• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.49 no.5
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• pp.323-328
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• 2016

Objectives: A clean India is the responsibility of all Indians. One of the objectives of the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan (Clean India Initiative) is to bring about behavioural changes regarding healthy sanitation practices. While large-scale programs in India have increased latrine coverage, they have to some extent failed to bring behavioural changes ensuring optimal latrine use, including the safe disposal of child faeces, which is a significant source of exposure to faecal pathogens. Hence, this study was done to explore child faeces disposal practices in rural West Bengal and to elicit the determinants of unhygienic faeces disposal. Methods: Data collection was done using an interview method among the mothers of 502 under-5 children, following a pre-designed, semi-structured schedule during house-to-house visits in a set of villages in the Hooghly district of West Bengal. Results: The prevalence of unsafe disposal of child faeces was 72.4%, and maternal education, per capita income, and water source were found to be significantly associated with unsafe child faeces disposal. Conclusions: This study draws attention to the unsafe disposal of child faeces in this area of India and raises questions about the efficiency of sanitation campaigns in rural India that focus on expanding coverage rather than emphasizing behavioural changes, which are crucial to ensure the safe disposal of child faeces. Thus, it is urgently necessary to strengthen efforts focusing on behavioural changes regarding the safe disposal of child faeces in order to minimise adverse health outcomes.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.33 no.2
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• pp.119-124
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• 2017

Hexavalent chromium is a bio accumulative toxic metal in water and fish. It enters aquaculture ponds mainly through anthropogenic sources. Hexavalent chromium concentrations and its effects on the morphology and behavior of Clarias gariepinus were investigated from four aquaculture ponds for 12 weeks. Chromium was measured using diphenyl carbohdrazide method; alkalinity and hardness were measured using colometric method and analyzed with Bench Photometer. Temperature and pH were measured using pH/EC/TDS/Temp combined tester. Temporal and spatial replications of samples were done with triplicates morphological and behavioural effects of the metal on fish were observed visually. Chromium ranged from no detection to 0.05 mg/L, alkalinity 105 to 245 mg/L, hardness 80 to 165 mg/L, pH 6.35 to 8.03 and temperature 29.1 to $35.9^{\circ}C$. Trend in the chromium concentrations in the ponds is natural > earthen > concrete > collapsible. There was a significant difference (P < 0.05) in chromium, alkalinity, water hardness, pH and temperature among the four ponds. Significant positive correlation also existed between alkalinity, water hardness, pH, with chromium. Morphological and behavioural changes observed in the fish include irregular swimming, frequent coming to the surface, dark body colouration, mucous secretion on the body, erosion of gill epithelium, fin disintegration, abdominal distension and lethargy. High chromium concentration in natural pond was due to anthropogenic run-off of materials in to the pond. Acidic pH, low alkalinity, low water hardness also contributed to the high chromium concentration. Morphological and behavioural changes observed were attributed to the high concentrations, toxicity and bio accumulative effect of the metal. Toxicity of chromium to fish in aquaculture could threaten food security. Watershed best management practices and remediation could be adopted to reduce the effects of toxicity of chromium on pond water quality, fish flesh quality and fish welfare.

• Journal of Biomedical Engineering Research
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• v.32 no.1
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• pp.74-78
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• 2011

Although recent studies have shown the usibility of [F-18]FDG small animal Positron Emission Tommography (PET) as a functional neuroimaging technique in behavioural small animal study, researches showing the detection power of functional changes in the brain are still limited. Thus, in the study, we performed [F-18]FDG small animal PET neuroimaging in the well-established fear behavioural experiment. Twelve rats were exposed on cat for 30 minutes after the [F-18]FDG injection. As a result, the brain activity in bilateral amygdala areas significantly increased in the fear condition. In addition, the fear condition evoked the functional activities of hypothalamus, which seemed to be related to the response to stress. These clear localization of fear related brain regions may reflect that a functional neuroimaging technique using [F-18]FDG small animal PET has functional detectibility enough to be applied in small animal behavioral research.

