• Title/Summary/Keyword: gender image

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Detection and Analysis of the Liver Region and Hepatoma in CT Images Using Shape-based Interpolation and Quantization Method (형태기반 보간법과 양자화 기법을 이용한 CT 영상에서의 간 영역과 간암 추출 및 분석)

  • Kim, Kwang-Baek
    • Journal of the Korean Institute of Intelligent Systems
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    • v.17 no.3
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    • pp.380-389
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    • 2007
  • In Korea, undoubtedly, the cancer is one of the most common reasons of death, and hepatoma is the second highest fatal cancer regardless of the gender only next to the stomach cancer In the middle and prime-aged between 40 and 60 years, the incidence of hepatoma is the highest in the world, and the death rate due to hepatoma is the highest among OECD countries. In this paper, we propose a novel method for automatic identification of hepatoma from a contrast enhanced CT images, which is used in an expert system that helps medical specialists. First, consecutive $40{\sim}50$ contrail enhanced CT images are photographed by every 5mm from the upper part of the chest, and using position information on the rib, we classify the internal area including only internal organs and the external one that consists of the rib, subcutaneous fat layers, and the background from the CT images. Then, the region of the liver is extracted from the classified internal area by using information on the intensity, the distribution of brightness, and using the regions extracted from consecutive images, we restore information on the 5 mm space occurred between the consecutive two slides tty applying a shape-based interpolation method. Lastly, using the characteristics such as the brightness and the morphology, we are able to extract the regions of hepatoma. The expert system based on our method is sufficiently competitive when it is compared with the diagnoses by specialists in the diagnostic radiology.

Analysis of Serum Proteom after Intravenous Injection of cultivated wild ginseng pharmacopuncture (산양산삼 증류약침의 혈맥주입 후 나타나는 혈장의 Proteom 분석)

  • Lee, Dong-Hee;Kwon, Ki-Rok
    • Journal of Pharmacopuncture
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    • v.9 no.2
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    • pp.17-37
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    • 2006
  • Objectives : To observe the changes in the serum proteins after intravenous injection of cultivated wild ginseng pharmacopuncture. Methods : Blood was collected before and after the administration of cultivated wild ginseng pharmacopuncture and only the serum was taken. Then differences in the spots on the scanned image after carrying out 2-Dimensional electrophoresis were located and conducted mass analysis and protein identification. Results : Following results were obtained from the comparative analysis of serum proteins before and after the administration of cultivated wild ginseng pharmacopuncture. 1. 28 spots were identified before and after the administration. 2. In confirming manifestation degree, spots with more than two-times increase were 204, 1302, 2205, 3105, 7104, 8006, spots with more than one-time increase were 1101, 1505, 2013, 2403, 3009, 3010, 4002, 4009, 6704, 8101, and spots with decrease were 205, 801, 803, 3205, 5202, 6105, 6106, 7103, 9001, 9003. 3. After conducting protein identification, proteins 205, 804, 1302, 4009, 6105, 6106 are unidentified yet, and 1l01 is unnamed protein. Protein 204 is identified as complement receptor CR2-C3d, 801 as YAPl protein, 803 as antitrypsin polymer, 1505 as PRO0684, 2013 and 3010 as proapolipoprotein, 2205 as USP48, 2403 as vitamin D binding protein, 3009 as complement component 4A preprotein, 3105 as immunoglobulin lambda chain, 3205 as transthyretin, 4002 as Ras-related protein Ral-A, 4204 as beta actin, 5202 and 7104 as apolipoprotein Ll, 6704 as alpha 2 macroglobulin precursor, 7103 as complement component 3 precursor, 8006 as testis-specific protein Y, 8101 as transferrin, 9001 as (Alpha-Oxy, Beta-(Cl12g)deoxy) T-State Human Hemoglobin, and 9003 as human hemoglobin. 4. Immune protein CR2-C3d(204), which acts against microbes and pathogenic organisms, was increased by more than two-times after the administration of pharmacopuncture. 5. Antitrypsin(803), which is secreted with inflammatory response in the lungs, was reduced after the administration of pharmacopuncture. 6. Proapolipoprotein(2013, 3010) and apolipoprotein(7104), key components of the HDL-cholesterol which plays an important role in preventing arteriosclerosis, were increased after the administration of pharmacopuncture. 7. Vitamin D binding protein(DBP, 2403), protecting the lung at the time of inflammatory response, was increased after the administration of pharmacopuncture. 8. Transthyretin(TTR, 3205), which is the main protein causing familial amyloid polyneuropathy(FAP), was decreased after the administration of pharmacopuncture. 9. Ras-related protein Ral-A(4002) that controls phospholipid metabolism, cytoskeletal formation, and membrane traffic, was increased after the administration of pharmacopuncture. 10. Testis-specific protein Y(8006), which takes part in determination of the gender, was increased by more than two-times after the administration of pharmacopuncture. 11. Transferrin(8101), which balances the iron level in the body, was increased after the administration of pharmacopuncture. Conclusion : Above results support the notion that intravenous injection of cultivated wild ginseng pharmacopuncture induce changes in serum proteins and this research can be a pioneer work in finding biomarkers.

