bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Low-back pain after lumbar discectomy for disc herniation: what can you tell your patient?
Authors: Iorio-Morin Christian , Fisher Charles G. , Abraham Edward , Nataraj Andrew , Attabib Najmedden , Paquet Jerome , Hogan Thomas Guy , Bailey Christopher S. , Ahn Henry , Johnson Michael , Richardson Eden A. , Manson Neil , Thomas Ken , Rampersaud Y. Raja , Hall Hamilton , Dea Nicolas
Published: September 2021

OBJECTIVE

Lumbar discectomy (LD) is frequently performed to alleviate radicular pain resulting from disc herniation. While this goal is achieved in most patients, improvement in low-back pain (LBP) has been reported inconsistently. The goal of this study was to characterize how LBP evolves following discectomy.

METHODS

The authors performed a retrospective analysis of prospectively collected patient data from the Canadian Spine Outcomes and Research Network (CSORN) registry. Patients who underwent surgery for lumbar disc herniation were eligible for inclusion. The primary outcome was a clinically significant reduction in the back pain numerical rating scale (BPNRS) assessed at 12 months. Binary logistic regression was used to model the relationship between the primary outcome and potential predictors.

RESULTS

There were 557 patients included in the analysis. The chief complaint was radiculopathy in 85%; 55% of patients underwent a minimally invasive procedure. BPNRS improved at 3 months by 48% and this improvement was sustained at all follow-ups. LBP and leg pain improvement were correlated. Clinically significant improvement in BPNRS at 12 months was reported by 64% of patients. Six factors predicted a lack of LBP improvement: female sex, low education level, marriage, not working, low expectations with regard to LBP improvement, and a low BPNRS preoperatively.

CONCLUSIONS

Clinically significant improvement in LBP is observed in the majority of patients after LD. These data should be used to better counsel patients and provide accurate expectations about back pain improvement.
Factors associated with seizures at initial presentation in pediatric patients with cerebral arteriovenous malformations
Authors: Garcia Joseph H. , Winkler Ethan A. , Morshed Ramin A. , Lu Alex , Ammanuel Simon G. , Saggi Satvir , Wang Elaina J. , Braunstein Steve , Fox Christine K. , Fullerton Heather J. , Kim Helen , Cooke Daniel L. , Hetts Steven W. , Lawton Michael T. , Abla Adib A. , Gupta Nalin
Published: September 2021

OBJECTIVE

Children with cerebral arteriovenous malformations (AVMs) can present with seizures, potentially increasing morbidity and impacting clinical management. However, the factors that lead to seizures as a presenting sign are not well defined. While AVM-related seizures have been described in case series, most studies have focused on adults and have included patients who developed seizures after an AVM rupture. To address this, the authors sought to analyze demographic and morphological characteristics of AVMs in a large cohort of children.

METHODS

The demographic, clinical, and AVM morphological characteristics of 189 pediatric patients from a single-center database were studied. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression models were used to test the effect of these characteristics on seizures as an initial presenting symptom in patients with unruptured brain AVMs.

RESULTS

Overall, 28 of 189 patients initially presented with seizures (14.8%). By univariate comparison, frontal lobe location (p = 0.02), larger AVM size (p = 0.003), older patient age (p = 0.04), and the Supplemented Spetzler-Martin (Supp-SM) grade (0.0006) were associated with seizure presentation. Multivariate analysis confirmed an independent effect of frontal lobe AVM location and higher Supp-SM grade. All patients presenting with seizures had AVMs in the cortex or subcortical white matter.

CONCLUSIONS

While children and adults share some risk factors for seizure presentation, their risk factor profiles do not entirely overlap. Pediatric patients with cortical AVMs in the frontal lobe were more likely to present with seizures. Additionally, the Supp-SM grade was highly associated with seizure presentation. Future clinical research should focus on the effect of therapeutic interventions targeting AVMs on seizure control in these patients.
Effects of hypertonic saline on intracranial pressure and cerebral autoregulation in pediatric traumatic brain injury
Authors: Zipfel Julian , Engel Juliane , Hockel Konstantin , Heimberg Ellen , Schuhmann Martin U. , Neunhoeffer Felix
Published: September 2021

OBJECTIVE

Hypertonic saline (HTS) is commonly used in children to lower intracranial pressure (ICP) after severe traumatic brain injury (sTBI). While ICP and cerebral perfusion pressure (CPP) correlate moderately to TBI outcome, indices of cerebrovascular autoregulation enhance the correlation of neuromonitoring data to neurological outcome. In this study, the authors sought to investigate the effect of HTS administration on ICP, CPP, and autoregulation in pediatric patients with sTBI.

METHODS

Twenty-eight pediatric patients with sTBI who were intubated and sedated were included. Blood pressure and ICP were actively managed according to the autoregulation index PRx (pressure relativity index to determine and maintain an optimal CPP [CPPopt]). In cases in which ICP was continuously > 20 mm Hg despite all other measures to decrease it, an infusion of 3% HTS was administered. The monitoring data of the first 6 hours after HTS administration were analyzed. The Glasgow Outcome Scale (GOS) score at the 3-month follow-up was used as the primary outcome measure, and patients were dichotomized into favorable (GOS score 4 or 5) and unfavorable (GOS score 1–3) groups.

RESULTS

The mean dose of HTS was 40 ml 3% NaCl. No significant difference in ICP and PRx was seen between groups at the HTS administration. ICP was lowered significantly in all children, with the effect lasting as long as 6 hours. The lowering of ICP was significantly greater and longer in children with a favorable outcome (p < 0.001); only this group showed significant improvement of autoregulatory capacity (p = 0.048). A newly established HTS response index clearly separated the outcome groups.

