• Title/Summary/Keyword: e-health

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Preliminary semi-quantitative evaluation of developed latent fingerprints on non-porous surface with natural powders using a densitometric image analysis (비 다공성 표면에서 천연분말로 현출된 잠재지문의 농도계 이미지분석을 이용한 예비적인 반 정량적 평가)

  • Kim, Eun-Mi;Heo, Bo-Reum;Ok, Yun-Seok;Kim, Jin-Kyung;Joung, In-Nam;Choi, Sung-Woon
    • Analytical Science and Technology
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    • v.29 no.6
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    • pp.283-292
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    • 2016
  • Conventional fingerprint powders used during crime scene investigations pose potential health hazards. Thus, multiple natural replacement powders, including squid ink powder, indigo and rice powder were used to develop (visualize) latent fingerprints on non-porous surfaces (e.g., glass, plastic and tile). Fingerprints developed using the natural powders were compared using the Automatic Fingerprint Identification System (AFIS) with those developed with traditional black powder. The peak areas of ridges were also compared using densitometric image analyses. Collectively, objective and quantitative evaluation methods were developed. The effectiveness of natural powders varied depending on the surface but, in general, squid ink powder performed well on most surfaces. Indigo powder performed well on tile surfaces, while rice powder performed well on glass surfaces. Plastic was the most difficult surface from which to develop fingerprints. Image analysis using Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) demonstrated the importance of the size and shape of natural powder particles to properly adhere to the ridges. Although densitometric image analyses did not correlate the number of minutiae and ridge peak areas, an unbiased, objective evaluation method would be possible using image analyses with a reference image. Additional experimentation will yield safe and cost-effective natural powders with which adequate fingerprint development can be performed.

Study of Jindo Dog Personality Traits:Questionnaire of The 16th Korean Jindo Dog Show (진도개 성격형질연구:제16회 한국진도개품평회 설문조사)

  • Hong, Kyung-Won;Kim, Young-San;Shin, Young-Bin;Oh, Seok-Il;Kim, Jong-Seok;Choi, Hyuk;Lee, Ji-Woong;Sun, Sang-Soo;Lee, Jae-Il;Lee, Sang-Eun;Chung, Dong-Hee;Cho, Yong-Min;Im, Seok-Ki;Choi, Bong-Hwan
    • Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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    • v.50 no.2
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    • pp.273-278
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    • 2008
  • There have been studies about dog’s personality and behavior, which is helpful to breed dogs as guide or companion. In this study, a questionnaire was developed using 54 Jindo dogs, which considered ten items about aggressiveness and sociability. The scores were analyzed by principle component analysis (PCA), after accounting for four variables: age, gender, growing place, and coat-colors. Our results from the PCA indicated three principle components, which classified ‘aggressiveness’, ‘sociability’ and unknown factor. The four variables did not significantly affect aggressiveness(P>0.05). However, there was a relationship between coat-color and sociability, i.e., the Jindo dogs with fawn color were more sociable than the white ones(P<0.1).

Effect of Microorganism Mixture Application on the Microflora and the Chemical Properties of Soil and the Growth of Vegetables in Greenhouse (미생물혼합제제 처리가 토양의 미생물상과 화학적 특성 및 시설 채소 생육에 미치는 영향)

