Ratio Values Research Articles

Assessing uncertainties of a remote sensing-based discharge reflectance model for applications to large rivers of the Congo Basin

ABSTRACT Adequate monitoring of river discharge is crucial for effective water resource management. However, this objective remains difficult to achieve in the context of large and ungauged river basins. This study assesses the performance of remote sensing applications for discharge monitoring in the lower reach of the Congo River, where daily discharge information is required to support many water resource operations. The approach is based on the use of Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) remote sensing imagery to produce a daily time series of a ratio of reflectance values (C/M) for discharge monitoring. The validation of the approach is performed based on three-year water level data collected at the outlet gauging site and limited in situ Acoustic Doppler Current Profiler (ADCP) cross-section measurements for high and low flow seasons. The simulated discharge closely matches the observed values and falls within acceptable ranges, with errors below 10% and Nash-Sutcliffe coefficients ranging from 0.65 to 0.76 for ADCP and gauging station, respectively.

Early detection of dopaminergic dysfunction and glymphatic system impairment in Parkinson's disease

PurposeThis study aimed to assess the glymphatic function and its correlation with clinical characteristics and the loss of dopaminergic neurons in Parkinson's disease (PD) using hybrid positron emission tomography (PET)-magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) combined with diffusion tensor image analysis along the perivascular space (DTI-ALPS), choroid plexus volume (CPV), and enlarged perivascular space (EPVS) volume. MethodsTwenty-five PD patients and thirty matched healthy controls (HC) participated in the study. All participants underwent 18F-fluorodopa (18F-DOPA) PET-MRI scanning. The striatal standardized uptake value ratio (SUVR), DTI-ALPS index, CPV, and EPVS volume were calculated. Furthermore, we also analysed the relationship between the DTI-ALPS index, CPV, EPVS volume and striatal SUVR as well as clinical characteristics of PD patients. ResultsPD patients demonstrated significantly lower values in DTI-ALPS (t = 3.053, p = 0.004) and larger CPV (t = 2.743, p = 0.008) and EPVS volume (t = 2.807, p = 0.008) compared to HC. In PD group, the ALPS-index was negatively correlated with the Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale III (UPDRS-III) scores (r = −0.730, p < 0.001), and positively correlated with the mean putaminal SUVR (r = 0.560, p = 0.007) and mean caudal SUVR (r = 0.459, p = 0.032). Moreover, the mean putaminal SUVR was negatively associated with the UPDRS-III scores (r = −0.544, p = 0.009). ConclusionDTI-ALPS has the potential to uncover glymphatic dysfunction in patients with PD, with this dysfunction correlating strongly with the severity of disease, together with the mean putaminal and caudal SUVR. PET- MRI can serve as a potential multimodal imaging biomarker for early-stage PD.

Delphi study for developing a checklist of adverse events associated with acupotomy

BackgroundAcupotomy, a more invasive procedure than acupuncture, involves the use of a thicker needle with an integrated knife at the tip, necessitating safety research. We aimed to define relevant adverse events (AEs) and create a standardized form of the ACUPOtomy-related AEs CHECKlist (ACUPOCHECK). MethodsBefore conducting the Delphi process, a systematic review and pilot prospective study were conducted to gather information on previously reported AEs. Using these data, pilot versions of the ACUPOCHECK and Delphi questionnaires were developed. The Delphi questionnaire involved selecting types of AE for inclusion, establishing separate criteria for acupotomy-related AEs, and achieving a consensus on AE assessment. Thirteen Korean doctors with experience in acupotomy or AE research were recruited to participate in each Delphi round. Consensus was considered to have been reached if the critical value for the content validity ratio met or exceeded 0.538. ResultsThe final ACUPOCHECK was developed using four rounds of the Delphi method and one face-to-face consensus meeting. It included 12 local AEs (pain, hemorrhage, bruise, hematoma, edema, pruritus, rash, infection, nerve damage, dysesthesia, movement impairment, and pneumothorax) and 14 systemic AEs (disease aggravation, needle fatigue, sleepiness, procedural nausea, procedural vomiting, procedural headache, procedural dizziness, sweating, procedural shock, syncope, dyspnea, procedural pain, sleep disorder, and postprocedural infection). Separate criteria were established for pain, hemorrhage and bruising: pain was defined as pain that occurrs during daily activities and persists for longer than 72 h, hemorrhage as bleeding that continues for ≥ 3 min despite pressure application, and bruising as having a bruise with a diameter of ≥ 3 cm. Open-ended descriptions were allowed for AEs not covered by the checklist, and severity and causality were assessed using the Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events and modified World Health Organization-Uppsala Monitoring Center criteria. ConclusionACUPOCHECK provides a standardization framework that can help research on traditional practices as well as new tools and techniques that are more invasive and may cause more severe AEs. Subsequent studies will use ACUPOCHECK to develop rational safety guidelines for acupotomy techniques.Please cite this article as: Jun H, Lee H, Yoon SH, Kwon CY, Jeon D, Lee JH, Leem J. Delphi study for developing a checklist of adverse events associated with acupotomy. J Integr Med. 2024; 22(5): 579–587.

