• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.67-87
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• 2005

Impaired sensorimotor function of the hand ipsilateral to a unilateral brain damage has been reported in a variety of motor task. however, it is still the controversial issue because of the difficulty of detection in clinical situation, patients' variability(time after onset, contralateral upper extremity severity, other cognitive functions including apraxia), and the performed various motor task. The purpose of this study is to determine the presence of ipsilateral motor deficit following unilateral brain damage in three different specific tasks(hand tapping, visual tracking and coin rotation) compared with healthy age-sex matched control group using the same hand and to investigate the lateralized motor control in each hemispheric function. Findings revealed that stroke patients with unilateral brain damage experienced difficulties with rapid-simple repetitive movement, visuomotor coordination, complex sequencing movement on ipsilateral side. Also, Comparison of the left-hemispheric stroke groups and the right-hemispheric stroke groups revealed that patients with a left-hemisphere damage tended to be more variable in performing all of the three tasks. These results show that stroke patient with left hemisphere damage has more ipsilateral motor deficit, and the left hemisphere contributes to the processing of motor control that necessary for the executing actions with ipsilateral hand.

• Environmental Analysis Health and Toxicology
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• v.28
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• pp.15.1-15.8
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• 2013

Objectives The aim of this study was to determine the association between low-level mercury exposure and neurobehavioral functions in adults living in coastal regions of Korea. Methods We selected 172 adults aged 20-65 years living in a city in the coastal region of Korea. A sociodemographic survey was conducted, mercury levels in the blood, urine, and hair were measured, and the associations according to computerized neurobehavioral tests were determined using univariate analysis. After adjustment for associated variables, a multivariate linear regression analysis was performed. Results The geometric mean mercury levels in the blood, urine, and hair were $5.41{\mu}g/L$ (range, $0.00-15.84{\mu}g/L$), $1.17{\mu}g/g$-creatinine (range, $0.00-32.86{\mu}g/g$-creatinine), and 1.37 mg/kg (range, 0.42-6.56 mg/kg), respectively. Variables that were associated with simple reaction time according to the neurobehavioral test results were age and urine mercury level. Variables associated with choice reaction time were the recent use of Korean traditional medicine and urine mercury level. Variables associated with the right-hand finger tapping speed test were age, gender, smoking behavior, education level, monthly household income, and urine mercury level. Variables associated with the left-hand finger tapping speed test were age, gender, education level, and urine mercury level. After adjustment for associated variables, there was no significant association between urine mercury level and simple reaction time (${\beta}=25.96$; p =0.47), choice reaction time (${\beta}=50.37$; p =0.32), or the number of left-hand finger taps (${\beta}=-1.54$; p =0.21). However, urine mercury level was significantly associated with the number of right-hand finger taps (${\beta}=-3.86$; p =0.01). Conclusions We found no evidence that low-level mercury exposure in adults is associated with deficits in neurobehavioral functions. A longer follow-up study is required to confirm this conclusion.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.39 no.2
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• pp.147-153
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• 2018

Objective: The purpose of this case report is to evaluate the effect of electroacupuncture on Pal-sa (EX-UE9) for unilateral motor disturbance of the hand after cerebral infarction. Methods: One patient with unilateral motor disturbance of the hand following cerebral infarction (right basal ganglion and corona radiata) was treated with acupuncture, herbal medication, and electroacupuncture on Pal-sa (EX-UE9) once daily from June 30, 2016 to July 4, 2016. We evaluated improvement using the Box and Block Test (BTT) and 10-seconds Test, including the Finger Individual Movement Test (FIMT), the Hand Pronation and Supination Test (HPST), and the Finger Tapping Test (FTT). Results: After five days of treatment, increase of FIMT and FTT scores was observed after electroacupuncture on Pal-sa (EX-UE9). However, no increase was observed in BBT or HPST scores. Conclusions: This study suggests that electroacupuncture on Pal-sa (EX-UE9) can help treat motor disturbance of the hand after cerebral infarction.

