ABSTRACT This study examines third-grade primary school students’ perceptions of nature within a science education process structured through the Storyline method, grounded in a constructivist learning approach. The research was conducted using a qualitative descriptive phenomenological design with 22 students attending a public primary school in Istanbul, Türkiye. Data were collected through observations, focus group interviews, student artifacts, a Nature Perception Form, mind maps, and a Word Association Test, and were analyzed using thematic analysis. The findings indicate that students’ perceptions of nature are organised around three interrelated dimensions: functionality of nature, emotional perception of nature, and protecting nature. Students conceptualised nature not only as a physical environment but also as an interconnected system, a source of emotional meaning, and a shared value requiring protection. Furthermore, students’ explanations regarding environmental concepts such as natural – artificial distinctions, extinction, recycling, and responsibility became more elaborated over the course of the learning process. The study suggests that the Storyline method provides a meaningful pedagogical context for supporting students’ socially mediated meaning-making about nature in early science education.

This study pioneers the ability of semi-quantitative A/T/N classification using combined 18F-Flutemetamol (A), 18F-MK-6240 (T) and 18F-FDG (N) positron emission tomography (PET) tracers with binary classifications and standardised scales for Centiloid (A), CenTauR (T), and AD metaROI (N), to clinically describe subjects with Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) or Mild Dementia (MD) in Alzheimer's disease (AD). MCI (n = 45, mean age 71.0 ± 8.8, 40% female, MMSE 26.2) and MD (n = 44, mean age 70.1 ± 7.6, 48% female, MMSE 24.1) participants underwent PET with 18F-Flutemetamol for amyloid-β, 18F-MK-6240 tau and/or 18F-FDG for neurodegeneration. Images were semi-quantified using Centiloid, CenTauR, and AD metaROI. Predefined cut-offs classified scans as positive (+) or negative (-), and standard uptake value ratio (SUVR) values semi-quantified A-burden, T-burden, and N-burden. T+ was more frequent in MD (68%) than in MCI (44%). Among T+ , MD participants were more often A+ (39%) than MCI (27%). T-burden differed significantly between MCI and MD (W = 642, p = 0.004). Increasing A-burden, T-burden, and hypometabolism, reflected by lower N-burden were associated with worse performance in Norwegian validated revised mini-mental state-examination (MMSE-NR3) (p = 0.048, < 0.001, and 0.006, respectively), A-burden and N-burden with CERAD Word List Memory Test for immediate and delayed recall (CERAD) (p = 0.041), T-burden with CERAD Word List Memory Test for recognition (CERAD R) (p < 0.001), and N-burden with Clock-drawing test (CDT) (p = 0.023) and Controlled Oral Word Association Test (COWAT) (p = 0.025). The A/T/N classification was most informative for A (+/-) and T (+/-) PET, with T-PET appearing to distinguish MCI from MD, while N-PET correlated most with cognitive impairment.

Lithium is the gold-standard mood stabilizer in bipolar disorder (BD) showing putative neuroprotective effects, but its association with cognition in older adults with BD (OABD) remains unclear. To examine the association of long-term lithium treatment with cognitive performance in euthymic OABD. Forty outpatients aged 50-70 years with BD-I, without dementia or lifetime substance use disorder, completed a comprehensive neuropsychological battery. Participants were classified as lithium- (n = 19) or non-lithium-treated (n = 21). Test scores were converted to age- and education-adjusted Z-scores. We used t-tests/Mann-Whitney U tests, and Person's correlations were Bonferroni-corrected. A principal component analysis-generated general cognitive factor was entered into logistic regression models predicting lithium status, with sequential adjustment for various covariates. Lithium-treated patients showed large, widespread cognitive advantages in attention/working memory (Digit Symbol Forward Test (DSFT), d = 1.481; DSBT, d = 1.519), verbal learning and memory (Rey's Auditory Verbal Learning Test (RAVLT) recognition, d = 1.803), processing speed (Symbol Digit Modalities Test (SDMT), d = 2.147), executive function (Trail Making Test - Part B, d = 1.330), and verbal fluency (Controlled Oral Word Association Test (COWAT), d = 1.423). Higher lithium levels correlated with better DSFT and SDMT performance after correction. Antipsychotic dose was strongly and negatively correlated with Mini-Mental State Examination, particularly in the non-lithium group. The general cognitive factor distinguished lithium from non-lithium patients (R2 = 0.70), and its effect remained large and mostly significant across six adjusted models. In euthymic OABD, chronic lithium treatment is associated with markedly better global cognition, independent of mood, illness severity, and polypharmacy. Our findings provide support for the role of lithium in cognitive preservation and are worthy of further investigation in larger longitudinal studies.

