Background: With the increase of seated work, interest in forward head posture (FHP) has grown. Prolonged computer tasks with FHP have been considered a factor that increases the stiffness and tone of the upper trapezius (UT) muscle. Traditionally, many studies have measured the craniovertebral angle (CVA) in standing positions to assess FHP, making it difficult to determine whether the CVA measured in a habitual working posture correlates with the stiffness and tone of the UT muscle in office workers. Objects: This study aimed to investigate the relationship among CVA, UT muscle stiffness, and tone in both habitual working and standing postures among asymptomatic office workers. Methods: Forty asymptomatic office workers participated in the study. CVA was measured in both habitual working and standing postures. Stiffness and tone of the UT muscle were assessed after a 10-minute computer task. Pearson’s correlation coefficient was used to investigate the relationship between CVA and stiffness and tone of the UT muscle. Results: No significant correlations were found between CVA in standing posture and the stiffness and tone of the UT muscle. However, moderate negative correlations were observed between CVA measured in the habitual working posture and both the stiffness (dominant: r = –0.490, non-dominant r = –0.465) and tone (dominant: r = –0.501, non-dominant r = –0.446) of the UT muscle. Conclusion: This study highlights that decreased CVA in habitual working posture is associated with increased stiffness and tone of the UT muscle in asymptomatic office workers. Therefore, measuring CVA in the habitual working posture should be considered when evaluating stiffness and tone of the UT muscle.

Background: Stroke patients often exhibit excessive kyphosis of the spine and a forward head posture (FHP), which negatively impacts their daily activities. These postural abnormalities not only negatively affect functional movement but also exacerbate musculoskeletal problems. Objectives: This study was conducted to determine the effect of backward walking on FHP in stroke patients. Design: Single-case experimental design (A-B-A’ design). Methods: The study was conducted over a total of 8 weeks, comprising 24 sessions: 3 baseline sessions (A), 18 intervention sessions (B), and 3 regression baseline sessions (A'). No backward walking intervention was performed during baseline (A) and regression baseline (A’). To determine changes in FHP, the craniovertebral angle (CVA) was measured at all sessions. Results: The CVA increased in the intervention (B) and regression baseline (A’) compared to the baseline (A). Conclusion: Backward walking was effective in improving FHP, and the effect was maintained after intervention (B) in patients with stroke. Therefore, backward walking was effective in improving the postural alignment of stroke patients.

Background: With the growing interest in the health of companion dogs, their average lifespan has increased, leading to an increase in the proportion of elderly dogs. As elderly dogs are vulnerable to various diseases, there is a need for alternatives to predict the risk of major diseases in senior dogs, prevent them in advance, and manage their health effectively. Therefore, this study was conducted to identify candidate genes and single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) influencing primary angle-closure glaucoma, a major disease in elderly dogs, using the Axiom Canine HD Array and establishing foundational data. Methods: Samples from 95 dogs of 26 breeds from South Korea were analyzed using an SNP chip. Ultimately, two SNPs were selected. To assess the impact of non-synonymous SNP (nsSNPs), functional analysis of candidate genes, Hazard Assessment, and protein structure prediction were conducted. Sequencing for SNP validation involved samples from 95 dogs of ten breeds with reported domestic and international glaucoma cases. Results: The candidate gene TNS1 was associated with the integrin signaling pathway. The selected nsSNP was found to cause a mutation at the ninth position of the amino acid sequence, changing serine to leucine and resulting in alterations to the overall protein structure. Sequencing analysis results for SNP validation revealed differences in frequency among breeds. Conclusions: The identified SNP markers are potential risk prediction tools. Utilizing genotype frequency data by breed and individual could aid in disease management and contribute to advancements in the medical industry.

The results of the measurements using an optical surface roughness meter are shown according to the angle changes of 0, 0.5, 1, 1.5, 2, and 3°. Through the experiment, it can be seen that the measurement value is 3.140 at 0°, 3.148 at 0.5°, 3.140 at 1°, 3.151 at 1.5°, 5.078 at 2°, and 4.790 at 3° setting. In addition, the test statistic (P) value is 0.000, which is smaller than the significance level of 0.005, so it was confirmed through the experiment that a measurement error occurs according to the angle change when measuring the surface roughness.

