• 제목/요약/키워드: variable-gain

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The Effect of Price Discount Rate According to Brand Loyalty on Consumer's Acquisition Value and Transaction Value (브랜드애호도에 따른 가격할인율의 차이가 소비자의 획득가치와 거래가치에 미치는 영향)

  • Kim, Young-Ei;Kim, Jae-Yeong;Shin, Chang-Nag
    • Journal of Global Scholars of Marketing Science
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    • v.17 no.4
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    • pp.247-269
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    • 2007
  • In recent years, one of the major reasons for the fierce competition amongst firms is that they strive to increase their own market shares and customer acquisition rate in the same market with similar and apparently undifferentiated products in terms of quality and perceived benefit. Because of this change in recent marketing environment, the differentiated after-sales service and diversified promotion strategies have become more important to gain competitive advantage. Price promotion is the favorite strategy that most retailers use to achieve short-term sales increase, induce consumer's brand switch, in troduce new product into market, and so forth. However, if marketers apply or copy an identical price promotion strategy without considering the characteristic differences in product and consumer preference, it will cause serious problems because discounted price itself could make people skeptical about product quality, and the changes of perceived value might appear differently depending on other factors such as consumer involvement or brand attitude. Previous studies showed that price promotion would certainly increase sales, and the discounted price compared to regular price would enhance the consumer's perceived values. On the other hand, discounted price itself could make people depreciate or skeptical about product quality, and reduce the consumers' positivity bias because consumers might be unsure whether the current price promotion is the retailer's best price offer. Moreover, we cannot say that discounted price absolutely enhances the consumer's perceived values regardless of product category and purchase situations. That is, the factors that affect consumers' value perceptions and buying behavior are so diverse in reality that the results of studies on the same dependent variable come out differently depending on what variable was used or how experiment conditions were designed. Majority of previous researches on the effect of price-comparison advertising have used consumers' buying behavior as dependent variable. In order to figure out consumers' buying behavior theoretically, analysis of value perceptions which influence buying intentions is needed. In addition, they did not combined the independent variables such as brand loyalty and price discount rate together. For this reason, this paper tried to examine the moderating effect of brand loyalty on relationship between the different levels of discounting rate and buyers' value perception. And we provided with theoretical and managerial implications that marketers need to consider such variables as product attributes, brand loyalty, and consumer involvement at the same time, and then establish a differentiated pricing strategy case by case in order to enhance consumer's perceived values properl. Three research concepts were used in our study and each concept based on past researches was defined. The perceived acquisition value in this study was defined as the perceived net gains associated with the products or services acquired. That is, the perceived acquisition value of the product will be positively influenced by the benefits buyers believe they are getting by acquiring and using the product, and negatively influenced by the money given up to acquire the product. And the perceived transaction value was defined as the perception of psychological satisfaction or pleasure obtained from taking advantage of the financial terms of the price deal. Lastly, the brand loyalty was defined as favorable attitude towards a purchased product. Thus, a consumer loyal to a brand has an emotional attachment to the brand or firm. Repeat purchasers continue to buy the same brand even though they do not have an emotional attachment to it. We assumed that if the degree of brand loyalty is high, the perceived acquisition value and the perceived transaction value will increase when higher discount rate is provided. But we found that there are no significant differences in values between two different discount rates as a result of empirical analysis. It means that price reduction did not affect consumer's brand choice significantly because the perceived sacrifice decreased only a little, and customers are satisfied with product's benefits when brand loyalty is high. From the result, we confirmed that consumers with high degree of brand loyalty to a specific product are less sensitive to price change. Thus, using price promotion strategy to merely expect sale increase is not recommendable. Instead of discounting price, marketers need to strengthen consumers' brand loyalty and maintain the skimming strategy. On the contrary, when the degree of brand loyalty is low, the perceived acquisition value and the perceived transaction value decreased significantly when higher discount rate is provided. Generally brands that are considered inferior might be able to draw attention away from the quality of the product by making consumers focus more on the sacrifice component of price. But considering the fact that consumers with low degree of brand loyalty are known to be unsatisfied with product's benefits and have relatively negative brand attitude, bigger price reduction offered in experiment condition of this paper made consumers depreciate product's quality and benefit more and more, and consumer's psychological perceived sacrifice increased while perceived values decreased accordingly. We infer that, in the case of inferior brand, a drastic price-cut or frequent price promotion may increase consumers' uncertainty about overall components of product. Therefore, it appears that reinforcing the augmented product such as after-sale service, delivery and giving credit which is one of the levels consisting of product would be more effective in reality. This will be better rather than competing with product that holds high brand loyalty by reducing sale price. Although this study tried to examine the moderating effect of brand loyalty on relationship between the different levels of discounting rate and buyers' value perception, there are several limitations. This study was conducted in controlled conditions where the high involvement product and two different levels of discount rate were applied. Given the presence of low involvement product, when both pieces of information are available, it is likely that the results we have reported here may have been different. Thus, this research results explain only the specific situation. Second, the sample selected in this study was university students in their twenties, so we cannot say that the results are firmly effective to all generations. Future research that manipulates the level of discount along with the consumer involvement might lead to a more robust understanding of the effects various discount rate. And, we used a cellular phone as a product stimulus, so it would be very interesting to analyze the result when the product stimulus is an intangible product such as service. It could be also valuable to analyze whether the change of perceived value affects consumers' final buying behavior positively or negatively.