Lung cancer remains one of the leading causes of cancer-related mortality worldwide, with systemic therapies often limited by poor intracranial penetration, resulting in frequent brain relapses. Whole-brain radiotherapy (WBRT) plays acentral role in managing brain metastases and in prophylaxis, although it is frequently associated with significant neurocognitive decline. Hippocampal-sparing WBRT (HSWBRT) represents astrategy to preserve neurocognition and quality of life (QoL) while maintaining disease control. This study evaluated the feasibility and outcomes of HSWBRT in lung cancer patients requiring prophylactic cranial irradiation (PCI) or WBRT. In this prospective study (2021-2023), 15 patients with histologically confirmed lung cancer with an indication for PCI or WBRT (lesions > 5 mm from hippocampus) were treated with HSWBRT. Target delineation followed Radiation Therapy Oncology Group (RTOG) guidelines, incorporating a5-mm isotropic margin for hippocampal avoidance. Prescribed doses were 25 Gy in 10fractions for PCI and 30 Gy in 10fractions for brain metastases. Neurocognitive function was assessed using the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MOCA), Trail Making Test parts A and B (Trail A/B), and the Controlled Oral Word Association Test (COWAT). Quality of life was evaluated with the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire (EORTC QLQ-C30) and EORTC Brain Cancer Module (BN20) at baseline and at 2, 4, 6, 9, and 12months. Outcomes were compared with aretrospective cohort of 15patients treated with conventional WBRT. The Kaplan-Meier method was used for survival analysis; comparisons employed log-rank and repeated measures analysis of variance tests. Median follow-up was 20months. Intracranial relapse and overall survival rates did not differ significantly between the HSWBRT and WBRT arms. However, self-reported cognitive decline and QoL deterioration were lower in the HSWBRT arm at 12months (QoL: 83.33 vs. 66.67, p = 0.07). The MOCA scores remained stable, and Trail A/B performance improved post-treatment in the HSWBRT cohort. Our findings show that HSWBRT appears feasible and effective in preserving neurocognitive function and QoL in lung cancer patients, without compromising intracranial control. Larger randomized studies are needed to validate its role in routine practice.

With an ageing population comes a growing burden of age-related cognitive decline. While evidence supports a relationship between higher diet quality and better cognitive outcomes, the association between ultra-processed foods (UPFs) and cognitive function remains underexplored. We examined this association using prospective data from the ASPirin in Reducing Events in the Elderly (ASPREE) study, a cohort of Australian adults aged 70years and older. Dietary intake was assessed via a mail-based diet screening questionnaire and categorised according to the Nova classification. Cognitive performance was assessed using the Controlled Oral Word Association Test (COWAT), Symbol Digit Modalities Test (SDMT), Hopkins Verbal Learning Test-Revised (HVLT-R), Modified Mini-Mental State Examination (3MS), and a composite cognitive Z score. Participants were stratified into high UPF (≥ 4 servings/day) and low UPF (< 4 servings/day). Marginal structural models with inverse probability of treatment weighting estimated associations, adjusting for demographic, lifestyle, and clinical confounders. Among 11,502 participants (3505 high UPF; 7997 low UPF), over a median follow-up of 5.6 (± 2.4) years, higher UPF consumption was associated with poorer performance on the 3MS (mean difference -0.28, 95% CI -0.52 to -0.04), COWAT (-0.23, 95% CI -0.44 to -0.03), SDMT (-0.51, 95% CI -0.94 to -0.08), and the composite Z score (-0.04, 95% CI -0.07 to -0.01), but not HVLT-R (-0.12, 95% CI -0.26 to 0.02). Higher UPF intake was associated with poorer cognitive performance across multiple domains. These findings support initiatives to reduce UPF exposure as a potential strategy to promote healthy cognitive ageing.

