bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A-162 Neuropsychological Functioning in Migraine: A Meta-Analysis
Authors: Pizer Jasmin H , Aita Stephen L , Myers Melissa A , Hawley Nanako A , Ikonomou Vasilios C , Brasil Kyle M , Hernandez Katherine A , Pettway Erika C , Hill Benjamin D
Published: August 2022

Objective: Migraine refers to recurrent, unilateral headache attacks, lasting 4-72 hours, that have a pulsating quality. A meta-analysis was conducted comparing cognition on clinical measures between individuals with migraine and healthy controls.

Data Selection: We searched the University of South Alabama Libraries’ OneSearch and PubMed using a uniform search-strategy to locate original research comparing cognition between migraine and control samples. Analyses were modeled under random effects. Hedge’s g was used as a bias-corrected estimate of effect size. We assessed between-study heterogeneity using Cochran’s Q and I2.

Data Synthesis: The initial search interval spanned inception–May 2021 and yielded 6692 results. Fifty-two studies were analyzed (migraine n=5324, control n=16540). Meta-analysis showed a significant combined effect size of migraine across all studies (g=-0.37, p<.001), with high heterogeneity (Q=329.84, p<.001, I2=84.54). Trim-and-fill procedure estimated 0 studies to be missing due to publication bias (adjusted g=-0.37, Q=329.84). Within-domain effects of migraine were: Executive Functioning=-0.40, Global Cognition/Orientation=-0.20, Language=-0.30, Learning/Memory=-0.24, Motor=-0.09, Processing Speed=-0.42, Screener=-0.50, Simple/Complex Attention=-0.35, and Visuospatial/Construction=-0.36. Heterogeneity was moderate to high within domains. Meta-regressions indicated education and disease duration were not related to effect sizes. Age and gender were related to effect sizes such that studies with older and higher percentage of female clinical participants yielded greater (negative) differences.

Conclusions: Individuals with migraine consistently demonstrated lower performances on neuropsychological tests compared to controls. Effect sizes were generally small in strength, with largest effects in Executive Functioning, Processing Speed, and Screeners. This quantitative summary indicates that, through use of neuropsychological tests, individuals with migraine experience difficulties in multiple aspects of cognition.
A-166 The Beery VMI in focal Pediatric Epilepsy: Clinical Correlates and Lateralizing Value
Authors: Velázquez Paola , MacAllister William S
Published: August 2022

Objective: The Beery-Buktenica Developmental Test of Visual-Motor Integration (VMI) is a commonly used test of visuoconstruction. While many assume this task has lateralizing value in focal epilepsy, this remains untested. The present study investigated the utility of the VMI in children and adolescents with focal, well-lateralized epilepsy.

Methods: One hundred and one children and adolescents with focal epilepsy (ages 4–18, 47 males, 54 females) completed the VMI as part of their neuropsychological evaluation. Pearson and Spearman correlations assessed relations between VMI scores and epilepsy severity factors (age of onset, number of antiepileptic drugs [AEDs], seizure frequency, IQ). T-tests assessed VMI differences between left (n=56) and right (n=45) hemisphere cases and Chi-square analyses tested differences in impairment rates across groups (defined as standard scores ≤79).

Results: VMI correlated significantly with IQ (r=.673, p<.001), but not age of onset (r=-.080, p=.428), seizure frequency (r=.013, p=.895), or number of AEDs (r=-.181, p=.071). Further, VMI scores did not differ between left (84.43 [16.06]) and right (81.89 [14.31]; t=.839, p=.403) sided seizures, nor did impairment rates differ (left 35.7%, right 46.7%, chi-square=1.24, p=.265).

Conclusion: While the VMI is related to IQ, relations with other epilepsy variables were minimal and despite popular belief, VMI does not strongly lateralize left and right hemisphere cases likely due to functional reorganization/crowding effects that may occur in left hemisphere epilepsy.
A-169 Utilizing the Rivermead Post Concussion Questionnaire (RPQ) during Post-Covid-19 Patient Follow-up
Authors: Benjamin Tyler B , Nahmias Leeron , Gibson Douglas , Chhabria Sharvan , Beaulieu Ashleigh , Taylor Gabriella
Published: August 2022

Objective: To examine the utility of The Rivermead PCS Questionnaire (RPQ) for patients endorsing persistent cognitive and psychiatric symptoms after COVID infection. The RPQ is a self-report measure of persistent symptoms in those suffering a mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) beyond the typical recovery period of 10-21 days. Like mTBI, a considerable percentage of patients who have had COVID-19 report persistent cognitive, somatic, and emotional symptoms after recovering from the disease.

Data Selection: Literature reviewed included up to date peer-reviewed research examining the following key terms: prevalence of long-COVID, constellation of symptoms, overlap with Post-Concussion Syndrome (PCS), and assessment. Articles were excluded if they examined severe illnesses requiring mechanical ventilation, or if participants had comorbid neurocognitive and/or comorbid psychiatric conditions.

Data Synthesis: The “other” category allows for assessment of additional COVID-19 symptoms such as anosmia. Factor analysis demonstrated the existence of cognitive, somatic, and emotional factors with a high degree of covariation. Post-COVID patients endorsed issues with word-finding, attention, fatigue, migraines, anxiety, and depression; symptoms which are also frequently noted in PCS. These symptoms were also commonly reported in the general population, orthopedic patients, and other medical populations, suggesting non-specificity.