CONCLUSIONS

HTS significantly lowered ICP in all children after sTBI. This effect was significantly greater and longer-lasting in children with a favorable outcome. Moreover, HTS administration restored disturbed autoregulation only in the favorable outcome group. This highlights the role of a “rescuable” autoregulation regarding outcome, which might be a possible indicator of injury severity. The effect of HTS on autoregulation and other possible mechanisms should be further investigated.
Risk factors for unchanged ventricles during pediatric shunt malfunction
Authors: Reynolds Rebecca A. , Ahluwalia Ranbir , Krishnan Vishal , Kelly Katherine A. , Lee Jaclyn , Waldrop Raymond P. , Guidry Bradley , Hengartner Astrid C. , McCroskey Justin , Arynchyna Anastasia , Staulcup Susan , Chen Heidi , Hankinson Todd C. , Rocque Brandon G. , Shannon Chevis N. , Naftel Robert
Published: September 2021

OBJECTIVE

Children whose ventricles do not change during shunt malfunction present a diagnostic dilemma. This study was performed to identify risk factors for unchanged ventricular size at shunt malfunction.

METHODS

This retrospective 1:1 age-matched case-control study identified children with shunted hydrocephalus who underwent shunt revision with intraoperative evidence of malfunction at one of the three participating institutions from 1997 to 2019. Cases were defined as patients with a change of < 0.05 in the frontal–occipital horn ratio (FOR) between malfunction and baseline, and controls included patients with FOR changes ≥ 0.05. The presence of infection, abdominal pseudocyst, pseudomeningocele, or wound drainage and lack of baseline cranial imaging at the time of malfunction warranted exclusion.

RESULTS

Of 450 included patients, 60% were male, 73% were Caucasian, and 67% had an occipital shunt. The median age was 4.3 (IQR 0.97–9.21) years at malfunction. On univariable analysis, unchanged ventricles at malfunction were associated with a frontal shunt (41% vs 28%, p < 0.001), programmable valve (17% vs 9%, p = 0.011), nonsiphoning shunt (85% vs 66%, p < 0.001), larger baseline FOR (0.44 ± 0.12 vs 0.38 ± 0.11, p < 0.001), no prior shunt infection (87% vs 76%, p = 0.003), and no prior shunt revisions (68% vs 52%, p < 0.001). On multivariable analysis with collinear variables removed, patients with a frontal shunt (OR 1.67, 95% CI 1.08–2.70, p = 0.037), programmable valve (OR 2.63, 95% CI 1.32–5.26, p = 0.007), nonsiphoning shunt at malfunction (OR 2.76, 95% CI 1.63–4.67, p < 0.001), larger baseline FOR (OR 3.13, 95% CI 2.21–4.43, p < 0.001), and no prior shunt infection (OR 2.34, 95% CI 1.27–4.30, p = 0.007) were more likely to have unchanged ventricles at malfunction.

CONCLUSIONS

In a multicenter cohort of children with shunt malfunction, those with a frontal shunt, programmable valve, nonsiphoning shunt, baseline large ventricles, and no prior shunt infection were more likely than others to have unchanged ventricles at shunt failure.
Analisa Kerusakan dan Anggaran Perbaikan Jalan Menggunakan Metode Pavement Condition Index (PCI)
Authors: Budiarnaya Putu , Ariawan I Putu , Wismantara I Gusti Ngurah Nyoman , Puspasari I Gusti Putu
Published: September 2021

Ruas Jalan Raya Padangkerta-Budakeling berada di Wilayah Kecamatan Karangasem. Ruas jalan sepanjang STA 0+000 sampai 1+500 ini merupakan akses utama galian C di Kabupaten Karangasem, sehingga mayoritas angkutan yang melalui jalur ini adalah truk. Truk bermuatan berat ini menyebabkan terjadi banyak kerusakan disepanjang ruas. Tujuan penelitian adalah untuk mengetahui jenis kerusakan perkerasan jalan serta cara penanganannya, sehingga diketahui anggaran yang dibutuhkan untuk memperbaiki. Analisis data menggunakan metode Pavement Condition Index (PCI). Nilai rata-rata PCI dari 15 segmen yang ditinjau adalah 44,48%, artinya kerusakan ruas Jalan Raya Padangkerta-Budakeling termasuk dalam kategori sedang (fair). Langkah penanganan yang direkomendasikan pada ruas Jalan Raya Padangkerta-Budakeling dari STA 0+000 sampai 0+1500 adalah sesuai dengan klasifikasi kerusakan per-segmen berdasarkan nilai PCI. Meliputi: 1) Rekonstruksi sepanjang 400 m, untuk nilai PCI 0-30%; 2) Tambalan sepanjang 800 m dan lapis tambah (overlay) sepanjang 1.100m, untuk nilai PCI 30-80%; dan 3) Pemeliharaan Rutin, untuk nilai PCI 80-100%. Anggaran biaya yang dibutuhkan untuk perbaikan ruas Jalan Raya Padangkerta-Budakeling pada STA 0+000 sampai 1+500 adalah sebesar Rp 1.169.905.580.
The Left in Peru: A Long Way to the Top
Authors: Vorotnikova Tatiana
Published: September 2021

