• Journal of Magnetics
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.181-184
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• 2014

The aim of the present study was to examine whether motor imagery (MI) practice in conjunction with repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) applied to stroke patients could improve theirgait ability. This study was conducted with 29 subjects diagnosed with hemiparesis due to stroke.The experimental group consisted of 15 members who were performed MI practice in conjunction with repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation, while the control group consisted of 14 members who were performed MI practice and sham therapy. Both groups received traditional physical therapy for 30 minutes a day, 5 days a week, for 6 weeks; additionally, they received mental practice for 15 minutes. The experimental group was instructed to perform rTMS and the control group was instructed to apply sham stimulation for 15 minutes. Gait analysis was performed using a three-dimensional motion capture system, which is a real-time tracking device that delivers data via infrared reflective markers using six cameras. Results showed that the velocity, step length, and cadence of both groups were significantly improved after the practice (p<0.05). Significant differences were found between the groups in velocity and cadence (p<0.05) as well as with respect to the change rate (p<0.05) after practice. The results showed that MI practice in conjunction with rTMS is more effective in improving gait ability than MI practice alone.

• Proceedings of the International Microelectronics And Packaging Society Conference
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• 2002.11a
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• pp.39-47
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• 2002

Heat is always the root of stress acting upon the electronic package, regardless of the heat due to the device itself during operation or working under the adverse environment. Due to the significant mismatch in coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) and the thermal conductivity (K) of the packaging components, on one hand intensive research has been conducted in order to enhance the device reliability by minimizing the mechanical stressing and deformation within the package. On the other hand the effectiveness of different thermal enhancements are pursued to dissipate the heat to avoid the overheating of the device. However, the interactions between the thermal-mechanical loading has not yet been address fully. in articular when the temperature gradient is considered within the package. To address the interactions between the thermal loading upon the mechanical stressing condition. coupled-field analysis is performed to account the interaction between the thermal and mechanical stress distribution. Furthermore, process induced defects are also incorporated into the analysis to determine the effects on thermal conducting path as well as the mechanical stress distribution. It is concluded that it feasible to consider the thermal gradient within the package accompanied with the mechanical analysis, and the subsequent effects of the inherent defects on the overall structural integrity of the package are discussed.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.11-19
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• 2013

Delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS) is a painful condition that arises from exercise-induced muscle damage after unaccustomed physical activities. Various therapeutic interventions have been applied to reduce the intensity and duration of DOMS-related symptoms. Recently, pulsed electromagnetic field (PEMF) intervention has been introduced as an alternative noninvasive treatment for DOMS. This randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled experiment was conducted to examine the effects of PEMF therapy on DOMS in elbow flexors at 24, 48, and 72 hours after the experimental DOMS induction. Thirty healthy volunteers ($23{\pm}2.4$ yrs, $175{\pm}5.7$ cm, and $74{\pm}7.8$ kg) participated in this study. Each was randomly assigned to a PEMF or placebo group. On the first day, DOMS was induced in the elbow flexors by repeated isokinetic motions at low ($60^{\circ}/s$) and fast ($120^{\circ}/s$) speeds in all subjects. Thereafter, the PEMF group received 15-min daily treatment with a PEMF device. The placebo group received sham treatment of the same duration. Overall, PEMF application was more effective than the sham treatment in reducing the physiological symptoms associated with the DOMS including perceived soreness, median frequency, and electromechanical delay of the surface electromyography. In addition, median frequency and isokinetic peak torque of the PEMF group recovered to the pre-DOMS induction level earlier than the placebo group. In conclusion, this study suggests that PEMF can be applied as a new recovery strategy in reducing DOMS symptoms. Further experiments are required to examine the effect of the PEMF treatment on different types of exercise conditions and to determine the optimal treatment dosage and duration in a real clinical setting.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.86-95
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• 2016

