• Title/Summary/Keyword: Measured Data

Search Result 18,829, Processing Time 0.047 seconds

The Effects of Online Service Quality on Consumer Satisfaction and Loyalty Intention -About Booking and Issuing Air Tickets on Website- (온라인 서비스 품질이 고객만족 및 충성의도에 미치는 영향 -항공권 예약.발권 웹사이트를 중심으로-)

  • Park, Jong-Gee;Ko, Do-Eun;Lee, Seung-Chang
    • Journal of Distribution Research
    • /
    • v.15 no.3
    • /
    • pp.71-110
    • /
    • 2010
  • 1. Introduction Today Internet is recognized as an important way for the transaction of products and services. According to the data surveyed by the National Statistical Office, the on-line transaction in 2007 for a year, 15.7656 trillion, shows a 17.1%(2.3060 trillion won) increase over last year, of these, the amount of B2C has been increased 12.0%(10.2258 trillion won). Like this, because the entry barrier of on-line market of Korea is low, many retailers could easily enter into the market. So the bigger its scale is, but on the other hand, the tougher its competition is. Particularly due to the Internet and innovation of IT, the existing market has been changed into the perfect competitive market(Srinivasan, Rolph & Kishore, 2002). In the early years of on-line business, they think that the main reason for success is a moderate price, they are awakened to its importance of on-line service quality with tough competition. If it's not sure whether customers can be provided with what they want, they can use the Web sites, perhaps they can trust their products that had been already bought or not, they have a doubt its viability(Parasuraman, Zeithaml & Malhotra, 2005). Customers can directly reserve and issue their air tickets irrespective of place and time at the Web sites of travel agencies or airlines, but its empirical studies about these Web sites for reserving and issuing air tickets are insufficient. Therefore this study goes on for following specific objects. First object is to measure service quality and service recovery of Web sites for reserving and issuing air tickets. Second is to look into whether above on-line service quality and on-line service recovery have an impact on overall service quality. Third is to seek for the relation with overall service quality and customer satisfaction, then this customer satisfaction and loyalty intention. 2. Theoretical Background 2.1 On-line Service Quality Barnes & Vidgen(2000; 2001a; 2001b; 2002) had invented the tool to measure Web sites' quality four times(called WebQual). The WebQual 1.0, Step one invented a measuring item for information quality based on QFD, and this had been verified by students of UK business school. The Web Qual 2.0, Step two invented for interaction quality, and had been judged by customers of on-line bookshop. The WebQual 3.0, Step three invented by consolidating the WebQual 1.0 for information quality and the WebQual2.0 for interactionquality. It includes 3-quality-dimension, information quality, interaction quality, site design, and had been assessed and confirmed by auction sites(e-bay, Amazon, QXL). Furtheron, through the former empirical studies, the authors changed sites quality into usability by judging that usability is a concept how customers interact with or perceive Web sites and It is used widely for accessing Web sites. By this process, WebQual 4.0 was invented, and is consist of 3-quality-dimension; information quality, interaction quality, usability, 22 items. However, because WebQual 4.0 is focusing on technical part, it's usable at the Website's design part, on the other hand, it's not usable at the Web site's pleasant experience part. Parasuraman, Zeithaml & Malhorta(2002; 2005) had invented the measure for measuring on-line service quality in 2002 and 2005. The study in 2002 divided on-line service quality into 5 dimensions. But these were not well-organized, so there needed to be studied again totally. So Parasuraman, Zeithaml & Malhorta(2005) re-worked out the study about on-line service quality measure base on 2002's study and invented E-S-QUAL. After they invented preliminary measure for on-line service quality, they made up a question for customers who had purchased at amazon.com and walmart.com and reassessed this measure. And they perfected an invention of E-S-QUAL consists of 4 dimensions, 22 items of efficiency, system availability, fulfillment, privacy. Efficiency measures assess to sites and usability and others, system availability measures accurate technical function of sites and others, fulfillment measures promptness of delivering products and sufficient goods and others and privacy measures the degree of protection of data about their customers and so on. 2.2 Service Recovery Service industries tend to minimize the losses by coping with service failure promptly. This responses of service providers to service failure mean service recovery(Kelly & Davis, 1994). Bitner(1990) went on his study from customers' view about service providers' behavior for customers to recognize their satisfaction/dissatisfaction at service point. According to them, to manage service failure successfully, exact recognition of service problem, an apology, sufficient description about service failure and some tangible compensation are important. Parasuraman, Zeithaml & Malhorta(2005) approached the service recovery from how to measure, rather than how to manage, and moved to on-line market not to off-line, then invented E-RecS-QUAL which is a measuring tool about on-line service recovery. 2.3 Customer Satisfaction The definition of customer satisfaction can be divided into two points of view. First, they approached customer satisfaction from outcome of comsumer. Howard & Sheth(1969) defined satisfaction as 'a cognitive condition feeling being rewarded properly or improperly for their sacrifice.' and Westbrook & Reilly(1983) also defined customer satisfaction/dissatisfaction as 'a psychological reaction to the behavior pattern of shopping and purchasing, the display condition of retail store, outcome of purchased goods and service as well as whole market.' Second, they approached customer satisfaction from process. Engel & Blackwell(1982) defined satisfaction as 'an assessment of a consistency in chosen alternative proposal and their belief they had with them.' Tse & Wilton(1988) defined customer satisfaction as 'a customers' reaction to discordance between advance expectation and ex post facto outcome.' That is, this point of view that customer satisfaction is process is the important factor that comparing and assessing process what they expect and outcome of consumer. Unlike outcome-oriented approach, process-oriented approach has many advantages. As process-oriented approach deals with customers' whole expenditure experience, it checks up main process by measuring one by one each factor which is essential role at each step. And this approach enables us to check perceptual/psychological process formed customer satisfaction. Because of these advantages, now many studies are adopting this process-oriented approach(Yi, 1995). 2.4 Loyalty Intention Loyalty has been studied by dividing into behavioral approaches, attitudinal approaches and complex approaches(Dekimpe et al., 1997). In the early years of study, they defined loyalty focusing on behavioral concept, behavioral approaches regard customer loyalty as "a tendency to purchase periodically within a certain period of time at specific retail store." But the loyalty of behavioral approaches focuses on only outcome of customer behavior, so there are someone to point the limits that customers' decision-making situation or process were neglected(Enis & Paul, 1970; Raj, 1982; Lee, 2002). So the attitudinal approaches were suggested. The attitudinal approaches consider loyalty contains all the cognitive, emotional, voluntary factors(Oliver, 1997), define the customer loyalty as "friendly behaviors for specific retail stores." However these attitudinal approaches can explain that how the customer loyalty form and change, but cannot say positively whether it is moved to real purchasing in the future or not. This is a kind of shortcoming(Oh, 1995). 3. Research Design 3.1 Research Model Based on the objects of this study, the research model derived is

