Purpose: The purpose of this study was to describe the illness experience of patients with short bowel syndrome. Methods: Six patients with short bowel syndrome were recruited from a tertiary hospital in Korea. Semi-structured and face-to-face interviews were conducted with the participants between April, 2018 and October, 2018. The transcribed data were analyzed using thematic analysis. Results: Three themes and nine sub-themes emerged as follows. The first theme is ‘suffering from bad symptoms caused by short bowel,’ including 1) difficult to suppress uncontrolled appetite, 2) fear of having abdominal pain at all time, and 3) having multiple diarrhea with non-digested food as sub-themes. The second theme is ‘enduring negative consequences of the prolonged disease,’ including 1) must adopt a skinny body to the bone, 2) have to be dependent on TPN, and 3) Suffer from complications such as infection and dehydration. The last theme was ‘having difficulties of living with hopelessness,’ including 1) being lack of information about the disease, 2) being hopeless of the fact that it is incurable, and 3) being nervous on endless medical bills to pay. Conclusion: Patients with short bowel syndrome are more likely to suffer from various physical, psychological, social, and financial problems. Based on the results of the study, health professionals could develop effective management guidelines. In addition, vigorous efforts such as multidisciplinary team approach including physicians, nurses, pharmacists and clinical dietitians are demanded to improve nutritional status and quality of life of the given population.
Oxide-dispersion-strengthened (ODS) alloy has been developed to increase the mechanical strength of metallic materials; such an improvement can be realized by distributing fine oxide particles within the material matrix. In this study, the ODS layer was formed in the surface region of Zr-based alloy tubes by laser beam treatment. Two kinds of Zr-based alloys with different alloying elements and microstructures were used: KNF-M (recrystallized) and HANA-6 (partial recrystallized). To form the ODS layer, Y2O3-coated tubes were scanned by a laser beam, which induced penetration of Y2O3 particles into the substrates. The thickness of the ODS layer varied from 20 to 55 μm depending on the laser beam conditions. A heat affected zone developed below the ODS layer; its thickness was larger in the KNF-M alloy than in the HANA-6 alloy. The ring tensile strengths of the KNF-M and HANA-6 alloy samples increased more than two times and 20–50%, respectively. This procedure was effective to increase the strength while maintaining the ductility in the case of the HANA-6 alloy samples; however, an abrupt brittle facture was observed in the KNF-M alloy samples. It is considered that the initial microstructure of the materials affects the formation of ODS and the mechanical behavior.
As a case study on aspect ratio behavior, Kaolin, zeolite, TiO2, pozzolan and diatomaceous earth minerals are investigated using wet milling with 0.3 pai media. The grinding process using small media of 0.3 pai is suitable for current work processing applications. Primary particles with average particle size distribution D50, ~6 μm are shifted to submicron size, D50 ~0.6 μm, after grinding. Grinding of particles is characterized by various size parameters such as sphericity as geometric shape, equivalent diameter, and average particle size distribution. Herein, we systematically provide an overview of factors affecting the primary particle size reduction. Energy consumption for grinding is determined using classical grinding laws, including Rittinger's and Kick's laws. Submicron size is obtained at maximum frictional shear stress. Alterations in properties of wettability, heat resistance, thermal conductivity, and adhesion increase with increasing particle surface area. In the comparison of the aspect ratio of the submicron powder, the air heat conductivity and the total heat release amount increase 68 % and 2 times, respectively.
Since the directly bonded interface between TiAl alloy and SCM440 includes lots of cracks and generated intermetallic compounds(IMCs) such as TiC, FeTi, and Fe2Ti, the interfacial strength can be significantly reduced. Therefore, in this study, Cu is selected as an insert metal to improve the lower tensile strength of the joint between TiAl alloy and SCM440 during friction welding. As a result, newly formed IMCs, such as Cu2TiAl, CuTiAl, and TiCu2, are found at the interface between TiAl alloy and Cu layer and the thickness of IMCs layers is found to vary with friction time. In addition, to determine the relationship between the thickness of the IMCs and the strength of the welded interfaces, a tensile test was performed using sub-size specimens obtained from the center to the peripheral region of the friction-welded interface. The results are discussed in terms of changes in the IMCs and the underlying deformation mechanism. Finally, it is found that the friction welding process needs to be idealized because IMCs generated between TiAl alloy and Cu act to not only increase the bonding strength but also form an easy path of fracture propagation.
