• Title/Summary/Keyword: Treatment Technology

Search Result 14,992, Processing Time 0.053 seconds

The Impact of Negative Ions and Plant Volume Changes in Space on Fine Dust Purification in the Atmosphere (공기 중 음이온과 공간 내 식물용적 변화가 미세먼지 정화에 미치는 영향)

  • Deuk-Kyun Oh;Jeong-Ho Kim
    • Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
    • /
    • v.38 no.2
    • /
    • pp.217-226
    • /
    • 2024
  • This study aimed to investigate the influence of anions in the air on the purification of fine dust (PM10 and PM2.5) and to evaluate the effects of plants on the generation of anions in the air and the purification of fine dust. Subsequently, the fine dust reduction models were compared according to each factor and plant volume. The characteristics of anion generation by each factor were observed to be in the order of Type N.I (negative ion generator; 204,133.33 ea/cm3) > Type P30 (plant vol. 30%; 362.55 ea/cm3) > Type C (control; 46.22 ea/cm3), indicating that the amount of anion generation in the anion generator treatment group and the plant arrangement group were approximately 4,417 times and 7 times higher, respectively, than that in the untreated group. Consequently, the fine dust reduction characteristics by anion generation source showed that for PM10, Type NI had a purification efficiency 2.52 times higher than Type C, and Type P30 was 1.46 times higher, while for PM2.5, Type NI had a purification efficiency 2.26 times higher than Type C, and Type P30 was 1.31 times higher. The efficiency of fine dust purification by plant volume was in the order of Type P20 (84.60 minutes) > Type P30 (106.50 minutes) = Type P25 (115.50 minutes) = Type P15 (117.60 minutes) > Type P5 (125.25 minutes) = Type P10 (129.75 minutes), and for ultrafine dust, Type P20 (104.00 minutes) > Type P30 (133.20 minutes) = Type P25 (144.00 minutes) = Type P15 (147.60 minutes) > Type P5 (161.25 minutes) = Type P10 (168.00 minutes). Thus, a quantitative analysis of the anions and plants for purifying fine dust and suggested matters to be considered for future green space planning and plant planting considering fine dust purification.

Evaluation of zinc oxide and copper oxide nanoparticles as potential alternatives to antibiotics for managing fowl typhoid in broilers

  • Muhammad Atif Raza;Eungyung Kim;Muhammad Shakeel;Muhammad Fiaz;Lei Ma;Hyeonjin Kim;Chae Yeon Kim;Zhibin Liu;Ke Huang;Kanghyun Park;Muhammad Tariq Javed;Myoung Ok Kim
    • Journal of Animal Science and Technology
    • /
    • v.66 no.5
    • /
    • pp.962-980
    • /
    • 2024
  • Antimicrobial resistance poses challenges to humans and animals, especially to the poultry sector in control of fowl typhoid with antibiotics, leading to increased mortality and food insecurity. Therefore, it is essential to develop more effective medications as alternatives to antibiotics. Currently, zinc oxide and copper oxide nanoparticles are of such significant interest due to their antibacterial properties. This study aimed to evaluate antimicrobial activity of zinc oxide and copper oxide nanoparticles against fowl typhoid in broilers. Ninety broiler chicks were raised under suitable management conditions. On day 10 of age, chicks were divided into six groups: control negative, control positive, T1, T2, T3, and T4. On day 19 of age, chicks in all groups except control negative were infected with Salmonella gallinarum (0.2 mL, 108 CFU/mL). After appearance of clinical signs, the treatments (Florfenicol; 50 mg/L drinking water [T1], and zinc oxide + copper oxide nanoparticles; 25 + 10 mg/kg/d [T2], 37.5 + 15 mg/kg/d [T3], and 50 + 20 mg/kg/d [T4]) were administered to chicks. Chicks were sacrificed on 26th and 30th day of age, and samples of blood and tissue were obtained. Hematological analysis with gross and histopathological examination of spleen, thymus and bursa of Fabricius was performed. Results revealed that there was no visible congestion in spleen and thymus of T3 and T4 at 11th day post infection. Antibody level against new castle's disease and lymphoproliferative response showed no significant difference in all groups. However, phagocytic response in nanoparticles treated groups exhibited a notable (p < 0.01) distinction compared to control positive. Notably, T3 demonstrated the highest level of phagocytic activity. Hematological parameters, including lymphocytes, heterophils, eosinophils, and heterophils/lymphocytes ratio in groups T2, T3, and T4, indicated significant (p < 0.01) difference compared to control positive. However, lymphocytes, heterophils, and heterophils/lymphocytes ratio in groups T2, T3, and T4 showed no significant difference when compared to T1. Nanoparticle treated groups showed decreased (p < 0.01) congestion of spleen and thymus as compared to control positive. Overall, zinc oxide and copper oxide nanoparticles have potential to serve as an alternative to florfenicol in treatment of fowl typhoid.

