Psychometric properties and measurement invariance of the short form of grit scale in Korean adolescents.

This study aimed to identify the factor structure of the Korean version of the Short Grit Scale (Grit-S) and examine its cross-sectional and longitudinal measurement invariance (MI). Data from the Korean Children and Youth Panel Survey 2018 were analyzed, which included two cohorts, comprising 2,327 and 2,325 fourth-year elementary and first-year middle school students, respectively. It was found that the two-factor model fit the data well for the elementary and middle school samples. The results of the cross-sectional MI tests across genders indicated that the full threshold and loading invariance were also supported for the elementary school sample, and the partial threshold and loading invariance were supported for the middle school sample. The analyses of the longitudinal MI revealed that the partial threshold and loading invariance were supported for both samples. The reliability analysis revealed satisfactory McDonald's Omega values for both samples at each time point and moderate stability coefficients over time. Based on these findings, it was concluded that the Korean version of the Grit-S demonstrated satisfactory psychometric properties and exhibited MI across gender and time in Korean adolescents.

Lipid Composition of Latex and Rubber Particles in Hevea brasiliensis and Taraxacum kok-saghyz.

Natural rubber is usually synthesized in the rubber particles present in the latex of rubber-producing plants such as the Pará rubber tree (Hevea brasiliensis) and rubber dandelion (Taraxacum kok-saghyz). Since the detailed lipid compositions of fresh latex and rubber particles of the plants are poorly known, the present study reports detailed compound lipid composition, focusing on phospholipids and galactolipids in the latex and rubber particles of the plants. In the fresh latex and rubber particles of both plants, phospholipids were much more dominant (85-99%) compared to galactolipids. Among the nine classes of phospholipids, phosphatidylcholines (PCs) were most abundant, at ~80%, in both plants. Among PCs, PC (36:4) and PC (34:2) were most abundant in the rubber tree and rubber dandelion, respectively. Two classes of galactolipids, monogalactosyl diacylglycerol and digalactosyl diacylglycerol, were detected as 12% and 1%, respectively, of total compound lipids in rubber tree, whereas their percentages in the rubber dandelion were negligible (< 1%). Overall, the compound lipid composition differed only slightly between the fresh latex and the rubber particles of both rubber plants. These results provide fundamental data on the lipid composition of rubber particles in two rubber-producing plants, which can serve as a basis for artificial rubber particle production in the future.

Heterologous activation of the Hevea PEP16 promoter in the rubber-producing laticiferous tissues of Taraxacum kok-saghyz.

Hevea brasiliensis, the most abundant rubber crop, is used widely for the commercial production of natural rubber. To reduce the risk of a shortage in the supply of natural rubber that may arise from a single major rubber crop, rubber dandelion (Taraxacum kok-saghyz) has been developed as an alternative rubber-producing crop by using a transgenic approach. However, it is necessary to identify a suitable promoter for the transfer of rubber biosynthesis-related genes to the species. In this study, the promoter region of H. brasiliensis PEP16, which was isolated as a potentially important component in rubber biosynthesis, was sequenced and a pPEP16::GUS fusion construct was introduced into T. kok-saghyz. Histological and fluorometric studies using transgenic T. kok-saghyz plants indicated that the HbPEP16 promoter was highly activated in a laticiferous tissue-specific manner under normal growth conditions and that promoter activation was tightly regulated by various hormones and external signals. These findings suggested that the HbPEP16 promoter may be a useful molecular tool for the manipulation of gene expression in the laticiferous tissues of T. kok-saghyz.

Smartphone integrated optoelectrowetting (SiOEW) for on-chip sample processing and microscopic detection of water quality.

