Test Battery Research Articles

Auditory and vestibular function in mitochondrial patients harbouring the m.3243A>G variant.

Hearing impairment is a frequent clinical feature in patients with mitochondrial disease harbouring the pathogenic variant, m.3243A>G. However, auditory neural dysfunction, its perceptual consequences and implications for patient management are not established. Similarly, the association with vestibular impairment has not yet been explored. This case-control study investigated in 12 adults with genetically confirmed m.3243A>G adults [9 females; 45.5 ± 16.3 years (range 18-66); 47.1 ± 21.5 hearing level, dB] compared with 12 age, sex and hearing level-matched controls with sensory (cochlear level) hearing loss [9 females; 46.6 ± 11.8 years (range 23-59); 47.7 ± 25.4 hearing level, dB]. Participants underwent a battery of electroacoustic, electrophysiologic and perceptual tests, which included pure tone audiometry, otoacoustic emissions, auditory brainstem responses, auditory temporal processing measures, monaural/binaural speech perception, balance and vestibular testing and self-reported questionnaires (dizziness and hearing disability). Our findings showed evidence of auditory neural abnormality and perceptual deficits greater than expected for cochlear pathology. Compared with matched controls with sensory hearing loss, adults with mitochondrial disease harbouring m.3243A>G had abnormal electrophysiologic responses from the VIII nerve and auditory brainstem (P = 0.005), an impaired capacity to encode rapidly occurring acoustic signal changes (P = 0.005), a reduced ability to localize sound sources (P = 0.028) and impaired speech perception in background noise (P = 0.008). Additionally, vestibular dysfunction (P = 0.011), greater perceived dizziness (P = 0.001) and reduced stance time (balance, P = 0.009) were also seen in participants with m.3243A>G mitochondrial disease when compared with matched counterparts. This pilot study revealed that auditory evaluation including evoked potential responses from the auditory nerve/brainstem and speech perception in noise tests should form an important part of the management for individuals with m.3243A>G-related mitochondrial disease. Those presenting with hearing impairment and symptoms concerning balance and dizziness should undergo vestibular testing and appropriate management.

Association between working memory performance and parent and teacher ratings of working memory in 11-year-old children born preterm

ABSTRACT Working memory (WM) difficulties are often observed in children born preterm. We examined whether performance-based measures of WM components are associated with parent- and teacher-rated WM difficulties in the everyday life of children born very preterm and/or at very low birth weight (VPT/VLBW) at 11 years (n = 165). The WM components as defined in the original Baddeley’s model – phonological loop (PL), visuospatial sketchpad (VS), and central executive (CE) – were assessed with tasks from the Working Memory Test Battery for Children (WMTB-C) and the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children – Fourth edition (WISC-IV). Parents and teachers completed the WM subscale of the Behavioral Rating Inventory for Executive Functions (BRIEF). Measures of WM components were modestly associated with BRIEF scores, explaining 18.9% of the variance in parent-rated and 14.0% of teacher-rated WM difficulties. CE was the component most consistently associated with parent- and teacher-rated everyday WM. To conclude, our results suggest that tasks that utilize CE functions may best reflect WM outside of controlled test settings in the follow-up of VPT/VLBW children. However, performance and rating-scale measures provide unique information and are both needed to comprehensively assess WM skills.

The validity of studying healthy aging with cognitive tests measuring different constructs