A Study on the Conversion to Feed Stuff from Cellulosic Biomass (섬유질자원(纖維質資源)의 사료(飼料) 전환(轉換))

  • Lee, Ke-Ho;Sung, Chang-Geun;Chung, Kyu-Ok
    • Applied Biological Chemistry
    • /
    • v.27
    • /
    • pp.29-46
    • /
    • 1984
  • To utilize several species of hard wood as raw materials of feed products, fermentation characteristics of cellulosic substrates to single cell protein was investigated, and results were summarized as follows. Among the microorganisms investigated, Tricoderma viride was selected as one of the most cellulolytic. Mixed culture of fungi did not show a synergistic effect on cellulose degradation. When the fungi were cultured at $28^{\circ}C$ for 7 days in a medium containing wheat bran 25 g, cellulose 0.25 g, proteose peptone 0.025 g and tween 800.025 g, cellulotic activities on carboxy methyl cellulose and filter paper reached maximum at 12 hr. The alkali treatment resulted in increased degradation of substrate from 13 to 18% when treated with enzymes for 12h, and reducing sugar formation increased with decreased size of substrates. Glucose was a very good feedback inhibitor of the enzyme from T.viride than that of xylose. When the substrate was rehydrolyzed, hydrolysis rate was 31% to reducing sugars within 12 hr. Quantative anlysis with HPLC showed the ratio of glucose to xylose in sugar syrups as 1.77 to 1. For the purpose of producing cellulosic-single cell protein from the sawdust of mulberry tree, 15 strains of xylose-assimilating yeast were isolated from 42 samples of rotten woods and compost soils and examined for their ability to utilize xylose. Then three strains were selected by their strong xylose-assimilating activities. The cultivative condition, the growth characteristics, and protein and nucleic acid productivities of three strains were investigated. The results obtained were, 1. Wood hydrolysate of mulberry tree was assimilated by 5 strains of CHS-2, CHS-3, ST-40, CHS-12 and CHS-13. 2. The optimum initial pH and temperature for the growth of strain CHS-13 were 4.4 and $30^{\circ}C$. 3. The specific growth rate of strain CHS-13 was $0.23h^{-1}$ and generation time was 3.01 hrs at the optimum condition. 4. CHS-13 strain assimilated 81 % of sugar in wood hydrolysate. 5. CHS-13 strain was identified as Candida guilliermondii var. guilliermondii 6. When the CHS-13 strain was cultured in the wood hydrolysate containing yeast extract, L-protein content was increased with yeast extract concentration. 7. The L-protein and nucleic acid yields from wood hydrolysate were 0.73 mg/ml and $4.92{\times}10^{-2}\;mg/ml$ respectively. 8. An optimal nucleic acid content of CHS-13 strain was observed in the medium containing 0.2% of yeast extract.

