• Title/Summary/Keyword: the administration

Search Result 35,607, Processing Time 0.078 seconds

Prognostic Value of TNM Staging in Small Cell Lung Cancer (소세포폐암의 TNM 병기에 따른 예후)

  • Park, Jae-Yong;Kim, Kwan-Young;Chae, Sang-Cheol;Kim, Jeong-Seok;Kim, Kwon-Yeop;Park, Ki-Su;Cha, Seung-Ik;Kim, Chang-Ho;Kam, Sin;Jung, Tae-Hoon
    • Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
    • /
    • v.45 no.2
    • /
    • pp.322-332
    • /
    • 1998
  • Background: Accurate staging is important to determine treatment modalities and to predict prognosis for the patients with lung cancer. The simple two-stage system of the Veteran's Administration Lung Cancer study Group has been used for staging of small cell lung cancer(SCLC) because treatment usually consists of chemotherapy with or without radiotherapy. However, this system does not accurately reflect segregation of patients into homogenous prognostic groups. Therefore, a variety of new staging system have been proposed as more intensive treatments including either intensive radiotherapy or surgery enter clinical trials. We evaluate the prognostic importance of TNM staging, which has the advantage of providing a uniform detailed classification of tumor spread, in patients with SCLC. Methods: The medical records of 166 patients diagnosed with SCLC between January 1989 and December 1996 were reviewed retrospectively. The influence of TNM stage on survival was analyzed in 147 patients, among 166 patients, who had complete TNM staging data. Results: Three patients were classified in stage I / II, 15 in stage III a, 78 in stage IIIb and 48 in stage IV. Survival rate at 1 and 2 years for these patients were as follows: stage I / II, 75% and 37.5% ; stage IIIa, 46.7% and 25.0% ; stage III b, 34.3% and 11.3% ; and stage IV, 2.6% and 0%. The 2-year survival rates for 84 patients who received chemotherapy(more than 2 cycles) with or without radiotherapy were as follows: stage I / II, 37.5% ; stage rna, 31.3% ; stage IIIb 13.5% ; and stage IV 0%. Overall outcome according to TNM staging was significantly different whether or not received treatment. However, there was no significant difference between stage IIIa and stage IIIb though median survival and 2-year survival rate were higher in stage IIIa than stage IIIb. Conclusion: These results suggest that the TNM staging system may be helpful for predicting the prognosis of patients with SCLC.

  • PDF

Energy expenditure measurement of various physical activity and correlation analysis of body weight and energy expenditure in elementary school children (일부 초등학생의 대표적 신체활동의 에너지소비량 측정 및 에너지소비량과 체중과의 상관성 분석)

  • Kim, Jae-Hee;Son, Hee-Ryoung;Choi, Jung-Sook;Kim, Eun-Kyung
    • Journal of Nutrition and Health
    • /
    • v.48 no.2
    • /
    • pp.180-191
    • /
    • 2015
  • Purpose: There is a lack of data on the energy cost of children's everyday activities, adult values are often used as surrogates. In addition, the influence of body weight on the energy cost of activity when expressed as metabolic equivalents (METs) has not been vigorously explored. Methods: In this study 20 elementary school students 9~12 years of age completed 18 various physical activities while energy expenditure was measured continuously using a portable telemetry gas exchange system ($K_4b^2$, Cosmed, Rome, Italy). Results: The average age was 10.4 years and the average height and weight was 145.1 cm and 43.6 kg, respectively. Oxygen consumption ($VO_2$), energy expenditure and METs at the time of resting of the subjects were 5.41 mL/kg/min, 1.44 kcal/kg/h, and 1.5 METs, respectively. METs values by 18 physical activities were as follows: Homework and reading books (1.6 METs), playing game with a mobile phone or video while sitting (1.6 METs), watching TV while sitting on a comfortable chair (1.7 METs), playing video game or mobile phone game while standing (1.9 METs), sweeping a room with a broom (2.7 METs) and playing a board game (2.8 METs) belong to light intensity physical activities. By contrary, speedy walking and running were 6.6 and 6.7 METs, respectively, which belong to high intensity physical activities over 6.0 METs. When the effect of body weight on physical activity energy expenditure was determined, $R^2$ values increased with 0.116 (playing a game at sitting), 0.176 (climbing up and down stairs), 0.246 (slow walking), and 0.455 (running), which showed that higher activity intensity increased explanation power of body weight on METs value. Conclusion: This study is important for direct evaluation of energy expenditure by physical activities of children, and it could be used directly for revising and complementing the existing activity classification table to fit for children.

