. Information sources influence brand knowledge positively. H3. Brand knowledge influences brand attitude. H4. Brand knowledge influences brand value. H5. Brand attitude influences brand loyalty. H6. Brand attitude influences brand value. H7. Brand loyalty influences purchase intention. H8. Brand value influence purchase intention. H9. There will be the same research model in Asia and Europe. We performed structural equation model analysis in order to test hypotheses suggested in this study. The model fitting index of the research model in Asia was $X^2$=195.19(p=0.0), NFI=0.90, NNFI=0.87, CFI=0.90, GFI=0.90, RMR=0.083, AGFI=0.85, which means the model fitting of the model is good enough. In Europe, it was $X^2$=133.25(p=0.0), NFI=0.81, NNFI=0.85, CFI=0.89, GFI=0.90, RMR=0.073, AGFI=0.85, which means the model fitting of the model is good enough. From the test results, hypotheses were accepted. All of these hypotheses except one are supported. In Europe, information search is not an antecedent of brand knowledge. This means that sales of global fashion brands like jeans in Europe are not expanding as rapidly as in Asian markets such as China, Japan, and South Korea. Young consumers in European countries are not more brand and fashion conscious than their counter partners in Asia. The results have theoretical, practical meaning and contributions. In the fashion jeans industry, relatively few studies examining the viability of cross-national brand equity has been studied. This study provides insight on building global brand equity and suggests information process elements like information search and information resources are working differently in Asia and Europe for fashion jean market.

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Effects of Adjuvant Radiation Therapy and Chemotherapy Following Curative Surgery in Locally Advanced Rectal Cancer (국소 진행된 직장암에서 근치적 절제술 후 방사선치료와 항암화학요법과의 병용치료에 대한 효과)

  • Kang, Ki-Mun;Choi, Ihl-Bohng;Kim, In-Ah;Jang, Jee-Young;Shin, Kyung-Sub;Jang, Suck-Kyun;Lee, Jae-Hak;Kim, Young-Ha;Won, Chong-Man;Choi, Dong-Hwan;Kim, Jin-Seung;Park, Shinn-Hee
    • Radiation Oncology Journal
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    • v.15 no.2
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    • pp.121-128
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    • 1997
  • Purpose : To evaluate the effect of postoperative adjuvant radiation therapy and chemotherapy on the survival, pattern of failure and complication for locally advanced rectal carcinoma Materials and Methods : From October 1992 to September 1995, twenty eight patients with rectal carcinoma were treated by postoperative adjuvant radiation therapy and chemotherapy Radiation therapy was delivered with 6MV and 15MV linear accelerator, 180c0y fractions 5 day per week. Total radiation doses were 5040cGy in $B_{2+3}$ and 5580cGy in $C_{2+3}$. Within 4 weeks after radical surgery. 5-FU$(400mg/m^2/day)\;and\;Leucovorin(20mg/m^2/day)$ were administered by intravenous injection for 4 days during the first and fifth week of radiation therapy. The median follow up was 19 months with a range 2 to 47 months. Results : The 2 year overall survival and disease free survival rates were $78.6\%\;and\;70.8\%$, respectively. The 2 year overall survival was $93.0\%\;in\;B_{2+3}$ and $76.2\%\;in\;C_{2+3}$(p=0.11) The 2 year disease free survival was $79.4\%\;in\;B_{2+3}\;and\;69.2\%\;in\;C_{2+3}(p=0.13)$. The overall failure rate was $21.42\%$(6/28) including $10.72\%$(3/28) locoregional recurrence, $3.62\%$(1/28) distant metastasis and $7.12\%$(2/28) locoregional recurrence with distant metastasis. The overall locoregional recurrence rate was $17.92\%$(5/28). The 2 year locoregional recurrence rates were $13.32\%(2/15)\;and\;23.12\%$(3/13) for respectively for $B_{2+3}\;and\;C_{2+3}$ The difference between the locoregional recurrence of $B_{2+3}\;and\;C_{2+3}$ patients was not significant(p=0.07). Complications developed in 13 patients$(46.42\%)$, including 8 dermatitis, 7 loose stool, 6 leukopenia, 4 tenesmus, 2 diarrhea. In Univariate analysis, there was no statistically significant factor except for tumor grade in locoregional recurrence, disease free survival and overall survival rate(p=0.04, 0.05, 0.04). Conclusion : This study sugges1s that postoperative adjuvant radiation therapy and chemotherapy is effective in patients with locally advanced rectal cancer. Therefore these results need to be confirmed with a long term follow-up and larger number of patients with the further clinical trials including prospective controlled studies.

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