• Journal of People, Plants, and Environment
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.309-319
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• 2019

This study was conducted to investigate the effects of watching a virtual reality (VR) forest video on stress reduction in adults. Experiments were performed in an artificial climate chamber where temperature, humidity and illumination were controlled. To cause stress in subjects, the subjects were asked to multiply two digit numbers by one digit numbers for two minutes. The subjects then watched a VR forest video for five minutes. During the experiment, the heart rate variability (HRV) and heart rate (HR) of subjects were continuously measured for evaluating their physiological state. After measuring the baseline and watching a VR forest video, their psychological state was evaluated using the profile of mood state (POMS), semantic differential (SD) method, and positive affect and negative affect schedule (PANAS). The results of physiological evaluation after watching a VR forest video showed a decrease in the stress index and HR, an increase in the activity of the parasympathetic nervous system, and the standard deviation of normal to normal RR intervals (SDNN). The results of psychological assessment confirmed that watching a VR forest video induced "comfort", "natural", and "soothed" feelings in subjects. In addition, watching a VR forest video decreased "tension-anxiety (T-A)", "depression-dejection (D)", "anger-hostility (A-H)", "fatigue (F)", "total mood disturbance (TMD)", and increased "vigor (V)" compared to the base line, and decreased "negative affect" and increased "positive affect." These results indicate that watching a VR forest video decreases adults' stress index, stabilizes physiological state, and has a positive impact on psychological state. The findings of this study can serve as a basis for providing forest welfare services to people in the blind spots of forest welfare, and can lay a foundation for the adoption of VR, one of the technologies of the fourth industrial revolution in forestry.

• Sleep Medicine and Psychophysiology
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.27-34
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• 2012

Objectives: The analysis of heart rate variability (HRV) is a useful non-invasive tool to investigate the autonomic nerve function. Previous studies on the relationship between HRV and depression have been reported controversial results. Similarly, the correlation between the serum lipids and depression is debatable. The purpose of this study is to examine the relationship between heart rate variability, lipid profile and depression. Methods: A total of 42 patients with major depressive disorder (MDD) and 32 age and sex-matched normal subjects who had no previous history of major medical and mental illnesses were recruited for this study. A structured-interview was used to assess the general characteristics and psychiatric illness. HRV measures were assessed by time-domain and frequency-domain analyses. Psychological symptoms were measured using the Hamilton rating scale for anxiety (HAM-A), Hamilton rating scale for depression (HAM-D). In addition, the evaluation for lipid profile was performed by blood test. Results: In serum lipid profile test, MDD group showed higher cholesterol ($197.68{\pm}42.94$ mg/dL vs. $176.85{\pm}34.68$ mg/dL, p=0.044), TG ($139.45{\pm}92.54$ mg/dL vs. $91.4{\pm}65.68$ mg/dL, p=0.018), LDL ($130.03{\pm}33.18$ vs. $106.62{\pm}27.08$, p=0.004) level than normal control group. In HRV time domain analyses, the standard deviation of the NN interval (SDNN) was decreased in MDD group than normal control group, but was not significant ($32.82{\pm}14.33$ ms vs. $40.36{\pm}21.40$ms, p=0.078). ApEn (Approximate Entrophy) was significantly increased in MDD group than normal control group ($1.13{\pm}0.11$ vs. $0.91{\pm}0.18$, p<0.001). ApEn was correlated with LDL level (r=0.277, p=0.028), HAM-D scores (r=0.534, p<0.001) and HAM-A scores (r=0.470, p<0.001). Conclusions: MDD patients showed increased ApEn, one of the HRV measurement. And this ApEn was correlated with LDL, HAM-D and HAM-A scores. In this study, the analysis of ApEn would be a useful test of MDD.

• Sleep Medicine and Psychophysiology
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.15-20
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• 2018

Objectives: This study was designed to assess the change of heart rate variability (HRV) at resting, upright, and psychological stress states in depressive disorder patients. Methods: HRV was measured at resting, upright, and psychological stress states in 62 depressive disorder patients. We used visual analogue scale (VAS) score to assess tension and stress severity. Beck depression inventory (BDI) and state trait anxiety inventories I and II (STAI-I and II) were used to assess depression and anxiety severity, respectively. Differences between HRV indices and VAS score were evaluated using paired t-tests. Gender difference analysis was conducted with ANCOVA. Results: SDNN (standard deviation of normal to normal intervals), LF/HF (low frequency/high frequency), and VLF (very low frequency) were significantly increased, while NN50 and pNN50 were significantly decreased in the upright position compared to resting state. SDNN, RMSSD (root mean square of the differences of successive normal to normal intervals), and VLF were significantly increased, while pNN50 was significantly decreased in the psychological stress state compared to resting state. SDNN, NN50, and pNN50 were significantly lower in an upright position compared to a state of psychological stress, and LF, HF, and LF/HF showed no significant differences Conclusion: The LF/HF ratio was significantly increased after physical stress in depressive disorder. However, the LF/HF ratio was not significantly increased after psychological stress, and the change in LF/HF ratio after physical stress and psychological stress did not significantly differ from each other. Significant increase in SDNN, NN50, and pNN50 in an upright posture compared to psychological stress suggests that depressive patients react more sensitively to physical stress than psychological stress.

