BackgroundSocial isolation is a key modifiable risk factor for cognitive decline, yet its mediating mechanisms are not fully understood.ObjectiveThis study examines depression and systemic inflammation (neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio, NLR) as mediators between social isolation and domain-specific cognitive impairments.MethodsUsing cross-sectional data from 1272 adults aged ≥60 (NHANES 2011-2014), we constructed a social isolation index (0-4) incorporating marital status, living arrangements, functional limitations, and social participation barriers. Cognition was assessed via Alzheimer's Disease Word Learning Test (CERAD-WL) (verbal memory), Animal Fluency (executive function), Digit Symbol Substitution Test (processing speed), and composite Z-scores. Mediation analyses with PHQ-9 depression scores and NLR controlled for sociodemographic, lifestyle, and clinical factors.ResultsSevere social isolation (score = 3) showed dose-response associations with cognitive impairment, particularly in processing speed (DSST β = -11.66, p < 0.01) and global cognition (Z-score β = -0.59, p < 0.01). Depression accounted for about 14.5-20.3% of the association with executive function and processing speed, and NLR explained 25.4% of verbal memory problems. Significant direct effects persisted post-mediation (e.g., CERAD-WL β = -0.519; DSST β = -2.374, p < 0.001), suggesting unmeasured pathways.ConclusionsSocial isolation was associated with cognition through tripartite mechanisms: depression-linked processing speed/executive dysfunction, inflammation-mediated verbal memory decline, and direct neurobiological effects. Integrated interventions targeting social connectivity and depression are clinically prioritized over anti-inflammatory strategies. Findings emphasize domain-specific vulnerabilities requiring precision approaches for isolated older adults.

To diagnose HIV-associated neurocognitive disorders (HAND), several neuropsychological test batteries have been used in various studies and countries. In Japan, the Co-developing Comprehensive Neuropsychological Test Battery (CoCoBattery) was developed during a nationwide study conducted between 2014 and 2016 (the J-HAND study) to explore the prevalence of HAND and has been widely used thereafter. It consists of 14 tests covering eight key cognitive domains: language, attention/working memory, executive function, learning, memory, information-processing speed, visuospatial construction, and motor skills. However, some cases have been difficult to classify in terms of HAND severity due to the lack of subjective impairment assessments in CoCoBattery. Therefore, we added cognitive screening questions to CoCoBattery (CoCoBattery-Plus) and compared the results among 103 HIV-positive individuals. Using the original battery, 10 cases were diagnosed with HIV-associated dementia (HAD), 13 with mild neurocognitive disorder (MND), 39 with asymptomatic neurocognitive impairment (ANI), and 41 with no HAND. In contrast, using the new battery, four individuals who were previously unaware of cognitive impairment reported subjective complaints in response to the questions, leading to diagnostic changes: one case from ANI to HAD and three from ANI to MND. The final diagnoses were 11 HAD, 16 MND, and 35 ANI, corresponding to a reclassification rate of 3.9%. Subjective complaints are a crucial component in determining the severity of HAND, and we anticipate that CoCoBattery-Plus will enable more accurate HAND diagnosis.

INTRODUCTIONThe Active Gains in Brain Using Exercise During Aging (AGUEDA) trial examined the effects of a 24 week resistance exercise (RE) intervention on executive function (EF) and other cognitive domains in cognitively normal older adults.METHODSNinety participants (mean age, 71.8 years; 57.8% female) were randomized to an RE or control group. At baseline and 24 weeks, EF and other cognitive domains were assessed.RESULTSThe RE group showed significant improvements in overall EF (standardized mean difference [SMD] = 0.39, 95% confidence interval = 0.14, 0.65), with no significant between‐group difference (SMD = 0.13, p = 0.37). The RE group showed a significant improvement in attentional/inhibitory control (SMD = 0.43, p < 0.001) compared to the control group, while no effects were observed in other domains (all p > 0.12). Moderation by age, education, and subjective cognitive decline was observed.DISCUSSIONAlthough no overall EF benefit was observed, RE improved attentional/inhibitory control in cognitively normal older adults. RE may yield greater benefits in vulnerable subgroups.CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATIONThe trial was registered on ClinicalTrials.gov (ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT05186090).HighlightsCognitive effects of resistance exercise (RE) may vary across different cognitive domains in cognitively healthy older adults.Twenty‐four week RE produced selective improvements in attention/inhibitory control.RE did not improve executive function (EF), or other cognitive domains (episodic memory, processing speed, visuospatial processing, and working memory).RE improved muscular strength, which were associated with gains in EF, episodic memory and working memory.There is value in personalized exercise interventions tailored to individual risk populations, such as those with higher subjective cognitive decline.

