• Journal of Korea Foundry Society
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• v.38 no.2
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• pp.48-54
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• 2018

To improve the durability of the turbocharger, it is important to suppress cracking of the turbine housing; therefore, we investigated the initiation and growth of these cracks. First, we initiated a crack in the turbine housing using endurance experiments. After the endurance test, cracks mainly occurred in the valve seat, the nozzle area, and the scroll part of the turbine housing. The results of a fracture analysis of the cracks showed that cracks in the valve seat were initiated by fatigue fracture. This seems to be caused by the accumulation of mechanical and thermal stresses due to vibration of the turbine wheel and high-temperature exhaust gas. Also, cracks in nozzle and scroll area were initiated by intergranular corrosion due to the exhaust gas. Thus, although there are differences in the cause of initiation according to the site, a concentric waveform was observed in all fracture planes. This phenomenon indicates that cracks gradually grow due to repeated stress changes, and the main causes are the temperature difference of the exhaust gas and the vibration caused by the turbine shaft.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.21 no.5
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• pp.648-655
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• 2020

The firing pin of modern automatic rifles detonates the primer of loaded ammunition via a hammer. During this process, the firing pin receives an impact load and repetitive force throughout the life of the rifle. An endurance test of a rifle showed that the firing pin breaks prematurely at 96.26% of life. Accordingly, a case study was conducted through cause analysis and a reconstruction test. Optical microscopy and scanning electron microscopy of the broken surface of the firing pin showed that a crack began in the circumferential direction of the surface, resulting in a fatigue crack to the core after repeated impact. Crack growth and fatigue destruction occurred at the end due to the repetitive impact and was estimated using a notch. For verification, a sample that produced a 0.03mm circumferential notch was broken at 64.25% of life in the reconstruction test. A test of breakage according to the notch types showed that a 0.3mm and a 0.5mm one-side notch were broken at 66.53% and 50.76%, respectively, and a 0.03mm six-point notch was broken at 85.65%. The endurance life of a sample firing pin with a rough surface and tool mark was examined, but an approximately 381 ㎛ internal crack formed. Through this study, failure for each notch type was considered. These results show that quality control of the notch and surface roughness is essential for ensuring the reliability of a component subjected to repeated impact.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.44 no.1
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• pp.83-90
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• 2013

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of hot water extract of peduncle obtained from Hovenia dulcis Thunb (HD) which is commercially developed for the protective effect on the alcoholic hepatotoxicity, on the endurance capacity for weight loaded forced swimming mice. The swimming times to exhaustion in mice fed 100 and 200 mg/kg HD for 2 weeks were prolonged 3.6 and 3.7 fold, and for 4 weeks 1.9 and 2.7 fold compared with each vehicle control ($42.8{\pm}20.5$ min and $67.7{\pm}47.8$ min, for 2 and 4 weeks), respectively. Blood biochemical parameters for ALT, AST, creatinine and BUN were not significantly different between from HD fed or control mice. Although HD fed mice swam over 2 fold longer time than vehicle control mice at 4 weeks, blood biomarkers of physical fatigue such as glucose, triglyceride and free fatty acid, lactate were not significant different and even tended to ameliorate. Hepatic lipid peroxidation and SOD activity did not significantly change in HD fed- and vehicle control exhausted swimming mice at 2 or 4 weeks. However, catalase activity in HD-fed mice was significantly increased in a dose-dependent manner compared with vehicle control mice. The present study indicates that HD improved physical fatigue and exercise performance in mice. Therefore, it has a potential for the pharmacological effect of anti-fatigue.

• Journal of the Ergonomics Society of Korea
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.93-101
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• 2006

This study examined whether there is a transfer effect to other joint angles and the angular specificity of muscle fatigue after 6 weeks of isometric training of the vastus medialis. Twenty subjects were randomly assigned to 30° and 90° knee flexion groups and were trained at 80% maximal voluntary isometric contraction(MVIC) three times a week for 6 weeks. The pre-and post-training values of the 80% holding time(endurance time) of MVIC, the Fatigue Index(FI), and the MVIC at 30°, 60°, and 90° were compared. After isometric training for 6 weeks, in the 30° knee flexion group, FI decreased significantly(p<0.05) only at 30°, which was the training angle; there was no change at other angles. By contrast, in the 90° knee flexion group, FI decreased significantly(p<0.05) at both the trained angle and at the other angles, indicating a transfer effect of training. MVIC did not increase significantly(p<0.05) at any trained angle in either the 30° or 90° knee flexion groups after 6 weeks of isometric training, neither did the 80% holding time of MVIC differ significantly compared with pre-training in either group. These findings suggest that training at 90° of knee flexion is more effective than training at 30° of knee flexion for obtaining a training transfer effect on muscle fatigue in the vastus medialis.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.298-313
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• 2022

