Search Results (1,568)

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder with cognitive dysfunction, memory decline, and behavioral disturbance, and it is pathologically characterized by the accumulation of amyloid plaques and neurofibrillary tangles in the brain. Although various hypotheses have been proposed to explain the pathogenesis of AD, including the amyloid beta hypothesis, oxidative stress hypothesis, and abnormal phosphorylation of tau proteins, the exact pathogenic mechanisms underlying AD remain largely undefined. Furthermore, effective curative treatments are very limited. Epidemiologic studies provide convincing evidence for a significant association between type 2 diabetes and AD. Here, we showed energy metabolism using glucose, lactate, ketone bodies, and lipids as energy substrates in a normal brain, and changes in such energy metabolism due to type 2 diabetes. We also showed the influences of such altered energy metabolism due to type 2 diabetes on the pathology of AD. Furthermore, we comprehensively searched for risk factors related with type 2 diabetes for AD and showed possible therapeutic interventions based on considering risk factors and altered brain energy metabolism due to type 2 diabetes for the development of AD. Full article

Background: A specific deletion on the short arm of chromosome 5 (5p) is the hallmark of the rare genetic syndrome called Cri du Chat Syndrome (CdCS). It causes severe difficulty with swallowing, speech, motor skills, and cognitive deficiencies. These arise from characteristic laryngeal abnormalities and oral–motor dysfunctions. Objective: This study aims to investigate the effectiveness of speech and language intervention in addressing the multifaceted challenges of CdCS, including speech and language impairments, feeding difficulties, and social communication deficits. Methods: A narrative review was conducted to synthesize existing studies from the last 35 years on therapeutic interventions for individuals with CdCS. This review focused on interventions targeting speech, language, and swallowing therapy. Comprehensive searches were performed in the PubMed and Scopus databases using descriptors such as “Cri du Chat”, “swallowing disorders”, “speech disorders”, “speech and language disorders”, and “speech and language therapy.” From the identified records, 40 peer-reviewed English-language publications that addressed speech, language, and swallowing interventions were selected based on relevance and inclusion criteria. Data extraction was performed independently by four reviewers, working in two teams. Any disagreements between the teams were resolved through discussion with an independent researcher to ensure reliability and minimize bias. Results: The findings demonstrate that speech and language therapy (SLT) significantly enhances speech clarity, articulation, and oral–motor coordination. Augmentative communication systems effectively bridge gaps in nonverbal communication, fostering improved social interaction. Specific interventions reduce aspiration risks and improve feeding safety, enhancing the overall quality of life. Early multidisciplinary approaches and tailored therapeutic strategies are key to maximizing the benefits of SLT. Conclusions: SLT is crucial for improving communication, swallowing, and social integration in individuals with CdCS. Regular early intervention involving individualized programs and family participation is recommended to achieve optimal outcomes. Further research is needed to evaluate long-term effects and develop cultural and technologically adaptable therapies. Full article

The functional nature of cognitive systems is outlined as a general conceptual model where typical notions of cognition are analyzed apart from the physical realization (biological or artificial) of such systems. The notion of function, one of the main logical bases of mathematics, logic, linguistics, physics, and computer science, is shown to be a unifying concept in analyzing cognition components: learning, meaning, comprehension, language, knowledge, and consciousness are related to increasing levels in the functional organization of cognition. Full article

As the global traffic environment becomes increasingly complex, driving safety issues have become more prominent, making manual-response driving warning systems (DWSs) essential. Augmented reality head-up display (AR-HUD) technology can project information directly, enhancing driver attention; however, improper design may increase cognitive load and affect safety. Thus, the design of AR-HUD driving warning interfaces must focus on improving attention and reducing cognitive load. Currently, systematic research on AR-HUD DWS interfaces is relatively scarce. This paper proposes an ecological interface cognitive balance design strategy for AR-HUD DWS based on cognitive load theory and environmental interface design theory. The research includes developing design models, an integrative framework, and experimental validation suitable for warning scenarios. Research results indicate that the proposed design effectively reduces cognitive load and significantly decreases driver response and comprehension times, outperforming existing interfaces. This design strategy and framework possess promotional value, providing theoretical references and methodological guidance for AR-HUD warning interface research. Full article

