• Journal of the Institute of Convergence Signal Processing
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.9-15
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• 2019

As the human population increases in the world, the ratio of health doctors is rapidly decreasing. Therefore, it is an urgent need to create new technologies to monitor the physical and mental health of people during their daily life. In particular, negative mental states like depression and anxiety are big problems in modern societies. Usually this happens due to stressful situations during everyday activities including work. This paper presents a machine learning approach to reliably estimating the level of human mental stress using wearable physiological sensors. And also, this paper presents an Android- and Arduino-based stress monitoring and relief system.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.42 no.5
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• pp.371-376
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• 2007

Objective : Balloon kyphoplasty can effectively relieve the symptomatic pain and correct the segmental deformity of osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures. While many articles have reported on the effectiveness of the procedure, there has not been any research on the factors affecting the deformity correction. Here, we evaluated both the relationship between postoperative pain relief and restoration of the vertebral height, and segmental kyphosis, as well as the various factors affecting segmental deformity correction after balloon kyphoplasty. Methods : Between January 2004 and December 2006, 137 patients (158 vertebral levels) underwent balloon kyphoplasty. We analyzed various factors such as the age and sex of the patient, preoperative compression ratio, kyphotic angle of compressed segment, injected PMMA volume, configuration of compression, preoperative bone mineral density (BMD) score, time interval between onset of symptom and the procedure, visual analogue scale (VAS) score for pain rating and surgery-related complications. Results : The mean postoperative VAS score improvement was $4.93{\pm}0.17$. The mean postoperative height restoration rate was $17.8{\pm}1.57%$ and the kyphotic angle reduction was $1.94{\pm}0.38^{\circ}$. However, there were no significant statistical correlations among VAS score improvement, height restoration rate, and kyphotic angle reduction. Among the various factors, the configuration of the compressed vertebral body (p=0.002) was related to the height restoration rate and the direction of the compression (p=0.006) was related with the kyphotic angle reduction. The preoperative compression ratio (p=0.023, p=0.006) and injected PMMA volume (p<0.001, p=0.035) affected both the height restoration and kyphotic angle reduction. Only the preoperative compression ratio was found to be as an independent affecting factor (95% CI : 1.064-5.068). Conclusion : The two major benefits of balloon kyphoplasty are immediate pain relief and local deformity correction, but segmental deformity correction achieved by balloon kyphoplasty does not result in additional pain relief. Among the factors that were shown to affect the segmental deformity correction, configuration of the compressed vertebral body, direction of the most compressed area, and preoperative compression ratio were not modifiable. However, careful preoperative consideration about the modifiable factor, the PMMA volume to inject, may contribute to the dynamic correction of the segmental deformity.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.59 no.5
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• pp.478-484
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• 2016

Objective : To assess the clinical and radiological factors as predictors for successful outcomes in lumbar disc herniation (LDH) treatment. Methods : Two groups of patients with single level LDH (L4-5) requiring treatment were retrospectively studied. The surgery group (SG) included 34 patients, and 30 patients who initially refused the surgery were included in the nerve blocks group (NG). A visual analogue scale (VAS) for leg and back pain and motor deficit were initially evaluated before procedures, and repeated at 1, 6, and 12 months. Radiological factors including the disc herniation length, disc herniation area, canal length-occupying ratio, and canal area-occupying ratio were measured and compared. Predicting factors of successful outcomes were determined with multivariate logistic regression analysis after the optimal cut off values were established with a receiver operating characteristic curve. Results : There was no significant demographic difference between two groups. A multivariate logistic regression analysis with radiological and clinical (12 months follow-up) data revealed that the high disc herniation length with cutoff value 6.31 mm [odds ratio (OR) 2.35; confidence interval (CI) 1.21-3.98] was a predictor of successful outcomes of leg pain relief in the SG. The low disc herniation length with cutoff value 6.23 mm (OR 0.05; CI 0.003-0.89) and high baseline VAS leg (OR 12.63; CI 1.64-97.45) were identified as predictors of successful outcomes of leg pain relief in the NG. Conclusion : The patients with the disc herniation length larger than 6.31 mm showed successful outcomes with surgery whereas the patients with the disc herniation length less than 6.23 mm showed successful outcomes with nerve block. These results could be considered as a radiological criteria in choosing optimal treatment options for LDH.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.279-286
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• 2004

