bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Problems of modern patriotic education in Russia
Authors: Makarov Iurii Aleksandrovich
Published: April 2023

Analysis of the psychological aspects of the formation of patriotism in modern Russia is associated with the need to take into account the maximum number of factors in the successful educational policy of the state. Among the basic ideas of the author are the following: interethnic tolerance is formed only on the basis of national identity; patriotism begins with respect for one's nation, one's people; it is necessary to take into account the laws of formation of optimal tolerance; patriotism is a consequence of the presence in the structure of personal characteristics of optimal interethnic tolerance.
Assessment of the genetic parameters and breeding value of bulls-producers of the Ukrainian black speckled milky breed by the main characteristics
Authors: Ruban Sergiy , Danshyn Viktor
Published: April 2023

Evaluation and selection of breeding bulls based on economically important characteristics is the main tool in modern systems of genetic improvement of dairy cattle. The purpose of the study was to analyse the influence of environmental and genetic factors on the traits of milk productivity, reproduction, productive longevity, and the difficulty of calving, to assess the genetic parameters and breeding value of breeding bulls based on these traits. The research material was data on the indicators of productivity, reproduction, and productive longevity of cows of the Ukrainian black speckled milky breed of the agricultural cooperative “Vostok” of the Kharkiv region. A multidimensional linear-threshold model was used to calculate genetic parameters (heritability coefficients and genetic correlations) and breeding values of breeding bulls. A probable phenotypic negative association was identified between calving difficulty and milk yield for 305 days (r= -0.2244±0.0266, P>0.999); an increase in calving difficulty by 1 point leads to a decrease in milk yield for 305 days of lactation by 1281.0 kg. Calculated estimates of genetic correlation indicate the presence of a fairly high relationship between milk yield for 305 days of lactation and the service period (over +0.5), a negative relationship between the service period and productive longevity (about -0.37), and a positive relationship between the service period and calving difficulty (about +0.26). This data indicates the presence of genetic antagonism between milk productivity and the level of reproduction of dairy cows, the negative impact of the extended service period on the length of stay of cows in the dairy herd, and the impact of calving difficulty on the deterioration of cow fertility. Estimates of the breeding value of breeding bulls by milk yield, service period, productive longevity, and calving difficulty were calculated. The results obtained indicate the expediency of including traits of reproduction, productive longevity, and difficulty of calving cows in the breeding index, which is used to evaluate and select bulls-producers of the Ukrainian black speckled milky breed
UJI KINERJA ALAT BOOSTER FERMENTASI TAPE KETAN
Authors: Rifky Muhammad , Lisdawati Ayu Novia
Published: April 2023

Telah dilakukan penelitian uji kinerja alat booster fermentasi tape ketan. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk membuat dan mengetahui kinerja alat booster fermentasi tape dari waktu fermentasi secara  konvensional.  Alat booster fermentasi tape telah berhasil dibuat melalui beberapa proses utama yaitu mendesain, menyiapkan alat, bahan, memprogram dan merangkai sesuai dengan desain yang telah dibuat. Pada suhu 40ºC masa fermentasi membutuhkan waktu 46 jam   merupakan   waktu   tercepat   yang   diperoleh   dari   pengujian   dengan   nilai kelembaban 52 dan kadar alkohol yang dideteksi sensor MQ3 mencapai 50%
Winter hardiness of promising pear varieties in the conditions of the steppe zone of the Southern Urals
Authors: Lokhova A. I.
Published: April 2023

The article presents the results of a long-term study of the winter hardiness of pear varieties of domestic breeding in the conditions of the steppe zone of the Southern Urals (Orenburg region). The research was carried out in the Orenburg branch of the Federal Horticultural Research Center for Breeding, Agrotechnology and Nursery in 2018-2021 at the experimental site of the genetic collection of pears in 2002 planting according to generally accepted methods. Mathematical processing of the obtained data was performed using variance analysis by Dospekhov B. A. (2011). Field assessment of winter hardiness was carried out in the I-II decades of May after flowering and budding of vegetative buds. Damage to the bark, kidneys and wood was assessed by eye on a scale: 0 points − no damage, 5 points − tissues died. The objects of research were 15 varieties of pears. Planting scheme: 6×4 m. It was found that during the years of research in the conditions of Orenburg, the most unfavorable weather conditions were observed in the winter of 2017-2018 and 2020-2021, which made it possible to study the hardiness of varieties in the field by II-IV components. It was found that the studied pear varieties have sufficient winter hardiness, the degree of damage to them was: wood − 0,5-1,5 points, bark − 0,5-1,8 points and kidneys − 0,8-1,8 points. At the same time, the plants quickly recovered and began to actively vegetate, which indicates the high adaptive ability of most varieties. The greatest resistance to adverse winter conditions at the level of the control winter-hardy variety Krasnobokaya was shown by the varieties Krasulya, Skazochnaya, Pingvin, Isetskaya Sochnaya, Lel, Chizhovskaya, Lada, Uralochka and Povislaya, which can be recommended for use in the breeding process as sources of a sign of high winter hardiness.
Analisis Tipe Kepemimpinan Aras Tammauni di Kabupaten Mamuju Tengah
Authors: Hidayat Rahmat , Alam Andi Samsu , Syamsu Suhardiman
Published: April 2023