Nutritional Status and Health Risks of Low Income Elderly Women in Gwangju Area (광주지역 저소득층 여자노인의 영양상태와 건강위험요인에 관한 연구)

  • Yang, Eun-Ju;Bang, Hee-Myung
    • Journal of Nutrition and Health
    • /
    • v.41 no.1
    • /
    • pp.65-76
    • /
    • 2008
  • This study was performed to identify association between nutritional status and health risks of the elderly. This was a cross-sectional study involving low income elderly women in Gwangju, Korea (${\geq}$65y, n = 92). Socio-demographics, life style characteristics, health conditions, dietary intakes based on 24h-recall method, anthropometric measures, and clinical biochemistry parameters were examined. Anthropometric and clinical parameters included wt, ht, waist, hip, body protein, body fat, abdominal fat, total cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol, triglyceride, total protein, albumin, hemoglobin, hematocrit, fasting blood glucose, ferritin, IL-2, IL-6, TNF-${\alpha}$, CRP, TAS, TBARS, systolic blood pressure, and diastolic blood pressure. The subjects were divided into three groups based on age (65-74y, 75-84y, 85y${\leq}$) and were divided into two groups according to the sum of the Nutrition Screening Initiative (NSI) checklist score (adequate nutritional status, NSI score ${\leq}$3; at risk of malnutrition, NSI score >3). Mean and frequency of variables were estimated. Analysis of Variance, Tukey test, Chi-square test, and Multiple linear regression analyses were performed. Mean BMI and body fat were 25.1 $kg/m^2$ and 40.0%, respectively. However, for over 80% of subjects, the intakes of energy, fiber, thiamin, riboflavin, niacin, folate, Ca, K, and Zn were less than the Korean DRI (EAR or AI). The subjects who had lower NSI score tended to have better health status, eat meals frequently, have less depression, and exercise regularly. The subjects who had higher NSI score tended to have tooth problems, to eat alone most of time, and to be physically unable to cook or feed. Serum IL-6 and TNF-${\alpha}$ were significantly related with nutritional status which suggested higher tendency of inflammatory response. Serum IL-2, TAS, and glucose were significantly correlated with body fat (%) or abdominal fat (%). These results suggest that improving the nutritional status, increasing regular exercise, maintaining normal weight are beneficial to health care of low income elderly women.

Clinical Features and Treatment Response in 18 Cases with Idiopathic Nonspecific Interstitial Pneumonia (특발성 비특이성 간질성 폐렴 18례의 임상상 및 치료반응)

  • Kang, Eun-Hae;Chung, Man-Pyo;Kang, Soo-Jung;An, Chang-Hyeok;Ahn, Jong-Woon;Han, Joung-Ho;Lee, Kyung-Soo;Lim, Si-Young;Suh, Gee-Young;Kim, Ho-Joong;Kwon, O-Jung;Rhee, Chong-H.
    • Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
    • /
    • v.48 no.4
    • /
    • pp.530-542
    • /
    • 2000
  • Background : Nonspecific interstitial pneumonia (NSIP) has been reported recently to have shown much better response to medical treatment and better prognosis compared with idiopathic UIP. However, clinical characteristics of idiopathic NSIP discriminating it from UIP have not been clearly defined. Method : Among 120 patients with biopsy-proven diffuse interstitial lung diseases admitted to the Samsung Medical Center between July 1996 and March 2000, 18 patients with idiopathic NSIP were included in this study. Retrospective chart review and radiographic analysis were performed. Results : 1) At diagnosis, 17 patients were female and the average age was $55.2{\pm}8.4$ years (44~73 years). The average duration from development of respiratory symptom to surgical lung biopsy was $9.9{\pm}17.1$ months. Increase in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid lymphocytes ($23.0{\pm}13.1%$) was noted. On HRCT, ground glass and irregular linear opacity were observed, but honeycombing was absent in all patients. 2) Corticosteroids were initially given to 13 patients, but the medication was stopped in 3 patients due to severe side effects. Further medical therapy was not possible in 1 patient who experienced streroid-induced psychosis. Herpes zoster (n=3), tuberculosis (n=1), avascular necrosis of the hip (n=1), cataract (n=2) and diabetes mellitus (n=1) developed during prolonged corticosteroid administration. Of the 7 patients receiving oral cyclophosphamide therapy, hemorrhagic cystitis hindered one patient from continuing with the medication. 3) After medical treatment, 14 of 17 patients improved, and 3 patients remained stable (mean follow-up ; $24.1{\pm}11.2$ months). FVC increased by $20.2{\pm}11.2%$ of predicted value and the extent of ground glass opacity on HRCT decreased significantly ($15.7{\pm}14.7%$). 4) Of the 14 patients who had stopped medication, 5 showed recurrence of NSIP and 2 became aggravated during steroid tapering. All patients with recurrence showed deterioration within one year after completion of initial treatment. Conclusion : Since idiopathic NSIP has unique clinical profiles and shows good prognosis, diagnosis different from UIP, and aggressive medical treatment are needed.

