• Health Policy and Management
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.65-88
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• 2004

In general, empowerment is defined as the motivational concept of autonomy and self-efficacy. Recently, the concept of empowerment is applied to improve organizational staff's job satisfaction and organizational commitment in many organizations. Empower-ment in service organizations, i.e., hospitals, has certainly generated more publicity than any other organizations. The objectives of this study are, first, to measure the degree of hospital employees' empowerment using Spreitzer(1995)'s empowerment theory, second, to analyze the causal relationship of organizational and job characteristics, a degree of empowerment, and organizational performance(job satisfaction and organizational commitment), and third, to offer the strategy for the improvement of job satisfaction and organizational commitment. Spreitzer insists that the empowerment is composed of 4 dimensions(meaning, competence, self-determination, and impact). And he argues that various work-related characteristics is a direct cause of empowerment and the indirect cause of job satisfaction and organizational commitment, mediated by the empowerment latent variable. In order to perform this study, data were collected by self-administered questionnaires from hospital employees working in administrative department of 3 university hospitals in Inchon and Kyunggi-Do region. The number of cases is 181(response rate; 86%). The Collected data were analyzed with SPSS Ver. 10.0 and AMOSV Ver. 4.0. First, to test validity of variables, the factor analysis was used. Second, to test reliability, Cronbach's alpha coefficients was calculated. Cronbach's alpha of empowerment variable is 0.8323 showing that there's no problem in regard to the internal consistency. Also the Cronbach's alpha of other variables are 0.8301 of the degree of perceived control, 0.6705 of job characteristics, O.8787 of compensation, 0.9254 of job satisfaction, and 0.8389 of organizational commitment, respectively. Among the questions of job characteristics, two survey questions are deleted due to lowering the reliability. Third, to test multicollinearity and correlation of variables, the correlation analysis was performed. There was no problem of multicollinearity. Finally structural equation modelling (SEM) analysis was conducted to find the causal relationship of organizational and job Characteristics, empowerment, job satisfaction and organizational commitment. The 16 variables are included for the SEM analysis. The major results of this study are as follows: First, in the case of model fitness, the condition of x$^2$ statistic(92.187) is not fully satisfied, but the indices of GFI(0.912), AGFI(0.863), NFI(0.917) and CFI(0.928) are partially satisfied, which needs to upper 0.90. Second, in the result of hypotheses testing, all hypotheses are accepted and have a positive effect in 95% or 99% confidence interval(P<0.05 or P<0.001) except the effect of compensation variable on empowerment(P=0.082). Third, in regard to the direct, indirect, and total effect of variables, the direct effect of perceived control, task characteristics, and compensation on job satisfaction are 0.728, 2.264, 0.328 and on organizational commitment are 0.094, 1.411, 0.418, respectively. Also the indirect effect of perceived control, task characteristics, and compensation on job satisfaction are 0.311, 0.196, 0.028 and on organizational commitment are 0.210, 0.132, 0.019, respectively. Thus, these findings imply that various work-related factors are direct effect of empowerment and indirect effect of result variables, job satisfaction and organizational commitment. Also These results showed that the workplace empowerment is significant mediating factor of employee's job satisfaction and organizational commitment.

• Journal of Science Education
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• v.37 no.3
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• pp.525-537
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• 2013

The purpose of this study was to investigate science integrated process skill of the students in science education center for the gifted. In order to do this, 'free-response test for the assessment of science process skills' developed by Yu-Hyang Kim(2013) was administered to 102 students(15 in elementary school science class, 58 in middle school science class I, and 29 in middle school science class II) who attend the program of science education center for the gifted in C university. The assessment tool measured 9 skills ; formulating inquiry questions, recognizing variables, formulating hypotheses, designing experiment, transforming data, interpreting data, drawing conclusions, formulating generalizations, and evaluating the designed experiments. As a result, the students in science education center for the gifted had relatively high scores in the area of 'formulating hypotheses' and 'recognizing variables', but they had relatively low scores in the area of 'transforming data', 'interpreting data', and 'evaluating the designed experiments'. The 2 items' percentage of correct answers were below 40% ; one is about a drawing a line graph in 'transforming data', and the other requires finding improvements of the experimental design in 'evaluation'. There was no significant difference between boys' scores and girls's one, and between the scores of students in the field of biology and those of students in the other fields(physics, chemistry, and earth science) in science integrated process skills. And there was significant difference according to the periods receiving the gifted education in 'formulating generalizations'. The teaching and learning has to focus on improving science integrated process skills in the program of science education center for the gifted and teaching and learning materials needs to be developed.

