O-GlcNAcylated proteins are abundant in the brain and are associated with neuronal functions and neurodegenerative diseases. Although several studies have reported the effects of aberrant regulation of O-GlcNAcylation on brain function, the roles of O-GlcNAcylation in synaptic function remain unclear. To understand the effect of aberrant O-GlcNAcylation on the brain, we used Oga+/− mice which have an increased level of O-GlcNAcylation, and found that Oga+/− mice exhibited impaired spatial learning and memory. Consistent with this result, Oga+/− mice showed a defect in hippocampal synaptic plasticity. Oga heterozygosity causes impairment of both long-term potentiation and long-term depression due to dysregulation of AMPA receptor phosphorylation. These results demonstrate a role for hyper-O-GlcNAcylation in learning and memory.

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-A permanent-magnet-assisted switched reluctance motor (SRM) having small excitation poles, where phase coils are concentrically wound on the poles and thin permanent magnets are inserted inside the poles, is proposed in this paper. The insertion of permanent magnets into the stator excitation poles has a significant influence on positive torque improvement leading to a boost in efficiency. Three key design parameters such as the thickness of permanent magnets, space between two adjacent permanent magnets, and the width of stator excitation poles are determined during a design procedure in terms of the enhancement of positive torque.Step-by-step design modification and a comparison between the proposed permanent-magnet-assisted SRM and no-permanent-magnet SRM have been conducted by means of static torque comparison along with dynamic performance. The first prototype from steel laminations up to its physical assembly has been constructed.