• Journal of Korea Trade
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.30-57
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• 2019

Purpose - This study analyzes the effect of internationalization represented as exporting on firm performance on the subject of SMEs operating in Masan Free Trade Zone which has shown poor performance recently despite its status as the oldest and largest free trade zone in Korea. We also analyze the effect of firm size on firm performance, and the moderating role of firm size in relation to internationalization and firm performance. Design/methodology - This study uses multiple regression models for unbalanced panel data as the empirical tools for the estimation of the effect that internationalization has on firm performance (ROA or ROS). Our sample consists of 91 manufacturing SMEs among all 110 companies located in Masan Free Trade Zone as of 2017. Findings - The degree of internationalization has a negative impact on firm performance. However, firm size turns out to have a positive effect and play a positive moderating role in the relation to internationalization and firm performance. This seems to be because most tenant companies operating in Masan Free Trade Zone are small firms whose costs of internationalization may exceed the benefits. Empirical results also show that longer CEO tenure has a greater negative effect on firm performance. Originality/value - The originality/value of this paper can be found in 3 aspects. First, we conducted an empirical analysis on the relationship between the internationalization and firm performance of SMEs in a specific region, namely, Masan Free Trade Zone. Second, while most previous studies focused on listed medium companies, most of the sample of this study are small and medium non-listed enterprises. Third, it is witnessed that firm size has a positive moderating effect on the relation between internationalization and firm performance.

• Journal of Trauma and Injury
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.161-171
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• 2005

Background: The management of hepatic injuries has changed dramatically during the past two decade after the technologic breakthroughs in radiologic imaging techniques. Recently, the non-operative management of blunt hepatic trauma has become the standard of care in hemodynamically stable patients. We reviewed our experience of the non-operative management of blunt hepatic trauma. And the purpose of this study was to examine the prognostic factors and indicators affecting the decision for treatment modality of emergent hepatic trauma. Methods: The medical records of 84 patients who were treated for blunt hepatic injury at Masan Samsung Hospital from January 2002 to December 2003. The patients were divided two groups, non-operative(Non-OP) and operative(OP), according to the treatment modality. The two groups were compares for age, sex, mechanism of injury, grade of liver injury scale, combined injury, systolic blood pressure, pulse rate, hemoglobin, hematocrit, WBC count, S-GOT, S-GPT, ALP, transfusion amount during initial 24 hours, amount of infused crystalloid fluid, length of ICU stay, length of ward care, morbidity and mortality. The grade of the liver injury were determined by using the organ injury scale(OSI). Results: Among the 84 patients, 46 cases(54.8%) were managed non-surgically, and 3 cases of Non-OP group were treated by transarterial embolization. Between the two groups, there were significant difference in age, injury grade, combined injury, hemoglobin, hematocrit, initial systolic blood pressure, amount of infused crystalloid fluid, amount of transfusion during the first 24 hours, and length of ICU care, morbidity and mortality.(p<0.05) The overall mortality rate was 8.3%, but 2.2% mortality in the non-operative group. Conclusion: Non-operative management may be considered as a first choice in hemodynamic stable patients with blunt liver trauma. The reliable indicators affecting the treatment modality of blunt hepatic trauma were systolic BP, Hb, Hct, amount of infused crystalloid fluid, amount of transfusion during the first 24 hours, liver injury grade and combined injury. Strict selection of treatment madality and aggresive monitoring with intensive care unit were more important.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Marine Environment & Safety
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• v.22 no.5
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• pp.521-526
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• 2016

Sediment dredging can permanently remove pollutants from an aquatic ecosystem, which is considered an effective approach to aquatic ecosystem restoration. In this study, we quantified the effects of sediment dredging on water quality in Masan Bay by calculation of oxygen demanding rate. We applied ecosystem model including water and sediment quality module in Masan Bay. The results showed that the increase of calculated oxygen demanding rate is significant due to sediment dredging of both inner part and outer part of Masan Bay. On the other hand, the increase is gradual due to decrease of anthropogenic load. It meant sediment dredging can improve water quality of Masan Bay more. Using correlation equation between oxygen demanding rate and sediment oxygen demand, we calculated that the area of sediment dredging which is equal to the effects of 10 % reduction of anthropogenic load. It is $1.68km^2$ in inner part and $3.15km^2$ in outer part of the Masan Bay. This Meant that to improve water quality of Masan Bay, sediment dredging in inner part is efficient method.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.66 no.3
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• pp.198-204
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• 2009