  • PDF

Anti-climacterium Effects of Gagamguibiondam-tang in Ovariectomized Rats (난소적출로 유발된 랫트 갱년기 장애에 대한 가감귀비온담탕의 생리활성 효과 평가)

  • Han, Sang-Gyeom;Kim, Dong-Chul
    • The Journal of Korean Obstetrics and Gynecology
    • /
    • v.30 no.4
    • /
    • pp.18-44
    • /
    • 2017
  • Purpose: The object of this study was to observe the anti-climacterium activity of Gagamguibiondam-tang (GGOT) on ovariectomized (OVX) rats, a well-documented rodent models resembles with women postmenopausal climacterium symptoms, as including cardiovascular diseases, obesity, hyperlipidemia, osteoporosis, organ steatosis and mental disorders. Methods: In this study, anti-climacteric effects were evaluated separated into three categories; 1) anti-obese, 2) anti-uterine atrophy and 3) anti-osteoporotic effects. Five groups were used (8 rats in each group); sham control, OVX control, GGOT 500, 250 and 125 mg/kg administered groups. Twenty-eight days after bilateral OVX surgery, GGOT were orally administered, once a day for 84 days, and then the changes on the body weight and gain during experimental periods, serum estradiol levels, abdominal fat pad and uterus weights with histopathology of abdominal fat pads (total thickness and mean adipocyte diameters) and uterus (total, epithelial and mucosal thickness, percentages of uterine gland regions) for anti-obese and estrogenic effects. In addition, femur, tibia and fourth or fifth lumbar vertebrae (L4 or L5) wet, dry and ash weights, mineral density (BMD), bone strength (failure load), serum osteocalcin and bone specific alkaline phosphatase (bALP) contents, histological and histomorphometrical analyses - bone mass and structure with bone resorption, were monitored for anti-osteoporosis activity. Results: As a result of OVX, noticeable increases of body weight and gains, food and water consumption, weights of abdominal fat pad deposited in dorsal abdominal cavity, serum osteocalcin levels were demonstrated in this experiment with decrease of uterus, femur, tibia and L5 weights, serum bALP and estradiol levels. In addition, marked hypertrophic changes of adipocytes located in deposited abdominal fat pads, uterine disused atrophic changes, decreases of bone mass and structures of femur, tibia and L4 were also observed in OVX control rats with dramatic increases of bone resorption markers, the Ocn and OS/BS at histopathological and histomorphometrical analysis in this study as compared with sham-operated control rats, suggesting the estrogen-deficient climacterium symptoms - obese and osteoporosis were induced by OVX, respectively. However, these estrogen-deficient climacterium symptoms induced by bilateral OVX in rats were significantly inhibited by 84 days of continuous oral treatment of GGOT 500, 250 and 125 mg/kg, respectively. Especially, GGOT 500, 250 and 125 mg/kg showed clear dose-dependent inhibitory activities on the OVX-induced climacterium signs. Conclusion: The results suggest that oral administration of GGOT 500, 250 and 125 mg/kg has clear dose-dependent favorable anti-climacterium effects - estrogenic, anti-obese and anti-osteoporotic activities in OVX rats in this experiment.

Changes of Weed Community in Lowland Rice Field in Korea (한국(韓國)의 논 잡초분포(雜草分布) 현황(現況))

  • Park, K.H.;Oh, Y.J.;Ku, Y.C.;Kim, H.D.;Sa, J.K.;Park, J.S.;Kim, H.H.;Kwon, S.J.;Shin, H.R.;Kim, S.J.;Lee, B.J.;Ko, M.S.
    • Korean Journal of Weed Science
    • /
    • v.15 no.4
    • /
    • pp.254-261
    • /
    • 1995
  • The nationwide weed survey was conducted in lowland rice fields over whole country of Korea in 1992 in order to determine a change of weed community and to identify a major dominant weed species and/or problem weed. Based on morphological characteristics of weeds, population ratio of broad leaf weed was 42.6%, grasses weed-9.0%, sedges-33.4% and others were 15.0%. Annual weed was 33.4% while perennial weed was 66.6% in terms of life cycle of weeds. Meanwhile, there was different weed occurrence as affected by planting method of the rice plant. In hand transplanted paddy fields predominant weed species was Sagittaria trifolia L., Monochoria vaginalis Presl., and Aneilema japonica Kunth. In machine transplanted rice fields of infant and young rice seedling Eleocharis kuroguwai Ohwi. and S. trifolia L. were more predominant. There was high occurrence of M. vaginalis, Echinochloa crus-galli L., and Leesia japonica Makino in water seeding while E. crus-galli and Cyperus serotinus Rottb. were predominant weed species in dry seeded rice. Monoculture of the rice plant would cause to high occurrence of E. kuroguwai, S. trifolia, M. vaginalis, E. crus-galli, and Sagittaria pygmaea Miq and there was higher population of S. trifolia, S. pygmaea, M. vaginalis, E crus-galli, and E. kuroguwai in double cropping system based on rice culture. In particular, there was high different weed occurrence under different transplanting times. E. kuroguwai, S. trifolia, S. pygmaea, M. vaginalis, and C. serotinus were higher population at the transplanting of 25 May and S. trifolia, E crus-galli, C. serotinus, and M. vaginalis at 10 June and S. pygmaea, E. kuroguwai, M. vaginalis, S. trifolia, and E. crusgalli at 25 June in Korea, respectively. Autumn tillage in terms of tillage time would cause more predominant weed species such as S. trifolia, E. kuroguwai, M. vaginalis, and S. pygmaea while spring tillage was higher population of E. kuroguwai, S. trifolia, E. crusgalli, M. vaginalis, and S. pygmaea. In plain area of paddy field there was higher occurrence of E. kuroguwai, S. trifolia, M. vaginalis, E. crus-galli, and S. pygmaea and in mid-mountainous area S. trifolia, E. kuroguwai, M. vaginalis, E. crus-galli, and Ludwigia prostrate Roxb. while in mountainous area S. trifolia, M. vaginalis, Potamogeton distinctus Ben., E. kuroguwai, and E. crus-galli were. In 1992 the most ten predominant weed species at the rice field of Korea based on summed dominant ratio(SDR) were E. kuroguwai > S. trifolia > E. crus-galli > M. vaginalis > S. pygmaea > C. serotinus > L. prostrate > P. distinctus > A. japonica > Scirpus juncoides Roxb.

