Functional Theory Research Articles

Anthropocentrism in Contemporary Chinese Dictionary: A Synergic Perspective of Critical Lexicographical Discourse Studies and Systemic Functional Linguistics

Abstract Critical Lexicographical Discourse Studies (CLDS) view the dictionary as a discourse and emphasize an ideological, ethico-political dimension to the lexicographical process. Combining CLDS with Systemic Functional Linguistics, this paper looks into how anthropocentrism is manifested linguistically in Contemporary Chinese Dictionary (Seventh Edition), the most influential authoritative general-purpose Chinese dictionary, by examining the transitivity and appraisal patterns in the definition texts concerning animals and plants. The analysis shows that animals and plants are seldom assigned agency in their own right and that the animals and plants are evaluated either positively or negatively according to whether they are useful to the human beings while their intrinsic value is ignored. In particular, animals are highlighted for their agricultural and medicinal use and plants for their medicinal and ornamental value. However, compared with its previous editions, the dictionary has shown an enhanced awareness of environmental protection by deleting the encyclopaedic information that describes the use of some rare animals’ meat, bones and fur. It is argued that, although modern general-purpose dictionaries are increasingly corpus-based and descriptive, their role in shaping social values and stances cannot be disregarded. Dictionary makers need to balance what words mean with what they can be said to mean or be allowed to mean (Moon, 2014). The study contributes to unmasking and denaturalizing the hidden ideology in colony texts such as the dictionary, enhances a critical use of dictionaries and helps develop the theory of critical lexicography and emerging ecolexicography.

Spontaneous speech: a robust measurement before, during and after awake brain surgery in patients with glioma

Background Patients with glioma often report language complaints with devastating effect on daily life. Analysing spontaneous speech can help to understand underlying language problems. Spontaneous speech monitoring is also of importance during awake brain surgery: it can guide tumour resection and contributes to maintaining language function. We aimed to investigate the spontaneous speech of patients with glioma in the perioperative period and the additional value of spontaneous speech analyses compared to standardised language testing. Methods We elicited and transcribed spontaneous speech of eight patients with glioma elected for awake brain surgery preoperatively, intraoperatively and 2.0–3.5 months postoperatively. Linguistic errors were coded. Type Token Ratio, Mean Length of Utterance of words, minimal utterances, and errors were extracted from the transcriptions. Patients were categorised based on total error patterns: stable, decrease or increase during surgery. Reliable Change Index scores were calculated for all spontaneous speech variables to objectify changes between time points. Language performance on language tests was compared to spontaneous speech variables. Results Most errors occurred in lexico-syntax, followed by phonology/articulation, syntax, and semantics. The predominant errors were Repetitions, Self-corrections, and Incomplete sentences. Most patients remained stable over time in almost all spontaneous speech variables, except in Incomplete sentences, which deteriorated in most patients postoperatively compared to intraoperatively. Some spontaneous speech variables (total errors, MLUw, TTR) gave more information on language change than a standard language test. Conclusions While the course of spontaneous speech over time remained relatively stable in most patients, Incomplete sentences seems to be a robust marker of language difficulties patients with glioma. These errors can be prioritised in spontaneous speech analysis to save time, especially to determine intra- to postoperative deterioration. Importantly, spontaneous speech analyses can give more information on language change than standardised language testing and should therefore be used in addition to standardised language tests.

THE IMPACT OF THE FRONTAL ASLANT TRACT ON POST-OPERATIVE OUTCOMES IN GLIOMA SURGERY

Abstract AIMS The frontal aslant tract (FAT) has a role in speech and language functions and visual-motor activities. It is also not clear whether location of FAT relative to gliomas affects post-operative motor and language outcomes. Our hypothesis is FAT protects the cortico-spinal tract and other subcortical white matter tracts involved in speech. METHOD We conducted a retrospective cohort study. We used electronic patient records to search for all patients who had frontal tumours resected between Jan 2018 and August 2022. We included all adult patients (>18 years) with gliomas located in the SMA region and dorsal premotor cortex who had pre-op diffusion tensor imaging and underwent debulking / resection surgery. The patients were divided into 3 groups based on the location of the tumour relative to FAT. In group 1 patients had tumours located anterior to FAT, in group 2 patients had tumours infiltrating FAT and in group 3 patients had tumours located posterior to FAT. Our outcome measure was new post-operative language or motor deficit. RESULTS Our search yielded 197 patients, of these 43 fulfilled the inclusion criteria. Sixteen patients were included in group 1, 9 patients included in group 2 and 18 included in group 3. Pre-operative motor deficit was significantly more common in patients with tumours posterior to FAT (p=0.046). Post-operative motor deficit at hospital discharge was also more common on this group of patients (p=0.048). At 6 months follow up there was no significant difference post-operative motor and language deficits between the groups but there was a trend towards worse motor outcomes in patients with tumour located posterior to FAT. CONCLUSION There is a suggestion motor outcomes are worse in tumours located posterior to FAT. This can be considered when counselling patients for surgery with tumours related to FAT.

