EF Tests Research Articles

Pitfalls in using ML to predict cognitive function performance.

Machine learning analyses are widely used for predicting cognitive abilities, yet there are pitfalls that need to be considered during their implementation and interpretation of the results. Hence, the present study aimed at drawing attention to the risks of erroneous conclusions incurred by confounding variables illustrated by a case example predicting executive function performance by prosodic features. Healthy participants (n = 231) performed speech tasks and EF tests. From 264 prosodic features, we predicted EF performance using 66 variables, controlling for confounding effects of age, sex, and education. A reasonable model fit was apparently achieved for EF variables of the Trail Making Test. However, in-depth analyses revealed indications of confound leakage, leading to inflated prediction accuracies, due to a strong relationship between confounds and targets. These findings highlight the need to control confounding variables in ML pipelines and caution against potential pitfalls in ML predictions.

The effects of occipital and parietal tDCS on chronic visual field defects after brain injury.

Homonymous visual field defects (HVFDs) following acquired brain lesions affect independent living by hampering several activities of everyday life. Available treatments are intensive and week- or month-long. Transcranial Direct current stimulation (tDCS), a plasticity-modulating non-invasive brain stimulation technique, could be combined with behavioral trainings to boost their efficacy or reduce treatment duration. Some promising attempts have been made pairing occipital tDCS with visual restitution training, however less is knows about which area/network should be best stimulated in association with compensatory approaches, aimed at improving exploratory abilities, such as multisensory trainings. In a proof-of-principle, sham-controlled, single-blind study, 15 participants with chronic HVFDs underwent four one-shot sessions of active or sham anodal tDCS applied over the ipsilesional occipital cortex, the ipsilesional or contralesional posterior parietal cortex. tDCS was delivered during a compensatory multisensory (audiovisual) training. Before and immediately after each tDCS session, participants carried out a visual detection task, and two visual search tasks (EF and Triangles search tests). Accuracy (ACC) and response times (RTs) were analyzed with generalized mixed models. We investigated differences in baseline performance, clinical-demographic and lesion factors between tDCS responders and non-responders, based on post-tDCS behavioral improvements. Lastly, we conducted exploratory analyses to compare left and right brain-damaged participants. RTs improved after active ipsilesional occipital and parietal tDCS in the visual search tasks, while no changes in ACC were detected. Responders to ipsilesional occipital tDCS (Triangle task) had shorter disease duration and smaller lesions of the parietal cortex and the superior longitudinal fasciculus. On the other end, on the EF test, those participants with larger damage of the temporo-parietal cortex or the fronto-occipital white matter tracts showed a larger benefit from contralesional parietal tDCS. Overall, the visual search RTs improvements were larger in participants with right-sided hemispheric lesions. The present result shows the facilitatory effects of occipital and parietal tDCS combined with compensatory multisensory training on visual field exploration in HVFDs, suggesting a potential for the development of new neuromodulation treatments to improve visual scanning behavior in brain-injured patients.

PERCEIVED AND OBJECTIVE EXECUTIVE DYSFUNCTION JOINTLY PREDICT BRAKING REACTION TIME IN OLDER DRIVERS

Abstract Motor vehicle crashes are a leading cause of injury and death for older adults in the United States. Braking reaction time (BRT), how quickly a driver responds to the situational demands of driving, is a known predictor of driver fitness and hypothesized as sensitive to difficulties with executive functioning. Unclear is how BRT may vary across different levels of executive functioning, including objective test performance and perceived executive dysfunction, and if awareness of executive dysfunction in the presence of objective difficulties jointly predicts BRT. Using data from a simulated driving study, 50 adults aged 65-94 years old (49.1% female) completed computerized EF tests (inhibition [Stroop], working memory [Automated Operation Span]), the Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Function, the Big Five Inventory, and a simulated drive. Multilevel modeling analyses controlling for covariates of empirical and design relevance (simulated road segment, age, gender, and neuroticism) were performed. Our results show a significant interaction between perceived executive dysfunction and objective test performance on BRT. Specifically, associations with BRT were stronger for individuals who perceived more executive dysfunction in the presence of worse inhibition (b = 0.79, 95%CI = 0.27, 1.30) and worse working memory (b = 0.94, 95%CI = 0.26, 1.62). Findings provide further justification for the role of executive functioning in monitoring driver fitness in older age. Future directions and implications are discussed.

