This study was designed to examine, applying Rasch analysis based on item response theory, the questionnaires of the Activities-Specific Balance Confidence (ABC) scale for the elderly. The subjects were 99 institutional older adults and clients of social welfare facilities. The subjects (17 men, 72 women) ranged in age from 65 to 94 years (mean age 76.5 yrs). The Winsteps software was used to assess whether the ABC scale fits the Rasch model, to estimate the score and to refine the rating scale. The results are as follows. Twenty-two subjects were excluded as misfit persons. Four items were found to be misfits and the order of difficulty of the remaining 12 items was rearranged. Their balance confidence is indicated by -.64~1.12 logit, and the transformation formula is score=[(logit score+2.76)/(2.76+3.48)]100. The most difficult item was "Walk outside in icy sidewalks" and the easiest item was "Walk around house." In conclusion, the ABC scale for the elderly has been proven reliable and valid. Therefore, it is expected to be used as an effective examination tool for treatment planning and screening for older adults.

This study was designed to examine, using Rasch analysis, the rating scale performance of the Korean version of the Berg Balance Scale (BBS). The subjects were 95 elderly people at community dwelling. Subjects (19 men, 76 women) ranged in age from 65 to 91 years. Rasch analysis was then done by means of the Winsteps program to determine the validity and reliability of the Korean version of the BBS evaluation tools for elderly people. The results were as follows: Twenty-one elderly people were excluded for misfit persons. Three items were found to be misfits and the order of item difficulty of the remaining 11 items was arranged. Elderly people BBS ability is indicated by -.94~7.41 logit, and the transformation formula is score=(logit score+.94)/. This transformation formula can be applied to Korean elderly people for balance ability. In the order of difficulty of evaluation items, the most difficult item was "Standing on one foot" and the easiest item was "Standing to Sitting". In conclusion, the Korean version of BBS evaluation tool for the elderly people has been proved valid and will be useful in clinical practice and research in Korea.

The Gross Motor Function Measure (GMFM) is an internationally widely used outcome measure. The aim of this study was to evaluate the structural properties of the Korean version of GMFM using the Rasch Model, with regard to scoring within rehabilitation centers in Korea. GMFM data for 206 children with cerebral palsy were collected from 11 outpatient rehabilitation facilities by 29 pediatric therapists. The Winsteps software was used to refine the rating scale. This study suggests that the scoring categories of the Korean version of the GMFM should be collapsed from 0 (subject does not initiate task), 1 (subject initiates task), 2 (subject partially completes task), 3 (subject completes task) to 0 (subject does not initiate task), 1 (subject initiates or partially completes task), 2 (subject completes task) for better accuracy in estimating the gross motor function of children with cerebral palsy.

향기와 무늬를 갖추어 난 애호가들의 기호도를 높혀 경쟁 력을 갖춘 품종을 육성하고자 SC-017와 대엽혜란을 교배하 여 2013년 상품성이 높은 한국 춘란 ‘줄리(Julie)’를 개발하였다. 줄리(Julie)는 잎 전체에 황색 복륜무늬가 나타나는 것이 큰 특징이며 시간이 지날수록 선명해진다. 위구경 종단면의 모양은 난형이고 횡단면의 모양은 원형이다. 꽃의 크기는 폭 이 4 cm, 길이가 2.7 cm 정도이다. 잎의 길이는 35 ~ 40 cm 로 모본인 SC-017와 대엽혜란보다 작다. 꽃은 재배시 50% 차광을 해주다가 개화 시기인 5월에는 차광을 높여주는 것이 좋다. 고온시에는 도장의 우려가 있으 며 여름철 곰팡이 병해 방지를 위해 철저한 물관리와 통풍 관 리가 필요하다.

본 연구진은 향기와 무늬를 갖추어 기호도를 높여 수입되 는 동양란과 경쟁력을 갖춘 품종을 육성할 목적으로 중국 춘 란 ‘대부귀’와 한국춘란 SC-005를 교배하여 2012년 신품종 ‘아리울’을 육성하였다. ‘아리울’은 황색 복륜무늬와 향기가 있는 한국 춘란 신품종으로 잎의 폭이 넓고 광택이 있으며, 잎 끝에 약간의 비틀림 이 있다. 잎의 길이는 20 cm ~ 25 cm, 폭은 1.2 cm로 모본과 비슷하였다. 꽃은 옥색이며 크기는 폭이 3 cm, 길이가 2.5 cm이었다.