Given the significant social and economic impact caused by heat waves, there is a pressing need to predict them with high accuracy and reliability. In this study, we analyzed the real-time forecast data from six models constituting the Subseasonal-to-Seasonal (S2S) prediction project, to elucidate the key mechanisms contributing to the prediction of the recent record-breaking Korean heat wave event in 2018. Weekly anomalies were first obtained by subtracting the 2017- 2020 mean values for both S2S model simulations and observations. By comparing four Korean heat-wave-related indices from S2S models to the observed data, we aimed to identify key climate processes affecting prediction accuracy. The results showed that superior performance at predicting the 2018 Korean heat wave was achieved when the model showed better prediction performance for the anomalous anticyclonic activity in the upper troposphere of Eastern Europe and the cyclonic circulation over the Western North Pacific (WNP) region compared to the observed data. Furthermore, the development of upper-tropospheric anticyclones in Eastern Europe was closely related to global warming and the occurrence of La Niña events. The anomalous cyclonic flow in the WNP region coincided with enhancements in Madden- Julian oscillation phases 4-6. Our results indicate that, for the accurate prediction of heat waves, such as the 2018 Korean heat wave, it is imperative for the S2S models to realistically reproduce the variabilities over the Eastern Europe and WNP regions.

Background: To restore the trunk function of stroke patients who tend to experience trunk weakness, a single exercise intervention is usually applied. However, problems with the trunk remain even after such an intervention. To overcome this challenge, combining other intervention methods with an exercise is suggested during training. Objectives: To investigate the effect of breathing based abdominal draw-in technique on the thickness of the transversus abdominis muscle and trunk control in stroke patients. Design: Randomized controlled study. Methods: After designating a group that will perform the abdominal draw-in technique as Experimental Group I and another group that will perform the breathing based abdominal draw-in technique as Experimental Group II, the thickness of the transversus abdominis muscle and the trunk impairment scale (TIS) of the subjects were measured as pre-tests before the interventions and as post-tests after the six week intervention period. Results: In the within group comparison, there was a significant change in the thickness of the transversus abdominis muscle for both groups while the subjects performed the abdominal draw-in technique; a significant change was also noted in their TIS (P<.05) (P<.01). However, in the inter-group comparison, a significant difference was found only in the TIS between the two groups (P<.05). Conclusion: After the application of the breathing based abdominal draw-in technique, an efficient contractile response was observed even in the muscles around the abdomen of the subjects, which indicates that this technique is an intervention method that can more effectively improve trunk control.

The vomeronasal organ (VNO) is critical for reproduction and social behavior in ruminants, including cattle. The present study examined the structure of the VNO and its epithelial cells in neonatal and adult Korean native cattle (Hanwoo), Bos taurus coreanae , using immunohistochemistry and lectin histochemistry. Histologically, the VNO comprised two types of epithelia: medial vomeronasal sensory (VSE) and lateral vomeronasal non-sensory epithelia (VNSE). Numerous blood vessels and nerve bundles were observed within the vomeronasal cartilage encased lamina propria. Immunohistochemistry revealed high expression level of protein gene product9.5 and moderate expression level of olfactory marker protein in the neuroreceptor cells of the VSE and occasionally in some ciliated cells of the VNSE in both neonates and adults. The properties of the glycoconjugates in the VNO were investigated using 21 lectins, most of which were expressed at varied intensities in the VSE and VNSE, as well as in the lamina propria. Several lectins exhibited variations in their intensities and localization between neonatal and adult VNOs. This study is the first descriptive lectin histochemical examination of the VNO of Korean native cattle with a focus on lectin histochemistry, confirming that the VNO of Korean native cattle is differentiated during postnatal development.

기능성 게임은 현재 치료, 의학 관련 검사, 인지발달, 특수훈련 및 교육콘텐츠로서 많은 분야에 적용되고 있 다. 아동을 위해서도 주의, 작업기억, 공간인지 및 협응 능력 등 다양한 인지 및 인지 신경검사와 이런 인지 기능들의 증진을 위해 개발되고 있다. 하지만 놀이의 중요한 기능 중 정서적인 부분이 차지하는 것에 비해 기능성 게임이 보여준 역할은 매우 부족하며 아직 기초적 연구 단계에 머물러 있다. 컴퓨터 게임을 통한 정 서적 상호작용의 학습에 대한 연구와 도전이 시급하다. 본 연구에서는 아동의 정서 지능 측정을 위한 기능성 게임 개발을 목표에 두고 정서지능의 요소 중 하나인 타인의 정서 인식능력을 측정하는 게임을 개발하고자 하였다. 정서적 지능의 기초 요소인 정서인식이 기능성 게임으로 측정되고 나아가 향상될 수 있다면 아동의 정서지능을 위한 기능성 게임에 대한 새로운 가능성들을 여는 계기가 될 것이다. 실험 결과 개발된 정서지능 측정용 기능성 게임의 점수는 정서지능의 하위 요소인 정서인식, 감정이입, 정서활용과 통계적으로 유의미한 정적 상관관계를 나타내었으며, 인지적 처리와 비교적 관련이 많은 사고촉진과 정서통제 요인과는 상관을 보 이지 않았다. 이는 얼굴의 표정을 이용하여 긍정적인 자극에 대한 초등학생들의 정서적 반응을 이끌어내고 이를 게임의 점수로 환산하는 것으로서의 가능성을 잘 보여준다고 볼 수 있다.