• Safety and Health at Work
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• v.5 no.3
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• pp.131-135
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• 2014

Background: Cassava and corn milling is a growing small-scale enterprise in Africa. We aimed to determine the incidence of hand-arm musculoskeletal complaints among vibration-exposed Congolese cassava and corn millers in the previous 12 months. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted, prior to a follow-up study, from March to May 2013 among cassava/corn millers in Lubumbashi, Democratic Republic of Congo, in which 365 millers age-matched to 365 civil workers anonymously answered a questionnaire. Results: Overall incidence of hand-arm musculoskeletal complaints was 25.8% in millers (vs. 5.2% in civil workers; p < 0.001). The risk of experiencing musculoskeletal symptoms was seven times higher in millers [vs. civil workers; odds ratio (OR) = 7.10; 95% confidence interval (CI): 4.03-12.50; p < 0.0001]; 2.4 times higher in smoking millers (vs. smoking civil office workers; OR = 2.36; 95% CI: 1.42-3.88; p < 0.001); 3.6 times higher in millers with longer daily exposure (> 8 hours; vs. those working ${\leq}8$ hours; OR = 3.56; 95% CI: 1.93-3.61; p = 0.026); and 7.4 times higher in young millers (vs. older millers, OR = 7.39; 95% CI: 1.29-75.52; p < 0.001). Smoking, number of cigarettes, and daily exposure duration were positively correlated with musculoskeletal complaints. Conclusion: This study revealed a relatively high incidence of musculoskeletal complaints among African cassava and corn millers. The use of anti-vibration protective equipment and the regulation of this hazardous occupation may reduce the burden of musculoskeletal disorders in millers.

• The Transactions of the Korean Institute of Electrical Engineers P
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• v.64 no.4
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• pp.267-272
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• 2015

Active noise control (ANC) is a method of cancelling a noise signal in an acoustic cavity by generating an appropriate anti-noise signal via canceling loudspeakers. The continuous progress of ANC involves the development of improved adaptive signal processing algorithms, transducers, and DSP hardware. In this paper, the convergence behavior and the stability of the FxLMS algorithm in ANC systems with real-time implementation is proposed. Specially, The advanced DSP H/W with dual core(DSP+ARM) and API(application programming interface) S/W programming was developed to improve the real-time implementation performance under the FxLMS algorithms of input noise such as road noise environment. The experimental results are found to be in good agreement with the theoretical predictions.

• Journal of The Korean Astronomical Society
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• v.33 no.3
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• pp.151-158
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• 2000

We conducted a deep CCD observations in V band to obtain stellar density distribution and to determine the distances toward two molecular clouds with anomalous velocity in the Galactic anti-center region. Star count method based on the linear programming technique was applied to the CCD photometric data. We found two prominent peaks at distances of around 1.4 and 2.7 kpc. It is found that the first peak coincides well with stellar density enhancement of B8-A0 stars and the second one with the outer Perseus arm. The effect of the choice of the luminosity function is discussed. The stellar number density distribution is used to derive the distances to the molecular clouds and the visual extinctions caused by the clouds. We found that two molecular clouds are located almost at the same distance of about 1.1 $\pm$ 0.1 kpc, and the peak extinctions caused by the clouds are about 2.2 $\pm$ 0.3 mag in V band.

• 제어로봇시스템학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2001.10a
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• pp.166.4-166
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• 2001

The oscillation of a crane system is divided into the oscillation of container in respect of its trolley and the oscillation of trolley in relation to the whole crane system. We introduce a new type of crane system that avoids to the irreducible sway of crane system caused by hanging cables. The cables suspending the spreader are replaced by using an "anti-sway system". The proposed system is composed of mechanical arms with function of anti-sway based on conventional line system. The effectiveness of the proposed new type crane system and the controller is shown through the simulation results.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.51 no.4
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• pp.467-470
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• 2013

The present study reports a human case of cutaneous gnathostomiasis with recurrent migratory nodule and persistent eosinophilia in China. A 52-year-old woman from Henan Province, central China, presented with recurrent migratory reddish swelling and subcutaneous nodule in the left upper arm and on the back for 3 months. Blood examination showed eosinophila (21.2%), and anti-sparganum antibodies were positive. Skin biopsy of the lesion and histopathological examinations revealed dermal infiltrates of eosinophils but did not show any parasites. Thus, the patient was first diagnosed as sparganosis; however, new migratory swellings occurred after treatment with praziquantel for 3 days. On further inquiring, she recalled having eaten undercooked eels and specific antibodies to the larvae of Gnathostoma spinigerum were detected. The patient was definitely diagnosed as cutaneous gnathostomiasis caused by Gnathostoma sp. and treated with albendazole (1,000 mg/day) for 15 days, and the subsequent papule and blister developed after the treatment. After 1 month, laboratory findings indicated a reduced eosinophil count (3.3%). At her final follow-up 18 months later, the patient had no further symptoms and anti-Gnathostoma antibodies became negative. Conclusively, the present study is the first report on a human case of cutaneous gnathostomiasis in Henan Province, China, based on the past history (eating undercooked eels), clinical manifestations (migratory subcutaneous nodule and persistent eosinophilia), and a serological finding (positive for specific anti-Gnathostoma antibodies).

