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Performance Evaluation of Siemens CTI ECAT EXACT 47 Scanner Using NEMA NU2-2001 (NEMA NU2-2001을 이용한 Siemens CTI ECAT EXACT 47 스캐너의 표준 성능 평가)

  • Kim, Jin-Su;Lee, Jae-Sung;Lee, Dong-Soo;Chung, June-Key;Lee, Myung-Chul
    • The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine
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    • v.38 no.3
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    • pp.259-267
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    • 2004
  • Purpose: NEMA NU2-2001 was proposed as a new standard for performance evaluation of whole body PET scanners. in this study, system performance of Siemens CTI ECAT EXACT 47 PET scanner including spatial resolution, sensitivity, scatter fraction, and count rate performance in 2D and 3D mode was evaluated using this new standard method. Methods: ECAT EXACT 47 is a BGO crystal based PET scanner and covers an axial field of view (FOV) of 16.2 cm. Retractable septa allow 2D and 3D data acquisition. All the PET data were acquired according to the NEMA NU2-2001 protocols (coincidence window: 12 ns, energy window: $250{\sim}650$ keV). For the spatial resolution measurement, F-18 point source was placed at the center of the axial FOV((a) x=0, and y=1, (b)x=0, and y=10, (c)x=70, and y=0cm) and a position one fourth of the axial FOV from the center ((a) x=0, and y=1, (b)x=0, and y=10, (c)x=10, and y=0cm). In this case, x and y are transaxial horizontal and vertical, and z is the scanner's axial direction. Images were reconstructed using FBP with ramp filter without any post processing. To measure the system sensitivity, NEMA sensitivity phantom filled with F-18 solution and surrounded by $1{\sim}5$ aluminum sleeves were scanned at the center of transaxial FOV and 10 cm offset from the center. Attenuation free values of sensitivity wire estimated by extrapolating data to the zero wall thickness. NEMA scatter phantom with length of 70 cm was filled with F-18 or C-11solution (2D: 2,900 MBq, 3D: 407 MBq), and coincidence count rates wire measured for 7 half-lives to obtain noise equivalent count rate (MECR) and scatter fraction. We confirmed that dead time loss of the last flame were below 1%. Scatter fraction was estimated by averaging the true to background (staffer+random) ratios of last 3 frames in which the fractions of random rate art negligibly small. Results: Axial and transverse resolutions at 1cm offset from the center were 0.62 and 0.66 cm (FBP in 2D and 3D), and 0.67 and 0.69 cm (FBP in 2D and 3D). Axial, transverse radial, and transverse tangential resolutions at 10cm offset from the center were 0.72 and 0.68 cm (FBP in 2D and 3D), 0.63 and 0.66 cm (FBP in 2D and 3D), and 0.72 and 0.66 cm (FBP in 2D and 3D). Sensitivity values were 708.6 (2D), 2931.3 (3D) counts/sec/MBq at the center and 728.7 (2D, 3398.2 (3D) counts/sec/MBq at 10 cm offset from the center. Scatter fractions were 0.19 (2D) and 0.49 (3D). Peak true count rate and NECR were 64.0 kcps at 40.1 kBq/mL and 49.6 kcps at 40.1 kBq/mL in 2D and 53.7 kcps at 4.76 kBq/mL and 26.4 kcps at 4.47 kBq/mL in 3D. Conclusion: Information about the performance of CTI ECAT EXACT 47 PET scanner reported in this study will be useful for the quantitative analysis of data and determination of optimal image acquisition protocols using this widely used scanner for clinical and research purposes.

Effects of Rice Hull Addition and Bin Wall Characteristics on Pig Slurry Composting Properties (왕겨 이용 방법과 옹벽이 돈분 퇴비화에 미치는 효과)