• The Journal of the Korean dental association
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• v.48 no.8
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• pp.615-620
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• 2010

Purpose: The short dental implant is considered as possible solution in the alveolar bone height deficient cases. The aim of this study was to evaluate clinical availability of short implants by measuring the marginal bone loss of short length implants and comparing with that of conventional length implants. Materials and Methods: The groups were composed of patients who had received at least one implant. The samples of this study were selected from patients who with functional loading after prosthetic treatment for 1 year follow up period. The implants with a length of 5.7 mm and 6mm were considered short. (Bicon Dental implants, USA). The experiment group was composed of $4.5{\times}6mm$, $5{\times}6mm$, $6{\times}5.7mm$ implants (total 18 implants were placed in 14 patients, 8 on maxilla, 10 on mandible). The control group was composed of $4.5{\times}8mm$, $5{\times}8mm$, $4.5{\times}11mm$, $5{\times}11mm$. All implants were selected only by implants placed on molar area. We evaluated marginal bone loss in radiographic images at baseline (implant loading) and 3, 6, 12 months after loading. Additionally, crown-to-implant ratio was evaluated, and marginal bone loss according to crown-to-implant ratio after functional loading was analyzed. Results: The short implant group had a mean marginal bone level of $-0.52{\pm}0.69mm$; the 8mm group, $-0.22{\pm}0.82mm$; and the II mm group, $-0.10{\pm}1.09mm$ after I year of functional loading. But significant differences were not detected between three groups at every follow-up period. Crown-to-implant ratio in short implant group was $1.55{\pm}0.23$; 8mm group was $1.15{\pm}0.18$; and 11mm group was $0.92{\pm}0.15$. Additionally, significant differences between three groups were founded. (P<.0001) The greatest marginal bone loss after 1 year follow-up was founded at crown-to-implant ratio 1~1.49 range in short implant. Conclusion: The marginal bone loss of short implants was comparable to that of long implants. So, the short implants can be a clinically acceptable option.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.45 no.2
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• pp.283-296
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• 2003

Emulsion-type sausages were manufactured to investigate the effects of CLA-vegetable oils and CLA-lard on quality characteristics of emulsion-type sausage. Each treatments replaced pork back fat with CLA-corn oil (CLA-CO), CLA-safflower seed oil (CLA-SSO) and CLA-lard (CLA-LD) were stored during 1, 7, 14, 21 and 28 days at 4$^{\circ}C$. The changes in physico-chemical properties, texture, thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS), fatty acid composition and CLA content of each treatments were measured during 1, 7, 14, 21 and 28 days at 4$^{\circ}C$. During storage, pH of control showed higher pH value than that of CLA-vegetable and CLA-lard treatments. The pH values of all treatments was significantly low at storage 14 days (p<0.05). The color L* and a*-value of all the treatments was not significantly changed with the storage periods. Color b*-value of CLA-treatments was higher than that of control during the storage period. Fatty acids composition was changed by addition of CLA-vegetable oils and CLA-lard. All kinds of fatty acids composition were decreased with CLA replacements than that of the control. Whereas linolenic acid content extremely increased by replacement of CLA-vegetable. CLA content of CLA-treatments was extremely increased than that of the control. The cohesiveness, springness, gumminess and brittleness of CLA-LD treatment was significantly higher (P<0.05) than that of the other treatments. The TBARS value of all treatments were significantly increased (P<0.05) as the storage period was passed. TBARS of sausage products containing CLA-CO was the lowest. Summing up the a forementioned results, emulsion-type sausage manufacturing with CLA-vegetable oil and CLA-lard was not affected in physico-chemical properties and texture characteristics. Also, it may be assumed that the high quality sausage can be manufactured with the extent of storage period and CLA accumulation.