• 한국지구물리탐사학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2008.10a
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• pp.41-46
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• 2008

After choosing twenty sluice culverts located at national rivers by detailed appearance evaluation, hydraulic response test and acoustic televiewer in addition to surface geophysical explorations were carried out to investigate the cavities which exist at the boundary of sluice culvert and ground. Tapping, GPR, 3-D resistivity surveys and acoustic televiewer imagery obtained successful results in limited conditions according to characteristics of the sites. On the other hand, hydraulic response test successfully detected cavity existing at the lower part of sluice culvert and its continuity. However, hydraulic response test can not supply the quantitative informations on the scale and the shape of cavity. Thus it is very important for accurate investigation to make comprehensive interpretation after supplying various surveys proper to site characteristics.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.30 no.3 s.58
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• pp.577-584
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• 1997

Validation and Standardization of neurobehavioral instrument in Korean occupational setting has not been studied ever. This study tried to validate the newly developed computerized psychomotor tests, Neurobehavioral Tests for Occupational Screening (NTOS). Male patients with Parkinson's disease(n=12) and male workers who never exposed to occupational neurotoxic materials and didn't have neurologic disease(n=21), performed some tests from NTOS; simple reaction time, choice reaction time(2 choice), and finger tapping(both hands). In simple analysis, difference between patient group and worker group was significantly great. Adjusted for age and education years, simple reaction time and finger tapping(both hand) were statistically significantly different between two groups(p<.05). Choice reaction time was also different(p<.1) but error frequency of choice reaction time test was not. Generally, this results showed NTOS could detect impairment of psychomotor function. But insensitive results of choice reaction time was partly due to small sample size and confounding variables and so required future study and refinement at improvement of NTOS.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.3 no.1
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• pp.43-48
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• 2009

We investigated the nutritional state of B vitamins and the neuropsychological functions in 25 subjects, aged $63.1{\pm}6.3$ years, residing in rural areas of Korea. Nutritional states of thiamin, riboflavin, and pyridoxine were assessed enzymatically in the erythrocytes, and folate concentrations were measured microbiologically in the plasma and erythrocytes. A battery of composite neuropsychological test was administered to the subjects. Plasma folate was correlated with the total intelligence score (p=0.049). Folate levels in the erythrocytes were correlated with the performance intelligence scores such as block design (p=0.017) and picture arrangement (p=0.016). The red cell folate was correlated with memory scores such as general memory (p=0.009) and delayed recall (p=0.000). Although it did not reach statistical significance, verbal memory (p=0.053) was highly correlated with the red cell folate. The red cell folate was also correlated positively with the percent of conceptual level response number score (p=0.029), and negatively with the grooved pegboard test score for the non-dominant hand (p=0.010). Fine motor coordination was also influenced by folate nutrition, as finger tapping scores in both hands were significantly correlated with red cell folate (dominant hand; p=0.026, non-dominant hand; p=0.004). Other B vitamins such as thiamin, riboflavin, and vitamin $B_6$ were not as strongly correlated with neuropsychological function test scores as folate was. These results suggest that folate nutrition influences neuropsychological function test scores significantly in humans. Further studies are needed to explore the relationship between folate or other vitamin B nutrition and neuropsychological functions and the implications thereof.

• Tribology and Lubricants
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.213-217
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• 2013

As commercial atomic force microscopy (AFM) probes made of Si and $Si_3N_4$ have low stiffness, it is difficult to induce sufficient elastic deformation on the surface of a specimen in a tapping mode. Therefore, high-guality phase contrast images can not obtained. On the other hand, a tungsten AFM probe has relatively higher stiffness than a commercial AFM probe. Accordingly, it is expected to provide an enhanced phase contrast image, which is an effective tool for achieving a better understanding of the micromechanical properties of worn surfaces and wear mechanisms. In this study, on electrochemical etching method was optimized to fabricate tungsten probe tips for an AFM. Electrochemical etching was performed by applying pulse waves with a 20% duty cycle at various voltages instead of only a DC voltage, which has been commonly used.

