• Safety and Health at Work
• /
• v.4 no.2
• /
• pp.95-99
• /
• 2013

Background: Work-related stress is one of the major causes of occupational ill health. In line with the regulatory framework on occupational health and safety (OSH), adequate models for assessing and managing risk need to be identified so as to minimize the impact of this stress not only on workers' health, but also on productivity. Methods: After close analysis of the Italian and European reference regulatory framework and workrelated stress assessment and management models used in some European countries, we adopted the UK Health and Safety Executive's (HSE) Management Standards (MS) approach, adapting it to the Italian context in order to provide a suitable methodological proposal for Italy. Results: We have developed a work-related stress risk assessment strategy, meeting regulatory requirements, now available on a specific web platform that includes software, tutorials, and other tools to assist companies in their assessments. Conclusion: This methodological proposal is new on the Italian work-related stress risk assessment scene. Besides providing an evaluation approach using scientifically validated instruments, it ensures the active participation of occupational health professionals in each company. The assessment tools provided enable companies not only to comply with the law, but also to contribute to a database for monitoring and assessment and give access to a reserved area for data analysis and comparisons.

• Journal of Korean Elementary Science Education
• /
• v.33 no.3
• /
• pp.491-509
• /
• 2014

The purpose of this study was to compare and analyze the elementary science curriculum of Finland, which ranked at the first place in the science domain of Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA), a comparative study on the academic achievements of OECD member nations, for three consecutive years and recorded a high national competitiveness index, and that of South Korea, thus providing information needed to develop curriculums and textbooks in the middle of occasional curriculum revisions and giving useful implications for the implementation of curriculum in the field of education in South Korea. The research findings were as follows: First, as for the science content areas based on the ratio of large area items according to the evaluation and analysis framework of TIMSS 2007, South Korea's ratio of life, chemistry, physics, and earth hardly showed fitness for TIMSS 2007 and exhibited equal distribution among the areas. In Finland, the ratio of life, chemistry, physical, and earth was similar to the fourth grade level of TIMSS 2007. The country showed differential distribution with life accounting for the highest percentage. Second, as for the cognitive domains, South Korea showed a high percentage in "Uses and Procedures of Tools" of "1. Knowing" and "Making Connections," "Comparison/Contrast/Classification," and "Uses of Models" of "2. Application." Finland recorded a high percentage in "Information Interpretation" of "2. Application." While South Korea focused on the uses and methods of scientific instruments during scientific activities, Finland made an approach with a focus on problems related to daily life such as the interpretation of information including reports and graphs from an interpretative perspective.

• Journal of Korean Public Health Nursing
• /
• v.26 no.1
• /
• pp.147-157
• /
• 2012

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to identify the related factors of change affecting the stages of change for exercise, on the assumption that there are various stages of change in the exercise behavior of women in nursing college. Methods: The subjects were 496 female college students in D city. The research instruments were stages of change for exercise behavior, the process of change, decisional balance, and self-efficacy. The dates were analyzed by descriptive statistics, ANOVA, and stepwise multiple regression using the SPSS 18.0 program. Results: The distribution of the subjects across the stages was: pre-contemplation, 17.7%; contemplation, 58.7%; preparation, 19.0%; action, 2.8%; maintenance, 1.8%. Analysis of variance showed that cognitive process (F=17.26, p<0.01), behavioral process (F=27.05, p<0.01), the pros of decisional-balance (F=7.07, p<0.01), the cons of decision-balance (F=5.82, p<0.01), and self efficacy (F=17.79, p<0.01) were significantly associated with the change of exercise behavior stages. The related factors of change affecting the change of exercise behavior stage were the cons of decision-making, counter conditioning, self re-evaluation, and body mass index, including 28.4% R-square. Conclusion: The transtheoretical model would be applicable to explain the exercise behavior of some women in nursing college. So, this study will be useful information for developing effective exercise behavior programs considering female students' stages of change.