Three-dimensional culture of human proximal tubular epithelial cells for an in vitro evaluation of drug-induced kidney injury

Drug-induced kidney injury (DIKI) is the major cause of acute kidney injury (AKI). Renal proximal tubular epithelial cells (RPTECs) are the primary target sites of DIKI and express transporters involved in renal drug disposition. In the present study, we focused on three-dimensionally cultured human RPTECs (3D-RPTECs) with elevated expression of drug transporters to investigate their utility in DIKI evaluation. Intracellular ATP levels in 3D-RPTECs are reduced by tenofovir and cisplatin that are substrates of an organic anion transporter 1 and an organic cation transporter 2, respectively. In addition, 3D-RPTECs were exposed to 17 and 15 drugs that are positive and negative to RPTEC toxicity, respectively, for up to 28 d. The 20 % decreasing concentration of drugs for ATP amount (EC20) was obtained, and the ratio of EC20 values and clinical maximum concentration (Cmax) ≤100 were used as cut-off value to evaluate potential of DIKI. The sensitivities of 3D-RPTECs were 82.4 % and 88.2 % after 7 d and 28 d of drug exposure, respectively, and the specificities were 100 % and 93.3 %, respectively. The predictive performance of 3D-RPTECs was higher than that of two-dimensional cultured RPTECs and the kidney cell line HK-2. In conclusion, 3D-RPTECs are useful for in vitro evaluation of RPTEC injury by measuring intracellular ATP levels.

The changing characteristics of propagation time from meteorological drought to hydrological drought in a semi‐arid river basin in India

AbstractThis study employs an event‐based approach to analyse drought propagation from meteorological to hydrological drought via agricultural drought in the semi‐arid Krishna River basin of India. The Standardized Precipitation Evapotranspiration Index (SPEI), Standardized Soil Moisture Index (SSMI) and Standardized Streamflow Index (SSI) representing meteorological, agricultural and hydrological drought, respectively, were estimated. Two different cases of drought propagation are analysed: meteorological‐to‐agricultural (SPEI‐to‐SSMI) and agricultural‐to‐hydrological (SSMI‐to‐SSI). The drought propagation is analysed using three‐time matrices, namely the time difference between initiation (), peak () and termination () at multiple timescales of 1, 3, 6, 9 and 12 months using different drought threshold values 0, −0.5, −1 and − 1.5, respectively, to delineate shifts from mild to extreme drought conditions in detail. The results indicate that the propagation time from SPEI‐to‐SSMI drought decreased for most of the tributaries using multiple timescales at different threshold values, whereas it increased significantly for SSMI‐to‐SSI drought. The drought propagation changes with respect to time as well as magnitude (intensity and severity). The propagation factor (PF), defined as the ratio of the average value of succeeding drought to preceding drought characteristics, has also been studied. For SPEI‐to‐SSMI drought, the duration PF shrinks across all tributaries using multiple timescales at different threshold values, whereas it expands for SSMI‐to‐SSI drought. On the other hand, the severity and intensity PF magnify for SPEI‐to‐SSMI drought, whereas it experiences dampening effects for SSMI‐to‐SSI drought. Thus, the proposed study provides valuable insights into drought propagation dynamics, aiding in managing and mitigating droughts in the semi‐arid river basin and elsewhere.

Non-Rigid Registration Via Intelligent Adaptive Feedback Control.

