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Anti-oxidation, anti-inflammation, anti-wrinkle, and pore-tightening effects of phenolic compounds from Aeonium sedifolium leaves (소인제(Aeonium sedifolium) 잎 유래 phenolic 성분의 항산화, 피부주름생성 억제, 항염증 및 모공 수축 효과)

  • Jung-In Kim;Min-Jae Kim;Ha-Gyeong Jo;Da-Eun Jeong;Hye-Jin Park;Young-Je Cho
    • Food Science and Preservation
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    • v.30 no.2
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    • pp.347-357
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    • 2023
  • The succulent plant Aeonium sedifolium leaves contain several compounds that are of interest for their cosmetic uses on the skin. This study measured the inhibitory effects of enzyme production and antioxidant, astringent effects and skin wrinkles using Aeonium sedifolium leaves (ASL). The total phenolics compounds (TPC) content of ASL under optimal extraction conditions was 34.49 mg/g for hot water extract (ASLW) and 61.64 mg/g for 50% ethanol extract (ASLE). The ASLW and ASLE extracts were freeze-dried, powdered, and used as solids. TPC content, 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazy (DPPH) radical scavenging activity, and 2,2'-azinobis (3-ethylben-zothiazoline 6-sulfonate) (ABTS) radical inhibition of the ASL phenolics were tested. The DPPH radical scavenging activities of ASLW and ASLE were tested at a TPC of 100 ㎍/mL. ABTS radical inhibition showed antioxidant activity of 100.00% in ASLW and ASLE, and the antioxidant protection factor of ASLW and ASLE was 1.07 and 1.22, respectively. The thiobarbituric acid-reactive substance (TBARS) inhibitory activity of ASLW and ASLE was 77.00%. The elastase inhibitory activity of ASLE was 69.03%, and collagenase inhibition activity for ASLW and ASLE was 29.82% and 54.76%, respectively. The astringent effect of ASLE was 89.82% at a TPC of 200 ㎍/mL. Thus, we concluded that ASL has the potential as a functional cosmetic ingredient with anti-aging effects on the skin.

Effectiveness of controlled atmosphere container on the freshness of exported PMRsupia melon (CA 컨테이너를 이용한 수출 멜론의 선도유지 효과)

  • Haejo Yang;Min-Sun Chang;Puehee Park;Hyang Lan Eum;Jae-Han Cho;Ji Weon Choi;Sooyeon Lim;Yeo Eun Yun;Han Ryul Choi;Me-Hea Park;Yoonpyo Hong;Ji Hyun Lee
    • Food Science and Preservation
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    • v.30 no.5
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    • pp.822-832
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    • 2023
  • This study investigates the effectiveness of CA (controlled atmosphere) containers in maintaining the freshness of exported melons. The melons were harvested on June 5, 2023, in the Yeongam area of Jeollanam-do, Korea. The CA container was loaded with melon samples packed in an export box. The temperature inside the container was set at 4℃, while the gas composition was set at 5% oxygen, 12% carbon dioxide, and 83% nintrogen. Following two weeks of simulated transportation, quality analysis was conducted at 10℃. The melons were inoculated with spore suspensions, and the decay rate was determined to investigate the effect of the gas composition inside the CA container on suppressing the occurrence of Penicillium oxalicum in melons. The results were compared with a Reefer container set at the same temperature. The samples transported in the CA container exhibited lower weight loss. The melon pulp softening, respiration rate, and ethylene production were slower using the CA container. Moreover, the decay rate during the distribution period in the CA container was lower than in the Reefer container. In contrast, the firmness of melons transported in the Reefer container decreased significantly (from 9.03N to 5.18N) immediately after transportation. The soluble solid content (SSC) of melons transported in the Reefer container also decreased rapidly. The results suggested that the CA container is the optimal export container for maintaining the freshness of melons.