• Restorative Dentistry and Endodontics
• /
• v.45 no.2
• /
• pp.18.1-18.9
• /
• 2020

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the void of root canal filling over time when a calcium silicate sealer was used in the single gutta-percha cone technique. Materials and Methods: Twenty-four J-shaped simulated root canals and twenty-four palatal root canals from extracted human maxillary molars were instrumented with ProFile Ni-Ti rotary instruments up to size 35/0.06 or size 40/0.06, respectively. Half of the canals were filled with Endoseal MTA and the other half were with AH Plus Jet using the single gutta-percha cone technique. Immediately after and 4 weeks after the root canal filling, the samples were scanned using micro-computed tomography at a resolution of 12.8 ㎛. The scanned images were reconstructed using the NRecon software and the void percentages were calculated using the CTan software, and statistically analyzed by 1-way analysis of variance, paired t-test and Tukey post hoc test. Results: After 4 weeks, there were no significant changes in the void percentages at all levels in both material groups (p > 0.05), except at the apical level of the AH Plus Jet group (p < 0.05) in the simulated root canal showing more void percentage compared to other groups. Immediately after filling the extracted human root canals, the Endoseal MTA group showed significantly less void percentage compared to the AH Plus Jet group (p < 0.05). Conclusions: Under the limitations of this study, the Endoseal MTA does not seem to reduce the voids over time.

• The Journal of Asian Finance, Economics and Business
• /
• v.6 no.2
• /
• pp.299-307
• /
• 2019

This study aims to explore the theoretical concepts of inclusive development in relation to the spatial context, assessment the disparities in the social and economic development of the regions of Kazakhstan and substantiate the main mechanisms for overcoming them. In this research, authors propose the methodological tools for presenting a standard form of evaluation of social and economic development in the regions of Kazakhstan. In this study used methods, which based on measuring disproportions between the levels of economic and social development of the regions, as well as disproportions between the republican and regional levels. According to the author's methodological approach, complex and integral indexes have calculated over the period 2012-2017 for a number of indicators adapted to the conditions of Kazakhstan. The calculated indexes proposed to use as instruments for measuring the level of the social and economic development. In addition, according the obtained indexes and the results of their ranking can be the basis for the development of regional programs and management decisions. This will improve the targeted support of the population in backward regions in order to ensure inclusive development and improve the quality of life of the population.

• Quality Improvement in Health Care
• /
• v.25 no.1
• /
• pp.11-28
• /
• 2019

Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to derive implication on the adoption of PROMs (Patient-Reported Outcome Measures) to improve quality of care in South Korea. With this purpose, the paper examines the status of PROMs in South Korea and other countries including OECD's PaRIS (Patient Reported Indicators Survey) initiative, and reviews policy cases that have adopted PROMs to improve performance of healthcare system. Methods: We conducted literature review on OECD reports on PaRIS, peer-reviewed journals, and information from the websites of relevant institutions such as ICHOM, NQF and OECD. Results: To identify healthcare services of best values and support patient-centered health system, OECD has initiated PaRIS which develops, collects and analyzes patient-reported indicators for cross-countries comparison. PaRIS is implemented on two work streams: 1) collect, validate and standardize PROMs in the areas where patient-reported indicators already exist such as breast cancers, hip and knee replacement, and mental conditions, 2) develop a new international survey on multiple chronic conditions. Countries like England, U.S., Sweden and Netherlands use PROMs for measuring performance of hospitals and performance evaluation at the national level, and provide the financial incentives for reporting PROMs. Conclusions: The use of PROMs can support the current policy agenda that is the patient-centered healthcare system which has been emphasized to reinforce the primary and the community-based care. For the use of PROMs, it is recommended to actively participate in PaRIS initiative by OECD, select appropriate instruments for PROMs, and continue on standardization of them. This will assure patients' involvement in improving health system performance, systemize information generated in the process of adopting PROMs, and develop a system to evaluate performance.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
• /
• v.64 no.2
• /
• pp.289-296
• /
• 2021

Objective : Though the operating microscope (OM) has been the standard optical system in neurosurgery, a new technology called three-dimensional (3D) exoscope has emerged as an alternative. Herein, two types of 3D exoscopes for brain tumor surgery are presented. In addition, the advantages and limitations compared with the OM are discussed. Methods : In the present study, 3D exoscope VOMS-100 or VITOM 3D was used in 11 patients with brain tumor who underwent surgical resection; the Kinevo 900 OM was used only in emergency. After completion of all surgeries, the participants were surveyed with a questionnaire regarding video image quality on the display monitor, handling of equipment, ergonomics, educational usefulness, 3D glasses, and expectation as a substitute for the OM. Results : Among 11 patients, nine patients underwent neurosurgical resection with only 3D exoscope; however, two patients required additional aid with the OM due to difficulty in hemostasis. Regarding video image quality, VITOM 3D was mostly equivalent to the OM, but VOMS-100 was not. However, both 3D exoscopes showed advantages in accessibility of instruments in the surgical field and occupied less space in the operating theater. Differences in ergonomics and educational usefulness between the exoscopes were not reported. Respondents did not experience discomfort in wearing 3D glasses and thought the exoscopes could be currently, and in the future, used as a substitute for the OM. Conclusion : Although many neurosurgeons are not familiar with 3D exoscopes, they have advantages compared with the OM and similar image quality. Exoscopes could be a substitute for OM in the future if some limitations are overcome.

• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
• /
• v.35 no.6
• /
• pp.394-399
• /
• 2013

The recalcitrant hairs which are accumulated in the U-trap equipped to prevent the stench from the drainage produce the phenomenon of blocking the flow of water through the home drainage pathway. The chemical dissolution solutions commercially manufactured are excessively poured into U-trap to solve this blocking problem. In this study, the specially designed instrument was developed for the experiments to cut and crush the hairs of which main component are the recalcitrant keratin proteins. The performance of the instrument for cutting and crushing hairs was investigated using experimental methods. The cutting and weighing method was used in order to obtain the average length of a large amount of hairs cut by instrument. This method is relatively simple to measure the weight of cutting hairs to obtain the average length of the fibers, the values of average length showed not greater tolerances. Also the average cutting number was defined to evaluate the performance of the cutting and crushing instruments designed for this study. We were able to apply these evaluation methods to provide the criteria to obtain the optimal structure of instrument and proper operation time in the given experimental conditions. These experimental methods and results will provide the good example to design and to analyze the various device that can be used for cutting the fibers. The cutting and crushing instrument developed in this study showed the effective abilities to cutting the hairs. The general using the cuttting and crushing instrument at every home would be helpful to prevent water environmental pollution.

• Journal of the Earthquake Engineering Society of Korea
• /
• v.13 no.3
• /
• pp.11-19
• /
• 2009

Recently, concerns relating to the maintenance of large structures have been increased. In addition, the number of large structures that need to be evaluated for their structural safety due to natural disasters and structural deterioration has been rapidly increasing. It is common for the structural characteristics of an older large structure to differ from the characteristics in the initial design stage, and changes in dynamic characteristics may result from a reduction in stiffness due to cracks on the materials. The process of deterioration of such structures enables the detection of damaged locations, as well as a quantitative evaluation. One of the typical measuring instruments used for the monitoring of bridges and buildings is the dynamic measurement system. Conventional dynamic measurement systems require considerable cabling to facilitate a direct connection between sensor and DAQ logger. For this reason, a method of measuring structural responses from a remote distance without the mounted sensors is needed. In terms of non-contact methods that are applicable to dynamic response measurement, the methods using the doppler effect of a laser or a GPS are commonly used. However, such methods could not be generally applied to bridge structures because of their costs and inaccuracies. Alternatively, a method using a visual image can be economical as well as feasible for measuring vibration signals of inaccessible bridge structures and extracting their dynamic characteristics. Many studies have been conducted using camera visual signals instead of conventional mounted sensors. However, these studies have been focused on measuring displacement response by an image processing technique after recording a position of the target mounted on the structure, in which the number of measurement targets may be limited. Therefore, in this study, a model experiment was carried out to verify the measurement algorithm for measuring multi-point displacement responses by using a DIC (Digital Image Correlation) technique.

• Restorative Dentistry and Endodontics
• /
• v.36 no.3
• /
• pp.231-237
• /
• 2011

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to determine the optimal master apical file size with minimal transportation and optimal efficiency in removing infected dentin. We evaluated the transportation of the canal center and the change in untouched areas after sequential preparation with a #25 to #40 file using 3 different instruments: stainless steel K-type (SS K-file) hand file, ProFile and LightSpeed using microcomputed tomography (MCT). Materials and Methods: Thirty extracted human mandibular molars with separated orifices and apical foramens on mesial canals were used. Teeth were randomly divided into three groups: SS K-file, Profile, LightSpeed and the root canals were instrumented using corresponding instruments from #20 to #40. All teeth were scanned with MCT before and after instrumentation. Cross section images were used to evaluate canal transportation and untouched area at 1-, 2-, 3-, and 5- mm level from the apex. Data were statistically analyzed according to 'repeated nested design' and Mann-Whitney test (p = 0.05). Results: In SS K-file group, canal transportation was significantly increased over #30 instrument. In the ProFile group, canal transportation was significantly increased after preparation with the #40 instrument at the 1- and 2- mm levels. LightSpeed group showed better centering ability than ProFile group after preparation with the #40 instrument at the 1 and 2 mm levels. Conclusions: SS K-file, Profile, and LightSpeed showed differences in the degree of apical transportation depending on the size of the master apical file.