• The Journal of Korea Robotics Society
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• v.5 no.2
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• pp.102-109
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• 2010

In this study, an anthropomorphic robot Hand, called "SKKU Hand III" is presented. The hand has thirteen DOF(Degree-Of-Freedom) and is designed based on the skeletal structure of the human hand. Each finger module(except thumb module) has three DOF and four joints with a saddle joint mechanism which has two DOF at the base joint. Two distal joints of the finger module are mechanically coupled by a timing belt and pulleys. The thumb module is composed of a finger module and an additional actuator, which makes it possible to realize the opposition between the thumb and the other fingers. In addition, the palm DOF of the human hand is mimicked with a spatial link mechanism between the index finger and the thumb. Thus, it can grasp objects more stably and more strongly. For the modularization of the robotic hand all the driving circuits are embedded in the hand, and only the communication lines supporting CAN protocol with DC power cable are given as an interface. Therefore, it is possible to apply it to any robot system the interface. To validate the feasibility of the SKKU Hand III, a series of the representative grasp experiments such as power, precision, intermediate grasp etc. are carried out with the object around us and its operation is demonstrated.

• Korean Journal of Applied Biomechanics
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.245-252
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• 2013

The purpose of this study was to analyze the effect that various loads have on the lower limb biomechanics. The following variables were measured and analyzed; performance time for each phase, lower limb moments and joint angles, and ground reaction forces. The kinematic and kinetic data was recorded by 2 force platforms and a motion capture system while 12 healthy adults in their twenties stepped down three steps under loads of 0%, 10%, 20% BW. Results are as follows. First, the different loading conditions did not seem to significantly affect the performance times and the joint angles. Second, the largest ground reaction forces were observed at the 1 step at the 10% BW condition. Finally, at the 0% BW loading condition the right hip extension moment was the smallest and the left hip flexion moment was the largest. The results show that there are not any significant changes in the biomechanics of the lower limbs under loading conditions up to 20% BW. Further investigations including more loading conditions with more weights and more additional steps analyzed are needed.

• The Journal of Korea Robotics Society
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• v.14 no.4
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• pp.318-325
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• 2019

NREX, an upper limb exoskeleton robot, was developed at the National Rehabilitation Center to assist in the upper limb movements of subjects with weak muscular strength and control ability of the upper limbs, such as those with hemiplegia. For the free movement of the shoulder of the existing NREX, three passive joints were added, which improved its wearability. For the flexion/extension movement and internal/external rotation movement of the shoulder of the robot, the ball lock pin is used to fix or rotate the passive joint. The force and torque between a human and a robot were measured and analyzed in a reaching movement for four targets using a six-axis force/torque sensor for 20 able-bodied subjects. The addition of two passive joints to allow the user to rotate the shoulder can confirm that the average force of the upper limb must be 31.6% less and the torque must be 48.9% less to perform the movement related to the axis of rotation.

• Journal of muscle and joint health
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.205-217
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• 2018

Purpose: The purpose of this review was to analyze the characteristics and effectiveness of online-based intervention for infertile women. Methods: We established the PICO (Participant-Intervention-Comparison-Outcome) strategy and conducted a systematic review of 7 literatures retrieved from 3 electronic databases of Ovid-Medline, Ovid-Embase, and the Cochrane Library. Two investigators independently extracted the data and assessed the quality of included studies using Cochrane risk of bias. Results: The pregnancy outcome showed that higher total risk scores (TRS) about lifestyle behavior was significantly associated with lower chance of pregnancy (aHR 0.79, 95% CI 0.72~0.85). Stress was significantly decreased in experimental groups receiving online-based interventions (p<.05). Depression score was significantly lower in groups receiving additional interventions besides on-line interventions than those who used online-based intervention only. The other outcomes, including anxiety, self-efficacy, helpfulness of intervention, perceived social support, and knowledge scores were not significantly different within and between groups in overall. Characteristics of the interventions were heterogeneous. Conclusion: There is evidence that online-based intervention in infertile women enhances the pregnancy and reduces stress levels.

• Journal of muscle and joint health
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.196-204
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• 2018

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to contribute to the activation of comprehensive nursing care services by comparing and analyzing the working environment and operational status of comprehensive nursing care wards with general wards. Methods: A questionnaire survey was conducted at hospitals operating comprehensive nursing care services. We collected data on patient characteristics, workforce, working environment, and work support facilities of 40 hospitals voluntarily participating in the survey. The collected data were analyzed by dividing it into an comprehensive nursing care ward and a general ward. Results: Compared with the general ward, the comprehensive nursing care ward had fewer hospitalized patients, but the severity of the patients and the need for nursing were high. The number of nurses, assistant nurses, and ward support workers per patient was higher in the comprehensive nursing care ward than in the general ward, and the implementation rate of night shift fixed system, the fixed shift system, and the preceptor system were higher. In terms of structural environment, comprehensive nursing care wards had more room for interviews. Conclusion: The comprehensive nursing care ward had more nursing staff and provided a better working environment than the general ward, but required additional support for the structural environment.

• Journal of muscle and joint health
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.60-68
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• 2022

Purpose: This study aimed to investigate the changes in reality shock among new nurses and their influencing factors to identify turnover reduction methods. Methods: A total of 146 new nurses from 6 general hospitals participated in the survey. The survey data were collected from August 5 to November 10, 2015. Results: The mean scores for factors related to turn over were 2.75 for nurse practice environment, 2.84 (4point scale) for reality shock, and 3.08 (5point scale) for turnover intention. A significant difference in the impact of reality shock was observed depending on whether the nurses selected their work unit (F=6.24, p=.003) and whether they could take the possibility of holiday on the desired day at will (t=-2.57, p=.013). Changes in reality shock correlated with turnover intention, with the 'increased reality shock' group demonstrating an odds ratio of 2.37 (CI: 1.41~3.98) for turnover intention. Conclusion: The current findings indicate the need for lowering reality shock and turnover intention by considering nurses' work-related characteristics and improving their practice environments. To further study the changes in reality shock new nurses experienced, additional research is warranted while homogenizing the participants in terms of preceptorship duration and timing of independence.

