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Professionals use foam rollers to improve range of motion (ROM). Recently, a vibrating foam roller (VFR) that combines the vibration function with a foam roller (FR) has been used. The purpose of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to determine the effects of a VFR on the improvement of ROM in healthy individuals. A systematic literature search was carried out in five international databases: PubMed, Embase, PEDro, Cochrane Library, and Google Scholar. Eight clinical studies, composed of six randomized controlled trials and two randomized crossover trials that involved 230 healthy participants were selected for analysis. Methodological quality was identified using the PEDro scale. The mean scores, 4.75±0.71, of the eight included studies, were classified as fair. The results demonstrated that the VFR achieved better gains than the FR in improving ROM (standardized mean difference [SMD], 0.53; 95% confidence intervals [CIs], 0.29–0.77; I2=55%). The VFR was more effective in improving the ROM than the FR in the hip and knee joints (hip: SMD, 0.56; 95% CI, 0.28–0.85; I2=0%; knee: SMD, 0.86; 95% CI, 0.42–1.30; I2=79%). The VFR may be an additional option to improve the ROM in healthy adults and athletes.

The biosorption characteristics of SRCM 120569 biomass on anionic Congo red (CR) dye. SRCM 120569 strain isolated from Korean turbid rice wine (makgeolli) was identified by 16S rRNA sequence analysis as Bacillus licheniformis. Bacillus licheniformis SRCM 120569 (Genbank Accession No. MW819861) showed superior CR dye biosorption capacity in an aqueous solution. Maximum adsorption capacities of 61.2 and 133.1 mg/g were obtained at pH 3.41 and 0.01 g/50 mL dried cell dosage, respectively. The CR dye adsorption properties by the Bacillus licheniformis SRCM120569 strain were characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), point of zero charge (pHpzc) analysis, and phylogenetic analysis. The biosorption isotherm and kinetic models are well described with the Langmuir adsorption isotherm and pseudo-second-order kinetic models.

A complete enumeration study was conducted to evaluate trends related to reperfusion therapies (intravenous thrombolysis (IVT) and endovascular treatment (EVT)) in acute ischemic stroke (AIS) in South Korea, according to sex, economic status, and age, over a 10-year period retrospectively, using the National Health Information Database (NHIS-2020-1-481). This study included AIS patients aged ≥20 years who were hospitalized in a general hospital or tertiary hospital for ≥4 days and underwent brain imaging during the same period. Study participants were classified by sex, economic status (Medical Aid beneficiaries and National Health Insurance beneficiaries) and age (20–44, 45–64, 65–79, and ≥80 years). Women showed a significantly lower OR (Odds ratio) than men in IVT (OR: 0.75; 95% CI: 0.73–0.77), EVT (OR: 0.96; 95% CI: 0.93–0.99), and any therapy (OR: 0.82; 95% CI: 0.80–0.84). The Medical Aid beneficiaries showed significantly lower OR in IVT (OR 0.91, 95% CI 0.88–0.95), EVT (OR 0.93, 95% CI 0.89–0.98), and either therapy (OR 0.92, 95% CI 0.90–0.95) than the National Health Insurance beneficiaries. This study showed sex and economic disparity related to reperfusion therapies in patients with AIS in Korea.

High-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) is a well-known predictor of atherosclerotic cardiovascular diseases (ASCVD). We explored the relationships between HDL-C levels and 10-year major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) and provided sex-specific upper reference limits for HDL-C levels.Based on the Korean National Health Insurance Sharing Service, we identified 5,703,897 subjects (women, 48%) with age ≥40 years, eligible HDL-C results, and no prior ASCVD in 2009. We investigated the distribution of 10-year MACE according to HDL-C levels in 10 mg/dL (0.26 mmol/L) intervals and in three HDL-C groups (low: men40 mg/dL [1.03 mmol/L], women50 mg/dL [1.29 mmol/L]; high: between low and extremely high levels; and extremely high:90 mg/dL [2.33 mmol/L]).There were U-shaped relationships between HDL-C levels and 10-year MACE with later inflection in women than in men (nadir: 80-99 mg/dL [2.07-2.56 mmol/L] and 50-59 mg/dL [1.29-1.53 mmol/L], respectively). In men, the extremely high HDL-C group showed significantly higher 10-year MACE than the high group (28.1% vs. 24.6%,The 10-year MACE showed U-shaped relationships with HDL-C levels, and extremely high HDL-C level at 90 mg/dL (2.33 mmol/L) in men was corresponding in risk to 130 mg/dL (3.36 mmol/L) in women.

