• Title/Summary/Keyword: Well Efficiency

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Residue levels of phthalic acid esters (PAEs) and diethylhexyl adipate(DEHA) in various industrial wastewaters (업종별 산업폐수 중 프탈산에스테르와 디에틸헥실아디페이트의 잔류수준)

  • Kim, Hyesung;Park, Sangah;Lee, Hyeri;Lee, Jinseon;Lee, Suyeong;Kim, Jaehoon;Im, Jongkwon;Choi, Jongwoo;Lee, Wonseok
    • Analytical Science and Technology
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    • v.29 no.2
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    • pp.57-64
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    • 2016
  • Many phthalic acid esters (PAEs), including DMP, DEP, DBP, BBP, and DEHP, as well as DEHA are widely used as plasticizers in plastics. An analytical method was developed and used to analyze these compounds at 41 industrial facilities. The coefficient of determination (R2) for each constructed curve was higher than 0.98. The method detection limit (MDL) values were 0.4–0.7 μg/L for PAEs and 0.6 μg/L for DEHA. In addition, the recovery rate was shown to be 77.0–92.3%, while the relative standard deviation was shown to be in the range of 5.8-10.5%. DMP (n = 3), DEP (n = 2), DBP (n = 2), BBP (n = 2), and DEHA (n = 3) were detected in the range of 2.2-11.1% in the influent. DEHP was a predominant compound and was detected at > MDL in both the influent (n = 16, 35.6%) and the effluent (n = 4, 10.0%) at a high removal efficiency (92–100%). The highest levels of residue in industrial wastewater influent were 137.4 μg/L of DEHP at plastic products manufacturing facility, 12.5 μg/L of DEHA at a chemical manufacturing facility, and 14.0 μg/L of DEP at an electronics facility. The highest concentration of effluent was 12.5 μg/L of DEHP at a chemical manufacturing facility, which indicated that the effluent was below the allowable concentration (800 μg/L). Therefore, the levels of PAEs and DEHA that are discharged into nearby streams could not influence the health of the ecosystem.

A Study on the establishment of IoT management process in terms of business according to Paradigm Shift (패러다임 전환에 의한 기업 측면의 IoT 경영 프로세스 구축방안 연구)

  • Jeong, Min-Eui;Yu, Song-Jin
    • Journal of Intelligence and Information Systems
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    • v.21 no.2
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    • pp.151-171
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    • 2015
  • This study examined the concepts of the Internet of Things(IoT), the major issue and IoT trend in the domestic and international market. also reviewed the advent of IoT era which caused a 'Paradigm Shift'. This study proposed a solution for the appropriate corresponding strategy in terms of Enterprise. Global competition began in the IoT market. So, Businesses to be competitive and responsive, the government's efforts, as well as the efforts of companies themselves is needed. In particular, in order to cope with the dynamic environment appropriately, faster and more efficient strategy is required. In other words, proposed a management strategy that can respond the IoT competitive era on tipping point through the vision of paradigm shift. We forecasted and proposed the emergence of paradigm shift through a comparative analysis of past management paradigm and IoT management paradigm as follow; I) Knowledge & learning oriented management, II) Technology & innovation oriented management, III) Demand driven management, IV) Global collaboration management. The Knowledge & learning oriented management paradigm is expected to be a new management paradigm due to the development of IT technology development and information processing technology. In addition to the rapid development such as IT infrastructure and processing of data, storage, knowledge sharing and learning has become more important. Currently Hardware-oriented management paradigm will be changed to the software-oriented paradigm. In particular, the software and platform market is a key component of the IoT ecosystem, has been estimated to be led by Technology & innovation oriented management. In 2011, Gartner announced the concept of "Demand-Driven Value Networks(DDVN)", DDVN emphasizes value of the whole of the network. Therefore, Demand driven management paradigm is creating demand for advanced process, not the process corresponding to the demand simply. Global collaboration management paradigm create the value creation through the fusion between technology, between countries, between industries. In particular, cooperation between enterprises that has financial resources and brand power and venture companies with creative ideas and technical will generate positive synergies. Through this, The large enterprises and small companies that can be win-win environment would be built. Cope with the a paradigm shift and to establish a management strategy of Enterprise process, this study utilized the 'RTE cyclone model' which proposed by Gartner. RTE concept consists of three stages, Lead, Operate, Manage. The Lead stage is utilizing capital to strengthen the business competitiveness. This stages has the goal of linking to external stimuli strategy development, also Execute the business strategy of the company for capital and investment activities and environmental changes. Manege stage is to respond appropriately to threats and internalize the goals of the enterprise. Operate stage proceeds to action for increasing the efficiency of the services across the enterprise, also achieve the integration and simplification of the process, with real-time data capture. RTE(Real Time Enterprise) concept has the value for practical use with the management strategy. Appropriately applied in this study, we propose a 'IoT-RTE Cyclone model' which emphasizes the agility of the enterprise. In addition, based on the real-time monitoring, analysis, act through IT and IoT technology. 'IoT-RTE Cyclone model' that could integrate the business processes of the enterprise each sector and support the overall service. therefore the model be used as an effective response strategy for Enterprise. In particular, IoT-RTE Cyclone Model is to respond to external events, waste elements are removed according to the process is repeated. Therefore, it is possible to model the operation of the process more efficient and agile. This IoT-RTE Cyclone Model can be used as an effective response strategy of the enterprise in terms of IoT era of rapidly changing because it supports the overall service of the enterprise. When this model leverages a collaborative system among enterprises it expects breakthrough cost savings through competitiveness, global lead time, minimizing duplication.