Background: The present study was designed to examine the functional recovery following spinal cord injury (SCI) by adjusting the parameters of impact force and dwell-time using the Infinite Horizon (IH) impactor device. Methods: Sprague-Dawley rats (225-240 g) were divided into eight injury groups based on force of injury (Kdyn) and dwell time (seconds), indicated as Force-Dwell time: 150-4, 150-3, 150-2, 150-1, 150-0, 200-0, 90-2 and sham controls, respectively. Results: After T10 SCI, higher injury force produced greater spinal cord displacement (P < 0.05) and showed a significant correlation (r = 0.813) between the displacement and the force (P < 0.05). In neuropathic pain-like behavior, the percent of paw withdrawals scores in the hindpaw for the 150-4, 150-3, 150-2, 150-1 and the 200-0 injury groups were significantly lowered compared with sham controls (P < 0.05). The recovery of locomotion had a significant within-subjects effect of time (P < 0.05) and the 150-0 group had increased recovery compared to other groups (P < 0.05). In addition, the 200-0 and the 90-2 recovered significantly better than all the 150 kdyn impact groups that included a dwell-time (P < 0.05). In recovery of spontaneous bladder function, the 150-4 injury group took significantly longer recovery time whereas the 150-0 and the 90-2 groups had the shortest recovery times. Conclusions: The present study demonstrates SCI parameters optimize development of mechanical allodynia and other pathological outcomes.

• Journal of Biomedical Engineering Research
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• v.45 no.2
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• pp.81-89
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• 2024

Purpose : This study conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to evaluate the clinical effectiveness of laser acupuncture for each condition using information from laser acupuncture trials registered on clinicaltrials.gov from January 2013 to June 2023. Methods : We quantitatively and qualitatively analysed the results of 16 clinical trials of laser acupuncture whose research results were confirmed. A risk of bias assessment was also carried out to assess the quality of each clinical trial. Results : A meta-analysis including three clinical trials was conducted to evaluate the comparative effectiveness of laser acupuncture and sham laser acupuncture in reducing pain and found that the laser acupuncture group had a statistically significant reduction in pain compared with the sham laser acupuncture group. In addition, 11 of the 13 trials not included in the meta-analysis showed a positive effect of laser acupuncture. Conclusion : Although laser acupuncture has a long history of clinical use and a lot of research, there is still some scepticism due to the lack of a clear mechanism of action and inconsistent reports of clinical effectiveness. In addition, there is a significant lack of systematic reviews of clinical evidence for major disease specific, and ongoing research is needed to establish an objective evidence base for the clinical effectiveness of laser acupuncture.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Computer Information Conference
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• 2013.01a
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• pp.205-206
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• 2013

본 논문에서는 스마트폰, 스마트 태블릿, 스마트 패드등과 로봇 구동장치를 결합하여 스마트 로봇 시스템을 효율적으로 개발하는 방법을 소개 한다. 스마트 디바이스 보급은 가속화 되어 많은 분야에 스마트 디바이스를 사용하고 있다. 스마트 디바이스의 CPU의 성능 효율이 좋아 멀티미디어와 인식이 가능하며, 내장된 GPS 칩과 자이로 센서 및 네트워크등 다양한 디바이스를 연결하게 되면 효율적인 정보를 얻어 낼 수 있다. 스마트 디바이스의 판단 처리 및 멀티미디어 출력 기능에 로봇의 구동 장치를 결합하여 스마트 로봇을 만들어 내면 다양한 분야에 효율적으로 사용이 가능하다. 본 논문은 스마트 디바이스에서 인식되는 다양한 패턴과 로봇 구동장치의 효율적인 결합 방법을 설명한다.

• Journal of Korean Physical Therapy Science
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• v.4 no.4
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• pp.539-548
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• 1997

The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of FES on the clinical test patients who had disturbance gait due to cereberal vascular accident. The subjects for study were 16 hemiplegic patients (9 Male and 7 Female) who can gait with or without device. Their average age was 55 and they received average of 20.19 month of treatment collected data analysis was completed by using one-way analysis variable(ANOVA), Pearson ($-1{\leq}r{\geq}1$). The results were as follows : 1) There was difference in four variable (stride length,gait speed,gait cadence) between at the biginning and at the end of the treatment of FES (p<0.01). 2) There was relationship in capacity of activity between MAS and stride length (r = 0.751), gait speed (r = 0.689) but no relationship gait cadence (r = 0.236). 3) Age revealed relationship of stride length (r = -0.727), gait speed (r = -0.725), gait cadenc (r = -0.362). 4) There was no relationship in months post-CVA with MAS (r = 0.171), stride length (r = -0.110), gait speed (r = -0.096), gait cacedce (r = -0.154).

