• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.59 no.5
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• pp.492-497
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• 2016

Objective : Decompressive craniectomy is an effective therapy to relieve high intracranial pressure after acute brain damage. However, the optimal timing for cranioplasty after decompression is still controversial. Many authors reported that early cranioplasty may contribute to improve the cerebral blood flow and brain metabolism. However, despite all the advantages, there always remains a concern that early cranioplasty may increase the chance of infection. The purpose of this retrospective study is to investigate whether the early cranioplasty increase the infection rate. We also evaluated the risk factors of infection following cranioplasty. Methods : We retrospectively examined the results of 131 patients who underwent cranioplasty in our institution between January 2008 and June 2015. We divided them into early (${\leq}90days$) and late (>90 days after craniectomy) groups. We examined the risk factors of infection after cranioplasty. We analyzed the infection rate between two groups. Results : There were more male patients (62%) than female (38%). The mean age was 49 years. Infection occurred in 17 patients (13%) after cranioplasty. The infection rate of early cranioplasty was lower than that of late cranioplasty (7% vs. 20%; p=0.02). Early cranioplasty, non-metal allograft materials, re-operation before cranioplasty and younger age were the significant factors in the infection rate after cranioplasty (p<0.05). Especially allograft was a significant risk factor of infection (odds ratio, 12.4; 95% confidence interval, 3.24-47.33; p<0.01). Younger age was also a significant risk factor of infection after cranioplasty by multivariable analysis (odds ratio, 0.96; 95% confidence interval, 0.96-0.99; p=0.02). Conclusion : Early cranioplasty did not increase the infection rate in this study. The use of non-metal allograft materials influenced a more important role in infection in cranioplasty. Actually, timing itself was not a significant risk factor in multivariate analysis. So the early cranioplasty may bring better outcomes in cognitive functions or wound without raising the infection rate.

• Analytical Science and Technology
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• v.30 no.6
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• pp.355-378
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• 2017

Because neurochemicals are related to homeostasis and cognitive and behavioral functions in human body and because they enable the diagnosis of numerous neurodegenerative disorders, there has been increasing interest in the development of analytical platforms for neurochemical profiling in biological samples. In particular, mass spectrometry (MS)-based analytical methods combined with chromatographic separation have been widely used to profile neurochemicals in metabolic pathways. However, development of delicate sample preparation procedures and highly sensitive instrumental detection is necessary considering the trace levels and chemical instabilities of neurochemicals in biological samples. Therefore, in this review, analytical trends in MS-based metabolomics approaches to neurochemicals in multiple biological samples, such as urine, blood, CSF, and biological tissues, are discussed. This paper is expected to contribute to the development of an analytical platform to discover biomarkers that will aid diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment of neurodegenerative disorders.

• The Journal of the Korea Contents Association
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• v.19 no.11
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• pp.474-481
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• 2019

Korea entered the aged society in 2018 with the elderly population accounting for 14.4% of the total population, and it is expected to enter the super-aged society in 2026. In particular, it is predicted that by 2050, the elderly population will be 38% of the total population, making it one of the countries with the highest number of elderly people in the world. The increase in the elderly population is naturally leading to an increase in the number of traffic accidents among elderly drivers, in 2017, there were 26,713 elderly driver accidents over 65 years of age, with 848 people dying and 38,627 injured. Compared with 2011, the number of accidents and injuries has doubled and the number of deaths has increased 1.4 times. This study determined that the main factors of the increase in traffic accidents were the characteristics of elderly drivers, such as a decrease in visual/hearing ability, cognitive and information processing ability, and muscle strength. Therefore, it raised the necessity of autonomous vehicle(level 2) for elderly driver who can minimize the burden of driving and aimed to study the function of autonomous vehicle for elderly driver who is not familiar with new technology. Based on this, four functions of autonomous vehicles for elderly drivers were derived, such as providing clear information according to the road environment, considering physical characteristics of drivers, simplifying interface, and reinforcing in-vehicle safety devices.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.228-235
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• 2010