  • PDF

Detoxification of PSP and relationship between PSP toxicity and Protogonyaulax sp. (마비성패류독의 제독방법 및 패류독성과 원인플랑크톤과의 관계에 관한 연구)

  • CHANG Dong-Suck;SHIN Il-Shik;KIM Ji-Hoe;PYUN Jae-hueung;CHOE Wi-Kung
    • Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
    • /
    • v.22 no.4
    • /
    • pp.177-188
    • /
    • 1989
  • The purpose of this study was to investigate the detoxifying effect on PSP-infested sea mussel, Mytilus edulis, by heating treatment and correlation between the PSP toxicity and the environmental conditions of shellfish culture area such as temperature, pH, salinity, density of Protogonyaulax sp. and concentration of inorganic nutrients such as $NH_4-N,\;NO_3-N,\;NO_2-N\;and\;PO_4-P$. This experiment was carried out at $Suj\u{o}ng$ in Masan, Yangdo in Jindong, $Hach\u{o}ng\;in\;K\u{o}jedo\;and\;Gamch\u{o}n$ bay in Pusan from February to June in $1987\~1989$. It was observed that the detection ratio and toxicity of PSP in sea mussel were different by the year even same collected area. The PSP was often detected when the temperature of sea water about $8.0\~14.0^{\circ}C$. Sometimes the PSP fox of sea mussel was closely related to density of Protogonyaulax sp. at $Gamch\u{o}n$ bay in Pusan from March to April in 1989, but no relationship was observed except above duration during the study period. The concentration of inorganic nutrients effects on the growth of Protogonyaulax sp., then effects of $NO_3-N$ was the strongest among them. When the PSP-infested sea mussel homogenate was heated at various temperature, the PSP toxicity was not changed significantly at below $70^{\circ}C$ for 60 min. but it was proper-tionaly decreased as the heating temperature was increased. For example, when the sea mussel homogenate was heated at $100^{\circ}C,\;121^{\circ}C$ for 10 min., the toxicity was decreased about $67\%\;and\;90\%$, respectively. On the other hand, when shellstock sea mussel contained PSP of $150{\mu}g/100g$ was boiled at $100^{\circ}C$ for 30 min. with tap water, the toxicity was not detected by mouse assay, but that of PSP of $5400{\mu}g/100g$ was reduced to $57{\mu}g/100g$ even after boiling for 120 min.

  • PDF

Usefulness Evaluation of Artifacts by Bone Cement of Percutaneous Vertebroplasty Performed Patients and CT Correction Method in Spine SPECT/CT Examinations (척추 뼈 SPECT/CT검사에서 경피적 척추성형술 시행 환자의 골 시멘트로 인한 인공물과 CT보정방법의 유용성 평가)

  • Kim, Ji-Hyeon;Park, Hoon-Hee;Lee, Juyoung;Nam-Kung, Sik;Son, Hyeon-Soo;Park, Sang-Ryoon
    • The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine Technology
    • /
    • v.18 no.1
    • /
    • pp.49-61
    • /
    • 2014
  • Purpose: With the aging of the population, the attack rate of osteoporotic vertebral compression fracture is in the increasing trend, and percutaneous vertebroplasty (PVP) is the most commonly performed standardized treatment. Although there is a research report of the excellence of usefulness of the SPECT/CT examination in terns of the exact diagnosis before and after the procedure, the bone cement material used in the procedure influences the image quality by forming an artifact in the CT image. Therefore, the objective of the research lies on evaluating the effect the bone cement gives to a SPECT/CT image. Materials and Methods: The images were acquired by inserting a model cement to each cylinder, after setting the background (3.6 kBq/mL), hot cylinder (29.6 kBq/mL) and cold cylinder (water) to the NEMA-1994 phantom. It was reconstructed with Astonish (Iterative: 4 Subset: 16), and non attenuation correction (NAC), attenuation correction (AC+SC-) and attenuation and scatter correction (AC+SC+) were used for the CT correction method. The mean count by each correction method and the count change ratio by the existence of the cement material were compared and the contrast recovery coefficient (CRC) was obtained. Additionally, the bone/soft tissue ratio (B/S ratio) was obtained after measuring the mean count of the 4 places including the soft tissue(spine erector muscle) after dividing the vertebral body into fracture region, normal region and cement by selecting the 20 patients those have performed PVP from the 107 patients diagnosed of compression fracture. Results: The mean count by the existence of a cement material showed the rate of increase of 12.4%, 6.5%, 1.5% at the hot cylinder of the phantom by NAC, AC+SC- and AC+SC+ when cement existed, 75.2%, 85.4%, 102.9% at the cold cylinder, 13.6%, 18.2%, 9.1% at the background, 33.1%, 41.4%, 63.5% at the fracture region of the clinical image, 53.1%, 61.6%, 67.7% at the normal region and 10.0%, 4.7%, 3.6% at the soft tissue. Meanwhile, a relative count reduction could be verified at the cement adjacent part at the inside of the cylinder, and the phantom image on the lesion and the count increase ratio of the clinical image showed a contrary phase. CRC implying the contrast ratio and B/S ratio was improved in the order of NAC, AC+SC-, AC+SC+, and was constant without a big change in the cold cylinder of the phantom. AC+SC- for the quantitative count, and AC+SC+ for the contrast ratio was analyzed to be the highest. Conclusion: It is considered to be useful in a clinical diagnosis if the application of AC+SC+ that improves the contrast ratio is combined, as it increases the noise count of the soft tissue and the scatter region as well along with the effect of the bone cement in contrast to the fact that the use of AC+SC- in the spine SPECT/CT examination of a PVP performed patient drastically increases the image count and enables a high density of image of the lesion(fracture).

