• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.42 no.2
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• pp.96-103
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• 2009

Objectives : We evaluated the health effects of exposure to BTEX(Benzene, Toluene, Ethylbenzene, m,p-Xylene, o-Xylene) in the Taean area after the Hebei Spirit oil spill. Methods : We used a questionnaire survey to look for health effects among 80 pregnant women 2 to 3 months following the Hebei Spirit oil spill. Their BTEX exposures were estimated using the CALPUFF method. We then used a multiple logistic regression analysis to evaluate the effects of BTEX exposure on the women s health effets. Results : Pregnant women who lived near the accident site reported more symptoms of eye irritation and headache than those who lived farther from the site. There was a trend of decreasing symptoms with an increase in distance from the spill site. Pregnant women exposed to higher ambient cumulative levels of Xylene were significantly more likely to report symptoms of the skin(OR 8.01 95% CI=1.74-36.76) in the first day after the accident and significantly more likely to report abdominal pain(OR 3.86 95% CI=1.02-14.59 for Ethylbenzene, OR 6.70 95% CI=1.82-24.62 for Xylene) during the 1st through 4th days following the accident. Conclusions : This study suggests that exposure to BTEX from an oil spill is correlated with an increased risk of health effects among pregnant women. This implies the need to take proper measures, including the development of a national policy for environmental health emergencies and a plan for studying the short- and long-term chronic health effects associated with such spills.

• Journal of radiological science and technology
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• v.32 no.3
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• pp.285-291
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• 2009

The aim of the present study was undertaken to investigate the association between diagnostic indices of metabolic syndrome(MetS) with carotid intima-media thickness using ultrasonography. The participants in the study were 315 male employees without carotid atherosclerosis and other cardiovascular disease. This study was approved by the Institutional Review Board of Occupational Safety and Health Research Institute. Written informed consent for the participants in this study was obtained from all individuals. Anthropometric parameters and biochemical characteristics were done using each specific equipments and the NCEP-ATP III criteria were used to define MetS. They were examined by B-mode ultrasound to measure the carotid intima-media thickness(carotid IMT) at the near and far walls of common carotid and bifurcation(bulb). The mean carotid IMT was $0.739{\pm}0.137\;mm$ and it's thickness significantly increased with the increase in age. Also, amounts of systolic and diastolic blood pressure, triglyceride and fasting glucose were significantly increased with the increase in age. Carotid IMT were significantly correlated with BMI(r=0.170, p=0.004), systolic(r=0.148, p=0.011) and diastolic blood pressure(r=0.123, p=0.036) and HDL-cholesterol(r=-0.164, p=0.005). On multiple logistic regression analysis for the diagnostic indices of MetS, carotid IMT were significantly associated with blood pressure(OR=4.220, p<0.01) and MetS(OR=1.301, p<0.05). The results indicate that blood pressure and MetS are important risk factors for carotid atherosclerosis.

• Asia pacific journal of information systems
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.1-23
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• 2008

As managing customer relationship gets more important, companies are strengthening information service using multi-channels to their customers as a part of their customer relationship management (CRM) initiatives. It means companies are now accepting such information services not as simple information -delivering tools, but as strategic initiatives for acquiring and maintaining customer loyalty. In this paper, we attempt to validate whether or not such various information services would impact on organizational performance in terms of CRM strategy. More specifically, our research objective is to answer the next three questions: first, how to construct the instruments to measure not information quality but information service quality?; second, which attributes of information service quality can influence corporate image and customer loyalty?; finally, does each information service type have unique characteristics compared with others in terms of influencing corporate image and customer loyalty? With respect to providing answers to those questions, the previous studies had been limited in that those studies failed to consider the variety of types of information service or restricted the quality of information service to information quality. An appropriate research model answering the above questions should consider the fact that most companies are utilizing multi channels for their information services, and include the recent strategic information service such as customer online community. Moreover, since corporate information service could be regarded as a type of products or services delivered to customer, it is necessary to adopt the criteria for assessing customer's perceived value when to measure the quality of information service. Therefore, considering both multi-channels and multi-traits may enable us to tell the detailed causal routes showing which quality attributes of which information service would affect corporate image and customer loyalty. As information service channels, we include not only homepage and DM (direct mail), which are the most frequently applied information service channels, but also online community, which is getting more strategic importance in recent years. With respect to information service quality, we abstract information quality, convenience of information service, and timeliness of information service through a wide range of relevant literature reviews. As our dependant variables, we consider corporate image and customer loyalty that both of them are the critical determinants of organizational performance, and also attempt to grasp the relationship between the two constructs. We conducted a huge online survey at the homepage of one of representative dairy companies in Korea, and gathered 367 valid samples from 407 customers. The reliability and validity of our measurements were tested by using Cronbach's alpha coefficient and principal factor analysis respectively, and seven hypotheses were tested through performing correlation test and multiple regression analysis. The results from data analysis demonstrated that timeliness and convenience of homepage have positive effects on both corporate image and customer loyalty. In terms of DM, its' information quality was represented to influence both corporate image and customer loyalty, but we found its' convenience have a positive effect only on corporate image. With respect to online community, we found its timeliness contribute significantly both to corporate image and customer loyalty. Finally, as we expected, corporate image was revealed to provide a great influence to customer loyalty. This paper provides several academic and practical implications. Firstly, we think our research reinforces CRM literatures by developing the instruments for measuring information service quality. The previous relevant studies have mainly depended on the measurements of information quality or service quality which were developed independently. Secondly, the fact that we conducted our research in a real situation may enable academics and practitioners to understand the effects of information services more clearly. Finally, since our study involved three different types of information service which are most frequently applied in recent years, the results from our study might provide operational guidelines to the companies that are delivering their customers information by multi-channel. In other words, since we found that, in terms of customer loyalty, the key areas would be different from each other according to the types of information services, our analysis would help to make decisions such as selecting strengthening points or allocating resources by information service channels.

