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A Study on the Symptom Distress and Suffering of Five Major Cancer Patients (암질병에 따른 암환자의 불편감과 고통에 관한 연구)

  • Kwon, Mi-Hyoung;Kim, Boon-Han
    • Asian Oncology Nursing
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    • v.3 no.2
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    • pp.145-154
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    • 2003
  • Purpose: The study was to furnish basic raw materials that evaluate the efficacy of meatal care according to the form and the relative importance of symptom distress which most of cancer sufferers have been experienced. For that, an investigation of five diverse major cancer symptom distress made a comparison between symptom distress and degree of suffering. Method: Study subjects were 138 inpatients with stomach cancer, lung cancer, hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC), large intestine cancer and breast cancer, except those in the terminal-stage, in 'H' university hospital in Seoul and 'K' center in Ilsan gathered from November 20, 2002 to February 20, 2003. To measure the correlation between feeling of discomfort and agony caused by cancer, 5 point scale (from zero to four), stood on the basis of Symptom Distress Scale (SDS, Rodes & Watson, 1987), was used for this study and the Cronbach's coefficient alpha was 0.95. Accumulated data was analyzed with SPSS 10.0 for window, also used by ANOVA and Duncan's Multiple Range Test. Pearson's Correlation Analysis. Results: 1. Symptom distress of cancer patients was noted and defined in their severity-fatigue, anorexia, pain, depression, dyspepsia, changing appearance and nausea. The degree of symptom distress was fatigue, dyspepsia, depression, anorexia, pain, changing appearance and the degree of suffering was nausea, pain, anorexia, dyspepsia, vomiting, breathing difficulty, changing appearance and fatigue. 2. Examining the difference of degree of symptom distress in each cancer cases, it takes the precedence of them. First, in case of stomach cancer, depression, pain, vomiting and nausea were shown in sequence. In case of lung cancer depression, pain, sleeping problem, anxiety, changing appearance, inattentiveness and vomiting were showed in sequence, depression, changing appearance, sleeping problem, pain in case of HCC, depression, pain in case of large intestine cancer and lastly in case of breast cancer changing appearance, depression, pain and anxiety were shown in sequence. The category of the degree of symptom distress that has a signifiant difference was anorexia, activity discomfort, fatigue, constipation or diarrhea, breathing difficulty, dyspepsia, caughing, fever or chillness, scotoma and urinary disorder. Verifying the highest degree of symptom distress in each cancer cases, anorexia was 1.94(F=4.00, p<.01) in stomach cancer, activity discomfort was 0.97(F=3.08, p<.01) in lung cancer and HCC, fatigue was 2.32(F=4.64, p<.01) in HCC, constipation or diarrhea was 1.83(F=22.31, p<.001) in large intestine cancer, breathing difficulty was 1.83(F=4.00, p<.01) in lung cancer, dyspepsia was 2.69(F=9.98, p<.001) in stomach cancer, coughing was 1.53(F=20.49, p<.001) in lung cancer, fever or chillness was 1.23(F=6.88, p<.001) in lung cancer, scotoma was 1.20(F=3.02, p<.05) in lung cancer and urinary disorder was 1.54(F=11.56, p<.001) in HCC. 3. Examining the difference degree of suffering on cancer cases, the result was as follows; depression of lung cancer was 1.17(F=3.76, p<.01), anorexia of stomach cancer was 1.61(F=3.89, p<.01), constipation or diarrhea of large intestine cancer was 1.42(F=10.43, p<.001), changing appearance of breast cancer was 1.65(F=5.43, p<.001), breathing difficulty of lung cancer was 2.27(F=18.57, p<.001), dyspepsia of stomach cancer was 1.97(F=13.56, p<.001), coughing of lung cancer was 1.70(F=22.07, p<.001), fever or chillness of lung cancer was 1.13(F=4.41, p<.01), scotoma of lung cancer was 0.87(F=3.34, p<.05), anxiety of lung cancer was 0.87(F=4.50, p<.001) and urinary disorder of HCC was 1.43(F=16.71, p<.001). 4. In consequence, comparing between symptom distress and degree of suffering on cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy, lung cancer patients showed the highest feeling of discomfort following stomach cancer, HCC, breast cancer and large intestine cancer(F=2.88, p<.05). On those undergoing radiotherapy, lung cancer, HCC, breast cancer, large intestine cancer was in sequence(F=3.78, p<.05) and those resisting radiotherapy, lung cancer, HCC, stomach cancer, large intestine cancer and breast cancer was in sequence(F=2.72, p<.05). 5. Correlation between symptom distress and degree of suffering on cancer patients was generally significant. Conclusion: this study not only defines a significant correlation between symptom distress and degree of suffering but also proffers basic data to evaluate the efficient meatal care depending upon diverse spectrums of symptom distress and degree of suffering.