• Journal of muscle and joint health
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.194-204
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• 2022

Purpose: This study was to build a path model geared toward explaining the relationships of influential variables for the moral distress of clinical nurses by analyzing literatures of earlier studies. Methods: Data were collected from four hospitals with 300 beds or more. The participants were 257 nurses with more than 1 year of clinical experience. The data collection period was from June 14 to October 24, 2017. The questionnaire included general and ethical education-related characteristics, personality type, moral dilemma experience, moral sensitivity, moral climate and moral distress. Results: The direct influencing factors of moral distress were the individual's experience of moral dilemma, moral sensitivity, and the moral climate of the organization. Factors that indirectly affected via moral sensitivity were personality type, experience in ethical education, and moral climate. The explanatory power was 40.3%. Conclusion: It is necessary to develop an intervention program that can reduce moral distress by considering the factors influencing the moral distress of clinical nurses. In addition, it is necessary to identify additional influencing factors of moral distress.

• Journal of muscle and joint health
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.70-82
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• 2023

Purpose: This study aims to systematically clarify and enhance the understanding of osteoporosis prevention interventions based on Health Belief Model (HBM). The analysis includes HBM constructs, intervention characteristics, and outcomes from prior studies. Methods: We extensively searched eight electronic databases to identify peer-reviewed studies that implemented HBM-based interventions for osteoporosis prevention until June 2023. Results: Initially, 638 articles were identified, and after a rigorous evaluation process, 11 articles were included in the evidence synthesis. The analysis revealed that HBM-based interventions significantly improved likelihood of taking action including knowledge, HBM constructs and adopting preventive behaviors such as calcium intake and exercise. However, most interventions included in this study did not fully encompass all five HBM constructs or specify the particular components adopted. Conclusion: There is a need for additional research and intervention refinement for a more comprehensive understanding of osteoporosis preventive interventions. This should involve a concerted effort to incorporate all HBM constructs into the context of osteoporosis prevention. Thus, more effective interventions promoting optimal preventive behaviors and reducing the burden of osteoporosis can be developed.

• Clinics in Shoulder and Elbow
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.117-125
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• 2024

While shoulder hemiarthroplasty is still used to treat young patients with shoulder pathology, the use of this procedure has substantially declined in recent years due to its significant complication profile. Glenoid wear with arthrosis is one of the major postoperative complications following shoulder hemiarthroplasty, and efforts to prevent this complication led many scientists to explore alternative weight-bearing surfaces on arthroplasty implants to decrease joint wear and improve patient outcomes. Pyrolytic carbon, or pyrocarbon, is a material that has better biocompatibility, survivorship, strength, and wear resistance compared to the materials used in traditional shoulder hemiarthroplasty. Pyrocarbon implants have been used in orthopedics for over 50 years; recently, their utility in shoulder hemiarthroplasty has garnered much interest. The purpose behind the use of pyrocarbon in shoulder hemiarthroplasty is to decrease the risk of progressive glenoid wear, especially in young active patients in whom joint preservation is important. Promising survivorship and outcomes have been demonstrated by recent studies, including limited glenoid wear following pyrocarbon hemiarthroplasty. Nevertheless, these clinical studies have been limited to relatively small case series with limited long-term follow-up. Accordingly, additional research and comparative studies need to be conducted in order to properly assess the therapeutic efficacy and value of pyrocarbon hemiarthroplasty.

• Journal of the Korean Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons
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• v.31 no.5
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• pp.399-408
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• 2005

In the progression of the Temporomandibular Joint Disorder(TMD), not only deformation and perforation of disc occur. But also fibrotic adhesion and inflammatory changes to the retrodiscal tissue can be seen in addition to the condylar degenerative change (e.g. osteoarthritis). However, the correct diagnosis,?planning for appropriate treatment, and prediction of prognosis are limited, because there are no means to stage the progression of the disorder. In this study relative signal intensity of retrodiscal tissue in MRI and the synovial fluid concentration of matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2), MMP-9, and Interleukin-6(IL-6) in the 23 temporomandibular joints(TMJ), from 17 patients with TMD were evaluated as a possible diagnostic marker. The relative signal intensity of retrodiscal tissue was referenced to brain gray matter with same region of interest(ROI) size. The concentrations of MMP-2, MMP-9, and IL-6 were evaluated by Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA). The collected data were compared with condylar degenerative change, joint effusion and disc position observed in MRI. The relative signal intensity of the retrodiscal tissue was increased significantly when degenerative changes were present. In addition, there was significantly high signal intensity in the presence of a disc displaced without reduction. The concentration of IL-6 was significantly increased when condylar degenerative change was no observed. And there were no changes in the levels of IL-6 according to disc position and joint effusion measurement. Moreover, there were no significant relevance between the concentration of total MMP-2 and active MMP-9 in synovial fluid, relative to degenerative changes in the mandibular condyle, to joint effusion, and to disc position observed on MRI images. In conclusion, the relative signal intensity of the retrodiscal tissue can be regarded as a mean of diagnosing the procession of TMD in a non-invasive manner. But more additional studies are required for the levels of MMP-2. MMP-9, and IL-6 to determine their potentials as a diagnostic marker for TMD.