• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.25 no.5
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• pp.151-165
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• 2008

Objectives : To evaluate the effects of Head Acupuncture versus Upper and Lower Limbs Acupuncture on signal activation of Blood Oxygen Level Dependent(BOLD) fMRI on the Brain and Somatosensory Cortex. Subjects and Methods : 10 healthy normal right-handed female volunteer were recruited. The average age of the 10 subjects was 30 years old. The BOLD functional MRI(fMRI) signal characteristics were determined during tactile stimulation was conducted by rubbing 4 acu-points in the right upper and lower limbs($LI_1$, $LI_{10}$, $LV_3$, $ST_{36}$). After stimulation of Head Acupuncture in Sishencong($HN_1$), $GB_{18}$, $GB_9$, $TH_{20}$ of Left versus Upper and Lower Limbs Acupuncture($LI_1$, $LI_{10}$, $LV_3$, $ST_{36}$ of Right) and took off needles. Then the BOLD fMRI signal characteristics were determined at the same manner. Results : 1. When touched with cotton buds(sensory stimulation), left Parietal Lobe, Post-central Gyrus, primary somatosensory cortex(BA 1, 2, 3), and primary motor cortex(BA 4) were mainly activated. When $ST_{36}$ was stimulated, Frontal Lobe, Parietal Lobe, Cerebellum, and Posterior Lobe as well as Inter-Hemispheric displaying a variety of regions. 2. In signal activation before and after Head Acupuncture reaction, it showed signal activation after removing the acupuncture needle and right Somatosensory Association Cortex, Postcentral Gyrus, and Parietal Lobe were more activated. 3. In reactions of before and after Upper and Lower Limb Acupuncture, it also showed signal activation after removing the acupuncture needle and bilateral Occipital Lobe, Lingual Gyrus, visual association cortex, and Cerebellum were activated. 4. After acupuncture stimulation, In Upper and Lower Limb Acupuncture Group, left frontal Lobe, Precentral Gyrus and Bilateral parietal lobe, Postcentral Gyrus and Primary Somatosensory Cortex(BA 2) were activated. In Head Acupuncture Group, which has most similar activation regions, but especially right Pre-Post central Gyrus, Primary Somatosensory Cortex(BA 3), Primary Motor Cortex, frontal Lobe and Parietal Lobe were activated. Conclusions : When sensory stimulation was done with cotton buds on four acup-points($LI_1$, $LI_{10}4, $LV_3$, $ST_{36}$), while bilaterally activated, contralateral sense was more dominant. It showed consistency with cerebral cortex function. When $ST_{36}$ was stimulated Frontal Lobe, Parietal Lobe, Cerebellum, Posterior Lobe as well as Inter-Hemispheric were stimulated. In Head Acupuncture, it showed more contralateral activation after acupuncture. In Upper and Lower Limb Acupuncture, it showed typically contralateral activation and deactivation of limbic system after acupuncture stimulation. Therefore, there were different fMRI BOLD signal activation reaction before and after Head Acupuncture vs Upper and Lower Limb Acupuncture which might be thought to be caused by acu-points' sensitivity and different sensory receptor to response acupuncture stimulation.

• Journal of Electrical Engineering and Technology
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.184-191
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• 2016

In recent years, there are a number of studies that have been carried out to explore the alternative for Mineral Oil (MO) as dielectric insulating fluid in transformers due to the increasing tight regulation on safety and environment. Vegetable oils have been identified as suitable candidate since it is biodegradable, non-toxic and high flash/fire points which ensure more in-service safety. Among the types of vegetable oils considered for transformers application are Palm Oil (PO) and Coconut Oil (CO). This paper presents an experimental study on the lightning breakdown voltages of PO and CO under non-uniform electric field based on needle-sphere electrodes configuration at 3 small gap distances. The type of PO used in this study is Refined Bleached and Deodorized Palm Oil (RBDPO) Olein. The main focus of this study is to examine the lightning breakdown performance of RBDPO and CO under different test conditions and assess its suitability as dielectric insulating fluid in transformers. The effect of voltage polarities (positive and negative) and testing methods (rising-voltage, up-and-down and multiple-voltage) were investigated. The data obtained from all tests were analysed by Weibull distribution in order to determine the withstand voltages for each type of oils. It was found that the breakdown voltages of RBDPO and CO are comparable with MO under positive lightning impulse. Under negative lightning impulse, the breakdown voltage of MO is slightly higher than RBDPO and CO. There is no significant effect of testing methods and voltage polarities on lightning breakdown voltages of RBDPO and CO. Based on the statistical analysis, it is found that the breakdown voltages of RBDPO and CO at 1% probability are slightly lower than MO.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.14 no.4
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• pp.455-461
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• 2001

