• Yonsei Medical Journal
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• 제59권9호
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• pp.1138-1142
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• 2018

This study aimed to analyze the impact of sleep deprivation (SD) on cardiac, hemodynamic, and endothelial parameters and to determine whether these are sustained with increased periods of SD. The study included 60 healthy men (mean: age $31.2{\pm}6.3years$; body mass index $24.6{\pm}2.6kg/m^2$). Hemodynamic parameters, parameters of myocardial contractility, spectral analysis of heart rate (HR) and blood pressure (BP) variability, and the sensitivity of arterial baroreflex function were evaluated. Biochemical tests were performed to assess L-arginine (L-Arg) and asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA) levels in reflection of endothelial nitric oxide synthase ability. Measurements of cardiovascular system parameters were obtained at 9 a.m. (baseline) on the first day of the study and 9 a.m. (24-h SD), 1 p.m. (28-h SD), and 5 p.m. (32-h SD) on the second day. Blood samples for evaluating biochemical parameters were obtained at baseline and after 24-h SD. ANOVA Friedman's test revealed a significant effect for time in relation to HR (${\chi}^2=26.04$, df=5, p=0.000), systolic BP (${\chi}^2=35.98$, df=5, p=0.000), diastolic BP (${\chi}^2=18.01$, df=5, p=0.003), and mean BP (${\chi}^2=28.32$, df=5, p=0.000). L-Arg and ADMA levels changed from $78.2{\pm}12.9$ and $0.3{\pm}0.1$ at baseline to $68.8{\pm}10.2$ and $0.4{\pm}0.1$ after 24-hr SD, respectively (p=0.001, p=0.004). SD in healthy men is associated with increases in BP, which appear to occur after 24 hours of SD and are maintained over increasing periods of SD. The observed hemodynamic changes may have resulted due to disordered vascular endothelial function, as reflected in alterations in L-Arg and ADMA levels.

• Safety and Health at Work
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• 제7권1호
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• pp.43-48
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• 2016

Background: Work Ability Index (WAI) is a well-known and valid self-report tool that has been widely used in various studies to identify and avoid early retirement and work-related disability. Nevertheless, very few studies have been carried out to evaluate work ability in Iran. We aimed to investigate the WAI and the effect of work-related stress on it among Iranian workers. Methods: A cross-sectional, descriptive and analytic study was carried out among 449 workers from five working sectors in three big cities of Iran. Work ability and work-related stress were measured using the Persian version of WAI and the Persian version of Health and Safety Executive Stress Indicator Tool. Results: More than a third of the workers surveyed (34.70%) did not have an appropriate level of work ability (WAI < 37). There was a significant correlation between subscales of work-related stress and the mean score of WAI. Furthermore, the variables of body mass index, sleep quality, exercise activity, job tenure, and three subscales of work-related stress including demands, supervisor support, and role were significant predictors of WAI. Conclusion: According to the results of this study, the interventional programs must be focused on improving supervisors support, eliminating ambiguity and conflicts in the role of workers in their job and organization, reducing job demands, improving sleep quality, and increasing exercise activity.

• 대한인간공학회지
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• 제19권2호
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• pp.15-31
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• 2000

The aim was to evaluate the prevailing ergonomic and psychosocial conditions regarding low back injury in an automobile assembly system. This study consisted of two parts. In the first part of the study, analytic biomechanical model and NIOSH guidelines were applied to evaluate risk levels of low back injury for automobile assembly jobs. Total of 246 workers were analysed. There were 20 jobs having greater back compressive forces than 300kg at L5/S1. Also, there were 44 jobs over Action Limit with respect to 1981 NIOSH guidelines. This might in part be explained by the ergonomic conditions of the company analysed generally being good, with a relatively low duration of 'combined' extreme work posture. The relationship between psychosocial factors and low back injury was examined in the second part of the study. It has recently been recognized that overall reaction to working conditions was influenced by a range of factors, some of which were physical and some psychosocial. The psychosocial environment surrounding the work place may contribute to the perception of risk and eventual ill-health. A battery of questionnaires concerning the psychosocial stress based on PWI(Psychosocial Well-being Index) and musculoskeletal pain symptoms at low back was completed by 246 workers at the same plant. Results showed that 207 out 246 workers experienced the symptoms and 27 workers were diagnosed as patients. Two groups(low stressed, high stressed) based on PWI score had no significant relationships with both symptoms and results of diagnosis. However, sensitivities for symptoms and diagnosis by PWI were 91.3% and 92.6% respectively. Finally, relationships between physical work load and psychosocial stress were analysed. Specifically, some postural factors {vertical deviation angle of forearm, horizontal deviation angle of upperarm, vertical deviation angle of thigh, etc) were highly correlated with psychosocial stress. The results illustrated that PWI scores were associated with some physical workloads. However, psychosocial stress levels couldn't be well related with the pain symptom as well as the actual incidence of low back injury since pain or discomfort regarding low back injury were more complex than that of other musculoskeletal disorders.

