• Title/Summary/Keyword: frequency

Search Result 65,462, Processing Time 0.097 seconds

Regulatory Mechanism of Insulin-Like Growth Factor Binding Protein-3 in Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (비소세포성 폐암에서 인슐린 양 성장 인자 결합 단백질-3의 발현 조절 기전)

  • Chang, Yoon Soo;Lee, Ho-Young;Kim, Young Sam;Kim, Hyung Jung;Chang, Joon;Ahn, Chul Min;Kim, Sung Kyu;Kim, Se Kyu
    • Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
    • /
    • v.56 no.5
    • /
    • pp.465-484
    • /
    • 2004
  • Background : Insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-binding protein-3 (IGFBP-3) inhibits the proliferation of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cells by inducing apoptosis. Methods : In this study, we investigated whether hypermethylation of IGFBP-3 promoter play an important role in the loss of IGFBP-3 expression in NSCLC. We also studied the mechanisms that mediate the silencing of IGFBP-3 expression in the cell lines which have hypermethylated IGFBP-3 promoter. Results : The IGFBP-3 promoter has hypermethylation in 7 of 15 (46.7%) NSCLC cell lines and 16 (69.7%) of 23, 7 (77.8%) of 9, 4 (80%) of 5, 4 (66.7 %) of 6, and 6 (100%) of 6 tumor specimens from patients with stage I, II, IIIA, IIIB, and IV NSCLC, respectively. The methylation status correlated with the level of protein and mRNA in NSCLC cell lines. Expression of IGFBP-3 was restored by the demethylating agent 5'-aza-2'-deoxycytidine (5'-aza-dC) in a subset of NSCLC cell lines. The Sp-1/ Sp-3 binding element in the IGFBP-3 promoter, important for promoter activity, was methylated in the NSCLC cell lines which have reduced IGFBP-3 expression and the methylation of this element suppressed the binding of the Sp-1 transcription factor. A ChIP assay showed that the methylation status of the IGFBP-3 promoter influenced the binding of Sp-1, methyl-CpG binding protein-2 (MeCP2), and histone deacetylase (HDAC) to Sp-1/Sp-3 binding element, which were reversed by by 5'-aza-dC. In vitro methylation of the IGFBP-3 promoter containing the Sp-1/Sp-3 binding element significantly reduced promoter activity, which was further suppressed by the overexpression of MeCP2. This reduction in activity was rescued by 5'-aza-dC. Conclusion : These findings indicate that hypermethylation of the IGFBP-3 promoter is one mechanism by which IGFBP-3 expression is silenced and MeCP2, with recruitment of HDAC, may play a role in silencing of IGFBP-3 expression. The frequency of this abnormality is also associated with advanced stages among the patients with NSCLC, suggesting that IGFBP-3 plays an important role in lung carcinogenesis/progression and that the promoter methylation status of IGFBP-3 may be a marker for early molecular detection and/or for monitoring chemoprevention efforts.

A Study on the Perceived Stress of Mothers in Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (신생아 중환자실에 입원한 환아 어머니의 스트레스)

