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Molecular Imaging and Biology Apr 2021We aim to accurately differentiate between active pulmonary tuberculosis (TB) and lung cancer (LC) based on radiomics and semantic features as extracted from...
PURPOSE
We aim to accurately differentiate between active pulmonary tuberculosis (TB) and lung cancer (LC) based on radiomics and semantic features as extracted from pre-treatment positron emission tomography/X-ray computed tomography (PET/CT) images.
PROCEDURES
A total of 174 patients (77/97 pulmonary TB/LC as confirmed by pathology) were retrospectively selected, with 122 in the training cohort and 52 in the validation cohort. Four hundred eighty-seven radiomics features were initially extracted to quantify phenotypic characteristics of the lesion region in both PET and CT images. Eleven semantic features were additionally defined by two experienced nuclear medicine physicians. Feature selection was performed in 5 steps to enable derivation of robust and effective signatures. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was subsequently used to develop a radiomics nomogram. The calibration, discrimination, and clinical usefulness of the nomogram were evaluated in both the training and independent validation cohorts.
RESULTS
The individualized radiomics nomogram, which combined PET/CT radiomics signature with semantic features, demonstrated good calibration and significantly improved the diagnostic performance with respect to the semantic model alone or PET/CT signature alone in training cohort (AUC 0.97 vs. 0.94 or 0.91, p = 0.0392 or 0.0056), whereas did not significantly improve the performance in validation cohort (AUC 0.93 vs. 0.89 or 0.91, p = 0.3098 or 0.3323).
CONCLUSION
The radiomics nomogram showed potential for individualized differential diagnosis between solid active pulmonary TB and solid LC, although the improvement of performance was not significant relative to semantic model.
Topics: Diagnosis, Differential; Female; Humans; Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; Lung Neoplasms; Male; Middle Aged; Nomograms; Pattern Recognition, Automated; Positron Emission Tomography Computed Tomography; ROC Curve; Retrospective Studies; Tomography, X-Ray Computed; Tuberculosis, Pulmonary
PubMed: 33030709
DOI: 10.1007/s11307-020-01550-4 -
Archives of Clinical Neuropsychology :... Jan 2022To investigate the differential ability of the "Test Relaties Abstracte Concepten" (TRACE), a Dutch test for abstract semantic knowledge, in frontotemporal dementia...
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the differential ability of the "Test Relaties Abstracte Concepten" (TRACE), a Dutch test for abstract semantic knowledge, in frontotemporal dementia (FTD).
METHODS
The TRACE was administered in patients with behavioral variant FTD (bvFTD; n = 16), nonfluent variant (nfvPPA; n = 10), logopenic variant (lvPPA; n = 10), and semantic variant primary progressive aphasia (svPPA; n = 9), and controls (n = 59). We examined group differences, performed correlational analyses with other neuropsychological tests and investigated discriminative ability. We compared the TRACE with a semantic association test for concrete stimuli (SAT).
RESULTS
All patient groups, except nfvPPA, performed worse on the TRACE than controls (p < .01). svPPA patients performed worse than the other patient groups (p < .05). The TRACE discriminated well between patient groups, except nfvPPA, versus controls (all p < .01) and between svPPA versus other patient groups with high sensitivity (75-100%) and specificity (86%-92%). In bvFTD and nfvPPA the TRACE correlated with language tests (ρ > 0.6), whereas in svPPA the concrete task correlated (ρ ≥ 0.75) with language tests. Patients with bvFTD, nfvPPA and lvPPA performed lower on the TRACE than the SAT (p < .05), whereas patients with svPPA were equally impaired on both tasks (p = .2).
DISCUSSION
We demonstrated impaired abstract semantic knowledge in patients with bvFTD, lvPPA, and svPPA, but not nfvPPA, with svPPA patients performing worse than the other subtypes. The TRACE was a good classifier between each patient group versus controls and between svPPA versus other patient groups. This highlights the value of incorporating semantic tests with abstract stimuli into standard neuropsychological assessment for early differential diagnosis of FTD subtypes.
