• Title/Summary/Keyword: Material Classification

Search Result 680, Processing Time 0.028 seconds

Development of An Instructional material for High School Environmental Education Emphasizing Affective Objectives (정의적 영역 중심의 고등학교 환경 교재 개발)

  • 박진희;장남기
    • Hwankyungkyoyuk
    • /
    • v.6 no.1
    • /
    • pp.63-99
    • /
    • 1994
  • The international environmental activities and environmental education began in 1970's. Environmental education in Korea was emphasized since the Forth National Curriculum. 'The Environmental Education Curriculum' will be separated as one of the most important parts in the Sixth National Education Curriculum in Korea. The purpose of this study was development. of 'Environmental Science' of high school appropriate to Sixth National Education Curriculum. First step was to state goals of environmental education in detail based on analysis of goals about environmental education in our country and other countries. Second was to analyse seven environments-related texts of Korea, America and England. Third, to measure how much environmental education has achieved in Fifth National Curriculum of Korea. Fourth, to develop a new environmental text of high school level. Fifth, to verify the effect of developed environmental text. The environmental part of 'Science I'(unit V. Life and Environments) and high school environments-related reference text(Survival and Environments) in Korea, American knowledges. American 'Environments' was stressed in many skills but they didn't include various teaching strategies. On the other hand, American 'Science-Technology-Society(S-T-S)' and British 'Science and Technology in Society(SATIS)' were stressed in knowledges and skills, and they included many teaching strategies and student actions. American 'S-T-S' was the only one stressed in values and attitudes. And all seven texts were not interested in behaviors and participations. To measure the achievement of environmental education by questionnaire, 497 high school students in total were selected from five different schools. Actually, most students had a positive thinkings and attitudes in their hearts about environmental problems, about environmental problems, but many of them did not take actions to solve environmental problems and to protect environments. The higher the score students got in 'knowledges and informations', the higher the score in 'skill'. It implies that learning of skills is based on learning of knowledges and informations about environments. On the other hand, much knowledges and information about environments has not always ensured positive thinkings and attitudes or active behaviors and participations to solve environmental problem. In view that ultimate aim of environmental education is forming responsible environmental behaviors and the goals of values and behaviors are as important as knowledges and skills. A new environmental text of high school level was developed and it was based on analysis of seven texts and environmental education in Fifth Korean Curriculum. This text have seven units, 1. Habitates : What're the meanings?, 2. Nuclear Energy : Can't be Avoid?, 3. Acid Rain : What're the Messages?, 4. Ethanol : Is this Future Fuel?, 5. Wastes : A New War!, 6. What're the National and Gloval Environmental education and avoided from the array of knowledges. Therefore included various teaching strategies and independent actions of students. 'Open-ended value learning' and 'free behavior learning' in text were special learning parts for aquisition of values and formation of behaviors. To verify the effects. of new developed environmental text, the direct learning was carried out by 286 students in total. Post test scores of experimental groups per each units were significantly higher than those of control groups from five different schools were as follows. For validity of selecting contents for units, 74% of respondent replied positively. For classification and presentation of four goal-groups, 90% replied positively in validity and 82%, in utility. For validity of various teaching strategies, 88% and for the degree of including student-centered independent actions, 86% replied positively, For importances and expected effects of 'open=ended value learning' and 'free behavior learning', showed positive responses respectively, 88%, 92% Therefore this text is effective to achieve four goals of environmental education equally.

  • PDF

Coronary Artery Bypass Graft in Patient with Advanced Left Ventricular Dysfunction (중등도 이상의 좌심실 기능 부전 환자에서의 관상동 우회술의 임상 분석)