Conclusions: Given the similar symptom constellation between PCS and persistent-COVID, the RPQ may be an adequate tool for identifying patients suffering from actual or perceived symptoms. As many of these patients may benefit from treatment outside traditional medicine, including sleep hygiene training, stress management, behavior modification, and counseling, the RPQ could also be used for progress monitoring and/or identifying those requiring further cognitive assessment.
A-183 Fear-Avoidance Correlated with Prolonged Symptomology Following mTBI
Authors: Milano Jordan , Sandino Adriana , Bauer Russell M , Bove Jessica
Published: August 2022

Objective: Mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) represents a significant public health concern, with approximately 1.7 million injuries annually in the U.S. While most mTBIs resolve within the first month post-injury, approximately 10-15% of patients suffer persistent, chronic symptoms. We evaluate how individual coping strategy affects severity of symptom burden in patients with prolonged recovery from mTBI.

Method: We included 50 individuals (age 39.6 ± 19.0, 68% female) who sustained a mTBI at least one month prior to study assessment. Participants completed the Brain Injury Dispositions (BIRDS) scale to assess fear avoidance (FA) and endurance (END) behaviors during mTBI recovery, along with the SCAT5 symptom severity questionnaires. Pearson correlations measured the association of FA and END behaviors with number and severity of persisting concussive symptoms.

Results: FA subscores showed a strong, positive correlation with total number of symptoms (r = .71, p < .001) and symptom severity (r = .66, p < .001). END subscores also showed significant, positive correlation with total number of symptoms (r = .46, p < .001) and symptom severity (r = .36, p < .001); however, this correlation was weaker than FA.

Conclusions: Individuals employing extreme FA or END coping behaviors were found to report a greater number and severity of concussive symptoms after one-month since sustaining mTBI. Findings suggest that being either too avoidant or too aggressive in return to activity during recovery may result in worse symptomology and prolonged recovery following mTBI. Early detection of END or FA behaviors allows for more personalized treatment plans to improve patient recovery.
A-186 Injury Mechanism, Premorbid Intelligence, and Psychological Outcomes Post Mild Traumatic Brain Injury
Authors: DeBoer Adam B , Amitrano Nicholas R , Pyykkonen Ben A , Balloun Bailey A , Barwegen Kearston C
Published: August 2022

Objective: This study aimed to explore psychological outcomes of individuals who sustained a mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) as impacted by injury mechanism and premorbid intelligence. Cognitive outcomes post mTBI are well-researched, and the impact of premorbid intelligence has routinely been shown in the literature to impact cognitive outcomes, but type of injury and psychiatric outcomes have received much less attention.

Method: All 108 participants were referred for outpatient neuropsychological evaluation following presentation to the emergency room with head injury. A multivariate analysis of covariance (MANCOVA) was used to explore the relationship of injury mechanism (motor vehicle accident (MVA) or fall) to psychological outcomes as measured by the major depressive disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, alcohol abuse/dependence, drug abuse/dependence, and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) scales on the Psychiatric Diagnostic Screening Questionnaire (PDSQ). Premorbid intelligence as assessed using WRAT—4 Reading was the covariate. A binary logistic regression was also used to determine which PDSQ scales were predictors of injury mechanism.

Results: In the MANCOVA analysis, alcohol abuse/dependence was the sole variable approaching significance (p = .068). The logical regression equation model accurately classified 98.9% of MVA cases, wherein alcohol abuse/dependence emerged as the lone significant predictor (p = .028).

Conclusions: Contrary to literature on cognitive outcomes, premorbid intelligence was not associated with psychological outcomes post mTBI. Independent of injury mechanism, no significant differences among PDSQ outcome scales were discovered. Finally, those with mTBI due to MVA had a higher probability of alcohol abuse/dependence compared to those with those suffering a mTBI from a fall.
A-187 Prior Concussion History and Recovery Time Following Sport-Related Concussion in High School Athletes
Authors: Gaudet Charles E , Iverson Grant L , Zafonte Ross , Berkner Paul , Cook Nathan E
Published: August 2022

Objective: To examine whether adolescents with prior concussions take longer to return to school and/or sports following a subsequent sport-related concussion.

Method: Injury surveillance data for 780 adolescents (M age=16.3, SD=1.3 years) were analyzed. Adolescents were divided into three groups: (a) no prior concussion history (69%; n=538), (b) history of one prior concussion (19.2%; n=150), and (c) history of two or more prior concussions (11.8%; n=92). We analyzed between-group differences in time to return to school and sports.

Results: Groups did not differ in time to return to school (K-W: χ2(2)=0.95, p=.62; Log Rank: χ2 (2)=2.83, p=.24) or sports (K-W: χ2(2)=2.19, p=0.33; Log Rank: χ2 (2)=3.95, p=.14). However, a greater proportion of student athletes with two or more prior concussions had not returned to their sport at 28 days postinjury compared to those with no prior concussions (23.5% vs. 12.7%; OR=2.10, 95% CI 1.18-3.73). Of note, the two or more prior concussion group contained a higher proportion of adolescents with potential pre-injury risk factors for complicated recovery, namely, depression and migraines.