    . 3.2 Hypotheses 3.2.1 The Hypothesis of On-line Service Quality and Overall Service Quality The relation between on-line service quality and overall service quality I-1. Efficiency of on-line service quality may have a significant effect on overall service quality. I-2. System availability of on-line service quality may have a significant effect on overall service quality. I-3. Fulfillment of on-line service quality may have a significant effect on overall service quality. I-4. Privacy of on-line service quality may have a significant effect on overall service quality. 3.2.2 The Hypothesis of On-line Service Recovery and Overall Service Quality The relation between on-line service recovery and overall service quality II-1. Responsiveness of on-line service recovery may have a significant effect on overall service quality. II-2. Compensation of on-line service recovery may have a significant effect on overall service quality. II-3. Contact of on-line service recovery may have a significant effect on overall service quality. 3.2.3 The Hypothesis of Overall Service Quality and Customer Satisfaction The relation between overall service quality and customer satisfaction III-1. Overall service quality may have a significant effect on customer satisfaction. 3.2.4 The Hypothesis of Customer Satisfaction and Loyalty Intention The relation between customer satisfaction and loyalty intention IV-1. Customer satisfaction may have a significant effect on loyalty intention. 3.2.5 The Hypothesis of a Mediation Variable Wolfinbarger & Gilly(2003) and Parasuraman, Zeithaml & Malhotra(2005) had made clear that each dimension of service quality has a significant effect on overall service quality. Add to this, the authors analyzed empirically that each dimension of on-line service quality has a positive effect on customer satisfaction. With that viewpoint, this study would examine if overall service quality mediates between on-line service quality and each dimension of customer satisfaction, keeping on looking into the relation between on-line service quality and overall service quality, overall service quality and customer satisfaction. And as this study understands that each dimension of on-line service recovery also has an effect on overall service quality, this would examine if overall service quality also mediates between on-line service recovery and each dimension of customer satisfaction. Therefore these hypotheses followed are set up to examine if overall service quality plays its role as the mediation variable. The relation between on-line service quality and customer satisfaction V-1. Overall service quality may mediate the effects of efficiency of on-line service quality on customer satisfaction. V-2. Overall service quality may mediate the effects of system availability of on-line service quality on customer satisfaction. V-3. Overall service quality may mediate the effects of fulfillment of on-line service quality on customer satisfaction. V-4. Overall service quality may mediate the effects of privacy of on-line service quality on customer satisfaction. The relation between on-line service recovery and customer satisfaction VI-1. Overall service quality may mediate the effects of responsiveness of on-line service recovery on customer satisfaction. VI-2. Overall service quality may mediate the effects of compensation of on-line service recovery on customer satisfaction. VI-3. Overall service quality may mediate the effects of contact of on-line service recovery on customer satisfaction. 4. Empirical Analysis 4.1 Research design and the characters of data This empirical study aimed at customers who ever purchased air ticket at the Web sites for reservation and issue. Total 430 questionnaires were distributed, and 400 were collected. After surveying with the final questionnaire, the frequency test was performed about variables of sex, age which is demographic factors for analyzing general characters of sample data. Sex of data is consist of 146 of male(42.7%) and 196 of female(57.3%), so portion of female is a little higher. Age is composed of 11 of 10s(3.2%), 199 of 20s(58.2%), 105 of 30s(30.7%), 22 of 40s(6.4%), 5 of 50s(1.5%). The reason that portions of 20s and 30s are higher can be supposed that they use the Internet frequently and purchase air ticket directly. 4.2 Assessment of measuring scales This study used the internal consistency analysis to measure reliability, and then used the Cronbach'$\alpha$ to assess this. As a result of reliability test, Cronbach'$\alpha$ value of every component shows more than 0.6, it is found that reliance of the measured variables are ensured. After reliability test, the explorative factor analysis was performed. the factor sampling was performed by the Principal Component Analysis(PCA), the factor rotation was performed by the Varimax which is good for verifying mutual independence between factors. By the result of the initial factor analysis, items blocking construct validity were removed, and the result of the final factor analysis performed for verifying construct validity is followed above. 4.3 Hypothesis Testing 4.3.1 Hypothesis Testing by the Regression Analysis(SPSS) 4.3.2 Analysis of Mediation Effect To verify mediation effect of overall service quality of and , this study used the phased analysis method proposed by Baron & Kenny(1986) generally used. As shows, Step 1 and Step 2 are significant, and mediation variable has a significant effect on dependent variables and so does independent variables at Step 3, too. And there needs to prove the partial mediation effect, independent variable's estimate ability at Step 3(Standardized coefficient $\beta$eta : efficiency=.164, system availability=.074, fulfillment=.108, privacy=.107) is smaller than its estimate ability at Step 2(Standardized coefficient $\beta$eta : efficiency=.409, system availability=.227, fulfillment=.386, privacy=.237), so it was proved that overall service quality played a role as the partial mediation between on-line service quality and satisfaction. As
    shows, Step 1 and Step 2 are significant, and mediation variable has a significant effect on dependent variables and so does independent variables at Step 3, too. And there needs to prove the partial mediation effect, independent variable's estimate ability at Step 3(Standardized coefficient $\beta$eta : responsiveness=.164, compensation=.117, contact=.113) is smaller than its estimate ability at Step 2(Standardized coefficient $\beta$eta : responsiveness=.409, compensation=.386, contact=.237), so it was proved that overall service quality played a role as the partial mediation between on-line service recovery and satisfaction. Verified results on the basis of empirical analysis are followed. First, as the result of , it shows that all were chosen, so on-line service quality has a positive effect on overall service quality. Especially fulfillment of overall service quality has the most effect, and then efficiency, system availability, privacy in order. Second, as the result of , it shows that all were chosen, so on-line service recovery has a positive effect on overall service quality. Especially responsiveness of overall service quality has the most effect, and then contact, compensation in order. Third, as the result of and , it shows that and all were chosen, so overall service quality has a positive effect on customer satisfaction, customer satisfaction has a positive effect on loyalty intention. Fourth, as the result of and , it shows that and all were chosen, so overall service quality plays a role as the partial mediation between on-line service quality and customer satisfaction, on-line service recovery and customer satisfaction. 5. Conclusion This study measured and analyzed service quality and service recovery of the Web sites that customers made a reservation and issued their air tickets, and by improving customer satisfaction through the result, this study put its final goal to grope how to keep loyalty customers. On the basis of the result of empirical analysis, suggestion points of this study are followed. First, this study regarded E-S-QUAL that measures on-line service quality and E-RecS-QUAL that measures on-line service recovery as variables, so it overcame the limit of existing studies that used modified SERVQUAL to measure service quality of the Web sites. Second, it shows that fulfillment and efficiency of on-line service quality have the most significant effect on overall service quality. Therefore the Web sites of reserving and issuing air tickets should try harder to elevate efficiency and fulfillment. Third, privacy of on-line service quality has the least significant effect on overall service quality, but this may be caused by un-assurance of customers whether the Web sites protect safely their confidential information or not. So they need to notify customers of this fact clearly. Fourth, there are many cases that customers don't recognize the importance of on-line service recovery, but if they would think that On-line service recovery has an effect on customer satisfaction and loyalty intention, as its importance is very significant they should prepare for that. Fifth, because overall service quality has a positive effect on customer satisfaction and loyalty intention, they should try harder to elevate service quality and service recovery of the Web sites of reserving and issuing air tickets to maximize customer satisfaction and to secure loyalty customers. Sixth, it is found that overall service quality plays a role as the partial mediation, but now there are rarely existing studies about this, so there need to be more studies about this.