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Studies on the Effect of Cation on the Activity at the 5th Instar Larvae of Bombyx mori (5령유충의 배맥관운동에 대한 양이온의 영향에 관한 연구)

  • 윤종관;사기언
    • Journal of Sericultural and Entomological Science
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    • v.18 no.2
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    • pp.89-93
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    • 1976
  • The physiological saline solution for animals is known as Ringer's solution which is used for keeping the function of cold blooded vertebrate animals. Primaily the saline solution is used for the purpose of perfusion experiment in frogs. Later the saline solution is applied in several kinds of animals including human being with satisfactory results. However, this saline solution was introduced to silkworm and it was found that the result was not as successful as in the case of other animals and human being. Normally, in the case of silkworm, the physiological saline solution is prepared in order to maintain the normal function of separated organs and tissues. To this end, the saline solution is adjusted to contain the certain amount and strength of ions, osmosis pressure and hydrogen concentration. The most of cases, the physiological saline solution should be prepared so that the constituent of the solution be the same with the blood selium and body fluid. The hydrogen concentration in the ion element of the saline solution is adjustable by adding Na$\^$+/, K$\^$+/, Ca$\^$++/, Mg$\^$++/ which are followed by adding of buffer solution such as NaHCO$_3$and NaH$_2$PO$_4$. Determination of optimum concentration of cation in the physiological saline solution, and the optimum mixing rate of more than two kinds of cations are based on the movement of dorsal vessel in the silkworm larvae. The optimum concentration of cations in the solution is prepared by adding NaCl solution which is under zero point. However, this solution was further added with the different concentration of KCl and CaCl$_2$. By dropping the prepared solution on the 5th larvae, the effects of solution was measured. The measurement was done by observation of movement' of dorsal vessel and its time length, and the number of pulses. According to the experiment, it was found that when only NaCl solution was applied, the number of pulses is increased for a moment, and the pulse stopped after one hour or so. When KCl solution was added the time of pulse was prolonged and in the contrast, the number of pulses was slow down. If KCl and CaCl$_2$solutions are added the time of pulse was further prolonged. Even though the adding of KCl and CaCl$_2$are found to be effectible, the correlation between the concentration of solution and the movement of dorsal vessel was not observed. However, it was same in the case of adding Ca$\^$++/ or K$\^$+/. It was found that when Mg$\^$++/ was added to dorsal vessel the number of the pulses was not decreased although the prolonged time pulse was observed.

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A Study on Marketing Strategy of MIM Emoticon Using Customized Bundling (맞춤 번들링을 활용한 MIM 이모티콘 마케팅 전략에 관한 연구)