Use of extraction solvent method to monitor the concentrations of acidic polysaccharides and ginsenosides from red and black ginseng (추출용매에 따른 홍삼 및 흑삼의 산성다당체와 진세노사이드 함량 모니터링)

  • Gee Dong Lee
    • Food Science and Preservation
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    • v.30 no.5
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    • pp.857-867
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    • 2023
  • In this study, the extraction yield, acidic polysaccharides and ginsenosides of red and black ginseng were optimized by using the response surface methodology in consideration of the ethanol concentration and temperature of the extraction. The R2 of the model formula for the yield, acidic polysaccharides and ginsenosides was 0.8378-0.9679 (p<0.1). An optimal extraction yield of 5.29% was reached for red ginseng soluble solids when 1.52% ethanol concentration was used at a temperature of 67.27℃. Additionally, the optimal extraction yield for black ginseng soluble solid was 6.11% when 3.12% ethanol concentration was used at a temperature of 66.13℃. Furthermore, the optimal conditions for extracting acidic polysaccharides from red ginseng were using an ethanol concentration of 4.03% at a temperature of 69.61℃; a yield of 1.86 mg/mL was obtained. The optimal extraction yield for acidic polysaccharides from black ginseng was 1.80 mg/mL when extracted using a concentration of 24.67% of ethanol at a temperature of 71.14℃. An optimal extraction yield of 0.22 mg/mL was reached for ginsenoside Rg1 from red ginseng when 79.92% ethanol concentration was used at a temperature of 70.62℃. The optimal extraction yield of ginsenoside Rg3 from black ginseng was 0.31 mg/mL when ethanol was used at a concentration of 75.70% at a temperature of 65.49℃. The ideal extraction conditions for obtaining the maximum yield of both acidic polysaccharide and ginsenoside from red and black ginseng were using ethanol at a concentration between 35 and 50% at an extraction temperature of 70℃.

The Impact of Conflict and Influence Strategies Between Local Korean-Products-Selling Retailers and Wholesalers on Performance in Chinese Electronics Distribution Channels: On Moderating Effects of Relational Quality (중국 가전유통경로에서 한국제품 현지 판매업체와 도매업체간 갈등 및 영향전략이 성과에 미치는 영향: 관계 질의 조절효과)

