Making Our Schools More Creative: Korea’s Efforts and Challenges

The Korean government has been interested in developing creativity in education and has attempted to increase the creativity of schools since the mid-1990s. This study aims to critically review the policy efforts of the Korean government for the last twenty years. To achieve this aim, the study analyzes government documents and related department website materials since mid-1990s when creativity emerged as a key agenda in Korean education policy. The results reveal that the government’s endeavors for achieving creativity include increasing flexibility in the national curriculum, developing teachers’ creativity by improving teacher education, and establishing supporting systems such as online information websites and teaching and learning materials. However, these efforts have been inadequate for an authentic transformation of schools. This study recommends that the government should emphasize creativity education through subject matter, support teacher-driven development of teaching materials, define student creativity as an ultimate goal of teacher creativity, and cultivate a co-operative and communicative school culture

Integrative characterization of germ cell-specific genes from mouse spermatocyte UniGene library

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The primary regulator of spermatogenesis, a highly ordered and tightly regulated developmental process, is an intrinsic genetic program involving male germ cell-specific genes.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>We analyzed the mouse spermatocyte UniGene library containing 2155 gene-oriented transcript clusters. We predict that 11% of these genes are testis-specific and systematically identified 24 authentic genes specifically and abundantly expressed in the testis via in <it>silico </it>and <it>in vitro </it>approaches. Northern blot analysis disclosed various transcript characteristics, such as expression level, size and the presence of isoform. Expression analysis revealed developmentally regulated and stage-specific expression patterns in all of the genes. We further analyzed the genes at the protein and cellular levels. Transfection assays performed using GC-2 cells provided information on the cellular characteristics of the gene products. In addition, antibodies were generated against proteins encoded by some of the genes to facilitate their identification and characterization in spermatogenic cells and sperm. Our data suggest that a number of the gene products are implicated in transcriptional regulation, nuclear integrity, sperm structure and motility, and fertilization. In particular, we found for the first time that Mm.333010, predicted to contain a trypsin-like serine protease domain, is a sperm acrosomal protein.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>We identify 24 authentic genes with spermatogenic cell-specific expression, and provide comprehensive information about the genes. Our findings establish a new basis for future investigation into molecular mechanisms underlying male reproduction.</p

Systematic identification and integrative analysis of novel genes expressed specifically or predominantly in mouse epididymis

BACKGROUND: Maturation of spermatozoa, including development of motility and the ability to fertilize the oocyte, occurs during transit through the microenvironment of the epididymis. Comprehensive understanding of sperm maturation requires identification and characterization of unique genes expressed in the epididymis. RESULTS: We systematically identified 32 novel genes with epididymis-specific or -predominant expression in the mouse epididymis UniGene library, containing 1505 gene-oriented transcript clusters, by in silico and in vitro analyses. The Northern blot analysis revealed various characteristics of the genes at the transcript level, such as expression level, size and the presence of isoform. We found that expression of the half of the genes is regulated by androgens. Further expression analyses demonstrated that the novel genes are region-specific and developmentally regulated. Computational analysis showed that 15 of the genes lack human orthologues, suggesting their implication in male reproduction unique to the mouse. A number of the novel genes are putative epididymal protease inhibitors or β-defensins. We also found that six of the genes have secretory activity, indicating that they may interact with sperm and have functional roles in sperm maturation. CONCLUSION: We identified and characterized 32 novel epididymis-specific or -predominant genes by an integrative approach. Our study is unique in the aspect of systematic identification of novel epididymal genes and should be a firm basis for future investigation into molecular mechanisms underlying sperm maturation in the epididymis

Developing indicators of pattern identification in patients with stroke using traditional Korean medicine

Abstract Background The traditional Korean medical diagnoses employ pattern identification (PI), a diagnostic system that entails the comprehensive analysis of symptoms and signs. The PI needs to be standardized due to its ambiguity. Therefore, this study was performed to establish standard indicators of the PI for stroke through the traditional Korean medical literature, expert consensus and a clinical field test. Methods We sorted out stroke patterns with an expert committee organized by the Korean Institute of Oriental Medicine. The expert committee composed a document for a standardized pattern of identification for stroke based on the traditional Korean medical literature, and we evaluated the clinical significance of the document through a field test. Results We established five stroke patterns from the traditional Korean medical literature and extracted 117 indicators required for diagnosis. The indicators were evaluated by a field test and verified by the expert committee. Conclusions This study sought to develop indicators of PI based on the traditional Korean medical literature. This process contributed to the standardization of traditional Korean medical diagnoses.</p

Improvement in survival among HIV-infected individuals in the Republic of Korea: Need for an early HIV diagnosis