Pilot Randomized‐Controlled Trial of Social Ballroom Dancing in Dementia‐At‐Risk Older Adults

AbstractBackgroundExecutive functions (EF) such as planning, problem‐solving, and organization are often impaired in Alzheimer’s disease (AD). This pilot trial examined the safety and efficacy of social ballroom dancing for improving EF in older adults at increased risk for AD and related dementias. We hypothesized that the added social and cognitive demands of ballroom dancing would lead to greater intervention‐related changes in EF than a traditional aerobic activity (treadmill‐walking) – because it furthers neuroplasticity.MethodA single‐blind pilot randomized controlled trial (clinicaltrials.gov: NCT03475316) contrasted 6‐months (90 minutes twice a week) of social ballroom dancing with 6 months (90 minutes twice a week) of treadmill walking in dementia‐at‐risk older adults. Dementia‐at‐risk was defined as a memory impairment screen score of ≥3 and ≤6, and/or an AD‐8 dementia screening interview score of ≥1. A composite EF score generated from digit‐symbol substitution (DSST), flanker interference, and walking‐while‐talking tasks was the primary outcome. Functional neuroplasticity during fMRI‐adapted versions of these EF tests were secondary outcomes. The intention‐to‐treat principle was applied to all linear‐mixed effects analyses.ResultTwenty‐five participants were randomized between June 2019 and March 2020. The mean age was 76.45 years. 66% were women, 48% White/Caucasian, 24% Black/African‐American and 20% Hispanic/Latino. Sixteen participants (8 in each study arm) completed the intervention prior to study termination due to COVID‐19. The most common (mild) adverse event was falls (social dancing = 4; treadmill walking = 1), but no falls occurred during intervention sessions. No serious study‐related adverse events were reported. No between‐group differences were observed on the composite EF measure – although social dancing generated greater improvements on DSST than treadmill walking (6.57 correct items more; SE = 2.77, 95% CI = .46; 12.67, p = .02. No between‐group differences were observed in functional activation/deactivation patterns during EF tasks. Hippocampal volume, however, showed less atrophy following social dancing arm than treadmill walking (SE = 109.42; 95% CI = 58.29; 487.22, p = .01).ConclusionSocial ballroom dancing is a safe intervention for dementia‐at‐risk older adults. This clinical trial provides preliminary evidence that social dancing improves performance on one test of EF (DSST), and promotes hippocampal neuroplasticity – but these findings need to be confirmed in larger clinical trials.

Relationships between sensory integration and the core symptoms of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder: the mediating effect of executive function.

Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is often accompanied by executive function deficits and functional alterations in sensory integration. The present study aimed to investigate the relationship between ADHD core symptoms, executive function, and sensory integration in children with ADHD. A total of 228 children with ADHD were recruited for our study. The Sensory Organization Test (SOT) and Child Sensory Integration Scale (CSIS) evaluated the sensory integration ability from lab-based and scaled-based perspectives, respectively. Three core components of executive functions (inhibition, working memory, and set-shifting) were assessed using both lab-based tests and the relevant factors from the behavior rating inventory of executive function (BRIEF). Partial correlation analysis was performed to explore the correlation of sensory integration with EF and ADHD core symptoms. Based on the observed significant correlation, bootstrap analyses were further conducted to explore the potential mediating effect of EF on the relationship between sensory integration and ADHD core symptoms. ADHD symptoms and EF were significantly correlated with CSIS scores; no factors were significantly correlated with SOT performance. In detail, the vestibular-balance score was negatively correlated with both inattention and hyperactivity/impulsivity symptoms, while the hyper-sensory and proprioception scores were negatively correlated with only inattention symptoms. For the scaled-based EF, vestibular-balance was negatively correlated with inhibition and working memory, and the hyper-sensory score was negatively correlated with shift factor. No correlation was found for the lab-based EF tests. The subsequent mediation analysis found that inhibition partially mediated the relationship between vestibular balance and hyperactivity/impulsivity symptoms. Working memory completely mediated the relationship between vestibular-balance, hyper-sensory, proprioception, and inattention symptoms. These results were well validated in an independent sample. Our present findings demonstrated that the functional alteration in basic sensory integration might be associated with impairments of executive functions and then lead to the behavioral expression of ADHD. The present findings might provide a new perspective to understand the occurrence of ADHD symptoms and potential precise intervention methods.

