50716 research outputs found
Sort by
The Combination of Physical Activity and Cognitive Games is Associated With Better Cognitive Performance and Gray Matter Volume in Older Adults
Get PDFObjectives: Investigate whether engaging in cognitive and physical activity is associated with cognitive performance and gray matter volume. Specifically, this study investigated the role of both activity types performed in close temporal proximity to each other. Methods: Cognitively healthy older adults (n = 155; 73–78 years; 45% female) enrolled in the PATH Through Life study with valid cognitive, MRI and physical activity (PA) measures were included in the study. PA was objectively measured with a SenseWear Armband for 7 days. PA and cognitive engagement were self-reported through a 1-week activity diary. The number of 3-h periods in which ≥ 15 min of objective moderately vigorous physical activity (MVPA) > 3METs, cognitive activity, or both occurred, were assessed. Cognitive game activity periods were also coded. Associations between activity engagement and outcome measures were assessed with hierarchical regression models while controlling for age, sex, and education. Results: For cognitive engagement, greater activity diversity was associated with better symbol digits modalities test performance (SDMT), while a greater number of cognitive activity periods were associated with better SDMT, and digit span backward performance. Greater cognitive game periods improved model fit for several cognitive outcomes and right hippocampal volume. MVPA periods were not associated with any outcome. The number of periods in which cognitive activity and MVPA were present together was associated with better immediate recall. Periods in which cognitive games and MVPA co-existed were associated with cognitive and volumetric outcomes. Discussion: These findings support the notion that both cognitive and physical activity are positively related to brain health. They highlight the potential importance of performing both activity types in close temporal proximity to support the aging brain.</p
Early Nutrition is Associated With Global Motion Perception and V5 Function in 7-Year-Old Children Born Very Preterm
Get PDFThe dorsal stream vulnerability hypothesis suggests that preterm birth may preferentially impair development of the dorsal visual pathway. We explored the effects of early nutrition on dorsal stream development in a well-characterized cohort of 7-year-old children born very preterm. The children had been admitted to a tertiary hospital neonatal intensive care unit either before (OldPro group) or after (NewPro group) a parenteral nutrition protocol change that was intended to increase protein intake and reduce fluid volume intake. We assessed dorsal stream function using the blood oxygen level-dependent (BOLD) response in V1 and V5 to coherent and incoherent random dot kinematograms (RDKs), quantified using functional magnetic resonance imaging. V1 and V5 regions of interest could be localized in 24 children (OldPro n = 11, NewPro n = 13). Motion coherence thresholds, a psychophysical measure of global motion perception, were also available for 22 of these children (OldPro n = 9, NewPro n = 13). The NewPro group demonstrated a higher V5 BOLD response to RDK stimuli (OldPro: mean = 0.5%, SD = 0.2%; NewPro: mean = 1.0%, SD = 0.6%) and exhibited lower (better) motion coherence thresholds (OldPro: median = 74.0%, IQR: 59.5%-81.2%; NewPro: median = 36.8%, IQR: 27.5%-44.5%), compared to the OldPro group. The V1 BOLD response did not differ between the groups. There was a significant association between V5 ΔBOLD (coherent minus incoherent stimulus BOLD response) and motion coherence threshold. Together, these findings suggest that early nutrition may influence dorsal stream development in children born very preterm.</p
Digital leadership:Developing digital literacies in schools in Indonesia for empowering education and advancing sustainable development goals (SDGs)
No full textThis study examines digital leadership in Indonesia, focusing on how leaders' interests, motivations, and challenges influence technology integration for online learning in schools. Using a mixed-methods approach, the research assesses the validity and reliability of a digital media literacy framework through an online survey of 577 teachers across Indonesia. The findings reveal that 61.5% of teachers enjoy using technology, and 65.5% are open to embracing its challenges. However, 43.2% face difficulties with technology integration due to limited technical skills and inadequate internet access. Only 23% effectively utilise technology in the classroom, and 25.8% feel comfortable using it. The study highlights significant gaps in digital literacy, underscoring the importance of effective digital leadership, improved communication, and targeted resources to address these challenges. This research is particularly relevant as it sheds light on the specific obstacles teachers encounter in adopting technology within Indonesia's educational context and offers strategies to enhance technology implementation and digital literacy in underdeveloped and remote areas. The study concludes that strong educational leadership and comprehensive support are essential to empower teachers to overcome digital challenges and maximise technology for improved teaching practices
City-Scale Revegetation Strategies Impact on the Temperature-Related Long-Term Mortality:A Quantitative Assessment in Three Cities in Southern Europe
