• Journal of the Ergonomics Society of Korea
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.79-90
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• 1996

A research project was conducted to assess the levels of noise exposed to "Noraebang" users and potential hazards to noise-induced hearing loss due to commercial Noraebang noise. A two-way, mixed-factors factorial design was employed for the experiment using independent variables of "noise source" (no- singer, 1-singer, and 2-singer conditions) and "music type" (Trot, Ballad, and Rock music) with 18 normal hearing subjects. Each singer group sang 5 popular songs of each music type in each signing condition, whereas background music was just played for the no-singer condition. For each music played/sung, equivalent continuous sound pressure levels and maximum sound pressure levels were measured for data analysis purposes. Pure-tone audiometry was applied for measuring subjects' hearing threshold levels before and after exposure to Noraebgang noise. The statistical analyses indicate that average continuous noise levels due to Noraebang leisure environment were very serious, especially when two people were singing (higher than 95 dBA). Furthermore, maximum noise levels often exceeded the OSHA's non-premissible 115 dBA level. Worse yet, hearing loss assessment implies that Noraebang facilities may pose a serious threat to noise-induced hearing loss, based on 6-8 dB loss at 125 Hz and 8 dB loss at 4000 Hz after about 1-hour Noraebang noise exposure.

• The Journal of the Society of Korean Medicine Diagnostics
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.84-95
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• 2007

Background and Purpose: We have studied the trends of EEG signals in the voluntary breathing condition by applying the fractal analysis. According to chaos theory, irregularity of EEG signals can result from low dimensional deterministic chaos. A principal parameter to quantify the degree of Chaotic nonlinear dynamics is correlation dimension. The aim of this study was to analyze correlation between the correlation dimension of EEG and HRV(heart rate variability). We have studied the trends of EEG signals in the voluntary breathing condition by applying the fractal analysis. Methods: EEG raw data were measured by moving windows during 15 minutes. Then, the correlation dimension(D2) was calculated by each 40-seconds-segment in 15 minutes data, totally 36 segments. 8 channels EEG study on the Fp, F, T, P was carried out in 30 subjects. Results and Conclusion: Correlation analysis of HRV was calculated with deterministic non-linear data and stochastic non-linear data. 1. Ch1(Fp1), Ch4(F3), Ch4(F4) is positive correlated with In LF. 2. Ch1(Fp1), Ch3(F3) is positive correlated with In TF.

• Journal of International Academy of Physical Therapy Research
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.1992-1998
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• 2020

Background: The foot drop stimulator is designed to improve the walking ability of foot drop in patients after stroke, however, studies on clinical effects are still lacking. Objective: To investigate the effect of a foot drop stimulator on the walking and balancing abilities of foot drop patients after a stroke. Design: One-Group (Pretest-Posttest) Design. Methods: All subjects walked in all three conditions: foot drop stimulator (FDS) ankle foot orthosis (AFO) and barefoot. Primary outcome measures were assessed for walking and balance using a 10-m walking test (10MWT) and a timed up and go test (TUG). Secondary outcome measures consisted of a brief user interview, and the patients recorded the advantages and disadvantages of each condition. Results: FDS, AFO, and barefoot conditions showed a statistically significant difference in 10MWT and TUG (P<.001) as a result of comparing three conditions. FDS and AFO were significantly different from the barefoot condition as post-hoc results; however, there was no significant difference between the two conditions (P>.05). Conclusion: In this study, the foot drop stimulator contributed to improving the balance ability, and the walking ability was similar to the effect of the ankle-foot orthosis.

• Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.42 no.4
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• pp.259-264
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• 2018

Background: Revegetating landfills can be a challenging task as the reclaimed soils are typically dry and have low nutrient content. Therefore, selecting suitable plant species is important for initial revegetation. The issue with current practices (in Korea) is that alien plant species have been typically selected for revegetation projects. In this context, this study selects and tests a set of native plant species for landfill revegetation, accompanied by the assessment of the landfill soils. Results: The soil of the landfill (landfill location) was in a very poor condition with high bulk density and low organic matter and nutrient contents. Among 10 tested species, only Brassica campestris showed high coverage and a sufficient number of individuals in study quadrats sown with seeds. Results suggest that plant species with heavy seeds are the only ones that can adapt to the environment of a typical landfill due to the site's aridity and low nutrient content. The reason is due to such species' superior wind resistance and the capacity to provide sufficient energy for the initial growth of the plants for survival in such landfill environment. Conclusions: This study recommends selecting plant species (1) with arid-adapted features and (2) whose seed weight is sufficiently heavy for survival at landfills or areas with a similar condition for future revegetation.

• Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.42 no.4
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• pp.220-227
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• 2018

Background: To understand the ecological characteristics of floating mat in which endangered species of Iris laevigata and Menyanthes trifoliata inhabit, we surveyed the vegetation and water environments of a floating mat wetland and examined the relations between ecological characteristics of the mat. Results: Although Phragmites australis and Zizania latifolia were found at all experimental quadrats (n = 61) as the major vegetational components of the floating mat wetland, they showed relatively poor growth performances in terms of shoot height (< 2 m) and biomass production (<$300g/m^2$) compared with those in soil-based wetlands because of oligotrophic water condition. The competitiveness and distribution of P. australis and Z. latifolia seemed to be determined by water level difference by micro-topography rather than water chemistry. Conclusion: P. australis and endangered plant species mainly occurred in the area of relatively shallow water, whereas Z. latifolia and deep-water species such as Scirpus fluviatilis mostly inhabit in the area of deep water on the floating mat. Continuously maintained water level and oligotrophic water condition in the floating mat appeared to be important environments for endangered species such as I. laevigata and M. trifoliata.

• Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.43 no.3
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• pp.297-304
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• 2019

Background: The growing wild boar population has become a social issue and its feeding characteristics could affect the physical condition and the plant species composition in the South Korean forests. We aimed to reveal the preference of the wild boar on forest type and site condition as feeding grounds in two cool-temperate forested national parks, Odaesan and Seoraksan, in order to provide information to manage the growing population. Results: The 75 plots (53.6%) out of 140 plots were used as feeding grounds by the wild boar, implying a considerably large population. Especially, the observation frequency as feeding ground was the highest in Quercus forests (73.3%), and it was significantly more preferred than deciduous forest type (44.2%) and coniferous forest type (32.4%) (${\chi}^2=17.591$, p < 0.001). Significantly more and deeper pits were found in Quercus forests. Moreover, high elevation and gentle slope ridge were relatively preferred regardless of forest distribution. Conclusions: South Korean forests are growing qualitatively and quantitatively. Particularly, Quercus forest area has increased markedly, while coniferous forest area has decreased. Since the Quercus forest provides rich food sources for the wild boar, the enlargement of this forest type is expected to increase the wild boar population. The forests located at high elevations have high species diversity, and it is expected that these forests will be greatly affected by the increase in the wild boar population as preferred feeding grounds.

• Journal of Power Electronics
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.307-315
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• 2019

Condition monitoring has been recognized as an effective and low-cost method to enhance the reliability and improve the maintainability of power electronic converters. In power electronic converters, high-frequency oscillation occurs during the switching transients of power transistors, which is known as ringing. The ringing frequency mainly depends on the values of the parasitic capacitance and stray inductance in the oscillation loop. Although circuit stray inductance is an important factor that leads to the ringing, it does not change with transistor aging. A shift in either the inside inductance or junction capacitance is an important failure precursor for power transistors. Therefore, ringing frequency can be used to monitor the health of power transistors. However, the switching actions of power transistors usually result in a dynamic behavior that can generate oscillation signals mixed with background noise, which makes it hard to directly extract the ringing frequency. A frequency extraction method based on empirical mode decomposition (EMD) and Fast Fourier transformation (FFT) is proposed in this paper. The proposed method is simple and has a high precision. Simulation results are given to verify the ringing analysis and experimental results are given to verify the effectiveness of the proposed method.

