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Comparison of Urine Iodine/Creatinine ratio between Patients following Stringent and Less Stringent Low Iodine Diet for Radioiodine Remnant Ablation of Thyroid Cancer (갑상선암의 방사성요오드치료를 위한 저요오드식이 방법 차이에 따른 소변 중 요오드/크레아티닌 비의 비교)

  • Roh, Jee-Ho;Kim, Byung-Il;Ha, Ji-Su;Chang, Sei-Joong;Shin, Hye-Young;Choi, Joon-Hyuk;Kim, Do-Min;Kim, Chong-Soon
    • Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging
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    • v.40 no.6
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    • pp.322-326
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    • 2006
  • A low iodine diet (LID) for $1{\sim}2$ weeks is recommended for patients who undergoing radioiodine remnant ablation. However, the LID educations for patients are different among centers because there is no concrete recommendation for protocol of LID. In this investigation, we compared two representative types of LID protocols performed in several centers in Korea using urine iodine to creatinine ratio (urine I/Cr). Methods: From 2006, April to June, patients referred to our center for radioiodine remnant ablation of thyroid cancer from several local hospitals which had different LID protocols were included. We divided into two groups, stringent LID for 1week and less stringent LID for 2 weeks, then measured their urine I/Cr ratio with spot urine when patients were admitted to the hospital. Results: Total 27 patients were included in this investigation (M:F=1:26; 13 in one-week stringent LID; 14 in two-week less stringent LID. Average of urine I/Cr ratio was $127.87{\pm}78.52{\mu}g/g$ in stringent LID for 1 week, and $289.75{\pm}188.24{\mu}g/g$ in less stringent LID for 2 weeks. It was significantly lower in stringent LID for 1 week group (p=0.008). The number of patients whose urine I/Cr ratios were below $100{\mu}g/g$ was 6 of 13 in stringent LID for 1 week group, and 3 of 14 in less stringent LID for 2 weeks group. Conclusion: Stringent LID for 1 week resulted in better urinary I/Cr ratio in our investigation compared with the other protocol. However it still resulted in plenty of inadequate range of I/Cr ratio, so more stringent protocol such as stringent LID for 2 weeks is expected more desirable.

Preoperative Evaluation of Brain Lesion with $^{201}Tl$ Brain SPECT: Is It Useful to Differentiate Benign and Malignant Lesions? (수술 전 뇌 병변의 $^{201}Tl$ 뇌 SPECT: 양성과 악성 병변을 감별하는데 유용한가?)

  • Sohn, Hyung-Sun;Kim, Euy-Neyng;Kim, Sung-Hoon;Chung, Yong-An;Chung, Soo-Kyo;Bong, Yong-Gil;Lee, Youn-Soo
    • The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine
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    • v.34 no.5
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    • pp.371-380
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    • 2000
  • Purpose: Thallim-201 ($^{201}Tl$) brain SPECT, which can represent cellular activity of brain lesions, may provide more useful information in differentiating between benign and malignant brain lesions more so than CT of MRI, that merely represents anatomic changes or breakdown of blood brain barrier. We used $^{201}Tl$ brain SPECT prospectively to evaluate the utility of $^{201}Tl$-indices as an indicator of benign or malig nant lesions. Materials and Methods: We studied 28 patients. There were 13 cases of benign lesions (3: nonspecific benign lesion, 3: meningioma, 2: low grade glioma, 1: tuberculoma, central neurocytoma, hemangioblastoma, radiation necrosis, and choroid plexus papilloma) and 15 cases of malignant lesions (6: glioblastoma multiforme, 5: anaplastic glioma, 2: medulloblastoma, 1: metastasis and lymphoma). In all patients, CT and/or MRI were obtained and then $^{201}Tl$ brain SPECT was obtained with measuring mean $^{201}Tl$ index and peak $^{201}Tl$ index. An unpaired t-test was performed to compare the $^{201}Tl$-indices and pathologic diagnoses to evaluate the utility of $^{201}Tl$-indices as all indicator of benign or malignant lesions. Results: There were no statistically significant difference in $^{201}Tl$-indices between benign and malignant brain lesion (p>0.05). Conclusion: These results demonstrated that we could not use $^{201}Tl$ indices on brain SPECT alone as an indicator of benign or malignant brain lesions.

