• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.16-25
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• 2011

This study aimed to evaluate factors related to the ability of ambulatory patients with cerebral palsy (CP) to walk over vertical and horizontal obstacles. Twenty patients with spastic CP who were able to walk independently for at least 10 m with or without walking devices were recruited for the study. Participants were required to walk over small obstacles (1, 4, and 8 cm in height or width; total of 6 conditions). A 'fail' was recorded when either the lower limbs or the walking device contacted the obstacle. Linear regression analyses were used to determine the effects of age, sex, walking devices, eyeglasses, subtype (hemiplegia or diplegia), ankle foot orthoses, functional level, and score of body mass index on the ability of obstacle crossing. Fifteen participants (75%) failed to adequately clear the foot or walking device over obstacles in at least 1 condition. The chance of failure in crossing vertical obstacle was affected by the use of ankle foot orthoses, eyeglasses, gender, and CP subtype (p<.05). The failure rate crossing horizontal obstacle was affected by CP subtype. These findings suggest that rehabilitation procedures should (1) consider the clinical characteristics of patients in order to prepare them to be more independent while performing daily activities, and (2) incorporate environmental conditions that patients encounter at home and in the community.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.1-5
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• 2011

Purpose: This study examined the relationship between the center of pressure (COP) displacement time during the stance phase and dynamic balance ability when older adults cross a 10 cm obstacle. Methods: Fifteen older adults were enrolled in this study (all ${\geq}65$ years of age). The F-scan was used to measure the COP displacement time when subjects cross a 10 cm obstacle, and the Dynamic gait index. Berg's balance scale and the Four square step test were used to measure dynamic balance ability. Results: The Dynamic gait index, Berg's balance scale and the Four square step test were correlated with each other. Dynamic balance ability was correlated with COP displacement time during the stance phase at an obstacle crossing in older adults. Conclusion: People with higher dynamic balance ability show a smaller COP displacement time during the stance phase at an obstacle crossing. Therefore, dynamic balance ability can be predicted by measuring the center of pressure displacement time.

• Proceedings of the KSR Conference
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• 2010.06a
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• pp.1112-1117
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• 2010

The intelligent safety system for level crossing which employs information and communication technology has been developed in USA and Japan, etc. But, in Korea, the relevant research has not been performed. In this paper, we analyze the cause of railway level crossing accidents and the inherent problem of the existing safety equipments. Based on analyzed results, we design the intelligent safety system which prevent collision between a train and a vehicle. This system displays train approaching information in real-time at roadside warning devices, informs approaching train of the detected obstacle in crossing areas, and is interconnected with traffic signal to empty the crossing area before train comes. Especially, we present the video based obstacle detection algorithm and verify its performance with prototype H/W since the abrupt obstacles in crossing areas are the main cause of level crossing accidents. We identify that the presented scheme detects both pedestrian and vehicle with good performance. Currently, we demonstrate developed railway crossing intelligence system at one crossing of Young-dong-seon line of Korail with Sea Train cockpit.

• The Journal of Korean Institute of Communications and Information Sciences
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• v.38C no.5
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• pp.471-478
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• 2013

In this paper, we have designed and implemented an obstacle detecting device based laser radar. It is an alternative to solve through problem analysis of that are currently operated safety equipment and status research of domestic railway crossing. It is target to improve the safety and reliability of the rail traffic through effective obstacle detection at crossing account for a large proportion of train accidents. suggest a system to overcome the problems caused by aging and limitation of existing safety equipment. Design a crossing obstacle detection device that utilizes laser radar scanner, proved this through performance evaluation and testing of the prototype.

• KSCE Journal of Civil and Environmental Engineering Research
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• v.26 no.3D
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• pp.367-374
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• 2006

This research revealed the operation problems of the current crossing control systems through inspecting and testing the obstacle detection systems and gate control systems for the crossings. To resolve the problems of the crossing control systems, this research developed new algorithms of four-quadrant gate system and obstacle detection systems combing the functions of rasar sensors and magnetic sensors and tested the reliability of the systems. Currently, the obstacle detection systems and gate control systems controls approaching and departing traffic by simply detecting vehicles and obstacles but do not consider traffic movements at the crossings. In addition, they do not make signal cooperation for gate controls. As a result, such inefficient crossing controls result in unsafe gate controls for drivers. Therefore, the newly developed crossing control systems through this study will provide more effective crossing control services with more strengthen information cooperation within control systems. Besides they will help to reduce train crashes at the crossings by gate control systems considering various driving behaviors.

