• Safety and Health at Work
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• v.3 no.1
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• pp.31-42
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• 2012

Objectives: The objectives of this study were to determine the psychological fatigue and analyze muscle activity of production workers who are performing processes jobs while standing for prolonged time periods. Methods: The psychological fatigue experienced by the workers was obtained through questionnaire surveys. Meanwhile, muscle activity has been analyzed using surface electromyography (sEMG) measurement. Lower extremities muscles include: erector spinae, tibialis anterior, and gastrocnemius were concurrently measured for more than five hours of standing. Twenty male production workers in a metal stamping company participated as subjects in this study. The subjects were required to undergo questionnaire surveys and sEMG measurement. Results: Results of the questionnaire surveys found that all subjects experienced psychological fatigue due to prolonged standing jobs. Similarly, muscle fatigue has been identified through sEMG measurement. Based on the non-parametric statistical test using the Spearman's rank order correlation, the left erector spinae obtained a moderate positive correlation and statistically significant ($r_s$ = 0.552, p < 0.05) between the results of questionnaire surveys and sEMG measurement. Conclusion: Based on this study, the authors concluded that prolonged standing was contributed to psychological fatigue and to muscle fatigue among the production workers.

• The Journal of Asian Finance, Economics and Business
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• v.7 no.12
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• pp.895-907
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• 2020

Information transparency ensures that market players all have the opportunity to access the same information to come up with their assessment of the banks' financial situation, performance and risks to reach effective investment decisions. This research is conducted to investigate the levels of impact of determinants on information transparency by examining the case studies of Vietnamese commercial banks. This study combines both qualitative and quantitative research methods, based on interviews of 32 specialists in banking, accounting and auditing fields, which were conducted to explore determinants influencing information transparency and to develop measurement scales. Then, a survey of 160 managers of commercial banks, audit firms, and accounting managers of firms who frequently had transactions with banks was carried out to investigate the statistical significance of these determinants. The results show that, out of seven determinants that have significant impacts on the banks' information transparency, commitment from banks' senior management regarding transparency in information disclosure has the highest impact, followed by state governance, auditing, information infrastructure, credit rating agencies, personnel and bank performance. Accordingly, we provide some recommendations for improving information transparency in the Vietnamese banking industry context as a case study and in emerging countries context in general.

• Computers and Concrete
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• v.25 no.6
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• pp.565-574
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• 2020

Over the years, several machine learning approaches have been proposed and utilized to create a prediction model for the high-performance concrete (HPC) slump flow. Despite HPC is a highly complex material, predicting its pattern is a rather ambitious process. Hence, choosing and applying the correct method remain a crucial task. Like some other problems, prediction of HPC slump flow suffers from abnormal attributes which might both have an influence on prediction accuracy and increases variance. In recent years, different studies are proposed to optimize the prediction accuracy for HPC slump flow. However, more state-of-the-art regression algorithms can be implemented to create a better model. This study focuses on several methods with different mathematical backgrounds to get the best possible results. Four well-known algorithms Support Vector Regression, M5P Trees, Random Forest, and MLPReg are implemented with optimum parameters as base learners. Also, redundant features are examined to better understand both how ingredients influence on prediction models and whether possible to achieve acceptable results with a few components. Based on the findings, the MLPReg algorithm with optimum parameters gives better results than others in terms of commonly used statistical error evaluation metrics. Besides, chosen algorithms can give rather accurate results using just a few attributes of a slump flow dataset.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Industry Convergence
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• v.23 no.5
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• pp.747-756
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• 2020

In recent years, measurement in a smart-phone environment is attracting attention in various fields due to its easy set-up process, various functions, convenience and expandability. Even in the field of safety evaluation and maintenance of large-scale infra-structures, the appropriate application of these effective and convenient measurement techniques can be of great help. In this paper, an experimental study was conducted to investigate the effectiveness, problems and complementary methods of applying smart-phone accelerometers to the measurement in infra-structure such as bridges. In model bridge subjected to impact and moving loads, the measured accelerations using a smart-phone and a professional accelerometer were directly compared in time domain. And the statistical and frequency characteristics of the measured signal and transfer function were also examined in frequency domain. The results show that the accuracy of measurement using smart-phone sensor is primarily affected by its incomplete sampling performance. In conclusion, smart-phone sensors cannot be considered suitable for precise assessment, where measurements must be accurate over a wide frequency range, but we can say that the technique is still useful and fairly accurate for some purpose over a limited frequency range, such as the low pass frequency range, which is a major concern for civil structures.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
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• v.33 no.2
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• pp.275-283
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• 2003

Purpose: This study was to classify elderly in long-term care hospitals for using Resource Utilization Group(RUG-III) and to consider feasibility of payment method based on RUG-III classification system in Korea. Method: This study designed by measuring resident characteristics using the Resident Assessment Instrument-Minimum Data Set(RAI-MDS) and staff time. The data were collected from 382 elderly over sixty-year old, inpatient in the five long-term care hospitals. Staff time was converted into standard time based on the average wage of nurse and aids. Result: The subjects were classified into 4 groups. The group of Clinically Complex was the largest(46.3%), Reduced Physical Function(27.2%), Behavior Problem(17.0%), and Impaired Cognition(9.4%). The average resource use for one resident in terms of care time(nurses, aids) was 183.7 minutes a day. Relative resource use was expressed as a case mix index(CMI) calculated as a proportion of mean resource use. The CMI of Clinically Complex group was the largest(1.10), and then Reduced Physical Function(0.93), Behavior Problem(0.93), and Impaired Cognition(0.83) followed. The difference of the resource use showed statistical significance between major groups(p<0.0001). Conclusion: The results of this study showed that the RUG-III classification system differentiates resources provided to elderly in long-term care hospitals in Korea.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
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• v.41 no.3
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• pp.423-431
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• 2011