This study observed the temperature and humidity within the green zone to understand the effect that land coverage and the structure of forests have on the relief of micro-climate control. Based on this set of data, this study interpreted, through the regression analysis, the relevance of land coverage of the green zone with temperature and distribution of humidity, as well as the amount of green with the relief of microclimate control. The results of the study demonstrated that high temperature regions were formed in barren areas, and low temperature regions in forests or near the water. In particular, low temperature was found in areas covered with tall and small trees, the water surrounded by forests and areas enclosing small rivers. Furthermore, mechanisms causing low temperature were, among others, the ratio of land coverage (forest, grassland, water). In fact, the temperature reduction effect varied in accordance with the types and ratios of the land coverage. Humidity also showed a close correlation with the distribution of temperature high temperature areas had low humidity and low temperature areas had high humidity. Such a phenomenon.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.153-157
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• 2016

Tapentadol is a novel oral analgesic with a dual mode of action as an agonist of the ${\mu}$-opioid receptor (MOR), and as a norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor (NRI) all in a single molecule. Immediate release (IR) tapentadol shows its analgesic effect quickly, at around 30 minutes. Its MOR agonistic action produces acute nociceptive pain relief; its role as an NRI brings about chronic neuropathic pain relief. Absorption is rapid, with a mean maximal serum concentration at 1.25-1.5 h after oral intake. It is present primarily in the form of conjugated metabolites after glucuronidation, and excretes rapidly and completely via the kidneys. The most common adverse reactions are nausea, dizziness, vomiting, and somnolence. Constipation is more common in use of the ER formulation. Precautions against concomitant use of central nervous system depressants, including sedatives, hypnotics, tranquilizers, general anesthetics, phenothiazines, other opioids, and alcohol, or use of tapentadol within 14 days of the cessation of monoamine oxidase inhibitors, are advised. The safety and efficacy have not been established for use during pregnancy, labor, and delivery, or for nursing mothers, pediatric patients less than 18 years of age, and cases of severe renal impairment and severe hepatic impairment. The major concerns for tapentadol are abuse, addiction, seeking behavior, withdrawal, and physical dependence. The presumed problem for use of tapentadol is to control the ratio of MOR agonist and NRI. In conclusion, tapentadol produces both nociceptive and neuropathic pain relief, but with worries about abuse and dependence.

• Earthquakes and Structures
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.119-127
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• 2019

When a structural wall is subjected to multi-directional ground motion, torsion-induced cracks degrade the stiffness of the wall. The effect of torsion should not be neglected. As a main lateral load resisting member, reinforced concrete (RC) structural wall has been widely studied under the combined action of bending and shear. Unfortunately, its seismic behavior under a combined action of torsion, bending and shear is rarely studied. In this study, torsional performances of the RC structural walls under the combined action is assessed from a comprehensive parametrical study. Finite element (FE) models are built and calibrated by comparing with the available experimental data. The study is then carried out to find out the critical design parameter affecting the torsional stiffness of RC structural walls, including the axial load ratio, aspect ratio, leg-thickness ratio, eccentricity of lateral force, longitudinal reinforcement ratio and transverse reinforcement ratio. Besides, to facilitate the application in practice, an empirical equation is developed to estimate the torsional stiffness of RC rectangular structural walls conveniently, which is found to agree well with the numerical results of the developed FE models.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Safety
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• v.20 no.3 s.71
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• pp.71-77
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• 2005

This study aims to find the safe vent area to prevent a destruction of building by gas explosion in a building. Explosion vessel which used in this experiment is 1/5 scale down model of simple livingroom and its dimension is 100cm in length 60cm in width and 45cm in height. Liquified petroleum gas(LPG) was injected to the vessel to the concentration of 4.5vol%, and injection rate were varied in 1L/min or 4L/min. Gas mixture was ignited by the 10kV electric spark. For analysis the characteristics of vented explosion pressure according to the vent size and vent shape, its size and shape were varied. From the experiment, it was found that explosion pressure in the vented explosion :in affected by the gas injection rate, vent area and vent shape. And the vent area to volume ratio(S/V) to prevent the building destruction by explosion pressure, it is recommended that the design of vent area happened by the explosion should be above 1/500cm in S/V. And if the vent area has complicate structure in same area, vented explosion pressure will be higher than a single vent, and possibility of building destruction will increase. Therefore to effectively vent the explosion pressure for protect a building and residents from the gas explosion hazards, the same vent area should have a singular and constant shape in the cross-sectional area of the vessel.

