bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Long noncoding RNA profile of the intracranial artery in patients with moyamoya disease
Authors: Mamiya Takashi , Kanamori Fumiaki , Yokoyama Kinya , Ota Akinobu , Karnan Sivasundaram , Uda Kenji , Araki Yoshio , Maesawa Satoshi , Yoshikawa Kazuhiro , Saito Ryuta
Published: August 2022

OBJECTIVE

Moyamoya disease (MMD) is a rare cerebrovascular disease characterized by progressive stenosis of the internal carotid artery (ICA) and secondary formation of collateral vessels. Revascularization surgery is performed in patients with MMD to prevent stroke; however, the pathogenesis of MMD remains unknown. Recently, long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) have been found to play a key role in gene regulation and are implicated in various vascular diseases. However, the lncRNA expression profile in MMD lesions has not been investigated. In this study the authors aimed to determine the characteristics of lncRNA expression in MMD lesions.

METHODS

The authors collected microsamples of the middle cerebral artery (MCA) from patients with MMD (n = 21) and patients with control conditions (n = 11) who underwent neurosurgical treatment. Using microarray experiments, the authors compared the profiles of lncRNA expression in the MCAs of the MMD and control patient groups and identified differentially expressed lncRNAs (fold change > 2, q < 0.05). In addition, the neighboring coding genes, whose transcription can be regulated in cis by the identified differentially expressed lncRNAs, were investigated and Gene Ontology (GO) analysis was applied to predict associated biological functions.

RESULTS

The authors detected 308 differentially expressed lncRNAs (fold change > 2, q < 0.05), including 306 upregulated and 2 downregulated lncRNAs in the MCA from patients with MMD. Regarding the prediction of biological function, GO analyses with possible coding genes whose transcription was regulated in cis by the identified differentially expressed lncRNAs suggested involvement in the antibacterial humoral response, T-cell receptor signaling pathway, positive regulation of cytokine production, and branching involved in blood vessel morphogenesis.

CONCLUSIONS

The profile of lncRNA expression in MMD lesions was different from that in the normal cerebral artery, and differentially expressed lncRNAs were identified. This study provides new insights into the pathophysiology of MMD.
Extra-axial endoscopic third ventriculostomy: preliminary experience with a technique to circumvent conventional endoscopic third ventriculostomy complications
Authors: Kumar Sanjeev , Sahana Debabrata , Rathore Lavlesh , Jain Amit , Tawari Manish , Singh Deepak , Sahu Rajiv , Madhariya Satya Narayan
Published: August 2022

OBJECTIVE

Endoscopic third ventriculostomy (ETV) is mostly safe but may have serious complications. Most of the complications are inherent to the procedure’s intra-axial nature. This study aimed to explore an alternative route to overcome inherent issues with conventional ETV. The authors performed supraorbital, subfrontal extra-axial ETV (EAETV) via the lamina terminalis.

METHODS

This prospective study began in October 2021 and included patients with obstructive triventricular hydrocephalus with a Glasgow Coma Scale score of 8 or more and a minimum follow-up of 3 months. Patients with multiloculated hydrocephalus and those younger than 1 year of age were excluded. The preoperative parameters etiology, symptoms, Evans’ Index, frontal occipital horn ratio (FOHR), and third ventricle index were recorded. The surgical procedure is described. Postoperative evaluation included clinical (modified Rankin Scale [mRS]) and radiological assessment with CT and cine phase-contrast MRI. Preoperative and postoperative parameters were compared statistically.

RESULTS

Ten patients were included in this study. Six patients had acute hydrocephalus, and 4 had chronic hydrocephalus. After EAETV, all patients showed clinical improvement. An mRS score of 0 or 1 was achieved in 9 patients, but the mRS score remained at 4 in a patient with tectal tuberculoma. There was a significant reduction in Evans’ Index, FOHR, and third ventricle index after EAETV (p < 0.05). The mean percent reduction in Evans’ Index was 20.80% ± 13.89%, the mean percent reduction in FOHR was 20.79% ± 12.98%, and the mean percent reduction in the third ventricle index was 37.45% ± 14.74%. CSF flow voids were seen in all cases. The results of CSF flow quantification parameters were as follows: mean peak velocity 3.82 ± 0.93 cm/sec, mean average velocity 0.10 ± 0.05 cm/sec, mean average flow rate 46.60 ± 28.58 μL/sec, mean forward volume 39.90 ± 23.29 μL, mean reverse volume 34.10 ± 15.98 μL, mean overall flow amplitude 74.00 ± 27.61 μL, and mean stroke volume 37.00 ± 13.80 μL. One patient developed a minor frontal lobe contusion. The frontal air sinus was breached in 5 patients, but none had CSF rhinorrhea. Transient supraorbital hypesthesia was seen in 3 patients. No patient had electrolyte disturbance or change in thirst or fluid intake habits.

CONCLUSIONS

EAETV is a feasible, safe, and effective surgical alternative to conventional ETV.
Asymmetry index in anatomically symmetrized FDG-PET for improved epileptogenic focus detection in pharmacoresistant epilepsy
Authors: Aslam Shameer , Damodaran Natesan , Rajeshkannan Ramiah , Sarma Manjit , Gopinath Siby , Pillai Ashok
Published: August 2022

OBJECTIVE

Positron emission tomography (PET) imaging has assumed an essential role in the presurgical evaluation of epileptogenic foci in drug-resistant epilepsy by identifying the hypometabolic cerebral cortex. The authors herein designed a pilot study to test a novel technique of PET asymmetry after anatomical symmetrization coregistered to MRI (PASCOM), utilizing interhemispheric metabolic asymmetry on interictal fluorine 18–labeled fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG)-PET to better localize the epileptogenic zone.