  • Chun, Dal-Young;Kwon, Joo-Hyung;Lee, Guo-Ming
    • Journal of Distribution Research
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    • v.16 no.3
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    • pp.1-32
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    • 2011
  • I. Introduction: In Chinese electronics industry, the local wholesalers are still dominant but power is rapidly swifting from wholesalers to retailers because in recent foreign big retailers and local mass merchandisers are growing fast. During such transient period, conflicts among channel members emerge important issues. For example, when wholesalers who have more power exercise influence strategies to maintain status, conflicts among manufacturer, wholesaler, and retailer will be intensified. Korean electronics companies in China need differentiated channel strategies by dealing with wholesalers and retailers simultaneously to sell more Korean products in competition with foreign firms. For example, Korean electronics firms should utilize 'guanxi' or relational quality to form long-term relationships with whloesalers instead of power and conflict issues. The major purpose of this study is to investigate the impact of conflict, dependency, and influence strategies between local Korean-products-selling retailers and wholesalers on performance in Chinese electronics distribution channels. In particular, this paper proposes effective distribution strategies for Korean electronics companies in China by analyzing moderating effects of 'Guanxi'. II. Literature Review and Hypotheses: The specific purposes of this study are as follows. First, causes of conflicts between local Korean-products-selling retailers and wholesalers are examined from the perspectives of goal incongruence and role ambiguity and then effects of these causes are found out on perceived conflicts of local retailers. Second, the effects of dependency of local retailers upon wholesalers are investigated on local retailers' perceived conflicts. Third, the effects of non-coercive influence strategies such as information exchange and recommendation and coercive strategies such as threats and legalistic pleas exercised by wholesalers are explored on perceived conflicts by local retailers. Fourth, the effects of level of conflicts perceived by local retailers are verified on local retailers' financial performance and satisfaction. Fifth, moderating effects of relational qualities, say, 'quanxi' between wholesalers and retailers are analyzed on the impact of wholesalers' influence strategies on retailers' performances. Finally, moderating effects of relational qualities are examined on the relationship between conflicts and performance. To accomplish above-mentioned research objectives, Figure 1 and the following research hypotheses are proposed and verified. III. Measurement and Data Analysis: To verify the proposed research model and hypotheses, data were collected from 97 retailers who are selling Korean electronic products located around Central and Southern regions in China. Covariance analysis and moderated regression analysis were employed to validate hypotheses. IV. Conclusion: The following results were drawn using structural equation modeling and hierarchical moderated regression. First, goal incongruence perceived by local retailers significantly affected conflict but role ambiguity did not. Second, consistent with conflict spiral theory, the level of conflict decreased when retailers' dependency increased toward wholesalers. Third, noncoercive influence strategies such as information exchange and recommendation implemented by wholesalers had significant effects on retailers' performance such as sales and satisfaction without conflict. On the other hand, coercive influence strategies such as threat and legalistic plea had insignificant effects on performance in spite of increasing the level of conflict. Fourth, 'guanxi', namely, relational quality between local retailers and wholesalers showed unique effects on performance. In case of noncoercive influence strategies, 'guanxi' did not play a role of moderator. Rather, relational quality and noncoercive influence strategies can serve as independent variables to enhance performance. On the other hand, when 'guanxi' was well built due to mutual trust and commitment, relational quality as a moderator can positively function to improve performance even though hostile, coercive influence strategies were implemented. Fifth, 'guanxi' significantly moderated the effects of conflict on performance. Even if conflict arises, local retailers who form solid relational quality can increase performance by dealing with dysfunctional conflict synergistically compared with low 'quanxi' retailers. In conclusion, this study verified the importance of relational quality via 'quanxi' between local retailers and wholesalers in Chinese electronic industry because relational quality could cross out the adverse effects of coercive influence strategies and conflict on performance.

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A study on the air pollutant emission trends in Gwangju (광주시 대기오염물질 배출량 변화추이에 관한 연구)

