Background: This study investigated quadriceps femoris muscle activity by comparing concentric and eccentric contractions with self-selective squat speed. Objectives: Study participants agreed in advance and included 30 male college students in their 20s without musculoskeletal system disease. Design: A randomized controlled trial. Methods: Participants who participated in this study agreed in advance and recruited 30 male college students in their 20s who had no disease with musculoskeletal system to conduct this study. When squatting at a self-selected speed, the subjects were evaluated using one-way ANOVA to compare concentric and eccentric contraction muscle activity. Results: There were significant differences between the rectus femoris, vastus medialis, and vastus lateralis regarding concentric contractions.contractions. There was a significant difference in vastus medialis but no significant difference between rectus femoris and vastus lateralis for eccentric contractions. Conclusion: During concentric contraction, all muscles and eccentric contractions indicated significant improvement in the vastus medialis. Therefore, to minimize knee joint injury and maximize efficient muscle activity, self-selected slow and moderate speeds based on self-selection speed when performing the sit-down motion during a squat and moderate speed with fast motions when performing the standing motion should be considered as high muscle activities.

Buffer materials are one of the engineering barrier components in high-level radioactive waste disposal facilities. Compacted bentonite has been known as the most suitable buffer material so far, and research is being conducted worldwide to determine the characteristics of suitable bentonite blocks in each country. Therefore, this study aims to compare and analyze various properties of different buffer material candidates, including thermal, hydraulic, and mechanical properties. Buffer material candidates for Korea disposal system, Kyungju Bentonite (KJ-I, KJ-II), and Bentonil- WRK were compared. The properties were compared and analyzed based on experimental and literature data. The data obtained from this report can be used to understand the behavior of buffer materials and assess whether they meet various criteria, such as temperature and saturation, and ultimately serve as an essential input variable database for safety evaluations of disposal systems.

Background: Elastic and non-elastic taping are widely used in clinical practice, but there are various methods of attachment. Objectives: To investigate the effect of the type and intensity of taping on the muscle strength and muscle endurance of healthy adults. Design: Experimental research. Methods: 38 healthy adults participated in this experiment. Before applying the taping to each participant, the muscle strength and endurance of the quadriceps femoris were measured. After applying three different taping intervention methods, muscle strength and muscle endurance changes were measured. Muscle strength and endurance were measured through CSMI. Repeated measures ANOVA was used for statistics on participant measurements. Results: All intervention methods influenced the muscle strength improvement of the quadriceps femoris. Elastic tape with 50% elasticity had a greater impact on muscle strength than 33% elastic tape and non-elastic tape, and secondly, elastic tape with 33% elasticity was effective, and non-elastic tape had the least impact. Muscle endurance improvement was affected by the order of 50% elasticity taping, 33% elasticity taping, and non-elastic taping. Conclusion: All three taping intervention methods showed significant effects on improving muscle strength and muscle endurance of the wide-legged quadruple muscles, but the best effect was to apply 50% elastic taping.

Background: Pain Neuroscience Education (PNE) is an educational approach that deals with the physiology of the nervous system as well as the pain system and refers to educating patients with chronic musculoskeletal disorders such as chronic back pain. Objectives: This study examined the effects of pain neuroscience education on patients with low back pain. Design: Systematic review. Methods: Electronic bibliographic databases of a regional information sharing system (RISS) and PubMed were searched to identify randomized controlled studies. In the final outcome, 43 publications were identified, and 13 studies met the inclusion criteria. Results: There were a total of 13 pain-related studies, including 11 studies using NPRS (VAS) and 2 studies using other pain measurement instruments. In NPRS, the effect size was 0.683, which had a medium effect size. In Roland morris disability questionnaire (RMDQ), the effect size was 0.544, which had a medium effect size. In Oswestry disability index (ODI), the effect size was 0.951, indicating a large effect size, but the confidence interval could not be obtained because there was only one study. Conclusion: Pain neuroscience education has positive effects on low back pain and disability index in related patients.