Preserving features or local shape characteristics of a mesh using conventional non-rigid registration methods is always difficult, as the preservation and deformation are competing with each other. The challenge is to find a balance between these two terms in the process of the registration, especially in presence of artefacts in the mesh. We present a non-rigid Iterative Closest Points (ICP) algorithm which addresses the challenge as a control problem. An adaptive feedback control scheme with global asymptotic stability is derived to control the stiffness ratio for maximum feature preservation and minimum mesh quality loss during the registration process. A cost function is formulated with the distance term and the stiffness term where the initial stiffness ratio value is defined by an Adaptive Neuro-Fuzzy Inference System (ANFIS)-based predictor regarding the source mesh and the target mesh topology, and the distance between the correspondences. During the registration process, the stiffness ratio of each vertex is continuously adjusted by the intrinsic information, represented by shape descriptors, of the surrounding surface as well as the steps in the registration process. Besides, the estimated process-dependent stiffness ratios are used as dynamic weights for establishing the correspondences in each step of the registration. Experiments on simple geometric shapes as well as 3D scanning datasets indicated that the proposed approach outperforms current methodologies, especially for the regions where features are not eminent and/or there exist interferences between/among features, due to its ability to embed the inherent properties of the surface in the process of the mesh registration.

Elevated modiolus density on high-resolution computed tomography as an indicator of cochlear neurodysplasia: a retrospective case-control study.

Cochlear neurodysplasia (CND) is recognized as a contributing factor to sensorineural hearing loss in children. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between modiolus density on high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) and CND, and to evaluate its performance in diagnosing CND. This retrospective study collected HRCT images of 34 patients diagnosed with unilateral neurological hearing loss in the Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University from March 2018 to December 2023, who were also diagnosed with unilateral CND by computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) hydroimaging. CT values of the modiolus and petrous bone were measured on the affected and healthy sides, in addition to determining the width of cochlear nerve foramina and the width of internal auditory tract. The receiver operator characteristic (ROC) curve was used to evaluate the diagnostic performance of these features. Simultaneously, comparisons were conducted with parameters obtained from normal children. A total of 29 patients without CND were randomly selected as a control group. The unilateral sensorineural hearing loss group had 34 patients, comprising 18 males and 16 females, with a median age of 4.5 years, ranging from 0.7 to 11 years. The normal children group consisted of 20 males and 9 females, with a median age of 5.9 years, ranging from 0.5 to 12.0 years. Statistically significant differences were observed in the CT values of the modiolus, modiolus/petrous bone CT value ratio, width of cochlear nerve foramina, and width of internal auditory tract between the affected and healthy sides in patients with unilateral sensorineural hearing loss (P<0.05). The area under the ROC curve (AUC) of the modiolus CT value and the width of cochlear nerve foramina for the diagnosis of unilateral sensorineural hearing loss was 0.98 [95% confidence interval (CI): 0.95-1.00] and 0.99 (95% CI: 0.98-1.00), respectively. the modiolus density was significantly elevated in the affected sides in patients with unilateral CND. The optimal cut-off value of modiolus CT values was 983 Hounsfield unit (HU). The elevated density of the modiolus on HRCT holds significant value in diagnosing CND.

Work environment standardization for the t-shirt production process at CV Nanda Konveksi using lean principles

The purpose of this study is to standardize the workplace to meet CV ND Konveksi's goals for working hours. The variety of t-shirt production process timings at CV ND Konveksi, the unknown production process time for each type of t-shirt, and the nonconformity of Standard Operational Procedures (SOP) with actual work techniques are all impacted by current work environment issues. Using process activity mapping, observations were conducted of every step in the t-shirt production process to gather data for the study. By classifying the value of operations into three categories—value added, no value added, and no value added but necessary—the outcomes of data processing are assessed. Root Cause Analysis (RCA) is used to perform a root cause analysis based on the activity categories whose values have been determined. The identification of the root cause of the issue was based on the source of the problem that was experienced. This root cause was the absence of standardization in the work environment, which led to the formation of wasteful practices such as searching. The 5S principle (seiri, seiton, seiso, seiketsu, and shitsuke) is applied in the work environment standardization strategy. When CV ND Konveksi Lampung adopted the 5S program, performance productivity increased by 10%, the value ratio decreased by reducing NNVA activities by 22 and NVA by 13, and the processing time efficiency increased by 30%, from 19.7 minutes to 13.9 minutes for the production of a single t-shirt. Another result was activity efficiency, which came in at 22%. Of the activities, 15 could be deleted because they contributed no value

