• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
• /
• v.60 no.5
• /
• pp.540-549
• /
• 2017

Objective : To evaluate the diagnostic value of computed tomography-myelography (CTM) compared to that of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in patients with lumbar radiculopathy. Methods : The study included 91 patients presenting with radicular leg pain caused by herniated nucleus pulposus or lateral recess stenosis in the lumbar spine. The degree of nerve root compression on MRI and CTM was classified into four grades. The results of each imaging modality as assessed by two different observers were compared. Visual analog scale score for pain and electromyography result were the clinical parameters used to evaluate the relationships between clinical features and nerve root compression grades on both MRI and CTM. These relationships were quantified by calculating the receiver-operating characteristic curves, and the degree of relationship was compared between MRI and CTM. Results : McNemar's test revealed that the two diagnostic modalities did not show diagnostic concurrence (p<0.0001). Electromyography results did not correlate with grades on either MRI or CTM. The visual analog pain scale score results were correlated better with changes of the grades on CTM than those on MRI (p=0.0007). Conclusion : The present study demonstrates that CTM could better define the pathology of degenerative lumbar spine diseases with radiculopathy than MRI. CTM can be considered as a useful confirmative diagnostic tool when the exact cause of radicular pain in a patient with lumbar radiculopathy cannot be identified by using MRI. However, the invasiveness and potential complications of CTM are still considered to be pending questions to settle.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Intelligent Systems
• /
• v.17 no.5
• /
• pp.582-590
• /
• 2007

Nonlinear adaptive control of overhead cranes is investigated for anti-sway trajectory tracking with high-speed hoisting motion. The sway dynamics of two dimensional underactuated overhead cranes is heavily coupled with the trolley acceleration, hoisting rope length, and the hoisting velocity which is an obstacle in the design of decoupling control based anti-sway trajectory tracking control law To cope with this obstacle. we propose a fuzzy nonlinear adaptive anti-sway trajectory tracking control law guaranteeing the uniform ultimate boundedness of the sway dynamics even in the presence of uncertainties in such a way that it cancels the effect of the trolley acceleration and hoisting velocity on the sway dynamics. In particular. system uncertainties, including system parameter uncertainty unmodelled dynamics, and external disturbances, are compensated in an adaptive manner by utilizing fuzzy uncertainty observers. Accordingly, the ultimate bound of the tracking errors and the sway angle decrease to zero when the fuzzy approximation errors decrease to zero. Finally, numerical simulations are performed to confirm the effectiveness of the proposed scheme.

• Archives of Craniofacial Surgery
• /
• v.14 no.1
• /
• pp.30-35
• /
• 2013

Background: For reconstruction of the mild to moderate medial orbital wall fractures, various surgical approaches have been used. Prior existing W-shaped incision was a direct local approach through a 3 cm incision on the superior medial orbital area with a titanium mesh implant. In this study, the authors modified W-shaped incision and reconstructed the defect with silastic sheet to improve the result and the postoperative scar. Methods: This study included 20 patients who had mild to moderate size of medial wall defect and therefore relatively suitable for reconstruction with silastic sheets from July, 2009 to December, 2011. A modified W-shaped skin incision approximately 1.2 to 1.5 cm in length was made along the superior medial orbital rim from approximately 1 cm medial to the medial canthus to the lower border of the medial eyebrow. The angles of the limbs of the W ranged from 150 to 160 degrees. Results: By using soft flexible silastic sheet, the authors reduced the incision from 3 to 1.5 cm, and by widening the angle of the W limbs, scars were more effectively hided in the relaxed skin tension line. Scar assessment was done with modified patient and observer scar assessment scale and mean score from patients was 2.08 and mean score from observers was 2.12. Conclusion: Although this method will not be suitable for every case, it can be a consistent method to obtain the surgical goal in treatment of mild to moderate blowout fractures of the medial orbital wall.

