• 한국병원경영학회지
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• 제26권2호
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• pp.1-16
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• 2021

This study aims to examine the effect of integrated health and welfare(IHW) services on medical use and medical expenses in Korean Veteran Hospitals. Data on the volume of medical use and medical expenses were collected from two patient groups of 5 Veterans' Hospitals: the beneficiary group who has received IHW services and the non-beneficiary group who has not. Each group was composed of 265 patients respectively. The results of the study revealed that the volume of home nursing services, home rehabilitation services, ambulatory services have increased significantly, whereas the average length of stay, number of using emergency services, and average medical expenses have decreased after receiving integrated health services in the beneficiary group. In contrast, the non-beneficiary group showed much more increase both in the volume of inpatient and outpatient services, as well as the average medical expenses, compared to those of the beneficiary group. This results imply that the provision of IHW services have positive impacts on the enhancing the effectiveness of the medical resources utilization for the veteran patients.

• 한국보육지원학회지
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• 제17권2호
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• pp.47-68
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• 2021

Objective: This study investigated direct and indirect influences of fathers' parenting involvement on maternal parenting competence by exploring pathways between fathers' parenting involvement, maternal inner strength, and maternal parenting competence. Methods: A total of 329 mothers with 3-year-old children responded to online survey questionnaires, which included questions about fathers' parenting involvement, maternal inner strength, and maternal parenting competence. The data was analyzed by Pearson's correlation coefficients and Structural Equation Modeling. Results: It was observed that maternal inner strength perfectly mediated the association between father's parenting involvement and maternal parenting competence. More concretely, a direct effect of fathers' parenting involvement on maternal parenting competence was not found. It was also found that fathers' parenting involvement effects maternal parenting competence indirectly. The effect of fathers' parenting involvement on maternal inner strength was the greatest among all associations between fathers' parenting involvement, maternal inner strength, and maternal parenting competence. Conclusion/Implications: These findings have insights for research and practice, which emphasize the important considerations that enhancing maternal inner strength and the power of fathers' parenting involvement on maternal inner strength should be emphasized in order to improve maternal parenting competence.

• 임상간호연구
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• 제25권2호
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• pp.161-169
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• 2019

Purpose: This study was conducted to examine the effect of a Happiness Self-Coaching program for new graduate nurses working in cancer care units. Methods: A quasi-experimental pretest-posttest, nonequivalent control-group design was applied to conduct the study. Study participants were new graduate nurses employed within 12 months and working as shift employees at G university hospital, located in J city. A total of 21 new graduate nurses participated in the study, 10 in the experimental group, and 11 in the control group. The happiness self-coaching program was conducted weekly for 70 minutes from February 1 to June 6, 2016 for 6 weeks. The experimental group received the Happiness Self-Coaching program through lectures, presentation, group activities, and strength card play. Data were analyzed by using repeated measure ANOVA and paired t-test. Results: The experimental group demonstrated significantly higher happiness (F=6.82, p=.003) and self-efficacy (F=3.38 p=.045) levels compared to the control group. Conclusion: The Happiness Self-Coaching program was effective in enhancing new graduate nurses' happiness and self efficacy. It is recommended that nursing organizations to apply the Happiness Self -Coaching program to facilitate adaption of new graduate nurses in cancer care units.

• 한국미생물·생명공학회지
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• 제47권2호
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• pp.173-182
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• 2019

The use of double lumen catheters as a means of hemodialysis access is commonly accompanied with the use of gentamicin as an antibiotic lock. Other antibiotics and anticoagulants are often added to increase the efficacy of gentamicin in order to reduce catheter-related infection and to prevent biofilm formation. This review aimed to evaluate the following: 1) the use of gentamicin in eliminating catheter-related infection and reducing biofilm formation in hemodialysis catheters, 2) the efficacy of additional antibiotics in combination with gentamicin, and 3) the effect of additional anticoagulants to complement the efficacy of gentamicin as the main prophylactic antibiotic lock. We sorted through data from 242 PubMed and ScienceDirect studies, which were then short-listed to 33 studies. Next, they were grouped, extracted, and analyzed qualitatively to fulfil the objectives of this review. Consequently, the use of a gentamicin-lock solution was shown to reduce the incidence of bacteremia; however, it was not strong enough to inhibit the growth of infectious microbes and formation of biofilms. Several bacteria, such as Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermidis, Escherichia coli, and Klebsiella pneumoniae, have been reported as infectious agents. Combination with other antibiotics also provided no effect in reducing bacterial growth and biofilm formation in catheters. Furthermore, the additional anticoagulants (trisodium citrate and EDTA) were reported to be effective in enhancing the efficacy of gentamicin in avoiding catheter-related infection, bacterial growth, and biofilm formation; thus, the use of gentamicin can be rationalized.

• 한국재료학회지
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• 제29권3호
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• pp.189-195
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• 2019

The effect of C, Mn, and Al additions on the tensile and Charpy impact properties of austenitic high-manganese steels for cryogenic applications is investigated in terms of the deformation mechanism dependent on stacking fault energy and austenite stability. The addition of the alloying elements usually increases the stacking fault energy, which is calculated using a modified thermodynamic model. Although the yield strength of austenitic high-manganese steels is increased by the addition of the alloying elements, the tensile strength is significantly affected by the deformation mechanism associated with stacking fault energy because of grain size refinement caused by deformation twinning and mobile dislocations generated during deformation-induced martensite transformation. None of the austenitic high-manganese steels exhibit clear ductile-brittle transition behavior, but their absorbed energy gradually decreases with lowering test temperature, regardless of the alloying elements. However, the combined addition of Mn and Al to the austenitic high-manganese steels suppresses the decrease in absorbed energy with a decreasing temperature by enhancing austenite stability.