• Journal of Sasang Constitutional Medicine
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.315-337
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• 1997

In order to compare the dffects of $Galg{\breve{u}}nhaegit'ang$(葛根解肌湯) of "Dongeuisusebowon(東醫壽世保元)and Won's(元)-$Galg{\breve{u}}nhaegit'ang$(葛根解肌湯) of "Dongeuisasansinpyun(東醫四象新編)" on the immune respone, Sprague-Dawley male rats were used and randomly divided into four groups. Normal group was under normal condition, Control group was injected i.v. with 2mg/kg Methotrexate(MTX) on the 9th day and 11th day after sensitization with SRBC on the 5th day, $Galg{\breve{u}}nhaegit'ang$ group was fed with 1ml of $Galg{\breve{u}}nhaegit'ang$ and Won's-$Galg{\breve{u}}nhaegit'ang$ group was fed with 1ml of Won's-$Galg{\breve{u}}nhaegit'ang$ by oral during eighteen days. In the 9th day and the 11th day after oral feeding with medication, MTX was injected in tail of rats in order to reduce immune function. Leukocyte count, lymphocyte ratio, lymphocyte count of spleen, lymphocyte count of bone marrow, contact hypersensitivity to DNFB, morphologic change of thymus cell, and electropherogram of serum protein were estimated and compared according to the group. The results are as follows : 1. Before and after MTX injection, leukocyte(WBC) count was increased signigicantly in Won's-$Galg{\breve{u}}nhaegit'ang$ group compared to control group. $Galg{\breve{u}}nhaegit'ang$ group had no significant difference compared to control group. 2. Before and after MTX injection, lymphocyte ratio was not significantly different in Won's-$Galg{\breve{u}}nhaegit'ang$ group and in $Galg{\breve{u}}nhaegit'ang$ group compared to control group. 3. The lymphocyte count of spleen was increased significantly in $Galg{\breve{u}}nhaegit'ang$ group compared to control group and Won's-$Galg{\breve{u}}nhaegit'ang$ group. Won's-$Galg{\breve{u}}nhaegit'ang$ group had no significant difference compared to control group. 4. The lymphocyte count of bone marrow was increased significantly in Won's-$Galg{\breve{u}}nhaegit'ang$ group compared to control group and $Galg{\breve{u}}nhaegit'ang$ group. $Galg{\breve{u}}nhaegit'ang$ group had no significant difference compared to control group. 5. Contact hypersensitivity was increased significantly in Won's-$Galg{\breve{u}}nhaegit'ang$ group compared to other group. $Galg{\breve{u}}nhaegit'ang$ group had no significant difference compared to control groups. 6. In the morphologic change of thymus cell, control group compared to normal group had a indistinct boundary between cortex and medulla and lymphocyte cell density of thymus was low. $Galg{\breve{u}}nhaegit'ang$ group and Won's-$Galg{\breve{u}}nhaegit'ang$ group compared to control group had a definite boundary between cortex and medulla and lymphocyte cell density of thymus was high. 7. In the SDS-PAGE electropherogram of serum protein, Won's-$Galg{\breve{u}}nhaegit'ang$ group had a wide band of nearby 25,000 Dalton, and which meant IgG generated more actively. Considering this results, $Galg{\breve{u}}nhaegit'ang$ group and Won's-$Galg{\breve{u}}nhaegit'ang$ group have an effect on the depression of immune function induced by MTX, and especially Won's-$Galg{\breve{u}}nhaegit'ang$ group has an significant effect than $Galg{\breve{u}}nhaegit'ang$ group.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.161-168
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• 2005

Purpose: The changed expressions of $TGF-{\beta}1$, as a key cytokine in the fibrotic process, due to melatonin with potent antioxidative effects, were investigated in the irradiated lung using fibrosis-sensitive C57BL/6 mice. Materials and Methods: Female C57BL/6 mice were divided into control irradiation-only, and melatonin (300 mg/kg i.p. 1 hr before irradiation) pretreatment groups. The thoraces of the mice were irradiated with a single dose of 12 Gy. The mRNA expressions of $TGF-{\beta}1$ in the lung tissue 2 and 4 weeks after irradiation were quantified using semiquantitive RT-PCR, and the cellular origin and expression levels of $TGF-{\beta}1$ protein were identified using immunohistochemical staining. Results: The relative mRNA expression levels in the irradiation-only and melatonin pretreatment groups 2 and 4 weeks after irradiation were 1.92- and 1.80-fold (p=0.064) and 2.38- and 1.94-fold (p=0.004) Increased, respectively compared to those in the control group. increased expressions of $TGF-{\beta}1$ protein were prominently detected in regions of histopathologicai radiation injury, with alveolar macrophages and septal epithelial cells serving as important sources of $TGF-{\beta}1$ expression. At 2 and 4 weeks after irradiation, the expression levels of protein were $15.8\%\;vs.\;16.9\%$ (p=0.565) and $36.1\%\;vs.\;25.7\%$ (p=0.009), respectively. Conclusion: The mRNA and protein expressions of $TGF-{\beta}1$ in the lung tissue following thoracic irradiation with 12 Gy were significantly decreased by melatonin pretreatment at 4 weeks. These results indicate that melatonin may have a possible application as an antifibrotic agent in radiation-induced lung injury.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.24 no.6
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• pp.1-14
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• 2007