This study aims to describe and analyze the type of leadership that is applied and the factors that influence the leadership of Aras Tammauni in Central Mamuju District. This research was held in Central Mamuju District. The research method used is a qualitative method, with a descriptive type. Data collection techniques used were interviews, observation and documentation.The results of this study indicate that the leadership of Aras Tamauni succeeded with the type of leadership applied was a type of charismatic, democratic, militaristic and autocratic leadership. The most dominant type of leadership applied is the charismatic type, the dominant type is democratic and the non-dominant type is autocratic and militaristic. Factors that influence: aristocratic descendants, benefactors, community leaders and originators of transmigrants, and the most important figures in the process of forming Central Mamuju as an Autonomous Region.AbstrakPenelitian ini bertujuan untuk menggambarkan dan menganalisis Tipe kepemimpinan yang diterapkan dan faktor-faktor yang mempengaruhi kepemimpian Aras Tammauni di Kabuapten Mamuju Tengah. Penelitian ini diadakan di Kabupaten Mamuju Tengah. Metode penelitian yang digunakan adalah metode kualitatif, dengan tipe deskriptif. Teknik pengumpulan data yang digunakan adalah wawancara, observasi dan dokumentasi. Hasil penelitian ini  menunjukan bahwa kepemimpinan Aras Tamauni berhasil dengan tipe kepemimpinan yang diterapkan adalah tipe kepemimpinan kharismatis, demokratis, militeristik dan otokratis. Tipe kepemimpinan yang paling dominan diterapkan adalah tipe kharismatis, tipe yang cukup dominan adalah demokratis serta tipe yang tidak dominan adalah otokratis dan militeristik.  Faktor yang mempengaruhi  : keturunan bangsawan, dermawan,  tokoh masyarakat dan pencetus transmigran, dan  tokoh yang paling berperan dalam proses pembentukan Mamuju Tengah sebagai Daerah Otonom.
Factors that Affect User Satisfaction of Dukcapil Application (Dukcapil Dalam Genggaman) in Surakarta Regency
Authors: Darmawan Andreas Bayu , Nugroho Rino Ardhian
Published: April 2023

Electronic Government (e-Government) has been implemented in Indonesia at both the central and regional levels, where Information and Communication Technology (ICT) is integrated with public services in order to increase effectiveness, efficiency, and transparency. Surakarta has succeeded in creating an application that operates online which can be used to access population administration services, namely Dukcapil application (Dukcapil dalam genggaman in Indonesian term). This application is designed to make it easier for some people of Surakarta who are still experiencing problems if they have to directly access population administration services, whether constrained in terms of time, energy, and cost. As part of population administration services and population information systems, user satisfaction is important for Dukcapil Dalam Genggaman because it is related to the quality of the services provided and the success of implementing the application. User satisfaction can be influenced by several factors. Therefore, this study will examine the factors that influence user satisfaction of Dukcapil Dalam Genggaman. These factors were adapted from a model for measuring the level of user satisfaction with information systems, namely End User Computing Satisfaction (EUCS), which measures satisfaction based on content, accuracy, format, ease of use, and timeliness. This study aims to determine the effect of these factors on user satisfaction of Dukcapil Dalam Genggaman. The questionnaire was distributed to users of Dukcapil Dalam Genggaman and successfully obtained a sample of 107 users. The data analysis used is multiple linear regression. It was found that content, accuracy, ease of use, and timeliness have a significant effect on user satisfaction of Dukcapil Dalam Genggaman. Meanwhile, the format does not have a effect on user satisfaction of Dukcapil Dalam Genggaman. Based on these findings, the Department of Population and Civil Registration of Surakarta is recommended to develop Dukcapil Dalam Genggaman by focusing on the factors that affect user satisfaction of the application.
Adaptive Policies in the Family Hope Program (PKH) to achieve Sustainable Development Goals in Pangkep Regency
Authors: Islamiyah Riska , Haning Moh. Tahir , Hidayat Andi Rahmat
Published: April 2023

In general, the objectives of this study are: (1) To describe how the implementation of poverty reduction policies through the Family Hope Program (PKH) in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in Pangkep Regency; (2) To find out the obstacles to the implementation of poverty reduction policies through the Family Hope Program (PKH) in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in Pangkep Regency. This study used a qualitative descriptive method with informants selected through the snowball technique. Data collection methods used in this study are interviews, observations, and documents related to the research. The data collected was then analyzed using the Interactive Analysis Model of Miles, Huberman & Saldana.  Based on the results of the research, the implementation of poverty reduction policies through the Family Hope Program (PKH) in Pangkep Regency concerning assisting the Adaptive Policies theory according to Swanson & Bhadwal (2009), 5 out of 7 indicators have been implemented properly to successfully achieve Goal 1 of SDGs 2030 which related to integrated and forward-looking analysis, automatic policy adjustment, decentralization of decision-making, promoting variation, and formal policy review and continuous learning. However, 2 of them have not been optimal, namely related to multistakeholder deliberation and enabling self-organization and social networking. The research found obstacles in the implementation of these policies were the lack of involvement of the private sector, geographical constraints of the region, and the mindset of the community in receiving assistance.
Dimensions and Challenges of E-Government Applications in Bantaeng Regency
Authors: Saharuddin Saharuddin , Irwan A. Lukman , Nawawi Juanda
Published: April 2023

