Memory Issues Research Articles

Anxiety's correlation with sleepiness and memory among security officers during the COVID-19 pandemic.

In the working population especially among older adults, anxiety problems have grown dramatically. This element has a significant impact on employee absenteeism and problems with physical and mental health. It was widely known that security personnel had several physical and mental difficulties during their various work hours. It is important to investigate the effects of anxiety on them. The present study aims to provide insights into the prevalence of anxiety disorders and explore the correlations between anxiety symptoms, sleep, and memory during the COVID-19 pandemic. To conduct a cross-sectional study, 42 older adult participants between the ages of sixty to seventy years were chosen and the procedure was explained.Data were gathered by giving instructions on how to complete the self-reported Generalized Anxiety Disorder Assessment -7 (GAD-7), the Epworth Sleepiness Scale, and the revised Everyday Memory Questionnaire. A total of 36 out of 42 participants (85.71%) experienced moderate to severe anxiety. Anxiety and sleep had a correlation of 0.8, while anxiety and memory had a correlation of 0.87 with a positive EMQ-R relationship. Moreover, there was a statistically significant association between sleep and memory, with a positive correlation of 0.73. The study concludes that, there is a substantial prevalence of anxiety accompanied by notable insomnia and memory problems in elderly security officers. Our findings indicate a clear relationship between sleep disturbances, memory issues, and most prevalent anxiety symptoms. These results emphasize the importance of incorporating mental health assessments and addressing an effective treatment for anxiety.

Community Senior Center Intervention to Address Factors Related to Memory Screening Engagement.

There are many individual and societal benefits to screen older adults for memory problems. Four theoretically derived psychosocial factors are predictive of dementia screening intention: perceived benefits, perceived susceptibility, self-efficacy, and knowledge about memory. The current study tested whether these factors could be modified with an educational memory screening intervention given in community senior centers. An educational presentation was designed to address these factors by increasing knowledge about memory and aging, discussing the benefits of screening and older adults' susceptibility to memory issues, and increasing self-efficacy by teaching about the memory screening process, discussing a vignette, and fielding participants' questions. The educational presentation was offered four times at three community senior centers. Quantitative data on the psychosocial factors were collected before and after the presentation from 44 older adult participants (age M = 78.70, SD = 7.21). Narrative data on satisfaction and feedback about the intervention were collected. Hierarchical linear modeling analyses were performed to measure change from pre- to post-presentation and follow-up 1 to 2 weeks after the intervention. The educational presentation effectively increased knowledge about aging memory, perceived benefits of screenings, and self-efficacy to seek screening. The presentation intervention was well received by community participants. Results provide guidance about how an intervention based in community senior centers can be refined to address factors predictive of memory screening intention in older adults.

Re-thinging Embodied and Enactive Psychiatry: A Material Engagement Approach.

Emerging consensus among enactivist philosophers and embodied mind theorists suggests that seeking to understand mental illness we need to look out of our skulls at the ecology of the brain. Still, the complex links between materiality (in broadest sense of material objects, habits, practices and environments) and mental health remain little understood. This paper discusses the benefits of adopting a material engagement approach to embodied and enactive psychiatry. We propose that the material engagement approach can change the geography of the debate over the nature of mental disorders and through that help to develop theoretical and practical insights that could improve management and treatment for various psychiatric conditions. We investigate the potential role of Material Engagement Theory (MET) in psychiatry using examples of aetiologically different mental illnesses (schizophrenia and dementia) in respect of their shared phenomenological manifestations, focusing particularly on issues of memory, self-awareness, embodiment and temporality. The effective study of socio-material relations allows better understanding of the semiotic significance and agency of specific materials, environments and technical mediations. There is unrealised potential here for creating new approaches to treatment that can broaden, challenge or complement existing interventions and practices of care.

Refleksje nad tożsamością Donbasu we współczesnej literaturze ukraińskiej

The aim of this paper is a scientific reflection on the issue of Donbas identity, Donbas mythology and historical memory, and to examine how these categories works in contemporary Ukrainian literature. The analysed literary works, on the one hand, show the economic and mental breakdown of the region (Serhiy Zhadan), and on the other hand, they allow us to hope that thanks to the process of self-reflection, it is possible to construct an identity of the inhabitants of Donbas correlated with the Ukrainian national identity (Oleksiy Chupa). Contemporary Ukrainian literature also indicates efforts to create their own Donbas mythology, independent of Russian patterns, which may become part of the Ukrainian nation-building mythology (Lubov Yakymchuk).

