• Title/Summary/Keyword: Mixed Methods Research

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Studies on Methanolic Extract of Lepidagathis keralensis as Green Corrosion Inhibitor for Mild Steel in 1M HCl

  • Leena, Palakkal;Zeinul Hukuman, N.H.;Biju, A.R.;Jisha, Mullapally
    • Journal of Electrochemical Science and Technology
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    • v.10 no.2
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    • pp.231-243
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    • 2019
  • The methanolic extracts of the leaves and stem of the plant Lepidagathis keralensis were evaluated for anticorrosion behavior against mild steel in 1M HCl. Corrosion inhibition studies were done by gravimetric method, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy and potentiodynamic polarization methods. Surface morphology of mild steel in the presence and absence of inhibitors were studied using SEM analysis. UV-Vis studies were also done to evaluate the mechanism of inhibition. Both the extracts showed good inhibition efficiency which increased with increase in concentration of the inhibitor and decreased with increase in temperature. The mechanism of inhibition was explained by adsorption which obeyed Langmuir adsorption isotherm. Thermodynamic calculations revealed a combination of both physisorption and chemisorption of the inhibitor on the surface of mild steel. The extracts behaved as mixed type inhibitors as determined by polarization studies. Quantum chemical studies on Phenoxyethene, one of the major components in the leaf extract of the plant was also carried out to support the experimental results.

Applying the Flipped Learning Model to an English-Medium Nursing Course

  • Choi, Heeseung;Kim, Jeongeun;Bang, Kyung-Sook;Park, Yeon-Hwan;Lee, Nam-Ju;Kim, Chanhee
    • Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
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    • v.45 no.6
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    • pp.939-948
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    • 2015
  • Purpose: An emerging trend in Asian higher education is English-medium instruction (EMI), which uses English as the primary instructional language. EMI prepares domestic students for international leadership; however, students report difficulty in learning, and educators have raised questions concerning the effectiveness of EMI. The flipped learning model (FLM), in which lecture and homework activities for a course are reversed, was applied to an English-medium course offered by a college of nursing in Korea. The aims of this study were to: 1) revise an existing English-medium nursing course using the FLM; 2) explore students' learning experiences and their acceptance of the FLM; and 3) identify key factors in the success of FLM. Methods: We used a descriptive, cross-sectional, mixed-methods design and the participants were students at one nursing school in Korea. A series of course development meetings with faculties from the nursing school and the center for teaching and learning were used to develop the course format and content. We conducted course evaluations using the Flipped Course Evaluation Questionnaire with open-ended questions and focus group interviews. Results: Students (N=75) in a 15-week nursing course responded to a survey after completing the course. Among them, seven students participated in one of two focus groups. Overall, students accepted and favored the flipped learning strategy, and indicated that the method enhanced lecture content and their understanding of it. Factors associated with effective instruction included structured monitoring systems and motivational environments. Conclusion: The FLM requires sufficient preparation to facilitate student motivation and maximize learning outcomes.

A Journey to Action Research in a Clinical Nursing Context (임상간호현장에서의 실행연구 여정)

  • Jang, Keum Seong;Kim, Heeyoung;Kim, Eun A;Kim, Yun Min;Moon, Jeong Eun;Park, Hyunyoung;Song, Mi-Ok;Baek, Myeong
    • Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing Administration
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    • v.19 no.1
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    • pp.95-107
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    • 2013
  • Purpose: The purpose of this study was to examine the effectiveness of Action Research (AR) approach in nursing. Methods: Participants were 64 perioperative nurses recruited from C hospital in Gwangju, Korea. The nurses were engaged in the project through 2 cycles of planning, acting, observing, and reflecting. A mixed-methods design was used to examine changes in participants and their knowledge management practice. Quantitative data were analyzed using SPSS 20.0 program and qualitative reflection data underwent content analysis. Results: During the project, participants developed standardized pre-operative checklists and opened an Internet Cafe to better manage their perioperative nursing information. At the end of the project, there was a significant increase in nurses' knowledge management (p=.015) and the rate of surgical material prescription errors decreased from 8.0% to 2.9%. Core AR project team members' teamwork skills and organizational commitment increased significantly (p=.040, p=.301, respectively). The main themes that emerged from the qualitative data were learning how to solve problems in practice, facilitating team activities through motivation, barriers of large participation, and rewarded efforts and inflated expectations. Conclusion: The AR project contributed to empowering participants to solve local problems. AR is a useful methodology to promote changes in practices and research participants.

