• Title/Summary/Keyword: Least Cost

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Association between Cigarette Smoking History and Mortality in 36,446 Health Examinees in Korea

  • Kim, Kyoungwoo;Yoo, Taiwoo;Kim, Yeonju;Choi, Ji-Ho;Myung, Seung-Kwon;Park, Sang-Min;Hong, Yun-Chul;Cho, Belong;Park, Sue K.;Yoo, Keun-Young
    • Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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    • v.15 no.14
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    • pp.5685-5689
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    • 2014
  • Background: It is well known that smoking is a preventable factor for all-cause mortality; however, it is still questionable how many years after smoking cessation that people will have reduced risk for mortality, in particular in those with a high interest in their own health. We aimed to examine the association between time since quitting smoking and total mortality among past-smokers relative to current smokers. Materials and Methods: We enrolled 36,446 health examinees that voluntarily taken with diverse health check-up packages of high cost burden in 1995-2003 and followed them till death by 2004. The history of cigarette smoking consumption was collected using a self-administrative questionnaire at the first visit time. Mortality risk by smoking cessation years was analyzed using Cox's proportional hazard model. Results: Compared to non-smokers, male smokers over 15 pack-years had higher risk for total mortality (HR=1.60, 95%CI 1.23-2.14). The mortality risk in female smokers with same pack-years was more pronounced than that in male smokers (HR=2.83, 95%CI 1.17-7.04) despite a small number of cases. Compared to current smokers, a decrease of total mortality was observed among those who ceased smoking, and inverse dose-response was found with years after cessation: RR 0.98 (95%CI, 0.64-1.41) (<2 yrs), 0.60 (95%CI, 0.43-0.83) (3-9 yrs), and 0.58 (95%CI, 0.43-0.79) (${\geq}10$ yrs). Conclusions: A reduced risk of total mortality was observed after 3 years of smoking cessation. Our findings suggest that at least 3 years of smoking cessation may contribute to reduce premature mortality among Asian men.

An Empirical Test for CVM Calibration Factor through Combining Revealed and Stated Preferences Data (현시선호와 진술선호 자료의 결합을 통한 조건부 가치측정법 소득조정계수의 추정)

  • Eom, Young Sook;Larson, Douglas M.
    • Environmental and Resource Economics Review
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    • v.13 no.3
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    • pp.337-366
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    • 2004
  • Contingent Valuation Method (CVM), as non-market valuation approach, has been criticized on that respondents may not realistically reflect their budget constraints in answering willingness to pay (WTP) for hypothetical CV questions. This paper empirically estimates the income calibration factor associated with CV responses through combining travel cost method and contingent valuation method in a utility-theoretic framework. The joint model of recreation demand function and contingent WTP function was applied to an important case study on the Man Kyoung River system, whose water quality is at issue because of the Sae Alan Kum reclamation project. Relevant economic variables such as price, income and water quality had significant influence as anticipated by the economic theory. Equally important, the income calibration factor was not significantly different from one, suggesting that the systematic discrepancies of CV responses relative to the actual behavior was not detected at least in terms of budget exaggeration. Overall, this study supports the notion that carefully designed CVM studies can provide informative data on individuals' willingness to pay for environmental quality changes.

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Prediction of Crude Protein, Extractable Fat, Calcium and Phosphorus Contents of Broiler Chicken Carcasses Using Near-infrared Reflectance Spectroscopy

