• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.6
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• pp.2501-2504
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• 2014

Background: Capecitabine is an oral fluoropyrimidine derivative which is frequently used alone or in combination regimens for the treatment of metastatic breast cancer. Although overall and progression free survivals have increased in recent years with the use of new generation drugs, predictive factors that would further improve the outcomes are needed. Previous studies have demonstrated the relation between post-treatment increase in mean corpuscular volume (MCV) and predicting therapy response as well as survival. The present study investigated the clinical impact of MCV elevation in metastatic breast cancer patients treated with capecitabine. Materials and Methods: The data of a total of 82 patients from three centers followed between June 2005 and June 2013 were retrospectively analyzed. The demographic data and hormone receptor status of the patients, as well as initial examination before and after treatment and data concerning progression were recorded. MCV ${\geq}100$ fl was considered as macrocytosis. Capecitabine was given at a dose of $2500mg/m^2$ daily for 14 days every three weeks. Pre-treatment and post-treatment MCV and other parameters of complete blood count were recorded. Post-treatment initial evaluation was performed after 2 cycles of therapy. Results: The median age of the patients was 46.5 years (range 26-72 years) and 54% were premenopausal. Performance status was ECOG 0 and 1 in 81 (99%) patients. The median number of cycles for capecitabine therapy was 5 (min-max: 2-18). The median ${\Delta}MCV$ level (post-treatment values at sixth week - baseline) was 6.4. Whilst ${\Delta}MCV$ was ${\geq}6.4$ in 42 patients, it was <6.4 in 40 patients. Clinical benefit (complete response+partial response+stable disease) was observed in 37 (88%) of 42 patients with a median ${\Delta}MCV$ ${\geq}6.4$ and in 30 (75%) of 40 patients with ${\Delta}MCV$ <6.4 with no statistically significant difference (p=0.158). No significant difference was determined between the group with ${\Delta}MCV$ ${\geq}6.4$ and the group with ${\Delta}MCV$ <6.4 in terms of progression-free survival (11 vs 12 months) (p=0.55) and overall survival (20 months vs. 24 months) (p=0.11). Conclusions: The identification of new predictive markers in metastatic breast cancer is very important. In some recent studies, increase in MCV has been suggested as a marker in tumor response. In the present study, however, no significant difference was determined between tumor response and increase in MCV. Further studies including higher numbers of patients are needed to determine whether increase in MCV is a predictive marker or not.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.71-79
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• 1988

For the purpose of producing low salt fermented anchovy by accelerated method with a strong proteolytic bacteria, in this study, a strong proteolytic bacterium was isolated from low salt fermented anchovy and its bacteriological characteristics and properties of protease were experimented. The results obtained were as fellows : three proteolytic bacteria, Aeromonas anaerogenes Barillus subtilis and Staphylococcus saprophyticus were isolated from low salt fermented anchovy($4\%\;of\;salt,\;4\%\;of\;KCl,\;0.5\%\;of\;lactic\;acid,\;6\%$of sorbitol and $4\%$ of alcohol extract of red pepper) after 40 days fermentation. Among these strains, which grow best at $30^{\circ}C$, pH 7.0, B. subtilis was found the best proteolytic strain and benefit for industrial use as shown $0.95\;hr^{-1}$ of specific growth rate, $89{\mu}g-Tyr/hr.ml$ of maximum activity after 12 hrs culture in TPY broth. The protease produced by by B. subtilis showed maximum activity at $35^{\circ}C$, pH 7.0, and molecular weight was estimated to be 23,000 by Sephadex G-100 filtration, and it was supposed to be a kind of metal chelator sensitive neutral protease from the results of strong sensitivity against EDTA, o-phenanthroline and metal ions such as $Cu^{2+},\;Ni^{2+},\;Fe^{2+}.Km$ value of that by method of Lineweaver-Burk was determinded to be $0.73\%$ for casein as a substrate.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.49 no.4
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• pp.273-279
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• 2016

Background: The use of extracorporeal life support (ECLS) in the setting of cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) has shown improved outcomes compared with conventional CPR. The aim of this study was to determine factors predictive of survival in extracorporeal CPR (E-CPR). Methods: Consecutive 85 adult patients (median age, 59 years; range, 18 to 85 years; 56 males) who underwent E-CPR from May 2005 to December 2012 were evaluated. Results: Causes of arrest were cardiogenic in 62 patients (72.9%), septic in 18 patients (21.2%), and hypovolemic in 3 patients (3.5%), while the etiology was not specified in 2 patients (2.4%). The survival rate in patients with septic etiology was significantly poorer compared with those with another etiology (0% vs. 24.6%, p=0.008). Septic etiology (hazard ratio [HR], 2.84; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.49 to 5.44; p=0.002) and the interval between arrest and ECLS initiation (HR, 1.05 by 10 minutes increment; 95% CI, 1.02 to 1.09; p=0.005) were independent risk factors for mortality. When the predictive value of the E-CPR timing for in-hospital mortality was assessed using the receiver operating characteristic curve method, the greatest accuracy was obtained at a cutoff of 60.5 minutes (area under the curve, 0.67; 95% CI, 0.54 to 0.80; p=0.032) with 47.8% sensitivity and 88.9% specificity. The survival rate was significantly different according to the cutoff of 60.5 minutes (p=0.001). Conclusion: These results indicate that efforts should be made to minimize the time between arrest and ECLS application, optimally within 60 minutes. In addition, E-CPR in patients with septic etiology showed grave outcomes, suggesting it to be of questionable benefit in these patients.

