• Asia pacific journal of information systems
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.99-124
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• 2012

Our society has long been talking about necessity for innovation. Since companies in particular need to carry out business innovation in their overall processes, they have attempted to apply many innovation factors on sites and become to pay more attention to their innovation. In order to achieve this goal, companies has applied various information technologies (IT) on sites as a means of innovation, and consequently IT have been greatly developed. It is natural for the field of IT to have faced another revolution which is called cloud computing, which is expected to result in innovative changes in software application via the Internet, data storing, the use of devices, and their operations. As a vehicle of innovation, cloud computing is expected to lead the changes and advancement of our society and the business world. Although many scholars have researched on a variety of topics regarding the innovation via IT, few studies have dealt with the issue of could computing as IT. Thus, the purpose of this paper is to set the variables of innovation attributes based on the previous articles as the characteristic variables and clarify how these variables affect "Performance Expectancy" of companies and the intention of using cloud computing. The result from the analysis of data collected in this study is as follows. The study utilized a research model developed on the innovation diffusion theory to identify influences on the adaptation and spreading IT for cloud computing services. Second, this study summarized the characteristics of cloud computing services as a new concept that introduces innovation at its early stage of adaptation for companies. Third, a theoretical model is provided that relates to the future innovation by suggesting variables for innovation characteristics to adopt cloud computing services. Finally, this study identified the factors affecting expectation and the intention to use the cloud computing service for the companies that consider adopting the cloud computing service. As the parameter and dependent variable respectively, the study deploys the independent variables that are aligned with the characteristics of the cloud computing services based on the innovation diffusion model, and utilizes the expectation for performance and Intention to Use based on the UTAUT theory. Independent variables for the research model include Relative Advantage, Complexity, Compatibility, Cost Saving, Trialability, and Observability. In addition, 'Acceptance for Adaptation' is applied as an adjustment variable to verify the influences on the expected performances from the cloud computing service. The validity of the research model was secured by performing factor analysis and reliability analysis. After confirmatory factor analysis is conducted using AMOS 7.0, the 20 hypotheses are verified through the analysis of the structural equation model, accepting 12 hypotheses among 20. For example, Relative Advantage turned out to have the positive effect both on Individual Performance and on Strategic Performance from the verification of hypothesis, while it showed meaningful correlation to affect Intention to Use directly. This indicates that many articles on the diffusion related Relative Advantage as the most important factor to predict the rate to accept innovation. From the viewpoint of the influence on Performance Expectancy among Compatibility and Cost Saving, Compatibility has the positive effect on both Individual Performance and on Strategic Performance, while it showed meaningful correlation with Intention to Use. However, the topic of the cloud computing service has become a strategic issue for adoption in companies, Cost Saving turns out to affect Individual Performance without a significant influence on Intention to Use. This indicates that companies expect practical performances such as time and cost saving and financial improvements through the adoption of the cloud computing service in the environment of the budget squeezing from the global economic crisis from 2008. Likewise, this positively affects the strategic performance in companies. In terms of effects, Trialability is proved to give no effects on Performance Expectancy. This indicates that the participants of the survey are willing to afford the risk from the high uncertainty caused by innovation, because they positively pursue information about new ideas as innovators and early adopter. In addition, they believe it is unnecessary to test the cloud computing service before the adoption, because there are various types of the cloud computing service. However, Observability positively affected both Individual Performance and Strategic Performance. It also showed meaningful correlation with Intention to Use. From the analysis of the direct effects on Intention to Use by innovative characteristics for the cloud computing service except the parameters, the innovative characteristics for the cloud computing service showed the positive influence on Relative Advantage, Compatibility and Observability while Complexity, Cost saving and the likelihood for the attempt did not affect Intention to Use. While the practical verification that was believed to be the most important factor on Performance Expectancy by characteristics for cloud computing service, Relative Advantage, Compatibility and Observability showed significant correlation with the various causes and effect analysis. Cost Saving showed a significant relation with Strategic Performance in companies, which indicates that the cost to build and operate IT is the burden of the management. Thus, the cloud computing service reflected the expectation as an alternative to reduce the investment and operational cost for IT infrastructure due to the recent economic crisis. The cloud computing service is not pervasive in the business world, but it is rapidly spreading all over the world, because of its inherited merits and benefits. Moreover, results of this research regarding the diffusion innovation are more or less different from those of the existing articles. This seems to be caused by the fact that the cloud computing service has a strong innovative factor that results in a new paradigm shift while most IT that are based on the theory of innovation diffusion are limited to companies and organizations. In addition, the participants in this study are believed to play an important role as innovators and early adapters to introduce the cloud computing service and to have competency to afford higher uncertainty for innovation. In conclusion, the introduction of the cloud computing service is a critical issue in the business world.