  • Choi Sung Hee
    • Child Health Nursing Research
    • /
    • v.4 no.1
    • /
    • pp.60-75
    • /
    • 1998
  • The parents have much expectation upon the pregnancy and child birth, and in most cases, they expect the healthy parturient child. However, we can be placed on the high-risk conditions which have the physical, social and immature infant, due to the unexpected results, among the new-born. Accordingly, these high-risk newborn and premature infants will be mostly in NICU, which the concentrated medical treatment can be given, upon their conditions. After their birth and during these periods, they will be divided from the parents, and the nurse will accomplish the bringing-up activities which they can take care of the infant, expected by the parents after their birth. The hospitalization of high-risk newborn including these premature infants is the shocking experience to the parents of family, and thus they can feel the fear and uneasiness, and these reactions of parents are troubled in the behavior at the usual days, and cause the disorder and spiritless status, and these results break the supporting ability of parents, and cause the obstruction. Also, the unavoidable division between the parents and the children as like hospitalization of children can make the parents to feel the alienation emotionally, and this causes the results which the pride on the bringing-up ability of baby gets to be lost. These problems can cause the difficulties on the bonding or the parenting in the further days, and can be related to the neglect and abuse of children. Also, it is gradually increased to study and report which the emotional division by the physical division between the mother and the baby obstructs the normal affection course between the parent and the infant. The stress caused by the birth and the hospitalization of high-risk newborn, as like this, is important in the points which it can uncertainly affect the potential energy for the relationship of parent-child who are finally healthy. Accordingly, the significance and purpose of this study are to understand the contents and degree of stress which the parents of high-risk newborn including the immature child can be experienced from the hospitalization of ICU for their new borns, and thus to offer the basic program to the nursing intervention program for these. The subject of this study is the mother of newborn in NICU of 10 General Hospitals located at the 3one of Pusan, Korea from September 1997 to October 1997, and thus makes the subject of 95 person of parents who agreed to take part in the study and it is descriptive study related to the stress of mother having the newborn in NICU. The method is based on the preceding study related to the stress of mother having the experience of child hospitalization and chronic disease child, and then acquires the advice of specialists group as like 5 nursing professors, and then is amended and supplemented. Total number of questions is 43 items and consists of 5 factors as like medical treatment &nursing procedures, disease status & prognosis, role of parents, communication & inter-personal relationships, hospital environment, and is 5 point Likert Scale. The reliability of this study method is very highly shown to be Cronbach α=0.95. The collected data is analysed as Average, Frequency, Standard Deviation, T-test, ANOVA, Pearson Correlation Coefficient, Duncan multifulrange test by use of SPSS /PC (V7.5). The results of this study is summarized as under. 1. Every characteristics of subject is which the party of mother is 28.70age(±7.48) in the average ages, 51% in the high-school graduate, 38.5% in the christianity, total monthly income is 212.55 thousand won(±1.971), 74.5% in the housewife, 72.9% in the parents and children together living and the number of children to be 1.48person(± 0.6) in average, the recognition on the prognosis of baby is 74.0% in 'Don't know', the relationship with the husband after the hospitalization of babyis 37.3% in 'More Intimate', the relationship with the family of husband to be 48% in 'No-change', and the degree which is consulted with the husband about the baby is 55% in 'very frequently' and the visiting number per week is 4.59(±1.63) in average and the accompanying person in the time of visiting is which the number of husband is 56.3% and thus is the highest. The characteristics of baby is which the age is 21.88days(±16.47) after the birth in average, the sex to be 50 person in the female 52.1% and the order of birth to be 54.2% in the first chid, and the weight in the birth to be 2770gm(±610) and the height in the birth to be 46.26cm(±7.62) in aver age. The medical diagnosis is 37.5% in the premature infant, the career of hospitalization is 96.9% in 'None', and the operation plan is 90.6% in 'None' and the execution of operation is 88% in 'None' and the nursing of incubator is 55.2% in 'Yes', and the method of feeding is 50.5% in 'Oral' and the contents of feeding is 46.9% in the 'Milk'. 2. The total stress degree of subject is almost highly shown to be as 3.36(±0.86). If it is compared upon each cause, 'stress on disease status & prognosis' is highest 3.79(±1.28), and it is in the order of 'stress on medical treatment & nursing procedures' 3.70(±0.93), 'stress on hospital environment' 3.14(±0.86), 'stress on role of parents' 3.18(±0.92) and 'stress on communication & inter personal relationship' 2.62(± 0.77) 3. As the results of checking the notworthiness of stress degree upon each variable of subject, the variable showing the noted difference was the birth weight(γ=-0.16, P=0.04), birth height(γ=-0.23, P=0.03), nursing in the incubator(F=8.93, P=0.04), feed method(F=2.94, P=0.04). That is to say, it is shown which the smaller the birth weight is, the higher the stress degree of mother is noteworthily. Also, the smaller the birth height baby is, the higher the stress of mother is. In the incubator, it os shown which the mother whose baby is nursing in the incubator is higher in the stress degree than other mothers. Upon the feeding method of baby, that is to say, TPNis the highest, and it is shown in the order of NPO, Tube feeding, and P.O. feeding. When we review the above-mentioned results, as the status is serious, it is thought which we include the supporting nursing for coping with the stress of parents in the setting-up od nursing plan for the baby in the NICU.