• Computers and Concrete
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• v.7 no.5
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• pp.455-468
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• 2010

This paper presents a prediction and simulation method of tensile stress-strain curves of Engineered Cementitious Composites (ECC). For this purpose, the bridging stress and crack opening relations were obtained by the fiber bridging constitutive law which is quantitatively able to consider the fiber distribution characteristics. And then, a multi-linear model is employed for a simplification of the bridging stress and crack opening relation. In addition, to account the variability of material properties, randomly distributed properties drawn from a normal distribution with 95% confidence are assigned to each element which is determined on the basis of crack spacing. To consider the variation of crack spacing, randomly distributed crack spacing is drawn from the probability density function of fiber inclined angle calculated based on sectional image analysis. An equation for calculation of the crack spacing that takes into quantitative consideration the dimensions and fiber distribution was also derived. Subsequently, a series of simulations of ECC tensile stress-strain curves was performed. The simulation results exhibit obvious strain hardening behavior associated with multiple cracking, which correspond well with test results.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.11-21
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• 2010

Objectives : We tried to investigate the effects of Carthami Semen(CF) pharmacopuncture and Bovis Calculus Fei Ursi(BU) pharmacopuncture on the heart rate variability(HRV) in adult men. As well as we tried to observe how CF pharmacopuncture and BU pharmacopuncture effect on the balance of the autonomic nervous system. Methods : We investigated on 40 healthy volunteers consisted of 20 subjects in CF pharmacopuncture group and 20 subjects in BU pharmacopuncture group respectively. We ruled out subjects whose vital sign isn't in normal range, yet they had taken a rest. The study established by a randomized, single-blind clinical trial. CF pharmacopuncture and BU pharmacopuncture was applied on each group. We measured HRV 7 times : baseline measurement and every 5 minutes for 30 minutes after injection. The SPSS 15.0 for Windows was used to analyze the data by the paired t-test(in group) and Independent sample t-test(between the groups). Results 1. After injection of CF pharmacopuncture, SDNN, Ln(TP), Ln(VLF) and Ln(LF) increased significantly, and Complexity, pNN50 decreased significantly. 2. After injection of BU pharmacopuncture, RMSSD, SDSD and HRV-index increased significantly. Conclusions : We suggest that CF pharmacopuncture activate sympathetic nervous system and BU pharmacopuncture tend to activate the autonomic nervous system.

• Proceedings of the Korea Water Resources Association Conference
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• 2007.05a
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• pp.1619-1624
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• 2007

The rainfall frequency estimations are critical in the design of hydraulic structures (such as bridges and culverts) to ensure that they are built economically and safely. In other words, they are not over designed or under designed. However one of the main assumptions in the creation of these analysis is that the rainfall data for a site is stationary. That is, climatic trends and variability in a region have negligible effects on the curves. But as has been proved in recent history, climatic variability and trends do exist and their effects on precipitation have not been negligible. Increasing occurrences of the El Nino phenomenon have lead to droughts and floods around the world, and long term trends in rainfall, both increases and decreases, have been seen in all regions across Korea. The purpose of this paper is to investigate and evaluate impacts of ENSO on rainfall characteries and rainfall frequency estimations in Korea. In this paper, The available rainfall data were categorized into Warm(EL Nino), Cold(La Nina), Normal episodes based on the Cold & Warm Episodes by Season then 50 years of daily rainfall data were generated for each episodic events(EL Nino, La Nina)

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.28 no.1 s.69
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• pp.249-259
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• 2007

Objectives : We performed this study to analyze correlation among hair tissue minaral ratio, autonomic function and obesity. Methods : Subjects were gathered from January 2005 to March 2007. This study was carried out on 263 subjects who had visited Garosero oriental clinic and had no previous cardiovascular disease and thyroid disease. Heart rate variability (HRV) parameters, tissue mineral ratio and obesity degree were statistically compared with correlation and T-test analysis. Results : The results of this study are summarized as follows : 1. Normal group were predominant over obesity group in HRV parameters(SDNN, RMSSD, VLF, LF, HF). 2. Ca/P, Ca/K, Na/K and Fe/Cu, Na/Mg ratio in hair tissue mineral ratio have correlation with BMR, BMI and waist circumference. 3. Ca/P ratio has correlation with LF norm in HRV, and Na/K with HF, Na/Mg with LF, equally. Conclusions : Taken together these results may suggest that there are significant relationships between hair tissue mineral analysis and HRV.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.32 no.4
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• pp.473-486
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• 2011