This paper aims to examine the Dimensions and Challenges of E-Government Application in Bantaeng Regency and the factors that influence it. This paper uses a descriptive method. Data collection techniques are used by observation, interviews, and documentation then the data obtained in the field will be analyzed with qualitative techniques. The results showed that the application of the digital/electronic dimension of government in information services has not been optimally carried out by the bantaeng district government, while the digital/electronic dimensions of government include ease of use, trust, functional of interaction from the environment, reliability, content, and display of information, and support. Meanwhile, the influencing factors include supporting and inhibiting factors, from supporting aspects, namely leadership, and institutions, while the inhibiting aspects are community culture and lack of socialization in the community
Nutzung von elektronischen Marktplätzen in der öffentlichen Beschaffung in Deutschland: Anforderungen, Funktionalitäten und Regelungssystem (online first)
Authors: Glas Andreas , Hammer Maximilian , Eßig Michael
Published: April 2023

Elektronische Marktplätze (e-MP) besitzen eine Reihe von Funktionalitäten, die zu mehr Transparenz, Wettbewerb und Wirtschaftlichkeit führen. Das öffentliche Beschaffungswesen in Deutschland hat die Implementierung und Nutzung öffentlicher elektronischer Marktplätze (Ö-e-MP) jedoch noch nicht berücksichtigt, obwohl der öffentliche Sektor grundsätzlich auf größtmöglichen Wettbewerb ausgerichtet ist. Basierend auf der Theorie des unvollkommenen Wettbewerbs erklärt diese Studie die Faktoren, die zu Ineffizienzen im Beschaffungswesen führen. Untersucht wird, inwieweit ein Ö-e-MP einen positiven Effekt auf die öffentliche Beschaffungspraxis in Deutschland haben könnte. Zu diesem Zweck wurde eine Umfrage bei öffentlichen Auftraggebern durchgeführt. Die Ergebnisse zeigen, dass die Nutzung eines Ö-e-MP die Transparenz, den Wettbewerb und die Marktvollständigkeit im öffentlichen Beschaffungswesen insgesamt deutlich verbessern könnte. Darüber hinaus zeigen sich auch weitere positive Auswirkungen auf die Effizienz der öffentlichen Beschaffung. Die Originalität dieser Untersuchung besteht in der Identifikation des digitalen Wettbewerbs als Motor für die Leistungsfähigkeit des öffentlichen Auftragswesens.
The Association Between Emotional Expressivity in Autobiographies from Early Adulthood and the Risk of Dementia in the Context of Written Language Skills
Authors: Morrison-Koechl Jill , Fearon Danielle O. , Fernandes Myra A. , Tyas Suzanne L.
Published: April 2023

Background:

Risk factors for dementia, such as Alzheimer’s disease, are complex and span a lifetime. Exploring novel factors, such as characteristics of writing, may provide insight into dementia risk.

Objective:

To investigate the association between emotional expressivity and risk of dementia in the context of a previously identified risk factor, written language skills.

Methods:

The Nun Study recruited 678 religious sisters aged 75 + years. Of these, 149 U.S.-born participants had archived autobiographies handwritten at a mean age of 22 years. The autobiographies were scored for frequency of emotion word usage and language skills (e.g., idea density). The association of emotional expressivity and a four-level composite variable (combining high/low emotional expressivity and high/low idea density) with dementia was assessed using logistic regression models adjusted for age, education, and apolipoprotein E.

Results:

Within the composite variable, odds of dementia increased incrementally, with opposing effects of emotional expressivity across the two idea density levels. Compared to the referent category (low emotional expressivity/high idea density), the risk of dementia increased in those with high emotional expressivity/high idea density (OR = 2.73, 95% CI = 1.05–7.08), while those with low emotional expressivity/low idea density had the highest risk (OR = 18.58, 95% CI = 4.01–86.09).

Conclusion:

Dementia risk is better captured by inclusion of multiple measures relating to characteristics of writing. Emotional expressivity may be protective when individuals are at increased risk due to poor written language skills (i.e., low idea density), but detrimental when not at risk (i.e., high idea density). Our findings indicate that emotional expressivity is a contextually-dependent novel risk factor for dementia.
Compensatory Mechanisms in Early Alzheimer’s Disease and Clinical Setting: The Need for Novel Neuropsychological Strategies
Authors: Torrealba Eduardo , Aguilar-Zerpa Norka , Garcia-Morales Pilar , Díaz Mario
Published: April 2023

Despite advances in the detection of biomarkers and in the design of drugs that can slow the progression of Alzheimer’s disease (AD), the underlying primary mechanisms have not been elucidated. The diagnosis of AD has notably improved with the development of neuroimaging techniques and cerebrospinal fluid biomarkers which have provided new information not available in the past. Although the diagnosis has advanced, there is a consensus among experts that, when making the diagnosis in a specific patient, many years have probably passed since the onset of the underlying processes, and it is very likely that the biomarkers in use and their cutoffs do not reflect the true critical points for establishing the precise stage of the ongoing disease. In this context, frequent disparities between current biomarkers and cognitive and functional performance in clinical practice constitute a major drawback in translational neurology. To our knowledge, the In-Out-test is the only neuropsychological test developed with the idea that compensatory brain mechanisms exist in the early stages of AD, and whose positive effects on conventional tests performance can be reduced in assessing episodic memory in the context of a dual-task, through which the executive auxiliary networks are ‘distracted’, thus uncover the real memory deficit. Furthermore, as additional traits, age and formal education have no impact on the performance of the In-Out-test.
Healthcare Costs in the Year Before and After Alzheimer’s Disease Diagnosis: A Danish Register-Based Matched Cohort Study
Authors: Eithz Nanna , Sørensen Jan , Sopina Liza
Published: April 2023

Background:

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) carries a significant economic burden, with costs peaking around the time of diagnosis. However, the cost of diagnosis, including the time leading up to it, has not been studied thoroughly. Furthermore, regionalized healthcare structure could result in differences in the pre-diagnostic costs for people with suspected AD.