Fabrication of soft magnetic composite powders for the Fe2O3-Ca system by mechanical alloying(MA) has been investigated at room temperature. It is found that soft magnetic composite powders in which CaO is dispersed in α-Fe matrix are obtained by MA of Fe2O3 with Ca for 5 hours. Changes in magnetization and coercivity also reflect the details of the solidstate reduction process of hematite by pure metal of Ca during MA. The saturation magnetization of MA powders increases with increasing MA time and reaches a maximum value of 65 emu/g after 7 hours of MA. The average grain size of α-Fe in MA powders, estimated by diffraction line-width, gradually decreases with increasing MA time and reaches 52 nm after 5 hours of MA. It can also be seen that the coercivity of the 5-hour MA sample is fairly high at 190 Oe, suggesting that the grain refinement of already-produced α-Fe tends to clearly occur during MA.
There are several manufacturing techniques for developing thermionic cathodes for vacuum ultraviolet(VUV) ionizers. The triple alkaline earth metal emitters(Ca-Sr-Ba) are formulated as efficient and reliable thermo-electron sources with a great many different compositions for the ionizing devices. We prepare two basic suspensions with different compositions: calcium, strontium and barium. After evaluating the electron-emitting performance for europium, gadolinium, and yttrium-based cathodes mixed with these suspensions, we selected the yttrium for its better performance. Next, another transition metal indium and a lanthanide metal neodymium salt is introduced to two base emitters. These final composite metal emitters are coated on the tungsten filament and then activated to the oxide cathodes by an intentionally programmed calcination process under an ultra-high vacuum(~10-6 torr). The performance of electron emission of the cathodes is characterized by their anode currents with respect to the addition of each element, In and Nd, and their concentration of cathodes. Compared to both the base cathodes, the electron emission performance of the cathodes containing indium and neodymium decreases. The anode current of the Nd cathode is more markedly degraded than that with In.
This study analyzes the mechanical properties, including the attrition rate, of 50 μm size yttria-stabilized zirconia (YSZ) beads with different microstructures and high-energy milling conditions. The yttria distribution in the grain and grainboundary of the fully sintered beads relates closely to Vickers hardness and the attrition rate of the YSZ beads. Grain size, fractured surfaces, and yttrium distribution are analyzed by electronic microscopes. For standardization and a reliable comparison of the attrition rate of zirconia beads with different conditions, Zr content in milled ceramic powder is analyzed and calculated by X-ray Fluorescence Spectrometer(XRF) instead of directly measuring the weight change of milled YSZ beads. The beads with small grain sizes sintered at lower temperature exhibit a higher Vickers hardness and lower attrition rate. The attrition rate of 50 μm YSZ beads is measured and compared with the various materials properties of ceramic powders used for high-energy milling. The attrition rate of beads appears to be closely related to the Vickers hardness of ceramic materials used for milling, and demonstrates more than a 10 times higher attrition rate with Alumina(Hv ~1650) powder than BaTiO3 powder (Hv ~315).
Copper electroplating and electrode patterning using a screen printer are applied instead of lithography for heterostructure with intrinsic thin layer(HIT) silicon solar cells. Samples are patterned on an indium tin oxide(ITO) layer using polymer resist printing. After polymer resist patterning, a Ni seed layer is deposited by sputtering. A Cu electrode is electroplated in a Cu bath consisting of Cu2SO4 and H2SO4 at a current density of 10 mA/cm2. Copper electroplating electrodes using a screen printer are successfully implemented to a line width of about 80 μm. The contact resistance of the copper electrode is 0.89 mΩ·cm2, measured using the transmission line method(TLM), and the sheet resistance of the copper electrode and ITO are 1 Ω/□ and 40 Ω/□, respectively. In this paper, a screen printer is used to form a solar cell electrode pattern, and a copper electrode is formed by electroplating instead of using a silver electrode to fabricate an efficient solar cell electrode at low cost.
This study examines the role of the nano- and micro-particle ratio in dispersion stability and mechanical properties of composite resins for SLA(stereolithography) 3D printing technology. VTES(vinyltriethoxysilane)-coated ZrO2 ceramic particles with different nano- and micro-particle ratios are prepared by a hydrolysis and condensation reaction and then dispersed in commercial photopolymer (High-temp) based on interpenetrating networks(IPNs). The coating characteristics of VTES-coated ZrO2 particles are observed by FE-TEM and FT-IR. The rheological properties of VTEScoated ZrO2/High-temp composite solution with different particle ratios are investigated by rheometer, and the dispersion properties of the composite solution are confirmed by relaxation NMR and Turbiscan. The mechanical properties of 3Dprinted objects are measured by a tensile test and nanoindenter. To investigate the aggregation and dispersion properties of VTES-coated ZrO2 ceramic particles with different particle ratios, we observe the cross-sectional images of 3D printed objects using FE-SEM. The 3D printed objects of the composite solution with nano-particles of 80 % demonstrate improved mechanical characteristics.
