bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Feasibility of stress state assessment on the grounds of measurements of the strength of the residual magnetic field of ferromagnetics
Authors: Roskosz Maciej
Published: February 2025

The relations between stress and the values of the components of the residual magnetic field of ferromagnetic steels exposed to static and low-cycle loads were examined. For static loads the measurements of the strength of the residual magnetic field were shown under load and after unloading. For low-cycle loads, on the other hand, the impact of the number and the amplitude of changes in load were presented. It was concluded on the grounds of reference literature and the obtained results that the irreversible changes in magnetization, which result from loads, could be used as diagnostic signals. The tangential component which is parallel to the direction of tensile loads is characterized by a good correlation with stress. The fact that the value of the RMF increases significantly after yield stress is exceeded makes it possible to work out a method to determine areas with plastic strain. The conclusions presented seem to be a good starting point for further and deeper studies and analyses whose aim is to employ the strength of the residual magnetic field to assess the stress state of machine and construction components.
Metamodel as Input of an Optimization Algorithm for Solving an Inverse Eddy-Current Testing Problem
Authors: Douvenot Rémi  , Lambert Marc  , Lesselier Dominique
Published: February 2025

A method to characterize defects by processing eddy-current testing (ECT) signals is presented. It works in a short time for generic defects and work-pieces. To retrieve the dimensions of a defect, a metamodel-based Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO) is considered. Indeed, using a metamodel as an input of a stochastic method enables to significantly speed it up. The metamodel is generated using an adaptive database generation. Both tube and plate configurations, corresponding with either simulated or laboratory-controlled measured data are considered as illustration. Good accuracy and satisfactory speed of the method are exhibited, additional information besides the inversion results being provided as well, which highlights possibly indeterminate cases, making the method useful also for decision analysis.
Measurement of forces applied to a vertical grab bar for elderly people to use in coming to stand from a toilet seat
Authors: Miyoshi Hideki  , Goda Mariko  , Watanabe Naoto
Published: February 2025

Mounting-operation-free vertical (pole)-type grab bar is fixed between floor and ceiling and is currently being sold in Japan. This type of assistive device is essential to help persons with disabilities or who are aging to rise from a chair or toilet. In this research study, we measured the load applied to the grab bar by rising elderly participants to develop standards for vertical grab bars.
Sex, Drugs and Education: A Model of Education for Security in a Changed Environment
Authors: Sharpe Mary
Published: February 2025

The human mind has evolved over millions of years to survive in conditions of scarcity. In recent decades however, as a result of technological developments, the environment, political and social, has changed significantly. We are inundated with information, with access to material goods and to hyper-stimulation. The effect has been to overwhelm the delicate balances in the brain's decision-making areas as we struggle to make sense of everything. Resilience to cope with the changes is low. There is an increase in the perception of, or ‘feelings’ of, insecurity and fear. This is manifesting at the personal level with chronic stress and addictions, at societal level with a breakdown of hierarchies and institutions and at an international level with more sophisticated serious organised crime and the growth of religious extremism. A model of education based on an understanding of the human being as a whole person, physical, mental, moral and relational is required to help us adapt to the changes. The model would include lessons on how we actually learn; how the reward circuitry (temptation centre) of the brain operates and how imbalances reflect moral choice; conflict management skills based on integrative complexity; applied psychological skills that are compatible with spiritual practices and which strengthen mental resilience, ethical behaviour, promote creativity and social engagement. With such a model of education, peace, cooperation and security at both the individual and community levels could be enhanced. Research into these proven techniques for wider scale application is required.
Automated Volumetric Methods to Detect Alzheimer's Disease
Authors: de Magalhães Oliveira Jr. Pedro Paulo  , Nitrini Ricardo  , Busatto Geraldo  , Buchpiguel Carlos  , Sato João Ricardo  , Amaro Jr. Edson
Published: February 2025

We examine morphological changes in cortical thickness of patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD) using image analysis algorithms for brain structure segmentation in order to automatic detect AD patients using cortical and volumetric data. Cortical thickness of 14 AD patients was measured using FreeSurfer software package in T1 weighted MRI images and compared with 20 healthy subjects. An automated classifier based on Support Vector Machine (SVM) was applied over the volumetric measurements of subcortical and cortical structures to separate AD patients from controls. Besides the volumetric classification we noticed that the cortical thickness group analysis showed cortical thickness reduction in the superior temporal lobe, parahippocampal gyrus, and enthorhinal cortex in both hemispheres. We also found cortical thinning in the isthmus of cingulate gyrus and middle temporal gyrus at the right hemisphere, as well as a reduction of the cortical mantle in areas previously shown to be associated with AD. Automatic classification algorithms using SVM can be helpful to distinguish AD patients from healthy controls. Moreover, the same areas implicated in the pathogenesis of AD were the main parameters driving the classification algorithm. While the patient sample used in this study was relatively small, we expect that using a database of regional volumes derived from MRI scans of a large number of subjects will increase the SVM power of AD patient identification.
Survey of Protocols for the Manual Segmentation of the Hippocampus: Preparatory Steps Towards a Joint EADC-ADNI Harmonized Protocol
Authors: Boccardi Marina  , Ganzola Rossana  , Bocchetta Martina  , Pievani Michela  , Redolfi Alberto  , Bartzokis George  , Camicioli Richard  , Csernansky John G.  , de Leon Mony J.  , deToledo-Morrell Leyla  , Killiany Ronald J.  , Lehéricy Stéphane  , Pantel Johannes  , Pruessner Jens C.  , Soininen H.  , Watson Craig  , Duchesne Simon  , Jack Jr Clifford R.  , Frisoni Giovanni B.
Published: February 2025

