• The Journal of Korean Academy of Orthopedic Manual Physical Therapy
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.51-60
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• 2024

Background: Ankle sprains are a common clinical ankle disorder and alternations in tibiofibular joint biomechanics along with the talus are thought to contribute to its occurrence. During ankle joint dorsi flexion, proper movement requires the talus to glide posteriorly. Due to the wider front of the talus head, achieving the end range of dorsi flexion necessitates both superior and posterior glide of the distal fibula and anterior glide of the proximal fibula. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of tibiofibular joint mobilization on pain, range of motion, and balance in patients with lateral ankle sprains. Methods: Participants were randomly assigned to a control group (n=33) or an experimental group (n=31). Both groups underwent ankle joint mobilization three times a week for two weeks. Additionally, the experimental group received proximal and distal tibiofibular joint mobilization three times a week for two weeks. Measurements were obtained pre-intervention and post-intervention (after 2 weeks). Results: Evaluation parameters included the visual analog scale score (VAS), range of motion (ROM), and one-leg standing test (OLS). Post-intervention, both groups demonstrated significantly improved results for all assessments (p<.01). A significant intergroup difference was observed only in the ROM (p<.01) and OLS (p<.05). Conclusion: Our findings suggest that tibiofibular joint mobilization, combined with ankle joint mobilization, may be beneficial in enhancing outcomes for individuals with lateral ankle sprains.

• Journal of Korean Foot and Ankle Society
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.15-20
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• 2024

Purpose: Achilles tendon rupture is a frequently encountered ankle pathology associated with a substantial burden of intense pain and functional deficits. Chronic Achilles tendon ruptures with considerable defects pose intricate repair challenges that are often marred by complications such as re-rupture and persistent pain. Various treatment methods, including allograft transplantation, have been proposed, but the literature on this technique is limited. In this study, we propose a surgical approach utilizing allotendon transplantation and a calcaneal tunneling technique and provide clinical evaluation details. Materials and Methods: Fifteen patients with chronic Achilles tendon ruptures treated with allotendon between 2020 and 2022 were included in the study. Patients were evaluated at 1, 3, and 6 months postoperatively using Visual Analog Scale (VAS) scores and Achilles Tendon Total Rupture Scores (ATRSs). Complications were assessed postoperatively. Results: The average VAS score was 7 before surgery, 7.3 immediately after surgery, and 4.3 at 1 month, 2.5 at 3 months, and 1.3 at 6 months after surgery. Because the sample was limited to 15 individuals and distributions were non-normal, the analysis was conducted using the non-parametric Wilcoxon's signed-rank test, and statistical significance was accepted for p-values<0.05. Results showed a significant improvement in ATRS and VAS scores versus preoperative and immediate postoperative values. VAS scores showed a decreasing trend after surgery, whereas average ATRS scores increased from 14 before surgery, 33.8 at 1 month, 82.7 at 3 months, and 93.9 at 6 months. Conclusion: This study suggests that allograft transplantation using the described calcaneal tunnel technique provides an effective treatment for chronic Achilles tendon ruptures. However, extensive research and long-term clinical trials are required to validate and better understand the technique's efficacy.

• Journal of Dental Anesthesia and Pain Medicine
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.91-99
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• 2024

Background: Palatal injections are often painful. We aimed to compare topical ice and 20% benzocaine gel for pre-injection anesthesia before greater palatine nerve block (GPNB) injections. Methods: A randomized split-mouth clinical trial was conducted among patients aged 15-60-years needing bilateral GPNB injections. A total of 120 palatal sites from 60 patients were randomly allocated to Group A (topical ice) or Group B (20% benzocaine gel). Pain was evaluated using sound, eye, motor (SEM), and the visual analog scale (VAS) in both groups. Inferential analysis was performed using the Mann-Whitney U test. Results: The mean age of the participants was 20.5 ± 3.9 years. The median VAS score for group A was 11 (Q1 - Q3: 5.25 - 21.75), which was slightly higher than the 10 (Q1 - Q3: 4.0 - 26.75) reported in group B. However, the difference was not statistically significant (P = 0.955). The median SEM score for group A and group B was 3.5 (Q1 - Q3: 3.0 - 4.0) and 4.0 (Q1 - Q3: 3.0 - 4.0), respectively, which was statistically insignificant (P = 0.869). Conclusion: Using ice as a form of topical anesthetic for achieving pre-injection anesthesia before GPNB was as effective as 20% benzocaine gel.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.29-45
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• 2024

