• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.14 no.3
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• pp.1889-1894
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• 2013

Background: Basaloid squamous cell carcinoma of the esophagus (BSCCE) is a rare and distinctive tumor with no standard treatment. This study aimed to explore treatment in relation to prognosis of the disease. Methods: A total of 142 patients with BSCCE that underwent treatment in our hospital from March 1999 to July 2010 were retrospectively analyzed. All patients received surgery, 42 postoperative radiotherapy and 28 patients chemotherapy. Results: There were 26 patients included in stage I, 60 in stage II, 53 in stage III and 3 in stage IV. The clinical symptoms and macroscopic performances of BSCCE did not differ from those of typical esophageal squamous cell carcinoma. Among 118 patients receiving endoscopic biopsy, only 12 were diagnosed with BSCCE. The median survival time (MST) of the entire group was 32 months, with 1-, 3- and 5-year overall survival (OS) of 81.4%, 46.8% and 31.0%, respectively. The 5-year OS of stage I and II patients was significantly longer than that of stages III/IV, at 60.3%, 36.1% and 10.9%, respectively (p<0.001, p=0.001). The MST and 5-year OS were 59.0 months and 47.4% in patients with tumors located in the lower thoracic esophagus, and 27.0 months and 18.1% in those with lesions in the upper/middle esophagus (p=0.002). However, the survival was not significantly improved in patients undegoing adjunctive therapy. Multivariate analysis showed TNM stage and tumor location to be independent prognostic factors. Furthermore, distant metastasis was the most frequent failure pattern, with a median recurrence time of 10 months. Conclusion: BSCCE is an aggressive disease with rapid progression and a propensity for distant metastasis. It is difficult to make a definitive diagnosis via preoperative biopsy. Multidisciplinary therapy including radical esophagectomy with extended lymphadenectomy should be recommended, while the effectiveness of radiochemotherapy requires further validation for BSCCE.

• Journal of the Korean Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.103-111
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• 2011

Objectives : This study compared covert narcissistic propensity in adolescents with internet addiction tendency to normal adolescents. Further, we investigated the correlation between such propensities and anonymity in cyberspace, presence feeling and interactivity in internet gaming, and achievement motivation in adolescents with internet addiction tendencies. Methods : Male middle school students with internet addiction tendencies (Addiction Tendency Group, N=27) and normal students (Control Group, N=29) were recruited. The scale of internet use, Covert Narcissism Scale, scale of achievement motivation, scale of anonymity in cyberspace, scale of presence feeling in internet games, and the scale of interactivity in internet games were administered. A comparison of the average scores and correlation analyses were performed. Results : 1) Compared with Control Group, the Addiction Tendency Group showed significantly higher scores on all subscales of the Covert Narcissism Scale, and both the scale of presence feeling and that of interactivity in internet games. Further, the score on the scale of achievement motivation for the Addiction Tendency Group was significantly lower than that of the Control Group. 2) In the Addiction Tendency Group, the scores on several subscales of the Covert Narcissism Scale were significantly positively correlated with the scores on the scale of presence feeling in internet games, anonymity in cyberspace, and interactivity in internet games. However, in the Control Group, the scores of several subscales on the Covert Narcissism Scale were significantly negatively correlated with the score on the scale of achievement motivation, and was significantly positively correlated with the score on the scale of interactivity in internet games. There were no other significant correlations between the scores on the subscales of the Covert Narcissism Scale and the scores of either presence feeling in internet games or anonymity in cyberspace. Conclusion : These results suggested that adolescents with a tendency to be addicted to the internet exhibited higher covert narcissistic propensities than normal adolescents and that the covert narcissistic tendencies were related with presence feeling in cyber games as well as with anonymity in cyberspace.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.80 no.3
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• pp.296-303
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• 2017

Background: Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is related to high mortality and morbidity. There are no proven therapeutic measures however, to improve the clinical course of ARDS, except using low tidal volume ventilation. Metformin is known to have pleiotropic effects including anti-inflammatory activity. We hypothesized that pre-admission metformin might alter the progress of ARDS among intensive care unit (ICU) patients with diabetes mellitus (DM). Methods: We performed a retrospective cohort study from January 1, 2005, to April 30, 2005 of patients who were admitted to the medical ICU at Seoul National University Hospital because of ARDS, and reviewed ARDS patients with DM. Metformin use was defined as prescribed within 3-month pre-admission. Results: Of 558 patients diagnosed with ARDS, 128 (23.3%) patients had diabetes and 33 patients were treated with metformin monotherapy or in combination with other antidiabetic medications. Demographic characteristics, cause of ARDS, and comorbid conditions (except chronic kidney disease) were not different between metformin users and nonusers. Several severity indexes of ARDS were similar in both groups. The 30-day mortality was 42.42% in metformin users and 55.32% in metformin nonusers. On multivariable regression analysis, use of metformin was not significantly related to a reduced 30-day mortality (adjusted ${\beta}-coefficient$, -0.19; 95% confidence interval, -1.76 to 1.39; p=0.816). Propensity score-matched analyses showed similar results. Conclusion: Pre-admission metformin use was not associated with reduced 30-day mortality among ARDS patients with DM in our medical ICU.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.11-19
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• 2008

