Dopamine in the prefrontal cortex plays multiple roles in the executive function of patients with Parkinson's disease

Parkinson’s disease can affect not only motor functions but also cognitive abilities,leading to cognitive impairment.One common issue in Parkinson’s disease with cognitive dysfunction is the difficulty in executive functioning.Executive functions help us plan,organize,and control our actions based on our goals.The brain area responsible for executive functions is called the prefrontal co rtex.It acts as the command center for the brain,especially when it comes to regulating executive functions.The role of the prefrontal cortex in cognitive processes is influenced by a chemical messenger called dopamine.However,little is known about how dopamine affects the cognitive functions of patients with Parkinson’s disease.In this article,the authors review the latest research on this topic.They start by looking at how the dopaminergic syste m,is alte red in Parkinson’s disease with executive dysfunction.Then,they explore how these changes in dopamine impact the synaptic structure,electrical activity,and connection components of the prefrontal cortex.The authors also summarize the relationship between Parkinson’s disease and dopamine-related cognitive issues.This information may offer valuable insights and directions for further research and improvement in the clinical treatment of cognitive impairment in Parkinson’s disease.

The Mediating Effect of Digital Transformation on the Link Between Executive Overconfidence and Corporate Green Innovation

Green technological innovation is crucial for the manufacturing industry’s green transformation and sustainable development.This study examines the impact of executive overconfidence on corporate green innovation,focusing on the internal drivers of corporate innovation and using a sample of Shanghai and Shenzhen A-share listed manufacturing companies from 2013 to 2020.We further examine the mediating role of digital transformation and the moderating role of external attention.The findings indicate that executive overconfidence promotes corporate green technological innovation.Overconfident executives enhance green innovation by accelerating digital transformation.Moreover,external attention from analysts and media positively moderates the relationship between executive overconfidence and corporate green innovation.Heterogeneity analysis reveals that the positive impact of executive overconfidence on green innovation is more significant in non-state-owned enterprises,high-tech firms,and enterprises with lower pollution levels.

Perspectives and Experiences of Education Stakeholders: A Quantitative Study on the Adoption of Artificial Intelligence in Executive Training Using Structural Equation Modeling

The recent increase in the use of artificial intelligence has led to fundamental changes in the development of training and teaching methods for executive education. However, the success of artificial intelligence in regional centers for teaching and training professions will depend on the acceptance of this technology by young executive trainees. This article discusses the potential benefits of adopting AI in executive training institutions in Morocco, specifically focusing on CRMEF Casablanca Settat. Based on the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT) (Venkatesh et al., 2003), this study proposes a model to identify the factors influencing the acceptance of artificial intelligence in regional centers for teaching professions and training in Morocco. To achieve this, a structural equation modeling approach was used to quantitatively describe the impact of each factor on AI adoption, utilizing data collected from 173 young executive trainees. The results indicate that perceived ease of use, perceived usefulness, trainer influence, and personal innovativeness influence the intention to use artificial intelligence. Our research provides managers of CRMEFs with a set of practical recommendations to enhance the implementation conditions of an artificial intelligence system. It aims to understand which factors should be considered in designing an artificial intelligence system within regional centers for teaching professions and training (CRMEFs).

ARCHITECTURE OF MANUFACTURING EXECUTION SYSTEM IN THE EXTENDED ENTERPRISE

The extended enterprise is formed according to the philosophy of dispersednetworked manufacturing. Manufacturing execution system (MES) can close the information gap whichexists between device control system and production information management system. The functions andthe web-based architecture of the MES in the extended enterprise are introduced. Using thecooperating system models of object-oriented and distributed agents and CORBA, all objects keep touniform interface standards and are easily inserted to object request broker. The utilization ofdistributed MES in extended enterprise can adapt fast change of manufacturing environment andresource. It also can improve the independent management capability of manufacturing cell and theenterprise response capability to global economic competition.