  • PDF
  • The Fabrication and Characteristic for Narrow-band Pass Color-filter Deposited by Ti3O5/SiO2 Multilayer (Ti3O5/SiO2 다층박막를 이용한 협대역 칼라투과필터 제작 및 특성연구)

    • Park, Moon-Chan;Ko, Kyun-Chae;Lee, Wha-Ja
      • Journal of Korean Ophthalmic Optics Society
      • /
      • v.16 no.4
      • /
      • pp.357-362
      • /
      • 2011
    • Purpose: The narrow-band pass color-filters with a 500 nm central wavelength and 12 nm FWHM using $Ti_3O_5/SiO_2$ mutilayer were fabricated, and their characteristics and structures were studied. Methods: the optical constants, n and k, of the $Ti_3O_5$ and $SiO_2$ thin films were obtained from the transmittances of their thin film. The narrow-band pass color-filters were designed with these optical constants and the AR coating of the filter was also designed. $Ti_3O_5/SiO_2$ multilayer filters were made by electron beam evaporation apparatus and the transmittaces of the filters were measured by spectrophotometer. the number of layers and the thicknesses of filters were calculated from the cross section of filters by SEM image and the composition of filters was analysed by XPS analysis. Results: The optimization of AR coating for the narrow-band pass color-filter was [air$|SiO_2(90)|Ti_3O_5(36)|SiO_2(5)|Ti_3O_5(73)|SiO_2(30)|Ti_3O_5(15)|$ glass], and the optimization of filter layer for the color filter was [air$|SiO_2(192)|Ti_3O_5(64)|SiO_2(102)|Ti_3O_5(66)|SiO_2(112)|Ti_3O_5(74)|SiO_2(120)|Ti_3O_5(68)|SiO_2(123)|Ti_3O_5(80)|SiO_2(109)|Ti_3O_5(70)|SiO_2(105)|Ti_3O_5(62)|SiO_2(99)|Ti_3O_5(63)|SiO_2(98)|Ti_3O_5(51)|SiO_2(60)|Ti_3O_5(42)|SiO_2(113)|Ti_3O_5(88)|SiO_2(116)|Ti_3O_5(68)|SiO_2(89)|Ti_3O_5(49)|SiO_2(77)|Ti_3O_5(48)|SiO_2(84)|Ti_3O_5(51)|SiO_2(85)|Ti_3O_5(48)|SiO_2(59)|Ti_3O_5(34)|SiO_2(71)|Ti_3O_5(44)|SiO_2(65)|Ti_3O_5(45)|SiO_2(81)|Ti_3O_5(52)|SiO_2(88)|$ glass]. It was known that the color-filters fabricated by the simulation data were composed of 41 layers by SEM image and the top layer of filters was $SiO_2$ layer and the filters were composed of $SiO_2$/$Ti_3O_5$ multilayer by XPS analysis. It was also known that the mixed thin film of TiO2 and $Ti_3O_5$ was made during the deposition of the $Ti_3O_5$ material. Conclusions: The narrow-band pass color-filters with a 500 nm central wavelength and 12 nm FWHM using $Ti_3O_5/SiO_2$ mutilayer of 41 layer were fabricated, and it was known that the mixed form of TiO2 and $Ti_3O_5$ thin film was made during the deposition of the $Ti_3O_5$ material.

    Ultrasonographic study on the masseter muscle thickness of adult Korean (한국인 성인의 교근 두께에 관한 초음파검사적 연구)

    • Cha, Bong-Kuen;Park, In-Woo;Lee, Yeun-Hee
      • The korean journal of orthodontics
      • /
      • v.31 no.2 s.85
      • /
      • pp.225-236
      • /
      • 2001
    • It is widely accepted that the shape and structure of bone are closely related to the activity of attached muscle. Numerous clinical and animal experimental studies indicated the significant effects of masticatory muscle function on maxillofacial morphology. Recently, the development of ultrasonography has spread throughout different fields of medicine. In the clinical examinations, ultrasonography is a convenient, inexpensive technique to apply with accurate and reliable results. The aim of this study is to assess the thickness of the masseter muscle and its correlation to maxillofacial skeleton by examining 35 male and 15 female dental students at Kangnung National University. The masseter muscle thickness of the subjects were measured by ultrasonographic scanning with a 7.5MHz linear probe, and their maxillofacial morphology were investigated by lateral cephalometric radiographs. The relationship between the masseter muscle thickness and maxillofacial morphology of normal adult was statistically analyzed, and the following results were obtained. 1. The average thickness of male masseter muscle was 13.8${\pm}$1.71mm in the relaxed state and 14.8${\pm}$1.77mm at maximal clenching state, while that of female was 11.6${\pm}$1.58mm and 12.4${\pm}$1.47mm, respectively. Ethnic difference in thickness of the masseter muscle and maxillofacial skeleton was found when the results of many researchers were compared with those of this study. 2. The thickness of the masseter muscle in both sexes increased significantly at maximal clenching state than in relaxed state(P<0.05). 3. The masseter muscle thickness of male was greater than that of female both in the relaxed state and maximal clenching states(P<0.05). 4. In males, the thickness of the masseter muscle was negatively correlated with the mandibular plane angle and positively correlated with the mandibular ramus height and anterior cranial base length(P<0.05). It may suggest that the male with thicker masseter muscle has smaller facial divergence. 5. No significant correlation was found between the masseter muscle thickness and maxillofacial morphology in females(P<0.05). Therefore, these data suggest that ultrasonography can add valuable information to the conventional examinations of masseter muscle function.

    • PDF

    A Study on the Dietary Behavior and Image and Preference of Japanese Foods of University Students in Daegu and Kyungbuk Area (대구, 경북지역 대학생의 식사행동 및 일본음식에 대한 인상 및 기호도 조사 연구)