Objective:

This study set out to estimate the excess healthcare costs before and after AD diagnosis compared to a matched non-AD population and to investigate regional variation in AD healthcare costs in Denmark.

Methods:

We used a register-based cohort of 25,523 matched pairs of new cases of AD and non-AD controls. The healthcare costs included costs on medication, and inpatient-, outpatient-, and primary care visits. Generalized estimating equations were employed to estimate the excess healthcare cost attributable to diagnosing AD, and the variation in costs across regions.

Results:

Mean excess costs attributable to AD were € 3,284 and € 6,173 in the year before and after diagnosis, respectively. Regional differences in healthcare costs were identified in both the AD and control groups and were more pronounced in patients with AD (PwAD).

Conclusion:

PwAD incur higher healthcare costs across all cost categories in the year before and after diagnosis. Regional differences in healthcare utilization by PwAD may reveal potential variation in access to healthcare. These findings suggest that a more standardized and targeted diagnostic process may help reduce costs and variation in access to healthcare.
Superior Global Cognition in Oldest-Old Is Associated with Resistance to Neurodegenerative Pathologies: Results from The 90+ Study
Authors: Biswas Roshni , Kawas Claudia , Montine Thomas J. , Bukhari Syed A. , Jiang Luohua , Corrada Maria M.
Published: April 2023

Background:

Some oldest-old individuals can maintain superior cognition despite advanced age. Little is known about the neuropathological changes in the brains of oldest-old superior cognitive performers.

Objective:

Our objective was to examine the associations between Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and non-AD neuropathologic features in relation to superior cognitive performance in oldest-old individuals.

Methods:

We analyzed brain autopsy data from 102 participants with normal cognition from The 90+ Study. Superior global cognitive performers (SGCP) were defined as having Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) score ≥28 in the last visit 12 to 2 months before death. To examine the associations between individual and multiple comorbid neuropathologic features with SGCP status we used multiple logistic regression models adjusting for age, sex, and education.

Results:

Alzheimer’s disease neuropathological change (ADNC) and low levels of vascular pathologic change were not associated with superior cognition. In contrast, participants with limbic (OR = 8.37; 95% CI: 1.48–47.44) and neocortical (OR = 10.80;95% CI: 1.03–113.82) Lewy body disease (LBD), or with hippocampal sclerosis (HS) (OR = 5.28; 95% CI: 1.10–25.47) were more likely to be non-SGCP. High total burden of multiple comorbid neuropathologic features was associated with a lower likelihood of being SGCP.

Conclusion:

Oldest-old superior cognitive performers were resilient to ADNC and low levels of vascular pathologic change and were resistant to non-AD neurodegenerative changes and multiple comorbid neuropathologic features. Understanding the factors underlying the ability of superior cognitive performers to resist these changes might provide useful insights on maintenance of superior cognition despite advanced age.
Visit-to-Visit Blood Pressure Variability and Cognitive Decline in Apolipoprotein ɛ4 Carriers versus Apolipoprotein ɛ3 Homozygotes
Authors: Sible Isabel J. , Nation Daniel A. ,   the Alzheimer’s Disease Neuroimaging Initiative
Published: April 2023

Background:

Blood pressure variability (BPV) is associated with cognitive decline and Alzheimer’s disease (AD), but relationships with AD risk gene apolipoprotein ( APOE) ɛ4 remain understudied.

Objective:

Examined the longitudinal relationship between BPV and cognitive change in APOE ɛ4 carriers and APOE ɛ3 homozygotes.

Methods:

1,194 Alzheimer’s Disease Neuroimaging Initiative participants (554 APOE ɛ4 carriers) underwent 3-4 blood pressure measurements between study baseline and 12-month follow-up. Visit-to-visit BPV was calculated as variability independent of mean over these 12 months. Participants subsequently underwent ≥1 neuropsychological exam at 12-month follow-up or later (up to 156 months later). Composite scores for the domains of memory, language, executive function, and visuospatial abilities were determined. Linear mixed models examined the 3-way interaction of BPV× APOE ɛ4 carrier status x time predicting change in composite scores.

Results:

Higher systolic BPV predicted greater decline in memory (+1 SD increase of BPV: β= –0.001, p < 0.001) and language ( β= –0.002, p < 0.0001) among APOE ɛ4 carriers, but not APOE ɛ3 homozygotes (memory: +1 SD increase of BPV: β= 0.0001, p = 0.57; language: β= 0.0001, p = 0.72). Systolic BPV was not significantly associated with change in executive function or visuospatial abilities in APOE ɛ4 carriers ( ps = 0.08–0.16) or APOE ɛ3 homozygotes ( ps = 0.48–0.12).

