• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
• /
• v.51 no.3
• /
• pp.363-367
• /
• 2013

The prevalence of Toxoplasma gondii infection in birds has epidemiological significance because birds are indeed considered as a good indicator of environmental contamination by T. gondii oocysts. In this study, the prevalence of T. gondii in 313 house sparrows in Lanzhou, northwestern China was assayed by the modified agglutination test (MAT). Antibodies to T. gondii were positive in 39 (12.46%) of 313 samples (MAT titer ${\geq}$ 1:5). Tissues of heart, brain, and lung from the 39 seropositive house sparrows were tested for T. gondii DNA, 11 of which were found to be positive for the T. gondii B1 gene by PCR amplification. These positive DNA samples were typed at 9 genetic markers, including 8 nuclear loci, i.e., SAG1, 5'- and 3'-SAG2, alternative SAG2, SAG3, GRA6, L358, PK1, c22-8 and an apicoplast locus Apico. Of them, 4 isolates were genotyped with complete data for all loci, and 2 genotypes (Type II variants; ToxoDB #3 and a new genotype) were identified. These results showed that there is a potential risk for human infection with T. gondii in this region. To our knowledge, this is the first report of T. gondii seroprevalence in house sparrows in China.

• Journal of Technology Innovation
• /
• v.21 no.2
• /
• pp.57-84
• /
• 2013

New product development(NPD) is imperative management activity for growth and survival of the firm. In the context of the small and medium-sized enterprises(SMEs), the firm became further dependent upon NPD with the increasing turbulence in environments. This research suggests the role of entrepreneurship orientation(EO) and absorptive capacity(ACAP) that affect the success rate of NPD in SMEs. Although each of them has been highlighted as critical resources in the aspect of the sustainable competitive advantage, the relationship and the effect between EO and ACAP have received scant attention. Based on the sample of 261 Korean SMEs, this study examines the direct/indirect effect of EO and ACAP on NPD performance. While innovativeness of EO has the direct effect on NPD performance, both risk-taking and proactiveness of EO show no significance. While realized ACAP has the positive influence on NPD performance, potential ACAP shows no significant influence. In addition, we found that the impact of innovativeness on NPD performance was being partially mediated by ACAP whereas the relationship between proactiveness and NPD performance being fully mediated by ACAP. These findings would provide generic insights that both exploration and exploitation regarding knowledge and resources in SMEs are necessary in order to increase NPD performance and two activities have to align with EO.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
• /
• v.26 no.1
• /
• pp.64-74
• /
• 2016

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to investigate whether chemical exposure among workers has relevance to dyspnea using data from the $3^{rd}$ Korea Working Conditions Survey. Methods: The research subjects were 29,711 wage workers. Chemical exposures consist of four factors, (1) breathing in vapors, fumes, dust and dirt, (2) breathing in organic solvent vapors, (3) handling or touching chemicals, and (4) secondhand smoke. Multiple logistic regression analysis was performed to examine the association between chemical exposure and dyspnea in the last 12months using proc surveylogistic in SAS 9.3 statistical software excluding people who had received a diagnosis of hypertension or obesity that can affect the respiratory distress symptoms(n=27,842). Results: Chemical exposure among workers was associated with dyspnea after adjustment for demographics and job characteristics. Prevalence of dyspnea was 4.9 per 1,000 among men and 5.8 per 1,000. Compared to a total score of 0 points of chemical exposure among workers, a total score of 1, 2-3, and 4 points tended to have increased risk of dyspnea in a dose-response manner for both men (OR=1.43, 1.93, and 4.26; P-for trend=0.002) and women(OR=1.10, 2.81, and 7.70; P-for trend=0.002). Stratified analysis by duration of current job showed that the association between chemical exposure and dyspnea tended to get stronger until 15 years and then disappeared afterwards, which reflects healthy worker survivor effect. Conclusions: We observed significant association between chemical exposure and dyspnea using the data of the $3^{rd}$ Korea Working Conditions Survey. Our results warrants providing knowledge related to chemical exposure, performing prevention activities, and creating various health policies to protect workers.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
• /
• v.34 no.3
• /
• pp.183-192
• /
• 2016

