Questioning Potentials of the Electrorganic aFrame in Music Therapy: Two Client Case Studies with a Single Music Therapist

A multi-phase investigation was conducted to question potentials within music therapy of a new electrorganic frame drum musical instrument from Japan titled the ‘aFrame'. Two professional music therapists collaborated in this third phase of testing under the work in progress. One of the two music therapists tested the aFrame within numerous sessions with two profoundly disabled clients across generations i.e., an adolescent male and an adult woman. Observations including video recordings as baseline analysis. A goal of the study was to identify strengths and weaknesses of the new instrument in the field of (re)habilitation, especially across spectrums of those with profound dysfunction, special needs situations, and across ages. A goal of the overall work of some four decades, titled SoundScapes, is to achieve an ultimate compendium of tools for human performance to create specific interactive environments to support therapists, caregivers, and for own self-training through engaged and motivated creativity, self-expression, and play. Such environments as created by the first author have been used in his stage performances and installations (e.g., at Museums of Modern Art). The tools are thus considered transdisciplinarity forming a new holistic approach aligned to his six patents. Results from the investigation question the contextual potential of the aFrame due to a typical lack of motoric control aligned to the fragility and expense of the instrument – challenges were evident for those with diminished or lack of physical limb control. To optimize use, add-on footswitches and pedals are recommended with the aFrame instrument. These give added options including remote switching and an audio streaming interface mixer for optimal Online streaming of instrument (and voice) that would have been especially useful during the Coronavirus pandemic so that the music therapists could have continued their interactions with clients remotely (i.e., beyond video conferencing quality). Alternatives to the aFrame are posit and selected from the new generation of instruments and pedals controlling digital media as presented at the end of the text. © 2023, ICST Institute for Computer Sciences, Social Informatics and Telecommunications Engineering.

Therapeutic Interventions with Videogames in Treatments for Depression: A Systematic Review.

Introduction: Particularly in the last 2 years, due to the new coronavirus pandemic, people with depression have increasingly sought human connection and relief from depressive symptoms through playing in the world of videogames, and a small yet growing portion of researchers have been investigating the therapeutic potential of that kind of interaction. Objective: The objective of this review was to provide an exploration of the current panorama of scientific research with videogames used as therapeutic intervention tools for depression. Method: A systematic review was performed for that purpose, with a semantic field of 12 keywords around the terms "depression," "mental health," and "video games" narrowed down into a concise syntax-(games OR serious games) AND (depression) AND (treatment)-applied to relevant databases for health research; followed by the execution of a search and screening protocol based on one guiding question; and analysis of results based on four elaborative questions. Results: Twenty-six studies met the inclusion criteria and provided a set of both quantitative and qualitative data about demographics, kinds of therapeutic interventions, types of videogames used in the interventions, places, and forms of interaction. Conclusion: Important gaps were found in the review, such as a lack of research aimed at the age group most affected by the disorder, who is also the largest consumer of games; and fresh opportunities to expand the understanding of the subject as well as guide developments of game-based therapeutic interventions.

Exploration of Computational Aids for Effective Drug Designing and Management of Viral Diseases: A Comprehensive Review.

BACKGROUND: Microbial diseases, specifically originating from viruses are the major cause of human mortality all over the world. The current COVID-19 pandemic is a case in point, where the dynamics of the viral-human interactions are still not completely understood, making its treatment a case of trial and error. Scientists are struggling to devise a strategy to contain the pandemic for over a year and this brings to light the lack of understanding of how the virus grows and multiplies in the human body. METHODS: This paper presents the perspective of the authors on the applicability of computational tools for deep learning and understanding of host-microbe interaction, disease progression and management, drug resistance and immune modulation through in-silico methodologies which can aid in effective and selective drug development. The paper has summarized advances in the last five years. The studies published and indexed in leading databases were included in the review. RESULTS: Computational systems biology works on an interface of biology and mathematics and intends to unravel the complex mechanisms plying between the biological systems and the inter and intra species dynamics using computational tools, and high-throughput technologies developed on algorithms, networks and complex connections to simulate cellular biological processes. CONCLUSION: Computational strategies and modelling integrate and prioritize microbial-host interactions and may predict the conditions in which the fine-tuning attenuates. These microbial-host interactions and working mechanisms are important from the aspect of effective drug designing and fine-tuning the therapeutic interventions.

