• PNF and Movement
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.125-134
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• 2022

Purpose: The aim of this study was to establish an association between grip strength and gait variability in the elderly. Methods: The participants in this experiment (n = 20) were aged 65 or older. Power grip and lateral pinch forces were obtained in grip strength tests, and spatiotemporal gait parameters were collected from IMU sensors during 6 min actual walking to test the gait of participants. The collected gait parameters were converted to coefficient of variation (CV) values. To confirm the association between grip strength and gait variability, a partial correlation analysis was conducted in which height, weight, and gait speed were input as controlling variables. Results: Grip power showed a significant negative correlation with the stride length CV (r = -0.52), and the lateral pinch force showed a significant negative correlation with the stance CV (r = -0.65) and swing CV (r = -0.63). Conclusion: This study reveals that gait variability decreases as grip strength increases, although height, weight, and gait speed were controlled. Thus, grip strength testing, a simple aging evaluation method, can help identify unstable gait in older adults at risk of falling, and grip strength can be utilized as a non-invasive measurement method for frailty management and prevention.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.56 no.6
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• pp.515-522
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• 2023

Objectives: The pandemic caused by coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has exerted an unprecedented impact on the health of populations worldwide. However, the adverse health consequences of the pandemic in terms of infection and mortality rates have varied across countries. In this study, we investigate whether COVID-19 mortality rates across a group of developed nations are associated with characteristics of their healthcare systems, beyond the differential policy responses in those countries. Methods: To achieve the study objective, we distinguished healthcare systems based on the extent of healthcare decommodification. Using available daily data from 2020, 2021, and 2022, we applied quantile regression with non-additive fixed effects to estimate mortality rates across quantiles. Our analysis began prior to vaccine development (in 2020) and continued after the vaccines were introduced (throughout 2021 and part of 2022). Results: The findings indicate that higher testing rates, coupled with more stringent containment and public health measures, had a significant negative impact on the death rate in both pre-vaccination and post-vaccination models. The data from the post-vaccination model demonstrate that higher vaccination rates were associated with significant decreases in fatalities. Additionally, our research indicates that countries with healthcare systems characterized by high and medium levels of decommodification experienced lower mortality rates than those with healthcare systems involving low decommodification. Conclusions: The results of this study indicate that stronger public health infrastructure and more inclusive social protections have mitigated the severity of the pandemic's adverse health impacts, more so than emergency containment measures and social restrictions.

• Current Optics and Photonics
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• v.8 no.3
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• pp.246-258
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• 2024

In aerospace and energy engineering, the reconstruction of three-dimensional (3D) temperature distributions is crucial. Traditional methods like algebraic iterative reconstruction and filtered back-projection depend on voxel division for resolution. Our algorithm, blending deep learning with computer graphics rendering, converts 2D projections into light rays for uniform sampling, using a fully connected neural network to depict the 3D temperature field. Although effective in capturing internal details, it demands multiple cameras for varied angle projections, increasing cost and computational needs. We assess the impact of camera number on reconstruction accuracy and efficiency, conducting butane-flame simulations with different camera setups (6 to 18 cameras). The results show improved accuracy with more cameras, with 12 cameras achieving optimal computational efficiency (1.263) and low error rates. Verification experiments with 9, 12, and 15 cameras, using thermocouples, confirm that the 12-camera setup as the best, balancing efficiency and accuracy. This offers a feasible, cost-effective solution for real-world applications like engine testing and environmental monitoring, improving accuracy and resource management in temperature measurement.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.588-594
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• 2020

This study proposes non-destructive rebound-hardness and ultrasonic testing methods to more accurately evaluate the residual structural performance of reinforced concrete structures in a fire. Techniques are also proposed to assess the stiffness used in the deflection calculation with natural frequencies obtained by vibration tests. In the compressive strength evaluation using rebound hardness, the residual compressive strength of thick specimens and a larger water/cement (W/C) ratio were shown to be large. The homogeneity of concrete at high temperature compared to ambient temperature conditions was assessed by the velocity of ultrasonic waves that penetrate the concrete, and it followed W/C or thickness of slab makes little different results. To assess the stiffness of fire-damaged slabs and increase in deflection, the natural frequency was measured by vibration tests and incorporated into the equation of the stiffness. The application of this technique to the slab experiment showed that it can be a very reasonable evaluation technique. In addition, to evaluate the residual strength of a member after fire, a test of the strength of a component was carried out during and after heating.