Cancer-related cognitive impairment (CRCI) is a common and debilitating complication among colorectal cancer survivors, even in those without chemotherapy exposure. To identify cancer-related neural changes, we investigated spontaneous brain activity and cognition in colorectal cancer survivors using cognitive assessments and resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rsfMRI). Nineteen survivors (stages I-II, cancer diagnosis < 12 months, chemotherapy-naïve) and 18 healthy controls underwent a battery of objective/subjective cognitive tests and MRI. RsfMRI data was analyzed with fractional amplitude of low-frequency fluctuations (fALFF) and functional connectivity (FC). Statistical analysis was controlled for age, sex, education, depression, and anxiety, with multiple comparison correction. Compared to controls, survivors performed significantly worse on the Hopkins Verbal Learning Test (HVLT-R) Recognition Discrimination Index (RDI) (p = 0.03) and showed slower psychomotor speed on the Trail Making Test (TMT-A) (p = 0.02). RsfMRI analysis revealed increased fALFF in the right hippocampus and bilateral inferior/middle temporal, parahippocampal, and fusiform gyri, with decreased fALFF in the bilateral superior/middle frontal gyri and left inferior frontal gyrus. RDI was negatively correlated with fALFF in right temporal regions. Survivors also exhibited reduced FC within the default mode network (DMN) (p < 0.05). This cross-sectional study shows that colorectal cancer survivors display hyperactivity in the temporal regions and disrupted DMN connectivity associated with cognitive decline, suggesting a maladaptive neural response. Our study identified the functionally altered brain regions and networks associated with colorectal CRCI using MRI. This would provide potential biological targets for developing interventions such as neuromodulation for mitigating the adverse effects of colorectal CRCI.

Ketogenic diet (KD) is increasingly recognized as a strategy to combat obesity. However, its effects on cognition in sedentary healthy young adults remain underexplored. In a quasi-experimental design, 186 participants were screened, 78 excluded based on predefined criteria, leaving 108 healthy adults (age 25-45 years, BMI 18-29.9 kg m-2, sedentary <5,000 steps/day) assigned to either KD group (<5% carbohydrates, 20-25% protein, 70-75% fat; n = 54) or control group (regular diet ∼50-65% carbohydrates; n = 54). Participants underwent a 4 weeks' dietary intervention. Cognitive domains were assessed at baseline and post intervention using validated computer-based test battery. Pre, mid and post weight, BMI, blood ketones and fasting glucose were also measured. Forty-three participants in the KD group and 38 in the control group completed the trial. Four weeks of non-energy restricted KD improved processing speed, semantic memory, working memory, episodic memory, fluid cognition, crystallized cognition and overall cognitive composite scores (all P ≤ 0.001) versus controls. Attention and inhibitory control (P = 0.46) and cognitive flexibility (P = 0.21) showed no significant differences. Blood ketones increased (0.12-1.32 mmol L-1, P < 0.001) in KD participants versus controls (0.118-0.105 mmol L-1, P = 0.94). KD reduced weight (P < 0.001), BMI (P < 0.001) and fasting glucose (P < 0.001). Post intervention ketones predicted cognitive gain in most cognitive domains except attention & inhibitory control and cognitive flexibility. Short term KD intervention enhances memory, processing speed, fluid, crystallized and overall cognitive function composite scores in sedentary healthy adults.

Social anxiety disorder (SAD) is characterized by attentional biases that may contribute to its persistence. While adult models emphasize self-focused and hypervigilant attention, there is limited understanding of how these processes operate in children. This study examined internal and external attentional biases in children with SAD during anticipation of a social stress task-a period when anxiety is typically elevated. Forty-two children with a primary SAD diagnosis and 46 healthy controls (HC), aged 9-14 years, completed a reaction time (RT) task with internal (bodily) and external (visual) probes during anticipation of a speech task, while facing a peer video audience. RTs to probes and eye movements toward audience faces were recorded. RTs did not differ between groups. Exploratory analyses revealed that age correlated negatively with RTs in both groups, suggesting developmental effects on processing speed, although no group differences in this relationship were found. Eye-tracking revealed that children with SAD exhibited more frequent and longer fixations on audience faces during the initial phase of the task compared to HCs. Although RT tasks alone may not detect attentional biases in children with SAD, eye-tracking indicated heightened attention to socially salient cues during anticipation. These findings highlight the importance of multimodal assessment to capture subtle hypervigilance in pediatric SAD.