The article examines the historical evolution of the left movement in Peru. Due to specific conditions, Peruvian left could not manage to achieve stable political positions in the government for long time. The causes of this phenomena and new trends in the political processes in the Andean state stipulate the relevance of this study. In 2021, the candidate from the left party Pedro Castillo has won the presidential elections. The research proves that in the context of weakness of a political tradition and collapse of ideological solidarity, the implementation of the left-wing project will face extreme difficulties.
Japhet in the Tents of Shem: Rabbinic Hermeneutics and Modern Literary Theory
Authors: Belarev Aleksandr
Published: September 2021

The article is devoted to the extremely fruitful “meeting&8j1; of modern literary theory with traditional Jewish hermeneutics that took place in American literary criticism in the 1980s and 1990s. American poststructuralists sought not only to read Jewish sources using the optics of a new theory of reading based on the ideas of J. Derrida and R. Barthes, but also to see in rabbinic hermeneutics an actual source of models, images and terms for modern text theory. An analysis of the approaches of S. Handelman, H. Bloom, D. Boyarin shows that for them the terms of Kabbalah, the Midrash technique, and the rabbinic notion of the role of the interpreter, of tradition and innovation, stabilization and deformation of the canon have become tools for solving problems of modern literary theory. For these authors, the problem of continuing tradition in a situation of breaking with tradition and the problem of the theoretician's situation on the border of two worlds came to the fore. We can talk about the aspiration in poststructuralism to a triple reading of traditional Jewish texts: both as sacred texts, as objects of scientific study and as “modern” theoretical texts. In turn, the texts of modern theory are read by American poststructuralists as a continuation of an ancient tradition.
On the Specifics of Verbal Prefixation in Modern Russian Dialects
Authors: Nefedova Elena A.
Published: September 2021

The article focuses on the functioning of two-prefixed verbs, in which the second prefix element is the prefix za- (for-). The productivity of secondary verb prefixation in the dialects of the Arkhangelsk region is confirmed, word-forming models are identified, the effect of which leads to a complication of the ways of forming perfect verbs, to the appearance of synonymous pairs of perfect verbs (cover and cover), as well as to the formation of synonymous specific pairs of verbs (cover – cover and cover – cover). The factors contributing to the productivity of verbal prefixation are determined, and its connection with the communicative features of dialect speech is established.
Not-for-children reading: markers of adult sci-fi in Sergei lukyanenko’s writings
Authors:   Independent researcher, Helsinki, Chupasov Vadim
Published: September 2021

New forms of science fiction had emerged in several post-Soviet countries in years 1990–2000. New science fiction inherits and transforms traditions and conventions of Soviet “science fiction” (nauchnaya fantastica). The emergence of market relations in the “field of literature” provoked an identity crisis, also initiating various attempts to redefine the boundaries between science fiction and previously closely related discourses, including children’s literature. This article, using several works by S. Lukyanenko as an example, examines how this rhetorical strategy has been implemented within science fiction texts. At the level of motifs and themes, references to sexuality and violence (especially in child-adult relations), tabooed in children’s literature, play a significant part in categorizing Lukyanenko’s novels as adult literature. In the system of typical of SF generic conventions this presents the depicted world as the harsh reality, thus creating a realistic effect. Markers of the second type point to historical dimensions of the fictional world, and this technique invokes conventions of “serious” (i.e. adult) speculative fiction. Also the references to iconic science fiction texts show that the novels are intended for adults and not for children. In conclusion the article raises the issue of children’s literature as being a specific construct and being the neglected Other within science fiction.
S. P. Shevyrev’s Poems for сhildren (1857–1858)
Authors:   Institute of Russian Literature (Pushkin House) of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Berezkina Svetlana
Published: September 2021

The article is concerned with the analysis of S. P. Shevyrev’s poems for children that had been written in 1857–1858. These years were hard for the poet; the majority of magazines were rejecting his works. The reason for this was S. P. Shevyrev’s run-in with gr. V. A. Bobrinsky (cousin of Alexander II), which turned into a fist-fight. In 1857–1858 his poems regularly appeared only in two magazines: “Zvezdochka” and “Luchi, a magazine for girls”, published by A. O. Ishimova for the schoolgirls of noble boarding schools. The article considers two themes in S. P. Shevyrev’s poems for children. He was writing religious poems for the children who were thoroughly familiar with the Bible and that allowed him to keep complexity of his plots. His second theme was the working life of Russian peasantry, which he depicted with exceptional love. S. P. Shevyrev in his poems always merges deep piety of Russian peasants and their hard labors. The article offers the poet’s unpublished poem about the fate of a poor orphan boy.
A tale? A lie? A lesson? On some quasi-literary debates about the (lack of) usefulness of a genre
Authors:   Princeton University, Oushakine Serguei
Published: September 2021