A study of DISC Behaviour Patterns on the satisfaction difference of Comic-Animation Department students : Focusing on satisfaction in the major and satisfaction of the university life (DISC 행동유형에 따른 만화애니메이션학과 대학생들의 만족도 차이 연구 - 전공만족도와 대학생활만족도를 중심으로)

  • Kim, Shin
    • Cartoon and Animation Studies
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    • s.47
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    • pp.217-239
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    • 2017
  • The purpose of this research is to maximize the core competencies by objectively measuring the Behaviour Patterns of students in Comic-Animation major to understand the difference between individuals and to maximize one's merits which will improve the efficiency in education. Also through this research we could understand which aspects would be affected in both the satisfaction about the major based on Behaviour Patterns and the satisfaction of university life. According to the DISC Patterns, 41.7% of the students in Comic-Animation department shows that they were in Patterns I (Influence). And Patterns S (Steadiness) were 10% which was the lowest percentage in this survey. In the average of the subject's satisfaction aspect, the satisfaction of the professors' suggestion was 3.68 which was the highest. While the satisfaction of the administration service and welfare facility was 2.56 which was the lowest. The satisfaction rate based on DISC Behaviour Patterns shows a significant difference among the satisfaction of the department, the satisfaction of atmosphere in university and the satisfaction of the admin and welfare. Patterns I (Influence) was the highest the satisfaction in the major and the satisfaction of the university life while Patterns C(Criticalness) was the lowest. In particular, the importance of the I (Influence) is the most important factor, but it is essential that there is a slight decrease in the precision and accuracy of the work, and C(Criticalness) is shy and stressed, so they need to give positive communication and accurate advice. It is required to Comic-Animation department professor to analyse students' character based on Behaviour Patterns and a person's pros and cons for the career exploration and the employment consultation in order to have positive affect on employment rate. Also if the department's Behaviour Patterns construction were well utilized, it can improve the success rate of useful leadership and fellowship. it will improve the atmosphere in the department which will decrease the drop-out rate but increase the cohesion in the department which will lead to providing better result in the work and the project.

The Removal of Natural Organic Matter and Disinfection By-Product Precursor by Ozone (오존처리에 의한 천연유기물질 변화 및 염소 소독부산물 전구물질 제어)