• Journal of the Korea Safety Management & Science
• /
• v.17 no.3
• /
• pp.133-141
• /
• 2015

This study tried to identify the problems associated with the posture to be analyzed and tried to suggest guidelines for MSDs(Musculoskeletal Disorders) evaluation based on working posture. A total of 50 jobs from 3 different types of industries(electronics, hospitals, automobiles) were used for MSDs evaluation study which was done by 6 observers. Two indexes were applied to identify the problem in this study which were percentage of agreement and counter-time-error rate. Specifically, 'counter-time-error rate' represented a degree of consistency in terms of selecting the posture to be analyzed time after time. Main results of the study were as follows; 1) The average percentage of agreement for representative posture for whole body was relatively higher than that for representative postures for individual body parts, 2) The counter-time-error rate(%) has been reduced as the evaluation process has repeated for the same job. 3) The counter-time-error rate(%) for electronics, hospitals, and automobiles were 63.4%, 61.2%, and 67.3% respectively. 4) The counter-time-error rate(%) for the job with the work cycle of 0.5 to 2 minutes were lower than that of the jobs with the work cycles less than 0.5 minute or greater than 2 minute. 5) The work cycles and the number of trials had significant effects on counter-time-error rate while the types of industries did not have significant effects on counter-time-error rate. Some guidelines could be prepared from the results of the study. Probably, there should have an extension in terms of form and matter for this study in order to have more practical output.

• Journal of Radiation Protection and Research
• /
• v.46 no.3
• /
• pp.134-142
• /
• 2021

Background: From 2018 to 2020, the Expert Study on Public Understanding after the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant Accident (the Expert Study Group) identified and analyzed activities designed to promote public understanding of science and radiation since the Fukushima accident, and held discussions on how to achieve public understanding in the situation where public confidence has been lost, and how experts should prepare for dealing with the public. This panel session was held at the 53^rd meeting of the Japan Health Physics Society on June 30, 2020. Materials and Methods: First, three subgroup (SG) leaders reported their research methods and results. Then, two designated speakers, who participated as observers of the Expert Study Group, commented on the activities. Next, the five speakers held a panel discussion. Finally, the rapporteur summarized. Results and Discussion: SG leaders presented reports from researchers and practitioners in health physics and environmental risks who provided information after the Fukushima accident. During the discussion, experts in sociology and ethics discussed the issues, focusing on the overall goals of the three groups, local (personal) and mass communication, and ethical values. Many of the activities instituted by the experts after the accident were aimed at public understanding of science (that is, to provide knowledge to residents), but by taking into account interactions with residents and their ethical norms, the experts shifted to supporting the residents' decision-making through public engagement. The need to consider both content and channels is well known in the field of health communication, and overlaps with the above discussion. Conclusion: How to implement and promote the public engagement in society was discussed in both the floor and designated discussions. Cooperation between local communities and organizations that have already gained trust is also necessary in order to develop relationships with local residents in normal times, to establish an information transmission system, and to make it work effectively.

• Ocean and Polar Research
• /
• v.40 no.4
• /
• pp.259-270
• /
• 2018

The purpose of this study is to provide information to understand the context of the Antarctic Treaty System by looking back on its development process. It also aims to review the roles and activities of the CEP in the System in order to support the improvement of our Antarctic science policy. This study considered the developmental histories of independent conventions for Antarctic conservation and Protocol on Environmental Protection to the Antarctic Treaty under the system. CEP, established in accordance with the Protocol, has expanded its roles in the ATCM under the circumstances of climate change and increasing human activities in the treaty area. I examined CEP's functions, relationships with formal observers, and its activities along with CCRWP. In addition, I have estimated the contribution of the Parties to the CEP based on the documents submitted by the Parties. The leading Parties of the System have strengthened their initiatives to expand contributions to CEP with their output based on national Antarctic Program. However, Korea has not been able to take initiatives in the System even though Korea has invested considerable resources in its Antarctic program. To strengthen Korea's capability to instigate initiatives in the system, I suggest the following approaches: Firstly, Korea should improve its Antarctic science policy based on the newly established CEP five-year work plan; Secondly, Korea should organize a long-standing expert group to focus on Antarctic environmental policy and related scientific information; finally, Korea should intensify its collaboration with other Parties in developing Antarctic environmental priority issues.

