• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.46 no.6
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• pp.627-635
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• 2020

Objectives: Indoor air quality has become more important aspeople spend most of their times indoors. Since students spend most of their times at home or at school, they are more likely to be exposed to indoor air pollutants. Ventilation in school classrooms can affect health and learning performance. In this study, ventilation deficiency was evaluated in school classrooms using Monte Carlo simulation. Methods: This study used sensor-based monitoring for six months to measure carbon dioxide (CO2) concentrations in classrooms in elementary, middle, and high schools. The volume of the classroom and the number of students were investigated, and the students' body surface area was used to calculate the CO2 emission rate. The distribution of ventilation rates was estimated by measured CO2 concentration and a mass-balance model using Monte Carlo simulation. Results: In the elementary, middle, and high schools, the average CO2 concentrations exceeded 1000 ppm, indicating that the ventilation rates were insufficient. The ventilation rates were deficient from July to August and in December, but showed relatively high ventilation rates in October. Forty-three percent of elementary schools, 56% of middle schools, and 62% of high schools showed insufficient ventilation rates. Conclusions: The ventilation rates calculated in elementary, middle and high schools were found to be quite insufficient. Therefore, proper management is needed to overcome the lack of ventilation and improve air quality.

• Therapeutic Science for Rehabilitation
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• v.12 no.3
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• pp.45-59
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• 2023

Objective : This study aims to identify the status of education in cognitive rehabilitation (CR) in occupational therapy departments of Korean universities/colleges and to analyze the educational needs for professional competencies. Methods : This study was conducted by distributing a questionnaire to professors. The questionnaire extracted items related to professional competencies from the results of a previous Delphi study. A total of 39 respondents from 32 (51.6%) of 62 universities/colleges were analyzed. The questionnaire analysis was conducted using Excel 2010 and SPSS 18.0 to analyze the Borich requirements and the priority of education through the Locus for focus model. Results : The priority of competency in CR was followed by "clinical reasoning ability to explain cognitive problems from the occupational performance perspective", "ability to manage insurance billing for CR", "ability to establish a CR plan based on outcome evaluation", "ability to perform occupation-oriented CR", and "ability to solve problems that occur during CR evaluation and intervention". In the Locus for focus model, items such as occupation-based cognitive assessment, intervention, and skills for documentation were high priorities for education. Conclusion : This study is expected to reflect educational competencies for CR and establish a plan for CR specialists through continuing education.

• Safety and Health at Work
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• v.1 no.2
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• pp.158-166
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• 2010

Objectives: This study aimed to find gender distinctions in terms of the sociology of the population; to determine work-related factors; to analyze gender differences in daily living, work, sports, and art performances; and to identify gender-related factors that limited performance of daily living and work activities. Methods: A questionnaire was designed that included disabilities of the arm, shoulder, and hand (DASH), accident history, disease history, work duration at current workplace, marital status, job satisfaction, job autonomy, and physical demands of the job. Out of 1,853 workers surveyed, 1,173 questionnaires (63.3%; 987 males, 186 females) included responses to DASH disability and DASH optional work and were judged acceptable for analysis. Results: Upper extremity functional limitation during work and daily living was higher for females than males. The limitations for males increased according to their household work time, accident history, work duration, job satisfaction, physical demand, and job autonomy. Meanwhile, female workers' upper extremity discomfort was influenced by their disease history, job satisfaction, and physical demands. In addition, the size of the company affected male workers' upper extremity function, while marriage and hobbies influenced that of female workers. Conclusion: This study addressed sociodemographic factors and work-related factors that affect each gender's upper extremity function during daily living and working activities. Each factor had a different influence. Further studies are needed to identify the effect that role changes, not being influenced by risks at work, have on musculoskeletal disorders.

• International Journal of Contents
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.57-64
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• 2020

We sought to compare upper extremity muscle activity between handwriting on paper and touchscreen with dominant and non-dominant hands in younger adults (age 23.90±1.12) and the elderly (age 75.55±5.76). Muscle activity (percent of maximum voluntary contraction) in the biceps brachii muscle, triceps brachii muscle, flexor carpi ulnaris muscle, and extensor carpi ulnaris muscle was measured using an electromyography device. As a result, our data indicate that muscle activity is lower in younger adults than the elderly. Besides, muscle activity is lower in the dominant versus non-dominant hand, and lower when writing using a touchscreen than on paper. These results can be used to support recommending touchscreens in the elderly. Also, they can be used as baseline data for comparing the performance of non-paretic side and paretic side in patients relative to the central nervous system.

• International conference on construction engineering and project management
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• 2022.06a
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• pp.728-735
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• 2022

Roofers get exposed to increased risk of knee musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) at different phases of a sloped shingle installation task. As different phases are associated with different risk levels, this study explored the application of machine learning for automated classification of seven phases in a shingle installation task using knee kinematics and roof slope information. An optical motion capture system was used to collect knee kinematics data from nine subjects who mimicked shingle installation on a slope-adjustable wooden platform. Four features were used in building a phase classification model. They were three knee joint rotation angles (i.e., flexion, abduction-adduction, and internal-external rotation) of the subjects, and the roof slope at which they operated. Three ensemble machine learning algorithms (i.e., random forests, decision trees, and k-nearest neighbors) were used for training and prediction. The simulations indicate that the k-nearest neighbor classifier provided the best performance, with an overall accuracy of 92.62%, demonstrating the considerable potential of machine learning methods in detecting shingle installation phases from workers knee joint rotation and roof slope information. This knowledge, with further investigation, may facilitate knee MSD risk identification among roofers and intervention development.

