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A Need Assessment on Establishment of Oriental Health Promotion Center (한방건강증진센터 설립에 대한 인식 및 요구조사)

  • Lee, Hyang-Yeon;Kim, Kwuy-Bun;Cho, Kyoul-Ja;Shin, Hye-Sook;Kim, Kwang-Joo;Moon, Heui-Ja;Park, Shin-Ae;Kim, Yoon-Hee;Kang, Hyun-Sook
    • Journal of East-West Nursing Research
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    • v.5 no.1
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    • pp.90-101
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    • 2000
  • The study attempts to examine the degree of cognition and demand on health promotion center of oriental nursing. It puts unique nursing intervention using traditional health promotion connected with oriental medicine to practical use for residents' health promotion and prevention of disease. With the study design of cross-sectional descriptive study, 516 residents who live in 26 Dongs, Dongdaemoon-gu were selected. The tool of study consists of 30 questions which the study team made for the degree of cognition and demand on health promotion center of oriental nursing. Cronbach's $\alpha$ in the degree of cognition was .8028. Collection of research data had been done from October 1 to October 30, 1999 with help of Dongdaemoon-gu office after pretest from 20 residents. Collected data were analyzed into the number and percentage in the characteristic of a subject and connected with demand on the establishment of center, the mean and the standard deviation in the degree of cognition and F-tests in the difference of the degree of cognition by characteristics. The results were as follow; 1) The characteristic of subject of this study was male 50.6%, and average age was 38.5 years old and 30-39 years old occupied the highest percentage with 31.6%. The married were 71.8%, over high school graduates was 85.6%, monthly income from 500 thousand won to 2 million won was 86.1%. 50.8% was the type living with parents, children and sibling. 2) When they were sick, the institution which residents used at first was a pharmacy(69.2%) and hospital(27.5%), but oriental medicine hospital was just 1.4%. As for subjective health condition, 82.5% answered over average, and 28.7% answered that they had chronic illness such as arthritis, chronic digestion problem, hypertension and so on. As for information collection on health, mass communication(34.9%) and medically concerned people(28.1%) occupied relatively high rate. Free health diagnosis system(36.8%) and establishment of health promotion center(31.5%) among welfare programs that residents want to enjoy were high ranked. The rate using a special institution for health was 17.8%, and among these institutions, the rate using aerobic exercises, health center(7.0%) and steamed room(5.4%) was high. Besides, other institutions such as breathing at the abdomen, finger-pressure therapy, meridian massage, foot massage, and so on were being used. 3) As the average of the degree of cognition on health promotion center of oriental medicine was 2.92, the degree of cognition was medium. The description, "health promotion center of oriental medicine is necessary for health keeping of healthy people, including people who have a problem in health" showed the highest degree of cognition(3.04, ${\pm}0.64$). 4) As for the intention on using health promotion center of oriental nursing, 61.4% said "yes", "no" was just 1.4%. The services that people relatively high wanted to be served from the center were measures reducing stress(68.0%) (relaxation therapy, meditation, breathing at the abdomen and so on), acupuncture(66.5%), finger-pressure(61.6%), moxibustion(57.6%), meridian massage(44.2%), postpartum care(40.3%) and so on. 5) As for the degree of cognition on the establishment of health promotion center of oriental nursing by characteristics of subject, there was significant difference(F=4.03, p=.046) between male(3.01) and female(2.91). But there was no significant difference by age, marital status, level of educational achievement and monthly income. As the above result, cognition on the establishment of health promotion center of oriental nursing was relatively low because people were not familiar with about the health promotion center of oriental nursing yet. However once the center will be established, the degree of demand on the center will be relatively high. So positive advertisement will be necessary, and the management of useful programs will be also required in order to make people recognize the advantage when they actually will use the center. On the other hand, as the subject of the study consists of many young people of below 30, the health problem came to be low. And in the case of sampling, the study using random sampling that can represent population will be required.