Development of executive functions in Lebanese children

ABSTRACT The current study focused on adapting EF tests for children to the Arabic language and examine the developmental trajectories of a sample of school-aged Lebanese children in four domains of EF (inhibition, flexibility, working memory, and planning). It also focused on examining the effects of gender and parental education level on EF performance. The study population included 100 Lebanese children aged from 6 to 12-years old who were grouped and comparable for age, gender, and parental level of education. Results revealed a main effect of age and level of education of parents while the effect of gender was non-significant.

Direct and Indirect Associations of Widespread Individual Differences in Brain White Matter Microstructure With Executive Functioning and General and Specific Dimensions of Psychopathology in Children

BackgroundExecutive functions (EFs) are important partly because they are associated with risk for psychopathology and substance use problems. Because EFs have been linked to white matter microstructure, we tested the prediction that fractional anisotropy (FA) and mean diffusivity (MD) in white matter tracts are associated with EFs and dimensions of psychopathology in children younger than the age of widespread psychoactive substance use. MethodsParent symptom ratings, EF test scores, and diffusion tensor parameters from 8588 9- to 10-year-olds in the ABCD Study (Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development Study) were used. ResultsA latent factor derived from EF test scores was significantly associated with specific conduct problems and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder problems, with dimensions defined in a bifactor model. Furthermore, EFs were associated with FA and MD in 16 of 17 bilateral white matter tracts (range: β = .05; SE = .17; through β = −.31; SE = .06). Neither FA nor MD was directly associated with psychopathology, but there were significant indirect associations via EFs of both FA (range: β = .01; SE = .01; through β = −.09; SE = .02) and MD (range: β = .01; SE = .01; through β = .09; SE = .02) with both specific conduct problems and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder in all tracts except the forceps minor. ConclusionsEFs in children are inversely associated with diffusion tensor imaging measures in nearly all tracts throughout the brain. Furthermore, variance in diffusion tensor measures that is shared with EFs is indirectly shared with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder and conduct problems.

Elevated Intraindividual Variability in Executive Functions and Associations with White Matter Microstructure in Veterans with Mild Traumatic Brain Injury.

We examined whether intraindividual variability (IIV) across tests of executive functions (EF-IIV) is elevated in Veterans with a history of mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) relative to military controls (MCs) without a history of mTBI. We also explored relationships among EF-IIV, white matter microstructure, and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms. A total of 77 Veterans (mTBI = 43, MCs = 34) completed neuropsychological testing, diffusion tensor imaging (DTI), and PTSD symptom ratings. EF-IIV was calculated as the standard deviation across six tests of EF, along with an EF-Mean composite. DSI Studio connectometry analysis identified white matter tracts significantly associated with EF-IIV according to generalized fractional anisotropy (GFA). After adjusting for EF-Mean and PTSD symptoms, the mTBI group showed significantly higher EF-IIV than MCs. Groups did not differ on EF-Mean after adjusting for PTSD symptoms. Across groups, PTSD symptoms significantly negatively correlated with EF-Mean, but not with EF-IIV. EF-IIV significantly negatively correlated with GFA in multiple white matter pathways connecting frontal and more posterior regions. Veterans with mTBI demonstrated significantly greater IIV across EF tests compared to MCs, even after adjusting for mean group differences on those measures as well as PTSD severity. Findings suggest that, in contrast to analyses that explore effects of mean performance across tests, discrepancy analyses may capture unique variance in neuropsychological performance and more sensitively capture cognitive disruption in Veterans with mTBI histories. Importantly, findings show that EF-IIV is negatively associated with the microstructure of white matter pathways interconnecting cortical regions that mediate executive function and attentional processes.

Dynamics of clinical and laboratory parameters in patients with coronary heart disease in combination with type 2 diabetes mellitus and their effect on the structural and functional state of the heart and blood vessels in various cases of chronic heart fa