친환경적인 전기자동차, 전기 추진 선박, 하이브리드 자동차, 전철 등의 구성 요소 중 기존 파워 디바이스에서 사용 중인 실리 콘(Si)을 실리콘 카바이드(SiC, silicon carbide)로 대체하려는 연구가 진행 중이다. 고품질의 SiC 결정 성장을 시키기 위해 다양한 방법 중 상 부 종자 용액 성장(top seeded solution growth, TSSG)법이 큰 주목을 받고 있다. 그러나 SiC 결정 성장 시, 느린 성장 속도뿐만 아니라 많은 결함을 갖는 문제를 갖고 있다. 그래서 본 연구에서는 SiC 단결정을 성장 시키는 TSSG법의 개선을 위한 기초 연구를 진행하였다. 기존에 많이 사용되는 Si, Si0.6Cr0.4 용융 물질와 탄소 도가니와 관계를 가열 온도에 따른 접촉각과 자연 냉각 후 시료의 단면의 차이점을 통해 비 교 분석하였다. 젖음성 분석 시험 장비를 이용하여 탄소 도가니로 쓰이는 카본판 위에 Si과 Si0.6Cr0.4를 놓고 가열 및 용융 시키며 접촉각의 변화를 측정하였고, 가열 종료 후 자연 냉각된 시료의 단면을 관찰하였다. 결과적으로 1800 ℃에서 Si, Si0.6Cr0.4와 탄소판 간의 접촉각이 10°정도 차이를 나타냈다. 단면 관찰에서는 Si의 경우, 탄소판 안으로 스며든 후 굳은 모습을 확인할 수 있었다. 반면, Si0.6Cr0.4의 경우는 탄 소판 안으로 스며든 범위가 훨씬 더 적게 나타냈다. 본 연구의 결과는 TSSG법을 활용한 SiC 단결정 성장을 위한 연구의 기초 자료로 활용 될 것으로 기대된다.

Background: Core muscles provide important dynamic stabilization of the lumbar spine. The twist sit-up can simultaneously stimulate the external oblique (EO), internal oblique (IO), and transverse abdominis (TrA) muscles. Objectives: The purpose of this study is to investigate the impact of knee angles during twist sit-up exercises and determine the most efficient knee angle for performing this exercise. Design: Cross-sectional study. Methods: The study recruited 30 students from S University regardless of gender. The subjects performed a total of 10 twist sit-ups at five different knee angles (0, 40, 65, 90, and 105 degrees), divided between the ipsilateral and contralateral sides. The thickness of abdominal muscles (EO, IO, and TrA), was measured using ultrasonography on rest position and full contraction position for each angle of knee flexion and compared between angles. Results: There were significant differences in the ipsilateral EO, IO, and TrA muscle thickness at different knee flexion angles (P<0.5). There was a significant difference in the thickness of EO between 0 and 105 degrees and between 40 and 105 degrees (P<0.5), a significant difference in the thickness of IO between 0 and 105 degrees (P<0.5), and a significant difference in the thickness of TrA between 0 and 105 degrees, 40 and 90 degrees, and 65 and 90 degrees (P<0.5). Conclusion: In conclusion, the muscles involved in axial rotation i.e., EO and IO, maximally contract at a knee flexion angle of 105 degrees. Therefore, this may be the most optimal angle to perform twist sit-ups.

Background: Thoracic kyphosis is a condition characterized by an excessive curvature of the thoracic spine, often leading to decreased trunk range of motion and various health complications. Objectives: This study aimed to investigate the effects of a rolling corrector on trunk range of motion (ROM) and thoracic kyphosis angle in individuals with thoracic kyphosis. Design: A randomized controlled trial. Methods: Thirty participants with a thoracic kyphosis angle of 40 degrees or more were randomly assigned to either the rolling corrector group (RCG) or the control group (CG). The RCG used the rolling corrector for 30 minutes per session, five times a week for two weeks, while the CG received no intervention. Trunk ROM and thoracic kyphosis angle were measured before and after the intervention. Results: The RCG showed significant improvements in trunk flexion, extension, lateral flexion, and rotation ROM, as well as in the thoracic kyphosis angle, in within-group comparisons (P<.05). The CG did not exhibit significant changes in any of these variables (P<.05). Significant differences between the RCG and CG were observed in trunk ROM and thoracic kyphosis angle (P<.05). Conclusion: The rolling corrector was effective in improving trunk ROM and reducing the thoracic kyphosis angle in individuals with thoracic kyphosis. These findings suggest that the rolling corrector may be a beneficial intervention for managing thoracic kyphosis.

본 연구는 최근 7년간 Google scholar, ProQuest에서 Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis(AIS), Cobb’s angle, Surgical, Conservative, In tervention을 핵심 키워드로 활용하여 청소년 특발성 척추측만증의 수술 적 중재 방법과 보존적 중재 방법이 Cobb’s angle에 미치는 영향을 조 사하였다. 중재 전ㆍ후 Cobb’s angle 차이를 JAMOVI를 이용하여 메타 회귀분석을 실시하였으며 청소년 특발성 척추측만증 환자에게 Cobb’s an gle 긍정적 변화에 효과적인 중재 방법은 수술적 중재 방법에는 Selectiv e thoracic fusion, Posterior spinal fusion, Anterior spinal fusion 이 있었으며, 보존적 중재 방법에는 Lumbar cheneau brace, Xinmiao treatment system(XTS), Cheneau brace+Schroth best practice(S BP), Core stabilization exercises가 있음을 확인하였다. 이러한 연구 결과를 통하여 청소년 특발성 척추측만증 연구 분야의 방향성 제공에 도 움을 주고 향후 어떠한 중재 방법이 효과적일지 판단할 수 있는 지표개발 을 요구하는 바이다.