    • 한재숙;이연정;최석현;최수근;권상용;최영희
      • Journal of the East Asian Society of Dietary Life
      • /
      • v.14 no.1
      • /
      • pp.1-10
      • /
      • 2004
    • This study was conducted to investigate the dietary behavior and image and preference of Japanese foods. The Subjects were consisted of 570 university students(243 males and 327 females) in Daegu and Kyungbuk area, Korea. The students responses to the 10 questions about image of Japanese foods were also measured on 5 point Likert scale. Data were presented by using frequency, percentage, chi-square test and T-test. The results of this study were as follows: (1) On the eating habits, 'the whole family has breakfast together with same foods everyday'scored high as 42.3% and 'foods put in a big platter by gathering everyday'as 35.8%. (2) About the eating customs, 53.5% of the subjects responded that the seat was fixed at meal time, 56.4% didn't start to eat before the patriarch started a meal and 30.9% responded that the head of a family had more foods in number and quantity. (3) On the table manners, 13.4% of the subjects were scolded about 'watching TV on eating', 11.5% about 'making left-over foods', 8.0% about 'misuse of spoon and chopsticks'. (4) The preferred ethnic foods by University students was in other of Korean, Chinese, Italian, Japanese and French foods. (5) Among subjects, 93.8% had no experience of visiting Japan and 92.6% wanted to visit Japan. Images on the Japanese foods were 'the price is too expensive' (mean 4.15) and 'the decoration is wonderful'(mean 4.05). But the subjects did not think Japanese foods as 'hot'(mean 2.21) and 'greasy'(mean 2.51). (6) The favorite Japanese food of subjects was Udon(mean 3.98), Sushi(mean 3.85) and Tempura(mean 3.69). So Udon turned out to be the most popular Japanese foods by university students in Daegu and Kyungbuk area, Korea. But they did not prefer Natto(mean 2.68), Ochazuke(mean 2.76), Okonomiyaki(mean 2.87) and Misosiru and did not eat. From the above results, Korean university students preferred Udon to Natto among Japanese traditional foods, and they estimated Japanese foods as 'too expensive'. Therefore, lowering the price and developing the cooking method for Korean taste were needed to increase the intake of Japanese traditional foods by Korean university students and.

    • PDF

    Studies on Ancylostomiasis I. An Experimental Study on Hookworm Infection and Anemia (구충증(鉤蟲症)에 관(關)한 연구(硏究) 제1편(第1篇) 구충(鉤蟲)의 감염(感染) 및 구충성빈혈(鉤蟲性貧血)에 관(關)한 고찰(考奈))

    • Lee, Mun-Ho;Kim, Dong-Jip;Lee, Jang-Kyu;Seo, Byong-Sul;Lee, Soon-Hyung
      • The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine
      • /
      • v.1 no.1
      • /
      • pp.55-66
      • /
      • 1967
    • In view of its prevalence in the Far East area, a more detailed knowledge on the hookworm infection is one of the very important medical problems. The present study was aimed to; determine the infectivity of the artificially hatched ancylostoma duodenale larvae in man after its oral administration, evaluate the clinical symptomatology of such infection, determine the date of first appearance of the ova in the stool, calculate the blood loss per worm per day, assess the relation-ships between the ova count, infectivity(worm load), blood loss and severity of anemia. An erythrokinetic study was also done to analyse the characteristics of hookworm anemia by means of $^{59}Fe\;and\;^{51}Cr$. Materials and Methods Ten healthy male volunteers(doctors, medical students and laboratory technicians) with the ages ranging from 21 to 40 years were selected as the experimental materials. They had no history of hookworm infection for preceding several years, and care was taken not to be exposed to reinfection. A baseline study including a through physical examinations and laboratory investigations such as complete blood counts, stool examination and estimation of the serum iron levels was done, and a vermifuge, bephenium hydroxynaphoate, was given 10 days prior to the main experiment. The ancylostoma duodenale filariform larvae were obtained in the following manner; The pure ancylostoma duodenale ova were obtained from the hookworm anemia patients and a modified filter paper method was adopted to harvest larger number of infective larvae, which were washed several times with saline. The actively