• Animal cells and systems
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.11-14
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• 2008

Finding a way to strengthen human cognitive functions, such as learning and memory, has been of great concern since the moment people realized that these functions can be affected and even altered by certain chemicals. Since then, plenty of endeavors have been made to look for safe ways of improving cognitive performances without adverse side-effects. Unfortunately, most of these efforts have turned out to be unsuccessful until now. In this study, we examine the effect of a natural compound, idesolide, on hippocampus-dependent recognition memory. We demonstrate that idesolide is effective in the enhancement of recognition memory, as measured by a novel object recognition task. Thus, idesolide might serve as a novel therapeutic medication for the treatment of memoryrelated brain anomalies such as mild cognitive impairment(MCI) and Alzheimer's disease.

• Smart Structures and Systems
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• v.16 no.4
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• pp.641-665
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• 2015

In this paper, a simple and efficient phenomenological macroscopic one-dimensional model is proposed which is able to simulate main features of shape memory alloys (SMAs) particularly ferro-elasticity effect. The constitutive model is developed within the framework of thermodynamics of irreversible processes to simulate the one-dimensional behavior of SMAs under uniaxial simple tension-compression as well as pure torsion+/- loadings. Various functions including linear, cosine and exponential functions are introduced in a unified framework for the martensite transformation kinetics and an analytical description of constitutive equations is presented. The presented model can be used to reproduce primary aspects of SMAs including transformation/orientation of martensite phase, shape memory effect, pseudo-elasticity and in particular ferro-elasticity. Experimental results available in the open literature for uniaxial tension, torsion and bending tests are simulated to validate the present SMA model in capturing the main mechanical characteristics. Due to simplicity and accuracy, it is expected the present SMA model will be instrumental toward an accurate analysis of SMA components in various engineering structures particularly when the ferro-elasticity is obvious.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.38 no.2
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• pp.31-40
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• 2017

Objectives: We investigated the effect of acupuncture on memory function in relation with neurogenesis in old rats. Methods: In this study, a step-down avoidance task for short-term memory and Y-maze task for spatial memory capability were conducted. Western blot analysis for brain-derived neurotorphic factor (BDNF) and tyrosine kinase B (TrkB), and immunohistochemistry for 5-bromo-2'-deoxyuridine (BrdU) were performed. Results: Short-term memory and spatial memories were decreased in the old-aged rats. Expressions of BDNF and TrkB in the hippocampus were significantly decreased in the old-aged rats. Neurogenesis in the hippocampal dentate gyrus was also decreased in the old-aged rats. However, acupuncture treatment alleviated impairment of short-term and spatial memories induced by ageing. Acupuncture also increased the expressions of BDNF and TrkB and enhanced neurogenesis in the hippocampus. The present study showed that acupuncture alleviated ageing-induced short-term and spatial memory loss by increasing of BDNF and neurogenesis. Acupuncture at ST41-acupoint showed most potent effect than at ST36-acupoint or non-acupoint. Conclusions: Acupuncture might be used as the effective therapeutic modality to ameliorate the age-related decrease of brain functions.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.35 no.5
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• pp.33-39
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• 2020

Objectives : Increasing evidence supports the biological and pharmacological activities of essential oils on the central nervous system such as pain, anxiety, attention, arousal, relaxation, sedation and learning and memory. The purpose of present work is to investigate the protective effect and molecular mechanism of cypress essential oil (CEO) against scopolamine (SCO)-induced cognitive impairments in C57BL/6 mice. Methods : A series of behavior tests such as Morris water maze, passive avoidance, and fear conditioning tests were conducted to monitor learning and memory functions. Immunoblotting and RT-PCR were also performed in the hippocampal tissue to determine the underlying mechanism of CEO. Results : SCO induced cognitive impairments as assessed by decreased step-through latency in passive avoidance test, relatively low freezing time in fear conditioning test, and increased time spent to find the hidden platform in Morris water maze test. Conversely, CEO inhalation significantly reversed the SCO-induced cognitive impairments in C57BL/6 mice comparable to control levels. To elucidate the molecular mechanisms of memory enhancing effect of CEO we have examined the expression of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in the hippocampus. CEO effectively elevated the protein as well as mRNA expression of BDNF via activation of cAMP response element binding protein (CREB). Conclusions : Our findings suggest that CEO inhalation effectively restored the SCO-impaired cognitive functions in C56BL/6 mice. This learning and memory enhancing effect of CEO was partly mediated by up-regulation of BDNF via activation of CREB.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.125-134
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• 2010

Bisphenol A (BPA) is one of the most common endocrine disrupters. In the last decade, the number of studies concerning the effects of chronic treatment with BPA on the development of the central nervous system (CNS) has increased. However, little is known about the effects of chronic exposure to BPA on higher brain functions such as memory or psychomotor functions. Here, we report our following findings: (1) Prenatal and neonatal exposure to BPA enhances psychostimulant-induced rewarding effects, results in the up- or downregulation of dopamine receptors, causes memory impairment, and decreases choline acetyltransferase (ChAT) activity. (2) BPA activates astrocytes in vivo and in vitro. These findings suggest that prenatal and neonatal exposure to BPA affects the development of the CNS.