• 대한인간공학회지
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• 제18권2호
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• pp.25-34
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• 1999

The objective of this study is to evaluate the emotional change of a driver according to the change of temperature, humidity, $CO_2$ gas concentration and $C_4H_{10}$ gas concentration in the automobile by electroencephalogram(EEG) spectrum analysis. The experiment was performed in an automobile simulated shielding room with healthy volunteers(age : 18-31, male : 14, female : 7). The subject's emotion at every different condition was indexed 11-point scale(+5 : most pleasant, -5 : least pleasant). The emotion index at each condition resulted in as follows; in temperature $1.00(23.5^{\circ}C)$, $-2.33(30.5^{\circ}C)$, in humidity 1.50(45%), -1.50(65%), in $CO_2$ gas concentration 0.67(500ppm), -0.57(6,000ppm), in $C_4H_{10}$ gas concentration -0.25(0ppm), -2.75(1,200ppm). From EEG spectrum analysis, the average mean power frequency(MPF) value at each different condition was shown as follows; in temperature $5.48(23.5^{\circ}C)$, $4.06(30.5^{\circ}C)$, in humidity 11.03(45%), 3.03(65%), in $CO_2$ gas concentration 7.16(500ppm), 6.38(6,000ppm), in $C_4H_{10}$ gas concentration 10.21(0ppm), 2.87(1,200ppm). When the environment became unpleasant to the subject, all of the obtained MPF values were decreased. It was found that there is close agreement between subjective evaluation by subject's scaling and objective evaluation by EEG spectrum analysis at different environment. These results indicated that the EEG spectrum analysis is a proper method to assess emotional response of a driver in the changing automobile environment.

• 대한인간공학회지
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• 제23권2호
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• pp.1-12
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• 2004

The purposes of this study were to investigate the relationship between anthropometric data of foot and other body sizes. to categorize the foot shape of elementary school boys and to find out determinant factors related the foot that enable us to deduce the foot shape and size for the design of more comfortable shoes. Subjects of this study were 249 elementary school boys of age ranged from 6 to 11 residing Seoul and lncheon area. Anthropometric sizes were measured with the direct measurement method using Martin scales and the indirect measurement method using digital photos. Pearson's correlation, factor analysis. cluster analysis. analysis of variance, post-hoc test, and cross tabs were performed for statistical analysis of the data by SPSS program. From the investigation on the relationship between foot-related items and body items, most items of foot measure were significantly related to body size items. However, angle of the foot did not related to other body sizes although other height items and mass items of the foot did have relationships with other body sizes. Results of ANOVA indicated there were significant differences in foot-related items except for items of foot angle and all body anthropometric items by subjects' age. This implicates big toe angle, little toe angle and foot ratio factors are required in sizing shoes besides foot length. On the basis of cluster analysis using factor scores. three different foot shapes were categorized. Type 1 was large and wide foot, Type 2 was small and narrow foot with large toe angle. and Type 3 was medium foot with no deformity on big toe. These three groups show significant differences in almost all measurement items. However, Rorher index and foot angle didn't show any significant differences among groups. This implicates the foot shape can be a determinant of shoe size.

• 대한인간공학회지
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• 제17권3호
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• pp.41-59
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• 1998

Thermal comfort aspect of a locally-cooled target space in warm and humid environments(typically in the rainy summer season) was studied in view of PPD index. First. theoretical analyses were conducted to examine the effect of the governing parameters(such as air temperature, relative humidity and air velocity, etc.) using a computer model. Secondly, experimental investigations were also performed in a climatic room designed to simulate corresponding thermal conditions of outdoor environments. During the tests, temporal variation of PPD was recorded as functions of climatic variables(outdoor and indoor temperatures, relative humidity and air velocity) for the given human factors(metabolic heat generation and clothing). From both theoretical and experimental investigations, air temperature and air velocity were found to be the most dominant parameters affecting PPD of the target space. Results were summarized as: 1. Relative humidity of the locally-cooled target space tends to approach that of outdoor's as the space is subjected to an ON-OFF mode of cooling, since moisture potential of the two rooms reaches an equalized state as a result of moisture diffusion. 2. It was recognized that changes in relative humidity did not show any significance in view of thermal comfort as was reported in the previous studies, while variations of both temperature and air velocity caused relatively large changes in the degree of thermal comfort. 3. In-door environment should be evaluated in terms of PPD instead of relative humidity commonly recognized as an important climatic variable particularly in warm and humid environments.