• Journal of Navigation and Port Research
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• v.38 no.2
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• pp.185-191
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• 2014

With the 500th anniversary commemoration of Gerard Mercator's birth in 2012 now passed, there is the possibility that his name will fade back into obscurity. This would be both unfair and pitiful, because Gerard Mercator's name should be highly regarded as one of the principal contributors to navigational science and the promotion of marine safety. An accomplished cartographer, in 1569 Mercator published a remarkable 18-folio world map, depicting the then-known world in a new format with straight rhumb lines. While this distorted the size of land masses, particularly in higher latitudes, this new projection made navigation much easier for now all sailors had to do was to draw a straight line between two points to plot their course. Mercator clearly had this navigational benefit in mind, though his contemporaries did not immediately recognize its value. It wasn't until after Mercator's death, when Edward Wright (1599) and Henry Bond (1645) used and explained the new projection and demonstrated the use of straight rhumb lines in navigation that the Mercator projection became the standard for sea charts. Today, 450 years later of his death, electronic charts still rely on the projection Mercator invented and developed, confirming his position as a giant in the history of navigation. This paper introduces his life and work, detailing the importance of the 1569 world map and its contribution to navigational science and safety.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Marine Environment & Safety
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.102-110
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• 2019

The shipbuilding and offshore plant industry of Korea is important and leads Korea's economic growth, designated as the 1st to 4th export items in Korea in terms of export contribution over the period from 2011 to 2015. This study proposes ways to improve the national competitiveness of Korean shipyards in the global offshore drilling market by reviewing a business model for providing an integrated offshore drilling commissioning service in Korea. This commissioning service model, which was attempted in 2014, was reviewed, and a new proposed business model for overcoming the limitations of the previous model and activating further business was evaluated. As a result of an economic evaluation, it was found that a 150-meter water depth model is economically more effective. As the number of integrated commissions increased from 2 to 5 times per year, NPV, IRR and B/C ratios increased and the fee per use decreased. Therefore, for offshore drilling facilities constructed and delivered in Korea, it will be necessary to encourage integrated offshore commissioning.

• Journal of Auto-vehicle Safety Association
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• v.14 no.4
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• pp.43-52
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• 2022

Recently, the government has been expanding the supply of hydrogen vehicles according to the roadmap for vitalizing the hydrogen economy, but is developing safety assessment and inspection technology for the relevant vehicles. This study analyzed the prevention of hydrogen bus accidents' economic effect that arises from the application and development of large-capacity CHSS oil pressure repetition-test assessment technology, hydrogen bus internal chamber pressure transmission and emission volume inspection technology, among various technologies capable of assessing the safety of a hydrogen bus fuel system. To this end, the contingent valuation method (CVM), one of the value evaluation methods of non-market goods, was applied to investigate users' willingness to pay for each inspection technology. The survey for users' willingness to pay was conducted by attaching posters to promote surveys on the internet and within buses to the entire public. As a result of the analysis, the average WTP of the hydrogen bus internal chamber pressure transmission volume inspection technology was 25.3 KRW, the average WTP of the hydrogen bus internal chamber pressure emission volume inspection technology was 18.6 KRW, and the average WTP of the large-capacity CHSS oil pressure repetition-test assessment technology was measured at 16.7 KRW. In addition, the costs and benefits of the introduction of the relevant inspection technology were defined through the interviewing of experts at related research institutions and businesses. As a result of conducting an economic analysis (4.5% discount rate) according to the development of each inspection technology, economic feasibility was seen in all assessment and inspection technologies. As much as the technology is indispensable for the safe use of hydrogen buses, it shows that investment in related technology is very necessary in the future. However, because it was decided that the relevant analysis will differ according to the distribution rate of hydrogen buses, further analysis following this future distribution rate of hydrogen buses is needed, and future users should be made clearly aware of the safety and environmental nature of the technology.