FPGA implementation of automatic seizure detection in EEG signals using machine learning algorithm

This work presents a novel approach that harnesses the capabilities of field programmable gate arrays (FPGA) to enable instantaneous monitoring of electroencephalography (EEG) signals for the detection and prediction of seizure patterns. The integration of FPGA technology with the perceptron learning algorithm holds promises for enhancing real-time healthcare monitoring systems and contributing to improved patient care and safety. The proposed work addresses the challenges presented at predicting seizures from EEG data. The first challenge is to handle massive EEG data that poses memory issues. To tackle this, the research employs cellular automata (Rule 90 and Rule 150) to reduce data size by 85.71%, making it more manageable. The second is to implement a linearly classified perceptron algorithm using FPGA to predict and detect seizures from real-time EEG data. The third is clock synchronization between stored data and real EEG data for comparison purposes. The proposed system is continuously compared to real-time EEG signals using a single perceptron neural network, and alert signals are generated based on preactivation values, with a continuous alert issued when the value reaches 3/4th sample match. These early alerts empower individuals to take preventive actions. The model is implemented using an FPGA Zynq-7000 series, which consumes 270mW of power. The design utilizes 118 Lookup Tables (LUTs).

Learning Force Field Parameters from Differentiable Particle-Field Molecular Dynamics.

We develop ∂-HylleraasMD (∂-HyMD), a fully end-to-end differentiable molecular dynamics software based on the Hamiltonian hybrid particle-field formalism, and use it to establish a protocol for automated optimization of force field parameters. ∂-HyMD is templated on the recently released HylleraaasMD software, while using the JAX autodiff framework as the main engine for the differentiable dynamics. ∂-HyMD exploits an embarrassingly parallel optimization algorithm by spawning independent simulations, whose trajectories are simultaneously processed by reverse mode automatic differentiation to calculate the gradient of the loss function, which is in turn used for iterative optimization of the force-field parameters. We show that parallel organization facilitates the convergence of the minimization procedure, avoiding the known memory and numerical stability issues of differentiable molecular dynamics approaches. We showcase the effectiveness of our implementation by producing a library of force field parameters for standard phospholipids, with either zwitterionic or anionic heads and with saturated or unsaturated tails. Compared to the all-atom reference, the force field obtained by ∂-HyMD yields better density profiles than the parameters derived from previously utilized gradient-free optimization procedures. Moreover, ∂-HyMD models can predict with good accuracy properties not included in the learning objective, such as lateral pressure profiles, and are transferable to other systems, including triglycerides.

A novel compression methodology for medical images using deep learning for high-speed transmission

Medical imaging is a rapidly growing field having a high impact on the early detection, diagnosis and surgical planning of diseases. Several imaging techniques such as computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and ultrasound (US) imaging generate a higher volume of data, necessitating additional storage and communication requirements. Hence, image compression is utilized in medical field to reduce redundancy and alleviate memory and bandwidth issues. This paper presents a novel deep learning-based compression method to reduce the size of medical images. This method employs a deep convolutional neural network for learning compact representations of medical images, then coded by a Huffman encoder. The compression process is reversed to reconstruct the original image. Several tests are conducted to compare the results with other wellknown compression methods. The proposed model achieved a mean peak signal-to-noise ratio (PSNR) of 42.82 dB with storage space saving (SSS) of 96.15% for CT, 43.88 dB with SSS of 96.25% for MRI, 46.29 dB with SSS of 96.07% for US and 43.51 dB with SSS of 96.95% for X-ray images. The findings showed that the proposed compression technique could greatly compress the image size, saving storage space, facilitating better transmission and preserving critical diagnostic information.

Subjective hearing and memory problems are associated with dementia and cognition in later life.

Subjective hearing and memory problems are detectable earlier than objective measures of sensory loss and cognitive decline, which are known to be related to an increased risk of dementia in later life. Using a population-representative cohort of 6006 individuals (aged 50-75) we examined whether participants who self-reported hearing and short-term memory issues showed greater rates of dementia within 17 years of follow-up. A sub-cohort was tested for audiometric threshold and cognition after 14 years. Hearing and memory problems were associated with a greater risk of dementia (hazard ratios [HRs]=1.42 [95% confidence interval: 1.11-1.81], 1.57 [1.30-1.90]), and poorer cognition 14 years later. The risk was greatest in those reporting both problems (HR=1.99 [1.42-2.80]). At follow-up, the level of hearing loss was associated with lower cognitive scores. Self-reports of hearing and short-term memory problems are associated with poorer cognitive performance and a greater risk of dementia. Subjective assessments may have predictive power over more than a decade. In a sample of older adults subjective hearing and memory problems were associated with dementia risk.Cross-sectionally, the audiometric screening threshold was associated with cognitive test scores.Subjective sensory and memory loss questions are easy to implement and show good predictive power.