Objectives : This study was designed to investigate the clinical characteristics and usefulness of comprehensive diagnosis of Yin-deficiency and heart rate variability in patients with burning mouth syndrome (BMS). Methods : We surveyed 30 burning mouth syndrome patients visiting the Oral Diseases Clinic of Kyung Hee University Oriental Medicine Hospital from April to September of 2011. The subjects were evaluated on self-assessed severity of burning mouth syndrome and xerostomia using visual analogue scale (VAS) score and Yin-deficiency condition (based on the 10-item Yin-deficiency questionnaire). Salivary function was measured by the unstimulated salivary flow rate (USFR), and heart rate variability (HRV) parameters were recorded by SA-2000E (Medicore Co., Ltd., Korea). Results : There were substantial significant positive correlations between burning sensation VAS scores in mouth and Yin-deficiency scores. There was significant negative correlation between xerostomia VAS score and USFR. Compared to the normal range of total power (TP) in HRV parameters, the burning mouth syndrome patients showed significant lower values of TP. Conclusions : The results of this study suggest that comprehensive diagnosis of Yin-deficiecny and HRV parameters are useful in diagnosing of burning mouth syndrome patients. Therefore, we assume that improvement of Yin-deficiency condition can be a potentially effective way to treat burning mouth syndrome.

• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.41-54
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• 2008

Objective : In this study, we investigated the effects of Sweet Bee Venom(SBV) and Bee Venom(BV) at a acupoint, HT7(Shinmun) on the Heart Rate Variability(HRV) in the healthy man. And we tried to observe how Sweet Bee Venom and Bee Venom affects on the balance of the autonomic nervous system. Methods : We investigated on 22 heathy volunteers consisted of 10 subjects in SBV group and 12 subjects in BV group. Study form was a randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind clinical trial. 22 subjects of each group were injected SBV and BV at HT7(Shinmun). And we measured HRV by QECG-3:LXC3203 (LAXTHA Inc. Korea) on 7 times : before and after injection per 5minutes during 30minutes. Results : 1. After SBV injection, Mean-RR was significantly high from 0 to 10 minutes, Mean-HRV was significantly low from to 10 minutes, SDNN was significantly high after 25minutes, Complexity was significantly high from 5 to 10 minutes and RMSSD was significantly high from 5 to 10minutes. 2. Complexity of SBV Group significantly decreased from 20 to 25minutes, RMSSD of SBV Group significantly increased from 10 to 15minute and from $20{\sim}25$minutes, SDSD of SBV Group significantly increased from 10 to 15 minute and from $20{\sim}25$minutes compared with that of BV group. 3. After SBV injection, Ln(VLF) was significantly from 25 to 30minutes. Conclusions : The results suggest that SBV in heathy adult man tend to activate the autonomic nervous system compared to BV within normal range.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.29 no.5
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• pp.127-137
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• 2012

Objectives : The purpose of this study is to review on current status of use and measurement condition of heart rate variability(HRV) by reviewing clinical studies published in journal of Korean medicine registered Korea citraion index(KCI). Methods : One hundred twenty articles were found by searching the representative Korean databases. At first analysis was performed by current status of use(journal, academic field of corresponing author, purpose of study, disease of subject, HRV measurement devices, intervention methods and tests compared to HRV). At second analysis was performed by measurement condition(uncontrolled study, relaxation before measurement, measurement position, measurement place, measurement time period and restriction of smoking, alcohol, caffeine, meal). Results : The analysis showed that department of acupuncture & moxibustion, department of oriental neuropsychiatry are major part in journal & academic field. The purpose of study were classified under studies to verify therapeutic effect on normal subject(39%), to verify therapeutic effect on the patients(8%), to investigate characteristics of the patients(34%) and to be compared with other test(19%). Disease of subject & measurement devices in article were so various. Major intervention methods were acupuncture(61.4%), mind-body intervention(19.2%). Studies that measurement condition were not controlled were relax time(24%), measurement position(19%), measurement place(26%), measurement time period(91%) and restriction of smoking, alcohol, caffeine, meal(49%). Conclusions : This study showed that current status of use of HRV is widespread in Korean medicine but more controlled measurement conditon are needed to get more reliable result from clinical studies and to improve diagnosis and treatment of Korean medicine.