Performance of the walking trail making test in older adults with white matter hyperintensities

BACKGROUND Several studies have reported that the walking trail making test(WTMT)completion time is significantly higher in patients with developmental coordination disorders and mild cognitive impairments.We hypothesized that WTMT performance would be altered in older adults with white matter hyperintensities(WMH).AIM To explore the performance in the WTMT in older people with WMH.METHODS In this single-center,observational study,25 elderly WMH patients admitted to our hospital from June 2019 to June 2020 served as the WMH group and 20 participants matched for age,gender,and educational level who were undergoing physical examination in our hospital during the same period served as the control group.The participants completed the WTMT-A and WTMT-B to obtain their gait parameters,including WTMT-A completion time,WTMT-B completion time,speed,step length,cadence,and stance phase percent.White matter lesions were scored according to the Fazekas scale.Multiple neuropsychological assessments were carried out to assess cognitive function.The relationships between WTMT performance and cognition and motion in elderly patients with WMH were analyzed by partial Pearson correlation analysis.RESULTS Patients with WMH performed significantly worse on the choice reaction test(CRT)(0.51±0.09 s vs 0.44±0.06 s,P=0.007),verbal fluency test(VFT,14.2±2.75 vs 16.65±3.54,P=0.012),and digit symbol substitution test(16.00±2.75 vs 18.40±3.27,P=0.010)than participants in the control group.The WMH group also required significantly more time to complete the WTMT-A(93.00±10.76 s vs 70.55±11.28 s,P<0.001)and WTMT-B(109.72±12.26 s vs 82.85±7.90 s,P<0.001).WTMT-A completion time was positively correlated with CRT time(r=0.460,P=0.001),while WTMT-B completion time was negatively correlated with VFT(r=-0.391,P=0.008).On the WTMT-A,only speed was found to statistically differ between the WMH and control groups(0.803±0.096 vs 0.975±0.050 m/s,P<0.001),whereas on the WTMT-B,the WMH group exhibited a significantly lower speed(0.778±0.111 vs 0.970±0.053 m/s,P<0.001)and cadence(82.600±4.140 vs 85.500±5.020 steps/m,P=0.039),as well as a higher stance phase percentage(65.061±1.813%vs 63.513±2.465%,P=0.019)relative to controls.CONCLUSION Older adults with WMH showed obviously poorer WTMT performance.WTMT could be a potential indicator for cognitive and motor deficits in patients with WMH.

The Trail Making Test in Morocco: Normative Data Stratified by Age and Level of Education

The purpose of this study is to design a Moroccan Trail Making Test B;explore the effects of age, education and gender on the performance of the Trail Making Test (TMT);and provide normative information in Moroccan subjects. Our normalization study was conducted on 348 subjects (156 female and 192 male). The subjects were classified into four groups based on age (18 - 39 years, 40 - 59 years, 60 - 69 years and ≥70 years), and three groups based on educational level (3 - 6 years, 7 - 10 years and ≥11 years). The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics through SPSS. The results displayed that increasing age and decreasing levels of education significantly result in a decreased performance on the Trail A, Moroccan Trail B and English Trail B. Only 229 bilingual subjects among the 348 initial subjects completed both versions of Trail B. There was no significant difference on performance between Moroccan Trail B and English Trail B for these subjects.

Design of a Control Device for Synthetic Making Test Based on Pre-Arcing Current Detection and Phase Control

The synthetic making test has been widely used in evaluating the break ability of high-voltage circuit breaker. However, the test research and application are still inadequate, especially in the condition of rated voltage. According to the realistic conditions of test stations in China, a control device based on pre-arcing current detection and phase control is proposed in this paper. A sample of the control device made up of DSP TMS320LF2407A is fabricated, in which the CPLD MAX7064 is used to transmit signals for EMC design. It can be applied in full voltage synthetic making test at a level of 126kV/63kA. The test results show that, it is accurate to control the making phase of the applied voltage, whether the closing is demanded at voltage peak or zero.

Determination of failure degree of 1.2 kV SiC MOSFETs after short-circuit test using an improved test setup

Analysis of the short-circuit characteristics of SiC metal-oxide-semiconductor field-effect transistors(MOSFETs)is very important for their practical application.This paper studies the SiC MOSFET short-circuit characteristics with an improved test setup under different conditions.A high-current Si insulated gate bipolar transistor is used as a circuit breaker in the test circuit rather than the usual short-circuit test conducted without a circuit breaker.The test platform with a circuit breaker does not influence the calculation results regarding the shortcircuitwithstand time and energy,but the SiCMOSFETwill switch off after failure in a very short time.In addition,the degree of failure will be limited and confined to a small area,such that the damage to the chip will be clearly observable,which is significant for short-circuit failure analysis.