  • Heo, Su-Chang;Jeon, Gyeahyung;Heo, Jae-Kang
    • Management & Information Systems Review
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    • v.38 no.4
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    • pp.1-24
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    • 2019
  • This study confirms the responses of consumers when the composition of emoticon bundles can be selected by individuals in MIM service. This aims to verify that customized bundling is a valid marketing strategy in the MIM emoticon market. Currently, the emoticon bundling used in Korean MIM services is in the form of pure bundling. As a result, Consumers must purchase an entire bundle even though he/she doesn't need to use all the emoticons contained in it. Some researches(e.g. Hitt & Chen, 2005; Wu & Anandalingam, 2002) show that when consumers value only part of the products or services included in pure bundling, customized bundling is much more profitable. In their works, customized bundling is appropriate when marginal costs are near zero. Information goods, such as emoticons, meet the condition. On the other hand, customized bundling increase the choosable options, so it can pose a problem of complexity (Blecker et al., 2004). And consumers may experience information overload(Huffman & Kahn, 1998). Thus, judgement on the necessity to introduce customized bundling needs to be made through empirical analyses in the light of characteristics of the product and the reaction of consumers. Results show that when customized bundling was introduced, consumers' purchase intention and willingness to pay significantly increased. Purchase intention for customized bundles has increased by 0.44 based on the five point Likert scale than the purchase intention for existing pure bundles. The increase in purchase intention for customized bundles was statistically independent of the existing purchasing experience. In addition, the willingness to pay was increased by about 2.8% compared to the price of the existing emoticon bundles in the whole group. The group with experience in purchasing pure bundles were willing to pay 5.9% more than pure bundles. The other group without experience in purchasing pure bundles were willing to buy if they were about 5% cheaper than the existing price. Overall, introducing customized bundling into emoticon bundles can lead to positive consumers responses and be a viable marketing strategy.

Effect of Temperature and Host Plant on Development and Reproduction of the Sweetpotato Whitefly, Bemisia tabaci(Homoptera:Aleyrodidae) (담배가루이의 발육과 생식에 미치는 온도와 기주의 영향)

  • 안기수;이기열;최미현;김정화;김기하
    • Korean journal of applied entomology
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    • v.40 no.3
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    • pp.203-209
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    • 2001
  • Development and reproduction of the sweetpotato whitefly, Bemisia tabaci(B biotype) were investigated under different temperatures and host plants. Developmental periods from egg to pre-adult of whiteflies measured under four constant temperatures: they were 86.2 days at $15^{\circ}C$ and 17.0 days at $30^{\circ}C$. Lower threshold temperature and total effective temperature for the development of egg and nymph, and for the complete development (egg to emergence) were $10.1,\;11.6,\;11.1^{\circ}C$ and 110.3, 204.7, 317.3 degree days, respectively. The hatching and emergence rates were 87.0% at $25^{\circ}C$ and 76.7% at $20^{\circ}C$, which were higher than the results of other temperatures. The adult longevity was 23.6 and 14.0 days at $20^{\circ}C$ and $30^{\circ}C$, respectively. The highest average fecundity per female was 103.3 at $25^{\circ}C$. But there were no significant differences among the temperatures. The highest intrinsic rate of natural increase($r_{m}$) was 0.196 at $30^{\circ}C$ and the highest net reproduction rate ($R_{o}$) was 97.33 at $25^{\circ}C$. Developmental periods from egg to pre-adult of whiteflies were 21.2 on the tomato, 28.1 on red pepper, 22.2 on eggplant and 25.5 days on poinsetia. The hatching was highest (90.3%) on red paper and emergence rate was highest (89.6%) on eggplant. The longest longevity of adult female was 26.5 days on eggplant, and the average fecundity per female was greater on tomato and eggplant than on other host plants. The intrinsic rate of natural increase($r_{m}$) was the highest on tomato as 0.165 and the net reproduction rate ($R_{o}$) was the highest on eggplant as 106.1. As a result, the optimum range of temperature for the growth of B. tabaci was between $25^{\circ}C$ and $30^{\circ}C$, and the optimum host plant were tomato and eggplant among the plants tested.

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The Qualities of Northern and Southern Ecotype Garlic Bulbs at Different Storage Temperature (한지형' 및 '난지형' 마늘의 저장온도에 따른 품질 특성)

