• Journal of Intelligence and Information Systems
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.157-175
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• 2012

It is difficult to evaluate the performance of process innovation of e-procurement which has large scale and complex processes. The existing evaluation methods for measuring the effects of process innovation have been mainly done with statistically quantitative methods by analyzing operational data or with qualitative methods by conducting surveys and interviews. However, these methods have some limitations to evaluate the effects because the performance evaluation of e-procurement process innovation should consider the interactions among participants who are active either directly or indirectly through the processes. This study considers the e-procurement process as a complex system and develops a simulation model based on MAS(Multi-Agent System) to evaluate the effects of e-procurement process innovation. Multi-agent based simulation allows observing interaction patterns of objects in virtual world through relationship among objects and their behavioral mechanism. Agent-based simulation is suitable especially for complex business problems. In this study, we used Netlogo Version 4.1.3 as a MAS simulation tool which was developed in Northwestern University. To do this, we developed a interaction model of agents in MAS environment. We defined process agents and task agents, and assigned their behavioral characteristics. The developed simulation model was applied to G2B system (KONEPS: Korea ON-line E-Procurement System) of Public Procurement Service (PPS) in Korea and used to evaluate the innovation effects of the G2B system. KONEPS is a successfully established e-procurement system started in the year 2002. KONEPS is a representative e-Procurement system which integrates characteristics of e-commerce into government for business procurement activities. KONEPS deserves the international recognition considering the annual transaction volume of 56 billion dollars, daily exchanges of electronic documents, users consisted of 121,000 suppliers and 37,000 public organizations, and the 4.5 billion dollars of cost saving. For the simulation, we analyzed the e-procurement of process of KONEPS into eight sub processes such as 'process 1: search products and acquisition of proposal', 'process 2 : review the methods of contracts and item features', 'process 3 : a notice of bid', 'process 4 : registration and confirmation of qualification', 'process 5 : bidding', 'process 6 : a screening test', 'process 7 : contracts', and 'process 8 : invoice and payment'. For the parameter settings of the agents behavior, we collected some data from the transactional database of PPS and some information by conducting a survey. The used data for the simulation are 'participants (government organizations, local government organizations and public institutions)', 'the number of bidding per year', 'the number of total contracts', 'the number of shopping mall transactions', 'the rate of contracts between bidding and shopping mall', 'the successful bidding ratio', and the estimated time for each process. The comparison was done for the difference of time consumption between 'before the innovation (As-was)' and 'after the innovation (As-is).' The results showed that there were productivity improvements in every eight sub processes. The decrease ratio of 'average number of task processing' was 92.7% and the decrease ratio of 'average time of task processing' was 95.4% in entire processes when we use G2B system comparing to the conventional method. Also, this study found that the process innovation effect will be enhanced if the task process related to the 'contract' can be improved. This study shows the usability and possibility of using MAS in process innovation evaluation and its modeling.

• Korean Journal of Poultry Science
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.95-100
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• 2002

Two experiments were conducted to investigate the effect of taurine supplementation on lipid metabolism in laying hens. In experiment 1, 19-wk-old laying hens were given one of four taurine supplemented diets (0 (control), 0.4, 0.8, and 1.2% taurine) fur 10 weeks. Abdominal fat weight was lower in the 1.2% diet by 29.2% compared to the control. Serum concentrations of triacylglycerol and HDL-cholesterol were not different among the treatments. However, seam concentration of total cholesterol was higher by 22.4% in the 1.2% diet compared to the control. Concentration of triacylglycerol or total cholesterol in the liver were decreased by 26.1% or 26.4% and 28.2% or 26.4%, respectively in the 0.8% and 1.2% diets compared to the control. The concentration of HDL-cholesterol in liver was also lower by 33.9% in the 1.2% diet compared to the control. In experiment 2, 81-wk-old laying hens were allocated to one of three taurine supplemented diets (0 (control), 1 and 2% taurine) fur 6 weeks. Abdominal fat weight was lower by 25% in 1% taurine supplementation compared to the control. Serum concentrations of triacylglycerol, total cholesterol and HDL-cholesterol of hens fed with 1% diet were not different from those of control group. However, sew concentrations of triacylglycerol and total cholesterol were lower by 44.0% and 19.8%, respectively in the 2% diet compared to the control. Furthermore, serum concentration of HDL -cholesterol in the 2% diet was higher by 75% compared to the control. Concentrations of triacylglycerol and total cholesterol in the liver in the 2% diet were decreased in the 1% diet by 36.8 and 23%, respectively, but increased by 78.4% and 70%, respectively, compared to the control. The concentration of HDL-cholesterol in the liver was not different between the 1% diet and the control, but higher by 62.8% in the 2% diet compared to the control. These results indicated that taurine supplementation decreased the fat storage in abdominal cavity, which was accompanied by the changes in triacylglycerol and cholesterol metabolisms of laying hens.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.32 no.9
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• pp.806-812
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• 1999