Upaya Peningkatan Nilai Tambah Ikan Bandeng Menjadi Abon Bandeng di La Primarasa di Desa Balun Kecamatan Turi Kabupaten Lamongan

The availability of milkfish during the season will be abundant, and cause the price of fish to fall, to anticipate it, the La Primarasa household industry in Lamongan makes fish floss from milkfish. This effort is carried out with the aim of increasing the added value of milkfish. This study is a quantitative research with the purposive sample method in selecting the sample, and using the calculation of added value analysis. The results of the study obtained that the amount of added value from processed milkfish into milkfish floss La Primarasa is Rp12,000/kg with an added value ratio of 24%.

Towards multicenter β-amyloid PET imaging in mouse models: A triple scanner head-to-head comparison

Aimβ-amyloid (Aβ) small animal PET facilitates quantification of fibrillar amyloidosis in Alzheimer's disease (AD) mouse models. Thus, the methodology is receiving growing interest as a monitoring tool in preclinical drug trials. In this regard, harmonization of data from different scanners at multiple sites would allow the establishment large collaborative cohorts and may facilitate efficacy comparison of different treatments. Therefore, we objected to determine the level of agreement of Aβ-PET quantification by a head-to-head comparison of three different state-of-the-art small animal PET scanners, which could help pave the way for future multicenter studies. MethodsWithin a timeframe of 5 ± 2 weeks, transgenic APPPS1 (n = 9) and wild-type (WT) (n = 8) mice (age range: 13–16 months) were examined three times by Aβ-PET ([18F]florbetaben) using a Siemens Inveon DPET, a MedisonanoScan PET/MR, and a MedisonanoScan PET/CT with harmonized reconstruction protocols. Cortex-to-white-matter 30–60 min p.i. standardized uptake value ratios (SUVRCTX/WM) were calculated to compare binding differences, effect sizes (Cohen's d) and z-score values of APPPS1 relative to WT mice. Correlation coefficients (Pearson's r) were calculated for the agreement of individual SUVR between different scanners. Voxel-wise analysis was used to determine the agreement of spatial pathology patterns. For validation of PET imaging against the histological gold standard, individual SUVR values were subject to a correlation analysis with area occupancy of methoxy‑X04 staining. ResultsAll three small animal PET scanners yielded comparable group differences between APPPS1 and WT mice (∆PET=20.4 % ± 2.9 %, ∆PET/MR=18.4 % ± 4.5 %, ∆PET/CT=18.1 % ± 3.3 %). Voxel-wise analysis confirmed a high degree of congruency of the spatial pattern (Dice coefficient (DC)PETvs.PET/MR=83.0 %, DCPETvs.PET/CT=69.3 %, DCPET/MRvs.PET/CT=81.9 %). Differences in the group level variance of the three scanners resulted in divergent z-scores (zPET=11.5 ± 1.6; zPET/MR=5.3 ± 1.3; zPET/CT=3.4 ± 0.6) and effect sizes (dPET=8.5, dPET/MR=4.5, dPET/CT=4.1). However, correlations at the individual mouse level were still strong between scanners (rPETvs.PET/MR=0.96, rPETvs.PET/CT=0.91, rPET/MRvs.PET/CT=0.87; all p ≤ 0.0001). Methoxy-X04 staining exhibited a significant correlation across all three PET machines combined (r = 0.76, p < 0.0001) but also at individual level (PET: r = 0.81, p = 0.026; PET/MR: r = 0.89, p = 0.0074; PET/CT: r = 0.93, p = 0.0028). ConclusionsOur comparison of standardized small animal Aβ-PET acquired by three different scanners substantiates the possibility of moving towards a multicentric approach in preclinical AD research. The alignment of image acquisition and analysis methods achieved good overall comparability between data sets. Nevertheless, differences in variance of sensitivity and specificity of different scanners may limit data interpretation at the individual mouse level and deserves methodological optimization.

