Alpha activities can be used for categorization, transportation, and disposal of radioactive waste generated from the operation of nuclear facilities including nuclear power plants. In order to transport and dispose of such low- and intermediate-level radioactive waste (LILW) to the Wolsong LILW Disposal Center (WLDC) at Gyeongju, the gross alpha concentration of an individual drum should be determined according to the acceptance criteria. In addition, when the gross alpha concentration exceeds 10 Bq/g, the inventory of the comprising alpha emitters in the waste is to be identified. Gross alpha measurements using a proportional counter are usually straightforward, inexpensive, and high-throughput, so they are broadly used to assay the total alpha activity for environmental, health physics, and emergency-response assessments. However, several factors are thoughtfully considered to obtain a reliable approximate for the entire alpha emitters in a sample, which include the alpha particle energy of a particular radionuclide, the radionuclide that is used as a calibration standard, the uniformity of film in a planchet, time between sample collection and sample preparation, and time between sample preparation and counting. Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute (KAERI) have evaluated the inventory of radionuclides in low-level radioactive waste drums to send every year hundreds of them to the WLDC. In this presentation, we revisit the gross alpha measurement results of the drums transported to WLDC in the past few years and compare them with the concentrations of alpha emitters measured from alpha spectrometry and gamma spectrometry. This study offers an insight into the gross alpha measurement for radioactive waste regarding calibration source, self-absorption effect, composition of alpha emitters, etc.
The decommissioning of nuclear facilities produces various types of radiologically contaminated waste. In addition, dismantlement activities, including cutting, packing, and clean-up at the facility site, result in secondary radioactive waste such as filters, resin, plastic, and clothing. Determining of the radionuclide content of this waste is an important step for the determination of a suitable management strategy including classification and disposal. In this work, we radiochemically characterized the radionuclide activities of filters used during the decommissioning of Korea Research Reactors (KRRs) 1 and 2. The results indicate that the filter samples contained mainly 3H (500–3,600 Bq·g−1), 14C (7.5–29 Bq·g−1), 55Fe (1.1– 7.1 Bq·g−1), 59Ni (0.60–1.0 Bq·g−1), 60Co (0.74–70 Bq·g−1), 63Ni (0.60–94 Bq·g−1), 90Sr (0.25–5.0 Bq·g−1), 137Cs (0.64–8.7 Bq·g−1), and 152Eu (0.19–2.9) Bq·g−1. In addition, the gross alpha radioactivity of the samples was measured to be between 0.32–1.1 Bq·g−1. The radionuclide concentrations were below the concentration limit stated in the low- and intermediatelevel waste acceptance criteria of the Nuclear Safety and Security Commission, and used for the disposal of the KRRs waste drums to a repository site.
The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of somatotype on the VO2max and hormone (adrenaline and noradrenaline) during treadmill walking. Forty healthy men participated and were randomized to four groups: Male 1 (M1) group, Male 2 (M2) group, Male 3 (M3) group, and Male 4 (M4) group. M4 group is the largest body type, and M1 group is the smaller the body type. Participants walked at a speed of 3.5 km/h for five minutes at an incline angle of 0°, 5°, and 10° in the treadmill. Maximum oxygen consumption and hormone (adrenaline and noradrenaline) were measured. In the results, VO2max has significantly increased according to the degree of the treadmill inclination, and M4 group (larger body type) consumed more oxygen than the M1 group (smaller body type). In the hormone, there was a significant increase in adrenaline concentration after walking in all groups, and there was a significant difference in M1-M4, M2-M4 and M3-M4. The noradrenaline concentration significantly increased after treadmill gait in all groups, and there was no significant difference in noradrenaline between groups. This study suggests that the larger body type consumes more oxygen during walking, and treadmill walking contributes to an increase in the concentration of adrenaline and noradrenaline.