The aim: determination of the characteristics of the dynamics of clinical, laboratory and ultrasound parameters in patients with ischemic heart disease in combination with type 2 diabetes mellitus with various types of heart failureMaterial and methods. After the course of therapy, 100 men with CHF were examined in the hospital against the background of the combined course of IHD and type 2 diabetes with LV EF ≥ 50%, CHF of the II functional class, with glomerular filtration rate ≥ 50 ml / min / 1.73 m2, NT-proBNP ≥ 125 pg / ml.Patients were divided into groups depending on the nature of the course of heart failure: group I (n = 66) - patients with a stable course, group II (n = 34) - patients with an unfavourable course. Patients of group II, in turn, were divided into three subgroups depending on the nature of the adverse course: CHF: IIa (n = 7) - who died during the year of observation, IIb (n = 13) - with a decrease in LV EF, II in ( n = 14) with a violation of the state of diastolic function of the heart at the end of the observation period.An analysis of complaints, cardiological history, objective research was conducted, the level of NT-proBNP, total cholesterol), high-density lipoproteins, low-density lipoproteins and triglycerides were studied, and the atherogenic coefficient was calculated, glycosylated haemoglobin (HbA1c) was examined, serum glucose, insulin level, insulin resistance index (HOMA) were calculated.Transthoracic echocardiography (echocardiography) was performed, and endothelium-dependent brachial artery vasodilation (EDD) was examined.The Mann-Whitney U test was used to determine the differences between independent samples. The frequency of symptoms in groups was compared using the χ2 criterion. One-way analysis of variance was performed using the non-parametric Kruskal-Wallis test.Results. Adverse course of CHF in patients with CHD and type 2 diabetes, which progressed and ended in death, was associated with a significantly older age of men, with a longer history of CHD and type 2 diabetes, decreased tolerance for exercise, high levels of AH which is arguably a potential cause of CHF. I degree of diastolic dysfunction, despite the fact that the size of the left atrium did not go beyond normal, was noted in all patients, but the average size was significantly larger in the dead. Significantly fewer of these patients had LV EDV, indicating greater disruption of LV diastolic filling processes.Patients with a decrease in LV systolic function after 12 months of follow-up were characterized by a significant decrease in LV EF medians (by 21.5%) and test distance with a 6-minute walk (by 4.1%), while there was a tendency to increase endothelial dysfunction in the form of a decrease in the median EDD of the brachial arteries. Significant positive dynamics of the medians of all indicators of carbohydrate metabolism showed good control of the carbohydrate profile. Medians of lipid metabolism parameters did not experience significant dynamics, but tended to positive changes. The median NT-proBNP blood level was significantly reduced by 14%. A decrease in systolic function of the heart was associated with a tendency to increase the diastolic size of the left atrium and a significant increase in LV ESV.Conclusions. Two-thirds of CHD patients with CHF with preserved LV EF of the heart in combination with type 2 diabetes receiving pathogenetic complex therapy have a stable course of CHF observed during the year, which is characterized by improvement of the clinical and laboratory status of patients and parameters of the structural and functional state of the heart and vessels.An unfavourable course of heart failure during the year against the background of pathogenetic complex treatment in patients with CHD in combination with type 2 diabetes is accompanied by a decrease in systolic and / or diastolic LV heart function, exercise tolerance with a simultaneous absence of worsening dyslipidaemia and dysglycemia.In patients with CHD in combination with type 2 diabetes and retained LV EF, fasting glycemia and HbAc1 levels significantly affect the state of LV systolic and diastolic function, which indicates the important role of concomitant type 2 diabetes in heart remodelling in this category of patients

Does Decision-Making Ability Predict HIV-Associated Neurocognitive Disorder?

Abstract Background Executive dysfunction (EF) in people living with HIV (PLWH) is well-established. However, decision-making, a key aspect of EF, is often overlooked in neurocognitive (NC) evaluations of PLWH. Poor decision-making can detrimentally impact PLWH by increasing risk of poor health outcomes. This study aimed to determine if including a decision-making task in NC evaluations might improve diagnostic formulations. Participants and Method This cross-sectional study included 90 PLWH (63 Latinx; 27 non-Latinx white) who were evaluated for HIV-Associated Neurocognitive Disorder (HAND) using established criteria, with the Wisconsin Card Sorting Test (WCST) and Trail Making Test Part B (TMTB) comprising the “traditional” EF domain. The Iowa Gambling Task (IGT) assessed decision-making. Demographically corrected T-scores were calculated for each test. The “traditional” EF tests were averaged into an EF domain T-score. The WCST, TMTB, and IGT were also averaged into a “new” EF+IGT domain T-score. Results The new EF+IGT domain T-score significantly predicted HAND diagnosis (R^2 = .14, p < .001). However, using hierarchical regression, the “traditional” EF domain (WCST and TMTB) also significantly predicted HAND (R^2 = .18, p < .001) and adding the IGT Total T-score did not contribute unique variance to the model (R^2 = .18, p < .001; R^2Δ < .001, pΔ = .92). Conclusions A new combined EF domain T-score that included decision-making was a significant predictor of HAND diagnosis. However, adding IGT Total Score did not enhance HAND diagnosis compared to “traditional” EF measurement, indicating that the “traditional” EF domain adequately informs HAND diagnosis. A limitation of this study was the small sample size. Given the important health implications of decision-making in PLWH, future research, with a larger sample size is warranted to better conceptualize how decision-making can be incorporated into diagnostic formulations for PLWH.

