• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.53 no.6
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• pp.331-336
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• 2013

Objective : The offset connector can allow medial and lateral variability and facilitate intralaminar screw incorporation into the construct. The aim of this study was to compare the biomechanical characteristics of C7 intralaminar screw constructs with and without offset connector using a three dimensional finite element model of a C6-7 cervical spine segment. Methods : Finite element models representing C7 intralaminar screw constructs with and without the offset connector were developed. Range of motion (ROM) and maximum von Mises stresses in the vertebra for the two techniques were compared under pure moments in flexion, extension, lateral bending and axial rotation. Results : ROM for intralaminar screw construct with offset connector was less than the construct without the offset connector in the three principal directions. The maximum von Misses stress was observed in the C7 vertebra around the pedicle in both constructs. Maximum von Mises stress in the construct without offset connector was found to be 12-30% higher than the corresponding stresses in the construct with offset connector in the three principal directions. Conclusion : This study demonstrated that the intralaminar screw fixation with offset connector is better than the construct without offset connector in terms of biomechanical stability. Construct with the offset connector reduces the ROM of C6-7 segment more significantly compared to the construct without the offset connector and causes lower stresses around the C7 pedicle-vertebral body complex.

• Development and Reproduction
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.245-255
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• 2021

The spermatozoa become mature in the epididymis which is divided into initial segment and caput, corpus, and cauda epididymis. The water movement across the epididymal epithelium is important for creating luminal microenvironment for sperm maturation. Aquaporins (Aqps) are water channel proteins, and expression of Aqps is regulated by androgens. The current research was focused to examine expressional regulation of Aqp1 and Aqp9 by an androgenic-anabolic steroid, nandrolone decanoate (ND). The ND at the low dose (2 mg/kg body weight/week) or high dose (10 mg) was subcutaneously administrated into male rats for 2 or 12 weeks. Transcript levels of Aqp1 and Aqp9 were determined by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analyses. In the initial segment, level of Aqp1 was decreased with 12 week-treatment, while Aqp9 level was decreased by the high dose treatment for 12 weeks. In the caput epididymis, Aqp9 expression was decreased by the low dose treatment. The 2 week-treatment resulted in an increase of Aqp1 level but a decrease of Aqp9 expression in the corpus epididymis. In the corpus epididymis, the 12 week-treatment at the low dose caused the reduction of Aqp1 and Aqp9 levels, but the high dose treatment resulted in an increase of Aqp1 expression and a decrease of Aqp9 level. In the cauda epididymis, Aqp1 expression was decreased by 2 and 12 week-treatments, while increases of Aqp9 levels was detected with the high dose treatment for 2 weeks and with 12 week-treatment. These findings indicate differential regulation of Aqp1 and Aqp9 expression among epididymal segments by ND.

• Annals of Hepato-Biliary-Pancreatic Surgery
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.388-392
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• 2024

In liver transplantation, the primary concern is to ensure an adequate future liver remnant (FLR) volume for the donor, while selecting a graft of sufficient size for the recipient. The living donor-resection and partial liver segment 2-3 transplantation with delayed total hepatectomy (LD-RAPID) procedure offers a potential solution to expand the donor pool for living donor liver transplantation (LDLT). We report the first case involving a cirrhotic patient with autoimmune hepatitis and hepatocellular carcinoma, who underwent left lobe LDLT using the LD-RAPID procedure. The living liver donor (LLD) underwent a laparoscopic left hepatectomy, including middle hepatic vein. The resection on the recipient side was an extended left hepatectomy, including the middle hepatic vein orifice and caudate lobe. At postoperative day 7, a computed tomography scan showed hypertrophy of the left graft from 320 g to 465 mL (i.e., a 45.3% increase in graft volume body weight ratio from 0.60% to 0.77%). After a 7-day interval, the diseased right lobe was removed in the second stage surgery. The LD-RAPID procedure using left lobe graft allows for the use of a small liver graft or small FLR volume in LLD in LDLT, which expands the donor pool to minimize the risk to LLD by enabling the donation of a smaller liver portion.

• Journal of Fashion Business
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.116-126
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• 2017

This study applied a segmented hard shell design on knee protectors for children with the objective of increasing mobility. The prototype of the hard shell that does not correspond to movement of the body among components of the knee protector was developed. Surface modeling was conducted based on 3D knee data to enhance comfort through optimized fit on the knee joint where the hard shell would be worn. For this, previous studies on changes in skin near the knee joint during knee flexion were reviewed to establish basic segmental lines. The basic design included six segments, and the number of segments was used as the design variable by increasing or decreasing it to 0, 3, 6, 9, and 14 segments. A prototype was produced from 3D printing with TPU material, worn for wearing assessment. Results revealed fewer numbers of segments resulting in less fit with the body, while actual appearance was stable. Meanwhile, the number of proper segments improved better fit with the body during movement. The wearing assessment revealed the amount of gap reflects change in skin length depending on movement. Assessment results demonstrated basic segment design, S6 with 6 segments, had the best design and most optimized fit. Findings in this study can provide key data for designing knee protection products for children.

• Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
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• v.33 no.1
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• pp.29-32
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• 2016

Most ingested foreign bodies pass readily throughout intestinal tract if they reach the stomach. In some cases, foreign bodies may be impacted behind a luminal constriction but are rare in colon. Here, we report the case of a 59-year-old man who did laparoscopic anterior resection due to sigmoid colon cancer 2 years ago and ischemic colitis was repeated on the anastomosis site. He initially presented with symptoms of abdominal pain 3 months before and melena 1 day before admission. Abdomen computerized tomography showed a 3.2 cm segment of luminal narrowing of the proximal colon involving upstream foreign material stasis. Sigmoidoscopic approaches revealed near complete obstruction on the anal verge of 20 cm and scope passing failed. Balloon dilatations were done on the obstruction site four times all and a foreign body impacted above the obstruction site was removed by an alligator without any complications. The foreign body removed looks like plastic or a shell, about 20 mm in size.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.74 no.5
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• pp.231-234
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• 2013

Aspergillus causes a variety of clinical syndromes in the lung including tracheobronchial aspergillosis, invasive aspergillosis, chronic necrotizing pulmonary aspergillosis, allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis, and aspergilloma. Aspergilloma usually results from ingrowths of colonized Aspergillus in damaged bronchial tree, pulmonary cyst or cavities of patients with underlying lung diseases. There are a few reports on endobronchial aspergilloma without underlying pulmonary lesion. We have experienced a case of endobronchial aspergilloma associated with foreign body developed in an immunocompetent patient without underlying lung diseases. A 59-year-old man is being hospitalized with recurring hemoptysis for 5 months. X-ray and computed tomography scans of chest showed a nodular opacity in superior segment of left lower lobe. Fiberoptic bronchoscopy revealed an irregular, mass-like, brownish material which totally obstructed the sub-segmental bronchus and a foreign body in superior segmental bronchus of the lower left lobe. Histopathologic examinations of biopsy specimen revealed fungal hyphae, characteristic of Aspergillus species.

• Science of Emotion and Sensibility
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• v.10 no.3
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• pp.383-391
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• 2007

We have developed and evaluated a smart clothing system for the measurement of body composition in real time. Two kinds of experimental clothes were developed in this study to investigate the effects of textile electrodes on the measurements. As long as the wearer maintained same posture, the magnitudes of impedance was measured identically even though he got into the clothing again. Moreover we found the clothing could measure the impedance of each body segment.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Costume
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• v.65 no.5
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• pp.62-73
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• 2015

The aim of this research is to propose the final shirt design modified for new senior women that fulfills their emotional and physical needs. The modifications were based on the results of in-depth interviews and literature search, and the study was conducted in order to understand the desires and preferences of senior women, as consumption of outdoor-wear by the group continues to increase. To develop the design of outdoor-wear that satisfies the physical and emotional qualities and preference of the new senior women, six different designs with lines, combined materials, as well as materials that were layered, pleated and draped were proposed using virtual-dressing simulation software. Then, the modified designs were derived from the six original designs by reflecting the opinions collected in the in-depth interviews with eleven women in their 50s. The responses in the interviewed showed a preference for lines, pleats and layers, as these features made the clothes look trendy, gave it a slender-look, and improved the body shape of the women. As the color is the critical factor for outdoor-wear, there was an overwhelming preference for primary colors by the women, which was in contrast to their color preference in general clothes. A sleeve design modification was proposed to convert the half-sleeves to 3/4-long sleeves in order to account for changes in body temperature at menopause, and to satisfy the aesthetic needs for covering wrinkles. Research of new senior outdoor-wear designs will help segment and differentiate strategies for the increasingly fierce competing outdoor market, as well as l provide directions in the design creation process using the simulation of 3D virtual model.

• Journal of Biomedical Engineering Research
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• v.22 no.5
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• pp.459-468
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• 2001

The Average Coordinate Referenee System (ACRS) method is developed to reduce experimental errors in human locomotion analysis. Experimentally measured kinematic data is used to conduct analysis in human modeling, and the model accuracy is directly related to the accuracy of the data. However. the accuracy is questionable due to skin movement. deformation of skeletal structure while in motion and limitations of commercial motion analysis system . In this study. the ACRS method is applied to an optically-tracked segment marker system. although it can be applied to many of the others as well. In the ACRS method, each marker can be treated independently. as the origin of a local coordinate system for its body segment. Errors, inherent in the experimental process. result in different values for the recovered Euler angles at each origin. By employing knowledge of an initial, calibrated segment reference frame, the Euler angles at each marker location can be averaged. minimizing the effect of the skin extension and rotation. Using the developed ACRS methodology the error is reduced when compared to the general Euler angle method commonly applied in motion analysis. If there is no error exist in the experimental gait data. the separation and Penetration distance of the femoraltibial joint using absolute coordinate system is supposed to be zero during one gait cycle. The separation and Penetration distance was ranged up to 18 mm using general Euler angle method and 12 mm using the developed ACRS.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Telematics and Electronics C
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• v.36C no.4
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• pp.78-86
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• 1999

In this paper, a distributed arithmetic digital neural network with learning and testing phase implemented in a body has been studied. The proposed technique is based on the two facts; one is that the weighting coefficients adjusted will be stored in registers without shift, because input values or input patterns are not changed while learning and the other is that the input patterns stored in registers are not changed while testing. The proposed digital neural network is simulated by hardware description language such as VHDL and verified the performance that the neural network was applied to the recognition of seven-segment. To verify proposed neural networks, we compared the learning process of modified perceptron learning algorithm simulated by software with VHDL for 7-segment number recognizer. The results are as follows: There was a little difference in learning time and iteration numbers according to the input pattern, but generally the iteration numbers are 1000 to 10000 and the learning time is 4 to 200$\mu\textrm{s}$. So we knew that the operation of the neural network is learned in the same way with the learning of software simulation, and the proposed neural networks are properly operated. And also the implemented neural network can be built with less amounts of components compared with board system neural network.