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A Study on Gradual Attitudes Change College of Nursing Students (간호대학생의 학년별 태도 변화에 관한 연구)

  • 한정석
    • Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
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    • v.3 no.2
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    • pp.121-132
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    • 1973
  • Introduction : Nursing as a profession is gelling wide acceptance today, especially among independent -minded women with necessary physical, mental and academic qualifications. This is particularly true of "comprehensive nursing", which requires to total dedication on the part if the nurse herself-physical, mental and sociocultural. Such comprehensive approach is like-wise called for in the institutional training of professional nurses. Undergraduate nursing courses nowadays place an increasing emphasis on the microscopic approach of training a nurse as an intelligent and well-balanced human being with an optimum degree of cultural sophistication. Greater attention then ever before is now paid to close observation of the individual traits and aptitude of nursing students, so as to permit full development of individual capabilities, interests and propensities within the concept of "comprehensive human education. " Purpose of study 1. To determine the degree of understanding of the part of nursing students of the various aspects of the subject taught in undergraduate nursing course. 2. To determine the motivation of nursing students in choosing the profession and possible subsequent change or attitude and outlook in the course of under graduated studies, as a means of presenting a new practical approach in nursing training based on the concept of "comprehensive human education. " Problems of study 1. The environments of nursing training will impinge on individual nursing students with different psychological impacts from lower to upper classes of under graduated studies. 2. Educational environments will have varying psychological impacts on students: a. Difference in religious faith among students. b. Difference in campus environments. c. Difference in domestic (family) circumstances. d. Difference in innate capabilities of students, 3. The understanding and attitude of individual nursing students towards the science of nursing will Have a close correlation with their respective motivations in choosing-nursing as a profession, and will also be closely influenced by the peculiarities of the subject taught, tile campus environments, etc, Delimitations of the study 1. Two universities offering 4-year nursing courses were selected. Due to the limited number of potential subjects, the optimum conditions of sample collection could not be fulfilled. 2. Subjects were confined to two classes in each university (sophomores and seniors) but without regard to the ages or scholastic achievements of individual students. 3. The conclusions derived from this study should be limited in application to the subject groups covered by the present study: they should not in any event be extended or applied to other groups. Procedures 1. Subjects: 40 nursing students each from the sophomore and senior classes of the "Y" and "K" universities situated in Seoul, aggregating 160 students altogether. 2. Instruments: Use has been made of questionnaires on (1) family backgrounds and (2) general information concerning. 3. Statistical Method: The findings of the present survey have been subjected to critical analysis as to the means, percentages, Cgi squares (X), standard deviations and the significance of the difference in means. Findings 1. Nursing students have chosen their subject of study with a confident outlook towards their future in society. 2. Horsing students have the necessary abilities to complete the prescribed courses of study. 3. The campus life of nursing students has been judged as very constructive, not with-standing certain in adequacies in the available educational facilities and the shortages of teaching staff. 4. The achievement levels of nursing trainees varied greatly according to their respective educational environments as well as their school years. 5. Clear and definite distinctions were discernible between the two universities as regards certain aspects of this survey, while no signifiant difference was observed in other: a. Sophomores and seniors in both universities gave nearly identical answers to questions concerning (1) motivation in choosing nursing as a profession, and (2) the way of spending leisure hours. b. Both universities revealed similar respective differences between sophomores and seniors as regards the abilities of fulfilling academic requirements ill the basic subjects. c. Educational environments have been found to be somewhat superior in the "Y"university to those of the "K" university, particularly as regard general campus and dormitory conditions. d. The high degree of dissatisfaction with the faculty, found in both universities, was considered to be a consequence of the universal phenomenon of "brain drain" and the relative neglect of the "comprehensive approach"in education.