Silver nanomaterials have been intensively applied in consumer products of diverse industrial sectors because of their strong biocidal properties and reported to be hazardous to aquatic organisms once released in the environment. Nanomaterials including sliver, are known to be different in toxicity according to their physicochemical characteristics such as size, shape, length etc. However studies comparing toxicity among silver nanomaterials with different physicochemical characteristics are very limited. Here, toxicities of silver nanomaterials with different size (50, 100, 150 nm), length (10, $20{\mu}m$), shape (wire, sphere), and coating material (polyvinylpyrrolidone, citrate) using OECD test guidelines were evaluated in aquatic species (zebrafish, daphnia, algae) and compared. On a size property, the smaller of silver nanomaterials, the more toxic to tested organisms. Sphered type of silver nanomaterials was less toxic to organisms than wired type, and shorter nanowires were less toxic than longer ones. Meanwhile the toxic effects of materials coated on silver nanomaterials were slightly different in each tested species, but not statistically significant. To the best of our knowledge, it is first investigation to evaluate and compare ecotoxicity of silver nanomaterials having different physicochemical characteristics using same test species and test guidelines. This study can provide valuable information for human and environmental risk assessment of silver nanomaterials and guide material manufacturers to synthesize silver nanomaterials more safely to human and environment.

• Journal of Science and Technology Studies
• /
• v.5 no.2 s.10
• /
• pp.97-127
• /
• 2005

While science museums, whose functions consist traditionally in collecting, preserving, researching, and displaying science-related objects, present scientific knowledge, figures, or tools in the historical context, science centers give more emphases on science education by exposing interactive exhibits to their visitors. However, neither objects-oriented exhibits nor hands-on technologies can provide museum visitors with the full insight into modem science in terms of its complicated relationships to politics, economy, culture, art, risk, and environment. This paper argues that for the 21st century we need to establish a new kind of science museum through the critical examination of its previous kinds - science museums and science centers. In the first part of this paper, the history of the first and second generations of science museums, including their recent trends in science centers, in the West will be elaborated. Secondly, the development of national science museums in Korea will be discussed specifically for the understanding of Korean science museums. The next part of this paper will seek for the possibilities of the third generation of science museums through three examples, which show interdisciplinary, contextual, and institutional approaches to change science museums or science centers. Fourthly, the social function of science museums as 'forum' will be discussed in relation to promoting public 'participation' of science as well as public 'understanding' of science. As a conclusion, some practical suggestions and conceptual guidelines will be proposed for the future Korean national science museum.

• Journal of dental hygiene science
• /
• v.13 no.4
• /
• pp.410-417
• /
• 2013

This research surveyed 324 college students majored dental hygiene in Gwangju and Chonnam province to analyze their awareness and degree of practice about infection control. Through the study for recognition about infectious disease related with the grade, the sophomore students are the group who is the most aware. In addition, the study shows students who experienced teeth cleaning have high degree of awareness (p<0.05). The research of perception about infectious disease based on experiences for vaccinations and education about infection prevention says hepatitis B has the highest rate when it comes to level of occurrence risk and tuberculosis and acquired immune deficiency syndrome are the lowest (p<0.05). According to the research, the group who had vaccination, knowledge about infection prevention and experience for scaling shows high practice rate for hand washing according to whether students receive protective inoculation or not. Depending on what the result were, since student learned about infection control has high degree of recognition and practice about infection management if we could emphasize the importance to students through regulative education about infection control and then increase the degree of practice, it would make big contributions to the effective infection control.

• Management & Information Systems Review
• /
• v.35 no.2
• /
• pp.45-66
• /
• 2016

Firms can make scale of economy and scope of economy by internalizing and using new advanced technology and knowledge from technology cooperation network, decrease risk and cost with partner firm of technology cooperation network, and increase market advantage of product & strengthen firms' position in the market. Due to the advantages of technology cooperation network, the related studies have focused on the positive effect of technology cooperation network. However, the related studies investigating the relationship between technology cooperation network and firm performance have only examined the role of technology cooperation network. Safeguarding mechanism, relationship learning, and relationship performance are categorized into the process of technology cooperation network, and this categorization is applied as resources, capability, and performance by resource based view. The empirical results are reported as belows. First, relationship specific investment and relationship capital positively affect on relationship learning as capability. Second, information sharing, common information understanding, and relationship specific memory development positively affect on long-term orientation, but information sharing has no impact on efficiency and effectiveness. Third, relationship specific investment positively affects on relationship capital and efficiency and effectiveness have positive effects on long-term orientation. Applying technology cooperation network in asymmetric technology dependency with resource based theory, this study suggested the importance of both safeguarding and relationship learning by investigating the relationship among safeguarding, relationship learning, and relationship performance. And it is worthy that this study investigated how firms' behavior change affects relationship performance in the relationship of technology cooperation partner.

• Management & Information Systems Review
• /
• v.32 no.3
• /
• pp.153-172
• /
• 2013

Small and medium-sized enterprises(SMEs) have limited human and material resources than large firms. SMEs are characterized by high risk and dynamic working environments. Thus human resources having knowledge and technologies are very important factor for survival and performance in SMEs. Recently, as core employee group is a key asset to firm competitiveness, many SMEs attend to set up core employee policy and system. The purposes of this research are to examine the effect of core employee policy and core employee management system on competitiveness of human resource and organizational commitment in SMEs. The major findings of the research are core employee policy have non-significant influence core employee management system, core employee policy have positive influence competitiveness of human resource, core employee management system have non-significant influence competitiveness of human resource, and competitiveness of human resource have positive influence organizational commitment in SMEs.