Manual segmentation from magnetic resonance imaging (MR) is the gold standard for evaluating hippocampal atrophy in Alzheimer's disease (AD). Nonetheless, different segmentation protocols provide up to 2.5-fold volume differences. Here we surveyed the most frequently used segmentation protocols in the AD literature as a preliminary step for international harmonization. The anatomical landmarks (anteriormost and posteriormost slices, superior, inferior, medial, and lateral borders) were identified from 12 published protocols for hippocampal manual segmentation ([Abbreviation] first author, publication year: [B] Bartzokis, 1998; [C] Convit, 1997; [dTM] deToledo-Morrell, 2004; [H] Haller, 1997; [J] Jack, 1994; [K] Killiany, 1993; [L] Lehericy, 1994; [M] Malykhin, 2007; [Pa] Pantel, 2000; [Pr] Pruessner, 2000; [S] Soininen, 1994; [W] Watson, 1992). The hippocampi of one healthy control and one AD patient taken from the 1.5T MR ADNI database were segmented by a single rater according to each protocol. The accuracy of the protocols' interpretation and translation into practice was checked with lead authors of protocols through individual interactive web conferences. Semantically harmonized landmarks and differences were then extracted, regarding: (a) the posteriormost slice, protocol [B] being the most restrictive, and [H, M, Pa, Pr, S] the most inclusive; (b) inclusion [C, dTM, J, L, M, Pr, W] or exclusion [B, H, K, Pa, S] of alveus/fimbria; (c) separation from the parahippocampal gyrus, [C] being the most restrictive, [B, dTM, H, J, Pa, S] the most inclusive. There were no substantial differences in the definition of the anteriormost slice. This survey will allow us to operationalize differences among protocols into tracing units, measure their impact on the repeatability and diagnostic accuracy of manual hippocampal segmentation, and finally develop a harmonized protocol.
Relationship Between CSF Biomarkers of Alzheimer's Disease and Rates of Regional Cortical Thinning in ADNI Data
Authors: Tosun Duygu  , Schuff Norbert  , Shaw Leslie M.  , Trojanowski John Q.  , Weiner Michael W.
Published: February 2025

Previously it was reported that Alzheimer's disease (AD) patients have reduced amyloid (Aβ1-42) and elevated total tau (t-tau) and phosphorylated tau (p-tau181p) in the cerebro-spinal fluid (CSF), suggesting that these same measures could be used to detect early AD pathology in healthy elderly (CN) and mild cognitive impairment (MCI). In this study, we tested the hypothesis that there would be an association among rates of regional brain atrophy, the CSF biomarkers Aβ1-42, t-tau, and p-tau181pand ApoE ϵ4 status, and that the pattern of this association would be diagnosis specific. Our findings primarily showed that lower CSF Aβ1-42and higher tau concentrations were associated with increased rates of regional brain tissue loss and the patterns varied across the clinical groups. Taken together, these findings demonstrate that CSF biomarker concentrations are associated with the characteristic patterns of structural brain changes in CN and MCI that resemble to a large extent the pathology seen in AD. Therefore, the finding of faster progression of brain atrophy in the presence of lower Aβ1-42levels and higher p-tau levels supports the hypothesis that CSF Aβ1-42and tau are measures of early AD pathology. Moreover, the relationship among CSF biomarkers, ApoE ϵ4 status, and brain atrophy rates are regionally varying, supporting the view that the genetic predisposition of the brain to amyloid and tau mediated pathology is regional and disease stage specific.
Quantitative Structural MRI and CSF Biomarkers in Early Diagnosis of Alzheimer's Disease
Authors: Brys Miroslaw  , Glodzik Lidia  , Mosconi Lisa  , Switalski Remigiusz  , De Santi Susan  , Pirraglia Elizabeth  , Rich Kenneth  , Kim Byeong C.  , Mehta Pankaj  , Zinkowski Ray  , Pratico Domenico  , Wallin Anders  , Zetterberg Henryk  , Tsui Wai H.  , Rusinek Henry  , Blennow Kaj  , de Leon Mony J.
Published: February 2025