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The Correlation Among Health Status, Burden and Quality of Life of the Adult Stroke Patient's Family and the Elderly Stroke Patient's Family (노인층과 청·장년층 뇌졸중 환자가족의 건강상태·부담감 및 삶의 질과의 관계)

  • Kim, Kwuy-Bun;Lee, Kyung-Ho
    • Korean Journal of Adult Nursing
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    • v.13 no.2
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    • pp.262-276
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    • 2001
  • The purpose of this study is to investigate the correlation among the stroke patient family's health, burden and quality of life which is based upon the comparative appreciation of the adult stroke patient's family and elderly stroke patient's family. For this purpose, data were collected from the family care-givers for two groups of stroke patients under sixty years old and over sixty years of age, admitted at K Hospital and H Hospital in Seoul. The instruments for this research are based on the tool for measuring physical health and psychological health developed by Yang, Young-hee(1992), the tool for measuring the sense of burden by Seo, Mee-hae and Oh, Ga-sil(1993), and the tool for the quality of life by Noh, Yoo-ja(1988). The sampling for this study was done from December, 2000 until February, 2001. Questionnaire data were drawn up by personal interviews aided by the staff nurses. The analysis of collected data are based on general characteristics calculated at the rate of 100 percent of the average, t-test, ANOVA(some difference on a level with p<.05 being subsquently confirmed by DMR) for Health Status, Burden, Quality of Life and Pearson Correlation to verify the hypothetical correlation among the subjects. The results of this study are as follows: 1. In the adult stroke patient family, the factors influencing the physical health proved to be age, present occupation and family-formation. Here, the factors influencing psychological health turned out to be age, matrimonial status, present occupation and family-formation. In the elderly stroke patient family, the factors influencing physical health proved to be age, gender, final academic status, matrimonial status, present occupation, and relation with the patient. Here, the factors influencing the psychological health were age, final academic status, matrimonial status, present occupation, relation with the patient and family-formation. In the former case, the influencing factors upon the burden were shown to be age, final academic status, matrimonial status, relation with the patient and family-formation. In the latter case, the influences upon the burden were age, gender, final academic status, matrimonial status, present occupation and relation with the patient. In the former case, the influences on the quality of life were gender, and economic situation. In the later case, the influencing factors on the quality of life were age, final academic status, matrimonial status, present occupation, and relation with the patient. 2. The rate of the physical condition in the former case turned out to be 2.83, and the psychological condition 2.37. The physical condition of the latter case was 2.76, and the psychological condition 2.46. The rate of the burden in the former case was 3.14, and that of the latter case was 3.04. The rate of quality of life in the former case proved to be 2.46, and that of the latter case 2.55. 3. The rate of correlation between the burden and the quality of life appeared to be the high counter-correlation (r= -.573). The rate of correlation between the psychological health and the burden of a simialr (r= -.565). The rate of correlation between the physical health and the psychological health proved to be a moderate correlation (r= .372), The rate of correlation between physical health and the burden turned out to be a low counter-correlation (r= -.276). According to this study, there proved to be a very close correlation among the stroke patient family's health, the burden and quality of life. Thus, it would be necessary to find out various nursing interventions in order to mitigate the stroke patient family's burden in the process of caring for the patients.