  • ;Craig, Ian P
    • Journal of Animal Environmental Science
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    • v.10 no.1
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    • pp.47-58
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    • 2004
  • This work was carried out to investigate the effects of rice hull continuously utilized and/or replenished on the composting properties and to obtain the fundamental data between an unsupported wall and a soil supported wall during the period of composting with pig slurry in winter season. There were no the temperature holding effects in soil supported wall. New compost facility design for the temperature holding effects from a soil supported wall was required. The results were as follows; 1. Composting 1㎥ of pig slurry caused to save on 0.31㎥ of bulking agent in the unsupported wall in comparison with a soil supported wall in the rice hull single addition, and 0.45㎥ in the rice hull gradual addition. 2. The pile in the rice hull single addition had a high temperature in 4 days of composting indicating $71^{\circ}C$ and had a tendency in repeating periodically between $40^{\circ}C$ and $65^{\circ}C$ till 43 days of composting. And also the temperature of the pile was maintained between $48^{\circ}C$ and $28^{\circ}C$ after 50 days of composting. The pile of a rice hull gradual addition had the lower point of the temperature high increasingly according to adding up rice hull during the 35 days of composting. 3. The pH recorded in the rice hull single addition was higher(8.35∼10.02) compared to the rice hull gradual addition(8.6∼9.8). The pile of a rice hull single addition had a tendency in abruptly decreasing pH of the unsupported wall during the period of between 0.363$\textrm m^3$ and 0.537$\textrm m^3$ as a unit of pig slurry per rice hull. EC depending upon the way in adding rice hull was changed between 1.10 mS/$\textrm {cm}^3$ and 1.87 mS/$\textrm {cm}^3$. 4. The organic matter in an unsupported wall of the hull single addition was maintained the level of 55% during the period between 0.119㎥ and 0.363㎥ as a unit of pig slurry per rice hull while in the soil supported wall between 48 and 70. Water soluble C:N ratio was maintained between 1 and 2 in the rice hull single addition, while between 1 and 3 in the rice hull gradual addition. 5. Fertilizer constituents were detected higher level in the unsupported wall than in the soil supported wall in all treatments. This was dependant upon the input of pig slurry.

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Survival and Complication Rate of Radiation Therapy in Stage I and II Carcinoma of Uterine Cervix (병기 I, II 자궁 경부암에서 방사선치료 후 생존율 및 합병증 분석)

  • Ma, Sun-Young;Cho, Heung-Lea;Sohn, Seung-Chang
    • Radiation Oncology Journal
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    • v.13 no.4
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    • pp.349-357
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    • 1995
  • Purpose : To analyze survival rate and late rectal and bladder complication for patients with stage I and II carcinoma of uterine cervix treated by radiation alone or combined with chemotherapy Materials and Methods : Between November 1984 and December 1993, 127 patients with stage I and II carcinoma of uterine cervix treated by radiation alone or combined therapy of radiation and chemotherapy. Retrospective analysis for survival rate was carried out on eligible 107 patients and review for complication was possible in 91 patients. The median follow-up was 47 months (range 3-118) and the median age of patiens was 56 years (range 31-76). 26 patients were stage IB by FIGO classification, 40 were stage IIA and 41 were stage IIB. 86 cases were treated by radiation alone and 21 were treated by radiation and chemotherapy. 101 patients were treated with intracavitary radiation therapy (ICRT), of these, 80 were received low dose rate (LDR) ICRT and 21 were received high dose rate (HDR) ICRT. Of the patients who received LDR ICRT, 63 were treated by 1 intracavitary insertion and 17 were underwent 2 insertions And we evaluated the external radiation dose and midline shield. Results : Actuarial survival rate at 5 years was $92{\%}$ for stage IB, $75{\%}$ for stage IIA, $53{\%}$ for stage IIB and $69{\%}$ in all patients Grade 1 rectal complications were developed in 20 cases ($22{\%}$), grade 2 were in 22 cases ($24{\%}$). 22 cases ($24{\%}$) of grade 1 urinary complications and 17 cases ($19{\%}$) of grade 2 urinary complications were observed But no patient had severe complications that needed surgical management or admission care. Maximum bladder dose for the group of patients with urinary complications was higher than that for the patients without urinary complications (7608 cGy v 6960cGy. p<0.01) Maximum rectal dose for the group of patients with rectal complications was higher than that for the patients without rectal complications (7041cGy v 6269cGy, p<0.01). While there was no significant difference for survival rate or bladder complication incidence as a function of dose to whole pelvis, Grade 2 rectal complication incidence was significantly lower for the patients receiving less than 4500cGy ($6.3{\%}$ v $25.5{\%}$, p<0.05). There was no significant differance between HDR ICRT group and LDR ICRT group for survival rate according to stage, on the other hand complication incidence was higher in the HDR group than LDR group, This was maybe due to different prescription doses between HDR group and LDR group. Midline shield neither improved survival rate nor decreased complication rate. The number of insertion in LDR ICRT group did not affect on survival and compication rate. Conclusion : In stage I and II carcinoma of uterine cervix there was no significant differance for 5 year survival rate by radiation therapy technique. Rectal complication incidence was as a function of dose to whole pelvis and there were positive correlations of maximum dose of rectum and bladder and each complication incidence. So we recommand whole pelvis dose less than 4500cGy and maximum dose of rectum and bladder as low as possible.