Background: Selection of reconstruction route in esophageal cancer surgery is based on the patient's status, characteristics of tumor, surgeon's preference and experience. Of the various routes, it has been documented that subcutaneous or substernal route may prolong operation time and may be vulnerable to postoperative respiratory complications. This study was designed to evaluate whether the selection of reconstruction route affects the surgical outcomes. Material and Method: Of 131 patients who have undergone resection and reconstruction for esophageal cancer, posterior mediastinal route(Group I, n=34), substernal route (Group II, n=31), and subcutaneous route(Group III, n=21) were retrospectively reviewed in 86 patients. Results of early operations and morbidities were compared between the groups. Result: There was a male prevalence(79 of males vs. 7 of females). There were 81 squamous cell cancers and 5 adenocarcinomas. There were no differences between groups in weight, height, age, cancer staging and location, and in the preoperative anesthetic risk evaluation and pulmonary function test(p=NS). Postoperative mechanical ventilation time was longer in Group I(20.6 hours) than in Group II(7.8 hours) or III(3.4 hours)(p=0.005). Duration of stay in the intensive care unit was prolonged in Group III(6.4 days) compared to Group I (3.9 days) or II(3.1 days)(p=0.043). No differences were noted in the duration of hospital stay between the groups(p=NS). Blood transfusion was needed in 30 out of 34 patients in Group I compared to 14/31 in Group II or 15/21 in Group III(p=0.001). The mean amount of transfusion for each patient was also higher in Group I(3,833 mL) than in Group II(1535 mL) or Group III(1419 mL)(p=0.04), but there was no difference in the inreoperation due to bleeding. Ea ly mortality rate was substantially higher in Group I(17.6%) but the differences between the groups were insignificant(p=NS). Although sepsis was a more prevalent cause of death in Group I, it was not related to anastomotic leak. Other morbidities did not differ between the groups(p=NS). Conclusion: In above results show that the reconstruction route does not affect the outcome of esophageal cancer surgery. We believe that the selection of reconstruction route can be based on the surgeon's preference and experience.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.224-229
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• 2001

Purpose : The aim of this study is to analyze the treatment failure patterns and the risk factors for locoregional or distant failure of uterine cervical carcinoma treated with radiation therapy. Materials and methods . A retrospective analysis was undertaken of 154 patients treated with curative radiation therapy in Gyeongsang National University Hospital from April 1989 through December 1997. According to FIGO classification, 12 patients were stage IB, 24 were IIA, 98 were IIB, 1 were IIIA, 17 were IIIB, 2 were IVA. Results : Overall treatment failure rate was $42.1\%$ (65/154), and that of complete responder was $31.5\%$ (41/130). Among 65 failures, 25 failed locoregionally, another 25 failed distantly, and 15 failed locoregionally and distantly. Multivariate analysis confirmed tumor size (>4 cm) as risk factor for locoregional failure, and tumor size (>4 cm), pelvic lymph node involvement as risk factors for distant failure. Conclusion : On the basis of results of our study and recent published data of prospective randomized study for locally advanced uterine cervical carcinoma, we concluded that uterine cervical carcinoma with size more than 4 cm or pelvic lymph node involvement should be treated with concurrent chemoradiation.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.307-315
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• 2004

Purpose: The purpose of this work was to study the differences of cyclooxygenase (COX-2) expression between Korean and Caucasian patients with early-onset breast carcinoma by immunohistochemistry. The test were analyzed to find a correlation between COX-2 and other biomarkers including HER-2/neu amplification, because we previously reported that a significant difference had been found in the expression of HER-2/neu between the two races. Furthermore, we investigated prognostic significance of COX-2 in korean patients. Materials and Methods: Sixty Korean women who were diagnosed breast carcinoma at 45 years old or younger and 60 Caucasian women with breast carcinoma were selected for this study. The median age of both groups was 37 years and tumor sizes were distributed evenly between the two group. Paraffin embedded blocks of primary tumor were processed for immunohistochemical staining of COX-2. The COX-2 expression was evaluated according to the percentage of positive cells and the intensity of staining. And the results were compared with the data of the previous studies to find correlation between COX-2 and other parameters and survival data. Results: Proportion of the COX-2 expression in total patients was $27.6\%$. The percentage of tumors that stained positive for COX-2 in korean and Caucasian women with early-onset breast carcinoma were $37.9\%$ and $20.8\%$, respectively. The difference was statistically not significant(p=0.090). Expression of COX-2 was not associated with several clinicopathologic parameters including HER-2/neu overexpression, but negative estrogen receptor status was correlated with significance (p=0.046). The 5 year disease free survival rate for patients with COX-2 expression was $67.9\%$, compared to $81.9\%$ of the COX-2 negative patients and the result was statistically not significant. Conclusions : A significant difference was not found in the expression of COX-2 between the two groups of patients with early-onset breast carcinoma. And correlation between COX-2 and other parameters was not observed except estrogen receptor negativity. Large scaled further research including radiotherapy factors will be needed to identify COX-2 as a prognostic role in patients with early-onset breast carcinoma.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.49 no.7
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• pp.737-744
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• 2006