  • Seo, Gwang-Yeob;Shin, Dae-Yewn
    • Journal of environmental and Sanitary engineering
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    • v.24 no.4
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    • pp.1-26
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    • 2009
  • We conclude the following with air pollution data measured from city measurement net administered and managed in Gwangju for the last 7 years from January in 2001 to December in 2007. In addition, some major statistics governed by Gwangju city and data administered by Gwangju as national official statistics obtained by estimating the amount of national air pollutant emission from National Institute of Environmental Research were used. The results are as follows ; 1. The distribution by main managements of air emission factory is the following ; Gwangju City Hall(67.8%) > Gwangsan District Office(13.6%) > Buk District Office(9.8%) > Seo District Office(5.5%) > Nam District Office(3.0%) > Dong District Office(0.3%) and the distribution by districts of air emission factory ; Buk District(32.8%) > Gwangsan District(22.4%) > Seo District(21.8%) > Nam District(14.9%) > Dong District(8.1%). That by types(Year 2004~2007 average) is also following ; Type 5(45.2%) > Type 4(40.7%) > Type 3(8.6%) > Type 2(3.2%) > Type 1(2.2%) and the most of them are small size of factory, Type 4 and 5. 2. The distribution by districts of the number of car registrations is the following ; Buk District(32.8%) > Gwangsan District(22.4%) > Seo District(21.8%) > Nam District(14.9%) > Dong District(8.1%) and the distribution by use of car fuel in 2001 ; Gasoline(56.3%) > Diesel(30.3%) > LPG(13.4%) > etc.(0.2%). In 2007, there was no ranking change ; Gasoline(47.8%) > Diesel(35.6%) > LPG(16.2%) >etc.(0.4%). The number of gasoline cars increased slightly, but that of diesel and LPG cars increased remarkably. 3. The distribution by items of the amount of air pollutant emission in Gwangju is the following; CO(36.7%) > NOx(32.7%) > VOC(26.7%) > SOx(2.3%) > PM-10(1.5%). The amount of CO and NOx, which are generally generated from cars, is very large percentage among them. 4. The distribution by mean of air pollutant emission(SOx, NOx, CO, VOC, PM-10) of each county for 5 years(2001~2005) is the following ; Buk District(31.0%) > Gwangsan District(28.2%) > Seo District(20.4%) > Nam District(12.5%) > Dong District(7.9%). The amount of air pollutant emission in Buk District, which has the most population, car registrations, and air pollutant emission businesses, was the highest. On the other hand, that of air pollutant emission in Dong District, which has the least population, car registrations, and air pollutant emission businesses, was the least. 5. The average rates of SOx for 5 years(2001~2005) in Gwangju is the following ; Non industrial combustion(59.5%) > Combustion in manufacturing industry(20.4%) > Road transportation(11.4%) > Non-road transportation(3.8%) > Waste disposal(3.7%) > Production process(1.1%). And the distribution of average amount of SOx emission of each county is shown as Gwangsan District(33.3%) > Buk District(28.0%) > Seo District(19.3%) > Nam District(10.2%) > Dong District(9.1%). 6. The distribution of the amount of NOx emission in Gwangju is shown as Road transportation(59.1%) > Non-road transportation(18.9%) > Non industrial combustion(13.3%) > Combustion in manufacturing industry(6.9%) > Waste disposal(1.6%) > Production process(0.1%). And the distribution of the amount of NOx emission from each county is the following ; Buk District(30.7%) > Gwangsan District(28.8%) > Seo District(20.5%) > Nam District(12.2%) > Dong District(7.8%). 7. The distribution of the amount of carbon monoxide emission in Gwangju is shown as Road transportation(82.0%) > Non industrial combustion(10.6%) > Non-road transportation(5.4%) > Combustion in manufacturing industry(1.7%) > Waste disposal(0.3%). And the distribution of the amount of carbon monoxide emission from each county is the following ; Buk District(33.0%) > Seo District(22.3%) > Gwangsan District(21.3%) > Nam District(14.3%) > Dong District(9.1%). 8. The distribution of the amount of Volatile Organic Compound emission in Gwangju is shown as Solvent utilization(69.5%) > Road transportation(19.8%) > Energy storage & transport(4.4%) > Non-road transportation(2.8%) > Waste disposal(2.4%) > Non industrial combustion(0.5%) > Production process(0.4%) > Combustion in manufacturing industry(0.3%). And the distribution of the amount of Volatile Organic Compound emission from each county is the following ; Gwangsan District(36.8%) > Buk District(28.7%) > Seo District(17.8%) > Nam District(10.4%) > Dong District(6.3%). 9. The distribution of the amount of minute dust emission in Gwangju is shown as Road transportation(76.7%) > Non-road transportation(16.3%) > Non industrial combustion(6.1%) > Combustion in manufacturing industry(0.7%) > Waste disposal(0.2%) > Production process(0.1%). And the distribution of the amount of minute dust emission from each county is the following ; Buk District(32.8%) > Gwangsan District(26.0%) > Seo District(19.5%) > Nam District(13.2%) > Dong District(8.5%). 10. According to the major source of emission of each items, that of oxides of sulfur is Non industrial combustion, heating of residence, business and agriculture and stockbreeding. And that of NOx, carbon monoxide, minute dust is Road transportation, emission of cars and two-wheeled vehicles. Also, that of VOC is Solvent utilization emission facilities due to Solvent utilization. 11. The concentration of sulfurous acid gas has been 0.004ppm since 2001 and there has not been no concentration change year by year. It is considered that the use of sulfurous acid gas is now reaching to the stabilization stage. This is found by the facts that the use of fuel is steadily changing from solid or liquid fuel to low sulfur liquid fuel containing very little amount of sulfur element or gas, so that nearly no change in concentration has been shown regularly. 12. Concerning changes of the concentration of throughout time, the concentration of NO has been shown relatively higher than that of $NO_2$ between 6AM~1PM and the concentration of $NO_2$ higher during the other time. The concentration of NOx(NO, $NO_2$) has been relatively high during weekday evenings. This result shows that there is correlation between the concentration of NOx and car traffics as we can see the Road transportation which accounts for 59.1% among the amount of NOx emission. 13. 49.1~61.2% of PM-10 shows PM-2.5 concerning the relationship between PM-10 and PM-2.5 and PM-2.5 among dust accounts for 45.4%~44.5% of PM-10 during March and April which is the lowest rates. This proves that particles of yellow sand that are bigger than the size $2.5\;{\mu}m$ are sent more than those that are smaller from China. This result shows that particles smaller than $2.5\;{\mu}m$ among dust exist much during July~August and December~January and 76.7% of minute dust is proved to be road transportation in Gwangju.