The combined effect of morin and hesperidin on memory ability and oxidative/nitrosative stress in a streptozotocin-induced rat model of Alzheimer’s disease

Alzheimer's disease (AD), the most frequent neurodegenerative disease within dementias, affects the CNS, leading to gradual memory issues and cognitive dysfunction. Oxidative stress in AD contributes to ongoing neuronal loss and hastens disease progression. Notably, the potent antioxidant compounds morin and hesperidin have demonstrated significant effectiveness in addressing oxidative stress. This study explores the impact of morin and hesperidin on behavior and oxidative stress in the streptozotocin (STZ)-induced AD rat model. The experiment involved five groups: control, STZ, STZ+morin, STZ+hesperidin, and STZ+morin+hesperidin. The rat model of AD was created by injecting STZ with the stereotaxic surgery. Morin and hesperidin were applied to the groups for 7-days. After the applications, the Morris water maze (MWM) and novel object recognition (NOR) tests were used and the rats were sacrificed. Malondialdehyde (MDA), glutathione (GSH), nitric oxide (NOx), and protein carbonyl (PC) levels were measured. In the STZ group, the levels of NOx and PC exhibited a noteworthy increase compared to the control. Conversely, the application of morin and/or hesperidin treatments reduced NOx and PC levels compared to the STZ group. The co-administration of morin and hesperidin improved the antioxidant status and decreased lipid peroxidation in STZ-induced rats. In the STZ group, serum advanced oxidation protein products (AOPP) levels were statistically elevated compared to the control. However, in the treatment groups, morin and/or hesperidin successfully decreased AOPP levels to those observed in the control. The combined use of these flavonoids may have a neuroprotective effect regarding memory problems and decreasing oxidative/nitrosative stress.

Theme Issue in Memory to Professor Jiro Tsuji (1927–2022)

Theme Issue in Memory to Professor Jiro Tsuji (1927–2022)

Special issue of J. Magn. Magn. Mater., “Physics of Magnetism 2023 – Special issue in memory of professor Roman Micnas”, consisting of articles presented at The European conference Physics of Magnetism 2023: In memory of Professor Roman Micnas

The European Conference PHYSICS OF MAGNETISM 2023 (PM’23) was held on June 26–30, 2023 in Poznań, Poland. It was the 17th in a series of conferences organized by the Faculty of Physics of the Adam Mickiewicz University and the Institute of Molecular Physics of the Polish Academy of Sciences. The PM’23 conference was dedicated to the memory of Professor Roman Micnas, a long–time co-organizer of the conference, and its co-chairman since 1993. The preface presents basic information about the topics and events related to the PM’23 conference.

Miejska przestrzeń pamięci (na podstawie wybranych utworów Herkusa Kunčiusa, Ričardasa Gavelisa, Grigorija Kanowicza)

This article analyses literary representations of Vilnius as a Central and Eastern European city, whose space becomes the field where the memory of many national traditions can be observed. The analysis was conducted on the basis of two novels by Lithuanian writers, i.e. A Lithuanian in Vilnius by Herkus Kunčius and A Vilnius poker by Ričardas Gavelis, as well as the works of Grigory Kanovich, a Lithuanian-Jewish author writing in Russian, i.e. the novel The park of forgotten Jews and the autobiographical-memoir prose Dream about vanished Jerusalem. The conflict-generating aspect of memory is revealed in the works of Lithuanian writers. The city centre becomes a battlefield for the commemoration of one’s own tradition and a sphere of action against the tradition of the Other, consisting of concealing, marginalising, and removing. Kanovich’s works focus on the issue of Jewish memory in Vilnius after the Holocaust, when the ghetto ceased to exist. Memory becomes present when literary heroes look back at their past. They meet in the park to revive it together. The narration allows us to see how one of the oldest parks in Vilnius is transformed intoa Jewish memorial site.

Special Issue in Memory of Thaddeus B. “Ted” Massalski

Special Issue in Memory of Thaddeus B. “Ted” Massalski

Human umbilical cord-derived mesenchymal stem cell transplantation improves the long COVID.

