Psychophysiology of Monotonous Driving, Fatigue and Sleepiness in Train and Non-Professional Drivers: Driver Safety Implications.

Fatigue and sleepiness are complex bodily states associated with monotony as well as physical and cognitive impairment, accidents, injury, and illness. Moreover, these states are often characteristic of professional driving. However, most existing work has focused on motor vehicle drivers, and research examining train drivers remains limited.

Evaluating High and Low Heart Rate Variability Response and Neurocognitive Performance in Workers: An Exploratory Study.

Heart rate variability (HRV) has the potential to be a predicting factor of cognitive performance. The present research aimed to explore the differences in neurocognitive performance of workers with high HRV and low HRV. A total of 48 white-collar workers and 53 blue-collar workers were assessed.

Neuropsychological Performance and Cardiac Autonomic Function in Blue- and White-Collar Workers: A Psychometric and Heart Rate Variability Evaluation.

The 21st century has brought a growing and significant focus on performance and health within the workforce, with the aim of improving the health and performance of the blue- and white-collar workforce. The present research investigated heart rate variability (HRV) and psychological performance between blue and white-collar workers to determine if differences were evident. A total of 101 workers ( = 48 white-collar, = 53 blue-collar, aged 19-61 years) underwent a three lead electrocardiogram to obtain HRV data during baseline (10 min) and active (working memory and attention) phases.

Associations between Sleep Quality and Heart Rate Variability: Implications for a Biological Model of Stress Detection Using Wearable Technology.

Introduction: The autonomic nervous system plays a vital role in the modulation of many vital bodily functions, one of which is sleep and wakefulness. Many studies have investigated the link between autonomic dysfunction and sleep cycles; however, few studies have investigated the links between short-term sleep health, as determined by the Pittsburgh Quality of Sleep Index (PSQI), such as subjective sleep quality, sleep latency, sleep duration, habitual sleep efficiency, sleep disturbances, use of sleeping medication, and daytime dysfunction, and autonomic functioning in healthy individuals.

Aim: In this cross-sectional study, the aim was to investigate the links between short-term sleep quality and duration, and heart rate variability in 60 healthy individuals, in order to provide useful information about the effects of stress and sleep on heart rate variability (HRV) indices, which in turn could be integrated into biological models for wearable devices.

Unraveling the Physiological Correlates of Mental Workload Variations in Tracking and Collision Prediction Tasks.

Modern work environments have extensive interactions with technology and greater cognitive complexity of the tasks, which results in human operators experiencing increased mental workload. Air traffic control operators routinely work in such complex environments, and we designed tracking and collision prediction tasks to emulate their elementary tasks. The physiological response to the workload variations in these tasks was elucidated to untangle the impact of workload variations experienced by operators.

Anxiety Linked to COVID-19: A Systematic Review Comparing Anxiety Rates in Different Populations.

The COVID-19 pandemic has incited a rise in anxiety, with uncertainty regarding the specific impacts and risk factors across multiple populations. A qualitative systematic review was conducted to investigate the prevalence and associations of anxiety in different sample populations in relation to the COVID-19 pandemic. Four databases were utilised in the search (Medline, EMBASE, CINAHL, and PsycINFO).

The relationship between neurocognitive performance and HRV parameters in nurses and non-healthcare participants.

Nurses represent the largest sector of the healthcare workforce, and it is established that they are faced with ongoing physical and mental demands that leave many continuously stressed. In turn, this chronic stress may affect cardiac autonomic activity, which can be non-invasively evaluated using heart rate variability (HRV). The association between neurocognitive parameters during acute stress situations and HRV has not been previously explored in nurses compared to non-nurses and such, our study aimed to assess these differences.

Assessing cardiovascular links to depression and anxiety in Australian professional drivers.

Train and truck drivers experience a myriad of unique occupational factors, which have been postulated to contribute to a high incidence of health conditions such as depression anxiety and cardiovascular disease amongst this population. The present study aimed to identify associations between heart rate variability and negative mood states such as depression and anxiety in a cohort of Australian truck and train drivers. 120 professional drivers (60 truck drivers, 60 train drivers) were recruited from the local community.