Shielding for Critical Organs and Radiation Exposure Dose Distribution in Patients with High Energy Radiotherapy (고 에너지 방사선치료에서 환자의 피폭선량 분포와 생식선의 차폐)

  • Chu, Sung-Sil;Suh, Chang-Ok;Kim, Gwi-Eon
    • Journal of Radiation Protection and Research
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    • v.27 no.1
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    • pp.1-10
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    • 2002
  • High energy photon beams from medical linear accelerators produce large scattered radiation by various components of the treatment head, collimator and walls or objects in the treatment room including the patient. These scattered radiation do not provide therapeutic dose and are considered a hazard from the radiation safety perspective. Scattered dose of therapeutic high energy radiation beams are contributed significant unwanted dose to the patient. ICRP take the position that a dose of 500mGy may cause abortion at any stage of pregnancy and that radiation detriment to the fetus includes risk of mental retardation with a possible threshold in the dose response relationship around 100 mGy for the gestational period. The ICRP principle of as low as reasonably achievable (ALARA) was recommended for protection of occupation upon the linear no-threshold dose response hypothesis for cancer induction. We suggest this ALARA principle be applied to the fetus and testicle in therapeutic treatment. Radiation dose outside a photon treatment filed is mostly due to scattered photons. This scattered dose is a function of the distance from the beam edge, treatment geometry, primary photon energy, and depth in the patient. The need for effective shielding of the fetus and testicle is reinforced when young patients ate treated with external beam radiation therapy and then shielding designed to reduce the scattered photon dose to normal organs have to considered. Irradiation was performed in phantom using high energy photon beams produced by a Varian 2100C/D medical linear accelerator (Varian Oncology Systems, Palo Alto, CA) located at the Yonsei Cancer Center. The composite phantom used was comprised of a commercially available anthropomorphic Rando phantom (Phantom Laboratory Inc., Salem, YN) and a rectangular solid polystyrene phantom of dimensions $30cm{\times}30cm{\times}20cm$. the anthropomorphic Rando phantom represents an average man made from tissue equivalent materials that is transected into transverse 36 slices of 2.5cm thickness. Photon dose was measured using a Capintec PR-06C ionization chamber with Capintec 192 electrometer (Capintec Inc., Ramsey, NJ), TLD( VICTOREEN 5000. LiF) and film dosimetry V-Omat, Kodak). In case of fetus, the dosimeter was placed at a depth of loom in this phantom at 100cm source to axis distance and located centrally 15cm from the inferior edge of the $30cm{\times}30cm^2$ x-ray beam irradiating the Rando phantom chest wall. A acryl bridge of size $40cm{\times}40cm^2$ and a clear space of about 20 cm was fabricated and placed on top of the rectangular polystyrene phantom representing the abdomen of the patient. The leaf pot for testicle shielding was made as various shape, sizes, thickness and supporting stand. The scattered photon with and without shielding were measured at the representative position of the fetus and testicle. Measurement of radiation scattered dose outside fields and critical organs, like fetus position and testicle region, from chest or pelvic irradiation by large fie]d of high energy radiation beam was performed using an ionization chamber and film dosimetry. The scattered doses outside field were measured 5 - 10% of maximum doses in fields and exponentially decrease from field margins. The scattered photon dose received the fetus and testicle from thorax field irradiation was measured about 1 mGy/Gy of photon treatment dose. Shielding construction to reduce this scattered dose was investigated using lead sheet and blocks. Lead pot shield for testicle reduced the scatter dose under 10 mGy when photon beam of 60 Gy was irradiated in abdomen region. The scattered photon dose is reduced when the lead shield was used while the no significant reduction of scattered photon dose was observed and 2-3 mm lead sheets refuted the skin dose under 80% and almost electron contamination. The results indicate that it was possible to improve shielding to reduce scattered photon for fetus and testicle when a young patients were treated with a high energy photon beam.