  • Bae, Ro-Na;Choi, Sun-Young;Hong, Yoon-Pyo
    • Food Science and Preservation
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    • v.15 no.5
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    • pp.635-641
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    • 2008
  • This study was conducted to investigate the optimal sub-zero temperature for storage of two garlic cultivars, the northern ecotype 'Jaerae' and the southern ecotype 'Daeseo'. These cultivars of garlic bulbs were stored at different temperature (room temperature, $0^{\circ}C$, and $-4^{\circ}C$) conditions after predrying. Southern ecotype garlic showed higher weight loss than northern ecotype garlic. Northern ecotype garlic at $-4^{\circ}C$ exhibited less than 5% of weight loss during 10 month storage. Sprouting rate was higher in southern than in northern ecotype at room temperature storage. The value of injury by disease and insect was similar between southern ecotype and northern ecotype for 5 month storage, and then northern ecotype showed higher value of injury by disease and insect than southern ecotype. Hunter 'b' value of northern ecotype garlic was the lowest at $-4^{\circ}C$ storage. Northern ecotype garlic showed no cold injury at freezing point temperature storage. However, southern ecotype garlic had $0{\sim}5.3%$ cold injury occurrence at $-4^{\circ}C$ storage. Respiration and ethylene production exhibited the highest at room temperature storage, those had the slight increase at $0^{\circ}C$ and $-4^{\circ}C$ storages. Northern ecotype showed higher enzymatic pyruvic acid and fructan contents than those of southern ecotype. Enzymatic pyruvic acid content increased and fructan contents decreased during storage time.

Optimum Fertilization Based on Soil Testing for Chinese Cabbage Cultivation in Plastic Film Houses (시설재배지 토양 검정에 의한 배추의 적정 시비량)

  • Hong, Soon Dal;Kang, Bo Goo;Kim, Jai Joung
    • Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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    • v.31 no.1
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    • pp.16-24
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    • 1998
  • To determine the optimum application of fertilizers for the cultivation of Chinese cabbage in plastic film house, twenty soils which contain different salts contents were taken from 4 different area of plastic film house cultivation, Youngdong. Boeun county, Cheongweon county, and Cheongju city. The dry weight and the amount of N. P, and K uptakes of Chinese cabbage in the plot of no fertilization were considered as the factors representing the fertility of the soil. And a difference of dry weight and the amounts of N, P, and K uptakes of plants between the plot of fertilization and no fertilization were considered as the factors representing the total effect of fertilizer and fertilizer N, P, and K effects. respectively. These factors of soil fertility and fertilizer effects were estimated by correlation and regression with soil tests in order to find the critical levels and recommended method for optimum fertilization of Chinese cabbage. Chinese cabbage transplanted in two soils, having the electrical conductivity of 9.3 and 15.2 dS/m, were not able to root due to the salts toxicity. The content of inorganic N, the electrical conductivity, and CEC were founded to have significant correlation with the factors of both the soil fertility and fertilizer effects for the cultivation of Chinese cabbage. To determine the weighting degree for the productivity and the fertilizer effects, the standardized partial regression coefficient was analyzed by regression among the factors of fertility, the fertilizer effects, and the soil tests. The coefficient for inorganic N($NH_4-N$ and $NO_3-N$) was obtained as the absolute value of 756-1871 and this value was extremely higher than those of other soil tests which was 0.07-4.11. These results suggested that the content of inorganic N is the best tests for the estimation of the productivity and the fertilizer effects for the cultivation of Chinese cabbage in plastic film house. The critical level of inorganic N($NH_4-N+NO_3-N$) estimated by Cate-Nelson split method for maximum productivity and zero point of fertilizer effect was 220 mg/kg for all the factors of estimation. These results suggested that no application of fertilizer N. P, and K is required at the critical level of inorganic N of soil. Consequently the optimum application of fertilizer N, P, and K for the cultivation of Chinese cabbage in plastic film house was possible to determine by the critical level of inorganic N of soil. The critical level of electrical conductivity was estimated as 2.8 dS/m by the same method.

