• Journal of the Korea Institute of Military Science and Technology
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• v.8 no.2 s.21
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• pp.22-29
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• 2005

In this study we performed topology optimization and size optimization about support structure of pressure container which is installed in a Common Bed. The optimization study shows that structure weight optimization results can be applied to navy ship. The topology optimization is performed by static load, homogenization and optimality criteria method and size optimization is performed by SOL200 of NASTRAN.

• Journal of the Ergonomics Society of Korea
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.57-73
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• 2003

Although body pressure distribution is sensitive to movements and is relatively simple to measure even in small space, there are few researches involving applications to driver's posture and its change. The main objective in this study is the application of body pressure distribution measurements for the prediction of the driver's posture and its change. This requires quantitative analyses of the dynamic body pressure distribution, which is the change of body pressure distribution with time. The experiment involved 16 male subjects who drove for 45 minutes in a seating buck. Measurement time, stature group, and lumbar support prominence were selected as independent variables, with subjective ratings of driver's discomfort, body posture data of hip, torso. knee angle, and body pressure data variables as dependent variables. The body pressure change variables and subjective ratings were found to increase as the measurement time increased and body pressure ratio variables reflected the torso angle. From the results and analysis of the body posture data and subjective rating results, it was predicted that the seats and the design of the lumbar supports used in the experiment was not fit for tall subjects, which could also be confirmed through the body pressure distribution data.

• Journal of the Ergonomics Society of Korea
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.71-79
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• 2008

Walking shoes for walking and jogging have been used to enjoy lots of leisure time. Functional shoes such as walking shoes have special functions to improve body motility by changing of shoe shapes. The walking shoes could improve the motility by structural transformation of outsole as increase degrees of heel and toe. The study on insoles has not been conducted enough on the contrary of the study of outsole. The purpose of this study is to perform ergonomics analysis whether the Arch Supported insoles have an improving effect of muscle activities or not. Experiments were performed with 6 subjects who are health and haven't experienced any diseases past. EMG(Electromyography) and Foot Pressures were measured repeatedly for 5 seconds at 0 hour, after 1 hour and after 2 hours of walking. Insoles used for experiment are normal insole, insole inserted Arch Support and pad. The electrodes for EMG measurement were set on waist (erector spinae), and thigh (vastus lateralis), calf (gastrocnemius). Evaluations of EMG were analyzed by shift of MF (Median Frequency) and MPF (Mean Power Frequency). Foot Pressure was analyzed by mean pressure of feet and change of walking time. As results, Arch Support insole had larger frequency shift value than that of normal insole. Frequency shift between Arch Support insoles and normal insole showed significant difference on 95% confidence interval. And insole 1 has the highest value of frequency shift. For results of foot pressure, Arch Support insoles show continuous decreasing tendency when comparing with normal insoles by changing of times. Also, insole 1 has the highest decreasing value of foot pressure. Therefore, this study presented that the Arch Support insole can promote muscle activities and improves comfort for a prolonged walking.

• Journal of the Ergonomics Society of Korea
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• v.33 no.2
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• pp.143-153
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• 2014

Objective: The aim of this study is to investigate the effects of trunk-forearm supported sitting on trunk flexion angle, trunk extensor fatigue and seat contact pressure. Background: The relationship between sitting posture and musculoskeletal disorders of the trunk extensor fatigue and seat contact pressure has been documented. The trunk-forearm support type ergonomic chair was devised from the fact that trunk-forearm support has been reported to reduce trunk extensor activity and discomfort. Method: Using three different sitting postures, upright ($P_1$), trunk-forearm supported ($P_2$) and normal sitting ($P_3$), six healthy subjects participated in the study. Motion capture system was used to collect head and trunk flexion angle, and surface electromyography (sEMG) was used to collect myoelectric signal of upper trapezius, lower trapezius, erector spinae, multifidus, and pressure mat system was used to measure seat contact pressure. Results: When trunk and forearm were supported by the ergonomic chair, higher head flexion angle showed upright > trunk-forearm supported > normal in order, and muscle fatigue showed less than upright and normal sitting. Mean seat contact pressure decreased 19% than upright sitting. But muscle fatigue was not affected by each condition. Conclusion: Trunk-forearm supported sitting of the ergonomic chair showed positive effect in respect of trunk and head flexion angle, trunk extensor fatigue, seat contact pressure. To acquire comprehensive understanding of the effectiveness of the ergonomic chair, further studies such as anatomical effects from measurement of external applied loading effect to the body from interface pressure analysis are required. Application: The results of the publishing trend analysis might help physiological effects of trunk-forearm support type chair.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.45 no.2
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• pp.380-387
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• 1998