  • 정종필;김승우;신제균
    • Journal of Chest Surgery
    • /
    • v.34 no.12
    • /
    • pp.901-908
    • /
    • 2001
  • Background : Coronary artery bypass graft(CABG) in patients with advanced left ventricular dysfunction has often been regarded as having high mortality rate, despite the great improvement in operative result of CABG. With recent advances in surgical technique and myocardial protection, surgical revascularization improved the symptom and long-term survival of these high risk patients more than the medical conservative treatment. Material and Methold : Clinical data of 31(4.1%) patients with preoperative ejection fraction less than 30% among 864 CABGs performed between January 1995 and March 1999 were retrospectively analyzed and pre- and postoperative changes of the ejection fraction on echocardiography were analyzed. There were 26 men and 5 women. The mean age was 60.7 years(range 41 to 72 years). History of myocardial infarction(30 cases, 98%) was the most common preoperative risk factor. There were seven irreversible myocardial infarction on thallium scan. Most patients had triple vessel diseases(26 cases, 84%) and first degree of Rentrop classification(16 cases, 52%) on coronary angiography. The mean number of distal anastomosis during CABG was per patient was 4.9${\pm}$0.8 sites in each patient. In addition to long saphenous veins, the internal mammary artery was used in 20 patients. Total bypass time was 244.7${\pm}$3.7 minutes(range, 117 to 567 minutes), and mean aortic cross-clamp time was 77.9 ${\pm}$ 1.6 minutes(range, 30 to 178 minutes). There were five other reparative procedures such as two left ventricular aneurysrmectomy, two mitral repair, and one aortic valve replacement. There were twelve postoperative complications such as three cardiac arrhythmia, two bleeding(re-operation), one delayed sternal closure, eleven usage of intra-aortic balloon counterpulsation for low cardiac output. Two patients died, postoperative mortality was 6.5% . Twenty-nine patients were relieved of chest pain and left ventricular ejection fraction after operation was significantly higher(38.5${\pm}$11.6%, p 0.001) as compared with preoperative left ventricular ejection fraction(25.3${\pm}$2.3%). The follow up period of out patient was 25. 3 months. Conclusion: In patients with coronary artery disease and advanced left ventricular dysfunction, coronary artery bypass grafting can be performed relatively safely with improvement in left ventricular function, but it will be necessary to study long term results.

  • PDF

Macrozoobenthic Community Structures in the Shallow Subtidal Soft-bottoms around Wando-Doam Bay during Summer Season (남해 완도-도암만 연성기질의 여름철 대형저서동물의 군집구조)

  • LIM, HYUN-SIG;CHOI, JIN-WOO;SON, MIN-HO
    • The Sea:JOURNAL OF THE KOREAN SOCIETY OF OCEANOGRAPHY
    • /
    • v.23 no.2
    • /
    • pp.91-108
    • /
    • 2018
  • An ecological study on subtidal macrobenthic fauna was conducted from 25 stations in the estuarine area of Wando-Doam Bay, southern coast of Korea during August 2013. A total of 186 species was collected with a mean density of $1,229ind./m^2$ and a mean biomass of $265.7g/m^2$. Polychaetes showed the richest benthic fauna comprising 43% of total fauna, whereas mollusks appeared as density- and biomass-dominant fauna accounted for 45% and 48% of the mean density and biomass, respectively. The number of species and mean faunal density were relatively higher at the stations surrounded by Sinjido, Joyakdo and Gogeumdo showing a gradual decrease toward inner bay stations. Species number and density were negatively correlated with bottom water temperature, but they were positively correlated with both the bottom salinity and DO. The most dominant species in terms of density was a semelid bivalve, Theora fragilis which showed a positive correlation with TOC content of surface sediment and its high density occurred around Gogeum-Sinji-Joyakdo area where dense aquaculture facilities exist. In the bay mouth area, an amphipod species, Eriopisella sechellensis showed its higher density at the stations with low organic content but fine grains. The combination of water temperature, salinity, pH of bottom water, water and sulfur content of the surface sediment could explain 71% of the spatial distribution of macrobenthic fauna from the Bio-Env analysis. From the cluster analysis, the study area consisted of 6 distinct station groups lineated from offshore area toward inner area. Ampharete arctica, Goniada maculata, Eriopisella sechellensis, Theora fragilis, Caprella sp. were identified as the main contributing faunas in classification by the SIMPER analysis. From the value of BPI, the benthic communities at the inner and central Wando-Doam Bay were assessed to be in a normal condition whereas those at the outer Wando harbor and Gogeum-Sinji-Joyakdo area were assessed in a poor or very poor condition due to the high concentration of particulate organic matter might be originated from the nearby dense aquaculture facilities. This study indicated that pristine inner bay has been influenced by the organic material supplied from the outer bay. Thus it is necessary to establish an ecological management plan to reduce organic enrichment of sediment from dense aquaculture facilities in the outer bay.