Backgrounds : Rheumatoid Arthritis(RA) is known as the chronic inflammatory diseasethat induces persistent inflammation in the joint cavity. The destruction of cartilage occurs as the result of bones destoyed by pannus, several influential cytokines induced by the synovial capsulitis, varieties of proteinases, $O_2$ radicals, and the secondary degenerative changes of articular cartilage. The type 2 collagen-induced arthritis model is used in recent experimental research on rheumatoid arthritis. Cervus elaphus sibiricus (Nockyong) has the effect of relieving pain by nourishing the muscles, joints, and bones. It is also known to be efficacious in promoting and enhancing the immune system. The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of Cervus elaphus sibiricus herbal acupuncture to inhibit the generation of proinflammatory enzyme on type 2 collagen-induced arthritis. I investigated the inhibition of mRNA transcription of MIF(macrophage migration inhibitory factor), $TNF-{\alpha}$(Tumor necrosis $factor-{\alpha}$) and MMP-9 (matrix metalloproteinase-9) of Cervus elaphus sibiricus herbal acupuncture using an in vitro test. Also investigated was the inhibition of differentiation of Th 1 cells and activation of cytokines(MIF, $TNF-{\alpha}$, IL-6, MMP-9), which are known to cause initial RA ,and are also related to the morphology of the synovial membranes of the joint capsule, by an in vivo test, using CIA(collagen induced arthritis) model mice. Materials & methods : The laboratory animals used in this experiment were 4 week-old DBA female mice, weighing approximately 20 grams, and adjusted to the laboratory environment. The experiment was divided into the normal group(NOR)-no treated group, control group(CON)-CIA induced group, and sample group(SAM)-Cervus elaphus sibiricus herbal acupuncture treated group. RA was induced in the mice via injection of $50{\mu}{\ell}$ C II mixed CFA. The Cervus elaphus sibiricus herbal acupuncture solution was applied on $GB_{35}$(陽陵泉) for 26 days from the 3rd day of RA inducement. The concentration of the solution was determined via a MTT assay. To research the effect on the expression of MIF, $TNF-{\alpha}$ and MMP-9 mRNA, RT-PCR was performed on synovial membrane cells from the knee joint of CIA mice. C II induced RA knee joint's histo-chemical synovial membrane was observed using a specimen model via the Hematoxilin and Eosin dying technique. Results : The expression of mRNA of RA-related cytokines such as MIF, $TNF-{\alpha}$, and MMP-9 dosedependently decreased in the cell from the synovial membranes of the joint, which is treated with Cervus elaphus sibiricus herbal acupuncture solution. In mice treated with Cervus elaphus sibiricusherbal acupuncture, the damage of synovial membranes of the joint was lessened, and differentiation of Th 1 cells was suppressed. The activation of RA-related cytokines such as MIF was suppressed, and the generation of $TNF-{\alpha}$ and MMP-9 showed a statistically significant decreas. Conclusions : It is speculated that Cervus elaphus sibiricus herbal acupuncture has the therapeutic effect of palliating the damage of the tissue impaired by RA by inhibition of the initial RA progression and by regulating excessive differentiation of Th 1 cell as it suppresses the generation of RA-related cytokines during the highest stage of RA by acting on pro-inflammatory enzymes.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine Technology
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.78-83
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• 2013