Background: Minimal pressure support(PSmin) is a level of pressure support which offset the imposed work of breathing(WOBimp) developed by endotracheal tube and ventilator circuits in pressure support ventilation While the lower applied level of pressure support compared to PSmin could induce respiratory muscle fatigue, the higher level than PSmin could keep respiratory muscle rest resulting in prolongation of weaning period during weaning from mechanical ventilation PSmin has been usually applied in the level of 5~10 cm$H_2O$, but the accurate level of PSmin is difficult to be determinated in individual cases. PSmin is known to be calculated by using the equation of "PSmin = peak inspiratory flow rate during spontaneus ventilation$\times$total ventilatory system resistance", but correlation of calculated PSmin and measured PSmin has not been known. The objects of this study were firstly to assess whether customarily applied pressure support level of 5~10 cm$H_2O$ would be appropriate to offset the imposed work of breathing among the patients under weaning process, and secondly to estimate the correlation between the measured PSmin and calculated PSmin. Method : 1) Measurement of PSmin : Intratracheal pressure changes were measured through Hi-Lo jet tracheal tube (8mm in diameter, Mallinckroft, USA) by using pulmonary monitor(CP-100 pulmonary monitor, Bicore, USA), and then pressure support level of mechanical ventilator were increased until WOBimp was reached to 0.01 J/L or less. Measured PSmin was defined as the lowest pressure to make WOBimp 0.01 J/L or less. 2) Calculation of PSmin : Peak airway pressure(Ppeak), plateau airway pressure(Pplat) and mean inspiratory flow rate of the subjects were measured on volume control mode of mechanical ventilation after sedation. Spontaneous peak inspiratory flow rates were measured on CPAP mode(O cm$H_2O$). Thereafter PSmin was calculated by using the equation "PSmin = peak inspiratory flow rate$\times$R, R = (Ppeak-Pplat)/mean inspiratory flow rate during volume control mode on mechanical ventilation". Results: Sixteen patients who were considered as the candidate for weaning from mechanical ventilation were included in the study. Mean age was 64(${\pm}14$) years, and the mean of total ventilation times was 9(${\pm}4$) days. All patients except one were males. The measured PSmin of the subjects ranged 4.0~12.5cm$H_2O$ in 14 patients. The mean level of PSmin was 7.6(${\pm}2.5\;cmH_2O$) in measured PSmin, 8.6 (${\pm}3.25\;cmH_2O$) in calculated PSmin Correlation between the measured PSmin and the calculated PSmin is significantly high(n=9, r=0.88, p=0.002). The calculated PSmin show a tendancy to be higher than the corresponding measured PSmin in 8 out of 9 subjects(p=0.09). The ratio of measured PSmin/calculated PSmin was 0.81(${\pm}0.05$). Conclusion: Minimal pressure support levels were different in individual cases in the range from 4 to 12.5 cm$H_2O$. Because the equation-driven calculated PSmin showed a good correlation with measured PSmin, the application of equation-driven PSmin would be then appropriate compared with conventional application of 5~10 cm$H_2O$ in patients under difficult weaning process with pressure support ventilation.

• Korean Journal of Applied Biomechanics
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.91-99
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• 2010

The purpose of this study was to the kinetic variables effects from the use of arch support inserts on low-arched people. We selected 10 people for the research and separated them into 2 groups, 5 people for the normal arched group and 5 people for the low arched group. Each group wear shoes which have a 3 step convertible arch support (level 0, level 2, level 5) and we measured their foot pressure and 3D motion analysis data. As a result, we found that the mean pressure at the heel of the low arched group was decreased when using the arch supports. The arch support induced the correct grounding area for the foot and dispersion of foot pressure. 3D motion analysis found that as the height of the arch support was increased, the movement of the Y-axis(inversion-eversion) was increased to relieve the shock to the heel. The arch support insert limited the range of motion(ROM) of the Z-axis(abduction-adduction) of the low arched person's ankle joint and prevented ankle injury caused by the excessive eversion when walking. Low arched people are seen to be easily tired due to the ineffective shock absorption of the knees and abnormal walking motion. In order to improve the problems, a 3 step convertible arch support(level 5) insert would improve the low-arched people's walking ability. In other words, the low arched people should be expected to walk as well as normal arched people when they wear shoes with the arch support insert.