Conclusions: Prior concussion history was not associated with longer time to return to school nor return to sport when examined as a continuous variable. However, at 28 days postinjury, a greater proportion of athletes with two or more prior concussions remained out of sports compared to those with no prior concussions.
A-192 A Virtual Reality-Based Stroop as a Predictor of Neurocognitive Disorder among Older Adults
Authors: Prentice Kailee , Dube Jeanne M , McKinney Brandee A , Morales Yenifer L , Hardesty Danielle R , Guillory Logan A , Parsons Thomas D , Barnett Michael D
Published: August 2022

Objective: Virtual reality-based neuropsychological tests allow for immersive stimuli, which may increase ecological validity, and allows for the inclusion of standardized distractors. The Virtual Apartment Stroop test has demonstrated evidence of construct validity among healthy older adults, but no extant research has investigated its use among clinical populations. The purpose of this preliminary study was to investigate the Virtual Apartment Stroop test as a predictor of neurocognitive disorder among older adults.

Method: The Virtual Apartment Stroop test was administered to older adults (n = 34; aged 61-90, M = 72.15, SD = 7.15; 44.1% men, 55.9% women) with (n = 7) or without (n = 27) a neurocognitive disorder as determined by a comprehensive neuropsychological evaluation. In the Virtual Apartment, the participant is situated in a home environment and Stroop test stimuli occur in single-item presentation on the television screen. Participants were administered the Virtual Apartment Stroop test both with and without distractors, with the order counterbalanced. In the distractor condition, distracting stimuli appear in various locations in the participant’s field of view.

Results: A total score was created by summing the total correct in the distractors and no distractors conditions. Binary logistic regression found that this score explained 17.5-27.5% of the variance in neurocognitive diagnosis, (Χ2 = 6.56, df = 1, p = .01, odds ratio: 0.97) and the model was able to correctly classify 85.3% of cases.

Conclusion(s): These results provide preliminary evidence that the Virtual Apartment Stroop task is sensitive to neurocognitive diagnosis among older adults.
A-193 Median- and Robust Statistics-based Attention Indices Outperform Mean-based Counterparts in Predicting Anxiety
Authors: Baker Essence , Tytler Caitlin , Yaroslavsky Ilya
Published: August 2022

Objectives: Eye-tracking paradigms may measure attentional process with greater precision than parallel reaction-time-based methods by reducing construct-irrelevant systematic error (e.g., motor activity). However, the benefits of increased sensitivity offered through eye-tracking are offset by their potential susceptibility for eye-movement outliers due to instrumentation and related effects. Arithmetic means are commonly used to index attention in multi-trial tasks but are known to be biased in the presence of outliers. Median-based indices and robust mean estimators reduce outliers’ influence but are not commonly used in the literature. This study compares the value of mean-, median-, and robust-mean based eye-tracking attention shifting indices in predicting social and generalized anxiety symptoms among community-dwelling adults with various psychiatric histories.

Methods: Participants (N=148) completed self-report measures (SIAS & PSWQ) and a visual attention shifting task via E-prime 3.0 and Tobii x3-120 eye-tracking system. Participants viewed 72 same-actor face pairs (sad-neutral & happy-neutral), and motivated attention shifting speed away from sad- or happy-valenced faces towards neutral faces served as predictors of interest. Arithmetic means, medians, and Tukey’s bisquare function-based robust means summarized attention shifting trials.

Results. Arithmetic-mean-based indices did not predict anxiety, while median-based and robust-mean indices did: slow disengagement from sad faces predicted elevated social anxiety (b[Mdn]=.02, p=.02; b[robust-M] = .021, p =.004), and robust-mean-based indices reached trend-levels when predicting worry (ps=.055-.076), while arithmetic-mean- and median-based indices did not (ps=.43-98).

Conclusion: Findings support the utility of quantifying attention processes via robust statistical approaches that attenuate outlier influence.
A-198 Manic Symptoms and Working Memory as Predictors for Applied Mathematical Problem- Solving
Authors: Arias Brittny , Harrigan D’Shawn , Peart Zachary , Perez Sophia G , Heavens Brittany , Golden Charles J
Published: August 2022

Objective: To determine the extent to which manic symptoms and working memory predict applied mathematical problem-solving abilities after controlling for age, gender, and education.

Method: Data was selected from an ongoing de-identified database of clinical adults. The sample chosen (N=136) comprised of mixed psychiatric adults consisting of Caucasians (N=65, M_edu=13,41.5% male & 58.5% female), African Americans (N=19, M_edu=12, 47.3% males & 52.7% females), Hispanics (N=39, M_edu=13,43.5% male & 56.5% female), and Other (N=13, M_edu=13,38.4% male & 61.6% female). All participants were administered the Key Math 3 Applied Problem-Solving Subtest, MMPI-2 Hypomania Scale, and WAIS-IV Working Memory Index (WMI).

Results: The WAIS-IV WMI was a significant predictor accounting for approximately 3.8% of the variance and the Hypomania scale was a significant predictor, accounting for approximately 4.4% of the incremental variance. Overall, both the hypomania scale and WMI account for 12.3% of the variance, adding an additional 4.5% of the variance over gender, age, and education.