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A Comparison Study of Alum Sludge and Ferric Hydroxide Based Adsorbents for Arsenic Adsorption from Mine Water (알럼 및 철수산화물 흡착제의 광산배수 내 비소 흡착성능 비교연구)

  • Choi, Kung-Won;Park, Seong-Sook;Kang, Chan-Ung;Lee, Joon Hak;Kim, Sun Joon
    • Economic and Environmental Geology
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    • v.54 no.6
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    • pp.689-698
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    • 2021
  • Since the mine reclamation scheme was implemented from 2007 in Korea, various remediation programs have been decontaminated the pollution associated with mining and 254 mines were managed to reclamation from 2011 to 2015. However, as the total amount of contaminated mine drainage has been increased due to the discovery of potential hazards and contaminated zone, more efficient and economical treatment technology is required. Therefore, in this study, the adsorption properties of arsenic was evaluated according to the adsorbents which were derived from water treatment sludge(Alum based adsorbent, ABA-500) and granular ferric hydroxide(GFH), already commercialized. The alum sludge and GFH adsorbents consisted of aluminum, silica materials and amorphous iron hydroxide, respectively. The point of zero charge of ABA-500 and GFH were 5.27 and 6.72, respectively. The result of the analysis of BET revealed that the specific surface area of GFH(257 m2·g-1) was larger than ABA-500(126~136 m2·g-1) and all the adsorbents were mesoporous materials inferred from N2 adsorption-desorption isotherm. The adsorption capacity of adsorbents was compared with the batch experiments that were performed at different reaction times, pH, temperature and initial concentrations of arsenic. As a result of kinetic study, it was confirmed that arsenic was adsorbed rapidly in the order of GFH, ABA-500(granule) and ABA-500(3mm). The adsorption kinetics were fitted to the pseudo-second-order kinetic model for all three adsorbents. The amount of adsorbed arsenic was increased with low pH and high temperature regardless of adsorbents. When the adsorbents reacted at different initial concentrations of arsenic in an hour, ABA-500(granule) and GFH could remove the arsenic below the standard of drinking water if the concentration was below 0.2 mg·g-1 and 1 mg·g-1, respectively. The results suggested that the ABA-500(granule), a low-cost adsorbent, had the potential to field application at low contaminated mine drainage.

A Study of Fluoride Adsorption in Aqueous Solution Using Iron Sludge based Adsorbent at Mine Drainage Treatment Facility (광산배수 정화시설 철 슬러지 기반 흡착제를 활용한 수용액상 불소 흡착에 관한 연구)

  • Lee, Joon Hak;Kim, Sun Joon
    • Economic and Environmental Geology
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    • v.54 no.6
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    • pp.709-716
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    • 2021
  • In this study, an adsorbent prepared by natural drying of iron hydroxide-based sludge collected from settling basin at a mine drainage treatment facility located in Gangneung, Gangwon-do was used to remove fluoride in an artificial fluoride solution and mine drainage, and the adsorption characteristics of the adsorbent were investigated. As a result of analyzing the chemical composition, mineralogical properties, and specific surface area of the adsorbent used in the experiment, iron oxide (Fe2O3) occupies 79.2 wt.% as the main constituent, and a peak related to calcite (CaCO3) in the crystal structure analysis was analyzed. It was also identified that an irregular surface and a specific surface area of 216.78 m2·g-1. In the indoor batch-type experiment, the effect of changes in reaction time, pH, initial fluoride concentration and temperature on the change in adsorption amount was analyzed. The adsorption of fluoride showed an adsorption amount of 3.85 mg·g-1 16 hours after the start of the reaction, and the increase rate of the adsorption amount gradually decreased. Also, as the pH increased, the amount of fluoride adsorption decreased, and in particular, the amount of fluoride adsorption decreased rapidly around pH 5.5, the point of zero charge at which the surface charge of the adsorbent changes. Meanwhile, the results of the isotherm adsorption experiment were applied to the Langmuir and Freundlich isotherm adsorption models to infer the fluoride adsorption mechanism of the used adsorbent. To understand the thermodynamic properties of the adsorbent using the Van't Hoff equation, thermodynamic constants 𝚫H° and 𝚫G° were calculated using the adsorption amount information obtained by increasing the temperature from 25℃ to 65℃ to determine the adsorption characteristics of the adsorbent. Finally, the adsorbent was applied to the mine drainage having a fluoride concentration of about 12.8 mg·L-1, and the fluoride removal rate was about 50%.

