• Title/Summary/Keyword: Statistical Testing

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A Comparative Study regarding Health Condition and Work Stress of Nurses Working in Cancer Ward and General Ward (암병동간호사와 일반병동간호사의 건강상태와 직무스트레스 비교 연구)

  • Kim, Hyun-Sook
    • Asian Oncology Nursing
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    • v.1 no.2
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    • pp.191-203
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    • 2001
  • The health of a nurse is very important because her mental and physical health can influence toward nursing patients directly, Especially, Cancer patients are growing annually. Also, terminal cancer patients' nursing and dead place are increasingly using hospital and the period of nursing for cancer patients are increasing. Nursing for cancer patients are different with acute disease. Therefore, I analysed comparing nurses' health working in cancer and general ward so that nurses working at cancer ward could be developed as a professional nurse, and I wanted to establish the foundation of nursing administration and reasonable manpower management to supply good quality of nursing to patients. In my research, I selected 117 nurses working in cancer ward and 134 nurses working in general word to analyse the stress rate and nurse's health comparing nurses working in general ward and cancer ward. The survey was conducted of nurses working in cancer ward nurses in 2 university hospitals, nurses working in a cancer hospital, and general ward nurses working in 3 public hospital. Also, the data was collected from Sep. 13, 2001 to Sep. 28, 2001. As health measuring tool, I used Cornell Medical Index(CMI) which are developed to fit Koreans by Ko Ungrin and Park Hang-bas (1980) using Cornell Medical Services which were designed by Weiser, Brosman, Mittelman, Wechler, Wolff in Cornell University(1945). As working stress measuring tool, I used Questionaries which were designed by Kim Mae-ja and Ku Mi-ok(1984) and then developed by Bae In-sook(1996). For managing the data, I used frequency, percentage, ${\chi}^2$ verification, t-test, and F-test (ANOVA). And in the case of significant data(p<.05). I did Duncan's test for post verification. The mutual relation between health condition and working stress rate have been conducted using Pearson's Correlation Coefficient. Followings are the results of my research. 1. Two groups showed significant differency at age after testing homogeneous character between two groups (${\chi}^2$ =9.919, p=.007). 2. Comparing two group's health condition, cancer ward(average 19.35${\pm}$18.34) were higher than general ward(14.42${\pm}$10.59) and showed statistical significant differency(p=.009). And, comparing two group's mental condition, cancer ward(9.00${\pm}$9.79) were higher than general ward(7.13${\pm}$6.35) and statistically no differency. 3. After comparing two group's working stress rate, the rate of cancer ward nurse's working stress(3.36${\pm}$.50) is higher than general ward nurse (3.32${\pm}$.48). There are no significant differency. However, in the detailed verification test, there were significant differency at inappropriate compensation (t=3.254, p=.001) and medication issue (t=2.170, p=.031). 4. After comparing health condition at general points, physical health condition showed significant differency at age(p=.020), the number of children (p=.015), religion (p=.015), position(p=.005), career(p=.008), working satisfaction(p=.003), activity after office hour(p=.045); and mental health condition showed significant differency at position(p=.010), career (p=.017), working satisfaction (p=.003). 5. After comparing the working stress rate according to general points, there were significant differency at working satisfaction (F=5.285, p=.006), predicted nursing(F=3.822, p=.023). 6. At the relation of health condition and working stress rate between two groups. physical and mental condition showed significant relation with working stress rate. i.e, if a nurse's health condition is not good, she are feeling much more stress than others. After considering all the factors in my research, I found that the health condition and stress rate of cancer ward nurses is much higher than general ward nurses. Considering that cancer ward nurses is necessary to care for increasing cancer patients with mental and physical nursing, the less stress for cancer ward nurses is very important to develop nursing quality and working efficiency by keeping good health condition, specializing cancer ward nurses. Therefore, we need following studies to find the factors which are effecting to cancer ward nurses' health and specialization. Also, we need to improve managing working condition to decrease working stress by improving working condition.