The Trade-Off Between Performance and Security of Virtualized Trusted Execution Environment on Android

Nowadays,with the significant growth of the mobile market,security issues on the Android Operation System have also become an urgent matter.Trusted execution environment(TEE)technologies are considered an option for satisfying the inviolable property by taking advantage of hardware security.However,for Android,TEE technologies still contain restrictions and limitations.The first issue is that non-original equipment manufacturer developers have limited access to the functionality of hardware-based TEE.Another issue of hardware-based TEE is the cross-platform problem.Since every mobile device supports different TEE vendors,it becomes an obstacle for developers to migrate their trusted applications to other Android devices.A software-based TEE solution is a potential approach that allows developers to customize,package and deliver the product efficiently.Motivated by that idea,this paper introduces a VTEE model,a software-based TEE solution,on Android devices.This research contributes to the analysis of the feasibility of using a virtualized TEE on Android devices by considering two metrics:computing performance and security.The experiment shows that the VTEE model can host other software-based TEE services and deliver various cryptography TEE functions on theAndroid environment.The security evaluation shows that adding the VTEE model to the existing Android does not addmore security issues to the traditional design.Overall,this paper shows applicable solutions to adjust the balance between computing performance and security.

SecMVX:Analysis on the Vulnerability of Multi-Variant Execution

As an active defenses technique,multivariant execution(MVX)can detect attacks by monitoring the consistency of heterogeneous variants with parallel execution.Compared with patch-style passive defense,MVX can defend against known and even unknown vulnerability-based attacks without relying on attack feature information.However,variants generated with software diversity technologies will introduce new vulnerabilities when they execute in parallel.First,we analyze the security of MVX theory from the perspective of formal description.Then we summarize the general forms and techniques for attacks against MVX,and analyze the new vulnerabilities arising from the combination of variant generation technologies.We propose SecMVX,a secure MVX architecture and variant generation technology.Experimental evaluations based on CVEs and SPEC 2006 benchmark show that SecMVX introduces 11.29%of the average time overhead,and avoids vulnerabilities caused by the improper combination of variant generation technologies while keeping the defensive ability of MVX.

Specifying the Global Execution Context of Computer-Mediated Tasks: A Visual Notation and a Supporting Tool

This paper presents the notion of the global execution context of a task as a representational construct for analysing complexity in software evolution. Based on this notion a visual notation and a supporting tool are presented to support specification of a system’s global execution context. A system’s global execution context is conceived as an evolving network of use scenarios depicted by nodes and links designating semantic relationships between scenarios. A node represents either a base or a growth scenario. Directed links characterize the transition from one node to another by means of semantic scenario relationships. Each growth scenario is generated following a critique (or screening) of one or more base or reference scenarios. Subsequently, representative growth scenarios are compiled and consolidated in the global execution context graph. The paper describes the stages of this process, presents the tool designed to facilitate the construction of the global execution context graph and elaborates on recent practice and experience.

Cross the chasm from the immediate execution of death penalty to the death sentence with a reprieve --- Interpretation of the ＂not to execute immediately＂

Retaining the death penalty and strict restricting the application of the death penalty is now a basic criminal policy in China, and from the judicial level, the key to the restriction of the death penalty is to study what lenient sentencing discretion the criminal has to constitute ＂not to execute immediately＂ when he has reached the standard of the immediate execution of the death penalty, to cross the chasm from the immediate execution of the death penalty to the death sentence with a reprieve. The basic process of the sentencing is to establish a baseline punishment on the basis of the social harmfulness of the activities of the criminal, and then measure the profits and losses according to the offender＇s personal danger. Therefore, although the social harmfulness of the activities of the criminal reaches the standard of the ＂most heinous crimes＂, due to the existence of the fault of the victim, active compensation for the victim, and the motives of the small blames and other lenient sentencing discretions, the criminal＇s danger has not reached the degree of ＂flagrance＂. Apply the death sentence with a two-year reprieve and even the life imprisonment generally. If there are some strict sentencing discretions, such as ＂the crime means is extremely cruel＂, carefully consider the use of the immediate execution of the death penalty. Under the circumstances of the concurrence of the sentencing, carry on the overall consideration based on the comprehensive measurement of various circumstances of the sentencing.

The effects of Tai Chi exercise on cognitive function in older adults:A meta-analysis

Background:Cognitive impairment is prevalent among older adults and results in degraded quality of life for older adults.As the population ages,this may cause a huge burden to society.Research has demonstrated that physical exercise is beneficial to cognitive function.The purpose of this meta-analysis was to critically assess the effect of Tai Chi exercise on global cognitive,executive,and memory functions in older adults.Methods:After a thorough electronic search and selection,eight studies were included in this meta-analysis with two cross-sectional and six intervention studies.Nine variables included in this meta-analysis were:mini mental status examination(MMSE),Alzheimer’s disease assessment scale-cognitive subscale(ADAS-cog),trailmaking test part A(TMA),trailmaking test part B(TMB),digit span test forward(DSF),digit span test backward(DSB),visual span test backward(VSB),verbal fluency test(VFT),and word delay recall test(WDR).The effect sizes and forest plots of these nine variables were generated.Results:Four(MMSE,DSB,VSB,and VFT)out of nine variables were significantly improved after Tai Chi exercise with the effect sizes ranged from 0.20 to 0.46(small to medium).MMSE represented global cognitive function,and DSB,VSB,and VFT represented memory function.Conclusion:Tai Chi as a mind-body exercise has the positive effects on global cognitive and memory functions,and more consistent positive effects were found on memory function,especially verbal working memory.

