• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• v.14 no.3
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• pp.109-116
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• 2019

PURPOSE: This study examined the effects of an active tailored exercise program on pain and the Oswestry disability index (ODI) among workers with musculoskeletal symptoms of the lower back in an automobile parts manufacturing company. METHODS: Twenty-two workers with musculoskeletal symptoms of the lower back were included in the study. The experimental group was composed of 15 workers and a control group of seven workers. The experimental group was provided an active tailored exercise program and education on the risk factors of musculoskeletal disorders. The control group was only provided ergonomic education. The exercise program, which consisted of movement pattern correction, muscle stretching and strengthening, and postural correction exercises, was applied twice a week for two months for one hour a day. Pain, which was determined using a visual analogue scale (VAS), and the ODI were measured before and after exercise. RESULTS: After applying the exercise program for two months, the VAS and ODI of the experimental group were significantly lower than those of the control group (p<.05). In the experimental group, the VAS decreased significantly after one month (p<0.05), and the ODI decreased significantly after two months (p<.05). CONCLUSION: Because active tailored exercise programs are effective in improving the pain and disability indices, it is necessary to actively implement such programs among manufacturing workers with musculoskeletal symptoms of the lower back.

• Fashion & Textile Research Journal
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.318-325
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• 2019

This study analyzes current self-nail tips and nail-tip satisfaction. The study method selected from 3 domestic and 3 overseas companies analyzed current self-nail tips based on brand recognition and sales rate. A questionnaire was conducted on 261 adult women in their 20s and 50s about the satisfaction of nail care and self-nail tips. The results are as follows. As a result to analyze the current nail tips, there were products that did not contain the type of nail tip or the composition and ingredients of the glue. An online survey of the sizes of the current nail tips indicated differences in the sizing system method and that the presented sizes are different. The response rate was the highest for the survey results on why self-nail tips were preferred for respondents who prefer self-nail tips because the price was cheap. The reason why they did not prefer self-nail tips was that the degree of completeness was lower and the fitness was not good. In addition, it showed a high response rate in that the adhesive strength was poor and the size did not fit the nails. Therefore, it is necessary to develop a size for nail types by ergonomic design and develop a self-nail tip that can reduce nail damage.

• Journal of the Korea Society of Computer and Information
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.137-144
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• 2019

The purpose of this study was to provide basic data for the development of a prototype of a garment that allows middle aged men to look idealized by examining the type of perception of middle aged men based on their subjective evaluation and their characteristics. This study used the Q methodology, which is a subjective research method that finds correlations among middle aged men across subjective attributes. The types of perception of body shape of middle aged men were analyzed as three types: leaning forward shape with bird legs, developed upper body shape with thick legs, protruding abdomen obesity body shape. The leaning forward shape with bird legs was recognized as the lowest in the BMI index, and the shoulder and chest were sagging, legs were thinner than the body and leaned forward. And that the hip were protruding and had a flat rectangular shape. Developed upper body shape with thick legs was the second overweight type of BMI index. It was recognized that the ankle and calf thighs were thick and the upper abdomen protruded upper body development body. Protruding abdomen obesity body shape was the most obese type with BMI index. In this type, the height was the smallest, and the upper abdomen came out and the abdomen protruded, and the abdomen was more exuded than the chest, and the neck was thick and the hips were recognized as the big body. The middle aged men's recognitive body shape was classified as a similar to actual body shape. However, in the recognition type, the frontal and side body types were mixed and classified. It is necessary to study the ergonomic pattern considering the features of each body type. This suggests that psychological effects can be obtained that allow the body shape that changes with age to be accepted more positively.