  • PDF

Investigations on Daily Life and Consciousness of Longevous People in Korea -V. The Attitute on the Health, Disease and Suffering of Longevous people in the Past- (우리나라 장수자(長壽者)의 생활(生活) 및 의식조사(意識調査)에 관한 연구(硏究) -V. 과거(過去)의 건강질병(健康疾病) 및 고통(苦痛)에 대한 태도(態度)-)

  • Choi, Jin-Ho;Pyeun, Jae-Hyeung;Choi, Jae-Sue;Rhim, Chae-Hwan;Kim, Soo-Hyun;Kim, Jeung-Han;Lee, Byeung-Ho;Woo, Soon-Im;Choi, Sun-Nam;Byun, Dae-Seok;Kim, Mu-Nam
    • Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
    • /
    • v.16 no.4
    • /
    • pp.287-293
    • /
    • 1987
  • The present study was designed to be link a part of the research on the investigation on daily life and consciousness of the longevous people in Korea, and to investigate the health conditions, and the attitude on disease and suffering of longevous people in the past. 1. By the health conditions of longevous people between 40 ana 60 years, 'very good' showed the highest figure of 71.0%, followed by 'ordinary' (21.6%). Consequently it is found that 92.6% of total longevous people surveyed maintained the good health conditions above ordinary. 2. Of the experiences of disease and/or injury after 60 years of longevous people, 'never' showed the highest figure of 74.7%, while 'had' showed the only 22.6% of total longevous people surveyed. 3. Of the details of disease and/or injury after 60 years of longevous people, 'digestive disease' showed the highest figure of 32.6 %, followed by 'apoplexia cerebri & hypertensions' (14.0%) and 'heart disease' (14.0%), and followed by 'respiratory disease' (12.8%). 4. Of the experiences of suffering between 40 and 60 years of longevous people, 'never' showed 55.7% of total longevous people surveyed, while the frequency of suffering decreased in the order of 'once' (22.7%), '2 times' (15. 8%) and '3 times' (4.7%). By the details of suffering between 40 and 60 years of longevous people, 'family life' showed the highest figure of 85. 1%, followed by 'business' (10. 1%). 5. By the attitude on suffering of longevous people, 'tried to forget soon' showed the highest figure of 31.2%, followed by 'continuous worried' (33. 3%), and followed by 'not worried' (7.2%).

  • PDF

Assessment of Demand and Use of Fresh-Cut Produce in School Foodservice and Restaurant Industries (학교급식 및 외식업체에서의 신선편이 농산물 사용실태 및 요구도 평가)

  • Sun, Shih-Hui;Kim, Ju-Hee;Kim, Su-Jin;Park, Hye-Young;Kim, Gi-Chang;Kim, Haeng-Ran;Yoon, Ki-Sun
    • Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
    • /
    • v.39 no.6
    • /
    • pp.909-919
    • /
    • 2010
  • The purpose of this study was to investigate the demand and use of fresh-cut produce in school foodservice and restaurant industries. The subjects of this survey study were 200 school nutritionists and 70 cooks or managers in the restaurant industry nationwide. The data were collected by means of self-administered or e-mail questionnaires. Data analysis was completed using the SPSS window (ver. 12.0) program including frequency, $\chi^2$-test and t-test. Survey questions assessed the general characteristic of respondents, and the supply, use, and demand of fresh-cut produce in school foodservice and restaurant industries. Over 74% of the subjects have used fresh-cut produce. Most of the school foodservice (84.0%) kept fresh-cut produce for one day, while restaurant industry (28.3%) kept them up to three days. The nutritionists of school foodservice and managers of restaurant industry considered origin and date of production as the most important factor, respectively, when fresh-cut produce were being used. Fresh-cut root vegetable, such as potato and carrot was used mostly. The main reason not to use the fresh cut produce was due to the distrust of the fresh-cut produce safety in school foodservice and cost in restaurant industry. The main problem in fresh-cut produce use was the need of rewashing (29.9%) in school foodservice and irregular size (39.0%) in restaurant industry. These results indicate that the quality standard and size specification must be prepared with production guideline of safe fresh-cut produce.