No effective treatments can ameliorate symptoms of long COVID patients. Our study assessed the safety and efficacy of human umbilical cord-derived mesenchymal stem cells (UC-MSCs) in the treatment of long COVID patients. Ten long COVID patients were enrolled and received intravenous infusions of UC-MSCs on Days 0, 7, and 14. Adverse events and clinical symptoms were recorded, and chest-high-resolution CT (HRCT) images and laboratory parameters were analyzed. During UC-MSCs treatment and follow-up, we did not observe serious adverse events, the symptoms of long COVID patients were significantly relieved in a short time, especially sleep difficulty, depression or anxiety, memory issues, and so forth, and the lung lesions were also repaired. The routine laboratory parameters did not exhibit any significant abnormalities following UC-MSCs transplantation (UMSCT). The proportion of regulatory T cells gradually increased, but it was not statistically significant until 12 months. The proportion of naive B cells was elevated, while memory B cells, class-switched B-cells, and nonswitched B-cells decreased at 1 month after infusion. Additionally, we observed a transient elevation in circulating interleukin (IL)-6 after UMSCT, while tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, IL-17A, and IL-10 showed no significant changes. The levels of circulating immunoglobulin (Ig) M increased significantly at month 2, while IgA increased significantly at month 6. Furthermore, the SARS-CoV-2 IgG levels remained consistently high in all patients at Month 6, and there was no significant decrease during the subsequent 12-month follow-up. UMSCT was safe and tolerable in long COVID patients. It showed potential in alleviating long COVID symptoms and improving interstitial lung lesions.

An online survey among convalescents 5 months post SARS-CoV-2 infection in China

The effects of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection persist months and years after recovery. We conducted an online survey to assess the health condition of convalescents approximately 5 months following the primary infection of SARS-CoV-2. The study recruited 5,510 individuals who were primary infected, 626 participants who had experienced reinfection, and 521 participants who were without infective history. The most common disorders after the primary infection group were fatigue (15.18 %), memory issue (13.13 %), post-exertional malaise (PEM, 11.68 %), and brain fog (11.29 %) at the time of survey. In addition, SARS-CoV-2 infection had an impact on the reproductive systems. In stepwise logistic regression analysis, smoking currently, with background diseases, and outpatient visits in the acute phase could be associated with moderate / severe disorders. Further analysis of different background diseases showed that allergic rhinitis, hyperlipidemia, cardiovascular disease, autoimmune diseases, neurological diseases, and asthma likely increased the risk of moderate/severe disorders. The probability of developing disorders of individuals with SARS-CoV-2 reinfection was higher before the secondary infection than uninfected people. Fatigue, PEM, muscle pain/spasms, chills, joint pain, excessive sweating at rest, headache / dizziness, sore throat or foreign body sensation in the throat, cough, expectoration, dry / painful / watery eyes, loss of appetite and constipation were associated with an increased risk of reinfection. It was essential to undertake further research with enhanced randomization in a larger sample in the community, and to strengthen the validation of the research conclusions. The findings of this study contribute to a deeper understanding of the health recovery process among coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) convalescents. Moreover, the findings help identify characteristic health risk factors associated with convalescents and highlight the risk of moderate / severe disorders and reinfection. Furthermore, the findings also provide valuable guidance and reference for SARS-CoV-2 rehabilitation strategies and the prevention of reinfection, offering insights for scientific recommendations.

Cognitive impairment in long-COVID.

<p>Long Covid is a complex con&shy;dition characterised by symptoms that per&shy;sist for weeks and months after the Co&shy;vid infection, accompanied by cognitive im&shy;pairment that negatively affects daily life. Understanding this complex condition is im&shy;portant for the development of diagnostic and therapeutic strategies.</p> <p>This article aims to provide a comprehensive overview of cognitive impairment in long-COVID, including its definition, symptoms, pathophysiology, risk factors, assessment tools, imaging abnormalities, potential biomarkers, management strategies, long-term outcomes, and future directions for research.<br><br><br><br><br></p>. <p>The search methodology used in this review aimed to include a wide range of research on cognitive impairment related to both COVID-19 and long-COVID. Systematic searches of PubMed and Google Scholar databases were conducted using a mixture of MeSH terms and keywords including &lsquo;cognition&rsquo;, &lsquo;cognitive impairment&rsquo;, &lsquo;brain fog&rsquo;, &lsquo;COVID-19&rsquo; and &lsquo;long-COVID&rsquo;. The search was restricted to studies published in English between 1 January 2019 and 11 February 2024, which presented findings on neurological manifestations in human participants.</p>. <p>Long-COVID is characterized by persistent symptoms following COVID-19 infection, with cognitive impairment being a prominent feature. Symptoms include brain fog, difficulties with concentration, memory issues, and executive function deficits. Pa&shy;tho&shy;physiological mechanisms involve vi&shy;ral persistence, immune responses, and vas&shy;cular damage. Risk factors include age, pre-existing conditions, and disease seve&shy;rity. Cognitive assessment tools such as the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) are essential for diagnosis. Imaging studies, including MRI, PET, and SPECT, reveal structural and functional brain alterations. Potential biomarkers include C-reactive protein, interleukin-6, and neuron-specific enolase. Management strategies encompass cognitive rehabilitation, occupational therapy, medications, and lifestyle modifications.</p>. <p>Long-COVID poses a multifaceted challenge, and cognitive impairment significantly impacts patients&rsquo; lives. A multi&shy;disciplinary approach, including cognitive rehabilitation and medication when appropriate, is essential for effective management. Future research should focus on validating biomarkers and understanding long-term cognitive outcomes.</p> <p>Conclusion &ndash; Long-COVID is a global health concern, and cognitive impairment is a distressing symptom. While pharmacological interventions have potential, they require careful consideration. Continued research is crucial for improving the understanding and treatment of cognitive impairment in long-COVID.</p>.