METHODS

The authors analyzed interictal FDG-PET scans from 23 patients with drug-resistant epilepsy, mean (± SD) age 20.9 ± 13.1 years old, who had an Engel class I postsurgical outcome while followed up for > 12 months. T1-weighted and FLAIR MRI were used to create a patient-specific, structurally symmetrical template. The asymmetry index (AI) image was computed to detect the cerebral region of hypometabolism using different z-score threshold criteria to optimize sensitivity and specificity. The detected regions were compared with the resection cavity on postoperative MRI using predefined anatomical labels. PASCOM was compared with the visual analysis of FDG-PET by a nuclear medicine consultant blinded to other clinical data (VIS) and visual analysis during multidisciplinary team discussion (MDT). The efficacy of each technique was compared based on a performance score (S), sensitivity, specificity, and correct lateralization of epileptogenicity.

RESULTS

The mean S was maximum (1.30 ± 1.23) for AI images when thresholded at z > 4 and retaining the cluster of more than 100 voxels containing the peak AI value (Z4C) with 73.03% sensitivity and 96.43% specificity. The mean S was minimum for VIS (0.27 ± 0.31). The mean sensitivity was maximum for MDT (85.04%) and minimum for Z5C (AI images thresholded at z > 5 and clustered; 59.47%), whereas the mean specificity was maximum for Z5C (97.77%) and minimum for VIS (64.60%). Z3C (AI images thresholded at z > 3 and clustered) and Z4C were able to correctly identify the side of epileptogenicity in all the patients.

CONCLUSIONS

The PASCOM technique with a Z4C threshold had a maximum performance score with good sensitivity and specificity in localizing and lateralizing the epileptogenic zone. The described technique outperformed the conventional visual analysis of FDG-PET and hence warrants further prospective verification.
Antiplatelet therapy discontinuation after stent-assisted coil embolization for intracranial aneurysms: a single-center, long-term, retrospective, observational study
Authors: Goto Shunsaku , Izumi Takashi , Nishihori Masahiro , Imai Tasuku , Araki Yoshio , Kanamori Fumiaki , Uda Kenji , Yokoyama Kinya , Saito Ryuta
Published: August 2022

OBJECTIVE

The protocol for antiplatelet therapy after stent-assisted coil embolization (SACE) for intracranial aneurysms is not well established. In particular, the indications for single antiplatelet therapy (SAPT) discontinuation remain controversial. The authors investigated the long-term outcomes of SAPT discontinuation after SACE among patients at a single institution.

METHODS

Patients who underwent SACE during the period from 2010 to 2020 and who were followed up for > 1 year were included in this study. The delayed ischemic and hemorrhagic complication rates were examined during follow-up. Moreover, the risk factors of antiplatelet therapy reduction or discontinuation and the outcomes of SAPT discontinuation were examined.

RESULTS

In total, 240 patients were included in the analysis. The average patient age was 60.3 years, and the average follow-up period was 46.7 months. Nine (3.8%) patients presented with symptomatic delayed ischemic complication, and 3 (1.3%) patients experienced a decline in modified Rankin Scale score. The stent configuration (T- or Y-stent) was the only risk factor associated with delayed ischemic complication (p < 0.001). SAPT was discontinued in 147 (71.7%) of 205 patients who were followed up for > 2 years, and no ischemic complications were observed.

CONCLUSIONS

It is safe to discontinue SAPT in patients without ischemic complications and with stable intraaneurysmal signals on MRA 2 years after SACE. The T- or Y-stent is a high-risk factor for delayed ischemic complications, and antiplatelet therapy reduction or discontinuation should be cautiously considered.
Intraarterial encephalography from an acutely implanted aneurysm embolization device in awake humans
Authors: Li Luyuan , Ibayashi Kenji , Piscopo Anthony , Deifelt Streese Carolina , Chen Haiming , Greenlee Jeremy D. W. , Hasan David M.
Published: August 2022

OBJECTIVE

Endovascular electroencephalography (evEEG) uses the cerebrovascular system to record electrical activity from adjacent neural structures. The safety, feasibility, and efficacy of using the Woven EndoBridge Aneurysm Embolization System (WEB) for evEEG has not been investigated.

METHODS

Seventeen participants undergoing awake WEB endovascular treatment of unruptured cerebral aneurysms were included. After WEB deployment and before detachment, its distal deployment wire was connected to an EEG receiver, and participants performed a decision-making task for 10 minutes. WEB and scalp recordings were captured.

RESULTS

All patients underwent successful embolization and evEEG with no complications. Event-related potentials were detected on scalp EEG in 9/17 (53%) patients. Of these 9 patients, a task-related low-gamma (30–70 Hz) response on WEB channels was captured in 8/9 (89%) cases. In these 8 patients, the WEB was deployed in 2 middle cerebral arteries, 3 anterior communicating arteries, the terminal internal carotid artery, and 2 basilar tip aneurysms. Electrocardiogram artifact on WEB channels was present in 12/17 cases.

CONCLUSIONS

The WEB implanted within cerebral aneurysms of awake patients is capable of capturing task-specific brain electrical activities. Future studies are warranted to establish the efficacy of and support for evEEG as a tool for brain recording, brain stimulation, and brain-machine interface applications.
Dissociation of Broca’s area from Broca’s aphasia in patients undergoing neurosurgical resections
Authors: Andrews John P. , Cahn Nathan , Speidel Benjamin A. , Chung Jason E. , Levy Deborah F. , Wilson Stephen M. , Berger Mitchel S. , Chang Edward F.
Published: August 2022

OBJECTIVE

Broca’s aphasia is a syndrome of impaired fluency with retained comprehension. The authors used an unbiased algorithm to examine which neuroanatomical areas are most likely to result in Broca’s aphasia following surgical lesions.