• Proceedings of the Korea Committee for Ocean Resources and Engineering Conference
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• 2001.10a
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• pp.164-168
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• 2001

The motion of a ship advancing in regular waves is analyzed in the time-domain using the convolution integral of the radiation forces. The memory effect functions and infinite frequency added masses are obtained from the solution of the three dimensional improved Green integral equation in the frequency domain by making use of the Fourier transformation. The ship motions in regular waves have been calculated by both the time and frequency domain methods. It has been shown that they agree very well with each other. The present time-domain method can be used to predict the time histories of unsteady motions in irregular waves. It can also be used to calculate the hydrostatic and Froude-Krylov forces over the instantaneous wetted surface of the ship hull to predict large ship motions, in a practical sense, advancing in large amplitude waves.

• Proceedings of the Korea Committee for Ocean Resources and Engineering Conference
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• 2003.05a
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• pp.105-108
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• 2003

The local motion at the top of an A-frame fixed on a research vessel for deep sea ROV floating in irregular waves is studied in the time-domain. The motion is analyzed in the time-domain using the convolution integral of the radiation forces. The memory effect functions and infinite frequency added masses are obtained from the solution of the three dimensional improved Green integral equation in the frequency domain by making use of the Fourier transformation.

• The Journal of Korea Robotics Society
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.41-50
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• 2016

This paper describes the effect of a robot cognitive rehabilitation program on cognitive functions for the elderly with mild cognitive impairment, and compares it with traditional cognitive therapy programs. Three experiment groups including cognition therapy group, robot cognitive rehabilitation group, and hybrid group have been sampled and one comparative group has been organized for this research. 32 old people whose ages are between 61 and 88 with mild cognitive impairment participated in the programs with an admission of W care hospital. According to the program results, the cognitive therapy program alone had shown a positive effect on the attention function, and the robot cognitive rehabilitation program alone had a positive effect on the total intelligence and memory function. However, a simultaneous operation with both programs had shown a positive effect on the three intelligence areas such as total, basic, and management quotients as well as attention and memory functions as subsidiary factors. This paper has verified that the proposed robot cognitive rehabilitation program makes a positive effect on a cognitive function and plays a complementary role with traditional cognitive therapy programs.

• International Journal of Industrial Entomology and Biomaterials
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.39-45
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• 2007

Extracts of adult worker bodies of Vespa simillima in 2 % NaCl or acidified methanol were administered orally to mice for 70 days. Following this period, memory at one-day and one-month periods, and the effects on scopolamine-induced amnesia were examined using a step-through passive avoidance task. Changes in MK-801-induced disability after 8 days of training, and in memory one month after the trial were also assessed. Mice treated with the 2% NaCl extract showed significant improvement in memory in the behavioral tests one month after the trial, whereas mice receiving the extract in acidified methanol, did not differ from the controls in any trial. The results inidicate that Vespa simillima contains substances acting favorably on the cerebral functions of mammals.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.16 no.5
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• pp.976-988
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• 2002

The aim of this study was to examine the memory and attention enhancement effect of YMG-1 and YMG-2, which are modified herbal extracts from Yukmijihwang-tang (YMJ). YMJ, composing six herbal medicine, has been used for restoring the normal functions of the body to consolidate the constitution, nourishing and invigorating the kidney functions for hundreds years in Asian countries. A series of studies reported that YMJ and its components enhance memory retention, protects neuronal cell from reactive oxygen attack and boost immune activities. Recently the microarray analysis suggested that YMG-1 protects neurodegeneration through modulating various neuron specific genes. A total of 55 subjects were divided into three groups according to the treatment of YMG-1 (n=20), YMG-2 (n=20) and control (C; n=15) groups. Before treatments, all of subjects were subjected to the assessments on neuropsychological tests of K-WAIS test, Rey-Kim memory test, and psychophysiological test of Event-Related Potential (ERP) during auditory oddball task and repeated word recognition task. They were repeatedly assessed with the same methods after drug treatment for 6 weeks. Although no significant effect of drug was found in Rey-Kim memory test, a significant interaction (P = .010, P < 0.05) between YMG-2 and C groups was identified in the scores digit span and block design, which are the subscales of K-WAIS. The very similar but marginal interaction (P = .064) between YMG-1 and C groups was found too. In ERP analysis, only YMG-1 group showed decreasing tendency of P300 latency during oddball task while the others tended to increase, and it caused significant interaction between session and group (p= .004). This result implies the enhancement of cognitive function in due to consideration of relationship between P300 latency and the speed of information processing. However, no evidence which could demonstrate the significant drug effect was found in neither amplitude or latency. These results come together suggest that YMG-1, 2 may enhance the attention, resulting in enhancement of memory processing. For elucidating detailed mechanism of YMG on learning and memory, the further studies are necessary.