The purpose of this study was to identify the effect of upper thoracic mobilization on cervical alignment in stroke patients with forward head posture. The subject's of this study were two stroke patients with forward head posture and a cervical curve angle (four-line Cobb's method; FLCM) less than 40°. The intervention, central posterior-anterior (PA) mobilization, was applied to the T1-T4 vertebrae (upper thoracic spine) following the Maitland concept. This mobilization was applied three times per week for four weeks. In the results, the cervical curve angle (FLCM) increased for both subject 1 and 2. However, Jochumsen method score was decreased in subject 1, while it was increased in subject 2. These results demonstrate that upper thoracic mobilization had the positive effect on the cervical curve angle but not on Jochumsen method score. These findings suggest that PA mobilization on the upper thoracic spine could correct cervical curve angle measured by FLMC in stroke patients with FHP.
The purpose of this study was to identify the immediate effects of Maitland joint mobilization with kinematic taping in subacromial impingement syndrome patients. The Maitland joint mobilization was applied glenohumeral joint. The mobilization was performed at the end of rage to Grade IV. After that, kinematic tape was attached to shoulder joint (supraspinatis, infraspinatis, and trapezius muscles). The intervention period was four days. The measurement was done five times. The shoulder pain, range of motion (flexion, abduction, and rotation of the shoulder joint), muscle tone and stiffness (upper trapezius and deltoid muscle) were measured. The shoulder pain decreased. The range of motion (ROM) was increased all flexion, abduction, and rotation of the shoulder joint. Muscle tone and stiffness were decreased, especially upper trapezius of those was greatly decreased. The findings of present study suggest that Maitland joint mobilization with kinematic taping is effective in decreasing pain, muscle tone and stiffness, and in increasing shoulder ROM in patients with subacromial impingement syndrome.
The purpose of this case study was to investigate the effects of thoracic mobilization and manipulation on a patient with upper thoracic pain. The subject had been complaining of upper thoracic pain for the last 4 months. On the X-ray, T3 and T4 spinous process were located on the left side of the vertical axis. First, transverse mobilization was applied from left to right at the T3-T4 and then thoracic manipulation was performed. The intervention methods of mobilization and manipulation were based on the concept of Maitland manual therapy. The subject underwent a total of 20 sessions (five times per week for four weeks). The thoracic pain and vertebral rotation angle were measured to examine the effect of the intervention. The thoracic pain score decreased (from 4.0 to 1.5) and the angle of thoracic vertebral rotation decreased (from 7.0º to 4.0º). These results suggest that applied mobilization and manipulation in patients with a primary complaint of thoracic pain decreasing the thoracic pain and vertebral rotation angle.
The purpose of this study was to investigate the health conditions of occupation group and hobby group related to visual display terminal (VDT) syndrome. The VDT occupation group was mainly composed of the worker in banks, telephone companies, and general offices. The VDT-related hobby group was composed of high school students, and Internet cafe users. A questionnaire survey was conducted to classify the subjects according to hours of computer usage. The results indicated that the occupation group represented a higher level of subjective symptoms than VDT-related hobby group. In the VDT occupation group, ‘Poor body condition’, ‘Feeling uncomfortable or pain in the neck’‘, Feeling uncomfortable or pain in the back’‘, Feeling stressed out’, and‘ Feeling uncomfortable or pain in the shoulder’ items indicated a high level of subjective symptoms. In the VDT-related hobby group, ‘Feeling uncomfortable or pain in the neck’, and‘ Feeling uncomfortable or pain in the back’ items indicated a high level of subjective symptoms. According to the hours of computer usage, 4-6 hours and 6 hours or more groups represented a higher level of subjective symptoms than 2-4 hours group. These findings suggest that Visual display terminal (VDT) work effects the individual's health conditions.
The purpose of this case study was to identify the effects of posteroanterior (PA) mobilization on the cervical spine in a patient with chronic whiplash-associated disorder (WAD). The subject of this study was a 58-year-old woman who sustained a chronic WAD as a result of a motor vehicle accident two years prior. The subject has progressively worsening neck pain and stiffness. The subject was determined to have a grade Ⅱb WAD the use of the Modified Quebec Classification. The intervention was central and unilateral PA mobilization on the spinous process of C4 and C5. The PA mobilizations were performed at the end of range to Maitland grade Ⅳ. The PA mobilization was conducted once daily for a total of eight days. Two sets of measurements were done one before and one after the intervention. Neck pain, cervical stiffness, range of motion and lordosis of the cervical spine were measured. Experimental intervention decreased the neck pain, and increased the neck stiffness and cervical ROM (range of motion) such as flexion, extension, lateral flexion and rotation. X-ray photographs also represented that cervical curvature increased from 35° to 40°. This study suggested that PA cervical mobilization applied to hronic WAD is effective in decreasing pain, increasing cervical ROM and cervical curvature.