  • Son, Hee-Jong;Roh, Jae-Soon;Kim, Sang-Goo;Kang, Lim-Seok;Lee, Yong-Doo
    • Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
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    • v.27 no.10
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    • pp.1099-1107
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    • 2005
  • The purpose of this study was to find the transformation of organic matter as well as chlorine by product formation potential with ozone dosage. The removal percents of $UV_{254}$ and DOC were $23%{\sim}65%$ and $2%{\sim}15%$ and THMFP and HAAFP were $17%{\sim}52%$ and $9%{\sim}29%$ respectively at $0.5{\sim}3\;mgO_3/mgDOC$ ozone dosage. The hydrophobic and transphobic organic matter were reduced to $37%{\sim}68%$ and $35%{\sim}64%$, on the other hand the hydrophilir organic matter was increased to $40%{\sim}49%$ at $0.5{\sim}3\;mgO_3/mgDOC$ ozone dosage. The produced THMFP and HAAFP from the hydrophobic and transphilic organic matter were decreased greatly with increasing ozone dosage but these by products were increased in the hydrophilic matter. The produced THMFP and HAAFP per unit DOC were decreased and reactivity was reduced greatly with increasing crone dosage. The removal rate of THMFP per unit DOC was much higher than HAAFP by ozone treatment. The Br-THMFP per unit DOC was much more removed than chloroformFP per unit DOC with increasing ozone dosage. and The removal rate of TCAAFP per unit DOC was increased with increasing ozone dosage but TCAAFP was not affected by ozone treatment. Br-HAAFP was decreased at $1\;mgO_3/mgDOC$ ozone dosage but was not more removed above $1\;mgO_3/mgDOC$ ozone dosage. Br-HAAFP had lower removal effect than Br-THMFP by ozone treatment. The optimal ozone dosage can be determined about $1\;mgO_3/mgDOC$ by considering both disinfection by product formation and economical efficiency.

A Study of Cleaning Technology for Zirconium Scrap Recycling in the Nuclear Industry (원자력산업에서 지르코늄 스크랩 재활용을 위한 세정기술에 관한 연구)

  • Lee, Ji-Eun;Cho, Nam-Chan;An, Chang-Mo;Noh, Jae-Soo;Moon, Jong-Han
    • Clean Technology
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    • v.19 no.3
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    • pp.264-271
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    • 2013
  • In this study, we optimized the removal condition of contaminants attached on the scrap surface to recycle the scrap generated from the Zr alloy tube manufacturing process back to the nuclear grade. The main contaminant is remnant of watersoluble cooling lubricant that is used in the pilgering manufacture during the tube production, and it is assumed to be compressed and carbonized on the surface of tube. Zirlo alloy tube of ${\phi}9.50mm$, which has high occurrence frequency of scrap, was selected as the object to be cleaned, and cleaning abilities of reagents were evaluated by measuring the characteristics of contaminants remained and by analyzing the surface of the tube after cleaning process. For evaluation of each cleaning agent, we selected two types of sodium hydroxide series and three types of potassium hydroxide series. Furthermore, to confirm dependence on tempe-rature and ultrasonic intensities, cleaning at the room temperature, $40^{\circ}C$, and $60^{\circ}C$ was conducted, and results showed that higher the cleaning temperature and higher the ultrasonic intensity, better the cleaning effect. As a result of the bare-eye inspection, while the use of sodium hydroxide provided satisfactory condition on the tube surface, the use of potassium hydroxide series provided satisfactory condition on the tube surface only when the ultrasonic intensity was over 120 W. In the cleaning effect analysis using the gravimetric method, cleaning efficiency of sodium hydroxide series was as high as 97.6% ($60^{\circ}C$, 120 W), but since the tube surface condition was poor after the use of potassium hydroxide, the gravimetric method was not appropriate. In the analytical result of surface contaminants on the tube surface, C, O, Ca, and Zr were detected, and mainly C and O dominated the proportion of contaminants. It was also found that the degree of cleaning on the tube affected the componential ratio of C and O; if the degree of cleaning is high, or if cleaning is well-conducted, the proportion of C is decreased, and the proportion of O is increased. Based on these results, optimal cleaning for application in the industry can be expected by categorizing cleaning process into three steps of Alkali cleaning, Rinsing, and Drying and by adjusting cleaning parameters in each step.