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.23 no.6
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• pp.239-254
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• 2006

The 3rd Japan-Korea Workshop on Acupuncture and EBM was held at Kanazawa on June $16^{th}$. From Korea team, 4 papers were presented. Dr. Hahn introduced a new approach of data analysis on series of n-of-1 trials using the Bayesian statistics. It offered important information for the future n-of-1 trials. Dr. Park clearly demonstrated the significance of various sham devices proposed and stressed the importance of research questions when we choose the control intervention in RCT. Dr. Lee reported the results of survey in Korean Medical Doctors (KMD) for their point selection and techniques to the distal and local points. Dr. Kim presented the results of face to face survey on the KMD with 28 items for acupuncture treatment on the knee OA. Finally, a draft of protocol was introduced by Dr. Kim. The title was "multi-center, a randomized, single blinded, two arms, parallel-group study to compare the effectiveness and safety of 'individualized acupuncture' and 'standardized minimal acupuncture' in Korean and Japanese patients with knee osteoarthritis (Phase IV)". From Japan team, 7 speakers presented their comments and proposals on the protocol. Dr. Takahashi introduced several issues regarding n-of-1 trials and pointed out the importance of obtaining generalizability from n-of-1 trials. Dr. Shichidou pointed the importance of research design, selection of outcome measures and reduction of biases. Dr. Itoh presented the results of point selection for the knee OA based on the literature survey. Dr. Sumiya introduced several differences between KMD and Japanese acupuncturists based on the questionnaire used in KMD survey. Dr. Furuya demonstrated a result of press tack needle and its sham device on shoulder stiffness. Dr. Yamashita introduced the results of literature survey regarding adverse events occurred by acupuncture on knee OA. Dr.Tsukayama stressed the importance of responsibility of Institutional Review Board (IRB) for the conduction of clinical trials. After several issues were discussed, the need of continued meeting for final protocol development was agreed, then the workshop was closed.

• Science of Emotion and Sensibility
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• v.13 no.4
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• pp.721-732
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• 2010

As increasing of electrical device usage, social concerns about the possible effects of 60Hz electromagnetic fields (EMF) on human health have increased. The number of people with self-attributed electromagnetic hypersensitivity (EHS) who complain of subjective symptoms such as headache, insomnia etc. also increased. However, we don't know whether the EHS results from psychological factor or real perception to the electromagnetic field. In this study, we simultaneously investigated physiological changes(heart rate, respiration rate, heart rate variability, alpha and beta waves in EEG), subjective symptoms and perception accuracy to assess origins of subjective symptoms according to the EMF exposure. Experiment consists of real and sham sessions and 60Hz 12.5uT magnetic field was on(real) or off(sham) to 15 EHS and 16 nonEHS. As the results, EMF exposure did not have any effects on physiological parameters or subjective symptoms for both groups. There was also no evidence that EHS group perceived the EMFs correctly than the control group. Therefore, the origins of subjective symptoms is not the 60Hz magnetic field but psychological factors.

• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.581-597
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• 2012

Objectives : To explore the experiences of patients with chronic low back pain(CLBP) in a randomized controlled trial(RCT) of acupuncture. Methods : Five qualitative focus group interviews were conducted at three Korean Medicine Hospitals. Two to 4 participants from the same group(real or sham acupuncture) in the RCT of acupuncture for CLBP discussed their experiences and perceptions of the clinical trial and the acupuncture treatment. Transcribed data were read independently by researchers and analyzed to categorize information and identify themes. Results : A total of 14 participants were included. Most of them discovered positive aspects of being a study subject and a patient. They recognized the differences between experimental and real-world clinical settings such as formal procedures of treatment, and different acupuncture device. Participants also expressed the weaker sensation of acupuncture compared to the previous experience. Especially, they were well aware of the 'subjects' role themselves, thus they observed their changes of symptom closely. As subjects were generally satisfied with their treatment and they had a good feeling to acupuncture after the trial, they expressed their willingness to participate in the future clinical trial of acupuncture. Conclusions : Our finding suggests that the Korean patients' experience of participating in an RCT was generally positive. Their tendency to perform the 'subject' role might affect the trial's process or overall results.