PURPOSE: This study aimed to compare the effects of pain level, lower back pain dysfunction level, psychosocial level, hip abductor strength (HAS), number of positive lumbar instability tests, and dynamic balance (DB) by applying lumbar stabilization exercises according to the presence or absence of gluteus medius muscle weakness in chronic lower back pain (CLBP) patients with lumbar instability. METHODS: Thirty-five CLBP patients with lumbar instability were divided into the gluteus medius weakness (n = 18) and gluteus medius non-weakened (n = 17) groups using the gluteus medius manual muscle test. Intervention applied conservative physical therapy and lumbar stabilization exercises to both groups that lasted three times a week for four weeks. To compare the intervention effects, the quadruple visual analog scale (QVAS), the Korean version of the Oswestry disability index (K-ODI), fear-avoidance beliefs questionnaire (FABQ), HAS, lumbar instability tests positive response counter (LIC), and DB were measured. RESULTS: Significant differences were shown for QVAS, K-ODI, FABQ, HAS, LIC, and DB for both groups pre- and post-intervention (p < .05). Compared to the gluteus medius weakness group, the gluteus medius non-weakened group showed a significant difference (p < .05) in the changes in QVAS, K-ODI, FABQ-W, FABQ-total, and HAS. CONCLUSION: In CLBP patients with lumbar instability, having gluteus medius weakness was less effective in improving lumbar stabilization exercise than gluteus medius non-weakness regarding pain level, lower back pain dysfunction level, psychosocial level excluding physical activity, and hip abductor strength. Therefore, additional gluteus medius strengthening exercises are necessary for patients with lumbar instability and gluteus medius muscle weakness.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Integrative Medicine
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• v.12 no.3
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• pp.121-130
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• 2024

Purpose : This study was conducted to investigate the effect of neck stabilization exercises using a stick on the pain, headache, and quality of life of adult patients with chronic non-specific neck pain. Methods : The participants of this study were 28 adult patients with chronic non-specific neck pain. The subjects were assigned to the experimental group (n=15, neck stabilization exercises using a stick after conservative physical therapy) and the control group (n=13, conservative physical therapy) according to the order of participation in the study and the intervention methods. The intervention was conducted three times a week for four weeks. The neck stabilization exercises using a stick consisted of isometric exercises of the muscles around the neck and strengthening exercises of the muscles around the scapula. The visual analog scale (VAS) and headache impact test (HIT-6) were used to measure the pain and headache, and the SF 36 health questionnaire (SF-36) was used to measure the quality of life. Results : In the comparison of VAS, HIT-6, and SF-36, there were significant differences between before and after the intervention in both the experimental and control groups (p<.05). The pre-post comparisons between the two groups according to the experiment showed significant differences between the experimental group and the control group (p=.001). However, the experimental group showed greater changes than the control group. Conclusion : Through this study, it was confirmed that neck stabilization exercises using a stick have positive effects on reducing the neck pain and headaches and improving the quality of life of adult patients with chronic neck pain. Therefore, it is considered that neck stabilization exercises using a stick can be used as an effective exercise method for the treatment and prevention of patients with chronic neck pain in the future.

• KIEAE Journal
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.19-26
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• 2015

Purpose: Maximizing human comfort in design of medical environments depends immensely on specialized architects particularly critical care design; the study proposes Evidence-Based Design as an apparent analog to Evidence-Based Medicine. Healthcare facility designs are substantially based on the findings of study in an effort to design environments that augment care by improving patient safety and being therapeutic. On SPSS (Statistical Package for Social Science) t-test is applied to simulate two independent variables of PDR (Pre Design-Research) and POE (Post- Occupancy Evaluation). PDR is conducted on relatively new hospital Hallym University Dongtan Sacred Heart Hospital to analyse visibility from researchers' point of view, here the ICU is arranged in I-Shape. POE is applied on Dongguk University Ilsan Hospital to simulate walking on LogWare where two NS are designed based on L- Shape and Seoul St. Mary's Hospital, The Catholic University of Korea where five NS are functional for ICU Intensive Care Unit, Surgical Intensive Care Unit (SICU), Medical Intensive Care Unit (MICU), Critical Care Unit (CCU), Korean Oriental Medical Care Unit which are mostly arranged in U-Shape, and walking pattern is recognized to be in a zigzag path. Method: T-Test is applied on two dependent communication variables: walkability and visibility, with confidence interval of 95%. This study systematically analyses the Nurse Station (NS) typo-morphology, and simulates nurse horizontal circulation, by computing round route visits to patient's bed, then estimating minimum round route on LogWare stop sequence software. The visual connectivity is measured on depth map graphs. Hence the aim is to reduce staff stress and fatigue for better patients care by minimizing staff horizontal travel time and to facilitate nurse walk path and support space distribution by increasing effectiveness in delivering care. Result: Applying visibility graph and isovist field on space syntax on I- Shape, L- Shape and U- Shape ICU (SICU, MICU and CCU) configuration, I-shape facilitated 20% more patients in linear view as they stir to rise from their beds from nurse station compared to U-shape. In conclusion, it was proved that U-Shape supply minimum walking and maximum visibility; and L shape provides just visibility as the nurse is at pivot. I shape provides panoramic view from the Nurse Station but very rigorous walking.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.24 no.6
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• pp.37-44
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• 2007