Conclusions: The results indicate that participants’ endorsement of increased energy and working memory predict a small role in applied mathematical problem-solving. The findings highlight differences between the mental computations needed for the WMI and the ecological validity associated with applied computational skills. Previous studies have examined the effect of sleep and medications in the assessment process. The current study highlights the importance of accounting for energy level and working memory when assessing applied mathematical ability.
A-207 Spatial Working Memory in Periadolescent Children: Preliminary Findings from the PRANK Study and Implications for Alzheimer’s Disease & Down Syndrome
Authors: Sexton Jennifer , Ramirez Meghan , Phipps Connor , Heller Abi , Behm Lillian , Zatkalik Abigail , Nickolas Kristen , Maerlender Arthur , Phatak Vaishali , Cramer Justin , Blair James , Murman Daniel , Warren David
Published: August 2022

Objective: Investigate spatial working memory (SWM) in typically developing periadolescent children (TDPC) as it relates to age and hippocampal volume (HV).

Method: Using preliminary data from the Polygenic Risk for Alzheimer’s disease in Nebraska Kids study (PRANK, R01 AG064247), we investigated the association between SWM, age, and HV. Our sample included TDPC (N=80, age 8-13 years), recruited from the community and tested at University of Nebraska Medical Center; demographics were consistent with the recruitment area. SWM was measured using the Spatial Working Memory task between error term from the Cambridge Neuropsychological Battery. Structural MRI data were collected using a 3T Siemens Prisma instrument. HV was measured using automated segmentation in Freesurfer (Fischl, 2012).

Results: SWM was associated with age, r(80) = -.334, p = .002, such that older children showed fewer SWM errors than younger children. HV was not significantly associated with SWM, controlling for age, r(77) = -.027, p = .813. However, the direction of the relationship between HV and SWM (larger HV associated with fewer SWM errors) was consistent with previous literature (Faridi et al., 2015).

Conclusions: These preliminary results suggest that increasing age is associated with better SWM in TDPC; findings for HV were non-significant. Although outside the scope of this analysis, we expect that our study’s full sample will provide greater statistical power to test the association of SWM with HV. In future efforts, we will investigate this association as it relates to polygenic risk for Alzheimer’s disease and whether these results generalize to children with Down syndrome.
A-208 Assessing Workload via the NASA-TLX: A Validation Study with the Trail Making Test and Grooved Pegboard
Authors: Agbaroji Hannah A , Hatch Oliver J , Valencia Estefania , Moore David J , Wright Matthew J , Hardy David J
Published: August 2022

Objective: Workload is a useful construct in human factors and neuroergonomics research that describes “the perceived relationship between the amount of mental processing capability or resources and the amount required by the task”. We assessed workload in relation to performance on two standard neuropsychological tests, the Trails Making Test and the Grooved Pegboard.

Method: Eight college students completed the Trail Making Test (TMT) and the Grooved Pegboard (GP). Workload was assessed with the NASA-Task Load Index (NASA-TLX), a self-report measure including several subscales (we focused on Mental Demand and Physical Demand). Specifically, the NASA-TLX was completed immediately after each portion of each test.

Results: For the TMT, completion time was greater for Part B versus A, as usual. Mental demand was greater in Part B (M = 44.38, SD = 21.45) versus Part A (M = 10.63, SD = 7.76) (p = .003). There was no difference in physical demand. For the GP, no difference in completion time was evident between DH and NDH. While there was no difference in mental workload, as expected, physical demand did differ between DH (M = 31.88, SD = 27.51) and NDH (M = 43.13, SD = 27.38) (p = .035).

Conclusion(s): We validated the NASA-TLX with two standard neuropsychological tests. As expected, mental workload was greater in the more difficult TMT condition. A similar pattern was found with physical workload with the GP. We propose that workload, not normally considered in neuropsychology, might be a valuable tool in the assessment of cognitive status.
A-224 Relatively Undervalued: Comparing the Work Relative Value Units of Neuropsychological Evaluation to Other Services
Authors: Davis Jeremy , Rolin Summer
Published: August 2022

Objective: The work relative value units (wRVUs) assigned to current procedural technology (CPT) codes reflect the time, technical skill, effort, judgment, and stress involved in the procedures. This project compared the work RVUs for CPT codes used by neuropsychologists to codes used by other healthcare providers.

Method: CPT codes were collected for evaluation and management (E&M) services (99202 to 99215), psychological evaluation (PE; 90791, 96130/1, 96136/7, 90785), psychotherapy (THER; 90791, 90832 to 90837, 90785), and neuropsychological evaluation (NPE; 96116, 96132/3, 96136/7). The CMS physician fee schedule look-up tool was used to gather the wRVUs for each CPT code.

Results: E&M wRVUs vary by complexity from straightforward (0.7-0.93) to highly complex (2.8-3.5) cases. Per unit wRVUs showed a wide range in the other procedure groups: PE (0.45-3.84), THER (1.7-3.84), and NPE (0.45-2.56). PE and NPE codes are comparable except for greater wRVUs for the interview (3.84 versus 1.86). With the complexity modifier, PE and THER wRVUs increase (2.03-4.17).

