• The Journal of Advanced Prosthodontics
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.38-47
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• 2024

PURPOSE. This study aims to evaluate the accuracy of different shade selection techniques and determine the matching success of crown restorations fabricated using digital shade selection techniques. MATERIALS AND METHODS. Teeth numbers 11 and 21 were prepared on a typodont model. For the #11 tooth, six different crowns were fabricated with randomly selected colors and set as the target crowns. The following four test groups were established: Group C, where the visual shade selection was performed using the Vita 3D Master Shade Guide and the group served as the control; Group Ph, where the shade selection was performed under the guidance of dental photography; Group S, where the shade selection was performed by measuring the target tooth color using a spectrophotometer; and Group I, where the shade selection was performed by scanning the test specimens and target crowns using an intraoral scanner. Based on the test groups, 24 crowns were fabricated using different shade selection techniques. The ΔE values were calculated according to the CIEDE2000 (2:1:1) formula. The collected data were analyzed by means of a one-way analysis of variance. RESULTS. For the four test groups (Groups C, Ph, S, and I), the following mean ΔE values were obtained: 2.74, 3.62, 2.13, and 3.5, respectively. No significant differences were found among the test groups. CONCLUSION. Although there was no statistically significant difference among the shade selection techniques, Group S had relatively lower ΔE values. Moreover, according to the test results, the spectrophotometer shade selection technique may provide more successful clinical results.

• Advances in materials Research
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.1-18
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• 2024

The present experimental investigation focuses on finding optimal parametric data-set of laser micro-drilling operation with minimum taper and Heat-affected zone during laser micro-drilling of Carbon Nanotube/Epoxy-based composite materials. Experiments have been conducted as per Box-Behnken design (BBD) techniques considering cutting speed, lamp current, pulse frequency and air pressure as input process parameters. Then, the relationship between control parameters and output responses is developed using second-order nonlinear regression models. The analysis of variance test has also been performed to check the adequacy of the developed mathematical model. Using the Response Surface Methodology (RSM) and an Accelerated particle swarm optimization (APSO) technique, optimum process parameters are evaluated and compared. Moreover, confirmation tests are conducted with the optimal parameter settings obtained from RSM and APSO and improvement in performance parameter is noticed in each case. The optimal process parameter setting obtained from predictive RSM based APSO techniques are speed=150 (m/s), current=22 (amp), pulse frequency (3 kHz), Air pressure (1 kg/cm²) for Taper and speed=150 (m/s), current=22 (amp), pulse frequency (3 kHz), air pressure (3 kg/cm²) for HAZ. From the confirmatory experimental result, it is observed that the APSO metaheuristic algorithm performs efficiently for optimizing the responses during laser micro-drilling process of nanocomposites both in individual and multi-objective optimization.

• International Journal of Advanced Culture Technology
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• v.12 no.3
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• pp.114-123
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• 2024

The purpose of this study is to identify the mediating effect of social support in the relationship between job stress and stress coping strategies among male workers on a three-shift system. The subjects of the study were 146 male workers working in manufacturing companies with more than 500 employees located in C City, Chungbuk Province, who understood the purpose of the study and agreed to participate. The collected data were analyzed using frequency and percentage, descriptive statistics, Pearson Correlation Coefficient, and multiple regression analysis. Job stress had a significant effect on the mediating variable, social support (β=.34, p<.001), and job stress had a significant effect on the dependent variable, stress coping strategies (β=.41, p<.001). When examining the effect of social support on stress coping strategies (β=.35, p<.001), social support was found to be a significant predictor of stress coping strategies. Therefore, social support plays a mediating role in the relationship between job stress and stress coping strategies among male workers on a three-shift system, and job stress and social support explained 27.4% of the variance in stress coping strategies. Thus, it is necessary to establish a psychological support system that can reduce job stress through active stress coping measures that consider the social support of male workers on a three-shift system.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.16 no.4
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• pp.16-22
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• 2009

The purpose of this study was to investigate the trunk and lower extremity muscle activity induced by three different intensity conditions (intensity 1, 3, 5) of whole body vibration (WBV) during bridging exercise. Surface electromyography (EMG) was used to measure trunk and lower extremity muscles activity. Eleven healthy young subjects (6 males, 5 females) were recruited from university students. The collected EMG data were normalized using reference contraction (no vibration during bridging) and expressed as a percentage of reference voluntary contraction. To analyze the differences in EMG data, the repeated one-way analysis of variance was used. A Bonferroni's correction was used for multiple comparisons. The study showed that EMG activity of the rectus abdominis, external oblique, internal oblique, erector spinae and rectus femoris muscles was not significantly different among three intensity conditions of WBV during bridging exercise (p>.05). However, there were significantly increased EMG activity of the medial hamstring muscle (p=.001) and medial gastrocnemius muscle (p=.027) in the intensity 3 condition compared with the intensity 1 condition. This result can be interpreted that vibration was absorbed through the distal muscles, plantar flexor and knee flexor.

• Research in Community and Public Health Nursing
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.330-341
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• 2015

Purpose: This study developed a self-report measure for easy assessing of the health literacy of Asian immigrant women in South Korea. Methods: After a literature review, focus group interviews, and content validity evaluation, 14 preliminary items were generated. These were translated into Chinese, Vietnamese, and English. Data were collected from 229 Asian immigrant women. Validity and reliability tests were conducted. Results: Factor analysis yielded final 10 items in three factors: primary functional and interactive health literacy, secondary functional and interactive health literacy, and critical health literacy, which explained 61.90% of the total variance of health literacy. In known-group comparisons, health literacy was significantly lower in recent immigrants, those with a low education level, and those with low Korean language proficiency. For convergent validity, health literacy was positively associated with health specific self-efficacy and maternal health knowledge. For criterion-related validity, health literacy was positively associated with the REALM-SF. The overall reliability coefficient (Cronbach's ${\alpha}$) of the instrument was .773. Conclusion: The Health Literacy Assessment Scale for Asian Immigrant Women (HLAS) represents a multidimensional construct which encompasses functional, interactive, and critical health literacy. This self-report HLAS can be a useful and convenient method for appraising the health literacy of Asian immigrant women.

