Processing Speed Research Articles

New obstacle detection method for a mobile robot based on improved disparity map processing

Stereovision is a crucial technique for vision-based obstacle detection as it provides accurate 3D information for analyzing scenes and detecting obstacles. Despite its effectiveness, existing methods often struggle with real-time performance and computational efficiency. This paper introduces a new stereovision-based obstacle detection system that integrates two novel approaches: Optimized Disparity Map Computation (ODMC), which enhances Hirschmüller’s method for faster disparity map generation, and Disparity Seeded Region Growing (D-SRG), an improved version of the SRG algorithm optimized for identifying obstacles in real-time. Our system is designed to address key challenges such as high memory consumption and slow processing speed, enabling efficient real-time processing from image acquisition to obstacle detection using a 3D camera. Experimental results show that:

The role of phonological overlap and cognates in dual logographic bilinguals’ phonological processing

Most previous studies on Chinese-Japanese bilingual lexical access have shown that cognates can facilitate L2 Japanese word recognition, and phonological overlap cannot. However, the findings from this research challenge those findings. In this study, both high- and low- proficient JFL (Japanese as a Foreign Language) learners performed phoneme monitoring tasks in their second language. Orthographically similar words with high or low phonological and semantic similarity were fully crossed. Our results suggest that phonological overlap across Chinese and Japanese interferes with phoneme processing speed and accuracy, especially those of the low-proficient JFL learners. Yet as their L2 proficiency improves, this inhibition effect can become smaller. In addition, cognate semantic overlap marginally interacts with L2 proficiency to affect phoneme recognition, though cognates do not directly play a role in phoneme processing. The theoretical implications of our research suggest that phonology functions as a non-selective element in the phonological access phase for bilinguals literate in two logographic languages. Moreover, cross-logographic processing does not conform to the cascading model; instead, it can be more accurately described by the modular or interactive models of bilingual processing.

Changes in thalamic functional connectivity in post-Covid patients with and without fatigue

BackgroundFunctional brain alterations in post-Covid-19 condition have been minimally explored to date. Here, we investigate differences in resting-state thalamic functional connectivity among post-Covid patients with and without fatigue, alongside structural brain changes and cognition. MethodsThirty-nine post-Covid patients (n=15 fatigued, n=24 non-fatigued) participated in our study, undergoing comprehensive cognitive assessments, as well as functional and structural neuroimaging. We conducted a seed-based functional connectivity analysis using the thalamus as a seed region, exploring its connectivity with the entire brain. To further elucidate our findings, correlation analyses were performed using the functional coupling between the thalamus and regions showing different connectivity between the two patient groups. ResultsOur results reveal that patients experiencing fatigue exhibit anti-correlated functional coupling between the thalamus and motor-associated regions, including the motor cortex (M1), supplementary motor area (SMA), and anterior cingulate cortex (ACC), compared to non-fatigued patients, who are showing positive functional coupling. Furthermore, this observed coupling was found to correlate with both the fatigue scores obtained from a fatigue questionnaire and performance on the Trail Making Test, Part A, which represents a measure of processing speed. ConclusionsOur study highlights significant differences in resting-state functional connectivity between post-Covid patients with and without fatigue, particularly within motor-associated brain regions. These findings suggest a potential neural mechanism underlying post-Covid fatigue and underscore the importance of considering both functional and structural brain changes in understanding the symptomatic sequelae of post-Covid-19 condition. Further research is warranted to provide insight into the longitudinal trajectories of these neural alterations.

The effectiveness of transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) on information processing speed in children with intellectual disability

PurposeThe speed of information processing is known to play an important role in mental disorders; This study investigated the effect of the transcranial direct current stimulation on information processing speed in children with intellectual disabilities. MethodAn experimental design with a pretest- posttest control group was used. The study population consisted of 8- to 14-year-old children with intellectual disabilities attending special primary schools in Urmia, Iran. 36 children were randomly assigned to the experimental and control groups (18 for each group). The experimental group received 10 sessions of tDCS with anode positioned over the F3 electrode (left DLPFC) and cathode over F4 (right DLPFC) The control group did not receive any intervention. Trail Making Test (TMT) was used to assess information processing speed. Data were analyzed using MANCOVA. ResultsThe results revealed that tDCS led to a significant increase in information processing speed in the experimental group compared to the control group. ConclusionThis study demonstrates that tDCS applied to the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) is effective in enhancing information processing speed in children with intellectual disabilities. These finding have important implications for the development of interventions aimed at improving cognitive functioning in children with intellectual disabilities.