moving mature larvae were put into the gelatine capsules, 150 in each, and were given to the volunteers in the fasting state with 300ml. of water. The volunteers were previously treated with intramuscular injection of 15mg. of chlorpromazine in order to prevent the eventual nausea and vomiting after the larvae intake. The clinical symptoms and signs mainly of the respiratory and gastrointestinal tracts, appearance of the ova and occult blood in the stool etc. were checked every day for the first 20 days and then twice weekly until the end of the experiment, which usually lasted for about 3 months. Roentgenological survey of the lungs was also done. The hematological changes such as the red blood cell, white blood cell and eosinophil cell counts, hemoglobin content and serum iron levels were studied. The appearance of the ova in the stool was examined by the formalin ether method and the ova were counted in triplicate on two successive days using the Stoll's dilution method. The ferrokinetic data were calculated by the modified Huff's method and the apparent half survival time of the red blood cells by the modified Gray's method. The isotopes were simultaneously tagged and injected intravenously, and then the stool and blood samples were collected as was described by Roche et al., namely, three separate 4-day stool samples with the blood sample drawing before each 4-day stool collection. The radio-activities of the stools ashfied and the blood were separately measured by the pulse-height analyser. The daily blood loss was calculated with the following formula; daily blood loss in $ml.=\frac{cpm/g\;stool{\times}weight\;in\;g\;of\;4-day\;stool}{cpm/ml\;blood{\times}4}$ The average of these three 4-day periods was given as the daily blood loss in each patient. The blood loss per day per worm was calculated by simply dividing the daily blood loss by the number of the hookworm recovered after the vermifuge given twice a week at the termination of the experiment. The iron loss in mg. through the gastrointestinal tract was estimated with the daily iron loss in $mg=\frac{g\;Hgb/100ml{\times}ml\;daily\;blood\;loss{\times}3.40}{100}$ 3.40=mg of iron per g Hgb following formula; Results 1. The respiratory symptoms such as cough and sputum were noted in almost all cases within a week after the infection, which lasted about 2 weeks. The roentgenological findings of the chest were essentially normal. A moderate degree of febril reaction appeared within 2 weeks with a duration of 3 or 4 days. 2. The gastrointestinal symptoms such as nausea, epigastric fullness, abdominal pain and loose bowel appeared in all cases immediately after the larvae intake. 3. The reduction of the red blood cell count was not remarkable, however, the hemoglobin content and especially the serum iron level showed the steady decreases until the end of the experiment. 4. The white blood cells and eosinophil cells, on the contrary, showed increases in parallel and reached peaks in 20 to 30 days after the infection. A small secondary rise was noted in 2 months. 5. The ova first appeared in the stool in 40. 1 days after the infection, ranging from 29 to 51 days, during which the occult blood reaction of the stool became also positive in almost cases. 6. The number of ova recovered per day was 164, 320 on the average, ranging from 89,500 to 253,800. The number of the worm evacuated by vermifuge was in rough correlation with the number of ova recovered. 7. The infectivity of ancylostoma duodenale was 14% on the average, ranging from 7.3 to 20.0%, which is relatively lower than those reported by other workers. 8. The mean fecal blood loss was 5.78ml. per day, with a range of from 2.6 to 11.7ml., and the mean blood loss per worm per day was 0.30ml., with a range of from 0.13 to 0.73ml., which is in rough coincidence with those reported by other authors. There appeared to exist, however, no correlation between the blood loss and the number of ova recovered. 9. The mean fecal iron loss was 2.02mg. per day, with a range of from 1.20 to 3.89mg., which is less than those appeared in the literature. 10. The mean plasma iron disappearance rate was 0.80hr., with a range of from 0.62 to 0.95hr., namely, a slight accerelation. 11. The hookworm anemia appeared to be iron deficiency in origin caused by continuous intestinal blood loss.