Visuospatial Working Memory Mediates the Relationship Between Executive Functioning and Spatial Ability.

This study investigates the relationships among EF, VSWM, VWM, and spatial ability (mental rotation) at the construct level through testing a series of mediation models. A second objective of the study is to investigate whether the mediation relationship changes depending on the secondary demand of the tests used to measure EF. Covariates age and gender were controlled for in theses analyses. The results showed that when the Tower test, an EF test with a spatial secondary demand, was used to represent EF, VSWM significantly mediated the relationship between EF and mental rotation. However, when the composite inhibition and switching scores from the Color-Interference Test, an EF test with a verbal secondary demand, was used to represent EF, VSWM no longer significantly mediated the relationship between EF and mental rotation. This pattern of findings suggests that the test effect is real. Therefore, a grain of salt should be taken when interpreting prior findings concerning the relationship between EF and VSWM, when EF was measured using a variety of instruments, some of which have a spatial secondary demand, whereas others do not. Regarding VWM as a mediator, it was not found to be significantly mediating the relationship between EF and mental rotation, regardless of whether the Tower test or the Color-Interference Test was used to measure EF. A third objective of the study is to investigate the relative importance of EF, VSWM, and VWM in predicting mental rotation via dominance analysis. The results showed that VSWM is more important than VWM in explaining individual differences in mental rotation; the Tower test is more important than the Color-Interference Test in explaining individual differences in mental rotation. These findings again suggest that cautions need to be taken when interpreting prior findings that showed EF is highly involved in spatial ability, as test effect is real and may at least be partially be responsible for the linkage between the two constructs.

Evaluation of a teacher training program to enhance executive functions in preschool children.

BackgroundExecutive functions (EFs) play a critical role in cognitive and social development. During preschool years, children show not only rapid improvement in their EFs, but also appear sensitive to developmentally appropriate interventions.AimEMIL is a training program for German preschool teachers that was developed and implemented to improve the EFs of preschoolers. The aim of the present study was to evaluate its effects on the EFs of children between three and six years old.MethodThe teacher training (eight sessions, 28.5 hours) was implemented in four preschools. The EFs of children of the intervention group (n = 72, 32 girls, Mage = 48 months) and the control group of four other matched preschools (n = 61, 27 girls, Mage = 48 months) were tested before, during, and after the intervention using different measures assessing working memory, inhibitory control, and cognitive flexibility.ResultsThe intervention group showed significant gains on three out of seven EF tests (behavioral inhibition, visual-spatial working memory, and combined EFs) compared to the control group. Post hoc analyses for children with low initial EFs scores revealed that participation in the intervention led to significant gains in inhibitory control, visual-spatial working memory, and phonological working memory as well as a marginally significant difference for combined EFs. However, effect sizes were rather small.ConclusionThe results suggest that teacher training can lead to significant improvements in preschooler’s EFs. Although preliminary, the results could contribute to the discussion on how teacher training can facilitate the improvement of EFs in preschool children.

ВХОДНОЕ ТЕСТИРОВАНИЕ ПО АНГЛИЙСКОМУ ЯЗЫКУ СТУДЕНТОВ НЕЯЗЫКОВЫХ СПЕЦИАЛЬНОСТЕЙ КАК ФАКТОР ПОВЫШЕНИЯ ЭФФЕКТИВНОСТИ ОБУЧЕНИЯ

Vocational university training requires graduates’ mastering not only professional competencies but also other competencies that provide adequate communication and IT literacy. However, the ability of Russian university graduates to use a foreign language leaves much to be desired. The quality of language training at a university can be increased by means of grouping the first-year students according to their level of a foreign language, which can create relatively equivalent conditions for acquiring the language and most effectively develop communication skills in accordance with the language abilities of the students. The aim of this paper is to analyze and describe the existing systems of placement testing including the authors’ test based on international language testing system TOEIC (Test of English for International Communication). The paper studies such concepts as “test” and “pedagogical testing” and explains the general structure of a test. The authors consider the concept “placement test” which implies stratification into levels. The levels described are based on the European scale CEFR. Besides, the authors analyze the existing systems of placement testing, i.e. Oxford Placement test, EF test, etc., and specify advantages and disadvantages of their use in Russian universities. Finally, the authors give a detailed description of the Placement Test developed for Togliatti State University students and interpret the experience of using the testing in 2016. The results of the research and the test approbation prove the reliability and veracity of the suggested method of language skills level assessment.