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Clinical factors causing hyponatremia in patients with mucocutaneous lymph node syndrome (가와사끼병에서 저나트륨혈증의 관련인자에 대한 임상적 고찰)

  • Kim, Soo Yeon;Kim, Hyun Jung;Choi, Jun Seok;Huh, Jae Kyung
    • Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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    • v.52 no.3
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    • pp.364-369
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    • 2009
  • Purpose : Clinical and laboratory findings predict a severe outcome for mucocutaneous lymph node syndrome. This study aimed to define the clinical characteristics of Kawasaki disease (KD) patients with hyponatremia and to determine the factors associated with its development. Methods : Retrospective studies were performed on 114 KD patients who received an initial high-dose intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG, single 2 g/kg/dose) within 10 days of fever onset from January 2006 to February 2008. These patients were divided into 2 groups. Group 1 consisted of 30 (26.3%) patients with hyponatremia, and group 2 consisted of 84 (73.6%) patients without hyponatremia. Clinical manifestations, laboratory results, and echocardiographic findings were compared between the groups. Results : Group 1 patients were more likely to have a coronary artery lesion (53.3% versus 20.2%, P=0.005) and suffered from diarrhea (41.3% versus 14.1%, P=0.007). There was a higher incidence of cardiovascular involvement in group 1 patients, including coronary dilatation (46.6%), valvular regurgitation (13.3%), pericardial effusion (6.7%) and medium-sized aneurysm (6.7%). There were no coronary aneurysms in group 2 patients. Serum C-reactive protein (CRP) was significantly higher in patients with hyponatremia ($12.2{\pm}7.79$ mg/dL versus $7.3{\pm}4.7$ mg/dL, P=0.003) and IVIG-resistant patients were more common in group 1 (13.3% versus 3.6%). Conclusion : These results indicate that hyponatremia in KD occurs in patients exhibiting severe inflammation and was significantly associated with the development of coronary disease. Further studies will be necessary to confirm the pathogenic mechanisms of hyponatremia in KD patients.

A study on characteristic by isolation of nitrogen synthetic microorganism and ammonia nitrogen removal in artificial wastewater (질소 합성 균주의 분리에 의한 특성검토와 합성폐수중의 암모니아성질소 제거)

  • Kim, Su-Il;Lee, Ki-Hyung;Phae, Jae-Gun
    • Journal of the Korea Organic Resources Recycling Association
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    • v.10 no.3
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    • pp.117-125
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    • 2002
  • This study experimented a possibility of advanced treatment through microorganism that converts $NH_3-N$ to organic nitrogen in wastewater contaminated by ammoniac nitrogen unlike conventional nitrogen removal process. After distributing three kinds of special bacteria that use $NH_3-N$ as a substrate, when those bacteria were cultured in no salt condition and salt condition (3% NaCl), M11 showed better growth in salt condition and M12 showed better growth in no salt condition. However M7l grew well in both no salt condition and salt condition. In the test of glucose effect, maximum growth and removal rate were observed in glucose concentration of 5g/L but in high concentration (1000mg/L as $NH_3-N$) of $NH_3-N$ growth and removal rate were low. Removal rate was the highest in 100mg/L $NH_3-N$ and the fact that concentration of $NO_2-N$ and $NO_3-N$ didn't increase assumed $NH_3-N$ was converted to organic nitrogen. Optimum concentration of $K_2HPO_4$ for phosphorous supply and buffer was 5g/L. Special bacteria distributed could use $NO_2-N$ and $NO_3-N$ as well as $NH_3-N$ as substrates. This study showed that when growth rate of bacteria was high removal rate also was high. It is possible to apply as a method to treat wastewater polluted by $NH_3-N$.

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A Study on Third-trimester Gravidas' Konwledge of Infant Care Activity (임신 말기 임신부의 영아 돌보기 지식에 관한 연구)