Objectives : The purpose of this study is to find out the effects of Chuna treatment on neck pain caused by traffic accidents. Methods : The 10 patients were divided into 2 groups, with Group A treated with Acupuncture and Chuna, while group B was treated with Acupuncture only. We measured the Visual Analog Scale(VAS), Pain Disability Index(PDI) and Pressure Pain Thresholds before and after treatment in each group. The statistical analysis was performed by using a Mann-Whitney U test and Wilcoxon signed rank test. Results : 1. Group A showed significant improvements in VAS, PDI and Pressure Pain Thresholds(p<0.05). 2. Group B was significantly improved in VAS(p<0.05). However, there was no statistical significance in PDI and Pressure Pain Thresholds(p>0.05). 3. There was no statistical significance between Group A and Group B before and after treatment. Conclusions : These results imply that Chuna treatment with Acupuncture would beeffective and useful on the neck pain caused by traffic accidents.

• Journal of the Institute of Electronics Engineers of Korea SD
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• v.43 no.11 s.353
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• pp.83-89
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• 2006

This paper describes the design of I/Q channel 12bit Digital-to-Analog Converter(DAC) which shows the conversion rate of 120MHz and the power supply of 3.3V with 0.35um CMOS n-well 1-poly 4-metal process for advanced wireless transceiver. The proposed DAC utilizes 4-bit thermometer decoder with 3 stages for minimum glitch energy and linearity error. Also, using a optimized 4bit thermometer decoder for the decrement of the chip area. Integral nonlinearity(INL) of ${\pm}1.6LSB$ and differential nonlinearity(DNL) of ${\pm}1.3LSB$ have been measured. In single tone test, the ENOB of the proposed 12bit DAC is 10.5bit and SFDR of 73dB(@ Fs=120MHz, Fin=1MHz) is measured, respectively. Dual-tone test SFDR is 61 dB (@ Fs=100MHz, Fin=1.5MHz, 2MHz). Glitch energy of 31 pV.s is measured. The converter consumes a total of 105mW from 3.3-V power supply.

• KDI Journal of Economic Policy
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• v.32 no.3
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• pp.101-137
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• 2010

This paper defines markets relating to each paid broadcasting service by applying the test method of critical sales loss to the results of survey to the paid service subscribers. The result confirms the existence of a meaningful competitive relationship--in terms of the Competition Law--among all paid broadcasting services included in this study, or at least analog cable broadcasting, digital cable broadcasting, and real time IPTV(Internet Protocol TV) service. This indicates that current regulations which are being applied to cable TV, satellite broadcasting, and IPTV are actually discriminatory. Based on these analysis results, this paper suggests that the main attention for the improvement of regulations should be focused on regulations which are differently applied to different paid service providers. In particular, Article 20 in the Internet Multimedia Broadcasting Law is interpreted as defining the real-time IPTV as an independent market, thereby having leeway to harm fair competition among different paid service providers. Therefore, that article needs to change to give the right of equal access to contents to all the competing paid service providers. Furthermore, to put teeth in the contents equal access rule, most popular pay channels need to be designated as target contents of the rule. As for the market-share limitation regulations, the paper suggests that an upper limit on the market share should be set based on the total number of subscribers of all the competing paid services and the same limit applied to all the competing paid service providers.

• Journal of the Institute of Electronics and Information Engineers
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• v.53 no.1
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• pp.79-85
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• 2016

Recently, visible light communication(VLC) is being actively researched as green wireless communication services are drawing attention. Currently, VLC mostly uses LED for transmission and PD(Photo Diode) for receiving. However, this kind of system has limited applications. Therefore, we design and propose in this paper, a LED-to-LED two way VLC system that doesn't use PD(Photo Diode). This system has the following features and contributions. First, this system uses just LED at both transmitter and receiver with analog switch, Second, this system support both one-way communication and two way communication together. One way communication can support multi-hop communication. The performance evaluation of the proposed system is conducted at a place with standard light. We test the success or failure of one way communication by changing distance and baud rate while test the success and failure of two way communication by changing distance. We expect that the proposed LED-to-LED system in this paper can be applied for various application fields.