• Journal of Korean Critical Care Nursing
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.12-24
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• 2024

Purpose : This study aimed to identify factors influencing the quality of life of family caregivers of intensive care unit (ICU) patients. Methods : We conducted a study using a cross-sectional design. The study involved 109 family caregivers of ICU patients at a university-affiliated hospital in Gyeonggi-do, South Korea. Data were collected through self-report questionnaires between July 2020 and April 2021 and analyzed using descriptive statistics, independent t-tests, one-way ANOVA, Pearson's correlation coefficients, and multiple regression analysis. Results : The study revealed significant differences in quality of life based on economic status (F=11.63, p<.001), cohabitation with patients (t=-2.04, p=.044), sleep duration after patient's admission to the ICU (t=-2.48, p =.025), and subjective health status (F=30.06, p<.001). There were significant negative correlations observed between quality of life and post-traumatic stress symptoms (r=-.38, p<.001) as well as caregiver burden (r=-.46, p<.001). Factors affecting quality of life were subjective health status, economic status, and caregiver burden (adj. R²=0.52, F=15.64, p<.001). Conclusion : These findings underscore the need to develop and implement intervention programs tailored to the health conditions and economic status of family caregivers, with a focus on alleviating caregiver burden. Such initiatives are essential to ultimately improve the quality of life for family caregivers of ICU patients.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.174-181
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• 2024

Background: Effective management of clinical assessment tools is critical in stroke and brain injury rehabilitation research. Managing rehabilitation outcome measures (ROMs) scores and training therapists in multicenter randomized clinical trials (RCTs) is challenging. Objects: The aim of this study was to develop a web-based platform, the Korean Rehabilitation Outcome Measurement (KoROM), to address these limitations and improve both therapist training and patient involvement in the rehabilitation process. Methods: The development of the KoROM spanned from June 2021 to July 2022, and included literature and web-based searches to identify relevant ROMs and design a user-friendly platform. Feedback from six physical therapy and informatics experts during pilot testing refined the platform. Results: Several clinical assessment tools categorized under the International Classification of Functioning, Disability, and Health (ICF) model are categorized in the KoROM. The therapist version includes patient management, assessment tool information, and data downloads, while the patient version provides a simplified interface for viewing scores and printing summaries. The master version provides full access to user information and clinical assessment scores. Therapists enter clinical assessment scores into the KoROM and learn ROMs through instructional videos and self-checklists as part of the therapist standardization process. Conclusion: The KoROM is a specialized online platform that improves the management of ROMs, facilitates therapist education, and promotes patient involvement in the rehabilitation process. The KoROM can be used not only in multi-site RCTs, but also in community rehabilitation exercise centers.

• Journal of the Korean Crystal Growth and Crystal Technology
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• v.34 no.4
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• pp.139-142
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• 2024

Along with the use of wide bandgap energy materials such as SiC and GaN in power semiconductors and the development trend of devices, many research results have been reported, including the success of research on AlN single crystals with higher energy gaps and the development of 2-inch single crystal wafers. However, AlN single crystals grown using chemical vapor deposition have been developed into thin films less than a few micrometers thick, but there are almost no results with thicknesses greater than that. Therefore, in this study, we attempted to grow by applying HVPE (Hydride vapor phase epitaxy), one of the chemical vapor deposition methods. The grown AlN single crystal was manufactured using self-designed equipment, and we attempted to establish the conditions for manufacturing AlN single crystals on sapphire wafer. We would like to characterize the growth behavior through an optical microscope observation.

• Korean Journal of Occupational Health Nursing
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• v.33 no.3
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• pp.83-94
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• 2024

Purpose: This study aimed to investigate the effects of rehabilitation hospital nurses' perception of patient safety culture, nursing professionalism, and nursing work environment on patient safety nursing activities. Methods: A cross-sectional design was used with a convenience sample of 230 nurses with more than six months of experience working in rehabilitation hospitals located in D Metropolitan City, South Korea. Data were collected from October 23 to 31, 2023 through a self-administered questionnaire and analyzed by descriptive statistics, independent t-test, one-way ANOVA with post-verification of Scheffé test, Pearson's correlation coefficient, and multiple stepwise regression analysis using SPSS 28.0. Results: The average scores were 3.73±0.35 for perception of patient safety culture, 3.54±0.47 for nursing professionalism, 2.67±0.49 for nursing work environment, and 4.68±0.45 for patient safety nursing activities. Patient safety nursing activities was significantly positively correlated with perception of patient safety culture, nursing professionalism, and nursing work environment. Experience of reporting incidents (β=.19, p=.002), communication and procedure (β=.18, p=.003), frequency of reporting (β=.18, p=.002), total clinical experience (β=.17, p=.004), patient safety (β=.17, p=.005), and direct supervisor/manager (β=.17, p=.008) affected patient safety nursing activities in rehabilitation hospitals. Conclusion: Perception of patient safety culture may increase rehabilitation hospital nurses' patient safety nursing activities.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.91 no.3
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• pp.315-324
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• 2024