A Study on the Nonpoint Pollutant Loadings in Urban and Agricultural Areas (도시(都市)와 농촌(農村)에서의 비점원(非點源) 오염물(汚染物) 배출양상(排出樣相)에 관한 연구(硏究))

  • Lim, Bong Su;Lee, Byung Hyun;Choi, Eui So
    • KSCE Journal of Civil and Environmental Engineering Research
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    • v.4 no.2
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    • pp.45-53
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    • 1984
  • This study was conducted to investigate characteristics of nonpoint pollutant discharges and concentrations in runoff from the urban and agricultural areas in Korea. The analytical parameters used for this study were COD, BOD and SS. This study was conducted during the period from May to August 1981. Nonpoint pollutant mass loadings from the urban area were influenced by the rainfall intensity and the duration of rainfall, and etc. The concentrations of pollutants in the first flush was higher as the discharges increased. It was, however, found that the concentrations of pollutants in the heavy storm runoff were decreased due to the dilution effect. When other rainfall followed a peak rainfall, the concentrations of pollutants were lower than expected, because the first flush conveyed the most of pollutants deposited on the combined sewers. However the concentrations were increased in proportion to the increased flow when a rainfall of higher intensity than the first flush was continued. Yearly area yield rates in kg/ha were estimated to be 690.5(489.9~1,328) of COD, 319.7(226.8~614.8) of BOD, and 831.2(589.7~1,598) of SS. Pollutant sources in agricultural area were of the domestic waste water, manure composting stack, and agricultural solid wastes and etc. In the paddy field, yearly area yield rates in kg/ha were estimated to be 623.4(21.7~114) of COD, 18.65(9.53~34.5) of BOD, and 91.9(46.3~171.8) of SS. In the crop land, however, yearly rates in kg/ha were estimated to be 91.9(46.3~171.8) of COD, 23.09(11.7~42.5) of BOD, and 23.09(11.4~43.4) of SS. Pollutant sources in the feedlot area were originating from the feces of cattle, the cleaning water, the wastes spilled from manure composting stack during rain. Yearly area yield rate in kg/ha was estimated to be 3.804(2,489~6,658) of COD, 2.047(464~2,900) of BOD, and 1.149 (729~1,442) of SS. Pollutant discharges in the forest area were resulted from the organic layer like leaves and others deposited on the surface. Yearly area yield rate in kg/ha was estimated to be 9.86(5.45~18.56) of COD, 3.48(1.67~7.54) of BOD, and 4.64(9.74~10.35) of SS.