Purpose : To assess the usefulness of $^{99m}Tc-DISIDA$ scanning in the early evaluation of neonatal cholestasis and to verify the diagnostic value of this test in the differential diagnosis of biliary atresia. Methods : DISIDA scannings were performed and analyzed in 87 children(58 males and 29 females; age, 18-139 days, mean, 59.1 days) with neonatal cholestasis. Five groups according to the final diagnosis and the results of DISIDA scanning were analyzed by scatter plots using the parameters of age and the level of liver function tests(direct bilirubin, AST, ALT, ALP, GGT). The diagnostic sensitivity, specificity and accuracy of DISIDA scanning in the diagnosis of biliary atresia were compared between a higher bilirubin group and a lower bilirubin group(direct bilirubin level >5 mg/dL vs. <5 mg/dL) decided by the pattern of scatter plots. Results : DISIDA scannings in the diagnosis of biliary atresia were analyzed by high sensitivity(100 percent, 16/16) but lower specificity(70.4 percent, 50/71) and accuracy(75.9 percent, 66/87). False positivity(29.6 percent, 21/71) was higher in patients with a higher direct bilirubin level(42.5 percent for >5 mg/dL vs. 9.7 percent for <5 mg/dL, P<0.01). The age and the level of liver function tests(AST, ALT, ALP, GGT) analyzed by scatter plots revealed neither diagnostic value in predicting final diagnosis nor estimated the accuracy rate of DISIDA scanning in the evaluation of neonatal cholestasis. Conclusion : We suggest that DISIDA scannings should not be routinely used in evaluating neonatal cholestasis with elevated direct bilirubin level(>5 mg/dL), especially if it delays early diagnosis and surgical intervention.

• Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition
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• v.5 no.2
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• pp.174-180
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• 2002

Purpose: Ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) is known to decrease hepatic injury by promoting the biliary secretion of retained toxic endogenous bile acids in hepatobiliary diseases complicated by total parenteral nutrition (TPN). However, most studies have focused on treatment for complications after TPN. We investigated the preventive role of early administration of UDCA in TPN-induced hepatobiliary complications by a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. Methods: Between May 2000 and May 2002, thirteen patients, who were given TPN more than 10 days in the hospital, were assigned randomly to two groups. One was the case group (7 patients) who were given UDCA simultaneously with TPN regimen, and the other, the control group (6 patients) who were given placebo. Their age ranged from 1 day to 13 years. They were affected with diseases impossible for enteral nutrition, such as prematurity, cerebral palsy, chronic diarrhea, anorexia nervosa, pancreatitis, and cyclic vomiting. The duration of TPN ranged from 10 to 70 days. Hematologic parameters including liver function test were measured at regular intervals, and the duration, composition, administration rate, total calorie of TPN were recorded. The serum levels of total bilirubin, aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), and alkaline phosphatase were compared between groups after cessation of the study. Results: The autoregressive coefficient of the control group was 0.4419 (p=0.0651) in bilirubin, -0.0431 (p=0.7923) in AST, 0.2398 (p=0.2416) in ALT, and 0.2459 (p=0.1922) in alkaline phosphatase by mixed procedure model when the parameters were referred to the case group. Conclusion: The serum level of total bilirubin did not increase in comparison with that of the control group, but statistically insignificant, when both TPN and UDCA were administered simultaneously from the beginning.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.37 no.3 s.108
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• pp.332-343
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• 2004