A clinically useful characterization of the cognitive aging process requires the development of valid and robust behavioral tests, with an emphasis on explaining and understanding typical inter-individual variability in cognition. Here, using a dataset that includes behavioral scores collected with the National Institute of Health Toolbox Cognition Battery (NIHTB-CB) and other auxiliary tests, we examined (1) the differences between young and old adults across different cognitive domains, (2) the strength of across-subject correlations in behavioral test scores, (3) the consistency of low-dimensional behavioral representations across age using factor analysis, and (4) the accuracy of behavioral scores in predicting participants’ age. Our results revealed that (1) elderly females had better verbal episodic memory scores than elderly males, (2) across-subject correlations between behavioral tests varied with age group, (3) although a three-factor model explained the behavioral data in both age groups, some tasks loaded to different factors between the two groups, and (4) age-performance relationship (i.e. a regression model linking age to cognitive scores) in one group cannot be extrapolated to predict age in the other group, indicating an inconsistency in age-performance relationships across groups. These findings suggest that executive function tests might tap into different cognitive processes in different age groups, which might ultimately suggest that a statistically significant between-group difference in test performance might not always reflect differences in the same underlying cognitive processes. Overall, this study calls for more caution when interpreting age-related differences and similarities between age groups with different cognitive abilities even when the same tests are used.

Determining whether false positive rates increase with performance validity test battery expansion

Objective Performance validity test (PVT) misclassification is an important concern for neuropsychologists. The present study determined whether expanding PVT analysis from 4-PVTs to 8-PVTs could lead to elevated rates of false positive performance validity misclassifications. Method Retrospective analysis of 443 patients who underwent a fixed neuropsychological test battery in a mixed clinical and forensic setting. Rates of failing two PVTs were compared to those predicted by Monte Carlo simulations when PVT analysis extended from 4-PVTs to 8-PVTs. Indeterminate performers (IDT; n = 42; those who failed two PVTs only after PVT analysis extended from 4-PVTs to 8-PVTs) were compared to a PVT-Fail group (n = 148; those who failed two PVTs in the 4-PVT battery or failed >2 PVTs). Results Rate of failing two PVTs remained stable when PVT analysis extended from 4- to 8-PVTs (12.9 to 11.9%) and was significantly lower than those predicted by Monte Carlo simulations. Compared to PVT-Fail, the IDT group was significantly younger, had stronger neuropsychological test performance, and demonstrated comparable rates of forensic referral and conditions with known neurocognitive sequelae (e.g. stroke, moderate-to-severe TBI). Conclusions Monte Carlo simulations significantly overestimated rates of individuals failing two PVTs as PVT battery length doubled. IDT did not differ from PVT-Fail across variables with known PVT effects (e.g. age, referral context, neurologic diagnoses), lowering concern that this group is comprised entirely of false-positive PVT classifications. More research is needed to determine the effect of PVT battery length on validity classification accuracy.

Cognitive effects, pharmacokinetics, and safety of zuranolone administered alone or with alprazolam or ethanol in healthy adults in a phase 1 trial.

Zuranolone is an oral, once-daily, 14-day treatment course approved for adults with postpartum depression in the United States. To assess cognitive effects, pharmacokinetics, and safety of zuranolone, alone or with alprazolam/ethanol. This was a phase 1, two-part, two-period, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled crossover trial. Participants received zuranolone 50 mg or placebo once daily for 9 days, and additionally received alprazolam (1 mg, Part A), ethanol (males: 0.7 g/kg; females: 0.6 g/kg, Part B), or corresponding placebo on days 1, 5, and 9. Within each part, participants received all treatment combinations. Cognition was assessed using a computerized test battery; pharmacokinetics and safety were also evaluated. All participants (Part A, N = 24; Part B, N = 25) received ⩾1 dose of zuranolone/placebo. Compared to placebo, zuranolone produced small-to-moderate cognitive decline (Cohen's |d| = 0.126-0.76); effects were larger with alprazolam (Cohen's |d| = 0.523-0.93) and ethanol (Cohen's |d| = 0.345-0.88). Zuranolone coadministration with alprazolam (Cohen's |d| = 0.6-1.227) or ethanol (Cohen's |d| = 0.054-0.5) generally worsened cognitive decline when compared with zuranolone alone. Maximal pharmacodynamic effects occurred at approximately 5 h and were resolved by 12 h postbaseline. No pharmacokinetic interactions were observed. Incidence of adverse events was similar between groups; most events were mild or moderate in severity. A general small-to-moderate magnitude decline in cognition occurred with zuranolone alone. Coadministration with alprazolam/ethanol increased the magnitude, but not the duration, of effects compared with single-agent administration. Zuranolone prescribers and patients should be aware of the potential for increased central nervous system-depressant effects if coadministered with GABAergic active compounds such as alprazolam and ethanol.