Study of Trace Element and PAHs Distribution for Extensive Regulation Establishment in Raw Material of Compost on Organic Resource (퇴비원료기준 확대설정을 위한 유기성자원의 미량원소 및 PAHs 분포 연구)

  • Lim, Dong-Kyu;Lee, Seung-Hwan;Kwon, Soon Ik;Seong, Ki-Seog;Lee, Jeong-Taek;Song, Beom-Heon
    • Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
    • /
    • v.39 no.6
    • /
    • pp.339-344
    • /
    • 2006
  • A lot of organic wastes have been produced from diverse industries, they must be tested by the regulation of fertilizer control act if reuse the organic wastes for agricultural utilization. The regulation has had only two criteria; the content of organic matter and 8 heavy metals. This study was conducted to evaluation trace element (boron, cobalt, molybdenum, and selenium) and distribution of organic compounds with different classification for complement the regulation in 16 organic waste materials(62 samples) collected from different regions and industries. Contents of boron(leather industry sludge, $154.2mg\;kg^{-1}$; food company sludge, $57.1mg\;kg^{-1}$), cobalt(industrial area sewage sludge, $95.2mg\;kg^{-1}$; metropolitan sewage sludge, $22.9mg\;kg^{-1}$), molybdenum(metropolitan sewage sludge, $40.1mg\;kg^{-1}$; food company sludge, $16.8mg\;kg^{-1}$), selenium (fiber industry sludge, $28.1mg\;kg^{-1}$; leather industry sludge, $16.9mg\;kg^{-1}$; food company sludge, $15.9mg\;kg^{-1}$) were highest compare to the other organic wastes. Total PAHs contents were the highest in paper-mill manufacture($3,462ug\;kg^{-1}$), and among the 16 PAHs, naphthalene, phenanthrene, pyrene, fluoroanthene, Anthracene and acenaphthene were detected more clearly than others in all kinds of organic resources.

Deterioration Evaluation Method of Noise Barriers for Managements of Highway (고속도로 방음벽 유지관리를 위한 방음벽 노후도 평가 방안)

  • Kim, Sangtae;Shin, Ilhyoung;Kim, Kyoungsu;Kim, Daae;Kim, Heungrae;Im, Jahae;Lee, Jajun
    • Journal of Environmental Impact Assessment
    • /
    • v.28 no.4
    • /
    • pp.387-399
    • /
    • 2019
  • This research aimed to prepare the classification of the damage types and the damage rating system of noise barriers for expressway noise barriers and to develop deterioration evaluation method of noise barriers by reflecting them. The noise barrier consists of soundproof panels, foundations and posts and the soundproof panels with 10 different types of materials are used in a single or mixed form.In this paper, damage of soundproof panel shows a single or composite damage, and thus a evaluation model of deterioration has been developed for noise barriers that can reflect the characteristic of noise barriers. Materials used mainly for soundproof walls were divided into material types for metal, plastic, timber, transparent and concrete. And damage types for noise barrier were classified into corrosion, discoloration, deformation, spalling and dislocation and damage types were subdivided according to the noise barrier's components and materials. Damage rating was divided into good, minor, normal and severe for each major part of noise barrier to assess damage rating of soundproof panel, foundation and post. The deterioration degree of noise barrier was evaluated comprehensively by using the deterioration evaluation method of whole noise barrier using weighted average. Deterioration evaluation method that can be systematically assessed has been developed for noise barrier using single or mixed soundproof panel and noise barrier with single or complex damage types. Through such an evaluation system, it is deemed that the deterioration status of noise barrier installed can be systematically understood and utilized for efficient maintenance planning and implementation for repair and improvement of noise barriers.

A Study on History and Archetype Technology of Goli-su in Korea (한국 고리수의 역사와 원형기술의 복원 연구)