  • Ryu, Il-Hwan;Jeong, Su-Ji;Han, Seong-Soo
    • Korean Journal of Environmental Agriculture
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    • v.31 no.4
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    • pp.368-374
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    • 2012
  • BACKGROUND: The urgency of feeding the world's growing population while combating soil pollution, salinization and desertification requires suitable biotechnology not only to improve crop productivity but also to improve soil health through interactions of soil nutrient and soil microorganism. Interest in the utilization of microbial fertilizer has increased. A principle of nature farming is to produce abundant and healthy crops without using chemical fertilizer and pesticides, and without interrupting the natural ecosystem. Beneficial microorganisms may provide supplemental nutrients in the soil, promote crop growth, and enhance plant resistance against pathogenic microorganisms. We mixed beneficial microorganisms such as Bacillus sp. Han-5 with anti-fungal activities, Trichoderma harziaum, Trichoderma longibrachiatum with organic material degrading activity, Actinomycetes bovis with antibiotic production and Pseudomonas sp. with nitrogen fixation. This study was carried out to investigate the mixtures on the soil microflora and soil chemical properties and the effect on the growth of lettuce and cucumber under greenhouse conditions. METHODS AND RESULTS: The microbial mixtures were used with each of organic fertilizer, swine manure and organic+swine manure and compared in regard to changes in soil chemical properties, soil microflora properties and crop growth. At 50 days after the treatment of microorganism mixtures, the pH improved from 5.8 to 6.3, and the EC, $NO_3$-Na and K decreased by 52.4%, 60.5% and 29.3%, respectively. The available $P_2O_5$ and $SiO_2$ increased by 25.9% and 21.2%, respectively. Otherwise, the population density of fluorescent Pseudomonas sp. was accelerated and the growth of vegetables increased. Moreover, the population density of E. coli and Fusarium sp., decreased remarkably. The ratio of bacteria to fungi (B/F) and the ratio of Actinomycetes bovis to fungi (A/F) increased 2.3 (from 272.2 to 624.4) and 1.7 times (from 38.3 to 64), respectively. Furthermore, the growth and yield of cucumber and lettuce significantly increased by the treatment of microorganism mixtures. CONCLUSION(S): These results suggest that the treatment of microorganism mixtures improved the chemical properties and the microflora of soil and the crop growth. Therefore, it is concluded that the microorganism mixtures could be good alternative soil amendments to restore soil nutrients and soil microflora.

Survey on the Patterns of Fortified Food Consumption and Intake of Vitamins and Minerals in Fortified Foods by Elementary School and Middle-School Students in Korea (우리나라 일부 초등학생과 중학생의 영양강화식품 섭취 실태 및 영양강화식품을 통한 비타민과 무기질 섭취량 조사)

  • Kim, Sun-Hyo
    • Journal of the Korean Society of Food Culture
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    • v.26 no.3
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    • pp.295-306
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    • 2011
  • This study was performed to investigate patterns of fortified food (FF) consumption and intake of vitamins and minerals from FFs among 577 Korean children (12.4 years of age) who attended elementary or middle school. FFs eaten by children as a snack were surveyed using the food record method during 3 days, including 2 week days and one weekend. As a result, 114 FF items were eaten by the children, and several kinds of nutrients such as vitamin A, D, E, B complex, C, calcium (Ca), iron (Fe), and zinc (Zn) were fortified in these foods. Ca-FFs (65.8%) were most frequently consumed, followed by vitamin C-FFs (33.4%) and vitamin D-FFs (33.3%). The number of FF items in each food group was the most in the milk group (n=24, 21.0%), followed by the beverage group (n=19, 16.7%), and the cookie/bread/cake group (n=17, 14.9%). Fortified nutrients in FFs were in various combinations, but the major combination patterns were Ca, Ca plus vitamins, Ca plus vitamins plus other minerals, and Ca plus other minerals. Daily mean intakes of vitamins and minerals from the FFs were 66-300% more than those of the recommended nutrient intake (RNI ) or adequate intake (AI) for most vitamins and minerals. Daily maximum intakes (95th percentile) of vitamins and minerals from FFs were 1-15 times the RNI or AI for most vitamins and minerals. Vitamin and mineral consumption ratios from each FF group were different according to the kind of fortified nutrient. For example, vitamin C was mostly eaten in fortified beverages (46-54%), and Fe was mostly eaten in fortified cookie/breads/cakes (87%). The above results show that FF consumption varied widely among the children, and that most of the children's foods were fortified with several vitamins and minerals without a common rule; thus, subjects risked over consuming vitamins and minerals by eating FFs. Therefore, practical guideline on FF use for children's optimal nutrition and health should be provided through nutrition education.

