Correction to: Cognitive assessment in multiple sclerosis—an Italian consensus

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Establishment of Corbicula fluminea (O.F. M?ller, 1774) in Lake Maggiore: a spatial approach to trace the invasion dynamics

We analysed the dynamics of the invasive Asian basket clam Corbicula fluminea in Lake Maggiore (Italy), recorded for the first time in August 2010. In order to reveal the extent of its dispersal, we monitored 30 locations along the lake for presence/absence of clams. This assessment of population structure, density and biomass is based on quantitative samples collected along the southern shoreline at four sites with diverse types of habitats. In the present study, the on-going process of Corbicula invasion was analysed from a spatial and temporal perspective. We compared density and size structure of the population among the sites (spatial distribution). We attempted to trace the colonization dynamics of the clams, so the invasion dynamics were tentatively reconstructed from spatial distribution of size /age groups and the contribution of the last recruited cohort to total population density along the lake littoral zone. Results from our surveys conducted in 2010-2011 have demonstrated that the Asian clam was well-established in the lake, thus about one-third of the lake (i.e. the southern basin) was already colonized by C. fluminea in 2011. Size frequency distribution in autumn 2011 further illustrated reproduction events and new recruitments. Population densities in Lake Maggiore were among the highest ever recorded in an Italian lake. Both the rapid spread of Corbicula in the littoral area and the relatively high densities, even at the most recently invaded sites, infer the potential ecosystem impacts associated with a dominant invasive species. Data reported here are not intended to be exhaustive since they concern only two years of investigations, so more detailed studies on both the ecology and invasive habits of this new alien species in Lake Maggiore are planned. The spatial approach used in the present study may clarify the dynamics of this invasion. Future monitoring might help us to disentangle the effects of spatial variability versus temporal succession during the establishment of the invasive species

Clinical Profiles in Multiple Sclerosis: Cognitive Reserve and Motor Impairment along Disease Duration

(i) Background: Cognitive impairment in people with multiple sclerosis (MS) has been studied in relation to certain clinical variables (e.g., motor disability and disease duration) and lifestyle factors such as cognitive reserve (CR). However, only very few studies have considered the interaction of clinical variables and cognitive reserve in preserving the integrity of the neuropsychological profile. In this paper, we hypothesised that a higher level of CR might predict good cognitive efficiency by modulating the clinical outcome of the disease. (ii) Methods: A sample of 100 participants with MS (age range 30–74), was recruited and assessed remotely with a questionnaire to measure CR and a cognitive screening test. Data were analysed through generalized additive models. (iii) Results: We found that the model analysing the interaction between CR and disease duration, and between CR and motor disability, was able to explain a significant percentage of cognitive performance. In particular, higher levels of CR predicted a better cognitive performance despite a long disease duration, unless the motor disability was severe. (iv) Conclusion: This study highlights the crucial role of CR in modulating cognitive efficiency in people with MS

D-KEFS ST Failure Identifies Multiple Sclerosis Patients With Worse Objective and Self-Perceived Physical and Cognitive Disability