Family-friendly Management Outcomes and the Effect of Ongoing Support: A Focus on the Organizational and Social Outcomes of Family-friendly Certified Firms (가족친화인증기업(관)의 가족친화경영 성과 및 사후지원 효과 - 기업성과와 사회적 성과를 중심으로 -)

  • Rhee, Seung-Yoon;Lee, Yu Ri
    • Journal of Family Resource Management and Policy Review
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    • v.25 no.3
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    • pp.17-30
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    • 2021
  • The purpose of this study was to examine the effectiveness of family-friendly management in 501 family-friendly certified firms and to analyze organizational and social outcomes outlined by the firms. In addition, this study aimed to discover ways to promote family-friendly management by investigating the effects of ongoing support to certified firms, including family-friendly consulting and workplace training. The results showed that certified firms administer family-friendly workplace policies at a satisfactory level, while their management of policy indices and outcomes were not effective. The finding suggests that family-friendly management indices need to be aligned with firms' substantial outcomes. An improved organizational image and trust were major organizational outcomes of family-friendly management, and an enhanced CEO perception and a culture centered on gender-equality were significant social outcomes. These outcomes need to be promoted to attract organizations to engage in family-friendly management. The finding further implies the important roles of organizations in cultivating family-friendly environments in society. Finally, the certified firms with ongoing consulting and training support exhibited higher levels of family-friendly management and organizational and social outcomes. This study sheds light on the importance of long-term, systematic efforts by organizations in fostering family-friendly management and achieving organizational and social outcomes.

Effects of Selection Attributes on Satisfaction and Loyalty of Multiplex Cinemas: Combining Quantitative and Qualitative Methods (멀티플렉스 영화관의 선택속성이 만족도, 충성도에 미치는 영향: 질적/양적 방법의 혼합)

  • CHO, Eun-Jeong;NAM, Chae-Eun;CHA, Ha-Young;SHIN, Jung-Hyung;HAN, Young-Wee
    • The Korean Journal of Franchise Management
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    • v.10 no.2
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    • pp.49-58
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    • 2019
  • Purpose - As the growth potential of the cultural contents industry steadily grows, the cinemas industry is growing fast especially due to popularity and commerciality. The recent in the cinemas industry is evolving on multiplex cinemas that combine cultural facilities such as theaters, restaurants, and shopping centers. Due to the rapid growth of multiplex cinemas, many researchers have studied the characteristics of visiting customers in Korea. Among them, selection attribute of multiplex cinemas, including the service quality and physical environment, is important because it may examines the cause of customer 's behavior. Thus, this research focuses on the effects of the selection attributes of the multiplex cinemas on customer satisfaction and their loyalty. This research suggests the guidelines for how cinemas should manage their customers and build their customers satisfaction and loyalty that improve business performance. Research design, data, and methodology - This study tests the structural relationship between selection attributes of multiplex cinemas, customer satisfaction, and loyalty. selection attributes of multiplex cinemas divide into five sub-dimensions such as movies facility quality, services, cleanliness, accessibility, and snack bars quality. In order to examine the purposes of this research, research model and hypotheses were developed. All constructs were measured with multiple items developed and tested in the previous studies. The data were collected from 100 students in their 10-20s and were analyzed using SPSS 22.0, SmartPLS 3.0 and fsQCA program. Result - The findings of this research are as follows. First, all selection attributes except cleanliness have significant positive impacts on customer satisfaction and loyalty. Second, customer satisfaction has significant positive impact on loyalty. Third, as a result of fsQCA, high satisfaction and high accessibility were the necessary conditions on loyalty. Fourth, the necessary conditions for male and female groups were different. Conclusions - The implications of this study are as follows. Overall, multiplex cinemas should manage selection attributes basically regardless of the type of theater. Especially, cleanliness was not significant, but the customer probably consider it an essential and basic factors. Also, they are able to manage the selection attributes differently depending on the type of gender. For the male customers, it is effective that centralized strategy and for female customers, it is effective that emphasized the multiplex cinemas image.

