tDCS Task-Oriented Approach Improves Function in Individuals With Fibromyalgia Pain. A Pilot Study

Fibromyalgia (FM) is a complex pain syndrome accompanied by physical disability and loss of daily life activities. Evidences suggest that modulation of the primary motor cortex (M1) by transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) improves functional physical capacity in chronic pain conditions. However, the gain on physical function in people living with FM receiving tDCS is still unclear. This study aimed to evaluate whether the tDCS task-oriented approach improves function and reduces pain in a single cohort of 10 FM. A total of 10 women with FM (60.4 ± 15.37 years old) were enrolled in an intervention including anodal tDCS delivered on M1 (2 mA from a constant stimulator for 20 min); simultaneously they performed a functional task. The anode was placed on the contralateral hemisphere of the dominant hand. Outcome assessments were done before the stimulation, immediately after stimulation and 30 min after the end of tDCS. The same protocol was applied in subsequent sessions. A total of five consecutive days of tDCS were completed. The main outcomes were the number of repetitions achieved and time in active practice to evaluate functional physical task performance such as intensity of the pain (visual analog scale) and level of fatigue (Borg scale). After 5 days of tDCS, the number of repetitions achieved significantly increased by 49% (p = 0.012). No change was observed in active practice time. No increase in pain was observed despite the mobility of the painful parts of the body. These results are encouraging since an increase in pain due to the mobilization of painful body parts could have been observed at the end of the 5th day of the experiment. These results support the use of tDCS in task-based rehabilitation.

Perceived Physical Fatigability: A Prognostic Marker of Biological, Organ System, and Brain Aging

Characterizing perceived physical fatigability enables researchers to quantify an individual’s susceptibility to experiencing fatigue in the context of a standardized physical task. This approach eliminates self-pacing, and is a less-biased, more sensitive means to measure the degree to which fatigue may limit activity. Our previous work with two validated measures of perceived fatigability, the Pittsburgh Fatigability Scale (PFS) and Borg Rating of Perceived Exertion (RPE) at the end of a standardized 5-minute treadmill walk, are prognostic indicators of phenotypic aging. This symposium will present new directions related to greater fatigability as a marker of biological aging, organ system health and functioning, as well as brain pathology and structure. Specifically, Mr. Katz will explore the relationship between leukocyte telomere length, a marker of biological aging, with PFS fatigability in participants from the Long Life Family Study. The other four papers use data from the Baltimore Longitudinal Study of Aging (BLSA) and RPE fatigability (RPE). Drs. Simonsick and Karikkineth investigate fatigability as an early marker of aging and disease related impacts on key organ systems, specifically diminished renal function as reflected in estimated Glomerular Filtration Rate and cardiovascular health evaluated as vascular stiffness. Ms. Liu and Dr. Schrack will share whether there are associations of perceived fatigability with brain health, specifically Alzheimer’s disease-related pathology (PiB) and changes in brain structure. Lastly, our Discussant, Dr. Eldadah, will critically review the presentations in the context of new directions in fatigability research.

Harvesting Brain Signal using Machine Learning Methods

Brain computer interface (BCI) systems are developed in biomedical fields to increase the quality of life. The development of a six class BCI controller to operate a semi-autonomous robotic arm is presented. The controller uses the following mental tasks: imagined left/right hand squeeze, imagined left/right foot tap, rest, one physical task, and jaw clench. To design a controller, the locations of active electrodes are verified and an appropriate machine learning algorithm is determined. Three subjects, ages ranging between 22-27, participated in five sessions of motor imagery experiments to record their brainwaves. These recordings were analyzed using event related potential plots and topographical maps to determine active electrodes. BCILAB was used to train two, three, five, and six class BCI controllers using linear discriminant analysis (LDA) and relevance vector machine (RVM) machine learning methods. The subjects' data was used to compare the two-method's performance in terms of error rate percentage. While a two class BCI controller showed the same accuracy for both methods, the three and five class BCI controllers showed the RVM approach having a higher accuracy than the LDA approach. For the five-class controller, error rate percentage was 33.3% for LDA and 29.2% for RVM. The six class BCI controller error rate percentage for both LDA and RVM was 34.5%. While the percentage values are the same, RVM was chosen as the desired machine learning algorithm based on the trend seen in the three and five class controller performances.

What matters in making demand-based decisions: Time alone or difficulty too?

Which task is easier, doing arithmetic problems of specified form for some specified duration, or carrying a bucket of specified weight over some specified distance? If it is possible to choose between the “more cognitive” task and the “more physical” task, how are the difficulty levels of the tasks compared? We conducted two experiments in which participants chose the easier of two tasks, one that involved solving addition or multiplication problems (Experiment 1) or addition problems with different numbers of addends (Experiment 2) for varying amounts of time (in both experiments), and one that involved carrying a bucket of different weights over a fixed distance (in both experiments). We found that the probability of choosing to do the bucket task was higher when the bucket was empty than when it was weighted, and increased when the cognitive task was harder and its duration grew. We could account for the choice probabilities by mapping the independent variables onto one abstract variable, Φ. The functional identity of Φ remains to be determined. It could be interpreted as an inferred effort variable, subjective duration, or an abstract, amodal common code for difficulty.