A Study on Visual Search during the Trail Making Test: Analysis Using an Eye Tracker

The Trail Making Test A (TMT-A) is a task related to visual search. Therefore, performance in the TMT-A has a high possibility of being influenced by visual information, such as the arrangement of numbers. The purpose of this study was to measure eye movements during the TMT-A using an eye tracker, to analyze differences in enforcement and trace execution, and to examine appropriate inspection drawings as visual search tasks. Study 1 was performed in 14 young healthy subjects and Study 2 was performed in 6 young healthy subjects. The English and Japanese versions of the TMT-A were administered as usual and the subjects performed the traces in a sitting position. The eye movements of the subjects were measured during the task. We analyzed the combined motion angles of both eyes. We compared the average values (30 Hz/s) of movement in the horizontal (X-axis) and vertical (Y-axis) directions during the normal administration of the English and Japanese version of the TMT-A. We also compared the traces performed by the subjects. There were no differences in tracing or enforcement in the English version of the TMT-A. Especially in the vertical visualization operation, it was shown that the normal enforcement was fewer than the tracing, and almost no up-to-down search was performed. In contrast, the subjects performed visual searches in all directions during the Japanese version of the TMT-A.

The Effects of Task Order Administration on Test Scores from the Trail Making Test: Near-Infrared Spectroscopy Investigations

This research examines the effects of task administration on Trail Making Test performance. The TMT consists of two parts, TMT Part A and TMT Part B. Generally, it has been believed that the order the two parts are completed does not influence test results;however, there is one previous study that has suggested that the order is indeed an influential factor on test scores. To measure frontal lobe function, the present study used near-infrared spectroscopy to measure changes in oxygenated hemoglobin (oxy-Hb) in 48 young, healthy Japanese subjects as they completed Parts A and B. We subtracted the change in oxy-Hb while completing Part A from that while completing Part B (B-A Oxy-Hb) for a comparison to facilitate an investigation of how, or if, the order in which the TMT is taken influences test success. We found that when Part A was completed first, there were only small changes in the B-A oxy-Hb, but when Part B was completed first, there were larger changes. This study indicates that the order the tests are completed in may influence outcomes, thus assessments using the TMT must follow a consistent task order.

Optimization of short-circuit transition parameters of Q235B steel GMAW based on orthogonal gray relational analysis

In gas metal arc welding(GMAW)process,the short-circuit transition was the most typical transition observed in molten metal droplets.This paper used orthogonal tests to explore the coupling effect law of welding process parameters on the quality of weld forming under short-circuit transition,the design of 3 factors and 3 levels of a total of 9 groups of orthogonal tests,welding current,welding voltage,welding speed as input parameters:effective area ratio,humps,actual linear power density,aspect ratio,Vickers hardness as output paramet-ers(response targets).Using range analysis and trend charts,we can visually depict the relationship between input parameters and a single output parameter,ultimately determining the optimal process parameters that impact the single output index.Then combined with gray the-ory to transform the three response targets into a single gray relational grade(GRG)for analysis,the optimal combination of the weld mor-phology parameters as follows:welding current 100 A,welding voltage 25 V,welding speed 30 cm/min.Finally,validation experiments were conducted,and the results showed that the error between the gray relational grade and the predicted value was 2.74%.It was observed that the effective area ratio of the response target significantly improved,validating the reliability of the orthogonal gray relational method.

PSA-based prostate cancer screening： the role of active surveillance and informed and shared decision making

Since the first publication describing the identification of prostate-specific antigen （PSA） in the 1960s, much progress has been made. The PSA test changed from being initially a monitoring tool to being also used as a diagnostic tool. Over time, the test has been heavily debated due to its lack of sensitivity and specificity. However, up to now the PSA test is still the only biomarker for the detection and monitoring of prostate cancer. PSA-based screening for prostate cancer is associated with a high proportion of unnecessary testing and overdiagnosis with subsequent overtreatment. In the early years of screening for prostate cancer, high rates of uptake were very important. However, over time the opinion on PSA-based screening has shifted towards the notion of informed choice. Nowadays, it is thought to be unethical to screen men without them being aware of the pros and cons of PSA testing, as well as the fact that an informed choice is related to better patient outcomes. Now, as the results of three major screening studies have been presented and the downsides of screening are becoming better understood, informed choice is becoming more relevant.