  • Lee, Su-Yeon
    • The Korean Nurse
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    • v.29 no.3
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    • pp.64-78
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    • 1990
  • The purpose of this study was to measure the degree of gravidas' knowledge of infant care activity, and to identify the factors influencing the difference of gravidas' knowledge. The subjects of this study consisted of 159 gravida visited 2 general hospitals, 2 OB/GY clinics and 2 midwives' clinics in J city for anenatal care. The data were collected from December 1 to 30, J.989. The instrument used for this study was true false type question which was developed by investigator through literature review. Data were analyzed by percentage, mean, t-test and ANOVA on significant difference with SPSS program. The results of this study were, summarized as follow: 1) The degree of gravidas' knowledge of infant care activity was 36.75, the degree of gravidas' know ledge of physical care activicy was 16.70, and the degree of gravidas' knowledge of psychosocial care activity was 20.00. 2) Among the physical care activity knowledge items, the diaper should be changed whenever it is soiled, $\lceil$shortly after feeding is over, bathing is bad$\rfloor$, $\lceil$gently patted or stroked on the back when bubbling$\rfloor$, $\lceil$10 minutes time in bathing is appropriate$\rfloor$, $\lceil$infant is crying whenever he is hungry per 3-4 hours$\rfloor$, and "room humidity controled 60 percent, more or less> were over a' percentage of 80 of right answer. Among the physical care, accivity knowledge items. $\lceil$a reason for burping was the air' he has swallowed will rise to the top of his stomach and be eructated$\rfloor$, $\lceil$burping is advisable after the feeding$\rfloor$, $\lceil$dressing of umbilical area is not necessary$\rfloor$, $\lceil$the thermometer should not be boiled for disinfection$\rfloor$, $\lceil$it is important chat the infant grasp the whole nipple within his mouth$\rfloor$, $\lceil$using alcohol sponge is bad whenever diaper is soiled", and $\lceil$when temperature is taken by the rectal method, infant legs shoud be grasped firmly_! were less than a percentage of 60 of right answer. 3) Among the psychosocial care activity knowledge items, $\lceil$it is nice, mother smile at bady frequently$\rfloor$, $\lceil$it is nice, mother praise a bady frequently$\rfloor$, $\lceil$it is nice, mother express bady's behavior$\rfloor$, $\lceil$talk frequently to the bady, the bady :should not be disturbed while feeding$\rfloor$, $\lceil$it is nice, mother see a baby face to face , $\lceil$it is nice, mother concentrate one's attention on her baby while playing$\rfloor$, $\lceil$it is nice, mother pat one's baby while he is feeding$\rfloor$, $\lceil$it is advisable, the baby is allowed to touch mother's breast while he is feeding$\rfloor$, $\lceil$it is advisable to stop feeding, if the baby protrudes one's tongue or cries while feeding$\rfloor$, $\lceil$baby is able to hear, see and smell$\rfloor$, $\lceil$it is nice, mother Concentrate one's attention on her baby while feeding$\rfloor$, and $\lceil$it is not advisable for mother to scold baby while he is crying out> were over a percentage of 80 of right answer. Among the psychosocial care activity knowledge items, $\lceil$Using' baby talks is bad when mother talks to baby> and $\lceil$it is nice, mother soothes the baby as soon as possible when he is crying I were less than a percentage of 60 of right answer. 4) There was statistically significant relationship between the degree of gravidas' knowledge of infant care activity and the demographic variables of gravida such as the age(p<0.01) and education level(p<0.01). From these results, it may be concluded that gravidas' knowledge of infant care activity is moderate level, and gravidas' knowledge of psychosocial care activity is greater than that of physical care activity. Also prenatal nursing educations should focus on subjects who have lower percentage of right answer in infant care activity knowledge items.dge items.

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The Influence of Food Habits on Body Stature of Children (어린이의 식습관(食習慣)이 체위(體位)에 미치는 영향(影響)에 관한 연구(硏究))