The effect of exogenous gonadotrophins on superovulation in rabbits was examined. One hundred and sixteen sexually mature California, Chinchilla and New Zealand White rabbits were randomly allocated to control (100 IU hCG), PMSG-treated (100 IU HCG following 150 IU PMSG) and FSH-treated groups (0.3 mg/head /12 h for 3 days followed by 100 IU hCG). All does were mated after hCG injection and were sacrificed or laparotomized within 1 to 4 days postcoitus for counting the number of ovulation points. The number of ovulations was higher in FSH-treated animals than in the control and PMSG-treated groups (37.2 vs. 10.4 and 14.5, p<0.05). Follicle haemorrhagicum was observed in many cases in the PMSG-treated group. No significant difference in ovulation number was observed between left and right ovaries regardless of gonadotropin treatment. In another experiment, 2-cell stage embryos were collected at 26 h postmating and blastomeres were separated by mechanical pipetting or gentle pressure with a fine glass needle. Aggregated or chimeric embryos were produced from two single blastomeres from two breeds, New Zealand White and Chinchlla, with different coat colors. All the embryos were cultured in Ham's F-10 medium supplemented with 1.5% BSA (bovine serum albumin fraction V) and 10% PRS (pregnant rabbit serum), and incubated in a humidified atmosphere with 5% $CO_2$ at $38^{\circ}C$. After development to morula or early blastocyst, the embryos were transferred into the oviducts of recipient does. Results showed that 7 out of 10 does (70%) receiving intact embryos (control) became pregnant and 41 kits were delivered. However, no pregnancy was obtained from the recipient of either denuded demi- or aggregated embryos. It is suggested that embryos without zona pellucida could not develop to term in rabbits.

• Journal of Korean Medical classics
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.13-40
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• 2016

Objectives : The practice of bloodletting therapy has taken place for several millenia all over the world. The therapy is still one of the most popular oriental treatments in Korea. This paper studies bloodletting therapy in Huangdineijing to provide the Korean Medicine doctors with knowledge of the therapy to effectively utilize it in their clinics. Methods : The author studied all of the diseases treated by bloodletting therapy in Huangdineijing, and placed them into three categories: the visceral and bowel diseases, the meridian diseases, and miscellaneous diseases. The author reviewed reference documents that show clinical experiences of using the therapy and the results from the research on the therapy's therapeutic dynamics. Results : The treatment principals such as diagnostic methods, meridian points selection, acupuncture methods, and tools for the bloodletting therapy were provided. Most of the diseases treated by the therapy were identified by the visceral pattern identification or meridian pattern identification except miscellaneous diseases. The characteristics of the diseases treated by the therapy were studied and the diseases were placed into categories such as fever, pain, qi counterflow, first-aid, mental disease, and deep-seated disease. Theoretical basis of the mechanism of bloodletting therapy was drawn from several researches and a number of clinical theses related to bloodletting therapy. Conclusions : Results of this study on bloodletting therapy in Huangdineijing could be a useful knowledge for the Korean medicine doctors to be utilized their clinics. Future studies on this type of therapy should be performed to identify the diseases that may be effectively treated by bloodletting therapy.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.33 no.4
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• pp.50-59
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• 2012