Background and Objectives: The Brief Repeatable Battery of Neuropsychological Test (BRB-NT) does not explore the executive functions. We combined BRB-NT and Delis-Kaplan Executive Function System Sorting Test (D-KEFS ST) to obtain a more comprehensive evaluation of cognitive impairment in Multiple Sclerosis (MS) patients.Methods: 137 Relapsing Remitting MS (RRMS) patients underwent a detailed neuropsychological assessment including BRB-NT, D-KEFS ST and self-administrated questionnaires, namely the Multiple Sclerosis Neuropsychological Questionnaire (MSNQ), the Fatigue Severity Scale (FSS) and the Beck Depression Inventory-Second Edition (BDI-II).Results: Fifty-four patients (39.4%) had normal scores in each item of both batteries (cognitive normal), while 64 patients (46.7%) failed in at least one test of BRB-NT but not of D-KEFS ST (BRB-NT impaired) and 18 (13.1%) failed in at least one test of both batteries (BRB-NT+D-KEFS ST impaired). Only one patient (0.7%) failed in D-KEFS ST, but not in BRB-NT and was excluded from further analysis. BRB-NT+D-KEFS ST impaired patients had a significant higher mean disease duration and median EDSS score (15.5 ± 13.6 years and 3.5, respectively) compared to those with only BRB-NT impaired (7.9 ± 9.2, p < 0.01 and 2.5, p < 0.05) and with cognitive normal patients (6.7 ± 9.4, p < 0.005 and 2.0, p < 0.01). SDMT was more frequently impaired in BRB-NT+D-KEFS ST impaired patients (77.8%) compared to only BRB-NT impaired ones (20.0%, p < 0.001). The failure in D-KEFS ST was associated with the number of failed BRB-NT items (OR 1.46, IC95% 1.07–1.99, p < 0.05) and with pathological SDMT z-value (OR 10.56, IC95% 2.50–44.66, p < 0.005). Compared to BRB-NT impaired patients and the cognitive normal ones, BRB-NT+D-KEFS ST impaired patients had significant higher MSNQ (p < 0.01) and BDI-II (p < 0.05) values.Conclusion: D-KEFS ST did not increase the number of cognitively impaired MS patients identified by BRB-NT, but provided a more comprehensive evaluation of cognitive decline. D-KEFS ST identified a subgroup of patients with increased self-perception of cognitive decline, depression and higher physical disability

Alarming decline of freshwater trigger species in western Mediterranean key biodiversity areas

The identification of key biodiversity areas (KBA) was initiated by the International Union for Conservation of Nature in 2004 to overcome taxonomic biases in the selection of important areas for conservation, including freshwater ecosystems. Since then, several KBAs have been identified mainly based on the presence of trigger species (i.e., species that trigger either the vulnerability and or the irreplaceability criterion and thus identify a site as a KBA). However, to our knowledge, many of these KBAs have not been validated. Therefore, classical surveys of the taxa used to identify freshwater KBAs (fishes, molluscs, odonates, and aquatic plants) were conducted in Douro (Iberian Peninsula) and Sebou (Morocco) River basins in the Mediterranean Biodiversity Hotspot. Environmental DNA analyses were undertaken in the Moroccan KBAs. There was a mismatch between the supposed and actual presence of trigger species. None of the trigger species were found in 43% and 50% of all KBAs surveyed in the Douro and Sebou basins, respectively. Shortcomings of freshwater KBA identification relate to flawed or lack of distribution data for trigger species. This situation results from a misleading initial identification of KBAs based on poor (or even inaccurate) ecological information or due to increased human disturbance between initial KBA identification and the present. To improve identification of future freshwater KBAs, we suggest selecting trigger species with a more conservative approach; use of local expert knowledge and digital data (to assess habitat quality, species distribution, and potential threats); consideration of the subcatchment when delineating KBAs boundaries; thoughtful consideration of terrestrial special areas for conservation limits; and periodic field validation.Financial support was provided by the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT) Grant to J.N. (2020.04637.BD). We thank the editor and 3 anonymous referees for the valuable suggestions made, which increased the clarity of our manuscript. This study was partially funded by the MAVA Foundation through the action plan Ensuring Integrated Resource Management in River Basins.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Alarming decline of freshwater trigger species in western Mediterranean key biodiversity areas

Theidentification of key biodiversity areas (KBA) was initiated by the International Union for Conservation of Nature in 2004 to overcome taxonomic biases in the selection of important areas for conservation, including freshwater ecosystems. Since then, several KBAs have been identified mainly based on the presence of trigger species (i.e., species that trigger either the vulnerability and or the irreplaceability criterion and thus identify a site as a KBA). However, to our knowledge, many of these KBAs have not been validated. Therefore, classical surveys of the taxa used to identify freshwater KBAs (fishes, molluscs, odonates, and aquatic plants) were conducted in Douro (Iberian Peninsula) and Sebou (Morocco) River basins in the Mediterranean Biodiversity Hotspot. Environmental DNA analyses were undertaken in the Moroccan KBAs. There was a mismatch between the supposed and actual presence of trigger species. None of the trigger species were found in 43% and 50% of all KBAs surveyed in the Douro and Sebou basins, respectively. Shortcomings of freshwater KBA identification relate to flawed or lack of distribution data for trigger species. This situation results from a misleading initial identification of KBAs based on poor (or even inaccurate) ecological information or due to increased human disturbance between initial KBA identification and the present. To improve identification of future freshwater KBAs, we suggest selecting trigger species with a more conservative approach; use of local expert knowledge and digital data (to assess habitat quality, species distribution, and potential threats); consideration of the subcatchment when delineating KBAs boundaries; thoughtful consideration of terrestrial special areas for conservation limits; and periodic field validation.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Insight in cognitive impairment assessed with the Cognitive Assessment Interview in a large sample of patients with schizophrenia

