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Plasma G-CSF and GM-CSF Concentration and Amount of Their Receptors on the Granulocyte in Kawasaki Disease (가와사키병 환아의 혈장내 G-CSF와 GM-CSF 농도 및 과립구에서의 이들 수용체의 발현 변화)

  • Yoo, Young-Kyoung;Lee, Gibum;Kim, Hyun-Hee;Kim, Soo-Young;Kim, You-Jeong;Lee, Wonbae
    • Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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    • v.46 no.4
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    • pp.376-381
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    • 2003
  • Purpose : This study aimed to demonstrate the possible pathogenesis of granulopoiesis in patients of Kawasaki disease(KD) using quantitative analysis of G-CSF, GM-CSF and their CSFr. Methods : The plasma levels of G-CSF, GM-CSF, G-CSFr and GM-CSFr were studied in 14 patients in the acute phase of KD; 13 children with normal peripheral white blood cell counts were used as the normal control group. The plasma concentration of G-CSF, GM-CSF were analyzed by ELISA. The G-CSFr and GM-CSFr on the peripheral granulocytes were analyzed by a quantitative flow cytometric assay and QuantiBRITE, and the quantitative changes of receptors which did not combine with G-CSF and GM-CSF were measured. Results : The total number of leukocytes in KD was similar to normal control group, but the leukocytes increased according to the number of neutrophils. The plasma concentration of G-CSF were decreased similar to normal control group(P=0.133), but that of GM-CSF decreased more than the normal control group(P=0.227). The quantity of G-CSFr, GM-CSFr were revealed to be no less than the normal control(P=0.721, P=0.912). After incubation with excessive G-CSF, the expressed G-CSFr on the neutrophils were decreased in both groups(P=0.554). The quantities of expressions of GM-CSFr on the neutrophil after incubation with the excessive GM-CSF were always increased in both groups(P=0.255). The amount of GM-CSFr of neutrophils are in proportion to total white blood cells (r=0.788, P=0.035), but it wasn't in the case of KD(P=0.644). Conclusion : The leukocytosis in KD that mediated by increasing neutrophil was not correlated with the plasma concentrations of G-CSF and GM-CSF, and the amount of expression of G-CSFr and GM-CSFr on granulocyte. It is possible that the reduction of concentration of GM-CSF results by increasing the active GM-CSFr.

A Basic Study on the Establishment of Preservation and Management for Natural Monument(No.374) Pyeongdae-ri Torreya nucifera forest of Jeju (천연기념물 제374호 제주 평대리 비자나무 숲의 보존·관리방향 설정을 위한 기초연구)

  • Lee, Won-Ho;Kim, Dong-Hyun;Kim, Jae-Ung;Oh, Hae-Sung;Choi, Byung-Ki;Lee, Jong-Sung
    • Journal of the Korean Institute of Traditional Landscape Architecture
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    • v.32 no.1
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    • pp.93-106
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    • 2014
  • In this study, Analyze environment of location, investigation into vegetation resources, survey management status and establish to classify the management area for Natural monument No.374 Pyengdae-ri Torreya nucifera forest. The results were as follows: First, Torreya nucifera forest is concerned about influence of development caused by utilization of land changes to agricultural region. Thus, establish to preservation management plan for preservation of prototypical and should be excluded development activity to cause the change of terrain that Gotjawal in the Torreya nucifera forest is factor of base for generating species diversity. Secondly, Torreya nucifera forest summarized as 402 taxa composed 91 familly 263 genus, 353 species, 41 varieties and 8 forms. The distribution of plants for the first grade & second grade appear of endangered plant to Ministry of Environment specify. But, critically endangered in forest by changes in habitat, diseases and illegal overcatching. Therefore, when establishing forest management plan should be considered for put priority on protection. Thirdly, Torreya nucifera representing the upper layer of the vegetation structure. But, old tree oriented management and conservation strategy result in poor age structure. Furthermore, desiccation of forest on artificial management and decline in Torreya nucifera habitat on ecological succession can indicate a problem in forest. Therefore, establish plan such as regulation of population density and sapling tree proliferation for sustainable characteristics of the Torreya nucifera forest. Fourth, Appear to damaged of trails caused by use. Especially, Scoria way occurs a lot of damaged and higher than the share ratio of each section. Therefore, share ratio reduction Plan should be considered through the additional development of tourism routes rather than the replacement of Scoria. Fifth, Representing high preference of the Torreya nucifera forest tourist factor confirmed the plant elements. It is sensitive to usage pressure. And requires continuous monitoring by characteristic of Non-permanent. In addition, need an additional plan such as additional development of tourism elements and active utilizing an element of high preference. Sixth, Strength of protected should be differently accordance with importance. First grade area have to maintenance of plant population and natural habitats. Set the direction of the management. Second grade areas focus on annual regeneration of the forest. Third grade area should be utilized demonstration forest or set to the area for proliferate sapling. Fourth grade areas require the introduced of partial rest system that disturbance are often found in proper vegetation. Fifth grade area appropriate to the service area for promoting tourism by utilizing natural resources in Torreya nucifera forest. Furthermore, installation of a buffer zone in relatively low ratings area and periodic monitoring to the improvement of edge effect that adjacent areas of different class.