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An Analysis on the Curricula and Recognitions of the Home Economics Teachers who were the Participants of the First-Grade Home Economics Regular Teacher Qualification Program (중등 가정과 1급 정교사 자격 연수 프로그램 운영 실태 분석 및 연수 참여자의 인식)

  • Lim, Il-Young;Kweon, Li-Ra;Lee, Hye-Suk;Park, Mi-Jin;Ryu, Sang-Hee
    • Journal of Korean Home Economics Education Association
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    • v.19 no.4
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    • pp.37-56
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    • 2007
  • The purpose of this study is to provide basic resources to the first-grade Home Economics Regular Teacher Qualification Program (FGHERTQP) in order to improve its operation plans. For the study, the three methods were carried out: an analysis on the curricula of FGHERTQP over six years since 2000, a questionnaire asking their satisfaction degrees and needs on the programs which was answered by the home economics teachers who were the participants of FGHERTQP, and several statistical analyses such as a descriptive-test, a $X^2$-test, a t-test, and one way ANOVA by using SPSS Win ver 10.0. The results of the study were as follows; Firstly, FGHERTQP has been operated ten times by five training centers during resent six years. Subject matters ($1{\sim}7$), whole numbers of lectures ($11{\sim}29$), and their allotted working hours ($111{\sim}136$) vary with individual training centers and operation years. Secondly, when using 5 point likert scales, Contents and Methods of evaluation marked 3.08 which were the lowest scores, and Qualification Training in General marked 3.72 which was the highest score among five fields of Qualification Training in General, Contents, Organizations, Methods and Evaluation. The overall scores were low. Thirdly, in needs analysis on offering subject matters, the participants wanted to study the field of home economics education more than that of subject contents. Looking about the highest needs classified by domains, Food Principles & Meal Management showed the highest in Foods. And Consumer Issues in Clothing & Textiles in Textiles, Upcoming Housing Cultures in Housing, Family Relationship in Child Development & Family Relationship, Juveniles and their daily life as a consumer in Family & Consumer Resources Management. Fourthly, training centers' lectures available had a significant influence on the satisfaction degrees according to general characteristic variations of the participants. That is, as a training center offers more lectures in the field of subject education than those of subject contents, the participants showed higher satisfaction degrees (p<.05).

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Decision-making process and satisfaction of pregnant women for delivery method (임산부의 분만방법 결정과정과 만족도)