Group cognitive intervention targeted to the strengthening of executive functions in children at social risk.

The present study set out to evaluate the effectiveness of a group cognitive intervention aimed at promoting executive functions in children at social risk. The quasi-experimental, pretest-posttest design included a control group. The sample was made up of 178 children (52% boys), aged 6-10. The children were evaluated by means of a battery of neuropsychological EF tests and a teacher-rated behavioral EF scale. The intervention program included 30 group cognitive stimulation sessions that increased in difficulty and were embedded into school curricula. Trained children performed better in terms of cognitive flexibility, planning, metacognition and inhibitory control, as compared to their baseline values and to children in the control group. This study provides new evidence of the effectiveness of cognitive interventions for children and of children's capability to transfer cognitive improvements to daily school activities.

Executive function after severe childhood traumatic brain injury – Age-at-injury vulnerability periods: The TGE prospective longitudinal study

BackgroundExecutive function (EF) impairment is a major predictor of overall outcome after traumatic brain injury (TBI). TBI severity is a factor of poor outcome, but most studies include a majority of children with mild and moderate TBI. The aims of this study were to estimate EF impairment after severe childhood TBI and to explore factors predicting EF outcome. The secondary aim was to compare recovery trajectories by age-at-injury groups. MethodsThis was a prospective longitudinal study of children with severe TBI who were tested for EFs by performance-based tests and questionnaires at 3, 12 and 24 months. ResultsChildren with TBI (n=65) showed significant impairment in working memory, inhibition, attention and global EF, with little or no recovery at 24 months. For flexibility and performance-based EF score, children were impaired at 3 months only and showed normal scores by 12 months. No impairment was found in planning. At 3 and 24 months, Glasgow Coma Scale score and parental education predicted global EF. Coma length was not a significant predictor of outcome. Age at injury predicted progress in EF, but the relationship was not linear; children 10–12 years old at injury showed better outcome than older and younger children. ConclusionsEFs are impaired after severe TBI in childhood. The relationship between age at injury and outcome is not linear. Relying on only performance-based EF tests can underestimate EF impairment.

Development of Hot and Cold Executive Function in Boys and Girls With ADHD

Objective: To investigate the development of executive function with pronounced emotional salience (hot EF) and less pronounced emotional salience (cold EF) in boys and girls with ADHD relative to typically developing (TD) children. Method: Seventy-five children with ADHD and 47 TD children were assessed with hot and cold EF tests at baseline and after 2 years. Results: Despite considerable maturation, the ADHD group remained impaired on all cold EF tests relative to TD children after 2 years. There was no effect of gender on cold EF test results. Females with ADHD outperformed TD counterparts on hot EF at baseline. Females with ADHD showed deteriorating hot EF performance, while TD counterparts showed improved hot EF performance across time. Conclusion: Enduring cold EF impairments after 2 years may reflect stable phenotypic traits in children with ADHD. Results indicate divergent developmental trajectories of hot EF in girls with ADHD relative to TD counterparts.

Dysexecutive syndrome in amnesic mild cognitive impairment: a multicenter study.

BackgroundExecutive functions (EF) in Alzheimer’s disease (AD), classically related to the prefrontal cortex, have been forgotten in mild stages, given more importance to temporal lobe associated disorders, such as memory. The study of disexecutive syndrome (DS) has been relegated to advanced stages of the disease. Our goal is to demonstrate that EF are already present in amnesic mild cognitive impairment (aMCI). Furthermore, we are interested in knowing whether poor scores in EF tests are related to the progression to AD or another kind of dementia.MethodsWe studied patients with aMCI (n = 81) and healthy controls (n = 142) from neurological departments of several centers of Basque Country with a cross-sectional design. Patients underwent a complete neuropsychological evaluation, neuroimaging testing APOE genotype and 3 year of prospective follow-up.ResultsIn the first visit, patients with aMCI showed more alterations in tests that evaluate EF such as Stroop, trail-making and categorical verbal fluency. More alterations were also found in NPI scale (P <0.05). Stroop and Trail-Making test were not associated with the future development of AD, but fluency (p = 0.01) and apathy (p = 0.031) did. No patient developed a different kind of dementia different from AD.ConclusionsDS is a broad concept not confined to frontal lobes, and can be found in early stages of aMCI. DS impacts negatively on patient autonomy and may have prognostic value.