Perception of University Students on Nutrition Information According to Food & Nutrition Labeling Systems in Family Restaurant (패밀리 레스토랑의 영양표시제도 시행에 따른 대학생들의 영양정보에 관한 인식 연구)

  • Yang, Jung-Hwa;Heo, Young-Ran
    • Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
    • /
    • v.42 no.12
    • /
    • pp.2068-2075
    • /
    • 2013
  • The purpose of this study is to investigate the perception of university students on nutritional information according to food and nutrition labeling systems. A total of 310 customers, who visited family restaurant, were surveyed by a self-recorded questionnaire from March 2006 to April 2011. A total of 286 respondents were surveyed; of the respondents, 108 were males and 178 were females. Two surveys were conducted on the perception of the respondent's health: once in 2006 and once in 2011. According to these surveys, 63.6% and 54% of respondents perceived themselves as unhealthy, respectively. When ordering a meal, respondents were more concerned with price rather than taste, nutrition, new menu items, and food presentation. Compared with 2006, in 2011 more respondents felt that family restaurants provided enough nutritional information and practical use of that information to their customers. When surveyed, respondents felt that the total calories played a significantly higher role in ordering food than foods with higher nutritional values. There was a significant increase in satisfaction with the current nutrition labeling system; in 2006, $2.87{\pm}0.99$, and 2011, $3.35{\pm}0.84$. There was also a significant increase in individuals who felt that there was a need for an ingredient labeling system; $3.68{\pm}0.9$ in 2006 and $4.32{\pm}0.61$ in 2011. There was also a higher demand for nutritional information; $2.85{\pm}0.66$ in 2006, $3.06{\pm}0.65$ in 2011. From these results, it was concluded that the nutrition labeling system adopted by family restaurants did not affect the degree of customers' interest in nutritional information. Contrast to the results, the amount and frequency of nutritional information provided to customers have increased continuously since 2006. Therefore, the nutrition labeling system and recommended dietary allowance should be expanded in order to promote a healthy diet.

The Effects of Gastrodiae Rhizoma Powder on Plasma Lipid Profiles in the Elderly with Cardiovascular Disease (천마분말 복용이 심혈관계 질환 노인들의 혈중 지질 양상 변화에 미치는 영향)

  • Yang, Kyung-Mi
    • Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
    • /
    • v.37 no.7
    • /
    • pp.858-868
    • /
    • 2008
  • This study was carried out to investigate the effects of Gastrodiae Rhizoma powder on plasma lipid profiles in elderly volunteers with hyperlipidemia, hypertension, diabetes or heart disease. 32 elderly people, 11 males and 21 females aged $60{\sim}77$ years, were given Gastrodiae Rhizoma powder 15 g twice daily for 6 months. We investigated the antheropometric data, general characteristics and dietary habit by using questionnaires. Fasting blood samples were collected from the subjects before and after this 6 months intervention study. Blood pressure, glucose, hemoglobin and lipid levels of plasma, atherogenic index (AI) and cardiac risk factors (CRF, LHR, HTR) were determined before and after consumption of Gastrodiae Rhizoma powder. The mean body mass index (BMI) of the male and female subjects were 22.4 and 23.6, respectively. The percent of ideal body weight (PIBW) of males and females were 105.6% and 122.3%, respectively. The subjects had decreased intake frequency of fish and meat in their dietary habit. After consumption of Gastrodiae Rhizoma powder, there were no significant differences in blood pressure; however, the blood glucose significantly decreased with Gastrodiae Rhizoma intake in the males. In the subjects, the levels of plasma total cholesterol, triglyceride, and LDL-cholesterol were decreased by the consumption of Gastrodiae Rhizoma powder; while the levels of plasma LDL-cholesterol was significantly decreased in female. Blood pressure and biochemical assessment (blood glucose, hemoglobin, triglyceride, total cholesterol, LDL and HDL-cholesterol) of the subjects were within the normal range. It was found that AI, CRF and LHR were significantly decreased by Gastrodiae Rhizoma intake. The present results indicate that dietary supplementation of Gastrodiae Rhizoma improved lipid metabolism and cardiac risk factor in cardiovascular disease.