Global Health Competencies for Undergraduate Nursing Students in Korea (간호교육자가 인지한 국내 간호학생들을 위한 국제보건 핵심역량)

  • Lee, Hyeonkyeong;Kim, Hee Soon;Cho, Eunhee;Kim, Sanghee;Kim, Junghee
    • The Journal of Korean Academic Society of Nursing Education
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    • v.21 no.4
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    • pp.561-573
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    • 2015
  • Purpose: The purpose of this study was to identify essential global health competencies for undergraduate nursing students in Korea. Methods: This study used a mixed methods design including an online survey with a convenient sample of 223 nursing educators, followed by an expert discussion with four nursing educators with expertise in global health. The global health competency was measured using the Global Health Competencies for Nurses in the America, which consists of 30 competencies in 6 domains. Each competency was measured by a 4-point Likert Scale, with at least 80% of 3 or 4 point scores indicating consensus that competency was considered essential for undergraduate nursing students. Results: Nursing educators most strongly agreed the competencies of the Social and Environmental Determinants of Health domain as essential global health competencies for nursing students. A total of 21 items in 5 out of 6 competency domains were initially identified with at least 80% agreement. Finally, the experts decided on 24 global health competencies through the revision and integration of several competencies. Conclusion: The findings indicate that nursing educators perceived that nursing students need to be prepared for responding to emerging global health needs. The proposed list of global health competencies can provide guidance to develop a framework for integrating global health into undergraduate nursing curriculums.

Development of a Diagnosis Manual to Evaluate the Pedestrian Safety in a Neighborhood Using the Mixed Research Method (혼합연구방법을 활용한 근린환경의 보행안전성 진단 매뉴얼 개발)

  • Kim, Jaecheol
    • Journal of Digital Convergence
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    • v.15 no.8
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    • pp.1-14
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    • 2017
  • This study is a descriptive and exploratory one aiming to develop a systematic/diagnostic manual that is necessary for the improvement of the pedestrian safety of a neighborhood and show the practical application and usefulness of the manual through a case study. The diagnostic manual developed on the basis of the previous research review adopted a mixed research method including three investigation tools of map/data analysis using secondary data, field observation by investigators, and resident survey interview. In the case study applying the manual to Changsin-dong, Seoul, the author analyzed the results of the three investigations in integrative ways and showed the usefulness of the manual by systematically deriving the places prone to pedestrian-vehicle accidents and the influencing factors. This study contributes to the practical field in that it provides planners with a systematic tool to diagnose the pedestrian safety in the neighborhood environment while it contributes to the academic field in that it provides the concrete process that empirically compares the differences between different environmental investigative methods and deduce integrative implication from them. In a follow-up study, the author plan to apply the diagnostic manual presented in this study to more cases and improve them to work in various contexts.

Preparation and Physical Properties of Poly(ethylene-co-ethyl acrylate)/Carbon Nanotube Nanocomposites (폴리에틸렌에틸아크릴레이트/카본나노튜브 나노복합체의 제조 및 물성)

  • Kook, Jeong Ho;Jeong, Kwang-Un;Yang, Jong Seok;Park, Dae Hee;Go, Jin Hwan;Nah, Changwoon
    • Applied Chemistry for Engineering
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    • v.19 no.2
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    • pp.161-167
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    • 2008
  • Multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNT)-reinforced poly(ethylene-co-ethyl acrylate) (EEA) nanocomposites were prepared by both melt and solution mixing methods. The mechanical, thermal, and electrical properties were investigated as a function of type and loading of CNT. The tensile strength and modulus increased, while elongation at break decreased with increasing MWCNT content. The hollow-type MWCNT showed an improved tensile strength and elongation at break compared with a conventional MWCNT. The thermal degradation temperature was increased by around $40^{\circ}C$ with increasing the amount of MWCNT. The melt-mixed composites showed the highest volume resistivity. In the case of solution-mixed composites, the conventional MWCNT was estimated to show much lower volume resistivity than that of hollow MWCNT. The number and length of extruded CNT onto the fractured surface increased by both increasing the content of CNT and employing the tensile strain to the sample. The melt-mixed specimens showed much smaller number and shorter length of extruded CNT.