Effects of a psychomotor program developed in the COVID pandemic on risk factors for falls in nursing home older adults

Objective: This study aimed to determine the effects of a psychomotor program performed during the COVID pandemic on risk factors for falls in nursing home older adults. Method(s): The study involved 10 nursing home older adults (aged 67-91 years old) who integrated two periods without intervention (control: pre-lockdown;and lockdown) and an experimental period (attending the program). Cognitive, emotional and physical functioning risk factors for falling were measured before and after each period. Result(s): Friedman's Test followed by Pairwise Comparison post-test showed that the program induced significant improvements with an effect size (EF) ranging from large to small in the follow risk factors: fear of falling (EF=3.22), depressive states (EF=1.49), static balance (EF=0.83), lower strength (EF=0.76), upper strength (EF=0.73), cognitive status (EF=0.58), upper flexibility (0.52), perception of affordances - real (EF=0.51) and estimated (EF=0.45), agility and balance (EF=0.37), balance and mobility (EF=0.36), lower flexibility (EF=0.24) and aerobic resistance (EF=0.21), (p<0.05). On the other hand, in the no-intervention periods, lower and upper strength, upper flexibility and perception of affordances - estimated significantly decreased (p<0.05). Conclusion(s): Results from the study showed that the psychomotor program was effective in falls prevention by improving cognitive, emotional and physical functioning risk factors for falling. These findings suggest that for older adults' good quality of life, psychomotor programs should be implemented in nursing homes.

COVID-19 Detection using CT-Scan

The first incidence of Covid-19 was detected in Wuhan, China during December 2019. The SARS-CoV-2 virus causes Covid-19. Until recently, SARS-COV-2 was a dangerous virus that was spreading very fast.It has already threatened millions of lives and it continues. People with a covid ailment will also have mild - to - moderate symptoms and will be treated without the need for therapeutic intervention. However, some individuals will become extremely unwell and need medical help. RT-PCR approach has been shown to be effective in detecting coronavirus infection. The test results of RT-PCR may not be exactly true always. The alternative to the RT-PCR is detecting the virus through CT-Scan.It's based on radiography images and can help radiologists diagnose patients faster.Because this is a diagnosis based on images, the results will be more accurate and precise.The algorithm we have used in this paper is CNN. CNN transfer learning necessitates a limited amount of images to investigate. Also with this approach we can get higher accuracies around 90% to 98%. So our ultimate aim is to use these methods to detect if a person is infected with covid. This work have done the evaluation based on databases available and the results are compared. © 2022 IEEE.

Barriers and enablers to implementation of the therapeutic engagement questionnaire in acute mental health inpatient wards in England: A qualitative study.

A strong association exists between the quality of nurse-service user therapeutic relationship and care outcomes on acute mental health inpatient wards. Despite evidence that service users desire improved therapeutic engagement, and registered mental health nurses recognize the benefits of therapeutic relationships, such interactions remain sub-optimal. There is a dearth of evidence on factors influencing implementation of interventions to support and encourage therapeutic engagement. This study aimed to understand the barriers and enablers to implementation of the Therapeutic Engagement Questionnaire (TEQ), across fifteen acute inpatient wards in seven English mental health organizations. Qualitative methods were used in which data were collected from ethnographic field notes and documentary review, coded, and analysed using thematic analysis. Theoretical framing supported data analysis and interpretation. Reporting adheres to the Standards for Reporting Qualitative Research. The TEQ as an evidence-based intervention co-produced with service users and nurses was valued and welcomed by many nurse directors, senior clinicians, and ward managers. However, a range of practical and perceptual factors impeded implementation. Furthermore, many existing contextual challenges for intervention implementation in acute inpatient wards were magnified by the COVID-19 pandemic. Suitable facilitation to address these barriers can help support implementation of the TEQ, with some transferability to implementation of other interventions in these settings. Our study suggests several facilitation methods, brought together in a conceptual model, including encouragement of reflective, facilitative discussion meetings among stakeholders and researchers, effort put into winning nurse 'buy-in' and identifying and supporting ward-level agents of change.

Effects of theaflavin-gallate in-silico binding with different proteins of SARS-CoV-2 and host inflammation and vasoregulations referring an experimental rat-lung injury.