METHODS

Patients were prospectively evaluated with standardized language batteries before and after surgery. Broca’s area was defined anatomically as the pars opercularis and triangularis of the inferior frontal gyrus. Broca’s aphasia was defined by the Western Aphasia Battery language assessment. Resections were outlined from MRI scans to construct 3D volumes of interest. These were aligned using a nonlinear transformation to Montreal Neurological Institute brain space. A voxel-based lesion-symptom mapping (VLSM) algorithm was used to test for areas statistically associated with Broca’s aphasia when incorporated into a resection, as well as areas associated with deficits in fluency independent of Western Aphasia Battery classification. Postoperative MRI scans were reviewed in blinded fashion to estimate the percentage resection of Broca’s area compared to areas identified using the VLSM algorithm.

RESULTS

A total of 289 patients had early language evaluations, of whom 19 had postoperative Broca’s aphasia. VLSM analysis revealed an area that was highly correlated (p < 0.001) with Broca’s aphasia, spanning ventral sensorimotor cortex and supramarginal gyri, as well as extending into subcortical white matter tracts. Reduced fluency scores were significantly associated with an overlapping region of interest. The fluency score was negatively correlated with fraction of resected precentral, postcentral, and supramarginal components of the VLSM area.

CONCLUSIONS

Broca’s aphasia does not typically arise from neurosurgical resections in Broca’s area. When Broca’s aphasia does occur after surgery, it is typically in the early postoperative period, improves by 1 month, and is associated with resections of ventral sensorimotor cortex and supramarginal gyri.
Functional hemispherotomy for epilepsy in the very young
Authors: Pepper Joshua , Lo William B. , Agrawal Shakti , Mohamed Rana , Horton Jo , Balloo Selina , Philip Sunny , Basnet Ashish , Wimalachandra Welege Samantha Buddhika , Lawley Andrew , Seri Stefano , Walsh A. Richard
Published: August 2022

OBJECTIVE

Epilepsy is one of the most common neurological disorders in children. Among very young children, one-third are resistant to medical treatment, and lack of effective treatment may result in adverse outcomes. Although functional hemispherotomy is an established treatment for epilepsy, its outcome in the very young child has not been widely reported. In this study the authors investigated seizure and developmental results after hemispherotomy in children younger than 3 years.

METHODS

The authors reviewed a prospective database of all children younger than 3 years with medically intractable epilepsy who underwent functional hemispherotomy at the authors’ institution during the period between 2012 and 2020. Demographic data, epilepsy history, underlying etiology, operative and transfusion details, and seizure and developmental outcomes were analyzed.

RESULTS

Twelve patients were included in this study. The mean age (± SD) at seizure onset was 3 ± 2.6 months and at surgery was 1.3 ± 0.77 years, with a mean follow-up of 4 years. Diagnoses included hemimegalencephaly (n = 5), hemidysplasia (n = 2), hypoxic/hemorrhagic (n = 2), traumatic (n = 1), Sturge-Weber syndrome (n = 1), and mild hemispheric structural abnormality with EEG/PET correlates (n = 1). Eleven patients achieved an Engel class I outcome, and 1 patient achieved Engel class IV at last follow-up. No deaths, infections, cerebrovascular events, or unexpected long-term neurological deficits were recorded. All children progressed neurodevelopmentally following surgery, but their developmental levels remained behind their chronological age, with an overall mean composite Vineland Adaptive Behavior Scale score of 58 (normal: 86–114, low: < 70). One patient required insertion of a subdural peritoneal shunt, 1 patient required dural repair for a CSF fluid leak, and 1 patient required aspiration of a pseudomeningocele. In 2 patients, both of whom weighed less than 5.7 kg, the first operation was incomplete due to blood loss.

CONCLUSIONS

Hemispherotomy in children younger than 3 years offers excellent seizure control and an acceptable risk-to-benefit ratio in well-selected patients. Families of children weighing less than 6 kg should be counseled regarding the possibility of staged surgery. Postoperatively, children continue to make appropriate, despite delayed, developmental progress.
Sensorimotor outcomes after resection for perirolandic drug-resistant epilepsy: a systematic review and individual patient data meta-analysis
Authors: Shlobin Nathan A. , Wang Andrew , Phillips H. Westley , Yan Han , Ibrahim George M. , Elkaim Lior M. , Wang Shuang , Liu Xiaoyan , Cai Lixin , Nguyen Dang K. , Fallah Aria , Weil Alexander G.
Published: August 2022

OBJECTIVE

The prevalence of long-term postoperative sensorimotor deficits in children undergoing perirolandic resective epilepsy surgery is unclear. The risk of developing these deficits must be weighed against the potential reduction in seizure frequency after surgery. In this study, the authors investigated the prevalence of sensorimotor deficits after resective surgery at ≥ 1 year postoperatively.

METHODS

A systematic review and individual patient data meta-analysis was conducted using PubMed, Embase, and Scopus databases. Subgroups of patients were identified and categorized according to their outcomes as follows: group A patients were denoted as seizure free with no postoperative sensorimotor deficits; group B patients experienced seizure recurrence with no deficit; group C patients were seizure free with deficits; and group D patients were not seizure free and with deficits. Rates of sensory deficits were examined in patients undergoing postcentral gyrus resection, and rates of motor deficits were aggregated in patients undergoing precentral gyrus resection.

