Physical Memory Research Articles

Self-reported physical activity and sleep quality is associated with working memory function in middle-aged and older adults during the COVID-19 pandemic

ABSTRACT While previous work has shown a positive relationship between cognitive performance and lifestyle factors in younger adults, evidence for this relationship among middle-aged and older adults has been mixed. The current study aimed to further test the relationship among physical activity, sleep quality, and memory performance in middle-aged and older adults, and to test whether this relationship holds up during the COVID-19 pandemic. Our results showed that physical activity was associated with better sleep quality and better working memory performance, and better sleep quality was associated with better working memory and self-perceptions of everyday memory abilities. Additionally, we found that the effects of physical activity on working memory were partially mediated by sleep quality. While these effects were small and only correlational in nature, they lend further support to the notion that sleep quality and physical activity are beneficial to memory later in life, even during a global pandemic.

Healthy Aging and Older Adults With Autism: A Scoping Review.

Autism spectrum disorder is a lifelong diagnosis. Although several studies have examined the effects of autism throughout childhood, few have considered older adulthood and the difference between the allistic (i.e., persons who are not autistic) population and autistic older adults. In literature regarding healthy aging, there is sparse evidence regarding the intersections of older adulthood and autism. The purpose of this scoping review was to examine the state of literature regarding autistic older adults and the domains of healthy aging, utilizing the framework conceived by Arksey and O'Malley (Scoping studies: Towards a methodological framework. International Journal of Social Research Methodology, 2005;8(1): 19-32. doi:10.1080/1364557032000119616). To identify the research question, we took the following steps: identify the relevant studies; select studies; chart the data; and collate, summarize, and report the results. The specific domains of healthy aging considered include physical health, mobility, mental health, cognition and memory, and social connectedness. A total of 35 articles were selected for final review. Fifty-seven percent of these studies considered only 1 domain of healthy aging, 23% studied 2 domains, whereas 14% measured 3 domains and 6% assessed 4 domains. No study considered all 5 domains. Of the 5 domains considered for this scoping review, mental health and cognition and memory were the most represented domains in the studies. Overall, healthy aging among autistic older adults is largely understudied. More research is needed to better identify and tailor interventions and services for autistic older adults and their families to support healthy aging.

Darwin3: a large-scale neuromorphic chip with a novel ISA and on-chip learning.

Spiking neural networks (SNNs) are gaining increasing attention for their biological plausibility and potential for improved computational efficiency. To match the high spatial-temporal dynamics in SNNs, neuromorphic chips are highly desired to execute SNNs in hardware-based neuron and synapse circuits directly. This paper presents a large-scale neuromorphic chip named Darwin3 with a novel instruction set architecture, which comprises 10 primary instructions and a few extended instructions. It supports flexible neuron model programming and local learning rule designs. The Darwin3 chip architecture is designed in a mesh of computing nodes with an innovative routing algorithm. We used a compression mechanism to represent synaptic connections, significantly reducing memory usage. The Darwin3 chip supports up to 2.35 million neurons, making it the largest of its kind on the neuron scale. The experimental results showed that the code density was improved by up to 28.3× in Darwin3, and that the neuron core fan-in and fan-out were improved by up to 4096× and 3072× by connection compression compared to the physical memory depth. Our Darwin3 chip also provided memory saving between 6.8× and 200.8× when mapping convolutional spiking neural networks onto the chip, demonstrating state-of-the-art performance in accuracy and latency compared to other neuromorphic chips.

The Impact of Inadequate Sleep on Overtraining Syndrome in 18-22-Year-Old Male and Female College Athletes: A Literature Review.

Both male and female athletes experience acute fatigue and decreased performance from intense training sessions and training cycles with inadequate recovery. The concept of training with insufficient recovery time is known as overtraining syndrome (OTS). Primary stressors leading to OTS include excessive training, environmental factors, and inadequate levels of sleep. Sleep is a critical component of rest, recovery, memory, and cognitive function in collegiate athletes, known as male and female athletes between 18 and 22 years old. Collegiate athletes are more prone to inadequate levels of sleep, which can lead to elevated levels of fatigue, a lack of energy, motivation, alertness, and a weakened immune system. Additionally, inadequate levels of sleep lead to decreased glycogen stores in the body, affecting the functioning of physiological pathways. The processes of removing toxins and the release of growth hormones (GHs) are also impacted. GH is secreted as the rapid eye movement (REM) phase alternates with the non-REM phase and continues to rise until it peaks in the REM sleep stage, which is important for physical recovery, memory formation, and emotional regulation. This literature review aims to summarize current research on overtraining and the physiological changes that are present in both males and females from inadequate levels of sleep, emphasizing its importance in body homeostasis.

