• The Journal of Korea Robotics Society
• /
• v.18 no.1
• /
• pp.10-17
• /
• 2023

Recently, robots have been actively utilized for logistics and delivery services in various places such as restaurants, hotels, and hospitals. In addition, it provides a safer environment, convenience, and cost efficiency to the customers. However, when it comes to autonomous delivery in a multi-floor environment, the task is still challenging. Especially for wheeled mobile robots, it is necessary to deal with elevators to perform the last-mile delivery services. Therefore, we present a multi-floor route planning algorithm that enables a wheeled mobile robot to traverse an elevator for the delivery service. In addition, an elevator boarding mission algorithm was developed to perceive the drivable region within the elevator and generate a feasible path that is collision-free. The algorithm was tested with real-world experiments and was demonstrated to perform autonomous postal delivery service in a multi-floor building. We concluded that our study could contribute to building a stable autonomous driving robot system for a multi-floor environment.

• Physical Therapy Korea
• /
• v.30 no.1
• /
• pp.15-22
• /
• 2023

Background: Delivery workers repeatedly get in and out of trucks and walk or run to deliver packages during work. Iliotibial band syndrome (ITBS) is a well-known non-traumatic overuse injury of the lateral side of the knee caused by frequent knee flexion and extension. Hip muscle strength is among the factors that prevent lower extremity injuries. Although many studies have examined the relationship between ITBS and hip muscle strengths, there was no study comparing hip muscle strength and ratio between delivery workers with and without ITBS. Objects: This study aimed to compare hip muscle strength and hip internal/external rotator and adductor/abductor strength ratios between delivery workers with and without ITBS. Methods: Fourteen delivery workers with ITBS matched inclusion criteria in the present study among 20 participants. Because total sample size was required 28 subjects by G*power program (ver. 3.1.9.4; University of Trier), 14 delivery workers without ITBS were recruited. Hip muscle strengths were measured in a side-lying position using a Smart KEMA pulling sensor (KOREATECH Co. Ltd.). An independent t-test was used to compare hip muscle strengths and hip internal/external rotator and hip adductor/abductor strength ratios between delivery workers with and without ITBS. Results: The adductor/abductor strength ratio was significantly greater in delivery workers without ITBS than in those with ITBS (p < 0.05). The strengths of the hip abductor, hip adductor, hip internal rotator, hip external rotator, and the ratio of internal/external rotator strengths were not significantly different between the delivery workers with and without ITBS (p > 0.05). Conclusion: This study's findings showed that delivery workers with ITBS had significantly lesser adductor/abductor strength ratio, while the strengths of the hip abductor and adductor muscles did not differ significantly. These results suggest that adductor/abductor strength ratio should be considered when evaluating and treating ITBS in delivery workers.

• Journal of Oriental Neuropsychiatry
• /
• v.17 no.1
• /
• pp.121-127
• /
• 2006

Objective : As this is a quasi-experimental study by the post-test design for a nonequivalent control group, it was attempted to verify the effect of massage using aroma oil on whether or not the normal vaginal delivery of primiparous mothers. Methods : As for the experimental treatment, it applied the aroma oil massage to the experiment group when the cervical dilatation was $4{\sim}5cm$, and as for the data analysis, it conducted the significance test using the program of SPSS 12K for Windows, with Chi-square test $(X^2)$ and t-test. Results : The experiment group that carried out the aroma massage therapy, was high in the cases of normal vaginal delivery(P<0.05), compared to the control group that did not carry out the aroma massage therapy. Conclusion : The experiment group, which received the aroma massage therapy, had significant difference in the cases of normal vaginal delivery, compared to the control group that did not receive the aroma therapy, thus the aroma massage therapy is thought to be a nursing-intervention plan, which can be usefully applied as to the primiparous mothers aiming at normal vaginal delivery.

• International journal of advanced smart convergence
• /
• v.9 no.1
• /
• pp.163-171
• /
• 2020

There are many differences in narrative delivery between common movies and Virtual Reality(VR) films due to their differences in the appreciation structure. In VR films, scene changes by cuts have hindered the immersion of the audience instead of promoting narrative delivery. There are a range of experiments on narratives and immersion to solve this issue in VR films. Floating Tent applies hand gestures and immersive effects found in game elements and does not disturb narrative delivery by setting proper spaces and employing a direction technique to enable the melting of narratives into the characteristics of the spaces. There are time limits to offsound and mission performance, and devices fit for apocalyptic spatial expressions are made through a program. One of measures for the increasingly growing interactive storytelling in VR films is effective immersion. In narrative delivery, it is important to consider spatial setting and immersion to enable active intervention into events for immersion rather than passive audience only supposed to watch characters' acting.

