• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.12 no.4
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• pp.1824-1832
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• 2011

In this paper, a smart home service robot McBot II is newly developed in much more practical and intelligent system than McBot I which we had developed a few years ago. Thus far, vacuum-cleaners have lightened the burden of household chores but the operational labor that vacuum-cleaners entail has been very severe. Recently, a cleaning robot was commercialized to solve but it also was not successful because it still had the problem of mess-cleanup, which pertained to the clean-up of large trash and the arrangement of newspapers, clothes, etc. Hence, we develop a new home mess-cleanup robot McBot II to completely overcome this problem on real environments. The mechanical design and the basic control of McBot II, which performs mess-cleanup function etc. in house, is actually focused in this paper. McBot II is mechanically modeled in the same method that the human works in door by using the waist and the hands. The big-ranged vertical lift and the shoulder joints to be able to forward move are mechanically designed for the operating function as the human's waist when the robot works. The mobility of McBot II is designed in the holonomic mobile robot for the collision avoidance of obstacle and the high speed navigation on the small area in door. Finally, good performance of McBot II, which has been optimally desinged, is confirmed through the experimental results for the control of the robotic body, mobility, arms and hands in this paper.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.85-91
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• 2014

Deoxynivalenol (DON) and related trichothecene mycotoxins are extensively distributed in the cereal-based food and feed stuffs worldwide. Recent climate changes and global grain trade increased chance of exposure to more DON and related toxic metabolites in poorly managed production systems. Monitoring the biological and environmental exposures to the toxins are crucial in protecting human and animals from toxicities of the hazardous contaminants in food or feeds. Exposure biomarkers including urine DON itself are prone to shift to less harmful metabolites by intestinal microbiota and liver metabolic enzymes. De-epoxyfication of DON by gut microbes such as Eubacterium strain BBSH 797 and Eubacterium sp. DSM 11798 leads to more fecal secretion of DOM-1. By contrast, most of plant-derived DON-glucoside is also easily catabolized to free DON by gut microbes, which produces more burden to body. Phase 2 hepatic metabolism also contributes to the glucuronidation of DON, which can be useful urine biomarkers. However, chemical modification could be very typical depending on the anthropologic or genetic background, luminal bacteria, and hepatic metabolic enzyme susceptibility to the toxins in the diet. After toxin exposure, effect biomarkers are also important in estimating the linkage and mechanisms of foodborne diseases in human and animal population. Most prominent adverse effects are demonstrated in the DON-induced immunological and behavioral disorders. For instance, acutely elevated interleukin-8 from insulted gut exposed to dietaty DON is a dominant clinical biomarker in human and animals. Moreover, subchronic exposure to the toxins is associated with high levels of serum IgA, a biological mediator of IgA nephritis. In particular, anorexia monitoring using mouse models are recently developed to monitor the biological activities of DON-induced feed refusal. It is also mechanistically linked to alteration of serotoin and peptide YY, which are promising biomarkers of neurological disorders by the toxins. As animal-alternative biomonitoring, huamn enterocyte-based assay has been developed and more realistic gut mimetic models would be useful in monitoring the effect biomarkers in resposne to toxic contaminants in the future investigations.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.13 no.8
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• pp.3552-3560
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• 2012

This study was conducted to find out the complaint rate of musculo-skeletal disorder and its related factors from male manufacturing workers at a nonferrous manufacturing industry. As for the research subjects, 302 workers selected from a nonferrous manufacturer located in Daejeon City, and as for the collection of data, a standardized anonymous questionnaire survey were conducted from May 1, 2011 to June 30, 2011. As a results, the complaint rate of musculo-skeletal disorders by each body part, the symptom of shoulders was 42.7%, the highest rate, followed by the waist, 36.8%, the neck and the hand/wrist/finger, 30.5% respectively, the leg and foot, 30.1% and arm/elbow, 20.9%. The complaint rate of musculo-skeletal disorder for the sociodemographic characteristics was significantly high as survey participants' age and BMI were low and in the group having low subjective health condition. The complaint rate of musculo-skeletal disorder for the health-related behavior characteristics was significantly high in the group having been absent from work due for diseases, in the group having received outpatient services, in the group having been hospitalized for treatment, in the group not having a regular exercise and in the group having insufficient sleeping hours. Finally, the complaint rate of musculo-skeletal disorder for the job-related characteristics was significantly high in the group suffering from the physical burden of their work, in the group working while bending at the waist and in the group carrying out repetitive tasks.

