• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• 제53권6호
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• pp.323-330
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• 2013

Objective : To develop a simple, reproducible model of disc degeneration in rabbits through percutaneous annular puncture and to confirm the degree of degeneration over time. Methods : Fifteen New Zealand white rabbits (4 to 5 months old and weighing approximately 3 to 3.5 kg each) underwent annular puncture of the L2-L3, L3-L4, and L4-L5 discs. Rabbits were sacrificed at 4, 8, or 20 weeks after puncture. For a longitudinal study to assess changes in disc height over time, serial X-rays were performed at 0, 2, 4, 8, and 20 weeks for rabbits in the 20-week group. Upon sacrifice, the whole spinal column and discs were extracted and analyzed with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), real time reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction, and histological staining. Results : The X-rays showed a slow, progressive decrease in disc height over time. Significant disc space narrowing compared to preoperative disc height was observed during the time period (p<0.001). The MRI grade, aggrecan, and matrix metalloprotease-13 mRNA expression and hematoxylin and eosin/safranin O/anti-collagen II staining were consistently indicative of degeneration, supporting the results of the X-ray data. Conclusion : Percutaneous annular puncture resulted in slow, reproducible disc degeneration that was confirmed by radiology, biochemistry, and histology. This in vivo model can be used to study and evaluate the safety and efficacy of biologic treatments for degenerative disc disease.

• 국제물리치료학회지
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• 제10권4호
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• pp.1934-1939
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• 2019

Background: Flexible flat foot is that the medial longitudinal arch collapses in weight bearing and returns normal arch when weight is removed and the weight bearing shifts toward medial part of the foot, which can cause pathological problems in the alignment of the lower extremities and the entire body. Objective: To compare the foot pressure for adults with flexible flat foot. Design: Quasi-Experimental Study Methods: 24 participants with flexible flat foot were recruited and were randomly divided into Visual feedback Short Foot Exercise (VSFE) group and Short Foot Exercise (SFE) group. To compare changes of foot pressure about pre and post intervention, the contact pressure measurement was conducted. Results: In the VSFE, significant differences were observed for the foot pressure of the 1^st toe, 1^st, 3^rd and 4-5^th metatarsal, midfoot, medial and lateral heel (p<.05). The foot pressure of the 3^rd and 4-5^th metatarsal, midfoot showed significant differences in the SFE (p<.05). The contact pressure of the 1^st toe, 3^rd metatarsal showed significant differences between the groups. Conclusions: Visual feedback short foot exercise can be useful for moving the pressure from medial to lateral part, and can prevent possible pathological problems.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• 제55권6호
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• pp.1087-1097
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• 2015

In this paper, the effect of functionally graded material (FGM) coatings on the fracture behavior of semi-elliptical cracks in cylinders is assessed. The objective is to calculate the stress intensity factor (SIF) of a longitudinal semi-elliptical crack on the wall of an aluminum cylinder with FGM coating. A three-dimensional finite element method (FEM) is used for constructing the mechanical models and analyzing the SIFs of cracks. The effect of many geometrical parameters such as relative depth, crack aspect ratio, FG coating thickness to liner thickness as well as the mechanical properties of the FG coating on the SIF of the cracks is discussed. For a special case, the validity of the FE model is examined. The results indicated that there is a particular crack aspect ratio in which the maximum value of SIFs changes from the deepest point to the surface point of the crack. Moreover, it was found that the SIFs decrease by increasing the thickness ratio of the cylinder. But, the cylinder length has no effect on the crack SIFs.

• 대한한방소아과학회지
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• 제35권4호
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• pp.75-81
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• 2021

Objectives The purpose of this study is understanding the trend of clinical researches on the correlation between precocious puberty and sleep. Methods 18 papers were searched by using keywords 'Precious publicity' and 'Sleep' in Pubmed, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, and those were analyzed for this study. Results Children aged 6 to 18 were participated in longitudinal studies and questionnaire surveys. Hormone levels and EEG were also measured in those children. This study had placed emphasis on the sleeping time and sleep quality, and sex hormones secretion during sleep and changes in the hormone secretion related to the sleep cycles. Historically, oriental medicine studies have demonstrated that there were correlations between precocious puberty and sleep. There are studies from China showed the importance of lifestyle management in preventing and treating precocious puberty, especially with light exposure during sleep. Conclusions Sleep is closely correlated with precocious puberty and it is an important factor to be considered in the prevention and treatment of precocious puberty.

• 한국임상수의학회지
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• 제36권3호
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• pp.155-158
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• 2019

Morphologic changes or functional impairments of the papillary muscle (PM) can influence mitral valve competence. The purpose of this study was to investigate PM size and contractile function using two-dimensional and color tissue Doppler echocardiography in normal dogs. 35 unsedated Beagle dogs without cardiovascular disease were examined. The vertical (VD) and horizontal diameter (HD) of the posterior and anterior PM was measured at end-diastole, and compared with the thickness of the left ventricular posterior wall (LVPWd). Longitudinal systolic movement of the PM was quantified as myocardial velocity and strain using tissue Doppler. The VD, HD, and ratios (VD/LVPWd, HD/LVPWd, VD/HD) were significantly greater in the posterior than anterior PM (P < 0.001). The VD and HD of posterior PM and the HD of anterior PM were significantly correlated with LVPWd (r = 0.47, 0.44, and 0.42, respectively). Body weight was significantly correlated with VD of posterior PM (r = 0.37). The peak systolic tissue velocity of the PM was $4.93{\pm}1.25cm/sec$ and peak strain was $-30.83{\pm}11.92%$. PM size and systolic function can be quantitatively assessed using two-dimensional and tissue Doppler. The establishment of these objective PM measurements may be useful to evaluate morphological and functional abnormalities of the canine PM.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• 제31권4호
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• pp.361-372
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• 2019