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Comparative Effects of Dietary Isolated Soy Protein and Casein on Plasma Cholesterol Levels in Young Chicks (대두단백질 및 카제인 섭취가 병아리의 혈액 Cholesterol 함량에 미치는 영향 비교)

  • Chee, Kew-Mahn;Kim, Young-Mee;Juhn, Jee-Young;Choi, In-Sook;Oh, Mi-Hyang
    • Korean Journal of Poultry Science
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    • v.37 no.1
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    • pp.69-80
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    • 2010
  • Hypocholesterolemic effect of soy protein was examined in comparison with casein and three other dietary protein sources in chicks. In two feeding trials, 40 (Expt.1) or 50 (Expt. 2), three-day-old, male chicks were forced-fed each of five semi-purified-type diets containing isolated soy protein (ISP, cp 82%), casein (cp 92%), rice protein (RP, cp 70%), corn gluten meal (CGM, cp 65%) or fish meal (FM, cp 70%) for two weeks. The diets for Expt. 2 were supplemented with 0.3% cholesterol by replacing glucose. Each protein source was the only source of protein of each diet. Essential amino acids were added to the diets to satisfy their requirements according to NRC. The diets were forced-fed to equalize the intake of all nutrients except the amino acids which were inherently variable in the diets. Chicks fed casein showed lower body weight gain than those fed the other proteins in both experiments. Birds fed ISP and FM gained better body weight than the others. Chicks fed casein showed significantly higher levels of plasma total cholesterol, non-HDL cholesterol and triacylglycerol (TG) than those fed ISP and the other protein sources. Meanwhile, the chicks fed ISP, RP, CGM and FM showed comparable levels of plasma total cholesterol, non-HDL cholesterol and TG. In Expt. 2, the birds fed casein and FM showed markedly elevated plasma total cholesterol and non-HDL cholesterol levels. Liver weight and levels of total lipids and cholesterol of chicks fed casein appeared significantly higher than those of the other protein diets, whereas those of the chicks fed ISP, RP, CGM and FM appeared comparable except cholesterol in FM group. In conclusion, only the chicks fed casein diets in both experiments always showed significantly higher levels of plasma cholesterol and TG compared to those fed ISP and the other protein sources. These results support the views that casein, which has unique lysine-arginine ratio, is inherently hyper-cholesterolemic, and ISP is hypocholesterolemic only when compared to casein.