• The korean journal of orthodontics
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• v.39 no.6
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• pp.383-392
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• 2009

Objective: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of a slim bristled toothbrush compared with a V-shaped orthodontic toothbrush in patients with fixed orthodontic appliances. Methods: Thirty four orthodontic patients receiving edgewise treatment were randomly assigned to two groups, a slim bristled toothbrush (Nano silver slim care) and a V-shaped toothbrush (Oral-B). Plaque index, gingival index and bleeding index were recorded at the beginning of the study (baseline), 2 weeks, 4 weeks and 6 weeks after new toothbrushes were supplied and the results were analyzed statistically. Results: No statistically significant differences were found for plaque index, gingival index and bleeding index between toothbrush groups during the 6 weeks. Plaque and gingival indices were decreased at 2 weeks and 4 weeks but increased at 6 weeks in both toothbrush groups. Bleeding index in the V-shaped toothbrush group showed the lowest value at 2 weeks then increased at 4 weeks and 6 weeks but in the slim bristled toothbrush group decreased from 2 weeks through 6 weeks to under baseline levels. Patients in their twenties had significantly lower values than teenagers in the slim bristled toothbrush group (p < 0.013). Conclusions: The results would suggest that both of the toothbrushes are equally effective but the use of a slim bristled toothbrush may be of benefit in promoting gingival health for fixed orthodontic appliance patients in their twenties and over.

• Asia pacific journal of information systems
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.61-95
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• 2007

Small-and-medium sized enterprises(SMEs) represent quite a large proportion of the industry as a whole in terms of the number of enterprises or employees. However researches on information system so far have focused on large companies, probably because SMEs were not so active in introducing information systems as larger enterprises. SMEs are now increasingly bringing in information systems such as ERP(Enterprise Resource Planning Systems) and some of the companies already entered the stage of ongoing use. Accordingly, researches should deal with the use of information systems by SME s operating under different conditions from large companies. This study examined factors and mechanism inducing faithful appropriation of information systems, in particular integrative systems such as ERP, in view of individuals` active feedback-seeking behavior. There are three factors expected to affect end users` feedback-seeking behavior for faithful appropriation of information systems. They are management support, peer IT champ support, and IT staff support. The main focus of the study is on how these factors affect feedback-seeking behavior and whether the feedback-seeking behavior plays the role of mediator for realizing faithful appropriation of information systems by end users. To examine the research model and the hypotheses, this study employed an empirical method based on a field survey. The survey used measurements mostly employed and verified by previous researches, while some of the measurements had gone through minor modifications for the purpose of the study. The survey respondents are individual employees of SMEs that have been using ERP for one year or longer. To prevent common method bias, Task-Technology Fit items used as the control variable were made to be answered by different respondents. In total, 127 pairs of valid questionnaires were collected and used for the analysis. The PLS(Partial Least Squares) approach to structural equation modeling(PLS-Graph v.3.0) was used as our data analysis strategy because of its ability to model both formative and reflective latent constructs under small-and medium-size samples. The analysis shows Reliability, Construct Validity and Discriminant Validity are appropriate. The path analysis results are as follows; first, the more there is peer IT champ support, the more the end user is likely to show feedback-seeking behavior(path-coefficient=0.230, t=2.28, p<0.05). In other words, if colleagues proficient in information system use recognize the importance of their help, pass on what they have found to be an effective way of using the system or correct others' misuse, ordinary end users will be able to seek feedback on the faithfulness of their appropriation of information system without hesitation, because they know the convenience of getting help. Second, management support encourages ordinary end users to seek more feedback(path-coefficient=0.271, t=3.06, p<0.01) by affecting the end users' perceived value of feedback(path-coefficient=0.401, t=6.01, p<0.01). Management support is far more influential than other factors that when the management of an SME well understands the benefit of ERP, promotes its faithful appropriation and pays attention to employees' satisfaction with the system, employees will make deliberate efforts for faithful appropriation of the system. However, the third factor, IT staff support was found not to be conducive to feedback-seeking behavior from end users(path-coefficient=0.174, t=1.83). This is partly attributable to the fundamental reason that there is little support for end users from IT staff in SMEs. Even when IT staff provides support, end users may find it less important than that from coworkers more familiar with the end users' job. Meanwhile, the more end users seek feedback and attempt to find ways of faithful appropriation of information systems, the more likely the users will be able to deploy the system according to the purpose the system was originally meant for(path-coefficient=0.35, t=2.88, p<0.01). Finally, the mediation effect analysis confirmed the mediation effect of feedback-seeking behavior. By confirming the mediation effect of feedback-seeking behavior, this study draws attention to the importance of feedback-seeking behavior that has long been overlooked in research about information system use. This study also explores the factors that promote feedback-seeking behavior which in result could affect end user`s faithful appropriation of information systems. In addition, this study provides insight about which inducements or resources SMEs should offer to promote individual users' feedback-seeking behavior when formal and sufficient support from IT staff or an outside information system provider is hardly expected. As the study results show, under the business environment of SMEs, help from skilled colleagues and the management plays a critical role. Therefore, SMEs should seriously consider how to utilize skilled peer information system users, while the management should pay keen attention to end users and support them to make the most of information systems.