The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of occipital bone stimulation by cervical stabilizing exercise on the muscle tone, stiffness, ROM, and cervical lordosis in patient with forward head posture( FHP). This study was a case study of a single patient with forward head posture. This study used a ABA' design, A and A' were the baseline phases and B was the intervention phase. The intervention was occipital bone stimulation by cervical stabilization exercise. It was administered once daily for 7 days. The therapist kept hands together, and placed the two index fingers under the subject's occipital bone. The subject performed the chin-in exercise with a maximum isometric contraction for 20 sec.The exercise was implemented by performing the movements 10 times as a set and repeating the set three times. The muscle tone was not significantly changed after intervention. However, the stiffness was decreased and lasted the effect lasted without intervention. The cervical flexion angle was increased, but the cervical extension angle was not significantly changed after the intervention. The left and right lateral flexion angles were increased and the effect lasted without any intervention. However, the left and right rotation angles were significantly changed after the intervention. Cervical lordosis increased not from 37° to 41° after the intervention. These results suggest that occipital bone stimulation by cervical stabilizing exercise had a positive effect on cervical stiffness, flexion and lateral flexion ROM, and lordosis in a patient with forward head posture.
The purpose of this study is to verify a correlation between flexi-bar exercise and improvement of trunk strength and body composition in juvenile soccer players. The subjects were 11 teenager juvenile soccer players who conducted flexi-bar exercise half an hour daily three times a week for eight weeks. They were tested for trunk muscles strength, body composition and correlation. The result showed that trunk muscles strength improved significantly( p<.01) and weight, Rt. arm muscle mass, Rt. leg muscle mass, and Lt. leg muscle mass(p<.05), Lt. arm muscle mass, trunk muscle mass, and body muscle mass(p<.01) improved significantly as well while Lt. arm fat mass, Rt. leg fat mass, and Lt. leg fat mass decreased significantly(p<.05). In the correlation analysis, the more trunk muscle mass and trunk muscles strength increased, the more muscle mass of body regions increased, which was a positive correlation whereas fat mass of body regions decreased, which was a negative correlation. It was verified that there was a correlation between flexi-bar exercise and improvement of trunk muscles strength and body composition for juvenile soccer players.
This study aims to identify the effect of home physical therapy on patients who left the hospital after total knee arthroplasty, compared to the Daily living group, when it was applied to them, under the guidance of physical therapists. As research subjects, 20 patients that were scheduled to leave the hospital after unilateral total knee arthroplasty, were chosen, and they were randomly divided into a home physical therapy group(10 patients) and an Daily living group(10 patients) in order to conduct an experiment. During the 4-week research, home physical therapy was offered for 40 mins once for 5 days a week, and muscular strength, gait components were measured. For muscular strength, quadriceps muscle strength, hamstring muscle strength were measured, and as gait components, endurance, speed, step time, single-limb support were analysed. For this experiment, pre- and post-measurement were performed, and collected data were analyzed using SPSS ver. 18.0 statistical program. From the analysis of data, the following study results were obtained. Home physical therapy group and Daily living group both showed significant improvements in quadriceps muscle strength, hamstring muscle strength, and quadriceps muscle strength, hamstring muscle strength of home physical therapy group more significantly improved than Daily living group's. In relation to gait components, gait endurance, gait speed, step time significantly improved in both of home physical therapy group and Daily living group, whereas home physical therapy group only showed significant improvements in single-limp support. According to the comparison between two groups, gait speed, single-limp support and step time improved more significantly in the home physical therapy group than in the Daily living group. In conclusion, positive results were revealed in both home physical therapy group and Daily living group, with regard to muscular recovery of lower limbs of patients discharged from the hospital after total knee arthroplasty and walking, but considering the comparison results between two groups, it seems that applying home physical therapy is more effective than maintaining a daily life.