Background: First-line drugs, if sensitive, are the most potent drugs in the treatment of multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB). This study examined the frequency and risk factors associated with acquired drug resistance to first-line drugs during a standardized treatment using first-line drugs in patients with MDR-TB. Methods: This study included patients who were diagnosed with MDR-TB at the National Masan Tuberculosis Hospital between January 2004 and May 2008, treated with standardized first-line drugs, and for whom the preand post-treatment results of the drug susceptibility test were available. Their medical records were reviewed retrospectively. Results: Of 41 MDR-TB patients, 14 (34.1%) acquired additional resistance to ethambutol (EMB) or pyrazinamide (PZA). Of 11 patients initially resistant to isoniazid (INH) and rifampicin (RFP), 3 (27.3%) acquired additional resistance to both EMB and PZA, and 3 (27.3%) to PZA. Of 18 patients initially resistant to INH, RFP and EMB, 6 (33.3%) acquired additional resistance to PZA. Of 6 patients initially resistant to INH, RFP and PZA, 2 (33.3%) acquired additional resistance to EMB. Ten of the 41 MDR-TB patients (24.4%) changed from resistant to susceptible. No statistically significant risk factors associated with acquired resistance could be found. Conclusion: First-line drugs should be used cautiously in the treatment of MDR-TB in Korea considering the potential acquisition of drug resistance.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.72 no.1
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• pp.44-49
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• 2012

Background: Multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) is an increasing public health problem and poses a serious threat to global TB control. Fluoroquinolone (FQ) and aminoglycoside (AG) are essential anti-TB drugs for MDR-TB treatment. REBA MTB-FQ$^{(R)}$ and REBA MTB-KM$^{(R)}$ (M&D, Wonju, Korea) were evaluated for rapid detection of FQ and kanamycin (KM) resistance in MDR-TB clinical isolates. Methods: M. tuberculosis (n=67) were isolated and cultured from the sputum samples of MDR-TB patients for extracting DNA of the bacilli. Mutations in genes, gyrA and rrs, that have been known to be associated with resistance to FQ and KM were analyzed using both REBA MTB-FQ$^{(R)}$ and REBA MTB-KM$^{(R)}$, respectively. The isolates were also utilized for a conventional phenotypic drug susceptibility test (DST) as the gold standard of FQ and KM resistance. The molecular and phenotypic DST results were compared. Results: Sensitivity and specificity of REBA MTB-FQ$^{(R)}$ were 77 and 100%, respectively. Positive predictive value and negative predictive value of the assay were 100 and 95%, respectively, for FQ resistance. Sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value and negative predictive value of REBA MTB-KM$^{(R)}$ for detecting KM resistance were 66%, 94%, 70%, and 95%, respectively. Conclusion: REBA MTB-FQ$^{(R)}$ and REBA MTB-KM$^{(R)}$ evaluated in this study showed excellent specificities as 100 and 94%, respectively. However, sensitivities of the assays were low. It is essential to increase sensitivity of the rapid drug resistance assays for appropriate MDR-TB treatment, suggesting further investigation to detect new or other mutation sites of the associated genes in M. tuberculosis is required.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Landscape Architecture
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.79-94
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• 1985

