Patterns of cerebellar-cortical structural covariance mirror anatomical connectivity of sensorimotor and cognitive networks

The cortex and cerebellum are densely connected through reciprocal input/output projections that form segregated circuits. These circuits are shown to differentially connect anterior lobules of the cerebellum to sensorimotor regions, and lobules Crus I and II to prefrontal regions. This differential connectivity pattern leads to the hypothesis that individual differences in structure should be related, especially for connected regions. To test this hypothesis, we examined covariation between the volumes of anterior sensorimotor and lateral cognitive lobules of the cerebellum and measures of cortical thickness (CT) and surface area (SA) across the whole brain in a sample of 270 young adults drawn from the HCP dataset. We observed that patterns of cerebellar-cortical covariance differed between sensorimotor and cognitive networks. Anterior motor lobules of the cerebellum showed greater covariance with sensorimotor regions of the cortex, while lobules Crus I and Crus II showed greater covariance with frontal and temporal regions. Interestingly, cerebellar volume showed predominantly negative relationships with CT and predominantly positive relationships with SA. Individual differences in SA are thought to be largely under genetic control while CT is thought to be more malleable by experience. This suggests that cerebellar-cortical covariation for SA may be a more stable feature, whereas covariation for CT may be more affected by development. Additionally, similarity metrics revealed that the pattern of covariance showed a gradual transition between sensorimotor and cognitive lobules, consistent with evidence of functional gradients within the cerebellum. Taken together, these findings are consistent with known patterns of structural and functional connectivity between the cerebellum and cortex. They also shed new light on possibly differing relationships between cerebellar volume and cortical thickness and surface area. Finally, our findings are consistent with the interactive specialization framework which proposes that structurally and functionally connected brain regions develop in concert

On the Distribution of Traffic Volumes in the Internet and its Implication

Getting good statistical models of traffic on network links is a well-known, often-studied problem. A lot of attention has been given to correlation patterns and flow duration. The distribution of the amount of traffic per unit time is an equally important but less studied problem. We study a large number of traffic traces from many different networks including academic, commercial and residential networks using state-of-the-art statistical techniques. We show that the log-normal distribution is a better fit than the Gaussian distribution commonly claimed in the literature. We also investigate a second heavy-tailed distribution (the Weibull) and show that its performance is better than Gaussian but worse than log-normal. We examine anomalous traces which are a poor fit for all distributions tried and show that this is often due to traffic outages or links that hit maximum capacity. We demonstrate the utility of the log-normal distribution in two contexts: predicting the proportion of time traffic will exceed a given level (for service level agreement or link capacity estimation) and predicting 95th percentile pricing. We also show the log-normal distribution is a better predictor than Gaussian or Weibull distributions

Menopause Awareness, Symptoms Assessment and Menqol Among Bahrain Women

Menopause is a normal physiological process of the permanent cessation of ovarian hormone reproduction, thereby offending the regular menstrual cycle. Critical period in women’s life occurs 40 to 60 years. Frequently reported symptoms are physiological disturbances, psychological complaints including mood swings and& other changes that may impair the overall quality of life. Menopausal symptoms significantly reduce the Quality of Life (QOL) and further worsens with more severity of the condition. The aim of this study was to assess the menopausal awareness and related symptoms that affects the quality of life. Methods: A cross-sectional community survey design was adopted among 128 women through convenience sampling by using Menopause awareness scale and MenQol. Results: The domain-wise prevalence of symptoms score on vasomotor was 51.5%(66), psychosocial 35.2%(45), 44.5%(57), sexual 25.8%(33) and others 44.5%(57). Overall score was 40.6%(52). In relation to menopause awareness, low 7.8 % (10), Moderate 82.0% (105) and high 10.2%(13).Conclusion: Menopause awareness programs need to be initiated at the community level for better health and the Quality of Life. Keywords: Menopause, Bahraini women, Menopause related QOL, Awarenes