Stem Cells and Cell-Cell Communication in the Understanding of the Role of Diet and Nutrients in Human Diseases

  • Trosko James E.
    • Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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    • v.22 no.1
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    • pp.1-14
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    • 2007
  • The term, "food safety", has traditionally been viewed as a practical science aimed at assuring the prevention acute illnesses caused by biological microorganisms, and only to a minor extent, chronic diseases cause by chronic low level exposures to natural and synthetic chemicals or pollutants. "food safety" meant to prevent microbiological agents/toxins in/on foods, due to contamination any where from "farm to Fork", from causing acute health effects, especially to the young, immune-compromised, genetically-predisposed and elderly. However, today a broader view must also include the fact that diet, perse (nutrients, vitamins/minerals, calories), as well as low level toxins and pollutant or supplemented synthetic chemicals, can alter gene expressions of stem/progenitor/terminally-differentiated cells, leading to chronic inflammation and other mal-functions that could lead to diseases such as cancer, diabetes, atherogenesis and possibly reproductive and neurological disorders. Understanding of the mechanisms by which natural or synthetic chemical toxins/toxicants, in/on food, interact with the pathogenesis of acute and chronic diseases, should lead to a "systems" approach to "food safety". Clearly, the interactions of diet/food with the genetic background, gender, and developmental state of the individual, together with (a) interactions of other endogenous/exogenous chemicals/drugs; (b) the specific biology of the cells being affected; (c) the mechanisms by which the presence or absence of toxins/toxicants and nutrients work to cause toxicities; and (d) how those mechanisms affect the pathogenesis of acute and/or chronic diseases, must be integrated into a "system" approach. Mechanisms of how toxins/toxicants cause cellular toxicities, such as mutagenesis; cytotoxicity and altered gene expression, must take into account (a) irreversible or reversal changes caused by these toxins or toxicants; (b)concepts of thresholds or no-thresholds of action; and (c) concepts of differential effects on stem cells, progenitor cells and terminally differentiated cells in different organs. This brief Commentary tries to illustrate this complex interaction between what is on/in foods with one disease, namely cancer. Since the understanding of cancer, while still incomplete, can shed light on the multiple ways that toxins/toxicants, as well as dietary modulation of nutrients/vitamins/metals/ calories, can either enhance or reduce the risk to cancer. In particular, diets that alter the embryo-fetal micro-environment might dramatically alter disease formation later in life. In effect "food safety" can not be assessed without understanding how food could be 'toxic', or how that mechanism of toxicity interacts with the pathogenesis of any disease.

The Change of Housewives' Purchase Behaviors by Food Safety Incidents; in Relation to the Outbreak of 2008 Melamine Incident in Korea (식품안전사건사고에 따른 주부들의 식품 구매행동 변화 -2008년 멜라민 사건을 중심으로-)

  • Chae, Ok-Rye;Ko, Eun-Kyung;Bahk, Gyung-Jin
    • Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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    • v.25 no.2
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    • pp.180-184
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    • 2010
  • This study surveyed the change of housewives' purchase behaviors by food safety incidents; the outbreak of 2008 Melamine incident in Korea as for example. 565 housewives in Gunsan were interviewed in March 2009. 52.3% of respondents were regarded as unsatisfactory for food safety management in Korea. Despite the result of scientific assessment for melamine, 74.6% of respondents were yet regarded as health-threatening substance. By the point of before, during and after Melamine-related food safety incident, we were surveyed the level of purchase for melamine-related food items as five scales, the results were $2.47{\pm}0.97$, $1.80{\pm}0.92$ and $1.62{\pm}0.92$, respectively (p < 0.001). After the incident happened, the purchase level was even more reduced. This study also found that there were significance difference (p < 0.05) among the respondents' knowledge for melamine toxicity and food safety management in Korea concerning housewives' purchase behaviors, i.e. the more accurately for melamine toxicity and higher satisfactory of consciousness of food safety, there were less change of purchase behaviors. In conclusion, the consciousness of food safety and accurate knowledge of hazards were significantly affected for the change of housewives' purchase behaviors by food safety incidents. Therefore, it can be suggested that the need for more scientific risk communication strategies with consumer.