Improvement of fatigue, depression, and processing speed two weeks post Natalizumab infusion in Multiple Sclerosis: No difference between standard and extended interval dosing schedules

BackgroundFatigue, depression and slow processing speed are debilitating symptoms in people with Relapsing-Remitting Multiple Sclerosis (RRMS) that significantly impacts on the quality of life. Natalizumab, a disease-modifying treatment, improves clinical symptoms but questions remain about the comparative efficacy between its standard interval dosing (SID) and extended interval dosing (EID) schedules. ObjectiveTo examine the impact of short term natalizumab dosing schedules—SID versus EID—on the so called “invisible symptoms”, specifically focusing on symptom exacerbation during the 'wearing-off' phase before infusion and the subsequent relief post-infusion. MethodsForty-two RRMS patients were assessed one week before (T0) and two weeks after pre-and post-natalizumab infusion (T1) for fatigue symptoms using the Fatigue Scale for Motor and Cognitive Functions (FSMC), the Modified Fatigue Impact Scale (MFIS), and the Fatigue Symptoms and Impacts Questionnaire–Relapsing Multiple Sclerosis (FSIQ-RMS). Processing speed and depression were measured by the symbol digit modality test (SDMT), and the Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II). Participants were categorized into either the SID or EID dosing schedules of natalizumab, and their outcomes were compared. ResultsForty-two patients (21 SID; 21 EID) completed the study. Fatigue severity scales, SDMT, and BDI-II scores improved from T0 to T1. No significant differences in fatigue symptoms were found between the SID and EID groups, whether during the "wearing-off" period (T0) or post-infusion (T1). ConclusionsBoth SID and EID dosing regimens of natalizumab are similarly effective in reducing fatigue symptoms, depression and improving processing speed in individuals with RRMS, with no observed differences during the "wearing-off" periods or after re-infusion.

The Effect of Application-Based Exergames on Cognitive Function in Hemodialysis Patients

Aims: Hemodialysis (HD) patients may disrupt physical and cognitive capabilities, affecting older mobility, independence, psychological well-being, and health care expenditures. Home-based exergame training overcomes accessibility issues. Methods: This research examined how mobile app exergames affected cognitive performance in hemodialysis patients. This research used a repeated measurement-quasi-experiment two-group pretest-posttest design in a West Java. The intervention group trained three times a week for 30-40 minutes for two months, totaling 24 sessions (8 weeks). In the control group, participants were told to live normally. Results: Inlcusion criteria was performing HD at least twice a week, age > 65, living independently, self-reported health, ability to stand for 10 minutes without help, and access to a TV with HDMI connection. The Trail Making Test (TMT) measured psychomotor speed and executive function. ANCOVA was used to compare scores before and after the intervention in both groups. The repeated ANOVA test revealed that the trial making test A (TMT A) decreased significantly in the intervention group after one month intervention (T2) (from 79.77 ± 7.23 at baseline to 40.87 ± 5.33 at follow up), with the effect size was 0.41, indicating moderate effect size. The trial making test B (TMT B) decreased significantly in the intervention group after one month intervention (T2) (from 77.6 ± 24.2 at baseline to 70.32 ± 23.3 at follow up), with the effect size was 0.45, indicating moderate effect size. However, there was not significant change of Trial making Test A and B from baseline to follow up time in the control group. Conclusions: Findings of this study could be one of the new solutions to help patients undergoing hemodialysis improve their cognitive function. Exergame training may be done at home, which helps to overcome accessibility constraints.

Overview of High-Performance Computing And It’s Current Trend in India

This is an era of High-Performance Computing abbreviated as HPC. HPC evolved due to increase in demand of Processing speed. It is a hybrid technology that continuously changes its colors, so it is hard to define it in static words. However, if we still persist to define it the effort leads to a definition as below – “HPC is a branch of computer science that concentrates on combining the power of computing devices, networking infrastructure and storage systems using parallel hardware, networking and software technology that utilizes human expertise to gain optimized and sustained performance for solving scientific, engineering, big data and research problems including grand challenges like computer modeling, simulations and analysis of data.