  • PDF

Soil amendment for turfgrass vegetation of the Incheon International Airport runway side on the Yeongjong reclaimed land (인천국제공항 착륙대 잔디 식재 지반 조성을 위한 영종도 매립 토양 개량)

  • Yoo, Sun-Ho;Jeong, Yeong-Sang;Joo, Young-Kyu;Choi, Byung-Kwon;Wu, Heun-Young;Lee, Tae-Young
    • Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
    • /
    • v.35 no.2
    • /
    • pp.93-104
    • /
    • 2002
  • A field survey and experiment was conducted from 1996 to 1998 to develop rational technology for turfgrass vegetation of runway side of Incheon International Airport on the reclaimed tidal land in Young-Jong Island. Backfill of the experimental site was finished on August 1995. The experimental site was 8 ha located in the middle of the construction place for the main parking lot in front of the terminal building construction. The experimental field was drained by main open ditch, and divided three main plots, no subsurface tile drain, subsurface tile drain spacing with 22.5m, and with 45 m, respectively. The 17 sub plots were designed to test the effect of soil covering with red earth loam by 5 cm and 20 cm depth, application of chemical compound fertilizers and livestock manures, dressing of artifical soils and hydrophylic soil conditioners. The tested turfgrasses were three transplanting indigenous turfgrasses, Zoysia koreana, Zoysia sinica and Zoysia japonica, and two hydroseeding mixed exotic turgrasses, cool type I(tall fescue 30%, kentucky blue grass 40%, perenial ryegrass 30%), and cool type II(tall fescue 40%, perenial ryegrass 20%, fine fescue 20%, alkaligrass 20%). The soil backfilled with dredged seasand was sand textured with high salt concentration and low fertility. The soil showed high pH, low organic matter and low available phophate contents. The percolation rate was fast with high hydraulic conductivity. Desalinization was fast after installation of the main open drainage system. No subsurface tile drainage effect was found showing little difference in turfgrass growth. The covering and visual growth of turfgrasses were the best in the 20-cm soil covering with compound fertilizer treatment. The covering and visual growth of turfgrasses were satisfactory in the 5 cm soil covering with compound fertilizer treatment and with livestock manure treatments. The hydrophillic soil conditioner treatments were effective but expensive at present. The coverage and visual quality of turfgrasses were good for Zoysia koreana and Zoysia japonica. The coverages of turfgrasses by the hydroseeding with the mixed exotic turfgrasses were less than transplanting of native turfgrasses. In conclusion, for the runway side vegetation purposes, the subsurface tile drainage might not necessary as main open ditch drainage be sufficient due to fast percolation rate of the backfilled dredged seasand. The 5 cm soil covering with red earth might be sufficient for the runway side, but the 20 cm soil covering might be necessary for the runway side where high density of turfgrass coverage was necessary to protect from the airplance air blow.

