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Exploring the neural and behavioral correlates of cognitive telerehabilitation in mild cognitive impairment with three distinct approaches
Get PDFData management:
Study data will be recorded in the REDCap database in compliance with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). All participants will be registered with an identification code. The database will be kept updated to reflect the participant’s status at each stage during the course of the study. The collected data, after scientific publication, will be deposited in dedicated repositories according to the good practice of data sharing.Background: Currently, the impact of drug therapies on neurodegenerative conditions is limited. Therefore, there is a strong clinical interest in non-pharmacological interventions aimed at preserving functionality, delaying disease progression, reducing disability, and improving quality of life for both patients and their caregivers. This longitudinal multicenter Randomized Controlled Trial (RCT) applies three innovative cognitive telerehabilitation (TR) methods to evaluate their impact on brain functional connectivity reconfigurations and on the overall level of cognitive and everyday functions.
Methods: We will include 110 participants with mild cognitive impairment (MCI). Fifty-five participants will be randomly assigned to the intervention group who will receive cognitive TR via three approaches, namely: (a) Network-based Cognitive Training (NBCT), (b) Home-based Cognitive Rehabilitation (HomeCoRe), or (c) Semantic Memory Rehabilitation Training (SMRT). The control group (n = 55) will receive an unstructured home-based cognitive stimulation. The rehabilitative program will last either 4 (NBTC) or 6 weeks (HomeCoRe and SMRT), and the control condition will be adapted to each TR intervention. The effects of TR will be tested in terms of Δ connectivity change, obtained from high-density electroencephalogram (HD-EEG) or functional magnetic resonance imaging at rest (rs-fMRI), acquired before (T0) and after (T1) the intervention. All participants will undergo a comprehensive neuropsychological assessment at four time-points: baseline (T0), within 2 weeks (T1), and after 6 (T2) and 12 months (T3) from the end of TR.
Discussion: The results of this RCT will identify a potential association between improvement in performance induced by individual cognitive TR approaches and modulation of resting-state brain connectivity. The knowledge gained with this study might foster the development of novel TR approaches underpinned by established neural mechanisms to be validated and implemented in clinical practice.
Clinical trial registration: [https://classic.clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT06278818], identifier [NCT06278818].The author(s) declare that financial support was received for the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article. This study is supported by the Italian Ministry of Health (Ricerca Corrente 2022-2024 - IRCCS Mondino Foundation, Pavia). SC, MM, RM research activities are supported by #NEXTGENERATIONEU (NGEU) and funded by the Ministry of University and Research (MUR), National Recovery and Resilience Plan (NRRP), project MNESYS (PE0000006) a multiscale integrated approach to the study of the nervous system in health and disease (DN. 1553 11.10.2022)
The “Road” to Malignant Transformation from Endometriosis to Endometriosis-Associated Ovarian Cancers (EAOCs): An mTOR-Centred Review
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No extra data is generated in this review article.Ovarian cancer is an umbrella term covering a number of distinct subtypes. Endometrioid and clear-cell ovarian carcinoma are endometriosis-associated ovarian cancers (EAOCs) frequently arising from ectopic endometrium in the ovary. The mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR) is a crucial regulator of cellular homeostasis and is dysregulated in both endometriosis and endometriosis-associated ovarian cancer, potentially favouring carcinogenesis across a spectrum from benign disease with cancer-like characteristics, through an atypical phase, to frank malignancy. In this review, we focus on mTOR dysregulation in endometriosis and EAOCs, investigating cancer driver gene mutations and their potential interaction with the mTOR pathway. Additionally, we explore the complex pathogenesis of transformation, considering environmental, hormonal, and epigenetic factors. We then discuss postmenopausal endometriosis pathogenesis and propensity for malignant transformation. Finally, we summarize the current advancements in mTOR-targeted therapeutics for endometriosis and EAOCs.This research received no external funding
Assessing the effects of an 8-week mindfulness training program on neural oscillations and self-reports during meditation practice
Get PDFData Availability: All raw data and MATLAB scripts are publicly available through the Open Science Framework repository (see https://osf.io/r8739/).Previous literature suggests that mindfulness meditation can have positive effects on mental health, however, its mechanisms of action are still unclear. In this pre-registered study, we investigate the effects of mindfulness training on lapses of attention (and their associated neural correlates) during meditation practice. For this purpose, we recorded Electroencephalogram (EEG) during meditation practice before and after 8 weeks of mindfulness training (or waitlist) in 41 participants (21 treatment and 20 controls). In order to detect lapses of attention and characterize their EEG correlates, we interrupted participants during meditation to report their level of focus and drowsiness. First, we show that self-reported lapses of attention during meditation practice were associated to an increased occurrence of theta oscillations (3–6 Hz), which were slower in frequency and more spatially widespread than theta oscillations occurring during focused attention states. Then, we show that mindfulness training did not reduce the occurrence of lapses of attention nor their associated EEG correlate (i.e. theta oscillations) during meditation. Instead, we find that mindfulness training was associated with a significant slowing of alpha oscillations in frontal electrodes during meditation. Crucially, frontal alpha slowing during meditation practice has been reported in experienced meditators and is thought to reflect relative decreases in arousal levels. Together, our findings provide insights into the EEG correlates of mindfulness meditation, which could have important implications for the identification of its mechanisms of action and/or the development of neuromodulation protocols aimed at facilitating meditation practice.This study was funded by the start-up funding from the National University of Singapore to Julian Lim