Auditory hallucinations: A review of the ERC “VOICE” project

In this invited review I provide a selective overview of recent research on brain mechanisms and cognitive processes involved in auditory hallucinations. The review is focused on research carried out in the "VOICE" ERC Advanced Grant Project, funded by the European Research Council, but I also review and discuss the literature in general. Auditory hallucinations are suggested to be perceptual phenomena, with a neuronal origin in the speech perception areas in the temporal lobe. The phenomenology of auditory hallucinations is conceptualized along three domains, or dimensions; a perceptual dimension, experienced as someone speaking to the patient; a cognitive dimension, experienced as an inability to inhibit, or ignore the voices, and an emotional dimension, experienced as the "voices" having primarily a negative, or sinister, emotional tone. I will review cognitive, imaging, and neurochemistry data related to these dimensions, primarily the first two. The reviewed data are summarized in a model that sees auditory hallucinations as initiated from temporal lobe neuronal hyper-activation that draws attentional focus inward, and which is not inhibited due to frontal lobe hypo-activation. It is further suggested that this is maintained through abnormal glutamate and possibly gamma-amino-butyric-acid transmitter mediation, which could point towards new pathways for pharmacological treatment. A final section discusses new methods of acquiring quantitative data on the phenomenology and subjective experience of auditory hallucination that goes beyond standard interview questionnaires, by suggesting an iP hone/iP od app.

Exercise and children's cognition:The role of exercise characteristics and a place for metacognition

Definitive conclusions concerning the impact of exercise interventions on children＇s mental functioning are difficult to ascertain because of procedural differences among studies. A narrative review of studies was conducted to evaluate the role of two types of exercise interventions on children＇s cognition. Acute and chronic exercise interventions were classified as quantitative or qualitative on the basis of manipulations of task complexity and, by inference, mental engagement. Both types of interventions enhance aspects of children＇s cognition; however, their effects on metacognitive processes are unknown. The role of metacognitive processes and their regulation of children＇s behavior and academic performance are highlighted.

The effect of acute exercise on cognitive performance in children with and without ADHD

Background： Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder （ADHD） is a common childhood disorder that affects approximately 11% of children in the United States. Research supports that a single session of exercise benefits cognitive performance by children, and a limited number of studies have demonstrated that these effects can also be realized by children with ADHD. The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of acute exercise on cognitive performance by children with and without ADHD. Methods： Children with and without ADHD were asked to perform cognitive tasks on 2 days following treatment conditions that were assigned in a random, counterbalanced order. The treatment conditions consisted of a 30-min control condition on 1 day and a moderate intensity exercise condition on the other day. Results： Exercise significantly benefited performance on all three conditions of the Stroop Task, but did not significantly affect performance on the Tower of London or the Trail Making Test. Conclusion： children with and without ADHD realize benefits in speed of processing and inhibitory control in response to a session of acute exercise, but do not experience benefits in planning or set shifting.

Effects of acute aerobic exercise on motor response inhibition:An ERP study using the stop-signal task

Purpose： The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of acute exercise on motor response inhibition using both behavioral and electrophysiological approaches. Methods： The P3 and N1 event-related potential （ERP） components were recorded while performing a stop-signal task in 21 college students following a moderately intense acute exercise bout for 30 min and a sedentary control session that involved reading. Results： Acute exercise induced a shorter stop signal response time （SSRT） as compared to control; however, the go response time （Go RT） remained unchanged. In examining the ERP data, acute exercise increased both P3 amplitude and latency but did not affect the N1 component. Conclusion： Acute exercise has a selective and beneficial effect on cognitive function, specifically affecting the motor response inhibition aspect of executive function. Furthermore, acute exercise predominately impacts later stages of information processing during motor response inhibition, which may lead to an increase in attentional resource allocation and confer the ability to successfully withhold a response to achieve motor response inhibition.