This study examined characteristics and patterns of interorganizational networks for smoking prevention and cessation in Korea.We surveyed two community health centers, ninety-five hospitals or clinics, ninety-two pharmacies, and sixty-five health welfare organizations in two districts of Seoul in 2020. Data on the organizations' characteristics of smoking cessation and interorganizational activities for information sharing, client referral, and program collaboration were collected and analyzed using network statistics and blockmodeling.Network size was in the order of information sharing, client referral, and program collaboration networks. Network patterns for interorganizational activities on information sharing, client referral, and program collaboration among four organizations were similar between the two districts. Community health centers provided information and received clients from a majority of the organizations. Their interactions were not unidirectional but mutual with other organizations. Pharmacies were involved in information sharing with health welfare organizations and client referrals to hospitals or clinics. Health welfare organizations were primarily connected with the community health centers for client referrals and program collaboration.A community health center is the lead agency in interorganizational activities for smoking prevention and cessation. However, hospitals or clinics, pharmacies, and health welfare organizations also participate in interorganizational networks for smoking prevention and cessation with diverse roles. This study would be evidence for developing future interorganizational networks for smoking prevention and cessation.

Objective To evaluate the incidence of urologic complications requiring a urologic procedure during the perioperative period and compare the differences between abdominal radical hysterectomy (ARH) and laparoscopic radical hysterectomy (LRH). Methods We identified all Korean women who underwent radical hysterectomy (RH) between January 2006 and December 2019 using the National Health Insurance Service database. Complications requiring surgical intervention-based urologic procedures between ARH and LRH were investigated. Results A total of 12,068 patients were classified into the ARH group and 8,837 patients were classified into the LRH group. Urologic complications requiring urologic procedures occurred in 1,546 of 20,905 patients (7.40%) who underwent RH. The most common urologic procedure was double-J insertion (R326, 5.18%), followed by bladder repair (R3550, 0.90%). There was no significant difference in urologic complications requiring urologic procedures between the ARH and LRH groups (odds ratio [OR]=1.027; 95% confidence interval [CI]=0.925–1.141; p=0.612). The incidence of bladder repair (R3550) was significantly higher in patients who underwent LRH (OR=1.620; 95% CI=1.220–2.171; p, Synopsis Previous studies have been insufficient to detect clinically significant difference in urologic complications between abdominal radical hysterectomy (ARH) and laparoscopic radical hysterectomy (LRH). It is clinically more important to evaluate urologic complications that require urologic procedures rather than urologic complications alone. The incidence of urologic complications requiring urologic procedures related to radical hysterectomy was evaluated using data from the National Health Insurance Service. There was no difference in urologic complications between ARH and LRH.

Purpose: This study examined the effect of visual feedback squat on the core muscle thickness of young adults experiencing back pain. Methods: Thirty adult men and women who experienced back pain were assigned randomly to 15 members of the visual feedback squat group (VSG) and 15 of the normal squat group (NSG) to train three times a week for a total of eight weeks. The core muscle thickness was compared prior to the test for four weeks and eight weeks after the test by dividing it into warm-up exercise, main exercise, and 10 minutes finishing exercise. Before, and four weeks and eight weeks later, the thickness of the core muscle was compared using an ultra sonic imaging system. Repeated measured ANOVA was performed to compare the groups, and a Bonferroni test was performed as a post-hoc test to assess the significance of the timing of the measurements in each group according to the periods. An independent t-test was conducted to test the significance between the groups according to the measurement points. Results: A significant change in the main effects of time and interactions of the time difference in muscle thickness of transvers abdom inis were observed between the visual feedback squat and control groups according to the measurement point (p 0.05). Conclusion: These findings suggest that visual feedback squat exercise is expected to have positive effects on the development of trans verse abdominis in core muscles.