STUDIES ON THE PROPAGATION OF ABALONE (전복의 증식에 관한 연구)

  • PYEN Choong-Kyu
    • Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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    • v.3 no.3
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    • pp.177-186
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    • 1970
  • The spawning of the abalone, Haliotis discus hannai, was induced In October 1969 by air ex-position for about 30 minutes. At temperatures of from 14.0 to $18.8^{\circ}C$, the youngest trochophore stage was reached within 22 hours after the egg was laid. The trochophore was transformed into the veliger stage within 34 hours after fertilization. For $7\~9$ days after oviposition the veliger floated in sea water and then settled to the bottom. The peristomal shell was secreted along the outer lip of the aperture of the larval shell, and the first respiratory pore appears at about 110 days after fertilization. The shell attained a length of 0.40 mm in 15 days, 1.39 mm in 49 days, 2.14 mm in 110 days, 5.20 mm in 170 days and 10.00 mm in 228 days respectively. Monthly growth rate of the shell length is expressed by the following equation :$L=0.9981\;e^{0.18659M}$ where L is shell length and M is time in month. The density of floating larvae in the culture tank was about 10 larvae per 100 co. The number of larvae attached to a polyethylene collector ($30\times20\;cm$) ranged from 10 to 600. Mortality of the settled larvae on the polyethylene collector was about $87.0\%$ during 170 days following settlement. The culture of Nauicula sp. was made with rough polyethylene collectors hung at three different depths, namely 5 cm, 45 cm and 85 cm. At each depth the highest cell concentration appeared after $15\~17$ days, and the numbers of cells are shown as follows: $$5\;cm\;34.3\times10^4\;Cells/cm^2$$ $$45\;cm\;27.2\times10^4\;Cells/cm^2$$ $$85\;cm\;26.3\times10^4\;Cells/cm^2$$ At temperatures of from 13.0 to $14.3^{\circ}C$, the distance travelled by the larvae (3.0 mm In shell length) averaged 11.36 mm for a Period of 30 days. Their locomation was relatively active between 6 p.m. and 9 p.m., and $52.2\%$ of them moved during this period. When the larvae (2.0 mm in shell length) were kept in water at $0\;to\;\~1.8^{\circ}C$, they moved 1.15cm between 4 p.m. and 8 p.m. and 0.10 cm between midnight and 8 a.m. The relationships between shell length and body weight of the abalone sampled from three different localities are shown as follows: Dolsan-do $W=0.2479\;L^{2.5721}$ Huksan-do $W=0.1001\;L^{3.1021}$ Pohang $W=0.9632\;L^{2.0611}$

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Geological Structures of the Hadong Northern Anorthosite Complex and its surrounding Area in the Jirisan Province, Yeongnam Massif, Korea (영남육괴 지리산지구에서 하동 북부 회장암복합체와 그 주변지역의 지질구조)

