Background: A spinal extension and intensive rehabilitation program reduced the symptoms and pain of kyphosis, and improved function. Objects: This study aimed to demonstrate the effect of a spine extension device on the degree of thoracic kyphosis and extension angles, confirm reduction of the kyphosis angle and an increase in flexibility. Methods: Thirteen adults were enrolled in the experiment, using the spine extension device, which was set to passively extend the spine. The angle between the spinous process of the first thoracic vertebra and the spinous process of the twelfth thoracic vertebra was measured by dual inclinometer before and after using the spine extension device. Results: In the static posture, the thoracic kyphosis decreased after using the spine extension device in the thoracic extension posture, and there was a significant difference (p < 0.05); thoracic extension angle increased with statistical significance (p < 0.05). Conclusion: In this study, the thoracic kyphosis angle and thoracic extension angle of the subjects before and after using spine extension device was compared and analyzed, which proved that the spine extension device can effectively improve the mobility of spinal extension.

The density of sweetpotato whitefly, Bemisia tabaci, on greenhouse paprika (Capsicum annuum var. angulosum) were determined by counts of the number of B. tabaci per leaflet in Jinju, Gyeungsangnamdo during 2014. Binomial sampling plans were developed based on the relationship between the mean density per leaf (m) and the proportion of leaf infested with less than T B. tabaci per leaf (PT), according to empirical model (ln(m) = α + β(ln(-ln(1-PT))). T was defined as tally threshold, and set to 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 (adults) and 1, 3, 5, 7 (pupae) per leaf in this study. Increasing sample size, regardless of tally threshold, had little effects on the precision of the binomial sampling plan. Increasing sample size had little effect on the precision of the estimated mean regardless of tally thresholds. T=1 was chosen as the best tally threshold for estimating densities of B. tabaci adults based on the precision on the model and T=3 was best tally thresholds in B. tabaci pupae. Using the results obtained in the greenhouse, simulated validation of the developed sampling plan by RVSP (Resampling Validation for Sampling Plan) indicated the suitable results.