Development of Korean Version of Heparin-Coated Shunt (헤파린 표면처리된 국산화 혈관우회도관의 개발)

  • Sun, Kyung;Park, Ki-Dong;Baik, Kwang-Je;Lee, Hye-Won;Choi, Jong-Won;Kim, Seung-Chol;Kim, Taik-Jin;Lee, Seung-Yeol;Kim, Kwang-Taek;Kim, Hyoung-Mook;Lee, In-Sung
    • Journal of Chest Surgery
    • /
    • v.32 no.2
    • /
    • pp.97-107
    • /
    • 1999
  • Background: This study was designed to develop a Korean version of the heparin-coated vascular bypass shunt by using a physical dispersing technique. The safety and effectiveness of the thrombo-resistant shunt were tested in experimental animals. Material and Method: A bypass shunt model was constructed on the descending thoracic aorta of 21 adult mongrel dogs(17.5-25 kg). The animals were divided into groups of no-treatment(CONTROL group; n=3), no-treatment with systemic heparinization(HEPARIN group; n=6), Gott heparin shunt (GOTT group; n=6), or Korean heparin shunt(KIST group; n=6). Parameters observed were complete blood cell counts, coagulation profiles, kidney and liver function(BUN/Cr and AST/ ALT), and surface scanning electron microscope(SSEM) findings. Blood was sampled from the aortic blood distal to the shunt and was compared before the bypass and at 2 hours after the bypass. Result: There were no differences between the groups before the bypass. At bypass 2 hours, platelet level increased in the HEPARIN and GOTT groups(p<0.05), but there were no differences between the groups. Changes in other blood cell counts were insignificant between the groups. Activated clotting time, activated partial thromboplastin time, and thrombin time were prolonged in the HEPARIN group(p<0.05) and differences between the groups were significant(p<0.005). Prothrombin time increased in the GOTT group(p<0.05) without having any differences between the groups. Changes in fibrinogen level were insignificant between the groups. Antithrombin III levels were increased in the HEPARIN and KIST groups(p<0.05), and the inter-group differences were also significant(p<0.05). Protein C level decreased in the HEPARIN group(p<0.05) without having any differences between the groups. BUN levels increased in all groups, especially in the HEPARIN and KIST groups(p<0.05), but there were no differences between the groups. Changes of Cr, AST, and ALT levels were insignificant between the groups. SSEM findings revealed severe aggregation of platelets and other cellular elements in the CONTROL group, and the HEPARIN group showed more adherence of the cellular elements than the GOTT or KIST group. Conclusion: Above results show that the heparin-coated bypass shunts(either GOTT or KIST) can suppress thrombus formation on the surface without inducing bleeding tendencies, while systemic heparinization(HEPARIN) may not be able to block activation of the coagulation system on the surface in contact with foreign materials but increases the bleeding tendencies. We also conclude that the thrombo-resistant effects of the Korean version of heparin shunt(KIST) are similar to those of the commercialized heparin shunt(GOTT).

  • PDF

Efficacy and Accuracy of Patient Specific Customize Bolus Using a 3-Dimensional Printer for Electron Beam Therapy (전자선 빔 치료 시 삼차원프린터를 이용하여 제작한 환자맞춤형 볼루스의 유용성 및 선량 정확도 평가)

