Although cognitive rehabilitation is not a new field of intervention, as it dates back to the treatment of brain-injured soldiers during World War I, the use of cognitive rehabilitation intervention therapies for individuals with dementia and mild cognitive impairment has yet to draw definite conclusions about its effectiveness. Based on the conceptual framework of biopsychosocial theoretical model, this study explored to what extend cognitive rehabilitation intervention was effective in improving the memory and mood functioning of elderly adults with mild cognitive impairments. An archived data set of 216 elderly adults collected at a midwestern agency in the United States during the period of May 2012 through December 2013 was used. Wilcoxon matched pair tests were used to assess elders' changes in memory and mood functioning. Results indicated that there were no significant changes in memory skills or mood functioning found after the elderly individuals participated in the cognitive rehabilitation program within the 18-month period of continuous intervention training. Several limitations could explain these results including a small sample size of 88 participants that finished the 18-month program; the quality of the assessment process; and the lack of further information on the archived data such as demographics, patients' medication regimen, or type of family support. Health care professionals, families, and caretakers may use these results to understand the importance of closely monitoring the training and checking for positive results and adjusting the intervention as needed. Results of the study also highlighted the importance of focusing on promoting a take-charge collaborative approach to awareness and life satisfaction which is a salient implication for positive social change.

Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI) / Social support is a powerful therapeutic against fear and anxiety and is utilized in many psychotherapies. The concept that a familiar or friendly presence helps a person learn to overcome anxiety has been well-known for decades, yet, the basic neural mechanisms that regulate this psychosocial learning remain unknown. A first step towards elucidating these basic mechanisms is the development of a valid preclinical animal model. However, preclinical behavioral models exploring the use of a social presence in reducing anxiety have not been fully characterized. Therefore, it was our goal to identify a useful way in which to study the mechanisms of how a social presence can induce anxiolysis (the reduction of anxiety). We accomplished this goal by characterizing and validating a preclinical model, as well as demonstrating that the model was capable of measuring deficits in rats given a mild traumatic brain injury. To this end, we identified an existing, but uncharacterized model, the social interaction-habituation model, as an effective model of social familiarity-induced anxiolysis (SoFiA), which demonstrates socially enhanced safety learning, or psychosocial learning. We find that as social familiarity develops across time, anxiolysis develops. We identified that the use of a Bright Light Challenge is a useful anxiogenic stimulus to use during SI-habituation training. The anxiolysis acquired following SI-habituation testing is partner specific, and can be blocked by an inhibition of the medical prefrontal cortex, while it can be enhanced by D-cycloserine. We found that this model identified deficits in SoFiA acquisition in rodents exposed to a mild traumatic brain injury, which, in humans, has been linked to psychosocial deficits. This work is a step in creating ways in which we can study and better understand the regulatory processes of emotions mediated by social behavior.

京都大学 / 0048 / 新制・論文博士 / 博士(人間・環境学) / 乙第12883号 / 論人博第40号 / 新制||人||169(附属図書館) / 26||論人博||40(吉田南総合図書館) / 31601 / (主査)教授 石原 昭彦, 教授 船橋 新太郎, 教授 林 達也, 准教授 神﨑 素樹, 准教授 久代 恵介 / 学位規則第4条第2項該当 / Doctor of Human and Environmental Studies / Kyoto University / DFAM

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The independence of children with cognitive impairments is vital for successful social integration. As emerging technological advancements, autonomous buses possess significant potential in this regard. The study aims to investigate the potential of autonomous buses to support children with mild cognitive impairments in attaining increased independence during their travels. To achieve this goal, two studies were conducted to gather comprehensive data: an analysis of videos provided by the ASALL project and a focus group study involving Skelleftea municipality workers. The study findings shed light on the challenges and needs of children with cognitive impairments during their trips and offer suggestions for how autonomous buses could provide support to increase their independence. It also highlights the importance of considering human factors while designing technology products and emphasizes the need for coordinated efforts combining technological and human support to enhance the independence of children with cognitive impairments. In addition, insights from people familiar with children with cognitive impairments can provide valuable guidance to researchers and designers when creating other technology products.