During the last two decades, a series of publications drew scholars’ attention to the institutional and ideological context in which the politicization of the fantastic, animistic, and magical took place in the USSR in the late 1920s. In these narratives, «the fight against chukovshchina» is often used as an epitome for the «fight against skazka», which was orchestrated in 1928 by ignorant officials from the Narkompros and aimed at a small group of authors lead by Kornei Chukovsky. Important as it was, «the fight against chukovshchina» was a small and, perhaps, the least intellectually interesting aspect of the ongoing discussions. Debates about skazka did not start in 1928. Nor were they purely Soviet. Similar themes, arguments, and concerns could be easily found in the polemical exchanges in literary and pedagogical periodicals from the 1860s onwards. Key ideas and approaches that were articulated in the 1920s-1930s by and large repeated and repurposed the ideas that took shape long before the Bolshevik revolution. Expanding on the existing scholarship, this introduction to the archival collection «Debating Fairy-Tales» takes the scholarship on skazka beyond the institutional and ideological analysis in order to look closer at the intellectual context that shaped early soviet debates on the limits and function of the fantastic imagination. As the introduction suggests, when read this way, the debates on skazka show how this particular genre was deployed as a platform that enabled a series of fascinating paradigmatic shifts in understanding the links between national literature, on one hand, and education and imagination, on the other. By locating the early soviet debates on skazka within a much larger temporal frame, we could destabilize the monopoly of «the literary studies of politics» in order to see how skazka was conceptualized and problematized within radically different intellectual traditions — from the genetic and the functionalist to the morphological and the rhetorical. Such a diachronic approach makes visible how the original concern of the critics with the problem of skazka’s own origin was replaced by their attempts to figure out skazka’s functional purpose, it’s own internal structure, and, finally, the forms and types of skazka’s impact on it’s readers.
Traditional Chinese Mind-Body Exercise Baduanjin Modulate Gray Matter and Cognitive Function in Older Adults with Mild Cognitive Impairment: A Brain Imaging Study
Authors: Zheng Guohua , Ye Bingzhao , Xia Rui , Qiu Pingting , Li Moyi , Zheng Yuhui , Xiong Zhenyu
Published: September 2021

Background: Previous studies found traditional Chinese mind-body exercise Baduanjin could modulate cognition of community older adults. Objective: This study aims to investigate the effect of 6 months of Baduanjin exercise on brain structure and cognitive function in older adults with mild cognitive impairment (MCI). Methods: The MCI older adults were randomly assigned into either Baduanjin training, brisk walking training or usual physical activity control group. Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) and Wechsler Memory Scale-Chinese Revised (WMS-CR) were applied to measure gray matter volume (GMV), global cognitive ability and memory at baseline and end of intervention. Results: Compared to usual physical activity, Baduanjin exercise significantly improved MoCA, WMS-CR scores, WMS-MQ, and mental control and comprehension memory subscores of the WMS-CR; significantly increased the GMV in the temporal gyrus, frontal gyrus, parietal gyrus, medial occipital gyrus, cingulate gyrus and angular gyrus after 6 months of intervention. Compared to brisk walking, Baduanjin significantly improved MoCA scores and picture reproduction subscores of memory, and significantly increased the GMV in the right frontal gyrus, precentral gyrus, occipital gyrus. Furthermore, the increased GMV in the right medial temporal gyrus was significantly associated with improvement in the MoCA scores. Conclusion: The present study suggested that regular Baduanjin training could have a positive effect in increasing brain gray matter and improving cognitive function in older adults with MCI.
Forced ε-Greedy, an Expansion to the ε-Greedy Action Selection Method
Authors: Angelopoulos George , Metafas Dimitris
Published: September 2021

Reinforcement Learning methods such as Q Learning, make use of action selection methods, in order to train an agent to perform a task. As the complexity of the task grows, so does the time required to train the agent. In this paper Q Learning is applied onto the board game Dominion, and Forced ε-greedy, an expansion to the ε-greedy action selection method is introduced. As shown in this paper the Forced ε-greedy method achieves to accelerate the training process and optimize its results, especially as the complexity of the task grows.
Creating a Metamodel for Predicting Learners’ Satisfaction by Utilizing an Educational Information System During COVID-19 Pandemic
Authors: Kanetaki Zoe , Stergiou Constantinos , Bekas Georgios , Troussas Christos , Sgouropoulou Cleo
Published: September 2021

Faced with the disruption generated by the COVID-19 pandemic, the advent of enforced and exclusive online learning presented a challenging opportunity for researchers worldwide, to quickly adapt curricula to this new reality and gather electronic data by tracking students’ satisfaction after attending online modules. Many researchers have looked into the subject of student satisfaction to discover if there is a link between personal satisfaction and academic achievement. Using a set of data, filtered out of a statistical analysis applied on an online survey, with 129 variables, this study investigates students’ satisfaction prediction in a first-semester Mechanical Engineering CAD module combined with the evaluation and the effectiveness of specific curriculum reforms. A hybrid machine learning model that has been created, initially consists of a Generalized Linear Model (GLAR), based on critical variables that have been filtered out after a correlation analysis. Its fitting errors are utilized as an extra predictor, that is used as an input to an artificial neural network. The model has been trained using as a basis the 70% of the population (consisting of 165 observations) to predict the satisfaction of the remaining 30%. After several trials and gradual improvement, the metamodel’s architecture is produced. The trained hybrid model’s final form had a coefficient of determination equal to 1 (R = 1). This indicates that the data fitting method was successful in linking the independent variables with the dependent variable 100 percent of the time (satisfaction prediction).
Data Mining for Improving Online Higher Education Amidst COVID-19 Pandemic: A Case Study in the Assessment of Engineering Students
Authors: Kanetaki Zoe , Stergiou Constantinos , Bekas Georgios , Troussas Christos , Sgouropoulou Cleo
Published: September 2021