Conclusion:

Cognitive decline associated with high BPV may be specifically accelerated among APOE ɛ4 carriers.
Fortasyn Connect Improves Neuropsychiatric Symptoms in Patients with Mild Cognitive Impairment and Dementia: Results from a Retrospective Real-World Study
Authors: Aguilar-Barberà Miquel , Soler-Girabau Paquita , Tabuenca-Martín Ana Isabel , Prieto-del Val Laura
Published: April 2023

Background:

Behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD) manifest in the early stages of the disease and impair patients’ and caregivers’ quality of life.

Objective:

To assess the effectiveness of the nutritional supplement Fortasyn Connect on BPSD for 12 months in people with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and dementia in clinical practice.

Methods:

Retrospective, national, single-center study of 236 patients (158 MCI and 78 dementia; 55.1% of AD etiology). BPSD were assessed with the Neuropsychiatric Inventory (NPI) at month 3, 6, and 12. Cognition (Mini-Mental State Examination, MMSE), depression (Geriatric Depression Scale, GDS), and everyday functioning (Blessed Dementia Scale, BLS-D; Rapid Disability Rating Scale 2, RDRS2) were also evaluated.

Results:

Total NPI score, caregiver impact, and symptoms of depression, anxiety, apathy, and irritability improved after 3, 6, and 12 months from Fortasyn Connect initiation ( p < 0.001). NPI decreases were more pronounced when baseline NPI score was higher than > 20 points ( p < 0.001). The benefit was independent of gender, age, diagnosis, etiology, or concomitant treatment ( p < 0.0001), although larger decreases in NPI total score were observed in MCI patients ( p < 0.0001). After 12 months, GDS scores decreased ( p = 0.042), and MMSE, BLS-D, and RDRS 2 scores remained stable.

Conclusion:

Fortasyn Connect improved BPSD over at least a year in patients with MCI and dementia. Depression, anxiety, apathy, and irritability were the symptoms that improved the most. The benefit was independent of patients’ characteristics and treatment but was greater if prescribed early and when baseline NPI scores were higher.
Insulin Homeostasis Mediates the Relationship Between Cardiorespiratory Fitness and Cognitive Speed in Aging Adults
Authors: McIntyre Clayton C. , Gaitán Julian M. , Edmunds Kyle J. , Lose Sarah R. , Bendlin Barbara B. , Sager Mark , Asthana Sanjay , Johnson Sterling C. , Okonkwo Ozioma C.
Published: April 2023

Background:

Cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) supports cognition, though it is unclear what mechanisms underly this relationship. Insulin resistance adversely affects cognition but can be reduced with habitual exercise.

Objective:

We investigated whether insulin resistance statistically mediates the relationship between CRF and cognition.

Methods:

In our observational study, we included n = 1,131 cognitively unimpaired, nondiabetic older adults from a cohort characterized by elevated Alzheimer’s disease (AD) risk. We estimated CRF (eCRF) using a validated equation that takes age, sex, body mass index, resting heart rate, and habitual physical activity as inputs. The Homeostatic Model Assessment for Insulin Resistance (HOMA-IR) quantified insulin resistance. Standardized cognitive factor scores for cognitive speed/flexibility, working memory, verbal learning/memory, and immediate memory were calculated from a battery of neuropsychological tests. Linear regression models and bootstrapped estimates of indirect effects were used to determine whether HOMA-IR mediated significant relationships between eCRF and cognition.

Results:

eCRF was positively associated with cognitive speed/flexibility ( p = 0.034). When controlling for HOMA-IR, eCRF was no longer associated with cognitive speed/flexibility ( p = 0.383). HOMA-IR had a significant indirect effect on the eCRF-cognition relationship ( B = 0.025, CI = [0.003,0.051]). eCRF was not associated with working memory ( p = 0.236), immediate memory ( p = 0.345), or verbal learning/memory ( p = 0.650).

Conclusion:

Among older adults at risk for AD, peripheral insulin resistance mediates the relationship between CRF and cognitive speed.
18F-AV45 PET and MRI Reveal the Influencing Factors of Alzheimer’s Disease Biomarkers in Subjective Cognitive Decline Population
Authors: Zhao Zixiao , Wang Jie , Wang Ying , Liu Xia , He Kun , Guo Qihao , Xie Fang , Huang Qi , Li Zijing
Published: April 2023

Background:

Subjective cognitive decline (SCD) is a self-perceived decline in cognitive ability, which exhibits no objective impairment but increased risk of conversion to mild cognitive impairment and Alzheimer’s disease (AD).

Objective:

To investigate how influencing factors (risk gene, age, sex, and education) affect amyloid-β (Aβ) deposition and gray matter (GM) atrophy in SCD population.

Methods:

281 SCD subjects were included in this study, who underwent clinical evaluation, cognitive ability assessment, apolipoprotein E ( APOE) genotyping, 18F-Florbetapir positron emission computed tomography, and magnetic resonance imaging screening. Two-sample t tests and analysis of variance were performed based on voxel-wise outcome.

Results:

In 281 SCD subjects with an average age of 63.86, 194 subjects (69.04%) were females, and 56 subjects carried APOE ɛ4 genes. Statistical results revealed APOE ɛ4 gene, age, and sex influenced Aβ deposition in different brain regions; moreover, only the interaction exhibited between age and APOE ɛ4 genes. The GM atrophy of hippocampal, amygdala, precentral, and occipital lobes occurred in the group age over 60. The GM volume of the hippocampal, frontal, and occipital lobe in females was less than males. Education had an effect only on cognitive function.