Combined utility of biomarkers in prediction of neurodegenerative diseases gains popularity, and is expected to become a future standard for early diagnosis, screening and monitoring of disease progression. This study investigated combined use of MRI and CSF biomarkers for prediction of pre-clinical Alzheimer's disease (AD). Forty-five subjects (21 controls (NL-NL), 16 stable mild cognitive impairment patients (MCI-MCI) and 8 MCI patients who declined to AD (MCI-AD)) received MRI and lumbar puncture at baseline and again after 2-years. CSF biomarkers included total and phosphorylated tau (T-tau, P-tau231), amyloid beta Aβ42/Aβ40and isoprostane (IP). Structural MRI images were used to identify brain regions with differences of gray matter concentration (GMC) best distinguishing study groups and to calculate individual GMC values. Additionally, rate of medial temporal lobe (MTL) atrophy was examined using regional boundary shift (rBS) method. At baseline, for MRI, MCI-AD showed reduced GMC in MTL, and for CSF higher CSF T-tau, P-tau231, IP and lower Aβ42/Aβ40as compared with MCI-MCI or NL-NL. Longitudinally, rBS-MTL atrophy was higher in MCI-AD than in either MCI-MCI or NL-NL, particularly in the left hemisphere. CSF data showed longitudinally greater increases of CSF IP in MCI-AD as compared with healthy controls. Combining baseline CSF-P-tau231and GMC-MTL significantly increased overall prediction accuracy of preclinical AD from 74 to 84% (pstep< 0.05). These results justify use of multiple modalities of biomarkers in the identification of memory clinic patients at increased risk for dementia.
Unawareness of Cognitive and Behavioral Deficits in Alzheimer's Disease may be reflected by Perfusion SPECT
Authors: Sedaghat Fereshteh  , Baloyannis Stavros J.
Published: February 2025

Unawareness of the disease or anosognosia is a common symptom among many neuropsychiatric patients and may affect the quality of life and treatment compliance in patients suffering from AD and make them to behave unsafely. Although generalized cognitive impairment may be a prerequisite for anosognosia in dementia, not all patients with cognitive impairment, present anosognosia. Deficit in regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) can be seen in different brain regions in dementia with a typical posterior temporoparietal defect in patients with Alzheimer's disease. Although functional brain imaging methods such as single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) have relatively limited spatial resolution, they offer the potential advantage of being able to assess functional connectivity patterns, associated with neural networks involved in awareness. We try to determine the brain regions that contributed to unawareness in patients with Alzheimer's disease, using SPECT. This study will focus on awareness deficits in cognitive and behavioral domains, rather than personality.
Neural Correlates of Controlled Memory Processes in Questionable Alzheimer's Disease
Authors: Bastin Christine  , Kerrouche Nacer  , Lekeu Françoise  , Adam Stéphane  , Guillaume Bénédicte  , Lemaire Christian  , Aerts Joël  , d'Ydewalle Géry  , Collette Fabienne  , Salmon Eric
Published: February 2025

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is characterized by a progressive loss of controlled cognitive processes (processes requiring mental effort and attentional resources), and functional neuroimaging at early stages of AD provides an opportunity to tease out the neural correlates of controlled processes. Controlled and automatic memory performance was assessed with the Process Dissociation Procedure in 50 patients diagnosed with questionable Alzheimer's disease (QAD). The patients' brain glucose metabolism was measured using FDG-PET. After a follow-up period of 36 months, 27 patients had converted to AD, while 23 remained stable. Both groups showed a similar decrease in controlled memory processes but preserved automatic processes at entry into the study, suggesting that impairment of controlled memory would not be specific for AD. Patients who subsequently converted to Alzheimer type dementia showed significantly decreased brain metabolism at baseline compared to stable QAD in associative cortices known to be involved in AD (the left precuneus, the right inferior parietal lobule and bilateral middle temporal cortex).Voxel-based cognitive and metabolic correlations showed that a decrease in controlled memory processes was preferentially correlated with lower activity in the dorsomedial prefrontal and posterior cingulate cortices in very early AD patients. The dorsomedial prefrontal cortex would play a role in controlled memory processes as they relate to reflective and monitoring processes, while the posterior cingulate cortex is involved in the controlled access to previously encoded episodes. In stable QAD patients, reduced controlled performance in verbal memory correlated with impaired activity in the left anterior hippocampal structure, which would alter the reactivation of associations created at encoding.
Amyloid-β and Glucose Metabolism in Alzheimer's Disease
Authors: Furst Ansgar J.  , Lal Rayhan A.
Published: February 2025

This study used PET with the amyloid-β (Aβ) imaging agent11C Pittsburgh Compound-B (PIB) and the glucose metabolic tracer18F-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) to map the relationship of Aβ deposition to regional glucose metabolism in Alzheimer's disease (AD). Comparison of 13 AD patients' FDG scans with 11 healthy controls confirmed a typical temporo-parietal hypometabolic pattern in AD. In contrast, PIB distribution-volume-ratios showed a distinct pattern of specific tracer retention in fronto-temporo-parietal regions and striatum in AD with peaks in left frontal cortex, precuneus, temporal cortex, striatum and right posterior cingulate. There were no region-to-region or within region correlations between FDG and PIB uptake in PIB positive AD patients but when the impact of Aβ load on glucose metabolism was assessed via probabilistic maps, increased amyloid burden was coupled with decreased metabolism in temporo-parietal regions and the posterior cingulate. However, importantly, severe Aβ burden was not associated with comparable metabolic decreases in large parts of the frontal lobes, the striatum and the thalamus.
Section 4: Current Advances in Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging for Detecting Alzheimer's Disease
Authors: Adamson Maheen M.
Published: February 2025

Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI) is widely used to study abnormalities of the medial temporal lobe (MTL) system in not only mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and Alzheimer's disease (AD) but also in Apolipoprotein Epsilon 4 (APOE ϵ4) carriers. Despite its limitations, new techniques involving fMRI have emerged that provide greater insights into the disruptions of the memory systems associated with AD, MCI and carrying the APOE ϵ4 genotype. This short review presents findings from recent fMRI studies and prepares the reader for the original research contributions in this chapter.
EEG Changes are Specifically Associated with Atrophy in Amydala and Hippocampus in Subjects with Mild Cognitive Impairment
Authors: Moretti Davide V.  , Zanetti Orazio  , Binetti Giuliano  , Frisoni Giovanni B.
Published: February 2025