GMDIC: a digital image correlation measurement method based on global matching for large deformation displacement fields

The digital image correlation method is a non-contact optical measurement method, which has the advantages of full-field measurement, simple operation, and high measurement accuracy. The traditional DIC method can accurately measure displacement and strain fields, but there are still many limitations. (i) In the measurement of large displacement deformations, the calculation accuracy of the displacement field and strain field needs to be improved due to the unreasonable setting of parameters such as subset size and step size. (ii) It is difficult to avoid under-matching or over-matching when reconstructing smooth displacement or strain fields. (iii) When processing large-scale image data, the computational complexity will be very high, resulting in slow processing speeds. In recent years, deep-learning-based DIC has shown promising capabilities in addressing the aforementioned issues. We propose a new, to the best of our knowledge, DIC method based on deep learning, which is designed for measuring displacement fields of speckle images in complex large deformations. The network combines the multi-head attention Swin-Transformer and the high-efficient channel attention module ECA and adds positional information to the features to enhance feature representation capabilities. To train the model, we constructed a displacement field dataset that conformed to the real situation and contained various types of speckle images and complex deformations. The measurement results indicate that our model achieves consistent displacement prediction accuracy with traditional DIC methods in practical experiments. Moreover, our model outperforms traditional DIC methods in cases of large displacement scenarios.

SGW-YOLOv8n: An Improved YOLOv8n-Based Model for Apple Detection and Segmentation in Complex Orchard Environments

This study addresses the problem of detecting occluded apples in complex unstructured environments in orchards and proposes an apple detection and segmentation model based on improved YOLOv8n-SGW-YOLOv8n. The model improves apple detection and segmentation by combining the SPD-Conv convolution module, the GAM global attention mechanism, and the Wise-IoU loss function, which enhances the accuracy and robustness. The SPD-Conv module preserves fine-grained features in the image by converting spatial information into channel information, which is particularly suitable for small target detection. The GAM global attention mechanism enhances the recognition of occluded targets by strengthening the feature representation of channel and spatial dimensions. The Wise-IoU loss function further optimises the regression accuracy of the target frame. Finally, the pre-prepared dataset is used for model training and validation. The results show that the SGW-YOLOv8n model significantly improves relative to the original YOLOv8n in target detection and instance segmentation tasks, especially in occlusion scenes. The model improves the detection mAP to 75.9% and the segmentation mAP to 75.7% and maintains a processing speed of 44.37 FPS, which can meet the real-time requirements, providing effective technical support for the detection and segmentation of fruits in complex unstructured environments for fruit harvesting robots.

Executive functions and processing speed in covert cerebral small vessel disease.

Executive dysfunction and slowed processing speed are central cognitive impairments in cerebral small vessel disease (cSVD). It is unclear whether the subcomponents of executive functions become equally affected and whether computerized tests are more sensitive in detecting early cognitive changes over traditional tests. The associations of specific executive abilities (cognitive flexibility, inhibitory control, working memory) and processing speed with white matter hyperintensities (WMHs) and Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (IADL) were examined. In the Helsinki Small Vessel Disease Study, 152 older individuals without stroke or dementia were assessed with brain magnetic resonance imaging and comprehensive neuropsychological evaluation. WMH volumes were obtained with automated segmentation. Executive functions and processing speed measures included established paper-and-pencil tests and the computer-based Flexible Attention Test (FAT), Simon task and Sustained Attention to Response Task. White matter hyperintensity volume and IADL were associated with multiple cognitive measures across subdomains independently of demographic factors. The highest effect sizes were observed for FAT numbers and number-letter tasks (tablet modifications from the Trail Making Test), FAT visuospatial span, Simon task and semantic verbal fluency. Some of the widely used tests such as Stroop inhibition, phonemic fluency and digit span were not significantly associated with either WMHs or IADL. Processing speed and executive function subcomponents are broadly related to functional abilities and WMH severity in covert cSVD, but the strength of associations within subdomains is heavily dependent on the assessment method. Digital tests providing precise measures of reaction times and response accuracy seem to outperform many of the conventional paper-and-pencil tests.

