• 국제물리치료학회지
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• 제7권1호
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• pp.956-964
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• 2016

The purpose of this study was to identify the effects of continuous muscle strengthening applied to the antagonist of the sternocleidomatoid, upper trapezius, and pectoralis major, which are the shortened muscles of forward head posture(FHP) subjects, and Evjenth-Hamberg stretching(EHS) applied to the shortened muscles on changes in pressure pain threshold(PPT). Twenty subjects were divided into the continuous antagonist strengthening(CAS) group(n=10) and the EHS group(n=10), and each group performed its respective exercise three times a week for a six week period. The results were as follows: The comparison of changes in PPT within each group before and after the treatment showed a statistically significant difference(p<.05) according to the treatment period and a statistically significant difference according to the treatment period and method(p<.05). While the comparison of the tests of between subjects effects between the groups did not show a statistically significant difference, the CAS group exhibited better effects. The above results suggest that the combined application of CAS and EHS generates better effects on changes in PPT than the single application of EHS. Given that stretching and muscle strengthening exercises even for the short research period of six weeks could change the PPT, continuous exercises and a correct postural habit for a longer period of time are likely to help prevent chronic pain and correct FHP.

• Physical Therapy Rehabilitation Science
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• 제11권3호
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• pp.329-334
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• 2022

Objective: Low back pain (LBP) is a symptom that accounts for a large proportion of musculoskeletal pain. Among them, non-specific LBP (NSLBP) means that the pathological cause is unknown, and belongs to the most common LBP. Studies on the mechanism of muscle control in LBP are insufficient, and quantitative studies are needed. Design: Observational cross-sectional study design Methods: A Thirty participants with NSLBP symptoms were enrolled, and their pressure pain thresholds (PPT) and muscle and fat thickness were measured. Participants measured the paraspinal muscles (PM) of the thoracic and lumbar spine and medial hamstring (semitendinosus) on the dominant and non-dominant sides in the prone position. Results: Among the variables that were significant in the correlation analysis, PM of the thoracic and lumbar spine showed a significant relationship in the PPT ([thoracic spine PM]=1.141+0.912 [lumbar spine PM]). Also, there was a significant relationship between the lumbar spine PM in the PPT and the thoracic spine PM in the muscle thickness ([lumbar spine PM of PPT]=4.057+0.117 [thoracic spine PM of muscle thickness]) Conclusions: Although there was no muscle imbalance according to the dominant and non-dominant side, there is a correlation between the pressure pain threshold and the muscle thickness between the paraspinal muscles of the thoracic spine and the lumbar spine.

• ALGAE
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• 제35권1호
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• pp.79-89
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• 2020

Pythium species are ubiquitous organisms known to be pathogens to terrestrial plants and marine algae. While several Pythium species (hereafter, Pythium) are described as pathogens to marine red algae, little is known about the pathogenicity of Pythium on marine green algae. A strain of a Pythium was isolated from a taxonomically unresolved filamentous Ulva collected in an intertidal area of Oslo fjord. Its pathogenicity to a euryhaline Ulva intestinalis collected in the same area was subsequently tested under salinities of 0, 15, and 30 parts per thousand (ppt). The Pythium isolate readily infected U. intestinalis and decimated the filaments at 0 ppt. Mycelium survived on U. intestinalis filaments for at least 2 weeks at 15 and 30 ppt, but the infection did not progress. Sporulation was not observed in the infected algal filaments at any salinity. Conversely, Pythium sporulated on infected grass pieces at 0, 15, and 30 ppt. High salinity retarded sporulation, but did not prevent it. Our Pythium isolate produced filamentous non-inflated sporangia. The sexual stage was never observed and phylogenetic analysis using internal transcribed spacer suggest this isolate belongs to the clade B2. We conclude that the Pythium found in the Oslo fjord was a pathogen of U. intestinalis under low salinity.

• Applied Microscopy
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• 제46권4호
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• pp.193-200
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• 2016

Male reproductive organs are strongly affected by estrogen signaling mediated via the estrogen receptor. In this study, propyl pyrazole triol (PPT), an estrogen receptor alpha agonist, was subcutaneously injected in adult male mice every 2 days for a total duration of 8, 16, or 24 days. Histological changes in the reproductive organs, including the testes, efferent ductules, and epididymides, were observed. The weight of the reproductive organs decreased in the PPT group. In addition, the diameter of the seminiferous tubules decreased in the PPT group compared with the control group. The epithelial cell height decreased in the initial segment of the epididymis, whereas the luminal diameter increased in the efferent ductules of the PPT group. PPT induced irregular morphology of stereocilia in the luminal region of the initial segment. Therefore, PPT treatment at high concentrations had inhibitory effects in the reproductive organs of adult male mice. These findings suggest that short-term treatment with estrogen receptor agonist causes histological changes in the testes, efferent ductules, and epididymis, which are similar to those caused by estrogen receptor antagonist treatment. Therefore, the estrogen receptor may have functional roles in male reproductive organs, implying that treatment with an estrogen receptor agonist can affect male fertility.