  • PDF

Seasonal Change of Rice-mediated Methane Emission from a Rice Paddy under Different Water Management and Organic Amendments (물 관리와 유기물 시용이 다른 논에서 벼 식물체를 통한 메탄 배출의 계절변화)

  • Shin, Yong-Kwang;Lee, Yang-Soo;Ahn, Jong-Woong;Koh, Mun-Hwan;Eom, Ki-Cheol
    • Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
    • /
    • v.36 no.1
    • /
    • pp.41-49
    • /
    • 2003
  • Methane emission was measured in a rice paddy under different water management and organic amendments. Methane emission from planted chambers and unplanted chambers was monitored to evaluate the rice-mediated methane emission. In flooding methane emission from planted chambers with NPK, NPK(+P), was $0.174g\;CH_4\;m^{-2}\;d^{-1}$ while that from unplanted chambers with NPK, NPK(-P), was $0.046g\;CH_4\;m^{-2}\;d^{-1}$ Methane emission from planted chambers with rice straw compost amendment, RSC(+P), was $0.214g\;CH_4\;m^{-2}\;d^{-1}$, while that from unplanted chambers with rice straw compost amendment, RSC(-P), was $0.076g\;CH_4\;m^{-2}\;d^{-1}$. Methane emission from planted chambers with rice straw amendment in Fehruary, RS2(+P), was $0.328g\;CH_4\;m^{-2}\;d^{-1}$, while that from unplanted chambers with rice straw amendment in February, RS2(-P), was $0.1g\;CH_4\;m^{-2}\;d^{-1}$. Methane emission from planted chambers with rice straw amendment in May, RS5(+P), was $0.414g\;CH_4\;m^{-2}\;d^{-1}$, while that from unplanted chamhers with rice straw amendment in May, RS5(-P), was $0.187g\;CH_4\;m^{-2}\;d^{-1}$. In intermittent irrigation methane emission from NPK(+P) was $0.115g\;CH_4\;m^{-2}\;d^{-1}$, while that from NPK(-P) was $0.041g\;CH_4\;m^{-2}\;d^{-1}$. Methane emission from RSC(+P) was $0.137g\;CH_4\;m^{-2}\;d^{-1}$, while that from RSC(-P) was $0.06g\;CH_4\;m^{-2}\;d^{-1}$. Methane emission from RS2(+P) was $0.204g\;CH_4\;m^{-2}\;d^{-1}$, while that from RS2(-P) was $0.09g\;CH_4\;m^{-2}\;d^{-1}$. Methane emission from RS5(+P) was $0.273g\;CH_4\;m^{-2}\;d^{-1}$, while that from RS5(-P) was $0.13g\;CH_4\;m^{-2}\;d^{-1}$. Methane transport via rice plant under flooding for NPK plot, RSC plot, RS2 plot and RS5 plot was 73.6%, 64.5%, 69.5% and 54.8%, respectively, and mean was 65.6%. Methane transport via rice plants under intermittent irrigation for NPK plot, RSC plot, RS2 plot and RS5 plot was 64.3%, 59.2%, 55.9% and 52.4%, respectively, and mean was 58.0%.

