• Transactions of the Korean Society of Mechanical Engineers
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.393-406
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• 1993

In resistance spot welding process, size of molten nuggest have been utilized to assess the integrity of the weld quality. However real-time monitoring of the nugget size is an extremely difficult problem. This paper describes the design of an artificial neural networks(ANN) estimator to predict the nugget size for on-line use of weld quality monitoring. The main task of the ANN estimator is to realize the mapping characteristics from the sampled dynamic resistance signal to the actual negget size through training. The structure of the ANN estimator including the number of hidden layers and nodes in a layer is determined by an estimation error analysis. A series of welding experiments are performed to assess the performance of the ANN estimator. The results are quite promissing in that real-time estimation of the invisible nugget size can be achieved by analyzing the dynamic resistance signal without any conventional destructive testing of welds.

• The Journal of Asian Finance, Economics and Business
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• v.7 no.9
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• pp.687-695
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• 2020

The study attempts to assess the level of environmental sustainability awareness in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. In the process, the study tries to assess the impact of extracurricular activities in increasing awareness of environmental sustainability. A survey questionnaire was administered to the students of Prince Sattam University and other universities of Saudi Arabia. The questionnaire comprises statements on simple environmental conservation activities, which we come across on a daily basis. Hypothesis testing is used to identify significant differences across different categories of respondents. Further, the method of binary logistic regression is used to analyze the data. Though all the respondents agree that conserving the environment is important still there are significant differences across categories when it comes to believing in and practicing environmentally-responsible behavior. The results show that environmental awareness can be increased using awareness activities on sustainability issues in a University setting. The study concludes that increasing the number of extracurricular activities on environmental topics as only 38% of the respondents reported any activity related to the environment in the past year. The findings of this study suggest that increased awareness of environmental issues can boost the sustainability awareness, which will ultimately lead to a sustainable environment.

• Journal of Information Science Theory and Practice
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• v.1 no.3
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• pp.47-59
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• 2013

The present study aims to assess the growth of open access journals at a global level. The concept of Open Access (OA) publishing is being well received among academic circles and as a result we can see more and more scholarly content is being made these days available in open access format. The present study is simply an attempt to assess the trend and growth of open access journals during the last decade, viz. for the period 2003-2012, for which data has been retrieved from the Directory of Open Access Journals (DOAJ), which as of date hosts more than 9700 journals from 120 countries across the world covering major languages of the world. But keeping in view the period of our study the data has been retrieved as per our applicability, which as a result confines our study to 8453 journals only. The directory covers 18 main subject areas having 76 sub-disciplines, each having on average 118.53 journals. During the entire decade the number of countries which entered into OA publishing rose from 49 to 120 with a growth of 144%, and if this growth rate continues to be the same for the next five years, viz. by 2018, the world will turn into 100% open access. At the continental level Europe leads the tally by publishing a maximum of 3140 OA journals contributed by 43 countries across Europe, which again is the highest number from any continent.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.29-36
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• 2007

Muscle tone (stiffness/hardness) or muscle compliance changes during muscle contraction. The purposes of this study were to assess the intrarater and interrater reliabilities of the Myotonometer$^{(R)}$, electronic device that quantifies muscle tone. Two raters used the Myotonometer to assess the right bicep brachia and quadriceps muscles of 30 voluntary persons without any orthopedic or neurological problems (age range, 18~21 yrs). Muscles were measured in a relaxed state and during brief sustained voluntary maximal isometric contraction. Intrarater correlation coefficients were calculated for each muscle and for each condition (relaxed and contracted). Intrarater reliabilities (intraclass correlation coefficients, ICCs) ranged from .778 to .954, relaxed, biceps brachia), .926 to .963 (contracted, biceps brachia), .935 to .990 (relaxed, quadriceps) and .679 to .952(contracted, quadriceps). Interrater reliabilities ranged from .652 to .790 (relaxed, biceps brachii), .813 to .907 (contracted, biceps brachii), .831 to .950 (relaxed, quadriceps) and .849 to .937 (contracted, quadriceps). Myotonometer measurements had high to very high intrarater and interrater reliability for measurements of the biceps brachia and quadriceps muscles.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.393-396
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• 2001

Objectives: We were to assess the effectiveness of combined therapy of Oriental Medicine and Western Medicine on acute stroke. Methods: We selected acute middle cerebral artery territory infarction subjects, within 3 days after stroke onset, who had never have any type of stroke history before. The subjects, admitted to department of Oriental Medicine, received combination therapy of western medical treatment including thrombolytic, anticoagulant, or antiplatelet agents and oriental medical treatment including acupuncture and herbs medication. The other subjects, admitted to department of Neurology, received only modern western medical treatment. The National Institute of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) was checked at admission, 1 week and 2 weeks later to assess neurologic improvement. The Modified Barthel Index (MBI) was checked 1 week and 2 weeks after admission to motor function recovery. Results: Comparing the NIHSS between baseline and 1 week later, the combination therapy group showed more improvement than the single-treated with anticoagulants group. However, there was no significant difference between the two groups, comparing 1 week and 2 weeks later with the NIHSS and the MBI. Conclusions: Combination therapy have more beneficial effect on acute stage of stroke.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.181-191
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• 2014

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of sensorimotor training in unstable surface on balance ability of elderly women. METHODS: Total of 40 subject were recruited from two separated institution for elderly women in Changwon and conveniently allocated into experimental and control groups. Twenty women were included into experimental group and another twenty women were into control group. Experimental group performed sensorimotor training in unstable surface and control group were only activities of daily living during eight weeks. To assess static balance ability used One leg stance test (OLST) and to assess dynamic balance ability used timed up and go test (TUGT) and Functional reach test (FRT). RESULTS: Control group did not show any difference in balance ability. However static balance ability in experimental group improved on hard or soft surface only eye open condition. Also dynamic balance ability in experimental group improved TUGT or FRT. CONCLUSION: Sensorimotor training in unstable surface improved balance ability of elderly women.

