• Journal of Music and Human Behavior
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.19-43
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• 2017

This study aimed to examine the effects of a reciprocal attention intervention on the joint attention behaviors of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) by comparing the music and nonmusic conditions. An alternating treatment design was applied as one of the single subject designs and the reciprocal attention intervention included music and nonmusic conditions implemented alternately within a session. The participants were four children between the ages 4 and 5 years and each participant who participated in 23 intervention sessions that followed the sequence of baseline (3 sessions), treatment (15 sessions), and follow-up (5 sessions). The music condition consisted of structured joint instrument playing, trials for attentional shift, and interactive instrument playing. The nonmusic condition consisted of joint toy play, trials for attentional shift, and turn taking-based play. The occurrence of target behaviors (i. e., joint attention behavior, eye gaze, and joint action) was analyzed across sessions. At pretest and posttest, the Early Social Communication Scale was administered. All participants showed increasing tendency in all target behaviors, but such occurrence was greater in the music condition than in the nonmusic condition. The findings support the use of a reciprocal attention intervention with musical stimuli to effectively improve joint attention in this population.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.173-179
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• 2013

In-utero exposure to valproic acid (VPA) has been known as a potent inducer of autism spectrum disorder (ASD), not only in humans, but also in animals. In addition to the defects in communication and social interaction as well as repetitive behaviors, ASD patients usually suffer from gastrointestinal (GI) problems. However, the exact mechanism underlying these disorders is not known. In this study, we examined the gross GI tract structure and GI motility in a VPA animal model of ASD. On embryonic day 12 (E12), 4 pregnant Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were subcutaneously injected with VPA (400 mg/kg) in the treatment group, and with phosphate buffered saline (PBS) in the control group; the resulting male offspring were analyzed at 4 weeks of age. VPA exposure decreased the thickness of tunica mucosa and tunica muscularis in the stomach and ileum. Other regions such as duodenum, jejunum, and colon did not show a significant difference. In high-resolution microscopic observation, atrophy of the parietal and chief cells in the stomach and absorptive cells in the ileum was observed. In addition, decreased staining of the epithelial cells was observed in the hematoxylin and eosin (H&E)-stained ileum section. Furthermore, decreased motility in GI tract was also observed in rat offspring prenatally exposed to VPA. However, the mechanism underlying GI tract defects in VPA animal model as well as the association between abnormal GI structure and function with ASD is yet to be clearly understood. Nevertheless, the results from the present study suggest that this VPA ASD model undergoes abnormal changes in the GI structure and function, which in turn could provide beneficial clues pertaining to the pathophysiological relevance of GI complications and ASD phenotypes.

• The Journal of Korean Academy of Sensory Integration
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.27-38
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• 2023

Objective : This study aims to verify the validity and reliability of the Korean version of the Sensory Processing and Self-Regulation Checklist (SPSRC) for children with and without autism spectrum disorder. Methods : The Pearson product-moment correlation coefficient was calculated using Short Sensory Profile (SSP) to verify concurrent validity. Construct validity was verified by comparing the sensory processing ability and self-regulation ability of the two groups. Cronbach's α was calculated in the case of internal consistency for reliability verification, and the test-retest reliability was verified through the Pearson correlation coefficient. Results : Based on the verification of the concurrent validity, the Korean version of SPSRC and SSP showed a statistically significant correlation (p < 0.01). The construct validity was found to have a statistically significant difference between the two groups in the area and sub-items of the Korean version of SPSRC (p < 0.001). For the internal consistency, Cronbach's α ranged from 0.700 to 0.975. The test-retest reliability showed that the correlation coefficient ranged from 0.937 to 0.997. Conclusion : The Korean version of SPSRC was confirmed to be an evaluation tool with high validity and reliability. It is expected to be used as an evaluation tool for planning treatment goals in clinical trials and as a meaningful basis for future research.

• The Journal of Korean Academy of Sensory Integration
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.59-73
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• 2023

Objective : To examine changes in participation patterns of children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) in play activities during COVID-19 by reviewing relevant literature. Methods : This scoping review was conducted via five steps. we created a research question and searched for relevant literature published in English through CINAHL, PubMed, ERIC, MEDLINE, Google Scholar and Google search engine. After selecting the literature based on inclusion criteria, data were charted based on 10 items (i.e., author name, journal name, publication year, nation, authors' majors, research method, participant' age and gender as well as quantitative and qualitative results of study). The results were analyzed using descriptive numerical and thematic analyses. Results : After reviewing 437 articles and 152 websites, six articles were included. Theses articles were conducted by experts from various fields and countries. Five themes were highlighted in selected articles: COVID-19 resulted in (1) decreased time of outdoor play, (2) increased play time on screen, (3) increased time spent with family, (4) increased sensory difficulties, and (5) recommendations for services for children with disabilities and during COVID-19. Conclusion : This study suggests telerehabilitation programs about parental behavior strategies in order to solve difficulties in which children with ASD may experience when participating in play activities during disasters. Study results can be used as fundamental evidence to emphasize importance of play activities and to systematize role of occupational therapists and service guidelines for supporting play activities of children with disabilities in disasters.

• Mass Spectrometry Letters
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• v.5 no.2
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• pp.42-48
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• 2014

A specific and sensitive liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry method (LC-ESI-MS/MS) was developed and validated for the simultaneous quantification of porphyrins (coproporphyrin, pentacarboxylporphyrin, hexacarboxylporphyrin, heptacarboxylporphyrin, and uroporphyrin) in human plasma and urine. Acidified plasma samples and urine samples were prepared by using liquid-liquid extraction using ethyl acetate and protein precipitation with acetonitrile, respectively. The separation was achieved onto a Synergi Fusion RP column ($150mm{\times}2.0mm$, $4{\mu}m$) with a gradient elution of mobile phase A (0.1% formic acid in 2 mmol/L ammonium acetate, v/v) and mobile phase B (20% methanol in acetonitrile, v/v) at a flow rate of $450{\mu}L$/min. Porphyrins and the internal standard (IS), coproporphyrin I-$^{15}N_4$, were detected by a tandem mass spectrometer equipped with an electrospray ion source operating in positive ion mode. Multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) transitions of the protonated precursor ions and the related product ions were optimized to increase selectivity and sensitivity. The proposed method was validated by assessing selectivity, linearity, limit of quantification (LOQ), precision, accuracy, recovery, and stability. The calibration curves were obtained in the range of 0.1-100 nmol/L and the LOQs were estimated as 0.1 nmol/L for all porphyrins. Results obtained from the validation study of porphyrins showed good accuracy, precision, recovery, and stability. Finally, the proposed method was successfully applied to clinical studies on the autism spectrum disorder (ASD) diagnosis of 203 Korean children.

• Journal of Digital Convergence
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• v.11 no.11
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• pp.753-766
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• 2013

Even though civilization is developing at a fast rate, human beings and their living environments do not look happy. Given that the civilization comes from the human mind, which is changing in interaction with human body, society, and nature, it is hard to think that the human mind is changing in the desirable direction. This paper described a whole changing paradigm of the human mind and its causes through the cognitive mechanism in the brain from which all the diverse minds are formed. According to the cognitive mechanism, the human mind can change from the first free and peaceful mind through the middle mind to the last obsessive and anguish mind in accordance with the change of one of the factors in the origin of the human mind. Today's unfavorable changes in human beings, society, and the natural environment including the excessive development of civilization are the results of the undesirable changes of the human mind. This paper specified the respective characteristics of the first, middle, and the last mind and discussed where individuals' minds are and where they are going. Lastly, this paper suggested the specific ways to return to the first original mind based on the cognitive mechanism.