Surgical treatment of meningiomas improves neurocognitive functioning and quality of life – a prospective single-center study

Background and purposeEarly diagnosis and the refinement of treatment of patients with intracranial meningiomas have brought quality of life (QoL) and neurocognitive functioning as outcome measures into focus. The aim of this study is a comprehensive assessment of neurocognitive function, quality of life and the presence of depression in meningioma patients before and after surgery.MethodsPatients with MRI diagnosis of intracranial meningioma and indication for surgery were prospectively included. A clinical neuropsychologist performed neurocognitive assessments within 3 months before and 12 months after surgery. The test battery included investigation of selective and divided attention, verbal and figural memory, executive functioning, and word fluency. Self-report questionnaires to assess depressive symptoms, QoL, and disease coping were administered. Raw values and t-values were compared pre-and postoperatively. Outcome was stratified by tumor- and peritumoral brain edema (PTBE) volumes, postoperative resolution of PTBE and WHO grade. The study included 18 predominantly female patients (83%) with a median age of 59 years and mostly CNS WHO grade 1 meningiomas (83%).ResultsThere was a significant postoperative improvement in the ability to selectively react under stress, in working memory and improved delayed reproduction of verbal and visual memory content. QoL improved regarding a reduction in physical problems, an improvement in energy, and social functioning. There was a trend towards worse preoperative scores in all tests, and greater postoperative improvement in patients with PTBE. Tumor volume had no effect on the measured outcome. The patients did not suffer from depressive symptoms before the surgery but improved postoperatively and most patients had an active, problem-oriented coping strategy.ConclusionResection of intracranial meningiomas leads to an improvement in multiple neurocognitive domains and QoL. There is a trend towards poorer preoperative neurocognitive functioning and greater postoperative improvement in patients with PTBE. Depression appears to play a minor role in the context of neurocognitive functioning and disease coping.

Cognition in (pre)symptomatic Dutch-type hereditary and sporadic cerebral amyloid angiopathy.

Cerebral amyloid angiopathy (CAA) is a main cause of cognitive dysfunction in the elderly. We investigated specific cognitive profiles, cognitive function in the stage before intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH), and the association between magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) based cerebral small vessel disease (cSVD) burden in CAA because data on these topics are limited. We included Dutch-type hereditary CAA (D-CAA) mutation carriers with and without ICH, patients with sporadic CAA (sCAA), and age-matched controls. Cognition was measured with a standardized test battery. Linear regression was performed to assess the association between MRI-cSVD burden and cognition. D-CAA ICH- mutation carriers exhibited poorer global cognition and executive function compared to age-matched controls. Patients with sCAA performed worse across all cognitive domains compared to D-CAA ICH+ mutation carriers and age-matched controls. MRI-cSVD burden is associated with decreased processing speed. CAA is associated with dysfunction in multiple cognitive domains, even before ICH, with increased MRI-cSVD burden being associated with slower processing speed. Cognitive dysfunction is present in early disease stages of cerebral amyloid angiopathy (CAA) before the occurrence of symptomatic intracerebral hemorrhage (sICH). Presymptomatic Dutch-type CAA (D-CAA) mutation carriers show worse cognition than age-matched controls. More early awareness of cognitive dysfunction in CAA before first sICH is needed. Increased cerebral small vessel disease CAA-burden on magnetic resonance imaging is linked to a decrease in processing speed.

Health-Related Field-Based Fitness Tests: Normative Values for Italian Primary School Children.

