Temperature-dependent reflection−absorption Fourier transform infrared spectra of poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) thin films were measured. From these spectra, two-dimensional (2D) maps of the first derivative of the absorbance with respect to temperature over the space of wavenumber and temperature were constructed. These maps were used to determine the glass transition temperature and to investigate the subtle temperature dependence of the population of trans and gauche conformers in three PMMA thin films with different stereoregularities. The glass transition temperatures determined from the 2D maps for isotactic, syndiotactic, and atactic PMMA thin films were approximately 61, 111, and 106 °C, respectively. Calculations of the fraction of gauche conformation from the conformational energy showed an abrupt increase in the population of the gauche conformer above the glass transition temperature. The temperature dependence of the fraction of gauche conformation was well reflected in our 2D maps. Furthermore, it was found that molecular reorganization of PMMA occurs even below the glass transition temperature.

Abstract. [Purpose] This study was performed to investigate the effect of microcurrent electrical stimulation on the foot blood circulation and the degree of pain experienced by diabetes patients.[Subjects] Twenty nine patients with diabetic neuropathy over the age of 60 were randomly divided into an experimental(16 patients, 67.9 ± 8.0 years) and a control group(13 patients, 70.4 ± 4.4 years).[Methods] Both groups walked on a treadmill at a comfortable pace for 50 min/day, 5 days/week for 4 weeks, and each participant's body weight, body composition, and blood lipid were examined at the baseline and 4 weeks later.[Results] The results show that the foot blood flow rate increment after the intervention was significantly different between the experimental group and the control group, and the VAS was also significantly different.[Conclusion] Based on the results of this study, we consider that microcurrent electric stimulation of the foot may be helpful for preventing the pain and diabetic ulcers by increasing the foot blood circulation in diabetes patients.

Abstract. [Purpose] This study compared the motor development characteristics of preterm and full term infants, for utilization basic material for the mediation of the early physiotherapy of high-risk infants. [Subjects and Methods] The subjects were preterm and full-term infants who were hospitalized at the nursery of Busan M Hospital from March 30th, 2010 to December 31st, 2010. The group of mature infants (male: 8; female: 9; postconceptional age: 39.24 weeks) and premature infants (male: 10; female: 7; postconceptional age: 40 weeks) were measured for movement and posture using the Test of Infant Motor Performance (ver. 5.0) and the assessment was performed at the postconceptional age of 40 weeks (mean age: 39.75 weeks). [Results] In some items of the observed scale and elicited items, the mature group exhibited better motor development than the premature group. Also, in the overall score of the observed scale, the performance of the premature group was below that of the mature group.[Conclusion] Even healthy premature infants with no neurological issues show reduced levels of development compared to mature infants.