  • Lee, Deok-Seon;Kang, Ji-Hoon
    • The Journal of the Petrological Society of Korea
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    • v.21 no.3
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    • pp.287-307
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    • 2012
  • The study area, which is located in the southeastern part of the Jirisan province of the Yeongnam massif, Korea, consists mainly of the Precambrian Hadong northern anorthosite complex (HNAC) and the Jirisan metamorphic rock complex (JMRC) and the Mesozoic granitoids which intrude them. Its tectonic frame is built into NS trend, unlike the general NE-trending tectonic frame of Korean Peninsula. This paper researched the structural characteristics at each deformation phase to clarify the geological structures associated with the NS-trending tectonic frame which was built in the HNAC and JMRC. The result indicates that the geological structures of this area were formed at least through three phases of deformation. (1) The $D_1$ deformation formed the $F_1$ sheath or "A"-type folds in the HNAC and JMRC, and the $S_{0-1}$ composite foliation and the $S_1$ foliation and the $D_1$ ductile shear zone which are (sub)parallel to the axial plane of $F_1$ fold, and the $L_1$ stretching lineation which is parallel to the $F_1$ fold axis owing to the large-scale top-to-the SE shearing on the $S_0$ foliation. (2) The $D_2$ deformation (re)folded the $D_1$ structural elements under the EW-trending tectonic compression environment, and formed the NS-trending $F_2$ open, tight, isoclinal, intrafolial folds with the $S_{0-1-2}$ composite foliation and the $S_2$ foliation and the $D_2$ ductile shear zone with S-C-C' structure and the $L_2$ stretching lineation which is (sub)parallel to the axial plane of $F_2$ fold. The extensive $D_2$ ductile shear zone (Hadong shear zone) of NS trend was persistently developed along the eastern boundary of HNAC and JMRC which would be to the limb of $F_2$ fold on a geological map scale. The Hadong shear zone is no less than 1.4 km width, and was formed in the mylonitization process which produced the mylonitic structure and the stretching lineation with the reduction of grain size during the $F_2$ passive folding. (3) The $D_3$ deformation formed the EW-trending $F_3$ kink or open fold under the NS-trending tectonic compression environment and partially rearranged the NS-trending pre-$D_3$ structural elements into (E)NE or (W)NW direction. The regional trend of $D_1$ tectonic frame before the $D_2$ deformation would be NE-SW unlike the present, and the NS-trending tectonic frame in the HNAC and JMRC like the present was formed by the rearrangement of the $D_1$ tectonic frame owing to the $F_2$ active and passive folding. Based on the main intrusion age of (N)NE-trending basic dyke in the study area, these three deformation events are interpreted to have occurred before the Late Paleozoic.

Surrogate Internet Shopping Malls: The Effects of Consumers' Perceived Risk and Product Evaluations on Country-of-Buying-Origin Image (망상대구점(网上代购店): 소비자감지풍험화산품평개대원산국형상적영향(消费者感知风险和产品评价对原产国形象的影响))

