• Journal of Korean Biological Nursing Science
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.274-279
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• 2016

Purpose: Adolescents who experienced the alcohol consumption have gradually increased. Adolescence is a critical period of the neural plasticity in the brain. Neural plasticity is mediated by neurotrophins and has an impact on cognitive function. Environmental enrichment ameliorates the cognitive function and increases neurotrophins. Thus, we investigated the neuroprotective effect of environmental enrichment on ethanol induced cognitive impairment in adolescent rats. Methods: The ethanol groups and the controls groups were injected with ethanol (0.5g/kg) and phosphate buffered saline, respectively, through intraperitoneal from 28th day of birth for 11 days. The environmental enrichment groups were provided larger cages containing toys than the standard cage. Passive avoidance test and Y-maze test were performed to evaluate the spatial memory. Results: Environmental enrichment+ethanol group showed higher alterations than the standard environment+ethanol group in Y-maze test (p<.05). In hippocampus, The environmental enrichment+ethanol group showed significantly higher level of the number of c-fos positive celsl and density of tropomyosin receptors kinase B receptor than the standard environment+ethanol group (p<.05). Conclusion: So, we suggested that the environmental enrichment played a role as a prophylaxis for prevention of memory impairment induced by ethanol exposure in adolescence.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.32 no.1
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• pp.1-13
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• 2019

This paper aims to critically analyse and synthesise existing knowledge concerning the use of environmental enrichment and its effect on behavior, physiology and performance of pigs housed in intensive production systems. The objective is also to provide clarity as to what constitutes successful enrichment and recommend when and how enrichment should be used. Environmental enrichment is usually understood as an attempt to improve animal welfare and to a lesser extent, performance. Common enrichment objects used are straw bedding, suspended ropes and wood shavings, toys, rubber tubings, colored plastic keys, table tennis balls, chains and strings. These substrates need to be chewable, deformable, destructible and ingestible. For enrichment to be successful four goals are essential. Firstly, enrichment should increase the number and range of normal behaviors; secondly, it should prevent the phenomenon of anomalous behaviors or reduce their frequency; thirdly, it should increase positive use of the environment such as space and fourthly it should increase the ability of the animals to deal with behavioral and physiological challenges. The performance, behavior and physiology of pigs in enriched environments is similar or in some cases slightly better when compared with barren environments. In studies where there was no improvement, it should be borne in mind that enriching the environment may not always be practical and yield positive results due to factors such as type of enrichment substrates, duration of provision and type of enrichment used. The review also identifies possible areas that still need further research, especially in understanding the role of enrichment, novelty, breed differences and other enrichment alternatives.

• Journal of Korean Biological Nursing Science
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.276-283
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• 2017

Purpose: The aim of this study was to identify the effects of environmental factors on depressive-like behavior and memory function during adolescence. We performed behavior tests in adolescent rats exposed to environmental enrichment, handling, and social deprivation for eight weeks. Methods: Wistar rats were randomly assigned to control, environmental enrichment, handling, and social deprivation groups at the age of four weeks. Results: In the forced swim test, the immobility time in the environmental enrichment group was decreased than that in the control group (p=.038), while the immobility time in the social deprivation group was increased than that in the control group (p=.035), the environmental enrichment group (p<.001), and the handling group (p=.001). In the Morris water maze test, the social deprivation group had an increased latency time than the control group (p=.013) and the environmental enrichment group (p=.001). In the passive avoidance test, the environmental enrichment group had an increased latency time than the control group (p=.005). However, the social deprivation group had reduced latency time than the socially housed groups (control: p=.030; environmental enrichment: p<.001; handling: p<.001). Conclusion: These findings suggest that environmental factors play an important role in emotion and memory function during adolescence.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.131-139
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• 2022