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A Comparative Study on Attitude of the Collegiate an4 Non-Collegiate Nursing Students toward Their Clinical Affiliation in a Mental Hospital (정신과 간호 실습에 대한 간호 대학생과 간호학교 학생들의 태도 비교 연구)

  • 김소야자
    • Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
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    • v.4 no.2
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    • pp.17-31
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    • 1974
  • Today, over seventy five percent of nursing in Korea provide a psychiatric experience in the basic curriculum. The psychiatric affiliation presents numerous major problems of adjustment to the student. The Importance of positive attitude toward the nursing care of psychiatric patients is recognized by the nursing profession. I have fined out the unfavorable attitude of non collegiate nursing students toward psychiatric nursing affiliation by previous research. This study was undertaken in response to a felt need to explore the use of several devices which might yield information about attitudes toward psychiatric nursing as a basis for future planning of the program offered at a selected hospital. This study is designed to meet the following objectives; (1) In order to find out the expressed attitudes of fifty·three collegiate nursing students toward their psychiatric affiliation. (2) To compare responses given by selected group of collegiate and non collegiate nursing students to same questionnaire (3) To determine the relationship between the attitudes of nursing students toward psychiatric nursing and the type of instructions where experience was obtained. A questionnaire, a Korean translation of the "Psychiatric Nursing Attitude Questionnaire" by Moldered Elizabeth fletcher, was administered to fifty-three collegiate nursing students who had completed a four-week psychiatric affiliation in a S hospital psychiatric ward during May 7, 1973 to Dec. 16, 1973. - The questionnaire of 100 statements was administered in the following way; (1) Part Ⅰ, Preconceptions, was, given in individual conferences with each subject, during the first few days of their affiliation, and again during the final week of affiliation. The responses to Part I were oral. (2) Part Ⅱ, Expectations, Part Ⅲ, Personal Relations, Part Ⅳ, Personal Feelings, and Part V, Attitudes and Activities of Patients were given to all of the subjects in a group meeting during the second week of the affiliation, and again, during the fourth week at the termination of the affiliation. Responses to Parts Ⅱ, Ⅲ, Ⅳ·, and V, were written. Each of the 100 statements of the questionnaire was considered to be either Positive or Negative. A favorable response was assigned the positive value of 1 and an unfavorable response was assigned the Negative value of O. The coefficient of correlation was computed between the two sets of scores for the fifty-three nursing students, The mean score, the standard deviation, and the differences in the means on each of the five parts of the questionnaire were computed and the relationships calculated by at-test. The results of the study were as follows; 1. There was no significant correlation between the two sets of the scores for the fifty-three nursing students during the four-week psychiatric affiliation. (r= 0.36) 2. There was no significant difference in the mean scores between the first and final tests for any of the questionnaire. 3. The Part Ⅰ, Preconceptions, data indicated collegiate nursing students have positive attitudes in preconceptions than non collegiate nursing students and preconceptions toward the psychiatric affiliation which affect their psychiatric nursing experience. 4. The Part Ⅱ, Expectations, data indicated more appropriate expectations of collegiate nursing students related to pre psychiatric affiliation orientation and sufficient theory learning than non-collegiate nursing students. 5. The Part Ⅲ, Personal relations, data indicated some students have negative attitudes in personal relations with normal people in respect to psychological security and social responsibilities. 6. The Part Ⅳ, Personal feelings, data indicated nursing students have psychological insecurity & inappropriateness. 7. The Part V, Attitudes and activities of patients, data indicated collegiate nursing students have more positive attitudes to the psychotic behavior of certain situations due to sufficient theory learning. 8. The data indicated collegiate·nursing students have more positive attitude than non-collegiate nursing students. 5. The Part Ⅲ, Personal relations, data indicated some students have negative attitudes in personal relations with normal people in respect to psychological security and social responsibilities. 6. The Part Ⅳ, Personal feelings, data indicated nursing students have psychological insecurity & inappropriateness. 7. The Part V, Attitudes and activities of patients, data indicated collegiate nursing students have more positive attitudes to the psychotic behavior of certain situations due to sufficient theory learning. 8. The data indicated collegiate·nursing students have more positive attitude than non-collegiate nursing students through psychiatric affiliation.