• Journal of Technologic Dentistry
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• v.32 no.3
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• pp.195-207
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• 2010

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to observe the microstructural changes of surface in the specimens, performing the shear bond strength testing. The currently most used non-precious alloys are nickel-chromium based alloys with or without beryllium. However, their biocompatibility has been questioned concerning possible damages to the health of the patient and professionals involved in the fabrication of prosthesis caused by long exposure to Ni and Be. An option to nickel-chromium alloys is the cobalt-chromium alloy, an alternative that does not sacrifice the physical properties of the metal porcelain systems. Studies in the animals substantially show that the cobalt-chromium alloys are relatively well tolerated, being therefore more biocompatible than the nickel-chromium alloys. Methods: Non-addition Be to nickel-chromium based alloy(Bellabond plus) and cobalt-chromium alloy which has been widely used(Wirobond C) fused with ZEO light porcelain classified control group and cobalt-chromium alloy which is developing alloy of Alphadent company in Korea(Alphadent alloy) fused with ZEO light porcelain classified experimental group. The specimens of $4mm{\times}4mm{\times}0.5mm$ were prepared as-cast and as-opaque to cast body to analyze the mechanical characteristic change, the microstructure of alloy surface. The phase change was used to observe through XRD analysis and OM/SEM was used to observe the surface of specimens as-cast and as-opaque to cast body. Chemical formation of their elements was measured with EDS. Then hardness was measured with Micro Vicker's hardness tester. Shear bond strength test thirty specimens of $10mm{\times}10mm{\times}2mm$ was prepared, veneered, 3mm high and 3mm in diameter, over the alloy specimens. The shear bond strength test was performed in a universal testing machine(UTM) with a cross head speed of 0.5mm/min. Ultimate shear bond strength data were analyzed with one-way ANOVA and the Scheffe's test (P<0.05). Within the limits of this study, the following conclusions were drawn: The X-ray diffraction analysis results for the as-cast and as-opaque specimens showed that the major relative intensity of Bellabond plus alloy were changed smaller than Wirobond C and Alphadent Co-Cr based alloys. Results: Microstructural analysis results for the opaque specimens showed all the alloys increased carbides and precipitation(PPT). Alphadent Co-Cr based alloy showed the carbides of lamellar type. The Vickers hardness results for the opaque specimens showed Wirobond C and Alphadent Co-Cr based alloys were increaser than before ascast, but Bellabond plus alloy relatively decreased. The mean shear bond strengths (MPa) were: 33.11 for Wirobond C/ZEO light; 25.00 for Alphadent Co-Cr alloy/ZEO light; 18.02 for Bellabond plus/ZEO light. Conclusion: The mean shear bond strengths for Co-Cr and Ni-Cr based alloy were significantly different. But the all groups showed metal-metal oxide modes in shear bond strengths test at the interface.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.149-159
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• 1999

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to evaluate cervical lymph node metastasis of oral squamous cell carcinoma patients by MRI film and neural network system. Materials and Methods: The oral squamous cell carcinoma patients(21 patients. 59 lymph nodes) who have visited SNU hospital and been taken by MRI. were included in this study. Neck dissection operations were done and all of the cervical lymph nodes were confirmed with biopsy. In MR images. each lymph node were evaluated by using 6 MR imaging criteria(size. roundness. heterogeneity. rim enhancement. central necrosis, grouping) respectively. Positive predictive value. negative predictive value. and accuracy of each MR imaging criteria were calculated. At neural network system. the layers of neural network system consisted of 10 input layer units. 10 hidden layer units and 1 output layer unit. 6 MR imaging criteria previously described and 4 MR imaging criteria (site I-node level II and submandibular area. site II-other node level. shape I-oval. shape II-bean) were included for input layer units. The training files were made of 39 lymph nodes(24 metastatic lymph nodes. 10 non-metastatic lymph nodes) and the testing files were made of other 20 lymph nodes(10 metastatic lymph nodes. 10 non-metastatic lymph nodes). The neural network system was trained with training files and the output level (metastatic index) of testing files were acquired. Diagnosis was decided according to 4 different standard metastatic index-68. 78. 88. 98 respectively and positive predictive values. negative predictive values and accuracy of each standard metastatic index were calculated. Results: In the diagnosis of using single MR imaging criteria. the rim enhancement criteria had highest positive predictive value (0.95) and the size criteria had highest negative predictive value (0.77). In the diagnosis of using single MR imaging criteria. the highest accurate criteria was heterogeneity (accuracy: 0.81) and the lowest one was central necrosis (accuracy: 0.59). In the diagnosis of using neural network systems. the highest accurate standard metastatic index was 78. and that time. the accuracy was 0.90. Neural network system was more accurate than any other single MR imaging criteria in evaluating cervical lymph node metastasis. Conclusion: Neural network system has been shown to be more useful than any other single MR imaging criteria. In future. Neural network system will be powerful aiding tool in evaluating cervical node metastasis.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.83 no.4
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• pp.289-294
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• 2020

