This study was designed to investigate the effects of treadmill exercise of low-intensity and moderate- intensity on the functional recovery and histological change in spinal cord injury (SCI) rats. SCI was induced by the spinal cord impactor dropped after laminectomy. Experimental groups were divided into the Group I (normal control), Group II (non-treatment after SCI induction), Group III (low-intensity treadmill exercise after SCI induction), Group IV (moderate-intensity treadmill exercise after SCI induction). After operation, rats were tested at modified Tarlov scale at 2 days with divided into 4 groups, and motor behavior test (BBB locomotor rating scale, Grid walk test) was examined at 3, 7, 14, and 21 days. For the observation of damage change and size of the organized surface in spinal cord, histopathological studies were performed at 21 days by H & E, and BDNF(brain-derived neutrophic factor) & Trk-b immunohistochemistry studies were performed at 1, 3, 7, 14, 21 days. According to the results, treadmill exercise can play a role in facilitating recovery of locomotion following spinal cord injury. Specially, moderate-intensity treadmill exercise after SCI induction was most improvement in functional recovery and histological change.

Functional nanomaterial is expected to have improved capacities on various fields. Especially, metal nanoparticles dispersed in polymer matrix and metal nanofiber, one of the functional nanomaterials, are able to achieve improvement of property in the electric and other related fields. In this study, the fabrication of metal (Ag) nanoparticle dispersed nanofibers were attempted. The Ag nanoparticle dispersed polymer nanofiber and Ag nanofiber were fabricated by electrospinning method using electric force. First, PVP/ nanofibers were synthesized by electrospinning in voltage with the starting materials (Ag-nitrate) added polymer (PVP; poly (vinylpyrrolidone)). Then Ag nanoparticle dispersed polymer nanofibers were fabricated to reduce hydrogen reduction at for 3hr. And Ag nanofibers were synthesized by the decomposited of PVP at for 3hr. The nanofibers were analyzed by XRD, TGA, FE-SEM and TEM. The experimental results showed that the Ag nanofibers could be applied in many fields as an advanced material.

This study was designed to examine the effects of electroacupuncture and treadmill exercise on the improvement of muscle atrophy and Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF) expression in an ischemic stroke model induced by middle cerebral artery occlusion. This study selected 120 Sprangue-Dawley rats, divided them into six groups, and assigned 5 rats to each group. Experiments were conducted for 1, 3 days and 1, 8 weeks, respectively. In each group, changes in weight of muscle and relative muscle of tibialis anterior muscle, histologic observations, and BDNF expression were observed and analyzed. For the changes in muscle weight of unaffected and affected sides of tibialis anterior, muscle atrophy was expressed in an affected side 3 days after ischemic stroke was induced. There was a statistically significant difference in Group VI 1 and 8 weeks after ischemic stroke was induced, compared to Group II (p<.05). For the changes in relative muscle weight of unaffected and affected sides of tibial anterior muscle, there was significant decrease in each group 3 days after ischemic stroke was induced, compared to Group I, while there was a statistically significant increase in Group VI 1 week after ischemic stroke was induced, compared to Group II (p<.05). For neurologic exercise behavior test, Group VI generally had the highest score, compared to other groups. The results of the behavior test suggests that 8 weeks after ischemic stroke was induced, Group VI improved in degeneration and inflammation of muscle fiber and decreased in destruction of nerve cells and cerebral infarction, thus indicating a similar state of muscle fiber and brain tissue in Group I. In immunohistochemical observations, Group 1 week showed increase in BDNF. Based on these results, electroacupuncture and treadmill exercise may improve muscle atrophy and change in BDNF expression of ischemic stroke rats and contribute to the improvement of exercise function.

Ischemic stroke results from a transient or permanent reduction in cerebral blood flow that is restricted to the territory of a major brain artery. Thus, this study was performed to examine (1) the effects of swimming exercise on the improvement of muscle atrophy, and (2) exercise and HSP 70 expression in an ischemic stroke model induced by middle cerebral artery occlusion. The results of this study were as follows: One week after ischemic stroke was induced, changes appeared in the muscle weight of the gastrocnemius muscle due to muscle atrophy in the affected side. Group II showed statistically significant difference from group III eight weeks after ischemic stroke was induced. (p<.05). One week and eight weeks after ischemic stroke was induced there was significant decrease in the relative muscle weight of the gastrocnemius muscle in each group except Group IV, while there was statistically significant increase in group II eight weeks after ischemic stroke was induced, compared to group III (p<.05). For neurologic exercise behavior tests, Group II generally had the highest score, compared to other groups. In immunohistochemical observations, Group II showed a decrease in HSP 70. The above results suggest that swimming exercise improved muscle atrophy, changed the HSP 70 expression of ischemic stroke in rats, and contributed to the improvement of exercise function.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of pulsed ultrasound on wound healing and observe during the wound healing process the distribution of mast cells according to histopathologic findings. Eighty Sprague Dawley rats which were divided into 4 groups received full thickness skin wounds on the back. Each of the 5 animals was sacrificed immediately and then sacrificed again 1, 3, 6, and 12 days after injury. Specimens from the wounds were removed during healing and routinely processed with a hematoxylin-eosin stain and a toluidine blue stain. The authors then observed the distribution of mast cells under a light microscope. The results of this study were as follows: The rate of wound healing and the length of the wounds of the pulsed ultrasound group II was significantly faster than group I on day 6 and day 12 (p<.001). Group III showed the most significant effect after12 days (p<.001). Group IV also showed a significant effect at 12 days (p<.01). A low-intensity ultrasound .5 resulted in a fast healing rate. During the wound healing process mast cells had a tendency to decrease in the acute inflammatory phase. During the wound healing process mast cells were thought to contribute to the healing of the wound.

This study was aimed to investigate the effect of aggregate size on the tensile behavior of highly ductile fiber-reinforced cementitious composites. Partial applying 5.6mm coarse aggregate instead of micro silica sand was considered. It was revealed that the fiber-reinforced cementitous composites with 5.6 mm coarse aggregate as well as micro silica sand still showed enough tensile strain capacity more than 5% and limited crack width less than 150 ㎛.

This study was aimed to investigate the effect of aggregate size on the tensile behavior of highly ductile fiber-reinforced cementitious composites. Partial applying 5.6mm coarse aggregate instead of micro silica sand was considered. It was revealed that the fiber-reinforced cementitous composites with 5.6 mm coarse aggregate as well as micro silica sand still showed enough tensile strain capacity more than 5% and limited crack width less than 150 ㎛.

This study was aimed to investigate the effect of aggregate size on the tensile behavior of highly ductile fiber-reinforced cementitious composites. Partial applying 5.6mm coarse aggregate instead of micro silica sand was considered. It was revealed that the fiber-reinforced cementitous composites with 5.6 mm coarse aggregate as well as micro silica sand still showed enough tensile strain capacity more than 5% and limited crack width less than 150 ㎛.

This study was aimed to investigate the effect of blending cement with crushed aggregate powder on the setting time. crushed aggregate powder was incorporated with the ratio of 0~30 wt.% of cement. The experimental results presented that there was little influence on the intial setting time, whereas the final setting time decreased by blending with higher amount of crushed aggregate powder.

This study includes research works to develop high performance concrete or cementitious composite with PE fiber, using stone dust sludge or LCD waste glass.