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Telematics and Electronics T
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• v.36T no.3
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• pp.64-71
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• 1999

In this paper, two degree of freedom parallelogram link mechanism is used as DD(Direct-drive) robot mechanism. In parallelogram link mechanism, two motors being established in each base frame, the mass of motor itself is not loaded to anther motor; the number of links are increased, the mass of arm being lighter; with the estabilishment of link parameter, nonlinearity such as the centrifugal force disappears; at the same time anti-interference between motors can be realized. And to realize highy-accurate drive of parallelogram link DD robot manipulator, to improve the learning speed through the design of leaning control system using neural network, to raise adapting power to the varied work objects; the learning control algorithm is composed of neural network and feedback controller in this paper.

• Journal of International Society for Simulation Surgery
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• v.3 no.2
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• pp.64-68
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• 2016

Aim Robots are able to increase safety for pharmacy staff as separating from toxicity of anti-cancer drugs. For patient safety, it would provide right dose of the drugs. Additionally, it can reduce price of the drugs. Therefore, in this study, a novel compounding anticancer drugs robot system (Dupalro) was developed. Methods We used the robot system, Motoman dual-arm robot from YASKAWA, Japan and medications which are adapted for the robot were constructed. In order to develop a process of compounding anticancer drugs, information about five medications that are required to make anticancer drugs in hospitals was used. Results System for the five types of medications was constructed, and relating procedures for anticancer drugs compounding robot were developed. Conclusion Dupalro successfully was able to not only provide incremental safety and efficiency for both patients and pharmacy staff, but also decrease price of anticancer drugs.

• Preventive Nutrition and Food Science
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.144-148
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• 2017

Sulfites are used as food preservatives and excessive sulfite might disturb the body systems including the brain. Curcumin shows protective effects on the nervous system toxicity. The present study aimed to evaluate the protective role of curcumin in sulfite-induced anxiety in rats. Male rats were divided into five groups. The rats in groups I to V received distilled water (vehicle of sulfite, 1 mL/d), olive oil (vehicle of curcumin, 1 mL/d), curcumin (100 mg/kg/d), sulfite (25 mg/kg/d), and sulfite+curcumin, respectively, by daily gastric gavage for 8 weeks. At the end of 8 weeks the rats were tested in the elevated plus-maze for anxiety. The results showed that concomitant treatment of curcumin during sulfite consumption prevented the reduction of the time spent in the open arm and entrance to the open arm (the indexes of anxiety). Besides, an increase was found in motor activity of the rats in the sulfite+curcumin group compared to the sulfite-treated animals. Exposure of sulfite in rats can induce anxiety, and curcumin can act as an anti-anxiety agent.

• Korean Journal of Exercise Nutrition
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.7-12
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• 2019

[Purpose] Eccentric exercise induces a decrease in vascular endothelial function. Curcumin, a major component of turmeric, has potent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties that are associated with vascular protective effects. The present study examined the effect of acute supplementation of curcumin on eccentric exercise-induced endothelial dysfunction in healthy young men. [Methods] Fourteen healthy sedentary young men (range, 21-29 years) were assigned to either the curcumin (n = 6) or placebo (n = 8) group. All subjects consumed either curcumin or placebo before exercise, and eccentric exercise of the elbow flexors was performed with their nondominant arm. Before and 60 min after exercise, brachial artery flow-mediated dilation (FMD), as an indicator of endothelial function, was measured in the non-exercised arm. [Results] Brachial artery FMD significantly decreased following eccentric exercise (p < 0.05) in the placebo group, but acute supplementation with curcumin before exercise nullified this change. The change in FMD before and after eccentric exercise between the placebo and curcumin groups was significantly different (p < 0.05). [Conclusion] The present study found that acute curcumin supplementation could attenuate the decrease in endothelial function, as measured by FMD, following eccentric exercise in healthy young men.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.501-509
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• 2013

Formaldehyde (FA) is widely used in industries, and it is an indoor and outdoor pollutant. Exposure to FA may cause inflammation and respiratory oxidative stress. Studies have demonstrated that FA can cause cancer in animal models. During the regeneration process of injured starfish (Asterina pectinifera), several changes have been observed in the expression of cytokines. In particular, higher TGF-${\beta}1$ expression has been detected in arm cut starfish extract after eight days. The current study was designed to elucidate the in-vitro and the in-vivo pharmacological effects of starfish extract on FA exposure. We investigated the protective effects of intact starfish extract and arm cut starfish extract on an IMR-90 cell line and on mouse lung injury in response to FA exposure. In the presence of FA, inhalation of the arm cut starfish extract was associated with more promising cell proliferation, TNF-${\alpha}$, NF-${\kappa}B$ decrement, and $I{\kappa}-B{\alpha}$ increment. In the experimental group, the pulmonary structure of the arm cut starfish extract-treated group in the presence of FA exposure was similar to the control group, whereas the FA exposure group showed damage to the pulmonary structure. Moreover, the arm cut starfish extracts was more effective than the intact starfish extracts in terms of the expression of TNF-${\alpha}$, NF-${\kappa}B$, $I{\kappa}-B{\alpha}$, and surfactant protein A. The results obtained in this study demonstrate that arm cut starfish extracts are more effective in protecting pulmonary structure and function against FA exposure than intact starfish extracts.