The historical change of children's education recognition by Chosun & Donga newspaper articles from 1920s to 1990s (신문기사에 나타난 자녀교육 인식 변천 -1920년대~1990년대 조선일보와 동아일보를 중심으로-)

  • Hahn, Yong Jin;Choe, Jeong-Hui
    • (The)Korea Educational Review
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    • v.17 no.3
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    • pp.175-240
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    • 2011
  • The purpose of this study is to understand how the perception and attitude in children's education have changed over the 20th century in South Korea by searching the newspaper articles. The modernization in 20th century brought radical changes in every aspect of Korean society including education. As an educational attitude and policies from the government changed, so did the tones reflected in the newspaper articles. To sum up, there were four (4) principal changes found from this study as follows;Firstly, parental involvement and role as an educator became more important in Korean society and huge generation gap arose in attitudes towards children's education and custody. Secondly, the traditional gender-based roles of mothers' with image of love and fathers' with strength disappeared and mothers' responsibility of children's education were more emphasized during 20th century. Meanwhile, today's society is calling for an immediate return of fathers' involvement and commitment to children's education in the household. Thirdly, as the overflow of information and knowledge in 20th society caused an excessive interest in children's education, there were rising demands for establishing proper views and ideas on children's education. Lastly, the responsibilities of children's education which had been laid on household was expanded to public and government, which can be seen from the fact that an educational support from the government was extended to the children of overseas Korean as well as those residing in Korea.

The Effect of Attributes of Innovation and Perceived Risk on Product Attitudes and Intention to Adopt Smart Wear (스마트 의류의 혁신속성과 지각된 위험이 제품 태도 및 수용의도에 미치는 영향)