Background/Objectives: conducting fitness tests in educational settings can lead to advantages for both individuals and groups, beyond just enhancing fitness. With the aim of appropriately interpreting performance, this study was conducted to establish sex- and age-specific percentile normative data for a physical fitness (PF) protocol and to define a compound measure of physical performance. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, a short, feasible, and easy-to-administer test battery was performed for 5106 school children, aged 6-10 years. Gender- and age-specific percentiles for the PF tests were constructed, and a Physical Fitness-Motor Competence Performance Index (PF-MC PI) was calculated according to the percentiles. Results: Boys scored higher in all the PF tests when compared to girls (p < 0.001). There was also a trend towards increased PF levels as the age increased in both genders (p < 0.0001). Correlations between scores on individual test items were moderate to high (r from 0.549 to 0.700), and all individual test item scores significantly correlated with the PF-MC PI (p < 0.0001). Conclusions: the provided percentile values will enable the correct interpretation and monitoring of the fitness status of children and the PF-MC PI can be used for easily rating children's health-related fitness qualities.

Secular trends of physical fitness in Austrian children attending sports schools: An analysis of repeated cross-sections from 2006 to 2023

BackgroundPhysical fitness (PF) offers numerous physical and mental health benefits, especially during childhood. Previous studies investigating trends in children's PF over the years reported contradictory findings. ObjectiveTo identify and analyse secular trends in PF among Austrian schoolchildren from 2006 to 2023. MethodA repeated cross-sections design was used to examine the PF of children enrolling in sports schools between 2006 and 2023. During this period, a standardized eight-item motor performance testing battery was administered yearly to capture markers of strength, speed, endurance, agility and reaction time in Austrian schools. ResultsA total of n = 3827 children (996 girls) with a mean age of 9.9 ± 1.0 years were included. Linear mixed models indicated significant declines in sprint performance (5, 10, 20 m), tapping, jump (long jump and drop jump), throwing (medicine ball), and agility (snake run). No changes were observed in cardiorespiratory fitness (8 min run) or reaction time. ConclusionThere has been a steady decline in PF among Austrian children attending sports schools. This finding underscores the need for enhanced PF monitoring and training in schools to improve public health outcomes.

Remaining useful life prediction of high-capacity lithium-ion batteries based on incremental capacity analysis and Gaussian kernel function optimization

Remaining useful life (RUL) is a key indicator for assessing the health status of lithium (Li)-ion batteries, and realizing accurate and reliable RUL prediction is crucial for the proper operation of battery systems. As high-capacity Li batteries have more complex chemical properties, most of the current RUL prediction methods rely mainly on a priori knowledge to make judgments. As a result, prediction accuracy is not high. In this study, we developed a health indicator-capacity (HI-C) dual Gaussian process regression (GPR) model based on incremental capacity analysis (ICA) and optimized its kernel function to achieve accurate RUL prediction for 280 Ah high-capacity Li batteries. Validation against the United States National Aeronautics and Space Administration’s four battery test datasets showed that the use of the HI-C dual GPR model resulted in a mean absolute percentage error and root mean square error of less than 0.02 and 0.04, respectively, for the four battery-rated capacity predictions. Additionally, this model achieved an absolute error of less than five battery failure turns. Compared with a single model, the HI-C dual GPR model not only had high accuracy but also solved the problem that the HI was not measurable in the actual battery operation, which made it more suitable for RUL prediction of Li batteries.

Functional observational battery (FOB) tests using caffeine and chlorpromazine hydrochloride in sprague-dawley rats.