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: The effectiveness of natural compounds in improving athletic ability has attracted attention in both sports and research. Gynostemma pentaphyllum (Thunb.) leaves are used to make traditional herbal medicines in Asia. The active components of G. pentaphyllum, dammarane saponins, or gypenosides, possess a range of biological activities. On the other hand, the anti-fatigue effects from G. pentaphyllum extract (GPE) and its effective compound, gypenoside L (GL), remain to be determined. MATERIALS/METHODS: This study examined the effects of GPE on fatigue and exercise performance in ICR mice. GPE was administered orally to mice for 6 weeks, with or without treadmill training. The biochemical analysis in serum, glycogen content, mRNA, and protein expressions of the liver and muscle were analyzed. RESULTS: The ExGPE (exercise with 300 mg/kg body weight/day of GPE) mice decreased the fat mass percentage significantly compared to the ExC mice, while the ExGPE showed the greatest lean mass percentage compared to the ExC group. The administration of GPE improved the exercise endurance and capacity in treadmill-trained mice, increased glucose and triglycerides, and decreased the serum creatine kinase and lactate levels after intensive exercise. The muscle glycogen levels were higher in the ExGPE group than the ExC group. GPE increased the level of mitochondrial biogenesis by enhancing the phosphorylation of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ coactivator-1α (PGC-1α) protein and the mRNA expression of nuclear respiratory factor 1, mitochondrial DNA, peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-δ, superoxide dismutase 2, and by decreasing the lactate dehydrogenase B level in the soleus muscle (SOL). GPE also improved PGC-1α activation in the SOL significantly through AMPK/p38 phosphorylation. CONCLUSIONS: These results showed that GPE supplementation enhances exercise performance and has anti-fatigue activity. In addition, the underlying molecular mechanism was elucidated. Therefore, GPE is a promising candidate for developing functional foods and enhancing the exercise capacity and anti-fatigue activity.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.36 no.3
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• pp.297-307
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• 2015

Objectives: We aimed to evaluate the effect of Cervi Cornu and coenzymeQ10 on exercise and endurance capacity in rats and mice. Methods: The extract of Cervi Cornu was manufactured by the pharmacy department of Kyung Hee Oriental Medical Hospital, and CoQ10 soft cap (Ildong Pharmaceutical) was used. In total, 24 rats and 30 mice were divided into 3 groups: Control (rat=8, mouse=10), CoQ10 alone (rat=8, mouse=10), Cervi Cornu extract, and CoQ10 (rat=8, mouse=10). Ergogenic effect was evaluated by administering the Cervi Cornu extract and coenzymeQ10 to rats and measuring the time to exhaustion during treadmill running; endurance capacity was assessed by measuring cold water swimming time, serum lactate level, and serum corticosterone level in each group. At 1 week from the end of treatment, we recalculated time to exhaustion during treadmill running in rats to investigate the long-term effect of the Cervi Cornu extract and coenzymeQ10. Results: Cervi Cornu extract has long-term benefits in that it preserves the ergogenic effect caused by exercise. Cervi Cornu and coenzymeQ10 have no effect on increasing cold water swimming time in ICR mice. CoenzymeQ10 decreases the serum corticosterone level in ICR mice performing cold water swimming test. Conclusions: Cervi Cornu seems to preserve the ergogenic effect caused by exercise, but a larger study is needed to investigate effect of Cervi Cornu and coenzymeQ10 on improving endurance capacity. CoenzymeQ10 decreases serum corticosterone level and it is related with the anti-psychological fatigue effect.

• The Korean Journal of Food And Nutrition
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• v.33 no.4
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• pp.363-371
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• 2020

This study was designed to evaluate the improvement in exercise endurance by Hovenia dulcis fruit hot water extract (HDWE) for the potential application as a functional food material. The effect was based on the evaluation of the forced-swimming capacity and changes in biochemical parameters in mice. Six-week-old mice were classified into four groups based on a randomized block design: the negative control group, the HDWE 50 mg/kg body weight group, the HDWE 200 mg/kg body weight group, and the 1-octacosanol 50 mg/kg body weight group (n=8 mice per group). The swimming exercise time in the HDWE-50 group was increased at 545±43 sec compared to the control group at 263±28 sec. The HDWE-200 fatigue indicators, lactate acid and ammonia content, decreased to 4.99±0.33 mg/mL and 0.63±0.05 mg/mL, respectively. In addition, the content of glycogen in the liver and muscle tended to increase in the group administered HDWE but was not significant. Likewise, the LDH and glucose contents were increased compared to the control group. The muscle damage indicators ALT (52.7±2.6 U/L) and AST (42.5±5.2 U/L) tended to decrease compared to the control group (76.4±10.2 U/L).