Conclusions: E&M code wRVUs increase with case complexity reflecting greater demands on time, skill, effort, and judgment. Similarly, a modifier to PE and THER codes captures additional effort required for complex cases. In contrast, NPE codes lack a complexity modifier, and NPE wRVUs are lower than those of THER codes, which can be billed by master’s level therapists in many states. It is unclear why wRVUs for NPE are not higher than those for PE given the greater training requirements in neuropsychology and the higher level of specialized knowledge, effort, and technical complexity involved in competent NPE.
A-226 The reliability of the Millon Behavioral Medicine Diagnostic for Presurgical Bariatric Weight Loss Evaluations
Authors: Greenman Kyle E , Dadashadeh Sharon , Robertson Sean , Pipitone Olivia , Fallows Robert , Watts Ashley Smith , Vasoya Bella
Published: August 2022

Objective: The Millon Behavioral Medicine Diagnostic (MBMD) is routinely used in presurgical bariatric evaluations to evaluate individuals’ experience of their health, response to medical concerns in relation to treatment recommendations, history of adherence to treatment plans, and typical coping skills. Researchers (Walfish, Wise, & Streiner, 2008) raised concern that 16 of the 32 scales did not meet minimal standards of use (as defined by a Cronbach’s Alpha of >.69) within bariatric populations, and 13 of the remaining scales lacked strong evidence of reliability. The present study aimed to assess MBMD scale consistency examining a bariatric population independent of the original sample.

Method: Archival data from an independent sample of adult bariatric surgery candidates included 759 patients (Age: 46.1 [SD=12.0]; 84% female; 87% White, Non-Hispanic). We estimated internal consistency for each of the 32 scales of the MBMD. Our study sample size was adequately powered (80%) at an alpha of 0.05 for scale sizes ranging from 5 to 25 items to test a null hypothesis.

Results: Of the 32 scales, 19 (59%) had a Cronbach’s Alpha value ≥0.70, primarily including bariatric patients’ psychiatric indications (e.g., depression, anxiety) and stress moderation (e.g., social isolation, future pessimism).

Conclusion: These findings suggest 13 of the 32 scales in the MBMD are not consistently measuring unified concepts. Immediate future steps include further examination of internal consistency on the scale and item level. Additionally, examining internal consistency at the item level would be helpful in the development of a reliability index for individual response styles.
A-230 A Story Told in Four Parts: Embedded Validity Indicators’ Effectiveness in Predicting Word Choice Test Validity Classification
Authors: Basurto Karen S , Tse Phoebe K , Wisinger Amanda M , Obolsky Maximillian A , Ovsiew Gabriel P , Resch Zachary J , Soble Jason R , Jennette Kyle J
Published: August 2022

Objective: Many individual embedded performance validity tests (PVTs) have been independently cross-validated as validity indices among various clinical populations; however, research examining the additional predictive value from combining multiple embedded PVTs is more limited. The study's purpose was to examine the accuracy of eight embedded PVTs for predicting pass/failure performance on a well-validated freestanding PVT, the Advanced Clinical Solutions: Word Choice Test (WCT).

Method: The study consisted of 225 adults referred for outpatient neuropsychological evaluation that included the following embedded PVTs: Rey Auditory Verbal Learning Test (RAVLT) Forced Choice (FC), RAVLT Effort Score, Brief Visual Memory Test-Revised Recognition Discrimination (BVMT-RD), Digit Span Age Corrected Scaled Score, Reliable Digit Span, Stroop Color and Word Test Word Reading T-Score, Letter Fluency T-Score, and Trail Making Test Part A T-Score. The sample was 56% female and racially diverse (40% Black, 35% White, 17% Hispanic, 5% Asian, and 2% other ethnicities) with a mean age of 45.96 (SD=16.12) and mean education of 13.96 (SD=2.73) years.

Results: A forward stepwise logistic regression was performed to predict WCT pass/fail using the embedded PVTs as predictors. The model was achieved in three steps (p95% accuracy in correctly classifying WCT pass group.

Conclusion: RAVLT-FC, BVMT-RD, and TMT-A combined reliably predict WCT pass/fail group. Verbal and attention based embedded PVTs were found to have the most robust predictive capacity of WCT validity status.
A-232 Head-To-Head Comparison of the Rey Auditory Verbal Learning Test Effort Score and Forced Choice Embedded Performance Validity Indicators Among Patients with and without Verbal Memory Impairment
Authors: Barwegen Kearston , Resch Zachary J , Ovsiew Gabriel P , Jennette Kyle J , Soble Jason R
Published: August 2022

Objective: This study directly compared the classification accuracies of the Rey Auditory Verbal Learning Test (RAVLT) Effort Score (ES) and Forced Choice (FC) embedded performance validity indicators among patients with and without verbal memory impairment.

Methods: This study included data from 268 ethnoracially and diagnostically diverse (41% Black; 36% White; 16 % Hispanic; 5% Asian; 2% other), with mean age of 46.13 (SD=16.08) and mean education of 13.91 years (SD=2.80). Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analyses assessed classification accuracy via areas under the curve (AUCs) and facilitated selection of optimal cut-scores and their associated sensitivities/specificities for the RAVLT ES and FC among the unimpaired verbal memory (≥37T) (n=135) and impaired memory (≤36T) (n=76) subsamples.

Results: Among the overall sample, ES has acceptable classification accuracy (AUC=.724), with an optimal cutoff of ≤2 (26% sensitivity/90% specificity). FC also had acceptable accuracy (AUC = .764), with an optimal cut score ≤12 (47% sensitivity/90% specificity). For the unimpaired group, ES (AUC = .863) had an optimal cut score of ≤10 (67% sensitivity/90% specificity) and Forced Choice (AUC = .836) had an optimal cutoff of ≤14 (75% sensitivity/87% specificity). In the memory impaired group, ES no longer had significant classification accuracy (AUC = .477), whereas FC remained significant (AUC = .639), with an optimal cut score of c11 (30% sensitivity/90% specificity).