“Gilead is within you”: A Theocratic Narrative Setting of Cultural memory in Atwood’s The Testaments

This article attempts to explore the synthetic relationship between group identities and their effects on cultural memory in Margaret Atwood’s The Testaments. It will investigate how Atwood’s dystopian fiction conspicuously weaves threads of cultural identity in the totalitarian society. While examining the work, the researchers found three forms of Memory Figures channelizing society: Architecture and time, Identical groupings, and Language. With significant attention to the prequel, The Handmaid’s Tale, this article will consider The Testaments for the dissection of hard-wired cultural memory formation. This article focuses on how a politically unsettled society of Gilead, through its Memory Figures, inscribes a cultural narrative while instructing individual memories. Atwood’s usage of these Memory Figures to achieve a theocratic regime has been scrutinized in this article. The Architecture of Gilead was given an intrusive wall of glass, where the symbol of eyes prevails, to externalize the surveillance of God on each one of its citizens, thereby forming a cultural memory of subjectivity. To make the citizens identify with groups, this theocratic regime specifies roles to citizens according to their rank for men and according to reproductive efficiency for women. Keeping in view the relevance of language in forming cultural memory, Atwood prescribed a set of greetings such as ‘under his eyes,’ and ‘praise be’ to make profound imprints on the individual memory of citizens, which has been discussed in the study. These three Memory Figures simultaneously form collective memory imprints on the citizens of Gilead, which in time became inherent cultural memories. This article explores how, by politicizing the issue of cultural memory in The Testaments, Atwood taps into the agency of people and establishes language control (communicative) to form the cultural memory narrative.

Editorial: Special Issue in Memory of Harald Fritzsch

Editorial: Special Issue in Memory of Harald Fritzsch

Syphilis

The prevalence of syphilis is rising. Recognition and treatment is crucial in avoiding potentially life-threatening complications and disease transmission. It should, therefore, be considered when investigating common presenting complaints such as skin lesions, flu-like symptoms and memory issues. This article aims to aid GPs in appreciating the signs and symptoms of syphilis in its different stages and in initiating appropriate referrals.

Implementing nasal povidone-iodine decolonization to reduce infections in hemodialysis units: a qualitative assessment.

A substantial proportion of patients undergoing hemodialysis carry Staphylococcus aureus in their noses, and carriers are at increased risk of S. aureus bloodstream infections. Our pragmatic clinical trial implemented nasal povidone-iodine (PVI) decolonization for the prevention of bloodstream infections in the novel setting of hemodialysis units. We aimed to identify pragmatic strategies for implementing PVI decolonization among patients in outpatient hemodialysis units. Qualitative descriptive study. Outpatient hemodialysis units affiliated with five US academic medical centers. Units varied in size, patient demographics, and geographic location. Sixty-six interviewees including nurses, hemodialysis technicians, research coordinators, and other personnel. We conducted interviews with personnel affiliated with all five academic medical centers and conducted thematic analysis of transcripts. Hemodialysis units had varied success with patient recruitment, but interviewees reported that patients and healthcare personnel (HCP) found PVI decolonization acceptable and feasible. Leadership support, HCP engagement, and tailored patient-focused tools or strategies facilitated patient engagement and PVI implementation. Interviewees reported both patients and HCP sometimes underestimated patients' infection risks and experienced infection-prevention fatigue. Other HCP barriers included limited staffing and poor staff engagement. Patient barriers included high health burdens, language barriers, memory issues, and lack of social support. Our qualitative study suggests that PVI decolonization would be acceptable to patients and clinical personnel, and implementation is feasible for outpatient hemodialysis units. Hemodialysis units could facilitate implementation by engaging unit leaders, patients and personnel, and developing education for patients about their infection risk.