Exploring collaborative writing among large groups in online distance learning through a public forum and private chat tool

Abstract This study explored how collaborative writing, an often-used instructional strategy in second language (L2) learning, intersects with large-group dynamics, and investigated their potential impact on the quality of writing outcomes in an online distance learning course. Using a mixed-methods approach, the research scrutinized intra-group interaction processes in two large groups undertaking a computer-assisted language learning writing assignment and evaluated the impact of these interaction processes on their writing products. Data from discussions in both a public online forum and a private social communication platform (WeChat) were collected, systematically coded, and analysed quantitatively and qualitatively based on language functions. Data collection also included an assessment of the written products and follow-up group interviews. The findings indicate distinct interaction patterns between high-performing and low-performing groups, characterised by an expert/participant pattern and a dominant/passive pattern, respectively. Additionally, insights from the interviews shed light on these interaction patterns and the potential impact on student learning outcomes. The study suggests practical implications, highlighting the importance of task design in promoting high levels of collaborative knowledge construction to enhance students’ writing skills and L2 language learning in large-group settings.

국어의 조사를 대체하는 다단어 표현 연구: 체계기능언어학의 경험적 은유의 관점

Objectives The purpose of this paper is to explain the relationship between experiential metaphors and multiword expressions that substitute for postpositional markers in Korean from the perspective of systemic functional linguistics. Methods grammatical metaphor, a concept introduced in Halliday (1985), operates in the opposite direction of metaphor to lexical metaphor. Whereas lexical metaphor starts at the lexical-grammatical level and realizes ‘alternative meanings’ at the discourse-semantic level, grammatical metaphor starts at the discourse-semantic level and realizes ‘alternative forms’ at the lexical-grammatical level. More specifically, circumstantial(or postpositional) metaphor is a phenomenon in which a multiword expression, such as phrase or clause, metaphorizes the meaning of a particular adverbial postposition, and has various lexicogrammatical alternative realizations. Here, the former circumstantial metaphoric expressions are called incongruent, and the latter adverbial postpositions are called congruent. Results The results of this study show that multiword expressions in Korean three different kinds: verbatim type, experiential metaphor type (Type I), experiential idiomatic type (Type II). Among these, the verbatim is only recognized as an entry stage for multiword expressions. After reviewing in detail the lists of previous studies (postpostion equivalents, postpostional collocation, periphrastic construction, grammaticalization, etc.), this paper applies the criteria of non-congruent, congruent, and postpositional meanings to them, and finally selects 34 experiential metaphors that substitute for postpositional markers and 13 idiomatic forms that replace postpositional markers. Conclusions Although we have limited our discussion to grammatical metaphors as substitution for postpositional markers, the scope of application of grammatical metaphors is very broad, and future research efforts need to continue to expand the scope.

Staged intervention to enable the resection of a large left temporoinsular cystic glioblastoma with language preservation: illustrative case.

Resection of glioblastoma (GBM) in eloquent regions depends on functional mapping to limit perioperative neurological morbidity. When neurological deficits preclude reliable mapping, neurosurgeons should explore potential mitigation strategies. The authors present the case of a patient with a large left cystic temporoinsular GBM and aphasia, for whom the authors used intraoperative language mapping and a staged approach to enable safe tumor resection. A 49-year-old female presented with progressive mixed aphasia for 1 month and new-onset right facial droop. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) revealed a large, heterogeneously enhancing, left temporoinsular tumor with a significant cystic component. Her aphasia was profound, and resection without reliable language mapping was deemed unsafe. An initial stereotactic tumoral cyst aspiration was performed, which reduced local mass effect and improved her language function. Cyst decompression thereby enabled both task-based functional MRI and intraoperative awake speech mapping, resulting in a safe resection of her GBM. Safe resection of eloquently localized GBM is compromised when neurological deficits prohibit intraoperative functional mapping. This case demonstrates a mitigation strategy specific to cystic lesions in which an initial-stage stereotactic cyst aspiration is aimed at generating sufficient interval neurological improvement, such that intraoperative functional mapping can be performed during a second-stage resection. https://thejns.org/doi/10.3171/CASE24362.