  • Choi, Woo Keun;Chun, Jun Chul;Ju, Sang Gyu;Min, Byung Jun;Park, Su Yeon;Nam, Hee Rim;Hong, Chae-Seon;Kim, MinKyu;Koo, Bum Yong;Lim, Do Hoon
    • Progress in Medical Physics
    • /
    • v.27 no.2
    • /
    • pp.64-71
    • /
    • 2016
  • We develop a manufacture procedure for the production of a patient specific customized bolus (PSCB) using a 3D printer (3DP). The dosimetric accuracy of the 3D-PSCB is evaluated for electron beam therapy. In order to cover the required planning target volume (PTV), we select the proper electron beam energy and the field size through initial dose calculation using a treatment planning system. The PSCB is delineated based on the initial dose distribution. The dose calculation is repeated after applying the PSCB. We iteratively fine-tune the PSCB shape until the plan quality is sufficient to meet the required clinical criteria. Then the contour data of the PSCB is transferred to an in-house conversion software through the DICOMRT protocol. This contour data is converted into the 3DP data format, STereoLithography data format and then printed using a 3DP. Two virtual patients, having concave and convex shapes, were generated with a virtual PTV and an organ at risk (OAR). Then, two corresponding electron treatment plans with and without a PSCB were generated to evaluate the dosimetric effect of the PSCB. The dosimetric characteristics and dose volume histograms for the PTV and OAR are compared in both plans. Film dosimetry is performed to verify the dosimetric accuracy of the 3D-PSCB. The calculated planar dose distribution is compared to that measured using film dosimetry taken from the beam central axis. We compare the percent depth dose curve and gamma analysis (the dose difference is 3%, and the distance to agreement is 3 mm) results. No significant difference in the PTV dose is observed in the plan with the PSCB compared to that without the PSCB. The maximum, minimum, and mean doses of the OAR in the plan with the PSCB were significantly reduced by 9.7%, 36.6%, and 28.3%, respectively, compared to those in the plan without the PSCB. By applying the PSCB, the OAR volumes receiving 90% and 80% of the prescribed dose were reduced from $14.40cm^3$ to $0.1cm^3$ and from $42.6cm^3$ to $3.7cm^3$, respectively, in comparison to that without using the PSCB. The gamma pass rates of the concave and convex plans were 95% and 98%, respectively. A new procedure of the fabrication of a PSCB is developed using a 3DP. We confirm the usefulness and dosimetric accuracy of the 3D-PSCB for the clinical use. Thus, rapidly advancing 3DP technology is able to ease and expand clinical implementation of the PSCB.

Studies on the Characteristics of Volatile Fatty Acid Evolution from Fresh Animal Feces (축분의 휘발성 지방산 발현 양상 연구)

  • ;;;Hudson, Neale
    • Journal of Animal Environmental Science
    • /
    • v.10 no.1
    • /
    • pp.11-22
    • /
    • 2004
  • This work was carried out to measure volatile fatty acids emissions from different manure (poultry, swine, cattle) incubated at $10^{\circ}C$, $25^{\circ}C$, and $37^{\circ}C$ for 6 days under anaerobic condition. Following are summary of these tests results. 1. Amounts of Acetic acid generated were 1,128.05mg/kg, 628.21mg/kg and 592.50mg/kg for swine, poultry, and cattle manure, respectively, during the period of incubation. In the case of swine and cattle manure, 83.87%(946.10mg/kg) and 57.49%(340.63mg/kg) from all the temperature treatments were produced in the $25^{\circ}C$, respectively. 83.57% in swine and 78.79% in cattle manure were intensively emerged from 3 day, 4 day and 5 day of the $25^{\circ}C$ treatment. In the case of poultry manure, 45.36%(284.93mg/kg) and 45.36%(284.93mg/kg) in the $25^{\circ}C$ and in the $37^{\circ}C$, respectively, were produced. Accordingly, acetic acid generated from poultry manure was characteristic of being mainly produced in more than $25^{\circ}C$. 2. Amounts of propionic acid generated were 238.56mg/kg, 162.14mg/kg and 155.49mg/kg for swine, poultry, and cattle manure, respectively, during the period of incubation. In the case of swine manure, 78.52%(187.32mg/kg) of propionate emitted from all the temperature treatments was produced in the $25^{\circ}C$ and 79.1% of them was intensively emerged from 3day, 4day and 5day of the $25^{\circ}C$ treatment. In the case of poultry manure, 35.12%(56.95mg/kg) and 45.89%(74.40mg/kg) of the propionate amounts were produced in the $25^{\circ}C$ and in the $37^{\circ}C$, respectively. In the case of cattle manure, 28.21% (43.86mg/kg) and 49.30% (76.66mg/kg) of the propionate amounts were produced in the $10^{\circ}C$ and in the $25^{\circ}C$, respectively. Accordingly, propionate evolved from poultry manure was characteristic of being mainly produced in more than $25^{\circ}C$ and from cattle manure, in less than $25^{\circ}C$, respectively. 3. Amount of butyric acid generated were 1,463.87mg/kg, 96.72mg/kg and 129.18mg/kg for swine, poultry, and cattle manure, respectively, during the period of incubation. The time intensively emerged from the period of incubation was differently generated from the incubation temperature and animal feces. 4. Amounts of iso-valeric acid generated were 6,885.99mg/kg, 399.28mg/kg and 307.47mg/kg for swine, cattle and poultry manure, respectively, during the period of incubation. In the case of swine and cattle manure, 28.22%(1,943.52mg/kg) and 48.56%(193.90mg/kg) in the $25^{\circ}C$, 68.76%(4,734.90mg/kg) and 46.93%(187.40mg/kg) in the $37^{\circ}C$, respectively, were occupied. Accordingly, iso-valeric acid evolved from swine and cattle manure was characteristic of being mainly produced in more than $25^{\circ}C$. In the case of poultry manure, 59.89%(184.13mg/kg) of iso-valeric acid generated from all the temperature treatments was produced in the $37^{\circ}C$ and 100% of them was intensively emerged from 2 day and 3 day of the $37^{\circ}C$ treatment.