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Factors Related to Serum Level of Carbohydrate Antigen 19-9 and Cancer Antigen 125 in Healthy Rural Populations in Korea (일부 농촌지역 주민에서 혈청 CA19-9 및 CA125 농도에 영향을 미치는 인자에 관한 연구)

  • Lee, SK;Yoo, KY;Park, SK;Kang, DH;Kim, JQ;Chung, JK;Lee, MC
    • The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine
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    • v.32 no.1
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    • pp.71-80
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    • 1998
  • This study examines the levels of carbohydrate antigen 19-9(CA19-9) and cancer antigen 125(CA125) in serum and its related factors in healthy Korean population. Although CA19-9 and CA125 have been widely used tumor markers for gastroenteric cancers and ovarian cancer in Western countries, there are no information available on the serum levels of CA19-9 and CA125 in healthy population and the factors affecting the levels of these tumor markers in Korea. A cross-sectional study was performed to measure CA19-9 and CA125 among 76 healthy males and 95 healthy females in Korea. CA19-9 and CA125 were quantitated using solid-phase radioimmunoassay kits. Informations on the factors which might be related to the levels of these markers were collected by questionnaire(e.g., smoking, alcohol consumption, menstruation, oral pill use, breast-feeding history, etc.). There was no statistically significant difference in the mean of CA19-9 concentration between men(10.4 u/ml) and women(10.1 u/ml), whereas the mean of CA125 levels(11.2 u/ml) was higher in women than that(2.5 u/ml) in men. Although there was a statistically significant association between CA19-9 and average number of cigarette consumed per day(r=0.59, p=0.026) and total number of cigarettes consumed in women(r=0.74, p=0.003), the significance disappeared by multiple regression analysis after adjusting age and body mass index. Later age of menopause(p=0.035) and longer duration of breast-feeding(p=0.050) were significant predictors for CA125 levels in women by multiple regression analysis after adjusting age and body mass index. In conclusion, CA19-9 can be used as a stable tumor marker in clinical practices, however, menstruation and breast-feeding should be considered when CA125 is used in women.

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Structural Adjustment of Domestic Firms in the Era of Market Liberalization (시장개방(市場開放)과 국내기업(國內企業)의 구조조정(構造調整))

  • Seong, So-mi
    • KDI Journal of Economic Policy
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    • v.13 no.4
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    • pp.91-116
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    • 1991
  • Market liberalization progressing simultaneously with high and rapidly rising domestic wages has created an adverse business environment for domestic firms. Korean firms are losing their international competitiveness in comparison to firms from LDC(Less Developed Countries) in low-tech industries. In high-tech industries, domestic firms without government protection (which is impossible due to the liberalization policy and the current international status of the Korean economy) are in a disadvantaged position relative to firms from advanced countries. This paper examines the division of roles between the private sector and the government in order to achieve a successful structural adjustment, which has become the impending industrial policy issue caused by high domestic wages, on the one hand, and the opening of domestic markets, on the other. The micro foundation of the economy-wide structural adjustment is actually the restructuring of business portfolios at the firm level. The firm-level business restructuring means that firms in low-value-added businesses or with declining market niches establish new major businesses in higher value-added segments or growing market niches. The adjustment of the business structure at the firm level can only be accomplished by accumulating firm-specific managerial assets necessary to establish a new business structure. This can be done through learning-by-doing in the whole system of management, including research and development, manufacturing, and marketing. Therefore, the voluntary cooperation among the people in the company is essential for making the cost of the learning process lower than that at the competing companies. Hence, firms that attempt to restructure their major businesses need to induce corporate-wide participation through innovations in organization and management, encourage innovative corporate culture, and maintain cooperative labor unions. Policy discussions on structural adjustments usually regard firms as a black box behind a few macro variables. But in reality, firm activities are not flows of materials but relationships among human resources. The growth potential of companies are embodied in the human resources of the firm; the balance of interest among stockholders, managers, and workers of the company' brings the accumulation of the company's core competencies. Therefore, policymakers and economists shoud change their old concept of the firm as a technological black box which produces a marketable commodities. Firms should be regarded as coalitions of interest groups such as stockholders, managers, and workers. Consequently the discussion on the structural adjustment both at the macroeconomic level and the firm level should be based on this new paradigm of understanding firms. The government's role in reducing the cost of structural adjustment and supporting should the creation of new industries emphasize the following: First, government must promote the competition in domestic markets by revising laws related to antitrust policy, bankruptcy, and the promotion of small and medium-sized companies. General consensus on the limitations of government intervention and the merit of deregulation should be sought among policymakers and people in the business world. In the age of internationalization, nation-specific competitive advantages cannot be exclusively in favor of domestic firms. The international competitiveness of a domestic firm derives from the firm-specific core competencies which can be accumulated by internal investment and organization of the firm. Second, government must build up a solid infrastructure of production factors including capital, technology, manpower, and information. Structural adjustment often entails bankruptcies and partial waste of resources. However, it is desirable for the government not to try to sustain marginal businesses, but to support the diversification or restructuring of businesses by assisting in factor creation. Institutional support for venture businesses needs to be improved, especially in the financing system since many investment projects in venture businesses are highly risky, even though they are very promising. The proportion of low-value added production processes and declining industries should be reduced by promoting foreign direct investment and factory automation. Moreover, one cannot over-emphasize the importance of future-oriented labor policies to be based on the new paradigm of understanding firm activities. The old laws and instititutions related to labor unions need to be reformed. Third, government must improve the regimes related to money, banking, and the tax system to change business practices dependent on government protection or undesirable in view of the evolution of the Korean economy as a whole. To prevent rational business decisions from contradicting to the interest of the economy as a whole, government should influence the business environment, not the business itself.