  • Lee, Hyun-Joung;Shin, So-Hyoun;Kim, Sang-Uk
    • Journal of Global Scholars of Marketing Science
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    • v.20 no.2
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    • pp.208-218
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    • 2010
  • Internet has grown fast and become one of the most important retail channels now. Various types of Internet retailers, hereafter etailers, have been introduced so far and as one type of Internet shopping mall, 'surrogate Internet shopping mall' has been prosperous and attracting consumers in the domestic market. Surrogate Internet shopping mall is a unique type of etailer that globally purchases well-known brand goods that are not imported in the market, completes delivery in the favor of individual buyers, and collects fees for these specific services. The consumers, who are usually interested in purchasing high-end and unique but not eligible brands, have difficulties to purchase these items overseas directly from the retailers or brands in other countries due to worries of payment failure and no address available for their usually domestic only delivery. In Korea, both numbers of surrogate Internet shopping malls and the magnitude of sales have been growing rapidly up to more than 430 active malls and 500 billion Korean won in 2008 since the population of consumers who want this agent shopping service is also expending. This etail business concept is originated from 'surrogate-mediated purchase' and this type of shopping agent has existed in many different forms and also in wide ranges of context level for quite a long time. As marketers face their individual buyers' representatives instead of a direct contact with them in many occasions, the impact of surrogate shoppers on consumer's decision making has been enormously important and many scholars have explored various range of agent's impact on consumer's purchase decisions in marketing and psychology field. However, not much rigorous research in the Internet commerce has been conveyed yet. Moreover, since as one of the shopping agent surrogate Internet shopping malls specifically connect overseas brands or retailers to domestic consumers, one specific character of the mall's, image of surrogate buying country, where surrogate purchases are conducted in, may play an important role to form consumers' attitude and purchase intention toward products. Furthermore it also possibly affects various dimensions of perceived risk in consumer's information processing. However, though tremendous researches have been carried exploring the effects of diverse dimensions of country of origin, related studies in Internet context has been rarely executed. There have been some studies that prove the positive impact of country of origin on consumer's evaluations as one of information clues in product manufacture descriptions, yet studies detecting the relationship between country image of surrogate buying origin and product evaluations rarely undertaken regarding this specific mall type. Thus, the authors have found it well-worth investigating in this specific retail channel and explored systematic relationships among focal constructs and elaborated their different paths. The authors have proven that country image of surrogate buying origin in the mall, where surrogate malls purchase products in and brings them from for buyers, not only has a positive effect on consumers' product evaluations including attitude and purchase intention but also has a negative effect on all three dimensions of perceived risk: product-related risk, shipping-related risk, and post-purchase risk. Specifically among all the perceived risk, product-related risk which is arisen from high uncertainty of product performance is most affected (${\beta}$= -.30) by negative country image of surrogate buying origin, and also shipping-related risk (${\beta}$= -.18) and post-purchase risk (${\beta}$= -.15) get influenced in order. Its direct effects on product attitude (${\beta}$= .10) and purchase intention (${\beta}$= .14) are also secured. Each of perceived risk dimension is proven to have a negative effect on purchase intention through product attitude as a mediator (${\beta}$= -.57: product-related risk ${\rightarrow}$ product attitude; ${\beta}$= -.24: shipping-related risk ${\rightarrow}$ product attitude; ${\beta}$= -.44: post-purchase risk ${\rightarrow}$ product attitude) as well. From the additional analysis, the paths of consumers' information processing are shown to be different based on their levels of product knowledge. While novice consumers with low level of knowledge consider only perceived risk important, expert consumers with high level of knowledge take both the country image, where surrogate services are conducted in, and perceived risk seriously to build their attitudes and formulate decisions toward products more delicately and systematically, which is in line with previous studies. This study suggests several pieces of academic and practical advice. Precisely, country image of surrogate buying origin does affect on consumer's risk perceptions and behavioral consequences. Therefore a careful selection of surrogate buying origin is recommended. Furthermore, reducing consumers' risk level is required to blossom this new type of retail business whether its consumer are novices or experts. Additionally, since consumer take different paths of elaborating information based on their knowledge levels, sophisticated marketing approaches to each group of consumers are required. For novice buyers strong devices for risk mitigation are needed to induce them to form better attitudes and for experts selections of better and advanced countries as surrogate buying origins are advised while endorsement strategy for the site might work as a reliable information clue to all consumers to mitigate the barriers to purchase goods online. The authors have also explained that the study suffers from some limitations, including generalizability. In future studies, tests of and comparisons among different types of etailers with relevant constructs are recommended to broaden the findings.

The Mechanism of Interferon-$\gamma$ Induced Cytotoxicity on the Lung Cancer Cell Line, A549 (인터페론감마에 의한 A549 폐암세포주 세포독성의 기전)