  • Lee, Mi-Suk;Mo, Su-Mi
    • Journal of Nutrition and Health
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    • v.9 no.1
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    • pp.7-15
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    • 1976
  • The Purpose of this study was to determine every possible correlation between food habits and body statures of primary school children, aged ten years old. This study was conducted from July to October of 1975. In July, prepared questionaires concerning life style, anthropometry, food preference, and food behavior were distributed through school teachers to 425 children; 219 boys and 206 girls, in the 5th grade of three elementary schools in the city of Seoul. Then, in October, when subjects had been classified into underweight/obese by statistical analysis, mothers of obese or underweight children were interviewed by the authors to determine weaning history, daily food consumption of their children, and opinions of various snacks for children. Analysis of results in terms of correlation coefficient, chisquare test and percentage calculations, are as follows: 1. Physical growth and development Boys Girls Height (cm) $134.8{\pm}5.74\;134.4{\pm}5.97$ Weight (kg) $30.0{\pm}4.27\;29.5{\pm}5.16$ Chestgirth (cm) $64.1{\pm}3.59\;63.3{\pm}3.81$ Arm circumference (cm) $18.3{\pm}1.61\;18.2{\pm}1.70$ Triceps skinfold thickness (mm) $10.9{\pm}5.13\;12.7{\pm}4.86$ Various indices of nutrition such as relative weight, relative chestgirth, $R{\ddot{o}}hrer's$ index, Kaup index, Vervaeck index were determined. 2. Food habits 1) Food $preference{\cdots}{\cdots}A$ varying number of foods were selected from 60 items were accepted. It was found that the food which children liked best was fruit and snacks were popular one. Lowest ranking among LIKED foods were from strongly flavored vegetables and organ meat. In general, girls had more food dislikes than did boys. Selected as liked foods were fruits, rice noodle soup, biscuits, and peanuts. Disliked foods were liver, green onions, onions, green pepper, mushrooms, oysters, shellfish, and pork. Items which children never ate before were liver, mushrooms, fish cake, boiled rice mixed with sorghum, mayonnaise, and fresh water firsh. Reasons which children gave for dislike were undesirable flavor and odor. 2) Food $behavior{\cdots}{\cdots}It$ was found that boys liked sweet and salty flavors more than did the girls who more often liked sour flavor. The majority of children enjoyed evening meals more than lunch and breakfast. A number of children skipped breakfast because of lack of appetite or lack of time before going to school. Snacks were the most popular food, especially among girls. Their snacking habits were formed by the encouragement of the mother, and the relieve boredom. Educational backgrounds of mothers and family economical levels of children were remarkable correlated with mothers' attitudes toward feeding of children. There were several interesting findings relating body stature to some other responses; such as that the obese child has a small number of brothers, higher birth order, higher educated mothers and higher family cultural background. It was also discovered that food perference, except for fat and oil group foods was not related to body stature. Sweet taste was liked best and pepperly taste was mostly disliked. Sour taste was popular in the group of underweight. Underweight children were more finicky, disliked snacking, and didn't get much attention from their mothers. 3) Correlation between body stature and nutrition during their infancy. The majority of children, both from obese and underweight, were breast fed as infant. Twenty five per cent of obese children and 17.4 per cent of underwight children started weaning at $1{\sim}6$ months old. The most popular supplemental food of weaning was cereal gruel for the obese group, while boiled white rice and cereal gruel were most common for the underweight group. Highly significant relationships were found between stature of parents and their children. In the obese group 47.8 per cent of fathers and 45.9 per cent of mothers were overweight; however, none of the fathers and only one mother was found to be underweight. In daily food consumption patterns, meals consisting of bread or noodle were popular in the obese group but disliked by the underweight group. The study found clear contrast in that the obese group liked meat and fish while the underweight group liked fruits and vegetables, especially kimchee. The obese children desired to eat cereal foods, milk and milk products, and fat foods while the underweight group desired to eat fruits and vegetables. Frequency of snacks per day was much greater in the obese group. Foods which mothers believed to be good for the health were carrots, cucumbers, fruits, milk, potatoes, sweet potatoes, and breads, while sweet foods such as candies, drinks. chocolate were considered not good for the teeth. Watching television was not significantly related to statures of children. Most significant relationships were found beween frequencies of family guest meals/and eating-out, and children's statures. Nutritional problems which have been considered for the malnourished children in addition to those of children who have a tendency toward obesity, must be taken into consideration in the development of proper nutrition education through the channels of regular school teaching and teaching by parents in the homes. Korean standards of anthropometric measurements for children should be revised, current measurements show much higher figures than present Korean standards.

