• Korean Journal of Applied Biomechanics
• /
• v.25 no.4
• /
• pp.413-421
• /
• 2015

Objective : The purpose of this study was to investigate biomechanical changes of the lower limb including dynamic stability with changes in illumination (300Lx, 150Lx, and 5Lx) and slope (level and $15^{\circ}$ downhill) as risk factors for elderly falls. Method : Fifteen elderly females were selected for this study. Seven infrared cameras (Proreflex MCU 240: Qualisys, Sweden) and an instrumented treadmill (Bertec, USA) surrounded by illumination regulators and lights to change the levels of illumination were used to collect the data. A One-Way ANOVA with repeated measures using SPSS 12.0 was used to analyze statistical differences by the changes in illumination and slope. Statistical significance was set at ${\alpha}=.05$. Results : No differences in the joint movement of the lower limbs were found with changes in illumination (p>.05). The maximum plantar flexion movement of the ankle joints appeared to be greater at 5Lx compared to 300Lx during slope gait (p<.05). Additionally, maximum extension movement of the hip joints appeared to be greater at 5Lx and 150Lx compared to 300Lx during slope gait (p<.05). The maximum COM-COP angular velocity (direction to medial side of the body) of dynamic stability appeared to be smaller at 150Lx and 300Lx compared to 5Lx during level gait (p<.05). The minimum COM-COP angular velocity (direction to lateral side to the body) of dynamic stability appeared smaller at 150Lx compared to 5Lx during level gait (p<.05). Conclusion : In conclusion, elderly people use a stabilization strategy that reduces walk speed and dynamic stability as darkness increases. Therefore, the changes in illumination during gait induce the changes in gait mechanics which may increase the levels of biomechanical risk in elderly falls.

• Journal of Periodontal and Implant Science
• /
• v.45 no.6
• /
• pp.216-222
• /
• 2015

Purpose: After extraction, the alveolar bone tends to undergo atrophy in three-dimensions. The amount of alveolar bone loss in the horizontal dimension has been reported to be greater than the amount of bone loss in the vertical dimension, and is most pronounced in the buccal aspect. The aim of this study was to monitor the predictive alveolar bone level following the extraction of anterior teeth seriously involved with advanced chronic periodontitis. Methods: This study included 25 patients with advanced chronic periodontitis, whose maxillary anterior teeth had been extracted due to extensive attachment loss more than one year before the study. Periapical radiographs were analyzed to assess the vertical level of alveolar bone surrounding the edentulous area. An imaginary line connecting the mesial and the distal ends of the alveolar crest facing the adjacent tooth was arbitrarily created. Several representative coordinates were established in the horizontal direction, and the vertical distance from the imaginary line to the alveolar crest was measured at each coordinate for each patient using image analysis software. Regression functions predicting the vertical level of the alveolar bone in the maxillary anterior edentulous area were identified for each patient. Results: The regression functions demonstrated a tendency to converge to parabolic shapes. The predicted maximum distance between the imaginary line and the alveolar bone calculated using the regression function was $1.43{\pm}0.65mm$. No significant differences were found between the expected and actual maximum distances. Likewise, the predicted and actual maximum horizontal distances did not show any significant differences. The distance from the alveolar bone crest to the imaginary lines was not influenced by the mesio-distal spans of the edentulous area. Conclusions: After extraction, the vertical level of the alveolar ridge increased to become closer to the reference line connecting the mesial and distal alveolar crests.

• Journal of Dental Anesthesia and Pain Medicine
• /
• v.22 no.1
• /
• pp.19-27
• /
• 2022

Background: Myofascial pain dysfunction syndrome (MPDS) is the most common type of temporomandibular disorder. This study compared the efficacies of low-level diode laser therapy (LLLT) and laser acupuncture therapy (LAT) in the treatment of MPDS. Methods: This double-blind randomized controlled clinical trial included 24 patients with MPDS who were randomly divided into two equally sized groups. Patients in the LLLT group received 12 sessions of low-level diode laser irradiation applied to the trigger points of the masticatory muscles during 1 month. The same protocol was also used in the LAT group according to the specific trigger points. We measured pain intensity and maximum mouth opening in both groups at baseline, during treatment, and 2 months after treatment completion. Results: The pain intensities decreased from 6.58±1.31 to 0.33±0.65 and from 7.08 ± 1.37 to 0 in the LLLT and LAT groups, respectively. The maximum mouth openings increased from 32.25 ± 8.78 mm to 42.58 ± 4.75 mm and from 33 ± 6.57 mm to 45.67 ± 3.86 mm in the LLLT and LAT groups, respectively. Pain intensity (P = 0.839) and level of maximum mouth opening (P = 0.790) did not differ significantly between the groups. Conclusion: Our results showed similar efficacy between LLLT and LAT in the treatment of MPDS signs and symptoms.