Instructional materials, internet accessibility, student involvement and communication have always been integral characteristics of e-learning. During the transition from face-to-face to COVID-19 new online learning environments, the lectures and laboratories at universities have taken place either synchronously (using platforms, like MS Teams) or asynchronously (using platforms, like Moodle). In this study, a case study of a Greek university on the online assessment of learners is presented. As a testbed of this research, MS Teams was employed and tested as being a Learning Management System for evaluating a single platform use in order to avoid disruption of the educational procedure with concurrent LMS operations during the pandemic. A statistical analysis including a correlation analysis and a reliability analysis has been used to mine and filter data from online questionnaires. 37 variables were found to have a significant impact on the testing of tasks’ assignment into a single platform that was used at the same time for synchronous lectures. The calculation of Cronbach’s Alpha coefficient indicated that 89% of the survey questions have been found to be internally consistent and reliable variables and sampling adequacy measure (Bartlett’s test) was determined to be good at 0.816. Two clusters of students have been differentiated based on the parameters of their diligence, communication abilities and level of knowledge embedding. A hierarchical cluster analysis has been performed extracting a dendrogram indicating 2 large clusters in the upper branch, three clusters in the lower branch and an ensuing lower branch containing five clusters.
Visual Analytics in Process Mining for Supporting Business Process Improvement
Authors: Kaouni Antonia , Theodoropoulou Georgia , Bousdekis Alexandros , Voulodimos Athanasios , Miaoulis Georgios
Published: September 2021

The increasing amounts of data have affected conceptual modeling as a research field. In this context, process mining involves a set of techniques aimed at extracting a process schema from an event log generated during process execution. While automatic algorithms for process mining and analysis are needed to filter out irrelevant data and to produce preliminary results, visual inspection, domain knowledge, human judgment and creativity are needed for proper interpretation of the results. Moreover, a process discovery on an event log usually results in complicated process models not easily comprehensible by the business user. To this end, visual analytics has the potential to enhance process mining towards the direction of explainability, interpretability and trustworthiness in order to better support human decisions. In this paper we propose an approach for identifying bottlenecks in business processes by analyzing event logs and visualizing the results. In this way, we exploit visual analytics in the process mining context in order to provide explainable and interpretable analytics results for business processes without exposing to the user complex process models that are not easily comprehensible. The proposed approach was applied to a manufacturing business process and the results show that visual analytics in the context of process mining is capable of identifying bottlenecks and other performance-related issues and exposing them to the business user in an intuitive and non-intrusive way.
Altered Functional Connectivity Patterns of Parietal Subregions Contribute to Cognitive Dysfunction in Patients with White Matter Hyperintensities
Authors: Wei Qiang , Cao Shanshan , Ji Yang , Zhang Jun , Chen Chen , Wang Xiaojing , Tian Yanghua , Qiu Bensheng , Wang Kai
Published: September 2021

Background: The white matter hyperintensities (WMHs) are considered as one of the core neuroimaging findings of cerebral small vessel disease and independently associated with cognitive deficit. The parietal lobe is a heterogeneous area containing many subregions and play an important role in the processes of neurocognition. Objective: To explore the relationship between parietal subregions alterations and cognitive impairments in WHMs. Methods: Resting-state functional connectivity (rs-FC) analyses of parietal subregions were performed in 104 right-handed WMHs patients divided into mild (n = 39), moderate (n = 37), and severe WMHs (n = 28) groups according to the Fazekas scale and 36 healthy controls. Parietal subregions were defined using tractographic Human Brainnetome Atlas and included five subregions for superior parietal lobe, six subregions for inferior parietal lobe (IPL), and three subregions for precuneus. All participants underwent a neuropsychological test battery to evaluate emotional and general cognitive functions. Results: Differences existed between the rs-FC strength of IPL_R_6_2 with the left anterior cingulate gyrus, IPL_R_6_3 with the right dorsolateral superior frontal gyrus, and the IPL_R_6_5 with the left anterior cingulate gyrus. The connectivity strength between IPL_R_6_3 and the left anterior cingulate gyrus were correlated with AVLT-immediate and AVLT-recognition test in WMHs. Conclusion: We explored the roles of parietal subregions in WMHs using rs-FC. The functional connectivity of parietal subregions with the cortex regions showed significant differences between the patients with WMHs and healthy controls which may be associated with cognitive deficits in WMHs.
Bile Acids as Key Modulators of the Brain-Gut-Microbiota Axis in Alzheimer’s Disease
Authors: Mulak Agata
Published: September 2021

Recently, the concept of the brain-gut-microbiota (BGM) axis disturbances in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) has been receiving growing attention. At the same time, accumulating data revealing complex interplay between bile acids (BAs), gut microbiota, and host metabolism have shed new light on a potential impact of BAs on the BGM axis. The crosstalk between BAs and gut microbiota is based on reciprocal interactions since microbiota determines BA metabolism, while BAs affect gut microbiota composition. Secondary BAs as microbe-derived neuroactive molecules may affect each of three main routes through which interactions within the BGM axis occur including neural, immune, and neuroendocrine pathways. BAs participate in the regulation of multiple gut-derived molecule release since their receptors are expressed on various cells. The presence of BAs and their receptors in the brain implies a direct effect of BAs on the regulation of neurological functions. Experimental and clinical data confirm that disturbances in BA signaling are present in the course of AD. Disturbed ratio of primary to secondary BAs as well as alterations in BA concertation in serum and brain samples have been reported. An age-related shift in the gut microbiota composition associated with its decreased diversity and stability observed in AD patients may significantly affect BA metabolism and signaling. Given recent evidence on BA neuroprotective and anti-inflammatory effects, new therapeutic targets have been explored including gut microbiota modulation by probiotics and dietary interventions, ursodeoxycholic acid supplementation, and use of BA receptor agonists.
Qualitative Evaluation Informs Understanding of Motor Cognition and Therapies in Older Adults with Mild Cognitive Impairment
Authors: Lazris David , Perkins Molly M. , Bay Allison A. , Hackney Madeleine E.
Published: September 2021