The high sugar consumption in Brazil, linked to the rise in chronic diseases, underscores the need for strategies that promote a reduction in sugar consumption among the population. Reducing sugar in food formulations can compromise important technological characteristics, such as texture. The use of ora-pro-nóbis mucilage has proven to be a promising technological alternative. However, its bitter taste represents a sensory challenge. The aim of this work was to evaluate the effects of applying ora-pro-nóbis mucilage to sugar-reduced muffins on the perception of bitter taste. Quantification of compounds responsible for the bitter taste in ora-pro-nóbis mucilage was obtained. A sensory panel to evaluate bitter taste was selected and trained. Dilution and ranking tests were applied. Hedonic and word association tests were used to determine the preferred formulation. The free amino acid profile and the content of tannins, catechins, and total flavonoids indicate a mucilage with potential for a sensory perception of bitterness, as confirmed by the sensory panel. The reduced-sugar muffin with ora-pro-nóbis added was accepted by consumers. The muffin with 0.2% ora-pro-nóbis mucilage had an acceptance rate of 88.7%, and no "Bitter" or negative mentions appeared in the word association test.

Cognitive reserve (CR) may help mitigate cognitive decline in people with multiple sclerosis (PwMS); however, few interventions have targeted CR enhancement, and none have focused on individuals without baseline cognitive impairment. The EM Reserva program is a multimodal intervention that combines cognitive leisure activities, aerobic exercise, and structured social engagement and is designed to strengthen CR in individuals with relapsing-remitting MS (RRMS). This pragmatic, single-center, observer-blinded randomized controlled trial included PwMS aged 18-55 years with RRMS and no cognitive impairment. Participants were randomized in a 1:1 ratio to either the EM Reserva program or usual cognitive care. Outcomes were assessed at baseline and at 6-month and 12-month time points. The primary endpoint was the change in Symbol Digit Modalities Test (SDMT) scores at 6 months. Secondary outcomes included additional neuropsychological measures, Modified Fatigue Impact Scale-5 (MFIS-5), Perceived Deficits Questionnaire-5 (PDQ-5), and Multiple Sclerosis Quality of Life‑54 (MSQOL-54). Analyses followed a modified intention-to-treat approach. Forty-five participants completed follow-up. At 6 months, the EM Reserva group showed a significant improvement in SDMT scores compared with controls (mean difference -4.23, p < 0.022) and higher Controlled Oral Word Association Test (COWAT) scores. These cognitive gains were not sustained at 12 months. Fatigue improved in both groups at 6 months but remained significantly lower only in the EM Reserva group at 12 months. No between-group differences were observed in PDQ-5, MSQOL-54, or other neuropsychological measures. The EM Reserva program produced short-term improvements in processing speed and verbal fluency in cognitively preserved PwMS, along with sustained reductions in fatigue. However, cognitive benefits were not maintained at 12 months, and subjective cognitive functioning remained unchanged. These findings suggest that multimodal CR-oriented interventions may offer temporary cognitive advantages, but long-term maintenance strategies are likely required to sustain gains. No: NCT05546424. https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT05546424.

The risk of cognitive decline and dementia following cardiovascular disease (CVD) events is well recognized. However, it remains unclear whether cognitive changes observed after such events reflect a process that begins prior to the event itself. To compare the cognitive trajectories of older adults preceding an incident CVD event with those of a matched control group without an event. Data for this nested case-control study were obtained from a prospective cohort of older, community-dwelling individuals (aged ≥65 years) in Australia and the US with no history of CVD at the time of study enrollment in the Aspirin in Reducing Events in the Elderly (ASPREE) randomized clinical trial and the extension (ASPREE-XT) observational study. The ASPREE trial was conducted between March 2010 and December 2014, with follow-up to June 2017. The ongoing ASPREE-XT trial continued annual follow-up; this study reports data through December 2022. Case patients with an adjudicated CVD event, including fatal coronary heart disease (CHD), nonfatal myocardial infarction (MI), fatal or nonfatal stroke, and hospitalization for heart failure (HHF), were matched by age, sex, and educational attainment to control participants without a CVD event. Data were analyzed from June to December 2024. Cognitive function as assessed by the Modified Mini-Mental State Examination, the Hopkins Verbal Learning Test-Revised, the Symbol Digit Modalities Test, and the Controlled Oral Word Association Test. Linear mixed-effects models were used to estimate the trajectories of cognitive function among case patients with a CVD event and control participants. Over 11 years, 1934 CVD events occurred among 19 114 participants. In this analysis, 1887 of 1934 case patients (97.6%) with adjudicated CVD events were matched to 7548 control participants (N = 9435; overall median age, 75.7 years [IQR, 72.4-80.0 years]; 4970 males [52.7%]). Individuals with incident CVD events had lower cognitive function, starting at between 3 and 8 years before the event, compared with those without CVD. Faster declines in global cognition (β, -0.19 [95% CI, -0.33 to -0.06]), episodic memory (β, -0.04 [-0.11 to -0.03]), processing speed (β, -0.28 [95% CI, -0.48 to -0.07]), and verbal fluency (β, -0.15 [95% CI, -0.27 to -0.04]) in the years prior to the CVD event were also observed compared with control participants. Composite global cognition (β, -0.11 [95% CI, -0.17 to -0.06]) and executive function scores (β, -0.07 [95% CI, -0.11 to -0.03]), but not memory, also declined faster. Similar cognitive trajectories were observed for fatal CHD, stroke, and HHF; however, this pattern was not observed for nonfatal MI, in which case patients and control participants showed comparable trends. In this case-control study of community-dwelling older adults, deterioration in cognitive function was prominent prior to CVD events, suggesting that this decline may be associated with subsequent CVD events. These findings may help inform future research aimed at understanding the association between cognitive change and CVD.