Caffeine is believed to exert its therapeutic effects by acting as a nonselective, competitive antagonist of adenosine receptors. Chlorpromazine, a phenothiazine, is a classic psychotropic mediator extensively used in the clinical administration of psychotic disorders. This study aimed to validate the procedures used for performing Functional Observational Battery (FOB) tests, to demonstrate the proficiency and interobserver reliability during the FOB tests and also to assess effect on neurobehavioral parameters using positive controls in rats. The rats were administered with Caffeine in Milli-Q water as oral gavage at the dose of 20 mg/kg and Chlorpromazine HCl in 0.9% Saline as intraperitoneal route at the dose of 20 mg/kg. No inter-personnel variability was observed in home cage, handling, open field and sensory reactivity observations recorded in Proficiency test. In conclusion, the known effects of positive controls; caffeine and chlorpromazine HCl on neurobehavioral/Functional Observational Battery parameters including autonomic, neuromuscular and sensory reactivity tests were detected in the current study. FOB test procedures for neurobehavioral, grip strength and motor activity are adequate for the detection of neurotoxic effects of positive controls. No major inter-personnel variability was observed between study personnel in neurobehavioural observations.

Characterization of Apathy-Like Behaviors in Mouse Models of Down Syndrome.

Apathy is a state of decreased interest, lack of initiative, reduced goal-directed activity and blunted emotional responses. Apathy is one of the most common neuropsychiatric symptoms (NPS) in patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD) and is also relatively omnipresent in individuals with Down syndrome (DS). Little is known about the apathy-like behaviors in rodent models of AD and DS. This study aimed to characterize apathy-like behaviors with aging in two established DS mouse models: Ts65Dn and Dp16. A battery of behavioral tests including nestlet shredding, marble burying, nest building, and burrowing were performed to examine apathy-like behaviors. Individual z-scores for each mouse for each test, and a composite z-score of apathy-like behavior were analyzed for all mice from these behavioral tests. Analysis of individual test results and composite z-score revealed significant apathy-like behaviors in Ts65Dn mice compared to WT controls. In contrast, Dp16 mice did not exhibit significant apathy-like behaviors. Our study is the first to characterize apathy-like behaviors in mouse models of DS with aging and highlights the difference between Ts65Dn and Dp16 DS model mice regarding apathy-like manifestations with aging.

Negative Externalities of Regulation: Identity‐relevant Information in Mandatory Short‐selling Disclosures

Since November 2012, short sellers have been required to disclose all their significant short positions against European firms. While this regulation was primarily implemented to have implications for financial markets, I explore its negative externalities on shorted firms. Using mandatory disclosures of short positions between 2013 and 2019, I find that short‐selling notifications and the number of short sellers with an open short position are positively associated with shorted firms’ dividend policies. Notably, the association is more pronounced for upward and initial notifications compared to downward and follow‐up notifications. These results are robust to several matching methods and a battery of robustness tests. Additional results reveal that shorted firms might increase their dividends because short‐selling disclosures reveal the identity of active and large short sellers, highlighting the importance of short sellers’ heterogeneity. I also show that shorted firms increase their dividends temporarily and do not react homogenously, as they engage in a cost–benefit analysis to decide whether to use their dividend policy. Overall, I document the real effects on shorted firms of an alternative form of short selling, bridging the gap between passive and activist short selling. I conclude that mandatory short‐selling disclosure regimes carry negative externalities for firms due to the provision of short sellers’ identity‐relevant information.

Content Analysis of Postgraduate Theses About the Relationship Between Autism Spectrum Disorder and Physical Activity in Türkiye in 2010-2023