• Korean Journal of Adult Nursing
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.52-62
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• 2015

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to examine the relationships between frailty, nutritional status, positive thinking, family function, and health conservation and to identify the factors influencing health conservation of the elderly at home. Methods: The research design was a descriptive survey using a convenience sampling. Data were collected from 142 elders using self-reported questionnaires. Data were analyzed using the SPSS/WIN 20.0 program for descriptive statistics, Pearson's correlation coefficients, and multiple linear regression. Results: The average health conservation score was 98.85. There were significant correlations between frailty, nutritional status, positive thinking, family function and health conservation. As a result of the multiple linear regression analysis, positive thinking, perceived health status, spouse and frailty accounted for 69% of the variance in health conservation of the elderly at home. Conclusion: These influencing factors on health conservation can be taken into account in the development of nursing intervention programs for improving health conservation of the elderly at home.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing Administration
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• v.20 no.5
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• pp.558-566
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• 2014

Purpose: This study was done to measure the level of social support, self-esteem, and empowerment and to identify any effect of social support and self-esteem on the empowerment of nurses. Methods: The study design was a descriptive survey using questionnaires which were given to 381 nurses in C province. The collected data were analyzed using descriptive analysis, t-test, ANOVA, Pearson correlation coefficient, and multiple regressions. Results: The mean score for nurses' empowerment was $2.83{\pm}0.66$. Seven individual characteristics, social support(family, meaningful persons, supervisors, and co-workers) and self-esteem accounted for 23.3% of the variance in nurses' empowerment. Prediction elements influencing empowerment of nurses were salary per month, self-esteem, and social support(supervisors). Conclusion: The results indicate that it is necessary to increase nurses' empowerment. Social support by supervisors and self-esteem were confirmed as important factors to increase nurses' empowerment. In addition, raising the monthly average income would increase empowerment of nurses.

• The Korean Journal of Rehabilitation Nursing
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.62-69
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• 2011

Purpose: The study assessed whether nurse staffing was associated with 3 nursing sensitive outcomes used in intensive care unit (ICU) nursing care plans. Methods: This study was a retrospective and descriptive study using clinical data extracted from the data warehouse of a large acute care hospital in the Midwest. One-way analysis of variance was used to analyze the records of 578 ICU patients admitted from March 25 to May 31, 2010. Results: 79 Nursing Outcomes Classification (NOC) outcomes were used in the nursing care plans. The 3 most commonly used NOC outcomes (Pain Level, Infection Severity, and Tissue Integrity: Skin and Mucous Membranes) were analyzed to determine their relationship to nurse staffing. As a nurse staffing ratio, the skill mix of nursing caregivers ranged from 0.74 to 1 with an average of 0.90. This skill mix of nursing caregivers significantly differed among the changes in Infection Severity scores. However, the mean difference was only 0.02. Conclusion: The results did not support that greater nurse staffing was associated with better outcomes. More research is still needed to determine the usefulness of Pain Level, Infection Severity, and Tissue Integrity: Skin and Mucous Membranes in evaluating the impact of nurse staffing.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.115-123
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• 2012

It is important to assess foot posture when investigating the relationship between lower extremity dysfunctions and foot types. Although several measurements of static foot posture have been used, there is no consensus regarding clinical measurements for foot posture. The aim of this study is to explore the differences among navicular drift (NDt), foot posture index (FPI), arch index (AI), dorsal arch height ratio (DAHR), normal navicular height truncated (NNHt) and to discover the most effective measurement. After foot types were classified by navicular drop test (NDp), clinical measurements of NDt, FPI, AI, DAHR, and NNHt were performed on 64 subjects' feet. ANOVA analysis was used for the variance of the difference between the NDp and the five kinds of clinical measurements, and the level of significance was set at ${\alpha}$=.05. The results showed that all five clinical measurements demonstrated significant differences with navicular drop. In post-hoc, FPI and NNHt showed significant differences in all foot types. The five clinical measurements are suitable the classification of foot types through the NDp. Therefore, it could be possible to assess correct and objective foot posture by using FPI and NNHt.

• Journal of Korean Public Health Nursing
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.590-604
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• 2014

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to develop a nursing competence scale for soon to be graduate nursing students and to verify its validity and reliability. Methods: This study is a methodological study for development of a scale. Based on literature review and group discussion of 13 professional experts, 40 preliminary items were developed and the content validity was verified. Psychometric testing was performed and data were collected from 141 soon to be graduate nursing students of a university. Construct validity was verified by factor analysis and reliability was calculated. Results: The analyses resulted in a scale named the Nursing Competence Scale for Graduating Nursing Students (NCS-GNS), consisting of 30 items covering eight categories: nursing professionalism, integrated nursing through critical thinking, communication skills, nursing leadership, respect for life, stress management, nursing research, and core nursing skills. For the entire scale, the explained variance was 66.72% and Cronbach's alpha was 0.906. Conclusion: NCS-GNS was developed and its validity and reliability were verified. This scale can be used to evaluate nursing competence for graduating nursing students.