This study evaluated and compared the effectiveness on upper motor extremity function between proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation which has been frequently used in clinical practice, and action observation training in terms of improving upper motor extremity function. A study with a single-subject design (A-B-C-A') was conducted with a patient who was diagnosed with left hemiplegia. A repeated-measure analysis was conducted to assess results of the Wolf Motor Function Test (WMFT), Box and Block Test (BBT), and grip and pinch strength test performed daily in the study for 4 weeks. The results of the analysis indicated that the WMFT score, BBT score, grip strength, and pinch strength were improved from 29.60 to 39 (24.10%), from 1.67 to 4.93 each (EA) (66.22%), from 2.06 to 2.66 libras (lbs) (22.61%), and from 1.57 to 1.93 lbs (18.94%), respectively, from the baseline period to treatment period B. The values were improved from 29.60 to 42.20 (29.86%), from 1.67 to 7 EA (76.21%), from 2.06 to 3.47 lbs (40.57%), and from 1.57 to 1.67 lbs (6.12%), respectively, from the baseline period to treatment period C. From treatment period B to treatment period C, the WMFT score, BBT score, and grip strength were improved from 39 to 42.20 (7.58%), from 4.93 to 7 EA (29.56%), and from 2.66 to 3.47 lbs (23.20%), respectively, but pinch strength was decreased from 1.93 to 1.67 lbs (15.83%). In conclusion, proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation and action observation training both have positive effects on upper extremity motor function. However, we suggest that the posttreatment effect of action observation training was better than that of proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation.

목적 : 본 연구는 동작관찰 훈련이 만성 뇌졸중 환자의 목적 있는 활동 과제와 관련된 상지 운동기능에 미치는 영향 을 알아보고자 하였다. 연구방법 : 13명의 만성 뇌졸중 환자를 실험군과 대조군으로 무작위 선정하였다. 실험군은 동영상을 통해 목적 있는 활동 과제의 수행 동작을 관찰한 후 동작을 반복적으로 모방 연습하였고, 대조군은 전통적인 작업치료를 시행 하였다. 훈련은 주 3회, 회당 30분, 3주간 실시하였다. 상지 운동기능 평가는 울프운동기능과 장악력 및 파악력을 시행하였고, 각 군의 전후 차이는 윌콕슨 부호순위 검정(Wilcoxon signed-ranks test)과 두 군 간의 비교는 맨 휘트니 검정(Mann-whitney u test)으로 분석하였다. 결과 : 훈련 후, 대상자의 상지 운동기능은 두 군 간의 유의한 차이를 보였고, 특히 실험군은 훈련 후에 유의한 증진을 보였다. 실험군의 장악력과 외측집기는 훈련 후에 유의한 증진을 보였다. 결론 : 동영상을 통한 동작관찰은 같은 동작을 집중적이고 반복적으로 연습하는 전통적인 작업치료 접근보다 상지 운동기능 회복의 긍정적인 효과를 이끌어 주었다. 따라서 동작관찰 훈련을 작업치료 중재 유형의 한 전략으로 제안하고자 한다.

The aim of this study was to determine the effect of action-observation training on arm function in people with stroke. Fourteen chronic stroke patients participated in action-observation training. Initially, they were asked to watch video that illustrated arm actions used in daily activities; this was followed by repetitive practice of the observed actions for 3 times a week for 3 weeks. Each training session lasted 30 min. All subject participated 12 training session on 9 consecutive training days. For the evaluation of the clinical status of standard functional scales, Wolf motor function test was carried out at before and after the training and at 2 weeks after the training. Friedman test and Wilcoxon signed rank test was used to analyze the results of the clinical test. There was a significant improvement in the upper arm functions after the 3-week action-observation training, as compared to that before training. The improvement was sustained even at two weeks after the training. This result suggest that action observation training has a positive additional impact on recovery of stroke-induced motor dysfunctions through the action observation-action execution matching system, which includes in the mirror neuron system.

Embryoid bodies (EBs) generated from human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) include spontaneously induced endodermal lineage cells (ELCs). Activin-A plays important roles in the endoderm differentiation of hESCs. Despite studies on the generation of ELCs from hESCs with treatment of Actvin-A, it was unclear for localization and pattern of ELCs by Activin-A during differentiation of hESCs. Accordingly in this study, we knew that Actvin-A increased the cystic EBs formation, including the highly enriched AFP (endoderm lineage specific marker)-expressing cells in the surface of cystic EBs. To induce the EBs formation from undifferentiated hESCs, cells were transferred onto petri-dish and cultured in suspension condition without bFGF removed hESC media (EB media) for 3 days. Next to investigate the effect of Activin-A, EBs were subsequently cultured in EB media supplement with 100 ng/ml Activin-A for 3 days. After 5～7 days of Activin-A treatment, cystic EBs began to appear which increased in numbers reaching ～60% of initially formed EBs over 5 days. Endoderm lineage marker, AFP were highly expressed and specifically localized at the surface region of cystic EBs comparison with normal EBs. We next attached the cystic EBs onto gelatin-coated plates and cultured for 5 days. In the results of real-time PCR and immunocytochemistry analysis, AFP-expressing cells migrated and localized at the outgrowth region of attached cystic EBs. To obtain the AFP-expressing cells of the outgrowth region, we manually isolated by using micro- dissection and cultured them. These cells strongly express AFP over 70% of isolated cells post re-plating. Here, we first showed an expression pattern of specifically localized ELCs by Activin-A during differentiation of hESCs. From this observation, we could highly purified ELCs from undifferentiated hESCs. Taken together, our system will provide a novel and efficient option to generate ELCs from hESCs.