• Journal of Electrical Engineering and Technology
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• v.12 no.4
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• pp.1641-1648
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• 2017

Many researchers had examined the validity of using the high-to-low ratio between two fixed frequency band amplitudes (H/L-FFB) from the surface electromyography of a face and body as the first spectral index to assess muscle fatigue. Despite these studies, the disadvantage of this index is the lack of a criterion for choosing the optimal border frequency. We tested the potential of using the high-to-low ratio between two signal spectral moments (H/L-SSM), without fixed border frequencies, to evaluate muscle fatigue and predict endurance time ($T_{end}$), which was determined when the subject was exhausted and could no longer follow the fixed contraction cycle. Ten healthy participants performed five sets of voluntary isotonic contractions until they could only produce 10% and 20% of their maximum voluntary contraction (MVC). The $T_{end}$ values for all participants were $138{\pm}35s$ at 10% MVC and $69{\pm}20s$ at 20% MVC. Changes in conventional spectral indices, such as the mean power frequency (MPF), Dimitrov spectral index (DSI), H/L-FFB, and H/L-SSM, were extracted from surface EMG signals and were monitored using the initial slope computed every 10% of $T_{end}$ as a statistical indicator and compared as a predictor of $T_{end}$. Significant correlations were found between $T_{end}$ and the initial H/L-SSM slope as computed over 30% of $T_{end}$. In conclusion, initial H/L-SSM slope can be used to describe changes in the spectral content of surface EMG signals and can be employed as a good predictor of $T_{end}$ compared to that of conventional spectral indices.

• Journal of Digital Convergence
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• v.16 no.6
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• pp.407-416
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• 2018

The purpose of this study is to evaluate elite high school kayaker's iso-kinetic muscle function and provide physical training advices. Biodex system IV, Biodex stabilizer system, Inbody 3.0 and CNP-5403 are used to investigate 11 kayaker's muscle function(peak torque, average power and work fatigue), dynamic balance, body compositions, and flexibility. S4, S5, S8, S10, S11 are needed to train shoulder muscle strength and power. S5, S6, S10, S11 are needed to strengthen shoulder muscle endurance. S5, S7, S8, S10, S11 are needed to train knee muscle strength and power. S1, S4, S5, S10 are needed to strengthen knee muscle endurance. S3, S10, S11 are needed to train wrist muscle endurance. Based on these results we should establish an muscle function enhancing program with periodic inspection for elite kayakers. And standardized training program should be sublated.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.11 no.4
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• pp.7-17
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• 2004

Individuals who propel wheelchairs have a high prevalence of upper extremity injuries (i.e., carpal tunnel syndrome, elbow/shoulder tendonitis, impingement syndrome). Musculoskeletal injuries can result from overuse or incorrect use of manual wheelchairs, and can hinder rehabilitation efforts. To better understand the mechanisms of upper extremity injuries, this study investigates the motion of the wrist during wheelchair propulsion. This study also examines changes in the variables that occur with fatiguing wheelchair propulsion to determine how the time parameters of wheelchair propulsion and the state of fatigue influence the risk of injury. A two dimensional (2-D) analysis of wrist movement during the wheelchair stroke was performed. Twenty subjects propelled a wheelchair handrim on a motor-driven treadmill at two different velocities (50, 70 m/min). The results of this study were as follows; The difference in time parameters of wheelchair propulsion (cadence, cycle time, push time, recovery time, and PSP ratio) at two different velocities was statistically significant. The wrist kinematic characteristics had statistically significant differences at two different velocities, but wrist radial deviation and elbow flexion/extension had no statistically significant differences. There were statistically significant differences in relation to fatigue in the time parameter of wheelchair propulsion (70 m/min) between initial 1 minute and final 1 minute. The wrist kinematic characteristics between the initial 1 minute and final 1 minute in relation to fatigue had statistically significant differences but the wrist flexion-extension (50 m/min) had no statistically significant differences. According to the results, the risk of musculoskeletal injuries is increased by fatigue from wheelchair propulsion. To prevent musculoskeletal injuries, wheelchair users should train in a muscle endurance program and consider wearing a splinting/grove. Moreover, wheelchair users need education on propulsion posture, suitable joint position, and proper recovery patterns of propulsion.