• Membrane Journal
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• v.3 no.1
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• pp.22-28
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• 1993

Fabrics of polyester, polyacrylics, nylon and cotton were tested to investigate the possibility. of using these matehals as a membrane support sheet. Considering the physical properties such as compaction rate, membrane embossing, water flux, the chemical and mechanical properties, 50 denlet polyester fabrics was found to be the appropriate material as a membrane support sheet among the tested materials. The experimental parameters such as pressure drop, compression pressure and viscosity were changed to investigate the effects of these parameters on the flow patten in this membrane support sheet. As a result, it was shown that Darcy's law could be satisfactorily applied to describe the flow pattern in this membrane support sheet.

• Fashion & Textile Research Journal
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• v.2 no.5
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• pp.430-436
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• 2000

The purpose of the study was to obtain the basic data on the self-adjusting ability of the support panty stockings. Ten healthy women in the twenties were selected as subjects and clothing pressure of 9 support panty stockings made of single covered yarn (SCY) and double covered yarn (DCY) were measured under the standard environmental condition for the study. Data was analysed statistically according to body postures, sides, and parks. The results were as follows: Clothing pressure according to body posture was order of 'sitting-on-a-chair', 'stepping-up-a-stair', and 'standing'. High clothing pressure was obtained in the parts of calf ($9.4gf/cm^2$) in 'standing' and knee (9.7 and $16.5gf/cm^2$) in both 'stepping-up-a-stair' and 'sitting-on-a-chair', respectively. The order of clothing pressure with body sides was 'front', 'side', and 'back'. The highest clothing pressure was knee ($18.8gf/cm^2$) on the front, thigh ($8.8gf/cm^2$) on the side, and calf ($6.4gf/cm^2$) on the back. Clothing pressure of DCY at abdomen and knee was a little higher than those of SCY 3. In terms of material structure variation, clothing pressure of thigh, calf and ankle with SCY was a little higher than those with DCY, while clothing pressure of abdomen and knee with DCY was a little higher than those with SCY.

• Korean Journal of Social Welfare
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• v.42
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• pp.397-422
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• 2000

Since 1998 when economic assistance from IMF started, the empirical research on the effects of unemployment and drastic income loss on psychological functioning among the unemployed as well as their family members has increased. These studies have found that unemployment and drastic income loss following unemployment have significant negative influence on the psychological outcomes such as anxiety and depression of the unemployed and their family members. Studies have also focused on the role of social support in this process, and reported that depending on the levels of received social support, unemployment and income loss have differential effects on the psychological aspects of the unemployed. However, these studies have several weaknesses. First, most of the related studies employed the data which were collected from limited regions of the country, which imposes limitations on the scope of the generalizability of research findings. Second, the main independent variables used in these studies were mainly unemployment or income loss, which ignore the psychological evaluation by the employed of their family financial situations. Third, in analyzing the moderating effects of social support, most studies have focused mainly on showing the existence of moderating effects by social support. Consequently, the nature and role of social support remained unanalyzed and left to speculations. The purpose, of this study is to examine the effects of economic pressure experienced by family heads who were unemployed and to analyze the moderating role of social support based on a nationally representative sample. The findings showed that economic pressure has negative influence on anxiety and depressive feelings among the unemployed, and that the effect of economic pressure on depressive feelings were substantially higher among those who have received lower levels of social support from family members than that among those with higher levels of family support.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.34 no.4
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• pp.437-443
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• 2001

Objectives : This study was peformed to assess the association between the social support and blood pressure(BP) in a rural community. Methods : A cross-sectional survey, comprising a health examination including BP, height and weight and a questionnaire-based interview which investigated social support, demographic factors, smoking, drinking, and etc. was peformed between February 10th and March 5th, 1998. The survey included 318 persons who were over than 30-year-old in the rural community of Kwangju, Republic of Korea. We excluded persons who taking antihypertensive medications or who provided incomplete information; we subsequently analyzed the data from 284 persons. In order to test the hypothesis of an association between BP and social support controlling confounders such as age, educational level, working time, body mass index, smoking and drinking, the data was analyzed using multiple linear regression analysis. Results : The subjects were composed of 109(38.4%) males and 175(61.6%) females with mean ages of 62.0 years and 61.1 years, respectively. The hypertension prevalence was 41.3% among males and 45.1% among females. In the correlation analysis, higher total social support scores correlated significantly with lower systolic BP in both males and females. The hypertension prevalence increased significantly with the decreasing of the social support in males. In multiple regression analysis, systolic and diastolic blood pressure showed a negative association with social support in both males and females, although this was not statistically significant. Conclusions : Larger and broader studies are required in the future in order to identify the association between the social support and BP.