• Title/Summary/Keyword: Knowledge Society

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The Age-related Microstructural Changes of the Cortical Gray and White Matter Ratios on T2-, FLAIR and T1- weighted MR Images (T2, FLAIR, T1 강조 MR영상에서 나이에 따른 뇌피질의 회질과 백질의 미세구조 변화)

  • Choi, Sun-Seob;Kim, Whi-Young;Lee, Ki-Nam;Ha, Dong-Ho;Kang, Myong-Jin;Lee, Jin-Hwa;Yoon, Seong-Kuk
    • Investigative Magnetic Resonance Imaging
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    • v.15 no.1
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    • pp.32-40
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    • 2011
  • Purpose : The purpose of this study was to investigate the microstructural changes according to aging on the thickness and signal intensity (SI) of the cortical gray matter (GM) and white matter (WM) on the T2-, fluid-attenuated inversion recovery (FLAIR) and T1-weighted MR images in normal subjects. Materials and Methods : The 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80 and 90 year age groups of men and women (each 10 individuals) who underwent routine brain MRI, including the T2-, FLAIR and T1-weighted images, were selected for this study. We measured the thickness and the SI of the cortical GM and WM at the postcentral gyrus, which has an even thickness at the level of centrum semiovale, on the axial scans and we calculated the mean values of the thickness ratio of the gray/white matter (TRGW) and the signal intensity ratio of the gray/white matter (SRGW), and we compared the ratios of each age group. Results : On the T2-weighted images, the TRGWs were 0.81 and 0.79 at the age of 10 and they were 0.73 and 0.71 at the age of 90 in the men and women, respectively. So, the GM thickness was decreased more than the WM thickness was with aging. On the FLAIR images, the TRGWs were 1.09 and 1.00 at the age of 10 and they were 1.11 and 0.95 at the age of 70 in the men and women, respectively. On the T1-weighted images, the TRGWs were 0.66 and 0.80 at the age of 10, and the ratio was changed to 0.90 and 0.78 at the age of 90 in the men and women, respectively. On the T2-weighted image, the SRGWs were 1.53 and 1.43 at the age of 10, and they were 1.23 and 1.27 at the age of 90 in the men and women, respectively. On the FLAIR images, the SRGWs were 1.23 and 1.25 at the age of 10 and they were 1.06 and 1.05 at the age of 90 in the men and women, respectively. On the T1-weighted images, the SRGWs were 0.86 and 0.85 at the age of 10, and they were 0.90 and 0.87 at the age of 90 in the men and women, respectively. Conclusion : We suggest that the age-related microstructural changes of the thickness and the SI of the cortical GM and WM on the T2-, FLAIR and T1-weighted images are unique, and so this knowledge will be helpful to differentiate neurodegenerative disease from normal aging of the brain.

Practical Study on Learning Effects of University e-Learning (대학 e-러닝 학습효과에 관한 실증연구)

  • Kim, Joon-Ho
    • Information Systems Review
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    • v.12 no.3
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    • pp.19-48
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    • 2010
  • This study focused on characterizing various factors in order for learners to maintain their interests in learning and to maximize learning effects as the top priority purpose of university e-Learning, on the basis of results of conceptual studies on existing e-Learning and practical studies, and then on examining them practically. It also analyzed which factors would have greater influence on learning effects of e-Learning in general. Moreover, in comparison with existing numerous studies which examined only factor such as learning effects of e-Learning, it analyzed such things in detail according to division into three items such as learning satisfaction, learning transfer and learning recommendation. To achieve such purposes of the study, it characterized and set 3 factors such as learning contents, instructional design and user convenience on the assumption that such factors have a significant influence on learning effects of e-Learning. Moreover, the factor of learning contents includes 3 detailed elements, i.e., learning issue and objective, knowledge information, and consistency and propriety, and the factor of instructional design includes 4 detailed elements, i.e., interest and sympathy, interaction, contents presentation and explanatory strategy. Lastly, the factor of user convenience includes 2 detailed elements such as screen configuration, and check-up of contents and teaching schedule. According to analytical results, it showed all 3 factors such as learning contents, instructional design and user convenience have a significant influence on learning effects of e-Learning(i.e., learning satisfaction, learning transfer and learning recommendation). In more detail, it showed the learning issue and objective from the factor of learning contents have the greatest influence on learning satisfaction of e-Learning. Then, it is the most important to set the learning issue and objective with given priority to learners and set the learning objective estimable, in order to raise the learning satisfaction. It showed the contents presentation from the factor of instructional design on the learning transfer. Therefore, it is the most important to structuralize mutual relation and presentation orders to promote learning systematically and to let learners access to such things, for the purpose of raising the learning transfer. Moreover, it showed the interest and sympathy from the factor of instructional design has the greatest influence on the learning recommendation. Thus, it is the most important to promote learners' interests to the maximum using well-timed media, and to give a lecture enough to arouse learners' sympathy.