• Journal of Sasang Constitutional Medicine
• /
• v.8 no.2
• /
• pp.41-68
• /
• 1996

This thesis is a try for examining the historical characteristics of Constiutional medicine. For this purpose, I have examined their theory, and made a comparison carefully. Through this study, I have obtained several results as following. Both Chang and Lee lived in the time of change, which was unstable and uncertain. Under the condition, they both rejected following the existing trends of learned circles, and developed new thoughts and clinical techniques. They rejected superstitious beliefs and fatalism, and conducted the pursuit of experimental knowledge and rationale idea. Clinical experience was the very base of their study. They both criticized the bad habits of abuse of tonifing medication and health seeking. Especially Lee regarded control of emotion and regulation of a way of life as the best way for preservation of one's health. Chang regarded pathogenic factors as the ultimate factor of diseases, and strived for eliminating pathogenic factors, but L brought to a conclusion that the final factor of diseases was what is called "heart" itself, and emotional changes were the most essential causes of disease. It can be said that the pathogenesis insisted by Chang can be called The insistence that pathologic factors are the very etiology of all the disease (邪氣致病論), or all the diseases result from pathologic factors. And his whole remedy can be summarized as following, A study on the method of eliminating pathogenic factors. But the purpose of Constitutional medicine is to correct imbalance intrinsic to one's internal organs. In this aspect, Constitutional medicine is a "regulatory medicine". Depending on the classification of six vital substances, Chang classified all disease into six categories. These were based on symptoms and sings represented. While classification of diseases made by Lee was likely to rely upon constitutional characteristics. Chang thought that the three remedies made up of perspiration, purgation, vomiting were the most efficient way of eliminating pathogenic factors. Lee, however, thought those weren't methods of eliminating pathogenic factors but the best ways restoring one's self-regulation power. Chang thought that all the febrile disease essentially has a tendency in properties to belong to "heat", but Lee pointed out that pathologic processes are variable in accordance with constitutional features. They both regarded pathogenesis of diabetes as fire. That is to say, fire is the most essential factor of diabetes. And there are many risk factors such as inappropriate foods, drugs, climate, etc., but Lee thought what is most important is heart. Putting all accounts together, medical characteristics of Chang are similar to those of T aiyinjen and Shaoyangjen, and have no relation to those of those of Shaoyinjen. Therefore we can conclude that Chang understood pathologic processes of disease of T aiyinjen and Shaoyangjen, whether he knew about constitutional features or not.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
• /
• v.25 no.3
• /
• pp.472-484
• /
• 1995

The purpose of this study was to develop a home health care model in the public health system and to test the effectiveness of the model. Seven com-munity health practitioners in Yon- Cheon county. Kyunggi province, carried out home health care service for this research. The subjects of the home health care were a total of 111 community residents with chronic health problems and risk-prone infants and children; 29 persons with hypertension, 18 persons with diabetes, 12 persons with neurologic problems, 12 elderly, and 40 infants and children. During the period of study, from December, 1993 to March, 1995, a demonstrative home health care model was developed in the Yon-Cheon County community health centers with the cooperation of the Yon-Cheon Medical Center and Yon-Cheon Public Health Center for the first six months. A home care practice manual and recording system for home visits were also co-developed by the researchers and community health practitioners. Four workshops and monthly conferences were held for this purpose. Actual home care practice took place for two months, and on-going evaluation and replanning accompanied this process. The result of the evaluation of home care service were as follows. 1) For persons with hypertension, diabetes, neurologic problems, there was significant improvement in knowledge of disease and care, but no significant difference was seen in health behavior or symptoms after home care service. 2) No significant difference was seen in level of self esteem or depression after reminiscence therapy among 12 elderly subjects. 3) There were significant differences in satis-faction toward child rearing and parental sup-port, but no significant difference In education needs for parental role after home care service among parents of infants and children. 4) There was significant improvement in the quality of life among the subjects after the home care service. 5) Subjects responded that they were highly satisfied with the home care service given by the community health practitioners. Although, the actual implementation period was very short, and not all of the evaluation outcomes showed significant improvement, the home health care model of community health practitioners was, in general, positively evaluated. Through this re-search, the possibility of community health practitioners working as active home care personnel in the public health care system is supported. Further research with an expanded area and subjects for a longer period is recommended. Cost effectiveness research is also needed.