• Animal cells and systems
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• 제13권2호
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• pp.205-212
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• 2009

Known as a female hormone, estrogen, performs important functions, and the activities of the hormone are mediated via the estrogen receptor. The principal objective of the present study was to assess the effects of a estrogen receptor agonist in male reproductive organs. In this study, the estrogen receptor alpha agonist, PPT, was injected subcutaneously into adult male mice. The effects of PPT on the murine reproductive system were histologically assessed at 3,5, and 8 weeks after treatment. In the treatment group, reductions were observed in the weight of the body, testis and epididymis. Microscopic examination revealed a reduction in seminiferous tubular diameter in the testis, and epithelial cell height in the epididymis during the experiment. 8 weeks after treatment, spermatogenesis was not detected, nor was the lumen of the seminiferous tubules. In the fertility test, 1 week after PPT injection, the fertilizing ability of males was decreased, and on the 2nd and 3rd weeks, complete infertility was observed. In conclusion, the injection of high concentrations of PPT into adult males induced physiological changes, including infertility, and also induced morphological changes, including a reduction in the height of epithelial cells within the reproductive system.

• 한국추진공학회:학술대회논문집
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• 한국추진공학회 2004년도 제22회 춘계학술대회논문집
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• pp.577-587
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• 2004

A coaxial pulsed plasma thruster (PPT) with a Teflon cavity was designed, and its performance characteristics were examined varying stored energy, cavity length and capacitance. The PPT was tested as the entire system including the discharge circuit, and the results were explained with both the transfer efficiency and the acceleration efficiency. The transfer efficiency is defined as the fraction of energy in capacitors supplied into plasma, and the acceleration efficiency as the fraction of energy supplied into plasma converted to thrust energy. To estimate these efficiencies, the equivalent plasma resistance was defined and calculated using energy conservation during discharge. The equivalent plasma resistance proportionally increased with cavity length, and therefore the current peak increased with decreasing cavity length. The energy density calculated by the transfer efficiency was increased with decreasing cavity length. As a result, higher acceleration efficiency and lower transfer efficiency were obtained with shorter cavity length. Accordingly, there was an optimal cavity length for the thrust efficiency. The specific impulse and the impulse bit per unit stored energy ranged from 390 s and 50 $\mu$ Ns/J for a cavity length of 34 mm to 825 s and 11 $\mu$ Ns/J for a cavity length of 4 mm when the stored energy was fixed to 21.4J. Thus, it was showed that the performance of this PPT approached that of electromagnetic-acceleration-type PPT with decreasing cavity length. The PPT achieved thrust efficiencies of 10-12% at 21.4 J and 6-7% at 5.35 J at cavity lengths between 14 mm and 29 mm.

• 대한정형도수물리치료학회지
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• 제29권3호
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• pp.73-84
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• 2023

Background: This study aimed to compare pressure pain thresholds (PPTs) in the vertebral segments between patients with chronic lower back pain (CLBP) and healthy participants without back pain and to determine the correlation between vertebral bone-segment PPT and pain level, lower back pain dysfunction, and psychological status in patients with CLBP. Methods: The subjects of this study were 23 healthy adults and 23 adults with CLBP. PPT was measured in 23 spinal bone segments using a PPT device, and the CLBP group was subjected to a pain level test (NRS) and a psychological test using the Korean version of the pain catastrophizing scale (KPCS). The functional level was assessed using the Korean version of the Oswestry disability index (KODI). Results: PPTs of the spinal sclerotomes were significantly lower in patients with CLBP than in healthy participants. In the CLBP group, the composite score of lumbar PPTs showed a high correlation with the composite scores for all segments, but not with the pain level (NRS), KPCS score, and spinal sclerotome PPT. Moreover, PPT in the sacral sclerotomes showed a significant negative correlation coefficient with function, with a KODI score of -.462 (p<.01). Conclusion: In this study, PPTs in all spinal segments in patients with CLBP was significantly lower than that in healthy subjects. The PPTs of the lumbar region was significantly correlated with the PPTs of other spinal regions. Through this study, it was found that there were changes in PPTs in CLBP patients not only in the lumbar region but also in other spinal regions. This information should be considered during clinical treatment of patients with low back pain.