  • Kadim, I.T.;Mahgoub, O.;Al-Marzooqi, W.;Annamalai, K.
    • Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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    • v.18 no.7
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    • pp.1036-1040
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    • 2005
  • Near-infrared reflectance spectroscopic (NIRS) calibrations were developed for accurate and fast prediction of whole broiler chicken carcass composition. The Feed and Forage Foss systems Model 5000 Reflectance Transport Model 5000 with near-infrared reflectance spectroscopy (NIRS)-WinISI II windows software was used for this purpose. One equation was developed for the prediction of each carcass component. One hundred and fifty freeze dried broiler whole carcass samples were ground in a Cyclotech 1,093 sample mill and analyzed for dry matter, protein, fat, calcium and phosphate. Samples were divided into two sets: a calibration set from which equations were derived and a prediction set used to validate these equations. The chemical analysis values (mean${\pm}$SD) were calculated based on dry matter basis as follows: dry matter: 33.41${\pm}$2.78 (range: 26.41-43.47), protein: 54.04${\pm}$6.63 (range: 36.20-76.09), fat 35.44${\pm}$8.34 (range: 7.50-55.03), calcium 2.55${\pm}$0.65 (range: 0.99-4.41), phosphorus 1.38${\pm}$0.26 (range: 0.60-2.28). One hundred and three samples were used to calibrate the equations and prediction values. The software used was modified to obtain partial least square regression statistics, as it is the most suitable for natural products analysis. The coefficients of determination ($R^2$) and the standard errors of prediction were 0.82 and 1.83 for the dry matter, 0.96 and 1.98 for protein, 0.99 and 1.07 for fat, 0.90 and 0.30 for calcium and 0.91 and 0.11 for phosphorus, respectively. The present study indicated that NIRS can be calibrated to predict the whole broiler carcass chemical composition, including minerals in a rapid, accurate, and cost effective manner. It neither requires skilled operators nor generates hazardous waste. These findings may have practical importance to improve instrumental procedures for quick evaluation of broiler carcass composition.

A study on excavator front support parts to minimize springback defects (굴삭기 Front Support 부품 뒤틀림 결함 최소화 방안 도출)

  • Jeon, Yong-Jun;Heo, Young-Moo;Lee, Ha-Sung;Kim, Dong-Earn
    • Design & Manufacturing
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    • v.12 no.2
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    • pp.40-45
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    • 2018
  • Recently, in construction equipment machinery production, development has focused on environmentally-friendly functions to improve existing production capacity. For excavators as well, emphasis has been placed on response to environmental regulations, miniaturization, and noise reduction, while technology is being developed considering cost reduction and safety.Accordingly, the front support, an inner reinforcement part of the excavator, as well as high-strength steel plates to improve safety and reduce weight, are being applied.However, in the case of high-strength materials, Springback occurs in the final formed part due to high residual stress during product forming. Derivation of a forming or product shaping process to reduce springback is needed. Accordingly, regarding the front support, an inner reinforcement part of the excavator, this study derived a method to improve springback and secure shape stiffness through analysis of the springback occurrence rate and springback causes through a forming analysis.As for the results of analyzing the springback occurrence rate of existing products through forming analysis, springback of -22.6 mm < z < 27.35 mm occurred on the z-axis, and it was confirmed that springback occurred due to the stiffness reinforcing bead of the upper and middle parts of the product.To control product residual stress and springback, we confirmed a tendency of springback reduction through local pre-cutting and stiffness reinforcement bead relocation.In the local pre-cutting model, springback was slightly reduced by 5.3% compared with the existing model, an insignificant reduction effect. In the stiffness reinforcement bead relocation model, when an X-shaped stiffness reinforcement bead was added to each corner portion of the product, springback was reduced by at least 80%.The X-shaped bead addition model was selected as the springback reduction model, and the level of stiffness compared to the existing model was confirmed through a structural analysis.The X-shaped bead additional model showed a stress springback of 90% and springback reduction of 7.4% compared with the existing model, indicating that springback and stiffness will be reinforced.