Purpose: Interdisciplinary research in epidemiology, neurology, neuroscience, and sports medicine commonly highlight the dangerous short- and long-term sequelae of sport-related concussions (SRC). Despite advancements in clinical evaluation and recognition, many SRCs are not properly diagnosed and managed, leaving many athletes in danger of acute and chronic neurological deficits. Epidemiological studies suggest the prevalence of chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) is three times, and Alzheimer's disease is four times greater in former athletes with a history of SRC than non-athletes. The underlying mechanisms linking SRC and contact-sport participation to neurodegeneration are not fully understood. Herein, I hypothesized that transient insufficiency of the lymphatic and glymphatic clearance systems in the central nervous system (CNS) could play a crucial role in the SRC-mediated neurological conditions. Therefore, this study aimed to examine the differences in plasma levels of extracellular vesicles (EV) that are associated with the lymphatic and glymphatic clearance systems of the CNS among athletes following sport-related head impacts. Participants: Plasma EV concentrations were analyzed in collegiate athletes (controls n=29, SRC n=19) with and without SRC. In a parallel study, fourteen college-aged soccer players participated in a laboratory-based, repetitive subconcussion paradigm. All participants provided written informed consent, and the study was approved by institutional review board at Temple University. Methods: We evaluated EVs containing markers associated with the CNS lymphatic and glymphatic systems, including lymphatic vessel endothelial hyaluronan receptor 1 (LYVE1), astrocyte-specific glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), aquaporin 4 (AQP4), and the platelet and endothelial cell adhesion molecule 1(PECAM-1 or CD31). Tetraspanin-28 (CD81) was used as an EV-specific marker. Blood samples from athlete controls were collected once during preseason baseline assessments. Samples from athletes with SRC were collected within 72 hours of injury. Whole blood was double-centrifuged to obtain platelet-poor plasma, snap-frozen in liquid nitrogen, and stored at -80°C until analyzed. Quantification of plasma EVs was performed using spectral flow cytometry. Mann-Whitney U tests were used for group comparisons of single and double-positive EV concentrations, and receiver-operating characteristic curve (ROC) and area under the curve (AUC) analyses assessed diagnostic efficacy. Within-group changes in plasma EVs following repetitive, subconcussive head impacts were assessed with Friedman's test using Dunn's correction for multiple comparisons. Results: Among athletes with SRC, plasma concentrations of LYVE1+EVs and CD31+EVs were significantly elevated within 72 hours of injury compared to controls (LYVE1+EVs, p < 0.0001; CD31+EVs, p = 0.005). ROC analysis revealed plasma concentrations of LYVE1+EVs demonstrated significant diagnostic accuracy to differentiate athletes with SRC from athlete controls (AUC: 0.971, 95% C.I. = 0.933-1.000, p < 0.0001). Notably, concentrations of LYVE1+/CD81+ double-positive EVs, CD31+/CD81+ double-positive EVs, and GFAP+/CD81+ double-positive EVs were significantly higher among athletes with SRC within 72 hours of injury compared to control athletes (p < 0.0001; p = 0.0002; p < 0.0001, respectively). Plasma AQP4+/GFAP+ double-positive EVs and AQP4+/CD81+ double-positive EVs were not. However, plasma concentrations of GFAP+/CD81+ double-positive EVs and AQP4+/GFAP+ double-positive EVs were significantly elevated after repetitive, subconcussive head impacts (p < 0.0001 and p = 0.004, respectively). Conclusion: Plasma concentrations of double-positive EVs, including LYVE1+/CD81+EVs, CD31+/CD81+EVs, and GFAP+/CD81+EVs, may be promising biomarkers for acute SRC. EVs associated with the glymphatic system, GFAP+/CD81+EVs and AQP4+/GFAP+EVs, were significantly elevated after repetitive subconcussive head impacts. The differences observed in EV responses to SRC and subconcussion may provide novel mechanistic insights about sport-associated neurodegeneration for current and future athletes. / Kinesiology

The diploma thesis deals with the issue of employment of people with mild mental disabilities. The theoretical part of the thesis first describes a person with a mild mental disability. It defines this disability, defines the basic etiology and symptomatology. It also describes the specifics of these people in relation to work. It also introduces the employment opportunities of people with mild mental disabilities, defines the basic legislation or job training. Last but not least, it presents specific job opportunities in the region Orlickoústecko. The practically oriented part of the diploma thesis describes the possibilities and specifics of employing several people with mild mental disabilities from a selected region of the Pardubice region. This part of the thesis describes the benefits or obstacles to employment, as well as the level of awareness in the process of obtaining employment and the view of employers on this issue. From a methodological point of view, a qualitative method of interview was used, which was conducted with individual employees, their key employees and their employers. After the interviews, case studies of individual employees were created. Subsequently, a comparison of case studies was performer. The main results of the research can be considered a description of the...

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