This study aimed to evaluate the effects of four types of environmental enrichment on the improvement of companion dogs' behavioral problems due to separation anxiety. A total of 21 dogs of various breeds were included in the study. Data were collected to investigate the behaviors associated with anxiety in dogs, including vocalization, elimination, escape attempts, and destructiveness. A first stage, in which the dog and owner were together (P0), lasted 15 min, and a second stage, in which the dog and owner were separated (P1), lasted 15 min. After the dog and owner were separated (P1), the third stage (P2), during which the environment was enriched, lasted 20 min, and the fourth stage, following environment enrichment (P3), lasted 15 min. The results of the study indicated that compared to P0, the frequency of problematic behavior was highest during the 15 min following separation from the owner (P1). Following environmental enrichment, the average frequency of problematic behaviors in P2 decreased (P < 0.001) compared to P1. Environmental enrichment can also be used appropriately in the case of companion dogs, including shelter dogs or experimental dogs that use a limited kennel, and is a particularly effective means of improving the quality of life of dogs.

• Korean Journal of Adult Nursing
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.128-138
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• 2005

Purpose: As population of elderly people continues to grow, successful aging has risen to the top of the nursing science agenda. The successful aging includes maintenance of the cognitive and physical functions, as well as emotional well-beings. This study was carried out to evaluate effects of the environmental enrichments on cognition of institutionalized elderly. Method: The population was selected among the elderly aging over 65 residing at two of institutions. A quasi experimental design was used with non-equivalent control group. Study subjects were thirteen for each group. For the experimental group, physical, social and symbolic environmental enrichment program was provided for six weeks. The data were analyzed by repeated measure ANOVA and repeated measure ANCOVA using SPSS Win 11.0. Result: Compared to control group, the experimental group showed a significant difference on DSF(F=3.29, p=.046), and TMTA(F=4.76, p=.013) of cognitive function, and depression (F=5.56, p=.007) of emotional distress after 1 and 12 weeks of environmental enrichment program. Conclusion: Findings indicate that physical, social, and symbolic environmental enrichment was effective to partially prevent from cognitive decline, and to decrease emotional distress of elderly. As a nursing intervention, environmental enrichment program for elderly should be expanded for nursing practice to promote healthy aging and to offer support to the growing population of elderly. Further research should be conducted to evaluate the effect on the community elderly.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.32-40
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• 1996

To investigate the effect of dietary docosahexaenoic acid(DHA) and environmental enrichment on brain fatty acid composition and acetylcholinesterase(AChE) activity, two groups of was fed isocaloric diets containing 10 or 12% dietary lipids for 7 weeks. A third group was fed 10% (w/w) dietary lipids with supplemented 2% DHA-rich fish oil. Each diet group was housed either in a stainless steel cage individually or in a large enriched cage with toys where 7 rats were kept together. The fatty acid composition of plasma and brain was significantly affected by dietary lipid composition but not by environmental enrichment. Fish oil supplementation significanlty decreased plasma levels of monounsaturated fatty acids(MUFA) and increased polyunsaturated fatty acids(PUFA). Fish oil supplemented groups also maintained lower plasma n-6 fatty acids and higher n-3 fatty acids levels than unsupplemented groups. The fish oil supplementation significantly decreased arachidonic acid and increased eicosapentaenic, docosapentaenoic acids, and DHA in brain fatty acid composition. In addition, brain DHA level in supplemented groups tended higher than the unsupplemented. Brain, AChE activity significantly increased by the environmental enrichment but not by the fish oil supplementation. These finding suggest that the 2% fish oil (0.57% DHA & 0.31% EPA, per diet weigth) supplementation is enough to accumulate n-3 fatty acids and to change the n-6 n-3 ratio in brain and environmental enrichment might promote the learning ability.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.33-41
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• 2007

Purpose: To investigate environmental enrichment and nerve stimulation follows in application times with the change of BDNF & Trk-B receptor in the motor cortex and spinal cord. Methods: Experimental groups were divided into the five groups. Group I: normal control group, Group II: experiment control group, Group III: sciatic never electrical stimulation after MCAO, Group IV: application of only environmental enrichment after MCAO, Group V: never electrical stimulation with environmental enrichment after MCAO. Histologic observation and coronal sections were processed individually in goat polyclonal antibody phosphorylated BDNF and rabbit polyclonal antibody Trk-B receptor. Results: In immunohistochemistric response of BDNF and Trk-B, group II were showed that lower response effect at postischemic 1 days, 3 days, and 7 days. Group V were showed that increase response effect at postischemic 3 days, 7 days and 14 days. Specially showed that the most response effect at postischemic 14 days. In neurobehavioral assessment, group V were significantly difference from other groups on between-subject effects. Conclusion: The above results suggest that combined environmental enrichment with peripheral nerve electrical stimulation in focal ischemic brain injury were more improved that the change of BDNF & Trk-B receptor expression than non treatment.

