• Childhood Kidney Diseases
• /
• v.17 no.2
• /
• pp.149-153
• /
• 2013

We report the case of a 14-year-old girl, diagnosed with atypical thrombotic microangiopathy (TMA). The patient presented with persistent fever, nausea, and newly developed peripheral edema. Her laboratory findings indicated chronic anemia with no evidence of hemolysis, thrombocytopenia, or elevated serum creatinine level. A few days after hospitalization, acute renal failure and fever worsened, and proteinuria developed. On day 40 of hospitalization, she experienced a generalized tonic seizure for 5 min, accompanied by renal hypertension. Brain magnetic resonance imaging revealed posterior reversible leukoencephalopathy syndrome. After steroid pulse therapy, a renal biopsy was performed because of delayed recovery from thrombocytopenia. The biopsy findings showed features of thrombotic microangiopathic hemolysis with fibrinoid change restricted. Current diagnostic criteria for TMA have focused on thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura and hemolytic uremic syndrome, and diagnosis is based on the clinical presentation and etiology, with the consequence that idiopathic and atypical forms of TMA can be overlooked. Developing effective tools to diagnose TMA, such as studying levels of ADAMTS13 or testing for abnormalities in the complement system, will be the first step to improving patient outcomes.

• Asia pacific journal of information systems
• /
• v.17 no.3
• /
• pp.25-53
• /
• 2007

The Expectation Confirmation Model (ECM) of information systems investigates the continued information systems usage behavior. This paper expands the original post-adoption beliefs and searches the applications in the emerging hedonic information systems. Previous IS researches focused on the organizational environments. However as the information technology (especially internet) evolves, information systems have not only emerged for the organizations but also for the individual users, such as internet portals, internet communities, on-line games etc. These information systems so called Hedonic Information Systems aims to provide self-fulfilling value rather than instrumental value to the users. Researches in other disciplines, including marketing and consumer behavior research, illustrate that the hedonic and utilitarian perspective of goods and services have different influence on the consumer behavior. Goods and services used to be classified into either hedonic or utilitarian aspect but now they may belong to both aspects simultaneously. Moreover consumer's goals or tasks have both hedonic utilitarian aspects. When a consumer makes a decision to purchase or repurchase goods or services, he/she compares the hedonic and utilitarian perspectives of goods to find most suitable ones to satisfy their goals/tasks. Finally, consumer's behavior is determined by the trade-off between what the goods can provide to the consumers and in what extent the goods fulfill consumer's purchase behavior. Consumer also shows that the salience of hedonic perspective is relatively greater when consumer decides which of several items to give up (forfeiture choices) than the time when they decide which item to acquire (acquisition choices). Some researches in MIS discipline have found out that the information systems also have both hedonic and utilitarian perspectives. The decision process of whether to use information systems or not is similar to that of a consumer's decision of purchasing or repurchasing goods or services. However most of researches in MIS tend to focus on the extrinsic motivation variables which only cover the utilitarian perspective of information systems. It is only recent that researches start to investigate the intrinsic motivation variable - Perceived Enjoyment - for the hedonic perspective. Considering the consumer's purchasing decision process, users of information systems evaluate the systems through balancing between intrinsic (hedonic) and extrinsic (utilitarian) variables according to their main tasks or tendencies. This paper proposes a model that is based on the ECM of IS Continuance model modified from Expectation Confirmation Model to fit into the continued usage of information system. It first started from the decision process regarding hedonic and utilitarian perspectives in the consumer behavior literatures. The model deals with continued usage of information systems beyond the mere technology adoption as in most of the previous MIS researches. This research is particularly important to the hedonic information systems, because their business model depends on the frequent usages rather simple adoption at the beginning. Because the basic model only considered the extrinsic motivations (perceived usefulness) to explain the users' behavior and as the information systems can have both hedonic and utilitarian dimensions, it should consider both perspectives. Therefore, this newly proposed model considers intrinsic variable (perceived enjoyment) as well. Since the individual user can have a preference on either aspects that is between the hedonic and utilitarian perspective depending on his/her main tasks or goals, some variables (Hedonic Orientation and Utilitarian Orientation) meaning the extents of users' pursuing from the information system were additionally studied.

• Information Systems Review
• /
• v.17 no.3
• /
• pp.77-94
• /
• 2015

As Internet has become a popular media for sharing information, users create and share tremendous volume of information including large amount of personal information in cyberspace. Sharing private information online can enhance strength of social relationship but it could also bring negative consequences like information privacy invasion. Although many companies and governments address the importance of information privacy online, there are countless cases of crimes and hackings relating personal information online world wide. Since there are some researches investigating the role of governments and organizations on online privacy domain but there is little research regarding users' privacy protection behaviors. This study investigates relationship between Internet users' information privacy protection behavior and environmental factors. Especially, this study focuses on users' behaviors regarding information privacy protection technology adoption. According to our research results, users' online privacy protective behaviors positively affected by governmental regulations expressed as an information privacy protection law. In addition, if user is allowed to use anonymity when he or she uses online services, they have more tendencies to adopt privacy protection technologies. The detailed research findings and contribution are discussed as well.