RESULTS

Of 797 articles resulting from the database searches, 6 articles including 164 pediatric patients at a mean age of 7.7 ± 5.2 years with resection for drug-resistant perirolandic epilepsy were included in the study. Seizure freedom was observed in 118 (72.9%) patients at a mean follow-up of 3.4 ± 1.8 years. In total, 109 (66.5%) patients did not develop sensorimotor deficits at last follow-up, while 55 (33.5%) had permanent deficits. Ten (14.3%) of 70 patients with postcentral gyrus resection had permanent sensory deficits. Of the postcentral gyrus resection patients, 41 (58.6%) patients were included in group A, 19 (27.1%) in group B, 7 (10.0%) in group C, and 3 (4.3%) in group D. Forty (37.7%) of 106 patients with precentral resections had permanent motor deficits. Of the precentral gyrus resection patients, 50 (47.2%) patients were in group A, 16 (15.1%) in group B, 24 (22.6%) in group C, and 16 (15.1%) in group D. Patients without focal cortical dysplasia were more likely to have permanent motor deficits relative to those with focal cortical dysplasia in the precentral surgery cohort (p = 0.02).

CONCLUSIONS

In total, 58.6% of patients were seizure free without deficit, 27.1% were not seizure free and without deficit, 10.0% were seizure free but with deficit, and 4.3% were not seizure free and with deficit. Future studies with functional and quality-of-life data, particularly for patients who experience seizure recurrence with no deficits (as in group B in the present study) and those who are seizure free with deficits (as in group C) after treatment, are necessary to guide surgical decision-making.
Endoscopic strip craniectomy with molding helmet therapy versus spring-assisted cranioplasty for nonsyndromic single-suture sagittal craniosynostosis: a systematic review
Authors: Valetopoulou Alexandra , Constantinides Maria , Eccles Simon , Ong Juling , Hayward Richard , Dunaway David , Jeelani Noor ul Owase , James Greg , Silva Adikarige Haritha Dulanka
Published: August 2022

OBJECTIVE

Endoscopic strip craniectomy with postoperative molding helmet therapy (ESC-H) and spring-assisted cranioplasty (SAC) are commonly used minimally invasive techniques for correction of nonsyndromic sagittal craniosynostosis, but it is unclear which, if either, is superior. Therefore, the authors undertook a systematic review to compare ESC-H with SAC for the surgical management of nonsyndromic single-suture sagittal craniosynostosis.

METHODS

Studies were identified through a systematic and comprehensive search of four databases (Embase, MEDLINE, and two databases in the Cochrane Library). Databases were searched from inception until February 19, 2021. Pediatric patients undergoing either ESC-H or SAC for the management of nonsyndromic single-suture sagittal craniosynostosis were included. Systematic reviews and meta-analyses, single-patient case reports, mixed cohorts of nonsyndromic and syndromic patients, mixed cohorts of different craniosynostosis types, and studies in which no outcomes of interest were reported were excluded. Outcomes of interest included reoperations, blood transfusion, complications, postoperative intensive care unit (ICU) admission, operative time, estimated blood loss, length of hospital stay, and cephalic index. Pooled summary cohort characteristics were calculated for each outcome of interest. Methodological quality was assessed using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale. The study was reported in accordance with the 2020 PRISMA statement.

RESULTS

Twenty-two studies were eligible for inclusion in the review, including 1094 patients, of whom 605 (55.3%) underwent ESC-H and 489 (44.7%) underwent SAC for nonsyndromic sagittal craniosynostosis. There was no difference between the pooled estimates of the ESC-H and SAC groups for operative time, length of stay, estimated blood loss, and cephalic index. There was no difference between the groups for reoperation rate and complication rate. However, ESC-H was associated with a higher blood transfusion rate and higher postoperative ICU admission.

CONCLUSIONS

The available literature does not demonstrate superiority of either ESC-H or SAC, and outcomes are broadly similar for the treatment of nonsyndromic sagittal craniosynostosis. However, the evidence is limited by single-center retrospective studies with low methodological quality. There is a need for international multicenter randomized controlled trials comparing both techniques to gain definitive and generalizable data.
Improving Our Understanding of Driving Changes in Preclinical and Early Symptomatic Alzheimer’s Disease: The Role of Naturalistic Driving Studies
Authors: Roe Catherine M.
Published: August 2022

Research on how preclinical and early symptomatic Alzheimer’s disease (AD) impacts driving behavior is in its infancy, with several important research areas yet to be explored. This paper identifies research gaps and suggests priorities for driving studies over the next few years among those at the earliest stages of AD. These priorities include how individual differences in demographic and biomarker measures of AD pathology, as well as differences in the in-vehicle and external driving environment, affect driving behavior. Understanding these differences is important to developing future interventions to increase driving safety among those at the earliest stages of AD.
Point-to-point stochastic control of a self-financing portfolio
Authors: Mavungu Masiala
Published: August 2022

This paper aims at computing optimal control policies to drive a self-financing portfolio of financial assets from a given initial financial state to a final state in a given time horizon such that for the first case, the functional portfolio financial risk is minimized and, for the second case, the functional portfolio profit is maximized. The optimal control policies are the optimal investment allocation processes, the optimal state process is the optimal investor’s wealth process, also called the system response to the input control and is obtained by solving the combined system of differential equations formed by the state and costate system of differential equations derived and extracted from Pontryagin’s Minimum Principle. Computational simulations are provided to show the effectiveness and the reliability of the approach.
Concomitant thrombosis in patients with cellulitis as incidental finding
Authors: Gawaz Andrea , Gonser Lena , Strölin Anke , Kofler Lukas , Häfner Hans-Martin , Kofler Katrin
Published: August 2022