• 한국전문물리치료학회지
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• 제21권1호
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• pp.55-62
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• 2014

For professional drivers, there is a possibility to have musculoskeletal disorders on ankle joint due to repetitive pedaling operation. Therefore, this study have focused to examine ankle active range of motion (AROM), dorsiflexor strength, and pressure pain threshold (PPT) of tibialis anterior muscle (TA) in taxi drivers compared to a age-matched control group. Thirty male taxi drivers with at least 10 years of driving experience and thirty male sedentary workers were evaluated for ankle AROM, dorsiflexor strength, and PPT of TA. Multiple independent t-tests were used to identify significant differences between two groups. For the results, taxi drivers had significantly less AROM in dorsiflexion and greater AROM in external tibial rotation compared to the control group. Also, dorsiflexor strength and PPT of TA in taxi drivers was significantly lower than in the control group. This study indicates that the repetitive ankle movements associated with driving have an effect on ankle AROM, dorsiflexor strength, and PPT of TA and may lead to work-related musculoskeletal disorders on ankle. Professional drivers may need to be educated to prevent a potential musculoskeletal disorders associated with repetitive movement.

• 한국전문물리치료학회지
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• 제18권2호
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• pp.76-83
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• 2011

The aim of this study was to determine the immediate effects of single treatment of strain-counter strain (SCS) on pressure pain threshold (PPT) and muscle activity during scapular plane abduction with 3% body weight load. Fifteen asymptomatic male adults with upper trapezius latent trigger point (LTrP) (PPT<2.9 $kg/cm^2$) participated in this study. Pressure algometer was used to measure PPT and surface electromyography was used to record upper, middle arid lower trapezius, serratus anterior, infraspinatus and middle deltoid muscle activity and relative ratio during scapular plane abduction between pre- and post-intervention. There was a significant increase in upper trapezius PPT after a 90-second SCS (p<.05). The activity of the upper trapezius and middle deltoid was significantly decreased (p=.014, p=.001), coupled with a decreased muscle activity ratio between the upper and lower trapezius (p<.05). These results indicate that the SCS may effectively deactivate upper trapezius activity, thereby alleviating muscle balance and reducing pain sensitivity.

• 한국음향학회지
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• 제32권3호
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• pp.262-268
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• 2013

다양한 음성 압축방식이 여러 분야에서 광범위하게 사용되고 있으며 그 심리음향적 인지결과는 대상 언어의 특성과 압축 방식에 따라서 다를 수가 있다. 한국어에서도 이러한 인지 결과를 비교하는 정량적인 자료가 관련된 임상이나 응용 분야에서 필요하지만 구체적인 내용이 확인되어 있지 않다. 본 연구에서는 통제된 언어적 특성을 갖는 0에서 9까지 한국어 단음절 숫자 들이 무작위로 조합되는 다섯 쌍 조합(quintet set)을 대상으로 하여 자주 사용되는 세가지 대표적인 음성 압축방식의 특성을 비교 분석하였다. 비교 기준으로는 기존의 연구에서 분석 정리된 시간과 주파수 정보가 모두 일정하게 변화되는 PNT (Preserving No Trait) 압축에서 얻은 자료를 비교 근거로 선정하였다. 이를 기준으로 하여 동일한 조건의 정상인 그룹에서 심리음향적 피치(pitch) 정보가 주로 보전되는 PPT (Preserving Pitch Trait), 시간 정보가 주로 보전되는 PTT (Preserving Time Trait) 압축방식의 인지 결과를 기록하고 분석하였다(N=20). 본 연구 결과에서 얻어진 자료를 보면, 정보의 압축비율이 높을 수록 심리음향학적으로 중요한 주파수 정보(피치)를 보전하는 것이 인지도 측면에서 가장 유리한 것으로 나타났다(PPT>PTT>PNT). 또한, 세가지 압축방법에서 50% 인지율을 보이는 압축률의 역치도 PPT가 20%, PTT가 42%, PNT가 44% 순으로 나타났다. 따라서 인지도 측면에서만 살펴보면 본 조건에서는 PPT 압축 방식이 가장 우수한 것으로 추정되었다. 이러한 숫자 자극을 이용한 평가 방법은 향후 새로운 압축 방식의 효율성과 인지도 측면을 비교 가능하게 하며, 이를 이용하면, 청각정보처리기능을 진단하거나 압축 관련 특수 보청기 적합 재활에서 정량적인 지표를 제공하는 도구로도 사용될 수 있을 것으로 판단된다.