  • Jun, Hae-Ri;Park, Jung-Han;Park, Soon-Woo;Huh, Chang-Kyu;Hwang, Soon-Gu
    • Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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    • v.31 no.4 s.63
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    • pp.751-769
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    • 1998
  • This study was conducted to assess the attitude of pregnant women toward delivery method, understanding of the reason for determining her own delivery method, participation in decision-making process and satisfaction with delivery method after labor. Study subjects were 693 pregnant women who had visited obstetric clinic for prenatal care in the last month of pregnancy in one general hospital and one obstetrics-gynecology specialty hospital in Taegu city from February 1 to March 31 in 1998. A questionnaire was administered before and after labor and a telephone interview was done one month after labor. Proportion of women who had health education and/or counselling about delivery method during prenatal care was 24.0% and this proportion was higher for women who had previous c-section(35.5%) than others. Women thought vaginal delivery is better than c-section for both maternal and baby's health regardless of previous delivery method. About 90% of primipara and multiparous women who had previous vaginal delivery wanted vaginal delivery for the index birth, while 85.6% of multiparous women who had previous c-section wanted repeat c-section. Reasons for choosing c-section in pregnant women who preferred vaginal delivery before labor were recommendation of doctors(81.9%), recommendation of husband (0.8%), agreement between doctor and pregnant woman(4.7%), and mother's demand (12.6%). Reasons for choosing vaginal delivery were mother's demand(30.6%) and no indication for c-section(67.2%). Reasons for choosing c-section in pregnant women who preferred c-section before labor were recommendation of doctors(76.2%), mother's demand(20.0%), recommendation of husband(1.3%), and agreement between doctor and pregnant woman(2.5%). Of the pregnant women who had c-section, by doctor's recommendation, the proportion of women who had heard detailed explanation about reason for c-section by doctor was 55.1%. Mother's statement about the reason for c-section was consistent with the medical record in 75.9% . However, over 5% points disparities were shown between mother's statement and medical record in cases of the repeat c-section and mother's demand. In primipara and multiparous women who had previous vaginal delivery, the delivery method for index birth had statistically significant association with the preference of delivery method before labor(p<0.05). All of the women who had previous c-section had delivered the index baby by c-section. Among mothers who had delivered the index baby vaginally, 84.9% of them were satisfied with their delivery method immediately after labor and 85.1% at 1 month after labor. However, mothers who had c-section stated that they are satisfied with c-section in 44.6% immediately after labor and 42.0% at 1 month after labor. Preferred delivery method for the next birth had statistically significant association with delivery method for the index birth both immediately after labor and in 1 month after labor. The proportion of mothers who prefer vaginal delivery for the next birth increased with the degree of satisfaction with the vaginal delivery for the index birth but the proportion of mothers who prefer c-section for the next birth was high and they did not change significantly with the degree of satisfaction with the c-section for the index birth. These results suggest that the current high technology-based, physician-centered prenatal and partritional cares need to be reoriented to the basic preventive and promotive technology-based, and mother-fetus-centered care. It is also suggested that active involvement of pregnant woman in decision-making process for the delivery method will increase the rate of vaginal birth after c-section and decrease c-section rate and improve the degree of maternal satisfaction after delivery.

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Purchasing Status and Supplier Performance Evaluation of School Foodservice in Chanwon, Korea (창원시 학교급식 식재료 구매 실태 및 공급업체 수행도 평가)

  • Jung, Hoi-Jung;Kim, Hyun-Ah
    • Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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    • v.41 no.6
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    • pp.861-869
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    • 2012
  • This study was conducted to investigate the purchasing status and to compare supplier performance evaluations between competitive bidding and negotiated contracts in school foodservice in Changwon, Korea. A total of 190 questionnaires were distributed and 167 (return rate 87.9%) were collected from June 29 to September 28, 2010, and then a total of 151 (analysis rate 79.5%) were used for the final analysis. First, 91.4% of food product purchases for school meals were contracted through competitive bidding, especially limited competitive bidding. It mainly consisted of agricultural products, processed food, and eco-friendly agricultural products (fruit). Second, 78.8% of schools purchased food products by negotiated contracts, while single negotiation accounted for 59.7%. Food products by negotiated contract consisted of meat, kimchi, and fish. Third, the purchase status of competitive bidding and negotiated contracts showed a significant difference in agricultural products (p<0.001), fish (p<0.001), meats (p<0.001), poultry (p<0.001), antibiotic-free poultry (p<0.001), eco-friendly grain (p<0.001), eco-friendly agricultural products (fruit) (p<0.001), eco-friendly processed food (p<0.001), processed products (p<0.001), milk (p<0.001) and general grain (p<0.001) except for kimchi. Fourth, comparative analysis of supplier performance evaluation (on a 5-point Likert scale) of school foodservice showed that price of product of competitive bidding (3.73) was significantly higher than that of negotiated contract (2.95) (p<0.001), and the overall performance level of the negotiated contract (3.85) was significantly higher than that of competitive bidding (3.61) (p<0.01). The supplier performance evaluation levels of product packaging (p<0.01), product quality at the time of delivery (p<0.001), hygiene of products (p<0.001), consistency to specification (p<0.001), swiftness of return and exchange (p<0.001), emergency delivery (p<0.001), service of delivery staff (p<0.05), and handling of complaints (p<0.001) of negotiated contracts were significantly higher than those of competitive bidding of school foodservice. In conclusion, school foodservice selected food suppliers both by adopting competitive bidding and negotiated contracts. And there was a significant difference of school foodservice supplier performance between competitive bidding and negotiated contracts in Changwon, Korea.