With the increasing capabilities and ubiquity of smartphones and their associated digital cameras, this study presents a smartphone integrated optoelectrowetting (SiOEW) device as a simple, portable tool capable of on-chip water sample preparation and microscopic detection of the target cells in water samples, which significantly reduce the detection time and the labor cost required for water quality monitoring. A commercially available smartphone is used as a low-intensity portable light source to perform optoelectrowetting (OEW)-based microfluidic operations such as droplet transportation, merging, mixing, and immobilization on a hydrophobic detection zone. Furthermore, a built-in smartphone camera allows on-chip microscopic detection of water quality with a 45× magnification. We have experimentally demonstrated that the SiOEW platform is able not only to automate the sample processing of marine water including the target algae cells (Amphiprora sp.) and staining reagents fluorescein diacetate (FDA) and 5-chloromethylfluorescein diacetate (CMFDA), but also detect the fluorescence signals emitted from the target cells in water samples and count their populations. Using the smartphone, the collected information (e.g. the location of the water sample collected and the time it was detected, the number of the target cells, etc.) can be rapidly and wirelessly shared with a central host such as an environmental regulation agency for real-time monitoring and further management of water quality.

Appendicitis during Pregnancy: The Clinical Experience of a Secondary Hospital.

PURPOSE: Appendicitis is the most common condition leading to an intra-abdominal operation for a non-obstetric problem in pregnancy. The aim of this study was to examine our experience and to analyze the clinical characteristics and the pregnancy outcomes for appendicitis during pregnancy that was reported in Korea. METHODS: We reported 25 cases of appendicitis during pregnancy that were treated at Good Moonhwa Hospital from January 2004 to March 2010. We also analyzed appendicitis during pregnancy reported in Korea between 1970 and 2008 by a review of journals. RESULTS: The incidence of acute appendicitis during pregnancy was one per 568 deliveries. The mean age was 27.92 years old, the gestational stage at the onset of symptoms was the first trimester in 10 patients (40%), the second trimester in 14 patients (56%), and the third trimester in 1 patient (4%). Among the 25 cases, 21 were treated with an open appendectomy and 4 with laparoscopic appendectomies. The postoperative complications were 2 wound infections and 1 spontaneous abortion. CONCLUSION: Our experience demonstrated that appendectomies on pregnant patients can be successfully performed at secondary hospitals.

Round ligament varicosities mimicking inguinal hernia in pregnancy.

Round ligament varicosities during pregnancy are rare, and can easily be mistaken for an inguinal hernia. On physical examination, round ligament varicosities and groin hernia are difficult to distinguish. The diagnosis of round ligament varicosities can be established on gray-scale and color Doppler sonography. We experienced a case of round ligament varicosities in which a 29-year-old woman presented symptoms at 36 weeks gestation. The patient was diagnosed using Doppler sonography, managed with conservative therapy, and had an uncomplicated vaginal delivery at 40 weeks. The symptoms were resolved completely by two weeks postpartum. We report a case of round ligament varicosities that was diagnosed at 36 weeks of gestation with a review of the literature.

[The effects of psychosocial rehabilitation programs on the levels of self-efficacy for mentally disabled persons].

PURPOSE: This study investigated the effects of psychosocial rehabilitation programs provided by a psychosocial rehabilitation center on the levels of self-efficacy for mentally disabled persons. We followed the study subjects for 2 yr in order to examine whether the psychosocial rehabilitation programs had a positive impact on their levels of self-efficacy. METHODS: There were 18 subjects in the experimental group and they received all the psychosocial rehabilitation services available at the psychosocial rehabilitation center for 2 yr. In the comparison group, there were 17 participants who voluntarily refused to participate in the psychosocial rehabilitation programs. RESULTS: The results indicated that the psychosocial rehabilitation programs were effective in increasing the levels of the self-efficacy total score and specific self-efficacy score. CONCLUSION: The overall study results indicated that psychosocial rehabilitation programs provided by a psychosocial rehabilitation center had a positive impact on increasing the levels of self-efficacy for mentally disabled persons.

Demography, psychosocial factors, and emotional problems of Korean American adolescents.