  • Kim, Young-ran
    • Korean Journal of Heritage: History & Science
    • /
    • v.46 no.2
    • /
    • pp.4-25
    • /
    • 2013
  • Goli-su is the innovative special kind of the embroidery technique, which combines twining and interlacing skill with metal technology and makes the loops woven to each other with a strand. The loops floating on the space of the ground look like floating veins of sculpture and give people the feeling of the openwork. This kind of characteristic has some similarities with the lacework craft of Western Europe in texture and technique style, but it has its own features different from that of Western Europe. It mainly represents the splendid gloss with metallic materials in the Embroidered cloth, such as gold foil or wire. In the 10th century, early days of Goryo, we can see the basic Goli-su structure form of its initial period in the boy motif embroidery purse unearthed from the first level of Octagonal Nine-storied Pagoda of Woljeong-sa. In the Middle period of Joseon, there are several pieces of Goli-su embroidered relic called "Battle Flag of Goryo", which was taken by the Japanese in 1592 and is now in the Japanese temple. This piece is now converted into altar-table covers. In 18~19th century, two pairs of embroidered pillows in Joseon palace were kept intact, whose time and source are very accurate. The frame of the pillows was embroidered with Goli-su veins, and some gold foil papers were inserted into the inside. The triangle motif with silk was embroidered on the pillow. The stitch in the Needle-Looped embroidery is divided into three kinds according to comprehensive classification: 1. Goli-su ; 2. Goli-Kamgi-su ; 3. Goli-Saegim-su. From the 10th century newly establishing stage to the 13th century, Goli-su has appeared variational stitches and employed 2~3 dimensional color schemes gradually. According to the research of this thesis, we can still see this stitch in the embroidery pillow, which proves that Goli-suwas still kept in Korea in the 19th century. And in terms of the research achievement of this thesis, Archetype technology of Goli-su was restored. Han Sang-soo, Important Intangible Cultural Heritage No. 80 and Master of Embroidery already recreated the Korean relics of Goli-su in Joseon Dynasty. The Needle-Looped embriodery is the overall technological result of ancestral outstanding Metal craft, Twining and Interlacing craft, and Embroidery art. We should inherit, create, and seek the new direction in modern multi-dimensional and international industry societyon the basis of these research results. We can inherit the long history of embroidering, weaving, fiber processing, and expand the applications of other craft industries, and develop new advanced additional values of new dress material, fashion technology, ornament craft and artistic design. Thus, other crafts assist each other and broaden the expressive field to pursue more diversified formative beauty and beautify our life abundantly together.

Early Clinical Experience in Aortic Valve Replacement Using On-X$^{circledR}$Prosthetic Heart Valve (On-X$^{circledR}$ 기계판막을 이용한 대동맥판 치환술의 조기 임상 경험)

  • 안병희;전준경;류상완;최용선;김병표;홍성범;박종춘;김상형
    • Journal of Chest Surgery
    • /
    • v.36 no.9
    • /
    • pp.651-658
    • /
    • 2003
  • Since the first implanted in September 1997, the use of On-X prosthetic heart valve has been increasing around in the world. This study was designed to assess the feasibility, safety, and the postoperative hemodynamics with this new valve in clinical setting. Material and Method: The current study was carried out on 52 patients undergoing aortic valve replacement with this prosthesis between April 1999 to August 2002 at Chonnam National University Hospital to evaluate the surgical results. 52% of the patients were male and the average age at implant was 50$\pm$13 years. The study followed the guidelines of the AATS/STS. Preoperatively, 32(61.5%) patients were in NYHA functional class III or IV and 2 patients had previous aortic valve surgery. Concomitant cardiac surgery was performed in 71.1%. The implanted valve sizes were 19 mm in 13 patients, 21 mm in 26, 23 mm in 10 and 25 mm in 3, respectively. Mean follow-up was 16.6$\pm$10.5 months (1∼39 months). Echocardiographic assessment was performed pre- and immediate postoperatively, as well as 3, 6, 12 months after surgery, evaluating pressure loss and regression of left ventricular hypertrophy. Result: Mean cardiopulmonary bypass time was 191$\pm$94.7 minutes with an aortic cross-clamp time of 142$\pm$51.7 minutes. There was no early and late mortality, Freedom from adverse events at 1 year in the study were as follows: thromboembolism, 95.6$\pm$6%; bleeding events, 90.2$\pm$4%; paravalvular leakage 92.3$\pm$4%; and overall valve-related morbidity at 1 year was 76.6$\pm$3%. There were no cases of valve thrombosis, prosthetic valve endocarditis and structural or non-structural failure. Left ventricular function at 12 months after surgery (EF=62.7$\pm$9.8%) revealed a statistically significant improvement compared to preoperative investigation (EF=55.8$\pm$15.9%, p=0.006). Left ventricular mass index was 247.3$\pm$122.3 g/$m^2$ on preoperative echocardiographic study, but regressed to 155.5$\pm$58.2 g/$m^2$ at postoperative 1 year (p=0.002). Over the follow-up period a further decrease of peak transvalvular gradients was observed in all patients: 62.5$\pm$38.0 mmHg on preoperative assessment, 18.2$\pm$6.8 mmHg at immediate postoperative period (p < 0.0001), 7.6$\pm$5.09 mmHg (p<0.0001) at 6 month, 18.0$\pm$10.8 mmHg (p<0.0001) at 1 year. Conclusion: The On-X prosthetic heart valve performs satisfactorily in the first 1 year period. Clinical outcome by examining NYHA functional classification revealed especially good results. Effective regression of left ventricular hypertrophy and statistically significant decrease of transvalvular gradient were observed over the first year, but longer-term follow-up of this patient group is needed to establish the expected rates for late valve-related events as well as the long-term clinical efficacy of this valve.