Explicit scheme for solving variable-order time-fractional initial boundary value problems

The creation of an explicit finite difference scheme with the express purpose of resolving initial boundary value issues with linear and semi-linear variable-order temporal fractional properties is presented in this study. The rationale behind the utilization of the Caputo derivative in this scheme stems from its known importance in fractional calculus, an area of study that has attracted significant interest in the mathematical sciences and physics. Because of its special capacity to accurately represent physical memory and inheritance, the Caputo derivative is a relevant and appropriate option for representing the fractional features present in the issues this study attempts to address. Moreover, a detailed Fourier analysis of the explicit finite difference scheme’s stability is shown, demonstrating its conditional stability. Finally, certain numerical example solutions are reviewed and MATLAB-based graphic presentations are made.

Cbp1 and Cren7 form chromatin-like structures that ensure efficient transcription of long CRISPR arrays

CRISPR arrays form the physical memory of CRISPR adaptive immune systems by incorporating foreign DNA as spacers that are often AT-rich and derived from viruses. As promoter elements such as the TATA-box are AT-rich, CRISPR arrays are prone to harbouring cryptic promoters. Sulfolobales harbour extremely long CRISPR arrays spanning several kilobases, a feature that is accompanied by the CRISPR-specific transcription factor Cbp1. Aberrant Cbp1 expression modulates CRISPR array transcription, but the molecular mechanisms underlying this regulation are unknown. Here, we characterise the genome-wide Cbp1 binding at nucleotide resolution and characterise the binding motifs on distinct CRISPR arrays, as well as on unexpected non-canonical binding sites associated with transposons. Cbp1 recruits Cren7 forming together ‘chimeric’ chromatin-like structures at CRISPR arrays. We dissect Cbp1 function in vitro and in vivo and show that the third helix-turn-helix domain is responsible for Cren7 recruitment, and that Cbp1-Cren7 chromatinization plays a dual role in the transcription of CRISPR arrays. It suppresses spurious transcription from cryptic promoters within CRISPR arrays but enhances CRISPR RNA transcription directed from their cognate promoters in their leader region. Our results show that Cbp1-Cren7 chromatinization drives the productive expression of long CRISPR arrays.

“And I still remember it to this day”: A qualitative exploration of retrospective memories of school-based recess

ObjectivesPrevious research has shown the most common memory of physical education (PE) was embarrassment, and that childhood memories of PE relate to physical activity (PA) attitude, intention, and sedentary behavior in adulthood [13]. Recess memories may have a similar effect on adult attitudes towards PA, given that recess is a physically active part of the school day, yet is more autonomous and less supervised than PE. Recent literature has supported this, as Massey and colleagues (2021b) reported memories of recess enjoyment were associated with PA enjoyment in adulthood, whereas negative recess memories were associated with social isolation. In an effort to better understand recess memories, and how they may be related to adult behaviors, the purpose of this study was to examine qualitative descriptions of adults’ worst recess memories as it related to physical and social health. Study designMixed methods design; inductive content analysis and analysis of covariance. MethodsAs part of a larger project, 433 participants between the ages of 19 and 77 (M = 44.91; SD = 15.35) were asked to recall their worst recess memories and the grades in which those memories occurred. Participants identified as predominantly female (52%), White (72%), and college educated (46%). Data analysis was conducted via an inductive content analysis by three research team members. ResultsThe most common negative memories included isolating experiences, physical injuries, victimization, and contextual factors (e.g., weather). Through a series of analysis of covariance, self-reported isolation and self-efficacy of exercise were significantly related to participants with social isolation and physical injury memories respectively. ConclusionsThis study adds to a growing line of research documenting the importance of recess as a developmentally impactful environment with implications for physical and emotional health.