• Journal of Hospice and Palliative Care
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.1-10
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• 2006

Purpose: Terminal cancer influences on patients as well as their family members. This research was performed to evaluate the quality of lift of primary family caregivers and to investigate the influencing factors. Methods: The results of survey were collected from 81 family caregivers who were taking care of hospitalized terminal cancer patients at an oncology department of university hospital in Daejeon from March 2005 to January 2006 with questionnaires. The questionnaires were consisted of the general characteristics of the subjects, and 36-items short-form Health Survey (SE-36) Korean version to evaluate the quality of life of family caregivers, the characteristics of patients and family caregivers' caring trait. Results: Family caregivers' mean (${\pm}SD$) SF-36 score was 47.9 (${\pm}20.7$). Influential factors on family caregivers' life quality were daily raring hours, economic burden, type of treatment; only supportive care, caring duration, sex, the numbers of ADLs (activity of daily livings) items that patients needed help in order by stepwised multiple logistic regression analysis (overall $R^2=0.639$, P=0.044). Conclusion: Daily raring hours and economic burden were two influential modifiable factors on family caregivers' quality of life. Therefore, social supportive systems are required to reduce family caregivers' daily caring hour and economic burden.

• Communications of Mathematical Education
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.415-444
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• 2010

The purpose of this study is to provide information that will help understand unique characteristics of mathematically gifted students and that can be utilized for special programs for mathematically gifted students, by investigating difference and relationship between attribution styles and attitude toward mathematics of mathematically gifted students and those of regular students. For that purpose, 202 mathematically gifted students and 415 regular students in 5th and 6th grades at elementary schools were surveyed in terms of attribution styles and attitude toward mathematics, and the result of the study is as follows. First, as for attribution styles, there was no difference between gifted students and regular students in terms of grade and gender, but there was significant difference in sub factors because of giftedness. Second, there was not significant difference between grades. but there was significant difference in sub factors between genders. Mathematically gifted students were more positive than regular students in every sub factor excepting gender role conformity, and especially they showed higher confidence and motivation. Third, according to the result of correlation analysis, there was significant static correlation between inner tendencies and attitude toward mathematics with both groups. The gifted group showed higher correlation between attribution of effort and attitude toward mathematics and inner tendencies and confidence than the regular group. The gifted group showed higher correlation in sub factors, and especially there was high static correlation between attribution of talent and confidence, and attribution of effort and motivation. Fourth, according to the result of multiple regression analysis, inner tendencies showed significant relation to attitude toward mathematics with both groups, and especially the influence of attribution of effort was high. Both attribution of effort and attribution of talent were higher in the gifted group than the regular group, and attribution of effort had a major influence on practicality and attribution of talent had a major influence on confidence.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.33 no.2 s.90
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• pp.176-186
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• 2000