• International journal of thyroidology
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.71-76
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• 2017

Background and Objectives: The role of thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) signaling on osteoblastic differentiation is still undetermined. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of 5-aza-2'-deoxycytidine (5-azacytidine) on TSH-mediated regulations of osteoblasts. Materials and Methods: MG63, a human osteoblastic cell-line, was treated with 5-azacytidine before inducing osteogenic differentiation using osteogenic medium (OM) containing L-ascorbic acid and ${\beta}$-glyceophosphate. Bovine TSH or monoclonal TSH receptor stimulating antibody (TSAb) was treated. Quantitative real-time PCR analyses or measurement of alkaline phosphatase activities were performed for evaluating osteoblastic differentiation. Results: Studies for osteogenic-related genes or alkaline phosphatase activity demonstrated that treatment of TSH or TSAb alone had no effects on osteoblastic differentiation in MG63 cells. However, treatment of 5-azacytidine, per se, significantly increased osteoblastic differentiation and combination treatment of 5-azacytidine and TSH or TSAb in the condition of OM showed further significant increase of osteoblastic differentiation. Conclusion: Stimulating TSH signaling has little effects on osteoblastic differentiation in vitro. However, in the condition of epigenetic modification using inhibitor of DNA methylation, TSH signaling positively affects osteoblastic differentiation in human osteoblasts.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.48 no.3
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• pp.254-260
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• 2021

Background Myelomeningocele is a frequently seen condition at tertiary care hospitals. Its treatment involves a variety of plastic reconstructive techniques. Herein, we present a series of myelomeningocele patients treated using keystone flaps. Methods We gathered information regarding soft tissue reconstruction and the use of bilateral keystone flaps to treat myelomeningocele patients. We obtained data from clinical records and recorded the demographic characteristics of mothers and children with the condition. The size, level of defect, and complications detected during the follow-up were analyzed. Results A series of seven patients who underwent bilateral keystone flaps for myelomeningocele closure was analyzed. There were no cases of midline or major dehiscence, flap loss, necrosis, surgical site infections, or cerebrospinal fluid leakage. No revision procedures were performed. Minor complications included one case with minimal seroma and three cases with areas of peripheral dehiscence that healed easily using conventional measures. Conclusions The use of keystone flaps is an adequate option for closure of dorsal midline soft tissue defects related to myelomeningocele. This technique offers predictable results with an acceptable spectrum of complications. Robust blood flow can be predicted based upon anatomical knowledge.

• Safety and Health at Work
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• v.13 no.3
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• pp.315-325
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• 2022

Background: Firefighters are required to carry self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA), which increases the risk of musculoskeletal disorders. This study assessed the newly recruited firefighters' internal forces and potential musculoskeletal disorders when carrying SCBA. The effects of SCBA strap lengths were also evaluated. Methods: Kinematic parameters of twelve male subjects running in a control condition with no SCBA equipped and three varying-strapped SCBAs were measured using 3D inertial motion capture. Subsequently, motion data and predicted ground reaction force were inputted for subject-specific musculoskeletal modeling to estimate joint and muscle forces. Results: The knee was exposed to the highest internal force when carrying SCBA, followed by the rectus femoris and hip, while the shoulder had the lowest force compared to the no-SCBA condition. Our model also revealed that adjusting SCBA straps length was an efficient strategy to influence the force that occurred at the lumbar spine, hip, and knee regions. Grey relation analysis indicated that the deviation of the center of mass, step length, and knee flexion-extension angle could be used as the predictor of musculoskeletal disorders. Conclusion: The finding suggested that the training of the newly recruits focuses on the coordinated movement of muscle and joints in the lower limb. The strap lengths around 98-105 cm were also recommended. The findings are expected to provide injury interventions to enhance the occupational health and safety of the newly recruited firefighters.