STUDIES ON THE UTILIZATION OF ANTARCTIC KRILL 2. Processing of Paste Food, Protein Concentrate, Seasoned Dried Product, Powdered Seasoning, Meat Ball, and Snack (남대양산 크릴의 이용에 관한 연구)

  • PARK Yeung-Ho;LEE Eung-Ho;LEE Kang-Ho;PYEUN Jae-Hyeung;KIM Se-Kweun;KIM Dong-Soo
    • Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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    • v.13 no.2
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    • pp.65-80
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    • 1980
  • Processing conditions of the krill products such as paste food, krill protein concentrate, seasoned dried krill, powdered seasoning, meat ball, and snack have been examined and the quality was evaluated chemically and organoleptically. In the processing of paste food, krill juice was yielded $71\%$ and krill scrap $29\%$. The yields of paste and broth from the krill juice showed $53\%$ and $43\%$, respectively. In amino acid composition of the krill paste, proline, glutamic acid, aspartic acid, lysine, and leucine were abundant, while histidine, methionine, tyrosine, serine and threonine were poor. The optimum condition for solvent extraction in the processing of krill protein concentrate was the 5 times repetitive extraction using isopropyl alcohol at $80^{\circ}C$ for 5 mins. The yield of krill protein concentrate when used fresh frozen materials was $10.2\%$ in isopropyl alcohol solvent and $8.8\% in ethyl alcohol, and when used preboiled frozen materials, the yield was $13.0\%$ in isopropyl alcohol and $11.8\%$ in ethyl alcohol. Amino acid composition of krill protein concentrate showed a resemblance to that of fresh frozen krill meat. In quality comparison of the seasoned dried krill, hot air dried krill was excellent as raw materials and sun dried krill was slightly inferior to hot air dried krill, but preboiled frozen krill showed the poorest quality. The result of quality evaluation for seasoning made by combination of dried powdered krill, parched powdered sesame, salt, powdered beef extract, monosodium glutamate, powdered red pepper and ground pepper showed that the hot air dried krill was good in color and sundried krill was favorable in flavor. When krill meat ball was prepared using wheat flour, monosodium glutamate and salt as side materials, the quality of the products added up to $52\%$ of krill meat was good and the difference in quality upon the results of the organoleptic test for raw materials was not recognizable between fresh frozen and preboiled frozen krill. In the experiment for determining the proper amount of materials such as dried Powdered krill, $\alpha-starch$, sweet potato starch, sugar, salt, monosodium glutamate, glycine, potassium tartarate, ammonium bicarbonate, and sodium bicarbonate in processing krill snack, sample B(containing $7.7\%$ of dried powdered krill) and sampleC (containing $10.8\%$ of dried powdered krill) showed the most palatable taste from the view point of organoleptic test. Sweet potato starch in testing side materials was good in the comparison of suitability for processing krill snack. Corn starch and kudzu starch were slightly inferior to sweet potato starch, while wheat flour was not proper for processing the snack. In the experiment on frying method, oil frying showed better effect than salt frying and the suitable range of frying temperature was $210-215^{\circ}C$.

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Assessment of Estimated Daily Intakes of Artificial Sweeteners from Non-alcoholic Beverages in Children and Adolescents (어린이와 청소년의 비알콜성음료 섭취에 따른 인공감미료 섭취량 평가)

  • Kim, Sung-Dan;Moon, Hyun-Kyung;Lee, Jib-Ho;Chang, Min-Su;Shin, Young;Jung, Sun-Ok;Yun, Eun-Sun;Jo, Han-Bin;Kim, Jung-Hun
    • Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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    • v.43 no.8
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    • pp.1304-1316
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    • 2014
  • The aims of this study were to estimate daily intakes of artificial sweeteners from beverages and liquid teas as well as evaluate their potential health risks in Korean children and adolescents (1 to 19 years old). Dietary intake assessment was conducted using actual levels of aspartame, acesulfame-K, and sucralose in non-alcoholic beverages (651 beverages and 87 liquid teas), and food consumption amounts were drawn from "The Fourth Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2007~2009)". To estimate dietary intake of non-alcoholic beverages, a total of 6,082 children and adolescents (Scenario I) were compared to 1,704 non-alcoholic beverage consumption subjects (Scenario II). The estimated daily intake of artificial sweeteners was calculated based on point estimates and probabilistic estimates. The values of probabilistic artificial sweeteners intakes were presented by a Monte Carlo approach considering probabilistic density functions of variables. The level of safety for artificial sweeteners was evaluated by comparisons with acceptable daily intakes (ADI) of aspartame (0~40 mg/kg bw/day), acesulfame-K (0~15 mg/kg bw/day), and sucralose (0~15 mg/kg bw/day) set by the World Health Organization. For total children and adolescents (Scenario I), mean daily intakes of aspartame, acesulfame-K, and sucralose estimated by probabilistic estimates using Monte Carlo simulation were 0.09, 0.01, and 0.04 mg/kg bw/day, respectively, and 95th percentile daily intakes were 0.30, 0.02, and 0.13 mg/kg bw/day, respectively. For consumers-only (Scenario II), mean daily intakes of aspartame, acesulfame-K, and sucralose estimated by probabilistic estimates using Monte Carlo simulation were 0.52, 0.03, and 0.22 mg/kg bw/day, respectively, and 95th percentile daily intakes were 1.80, 0.12, and 0.75 mg/kg bw/day, respectively. For scenarios I and II, neither aspartame, acesulfame-K, nor sucralose had a mean and 95th percentile intake that exceeded 5.06% of ADI.

