• Asia pacific journal of information systems
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.57-81
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• 2008

Knowledge is an essential strategic weapon for sustaining competitive advantage and is the key determinant for organizational growth. When knowledge is shared and disseminated throughout the organization, it increases an organization's value by providing the ability to respond to new and unusual situations. The growing importance of knowledge as a critical resource has forced executives to pay attention to their organizational knowledge. Organizations are increasingly undertaking knowledge management initiatives and making significant investments. Knowledge sourcing is considered as the first important step in effective knowledge management. Most firms continue to make an effort to realize the benefits of knowledge management by using various knowledge sources effectively. Appropriate knowledge sourcing strategies enable organizations to create, acquire, and access knowledge in a timely manner by reducing search and transfer costs, which result in better firm performance. In response, the knowledge management literature has devoted substantial attention to the analysis of knowledge sourcing strategies. Many studies have categorized knowledge sourcing strategies into intemal- and external-oriented. Internal-oriented sourcing strategy attempts to increase firm performance by integrating knowledge within the boundary of the firm. On the contrary, external-oriented strategy attempts to bring knowledge in from outside sources via either acquisition or imitation, and then to transfer that knowledge across to the organization. However, the extant literature on knowledge sourcing strategies focuses primarily on large organizations. Although many studies have clearly highlighted major differences between large and small firms and the need to adopt different strategies for different firm sizes, scant attention has been given to analyzing how knowledge sourcing strategies affect firm performance in small firms and what are the differences between small and large firms in the patterns of knowledge sourcing strategies adoption. This study attempts to advance the current literature by examining the impact of knowledge sourcing strategies on small firm performance from a holistic perspective. By drawing on knowledge based theory from organization science and complementarity theory from the economics literature, this paper is motivated by the following questions: (1) what are the adoption patterns of different knowledge sourcing strategies in small firms (i,e., what sourcing strategies should be adopted and which sourcing strategies work well together in small firms)?; and (2) what are the performance implications of these adoption patterns? In order to answer the questions, this study developed three hypotheses. First hypothesis based on knowledge based theory is that internal-oriented knowledge sourcing is positively associated with small firm performance. Second hypothesis developed on the basis of knowledge based theory is that external-oriented knowledge sourcing is positively associated with small firm performance. The third one based on complementarity theory is that pursuing both internal- and external-oriented knowledge sourcing simultaneously is negatively or less positively associated with small firm performance. As a sampling frame, 700 firms were identified from the Annual Corporation Report in Korea. Survey questionnaires were mailed to owners or executives who were most erudite about the firm s knowledge sourcing strategies and performance. A total of 188 companies replied, yielding a response rate of 26.8%. Due to incomplete data, 12 responses were eliminated, leaving 176 responses for the final analysis. Since all independent variables were measured using continuous variables, supermodularity function was used to test the hypotheses based on the cross partial derivative of payoff function. The results indicated no significant impact of internal-oriented sourcing strategies while positive impact of external-oriented sourcing strategy on small firm performance. This intriguing result could be explained on the basis of various resource and capital constraints of small firms. Small firms typically have restricted financial and human resources. They do not have enough assets to always develop knowledge internally. Another possible explanation is competency traps or core rigidities. Building up a knowledge base based on internal knowledge creates core competences, but at the same time, excessive internal focused knowledge exploration leads to behaviors blind to other knowledge. Interestingly, this study found that Internal- and external-oriented knowledge sourcing strategies had a substitutive relationship, which was inconsistent with previous studies that suggested complementary relationship between them. This result might be explained using organizational identification theory. Internal organizational members may perceive external knowledge as a threat, and tend to ignore knowledge from external sources because they prefer to maintain their own knowledge, legitimacy, and homogeneous attitudes. Therefore, integrating knowledge from internal and external sources might not be effective, resulting in failure of improvements of firm performance. Another possible explanation is small firms resource and capital constraints and lack of management expertise and absorptive capacity. Although the integration of different knowledge sources is critical, high levels of knowledge sourcing in many areas are quite expensive and so are often unrealistic for small enterprises. This study provides several implications for research as well as practice. First this study extends the existing knowledge by examining the substitutability (and complementarity) of knowledge sourcing strategies. Most prior studies have tended to investigate the independent effects of these strategies on performance without considering their combined impacts. Furthermore, this study tests complementarity based on the productivity approach that has been considered as a definitive test method for complementarity. Second, this study sheds new light on knowledge management research by identifying the relationship between knowledge sourcing strategies and small firm performance. Most current literature has insisted complementary relationship between knowledge sourcing strategies on the basis of data from large firms. Contrary to the conventional wisdom, this study identifies substitutive relationship between knowledge sourcing strategies using data from small firms. Third, implications for practice highlight that managers of small firms should focus on knowledge sourcing from external-oriented strategies. Moreover, adoption of both sourcing strategies simultaneousiy impedes small firm performance.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine Technology
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.62-68
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• 2014