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A Rheological Study on Creep Behavior of Clays (점토(粘土)의 Creep 거동(擧動)에 관한 유변학적(流變學的) 연구(研究))

  • Lee, Chong Kue;Chung, In Joon
    • KSCE Journal of Civil and Environmental Engineering Research
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    • v.1 no.1
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    • pp.53-68
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    • 1981
  • Most clays under sustained load exhibit time-dependent deformation because of creep movement of soil particles and many investigators have attempted to relate their findings to the creep behavior of natural ground and to the long-term stability of slopes. Since the creep behavior of clays may assume a variety of forms depending on such factors as soil plasticity, activity and water content, it is difficult and complicated to analyse the creep behavior of clays. Rheological models composed of linear springs in combination with linear or nonlinear dashpots and sliders, are generally used for the mathematical description of the time-dependent behavior of soils. Most rheological models, however, have been proposed to simulate the behavior of secondary compression for saturated clays and few definitive data exist that can evaluate the behavior of non-saturated clays under the action of sustained stress. The clays change gradually from a solid state through plastic state to a liquid state with increasing water content, therefore, the rheological models also change. On the other hand, creep is time-dependent, and also the effect of thixotropy is time-function. Consequently, there may be certain correlations between creep behavior and the effects of thixotropy in compacted clays. In addition, the states of clay depend on water content and hence the height of the specimen under drained conditions. Futhermore, based on present and past studies, because immediate elastic deformation occurs instantly after the pressure increment without time-delayed behavior, the factor representing immediate elastic deformations in the rheological model is necessary. The investigation described in this paper, based on rheological model, is designed to identify the immediate elastic deformations and the effects of thixotropy and height of clay specimens with varing water content and stress level on creep deformations. For these purposes, the uniaxial drain-type creep tests were performed. Test results and data for three compacted clays have shown that a linear top spring is needed to account for immediate elastic deformations in the rheological model, and at lower water content below the visco-plastic limit, the effects of thixotropy and height of clay specimens can be represented by the proposed rheological model not considering the effects. Therefore, the rheological model does not necessitate the other factors representing these effects. On the other hand, at water content higher than the visco-plastic limit, although the state behavior of clays is visco-plastic or viscous flow at the beginning of the test, the state behavior, in the case of the lower height sample, does not represent the same behavior during the process of the test, because of rapid drainage. In these cases, the rheological model does not coincide with the model in the case of the higher specimens.

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