Study on Intestinal Viability and Optimum Feeding Method of Lactobacillus in Broiler Chickens (육계에 대한 유산균의 장내 생존성 및 적정 급여방법에 대한 연구)

  • Kim, Dong-Wook;Kim, Ji-Hyuk;Kang, Geun-Ho;Kang, Hwan-Ku;Lee, Sang-Jin;Lee, Won-Jun;Kim, Sang-Ho
    • Journal of Animal Science and Technology
    • /
    • v.50 no.6
    • /
    • pp.807-818
    • /
    • 2008
  • This study was conducted to prove the optimum feeding method of Lactobacillus in broiler chickens by investigating the intestinal viability of ingested Lactobacillus and the effect of feeding levels and frequency of Lactobacillus on growth performance in broiler chickens. In experiment 1, A total of one hundred, 5 weeks old male broiler chickens(Abor Acre) were fed Lactobacillus reuteri avibro2 expressed green fluorescent protein(GFP) at 104cfu/g diet to investigate the retention time of ingested Lactobacillus in the intestine for 1 day. The percentage of Lactobacillus expressed GFP in intestinal contents was 26% at 1 day after fed Lactobacillus expressed GFP. The percentage of Lactobacillus expressed GFP in intestinal contents was decreased in length of time. In experiment 2, A total of four hundred eighty, 1-d-old male broiler chicks(Abor Acre) were randomly divided into 4 groups with 4 replicates of 30 birds each to prove the optimum feeding level of Lactobacillus. The treatments were control(free antibiotics), Lactobacillus reuteri avibro2 5.0×10cfu/mL, 5.0×103cfu/mL, and 5.0×105cfu/mL. The final body weight and body wight gain of Lactobacillus reuteri avibro2 5.0×103cfu/mL were the highest in all groups(P<0.05). Feed conversion ratio was not significantly difference among the groups. The number of intestinal lactic acid bacteria in Lactobacillus treated groups tended to be improved or significantly increased as compared to that of control(P<0.05). Protein and fat digestibility in Lactobacillus 5.0×103cfu/mL and 5.0×105cfu/mL treated groups were significantly improved(P<0.05). No significant differences were observed on the availability of dry matter and crude ash in Lactobacillus treatments compared to those of control. In experiment 3, A total of six hundred 1-d-old male broiler chicks(Abor Acre) were randomly divided into 4 groups with 4 replicates of 30 birds each and were fed Lactobacillus reuteri avibro2 at intervals of 1, 2, 3, and 5 day for five weeks. Feeding level of Lactobacillus was 5.0×103cfu/mL The final body weight and body wight gain of Lactobacillus reuteri avibro2 5.0×103cfu/mL were the highest in all groups(P<0.05). The final body weight and body weight gain were significantly increased, when Lactobacillus was fed at intervals of 1 days, or 2 days. There were no significant differences in feed intake and feed conversion ratio among the all groups. The number of intestinal lactic acid bacteria in Lactobacillus treated groups tended to be improved or significantly increased as compared to that of control(P<0.05). No significant differences were observed on the number of coliform bacteria and Salmonella of ileum and cecum. Consequently, supplemental Lactobacillus influenced positive effects on the growth performance, nutrient availability and intestinal microflora. The optimum feeding level of Lactobacillus was 5.0×103cfu/mL, and the constant feeding of Lactobacillus was effective.

A Study on the Individual Radiation Exposure of Medical Facility Nuclear Workers by Job (의료기관 핵의학 종사자의 직무 별 개인피폭선량에 관한 연구)

