Memory Processing Research Articles

Ilektra Apostolou: A Greek female resistance fighter and a heroine of the left

The Greek resistance fighter Ilektra Apostolou was executed on 26 July 1944, by the collaborationist security forces in Greece during the Second World War. Apostolou was a member of Kommounistiko Komma Ellados (KKE, Communist Party of Greece) and of Eniaia Panneladiki Organosi Newn (EPON, United Panhellenic Organisation of Youth), and was involved in pre-war antifascist action. During the resistance, she tried to pass on the mentality she had developed from this early involvement to young women in EPON and Lefteri Nea (LT, Free Young Woman): that women would be liberated only by actively participating in social struggles. Her biography is examined with a critical eye, taking into consideration that it was largely written after the war. This means that it not only provides a factual representation of Apostolou: it also functions as a lieu de memoire, a site of memory. The politics of memory influences how her biography is constructed. The second part focuses on the memorialisation of Apostolou, examining it through the lens of intersectionality. Identity criteria – such as gender, race, age and political identification – and the changing relative significance attributed to them are important both for shaping and understanding, memorialisa- tion processes. An intersectional approach seeks to reveal the hidden dimensions behind the memorialisation process. The last part focuses on Apostolou's post-war legacy and explores how her memorialisation was intertwined with political developments from 1944 to the present, with a particular focus on the contestation over Apostolou's memory between the right and the left at various points in modern Greek history. The article draws on a combination of secondary and primary sources, the main primary sources being those found in the Educational Centre of Charilaos Florakis (Archive of the Greek Communist Party) and the Contemporary Social History Archives (ASKI).

8T-SRAM Based Process-In-Memory (PIM) System With Current Mirror for Accurate MAC Operation

8T-SRAM Based Process-In-Memory (PIM) System With Current Mirror for Accurate MAC Operation

Sex-specific effects of intermittent fasting on hippocampal neurogenesis via the gut-brain axis.

Intermittent fasting (IF) is a widely used dietary strategy that has shown several advantageous impacts on general health and aging. IF has recently been linked to the control of neurogenesis, a crucial process for emotional control, memory, and learning, in the hippocampus. Nevertheless, there is little knowledge about the sex-specific impacts of IF on hippocampal neurogenesis and the related mechanisms, which were investigated in this study among both male and female rats, together with analyzing the involvement of the flora-gut-brain axis in facilitating these effects. Our findings show that IF favorably affects hippocampus neurogenesis in female mice relative to male mice, suggesting a sex-specific mechanism. In addition, IF influenced the diversity of the gut microbiota and decreased the synthesis of fructose-1-phosphate (F-1-P), which is believed together with fructose metabolism to be linked to neurological damage and cognitive decline. Collectively, these data indicate that the connection between the flora-gut-brain axis and hippocampus neurogenesis is significant.

Treatment of pilocarpine-induced epileptic seizures in adult male mice.

Epilepsy is one of the most common neurological disorders affecting most social, economic and biological aspects of human life. Most patients with epilepsy have uncontrolled seizures and drug side effects despite the medications. Patients with epilepsy often have problems with attention, memory, and information processing speed, which may be due to seizures, underlying causes, or anticonvulsants. Therefore, improving seizure control and reducing or changing the anti-epileptic drugs can solve these problems, but these problems will not be solved in most cases. In this work, we looked at the effects of pioglitazone, a Peroxisome Proliferator-Activated Receptor agonist used to treat type 2 diabetes, on pilocarpine-induced seizures in mice. The Racine scale was used to classify pilocarpine-induced convulsions. After that, all of the animals were beheaded, and the brain and hippocampus were dissected. Finally, biochemical techniques were used to determine the levels of Malondialdehyde and Catalase activity, as well as Superoxide Dismutase and Glutathione Reductase in the hippocampus. The results of this investigation suggest that pioglitazone's antioxidant action may play a key role in its neuroprotective properties against pilocarpine-induced seizure neuronal damage.

