A Multifunctional Interlocked Binder with Synergistic In Situ Covalent and Hydrogen Bonding for High-Performance Si Anode in Li-ion Batteries.

Silicon has garnered significant attention as a promising anode material for high-energy density Li-ion batteries. However, Si can be easily pulverized during cycling, which results in the loss of electrical contact and ultimately shortens battery lifetime. Therefore, the Si anode binder is developed to dissipate the enormous mechanical stress of the Si anode with enhanced mechanical properties. However, the interfacial stability between the Si anode binder and Cu current collector should also be improved. Here, a multifunctional thiourea polymer network (TUPN) is proposed as the Si anode binder. The TUPN binder provides the structural integrity of the Si anode with excellent tensile strength and resilience due to the epoxy-amine and silanol-epoxy covalent cross-linking, while exhibiting high extensibility from the random coil chains with the hydrogen bonds of thiourea, oligoether, and isocyanurate moieties. Furthermore, the robust TUPN binder enhances the interfacial stability between the Si anode and current collector by forming a physical interaction. Finally, the facilitated Li-ion transport and improved electrolyte wettability are realized due to the polar oligoether, thiourea, and isocyanurate moieties, respectively. The concept of this work is to highlight providing directions for the design of polymer binders for next-generation batteries.

Reliability, Validity, and Unidimensionality of the Korean Version of the Pornography Craving Questionnaire Based on the Classical Test Theory and Item Response Theory.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to evaluate the reliability and validity of the Korean version of the Pornography Craving Questionnaire (K-PCQ) using classical test theory and item response theory. METHODS: The goodness of fit test and differential item functioning (DIF) analysis based on the Rasch model, confirmatory factor analysis (CFA), exploratory factor analysis (EFA), and correlation analysis were used to test its reliability and validity. RESULTS: Response data from 226 students were analyzed. According to the goodness of fit test, the outfit mean square value of only one item, Item 11, was greater than 2. The CFA results revealed that all items of the K-PCQ measured a single construct. The EFA results revealed that the K-PCQ had excellent internal reliability. The DIF analysis results showed that the measurement of pornography craving using the K-PCQ did not differ based on gender. The result of Poly-DIMTEST supported the unidimensionality of the K-PCQ. The cut-off value of pornography craving was suggested as a measure of -0.0908 which corresponds to 46 (54.8%) out of a maximum score of 84. CONCLUSION: The items of the K-PCQ are unidimensional and have good reliability and validity. The K-PCQ will be useful in clinical practice and research as a screening tool for pornography craving.

The relationship of individual examinee characteristics and acceptability of smart device-based testing to test score in the practice test of the Korea Emergency Medicine Technician Licensing Examination.

PURPOSE: Smart device-based testing (SBT) began to be introduced in the Republic of Korea's high-stakes examination system, starting with the Korea Emergency Medicine Technician Licensing Examination (KEMTLE) in December 2017. In order to minimize how variation in examinees' environment may affect the test score, it aimed to identify any variables related to individual characteristics and acceptability that are related to the examinees' test scores in the SBT practice test. METHODS: Out of 569 candidate students who were administered the KEMTLE on September 12, 2015, 560 students responded to the survey questionnaire on the acceptability of SBT after the examination. The questionnaire addressed 8 individual characteristics: 2 satisfaction, 9 convenience, and 9 preference items. Comparison analysis between individual variables was performed. Furthermore, generalized linear model (GLM) analysis to find the effect of individual characteristics and acceptability of SBT on test score were conducted. RESULTS: Among those who preferred SBT compared to paper-and-pencil testing, test scores were higher for male participants (M=4.36, SD=0.72) than for female participants (M=4.21, SD=0.73). According to GLM, no variables evaluated, including gender, experiences of CBT(Computer based test), SBT, and using a tablet PC, were statistically significantly different by total score, scores on multimedia items, or scores on text items. CONCLUSION: The variables of individual characteristics and acceptability of SBT did not affect the SBT practice test scores of emergency medicine technician students in Korea. Adoption of SBT for the KEMTLE should be possible to execute without interference from the variables examined in this study.

The impact of a standardized inter-department handover on nurses' perceptions and performance in Republic of Korea.

AIMS: To evaluate the impact of a standardized inter-department nursing handover protocol from intensive care units to general wards on the nurses' perceptions and performance. METHODS: We developed an inter-department nursing handover protocol based on the situation, background, assessment and recommendation technique. All participating paediatric nurses were trained in this new protocol, which was then implemented for nine months in eight units of a children's hospital in the Republic of Korea. Data were extracted from a questionnaire and handover auditing using audio recording. RESULTS: Following the protocol's introduction, nurses' perceptions of handover effectiveness significantly improved (F = 5.17, p = .007), while their experience of handover errors significantly decreased (F = 12.85, p < .001). Furthermore, the prevalence of additive calls per handover decreased from 70.7% to 45.9% (χ2  = 9.88, p = .002), and the prevalence of handover-related errors decreased from 51.2% to 32.4% (χ2  = 5.63, p = .023). Handover accuracy significantly increased (t = -5.12, p < .001) without prolonging the handover duration. CONCLUSIONS: The handover protocol positively influenced the nurses' perception of handover and clinical performance. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING MANAGEMENT: A standardized inter-department handover helped intensive care unit nurses to improve their organisation and to provide ward nurses with sufficient information during handover, which could ensure safer transitions from intensive care units to wards.

Smart device-based testing for medical students in Korea: satisfaction, convenience, and advantages.

The aim of this study was to investigate respondents' satisfaction with smart device-based testing (SBT), as well as its convenience and advantages, in order to improve its implementation. The survey was conducted among 108 junior medical students at Kyungpook National University School of Medicine, Korea, who took a practice licensing examination using SBT in September 2015. The survey contained 28 items scored using a 5-point Likert scale. The items were divided into the following three categories: satisfaction with SBT administration, convenience of SBT features, and advantages of SBT compared to paper-and-pencil testing or computer-based testing. The reliability of the survey was 0.95. Of the three categories, the convenience of the SBT features received the highest mean (M) score (M= 3.75, standard deviation [SD]= 0.69), while the category of satisfaction with SBT received the lowest (M= 3.13, SD= 1.07). No statistically significant differences across these categories with respect to sex, age, or experience were observed. These results indicate that SBT was practical and effective to take and to administer.

Effects of treadmill exercise on hypoactivity of the hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal axis induced by chronic administration of corticosterone in rats.

The stress response alters behavior, autonomic function and secretion of multiple hormones, including CRF, ACTH, and glucocorticoid, through the HPA axis. Consecutive stress exposures lead to HPA axis dysregulation such as hyperactivity in Alzheimer's disease and depression, and hypoactivity in post-traumatic stress disorder. In the present study, we established a model of hypoactivated HPA axis in rat through chronic administration of corticosterone (40mg/kg, s.c.) for 19 consecutive days. In this model, CRF mRNA expression in the hypothalamus and ACTH levels in serum were significantly decreased by chronic administration of corticosterone. In addition, the effect of treadmill exercise was investigated in our hypoactivated HPA axis rat model. Treadmill exercise recovered the dysregulated hypoactivity of the HPA axis induced by corticosterone administration for 19 days. The results of the present study suggest that treadmill exercise may aid recovery of hypoactivated HPA axis dysregulation in psychological diseases such as post-traumatic stress disorder.