• SUVANNABHUMI
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.51-89
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• 2017

Strategically situated between the East-West maritime crossroads, the peoples of Southeast Asia over the centuries witnessed the comings and goings of traders from territories from East Asia, South Asia, West Asia and Europe. There were also those from North America that crossed the Pacific for commercial profits in this region. Foreign traders undoubtedly in the course of their visits and sojourns had liaisons with local women, some engaged in marriages. Offspring of these interracial miscegenation possessed rather unique characteristics. As a community, they were identified with the Malay term, peranakan, from the root word, "anak" meaning "child," hence "offspring" or "descendent". Specific terms - Baba Nyonya, Tionghoa-Selat, Chitty, Jawi Pekan, Pashu, Kristang - referred to particular groups. Although socially they appeared 'neither here nor there', members of mixed parentage were able to carve an especial niche in the local environment throughout Southeast Asia, conspicuously in urban, port-cities where trade and commerce predominated. Following in the footsteps of their progenitor, the Peranakan acted as intermediaries, comprador between foreign and indigenous enterprises, profiting financially and socially from trade and commerce. Tapping on the author's personal experiences and first-hand observations, complementing with oral sources, and support from secondary materials, this present essay explores, discusses, and analyzes the eclectic sociocultural practices and traditions of the Baba Nyonya of George Town, Penang. Purposeful intention is to further enlighten our understanding, and in turn, our appreciation, of these ever increasingly diminishing communities and their cultures across Southeast Asia.

• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.27-37
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• 2024

Objectives: Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a prevalent mental health condition, and techniques using sensory stimulation in processing traumatic memories have gained attention. The Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT) is a psychotherapy that combines tapping on acupoints with exposure to cognitive reframing. This pilot study aimed to assess the feasibility of EFT as a treatment for PTSD by answering the following research questions: 1) What is the compliance and completion rate of patients with PTSD with regard to EFT protocol? Is the dropout rate reasonable? 2) Is the effect size of EFT protocol for PTSD sufficient to justify a future trial? Methods: Thirty participants diagnosed with PTSD were recruited. They received weekly EFT sessions for five weeks, in which they repeated a statement acknowledging the problem and accepting themselves while tapping the SI3 acupoint on the side of their hand. PTSD symptoms were evaluated using the PTSD Checklist for DSM-5 (PCL-5) before and after the intervention. Results: Of the 30 PTSD patients (mean age: 34.1 ± 9.1, 80% female), 96.7% showed over 80% compliance to the EFT sessions, and 86.7% completed the entire study process. The mean PCL-5 total score decreased significantly after the intervention, with a large effect size (change from baseline: -14.33 [95% CI: -19.79, -8.86], p < 0.0001, d = 1.06). Conclusion: The study suggests that EFT is a feasible treatment for PTSD, with high session compliance and low dropout rates. The effect size observed in this study supports the need for a larger trial in the future to further investigate EFT as a treatment for PTSD. However, the lack of a control group and the use of a self-rated questionnaire for PTSD symptoms are limitations of this study. The findings of this pilot study can be used to plan a future trial.

• The korean journal of orthodontics
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• v.41 no.1
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• pp.25-35
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• 2011

Objective: The purpose of this study was to optimize the thread pattern of orthodontic microimplants. Methods: In search of an optimal thread for orthodontic microimplants, an objective function stability quotient (SQ) was built and solved which will help increase the stability and torsional strength of microimplants while reducing the bone damage during insertion. Selecting the AbsoAnchor SH1312-7 microimplant (Dentos Inc., Daegu, Korea) as a control, and using the thread height (h) and pitch (p) as design parameters, new thread designs with optimal combination of hand p combination were developed. Design soundness of the new threads were examined through insertion strain analyses using 3D finite element simulation, torque test, and clinical test. Results: Solving the function SQ, four new models with optimized thread designs were developed (h200p6, h225p7, h250p8, and h275p8). Finite element analysis has shown that these new designs may cause less bone damage during insertion. The torsional strength of two models h200p6 and h225p7 were significantly higher than the control. On the other hand, clinical test of models h200p6 and h250p8 had similar success rates when compared to the control. Conclusion: Overall, the new thread designs exhibited better performance than the control which indicated that the optimization methodology may be a useful tool when designing orthodontic microimplant threads.