Earticle

In the face of increasingly diversified combat environments and the rising importance of soldier survivability, the reliability of bulletproof equipment has emerged as a critical factor in modern military operations. However, the current defense system in Korea lacks a dedicated infrastructure for reliability assessment, leading to potential risks of equipment failure in real combat situations. This institutional gap results in both operational inefficiency and an underestimation of the economic value of soldier protection. To address this issue, this study conducts a cost-benefit analysis of establishing a reliability assessment infrastructure for bulletproof equipment. By incorporating both direct benefits (such as defect detection and maintenance efficiency) and indirect benefits (such as improved soldier survivability and reduced reliance on foreign certification), the analysis evaluates long-term returns over the period 2025–2059. The estimation employs expected utility theory and uses the value of a statistical life (VSL) to quantify survivability-related gains. The results reveal a substantial net present value (NPV) of approximately KRW 320 billion when survivability benefits are included, and KRW 127.6 billion even under the most conservative assumptions. These findings support the strategic necessity of implementing a systematic reliability evaluation framework, not only to enhance operational readiness but also to strengthen the economic sustainability and competitiveness of the domestic defense industry.

Objective To systematically translate the Fugl-Meyer Assessment (FMA) into a Korean version of the FMA (K-FMA). Methods We translated the original FMA into the Korean version with three translators and a translation committee, which included physiatrists, physical therapists, and occupational therapists. Based on a test-retest method, each of 31 patients with stroke was assessed by two evaluators twice, once on recruitment, and again after a week. Analysis of intra- and inter-rater reliabilities was performed using the intra-class correlation coefficient, whereas validity was analysed using Pearson correlation test along with the Motricity Index (MI), Motor Assessment Scale (MAS), and Berg Balance Scale (BBS). Results The intra- and inter-rater reliabilities were significant for the total score, and good to excellent reliability was noted in all domains except for the joint range of motion of the lower extremity domain of the K-FMA. The MI and MAS scores were significantly correlated with all domains, all with p<0.01. The results for the MI ranged from r=0.639 to r=0.891 and those for the MAS from r=0.339 to r=0.555. However, the BBS was not significantly correlated with any domain, as the K-FMA lacks balance evaluation items. Conclusion The K-FMA was found to have high reliability and validity. Additionally, the newly developed manual for the K-FMA may help minimise errors that can occur during evaluation and improve the reliability of motor function evaluation.

Objective To evaluate intra-tester reliability of P300 more precisely, this study was designed. Event-related potential (ERP) is the result of endogenous brain response following cognitive stimulus. The P300 component of the human ERP is a positive wave with a latency of 300 ms or greater. Our purpose of this study was to estimate reliability of P300 latency and amplitude with 30 normal persons without head injury, as well as to set up them as the reference values in the event that they would be found to be highly reliable.Methods ERP was performed at three separate times on 30 normal adults in their 20s and 30s. We measured P300 latency and amplitude among ERP.Results P300 latency show excellent reliability with intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) of 0.81. As to P300 amplitude, reliability was good to fair with ICC of 0.53. Average value of P300 latency was 311.3±37.0 ms, shorter than reference value of previous study in Korea.Conclusion P300 latency revealed higher reliability than P300 amplitude, although reliability of P300 was confirmed in both component. After further study including precise mechanism, influence factor on measurement and method standardization, it is expected to be an objective indicator to assess the cognitive state and predict prognosis

The performance of wireless sensor network (WSN) continues to change over time, and it is required to track the WSN performance accurately. In this paper, a new assessment model known as the evidential reasoning rule with dynamic reliability (ERr-DR) is proposed. In the ERr-DR, the evidence reliability evolves from the traditional static value to a dynamic value, which can reveal the impact of external noise on network performance reasonably. As an effective extension of traditional ER rule, the ERr-DR has excellent modeling ability. Furthermore, by analyzing the physical meanings of model parameters in detail, an optimization objective with targeted constraints is established. Compared with the existing optimization strategies, this not only improves the output accuracy of ERr-DR, but also maintains the interpretability of assessment results. Finally, A case study of a simulated WSN scenario validates the effectiveness of the proposed model.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the validity and reliability of the Korean version of the Health Literacy Assessment Tool (K-HLAT-8) for Korean adults. Methods: The survey was conducted from April 1, 2020 to May 30, 2020 at a university hospital, a university, and one community picnic area with adults who understood the purpose of the study and voluntarily agreed to participate. A total of 220 adults participated in this study. After forward and backward translation of the original version of the Health Literacy Assessment Tool 8 (HLAT-8) into Korean, construct validity (confirmatory factor analysis), convergent validity, and reliability were evaluated. Convergent validity was confirmed through the correlation between the K-HLAT-8 and the Self-As Carer Inventory (SCI). Results: Construct validity, evaluated using confirmatory factor analysis, showed good fit. The K-HLAT-8 showed a positive correlation with the SCI score. In terms of internal consistency, Cronbach’s α of the K-HLAT-8 was 0.85. For test-retest reliability, the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) was .99 (95% CI: 0.97~0.99). Conclusion: The reliability and validity were confirmed, so K-HLAT-8 can be applied to evaluate the health literacy of Korean adults. Furthermore, these assessment results should be used as basic data to implement programs that can improve health literacy.