In this study, three kinds of bainitic steel plates are manufactured by varying the chemical compositions and their microstructures are analyzed. Tensile and Charpy impact tests are performed at room and low temperature to investigate the correlation between microstructure and mechanical properties. In addition, heat affected zone (HAZ) specimens are fabricated by a simulation of welding processes, and the HAZ microstructure is analyzed. The base steel that has the lowest carbon equivalent has the highest volume fraction of acicular ferrite and the lowest volume fraction of secondary phases, so the strength is the lowest and the elongation is the highest. The Mo steel has a higher volume fraction of granular bainite and more secondary phases than the base steel, so the strength is high and the elongation is low. The CrNi steel has the highest volume fraction of the secondary phases, so the strength is the highest and elongation is the lowest. The tensile properties of the steels, namely, strength and elongation, have a linear correlation with the volume fraction of secondary phases. The Mo steel has the lowest Charpy impact energy at -80 oC because of coarse granular bainite. In the Base-HAZ and Mo-HAZ specimens, the hardness increases as the volume fraction of martensite-austenite constituents increases. In the CrNi-HAZ specimen, however, hardness increases as the volume fraction of martensite and bainitic ferrite increases.
Pb(Zr,Ti)O3 (PZT) is used for the various piezoelectric devices owing to its high piezoelectric properties. However, lead (Pb), which is contained in PZT, causes various environment contaminations. (K,Na)NbO3 (NKN) is the most well-known candidate for a lead-free composition to replace PZT. A single crystal has excellent piezoelectric-properties and its properties can be changed by changing the orientation direction. It is hard to fabricate a NKN single crystal due to the sodium and potassium. Thus, (Na,K)NbO3-Ba(Cu,Nb)O3 (NKN-BCuN) is chosen to fabricate the single crystal with relative ease. NKNBCuN pellets consist of two parts, yellow single crystals and gray poly-crystals that contain copper. The area that has a large amount of copper particles may melt at low temperature but not the other areas. The liquid phase may be responsible for the abnormal grain growth in NKN-BCuN ceramics. The dielectric constant and tan δ are measured to be 684 and 0.036 at 1 kHz in NKN-BCuN, respectively. The coercive field and remnant polarization are 14 kV/cm and 20 μC/cm2.
Background: Surgery has been known as an inefficient approach to reduce back pain in patients with lumbar spinal stenosis; therefore, non-surgical treatments are necessary. However, there has been little research to analyze the effect of non-surgical treatments on lumbar spinal stenosis pain.
Objective: To identify the effectiveness of 2 physiotherapeutic treatment approaches to relieve pain due to lumbar spinal stenosis.
Design: Randomized controlled trial
Methods: The participants were 36 lumbar spinal stenosis patients who were randomized in the joint mobilization group (JMG) and transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation group (TENSG). Joint mobilization (JM) was conducted at the posteroanterior joint in the spinous process of the lumbar spine with stenosis. Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) was applied on the lumbar spine with stenosis at a high frequency and intensity.
Results: Visual analog scale (VAS) pain score significantly decreased in both groups, and the VAS value decreased more after JMG than that after TENSG. The pain thresholds of both groups also significantly increased, and that of JMG increased more compared to TENSG. In both the groups, significant improvements in VAS and pain thresholds were found, and JMG showed better results than TENSG.
Conclusions: JM and TENS showed significant relief in both pain threshold and painpain, and JM showed more advanced relief compared to TENS.
Background: There have been many studies on self-myofascial release (SMR) stretching, but there are few comparative studies on the effects of massages using a release ball, which is a type of the SMR method.
Objective: To investigate the immediate effects of release ball massage and self- stretching on proprioceptive sensory, hamstring’s temperature, range of motion (ROM) muscle strength,.
Design: Crossover study.
Methods: Thirty women in 20’s at S University in Busan voluntarily participated in the study. Participants were random to release ball group (n=15) or selfstretching group (n=15). Both groups performed 3 sets of exercises, stretching for 30 seconds and resting for 15 seconds in each position. The proprioceptive sensory, temperature of the hamstring muscle, ROM, and strength were measured before exercise, 5 minutes after exercise, and 30 minutes after exercise.
