• KIISE Transactions on Computing Practices
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.113-118
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• 2016

The walking speed of handicapped people generally is slower than that of normal people. So it is difficult for them to cross at crosswalks within the allotted time provided by the traffic light. This problem can be solved by expanding the time of the traffic light. However, if the latency of the traffic light is increased without distinguishing the handicapped among all other pedestrians, the efficiency of traffic signal lights will decrease. In this paper, we propose a smart traffic signal connecting mechanism between the previous pedestrian traffic signal and a pedestrian's device (smartphone). This Smart pedestrian traffic light, through this mechanism, minimizes traffic congestion by providing additional walking time only to the handicapped among pedestrians. This crosswalk traffic light recognizes the handicapped using a technique called Internet of things (IOT). In this paper, we extract the data necessary to build an effective smart crosswalk traffic light mechanism through simulation techniques. We have extracted different kinds of traffic signal times with our virtual simulation environment to verify the efficiency of the smart crosswalk pedestrian traffic light system. This approach can validate the effective delay time of the traffic signal time through a comparison based on number of pedestrians.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Intelligent Systems
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.457-463
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• 2009

In this paper, a novel foot force distribution algorithm for hexapod walking robots is presented. The considered hexapod robot has fault-tolerant tripod gaits with a failed leg in locked-joint failure. The principle of the proposed algorithm is to minimize the slippage of the leg that determines the stability margin of the fault-tolerant gaits. The fault-tolerant tripod gait has a drawback that it has less stability margin than normal gaits. Considering this drawback, we use the feature that there are always three supporting legs, and by incorporating the theory of Zero-Interaction Force, we calculate the foot forces analytically without resort to any optimization technique. In a case study, the proposed algorithm is compared with a conventional foot force distribution method and its applicability is demonstrated.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.137-145
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• 2018

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of action observational physical training with rhythmic auditory stimulation on muscle activity and gait ability in patients with stroke. METHODS: Twenty-six chronic stroke patients participated in this study were assigned into three groups, experimental group 1 (10% faster tempo rhythmic auditory stimulation with action observation training) n=8, experimental group 2 (average tempo rhythmic auditory stimulation with action observation training) n=9, and control group (action observation training) n=9. In this experiment, the corresponding exercise were applied into the subjects of three group for 30 minute a day, 3 time a week during 4 weeks. All participants were measured to muscle activity of lower limb, 10 meter walking test, Figure of 8 walk test, Dynamic gait Index. The collected data were analyzed by using SPSS (version 18.0 for window) and verified that each data was a normal distribution based on Shapiro-Wilk test. Between-group and within-group comparison was analyzed by using One-way ANOVA test, Paired t-test respectively. In all statistical analyses, significance level, ${\alpha}$ was set by .05. RESULTS: The above results revealed that the all experimental group 1 and experimental group 2 and control group were all effective to improve the lower limb muscle activities, gait ability. However more positive effects shown action observational physical training with rhythmic auditory stimulation experimental group. CONCLUSION: This study suggest that action observation physical training with rhythmic auditory stimulation is effective intervention for improvement of muscle activity and walking ability in chronic stroke patients.

• Journal of the Society of Disaster Information
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.76-83
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• 2019

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to present data of density and speed through the experiment of the counterflow by firefighter in corridor. Method: Experimental setup including a corridor in building was prepared for measuring data with 1.5m and 2m width. Normal flow and counterflow were created for each. Data were measured using camera and acquired by video image analysis. Results: The counterflow in corridor resulted in increasing average density of about $0.55P/m^2$ and decreasing average movement speed of about 0.61 m/s. These data measured during the time when the counterflow occurred. Conclusion: It was found that counterflow by firefighter in corridor momentary increasing the density and decreasing walking speed of evacuee. Further experiments of the counterflow effect in the total evacuation time are needed.