The aim of this study is to evaluate the postgraduate theses on the relationship between autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and physical activity registered at the YÖK National Thesis Center between the years 2010-2023 and to examine these theses using the headings of descriptive features, content and methodology. A total of sixty-one (61) theses, forty-four (44) master's theses and seventeen (17) doctoral theses, on the relationship between ASD and physical activity between the years 2010-2023 were included in the study. The data of the study were obtained by using the document review model, which is one of the qualitative research methods, and analyzed by the content analysis method. Within the scope of the findings obtained from the study, it is seen that the postgraduate theses were mostly published between the years 2019-2023 and most of them were completed at Gazi University. The findings obtained show that the master's (49.9%) and doctoral (47%) theses were mostly carried out in Health Sciences Institutes. Thirty-three (33) studies were conducted in the Department of Physical Education and Sports, including twenty-one (21) master's theses (47.7%) and twelve (12) doctoral theses (70.5%). In addition, four (4) master's theses (9%) and two (2) doctoral theses (11.7%) were conducted in the Department of Physical Education and Sports Teaching. A total of twenty-seven (27) studies, nineteen (19) master's theses (41.3%) were conducted by advisors with the title of Assistant Professor, while ten (10) doctoral theses were conducted under the leadership of advisors with the title of Prof. Dr. (%47.6). The sample group of the master's and doctoral studies mostly consists of individuals/children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). In addition, the sample group in master's theses (51.5%) and doctoral theses (28.2%) consisted of parents. Of the master's theses in the years 2014-2018 and 2019-2023, 29-30% were studies completed in the field of motor skills and 11-12% in the field of social skills. Of the doctoral theses in the years 2019-2023, 36.8% were studies completed in the field of motor skills and 15.7% in the field of social skills. It was seen that the examined master's and doctoral theses were mostly completed in metropolitan cities such as Istanbul and Ankara. Again, it was understood that postgraduate theses were mostly completed in special education and rehabilitation centers. Quantitative research was mostly applied in postgraduate theses (79.5% of master's degrees, 64.6% of doctoral studies) and the majority used the criterion sampling method (47.7% of master's degrees, 76.4% of doctoral studies). It was also seen that both master's and doctoral theses were conducted in experimental and case study research models. While test battery (41%) and scale (17.9) were used in master's theses, observation form (19.9) and scale (19.9) were used in doctoral theses. Finally, criterion sampling and random sampling methods were preferred in both master's and doctoral theses. As a result, it was seen that the studies completed on individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) increased between 2019-2023 and focused especially on motor skills and social skills.

12583 Nutrient Intake And Physical Performance In Patients With Acromegaly

Abstract Disclosure: N.N. Hupalowski: None. C.P. Rocha: None. S.Z. Fidalski: None. C.L. Boguszewski: Consulting Fee; Self; Recordati. Research Investigator; Self; Crinetics. Speaker; Self; Ipsen, Novo Nordisk. V.Z. Borba: None. Acromegaly is a chronic disease characterized by increased levels of growth hormone (GH) and insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1). These patients exhibit increased skeletal muscle mass but poorer performance in functional physical assessments. Certain nutrients are important for both muscle mass and strength, as well as for maintaining an anti-inflammatory state in the body. Objective: To assess the correlation between nutrient intake and physical performance in patients with acromegaly. Patients and Methods: An observational, cross-sectional study of patients with acromegaly matched 1:1 by sex and age with a control group. Patients underwent analysis of dietary patterns using the validated Food Frequency Questionnaire (FFQ), and physical performance and strength were measured using Hand Grip Strength (HGS), 5 Times Seat to Stand Test (STST), Time Up and Go (TUG), and Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB) tests. Results: It was evaluated 47 patients (54.1% women; mean age 56.3 ± 11.6 years), which were compared with 36 controls (53.9% women; mean age 56.7 ± 13.4). There was no difference between groups in HGS evaluation. The performance of patients with acromegaly were poorer in the STST, SPPB and TUG. Better performance was associated with selenium (p=0.045), vitamin E (p=0.034), flavonol (p=0.02) and vitamin A (0.024) intake. Conclusion: Physical performance is compromised in patients with acromegaly, especially in lower limbs, and it was associated with lower consumption of selenium, vitamin E, flavonol and vitamin A. Presentation: 6/2/2024

Relationships of body build and physical activity with the physical fitness of high school students