• Macromolecular Research
• /
• v.16 no.8
• /
• pp.682-685
• /
• 2008

The aim of this work was to develop and evaluate solid lipid nanoparticles (SLN) containing all-trans-retinoic acid (ATRA) for topical delivery. SLN composed of coconut oil and curdlan improved the suspension instability of ATRA in aqueous solution. The photodegradation of ATRA by light was reduced by incorporation in SLN. The loading efficiency of ATRA in SLN was higher than 95% (w/w). The amounts of ATRA released from SLN at $4^{\circ}C$ and at $37^{\circ}C$ were less than 15% and more than 60% (w/w) for 96 h, respectively. The ATRA-loaded SLN can be used as a potential carrier for topical delivery.

• Journal of Platform Technology
• /
• v.10 no.3
• /
• pp.3-10
• /
• 2022

The effectiveness of an innovative skin treatment system that delivers an anti-aging solution deep into the skin without invasiveness and pain using a non-invasive air technology was investigated. In addition, an effective change using a non-invasive technique for delivering a solution for skin improvement was confirmed. The equipment named Cellre Jet is an effective skin care and drug delivery equipment that instantly opens the skin epidermis by using a maximum output pressure of 6 bars and high-pressure purified oxygen of 75-90% purity to deliver various nano-sized vital substances deep into the skin, and it uses the method of precisely controlling the equipment through an 8-inch digital touch display to accurately dispense the prescribed dosage. In this study, changes in skin condition were analyzed using this equipment and nano ampoules on subjects with actual skin problems through a related comparison and effectiveness judgment program. Through this study, skin care and drug delivery are possible, which will contribute to verifying the effectiveness of this non-invasive drug delivery equipment in the future, and is expected to establish the systematic effect in observing and studying changes in the skin.

• Korean Journal of Human Ecology
• /
• v.12 no.4
• /
• pp.463-495
• /
• 2003

The purpose of this study was to obtain a fundamental data for developing a policy concerning women and child rearing and a parent education program for young parents who are around their childbirth, a period crucially important both for the parents in terms of the role adjustment, career management, and family finance, and for the infants in terms of its physical and psychological well-being. The subjects were 509 mothers before and after childbirth currently living in the Metropolitan City of Daejeon. Data were obtained through questionnaires and interviews in two major areas of pregnancy-delivery-childcare and parent education. Data were analyzed using SAS, mostly through frequency analysis, percentiles, t-tests, and F-tests. Results of descriptive analyses were organized along the following areas and issues: Pregnancy(family planning, regular check-ups, difficulties, prenatal education, costs, etc.); delivery(type of delivery, delivery related experience, costs, clinic/medical institute of choice, worries/problems, help/supports, etc.); postpartum care(place, kinds of help and helper, costs, postpartum care facilities, etc.); childcare circumstances(place, carer, time schedules, childcare centers or facilities feeding and weaning, etc.); husband's attitudes and involvement in the overall process; working mothers(maternity leave, temporary retirement for child rearing, etc.); and, parent education(family planning, pregnancy, delivery, postpartum care, child rearing, areas or issues needing parent education, facilitative and hindering factors to ideal parenting, etc.). Differences between groups of pregnant mothers and postpartum mothers, working- and non-working mothers, groups of different income levels, mothers and fathers of different educational levels, mothers of first pregnancy(or childbirth) and experienced mothers were also analyzed. Several conclusions with suggestions were drawn in relation to the need for strong implementation as well as developing of policies on women and childcare and for developing a new parent education program for parents before and after childbirth.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
• /
• v.16 no.2
• /
• pp.44-52
• /
• 1986