Employing a systems approach to unravelling the complexities of the agricultural plastics value chain
Get PDFData availability: Data will be made available on request.Supplementary data are available online at: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0959652624033146#appsec1 .Agriplastics encompass all plastic materials, components and products used in agriculture. Valued for their versatility and cost-effectiveness, and functionalities related to productivity and weather protection, their widespread use has resulted in considerable plastic waste and pollution, exacerbated by poor handling and mismanagement. Applying systematized evidence mapping and a systems-based approach this study assesses the agriplastics value chain, particularly in crop cultivation, aiming to develop a cutting-edge understanding of both the known and unknown aspects of their sustainability and identify potential interventions. Findings reveal that while agriplastics play a critical role in enhancing agricultural productivity and efficiency, they pose complex sustainability challenges related to their production, use, and end-of-life management. Key issues, such as the accumulation of microplastics and the leaching of harmful chemicals like phthalates into the soil, along with fragmented data on sustainability impacts, inadequate infrastructure, and weak policy frameworks, demand urgent attention. Additionally, the potential for biopolymers to replace petrochemical-based agriplastics remains underexplored from a holistic, multidimensional perspective. Addressing these challenges requires coordinated efforts across the entire agriplastics value chain to promote sustainable agricultural practices and mitigate environmental, economic, and social consequences. While mitigation measures and alternatives are being developed, their uptake has been slow due to low stakeholder engagement and the challenges of moving away from established practices. These gaps delay necessary actions to manage the growing agriplastic waste stream. Further research is urgently needed to better understand the long-term effects of agriplastics use, disposal, and management, and to facilitate the agricultural sector's transition toward more sustainable practices. A central dilemma that emerged from this study is whether agriplastics can be significantly reduced or phased out, given their low cost and crucial role in ensuring food security—a topic that, while not the focus of this study, warrants deeper exploration in future research.This research did not receive any specific grant from funding agencies in the public, commercial, or not-for-profit
sectors
Unscented Kalman Filtering Over Full-Duplex Relay Networks Under Binary Encoding Schemes
Get PDFIn this paper, a modified unscented Kalman filter design algorithm is proposed for discrete-time stochastic nonlinear systems over full-duplex relay networks with binary encoding schemes. In order to enhance the transmission reliability, a full-duplex relay is deployed between sensors and the filter, and a self-interference cancellation scheme is introduced to eliminate the interference caused by the relay itself. To accommodate the digital communication manner, a binary encoding scheme is adopted, and a sequence of random variables obeying Bernoulli distribution is introduced to characterize statistical behaviors of the random bit flips. The objective of the addressed problem is to design an unscented Kalman filter over full-duplex relay networks with binary encoding schemes that reflects the impacts of the decoding error, the bit flips, and the full-duplex relay on the filtering performance. A sufficient condition is developed using the matrix inverse lemma to guarantee the exponential mean-square boundedness of the filtering error. Finally, a simulation study is carried out to demonstrate the effectiveness of the developed binary-encoding-based unscented Kalman filter over a full duplex network.10.13039/501100001809-National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant Number: 62473247, 62473261 and 62373241
Secure Recursive State Estimation of Networked Systems Against Eavesdropping: A Partial-Encryption-Decryption Method
Get PDFThis paper addresses the problem of secure recursive state estimation for a networked linear system, which may be vulnerable to interception of transmitted measurement data by eavesdroppers. To effectively protect information security, an encryption-decryption-based communication scheme can be used, but encrypting all the measurement data from sensors can result in significant computational costs. To address this issue, a partial-encryption-decryption (PED) mechanism is proposed to enhance information security with relatively low computational costs. In this mechanism, only part of the transmitted measurement signals are encrypted, and the remaining signals are transmitted directly to the estimator. A Jordan-canonical-form-based approach is developed to select the appropriate parameter for the PED mechanism, and recursive formulas for the state estimator are designed based on the principle of minimum mean squared error. Sufficient conditions are derived to guarantee the ultimate boundedness of the estimation error variance matrix. Finally, the proposed PED-based recursive state estimation scheme is evaluated through two simulation examples to demonstrate its effectiveness.10.13039/501100001809-National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant Number: 62273087, 61933007, 62273088 and U21A2019
A Greener Future - Electric Vehicles and Charging Infrastructure in the United Kingdom
Get PDFThis paper presents a literary review of the charging infrastructure together with the electric vehicle uptake in the UK. The literature review covers the UK Governments legal binding commitments, current policies for improving EV uptake and accelerating the charging infrastructure in the UK. Industry position and government papers were reviewed which highlight the key challenges faced. The current charging infrastructure in the UK is presented together with future requirement for charging points. Modelling the future number of chargepoints is highly uncertain. The technological and commercial climate for charging infrastructure is developing at a rapid pace and it is not clear what will be the optimal mix between the high and low powered chargers