Development and Research into Functional Foods from Hydrolyzed Whey Protein Powder with Sialic Acid as Its Index Component - I. Repeated 90-day Oral Administration Toxicity Test using Rats Administered Hydrolyzed Whey Protein Powder containing Normal Concentration of Sialic Acid (7%) with Enzyme Separation Method - (Sialic Acid를 지표성분으로 하는 유청가수분해단백분말의 기능성식품 개발연구 - I. 효소분리로 7% Siailc Acid가 표준적으로 함유된 유청가수분해단백분말(7%)의 랫드를 이용한 90일 반복경구투여 독성시험 평가 연구 -)

  • Noh, Hye-Ji;Cho, Hyang-Hyun;Kim, Hee-Kyong
    • Journal of Dairy Science and Biotechnology
    • /
    • v.34 no.2
    • /
    • pp.99-116
    • /
    • 2016
  • We herein performed animal safety assessment in accordance with Good Laboratory Practice (GLP) regulations with the aim of developing sialic acid from glycomacropeptide (hereafter referred to as "GMP") as an index ingredient and functional component in functional foods. GMP is a type of whey protein derived from milk and a safe food, with multiple functions, such as antiviral activity. A test substance was produced containing 7% (w/w) sialic acid and mostly-hydrolyzed whey protein (hereafter referred to as "7%-GNANA") by enzymatic treatment of substrate GMP. The maximum intake test dose level was selected based on 5,000 mg/kg/day dose set for male NOEL (no-observed-effect-level) and female NOAEL (no-observed-adverse-effect-level) determined by a dose-range finding (DRF) test (GLP Center of Catholic University of Daegu, Report No. 15-NREO-001) that was previously conducted with the same test substance. To evaluate the toxicity of a repeated oral dose of the test substance in connection with the previous DRF study, 1,250, 2,500, and 5,000 mg/kg of the substance were administered by a probe into the stomachs of 6-week-old SPF Sprague-Dawley male and female rats for 90 d. Each test group consisted of 10 male and 10 female rats. To determine the toxicity index, all parameters, such as observation of common signs; measurements of body weight and food consumption; ophthalmic examination; urinalysis, electrolyte, hematological, and serum biochemical examination; measurement of organ weights during autopsy; and visual and histopathological examinations were conducted according to GLP standards. After evaluating the results based on the test toxicity assessment criteria, it was determined that NOAEL of the test substance, 7%-GNANA, was 5,000 mg/kg/day, for both male and female rats. No animal death was noted in any of the test groups, including the control group, during the study period, and there was no significant difference associated with test substance, as compared with the control group, with respect to general symptoms, body weight changes, food consumption, ophthalmic examination, urinalysis, hematological and serum biochemical examination, and electrolyte and blood coagulation tests during the administration period (P<0.05). As assessed by the effects of the test substance on organ weights, food consumption, autopsy, and histopathological safety, change in kidney weight as an indicator of male NOAEL revealed up to 20% kidney weight increase in the high-dose group (5,000 mg/kg/day) compared with the change in the control group. However, it was concluded that this effect of the test substance was minor. In the case of female rats, reduction of food consumption, increase of kidney weight, and decrease of thymus weight were observed in the high-dose group. The kidney weight increased by 10.2% (left) and 8.9% (right) in the high-dose group, with a slight dose-dependency compared with that of the control group. It was observed that the thymus weight decreased by 25.3% in the high-dose group, but it was a minor test substance-associated effect. During the autopsy, botryoid tumor was detected on the ribs of one subject in the high-dose group, but we concluded that the tumor has been caused by a naturally occurring (non-test) substance. Histopathological examination revealed lesions on the kidney, liver, spleen, and other organs in the low-dose test group. Since these lesions were considered a separate phenomenon, or naturally occurring and associated with aging, it was checked whether any target organ showed clear symptoms caused by the test substance. In conclusion, different concentrations of the test substance were fed to rats and, consequently, it was verified that only a minor effect was associated with the test substance in the high-dose (5,000 mg/kg/day) group of both male and female rats, without any other significant effects associated with the test substance. Therefore, it was concluded that NOAEL of 7%-GNANA (product name: Helicobactrol) with male and female rats as test animals was 5,000 mg/kg/day, and it thus was determined that the substance is safe for the ultimate use as an ingredient of health functional foods.