• Journal of Biomedical Engineering Research
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• v.33 no.4
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• pp.194-201
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• 2012

This study was designed to investigate the effect of a combined stimulus which was composed of chiropractic massage and thermotherapy on the relief of mental and physical stress. Fifteen healthy male subjects were treated with three type of stimuli; control (without any stimulus), a single stimulus (only chiropractic) and a combined stimulus. To evaluate the effects of stimuli, visual analogue scale (VAS), trunk extension, electromyogram (EMG) on erector spinae muscle and electrocardiogram (ECG) were measured and analyzed before and after stimuli. In the control group, there were no significant changes in EMG root mean square (RMS) value and low Frequency/high Frequency (LF/HF) ratio (p > 0.05, p > 0.05). However, both stimulus groups showed significant increases in trunk extension and EMG RMS values (p < 0.05, p < 0.05), but significant decreases in LF/HF ratios (p < 0.05). Particularly the decrement rate in LF/HF ratio was significantly higher in the combined stimulus group than that in the single stimulus group (p < 0.05). Also, a significantly lower VAS was recorded after combined stimulus. Our findings indicate that the combined stimulus might not only improve flexibility and strength of muscle, but also active parasympathetic nerve activity. The combined stimulus may thus contribute to relieve the stress and to enhance the muscle function.

• Journal of Oral Medicine and Pain
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.235-240
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• 2000

This study was carried out among 34 patients who visited Yonsei Dental Hospital from 1996. 1. to 1999. 5 for trigeminal neuralgia. By studying the patient's treatment prior to visiting our hospital, features of trigeminal neuralgia, treatment process of trigeminal neuralgia, prognosis of treatment, consultation with other professions and involvement of surgery, etc., the results are as follows: 1. 67.7% of onset age range from 40s to 60s, and average age is 50.2. 2. Ratio of right to left involvement is 1:2.1, male to female ratio is 1:1.9. 3. Occurrence rate of each branch is V3(44.1%), V2(11.8%), V1+V2+V3(11.8), V1+V2(8.8%). 4. Treatments prior to admission to our hospital are extraction(5.9%), endodontic treatment(5.9%), medication(11.8%), Oriental Medicine treatment(5.9%). 5. Routes of admittance to our hospital are by their preference(55.9%), local clinic referral(32.4%), E.N.T referral(5.9%), Neurology referral(5.9%). 6. 70.6% of patients treated at our hospital who were relieved of symptoms, were referred to Neurology(66.7%) and Pain Clinic(33.3%) for the reason of relapse, side effects of the drug itself, incomplete relief of pain. 7. 2 patients who were referred to medical part showed brain vessels contacting trigeminal nerve root on Brain MRangiography. But pain is being controlled by medication and no specific surgical procedure was carried out. The results show that 17.7% of patients admitted received inappropriate early treatment. In order to relieve tooth loss and patient's psychologic stress due to inappropriate treatment, precise differential diagnosis must be made among local teeth disease and idiopathic facial pain. Medication may show side effects of the drug itself, incomplete relief of pain or relapse of symptoms. Therefore, to treat trigeminal neuralgia appropriately by drug injection, surgery or radiation therapy, consultations among dentists, neurologists and anesthesiologists are required.

• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.55-60
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• 2013

This study was to know the effects of massage on the back region in order to reduce stress in middle age women. To investigate the effects of massage to the stress levels of middle aged women, we evaluated blood pressure (BP), heart rate variability (HRV), and ultrasonography before and after back massage. The blood pressure after massage was reduced when compared to that of pre-massage. The HRV spectrum analysis was used Frequency domain analysis such as Mean HRV, normalized low frequency (norm LF), norm high frequency (norm HF), and LF/HF ratio. Post-massage BP tended to be low, but not statistical significant. After Massage, the Mean HRV, norm LF, and LF/HF ratio were significantly reduced, while norm HF was significantly increased as compared with pre-massage. The muscle layer and fat layer were significantly diminished by massage. The study was suggested that massage may be an effective treatment for relief of stress.