This study was conducted to test a possibility of water quality improvement using a filter-feeding bivalve (Corbicula leana). In mesocosm scale (width ${\times}$ length ${\times}$ depth: 3 m ${\times}$ 3 m ${\times}$ 0.5 m), we investigated the changes of dissolved nutrient and particulate matter including both abiotic and biotic seston. Short term (16 days) mesocosm experiment was conducted in two stages: the first stage for 8 days and consecutive 8 days of the second stage. Both treatment and control mesocosm were switched over by translocating mussels from the treatment mesocosm to the control, at 8th days since the start of the experiment. This design made it possible to compare mussel effect on the water quality change more clearly. The high mortality of mussel was observed in the treatment of the first stage, but it decreased rapidly and stabilized on the 8th day to less than< 4 ind $day^{-1}$. Chl. a concentration in the treatment mesocosm of the first and second stage decreased to 71 and 88% of initial concentration, respectively, and suspended solids decreased to 70 and 77%. At those times, average filtering rate were 0.46 and 0.61 mL AFDW $mg^{-1}$ $hr^{-1}$, respectively. Both $NH_3-N$ and dissolved total phosphorus (DTP) concentrations increased with the mussel mortality. $NH_3-N$ concentration was positively correlated with the mussel mortality, while DTP concentration showed negative correlation with it. After translocating mussel from the treatment to the control, $NH_3-N$ concentration significantly increased compared with that of initial control. Although DTP concentration also increased, there was no significant difference relative to that of initial control. These results suggest that application of this filter-feeding bivalve in a eutrophic reservoir could be a potential tool to improve water quality if mussels could acclimatize successfully in early stage of the introduction.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.7 no.3
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• pp.128-134
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• 1975

For development of long-term storage method of sweet-persimmons using polyethylene film bags, basic experiment was conducted with 30 boxes of sweet-persimmons in 1973 and the same experiment was extended for industrial application with 2,500 boxes of the persimmons in the cold storage of Jinyoung Sweet-persimmon Association in 1974. Investigation was made on change of the quality by storage period. At the same time, persimmons put in the cold storage test were shipped to market at different time in order to monitor consumer response and commercial feasibility. The followings are conclusion obtained from the result of this experiment. 1. Storage of sweet-persimmon, Buyu, produced in Jinyoung, Kimhae was possible for 1 month at $2^{\circ}C{\pm}1^{\circ}C$ cold storage. This storage period was extended to 4 months until the end of February in case that the fruits were hermetically sealed in P.E. film bags of 0.08 to 0.1 mm thickness. 2. During the storage period of sweet-persimmons packed in the film bags, the loss of weight due to evaporation was effectively prevented with use of the film of bag thicker than 0.04 mm. 3. The storage ability of 3-5 persimmons per small bag was somewhat superior to that of many persimmons packed in the large box of 15kg capacity. 4. The thicker the film of bags, the more $CO_2$ gas was accumulated inside, however, from 1 month after beginning of the storage the rate of $CO_2$ accumulation became very low maintaining the stabilized level of 5-6% at the plot of 0.06-0.08mm thick bags. 5. While the persimmons were in storage, decreased was the content of total sugars, total acids, and vitamin C, of which the phenomenon was remarkable especially with the fruits of non-packed plot. 6. The sweet-persimmons in the film bags subjected to cold storage when shipped to market in their intact condition were more beneficial than when they were shipped out in unpacked condition. The intact fruits packed in the P.E. film bags were able to keep their commercial value for 10days in the outdoor situation. 7. The sweet-persimmons that were packed in the film bags and put in the cold storage had maintained promissing marketability and the economic feasibility was acknowledged when the experimental practice was applied to industrial scale.

• Horticultural Science & Technology
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• v.34 no.1
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• pp.172-182
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• 2016

This study was aimed to determine the changes in vitamin $B_5$ and $B_6$ contents compared to fresh materials after parboiling treatment of the main vegetables consumed in Korea. The specificity of accuracy and precision for vitamin $B_5$ and $B_6$ analysis method were validated using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The recovery rate of standard reference material (SRM) was excellent, and all analysis was under the control line based on the quality control chart for vitamin $B_5$ and $B_6$. The Z-score for vitamin $B_6$ in food analysis performance assessment scheme (FAPAS) proficiency test was -1.0, confirming reliability of analytical performance. The vitamin $B_5$ and $B_6$ contents in a total of 39 fresh materials and parboiled samples were analyzed. The contents of vitamin $B_5$ and $B_6$ ranged from 0.000 to 2.462 and from 0.000 to $0.127mg{\cdot}100g^{-1}$, respectively. The highest contents of vitamin $B_5$ and $B_6$ were $2.462mg{\cdot}100g^{-1}$ in fresh fatsia shoots (stem vegetables), and $0.127mg{\cdot}100g^{-1}$ in fresh spinach beet (leafy vegetables), respectively. Moreover, the vitamin $B_5$ and $B_6$ contents for parboiling treatment in most vegetables were reduced or not detected. In particular, the contents of vitamin $B_5$ in parboiled fatsia shoots and vitamin $B_6$ in parboiled yellow potato and spinach beet were decreased 20- and 4-fold compared with fresh material, respectively. These results can be used as important basic data for utilization and processing of various vegetable crops, information for dietary life, management of school meals, and national health for Koreans.