Background: 10%to 20%of Americans aged 65 and older have mild cognitive impairment (MCI) with 10%progressing to Alzheimer’s disease (AD) each year. Underserved groups, including African Americans (AAs), are among the most vulnerable to MCI and AD. Although evidence continues to amass, the benefits of exercise and movement for AD is still understudied in AD. Objective: Understanding the attitudes, perceptions, and beliefs about motor-cognitive integration and examining the physical activity of a sample of predominantly Black women community members with self-reported memory problems will allow improved recruitment and refinement of multimodal interventions designed to improve motor-cognitive and cognitive function. Methods: We conducted focus groups with older adults who reported subjective memory complaints (n = 15; Black: n = 12, White: n = 3, mean age 71.7±5.8). Results: Findings from thematic analysis showed most participants knew of benefits of exercise. However, most participants reported not getting adequate exercise due to factors such as pain, increased responsibilities, and fear of injury. Despite barriers, participants expressed enthusiasm for multimodal interventions designed to target body and brain health and provided several suggestions to improve or enhance the proposed interventions. Conclusion: Results provide useful insights regarding improving participation among historically under-represented groups in clinical movement-based research. Participants’ discussion focused primarily on the way motor-cognitive integration prevents falls, maintains memory, and provides a social benefit. The reported perceived benefits and limitations of exercise, as this population understands it, can help researchers and physicians better engage the community for lifestyle changes that will support greater motor-cognitive health.
Influence of Cognitive Impairment on Rehabilitation Received and Its Mediating Effect on Functional Recovery
Authors: Dutzi Ilona , Schwenk Michael , Kirchner Marietta , Jooss Eva , Bauer Jürgen M. , Hauer Klaus
Published: September 2021

Background: Cognitive impairment (CI) has been reported to negatively impact rehabilitation outcomes. Knowledge about differences in rehabilitation received in dependence of CI as a potential mediating factor is limited. Objective: To analyze whether CI affects amount and frequency of rehabilitation received and if associations between CI and rehabilitation outcome are mediated by the provided amount of therapy. Methods: Observational cohort study in ward-based geriatric rehabilitation consecutively including 373 patients (mean age 82.0±6.69 years, mean MMSE 23.66±5.31). Outcome measures were amount, frequency, and type of multi-professional therapy sessions and rehabilitation outcome assessed with the Barthel Index (BI). Cognitive status was measured with the Mini-Mental-State Examination (MMSE) classifying three patient subgroups according to cognitive status. Results: Patients with more severe CI received least total therapy hours (TTH) (MMSE < 17, 13.67±6.58 versus MMSE 17–26, 16.12±7.19 and MMSE > 26, 17.79±8.88 h, p = 0.014) and were less often included in occupational therapy (MMSE < 17, 48.9%versus MMSE 17–26, 65.5%and MMSE > 26, 71.4%, p = 0.019) and group-based physiotherapy (MMSE < 17, 73.3%versus MMSE 17–26, 88.5%and MMSE > 26, 81.2%, p = 0.027). Regression models showed that CI negatively impacted TTH (β= 0.24, p = 0.003) and rehabilitation outcome (β= 0.41, p = 0.008). In the mediation model, TTH accounted for 23.18%(p < 0.001) of the relationship between CI and rehabilitation outcome. Conclusion: Cognitive impairment negatively impacted rehabilitation received. The lower TTH partly mediated the negative association between CI and rehabilitation outcome. Future research should identify specific barriers to therapy provision and optimal length, intensity, and dosage of rehabilitation programs to optimize rehabilitation outcomes in CI.
Longitudinal Body Weight Change, Visit-To-Visit Body Weight Fluctuation, and Cognitive Decline Among Older Adults
Authors: Lan Yu-Tung , Blacker Deborah , Yuan Changzheng , Chibnik Lori B. , Hofman Albert , Ma Yuan
Published: September 2021

Background: The evidence regarding dementia and late-life weight change is inconsistent, and data on body weight fluctuation and dementia are limited. Objective: To test the hypothesis that weight loss and substantial weight fluctuation predict cognitive decline independent of body weight and traditional risk factors of dementia. Methods: This study utilized longitudinal data from the National Alzheimer’s Coordinating Center for 10,639 stroke- and dementia-free older adults (60.9%female, mean age 71.6 years, median follow-up 5.5 years). Trends in weight change and weight fluctuation were estimated for each individual by regressing repeated body weight measurements on time. Cognitive decline was examined as diagnostic progression from normal to mild cognitive impairment (MCI) or dementia and from MCI to dementia. Results: Compared to participants with stable weight, those with weight loss had increased odds of diagnostic progression (adjusted OR = 1.35, 95%CI [1.21, 1.51]). Also, large weight fluctuation was associated with increased odds of diagnostic progression (OR comparing the extreme quartiles = 1.20, 95%CI [1.04, 1.39]) after adjusting for traditional risk factors for dementia and body weight change. The magnitude of the association appeared larger among those older than 80 and those with 3 or more cardiometabolic risk factors at baseline (both p for interaction < 0.05). Conclusion: Weight loss and substantial weight fluctuation during late-life were associated with increased odds of cognitive decline independent of body weight and traditional risk factors of dementia. Our results suggested the linkage between late-life body weight instability and cognitive decline especially among those with greater age or higher cardiometabolic risk.
The NLRP3 Inflammasome in the Pathogenesis and Treatment of Alzheimer’s Disease
Authors: Golzari-Sorkheh Mahdieh , Brown Carla E. , Weaver Donald F. , Reed Mark A.
Published: September 2021