Background: Currently, there is a need for approaches to understand and manage the multidimensional autism spectrum and quantify its heterogeneity. The diagnosis is based on behaviors observed in two key dimensions, social communication and repetitive, restricted behaviors, alongside the identification of required support levels. However, it is now recognized that additional modifiers, such as language abilities, IQ, and comorbidities, are essential for a more comprehensive assessment of the complex clinical presentations and clinical trajectories in autistic individuals. Different approaches have been used to identify autism subgroups based on the genetic and clinical heterogeneity, recognizing the importance of autistic behaviors and the assessment of modifiers. While valuable, these methods are limited in their ability to evaluate a specific individual in relation to a normative reference sample of autistic individuals. A quantitative score based on axes of phenotypic variability could be useful to compare individuals, evaluate the homogeneity of subgroups, and follow trajectories of an individual or a specific group. Here we propose an approach by (i) combining measures of phenotype variability that contribute to clinical presentation and could impact different trajectories in autistic persons and (ii) using it with normative modeling to assess the clinical heterogeneity of a specific individual. Methods: Using phenotypic data available in a comprehensive reference sample, the Simons Simplex Collection (n = 2744 individuals), we performed principal component analysis (PCA) to find components of phenotypic variability. Features that contribute to clinical heterogeneity and could impact trajectories in autistic people were assessed by the Autism Diagnostic Interview-Revised (ADI-R), Vineland Adaptive Behavior Scales (VABS) and the Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL). Cognitive assessment was estimated by the Total Intelligence Quotient (IQ). Results: Three PCs embedded 72% of the normative sample variance. PCA-projected dimensions supported normative modeling where a multivariate normal distribution was used to calculate percentiles. A Multidimensional General Functionality Score (MGFS) to evaluate new prospective single subjects was developed based on percentiles. Conclusions: Our approach proposes a basis for comparing individuals, or one individual at two or more times and evaluating homogeneity in phenotypic clinical presentation and possibly guides research sample selection for clinical trials. Full article

This study investigates the relationship between vocabulary knowledge and inference-making during real-time reading comprehension in Spanish-speaking adolescents, addressing an important gap in the literature. A large sample of adolescents (n = 265) aged between 11 and 18 were asked to perform a self-paced reading task, which required integrating words across sentence boundaries. The study compared two conditions: repetition and inference. In the repetition condition, a critical word appeared in both context and target sentences, while in the inference condition, the context allowed the inference of the critical word. Vocabulary knowledge was assessed using a standardized receptive vocabulary test. The results showed that adolescents with larger vocabularies exhibited faster reading times across conditions, particularly in the inference condition, where a stronger vocabulary facilitated more efficient word-to-text integration. The interaction between vocabulary and reading condition indicated that a larger vocabulary mitigates the cognitive cost of inference-making, supporting more effective reading comprehension. These findings highlight the role of vocabulary knowledge in reducing the cognitive load associated with inference generation during reading, offering important implications for educational strategies aimed at improving adolescent literacy. Full article

The epidural injection is a medical intervention to inject therapeutics directly into the vicinity of the spinal cord for pain management. Because of its proximity to the spinal cord, imprecise insertion of the needle may result in irreversible damage to the nerves or spinal cord. This study explores enhancing procedural accuracy by integrating a telerobotic system and augmented reality (AR) assistance. Tele-kinesthesia is achieved using a leader–follower integrated system, and stable force feedback is provided using a novel impedance-matching force rendering approach. In this domain, augmented reality employs a magnetic-tracker-based approach for real-time 3D model projection onto the patient’s body, aiming to augment the physician’s visual field and improve needle insertion accuracy. Preliminary results indicate that our AR-enhanced robotic system may reduce the cognitive load and improve the accuracy of ENI, highlighting the promise of AR technologies in complex medical procedures. However, further studies with larger sample sizes and more diverse clinical settings must comprehensively validate these findings. This work lays the groundwork for future research into integrating AR into medical robotics, potentially transforming clinical practices by enhancing procedural safety and efficiency. Full article

Background/Objectives: Haptic technology has transformed interactions between humans and both tangible and virtual environments. Despite its widespread adoption across various industries, the potential therapeutic applications of this technology have yet to be fully explored. Methods: A systematic review of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and randomized crossover trials was conducted, utilizing databases such as PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, and Web of Science. This review included studies reporting clinical applications of haptic technology in rehabilitation, cognition, wellness, and mental health among adult subjects. Results: This systematic review included 34 studies, of which 20 focused on clinical outcomes and 14 on learning clinical skills. The results showed that haptic devices, both robotic and non-robotic, enhance sensorimotor performance and motor function in rehabilitation settings, especially in post-stroke recovery, with reported effect sizes ranging from 0.2 to 0.7. The majority of the haptic technologies reported were integrated into robotic systems (40%). Haptic devices were also reported to improve clinical skills training by providing tactile feedback that enhances procedural performance and trainee self-efficacy. In fact, surgical simulations accounted for 79% of all the modalities used for medical training. Conclusions: This review underscores the potential yet underexplored applications of haptic technology in healthcare, including medical education, rehabilitation, cognition, and mental health. The key limitations of this review include heterogeneity across studies, small sample sizes, and a scarcity of comprehensive, long-term investigations. Therefore, future research should aim to validate these findings further and expand the applications of haptic technology to maximize its utility in the healthcare industry and clinical practice. Full article