The pons as an optimal background reference region for spinal 18F-FET PET/MRI evaluation

BackgroundThis study aims to evaluate the effect of various background reference regions on spinal 18F-FET PET imaging, with a focus on distinguishing between spinal tumors and myelitis. To enhance diagnostic accuracy, we investigated the pons and several other spinal cord area as potential references, given the challenges in interpreting spinal PET results.ResultsA retrospective analysis was conducted on 30 patients, 15 with cervical myelitis and 15 with cervical tumors, who underwent O-(2-[18F]-fluoroethyl)-L-tyrosine (FET) PET/MR imaging. The stability of uptake across four regions, including the pons, C2, C2–C7, and T1–T3, was compared. The standardized uptake value ratio (SUVR) was then evaluated using various background regions, and their effectiveness in differentiating between spinal tumors and myelitis was compared. Additionally, we correlated the SUVR values derived from these regions with the Ki-67 proliferation index in tumor patients. The study found no significant difference in SUVmax (U = 110, p = 0.93) and SUVmean (U = 89, p = 0.35) values at lesion sites between myelitis and tumor patients. The pons had the highest average uptake (p < 0.001) compared to the other three regions. However, its coefficient of variation (CV) was significantly lower than that of the C2–C7 (p < 0.0001) and T1–T3 segments (p < 0.05). The SUVRmax values, calculated using the regions of pons, C2–C7 and T1–T3, were found to significantly differentiate between tumors and myelitis (p < 0.05). However, only the pons-based SUVRmean was able to significantly distinguish between the two groups (p < 0.05). Additionally, the pons-based SUVRmax (r = 0.63, p = 0.013) and SUVRmean (r = 0.67, p = 0.007) demonstrated a significant positive correlation with the Ki-67 index.ConclusionsThis study suggests that the pons may be considered a suitable reference region for spinal 18F-FET PET imaging, which can improve the differentiation between spinal tumors and myelitis. The significant correlation between pons-based SUVR values and the Ki-67 index further highlights the potential of this approach in assessing tumor cell proliferation.

Field comparison of Antarctic krill (Euphausia superba) backscatter and aggregation types using NORTEK and SIMRAD echosounders

Abstract Temporal distributions of Antarctic krill (Euphausia superba) density and aggregation types were characterized and compared using Nortek Signature100 and SIMRAD Wideband Autonomous Transceiver (WBAT) upward-looking echosounders. Noise varied between the two echosounders. With the Signature100, it was necessary to correct data for background, transient, and impulse noises, while the WBAT data needed to be corrected for background noise only. For selected regions with no visible backscatter, the signal-to-noise ratio of Sv values (i.e. the ratio between the signal and the background noise level) did not vary between the two echosounders. Surface echo backscatter was similar during similar time periods. Descriptive metrics were used to quantify spatial and temporal krill vertical distributions: volume backscatter, mean depth, center of mass, inertia, equivalent area, aggregation index, and proportion occupied. Krill backscatter density differed between the two instruments but was detected at similar mean depths. Krill aggregations were identified at each mooring location and classified in three types based on morphological characteristics. Each type of aggregation shape differed at the two spatially separated moorings, while the acoustic density of each aggregation type was similar. The Signature100 detected a lower number of krill aggregations (n = 133) compared to the WBAT (n = 707). Although both instruments can be used for autonomous deployment and sampling of krill over extended periods, there is a strong caveat for the use of the Signature100 due to significant differences in noise characteristics and krill detection.

Spatiotemporal Progression Patterns of Dopamine Availability and Deep Gray Matter Volume in Parkinson Disease-Related Cognitive Impairment.