• Korean Journal of Applied Biomechanics
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• v.31 no.3
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• pp.189-198
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• 2021

Objective: The aim of this study is to investigate the effect of biomechanical variables on gait according to indoor and outdoor environmental conditions in elderly women at risk of falling. Method: 26 elderly women aged 70 years or older, and consisted of 13 elderly people with a walking speed of less 1.0 m/s and 13 people in the fall risk group as normal groups. Depending on the purpose of the study, physical examination and psychological questionnaire were prepared, and then walking was performed in an indoor/outdoor environment, and the gait pattern, muscle activity, and plantar pressure results were compared and analyzed in the elderly females through a 2 group × 2 environment 2-way repeted ANOVA analysis. Results: The gait variable showed an interaction effect the cadence. The muscle variables showed interaction effects in the rectus femoris and tibialis anterior muscles, and the interaction effects of the plantar pressure variables were confirmed in the forefoot and midfoot of the contact area, and the midfoot of the mean pressure. Conclusion: These results indicate that both groups are exposed to falls risk when gait in an outdoor environment, but the fall risk group has a higher risk of falls in both the gait pattern, muscle activity, and plantar pressure variables. The results of this study are considered to be helpful as basic data and development of exercise programs to prevent falls.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.48 no.3
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• pp.151-158
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• 2022

Background: Chemical emissions in the environment have rapidly increased with the accelerated industrialization taking place in recent decades. Residents of industrial complexes are concerned about the health risks posed by chemical exposure. Objectives: This study was performed to suggest modeling methods that take into account multimedia and multi-pathways in human exposure and risk assessment. Methods: The concentration of benzene emitted at industrial complexes in Daesan, South Korea and the exposure of local residents was estimated using the Caltox model. The amount of human exposure based on inhalation rate was stochastically predicted for various activity stages such as resting, normal walking, and fast walking. Results: The coefficient of determination (R²) for the CalTOX model efficiency was 0.9676 and the root-mean-square error (RMSE) was 0.0035, indicating good agreement between predictions and measurements. However, the efficiency index (EI) appeared to be a negative value at -1094.4997. This can be explained as the atmospheric concentration being calculated only from the emissions from industrial facilities in the study area. In the human exposure assessment, the higher the inhalation rate percentile value, the higher the inhalation rate and lifetime average daily dose (LADD) at each activity step. Conclusions: Prediction using the Caltox model might be appropriate for comparing with actual measurements. The LADD of females was higher ratio with an increase in inhalation rate than those of males. This finding would imply that females may be more susceptible to benzene as their inhalation rate increases.

• The Korean Journal of Community Living Science
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.159-174
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• 2006

The purpose of this study is to provide information searching for health promotion, nutrition improvement, and health care of the impaired elderly by ADL(Activity of Daily Living) and IADL(Instrumental Activity of Daily Living). The subjects were divided into the Assistant Needed Group and No Assistant Needed Group for living in line with the responses of ADL(10 items like dressing, washing, move etc.) and IADL(10 items like housekeeping, using transportation, shopping, Phone call etc.). Survey was made for health behavior, health risk habit, dietary management status and diet intake by 24 hr-recall and questionnaire method. 242 subjects were collected in 12 cities or Gun districts in Gyeonggi Province, S. Korea. Survey was carried out by regional home extension workers using interview method. Statistical analyses were made using SAS (Version 8.1). Chi-Square Tests and General Linear Models. The subjects of impaired ADL elderly was 26.5% and it composed 30% of the total male and 22.2% of the total female. The demographic status of the impaired ADL elderly showed no difference from that of the normal elders, elementary school educated (73.4%), with spouse (43.8%) or with adult children(37.5%), using monthly living cost of 500-1,000 thousand won(35.9%). Mean age was 74.05 years compared to 72.25 years of normal elders. However, there was no significant difference from the normal and impaired ADL group, regular exercise(60.0%), with walking (90.0%), no-smoke(54.7%) and no-drink(48.4%). Kind of disease was not different from the one in impaired and normal group, with cardiovascular disease(32.3%), with diabetes mellitus(8.1%), joint lumbago neuralgia(32.3%) and osteoporosis(9.7%). Gastrointestinal complaints of the impaired ADL group were nausea(57.8%), chronic indigestion (23.4%), constipation (14,0%) and vomiting(3.7%). Sleeping time required for the impaired was longer than that for the normal group by 10hours(4.7%) or 8-10hours(20.3%), which consisted 1.7% and 16.6% respectively. Nutrient intake of the impaired ADL group was low compared to normal range elders: Energy(1260kca1), Protein(52.75g). There was gender difference in nutrient intake; the male impaired group showed no significant difference from the normal group but it was significantly lower in female impaired group. These results suggest that low quality of life and low economic status of the impaired ADL elderly require congregate meal in village hall to cover the lack of side dishe variety. And nutrition education program including community assistance would be required for the impaired ADL elderly together with the sufficient food and exercise practice. By operating nutrition education program, the impaired ADL elderly would maintain more enhanced quality of life and ameliorate the ADL capability.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• v.6 no.4
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• pp.489-496
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• 2011