This study was carried out to give basic information about the environmental conservation in Masan District. It included the actual vegetation the degree of human disturbance of vegetation, plant biomass and biomass production. The natural vegetation was nonexistent and the major plant communities of the secondary forest was P. thunbergii-Q. acutissima and Quercus forest. P. thunbergii-Q. acutissima community area was 29.2% of Masan District and the secondary forest and the afforestation area was 48% and 13% of Masan District respectively. The ecological diversity of the plant community was high value in Q. acutissima- P. thunbergii, Q.aliena and Carpinus laxiflora-Q.variabilis communicty. As the investigation of the ecological succession in Masan Forest, P. thunbergii community is edaphic climax and mixed forest will be changed gradually dominant species of Quercus species. It was implied that Genus Quercus hadnever beenso easily taken ever by the Genus Pinus which forms the edaphic climax at vast areas of forest land. In the degree of human disturbance of vegetation, the degree 7 (secondary forest 1) was 52.8% and the green spaces in Masan cover 65%, which nongreen spaces 35 %. Total amount of plant biomass produced from Masan District was estimated to be 160, 470.95 tons. Annual Production of dry matter biomass amounts to be 32,940.64 tons. Estimated amount for O$_2$produced annually from the vegetated area in Masan was 34,856 tons.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Marine Environment & Energy
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• v.3 no.4
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• pp.65-75
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• 2000

The roles of environmental factors affecting on heterotrophic bacterial distribution at Hangam Bay and Masan Bay in which occurred frequently red tide, during June to November 1996 were investigated. The aquatic environment of Masan Bay and Haengam Bay showed difference in the contents of inorganic nutrients. Haengam Bay may be defined as nitrogen limited aquatic environment. On the other hand, Masan Bay appeared to the appropriate N/P molar ratio of mean 15.9 during the periods of study. By the results of simple regression, chlorophyll a showed significant correlation with precipitation (r=0.813, P<0.05) and phosphorus (r=0.846, P<0.05) at Haengam Bay, but not showed significant correlation with parameters at Masan Bay. The heterotrophic bacteria showed significant correlation with many environmental parameters at Masan Bay (Precipitation, r=0.990, P<0.01 : NO₃-N, r=0.901, P<0.05 : Dissolved inorganic nitrogen, r=0.899, P<0.05 ; N/P molar ratio, r=0.952, P<0.05 : Salinity, r: -0.934, P<0.05) than Haengam Bay (SiO₃-Si, r=0.960, P<0.01). By the results of multiple regression, the chlorophyll a was varied with only 2 factors in Masan Bay (R²=0.100) and 3 factor in Haengam Bay (R²=0.903). The major factor which affected to chlorophyll a was SiO₃-Si (R²%=67.8) in Masan Bay, and -N/P (R²%=37.6) in Haengam Bay. The heterotrophic bacteria were varied with 4 factors in Masan Bay (R²=100) and 2 factor in Haengam Bay (R²%=0.878). The major factor, which affected to heterotrophic bacteria, was SiO₃-Si (R²%=42.3) and salinity (R²%=32.1) in Masan Bay, and SiO₃-Si (R²%=76.3) in Haengam Bay. Resultingly, the influx of freshwater in Masan and Haengam Bay was enriched in inorganic nutrients, and plays an important role in the change of heteroterophic bacteria and chlorophyll a during early summer to autumn.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.65 no.5
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• pp.379-384
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• 2008

Background: Sputum decontamination with NALC-NaOH (N-acetyl-L-cysteine-sodium hydroxide) is known to better detect Mycobacterium tuberculosis (M. tb) by culture than that with using NaOH, which is widely used in Korean hospitals. In this report, sputum samples collected from pulmonary tuberculosis (TB) patients were treated with either NaOH or NALC-NaOH, and we compared the results of smear and culture positivity to determine whether the NALC-NaOH treatment method improves culture positivity in the sputum samples, and especially for those sputum samples that are smear negative and scanty. Methods: For each decontamination method, 436 sputum samples from pulmonary TB patients in the National Masan Tuberculosis Hospital were collected for this study. Sputum from a patient was collected two times for the first and second day of sampling time, and these samples were employed for the decontamination process by performing the 4% NaOH and NALC-2% NaOH treatment methods, respectively, for detecting M. tb by an AFB (Acid Fast Bacilli) smear and also by culture in solid Ogawa medium. Results: The NaOH and NALC-NaOH treatment methods did not significantly affect the AFB smear positivity of the sputum samples (33.0% vs 39.0%, respectively, p=0.078). However, the culture positive percents of M. tb in the Ogawa medium treated with NALC-NaOH and NaOH were 39.7% and 28.0%, respectively, which was a significantly different (p=0.0003). This difference in culture was more prominent in the sputum samples that were smear negative (the positive percents with NALC-NaOH and NaOH were 15.8% and 7.2%, respectively, p=0.0017) and scanty (NALC-NaOH and NaOH were 60.8% and 42.9%, respectively, p=0.036), but not for a smear that was 1+ or higher (p>0.05). Conclusion: NALC-NaOH treatment is better than NaOH treatment for the detection of M. tb by culture, but not by smear, and especially when the AFB smear is negative and scanty.