  • Ko, Eun-Ju;Sung, Hee-Won;Yoon, Hye-Rim
    • Journal of Global Scholars of Marketing Science
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    • v.18 no.2
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    • pp.89-111
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    • 2008
  • Due to the development of digital technology, studies regarding smart wear integrating daily life have rapidly increased. However, consumer research about perception and attitude toward smart clothing hardly could find. The purpose of this study was to identify innovative characteristics and perceived risk of smart clothing and to analyze the influences of theses factors on product attitudes and intention to adopt. Specifically, five hypotheses were established. H1: Perceived attributes of smart clothing except for complexity would have positive relations to product attitude or purchase intention, while complexity would be opposite. H2: Product attitude would have positive relation to purchase intention. H3: Product attitude would have a mediating effect between perceived attributes and purchase intention. H4: Perceived risks of smart clothing would have negative relations to perceived attributes except for complexity, and positive relations to complexity. H5: Product attitude would have a mediating effect between perceived risks and purchase intention. A self-administered questionnaire was developed based on previous studies. After pretest, the data were collected during September, 2006, from university students in Korea who were relatively sensitive to innovative products. A total of 300 final useful questionnaire were analyzed by SPSS 13.0 program. About 60.3% were male with the mean age of 21.3 years old. About 59.3% reported that they were aware of smart clothing, but only 9 respondents purchased it. The mean of attitudes toward smart clothing and purchase intention was 2.96 (SD=.56) and 2.63 (SD=.65) respectively. Factor analysis using principal components with varimax rotation was conducted to identify perceived attribute and perceived risk dimensions. Perceived attributes of smart wear were categorized into relative advantage (including compatibility), observability (including triability), and complexity. Perceived risks were identified into physical/performance risk, social psychological risk, time loss risk, and economic risk. Regression analysis was conducted to test five hypotheses. Relative advantage and observability were significant predictors of product attitude (adj $R^2$=.223) and purchase intention (adj $R^2$=.221). Complexity showed negative influence on product attitude. Product attitude presented significant relation to purchase intention (adj $R^2$=.692) and partial mediating effect between perceived attributes and purchase intention (adj $R^2$=.698). Therefore hypothesis one to three were accepted. In order to test hypothesis four, four dimensions of perceived risk and demographic variables (age, gender, monthly household income, awareness of smart clothing, and purchase experience) were entered as independent variables in the regression models. Social psychological risk, economic risk, and gender (female) were significant to predict relative advantage (adj $R^2$=.276). When perceived observability was a dependent variable, social psychological risk, time loss risk, physical/performance risk, and age (younger) were significant in order (adj $R^2$=.144). However, physical/performance risk was positively related to observability. The more Koreans seemed to be observable of smart clothing, the more increased the probability of physical harm or performance problems received. Complexity was predicted by product awareness, social psychological risk, economic risk, and purchase experience in order (adj $R^2$=.114). Product awareness was negatively related to complexity, meaning high level of product awareness would reduce complexity of smart clothing. However, purchase experience presented positive relation with complexity. It appears that consumers can perceive high level of complexity when they are actually consuming smart clothing in real life. Risk variables were positively related with complexity. That is, in order to decrease complexity, it is also necessary to consider minimizing anxiety factors about social psychological wound or loss of money. Thus, hypothesis 4 was partially accepted. Finally, in testing hypothesis 5, social psychological risk and economic risk were significant predictors for product attitude (adj $R^2$=.122) and purchase intention (adj $R^2$=.099) respectively. When attitude variable was included with risk variables as independent variables in the regression model to predict purchase intention, only attitude variable was significant (adj $R^2$=.691). Thus attitude variable presented full mediating effect between perceived risks and purchase intention, and hypothesis 5 was accepted. Findings would provide guidelines for fashion and electronic businesses who aim to create and strengthen positive attitude toward smart clothing. Marketers need to consider not only functional feature of smart clothing, but also practical and aesthetic attributes, since appropriateness for social norm or self image would reduce uncertainty of psychological or social risk, which increase relative advantage of smart clothing. Actually social psychological risk was significantly associated to relative advantage. Economic risk is negatively associated with product attitudes as well as purchase intention, suggesting that smart-wear developers have to reflect on price ranges of potential adopters. It will be effective to utilize the findings associated with complexity when marketers in US plan communication strategy.

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Typology of Korean Eco-sumers: Based on Clothing Disposal Behaviors (관우한국생태학적일개예설(关于韩国生态学的一个预设): 기우복장탑배적행위(基于服装搭配的行为))