Background: Vibration stimulation has emerged as a treatment tool to aid spasticity during physical therapy. However, the benefits of vibration rolling (VR) on interventions for stroke patients are unclear. This study aimed to investigate the effect of VR intervention on the range of motion (ROM) and ankle stiffness in stroke patients. Methods: In this crossover design study, seven stroke patients completed two test sessions (one VR and one non-VR [NVR]) in a randomized order, with 48 h of rest between each session. Participants completed intervention and its measurements on the same day. The measurements included ankle dorsiflexion and plantarflexion ROM and stiffness of ankle muscles, including the tibialis anterior and gastrocnemius lateral and medial muscles. Results: After VR, ankle dorsiflexion ROM, gastrocnemius lateral stiffness, and gastrocnemius medial stiffness improved significantly (all P < 0.05). After NVR, only gastrocnemius lateral stiffness improved significantly (P < 0.05). Furthermore, compared with the change values for ankle dorsiflexion ROM and gastrocnemius lateral stiffness, VR showed a more significant difference than NVR (P < 0.05).Conclusions: VR improved ankle ROM and muscle stiffness. Therefore, we suggest that practitioners should consider VR as an intervention to increase dorsiflexion ROM and gastrocnemius stiffness in stroke patients.

A three-dimensional frequency-domain numerical wave tank (FR-NWT) based on the Rankine panel method was developed. An optimal artificial damping zone (ADZ) scheme was first applied to the FR-NWT to prevent reflection waves from the end walls. Parametric studies of ramp function shape with artificial damping coefficients and damping zone length were conducted to find a proper damping scheme for the frequency domain program. Applying both the Sommerfeld radiation condition and the ADZ scheme to the frequency domain program can reduce the length of the ADZ to less than one wavelength. The FR-NWT developed by the authors was used to calculate the hydrodynamic response of a hemispherical-heaving buoy wave energy converter (WEC) integrated with a seawall-type breakwater of infinite length. A linear power take-off system was used to calculate power generation of the WEC. The global motion of the WEC combined with the breakwater was up to 1.85 times greater than that of the WEC without the breakwater. Moreover, the capture width ratio of the WEC increased approximately 3.67 times more than that of the WEC without the breakwater.

[Purpose] This study investigated the effect of respiratory exercise on pulmonary function, balance, and gait in chronic stroke patients. [Participants and Methods] Twenty patients with chronic stroke were randomly assigned to experimental and control groups (n=10 each). The patients in both groups underwent neurodevelopmental treatment. Moreover, the experimental group performed respiratory exercise. Pulmonary function was measured using a pneumatometer. Balance was measured using a Berg Balance Scale and Functional Reach Test. Gait was measured with a 10-m walk test and Timed Up-and-Go Test. [Results] Intragroup comparison showed significant differences in forced vital capacity, forced expiratory volume in one second, Berg Balance Scale, Functional Reach Test, 10-meter walk test, and Timed Up-and-Go Test. Intergroup comparison showed that the differences in forced vital capacity, forced expiratory volume in one second, Berg Balance Scale, Functional Reach Test, 10-meter walk test, and Timed Up-and-Go Test for the experimental group were significantly related to those for the control group. [Conclusion] Based on these results it was concluded that respiratory exercise effectively improves the pulmonary function, balance, and gait in patients with chronic stroke.

In this paper, the effects of the plasma density on laser-accelerated electron beams for radiation therapy with a sharp density transition are investigated. In the sharp density-transition scheme for electron injection, the crucial issue is finding the optimum density conditions under which electrons injected only during the first period of the laser wake wave are accelerated further. In this paper, we report particle-in-cell simulation results for the effects of both the scale length and the densitytransition ratio on the generation of a quasi-mono-energetic electron bunch. The effects of both the transverse parabolic channel and the plasma length on the electron-beam’s quality are investigated. Also, we show the experimental results for the feasibility of a sharp density-transition structure. The dosimetric properties of these very high-energy electron beams are calculated using Monte Carlo simulations.

The aim of the present study was to find the optimum dynamic conformal arc (DCA)-based radiosurgery conditions for treatment of patients with intracranial tumors. DCA plans were generated on a commercial treatment-planning system (BrainSCAN v.5.31) for various beam-number and gantry-angle combinations by using computed tomography (CT) scans to delineate the planning target volume (PTV) and the organs at risk (OARs). To evaluate planning quality related to the various planning conditions, we analyzed the dose quality factors (DQFs) for 22 patients as a function of the number and the total angle of arcs related to the target volume, which were determined on the basis of patient-specific features. When the total angle of arcs was less than 250°, the DQF values were under 0.98 (worst group). When the total angle of arcs was more than 350 degrees, the DQF values were maximized, and the highest DQF values (best group, DQF > 0.995) occurred in the range between 50 and 120°/cm3 for the total angle/target volume condition. In this optimal range of angle/volume, the asymmetric distribution of the arcs resulted in decreased DQF values. For a relatively large target volume (more than 10 cm3), the DQF values were lower than these for a relatively small target volume (less than 10 cm3). Re-planning results showed that the planning quality could be improved using optimized planning conditions. We expect that this study will provide a basis for the evaluation of various DCA conditions prior to actual planning and treatment.