Cognitive impairment is a frequent nonmotor symptom in patients with Parkinson disease (PD), and early cognitive decline is often attributed to dopaminergic system dysfunction. We aimed to explore spatiotemporal progression patterns of striatal dopamine availability and regional brain volume based on cognitive status among patients with PD. This retrospective, cross-sectional study included patients with newly diagnosed PD who were not taking medication for this condition who visited a university-affiliated hospital in Seoul between January 2018 and December 2020. Patients were classified as having normal cognition (PD-NC), mild cognitive impairment (PD-MCI), or PD dementia (PDD) based on Seoul Neuropsychological Screening Battery-II, which includes 31 subsets covering activities of daily living and 5 cognitive domains. They all had brain imaging with MRI and PET with 18F-N-(3-fluoropropyl)-2beta-carbon ethoxy-3beta-(4-iodophenyl) nortropane at baseline. Subsequently, standardized uptake value ratios (SUVRs) for regional dopamine availability and regional gray matter volumes were obtained using automated segmentation. These metrics were compared across cognitive status groups, and spatiotemporal progression patterns were analyzed using the Subtype and Stage Inference machine learning technique. Among 168 patients (mean age, 73.3 ± 6.1 years; 81 [48.2%] women), 65 had PD-NC, 65 had PD-MCI, and 38 had PDD. Patients with PD-MCI exhibited lower SUVRs (3.61 ± 1.31, p < 0.001) in the caudate than patients with PD-NC (4.43 ± 1.21) but higher SUVRs than patients with PDD (2.39 ± 1.06). Patients with PD-NC had higher thalamic SUVRs (1.55 ± 0.16, p < 0.001) than patients with both PD-MCI (1.45 ± 0.16) and PDD (1.38 ± 0.19). Regional deep gray matter volumes of the caudate (p = 0.015), putamen (p = 0.012), globus pallidus (p < 0.001), thalamus (p < 0.001), hippocampus (p < 0.001), and amygdala (p < 0.001) were more reduced in patients with PD-MCI or PDD than in patients with PD-NC, and the SUVR of the caudate correlated with caudate volume (r = 0.187, p = 0.015). Hippocampal atrophy was the initial change influencing cognitive impairment. The reduced dopamine availability of the thalamus preceded reductions in volume across most deep gray matter regions. Our finding underscores the association between decreased dopamine availability and volume of the caudate and thalamus with cognitive dysfunction in PD. The dopamine availability of the caudate and thalamus was reduced before the volume of the caudate and thalamus was decreased, highlighting the spatiotemporal association between dopaminergic and structural pathology in cognitive impairment in PD.

18F-Flortaucipir (AV1451) imaging identifies grey matter atrophy in retired athletes

BackgroundThe long-term consequences of concussions may include pathological neurodegeneration as seen in Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE). Tau-PET showed promise as a method to detect tau pathology of CTE, but more studies are neededObjectiveThis study aimed (1) to assess the association of imaging evidence of tau pathology with brain volumes in retired athletes and (2) to examine the relationship between tau-PET and neuropsychological functioning.MethodsFormer contact sport athletes were recruited through the Canadian Football League Alumni Association or the Canadian Concussion Centre clinic. Athletes completed MRI, [18F]flortaucipir tau-PET, and a neuropsychological battery. Memory composite was created by averaging the Rey Auditory Verbal Learning Test and Rey Visual Design Learning Test z-scores. Grey matter (GM) volumes were age/intracranial volume corrected using normal control MRIs. Tau-PET % positivity in GM was calculated as the number of positive voxels (≥ 1.3 standardized uptake value ratio (SUVR)/total voxels).Results47 retired contact sport athletes negative for AD (age:51 ± 14; concussions/athlete:15 ± 2) and 54 normal controls (age:50 ± 13) were included. Tau-PET positive voxels had significantly lower GM volumes, compared to tau-PET negative voxels (− 0.37 ± 0.41 vs. − 0.31 ± 0.37, paired p = .006). There was a significant relationship between GM tau-PET % positivity and memory composite score (r = − .366, p = .02), controlled for age, PET scanner, and PET scan duration. There was no relationship between tau-PET measures and concussion number, or years of sport played.ConclusionA higher tau-PET signal was associated with reduced GM volumes and lower memory scores. Tau-PET may be useful for identifying those at risk for neurodegeneration.

Hormone therapy is associated with lower Alzheimer’s disease tau biomarkers in post-menopausal females -evidence from two independent cohorts