Objective To systematically translate the Duchenne muscular dystrophy Functional Ability Self-Assessment Tool (DMDSAT) into Korean and verify the reliability and validity of the Korean version (K-DMDSAT). Methods The original DMDSAT was translated into Korean by two translators and two pediatric physiatrists. A total of 88 patients with genetically confirmed Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) participated in the study. They were evaluated using the K-DMDSAT once as a self-assessment and once by an interviewer. The interviewer evaluated the K-DMDSAT again 1 week later using a test-retest approach. The intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) was used to verify the interrater and test-retest reliabilities. Pearson correlation analysis between the K-DMDSAT and the Brooke or Vignos scales were used to assess validity. Results The total score and all domains of the K-DMDSAT showed excellent interrater and test-retest reliability, with an ICC for total scores of 0.985 and 0.987, respectively. All domains had an ICC >0.90. From the Pearson correlation analysis, the total K-DMDSAT score was significantly correlated with the Vignos and Brooke scales (r=0.918 and 0.825, respectively; p<0.001), and each domain of K-DMDSAT showed significant correlation with either the Vignos or Brooke scales. Conclusion DMDSAT was systematically translated into Korean, and K-DMDSAT was verified to have excellent reliability and validity. K-DMDSAT can help clinicians easily describe and categorize various functional aspects of patients with DMD through the entire disease progression.

Objective To develop the Korean version of the Cognitive Assessment Scale for Stroke Patients (K-CASP) and to evaluate the test reliability and validity of the K-CASP in stroke patients.Methods The original CASP was translated into Korean, back-translated into English, then reviewed and compared with the original version. Thirty-three stroke patients were assessed independently by two examiners using the K-CASP twice, with a one-day interval, for a total of four test results. To evaluate the reliability of the K-CASP, intra-class correlation coefficients were used. Pearson correlations were calculated and simple regression analyses performed with the Korean version of Mini-Mental State Examination (K-MMSE) and the aphasia quotient (AQ) to assess the validity.Results The mean score was 24.42±9.47 (total score 36) for the K-CASP and 21.50±7.01 (total score 30) for the K-MMSE. The inter-rater correlation coefficients of the K-CASP were 0.992 on the first day and 0.995 on the second day. The intra-rater correlation coefficients of the K-CASP were 0.997 for examiner 1 and 0.996 for examiner 2. In the Pearson correlation analysis, the K-CASP score significantly correlated with the K-MMSE score (r=0.825, p<0.001). The coefficients of determination (r2) of the AQ were 0.586 for the K-MMSE and 0.513 for the K-CASP in the simple regression analysis.Conclusion The K-CASP is a reliable and valid instrument for cognitive dysfunction screening in post-stroke patients. It is more applicable than other cognitive assessment tools in stroke patients with aphasia.

The usefulness of self-assessment for evaluation purposes has been controversial among language testers and teachers, pointing to the long-held psychometric concerns of its low-leveled reliability for assessment. This study aimed at exploring the possibility of enhancing the reliability of self-assessment used in a college English classroom (n=32) by diagnosing a cause of deteriorating the reliability quality of self-assessment and seeking measures to offset the negative factor for future use. In order to achieve the goals of the study, internal consistency reliabilities were obtained before and after an improvement was made in the self-assessment. Students’ feedback on the self-assessment was sought through a focus-group interview. Next, a multiple regression analysis was conducted to see if self-assessment can be a significant predictor in students’ final grades in the course. The independent variables used for this study were final exam, midterm exam, and five self-assessments. The results of the analyses are as follows: 1) from the focus-group interview on the 6th week of semester, a subjectivity problem of self-assessments was found and a new set of items in a quiz format were added for its modified version, 2) Cronbach’s α’s of self-assessments have drastically gone up from its original ones (.514-.546) to modified ones (.614-.850), and 3) four variables were included in the final model predicting students’ final grades: final exam, midterm exam, third and second self-assessments. Based on the findings, a new perspective on reliability issues in self-assessment was proposed.