BACKGROUND: Although inflammation and thrombosis are tightly connected, only 45% of patients with lower leg cellulitis receive anticoagulant therapy. Available data about the prevalence of concomitant deep venous thrombosis (DVT) in patients with cellulitis of the lower extremity is scarce and general guidelines regarding diagnosis and prevention of venous thromboembolism are missing. OBJECTIVE: We sought to determine how frequently DVT occurs as an incidental finding in patients with cellulitis and to provide recommendations for diagnostics and anticoagulant therapy. METHODS: Patients’ records were analysed and 192 consecutive patients with cellulitis were included in this study. The prevalence of concomitant DVT was examined by duplex ultrasound, as well as comorbidities and risk factors. RESULTS: We detected thrombosis in 12.0% of the patients with lower leg cellulitis, of which 43.5% were located in a proximal vein and 52.2% in the veins of the calf. CONCLUSIONS: Our results clearly indicate that cellulitis is not only a differential diagnosis, but should be considered a risk factor for venous thrombosis. Therefore, prophylactic anticoagulation should be considered in patients suffering from cellulitis and a systematic screening for venous thrombosis in patients with cellulitis should be performed.
The version of record as a central organizing concept in scholarly publishing
Authors: Hinchliffe Lisa Janicke
Published: August 2022

The “version of record” is an organizing concept in scholarly publishing. It is by reference to that version that others are understood and it is the object of financial models, policies, and recognition and reward systems. At the same time, many of the core functions of academic publishing – in particular, registration and dissemination – are decoupling from the version of record. Scholarly publishers are also expanding their remit to encompass other article versions, as well as other research outputs, and efforts to systematically link together and track these into a “record of versions” are growing.
Measuring the Frailty Phenotype and its Association with Cognition in Mid-Life and Older Age
Authors: Goodman Zachary T. , Banerjee Nikhil , Rooks Joshua , McInerney Katalina , Sun Xiaoyan , Getz Sarah , Kaur Sonya , Sun-Suslow Ni , Junco Barbara , Levin Bonnie E.
Published: August 2022

Background: Frailty is directly linked to physical robustness and cognitive decline in older age. The Fried Frailty phenotype (FP) is a construct composed of five core symptoms that has been studied predominately in older age. There is little research contrasting the psychometric properties of the FP in mid-life versus older age. Objective: We compared the psychometric properties of the FP in mid-life and older age and investigated relationships between the FP and cognition. Methods: Frailty and neuropsychological assessments were completed on 361 adults, between 45 and 92 years of age, without primary neurological disorders. Confirmatory factor analysis was used to examine FP, indicated by Grip Strength, Gait Speed, Physical Activity, Fatigue, and Weight Loss. Measurement invariance was tested in mid-life (45–64 years) versus older age (≥65 years). Associations were examined between FP and language, executive functions, memory, processing speed, and visuospatial domains as well as a Generalized Cognition factor. Age was tested as a moderator of these associations. Results: Weight Loss was a poor indicator of FP. Factor loadings were comparable across age groups; however, Fatigue was disproportionately higher among those in mid-life. FP was negatively associated with all cognitive domains and remained invariant across age groups. Conclusion: Results support the construct validity of the FP and document its stable associations with poorer cognition in middle and older life. Future research investigating central features of frailty earlier in life may offer avenues for developing targeted prevention measures and better characterization of individuals with elevated dementia risk.
Why Daubechies wavelets are so successful
Authors: Cortez Solymar Ayala , Bokati Laxman , Velasco Aaron , Kreinovich Vladik
Published: August 2022

In many applications, including analysis of seismic signals, Daubechies wavelets perform much better than other families of wavelets. In this paper, we provide a possible theoretical explanation for the empirical success of Daubechies wavelets. Specifically, we show that these wavelets are optimal with respect to any optimality criterion that satisfies the natural properties of scale- and shift-invariance.
RETRACTED: Layer-specific evaluation-based Hierarchical Fuzzy Failure Mode and Effect Analysis
Authors: Pokorádi László , Kocak Sinan , Tóth-Laufer Edit
Published: August 2022

This article has been retracted. A retraction notice can be found at https://doi.org/10.3233/JIFS-219433.
RETRACTED: Prediction poverty levels of needy college students using RF-PCA model
Authors: Wang Sheng , Shi Yumei , Hu Chengxiang , Yu Chunyan , Chen Shiping
Published: August 2022

This article has been retracted. A retraction notice can be found at https://doi.org/10.3233/JIFS-219433.
RETRACTED: Uncertain hypothesis testing of multivariate uncertain regression model
Authors: Zhang Guidong , Sheng Yuhong , Shi Yuxin
Published: August 2022

This article has been retracted. A retraction notice can be found at https://doi.org/10.3233/JIFS-219433.
A multi-objective optimization of resource management and minimum batch VM migration for prioritized task allocation in fog-edge-cloud computing
Authors: Apinaya Prethi K.N. , Sangeetha M.
Published: August 2022