  • Oh, Yeon-Mok;Yoo, Chul-Gyu;Chung, Hee-Soon;Kim, Young-Whan;Han, Sung-Koo;Shim, Young-Soo
    • Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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    • v.43 no.1
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    • pp.63-68
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    • 1996
  • Background: Interferon-$\gamma$ has various biologic effects, including antiviral effect, antitumor proliferative effect, activation of macrophage and B lymphocyte, and increased expression of major histocompatibility complex. Especially, antitumor proliferative effect of interferon-$\gamma$ has already been proved to be important in vivo as well as in vitro. And, clinical studies of interferon-$\gamma$ have been tried in lung cancer patients. However, the mechanism of antitumor effect of interferon-$\gamma$ has not yet been established despite of many hypotheses. "Necrosis" is a type of cell death which is well known to occur in the circumstances of severe stresses. In contrast, "apoptosis" is another type of cell death which occurs in such biological circumstances as embryonic development, regression of organs, and self-tolerance of lymphocytes. And, apoptosis is an active process of cell death in which cells are dying with fragmentations of their cytoplasms and nuclei. And, in the process of apoptosis the DNAs of cells are cleaved between nucleosomes by unidentified endonuclease and therefore DNAs of apoptotic cells result in a typical electrophoresis pattern known as DNA ladder pattern. Recently it has been suggested that cytotoxic effect of interferon-$\gamma$ occurs via apoptosis. To elucidate the mechanism of antitumor cytotoxic effect of interferon-$\gamma$, we microscopically observed a lung cancer cell line, A549 which was treated with interferon-$\gamma$. We observed A545 treated with interferon-$\gamma$ was dying fragmented. And so, we performed this study to find out that the mechanism of antitumor cytotoxic effect of interferon-$\gamma$ be apoptosis. Method: We treated A549, human lung cancer cell line with various concentration of interferon-$\gamma$ and quantified its cytotoxic effect of various periods, 24 hours, 72 hours and, 120 hours by MTT(dimethylthiazolyl diphenyltetrazolium bromide) bioassay. Also, after we treated A549 with 100 units/mi of interferon-$\gamma$ for 120 hours, we observed the pattern of cell death with inverted microscope and we extracted DNAs from the dead A549 cells and observed the pattern of 1.5% agarose gel electrophoresis with ethidium bromide staining. Result: 1) Cytotoxic effect of interferon-$\gamma$ on A549: For the first 24 hours, threre was little cytotoxic effect and for between 24 hours and 72 hours, there was the beginning of cytotoxic effect and for 120 hours there was increased cytotoxic effect. 2) Pattern of A549 cell death by interferon-$\gamma$: We observed with inverted microscope that A549 cells were dying fragmented. 3) DNA ladder pattern of gel electrophoresis: We observed DNA ladder pattern of gel electrophoresis of extracted DNAs from dead A549 cells. Conclusion: We concluded that the mechanism of interferon-$\gamma$induced cytotoxicity on lung cancer cell line, A549 be via apoptosis.

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The Factors Influencing the Systemic Action of Dimethoate (O.O-dimethyl-S-(N-methylcarbamoylmethyl) phosphorodithioate) to the Rice Seeds and Phytotoxic Effects (수도종자에의 Dimethoate 침투력 및 발아저해에 관여하는 요인에 관한 연구)

  • Choi Seung Yoon
    • Korean journal of applied entomology
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    • v.9 no.2
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    • pp.57-74
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    • 1970
  • These experiments were conducted to investigate the :actors influencing the systemic action of Dimethoate (O,O-dimethyl-S-(N-methylcarhamoylmethyl) photphorodithioate) to rice seeds and the phytotoxic effects on the seed germination. Dimethoate $(Roxion^{(R)})$ $40\%$ emulsion was used. The varieties tested were Jinheung. Nongkwang,Suwon #82, Norm #6, Paltal, Shirogane, Suseong, Pungkwang, Shin #2, Fujisaka #5, Kwanok, and Jaekeun. The permeated Dimethoate was extracted from the treated seeds by chloroform and quantities were determined by Spectrophotometer. The phytotoxicity was evaluated from the effects on the germination of the treated seeds which were kept in an incubator. The oxygen consumption was measured by Warburg Manometer at $30^{\circ}C$ for 60 minutes. Indices of KOH disintegration of seeds and chemical composition of the seeds were also determined. The results obtained were as followings; 1) The amount of permeated Dimethoate in the seeds showed remarkable differences with varieties. The amount of Dimethoate per 100 grains was greater as in the ascending order of Suseong, Kwanok, Nongkwang, Jinheung, Paltal, Fujisaka #5, Suwon #82, Norm #6, Shirogane, Shin #2, Pungkwang and Jaekeun. 2) It was observed that the total amount of Dimethoate in the seeds(mg./100 grains) were greater among the varieties with large grain than those with small grains, while reverse cases were true in the amount of Dimethoate in a gramme of seeds, probably because of the greater surface areas In a small grains for a gramme weight. 3) There was no significant correlation between the permeated amount of Dimethoate and amount of absorbed water by the seeds when the seeds were treated with $0.1\%$ Dimethoate for 24 and 48 hours. 4) The permeability of Dimethoate to seeds significantly increased in the prolonged soaking periods, higher concentration, and higher temperature. 5) When the seeds were treated with $0.1\%$ Dimethoate for 24 and 48 hours at $15^{\circ},\;20^{\circ},\; 20^{\circ},\; and \;30^{\circ}C$, the permeated amount of Dimethoate were increased at higher temperature. It seems to be that the more active penetration of Dimethoate was involved at the higher temperature. 6) The phytotoxic effects of Dinethoate on the seed germination varied with the varieties. An descending order of varietal tolerance of seeds was as followings: Jinheung, Fujisaka #5, Suwon #82, Paltal, Nongkwang, Jaekeun, Shin #2, Kwanok, Shirogane, Pungkwang, Suseong, and Norm #6. 7) There was a positive correlation between the amount of Dimethoate permeated into the seeds (mg./gram. of seeds) and phytotoxicity of seeds. 8) The Phytotoxic effects of Dimethoate showed close correlation with the degree of KOH disintegration of seeds, average germination periods, and oxygen respiration of seeds. 9) It was observed that higher protein contents of the seeds decreased the phytotoxic effects of Dimethoate. 10) Relatively high negative correlation between the degree of KOH disintegration of seeds and crude protein content of the seeds was observed. 11) The average germination period was delayed for about 2 days when the seeds were treated with $0.2\%$ Dimethoate for 24 hours at $30^{\circ}C$. 12) The oxygen consumption of the seeds treated with $0.2\%$ Dimethoate for 24 hours at $30^{\circ}C$ was greatly decreased when compared with that of the normal seeds. 13) The amount of oxygen consumption of the seeds (in 24 hours after 24 hours water soaking) was negatively correlated with the average germination periods of the seeds.