Enhancing cognitive performance prediction by white matter hyperintensity connectivity assessment.

White matter hyperintensities of presumed vascular origin (WMH) are associated with cognitive impairment and are a key imaging marker in evaluating brain health. However, WMH volume alone does not fully account for the extent of cognitive deficits and the mechanisms linking WMH to these deficits remain unclear. Lesion network mapping (LNM) enables to infer if brain networks are connected to lesions and could be a promising technique for enhancing our understanding of the role of WMH in cognitive disorders. Our study employed LNM to test the following hypotheses: (1) LNM-informed markers surpass WMH volumes in predicting cognitive performance, and (2) WMH contributing to cognitive impairment map to specific brain networks. We analyzed cross-sectional data of 3,485 patients from 10 memory clinic cohorts within the Meta VCI Map Consortium, using harmonized test results in 4 cognitive domains and WMH segmentations. WMH segmentations were registered to a standard space and mapped onto existing normative structural and functional brain connectome data. We employed LNM to quantify WMH connectivity to 480 atlas-based gray and white matter regions of interest (ROI), resulting in ROI-level structural and functional LNM scores. We compared the capacity of total and regional WMH volumes and LNM scores in predicting cognitive function using ridge regression models in a nested cross-validation. LNM scores predicted performance in three cognitive domains (attention/executive function, information processing speed, and verbal memory) significantly better than WMH volumes. LNM scores did not improve prediction for language functions. ROI-level analysis revealed that higher LNM scores, representing greater connectivity to WMH, in gray and white matter regions of the dorsal and ventral attention networks were associated with lower cognitive performance. Measures of WMH-related brain network connectivity significantly improve the prediction of current cognitive performance in memory clinic patients compared to WMH volume as a traditional imaging marker of cerebrovascular disease. This highlights the crucial role of network integrity, particularly in attention-related brain regions, improving our understanding of vascular contributions to cognitive impairment. Moving forward, refining WMH information with connectivity data could contribute to patient-tailored therapeutic interventions and facilitate the identification of subgroups at risk of cognitive disorders.

Validation of On-Head OPM MEG for Language Laterality Assessment.

Pre-surgical localization of language function in the brain is critical for patients with medically intractable epilepsy. MEG has emerged as a valuable clinical tool for localizing language areas in clinical populations, however, it is limited for widespread application due to the low availability of the system. Recent advances in optically pumped magnetometer (OPM) systems account for some of the limitations of traditional MEG and have been shown to have a similar signal-to-noise ratio. However, the novelty of these systems means that they have only been tested for limited sensory and motor applications. In this work, we aim to validate a novel on-head OPM MEG procedure for lateralizing language processes. OPM recordings, using a soft cap with flexible sensor placement, were collected from 19 healthy, right-handed controls during an auditory word recognition task. The resulting evoked fields were assessed for hemispheric laterality of the response. Principal component analysis (PCA) of the grand average language response indicated that the first two principal components were lateralized to the left hemisphere. The PCA also revealed that all participants had evoked topographies that closely resembled the average left-lateralized response. Left-lateralized responses were consistent with what is expected for a group of healthy right-handed individuals. These findings demonstrate that language-related evoked fields can be elucidated from on-head OPM MEG recordings in a group of healthy adult participants. In the future, on-head OPM MEG and the associated lateralization methods should be validated in patient populations as they may have utility in the pre-surgical mapping of language functions in patients with epilepsy.