Domain walls speed up in insulating ferrimagnetic garnets

Magnetic domain walls (DWs) are the finite boundaries that separate the regions of uniform magnetization in a magnetic material. They constitute a key research topic in condensed matter physics due to their intriguing physics and relevance in technological applications. A multitude of spintronic concepts for memory, logic, and data processing applications have been proposed, relying on the precise control of DWs via magnetic fields and electric currents. Intensive research into DWs has also spurred interest into chiral magnetic interactions, topology, and relativistic physics. In this article, we will first review the rapid evolution of magnetic DW research and, in particular, the current-driven DW motion enabled by the improved understanding of DW dynamics and the development of suitable ferrimagnetic thin films. We will then provide an outlook on future directions in DW dynamics research exploiting ferrimagnetic garnets as a tunable material platform.

Superficial white matter integrity in neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder and multiple sclerosis.

Superficial white matter (SWM) is a particularly vulnerable area of white matter adjacent to cerebral cortex that was shown to be a sensitive marker of disease severity in several neurological and psychiatric disorders, including multiple sclerosis (MS), but has not been studied in neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD). To compare the integrity of SWM between MS patients, NMOSD patients and healthy controls, and explore the correlation of SWM integrity with cognitive performance and overall disability. Forty NMOSD patients, 48 MS patients and 52 healthy controls were included in the study. Mean diffusivity (MD) values obtained by diffusion tensor imaging were used as a measure of SWM integrity. Cognitive performance and overall disability were assessed with standardized tests. Superficial white matter MD was increased in MS patients compared to healthy controls. Higher MD was associated with poorer spatial memory (most prominently in right temporal and right limbic lobe) and poorer information processing speed in MS patients. After adjusting for age, no significant differences of SWM MD were observed between NMOSD patients and healthy controls. Integrity of SWM is compromised in MS, but not in NMOSD, and can serve as a sensitive marker of disease severity.

Возрастные аспекты клинической картины когнитивных нарушений

AIM. To identify a combination of the most informative patterns that allow a differentiated approach to the diagnosis of agerelated cognitive impairment. MATERIAL AND METHODS. 213 patients were examined (99 patients ≤ɸ 65 years of age, 114 patients over 65 years of age) with complaints of decreased mental performance, memory and attention. A neuropsychologic testing was conducted using next scales: Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA), Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), Multidimensional Fatigue Inventory (MFI-20) and additional cognitive impairment tests. For statistical analysis, machine learning algorithms, Python programming language, and Pandas and SciPy libraries were used. RESULTS AND DISSCUSION. For patients in the 50–65 age category, high relevance was found for executive dysfunction, decreased attention span, fatigue, anxiety, and endocrine system disorders. For patients over 65 years of age, significant features were semantic aphasia, perceptual and memory impairment, hyperlipidaemia, history of ischemic stroke, and obesity. A significant negative correlation for the age index was found with the parameters of depression and anxiety; a positive correlation was found with the index of physical asthenia, disorders of perception, memory and semantic processing of information. CONCLUSION. The results demonstrate average prevalence of cognitive dysfunctions in elderly patients. The tests assessing visual perception and semantic information processing can be of interest in early degenerative cognitive impairments diagnosis in elderly age. Discriminant analysis of a wide range of age-related variables will allow to make more effective aging trajectories prediction without any time-consuming diagnostic methods. KEYWORDS: aging, cognitive dysfunctions, discriminant analysis

Cognitive function and brain magnetic resonance imaging profiles in neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder and multiple sclerosis.

The objective of this study was to investigate cognitive performance and brain volume profile in patients with neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD) and multiple sclerosis (MS). In a historical cohort study, 29 MS patients, 31 NMOSD patients, and 20 healthy controls (HCs) underwent neuropsychological assessment using the Minimal Assessment of Cognitive Function in Multiple Sclerosis (MACFIMS). Patients with MS and NMOSD also underwent a 1.5-tesla magnetic resonance imaging scan and high-resolution three-dimensional T1-weighted MPRAGE sequence. The Symbol Digit Modalities Test scores were significantly lower in MS (mean [standard deviation (SD)] =44.1 [14]) and NMOSD (mean [SD] =45.5 [14.3]) patients compared to HCs (mean [SD] =57 [9.5], P < 0.001). Scores of the Controlled Oral Word Association Test were also lower in MS (mean [SD] =25.9 [9.8]) and NMOSD (mean [SD] =24.6 [10.2]) patients compared to HCs (mean [SD] =36.6 [9.8], P < 0.001). Additionally, the MS group performed worse on the Brief Visuospatial Memory Test (BVMT) compared to the NMOSD group (9.4 ± 3.4 vs. 7.1 ± 3.7 P < 0.001). In MS patients, there was a significant correlation between all cognition scores and total brain lesions, as well as between every test except BVMT-Revised with thalamic volumes. In NMOSD patients, a correlation was found between gray matter volume and the learning phase of the California Verbal Learning Test-II as well as between total lesion percentage and verbal memory and information processing speed. Both NMOSD and MS patients experienced impairment of information processing speed, working memory, and verbal fluency, whereas visuospatial memory impairment was only observed in MS patients. Despite lower total brain lesion and less thalamic atrophy, patients with NMOSD are at risk of cognitive impairment. Microscopic structural abnormalities may be a possible cause.