• Annals of Clinical Neurophysiology
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.101-112
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• 2017

Detection of underling proteinopathies is becoming increasingly important across neurodegenerative conditions due to upcoming disease intervention trials. In this review, we explored how temporal lobe changes in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and frontotemporal dementia (FTD) can potentially predict underlying TDP-43 pathology subtypes in FTD. To date, emphasis has been given to frontal lobe changes in the study of the cognitive and behavioural impairments in both syndromes but an increasing number of pathological, imaging and neuropsychological studies suggest how temporal lobe changes could critically affect the cognition and behaviour of these conditions. In this current article, we reviewed pathological, imaging as well as clinical/neuropsychological findings of temporal involvement in the ALS-FTD continuum, how they relate to temporal lobe changes and the underlying TDP-43 pathology in FTD. Findings across studies show that TDP-43 pathology occurs and coincides in many structures in ALS and FTD, but especially in the temporal lobes. In particular, anterior and medial temporal lobes atrophy is consistently found in ALS and FTD. In addition, memory and language impairment as well as emotional and Theory of Mind processing deficits that are characteristics of the two diseases are highly correlated to temporal lobe dysfunction. We conclude by showing that temporal lobe changes due to TDP-43 type B might be particular predictive of TDP-43 type B pathology in behavioural variant FTD, which clearly needs to be investigated further in the future.

• Journal of Korean Society on Water Environment
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.36-43
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• 2008

To develop the continuous water quality monitoring system using the daphnid Daphnia sp., the growth of test animal, sensitivity, and behaviour response of toxicants were observed. Growth of test animal significantly increased with increasing the food density under the 90~105 mg/L ($CaCO_3$) hardness, except the concentration of food (Chrollela sp.) was exceeded than optimal food supply. Behaviour responses of test animals were continuously analyzed by changes of fractal dimension value (FDV). The FDV sharply decreased after exposure to the concentrations of 0.13 mg/L copper, 0.06 mg/L lead, and 0.38 mg/L cadmium. In these concentrations, mortality and abnormal behaviour of daphnids exhibited within ca. 1.0-h after exposure. Comparison of 24-h $LC_{50}$ values with other zooplankton species indicated that sensitivity of the Daphnia sp. was higher than most zooplankton for lead, and brain shrimp, rotifer, and water flea (Ceriodaphnia dubia, D. magna) for copper, and brain shrimp, water flea (D. lumholzi), and amphipod for cadmium. Based on the above experimental results, significant relationship between toxicity and behaviour response of Daphnia sp. was supported the high potential of water quality monitoring system. Consequently, behavioural monitoring method in this study suggests a good estimation tool for detection of the discharged toxicants in water body and for ecotoxicological assessment aquatic organisms.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.32 no.7
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• pp.1062-1068
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• 2019

Objective: For many generations, most species of farm animals have been subjected to intense and strictly targeted selection for improvement of their performance traits. This has led to substantial changes in animal anatomy and physiology, which resulted in considerable differences between the current animal breeds and their wild ancestors. The aim of the study was to determine whether there is breed-specific variability in behaviour as well as differences in emotional reactivity and preferences of laying hens. Methods: The investigations involved 50 Green-legged Partridge, 50 Polbar, and 50 Leghorn hens. All birds were kept in the same conditions, and the behavioural tests were carried out at 30 weeks of age. We used the tonic immobility test and a modified open-field test including such objects as water, commercial feed, feed enriched with cereal grains, finely cut straw, and insect larvae, a sandpit, a mirror, and a shelter imitating a hen nest. Results: The research results demonstrate that the birds of the analysed breeds differ not only in the excitability and emotional reactivity but, importantly, also in the preferences for environment-enriching elements. Ensuring hens' well-being should therefore be based on environmental modifications that will facilitate acquisition of essential elements of chickens' behaviour. The greatest emotional reactivity was found in the Leghorn breed, which may be a result of correlated selection aimed at an increase in chicken productivity. Conclusion: The differences in the behaviour of the birds from the analysed breeds indicate that laying hens cannot be regarded as one group of animals with the same environmental requirements.

• Korean Journal of Animal Reproduction
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• v.16 no.4
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• pp.353-361
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• 1993

This study was taken to examine external changes, behavioral changes, and endocrine changes such as estradiol-17$\beta$, progesterone, T4 and T3 of female Oreochromis niloticus living in 0$\textperthousand$, 10$\textperthousand$, 20$\textperthousand$, and 30$\textperthousand$ salt concentrations, respectively. The results obtained in these experiments were summarized as follows. In seawater obtained in these experiments were summarized as follows. In seawater challenge test, any fish didn't die in each group such as 10$\textperthousand$, 20$\textperthousand$ and 30$\textperthousand$. When fish were adapted from 0$\textperthousand$ to 10$\textperthousand$, 20$\textperthousand$ and 30$\textperthousand$, external body color of fish changed from dark-striped to light-grey color. At the same time, thyroxine and triiodothyronine concentrations significantly(P<0.05) increased, and then were at the highest level in 30 salinity. When fish were adapted from 0$\textperthousand$ to 10$\textperthousand$, feed intake of fish started from the fourth day. From 0$\textperthousand$ to 10$\textperthousand$, 20$\textperthousand$ and 30$\textperthousand$, estradiol-17$\beta$ levels were increased gradually. When fish was adapted from 0$\textperthousand$ to 10$\textperthousand$, 20$\textperthousand$ and 30$\textperthousand$, the levels of each progesterone didn't show significant change, and especially showed the lowest peak in 20$\textperthousand$. The greatest thyroxine activity(T4) was observed in 30$\textperthousand$. The levels of and triiodothyronine(T3) significantly changed in all salinities, and its level was at the highest peak in 30$\textperthousand$ salinity. Correlation coefficients between serum progesterone and triiodothyronine in 10$\textperthousand$ and 30$\textperthousand$ were ＋0.677 and ＋0.843, respectively. Correlation coefficient of serum thyroxine(T4) and triiodothyronine(T3) individuals in 10$\textperthousand$ was ＋0.768, and ＋0.843, respectively.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.13 no.3
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• pp.791-797
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• 2001