We evaluated the association between amygdalo-hippocampal complex (AHC) atrophy and two EEG markers of cognitive decline: increase of theta/gamma and increase of alpha3/alpha2 relative power ratio. Seventy-nine subjects with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) underwent EEG recording and MRI scan.. Three groups of AHC growing atrophy were obtained. The groups were characterized by the performance to cognitive tests and theta/gamma and alpha3/alpha2 relative power ratio. AHC atrophy is associated with memory deficits as well as with increase of theta/gamma and alpha3/alpha2 ratio. Moreover, when the amygdalar and hippocampal volume are separately considered, within AHC, the increase of theta/gamma ratio is best associated with amygdalar atrophy whereas alpha3/alpha2 ratio is best associated with hippocampal atrophy. AHC atrophy is associated with memory deficits and EEG markers of cognitive decline. So far, these EEG markers could have a prospective value in differential diagnosis between MCI who will convert in in Alzheimer's disease (AD), MCI converting in non-AD dementias and MCI non-converters. The alterations of the functional connections, inducing global network pathological changes, in the whole AHC could better explain MCI state.
Working Memory Electroencephalographic Patterns in Subtypes of Amnestic Mild Cognitive Impairment
Authors: Deiber Marie-Pierre  , Ibáñez Vicente  , Gold Gabriel  , Giannakopoulos Panteleimon
Published: February 2025

Amnestic mild cognitive impairment (aMCI) is characterized by memory deficits alone (single-domain, sd-aMCI) or associated with other cognitive disabilities (multi-domain, md-aMCI). Conversion rates to dementia are greater in multi- than in single-domain aMCI, but it remains unclear whether md-aMCI is a mere progression of sd-aMCI or represents a distinct clinical entity. Electroencephalography (EEG) is an easily accessible modality particularly powerful to investigate the functional activation of neocortical circuits. Sensitive attention- and working memory-related EEG indices have been identified in MCI, providing valuable insight on the underlying cerebral alterations. The present study examined the patterns of EEG activity during the encoding and retrieval phases of working memory in md- and sd-aMCI, with the purpose to identify early differences in neural activation between the two subtypes. Continuous EEG was recorded in 43 aMCI patients, whose 16 sd-aMCI and 27 md-aMCI, and 36 age-matched controls (EC) during delayed match-to-sample tasks for face and letter stimuli. At encoding, attended stimuli elicited parietal alpha (8–12 Hz) power decrease (desynchronization), whereas distracting stimuli were associated with alpha power increase (synchronization) over right central sites. No difference was observed in parietal alpha desynchronization among the three groups, suggesting similar attention-related activation of cortical circuits. For attended faces, the alpha synchronization underlying suppression of distracting letters was reduced in both aMCI subgroups, but more severely in md-aMCI cases that differed significantly from EC. At retrieval, the early N250r recognition effect was significantly reduced for faces in md-aMCI as compared to both sd-aMCI and EC. The results suggest the differential alteration of working memory cerebral processes for faces in the two aMCI subtypes. Whereas aprogressive impairment of the cerebral activity related to distracter suppression at encoding is already presentin sd-aMCI, md-aMCI is characterized by a specific deterioration of face covert recognition process at retrieval.
Diffusion Tensor Imaging of the Hippocampus in MCI and Early Alzheimer's Disease
Authors: Fellgiebel Andreas  , Yakushev Igor
Published: February 2025

The hippocampus is among the first brain structures to be affected by Alzheimer's disease (AD) pathology. Microstructural alterations within this region have been quantified in vivo using diffusion tensor imaging (DTI), a relatively novel MRI-based technique for mapping diffusion properties of water. Existing evidence indicates that DTI-derived mean diffusivity (MD) of the anterior hippocampus is more predictive than ordinary volumetric indices of the degree of episodic memory impairment in patients with early AD. Thus, altered MD of the (anterior) hippocampus might be highly indicative of hippocampal dysfunction, thereby potentially qualifying this measure as a candidate marker for monitoring progression of AD. Longitudinal studies are needed to confirm this concept. DTI-based assessment of hippocampal microstructure might be also of value for early AD diagnosis and for predicting the course of cognitive decline in subjects at risk for Alzheimer's dementia. Mean diffusivity as microstructural and volume as macrostructural index of hippocampal integrity seem to reflect different, albeit overlapping, aspects of the neurodegenerative process. In contrast, fractional anisotropy is less efficient for quantifying microstructural integrity of the diseased hippocampus in the clinical context. Development of automatic algorithms, providing MD measurements of the hippocampus for routine use, is a task for future studies.
Cognitive Performance and Its Relation to Brain Morphology in MCI and AD
Authors: Thomann Philipp A.  , Santos Vasco Dos  , Wüstenberg Torsten  , Seidl Ulrich  , Essig Marco  , Schröder Johannes
Published: February 2025