Unconventional Reservoir Characterization and Formation Evaluation: A Case Study of a Tight Sandstone Reservoir in West Africa

Unconventional reservoirs, including gas shales and tight gas sands, have gained prominence in the energy sector due to technological advancements and escalating energy demands. The oil industry is eagerly refining techniques to decipher these reservoirs, aiming to reduce data collection costs and uncertainties in reserve estimations. Characteristically, tight reservoirs exhibit low matrix porosity and ultra-low permeability, necessitating artificial stimulation for enhanced production. The efficacy of the stimulation hinges on the organic material distribution, the rock’s mechanical attributes, and the prevailing stress field. Comprehensive petrophysical analysis, integrating standard and specialized logs, core analyses, and dynamic data, is pivotal for a nuanced understanding of these reservoirs. This ensures a reduction in prediction uncertainties, with parameters like shale volume, porosity, and permeability being vital. This article delves into an intricate petrophysical evaluation of the Nene field, a West African unconventional reservoir. It underscores the geological intricacies of the field, the pivotal role of data acquisition, and introduces avant-garde methodologies for depth matching, rock typing, and the estimation of permeability. This research highlights the significance of unconventional reservoir exploration in today’s energy milieu, offering a granular understanding of the Nene field’s geological challenges and proffering a blueprint for analogous future endeavours in unconventional reservoirs

On the Distribution of Traffic Volumes in the Internet and its Implications

In this edition of the Voice, the College’s Career Planning Placement Service offers a variety or workshops include one on life planning. Wooster Chief of Security and Dr. Startzman of the campus wellness center, speak to students on the topic of rape and safety at the College. The Wooster Board of Trustees begins the process to select a new president of the College of Wooster. The Art Center offers classes on quilting, plants, printmaking, drawing, and other artistic mediums, to students for eight weeks. Additionally, an article discusses the, then up and coming, Bicentennial of the United States.https://openworks.wooster.edu/voice1971-1980/1131/thumbnail.jp

Sex and APOE4-specific links between cardiometabolic risk factors and white matter alterations in individuals with a family history of Alzheimer's disease

Early detection of pathological changes in Alzheimer's disease (AD) has garnered significant attention in the last few decades as interventions aiming to prevent progression will likely be most effective when initiated early. White matter (WM) alterations are among the earliest changes in AD, yet limited work has comprehensively characterized the effects of AD risk factors on WM. In older adults with a family history of AD, we investigated the sex-specific and APOE genotype-related relationships between WM microstructure and risk factors. Multiple MRI-derived metrics were integrated using a multivariate approach based on the Mahalanobis distance (D2). To uncover the specific biological underpinnings of these WM alterations, we then extracted the contribution of each MRI feature to D2 in significant clusters. Lastly, the links between WM D2 and cognition were explored. WM D2 in several regions was associated with high systolic blood pressure, BMI, and glycated hemoglobin, and low cholesterol, in both males and females. APOE4+ displayed a distinct risk pattern, with LDL-cholesterol having a detrimental effect only in carriers, and this pattern was linked to immediate memory performance. Myelination was the main mechanism underlying WM alterations. Our findings reveal that combined exposure to multiple cardiometabolic risk factors negatively impacts microstructural health, which may subsequently affect cognition. Notably, APOE4 carriers exhibited a different risk pattern, especially in the role of LDL, suggesting distinct underlying mechanisms in this group

Links between cognition and multivariate brain white matter differences in individuals with family history of Alzheimer's disease

