• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Near Infrared Spectroscopy Conference
• /
• 2001.06a
• /
• pp.1126-1126
• /
• 2001

The paper presented here is the initial part of a larger study, in which it was determined which quality parameters in cheese powder could already be predicted by NIR at an early stage in the process and which could only be predicted at the final stages of the process. This initial study was performed in order to establish the levels and nature of variation within and between batches such that the subsequent data collection could be tackled optimally. The perspectives evolved into more than was originally planned and revealed some interesting uses of NIR-technology. Cheese powder production starts as a batch process, where waste cheese from other dairies is melted down in a vat. The process then turns into a continual process as the vat is emptied and the melted cheese is then filtered, homogenized, pasteurized and finally spray dried. Between each batch the powder is to a greater or lesser degree a mixture of 2 batches. This paper is divided into 2 aspects, one regarding the optimization of sampling time and the other is a study of process dynamics. Optimizing sampling time This initial study included 9 powder samples from 9 different batches produced during one day. The raw materials for the batches were chosen with the aim of creating a relatively high level of variation in the data. The total of 81 samples were taken out at regular intervals and spectra were collected on a NIR-systems 6500 instrument. The subsequent reduction of the data by PCA to score values shows the power of NIR as a tool to determine not only when samples are representative of a certain batch, but also which batches are stable enough to include in a further study. Studying process dynamics To take this experiment a step further 1 of the 81 samples were sent to the laboratory for further analyses. The samples were chosen on the criteria that they covered the spectral variation in the dataset. These samples were analysed for 4 chemical components and 5 physical attributes, which are essential for describing the quality of the product. The latent structure of the 7 samples, using the chemical and physical variables, is totally comparable to the latent structure of the NIR spectra. This outcome makes it possible to describe the dynamics of one day's production both chemically and physically with relatively little resources. Additionally it raises the question as to whether reference values are needed, as the latent structure of the NIR-spectra appears to be sufficient in providing information on the quality of the product. To be able to use NIR in this way would require defining quality limits in the principal component space as opposed to each of the reference values. The potential of NIR applied in an explorative fashion with batch processes opens a whole new gateway for the use of this technology. This study explains yet again after so many years in the field “why I'm crazy about NIR!”.

• Information Systems Review
• /
• v.18 no.3
• /
• pp.155-183
• /
• 2016

Research on personalized recommender service that uses big data has gained considerable attention given the increasing volume of contents being created. This development indicates the need for service providers to collect personal information and content rating data to personalize content recommendations. Previous studies on this topic proposed algorithms to offer improved recommendations using minimal rating data or service designs and increase the number of ratings. However, limited studies have been conducted on the factors that motivate the ratings input of users, as well as the factors that influence their continuous usage of recommender service. The present study explored the factors that motivate users to enter ratings by conducting in-depth interviews with users who use recommender services. The meanings of these ratings were also explored. Results show that the meaning and usage range of ratings differed based on the stage of a user's with utilization of the service. When users input an initial rating, they treat such a rating as a database to save the impression of a past experience. Such a rating is then used as a tool to reflect the current feeling and thoughts of a user. In the end, users were not only interested in their own rating system, but they also actively sought out the meaning of the rating systems of others and utilized them. Users also expressed mistrust in the recommendations of the service because they were aware of the limitation of the algorithms. This study identified a number of practical implications regarding recommender services.

• Research in Community and Public Health Nursing
• /
• v.12 no.1
• /
• pp.226-238
• /
• 2001

This study was attempted to understand experiences of the users of natural family planning(NFP) by applying Q-methodology. 37 statements were used to Q population through literature research and interviews. For the P sample. I interviewed personally 30 people who had taken a lesson in NFP for over 6 months and had been using and experiencing it autonomously for more than 2 years so far, and asked them to Q-classify the statement cards in order of the degree of approval, from the one they most approved to the one they least approved. Data were coded and input into a computer and were analyzed using QUANL PC Program. In this study, I discovered 4 types of experiences by the users of NFP and named them each according to their features: the first, a type of mutual control with morality, the second, a type of the pursuit of mutual -cooperation, the third. a type of the pursuit of conviction. and the fourth, a type of the perception of health management. The first type said that NFP was a good contraceptive way in which no drug or devices are used, that the husband's cooperation was needed, and that they became able to control sexual desire with morality. The second type perceived that continuous efforts were required to put NFP in practice, that the, husband's cooperation was essential, and that dialogues between husband and wife were also necessary to use it, and as such they regarded mutual cooperation between husband and wife as highly important. On the other hand. the third type perceived that one's conviction played a big part, that knowledge of physiological changes was useful and the ability to sense physical changes improved. and that one's willpower was important. and thus they regarded one's own willpower as most important. The fourth type reported that this method was a good way to control pregnancy and should be taught about at the beginning of sex education. and thus they were emphasizing the importance of NFP as a helpful way to manage one's health. 1. therefore, intend to provide the following suggestions based on the result of this study. 1) It is necessary to develop a program that allows NFP to be applied to sex education program. 2) It is necessary to analyze factors that affect the execution of NFP. 3) It is necessary to analyze causes of failure of those who fail to execute NFP.

• Journal of Gastric Cancer
• /
• v.8 no.2
• /
• pp.91-96
• /
• 2008

Purpose: The early detection of gastric cancer and accuracy of preoperative staging has currently been on the increase due to the development of endoscopy and imaging techniques, but there are still many cases of advanced gastric cancer detected at the first diagnosis and there are also many cases of stage IV gastric cancer diagnosed after a postoperative pathological examination. Although the prognosis of stage IV gastric cancer is very poor, this study was performed to determine the value of the use of aggressive treatment determined after a clinical analysis. Materials and Methods: We retrospectively analyzed 150 patients that were diagnosed with stage IV gastric cancer among 1376 patients who underwent a laparotomy for gastric cancer from January 1994 to December 2006. Results: Of the 150 patients with stage IV gastric cancer who underwent a laparotomy, there were 104 men and 46 women. The mean patient age was 57.8 years (age range, 28~93 years). A subtotal gastrectomy or total gastrectomy was performed in 119 patients and 31 patients underwent an explorative laparotomy. The mean survival time of patients that underwent a gastrectomy and patients that did not undergo a gastrectomy was 722 days (range, 14~4,559 days) and 173 days (range, 16~374 days), respectively this result was statistically significant. When patients that underwent a gastrectomy were classified according to the TNM stage, the mean survival time of 33 patients with stage T4 disease was 534 days (range, 17~3,378 days) and the mean survival time of 63 patients with stage N3 disease was 521 days (range, 14~4,190 days), but there was no statistical significance. Chemotherapy was administered to 98 patients and 52 patients did not receive chemotherapy. The mean survival time of patients that received chemotherapy was 792 days (range, 36~4,559 days) and the mean survival time of patients that did not receive chemotherapy was 243 days (range, 14~2,413 days), with statistical significance. Conclusion: If there is no evidence of distant metastasis in stage IV gastric cancer, one can expect improvement of the survival rate by the use of aggressive treatment, including curative gastric resection with radical lymph node dissection and chemotherapy.

• 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