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>There is little information describing survival in HIV-infected patients after primary diagnosis in Korea, and changes in survival over time. This study investigated survival times, survival characteristics, and changes in survival after initial HIV diagnosis. Survival was characterized by evaluation of the immune status at primary HIV diagnosis nationwide.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>A total of 5,323 HIV-infected individuals were registered with the government and followed until the end of 2007. Survival following HIV diagnosis was estimated based on epidemiological characteristics. We examined 3,369 individuals with available initial CD4+ T-cell counts within 6 months of HIV diagnosis to estimate survival based on immune status at diagnosis. The association between epidemiological variables and survival times was analyzed with univariate and multivariate Cox's proportional hazards model.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Individuals died during the study period (n = 980), and 45% of the individuals died within 6 months of HIV diagnosis. The median survival following HIV diagnosis was 16.7 years. Survival were longer in women, in younger persons, in individuals diagnosed at blood centers, and in individuals diagnosed later in the study period. Survival were shortest in individuals with CD4+ T-cell counts <200 cells/mm³at HIV diagnosis. These results suggest that early HIV diagnosis in Korea is imperative to increase survival and to promote the quality of life for HIV-infected individuals with governmental support.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The median survival time of HIV-infected individuals following HIV diagnosis was 16.7 years in Korea. The survival was significantly lower in individuals with CD4+ T-cell counts <200 cells/mm³at HIV diagnosis and higher by introduction of drugs and development of therapy.</p

Embedded ECU Emulation Platform for Safe Adaptive Front-Light System Control Algorithm Development

Safety-conscious design and implementation of automotive electronics is now being important in safe driving under severe electromagnetic disturbance. In this paper, we introduce our experience and development framework to develop a safe electronic control unit (ECU) automotive controller algorithm using hardware-in-the-loop (HILS) based on Matlab/Simulink models, which are connected to ECU hardware. We propose a design flow of Matlab/Simulink based on model-based algorithm implementation of ECU controller and chip level ECU function emulation methodology using dSPACE’s MicroAutoBoxTM, which is an off the shelf embedded system for ECU software-hardware emulation. As a case study, we shows that fast design and implementation of the specific ECU hardware, which is integrated with custom-designed its controller algorithm for adaptive front-light system (AFLS) is easily evaluated by using the proposed development framework

Development and Application of Wireless Power Transmission Systems for Wireless ECG Sensors

We investigated the variations in the magnetic field distribution and power transmission efficiency, resulting from changes in the relative positions of the transmitting and receiving coils, for electromagnetic induction-type wireless power transmission using an elliptical receive coil. Results of simulations using a high-frequency structure simulator were compared to actual measurement results. The simulations showed that the transmission efficiency could be maintained relatively stable even if the alignment between the transmitting and receiving coils was changed to some extent. When the centre of the receiving coil was perfectly aligned with the centre of the transmitting coil, the transmission efficiency was in the maximum; however, the degree of decrease in the transmission efficiency was small even if the centre of the receiving coil moved by ±10 mm from the centre of the transmitting coil. Therefore, it is expected that the performance of the wireless power transmission system will not be degraded significantly even if perfect alignment is not maintained. Animal experiments confirmed good ECG signals for the simulation conditions. The results suggested a standardized application method of wireless transmission in the utilization of wireless power for implantable sensors

Synthesis of Acyl Alkenylindium Reagents and Their Application in the Synthesis of (<i>Z</i>)‑α,β-Unsaturated Ketones <i>via</i> Palladium-Catalyzed Cross-Coupling Reaction

A synthetic method for the preparation of acyl alkenylindium reagents was developed involving the hydroindation reaction of allenyl ketones with indium and indium chloride in methanol under mild conditions. Their synthetic applications were demonstrated from Pd-catalyzed cross-coupling reactions with aryl bromides and iodides and alkenyl and aryl triflates for the synthesis of (<i>Z</i>)-α,β-unsaturated ketones

Characterization of a Novel Amylolytic Enzyme Encoded by a Gene from a Soil-Derived Metagenomic Library

It has been estimated that less than 1% of the microorganisms in nature can be cultivated by conventional techniques. Thus, the classical approach of isolating enzymes from pure cultures allows the analysis of only a subset of the total naturally occurring microbiota in environmental samples enriched in microorganisms. To isolate useful microbial enzymes from uncultured soil microorganisms, a metagenome was isolated from soil samples, and a metagenomic library was constructed by using the pUC19 vector. The library was screened for amylase activity, and one clone from among approximately 30,000 recombinant Escherichia coli clones showed amylase activity. Sequencing of the clone revealed a novel amylolytic enzyme expressed from a novel gene. The putative amylase gene (amyM) was overexpressed and purified for characterization. Optimal conditions for the enzyme activity of the AmyM protein were 42°C and pH 9.0; Ca(2+) stabilized the activity. The amylase hydrolyzed soluble starch and cyclodextrins to produce high levels of maltose and hydrolyzed pullulan to panose. The enzyme showed a high transglycosylation activity, making α-(1, 4) linkages exclusively. The hydrolysis and transglycosylation properties of AmyM suggest that it has novel characteristics and can be regarded as an intermediate type of maltogenic amylase, α-amylase, and 4-α-glucanotransferase