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An Impact of Startup Business Performance by Entrepreneurs' Perceived Importance, Satisfaction, and Level of Meeting to Expectation over Government Startup Business Aid Programs (창업가가 인식한 정부창업지원사업 중요도와 만족도 및 기대충족도가 창업기업의 경영성과에 미치는 영향)

  • Lee, Young Ju;Yang, Youngseok
    • Asia-Pacific Journal of Business Venturing and Entrepreneurship
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    • v.13 no.1
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    • pp.31-41
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    • 2018
  • The purpose of this study is to look at the difference between the importance and the satisfaction with respect to government startup aid programs perceived by entrepreneurs to improve the effectiveness of government startup aid policy and verify the causal relationship between startup aid project and business performance. In this respect, this study aims to look at the impact of entrepreneurs' perceived satisfaction over government startup aid programs on startup business performance. Major study findings from this study are as follows. First, as a result of testing statistical significance of the difference between importance and satisfaction in startup education, facility/space, consulting, or fund support field, respectively in start-up assistance project, it appeared that there was a significant difference in all fields. In addition, fund support was the field that showed the biggest difference between importance and satisfaction. Second, the results of IPA (importance-performance analysis), which displays relative importance and performance of start-up assistance project on four quadrants so that entrepreneurs can evaluate which start-up assistance projects they think important and which projects they are satisfied with by themselves are as follows. Let us summarize the distribution of start-up assistance project on four quadrants in the first place. Facility/space support project is distributed in the 1st quadrant that requires ongoing maintenance; start-up funding program in the 2nd quadrant that requires concentrated improvement; consulting support project in the 3rd quadrant that requires limited use at low priority; and start-up education support project in the boundary between the 3rd quadrant that requires limited use and the 4th quadrant that requires rejection against unnecessary items. Third, the results from multiple regression analysis to identify the impact of satisfaction with government startup aid programs over business performance are as follows. As a result of analyzing the influence relationship between government startup aid program and financial performance, it appeared that satisfaction with facility/space had a positive (+) impact on financial performance. This suggests that the higher the satisfaction with facility/space, the higher the financial performance. As a result of analyzing the influence relationship between start-up assistance project and non-financial performance, it appeared that satisfaction with startup education had a positive (+) impact on non-financial performance. This suggests that the higher the satisfaction with startup education, the higher the non-financial performance.

A Study on the Efficient Measurement of Airborne Asbestos Concentrations at Demolition Sites of Asbestos Containing Buildings, etc. in Seoul (서울시내 석면함유 건축물 철거 현장 등에서의 효과적인 공기 중 석면농도 측정을 위한 연구)

  • Lee, Jinhyo;Lee, Suhyun;Kim, Jeongyeun;Kim, Jihui;Chung, Sooknye;Kim, Jina;Oh, Seokryul;Kim, Iksoo;Shin, Jinho;Eo, Soomi;Jung, Kweon;Lee, Jinsook
    • Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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    • v.24 no.2
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    • pp.113-121
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    • 2014
  • Objectives: This study is intended to seek credible and efficient measurements on airborne asbestos concentrations that allow immediate action by establishing complementary data through comparative analysis with existing PCM and KF-100 method real-time monitoring equipment in working areas in Seoul where asbestos-containing buildings are being demolished, including living environment surroundings. Materials: We measured airborne asbestos concentrations using PCM and KF-100 at research institutes, monitoring networks, subway stations and demolition sites of asbestos-containing buildings. Through this measurement data and KF-100 performance testing, we drew a conversion factor and applied it via KF-100. Finally we verified the relationship between PCM and KF-100 with statistical methods. Results: The airborne asbestos concentrations by PCM for the objects of study were less than the detection limit(7 fiber/$mm^2$) in three (20%) out of 15 samples. The highest concentration was 0.009 f/cc. The airborne asbestos concentrations by PCM in laboratories, monitoring networks, subway stations and demolition sites of asbestos-containing buildings were respectively $0.002{\pm}0.000$ f/cc, $0.004{\pm}0.001$ f/cc, $0.009{\pm}0.001$ f/cc, and $0.002{\pm}0.000$ f/cc. As a result of KF-100 performance testson rooftops, the conversion factor was 0.1958. Applying the conversion factor to KF-100 for laboratories, the airborne asbestos concentrations ratio of the two ways was nearly 1:1.5($R^2$=0.8852). Also,the airborne asbestos concentration ratio of the two ways was nearly 1:1($R^2$=0.9071) for monitoring networks, subway stations, and demolition sites of asbestos-containing buildings. As a result of independent sample t-tests, there was no distinction between airborne asbestos concentrations monitored in the two ways. Conclusions: In working areas where asbestos-containing buildings are being demolished, including living environment surroundings, quickly and accurately monitoring airborne asbestos scattered in the air around the working area is highly important. For this, we believea mutual interface of existing PCM and a real-time monitoring equipment method is possible.