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Short-Term Efficacy of Steroid and Immunosuppressive Drugs in Patients with Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis and Pre-treatment Factors Associated with Favorable Response (특발성폐섬유화증에서 스테로이드와 면역억제제의 단기 치료효과 및 치료반응 예측인자)

  • Kang, Kyeong-Woo;Park, Sang-Joon;Koh, Young-Min;Lee, Sang-Pyo;Suh, Gee-Young;Chung, Man-Pyo;Han, Jung-Ho;Kim, Ho-Joong;Kwon, O-Jung;Lee, Kyung-Soo;Rhee, Chong-H.
    • Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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    • v.46 no.5
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    • pp.685-696
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    • 1999
  • Background : Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a diffuse inflammatory and fibrosing process that occurs within the interstitium and alveolus of the lung with invariably poor prognosis. The major problem in management of IPF results from the variable rate of disease progression and the difficulties in predicting the response to therapy. The purpose of this retrospective study was to evaluate the short-term efficacy of steroid and immunosuppressive therapy for IPF and to identify the pre-treatment determinants of favorable response. Method : Twenty patients of IPF were included. Diagnosis of IPF was proven by thoracoscopic lung biopsy and they were presumed to have active progressive disease. The baseline evaluation in these patients included clinical history, pulmonary function test, bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL), and chest high resolution computed tomography (HRCT). Fourteen patients received oral prednisolone treatment with initial dose of 1mg/kg/day for 8 to 12 weeks and then tapering to low-dose prednisolone (0.25mg/kg/day). Six patients who previously had experienced significant side effects to steroid received 2mg/kg/day of oral cyclophosphamide with or without low-dose prednisolone. Follow-up evaluation was performed after 6 months of therapy. If patients met more than one of followings, they were considered to be responders : (1) improvement of more than one grade in dyspnea index, (2) improvement in FVC or TLC more than 10% or improvement in DLco more than 20% (3) decreased extent of disease in chest HRCT findings. Result : One patient died of extrapulmonary cause after 3 month of therapy, and another patient gave up any further medical therapy due to side effect of steroid. Eventually medical records of 18 patients were analyzed. Nine of 18 patients were classified into responders and the other nine patients into nonresponders. The histopathologic diagnosis of the responders were all nonspecific interstitial pneumonia (NSIP) and that of nonresponders were all usual interstitial pneumonia (UIP) (p<0.001). The other significant differences between the two groups were female predominance (p<0.01), smoking history (p<0.001), severe grade of dyspnea (p<0.05), lymphocytosis in BAL fluid ($23.8{\pm}16.3%$ vs $7.8{\pm}3.6%$, p<0.05), and less honeycombing in chest HRCT findings (0% vs $9.2{\pm}2.3%$, p<0.001). Conclusion : Our results suggest that patients with histopathologic diagnosis of NSIP or lymphocytosis in BAL fluid are more likely to respond to steroid or immunosuppressive therapy. Clinical results in large numbers of IPF patients will be required to identify the independent variables.

