96 research outputs found
Effects of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation on improvement of cognition in elderly patients with cognitive impairment: A systematic review and meta-analysis
The study aimed to examine the effects of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) on cognitive function in elderly patients with cognitive impairment
Investigation of wing rock on delta wing part 1 : flow field and hydrodynamic force analysis
All modern fighter jets incorporate the use of the delta wing in the aircraft design to reduce wave drag and enhance flight performance at supersonic speeds. Delta wings are capable of providing increased lift compared to conventional airfoils due to the suction force generated by the leading edge vortices. However, at high angles of attack, delta wings are also prone to a phenomenon known as wing rock which can occur at high angles of attack and subsonic speeds.
This final year project focuses on the study of wing rock of delta wings at high angles of attack in a water tunnel. In the experiment, the hydrodynamic force generated by the delta wing is measured using a force-moment transducer, and the flow visualization is carried out with a dye probe, video camera and a digital SLR. Four delta wings, one Free To Roll device (FTR) and numerous angled joints were designed specifically for this experiment. Special attention was dedicated to the FTR device such that it only allowed movement around the longitudinal axis of the delta wing, and that special water-proof bearings were used to withstand the testing conditions.
Experimental data suggests that the wing rock motion is dependent on asymmetrical vortex breakdown over the wing. Discrepancies with other studies could be due to different friction used between systems, which can have a significant on the propagation of wing rock. The conclusion from this study is that there is good correlation between angle of attack, delta wing sweep angle, Reynolds number and the vortex breakdown behavior. In addition, dye flow visualization results show that the asymmetric vortex breakdown occurs at certain conditions.Bachelor of Engineering (Aerospace Engineering
The role of dopamine dysregulation and evidence for the transdiagnostic nature of elevated dopamine synthesis in psychosis: a positron emission tomography (PET) study comparing schizophrenia, delusional disorder, and other psychotic disorders
There have been few studies performed to examine the pathophysiological differences between different types of psychosis, such as between delusional disorder (DD) and schizophrenia (SZ). Notably, despite the different clinical characteristics of DD and schizophrenia (SZ), antipsychotics are deemed equally effective pharmaceutical treatments for both conditions. In this context, dopamine dysregulation may be transdiagnostic of the pathophysiology of psychotic disorders such as DD and SZ. In this study, an examination is made of the dopamine synthesis capacity (DSC) of patients with SZ, DD, other psychotic disorders, and the DSC of healthy subjects. Fifty-four subjects were recruited to the study, comprising 35 subjects with first-episode psychosis (11 DD, 12 SZ, 12 other psychotic disorders) and 19 healthy controls. All received an 18F-DOPA positron emission tomography (PET)/magnetic resonance (MR) scan to measure DSC (Kocc;30-60 value) within 1 month of starting antipsychotic treatment. Clinical assessments were also made, which included Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) measurements. The mean Kocc;30-60 was significantly greater in the caudate region of subjects in the DD group (ES = 0.83, corrected p = 0.048), the SZ group (ES = 1.40, corrected p = 0.003) and the other psychotic disorder group (ES = 1.34, corrected p = 0.0045), compared to that of the control group. These data indicate that DD, SZ, and other psychotic disorders have similar dysregulated mechanisms of dopamine synthesis, which supports the utility of abnormal dopamine synthesis in transdiagnoses of these psychotic conditions
The Hong Kong version of Montreal Cognitive Assessment for the Visually Impaired (HKMoCA-VI): Proposed cut-off and cognitive functioning survey of visually impaired elderly in residential homes.