LINGUOCOGNITIVE AND LINGUOCULTURAL FOUNDATIONS OF THE PROCESSES OF TERMINOLOGIZATION IN MODERN KAZAKH AND TURKISH LANGUAGES

The intensification of the activity of the Kazakh language in accordance with its state status in all spheres of society, the renewal of its potential strengthened the connection of the language with the form of linguistic consumption, began to influence the requirements of everyday practice. This is evident from the active process of terminology creation in the social, economic, political, scientific and technical spheres. In addition, the core of the neonominational process, which created the interrelationships of language~ society, language~consciousness, language ~ culture, etc., is not only scientific and informational, but also cultural and social content. This is the basis for improving not only the quantitative, but also the qualitative level of modern language development. Therefore, the recognition of the influence of language and culture on each other in the form of new terms and the function of language as a unique means of transmitting culture within the framework of cultural representation is especially relevant. Based on this, new names and terms in the Kazakh language, which also serve as a unique feature of the cognitive level of language users, are considered in the article as a “linguistic picture of the world” in accordance with the process of updating the language. In this regard, the purpose of this article is to compare and characterize the linguocognitive and linguocultural foundations of terminologization processes in modern Kazakh and Turkish languages. The following methods were used in the course of the study: descriptive, comparative, cognitive, ethnolinguistic and conceptual. Also, to determine the cultural and national component structured in the mind of a native speaker in a terminologized word, diachronic, contrasting, definitive were used, and discursive analysis, connotative approach, and motivation methods were used to recognize the process of terminologization. The value of the research: by describing and showing the linguocognitive and linguocultural foundations of terminologization processes in modern Kazakh and Turkish languages, we contribute to the improvement and strengthening of the “Turkic world”. The linguistic data and conclusions presented in the article can be used as practical and theoretical material for research by students, undergraduates, doctoral students and young people studying at the faculties of Philology, Translation Studies, Oriental Studies and Turkology.

Longitudinal trajectories of general cognitive and daily functions in data-driven subtypes of MCI: A longitudinal cohort analysis of older adults

ObjectivesTo derive data-driven subtypes of mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and characterize the complicated changes of general cognitive and daily functions over time in MCI subtypes. MethodsA total of 813 subjects diagnosed as MCI at baseline from the Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative (ADNI) were included. Data-driven MCI subtypes were derived from group-based multi-trajectory modeling (GBMTM) analyses using longitudinal measurement scores in the cognitive domains of visuospatial function, language, and executive function. General cognitive and daily functions were measured by the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) and the Functional Assessment Questionnaire (FAQ), respectively, whose longitudinal trajectory changes were depicted by Linear mixed models. ResultsThree MCI subtypes were derived, which were defined as “Cognitive decline group”, “Mild cognitive decline group” and “No cognitive decline group”. The “Mild cognitive decline group” had the highest percentage in the sample (46.2 %), followed by the “No cognitive decline group” (35.2 %). Patients in the “Cognitive decline group” had the highest mean age (74.69 years) at baseline, the highest APOE ε4 carriers (63.2 %), and the greatest dementia conversion rate (77.0 %). The changes in MMSE and FAQ score trajectories were fastest in the “Cognitive decline group” in the first 36 months and most slowly in the “No cognitive decline group”. ConclusionMCI individuals could be subdivided into more fine-grained cognitive subtypes, and identifying these distinct MCI subtypes and their different trajectories of cognitive decline may have important prognostic value for improving clinical course prediction.

Landscape Linguistics: Language Variations in Pantai Panjang Bengkulu

Language in the public space describes the linguistic phenomenon of the environment where language is found. An outdoor sign in a public space represents the language the surrounding community uses. The presence of an outdoor sign in an area depends on the status of the area. An area or place can have many space marks, while there are few or none in other areas. This indicates that the sign is part of the character of a place or region. The study investigates the language variation in outdoor signs in Pantai Panjang Bengkulu. Pantai Panjang Bengkulu is a tourist destination beach located in Bengkulu Province. Additionally, Bengkulu Province has six languages with nine dialects, which makes Bengkulu a multilingual society, prosperous in language variations. The study is qualitative; the data collection technique uses observation, while the analysis uses a content analysis technique. The resulting study showed that from 1290 outdoor signs in Pantai Panjang Bengkulu. The medium of the signs is a written medium divided into 13 medium types and the medium mostly used is a billboard. Meanwhile, the formal language is the dominant formality variation in Pantai Panjang Bengkulu. Furthermore, the language functions in this area are symbolic and informative.

