The Relationship between Changes in GRIT, Taekwondo Ability, and Academic Achievement of University Students Majoring in Science and Engineering and Participating in Taekwondo Class.

GRIT, which was conceptualized by the American psychologist Duckworth, was designed by grouping growth (G), resilience (R), intrinsic motivation (I), and tenacity (T), which means continuing to be patient and put in effort to achieve goals without being frustrated by adversity or failures experienced in the process of striving toward one's goals. The purpose of this study was to determine GRIT changes caused by participation of students majoring in science and engineering in taekwondo class. Effects of taekwondo ability on GRIT and academic achievement were also examined to determine structural relationships among taekwondo ability, GRIT, and academic achievement. We selected a total of 305 students (204 participants and 101 non-participants) as research subjects and conducted a GRIT (preliminary) measurement. After one-year of taekwondo class, we collected and statistically processed the data of GRIT (post) measurement, taekwondo ability, and academic achievement of the participants. Reliability analysis, technical statistics, paired sample t-test, correlation analysis, and path analysis were performed. Changes in the GRIT values of the participants were found to be greater than those of non-participants. It was also found that taekwondo ability, GRIT, and academic achievement had significant correlations with each other. Finally, it was found that the higher the taekwondo ability, the higher the academic achievement and the higher the GRIT. Moreover, the higher the GRIT, the higher the academic achievement. Taekwondo training increased the GRIT values of participants. In addition, the taekwondo ability had positive effects on GRIT and academic achievement. GRIT also had a positive effect on academic achievement. Thus, there were structural relationships among taekwondo ability, GRIT, and academic achievement.

Preparation and properties of collagen/modified hyaluronic acid hydrogel for biomedical application.

Hydrogels composed of collagen and hyaluronic acid are types of crosslinked water-swellable polymers and possess vast potential for applications in the medical industry. Collagen (Co) is the major structural protein of connective tissues such as skin, tendon and cartilage. Hyaluronic acid (HA) is a non-immunogenic, non-adhesive glycosaminoglycan that has a high water absorption property and plays significant roles in several cellular processes. The purpose of this study is to prepare a collagen (Co)-modified hyaluronic acid (MHA) hydrogel and investigate its potential utility for biomedical products such as wound dressing materials. Collagen (Co, type I) was obtained from pig skin and mucopolysaccharide-HA was modified by a poly (ethylene glycol) diglycidyl ether (PEGDGE) crosslinker. Thermal stability, swelling behavior, and mechanical strength of Co-MHA hydrogel according to different mass ratios of Co and MHA in hydrogel networks were investigated. The physical properties of the hydrogel were measured by SEM, Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC), Thermal Gravity Analysis (TGA), and a Universal Testing Machine (UTM). The cell viability of Co-MHA hydrogel was also evaluated using an in vitro MTT assay.

[Liver stiffness measurement for the diagnosis of hepatic fibrosis in patients with chronic viral hepatitis].

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: FibroScan is a new medical device that noninvasively measures liver stiffness. The aim of this study was to assess the accuracy of the liver stiffness measurement by FibroScan for making the diagnosis of liver fibrosis in patients with chronic viral hepatitis. METHODS: We studied 103 patients with chronic viral hepatitis B or C and they underwent FibroScan and liver biopsy between October 2005 and August 2006. Liver fibrosis was staged on a 0-4 scale according to the Korean Society of Pathologists Scoring System. The diagnostic accuracy was assessed by analysis of the receiver operator characteristics (ROC). RESULTS: The liver stiffness was 3.5-57.1 kPa (mean: 11.8, SD: 8.9). The mean value of liver stiffness in each fibrosis stage group (F1, F2, F3 and F4) was 5.8+/-1.8 kPa, 11.3+/-6.8 kPa, 11.8+/-6.0 kPa and 23.4+/-16.5 kPa, respectively. Liver stiffness measured by FibroScan showed reliable correlation with the liver fibrosis stage as confirmed by liver biopsy (r=0.56, p<0.001). The AUROC (95% CI) of > or = F2, > or = F3 and F4 was 0.93 (0.86-0.99), 0.72 (0.62-0.82) and 0.80 (0.67-0.92), respectively. The sensitivity and specificity of 7.5 kPa, which was the cutoff value for > or = F2, was 84% and 90%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: FibroScan is a reliable method for the diagnosis of significant fibrosis (> or =F2) and cirrhosis in patients with chronic liver disease. The liver stiffness measurement by FibroScan showed good diagnostic performance for significant fibrosis.