Early and Mid-term Results of Operation for Infective Endocarditis on Mitral Valve (감염성 승모판 심내막염의 중단기 수술 성적)

  • Ahn, Byong-Hee;Chun, Joon-Kyung;Yu, Ung;Ryu, Sang-Wan;Choi, Yong-Sun;Kim, Byong-Pyo;Hong, Sung-Bum;Bum, Min-Sun;Na, Kook-Ju;Park, Jong-Chun;Kim, Sang-Hyung
    • Journal of Chest Surgery
    • /
    • v.37 no.1
    • /
    • pp.27-34
    • /
    • 2004
  • Background: Infective endocarditis shows higher operative morbidity and mortality rates than other cardiac diseases. The vast majority of studies on infective endocarditis have been made on aortic endocarditis, with little attention having been paid to infective endocarditis on the mitral valve. This study attempts to investigate the clinical aspects and operative results of infective endocarditis on the mitral valve. Meterial and Method: The subjects of this study consist of 23 patients who underwent operations for infective endocariditis on the mitral valve from June 1995 to May 2003. Among them, 2 patients suffered from prosthetic valvular endocarditis and the other 21 from native valvular endocarditis. The subjects were evenly distributed age-wise with an average age of 44.8$\pm$15.7 (11∼66) years. Emergency operations were performed on seventeen patients (73.9%) due to large vegetation or instable hemodynamic status. In preoperative examinations, twelve patients exhibited congestive heart failure, four patients renal failure, two patients spleen and renal infarction, and two patients temporary neurological defects, while one patient had a brain abscess. Based on the NYHA functional classification, seven patients were determined to be at Grade II, 9 patients at Grade III, and 6 patients at Grade IV. Vegetations were detected in 20 patients while mitral regurgitation was dominant in 19 patients with 4 patients showing up as mitral stenosis dominant on the preoperative echocardiogram. Blood cultures for causative organisms were performed on all patients, and positive results were obtained from ten patients, with five cases of Streptococcus viridance, two cases of methicillin-sensitive Staphylococcus aureus, and one case each of Corynebacteriurn, Haemophillis, and Gernella. Operations were decided according to the AA/AHA guidelines (1988). The mean follow-up period was 27.6 $\pm$23.3 (1 ∼ 97) months. Result: Mitral valve replacements were performed on 43 patients, with mechanical valves being used on 9 patients and tissue valves on the other 4. Several kinds of mitral valve repair or mitral valvuloplasty were carried out on the remaining 10 patients. Associated procedures included six aortic valve replacements, two tricuspid annuloplasty, one modified Maze operation, and one direct closure of a ventricular septal defect. Postoperative complications included two cases of bleeding and one case each of mediastinitis, low cardiac output syndrome, and pneumonia. There were no cases of early deaths, or death within 30 days following the operation. No patient died in the hospital or experienced valve related complications. One patient, however, underwent mitral valvuloplasty 3 months after the operation. Another patient died from intra-cranial hemorrhage in the 31st month after the operation. Therefore, the valve-related death rate was 4.3%, and the valve-related complication rate 8.6% on mid-term follow-up. 1, 3-, and 5-year valve- related event free rates were 90.8%, 79.5%, and 79.5%, respectively, while 1, follow-up. 1, 3-, and 5-year valve- related event free rates were 90.8%, 79.5%, and 79.5%, respectively, while 1, 3-, and 5-year survival rates were 100%, 88.8%, and 88.8%, respectively. Conclusion: The findings suggest that a complete removal of infected tissues is essential in the operative treatment of infectious endocarditis of the mitral valve. It is also suggested that when infected tissues are completely removed, neither type of material nor method of operation has a significant effect on the operation result. The postoperative results also suggest the need for a close follow-up observation of the patients suspected of having brain damage, which is caused by preoperative blood contamination or emboli from vegetation, for a possible cerebral vascular injury such as mycotic aneurysm.