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Prevalence of Musculoskeletal Symptom in Rural Farmers (농촌지역주민의 근골격계 증상 경험률)

  • Oh, Hae-Ok;Kam, Sin;Han, Chang-Hyun;Hwang, Byung-Deog;Mun, Hyo-Jung;Cha, Byung-Jun;Park, Sang-Yeon
    • Journal of muscle and joint health
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    • v.8 no.1
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    • pp.86-108
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    • 2001
  • This study was performed to examine the annual experience rate of musculoskeletal symptom and its related factors in rural farmers. Six-hundred and sixty one rural farmers were investigated by questionnaire survey through interview from July 1 to July 31 in 2000. The results were as follows; The rural farmers who had experienced musculoskeletal symptom during recent 1 year was 82.7% in male, 92.1% in female. The annual experience rate of musculoskeletal symptom by part of the body in male were turned out as back; 42.3% leg and knee; 36.4%, shoulder; 21.4%, arm and hand; 12.7%, elbow; 7.7%, hip; 6.8% neck; 6.4%, ankle and foot; 6.4% in order. The annual experience rate of musculoskeletal symptom by part of the body in female were turned out as back; 59.4%, leg and knee; 48.5%, shoulder; 20.2%, arm and hand; 13.8%, hip; 10.7%, neck; 6.8%, ankle and foot; 6.3%, elbow; 5.0% in order. The annual experience rate of musculoskeletal symptom, back pain, and pain on leg and knee were significantly higher in female. In male, the experience rate of musculoskeletal symptom was different significantly according to educational level, family size, economic status, status of smoking, duration of farming, type of major agricultural affairs. By the multiple logistic regression analysis for experience of musculoskeletal symptom, family size and economic status were the significant variables. It was higher in male with no or one family living together and low economic status. In female, the experience rate of musculoskeletal symptom was different significantly according to body mass index, perceived health status, type of agricultural affairs. By the multiple logistic regression analysis for experience of musculoskeletal symptom, body mass index, perceived health status, and type of major agricultural affairs were the significant variables. It was higher as female farmer's body mass index was increasing and when female farmer's perceived health status was not healthier, and it was lower when female farmer did livestock farming as major agricultural affair. The experience rate of musculoskeletal symptom was higher in the busy season for farmers and treatment methods for musculoskeletal symptom were physical therapy, medication, herb medical treatment, etc. In conclusion, because most of farmers experience musculoskeletal symptom, continuous systematic study on musculoskeletal symptom of farmers and active effort to prevent and manage musculoskeletal symptom of farmers are necessary.

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An Empirical Study on the Determinants of Supply Chain Management Systems Success from Vendor's Perspective (참여자관점에서 공급사슬관리 시스템의 성공에 영향을 미치는 요인에 관한 실증연구)