Estimation of Growth Curve for Evaluation of Growth Characteristics for Hanwoo cows (한우암소의 성장특성 평가를 위한 성장곡선의 추정)

  • Lee, C.W.;Choi, J.G.;Jeon, K.J.;Na, K.J.;Lee, C.;Yang, B.K.;Kim, J.B.
    • Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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    • v.45 no.4
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    • pp.509-516
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    • 2003
  • Growth curves were estimated for 1083 female Korean cattle raised in Daekwanryeong branch, National Livestock Research Institute (NLRI). Comparisons were made among various growth curve models for goodness of fit for the growth of the cows. Estimated growth curve functions were $W_t=370.2e^{-2.208e^{-0.00327t}$ for Gompertz model, for von Bertalanffy model, and $W_t=341.2(1+5.652e^{-0.00524t})^{-1}$ for Logistic model. Ages at inflection estimated from Gompertz model, von Bertalanffy model and Logistic model were 242.2 days, 191.5 days, and 330.5 days respectively, body weight at inflection were 136kg, 115kg, and 170kg, and daily gain at inflection were 0.445kg, 0.451kg, and 0.446kg. The predicted weights by ages from Gompertz model, von Bertalanffy model, and Logistic model were onsistently overestimated at birth weight and underestimated at 36 month weight. The von Bertalanffy model which had a variable point of inflection fit the data best.

A Study on the Environment for Lowbirth Weight Infants in Neonatal Intensive Care Unit in the United States (신생아집중간호단위 환경과 저체중출생아의 반응에 대한 연구)

  • Han Kyung Ja
    • Child Health Nursing Research
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    • v.4 no.2
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    • pp.159-176
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    • 1998
  • In effort to conduct comparative study on the caregiving environment of Neonatal Intensive Care Unit(NICU) in both U. S and Korea, this study was been conducted first in the U.S. Purpose : The purpose of this study is to identify the physical environment and direct caregiving practices to lowbirth weight infants in NICU in the US. It also aims to examine the NICU outcome status and behavioral reponses of lowbirth weight infants. Methods : A study design using descriptive and inferential statistics was been conducted through an observational, field method. A sample of 15 preform infants admitted to NICU were recruited for the study. The subjects were those with birth weight between 1,000 gm to 1,500 gm, born at the gestation period of 27 to 33 weeks, and without any chromosomal or other genetic anomalies, major congenital infections, or maternal illness. Thirty minutes observation(three times of ten minutes of continuous observation)of the infant's behavior and physiological status, and an four-hour observation of the physical environment and direct care giving procedures were been conducted on the 3rd and 10th day after birth, and on the day of discharge from the NICU or at 34weeks postconception. The data to be collected were in four areas : the demograghic characteristics of the infants, the physical environment and care giving procedures, the frequency of the infant's designated behavior and physiological response, and NICU outcome variables. A descriptive analysis and Kruskal-Wallis, Pearson r were been applied according to variable characteristics. Results : 1. Mother's mean age was 29.47. The sample consisted of 6 males and 9 females. Mean gestational ages were 29.17 weeks. Mean birth weight was 1236.33g. Mean Apgar scores at one minute were 6.6, and 7.8 at five minutes. 2. The location for the incubator was in the distance from the light, X-ray screens and nursing station, in proximity to side-lamp, telephone and faucet on the third day after birth. The location for the incubator was in the distance from the light and radio on the tenth day and in proximity to nursing station on the day of dischage from the NICU or at 34weeks postconception. 3. Nesting was the most applying aids to the infants. And foot roll, shielding and plastic frame were frequently using by nurses for facilitating well modulated restful posture. 4. There were statistically significant changes in the patterns of physical environment included locating the infant's incubator and bedding, specific aids to self regulation on the 3rd and 10th day after birth, and on the day of discharge from the NICU or at 34weeks postconception. 5. Statistically significant changes were not appeared in the patterns of direct caregiving procedure to the infants included stress inducing or reducing manipulations on the 3rd and 10th day after birth, and on the day of discharge from the NICU or at 34weeks postconception. 6. The stress response of the infants in NICU were significantly reduced as the infants grow older. 7. There were not statistically significant correlation between the physical envronment and the stress responses of the infants in NICU. 8. There were statistically significant correlation between the direct caregiving procedure to the infants and the stress response of the infants in NICU in the second and third observation on the day three. 9. Average weight gain per day from birth to discharge was 38.73g, number of days in the hospital was 42.60, number of days before bottle feeding was 3.6. Postconception age starting bottle feed ing was 31/sup +5/ weeks. Number of days on mechanical ventilator was average 7.64, 11.42 was an average number of days of oxygen need. Conclusion : It, thus, appears that to minimize the sensorymotor stimulation for the low birthweight preterm infant in NICU, manipulation of care giving practices to the babies whatever the stress inducing or reducing procedures, have to be limited in the immediate early stage after birth. And it needed to be reexamine to identify the appropriate and specific physical environment and the patterns of direct caregiving to the low birthweight preform infant as the infants grow older in NICU.