• 대한인간공학회지
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• 제33권5호
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• pp.407-422
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• 2014

Objective: The purpose of the study is to develop quantitative usability evaluation criteria for senior-friendly autonomous transportation robot. Background: The Republic of Korea has become the most rapidly aging society, and is anticipated to enter the post-aged society in 2026. To raise the quality of life of a senior with limited mobility and to reduce the burden of caregivers, many high-tech assistive products with information technologies are developed nowadays. The senior-friendly autonomous transportation robot is one person robot vehicle to move a senior to the destination for hospitals, nursing homes or silver town complex. With built-in navigation system and environmental monitoring censors, it automatically seeks the path to the destination and avoids collision to obstacles and pedestrians on the way. Due to the early stage of the product, few usability studies in this field have been done, mostly on general service robots to assist seniors, power wheelchairs and delivery robots. ISO and KS standards for the service robots are focused on safety. Method: Based on the reference usability index, the early draft of the usability evaluation questionnaires was developed. After small group tests and interviews, the experts modified the initial draft to the Usability Evaluation Criteria for Senior-Friendly Autonomous Transportation Robot (UEC-SFATR). Result: UEC-SFATR consisted of 4 subscales - Safety, Controllability, Efficiency and Satisfaction. All of the 4 subscales of UEC-SFATR were passed the reliability criteria by 4 groups of seniors, divided by gender and familiarity of smart-devices. Conclusion: UEC-SFATR covers wider area of user experiences of the SFATR and is a good measurement tool to help both the users and developers of the robot. Application: This study provides guide to the future product development and product competitiveness evaluation by quantifying user experiences for the SFATR.

• 대한인간공학회지
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• 제32권1호
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• pp.125-137
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• 2013

Objective: The aim of this study was to comprehend major concepts and flows that penetrate international guides or standards for developing a quantitative possibility measure of human errors that can be committed or omitted in nuclear power plants. Background: For a few past decades, lots of researchers have studied the effect of stress and/or fatigue which can result in human errors. Thus, this study was carried out on the assumption that much of them were summarized as an international guidelines or manuals, if any, for human error prevention. Method: A literal survey was conducted with materials and documentation published by international organizations related with safety and standardization, such as ISO, OSHA, NIOSH, NASA, and so on with special reference to human error prevention through management of work stress and fatigue as major Performance Shaping Factors. Results: International guides or management manuals on stress or fatigue management for human error prevention hardly were found, and most researches seemed to concentrate on one of them individually. Conclusion: There was few vestige of research that studied both concurrently. However, it was verified that not a few researches have been tried to develop quantitative measures to estimate probability or job characteristics for human error prevention and/or performance downgrading. Application: The results of this study would help to develop a causal model of human errors due to work stress and fatigue that can result in unexpected accidents in nuclear power plant.

• 대한인간공학회지
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• 제29권2호
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• pp.203-210
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• 2010

For the development of a better product which fits to the target user population, physical workloads such as reach and visibility are evaluated using digital human simulation in the early stage of product development; however, ergonomic workload assessment mainly relies on visual observation of reach envelopes and view cones generated in a 3D graphic environment. The present study developed a quantitative assessment method of physical workload in a digital environment and applied to the evaluation of a Korean utility helicopter (KUH) cockpit design. The proposed assessment method quantified physical workloads for the target user population by applying a 3-step process and identified design features requiring improvement based on the quantified workload evaluation. The scores of physical workloads were quantified in terms of posture, reach, visibility, and clearance, and 5-point scales were defined for the evaluation measures by referring to existing studies. The postures of digital humanoids for a given task were estimated to have the minimal score of postural workload by finding all feasible postures that satisfy task constraints such as a contact between the tip of the index finger and a target point. The proposed assessment method was applied to evaluate the KUH cockpit design in the preliminary design stage and identified design features requiring improvement. The proposed assessment method can be utilized to ergonomic evaluation of product designs using digital human simulation.

• 대한인간공학회지
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• 제32권6호
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• pp.511-516
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• 2013

Objective: The objective of this study is designing an optimal hand tool through maximum grip force study accordance to the hand grip span. Background: In order to prevent musculoskeletal diseases, studies on hand tool design are proceeding based on grip strength, finger force, and contribution of individual finger force on total grip strength. However, experimental apparatus using a tool that is actually used in work place was almost non-existent. Method: 19 males were participated in an experiment. Using the load cell inserted real plier, finger force, grip strength, and subjective discomfort rate of both hands (dominant and non-dominant) were measured in 5 different hand grip span(45mm, 50mm, 60mm, 70mm, and 80mm). Results: There was significant difference(p<0.001) of total grip strength, individual finger force and subjective discomfort rating according to various hand grip span(45, 50, 60, 70, and 80mm). Also, statistically significant different(p<0.001) was shown between the dominant hand and non-dominant hand. In addition, individual finger force in maximum grip was in order of middle finger, ring finger, index finger, and little finger. Conclusion: Optimal grip span of pliers that exerting maximum grip strength is 50~60mm. Application: This finding is expected to be used for designing proper pliers.