Recent developments in the state-of-the-art optoelectronic synaptic devices based on 2D materials: a review

This review showcases the diverse functionalities of 2D materials and state-of-the-art developments in device structures, working principles, design strategies of materials, and the integration of 2D material-based optoelectronic synaptic devices.

Upsampling Monte Carlo reactor simulation tallies in depleted LWR assemblies fueled with LEU and HALEU using a convolutional neural network

Simulating nuclear reactor cores at the highest achievable spatial and energy resolution is critical in modeling these systems accurately. Increasing the resolution, however, can dramatically increase the memory and central processing unit time required to run simulations. A convolutional neural network was shown previously to accurately upsample tally results of simulated light water reactor assemblies fueled with fresh, low enriched uranium. Here, we show that a convolutional neural network can be used to upsample tally results in assemblies containing fresh and depleted fuel enriched from 1.6 to 19.9 atom percent. The network was trained using neutron flux tallies from simulations of light water reactor assemblies with a range of fuel and coolant temperatures and a diverse selection of geometries. Accurate predictions of flux tallies are possible even on test assemblies with geometries and burnup levels well outside the range of those present in the training and validation data. The network improves the data density by a factor of 8 over a broad range of light water reactor assemblies while incurring insignificant additional computational cost to a Monte Carlo simulation.

Androgen treatment effects on neurocognition in female-to-male transgender adolescents.

It has been hypothesized that cognitive and memory-related brain function in transgender during cross-sex hormonal treatment might be activated towards that of the subjective gender. However, research on this topic has produced inconsistent results, and to the best of our knowledge no studies have investigated neurocognitive changes in androgen-treated female-to-male (FM) transgender adolescents. A total of 15 FM transgender adolescents (14-17 years) underwent neuropsychological testing in order to examine the effects of androgen on visuo-spacial abilities, verbal memory language, processing speed and executive functions. We used a longitudinal design in which 10 participants were tested twice, before and after receiving 12 months of testosterone treatment. This group was also compared with 5 FM transgender adolescents off-androgen treatment. Participants tested before and after 12 months of androgen treatment improved significantly on processing speed in a visuo-spatial (Rey-Osterrieth complex figure test) and in a visuo-oral task (Stroop), their performance on a verbal memory task (TAVEC) and on interference (Stroop) and they exhibited lower impulsivity control (CARAS-R). On-androgen treatment adolescents exhibited worse cognitive impulsivity control than off-androgen treatment adolescents. The results indicate that androgen has an influence on immediate verbal memory, cognitive interference, impulsivity control and processing speed.