Distribution of Microorganisms in Perilla Leaf and Cultivation Area (들깻잎과 생산환경의 미생물 분포)

  • Kim, Se-Ri;Lee, Ji-Young;Lee, Seo-Hyun;Ko, Hyeon-Seok;Yoon, Yo-Han;Kwon, Se-Hyeok;Ryu, Kyoung-Yul;Yun, Hye-Jeong;Kim, Won-Il;Yun, Jong-Chul;Kim, Doo-Ho;Chung, Duck-Hwa
    • Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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    • v.43 no.2
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    • pp.243-248
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    • 2011
  • The prevalence and distribution of hazardous microorganisms were investigated from the major perilla cultivation area at Milyang, Gyeongnam province, Korea. Aerobic plate count (APC) and coliform count of perilla leaves were 4.82 log CFU/g and 3.85 log CFU/g, respectively. E. coli, S. aureus and B. cereus were detected in 3.0% (4/114), 7.9% (9/114) and 46.5% (53/114) of examined perilla leaves. However, E. coli O157:H7, Salmonella spp, and L. monocytogenes were not detected. The distribution of hazardous microorganisms in perilla leaf cultivation environment were compared and the concentration of APC and coliform counts were more than 3.0 log CFU/(mL, g, $100cm^2$, hand) from most of the samples. S. aureus were detected from irrigation water, packing table, packing vinyl, hand, and clothes. Also, B. cereus was frequently detected from the examined samples. Especially, packing table and collection container were contaminated with maximum 5.5 log $CFU/100cm^2$ of B. cereus. Good Agricultural Practice (GAP) system should be introduced to farms to enhance the safety of perilla leaves.

Analysis on the trends and causes of inhabitant's behavioral changes in medical institutions's utilization after enforcement of regional medical insurance. (pilot-project area of regional medical insurance; mainly Kun-wi and Kwang-hwa county) (의료보험(醫療保險) 실시이후(實施以後) 지역주민(地域住民)의 의료기관이용행태(醫療機關利用行態) 변화(變化) 추이(推移)와 그 요인(要因)에 관한 조사연구(調査硏究))