The Cognitive Assessment Interview (CAI) is an interview-based scale measuring cognitive impairment and its impact on functioning in subjects with schizophrenia (SCZ). The present study aimed at assessing, in a large sample of SCZ (n = 601), the agreement between patients and their informants on CAI ratings, to explore patients' insight in their cognitive deficits and its relationships with clinical and functional indices. Agreement between patient- and informant-based ratings was assessed by the Gwet's agreement coefficient. Predictors of insight in cognitive deficits were explored by stepwise multiple regression analyses. Patients reported lower severity of cognitive impairment vs. informants. A substantial to almost perfect agreement was observed between patients' and informants' ratings. Lower insight in cognitive deficits was associated to greater severity of neurocognitive impairment and positive symptoms, lower severity of depressive symptoms, and older age. Worse real-life functioning was associated to lower insight in cognitive deficit, worse neurocognitive performance, and worse functional capacity. Our findings indicate that the CAI is a valid co-primary measure with the interview to patients providing a reliable assessment of their cognitive deficits. In the absence of informants with good knowledge of the subject, the interview to the patient may represent a valid alternative

Optimasi Portofolio Resiko Menggunakan Model Markowitz MVO Dikaitkan dengan Keterbatasan Manusia dalam Memprediksi Masa Depan dalam Perspektif Al-Qur`an

Risk portfolio on modern finance has become increasingly technical, requiring the use of sophisticated mathematical tools in both research and practice. Since companies cannot insure themselves completely against risk, as human incompetence in predicting the future precisely that written in Al-Quran surah Luqman verse 34, they have to manage it to yield an optimal portfolio. The objective here is to minimize the variance among all portfolios, or alternatively, to maximize expected return among all portfolios that has at least a certain expected return. Furthermore, this study focuses on optimizing risk portfolio so called Markowitz MVO (Mean-Variance Optimization). Some theoretical frameworks for analysis are arithmetic mean, geometric mean, variance, covariance, linear programming, and quadratic programming. Moreover, finding a minimum variance portfolio produces a convex quadratic programming, that is minimizing the objective function ðð¥with constraintsð ð 𥠥 ðandð´ð¥ = ð. The outcome of this research is the solution of optimal risk portofolio in some investments that could be finished smoothly using MATLAB R2007b software together with its graphic analysis

Differential cross section measurements for the production of a W boson in association with jets in proton–proton collisions at √s = 7 TeV

Measurements are reported of differential cross sections for the production of a W boson, which decays into a muon and a neutrino, in association with jets, as a function of several variables, including the transverse momenta (pT) and pseudorapidities of the four leading jets, the scalar sum of jet transverse momenta (HT), and the difference in azimuthal angle between the directions of each jet and the muon. The data sample of pp collisions at a centre-of-mass energy of 7 TeV was collected with the CMS detector at the LHC and corresponds to an integrated luminosity of 5.0 fb[superscript −1]. The measured cross sections are compared to predictions from Monte Carlo generators, MadGraph + pythia and sherpa, and to next-to-leading-order calculations from BlackHat + sherpa. The differential cross sections are found to be in agreement with the predictions, apart from the pT distributions of the leading jets at high pT values, the distributions of the HT at high-HT and low jet multiplicity, and the distribution of the difference in azimuthal angle between the leading jet and the muon at low values.United States. Dept. of EnergyNational Science Foundation (U.S.)Alfred P. Sloan Foundatio