Background SARS-CoV-2 claimed 5,209,104 lives, infected 260,997,910 individuals, globally. Infection is caused due to exposure or susceptibility; deaths occur due to age,comorbidity,higher-viral-load, immuno-suppression, inflammation, and multi-organ failure. Theaflavin-gallate, the major black tea component, showed previous evidence to inhibit HIV-1. Purpose As theaflavin-gallate prevents experimental rat-lung injury, the study of inhibitory effects of theaflavin-gallate was done, on SARS-CoV-2proteins and various host proteins related to some adverse effects in COVID-19 patients. Study Design Currently, some prospective phytochemical, black-tea (Camellia-sinensis) extract (BTE) was initially tested in vivo in strong oxidant-mutagen arsenic-induced model rat lung injury similar to that of COVID-19 manifestations like severe inflammation, oxidative stress, lung tissue degenerations, and apoptotic death. In silico, extensive bioinformatics and molecular docking experiments were performed on all catechin or theaflavin derivatives of C. sinensis, and finally theaflavin-3'-O-gallate (TFMG) were screened for blocking or inactivation of several proteins of SARS CoV-2 and host adversely-acting proteins or factors. Methods In vivo experiments in DNA stability (ladder, comet assay), free radicals attack (malondialdehyde; MDA, superoxide dismutase SOD, catalase gel-zymogram assay), extra cellular matrix damage (matrix metalloprotease; MMP2and9 zymogram assay) and inflammation (TNF-α, ELISA). In silico experiments- molecular docking by AutoDock-Patchdock analysis, Surface Topology Calculation by CASTp, Grid-value calculation, and Ramachandran Plot study. Results The BTE showed strong protection of lung DNA and cell-matrix by decreasing MMPs, TNF-α, and free radicals, the same factors affecting COVID-19 patients. In silico data suggest that TFMG significantly blocked the entry, exit, and amino acids at catalytic active-site of more than thirty proteins including viral (nsp1,nsp2,Mainpro,∼-9.0 kcal/mol) and host inflammatory, oxidants, apoptotic, vaso-destabilizer molecules (FAS, CD40R, BCL2, TLR2, ∼ -10 and ACE1or2 ∼ -9.0 and AT1or2∼ -7.5 kcal/mol and more). When the binding energy of TFMG ranged from -7 to -11.7 kcal/mol(average -9.0) the same for hydroxy­Chloroquine ranged (-2.5 to -7 average -4.5) and dexamethasone (-3.0 to -6.0, average -4.0 kcal/mol). Conclusions TFMG has some novel physicochemical or structural properties like (ACE values of binding to all tested proteins, -300 to -625), (for TFMG H-bond acceptor or donor: 15/10, for TFDG 20/13). Their topological-polar-surface-area (264Ų and 351Ų) and travel depth/height; 17.0/9.6 Å and 15.4/11.3 Å, respectively) were more potent than other compounds. Conclusively, the efficacy of TFMG may be further verified.

Taming the Storm in the Heart: Exploring Different Therapeutic Choices Against Myocardial Inflammation in COVID-19.

Mechanism of cardiac injury in COVID-19 is a serious problem and plays critical role in mediating the severity of the disease. However, the mechanistic insights of the induction of the inflammatory signal leading to cardiac injury was poorly understood. However, few recent studies have indicated the involvement of Toll-Like Receptors (TLRs) as the major 'culprit' behind eliciting the initial signal of 'cytokine storm'. As a result, TLRs are now considered as the therapeutic targets to develop efficacious therapeutics. Herein, we present an overall summary on the mechanistic insight of cardiac injury in COVID-19 patients and the therapeutic promises of TLR-targeted therapies.

Offering Psychological Support to University Students in Poland During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Lessons Learned From an Initial Evaluation.

This perspective article aims to present insights into an initiative to provide free psychological support to students at the University of Gdansk (UG) - one of the first universities in Poland to offer such help - during the first major COVID-19 pandemic lockdown in March 2020. We begin by introducing key psychological consequences of the pandemic, with particular emphasis on university students, according to Pandemic Management Theory (PMT). Next, we highlight the most significant challenges reported to us by the students in response to the support initiative and applied psychological interventions (including psychoeducation, relaxation, arranging day plans, taking care of relationships, and "just" talking). We conclude by reflecting on the challenges for mental health posed by the COVID-19 pandemic as well as the outcome of our initiative - the creation of the Academic Psychological Support Centre at the University of Gdansk. These insights and lessons learned from developing our practice can help enhance the effectiveness of future psychological support programs through the pandemic and beyond.

COVID-19 and School: To Open or Not to Open, That Is the Question. The First Review on Current Knowledge.

The COVID-19 pandemic has led to an unprecedented closure of schools in terms of duration. The option of school closure, SARS-CoV-2 initially being poorly known, was influenced by the epidemiological aspects of the influenza virus. However, school closure is still under debate and seems unsupported by sure evidence of efficacy in the COVID-19 era. The aim of our narrative review is to discuss the available literature on SARS-CoV-2 spread among children and adolescents, in the school setting, trying to explain why children appear less susceptible to severe disease and less involved in viral spreading. We also tried to define the efficacy of school closure, through an overview of the effects of the choices made by the various countries, trying to identify which preventive measures could be effective for a safe reopening. Finally, we focused on the psychological aspects of such a prolonged closure for children and adolescents. SARS-CoV-2, children, COVID-19, influenza, and school were used as key words in our literature research, updated to 29 March 2021. To our knowledge, this is the first review summarizing the whole current knowledge on SARS-CoV-2 spreading among children and adolescents in the school setting, providing a worldwide overview in such a pandemic context.