• Asia pacific journal of information systems
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.45-65
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• 2008

The rapid growth of the Internet has increased the amount of transmission of personally identifiable information. At the same time, with new Internet related technologies, organizations are trying to collect and access more personal information than before, which in turn makes individuals concern more about their information privacy. For their successful businesses, organizations have tried to alleviate these concerns in two ways: (1) by offering privacy policies that promise certain level of privacy protection; (2) by offering benefits such as financial gains or convenience. In this paper, we interpret these actions in the context of the information processing theory of motivation. This paper follows Hann et al.(2007)'s methods to analyze Internet users privacy concerns in Korea and tries to compare the findings. Our research objectives are as follows: First, we analyze privacy concern mitigation strategies in the framework of the expectancy theory of motivation. Subsequently, we show how the expectancy theory based framework is linked o the conjoint analysis. We empirically validate the predictions that the means to mitigate privacy concerns are associated with positive valences resulting in an increase in motivational score. In order to accommodate real-life contexts, we investigate these means in trade-off situation, where an organization may only be able to offer partially complete privacy protection and/or promotions and/or convenience, While privacy protection (secondary use, improper access) are associated with positive valences, we also find that financial gains can significantly increase the individuals' motivational score of a website in Korea. One important implication of this empirical analysis is that organizations may possess means to actively manage the privacy concerns of Internet users. Our findings show that privacy policies are valued by users in Korea just as in the US or Singapore. Hence, organizations can capitalize on this, by stating their privacy policy more prominently. Also organizations would better think of strategies or means that may increase online users' willingness to provide personal information. Since financial incentives also significantly increase the individuals' motivational score of website participation, we can quantify the value of website privacy protection in terms of monetary gains. We find that Korean Internet users value the total privacy protection (protection against errors, improper access, and secondary use of personal information) as worthy as KW 25,550, which is about US 28. Having done this conjoint analysis, we next adopt cluster analysis methodology. We identify two distinct segments of Korea's internet users-privacy guardians and information sellers, and convenience seekers. The immediate implication of our study is that firms with online presence must differentiate their services to serve these distinct segments to best meet the needs of segments with differing trade-offs between money and privacy concerns. Information sellers are distinguished from privacy guardians by prior experience of information provision, To the extent that businesses cannot observe an individual's prior experience, they must use indirect methods to induce segmentation by self-selection as suggested in classic economics literature of price discrimination, Businesses could use monetary rewards to attract information sellers to provide personal information. One step forward from the societal trends that emphasize the need of legal protection of information privacy, our study wants to encourage organizations and related authorities to have the viewpoints to consider both importance of privacy protection and the necessity of information trade for the growth of e-commerce.

• KSCE Journal of Civil and Environmental Engineering Research
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• v.32 no.4D
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• pp.345-356
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• 2012

Road pavement requires repetitive maintenance works to maintain satisfactory service level to the public. However, the repetitive maintenance works upon deteriorated pavement structure make negative effects to deterioration speed. It often leads to inefficient use of limited budget. For that reason, the pavements require reconstruction work to recover their original performance. Recently, construction demands in the Korean national highway have already been reached to maximum level, and the aged pavements start to demand much more reconstruction works. However, in the real world, road agencies have often been confused when they determine maintenance design for such aged road sections due to budget constraint. It is because there is no reliable long-term maintenance strategy that supports their decision making. To support their decision making, this paper aimed to suggest the best maintenance strategy considering changing process of pavement performance by repetitive maintenance works. As an analysis method, probability distribution and hazard function to estimate the life expectancy were adopted, and then the results were used for long-term life cycle cost analysis with deterministic or Monte-Carlo method under various scenarios. As an empirical study, the Korean national highway data that has long-maintenance history data since 1986 has been applied. Last, this paper considered quality assurance of maintenance work to improve maintenance quality. These could be important information as a part of long-term maintenance strategy of pavement.