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The Effects of Mortierella alpina Fungi and Extracted Oil (Arachidonic Acid Rich) on Growth and Learning Ability in Dam and Pups of Rat (흰쥐의 Mortierella alpina 균사체와 추출유의 섭취에 의한 생육 효과와 학습능력 비교)

  • 이승교;강희윤;박영주
    • Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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    • v.31 no.6
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    • pp.1084-1091
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    • 2002
  • Mortierella alpina, a common soil fungus, is the most efficient organism for production of production acid presently known. Since arachidonic acid are important in human brain and retina development, it was undertaken the growing effect containing diet as a food ingredient. Arachidonic acid rich oil derived from Mortierella alpina, was subjected to a program of studies to establish for use in diet supplement. This study was compared the growth and learning effect of fungal oil rich in arachidonic acid by incorporated into diets ad libitum. Sprague-Dawley rats received experimental diets 5 groups (standard AIN 93 based control with beef tallow, extract oil 8%, and 4%, and Mortierella alpina in diet 10% and 20%) over all experiment duration (pre-mating, mating, gestation, lactation, and after weaning 4 weeks). Pups born during this period consumed same diets after wean for 4 weeks. There was no statistical significance of diet effects in reproductive performance and fertility from birth to weaning. But the groups of Mortierella alpine diet were lower of weight gain and diet intake after weaning. The serum lipids were significantly different with diet groups, higher TG in LO (oil 4%) group of dams, and higher total cholesterol in LF (M. alpina 10%) of pups, although serum albumin content was not significantly different in diet group. The spent-time and memory effect within 4 weeks of T-Morris water maze pass test in dam and 7-week- age pups did not differ in diet groups. On the count of backing error in weaning period of pups was lower in HO(extracted oil 8%) group. In the group of 10% and 20% Mortierella alpina diet, DNA content was lower in brain with lower body weight, but liver DNA relative to body weight was higher than control. Further correlation analyses would be needed DNA and arachidonic acid intakes, with Mortierella alpina diet digestion rate.

Estimation of Amount and Frequency of Consumption of 50 Domestic Livestock and Processed Livestock Products (국내 50가지 축산물 및 축산가공 식품의 섭취량 및 섭취빈도 조사)

  • Park, Jin Hwa;Cho, Joon Il;Joo, In Sun;Heo, Jin Jae;Yoon, Ki Sun
    • Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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    • v.45 no.8
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    • pp.1177-1191
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    • 2016
  • Estimation of food consumption details, such as portion size and frequency of consumption, is needed for exposure assessment step in microbiological risk assessment. This study investigated the amounts and frequencies of 50 kinds of consumed livestock products. A quantitative survey was performed by trained interviewers in face-to-face interviews with 1,500 adults aged over 19, who were randomly selected from seven major provinces in Korea. Respondents received a picture of one serving size for each of the 50 livestock products, including meats, processed meat products, milk and dairy products, and eggs and processed egg products. A t-test and general linear model were carried out using SPSS statistics. The most important factor affecting consumption of livestock products was residence area. The most frequently consumed food was milk (2.6 times/week), followed by pork (1.4 times/week), liquid yogurt (1.3 times/week), rolled omelet (1.2 times/week), semisolid yogurt (1.0 times/week), steamed egg (1.0 times/week), ice cream (0.9 times/week), chicken (0.8 times/week), low fat milk (0.7 times/week), and beef (0.6 times/week). In the case of consumption amount, people living in a city consumed meat (beef, pork, chicken, and duck) 1.5 times more than those living in a village, whereas milk and dairy products and eggs and processed egg products were consumed more frequently by people living in a town. When people eat meat, they consume twice the amount of one serving size. Students consumed livestock and processed livestock products more frequently with greater portions all at once. People living in Seoul, Incheon/Gyeonggi, and Busan/Ulsan/Gyeongnam consumed livestock products more frequently in large amounts. Data from this study can be used for risk assessment of livestock and processed livestock products as well as education for safe consumption of livestock products.