The Effect of Cyclic Load on Different Femoral Fixation Techniques in Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction (전방십자인대 재건시 이식건의 대퇴골측 고정에 대한 주기성인장부하의 효과)

  • Song Eun-Kyoo;Kim Jong Seok
    • Journal of Korean Orthopaedic Sports Medicine
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    • v.2 no.1
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    • pp.28-36
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    • 2003
  • Purpose: To determine and to compare the effects of cyclic loading on the fixation strength of different femoral fixation methods in ACL reconstruction. Materials and Methods: Biomechanical test using an Instron(R) machine (Model No.5569. Mass, U.S.A) were carried out to compare the pull out strength of six different femoral fixation techniques after a cyclic loading in 72 Yorkshire pig knees. The graft-bone complex was cyclically loaded between 30N and 150N at 50 mm/min rate for 1000 cycles and maximal tensile testing was performed. A preload of 30N was applied to the graft along the axis of the tunnel 15 minutes. ANOVA and the Duncan multiple comparison test was used for the statistical analysis. Results: The mean maximum tensile strength of femoral fixation before and after the cyclic loading test were 1003.4$\pm$145N and 601.1$\pm$154N in hamstring-LA screw(R) group, 595.5$\pm$104N and 360.7$\pm$56N in hamstring-Bioscrew(R) group, 1431.7$\pm$135N and 710.7$\pm$114N in hamstring-Semifix(R) group, 603.6$\pm$54N and 459.1$\pm$46N in hamstring-Endobutton(R) fixation group, 1067.4$\pm$145 and 601.8$\pm$134N in the BPTB-Titanium interference screw group, and 987.1$\pm$168N and 588.7$\pm$124N in the BPTB-Bioscrew(R) group. And these data illustrated that cyclic loading reduces the maximum tensile strength by 40 $\%$, 39 $\%$, 50 $\%$, 24 $\%$, 44 $\%$, 40 $\%$ respectively. Conclusions: With the results of these experiments it should be emphasized that rehabilitation exercises after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction should be executed with precaution as the repetitive flexion and extension of the knee would compromise the maximum tensile strength of the graft tendon.

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MOLECULAR BIOLOGIC ANALYSIS OF FMR-1 GENE TRINUCLEOTIDE REPEATS IN AUTISTIC PATIENTS (자폐장애 환자에서 FMR-1 유전 삼염기 반복의 분자생물학적 분석)

  • Kwak, Ho-Soon;Chun, Hyo-Jin;Chang, Eun-Jin;Kim, Hee-Cheol;Kim, Jung-Bun;Park, Young-Nam;Jung, Chul-Ho
    • Journal of the Korean Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
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    • v.11 no.1
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    • pp.3-15
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    • 2000
  • Objectives:There has been a rapid expansion of studies aimed at elucidating the genetic basis of autistic disorder, especially it’ relationship to fragile-X syndrome. The detection of fragile X chromosome(Xq27.3) by cytogenetic analysis has revealed many difficulties in testing. Therefore, to explore the relationship between autistic disorder and fragile X syndrome, this study administered molecular biologic methods which examined an unstable CGG repeat within the fragile X mental retardation-1(FMR-1) gene. Methods:Ninety nine autistic children and eight normal control children were tested. The number of CGG repeats within FMR-1 gene was measured after amplification by PCR, and cytogenetic analysis was also carried out to detect fragile site Xq27.3. Southern blot hybridization, using StB12.3 and/or Pfxa3 probe, was done for the patients showing expansion of more than 50 CGG repeats (premutation). Results:All but two autistic patients had no expansion in CGG repeats by PCR and there was no significant statistical difference in number of CGG repeat in comparison with normal control. Two autistic patients, considered as premutation by PCR analysis, had no full mutation or premutation by Southern blot hybridization. All autistic children tested did not have any abnormal karyotype or fragile site Xq27.3. Conclusions:These results suggest that autistic patients may not have abnormality in FMR-1 gene or abnormal expansion in CGG repeat. In conclusion, fragile X syndrome may not be antecedent of autistic disorder.