Topics: Aphasia, Primary Progressive; Frontotemporal Dementia; Humans; Language; Neuropsychological Tests; Semantics
PubMed: 33856423
DOI: 10.1093/arclin/acab022 -
Medicina (Kaunas, Lithuania) Oct 2021: It is widely agreed that patients suffering from Alzheimer's disease (AD) and patients suffering from semantic dementia (SD) might fail clinically administered...
: It is widely agreed that patients suffering from Alzheimer's disease (AD) and patients suffering from semantic dementia (SD) might fail clinically administered semantic tasks due to a different combination of underlying cognitive deficits: namely, degraded semantic representations in SD and degraded representations plus executive control deficit in AD. However, no easy administrable test or test battery for differentiating the semantic impairment profile in these populations has been devised yet. : In this study, we propose a new easy administrable task based on a free association procedure (F-Assoc) to be used in conjunction with category fluency (Cat-Fl) and letter fluency (Lett-Fl) for quantifying pure representational and pure control deficits, thus teasing apart the semantic profile of SD and AD patients. : In a sample of 10 AD and 10 SD subjects, matched for disease severity, we show that indices of asymmetric performance contrasting F-Assoc and each of the two verbal fluency tasks yield a clearly distinguishable discrepancy pattern across SD and AD. We also provide empirical support for the validity of an asymmetry measure contrasting F-Assoc and Cat-FL as an index of control impairment. : The present study suggests that the free association procedure provides a pure measure of degradation of semantic representations avoiding the confound of possible concomitant executive deficits.
Topics: Alzheimer Disease; Free Association; Frontotemporal Dementia; Humans; Neuropsychological Tests; Semantics
PubMed: 34833389
DOI: 10.3390/medicina57111171 -
Frontiers in Psychology 2020Semantic processing underpins the organization of verbal information for both storage and retrieval. Deficits in semantic processing are associated with both the risk...
Semantic processing underpins the organization of verbal information for both storage and retrieval. Deficits in semantic processing are associated with both the risk for and symptoms presented in schizophrenia. However, studies are mixed and could reflect the confounding effects of medication and symptom heterogeneity. Therefore, we considered whether two risk phenotypes, positive schizotypy and hallucinatory predisposition, present in the general population were associated with differential responding profiles for a semantic processing task. One hundred and eighty-three participants completed the Schizotypal Personality Questionnaire, Launay-Slade Hallucination Scale, National Adult Reading Test, a handedness measure, and a computerized semantic relatedness judgment task. Pairs of words were related through their dominant or subordinate meanings, or unrelated. Participants were divided into four groups using a mean split on cognitive-perceptual (positive) schizotypy and hallucination proneness. Significant differences between groups were found for reaction time on the semantic relatedness task, with the high cognitive-perceptual schizotypy groups responding significantly slower to all word pairs compared to their low scoring counterparts. There was some evidence that high hallucination proneness was associated with significantly faster reaction times which may reflect disinhibitive processes, however additional support is required. The results suggest that these two components of psychosis risk are associated with different patterns of responding to semantic processing. More diffuse activation of semantic information appeared to be associated with positive schizotypy, while those predisposed to hallucinations appeared to respond quicker. These results have significant implications in the re-conceptualization of hallucination proneness as distinct from positive schizotypy. Additional research is required to investigate the association between psychotic-like experiences separate from personality variables such as positive schizotypy and semantic processing.
PubMed: 32982899
DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2020.542002 -
Current Issues in Personality Psychology 2022From 2014 to the present, Ukrainian military personnel have been fighting in Eastern Ukraine against illegal armed formations of separatists. The resulting combat stress...
BACKGROUND
From 2014 to the present, Ukrainian military personnel have been fighting in Eastern Ukraine against illegal armed formations of separatists. The resulting combat stress negatively affects servicemen's mental health status. This study aimed to examine the factor structure of a scale to assess the psychological safety of a soldier's personality (PSSP), taking into account changes in the conditions of military service to improve the professional and psychological training of military personnel.