  • Kang, Chun-Goo;Oh, Ki-Baek;Park, Hoon-Hee;Oh, Shin-Hyun;Park, Min-Soo;Kim, Jung-Yul;Lee, Jin-Kyu;Na, Soo-Kyung;Kim, Jae-Sam;Lee, Chang-Ho
    • The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine Technology
    • /
    • v.14 no.2
    • /
    • pp.9-16
    • /
    • 2010
  • Purpose: With increasing medical use of radiation and radioactive isotopes, there is a need to better manage the risk of radiation exposure. This study aims to grasp and analyze the individual radiation exposure situations of radiation-related workers in a medical facility by specific job, in order to instill awareness of radiation danger and to assist in safety and radiation exposure management for such workers. Materials and Methods: 1 January 2007 to 31 December 2009 to work in medical institutions are classified as radiation workers Nuclear personal radiation dosimeter regularly, continuously administered survey of 40 workers in three years of occupation to target, Imaging Unit beautifully, age, dose sector, job function-related tasks to identify the average annual dose for a deep dose, respectively, were analyzed. The frequency analysis and ANOVA analysis was performed. Results: Imaging Unit beautifully three years the annual dose PET and PET/CT in the work room 11.06~12.62 mSv dose showed the highest, gamma camera injection room 11.72 mSv with a higher average annual dose of occupation by the clinical technicians 8.92 mSv the highest, radiological 7.50 mSv, a nurse 2.61 mSv, the researchers 0.69 mSv, received 0.48 mSv, 0.35 mSv doctors orderly, and detail work employed the average annual dose of the PET and PET/CT work is 12.09 mSv showed the highest radiation dose, gamma camera injection work the 11.72 mSv, gamma camera imaging work 4.92 mSv, treatment and safety management and 2.98 mSv, a nurse working 2.96 mSv, management of 1.72 mSv, work image analysis 0.92 mSv, reading task 0.54 mSv, with receiving 0.51 mSv, 0.29 mSv research work, respectively. Dose sector average annual dose of the study subjects, 15 people (37.5%) than the 1 mSv dose distribution and 5 people (12.5%) and 1.01~5.0 mSv with the dose distribution was less than, 5.01~10.0 mSv in the 14 people (35.0%), 10.01~20.0 mSv in the 6 people (15.0%) of the distribution were analyzed. The average annual dose according to age in occupations that radiological workers 25~34 years old have the highest average of 8.69 mSv dose showed the average annual dose of tenure of 5~9 years in jobs radiation workers in the 9.5 mSv The average was the highest dose. Conclusion: These results suggest that medical radiation workers working in Nuclear Medicine radiation safety management of the majority of the current were carried out in the effectiveness, depending on job characteristics has been found that many differences. However, this requires efforts to minimize radiation exposure, and systematic training for them and for reasonable radiation exposure management system is needed.

  • PDF

A Studs on Farmers Syndrome and Its Risk Factors of Vinylhouse Workers and Evaluation of Risk Factors of Vinylhouse Works (일부 농촌지역 비닐하우스 농사자들의 작업환경 및 농부증 실태와 관련요인평가)

  • Lee, Jung-Jeung
    • Journal of agricultural medicine and community health
    • /
    • v.29 no.1
    • /
    • pp.101-119
    • /
    • 2004
  • Objectives: In order to estimate risk factors affecting the health of vinylhouse workers and harmful environments in vinylhouse working. Methods: The investigator performed questionnaires and laboratory examinations on 102 vinylhouse workers and 69 farmers in 7 myoens (Korean subcounties). one eup (a Korean town), Goryeong-gun, Gyeongsangbuk-do between April 8 and 18, 2004 (for 11 days), and measured the heavy metal in the air and the soil, temperature, humidity, air current, harmful gases in vinylhouses. Results: Even in cloudy days, the temperature in vinylhouses in daylight was $33.4^{\circ}$ and the temperature difference between inside and outside vinylhouses was around $16^{\circ}$. Oxygen concentration was similar inside and outside vinylhouses, while carbon dioxide concentration was lower inside than outside vinylhouses. Carbon monoxide was not detected. In the air inside vinylhouses, cadmium was not detected. Lean concentration in the soil was lower inside vinylhouses than outside vinylhouses at surface, while cadmium concentration was similar inside and outside vinylhouses in the soil except some areas. Out of male vinylhouse workers. 16.4---- were positive farmer's syndrome and 49.2---- were suspicious, while out of females, 41.5---- were positive and 46.3---- were suspicious. Out of male farmers, 30.4---- were positive farmer's syndrome, while out of female farmers, 60.0---- were positive and 28.3---- were suspicious. There was no difference between vinylhouse workers and farmers in the distribution of hypertension and abnormal liver function, while diabetes mellitus was more common in farmers than in vinylhouse workers. Vinylhouse working, sex, and hours of farming per day were selected as significant variables affecting farmer's syndrome in this study, and the rate of positive farmer's syndrome was rather lower in vinylhouse workers than in farmers. Females were higher than males in the rate, and those who farmed at least 10 hours per day were higher in the rate than those who farmed less than 10 hours per day. Out of the vinylhouse workers, no differences were found between the distribution of farmer's syndrome and farming-related variables such as the total period of farming, the size of farm land, the mean farming hours per day, the number of family members who farm together, the frequency of scattering agricultural chemicals. In addition, there were no differences between the distribution and the wearing masks and protectors and personal sanitation among those who scattered agricultural chemicals by themselves. There were no differences found in blood lean concentration, urinary cadmium concentration, serum cholinesterase, and hemoglobin according to the distribution of farmer's syndrome. In the vinylhouse workers, females were higher than males in the rate of farmer's syndrome, and those who farmed at least 10 hours per day were higher in the rate than those who farmed less than 10 hours per day. Meanwhile, the rate was lower in those who slept at least 8 hours a day than in those who slept less than 8 hours. Conclusions: In conclusion, the physical environments inside vinylhouses were harmful, but no significant difference was found in harmfulness of the chemical environments. The chronic diseases such as farmer's syndrome. hypertension, diabetes, and dyshepatia were not common in the vinylhouse workers than in the farmers. Meanwhile, farmer's syndrome was more common in the vinylhouse workers who worked longer and slept less.