An expansive soil in 4970 special railway line in Dangyang City, China, has encountered a series of landslides due to the expansion characteristics of expansive soil over the past 50 years. Thereafter, a sheet-pile retaining structure was adopted to fortify the expansive soil slope after a comprehensive discussion. In order to evaluate the efficacy of engineering measure of sheet-pile retaining structure, the field test was carried out to investigate the lateral pressure and pile bending moment subjected to construction and service conditions, and the local daily rainfall was also recorded. It took more than 500 days to carry out the field investigation, and the general change laws of lateral pressure and pile bending moment versus local daily rainfall were obtained. The results show that the effect of rainfall on the moisture content of backfill behind the wall decreases with depth. The performance of sheet-pile retaining structure is sensitive to the intensity of rainfall. The arching effect is reduced significantly by employing a series of sheet behind piles. The lateral pressure behind the sheet exhibits a single-peak distribution. The turning point of the horizontal swelling pressure distribution is correlated with the self-weight pressure distribution of soil and the variation of soil moisture content. The measured pile bending moment is approximately 44% of the ultimate pile capacity, which indicates that the sheet-pile retaining structure is in a stable service condition with enough safety reserve.

• The Journal of Korean Academic Society of Nursing Education
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.212-221
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• 2024

Purpose: This study aimed to identify the mediating effect of social phobia between social interaction anxiety and endemic blue among university students who experienced the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Methods: This study employed a descriptive correlational design. The participants were 196 university students from 10 universities located in four major regions across the Republic of Korea. Data were collected from July 12 to 31, 2022, through an online self-reported questionnaire and were then analyzed using an independent t-test, one-way ANOVA with Scheffé test, Pearson's correlation coefficient, and multiple regression. The mediating effect was analyzed using PROCESS macro model 4 with a bootstrapping method using IBM SPSS 27.0. Results: There were significant positive correlations among social interaction anxiety, social phobia, and endemic blue. Social interaction anxiety had significant effects on social phobia (β=0.77, p<.001) and social interaction anxiety (β=0.33, p<.001) and social phobia had a significant effect on endemic blue (β=0.29, p=.001). Concerning the influence of social interaction anxiety on endemic blue, a significant indirect mediating effect of social phobia was confirmed, and the size of the indirect effect was 0.14 (0.04~0.24). Conclusion: In order to manage the social and psychological health of university students who experienced the COVID-19 pandemic period, it is necessary to develop strategies to overcome endemic blue that reduce social interaction anxiety and take into account the mediating effect of social phobia.

• The Korean Journal of Franchise Management
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• v.15 no.3
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• pp.71-85
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• 2024

Purpose: This study aims to investigate the impact of product and service quality on customer surprise and delight, revisit intention, and SNS word-of-mouth (WOM) intention in the context of franchise restaurants in Korea, focusing on Chinese tourists' experiences. This analysis provides strategic insights into improving customer experiences and driving positive behavioral outcomes within the franchise foodservice sector. Research Design and Methodology: Data were collected from 395 Chinese tourists who visited Korean franchise restaurants using a self-administered questionnaire approach and analyzed with SmartPLS 4.0. Reliability, convergent and discriminant validity were assessed using measurement model. Hypotheses were tested using structural equation model. Results: This study verified that customer's service experience affects customer surprise and delight, which in turn is an important factor in increasing revisit intention and SNS WOM and supports the SOR framework that explains these relationships. In other words, this study presented a model that expands the traditional service quality → customer satisfaction → behavioral intention framework by including surprise and delight. The study also revealed that both product quality and service quality positively influence customer delight. Furthermore, customer surprise and delight significantly influence revisit intention and SNS WOM. The findings suggest that enhancing product and service quality can lead to higher levels of customer surprise and delight and greater likelihood of revisits and positive online feedback.

• Clean Technology
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.267-275
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• 2024

Lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) have attracted significant attention as potential energy storage solutions due to their high energy density, minimal self-discharge, extended cycle life, and absence of memory effects. However, conventional LIBs use graphite as the anode material and as a result struggle to meet the increasing demand for higher energy density because of the low theoretical capacity of graphite. In order to enhance Li storage capacity and address the current limitations of LIBs, this study designed and analyzed SnO₂ nanoflakes/CNF, which is an advanced anode material with a unique hierarchical structure synthesized via a facile method involving incipient wetness followed by annealing. The in-situ formed SnO₂ nanoflakes improve the electrolyte accessibility and shorten the ion and electron transport pathways, thereby enhancing the reaction kinetics. Additionally, the CNF matrix enhances the electrical conductivity, accelerates electron transport, and mitigates volume changes. The integrated SnO₂ nanoflakes/CNF cell demonstrated outstanding cycling performance and excellent rate capability, achieving a notable reversible capacity of 636 mAh g^-1 after 100 cycles at 0.1 C. This study provides valuable insights into the design of high-efficiency anode materials for the advancement of high-performance LIBs.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Tobacco Science
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.67-73
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• 2002