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Nutrients and Energy Digestibilities of Various Feedstuffs Fed to Israeli Strain of Growing Common Carp (Cyprinus carpio) (육성용 이스라엘 잉어에 의한 원료사료의 영양소 및 에너지 소화율)

  • 김정대;김광석;이승복;정관식
    • Journal of Aquaculture
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    • v.10 no.3
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    • pp.327-334
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    • 1997
  • This study was conducted with Israeli strain of common carp to determine apparent protein, lipid and gross energy digestibility coefficients and apparent calcium and phosphorus availabilities of the following feedstuffs : steam-dried white fish meal (WFM-S), flame-dried white fish meal (WFM-F), brown fish meal (BFM), soybean meal (SBM), corn gluten meal (CGM), sesame meal (SSM), wheat flour (WFL), brewer's yeast (BY) and monocalcium phosphate (MCP). Test diets consisting of a 70:30 mixture of refoernce diet to test ingredient were utilized with chromic oxide as an external indicator. Fecal collection was made during 10 days before the end of feeding trial lasted for 27 days. The best weight gain and feed utilization were found in fish fed MCP containing test diet. Protein digestibility was high for most ingredients, ranging from 81.2% for BY to 91.9% for SBM, with the exception of SSM which was 77.6%. Lipid digestibility coefficients ranged 74% for CGM to 85.8% for two kinds of white fish meal. Digestible energy coefficients were generally high for fish meals, ranging from 77.4% for WFM-S to 81.3% for WFM-F, whereas those for plant feedstuffs were significantly (P<0.05) lower, from 64.5% for CGM to 70.6% for BY. Phosphorus availability from fish meals was variable with a low of 6.6% for WFM-F and a high of 13.6% for WFM-S. Phosphorus availability from SBM and BY was 7.3% and 57.2%, respectively. Calcium and phosphorus availabilities from MCP were 84.6% and 80.6%, respectively. These results provide more precise information concerning nutrients and energy utilization of Israeli strain of common carp and will allow ingredient substitutions in practical diet formulations based on levels of availabile protein and phosphorus.

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Effect of Peking-Duck By-Product Extracts Supplemented with Medicinal Herbs on Serum Heavy Metal Levels and Blood Parameters of Rats Exposed to Lead and Mercury (한약재를 첨가한 오리부산물 추출액이 납과 수은에 노출된 흰쥐 혈청의 중금속 및 혈액지표에 미치는 영향)

