• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.210-213
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• 1998

Background: Epidural steroid therapy has been well-established for the treatment of sciatica and low back pain. Disappointing results following surgical decompression or discectomy have led to wide trials of corticosteroids injected either systemically or into the intraspinally. Although epidural steroid is known to be very effective in the treatment of the patients with low back pain, few data showed the therapeutic duration of epidural steroid. Methods: We studied 120 patients who were treated with epidural steroid for the treatment of low back pain or sciatica or both. We retrospectively analysed the duration of analgesia, number of injections per each session, and complications. Results: The duration of analgesia ranged from 17 days to 300 days, and the mean duration was $73.7{\pm}70.5$ (SD) days. The mean number of injections per each session was $1.8{\pm}1.3$ (range: 1 to 12). There were no significant complications with epidural steroid injections. Conclusions: One to three epidural steroid injections at one week interval leads more than two months of pain relief without significant complications.

• Journal of International Academy of Physical Therapy Research
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.1981-1991
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• 2020

Background: Although various exercises have been performed for patients with chronic low back pain (CLBP), the effects of these exercises including joint mobilization, gym ball exercises, and breathing exercises on flexion relaxation ratio (FRR) have not been compared. Objective: To compare the effects of joint mobilization, gym ball exercises, and breathing exercises on the flexion relaxation phenomenon (FRP) and pain in patients with chronic low back pain. Design: Randomized pretest-posttest control group design. Methods: Thirty-six patients with chronic low back pain who were undergoing rehabilitation at a rehabilitation center were included. The patients were randomly divided into three groups: joint mobilization group (JMG; n=12), gym ball exercise group (GBG; n=12), and breathing exercise group (BEG; n=12). The exercises were performed for 40 minutes a day, twice a week, for a total of 12 weeks. Results: There were no significant differences in FRR between the three groups (P>.05). Significant decreases in the modified visual analog scale (MVAS) scores after intervention between the groups were found (P<.05). The GBG was significantly decreases from the JMG in the MVAS (P<.05). However, there were significant improvements between the pre- and post-interventional findings on FRR and MVAS in the three groups (P<.05). Conclusion: We demonstrated that intervention using joint mobilization, gym ball exercises, and breathing exercises improve FRP and pain in patients with CLBP.

• The Journal of Korean Academy of Orthopedic Manual Physical Therapy
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.19-27
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• 2020

Background: The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of a multi-modal exercise program for patients with chronic low back with respect to pain intensity, trunk muscle strength and Oswestry disability index. Methods: Thirty patients with chronic low back pain were recruited and divided equally into two groups. The multi-modal training program comprised a series of exercises such as warm-up, stabilization exercises, stretching, endurance exercises, and cool down whereas the control group performed only stabilization exercises. The both group spent an equal amount of time performing 60 minutes per day, three times per week, for five weeks. Results: The experimental group demonstrated statistically significant improvements in range of motion, trunk muscle strength, the visual analogue scale, and the Oswestry Disability Index (p<.05). Intergroup comparison showed a statistically significant difference in the range of motion of the lumbar spine and the degree of disability in the experimental group. Muscle strength and pain were statistically significant in both groups. Conclusion: The multi-modal exercise program is effective for patients with chronic low back pain, as it reduces lower back pain, increases trunk muscles strength, and decrease the potential for becoming disabled.

• Journal of Korean Physical Therapy Science
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.55-66
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• 2009