Purpose: After I-131 therapy, SPECT/CT is useful in identifying location of thyroid remnants and metastasis of thyroid cancers. An excessive uptake of thyroid leads to a ringing artifact in the SPECT images. The aim of this study is to investigate and suggest a proper post filters to remove ringing artifact and produce better image quality. Materials and Methods: A low-cost, customized thyroid-mimicking phantom, consisting of an acrylic bottle and a hollow sphere was used for SPECT/CT Discovery (GE Healthcare, USA). It was filled with I-131 solution. The ratio of hollow sphere to background were varied as 50:1, 200:1, 1000:1 and 4000:1. Acquired images were reconstructed by OSEM (2 iterations, 10 subsets) with and without Evolution (resolution recovery correction, GE). Three different post-filters were applied; Butterworth (cut off: 0.38 to 0.58 with intervals of 0.05), Hanning (cut off: 0.8 to 1 with intervals of 0.05) and Gaussian (FWHM: 3 to 5 with intervals of 0.5) filters. Contrast, background variability, air area variability, and full width half maximum (FWHM) were compared. Results: Higher contrasts were obtained from the SPECT images with Evolution than without Evolution. In the case of images without Evolution, image distortion such as star artifact was generated. For all sphere-to-background ratio, the Butterworth filter showed better constrasts and FWHMs than other two filters, but the ringing artifact was still generated in all studies except 50:1 and it was decreased as cutoff value was increased. The ringing artifact didn't appear with Hanning and Gaussian filters at all studies, however constrats and FWHMs with Gaussian was worse than Hanning filter. For the images having ringing artifacts, the background variability and air area variability were increased. Conclusion: In this study, we suggested that it is desirable to use Hanning filter when the ringing artifact is generated and to use Butterworth filter when ringing artifact is not generated in I-131 SPECT.

• Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.233-241
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• 2006

Purpose: This study was carried out to investigate the awareness of the weaning of food using questionnaires, and the relationship with the weight gain in young infants. Methods: From September 2005 to December 2005, we performed a survey on 141 guardians of young infants aged from 6 to 18 months, who visited the pediatric out-patient department at Dongguk University Medical Center. We calculated the total score for each responder from ten questions on the weaning of food and assessed the body weight percentile of each of the young infants. Results: The most commonly reported information source for weaning food was 'the friends around' by 62 respondents (44.0%); 54 (38.3%) responded that the definition of weaning food was the preparatory step before starting a solid diet. Most used a spoon (90.8%) to feed when weaning food with a thin gruel of rice (78.7%). The time for weaning of food was before breast or infant formula feeding (55.3%). Addition of cow's milk was around 12 months (77.3%). The mean score was 6.21; however this did not show a statistically significant correlation with weight gain in young infants. Conclusion: The overall awareness of weaning of food has improved; however, information from doctors has decreased. Although the relationship between the awareness of weaning of food and the growth of young infants was not statistically significant, further studies on weaning of food, with larger and controlled sample sizes may provide important information.

• Korean Journal of Materials Research
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• v.6 no.7
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• pp.700-708
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• 1996

Electroless plating technique was utilized to flip chip bonding to improve surface mount characteristics. Each step of plating procedure was studied in terms pf pH, plating temperature and plating time. Al patterned 4 inch Si wafers were used as substrstes and zincate was used as an activation solution. Heat treatment was carried out for all the specimens in the temperature range from room temperature to $400^{\circ}C$ for $30^{\circ}C$ minutes in a vacuum furnace. Homogeneous distribution of Zn particles of size was obtained by the zincate treatment with pH 13 ~ 13.5, solution concentration of 15 ~ 25% at room temperature. The plating rates for both Ni-P and Au electroless plating steps increased with increasing the plating temperature and pH. The main crystallization planes of the plated Au were found to be (111) a pH 7 and (200) and (111) at pH 9 independent of the annealing temperature.