• Biomedical Engineering Letters
• /
• v.8 no.4
• /
• pp.399-404
• /
• 2018

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the accuracy of a mobile wireless digital automatic blood pressure monitor for clinical use and mobile health (mHealth). In this study, a manual sphygmomanometer and a digital blood pressure monitor were tested in 100 participants in a repetitive and sequential manner to measure blood pressure. The guidelines for measurement used the Korea Food & Drug Administration protocol, which reflects international standards, such as the American National Standard Institution/Association for the Advancement of Medical Instrumentation SP 10: 1992 and the British Hypertension Society protocol. Measurements were generally consistent across observers according to the measured mean ${\pm}SD$, which ranged in $0.1{\pm}2.6mmHg$ for systolic blood pressure (SBP) and $0.5{\pm}2.2mmHg$ for diastolic blood pressure (DBP). For the device and the observer, the difference in average blood pressure (mean${\pm}$SD) was $2.3{\pm}4.7mmHg$ for SBP and $2.0{\pm}4.2mmHg$ for DBP. The SBP and DBP measured in this study showed accurate measurements that satisfied all criteria, including an average difference that did not exceed 5 mmHg and a standard deviation that did not exceed 8 mmHg. The mobile wireless digital blood pressure monitor has the potential for clinical use and managing one's own health.

• Korean Journal of Child Education & Care
• /
• v.19 no.3
• /
• pp.141-156
• /
• 2019

Objective: This study examined the gossip, an evaluative conversation about an absent third party, through qualitative research methods, and explored the subjects and the social function of gossip among young children. Methods: The subject of this study included 24 five-year-olds children in Somang class at Baram kindergarten in Seoul. The data consisted of 20 participant observation, 2 in-depth interviews with the teacher, and informal interviews with the children. Results: The subjects of gossip among young children were peers, teachers, and family members. The social function of gossip among children was strengthening peer relationship, selecting peers, confirming rules, and pleasure. The results of this study confirmed that children are sensitive observers of their surroundings and that their peers, teachers, and families are important beings with influence in their lives. It also showed that children's gossip was a social conversation in which children build peer relationships, learn norms and experience pleasant emotions. Conclusion/Implications: This study has the significance of providing various perspectives on the socialization process of young children by looking at gossip which was perceived as a negative image, from a new perspective.

• The korean journal of orthodontics
• /
• v.49 no.2
• /
• pp.97-105
• /
• 2019

Objective: This study was performed to evaluate the accuracy and reliability of a newly designed method to achieve mandibular dental model superimposition, using voxel-based cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) registration. Methods: Fourteen dry cadaveric mandibles and six teeth extracted from patients with severe periodontitis were used to establish 14 orthodontic tooth-movement models. The protocol consisted of two steps: in the first step, voxel-based CBCT mandible superimposition was performed; the reference comprised the external portion of the symphysis, extending to the first molar. The laser-scanned dental model image was then integrated with the CBCT image to achieve mandibular dental model superimposition. The entire process required approximately 10 minutes. Six landmarks were assigned to the teeth to measure tooth displacement, using tooth displacement on the superimposed laser-scanned mandibles as the reference standard. Accuracy was evaluated by comparing differences in tooth displacement based on the method and the reference standard. Two observers performed superimposition to evaluate reliability. Results: For three-dimensional tooth displacements, the differences between the method and the reference standard were not significant in the molar, premolar, or incisor groups (p > 0.05). The intraclass correlation coefficients for the inter- and intra-observer reliabilities of all measurements were > 0.92. Conclusions: Our method of mandibular dental model superimposition based on voxel registration is accurate, reliable, and can be performed within a reasonable period of time in vitro, demonstrating a potential for use in orthodontic patients.

• The Journal of Korea Institute of Information, Electronics, and Communication Technology
• /
• v.12 no.1
• /
• pp.7-12
• /
• 2019

Clouds in the atmosphere are important variables that affect the temperature change by reflecting the radiant energy of the earth surface as well as changing the amount of sunshine by reflecting the sun's radiation energy. Especially, the amount of sunshine on the surface is very important It is essential information. Therefore, eye-observations of the sky on the surface of the earth have been enhanced by satellite photographs or relatively narrowed observation equipments. Therefore, cloud automatic observing systems have been developed in order to replace the human observers, but depending on the seasons, the reliability of observations is not high enough to be applied in the field due to pollutants or fog in the atmosphere. Therefore, we have developed a cloud observation algorithm that is robust against smog and fog. It is based on the calculation of the degree of aerosol from the all-sky image, and is added to the developed cloud reader to develop season- and climate-insensitive algorithms to improve reliability. The result compared to existing cloud readers and the result of cloud cover is improved.