Differences in Interactions with a Conversational Agent.

Recent technological advances introduced conversational agents into homes. Many researchers have investigated how people utilize and perceive them. However, only a small number of studies have focused on how older adults interact with these agents.

Forbidden fruit for athletes, but possible divine blessing for rehabilitation: testosterone.

Testosterone is regarded as an attractive supplement for obtaining masculinity and sexuality; however, there have been pros and cons regarding its application as a treatment. In addition, there is also conventional repulsion on adoption of testosterone to any kind of exercise to anyone with concern with sports. However, we should keep in mind that in terms of rehabilitation, our main concern is not fairness but efficiency.

Exposure to music and noise during pregnancy influences neurogenesis and thickness in motor and somatosensory cortex of rat pups.

Purpose: Prenatal environmental conditions affect the development of the fetus. In the present study, we investigated the effects of exposure to music and noise during pregnancy on neurogenesis and thickness in the motor and somatosensory cortex of rat pups.

Methods: The pregnant rats in the music-applied group were exposed to 65 dB of comfortable music for 1 hour, once per day, from the 15th day of pregnancy until delivery.

Effects of Tamsulosin on Urinary Bladder Function and Neuronal Activity in the Voiding Centers of Rats with Cyclophosphamide-induced Overactive Bladder.

Purpose: The overactive bladder (OAB) syndrome is characterized by urgency usually with frequency and nocturia. Tamsulosin, α(1)-adrenergic receptor antagonist, is widely used to reduce symptoms of urinary obstruction and prostatic hyperplasia. Tamsulosin can across the blood-brain barrier.

The ginsenoside-Rb2 lowers cholesterol and triacylglycerol levels in 3T3-L1 adipocytes cultured under high cholesterol or fatty acids conditions.

The effects of the ginsenoside Rb2 (Rb2) on lipid metabolism were characterized in 3T3-L1 adipocytes to evaluate their utility for treating obesity. While the amounts of total cholesterol and triacylglycerol (TAG) were markedly increased in the adipocytes treated with high amounts of cholesterol and fetal bovine serum (FBS), the test groups treated with Rb2 showed levels that were close to normal. The effect of Rb2 on these cells was comparable to that of lovastatin.