  • PDF

Perceptional Change of a New Product, DMB Phone

  • Kim, Ju-Young;Ko, Deok-Im
    • Journal of Global Scholars of Marketing Science
    • /
    • v.18 no.3
    • /
    • pp.59-88
    • /
    • 2008
  • Digital Convergence means integration between industry, technology, and contents, and in marketing, it usually comes with creation of new types of product and service under the base of digital technology as digitalization progress in electro-communication industries including telecommunication, home appliance, and computer industries. One can see digital convergence not only in instruments such as PC, AV appliances, cellular phone, but also in contents, network, service that are required in production, modification, distribution, re-production of information. Convergence in contents started around 1990. Convergence in network and service begins as broadcasting and telecommunication integrates and DMB(digital multimedia broadcasting), born in May, 2005 is the symbolic icon in this trend. There are some positive and negative expectations about DMB. The reason why two opposite expectations exist is that DMB does not come out from customer's need but from technology development. Therefore, customers might have hard time to interpret the real meaning of DMB. Time is quite critical to a high tech product, like DMB because another product with same function from different technology can replace the existing product within short period of time. If DMB does not positioning well to customer's mind quickly, another products like Wibro, IPTV, or HSPDA could replace it before it even spreads out. Therefore, positioning strategy is critical for success of DMB product. To make correct positioning strategy, one needs to understand how consumer interprets DMB and how consumer's interpretation can be changed via communication strategy. In this study, we try to investigate how consumer perceives a new product, like DMB and how AD strategy change consumer's perception. More specifically, the paper segment consumers into sub-groups based on their DMB perceptions and compare their characteristics in order to understand how they perceive DMB. And, expose them different printed ADs that have messages guiding consumer think DMB in specific ways, either cellular phone or personal TV. Research Question 1: Segment consumers according to perceptions about DMB and compare characteristics of segmentations. Research Question 2: Compare perceptions about DMB after AD that induces categorization of DMB in direction for each segment. If one understand and predict a direction in which consumer perceive a new product, firm can select target customers easily. We segment consumers according to their perception and analyze characteristics in order to find some variables that can influence perceptions, like prior experience, usage, or habit. And then, marketing people can use this variables to identify target customers and predict their perceptions. If one knows how customer's perception is changed via AD message, communication strategy could be constructed properly. Specially, information from segmented customers helps to develop efficient AD strategy for segment who has prior perception. Research framework consists of two measurements and one treatment, O1 X O2. First observation is for collecting information about consumer's perception and their characteristics. Based on first observation, the paper segment consumers into two groups, one group perceives DMB similar to Cellular phone and the other group perceives DMB similar to TV. And compare characteristics of two segments in order to find reason why they perceive DMB differently. Next, we expose two kinds of AD to subjects. One AD describes DMB as Cellular phone and the other Ad describes DMB as personal TV. When two ADs are exposed to subjects, consumers don't know their prior perception of DMB, in other words, which subject belongs 'similar-to-Cellular phone' segment or 'similar-to-TV' segment? However, we analyze the AD's effect differently for each segment. In research design, final observation is for investigating AD effect. Perception before AD is compared with perception after AD. Comparisons are made for each segment and for each AD. For the segment who perceives DMB similar to TV, AD that describes DMB as cellular phone could change the prior perception. And AD that describes DMB as personal TV, could enforce the prior perception. For data collection, subjects are selected from undergraduate students because they have basic knowledge about most digital equipments and have open attitude about a new product and media. Total number of subjects is 240. In order to measure perception about DMB, we use indirect measurement, comparison with other similar digital products. To select similar digital products, we pre-survey students and then finally select PDA, Car-TV, Cellular Phone, MP3 