Adolescence is a sensitive period for the emergence of psychopathology. During this time, physiological changes and environmental exposures jointly shape brain development and influence cognitive and personality maturation, collectively heightening vulnerability to mental disorders. However, the complexity of interactions between these factors has hindered a systems-level understanding of mental health and the causal roles of cognition and personality in psychopathology. In this study, we proposed a multifactorial causal framework integrating brain, pubertal, environmental, and behavioral factors to characterize heterogeneity in adolescent mental health trajectories at the individual level. We then investigated latent causal pathways linking cognition and personality to mental health outcomes and identified potential personalized intervention targets. Leveraging the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development (ABCD) dataset (N = 4,501), we analyzed 165 behavioral pairs connecting cognition and personality traits to mental health symptoms. Using cross-sectional multivariate mediation and longitudinal interaction-inclusive analyses, we identified 68 behavioral pairs showing significant causal relationships, with brain and environmental exposures contributing to most pathways, while pubertal factors exhibited limited involvement. Individualized interpretive analyses further revealed 23 pairs suggesting potential interventions with response rates exceeding 50%. Among these, behavioral inhibition, negative urgency, and processing speed emerged as the most common intervention targets, whereas psychosis symptoms and attention problems were the most likely issues to improve. Overall, our study advances a comprehensive framework capturing the multifactorial and heterogeneous nature of adolescent mental health, delineates specific causal pathways from cognitive and personality traits to psychopathology, and provides a principled basis for potential individualized intervention strategies.

Abstract Imagining a movement without executing it has measurable effects on physical performance, learning, and rehabilitation. However, these effects rely on our ability to imagine performing actions—a complex, covert skill that is difficult to quantify. While movement imagery ability can be assessed by behavioural methods or measuring its neural correlates, the relationship between these measures is uncertain. This Registered Report will determine the association between three key behavioural processes during movement imagery—generation, maintenance and manipulation—and well-established neurophysiological measures of corticospinal excitability and intracortical inhibition during imagery, obtained via Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation. A behavioural battery including a questionnaire, a ‘mental chronometry’ task, and a hand rotation task will be collected alongside the amplitude of Motor Evoked Potentials and the change in Short Interval Cortical Inhibition during imagery. Bayesian correlations will assess the association between these measures to provide a comprehensive evaluation of the neuro-behavioural correlates of movement imagery.

Objective To evaluate the efficacy of virtual reality (VR) interventions in improving cognitive function, depressive symptoms, and daily living ability in older adults with mild cognitive impairment (MCI). Methods Eligible randomized controlled trials (RCTs) were systematically retrieved from eight databases and quantitatively synthesized in a meta-analysis. Study quality was appraised using the Cochrane Risk of Bias tool and the GRADE framework. Results A total of 24 RCTs involving 1,381 participants were included. VR interventions were associated with moderate improvements in overall cognitive function (SMD = 0.55, 95% CI: 0.36–0.73, p &amp;lt; 0.0001), although the certainty of this evidence was rated as low. Subgroup analyses showed that immersive VR and purely cognitive VR were more effective than other types. VR also significantly improved attention (Digit Span Forward: MD = 0.39, p = 0.004), processing speed (TMT-A: MD = −4.34, p = 0.01), and executive function (TMT-B: MD = −15.76, p = 0.009; Digit Span Backward: MD = 0.33, p &amp;lt; 0.001). Statistical analysis indicated an absence of significant improvement in daily living performance (SMD = 0.58, p = 0.19) and depressive symptoms (SMD = −0.75, p = 0.18). Conclusion VR interventions, particularly immersive and cognitive-focused types, may enhance cognitive performance in individuals with MCI, especially in attention, processing speed, and executive function. However, current evidence does not support clear benefits for daily functioning or depressive symptoms. Further high-quality studies with long term follow up are needed. Systematic review registration https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO/view/ CRD420251002107, ID: CRD420251002107.

Abstract In today's technological landscape, safeguarding information during transmission and storage has become a critical concern. In last three decades, optical techniques for information security have emerged as a powerful alternative to conventional digital methods, offering notable benefits such as high processing speed, several degrees of freedom, the use of physical parameters as encryption keys, and multidimensional data handling capabilities. This study provides a comprehensive overview of optical cryptosystems employing structured light that means structuring the light's intensity, phase, and state of polarization. It mainly focuses on encryptiondecryption techniques that utilize the properties of optical vortices, orbital angular momentum holography, arbitrary vector beams. In addition, the advantages, limitations, and prospective future directions of these approaches have been discussed.