  • Sung, Hee-Won;Kincade, Doris H.
    • Journal of Global Scholars of Marketing Science
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    • v.20 no.1
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    • pp.59-69
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    • 2010
  • Green or an environmental consciousness has been a major issue for businesses and government offices, as well as consumers, worldwide. In response to this movement, the Korean government announced, in the early 2000s, the era of "Green Growth" as a way to encourage green-related business activities. The Korean fashion industry, in various levels of involvement, presents diverse eco-friendly products as a part of the green movement. These apparel products include organic products and recycled clothing. For these companies to be successful, they need information about who are the consumers who consider green issues (e.g., environmental sustainability) as part of their personal values when making a decision for product purchase, use, and disposal. These consumers can be considered as eco-sumers. Previous studies have examined consumers' purchase intention for or with eco-friendly products. In addition, studies have examined influential factors used to identify the eco-sumers or green consumers. However, limited attention was paid to eco-sumers' disposal or recycling behavior of clothes in comparison with their green product purchases. Clothing disposal behaviors are ways that consumer can get rid of unused clothing and in clue temporarily lending the item or permanently eliminating the item by "handing down" (e.g., giving it to a younger sibling), donating, exchanging, selling, or simply throwing it away. Accordingly, examining purchasing behaviors of eco-friendly fashion items in conjunction with clothing disposal behaviors should improve understanding of a consumer's clothing consumption behavior from the environmental perspective. The purpose of this exploratory study is to provide descriptive information about Korean eco-sumers who have ecologically-favorable lifestyles and behaviors when buying and disposing of clothes. The objectives of this study are to (a) categorize Koreans on the basis of clothing disposal behaviors; (b) investigate the differences in demographics, lifestyles, and clothing consumption values among segments; and (c) compare the purchase intention of eco-friendly fashion items and influential factors among segments. A self-administered questionnaire was developed based on previous studies. The questionnaire included 10 items of clothing disposal behavior, 22 items of LOHAS (Lifestyles of Health and Sustainability) characteristics, and 19 items of consumption values, measured by five-point Likert-type scales. In addition, the purchase intention of two eco-friendly fashion items and 11 attributes of each item were measured by seven-point Likert type scales. Two polyester fleece pullovers, made from fabric created from recycled bottles with the PET identification code, were selected from one Korean brand and one US imported brand among outdoor sportswear brands. A brief description of each product with a color picture was provided in the survey. Demographic variables (i.e., gender, age, marital status, education level, income, occupation) were also included. The data were collected through a professional web survey agency during May 2009. A total of 600 final usable questionnaires were analyzed. The age of respondents ranged from 20 to 49 years old with a mean age of 34 years. Fifty percent of the respondents were males and about 58% were married, and 62% reported having earned university degrees. Principal components factor analysis with varimax rotation was used to identify the underlying dimensions of the clothing disposal behavior scale, and three factors were generated (i.e., reselling behavior, donating behavior, non-recycling behavior). To categorize the respondents on the basis of clothing disposal behaviors, k-mean cluster analysis was used, and three segments were obtained. These consumer segments were labeled as 'Resale Group', 'Donation Group', and 'Non-Recycling Group.' The classification results indicated approximately 98 percent of the original cases were correctly classified. With respect to demographic characteristics among the three segments, significant differences were found in gender, marital status, occupation, and age. LOHAS characteristics were reduced into the following five factors: self-satisfaction, family orientation, health concern, environmental concern, and voluntary service. Significant differences were found in the LOHAS factors among the three clusters. Resale Group and Donation Group showed a similar predisposition to LOHAS issues while the Non-Recycling Group presented the lowest mean scores on the LOHAS factors compared to the other segments. The Resale and Donation Groups described themselves as enjoying or being satisfied with their lives and spending spare-time with family. In addition, these two groups cared about health and organic foods, and tried to conserve energy and resources. Principal components factor analysis generated clothing consumption values into the following three factors: personal values, social value, and practical value. The ANOVA test with the factors showed differences primarily between the Resale Group and the other two groups. The Resale Group was more concerned about personal value and social value than the other segments. In contrast, the Non-Recycling Group presented the higher level of social value than did Donation Group. In a comparison of the intention to purchase eco-friendly products, the Resale Group showed the highest mean score on intent to purchase Product A. On the other hand, the Donation Group presented the highest intention to purchase for Product B among segments. In addition, the mean scores indicated that the Korean product (Product B) was more preferable for purchase than the U.S. product (Product A). Stepwise regression analysis was used to identify the influence of product attributes on the purchase intention of eco product. With respect to Product A, design, price and contribution to environmental preservation were significant to predict purchase intention for the Resale Group, while price and compatibility with my image factors were significant for the Donation Group. For the Non-Recycling Group, design, price compatibility with the factors of my image, participation to eco campaign, and contribution to environmental preservation were significant. Price appropriateness was significant for each of the three clusters. With respect to Product B, design, price and compatibility with my image factors were important, but different attributes were associated significantly with purchase intention for each of the three groups. The influence of LOHAS characteristics and clothing consumption values on intention to purchase Products A and B were also examined. The LOHAS factor of health concern and the personal value factor were significant in the relationships with the purchase intention; however, the explanatory powers were low in the three segments. Findings showed that each group as classified by clothing disposal behaviors showed differences in the attributes of a product, personal values, and the LOHAS characteristics that influenced their purchase intention of eco-friendly products. Findings would enable organizations to understand eco-friendly behavior and to design appropriate strategic decisions to appeal eco-sumers.