Purpose : The purpose of this study was to identify the effect of an arch support taping on navicular drop height and plantar pressure in the subjects with excessive pronated foot for 6 weeks. Methods : The fifteen subjects with the pronated foot group and the fifteen subjects with the normal foot group volunteered for this study. Both groups were applied arch support taping at 3 times a week during 6 weeks. Subjects were assessed navicular drop test to evaluate pronation of subtalar joint and plantar pressure on treadmill for pressure measuring system during walking with a bare foot state at pre- taping, after 3 weeks, and after 6 weeks. A two-way repeated analysis of variance design was used to examine the difference of navicular drop height and plantar pressure in the pronation foot group and the normal foot group. Results : The pronated foot group had significantly decreased both the navicular drop height and the plantar pressure under the medial midfoot than the normal foot group after 6 weeks(p<.01). Conclusions : This study proposed that an arch support taping can be support to lift navicular bone as well as to transfer the foot pressure from medial midfoot to lateral midfoot in individuals with excessive pronated foot.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.14 no.4
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• pp.44-49
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• 2007

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of auditory cues in the form of a metronome on gait initiation (GI) in Parkinson's disease (PD). 2 patients (mean age: 54 yrs) with idiopathic PD participated in the study. All patients (Hoehn and Yahr disability score of 2.0) were tested in the "on" state approximately 1.5 hours following the administration and fully responding to their PD medications. Subjects first initiated walking at self-initiated speeds to determine their cadences. Then, subjects were asked to initiate gait along the walkway while keeping pace with a metronome. The metronome rate (in beats/min) was set at a cadence 85% (slow condition), 100% (normal condition) and 115% (fast condition) of gait for each subject. Subjects were able to increase the speed of GI with faster cadence, but the speed of GI for the slow condition was similar to that of the normal condition. Swing toe-off was 578.3 ms for the fast condition, 709.4 ms for the normal condition and 736.2 ms for the slow condition. Respective times for swing heel-strike were 894.3 ms, 1110.2 ms and 1119.1 ms, and stance toe-off were 1105.4 ms, 1338.5 ms, and 1343.1 ms. Except for stance unloading ground reaction forces were greatest for the fast condition and smallest for the slow condition. It appears that PD patients were able to modulate GRFs and temporal events in response to auditory cues to achieve the peak acceleration force of the swing and stance limb. The findings from this study provided preliminary data, which could be used to investigate how PD patients modulate GRFs and temporal events during GI in response to tasks.

• Journal of the Ergonomics Society of Korea
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.131-136
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• 2007

In this study, we developed an active ankle-foot orthosis(AAFO) which can control dorsi/ plantar flexion of the ankle joint to prevent foot drop and toe drag during walking. 3D gait analyses were performed on five healthy subjects under three different gait conditions: the normal gait without AFO, the SAFO gait with the conventional plastic AFO, and the AAFO gait with the developed AFO. As a result, the developed AAFO preeminently induced the normal gait compared to the SAFO. Additionally, AAFO prevented foot drop by proper plantarflexion during loading response and provided enough plantarflexion moment as a driving force to walk forward by sufficient push-off during pre-swing. AAFO also could prevent toe drag by proper dorsiflexion during swing phase. These results indicate that the developed AAFO may have more clinical benefits to treat foot drop and toe drag, compared to conventional AFOs, and also may be useful in patients with other orthotic devices.