• Journal of Digital Convergence
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• v.10 no.9
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• pp.239-251
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• 2012

This study aims to seek the policies and the plans for the successful small business start-up through an exploratory study about the factors affecting the success rate of small business start-up. To measure the performance of the start-up business(sales revenue, net profit, and outcome expectancy), the characteristics of founders (experience, psychological characteristics) and the preparation of small business start-up were measured as independent variables and the self-efficacy was measured as a parameter. 427 small business owners were targeted and structured self-administered questionnaires were collected from them. For the data process, a multiple regression analysis by SPSS 18.0 was conducted. The findings demonstrated the experience in the same business, the need for achievement, the risk-taking propensity, the preparation period for business start-up had a significant effect on self-efficacy, and experience of failure and the ratio of net worth had a significant effect on sales revenue and net profit, and the locus of control had a significant effect on outcome expectancy through the self-efficacy, a parameter. It was also noted the self-efficacy of small business owners and the business performance varied depending on the characteristics of them and the preparation process of the business start-up. Based on the those findings, the theoretical and practical implications were discussed and the suggestions about the limits of the study, future policies and studies were made.

• Korea journal of population studies
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.89-113
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• 2006

Over the past four decades reproductive behavior has changed rapidly in much of the developing countries. The average total fertility rate has fallen by half from six or more to near three today. Between 1960 and 2000 the largest fertility decline occurred in Asia and Latin America. The mortality rate has also decreased in most developing countries. The purpose of this study is to review the pattern and characteristic of demographic transition in developing countries. At first, this study focuses on the regional fertility and mortality transition. Africa, the total fertility rate is still high, can be match to the second stage of demographic transition. Similar case is found in Southern West Asia areas. However, the fertility rate has therd stage of demographic transition. The same pattern is found in Latin America. The mortality rate has also decreased in most of developing countries. It is interesting to find that there is a clear difference among developing countries. In terms of crude death rate, Latin American countries show the lowest rate. while African countries remain still high rate. About mortality, African countries show a high level in terms of both crude death rate and infant mortality rate. African countries also show the lowest level of life expectancy in the world. One of the reasons for low level of life expectancy in Africa is the widespread of AIDS in this areas. This study suggests that we should include 'AIDS' in the study of mortality in African countries.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.799-805
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• 2016