• The Journal of Engineering Geology
• /
• v.17 no.4
• /
• pp.643-653
• /
• 2007

Average hydraulic conductivity was $2.64{\times}10^{-8}m/sec$ average RQD was 78%, average porosity was 0.51%, and range of groundwater level was $77.06{\sim}125.97m$ by measured in 8 boreholes at the Surak Mt. tunnel area. Groundwater level of two peaks in the Surak Mt. tunnel area were estimated through linear regression analysis for groundwater level versus elevation. And, average horizontal hydraulic gradient in the Surak Mt. tunnel area was calculated 0.267. Minimum, maximum, and average hydraulic conductivities that estimated by field tests were $5.56{\times}10^{-9}m/sec,\;6.12{\times}10^{-8}m/sec,\;and\;2.64{\times}10^{-8}m/sec$, respectively. Groundwater discharge rates per 1 meter that estimated using minimum, maximum, and average hydraulic conductivities and average horizontal hydraulic gradient were $0.00585m^2/day,\;0.06434m^2/day,\;and\;0.02775m^2/day$, respectively. Pure groundwater recharge rate per unit recharge area was calculated 223.96 mm/yr through water balance analysis. Prediction simulation of groundwater level fluctuation with minimum, maximum, and average hydraulic conductivities were conducted. Discharge rate into the Surak Mt. tunnel for minimum hydraulic conductivity was small, but groundwaer drawdown was highly. Discharge rate into the Surak Mt. tunnel for maximum hydraulic conductivity was higher, but groundwaer level was recovered quickly.

• Physical Therapy Korea
• /
• v.13 no.2
• /
• pp.16-25
• /
• 2006

The aim of this study was to investigate the kinematics of young adults during descent ramp climbing at different inclinations. Twenty-three subjects descended four steps at four different inclinations (level, $-8^{\circ}$, $-16^{\circ}$, $-24^{\circ}$). The 3-D kinematics were measured by a camera-based Falcon System. The data were analyzed using one-way ANOVA and the Student-Newman-Keuls test. The kinematics of descent ramp walking could be clearly distinguished from the kinematics of level walking. On a sagittal plane, the ankle joint was more plantar flexed at initial contact with $-16^{\circ}/-24^{\circ}$ inclination, was decreased in the toe off position with all inclinations (p<.001),and was decreased at maximum plantar flexion during the swing phase (p<.001). The knee joint was more flexed at initial contact with the $-24^{\circ}$ inclination (p<.001), was more flexed in the toe off position with all inclinations (p<.001), and was more flexed at minimum flexion during stance phase and at maximum flexion during swing phase with $-16^{\circ}$, $-24^{\circ}$ inclination (p<.001). The hip joint was more flexed in the toe off position with $-16^{\circ}$, $-24^{\circ}$ inclination and was deceased at maximum extension during stance phase with $-16^{\circ}$, $-24^{\circ}$ inclination (p<.05). In the frontal plane, the ankle joint was more everted at maximum eversion during stance phase with $-16^{\circ}/-24^{\circ}$ inclination (p<.01) and was decreased at maximum inversion during swing phase with $-16^{\circ}$, $-24^{\circ}$ inclination (p<.01). The knee joint was more increased at maximum varus during stance phase with $-16^{\circ}/-24^{\circ}$ inclination (p<.001). The hip joint was deceased at maximum adduction during stance phase with $-24^{\circ}$ inclination (p<.05). In a horizontal plane, only the knee joint was increased at maximum internal rotation during stance phase with $-24^{\circ}$ inclination (p<.05). In descent ramp walking, the different gait patterns occurred at an inclination of over $16^{\circ}$ on the descending ramp in the sagittal and frontal planes. These results suggest that there is a certain inclination angle or angular range where subjects do switch between level walking and descent ramp walking gait patterns.

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
• /
• v.102 no.3
• /
• pp.365-371
• /
• 2013

Pine mushroom (Tricholoma matsutake) is one of the most profitable forest products in Korea. We postulated a hypothesis that a high rate of returns to labor input could make the harvest of pine mushroom off the optimum level. In the view of developing a sustainable production strategy for pine mushroom producers, production of pine mushroom collectors and pine mushroom growth function were estimated using maximum entropy method. Annual pine mushroom production and labor input were the data used in the estimation of production function of pine mushroom collectors and pine mushroom growth function. The level of sustainable maximum production derived from the estimated function. The production function estimated shows that production of pine mushroom is affected more by the resource of pine mushroom stocked in the forests than by labor that households put in forestry business. The production function of mushroom collectors and the estimated growth function indicate that pine mushroom harvests for the period of 2005-2011 did not reach the potential level of maximum sustainable production. Therefore, we suggest that pine mushroom harvest should be controlled until the resource stock of pine mushroom in the forests increases to the level of maximum sustainable production.