  • Park, Jung-Yeon
    • Journal of Korean Public Health Nursing
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    • v.3 no.2
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    • pp.47-76
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    • 1989
  • The objectives of this study was to analyze the major causes of decreasing utilization rate of health care institutios in pilot-project area of regional medical insurance, Kwang-hwa and Kun-wi country. After the implementation of medical insurance, utilization rate of health institutions turned out' to be lower than it was estimated, when the pilot-project of regional medical insurance was planned. It might be due to changes in inhabitant's behavioral attitude toward medical insurance. So this study was made to find measures for financial stability by increasing utilization rate of health care institutions and to be available for basic demand-supply program of medical care. The hypothesis of this study was as follows; First. there is difference in understanding health care institutions between Kun-wi and Kwang-hwa. Second. respondesnts of inquiry survey have exact knowledge of their past experience of treatment taken prior to enforcement of medical insurance, Questionaire survey was made as to each 700 household among total 11, 884 households in Kun-wi and 20,919 households in Kwang-hwa. In case of Kun-wi, 70% of inquired households (491) gave their answers. In Kwang-hwa, the number was 560 households (80% of inquireds). Dollected data was processed and analyzed by way of using SPSS batch system. To evaluate facto rs distribution aspects of data and to make comparison between two area, percentage and $X^2$ distribution were applied. The results were as follows; L The utilization rate of health care institutions in Kun-wi and Kwang-hwa was lower than it was estimated. when pilot-project of medical insurance was planned. 2. Prior to the implementation of medical insurance. inhabitants in two area chose the medical institutions considering such factors. First was medical care fee cheap. second in habitant's residence, Third was the institutions conveniently easy of access. 3. After the implementation of medical insurance. 26.1% of inqurieds in Kun-wi and 41.6% in Kwang-hwa, changed medical institutions. In case of Kwn-wi, from health care institution (p 0.05), and in case of Kwang-hwa, vice versa, from general medical institutions to health care institutions. 4. Evaluation by factors were made such as follows. Inquired gave high marks to following facts: In case of Kun-wi, general medical institutions were difficult of access and relation between patients: was not friendly, but burden of medical expenditure was light. Effects of treatment and facilities was good. In case of Kwang-hwa, inquired gave high evaluation marks to the follow ing facts; facilities of medical institutions was not good, but the burden of medical expenditure was light. 5. After the implementation of medical insurance, the services was evaluated as good, but inquired hopec for lessening the burden of medical expenditure. 6. In case of exact understanding of cost-sharing, the evaluation rate in Kwang-hwa was higher than that of Kun-wi (p < 0.005). And positive attitude toward necessity of medical insurance was also good in Kwang-hwa (p < 0.05). 7. In case of inquired's attitude toward medical institutions, Kwang-hwa showed positive response (p < 0.05) 8. In the case of comparison between general medical institution and health care institution, two area showed similar positive response; medical manpower, facilities of medical institutions and effest: of treatement was good. 9. In comprehensive evaluation of benefit-service; the general medical institution's positiveness was higher than that of health care institutions in Kun-wi. But in Kwang-hwa vice-versa. 10. If the medical expenditure of general medical institution and health care institutions was equal 77% of inquireds in Kun-wi and 59.1% in Kwang-hwa answered that they chose general medical insurance. Considering results above mentioned, the conclusion of this study was made as follows. 1. In Kwang-hwa county, where the understanding of health care institutions's was good, the utilization's of health care institutions was shown high. Therefore, in case of Kwang-hwa, betterment: should be made to induce increasing utilization rate for negative factors of health care institutions. 2. In case of Kun-wi, where the understanding of health care institutions was on the decrease, measures for changing such negative factors should be taken by way of strengthening public relations. And cases of Kwang-hwa should also be studied. 3. On the side of financial stabilization and establishing health care delivery system, primary health care should be available. Therefore, the major cause of inhabitant's avoiding health care institutions should be known. And measures for activating that institutions have to be taken. So, the facilities of health care institution have to be improved up to the level of clinic. And supportive measures for securing equipment and improving health care services should also be taken. It is necessary that strategy for public relations should be employed with policy considerations and supports.

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Needs Accessment of Safety Education of High School Students in Seoul (서울시 고등학생의 안전교육 실태 및 요구도 조사)