In social studies courses, it is important for students to correctly understand the basic concepts of democracy in order to acquire democratic citizenship competencies. This study aims to examine students' misconceptions about democracy and how these concepts are addressed in social studies courses. Conducted as a case study within the framework of qualitative research designs, the participants of the study consisted of 7th grade students and a social studies teacher at a middle school in Eskişehir. Data were collected through word association tests, observation, interviews, and document analysis, and evaluated through descriptive analysis. According to the research data, some students conceptualized the concepts of rights, equality, and choice correctly, but conceptualized the concepts of freedom and sovereignty incorrectly. However, it was determined that students' conceptualizations of democracy, justice, law, and participation were inadequate. Furthermore, it was determined that in social studies courses, teacher preferred traditional methods in teaching concepts, but incorporated democratic values and behaviors in daily classroom practices. The teacher's attitude, classroom teaching processes, teaching program, and textbook play an important role in the formation of student perceptions and misconceptions about democracy and related concepts. In line with the research findings, it is recommended that various teaching methods be preferred in the teaching of basic concepts related to democracy and that the teaching program and textbook content be reviewed and restructured.

Objectives: This study comprehensively examined 1) age-related changes in cognitive, language, and swallowing functions by classifying participants into young-old (55-69 years), middle-old (70-79 years), and oldest-old (≥80 years) groups, and 2) the associations among cognitive, language, and swallowing functions in community-dwelling elderly.Methods: Cognitive function was assessed using subtests of the Seoul Neuropsychological Screening Battery-II (SNSB-II). Language function was evaluated using the Paradise Korean Western Aphasia Battery-Revised (K-WAB-R), the Korean Boston Naming Test (K-BNT), and the Controlled Oral Word Association Test (COWAT). Swallowing function was assessed using the self-report sections of the Swallowing Monitoring and Assessment Protocol (SMAP). All scores were standardized using Z-scores. Group differences were analyzed using analysis of covariance (ANCOVA), controlling for years of education, and inter-domain associations were examined using multiple linear regression analyses.Results: In cognition, attention and memory declined significantly with age after controlling for years of education, whereas working memory and frontal/executive functions did not show significant differences across age groups. In language, auditory comprehension and naming showed significant age effects. In swallowing, the oldest-old group showed the lowest mean swallowing function; however, a significant group difference was observed only between the middle- old and oldest-old groups. Regression analyses revealed significant associations between the cognitive and language domains, whereas swallowing function showed minimal associations with other domains.Conclusion: These findings provide a basis for early detection of cognitive, language, and swallowing decline in community-dwelling older adults, as well as for establishing priorities for domain-specific interventions.

This study examines how sociolinguistic background affects the development of English vocabulary depth among secondary school learners in Tanzania’s multilingual context, where English serves as the medium of instruction from secondary to tertiary education, despite being primarily learned as a foreign language. Despite growing interest in vocabulary acquisition, there is limited empirical evidence on how sociolinguistic factors shape vocabulary depth among secondary school learners in Tanzania. A convergent parallel mixed-methods design was adopted to triangulate quantitative and qualitative data. Using stratified random sampling, the Word Association Test was administered to 320 Form 3 and 4 students from eight secondary schools in Dodoma, and interviews were conducted with eight English teachers to provide deeper insight. Multiple regression and thematic analyses revealed that sociolinguistic background significantly affects learners’ vocabulary depth (p &lt; 0.05). Students who reported using English in informal settings, such as the playground or at home, demonstrated greater vocabulary depth than those who used English only in formal classroom contexts. In addition, learners whose parents had attained at least Form Four education and those who began learning English in early schooling exhibited more developed lexical networks than their peers. These findings highlight the importance of sociolinguistic exposure and early language-learning experiences. The study suggests that language-teaching and language-learning policies should consider learners' sociolinguistic diversity and provide a basis for targeted pedagogical interventions.