Background: There is no standard treatment for patients with platinum-resistant or refractory epithelial ovarian cancer. Single agent chemotherapies have evidence of more efficacy and less toxicity than combination therapy. Most are very expensive, with appreciable toxicity and minimal survival. Since it is difficult to make comparison between outcomes, economic analysis of single-agent chemotherapy regimens and best supportive care may help to make decisions about an appropriate management for the affected patients. Objective: To evaluate the cost effectiveness of second-line chemotherapy compared with best supportive care for patients with platinum-resistant or refractory epithelial ovarian cancer. Materials and Methods: A Markov model was used to estimate the effectiveness and total costs associated with treatments. The hypothetical patient population comprised women aged 55 with platinum-resistant or refractory epithelial ovarian cancer. Four types of alternative treatment options were evaluated: 1) gemcitabine followed by BSC; 2) pegylated liposomal doxorubicin (PLD) followed by BSC; 3) gemcitabine followed by topotecan; and 4) PLD followed by topotecan. Baseline comparator of alternative treatments was BSC. Time horizon of the analysis was 2 years. Health care provider perspective and 3% discount rate were used to determine the costs of medical treatment in this study. Quality-adjusted life-years (QALY) were used to measure the treatment effectiveness. Treatment effectiveness data were derived from the literature. Costs were calculated from unit cost treatment of epithelial ovarian cancer patients at various stages of disease in King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital (KCMH) in the year 2011. Parameter uncertainty was tested in probabilistic sensitivity analysis by using Monte Carlo simulation. One-way sensitivity analysis was used to explore each variable's impact on the uncertainty of the results. Results: Approximated life expectancy of best supportive care was 0.182 years and its total cost was 26,862 Baht. All four alternative treatments increased life expectancy. Life expectancy of gemcitabine followed by BSC, PLD followed by BSC, gemcitabine followed by topotecan and PLD followed by topotecan was 0.510, 0.513, 0.566, and 0.570 years, respectively. The total cost of gemcitabine followed by BSC, PLD followed by BSC, gemcitabine followed by topotecan and PLD followed by topotecan was 113,000, 124,302, 139,788 and 151,135 Baht, respectively. PLD followed by topotecan had the highest expected quality-adjusted life-years but was the most expensive of all the above strategies. The incremental cost-effectiveness ratios (ICER) of gemcitabine followed by BSC, PLD followed by BSC, gemcitabine followed by topotecan and PLD followed by topotecan was 344,643, 385,322, 385,856, and 420,299 Baht, respectively. Conclusions: All of the second-line chemotherapy strategies showed certain benefits due to an increased life-year gained compared with best supportive care. Moreover, gemcitabine as second-line chemotherapy followed by best supportive care in progressive disease case was likely to be more effective strategy with less cost from health care provider perspective. Gemcitabine was the most cost-effective treatment among all four alternative treatments. ICER is only an economic factor. Treatment decisions should be based on the patient benefit.

• The Journal of Pediatrics of Korean Medicine
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.75-83
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• 2001

Background and method : The Cervi cornu parvum for children patients have been widely used nowadays: however, there have been no reports about the children patients' conditions and the parents' responses. To investigate these things, the questionnaires were used for the children patients(the ages between 0 and 15) who took the herbal medication combined with Cervix cornu parvum and their parents from January 1, 2000 to June 31 at the Dong-seo oriental Hospital. The chief complaints such as common cold, dyspepsia of using Cervi cornu parvum were divided into five categories and the changes were observed, scoring each stages. Besides, the quantity of taking herbal medication combined with Cervix cornu parvum, the expectancy, the satisfaction, the continual favor were included in the questionnaires. The result : 1. The trackable sample was 53: male infants 34(64.2%), female infants 19(35.8%). There is no differences between genders in the treating results. The treating results were increased after taking herbal medication combined with Cervi cornu parvum 2. When age is grouped by three categories(0-1, 2-6, 7-14 ages), the statistics shows that the treating results have no differences between each group(P>0.05) Regardless of the ages, the treats have correlated.(P<0.05) 3. When each symptoms made treated one case are analyzed, there have been correlations between the taking herbal medication combined with Cervi cornu parvum and recovery.(P<0.05) 4. The treating result have not affected by the expectancy.(P>0.05) Each group(good, moderate, poor) showed the recovery after the treatment.(P<0.05) 5. When the satisfaction divided into three groups(good, moderate, poor) there existed differences between groups.(P<0.05) Especially, the group with high expectancy increased the treatment. 6. About the recognition of herbal medication combined with Cervi cornu parvum is like this: the health refreshment, ordinary taking whenever turning-point of seasons comes, treatment, disbelieving the overdose of herbal medication combined with Cervi cornu parvum, disbelief about the security of the medicine such as fake medicine, mad cow diseases, the imported medicine, ignorance about the way of taking the medicine.