Network resources and traffic priorities can be utilized to distribute requested tasks across edge nodes at the edge layer. However, due to the variety of tasks, the edge nodes have an impact on data accessibility. Resource management approaches based on Virtual Machine (VM) migration, job prioritization, and other methods were used to overcome this problem. A Minimized Upgrading Batch VM Scheduling (MSBP) has recently been developed, which reduces the number of batches required to complete a system-scale upgrade and assigns bandwidth to VM migration matrices. However, due to poor resource sharing caused by suboptimal VM utilization, the MSBP was unable to effectively ensure the global best solutions. In order to distribute resources and schedule tasks optimally during VM migration, this paper proposes the MSBP with Multi-objective Optimization of Resource Allocation (MORA) method. The major goal of this proposed methodology is to take into account different objectives and solve the Pareto-front problem to enhance lifetime of the fog-edge network. First, it formulates an NP-hard challenge for MSBP by taking into account a variety of factors such as network sustainability, path contention, network delay, and cost-efficiency. The Multi-objective Krill Herd optimization (MoKH) algorithm is then used to address the NP-hard issue using the Pareto optimality rule and produce the best solution. First, it introduces an NP-hard challenge for MSBP by accounting in network sustainability, path contention, network latency, and cost-efficiency. The Pareto optimality rule is then implemented to overcome the NP-hard problem and provide the optimum solution employing the Multi-objective Krill Herd optimization (MoKH) algorithm. This increases network lifetime and improves resource allocation cost efficiency. Finally, the simulation results show that the MSBP-MORA distributes resources more efficiently and hence increases network lifetime when compared to other traditional algorithms.
Comparative analysis of some selected generative adversarial network models for image augmentation: a case study of COVID-19 x-ray and CT images
Authors: Ubale Kiru Muhammad , Belaton Bahari , Chew Xinying , Almotairi Khaled H. , Hussein Ahmad MohdAziz , Aminu Maryam
Published: August 2022

One of the fastest-growing fields in today’s world is data analytics. Data analytics paved the way for a significant number of research and development in various fields including medicine and vaccine development, DNA analysis, artificial intelligence and many more. Data plays a very important role in providing the required results and helps in making critical decisions and predictions. However, ethical and legislative restrictions sometimes make it difficult for scientists to acquire data. For example, during the COVID-19 pandemic, data was very limited due to privacy and regulatory issues. To address data unavailability, data scientists usually leverage machine learning algorithms such as Generative Adversarial Networks (GAN) to augment data from existing samples. Today, there are over 450 algorithms that are designed to re-generate or augment data in case of unavailability of the data. With many algorithms in the market, it is practically impossible to predict which algorithm best fits the problem in question, unless many algorithms are tested. In this study, we select the most common types of GAN algorithms available for image augmentation to generate samples capable of representing a whole data distribution. To test the selected models, we used two unique datasets, namely COVID-19 CT images and COVID-19 X-Ray images. Five different GAN algorithms, namely CGAN, DCGAN, f-GAN, WGAN, and CycleGAN, were selected and applied to the samples to see how each algorithm reacts to the samples. To evaluate their performances, Visual Turing Test (VTT) and Fréchet Inception Distance (FID) were used. The VTT result shows that a human expert can accurately distinguish between different samples that were produced. Hence, CycleGAN scored 80% in CT image dataset and 77% in X-Ray image dataset. In contrast, the FID result revealed that CycleGAN had a high convergence and therefore generated high quality and clearer images on both datasets compared to CGAN, DCGAN, f-GAN, and WGAN. This study concluded that the CycleGAN model is the best when it comes to image augmentation due to its friendliness and high convergence.
An integrated methodology for selecting the building material suppliers with interval-valued intuitionistic fuzzy information
Authors: Xu Xinrui
Published: August 2022

At present, with the continuous changes in the market situation and the continuous improvement of the supply chain network structure, the competition in all walks of life has become more and more intense, which has risen from simple enterprise competition to competition in the entire supply chain. In the construction industry, the structure of the construction supply chain is more complex and diverse, and it is more necessary to select high-quality suppliers for sincere cooperation. This requires construction companies to establish a complete supply chain management system, select high-quality suppliers to achieve win-win cooperation and improve their competitiveness. Therefore, construction enterprises need to comprehensively consider various factors, build a reasonable and feasible evaluation index system according to their own demand for materials, and use appropriate evaluation methods to select material suppliers with specific advantages, so as to ensure the entire construction supply chain of the project. of smooth operation. In this paper, we introduced some calculating laws on interval-valued intuitionistic fuzzy sets (IVIFSs), Hamacher sum and Hamacher product and further propose the induced interval-valued intuitionistic fuzzy Hamacher ordered weighted average (I-IVIFHOWA) operator. Meanwhile, we also study some ideal properties of built operator. Then, we apply the I-IVIFHOWA operator to deal with the multiple attribute decision making (MADM) problems under IVIFSs. Finally, an example for selecting the building material suppliers is used to test this new approach.
Physical demands at work and physical activity are associated with frailty in retirement
Authors: van der Valk Alexandra M. , Theou Olga , Wallace Lindsay M.K. , Andrew Melissa K. , Godin Judith
Published: August 2022