To investigate the relationship among the along perivascular space (ALPS) index, conventional neuroimaging markers, and cognitive impairment in patients with relapsing–remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS). This study included 45 RRMS patients and 41 healthy controls (HC). All participants underwent clinical evaluation, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and comprehensive cognitive assessments. Cognitive function was assessed using the Brief International Cognitive Assessment for MS (BICAMS), which includes the Symbol Digit Modalities Test (SDMT), California Verbal Learning Test–II (CVLT-II), and Brief Visuospatial Memory Test–Revised (BVMT-R). Additional tests evaluated attention, executive function, verbal fluency, and global cognition. Cognitive impairment was defined as a Z‑score ≤ -1.5 in at least two of the three BICAMS domains. Spearman correlation and multiple linear regression analyses were used to examine associations between neuroimaging metrics and cognitive scores in RRMS patients. Backward stepwise logistic regression was performed to identify variables independently associated with cognitive impairment. RRMS patients had a significantly lower ALPS index compared to HC (t = -2.225, q = 0.029). Within the RRMS group, patients with cognitive impairment showed further reductions in the ALPS index. Multiple linear regression confirmed that the ALPS index was significantly associated with Z‑scores of the Symbol Digit Modalities Test (SDMT; β = 0.415, q = 0.003), PASAT-3 s (Paced Auditory Serial Addition Test-3 s; β = 0.305, q = 0.037), PASAT-2 s (β = 0.429, q = 0.002) and Controlled Oral Word Association Test (COWA; β = 0.305, q = 0.044). In addition, a negative correlation was observed between white matter lesion number (WMLN) and the Z‑scores of COWA (β = -0.340, q = 0.013). In the backward stepwise logistic regression model, the ALPS index (OR = 0.044, 95% CI: 0.003–0.776, q = 0.033) and normalized white matter volume (nWMV; OR = 0.764, 95% CI: 0.599–0.975, q = 0.030) were retained as variables independently associated with cognitive impairment. Our study suggests that both a reduced ALPS index and lower nWMV are independently associated with cognitive impairment in RRMS. These findings implicate the combined roles of impaired interstitial fluid clearance and structural integrity in RRMS-related cognitive dysfunction. As a non-invasive MR metric, the ALPS index may serve as a potential complementary biomarker for assessing cognitive risk in RRMS.

This study investigates whether oculomotor dysfunction in individuals with post-COVID-19 condition can serve as a biomarker for cognitive impairment as demonstrated in other neurological conditions. Eye movement metrics, including fixation, saccades, and smooth pursuit, as well as pupil size changes, were recorded using an eye tracker. Cognitive performance was assessed through established neuropsychological tests: Digit Symbol Test, Digit Span Backward, Trail Making Test (TMT), Stroop Color and Word Test (SCWT), together with the Controlled Oral Word Association Test (COWAT) for phonological fluency and an animal-naming task for semantic fluency. A total of 103 participants with post-COVID-19 condition were included in the analysis. Statistical correlations and k-means clustering were employed to analyse the relationship between oculomotor data and cognitive test results. Correlations between eye movements metrics and cognitive tests scores were modest ranging from 0.210 to 0.371. Clustering participants into three groups based on oculomotor metrics revealed statistically significant differences in cognitive performance. These findings suggest that eye tracking, unaffected by factors like language barriers and education level, my serve as a reliable method for assessing cognitive impairment in post-COVID-19 condition. This approach may complement neuropsychological tests, offering a more accessible and objective evaluation tool. Study registration: www.ClinicalTrials.gov, identifiers NCT05307575 (01-10-2021) and NCT05846126 (01-05-2023).