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Prediction Model of Exercise Behaviors in Patients with Arthritis (by Pender's revised Health Promotion Model) (관절염 환자의 운동행위 예측모형 (Pender의 재개정된 건강증진 모형에 의한))

  • Lim, Nan-Young;Suh, Gil-Hee
    • Journal of muscle and joint health
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    • v.8 no.1
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    • pp.122-140
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    • 2001
  • The aims of this study were to understand and to predict the determinent factors affecting the exercise behaviors and physical fitness by testing the Pender's revised health promotion model, and to help the patients with rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis perform the continous exercise program, and to help them maximize the physical effect such as muscle strength, endurance, and functional status and mental effects including self efficacy and quality of life, and improve the physical and mental well being, and to provide a basis for the nursing intervention strategies. Of the selected variables in this study, the endogenous variables included the physical fitness, exercise score, exercise participation, perceived benefits of action, perceived barriers of action to exercise, activity-related affect(depression) and perceived self-efficacy, interpersonal influences(family support), situational factors(duration of arthritis, fatigue) and the exogenous variables included personal sociocultural factor(education level), personal biologic factor(body mass index), personal psychologic factor(perceived health status) and prior related behavior factors(previous participation in exercise, life-style). We analyzed the clinical records of 208 patients with rheumatoid arthritis and degenerative arthritis who visited the outpatient clinics at H university hospital in Seoul. Data were composed of self reported qustionnaire and good of fitness score which were obtained by padalling the ergometer of bicycle for 9 minutes. SPSS Win 8.0 and Window LISREL 8.12a were used for statistical analysis. Of 75 hypothetical paths that influence on physical fitness, exercise participation, exercise score, perceived benefits of action, perceived barriers of action to exercise, activity-related affect(depression) and perceived self-efficacy, interpersonal influences(family support), situational factors(duration of arthritis, fatigue), 40 were supported. The physical fitness was directly influenced by life-style, perceived health status, education level, family support, fatigue, which explained 12% of physical fitness. The exercise participation were directly influenced by life-style, education level, past exercise behavior, perceived benefits of action, perceived barriers of action, depression and duration of arthritis, which explained 47% of exercise participation. Exercise score were directly affected by perceived self efficacy. BMI, life-style, past exercise behavior, perceived benefits of action, family support, perceived health status. perceived barriers of action, and fatigue, which explained 70%. Perceived benefits of action was directly influenced by BMI, life-style, which explained 39%. Perceived barriers of action were directly influeced by past exercise behavior, perceived health status, which explained 7%. Perceived self efficacy were directly influeced by level of education, perceived health status, life-style, which explained 57%. Depression were directly influeced by past exercise behavior, BMI, life-style, which explained 27%. Family support were directly influeced by life-style, perceived health status, which explained 29%. Fatigue were directly influeced by BMI, life-style, perceived health status. which explained 41%. Duration of arthritis were directly influeced by life-style, past exercise behavior, BMI, which explained 6%. In conclusion, important variables for physical fitness were life-style, and variable affecting exercise participation were life-style. Perceived self-efficacy of exercise was a significant predictor of exercise score. BMI, Life-style, perceived benefits of action, family support, past exercise behavior showed direct effects on perceived self-efficacy. Therefore, disease related factor should be minimized for physical performance and well being in nursing intervention for patients with rheumatoid arthritis, and plans to promote and continue exercise should be seeked to reduce disability. In addition, Exercise program should be planned and performed by the exact evaluation of exercise according to the ability of the patients and the contents to improve the importance of exercise and self efficacy in self control program, dedicated educational program should be involved. This study suggest that the methods to reduce the disease related factors, the importance of daily life-style, recognition of benefit of exercise, and educational program to promote self efficacy should be considered in the exercise behavior promotion and nursing intervention for continous performance. The significance of this study is also thought to provide patients with chronic arthritis the specific data for maximal physical and mental well being through exercise, chronic therapeutic procedure, daily adaptation and confrontation in nursing intervention.

