• Journal of Digital Convergence
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• v.16 no.12
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• pp.505-510
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• 2018

This study aimed to compare the elimination effect of dental plaque between general toothbrushes and chewing toothbrushes, so as to investigate whether the chewing toothbrushes have the practicality as the alternatives of general toothbrushes and their utilities in the real life. The study subjects were 30 healthy adults in their 20s who maintained the good dental condition over 16 teeth without systemic diseases, and the decline rates of dental plaque index after usages of general and chewing toothbrushes were calculated. Upon the comparisons of dental plaque decline rates before and after the usages of general and chewing toothbrushes, PHI index was declined from 7.02 to 1.91 in case of the general toothbrush demonstrating dental plaque decline by 72.79%, while it was declined from 6.72 to 4.08 in the chewing toothbrush demonstrating decline by 39.29%. Currently, a variety of dental care items are available in the Korean market, hence, various studies are required on the dental care items so as for the people to properly choose the items.

• Journal of the Korea Convergence Society
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• v.10 no.7
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• pp.47-54
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• 2019

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of visual conditions on the static balance of stable and unstable surfaces. Thirty healthy adults participated in this study (13 men, 17 women). Visual conditions were set as vertical, horizontal, and diagonal. It was performed on the pad to measure the balance on the unstable support surface. Using the balance measuring instrument, the General Stability Index, Weight Distribution Index, and Weight Distribution was measured. Paired t-tests were used for ground-based comparisons and one-way ANOVAs were used for comparisons within the same ground. The general stability index showed a significant difference according to the horizontal and vertical line directions on the stable support surface(p<.05). According to the comparison between the grounds, the weight distribution index on the unstable support surface showed a significant difference(p<.05). Weight distribution showed significant differences between the left and right eyes on the support surface with the stable and the unstable horizontal visual condition(p<.05). In static balance training, vertical and diagonal visual direction conditions are predicted to be helpful for training.

• Journal of Korean Physical Therapy Science
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.22-34
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• 2019

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of body blade and Thera band exercise on upper extremity strength, grip strength and balance of university students. Design: Single Blind Randomized Controlled Trial. Method: twenty healthy adults, participated in this study, and were recruited by G University in Gimcheon Korea. The subjects were randomly divided into A group that went through Thera band exercise and B group that went through Body blade exercise. Each group had 10 subjects. All subjects did the experiment for 3 times a week for 3weeks. Spss was used for statistical analysis. Result: 1) Grip strength: After exercising, for the BE group, there were statistically significant differences in dominant and non-dominant hand. However, for the TE group, there were no significant statistical differences in both hands. 2) muscle strength: In the TE group there were no significant statistical differences in the dominant and non-dominant arm. But in the BE group there were differences which were found. 3) balance: After exercising, both groups had no significant statistical difference in medial lateral balance. In anterior and posterior balance, TE group had no statistical significant difference but BE group did. Conclusion: To improve muscle strength balance and grip strength, body blade exercise is more effective than Thera band exercise.

• The Journal of Korea Institute of Information, Electronics, and Communication Technology
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• v.12 no.5
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• pp.475-481
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• 2019

A splint is one of assisting devices for the disabled with hemiplegia or contracture and is manually made by an experienced expert. Heated thermoplastic materials are continuously fitted to the affected part. This traditional method has a possible risk of low-temperature burn, quality variance of the splint due to the proficiency of maker. etc. While various approaches has been made using 3D printing technology in order to redeem those disadvantages, they still carry high cost issues with 3D scanners or accuracy issues with manual measurement. This research begins with symmetrical characteristics of human body and focuses on the preliminary study for the possibility of splint manufacturing with 3D printing technology based on geometric characteristics of unaffected arm. 3D right and left forearm models of healthy male adults were created by photogrammetry software and a series of digital images in order to measure the circumference and cross-sectional area of the forearm models at every 20mm from the elbow. The circumference and cross-sectional area showed tolerable levels of differences between both sides within subjects; The circumference and cross-sectional area showed very strong correlations between both sides within subjects. From these findings, the possibility of splint manufacturing with 3D printing technology could be confirmed based on the geometric characteristics of unaffected side.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.20 no.7
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• pp.440-447
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• 2019

The purpose of this study was to identify the relationship between leisure function, self-esteem and social role loss among golf players in the middle age. Furthermore, it was meaningful to provide basic data on leisure activities and healthy retirement preparation through golf at the present time of the aging society. The subjects of study who adults were recruited from Seoul, Gyeonggi-do. For the data processing, it conducted frequency, reliability, confirmatory factor, correlation, and structure equaling modeling analyses. The results were as follows; First, leisure function of middle age golf participant had a positive influence on self-esteem(p<.05). Second, leisure function of middle age golf participant had a positive influence on social role loss(p<.05). Third, self-esteem of middle age golf participant had a positive influence on social role loss(p<.05). Forth, self-esteem mediated the relationship between middle age golf participant leisure function and social role loss.(p<.05).