Innovation and Validation of Neuropsychopharmacological Testing Methods for the Assessment of Memory, Attention and Cognition in Human Participants

To meet the challenges of time searching for the new method for neuropsychopharmacology is still an ongoing process. In this experiment, we proposed and validated three neuropsychopharmacological testing methods, which are Matching Capacity (MC), Dissimilarity Identification (DI) and Sense Making (SM) tests for the estimation of memory, attention and cognition respectively in healthy aged human participants. The purpose of this experiment was to generate more effective testing methods for the determination of memory, attention and cognition in human. To endorse proposed methods a randomized double blind placebo controlled clinical trial was conducted among healthy aged human participants between the period of December 2015 and February 2016. The experiment was conducted at Gazipur Sadar, Gazipur-1703, Dhaka, Bangladesh and the experiment center was the Department of Pharmacy, Southeast University, Dhaka-1213, Bangladesh. In this experiment, 60 healthy male participants between the age of 42 to 50 years were selected and divided into 4 groups with 15 participants in each by simple randomization process. Ginkgo biloba standardized extract’s capsule (Giloba?) and Bacopa monnieri standardized extract’s syrup (Monera?) were used as standard. Psyllium seed husk (i.e., seed of the Plantago ovata) was incorporated in the hard gelatin capsule shell (size 0) to prepare capsule and used as a placebo control of the capsule (PCC). Excipients of oral liquid preparation of vitamin were used to prepare syrup and used as a placebo control of the syrup (PCS). The treatment procedure for group 1 was Ginkgo biloba standardized extract’s capsule (120 mg/capsule), 3 times daily for 21 days;group 2 was treated with Bacopa monnieri standardized extract’s syrup (1.21 g/5 ml), 2 teaspoonfuls, 3 times daily for 21 days. Psyllium seed husk’s capsule and excipients of oral liquid vitamin’s syrup were used as placebo control (PC) for group 3 and group 4 and administered in the similar manner of group 1 and group 2, respectively. Administration of Ginkgo biloba (GB) and Bacopa monnieri (BM) standardized extracts for successive days significantly increased the memory, attention and cognition of the participants with respect to PC groups. In the MC test, treatment with GB extract markedly (P < 0.05) increased the memory of the participants on 21st day with respect to PCC group. On the other hand administration of BM extract remarkably (P < 0.01) increased the memory of the participants on 14th day in comparison with PCS group. For DI test, administration of GB extract noticeably (P < 0.01, P < 0.05) increased the attention of the participants on 14th and 21st day as compared to that of PCC group. Conversely BM extract significantly (P < 0.05, P < 0.01) increased the attention of the participants on 7th, 14th and 21st day with regard to PCS group. In the SM test, administration of GB extract noticeably (P < 0.05) increased the cognition of the participants on 7th and 21st day in comparison with PCC group. BM extract administration considerably (P < 0.01) increased cognition of the participants on 14th and 21st day related to the PCS groups. The experiment demonstrates that MC, DI and SM tests clearly exposed the memory, attention and cognition enhancing activity of the GB and BM standardized extracts in healthful aged human participants respectively. Therefore, the proposed method can be used for the fortitude of memory, attention and cognition in human and will generate a landmark in the sphere of neuroscience.

MAKING OF THE EQUIVALENT MATERIALS USED FOR STUDYING ROCK RIPPABILITY

Based on the characteristics of the ripping of rock, the simulated conditions that would be satisfied by the prototype ripping and the model ripping have been derived in this paper. In order to .nanufacture the satisfying equivalent materials for the model ripping, a new method has been set up, and the materials, which can simulate the prototype rock "Hawkesbury sandstone", have been made by using the methed.

An Application of Paraconsistent Annotated Logic for Design Software Testing Strategies

Nowadays, application model systems for decision-making based on non-classical logic such as Paraconsistent Logic are used successfully in the treatment of uncertainties. The method presented in this paper is based on the fundamental concepts of Paraconsistent Annotated Logic with annotation of 2 values (PAL2v). In this study, two algorithms based on PAL2v are presented gradually, to extract the effects of the contradiction in signals of information from a database of uncertain knowledge. The Paraconsistent Extractors Algorithms of Contradiction Effect-Para Extrctr is applied to filters of networks of analyses (PANets) of signal information, where uncertain and contradictory signals may be found. Software test case scenarios are subordinated to an application model of Paraconsistent decision-making, which provides an analysis using Paraconsistent Logic in the treatment of uncertainties for design software testing strategies. This quality-quantity criterion to evaluate the software product quality is based on the characteristics of software testability analysis. The Para consistent reasoning application model system presented in this case study, reveals itself to be more efficient than the traditional methods because it has the potential to offer an appropriate treatment to different originally contradicting source information.