Intensional Functions

Functions in functional languages have a single elimination form — application — and cannot be compared, hashed, or subjected to other non-application operations. These operations can be approximated via defunctionalization: functions are replaced with first-order data and calls are replaced with invocations of a dispatch function. Operations such as comparison may then be implemented for these first-order data to approximate e.g. deduplication of continuations in algorithms such as unbounded searches. Unfortunately, this encoding is tedious, imposes a maintenance burden, and obfuscates the affected code. We introduce an alternative in intensional functions , a language feature which supports the definition of non-application operations in terms of a function’s definition site and closure-captured values. First-order data operations may be defined on intensional functions without burdensome code transformation. We give an operational semantics and type system and prove their formal properties. We further define intensional monads , whose Kleisli arrows are intensional functions, enabling monadic values to be similarly subjected to additional operations.

The relationship between white matter architecture and language lateralisation in the healthy brain.

Interhemispheric anatomical differences have long been thought to be related to language lateralisation. Previous studies have explored whether asymmetries in the diffusion characteristics of white matter language tracts are consistent with language lateralisation. These studies, typically with smaller cohorts, yielded mixed results. This study investigated whether connectomic analysis of quantitative anisotropy (QA) and shape features of white matter tracts across the whole brain are associated with language lateralisation. We analysed 1040 healthy individuals (562 females) from the Human Connectome Project database. Hemispheric language dominance for each participant was quantified using a laterality quotient (LQ) derived from fMRI activation in regions of interest (ROIs) associated with a language comprehension task compared against a math task. A linear regression model was used to examine the relationship between structural asymmetry and functional lateralisation. Connectometry revealed a significant negative correlation between LQs and QA of corpus callosum tracts, indicating that higher QA in these regions is associated with bilateral and right-hemisphere language representation in frontal and temporal regions, respectively. Left language laterality in temporal lobe was significantly associated with longer right inferior fronto-occipital fasciculus (IFOF) and forceps minor tracts. These results suggest that diffusion measures of microstructural architecture as well as geometrical features of reconstructed white matter tracts play a role in language lateralisation. People with increased dependence on right or both frontal hemispheres for language processing may have more developed commissural fibres, which may support more efficient interhemispheric communication.Significance statement The left cerebral hemisphere is dominant for language functions in most people. In some healthy people, language functions are lateralised to the right hemisphere or distributed across both hemispheres. The anatomy underlying patterns of hemispheric language dominance are not well established. Emerging evidence suggests that white matter connectivity and architecture is an important feature of cortical functional organisation. In this work, we report that people who have language functions distributed across both hemispheres have greater inter-hemispheric connectivity compared to lateralised people. Our findings provide further insights into the anatomical basis of language function and may have wider clinical implications.

Promoting a sense of belonging in university online learning: How and why initial teacher education students experience an increased sense of belonging

Despite evidence of practices that support online students in university learning, promoting engagement and building a student sense of belonging continue to be a challenge. To enhance student engagement, a suite of evidence-based learning design strategies was incorporated across online units of study in initial teacher education programmes at a regional Australian university. To determine the impact of these strategies or elements, students were surveyed regarding their perspectives on how the elements had positively impacted their sense of belonging within the online university community. The systemic functional linguistics Appraisal framework was used to analyse qualitative survey data, which reported students experienced an increased sense of belonging expressed as positive judgements of their own mental capacities. Students also expressed feeling cared for, valued and supported by academics and experienced enjoyment in their learning and reduced levels of stress. All elements were positively evaluated; however, unit coordinator behaviour, especially social capacity, was unexpectedly important in increasing student sense of belonging. Whilst ongoing incorporation of design elements to enhance engagement is important, the behaviours of unit coordinators actioned through these elements were paramount in promoting student belonging. Implications for practice or policy: Increasing levels of student belonging may be improved by including learning experiences that promote feelings of success and relationships with others. Unit coordinators can enhance online student belonging by using online learning design elements to demonstrate approachability, understanding, supportiveness, availability, presence, care and patience. Universities should consider adopting organisation-wide initiatives that promote consistent and visible learning design features and staff presence, with the aim of addressing attrition and retention challenges.

Childhood language development and alexithymia in adolescence: an 8-year longitudinal study.