This study was performed to investigate the memory enhancing effect of Poria cocos Wolf (Hoelen cum radix) against scopolamine-induced amnesia in Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats. To induce amnesia, scopolamine (0.75 mg/kg) was intraperitonically injected into SD rats 30 min before starting behavior tests. We have conducted Morris water-maze and Y-maze tests to monitor learning and memory functions. Poria cocos effectively reversed scopolamine-induced memory impairment in SD rats which was represented by an improvement of mean escape latency in water-maze test and spontaneous alterations in Y-maze test. To elucidate possible molecule mechanism, we have measured mRNA as well as protein expression of acetylcholine esterase (AchE), choline acetyltransferase (ChAT), muscarinic acetylcholine receptor (mAchR), and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) using RT-PCR and Western blot analysis, respectively. Poria cocos increased mRNA levels of ChAT and mAchR in rat hippocampus compared with those in the scopolamine-injected amnesic group. In addition, protein expression of ChAT and BDNF was also elevated by Poria cocos intake. Furthermore, as an upstrem regulator, the activation of cAMP response element-binding protein (CREB) was assessed by immunohistochemistry. In this immunohistochemical analysis, the phosphorylation of CREB (p-CREB) was reduced by scopolamine injection, which was restored back to control levels by administration of Poria cocos. These results suggest that Poria cocos may improve memory and cognitive deficit in amnesia and have therapeutic potentials through up-regulation of ChAT, mAchR, and BDNF, which seemed to be mediated by activation of CREB.

• Science of Emotion and Sensibility
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.119-126
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• 2016

In this study, we investigated the effects of mouth breathing on brain activity through electroencephalogram (EEG). EEG was performed on 12 healthy volunteers of age ranging from 21 to 27 years (male: female = 6:6, non-smoker). Brain waves on resting state (Rest_N/Rest_M) and auditory-language stimuli state (Eng_N/Eng_M) were recorded during mouth and nose breathing. Four different regions (R1~R4) were classified based on the brain functionality. And each channel (e.g., Pf1 and Pf2) and frequency (${\alpha}$, ${\beta}$, ${\gamma}$, and ${\theta}$) were analyzed using their absolute power ratios of fast Fourier transform (FFT). The results showed that there was no significant difference between Rest_N and Rest_M. Eng_N had significantly higher brain activity than Rest_N; on the other hand, there was no significant difference between Rest_M and Eng_M. These results demonstrate that mouth-breathing on resting state does not induce any significant effects on brain activity and/or functionality, even though it causes subtle temporary inconvenience. In addition to the uncomfort, the brain activity can be adversely influenced by mouth-breathing, which could lower the cognitive skills under certain circumstances.

• Journal of The Korean Association For Science Education
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.611-623
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• 2000

The cooperative learning movement began as parts of the desegregation process in America, aiming at increasing academic achievement and social skills among diverse students. Cooperative learning may be defined as a classroom learning environment in which students work together in small heterogeneous groups. Although many studies have shown the effectiveness of cooperative learning in a variety of subjects, relatively few have focused on biology. In this study, we investigated the effects of cooperative learning on students' achievement and attitude of middle school biology students. For this purpose this study compared three sections. In one section, a cooperative learning strategy was used. Second section was taught in small groups and the third section was instructed in the traditional method. The unit 'Structures and functions of animals' was used. A total of 188 students were included in this study. These classes were treated for 10hours during 10weeks from September 1 to November 28, 1999. The pretests-posttests control group design was applyed. An analysis of covariance(ANCOVA) was used as the data analysis procedure. Significant differences were found in the achievement and the attitude of students using cooperative learning strategy(p<.05) when compared to traditional classroom structure and small group learning. Cooperative learning was more effective in the low-ability and average-ability students than the high-ability students in the science achievement. Cooperative learning is effective in both male and female students. And students in the cooperative group achieved better than those in other groups in affective, behavioral, and intention-cognitive domain of science attitude.

• Asia pacific journal of information systems
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.71-95
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• 2000

Despite repeated exhortation about the importance of social and human dimensions of systems development, socio-organizational issues continue to be neglected and ignored in the current information systems practice. A review of the human information processing literature suggests that the reasons for this continuing lack of attention to social issues may be found in the limitations of human cognition and information processing capacities. Bostrom and Heinen(1978) and Kumar and Bjorn-Anderson(1990) also suggest that the inadequate attention to social problems and issues by the analyst could originate from the analysts limited problem perception. This research explores how the representation forms of information systems(IS) methodology used in understanding and modeling the problem situation affect such systems development problem perception. Typically, a system development methodology prescribes the use of system models(i.e., system representations) to understand, analyze, evaluate, and design the information system. Given the size and complexity of information systems, and the abstraction and simplification underlying the modeling process, system representations usually depict only a limited set of aspects of the system. Thus, a methodology whose representations are limited to technical aspects will tend to limit the analyst's perspective to a technical one only(Kumar & Welke, 1990). Following the same line of argument, in contrast, it is the conjecture of this study that a methodology which specifies both social and technical aspects of IS development will help the analyst develop a more comprehensive view of the IS problem domain. Based on the above concept, a theoretical model was first developed which explained the systems analysts cognitive process. Drawing on this model, a research model was developed hypothesizing the impacts of representation forms on problem identification. The model was tested using a laboratory experiment with 70 individual subjects. A special computer software was developed with a hypermedia authoring tool to conduct the experiments in order to avoid experimenter biases and to maintain consistency in administrating repeated experiments. The program, designed to replace the experimenter, consisted of functions such as presenting the subjects with problem material, asking the subjects questions, and saving the typed answers of the subjects. The results indicate that representation forms strongly influence problem identification. It was found that the use of the socio-technical representation form led to the findings of more social problems than the use of technical representation form. The results imply significant effects of representation forms on problem findings and also suggest that the use of adequate representation forms may help overcome dysfunctional effects of our limited information processing capacity.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.42 no.4
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• pp.401-411
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• 2018