Objectives: This study aimed to compare the effects of high frequency electroacupuncture, low frequency electroacupuncture and manual acupuncture on the autonomic nervous system in stroke patients by using a heart rate variability measuring device. Methods: Thirty-nine participants were recruited and each participated in the high frequency electroacupuncture group, low frequency electroacupuncture group, manual acupuncture group and non-acupuncture group. Some participants received needle insertion with 100 Hz stimulation, with 2Hz stimulation and manual stimulation under mental arithmetic stress during 2 sections. Other participants maintained in the supine position without acupuncture under mental arithmetic stress during the 2 sections. Acupuncture needles were directly inserted perpendicularly to the right Liv 3 acupoint followed by delivery of electric pulses to these points for 8 minutes. Heart rate variability was measured 8 minutes before and 16 minutes after acupuncture stimulation by a heart rate variability measuring system. Results: We found a significant elevated HF total power between 1 section and 2 section and between 1 section and 4 section in the non-acupuncture group, between 3 section and 4 section in the 100Hz electroacupuncture group, and between 1 section and 2 section in the manual acupuncture group and with no change in the 2Hz electroacupuncture group. We also found a significant VLF total power between 2 section and 3 section in the 2Hz electroacupuncture group and between 1 section and 4 section and between 2 section and 4 section in the 100Hz electroacupuncture group. All four groups showed no significant differences in other parameters including heart rate mean, low-frequency power, and the ratio of low-frequency power to high-frequency power. Conclusions: This study may be a basis for research about effects of acupuncture and electroacupuncture because the parameters measured, heart rate variability, showed differences according to acupuncture.

• Journal of Advanced Marine Engineering and Technology
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• v.37 no.5
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• pp.533-540
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• 2013

Prime movers in engine rooms inherently are much affected by the adjustment of their governors for the steady state and transient properties, consequently requiring that marine engineers shall be well familiar with the way to manage governor dials for normal operation. The hydro-mechanical governors basically have different control characteristics and adjustment parameters of stability from digital governors. The former include compensation mechanism using dash pot while the control algorithm of the latter is usually based on the PID action. This study is for configuring a simulation module to let trainees practice how to adjust dials for stability on hydraulic governors in the view that the practice by real governors and engines is time consuming and high cost for operation. The governor module includes the adjusting points such as speed set, speed droop, needle valve and compensation pointer with engine module of $2^{nd}$ order coupled. The results of simulation showed satisfactory responses as a training tool for the adjustment of control parameters.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.748-754
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• 2007

Electroacupuncture is the combined treatment of mechanical and electric stimuli on the needle head, on which electricity runs after acupuncturing at the acupuncture points. It is reported that its treatment effect depends on the parameter of stimulus, which is wave of stimulus, frequency, voltage, and duration of electric current. To get the effective treatment, stimulus intensity over threshold is needed. We planned to experiment whether acupuncture effect is affected by sex, age, and weight. After we conducted electric stimulus at Zusanli(ST 36) which is known to increase small intestinal motility in normal rats, we observed the effects and got the following results. Though the increased effects of small intestinal motility of electro-acupuncture at Zusanli(ST 36) did not show the difference of sex, this effect was observed to have a tendency to decrease according to weight increase without distinction of sex. But the effect of electro-acupuncture shown in 4, 5, 7 weeks old without distinction of sex was observed to have a tendency to decrease with the growing of weeks-old in the male rat group. And the significant change without specific tendency was observed in the 4, 5 weeks old female rat group. This result suggested that sex, weight, and age should be considered to get the efficient electro-acupuncture. The more experimental study should be advanced to investigate the correlation between the factors that can affect the acupuncture treatment, and, afterward, the interconnection into the clinical use.

• Women's Health Nursing
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.318-325
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• 2021

Purpose: Although insulin is usually injected into the abdominal subcutaneous fat, in pregnancy women tend to avoid abdominal injections due to concern about fetal damage. Prior studies have been limited to only measuring skin-subcutaneous fat thickness (S-ScFT) at one site at specific pregnancy points. This study aimed to measure S-ScFT across several abdominal sites and over the gestational period in Korean pregnant women. This can identify which site would be relatively safe for subcutaneous injection during pregnancy. Methods: Healthy women over 24 weeks of pregnancy in Korea were invited to voluntarily participate in this descriptive study. For the 142 women, S-ScFT of 12 sites in the abdomen were measured by ultrasound, several times over the pregnancy. Each incidence was treated as a case and a total of 262 cases were analyzed. Results: The mean S-ScFT during pregnancy was 1.14±0.47 cm (1.25±0.54 cm at 24⁺⁰-27⁺⁶ weeks; 1.17±0.48 cm at 28⁺⁰-31⁺⁶ weeks; 1.09+0.40 cm at 32⁺⁰-35⁺⁶ weeks; and 1.06±0.47 cm at 36⁺⁰-40 weeks of pregnancy). Most S-ScFT were thicker than 10 mm. But S-ScFTs in the lateral abdomen and some sites were suboptimal (<6 mm), especially in the pre-pregnancy underweight body mass index group, who had a high rate of suboptimal thickness (27.1% overall and 33.9% in the lateral side). Conclusion: The whole abdomen seems to be appropriate for subcutaneous injection in most Korean women during pregnancy, with a 4 to 5-mm short needle. However, for the lateral abdomen, making the skin fold might be needed for fetal safety.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.37 no.2
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• pp.132-140
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• 2024