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Integrated Test for Screening in Down Syndrome as a Predictor of Adverse Pregnancy Outcomes (임신합병증 예측에 있어 다운증후군 통합 선별검사 지표의 의의)

  • Park, Sang-Won;Kang, Jin-Hee;Lee, Kyong-Jin;Jun, Hye-Sun;Kang, Myoung-Seo;Huh, Ji-Young;Cha, Dong-Hyun
    • Journal of Genetic Medicine
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    • v.6 no.1
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    • pp.74-80
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    • 2009
  • Purpose: To assess the value of first-trimester pregnancy-associated plasma protein-A (PAPP-A), nuchal translucency (NT) and second-trimester alpha-fetoprotein (AFP), human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG), unconjugated estriol (uE3), and inhibin-A in predicting pregnancy complications other than fetal aneuploidy. Materials and Methods: A retrospective study in 3,121 singleton pregnancies with integrated testing was performed at Kangnam CHA hospital between January 2005 and December 2006. Baseline characteristics, pregnancy outcomes, and serum marker levels were obtained by review of the medical records. We analyzed the data to identify associations between the integrated screening markers and adverse pregnancy outcomes. Statistical analyses were performed with the SPSS program. Results: In preterm labor and preeclampsia, high AFP, hCG, and inhibin-A levels and low PAPP-A and NT levels were found to be significantly correlated (P<0.05). Elevated second-trimester inhibin-A levels were associated with preeclampsia (odds ratio 2.843), low birth weight (odds ratio 1.446), and preterm labor (odds ratio 1.287), and while decreased first-trimester PAPP-A levels were associated with preeclampsia (odds ratio 0.51) and preterm labor (odds ratio 0.75). Conclusion: First- and second-trimester maternal serum markers screening can be used for predicting high-risk pregnancies.

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A Study on the Measurement of the Pollution Level of Bacteria and Disinfection of Table and IP Cassette (촬영 테이블과 IP Cassette의 세균 오염도 측정 및 소독에 관한 연구)

  • Bae, Seok-Hwan;Lee, Moo-Sik;Lim, Chang-Seon;Kim, Gha-Jung
    • Journal of radiological science and technology
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    • v.31 no.3
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    • pp.229-237
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    • 2008
  • Purpose : For the number of microbes and the pollution level of bacteriology of IP Cassette and Table by laboratories, after identifying the bacteria before and after using alcohol and tissue including disinfectant and statistically testing, this research was intended to provide the basic data for the prevention and the right disinfection guideline for infection management of hospitals in diagnostic radiology. Subject and Method : The subject of this research was the general room of diagnostic radiology of a university hospital in Daejeon City. The research was conducted from Apr 5 to Apr 12, 2007. The number of microbes and the pollution level of bacteriology of IP Cassette and Table by laboratories were tested before and after using alcohol and tissue for disinfection including disinfectant. In order to collect specimens exactly, they were collected with the nurse who specialized in infection management of the hospital, and statistical processing was done with SPSS V13.0. To compare the results before and after using alcohol and tissue, T-test was implemented, and post-hoc test was conducted. Results : Bacteria were detected in 19 cases of 24 subjects(79.2%), however, they were not detected in 5 cases(20.8%). 7kinds of bacteria were detected as isolated bacteria, of which Methicillin Resistant coagulase-negative Staphylococci(MRCNS) were detected in 15 cases(62.5%), which was most, Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus(MRSA) in 6 cases(16.7%), Enterococcus Faecium(EFM) in 5 cases(20.8%), Acinetobacter baumannii(ABA) in 2 cases(8.3%), and Bacillus sp, Coagulase-negative Staphylococci(CNS), and Enterococcus sp(ENT) in 1 case, respectively(4.2%). In all bacteria except ABA, Gram positive bacillia were detected in 30 cases(97%), and Gram negative bacilli were detected only in 1 case(3%). As for the kinds of bacteria and the number of groups before and after using 70% Alcohol by Groups, when the bacteria were identified after disinfecting IP Cassette and Table with 70% Alcohol, all the bacteria became extinct in both IP Cassette and Table Group(100%). As for the kinds and number of bacteria before and after using Tissue Cleaner by Groups, the bacteria in Tissue Cleaner Group became completely extinct only in 10 Groups(71.2%), and in 4 Groups, there was much decrease in bacteria, however, they were still detected. The extinction rate of all the bacteria was 91.5%. That is, though the other bacteria became extinct(100%), that of MRCNS bacteria was lowest(83.6%), followed by MRSA(95%). Conclusion : As a result of comparing the mean of the bacteria which were detected before and after using 70% Alcohol and Tissue Cleaner, there was statistically significant in the significant level of 5% in both of them.