Rapid Induction of mRNA for Prostaglandin H Synthase in Ovine Meningeal Fibroblasts

  • Nam, Myeong-Jin;Thore, Clara;Busija, David
    • The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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    • v.2 no.4
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    • pp.435-441
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    • 1998
  • We examined effects of interleukin $1{\alpha}$ ($IL1{\alpha}$) and phorbol 12, 13 dibutyrate (PDB), an activator of protein kinase C, on mRNA for Prostaglandin H synthase (PGHS) and prostanoid production in cultured ovine meningeal fibroblasts. Immuno- and morphologically-identified fibroblasts were derived from cerebral cortex and white matter from fetal lambs (approximately 120 days gestation) and grown to confluence on glass coverslips in 12 well plates. Levels of prostaglandin $F_{2{\alpha}}$ and the stable hydrolysis product of prostacyclin (i.e., $6-keto-PGF_{1{\alpha}}$) were determined using enzyme immunoassay. Relative amounts of mRNA were determined by in situ hybridization using ovine cDNA for PGHS1. $IL1{\alpha}$ (10 ng/ml) increased mRNA levels over baseline by $62{\pm}19%$ (p<0.05) at 60 min., $37{\pm}12%$ (NS) at 120 min., and $36{\pm}18%$ (NS) at 240 min (n=12). Levels of $6-keto-PGF_{1{\alpha}}$ were $148{\pm}18%$ pg/ml during baseline, $246{\pm}41%$ pg/ml at 60 min., $248{\pm}40%$ pg/ml at 120 min., and $259{\pm}62%$ pg/ml at 240 min (all p<0.05) (n=12). $PGF_{2{\alpha}}$ was increased although it wasn't statistically significant. However, $IL1{\alpha}$ decreased $PGE_2$ level significantly (all p<0.05). PDB $(10^{-6}M)$ increased mRNA levels over baseline by $25{\pm}6%$ after 30 min., $40{\pm}6%$ after 60 min., and $20{\pm}8%$ after 90 min. (n=9) (all p<0.05). Levels of $6-keto-PGF_{1{\alpha}}$ were $200{\pm}43%$ pg/ml during baseline, $202{\pm}43%$ pg/ml after 30 min. (NS), $268{\pm}58%$ pg/ml after 60 min. (p<0.05), and $296{\pm}60%$ pg/ml after 90 min. (p<0.05) (n=9). Levels of $PGF_{2{\alpha}}$ were $178{\pm}26%$ pg/ml during baseline, $300{\pm}30%$ pg/ml after 30 min., $299{\pm}35%$ pg/ml after 60 min., and $355{\pm}32%$ pg/ml after 90 min (all p<0.05) (n=6). Actinomycin-D (1 mg/ml) prevented increases in mRNA, $6-keto-PGF_{1{\alpha}}$, and $PGF_{2{\alpha}}$ at 60 min. for both $IL1{\alpha}$ and PDB. We conclude that cerebral fibroblasts are avid producers of prostanoids, and that enhanced production of PGHS is responsible for augmented $PGF_{2{\alpha}}$ and prostacyclin production in the presence of an activator of protein kinase C and for decreased $PGE_2$ and increased prostacyclin production in the presence of $IL1{\alpha}$.