Conclusion: When compared head-to-head, RAVLT FC was a superior performance validity measure for both memory impaired and unimpaired patients compared to the ES, which only worked well as a validity index among those without significant memory impairment.
A-251 A Community-Based Longitudinal Study of Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) in Georgia
Authors: Shiukashvili Nino , Mikeladze Nino , Chikobava Saba , Kobulashvili Tamar , Tsuladze Mariam , Zamtaradze Gvantsa , Janelidze Marina
Published: August 2022

Objective: As the average population ages, dementia has become one a leading challenge for health care systems in developing and developed countries. Dementia is a progressive disorder associated with the decline of cognitive function and the ability to carry out daily activities. Along with the development of screening tools to detect early-stage MCI, it is important to find out the time-line for the MCI progression. There is little recent information available on the natural course of MCI in Georgia.

Method: A 7-year longitudinal study was conducted to track MCI progression, comparing individuals with initially healthy cognition (N=52) to patients showing symptoms of MCI (N=51). This study used MoCA as an indicator of cognitive change over the 7-year period. The MoCA was administered twice approximately 7 years apart and IADLs-at the end of the research. Participants were classified as MCI or cognitively intact based, on the results of the MoCA results.

Results: Healthy individuals had a very limited decline in MoCA scores (M=-0.004, p<.001); MCI group also showed a some decrease in MoCA scores (M=-1.2, p<.002) without any changes in IADLs scores; whereas 17.6% of healthy individuals progressed to MCI at the end of the research (M=- 4.8, p<.03), associated with the significant decline of the IADLs scores (M=-2, St.dev=3.2, p<.03), as well.

Conclusion: Progression of MCI based on MoCA and IADLs results can indicate patients’ declining ability for self-care. Because MCI patients will need increased care and monitoring as the disease progresses, the social burden of caring for these patients will likely also increase.
A-259 Interpersonal Dominance Predicts Treatment Resistance in Adolescents Without, But Not With, Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder
Authors: Rosa Izhani , Kaseda Erin , Kirsch Alexandra
Published: August 2022

Objective: Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) has been associated with interpersonal challenges in adolescents. Greater interpersonal dominance has been found to predict poorer therapeutic alliance in adolescents, but previous work has not examined a potential moderating impact of ADHD. The goal of the present study was to examine the relationship between dominance and treatment resistance as measured by the Personality Assessment Inventory-Adolescent (PAI-A) in a mixed clinical sample.

Method: Data were collected from 144 adolescents referred for neuropsychological evaluation (M=15.27 years, Range=12-19, 41.0% female, 47.9% diagnosed with ADHD). ADHD diagnosis was determined through neuropsychological clinical evaluation of behavior, mood, and cognitive functioning across settings. Exploratory moderation analysis was conducted to examine if interpersonal dominance predicts treatment rejection and to see if the relationship is moderated by ADHD status.

Results: Controlling for ADHD status, the main effect of dominance was significant, such that higher interpersonal dominance was associated with greater treatment rejection (t=2.38, p=.019). No main effect for the relationship between ADHD status and treatment rejection when controlling for dominance was observed. In participants without ADHD, dominance significantly predicted treatment rejection (t=2.38, p=.019), but the effect was no longer significant in adolescents with ADHD.

Conclusion: Based on self-report of personality, interpersonal dominance is related to treatment rejection in adolescents without ADHD, but not adolescents with ADHD. Symptoms of ADHD such as impulsivity and behavioral disinhibition may impact responses related to interpersonal functioning and thus ratings for adolescents with ADHD may not reflect the same constructs important for treatment considerations.
A-272 Neuropsychological Performance in Cognitively Normal Native and Non-Native English Speakers: A Pilot Study
Authors: Paredes Jory , Prince Thea , Schwartz Eliezer
Published: August 2022

Objective: Compare neuropsychological test performance of native English speakers (NES) and English as a second language speakers (ESLS), and investigate the effect of native language writing systems.

Method: Dataset was obtained from the National Alzheimer’s Coordinating Center (NACC). Participants were required to have normal cognition, which was determined by the evaluating clinicians. All neuropsychological tests were administered in English. Participants were age and education-matched. Twenty-five ESLS (Mage= 69.80; MEdu= 15.44) and 25 NES (Mage= 69.84; MEdu= 15.68) met inclusion criteria.

Results: Independent samples t-test revealed statistically significant group differences for: Digit Span Forward (DSF) length, Digit Span Backward (DSB), DSB length, Animal Fluency, Trail Making Test-Part A (TMT-A), Trail Making Test-Part B (TMT-B), WAIS-R Digit Symbol (WAIS-R), and Boston Naming Test (BNT). Results showed medium effect sizes that ranged from .62–.78; although, group means were in the average range. The 50 participants were further divided into three groups: native-English speakers only (NES-O), English as a second language speakers with Latin-based language origin (ESLS-LO), and English as a second language speakers with symbolic language origin (ESLS-SO). Post-hoc Hochberg’s GT2 test showed ESLS-LO and NES-O significantly differed on DSB, TMT-B, and WAIS-R. Additionally, ESLS-SO and NES-O significantly differed on the BNT. For these measures, the standardized mean difference was large (d= .80-1.10).