Physical activity, mental health, support networks, lifestyle, and memory in older adults during the COVID-19 pandemic

IntroductionAt the beginning of the pandemic, it was suggested that lockdown and social distancing could affect the physical, emotional, and cognitive aspects of people, especially the elderly. ObjectiveTo determine the characteristics of physical activity, mental health, support networks, and lifestyle of the elderly in lockdown by COVID-19 and its relationship with memory functioning. Method100 healthy elderlies (age ≥60 years) participated and answered a set of online instruments that evaluated 6 variables: demographic data, physical activity, mental health, social support networks, lifestyle, and subjective memory. MoCA and Neuropsi tests were applied through a video call. The study was conducted between September 2021 and May 2022. ResultsParticipants reported being and having been physically active, the presence of trait and state anxiety was found in 100%, also a higher perception of support from the family network. Insomnia was found in 46% of the sample, increased consumption of stimulant beverages and tobacco, and adequate competence in handling information and communication media. The memory functioning of 97% of the participants was normal or high normal, with fair self-perception of memory functioning. Correlations were moderate between mental health and self-perceived memory. ConclusionsThe results suggest that having social support networks, good mental health, and staying physically and cognitively active favour memory function.

Impact of CoFe2O4 Magnetic Nanoparticles on the Physical and Mechanical Properties and Shape Memory Effect of Polylactide

The acceleration in advancements of smart materials and non-contact controlled devices in the field of 4D printing is facilitated by the use of magnetically responsive shape memory polymer (SMP) composites. This study is dedicated to the development of promising shape memory materials based on polylactic acid (PLA) and cobalt ferrite (CoFe2O4) nanoparticles. The activation of the shape memory effect (SME) in magnetic nanoparticle composites was achieved by applying a high-frequency alternating magnetic field (HFAMF). The PLA/CoFe2O4 composites exhibited a remarkable shape recovery ratio (>84%) and underwent rapid heating when exposed to HFAMF. The interaction of these composites with mouse adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells demonstrated adequate cytocompatibility. The rapid magnetosensitive behavior and high shape recovery characteristics of PLA/CoFe2O4 composites make them promising candidates for biomedical applications.

Beyond Diagnosis: Preliminary Study of Impact on Children and Parents in Neurodevelopmental Disorders and Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis-Associated Uveitis

Chronic diseases are a growing problem for global health due to the large number of people they involve, the repercussions they have on the mental and physical well-being of those affected, and the costs to society. Particularly, chronic illnesses of childhood have important psychological implications, not only for affected children but also for their parents. Among these pathologies, neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs) and uveitis associated with juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA-U) may affect mental and physical health, emotions, memory, learning, and socializing. This study evaluates the psychological and behavioral/emotional impact of NDDs and JIA-U on children and parents. Specifically, 30 children with active JIA-U and 30 children with NDDs and their parents completed the Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL) and Parent Stress Index—Short Form (PSI) questionnaires. Children with NDDs have statistically significant differences in all the emotional and behavioral variables compared to JIA-U children, and parents of children with NDDs experience an increased stress load compared to parents of children with JIA-U. This study emphasizes the wide range of emotional and behavioral challenges that parents face with NDDs. This study emphasizes that parents of children with NDDs not only experience higher levels of stress compared to parents of normally developing children but also experience higher levels of stress compared to parents of children with potentially debilitating chronic diseases such as JIA-U.

Enhancing Reliability During Physical Memory Forensics: Strategies and Practices

Enhancing Reliability During Physical Memory Forensics: Strategies and Practices

Leaky bodies, vaccination and three layers of memory: bio-immune, social-collective and lived experience

ABSTRACT This paper focuses on the omnipresent yet analytically almost invisible role of memory and bodily experiences in childhood vaccination. Previous scholarship on the sociocultural aspects of vaccination has primarily focused on the individual and sociodemographic factors underpinning vaccine hesitancy, the role of healthcare professionals and the politicisation or mediatisation of vaccination. Social practices considering vaccination were primarily explored as a matter of the present. Only little consideration was given to the past, individual biographies and sociohistorical temporalities. To complement this body of work, we focus on cognitively-based, embodied and emotionally-experienced memory related to vaccination. Based on a qualitative study of childhood vaccination conducted in Czechia between 2017 and 2019 consisting of ethnographic observations, in-depth interviews and a document review, we identified three interconnected forms of vaccination memory: bio-immune, social-collective and lived experience. Bio-immune memory refers to the body’s physical memory, gained to protect itself from diseases. Social-collective memory focuses on socially shared narratives about diseases and vaccination in the past. The memory of lived experience refers to feelings, embodied knowledge and pain. Our findings may inspire further analysis of childhood vaccination in other geographical contexts and amidst the reconfiguration of attitudes and newly established memories following the COVID-19 pandemic.

Physical activity and verbal memory performance: Mediating effects of resting-state brain activity.