Background: Physical fitness determines resourcefulness, i.e. the ability to effectively solve various tasks faced by a person and, therefore, to cope with various situations. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationships of body build and physical activity with physical fitness in high school students. Methods: The research covered 194 students (104 women and 90 men) aged 16-18, attending randomly selected high schools in the Rzeszów district. The research methods were a diagnostic survey and the Eurofit test battery. The Mann-Whitney U test, Pearson’s chi-square test, and Spearman’s rank correlation were used in the analyses. Results: Statistically significant relationships were found between the preferred forms of physical activity (p=0.041, p=0.008) and the subjective assessment of physical fitness (p=0.015) and the sex of the respondents. There were statistically significant sex-related differences in the Sit-and-Reach (p&lt;0.001), Standing Broad Jump (p&lt;0.001), Hand Grip (p&lt;0.001), Sit- Ups (p&lt;0.001), Bent Arm Hang (p&lt; 0.001), Shuttle Run (p&lt;0.001), and Endurance Shuttle Run (p&lt;0.001). In both groups, there were statistically significant relationships between the subjective assessment of physical fitness and the results of physical fitness tests (p&lt;0.05). Conclusions: Women chose dancing more frequently and considered their physical fitness to be average, while men preferred team sports and assessed their physical fitness as very good. Women are characterized by greater flexibility, and men by greater explosive strength of lower limbs, static strength, strength endurance of trunk muscles, speed and agility, and cardiorespiratory endurance. In both groups, the higher the subjective assessment of physical fitness, the better the results of individual physical fitness tests.

Detecting endolymphatic hydrops in patients with cranial nerve VIII schwannoma using hydrops MR examination.

This study utilized Hydrops MRI in patients with cranial nerve (CN) VIII schwannoma to assess the concomitance with endolymphatic hydrops (EH), aiming to elucidate the mechanism of hydrops formation in these patients. Twenty-six patients diagnosed as CN VIII schwannoma including vestibular schwannoma (VS) in 24 and intracochlear schwannoma (ICS) in 2 were enrolled. Fifteen patients received radiosurgery and 11 patients opted for a wait-and-scan approach. All patients underwent an inner ear test battery, followed by Hydrops MRI. Based on Hydrops MRI, 6 patients (23%) with positive EH were assigned to Group A, while the other 20 patients showing negative EH were assigned to Group B. The abnormality rates of inner ear test battery in Group A ran from the audiometry (100%), cervical vestibular-evoked myogenic potential (cVEMP) test (83%), ocular VEMP (oVEMP) test (67%) to the caloric test (33%), exhibiting a significantly declining sequence. This declining sequence is consistent with the decreasing order in the prevalence of EH from the cochlea (83%), saccule (50%) to utricle (50%). However, Group B did not show such decreasing trend, indicating that Groups A and B did not share the common mechanism. The mean tumor size prior to radiosurgery was 1.91 ± 0.89cm, which significantly reduced to 1.53 ± 0.60cm at a mean interval of 6years following radiosurgery. In contrast, tumor size remained unchanged in those opted for a wait-and-scan approach. It is recommended to utilize Hydrops MRI for patients with CN VIII schwannoma during annual follow-up, particularly those experienced episodic vertigo and/or deteriorated hearing. The Hydrops MRI can not only monitor tumor size, but also detect the presence of EH, so as to guide treatment decision.