基于装置运行平稳性的石油化工安全管理策略研究

为了找出并评价石化装置支配性风险因素,实现安全生产风险源头控制和管理,满足石化装置安全生产风险控制的高效性要求,通过建立石化装置事故风险影响模型,运用决策试验与评估实验室方法(DEMATEL)从“现代事故因果连锁理论”视角分析发现人、机(物)等风险因素都受管理因素支配。进而,基于工艺稳定性、工艺稳定性修正、非计划停工3个指标建立石化装置平稳性模型,对装置运行平稳率进行追踪统计,并通过实例对该模型进行了分析和验证。结果表明:该石化装置运行平稳性模型可以量化追踪事故风险支配性因素的控制效果,可展示石化装置不同阶段下的风险特点,可作为装置事故风险预警指标和安全管理绩效指标,可提高装置的安全管理水平。

面向智能航行避碰决策与规划的虚拟仿真测试技术研究

研究了面向智能航行避碰决策与规划的虚拟仿真测试技术。介绍了智能航行在货运船舶中的应用需求,分析了当下避碰决策策略、路径规划算法以及避碰决策与规划测试技术的研究现状。面向货运船舶智能航行避碰决策与规划能力,基于避碰规则中的会遇态势划分,结合四元船舶领域和贝塞尔曲线插值理论,提出了一种智能航行避碰决策与规划算法。构建了一种基于虚拟仿真环境的避碰决策与规划算法仿真测试方法,通过AIS(automatic identification system)模拟器模拟目标船的状态数据,结合船载综合导航系统(integrated navigation system,INS)实现了避碰决策与规划算法的测试。通过复杂水域仿真测试验证了所提算法的有效性和可行性,为货运船舶智能航行功能的开发与实践提供了参考。

沙滩椅体位及控制性降压下肩关节手术病人脑氧饱和度与脑部血流速度改变及其对术后神经认知的影响

目的分析沙滩椅体位及控制性降压下肩关节手术中脑氧饱和度(rScO_(2))与脑部血流速度的变化,及其对病人术后神经认知的影响。方法选取拟于本院以沙滩椅体位接受肩关节手术治疗的病人60例,均为美国麻醉医师协会(ASA)分级Ⅰ、Ⅱ级,在静脉全身麻醉及控制性降压干预下,于麻醉前、麻醉并转入沙滩椅体位后5 min、手术开始时以及手术开始后每隔20 min直至手术结束进行rScO_(2)、大脑中动脉血流速度(VMCA)和有创血压(心脏水平和耳道水平)的检测,并记录脑氧欠饱和事件(CDE)的发生。同时,于术前和术后24 h对病人进行神经认知能力测试。结果转入沙滩椅体位后所有病人的rScO_(2)和VMCA相比麻醉前都有所下降。经历CDE的病人耳道水平平均动脉压、rScO_(2)和VMCA均显著低于未经历CDE的病人,并且术后24 h时连线测试成绩也更低,组间差异有统计学意义(P<0.05)。结论对于ASA分级Ⅰ、Ⅱ级病人,沙滩椅体位及控制性降压下肩关节手术中部分病人的rScO_(2)和VMCA较麻醉前显著下降并发生CDE,进而对术后神经认知产生不利影响。

组织视角下的核电厂班组决策失误致因分析

为了系统研究班组决策失误规律,识别核电厂班组决策失误的关键路径,从组织视角出发,结合核电厂所处环境与班组决策失误特征对人因分析与分类系统(Human Factor Analysis and Classification System,HFACS)模型进行改进,建立了核电厂班组决策失误致因模型。利用改进后的模型对137份核电厂事件报告进行统计分析,并运用卡方检验与让步比分析班组决策失误的原因及各层次之间的内在关系。结果表明,组织文化缺失、规程不明晰、知识与能力不足、制定备选方案失误是导致班组决策失误的重要因素。改进HFACS模型中上下层级的因素之间存在显著的因果关系,且容易引发班组决策失误的路径有32条,其中发生概率最大的路径为组织设计不当→任务不明晰→压力过大→确定目标失误。由此可见,核电事故的发生是各致因因素相互作用的结果,降低班组决策失误概率需要阻断关键致因路径,加强对关键因素的管控。

基于AI的智能化渗透测试技术研究

传统的渗透测试方式依赖测试人员的经验,而自动化测试通常基于已知的攻击模式和漏洞库,因此在面对复杂的网络场景时,难以实施灵活高效的渗透测试。针对上述问题,利用人工智能技术赋能自动化渗透测试,提出了基于强化认知决策的智能化渗透测试方案,通过拆解渗透攻击的各个阶段并提取攻击单元,设计迭代运行的系统架构,动态生成攻击行为,针对复杂的网络环境,利用强化学习实现攻击决策智能体的自进化学习,实现高效的智能化渗透测试。