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Study of Anti-oxidant Analysis to Vegetable Juice Containing Barley Sprouts (보리새싹 함유 녹즙의 항산화력 분석에 관한 연구)

  • Yoo, In-Sik;Baek, Cheong-Mok;Joung, Mi-Yeun;Kwon, Sang-Chul
    • Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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    • v.18 no.12
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    • pp.248-253
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    • 2017
  • This study was conducted to analyze the anti-oxidant activity of green juice containing barley sprouts. The specimens used in the experiments were supplied byCSJ company located in Jincheon-gun, Chungbuk province. Polyphenol and flavonoid was detected in Huttuynia cordata Thunb fermentation sprout juiceat $1.075{\pm}0.174mg/mL$ and $2.736{\pm}0.187\;quercetin\;mg/mL$, in organic dandelion at $1.048{\pm}0.173mg/mL$ and $2.685{\pm}0.245\;quercetin\;mg/mL$, kan andRakat $1.013{\pm}0.083mg/mL$ and $3.624{\pm}0.237\;quercetin\;mg/mL$, broccoli blending juice at $1.494{\pm}0.255mg/mL$ and $3.826{\pm}0.286\;quercetin\;mg/mL$, and barley sprouts at $1.043{\pm}0.220mg/mL$ and $1.990{\pm}0.223\;quercetin\;mg/mL$, respectively.Antioxidant activity testing revealed the electron donating ability of Huttuynia cordata Thunb fermentation sprout juice for DPPH was 81.97%. Moreover, the free radical scavenging ability measured by ABTS assay showed that the activity was increased in the order of broccoli blending juice, Huttuynia cordata Thunb fermentation sprout juice, organic dandelion, 'kan andRak', barley sprout, and thatthe effects were similar to those of ascorbic acid at $100{\mu}g/mL$. Statistical processing is using SPSS 24, analysis of distributed layout and Duncan's multiple range (p<0.05). Therefore, the use of functional assistance material of products in the future indicates that it is worth a healthy functional drink.

The Effect of Surface Defects on the Cyclic Fatigue Fracture of HEROShaper Ni-Ti rotary files in a Dynamic Model: A Fractographic Analysis (Fractographic 분석을 통한 HEROShaper 니켈티타늄 전동 파일의 피로파절에 미치는 표면결함의 역할)

  • Lee, Jung-Kyu;Kim, Eui-Sung;Kang, Myoung-Whai;Kum, Kee-Yeon
    • Restorative Dentistry and Endodontics
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    • v.32 no.2
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    • pp.130-137
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    • 2007
  • This in vitro study examined the effect of surface defects on cutting blades on the extent of the cyclic fatigue fracture of HEROShaper Ni-Ti rotary files using fractographic analysis of the fractured surfaces. A total of 45 HEROShaper (MicroMega) Ni-Ti rotary flies with a #30/.04 taper were divided into three groups of 15 each. Group 1 contained new HEROShapers without any surface defects. Group 2 contained HEROShapers with manufacturing defects such as metal rollover and machining marks. Croup 3 contained HEROShapers that had been clinically used for the canal preparation of 4-6 molars A fatigue-testing device was designed to allow cyclic tension and compressive stress on the tip of the instrument whilst maintaining similar conditions to those experienced in a clinic. The level of fatigue fracture time was measured using a computer connected the system. Statistical analysis was performed using a Tukey's test. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was used for fractographic analysis of the fractured surfaces. The fatigue fracture time between groups 1 and 2, and between groups 1 and 3 was significantly different (p<0.05) but there was no significant difference between groups 2 and 3 (p>0.05). A low magnification SEM views show brittle fracture as the main initial failure mode At higher magnification, the brittle fracture region showed clusters of fatigue striations and a large number of secondary cracks. These fractures typically led to a central region of catastrophic ductile failure. Qualitatively, the ductile fracture region was characterized by the formation of microvoids and dimpling. The fractured surfaces of the HEROShapers in groups 2 and 3 were always associated with pre-existing surface defects. Typically, the fractured surface in the brittle fracture region showed evidence of cleavage (transgranular) facets across the grains, as well as intergranular facets along the grain boundaries. These results show that surface defects on cutting blades of Ni-Ti rotary files might be the preferred sites for the origin of fatigue fracture under experimental conditions. Furthermore this work demonstrates the utility of fractography in evaluating the failure of Ni-Ti rotary flies.