Atrophy of the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex is associated with poor performance in verbal fluency in elderly poststroke women

This study aimed to investigate the association between atrophy in the prefrontal cortex with executive function and verbal fluency in elderly male and female patients poststroke. Thirty elderly female patients with non-aphasic ischemic stroke aged -〉 60 years and 30 age-matched non-aphasic male patients with ischemic stroke were recruited. Automatic magnetic resonance imaging segmentation was used to assess the volume of the whole prefrontal cortex, along with its subdivisions： anterior cingulate cortex, orbitofrontal cortex and dorsolateral prefrontal cortex. The Semantic Verbal Fluency Test was administered at 3 and 15 months poststroke. At 3 months poststroke, left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex volume was significantly correlated with Verbal Fluency Test score in female patients only （partial coefficient = 0.453, P = 0.045）, after controlling for age, education, diabetes, neurological deficit, white matter lesions volume, as well as the location and volume of infarcts. At 15 months poststroke, there remained a significant association between the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex volume and Verbal Fluency Test （partial coefficient = 0.661, P = 0.001） and between the left prefrontal cortex volume and Verbal Fluency Test （partial coefficient = 0.573, P = 0.004） in female patients after the same adjustments. These findings indicate that atrophy of the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex contributes to the impairment of verbal fluency in elderly female patients with stroke. Sex differences may be present in the neuropsychological mechanisms of verbal fluency impairment in patients with stroke.

Unit Commitment under the Environment of Wind Power and Large-Scale Bilateral Transactions

Bilateral electric power contract is settled based on contract output curve. This paper considered the bilateral transactions execution, new energy accommodation, power grid security and generation economy, considering the executive priority of different power components to establish a multi-objective coordination unit commitment model. Through an example to verify the effectiveness of the model in promoting wind power consumption, guaranteeing trade execution, and improving power generation efficiency, and analyzed the interactions to each other among the factors of wind power, trading and blocking. According to the results, when wind power causes reverse power flow in the congestion line, it will promote the implementation of contracts, the influence of wind power accommodation to trade execution should be analyzed combined with the grid block, the results can provide reference for wind power planning.

Visual feedback therapy for restoration of upper limb function of stroke patients

Objective:To investigate the effects of mirror neuron theory-based visual feedback therapy(VFT)on restoration of upper limb function of stroke patients and motor-related cortical function using functional magnetic resonance imaging(fMRI).Methods:Hemiplegic stroke patients were randomly divided into two groups:a VFT group and a control(CTL)group.Sixteen patients in the VFT group received conventional rehabilitation(CR)and VFT for 8 weeks,while 15 patients in the CTL group received only CR.The Barthel Index(BI)was used to assess the activities of daily living at baseline and the 8th week of the recovery training period.The Fugl-Meyer assessment(FMA)scale,somatosensory evoked potential(SEP),and fMRI were used to evaluate the recovery effect of the training therapies.The latencies and amplitudes of N9 and N20 were measured.Before recovery training,fMRI was performed for all patients in the VFT and CTL groups.In addition,17 patients(9 in the VFT group and 8 in the CTL group)underwent fMRI for follow-up 2 months after treatment.Qualitative data were analyzed using the x2 test.The independent sample t-test was used to compare normally distributed data among different groups,the paired sample t-test was used to compare data between groups,and the non-parametric test was used to comparing data without normal distribution among groups.Results:There were no significant differences between the VFT and CTL group in all indexes.However,after 8 weeks of recovery training,these indexes were all significantly improved(P<0.05).As compared with the CTL group,the FMA scores,BI,and N9/N20 latencies and amplitudes of SEP in the VFT group were significantly improved(P<0.05).Two months after recovery training,fMRI showed that the degree of activation of the bilateral central anterior gyrus.parietal lobe,and auxiliary motor areas was significantly higher in the VFT group than the CTL group(P<0.05).Conclusions:VFT based on mirror neuron theory is an effective approach to improve upper extremity motor function and daily activity performance of stroke patients.The therapeutic mechanism promotes motor relearning by activating the mirror neuron system and motor cortex.SEP amplitudes increased only for patients who participated in visual feedback.VFT promotes sensory-motor plasticity and behavioral changes in both the motor and sensory domains.

