Look into my eyes:What can eye-based measures tell us about the relationship between physical activity and cognitive performance?

Background:There is a growing interest to understand the neurobiological mechanisms that drive the positive associations of physical activity and fitness with measures of cognitive performance.To better understand those mechanisms,several studies have employed eye-based measures(e.g., eye movement measures such as saccades,pupillary measures such as pupil dilation,and vascular measures such as retinal vessel diameter)deemed to be proxies for specific neurobiological mechanisms.However,there is currently no systematic review providing a comprehensive overview of these studies in the field of exercise-cognition science.Thus,this review aimed to address that gap in the literature.Methods:To identify eligible studies,we searched 5 electronic databases on October 23,2022.Two researchers independently extracted data and assessed the risk of bias using a modified version of the Tool for the assEssment of Study qualiTy and reporting in EXercise(TESTEX scale,for interventional studies) and the critical appraisal tool from the Joanna Briggs Institute(for cross-sectional studies).Results:Our systematic review(n=35 studies) offers the following main findings:(a) there is insufficient evidence available to draw solid conclusions concerning gaze-fixation-based measures;(b) the evidence that pupillometric measures,which are a proxy for the noradrenergic system,can explain the positive effect of acute exercise and cardiorespiratory fitness on cognitive performance is mixed;(c) physical training-or fitness-related changes of the cerebrovascular system(operationalized via changes in retinal vasculature) are,in general,positively associated with cognitive performance improvements;(d) acute and chronic physical exercises show a positive effect based on an oculomotor-based measure function(operationalized via antisaccade tasks);and(e) the positive association between cardiorespiratory fitness and cognitive performance is partly mediated by the dopaminergic system(operationalized via spontaneous eye-blink rate).Conclusion:This systematic review offers confirmation that eye-based measures can provide valuable insigt into the neurobiological mechanisms that may drive positive associations between physical activity and fitness and measures of cognitive performance.However,due to the limited number of studies utilizing specific methods for obtaining eye-based measures(e.g.,pupillometry,retinal vessel analysis,spontaneous eye blink rate) or investigating a possible dose-response relationship,further research is necessary before more nuanced conclusions can be drawn.Given that eye-based measures are economical and non-invasive,we hope this review will foster the future application of eye-based measures in the field of exercise-cognition science.

A Novel Robust Watermarking Algorithm for Encrypted Medical Image Based on DTCWT-DCT and Chaotic Map

In order to solve the problem of patient information security protection in medical images,whilst also taking into consideration the unchangeable particularity of medical images to the lesion area and the need for medical images themselves to be protected,a novel robust watermarking algorithm for encrypted medical images based on dual-tree complex wavelet transform and discrete cosine transform(DTCWT-DCT)and chaotic map is proposed in this paper.First,DTCWT-DCT transformation was performed on medical images,and dot product was per-formed in relation to the transformation matrix and logistic map.Inverse transformation was undertaken to obtain encrypted medical images.Then,in the low-frequency part of the DTCWT-DCT transformation coefficient of the encrypted medical image,a set of 32 bits visual feature vectors that can effectively resist geometric attacks are found to be the feature vector of the encrypted medical image by using perceptual hashing.After that,different logistic initial values and growth parameters were set to encrypt the watermark,and zero-watermark technology was used to embed and extract the encrypted medical images by combining cryptography and third-party concepts.The proposed watermarking algorithm does not change the region of interest of medical images thus it does not affect the judgment of doctors.Additionally,the security of the algorithm is enhanced by using chaotic mapping,which is sensitive to the initial value in order to encrypt the medical image and the watermark.The simulation results show that the pro-posed algorithm has good homomorphism,which can not only protect the original medical image and the watermark information,but can also embed and extract the watermark directly in the encrypted image,eliminating the potential risk of decrypting the embedded watermark and extracting watermark.Compared with the recent related research,the proposed algorithm solves the contradiction between robustness and invisibility of the watermarking algorithm for encrypted medical images,and it has good results against both conventional attacks and geometric attacks.Under geometric attacks in particular,the proposed algorithm performs much better than existing algorithms.

Walking-friendly built environments and objectively measured physical function in older adults

Background:Few studies have examined the associations between urban design attributes and older adults’physical function.Especially,it is not well known how built-environment attributes may influence physical function in Asian cities.The aim of this study was to examine associations between objectively measured environmental attributes of walkability and objectively assessed physical function in a sample of Japanese older adults.Methods:Cross-sectional data collected in 2013 from 314 older residents(aged 65-84 years)living in Japan were used.Physical function was estimated from objectively measured upper-and lower-body function,mobility,and balance by a trained research team member.A comprehensive list of built-environment attributes,including population density,availability of destinations,intersection density,and distance to the nearest public transport station,were objectively calculated.Walk Score as a composite measure of neighborhood walkability was also obtained.Results:Among men,higher population density,availability of destinations,and intersection density were significantly associated with better physical function performance(1-legged stance with eyes open).Higher Walk Score was also marginally associated with better physical function performance(1-legged stance with eyes open).None of the environmental attributes were associated with physical function in elderly women.Conclusion:Our findings indicate that environmental attributes of walkability are associated with the physical function of elderly men in the context of Asia.Walking-friendly neighborhoods can not only promote older adults’active behaviors but can also support their physical function.