Longevity in medicine can be defined as a long life without mental or physical deficits. This can be prevented by Alzheimer's disease (AD). Current conventional AD treatments only alleviate the symptoms without reversing AD progression. Recent studies demonstrated that Panax ginseng extract improves AD symptoms in patients with AD, and the two main components of ginseng might contribute to AD amelioration. Ginsenosides show various AD-related neuroprotective effects. Gintonin is a newly identified ginseng constituent that contains lysophosphatidic acids and attenuates AD-related brain neuropathies. Ginsenosides decrease amyloid ${\beta}$-protein ($A{\beta}$) formation by inhibiting ${\beta}$- and ${\gamma}$-secretase activity or by activating the nonamyloidogenic pathway, inhibit acetylcholinesterase activity and $A{\beta}$-induced neurotoxicity, and decrease $A{\beta}$-induced production of reactive oxygen species and neuro-inflammatory reactions. Oral administration of ginsenosides increases the expression levels of enzymes involved in acetylcholine synthesis in the brain and alleviates $A{\beta}$-induced cholinergic deficits in AD models. Similarly, gintonin inhibits $A{\beta}$-induced neurotoxicity and activates the nonamyloidogenic pathway to reduce $A{\beta}$ formation and to increase acetylcholine and choline acetyltransferase expression in the brain through lysophosphatidic acid receptors. Oral administration of gintonin attenuates brain amyloid plaque deposits, boosting hippocampal cholinergic systems and neurogenesis, thereby ameliorating learning and memory impairments. It also improves cognitive functions in patients with AD. Ginsenosides and gintonin attenuate AD-related neuropathology through multiple routes. This review focuses research demonstrating that ginseng constituents could be a candidate as an adjuvant for AD treatment. However, clinical investigations including efficacy and tolerability analyses may be necessary for the clinical acceptance of ginseng components in combination with conventional AD drugs.

• Journal of the Institute of Electronics Engineers of Korea SP
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• v.43 no.4 s.310
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• pp.37-45
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• 2006

In this paper, we propose the development of MHLA(Modulatory Hippocampus Learning Algorithm) which remodel a principle of brain of hippocampus. Hippocampus takes charge auto-associative memory and controlling functions of long-term or short-term memory strengthening. We organize auto-associative memory based 3 steps system(DG, CA3, CAl) and improve speed of learning by addition of modulator to long-term memory learning. In hippocampal system, according to the 3 steps order, information applies statistical deviation on Dentate Gyrus region and is labelled to responsive pattern by adjustment of a good impression. In CA3 region, pattern is reorganized by auto-associative memory. In CAI region, convergence of connection weight which is used long-term memory is learned fast by neural networks which is applied modulator. To measure performance of MHLA, PCA(Principal Component Analysis) is applied to face images which are classified by pose, expression and picture quality. Next, we calculate feature vectors and learn by MHLA. Finally, we confirm cognitive rate. The results of experiments, we can compare a proposed method of other methods, and we can confirm that the proposed method is superior to the existing method.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Landscape Architecture
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• v.40 no.2
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• pp.38-48
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• 2012

Since the late 20th century, sustainability is one of the most pressing concerns for the security and well-being of our society when we are witnessing the rapid change in urban landscape patterns. Responding to this issue, the discipline of environmental designs including landscape architecture has also attempted to realize this concept in various ways. The purpose of this study lies in introducing and redefining the meaning of ecological aesthetics as an alternative "sustainable" design theory. This paper theoretically discusses about the role of aesthetics in landscape design and the relationship between landscape and aesthetics to emphasize the importance of ecological aesthetics. Based on extensive literature review and analysis, the study attempts to redefine the characteristics of ecological aesthetics: an emphasis on cognitive process in landscape appreciation, environmentalism, unrestricted from style, and nonnative aesthetics. Having defined the characteristics, this study also finds several design subjects to adapt the concept of ecological aesthetics to actual design practice. Founded on the big idea "make nature visible", the defined subjects are ecological functions, temporality of landscape, and history of landscape, security, and accessibility. Also, this study stresses the importance m the creativity of the design(er) in order to effectively represent these subjects to the public.