The present study was carried out to clarify the structure and dynamics of copepod community and the relationship between this community and environmental factors during the period from February 1998 to July 1999. Copepods consists of 21 genera and 32 species, monthly variations of number of species were 15 species in May, 1998 and 2 species November, 1998. The number of species were 22 species in station 12 and station 1, 2, 3 occurred nauplii of copepoda only. Average abundance ranged from $8,330\;ind./m^3$ (in June, 1999) to $177\;ind./m^3$ (in November, 1998). Relationships between water temperature and number of species were as follows: 20 species occurred from 20.1 to $25.0^{\circ}C$ and nuplii of copepoda only occurred from 0.0 to $5.0^{\circ}C$. The number of species by salinity range were 19 species in $20.1{\sim}25.0%_o$ and 9 species in $0{\sim}0.5%_o$. The number of species by trophic state index (TSIm) of chlorophyll a were 25 species in oligotrophic state and 9 species in eutrophic state. Relationships between pH and number of species were as follows: 20 species occurred from 7.6 to 8.0 and from 9.1 to 9.5 was none. The number of species by DO range were 22 species in 6.5 to 7.5 mg/l and 1 species in 14.5 to 15.5 mg/l. The percentage calculated effect by stepwise multiple regression of the pearson correlation coefficient value of environmental factors and copepoda abundance (station 1-station 4) revealed that positive effect was 15.49% in COD, 25.86% in $Cl^-$, 19.75% in $NO_2-N$ and negative effect was 28.30% in $NO_3-N$. Also, Positive effect (station 5-station 12) revealed that 29.49% in water temperature, 28.27% in $NO_3-N$, 22.87% in $NO_2-N$ and negative effect was 30.18% in conductivity and 13.53% in DO.

• Magazine of the Korean Society of Agricultural Engineers
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.46-61
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• 1985

This study was performed to obtain the basic data which can be applied to the use of foaming mortars. The data was based on the properties of foaming mortars depending upon various mixing ratios and addings to compare those of cement mortar. The foaming agents which was used at this experiment were pre-foamed type and mix-foaming type which is being used as mortar structures. The foaming mortar, mixing ratios of cement to fine aggregate were 1:1, 1: 2, 1 : 3 and 1 : 4. The addings of foaming agents were 0.0%, 0.5%, 1.0%, 1.5%, 2.0%, 2.5% and 3.0% of cement weight. The results obtained were summarized as follows; 1. At the mixing ratio of 1 : 1, the lowest water-cement ratios were showed by foaming mortars, respectively. But it gradually was increased in poorer mixing ratio and decreased in more addition of foaming agent. The water-cement ratios were decreased up to 1. 8~22. 0% by G, 2. 2~24. 1 % by U and 0. 7~53. 1% by J foaming mortar than cement mortar. 2, At the mixing ratio of 1 : 1, the highest bulk densities were showed by foaming mortars, respectively. But, it gradually was decreased in poorer mixing ratio and more addition of foaming agent. The bulk densities were decreased up to 1. 4~20. 7% by G, 2. 3~23. 7% by U and 26. 5~56. 5% by J foaming mortar than cement mortar. Therefore, foaming mortar could be utilized to the constructions which need low strengths. 3. At the mixing ratio of 1:1, the lowest absorption rates were showed by foaming mortars, respectively. But, it gradually was increased in poorer mixing ratio and more addition of foaming agent. Specially, according to the absorption rate when immersed in 72 hours, the absorption rates were showed up to 1. 01~1. 24 times by G, 1. 03~1. 58 times by U and 1. 10~5. 91 times by J foaming mortar than cement mortar. It was significantly higher at the early stage of immersed time than cement mortar. 4. At the mixing ratio of 1:1, the lowest air contents were showed by foaming mortars, respectively. But, it gradually was increased in poorer mixing ratio and more addition of foaming agent. Air contents were contented up to 4. 0~17. 2 times by G, 5. 2~23. 2 times by U and 23. 8~74. 5 times by J foaming mortar than cement mortar. 5. At the mixing ratio of 1 : 1, the lowest decreasing rates of strengths were showed by foaming mortars, respectively. But, it gradually was increased in poorer mixing ratio and more addition of foaming agent. Specially, the strengths of 28 days were decreased 0. 4~2. 2% than those of 7 days by foaming mortar, respectively. Also, the correlations between compressive and tensile strength, compressive and ending strength, tensile and bending strength were highly significant as a straight line shaped, respectively. 6. The correlations between absorption rate, air content, compressive strength and bulk density, absorption rate, compressive strength and air content were highly significant, respectively. The multiple regression equations of water-cement ratio, bulk density, absorption ate, air content, compressive strength, tensile strength and bending strength were computed depending on a function of mixing ratio and addition of foaming agent. It was highly significant, respectively. 7. At the mixing ratio of 1 : 1, the highest strengths were showed by cement mortar and foaming mortars, by chemical reagents. But, it gradually was decreased in poorer mixing ratio. The decreasing rates of strengths were in order of H $_2$S0 $_4$, HNO$_3$ and HCI, J,U,G foaming mortar and cement mortar. Specially, at the each mixing ratio, each chemical reagent and 3.0% of foaming agent, J foaming mortar was collapsed obviously. Therefore, for the structures requiring acid resistence, adding of foaming agent should be lower than 3.0%.