Ageing Effects on Dual-Tasking Performance that Involved Turning-While-Walking

Turning-while-walking requires attention. This task can demand more attention when performed with a concurrent cognitive task, particularly in older adults. This study therefore aimed at examining the effects of ageing on dual-tasking performance that involves turning-while-walking in youngold adults (age 65-74). Eleven young-old adults and ten young adults were recruited. Single auditory Stroop test, single turning-while-walking test, and dual-tasking that combined the two single tests were assessed. Results showed that young-old adults compromised accuracy in cognitive task when dualtasking, while their physical task performance was not significantly affected by an additional cognitive task. The results suggested that the young-old adults could have employed a ‘posture first’ strategy to maintain balance when there were insufficient attentional resources for them to perform the two tasks simultaneously. When compared to the young subjects, the young-old adults performed similarly during the physical task. However, they reacted significantly slower than their younger counterparts in the cognitive task when dual-tasking. The results raise concerns regarding the dual-tasking ability of communitydwelling young-old adults, even if they appear to be physically fit. Future studies incorporating different cognitive tasks are warranted. Correlation between dualtasking ability, physical function, cognitive function, and activity level are also worth investigating.

Experimental Determination of Heat Transfer using a Polymer Solution Shower during Induction Hardening*

Heat treatment simulation of inductive surface hardening of large bearing rings is a challenging multi-physical task. Besides the determination of material and process parameters of induction heating, the quenching process must be modelled to obtain realistic results concerning surface hardening depth as well as information about residual stresses and distortions of the bearing rings. A common method to model quenching processes is to determine heat transfer coefficients for the specific process depending on component surface temperature. This method was used to characterize the shower cooling process using an aqueous polymer solution of a modified polyalkylene glycol (PAG) type. A specifically designed test set-up allowed to determine the heat transfer coefficients for different distances between shower and hot specimen as well as for different impingement angles of the fluid relative to gravitation. Additionally, the calculated heat transfer coefficients were checked and corrected by FEM simulations.

Correlation Between Age of Stroke Patients and Mental Imagery to Improve Hand Function

Mental imagery is the rehearsal of a physical task mentally, without execution of any physical task. The technique triggers the similar neurons (mirror neurons) of brain as are triggered by physical performance of the task. Objective: To find correlation between age of stroke patients and mental imagery to improve hand function.Methodology: A sample of 50 patients was selected from DHQ hospital Jhelum. The inclusion criteria were as follows; age 55-75, gender (male and female), and stroke duration more than 12 months. Patients of age below 55 and above 75, patients with parietal stroke were excluded from study. Patients were treated with mental imagery technique for 10 weeks, P<0.05.Results: Both male and females were included in study. Sample consisted of 67% females and 33% male. Mean age of participants was 56.42 + 1.36. WMFT was used as outcome measure. Post treatment mean WMFT score was 57.9. Pearson Correlation was used to find out correlation between age and mental imagery outcome. Conclusions: It was concluded that no correlation is present between age and mental imagery ability of older adult stroke patients. Older adults were benefited with mental imagery technique and a significant improvement in hand function ofstroke patients was found.

APPLICATION OF MODERN MEASURING TOOLS TO TRAINING STUDENTS IN THE ANALYSIS OF SOLUTION OF SOME PROBLEMS

Resolutions of physical task a folding urgent problem in preparing students of physical specialties. Lack of mathematics training, repairing schools, the lack of logic, often trying for a significant part of students who want to change classes in such an important way of studying physics, as well as tasks. The basis for solving problems in physics by future teachers is the ability to analyze their solution. Analysis of the solution of some types of problems can be performed using modern measuring instruments. It involves, primarily, of using information and communication technologies. The process of preparation to isolation can be reduced to a successful result, with the correct restoration of emphasis on the physical tasks and audiences. One of the methods used in the identification of tasks when decoupling tasks is the method of experimental realization of tasks, with the possibility of identifying numerical parameters and analyzing them separately. In this robot, give a comprehensive approach to decoupling tasks from the most current technologies of measuring based on an automated computer complex. The solution of problems for the whole time will be intertwined with experimental experimentation; the result of theoretical analysis is experimentally performed. Establishment of such an approach allows you to formulate a statement about the tasks, as a part of the physical manifestations and the closed practical knowledge of students. In the course of solving and analyzing experimental problems with the help of modern measuring instruments, students develop a generalized ability to apply solutions to physical problems. The practice of using modern measuring instruments to analyze the solution of experimental problems shows that the algorithm for solving problems, constructed on the basis of theoretical information and practical skills of students, is effectively mastered by applicants in the course of special courses and used by them in solving problems. Students' mastery of generalized actions for the application of problem-solving tools based on the analysis of the solution of experimental problems leads to an improvement in the quality of solving problem situations.