The Impacts of Social Support and Psychological Factors on Guild Members' Flow and Loyalty in MMORPG (MMORPG에서 길드 구성원들의 사회적 지지와 심리적 요인들이 플로우 및 충성도에 미치는 영향)

  • Kang, Ju-Seon;Ko, Yoon-Jung;Ko, Il-Sang
    • Asia pacific journal of information systems
    • /
    • v.19 no.3
    • /
    • pp.69-98
    • /
    • 2009
  • We investigated what factors motivate gamers to participate in a guild and why they continue to be engaged as members of the guild. We find that, based on the result of focus group interviews with MMORPG gamers, social support and self-esteem factors play important roles. Considering both prior research and the focus group interviews we have conducted, we define social support and character control as independent variables. Character identity, guild identity, and self-esteem are proposed as mediating variables while guild flow and game loyalty as dependent variables. Accordingly, we develop the research model and hypotheses, and verify them empirically. Based on our experiences of playing the WoW game, we proposed a research model and conducted focus-group interviews (FGIs). FGIs involve formulating a hypothesis and then collecting some relevant data. FGIs were conducted face-to-face with students of C University in Korea. We formulated structured interview schedules, and the questions were based on our research variables and personal experiences. The questions for the interviews encompassed the following areas: (a) the demographic characteristics of the focus group; (b) the number of years for which respondents had played online games; (c) the motive for starting a game; (d) the number of game-characters assumed by each gamer; (e) the type of game played; and (f) other issues such as the reasons for involvement in the play, the willingness to reuse the game in case new versions were released, etc. On average, it took two hours to interview each of three groups. A primary set of FGIs was conducted with three groups on the premise that there would be some differences caused by character race (Horde vs. Alliance) or by playable server (Normal vs. Combat). With respect to the manner of playing, we found that guild members shared information, felt a sense of belonging, and played computer games for quite a long time through the guild; however, they did not undergo these experiences when playing alone. Gamers who belonged to a specific guild helped other players without expecting compensation for that, freely shared information about the game, gave away items for free, and more generous with other members who made mistakes. The guild members were aware of the existence other members and experienced a sense of belonging through interactions with, and evaluations from, other players. It was clear that social support was shown within the guild and that it played an important role as a major research variable. Based on the results of the first FGIs, a second set of in-depth FGIs was carried out with a focus on the psychology of the individual within the guild and the social community of the guild. The second set of FGIs also focused on the guild's offline meetings. Gamers, over all, recognize the necessity of joining a community, not only off-line but also online world of the guild. They admit that the guild is important for them to easily and conveniently enjoy playing online computer games. The active behavior and positive attitudes of existing guild members can motivate new members of the guild to adapt themselves to the guild environment. They then adopt the same behaviors and attitudes of established guild members. In this manner, the new members of the guild strengthen the bonds with other gamers while feeling a sense of belonging, and developing social identity, thereby. It was discovered that the interaction among guild members and the social support encouraged new gamers to quickly develop a sense of social identity and increase their self-esteem. The guild seemed to play the role of socializing gamers. Sometimes, even in the real world, the guild members helped one another; therefore, the features of the guild also spilled over to the offline environment. We intend to use self-esteem, which was found through the second set of FGIs, as an important research variable. To collect data, an online survey was designed with a questionnaire to be completed by WoW gamers, who belong to a guild. The survey was registered on the best three domestic game-sites: 'WoW playforum,' 'WoW gamemeca,' and 'Wow invent.' The selected items to be measured in the questionnaire were decided based on prior research and data from FGIs. To verify the content of the questionnaire, we carried out a pilot test with the same participants to point out ambiguous questions as a way to ensure maximum accuracy of the survey result. A total of 244 responses were analyzed from the 250 completed questionnaires. The SEM analysis was used to test goodness-of-fit of the model. As a result, we found important results as follows: First, according to the statistics, social support had statistically significant impacts on character control, character identity, guild identity and self-esteem. Second, character control had significant effects on character identity, guild identity and self-esteem. Third, character identity shows its clear impact on self-esteem and game loyalty. Fourth, guild identity affected self-esteem, guild flow and game loyalty. Fifth, self-esteem had a positive influence on the guild flow. These days, the number of virtual community is rising along with its significance largely because of the nature of the online games. Accordingly, this study is designed to clarify the psychological relationship between gamers within the guild that has been generally established by gamers to play online games together. This study focuses on the relationships in which social support influences guild flow or game loyalty through character control, character identity, guild identity, and self-esteem, which are present within a guild in the MMORPG game environment. The study results are as follows. First, the effects of social support on character control, character identity, guild identity and self-esteem are proven to be statistically significant. It was found that character control improves character identity, guild identity and self-esteem. Among the seven variables, social support, which is derived from FGIs, plays an important role in this study. With the active support of other guild members, gamers can improve their ability to develop good characters and to control them. Second, character identity has a positive effect on self-esteem and game loyalty, while guild identity has a significant effect on self-esteem, guild flow and game loyalty. Self-esteem affects guild flow. It was found that the higher the character and guild identities become, the greater the self-esteem is established. Contrary to the findings of prior research, our study results indicate that the relationship between character identity and guild flow is not significant. Rather, it was found that character identity directly affects game players' loyalty. Even though the character identity had no direct effect on increasing guild flow, it has indirectly affected guild flow through self-esteem. The significant relationship between self-esteem and guild flow indicates that gamers achieve flow, i.e., a feeling of pleasure and excitement through social support. Several important implications of this study should be noted. First, both qualitative and quantitative methods were used to conduct this study. Through FGIs, it was observed that both social support and self-esteem are important variables. Second, because guilds had been rarely studied, this research is expected to play an important role in the online community. Third, according to the result, six hypotheses (H1, H5, H6, H7, H8, and H11) setup based on FGIs, were statistically significant; thus, we can suggest the corresponding relationships among the variables as a guideline for follow-up research. Our research is significant as it has following implications: first, the social support of the guild members is important when establishing character control, character identity, guildidentity and self-esteem. It is also a major variable that affects guild flow and game loyalty. Second, character control when improved by social support shows notable influence on the development of character identity, guild identity and self-esteem. Third, character identity and guild identity are major factors to help establish gamers' own self-esteem. Fourth, character identity affects guild flow through self-esteem and game loyalty. The gamers usually express themselves through characters; the higher character identity is, the more loyalty a gamer has. Fifth, guild identity, established within the guild, has clear effects on self-esteem, guild flow and game loyalty. Sixth, qualitative and quantitative methods are employed to conduct this study. Based on the results of focus group interviews and SEM analysis, we find that the social support by guild members and psychological factors are significant in strengthening the flow of guild and loyalty to the game. As such, game developers should provide some extra functions for guild community, through which gamers can play online games in collaboration with one another. Also, we suggest that positive self-esteem which is built up through social support can help gamers achieve higher level of flow and satisfaction, which will consequently contribute to minimizing the possibility for the players to develop negative attitude toward the guild they belong to.