Background: The purpose of this research was to investigate the factors affecting the low back pain of workers in hospital. 214 subjects waking at two general hospitals in Yosu city participated in this survey. Subjects consisted of doctors, nurses, medical engineers, officers and general laborers. The survey data were collected by a written questionnaire which made out by themselves for 25 days, from fourth August to 29th August, 2008. Methods: The questionnaire consisted of four categories, general, occupational, working habitual and the daily living characteristics. The collected data were analyzed by Chi-square test based on the present or absent of low back pain. Results: 1. In the general characteristics, low back pain had no significant relationship to all factors, sex, ago, body mass index, weight and height. 2. In the occupational characteristics, the phase of distribution of low back pain had statistical significant differences in the working hours a week, satisfaction of pay, satisfaction of occupation(p<0.05). However low back pain did not significantly related to the kind of occupation, period of work and degree of stress. 3. In the habitual characteristics, low back pain was significantly influenced by working posture, frequency of using lumbar and heavy material lifting, monotonous repetition of working operation and noise(p<0.05). No significant difference was shown in the factor of convenience of chair. 4. In the daily living characteristics, low back pain shown the significant differences in walking time a day, status of health and smoking pattern(p<0.05). there were, however, no significant differences in the aspect of the kind of house and bed, sleeping attitude, driving, riding time on the vehicle, exercising, frequency of cultural life and drinking alcohol. Conclusion: when I see above resultants totally, it appears a higher incidence caused by working environment rather than living habit and then consequently compared to hospital workers, they also have high incidence like others. In order to reduce incidence of low back pain and enjoy the our life we need to educate ourselves preventing program for low back pain and try to effort for preventing of low back pain on each department and individual.

• The Bulletin of The Korean Astronomical Society
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• v.37 no.1
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• pp.42-42
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• 2012

The First stars (Pop.III stars) in the universe are expected to be formed between the recombination era at z - 1100 and the most distant quasar (z - 8). They have never been directly detected due to its faintness so far, but can be observed as a background radiation at around 1${\mu}m$ which is called the Cosmic Near-Infrared Background (CNB). Main part of the CNB is thought to be redshifted Lyman-alpha from gas clouds surrounding the Pop.III stars. Until now, the COBE (COsmic Background Explorer) and the IRTS (Infrared Telescope in Space) observed excess emission over the background due to galaxies. To confirm the COBE and the IRTS results and pursue more observational evidences, we carried out the sounding rocket experiment named the Cosmic Infrared Background ExpeRiment (CIBER). The CIBER is successfully launched on July 10, 2010 at White Sands Missile Range, New Mexico, USA. It consists of three kinds of instruments. We report the results obtained by LRS (Low Resolution Spectrometer) which is developed to fill the uncovered spectrum around 1${\mu}m$. LRS is a refractive telescope of 5.5 cm aperture with spectral resolution of 20 - 30 and wavelength coverage of 0.7 to 2.0${\mu}m$. After subtracting foreground components (zodiacal light, integrated star light and diffuse galactic light) from the sky brightness of observed five fields, there remained significant residual emission (even for the lower limit case) consistent with the IRTS and the COBE results. In addition, there exists a clear gap at 0.7 - 0.8${\mu}m$ in the CNB spectrum over the background due to galaxies according to recent results (Matsuoka et al. 2011; Mattila et al. 2011). The origin of the excess emission could be ascribed to the Pop.III stars with its active era of z = 7 - 10.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.80-86
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• 2016

Background: Prone hip extension (PHE) can be performed to measure the lumbopelvic motor patterns and motions. Imbalances in lumbopelvic muscle activity and muscle weakness can result in instability including pain in lumbopelvic region. The posterior oblique sling (POS) muscles contribute to dynamic lumbopelvic stability. In addition, POS are anatomically aligned with the trapezius muscle group according to shoulder positions. Objects: This study compared the electromyography (EMG) activity of POS and pelvic compensations during PHE with and without pre-activation of lower trapezius muscle (lowT). Methods: Sixteen healthy males were recruited. PHE was performed in randomized order: PHE with and without lowT pre-activation. Surface EMG signals were recorded for biceps femoris (BF), gluteus maximus (GM) (ipsilateral), lumbar multifidus (MF) (bilateral), and the lowT (contralateral). An electromagnetic tracking motion analysis was used to measure the angle of pelvic rotation and anterior tilting. Results: The ipsilateral GM and bilateral MF EMG amplitudes were greater during PHE with lowT pre-activation compared to PHE without lowT pre-activation (p<.05). The BF amplitude during PHE without lowT pre-activation was significantly greater than that during PHE with lowT pre-activation (p<.05). The angles of pelvic rotation and anterior tilting during PHE with lowT pre-activation were significantly smaller compared to PHE without lowT pre-activation (p<.05). Conclusion: PHE with lowT pre-activation, which is aligned with the POS, showed more increased MF and GM muscular activity with smaller lumbopelvic compensations in rotation and anterior tilting compared to PHE without lowT pre-activation.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine Technology
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.59-65
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• 2016