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is the most common form of dementia. Although AD is one of the most socioeconomically devastating diseases confronting humanity, no “curative” disease modifying drug has been identified. Recent decades have witnessed repeated failures of drug trials and have called into question the utility of the amyloid hypothesis approach to AD therapeutics design. Accordingly, new neurochemical processes are being evaluated and explored as sources of alternative druggable targets. Among these newly identified targets, neuroinflammation is emerging as a front-runner, and within the realm of neuroinflammation, the inflammasome, particularly the NLRP3 complex, is garnering focussed attention. This review summarizes current data and approaches to understanding the role of the NLRP3 inflammasome in neuroinflammation and AD, and systematically identifies and evaluates multiple targets within the NLRP3 inflammasome cascade as putative drug targets.
A Novel Heterozygous Missense Variant in the CIAO1 Gene in a Family with Alzheimer’s Disease: The Val67Ile Variant Promotes the Interaction of CIAO1 and Amyloid-β Protein Precursor
Authors: Nan Haitian , Kim Yeon-Jeong , Tsuchiya Mai , Fukao Toko , Hara Noriko , Hagihara Atsushi , Nishioka Kenya , Hattori Nobutaka , Hara Norikazu , Ikeuchi Takeshi , Ohtsuka Toshihisa , Takiyama Yoshihisa
Published: September 2021

Familial dementia is a rare inherited disease involving progressive impairment of memory, thinking, and behavior. We report a novel heterozygous pathogenic variant (c.199G > A, p.Val67Ile) in the CIAO1 gene that appears to be co-segregated with Alzheimer’s disease in a Japanese family. Biochemical analysis of CIAO1 protein revealed that the variant increases the interaction of CIAO1 with immature amyloid-β protein precursor (AβPP), but not mature or soluble AβPP, indicating plausible CIAO1 involvement in AβPP processing. Our study indicates that a heterozygous variant in the CIAO1 gene may be closely related to autosomal dominant familial dementia.
A Longitudinal Study of Functional Unmet Need Among People with Dementia
Authors: Read Sanna , Hu Bo , Wittenberg Raphael , Brimblecombe Nicola , Robinson Louise , Banerjee Sube
Published: September 2021

Background: Understanding the changes of unmet need in dementia may enable effective targeting of help and allow people to stay in their homes longer. Objective: We investigated changes in unmet need and functioning over a 4-year period and the role of socio-demographic factors in these changes among people with dementia. Methods: 234 community-dwelling people with dementia at baseline were studied in three consecutive waves (four years) of the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing (ELSA). Unmet needs (self/informant-reported limitations for which no help was received) and functional limitations (self/informant-reported difficulties in activities/instrumental activities of daily living and mobility) were modelled with latent growth curves. Sex, age, partnership, and socioeconomic status at baseline were used as predictors. Admission to a care home was an additional outcome. Results: Unmet needs increased over time, especially among those who initially had more functional limitations. Unmet needs contributed to faster decline in functional capability, except among those with many limitations initially. The major driver of increased unmet needs was not having a partner (direct effect). Age, sex, and wealth contributed indirectly via the initial level of functional limitations and/or unmet need. Those with several functional limitations but few unmet needs were most likely to move to a care home. Conclusion: Unmet need increases over time in those with dementia with mitigating effects of having a partner and initial levels of functioning. Meeting needs at early stages of dementia, especially for those living alone and when functional limitations are low may help slow functional decline.
The Alzheimer–E. coli Axis: What Can We Learn from an Electronic Health Record Platform
Authors: Katz Joseph , Gao Hanzhi
Published: September 2021

Background: Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disease with unclear etiology. Recent studies have demonstrated a potential role for gut microbiome. There is, however, a significant dearth in epidemiological correlation between gut bacteria and AD. Objective: To investigate the association between Escherichia coli (E. coli) infection and AD. Methods: Counts of patients with ICD 10 diagnoses of AD, E. coli, urinary tract infection, and comorbidities were retrieved from the electronic health records at the University of Florida Health Center. Results: The relative risk for AD with a previous event of E. coli was 5.17 (95%CI 4.0786 to 6.5446, p < 0.0001). In the unadjusted association, patients with E. coli infection had odds ratio (OR) of 20.83 to have AD (95%CI, 17.7–24.34; p < 0.0001); after adjusting for gender (OR = 12.71; 95%CI, 10.82–14.83; p < 0.0001), race (OR = 13.97; 95%CI, 11.84–16.36; p < 0.0001), age group (OR = 11.51; 95%CI, 9.73–13.54; p < 0.0001), diabetes (OR = 9.23; 95%CI, 7.79–10.87; p < 0.0001), stroke (OR = 5.31; 95%CI, 4.47–6.28; p < 0.0001), and hypertension (OR = 4.55; 95%CI, 3.86–5.32; p < 0.0001). Conclusion: These results should be taken cautiously. This retrospective cross-sectional study cannot infer causality and had used aggregate data that did not allow simultaneous adjustments of covariates. Future studies are warranted to investigate the link between gut bacteria and AD.
Effects of New Galantamine Derivatives in a Scopolamine Model of Dementia in Mice
Authors: Lazarova Maria , Tancheva Lyubka , Alexandrova Albena , Tsvetanova Elina , Georgieva Almira , Stefanova Miroslava , Tsekova Daniela , Vezenkov Lyubomir , Kalfin Reni , Uzunova Diamara , Petkova-Kirova Polina
Published: September 2021