Hydraulic turbines can convert tidal current energy into electric energy, and the addition of a deflector cover to the turbine can improve the efficiency of the turbine's energy harvesting. The angle of the inlet section and the angle of the outlet section of the deflector will further affect the final energy-acquisition efficiency.A threedimensional numerical model for turbine flow field analysis is established, and the RNG k-ε turbulence model is selected by CFD method, and the best angles of inlet section and outlet section are analysed by the method of sliding mesh to obtain the best angle of inlet section and outlet section separately, and then three groups of angles are selected near the best angle of inlet section and outlet section to make orthogonal comparisons. The energy acquisition efficiency of the turbine is calculated at different angles of the inlet and outlet sections of the deflector, and the turbine streamline distribution, velocity and pressure maps are analysed with and without the deflector.The study shows that the deflector can play the role of convergence of the downstream flow, which can improve the efficiency of the turbine energy acquisition, and the maximum energy acquisition efficiency is at the inlet angle of 29° and the outlet angle of 40 °, and the maximum energy acquisition efficiency can be improved by about 32 percent.

WAAM(Wire Arc Additive Manufacturing) has gained attention as an innovative technology in small-batch, multi-product production due to its advantages of low production costs, rapid build rates, and design flexibility. However, challenges such as relatively low geometric accuracy, surface finish defects, residual stresses, and distortion due to high heat input persist and require improvement. This study analyzes the influence of deposition path angles on deposition performance in the WAAM process. Experiments were conducted using stainless steel (STS309MoL) wire, known for its excellent heat resistance and corrosion resistance due to its relatively high ferrite content within the austenitic structure. To mitigate residual stresses and distortion caused by high heat input, the CMT(Cold Metal Transfer) process was employed for five layers of deposition. Five different deposition path angles were selected as process variables, and the impact of deposition path angles on deposition performance was evaluated based on experimental results.

In the past, aviation technology developed from wood to alloys to composite materials. Propellers have also evolved from wood to composite materials for modern small aircraft. In this context, research is needed on a three-blade composite propeller based on the Rotax 912 engine, which is widely used in Korea. In this study, the goal is to select the optimal propeller pitch angle by investigating noise changes according to changes in blade angle and engine 4000RPM of three types of three-blade propellers different from each propeller manufacturer. By comparing the noise of the three types of propellers most commonly used in Korea and suggesting the minimum noise blade angle for each propeller, we aim to help aircraft operators select propellers and resolve noise complaints around airfields.

초대형 자동차운반선(LCTC)의 높이는 선저에서 조타실까지 약 44~46m에 이르며, 자동차운반선이 대형화될수록 상부 무게가 하부 무게보다 무거운 중두선의 특징을 가진다. 이 연구는 선회 중 전도한 자동차운반선 골든 레이호(G호)의 최대 외방경사각을 추정하 여 사고 원인 규명과 유사사고 방지에 목적이 있다. 이론식으로 계산된 최대 외방경사각은 GM이 +3.0m 이상 상황에서 7.5°(19kn, 타각 35°), GM이 +1.85m인 상황에서 16.7°였다. 실험에 의한 수정식으로 계산한 최대 외방경사각은 GM이 +3.0m 이상 상황에서 10.5°(19kn, 타각 35°), GM이 +1.85m인 상황에서 23.3°를 보였다. G호는 전도사고 당시 도선사의 지시에 따라 속력 13kn, 우현 타각(10°→20°)을 사용하여 침 로 038°(T)에서 105°(T)로 변침 중이었다. 이 때 최대 외방경사각은 좌현으로 7.8° 내지 10.9°로 추정된다. 평상 시 외방경사각보다 2.2배 높 은 수치이다. 화물선의 최소 GoM은 IS coded에서 +0.15m 이상을 요구하고 있다. 전도된 G호도 +1.72m GoM을 확보하고 있었다. GoM에 대 한 기준 미달이 전도의 원인이 아니라, 선회 중 횡경사 모멘트에 대응할 수 있는 충분한 GoM을 확보하지 않아 전도된 것이다. 이 연구는 중앙해양안전심판원과 USCG의 사고 조사 결과를 뒷받침한다.