Background: This study aimed to identify exact anatomical landmarks and ideal injection volumes for safe adductor canal blocks (ACB). Methods: Fifty thighs from 25 embalmed adult Korean cadavers were used. The measurement baseline was the line connecting the anterior superior iliac spine (ASIS) to the midpoint of the patellar base. All target points were measured perpendicular to the baseline. The relevant cadaveric structures were observed using ultrasound (US) and confirmed in living individuals. US-guided dye injection was performed to determine the ideal volume. Results: The apex of the femoral triangle was 25.3 ± 2.2 cm distal to the ASIS on the baseline and 5.3 ± 1.0 cm perpendicular to that point. The midpoint of the superior border of the vasto-adductor membrane (VAM) was 27.4 ± 2.0 cm distal to the ASIS on the baseline and 5.0 ± 1.1 cm perpendicular to that point. The VAM had a trapezoidal shape and was connected as an aponeurosis between the medial edge of the vastus medialis muscle and lateral edge of the adductor magnus muscle. The nerve to the vastus medialis penetrated the muscle proximal to the superior border of the VAM in 70% of specimens. The VAM appeared on US as a hyperechoic area connecting the vastus medialis and adductor magnus muscles between the sartorius muscle and femoral artery. Conclusions: Confirming the crucial landmark, the VAM, is beneficial when performing ACB. It is advisable to insert the needle obliquely below the superior VAM border, and a 5 mL injection is considered sufficient.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.30 no.5
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• pp.1-9
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• 2013

Objectives : The purpose of this study was to present clinical utility of therapeutic exercise on the neck and shoulder parts based on the movement system impairment syndrome(MSIS) as Dong-Qi therapy of the Dong-Si Acupuncture and was to examine which Dong-Si acupoints were most effective and non-invasive when performing therapeutic exercise of the MSIS. Methods : Totally eight therapeutic exercises correspondent to eight neck and shoulder MSIS were summarized and tabulated from the Diagnosis and Treatment of Movement Impairment Syndrome and Movement System Impairment Syndromes Of The Extremities, Cervical and Thoracic Spines by Sahrmann SA. Together with the MSIS summaries, acupuncture points and Dong-Qi therapy were summarized and tabulated from Yangweijiequanji 1 and Yangweijiequanji 2 by Yangweijie. According to the posture and movement of the MSIS exercise, effective and non-invasive acupoints were selected. Thereafter, clinical pilot study which five normal volunteers participated in were performed to examine whether these acupoints resulted in any side effects of acupuncture therapy such as pain and distortion of the needle during the MSIS exercises. Results : Through clinical pilot study, ZhongZi, ZhongXian, ZhengJin, ZhengZong and MuLiu in a sitting position, and HuaGuYi, ZhongZi and ZhongXian in a supine position were finally determined as safe and non-invasive Dong-Si acupoints to treat cervical pain. In terms of shoulder pain, ZuQianJin, ZuWuJin, HuaGuEr and JianZhong in a supine position, SiHuaZhong, ZuQianJin, ZuWuJin, QuLing, JianZhong, ShenGuan and JiuLi in a standing position, and ZuQianJin, ZuWuJin, HuaGuEr, QuLing and JianZhong in a prone position were finally accepted as safe and non-invasive Dong-Si acupoints. Conclusion : It is concluded that Dong-Si acupoints can be safely and non-invasively used together with therapeutic exercises of the MSIS to treat cervical and shoulder pains.