• Journal of the Optical Society of Korea
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.98-102
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• 2008

Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) is an important noninvasive medical imaging technique that can reveal subsurface structures of biological tissue. OCT has demonstrated a good correlation with histology in sufficient resolution to identify morphological changes in articular cartilage to differentiate normal through progressive stages of degenerative joint disease. Current OCT systems provide individual cross-sectional images that are representative of the tissue directly under the scanning beam, but they may not fully demonstrate the degree of degeneration occurring within a region of a joint surface. For a full understanding of the nature and degree of cartilage degeneration within a joint, multiple OCT images must be obtained and an overall assessment of the joint surmised from multiple individual images. This study presents frequency domain three-dimensional (3-D) OCT imaging of degenerative joint cartilage extracted from bovine knees. The 3-D OCT imaging of articular cartilage enables the assembly of 126 individual, adjacent, rapid scanned OCT images into a full 3-D image representation of the tissue scanned, or these may be viewed in a progression of successive individual two-dimensional (2-D) OCT images arranged in 3-D orientation. A fiber-based frequency domain OCT system that provides cross-sectional images was used to acquire 126 successive adjacent images for a sample volume of $6{\times}3.2{\times}2.5\;mm^3$. The axial resolution was $8\;{\mu}m$ in air. The 3-D OCT was able to demonstrate surface topography and subsurface disruption of articular cartilage consistent with the gross image as well as with histological cross-sections of the specimen. The 3-D OCT volumetric imaging of articular cartilage provides an enhanced appreciation and better understanding of regional degenerative joint disease than may be realized by individual 2-D OCT sectional images.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.69-76
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• 2010

The purposes of this study were to examine the reliability and validity of Korean translation of Pediatric Evaluation of Disability Inventory (PEDI-K) in school-aged children with cerebral palsy (CP). The PEDI-K, Functional Independence Measure for Children (WeeFIM) and Gross Motor Function Classification System (GMIFCS) were completed in 104 school-aged children with CP by therapists. The internal consistency of the PEDI-K was calculated by Cronbach's alpha (${\alpha}$) for assessing reliability. Concurrent validity was evaluated by correlation with the subsets of WeeFIM. Discriminant validity was assessed by comparing GMFCS levels with tests of the PEDI-K. The results showed that internal consistency was good (Cronbach's ${\alpha}$ ranged from .97~.98). Concurrent validity was demonstrated. The correlation with WeeFIM was high in the Functional Skills (self-care, r=.74~.94; mobility, r=.59~.91; social function, r=.65~.93) and in the Caregiver Assistance (self-care, r=.75~.94; mobility, r=.63~.90; social function, r=.78~.96). Discriminant validity was demonstrated on significant decreases in domain scores with increasing GMFCS levels. Reliability and validity have been demonstrated on the PEDI-K. This study extends usage of PEDI-K in clinical activities and research.

• BMB Reports
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• v.41 no.6
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• pp.455-460
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• 2008

Calcineurin (Cn) is a serine/threonine phosphatase implicated in a wide variety of biological responses. To identify proteins that mediate Cn signaling pathway effects, we used yeast two-hybrid assays to screen for Cn interacting proteins, discovering a protein encoded by the gene, cnp-2 (Y46G5A.10). Utilizing serially deleted forms of Cn as baits, we demonstrated that the catalytic domain of Cn (TAX-6) binds with CNP-2, and this physical interaction was able to be reconstituted in vitro, supporting our yeast two-hybrid results. cnp-2 is a nematode-specific novel gene found in C. elegans as well as its closest relative, C. briggsae. CNP-2 was strongly expressed in the intestine of C. elegans. To study the function of cnp-2, we performed cnp-2 RNAi knock-down and characterized phenotypes associated with Cn mutants. However, no gross defects were revealed in these RNAi experiments. CNP-2 was proven to be a Cn binding protein; however, its role remains to be elucidated.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.63 no.11
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• pp.438-446
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• 2020