PARTICIPANTS AND PROCEDURE
The study involved 118 officers of the National Guard of Ukraine. The semantic differential method, expert judgment, and exploratory factor analysis were used to determine the factor structure of the PSSP.
RESULTS
The PSSP model to maintain combat readiness in daily activities includes four components: "Moral and communicative", "Motivational and volitional", "Value and meaning of life" and "Inner comfort". For activities in extreme conditions (during combat deployment), the personality potential of four structural components is used: "Moral and volitional regulation", "Coping strategies", "Value and meaning of life" and "Post-traumatic growth/regression".
CONCLUSIONS
The PSSP model consists of four components that have different content depending on the conditions for performance of professional tasks by military personnel. It is advisable to use the obtained results of the content of the PSSP model in the development of professional and psychological training programs for the purposeful formation of the resilience of military personnel, taking into account the conditions of their activities.
PubMed: 38013921
DOI: 10.5114/cipp.2021.108684 -
Journal of Dental Education Jun 2023The aim of this study is to investigate the literature to evaluate dental students' attitudes regarding the treatment of older adults. (Review)
Review
PURPOSE
The aim of this study is to investigate the literature to evaluate dental students' attitudes regarding the treatment of older adults.
METHODS
A scoping review was performed following Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses/PRISMA guidelines to identify articles from four electronic databases: MEDLINE via the PubMed interface, Embase, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature, and AgeLine. Gray literature searches were also performed in Scopus, Web of Science, and ProQuest Dissertations and Theses-Health and Medicine.
RESULTS
Eleven articles were assessed. The majority (72, 72%) were published between 2011 and 2020, evidencing various contexts of dental students, such as different countries and cultures, and levels of education. The most commonly used tool/instrument to survey dental students' attitudes was the Aging Semantic Differential Scale. Student age, race, and marital status did not seem to interfere with dental students' attitudes regarding the treatment of older adults.
CONCLUSIONS
Dental students tend to have a positive attitude toward older people. In this context, female students, students who interact with older people, and clinical students have more positive attitudes than male and nonclinical students.
Topics: Aged; Female; Humans; Male; Attitude; Educational Status; Students, Dental; Students, Nursing
PubMed: 36928643
DOI: 10.1002/jdd.13193 -
Psychiatria Danubina 2022It is known that an interactive design and good participants' involvement strengthens the motivation to engage in learning processes. Previous research suggests... (Observational Study)
Observational Study
BACKGROUND
It is known that an interactive design and good participants' involvement strengthens the motivation to engage in learning processes. Previous research suggests attitude-behaviour consistency with relevance of subjective meaning and interest in learning. This observational study aims to measure the attitude of medical students.
METHODS
The connotative meaning and perception of e-learning were explored. A semantic differential scale was given to all students (N=328) of a case-based blended-learning (CBBL) course, 296 medical students were included in this study.
RESULTS
The online-survey completion rate was 100%. An exploratory principal components analysis with varimax rotation was performed. Five components could be extracted that explained 47.21% of the total variance. The five components are best described by the following adjectives taken from the item pool: "soft, emotional, playful", "clear and organised", "vigorous and serious", "vivid and outgoing", "economical and introverted". An additional qualitative analysis revealed relevant positive connotations ascribed to e-learning by the students: freedom in time and space for learning, interdisciplinary approach and communication, playfulness and clear, structured procedure.
CONCLUSION
Our study demonstrated that a specific set of aspects is essential for students to feel comfortable and affect-cognitively engaged to learn and gain the best exam grades.