    • PDF

    Smoking-Induced Dopamine Release Studied with $[^{11}C]Raclopride$ PET ($[^{11}C]Raclopride$ PET을 이용한 흡연에 의한 도파민 유리 영상 연구)

    • Kim, Yu-Kyeong;Cho, Sang-Soo;Lee, Do-Hoon;Ryu, Hye-Jung;Lee, Eun-Ju;Ryu, Chang-Hung;Jeong, In-Soon;Hong, Soo-Kyung;Lee, Jae-Sung;Seo, Hong-Gwan;Jeong, Jae-Min;Lee, Won-Woo;Kim, Sang-Eun
      • The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine
      • /
      • v.39 no.6
      • /
      • pp.421-429
      • /
      • 2005
    • Purpose: It has been postulated that dopamine release in the striatum underlies the reinforcing properties of nicotine. Substantial evidence in the animal studies demonstrates that nicotine interacts with dopaminergic neuron and regulates the activation of the dopaminergic system. The aim of this study was to visualize the dopamine release by smoking in human brain using PET scan with $[^{11}C]raclopride$. Materials and Methods: Five male non-smokers or ex-smokers with an abstinence period longer than 1 year (mean age of $24.4{\pm}1.7$ years) were enrolled in this study $[^{11}C]raclopride$, a dopamine D2 receptor radioligand, was administrated with bolus-plus-constant infusion. Dynamic PET was performed during 120 minutes ($3{\times}20s,\;2{\times}60s,\;2{\times}120s,\;1{\times}180s\;and\;22{\times}300s$). following the 50 minute-scanning, subjects smoked a cigarette containing 1 mg of nicotine while in the scanner. Blood samples for the measurement of plasma nicotine level were collected at 0, 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 45, 60, and 90 minute after smoking. Regions for striatal structures were drawn on the coronal summed PET images guided with co-registered MRI. Binding potential, calculated as (striatal-cerebellar)/cerebellar activity, was measured under equilibrium condition at baseline and smoking session. Results: The mean decrease in binding potential of $[^{11}C]raclopride$ between the baseline and smoking in caudate head, anterior putamen and ventral striatum was 4.7%, 4.0% and 7.8%, respectively. This indicated the striatal dopamine release by smoking. Of these, the reduction in binding potential in the ventral striatum was significantly correlated with the cumulated plasma level of the nicotine (Spearman's rho=0.9, p=0.04). Conclusion: These data demonstrate that in vivo imaging with $[^{11}C]raclopride$ PET could measure nicotine-induced dopamine release in the human brain, which has a significant positive correlation with the amount or nicotine administered bt smoking.