Studies of attentional focus effects, have shown that the performer's attentional focus plays an important role in the performance and learning of motor tasks. We examined the influence of attentional focus on the performance of dual tasks (a postural task and a suprapostural task) and used electromyography (EMG) to examine whether the differences between external and internal focus were also manifest at the neuromuscular level. The subjects (n=40) stood on a balance board (postural task) and held a bar horizontally (suprapostural task). All of the subjects performed under different attentional focus conditions: external (balancer on balance board) or internal (feet) focus on the postural task, and external (balancer on bar) or internal (hand) focus on the suprapostural task. The mean displacement velocity of the bar and the percent reference voluntary contraction (%RVC) of the biceps brachii were reduced when the subjects adopted an external focus on the suprapostural task (p<.05). In addition, the mean displacement velocity of the balance board and %RVC of the tibialis anterior were reduced when the subjects adopted an external focus on the postural task (p<.05). When the subjects adopted an external focus on the suprapostural task, the mean displacement velocity of the balance board and %RVC of the tibialis anterior were also reduced (p<.05). When the subjects' attentional focus was on the postural task, there were no differences in the mean displacement and %RVC of the biceps brachii between attentional focuses. The performance of each task was enhanced when subjects focused on the respective task. The suprapostural task goals had a stronger influence on postural control than vice versa. These results reflect the propensity of the motor system to optimize control processes based on the environmental outcome, or movement effect, that the performer wants to achieve.

• The Journal of Information Systems
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.79-110
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• 2016

Purpose Online Peer-to-peer lending (hereafter P2P lending), is a new method of lending money to unrelated individuals through an online financial intermediary. Usually in the online P2P transaction, individuals who would like to borrow money (hereafter borrowers) and those who would like to lend money (hereafter lenders) have no previous relationship. Based on enormous previous studies, this study develops an integrated model, particularly for the online P2P lending environment in China, to better understand the critical factors that influence lenders' intention to lend money through the online P2P lending platform. Design/methodology/approach In order to verify the hypotheses, we develop a questionnaire with 42 survey items. We measured all the items on a five-point Likert-type scale. We use Sojump.com to collect questionnaire and gather 246 valid responses from registered members of Renrendai.com. We analyzed the main survey data by using SPSS 18.0 and AMOS 20.0. We first estimated the reliability, validity, composite reliability and AVE and then conduct common method bias test. The mediating role of trust in platform and in borrower has been tested. Last we tested the hypotheses through the structural model. Findings The results reveal that service quality, information quality, structural assurance, awareness and reputation significantly impact lenders' trust in the online P2P lending platform. Second, awareness, reputation and perceived risk significantly impact lenders' trust in borrower and lending intention. Third, trust propensity has a positive effect on lenders' trust on borrower. Last, awareness, reputation, perceived risk, platform trust and borrower trust can directly impact lenders' lending intention.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Costume
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• v.57 no.2 s.111
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• pp.69-85
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• 2007

Despite the recovery of consumer expenditure and retailing in the Korean economy after 2001, the domestic apparel industry has been aggravated by negative growth in both productivity and production. The purpose of the stud? is to diagnose the develop competitive of the Korean apparel industry and derive implications for this after estimating the efficiency of the Korean apparel companies with Data Envelopment Analysis. Data Envelopment Analysis(DEA) is a methodology based in non-parametric analysis and linear programming. It was developed for measuring the relative efficiency of a set of firms that use inputs to produce outputs. Data used fer input and output variables in the analysis are drawn from financial statement recorded by the Korean Financial Supervisory Service. The initial input data comprise the number fo the employees, fixed assets, general management and selling expenses, and cost of sales. The initial outputs are the operating profit and the gross margin. To summary the results, the efficiencies of the Korean apparel companies has increased yearly in spite of being overabundance of investment in Labour and Capital. According to correlation between input and output variables, the Korean apparel industry has been revamping gradually from labor intensive industries to the capital. The companies need to reduce costs in the results from the number of employees, fixed asset and cost of sales to transform into an efficiently enterprise. The companies owning or obtaining a brand had bitter establish an outsourcing strategic in production, while OEM corporations are called far setting up a manufactory in domestic or abroad. Although the paper is derived some implications with production efficiencies, the relation between apparel companies and brand power, consumption level of consumer, and social trend is remained on a limitation to the study. The next research necessitates a topic with Fashion industry or examining the correlation between brand value, social propensity and profit margin.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Mechanical Engineers B
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• v.35 no.2
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• pp.179-188
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• 2011