Post-COVID-19 condition-Clinical phenotyping in practice

The high number and clinical heterogeneity of neurological impairments in patients with apost-COVID-19 condition (PCC) poses achallenge for outpatient care. Our aim was to evaluate the applicability of the proposed subtypes according to the guidelines "Long/Post-COVID" (30 May 2024) and their phenotyping using clinical and neuropsychological findings from our post-COVID outpatient clinic. The evaluation was based on cross-sectional neurological and psychological test examinations of the patients, which were carried out using standardized questionnaires and test batteries. In addition, adetailed anamnesis of the current symptoms and aretrospective survey of the acute symptoms up to 4 weeks after the confirmed infection was conducted. The subtypes were classified according to the abovementioned guidelines based on the medical history and selected patient questionnaires, to which we added a5th subtype with reference to the previous guidelines "Long/Post-COVID" (as of 5 March 2023). Atotal of 157 patients were included between August 2020 and March 2022. The presentation was at a median of 9.4months (interquartile range, IQR = 5.3) after infection, with amean age of 49.9 years (IQR = 17.2) and more women (68%) presenting, with atotal hospitalization rate of 26%. Subtype1 (postintensive care syndrome) showed the highest proportion of men, highest body mass index (BMI) scores and the highest rates of subjective complaints of word-finding difficulties (70%). Subtype2 (secondary diseases) was dominated by cognitive impairment and had the highest depression scores. Subtype3 (fatigue and exercise-induced insufficiency) was the most common, had the most symptoms and most severe subjective fatigue and the largest proportion of women. Subtype4 (exacerbation) mainly showed affective symptoms. Subtype5 (complaints without relevance to everyday life) had the lowest scores for depression, fatigue and BMI. Neurological and psychological conditions were frequently pre-existing in all groups. The management of PCC can be improved at various levels. Astandardized subtype classification enables early individually tailored treatment concepts. Patients at risk should be identified at the primary care level and informed about risk factors and prevention strategies. Regular monitoring of cardiovascular risk factors and physical activity are essential for PCC treatment. In the case of cognitive deficits and concurrent affective symptoms, psychotherapeutic support and drug treatment with selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRI) should be provided at an early stage.

Modeling and Characterization of Li-Ion 18650 Nickel–Cobalt–Alumina Battery Jellyroll Subjected to Static and Dynamic Compression Loading

This study presents a comprehensive experimental investigation of the mechanical response of the jellyroll and complete Li-ion 18650 Nickel–Cobalt–Alumina (NCA) battery under axial compression, highlighting the effects of strain rate and state-of-charge (SOC). The jellyroll was subjected to both static (1 mm/min) and dynamic (10–30 m/s) axial compression using a Split-Hopkinson Pressure Bar (SHPB). A key innovation of this work is the investigation of the role of electrolytes under both static and dynamic conditions, revealing their significant impact on stress and strain behavior due to hydrostatic pressure. Additionally, the complete NCA battery was tested under various SOC levels (0–75%) using flat plate compression. The results demonstrate the jellyroll’s sensitivity to strain rate, with increased stress responses at higher loading speeds. Furthermore, the inclusion of electrolytes markedly amplified the stress and strain response. The Fu-Chang model was successfully employed to numerically replicate the observed static and dynamic behaviors. Critically, the full battery tests revealed a negative correlation between voltage cutoff and SOC, with the risk of fire and explosion increasing at higher SOC levels. This research provides novel insights into the safety and mechanical resilience of Li-ion batteries under compression.

Temporal bisection task as a predictor of cognitive deficits.

Evidence suggests that neuropsychiatric symptoms and deficits in attentional control and executive function can impair time discrimination, demonstrating the intricate link between cognitive processes, subjective well-being, and perception of time. However, the relationship between sleep quality and time discrimination remains elusive. This study aimed to understand differences in the temporal bisection task (TBT) performance. We expected that individuals with impaired cognition, executive function, quality of life, or sleep quality would have reduced time sensitivity. At the same time, those with stress, anxiety, or depression would show a shift in the point of subjective equality. Data were collected from 97 female participants (ranging from 20 to 72 years of age) in more than one moment, resulting in 163 measurements used for the analysis. Participants' neuropsychiatric status was assessed using a battery of tests and scales, including the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), the Frontal Assessment Battery (FAB), the World Health Organization Quality of Life Questionnaire (WHOQOL), the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), and the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale-21 items (DASS-21). The results showed that attention and executive control significantly affect time discrimination. In addition, the research indicated that better sleep quality is associated with improved time discrimination sensitivity.