  • Park, Sung-Hye;Shin, Eon-Hwan;Park, Sung-Jin;Ran, Jong-Hyun
    • Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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    • v.34 no.4
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    • pp.476-483
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    • 2005
  • This experiment was planned to develop a functional supplement by food resources to prevent and lessen the deleterious effects caused by environmental pollutants such as polluted food, air, water and heavy metals. The goal of this study was to investigate the effects of peking-duck extracts supplemented with six kinds of medicinal herbs (DJ) on the intoxication of lead and mercury in rats. Sprague-Dawley rat weighing $150g\pm15g$ g, were randomly assigned to 5 groups, basal diet only (NCG), heavy metal without DJ injection (HCG), heavy metals and DJ (3 mg/mL) injection (HMLD), heavy metal and DJ (30 mg/mL) injection (HMMD), heavy metal and D] (300 mg/mL) injection (HMHD). Mecury (Hg) and lead (Pb) injected at the level of 50 ppm for 17 days. Also DJ oral feeding was continued for 31 days. The result of this study were as follows; Food intake and body weight gain in heavy metal administered groups were lower than those of control group (NCG). The activities of GOT, GPT and BUN level were significantly reduced in DJ-treated groups as compared to HCG. DJ was shown to suppress the accumulation of Hg and Pb in serum. The results suggest that DJ might have protective effect on Hg and Pb intoxication.

Effects of Dietary Energy Level and Slaughter Weight on Growth Performance and Grades and Quality Traits of the Carcass in Finishing Pigs (비육돈에서 사료의 에너지 수준과 도살체중이 성장성적과 도체의 등급 및 육질특성에 미치는 영향)

  • Park, Man-Jong;Jeong, Jin-Yeun;Ha, Duck-Min;Han, Jeong-Cheol;Sim, Tae-Geon;Park, Byung-Chul;Park, Gu-Boo;Joo, Seon-Tea;Lee, Chul-Young
    • Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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    • v.51 no.2
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    • pp.143-154
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    • 2009
  • (Y $\times$ L) $\times$ D-crossbred gilts and barrows weighing $80.2\pm0.2$ kg were fed a "medium-energy" (ME) or "low-energy" (LE) diet (3.2 vs 3.0 M cal DE/kg) and slaughtered at 110, 125, or 138 kg, after which physicochemical and sensory quality traits of major primal cuts of resulting carcasses were analyzed, under a 2 (sex) $\times$ 2 (diet) $\times$ 3 (slaughter weight; SW) factorial arrangement of treatments. The ADG and ADFI were greater (P<0.01) in barrows than in gilts and also in 125- and 138-kg vs 110-kg SW. Moreover, ADG and gain:feed were greater in ME vs LE (P<0.01), whereas ADFI was greater in LE vs ME (P<0.01). Backfat thickness, which increased with increasing SW (P<0.01), was not affected by sex or diet. Carcass marbling score was greater (P<0.01) in gilts and LE than in barrows and ME, respectively. Carcass quality grade, which was superior in LE vs ME, was not affected by SW, whereas the yield grade decreased abruptly between 125- and 138-kg SW primarily due to the upper limit of carcass weight imposed on the A and B grades. Physicochemical characteristics including pH, drip loss, and variables pertaining to color of belly, ham, and loin were not affected significantly by any of the treatment factors, albeit statistically significant in some cases, in terms of quality criteria. In sensory evaluation, the acceptability of fresh belly was not influenced by any of the treatment factors. Marbling score of fresh ham was greater in LE vs ME (P<0.01) and tended to increase between 110- and 125-kg SW (P=0.10); in loin, the increase of this variable between the two SW was significant (P<0.01). Following cooking, LE was superior to ME in the acceptability in belly and ham, but the effect of SW was insignificant in any of the sensory quality traits evaluated in this study in any of the three major primal cuts. In conclusion, the present results suggest that SW can be increased to up to 138 kg without compromising carcass quality and that LE has some beneficial effects on quality of the whole carcass and the major primal cuts.