• Animal Bioscience
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• v.34 no.9
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• pp.1544-1551
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• 2021

Objective: The purpose of this study was to investigate growth performance, carcass traits, meat quality and hair follicle development of growing Rex rabbits as affected by different environmental enrichment materials. Methods: A total of one hundred and twenty Rex rabbits were randomly assigned to four groups; reared in conventional cages (not enriched) and in enriched cages with either willow stick (WS), rubber duck, or a can containing beans (CB), for 44 days. Results: The average daily gain of the CB group was the highest and had a significant difference from that of the other groups (p<0.05). The spleen and cecum weight of the CB group was greater than those of the WS and control groups (p<0.05). The redness (Commission Internationale de l'Eclairage a^*) of the meat sample of the control group was lower than those of the enriched cage groups (p<0.05). Moreover, the hue value of the CB group was significantly lower than that of the other groups (p<0.05). The tenderest meat belonged to the CB group. In addition, more secondary (p<0.05) and primary follicles were found in the CB group than in the control group. Conclusion: Environmental enrichment increased the average daily gain and improved some carcass traits, meat quality, and hair follicle density. Among the three environmental enrichment materials, CB could be recommended for rabbit husbandry.

• The Korean Journal of Ecology
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.255-263
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• 1995

Two poplar clones, I-214 (Populus euramericana) and Peace (P. Koreana × P. trichocarpa), were grown for 21 days in growth chambers at different CO₂concentrations (350, 700 and 2,000 μL·L-1). I-214 has stomata responding to environmental conditions in normal ways and Peace has unresponsive stomata to environmental factors including light, ABA, water stress and CO₂. In both plants, elevated CO₂ stmulated the growth of plant parts, especially leaf dry weight. And a CO₂ enrichment of 700 μL·L-1 CO₂ caused increment of net assimilation rate (NAR). The growth responses of these plants to CO₂ enrichment were different especially at high CO₂ condition (2,000 μL·L-1 CO₂). The total dry weight in Peace increased up to 2,000 μL·L-1 CO₂ but not in I-214. A CO₂ enrichment of 2,000 2,000 μL·L-1 CO₂ had little effect on NAR of I-214 but enhanced NAR of Peace. Although it is uncertain whether the different responses to CO₂ enrichment between I-214 and Peace resulted from the different properties of stomatal responses to long-term CO₂ treatment, the decrease in NAR is probably due in part to CO₂-induced stomatal closure in I-214 but not in Peace.

• Women's Health Nursing
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.105-115
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• 2010

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of an environmental enrichment program on barrier, benefit, confidence, and compliance of breast self-examination in women at 3 months after instruction. Methods: Nonequivalent control group pretest-posttest design was conducted among 62 healthy women. Data were collected through the self-reported questionnaires from December 2008 to March 2009. Women were assigned to one of two treatment groups: (a) no-support of environmental enrichment with the instruction control group; (b) the support of environmental enrichment with the instruction experimental group. All women received the same instruction on breast self-examination once a week for two weeks. Data were analyzed with paired t-test, McNemar test and ANCOVAs of controlling for age run using SPSS/WIN 17.0. Results: The experimental group was significantly lower than control group on perceived barrier (F=5.91, p=.02) and higher than control group on compliance of breast self-examination (F=4.57, p=.04) after environmental enrichment program. However the environmental enrichment program did not make significant differences on benefit (F=0.01, p=.91) and confidence (F=0.77, p=.38). Conclusion: Findings suggest that the environmental enrichment should be needed to support women's breast self-examination and expanded for compliance of breast self-examination to promote the secondary prevention of women breast cancer.