• Journal of Bio-Environment Control
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.258-263
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• 2007

This study was carried out to investigate the effects of number of the lower scaffold limbs on tree growth, light penetration, fruit yield, and fruit quality in slender spindle in 6-year-old 'Fuji'/M.9 apple trees. With regard to the growth by the numbers of the lower scaffold limbs, the width of the tree was wide and the growth of new shoots was increased when the number of the lower scaffold limbs was five. Compare with other treatments, five lower scaffold limbs showed high light-interception on the upper (150 cm above the ground) and middle (100 cm above the ground) canopy. There was no difference in the total number of the flower buds of the spurs according to the number of scaffold limbs, but the number and cross section area of flower bud on the lower canopy (120 cm above the ground) were increased where the number of the lower scaffold limbs was five. Fruit yield was highest in the treated with five lower scaffold limbs and fruit weight tended to increase where the number of the lower scaffold limbs was five or eight. With regard to fruit quality, there showed no difference in fruit shape index, firmness, acid content, Hunter L and b value according to the location of canopy and the number of the lower scaffold limbs, but the content of soluble solids was highest treated with five lower scaffold limbs. Hunter a value indicating fruit color was found to be highest treated with five lower scaffold limbs whose light interception was highest.

• Journal of the Ergonomics Society of Korea
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• v.30 no.5
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• pp.671-681
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• 2011

Objective: The purpose of this study is to compare the workload level at each lower limbs posture and suggest the ergonomic workstation guideline for working period by evaluating the imbalanced lower limbs postures from the physiological and psychophysical points of view. Background: Many workers like welders are working in various imbalanced lower limbs postures either due to the narrow working conditions or other environmental conditions. Method: Ten male subjects participated in this experiment. Subjects were asked to maintain 3 different lower limbs postures(standing, squatting and bending) with 3 different working conditions(balanced floor with no scaffold, imbalanced floor with 10cm height of scaffold, and imbalanced floor with 20cm height of scaffold). EMG data for the 4 muscle groups(Retus Femoris, Vastus Lateralis, Tibialis Anterior, Gastrocnemius) from each lower limbs posture were collected for 20 seconds every 2 minutes during the 8 minutes sustaining task. Subjects were also asked to report their discomfort ratings of body parts such as waist, upper legs, lower legs, and ankle. Results: The ANOVA results showed that the EMG root mean square(RMS) values and the discomfort ratings(CR-10 Rating Scale) were significantly affected by lower limbs postures and working time(p<0.05). The correlation was analyzed between the EMG data and the discomfort ratings. Also, prediction models for the discomfort rating for each posture were developed using physical condition, working time, and scaffold height. Conclusion: We strongly recommend that one should not work more than 6 minutes in a standing or squatting postures and should not work more than 4 minutes in a bending posture. Application: The results of this study could be used to design and assess working environments and methods. Furthermore, these results could be used to suggest ergonomic guidelines for the lower limbs postures such as squatting and bending in the working fields in order to prevent fatigue and pain in the lower limbs body.