• Therapeutic Science for Rehabilitation
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• v.8 no.4
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• pp.65-76
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• 2019

Objective : This study aimed to verify the validity and reliability of the Upper Extremity Performance Test for the Elderly (TEMPA) by modifying its items to exhibit cultural differences. Methods : This study included 171 healthy adults and older adults and 41 individuals with impaired upper extremity function. Content validity, discriminant validity, test-retest reliability, and inter-rater reliability were analyzed. Results : The following items, exhibiting cultural differences, were modified: "open a lock and take the top off a pillbox" and "write and affix a postage stamp." The discriminant validity results indicated that participants with normal upper extremity function performed better than those with impaired in the upper extremity function (p<.001). The test-retest reliability of the execution speed (intraclass correlation coefficient; ICC) was .71-.94, functional rating (kappa) was 1.0, and task analysis (ICC) was 1.0. The inter-rater reliability of the speed of execution was 1.0, functional rating was .79-1.0, and task analysis was .94-1.0. Conclusion : TEMPA has moderate to high level of reliability and is an assessment tool that can clearly distinguish individuals with upper extremity impairment from those without impairment.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.5-5
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• 1994

• Therapeutic Science for Rehabilitation
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• v.3 no.2
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• pp.49-57
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• 2014

Objective : The purpose of this study was ro identify the effects of an oral stimulation program on premature infant's oral feeding performance. Methods : The subject was one premature infant(25wks). Oran stimulation program consisting of stimulation of the oral structures involved stroking the cheeks, lips, gums, and tongue. Oral feeding performance factors were weight, overall intake per day, overall intake per one time, overall time per one time. Each factors was measured weekly. Results : The subject's weight were higher than pre-intervention. The overall intake per day, overall intake per one time were increased. And overall time per one time was shorter than pre-intervention. Conclusion The results indicate that oral stimulation program for premature infant was helpful oral feeding. Thus oral stimulation program can be use in home and practice setting.

• Therapeutic Science for Rehabilitation
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.29-40
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• 2018

Objective : The purpose of this study was establishing clinical norms of TEMPA Korean version for Korean adult population in addition to identifying characteristics of hand function by age and gender based on the collected data. Methods : A total of 138 healthy adults between ages 20 and 59 were recruited by continuous sampling. All subjects had been employed TEMPA Korean version and Jarmar dynamometer and pinch gauge to evaluate hand function and strength. Results : The results showed that there were no statistically significant difference in overall hand function among the age groups and between genders. Also, while there were no significant differences in overall speed and qualitative movement, age groups of 40s and 50s showed a declining tendency in speed in some of the tasks. Also, hand strength increases up to 40s and start declining from the 50s, but most results did not show significant differences among the age groups. Conclusion : Normative data of TEMPA Korean version for Korean adult population was established, therefore, it can be used in clinical setting and research as evidence based. Furthermore, occupational therapists need to consider about the signs of decline in hand function and strength in middle-aged adults and to provide education programs to maintain their hand function.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.28-37
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• 1996

Benzidine, an aromatic amine used primarily in the manufacture of azo dyes, is recognized as a urinary bladder carcinogen in humans. In rats, mice, and hamsters, chronic exposure to benzidine resulted in tumors of the liver. The present study was undertaken to suggest analyzing the metabolites of benzidine with the optimal condition, identify the metabolites of benzidine, and observe time variance of the metabolites in the isolated perfusated rat liver. N-acetylbenzidine was synthesized by acetylation of benzidine with acetic anhydride and separated by thin layer chromatography(TLC) and high performance liquid chromatography(HPLC). To analysis benzidine and the metabolites of benzidine, HPLC operating condition has been optimized by means of preliminary experiment. The mobile phase consisted of acetonitrile(37%) in phosphate buffer, flow rate maintained at 1.0 ml/min. Optimal detective conditions were electrochemicaldetector(ECD) at 0.75 V for benzidine and N-acetylbenzidine and ultravioletdetector(UVD) at 287 nm for N,N'-diacetylbenzidine. The separation system was composed of a guard column and a separation column(Polymer C18, $4.6{\times}250cm$) at a temparature of $40^{\circ}C$. The perfusion system was equilibrated for 30 minutes before addition of benzidine to the perfusate. Samples of the perfusate were collected at time intervals(0, 10, 20, 30, 60, 90, 120 min) during the 2 hour perfusion. Before analyzing samples by HPLC/ECD/UVD, samples had been treated with sep-pak. Samples of perfusate analyzed by HPLC/ECD/UVD and the metabolites of benzidine in the isolated perfused rat liver were N-acetylbenzidine and N,N'-diacetylbenzidine. Benzidine metabolized over 60% during the initial 30 minutes of perfusion, extensively by 1 hour, and was undetectable in the perfusate. N-acetylbenzidine increased by 30 minutes of perfusion, declined. N,N'-diacetylbenzidine increased the 0-90 minutes period, remained constant during the 90-120 minutes period.