Analysis of Serum proteom before and after Intravenous Injection of wild ginseng herbal acupuncture (자연산 산삼 증류약침의 혈맥주입 전.후 혈장의 Proteom 분석)

  • Kang, Tae-Sik;Lee, Sun-Gu;Kwon, Ki-Rok
    • Journal of Pharmacopuncture
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    • v.7 no.3
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    • pp.5-25
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    • 2004
  • Objectives : To observe changes in the serum proteins before and after intravenous injection of wild ginseng herbal acupuncture. Methods : Blood was collected before and after the administration of wild ginseng herbal acupuncture and only the serum was centrifuged. Then differences in the spots on the scanned image after running 2-Dimensionl electrophoresis were located and conducted mass analysis and protein identification. Results : Following results were obtained from the comparative analysis of serum proteins before and after the administration of wild ginseng herbal acupuncture. 1. 28 spots were identified before and after the administration. 2. In confirming manifestation degree, spots with more than two-times increase were 204, 803, 1505, 2205, 3105, 7104, 9001 spots, with more than one-time increase were 1101, 1302, 2013, 3009, 3010, 4002, 4009, 6706, 7103, 8006, 8101, and spots with decrease were 205, 801, 3205, 5202, 6105. 3. After conducting protein identification, proteins 205, 804, 1302, 4009, 6105, 6106 are unidentified yet, and 1101 is unnamed protein. Protein 204 is identified as complement receptor CR2-C3d, 801 as YAP1 protein, 803 as antitrypsin polymer, 1505 as PRO0684, 2013 and 3010 as proapolipoprotein, 2205 as USP48, 2403 as vitamin D binding protein, 3009 as complement component 4A preprotein, 3105 as immunoglobulin lambda chain, 3205 as transthyretin, 4002 as Ras-related protein Ral-A, 4204 as beta actin, 5202 and 7104 as apolipoprotein L1, 6704 as alpha 2 macroglobulin precursor, 7103 as complement component 3 precursor, 8006 as testis-specific protein Y, 8101 as Transferrin, 9001 as(Alpha-Oxy, Beta-(C112g)deoxy) T-State Human Hemoglobin, and 9003 as human hemoglobin. 4. Immune protein CR2-C3d, which acts against microbes and pathogenic organisms, and Antitrypsin(803), which is secreted with inflammatory response in the lungs, were increased by more than 200% after the administration of herbal acupuncture. 5. Immunoglobulin lambda chain(3105), Alpha-Oxy, Beta-(C112g)deoxy T-State Human Hemoglobin(9001), and human hemoglobin(9003) were increased by more than two-times after the administration of herbal acupuncture. 6. Proapolipoprotein(2013, 3010) and apolipoprotein(7104), key components of the HDL-cholesterol which plays an important role in preventing arteriosclerosis, were increased after the administration of herbal acupuncture. 7. Vitamin D binding protein(DBP, 2403), protecting the lung at the time of inflammatory response, was increased after the administration of herbal acupuncture. 8. Transthyretin(TTR, 3205), which is the main protein causing familial aimyloid polyneuropathy(FAP), was decreased after the administration of herbal acupuncture. 9. Ras-related protein Ral-A(4002) that controls phospholipid metabolism, cytoskeletal formation, and membrane traffic, was increased after the administration of herbal acupuncture. 10. Testis-specific protein Y(8006), which takes part in determination of the gender, was increased by more than two-times after the administration of herbal acupuncture. 11. Transferrin(8101), T-State Human Hemoblobin(9001), and Human Hemoblobin(9003) which balances the iron level in the body, were increased after the administration of herbal acupuncture. Conousion : Above results support the notion that intravenous injection of cultivated wild ginseng herbal acupuncture induce changes in serum proteins and this research can be a pioneer work in finding biomarkers.