This paper considers a problem of optimizing torch paths to cut stock plates nested with open contours. For each contour, one of the two ending points is to be selected as a starting point of cutting with the other being the exit point. A torch path is co

The aim of this study was to determine the effect of action observational physical training (AOPT) on manual dexterity and corticomotor facilitation in stroke patients. Ten hemiparetic patients participated in this study. Each subject was asked to participate the three conditions; base condition (Base), physical training (PT), AOPT. Participants were asked to observe the action in the video that a therapist moved the blocks during the AOPT conditions. Corticomotor facilitation was determined in three conditions by monitoring changes in the amplitude of motor-evoked potentials (MEPs) elicited in hand muscles by transcranial magnetic stimulation. MEP responses were measured from the first dorsal interosseous after participants attended to three conditions. For the manual dexterity, Box and Block test (BBT) was used. The results of present study were summarized as follows: MEPs amplitude significantly tended to be larger than PT and Base condition. The scores of BBT in the AOPT condition were also significantly larger than other conditions. In conclusion, this finding of present study indicates that physical training for observation of an action is beneficial for enhancing a dexterity of paretic arm in stroke patients.

In order to provide the mechanism of nozzle clogging, recovered nozzles for high strength steel grade were examined carefully after continuous casting. The thickness of clogged material in SEN is increased in the following order: from the bottom to the top of the nozzle, upper part of slag line, and the pouring hole. Nozzle clogging material begins to form due the adhesion of metal to nozzle wall, the decarburization, and reduction of oxide in the refractory by Al and Ti in the melt. The reduction of oxide in the refractory by Al and Ti improves the wettability of the melt on the refractory and forms a thin Al-Ti-O layer. Metal containing micro alumina inclusions is solidified on the Al-Ti-O layer, and the solid layer grows due to the heat evolution through the nozzle wall. Thermodynamic calculation has been made for the related reactions. The effect of superheat to the nozzle clogging is discussed on ultra low carbon steel and low carbon steel.

  Most organizations have recently put more emphasis on the improvement in service quality. This phenomenon could come from the recognition that service quality plays an essential role in enhancing organization"s business performance. Hence this paper pre

The aim of the present study was to determine the effect of proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation (PNF) leg patterns on the muscle activation of neck flexors. Twenty healthy subjects participated in this study. Each subject performed bilateral asymmetrical PNF leg patterns against manual resistance under four conditions: through the full range of motion toward the right side, left side, and the end range in the right side, left side. Electromyographic (EMG) data was collected from the sternocleidomastoid (SCM) muscles as neck flexors. The root mean square (RMS) value of the SCM was measured and normalized from maximal EMG activity of the SCM. The data were analyzed using the paired t-test and repeated analysis of variance (ANOV A) was used to compare the statistical significance. The results of this study are summarized as follows: Firstly, the RMS values of SCM were significantly higher in all four PNF leg patterns than in the resting condition (p<.05). Secondly, there was no significant difference in muscle activation according to the direction of PNF leg patterns (p>.05). Thirdly, there was no significant difference in muscle activation according to the point of range of the motion of leg patterns (p>.05). It is suggested that PNF bilateral asymmetrical leg patterns have a considerable effect on muscle activation of the SCM, regardless of the range of motion and direction of PNF bilateral asymmetrical leg patterns.

본 연구는 기존 비닐하우스 아연도 강관을 사용한 하우스 폭 3.6m와 5m 천창개폐형 대립계 포도 비가림하우스에 대한 구조적 안전성을 검토하고, 인장강도 400N·mm-2(SGH400 등) 이상의 파이프를 사용하는 조건에서 하우스 폭 5m인 천창개폐형 대립계 포도 비가림하우스에 대하여 구조적으로 안전한 최적 파이프 규격을 제시하고자 수행하였다. 주기둥 3m×서까래 60cm인 천창개폐형 3.6m 비가림하우스의 경우, 적설심 35cm에서는 구조적으로 안전한 것으로 분석되었으나 측면 및 전후면 풍속 35m·s-1에서는 불안전한 것으로 나타났으며, 동일 주기둥과 서까래 간격을 갖는 천창개폐형 5m 비가림하우스의 경우에는 적설심 35와 풍속 35m·s-1에서 모두 불안전하여 구조보강이 필요한 것으로 분석되었다. 그리고 동일 주기둥과 서까래간격을 가지나 인장강도 400N·mm-2 이상을 갖는 파이프를 사용하는 조건에서 천창개폐형 5m 비가림하우스의 최적 파이프 규격은 지붕높이 1.6m(아치형)와 지붕높이 1.8m(복숭아형)에 대하여 동일하게 두 경우로 규격화 할 수 있었다. 즉, 안전풍속 35m·s-1와 안전적설심 40cm에서 구조적으로 안전한 서까래 규격은 Φ31.8×1.5t@600이었으며, 안전풍속 35m·s-1와ss 안전적설심 35cm에서는 서까래 Φ25.4×1.5t@600인 것으로 분석되었다. 덕면으로부터 곡부보까지의 높이는 안전적설심보다는 안전풍속에 직접적인 영향을 미치는 것으로 분석되었으며, 처마를 높임에 따라 측면풍속에 대해서는 방풍벽파이프(측벽서까래)를, 전후면 풍속에 대해서는 마구리기둥의 규격을 강화하여야 하는 것으로 분석되었다.