The Density and Strength Properties of Lightweight Foamed Concrete Using Stone-Powder Sludge in Hydrothermal Reaction Condition (수열반응 조건에서 석분 슬러지를 사용한 경량 기포 콘크리트의 밀도와 강도 특성)

  • Kim, Jin-Man;Jeong, Ji-Yong;Choi, Se-Jin;Kim, Bong-Joo
    • Journal of the Korea Concrete Institute
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    • v.18 no.5 s.95
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    • pp.687-693
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    • 2006
  • The Stone Powder Sludge(below SPS) is the by-product from the process that translates stone power of 8mm under as crushed fine aggregate. It is the sludge as like cake that has average particle size of $7{\mu}m$, absorbing water content of 20 to 60%, and $SiO_2$ content of 60% over. Because of high water content of SPS, it is not only difficult to handle, transport, and recycle, but also makes worse the economical efficiency due to high energy consuming to drying. This study is aim to recycle SPS as it is without drying. Target product is the lightweight foamed concrete that is made from the slurry mixed with pulverized mineral compounds and foams through hydro-thermal reaction of CaO and $SiO_2$. Although in the commercial lightweight foamed concrete CaO source is the cement and $SiO_2$ source is high purity silica powder with $SiO_2$ of 90%, we tried to use the SPS as $SiO_2$ source. From the experiments with factors such as foam addition rate and replacement proportion of SPS, we find that the lightweight foamed concrete with SPS shows the same trends as the density and strength of lightweight foamed concrete increases according to decrease of foam addition rate. But in the same condition, the lightweight foamed concrete with SPS is superior strength and density to that with high purity silica. This trends is distinguished according to increase of replacement proportion of SPS, also the analysis of XRF shows that the hydro thermal reaction translates SPS to tobermorite. Although SPS has low $SiO_2$ contents, the lightweight foamed concrete with SPS has superior strength and density, because it reacts well with CaO due to extremely fine particles. We conclude that it is possible to replace the high purity silica as SPS in the lightweight foamed concrete experimentally.

Effects of Baked Garlic Powder on Lipid Metabolism in Rats Fed a High-Fat/High-Cholesterol Diet (구운 마늘 분말이 고지방-고콜레스테롤 식이를 급여한 흰쥐의 체내 지질대사에 미치는 효과)

  • Lee, Oun-Ju;Lee, Jae-Joon;Lee, Myung-Yul;Lee, Hyun-Joo
    • Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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    • v.41 no.1
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    • pp.49-56
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    • 2012
  • This study examined the effects of baked garlic powder on the lipid metabolism in rats fed a high-fat/highcholesterol diet for 4 weeks to induce hyperlipidemia. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were assigned to four groups according to the dietary fat, cholesterol and baked garlic powder levels. The experimental groups were normal diet group (N), a high-fat/high-cholesterol diet group (C), a high-fat/high-cholesterol diet with 1.5% baked garlic powder group (GPL) and a high-fat/high-cholesterol diet with 3% baked garlic powder group (GPH). The body weight gain, food intake and food efficiency ratio were similar in the experimental groups. The epididymal adipose tissues weight of the C group was higher than that of the N group, whereas those of the groups fed baked garlic powder were decreased gradually. The ALT and ALP activities were similar in the C groups, but the serum AST and LDH activities elevated by a high-fat/high-cholesterol diet were decreased significantly by feeding a 3% baked garlic powder diet. The serum triglyceride, total cholesterol and LDL-cholesterol levels as well as the atherogenic index and cardiac risk factor tended to decrease in the groups fed baked garlic powder than the C group, whereas the serum HDL-cholesterol level was lower in the C group and remarkably in groups fed baked garlic powder than the control group. The total cholesterol level in the liver and mesenteric adipose tissue and the triglyceride level in epididymal tissue were lower in the groups fed baked garlic powder than the C group. These results suggest that baked garlic powder reduces the serum lipid components and improves the lipid metabolism in hyperlipidemic rats induced with a high-fat/high-cholesterol diet.