Executive Function Associations With Audibility-Adjusted Speech Perception in Noise.

Speech recognition in noise is challenging for listeners and appears to require support from executive functions to focus attention on rapidly unfolding target speech, track misunderstanding, and sustain attention. The current study was designed to test the hypothesis that lower executive function abilities explain poorer speech recognition in noise, including among older participants with hearing loss who often exhibit diminished speech recognition in noise and cognitive abilities. A cross-sectional sample of 400 younger-to-older adult participants (19 to < 90 years of age) from the community-based Medical University of South CarolinaLongitudinal Cohort Study of Age-related Hearing Loss were administered tasks with executive control demands to assess individual variability in a card-sorting measure of set-shifting/performance monitoring, a dichotic listening measure of selective attention/working memory, sustained attention, and processing speed. Key word recognition in the high- and low-context speech perception-in-noise (SPIN) tests provided measures of speech recognition in noise. The SPIN scores were adjusted for audibility using the Articulation Index to characterize the impact of varied hearing sensitivity unrelated to reduced audibility on cognitive and speech recognition associations. Set-shifting, dichotic listening, and processing speed each explained unique and significant variance in audibility-adjusted, low-context SPIN scores (ps < .001), including after controlling for age, pure-tone threshold average (PTA), sex, and education level. The dichotic listening and processing speed effect sizes were significantly diminished when controlling for PTA, indicating that participants with poorer hearing sensitivity were also likely to have lower executive function and lower audibility-adjusted speech recognition. Poor set-shifting/performance monitoring, slow processing speed, and poor selective attention/working memory appeared to partially explain difficulties with speech recognition in noise after accounting for audibility. These results are consistent with the premise that distinct executive functions support speech recognition in noise.

Depression Symptoms Moderate Associations between Daily Functioning and Neuropsychological Performance in Mexican American Adults.

The influence of depression on the relationship between cognition and daily living in aging Mexican American adults requires further investigation, given projected trends in general growth as well as prevalence of depression and Alzheimer's disease and related dementias (ADRD) in this population. In the present study, we examined the extent to which depression (assessed using the Geriatric Depression Scale - 15 item version) moderated the association between reported daily functioning (assessed using the Functional Activities Questionnaire [FAQ]) and objective neuropsychological performance in aging Mexican American adults in the National Alzheimer's Coordinating Center cohort. Worse reported daily functioning (higher FAQ scores) was associated with worse memory and language performance among participants without elevated depression symptoms (ps < .05), but no associations were observed among those with elevated symptoms (ps > .05). Moreover, depression did not moderate associations of reported daily functioning with performance in attention and working memory or executive functioning and processing speed (ps > .05). Aging Mexican American adults with elevated depression symptoms may have subjective informant reports of daily functioning that are discrepant from their objective performance on formal tests of memory and language. Within the context of neuropsychological evaluations for ADRD, failure to adequately assess mood to inform the nature of cognitive and/or functional changes could result in misdiagnosis and lead to delayed, premature, and/or improper intervention with this population.

The System Design of Payroll Accounting Information System at Private Primary School in East Jakarta

This research aims to design a system design of payroll Accounting Information System (AIS) at a primary private school (Madrasah Ibtidaiyah Al-Baidlo/”MIAB”), East Jakarta to improve the efficiency of payroll business processes. Business Process Improvement was used as a design approach in this research, with an applied research type. Collect data by interview with Headmaster and Treasurer. The tool used to document business processes is the Bizagi Modeler. Automation is carried out to prevent human error and increase the processing speed of payroll business processes. The business processes that are designed will be tested by material and information technology experts. The result of this research is that the proposed (to-be) business process increases the simplification of payroll activities by improving the quality of fast and accurate decision making which has economic value. Using Business Process Modelling Notation allows this research to present proposed business processes related to needs and solutions to problems in the research objects observed. This research is proven to be able to increase the simplification of business processes, increase efficiency in decision making by school principals in a relatively short time from 337 minutes to 41 minutes or a time saving of around 296 minutes (equivalent to 4.93 hours).Cutting manual activities to automated processes increases the opportunity for fraud and human error.

