Background: Flexible flatfoot impairs gait and posture by weakening arch support, potentially leading to musculoskeletal dysfunction. Strengthening exercises, such as the short foot exercise (SFE), have shown promise in correcting this condition. Objectives: This study aimed to investigate the effects of SFE with visual feedback on medial arch height and foot function in adults with flexible flatfoot. Design: Experimental research. Methods: Adults diagnosed with flexible flatfoot were randomly assigned to either an experimental or control group. The experimental group performed SFE with visual feedback, whereas the control group performed the same exercises without feedback. Both groups trained three times per week for five weeks. Outcome measures included the Navicular Drop Test (NDT), YBalance Test (YBT), and Tetrax postural analysis. Results: In the NDT, both groups showed significant improvements (P<.05), while in the YBT, only the experimental group showed a significant improvement (P<.05). In contrast, there were no significant changes in the Weight Distribution Index (WDI) and Stability Test (ST) areas of the Tetrax system in either group (P>.05). Conclusion: SFE effectively improved arch height regardless of visual feedback, though only the visual feedback group showed significant improvements in dynamic balance. However, between-group differences were not statistically significant, suggesting that visual feedback provides subtle rather than substantial additional benefits. Further research with larger samples is needed to establish the clinical value of adding visual feedback to SFE protocols.

The objective of this study was to assess the effects of gypsum application on dry matter yield (DMY), mineral content of alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.), and soil properties in reclaimed tidal land in South Korea. The experiment was conducted in Seokmun, located on the west coast of South Korea, which is reclaimed with approximately 70 cm depth of degraded island soil. Treatments consisted of a control with no gypsum application (G0), 2 ton ha-1 (G2), and 4 ton ha-1 (G4) of gypsum application. The first harvest was carried out when the alfalfa reached 10% flowering, and subsequent harvests were conducted at 35-day intervals. Over the three-year experimental periods (2019-2021), the total DMY of G2 treatment was significantly higher than those of G0 and G4 (p<0.05). Although both G2 and G4 gypsum application treatments lowered soil pH, the G4 treatment increased the electrical conductivity (EC) content of the soil. Additionally, gypsum application affected the mineral contents of alfalfa, resulting in reduced concentration of sodium (Na) and Magnesium (Mg). Therefore, this present study suggests that a gypsum application rate of 2 ton ha-1 is optimal for improving alfalfa dry matter yield and mineral balance, as well as enhancing soil chemical properties in reclaimed tidal land in South Korea.

목적 : 안경광학과 학생들의 의사소통 역량과 안경사 윤리강령 인식 간의 상관성을 분석하여, 예비 안경사의 핵 심 직무 역량 강화를 위한 교육 프로그램 개발의 기초 자료로 활용하고자 한다. 방법 : 본 연구에서는 안경광학과 재학생 98명을 대상으로 일반적 특성과 교육 경험 및 필요도는 빈도와 백분율 로 분석하였고, 최근 1년간 봉사 경험과 윤리적 가치 의식은 카이제곱 검정(chi-squared test)을 통해 분석하였 다. 또한, 의사소통 역량과 안경사 윤리강령 간의 상관관계는 Pearson 상관분석을 이용하여 분석하였다. 결과 : 의사소통 교육 경험 여부에 대해 77.55%가 경험이 있다고 응답했으며, 직업윤리 교육 경험 여부는 86.73%가 있다고 응답하였다고 답했다. 또한, 의사소통 역량의 필요성에 대해 81.63%가 필요하다고 응답하였다. 직무 관련 최근 1년간 봉사활동 경험과 윤리적 가치 및 직업의식 간의 연관성을 분석한 결과, 봉사 경험과 '우리 사 회의 근면성을 설명할 수 있다'라는 문항 간에 유의한 상관성(χ2=27.91, p=0.032)이 나타났다. 안경사 윤리강령과 의사소통 역량 간의 상관 분석 결과, '안경사는 품위를 유지하고 봉사 정신을 발휘해야 한다'와 '원활한 의사 표현을 방해하는 요인을 설명할 수 있다' 문항 간에 가장 높은 상관성(r=0.71, p<0.001)을 보였다. 결론 : 본 연구에서, 예비 안경사의 의사소통 역량 강화와 정직성을 바탕으로 한 직업윤리 확립의 필요성이 확 인되었다. 봉사 경험과 윤리적 가치 의식, 그리고 의사소통 역량과 안경사 윤리강령 간에 유의한 상관관계는, 다양 한 계층을 대상으로 한 비교과 프로그램을 체계적으로 구축하고 효과적인 교육 시스템 마련의 필요성을 시사한다.