• The Transactions of The Korean Institute of Electrical Engineers
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• v.57 no.12
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• pp.2220-2227
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• 2008

The safety equipments of railway level crossing which are installed at intersections between roads and railway lines prevent level crossing accidents by informing all of the vehicles and pedestrians of approaching trains. The intelligent safety system for level crossing which employs information and communication technology has been developed in USA and Japan, etc. But, in Korea, the relevant research has not been performed. In this paper, we analyze the cause of railway level crossing accidents and the inherent problem of the existing safety equipments. Based on analyzed results, we design the intelligent safety system which prevent collision between a train and a vehicle. This system displays train approaching information in real-time at roadside warning devices, informs approaching train of the detected obstacle in crossing areas, and is interconnected with traffic signal to empty the crossing area before train comes. Especially, we present the video based obstacle detection algorithm and verify its performance with prototype H/W since the abrupt obstacles in crossing areas are the main cause of level crossing accidents. We identify that the presented scheme detects both pedestrian and vehicle with good performance.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.51-58
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• 2022

PURPOSE: This study aimed to evaluate the correlation between executive function and gait evaluations for the elderly, and validate the obstacle gait evaluation as a cognitive impairment test tool. METHODS: This study was a cross-sectional design. 79 people aged 65 years or older were selected as subjects. The Korean version of the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE-KC) to evaluate overall cognitive function and the Trail Making Test (TMT) A, B to measure executive function were performed. The 4-meter walking speed test and the walking speed test while crossing over an obstacle were carried out to evaluate gait. The Spearman's correlation was used to measure the correlation between cognition and gait speed. RESULTS: There was no significant correlation between the 4 m gait speed and executive function( TMT-A (p = .056), TMT-B (p = .115)). However, there was a significant correlation between the 4 m gait speed and MMSE-KC (r = .277, p < .05). There was also a significant correlation between walking speed while crossing over an obstacle and all tests (MMSE-KC (r = .382, p < .01). TMT-A (r = -.327, p < .01), TMT-B (r = -.283, p < .05)). CONCLUSION: It was found that the gait speed while crossing over an obstacle was correlated with all cognitive function tests. Therefore, we suggest the use of the gait speed test while crossing over an obstacle rather than the simple gait test to diagnose cognitive decline.

• Proceedings of the KSR Conference
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• 2004.10a
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• pp.1285-1290
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• 2004

Crossing is the place which train, car and pedestrian adjoin, and the weak place. Also, crash accident between train and large size car is possible to be serious. So, various crossing obstacle detection device was developed, and it contribute to reduce the crossing accident.

• Atmosphere
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.381-391
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• 2007

The characteristics of flow around a single obstacle with fixed height and varied length and width are numerically investigated using a computational fluid dynamics (CFD) model. As the obstacle length increases, flow distortion near the upwind side of the obstacle increases and the size of the recirculation zone behind the obstacle also increases. As the obstacle width increases, the size of the recirculation zone decreases, despite almost invariable flow distortion near the upwind side of the obstacle. Flow passing through an obstacle is separated, one part going around the obstacle and the other crossing over the obstacle. The size of the recirculation zone is determined by the distance between the obstacle and the point (reattachment point) at which both the flows converge. When the obstacle width is relatively large, flows are reattached at the obstacle surface and their recoveries occur. Resultant shortening of the paths of flows crossing over and going around decreases the size of the recirculation zone. To support this, the extent of flow distortion defined based on the change in wind direction is analyzed. The result shows that flow distortion is largest near the ground surface and decreases with height. An increase in obstacle length increases the frontal area fraction of flow distortion around the obstacle. In the cases of increasing the width, the frontal area fraction near the upwind side of the obstacle does not change much, but near the downwind side, it becomes larger as the width increases. The frontal area fraction is in a better correlation with the size of the recirculation zone than the building aspect ratios, suggesting that the frontal area fraction is a good indicator for explaining the variation in the size of the recirculation zone with the building aspect ratios.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.15 no.4
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• pp.27-33
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• 2008

The purpose of this study was to investigate the changes of the center of pressure (COP) trajectory in healthy elderly subjects while crossing an obstacle before and after participation in Tai Chi training. Forty healthy elderly subjects participated either in a 12-week intervention of Tai Chi training or in a health education program. The participants were divided into two groups (the experimental group and the control group). Subsequently, the participants were pre- and post-tested on crossing over an obstacle from a quiet stance. Participants in the experimental group received Tai Chi training that emphasized the smooth integration of trunk rotation, a shift in weight bearing from bilateral to unilateral support and coordination and a gradual narrowing of the lower-extremity stance three times weekly. The participants in the control group attended a health education program one hour weekly and heard lectures about general information to promote health. Performance was assessed by recording the changes in the displacement of the COP in the anteroposterior (A-P) and mediolateral (M-L) directions using a force platform. Participants in the Tai Chi group significantly increased the A-P and M-L displacement of the COP after Tai Chi training (p<.05). No significant differences in the A-P and the M-L displacement of the COP between pre-testing and post-testing in the control group were found. This study has shown that participation in Tai Chi exercise increased the magnitude of the A-P and M-L displacement of the COP, thereby improving the ability of healthy elderly participation to generate momentum to initiate gait. These findings support the use of Tai Chi training as an effective fall-prevention program for the elderly.