The aim of the present study was to examine the relationship between cerebral morphological changes and cognitive deficits as determined by the CERAD neuropsychological test battery in a large group of patients with MCI and with AD and otherwise healthy elderly controls. Patients were recruited among typical memory clinic referrals and carefully matched for age, gender and educational level. Optimized voxel based morphometry was used to reveal gray matter differences between groups and to investigate the association of neuropsychological deficits with brain structural alterations. When compared to controls, AD patients and, to a lesser extent, patients with MCI showed significant atrophy predominantly in the medial temporal lobe. Deficits in verbal fluency and word finding were significantly correlated with left fronto-temporal and left temporal (including the hippocampus) changes, respectively. Decreased scores in immediate and delayed recall and in delayed recognition were associated with several cortical and subcortical areas including the parahippocampal and posterior cingulate gyrus, the right thalamus, and the right hippocampus, whereas deficits in constructional praxis and constructional praxis recall referred to regions in the left thalamus and cerebellum, and the temporal cortices, respectively. These findings lend further support to medial temporal lobe degeneration in MCI and AD and suggest that cognitive deficits reflect morphological alterations in widespread cortico-subcortical networks.
Mapping the Structural Brain Changes in Alzheimer's Disease: The Independent Contribution of Two Imaging Modalities
Authors: Canu Elisa  , McLaren Donald G.  , Fitzgerald Michele E.  , Bendlin Barbara B.  , Zoccatelli Giada  , Alessandrini Franco  , Pizzini Francesca B.  , Ricciardi Giuseppe K.  , Beltramello Alberto  , Johnson Sterling C.  , Frisoni Giovanni B.
Published: February 2025

The macrostructural atrophy of Alzheimer's disease (AD) has been fully described. Current literature reports that also microstructural alterations occur in AD since the early stages. However, whether the microstructural changes offer unique information independent from macrostructural atrophy is unclear. Aim of this study is to define the independent contribution of macrostructural atrophy and microstructural alterations on AD pathology. The study involved 17 moderate to severe AD patients and 13 healthy controls. All participants underwent conventional and non conventional MRI (respectively, T1-weighted and diffusion-weighted MR scanning). We processed the images in order to obtain gray and white matter volumes to assess macrostructural atrophy, and fractional anisotropy and mean diffusivity to assess the microstructural damage. Analyses of covariance between patients and controls were performed to investigate microstructural tissue damage independent of macrostructural tissue loss, and viceversa, voxel by voxel. We observed microstructural differences, independent of macrostructural atrophy, between patients and controls in temporal and retrosplenial regions, as well as in thalamus, corticopontine tracts, striatum and precentral gyrus. Volumetric differences, independent of microstructural alterations, were observed mainly in the entorhinal cortex, posterior cingulum, and splenium. Measures of microstructural damage provide unique information not obtainable with volumetric mapping in regions known to be pivotal in AD as well as in others thought to be spared. This work expands the understanding of the topography of pathological changes in AD that can be captured with imaging techniques.
DTI Analyses and Clinical Applications in Alzheimer's Disease
Authors: Oishi Kenichi  , Mielke Michelle M.  , Albert Marilyn  , Lyketsos Constantine G.  , Mori Susumu
Published: February 2025

DTI is one of the most effective MR tools for the investigation of the brain anatomy. In addition to the gray matter, histopathological studies indicate that white matter is also a good target for both the early diagnosis of AD and for monitoring disease progression, which motivates us to use DTI to study AD patients in vivo. There are already a large amount of studies reporting significant differences between AD patients and controls, as well as to predict progression of disease in symptomatic non-demented individuals. Application of these findings in clinical practice remains to be demonstrated.
Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopic Imaging Detects Metabolic Changes within the Medial Temporal Lobe in aMCI
Authors: Didic Mira  , Ranjeva Jean Philippe  , Barbeau Emmanuel J.  , Confort-Gouny Sylviane  , Felician Olivier  , Le Fur Yann  , Tramoni Eve  , Mancini Julien  , Poncet Michel  , Cozzone Patrick J  , Ceccaldi Mathieu
Published: February 2025

There is a critical need for reliable diagnosis of Alzheimer's Disease (AD) at an early stage, as disease modifying agents are being developed, likely to be most efficient when lesions are minimal. Using Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy (MRS), reflecting metabolic change, the NAA/mIno-ratio has been shown to be reduced in AD and to be associated with the severity of AD pathology on postmortem brain tissue. However, it is not clear if this ratio is reduced in the early stages of AD, especially within the mesial temporal lobe (MTL), where tau pathology first develops in AD. Within the MTL, neurofibrillary tangles, related to clinical signs, first affect the anterior subhippocampal cortex, then the hippocampus during the limbic stage. In the monkey, experimental studies show that the sub-hippocampal cortex is crucial for visual recognition memory (VRM). We previously found that aMCI-patients that are impaired on a VRM task have features of early AD. We assessed metabolic changes by measuring NAA/mIno-ratios within the MTL of patients with amnestic MCI (aMCI), at risk for AD, using MRS Imaging. The MTL was sampled at different levels in order to evaluate its subcomponents. The NAA/mIno-ratio was reduced in the MTL of aMCI patients. However, while these ratios in aMCI-patients with normal VRM did not differ from controls, the subgroup of aMCI patients with impaired VRM scores had reduced MTL NAA/mIno ratios. Moreover, VRM performance was correlated with NAA/mIno levels within the anterior MTL. In addition, clinical follow-up data suggests that patients with impaired VRM are more likely to develop probable AD and MCI converters were found to have metabolic changes in the MTL at baseline in comparison with controls. This confirms that MRS may be useful for the detection of AD at the predementia stage of the disease and that NAA/mIno could be considered as a further biomarker of AD. Moreover, taking into account the cognitive profile is crucial in order to select aMCI patients at very high risk for AD. Finally, this study supports the role of anterior MTL structures in VRM.
MR Spectroscopy for Assessment of Memantine Treatment in Mild to Moderate Alzheimer Dementia
Authors: Ashford J.W.  , Adamson M.  , Beale T.  , La D.  , Hernandez B.  , Noda A.  , Rosen A.  , O'Hara R.  , Fairchild J. K.  , Spielman D.  , Yesavage J.A.
Published: February 2025