This study was conducted to investigate the effect of FES and ankle mobilization on the ankle motion and the quality of gait of chronic hemiplegic patients with limited ankle joint motions. As research subjects, 24 chronic hemiplegic patients who could walk independently, regardless of assistive aids, were selected. Then, 8 subjects received mobilization randomly and 8 subjects received FES and 8 subjects received mobilization and FES, at the same time. The dorsiflexion PROM significantly increased in the group of mobilization therapy, mobilization and FES all together(p<.01). There were statistically significant differences among the three groups(p<.01). The 10m walking test significantly decreased in the group of mobilization therapy, mobilization and FES all together(p<.05). There were statistically significant differences among the three groups(p<.01). The gait velocity significantly increased in the group of mobilization therapy, FES therapy, mobilization and FES all together(p<.05). There were statistically significant differences among the three groups(p<.01). The stride length significantly increased in the group of mobilization therapy, mobilization and FES all together(p<.05). There were statistically significant differences among the three groups(p<.05). In conclusion, these findings demonstrate that rather than only using one treatment technique, applying mobilization and FES together brings a more satisfactory result to hemiplegic patients with limited ankle joint motions.
The purpose of this study was to analysis of the effect of proprioceptor training and vestibular organ training for balance ability. The subjects was consist of two different subjects group, proprioceptor training group and vestibular organ training group. Proprioceptor training group consisted of 10 subjects and vestibular organ training group consisted of 10 subjects. Training was performed 3 times per week, 30 minutes per day, for 3 weeks. Balance ability analysis was performed using Romberg's one leg standing test and BT4 when opened eyes and closed eyes. The analysis results were as follows. There was no significant differences in balance after the training in both groups when they opened their eyes(p<.05). But there was significant differences in balance after the training in both groups when they closed their eyes(p<.05). And there was no significant difference in balance after the training between the proprioceptor training group and the vestibular organ training group when they closed their eyes(p<.05). Given the above results, proprioceptor training and vestibular organ training enhanced balance but there was no significant difference between the two methods.
The purpose of this study is to provide the case of influence of myofacial release(MFR) and cryotherapy in acute whiplash injury. The subjects were consisted of 3 adults(2 males, 1 female) who had been diagnosed with whiplash injury. The performance period was 1 weeks, 6 times and 1 time is 40min(MFR: 20min, cryotherapy: 20min). We measured neck pain(Visual analogue scale, VAS) and cervical alignment(cervical curvature & line of gravity). All measurements of each subject were measured at pre-treatment and post-treatment. The results are listed below. The neck pain(VAS) index decreased from 7.54cm to 4.11cm. The cervical curvature increased from 23.62°to 29.76°. The line of gravity decreased from 8.03mm to 3.66mm. Based on the results, it can be suggested that both MFR and cryotherapy can be used to neck pain and alignment in acute whiplash injury.
The fact that flip-flops, one of many different types of unstable shoes, are light and relatively easy to put on, accounts for their popularity among people. But because flip-flops rely heavily on the support of a single thong between your first and second toes, they impose a huge amount of pressure onto lower leg. Thus in the following experiment we tried to examine the different effects of flip-flops and running shoes in terms of their effect on muscle activity and fatigue of tibialis anterior and gastrocnemius during walking. In order to measure an electromyogram we used Free EMG system. 10 men and 10 women in running shoes ran on treadmills for 15 minutes at 4.8km/h, 2 days later the same experiment was carried out, but this time, in flip-flops. p value turned out to be greater than .05 and thus there was no considerable difference between the effects of flip-flops and running shoes on muscle activity and fatigue during walking. Therefore we conclude that despite the fact that flip-flops are considered unstable, their effects on muscle activity and fatigue of tibialis anterior and gastrocnemius are negligible.