In light of addressing consumer health concern, coping with anti-tobacco movement, and promoting new product, tobacco industry is actively pursuing to make a new generation of cigarettes with low tar and nicotine deliveries, and less harmful substances. Low tar and low nicotine cigarettes increases their market shares dramatically world wide, especially in KT&G, multinational tobacco companies, EU countries, even in China regulated by CNTC to set up yearly target to lower tar and nicotine deliveries. On the other hand, to design a new cigarette with reduced harmful substances begins to gain speed. The "modified Hoffmann list" publishes thirty plus substances in tobacco leaf and main smoke stream, which is the prime suspect causing health problems. Various ways and means are developed to reduce such components including new tobacco breeds, new curing method, tobacco leaf treatment before processing, selected filtration system, innovated casing system to reduce free radicals, as well as some non conventional cigarette products. In TSRC held this year, the main topic is related to reduce tobacco specific nitrosamines in tobacco leaf. The new generation of cigarette is in the horizon. It still needs a lot help to produce commercial products with satisfied taste and aroma characters. The flavor industry is not regulated by many governments demanding which ingredients might or might not be for tobacco use. However, most of the cigarette companies self impose a list of ingredients to guide flavor suppliers to design flavors. Unfortunately, the number of ingredients in those lists is getting shorter every year. It is understandable that the health is not the only reason. Some cigarette companies are playing safe to protect the company from potential lawsuit, while others are just copying from their competitors. Moreover, it is obvious that it needs more assistance from casings and flavors to design new generation of cigarettes with missing certain flavor components in tobacco leaf and main smoke stream. These flavor components are either non-existed or at lower level at new form of cured tobacco leaf or filtered in the main smoke stream along with reduced harmful substances. The use of carbon filters and other selected filtration system poses another tough task for flavor system design. Specific flavor components are missing from the smoke analysis data, which brings a notion of "carbon taste" and "dryness" of mouth feel. It is ever more demanded by cigarette industry to flavor suppliers to produce flavors as body enhancer, tobacco notes, salivating agents, harshness reducer, and various of aromatic notes provided they are safe to use. Another trend is that water based flavor or flavor with reduced ethanol as solvent is gaining popularity. It is preferred by some cigarette companies that the flavor is compounded with all natural ingredients or all ingredients should he GMO free. The new generation of cigarettes demands many ways of new thinking process. It is also vital for tobacco industry. It reflects the real needs for the consumers that the cigarette product should be safe to use as well as bearing the taste and aroma characters smokers always enjoyed. An effective tobacco flavor system is definitely a part of the equation. The global trend of tobacco industry is like trends of any other industries lead by consumer needs, benefited with new technology availability, affected by the global economy, and subjected for various rules and regulations. Anti-tobacco organizations and media exceptionally scrutinize cigarette, as a legal commercial product. Cigarette is probably the most studied commercial product for its composition, structure, deliveries, effects, as well as its new developmental trend. Therefore, any new trend of cigarette development would be within these boundaries. This paper is trying to point out what it would be like for tobacco industry in the next few yews and what concerns the tobacco industry. It focuses mostly on the efforts to produce safer cigarettes. It is such a vital task for the tobacco industry and its affiliate industries such as cigarette papers, filters, flavors, and other materials. The facts and knowledge presented in this paper might be well known for the public. Some of the comments and predictions are very much personal opinion for a further discussion.

• Journal of The Korean Association For Science Education
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• v.32 no.1
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• pp.129-145
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• 2012

This study investigated factors of creativity and interaction between factors that are revealed when gifted students designed scientific experiments. For this, we firstly developed items which required the written process of designing experiments to explore creativity factors. Then, we used these items as a part for letters of self-introduction to students who applied for 2011 correspondence education of general physics for the Korea Physics Olympiad. 513th letters of self-introduction which were analyzed to investigate factors of creativity in view of creativity definition after researchers' consultation, which specifically means a combination of divergent and convergent thinking. The results were as follows; (1) in the step of hypothesis building, we could not only find Originality and the Flexibility & Fluency, which were factors of divergent thinking, but also Coherency and Elaborateness, which were factors of convergent thinking. (2) in the step of the hypothesis testing, we could explore Originality, Flexibility & Fluency in divergent thinking and Coherency, Reliability, Clarity, Elaborateness in convergent thinking. (3) we also figured out three creativity types of gifted students from the viewpoint that creativity is a consequence of interaction between divergent thinking and convergent thinking; a) Type A showed divergent and convergent factors of creativity in the step of hypothesis building. However, type A did not include divergent factors of creativity on the process of the hypothesis testing. b) Type B had divergent and convergent factors of creativity on the process of the hypothesis testing, but it had not convergent factors of creativity on the step of hypothesis building. c) Finally, in Type C, only divergent factors of creativity appeared on the process of the hypothesis testing, but convergent factors of creativity could be found on the step of hypothesis building and hypothesis testing.