Get PDFNature-based solutions (NBS) have attracted increasing attention in local air quality and climate change adaptation plans as suitable measures to reduce health risks. Although several studies have reported health benefits from short-term urban cooling effects of NBS, medium- to long-term health benefits are still poorly understood. In this study, we assess the changes in long-term mortality related to temperature fluctuations induced by city-scale vegetation actuations in three Southern European cities. We performed two annual high-resolution simulations with the Weather Research and Forecasting model to anticipate the impact of future revegetation strategies on temperature in these urban areas. Further, we assessed the impact of temperature changes on health using a country-specific minimum mortality temperature (MMT) reported in scientific literature. It was found that NBS could provide non-negligible reductions of long-term mortality related to temperature regulation (central estimate of 4.1, 1.2, and 3.4 cases avoided per year in Madrid, Milano, and Bologna, respectively). The effect of vegetation is site-dependent, and the cooling effect explains most of the benefits, especially in densely built-up areas of the cities analyzed. Future research should combine short/long-term temperature effects with other indirect implications (air quality, mental health) in the context of climate change.</p
Determining mesopic visual salience thresholds in see-through displays
No full textPurpose : Unlike in bright (photopic) environments the limits of how much larger or brighter a target amongst distractors needs to be to reliably attract attention in dim (mesopic) environments is not well known. Understanding the limits of human mesopic vision has implications for see-through aviation displays, such as Helmet Mounted Displays (HMDs), as information demands increase. This study conducted a series of repeated measures visual psychophysical experiments to establish visual salience thresholds for size and luminance of targets in mesopic conditions compared to photopic conditions. It was hypothesised that size and luminance thresholds in mesopic conditions will be higher than photopic light conditions.Methods : Participants (20-33 years, 6/6 vision in both eyes unaided) undertook two computer-based visual search experiments which involved detecting a target among an array of distractors differing by their position and set size (8,16). Distractors were 4.3 arcminutes in size, similar to current see-through display symbology. The target was presented on 50% of trials and differed from the distractors by either stroke width (Expt 1) or luminance against a low contrast background (Exp 2). Participants indicated with a button press if the target was present. Three light levels were tested: Photopic (47 cd/m2), High Mesopic (4.7 cd/m2), Mid Mesopic (0.5 cd/m2). Visual thresholds for each feature for each light level were determined by an 1up-4-down staircase procedure. Threshold estimates across light levels were analysed by 2-way mixed ANOVAs.Results : For a target to be detected (Exp 1) the increase in stroke width compared to that of distractors must be 1.25 arcmin for photopic, 2 arcmin for high mesopic and 2.75 arcmin larger (N = 5, p < .05) for mid-mesopic light level. In Exp 2, against a low contrast background the absolute luminance of the target needed to be 23% brighter for photopic, 30% for high mesopic and 42% for mid mesopic (N =5, p < .05).Conclusions : In mesopic light levels both stroke width and luminance of target stimuli must be increased to match detection accuracy in photopic light levels. The results of this research provide empirical limits for human vision in dim light conditions which can be utilised in future visual displays in aviation environments to improve performance
Prognostic performance of machine learning in predicting haematological cancer outcomes:systematic review and meta-analysis
No full textDiagnosis and treatment of haematologic malignancies present significant challenges, underscoring the need for highly individualized therapeutic approaches. Incorporating machine learning (ML) algorithms into predictions of haematological cancer outcomes has been increasingly investigated in recent years. However, it has not been investigated whether ML-based approach is superior to standard regression methods. Therefore, this review aims to assess their performance as compared to standard regression-based prediction methods. Studies from Web of Science, Medline, SCOPUS, CINHAL were reviewed, and associated risk of bias (ROB) assessed using PROBAST (Prediction Model Risk of Bias Assessment Tool). Standard and three-level random-effects meta-analysis were performed to obtain the ML pooled discriminative ability. Of 4204 retrieved studies, 48 were included in the systematic review. Pooled area under the curve (AUC) values of 24 top-performing ML and all 71 ML models from 19 studies were 0.80 (95% CI: 0.76, 0.84) and 0.779 (95% CI: 0.731, 0.827) in the testing set, respectively. The discrimination ability was similar between top-performing ML algorithms (AUC = 0.78, 95% CI: 0.70-0.86) and standard regression (AUC = 0.72, 95% CI: 0.66-0.78) in testing set. The three-level meta-analysis that incorporated all ML algorithms revealed similar results. However, externally validated top-performing ML algorithms outperformed standard models with a pooled AUC of 0.87 (95% CI: 0.76-0.98) compared with 0.72 (95% CI: 0.66-0.79). Although ML models' performance was acceptable, studies generally exhibited high ROB, emphasizing the need for future ML models to adhere to PROBAST guidelines.</p