• Psychiatry investigation
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• v.15 no.12
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• pp.1188-1202
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• 2018

Objective This study protocol aims to determine, using a rigorous approach in patients with bipolar disorder (BD) and non-seasonal major depressive episode (MDE), the characteristics of bright light therapy (BLT) administration (duration, escalation, morning and mid-day exposures) depending on the tolerance (hypomanic symptoms). Methods Patients with BD I or II and treated by a mood stabilizer are eligible. After 1 week of placebo, patients are randomized between either morning or mid-day exposure for 10 weeks of active BLT with glasses using a dose escalation at 7.5, 10, 15, 30 and 45 minutes/day. A further follow-up visit is planned 6 months after inclusion. Patients will be included by cohorts of 3, with at least 3 days of delay between them, and 1 week between cohorts. If none meet a dose limiting toxicity (DLT; i.e hypomanic symptoms), the initiation dose of the next cohort will be increased. If one patient meet a DLT, an additionnal cohort will start at the same dose. If 2 or 3 patients meet a DLT, from the same cohort or from two cohorts at the same dose initiation, the maximum tolerated dose is defined. This dose escalation will also take into account DLTs observed during the intra-subject escalation on previous cohorts, with a "Target Ceiling Dose" defined if 2 DLTs occured at a dose. Discussion Using an innovative and more ergonomic device in the form of glasses, this study aims to better codify the use of BLT in BD to ensure a good initiation and tolerance.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Manufacturing Process Engineers
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• v.17 no.6
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• pp.7-15
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• 2018

We propose a method for evaluating sound quality quantitatively to develop high-level home appliances (HA). Generally, a refrigerator has diverse movable parts such as slider, drawer, and folding shelf. Therefore, an engineering treatment to control the noise quality is considered as one of key technologies for a higher level refrigerator. Among the movable parts, we have selected a folding shelf as an example, which is commonly setup inside of a home refrigerator for increasing space convenience, to control the noise quality. However, it is known that its noise level is very high comparing to other movable parts when folding or unfolding actions. In order to evaluate and compare the noise quality, we have tested different eighteen models, and have suggested an impact sound quality index (ISQI) based on subjective evaluation data obtained experimentally by thirty two evaluators. The ISQI was formulated using three sound quality elements (noise peak, raising time, impact duration) to determine psycho-acoustic properties. Through this work, we developed an evaluating process and ISQI that was verified the usefulness by comparing the test results of personal perceptions given by evaluators with the prediction value of ISQI. We showed a good relations between them, so we believe that the proposed method and ISQI can be utilized to control of the noise quality of HA effectively.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Manufacturing Process Engineers
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• v.17 no.6
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• pp.170-176
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• 2018

Recently, weapon system requires personal protection products due to the explosion of rapid-fire explosion, which is considered to be multi threat in modernization, complication and war against terrorism. However, the conventional Korean military bullet protection helmets are not suitable for wearing convenience and combatant interoperability in terms of ergonomic. In this paper, we propose a suitable 3D Scanning method for the head, and compare the measured 3D dimension with the existing 2D measurement value to identity the reliability. Reverse engineered soldier head using the quick surface method was realized with a perfect free-form surface and satisfactory tolerance range (${\pm}0.2mm$). Through the comparison of 3D and 2D measured head dimensions, the absolute error value was 0.73 mm on average and relative error was 0.35 %, confirming the high accuracy of the 3D scan modeling. Also, quick surface method using 3D scanner is suggested a fast and accurate skill for ergonomics in obtaining the head modeling needed for military's personal bullet protection helmet design.

• The Korean Journal of Emergency Medical Services
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.101-112
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• 2019

Purpose: The purpose of the study was to contribute to the prevention of musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) in 119 emergency medical technicians (EMTs) by evaluating ergonomic risk factors of patient lifting work-postures. Methods: Four procedures were evaluated: using long back-board (LBB) on the sitting and standing main stretcher, using variable stretcher on the sitting and standing main stretcher. Wok-postures were assessed during training. Results: In using LBB on the sitting main stretcher, the OWAS-score was Mode:3 (Mean:2.30, Maximum:3), the REBA-score was Mode:9 (Mean:7.61, Maximum:11), requiring improvement soon. In using LBB on the standing main stretcher, the OWAS-score was Mode:3 (Mean:2.33, Maximum:3), requiring as soon as possible corrective action, the REBA-score was Mode:6 (Mean:5.44, Maximum:11), requiring improvement. In using variable stretcher on the sitting main stretcher, the OWAS-score was Mode:1 (Mean:1.85, Maximum:3), not requiring corrective action, the REBA-score was Mode:6 (Mean:6.78, Maximum:11), requiring improvement. In using variable stretcher on the standing main stretcher, the OWAS-score was Mode:3 (Mean:2.84, Maximum:3), requiring as soon as possible corrective action, the REBA-score was Mode:11 (Mean:9.38, Maximum:11), requiring immediate improvement. Conclusion: All four-procedures showed improvement in work-posture. Thereby, required attention and management in training, occupational health professionals should participate in change of lifting-method, and programs aimed at preventing MSDs should be developed and implemented in fire-academy and fire-station.