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Immunomodulatory activity of Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi Pharmacopuncture on Acute Inflammatory Rat Model (황금(黃芩) 약침(藥鍼)이 급성염증 백서의 면역조절능에 미치는 영향)

  • Yang, Seung-Hee;Lee, Hyang-Sook;Lee, Eun;Lee, Joon-Moo
    • Korean Journal of Acupuncture
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    • v.26 no.3
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    • pp.55-68
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    • 2009
  • Objectives : To investigate the anti-inflammatory effects of Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi pharmacopuncture in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced inflammatory rat model. Methods : Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into 4 groups; LPS control (n=6), LPS+Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi pharmacopuncture at BL23 (n=6, BL23), LPS+Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi pharmacopuncture at CV12 (n=6, CV12), and LPS+Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi pharmacopuncture at GV4 (n=6, GV4). Pharmacopuncture was given every two days for 4 weeks followed by inflammation induction by intraperitoneal LPS injection (5mg/kg). Blood, liver tissue, and peritoneal lavage fluid were taken and proinflammatory cytokines and other related factors were analysed. Results : For proinflammatory cytokines, CV12 pharmacopuncture group was significantly different compared with the control group in plasma IL-$1{\beta}$, IL-6, TNF-$\alpha$, and IL-10 5 h after LPS injection (P<0.05). For plasma IL-$1{\beta}$ and IL-6, CV12 pharmacopuncture group also showed significant difference at 2 h compared with the control (P<0.05). GV4 pharmacopuncture group was significantly different compared with the control at 5 h in plasma IL-$1{\beta}$, IL-6, and TNF-$\alpha$ and at 2 h in IL-10 (P<0.05). Liver cytokines were analyzed at 5 h after LPS injection; only CV12 pharmacopuncture group showed significant difference in IL-$1{\beta}$ (P<0.05) and others including IL-6, TNF-$\alpha$, and IL-10 had no difference compared with the control group. CD4/CD8 ratio and the phagocytic activities of polymorphonuclear neutrophils were not different from those of control group in all pharmacopuncture groups (P>0.05). Plasma NO3-/NO2- and intracellular adhesion molecule-1 of CV12 pharmacopuncture group were significantly lower than that of the control group (P<0.05). In the plasma concentration of prostaglandin E2, all 3 pharmacopuncture groups had significantly lower values than that of the control group (P<0.05), but there was no difference among pharmacopucnture groups. Monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 and cytokine-induced neutorphil chemoattractant-1 in peritoneal lavage fluid was significantly decreased in CV12 pharmacopuncture group compared with the control group (P<0.05). Conclusions : These results indicate that Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi pharmacopuncture at CV12 may have a potent anti-inflammatory effect in an LPS-induced inflammatory rat model.

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Detection of Chlorotoluene and Nitrotoluene Compounds by Recombinant Microbial Biosensors (재조합 미생물 바이오센서를 이용한 chlorotoluene과 nitrotoluene 화합물의 검출)

  • Lee, Da Young;Cho, Jae Ho;Lim, Woon Ki;Shin, Hae Ja
    • Journal of Life Science
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    • v.24 no.1
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    • pp.54-60
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    • 2014
  • Aromatic hydrocarbons are toxic environmental pollutants that are detrimental to the ecosystem and human health. Among them, chlorotoluene and nitrotoluene are toxic to hydrobios and irritate the skin, eyes, and respiratory organs of humans. We herein report the development of recombinant microbial biosensors for cheap and rapid monitoring of chlorotoluene and nitrotoluene compounds. Plasmids were constructed by inserting the xylR regulatory gene for BTEX (benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylene) degradation into upstream of Po' (the DmpR activator promoter Po with the deletion of its own upstream activating sequences) or Pu (the cognate promoter of XylR)::lacZ (the ${\beta}$-galactosidase gene) and transformed into Escherichia coli $DH5{\alpha}$. In the presence of inducers, the biosensor cells immobilized in agarose developed a red color in 1-2 h due to the hydrolysis of chlorophenol red ${\beta}$-D-galactopyranoside (CPRG), a substrate of ${\beta}$-galactosidase that was expressed by the inducers. Among BTEX, high responses were specifically observed with o-, m-, p-chlorotoluene ($0.1{\mu}M-100 mM$) and o-, m-, p-nitrotoluene (0.1 mM-100 mM). Po' demonstrated higher responses than those with Pu. The biosensors immobilized in agarose showed good stability after 21 days' storage at $4^{\circ}C$, and responses in untreated wastewater spiked with chlorotoluene and nitrotoluene, suggesting they can be used to detect compounds in wastewater.

