• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.281-285
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• 2017

The purpose of the current study is to investigate the cognition-enhancing effects of Ixeris dentata (Thunb) Nakai in scopolamine-induced amnesic mice. Scopolamine (2 mg/kg, i.p.) was used to induce amnesia in mice. The cognitive-enhancing activity of the IDE (10, 20 and $40{\mu}g/mL$) was studied by passive avoidance response, elevated plus maze and Y-maze behavioral paradigm in normal and scopolamine-induced amnesic mice. Scopolamine-induced cognitive deficits were significantly reversed by IDE (P < 0.001 at 20 mg/kg) in a dose-dependent fashion in all the behavioral paradigms tested. IDE possesses cognitive-enhancing properties in amnesic mice due to its potent antioxidant action.

• Animal cells and systems
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• v.4 no.3
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• pp.215-221
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• 2000

Our anatomical and behavioral studies of embryonic rats that developed in microgravity suggest that the vestibular sensory system, like the visual system, has genetically mediated precesses of development that establish crude connections between the periphery and the brain. Environmental stimuli also regulate connection formation including terminal branch formation and fine-tuning of synaptic contacts. Axons of vestibular sensory neurons from grabistatic as well as linear acceleration receptors reach their targets in both microgravity and norm81 gravity, suggesting that this is a genetically regulated component of development. However, microgravity exposure delays the development of terminal branches and synapses in gravistatic but not linear acceleration-sensitive neurons and also produces behavioral changes. These latter changes reflect environmentally controlled processes of development.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.9-15
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• 2009

Historically, research in toxicology has utilized non-human mammalian species, particularly rats and mice, to study in vivo the effects of toxic exposure on physiology and behavior. However, ethical considerations and the overwhelming increase in the number of chemicals to be screened has led to a shift away from in vivo work. The decline in in vivo experimentation has been accompanied by an increase in alternative methods for detecting and predicting detrimental effects: in vitro experimentation and in silico modeling. Yet, these new methodologies can not replace the need for in vivo work on animal physiology and behavior. The development of new, non-mammalian model systems shows great promise in restoring our ability to use behavioral endpoints in toxicological testing. Of these systems, the zebrafish, Danio rerio, is the model organism for which we are accumulating enough knowledge in vivo, in vitro, and in silico to enable us to develop a comprehensive, high-throughput toxicology screening system.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.43 no.1
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• pp.62-72
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• 2010

Objectives: To identify factors associated with cancer screening intention using the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB). Methods: Among 55,920 eligible persons for National Cancer Screening Program (NCSP) in J city, 1,100 individuals were contacted. Of these, 797 were interviewed using a structured questionnaire. Thirty-six responses were excluded due to incomplete data. The remaining 761 completed questionnaires were analyzed to find factors associated with cancer screening intention. Results: Cancer screening intention was significantly associated with behavioral attitude (p<0.01) and subjective norm (p<0.01), but not with perceived behavioral control (p=0.29) in the TPB model. These three constructs explained 29.7% of cancer screening intention in multiple linear regression analysis. External factors such as socio-demographic status, health and health behavior variables explained 8.9% of screening intention. Among them, household monthly income, past cancer screening experience, exercise and daily eating habit were significantly associated with screening intention. Conclusions: Cancer screening intention may be influenced by focusing attitude, subjective norm in TPB model and other external factors. However, further studies are warranted to identify factors influencing cancer screening intention and behavior.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.433-437
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• 2016

Consumption of high doses of ethanol can lead to amnesia, which often manifests as a blackout. These blackouts experienced by ethanol consumers may be a major cause of the social problems associated with excess ethanol consumption. However, there is currently no established treatment for preventing these ethanol-induced blackouts. In this study, we tested the ethanol extract of the roots of Salvia miltiorrhiza (SM) for its ability to mitigate ethanol-induced behavioral and synaptic deficits. To test behavioral deficits, an object recognition test was conducted in mouse. In this test, ethanol (1 g/kg, i.p.) impaired object recognition memory, but SM (200 mg/kg) prevented this impairment. To evaluate synaptic deficits, NMDA receptor-mediated excitatory postsynaptic potential (EPSP) and long-term potentiation (LTP) in the mouse hippocampal slices were tested, as they are known to be vulnerable to ethanol and are associated with ethanol-induced amnesia. SM (10 and $100{\mu}g/ml$) significantly ameliorated ethanol-induced long-term potentiation and NMDA receptor-mediated EPSP deficits in the hippocampal slices. Therefore, these results suggest that SM prevents ethanol-induced amnesia by protecting the hippocampus from NMDA receptor-mediated synaptic transmission and synaptic plasticity deficits induced by ethanol.

• Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.31 no.1
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• pp.1-7
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• 2008

In this minireview we focus on how males may exploit female's sensitivity to predation risk in the context of mating. It has been shown in studies on guppies and jumping spiders that in response to altered female behaviors, which are adaptations to the unfavorable environment and a consequence of females' higher sensitivity to predator's presence as well as females' higher predation risk, males can adopt condition-dependent mating tactics. It appears that in such cases males do not modify their reproductive behavior directly in response to their own perception of predation risk, but indirectly in response to changes in female behavior induced by predator presence. It has also been recently shown in crabs that males can exploit female behavior by creating safer habitat spots, which increases the male mating success. Hence all the evidence suggests that males not only respond to female sensitivity to the natural variation in predation risk, but that males can also exploit female behavior by altering the environment. As a logical extension of these findings, we present a hypothesis that in certain conditions males can manipulate the environment in order to increase the predation risk and to induce female behaviors that enhance the male's mating success with the increased predation risk. We propose that such a manipulation to increase predation risk is expected to evolve in males of species with a strong sexual conflict and female-biased predation risk. Although empirical evidence has not been yet shown, initial observations in a water strider species in Korea, Gerris gracilicornis, seem to support this hypothesis.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Service
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• v.39 no.2
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• pp.69-74
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• 2016

Jeju Dogs have high academic value due to their unique characteristics and conditions, but they have received little attention in the research field. This paper attempts to secure fundamental data to clarify the general characteristics of Jeju Dogs. For this purpose, an inspection of the basic body shape was performed to establish the shape and breed standards. Jeju Dogs were also exposed to 12 behavior tests to check their distinct character categories and an objective ethogram was built on each of the character categories to conduct a behavior analysis. The body shape of 34 clinically healthy Jeju Dogs aged 18 months or older was inspected using ten divided parts. For the behavior analysis, 10 Jeju Dogs were examined. A variety of behavioral variables were recorded based on 12 behavior tests that were categorized into four characters: sociality, aggressiveness, anxiety and submissiveness. The results of the body shape inspection indicated that most of the male dogs' parts had larger measured values than the female dogs' parts. The behavior analysis results revealed that the Jeju Dog displays excellent qualities such as submissiveness, reliability and fidelity and, hence, it is believed that this breed of dog is very appropriate for most duties and has the potential to be a household dog or working dog.

• Natural Product Sciences
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.44-49
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• 2006

The aqueous extract of Hydrilla verticillata (AEHV) was tested for possible pharmacological effects on experimental animals. AEHV significantly potentiated the sleeping time of mice induced by standard hypnotics viz. pentobarbitone sodium, diazepam, and meprobamate in a dose dependent manner. AEHV showed significant analgesic properties as evidenced by the significant reduction in the number of writhes and stretches induced in mice by 1.2% acetic acid solution. It also potentiated analgesia induced by morphine and pethidine in mice. Pretreatment with AEHV caused significant protection against strychnine and leptazol-induced convulsions. The behavioral studies on mice indicate CNS depressant activity of the aqueous extract of H. verticillata.

• BMB Reports
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• v.49 no.9
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• pp.474-487
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• 2016

Itch is one of the most distressing sensations that substantially impair quality of life. It is a cardinal symptom of many skin diseases and is also caused by a variety of systemic disorders. Unfortunately, currently available itch medications are ineffective in many chronic itch conditions, and they often cause undesirable side effects. To develop novel therapeutic strategies, it is essential to identify primary afferent neurons that selectively respond to itch mediators as well as the central nervous system components that process the sensation of itch and initiate behavioral responses. This review summarizes recent progress in the study of itch, focusing on itch-selective receptors, signaling molecules, neuronal pathways from the primary sensory neurons to the brain, and potential decoding mechanisms based on which itch is distinguished from pain.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.97-101
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• 2006

Certain amino acids are essential precursors of a variety of important biomolecules in addition to their major function as protein building blocks. ${\delta}$-Aminolevulinic acid (ALA) is synthesized from the condensed form of succinyl-CoA with glycine after decarboxylation catalyzed by ALA synthase. The objective of the study was to determine the effects of ALA supplementation on growth performance, behavioral characteristics and hematological/immune status in nursery pigs. A total of 144 pigs weaned at 21 d of age were allotted to three dietary treatments representing (-) control (w/o antibiotics; NC), (+) control (w/carbadox at 50 mg/kg; PC), and the treatment group with ALA supplementation (0.05%; TA). Each treatment had 6 pens (replicates) with 8 pigs per pen. Pigs were fed phase 1 (21.9% CP, 1.40% Lys) and 2 (20.6% CP, 1.15% Lys) experimental diets for 3 and 2 wks, respectively. Feed intake and weight gain were measured weekly during phase 1 and at the end of phase 2. At the end of phase 2, blood samples were taken and analyzed using an automated hematology analyzer. Skin color and activity of pigs (48 h) from all pens in each treatment were measured at the second week of phase 2. Growth performance was not affected (p>0.05) by the dietary supplementation of ALA during the 5 wk nursery period. Pigs in the TA (6.46) and PC (6.68) had a higher (p<0.05) number of red blood cells ($10^6cell/{\mu}L$) than pigs in the NC (6.15). Pigs in PC (12.16) had a higher (p<0.05) hemoglobin level (g/dL) than pigs in the NC group (11.29) and the TA group (11.47). Pigs in the TA and PC had darker (p<0.05) and less (p<0.05) yellow skin color than pigs in the NC. Pigs in the PC tended (p = 0.081) to be less active than pigs in the other groups. There were no differences in behavioral characteristics between the NC and the TA. The data suggest that ALA supplementation has no adverse effects on growth performance of nursery pigs. Moreover, ALA supplementation increased red blood cell counts which may be beneficial to pigs.