Alexithymia (difficulties identifying and describing feelings) predicts increased risks for psychopathology, especially during the transition from childhood to adolescence. However, little is known of the early contributors to alexithymia. The language hypothesis of alexithymia suggests that language deficits play a primary role in predisposing language-impaired groups to developing alexithymia; yet longitudinal data tracking prospective relationship between language function and alexithymia are scarce. Leveraging data from the Surrey Communication and Language in Education cohort (N = 229, mean age at time point 1 = 5.32 years, SD = 0.29, 51.1% female), we investigated the prospective link between childhood language development and alexithymic traits in adolescence. Results indicated that boys with low language function at ages 4-5 years, and those who later met the diagnostic criteria for language disorders at ages 5-6 years, reported elevated alexithymic traits when they reached adolescence. Parent-reported child syntax abilities at ages 5-6 years revealed a dimensional relationship with alexithymic traits, and this was consistent with behavioral assessments on related structural language abilities. Empirically derived language groups and latent language trajectories did not predict alexithymic traits in adolescence. While findings support the language hypothesis of alexithymia, greater specificity of the alexithymia construct in developmental populations is needed to guide clinical interventions.

Textual Metafunction in The Choir Traditional Spiritual Song “Elijah Rock” By Moses Hogan

This research explores the textual metafunction of the choir song "Elijah Rock" by Moses Hogan through the lens of Systemic Functional Linguistics (SFL), employing Suzanne Eggins' model of analysis. By examining the song's lyrical structure, the study aims to uncover how thematic organization, cohesion, and information flow contribute to the overall meaning and emotional impact of the piece. The analysis identifies key thematic elements, such as the recurring motif of "Elijah," as topical theme; the use of other topical themes such as: “come on”, “tell”, “comin’ up”, “Satan”; “He”; and “I”; the use of textual theme “if” and “Oh” highlights the extensive use of repetition and parallelism, which enhance textual coherence. Through a qualitative content analysis, the research demonstrates how linguistic features not only create a unified text but also resonate with the cultural and historical significance of African American spirituals. The findings reveal that the interplay between textual structure and musical expression plays a vital role in conveying the song's message and engaging audiences. This study contributes to the growing body of literature on the intersection of linguistics and music, offering valuable insights for future research in both fields.

Investigating the relationship between cognitive impairment and brain white matter tracts using diffusion tensor imaging in patients with prolactinoma.

Cognitive impairment is known to occur in patients with prolactinoma, but the underlying mechanism is unclear. To evaluate cognitive function in patients with prolactinoma and to investigate the basis of possible cognitive impairment in brain white matter changes using diffusion tensor imaging (DTI). 37 consecutive patients with prolactinoma and 37 healthy controls of similar age, sex, and education were enrolled in the study. Hormone levels were determined in all participants, comprehensive neuropsychological testing was performed, and DTI was used to reconstruct and evaluate white matter tracts. In patients with prolactinoma, short- and long-term visual and verbal memory, attention, concentration, and executive and language functions were impaired compared to the healthy group. When comparing the DTI results, lower fractional anisotropy (FA) values were found in the patients' right uncinate fasciculus (R-UF), indicating neuronal damage. After applying the Bonferroni correction, the two groups had no significant difference in 42 tracts (p > 0.0012 for all). A positive correlation was found between poor FA scores on the R-UF and low scores on long-term memory, category and letter fluency tests. In addition, patients with hypoprolactinemia had the worst short-term memory scores, while normoprolactinemia had the best scores. Also, the poorer R-UF FA values were found in the patients with hypoprolactinemia and the highest in those with normoprolactinemia. This study is the first to investigate reasons for cognitive dysfunction in patients with prolactinoma by DTI. No significant structural changes were found in brain tracts of patients with prolactinoma. Still, there may be a link between potential damage in the R-UF and cognitive dysfunction, and further research is needed. In addition, the results showed that the development of hypoprolactinemia is associated with cognitive dysfunction and emphasized that overtreatment should be avoided.

Task-State Functional MRI of Brain Regions with Reduced Activation in Aphasia Patients: A Meta-analysis.