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An Analysis of the Determinants of Employment and Wage of New College Graduates (신규대졸자의 취업 및 임금수준 결정요인 분석)

  • Chai, Goo-Mook
    • Korean Journal of Social Welfare
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    • v.59 no.4
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    • pp.35-61
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    • 2007
  • This study examines the determinants of employment and wage of new college graduates by using Youth Panel Data(2003-2005) of the Work Information Center, and seeks assignments for mitigating unemployment and wage disparities of new college graduates. Results are summarized as follows. First, an analysis of the determinants of employment shows that the Kyunggi Inchon district in school locations, higher school records, and qualification certificates positively affect the employment rate, while the private college group in the non-capital area negatively affects the employment rate. Second, an analysis of determinants of standard employment demonstrates that the Kyunggi Inchon district in school locations, higher school records, qualification certificates, and the major group of medical science, pharmacy, nursing science and health science, and the major group of education positively affect the employment rate, while the private college group in the non-capital area, the junior college groups in the capital and non-capital areas negatively affect the employment rate. Third, an analysis of determinants of nonstandard employment shows that the junior college graduation in scholarly attainments, the junior college groups in the capital and non-capital areas positively affect the employment rate, while the private college group in the non-capital area negatively affects the employment rate. Fourth, an analysis of the determinants of wages demonstrates that male in sex, the older in ages, the major group of medical science, pharmacy, nursing science and health science, and the major group of education positively affect the wages, while nonstandard employment, Kyunggi Inchon and Cholla districts in school locations negatively affect the wages. These results suggest several implications. First, college education should be reformed to cultivate professional manpower who are required by industries. Second, alternative measures to mitigate sex discrimination in labor markets should be prepared. Third, the process of attaining qualification certificates should be reformed in order that it is actually connected to the abilities of work performances and the improvement of productivity. Fourth, a locally balanced development must be realized through the decentralization of industries. Fifth a systematic and comprehensive program need to be prepared to promote the employment of new college graduates.

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Bladder Volume Variations in Patients Receiving Conformal Radiotherapy to Prostate (전립선암 환자의 방사선 치료 시 방광 체적 변화)

  • Lee, Re-Na;Lee, Ji-Hye;Lee, Kyung-Ja;Ji, Young-Hoon
    • Journal of Radiation Protection and Research
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    • v.33 no.2
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    • pp.61-65
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    • 2008
  • Objective: To reduce urinary side effects in prostate cancer patients receiving radiation, patients were asked to drink certain amount of water to maintain bladder volume constant and the bladder volumes were measured weekly using ultrasound scanner. Materials and Methods: Twenty-six patients with prostate cancer who received radiation between December 2002 and August 2007 were enrolled in this study. Thirteen patients were enrolled in experimental group. These patients were asked to drink 450 cc of water, one hour prior to simulation, CT scan, and treatment. The other thirteen patients were given no information about bladder filing. Bladder, prostate, and rectum were contoured on CT and volumes were calculated. 3D conformal treatment planning was performed and effective volumes of bladder were calculated when a prescription dose of 70.2 Gy was delivered. For the patients in experimental group, bladder volumes were measured weekly using ultrasound scanner for 6-8 weeks and the bladder volume variations were analyzed. Results: Average bladder volumes and standard deviations obtained at CT scanning were $283.5{\pm}114.0\;cc$ (40%) and $181.2{\pm}120.1\;cc$ (66%) in experimental and control groups, respectively. Although it was not statistically significant, there was correlation between the bladder volumes measured from CT and ultrasound. The volumes measured using ultrasound scanner were 62% lower than the volumes using CT images on average. There was significant variations in volumes measured weekly for 6-8 weeks. It ranged between 33 - 75 %. Conclusion: Our results showed that it is possible to obtain larger bladder volume if they are asked to drink certain amount of water prior to CT scan. However, patients were unable to maintain constant bladder volumes over the 6-8 weeks of treatment period although they were asked to drink constant amount of water.