This paper argues that the Confucian notion of the “goodness of human nature” (Xing Shan 性善) does not exclude a religious dimension by examining Mencius’ explanation of this theory. In his response to Gongduzi (公都子), Mencius articulates his understanding of the goodness of human nature. Combining this response with Mencius’ criticism of Gaozi, the two discussions can illuminate each other. Mencius opposes Gaozi’s approach that relies on facts (Qing 情) and talents (Cai才) to define human nature. He argues that such an approach stems from an inductive mode of cognition and a detached observer’s stance toward the world, leading to a perspective devoid of a spiritual world. In contrast, Mencius posits that individuals, beyond sensory perception, can use the faculty bestowed by Heaven to perceive a world infused with noble spirit (Hao Ran Zhi Qi 浩然之氣). The heart-mind, deriving from a transcendent Heaven (天), holds religious significance for Mencius and represents an entity we must serve. However, this does not mean abandoning moral life. On the contrary, Mencius asserts that serving Heaven involves facing moral situations directly, discerning righteousness, and anchoring the direction of one’s actions. In realizing oneself, one also contributes to the realization of others, a significant interpretation of “human nature” as Mencius conceives it. By integrating religious belief with secular life, Mencius grounds the latter in the former, imbuing Confucian thought on the goodness of human nature with an implicit reverence. This approach invites us to understand human life within the comprehensive connection with the universe. Full article

Evaluating students’ learning effectiveness is of great importance for gaining a deeper understanding of the learning process, accurately diagnosing learning barriers, and developing effective teaching strategies. Emotion, as a key factor influencing learning outcomes, provides a novel perspective for identifying cognitive states and emotional experiences. However, traditional evaluation methods suffer from one sidedness in feature extraction and high complexity in model construction, often making it difficult to fully explore the deep value of emotional data. To address this challenge, we have innovatively proposed a lightweight neurodynamic model: 3D-BCLAM. This model cleverly integrates Bidirectional Convolutional Long Short-Term Memory (BCL) and dynamic attention mechanism, in order to efficiently capture emotional dynamic changes in time series with extremely low computational cost. 3D-BCLAM can achieve a comprehensive evaluation of students’ learning outcomes, covering not only the cognitive level but also delving into the emotional dimension for detailed analysis. Under testing on public datasets, 3D-BCLAM has demonstrated outstanding performance, significantly outperforming traditional machine learning and deep learning models based on Convolutional Neural Networks (CNN) and Recurrent Neural Networks (RNN). This achievement not only validates the effectiveness of the 3D-BCLAM model, but also provides strong support for promoting the innovation of student learning effectiveness assessment. Full article

Medicinal plants from the Lamiaceae family hold significant promise as functional food ingredients due to their high content of essential dietary fiber and bioactive compounds. Lamiaceae plants are rich in phenolic acids, flavonoids, and alkaloids, contributing to their antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. This study utilizes a comprehensive patent analysis to explore recent trends in functional foods developed from Lamiaceae plants. We examined patents from databases using Cooperative Patent Classification (CPC) codes relevant to dietetic products and food compositions. Findings indicate a surge in patents related to Lamiaceae-based dietary supplements, particularly those targeting metabolic health, anti-aging, cognitive function, and bone and liver health. Mentha, Scutellaria, Salvia, and Perilla are the most represented genera, with dietary supplements showing potential in chronic disease prevention. This analysis highlights the growing commercial and therapeutic interest in Lamiaceae-derived functional foods, particularly for preventive health applications. Full article