The Effect of Mutual Trust on Relational Performance in Supplier-Buyer Relationships for Business Services Transactions (재상업복무교역중적매매관계중상호신임대관계적효적영향(在商业服务交易中的买卖关系中相互信任对关系绩效的影响))

  • Noh, Jeon-Pyo
    • Journal of Global Scholars of Marketing Science
    • /
    • v.19 no.4
    • /
    • pp.32-43
    • /
    • 2009
  • Trust has been studied extensively in psychology, economics, and sociology, and its importance has been emphasized not only in marketing, but also in business disciplines in general. Unlike past relationships between suppliers and buyers, which take considerable advantage of private networks and may involve unethical business practices, partnerships between suppliers and buyers are at the core of success for industrial marketing amid intense global competition in the 21st century. A high level of mutual cooperation occurs through an exchange relationship based on trust, which brings long-term benefits, competitive enhancements, and transaction cost reductions, among other benefits, for both buyers and suppliers. In spite of the important role of trust, existing studies in buy-supply situations overlook the role of trust and do not systematically analyze the effect of trust on relational performance. Consequently, an in-depth study that determines the relation of trust to the relational performance between buyers and suppliers of business services is absolutely needed. Business services in this study, which include those supporting the manufacturing industry, are drawing attention as the economic growth engine for the next generation. The Korean government has selected business services as a strategic area for the development of manufacturing sectors. Since the demands for opening business services markets are becoming fiercer, the competitiveness of the business service industry must be promoted now more than ever. The purpose of this study is to investigate the effect of the mutual trust between buyers and suppliers on relational performance. Specifically, this study proposed a theoretical model of trust-relational performance in the transactions of business services and empirically tested the hypotheses delineated from the framework. The study suggests strategic implications based on research findings. Empirical data were collected via multiple methods, including via telephone, mail, and in-person interviews. Sample companies were knowledge-based companies supplying and purchasing business services in Korea. The present study collected data on a dyadic basis. Each pair of sample companies includes a buying company and its corresponding supplying company. Mutual trust was traced for each pair of companies. This study proposes a model of trust-relational performance of buying-supplying for business services. The model consists of trust and its antecedents and consequences. The trust of buyers is classified into trust toward the supplying company and trust toward salespersons. Viewing trust both at the individual level and the organizational level is based on the research of Doney and Cannon (1997). Normally, buyers are the subject of trust, but this study supposes that suppliers are the subjects. Hence, it uniquely focused on the bilateral perspective of perceived risk. In other words, suppliers, like buyers, are the subject of trust since transactions are normally bilateral. From this point of view, suppliers' trust in buyers is as important as buyers' trust in suppliers. The suppliers' trust is influenced by the extent to which it trusts the buying companies and the buyers. This classification of trust using an individual level and an organization level is based on the suggestion of Doney and Cannon (1997). Trust affects the process of supplier selection, which works in a bilateral manner. Suppliers are actively involved in the supplier selection process, working very closely with buyers. In addition, the process is affected by the extent to which each party trusts its partners. The selection process consists of certain steps: recognition, information search, supplier selection, and performance evaluation. As a result of the process, both buyers and suppliers evaluate the performance and take corrective actions on the basis of such outcomes as tangible, intangible, and/or side effects. The measurement of trust used for the present study was developed on the basis of the studies of Mayer, Davis and Schoorman (1995) and Mayer and Davis (1999). Based on their recommendations, the three dimensions of trust used for the study include ability, benevolence, and integrity. The original questions were adjusted to the context of the transactions of business services. For example, a question such as "He/she has professional capabilities" has been changed to "The salesperson showed professional capabilities while we talked about our products." The measurement used for this study differs from those used in previous studies (Rotter 1967; Sullivan and Peterson 1982; Dwyer and Oh 1987). The measurements of the antecedents and consequences of trust used for this study were developed on the basis of Doney and Cannon (1997). The original questions were adjusted to the context of transactions in business services. In particular, questions were developed for both buyers and suppliers to address the following factors: reputation (integrity, customer care, good-will), market standing (company size, market share, positioning in the industry), willingness to customize (product, process, delivery), information sharing (proprietary information, private information), willingness to maintain relationships, perceived professionalism, authority empowerment, buyer-seller similarity, and contact frequency. As a consequential variable of trust, relational performance was measured. Relational performance is classified into tangible effects, intangible effects, and side effects. Tangible