A Comparative Case Study on the Adaptation Process of Advanced Information Technology: A Grounded Theory Approach for the Appropriation Process (신기술 사용 과정에 관한 비교 사례 연구: 기술 전유 과정의 근거이론적 접근)

  • Choi, Hee-Jae;Lee, Zoon-Ky
    • Asia pacific journal of information systems
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    • v.19 no.3
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    • pp.99-124
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    • 2009
  • Many firms in Korea have adopted and used advanced information technology in an effort to boost efficiency. The process of adapting to the new technology, at the same time, can vary from one firm to another. As such, this research focuses on several relevant factors, especially the roles of social interaction as a key variable that influences the technology adaptation process and the outcomes. Thus far, how a firm goes through the adaptation process to the new technology has not been yet fully explored. Previous studies on changes undergone by a firm or an organization due to information technology have been pursued from various theoretical points of views, evolved from technological and institutional views to an integrated social technology views. The technology adaptation process has been understood to be something that evolves over time and has been regarded as cycles between misalignments and alignments, gradually approaching the stable aligned state. The adaptation process of the new technology was defined as "appropriation" process according to Poole and DeSanctis (1994). They suggested that this process is not automatically determined by the technology design itself. Rather, people actively select how technology structures should be used; accordingly, adoption practices vary. But concepts of the appropriation process in these studies are not accurate while suggested propositions are not clear enough to apply in practice. Furthermore, these studies do not substantially suggest which factors are changed during the appropriation process and what should be done to bring about effective outcomes. Therefore, research objectives of this study lie in finding causes for the difference in ways in which advanced information technology has been used and adopted among organizations. The study also aims to explore how a firm's interaction with social as well as technological factors affects differently in resulting organizational changes. Detail objectives of this study are as follows. First, this paper primarily focuses on the appropriation process of advanced information technology in the long run, and we look into reasons for the diverse types of the usage. Second, this study is to categorize each phases in the appropriation process and make clear what changes occur and how they are evolved during each phase. Third, this study is to suggest the guidelines to determine which strategies are needed in an individual, group and organizational level. For this, a substantially grounded theory that can be applied to organizational practice has been developed from a longitudinal comparative case study. For these objectives, the technology appropriation process was explored based on Structuration Theory by Giddens (1984), Orlikoski and Robey (1991) and Adaptive Structuration Theory by Poole and DeSanctis (1994), which are examples of social technology views on organizational change by technology. Data have been obtained from interviews, observations of medical treatment task, and questionnaires administered to group members who use the technology. Data coding was executed in three steps following the grounded theory approach. First of all, concepts and categories were developed from interviews and observation data in open coding. Next, in axial coding, we related categories to subcategorize along the lines of their properties and dimensions through the paradigm model. Finally, the grounded theory about the appropriation process was developed through the conditional/consequential matrix in selective coding. In this study eight hypotheses about the adaptation process have been clearly articulated. Also, we found that the appropriation process involves through three phases, namely, "direct appropriation," "cooperate with related structures," and "interpret and make judgments." The higher phases of appropriation move, the more users represent various types of instrumental use and attitude. Moreover, the previous structures like "knowledge and experience," "belief that other members know and accept the use of technology," "horizontal communication," and "embodiment of opinion collection process" are evolved to higher degrees in their dimensions of property. Furthermore, users continuously create new spirits and structures, while removing some of the previous ones at the same time. Thus, from longitudinal view, faithful and unfaithful appropriation methods appear recursively, but gradually faithful appropriation takes over the other. In other words, the concept of spirits and structures has been changed in the adaptation process over time for the purpose of alignment between the task and other structures. These findings call for a revised or extended model of structural adaptation in IS (Information Systems) literature now that the vague adaptation process in previous studies has been clarified through the in-depth qualitative study, identifying each phrase with accuracy. In addition, based on these results some guidelines can be set up to help determine which strategies are needed in an individual, group, and organizational level for the purpose of effective technology appropriation. In practice, managers can focus on the changes of spirits and elevation of the structural dimension to achieve effective technology use.

An Empirical Study on the Influencing Factors of Perceived Job Performance in the Context of Enterprise Mobile Applications (업무성과에 영향을 주는 업무용 모바일 어플리케이션의 주요 요인에 관한 연구)