Conclusions: These preliminary findings indicate that NES significantly differ in most areas of cognition than ESLS, which suggests that although considered “cognitively normal,” there is greater need for neuropsychological measures that utilize normative samples that better represent all cultures, including ones with different linguistic backgrounds.
A-290 Ejection Fraction and Trail Making Test-B in Heart Failure Patients
Authors: Kung Jennifer , Connors Eric J , Hauson Alexander O , Pollard Anna A , Sarkissians Sharis
Published: August 2022

Objective: Ejection fraction (EjF) is used as a clinical indicator of cardiac function and has been associated with reduced executive functioning among heart failure (HF) patients (Hoth, 2008). However, other HF studies have found no association between EjF and neurocognitive measures (Putze, 1998; Wolfe, 2006). This meta-analysis examines the relationship between EjF and executive functioning using the Trail Making Test-B (TMT-B).

Data Selection: As part of a larger study, two researchers independently searched eight databases, extracted required data, and calculated effect sizes of HF neuropsychological data. Inclusion criteria for articles were: (a) adults diagnosed with HF, (b) matched control group on demographics (e.g. age), and (c) standardized neuropsychological testing. Exclusion criteria included: (a) comorbidity of HF with other types of major organ failure (i.e., lung or liver failure), (b) data that compared groups with different New York Heart Association (NYHA) classes of HF, or (c) studies not published or translated into English. Eight articles (HF n= 592 and HC n = 268) were analyzed.

Data Synthesis: The TMT-B evidenced a statistically significant and medium effect size estimate (g = 0.568, p < 0.001). The heterogeneity of TMT-B was not statistically significant. The meta-regression analysis between EjF and effect size was also not statistically significant (Q=.434, df=1, p=.510).

Conclusions: TMT-B detects executive functioning deficits associated with heart failure. A meta-regression did not reveal a significant relationship between EjF and TMT-B. It is likely that other factors moderated this relationship making it difficult to detect an association between these two variables in a diverse sample of studies.
A-302 Identi-Fi: Development and Validation of a Visual Organization Test
Authors: Greene Jennifer , Greene Jennifer , Molina Eduardo , Morera Carrie Champ , Reynolds Cecil , McCaffrey Robert
Published: August 2022

Objective: Visual organization measures are critical to assess accurately neuropsychological integrity. The Identi-Fi was developed to improve upon existing measures of visual organization by providing updated norms, updated visual stimuli, and reducing the need for motor responses.

Method: The Identi-Fi requires examinees to recognize illustrations which have been cut up and rearranged in the stimulus book. It consists of two subtests: Visual Recognition and Visual Matching, comprising the Visual Organization Index (VOI). The Identi-Fi was standardized utilizing a nationally-representative sample of 901 participants, aged 5 to 79 years. Multiple lines of reliability and validity evidence were examined.

Results: Cronbach’s alpha for the VOI was .90; the test-retest correlation was .81. The VOI had a significant negative correlation (r = -.62; p < .01) with Hooper Visual Organization Test (VOT). This was expected given the similarity in construct and that on the Hooper VOT, higher T scores indicate worse performance, while on Identi-Fi, higher T scores and standard scores indicate better performance. The Reynolds Intellectual Screening Test, Second Edition (RIST-2) Index was also significantly correlated with the Identi-Fi VOI (r = .41) demonstrating correlations with intelligence (p < .05). All clinical groups observed significant mean differences on the VOI compared to the control group (p < .01) with the largest effect sizes for the intellectual disability (d = 2.59) and dementia (d = 1.88) groups.

Conclusion(s): Evidence suggests Identi-Fi provides a reliable and valid measurement of visual organization when used as described. Independent research is sought for additional evidence.
A-303 Preliminary Analysis of the Influence of Age and Education on the Boston Cognitive Assessment (BoCA)
Authors: Ferguson Hayden , Turok Nora , Gold Dov , Vyshedskiy Andrey , Piryatinsky Irene
Published: August 2022

Objective: Remote cognitive assessment is increasingly common for efficient screening of patients' cognitive status. The Boston Cognitive Assessment (BoCA), is a brief, digital, global screening instrument that can be administered in-person or remotely. To evaluate the psychometric properties of the BoCA, the present study explored the effect of age and education on performance.

Method: A sample of 61 cognitively healthy adults (19-82 years old) with 12-20 years of education completed the BoCA in-person. BoCA performance is rated along eight subscales (Immediate Recall, Delayed Recall, Visuospatial, Executive Functioning, Mental Rotation, Attention, Language, Mental Math, and Orientation) with a total score of 30. A regression analysis assessed if age or education predicted BoCA scores. BoCA performance was evaluated based on age with and without adjusting for educational attainment.

Results: The regression analysis yielded a significant model with age being a significant predictor of total BoCA scores. Education did not contribute significantly. An ANOVA based on age revealed a significant effect on the Total BoCA score and specific subscales (Immediate and Delayed Memory). When adjusting for educational attainment, an ANCOVA identified significant differences within the total BoCA score and subscales of Delayed Memory and Language.