Maternal and child health(MCH) status is considered as an important indicator of the level of health and civilization of a community and a country. MCH services for the rural population in the remote ar deserves priority by the government, since more than half(52.9%) of the delivery was occured at home and almost half (45.5%) of the delivery was assited by family members or neighbors. The purpose of the study was to analyse the health fare behavior related to pregnancy and delivery, which can be contributed maternal health care policy mating for the rural people. Specifically, it was intended to analyze the variables which affect the health care behavior in selecting birth places and birth attendants. This study utilized the data which had been already collected for an experimental study on primary health program model in Korean rural communities, funded by the USAID. 184 sample households with women who had delivered a baby during March 1982 to February 1983 were selected. Discriminant Analysis was employed for statistical analysis by utilizing SPSS computer package program. Birth places and birth attendants were considered as dependent variables. Among 12 independent variables in 5 groups considered, 7 independent variables were found statistically significant to affect the selection of birth place. Significant variables by the order of importance are mother's age, order of baby, number of prenatal care, accessibility of emergency medical care, coverage of medical insurance, mother's membership in community organization and husband's educational level. The degree of correct classification of the grouped cases by employing a discriminant . analysis was significantly improved to 78.2％ in comparison to Cmax（56%) and Cpro(51%). Policy implications for each significant variable were discussed to improve the maternal and child health. in Korean ruralarea.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
• /
• v.29 no.3
• /
• pp.489-499
• /
• 2019

Subunit vaccines are safer and more stable than live vaccines although they have the disadvantage of eliciting poor immune response. To develop a subunit vaccine, an effective delivery system targeting the key elements of the protective immune response is a prerequisite. In this study, oxidized carbon nanospheres (OCNs) were used as a subunit vaccine delivery system and tuberculosis (TB) was chosen as a model disease. TB is among the deadliest infectious diseases worldwide and an effective vaccine is urgently needed. The ability of OCNs to deliver recombinant Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) proteins, Ag85B and HspX, into bone marrow derived macrophages (BMDMs) and dendritic cells (BMDCs) was investigated. For immunization, OCNs were mixed with the two TB antigens as well as the adjuvant monophosphoryl lipid A (MPL). The protective efficacy was analyzed in vaccinated mice by aerosol Mtb challenge with a virulent strain of Mtb and the bacterial burdens were measured. The results showed that OCNs are highly effective in delivering Mtb proteins into the cytosol of BMDMs and BMDCs. Upon immunization, this vaccine formula induced robust Th1 immune response characterized by cytokine profiles from restimulated splenocytes and specific antibody titer. More importantly, enhanced cytotoxic $CD8^+$ T cell activation was observed. However, it did not reduce the bacteria burden in the lung and spleen from the aerosol Mtb challenge. Taken together, OCNs are highly effective in delivering subunit protein vaccine and induce robust Th1 and $CD8^+$ T cell response. This vaccine delivery system is suitable for application in settings where cell-mediated immune response is needed.

• Journal of Biomedical Engineering Research
• /
• v.43 no.1
• /
• pp.61-70
• /
• 2022

Natural and synthetic forms of calcium phosphate cement (CPC) have been widely used in bone repair and augmentation. The major challenge of injectable CPC is to deliver the cells without cell death in order to regenerate new bone. The study objective was to investigate for the potential of stem cell-laden gelatin fibers containing injectable, nanocrystalline CPC to function as a delivery system. Gelatin noddle fiber method was developed to delivered cells into nCPC. Experimental groups were prepared by mixing cells with nCPC, mixing cell-laden gelatin fibers with nCPC and mixing cell-laden gelatin fibers containing BMP-2 with nCPC. Media diffusion test was conducted after dissolving the gelatin fibers. SEM examined the generated channels and delivered cell morphology. Fibers mixed with nCPC showed physical setting and hardening within 20 min after injection and showed good shape maintenances. The gelatin fibers mixed nCPC group had several vacant channels generated from the dissolved gelatin. Particularly, proliferation and attachment of the cells were observed inside of the channels. While live cells were not observed in the cell mixed nCPC group, cells delivered with the gelatin fibers into the nCPC showed good viability and increased DNA content with culture. Cell-laden gelatin fiber was a novel method for cell delivery into nCPC without cell damages. Results also indicated the osteogenic differentiation of gelatin fiber delivered cells. We suggest that the cell-laden gelatin fibers mixed with nCPC can be used as an injectable cell delivery vehicle and the addition of BMP-2 to enhances osteogenesis.