内孤立波作用下新概念人工海床水动力载荷及流场特性研究

新概念人工海床能够有效提升海上油气开发装备对强风、巨浪和表面强流等海面灾害性海洋环境要素的适应性,但内波产生的巨大冲击载荷是影响人工海床作业安全的关键因素。本文研究内孤立波作用下新概念人工海床水动力载荷及流场特性问题。首先,以eKdV方程为理论模型,采用速度入口造波方法,建立三维内孤立波数值水槽,实现内孤立波的数值造波;在此基础上,对数值造波的波形与理论波形和试验波形进行对比,验证数值方法的有效性;最后,计算内孤立波作用于人工海床的水动力载荷,详细研究不同内孤立波振幅下人工海床的受力特性,分析人工海床周围的速度场和涡量场。研究结果表明:随着内孤立波振幅的增加,人工海床所受的拖曳力、垂向力和升力均逐渐增加,且拖曳力和垂向力远大于升力;当内孤立波经过人工海床时,人工海床周围的流体质点速度增大,涡强度增大。本研究可为大型水下工程结构物的内孤立波载荷预报及流场特性分析提供一种有效的数值计算方法。

Thermal runaway evolution of a 280 Ah lithium-ion battery with LiFePO_(4) as the cathode for different heat transfer modes constructed by mechanical abuse

Lithium iron phosphate batteries have been increasingly utilized in recent years because their higher safety performance can improve the increasing trend of recurring thermal runaway accidents.However,the safety performance and mechanism of high-capacity lithium iron phosphate batteries under internal short-circuit challenges remain to be explored.This work analyzes the thermal runaway evolution of high-capacity LiFePO_(4) batteries under different internal heat transfer modes,which are controlled by different penetration modes.Two penetration cases involving complete penetration and incomplete penetration were detected during the test,and two modes were performed incorporating nails that either remained or were removed after penetration to comprehensively reveal the thermal runaway mechanism.A theoretical model of microcircuits and internal heat conduction is also established.The results indicated three thermal runaway evolution processes for high-capacity batteries,which corresponded to the experimental results of thermal equilibrium,single thermal runaway,and two thermal runaway events.The difference in heat distribution in the three phenomena is determined based on the microstructure and material structure near the pinhole.By controlling the heat dissipation conditions,the time interval between two thermal runaway events can be delayed from 558 to 1417 s,accompanied by a decrease in the concentration of in-situ gas production during the second thermal runaway event.

推摇组合式造波的波流循环水槽设计与研究

针对海工实验波流水槽中的造流装置与造波装置间存在的干扰问题,研发了推摇组合式造波的波流循环水槽,并分别从造流和造波两个方面进行了设计和验证.综合设计循环流道、造流驱动装置及稳流出水口,保障实验区域水流稳定性及可控性;采用倒挂式摇摆结构,结合平行四边形结构运动特点,实现倒挂推摇组合式造波,在保证波形质量的同时减小对流道的影响;建立数学模型分析推块运动与波浪要素间的关系;基于西门子PLC开发实验测试平台测控系统搭建整个实验平台,完成水槽各项性能测试.结果表明,实验平台能够实现最大流速1.5 m∙s^(–1),且同时满足造波周期1~4 s,波高范围0.1~0.6 m的单独造波及所需要的波流海况耦合,能满足相关科教应用要求.

德国MASTER项目在肿瘤个性化治疗领域的创新实践

肿瘤精准个性化治疗是依据个体全面且精细的分子遗传学检测,对患者进行分子分型并匹配个性化治疗方案的一种新型临床诊疗研究范式。欧美国家在癌症基因组学相关领域的基础和临床转化研究方面较为深入,发起了多项具有世界影响力的肿瘤精准医疗临床研究项目。本研究结合德国在肿瘤精准医疗领域开展的“分子辅助分层用于肿瘤根除研究”(Molecularly Aided Stratification for Tumour Eradication Research,MASTER)项目以及在肿瘤个性化治疗领域的实践探索,概述了德国国家癌症研究体系的整体框架、核心研究机构以及MASTER项目在实施过程中关于患者筛选、样本收集、分子检测、数据分析以及临床转化等一系列的流程要素,分析了其在临床试验伦理与质量管理规范、患者筛选与临床试验入组、生物信息学分析、基因变异功能验证、专家委员会协同等方面具体的做法,以期借鉴MASTER项目的成功经验,为我国今后开展更多基于分子遗传学检测的肿瘤精准诊疗相关的临床试验提供建议,加速我国肿瘤疾病分子分型与患者预后评估的发展。