A Study on Interactions of Competitive Promotions Between the New and Used Cars (신차와 중고차간 프로모션의 상호작용에 대한 연구)

  • Chang, Kwangpil
    • Asia Marketing Journal
    • /
    • v.14 no.1
    • /
    • pp.83-98
    • /
    • 2012
  • In a market where new and used cars are competing with each other, we would run the risk of obtaining biased estimates of cross elasticity between them if we focus on only new cars or on only used cars. Unfortunately, most of previous studies on the automobile industry have focused on only new car models without taking into account the effect of used cars' pricing policy on new cars' market shares and vice versa, resulting in inadequate prediction of reactive pricing in response to competitors' rebate or price discount. However, there are some exceptions. Purohit (1992) and Sullivan (1990) looked into both new and used car markets at the same time to examine the effect of new car model launching on the used car prices. But their studies have some limitations in that they employed the average used car prices reported in NADA Used Car Guide instead of actual transaction prices. Some of the conflicting results may be due to this problem in the data. Park (1998) recognized this problem and used the actual prices in his study. His work is notable in that he investigated the qualitative effect of new car model launching on the pricing policy of the used car in terms of reinforcement of brand equity. The current work also used the actual price like Park (1998) but the quantitative aspect of competitive price promotion between new and used cars of the same model was explored. In this study, I develop a model that assumes that the cross elasticity between new and used cars of the same model is higher than those amongst new cars and used cars of the different model. Specifically, I apply the nested logit model that assumes the car model choice at the first stage and the choice between new and used cars at the second stage. This proposed model is compared to the IIA (Independence of Irrelevant Alternatives) model that assumes that there is no decision hierarchy but that new and used cars of the different model are all substitutable at the first stage. The data for this study are drawn from Power Information Network (PIN), an affiliate of J.D. Power and Associates. PIN collects sales transaction data from a sample of dealerships in the major metropolitan areas in the U.S. These are retail transactions, i.e., sales or leases to final consumers, excluding fleet sales and including both new car and used car sales. Each observation in the PIN database contains the transaction date, the manufacturer, model year, make, model, trim and other car information, the transaction price, consumer rebates, the interest rate, term, amount financed (when the vehicle is financed or leased), etc. I used data for the compact cars sold during the period January 2009- June 2009. The new and used cars of the top nine selling models are included in the study: Mazda 3, Honda Civic, Chevrolet Cobalt, Toyota Corolla, Hyundai Elantra, Ford Focus, Volkswagen Jetta, Nissan Sentra, and Kia Spectra. These models in the study accounted for 87% of category unit sales. Empirical application of the nested logit model showed that the proposed model outperformed the IIA (Independence of Irrelevant Alternatives) model in both calibration and holdout samples. The other comparison model that assumes choice between new and used cars at the first stage and car model choice at the second stage turned out to be mis-specfied since the dissimilarity parameter (i.e., inclusive or categroy value parameter) was estimated to be greater than 1. Post hoc analysis based on estimated parameters was conducted employing the modified Lanczo's iterative method. This method is intuitively appealing. For example, suppose a new car offers a certain amount of rebate and gains market share at first. In response to this rebate, a used car of the same model keeps decreasing price until it regains the lost market share to maintain the status quo. The new car settle down to a lowered market share due to the used car's reaction. The method enables us to find the amount of price discount to main the status quo and equilibrium market shares of the new and used cars. In the first simulation, I used Jetta as a focal brand to see how its new and used cars set prices, rebates or APR interactively assuming that reactive cars respond to price promotion to maintain the status quo. The simulation results showed that the IIA model underestimates cross elasticities, resulting in suggesting less aggressive used car price discount in response to new cars' rebate than the proposed nested logit model. In the second simulation, I used Elantra to reconfirm the result for Jetta and came to the same conclusion. In the third simulation, I had Corolla offer $1,000 rebate to see what could be the best response for Elantra's new and used cars. Interestingly, Elantra's used car could maintain the status quo by offering lower price discount ($160) than the new car ($205). In the future research, we might want to explore the plausibility of the alternative nested logit model. For example, the NUB model that assumes choice between new and used cars at the first stage and brand choice at the second stage could be a possibility even though it was rejected in the current study because of mis-specification (A dissimilarity parameter turned out to be higher than 1). The NUB model may have been rejected due to true mis-specification or data structure transmitted from a typical car dealership. In a typical car dealership, both new and used cars of the same model are displayed. Because of this fact, the BNU model that assumes brand choice at the first stage and choice between new and used cars at the second stage may have been favored in the current study since customers first choose a dealership (brand) then choose between new and used cars given this market environment. However, suppose there are dealerships that carry both new and used cars of various models, then the NUB model might fit the data as well as the BNU model. Which model is a better description of the data is an empirical question. In addition, it would be interesting to test a probabilistic mixture model of the BNU and NUB on a new data set.