This study investigated the flowering response of three Korean native Aster species, namely A. hayatae, A. spathulifolius, and A. koraiensis, to varying photoperiods. Three-month-old plants propagated from cuttings were grown under four different photoperiods: 9, 12, 14, and 16 h. Aster hayatae flowered under all conditions, with flowering rates of 92%, 85%, 65%, and 27% under 9-, 12-, 14-, and 16-h photoperiods, respectively. Flowering in A. hayatae was promoted by shorter photoperiods, classifying it as a facultative short-day plant. Aster spathulifolius flowered only under 9- and 12-h photoperiods, with no significant difference between these treatments, suggesting that the species is an obligate short-day plant. However, given the low A. spathulifolius flowering rates of 27% and 13% under 9- and 12-h photoperiods, respectively, further research is required. Aster koraiensis did not flower under any photoperiod, possibly due to vernalization requirements or juvenility. These findings offer valuable insights into the photoperiodic flowering responses of these three Korean native Aster species, enhancing our understanding of their ecological traits and potential horticultural applications.

Fabry disease is an X-linked lysosomal storage disorder caused by GLA mutations, leading to a deficiency in α-Galactosidase A activity and subsequent accumulation of globotriaosylceramide (Gb3). This accumulation contributes to progressive multiorgan dysfunction, with cardiovascular complications, particularly endothelial dysfunction and left ventricular hypertrophy being major drivers of disease morbidity and mortality. Although enzyme replacement therapy is currently the standard treatment, its effectiveness is limited in addressing advanced cardiovascular pathology. To better understand Fabry-associated vascular and cardiac phenotypes, an isogenic human induced pluripotent stem cell (hiPSC) model in which GLA was knocked out was developed using CRISPR/ Cas9. GLA-knockout (GLA-KO) hiPSCs were differentiated into endothelial cells (ECs) and cardiomyocytes (CMs) to evaluate disease-relevant phenotypes in vitro . GLA-KO ECs exhibited normal morphology and differentiation capacity but showed markedly impaired tube formation, high expression of inflammatory genes ICAM1, VCAM1, and SELE, and increased mitochondrial and cytoplasmic reactive oxygen species levels. GLA-KO CMs demonstrated enlarged cell size and nuclear translocation of NFATC4, consistent with hypertrophic remodeling. Together, these findings recapitulate key features of Fabry vasculopathy and cardiomyopathy in a genetically defined, human-derived system. This platform enables direct investigation of Gb3-induced oxidative and inflammatory mechanisms and provides a valuable model for the preclinical evaluation of therapeutic strategies targeting the cardiovascular manifestations of Fabry disease.

목적 : 본 연구는 고등학생들이 학교에서의 장애 학생과 접촉 경험이 장애인에 대한 인식 및 관심에 미치는 영향을 알아보고 또한 시각장애 체험 프로그램의 유익성 평가에 미치는 영향에 대해 조사하고자 한다. 방법 : 비장애 고등학생(176명)을 대상으로 장애인에 대한 인식과 관심, 학교생활에서 접촉 경험 등에 관 한 설문조사를 진행하였으며, 시각장애 체험 장비를 활용하여 체험 프로그램을 진행 후 장애체험 관련 설문을 추가로 실시하였다. 자료 분석을 위하여 IBM SPSS Statistics 21.0을 통한 기술통계분석, 빈도분석, 다중회귀 분석 방법을 활용하였다. 결과 : ‘장애인에 대한 인식 및 관심’과 ‘시각장애 체험 프로그램 유익성 평가’ 와 관련된 세부 항목들에서 전반적으로 긍정적인 인식을 가지고 있는 것으로 확인되었다. 응답자의 학년이 높을수록, 장애 학생과 반에서 함께 생활 경험이 있는 응답자일수록 장애인에 대한 긍정적 인식이 높은 것으로 나타났다. ‘장애인에 대한 인 식’이 긍정적일수록 장애인에 대한 관심이 높은 것을 확인하였다. 응답자의 연령과 학년이 높을수록 시각장애 체험프로그램에 대한 평가가 긍정적으로 확인되었고, 장애 학생과 반에서 함께 생활한 경험이 없는 응답자일 수록 시각장애체험 프로그램에 대한 평가가 긍정적으로 나타났다. 결론 : 비장애 학생들의 장애인에 대한 인식과 관심이 전반적으로 긍정적이였으며 시각장애인과의 접촉 경 험이 적은 학생들에게 시각장애 체험프로그램을 적용 시 장애인에 대한 인식 및 관심을 제고시키는데 도움이 된다.

Delayed wound healing in diabetes is aggravated by chronic inflammation and impaired keratinocyte migration. Although zinc facilitates skin wound healing, its excessive accumulation may induce cytotoxicity. This study explores the synergistic potential of zinc and the GPR39 agonist TC-G-1008 in enhancing diabetic wound repair. In vitro , cotreatment reduced lipopolysaccharide-induced pro-inflammatory cytokine expression and promoted keratinocyte migration. In vivo , a hydrogel incorporating zinc oxide nanoparticles and TC-G-1008 accelerated wound closure in diabetic mice and suppressed interleukin-1β expression. Notably, TC-G-1008 alone enhanced keratinocyte migration under diabetic conditions, highlighting its critical role in modulating inflammation. These findings support a zincsparing therapeutic approach using GPR39 activation to restore wound healing in diabetic settings.