In the scope of this study, the cognitive structures of the science teacher candidates in the context in sustainable education were investigated through Word Association Test (WAT). The study group was composed of 70 third-year science teacher candidates. Their understanding of the concepts in terms of personal behavior (“recycling,” “saving,” “being responsible”) was closely related to sustainability. Relatively few connections were made to more expansive and integrative concepts like "ecosystem," "ecological literacy," and "sustainable development." The findings demonstrated that rather than being a cohesive network, the conceptual frameworks of the participants were made up of broken clusters. A lack of integration between higher order thinking and environmental awareness was shown by the poor correlation between "responsible behavior" and "problem-solving skills." It was therefore recommended that teacher education programs emphasize holistic and interdisciplinary approaches that promote systems thinking, critical reflection, and problem-solving rather than focusing solely on behavior-oriented aspects of sustainability.

The concept of a patient-friendly hospital is a significant concept representing patient-centered healthcare services. Today, one way to improve the quality of healthcare is to meet patient expectations. Therefore, determining how the concept of a patient-friendly hospital is shaped in patients' minds is crucial for developing patient-friendly practices and improving the quality of healthcare services. This study aims to analyze how patients perceive the concept of a "patient-friendly hospital" through a word association test (WAT) and to reveal patients' cognitive structures related to this concept. Among the 718 words obtained, the highest frequency words were reliable (81), privacy (41), smiling-face (40), caring (30), clean (25), hygiene (22), and communication (20), resulting in a total of 172 different words. Content analysis conducted as part of the word association analysis yielded eight themes: communication, trust, accessibility, quality, service, staff, treatment, and environment. Individuals define patient-friendly hospitals not only as places with good physical conditions but also as institutions that value, respect, and have an understanding approach to patients. It can be said that in order to improve the quality of health services, more importance should be given to areas such as communication, ethical values and accessibility.

ObjectiveThere are clinical and radiological sex differences in people with multiple sclerosis (pwMS); however, the influence of sex on the neuropsychiatric symptoms of MS remains unclear. This study aimed to clarify whether there are sex differences in the neuropsychiatric symptoms of MS.MethodA consecutive clinical cohort of 1530 pwMS completed the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale for symptoms of anxiety (HADS-A) and depression (HADS-D), the Modified Fatigue Impact Scale (MFIS), the Perceived Deficits Questionnaire (PDQ) for subjective cognitive concerns, and the Minimal Assessment of Cognitive Function in MS neurocognitive battery. Linear regression analyses were undertaken to predict neuropsychiatric raw scores from sex, adjusting for age, educational years, Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) scores, disease duration, and disease subtype. The significance threshold was set at p < .01.ResultsMean age was 43.2 years (SD = 10.6), mean disease duration was 9.7 years (SD = 8.4), and median EDSS was 2.0 (IQR = 1.5-3.5). Seventy-three percent of participants were female. Controlling for covariates, females had higher MFIS, PDQ, California Verbal Learning Test, and Brief Visuospatial Memory Test total learning scores, and lower Judgment of Line Orientation and Paced Auditory Serial Addition Test scores than males, all p < .01. Sex was not independently predictive of scores on the HADS-A, HADS-D, Controlled Oral Word Association Test, Brief Visuospatial Memory Test delayed recall, Symbol Digit Modalities Test, or Delis-Kaplan Executive Function System.ConclusionsAmong pwMS, females experience greater fatigue, cognitive complaints, and dysfunction in spatial rotation and working memory than males, while males have elevated learning/memory difficulties. The absence of differences in symptoms of depression and anxiety between males and females contrasts with well-described sex differences in the general population. These data support future research that can explain sex-specific mechanisms of neuropsychiatric symptoms in pwMS.

IntroductionThis study expands our understanding of neurogastronomy’s various dimensions and addresses a critical gap in the literature concerning its conceptual structure. However, as a field of research, neurogastronomy lacks conceptual clarity despite its growing popularity. Drawing on Semantic Network Theory, according to which cognitive associations define conceptual understanding, this study investigates the field’s cognitive structure.MethodsWord Association Tests were conducted with 327 gastronomy students in Turkey.ResultsThe analysis yielded 16 codes and 6 themes, with “sensory experience and taste perception” emerging as dominant. The findings demonstrate that neurogastronomy functions as a fragmented rather than a cohesive concept within the cognitive network.DiscussionBy empirically mapping the field’s conceptual boundaries, this study provides a foundation for clarifying terminology and informing future theoretical and applied research.