A Study on Food Involvement and Dietary Behavior of Middle School Students in Naju Area (나주지역 중학생의 식생활 관여도와 식행동 연구)

  • Yoo, Sun-Jeong;Jung, Lan-Hee
    • Journal of Korean Home Economics Education Association
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    • v.20 no.1
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    • pp.63-83
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    • 2008
  • The purpose of this study was to investigate food involvement, dietary behavior and relationship according to the levels of nutrition knowledge. Data in this research was obtained by using the questionnaire which was given out to 528 subjects(boys 182, girls 346) in Naju city area. The awareness of dietary behavior of middle school students put the first priority on breakfast from among 3 meals a day, and they selected 'taste' as the most important criterion. The majority and above of subjects responded that they had ever delivered food at least more than 1 or 2 times a week. This research found that middle school students are tends to regard themselves as being rather close to obesity or fatness. Subjects were also aware that they have some problems with a unbalanced eating habbit and irregular timing of having meals, and more than 40% of the subjects responded that they obtain the most of information about food & dietary behavior through television. Significant difference was found in the food involvement with related variables such as sex, grade, the academic background of mother, self-perception of weight, the way of weight control, perception of problems requiring improvement. Dietary behavior related with variables showed significant difference. Variables are grade, perception of meal importance, selecting standard of food, method of weight control, improvement of eating habits. Dietary behavior is found highly relative with food involvement. Dietary behavior is found highly relative with food involvement. In conclusion, suggestions that could bring motivation to improvement is more essential to the nutrition education rather than knowledge oriented education.

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Middle School Home Economics Teachers' Perception and Needs of Self Supervision Related to Home Economics Subject Matter (중학교 가정과교사의 가정교과관련 자기장학에 대한 인식과 자기장학 활성화를 위한 요구)

  • Nam, Yun-Jin;Chae, Jung-Hyun
    • Journal of Korean Home Economics Education Association
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    • v.20 no.1
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    • pp.45-62
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    • 2008
  • The purpose of this study was to investigate middle school home economics(HE) teachers' perception and needs on self supervision related to HE subject matter, Using the methods of survey and interview, 177 samples were collected. For collected surveys, mean value, standard deviation, frequency, percentage analysis were performed by using an SPSS/Win (ver10.1) program. The results of this study were as follows. First, the middle school HE teachers recognized that self supervision related to HE subject matter was absolutely needed to expand the improvement of techniques for teaching instructions and the width of knowledge on the studies on textbook. Second, the middle school HE teachers recognized the necessary parts of self supervision related to HE subject matter as HE teaching-learning methods, the studies on textbook contents, and HE education philosophy in order. Third, the middle school HE teachers recognized that it would be helpful in improving their HE class and expertise in order of field survey, participation in various training programs, utilization of mass media, participation in societies for researches and meetings and information sharing with co-teachers among the types of self supervision. Fourth, the middle school HE teachers needed the reduction in miscellaneous duties, less pressure for time, restoration of teachers' desire, support of physical resources (improvement of various environments such as classrooms and special rooms), economic support and various support programs (expanding the opportunities to participate in training and society and establishment of a database for relevant materials, etc.) to facilitate self supervision. As such, the middle school HE teachers' overall recognition on HE-related self supervision became significantly higher. To enhance the HE-related expertise, however, it would be necessary to conduct concrete and active support for HE education, philosophical area and the studies on textbook contents as well as the teaching-learning methods for HE in which teachers' demand was high. In addition, the HE teachers wanted to have an easy and quick access to various HE-related data; therefore, it would be urgent to summarize scattered relevant data and support the HE teachers more systematically.