BackgroundFemales represent approximately 70% of the Alzheimer’s disease (AD) cases and the literature has proposed a connection between the decreased estrogen levels during menopause and an increased AD risk. Previous investigations have predominantly focused on assessing how hormone therapy (HT) affects the likelihood of AD development and cognitive deterioration. However, as the research framework has shifted toward a biomarker-defined AD and alterations in specific biomarkers could take place years before cognitive decline becomes discernible, it is crucial to examine how HT influences AD biomarkers. The main goal of this study was to evaluate the impact of HT on AD biomarker-informed pathophysiology in both cognitively unimpaired (CU) and cognitively impaired (CI) post-menopausal females across the aging and AD spectrum.MethodsThis cross-sectional study included post-menopausal females without HT history (HT-) and with HT (HT+) at the time of PET imaging assessment from two cohorts: the Translational Biomarkers in Aging and Dementia (TRIAD) cohort, and the Alzheimer’s Disease Neuroimaging Initiative (ADNI). Participants underwent magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), positron emission tomography (PET) and biofluid collection. Voxel-based t-tests were performed to assess the differences in amyloid-β (Aβ) and tau neurofibrillary tangles (NFTs) loads between HT- and HT + females. Linear regression models with interaction terms were also conducted to examine the interactive effects of HT and Aβ-PET on regional tau-PET.ResultsHT + females demonstrated significantly lower tau-PET standardized uptake value ratio (SUVR) in Braak I-II ROIs (P < 0.05, Hedges’ g = 0.73), Braak III-IV ROIs (P < 0.0001, Hedges’ g = 0.74) and Braak V-VI ROIs (P < 0.0001, Hedges’ g = 0.69) compared to HT- females. HT + females also showed significantly lower CSF p-tau181 (P < 0.001) and plasma p-tau181 (P < 0.0001) concentrations. Additionally, results from multivariate linear regression models indicated that HT interacts with cortical Aβ and is associated with lower regional NFT load.ConclusionsOverall, findings from this observational study suggest that HT is associated with lower tau neuroimaging and fluid biomarkers in postmenopausal females. Due to the close link between tau and cognition, this study highlights the need for large randomized controlled trials designed to systemically study the influences of HT on AD biomarkers and disease progression.

Success factors in national team football: an analysis of the UEFA EURO 2020

Abstract Identifying success factors in football is of sporting and economic interest. However, research in this field for national teams and their competitions is rare despite the popularity of teams and events. Therefore, we analyze data for the UEFA EURO 2020 and, for comparison purposes, the previous tournament in 2016. To mitigate the challenges of perceived multicollinearity and a small sample size, and to identify the relevant variables, we apply the ‘LASSO Cross-fitted Stability-Selection’ algorithm. This approach involves iterative splitting of data, with variables chosen via a ‘least absolute shrinkage and selection operator’ (LASSO) model (Tibshirani, R. (1996). Regression shrinkage and selection via the lasso. J. Roy. Stat. Soc. B 58: 267–288) on one half of the observations, while coefficients are estimated on the other half. Subsequently, we inspect the frequency of selection and stability of coefficient estimation for each variable over the repeated samples to identify factors as relevant. By that, we are able to differentiate generally valid success factors such as the market value ratio from on-field variables whose importance is tournament-dependent, e.g. the tackles attempted. As the latter is connected to a team’s tactics, we conclude that their observed relevance is correlated to the results of the linked playing style in the specific tournaments. We also show the changing effect of these playing-styles on success across tournaments.

Application of Perturbation Method to Analytical H2 Optimization for a Damped Structure with Inerter-Based Control

Inherent damping exists in all real engineering systems and it affects the dynamic behavior of the structures in vibration reduction. However, it is generally neglected in existing analytical H2 optimization for inerter-based vibration control. Hence, an analytical H2 optimization of a tuned inerter damper (TID) based on the perturbation method is presented to control the vibration of a damped structure subjected to stochastic acceleration ground excitations. Since relative displacement and velocity are crucial to structural damage and absolute acceleration is related to vibration comfort, three sets of closed-form solutions for the optimal stiffness ratio and damping ratio are derived to suppress the corresponding responses. The expressions of these optimal parameters are functions of the inherent damping and inerter-mass ratio. The accuracy of these analytical solutions is demonstrated by comparison with the results provided by the numerical optimization procedure. The relevant parameters affecting the vibration control performance and the robustness of the TID in a damped structure are analyzed in frequency domain. Finally, time–history response and energy dissipation of TID are also explored by numerical examples under real and artificial seismic waves. The results highlight that more than 10% reduction ratio of the mean square value can be further achieved for a structure with a low inherent damping ratio ([Formula: see text]) if the present multi-order perturbation solutions are used for optimization, instead of the existing method which neglects the inherent damping. This superiority of the present perturbation method will become more prominent with the increase of the inherent damping ratio. Therefore, the present perturbation method has a great significance for designing a TID to achieve the best control performance.

Brain inflammation co-localizes highly with tau in mild cognitive impairment due to early-onset Alzheimer's disease.