Objectives: Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy (MRS) may provide a precise and reliable assessment of the extent and severity of neural tissue loss caused by various diseases. In particular, the N-Acetyl Aspartate (NAA) and Creatine (Cr) ratio has been found to be an indicator of the degree of neuronal loss in Alzheimer's disease (AD). Memantine is thought to benefit the AD brain by stabilizing the NMDA receptors on neurons in turn reducing excitotoxicity. Despite its effectiveness in treating moderate to severe AD, memantine has not had similar success in the treatment of mildly demented AD patients. The objective of this study was to test whether memantine would slow or prevent the loss of neurons in mild to moderate AD patients. Methods: A double-blind placebo-controlled study was designed to measure the effect of a year-long course of memantine in patients with a probable AD diagnosis with mild to moderate dementia. The primary outcome measure was stipulated to be change in MRS NAA/Cr ratio in inferior parietal cortex in memantine relative to the placebo treatment condition. The secondary outcome measures were changes in cognitive and function scale scores. Results: This pilot study failed to demonstrate a benefit of memantine on the primary outcome measure, the inferior parietal NAA/Cr ratio, or the secondary outcome measures. Conclusions: More studies are needed to determine the effect of memantine on regions of the brain significantly affected by AD pathology.
Cognitive Training Changes Hippocampal Function in Mild Cognitive Impairment: A Pilot Study
Authors: Rosen Allyson C.  , Sugiura Lisa  , Kramer Joel H.  , Whitfield-Gabrieli Susan  , Gabrieli John D.
Published: February 2025

A randomized pilot experiment examined the neural substrates of response to cognitive training in participants with mild cognitive impairment (MCI). Participants performed exercises previously demonstrated to improve verbal memory and an active control group performed other computer activities. An auditory-verbal fMRI task was conducted before and after the two-month training program. Verbal memory scores improved significantly and left hippocampal activation increased significantly in the experimental group (gains in 5 of 6 participants) relative to the control group (reductions in all 6 participants). Results suggest that the hippocampus in MCI may retain sufficient neuroplasticity to benefit from cognitive training.
An MRI Brain Atrophy and Lesion Index to Assess the Progression of Structural Changes in Alzheimer's Disease, Mild Cognitive Impairment, and Normal Aging: A Follow-Up Study
Authors: Zhang Ningnannan  , Song Xiaowei  , Zhang Yunting  , Chen Wei  , D'Arcy Ryan C.N.  , Darvesh Sultan  , Fisk John D.  , Rockwood Kenneth
Published: February 2025

Background: A brain atrophy and lesion index (BALI) based on high-field magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has recently been validated to evaluate structural changes in the aging brain. The present study investigated the two-year progression of brain structural deficits in people with Alzheimer's disease (AD) and mild cognitive impairment (MCI), and in healthy control older adults (HC) using the BALI rating. Methods: T1-weighted high-resolution anatomical imaging data using 3 Tesla MRI at baseline (AD = 39, MCI = 82, HC = 58) and at 24-months were obtained from the Alzheimer's disease Neuroimaging Initiative database. Lesions in various brain structures, including the infratentorial and basal ganglia areas, and the periventricular and deep white matter and global atrophy, were evaluated and combined into the BALI scale. Results: Mean progression of brain deficits over two years was evident in all diagnostic groups (p < 0.001) and was statistically greater in MCI-AD converters than in the non-converters (p = 0.044). An increase in the BALI score was significantly associated with cognitive test scores (p = 0.008 for the Mini-Mental State Examination MMSE and p = 0.013 for the Alzheimer's Disease Assessment Scale-Cognitive Subscale ADAS-cog) in a model that adjusted for age, sex, and education. Conclusion: The BALI rating quantified the progression of brain deficits over two years, which is associated with cognitive decline. BALI ratings may be used to help summarize AD-associated structural variations.
Power Calculations for Clinical Trials in Alzheimer's Disease
Authors: Ard M. Colin  , Edland Steven D.
Published: February 2025