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Framework on Soil Quality Indicator Selection and Assessment for the Sustainable Soil Management (지속가능한 토양환경 관리를 위한 토양질 지표의 선정과 평가체계)

  • Ok, Yong-Sik;Yang, Jae-E.;Park, Yong-Ha;Jung, Yeong-Sang;Yoo, Kyung-Yoal;Park, Chol-Soo
    • Journal of Environmental Policy
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    • v.4 no.1
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    • pp.93-111
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    • 2005
  • Defining soil quality in scopes and applications is one of the prerequisite for the sustainable management of soil environment to orient researches, strategies and policies. However, definition of soil quality is controversial depending upon a viewpoint of soil science or soil environment. Soil quality can be, irrespective of the disciplines, defined as the capacity of a soil to function within ecosystem boundaries to sustain biological productivity, maintain environmental quality and promote plant and animal health. Common to all of the soil quality concepts can be summarized as the capacity of soil to function effectively at present and in the future. The OECD includes soil quality as one of the agri-environment indicators. This article intends to i) summarize the current soil quality research, and ii) provide information on protocol of soil quality assessment. A framework for soil quality was divided into three steps: indicator selection as minimum data set (MDS), scoring of the selected indicators, and integration of scores into soil quality index. Korean government suggested possible physical and chemical indicators such as bulk density and organic matter for paddy and upland soils to OECD. The framework of soil quality assessment is not yet implemented in Korea. Countries such as USA, Canada and New Zealand have constructed the framework on soil quality assessment and developed a user-friendly version of soil quality assessment tools to evaluate the integrated effects of various soil management practices. The protocol provided in this review might help policymakers, scientists, and administrators improve awareness about soil quality and understand the way of soil environment management.

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Physico.chemical Properties of Peatmoss and Coir Dust Currently Used as Root Medium Components for Crop Production in Korean Plant Factories (국내에서 식물공장용 배지 재료로 유통되는 피트모스와 코이어 더스트의 물리.화학적 특성)

  • Shin, Bo Kyoung;Son, Jung Eek;Choi, Jong Myung
    • Journal of Bio-Environment Control
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    • v.21 no.4
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    • pp.362-371
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    • 2012
  • Objective of this research was to secure the information on physical and chemical properties of peatmoss and coir dust. To achieve this, 6 kinds of peatmoss and 10 kinds of coir dust currently used in the country as the root medium components in plant factories were collected and analysed. The mean ${\pm}$ standard deviation (SD) of total porosity and container capacity in peatmoss and coir dust were $79.6{\pm}5.04$ and $83.6{\pm}6.18%$, and $69.9{\pm}10.17$ and $65.9{\pm}3.46%$, respectively. These indicate that peatmoss has higher water holding capacity than coir dust and the characteristics are highly varied among peatmoss. The 4 out of 5 kinds of peatmoss had lower than 10%, but coir dust had 12~26%, of air-filled porosity. The percentage of easily available water and buffering water in peatmoss and coir dust was 18~22 and 11~16% and 9~13 and 5.5~7.5%, respectively. These results indicate that precise irrigation is required when coir dust is used as the root medium. The ranges of pH and electrical conductivity (EC) were 3.46~4.17 and $0.137{\sim}0.253dS{\cdot}m^{-1}$ in peatmoss and 5.31~6.48 and $0.250{\sim}0.1.580dS{\cdot}m^{-1}$ in coir dust. However, $0.563{\pm}0.83dS{\cdot}m^{-1}$ in mean ${\pm}$SD of coir dust EC indicates that it is higher than that of peatmoss, and the coir dust are highly varied in EC. The cation exchange capacity of peatmoss was 3 to 4 times as high as that of coir dust. The coir dust had higher $NO_3$ and $PO_4$ and lower $NH_4$ than peatmoss. The K and Na concentrations in coir dust were extremely high indicating that these ions caused the rising in EC. The percentage of hot water and alkali extracts of peatmoss were 6.67~16.37 and 0~38%, whereas those of coir dust were 30.0~65.1 and 23.1~70.3%. These results mean that possible existence of growth inhibiting materials in coir dust.