The permitted limit, ±12%, of the change in solid contents based on ASTM C 494 as an interim standard in Korea Expressway Corporation, can not reflect the kind of chemical admixture and the characteristics of solid content so that it differed depending on the admixture types. In this study, effect of cement concrete quality was investigated by solid changes which can be used chemical admixtures acceptance criteria. As a result of an evaluation of a change in the quality of concrete due to solid content, since Ligno-sulfonate based (LG) had a low water reducing ratio, the range of the change in solid content was great while Naphthalene sulfonated based (PNS) and Poly-carboxylate based (PC) High Range Water-reducing Admixtures (HRWR) had a high water reducing ratio, the permitted limit of the difference in solid content currently used as the acceptance criterion should be readjusted. As a result, it is found that the acceptable range must be managed within 10% and 5% when the solid contents less than 25% and more than 25%, respectively.

This study was performed to evaluate the quality characteristics of low-fat boiled or smoked sausages containing sodium nitrite and various levels of red beet during refrigerated storage. Physicochemical properties of boiled and smoked sausages were not affected by the addition of red beet (p>0.05), except for the color values. The interaction between treatment and storage time had significant effects on redness and yellowness of boiled sausages, and on redness of smoked sausages (p 0.05) upon treatment with the combination of sodium nitrite and red beet. These results indicate that the combination of red beet and sodium nitrite contributed to color stability of smoked sausages during refrigerated storage. Therefore, we suggest that red beet as a natural colorant may be used to reduce the content of nitrite during low-fat sausage processing.

We present a systematic, theoretical investigation of the polar magneto-optical (MO) Kerr effects of a single Ni nanorod in the Mie regime. The MO Kerr rotation, ellipticity, amplitude ratio, and phase shift are calculated as a function of the length and width of the nanorod. The electric field amplitude ratio of the MO Kerr effect is locally maximized when the nanorod supports a plasmonic resonance in the polarization state orthogonal to the incident light. The plasmonic resonances directly induced by the incident light do not enhance the amplitude ratio. In the Mie regime, multiple local maxima of the MO Kerr activity are supported by the resonant modes with different modal characteristics. From the viewpoint of first-order perturbation analysis, the spatial overlap between the incident-light-induced electric field and the Green function determines the local maxima.

We present a theoretical and experimental analysis of the polarization dependence of a two-mode-fiber acoustooptic device, taking into account the residual stress in the fiber and the ellipticity of the core. We successfully demonstrate the suppression of the polarization dependence by relieving the residual stress, using thermal annealing.

We report an unusually large birefringence modulation in fiber-optic phase modulators formed with cylindrical piezoelectric transducers when driven at a few hundred kilohertz. The magnitude of the birefringence modulation is a strong function of modulation frequency. A simple model is used to explain the phenomenon, and the theoretical predictions agree well with the experimental results.

We present a new method to flatten the gain profile of optical amplifiers; inserting an optical isolator in the middle of an Er doped fiber amplifier (EDFA). A flat gain bandwidth of more then 30 nm was experimentally obtained by this method. This is more simple and effective than other gain flattening filter methods.

The phase shift induced by cross phase modulation is measured using a Sagnac interferometer. The CW pumping beam less than 10 mW is intensity modulated with frequency f/sub 1/, and the interferometer is phase modulated with frequency f/sub 2/ different from f/sub 1/. In the RF spectrum of the Sagnac interferometer signal, a component of frequency f/sub 1/+f/sub 2/ is proportional to the optical nonlinear effect.

An anti-reflection coated GaAlAs laser diode was used as a gain medium in a mode-locked fiber laser gyroscope to obtain stable mode-locked optical pulses without gain competition. The time intervals between the pulses could be measured with much improved accuracy using an electronic counter. The rms noise equivalent rotation rate was 3.4 deg/hr/(root)Hz and the long-term drift was less than 200 deg/hr.© (1996) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.

A semiconductor laser amplifier is used as a gain medium in a mode-locked fiber laser gyroscopes to obtain stable mode-locked optical pulses without gain competition. The pulse intervals could be measured with much improved accuracy as a function of rotation rate. The rms noise equivalent rotation rate was measured to be 0.04deg/sqrt(h).