Conclusion:

In SCD, APOE ɛ4 gene, age, and sex significantly influenced Aβ deposition and APOE ɛ4 gene can interact with age in impacting Aβ deposition. Both age and sex can affect GM atrophy. The results suggested that female SCD with APOE ɛ4 genes and aged more than 60 years old might exhibit advanced AD biomarkers.
Mitochondrial Dysfunction Links to Impaired Hippocampal Serotonin Release in a Mouse Model of Alzheimer’s Disease
Authors: Tian Jing , Stucky Chase Samuel , Wang Tienju , Muma Nancy A. , Johnson Michael , Du Heng
Published: April 2023

Background:

Deprivation of extracellular serotonin has been linked to cognitive decline and neuropsychiatric disturbances in Alzheimer’s disease (AD). However, despite degeneration of serotonin-producing neurons, whether serotonin release is affected in AD-sensitive brain regions is unknown.

Objective:

This study investigated the impact of mitochondrial dysfunction in decreased hippocampal serotonin release in AD amyloidosis mouse model 5xFAD mice.

Methods:

Electrochemical assays were applied to examine hippocampal serotonin release. We also employed multidisciplinary techniques to determine the role of oligomeric amyloid-β (Aβ) in hippocampal mitochondrial deficits and serotonin release deficiency.

Results:

5xFAD mice exhibited serotonin release decrease and relatively moderate downregulation of serotonergic fiber density as well as serotonin content in the hippocampal region. Further experiments showed an inhibitory effect of oligomeric amyloid-β (Aβ) on hippocampal serotonin release without affecting the density of serotonergic fibers. Pharmaceutical uncoupling of mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) disrupted hippocampal serotonin release in an ex vivo setting. This echoes the mitochondrial defects in serotonergic fibers in 5xFAD mice and oligomeric Aβ-challenged primary serotonergic neuron cultures and implicates a link between mitochondrial dysfunction and serotonin transmission defects in AD-relevant pathological settings.

Conclusion:

The most parsimonious interpretation of our findings is that mitochondrial dysfunction is a phenotypic change of serotonergic neurons, which potentially plays a role in the development of serotonergic failure in AD-related conditions.
Screening and Assessment for Alzheimer’s Disease in the Days of Biological Biomarkers
Authors: Hendrie Hugh C.
Published: April 2023

The 1980s saw an upsurge of research in Alzheimer’s disease (AD). The necessity of standardized assessment batteries became apparent, leading to the development of standardized instruments, such as the CERAD, the CAMDEX, the CSI ’D’, and later the TOOLBOX. The advent of new biological markers has led to speculation in the research community about the necessity for these instruments. As the association of biomarkers with subsequent clinical dementia remains unclear, assessment batteries are still necessary, especially with growing evidence that prodromal symptoms of AD may not be cognitive decline but emotional or behavioral symptoms. Inclusion of ethnic minority groups is also essential.
A novel parameter similarity measure between interval-valued picture fuzzy sets with its app-lication in pattern recognition
Authors: Cao Guo , Shen Lixiang
Published: April 2023

As an extension of picture fuzzy sets (PFSs), interval-valued picture fuzzy sets (IVPFSs) can better model and handle incomplete, indeterminate and inconsistent information in some practical applications. One of the important topics in IVPFSs is the similarity measure of IVPFSs, for which few studies have been proposed within the literature. Moreover, some existing similarity measures cannot adequately meet the conditions of similarity measure with some counterintuitive cases. In this work, we devise a novel similarity measure between IVPFSs based on the effect of the margin of the degree of refusal membership. First, the interval-valued picture fuzzy numbers will be transformed into two right-angled triangular-based pyramids in a spatial rectangular coordinate system. Then, a new parameter distance measure for IVPFSs is defined to assess the similarity between IVPFNs according to the centers of gravity of their corresponding right-angled triangular-based pyramids. Meanwhile, a comparison between different similarity measures is performed to illustrate that the proposed similarity measure can overcome the deficiencies of other extant measures. Finally, we apply it to handle pattern recognition problems. The comparison results indicate that the proposed algorithm can adequately meet the conditions of similarity measure, produce more reasonable and creditable results and perform well in complex contexts.
Multi-view fusion guided matrix factorization based one-step efficient subspace clustering
Authors: Guo Tianlong , Shen Derong , Kou Yue , Nie Tiezheng
Published: April 2023

Multi-view clustering that integrates the complementary information from different views for better clustering is a fundamental topic in data engineering. Most existing methods learn latent representations first, and then obtain the final result via post-processing. These two-step strategies may lead to sub-optimal clustering. The existing one-step methods are based on spectral clustering, which is inefficient. To address these problems, we propose a Multi-view fusion guided Matrix factorization based One-step subspace Clustering (MMOC) to perform clustering on multi-view data efficiently and effectively in one step. Specifically, we first propose a matrix factorization based multi-view fusion representation method, which adopts efficient matrix factorization instead of time-consuming spectral representation to reduce the computational complexity. Then we propose a self-supervised weight learning strategy to distinguish the importance of different views, which considers both the gradient and the learning rate to make the learned weights closer to the real situation. Finally, we propose a one-step framework of MMOC, which effectively reduces the information loss by integrating data representation, multi-view data fusion, and clustering into one step. We conduct experiments on 5 real-world datasets. The experimental results show the effectiveness and the efficiency of our MMOC method in comparison with state-of-the-art methods.
MAC-Leonets-A novel optimized hybrid convolutional neural networks for the segmentation and diagnosis of Edema diseases using retinal OCT images
Authors: Sudha V. , Shanmugam Sathiya Priya , Anitha D. , Raja R.
Published: April 2023