Brain inflammation, with an increased density of microglia and macrophages, is an important component of Alzheimer's disease (AD) and a potential therapeutic target. However, it is incompletely characterized, particularly in patients whose disease begins before the age of 65 years and, thus, have few co-pathologies. Inflammation has been usefully imaged with translocator protein (TSPO) positron emission tomography (PET), but most inflammation PET tracers cannot image subjects with a low-binder TSPO rs6971 genotype. In an important development, participants with any TSPO genotype can be imaged with a novel tracer, [11C]ER176, that has a high binding potential and a more favorable metabolite profile than other TSPO tracers currently available. We applied [11C]ER176 to detect brain inflammation in mild cognitive impairment (MCI) caused by early-onset AD. Furthermore, we sought to correlate the brain localization of inflammation, volume loss, elevated Aβ and tau. We studied brain inflammation in 25 patients with early-onset amnestic MCI (average age 59 ± 4.5 years, 10 women) and 23 healthy controls (average age 65 ± 6.0 years, 12 women), both groups with a similar proportion of all three TSPO-binding affinities. [11C]ER176 total distribution volume (VT), obtained with an arterial input function, was compared across patients and controls using voxel-wise and region-wise analyses. In addition to inflammation PET, most MCI patients had Aβ (n=23), and tau PET (n=21). For Aβ and tau tracers, standard uptake value ratios (SUVRs) were calculated using cerebellar grey matter as region of reference. Regional correlations among the three tracers were determined. Data were corrected for partial volume effect. Cognitive performance was studied with standard neuropsychological tools. In MCI caused by early-onset AD, there was inflammation in the default network, reaching statistical significance in precuneus and lateral temporal and parietal association cortex bilaterally, and in the right amygdala. Topographically, inflammation co-localized most strongly with tau (r= 0.63 ± 0.24). This correlation was higher than the co-localization of Aβ with tau (r= 0.55±0.25) and of inflammation with Aβ (0.43±0.22). Inflammation co-localized least with atrophy (-0.29±0.26). These regional correlations could be detected in participants with any of the three rs6971 TSPO polymorphisms. Inflammation in AD-related regions correlated with impaired cognitive scores. Our data highlight the importance of inflammation, a potential therapeutic target, in the AD process. Furthermore, they support the notion that, as shown in experimental tissue and animal models, the propagation of tau in humans is associated with brain inflammation.

Dampak Pandemi COVID-19 Dan Price Book Value Terhadap Return Saham

COVID-19 emerged as a worldwide pandemic starting in late 2019. The world economy experienced a major shock and many businesses and corporations went out of business due to the impact of this pandemic. Stock markets in all countries around the world are also experiencing turbulence and extraordinary price fluctuations. This study examines the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic and the Price Book Value ratio on stock returns in Indonesia. The data analysis method uses multiple linear regression methods on stocks that are members of the LQ45 index from 1 January 2020 to 26 November 2021. The results of this study indicate that the increase in COVID-19 cases and Price Book Value has a significant negative effect on stock returns. The results of this study provide empirical evidence that stock prices in the LQ45 index in Indonesia tend to decline when there is a significant increase in the COVID-19 case. Therefore, market participants can be more careful and cautious in taking their portfolio positions in investing in the Indonesian stock market during the COVID-19 pandemic. The limitations of this study show a low R2 coefficient, which means that many other variables still affect stock returns outside of this study. Future research can use other financial ratio variables, dividends and rights issues in explaining their effect on stock returns.

A Comparative Analysis of Two Automated Quantification Methods for Regional Cerebral Amyloid Retention: PET-Only and PET-and-MRI-Based Methods.

Accurate quantification of amyloid positron emission tomography (PET) is essential for early detection of and intervention in Alzheimer's disease (AD) but there is still a lack of studies comparing the performance of various automated methods. This study compared the PET-only method and PET-and-MRI-based method with a pre-trained deep learning segmentation model. A large sample of 1180 participants in the Catholic Aging Brain Imaging (CABI) database was analyzed to calculate the regional standardized uptake value ratio (SUVR) using both methods. The logistic regression models were employed to assess the discriminability of amyloid-positive and negative groups through 10-fold cross-validation and area under the receiver operating characteristics (AUROC) metrics. The two methods showed a high correlation in calculating SUVRs but the PET-MRI method, incorporating MRI data for anatomical accuracy, demonstrated superior performance in predicting amyloid-positivity. The parietal, frontal, and cingulate importantly contributed to the prediction. The PET-MRI method with a pre-trained deep learning model approach provides an efficient and precise method for earlier diagnosis and intervention in the AD continuum.