  • PDF

Changes of the blood chemistry, lipid and protein components in blood and liver tissue of the rat after oral combined administration of caffeine, iron and vitamin E (Caffeine, 철분 및 vitamin E 혼합투여시 rat의 혈액과 간조직내에서 혈액화학성분과 지질 및 단백질 구성성분의 변화)

  • Do, Jae-cheul;Huh, Rhin-sou
    • Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
    • /
    • v.36 no.3
    • /
    • pp.577-598
    • /
    • 1996
  • This study was conducted to identify the effects of caffeine or combinations of caffeine and iron or vitamin E on the lipid and protein components or blood chemistry levels of the serum as well as the total homogenate, mitochondrial and microsomal fraction of the rat(Sprague-Dawley, female) liver. Chronic test were conducted to determine those effects. The chronic test was conducted by dividing rats into 5 groups according to the type of drugs and dosages administrated as follows; the control(group A), and group B was given 25mg/kg caffeine orally once daily for 30 days, group C was given 50mg/kg caffeine orally once daily for 30 days, group D was given 25mg/kg caffeine and orally ferric chloride once daily for 30 days and group E was given 25mg/kg caffeine and 25mg/kg vitamin E once daily for 30 days. The concentrations of glucose, urea nitrogen, uric acid, creatinine, total protein, albumin, A/G ratio, triglyceride, total cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol, free fatty acid, phospholipid as well as the activities of alanine aminotransferase(ALT), aspartate aminotransferase(AST) and alkaline phosphatase(ALP) were measured in the serum of each experimental groups. The concentrations of the carbonyl group and malondiaidehyde(MDA) and the patterns of the SDS-PAGE(Sodium Dodecyl Sulfate - Polyacrylamide Gel Electrophoresis) and fatty acid compositions in free fatty acids and phospholipids were analyzed to determine the oxidative damages and metabolic changes on the lipid and protein components in the serum, and total homogenate, mitochondrial and microsomal fractions of the rat liver. The results obtained from this study were summarized as follows; 1. Body weights of groups B, C, D and E were significantly decreased(p < 0.01) in comparison with that of the control in the chronic test. 2. The concentrations of serum glucose in groups B(124.5mg/dl), C(130.1mg/dl), D(122.1mg/dl), E(119.3mg/dl) were significantly higher(p < 0.01) in comparison to that of the control(101.5mg/dl). But, there were no significant differences in the concentrations of urea nitrogen, uric acid, creatinine, total protein, albumin and A/G ratio in comparison to that of the control. 3. The concentrations of total cholesterol and HDL-cholesterol in serum of groups B(69.6, 53.4mg/dl), C(73.0, 56.3mg/dl), D(68.9, 51.1mg/dl) and E(68.2, 51.3mg/dl) were significantly higher(p < 0.01) in comparison to that of the control(52.6, 38.8mg/dl). On the other hand, the concentrations of triglyceride in serum of groups B(45.0mg/dl), C(40.4mg/dl), D(33.8mg/dl) and E(47.2mg/dl) were significantly lower(p < 0.01) in comparison to that of the control(66.2mg/dl). There were no significant differences in the activities of ALT, AST and ALP in comparison to that of the control. 4. The concentrations of free fatty acid and phospholipid in serum of groups B(45.7, 154.4mg/dl), C(50.0, 167.2mg/dl), D(52.5, 148.4mg/dl) and E(41.1, 159.2mg/dl) were higher(p < 0.01) in comparison to that of the control(35.2, 125.3mg/dl). And the concentrations of the carbonyl group and malondialdehyde in serum of group D(1.82, 0.52nM/mg protein) were significantly higher(p < 0.01) in comparison to the control(1.53nM/mg protein). 