• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
• /
• v.36 no.4
• /
• pp.210-220
• /
• 2019

Objectives : Warm needling is a combined treatment technique of acupuncture and moxibustion. In this study, we aimed to find out the components related with the thermal stimulation of the warm needling and to provide basic data for the guideline of the warm needling technique in the clinic. Methods : In this study, we measured thermal change of 3% agarose phantom embedding K-type thermocouples in depths of 0, 1, 2, 4, 8 and 16 mm. The warm needling was performed with acupuncture needles of various specifications (0.50×30, 0.50×40, 0.30×30, 0.30×40, 0.20×30 and 0.20×40 mm). A linear regression analysis was performed to find out the major component and quantify the effectiveness of the thermal stimulation during warm needling. Results : As a result of the measurement of temperature change, we could observe the thermal change pattern from the surface of the phantom to the 16mm deep part of the phantom. The thermal pattern was similar among the needles of different specifications. The regression analysis pointed the distance between the moxa cautery and the skin surface as the main component for the thermal stimulation of the warm needling. Conclusions : The authors suggest considering the distance between moxa cautery and the skin rather than the diameter of the acupuncture needle in accordance to the result of the study.

• Proceedings of the KOSOMBE Conference
• /
• v.1993 no.05
• /
• pp.57-60
• /
• 1993

A finite element-based computer simulation of excimer laser susery was conducted to study some factors on the surgery. In particular, the radius of curvature at the apex of the cornea was examined under various surgical conditions. Corneal tissue was assumed to be a nearly incompressible, linear elastic, homogeneous, isotropic material under very small deformation. The geometry of the human cornea was taken from the experimental data[1]. The simulation utilized ANSYS(Swanson Analysis System Inc.Rev.4.4A). In this study, the major factors which affect the outcomes of the excimer laser surgery were investigated. First, two patterns of surgery with various surgery thickness(40-70micrometers) were examind. The pattern#1 describes the meridian from the apex to the edge of the surgery area to be straight. And the corresponding meridian of the pattern 2 can be expressed as a quardratic function. The results show that the pattern #2 is more realistic and effective. Then, the effects of other factors were investigated based on the pattern #2. Other factors are:various diameters of the surgical area (3-8 milimeters), Young's modules(3.5-4.5MPa), and depth of surgery at the apex(40-70micrometers). Compared with the computer simulation of the radial keratotomy surgery[2], the excimer laser surgery was proven to be more effective in treating myopia patients. In conculusion, the results of the simulation are qualitative agreement with clinical experience[3] indicating the potential of the finite element model of the surgery as a guideline to the surgeon before actual surgery.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
• /
• v.7 no.3
• /
• pp.317-333
• /
• 2014

The study of the mechanical behavior of rockfill materials under three-dimensional loading conditions is a current research focus area. This paper presents a microscale numerical study of rockfill deformation and strength characteristics using the Combined Finite-Discrete Element Method (FDEM). Two features unique to this study are the consideration of irregular particle shapes and particle crushability. A polydisperse assembly of irregular polyhedra was prepared to reproduce the mechanical behavior of rockfill materials subjected to axial compression at a constant mean stress for a range of intermediate principal stress ratios in the interval [0, 1]. The simulation results, including the stress-strain characteristics, relationship between principal strains, and principal deviator strains are discussed. The stress-dilatancy behavior is described using a linear dilatancy equation with its material constants varying with the intermediate principal stress ratio. The failure surface in the principal stress space and its traces in the deviatoric and meridian plane are also presented. The modified Lade-Duncan criterion most closely describes the stress points at failure.

• Tunnel and Underground Space
• /
• v.21 no.2
• /
• pp.93-102
• /
• 2011

In spite of being unable to take into the effect of intermediate principal stress, Mohr-Coulomb and Hoek-Brown criteria are very popular as rock failure criteria. The recent researches reveal that the influence of intermediate principal stress on the failure strength of rock is substantial, so that 3-D failure criteria in which the intermediate principal stress could be considered is necessary for the safe design of the important rock structures. In this study, the likely application of the 3-D failure criterion proposed by Jiang & Pietruszczak (1988) to the prediction of the true triaxial strength of rock materials is discussed. The failure condition is linear in the meridian plane of principal stress space and it is represented by the smooth surface contacting the corners of the Mohr-Coulomb surface. The performance of the Jiang & Pietruszczak's criterion is demonstrated by simulating the actual true triaxial tests on the rock samples of three different rock types.

• Tunnel and Underground Space
• /
• v.21 no.6
• /
• pp.526-535
• /
• 2011

A new failure criterion for concrete, which takes into account the effect of the intermediate principal stress, is proposed. The new criterion, which takes the advantages from both the Mohr-Coulomb and the Willam-Warnke criteria, is linear in the meridian section, while its octahedral section is always smooth and convex. Fitting the triaxial compression data with the proposed criterion shows the high performance of the new criterion. A new formula for the factor of safety of concrete is defined based on the new failure criterion and it is employed in the stability analysis of the concrete plugs installed in the pilot plant. The new formula for the factor of safety measures the degree of closeness of a stress state to the failure surface in the octahedral plane. Finally, 3-D finite element analyses of pilot plant were carried out to obtain the stress distributions in the plugs. Then, the stress distributions are converted to those of factor of safety by use of the proposed formula. Based on the distribution of factor of safety in the concrete plugs, the stability of the tapered and wedge-shaped plugs is evaluated.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
• /
• v.22 no.3
• /
• pp.137-144
• /
• 2005

Objective : This study was designed to assess the heart rate variablitv of patients with Parkinson's disease according to Hoehn-Yahr stage. Methods : Subjects were voluntarily recruited by newspapers and internet. All the subjects are confirmed as idiopathic parkinson's disease by a neurologist. The patients were grouped by Hoehn-Yahr(H-Y) stage. Heart rate variability was measured for 5 minutes after 5 minutes' bed rest. Subjects were comprised of 3 groups which were H-Y stage I (n=14), H-Y stage H(n=9), H-Y stage III(n=7). We compared the heart rate variability of each groups by one-way ANOVA test. We also studied the relationship between UPDRS score and Heat rate variability components (SDNN, RMS-SD and TP) by pearson correlation analysis and simple linear regressin analysis Results: Age, duration was matched among groups. SDNN, RMS-SD, TP were significantly decreased as H-Y stage increased(p<0.05). Especially there was significant difference between H-Y stage I and III group(p<0.05). But other components(Heart rate, LF, HF, LF/HF ratio) were not showed significant difference. SDNN, RMS-SD and TP were significantly decreased as UPDRS scores increase(p<0.05). Conclusion : This study suggests that the function of the autonomic nervous system decreases as Parkinson`s disease progresses.