  • 김민아;이명선
    • Korean Journal of Health Education and Promotion
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    • v.18 no.3
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    • pp.133-162
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    • 2001
  • Unexpected accidents in school has been gradually increased every year, and student's mistaken was the first reason of the accident. To preventing the students from Unexpected accidents in school, safety education is more important than having strong facilities to have much more strong protecting forces for the accidents. Therefore, systematic education of safety is needed most of all, and especially, strengthening safety education in school is needed. Hereby, this study is aimed at investigating and analysing the actual condition and demand of safety education. It also conducted a survey with the target of 1,255 students in the second grade of high school in Seoul from April 20 to May 19, and the result of this study is as follows. 1. In the general features of the subject of the survey, boy students and girl students occupied 50.8% and 49.2% each, and boys' high school (34.3%), girls' high school(32.2%) and co-ed(33.5%) participated in balance. In the location, north from Han river occupied 54.6%, south were 45.2%. 2. According to the status of experiencing an accident, boys were more experienced then girls(p〈0.05). From the section, home accident(56.8%) occupied most followed by school accident, traffic accident, sports accident and poisoning. The accident happening most often in detailed category is sports accident such as basket ball, foot ball and dodge ball. The actual condition of the subject's using a school health facility shows that boys students use it more often than girl students(p〈0.01) 3. In attitude toward safety, the subject showed lower interest in safety issues than other social issues. But attitude in seriality of safety problems were high. Also, they responded ‘individual citizen’(63.1%) as the one who should make efforts for safety. Regarding knowledge of preventing safety accidents in attitude toward individual safety, 42.2% answered ‘they know a little’ and 32.6% of respondents say ‘they do not know’. To a question of the degree of the subject's following safety rules, 36.4% were answered ‘keeping’ and the group using a school health facility shows more ‘keeping’ the others(p〈0.05). 4. To a question of asking if they have experienced safety education, 51.2% answered ‘yes’. Teachers who mainly take care of safety education are answered as training teacher(48.7%). As for education time, training class(51.3%) is said to have safety education most followed by health-related event and PE(Physical Education). Frequency of education shows once or twice a session (62.8%) most often, but in case of co-ed school, 5-7times a session or more(20.1%) are being practiced. Looking at education time, 1-2 hour(s)(22.1%) or for a short time(22.1%) during class are being practiced. As an education method, instruction(43.8%) and video education(32.5%) are being practiced, and when it comes to education evaluation method, ‘not practiced’(70.0%) answered. To the question if they are satisfied with school safety education, they answered more ‘no(43.1%)’ than ‘yes(6.7%)’, and the reason is that safety education class is just for formality's sake, and the fact they already know is being repeated. The contents of safety education is composed of school safety, home safety, and first aid. 5. It is turned out that 56.5% of the total boy students and 61.1% of the total girl students recognize the necessity of safety education. To the question if safety education is needed in an elementary and middle education course, 46.4% of the subject answer answered' it's necessary'. The most reason for their answers are ‘safety education is directly related to life’. 6. Regarding the requested time of safety education is ‘one hour a week’ by 55.9%. For safety education, safety education teachers(38.7%) are answered to be the most proper. As a request for safety education, video education is answered to be the most appropriate(30.6%), followed by practical skills, lecture and discussion(p〈0.05). Demand of educational evaluation, practical skills, interview and observation are answered to be needed. To the question if they want to participate in the way of demanded safety education, 41.9% of respondents answer ‘have a mind to participate in’ (41.9%). To benefits followed by completing safety education, 72.0% of respondents answer ‘agree’, and 24.7% ‘do not agree’, which means lout 4 disagrees with completing safety education. 7. Looking at demand of safety education according to the features of the subject, ‘our position for the person who has handicapped’ was answer to the most.

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The concept of Sang(象) and its application in the Oriental Medicine (상(象)의 개념(槪念)과 한의학적(韓醫學的) 적용(適用))

