The November 2017 Mw 5.5 Pohang earthquake: A possible case of induced seismicity in South Korea.

The moment magnitude (Mw) 5.5 earthquake that struck South Korea in November 2017 was one of the largest and most damaging events in that country over the past century. Its proximity to an enhanced geothermal system site, where high-pressure hydraulic injection had been performed during the previous 2 years, raises the possibility that this earthquake was anthropogenic. We have combined seismological and geodetic analyses to characterize the mainshock and its largest aftershocks, constrain the geometry of this seismic sequence, and shed light on its causal factors. According to our analysis, it seems plausible that the occurrence of this earthquake was influenced by the aforementioned industrial activities. Finally, we found that the earthquake transferred static stress to larger nearby faults, potentially increasing the seismic hazard in the area.

Cultural diversity and health care in America: knowledge fundamental to cultural competence in baccalaureate nursing students.

In order for undergraduate nursing students to integrate cultural diversity concepts into clinical practice, they require prerequisite theoretical knowledge of the relationships between cultural phenomena and health. This article is an overview of a beginning level theory course designed to enhance students' cultural awareness and sensitivity to United States ethnic groups. These attributes are viewed as two of the antecedents of culturally competent nursing practice.

Stress and coping in fathers of newborns: comparisons of planned versus unplanned pregnancy.

The purpose of this survey was to identify stresses and coping styles in fathers of newborns, and to explore if these vary according to pregnancy planning. Data from 69 subjects were collected using the Ireton Personal Inventory and the Jalowiec Coping Scale. The most common and least often sources of stress or worry were reported. Fathers' predominant mode of coping was problem oriented. Compared to fathers with planned pregnancies, fathers with unplanned pregnancies were found to be significantly more stressed about numerous issues as well as feeling powerless in adapting to the arrival of a new infant. Implications for practice and research are explored.

PIP: The aim was to assess among new fathers their stresses and coping styles and to ascertain whether there was different behavior in planned versus unplanned pregnancies. The study was confined to 69 fathers with 4-6 week health infants and no other children less than one year old, and who had no prior history of institutionalization for mental health problems. Fathers were recruited from the community at large. The sample included 68% (47) planned and 32% (22) unplanned pregnancies. The mean age of the fathers was 29 years. There was wide spectrum of income levels. 88% were White, 5% Black, 2% Asian, 3% Hispanic, and 2% American Indian. 90% were married. Marriage duration averaged 2.5 years. The Ireton Personal Inventory and the Jalowiec Coping Scale were administered at the School of Nursing at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. The results indicated that the stress centered around work, family health, finances, and children. Friendships and marital situation held the least stress. Significantly higher levels of stress were reported by fathers with unplanned pregnancies; subjects with unplanned pregnancies reported stress with finances, living situation, marital situation, sex, recreation, and friendships. The most common coping strategies were trying to control a situation, thinking through ways to solve the problem, finding out more about the situation, setting goals, and actively trying to change the situation. Few used the following coping strategies: taking drugs, getting mad, feeling hopeless, drinking, crying/getting depressed, or blaming others. The Jalowiec subscales identified problem-oriented, tension-modulating, and other directed styles of coping, which were similar for all fathers. Fathers did show differences on feeling powerless; fathers with unplanned pregnancies had higher scores on the powerless subscales. These findings suggest that fathers may suffer stresses after childbirth, but not (as reported) of crisis proportions. Fathers of unplanned pregnancies are clearly more at risk of stress due to feelings of powerlessness and in adapting to a newborn. Longitudinal research should be directed to how stress and coping changes over time and whether attachment to the child is affected. Nurses should be trained to assess fathers' stresses during the pregnancy, as a means of helping fathers cope later.

Personal and environmental influences on nursing home satisfaction.

Data were collected from the administrator, staff, and a sample of 289 residents in 51 nursing homes in order to assess the influence of organizational factors on residents' satisfaction with the nursing home. Longevity of personnel, level of benefits, wages for nursing assistants and their perception of the charge nurse's fairness and competence as well as the degree of personalization of residents' rooms were all related to residents' satisfaction with the nursing home.

Physical and emotional responses of expectant fathers throughout pregnancy and the early postpartum period.

A comparative, repeated measures survey design was used to monitor the physical and emotional health of 81 expectant fathers and 66 non-expectant men over the course of a year at monthly intervals. A total of 877 monthly data collection episodes were completed. Compared to non-expectant men, expectant fathers were found to experience relatively similar patterns of both physical and emotional symptoms throughout the three trimesters of pregnancy. However, expectant fathers' health was found to differ significantly from that of non-expectant men during the immediate postpartum period with a greater incidence of emotional discomforts as well as total number of symptoms, their duration and perceived seriousness. Included are recommendations for anticipatory health counseling to promote health in expectant fathers.

Expectant fathers at risk for couvade.

A repeated measures survey design was used to monitor the physical and emotional health of 81 expectant fathers at lunar month intervals throughout their partners' pregnancy and the early postpartum period. The data set consisted of 515 repeated measures. The backward elimination regression procedure was used to identify six factors that partially explained health events experienced by expectant fathers: affective involvement in pregnancy, number of previous children, income, ethnic identity, perceived stress, and recent health prior to expectant fatherhood.

Assessment and assurance of the quality of nursing care. A selected overview.

This article describes the historical development of quality assurance in nursing in the United States and its link with quality assurance efforts in other health disciplines. Explored are the creation and application of models, standards, criteria, and tools for measuring quality of care. Highlighted are recent empirical studies addressing structure, process, or outcome dimensions of nursing quality assurance. Emphasized is the use of empirical knowledge as a basis for political, organizational, and clinical decision-making to ensure an agreed-upon level of nursing care provided to the American public.