    Characterization of Traits Related to Grain Shape in Korean Rice Varieties (국내 육성 벼 품종 입형 관련 특성 분석)

    • Lee, Chang-Min;Lee, Keon-Mi;Baek, Man-Kee;Kim, Woo-Jae;Suh, Jung-Pil;Jeong, Oh-Young;Cho, Young-Chan;Park, Hyun-Su;Kim, Suk-Man
      • KOREAN JOURNAL OF CROP SCIENCE
      • /
      • v.65 no.3
      • /
      • pp.199-213
      • /
      • 2020
    • Grain size and shape are the two important components contributing to rice yield and quality. To analyze traits related to grain-shape, a total of 272 varieties derived from japonica, japonica black and Tongil-type rice accession in Korea were evaluated in this study. The traits, grain length (GL), grain width (GW), grain thickness (GT), length to width ratio (RLW), and 1000-grain weight (TGW) were measured and replicated 10 times. Genes (GW2, GS3, qGL3, qSW5, GS5, TGW6, GW7, and GW8) related to grain-shape were validated in the accessions using specific DNA marker sets. K-mean clustering of the accession based on phenotypic data revealed three groups: group 1 was classified by GW and GT and included most of japonica type, group 2 was classified by RLW and GL reached a medium size and possessed a half spindle-shaped type, and group 3 was classified by TGW, reached a long size and possessed a semi-round shape. In validation tests using the marker sets, both gw2 and tgw6 were validated in less than 1% of the tested accessions and two allelic types, qgl3 and gw8, were only verified in Tongil-type accessions. For GW8 and GW2, any different amplicons were not amplified in any japonica or Tongil-type accessions, respectively. In order to suggest the representative grain-shape gene combinations for each ecotype, the allelic combinations were evaluated by PCR analysis. Cj1 and 2 in japonica (Cj1-7), Cj_b1 and 2 in japonica-black (Cj_b1-3), and CT3 in Tongil-type (CT1-13) turned out to be the dominant combination in each ecotype, respectively. In addition, the results revealed that introgression of four genes (gw2, gs3, qSW5, and GS5) would expand the diversity of grain shape in Korean japonica varieties. The gene combinations information could be utilized practically to understand or enhance grain shape in japonica rice breeding program.

    Analysis of Patient Effective Dose in PET/CT; Using CT Dosimetry Programs (CT 선량 측정 프로그램을 이용한 PET/CT 검사 환자의 예측 유효 선량의 분석)

    • Kim, Jung-Sun;Jung, Woo-Young;Park, Seung-Yong
      • The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine Technology
      • /
      • v.14 no.2
      • /
      • pp.77-82
      • /
      • 2010
    • Purpose: As PET/CT come into wide use, it caused increasing of expose in clinical use. Therefore, Korea Food and Drug Administration issued Patient DRL (Diagnostic Reference Level) in CT scan. In this study, to build the basis of patient dose reduction, we analyzed effective dose in transmission scan with CT scan. Materials and Methods: From February, 2010 to March 180 patients (age: $55{\pm}16$, weight: $61.0{\pm}10.4$ kg) who examined $^{18}F$-FDG PET/CT in Asan Medical Center. Biograph Truepoint 40 (SIEMENS, GERMANY), Biograph Sensation 16 (SIEMENS, GERMANY) and Discovery STe8 (GE healthcare, USA) were used in this study. Per each male and female average of 30 patients doses were analyzed by one. Automatic exposure control system for controlling the dose can affect the largest by a patient's body weight less than 50 kg, 50-60 kg less, 60 kg more than the average of the three groups were divided doses. We compared that measured value of CT-expo v1.7 and ImPACT v1.0. The relationship between body weight and the effective dose were analyzed. Results: When using CT-Expo V1.7, effective dose with BIO40, BIO16 and DSTe8 respectably were $6.46{\pm}1.18$ mSv, $9.36{\pm}1.96 $mSv and $9.36{\pm}1.96$ mSv for 30 male patients respectably $6.29{\pm}0.97$ mSv, $10.02{\pm}2.42$ mSv and $9.05{\pm}2.27$ mSv for 30 female patients respectably. When using ImPACT v1.0, effective dose with BIO40, BIO16 and DSTe8 respectably were $6.54{\pm}1.21$ mSv, $8.36{\pm}1.69$ mSv and $9.74{\pm}2.55$Sv for 30 male patients respectably $5.87{\pm}1.09$ mSv, $8.43{\pm}1.89$ mSv and $9.19{\pm}2.29$ mSv for female patients respectably. When divided three groups which were under 50 kg, 50~60 kg and over 60 kg respectably were 6.27 mSv, 7.67 mSv and 9.33 mSv respectably using CT-Expo V1.7, 5.62 mSv, 7.22 mSv and 8.91 mSv respectably using ImPACT v1.0. Weight and the effective dose coefficient analysis showed a very strong positive correlation(r=743, r=0.693). Conclusion: Using such a dose evaluation programs, easier to predict and evaluate the effective dose possible without performing phantom study and such dose evaluation programs could be used to collect basic data for CT dose management.