본 연구의 목적은 기존의 하드 타입의 관성 센서를 대체할 수 있는 소프트 원단 기반 팔꿈치 굽힘 각 센서를 개발하 고, 이를 이용하여 굽힘 각도를 추정하는 시스템을 개발하는 것이다. 본 연구에서는 비교 선정을 위하여 Bergamo, E-band, Span cushion, Polyester의 서로 다른 역학적 특성을 가진 4종류 원단에 SWCNT (Single-Walled Carbon Nanotubes) 함침을 통해 전도성을 부여한 후 성능 평가를 통하여 하나의 원단을 선정하여 팔꿈치 굽힘 각 센서로 제작 하였다. 성능을 평가하는 지표로 게이지율(Gauge factor), 이력현상(Hysteresis) 및 센싱 범위를 사용하였다. 제작된 센 서를 통해 얻은 데이터는 bending 동작에서의 각도에 대한 센서 출력값의 변화와 extending 동작에서의 각도에 대한 센서 출력값의 변화가 다른 경향을 갖고 있기 때문에 두 가지 동작을 나누는 것을 1-step으로 하였다. 2-step으로, 데이 터의 복잡한 비선형 관계를 처리하고 높은 데이터 정확도를 달성하기 위해 MLP (Multi-Layer Perceptron)를 활용하였 다. 따라서 소프트 텍스타일 굽힘 센서를 제작하였고, MLP를 통해 비선형 관계를 처리하고 각도 추정이 가능해졌다. 본 연구 결과를 기반으로 다양한 스마트 웨어러블 및 헬스케어 분야에서 효과적으로 활용되기를 기대한다.

Background: The forward head posture acts as a factor that can cause various neurovascular and musculoskeletal dysfunctions. But searching for a study on quality of life for patient with forward head posture was challenging. Therefore, this study aims to find the factors that most affect the quality of life in patients with forward head posture. Objectives: The purpose of this study was to investigate the correlations between the cranio-vertebral angle (CVA), neck disability index (NDI), pain, and sternocleidomastoid (SCM) thickness of patients with forward head posture and the quality of life of the patients and to figure out important factors that affect the quality of life of the patients with forward head posture. Design: Cress-sectional study. Methods: To measure the CVA, the angle at which the visible protrusion of C7 and the ear bead were connected was measured, and the neck disorder index was evaluated using the Korean version of NDI. The degree of pain of the subject was measured using a visual-analog scale (VAS). The SCM thickness was measured using an ultrasound imaging device, and the quality of life was evaluated using the Korean version of the World Health Organization quality of life questionnaire (WHOQL-BREF). Results: A significant predictive model showing 88% explanatory power for the dependent variable was confirmed, with an appropriate regression equation being found. The factor that most affected patients' quality of life in the forward head posture was confirmed by the SCM thickness. Conclusion: When applying an intervention to improve a patient's quality of life for patient with forward head posture, an intervention method that improves the SCM thickness should be recommended.

Forward head posture (FHP) is a musculoskeletal disorder that causes neck pain. Several exercise interventions have been used in South Korea to improve craniovertebral angle (CVA) and relieve neck pain. There has been no domestic literature review study over the past 5 years that has investigated trends and effects of exercise intervention methods for CVA with neck pain. This domestic literature review aimed to evaluate the trends and effects of exercise interventions on CVA and neck pain in persons with FHP. A review of domestic literature published in Korean or English language between 2018 and 2022 was performed. Literature search was conducted on Google Scholar and Korea Citation Index by using the following keywords: “exercise,” “exercise therapy,” “exercise program,” “forward head posture,” and “neck pain.” Ten studies were included in this review. All of the studies showed positive improvements after intervention programs that included exercises. Notably, four of these studies demonstrated significant differences in results between the experimental and control groups. Among the 10 studies, nine measured visual analogue scale or numerical rating scale scores and reported significant reductions in pain following interventions, including exercise programs. Five of these studies showed significant differences in results between the experimental and control groups. Furthermore, six studies that used neck disability index exhibited a significant decrease in symptoms after implementing intervention programs that included exercise, and significant differences in results were found between the experimental and control groups. This domestic literature review provides consistent evidence to support the application of various exercise intervention programs to improve CVA and relieve neck pain from FHP. Further studies are warranted to review the effects of various exercise interventions on FHP reported not only in domestic but also in international literature.

With the mandatory implementation of ESC for trucks starting in 2023, domestic truck manufacturers in South Korea are advocating for a relaxation of the maximum safe slope angle to achieve cost savings. However, there is a lack of research on the dynamic safety of trucks based on ESC installation and the relaxation of the maximum safe slope angle. This study evaluates the relationship between static safety factor (SSF) and the maximum safe slope angle, analyzing the dynamic stability of trucks through simulation considering various experimental variables. The results quantitatively demonstrate the impact of relaxing the maximum safe slope angle on dynamic safety and provide recommendations for future safety regulations.