Basic studies on life circumstances and stress in persons with congenital physical disabilities using always wheelchairs

Many studies about the health problems of persons with physical disabilities have been performed, however few studies have focused on the life circumstances of persons with physical disabilities. This study aimed to clarify the relationship between stress and the life circumstances of persons with congenital physical disabilities who must use wheelchairs. The participants were 70 individuals who used the services of care workers employed by welfare service business offices. Participants used wheelchairs. In addition, those participants who used a standard manual wheelchair were not able to operate it alone. Participants were required to answer a two-part questionnaire with questions about factors related to basic lifestyle and stress, and about life factors related to the stress of individuals with physical disabilities. No significant relationship between lifestyle and stress was found in either males or females. Most persons with congenital physical disabilities using wheelchairs had some kind of stress in daily life. In particular, significantly more level of stress was found in females (90%) than that in males (65%). Levels of stress according to life factor differed between males and females. The most dramatic gender difference was that the level of stress caused by the mental or mind factor in females was significantly higher than that in males (p < 0.05). Most persons who must use wheelchairs have stress resulting from daily life, and in particular, females experience more mental stress than males.

Effects of Pre-Schooler Lifestyle on the Circadian Rhythm of Secretory Immunoglobulin A

Assuming that secretory immunoglobulin A (s-IgA) in pre-schoolers is influenced by wake-up time, bedtime, sleeping duration and activity, the current study examined the influence of basic pre-schooler lifestyle on the circadian rhythm of s-IgA. We conducted a questionnaire survey on lifestyle and measured steps, heart rate and salivary s-IgA in 44 pre-schoolers aged 4 or 5 years old. Saliva was collected over 2 days at six time points: bedtime, upon waking up, upon arriving at nursery school, before lunch, after lunch and upon going home. To obtain relatively reliable s-IgA values, the s-IgA concentration/total protein concentration ratio (referred to as s-IgA/T.P.) was calculated. Relationship between the s-IgA/T.P. and heart rate, steps, wake-up time, bedtime and sleeping duration was then examined using Pearson’s correlation coefficient. Accordingly, pre-schooler lifestyle had the following effect on circadian rhythm of s-IgA: 1) s-IgA/T.P. values were higher upon waking up than at other measurement time points;2) pre-schoolers with considerable physical activity had high s-IgA/T.P. at bedtime and upon waking up;and 3) pre-schoolers with long sleeping durations and early bedtime had high s-IgA/T.P. upon waking up. Thus, our results confirmed that pre-schoolers’ lifestyle habits, such as bedtime, sleeping duration, physical activity, had an effect on the circadian rhythm of s-IgA.

Fluctuations in Human Bioenergy during the Day as Observed from the Evoked Photon

Background: Measurement of the evoked photon is newly introduced method for measuring life activities those amplify weak light emitted from organisms. We examined the relationship of bioenergy fluctuation state in vivo with conventional physical parameters during twelve hours of daytime arousal using evoked photon measurements. Evaluation of metabolic level, one of the bioenergy state, has demonstrated its effectiveness by evoked photon. Methods: The evoked photon, a weak light emitted from organisms, is a new parameter for measuring life activities, which was recorded using gas discharge visualization (GDV) equipment, and the area and intensity of the energy field index from the GDV image glow were correlated to biorhythmic fluctuations, as corroborated by biochemical measurements of secretory-immunoglobulin A (s-IgA) levels. Result: The area and intensity of the energy field index at the time of awakening were significantly lower (p Conclusions: Thus, the evoked photon reflects the bioenergy of the entire body and can be used as a general indicator of physical health.

Predictive modelling of ferroelectric tunnel junctions

Ferroelectric tunnel junctions combine the phenomena of quantum-mechanical tunnelling and switchable spontaneous polarisation of a nanometre-thick ferroelectric film into novel device functionality.Switching the ferroelectric barrier polarisation direction produces a sizable change in resistance of the junction—a phenomenon known as the tunnelling electroresistance effect.From a fundamental perspective,ferroelectric tunnel junctions and their version with ferromagnetic electrodes,i.e.,multiferroic tunnel junctions,are testbeds for studying the underlying mechanisms of tunnelling electroresistance as well as the interplay between electric and magnetic degrees of freedom and their effect on transport.From a practical perspective,ferroelectric tunnel junctions hold promise for disruptive device applications.In a very short time,they have traversed the path from basic model predictions to prototypes for novel non-volatile ferroelectric random access memories with non-destructive readout.This remarkable progress is to a large extent driven by a productive cycle of predictive modelling and innovative experimental effort.In this review article,we outline the development of the ferroelectric tunnel junction concept and the role of theoretical modelling in guiding experimental work.We discuss a wide range of physical phenomena that control the functional properties of ferroelectric tunnel junctions and summarise the state-of-the-art achievements in the field.