The Alzheimer research community is actively pursuing novel biomarker and other biologic measures to characterize disease progression or to use as outcome measures in clinical trials. One product of these efforts has been a large literature reporting power calculations and estimates of sample size for planning future clinical trials and cohort studies with longitudinal rate of change outcome measures. Sample size estimates reported in this literature vary greatly depending on a variety of factors, including the statistical methods and model assumptions used in their calculation. We review this literature and suggest standards for reporting power calculation results. Regardless of the statistical methods used, studies consistently find that volumetric neuroimaging measures of regions of interest, such as hippocampal volume, outperform global cognitive scales traditionally used in clinical treatment trials in terms of the number of subjects required to detect a fixed percentage slowing of the rate of change observed in demented and cognitively impaired populations. However, statistical methods, model assumptions, and parameter estimates used in power calculations are often not reported in sufficient detail to be of maximum utility. We review the factors that influence sample size estimates, and discuss outstanding issues relevant to planning longitudinal studies of Alzheimer's disease.
Discriminating Alzheimer's Patients from Cognitively Normal Older Adults Based on Hippocampal Volumes - Voxel-Based Morphometry with DARTEL and Standard Registration Versus Manual Volumetry
Authors: Mak Henry Ka-Fung  , Zhang Zhipeng  , Yau Kelvin Kai-Wing  , Zhang Linda  , Chan Queenie  , Chu Leung-Wing
Published: February 2025

Hippocampal atrophy on Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) has been increasingly used as a supportive feature for the diagnosis of Alzheimer's patients. We attempt to compare voxel-based morphometry (VBM) with DARTEL and standard registration versus manual hippocampal volumetry in discriminating Alzheimer's disease (AD) patients from cognitively normal older adults. Participants were 20 cognitively normal elderly subjects and 19 AD patients who met the criteria of probable AD according to NINCDS-ADRDA. High resolution T1-weighted (T1W) 3D volumetric Fast Field Echo sequence was obtained using 3.0-Tesla scanner. Bilateral manual hippocampal volumetry (ANALYZE 7.0 software) and VBM hippocampal region-of-interests (using hippocampal masks MARINA) were generated with DARTEL and standard registration (Statistical Parametric Mapping SPM5 software). Normalization with total intracranial volumes was employed for both methods. All normalized hippocampal measurements showed significant reduction (20–30%; p < 0.001) in AD compared to controls. Logistic regression analysis also showed significant effects (odds ratios ranged from 88.2% to 94.0%) of all normalized measurements in predicting AD incidence after adjusting for age, gender, and education. The overall prediction accuracies of manual RH and LH volumes, standard RH-ROI and LH-ROI VBM, DARTEL RH-ROI and LH-ROI VBM were 87.2%, 84.6%, 87.2%, 76.9%, 87.2%, and 87.2%, respectively. VBM with DARTEL and standard registration have similarly high efficacies as manual hippocampal volumetry in discriminating AD from cognitively normal elderly adults.
Using an Eye Movement Task to Detect Frontal Lobe Dysfunction in Alzheimer's Disease
Authors: Kaufman Liam D.  , Pratt Jay  , Levine Brian  , Black Sandra E.
Published: February 2025

The number of people living with Alzheimer's Disease (AD), the number one cause of Dementia, is projected to increase dramatically over the next few decades, making the search for treatments and tools to measure the progression of AD increasingly urgent. The antisaccade task, a hands- and language-free measure of inhibitory control, has been utilized in AD as a potential diagnostic test. In the antisaccade task, a participant is told to inhibit a reflexive (or automatic), visually-guided saccade (rapid eye-movement) to a peripheral target, and to make an “antisaccade” in the opposite direction to a non-existent target. While antisaccades do not appear to differentiate AD from healthy aging better than measures of episodic memory, they may still be beneficial. Specifically antisaccades may provide not only a functional index of the Dorsolateral Prefrontal Cortex (DLPFC), which is damaged in the later stages of AD, but also a tool for monitoring the progression of Alzheimer's Disease.
Combinatorial Markers of Mild Cognitive Impairment Conversion to Alzheimer's Disease - Cytokines and MRI Measures Together Predict Disease Progression
Authors: Furney Simon J.  , Kronenberg Deborah  , Simmons Andrew  , Güntert Andreas  , Dobson Richard J.  , Proitsi Petroula  , Wahlund Lars Olof  , Kloszewska Iwona  , Mecocci Patrizia  , Soininen Hilkka  , Tsolaki Magda  , Vellas Bruno  , Spenger Christian  , Lovestone Simon
Published: February 2025

Progression of people presenting with Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) to dementia is not certain and it is not possible for clinicians to predict which people are most likely to convert. The inability of clinicians to predict progression limits the use of MCI as a syndrome for treatment in prevention trials and, as more people present with this syndrome in memory clinics, and as earlier diagnosis is a major goal of health services, this presents an important clinical problem. Some data suggest that CSF biomarkers and functional imaging using PET might act as markers to facilitate prediction of conversion. However, both techniques are costly and not universally available. The objective of our study was to investigate the potential added benefit of combining biomarkers that are more easily obtained in routine clinical practice to predict conversion from MCI to Alzheimer's disease. To explore this we combined automated regional analysis of structural MRI with analysis of plasma cytokines and chemokines and compared these to measures of APOE genotype and clinical assessment to assess which best predict progression. In a total of 205 people with MCI, 77 of whom subsequently converted to Alzheimer's disease, we find biochemical markers of inflammation to be better predictors of conversion than APOE genotype or clinical measures (Area under the curve (AUC) 0.65, 0.62, 0.59 respectively). In a subset of subjects who also had MRI scans the combination of serum markers of inflammation and MRI automated imaging analysis provided the best predictor of conversion (AUC 0.78). These results show that the combination of imaging and cytokine biomarkers provides an improvement in prediction of MCI to AD conversion compared to either datatype alone, APOE genotype or clinical data and an accuracy of prediction that would have clinical utility.
Enhanced and Parameterless Locality Preserving Projections for Face Recognition
Authors: Dornaika F.  , Assoum A.  , Moujahid A.
Published: February 2025

