3,093 research outputs found
Sparse temporally dynamic resting-state functional connectivity networks for early MCI identification
In conventional resting-state functional MRI (R-fMRI) analysis, functional connectivity is assumed to be temporally stationary, overlooking neural activities or interactions that may happen within the scan duration. Dynamic changes of neural interactions can be reflected by variations of topology and correlation strength in temporally correlated functional connectivity networks. These connectivity networks may potentially capture subtle yet short neural connectivity disruptions induced by disease pathologies. Accordingly, we are motivated to utilize disrupted temporal network properties for improving control-patient classification performance. Specifically, a sliding window approach is firstly employed to generate a sequence of overlapping R-fMRI sub-series. Based on these sub-series, sliding window correlations, which characterize the neural interactions between brain regions, are then computed to construct a series of temporal networks. Individual estimation of these temporal networks using conventional network construction approaches fails to take into consideration intrinsic temporal smoothness among successive overlapping R-fMRI subseries. To preserve temporal smoothness of R-fMRI sub-series, we suggest to jointly estimate the temporal networks by maximizing a penalized log likelihood using a fused sparse learning algorithm. This sparse learning algorithm encourages temporally correlated networks to have similar network topology and correlation strengths. We design a disease identification framework based on the estimated temporal networks, and group level network property differences and classification results demonstrate the importance of including temporally dynamic R-fMRI scan information to improve diagnosis accuracy of mild cognitive impairment patients
Dynamical Properties of Interaction Data
Network dynamics are typically presented as a time series of network
properties captured at each period. The current approach examines the dynamical
properties of transmission via novel measures on an integrated, temporally
extended network representation of interaction data across time. Because it
encodes time and interactions as network connections, static network measures
can be applied to this "temporal web" to reveal features of the dynamics
themselves. Here we provide the technical details and apply it to agent-based
implementations of the well-known SEIR and SEIS epidemiological models.Comment: 29 pages, 15 figure
Multitask Diffusion Adaptation over Networks
Adaptive networks are suitable for decentralized inference tasks, e.g., to
monitor complex natural phenomena. Recent research works have intensively
studied distributed optimization problems in the case where the nodes have to
estimate a single optimum parameter vector collaboratively. However, there are
many important applications that are multitask-oriented in the sense that there
are multiple optimum parameter vectors to be inferred simultaneously, in a
collaborative manner, over the area covered by the network. In this paper, we
employ diffusion strategies to develop distributed algorithms that address
multitask problems by minimizing an appropriate mean-square error criterion
with -regularization. The stability and convergence of the algorithm in
the mean and in the mean-square sense is analyzed. Simulations are conducted to
verify the theoretical findings, and to illustrate how the distributed strategy
can be used in several useful applications related to spectral sensing, target
localization, and hyperspectral data unmixing.Comment: 29 pages, 11 figures, submitted for publicatio
The application of statistical network models in disease research
This is the author accepted manuscript. The final version is available from Wiley via the DOI in this record.Host social structure is fundamental to how infections spread and persist, and so the statistical modelling of static and dynamic social networks provides an invaluable tool to parameterise realistic epidemiological models. We present a practical guide to the application of network modelling frameworks for hypothesis testing related to social interactions and epidemiology, illustrating some approaches with worked examples using data from a population of wild European badgers Meles meles naturally infected with bovine tuberculosis. Different empirical network datasets generate particular statistical issues related to non-independence and sampling constraints. We therefore discuss the strengths and weaknesses of modelling approaches for different types of network data and for answering different questions relating to disease transmission. We argue that statistical modelling frameworks designed specifically for network analysis offer great potential in directly relating network structure to infection. They have the potential to be powerful tools in analysing empirical contact data used in epidemiological studies, but remain untested for use in networks of spatio-temporal associations. As a result, we argue that developments in the statistical analysis of empirical contact data are critical given the ready availability of dynamic network data from bio-logging studies. Furthermore, we encourage improved integration of statistical network approaches into epidemiological research to facilitate the generation of novel modelling frameworks and help extend our understanding of disease transmission in natural populations.M.J.S. is funded by a NERC standard grant (NE/M004546/1) awarded to R.A.M., D.P.C., D.J.H. and M.B., with the APHA team at Woodchester Park, UK (lead scientist is R.J.D.) as project partners
A Novel Joint Brain Network Analysis Using Longitudinal Alzheimer's Disease Data.
There is well-documented evidence of brain network differences between individuals with Alzheimer's disease (AD) and healthy controls (HC). To date, imaging studies investigating brain networks in these populations have typically been cross-sectional, and the reproducibility of such findings is somewhat unclear. In a novel study, we use the longitudinal ADNI data on the whole brain to jointly compute the brain network at baseline and one-year using a state of the art approach that pools information across both time points to yield distinct visit-specific networks for the AD and HC cohorts, resulting in more accurate inferences. We perform a multiscale comparison of the AD and HC networks in terms of global network metrics as well as at the more granular level of resting state networks defined under a whole brain parcellation. Our analysis illustrates a decrease in small-worldedness in the AD group at both the time points and also identifies more local network features and hub nodes that are disrupted due to the progression of AD. We also obtain high reproducibility of the HC network across visits. On the other hand, a separate estimation of the networks at each visit using standard graphical approaches reveals fewer meaningful differences and lower reproducibility
Research Opportunities and Visions for Smart and Pervasive Health
Improving the health of the nation's population and increasing the
capabilities of the US healthcare system to support diagnosis, treatment, and
prevention of disease is a critical national and societal priority. In the past
decade, tremendous advances in expanding computing capabilities--sensors, data
analytics, networks, advanced imaging, and cyber-physical systems--have, and
will continue to, enhance healthcare and health research, with resulting
improvements in health and wellness. However, the cost and complexity of
healthcare continues to rise alongside the impact of poor health on
productivity and quality of life. What is lacking are transformative
capabilities that address significant health and healthcare trends: the growing
demands and costs of chronic disease, the greater responsibility placed on
patients and informal caregivers, and the increasing complexity of health
challenges in the US, including mental health, that are deeply rooted in a
person's social and environmental context.Comment: A Computing Community Consortium (CCC) white paper, 12 page
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