• The Journal of Korean Society for School & Community Health Education
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.1-14
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• 2019

Objectives: There are few studies which reflects of each generation's own features, of the New Middle Age and the Elderly's hearing status and their quality of life even though the population of old age has been weighted as baby boom generation's entering into old age. This study is to identify the effects of the new middle age and the elderly's hearing status on their quality of life and to prepare the customized health policies for their health promotion and quality of life improvement as well as the base line data for hearing enhancement programs. Methods: This study was analyzed using the data of the 7th term of the National Health and Nutrition Survey of the Disease Management headquarters. Out of 8,150 adults over the age of 50 who participated in the hearing test, 3,306 were selected and analyzed. Results: At the result of identifying the correlation of hearing status and the quality of life between the New Middle Age and the Elderly, it was confirmed that hearing loss affects low quality of life. The average of quality of life between the New Middle Age and the Elderly was 0.95 and 0.85 each, resulting in higher quality of life in New Middle Age than in the Elderly. The factors affecting the quality of life of the New Middle Age were the level of the education, household income, the type of health insurance, subjective health status. The factors affecting the quality of life of the Elderly were gender, the type of health insurance, subjective health status. Conclusion: Hearing loss of the New Middle Age and the Elderly affects their low quality of life. Therefore the development and the provision of policy program is needed, so as to maintain and manage hearing through age-specific health education. It is expected that the second half of the New Middle Age's life will be much happier, if not taking the treatment-oriented approach of hearing loss only but strengthening the education needed for the maintenance and the management of healthy hearing at their work place, where 50 and 60 generations' workforce has been increased.

• Physical Therapy Rehabilitation Science
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.45-51
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• 2019

Objective: The purpose of this study was to investigate the muscle activity ratio of the lower limb according to changes in straight leg raise (SLR) test angles on hamstring muscle shortening during squat exercises. Design: Randomized controlled trial. Methods: The subjects were 14 healthy adults who were informed of and agreed to the method and purpose of the study. The participants were classified into SLR groups according to two angles (over $80^{\circ}$ or under $80^{\circ}$) assessed using the SLR tests. After training and practicing the wall squat posture to be applied to the experiment, electromyography (EMG) was used to measure changes in muscle activity during the performance of a wall squat. After stretching, a sequence of pre-stretch tests were performed again, and the active and passive SLR tests were also reconducted; thereafter, a wall squat was performed again by attaching EMG electrodes. The EMG results before and after stretching were compared. Results: The muscle activity of the vastus lateralis oblique muscle increased in both groups. The muscle activity of the vastus medialis oblique muscle decreased in over both group. Rectus femorus activity increased in the under 80-degree groups but decreased in the over 80-degree group. The muscle activity of the biceps femoris muscle decreased after stretching in the over 80-degree group and increased in the under 80-degree group, and the semitendinosus muscle activity after stretching was decreased. The quadriceps-to-hamstring muscle (Q:H) ratio before and after stretching between groups showed that the hamstring muscle ratio decreased after stretching in both groups. Conclusions: The results of this study showed that the Q:H ratio before and after stretching between groups was not significantly different.