COLOR DIFFERENCES BETWEEN RESIN COMPOSITES BEFORE- AND AFTER-POLYMERIZATION, AND SHADE GUIDES (복합레진의 광중합 전·후와 shade guide의 색차 비교)

  • Chon, Yi-Ju;Cho, Sung-Shik;Um, Chung-Moon
    • Restorative Dentistry and Endodontics
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    • v.24 no.2
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    • pp.299-309
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    • 1999
  • The composite resin, due to its esthetic qualities, is considered the material of choice for restoration of anterior teeth. With respect to shade control, the direct-placement resin composites offer some distinct advantages over indirect restorative procedures. Visible-light-cured (VLC) composites allow dentists to match existing tooth shades or to create new shades and to evaluate them immediately at the time of restoration placement. Optimal intraoral color control can be achieved if optical changes occurring during application are minimized. An ideal VLC composite, then, would be one which is optically stable throughout the polymerization process. The shade guides of the resin composites are generally made of plastic, rather than the actual composite material, and do not accurately depict the true shade, translucency, or opacity of the resin composite after polymerization. So the numerous problems associated with these shade guides lead to varied and sometimes unpredictable results. The aim of this study was to assess the color changes of current resin composite restorative materials which occur as a result of the polymerization process and to compare the color differences between the shade guides provided with the products and the actual resin composites before- and after-polymerization. The results obtained from this investigation should provide the clinician with information which may aid in improved color match of esthetic restoration. Five light activated, resin-based materials (${\AE}$litefil, Amelogen Universal, Spectrum TPH VeridonFil-Photo, and Z100) and shade guides were used in this study. Three specimens of each material and shade combination were made. Each material was condensed inside a 1.5mm thick metal mold with 10mm diameter and pressed between glass plates. Each material was measured immediately before polymerization, and polymerized with Curing Light XL 3000 (3M Dental products, USA) visible light-activation unit for 60 seconds at each side. The specimens were then polished sequentially on wet sandpaper. Shade guides were ground with polishing stones and rubber points (Shofu) to a thickness of approximately 1.5mm. Color characteristics were performed with a spectrophotometer (CM-3500d, Minolta Co., LTD). A computer-controlled spectrophotometer was used to determine CIELAB coordinates ($L^*$, $a^*$ and $b^*$) of each specimen and shade guide. The CIELAB measurements made it possible to evaluate the amount of the color difference values (${\Delta}E{^*}ab$) of resin composites before the polymerization process and shade guides using the post-polishing color of the composite as a control, CIE standard D65 was used as the light source. The results were as follows. 1. Each of the resin composites evaluated showed significant color changes during light-curing process. All the resin composites evaluated except all the tested shades of 2100 showed unacceptable level of color changes (${\Delta}E{^*}ab$ greater than 3.3) between pre-polymerization and post-polishing state. 2. Color differences between most of the resin composites tested and their corresponding shade guides were acceptable but those between C2 shade of ${\AE}$litefil and IE shade of Amelogen Universal and their respective shade guides exceeded what is acceptable. 3. Comparison of the mean ${\Delta}E{^*}ab$ values of materials revealed that Z100 showed the least overall color change between pre-polymerization and post-polishing state followed by ${\AE}$litefil, VeridonFil-Photo, Spectrum TPH, and Amelogen Universal in the order of increasing change and Amelogen Universal. Spectrum TPH, 2100, VeridonFil-Photo and ${\AE}$litefil for the color differences between actual resin and shade guide. 4. In the clinical environment, the shade guide is the better choice than the shade of the actual resin before polymerization when matching colors. But, it is recommended that custom shade guides be made from resin material itself for better color matching.

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