The Impact of Fidget Spinners on Fine Motor Skills in Individuals with and without ADHD: An Exploratory Analysis

Fidget spinners have been marketed as repetitive motion devices that improve attention and motor performance, and as such, they have become quite appealing to individuals with Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder (ADHD). To date, no studies have explored changes in brain activity that may occur due to fidgeting in ADHD. Our aim was to use functional Near-Infrared Spectroscopy (fNIRS) to examine the prefrontal cortex (PFC) during the performance of a standardized fine motor skills test after using a fidget spinner. Eight right-handed adults with ADHD and eight age and gender matched adults without ADHD (4F/4M, 4 control/4 fidget) performed the Purdue Pegboard Test (PPT) while their brain oxygenation was monitored using fNIRS. Relative neural efficiency (RNE) and involvement (RNI) were calculated and analyzed for all subtasks of PPT including the less cognitively demanding fine motor subtasks and more complex assembly tasks. The fidget spinner improved both task performance and RNE in the ADHD group but not the non-ADHD group for the less cognitively demanding subtasks. Our results indicate Fidget spinners may improve both relative neural efficiency and fine motor performance in adults with ADHD for less cognitively demanding tasks.

Impact of Auditory-Verbal Therapy on executive functions in children with Cochlear Implants

Objective: Auditory-Verbal Therapy(AVT) can be considered one of the best practices for children with Cochlear Implants(CIs) who show impairments in cognitive skills such as executive functions. Hence,this research examined the impact of AVT on the executive functions in children with CIs.Methods: This was a randomized case control study with pre-and post-intervention assessments. The participants were 36 children with CIs and their mothers. They were randomly selected from rehabilitation centers and deaf pre-schools, and randomly allocated to a control(n = 18) and a study(n = 18)group. The mean age of the children in the study and control groups was 3.11 ± 0.31 years and 3.20 ± 0.29years, respectively. Participants in the study group received 20 sessions of AVT over 10 weeks at twice a week, while those in the control group did not. All mothers completed the Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Function Pre-school Version(BRIEF-P) before and after children in the study group completed their AVT intervention. Data were analyzed by MANCOVA.Results: The results suggest that AVT significantly influenced executive functions and all subscales including shifting, inhibition, emotional control, working memory and organization/planning in children with CIs.Conclusions: These findings suggest that AVT may be effective in resulting in positive outcomes and may play an important role in improving executive functions in children with CIs.

Role of Metacognition in Mathematical Problem Solving Process of Permutations and Combinations--Basic Study for CAI Software Development

When solving a mathematical problem, we sometimes encounter a situation where we can not reach a correct answer in spite of acquiring knowledge and formula necessary for the solution. The reason can be attributed to the lack in metacognitive abilities. Metacognitive abilities consist of comparing the difficulty of problem with own ability, proper plan of solution process, and conscious monitoring and control of solution process. The role and importance of metacognitive ability in mathematical problem solving of permutations and combinations was explored. Participants were required to solve five practical problems related to permutations and combinations. For each problem, the solution process was divided into： （1） understanding （recognition） of mathematical problem; （2） plan of solution; （3） execution of solution. Participants were also required to rate the anticipation whether they could solve it or not, and to rate the confidence of their own answer. According to the total score of five problems, the participants were categorized into the group of the high test score and the group of the low test score. As a result, at the plan and the execution processes, statistically significant differences were detected between the high and the low score groups. As for the rating on the anticipation of result and the confidence of own answer, no significant differences were found between both groups. Moreover, the relationship between the score of plan process and the score of execution process was statistically correlated. In other words, the more proper the plan process was conducted, the more proper solution the participants reached. In such a way, the importance of metacognitive ability in the solving process, especially the plan ability, was suggested.

The Effect of Executive Management Support and Cost Accountant Competency on CMS Design Effectiveness and Its Consequences： An Empirical Research of Manufacturing Business in Thailand＊

The objective of this research is to examine the antecedents and consequences of cost management systems （CMS） design effectiveness of manufacturing businesses in Thailand. The effect of CMS design effectiveness on cost information quality is investigated. Moreover, the effect of cost information quality on business success is investigated. Furthermore, executive management support and cost accountant competency are assumed to become the antecedents of CMS design effectiveness. Electronics manufacturing businesses in Thailand are samples of the research. A mail survey procedure via the questionnaire was used for data collection from accounting controllers. The results indicate that CMS design effectiveness has a positive significant effect on cost information quality. Moreover, cost information quality also has a positive significant effect on business success. Additionally, both executive management support and cost accountant competency have a positive significant effect on CMS design effectiveness.