ABSTRACT. The study was conducted to investigate early establishment characteristics and germination pattern of fine-textured fescues (FF) under natural room temperature and to analyze differences between alternative and natural conditions for a practical application. Six cultivars from Chewings fescue (CF), creeping red fescue (CRF), hard fescue (HF) and sheep fescue (SF) were evaluated in the study. Daily and cumulative germination pattern were measured and analyzed. Significant differences were greatly observed in germination pattern, days to the first germination, days to 60% germination, and germination percentage with environments, species and cultivars. Final germination rate was 29.7 to 80.0% under natural conditions. The first germination was initiated between 8 and 10 DAS (days after seeding) under natural conditions, being 3 to 4 days later as compared with ISTA conditions. Days to the 60% germination were 12.1 to 19.0 DAS, being 3.0 to 4.2 days slower than that under ISTA conditions. CF 'Jamestown II' was the fastest cultivar, while the slowest CRF 'Audubon'. Turf establishment speed was faster with CRF < SF < HF and < CF in order. Information on differences in germination characteristics and pattern between alternative and natural conditions would be practically useful for a golf course construction etc., when established with FF.

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The ethical decision-making abilities of nurses are essential in enhancing the quality of life and death for patients and their family members. The purpose of this study was to describe the extent of nurses’ ethical decision-making abilities regarding end-of-life (EOL) care and to identify the factors that influence nurses’ ethical decisions. A cross-sectional descriptive survey was applied at two university-affiliated hospitals in South Korea using self-reported questionnaires concerning knowledge, attitudes, and ethical decision-making procedures regarding EOL care. A total of 192 nurses participated in the survey. Data were collected in December 2012 and analyzed with descriptive statistics, a Pearson correlation coefficient, and multiple regressions. Nurses’ ethical decision-making abilities regarding EOL care was positively correlated with nurses’ knowledge (r=0.27, p<0.001) but there was no correlation between attitudes (r=0.14, p=0.062). Knowledge and job satisfaction explained 25.3% of variance in nurses’ moral practice as the result of ethical decision-making. The findings of this study suggest that it is necessary for nurses who care for EOL patients to improve their knowledge and positive attitudes in order to enhance their competency in ethical decision-making.

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