Development of Regression Models for Estimation of Unmeasured Dissolved Organic Carbon Concentrations in Mixed Land-use Watersheds (복합토지이용 유역의 수질 관리를 위한 미측정 용존유기탄소 농도 추정)

  • Min Kyeong Park;Jin a Beom;Minhyuk Jeung;Ji Yeon Jeong;Kwang Sik Yoon
    • Journal of Korean Society on Water Environment
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    • v.39 no.2
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    • pp.162-174
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    • 2023
  • In order to prevent water pollution caused by organic matter, Total Organic Carbon(TOC) has been adopted indicator and monitored. TOC can be divided into Dissolved Organic Carbon(DOC) and Particulate Organic Carbon(POC). POC is largely precipitated and removed during stream flow, which making DOC environmentally significant. However, there are lack of studies to define spatio-temporal distributions of DOC in stream affected by various land use. Therefore, it is necessary to estimate the past DOC concentration using other water quality indicators to evaluate status of watershed management. In this study, DOC was estimated by correlation and regression analysis using three different organic matter indicators monitored in mixed land-use watersheds. The results of correlation analysis showed that DOC has the highest correlation with TOC. Based on the results of the correlation analysis, the single- and multiple-regression models were developed using Biochemical Oxygen Demand(BOD), Chemical Oxygen Demand(COD), and TOC. The results of the prediction accuracy for three different regression models showed that the single-regression model with TOC was better than those of the other multiple-regression models. The trend analysis using extended average concentration DOC data shows that DOC tends to decrease reflecting watershed management. This study could contribute to assessment and management of organic water pollution in mixed land-use watershed by suggesting methods for assessment of unmeasured DOC concentration.

Initial Operating Condition of Membrane Bioreactor with PVDF Hollow Fiber and Permeate Reuse (PVDF 중공사막을 이용한 막생물반응기의 초기 운전조건 설정 및 여과수 재활용)

  • Shin, Choon-Hwan;Kang, Dong-Hyo;Park, Hae-Sik;Cho, Hyun-Kil
    • Clean Technology
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    • v.16 no.1
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    • pp.39-45
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    • 2010
  • In this paper, 4 bundle modules of PVDF hollow fiber membrane from Woori Tech company (Korea) were manufactured in a treatment capacity of 10 ton/day. A membrane bioreactor (MBR) pilot plant was installed at Sooyoung Wastewater Treatment Plant in Busan. An alternating aeration process was selected to avoid the concentration profile of suspended solid (SS) in the MBR. For stable operation, raw wastewater with mixed liquor suspended solid (MLSS) of about 1,000 ppm, which was in-flowed from the aeration tank of the wastewater treatment plant, was fed and filtered through the pilot plant. Subsequently the pilot plant were washed three times with washing water: once with ethanol solution, once with a solution of 5% NaOCl, and finally with washing water. After the chemical washing, the remaining water in the MBR was fed into the pilot plant. As a result, the SS removal efficiency was found to be more than 99.9%. The amount of filtrate with the aeration tank influent decreased by 16%, compared with that from the initial conditions, giving rise to 30% increase in the suction pressure. These results were used to set up continuous operation conditions. The results from the continuous operation with influent MLSS of 1,900 mg/L showed that the SS removal efficiency was about 99.99% and that the amount of filtrate and the suction pressure were $42{\sim}52L/m^2$ and 16~20 cmHg, respectively, indicating stable operation of the pilot plant. However, for the reuse of wastewater, methods need to be sought to avoid growth of algae which affects the SS removal efficiency at inlet and outlet of the permeate tank.