After brain injury, patients show a wide range in the degree of recovery. By a variety of mechanisms, the human brain is constantly undergoing plastic changes. Spontaneous recovery from brain injury in the chronic stage omes about because of plasticity. The brain regions are altered. resulting in functionally modified cortical network. This review cnsidered the neural plasticity from cellular and molecular mechanisms of synapse formation to behavioural recovery from brain injury in elderly humans. The stimuli required to elicit plasticity are thought to be activity-dependent elements. especially exercise and learning. Knowledge about the physiology of brain plasticity has led to the development of methods for rehabilitation.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.14 no.4
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• pp.495-500
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• 1998

The effect of acute toluene exposure on behaviour and monoamine concentrations in the various brain regions were investigated in the rat. Toluene was adminstered via inhalation to rats at concentrations of 0, 1000, 10000, 40000 ppm for 20 min. During exposure to toluene, spontaneous locomotor activity was counted. After exposure, animals were sacrificed instantly and brains were separated. Regional concentratons of brain monoamines (norepinephrine, NE; dopamine, DA; 5- hydroxytryptamine, 5-HT) and its metabolites (3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid, DOPAC; homovanillic acid, HVA; 5-hydroxyindole-3-acetic acid, 5-HIAA) were determined. The changes in locomotor activity during toluene exposure depended on the toluene concentration. At 1000 ppm concentration, spontaneous locomotor activity increased initially and thereafter decreased. At higher concentrations (10000 ppm and 40000 ppm), spontaneous locomotor activity decreased and eventually ceased. A regional analysis of VA, NE, 5-HT, VOPAC, HVA, and 5-HIAA indicated a significant decrease in VA concentrations in cerebellum and striatum while NE and 5-HT concentrations were significantly increased in the cerebellum and cortex. 5-HIAA concentrations were significantly increased in all brain regions. DOPAC concentrations were significantly increased in cerebellum and cortex while decreased in striatum. These results especially indicated that metabolic conversion of DA to HVA in striatum was highly increased by toluene inhalation. However, It remains to elucidate between behavioural responses and monoamine changes.

• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.166-170
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• 2019

Objectives: Attentional and memory functions are important aspects of neural plasticity that, theoretically, should be amenable to pharmacopuncture treatments. A previous study from our laboratory suggested that quantitative electroencephalographic (qEEG) measurements of theta/beta ratio (TBR), an index of attentional control, may be indicative of academic performance in a first-semester medical school course. The present study expands our prior report by extracting and analyzing data on frontal theta and beta asymmetries. We test the hypothesis that the amount of frontal theta and beta asymmetries (fTA, fBA), are correlated with TBR and academic performance, thereby providing novel targets for pharmacopuncture treatments to improve cognitive performance. Methods: Ten healthy male volunteers were subjected to 5-10 min of qEEG measurements under eyes-closed conditions. The qEEG measurements were performed 3 days before each of first two block examinations in anatomy-physiology, separated by five weeks. Amplitudes of the theta and beta waveforms, expressed in ${\mu}V$, were used to compute TBR, fTA and fBA. Significance of changes in theta and beta EEG wave amplitude was assessed by ANOVA with post-hoc t-testing. Correlations between TBR, fTA, fBA and the raw examination scores were evaluated by Pearson's product-moment coefficients and linear regression analysis. Results: fTA and fBA were found to be negatively correlated with TBR (P<0.03, P<0.05, respectively) and were positively correlated with the second examination score (P<0.03, P=0.1, respectively). Conclusion: Smaller fTA and fBA were associated with lower academic performance in the second of two first-semester medical school anatomy-physiology block examination. Future studies should determine whether these qEEG metrics are useful for monitoring changes associated with the brain's cognitive adaptations to academic challenges, for predicting academic performance and for targeting phamacopuncture treatments to improve cognitive performance.