BACKGROUND: The relationship between occupational physical activity and frailty is complex and understudied. OBJECTIVE: We explore whether moderate-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) in retirement and main lifetime occupation physical demands (OPD) are associated with frailty in retirement. METHODS: Retired adults aged 50 + who participated in waves 3-4 of the Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe were included. We constructed a 65-item frailty index (FI; Wave 4). Linear regressions tested the independent associations between OPD (Wave 3) and retirement MVPA (Wave 4) with FI (B: 95% CI) controlling for occupation characteristics (Wave 3) and demographics (Wave 4). These models were repeated across country groups (Nordic; Mediterranean; Continental) and sexes. RESULTS: We included 8,411 adults (51.1% male) aged 72.4 years (SD 8.0). Frequent MVPA was consistently associated with lower FI (-0.09 : 0.10–-0.08, p < .001) while OPD was associated with higher FI (0.02 : 0.01-0.03, p < .001). The MVPA*OPD interaction (-0.02: -0.04–-0.00, p = .043) was weakly associated with FI, but did not explain additional model variance or was significant among any country group or sex. CONCLUSIONS: For a sample of European community-dwelling retirees, a physically demanding main lifetime occupation independently predicts worse frailty, even in individuals who are physically active in retirement.
Sparse angle CT reconstruction based on group sparse representation
Authors: Gu Yanan , Liu Yi , Liu Wenting , Yan Rongbiao , Liu Yuhang , Gui Zhiguo
Published: August 2022

OBJECTIVE: In order to solve the problem of image quality degradation of CT reconstruction under sparse angle projection, we propose to develop and test a new sparse angle CT reconstruction method based on group sparse. METHODS: In this method, the group-based sparse representation is introduced into the statistical iterative reconstruction framework as a regularization term to construct the objective function. The group-based sparse representation no longer takes a single patch as the minimum unit of sparse representation, while it uses Euclidean distance as a similarity measure, thus it divides similar patch into groups as basic units for sparse representation. This method fully considers the local sparsity and non-local self-similarity of image. The proposed method is compared with several commonly used CT image reconstruction methods including FBP, SART, SART-TV and GSR-SART with experiments carried out on Sheep_Logan phantom and abdominal and pelvic images. RESULTS: In three experiments, the visual effect of the proposed method is the best. Under 64 projection angles, the lowest RMSE is 0.004776 and the highest VIF is 0.948724. FSIM and SSIM are all higher than 0.98. Under 50 projection angles, the index of the proposed method remains achieving the best image quality. CONCLUSION: Qualitative and quantitative results of this study demonstrate that this new proposed method can not only remove strip artifacts, but also effectively protect image details.
ПОРІВНЯЛЬНИЙ АНАЛІЗ ТА ОБҐРУНТУВАННЯ ВИБОРУ ПРОГРАМНИХ ЗАСОБІВ ДЛЯ ОРГАНІЗАЦІЇ ДИСТАНЦІЙНОГО НАВЧАННЯ ЗДОБУВАЧІВ ВИЩОЇ ОСВІТИ
Authors: ГАЩУК Ірина , ТРАСКОВЕЦЬКА Лілія , БОРОВИК Людмила
Published: August 2022

Робота присвячена важливій темі наукового обґрунтування вибору програмних засобів для організації дистанційного навчання, а саме: платформ для проведення відео конференцій. Сьогодні в багатьох галузях постає проблема забезпечення якісного відеозв’язку між користувачами. Особливо важливим це питання стало від 12 березня 2020 року, коли в Україні запровадили тритижневий карантин через пандемію COVID-19. Уже два роки вірус змушує людей самоізолюватися та за допомогою відеоконференцій працювати, навчатися, спілкуватися. Сучасні програмні продукти дуже відрізняються за зручністю інтерфейсу, технічними характеристиками та взагалі за придатністю для організації дистанційного навчання. У роботі здійснено науково обґрунтований порівняльний аналіз та визначене найбільш ефективне програмне забезпечення для проведення відеоконференції. Автори розглянули програми, які допоможуть користувачам у будь-якій галузі, зокрема навчати учнів, студентів, курсантів, працюючи у режимі “online”: TrueConf Server free, Zoom, GoToMeeting, GoogleMeet, Messenger Rooms, Microsoft Teams, Skype, VideoMost, GoogleHangouts. Платформи аналізувалися за такими параметрами: складність технічного та програмного забезпечення для використання платформи, надійність зв’язку, наявність наскрізного шифрування, технічні можливості платформи (кількість одночасного підключення користувачів, обмеження по часу, можливості спільного використання екрану тощо), зручність інтерфейсу, додаткові можливості. Для аналізу та формування висновків використовувався метод експертних оцінок. Для автоматичної обробки результатів дослідження за методом експертних оцінок використовувався авторський програмний продукт. Група експертів рекомендувала залежно від завдань комбінувати використання Zoom та GoogleMeet для дистанційного навчання. Ці рекомендації можуть бути враховані під час використання відеоконференцій в будь-якій галузі.
РОЗВИТОК ЕКОЛОГІЧНОЇ КОМПЕТЕНТНОСТІ У МАЙБУТНІХ СУДНОВОДІЇВ
Authors: ЖУР’ЯН Вікторія
Published: August 2022