ДО МЕТОДОЛОГІЇ ДОСЛІДЖЕННЯ ГОЛОДОМОРУ 1932–1933 рр.: РЕМІНІСЦЕНЦІЇ УКРАЇНЦІВ НА ЛЮДИНОНЕНАВИСНИЦЬКУ ІДЕОЛОГІЮ КРЕМЛЯ

The article summarizes the facts, events, and crimes of the communist totalitarian regime during the Holodomor of 1932–1933 and the putin’s regime during the Russian-Ukrainian war, which remind Ukrainians of the kremlin’s misanthropic ideology. For the first time made an attempt to adapt the psychological definition of «reminiscence» (delayed reproduction, in fact – the reproduction of information after some time, which emerges with images and analogies from the past) for the purpose of preliminary analysis of the memories of eyewitnesses of the Holodomor-genocide of 1932–1933 and eyewitnesses of the Russian-Ukrainian war 2014–2023 for further systematic analysis. The manifestation of human memory is the nation’s historical memory of its past, which is sublimated into everyone’s memory of their family, parents, childhood, and the brain will force us to work through the traumatic events of the Holodomor-genocide of 1932–1933 and the 2022–2023 genocide. And although the natural process of memory is forgetting, the process of reminiscence is capable of helping to recreate what seemed to have been forgotten, became a vague memory, an echo of a terrible event. Nowadays, when collecting and unifying memories of the Russian-Ukrainian war, which has been going 10 years, it is worth listening carefully to the stories of Ukrainians, because family memories of the Holodomor-genocide of 1932–1933 of the Ukrainian nation come up quite often, which are correlated with the terrible events of today. The Russian Federation continues to trace the methods of the communist totalitarian regime. However, Ukrainians managed to preserve and pass on to new generations the negative experience of the communist occupation. The rashists realized that Ukrainians managed to get rid of the totalitarian past. Putin’s regime and its accomplices are deliberately mass-deporting children from Ukraine for «re-education» to the Russian Federation, committing the crime of genocide. The main motivation of the struggle of the civilian population and the armed forces is the struggle against the hated occupation regime. It has been confirmed that for 32 years after the revival of Ukraine’s independence, Ukrainians managed to get rid of their totalitarian past. Ukrainians defend their state motivated. Therefore, the war is not only for territories, but also for democratic values, self-identity, philosophy of being and existence of Ukrainians.

ORGANIZATION OF CONSOLIDATION OF EDUCATIONAL KNOWLEDGE (BASED ON THE MATERIAL OF SCHOOL SUBJECTS OF THE SOCIAL AND HUMANITARIAN CYCLE)

The article is devoted to the study of the didactic foundations of the organization of the stage of consolidation of socio-humanitarian knowledge by secondary school students in order to digestion them. Modern psychological and pedagogical approaches to the consideration of the essence of the process of memorization and consolidation of knowledge are presented and traditional and innovative techniques and methods of consolidating educational ma- terial are described as well. The publication contains a description of experimental work designed to improve the process of consolidating knowledge in the lessons of subjects of the socio-humanitarian cycle. The actual problem of conducting experimental work is determined as the identification of effective techniques and methods of consolidat- ing of socio-humanitarian knowledge, normatively fixed by general education programs. It was assumed that the solution of the presented problem would allow not only to determine the effectiveness of individual techniques and methods of consolidating socio-humanitarian knowledge, but also, in general, would allow for the solid assimilation of the program content in the practice of school education. The course of experimental work including the ascertain- ing, forming and control stages is described. The main project that was carried out at the formative stage consisted in the application of techniques and methods for consolidating socio-humanitarian knowledge of a reproducing na- ture as memorization, retelling, reproduction, and repetition. Productive nature contains conversation, observation, interaction with a textbook, performing exercises and tasks and associative-intellectual nature includes association of images, grouping of material into categories, the use of words that promote memorization, the use of schemes and the use of logical chains. The intermediate and final results of the experimental work are presented on the basis of the establishment of criteria and levels of determining the quality of consolidation of socio-humanitarian knowl- edge. The dynamics of improving the quality of knowledge consolidation is proved as a result of the application of techniques and methods of consolidation of a productive nature. The prospects of applying techniques and methods of fixing associative-intellectual character are recognized.

A new approach to detect long memory by fractional integration or short memory by structural break

&lt;abstract&gt; &lt;p&gt;Long memory in test statistics can either originate from fractional integration or be spuriously induced by a short memory process with a structural break. This research estimated and detected long memory from the two causes by simulations and empirical analysis. The simulation results showed that fractional integration and structural break processes could demonstrate long memory properties. The 2ELW estimator was stable for fractional integration but not stable for time series with structural breaks. The modified W statistic based on 2ELW was efficient in discriminating fractional integration and structural breaks. Moreover, we found that six volatility time series of stock indexes and individual stocks in the Chinese market experience significant long memory and structural breaks, and the fractional differencing parameter is overestimated without controlling structural breaks.&lt;/p&gt; &lt;/abstract&gt;

Is It Necessary to Use Digital Tools in the Flipped Classroom to Improve the Memorization Process?