Comparison of the Results of Ultrasound-guided Caudal Epidural Block - Herniated Intervertebral Disc vs Spinal Stenosis - (초음파를 이용한 미추 경막외 차단술의 결과 비교 - 추간판 탈출증과 척추관 협착증 -)

  • Kim, Young-Tae;Cho, Kyu-Jung;Ahn, Chi-Hoon
    • The Journal of Korean Orthopaedic Ultrasound Society
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    • v.7 no.2
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    • pp.105-112
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    • 2014
  • Purpose: Ultrasound-guided epidural caudal block for low back pain and radiating pain is often performed in the treatment of outpatients. However, this procedure has a failure rate of up to 25% even when it performed by an experienced physician. The authors investigate the effectiveness of Ultrasound-guided epidural caudal block in patients related to disc herniation or spinal stenosis. Materials and Methods: Ultrasound-guided caudal epidural block was performed in 55 outpatients with LBP and radiating pain. Patient was placed in the prone position and sonographic image of sacral hiatus was obtained using linear probe. A 22-gauge needle was advanced into the sacrococcygeal membrane under ultrasound guidance and then medication was injected into the caudal epidural space. There were 31 cases of disc herniation, and 24 cases of spinal stenosis. Patients were evaluated by Visual Analog Scale (VAS) pain score at pre-treatment, post-treatment, 2 weeks and 4 weeks by telephone interviews. Results: 53 of the 55 cases (96.4%) of needle insertion into the sacral canal under ultrasound guidance were successful. Gender was not significantly different between disc herniation group and spinal stenosis group. But there was a significant age difference between disc herniation group ($42.3{\pm}10.8$), and spinal stenosis group ($62.8{\pm}15.1$) [p<0.001]. The VAS score at pre-treatment, post-treatment, 2 weeks, 4 weeks in disc group were 6.84, 3.1, 1.8 & 1.77. The VAS score at pre-treatment, post-treatment, 2 weeks, 4 weeks in spinal stenosis group were 6.88, 3.58, 4.33 & 4.88. The VAS score in both groups was significantly improved after the procedure (p<0.001). Over time, the two groups were statistically significant differences in VAS score after adjusting for age (p<0.001). Conclusion: Ultrasound-guided caudal epidural block seems to provide a high success rate and a significantly better response in disc group than spinal stenosis group.

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A Narrative Inquiry of the Identities of Male Home Economics Teachers (남자 가정과교사의 정체성에 대한 내러티브 탐구)

  • Ahn, Jae Hyun;Park, Mi Jeong
    • Journal of Korean Home Economics Education Association
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    • v.32 no.2
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    • pp.159-178
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    • 2020
  • This study aimed at exploring male home economics(HE) teachers' identities through narrative inquiry. Considering experiences of HE teachers and diversity in regions, twelve male teachers were chosen, and in-depth interviews were conducted between June 1st and July 31st, 2019. The transcription of the data was transferred to the Hancom Office Hangeul 2010 while the researcher listened to the recordings of the interviews. The total amount of transcription data was 174 pages, and the data were analyzed through open coding, categorization, and category verification. The themes identified as results of this study were as follows: First, 'Coincidence: Breaking the Wall of Prejudice' is related to the experiences that have a great influence on the formation of identity as a male HE teacher: motivation to enter the HE department, educational practice, etc. Through this, the experience of becoming a male HE teacher was recorded. Second, 'Facing: Surviving as a male HE Teacher' captures the current story of male HE teachers and the perspectives of their fellow teachers, family, and friends about male HE teachers. In this section, male HE teachers showed how HE classes and assessments, and their experiences in their lives, influenced their identities. Third, 'Expectations: Growing as a HE teacher' is a story about the future of male HE teachers. The ideal teacher image pursued by male HE teachers was a practical teacher. They hoped that in 10 or 20 years, they would have smooth and professional relationship with students. They advise prospective male HE teachers to become a competent HE teacher regard less of their gender. The significance of this study is that it broke the stereotype of 'HE teachers should be female' and expanded the horizon of HE education by exploring the identities of male HE teachers.