Alzheimer’s disease (AD), a progressive neurodegenerative disorder characterized by memory loss and cognitive functions decline, is a leading cause for dementia and currently ranked as the sixth foremost cause of death. As of present, treatment of AD is symptomatic without convincing therapeutic benefits and new, effective, therapeutic agents are pursued. Due to massive loss of cholinergic neurons and decreased acetylcholine levels, cholinesterase inhibitors like galantamine, remain the backbone of pharmacological treatment of the disease. In the present study, using behavioral and biochemical methods, four newly synthesized galantamine derivatives, Gal 34, Gal 43, Gal 44, and Gal 46, were evaluated for a beneficial effect in a scopolamine model of dementia in mice. They were designed to have all the advantages of galantamine and additionally to inhibit β-secretase and exert favorable effects on plasma lipids. Behavioral tests included step-through inhibitory avoidance, T-maze, and the hole-board test, whereas biochemical evaluations involved assessment of acetylcholinesterase activity, brain monoamines levels, lipid peroxidation, catalase, glutathione peroxidase, and superoxide dismutase activities along with measurement of total glutathione. Results show that Gal 43, Gal 44, and, in particular, Gal 46 are especially effective in improving both short- and long-term memory and in the case of Gal 46 having a significant effect on exploratory activity as well. Although Gal 34 did not show behavioral effects as convincing as those of the other three galantamine derivatives, it demonstrated persuasive antioxidant and restorative capacities, making all four galantamine derivatives promising AD treatment agents and prompting further research, especially that in many of our studies they performed better than galantamine.
Forecasting carbon emissions using a multi-variable GM (1,N) model based on linear time-varying parameters
Authors: Xiong Pingping , Xiao Lushuang , Liu Yuchun , Yang Zhuo , Zhou Yifan , Cao Shuren
Published: September 2021

Faced with serious growing global warming problem, it is important to predict carbon emissions. As there are a lot of factors affecting carbon emissions, a novel multi-variable grey model (GM(1,N) model) based on linear time-varying parameters discrete grey model (TDGM(1,N)) has been established. In this model, linear time-varying function is introduced into the traditional model, and dynamic optimization of fixed parameters which can only be used for static analysis is carried out. In order to prove the applicability and effectiveness of the model, this paper compared the model with the traditional model and simulated the carbon emissions of Anhui Province from 2005 to 2015. Carbon emissions in the next two years are also predicted. The results show that the TDGM(1,N) model has better simulation effect and higher prediction accuracy than the traditional GM(1,N) model and the multiple regression model(MRM) in practical application of carbon emissions prediction. In addition, the novel model of this paper is also used to predict the carbon emissions in 2018–2020 of Anhui Province.
Path planning of spot welding robot based on multi-objective grey wolf algorithm
Authors: Zhao Yun-Tao , Gan Lei , Li Wei-Gang , Liu Ao
Published: September 2021

The path planning of traditional spot welding mostly uses manual teaching method. Here, a new model of path planning is established from two aspects of welding length and welding time. Then a multi-objective grey wolf optimization algorithm with density estimation (DeMOGWO) is proposed to solve multi-object discrete problems. The algorithm improves the coding method and operation rules, and sets the density estimation mechanism in the environment update. By comparing with other five algorithms on the benchmark problem, the simulation results show that DeMOGWO is competitive which takes into account both diversity and convergence. Finally, the DeMOGWO algorithm is used to solve the model established of path planning. The Pareto solution obtained can be used to guide the welding sequence of body-in-white(BIW) workpieces.
Gastronomi Turizminde Konya Yöresel Yemeklerinin Tarihsel Gelişim Süreci
Authors: BULUT SOLAK Birsen , EKEN Vedat
Published: September 2021

Selçuklu Devleti döneminde başkent olan Konya, birçok medeniyete ev sahipliği yapmış ve Mevlana’nın diyarı olarak hafızalarda yer edinmiş, kültür ve tarih şehri özelliğinin yanı sıra yöreye özgü lezzetli yemekleriyle Türk Mutfağının gelişimine büyük katkı sağlamıştır. Buna rağmen Konya, tanıtım ve pazarlama sıkıntılarından dolayı gastronomi turizm sektöründe hak ettiği değeri tam olarak görememiştir. Bu çalışmanın amacı, şehrin gastronomi turizminde öne çıkan ve/veya çıkabilecek bazı önemli yöresel yemeklerini tarihi gelişim süreci içinde derleyerek aktarmaya çalışmaktır. Bu amaçla, Neolitik çağa ait Çatalhöyük kazılarından elde edilen bulgulardan başlanarak, günümüze kadar Anadolu’da hüküm sürmüş medeniyetlerin delil niteliğindeki yazılı kaynakları incelenmiş ve Konya’daki gastronomi turizm değerleri incelenerek bu çalışmayla aktarılmaya çalışılmıştır. Zengin yemek kültürüne sahip olan Konya mutfağı, gastronomi turizmi açısından değerlendirildiğinde yemeklerin tahıl, et ve sebze ağırlıklı olduğu, bunların ana yemek bileşenlerinin temelinde önem arz ettiği tespit edilmiştir. Konya mutfağı ayrıca yöresel yemekleriyle gastronomi turizmi açısından bölge ekonomisine katkı sağlamaktadır. Bu derlemenin ışığında Konya Mutfağına özgü yemeklerin, gastronomi turizmi üzerine yapılacak yeni çalışmalara yön verebileceği düşünülmektedir.