Purpose: SPECT/CT, a combination of SPECT and CT, is capable of expressing the results of attenuation correction on images biased by automatic program. As a result, this research evaluates the usefulness of images with CT attenuation correction, using various phantoms and images of patients. Materials and Methods: From July of 2012 to September of 2012, this research was conducted on the contrast, spatial resolution, and images of patients. We studied the contrast with IEC body phantom and Jaszczak phantom, while the spatial resolution was evaluated with NEMA triple line phantom. Further, a comparative study was carried out on the quality of the images, on the difference between the images before and after the CT attenuation correction. Results: Compared the differences between the contrast before and after the CT attenuation correction in IEC body phantom. The contrast was improved by 33.6% at minimum, 89.8% at maximum. In case of Jaszczak Phantom, the contrast was enhanced by 9.9% at minimum, 27.8% at maximum. In NEMA Triple line phantom, the resolution was raised by 4.5% in average: 4.4% in horizontal, 4.5% in vertical. In Anthropomorphic Torso Phantom, the perfusion score of the interior wall with the most severe attenuation was measured to be 29.4%. In the experiment carried out on myocardial perfusion SPECT/CT patients, 9% improvement was discovered in the interior wall, where the most dramatic attenuation occurred, after the CT attenuation correction. Conclusion: SPECT/CT proved its clinical usefulness by enabling the acquisition of images with enhanced contrast and spatial resolution compare to the ones resulted from SPECT.

• Journal of Science Education
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• v.32 no.2
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• pp.71-86
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• 2008

The purpose of this study was to apply After-school programs related to sub-chapter 'The Change of Weather', and thereby to investigate the effect of After-school program on science-related attitude and learning achievement of students, and interaction between treatment methods and students' learning ability. The subjects of study consisted of 2nd grade students of sixty four students in high school. Sixty four students were divided into two categories by experimental and control groups on the basis of midterm examination before teaching treatment. The experimental groups have received four After-school programs including making models of a weather front, measurement of wind, measurement of temperature and the dew point, making a three-dimensional weather chart which were developed by researcher for six times. The control groups have received the instruction through the conventional teaching methods. Seventy questions within seven frameworks of TOSRA have been used in this study as an evaluation instrument of science-related attitude. Learning achievement has been evaluated using an instrument developed by researcher. The scores of both pre-test and post-test were estimated by ANCOVA. The results of this study can be summarized as follows. (1) After-school programs were more effective in progressing the three categories of science related attitude of high school students i.e. pleasure of science class(p<.05), reception of scientific attitude(p<.01), attitude about a science research(p<.05) than conventional teaching methods. (2) Experimental groups showed statistically significant improvement on learning achievement than control groups(p<.05). (3) The effect of treatment methods on students' learning ability has been improved in experimental groups more positively than control groups(p<.05). High level students in experimental groups showed significant improvement on learning achievement than low level students according to the representing profile plot. But there were no significant interaction between treatment methods and students' learning ability(p>.05) In conclusion, the After-school programs have positive effect on the improvement of science related attitude and learning achievement.

• The Sea:JOURNAL OF THE KOREAN SOCIETY OF OCEANOGRAPHY
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.16-24
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• 2012

To study the seasonal pattern of sediment distribution and the transport tendency in Haeundae nearshore area; i) the grain size texture of surface sediment was examined in June, October, and December of 2007, and March and June of 2008, and secondary, ii) the transport tendency was studied by using a two-dimensional sediment transport model of Gao and Collins (1992), and finally, iii) the bathymetric changes were analyzed by using the data collected in February, May, August, and December of 2007 by Haeundae District Office. Spatial distribution of sediment texture, the tendency of sediment transport as well as the bathymetric change showed significant seasonal variations. From June to December of 2007, the eastern part of the Haeundae area, off Dalmaji Hill showed the coarsening of mean grain size with a prominent transport tendency toward the Haeundae beach. On the contrary, the western part of the area, off Dongbaek Island showed a fining trend of mean grain size, and the transport tendency toward the beach was relatively weakened. From December of 2007 to June of 2008, the mean grain size of Mipo Harbor became finer, and the transport tendency toward the central beach decreased. The mean grain size of Dongbaek Island became coarser, while the tendency increased in the direction of the beach. The areas of significant net accumulation and erosion were depicted based on the bathymetric changes between observation periods. During the period of February to May of 2007, net accumulation was observed on the eastern part of the study area, in front of Mipo Harbor. Erosion was generally occurred throughout the area from May to August of 2007. From August to December of 2007, erosion and accumulation was observed off Mipo Harbor and Dongbaek Island, respectively. The change of sediment facies also suggests the accumulation on the eastern coast during the spring, erosion around the entire coast during the summer, and accumulation on the western coast during the winter. The changes in the accumulation and erosion were most apparent during the summer when several typhoons have passed by, while unnoticeable during the spring.