A study on security independent behavior in social game using expanded health belief model (건강신념모델을 확장한 소셜게임(Social Game) 보안의지행동에 관한 연구)

  • Ahn, Ho-Jeong;Kim, Sung-Jun;Kwon, Do-Soon
    • Management & Information Systems Review
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    • v.35 no.2
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    • pp.99-118
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    • 2016
  • With the development of Internet and popularization of smartphones over recent years, social network services are experiencing rapid growth. On top of this, smartphone gaming market is showing a rapid growth and the use of mobile social games is on the significant rise. The occurrence of game data manipulation targeting these services and personal information leakage is highlighting the importance of social gaming security. This study is intended to propose development plans effective and efficient in social game services by figuring out factors putting effects on security dependent behavior of social game users in Korea and carrying out a practical study on the casual relationship between factors influencing security dependent behavior through recognized behavioral control and attitudes for privacy infringement of these factors. To do this, proposed was a study model in which the HBM(Health Belief Model) allowing the social game user to influence security dependent behavior was expanded and applied as a major variable. To verify the study model of this study practically, a survey was conducted among university students in Seoul-based K University and S University who had experienced using social game services. According to the study findings, firstly, the perceived seriousness turned out to provide positive influence to trust. But, the perceived seriousness turned out not to put positive effects on self-efficacy. Secondly, the perceived probability turned out not to put positive effects on self-efficacy and trust. Thirdly, the perceived gain turned out to put positive effects on self-efficacy and trust. Fourthly, the perceived disorder turned out not to put positive effects on self-efficacy and trust. Fifthly, self-efficacy turned out to put positive effects on trust. But, self-efficacy turned out not to put positive effects on security dependent behavior. Sixthly, trust turned out not to put positive effects on security dependent behavior. This study is intended to make a strategic proposal so that social game users can raise awareness of their level of security perception and security willingness through this.

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Recent Progress in Air-Conditioning and Refrigeration Research: A Review of Papers Published in the Korean Journal of Air-Conditioning and Refrigeration Engineering in 2014 (설비공학 분야의 최근 연구 동향: 2014년 학회지 논문에 대한 종합적 고찰)

  • Lee, Dae-Young;Kim, Sa Ryang;Kim, Hyun-Jung;Kim, Dong-Seon;Park, Jun-Seok;Ihm, Pyeong Chan
    • Korean Journal of Air-Conditioning and Refrigeration Engineering
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    • v.27 no.7
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    • pp.380-394
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    • 2015
  • This article reviews the papers published in the Korean Journal of Air-Conditioning and Refrigeration Engineering during 2014. It is intended to understand the status of current research in the areas of heating, cooling, ventilation, sanitation, and indoor environments of buildings and plant facilities. Conclusions are as follows. (1) The research works on the thermal and fluid engineering have been reviewed as groups of heat and mass transfer, cooling and heating, and air-conditioning, the flow inside building rooms, and smoke control on fire. Research issues dealing with duct and pipe were reduced, but flows inside building rooms, and smoke controls were newly added in thermal and fluid engineering research area. (2) Research works on heat transfer area have been reviewed in the categories of heat transfer characteristics, pool boiling and condensing heat transfer and industrial heat exchangers. Researches on heat transfer characteristics included the results for thermal contact resistance measurement of metal interface, a fan coil with an oval-type heat exchanger, fouling characteristics of plate heat exchangers, effect of rib pitch in a two wall divergent channel, semi-empirical analysis in vertical mesoscale tubes, an integrated drying machine, microscale surface wrinkles, brazed plate heat exchangers, numerical analysis in printed circuit heat exchanger. In the area of pool boiling and condensing, non-uniform air flow, PCM applied thermal storage wall system, a new wavy cylindrical shape capsule, and HFC32/HFC152a mixtures on enhanced tubes, were actively studied. In the area of industrial heat exchangers, researches on solar water storage tank, effective design on the inserting part of refrigerator door gasket, impact of different boundary conditions in generating g-function, various construction of SCW type ground heat exchanger and a heat pump for closed cooling water heat recovery were performed. (3) In the field of refrigeration, various studies were carried out in the categories of refrigeration cycle, alternative refrigeration and modelling and controls including energy recoveries from industrial boilers and vehicles, improvement of dehumidification systems, novel defrost systems, fault diagnosis and optimum controls for heat pump systems. It is particularly notable that a substantial number of studies were dedicated for the development of air-conditioning and power recovery systems for electric vehicles in this year. (4) In building mechanical system research fields, seventeen studies were reported for achieving effective design of the mechanical systems, and also for maximizing the energy efficiency of buildings. The topics of the studies included energy performance, HVAC system, ventilation, and renewable energies, piping in the buildings. Proposed designs, performance performance tests using numerical methods and experiments provide useful information and key data which can improve the energy efficiency of the buildings. (5) The field of architectural environment was mostly focused on indoor environment and building energy. The main researches of indoor environment were related to the evaluation of work noise in tunnel construction and the simulation and development of a light-shelf system. The subjects of building energy were worked on the energy saving of office building applied with window blind and phase change material(PCM), a method of existing building energy simulation using energy audit data, the estimation of thermal consumption unit of apartment building and its case studies, dynamic window performance, a writing method of energy consumption report and energy estimation of apartment building using district heating system. The remained studies were related to the improvement of architectural engineering education system for plant engineering industry, estimating cooling and heating degree days for variable base temperature, a prediction method of underground temperature, the comfort control algorithm of car air conditioner, the smoke control performance evaluation of high-rise building, evaluation of thermal energy systems of bio safety laboratory and a development of measuring device of solar heat gain coefficient of fenestration system.