This study attempted to identify emotional problems and examine the related demographic and psychosocial factors of 340 Korean American adolescents in a major metropolitan area. Results revealed that lower GPA, longer length of residence in the United States, subjects' poor self-esteem, greater severity of conflict with parents, and poor relationships with peers were significant predictors of emotional problems. The findings could be beneficial for social work practitioners and educators in determining the service needs of Korean American adoelscents and designing interventions for their problems.

Ethnicity and treatment outcome variation in schizophrenia: a longitudinal study of community-based psychosocial rehabilitation interventions.

The purpose of this study was to investigate cross-ethnic variations in prospective treatment outcomes over a period of 12 months from community-based psychosocial rehabilitation interventions for people with schizophrenia. Data were pooled from two similar studies of psychosocial rehabilitation for clients with schizophrenia conducted in the same urban settings. The final sample consisted of 226 people diagnosed with a schizophrenia spectrum disorder, consisting of 108 (48%) white subjects, 81 (36%) African American subjects, and 37 (16%) Latino subjects. Main analyses were performed using hierarchical linear modeling. Analyses indicated that both study groups demonstrated statistically significant rehabilitative improvement over a period of 12 months. Although African American subjects had a significantly slower rate of improvement (compared with white subjects) in social functioning, analyses in several other outcome domains generally revealed that all three ethnic groups showed similar change trajectories over time, with no additional ethnic-related differences reaching statistical significance. With the exception of slower social improvement for African Americans, the findings from this study suggest that community-based psychosocial rehabilitation interventions did not result in significantly poorer outcomes for the ethnic minority groups examined. Several important implications are discussed.

The measurement of self-esteem among Korean Americans: a cross-ethnic study.

Studies have indicated that Asians' self-esteem is generally lower than other ethnic groups'. The authors hypothesized that an item response bias would result in lower self-esteem scores for Asians. Specifically, it was hypothesized that positively worded items would be rated lower by Korean Americans but that there would be no difference on negatively worded items across ethnic groups. The hypothesis was tested using 214 individuals diagnosed with schizophrenia who were Korean American, Caucasian, African American, or Latino. Results supported the hypothesis. Korean Americans had significantly lower self-esteem scores than the other 3 groups on all positively worded items but were no different from the other groups on negatively worded items. Additional analyses showed modest support for the cross-cultural construct equivalence of this measure of self-esteem.

Characteristics of Korean-Americans with schizophrenia: a cross-ethnic comparison with African-Americans, Latinos, and Euro-Americans.

The purpose of this study was (1) to identify the demographic and psychosocial characteristics of Korean-Americans with schizophrenia, and (2) to compare the demographic and psychosocial characteristics of Korean-Americans with schizophrenia to African-American, Latino, and Euro-American individuals with schizophrenia. Based on current models of psychosocial functioning in schizophrenia, four dimensions--clinical status, functional status, subjective experience, and community risk--were examined and compared across the ethnic groups. Data on 223 individuals diagnosed with schizophrenia who were Korean-American (n = 40), Euro-American (n = 95), African-American (n = 60), and Latino (n = 28) were gathered in face-to-face interviews. All of the subjects were engaged in outpatient treatment. After controlling for sociodemographic variables, the main findings were as follows: (1) while the Korean-Americans were the least acculturated, their symptom levels and clinical status were highly comparable with those of the other ethnic groups; (2) based on living situation, family contact, social functioning, activities of daily living, and vocational data, the Korean-Americans showed a stronger familial orientation, lower social initiation, and higher affiliative qualities than other groups; (3) the Korean-American sample had comparable levels of self-esteem but reported lower satisfaction with life than the other ethnic groups. Minority status did not confound these findings. It is concluded that the psychosocial profile of the Korean-Americans was strongly influenced by their traditional and collectivistic cultural orientation. At the same time, the lower levels of life satisfaction could indicate that they experience difficulties in adjusting to Western society. Considering the Korean-Americans' strong tendency to maintain a collectivistic cultural orientation, mental health services need to be congruent with their cultural expectations. Interventions should also identify risk factors associated with lower life satisfaction. Several research implications are discussed.