  • Kang, Sung-Bae;Moon, Tae-Soo;Chung, Yoon
    • Asia pacific journal of information systems
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    • v.20 no.3
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    • pp.139-166
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    • 2010
  • The supply chain management (SCM) systems have emerged as strong managerial tools for manufacturing firms in enhancing competitive strength. Despite of large investments in the SCM systems, many companies are not fully realizing the promised benefits from the systems. A review of literature on adoption, implementation and success factor of IOS (inter-organization systems), EDI (electronic data interchange) systems, shows that this issue has been examined from multiple theoretic perspectives. And many researchers have attempted to identify the factors which influence the success of system implementation. However, the existing studies have two drawbacks in revealing the determinants of systems implementation success. First, previous researches raise questions as to the appropriateness of research subjects selected. Most SCM systems are operating in the form of private industrial networks, where the participants of the systems consist of two distinct groups: focus companies and vendors. The focus companies are the primary actors in developing and operating the systems, while vendors are passive participants which are connected to the system in order to supply raw materials and parts to the focus companies. Under the circumstance, there are three ways in selecting the research subjects; focus companies only, vendors only, or two parties grouped together. It is hard to find researches that use the focus companies exclusively as the subjects probably due to the insufficient sample size for statistic analysis. Most researches have been conducted using the data collected from both groups. We argue that the SCM success factors cannot be correctly indentified in this case. The focus companies and the vendors are in different positions in many areas regarding the system implementation: firm size, managerial resources, bargaining power, organizational maturity, and etc. There are no obvious reasons to believe that the success factors of the two groups are identical. Grouping the two groups also raises questions on measuring the system success. The benefits from utilizing the systems may not be commonly distributed to the two groups. One group's benefits might be realized at the expenses of the other group considering the situation where vendors participating in SCM systems are under continuous pressures from the focus companies with respect to prices, quality, and delivery time. Therefore, by combining the system outcomes of both groups we cannot measure the system benefits obtained by each group correctly. Second, the measures of system success adopted in the previous researches have shortcoming in measuring the SCM success. User satisfaction, system utilization, and user attitudes toward the systems are most commonly used success measures in the existing studies. These measures have been developed as proxy variables in the studies of decision support systems (DSS) where the contribution of the systems to the organization performance is very difficult to measure. Unlike the DSS, the SCM systems have more specific goals, such as cost saving, inventory reduction, quality improvement, rapid time, and higher customer service. We maintain that more specific measures can be developed instead of proxy variables in order to measure the system benefits correctly. The purpose of this study is to find the determinants of SCM systems success in the perspective of vendor companies. In developing the research model, we have focused on selecting the success factors appropriate for the vendors through reviewing past researches and on developing more accurate success measures. The variables can be classified into following: technological, organizational, and environmental factors on the basis of TOE (Technology-Organization-Environment) framework. The model consists of three independent variables (competition intensity, top management support, and information system maturity), one mediating variable (collaboration), one moderating variable (government support), and a dependent variable (system success). The systems success measures have been developed to reflect the operational benefits of the SCM systems; improvement in planning and analysis capabilities, faster throughput, cost reduction, task integration, and improved product and customer service. The model has been validated using the survey data collected from 122 vendors participating in the SCM systems in Korea. To test for mediation, one should estimate the hierarchical regression analysis on the collaboration. And moderating effect analysis should estimate the moderated multiple regression, examines the effect of the government support. The result shows that information system maturity and top management support are the most important determinants of SCM system success. Supply chain technologies that standardize data formats and enhance information sharing may be adopted by supply chain leader organization because of the influence of focal company in the private industrial networks in order to streamline transactions and improve inter-organization communication. Specially, the need to develop and sustain an information system maturity will provide the focus and purpose to successfully overcome information system obstacles and resistance to innovation diffusion within the supply chain network organization. The support of top management will help focus efforts toward the realization of inter-organizational benefits and lend credibility to functional managers responsible for its implementation. The active involvement, vision, and direction of high level executives provide the impetus needed to sustain the implementation of SCM. The quality of collaboration relationships also is positively related to outcome variable. Collaboration variable is found to have a mediation effect between on influencing factors and implementation success. Higher levels of inter-organizational collaboration behaviors such as shared planning and flexibility in coordinating activities were found to be strongly linked to the vendors trust in the supply chain network. Government support moderates the effect of the IS maturity, competitive intensity, top management support on collaboration and implementation success of SCM. In general, the vendor companies face substantially greater risks in SCM implementation than the larger companies do because of severe constraints on financial and human resources and limited education on SCM systems. Besides resources, Vendors generally lack computer experience and do not have sufficient internal SCM expertise. For these reasons, government supports may establish requirements for firms doing business with the government or provide incentives to adopt, implementation SCM or practices. Government support provides significant improvements in implementation success of SCM when IS maturity, competitive intensity, top management support and collaboration are low. The environmental characteristic of competition intensity has no direct effect on vendor perspective of SCM system success. But, vendors facing above average competition intensity will have a greater need for changing technology. This suggests that companies trying to implement SCM systems should set up compatible supply chain networks and a high-quality collaboration relationship for implementation and performance.