  • PDF

Open Skies Policy : A Study on the Alliance Performance and International Competition of FFP (항공자유화정책상 상용고객우대제도의 제휴성과와 국제경쟁에 관한 연구)

  • Suh, Myung-Sun;Cho, Ju-Eun
    • The Korean Journal of Air & Space Law and Policy
    • /
    • v.25 no.2
    • /
    • pp.139-162
    • /
    • 2010
  • In terms of the international air transport, the open skies policy implies freedom in the sky or opening the sky. In the normative respect, the open skies policy is a kind of open-door policy which gives various forms of traffic right to other countries, but on the other hand it is a policy of free competition in the international air transport. Since the Airline Deregulation Act of 1978, the United States has signed an open skies agreement with many countries, starting with the Netherlands, so that competitive large airlines can compete in the international air transport market where there exist a lot of business opportunities. South Korea now has an open skies agreement with more than 20 countries. The frequent flyer program (FFP) is part of a broad-based marketing alliance which has been used as an airfare strategy since the U.S. government's airline deregulation. The membership-based program is an incentive plan that provides mileage points to customers for using airline services and rewards customer loyalty in tangible forms based on their accumulated points. In its early stages, the frequent flyer program was focused on marketing efforts to attract customers, but now in the environment of intense competition among airlines, the program is used as an important strategic marketing tool for enhancing business performance. Therefore, airline companies agree that they need to identify customer needs in order to secure loyal customers more effectively. The outcomes from an airline's frequent flyer program can have a variety of effects on international competition. First, the airline can obtain a more dominant position in the air flight market by expanding its air route networks. Second, the availability of flight products for customers can be improved with an increase in flight frequency. Third, the airline can preferentially expand into new markets and thus gain advantages over its competitors. However, there are few empirical studies on the airline frequent flyer program. Accordingly, this study aims to explore the effects of the program on international competition, after reviewing the types of strategic alliance between airlines. Making strategic airline alliances is a worldwide trend resulting from the open skies policy. South Korea also needs to be making open skies agreements more realistic to promote the growth and competition of domestic airlines. The present study is about the performance of the airline frequent flyer program and international competition under the open skies policy. With a sample of five global alliance groups (Star, Oneworld, Wings, Qualiflyer and Skyteam), the study was attempted as an empirical study of the effects that the resource structures and levels of information technology held by airlines in each group have on the type of alliance, and one-way analysis of variance and regression analysis were used to test hypotheses. The findings of this study suggest that both large airline companies and small/medium-size airlines in an alliance group with global networks and organizations are able to achieve high performance and secure international competitiveness. Airline passengers earn mileage points by using non-flight services through an alliance network with hotels, car-rental services, duty-free shops, travel agents and more and show high interests in and preferences for related service benefits. Therefore, Korean airline companies should develop more aggressive marketing programs based on multilateral alliances with other services including hotels, as well as with other airlines.

  • PDF