Intellectual Differences Between Boys and Girls, 35 Years of Evolution in France from WISC-R to WISC-V

The French adaptation of the Wechsler Intelligence Scale of Children, 5th edition (WISC-V) was an opportunity to examine if some common representations of gender differences in intellectual abilities are supported by empirical evidence. The WISC-V standardization sample provided data on a wide range of cognitive tests in a large sample of 6- to 16-year-old children representative of the French population. This sample included 517 boys and 532 girls. The WISC-V data were compared to those of the French standardization samples of three previous versions of the WISC (WISC-R, WISC-III, and WISC-IV). These four standardization samples span a 35-year period. The data analysis of the WISC-V standardization sample and the three previous versions of this intelligence scale showed that the performance gaps on intellectual tests between girls and boys have gradually narrowed over time. Almost no gender differences were observed in the WISC-V standardization sample, not only in IQ but also in key facets of intelligence. Data do not support the stereotype that girls are better at verbal tasks and boys are better at visuospatial tasks. However, some statistically significant differences remain, but the magnitude was generally small with no practical implications. The only important difference is in favor of girls and concerns performance on processing speed tasks that require visual discrimination, attentional control, and writing.

Gender Differences in Cognitive Function of Schizophrenia Patients

Objectives: Cognitive impairment is a fundamental symptom of schizophrenia, an often-overlooked aspect of the disorder that has gained recent attention due to its direct relation with functional outcomes and implications for medical and social costs. This study aims to investigate gender differences in cognitive function among patients with schizophrenia using Korean Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale-IV (K-WAIS-IV).Methods: Data were collected from inpatients and outpatients treated at Presbyterian Medical Center between January 1, 2019, and December 31, 2023. Patients diagnosed with schizophrenia underwent evaluation with the K-WAIS-IV. Multivariate analysis of variance was utilized to assess cognitive differences between men and women participants, while correlation analysis was performed to explore associations between cognitive performance and clinical data.Results: Among 101 candidates, 26 male and 26 female patients were selected for analysis of their K-WAIS-IV scores and clinical data. The results revealed no statistically significant differences in cognitive function between male and female patients concerning Full-Scale Intelligence Quotient (FSIQ) and the four index scores: Verbal Comprehension Index (VCI), Perceptual Reasoning Index (PRI), Working Memory Index (WMI), and Processing Speed Index (PSI). A trend indicating preserved verbal intelligence relative to performance intelligence was observed. Additionally, the VCI exhibited a positive correlation with age, while both FSIQ and PSI demonstrated positive correlations with years of education.Conclusion: The findings of this investigation suggest that there are no significant differences in cognitive function between male and female patients with schizophrenia via K-WAIS-IV. Given the heterogeneity of the sample and potential limitations of the neurocognitive assessments employed, further research utilizing more targeted methodologies and sensitive measures is warranted.

Association between serum IGF‑1 levels and non-motor symptoms in Parkinson's disease.

We aimed to measure serum insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) levels in Parkinson's disease (PD) patients and assess their correlation with non-motor symptoms (NMS). Emerging evidence suggests that abnormal levels of IGF-1 play a crucial role in the development of PD. Further systematic research is needed to explore the potential roles of abnormal IGF-1 levels in NMS of PD. The study enrolled a total of 129 PD patients and 130 healthy controls (HCs). Within the PD cohort, 74 patients were classified as being in the early stage, while 55 were in the moderate stage. This study found no significant difference in serum IGF-1 levels between PD patients and HC. Further analysis revealed no significant difference in IGF-1 levels between early-stage PD and those in the moderate stages. Linear regression analysis indicated a significant association between serum IGF-1 levels and Nonmotor Symptom Scale (NMSS) scores in PD patients. Linear regression analysis revealed significant correlations between serum IGF-1 levels and general cognitive function, information processing speed, and executive function in PD patients. Furthermore, lower serum IGF-1 levels were associated with fatigue in PD patients. In summary, our study suggests a potential association between serum IGF-1 levels and specific NMS in patients with PD. These findings highlight the importance of long-term follow-up studies to determine whether serum biomarkers can serve as valuable tools for early detection of NMS in PD.