player, TV, and PSP. Quasi experiment is done at several classes under instructor's allowance. After brief introduction, prior knowledge, awareness, and usage about DMB as well as other digital instruments is asked and their similarities and perceived characteristics are measured. And then, two kinds of manipulated color-printed AD are distributed and similarities and perceived characteristics for DMB are re-measured. Finally purchase intension, AD attitude, manipulation check, and demographic variables are asked. Subjects are given small gift for participation. Stimuli are color-printed advertising. Their actual size is A4 and made after several pre-test from AD professionals and students. As results, consumers are segmented into two subgroups based on their perceptions of DMB. Similarity measure between DMB and cellular phone and similarity measure between DMB and TV are used to classify consumers. If subject whose first measure is less than the second measure, she is classified into segment A and segment A is characterized as they perceive DMB like TV. Otherwise, they are classified as segment B, who perceives DMB like cellular phone. Discriminant analysis on these groups with their characteristics of usage and attitude shows that Segment A knows much about DMB and uses a lot of digital instrument. Segment B, who thinks DMB as cellular phone doesn't know well about DMB and not familiar with other digital instruments. So, consumers with higher knowledge perceive DMB similar to TV because launching DMB advertising lead consumer think DMB as TV. Consumers with less interest on digital products don't know well about DMB AD and then think DMB as cellular phone. In order to investigate perceptions of DMB as well as other digital instruments, we apply Proxscal analysis, Multidimensional Scaling technique at SPSS statistical package. At first step, subjects are presented 21 pairs of 7 digital instruments and evaluate similarity judgments on 7 point scale. And for each segment, their similarity judgments are averaged and similarity matrix is made. Secondly, Proxscal analysis of segment A and B are done. At third stage, get similarity judgment between DMB and other digital instruments after AD exposure. Lastly, similarity judgments of group A-1, A-2, B-1, and B-2 are named as 'after DMB' and put them into matrix made at the first stage. Then apply Proxscal analysis on these matrixes and check the positional difference of DMB and after DMB. The results show that map of segment A, who perceives DMB similar as TV, shows that DMB position closer to TV than to Cellular phone as expected. Map of segment B, who perceive DMB similar as cellular phone shows that DMB position closer to Cellular phone than to TV as expected. Stress value and R-square is acceptable. And, change results after stimuli, manipulated Advertising show that AD makes DMB perception bent toward Cellular phone when Cellular phone-like AD is exposed, and that DMB positioning move towards Car-TV which is more personalized one when TV-like AD is exposed. It is true for both segment, A and B, consistently. Furthermore, the paper apply correspondence analysis to the same data and find almost the same results. The paper answers two main research questions. The first one is that perception about a new product is made mainly from prior experience. And the second one is that AD is effective in changing and enforcing perception. In addition to above, we extend perception change to purchase intention. Purchase intention is high when AD enforces original perception. AD that shows DMB like TV makes worst intention. This paper has limitations and issues to be pursed in near future. Methodologically, current methodology can't provide statistical test on the perceptual change, since classical MDS models, like Proxscal and correspondence analysis are not probability models. So, a new probability MDS model for testing hypothesis about configuration needs to be developed. Next, advertising message needs to be developed more rigorously from theoretical and managerial perspective. Also experimental procedure could be improved for more realistic data collection. For example, web-based experiment and real product stimuli and multimedia presentation could be employed. Or, one can display products together in simulated shop. In addition, demand and social desirability threats of internal validity could influence on the results. In order to handle the threats, results of the model-intended advertising and other "pseudo" advertising could be compared. Furthermore, one can try various level of innovativeness in order to check whether it make any different results (cf. Moon 2006). In addition, if one can create hypothetical product that is really innovative and new for research, it helps to make a vacant impression status and then to study how to form impression in more rigorous way.

  • PDF