The player salary costs of match-loss injury and illness at an Australian Football League Club:A six-season retrospective cohort study
No full textBackground: The objective of this study was to quantify the salary costs of match-loss injuries and illnesses at a single professional AFL club. Methods: A retrospective cohort study involving male professional AFL players across a six-season period (2016–2021). Analysis of player injury and illness data, and corresponding salary data, was performed with costs calculated using the human capital method. Results: There were 95 individual players across the six-seasons, with 79 unique diagnoses, 267 match-loss injuries or illnesses and 1130 matches missed. The total salary cost of match-loss injury and illness was AU1.3 million, 30 incidences, 10.0 % of total salary costs), followed by soleus strains (AU1.1 million, 25 incidences, 8.4 %). Of the most frequent injuries, hamstring semimembranosus strains had the highest mean (SD) cost per injury occurrence at AU99,264 (105,086). Injury or illness costs as a proportion of the total salary spend across six seasons was 17 % (range 10 %–22 %). Conclusion: Match-loss injuries and illnesses incur a considerable financial cost relative to the player salary expenditure. This study may provide a costing model for sports businesses to utilise as an approach to inform resource allocation decisions, particularly in relation to injury management and prevention.</p
Exploring good mental health for people with intellectual disabilities:a qualitative interview study with mental health experts
No full textBackground: Most mental health research focuses on mental disorders, with a paucity of studies exploring good mental health. Widely used definitions of good mental health (e.g., WHO’s) include several aspects of positive human functioning as predisposing to mental health. According to diagnostic criteria, people with intellectual disabilities (ID) are impaired in their functioning levels (e.g., intellectual functioning, adaptive skills). Existing definitions of good mental health may therefore not be applicable to an ID population. Objective: We aimed to explore the perspectives of experts on good mental health in people with ID to shed light on the constitutive factors of good mental health in this population. Methods: Semi-structured expert interviews with open-ended questions (N = 12) were conducted with psychiatrists, psychologists, psychotherapists, and psychiatric nurses, working either academically or in practice with this population. Inductive, reflexive thematic analysis was applied to analyze and synthesize the data. Results: Four themes regarding components of good mental health in people with ID were derived: (1) Absence of Mental Illness, (2) Physical Health, (3) Psychosocial Functioning, and (4) Social Environment. Psychosocial functioning was divided into five subthemes, namely: (1) Emotional Competence, (2) Self-Concept, (3) Experience of Meaning, (4) Self-Determination, and (5) Personal Growth. Conclusions: According the participants of this study, the constitutive factors of good mental health are similar for people with and without ID. The importance of needs-based, individualized support and an appropriate social environment was particularly emphasized for people with ID, to facilitate positive human functioning and promote good mental health.</p
Prevalence and subtype distribution of Blastocystis infections among community participants in Thailand:a systematic review and meta-analysis
No full textA comprehensive understanding of the prevalence and subtype distribution of Blastocystis infections among community participants in Thailand is essential to inform targeted public health interventions. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to estimate the overall prevalence of Blastocystis infections and to determine the distribution of subtypes among community participants in Thailand. Relevant studies on Blastocystis infections in community participants in Thailand were searched in PubMed, Embase, Scopus, Ovid, ProQuest, and the Thai-Journal Citation Index. The methodological quality of the included studies was assessed using the Joanna Briggs Institute critical appraisal tools. Prevalence estimates and subtype distributions were calculated using random-effects models. A total of 947 articles were identified, with 60 studies included in the systematic review and meta-analysis. The meta-analysis led to an estimated overall prevalence of Blastocystis infections in community participants in Thailand at 8.34% (95% CI: 5.48%-12.51%; I 2: 98.2%; number of studies: 60; number of participants: 33,101). Meta-regression analysis showed no significant temporal trends in infection prevalence. The highest prevalence rates were observed in Eastern Thailand (13.54%) and Western Thailand (10.09%). Subtype analysis identified ST3 and ST1 as the most common subtypes, accounting for 50.05% and 23.50% of positive samples, respectively. The highest prevalence was reported in military personnel (29.87%), followed by orphans (29.01%). Improved use of molecular and culture-based diagnostic methods is recommended to enhance detection accuracy. Public health interventions should prioritize high-risk groups, such as military personnel and orphans, and address regional disparities to reduce the burden of Blastocystis infections. </p