Results: Release ball group showed significant differences in muscle length and temperature over time (p<.05). The comparison between two group over time showed significant differences in muscle length, temperature, and muscle strength (p<.05).
Conclusions: These results demonstrate that release ball massage and selfstretching are beneficial for improving hamstring's temperature, ROM and muscle strength.
Background: Stroke patients usually have arm weakness, which affects trunks and arms. Objective: To investigate the effects of paretic side and non-paretic side arm training on trunk control and upper limb functions.
Design: Randomized Controlled Trial (single blind).
Methods: Twenty patients with stroke in hospital were enrolled in the study. Twenty subjects were randomly assigned to paretic side arm training group (PATG, n = 10) or non-paretic side arm training group (NATG, n = 10). Trunk impairment scale (TIS) was used for trunk control, and box and block test (BBT) was used for upper limb function. Training was conducted for 4 weeks.
Results: PATG showed significant difference in TIS (static balance, dynamic balance, coordination, total score) and BBT. NATG showed significant differences in static balance, and dynamic balance and total score except for coordination and BBT. PATG also showed a more significant difference in BBT and coordination and total score than NATG.
Conclusions: The arm training performed on the paretic side are more effective than those performed on the non-paretic side in improving both upper limb function and trunk control in stroke patients.
Background: In some clinical guidelines followed in clinical practice, nonsurgical treatments are recommended as the primary intervention for patients with lumbar disc herniation (LDH). However, the effect of a therapeutic exercise program based on stabilization of the lumbar spine for treatment of multilevel LDH has not been evaluated thoroughly.
Objective: To investigate the effects of therapeutic exercise on pain, physical function, and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings in a patient with multilevel LDH.
Design: Case Report
Methods: A 43-year-old female presented with low back pain, radicular pain and multilevel LDH (L3–L4, L4–L5, L5–S1). The therapeutic exercise program was conducted. in 40-min sessions, three times a week, for 12 weeks. Low back and radicular pain, lumbar disability, and physical function were measured before and after 6 and 12 weeks of the exercise program. MRI was performed before and after 12 weeks of the program.
Results: After 6 and 12 weeks of the therapeutic exercise, low back and radicular pain and lumbar disability had decreased, and lumbar range of motion (ROM) was improvedbilaterally, compared with the initial values. Also improved at 6 and 12 weeks were isometric lumbar strength and endurance, and the functional movement screen score. The size of disc herniations was decreased on MRI obtained after 12 weeks of therapeutic exercise than on the pre-exercise images.
Conclusions: We observed that therapeutic exercise program improved spinal ROM, muscle strength, functional capacity, and size of disc herniation in LDH patient.
Background : Several studies have suggested different arguments for the effect of stretching exercises and core muscle exercises on flexibility and balance ability.
Objective : To determine the effects of stretching exercises and core muscle exercise on flexibility and balance ability.
Design : Quasi experimental research
Method : The study applied exercise interventions (three sessions per week for 6 weeks) on 40 subjects. The subjects were divided into stretching and core muscle exerciseing groups to identify the change of flexibility and balance ability. Sit- and- reach test results and hip hyperextension were measured for identifying changes in flexibility, and the Romberg test and Pedalo stabilizer were used for changes in balance ability.
Results : Both the stretching exercise and core muscle exercise groups showed a statistically significant increase in flexibility (p<.05). However, the stretching exercise group showed a statistically significant increase in balance ability (p<.05), whereas the core muscle exercise group showed partially statistically significant differences in this par t(p>.05). In the analysis of the differences in the amount of change in flexibility, based on the types of exercise, stretching exercises showed a significant difference (p<.05), whereas a significant difference was not found in the amount of change in balance ability (p>.05).
Conclusions : These findings indicate that stretching exercises are the more effective intervention for improving and maintaining flexibility, whereas there is no difference between stretching and core muscle exercises with respect to improving balance ability.
Background: Previous researchers have investigated the mechanical and neurophysiological effects of manual mobilization, however little research has been done on muscle tone and muscle stiffness.
Objective: To compare the effects of posterior-anterior (PA) mobilization with weight bearing on sling and conventional PA mobilization on the bed. Design: Randomized controlled trial (single blind)
Methods: The subjects were 16 male university students and randomized to sling mobilization group (SMG, n=8) or conventional mobilization group (CMG, n=8). SMG received PA mobilization using a sling and CMG received traditional mobilization on the bed during lumbar mobilization.