    • PDF

    INFLUENCES OF DRY METHODS OF RETROCAVITY ON THE APICAL SEAL (치근단 역충전와동의 건조방법이 폐쇄성에 미치는 영향)

    • Lee, Jung-Tae;Kim, Sung-Kyo
      • Restorative Dentistry and Endodontics
      • /
      • v.24 no.1
      • /
      • pp.166-179
      • /
      • 1999
    • Apical sealing is essential for the success of surgical endodontic treatment. Root-end cavity is apt to be contaminated with moisture or blood, and is not always easy to be dried completely. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the influence of dry methods of retrocavity on the apical seal in endodontic surgery. Apical seal was investigated through the evaluation of apical leakage and adaptation of filling material over the cavity wall. To investigate the influence of various dry methods on the apical leakage, 125 palatal roots of extracted human maxillary molar teeth were used. The clinical crown of each tooth was removed at 10 mm from the root apex using a slow-speed diamond saw and water spray. Root canals of the all the specimens were prepared with step-back technique and filled with gutta-percha by lateral condensation method. After removing of the coronal 2 mm of filling material, the access cavities were closed with Cavit$^{(R)}$. Two coats of nail polish were applied to the external surface of each root. Apical three millimeters of each root was resected perpendicular to the long axis of the root with a diamond saw. Class I retrograde cavities were prepared with ultrasonic instruments. Retrocavities were washed with physiologic saline solution and dried with various methods or contaminated with human blood. Retrocavities were filled either with IRM, Super EBA or composite resin. All the specimens were immersed in 2% methylene blue solution for 7 days in an incubator at $37^{\circ}C$. The teeth were dissolved in 14 ml of 35% nitric acid solution and the dye present within the root canal system was returned to solution. The leakage of dye was quantitatively measured via spectrophotometric method. The obtained data were analysed statistically using one-way ANOVA and Duncan's Multiple Range Test. To evaluate the influence of various dry methods on the adaptation of filling material over the cavity wall, 12 palatal roots of extracted human maxillary molar teeth were used. After all the roots were prepared and filled, and retrograde cavities were made and filled as above, roots were sectioned longitudinally. Filling-dentin interface of cut surfaces were examined by scanning electron microscope. The results were as follows: 1. Cavities dried with paper point or compressed air showed less leakage than those dried with cotton pellet in Super EBA filled cavity (p<0.05). However, there was no difference between paper point- and compressed air-dried cavities. 2. When cavities were dried with compressed air, dentin-bonded composite resin-filled cavities showed less apical leakage than IRM- or Super EBA-filled ones (p<0.05). 3. Regardless of the filling material, cavities contaminated with human blood showed significantly more apical leakage than those dried with compressed air after saline irrigation (p<0.05). 4. Outer half of the cavity showed larger dentin-filling interface gap than inner half did when cavities were filled with IRM or Super EBA. 5. In all the filling material groups, cavities contaminated with blood or dried with cotton pellets only showed larger defects at the base of the cavity than ones dried with paper points or compressed air.

    • PDF

    Comparison of Treadmill and Cycle Ergometer in Male Korean College Students (한국 남자 대학생을 대상으로 시행한 Cardiopulmonary Exercise Test에서 Treadmill과 Cycle Ergometer의 비교 분석)

    • Chang, Yoon-Soo;Park, Jae-Min;Choi, Seung-Won;Ahn, Gang-Hyun;Lee, Jun-Gu;Yang, Dong-Kyu;Kim, Se-Kyu;Chang, Jun;Ahn, Chul-Min;Kim, Seong-Kyu;Lee, Won-Yong
      • Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
      • /
      • v.47 no.1
      • /
      • pp.26-34
      • /
      • 1999
    • Background : Generally $VO_2$ max is higher in treadmill exercise than cycle ergometer exercise. According to Hassen and Wasserman, $VO_2$ max with treadmill exercise is higher at ratio of 1.11 than that with cycle ergometer. $VO_2$ max also is influenced by race, sociocultural background, exercise habit In this study, $VO_2$ max and AT were evaluated between Treadmill and cycle exercise in male Korean college students. Method: Study subjects were 44 male college students. We randomized them into 2 groups; 24 students did treadmill exercise at first and 1 week later did cycle ergometer. Another 20 students did in opposite method. They made symptom limited maximal exercise. Author defined maximal exercise as followings: 1) respiratory exchange ratio(RER)> 1.1, 2) plateau>30 sec, 3) heart rate reserve(HRR) <15%, or 4) breathing reserve (BR)<30%. Otherwise their results are excluded as submaximal exercise. Anaerobic threshold(AT) was estimated by V-slope method. Results: $VO_2$ max and AT was $45.1{\pm}6.66m\ell$/kg/min and $26.0{\pm}6.78m\ell$/kg/min in treadmill and $34.9{\pm}5.89m\ell$/kg/min, $19.5{\pm}4.77m\ell$/kg/min in Cycle Ergometer. The measured-$VO_2max$/pred-$VO_2max$ was $98.8{\pm}13.24%$ in treadmill; $84.4{\pm}13.42%$ in cycle ergometer. Comparing $VO_2$ max in treadmill with that obtained by Hassen's method, there were significant differences.(p<0.01). At maximal exercise there were differences in HRR, $O_2$/pulse, BR, $V_E$/MVV, $V_E/VCO_2$ between treadmill and cycle but not in $V_E/VO_2$, Vd/Vt, Ti/Ttot. At AT there were differences in $O_2$/pulse, BR, $V_E$/MVV, Ti/Ttot between treadmill and cycle, otherwise not. Conclusion: According to the result of this study, there are larger gap between treadmill and cycle ergometer in normal Korean adults than foreign data, and it needs further study to obtain reference value of Korea.

    • PDF

    (34141) Korea Institute of Science and Technology Information, 245, Daehak-ro, Yuseong-gu, Daejeon
    Copyright (C) KISTI. All Rights Reserved.