• Journal of the korean academy of Pediatric Dentistry
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• v.34 no.1
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• pp.140-149
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• 2007

Cleft lip and palate are congenital craniofacial malformation. Reconstruction of dental arch in patient with alveolo-palatal clefts is very important, because they have many problems in functions and esthetics. Malnutrition, poor oral hygiene, respiratory infections, speech malfunctions, maxillofacial deformity, and psychological problems may be occured without proper treatment during the long period of management of the cleft lip and palate. So the treatment should be managed with a multidisciplinary approach. Bone grafting is a consequential step in the dental rehabilitation of the cleft lip and palate patient A complete alveolar arch should be achieyed of the teeth to erupt in and to form a stable dentition. And the presence of the cleft complicate the orthodontic treatment. Therefore bone grafting in patients with cleft lip and palate is a widely adopted surgical procedure. Grafted bone stabilizes the alveolar process and allows the canine or incisor to move into the graft site. After the bone grafting, orthodontic closure of the maxillary arch has become a common practice for achieving dental reconstruction without any prosthodontic treatment. Various grafting materials have been used in alveolar clefts. Iliac bone is most widely fovoured, but tibia, rib, cranial bone, mandible have also been used. And according to its time of occurrence, the bone graft may be divided into primary, early secondary, secondary, late secondary. Bone grafting is called secondary when performed later, at the end of the mixed dentition. It is the most accepted procedure and has become part of treatment of protocol A secondary bone graft is performed preferably before the eruption of the permanent canine in order to provide adequate periodontal support for the eruption and preservation of the teeth adjacent to the cleft. In this report, we report here on a patient with unilateral cleft lip and palate, who underwent iliac bone graft. The cleft was fully obliterated by grafted bone in the region of the alveolar process. The presence of bone permitted physiologic tooth movement and the orthodontic movement of adjacent tooth into the former cleft area. Satisfactory arch alignment could be achieved in by subsequent orthodontic treatment.

• Journal of The Korean Association For Science Education
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.89-101
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• 2001

The purpose of this study was to develop the elementary school science instructional material for nurturing students' creativity and to analyze the effects of this material on the changes of students' creativity. This material was composed of student's worksheet and a teacher's guidebook, in which are relevant to the elements of creativity and creative activities that can be applied to elementary science curriculum of 5th and 6th grades. Student's worksheets include various creative activities: imagination, guided imagery, experimental activity, mind mapping as wrap-up, and 'let's think' as an extended activity, game, puzzle, making a cartoon, to be, role playing, and so on. These materials were applied to 5th grade science class, 156 students. They were divided into two groups: the treatment group to which developed material was applied and the control group which was a traditional lecture-centered class. After this material had been applied for 3 months, students of both groups took a test of creativity. Interviews and observation were also carried out with three level groups (higher, medium and lower level) which were divided within the treatment group based on their creativity score. The results of this study were as follows: The treatment group showed higher score on creativity than that of control group(p<0.01). In the result of interviews and observation, the students of the higher and the medium level accomplished their tasks by themselves better than those on lower level.All of them took an interest in visual activity. In a wrapping-up step, the higher level students made mind map more systematically and the medium students improved as time goes on, but low level students feel constrained. In totally, they used various expression methods and were interested in making drawings and cartoons creatively.

• Journal of The Korean Association For Science Education
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• v.24 no.5
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• pp.902-915
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• 2004

Science drama can be an useful tool for understanding the nature of science, Science-Technology-Society relationship by providing indirect experiences to young students. Specific science concept and knowledge can also be learned with high interests. In this study, to explore the usefulness of science drama in elementary science lessons, two scripts of science drama and lesson plans were developed and implemented. Six step model for science drama lessons was also suggested. One was 'Manhattan Project' which dealt with social, ethical responsibility in using science & technology (science argument drama), and the other was 'Mom, My blood type is O' which explained the heredity of blood type (science concept drama). Two teachers were asked to write their journals during preparation and implementation of science drama lessons, and the lessons were observed by the researcher and video taped for analysis. Some students were interviewed just after the lessons by the teacher and all students were asked to write their impressions, change of their thought, what is leant etc. Overall responses of students and teachers on the two science drama lessons were very positive, 'Mom, My blood type is O' got more positive responses, and girls were more positive than boys. Some students anticipated another science drama even suggest topics for it. 'Mom, My blood type is O' was successful in making students (grade 3) understand the knowledge related with heredity of blood type (71% of the students got perfect answer). In 'Manhattan Project' students (grade 5) perceived more diverse location of responsibility after the lesson, but the danger and harmfulness of atomic power was embossed. This implied the need of more careful planning for the relevant learning activities before and after the play of science drama.Two teachers perceived the science drama as a new, useful tool for some subject which is hard to deal with by other teaching method. They were also satisfied with students' high interest and engagement during the science drama lessons but the extra time and effort for the lessons were pointed out as a main difficulties.

