Problem behaviours of kindergartners: The affects of children’s cognitive ability, creativity, and self-esteem

This study investigated the affects of cognitive ability, creativity, and self-esteem on kindergartners’ problem behaviour. Participants were 203 children (mean age = 65.8 months) attending kindergartens in Korea. Data collection used the Korean version of Child Behaviour Checklist, the Kaufman Assessment Battery for Children, the Torrance Test of Creative Thinking, and the Children's Sense of Self-Esteem Inventory. Pearson’s correlations and stepwise multiple regression analysis were used to analyse the data. There were four primary outcomes. First, there were negative correlations between children’s problem behaviour (internalising and externalising problems) and cognitive ability. Second, there was a negative correlation between internalising problems and fluency in creativity. No correlation was found between children’s externalising problems and creativity. Third, there were negative correlations between children’s problem behaviour (internalising and externalising problems) and self-esteem. Fourth, sequential processing, emotional competence, and fluency were revealed to be predictors of children’s internalising problems. Social competency and sequential processing were found to be predictors of children’s externalising problems.Keywords: cognitive ability; creativity; externalising problems; internalising problems; problem behaviour; self-estee

Autoimmune hemolytic anemia predominantly associated with IgA anti-E and anti-c.

A patient with warm autoimmune hemolytic anemia (AIHA) due to predominance of immunoglobulin A (IgA) with an Rh specificity, considered to be the first case in Korea, is described. A 13-year-old male patient with severe hemolytic anemia showed a weak reactivity (1+) in the direct antiglobulin test (DAT) by using anti-IgG antiglobulin reagent. This finding, however, could not fully explain the patient's severe AIHA. When anti-IgA reagent was used for the DAT, strong reactivity (4+) was observed and free anti-E and anti-c autoantibodies were also detected by anti-IgA and anti-IgG reagents. The patient's hemoglobin began to rise with the administration of steroids. Because RBCs coated with multiple types of immunoglobulins are associated with more severe hemolysis than those only with IgG, the DATs using anti-IgA and other reagents are needed for the correct diagnosis when the result of DAT is not compatible with patient's clinical manifestations

Automatic Segmentation of Brachial Artery based on Fuzzy C-Means Pixel Clustering from Ultrasound Images

Automatic extraction of brachial artery and measuring associated indices such as flow-mediated dilatation and Intima-media thickness are important for early detection of cardiovascular disease and other vascular endothelial malfunctions. In this paper, we propose the basic but important component of such decision-assisting medical software development – noise tolerant fully automatic segmentation of brachial artery from ultrasound images. Pixel clustering with Fuzzy C-Means algorithm in the quantization process is the key component of that segmentation with various image processing algorithms involved. This algorithm could be an alternative choice of segmentation process that can replace speckle noise-suffering edge detection procedures in this application domain

Complete genome sequence of functional probiotic candidate Lactobacillus amylovorus CACC736

Lactobacillus amylovorus CACC736 was originated from swine feces in Korea. The complete genome sequences of the strain contained one circular chromosome (2,057,809 base pair [bp]) with 38.2% guanine-cytosine (GC) content and two circular plasmids, namely, pCACC736-1 and pCACC736-2. The predicted protein-coding genes, which are encoding the clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR)-associated proteins, biosynthesis of bacteriocin (helveticin J), and the related proteins of the bile, acid tolerance. Notably, the genes related to vitamin B-group biosynthesis (riboflavin and cobalamin) were also found in L. amylovorus CACC736. Collectively, the complete genome sequence of the L. amylovorus CACC736 will aid in the development of functional probiotics in the animal industry