The Impact of the Novel Coronavirus Disease 2019 on Therapy Service Delivery for Children with Disabilities.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the impact of the novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic on the delivery of, and parent satisfaction with, therapy services for children with disabilities in early intervention, school, and outpatient settings. STUDY DESIGN: There were 207 parents of children with disabilities who completed a web-based survey about their child[ren]'s access to, and satisfaction with, therapy services during COVID-19. Parents also completed the Family-Provider Partnership Scale and the Telehealth Satisfaction Scale. Satisfaction was compared between families receiving therapies in school, early intervention, outpatient, and multiple settings. RESULTS: Forty-four percent of parents reported low satisfaction with their child[ren]'s therapy services during the pandemic. Access to telehealth positively predicted overall satisfaction and satisfaction with the family-provider partnership, whereas receiving school-based therapies negatively predicted overall satisfaction and satisfaction with the family-provider partnership. CONCLUSIONS: School-based therapies are legally mandated for eligible students, free of cost to families, integrated in the academic setting, and less burdensome on parents than other services. Thus, given the disparity in parental satisfaction regarding school-based service delivery, addressing therapy delivery in school-based settings during the duration of COVID-19 is critical for preventing increased disparities and more effectively meeting children's needs. Telehealth seems to be a promising option for continuing high-quality services during the duration of the COVID-19 pandemic and for families who face barriers in accessing services in general. Future studies are warranted with larger and more diverse samples, as well as longitudinal studies that monitor service access and parent satisfaction throughout the remainder of the pandemic.

In silico studies on the comparative characterization of the interactions of SARS-CoV-2 spike glycoprotein with ACE-2 receptor homologs and human TLRs.

Coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) outbreak due to novel coronavirus or severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection has come out as a major threat for mankind in recent times. It is continually taking an enormous toll on mankind by means of increasing number of deaths, associated comorbidities, and socioeconomic loss around the globe. Unavailability of chemotherapeutics/vaccine has posed tremendous challenges to scientists and doctors for developing an urgent therapeutic strategy. In this connection, the present in silico study aims to understand the sequence divergence of spike protein (the major infective protein of SARS-CoV-2), its mode of interaction with the angiotensin-converting enzyme-2 receptor (ACE2) receptor of human and related animal hosts/reservoir. Moreover, the involvement of the human Toll-like receptors (TLRs) against the spike protein has also been demonstrated. Our data indicated that the spike glycoprotein of SARS-CoV-2 is phylogenetically close to bat coronavirus and strongly binds with ACE2 receptor protein from both human and bat origin. We have also found that cell surface TLRs, especially TLR4 is most likely to be involved in recognizing molecular patterns from SARS-CoV-2 to induce inflammatory responses. The present study supported the zoonotic origin of SARS-CoV-2 from a bat and also revealed that TLR4 may have a crucial role in the virus-induced inflammatory consequences associated with COVID-19. Therefore, selective targeting of TLR4-spike protein interaction by designing competitive TLR4-antagonists could pave a new way to treat COVID-19. Finally, this study is expected to improve our understanding on the immunobiology of SARS-CoV-2 and could be useful in adopting spike protein, ACE2, or TLR-guided intervention strategy against COVID-19 shortly.

Neurological Insights of COVID-19 Pandemic.

The novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2, which was identified after a recent outbreak in Wuhan, China, in December 2019, has kept the whole world in tenterhooks due to its severe life-threatening nature of the infection. The virus is unlike its previous counterparts, SARS-CoV and MERS-CoV, or anything the world has encountered before both in terms of virulence and severity of the infection. If scientific reports relevant to the SARS-CoV-2 virus are noted, it can be seen that the virus owes much of its killer properties to its unique structure that has a stronger binding affinity with the human angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (hACE2) protein, which the viruses utilize as an entry point to gain accesses to its hosts. Recent reports suggest that it is not just the lung that the virus may be targeting; the human brain may soon emerge as the new abode of the virus. Already instances of patients with COVID-19 have been reported with mild (anosmia and ageusia) to severe (encephalopathy) neurological manifestations, and if that is so, then it gives us more reasons to be frightened of this killer virus. Keeping in mind that the situation does not worsen from here, immediate awareness and more thorough research regarding the neuroinvasive nature of the virus is the immediate need of the hour. Scientists globally also need to up their game to design more specific therapeutic strategies with the available information to counteract the pandemic. In this Viewpoint, we provide a brief outline of the currently known neurological manifestations of COVID-19 and discuss some probable ways to design therapeutic strategies to overcome the present global crisis.