• Pediatric Infection and Vaccine
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.104-114
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• 1998

Purpose : Enteroviruses are the most common cause of aseptic meningitis. The epidemics of aseptic meningitis in 1993 and 1996 were mostly caused by echovirus type 9. Identification of the causative virus of aseptic meningitis in epidemics, is very important not only for diagnosis but also for epidemiologic purpose. The purpose of this study was to identify the causative virus and investigate the relationship between aseptic meningitis, prevailed in Masan and surrounding areas in Kyoungsangnamdo in 1997, and its clinical manifestations. Methods : One hundred twenty eight cerebrospinal fluid(CSF) and 239 stool specimens were obtained from 239 patients(213 children and 26 adult patients) with aseptic meningitis were admitted to Masan Fatima Hospitals from March to October 1997. Viral isolation and serotype identification was performed by cell culture and immunofluorescent test. Enteroviruses not typed by immunofluorescent test was confirmed by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction(RT-PCR). Results : 1) The peak incidence was noted in June. 2) The age of 239 patients(pediatrics-213 cases, internal medicine-26 cases) that were diagnosed ranged from neonate to 35 years, the age of the patients of pediatrics ranged from neonate to 15years(mean 4.9 years), the age of the patients of internal medicine (above 16 years) ranged from 16 years to 35 years(mean 24.2 years). 3) Fifty-three(41.4%) of 128 CSF specimens were positive for enteroviruses, and 163(68.2%) of 239 stool specimens were positive for enteroviruses respectively. 4) Serotypes of 53 enteroviruses isolated from CSF were 16(30.2%) of echovirus type 30, 6(11.3%) of echovirus type 6, 1 of echovirus type 4, 4 of untyped echovirus, 1 of coxsackievirus type B5, and 24 isolates of untyped enteroviruses. Of 163 enterovirus isolated from stool were 72(44.2%) of echovirus type 30, 21(12.9%) of echovirus type 6, 1 of echovirus type 4, 17(10.4%) of undetermined subtyped echovirus, 1 of coxsackievirus type B5, 2 of A24, 3 of undetermined subtyped coxsackievirus type B, and 46 isolates of untyped enterovirus. Conclusion : There were epidemics of aseptic meningitis in the central areas of Kyoungsangnamdo from March to October 1997. The main causative organism was thought to be the echovirus type 30, and echovirus type 4, 6, coxsackievirus B5 and A24 were also thought to contribute to the epidemics.

• Journal of Wetlands Research
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.89-99
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• 2012

This study aims to develop the Masan bay special management system of the point and nonpoint sources of pollution using GIS as part of the Integrated Management System of the Masan Bay Special Management Area and utilize Total Pollution Loads Management System in Masan Bay more systematically and scientifically. The result of the pollution sources management at the Masan bay in conjunction with GIS was made possible the comparison of the source of pollution and the pollutant load among each administration area. It also developed Arc-GIS watershed management program which enables to estimate the population for discharge facilities, the water use of domestic population and commercial population, and pollutant load and discharge load of COD, TN and TP by the administration areas, years, and usages. In addition, this study anticipated minimizing temporal, economical efforts in utilizing large amounts of property and space utilization data and expediting the decision making process of policies in relation to the systematic and effective management system of pollutant loads at the Masan bay area. Further studies are required to plan the systematic management of the point and nonpoint sources of pollution and complement the watershed management system using GIS program for pollutant load which enables to predict the current and future state of point and nonpoint sources.