Background: Line probe assay (LPA) is standard diagnostic tool to detect multidrug resistant tuberculosis. Non-interpretable (NI) results in LPA (complete missing or light wild-type 3 and 8 bands with no mutation band in rpoB gene region) poses a diagnostic challenge. Methods: Sputum samples obtained between October 2016 and July 2017 at the Intermediate Reference Laboratory, All India Institute of Medical Sciences Hospital, New Delhi, India were screened. Smear-positive and smear-negative culture-positive specimens were subjected to LPA Genotype MTBDRplus Ver 2.0. Smear-negative with culture-negative and culture contamination were excluded. LPA NI samples were subjected to phenotypic drug susceptibility testing (pDST) using MGIT-960 and sequencing. Results: A total of 1,614 sputum specimens were screened and 1,340 were included for the study (smear-positive [n=1,188] and smear-negative culture-positive [n=152]). LPA demonstrated 1,306 (97.5%) valid results with TUB (Mycobacterium tuberculosis) band, 24 (1.8%) NI, three (0.2%) valid results without TUB band, and seven (0.5%) invalid results. Among the NI results, 22 isolates (91.7%) were found to be rifampicin (RIF) resistant and two (8.3%) were RIF sensitive in the pDST. Sequencing revealed that rpoB mutations were noted in all 22 cases with RIF resistance, whereas the remaining two cases had wild-type strains. Of the 22 cases with rpoB mutations, the most frequent mutation was S531W (n=10, 45.5%), followed by S531F (n=6, 27.2%), L530P (n=2, 9.1%), A532V (n=2, 9.1%), and L533P (n=2, 9.1%). Conclusion: The present study showed that the results of the Genotype MTBDRplus assay were NI in a small proportion of isolates. pDST and rpoB sequencing were useful in elucidating the cause and clinical meaning of the NI results.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Gas
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• v.17 no.5
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• pp.64-68
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• 2013

Non destructive testing(NDT) methods of electrofusion(EF) joints of thermoplastics pipes are required for fusion joint safety and for the long term reliability of a pipe system. Electrofusion joints, which are joined at the proper fusion process and procedures, may encounter defects due to the difference of ovality between pipes and coupling, improper fusion process or porosity result from electrofusion joining. These defects can cause the failure of pipeline and by extension, they can be caused the limit to expand the use of plastics pipes. This paper studies inspection results using ultrasonic imaging method for damaged polyethylene electrofusion joints. Gas was leaking from 250mm diameter polyethylene electrofusion joints at February 2004 which was electrofused at December 1994 and operation pressure was 2.45kPa. First, surface inspection was conducted and then in order to find the types of defects examination using ultrasonic imaging method was performed. Lack of fusion and inappropriate inserting for polyethylene pipes into electrofusion coupling were found and causes of the gas leak were judged that misalignment and insert defect. Cutting inspection was performed and each inspection results were compared to. Results of ultrasonic imaging method and cutting inspection were the same.

• Korean journal of applied entomology
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• v.18 no.2 s.39
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• pp.63-71
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• 1979

Tests were made to find new non-mercurious seed disinfectants that were best for rice seeds. For these experiments four seed samples carr)?ing natural infection of Pyricularia oryzae, Helminthosporium oryzae, and Fusarium moniliforme were used and the following fungicides were used; Zinc Omadine, Sodium Omadine, Panoctine, Tecto-F, Benlate-T, Homai, Sisthane, $P_{242}$, Busan 30, Tecto-Wp and Terracoat Zn. Blotter method and water agar plate method used in the laboratory and growing-on test used in greenhouse. Results have shown that Sisthane, $P_{242}$ and Sodium Omadine have equal or superior effect to organic mercury compound against P. oryzae, H. oryzae, and F. moniliforme. Benlate T and Homai are effective against blast and Bakanae disease, but are inferior to organic mercury compound against brown spot disease. Busan 30 and Panoctine are effective against blast and brown spot disease, but have moderately inferior effects against F. monilifome. It is considered that the recommendable testing methods of seed treatment were blotter method for P. oryzae and water agar plate method for H, oryzae and F. moniliforme according to the experimental results obtained. No phytotoxicity against seed germination and seedling growth were observed when treated with disinfectants before germination of seeds.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.33 no.2
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• pp.149-154
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• 2015

Purpose: We performed exome sequencing in a breast cancer family without BRCA mutations. Materials and Methods: A family that three sisters have a history of breast cancer was selected for analysis. There were no family members with breast cancer in the previous generation. Genetic testing for BRCA mutation was negative, even by the multiplex ligation-dependent probe amplification method. Two sisters with breast cancer were selected as affected members, while the mother of the sisters was a non-affected member. Whole exome sequencing was performed on the HiSeq 2000 platform with paired-end reads of 101 bp in the three members. Results: We identified 19,436, 19,468, and 19,345 single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the coding regions. Among them, 8,759, 8,789, and 8,772 were non-synonymous SNPs, respectively. After filtering out 12,843 synonymous variations and 12,105 known variations with indels found in the dbSNP135 or 1000 Genomes Project database, we selected 73 variations in the samples from the affected sisters that did not occur in the sample from the unaffected mother. Using the Sorting Intolerant From Tolerant (SIFT), PolyPhen-2, and MutationTaster algorithms to predict amino acid substitutions, the XCR1, DLL1, TH, ACCS, SPPL3, CCNF, and SRL genes were risky among all three algorithms, while definite candidate genes could not be conclusively determined. Conclusion: Using exome sequencing, we found 7 variants for a breast cancer family without BRCA mutations. Genetic evidence of disease association should be confirmed by future studies.