An intelligent segmentation and identification of edemas diseases constitutes a most important crucial ophthalmological issues since they provide important information for the diagnosis process in accordance to the disease severity. But diagnosing the different edema diseases using the OCT-images are considered to be daunting challenge among the researchers. The implementation of computational intelligence techniques such as machine learning, deep learning, bio inspired algorithms and image processing techniques may help the doctors for some extent in improving the automatic extraction and diagnosis process consequently improving patients’ life quality. But, these are liable to more errors and less performance, which requires further improvisation in designing the intelligent systems for an effective classification of edema diseases. In this context, this paper proposes the hybrid intelligent framework for the identification, segmentation and classification of three types of edemas such as using the retinal optical coherence tomography (OCT) Images. In this process, Single Feed Forward Training networks (SLFTN) are integrated with Convolutional Layers whose hyperparameters are tuned by using Lion Optimization algorithm. An intensive experimentation is carried out using the Kaggle Retinal OCT Image datasets-2020 with Tensor flow and the proposed framework is trained with the different set of 84,494 images in which performance metrics such as accuracy, sensitivity, specificity, recall and f1score are calculated. Results shows the proposed system has provided satisfactory performance, reaching the average highest accuracy of 99.9% in identifying and classifying the respectively.
How physical home workspace characteristics affect mental health: A systematic scoping review
Authors: Bergefurt Lisanne , Appel-Meulenbroek Rianne , Arentze Theo
Published: April 2023

BACKGROUND: During the 1990s, voluntary teleworking became more grounded, because of expected advantages as increased productivity and comfort. However, COVID-19 obliged employees to work from home (WFH), even in unsuitable houses, which might have reduced their mental health. A holistic overview of methods and measures of the physical home-workspace characteristics and mental health is currently lacking. Insights in the potential influence of the physical home-workspace on mental health are also not yet holistically examined. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study is to provide insights in previously studied relationships between the physical home-workspace and mental health and to identify measures for both using a systematic scoping review. METHODS: This study used the PRISMA method to systematically review existing literature. RESULTS: Most studies focussed on noise, acoustics, and privacy, in relation to productivity, concentration, and sleep quality. Only a few studies used objective measures for physical home-workspace characteristics. CONCLUSION: The list of relevant measures can be used by academics to examine relationships between the home-workspace and mental health further. Workplace managers can use it to help employees in optimizing their home-workspace.
Planning Courses on Ethics in Engineering Curricula
Authors: Vedhathiri Thanikachalam
Published: April 2023

Ethics in engineering practice is about the professional responsibilities of engineers which have been recognized as an important foundation in the practice of engineering throughout the world. Ethical decision-making is essential to professionalism in engineering. Further, ethics is a required topic in an accredited engineering curriculum. In this paper, the need for ethics, the process of incorporating it into an engineering curriculum, and implementing it is presented based on the feedback from 76 senior faculty members from the southern region of India through case studies, and analysis. Based on this study additional courses, seminars, short-term finishing school modules, mass open online courses (MOOCs) on ethics, training the faculty members, and developing administrators to follow standard practices in recruiting, and promoting them are suggested. The trained faculty members would introduce ethical codes which will prevent engineering failures and safeguard human life and ensure public health.
Auto Train Brain increases the gamma band entropy variance more in the left temporal region than that in the right temporal region with 14 channel headset in Dyslexia: Pilot study
Authors: Eroglu Gunet
Published: April 2023

Auto Train Brain is a mobile app that aims to improve reading comprehension and speed for people with dyslexia through neurofeedback. Clinical trials have been conducted to examine the efficacy of neurofeedback on dyslexia. However, accurately measuring long-term outcomes with rapidly changing EEG data can be challenging without the use of psychometric tests. To overcome this issue, a novel measurement method was developed using the variance of sample entropy calculated in the gamma band to compare different sessions. Results of the study showed that after 100 sessions, the 14-channel neurofeedback with Auto Train Brain was more effective in increasing the variance of gamma band entropy in the left temporal lobe (T7) compared to the right temporal lobe (T8). Using the measurement of gamma band entropy variance was identified as a suitable approach to assess the success of neurofeedback.
Registros Hospitalares de Câncer: Proposta Metodológica para Correção do Estadiamento de Câncer de Pulmão
Authors: Valerio Tayná Sequeira , Silva Mario Jorge Sobreira da , Campos Mônica Rodrigues , Pires Debora Castanheira , Cardoso Carlos Henrique Dantas , Faria Lara Vinhal , Campos Silvio Rodrigues , Chaves Luisa Arueira , Marques Aline Pinto , Muzy Jéssica , Emmerick Isabel Cristina Martins
Published: April 2023