An improved linear manifold learning method for object recognition is proposed. This method is called enhanced Locality Preserving Projections (LPP), and integrates two interesting properties: (i) being entirely parameter-free, and (ii) the mapped data are uncorrelated. The parameterless computation of the affinity matrix draws on the notion of meaningful and adaptive neighbors. Recognition tasks on five face data sets show a clear improvement over the results of a classical LPP. The proposed approach could also be applied to other categories of objects.
A Proposal for the Aesthetics of Engagement in Intelligent Environments
Authors: Cham Karen
Published: February 2025

This proposal concerns design methods for aesthetic user experiences in intelligent environments. Drawing upon over twenty years of practice as an installation artist and digital designer, I set out the case for a ‘systems aesthetic’ approach to the multidisciplinary field of designing intelligent environments. “Whilst differing characteristics such as frequency, loudness, direction, power” etc may induce physical responses and attendant emotions in the user, human perception of music, art, choreography etc is complex and anchored in the thorny issue of aesthetics. Whilst this subject has been notoriously difficult to address as it is by its nature, anchored in subjectivity, all art, performance, and creative work are expressly designed to address subjectivities and all artists' works go some way towards “predicting spectators' reactions, influencing and affecting peoples' views, mind, life, and the future” by means of aesthetic engagement. In the most engaging work, art practice and creative processes are strategic, refined and focused even if not entirely tangible. Key concepts from art and design theory can help us apprehend these practices and are some are integrated here. Indeed, in the commercial practices of marketing and advertising we can perceive a causal link between design, engagement in aesthetics and future behaviors. This proposal argues that “to positively and therapeutically influence users' life style, health, and spirit” we must do it by design.
Progress Towards a Smart Multi-modal Technical Office for the Disabled – a Review
Authors: Hunter Gordon  , Wigmore Angela
Published: February 2025

We discuss issues which are standing in the way of disabled students getting good educational and career opportunities in scientific and technological fields. We then investigate ways in which an adaptive, multi-modal “smart workplace” could alleviate some of these problems. Focusing on issues relating to accessibility of mathematical content, we discuss some previous approaches before introducing our own system, TalkMaths, as a case study.
High Performance Composition Operators in Component Models
Authors: Bigot Julien  , Pérez Christian
Published: February 2025

Scientific numerical applications are always expecting more computing and storage capabilities to compute at finer grain and/or to integrate more phenomena in their computations. Even though, they are getting more complex to develop. However, the continual growth of computing and storage capabilities is achieved with an increase complexity of infrastructures. Thus, there is an important challenge to define programming abstractions able to deal with software and hardware complexity. An interesting approach is represented by software component models. This chapter first analyzes how high performance interactions are only partially supported by specialized component models. Then, it introduces HLCM, a component model that aims at efficiently supporting all kinds of static compositions.
Distributed Storage and Parallel Processing in Large-Scale Wireless Sensor Networks
Authors: Wang Yuexuan  , Wang Yongcai
Published: February 2025

A Large-scale Wireless Sensor Network (LWSN). such as an environment monitoring system deployed in a city, could yield data on the order of petabytes each year. Storage and computation of such vast quantities of data pose difficult challenges to the LWSN, particularly because sensors are highly constrained by their scarce resources. Distributed storage and parallel processing are solutions that deal with the massive amount of data by utilizing the collective computational power of the large number of sensors, all while keeping inter-node communication minimized to save energy. In this chapter, we conduct a survey on the state-of-the-art of distributed storage and parallel processing in LWSNs. We will focus on the LWSN scenario in which vast amounts of data are collected prior to intensive computation on that data. We argue that current research results in this direction fall into three categories: 1) hierarchical system architecture to support parallel and distributed computation; 2) distributed data aggregation and storage strategies; 3) parallel processing, scheduling and programming methods. We highlight some important results for each of these categories and discuss existing problems and future directions.
STAND4ALL: Training of stakeholders on consultations on standardization
Authors: Mosies Charlotte
Published: February 2025

Within the EU funded project “STAND4ALL” (2009-2010) both users with a functional impairment and representatives in standardization were trained to take into account the needs of older people and people with disabilities in standardization.
Strategies Developed by Parents in Wheelchairs with Children Aged 6 to 12
Authors: Vincent Claude  , Bergeron Cynthia  , Boucher Normand
Published: February 2025

The purpose of this article is to present the various dimensions of the experience of parents in wheelchairs with children aged 6 to 12. The study sought to present for each parenting dimension, the personal strategies developed including assistive technology. Semi-structured one-on-one interviews were conducted with six fathers and six mothers in wheelchairs, followed by a thematic analysis of the content using procedures that met rigorous qualitative research criteria. Results show three parental dimensions and the used of seven personal strategies (guidance, preplanning, defend their rights, develop ways of doing things, equip the child. adapt, assistive technology).