Memorization is a crucial factor in effective learning and achieving educational goals. Recent research has suggested that short video sequences viewed by students before class can aid in acquiring and retaining basic concepts, thereby improving memorization and positively impacting the learning process in the flipped classroom approach. However, frequent use of digital tools among adolescents has been found to negatively impact cognitive functions such as memorization. It is worth noting that the traditional use of paper-based materials has been found to have a positive impact on memorization, particularly among learners who are easily distracted by digital devices or experience eye strain from prolonged screen use. Printed materials can offer a more tactile experience, allowing learners to physically highlight and annotate text, which can aid in the encoding and retrieval of information. This study aimed to assess the role of digital tools in the flipped classroom approach and determine if they could be substituted by paper-based materials. To achieve this, a comparative study was conducted between 35 students using digital tools in their flipped classroom (FCDS) and 31 students using paper-based materials (FCPS). The study involved administering pre-tests and post-tests to both groups to evaluate their ability to retrieve basic concepts and assess the effectiveness of their learning in life and earth sciences. The results indicate that learners were able to retrieve knowledge effectively regardless of the medium used and that the positive effect of the FCDS on recall during learning is comparable to that of the FCPS. Keywords: digital tools, flipped classroom, memorization, learning process, life, earth

Pathophysiological features of the mechanisms of cognitive function and their relationship with the emotional state in medical university students

Relevance: cognitive processes play an important role in our lives. Intelligent mechanisms of thought: processing and processing information to make decisions helps us in many areas of everyday life. And in the optimization process, knowledge about cognitive processes helps to thoroughly develop methods for initiating and illuminating programs, allowing them to become more effective and efficient, in the normal pathogenesis of illness, in Puppy memory and creativity and the key to developing psychological well-being: A study of cognitive processes help to improve our understanding of psychological well-being and kindness. It allows us to understand what factors influence our thoughts, emotions and behavior. By focusing on cognitive processes, it is possible to improve the results of learning, healing and the emotional state of students during the learning process. It appears that advertising and marketing widely rely on the influence of the emotional warehouse with the help of information and mental mechanisms. Therefore, the infusion of positive emotions into memory can help psychologists and consultants develop more effective strategies for helping people with pathological conditions. Systematization and updating of data due to the influx of positive and negative emotions, sleep deprivation during the memory process. We also took into account the infusion of the emotional spectrum into the memory process among students of the Kharkiv National Medical University. Conclusions: Varying the pathophysiological features of the mechanisms of cognitive function and their relationship with the emotional state, the influx of positive and negative emotions on the process of memorizing an important topic, oskol How emotions flow into our memory and other cognitive processes. Following the results of the conducted research among students of the Kharkiv National Medical University, the best results in the remembered students will be noted as information from the city, as there is a wine city, and there is no significant marking, as when trained and students feel positive emotions. This knowledge can be of practical importance in education, psychological practice, advertising, marketing and many other matters

Cerebral response to emotional working memory based on vocal cues: an fNIRS study.

Humans mainly utilize visual and auditory information as a cue to infer others' emotions. Previous neuroimaging studies have shown the neural basis of memory processing based on facial expression, but few studies have examined it based on vocal cues. Thus, we aimed to investigate brain regions associated with emotional judgment based on vocal cues using an N-back task paradigm. Thirty participants performed N-back tasks requiring them to judge emotion or gender from voices that contained both emotion and gender information. During these tasks, cerebral hemodynamic response was measured using functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS). The results revealed that during the Emotion 2-back task there was significant activation in the frontal area, including the right precentral and inferior frontal gyri, possibly reflecting the function of an attentional network with auditory top-down processing. In addition, there was significant activation in the ventrolateral prefrontal cortex, which is known to be a major part of the working memory center. These results suggest that, compared to judging the gender of voice stimuli, when judging emotional information, attention is directed more deeply and demands for higher-order cognition, including working memory, are greater. We have revealed for the first time the specific neural basis for emotional judgments based on vocal cues compared to that for gender judgments based on vocal cues.