Background: Most developmental screening tools in Korea are adopted from foreign tests. To ensure efficient screening of infants and children in Korea, a nationwide screening tool with high reliability and validity is needed. Purpose: This study aimed to independently develop, standardize, and validate the Korean Developmental Screening Test for Infants and Children (K-DST) for screening infants and children for neurodevelopmental disorders in Korea. Methods: The standardization and validation conducted in 2012-2014 of 3,284 subjects (4-71 months of age) resulted in the first edition of the K-DST. The restandardization and revalidation performed in 2015-2016 of 3.06 million attendees of the National Health Screening Program for Infants and Children resulted in the revised K-DST. We analyzed inter-item consistency and test-retest reliability for the reliability analysis. Regarding the validation of K-DST, we examined the construct validity, sensitivity and specificity, receiver operating characteristic curve analysis, and a criterion-related validity analysis. Results: We ultimately selected 8 questions in 6 developmental domains. For most age groups and each domain, internal consistency was 0.73-0.93 and test-retest reliability was 0.77-0.88. The revised K-DST had high discriminatory ability with a sensitivity of 0.833 and specificity of 0.979. The test supported construct validity by distinguishing between normal and neurodevelopmentally delayed groups. The language and cognition domain of the revised K-DST was highly correlated with the K-Bayley Scales of Infant Development-II's Mental Age Quotient (r=0.766, 0.739), while the gross and fine motor domains were highly correlated with Motor Age Quotient (r=0.695, 0.668), respectively. The Verbal Intelligence Quotient of Korean Wechsler Preschool and Primary Scales of Intelligence was highly correlated with the K-DST cognition and language domains (r=0.701, 0.770), as was the performance intelligence quotient with the fine motor domain (r=0.700). Conclusion: The K-DST is reliable and valid, suggesting its good potential as an effective screening tool for infants and children with neurodevelopmental disorders in Korea.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.12 no.12
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• pp.5709-5714
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• 2011

The purpose of this study was to investigate the utility of function classification system in children with cerebral palsy (CP). For this, relationship among the Manual Ability Classification System (MACS), the Gross Motor Function Classification System (GMFCS), and the functional status (WeeFIM) in children with cerebral palsy form September 2008 to August 2010. The participants was 217 children with CP in this study. The 217 children were evaluated by using the MACS for their hand function and by using the GMFCS for their motor function. The functional status were assessed by using the Functional Independence Measure of Children (WeeFIM). The GMFCS have a significant correlation with total score and domains of WeeFIM (p<.05) There were a significant correlation with total score and domains of WeeFIM (p<.05) except no significancy with communication domain in dyskinesia type. The highest number of participants were in level 1 (20.3) and level 5 (40.6%) for GMFCS. For MACS, the highest number of participants were level 2 (48.8%) and level 5 (16.6%). The function classification of GMFCS and MACS in practice will provide usefulness for assessment of function in children with CP.

• The Journal of the Society of Korean Medicine Diagnostics
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.42-62
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• 2008

Objectives: It is well known that some parameters of the photoplethysmogram (PPG) acquired by time domain contour analysis can be used as markers of vascular aging. But the previous studies that have been performed for frequency domain analysis of the PPG to date have provided only restrictive and fragmentary information. The aim of the present investigation was to determine whether the harmonics extracted from the PPG using a fast Fourier transformation could be used as an index of vascular aging. Methods: The PPG was measured in 600 recruited subjects for 30 second durations, To grasp the gross age-related change of the PPG waveform, we grouped subjects according to gender and age and averaged the PPG signal of one pulse cycle. To calculate the conventional indices of vascular aging, we selected the 5-6 cycles of pulse that the baseline was relatively stable and then acquired the coordinates of the inflection points. For the frequency domain analysis we performed a power spectral analysis on the PPG signals for 30 seconds using a fast Fourier transformation and dissociated the harmonic components from the PPG signals. Results: A final number of 390 subjects (174 males and 216 females) were included in the statistical analysis. The normalized power of the harmonics decreased with age and on a logarithmic scale reduction of the normalized power in the third (r=-0.492, P<0.0001), fourth (r=-0.621, P<0.0001) and fifth harmonic (r=-0.487, P<0.0001) was prominent. From a multiple linear regression analysis, Stiffness index, reflection index and corrected up-stroke time influenced the normalized power of the harmonics on a logarithmic scale. Conclusions: The normalized harmonic power decreased with age in healthy subjects and may be less error prone due to the essential attributes of frequency domain analysis. Therefore, we expect that the normalized harmonic power density can be useful as a vascular aging marker.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.566-571
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• 2008