Maintaining color constancy in polymer extrusion processes is a key difficulty in manufacturing applications, as fluctuations in processing parameters greatly influence pigment dispersion and the quality of the finished product. Preliminary historical data mining analysis was conducted in 2009. This work concentrates on Opaque PC Grade 5, which constituted 2.43% of the pigment; it contained 10 PPH of resin2 with a Melt Flow Index (MFI) of 6.5 g/10 min and 90 PPH of resin1. It also employs a fixed resin composition with an MFI of 25 g/10 min. This research identified the significant processing parameters (PPs) contributing to the lowest color deviation. Interactions between processing parameters, for the same color formulation, were analyzed using statistical methods under various processing conditions. A principle-driven General Trends (GT) diagnostic procedure was applied, wherein each parameter was individually varied across five levels while holding others constant. Particle size distribution (PSD) and colorimetric data (CIE Lab*) were systematically measured and analyzed. To complete this, correlations for the impact of temperature (Temp) on viscosity, particle characteristics, and color quality were studied by characterizing viscosity, Digital Optical Microscopy (DOM), and particle size distribution at various speeds. The samples were characterized for viscosity at three temperatures (230, 255, 280 °C) and particle size distribution at three speeds: 700, 750, 800 rpm. This study investigates particle processing features, such as screw speed and pigment size distribution. The average pigment diameter and the fraction of small particles were influenced by the speed of 700–775 rpm. At 700 rpm, the mean particle size was 2.4 µm, with 61.3% constituting particle numbers. The mean particle size diminished to 2 µm at 775 rpm; however, the particle count proportion escalated to 66% at 800 rpm. This research ultimately quantifies the relative influence of particle size on the reaction, resulting in a color value of 1.36. The mean particle size and particle counts are positively correlated; thus, reduced pigment size at increased speed influences color response and quality. The weighted contributions of the particles, 51.4% at 700 rpm and 48.6% at 800 rpm, substantiate the hypothesis. Further studies will broaden the GT analysis to encompass multi-parameter interactions through design experiments and will test the diagnostic assessment procedure across various polymer grades and colorants to create robust models of prediction for industrial growth. The global quality of mixing polycarbonate compounding constituents ensured consistent and smooth pigment dispersion, minimizing color streaks and resulting in a significant improvement in color matching for opaque grades.

Context: Plant diseases pose a major threat to agricultural production, as they hinder crop growth and significantly reduce yields. In this context, the automatic detection of diseases using artificial intelligence techniques represents an effective solution. Objective: This work presents a comparative study on the integration of attention mechanisms into the ResNet-50 architecture, applied to the classification of grape leaf diseases. Method: Three attention modules were considered: SE (Squeeze-and-Excitation), ECA (Efficient Channel Attention), and CA (Coordinate Attention), each integrated separately into the model to evaluate its impact. Results: The performance of the different configurations was assessed by considering the quality of the results, the model complexity, and the processing speed. Experimental results show that the ECA module achieved the best performance with a reduced number of parameters, followed by SE and then CA. Conclusion: This study highlights the contribution of attention mechanisms in improving the effectiveness of CNN architectures for plant disease detection.

Excess Iron in Deep Gray Matter is Associated with Functional Decline: The Mediating Role of White Matter Myelin.

Vehicle identification is a crucial component of traffic monitoring technology and transportation safety systems. Demand for solutions that can be detected in real time and accessed through web-based platforms has led to the emergence of a new approach based on efficient and adaptive deep learning. In this study, a vehicle detection system was designed using the YOLOv5 algorithm, known for its superior processing speed, smaller model size, and ease of implementation compared to previous versions of YOLO. The system was integrated with the Flask framework to provide a web interface that displays detection results from various video sources, both through live cameras and uploaded files. Based on testing, this system is able to recognize vehicles such as cars, buses, and trucks with a high level of accuracy and speed, while also presenting live vehicle count data. These findings prove that the combination of YOLOv5 and Flask can be an effective solution for implementing a web-based vehicle detection system with fast and accurate performance.

Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder, related to the central insulin signaling pathway. We investigate the relationship among central insulin signaling pathway gene polymorphisms/brain functional and clinical features in early-onset OCD(EO-OCD). Candidate single nucleotide polymorphisms(SNPs) were genotyped and functional magnetic resonance imaging (FMRI) was performed EO-OCD and HCs. The MATRICS Consensus Cognitive Battery (MCCB) was used to evaluate those groups, and a mediating effect model to explore the relationship among polymorphisms-brain functional-clinical features in EO-OCD. In EO-OCD, Rac GTPase-activating protein 1(RACGAP1) rs297941 was the key polymorphism to insulin signaling pathway. The amplitude of low-frequency fluctuation (ALFF) in right precuneus were greater in EO-OCD patients with an A allele than the GG genotype and the ALFF in right supramarginal and postcentral was decreased. The functional connectivity (FC) between right supramarginal and left/right supplementary motor areas, between right cerebellum and left angular of inferior parietal border, and between left angular and right cerebellum was enhanced in A allele. The mediating effect model showed rs297941 influenced information processing speed and obsessive thoughts through intermediary effects of ALFF in right postcentral and enhanced FC between left angular and right cerebellum. Rs297941 was signiffcantly to EO-OCD. Abnormal FC/ALFF play a mediating role between rs297941 and information processing speed in EO-OCD.

Immersive virtual reality intervention to enhance cognitive-affective neuropsychological functions in post-COVID-19 condition: Research protocol and a case report.

Real-time video enhancement on mobile devices is crucial for modern services like video calling, augmented reality, medical imaging, and surveillance. However, limited processing power, battery life, and memory limit the selection of video enhancement algorithms. Techniques aim to reduce noise, improve resolution, and enhance contrast, but their effectiveness depends on processing speed, visual quality, power consumption, and implementation complexity. Balancing these performance parameters is a challenge in real-time applications. Optimally selecting real-time video enhancement algorithms is very difficult and risky when using the classical model. Therefore, we develop a new decision-making model based on fuzzy neural networks with Sugeno-Weber norms. The proposed model selects a real-time video enhancement algorithm. The proposed model provides Deep Learning Super Resolution as an optimal real-time video enhancement algorithm. The decision results are verified based on well-known decision approaches to assess the accuracy of the comparison.

The ketogenic diet (KD) is a low-carbohydrate diet that induces and sustains a ketosis state and minimizes somatic glucose levels. Several psychological studies have described the positive effects of ketosis on cognitive functions for a wide range of neuropsychiatric conditions (e.g., Alzheimer’s disease; epilepsy), leading to greater interest in the KD today. However, the psychological and cognitive effects of inducing ketosis via diet remain unclear, especially in healthy people. From an initial pool of thirty participants, eight undergraduate students performed a cognitive assessment before (baseline) and after three weeks (follow-up) of an isocaloric ketogenic diet. Several neuropsychological measures and psychometric tests have been administered to investigate psychological chronotype, sleep quality, eating habits, anxiety and cognitive components of attention, inhibition, and memory. Non-parametric Bayesian analysis showed that the ketogenic diet affected cognitive functions. Participants performed cognitive tests faster at follow-up than at baseline, showing improvements in visual-motor cognitive and processing speed components. However, they were less accurate on working memory tasks, suggesting a decreasing performance of higher cognitive functions. Finally, no differences in anxiety levels were found between baseline and follow-up. The results could have significant implications for identifying specific cognitive models of students based on specific lifestyle habits and nutritional patterns, allowing the implementation of targeted interventions to improve university learning conditions.

Modulation of hierarchical motor sequence learning by alpha-synuclein and the adenosine A2A receptor.

Occupational health professionals increasingly encounter workers who complain about a decrease in cognitive endurance, yet standardized tools to objectively assess this decrease are lacking. Cognitive endurance, the ability to sustain cognitive performance during prolonged mental effort, is critical for sustainable employability. In this proof-of-principle study, 101 healthy working adults (M_age = 35.7, SD = 13.6) completed neuropsychological assessments and fatigue questionnaires at the start and end of a regular workday. Cognitive endurance was operationalized as within-day change scores across six cognitive domains. Analyses included paired t-tests, Wilcoxon signed-rank tests, Spearman correlations, and multiple regression. Over the course of a workday, cognitive performance improved in language, attention/executive functioning, and information processing speed (all p < 0.001), despite a significant increase in subjective fatigue (Z = -6.34, p < 0.001). Nearly half of the neuropsychological tests showed improvement. Fatigue measures explained only a small part of the variance in language change (R2 = 0.122), and no individual fatigue predictors were significant in that model. Higher subjective fatigue was associated with less improvement in processing speed (p = 0.040). Cognitive performance remained stable or improved over the course of the day, even as subjective fatigue levels increased. Fatigue measures showed limited predictive value for changes in cognitive outcomes, with only subjective fatigue significantly related to performance in one domain. These findings suggest that in healthy working adults, subjective complaints alone do not reliably indicate reduced cognitive functioning. Incorporating objective cognitive data may therefore be important when assessing endurance capacity and informing occupational health evaluations.