• Journal of Sasang Constitutional Medicine
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• v.33 no.3
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• pp.171-180
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• 2021

Objectives This case report is about a Taeyangin patient with Acute Motor Axonal Neuropathy identified as Hae-Yeok pattern using Ogapijangchuk-tang. In this study, we report the significant improvement of lower extremity weakness and pain of this patient after Sasang Constitutional medicine treatment. Methods The patient was identified as Taeyangin Hae-Yeok pattern and treated with Ogapijangchuk-tang. Guillain-Barre Syndrome disability scale was used to assess the overall function of the patient. The Numeral Rating Scale was used to assess the change of lower extremity pain. Also the change of lower extremity weakness was measured by patient's expression and graded by Manual Muscle Test. Result and Conclusion After treatment with Ogapijangchuk-tang, patient's symptoms were improved. And there was not any side effect. In conclusion, this study shows that Sasang Constitutional medicine can be effective treatment for Taeyangin patient with Acute Motor Axonal Neuropathy.

• Safety and Health at Work
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.230-237
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• 2021

Background: Noise-induced hearing loss is a well-known occupational disease that affects many fish harvesters from many fisheries worldwide, whose risk factor is prolonged exposure to hazardous noise levels. To date, academic research activities and regulatory bodies have not provided any comparative analysis among the existing methods to assess noise exposure levels of fish harvesters. This paper provides a comparison of four relevant assessment methods of noise exposure, examining the results of a measurement campaign performed onboard small fishing vessels from Newfoundland and Labrador. Methods: We traveled onboard 11 vessels engaged in multiple fisheries from Newfoundland and Labrador and performed extensive noise exposure surveys using the simplified International Maritime Organization method, the full-day measurement method, and the two methods provided by ISO 9612:2009, the task-based method and job-based method (JBM). Results: The results showed that the four methods yield similar values when the noise components are dominated by the engine and auxiliaries (steady-state sources); when noise components are dominated by the fishing gear, task-based method and the simplified International Maritime Organization method estimates are less accurate than JBM, using full-day measurements as baseline. Conclusion: The JBM better assesses noise exposure in small-scale fisheries, where noise exposure has significant variance and uncertainties on the exposure levels are higher.

• Safety and Health at Work
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• v.11 no.3
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• pp.301-306
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• 2020

Background: The Functional Movement Screen (FMS^TM) is a screening tool used to assess an individual's ability to perform fundamental movements that are necessary to do physically active tasks. The purpose of this study was to assess the ability of FMS to predict occupational injury among Denver Fire Department firefighters. Method: FMS tests were administered from 2012 to 2016. Claim status was defined as any claim occurrence vs. no claim and an overexertion vs. no claim/other claim within 1 year of the FMS. To assess associations between FMS score and claim status, FMS scores were dichotomized into ≤ 14 and > 14. Age-adjusted odds ratios were calculated using logistic regression. Sensitivities and specificities of FMS predicting claims at various FMS score cut points, ranging from 10 to 20 were tested. Results: Of 581 firefighters (mean ± SD, age 38 ± 9.8 y) who completed FMS between February 2015 and March 2018, 188 (32.4%) filed a WC claim in the study time frame. Seventy-two of those (38.3%) were categorized as overexertion claims. There was no association between FMS score and claim status [odds ratio (OR) = 1.27, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.88 - 1.83] and overexertion claim vs. no claim/other claim (OR = 1.33, 95% CI: 0.81 - 2.21). There was no optimal cutoff for FMS in predicting a WC claim. Conclusions: Although the FMS has been predictive of injuries in other populations, among this sample of firefighters, it was not predictive of a future WC claim.

• Journal of the Korea Society of Computer and Information
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.17-23
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• 2011

In this paper, daily life stress monitoring system is proposed. The proposed wireless ECG module, reducing the noise and increasing the size of signal, amplification circuit was designed for. Using HRV(Heart Rate Variability), extracted by measuring R-wave, stress diagnostic algorithms to assess the stress of human emotion were developed. For monitoring the activities, the proposed system is consist of small rectangular size for portable and by simple measurement it is possible to measure at any time. Through experiments, the proposed approach to represent user's stress level can be confirmed. Through that, it can see appropriate structure to obtain R-wave for stress assess as well as high resemblance to the clinical electrocardiogram. In this paper, performed experiments was developed nonrestraint measuring and wearable wireless biometric scanner that is able to monitor the heart's electrical activity of everyday life.Using this, the algorithm system, that is able to assess stress index through time-domain and frequency-domain analysis of the front and the rear of performing stress load protocol, was developed,