Calcineurin (Cn) is a calcium/calmodulin-dependent serine/threonine protein phosphatase that has diverse functions in different cell types and organisms. We screened proteins interacting with the C. elegans CnA homolog, TAX-6, by the yeast two-hybrid system. CNP-3 (Calcineurin interacting protein-3) is a novel protein that physically interacts with the catalytic domain of TAX-6. It is strongly expressed in the nuclei of intestine, hypodermis, dorsal uterine regions and spermatheca. Expression begins around the 60-cell stage and proceeds during all larval stages and the adult. To elucidate the biological function of cnp-3 we isolated a cnp-3 deletion mutant. Since CNP-3 binds CnA, we looked at factors associated with calcineurin loss-of-function mutants, such as brood size, body size, serotonin- and levamisole-mediated egg-laying behavior. The cnp-3(jh145) single mutant had no gross defects compared to wild-type animal. However, the phenotypes of the double mutants, tax-6(p675);cnp-3(jh145) and cnb-1(jh103);cnp-3(jh145), were more severe in terms of brood size, body size and serotonin-mediated egg-laying defects than tax-6(p675) and cnb-1(jh103), respectively. These results suggest that dysfunction of cnp-3 enhances certain calcineurin loss-of-function phenotypes in C. elegans.

• Physical Therapy Rehabilitation Science
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.26-32
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• 2017

Objective: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the relationship between quality of life (QoL) of the caregiver and disease severity with motor function in children with cerebral palsy (CP). Design: Cross-sectional study. Methods: Research data were collected in the Rehabilitation Clinic of Daegu University. The Gross Motor Function Measure (GMFM-88) and the functional independence measure (FIM) were used for assessment by three occupational therapists, and the 36-item short form health survey (SF-36) were applied to the caregivers. One hundred six caregivers of under 18 years who were diagnosed with CP completed a survey and interview. The caregivers' QoL was evaluated using Medical Outcomes Study SF-36. The children's motor function was scored using GMFM-88 in five dimensions: lying and rolling; sitting; crawling and kneeling; standing and walking, running and jumping and CP's FIM scores. Results: Out of the 8 domains of the Medical Outcomes Study SF-36, the "physical functioning", "physical role functioning", "mental health", and "bodily pain" domains were significantly correlated to "total" percentage scores of the GMFM-88 (p<0.05). In addition, the "mental health" domain was correlated to each subdomain of the GMFM-88, which includes, "lying and rolling", and "crawling and kneeling". Similarly, of Medical Outcomes Study SF-36, "physical functioning", "bodily pain", and "mental health" domains were significantly correlated with "transfer" and "locomotion" of FIM scores (p<0.05). Conclusions: This study showed that the QoL of the caregivers were well correlated with the motor function of children with CP. It is also important to support not only physical health but also psychological health of caregivers of children with CP, especially those with severe motor function.

• Journal of the Korean Geotechnical Society
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• v.23 no.12
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• pp.117-124
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• 2007

This study investigates the effect of spatial averaging and compliance taken account of in the analysis of earthquake-induced permanent deformation of slopes. At present, the rigid block analysis originally proposed by Newmark is widely used in the deformation analysis, mainly because of its computational efficiency. This type of approach, however, adopts the so-called decoupled approach, in which seismic response and deformation analyses are carried out separately. Original Newmark block analysis assumes the potential sliding mass to be noncompliant, and has been criticized to be potentially unconservative. This paper reviews the impact of the noncompliance assumption of the potential sliding mass in the Newmark-type analysis. The gross effects of earthquake shaking on the potential sliding mass are estimated by spatial averaging method and analyzed in frequency domain. The results indicate that there is a simple criterion that can be used to determine the level of compliance of the potential sliding mass.

• The Journal of the Acoustical Society of Korea
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.69-75
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• 2010

In this paper, the pitch is detected after the elimination of formant ingredients by flattening the spectrum in frequency domain. In order to remove impact of formant and transition frequency in the signal spectrum, formant envelop is made by linear interpolation with any points each sub-band and the spectrum of speech signal is compensated by the reverse of the envelop interpolated linearly after we divide frequency band into several segment based on LSP and detect the points. The experimental result showed the proposed method appeared an outstanding performance in compared with LPC, Cepstrum, Lifter methods. The method reduced the gross error rate 1.30% than the LPC method which appeared a good performance except the proposed method. Also, the proposed method showed low error rate in noise environment.