Perbandingan hidrograf banjir menggunakan beberapa metode perhitungan curah hujan efektif (studi kasus: Das Cisadane Hulu)

Calculation of effective rainfall is an important step in hydrologic modelling. The used methods to calculate effective rainfall rarely observe watershed conditions on site. The objectives of the study is to determine the optimum method in calculating effective rainfall based on infiltration approach in Upper Cisadane Watershed and to analysis dominant characteristic of watershed on selected method. SCS-CN, Initial and Constant Rate Loss Method, and Green and Ampt Loss Method were the methods that used to estimate run off value in Upper Cisadane Watershed. The simulation was performed using HEC-HMS and tested using EF and RMSE on peak discharge and volume of hydrograph. The three events of peak discharge was chosen. Based on EF and RMSE test, Green and Ampt Loss Method model showed that simulated hydrograph was similar to measured hydrograph in Upper Cisadane Watershed with EF was 0.764 and RMSE was 5.93 m3/s. Based on the analysis, green and Ampt method is recommended to use on watershed with mountainous topographic and simillar on shape with Upper Cisadane Watershed.

Evidence from paranoid schizophrenia for more than one component of theory of mind.

We previously reported finding that performance was impaired on four out of five theory of mind (ToM) tests in a group of 21 individuals diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia (pScz), relative to a non-clinical group of 29 individuals (Scherzer et al., 2012). Only the Reading the Mind in the Eyes Test did not distinguish between groups. A principal components analysis revealed that the results on the ToM battery could be explained by one general ToM factor with the possibility of a latent second factor. As well, the tests were not equally sensitive to the pathology. There was also overmentalization in some ToM tests and under-mentalisation in others. These results led us to postulate that there is more than one component to ToM. We hypothesized that correlations between the different EF measures and ToM tests would differ sufficiently within and between groups to support this hypothesis. We considered the relationship between the performance on eight EF tests and five ToM tests in the same diagnosed and non-clinical individuals as in the first study. The ToM tests shared few EF correlates and each had its own best EF predictor. These findings support the hypothesis of multiple ToM components.

Incorporation of inorganic fillers into experimental resin adhesives: Effects on physical properties and bond strength to dentin

This study investigated the effect of different monomeric systems and inorganic fillers on the physical properties of experimental resin adhesives and on the immediate and 6-month bond strength to dentin. Two, 2-step self-etch adhesive systems were prepared: two primers (constituted of GDMA-P, ethanol, water, and HEMA or PEG(400)-UDMA) and two adhesives (constituted of Bis-GMA, TEGDMA, and HEMA or PEG(400)-UDMA). Next, the adhesives were allocated into three groups according to filler incorporated: unfilled (control), silica (SiO2), or ytterbium trifluoride (YbF3). Degree of conversion (DC, after 30 and 60s of light-activation), water sorption (WS) and solubility (SL), and flexural strength (σ) and modulus (Ef) tests were performed for all adhesives. A microtensile bond strength (µTBS) test to dentin was evaluated after 24h (immediate) and 6 months (6-month) of water storage using a universal testing machine (DL500, EMIC). Data were analyzed using statistical tests (α=5%). The adhesives showed similar DC at a same light exposure time, although light-activation for 60s improved conversion of monomers. The unfilled HEMA-containing adhesive showed higher WS, SL, σ and Ef compared to others. The incorporation of fillers into the adhesives did not affect negatively the immediate µTBS results; however, after 6 months the presence of SiO2 impaired in complete premature failures, and the presence of YbF3 reduced the µTBS in the PEG(400)-UDMA-based group. The unfilled HEMA-containing group also reduced bond strength after 6 months of water storage. In conclusion, depending on the resin matrix composition, YbF3 seems to be a good option for reinforcing adhesive systems.