5. The concentrations of carbonyl group in total homogenate, mitochondrial and microsomal fraction of group D(1.45, 0.94, 1.67nM/mg protein) were significantly higher (p < 0.01) in comparison to the control(1.16, 0.66, 1.27nM/mg protein). And the concentrations of malondialdehyde in the total homogenate, mitochondrial and microsomal fraction of group D(6.70, 6.10, 1.36nM/mg protein) were significantly higher(p < 0.01) in comparison to the control(5.17, 3.64, 0.68nM/mg protein). 6. As the analytical results of the fatty acid compositions of free fatty acid in serum, the proportions of stearic acid and arachidonic acid of groups B(16.52, 12.62%), C(17.52, 15.18%), D(19.73, 13.47%) and E(17.62, 13.28%) were significantly higher(p < 0.01) in comparison to the control(14.75, 7.88%), but the proportions of oleic acid and linoleic acid of groups B(12.97, 32.59%), C(10.88, 31.23%), D(12.37, 30.66%) and E(11.95, 32.41%) were significantly lower(p < 0.01) in comparison to the control(16.44, 35.12%). Otherwise, as the results of the fatty acid compositions of phospholipid in serum, the proportions of stearic acid and arachidonic acid of groups B(39.37, 16.39%), C(40.63, 17.83%), D(42.73, 15.39%) and E(39.16, 15.70%) were significantly higher(p < 0.01) in comparison to the control(37.74, 14.24%), but the proportions of oleic acid and linoleic acid of groups B(4.03, 14.38%), C(3.54, 12.38%), D(4.52, 11.68%) and E(4.29, 13.64%) were significantly lower(p < 0.01) in comparison to the control(5.53, 16.14%). 7. As the analytical results of the fatty acid compositions of free fatty acid in total homogenate, mitochondrial and microsomal fraction of liver, the proportions of oleic acid of groups B(7.8**, 8.73**, 6.88%) and C(6.89**, 7.75**, 6.58%) were lower(**:p < 0.01) in comparison to the control(8.67, 10.08, 7.81%), but the proportions of arachidonic acid of group C(22.62, 19.79, 23.71%) were significantly higher(p < 0.01) in comparison to the control(20.93, 18.47, 22.24%). And the proportions of palmitic acid of group D(25.95**, 26.16, 26.34**%) were significantly higher(**:p < 0.01) in comparison to the control(24.43, 25.42, 23.34%). In addition, the proportions of linoleic acid of group D(23.43, 25.02, 23.95%) were also significantly higher(p < 0.01) in comparison to the control(22.17, 23.75, 21.26%). The proportions of stearic acid of group D(19.87, 19.76**%) in mitochondrial and microsomal fraction were lower(**:p < 0.01) in comparison to the control(21.01, 24.18%), and the proportions of stearic acid of group E(16.71*, 19.65**%) in mitochondrial and microsomal fraction were significantly lower(**:p < 0.01, *:p < 0.05) in comparison to the control(21.01, 24.18%), and the proportions of linoleic acid of group E(25.04, 29.20, 26.48%) in total homogenate, mitochondria and microsome were significantly higher(p < 0.01) in comparison to the control(22.17, 23.75, 21.26%). 8. As the results of the fatty acid compositions of phospholipid in total homogenate, mitochondrial and microsomal fraction of liver, the proportions of palmitic acid of group D(17.58**, 18.78*, 18.23%**) were significantly higher(**:p < 0.01, *:p < 0.05) in comparison to the control(16.28, 17.22, 16.38%), and the proportions of stearic acid of group D(36.41, 37.23, 39.53%) were also significantly higher(p < 0.01) in comparison to the control(34.18, 34.16, 36.04%). But the proportions of oleic acid(3.41*, 3.11**, 3.12**%) and linoleic acid (18.03**, 15.79**, 14.74**%) of group D were significantly lower(**:p < 0.01, *:p < 0.05) in comparison to the control(oleic : 3.63, 3.72, 3.79%, linoleic : 20.03, 18.71, 18.48%). 9. In order to determine the oxidative damages to the protein in serum, mitochondrial and microsomal fraction of the rat liver, the patterns of the SDS-PAGE were identified, but the results of SDS-PAGE were not significantly different between the control and experimental groups.

  • PDF