Is the Mixed Use of Magnetic Resonance Enterography and Computed Tomography Enterography Adequate for Routine Periodic Follow-Up of Bowel Inflammation in Patients with Crohn's Disease?

  • Jiyeon Ha;Seong Ho Park;Jung Hee Son;Ji Hun Kang;Byong Duk Ye;So Hyun Park;Bohyun Kim;Sang Hyun Choi;Sang Hyoung Park;Suk-Kyun Yang
    • Korean Journal of Radiology
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    • v.23 no.1
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    • pp.30-41
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    • 2022
  • Objective: Computed tomography enterography (CTE) and magnetic resonance enterography (MRE) are considered substitutes for each other for evaluating Crohn's disease (CD). However, the adequacy of mixing them for routine periodic follow-up for CD has not been established. This study aimed to compare MRE alone with the mixed use of CTE and MRE for the periodic follow-up of small bowel inflammation in patients with CD. Materials and Methods: We retrospectively compared two non-randomized groups, each comprising 96 patients with CD. One group underwent CTE and MRE (MRE followed by CTE or vice versa) for the follow-up of CD (interval, 13-27 months [median, 22 months]), and the other group underwent MRE alone (interval, 15-26 months [median, 21 months]). However, these two groups were similar in clinical characteristics. Three independent readers from three different institutions determined whether inflammation had decreased, remained unchanged, or increased within the entire small bowel and the terminal ileum based on sequential enterography of the patients after appropriate blinding. We compared the two groups for inter-reader agreement and accuracy (terminal ileum only) using endoscopy as the reference standard for enterographic interpretation. Results: The inter-reader agreement was greater in the MRE alone group for the entire small bowel (intraclass correlation coefficient [ICC]: 0.683 vs. 0.473; p = 0.005) and the terminal ileum (ICC: 0.656 vs. 0.490; p = 0.030). The interpretation accuracy was higher in the MRE alone group without statistical significance (70.9%-74.5% vs. 57.9%-64.9% in individual readers; adjusted odds ratio = 3.21; p = 0.077). Conclusion: The mixed use of CTE and MRE was inferior to MRE alone in terms of inter-reader reliability and could probably be less accurate than MRE alone for routine monitoring of small bowel inflammation in patients with CD. Therefore, the consistent use of MRE is favored for this purpose.

Hydrogeological Characterization of Groundwater and Surface Water Interactions in Fresh-Saline Water Mixed Zone of the East Coast Lagoon Area, Korea (동해안 석호 담염수 혼합대에서 지하수와 지표수 상호작용의 수리지질학적 특성 평가)

  • Jeon, Woo-Hyun;Kim, Dong-Hun;Lee, Soo-Hyoung;Hwang, Seho;Moon, Hee Sun;Kim, Yongcheol
    • Journal of Soil and Groundwater Environment
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    • v.26 no.6
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    • pp.144-156
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    • 2021
  • This study examined hydrogeological characteristics of groundwater and surface water interaction in the fresh-saline water mixed zone of East Coast lagoon area, Korea, using several technical approaches including hydrological, lithological, and isotopic methods. In addition, the fresh-saline water interface was evaluated using vertical electrical conductivity (EC) data. For this purpose, three monitoring wells (SJ-P1, SJ-P2, and SJ-P3) were installed across the Songji lagoon at depths of 7.4 to 9.0 m, and water level, EC, and temperature at the wells and in the lagoon (SJ-L1) were monitored using automatic transducers from August 1 to October 21, 2021. Isotopic composition of the groundwater, lagoon water, and sea water were also monitored in the mid-September, 2013. The mixing ratios calculated from oxygen and hydrogen isotopic composition decreased with increasing depth in the monitoring wells, indicating saline water intrusion. In the study area, the interaction of groundwater-surface water-sea water was evident, and residual salinity in the sedimentary layers created in the past marine environment showed disorderly characteristics. Moreover, the horizontal flow at the lagoon's edge was more dominant than the vertical flow.