  • Baek, Yu-Sang;Park, Chan-Guk
    • Journal of Korean Medical classics
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    • v.12 no.2
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    • pp.92-109
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    • 1999
  • They say Y$\breve{o}$k'ak(易學) is the root of Oriental studies. This means philosophy, astronamy, geography, medicine, music, numbers are all based on Yin-Yang, and Five phases theory of Y$\breve{o}$k'ak. Nowadays studies are very much specialized but as we go back to old times, we cannot dearly set these studies apart. All the studies can be comprehensively understood with Y$\breve{o}$k'ak(易學). The original purpose of Y$\breve{o}$k'ak is to predict future with highly symbolized signs, Sang-Su(象數). However you cannot fully understand Y$\breve{o}$k'ak without knowing the principle of change in Sang-Su itself. We have to keep thinking about how we should further study Y$\breve{o}$k'ak, treat diseases with Sang-Su, and how Sang-Su can be used in medicine. As a previous step to this process, I will consider relationship of Y$\breve{o}$k'ak and medicine in this paper. This study will help us to set the goal and method in studying medicine. Conclusions of this paper are following: 1. The purpose of understanding a subject is to understand the principle of the subject. The principle of every subject can be turned into principle of changes in the universe. This principle is not affected by time nor space. It is only seen through the changes of subjects. 2. The reason we cannot easily understand the principle is that we have biased mind. How we should overcome this is through developing virtue, and by keep inspecting things over and over. 3. We see the outcome of changes inside but we should not neglect the principle. Therefore we see the principle through Sang. Sang is in between Principle(理) and Things(物), thereby has characteristics of both. Which means it is much like Principle but specific Things is related and it is much like Things but it is not easily understood. 4. There are various kinds of Sang. Mind-Sang(心象) is an image that comes before expressing it with symbols or words. When it is expressed in symbols or words, it is no longer considered as same Sang. Sang in symbol are Kwaesang(卦象), Hyosang(爻象) and Sang in words is Kyesa(卦辭). The characteristic of all these Sang is that it cannot be explained through the logics. 5. If we call Sanghak as the study with Sang, the method is same as that of understanding the principle. The fundamental purpose of Sanghak is to understand the principle of things and then apply this principle to the practical world so that the world can be a better place. So I would say Sanghak is the study of a saint and a ruler. 6. Since the object of medicine is human being who are the mixture of Principle and Ki, we can use Sang which is also related to both Principle and Ki. Actually terms we use in Oriental medicine are not easily understood without the knowledge of Sanghak. 7. When we diagnose a patient, we are looking for Sang that comes from the body inside. When we do the treatment, we cannot neglect the original change that's happening in our body. Therefore studying Sang is a necessary step to do the full diagnosis and treatment. 8. The method of studying medicine is first to get rid of biased mind, taking right Sang from various classics and then apply those Sang to actual situations.

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The Efficiency Analysis of CRM System in the Hotel Industry Using DEA (DEA를 이용한 호텔 관광 서비스 업계의 CRM 도입 효율성 분석)

  • Kim, Tai-Young;Seol, Kyung-Jin;Kwak, Young-Dai
    • Journal of Intelligence and Information Systems
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    • v.17 no.1
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    • pp.91-110
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    • 2011
  • This paper analyzes the cases where the hotels have increased their services and enhanced their work process through IT solutions to cope with computerization globalization. Also the cases have been studies where national hotels use the CRM solution internally to respond effectively to customers requests, increase customer analysis, and build marketing strategies. In particular, this study discusses the introduction of the CRM solutions and CRM sales business and marketing services using a process for utilizing the presumed, CRM by introducing effective DEA(Data Envelopment Analysis). First, the comparison has done regarding the relative efficiency of L Company with the CCR model, then compared L Company's restaurants and facilities' effectiveness through BCC model. L Company reached a conclusion that it is important to precisely create and manage sales data which are the preliminary data for CRM, and for that reason it made it possible to save sales data generated by POS system on each sales performance database. In order to do that, it newly established Oracle POS system and LORIS POS system concerned with restaurants for food and beverage as well as rooms, and made it possible to stably generate and manage sales data and manage. Moreover, it set up a composite database to control comprehensively the results of work processes during a specific period by collecting customer registration information and made it possible to systematically control the information on sales performances. By establishing a system which unifies database and managing it comprehensively, impeccability of data has been greatly enhanced and a problem which generated asymmetric data could be thoroughly solved. Using data accumulated on the comprehensive database, sales data can be analyzed, categorized, classified through data mining engine imbedded in Polaris CRM and the results can be organized on data mart to provide them in the form of CRM application data. By transforming original sales data into forms which are easy to handle and saving them on data mart separately, it enabled acquiring well-organized data with ease when engaging in various marketing operations, holding a morning meeting and working on decision-making. By using summarized data at data mart, it was possible to process marketing operations such as telemarketing, direct mailing, internet marketing service and service product developments for perceived customers; moreover, information on customer perceptions which is one of CRM's end-products could feed back into the comprehensive database. This research was undertaken to find out how effectively CRM has been employed by comparing and analyzing the management performance of each enterprise site and store after introducing CRM to Hotel enterprises using DEA technique. According to the research results, efficiency evaluation for each site was calculated through input and output factors to find out comparative CRM system usage efficiency of L's Company four sites; moreover, with regard to stores, the sizes of workforce and budget application show a huge difference and so does the each store efficiency. Furthermore, by using the DEA technique, it could assess which sites have comparatively high efficiency and which don't by comparing and evaluating hotel enterprises IT project outcomes such as CRM introduction using the CCR model for each site of the related enterprises. By using the BCC model, it could comparatively evaluate the outcome of CRM usage at each store of A site, which is representative of L Company, and as a result, it could figure out which stores maintain high efficiency in using CRM and which don't. It analyzed the cases of CRM introduction at L Company, which is a hotel enterprise, and precisely evaluated them through DEA. L Company analyzed the customer analysis system by introducing CRM and achieved to provide customers identified through client analysis data with one to one tailored services. Moreover, it could come up with a plan to differentiate the service for customers who revisit by assessing customer discernment rate. As tasks to be solved in the future, it is required to do research on the process analysis which can lead to a specific outcome such as increased sales volumes by carrying on test marketing, target marketing using CRM. Furthermore, it is also necessary to do research on efficiency evaluation in accordance with linkages between other IT solutions such as ERP and CRM system.