BackgroundVisual impairment has been strongly associated with the incidence of dementia. Appropriate cognitive screening for the elderly with visual impairment is crucial for early identification of dementia and its management. Due to challenges in processing visually presented stimuli among participants, the cut-off score of the Hong Kong version of the Montreal Cognitive Assessment for the Visually Impaired (HKMoCA-VI), also known as MoCA-BLIND or MoCA-22, was unknown. Besides, the cognitive status of elderly with visual impairment residing in care homes is rarely investigated. The current study aimed to 1) establish the cut-off score for HKMoCA-VI and 2) examine the general cognitive functioning of elderly with visual impairment living in residential homes in Hong Kong in terms of MoCA-VI percentile scores.MethodHKMoCA-VI and the Cantonese version of the Mini-Mental State Examination (CMMSE) were administered to 123 visually impaired elderly residents in care homes in Hong Kong. Percentile scores of HKMoCA-VI by age and education level were determined, and the concurrent validity, sensitivity, and specificity of HKMoCA-VI were assessed.ResultsA cut-off score 12 was suggested for HKMoCA-VI, which yielded a sensitivity and specificity of 89.29% and 83.58%, respectively. Moreover, it strongly correlated with CMMSE, indicating satisfactory concurrent validity.ConclusionsHKMoCA-VI is suggested to be a viable cognitive screening tool for elderly individuals with visual impairment in residential homes. Further modifications to enhance the sensitivity and specificity of the measure are proposed
The differential effect of emotional loneliness and social loneliness on late-life depression
Objectives: Loneliness adversely affects the prognosis, treatment, and remission of late-life depression. However, no clear distinction of the cause or definition of loneliness was imposed in existing literatures, resulting in mixed findings of the effect of loneliness to late-life depression (LLD). The aim of this study was to explore the association between different facets of loneliness and risk factors of LLD, specifically, if age of onset in LLD possess a different clinical profile in the clinical group. Method: 101 Chinese patients with depression and 81 healthy elderlies aged 60 or above were assessed on loneliness level, depressive symptoms, cognitive symptoms, physical condition, and motivational level. Univariate analyses were applied in exploring group differences in clinical profiles and multivariate regression to determine variables associated with subsets of loneliness. Results: LLD patients reported more emotional loneliness but not social loneliness than healthy controls (p < 0.001). Emotional loneliness was the only significant predictor of suicidal ideation, particularly on patients with early-onset depression, explaining 26.8% of the effect (p < 0.001). Finally, the effect of medical comorbidity on depression severity was mediated by emotional loneliness(Z = 2.159, p = 0.031). Conclusion: The current research highlights more attention should be placed on the age of onset and medical comorbidity in elderlies with depression. The distinction between emotional loneliness and social loneliness is better understood in the Asian population, reinforcing the importance of taking cultural influence into account when understanding psychological constructs.</p
Research advances in neuronavigated target localization for repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation in depression: from standardization to individualized neuromodulation
BOTH A DONKEY AND A HORSE: THE CHINESE MEDICAL UNION AND HYBRIDIZED CONFUCIAN MEDICINE IN THE STRAITS SETTLEMENTS
BACHELOR'SBACHELOR OF ARTS (HONOURS
The Protestant Reformers and the Jews: Excavating Contexts, Unearthing Logic
This article highlights the important initial tasks of excavating the pertinent contexts of the sixteenth-century Protestant reformers and discerning what is at stake for them (i.e., “unearthing logic”) in order to analyze their views of and teachings about Jews and Judaism. Pertinent contexts include the immediate contexts to which Luther and Calvin responded (e.g., Jewish “blasphemy” and/or Christian Hebraism), as well as attending to the significant theological frameworks in which they each operated. Equally important is activity of sifting through the discrepancies in the secondary literature’s depictions of Luther and Calvin’s place in the history of Christian-Jewish relations. The article highlights biblical interpretation—particularly the defense of Scripture’s perspicuity—as the distinctive locus of the reformers’ angst concerning Jews and Judaism. In conclusion, the author offers some lessons from church history for discerning what Christian faithfulness might look like in response to this troubling history
Depression, Anxiety and Stress on Caregivers of Persons with Dementia (CGPWD) in Hong Kong amid COVID-19 Pandemic
Background: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) contributed to increasing prevalence of depressive symptoms and other psychological repercussions, particularly in the disease population in Hong Kong. Nonetheless, the caregiver burden of caregivers of persons with dementia (CGPWD), has been under-investigated. Aims: This study examined the psychological impact and its correlates on the CGPWD in Hong Kong amid the COVID-19 outbreak. Methods: CGPWD referred from rehabilitation clinics and online seminar were used to recruit participants to complete an online questionnaire by the end of the second-wave of the COVID-19 outbreak (June 2021). To be eligible, either full-time or part-time CGPWD, aged 18 or above, can understand Cantonese, currently reside in Hong Kong and offering care to PWD for at least one year, were recruited. Those CGPWD diagnosed with any type of psychiatric disorder were excluded from this study. The Chinese Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D), Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-10), Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD-7), Zarit Burden Interview (ZBI-22), and Nonattachment Scale (NAS-7) were used to measure participants’ depression, perceived stress, anxiety symptoms, caregiver burden and wisdom in subjective feelings of internal stress. The modified Medical Outcomes Study Social Support Survey (mMOS-SS) and the SARS Appraisal Inventory (SAI) were also administered to measure participants’ perceived support and coping efficacy. Follow-up responses were gathered by the end of third-wave outbreak (October 2021). Results: A total of 51 CGPWD participated, of which, 33 (64.7%) suffered from probable depression (CES-D score ≥ 16). Participants also showed a significant increase in depression symptom scores at the three-month follow-up period (t = 2.25, p = 0.03). CGPWD with probable depression had less non-attachment awareness and higher scores in anxiety, stress, caregiving burden, and coronavirus impact (all p < 0.05) than those without. Conclusions: High prevalence of depressive symptoms was noted among our CGPWD sample and these symptoms seemed to worsen substantially. Contingent online mental health support should be prioritized to those CGPWD to reduce psychiatric morbidity and the global disease burden
P1‐063: A COMBINATION OF NON‐PHARMACOLOGICAL INTERVENTIONS FOR ENHANCING COGNITIVE FUNCTIONS IN PRODROMAL ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE: A RANDOMIZED CLINICAL TRIAL
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