Topics: Communication; Humans; Language; Learning; Motivation; Students, Medical
PubMed: 35772130
DOI: 10.24869/psyd.2022.209 -
Behavioural Neurology 2015In a majority of languages, the time of an event is expressed by marking tense on the verb. There is substantial evidence that the production of verb tense in sentences... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Review
In a majority of languages, the time of an event is expressed by marking tense on the verb. There is substantial evidence that the production of verb tense in sentences is more severely impaired than other functional categories in persons with agrammatic aphasia. The underlying source of this verb tense impairment is less clear, particularly in terms of the relative contribution of conceptual-semantic and processing demands. This study aimed to provide a more precise characterization of verb tense impairment by examining if there is dissociation within tenses (due to conceptual-semantic differences) and an effect of experimental task (mediated by processing limitations). Two sources of data were used: a meta-analysis of published research (which yielded 143 datasets) and new data from 16 persons with agrammatic aphasia. Tensed verbs were significantly more impaired than neutral (nonfinite) verbs, but there were no consistent differences between past, present, and future tenses. Overall, tense accuracy was mediated by task, such that picture description task was the most challenging, relative to sentence completion, sentence production priming, and grammaticality judgment. An interaction between task and tense revealed a past tense disadvantage for a sentence production priming task. These findings indicate that verb tense impairment is exacerbated by processing demands of the elicitation task and the conceptual-semantic differences between tenses are too subtle to show differential performance in agrammatism.
Topics: Aphasia, Broca; Humans; Language; Speech
PubMed: 26457004
DOI: 10.1155/2015/983870 -
Memory & Cognition Jul 2023Growing evidence indicates that a domain-general executive control supports semantic memory retrieval, yet the nature of this interaction remains elusive. To shed light...
Growing evidence indicates that a domain-general executive control supports semantic memory retrieval, yet the nature of this interaction remains elusive. To shed light on such control mechanisms, we conducted two dual-task experiments loading distinct executive capacities (working memory maintenance, monitoring, and switching), while participants carried out automatic (free-associative) and controlled (dissociative) word retrieval tasks. We found that these forms of executive load interfered with retrieval fluency in both tasks, but these negative effects were more pronounced for the dissociative performance. Together, these findings indicate that the domain-general executive control supports accessing contextually relevant knowledge as well as the inhibition of automatically activated but task-inappropriate retrieval candidates, putatively via an adaptive gating of semantic activation and interference control. Moreover, the processing costs related to retrieval inhibition and switching were negatively correlated, suggesting a trade-off between the ability to constrain semantic activation (i.e., inhibition) and the ability to initiate flexible transitions between semantic sets (i.e., switching), which may thus represent two complementary control functions governing semantic memory retrieval.
Topics: Humans; Semantics; Executive Function; Memory, Short-Term; Inhibition, Psychological
PubMed: 36650348
DOI: 10.3758/s13421-022-01388-x -
NeuroImage Oct 2022Our ability to understand and interact with our environment relies upon conceptual knowledge of the meaning of objects. This process is supported by a distributed...
Our ability to understand and interact with our environment relies upon conceptual knowledge of the meaning of objects. This process is supported by a distributed network of frontal, parietal, and temporal brain regions. Insight into the differential roles of various elements of this system can be inferred from the timing of activation, and here we use similarity-based fMRI-MEG fusion to understand when the representational spaces in different elements of the semantic system converge with representational spaces in the evolving MEG signal. Participants performed a semantic-typicality judgement of written words drawn from nine different semantic categories in separate fMRI and MEG sessions. Results indicate an initial period of congruence between MEG and fMRI informational spaces dominated by the posterior inferior temporal gyrus and the ventral temporal cortex between 350 and 450 msec. This is followed by a second period of convergence between 450 and 795 msec where MEG and fMRI representational spaces conform in left angular gyrus and precuneus in addition to ventral temporal cortex. Results are consistent with the multistage recruitment of the semantic system, initially involving automatic aspects of the representational system and later extending to broader elements of the semantic system more strongly associated with internalised cognition.
Topics: Brain; Brain Mapping; Humans; Magnetic Resonance Imaging; Semantics; Temporal Lobe
PubMed: 35752412
DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2022.119405