• Journal of Obesity & Metabolic Syndrome
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.23-27
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• 2017

Background: In Korea, the prevalence of obesity has steadily increased, and the socioeconomic burden of obesity has increased along with it. In 2015, the National Health Insurance Service (NHIS) signed a memorandum of understanding with the Korean Society for the Study of Obesity (KSSO), providing limited open access to its databases so that the status of obesity and obesity management could be investigated. Methods: Using NHIS databases, we analyzed nationwide population-based studies for obesity using the definition of obesity (body mass index ${\geq}25kg/m^2$) in subjects over the age of 20. Age and sex standardization were used for all data. Results: The KSSO released the 'Obesity Fact Sheet 2016' using the 2006-2015 NHIS Health Checkup database. The prevalence of obesity steadily increased from 28.7% in 2006 to 32.4% in 2015, and the prevalence of abdominal obesity also steadily increased from 18.4% in 2009 to 20.8% in 2015. The prevalence of class II obesity steadily increased from 2006 to 2015, such that the total prevalence was 4.8% in 2015 (5.6% in men and 4.0% in women). The highest prevalence of obesity was found in Jeju Island, while the lowest prevalence was found in Daegu City. The highest prevalence of abdominal obesity was also found in Jeju Island, while the lowest prevalence was found in Gwangju City. Conclusion: Based on the Obesity Fact Sheet 2016, a strategy for reducing the prevalence of obesity is needed, especially in Korean men.

• Korean Journal of Family Social Work
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• no.56
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• pp.251-277
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• 2017

This study aimed to explore the parents'intentions of choosing a residential institution as the future alternative for their children with disabilities after the death of a parent, regarding the recent disability service and policy focusing on the deinstitutionalization of services for people with disabilities. For this purpose, the effects of factors relating to the children with disabilities, families and society on the parents' future plans of residential place and guardians are examined. First, parents of children with disabilities are less likely to choose a residential institution as the future living place for their children when their children have a better communication competence, their families are more positive, and their caring burden is lower, compared to others. Second, parents are less likely to choose a residential institution as the future guarding body for their children when their children could communicate well and their families are positive. This result indicated the communication competence of children with disabilities and the positiveness of families are important factors associating with the future plan decision and the additional support for the prevention of institution arrangement after the death of a parent. Findings are discussed in relation to the importance of future plans of residence and guardians for the life of children with disabilities after the death of parents and the implication for social welfare.

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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• v.110 no.2
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• pp.210-216
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• 2021

Musculoskeletal disorders affect workers' safety in most industries, and forest operations are classified as a musculoskeletal burden according to the Occupational Safety and Health Act in South Korea. In particular, felling and delimbing operations are mainly conducted by manpower, and then, it is necessary to evaluate ergonomic risk assessment for safety of felling and delimbing workers. Three ergonomic risk assessment methods, such as Ovako Working posture Analysis System (OWAS), Rapid Upper Limb Assessment (RULA), and Rapid Entire Body Assessment (REBA), are available for assessing exposure to risk factors associated with timber harvesting operations. Here, three ergonomic risk assessment methods were applied to examine ergonomic risk assessments in chainsaw felling and delimbing operations. Additionally, exposure to risk factors in each method was analyzed to propose an optimal working posture in felling and delimbing operations. The risk levels of these operations were evaluated to be highest in the RULA method, followed by the OWAS and REBA methods, and most of the exposed working postures were examined with a low-risk level of two and three without requiring any immediate working posture changes. However, two significant working postures, including the bending posture of the waist and leg in felling operation and standing posture on the fallen trees in delimbing operation, were assessed as the high-risk level and needed immediate working posture changes. Low-risk work levels were examined in the squatting posture for felling operation and the straightened posture of the waist and leg for delimbing operation. Moreover, the slope in felling operation and the tree height in delimbing operation significantly affected risk level assessment of working posture. Therefore, our study supports that felling and delimbing workers must operate with low-risk working postures for safety.