In recent years, considerable attention has been paid to the research and development of high-strength steel plates, with particular emphasis on the enhancement of the seismic resistance of buildings and bridges. Many efforts have also been undertaken to improve the properties of high-strength bolts and weld materials. However, there are still different opinions on steel joints that combine high-strength bolts and fillet welds. Therefore, it is necessary to verify the design specifications and guidelines, especially for newly developed 1,400-MPa high-strength bolts, 570-MPa steel plates, and weld materials. This paper presents the results of literature reviews and experimental investigations. Test parameters include bolt strengths, weld orientations, and their combinations. The results show that advances in steel materials have increased the plastic deformation capacities of steel welds. That allows combination joints to gain their maximum strength before the welds have fracture failures. When in combination with longitudinal welds, high-strength bolts slip, come in contact with cover plates, and develop greater bearing strength before the joints reach their maximum strength. However, in the case of combinations with transverse welds, changes in crack angles cause the welds to provide additional strength. The combination joints can therefore develop strength greater than estimated by adding the strength of bolted joints in proportion to those of welded joints. Consequently, using the slip resistance as the available strength of high-strength bolts is recommended. That ensures a margin of safety in the strength design of combination joints.

• Geosystem Engineering
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• 제21권5호
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• pp.282-290
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• 2018

The onset of extreme fire behaviour in a mine drift with longitudinal ventilation was analysed. A fire in a mine drift with continuous fuel load, involving several separate fires may lead to flames tilted horizontally and filling up the entire cross section. This will lead to earlier ignition, higher fire growth rate, higher fire spread rate and a severe fire behaviour. The focus has been on what changes take place at the onset and signs of the impending phenomenon. It was found that the fire gas temperature at the ceiling level provided a poor indicator. At the downstream far-field region of the fire, the sudden temperature increase at the lowest levels of the cross section and the sudden increase in flow velocities would provide signs of extreme fire behaviour. The corresponding full-scale heat release rates of the experiments at the onset of extreme fire behaviour were found to be very high for mining applications but not necessarily for tunnel fires. The heat release rate threshold for a mine drift with smaller cross-sectional dimensions would decrease considerably, increasing the likelihood of occurrence. The distance between the fuel items will play an important role during the initiation of horizontal flames.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• 제85권2호
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• pp.233-246
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• 2023

Bending and buckling analysis of multi-directional porous functionally graded sandwich plate has been performed for two cases namely: FG skin with homogeneous core and FG core with homogeneous skin. The principle of virtual displacements was employed and the solution was obtained using Navier's technique. This theory imposes traction-free boundary conditions on the surfaces and does not require shear correction factors. The validation of the present study has been performed with those available in the literature. The composition of metal-ceramic-based FGM changes in longitudinal and transverse directions according to the power law. Different porosity laws, such as uniform distribution, unevenly and logarithmically uneven distributions were used to mimic the imperfections in the functionally graded material that were introduced during the fabrication process. Several sandwich plates schemes were studied based on the plate's symmetry and the thickness of each layer. The effects of grading parameters and porosity laws on the bending and buckling of sandwich plates were examined.

• Journal of Oral Medicine and Pain
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• 제47권1호
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• pp.67-71
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• 2022

Subchondral cysts are frequently encountered in patients with temporomandibular joint osteoarthritis (TMJ OA), particularly in advanced stage. Subchondral cysts within osteoarthritis are typically lying adjacent to the joint surface where initial load bearing occurs during activity and have been associated with greater pain and disease progression. Although the etiology of these cysts remains uncertain, recently studies report that the induction of the subchondral bone mechanical stress caused subchondral cysts. Repeated overloading leads to further deterioration of subchondral bone which render subchondral bone structure more fragile, increase the risk of osteoarthritis progress. The purpose of this study was to assess the effect of conservative treatment and longitudinal osseous changes of a large subchondral cyst in a mandibular condyle in a symptomatic TMJ OA patient.

• Earthquakes and Structures
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• 제24권5호
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• pp.333-343
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• 2023

Various seismic isolation and reduction devices have been applied to suppress the longitudinal vibration of continuous girder bridges. As representative devices, lead rubber bearing (LRB) and fluid viscous damper (FVD) might suffer from deterioration during the long-term service. This study aims to evaluate the impact of device deterioration on the seismic responses of continuous girder bridges and investigate the seismic behavior of deteriorated LRBs and FVDs. Seismic performance of a simplified bridge model was investigated, and the influence of device deterioration was evaluated by the coefficient of variation method. The contribution of LRB and FVD was assessed by the Sobol global sensitivity analysis method. Finally, the seismic behaviors of deteriorated LRBs and FVDs were discussed. The result shows that (i) the girder-pier relative displacement is the most sensitive to the changes in the deterioration level, (ii) the deterioration of FVD has a greater effect on the structural responses than that of LRB, (iii) FVD plays a major role in energy dissipation with a low degradation level while LRB is more essential in dissipating energy when suffering from high degradation level, (iv) the deteriorated devices are more likely to reach the ultimate state and thus be damaged.