Factors Influencing the Preference for German farm Tourism: A Path Model Approach

  • Sidali, Katia Laura;Spiller, A.
    • Journal of Global Scholars of Marketing Science
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    • v.18 no.4
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    • pp.33-59
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    • 2008
  • This paper aims to analyse the preference for German farm tourism among the German population. For this reason, we conducted an empirical study in Germany during summer 2007 and we applieda structural equation model based on partial leasts quares(PLS) to analyse the data. In the following chapters we will introduce the literature review and our conceptual frame work. We will then outline the procedures we adopted and the results of the empirical analysis. In the final part so me conclusions will be presented and a discussion will follow in order to draw the future directions of our research. According to our hypotheses, the possibility that agri-tourism enters in the evoked set of an individual is higher: H1: The higher the information degree about it. H2: The lower the influence of the social stimuli. H3: The higher the physical exposure to it (experience). H4: The higher the wellness image of agri-tourism. H5: The higher the traditional image of agri-tourism. H6: The higher the exciting image of agri-tourism. H7: The higher the perceived value for money. Our further hypotheses affirm that the possibility that agri-tourism enters in the evoked set of an individual is higher: H8: The lower the perceived risk. H9: The higher the motive to enjoy a holiday in the nature. H10: The higher the motive to enjoy a sport holiday. H11: The lower the motive to have an organized holiday. H12: The lower the motive to have a holiday abroad. H13: The lower the motive of action and night life. H14: The higher the motive to spend a holiday with the family. H15: The lower the motive to spend a city holiday. Finally, our model has some socio-demographics data. As we mentioned before, German agri-tourism has traditionally been the travel destination of large-size families, with low-to-middle income. For that reason, our final hypothesises are the following: the possibility that agri-tourism enters in the evoked-set of an individual is higher: H16: The higher the number of family members. H17: The lower the family income. Since in this study we use a path model with a PLS approach, we are able to state some interrelations among the exogenous latent variables: H18: The motive of sport holiday has a positive influence towards nature motives. H19: The physical exposition to agri-tourism has a positive influence toward information. H20: The motive of family holiday has a negative influence toward the motive of action and night life. H21: Social stimuli have a positive influence towards individuals risk perceptions. H22: Social stimuli have negative influence towards experience. Data for this study were gathered via administrated questionnaires during the summer 2007 within the frame of an academic "marketing research" course. The corresponding t-values are assessed using the bootstrapping method with 500 re-samples. In our model 61% of the degree of appreciation of German agri-tourism (evoked set) is explained by five independent variables: value for money ($0.335^{{\ast}{\ast}{\ast}}$) (H7) experience ($0.267^{{\ast}{\ast}}$) (H3), exciting image ($0.204^{\ast}$) (H6) organisation ($-0.162^{\ast}$) (H11) and holiday abroad ($-0.156^{\ast}$) (H12). The variance explained ($R^2$) for the other endogenous variables are the following: nature 24.3%, information 14.1%, action holiday 13.8%, risk perception 5.8% and experience 2.4%. An overview can be inferred from table 5. The results also allow us to test each of the proposed hypotheses. With exception of organization and abroad, none of the others travel style factors (H9 to H15) seem to have any significant impact towards evoked set which leads to the rejection of the respective hypotheses. As expected, social stimuli have a significant influence on individuals' risk perception (H21 accepted), however neither the former nor the latter have a valuable impact on evoked set (rejection of H2 and H8). Besides, since the influence of social stimuli towards experience is not significant, also H22 has to be rejected. Experience influences information (H19 accepted) but the latter does not affect significantly the evoked set (H1 rejected). Both H4 as well as H5, referring respectively to the perceived images of German agri-tourism as a wellness destination and the traditional image of the German farm tourism have to be rejected. Finally, none of the demographic data included in the model explains significantly the variance of the factor evoked set. Therefore neither H16 nor H17 has been accepted. As far as the interrelation between sport and nature (H18) and family and action (H20) are concerned, the stated relationship among these variables has been statistically confirmed. Our path model based on partial least squares shows the factors influencing the preference for farm tourism in Germany. Among others value for money and experience are the most significant ones. Practical implications are discussed.

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