Predictors of Reading and Spelling Difficulties in Italian Children: Specific Language and General Cognitive Skills

This study investigated the role of domain-specific and domain-general factors in predicting early literacy skills in Italian children. A sample of 239 first-grade students was evaluated using a broad neuropsychological battery to assess their cognitive skills. The results showed that phonological awareness, rapid automatized naming, speed of processing, and attentional control all played a role in predicting reading and writing abilities. These findings support the importance of considering not just domain-specific language skills, but also domain-general cognitive skills when identifying children at risk of difficulties in reading and writing. The study supports the adoption of a multifactorial-probabilistic model to accurately diagnose specific learning disorders.

Scalable Synaptic Transistor Memory from Solution-Processed Carbon Nanotubes for High-Speed Neuromorphic Data Processing.

Neural networks as a core information processing technology in machine learning and artificial intelligence demand substantial computational resources to deal with the extensive multiply-accumulate operations. Neuromorphic computing is an emergent solution to address this problem, allowing the computation performed in memory arrays in parallel with high efficiencies conforming to the neural networks. Here, scalable synaptic transistor memories are developed from solution-sorted carbon nanotubes. The transistors exhibit a large switching ratio of over 105, a significant memory window of ≈12V arising from charge trapping, and low response delays down to tens of nanoseconds. These device characteristics endow highly stabilized reconfigurable conductance states, successful emulation of synaptic functions, and a high data processing speed. Importantly, the devices exhibit uniform characteristic metrics, e.g., with a 1.8% variation in the memory window, suggesting an industrial-scale manufacturing capability of the fabrication. Using the memories, a hardware convolution kernel is designed and parallel image processing is demonstrated at a speed of 1M bit per second per input channel. Given the efficacy of the convolution kernel, a promising prospect of the memories in implementing neuromorphic computing is envisaged. To explore the potential, large-scale convolution kernels are simulated and high-speed video processing is realized for autonomous driving.

The Application of Near Field Communication (NFC) in Public Transportation: Current Practices, Challenges, and Future Prospects

In the field of public transportation, the introduction of NFC technology can realize contactless payment and automatic ticket checking functions, significantly improving system efficiency and passenger experience. The article first reviews the development history of the public transportation system and the basic principles of NFC technology, and then analyzes the technical architecture and working principle of the NFC payment system. Through the cases of public transportation systems in many cities around the world, the practical application and effect of NFC technology are demonstrated. This article also verifies the transaction speed, stability and user satisfaction of NFC technology in the public transportation system through a series of experimental evaluations. The results show that NFC technology has excellent performance in terms of processing speed, system stability and user satisfaction, especially during peak hours, its advantages are more obvious. At the same time, the research also pointed out the limitations of current NFC technology applications and the challenges faced in practical applications. In the future, NFC technology will become more complete and is expected to provide passengers with a more personalized and intelligent service experience.

Neurocognitive Intraindividual Variability in Veterans with Mild Traumatic Brain Injury History and Posttraumatic Stress Disorder.

Veterans with a history of blast-related mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) may be at risk for greater cognitive concerns and worse functional outcomes compared to those with either condition in isolation. However, traditional neuropsychological assessment approaches have yielded equivocal results in these populations. The present study examined an alternative method for detecting subtle cognitive inefficiencies: neurocognitive intraindividual variability (IIV), a measure of within-person performance consistency. Participants were 79 male Veterans with a history of blast-related mTBI and current PTSD (mTBI/PTSD group; n = 54) or neither diagnosis (controls; n = 25). Mean T-scores and IIV scores were calculated from neuropsychological measures of attention and speed of information processing (A/SoP) as well as executive functioning (EF). Global IIV was significantly higher in the mTBI/PTSD group compared to controls (p = .047, Cohen's d = 0.49). At the domain level, larger effect sizes were observed for EF IIV (Cohen's d = 0.46) compared to A/SoP IIV (d = 0.32), although neither were statistically significant. Within the mTBI/PTSD group, higher Global IIV was associated with worse self-reported executive dysfunction, psychological quality of life, and cognitive post-concussive symptoms; at the domain level, these clinical outcomes were generally associated with greater A/SoP IIV (but not EF IIV). Findings extend previous investigations of neurocognitive IIV in individuals with a history of mTBI across PTSD status. Among Veterans with a history of mTBI and comorbid PTSD, neurocognitive variability may be a better indicator of self-reported cognitive inefficiencies and Veteran experience of daily cognitive functioning than mean neuropsychological performances.