Purpose: The study was designed to determine the discriminating ability of a Bayesian network (BN) for predicting risk for pressure ulcers. Methods: Analysis was done using a retrospective cohort, nursing records representing 21,114 hospital days, 3,348 patients at risk for ulcers, admitted to the intensive care unit of a tertiary teaching hospital between January 2004 and January 2007. A BN model and two logistic regression (LR) versions, model-I and .II, were compared, varying the nature, number and quality of input variables. Classification competence and case coverage of the models were tested and compared using a threefold cross validation method. Results: Average incidence of ulcers was 6.12%. Of the two LR models, model-I demonstrated better indexes of statistical model fits. The BN model had a sensitivity of 81.95%, specificity of 75.63%, positive and negative predictive values of 35.62% and 96.22% respectively. The area under the receiver operating characteristic (AUROC) was 85.01% implying moderate to good overall performance, which was similar to LR model-I. However, regarding case coverage, the BN model was 100% compared to 15.88% of LR. Conclusion: Discriminating ability of the BN model was found to be acceptable and case coverage proved to be excellent for clinical use.

• Korean Journal of Agricultural Science
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• v.43 no.4
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• pp.507-521
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• 2016

Landslides are one of the most common natural hazards causing significant damage and casualties every year. In Korea, the increasing trend in landslide occurrence in recent decades, caused by climate change, has set off an alarm for researchers to find more reliable methods for landslide prediction. Therefore, an accurate landslide-susceptibility assessment is fundamental for preventing landslides and minimizing damages. However, analyzing the stability of a natural slope is not an easy task because it depends on numerous factors such as those related to vegetation, soil properties, soil moisture distribution, the amount and duration of rainfall, earthquakes, etc. A variety of different methods and techniques for evaluating landslide susceptibility have been proposed, but up to now no specific method or technique has been accepted as the standard method because it is very difficult to assess different methods with entirely different intrinsic and extrinsic data. Landslide prediction methods can fall into three categories: empirical, statistical, and physical approaches. This paper reviews previous research and surveys three groups of landslide prediction methods.

• Korean Journal of Adult Nursing
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.401-412
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• 2007

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to determine the relationship between assessed pain, functional status, and emotional status in elderly women with dementia. Methods: The method was a descriptive correlational design. Subjects were sampled from 75 elderly women with dementia who were resident in nursing home. and their pain, functional status(physical function, cognitive function), emotional status(depression, agitation) were measured. The collected data were analyzed for correlations between pain and functional status and for emotional status using the SPSS 11.0 statistical program. Results: The pain degree of the aged women in dementia were as follows; between 0 and 27 points, average 4.04 points, which was a possible point extent. Looking at the grades in detail items, the wry face expression was shown highest, an average of 0.84 points. The relation with cognitive function was(r=-.259, p<.025) a minus relation. And the relation with physical function was (r=.406, p<.001) a plus one. The relation with depression was (r=.462, p<.001), plus one. And (r=.592, p<.001) a plus relation was found with agitation. Conclusion: Pain is associated with impaired functional and emotional status. Major efforts are needed to improve nursing assessment and management of pain in this cognitive impaired population.

• Journal of Agricultural Extension & Community Development
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.15-24
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• 1999

There have always been dilemmas between development and environmental conservation throughout the world. Gradually environmental contamination threatens sustainable development and conservation. we try to study on the sustainable development with environmental conservation. One of the instruments to get this goal is Environmental Impact Statement. Environmental Impact Statement has now become a standard tool of decision making in Environmentally Sound and Sustainable Development. The objectives of this study is to explore and suggest some suggestions for improvements of EIA. 1. Identify all criteria and standards that apply to physical and social environmental components and dynamics. 2. Giving attention to the purpose of the criterion and standard, with respect to resource use and quality. 3. Demonstrate the relevance legal, technical, and scientific authority by early planning through construction, operation and maintenance phases. 4. Implement rationales and protocols for the documentation of standard analytical methods, location of sampling points and statistical analysis of data. 5. Establish precise protocols by predictions of environmental impact relevant for established criteria and standards. Reviewing these protocols with relevant legal authorities prior to their implementation is important.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Safety
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• v.32 no.1
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• pp.27-32
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• 2017

The experimental design methodology was applied in the real scale coal-fired boiler to predict the various combustion properties according to the operating conditions and to assess the coal plant safety. Response surface method (RSM) was introduced as a design of experiment, and the database for RSM was provided with the numerical simulation of the coal-fired boiler. The three independent variables, high heating value of coal (HHV), overall stoichiometry excess air ratio (OST), and burner-side stoichiometry excess air ratio (BST), were set to characterize the cross section averaged NOx concentration and temperature distribution. The maximum NOx concentration was predicted accurately and mainly controlled by BST in the boiler. The parabola function was assumed for the zone averaged peak temperature distribution, and the prediction was in a fairly good agreement with the experiments except downstream. Also, the location of the peak temperature was compared with that of maximum NOx, which implies that thermal NOx formation is the main mechanism in the coal-fired boiler. These results promise the wide use of statistical models for the fast prediction and safety assessment.