Stress Watch: The Use of Heart Rate and Heart Rate Variability to Detect Stress: A Pilot Study Using Smart Watch Wearables.

Stress is an inherent part of the normal human experience. Although, for the most part, this stress response is advantageous, chronic, heightened, or inappropriate stress responses can have deleterious effects on the human body. It has been suggested that individuals who experience repeated or prolonged stress exhibit blunted biological stress responses when compared to the general population.

Classifying Multi-Level Stress Responses From Brain Cortical EEG in Nurses and Non-Health Professionals Using Machine Learning Auto Encoder.

Objective: Mental stress is a major problem in our society and has become an area of interest for many psychiatric researchers. One primary research focus area is the identification of bio-markers that not only identify stress but also predict the conditions (or tasks) that cause stress. Electroencephalograms (EEGs) have been used for a long time to study and identify bio-markers.

Smart Devices and Wearable Technologies to Detect and Monitor Mental Health Conditions and Stress: A Systematic Review.

Recently, there has been an increase in the production of devices to monitor mental health and stress as means for expediting detection, and subsequent management of these conditions. The objective of this review is to identify and critically appraise the most recent smart devices and wearable technologies used to identify depression, anxiety, and stress, and the physiological process(es) linked to their detection. The MEDLINE, CINAHL, Cochrane Central, and PsycINFO databases were used to identify studies which utilised smart devices and wearable technologies to detect or monitor anxiety, depression, or stress.

Electrophysiological Brain-Cardiac Coupling in Train Drivers during Monotonous Driving.

Electrophysiological research has previously investigated monotony and the cardiac health of drivers independently; however, few studies have explored the association between the two. As such the present study aimed to examine the impact of monotonous train driving (indicated by electroencephalogram (EEG) activity) on an individual's cardiac health as measured by heart rate variability (HRV). Sixty-three train drivers participated in the present study, and were required to complete a monotonous train driver simulator task.

Associations Between Workplace Factors and Depression and Anxiety in Australian Heavy Vehicle Truck Drivers.

Introduction: A number of health issues have been identified as prevalent within the Australian heavy vehicle driving population. Mental illnesses, such as depression and anxiety, are among those disorders that have been regularly reported, however, the contributing factors are yet to be elucidated.

Methods: This study aimed to assess the associations between workplace factors such as years of employment, social interaction and shift length, with depressive and anxious symptomology in a cohort of 60 Australian heavy vehicle drivers.

Electroencephalographic prediction of global and domain specific cognitive performance of clinically active Australian Nurses.

Objective: To investigate the relationship between EEG activity and the global and domain specific cognitive performance of healthy nurses, and determine the predictive capabilities of these relationships.

Approach: Sixty-four nurses were recruited for the present study, and data from 61 were utilised in the present analysis. Global and domain specific cognitive performance of each participant was assessed psychometrically using the Mini-mental state exam and the Cognistat, and a 32-lead monopolar EEG was recorded during a resting baseline phase and an active phase in which participants completed the Stroop test.

Impact of acute stress on cortical electrical activity and cardiac autonomic coupling.

Assessment of heart rate variability (reflective of the cardiac autonomic nervous system) has shown some predictive power for stress. Further, the predictive power of the distinct patterns of cortical brain activity and - cardiac autonomic interactions are yet to be explored in the context of acute stress, as assessed by an electrocardiogram and electroencephalogram. The present study identified distinct patterns of neural-cardiac autonomic coupling during both resting and acute stress states.

The roles of dispositional coping style and social support in helping people with respiratory disease cope with a breathlessness crisis.

Aim: To explore the role of coping moderators in self-management of breathlessness crises by people with advanced respiratory disease.

Design: A secondary analysis of semi-structured interview data.

Methods: Interviews with patients who had advanced respiratory disease, chronic breathlessness and at least one experience where they considered presenting to Emergency but self-managed instead (a "near miss").

A systematic review of the current evidence regarding interventions for anxiety, PTSD, sleepiness and fatigue in the law enforcement workplace.

Law enforcement is inherently stressful, and police officers are particularly vulnerable to mental and physical disorders. As such, researchers are currently assessing intervention strategies that may combat or manage these psychological, physical and mental issues. To review most recent information regarding anxiety, PTSD, and sleepiness and fatigue and identify the interventions and treatments proposed to overcome work related stressors and associated mental illnesses inflicting law enforcement officers.