Verbal short-term and long-term memory are crucial neuropsychological functions involved in core cognitive abilities. They constitute vital components of subjective well-being and academic achievement. To date, there is limited research on the association between regular physical activity and memory abilities during young adulthood. The Individual Alpha Peak Frequency (IAPF) contributes to various cognitive abilities and also appears to be sensitive to physical activity. Consequently, the IAPF has the potential to underlie the association between physical activity and verbal memory. We examined the direct relation of physical activity and verbal memory, and the potential indirect relation via IAPF in young adults. Regular physical activity was assessed via accelerometry on seven consecutive days in 115 participants (N=115, 48% female) aged 18-35 years (M=24.1, SD=3.8). In addition, verbal memory performance was assessed using an immediate and delayed free-recall task. Brain activity during rest was recorded with EEG, and IAPF was extracted for mediation analyses. Path analysis revealed pronounced sex differences in the association between physical activity, IAPF, and verbal memory performance. Exclusively in female participants, higher vigorous physical activity levels were associated with better recall performance. In contrast, no association of physical activity and memory was found in male participants. However, being more physically active was related to a higher IAPF exclusively in male participants. Physical activity shows differential associations between IAPF and verbal memory in male and female participants. However, the lack of a mediating role of IAPF suggests that this neurophysiological marker cannot explain these specific associations in young adults.

Effect of strength, aerobic, and concurrent training on the memory of cognitively preserved older adults: a randomized clinical trial protocol

Objectives: To verify the effect of strength, aerobic, and concurrent training on the memory of cognitively preserved older adults. Methods: A randomized controlled clinical trial will be conducted. Sedentary older adults (aged 60 to 75 years) of both genders will participate. Outcome measures will include blood biomarkers, cognitive tests, depressive symptoms, socioeconomic data, and physical assessments. Participants will be randomized into the following groups: strength training, aerobic training, concurrent training, or control. Interventions will be conducted for 12 weeks, with adherence to training sessions monitored. Pre-training values will be compared between groups using a one-way ANOVA test. Training effects will be evaluated through two-way ANOVA (time × group). The research protocol was registered in The Brazilian Registry of Clinical Trials (ReBEC) (RBR-655vxdd). Expected results: We believe that concurrent training may yield greater efficacy in improving memory outcomes, combining the benefit of both training modalities. Relevance: Considering the increase in population aging and that few studies have evaluated the chronic effect of physical exercise on the memory of cognitively preserved older adults, this is a relevant topic, since much of the literature has focused on investigating older adults with some cognitive decline. Furthermore, our aim is to provide an alternative training option by combining the benefits of aerobic and strength training, thereby optimizing time and enhancing both physical capacity and memory.

Reframing the character of the socialist Natale Gaiba: what can the “forgotten antifascist” still tell us?

Starting with the physical memory of Natale Gaiba (1880-1921) in Argenta, I will describe the socialist’s biography, through research on his private life and formative experiences that led him to the political debut, as union official, head of the Trade Union Centre and city councillor for the Giunta Rossa. After discussing Gaiba’s murder by a fascist group, I will discuss about this character possibility of being so representative of his time and full of useful ideas for the study of history in the present.

CacheIEE: Cache-Assisted Isolated Execution Environment on ARM Multi-Core Platforms

ARM TrustZone technology has been widely used to create Trusted Execution Environments (TEEs) for enhancing the security of applications. However, the increasing number of installed security-sensitive applications in the secure world will inevitably enlarge the trusted computing base (TCB) of TEE systems. To minimize the TCB of the secure world and increase application portability, Isolated Execution Environments (IEEs) are proposed to protect applications in enclaves created in the normal world. However, existing IEE systems cannot provide the same level of security as the TEE systems, particularly, on resolving the multi-vector attacks that include both physical memory disclosure attacks and software attacks. In this paper, we develop a new cache-assisted IEE system called CacheIEE that creates enclaves in the L1 data cache of the normal world to protect sensitive data against multi-vector attacks. First, by always storing the sensitive data in the L1 data cache, CacheIEE can effectively prevent physical memory disclosure attacks. Second, we protect the L1 data cache against untrusted rich OS running in other cores. To support more applications, CacheIEE can process large-size sensitive data in the L1 data cache with constrained capacity. We implement a system prototype of CacheIEE and verify its security and practicability.