Clinical Efficacy of Erdosteine in Patients with Acute or Chronic Bronchitis -A Randomized, Double Blind, Comparative Study vs. Ambroxol- (급.만성 기관지염 환자에서 엘도스$^{(R)}$(Erdosteine)의 임상효과 -염산 암브록솔과의 무작위 이중맹검 비교시험-)

  • Kim, Seok-Chan;Lee, Sang-Hoak;Song, So-Hyang;Kim, Young-Kyoon;Moon, Hwa-Sik;Song, Jeong-Sup;Park, Sung-Hak
    • Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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    • v.44 no.6
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    • pp.1296-1307
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    • 1997
  • Background : Erdosteine is a thiol derivative developed for the treatement of chronic obstructive bronchitis, including acute infective exacerbation of chronic bronchitis. Erdosteine has mucomodulating and antioxidant properties and especially exhibits excellent gastrointestinal tolerability. Methods : The study was conducted as a prospective evaluation, with 2 comparative groups orally treated with erdosteine 300mg (bid.) or ambroxol 30mg (b.i.d.) for 7 days and the design of trial was double-blind. The treatments have been assigned randomly to patients (n=80) with acute or chronic bronchitis. The primary end-point used to determine efficacy in this study was subjective symptoms including expectorating frequence, expectoration volume, expectorating difficulty, expectoration viscosity, cough intensity and dyspnea. The secondary end-points of efficacy was the result of arterial blood gas analysis and pulmonary function test. Safety was evaluated with adverse drug reactions and laboratory tests monitoring. 61 patients was included in the efficacy analysis, due to the fact that 19 patients drop-out for different reasons. The obtained values have been analyzed with paired Hest., ANOVA test., multivariate $t^2$-test, repeated measures analysis of covariance, two sample t-test, loglinear-logit model analysis, Fisher's exact test. Results : 1) There was no significant difference on demographic data and vital signs between erdosteine and ambroxol treated groups. 2) The comparison between erdosteine and ambroxol treated groups showed no significant difference in improvement of each symptom in spite of the more favorable efficacy obtained with erdosteine. No difference on the contrary was observed for arterial blood gas analysis and pulmonary function test. 3) As safety is concerned, no clinical significant changes in laboratory test and symptom were induced in erdosteine and ambroxol treated group and two patients in ambroxol treated group drop-out for adverse reactions in symptom. 4) In the evaluation of final clinical efficacy, erdosteine improved more effectively patient's overall symptoms {very good effect (11/31), good effect (12/31), moderate effect (6/31), no effect (2/31), aggravation (0/31)} than ambroxol {very good effect (6/30), good effect (14/30), moderate effect (5/30), no effect (4/30), aggravation (2/30)}. And the probability of symptomatic improvement by erdosteine compared to ambroxol was 2.5 times. (p<0.05). Conclusion : This study showed that erdosteine was clinically effective and safe drug for treatment of acute and chronic bronchitis.