Alexithymia, a psychological condition characterized by emotional suppression, is positively correlated with depression and anxiety and can develop into various mental disorders. Although alexithymia affects 10% of the symptomatic population and 25% of psychiatric patients, there has been a paucity of intervention studies. Even though several effective psychological treatments, including cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), have been tested in recent years, there is a lack of comprehensive reviews on their efficacy. The objectives of this systematic review were to explore and synthesize findings from recent randomized controlled trials (RCTs) about psychological treatments, with the following inclusion criteria: (1) published from 2010 to 2024; (2) full text being available in English; (3) peer-reviewed journals; and (4) baselines and outcomes measured by TAS-20 and raw data were provided. We excluded non-psychological studies and studies involving mindfulness and DBT. We searched electronic databases (PubMed, PsycInfo, and Google Scholar) and found 18 RCTs and 21 arms for alexithymia, with a combined total of 1251 participants. Fourteen arms (67%) investigated the effect of CBT on alexithymia, including acceptance and commitment therapy (seven arms), behavioral activation therapy (two arms), schema therapy, and compassion-focused therapy. The results indicated that most psychological interventions significantly decreased TAS-20, illustrating a showcase of treatments from each trial with different effect sizes (within-intervention group, ranging from 0.41 to 13.25). However, due to the heterogeneity between the studies, this review study may not be conclusive enough to make each intervention standardized. Further high-quality RCTs with larger sample sizes and more consistent methodologies are needed, and corrective findings from such studies should be applied to produce more robust evidence-based psychological interventions for treating alexithymia. Full article

Background/Objectives: The global population is aging rapidly, increasing the need for appropriate health care. Older people often prefer to remain in their homes for as long as possible as they age. Therefore, it is crucial to assess their overall health and understand the individualized care needs for developing tailored home care services. This systematic review aims to examine the major domains of a range of assessment tools used for older people receiving home care services. Methods: A systematic search of Medline and PsycINFO via Ovid, CINAHL via EBSCO, Web of Science, and Scopus was conducted to identify studies investigating assessment of older people requiring home care services. The literature findings were systematically synthesized and classified using the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) by the World Health Organization (WHO). Results: A total of 32 studies were included in the systematic review. Three primary categories were identified based on the WHO ICF classification system: (1) body functions, (2) activities and participation, and (3) environmental factors. Body functions included physical functions and mental functions. Mobility, self-care, and domestic life were three major aspects within the ICF category of activities and participation. Regarding the environmental factors, support, relationships, and services provided to older people were commonly considered in the included studies. Among them, the most assessed domains were physical, psychological, cognitive, functional, and nutritional assessment. Conclusions: The synthesis of findings in this review reveals major domains in various assessment tools, contributing to the development of a comprehensive framework to guide the assessment for older people requiring home care services. Full article

In the Yi ethnic group in southwest China, the gourd is a prominent symbol, collectively imbued with imaginative and spiritual significance. It maintains a profound connection to the Yi people’s way of life, manifested in both ancient mythological narratives and contemporary social practices. Given the pivotal role of the gourd in the Great Flood, reconstituting the world and birthing humanity, this study delves into its intricate associations with fertile imagery and thinking, provides an interpretation of the gourd’s mythological archetype, elucidates religious practices, and explores the cultural interpretations conveyed through gourd imagery. The cultural traditions of the gourd within Yi culture operate through both mythological narratives and lived practices, forming an integrated cognitive framework through which people perceived and interpreted the world. Presently, research specifically focusing on the gourd symbol in Yi mythology and rituals is limited. This article, offering a perspective grounded in classical textual interpretation, aims to understand the culture of the Yi people. It provides a comprehensive analysis of the gourd’s symbolic significance and enriches broader discussions on cultural diversity in contemporary society. Full article

Architectural color significantly impacts the quality of built environments and is closely related to the physical and mental health of residents. Previous studies have conducted numerous valuable explorations in this field; however, the challenge of quantitatively measuring the characteristics of architectural colors in depth and examining the complex relationship between these colors and human perception remains an unresolved issue. To this end, this study builds upon recent advancements in data technology and emotion analysis to develop a comprehensive cognitive framework for urban architectural color evaluation. It combines machine learning techniques and perception scales, utilizing both objective and subjective data. By acquiring and recognizing numerous street-view images of the Changsha Central District, we quantitatively examined the hue, saturation, value, color complexity index and color harmony index of urban architectural colors and investigated the complex relationships between human perception and architectural colors through large-scale participant ratings and correlation analyses. The results show that the architectural colors of the study area are warm, with low saturation and moderate value. Most areas exhibit a high color complexity index, whereas the overall color harmony score is low. Human-perception evaluations indicate that people are generally satisfied with the urban architectural colors of the Changsha Central District. For further optimization, the saturation and color harmony scores need to be enhanced. This study provides a comprehensive evaluation of urban architectural color quality, visualizing the complex relationship between urban architectural color and human perception. It offers new perspectives for improving the built environments and supporting sustainable development, with practical application value. Full article