HEALTHY AGING AND OLDER ADULTS WITH AUTISM: A SCOPING REVIEW

Abstract Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a lifelong diagnosis. While several studies have examined the effects of this disorder throughout childhood, few have considered older adulthood and the differences between allistic (i.e., persons who are not affected by autism) and autistic older adults. Moreover, an examination of the intersections of healthy aging in older adulthood and autism are largely absent from extant research. The purpose of this scoping review was to examine the state of literature regarding autistic older adults and the domains of healthy aging, utilizing the framework developed by Arksey and O’Malley (2005). After developing the research question, the researchers followed following the PRISM-ScR guidelines. The specific domains of healthy aging considered included physical health, mobility, mental health, cognition and memory, and social connectedness. A total of 35 articles were selected for final review. There was no definitive age group for autistic older adulthood, therefore the studies’ selection of ages for the older adult population were not homogenous. Fifty-seven percent of these studies considered only one domain of healthy aging, 23% studied two domains, while 14% measured three domains and 6% assessed four domains. No study considered all five domains. Of the five domains considered for this scoping review, mental health and cognition and memory were the most represented domains in the studies. Overall, healthy aging among autistic older adults is largely understudied. More research is needed to better identify and tailor interventions and services for autistic older adults and their families to support healthy aging.

ML-driven risk estimation for memory failure in a data center environment with convolutional neural networks, self-supervised data labeling and distribution-based model drift determination

With the trend towards multi-socket server systems, the demand for random access memory (RAM) per server increased. The consequence are more DIMM sockets per server. Since every dual in-line memory module (DIMM), which comprises a series of dynamic random-access memory integrated circuits, has a probability of failure, RAM issues became a dominant failure pattern for servers. The concept introduced in this work contributes to improving the reliability of data centers by avoiding RAM failures and mitigating their impact. For this purpose, an ML-driven framework is provided to estimate the probability of memory failure for each RAM module. The ML framework is based on structural information between correctable (CE) and uncorrectable errors (UE). In a common memory scenario, a corrupted bit within a module can be restored by redundancy using an error correction code (ECC), resulting in a CE. However, if there is more than one corrupted bit within a group of bits covered by the ECC, the information cannot be restored, resulting in a UE.Consequently, the related task requesting the memory content, and the corresponding service may crash. There is evidence that UEs have a CE history and structural relation between the CEs. However, for the case of UEs without a CE history or of a false decision of the ML framework, we extend the total framework by engineering measures to mitigate the impact of a UE by avoiding kernel panic and using backups. The engineering measures use a mapping between physical and logical memory addresses.

The contribution of being physically active to successful aging.

Growing old involves changes in physical, psychological, and cognitive functions. Promoting physical and mental health has become one of the priorities for an aging population. Studies have demonstrated the benefits of engaging in regular physical activity. Here, we aimed to understand the relationships between physical activity and working memory complaints in attention, memory storage, and executive functions. We hypothesized that physical activity was negatively associated with complaints in working memory domains after controlling for socio-demographics and distress factors, such as anxiety, stress, and depression. Two hundred and twenty-three individuals aged between 65 and 100 years (74.84; SD = 7.74; 133 males) without self-reported neurological and/or psychiatric disorders completed a questionnaire on socio-demographic, with questions on physical activity and the Italian version of the working memory questionnaire (WMQ) and the DASS-21 measuring anxiety, stress, and depression. Results from three linear regression models showed that low physical activity was associated with complaints in attention (R2 = 0.35) and executive functions (R2 = 0.37) but not in memory storage (R2 = 0.28). Notably, age, gender, and total emotional distress (DASS score) were significant in all regression models. Our results suggested regular physical activity, even just walking, is crucial for maintaining efficient cognitive function. Theoretical and practical implications for engaging in physical activity programs and social aggregation during exercise are considered. Limitations are also presented.

Stunting in infancy is associated with atypical activation of working memory and attention networks

Stunting is associated with poor long-term cognitive, academic and economic outcomes, yet the mechanisms through which stunting impacts cognition in early development remain unknown. In a first-ever neuroimaging study conducted on infants from rural India, we demonstrate that stunting impacts a critical, early-developing cognitive system—visual working memory. Stunted infants showed poor visual working memory performance and were easily distractible. Poor performance was associated with reduced engagement of the left anterior intraparietal sulcus, a region involved in visual working memory maintenance and greater suppression in the right temporoparietal junction, a region involved in attentional shifting. When assessed one year later, stunted infants had lower problem-solving scores, while infants of normal height with greater left anterior intraparietal sulcus activation showed higher problem-solving scores. Finally, short-for-age infants with poor physical growth indices but good visual working memory performance showed more positive outcomes suggesting that intervention efforts should focus on improving working memory and reducing distractibility in infancy.