effects include financial performance; intangible effects include improvements in relations, network developing, and internal employee satisfaction; side effects include those not included either in the tangible or intangible effects. Three hundred fifty pairs of companies were contacted, and one hundred five pairs of companies responded. After deleting five company pairs because of incomplete responses, one hundred five pairs of companies were used for data analysis. The response ratio of the companies used for data analysis is 30% (105/350), which is above the average response ratio in industrial marketing research. As for the characteristics of the respondent companies, the majority of the companies operate service businesses for both buyers (85.4%) and suppliers (81.8%). The majority of buyers (76%) deal with consumer goods, while the majority of suppliers (70%) deal with industrial goods. This may imply that buyers process the incoming material, parts, and components to produce the finished consumer goods. As indicated by their report of the length of acquaintance with their partners, suppliers appear to have longer business relationships than do buyers. Hypothesis 1 tested the effects of buyer-supplier characteristics on trust. The salesperson's professionalism (t=2.070, p<0.05) and authority empowerment (t=2.328, p<0.05) positively affected buyers' trust toward suppliers. On the other hand, authority empowerment (t=2.192, p<0.05) positively affected supplier trust toward buyers. For both buyers and suppliers, the degree of authority empowerment plays a crucial role in the maintenance of their trust in each other. Hypothesis 2 tested the effects of buyerseller relational characteristics on trust. Buyers tend to trust suppliers, as suppliers make every effort to contact buyers (t=2.212, p<0.05). This tendency has also been shown to be much stronger for suppliers (t=2.591, p<0.01). On the other hand suppliers trust buyers because suppliers perceive buyers as being similar to themselves (t=2.702, p<0.01). This finding confirmed the results of Crosby, Evans, and Cowles (1990), which reported that suppliers and buyers build relationships through regular meetings, either for business or personal matters. Hypothesis 3 tested the effects of trust on perceived risk. It has been found that for both suppliers and buyers the lower is the trust, the higher is the perceived risk (t=-6.621, p<0.01 for buyers; t=-2.437, p<0.05). Interestingly, this tendency has been shown to be much stronger for buyers than for suppliers. One possible explanation for this higher level of perceived risk is that buyers normally perceive higher risks than do suppliers in transactions involving business services. For this reason, it is necessary for suppliers to implement risk reduction strategies for buyers. Hypothesis 4 tested the effects of trust on information searching. It has been found that for both suppliers and buyers, contrary to expectation, trust depends on their partner's reputation (t=2.929, p<0.01 for buyers; t=2.711, p<0.05 for suppliers). This finding shows that suppliers with good reputations tend to be trusted. Prior experience did not show any significant relationship with trust for either buyers or suppliers. Hypothesis 5 tested the effects of trust on supplier/buyer selection. Unlike buyers, suppliers tend to trust buyers when they think that previous transactions with buyers were important (t=2.913 p<0.01). However, this study did not show any significant relationship between source loyalty and the trust of buyers in suppliers. Hypothesis 6 tested the effects of trust on relational performances. For buyers and suppliers, financial performance reportedly improved when they trusted their partners (t=2.301, p<0.05 for buyers; t=3.692, p<0.01 for suppliers). It is interesting that this tendency was much stronger for suppliers than it was for buyers. Similarly, competitiveness was reported to improve when buyers and suppliers trusted their partners (t=3.563, p<0.01 for buyers; t=3.042, p<0.01 for suppliers). For suppliers, efficiency and productivity were reportedly improved when they trusted buyers (t=2.673, p<0.01). Other performance indices showed insignificant relationships with trust. The findings of this study have some strategic implications. First and most importantly, trust-based transactions are beneficial for both suppliers and buyers. As verified in the study, financial performance can be improved through efforts to build and maintain mutual trust. Similarly, competitiveness can be increased through the same kinds of effort. Second, trust-based transactions can facilitate the reduction of perceived risks inherent in the purchasing situation. This finding has implications for both suppliers and buyers. It is generally believed that buyers perceive higher risks in a highly involved purchasing situation. To reduce risks, previous studies have recommended that suppliers devise risk-reducing tactics. Moving beyond these recommendations, the present study uniquely focused on the bilateral perspective of perceived risk. In other words, suppliers are also susceptible to perceived risks, especially when they supply services that require very technical and sophisticated manipulations and maintenance. Consequently, buyers and suppliers must solve problems together in close collaboration. Hence, mutual trust plays a crucial role in the problem-solving process. Third, as found in this study, the more authority a salesperson has, the more he or she can be trusted. This finding is very important with regard to tactics. Building trust is a long-term assignment; however, when mutual trust has not been developed, suppliers can overcome the problems they encounter by empowering a salesperson with the authority to make certain decisions. This finding applies to suppliers as well.

  • PDF