• Journal of Energy Engineering
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.67-73
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• 2015

Almost base-loaded power plants such as flaming coal and nuclear energy require large-scale transmission facilities (LTFs) in order to send electricity to remote consumption areas. As well known, LTFs incur various social costs. However, a decentralized generation source such as integrated energy business (IEB)-based combined heat and power (CHP) plant is located in nearby electricity-consuming area, and thus it does not demand LTFs, providing the benefits from avoiding the damages caused by them. This study attempts to measure the benefits of avoiding the damages from the LTFs by the use of the contingent valuation (CV) method. To this end, a national survey of randomly chosen 1,000 households was implemented and the public's willingness to pay (WTP) for substituting consumption of electricity generated from flaming coal-fired power plant, currently a dominant generation source in Korea, with that produced from IEB-based CHP plant. The results show that the WTP for the substitution is estimated to be about 41.4 won per kWh. Considering that this value amounts to 33% of the average price of residential electricity in 2014, the external benefit of the IEB-based CHP as a decentralized generation appears to be large.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Library and Information Science
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• v.4
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• pp.43-71
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• 1975

Operations research has developed rapidly since its origins in World War II. Practitioners of O. R. have contributed to almost every aspect of government and business. More recently, a number of operations researchers have turned their attention to library and information systems, and the author believes that significant research has resulted. It is the purpose of this essay to introduce the library audience to some of these accomplishments, to present some of the author's hypotheses on the subject of library management to which he belives O. R. has great potential, and to suggest some future research directions. Some problem areas in librianship where O. R. may play a part have been discussed and are summarized below. (1) Library location. It is usually necessary to make balance between accessibility and cost In location problems. Many mathematical methods are available for identifying the optimal locations once the balance between these two criteria has been decided. The major difficulties lie in relating cost to size and in taking future change into account when discriminating possible solutions. (2) Planning new facilities. Standard approaches to using mathematical models for simple investment decisions are well established. If the problem is one of choosing the most economical way of achieving a certain objective, one may compare th althenatives by using one of the discounted cash flow techniques. In other situations it may be necessary to use of cost-benefit approach. (3) Allocating library resources. In order to allocate the resources to best advantage the librarian needs to know how the effectiveness of the services he offers depends on the way he puts his resources. The O. R. approach to the problems is to construct a model representing effectiveness as a mathematical function of levels of different inputs(e.g., numbers of people in different jobs, acquisitions of different types, physical resources). (4) Long term planning. Resource allocation problems are generally concerned with up to one and a half years ahead. The longer term certainly offers both greater freedom of action and greater uncertainty. Thus it is difficult to generalize about long term planning problems. In other fields, however, O. R. has made a significant contribution to long range planning and it is likely to have one to make in librarianship as well. (5) Public relations. It is generally accepted that actual and potential users are too ignorant both of the range of library services provided and of how to make use of them. How should services be brought to the attention of potential users? The answer seems to lie in obtaining empirical evidence by controlled experiments in which a group of libraries participated. (6) Acquisition policy. In comparing alternative policies for acquisition of materials one needs to know the implications of each service which depends on the stock. Second is the relative importance to be ascribed to each service for each class of user. By reducing the level of the first, formal models will allow the librarian to concentrate his attention upon the value judgements which will be necessary for the second. (7) Loan policy. The approach to choosing between loan policies is much the same as the previous approach. (8) Manpower planning. For large library systems one should consider constructing models which will permit the skills necessary in the future with predictions of the skills that will be available, so as to allow informed decisions. (9) Management information system for libraries. A great deal of data can be available in libraries as a by-product of all recording activities. It is particularly tempting when procedures are computerized to make summary statistics available as a management information system. The values of information to particular decisions that may have to be taken future is best assessed in terms of a model of the relevant problem. (10) Management gaming. One of the most common uses of a management game is as a means of developing staff's to take decisions. The value of such exercises depends upon the validity of the computerized model. If the model were sufficiently simple to take the form of a mathematical equation, decision-makers would probably able to learn adequately from a graph. More complex situations require simulation models. (11) Diagnostics tools. Libraries are sufficiently complex systems that it would be useful to have available simple means of telling whether performance could be regarded as satisfactory which, if it could not, would also provide pointers to what was wrong. (12) Data banks. It would appear to be worth considering establishing a bank for certain types of data. It certain items on questionnaires were to take a standard form, a greater pool of data would de available for various analysis. (13) Effectiveness measures. The meaning of a library performance measure is not readily interpreted. Each measure must itself be assessed in relation to the corresponding measures for earlier periods of time and a standard measure that may be a corresponding measure in another library, the 'norm', the 'best practice', or user expectations.