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The Effect of Franchisor's On-going Support Services on Franchisee's Relationship Quality and Business Performance in the Foodservice Industry (외식 프랜차이즈 가맹본부의 사후 지원서비스가 가맹점의 관계품질과 경영성과에 미치는 영향)

  • Lee, Jae-Han;Lee, Yong-Ki;Han, Kyu-Chul
    • Journal of Distribution Research
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    • v.15 no.3
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    • pp.1-34
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    • 2010
  • Introduction The purpose of this research is to develop overall model which involves the effect of ongoing support services by franchisor on franchisee's relationship quality(trust, satisfaction, and commitment) and business performance(financial and non-financial performance), and to investigate the relationships among trust, satisfaction, commitment, financial and non-financial performance. This study also suggests franchise business or franchise system should be based on long-term orientation between franchisor and franchisee rather than short-term orientation, or transactional relationship, and proposes the most effective way of providing on-going support services by franchisor with franchisee thru symbiotic relationship among franchisor and franchisee Research Model and Hypothesis The research model as Figure 1 shows the variables on-going support services which affect the relationship quality between franchisor and franchisee such as trust, satisfaction, and commitment, and also analyze the effects of relationship quality on business performance including financial and non-financial performance We established 12 hypotheses to test as follows; Relationship between on-going support services and trust H1: On-going support services factors (product category & price, logistics service, promotion, information providing & problem solving capability, supervisor's support, and education & training support) have positive effect on franchisee's trust. Relationship between on-going support services and satisfaction H2: On-going support services factors (product category & price, logistics service, promotion, information providing & problem solving capability, supervisor's support, and education & training support) have positive effect on franchisee's satisfaction. Relationship between on-going support services and commitment H3: On-going support services factors (product category & price, logistics service, promotion, information providing & problem solving capability, supervisor's support, and education & training support) have positive effect on franchisee's commitment. Relationship among relationship quality: trust, satisfaction, and commitment H4: Franchisee's trust has positive effect on franchisee's satisfaction. H5: Franchisee's trust has positive effect on franchisee's commitment. H6: Franchisee's satisfaction has positive effect on franchisee's commitment. Relationship between relationship quality and business performance H7: Franchisee's trust has positive effect on franchisee's financial performance. H8: Franchisee's trust has positive effect on franchisee's non-financial performance. H9: Franchisee's satisfaction has positive effect on franchisee's financial performance. H10: Franchisee's satisfaction has positive effect on franchisee's non-financial performance. H11: Franchisee's commitment has positive effect on franchisee's financial performance. H12: Franchisee's commitment has positive effect on franchisee's non-financial performance. Method The on-going support services were defined as an organized system of continuous supporting services by franchisor for the purpose of satisfying the expectation of franchisee based on long-term orientation and classified into six constructs such as product category & price, logistics service, promotion, providing information & problem solving capability, supervisor's support, and education & training support. The six constructs were measured agreement using a 7-point Likert-type scale (1 = strongly disagree to 7 = strongly agree)as follows. The product category & price was measured by four items: menu variety, price of food material provided by franchisor, and support for developing new menu. The logistics service was measured by six items: distribution system of franchisor, return policy for provided food materials, timeliness, inventory control level of franchisor, accuracy of order, and flexibility of emergency order. The promotion was measured by five items: differentiated promotion activities, brand image of franchisor, promotion effect such as customer increase, long-term plan of promotion, and micro-marketing concept in promotion. The providing information & problem solving capability was measured by information providing of new products, information of competitors, information of cost reduction, and efforts for solving problems in franchisee's operations. The supervisor's support was measured by supervisor operations, frequency of visiting franchisee, support by data analysis, processing the suggestions by franchisee, diagnosis and solutions for the franchisee's operations, and support for increasing sales in franchisee. Finally, the of education & training support was measured by recipe training by specialist, service training for store people, systemized training program, and tax & human resources support services. Analysis and results The data were analyzed using Amos. Figure 2 and Table 1 present the result of the structural equation model. Implications The results of this research are as follows: Firstly, the factors of product category, information providing and problem solving capacity influence only franchisee's satisfaction and commitment. Secondly, logistic services and supervising factors influence only trust and satisfaction. Thirdly, continuing education and training factors influence only franchisee's trust and commitment. Fourthly, sales promotion factor influences all the relationship quality representing trust, satisfaction, and commitment. Fifthly, regarding relationship among relationship quality, trust positively influences satisfaction, however, does not directly influence commitment, but satisfaction positively affects commitment. Therefore, satisfaction plays a mediating role between trust and commitment. Sixthly, trust positively influence only financial performance, and satisfaction and commitment influence positively both financial and non-financial performance.

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