• 근관절건강학회지
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• 제25권3호
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• pp.187-195
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• 2018

Purpose: This study was conducted to develop a video education program for spinal surgery patients and to investigate the effect of the program on patients' uncertainty and educational satisfaction. Methods: This study employed a nonequivalent control group pretest-posttest design. The participants were 54 patients who had undergone spinal surgery in Busan from February to May 2017. The video education program was provided to the experimental group (n=28). The program consisted of providing existing leaflets to patients and repeatedly showing patients educational videos during their hospitalization. Leaflets were also provided to the control group (n=26) as part of traditional care. Patients' reported levels of uncertainty and educational satisfaction were measured. Data were analyzed using the chi-squared test, independent t-test, Mann-Whitney U test, and covariance analysis. Results: A significant difference was observed between the groups in uncertainty pre-post changes (U=239.50, p=.030). With the education variable controlled, there were significant differences between the groups in the educational satisfaction posttest (F=19.79, p<.001). Conclusion: The program was effective in reducing uncertainty and in enhancing educational satisfaction. Therefore, the video education program may be helpful for improving patient satisfaction and outcomes in various clinical fields.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• 제29권8호
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• pp.1248-1254
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• 2019

Identification of novel probiotic strains is of great interest in the field of functional foods. Specific strains of heat-killed bacteria have been reported to exert immunomodulatory effects. Herein, we investigated the immune-stimulatory function of heat-killed Lactobacillus plantarum KCTC 13314BP (LBP). Treatment with LBP significantly increased the production of $TNF-{\alpha}$ and IL-6 by macrophages. More importantly, LBP was able to enhance the phagocytic activity of macrophages against bacterial particles. Activation of p38, JNK, ERK, $NF-{\kappa}B$, and STAT3 was involved in the immunomodulatory function of LBP. LBP treatment significantly increased production of $TNF-{\alpha}$ by bone marrow-derived macrophages and splenocytes, further confirming the immunostimulatory effect of LBP in primary immune cells. Interestingly, the immunomodulatory effects of LBP were much stronger than those of Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG, a well-known probiotic strain. These results indicate that LBP can be a promising immune-enhancing functional food agent.

• 대한의생명과학회지
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• 제25권3호
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• pp.282-287
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• 2019

Skin flap necrosis remains a major complication of reconstructive surgery. Euterpe oleracea Mart., popularly known as "acai berry" contains hydroxybenzoic acid, antioxidant polyphenolics and anthocyanins. These and other compounds within the acai berry confer anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidative effects. In this current study, we evaluated the protective effect of acai berry extracts on survival of random-pattern skin flaps in a murine model by histologic analysis. ICR mice were subjected to skin elevation surgery and orally administered acai berry extract (100 mg/kg) daily for 7 days. Tissues were stained with hematoxylin-eosin or Masson's trichrome to observe tissue integrity and collagen deposition. In addition, $TGF-{\beta}$ and VEGF was stained by immunofluorescence to determine anti-inflammatory cell infiltration and neovascularization, respectively. We found a decrease in inflammatory cell infiltration and increase in collagen deposition in the acai berry extract treated mice compared to control mice. Immunofluorescence staining reveal a higher number of $TGF-{\beta}$ positive cells and enhanced VEGF staining in the acai berry extract treated mice. The results from this study indicate that oral uptake of acai berry extract can promote healing and survival of surgical skin flaps in mice providing an augmentative therapeutic approach to enhancing skin flap survival.

• Corrosion Science and Technology
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• 제19권6호
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• pp.281-287
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• 2020

Chloride ion is one of the most important corrosive agents in atmospheric corrosion, especially in marine environments. It has high adsorption rate and increases the conductivity of electrolytes. Since chloride ions affect the protective properties and the surface composition of the corrosion product, they increase the corrosion rate. A low level of chloride ions leads to uniform corrosion, whereas a high level of chloride ions may induce localized corrosion. However, higher solution temperatures tend to increase the corrosion rate by enhancing the migration of oxygen in the solution. This work focused on the effect of NaCl concentration and temperature on galvanic corrosion between A516Gr.55 carbon steel and AA7075T6 aluminum alloys. When AA7075T6 aluminum alloy was galvanically coupled to A516Gr.55 carbon steel, AA7075T6 was severely corroded regardless of NaCl concentration and solution temperature, unlike the corrosion properties of single specimen. The combined effect of surface treatment involving carbon steel and aluminum alloy on corrosion behavior was also discussed.

• The Journal of Asian Finance, Economics and Business
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• 제8권2호
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• pp.809-820
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• 2021

The study aimed to investigate the impact of sectoral bank credit facilities provided by commercial banks on the non-oil economic growth in Saudi Arabia. Bank credit facilities are given for nine economic sectors: agriculture, manufacturing, mining, electricity and water, health services, construction, wholesale and retail trade, transportation and communications, services, and finance sector. The study employs annual data from 1970 to 2019. The study employs the Autoregressive Distributed Lag (ARDL) approach to identify the long-run and short-run dynamics relationships among the variables. The main results reveal that the overall impact of total bank credit has a significant and positive effect on non-oil economic growth in KSA. The results revealed that the effect of bank credit on the non-oil GDP growth in the short and long run was uneven. The study finds that all sectors have a positive and significant impact in the long run, except for the agricultural and mining sectors. Likewise, all sectors have a positive and significant impact in the short run, except for construction, finance, services, and transportation & communications. As a result, bank credit facilities in different sectors have played an important role in enhancing the non-oil economic growth in the KSA.