Deciphering Article 17 of the Digital Copyright Directive and its Compatibility with Freedom of Expression and Information following Republic of Poland v European Parliament (C-401/19)
No full textCases cited:
Poland v European Parliament (C-401/19) EU:C:2022:297; [2023] 4 W.L.R. 24; [2022] 4 WLUK 194 (ECJ (Grand Chamber))Legislation cited:
Directive 2019/790 on copyright and related rights in the Digital Single Market art.17;
Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union art.11.Discusses Poland v European Parliament (C-401/19) (ECJ) on the fundamental rights compliance of the liability regime for online intermediaries under Directive 2019/790 art.17, highlighting issues arising from reliance on filtering tools, prioritising ex-ante safeguards and implementation approaches
If health organisations and staff engage in research, does healthcare improve? Strengthening the evidence base through systematic reviews
Get PDFAvailability of data and materials:
No datasets were generated or analysed during the current study.Supplementary Information is available online at: https://health-policy-systems.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12961-024-01187-7#Sec30 .Background:
There is an often-held assumption that the engagement of clinicians and healthcare organizations in research improves healthcare performance at various levels. Previous reviews found up to 28 studies suggesting a positive association between the engagement of individuals and healthcare organizations in research and improvements in healthcare performance. The current study sought to provide an update.
Methods:
We updated our existing published systematic review by again addressing the question: Does research engagement (by clinicians and organizations) improve healthcare performance? The search covered the period 1 January 2012 to March 2024, in two phases. First, the formal updated search ran from 1 January 2012 to 31 May 2020, in any healthcare setting or country and focussed on English language publications. In this phase two searches identified 66 901 records. Later, a further check of key journals and citations to identified papers ran from May 2020 to March 2024. In total, 168 papers progressed to full-text appraisal; 62 were identified for inclusion in the update. Then we combined papers from our original and updated reviews.
Results:
In the combined review, the literature is dominated by papers from the United States (50/95) and mostly drawn from the Global North. Papers cover various clinical fields, with more on cancer than any other field; 86 of the 95 papers report positive results, of which 70 are purely positive and 16 positive/mixed, meaning there are some negative elements (i.e. aspects where there is a lack of healthcare improvement) in their findings.
Conclusions:
The updated review collates a substantial pool of studies, especially when combined with our original review, which are largely positive in terms of the impact of research engagement on processes of care and patient outcomes. Of the potential engagement mechanisms, the review highlights the important role played by research networks. The review also identifies various papers which consider how far there is a “dose effect” from differing amounts of research engagement. Additional lessons come from analyses of equity issues and negative papers. This review provides further evidence of contributions played by systems level research investments such as research networks on processes of care and patient outcomes.None
An exploration of the religious nature of Islamic private schools
Get PDFThis thesis was submitted for the award of Doctor of Philosophy and was awarded by Brunel University LondonThe rise of Islamic private schools in the United Kingdom has generated
considerable debate, raising crucial questions about the intersection of religion,
identity, and education in a multicultural society. These schools function as
spaces where educational, religious, ethno-cultural, and political values
intersect, shaping the identities of Muslim pupils and their communities. This
study explores what defines an "Islamic" school, why it matters to Muslims and
the overall educational landscape in the United Kingdom, and how these
schools navigate competing priorities and socio-political dynamics.
Using a qualitative ethnographic approach, this research examines two Islamic
private schools—one primary and one secondary—through in-depth fieldwork.
Semi-structured interviews with school officials, parents, and students offer
insights into stakeholder motivations and expectations. Focus group
discussions with primary-level students, along with participant observations of
classrooms, prayer venues, and playgrounds, enrich the analysis of how the
Islamic ethos and pupils’ identities are shaped and nurtured in practice.
The findings reveal three critical dimensions. First, they demonstrate how
stakeholders influence the curriculum and school environment, resulting in an
"Islamised" educational framework that integrates spiritual, moral, and
academic development. However, the absence of a standardised Islamised
curriculum emerges as a significant challenge. Second, this research builds on
earlier studies by exploring four dimensions of identity formation—religious,
ethno-cultural, political, and multi-dimensional. It uncovers how Islamic schools
serve as sites for resisting and (re)negotiating identity politics, engaging with
questions of citizenship, Britishness, and belonging, while hybridising
Muslimness with British values to counter Islamophobia and far-right rhetoric.
Finally, the study highlights the multi-faceted nature of parental expectations,
revealing how these shape the curriculum, school environment, and ultimately,
the identities of Muslim pupils. By examining the religious nature of these
schools and its implications, this research addresses a critical gap in
understanding the evolving role of Islamic education within contemporary
Britain.Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) through the ‘Grand Union’ Doctoral Training Partnershi
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