An Empirical Study on the Economical Competition Factors of Internet Retailers (인터넷 소매상의 경제적 경쟁요인에 관한 실증연구)

  • 이수정;남순해;고석하
    • Proceedings of the Korea Society for Industrial Systems Conference
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    • 2002.11a
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    • pp.3-13
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    • 2002
  • 고석하 등(2002)은 인터넷 소매상이 상품 품목의 명목 가격과 배송료를 이용해서 고객의 일회 총 구매 비용을 조절한다는 것을 밝혔다. 고석하 등(2002)은 같은 내용의 상품 조합을 인터넷 시장에서 구매하기 위한 비용과 전통 시장에서 구매하기 위한 비용을 비교하였다. 분석 결과, 그 교호작용과 함께, 상품 종류와 일회 구매액/가격의 크기의 두 요소가 인터넷 시장의 전통 시장에 대한 총 구매비용 할인율의 변동의 약 60%내지 80%를 설명할 수 있다는 것을 보여주었다. 한편, 구매액/가격은 인터넷 시장에서의 해당 산포도(전통 시장의 그것에 대비한)에는 거의 영향을 미치지 못하며, 상품의 종류도 산포도에는 할인율에서와 같이 큰 영향을 미치지 않았다. 인터넷 시장의 가격이나 구매비용 산포도는 상품 특성이나 구매액 크기 이외의 다른 요인에 의해서 주로 영향을 받는 것으로 나타났다. 따라서, 본 논문에서는 가격 요인 이외의 경제적 경쟁요인에 관한 실증연구로서, 2002년 6월 17일부터 20일까지, 소프트웨어, PC와 주변기기, 휴대폰, 가전제품, CD, 화장품, 그리고 책의 7가지 산업 전문 쇼핑몰과 종합 쇼핑몰을 대상으로, 인터넷 시장에서 수행되고 있는 경제적인 비 가격 경쟁요인에 관한 실증 조사를 실시하였다. 조사 결과, 인터넷 시장에서 수행되고 있는 경제적인 비 가격 경쟁요인은 매우 다양하며, 상품별로도 다른 특성을 보이고 있는 것으로 밝혀졌다. 인터넷 소매상의 경제적인 비 가격 경쟁요인은 크게 배송료 면제와 배송료 외 인센티브 제도로 구분된다 본 논문에서는 경제적인 비 가격 경쟁요인의 모든 경우의 수를 고려할 수 있도록, 코드표를 작성하여 정리하고 분석하였다.전체 분석정보의 공유가 필수적으로 발생하게 됨으로, 유전체 정보와 임상정보의 통합은 미래 의료환경에 필수기능이 될 것이다. 3) 각 생명공학 연구소에서 사용하는 첨단 분석 장비와 생명공학 정보시스템의 자동 연계가 필요하다. 현재 국내에는 전국적인 초고속정보망이 가동되어 웹을 기반으로 하는 생명정보의 공유는 기술적으로 문제가 될 수 없으나 임상정보의 유전체연구에 그리고 유전체연구정보의 임상활용은 다양한 문제를 내포하고 있다. 이에 영상을 포함한 환자정보의 유전체연구센터와 병원정보시스템과의 효율적인 연계통합 운영을 위해 국내에서는 초기 도입단계에 있는 국제적인 보건의료정보의 표준인 Health Level 7 (textural information 공유), DICOM (image 및 wave 공유), 관련 ISO표준, WHO의 ICD9/10 (질병분류), LOINC (검사 및 관련용어), SNOMED International (의학용어) 등을 활용하여야 한다.matrix. The prediction system gives about 50% of sensitivity and 98% of specificity, Based on the PID matrix, we develop a system providing several interaction information-finding services in the Internet. The system, named PreDIN (Prediction-oriented Database of Interaction Network) provides interacting domain finding services and interacting protein

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