• The Journal of Industrial Distribution & Business
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• v.10 no.3
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• pp.59-72
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• 2019

Purpose - Blockchain technology, which has the characteristics of credibility, security, integrity and decentralization, has brought innovation to internet platforms that mediate peer to peer transactions, as well as changes to the contents distribution services. Blockchain-based copyright distribution platforms can solve problems which have been articulated on prior internet social networks: increased market dominance of platform business because of centralization with no reward to creators who upload on platforms, and lack of fairness, such as unfair profit distribution between the copyright holder and businesses. With this background, the current research confirmed the factors that affect the intention of usage and behaviors, targeting potential users of blockchain-based copyright distribution platforms. Research design, data, and methodology - Centered around the UTAUT2 Model, the research model was designed with 'Perceived Security' added as Construct, and 'Age' and 'Knowledge Level' added as moderating variables. For data, 607 responses were collected by an online survey, and 601 responses were included in the final analysis. We analyzed the research model and sample by using SPSS 23.0 and AMOS 23.0 on the collected responses. Results - First, results of research on whether Constructs make positive effects on Intention of use is: social influence, facilitating conditions, habit, and perceived security had positive effects on intention of use, and performance expectancy, effort expectancy, hedonic motivation, and economic value did not. Second, results of the research on whether facilitating condition, habit, and intention of use made an impact on using behaviors, it was shown that only habit and intention of use made positive effects. Third, in two groups divided by age above or under 40, group effort expectancy, intention of use, habit, and intention of use had controlling effects, and facilitating condition, intention of use, perceived security, and intention of use had effects in both groups. Conclusions - The research shows that no matter how great a blockchain-based platform is, if advantages of blockchain are not proved in various industries and utilized in real life like the internet, blockchain-based distribution systems will develop slowly. Rather than a short-term inducement emphasizing technology, there is a need for a strategic approach that can foster the environment.

• Journal of The Korean Association For Science Education
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• v.37 no.6
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• pp.951-960
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• 2017

The purpose of this study is to examine the effects of mentoring in enhancing the professionalism of low-experience science teachers on their general teaching and science teaching efficacies. The mentoring for low-experience science teachers was conducted on 24 science teachers with less than three years of experience over a nine-month period between April and December, 2016. The questionnaires developed by advanced researches were modified and used to test the teachers' general teaching and science teaching efficacies. As the result of a pre-test, the mean science teaching efficacy score was 3.02 points. In particular, the mean science teaching self-efficacy score was 2.86 points and the mean science teaching outcome expectancy score was higher at 3.17 points. In the domain of science teaching outcome expectancy, the mean for female teachers was higher than that of male teachers, and the mean for middle school teachers was higher than that of high school teachers in every domain. However, this result is not statistically significant. The results of a post-test showed that the mean science teaching efficacy score of mentee teachers increased to 3.08 points over the pre-test. In particular, the mean science teaching self-efficacy score was 3.11 points and the mean science teaching outcome expectancy score was 3.04 points in the post-test. This presents that the mentoring training conducted was effective in improving the science teaching efficacy of mentee teachers.

• 대한공업교육학회지
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• v.34 no.1
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• pp.252-273
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• 2009

Due to the importance of biotechnological literacy, the educational community in fields such as technology education, science education, and agricultural education has acknowledged the importance of biotechnology instruction for secondary school. Although recognized as a content organizer in the field of technology education, the actual teaching of biotechnology has not been broadly implemented in technology education classes. In the perspective of expectancy-value theory, technology teachers' motivation is the key factor for affecting the biotechnology instruction. This study investigates Korean technology teachers' motivational beliefs toward biotechnology and its instruction and their perceived ability and value toward biotechnology learning contents. To measure their motivational beliefs and attitudes, a composite on-line survey (fifteen motivational beliefs items, eight biotechnology content items, and related demographic items) was developed. Based on 114 Korean technology teachers' responses the researcher performed a descriptive analysis, independent t-test, and factor analyses (exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis using M-plus 5.0 and SPSS 16.0). Korean technology teachers' abilities toward eight biotechnology contents indicated lowscores while their values were relatively high. Through the independent sample t-test by two demographic variables (gender and professional development), this study found several significant differences in the perceived value. As a preliminary finding of exploratory factor analysis, fifteen items was separated into two motivational constructs of expectancy (6 items) and value (8 items). One item (item #6) was eliminated due to the cross loading. The final findings of this study may have significant implications for professional development regarding biotechnology and its instruction (both in-service and pre-service training) of technology teachers. Also, the confirmatory facctor analysis supported the preliminary finding. Finally, this study recommends that a validity test for other population, investigation for motivational sub-constructs, and in-depth investigation toward biotechnology instruction.