• Journal of Aquaculture
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• v.11 no.4
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• pp.449-455
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• 1998

The small size food organism(under the size 150${\mu}m$) is needed as food for early stage of marine fish larvae of small mouse (e.g the group of grouper). This study was investigated to develop a method for copepod Apocyclops sp. culture in combination with the rotifer B. rachionus for stable culture of copepod species and harvest of various size food organisms. The culture conditions as temperature, salinity, culture volume, photo period, culture preiod and observation interval were 25${\circ}C$, 22ppt, 40ml, all dark except to observation time, 16 days and every two day during the experimental period, respectively. The Tetraselmis suecica was used as the food for the two testing orgtanisms. After every two day counting, theses two organisms were transferred to fresh culture tanks with Tetraselmis suecica of $7{\times}10^5$cells/ml. In the mixed culture of B. rotundiformis and A. sp., growth of rotifer was suppressed by mixed culture with A. sp. whereas the growth of copepod Apocyclops was promoted in the mixed culture with rotifer B. rotundiformis (the maximum density was 22 individuals/ml through the 16 culture days). Moreover, the number of copepod nauplius were promoted about 2 times in the mixed culture compared to the numbers in single species culture. With this combination culture, the havested two food organisms of variable sizes. This size variation of food organisms was useful tools for larval rearing of small mouse marine fish larvae and next step food organism size of post hatched larvae.

• Journal of dental hygiene science
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• v.13 no.3
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• pp.330-338
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• 2013

In order to explore microleakage in class V cavity based on different kinds of several dentin adhesive and composite resin, 2 kinds of composite resin was restored and exposed after applying 4 kinds of dentin adhesives. Deposited in methylene blue solution for 4 hours and cut in parallel with tooth longitudinal axis. By observing dye penetration level of enamel and dentin margins of each restored resin following conclusion was obtained. 1. In composite resin Filtek Z350XT Universal (3M/ESPE Dental Products, USA) in enamel margin, Easy Bond (3M/ESPE Dental Products) showed the lowest microleakage and this leakage was represented to be high in the order of Single Bond 2 (3M/ESPE Dental Products), Scotchbond Multi-Purpose (3M/ESPE Dental Products) and Cearfil SE Bond (Kuraray Medical Inc., Japan). In case of Filtek Z350XT Flowable (3M/ESPE Dental Products), Scotchbond Multi-Purpose showed the lowest microleakage and this leakage was represented to be high in the order of Single Bond 2, Clearfil SE Bond and Easy Bond. 2. In case of Filtek Z350XT Universal in dentin margin, Easy Bond showed the lowest microleakage and this leakage was represented to be high in the order of Scotchbond Multi-Purpose, Single Bond 2 and Clearfil SE Bond. In case of Filtek Z350XT Flowable, Scotchbond Multi-Purpose and Single Bond showed the lowest microleakage and this leakage was represented to be high in the order of Clearfil SE Bond and Easy Bond. 3. In all the groups excepting S-U group (Single Bond 2+Filtek Z350XT Universal), enamel margin showed more higher microleakage than that of dentin margin. 4. There was a difference between enamel and dentin margin among each group but it was not significant statistically (p>0.05). When summarizing this result, it is considered that composite resin and dentin adhesive could be applied selectively and particularly in case of applying 1-step self-etching dentin adhesive, this method would be advantageous for manipulation convenience and shortening of operation time.

• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.308-315
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• 2006

Since sewage characteristics are the most important factors that can affect the biological reactions in wastewater treatment plants, a detailed understanding on the characteristics and on-line measurement techniques of the influent sewage would play an important role in determining the appropriate control strategies. In this study, samples were taken at two hour intervals during 51 days from $1^{st}$ October to $21^{st}$ November 2005 from the influent gate of sewage treatment plant. Then the characteristics of sewage were investigated. It was found that the daily values of flow rate and concentrations of sewage components showed a defined profile. The highest and lowest peak values were observed during $11:00{\sim}13:00$ hours and $05:00{\sim}07:00$ hours, respectively. Also, it was shown that the concentrations of sewage components were strongly correlated with the absorbance measured at 300 nm of UV. Therefore, the objective of the paper is to develop on-line estimation technique of the concentration of each component in the sewage using accumulated profiles of sewage, absorbance, and flow rate which can be measured in real time. As a first step, regression analysis was performed using the absorbance and component concentration data. Then a neural network trained with the input of influent flow rate, absorbance, and inflow duration was used. Both methods showed remarkable accuracy in predicting the resulting concentrations of the individual components of the sewage. In case of using the neural network, the predicted value md of the measurement were 19.3 and 14.4 for TSS, 26.7 and 25.1 for TCOD, 5.4 and 4.1 for TN, and for TP, 0.45 to 0.39, respectively.