Results: Both left and right muscle tones of SMG increased, but left muscle tone of SMG were increased and right muscle tone was decreased after intervention. In addition, both left and right muscle stiffness of SMG were also increased, however left muscle stiffness of SMG was increased and right muscle stiffness was decreased. The muscle tone and muscle stiffness of SMG were higher than those of DMG, especially the right side was statistically significantly higher. Extension of SMG, extension and flexion of CMG were increased statistically significantly except for Flexion of SMG (p<.05). There were no significant differences between the groups in Extension and Flexion. Conclusions: This study suggests that lumbar spine PA mobilization using sling is beneficial in improving muscle tone, muscle stiffness, and trunk movement.
Background: Despite frequent shoulder injuries of rotator cuff muscle of golfers by the result of overuse and poor swing mechanics, there is little research on shoulder specific rehabilitation exercises for injured rotator cuff muscle and golf swing
Objective: To examined the effect of rehabilitation exercise for golfers on the X factor and ground reaction force (GRF) according to phase of the golf swing.
Design: Crossover study Methods: The participants were 13 amateur golfers selected for a 4 week rehabilitation exercise for golfers. A rehabilitation exercise for golfers consisting of 5 steps and 4 items (sleeper stretch, full side plank, push up to plank, high plank knee unders) were applied to all participants. A three dimensional motion analyzer and force platform (SMART-E, BTS, Italy) were used to measure the X factor (angle between shoulder and pelvis at top of back swing) and GRF according to phase of the golf swing. All dependent variables were measured before and after exercise. The collected data was analyzed using the paired t test and SPSS 21.0.
Results: The GRF had a statistically significant increase in the impact phase and ratio impact/weight after rehabilitation exercise for golfers (p<.05). The Xfactor, GRF in top of back swing and finish were no significant differences between before and after exercise (p>.05).
Conclusions: These results suggested that rehabilitation exercise for golfers was effective for increasing GRF in the impact phase and ratio impact/weight for amateur golfer.
Background: Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) is also called as aging related memory damage. Decreased cognitive function due to aging is known to be associated with the frontal lobe. Alpha wave is generated in the dominance in the frontal lobe or a wide range of regions in the brain, it should be doubted that the brain function might be degraded.
Objective: To determine the effect of sensory stimulation type on learning and brain activity pattern of elderly persons with MCI.
Design: Randomized Controlled Trial (single blind)
Methods: Twenty elderly persons aged more than 65 with MCI were randonmized to simultaneous visual/auditory stimulation group (SVASG) and or auditory stimulation group (ASG). Ten peoples were assigned to each group and lectroencephalogram test was performed to individuals. In the electroencephalogram test, electroencephalography of prior to sensory stimulation, and during sensory stimulation were measured to compare brain activity pattern according to the study groups and measurement period.
Results: The relative alpha power due to a sensory stimulation type showed that the SVASG significantly decreased in the left frontal lobe and the left parietal lobe statistically compared to those of the ASG while sensory stimulation was given (p<.05). The relative beta power due to a sensory stimulation type showed that the SVASG significantly increased in the left and right frontal lobes, the left and right parietal lobes, and the left temporal lobe statistically compared to those of the ASG while sensory stimulation was given (p<.05).
Conclusions: Electroencephalographic analysis showed that the type of sensory stimulation can affect the brain activity pattern. However, the effects were not studied that which brain activity pattern help to improved cognitive function of elderly persons with mild cognitive impairment.
Background : Although plank exercises is reported to the changes in muscle activity of the deep muscles and superficial muscles among the core muscles. However, no study has examined the effects of forearm plank exercise on tone and stiffness in the superficial back line muscle.
Objective: To compare the effects of sling forearm plank exercises and mat forearm plank exercises on the superficial back line muscle tone and stiffness.
Design: Randomized controlled clinical trial (single blind)
Methods: The subjects were randomized to sling forearm plank exercise group (N = 8) or mat forearm plank exercise group (N = 8). The measurements were taken for each research group following exercises: the muscle tone and stiffness of upper lumbar muscles, lower lumbar muscles, long head of biceps femoris, and medial part of gastrocnemius among the superficial back line muscles.
Results: Sling forearm plank exercise group Indicated statistically significant increases in stiffness of medial part of gastrocnemius (p<.05). However, mat forearm plank exercise group reported no statistically significant in muscle tone and stiffness of all measured muscles. No significant differences in measured variables were found between the groups.
Conclusions: These results suggest that the forearm plank exercise performed with an unstable surface in the defined sling can increase the stiffness of calf muscle, but it is unlikely to achieve increases in muscle tone and stiffness of the overall superficial back line muscles.