Загострення екологічних проблем на світовому рівні зумовило необхідність перегляду засад формування екологічної компетентності в морських закладах вищої освіти (ЗВО). Дослідження присвячене пошуку шляхів підвищення ефективність процесу формування екологічної компетентності здобувачів освіти вищих морських навчальних закладів у процесі їх професійної підготовки. Одним із таких шляхів є впровадження авторської структурно-функціональної моделі розвитку екологічної компетентності судноводіїв у процесі фахової підготовки. Сьогодні у зв’язку із необхідністю реалізації визначених пріоритетів сталого розвитку суспільства, одним із яких є захист навколишнього середовища особливої актуальності набуває екологічна освіта майбутніх морських фахівців, оскільки від сформованості їх екологічної компетентності безпосередньо залежить збереження стану Світового океану, захист його від забруднення. У статті розглядається екологічна компетентність, як результат екологічної освіти, що являє собою складну, інтегративну характеристику особистості, яка відображає мотиви екологічної діяльності, володіння екологічними знаннями і природно-доцільними видами діяльності, вольові якості та цінності особистості з активною позицією особистості у галузі охорони навколишнього природного середовища, раціонального використання і відтворення природних ресурсів, і забезпечує здатність застосовувати екологічні знання й досвід у професійних і життєвих ситуаціях, здійснювати професійну діяльність у морській галузі з позицій екологічної обґрунтованості і доцільності. Відзначається, що зростання ефективності формування екологічної компетентності залежить від модернізації існуючої технології навчання, методики та змісту інваріативної складової навчальних дисциплін за рахунок проведення міждисциплінарних науково-дослідницьких пошуків екологічного напряму, а також завдяки впровадженню факультативного курсу “Технологія діяльності судноводіїв з охорони морського середовища”, на основі принципів інтеграції, системності, безперервності, взаємозв’язку та єдності екологічних знань. У дослідженні наводяться етапи формування екологічної компетентності та розглядаються критерії сформованості для майбутніх судноводіїв. На завершення робиться висновок про доцільність впровадження структурно-функціональної моделі розвитку екологічної компетентності судноводіїв, оскільки воно сприяє підвищенню ефективності процесу формування екологічної компетентності здобувачів освіти вищих морських навчальних закладів.
ВИКОРИСТАННЯ ТРЕНІНГОВИХ ТЕХНОЛОГІЙ ДЛЯ ФОРМУВАННЯ ПРОФЕСІЙНОЇ КОМПЕТЕНТНОСТІ МАЙБУТНІХ ОФІЦЕРІВ-ПРИКОРДОННИКІВ
Authors: РАЙКО Валерій , МАЦИШИН Микола , МІРОШНІЧЕНКО Валентина
Published: August 2022

Статтю присвячено визначенню ефективності використання тренінгових технологій для формування професійної компетентності майбутніх офіцерів-прикордонників. Авторами вивчаються різні підходи до формування професійної компетентності військових фахівців.Автори розглядають можливість формування професійної компетентності майбутніх офіцерів-прикордонників не лише під час навчальних занять, а й за допомогою тренінгової роботи, яка складається з інформаційного практичного та самостійного блоків.Досліджувалась ефективність використання тренінгових технологій для формування професійної компетентності майбутніх офіцерів-прикордонниківПід час застосування тренінгових технологій було взято до уваги таке: по-перше, попри те, що набуття професійних компетентностей відображається, передусім на емоційній сфері, доцільно проводити тренінги не раніше як на другому курсі за наявності у курсантів достатнього рівня теоретичних знань з фахових дисциплін; по-друге, важливим у формуванні професійної компетентності майбутніх офіцерів-прикордонників є усвідомлений характер діяльності та уміння налагодити взаємодію.Ураховано, що важливою умовою ефективності тренінгової роботи у вищому військовому навчальному закладі є мотивація курсантів до професійної діяльності шляхом використання прийомів та засобів активізації, формування особистісних та професійних якостей майбутніх офіцерів-прикордонників. З цією метою до змісту програми тренінгу “Формування професійної компетентності майбутніх офіцерів-прикордонників” було включено неігрові та ігрові активні методи навчання.Результативність тренінгової технології щодо формування професійної компетентності перевірялась авторами шляхом порівняння одержаних результатів на констатувальному і прикінцевому етапах експерименту. Було зроблено висновок, що використання запропонованої тренінгової технології є результативним і сприяє формуванню зазначеного феномена у курсантів.
PENGARUH KONDISI TANAH TERHADAP TAHANAN PENTANAHAN KAKI MENARA 150KV KRAMASAN-MARIANA
Authors: Nurdiana Nita , Radeli Rieski
Published: August 2022

The grounding system is intended to ensure that both electrical equipment and the people around it are in a safe condition from overcurrent faults by transferring the fault current to earth. Electrode implantation is one of the factors to get a small grounding resistance value. This study aims to determine the effect of soil conditions on the value of grounding resistance at the foot of the Menara. By using the three-point method on three types of soil conditions at 6 feet Menara, the lowest grounding value is 5.12 ohms in the swamp area at Menara 10 location. The highest grounding resistance in the garden area is 8.32 ohm at Menara 66 location. All values the grounding resistance is in good condition and does not exceed the 150 Kilo Volt high voltage overhead line grounding standard, which is 10 ohms. From the results of the analysis, it is concluded that the soil conditions where the electrodes are implanted affect the grounding value ABSTRAKSistem pentanahan dimaksudkan untuk memastikan bahwa baik peralatan listrik maupun orang-orang disekitarnya dalam kondisi yang aman dari gangguan arus lebih dengan cara  mentransfer arus gangguan ke bumi. Penanaman elektroda merupakan salah satu faktor untuk mendapatkan nilai hambatan pentanahan yang kecil. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mengetahui pengaruh kondisi tanah terhadap nilai tahanan pentanahan pada kaki Menara SUTT. Dengan menggunakan metode tiga titik pada tiga jenis kondisi tanah  pada 6 kaki Menara, didapatkan nilai pentanahan terendah sebesar 5,12 ohm  di daerah rawa pada lokasi Menara 10. Hambatan  pembumpentanahan tertinggi di daerah kebun yaitu 8,32 ohm pada lokasi Menara 66. Semua nilai tahanan pentanahan dalam keadaan baik dan tidak melebihi standar pentanahan saluran udara tegangan tinggi 150 Kilo Volt yaitu sebesar 10 ohm. Dari hasil analisa diperoleh kesimpulan bahwa kondisi tanah dimana elektroda ditanamkan mempengaruhi nilai pentanahan.