Purpose Dynamic kidney scan is a typical imaging technique that visualizes kidney function. Reproducibility of dynamic kidney scans has been evaluated by comparing low-dose kidney scans with low-dose radiopharmaceutical and standard dynamic kidney scan. With this comparative study, if reproducibility is superb, the dynamic kidney scan method with reduced radioactivity to patients is to be utilized and radiation exposure to patient is to be reduced. Materials and Methods For gamma camera, Orbiter, SymbiaE (Siemens, Germany) was used. Among patients who had used 370 Mbq (10 mCi) from January of 2013 to February 2014 and other patients who had used 185 Mbq (5 mCi) from March of 2014 to July of 2015 with identical condition, 21 subjects using DTPA and 20 subjects using $MAG_3$, 41 subjects in total, had been selected as subjects for data. From renogram of the result image, frame of the peak point was selected. Then, region of interest of kidney and background had been selected and Kidney to Background Ratio has been calculated for comparison. Results In tests using DTPA, kidney to background ratio when using 370 Mbq was $5.67{\pm}0.8$ at average while it was $5.62{\pm}0.87$ when using 185 Mbq, which didn't show much difference. Also in the tests using $MAG_3$, kidney to background ratio when using 370 Mbq was $14.95{\pm}2.58$ at average and $14.56{\pm}2.02$ in 185 Mbq, which neither showed much difference. In paired sample t-test, p-value was 0.566 in DTPA and 0.363 in $MAG_3$, which confirmed that there was no difference between the groups. Conclusion In identical patients, when dose was decreased from 370 Mbq to 185 Mbq, reproducibility of dynamic kidney scan was proven to be excellent. Low-dose Dynamic kidney scan can achieve results with fine reproducibility without improvement in performance of gamma camera and is expected to reduce radiation exposure to patient.

• Journal of the Korea Institute of Information and Communication Engineering
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• v.20 no.7
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• pp.1376-1382
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• 2016

In this paper, we present a visual quality enhancement technique for conventional three-dimensional (3D) photon counting integral imaging using background noise removal algorithm. Photon counting imaging can detect a few photons from desired objects and visualize them under severely photon-starved conditions such as low light level environment. However, when a lot of photons are generated from background, it is difficult to detect photons from desired objects. Thus, the visual quality of the reconstructed image may be degraded. Therefore, in this paper, we propose a new photon counting imaging method that removes unnecessary background noise and detects photons from only desired objects. In addition, integral imaging can be used to obtain 3D information and visualize the 3D image by statistical estimations such as maximum likelihood estimation. To prove and evaluate our proposed method, we implement the optical experiment and calculate mean square error.

• Journal of Broadcast Engineering
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.372-379
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• 2013

In this paper, we proposed a content-based image retrieval algorithm using local binary patterns and HSV color histogram. Images are retrieved using image input in image retrieval system. Many researches are based on global feature distribution such as color, texture and shape. These techniques decrease the retrieval performance in images which contained background the large amount of image. To overcome this drawback, the proposed method extract background fast and emphasize the feature of object by shrinking the background. The proposed method uses HSV color histogram and Local Binary Patterns. We also extract the Local Binary Patterns in quantized Hue domain. Experimental results show that the proposed method 82% precision using Corel 1000 database.

• Journal of Korea Multimedia Society
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• v.16 no.10
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• pp.1171-1179
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• 2013

Interactive audio service provide with audio generating and editing functionality according to user's preference. A spatial audio object coding (SAOC) scheme is audio coding technology that can support the interactive audio service with relatively low bit-rate. However, when the SAOC scheme remove the specific one object such as vocal object signal for Karaoke mode, the scheme support poor quality because the removed vocal object remain in the SAOC-decoded background music. Thus, we propose a new SAOC vocal harmonic extranction and elimination technique to improve the background music quality in the Karaoke service. Namely, utilizing the harmonic information of the vocal object, we removed the harmonics of the vocal object remaining in the background music. As harmonic parameters, we utilize the pitch, MVF(maximum voiced frequency), and harmonic amplitude. To evaluate the performance of the proposed scheme, we perform the objective and subjective evaluation. As our experimental results, we can confirm that the background music quality is improved by the proposed scheme comparing with the SAOC scheme.