Effects of replacing fish oil with palm oil in diets of Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) on muscle biochemical composition, enzyme activities, and mRNA expression of growth-related genes

  • Ayisi, Christian Larbi;Zhao, Jinliang;Yame, Chen;Apraku, Andrews;Debra, Grace
    • Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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    • v.22 no.11
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    • pp.25.1-25.9
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    • 2019
  • Background: Due to the continuous demand for fish coupled with decline in capture fisheries, there is the need to increase aquaculture production to meet the demand. Aquaculture is faced with high cost of feeding since fish oil and fish meal are expensive. In view of this, there are calls to explore alternatives that are cheap and reliable. Objectives: This study on Oreochromis niloticus was conducted to evaluate the effects of replacing fish oil (FO) with palm oil (PO) at 0%, 25%, 50%, 75%, and 100% on muscle fatty acid and proximate composition as well as growthrelated enzyme activities and mRNA expression. Methods: Oreochromis niloticus were fed five experimental diets (33% crude protein and 10% crude lipid) for 8 weeks. Feed had variation in fish oil and palm oil contents. After the 8 weeks feeding trial, five fish were sampled from each tank (15 from each treatment) and euthanized using an excess dose of tricaine methane sulfonate (MS-222 at 200 mg/L). Fatty acid and enzyme activities were analyzed using standard protocols. Also, RT-qPCR was used to quantify the expression levels of selected growth-related genes. Results: Fish fed 25% PO recorded the least muscle protein content and was significantly lower than the group fed 100% PO. Paired box protein 7 (Pax-7) enzyme activity was significantly higher in the group fed 50% PO compared to the groups fed 25% PO and 100% PO, while caplain-3 (Capn-3) was significantly lower in the group fed 0% PO compared to all other groups. There was a significant difference among treatments with respect to mRNA expression of Pax-7 and Capn-3. Group fed 25% PO had significantly lower mRNA expression of Pax-7, while the group fed 75% PO recorded significantly higher mRNA expression of Capn-3 compared to groups fed 0% PO, 25% PO, and 100% PO. Pearson's correlation analysis revealed that Igf-I and Igf-II mRNA expression have significant correlation with n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids content in muscle. Conclusion: The results suggest muscle protein content could be modified if FO is replaced with PO. Also, mRNA expression of Pax-7 and Capn-3 is affected by replacing FO with PO.

The Relationship between Offline Trust and Online Transaction in Internet Banking (인터넷 뱅킹에서 오프라인 신뢰와 온라인 거래의 관계)

  • Lee, Woong-Kyu
    • Asia pacific journal of information systems
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    • v.17 no.2
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    • pp.29-47
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    • 2007
  • Owing to the rapid growth of using the Internet, not only click-and-mortar companies but also brick-and-mortar ones have been expanding their distribution channels into online, Moreover, since online channels are more attractive than offline ones in control and maintenance, switching customers into online ones is emerged as one of very important managerial issues in a view of reduction of cost as well as expansion of services. However, the switched customers should be faced by uncertainties which could not have been experienced in offline. Specifically, in online channels, buyers and sellers are separated temporally and spacially and there are always so many kinds of threat for security as well as not enough systems and conventions for them yet. Therefore, trust has been considered as one of the most critical mechanisms for resolution of such uncertainties in online transactions. However, it is not easy to build and maintain the relationships in online since most of them are virtual and indirect generally. Therefore, in order to switch offline customers into online ones, it is very important to make strategies based on identification of the relationship between online transaction and offline trust which has been built in offline business. Generally offline trust, which has been built independent of online, could not include trust for online-dependent activities such as payment security during or after transactions, while most of online trust include it. Therefore, a customer with high offline trust does not always perceive high security and assure safe transactions. Accordingly, while online trust, where technical capabilities for online security is one of main bases, includes control trust implicitly or explicitly, offline trust does not. However. in spite of such clear discrimination and independence between offline trust and perceived security, there can be the significant dependency between these two beliefs. The customers with high offline trust believe that the company would do some activities for online security for customers' safe transactions since it has been believed of doing well for customers' trust. Theoretically, users' perception of security is interpreted as a kind of control trus, which is trust for company's technical control capacities in order to resolve technical uncertainties in online. Therefore, the relationship between two beliefs can be considered as transference from offline trust to another type trust. that is, control trust. The objective of this study is to analyze the effect of offline trust on online transaction uses mediated by perceived security. For this purpose, we suggest a research model based on technology acceptance model (TAM). Reuse intention is adopted as a dependent variable and TAM is modified by adding perceived risk (PR) as well as two beliefs of using Internet banking, perceived usefulness (PU) and perceived ease of use (PEOU). Moreover, perceive security (PS) is adopted as an external variable for PR and PU, while offline trust (OT) is an antecedent of PS. For an empirical test, sampling from 108 visitors to the banks in Daegu, Korea, we analyze our model by partial least square (PLS) approach. In result, our model is shown to explain 51.4% of the variance in reuse intention and all hypothesis are supported statistically. A theoretical implication of this study is to identify a role of PS between offline trust and reuse intention of using online transaction services. According to our result, PS can be considered as a mediation variable for bridging between two different concepts: trust that explains social aspects of customers and companies, and TAM that explains customers' reuse intention.