Objectives Executive dysfunction and neurological soft signs (NSS) are common features observed in individuals with psychiatric disorders such as schizophrenia and bipolar affective disorder (BPAD). These impairments have significant implications for the functional capacity and quality of life of affected individuals. However, limited research has been conducted on the prevalence of executive dysfunction and NSS in patients with these disorders in the specific context of South India. This study aimed to find the prevalence of executive dysfunctions and NSS in patients with schizophrenia and BPAD. Material and Methods This cross-sectional study examined remission characteristics in 40 schizophrenic and 40 bipolar patients using DCR-10 (ICD-10’s criteria for research) in 2015, Kerala, India. Hamilton Depression Rating Scale, Young Mania Rating Scale (YMRS), Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE), Trail Making Test (TMT), Stroop Test (ST), Controlled Oral Word Association Test, Heidelberg manual, PANSS (Positive and Negative Symptoms Scale) applied to Psychiatric evaluations and cognitive assessments. The study sheds light on remission profiles in BPAD and schizophrenia. Results Executive dysfunction, defined by abnormal values on the Stroop test (ST), Controlled Oral Word Association Test, and TMT (Trail Making Test), was observed in 20 out of the 40 schizophrenic subjects, representing a prevalence rate of 50%. Additionally, 14 individuals (35%) among the same group exhibited neurological soft signs. Among the bipolar patients, 9 individuals (22.5%) displayed neurological soft signs, while 12 patients (30%) demonstrated executive dysfunction. These findings highlight the presence of executive dysfunction and neurological soft signs in a significant proportion of the studied schizophrenia and bipolar patients. Conclusion This study found a significant prevalence of executive dysfunction and neurological soft signs in both schizophrenia and bipolar patients. Further research and interventions targeting executive functioning and neurological manifestations could potentially contribute to improved outcomes and quality of life for these patients.

Purpose This study aims to investigate university students’ future orientations towards climate change by examining their perceptions of the future, hope and action competence. Future orientations – indicating students’ expectations and preparedness for climate challenges – are crucial in shaping their engagement with climate change. Design/methodology/approach Data were collected from three waves of undergraduate students (n = 216) with prior climate change instruction. A survey including a word association (WA) test and two Likert scales was used. The WA test captured students’ perceptions of the future by asking them to provide three associated words, while the validated Likert scales measured levels of hope and self-perceived action competence. Measurement invariance was established to ensure comparability across waves. Findings The majority of WA responses were uncertain or neutral (42%), followed by negative (32%) and positive (26%) associations, with frequently mentioned terms such as “unknown”, “technology” and “uncertainty”. A network diagram illustrated co-occurrence patterns, such as “unknown” often appearing with “fearful” students who used positives words scored higher on both hope and self-perceived action competence, while those using negative words scored lower. Female students scored significantly higher than males in overall action competence and across most subscales of both scales. Alarmingly, seniors showed lower action competence and greater lack of way/willpower than their younger peers. Originality/value This study offers a multidimensional perspective on how students with climate instruction conceptualise the future. The findings highlight the importance of sustained, emotionally supportive and action-oriented climate education to maintain students’ agency and hope for the future.

Serum uric acid (SUA) has been linked to cognitive function, but sex-specific associations remain unclear. Biological differences in SUA levels between sexes, driven by hormonal and renal factors, highlight the importance of sex-stratified analysis. This study examined the association between SUA levels and changes in cognitive function in older adults. A total of 11 411 community-dwelling ASPirin in Reducing Events in the Elderly participants, free from dementia at baseline and with valid SUA measurements, were included. The Modified Mini-Mental State Examination (3MS), Hopkins Verbal Learning Test-Revised (HVLT-R), Symbol Digit Modalities Test, and Controlled Oral Word Association Test were used to assess cognition at baseline and over a median follow-up of 9 years. Separate linear mixed-effects regression models in males and females were fitted to assess the associations between SUA levels and change in cognitive function over time. Females in the lowest SUA quintile (Q1) had significant declines in the measure of global cognition (3MS: β ±SE= -0.07 ± 0.03, p = .02) and episodic memory (HVLT-R; delayed recall: β±SE= -0.03 ± 0.01, p = .02) compared to the middle quintiles (Q2-Q4), but the highest SUA quintile (Q5) was not associated with decline. No associations were observed for executive function, verbal fluency, or psychomotor speed. In males, no significant associations between SUA levels and change in cognitive function were observed. Low SUA levels were linked to decline in the measure of global cognition and episodic memory among females but not males. High SUA levels were not associated with cognitive decline. Managing SUA levels within the physiological range may support cognitive health, particularly in older females.