Effect of Physical Training on Electrocardiographic Amplitudes and the QRS Vector (체력단련(體力鍛練)이 심전도파고(心電圖波高)와 QRS벡타에 미치는 효과(效果))

  • Yu, Wan-Sik;Hwang, Soo-Kwan;Kim, Hyeong-Jin;Choo, Young-Eun
    • The Korean Journal of Physiology
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    • v.18 no.1
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    • pp.51-65
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    • 1984
  • In an effort to elucidate the effect of physical training on the electrocardiographic amplitudes, QRS vector, axis and QRS vector amplitude, electrocardiograms were recorded before and 1, 5 and 10 minutes after 3 minute rebounder exercise in 23 healthy male students aged between 18 and 21 years in two groups of athletes and non-athletes. ECG amplitudes were measured from lead I, $V_1$ and $V_5$ and axis and amplitudes of QRS vectors were measured from lead I and III in frontal plane, from lead $V_2$ and lead $V_6$ in horizontal plane. The results obtained are summarized as follows. ECG amplitudes: The R wave amplitude was $23.38{\pm}1.14\;mm$ in athletes which was higher than $17.91{\pm}2.00\;mm$ in non-athletes. After exercise, the difference in two groups remained significant throughout the recovery period. The S wave amplitude was increased significantly, and the T wave amplitude was decreased in both groups after exercise. The P wave amplitude was increased in both groups after exercise, and it was lower in athletes than in non-athletes. The PQ segment amplitude was zero in athletes but negative in non-athletes than in the resting state. The J point amplitude was positive in resting state and was negative after exercise in both groups. J+0.08 sec point amplitude was also lowered after exercise, and it was higher in athletes than in non-athletes. Therefore the whole ST segment was proved to be decreased after exercise. The summated amplitude of R in $V_5$ plus S in $V_1$ was $38.74{\pm}2.71\;mm$ in athletes which was higher than $32.82{\pm}2.90\;mm$ in non-athletes. After exercise, it was also significantly higher in athletes than in non-athletes. Axis of QRS vector: In frontal plane, axis of QRS vector was $62.7{\pm}7.36^{\circ}$ in athletes, it showed no significant difference between the two groups. In horizontal plane, axis of QRS vector was $-23.5{\pm}7.2^{\circ}$ in athletes which was significantly higher than $-38.8{\pm}8.2^{\circ}$ in non-athletes. After exercise, it was significantly higher than the resting state in both groups. Amplitude of QRS vector : In frontal plane, amplitude of QRS vector was $13.86{\pm}1.44\;mm$ in athletes which was significantly higher than $9.62{\pm}0.97\;mm$ in non-athletes. After exercise, it was also significantly higher in athletes than in non-athletes. In horizontal plane, amplitude of QRS vector was $19.82{\pm}2.10\;mm$ in athletes which was significantly higher than $16.90{\pm}1.39\;mm$ in non-athletes. After exercise, it was also significantly higher in athletes than in non-athletes. From the above, these results indicate that R wave amplitude in athletes was significantly higher than in non-athletes before and after exercise, and that the summated amplitude of R in $V_5$ plus S in $V_1$ in athletes was also $38.74{\pm}2.71\;mm$ suggesting a left ventricular hypertrophy We should note that the PQ segment and ST segment amplitude were higher in athletes than in non-athletes, and they were decreased with exercise in both groups. In particular, the fact that amplitudes of QRS vector in frontal plane or in horizontal plane were significantly greater in athletes than in non-athletes may be an index in evaluating athletes.