Choice of Medical Care Institution for Delivery and Evaluation of the Institution after Delivery (분만기관 선택과 이용 후의 평가)

  • 권순호;한달선
    • Health Policy and Management
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    • v.8 no.2
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    • pp.1-24
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    • 1998
  • There exists a general consensus in Korea that patients tend to concentrate in large hospitals and this tendency is partly responsible for inefficiency in health services. The process of choosing a medical care provider for health care services and evaluating the provider after utilization seems to involve many diverse factors to become very complex. Therefore a systemsatic study is needed to achieve sufficient understanding of the proeess. For this point of view, this study investigates patient's selection of medical care institution for delivery care services and their evaluation of the institution after delivery. In more specific, the objectives of the study are twofold: 1) to identify the factors associated with expectant mothers' choice of type of medical care institution for delivery among tertiary hospitals, general hospitals, small hospitals, and clinics: and 2) to understand the factors affecting patient evaluation of the medical care institution after delivery. The data used for the analysis were collected through face-to-face interviews with those women who had childbirth during the period from January 1, 1996 to the date of interview in February 1998. The survey was conducted using preqared structured questionnaire in Seoul. The sample was drawn from each of arbitrarily defined four regions of Seoul, Northeast, Northwest, Southeast and Southwest, in proportion to the number of births reported in 1996 in each of them. The distribution of the interviewed women by educational level was made similar to that of mothers of new babies reported in 1996. The sample size was planned to be about 300, but ended up with analytical sample of 319. Major conclusions emerged from the analysis can be summarized as follows: 1) Large hospitals were evaluated as much better for technical quality than other types of institutions, whereas they were compared similar to or worse for other attributes. And it was found that technical quality of care is considered as the most important condition of medical care institution for delivery, while the amount of direct cost is considered as the least important one. Taken together, the utilization of large hospitals is not likely to decrease even though they cannot give satisfaction to patients in other aspects than technical quality. 2) The activeness in the search for information affected the respondents' evaluation of medical care institutions, which would influence their later decision or recommendation to other persons as to the choice of source of health care services. Therefore, increased efforts should be directed to improving availability of useful and correct information for patients in relation to the utilization of health care services. 3) Since the findings of this study were obtained from the analysis of delivery care services, their applicability to other kinds of services may be limited. Thus it would be useful to conduct a comparative study of several kinds of services explicitly taking into account the characteristics of those services in the analysis.

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Representative Labels Selection Technique for Document Cluster using WordNet (문서 클러스터를 위한 워드넷기반의 대표 레이블 선정 방법)

  • Kim, Tae-Hoon;Sohn, Mye
    • Journal of Internet Computing and Services
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    • v.18 no.2
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    • pp.61-73
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    • 2017
  • In this paper, we propose a Documents Cluster Labeling method using information content of words in clusters to understand what the clusters imply. To do so, we calculate the weight and frequency of the words. These two measures are used to determine the weight among the words in the cluster. As a nest step, we identify the candidate labels using the WordNet. At this time, the candidate labels are matched to least common hypernym of the words in the cluster. Finally, the representative labels are determined with respect to information content of the words and the weight of the words. To prove the superiority of our method, we perform the heuristic experiment using two kinds of measures, named the suitability of the candidate label ($Suitability_{cl}$) and the appropriacy of representative label ($Appropriacy_{rl}$). In applying the method proposed in this research, in case of suitability of the candidate label, it decreases slightly compared with existing methods, but the computational cost is about 20% of the conventional methods. And we confirmed that appropriacy of the representative label is better results than the existing methods. As a result, it is expected to help data analysts to interpret the document cluster easier.