Tradisi Tahfizh al-Qur`an Lansia di Pondok Tahfizh Ma’had An-Nur Sungai Tanang Kec. Banuhampu Kab. Agam

This study aims to analyze the response of elderly Qur'an memorizers to the Qur'an memorization activities at Ma'had An-Nur Islamic Boarding School in Agam Regency. The research focuses on the motivation of the elderly participants in engaging in Qur'an memorization, the implementation of Qur'an memorization among the elderly, and the attitude changes experienced by elderly participants after engaging in Qur'an memorization. The research method employed is qualitative with a case study design. Data were collected through observations and in-depth interviews with twelve key informants. The study finds that the motivation of the elderly participants in joining the Qur'an memorization activities at Ma'had An-Nur Islamic Boarding School varies. Some participants are motivated by religious reasons, aiming to draw closer to Allah through Qur'an memorization, while others seek rewards and Allah's pleasure in the afterlife. The implementation of Qur'an memorization among the elderly is carried out using methods that are suitable for the participants' abilities and health conditions. Methods such as "wahdah," "tikrar," "sima'i," and "tasmi'" are employed to facilitate the memorization process. After engaging in the Qur'an memorization activities, the elderly participants undergo positive attitude changes. They feel more serene, peaceful, and harmonious in their daily lives. Inner calmness, harmonious living, and a stronger belief in Allah are the changes experienced within themselves. Some participants exhibit a strong learning attitude, making efforts to improve their deficiencies in Qur'an memorization.

Musculoskeletal injury or Sports-Related Concussion (SRC) in a season of rugby union does not affect performance on concussion battery testing in university-aged student-athletes

BackgroundSub-concussive and concussive impacts sustained during contact sports such as rugby may affect neurocognitive performance, vestibular-ocular-motor function, symptom burden and academic ability. MethodStudent-athletes (n = 146) participating in rugby union British Universities or domestic competitions were assessed on the Immediate Post-Concussion and Cognitive Test, Post-Concussion Symptom Scale, vestibular-oculo-motor screening tool and revised perceived academic impact tool. Individual change from pre-season (July–September 2021) to 2-weeks following last exposure to contact (April–July 2022) was analysed. ResultsSymptom burden significantly worsened (p=0.016) over the season. Significant improvements on verbal memory (p=0.016), visual memory (p=0.008) and motor processing speed (p=0.001) suggest a possible learning effect. Surprisingly, the number of days lost to concussion significantly and positively affected performance on verbal memory (p = 0.018) and reaction time (p = 0.027). Previous concussive events significantly predicted a worsening in symptom burden (p < 0.028), as did in-season concussive events, predicting improved verbal memory (p = 0.033) and symptom burden change (p = 0.047). Baseline performance significantly affected change on several neurocognitive tests, with low-scorers showing more improvement over the season. ConclusionParticipation in rugby union was not associated with deleterious effects on brain function. Previous concussive events and in-season factors, possibly related to learning effects, may explain improvement in cognitive function across the season.

Long-range connections damage in white matter hyperintensities affects information processing speed.

White matter hyperintensities, one of the major markers of cerebral small vessel disease, disrupt the integrity of neuronal networks and ultimately contribute to cognitive dysfunction. However, a deeper understanding of how white matter hyperintensities related to the connectivity patterns of brain hubs at the neural network level could provide valuable insights into the relationship between white matter hyperintensities and cognitive dysfunction. A total of 36 patients with moderate to severe white matter hyperintensities (Fazekas score ≥ 3) and 34 healthy controls underwent comprehensive neuropsychological assessments and resting-state functional MRI scans. The voxel-based graph-theory approach-functional connectivity strength was employed to systematically investigate the topological organization of the whole-brain networks. The white matter hyperintensities patients performed significantly worse than the healthy controls in episodic memory, executive function and information processing speed. Additionally, we found that white matter hyperintensities selectively affected highly connected hub regions, predominantly involving the medial and lateral prefrontal, precuneus, inferior parietal lobule, insula and thalamus. Intriguingly, this impairment was connectivity distance-dependent, with the most prominent disruptions observed in long-range connections (e.g. 100-150 mm). Finally, these disruptions of hub connectivity (e.g. the long-range functional connectivity strength in the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex) positively correlated with the cognitive performance in white matter hyperintensities patients. Our findings emphasize that the disrupted hub connectivity patterns in white matter hyperintensities are dependent on connection distance, especially longer-distance connections, which in turn predispose white matter hyperintensities patients to worse cognitive function.