The purpose of this study was to examine the influences of chronic shoulder pain on the muscle tone in trunk muscles. The study's subjects were 40 men and women in their 30 to 50s, which were divided into two groups. A chronic shoulder pain group consisted of 20 subjects who had been diagnosed with chronic shoulder pain by doctors, and a painless group consisted of 20 subjects who had experienced no such pain. An analysis was performed using electromyography on the muscle tone in the rectus abdominalis, external oblique, internal oblique, and erector spinae muscles under the same conditions between the two groups. The analysis results were as follows. The chronic shoulder pain group exhibited an overall high level of trunk muscle tone than the painless group, along with a statistically significant difference in the rectus abdominalis(p<.05). Moreover, the chronic shoulder pain group showed differences in the trunk muscle tone depending on the affected side. The chronic left shoulder pain group yielded higher levels of muscle tone in the right-side trunk muscles. In particular, the group revealed statistically significant differences in the rectus abdominalis and internal oblique(p<.05). The chronic right shoulder pain group exhibited higher levels of muscle tone in the left-side trunk muscles with a statistically significant difference in the internal oblique(p<.05). The above results suggested that chronic shoulder pain influences increases in the muscle tone in the trunk muscles on the opposite side to the affected shoulder.
The purpose of this study was to investigate spirometric lung pattern, respiratory function and degree of fatigue by lung function tests and fatigue tests of 39 elderly people in a care facility aged 65 and over. The respiratory function tests were used to the Spirovit SP-1 and fatigue tests were used modified Piper fatigue scale(mPFS). Regarding the respiratory function, the FVC was 1.41±0.36ℓ, the FVC % predicted was 69.10±14.98%, the FEV1 was 1.02±0.31ℓ, the FEV1 % predicted was 63.27±16.05%, the FEV1/FVC was 72.77±13.40%, and the fatigue score was 5.83±1.09. As for the spirometric lung pattern, 19 patients had a restrictive pattern(48.7%), followed by 11 with a mixed pattern(28.2%), 5 with an obstructive pattern( 12.8%), and 4 with a normal pattern(10.3%). Regarding the respiratory function and fatigue by spirometric lung pattern, the FVC and the FVC % predicted of patients with a normal pattern or an obstructive pattern were greater than other groups at a statistically significant level. As for the FEV1, that of patients with a normal pattern was significantly higher than others, and for the FEV1 % predicted, that of patients with a normal pattern or a restrictive pattern was significantly higher(p<.001). Fatigue score by patients with a normal pattern was significantly less than patients of other patterns(p<.001). Therefore, pulmonary physical therapy is considered necessary to improve respiratory function and fatigue degradation of elderly in a facility.
This study was conducted to evaluate the effect of the exercise on elderly balance ability by using hippotherapy and therapeutic ball exercise. 10 patients were assigned to the hippotherapy group and they got with 30 minutes of hippotherapy. Another 10 elderly were assigned to the therapeutic ball group and they got with 30 minutes of therapeutic ball exercise. All procedures were repeated 5 times a week for the total of four weeks. To investigate the participants balancing abilities, the Time“ Up & Go”(TUG) and One Leg Stand Test(OLST) were evaluated. The results of study were significant differences between pre-test and post-test of TUG and OLST(p<.05), and there were no significant differences between hippotherapy and therapeutic ball exercise(p>.05). The conclusion showed that both the hippotherapy and the therapeutic ball exercises were effective on elderly balancing ability. Consequently, it would be better to practice therapeutic ball than hippotherapy for elderly exercise because the more economical and there is less restriction of space than the hippotherapy.
This study was carried out to identify how a self-stretching exercise program affects pain for each body area, pain relief and job satisfaction for care workers. 20 of 40 care workers with musculoskeletal symptom were randomly selected and participated a self-stretching exercise program consisting of 15 motions. The intervention was done five times or more per weeks for 8 weeks and 1 session lasted within 15 minutes. 'Musculoskeletal symptom survey table' of the Korea Occupational Safety and Health Agency(KOSHA) and JDI(Job Descriptive Index) was used for pain on the musculoskeletal symptom and job satisfaction. Survey were done twice before and after the program. The result of this study showed that self-stretching exercise program group(SSPG) relieved from pain significantly in the shoulders(p<.01) and lumbar(p<.05), comparing to the non selfstretching exercise program group(NSPG). Although no significant difference on variations in the JDI appeared in SSPG, the significant reduction appeared from the colleague relationship and organization in NSPG(p<.05). SSPG showed the significant increase on variations in JDI from the job and organization comparing to NSPG. Especially, the improvement on satisfaction for the organization was shown(p<.05). Accordingly, the self-stretching exercise program for care workers can be said to positively affect the overall pain relief and increase on the JDI.