Gas welding is a very important and useful technology in the fabrication of railroad cars and commercial vehicle structures. However, since the fatigue strength of gas-welded joints is considerably lower than that of the parent material due to stress concentration at the weld, the fatigue-strength assessment of gas-welded joints is very important for the reliability and durability of railroad cars and the establishment of a criterion for long-life fatigue design. In this paper, in order to save time and cost for the fatigue design, an accelerated life-prediction method that is based on the theory of statistical reliability was investigated. Its usefulness was verified by comparing the (Δσa)R-Nf relationship that was obtained from actual fatigue test results with the (Δσa)R-(Nf)ALP relationship that was derived from accelerated life testing. And the reliability of the predicted life was evaluated. The reliability of the accelerated life-prediction on the base of actual test data was analyzed to be (81～86)% of the actual test life of the fillet-type gas welded joint.

Recently, all kind of 21C-typed electronic goods show the tendency of hightechnology and digital convergence rapidly. Also, failure mechanism which differs from original goods concept presents. Today, failure mechanism which differs from one that was happened by restricted harmful environment material before adapted the raw of environment material is changing the paradigm of reliability engineering. Thus, when applied the environment matter of original and secondary material at the electronic goods were removed, reliability assessment method and prediction stay into low level. This study suggests as solution to overcome these phenomenon. The study on the management method of environmental restriction substances which is recognized as important element in the reliability assessment about environment material of electronic goods and the study on reliability assessment method of PWB without environment material are progressed.

Recently, all kind of 21C-typed electronic goods show the tendency of hightechnology and digital convergence rapidly. Also, failure mechanism which differs from original goods concept presents. Today, failure mechanism which differs from one that was happened by restricted harmful environment material before adapted the raw of environment material is changing the paradigm of reliability engineering. Thus, when applied the environment matter of original and secondary material at the electronic goods were removed, reliability assessment method and prediction stay into low level. This study suggests as solution to overcome these phenomenon. The study on the management method of environmental restriction substances which is recognized as important element in the reliability assessment about environment material of electronic goods and the study on reliability assessment method of PWB without environment material are progressed.

Differential shortening effects in tall concrete buildings causing cracks of partitions, curtain walls and pipe lines are a significant serviceability component. The paper describes a method for the structural reliability assessment on serviceability limit state of the time-dependent column shortening. The method is based on the probability analysis using monte carlo simulation. Based on the reliability index and probability of failure, the column shortening of 41-story tall concrete building is evaluated quantitatively and the compensation values are proposed considering target reliability index on the serviceability limit state.

Purpose: This study was conducted to determine the validity and reliability of performance measurement tools based on the nursing process for prevention and management of pressure ulcers, falls and pain. Methods: The performance measurement tools were reviewed by a panel of experts and refined on the basis of the panel's suggestions. The validity of the performance measurement tools was measured by surveying hospital nurses. The reliability of these tools was tested by having nursing experts use the tools in five nursing units to assess nursing performance in prevention and management of pressure ulcers, falls and pain. Results: The performance measurement tools in this study were found to be acceptable as tools to evaluate quality of nursing care in pressure ulcers, falls and pain. The reliability of the performance measurement tools was acceptable. Conclusion: These results indicate that the performance measurement tools developed in this study are valid and reliable instruments to monitor and improve quality of nursing care in prevention and management of pressure ulcers, falls and pain.

Objectives: This study aimed to develop a Korean mobile-based digital health literacy measurement instrument, establish its validity and reliability, and assess its feasibility among the general population of Korea. Methods: A total of 299 adults aged 20 years and older who volunteered online were surveyed, using a stratified sampling method based on age, gender, and education level. The validity and reliability of the developed tool were established. Results: Validity and reliability of the tool were confirmed, indicating the tool`s suitability for measuring mobile-based digital health literacy. Conclusions: Moving forward, the MHLS-SF11 can be utilized to explore the distribution of mobile-based digital health literacy among Korean adults, evaluate the effectiveness of intervention programs, and investigate influencing factors.