A study on the use of a Business Intelligence system : the role of explanations (비즈니스 인텔리전스 시스템의 활용 방안에 관한 연구: 설명 기능을 중심으로)

  • Kwon, YoungOk
    • Journal of Intelligence and Information Systems
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    • v.20 no.4
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    • pp.155-169
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    • 2014
  • With the rapid advances in technologies, organizations are more likely to depend on information systems in their decision-making processes. Business Intelligence (BI) systems, in particular, have become a mainstay in dealing with complex problems in an organization, partly because a variety of advanced computational methods from statistics, machine learning, and artificial intelligence can be applied to solve business problems such as demand forecasting. In addition to the ability to analyze past and present trends, these predictive analytics capabilities provide huge value to an organization's ability to respond to change in markets, business risks, and customer trends. While the performance effects of BI system use in organization settings have been studied, it has been little discussed on the use of predictive analytics technologies embedded in BI systems for forecasting tasks. Thus, this study aims to find important factors that can help to take advantage of the benefits of advanced technologies of a BI system. More generally, a BI system can be viewed as an advisor, defined as the one that formulates judgments or recommends alternatives and communicates these to the person in the role of the judge, and the information generated by the BI system as advice that a decision maker (judge) can follow. Thus, we refer to the findings from the advice-giving and advice-taking literature, focusing on the role of explanations of the system in users' advice taking. It has been shown that advice discounting could occur when an advisor's reasoning or evidence justifying the advisor's decision is not available. However, the majority of current BI systems merely provide a number, which may influence decision makers in accepting the advice and inferring the quality of advice. We in this study explore the following key factors that can influence users' advice taking within the setting of a BI system: explanations on how the box-office grosses are predicted, types of advisor, i.e., system (data mining technique) or human-based business advice mechanisms such as prediction markets (aggregated human advice) and human advisors (individual human expert advice), users' evaluations of the provided advice, and individual differences in decision-makers. Each subject performs the following four tasks, by going through a series of display screens on the computer. First, given the information of the given movie such as director and genre, the subjects are asked to predict the opening weekend box office of the movie. Second, in light of the information generated by an advisor, the subjects are asked to adjust their original predictions, if they desire to do so. Third, they are asked to evaluate the value of the given information (e.g., perceived usefulness, trust, satisfaction). Lastly, a short survey is conducted to identify individual differences that may affect advice-taking. The results from the experiment show that subjects are more likely to follow system-generated advice than human advice when the advice is provided with an explanation. When the subjects as system users think the information provided by the system is useful, they are also more likely to take the advice. In addition, individual differences affect advice-taking. The subjects with more expertise on advisors or that tend to agree with others adjust their predictions, following the advice. On the other hand, the subjects with more knowledge on movies are less affected by the advice and their final decisions are close to their original predictions. The advances in predictive analytics of a BI system demonstrate a great potential to support increasingly complex business decisions. This study shows how the designs of a BI system can play a role in influencing users' acceptance of the system-generated advice, and the findings provide valuable insights on how to leverage the advanced predictive analytics of the BI system in an organization's forecasting practices.