• Fashion & Textile Research Journal
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• v.24 no.5
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• pp.655-665
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• 2022

This study evaluated the validity of a newly developed mobility protocol examining the comfort functions and requirements of personal protective equipment (PPE) for COVID-19 healthcare workers. Eight males (age: 24.7 ± 3.0 y, height: 173.4 ± 2.3 cm, and body weight 69.9 ± 3.7 kg) participated in the following three PPE conditions: (1) Plastic gown ensemble, (2) Level D ensemble, and (3) Powered air purifying respirator (PAPR) ensemble. The mobility protocol consisted of 10 different tasks in addition to donning and doffing. The 10 tasks were repeated twice at an air temperature of 25oC with 74% RH. The results showed significant differences among the three PPE conditions in mean skin temperature, local skin temperatures (the forehead, thigh, calf, and foot), clothing microclimate (the chest and back), thermal sensation, thermal comfort, and humidity sensation, while there were no significant differences in heart rate or total sweat rate. At rest, the subjects felt less warm and more comfortable in the PAPR than in the Level D condition (P<0.05). However, subjective perceptions in the PAPR and Level D conditions became similar as the tasks progressed and mean skin and leg temperature became greater for the PAPR than the Level D condition (P<0.05). An interview was conducted just after completing the mobility test protocol, and suggestions for improving each PPE item were obtained. To sum up, the mobility test protocol was valid for evaluating the comfort functions of PPE for healthcare workers and obtaining requirements for improving the mobility of each PPE item.

• Journal of Korea Entertainment Industry Association
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• v.15 no.8
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• pp.279-290
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• 2021

As the university's academic management was not carried out smoothly due to COVID-19, and most of them were conducted as non-face-to-face classes, students' dropout is steadily increasing. In this study focus group interviews were conducted to analyze physics students and professors' recognition of the COVID-19 non-face-to-face class environment. Based on the results, the implications of non-face-to-face classes for physics education were presented. Physics students described their feelings about un-tact teaching as 'the class in which the body is comfortable but the mind is uncomfortable', 'a person who is smarter than me seems to explain a book, reading it' and 'a short clip lecture which may be comfortable but cause losses to me', while the professors also described them as 'a fully transformed class system' and 'a online class putting much burden on me'. Regarding school dropout, students said that the concerns about dropout during non-face-to-face classes were deepened about transfer or transfer. The professors said that the department atmosphere had lost vitality due to the increase in non-face-to-face classes and academic dropouts, and had a lot of worries because of the recruitment rate and external university evaluation. The implications of the COVID-19 non-face-to-face class situation for physics education suggest that it is required to strengthen the interaction between professors and students, finding ways to enhance the sense of reality to supplement laboratory classes and giving opportunities to professors to share their pedagogical contents knowledge in physics.

• Journal of Society of Preventive Korean Medicine
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.89-98
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• 2023