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Business Relationships and Structural Bonding: A Study of American Metal Industry (산업재 거래관계와 구조적 결합: 미국 금속산업의 분석 연구)

  • Han, Sang-Lin;Kim, Yun-Tae;Oh, Chang-Yeob;Chung, Jae-Moon
    • Journal of Global Scholars of Marketing Science
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    • v.18 no.3
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    • pp.115-132
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    • 2008
  • Metal industry is one of the most representative heavy industries and the median sales volume of steel and nonferrous metal companies is over one billion dollars in the case America [Forbes 2006]. As seen in the recent business market situation, an increasing number of industrial manufacturers and suppliers are moving from adversarial to cooperative exchange attitudes that support the long-term relationships with their customers. This article presents the results of an empirical study of the antecedent factors of business relationships in metal industry of the United States. Commitment has been reviewed as a significant and critical variable in research on inter-organizational relationships (Hong et al. 2007, Kim et al. 2007). The future stability of any buyer-seller relationship depends upon the commitment made by the interactants to their relationship. Commitment, according to Dwyer et al. [1987], refers to "an implicit or explicit pledge of relational continuity between exchange partners" and they consider commitment to be the most advanced phase of buyer-seller exchange relationship. Bonds are made because the members need their partners in order to do something and this integration on a task basis can be either symbiotic or cooperative (Svensson 2008). To the extent that members seek the same or mutually supporting ends, there will be strong bonds among them. In other words, the principle that affects the strength of bonds is 'economy of decision making' [Turner 1970]. These bonds provide an important idea to study the causes of business long-term relationships in a sense that organizations can be mutually bonded by a common interest in the economic matters. Recently, the framework of structural bonding has been used to study the buyer-seller relationships in industrial marketing [Han and Sung 2008, Williams et al. 1998, Wilson 1995] in that this structural bonding is a crucial part of the theoretical justification for distinguishing discrete transactions from ongoing long-term relationships. The major antecedent factors of buyer commitment such as technology, CLalt, transaction-specific assets, and importance were identified and explored from the perspective of structural bonding. Research hypotheses were developed and tested by using survey data from the middle managers in the metal industry. H1: Level of technology of the relationship partner is positively related to the level of structural bonding between the buyer and the seller. H2: Comparison level of alternatives is negatively related to the level of structural bonding between the buyer and the seller. H3: Amount of the transaction-specific assets is positively related to the level of structural bonding between the buyer and the seller. H4: Importance of the relationship partner is positively related to the level of structural bonding between the buyer and the seller. H5: Level of structural bonding is positively related to the level of commitment to the relationship. To examine the major antecedent factors of industrial buyer's structural bonding and long-term relationship, questionnaire was prepared, mailed out to the sample of 400 purchasing managers of the US metal industry (SIC codes 33 and 34). After a follow-up request, 139 informants returnedthe questionnaires, resulting in a response rate of 35 percent. 134 responses were used in the final analysis after dropping 5 incomplete questionnaires. All measures were analyzed for reliability and validity following the guidelines offered by Churchill [1979] and Anderson and Gerbing [1988]., the results of fitting the model to the data indicated that the hypothesized model provides a good fit to the data. Goodness-of-fit index (GFI = 0.94) and other indices ( chi-square = 78.02 with p-value = 0.13, Adjusted GFI = 0.90, Normed Fit Index = 0.92) indicated that a major proportion of variances and covariances in the data was accounted for by the model as a whole, and all the parameter estimates showed statistical significance as evidenced by large t-values. All the factor loadings were significantly different from zero. On these grounds we judged the hypothesized model to be a reasonable representation of the data. The results from the present study suggest several implications for buyer-seller relationships. Theoretically, we attempted to conceptualize the antecedent factors of buyer-seller long-term relationships from the perspective of structural bondingin metal industry. The four underlying determinants (i.e. technology, CLalt, transaction-specific assets, and importance) of structural bonding are very critical variables of buyer-seller long-term business relationships. Our model of structural bonding makes an attempt to systematically examine the relationship between the antecedent factors of structural bonding and long-term commitment. Managerially, this research provides industrial purchasing managers with a good framework to assess the interaction processes with their partners and, ability to position their business relationships from the perspective of structural bonding. In other words, based on those underlying variables, industrial purchasing managers can determine the strength of the company's relationships with the key suppliers and its state of preparation to be a successful partner with those suppliers. Both the supplying and customer companies can also benefit by using the concept of 'structural bonding' and evaluating their relationships with key business partners from the structural point of view. In general, the results indicate that structural bonding gives a critical impact on the level of relationship commitment. Managerial implications and limitations of the study are also discussed.

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