Introdução: Um grande desafio para a utilização de registros e bases de dados secundárias é a qualidade do registro e o percentual de perdas em variáveis estratégicas e necessárias à plena utilização do banco. Objetivo: Propor um método de correção para a variável de estadiamento no âmbito dos Registro Hospitalares de Câncer (RHC), a fim de aprimorar sua completude e qualidade. Método: Estudo descritivo, abrangendo as Unidades da Federação, utilizando-se como fonte de informação o RHC, de janeiro de 2013 a dezembro de 2019. O câncer de pulmão foi escolhido como caso para a correção do banco, em razão da sua alta taxa de mortalidade no Brasil e no mundo. As análises foram realizadas com o software de análises estatísticas SAS Studio e a base de dados organizada em Excel®. Resultados: O total de casos registrados no RHC foi de 86.026, e a variável de interesse, o estadiamento, teve um total de 32,0% de perda. Ao final de todas as etapas de correção, a perda foi de 9,8%, correspondendo a 22,2% de recuperação. Conclusão: A metodologia proposta representa um avanço na correção do banco do RHC, possibilitando a utilização dos dados de base secundária, com melhor representatividade das diferentes Regiões do país, sobre o tratamento de câncer de pulmão, com possibilidade de expansão de seu uso para outras topografias.
Vacunas conjugadas contra neumococo en pediatría, su impacto en la Salud Pública
Authors: Ospina-Henao Sebastián , Torres Juan Pablo , Brea Jose , Ávila-Agüero Maria L.
Published: April 2023

Streptococcus pneumoniae forma parte de la flora bacteriana normal de la mucosa nasal y faríngea, coloniza principalmente la nasofaringe y provoca que esta portación preceda a la enfermedad neumocócica, convirtiéndose así en la principal fuente de propagación entre las personas, especialmente en niños. A partir del año 1983, fecha en que se autorizó la primera vacuna antineumocócica de 23 componentes, se han desarrollado diferentes vacunas conjugadas, según los serotipos circulantes y causantes de enfermedades neumocócicas invasivas (ENI), de esta manera, se ha logrado disminuir en gran medida la incidencia y mortalidad de las enfermedades asociadas a neumococo. En noviem- bre del 2021, un grupo de expertos llevó a cabo una reunión virtual para analizar y actualizar el impacto que estas vacunas neumocócicas han generado en la salud pública de los países, especialmente durante la pandemia de la COVID-19, y como parte de las recomendaciones que surgieron se planteó que, ante el reemplazo de serotipos luego de la introducción de las vacunas antineumocócicas conjugadas (PCV) en los esquemas nacionales, es necesario buscar alternativas en vacunas independientes del serotipo, y de igual manera se deben unir esfuerzos para fortalecer la vigilancia de los serotipos, enfatizando en los no incluidos en las vacunas actuales. El objetivo de este reporte es comunicar las conclusiones del grupo de expertos que en noviembre 2021 analizó el impacto de las vacunas neumocócicas en la salud pública de los países, para generar recomendaciones aplicables en Latinoamérica.
Consideraciones actuales en el abordaje de la plagiocefalia posicional
Authors: Burón Klose Verónica , Imperatore Dupré María Loreto , Zuleta Ferreira Arturo
Published: April 2023

La prevalencia de la plagiocefalia posicional (PP) ha aumentado desde que la Academia Americana de Pediatría recomendara que los bebés duerman en posición supina para prevenir el síndrome de muerte súbita del lactante. Existen grandes controversias en relación de las posibles consecuencias de la PP y del grado de severidad requerido para que éstas se manifiesten. Por otro lado, no hay consenso sobre la eficacia de las terapias de la PP, en temas como el posicionamiento, kinesiología y órtesis craneal. Esta revisión tiene como objetivo actualizar las causas, características principales y evidencia en torno al tratamiento de las PP. Es importante la intervención desde el periodo de recién nacido, abarcando tanto la prevención y educación en el manejo, como la pesquisa temprana, evaluando la posible presencia de tortícolis muscular congénita, para iniciar un tratamiento precoz. La presencia de PP puede ser un marcador de riesgo en el desarrollo psicomotor.
The Effect of Anterior Crowding Toward Oral Hygiene Index-Simplified and Gingival Index Score
Authors: Obi Applonia Leu , Variani Ratih , Ayatullah M Ibraar
Published: April 2023

Dental crowding is one form of malocclusion characterized by disparities between the size of the tooth and the arc dimension. It is commonly found in the anterior region. Keeping the crowded and misaligned tooth is hard, leading to more plaque accumulation and increasing the risk of gingival inflammation. This research aims to find the effects of anterior dental crowding on the Oral Hygiene Index-Simplified (OHI-S) and Gingival Index scores of Poltekkes Kemenkes Kupang students. This is a cross-sectional study performed by observational analytical study design. The population was the student of Poltekkes Kemenkes Kupang with anterior crowding. Using 70 samples were chosen using purposive sampling technique. The result showed that most of the students had moderate anterior crowding (45.7%), followed by mild crowding (30%) and severe crowding (20%). The chi-square test showed a significant effect of anterior crowding toward OHI-S (p=0.03) and GI scores (p=0.04). While Socio-economical aspect also showed a significant effect (p=0.00) on OHI-S scores. A significant effect of socioeconomic status was also recorded on GI score (p=0.00). An observation of the students' oral hygiene intention showed that they mostly had a moderate intention (72.9%) to keep their mouth clean, and the rest, 27.1% had high oral hygiene intention. This aspect also significantly affects their scores of OHI-S (p=0.00) and GI (p=0.01). This study concluded that anterior crowding, socioeconomic status, and oral hygiene intention can affect OHI-S and GI scores of the students of Poltekkes Kemenkes Kupang