Alpha Power and Functional Connectivity in Cognitive Decline: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Abstract.Background: Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) is a stage between expected age-related cognitive decline and dementia.Dementias have been associated with changes in neural oscillations across the frequency spectrum, including the alpha range.Alpha is the most prominent rhythm in human EEG and is best detected during awake resting state (RS). Though severalstudies measured alpha power and synchronization in MCI, findings have not yet been integrated.Objective: To consolidate findings on power and synchronization of alpha oscillations across stages of cognitive decline.Methods: We included studies published until January 2020 that compared power or functional connectivity between 1)people with MCI and cognitively healthy older adults (OA) or people with a neurodegenerative dementia, and 2) people withprogressive and stable MCI. Random-effects meta-analyses were performed when enough data was available.Results: Sixty-eight studies were included in the review. Global RS alpha power was lower in AD than in MCI (ES = –0.30;95% CI = –0.51, –0.10; k = 6), and in MCI than in OA (ES = –1.49; 95% CI = –2.69, –0.29; k = 5). However, the latter metaanalysisshould be interpreted cautiously due to high heterogeneity. The review showed lower RS alpha power in progressivethan in stable MCI, and lower task-related alpha reactivity in MCI than in OA. People with MCI had both lower and higherfunctional connectivity than OA. Publications lacked consistency in MCI diagnosis and EEG measures.Conclusion: Research indicates that RS alpha power decreases with increasing impairment, and could—combined withmeasures from other frequency bands—become a biomarker of early cognitive decline.keywords: Alpha rhythm, brain waves, dementia, electroencephalography, mild cognitive impairmen

Effects of fertiliser use and pre-sowing seed stimulation with a magnetic field on the mineral content and yield of three varieties of sugar beet roots

The study investigated the effects of using mineral fertilisers and pre-sowing stimulation of seeds on the yield of roots and the content of selected mineral elements in the roots of three sugar beet cultivars. The treatment consisted of applying a slowly changing magnetic field of 50 mT induction for a period of 60 seconds, so as to avoid heating the research material. The biological material was divided into four groups, taking into account the magnetic field and fertiliser applied. The first group was untreated seeds, the second one comprised seeds stimulated only with a magnetic field, the third one consisted of seeds pre-sowing stimulated with a magnetic field and then treated with mineral fertilisers and the last group was composed of seeds treated with mineral fertilisers. The assessment focused on the total yield of sugar beet roots as well as the content of eleven mineral elements, including three toxic metals analysed on an ICP-OES optical spectrometer. The application of mineral fertiliser resulted in a significant increase in the yield of sugar beet roots, and in a higher content of basic macroelements. On the other hand, stimulation with a magnetic field led to an increase in the yield of sugar beet roots which, although statistically higher than in the control group, was lower than after an application of mineral fertilisers. Additionally, the pre-sowing magnetic stimulation of sugar beet seeds resulted in a mild reduction in the transfer of elements from soil to plant, and a nearly complete blocking of such transfer in the case of harmful elements

Effects of fertiliser use and pre-sowing seed stimulation with a magnetic field on the mineral content and yield of three varieties of sugar beet roots

The study investigated the effects of using mineral fertilisers and pre-sowing stimulation of seeds on the yield of roots and the content of selected mineral elements in the roots of three sugar beet cultivars. The treatment consisted of applying a slowly changing magnetic field of 50 mT induction for a period of 60 seconds, so as to avoid heating the research material. The biological material was divided into four groups, taking into account the magnetic field and fertiliser applied. The first group was untreated seeds, the second one comprised seeds stimulated only with a magnetic field, the third one consisted of seeds pre-sowing stimulated with a magnetic field and then treated with mineral fertilisers and the last group was composed of seeds treated with mineral fertilisers. The assessment focused on the total yield of sugar beet roots as well as the content of eleven mineral elements, including three toxic metals analysed on an ICP-OES optical spectrometer. The application of mineral fertiliser resulted in a significant increase in the yield of sugar beet roots, and in a higher content of basic macroelements. On the other hand, stimulation with a magnetic field led to an increase in the yield of sugar beet roots which, although statistically higher than in the control group, was lower than after an application of mineral fertilisers. Additionally, the pre-sowing magnetic stimulation of sugar beet seeds resulted in a mild reduction in the transfer of elements from soil to plant, and a nearly complete blocking of such transfer in the case of harmful elements

Prevalance of and risk factors for hospital-acquired infections in Slovenia-results of the first national survey, 2001

A one-day survey was conducted in all (19) Slovenian acute-care hospitals in October 2001 to estimate the prevalence of all types of hospital-acquired infections (HAIs) and to identify predominant micro-organisms and risk factors. Among 6695 patients surveyed, the prevalence of patients with at least one HAI was 4.6%. The prevalence of urinary tract infections was highest (1.2%), followed by pneumonia (1.0%), surgical wound infection (0.7%), and bloodstream infection (0.3%). In intensive care units (ICUs) the prevalence of patients with at least one HAI was 26.9% and the ratio of episodes of HAI per number of patients was 33.3%. One or more pathogens were identified in 55.8% of HAIs episodes. Among these, the most frequently single isolated micro-organisms were Staphylococcus aureus (18.2%) and Escherichia coli (10.2%). Risk factors for HAI included central intravascular catheter (adjusted odds ratio (OR) 3.2; 95% confidence intervals (CI) 2.1-4.9), peripheral intravascular catheter (adjusted OR 1.7; 95% CI 1.2-2.4), urinary catheter (adjuster OR 2.4; 95% CI 1.6-3.4), and hospitalization in ICUs (adjusted OR 2.5; 95% CI 1.4-4.3). The results provide the first national estimates for Slovenia