Prevalence and Risk Factors of Depression, Anxiety, and Stress in a Cohort of Australian Nurses.

Nurses remain at the forefront of patient care. However, their heavy workload as a career can leave them overworked and stressed. The demanding nature of the occupation exposes nurses to a higher risk of developing negative mental states such as depression, anxiety, and stress.

Peripheral Biomarker for Vascular Disorders.

Atherosclerosis is the underlying cause of most myocardial infarction (MI) and ischaemic stroke episodes. An early sign of atherosclerosis is hypertrophy of the arterial wall. It is known that increased intima media thickness (IMT) is a non-invasive marker of arterial wall alteration, which can easily be assessed in the carotid arteries by high-resolution B-mode ultrasound.

Electroencephalography as a predictor of self-report fatigue/sleepiness during monotonous driving in train drivers.

Objective: In this study, electroencephalography activity recorded during monotonous driving was investigated to examine the predictive capability of monopolar EEG analysis for fatigue/sleepiness in a cohort of train drivers.

Approach: Sixty-three train drivers participated in the study, where 32- lead monopolar EEG data was recorded during a monotonous driving task. Participant sleepiness was assessed using the Pittsburgh sleep quality index (PSQI), the Epworth sleepiness scale (ESS), the Karolinksa sleepiness scale (KSS) and the checklist of individual strength 20 (CIS20).

Heart Rate Variability as a Biomarker for Predicting Stroke, Post-stroke Complications and Functionality.

Background: Heart rate variability (HRV) is a non-invasive measure of the function of the autonomic nervous system, and its dynamic nature may provide a means through which stroke and its associated complications may be predicted, monitored, and managed.

Objective: The objective of this review is to identify and provide a critique on the most recent uses of HRV in stroke diagnosis/management and highlight areas that warrant further research.

Methods: The MEDLINE, CINAHL, and OVID MEDLINE databases were canvassed using a systematic search strategy, for articles investigating the use of HRV in stroke diagnosis and management.

Nattokinase: A Promising Alternative in Prevention and Treatment of Cardiovascular Diseases.

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of death in the world and our approach to the control and management of CVD mortality is limited. Nattokinase (NK), the most active ingredient of natto, possesses a variety of favourable cardiovascular effects and the consumption of Natto has been linked to a reduction in CVD mortality. Recent research has demonstrated that NK has potent fibrinolytic activity, antihypertensive, anti-atherosclerotic, and lipid-lowering, antiplatelet, and neuroprotective effects.

Repeated sleep-quality assessment and use of sleep-promoting interventions in ICU.

To describe sleep quality using repeated subjective assessment and the ongoing use of sleep-promoting interventions in intensive care. It is well known that the critically ill experience sleep disruption while receiving treatment in the intensive care unit. Both the measurement and promotion of sleep is challenging in the complex environment of intensive care unit.

The Effects of Twelve Weeks of Tai Chi Practice on Anxiety in Stressed But Healthy People Compared to Exercise and Wait-List Groups-A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Objective: This randomized controlled trial was undertaken to determine whether 12 weeks of Tai Chi (TC) practice can reduce anxiety in healthy but stressed people.

Method: Fifty participants were randomized into TC (n=17), exercise (n=17), and wait-list (WL) groups (n=16). Outcome measures used were State Trait Anxiety Inventory, Perceived Stress Scale 14 (PSS14), blood pressure and heart rate variability, visual analogue scale (VAS), and Short Form 36.

CRISPR-targeted genome editing of mesenchymal stem cell-derived therapies for type 1 diabetes: a path to clinical success?

Due to their ease of isolation, differentiation capabilities, and immunomodulatory properties, the therapeutic potential of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) has been assessed in numerous pre-clinical and clinical settings. Currently, whole pancreas or islet transplantation is the only cure for people with type 1 diabetes (T1D) and, due to the autoimmune nature of the disease, MSCs have been utilised either natively or transdifferentiated into insulin-producing cells (IPCs) as an alternative treatment. However, the initial success in pre-clinical animal models has not translated into successful clinical outcomes.