• Journal of Gifted/Talented Education
• /
• v.22 no.4
• /
• pp.893-916
• /
• 2012

This research investigates gifted students' mothers' rearing stress based on the concept mapping method. For this, 12 gifted students' mothers solicited, gathered and analyzed related statements, and then did multidimensional scaling and hierarchical cluster analysis. The stress value was .273 which was appropriate for the two level concept mapping study. In addition 101 mothers of gifted students rated for the rearing stresses they experience. Results were as follows. First, 79 concrete statements were solicited and as a result of concept mapping were categorized as 'burden and conflict as mothers of the gifted', 'possible negative characteristics due to the giftedness', and 'self-esteem and pressure by the title of the gifted'. Especially following items showed relatively high average: worrying about how to give the child a specific help for his/her career(M=4.65); worrying that she might be intervening too much in their child's behaviors(M=4.60); getting pressured supporting the child to get involved in the gifted education system continually(M=4.46); worrying if her child is not developing his/her talent enough due to the lack of time and money(M=4.44); being concerned that her high expectations might be putting her child under too much pressure (M=4.43). Implications of the study related to gifted education practices were discussed.

• Journal of Korea Multimedia Society
• /
• v.6 no.2
• /
• pp.340-351
• /
• 2003

We introduce our experiences of the design and implementation of the Page Together system that has expanded hyperlink metaphor to utilize human resources in the web. This system supports that a user connects with others in the web, communicates through video/audio channel, navigates same web pages simultaneously and cooperates some work on Internet. For these functions, it comprises Collaborative Browsing Module (CBM), Multimedia Conferencing Module(MCM) Data Conferencing Module(I)CM) and Multi Protocol Interface(MPI). We adopted three standard protocols, IEC, H.323 and T.120 for each nodule and it allows developers to use them easily. We also defined MPI to synchronize information of session among modules. Each module exchanges information each other in session creating process and session terminating process. After a session is created once, each module works independently as its won protocol. Interferences among modules are reduced as minimizing to exchange information. We also introduce a web site that provides web board service based on the Page Together system. A user may post a notice with a link to himself/herself on our web board. After then, if someone read that notice and has any question about it, he or she can try to connect to the writer as clicking the link in that notice and communicate each other. This service site shows that our system can be applied to diverse internet services such as distance teaming and distance conference.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
• /
• v.60 no.5
• /
• pp.597-603
• /
• 2017

Objective : Several surgical methods have been reported for treatment of ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament (OPLL) in the thoracic spine. Despite rapid innovation of instruments and techniques for spinal surgery, the postoperative outcomes are not always favorable. This article reports a minimally invasive anterior decompression technique without instrumented fusion, which was modified from the conventional procedure. The authors present 2 cases of huge beak-type OPLL. Patients underwent minimally invasive anterior decompression without fusion. This method created a space on the ventral side of the OPLL without violating global thoracic spinal stability. Via this space, the OPLL and anterior lateral side of the dural sac can be seen and manipulated directly. Then, total removal of the OPLL was accomplished. No orthosis was needed. In this article, we share our key technique and concepts for treatment of huge thoracic OPLL. Methods : Case 1. 51-year-old female was referred to our hospital with right lower limb radiating pain and paresis. Thoracic OPLL at T6-7 had been identified at our hospital, and conservative treatment had been tried without success. Case 2. This 54-year-old female with a 6-month history of progressive gait disturbance and bilateral lower extremity radiating pain (right>left) was admitted to our institute. She also had hypoesthesia in both lower legs. Her symptoms had been gradually progressing. Computed tomography scans showed massive OPLL at the T9-10 level. Magnetic resonance imaging of the thoracolumbar spine demonstrated ventral bony masses with severe anterior compression of the spinal cord at the same level. Results : We used this surgical method in 2 patients with a huge beaked-type OPLL in the thoracic level. Complete removal of the OPLL via anterior decompression without instrumented fusion was accomplished. The 1st case had no intraoperative or postoperative complications, and the 2nd case had 1 intraoperative complication (dural tear) and no postoperative complications. There were no residual symptoms of the lower extremities. Conclusion : This surgical technique allows the surgeon to safely and effectively perform minimally invasive anterior decompression without instrumented fusion via a transthoracic approach for thoracic OPLL. It can be applied at the mid and lower level of the thoracic spine and could become a standard procedure for treatment of huge beak-type thoracic OPLL.

