Effects of Personalized Cognitive Training with the Machine Learning Algorithm on Neural Efficiency in Healthy Younger Adults.

To date, neural efficiency, an ability to economically utilize mental resources, has not been investigated after cognitive training. The purpose of this study was to provide customized cognitive training and confirm its effect on neural efficiency by investigating prefrontal cortex (PFC) activity using functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS). Before training, a prediction algorithm based on the PFC activity with logistic regression was used to predict the customized difficulty level with 86% accuracy by collecting data when subjects performed four kinds of cognitive tasks. In the next step, the intervention study was designed using one pre-posttest group. Thirteen healthy adults participated in the virtual reality (VR)-based spatial cognitive training, which was conducted four times a week for 30 min for three weeks with customized difficulty levels for each session. To measure its effect, the trail-making test (TMT) and hemodynamic responses were measured for executive function and PFC activity. During the training, VR-based spatial cognitive performance was improved, and hemodynamic values were gradually increased as the training sessions progressed. In addition, after the training, the performance on the trail-making task (TMT) demonstrated a statistically significant improvement, and there was a statistically significant decrease in the PFC activity. The improved performance on the TMT coupled with the decreased PFC activity could be regarded as training-induced neural efficiency. These results suggested that personalized cognitive training could be effective in improving executive function and neural efficiency.

Analysis of Machine Learning-Based Assessment for Elbow Spasticity Using Inertial Sensors.

Spasticity is a frequently observed symptom in patients with neurological impairments. Spastic movements of their upper and lower limbs are periodically measured to evaluate functional outcomes of physical rehabilitation, and they are quantified by clinical outcome measures such as the modified Ashworth scale (MAS). This study proposes a method to determine the severity of elbow spasticity, by analyzing the acceleration and rotation attributes collected from the elbow of the affected side of patients and machine-learning algorithms to classify the degree of spastic movement; this approach is comparable to assigning an MAS score. We collected inertial data from participants using a wearable device incorporating inertial measurement units during a passive stretch test. Machine-learning algorithms-including decision tree, random forests (RFs), support vector machine, linear discriminant analysis, and multilayer perceptrons-were evaluated in combinations of two segmentation techniques and feature sets. A RF performed well, achieving up to 95.4% accuracy. This work not only successfully demonstrates how wearable technology and machine learning can be used to generate a clinically meaningful index but also offers rehabilitation patients an opportunity to monitor the degree of spasticity, even in nonhealthcare institutions where the help of clinical professionals is unavailable.

Is a program to improve grocery-shopping skills clinically effective in improving executive function and instrumental activities of daily living of patients with schizophrenia?

To date, cognitive intervention to improve executive function for patients with schizophrenia has not been ecologically validated. Our main objective was to investigate the effectiveness of grocery shopping skill program on executive function and instrumental activities of daily living (IADL) of patients with schizophrenia. Among 20 patients with schizophrenia who received conventional rehabilitation, 10 patients were allocated to an experimental group and they additionally performed the program to improve grocery shopping skill in a real situation for eight sessions. The rest of participants were assigned to the wait-list group. To identify the effects on executive function, the Korean version of the Executive Function Performance Test (EFPT-K) was used. IADL was evaluated using the Korean Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (K-IADL). After the sessions, the EFPT-K (p < .001) and K-IADL (p < .05) were significantly improved in the experimental group. These results indicate that the program to improve grocery shopping skills might be clinically beneficial to enhance executive function and IADL of patients with schizophrenia.

Classification of Rehabilitation Participation in Elderly In-patients with Mild Cognitive Impairments Utilizing Physiological Responses.

This study investigated the possibility of utilising physiological responses and machine learning techniques to determine the degree of participation of in-patients with mild cognitive impairment at rehabilitation institutions. Physiological signals related to autonomic functions, cardio-activity, sweat gland activation, and skin surface temperature were obtained, and machine learning classifiers were used to classify rehabilitation participation levels as higher or lower participation when participants were required to perform a VR-based rehabilitative task. Classifiers such as a decision tree or support vector machine can effectively determine two different levels of participation suggesting the proposed approach can help therapists assess an important aspect of client satisfaction.

The protective role of phytochemicals on TiO2 nanoparticles-induced DNA damage in lymphocytes.

The adverse health effect of nanoparticles is of concern for humans and environment. In the present study, TiO2-nanoparticles (TiO2-NPs)-induced oxidative DNA damage in lymphocytes was measured by comet assay. 80 mg ml-1 TiO2-NPs induced approximately 3-fold increase in DNA damage than in the PBS-control group as measured by olive tail moment. However, on treating vitamin C and N-acetylcysteine, DNA damage was effectively protected in a concentration dependent manner. Moreover, the protective effect of several phytochemicals including berberine, resveratrol, sulforaphane, and curcumin on DNA damage caused by TiO2-NPs was manifested. The increased olive tail moment induced by TiO2-NPs was effectively inhibited by treatment with these phytochemicals. Especially, olive tail moment of 5 mg ml-1 berberine-treated group was significantly reduced down to the level of control group, showing almost complete protection. Taken together, the protective effect of phytochemicals against DNA damage by TiO2-NPs may be applied for the development of antidote for TiO2 toxicity.

The effects of a community-centered muscle strengthening exercise program using an elastic band on the physical abilities and quality of life of the rural elderly.

[Purpose] The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of a muscle strengthening exercise program using an elastic band on changes in the physical abilities and quality of life of the rural elderly. [Subjects] The subjects of this study were 46 elderly people (8 males, 38 females) aged 65 or older, who lived in a rural area and managed their daily lives independently. [Methods] The study's exercise program was conducted 16 times for 80 minutes each session over an eight-week period. This program consisted of several exercises to strengthen muscular endurance and improve balance ability based on exercises using Thera-bands. The physical abilities of the subjects were divided into muscular endurance, upper-extremity flexibility, balance, and low-extremity agility. Each ability was measured to compare the effects of the exercise program. In addition, the Korean version of the World Health Organization Quality of Life (WHOQOL)-BREF questionnaire was used to examine changes in the subjects' quality of life. [Results] The subjects showed improvements in muscular endurance, balance, and low-extremity agility. They also exhibited an overall statistically significant improvement in quality of life scores after the exercise program. In terms of the main items, changes were observed in the areas of psychological relations, social relations, and environment. [Conclusion] The community-centered muscle strengthening exercise program using the elastic band was found to improve muscular endurance, balance, agility, and quality of life of rural elderly subjects.

Analysis of cortical activation during three types of therapeutic activity.

[Purpose] The objective of this study was to investigate changes from resting of the evoked cortical activity when participants performed three levels of therapeutic activities. [Subjects and Methods] Twenty-five students participated in this study. Changes in the amplitude of 16 pairs of evoked potentials were compared for three different activities: adjunctive, enabling, and purposeful. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and one-way ANOVA. [Results] Significant differences were found among the selected three activities for the Alpha 1 waveform. The complexity hierarchy was confirmed by descriptive statistics, as well as analyses of the three brain regions: central position (motor) Beta 1; parietal lobes, Beta 2, and occipital lobes, Alpha 1. In each instance, purposeful activity was confirmed as the most complex activity, followed by enabling, and then adjunctive. [Conclusion] This study will provide rehabilitation professionals with valuable information regarding what type of activity they should choose for a correct level of therapeutic challenge when they work with patients to plan meaningful interventions.