Histological Analysis of Autologous Pericardial Tissue Used as a Small-Diameter Arterial Graft (소구경 동맥이식편으로 사용한 자가심란의 조직학적 분식)

  • Yang Ji-Hyuk;Sung Sang-Hyun;Kim Won-Gon
    • Journal of Chest Surgery
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    • v.39 no.4 s.261
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    • pp.261-268
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    • 2006
  • Background: Current vascular prostheses are still inadequate for reconstruction of small-diameter vessels. Autologous pericardium can be a good alternative for this purpose as it already possesses good blood compatibility and shows a mechanical behavior similar to that of natural arteries. However, the clinical use of autologous pericardial tissue as a small-diameter vascular graft has limitations due to mixed outcomes from uncertain biological behavior and difficulty to gain reliable patency results in animal experiments. To study this issue, we implanted fresh and glutaraldehyde-treated autologous pericardium as small-diameter arterial grafts in dogs, and compared their time-related changes histologically. Material and Method: As a form of 5mm-diameter arterial graft, one pair of autologous pericardial tissue was used for comparison between the glutaraldehyde-treated and the glutaraldehyde-untreated grafts in the bilateral carotid arteries in the same dog. The patency of the grafts were evaluated at regular intervals with Doppler ultrasonography. After the predetermined periods of 3 days, 2 weeks, 1 month, 3 months and 6 months, the grafts in each animal were explanted. The retrieved grafts were processed for light and electron microscopic analyses following gross observation. Result: Of 7 animals, 2 were excluded from the study because one died postoperatively due to bleeding and the other was documented as one side of the grafts being obstructed. All 10 grafts in the remaining 5 dogs were patent. Grossly, a variable degree of thromboses were observed in the luminal surfaces of the grafts at 3 days and 2 weeks, despite good patency. Pseudointimal smooth blood-contacting surfaces were developed in the grafts at f month and later. By light microscopy, mesothelial cell layers of the pericardial tissue were absent in all explanted grafts. Newly formed endothelial cell layers on the blood-contacting surface were observed in both the glutaraldehyde-treated and fresh grafts at 3 months and later. The collagen fibers became degraded by fragmentation in the fresh graft at 1 month and In the glutaraldehyde-treated graft at 3 months. At 6 months, the collagen layers were no longer visible in either the glutaraldehyde-treated or fresh grafts. By electron microscopy, a greater amount of coarse fibrin fibers were observed in the fresh grafts than in the glutaraldehyde-treated grafts and, more compact and well-arrayed layers were observed in the glutaraldehyde-treated grafts than in the fresh grafts. Conclusion: The glutaraldehyde-treated small-diameter pericardial arterial grafts showed a better endothelialization of the blood-contacting surface and a slower fragmentation of the collagen layers than the fresh grafts, although it has yet to be proven whether these differences are so significant as to affect the patency results between the groups.