Analysis and Estimation of Factors Affecting Travel Time Budget (통행시간예산의 요인분석 및 추정)

  • Kim, Tae-Ho;Park, Je-Jin;Lee, Ki-Young;Park, Yong-Duk
    • International Journal of Highway Engineering
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    • v.11 no.3
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    • pp.13-21
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    • 2009
  • The traveler's travel pattern has significantly changed due to the social and economic changes. The travel time among the traveler's pattern is the limited resource. The travelers are trying to maximize the utility of travel with the least travel cost. So, the travelers travel with their own travel time budget in mind, which they can pay or choose to pay for the optimal maximization of the utility of the individuals. This research is to group and extract the specific factors which affect the travel time budget by utilizing the CART analysis method, which enables the analysis of traveler's characteristics and their interrelationship based on the data collected from "2002 Household Travel Practice Research" and then try to derive a model for estimating the traveler’s travel time budget. The result of CART analysis shows that the factors which affect the travel time budget include the traveler's age, size of house, type of house, type of employment, job and relation to the head of household. Considering the affecting factors derived, I developed an estimation model. From that model, we found that the age, size of house and type of house were positively (+) related to the travel time budget while the homeworking people who have less travel frequency as a type of employment were negatively (-) related to it. In particular, from the point of type of job, the housewives, children not yet old enough to attend schools and people who are working in the agricultural, or marine product industries were found to have the negative (-) value while the people who have the administrative, office, management jobs were found to have the positive (+) value.

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Replacement value of cottonseed meal for soybean meal in broiler chicken diets with or without microbial enzymes

  • Abdallh, Medani Eldow;Musigwa, Sosthene;Ahiwe, Emmanuel Uchenna;Chang'a, Edwin Peter;Al-Qahtani, Mohamed;Bhuiyan, Momenuzzaman;Iji, Paul Ade
    • Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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    • v.62 no.2
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    • pp.159-173
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    • 2020
  • A 4×2 factorial feeding trial was designed to investigate the effect of replacing soybean meal (SBM) with cottonseed meal (CSM) in wheat/sorghum/SBM-based diets fed with or without microbial enzymes in diets on the performance, visceral organ development and digestibility of nutrients of broiler chickens. Four graded levels of CSM - none (0%), low (4%, 8%, and 12%), medium (5%, 10%, and 15%), and high (6%, 12%, and 18%) of complete diets in starter, grower and finisher, respectively were fed with or without 100 mg/kg of xylanase and β-glucanase blend. Eight isocaloric and isonitrogenous diets were formulated using least-cost method to meet the nutrient specifications of Ross 308 male broilers. Each treatment was randomly assigned to 6 replicates (10 birds per replicate). There were CSM-enzyme interactions (p < 0.05) on feed intake (FI) and weight gain (WG) in the starter phase. Enzyme supplementation improved (p < 0.05) feed conversion ratio (FCR) in the grower and finisher phases, and increased WG in growing and finishing birds. CSM inclusion reduced (p < 0.05) the weight of gizzard and proventriculus in starter chicks, while these organs were bigger (p < 0.05) in the grower phase. The test ingredient decreased (p < 0.05) small intestinal weight in starter and grower birds. The CSM increased the absolute weight of thighs (p < 0.05) while breast meat was increased (p < 0.01) by enzyme addition. Starch digestibility was improved (p < 0.01) by enzyme inclusion and decreased (p < 0.01) by CSM. Enzyme supplementation improved (p < 0.05) the ileal digestibility of gross energy and protein. The results demonstrate that CSM can substitute up to 90% SBM in broiler chicken diets without compromising performance, and the nutritive value of CSM-containing diets can effectively be improved by enzyme supplementation.