Experiments were conducted in a constant-pressure combustion chamber to investigate the effects of hydrocarbon addition on cellular instabilities of syngas-air flames. The measured laminar burning velocities were compared with the predicted results computed using reliable kinetic mechanisms with detailed transport and chemistry. The cellular instabilities that included hydrodynamic and diffusional-thermal instabilities of the hydrocarbon-added syngas-air flames were identified and evaluated. Further, experimentally measured critical Peclet numbers for fuel-lean flames were compared with the predicted results. Experimental results showed that the laminar burning velocities decreased significantly with an increase in the amount of hydrocarbon added in the reactant mixtures. With addition of propane and butane, the propensity for cell formation was significantly diminished whereas the cellular instabilities for methane-added syngas-air flames were not suppressed.

• Asia-Pacific Journal of Business Venturing and Entrepreneurship
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• v.2 no.4
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• pp.135-151
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• 2007

A 5 days working system and a 6 days working system will be put in force at a food service consumption behavior of company workers. As a 5 days working system have adopted company, which the number of employee is more than 50, from July 1, 2007. The purpose of this paper is to study the In food service consumption behavior of company workers. There is no doubt that it is only way of surviving In current society to analyze the change of social situation and actively cope with the development. Especially, in the field of restaurant industries, they have to be equipped with a great store of experience and skill, theory and practical business, pertinent and rapid disposal. Consequently, it is very important to know the objective and practical knowledge for the restaurant industries trend by having a through grasp of the need of consumer and their propensity to consume. In order to study motives of eating-out and restaurants selection, office workers, who live in the national capital region, are interviewed. The period of interview is from Oct 1 to Nov 20, 2007. According to the result of interview, The most workers prefer to eating-out on week with family and friends. But family is eating-out the more preference to weekend compare to friends. And it is deduced that restaurant near tourist resorts or outside the city rather than in downtown will be prosperous with this result. That is to say, workers go out to eat delicious food regardless of traffic problem and distance, with the increase of national income and the car holding. This paper is worthy of notice in terms of trying to find the relevance between the working system and the restaurant industries development. In after research, I expect the more synthetic and deeper study should be made though the more technical methods.

• Asia-Pacific Journal of Business Venturing and Entrepreneurship
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.97-107
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• 2014

Intensive studies have been focused on conditions for business foundation and the entrepreneurship in light of management, economy, and social psychometrics. This study focused on potential effect of entrepreneurial characteristics on environment for entrepreneurial intentions in establishment of orientation of entrepreneurial intentions. Among various factors affecting on starting small and medium size enterprises, how entrepreneur's personal characteristics is related on entrepreneurial intentions was investigated. Manifest questionnaire was distributed among Venture to the professional graduate students, graduate entrepreneurship, and small business start-educated founders in order to deduce the relationship between the entrepreneurial characteristics and the environment of entrepreneurial Intentions. Previous studies and the literature survey were carried out to support for statistics of the questionnaire. 550 answers were collected and analyzed to find that propensity for achievement, innovation, enterprising, risk taking and creativity are key factors influencing inauguration of an enterprise. We have found that among these, risk taking, creativity, and innovation are analyzed to be as a regression coefficient but enterprising a side regression coefficient. Since this study can find its limitation in that comprehensive fields of entrepreneurship were analyzed in general, the result of this study should be used with caution, until more is known about its accessibility for predicting of success or failure of Start-up Company.

• Asia-Pacific Journal of Business Venturing and Entrepreneurship
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.61-70
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• 2014

Entrepreneurship provides working opportunities to not only an entrepreneur himself but also many other people on the way its process. Boosting entrepreneurship, therefore, seems the most effective way for activating one's economy as well as creating jobs. This study examines factors that influence on entrepreneurial intention of Korean and Korean-Chinese's who will eventually be the potential entrepreneurs. This model tests various theoretical research hypotheses relating to individual psychological characteristics, and entrepreneurial motivation and entrepreneurial intention. Valid 247 questionnaires have been collected within about one month of 2013. Statistical processing of the data collected from this survey to take advantage of the statistical package SPSS 18.0 program through a process of data coding in the following ways: by frequency analysis, factor analysis, regression analysis. The result of hypothesis testing are as follows. The result of analysis shows that risk-taking propensity and desire for self-achievement is not a significant factor to entrepreneurial intention in both countries. But entrepreneurial self-efficiency and entrepreneurial motivation positively influence entrepreneurial intention both of the Korean and Korean-Chinese. At the last, the study examines moderate effect, that is, whether social support influences on entrepreneurial intention as a moderate variable. it is confirmed that the social support does play a positive role to entrepreneurial intention. Beside, discussion is made on the implications of the study for academicians and practitioners, the limitations of the study, and some directions for future studies.