  • Chung, Sunghun;Kim, Kimin
    • Asia pacific journal of information systems
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    • v.24 no.1
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    • pp.31-50
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    • 2014
  • The ubiquitous accessibility of information through mobile devices has led to an increased mobility of workers from their fixed workplaces. Market researchers estimate that by 2016, 350 million workers will be using their smartphones for business purposes, and the use of smartphones will offer new business benefits. Enterprises are now adopting mobile technologies for numerous applications to increase their operational efficiency, improve their responsiveness and competitiveness, and cultivate their innovativeness. For these reasons, various organizational aspects concerning "mobile work" have received a great deal of recent attention. Moreover, many CIOs plan to allocate a considerable amount of their budgets mobile work environments. In particular, with the consumerization of information technology, enterprise mobile applications (EMA) have played a significant role in the explosive growth of mobile computing in the workplace, and even in improving sales for firms in this field. EMA can be defined as mobile technologies and role-based applications, as companies design them for specific roles and functions in organizations. Technically, EMA can be defined as business enterprise systems, including critical business functions that enable users to access enterprise systems via wireless mobile devices, such as smartphones or tablets. Specifically, EMA enables employees to have greater access to real-time information, and provides them with simple features and functionalities that are easy for them to complete specific tasks. While the impact of EMA on organizational workers' productivity has been given considerable attention in various literatures, relatively little research effort has been made to examine how EMA actually lead to users' job performance. In particular, we have a limited understanding of what the key antecedents are of such an EMA usage outcome. In this paper, we focus on employees' perceived job performance as the outcome of EMA use, which indicates the successful role of EMA with regard to employees' tasks. Thus, to develop a deeper understanding of the relationship among EMA, its environment, and employees' perceived job performance, we develop a comprehensive model that considers the perceived-fit between EMA and employees' tasks, satisfaction on EMA, and the organizational environment. With this model, we try to examine EMA to explain how job performance through EMA is revealed from both the task-technology fit for EMA and satisfaction on EMA, while also considering the antecedent factors for these constructs. The objectives of this study are to address the following research questions: (1) How can employees successfully manage EMA in order to enhance their perceived job performance? (2) What internal and/or external factors are important antecedents in increasing EMA users' satisfaction on MES and task-technology fit for EMA? (3) What are the impacts of organizational (e.g. organizational agility), and task-related antecedents (e.g., task mobility) on task-technology fit for EMA? (4) What are the impacts of internal (e.g., self-efficacy) and external antecedents (e.g., system reputation) for the habitual use of EMA? Based on a survey from 254 actual employees who use EMA in their workplace across industries, our results indicate that task-technology fit for EMA and satisfaction on EMA are positively associated with job performance. We also identify task mobility, organizational agility, and system accessibility that are found to be positively associated with task-technology fit for EMA. Further, we find that external factor, such as the reputation of EMA, and internal factor, such as self-efficacy for EMA that are found to be positively associated with the satisfaction of EMA. The present findings enable researchers and practitioners to understand the role of EMA, which facilitates organizational workers' efficient work processes, as well as the importance of task-technology fit for EMA. Our model provides a new set of antecedents and consequence variables for a TAM involving mobile applications. The research model also provides empirical evidence that EMA are important mobile services that positively influence individuals' performance. Our findings suggest that perceived organizational agility and task mobility do have a significant influence on task-technology fit for EMA usage through positive beliefs about EMA, that self-efficacy and system reputation can also influence individuals' satisfaction on EMA, and that these factors are important contingent factors for the impact of system satisfaction and perceived job performance. Our findings can help managers gauge the impact of EMA in terms of its contribution to job performance. Our results provide an explanation as to why many firms have recently adopted EMA for efficient business processes and productivity support. Our findings additionally suggest that the cognitive fit between task and technology can be an important requirement for the productivity support of EMA. Further, our study findings can help managers in formulating their strategies and building organizational culture that can affect employees perceived job performance. Managers, thus, can tailor their dependence on EMA as high or low, depending on their task's characteristics, to maximize the job performance in the workplace. Overall, this study strengthens our knowledge regarding the impact of mobile applications in organizational contexts, technology acceptance and the role of task characteristics. To conclude, we hope that our research inspires future studies exploring digital productivity in the workplace and/or taking the role of EMA into account for employee job performance.