• Korean Journal of Applied Biomechanics
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.133-139
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• 2021

Objective: This study aims to verify the conventional deadlift motions using by two different grips, thereby elucidating the grounds for effective training methods that can minimize the risk of injury. Method: Total of 18 healthy young adults were recruited for this study (age: 25.11±2.19 yrs., height: 175.67±5.22 cm, body mass: 78.5±8.09 kg, 1-RM: 125.75±19.48 kg). All participants were asked to perform conventional deadlift with two types of grips which are overhand grip (OG) and underhand grip (UG). In each grip, participant perform the deadlift with 50% and 80% of the pre-measured 1-RM. A 3-dimensional motion analysis with 8 infrared cameras and 3 channels of EMG was performed in this study. A two-way ANOVA (group × load) with repeated measure was used for statistical verification. The significant level was set at α=.05. Results: There were significant differences in grip type and weight on the right shoulder joint, and only significant difference in grip on the left shoulder joint (p<.05). The hip joint ROM was significantly increased as the weight increased in both types of grips on phase 1, while the ROM of hip joint was significantly decreased as the weight increased only in the case of OG on phase 2 (p<.05). In case of the OG, as the weight, increased significantly increased L1 ROM and L3 ROM were revealed on phase 1 and phase 2, respectively (p<.05). Moreover, as the weight increased, UG revealed significantly decreased L5 ROM on phase 1, while both grips showed significantly increased ROM on phase 2 (p<.05). In addition, the erector spinae and the biceps femoris, which are synergist for the motion, showed a significant difference in both types of grip according to the weight (p<.05). The muscle activity ratio of gluteus maximus/biceps femoris showed a significant difference only in the UG according to the weight (p<.05). Conclusion: In conclusion, beginners might be suggested to use the UG for maintaining the neutral state of the lumbar spine and focus on the gluteus maximus muscle, which is the main activation muscle. For the experts, it may recommend alternative use of the OG and UG according to the training purpose to minimize the compensation effect.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.31 no.5
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• pp.667-675
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• 2021

Streptococcus agalactiae is an important bacterial pathogen and causative agent of diseases including neonatal sepsis and meningitis, as well as infections in healthy adults and pregnant women. Although antibiotic treatments effectively relieve symptoms, the emergence and transmission of multidrug-resistant strains indicate the need for an effective immunotherapy. Effector T helper (Th) 17 cells are a relatively newly discovered subpopulation of helper CD4⁺ T lymphocytes, and which, by expressing interleukin (IL)-17A, play crucial roles in host defenses against a variety of pathogens, including bacteria and viruses. However, whether S. agalactiae infection can induce the differentiation of CD4⁺ T cells into Th17 cells, and whether IL-17A can play an effective role against S. agalactiae infections, are still unclear. In this study, we analyzed the responses of CD4⁺ T cells and their defensive effects after S. agalactiae infection. The results showed that S. agalactiae infection induces not only the formation of Th1 cells expressing interferon (IFN)-γ, but also the differentiation of mouse splenic CD4⁺ T cells into Th17 cells, which highly express IL-17A. In addition, the bacterial load of S. agalactiae was significantly increased and decreased in organs as determined by antibody neutralization and IL-17A addition experiments, respectively. The results confirmed that IL-17A is required by the host to defend against S. agalactiae and that it plays an important role in effectively eliminating S. agalactiae. Our findings therefore prompt us to adopt effective methods to regulate the expression of IL-17A as a potent strategy for the prevention and treatment of S. agalactiae infection.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.31 no.6
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• pp.595-602
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• 2021

Human intestinal microbiota play an important role in the regulation of the host's metabolism. There is a close pathological and physiological interaction between dysbiosis of the intestinal microflora and obesity and metabolic syndrome. Akkermansia muciniphila, which was recently isolated from human feces, accounts for about 1-4% of the intestinal microbiota population. The use of A. muciniphila- derived external membrane protein Amuc_1100 and extracellular vesicles (EVs) could be a new strategy for the treatment of obesity. A. muciniphila is considered a next-generation probiotic (NGP) for the treatment of metabolic disorders, such as obesity. Faecalibacterium prausnitzii accounts for about 5% of the intestinal microbiota population in healthy adults and is an indicator of gut health. F. prausnitzii is a butyrate-producing bacterium, with anti-inflammatory effects, and is considered an NGP for the treatment of immune diseases and diabetes. Postbiotics are complex mixtures of metabolites contained in the cell supernatant secreted by probiotics. Parabiotics are microbial cells in which probiotics are inactivated. Paraprobiotics and postbiotics have many advantages over probiotics, such as clear chemical structures, safe dose parameters, and a long shelf life. Thus, they have the potential to replace probiotics. The most natural strategy to restore the imbalance of the intestinal ecosystem normally is to use NGPs among commensal bacteria in the gut. Therefore, it is necessary to develop new foods or drugs such as parabiotics and postbiotics using NGPs.