• Journal of The Korean Ophthalmological Society
• /
• v.59 no.11
• /
• pp.1091-1096
• /
• 2018

Purpose: We report a case of bilateral nonarteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy (NAION) following acute angle-closure crisis (AACC). Case summary: A 76-year-old female visited our clinic because of a 1-day history of ocular pain and vision loss in both eyes. The visual acuity was 0.02 in both eyes and her intraocular pressure (IOP) was 52 mmHg in the right eye (RE) and 50 mmHg in the left eye (LE). She had corneal edema and a shallow anterior chamber in both eyes, with 4 mm fixed dilated pupils. After decreasing the IOP with intravenous mannitol, laser iridotomy was performed. However, 2 days later, visual acuity was further reduced to finger counting at 10 cm RE and at 50 cm LE, and her optic disc was swollen. Bilateral NAION following AACC was diagnosed. One month later, visual acuity slightly improved to 0.02 RE and 0.04 LE, and the optic disc edema resolved. A small cup-disc ratio, optic disc pallor, and atrophy were observed. Humphrey visual fields demonstrated superior and inferior altitudial visual field defects in the LE, and almost total scotoma in the RE. Conclusions: AACC can be a predisposing factor for NAION, so the relative afferent pupillary defect, papilledema, and presentation of other risk factors are important clues to a diagnosis of NAION.

• Journal of English Language & Literature
• /
• v.58 no.2
• /
• pp.249-277
• /
• 2012

Eugene O'Neill's one-act play Before Breakfast (1916) depicts a morning scene of a married couple who live in a slovenly flat at Greenwich Village. There is no apparent dramatic action occurring in the play. Instead, the play is full of Mrs. Rowland's incessant complaints about her husband Alfred's loafing around bars with artists friends, neglecting his role as breadwinner. An irony is that every morning she prepares breakfast for the good-for-nothing husband even in the moment of complaining. It is worth noting that Alfred is an 'unseen character' who is never directly observed by the audience but is only described by her wife. Deprived of all chances to speak and present himself on stage, he is kept in the room throughout the play. In contrast, Mrs. Rowland dominates the stage, monopolizing language and action. The audience has to listen to her, judge from her statements, and take her one-sided complaints. The accused husband, with zero chance of showing up and defending himself, has no choice but to be the sinner as the wife intends. Another irony is that the audience's feeling about the situation is quite different from what is expected. The wife's complaints are regarded to be unfair and groundless in the reason that the situation is monopolized by her. In case of the husband, in contrast, the loss of voice and presence stresses the injustice of his dead-lock situation. In other words, the 'absent' quality of Alfred works to evoke the audience's sympathy for himself and subsequently makes his presence recognized, not visually but emotionally, by the audience throughout the play. Discovered in this paradoxical moment where the spectators understand or 'see' the status of the unseen and the devoiced message is successfully conveyed to the listeners, is the theatricality of absence. Adding to the function as theatrical device, the 'unseen character' Alfred works as a device of self-reflection to mirror the author's own life. Alfred, the alter-ego of O'Neill, effectively exorcises the author's life-long feeling of guilty as the unfaithful husband and father in the unhappy first marriage, successfully evoking the audience's sympathy for himself.

• Journal of The Korean Ophthalmological Society
• /
• v.59 no.12
• /
• pp.1181-1184
• /
• 2018

Purpose: To present a rare case of tear drainage since birth from a lacrimal ductule fistula, which is the first report in the Republic of Korea. Case summary: A 3-month-old female who presented with discharge of clear fluid from a small skin opening lateral to the right upper eyelid since birth visited the outpatient clinic. The patient was healthy and was receiving no medication. She was born on gestation age 35 weeks and 3 days. No other specific history or other ophthalmic abnormality was found. On examination, a small skin orifice approximately 2 mm diameter and no sign of infection or discoloration was observed. To relieve this symptom, the patient underwent a fistulectomy under general anesthesia. Histopathological examination of the surgical specimen was performed. The patient's symptom subsided postoperatively without recurrence. Conclusions: This is the first report in the Republic of Korea of tears draining from a lacrimal ductule fistula since birth and the subsequent clinical treatment procedures.

• (The)Study of the Eastern Classic
• /
• no.41
• /
• pp.445-476
• /
• 2010

In this essay I aimed to analyze the concept of cultivation in east asian aesthetics. Most people regarded traditional asian paintings as an artwork that was obviously an artwork by artists. Moreover, they emphasized the cultivation of artists in their creation and used to accept the concept of cultivation which means cultivating one's mind. Generally speaking, to cultivate one's mind meant enlarging one's ethical behavior and he or she became a better person. And in creation, it meant considering all things more deeply. In this point of view, it was too vague to notice the meaning. What is an accurate meaning of cultivate artist's mind? What was the relation between creation and cultivation? In confucian philosophy, the concept of cultivation had two meanings. One was to enlarge one's ethical behavior and the other was to improve one's knowledge about things. The knowledge implied all of the one's experiences about things. Thus, the knowledge meant what he communicated with under his surroundings and created. In this perspective, to analyze the case of "Dohwaguenmungi" and "Limchungochi", cultivation was related to 'you(游)' and 'jing(精)'. It implied all of the artist's efforts to make communication with his objects deeper and wider, at last, he created his own meaning about object that he experienced. Therefore, I suggest that when we use the concept of cultivation in the context of creation, it should be used as the meaning related with improving one's knowledge about things.