A survey of infant sleep positions associated with sudden infant death syndrome (영아 돌연사 증후군과 연관하여 아기를 재우는 방법에 대한 인식 연구)

  • Lee, Dong Jun;Jang, So Ick;Shim, Eun Jung;Cho, Do Jun;Kim, Dug Ha;Min, Ki Sik;Yoo, Ki Yang
    • Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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    • v.49 no.6
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    • pp.602-609
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    • 2006
  • Purpose : As the prone position is thought to be an important factor in sudden infant death syndrome(SIDS), this study was conducted to contribute to reducing SIDS by analyzing sleeping positions of infants. Methods : A face-to-face questionnaire was carried out with a total of 170 parents with a baby aged less than 6 months. Results : A total of 170 infants included 95 males(55.9 percent) and 75 females(44.1 percent); their average age was 2.8 months. 45.3 percent slept in a supine position; 34.7 percent in a side or supine position; 7.1 percent in a side position; 4.7 percent in a prone position; 4.1 percent in a non-specific position. Among those in a side position, 59.7 percent were in a supine position in the morning; 19.5 percent were in the side position; 13.4 percent were in a non-specific position; and 4.1 percent were in a prone position. To the question why they slept in a specific position, 34.9 percent answered their baby slept comfortably, and particularly, 42.9 percent in the prone position group answered so. In the supine position group, 21.6 percent answered they had no reason. Both in the prone position and side position groups, 21 percent each answered they were worried about the shape of their baby's head. In the side position group, 22 percent answered that they had a fear of choking due to vomiting. In all sleeping position groups, 8.2 percent and 7.4 percent answered it was because they had a fear of suffocation and they wanted to avoid SIDS, respectively. Conclusion : Many of the parents preferred unstable positions, e.g. the side position and the prone position, which could cause SIDS. Their decision on their baby's sleeping position was not based on exact medical knowledge, but on convenience in taking care of their baby. As it was found that only 6 percent of the subjects were advised from their pediatrist about their baby's sleeping position, moreover, it is necessary to carry out more studies and activities for preventing SIDS caused by improper sleeping positions and educating patents about recommended sleeping positions for their baby.

Changes of c-Fos Immunoreactivity in Midbrain by Deep Pain and Effects of Aspirin (심부통증이 흰쥐 중뇌에 미치는 c-Fos 면역반응성의 변화와 아스피린의 효과)

  • Jung, Jin A;Yoo, Ki Soo;Hwang, Kyu Keun
    • Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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    • v.46 no.7
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    • pp.695-701
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    • 2003
  • Purpose : It had been suggested that pain arising from deep somatic body regions influences neural activity within periaqueductal gray(PAG) of midbrain via distinct spinal pathways. Aspirin is one of the popular non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs used in the management of pain. Fos expression was used as a marker for neuronal activity throughout central neurons following painful peripheral stimulation. This study was prepared to investigate changes of c-Fos immunoreactivity in midbrain by deep pain and effects of aspirin. Methods : Male Sprague-Dawley rats were injected with 0.1 mL of 5% formalin in the plantar muscle of the right hindpaw. For experimental group II, aspirin was injected intravenously before injection of formalin. An aspirin-untreated group was utilized as group I. Rats were sacrificed at 0.5, 1, 2, 6 and 24 hours after formalin injection. Rat's brains were removed and sliced in rat brain matrix. Brain slices were coronally sectioned at interaural 1.00-1.36 mm. Serial sections were immunohistochemically reacted with polyclonal c-Fos antibody. The numbers of c-Fos protein immunoreactive neurons in ventrolateral periaqueductal gray(VLPAG) and dorsomedial periaqueductal gray(DMPAG) were counted and analyzed statistically with Mann-Whitney U tests. Results : Higher numbers of c-Fos protein immunoreactive neurons were found in VLPAG. In both VLPAG and DMPAG of formalin-treated group, the numbers of c-Fos protein immunoreactive neurons were significantly higher at all time points than the formalin-untreated group, which peaked at two hours. The numbers of c-Fos immunoreactive neuron of the aspirin-treated group were less compared to the aspirin-untreated group at each time point. Conclusion : These results provide some basic knowledge in understanding the mechanism of formalin-induced deep somatic pain and the effects of aspirin.