• KOREAN JOURNAL OF CROP SCIENCE
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• v.51 no.7
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• pp.571-583
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• 2006

To secure high yield and good quality of rice, plant growth and nitrogen (N) nutrition status should be taken into account for managing panicle N topdressing (PN). This research aimed at investigating the rice yield response to PN under different plant growth and N nutrition status that was conditioned by different rates of basal and tillering N fertilizer (BTN). Stepwise multiple regression (SMR) was used for the analysis of yield response to (i) BTN and PN, and (ii) shoot N content at PIS (BTNup) and shoot N uptake from PIS to harvest (PNup). Rice yield increased significantly as BTN and PN Increased, but there was no significant interaction between BTN and PN. Yield increased almost linearly with the increasing BTN and PN up to $10{\sim}12$ and $6{\sim}7\;kgN/10a$, and with the increasing BTNup and PNup up to $6{\sim}7$ and $5{\sim}6\;kgN/10a$, respectively. But yield increment tended to decrease above those levels. These declines resulted from the decreased ripened grain ratio and 1000 grain weight even though spikelet number per unit area increased more at above those N levels. Spikelet number per unit area had the linear relationships with the shoot N uptake until heading, and with yield. Like most yield response curves, yield response in this experiment followed the diminishing return function with BTNup, PNup, and plant N uptake from seeding to harvest. Regardless of the degree of BTNup and PNup, yield had a quadratic relationship ($R^{2}$>0.88) with whole shoot N accumulation until harvest, suggesting that the yield determination was closely related with the whole shoot N uptake until harvest regardless of the differences in seasonal shoot N uptake.

• KOREAN JOURNAL OF CROP SCIENCE
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• v.51 no.7
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• pp.624-631
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• 2006

This study was conducted to make clustering analysis based on major physicochemical characteristics related to palatability of cooked rice. 89 Korea-bred japonica rice cultivars could be largely classified into two groups, that is, Dongjinbyeo and Ilpumbyeo groups. The Ilpumbyeo group was divided into two subgroups; Ilpumbyeo and Chucheongbyeo groups. The two major rice groups showed significant difference in viscogram properties of rice flour. Ilpumbyeo group revealed slightly higher estimates of viscogram traits as compared with Dongiinbyeo group in average. Early-maturing rice group showed slighly lower estimates of taste meter and higher protein content compared with medium or medium late maturing ones. Also, early and medium-maturing groups exhibited slightly higher estimates of peak, hot and breakdown viscosities but lower estimates of consistenency and setback viscosities compared with medium-late-maturing one. The rice cultivars developed in 2000's revealed slightly higher estimates of peak, hot, cool and consistency viscosities compared with those in $1980's{\sim}1990's$. The grain quality properties significantly associated with the esimates of Toyo taste meter were protein and amylose contents and hot viscosity. The lower protein content and hot viscosity and the higher amylose content, the higher estimates of the taster meter. The protein content was highly negatively correlated with amylose content of milled rice. The important quality components contributed to multiple regression formula for estimating the Toyo taster meter values were protein content, alkali digestion value, and hot viscosity. The fittness of this formula was about 49% along with the coefficients of determination.

• Pediatric Infection and Vaccine
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.142-149
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• 2009

Purpose : The aim of this study was to determine the diagnostic value of serum procalcitonin (PCT) compared with that of C-reactive protein (CRP) and the total white blood cell count (WBC) in predicting bacterial infections in febrile infants<6 months of age. Methods : A prospective study was performed with infants <6 months of age who were admitted to the Department of Pediatrics with a fever of uncertain source between July and September 2008. Spinal taps were performed according to clinical symptoms and physical examination. Serum PCT levels were measured using an enzyme-linked fluorescent assay. Results : Seventy-one infants (mean age, 2.62 months) were studied. Twenty-six infants (36.6%) had urinary tract infections (UTIs), and 22 infants (31.0%) had viral meningitis. The remaining infants had acute pharyngitis (n=1), herpangina (n=1), upper respiratory tract infections (n=7), acute bronchiolitis (n=8), acute gastroenteritis (n=4), and bacteremia (n=2). The median WBC and CRP levels were significantly higher in infants with UTIs than in infants with viral meningitis. However, there were no differences in the median PCT levels between the groups (0.14 ng/mL vs. 0.11 ng/mL, P=0.419). The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve was 0.792 (95% CI, 0.65-0.896) for WBC, 0.77 (95% CI, 0.626-0.879) for CRP, and 0.568 (95% CI, 0.417-0.710) for PCT. An elevated WBC count (>11,920/${\mu}L$) and an increased CRP level (>1.06mg/dL) were significant predictors of UTIs based on multiple logistic regression analysis. Conclusion : Serum PCT concentrations should be interpreted with caution in infants <6 months of age with a fever of uncertain source.