Conclusions: After correcting for level of education, results from the present study suggest that participants' age does affect the total BoCA score of cognitively healthy users. This has implications for future BoCA users, as age-adjusted scores may be necessary to prevent false positive identification of cognitive impairment using the BoCA. Potential explanations for discrepancies among age groups are discussed.
A-304 Neurocognitive considerations for Fitness for Duty Evaluations and Its Impact on Occupational Functioning in Police Psychology
Authors: Rimmer Meredith
Published: August 2022

Objective: The current abstract sought to examine (1) how neurocognitive impairments may impact occupational functioning in police officers; (2) the relationship between co-morbid disorders and cognitive functions when conducting fitness for duty evaluations; and (3) the need for future research on conducting neuropsychological assessments and fitness for duty evaluations.

Data Selection: A systematic review of the literature was utilized. Studies reviewed were empirically valid and focused on neurocognitive impairments, fitness for duty evaluation for police officers, and co-morbid psychological factors that influence cognitive performance in public safety personnel.

Data Synthesis: The impact of impaired brain functioning can affect a police officer’s judgment, reasoning, ability to resist impulses as well as their behavior and/or changes in personality (e.g., aggression) (Stephen, E. B., Bina, P., Michael B., 2020). Research has shown that PTSD is associated with mild impairments on several neurocognitive functions among police officers. Further, depression and PTSD appear to have a cumulative negative impact on speed of processing information and cognitive performance (LeBlanc, V. R., Regehr, C., Jelley, R. B., & Barath, I , 2007). Therefore, even mild subclinical cognitive difficulties experienced by police officers may affect their social and occupational functioning.

Conclusions: These considerations illustrate that neurocognitive impairments, psychological disorders, behavioral and/or personality changes are often co-morbid conditions. Therefore, there is a need for more research on comprehensive neuropsychological assessments associated with occupational functioning as part of fitness for duty evaluations. Research in this area is necessary for defining best practices in fitness for duty evaluations and is paramount for promoting public safety.
The field of protein function prediction as viewed by different domain scientists
Authors: Ramola Rashika , Friedberg Iddo , Radivojac Predrag
Published: August 2022

Motivation

Experimental biologists, biocurators, and computational biologists all play a role in characterizing a protein’s function. The discovery of protein function in the laboratory by experimental scientists is the foundation of our knowledge about proteins. Experimental findings are compiled in knowledgebases by biocurators to provide standardized, readily accessible, and computationally amenable information. Computational biologists train their methods using these data to predict protein function and guide subsequent experiments. To understand the state of affairs in this ecosystem, centered here around protein function prediction, we surveyed scientists from these three constituent communities.

Results

We show that the three communities have common but also idiosyncratic perspectives on the field. Most strikingly, experimentalists rarely use state-of-the-art prediction software, but when presented with predictions, report many to be surprising and useful. Ontologies appear to be highly valued by biocurators, less so by experimentalists and computational biologists, yet controlled vocabularies bridge the communities and simplify the prediction task. Additionally, many software tools are not readily accessible and the predictions presented to the users can be broad and uninformative. We conclude that to meet both the social and technical challenges in the field, a more productive and meaningful interaction between members of the core communities is necessary.

Availability and implementation

Data cannot be shared for ethical/privacy reasons.

Supplementary information

Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics Advances online.
Comparing Petri net-based models of biological systems using Holmes
Authors: Szawulak Bartłomiej , Radom Marcin , Formanowicz Piotr
Published: August 2022

Motivation

The first and necessary step in systems approach to study biological phenomena is building a formal model. One of the possibilities is to construct a model based on Petri nets. They have an intuitive graphical representation on one hand, and on the other, can be analyzed using formal mathematical methods. Finding homologies or conserved processes playing important roles in various biological systems can be done by comparing models. The ones expressed as Petri nets are especially well-suited for such a comparison, but there is a lack of software tools for this task.

Results

To resolve this problem, a new analytical tool has been implemented in Holmes application and described in this article. It offers four different comparison methods, i.e. the ones based on t-invariants, decomposition, graphlets and branching vertices.

Availability and implementation

Available at http://www.cs.put.poznan.pl/mradom/Holmes/holmes.html

Supplementary information

Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
Guided interactive image segmentation using machine learning and color-based image set clustering
Authors: Friebel Adrian , Johann Tim , Drasdo Dirk , Hoehme Stefan
Published: August 2022

Motivation

Over the last decades, image processing and analysis have become one of the key technologies in systems biology and medicine. The quantification of anatomical structures and dynamic processes in living systems is essential for understanding the complex underlying mechanisms and allows, i.e. the construction of spatio-temporal models that illuminate the interplay between architecture and function. Recently, deep learning significantly improved the performance of traditional image analysis in cases where imaging techniques provide large amounts of data. However, if only a few images are available or qualified annotations are expensive to produce, the applicability of deep learning is still limited.

Results

We present a novel approach that combines machine learning-based interactive image segmentation using supervoxels with a clustering method for the automated identification of similarly colored images in large image sets which enables a guided reuse of interactively trained classifiers. Our approach solves the problem of deteriorated segmentation and quantification accuracy when reusing trained classifiers which is due to significant color variability prevalent and often unavoidable in biological and medical images. This increase in efficiency improves the suitability of interactive segmentation for larger image sets, enabling efficient quantification or the rapid generation of training data for deep learning with minimal effort. The presented methods are applicable for almost any image type and represent a useful tool for image analysis tasks in general.

Availability and implementation

The presented methods are implemented in our image processing software TiQuant which is freely available at tiquant.hoehme.com.

Supplementary information

Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.