Study of Hedyotis Diffusa Methanol Extract on Anti-tumoral Effect and Mechanism (백화사설초(白花蛇舌草) 메탄올 추출물(抽出物)의 항종양(抗腫瘍) 효과(效果) 및 항암(抗癌) 기전(機轉)에 관(關)한 연구(硏究))

  • No, Hoon-Jeong;Moon, Gu;Moon, Seok-Jae;Won, Jin-Hee;Moon, Young-Ho;Park, Rae-Gil
    • THE JOURNAL OF KOREAN ORIENTAL ONCOLOGY
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    • v.6 no.1
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    • pp.81-97
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    • 2000
  • Objectives: This experimental study was carried out to evaluate the effects of aqueous and methanol extracts of Hedyotis diffusa which has long been used for cancer treatment in oriental medicines on the induction of apoptotic cell death in human lymphoid leukemia cell line, HL-60. Methods: Cells were treated with various concentrations (200 to $0.4{\mu}g$) and periods (6 to 30 hr) of $H_2O$ and methanol extracts of Hedyotis diffusa. Then, cells were tested for viability by MTT assay. Cells wrere treated with $200{\mu}g/ml$ of methanol extract fork various periods. Genomic DNA was isolated, separated, on 1.5% agarose gels, stained with ethidium bromide and visualized under UV light. Cells were treated with $200{\mu}g/ml$ of each extract for 16 hr. Then, cells were treated with Hoechst dye 33342 and observed by fluorescence microscopy. Cells were treated with various doses of each for 12 hr and $100{\mu}g/ml$ of methanol extract for various periods. Lysate from the cells used to measure the activity of Caspase-1 and-3 proteases by using fluorogenic peptide substrates including acetyl-YVAD-AMC and acetyl-DEVD-AMC, respectively. Cells were treated with $200{\mu}g/ml$ of each extract for various periods. Cell lysates were immunoprecipated with anti-JNKl antibodies. The immune complex was reacted with $32^p-ATP$ and c-Jun as a substrate. The phosphotransferase activity of JNKI was measured by using PhosphoImage analyzer (Fuji Co., Japan). Nuclear extracts were isolated and incubated with oligonucleotide probe of $NF-{\kappa}B$. Transcriptional activation of ${\kappa}B$ was measured by using EMSA and visualized by PhosphoImage analyzer (Fuji Co, Japan). Cell lysates were prepared and analyzed by Western blotting with anti-Bc12 antibodies and anti-Bax antibodies. Cells were pretreated with various doses of methanol extract for 2 hr. Then, the extract was removed by centrifugation. Cells were resuspended with RPMI-1640 media containing 0.3% agarose, 10% FBS, overlayred onto bottom layer agarose and incubated at $CO_2$ incubator for 6 days. The number of colony was counted under light microscopy ($\time100$). Results: The death of HL-60 cells was markedly induced by the addition of methanol extract of Hedyotis diffusa in a dose and time-dependent manners. The apoptotic characteristic ladder pattern of DNA strand break was observed in death of HL-60 cells. In addition, it was shown nucleus chromatin condensation and fragmentation under Hoechst staining. Therefore, Hedyotis diffusa extract-induced death of HL-60 cells is mediated by apoptotic signaling processes. The activity of Caspase 3-like proteases remained in a basal level in HL-60 cells treated with aqueous extract of Hedyotis diffusa. However, it was markedly increased in HL-60 cells treated with methanol extract of Hedyotis diffusa. In addition, the phosphotransferase activity of JNKl was increased in HL-60 cells treated with methanol extract of Hedyotis diffusa. Furthermore, the activation of transcriptional activator, $NF-{\kappa}B$ was markedly induced by methanol extract of Hedyotis diffusa. Anti-apoptotic Bc12 was cleaved into 23Kda fragment by treatment of methanol extract of Hedyotis diffusa. However, expression of proapoptotic Bax protein was increased by treatment of methanol extract of Hedyotis diffusa in a time-dependent manner. Furthermore, methanol extract markedly inhibited the colony forming efficiency of HL-60 cells in semisolid agar culture. Conclusions: Above results suggest that methanol extract of Hedyotis diffusa induces the apoptotic death of human leukemic HL-60 cells via activations of Caspase-3 proteases, JNKI, transcriptional activator $NF-{\kappa}B$, In addition, our results also suggest that methanol extract of Hedyotis diffusa reduces the malignant potential of HL-60 cells via down regulation of colony forming effciency through cleavage of Bc12 as well as induction of Bax.

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