• Safety and Health at Work
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.57-65
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• 2021

Background: The objective of this study was to elucidate the relationships musculoskeletal pains with combined vulnerability in terms of age, gender, and employment status Methods: The fifth European Working Conditions Survey (EWCS) in 2010 (43,816 participants aged 15 years and over) analyzed for European employees and the third Korean Working Conditions Survey (KWCS) in 2011 (50,032 participants aged 15 years and older) analyzed for Korean employees. In this study, three well known vulnerable factors to musculoskeletal pains (older age, female gender, and precarious employment status) were combined and defined as combined vulnerability. Associations of musculoskeletal pains with combined vulnerability were assessed with prevalence ratios (PRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) estimated by Poisson regression models with robust estimates of variance. Results: The prevalences of musculoskeletal pains were lower but the absolute and relative differences between combined vulnerabilities were higher among Korean employees compared with the European employees. Furthermore, the increased risk of having musculoskeletal pains according to combined vulnerability was modestly explained by socioeconomic factors and exposure to ergonomic risk factors, especially in Republic of Korea. Conclusions: The results of this study showed that the labor market may be more unfavorable for female and elderly workers in Republic of Korea. Any prevention strategies to ward off musculoskeletal pains, therefore, should be found and implemented to mitigate or buffer against the most vulnerable work population, older, female, and precarious employment status, in Republic of Korea.

• Design Convergence Study
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.1-14
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• 2019

General finger splint manufactured and sold domestically could have been of great help to patients with disabilities due to damage to the body's. However, it reminded the wearer of his disability that he wanted to hide. This has had a negative effect on the psychological side of self-absorption and depression. If this avoids or rejects wearing, the role of ancillary rehabilitation is lost. This does not meet the user's requirements. Thus, in this study, 3D printing was used to better reflect user requirements. Next, the study examined existing prior studies to identify the characteristics and criteria of each study. It also examined medical finger aids that were being sold in the auxiliary device market. The assessment criteria were derived by compiling and interpreting user surveys of each finger splint device. Based on the evaluation criteria derived, the design guidelines for finger splint were presented using FDM-style 3D printers. Finally, we proposed a finger splint design according to the proposed design guideline.

• Journal of Gastric Cancer
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.38-48
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• 2021

Purpose: As the number of gastric cancer survivors is increasing and their quality of life after surgery is being emphasized, single-port surgery is emerging as an alternative to conventional gastrectomy. A novel multi-degree-of-freedom (DOF) articulating device, the ArtiSential® device (LivsMed, Seongnam, Korea), was designed to allow more intuitive and meticulous control for surgeons facing ergonomic difficulties with conventional tools. In this study, we evaluated the feasibility of this new device during single-port laparoscopic distal gastrectomy (SP-LDG) for early gastric cancer (EGC) patients. Materials and Methods: Consecutive patients diagnosed with EGC who underwent SP-LDG with ArtiSential® (LivsMed) graspers between April 2018 and August 2020 were enrolled in the study. The clinical outcomes were compared with those of a control group, in which prebent graspers (Olympus Medical Systems Corp) were used for the same procedures. Results: Seventeen patients were enrolled in the ArtiSential® group. There was no significant difference in operative time (205.4±6.0 vs. 218.1±9.9 minutes, P= 0.270) or the quality of surgery, in terms of the number of retrieved lymph nodes (49.5±3.5 vs. 45.9±4.0, P=0.473), length of hospital stay (15.4±2.0 vs. 12.4±1.3 days, P=0.588), and postoperative complications (40.0% vs. 41.2%, P=0.595), between the ArtiSential® group and the control group. Conclusions: The new multi-DOF articulating grasper is feasible and can be used as an alternative for prebent graspers during SP-LDG.