• Journal of Biosystems Engineering
• /
• v.34 no.6
• /
• pp.454-461
• /
• 2009

The purpose of this study is to analyze the RFID recognition performance by level of water. A 13.56 MHz RFID management system for packaged liquid food logistics is consisted of antenna, reader, passive type tags, and embedded controller. The tests were conducted at different level of water, distances between tag and antenna, and position of attached tags. To analyze the RFID recognition performance, maximum recognition distances for a container and recognition rates for a logistics made of 27 containers were measured and analyzed. The maximum recognition distance for a container was different depending on position of attached tags, and attached tag at upside position showed a good performance. But, the recognition rate of 27 containers showed a good ability for attached tags at front side position, 30~35 cm distance to antenna, and water level 1. Therefore, to manage packaged liquid food logistics using RFID system, position of attached tag, distances between tag and antenna, and level of water should be considered.

• Proceedings of the Korea Society for Simulation Conference
• /
• 2001.10a
• /
• pp.20-36
• /
• 2001

The purpose of this paper is estimating environmental carving capacity of Seoul Metropolitan Area for a sustainable city management using system dynamics model. A sustainable development requires a society to define sustainability constraints or environmental limits, environmental carving capacity. Environmental carving capacity can be defined as the level of human activity which a region can sustain at an acceptable quality of life level. This concept of environmental carving capacity has several important application to sustainable city planning and management. If the limitation of a human activity can be supported by a scientific data on carving capacity, the resulting decision and actions could more easily win public support for a sustainable development. However, one of the key issues is how to operationalize the carving capacity. In this paper, the environmental carving capacity was operationalized as a maximum number of industry structure, population, and housing that can sustain certain level of environmental quality of Seoul Metropolitan Area. The model developed in this paper consisted off sectors: population, housing, industry, land, and environmental sector. The model limits its main focus on the NO$_2$level of ambient air of Seoul. Carving capacity Seoul Metropolitan Area was estimated by figuring out the maximum number of population, industry structure, housing at an equilibrium point that sustain a desirable NO$_2$level. Based on the model estimation, several policy implications for a sustainable city management was discussed.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
• /
• v.64 no.3
• /
• pp.301-310
• /
• 2017

For further development of passive control systems to dissipate larger seismic energy and prevent the structures from earthquake losses, this paper proposes an innovative two-level control system to improve behavior of chevron braced steel frames. Combining two Knee Braces, KB, and a Vertical Link Beam, VLB, in a chevron braced frame, this system can reliably sustain main shock and aftershocks in steel structures. The performance of this two-level system is examined through a finite element analysis and quasi-static cyclic loading test. The cyclic performances of VLB and KBs alone in chevron braced frames are compared with that of the presented two-level control system. The results show appropriate performance of the proposed system in terms of ductility and energy dissipation in two different excitation levels. The maximum load capacity of the presented system is about 30% and 17% higher than those of the chevron braced frames with KB and VLB alone, respectively. In addition, the maximum energy dissipation of the proposed system is about 78% and 150% higher than those of chevron braced frames with VLB and KB respectively under two separate levels of lateral forces caused by different probable seismic excitations. Finally, high performance under different earthquake levels with competitive cost and quick installation work for the control system can be found as main advantages of the presented system.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
• /
• v.4 no.1
• /
• pp.1-18
• /
• 2012

The spatial variation of ground motion in Kolkata Metropolitan District (KMD) has been estimated by generating synthetic ground motion considering the point source model coupled with site response analysis. The most vulnerable source was identified from regional seismotectonic map for an area of about 350 km radius around Kolkata. The rock level acceleration time histories at 121 borehole locations in Kolkata for the vulnerable source, Eocene Hinge Zone, due to maximum credible earthquake (MCE) moment magnitude 6.2 were generated by synthetic ground motion model. Soil investigation data of 121 boreholes were collected from the report of Soil Data Bank Project, Jadavpur University, Kolkata. Surface level ground motion parameters were determined using SHAKE2000 software. The results are presented in the form of peak ground acceleration (PGA) at rock level and ground surface, amplification factor, and the response spectra at the ground surface for frequency 1.5 Hz, 3 Hz, 5 Hz and 10 Hz and 5% damping ratio. Site response study shows higher PGA in comparison with rock level acceleration. Maximum amplification in some portion in KMD area is found to be as high as 3.0 times compared to rock level.