Language is one of the most celebrated hallmarks of human cognition. With the continuous improvement of medical technology, functional MRI (fMRI) has been used in aphasia. Although many related studies have been carried out, most studies have not extensively focused on brain regions with reduced activation in aphasic patients. The aim of this study was to identify brain regions normally activated in healthy controls but with reduced activation in aphasic patients during fMRI language tasks. We collected all previous task-state fMRI studies of secondary aphasia. The brain regions showed normal activation in healthy controls and reduced activation in aphasic patients were conducted activation likelihood estimation (ALE) meta-analysis to obtain the brain regions with consistently reduced activation in aphasic patients. The ALE meta-analysis revealed that the left inferior frontal gyrus, left middle temporal gyrus, left superior temporal gyrus, left fusiform gyrus, left lentiform nucleus and the culmen of the cerebellum were the brain regions with reduced activation in aphasic patients. These findings from the ALE meta-analysis have significant implications for understanding the language network and the potential for recovery of language functions in individuals with aphasia.

Trajectory of Cognitive Decline Before and After Stroke in 14 Population Cohorts

Poststroke cognitive impairment is common, but the cognitive trajectory following a first stroke, relative to prestroke cognitive function, remains unclear. To map the trajectory of cognitive function before any stroke and after stroke in global cognition and in 4 cognitive domains, as well as to compare the cognitive trajectory prestroke in stroke survivors with the trajectory of individuals without incident stroke over follow-up. The study used harmonized and pooled data from 14 population-based cohort studies included in the Cohort Studies of Memory in an International Consortium collaboration. These studies were conducted from 1993 to 2019 across 11 countries among community-dwelling older adults without a history of stroke or dementia. For this study, linear mixed-effects models were used to estimate trajectories of cognitive function poststroke relative to a stroke-free cognitive trajectory. The full model adjusted for demographic and vascular risk factors. Data were analyzed from July 2022 to March 2024. Incident stroke. The primary outcome was global cognition, defined as the standardized average of 4 cognitive domains (language, memory, processing speed, and executive function). Cognitive domain scores were formed by selecting the most commonly administered test within each domain and standardizing the scores. The study included 20 860 participants (12 261 [58.8%] female) with a mean (SD) age of 72.9 (8.0) years and follow-up of 7.51 (4.2) years. Incident stroke was associated with a substantial acute decline in global cognition (-0.25 SD; 95% CI, -0.33 to -0.17 SD), the Mini-Mental State Examination, and all cognitive domains (ranging from -0.17 SD to -0.22 SD), as well as accelerated decline in global cognition (-0.038 SD per year; 95% CI, -0.057 to -0.019 SD per year) and all domains except memory (ranging from -0.020 to -0.055 SD per year), relative to a stroke-free cognitive trajectory. There was no significant difference in prestroke slope in stroke survivors compared with the rate of decline in individuals without stroke in all cognitive measures. The mean rate of decline without a previous stroke was -0.049 SD per year (95% CI, -0.051 to -0.047 SD) in global cognition. In this cohort study using pooled data from 14 cohorts, incident stroke was associated with acute and accelerated long-term cognitive decline in older stroke survivors.

A Gaussian interval type-2 fuzzy characterization method based on heterogeneous big data and its application in forest ecological assessment

The under-forest economy is a new agricultural and forestry production mode. It can improve the utilization efficiency of forest land and make full use of forest resources, forest space, and forest ecological environment through different forms of industries such as understory planting and breeding. The under-forest economy has important ecological and economic benefits, significant to rural revitalization and industrial structure adjustment. It has been widely discussed by people in recent years. The forest ecological security level is a core factor to be considered in selecting sites for the under-forest economy. In practice, some forest ecological security evaluation indexes usually show heterogeneous forms. To comprehensively evaluate the level of forest ecological security, this study constructs a new multi-indicator fuzzy evaluation method based on heterogeneous big data. Firstly, a new linguistic scale function is defined to realize the consistent conversion of multi-granularity linguistic information. A Gaussian interval type-2 fuzzy aggregation formula for heterogeneous large-scale data is proposed. This formula is used to describe the differences in evaluation information between individuals caused by different knowledge backgrounds of evaluators. Then, the Gaussian interval type-2 fuzzy cross-entropy is defined, and it is verified to satisfy the excellent properties. This cross-entropy is applied to determine the objective weights of evaluation indexes. Considering the risk-averse psychology of experts and combining the prospect theory, the MULTIMOORA method in the Gaussian interval type-2 fuzzy environment is proposed. Finally, the applicability of the constructed Gaussian interval type-2 fuzzy comprehensive evaluation method (GIT2FCE) is verified through a case study conducted on the site selection of the under-forest economic industry.