Objectives : This study collected sleep information by wearable device in the Korean medicine Daejeon citizen cohort (KDCC). It was measured based on the sleep record information measured by wearing a Fitbit, and the possibility of clinical use was examined for compliance with objective sleep collection. Based on compliance, the possibility of clinical use was examined. Methods : After surveying personal information and PSQI(Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index), sleep information was collected by Fitbit for 14 days. Compliance was measured based on sleep record information by Fitbit. Compliance was analyzed by sex, age, BMI(Body Mass Index), and sleep group(deep/poor). Results : The number of participants was 730, and the compliance was 94.3%, and the compliance group was 675(92.5%). The age of the participants varied from 30 to 60 years old, and the average age was 46±6.7 years. There were 218 males and 512 females. Young people have high compliance. Males are more compliance than females. As the BMI score decreased in the 30s, the compliance was higher. The underweight group in all age groups had 100 compliance. The underweight group was all female. The low compliance groups were that 30 years males (obesity level2), 50 years females (overweight group), and 50 years females (obesity level2). There was no significant difference in compliance between deep sleep group and poor sleep group. In deep sleep group, females showed higher compliance. In poor sleep group, males showed higher compliance. The average duration of Fitbit usage among participants was 20.1 days. The compliant group wore the device for an average of 21.3 days, while the non-compliant group wore it for only 5.2 days. Of the compliant group, 86.9% (73.8% of all participants) continued to wear the Fitbit after the recommended 14-day period, and 50.8% wore it for more than 20 days. Conclusions : This study showed the possibility of adaptation for wearing a Fitbit for collecting objective sleep information. It is judged that the compliance is high because it was worn for more than 13.2 days out of the 14 days required. It is considered meaningful because the compliance was measured based on the sleep information by Fitbit, not the questionnaire. As the data on objective sleep time is collected automatically, we believe that the burden on participants after the study period is not significant for a certain period. Compliance may be even higher for cohorts related to illnesses and with doctor's orders, rather than for the general population.

• Journal of Korean Dental Hygiene Science
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• v.1 no.2
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• pp.41-52
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• 2018

The purpose of this study was to examine the state of oral prophylaxis practice among dental hygiene students and their awareness of musculoskeletal diseases in an effort to provide some information on how to strengthen education on treatment posture to manage musculoskeletal diseases and how to raise awareness of musculoskeletal diseases. From November 2 to 13, 2016, a self-administered survey was conducted on 653 sophomores, juniors and seniors with an experience of oral prophylaxis practice. SPSS version 20.0 for Windows was employed to analyze the collected data. The findings of the study were as follows: 1. The largest group that accounted for 37.4% responded that the total number of students undergoing oral prophylaxis practice during a semester was four to six. The biggest group that represented 65.4% answered that the required practice time per student was one to fewer than three hours. 76.0% continued to be in the repeated same posture. 2. As for the posture of patients, supine position was most common for the maxillary sinus, which accounted for 82.2%. And semi-upright position was most common for the mandibular sinus, which represented 49.6%. 3. In regard to the burden of oral prophylaxis practice, 33.9% considered the required for the practice appropriate. 42.3% took the repeated long-lasting posture, and 53.5% were under physical pressure. 55.4% suffered from mental pressure and stress. 4. The most dominant musculoskeletal area that they experienced pain after oral prophylaxis practice was neck with 52.5%; waist with 48.2, shoulders/wrists/hands with 45.5, back with 10.3, buttocks with 4.1, elbows with 2.3, legs with 2.1, ankles/feet with 0.8 and knees with 0.6%. 5. Concerning the maintenance of repeated treatment postures and pain experience, the students who continued to be in the repeated same position underwent more pain than the others who didn't on the shoulders(2.92±1.05), in the waist(3.02±1.01), buttocks(1.75±0.92), elbows(1.55±0.79) and ankles/foot(2.52±1.25). The differences were statistically significant(p<.05, p<.01). 6. As to educational experience on treatment posture and musculoskeletal diseases, 88.8% received education on treatment posture; 87.9%, on what position should be taken in times of cooperation; 46.9%, on musculoskeletal diseases; 51.9%, on carpal tunnel syndrome; 42.3%, on varicose vein. The students who replied education on occupational diseases was necessary accounted for 89.6%. 7. The students who experienced treatment posture education were better aware of the causes of musculoskeletal diseases(3.23±3.00), ways for preventing the diseases(3.33±.834) and how to stretch the body(3.63±.858). The differences were statistically significant(p<.05, p<.001). 8. The students who experienced education on occupational diseases heard more about musculoskeletal diseases(3.27±.965), were better cognizant of the causes of the diseases(3.45±.847), were better aware of how to prevent them(3.55±.805) and found themselves to know how to stretch to prevent the diseases (3.73±.826). The differences were statistically significant(p<.001).