BackgroundAlzheimer’s disease (AD) is thought to result from a complex cascade of events involving several pathological processes. Recent studies have reported alterations in white matter (WM) microstructure in the early phase of AD, but WM remains understudied. We used a multivariate approach to capture the complexity and heterogeneity of WM pathologies and its links to cognition and AD risk factors in a more holistic manner.MethodThe MRI data of 134 cognitively unimpaired older adults with a family history of AD from the PREVENT-AD cohort were analysed. Diffusion-weighted imaging and multi-echo magnetization transfer, proton density and T1-weighted data were used to compute several WM metrics (see Figure 1b-c). We used the Mahalanobis distance (D2) to summarize the MRI metrics into a single score, indicative of the degree a voxel’s microstructure differs relative to a reference. Voxel-wise D2 was computed for each subject relative to the group average of all other subjects using the MVComp tool and D2 maps were residualized for age (Figure 2). Partial Least Squares (PLS) analyses were then performed to relate WM D2 with cognition (RBANS) and AD risk factors, separately in each sex.ResultIn males, there was only one significant latent variable (LV 1). There were extensive brain WM regions associated with this LV pattern: higher white matter D2, was associated with higher BMI, lower total cholesterol (likely due to lower HDL) and worse cognitive performance in all cognitive domains except attention (Figure 2a-b).In females, only the first LV was significant. Higher D2 in several WM tracts, including the inferior and superior longitudinal fasciculus, and the parahippocampal cingulum, was associated with lower education, and worse cognitive performance in all cognitive domains except attention and visuospatial construction. Higher WM D2 was also associated with several metabolic risk factors in females including higher SBP, higher BMI, higher glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) and lower cholesterol (Figure 2c-d).ConclusionThe different patterns of associations observed suggest there are sex-specific risk profiles associated with WM microstructure differences in this population of older adults at risk of AD. The WM tracts affected in each sex were also associated with specific cognitive profiles

Links between cognition and multivariate brain white matter differences in individuals with family history of Alzheimer's disease

BackgroundAlzheimer’s disease (AD) is thought to result from a complex cascade of events involving several pathological processes. Recent studies have reported alterations in white matter (WM) microstructure in the early phase of AD, but WM remains understudied. We used a multivariate approach to capture the complexity and heterogeneity of WM pathologies and its links to cognition and AD risk factors in a more holistic manner.MethodThe MRI data of 134 cognitively unimpaired older adults with a family history of AD from the PREVENT-AD cohort were analysed. Diffusion-weighted imaging and multi-echo magnetization transfer, proton density and T1-weighted data were used to compute several WM metrics (see Fig. 1b-c). We used the Mahalanobis distance (D2) to summarize the MRI metrics into a single score, indicative of the degree a voxel’s microstructure differs relative to a reference. Voxel-wise D2 was computed for each subject relative to the group average of all other subjects using the MVComp tool and D2 maps were residualized for age (Fig. 2). Partial Least Squares (PLS) analyses were then performed to relate WM D2 with cognition (RBANS) and AD risk factors, separately in each sex.ResultIn males, there was only one significant latent variable (LV 1). There were extensive brain WM regions associated with this LV pattern: higher white matter D2, was associated with higher BMI, lower total cholesterol (likely due to lower HDL) and worse cognitive performance in all cognitive domains except attention (Fig. 2a-b). In females, only the first LV was significant. Higher D2 in several WM tracts, including the inferior and superior longitudinal fasciculus, and the parahippocampal cingulum, was associated with lower education, and worse cognitive performance in all cognitive domains except attention and visuospatial construction. Higher WM D2 was also associated with several metabolic risk factors in females including higher SBP, higher BMI, higher glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) and lower cholesterol (Fig. 2c-d).ConclusionThe different patterns of associations observed suggest there are sex-specific risk profiles associated with WM microstructure differences in this population of older adults at risk of AD. The WM tracts affected in each sex were also associated with specific cognitive profiles

Athletes’ Relationships with Training Scale (ART)

The Athletes’ Relationships with Training Scale (ART)* is a self-report measure of unhealthy training behaviors and beliefs in athletes. The ART was designed for use by clinicians and athletic trainers to help identify athletes who are engaging in unhealthy training practices which could be associated with an eating disorder. The ART may also be helpful for tracking clinical outcomes in athletes with eating disorders who are receiving treatment. This record contains the 15-item ART as well as scoring instructions and guidelines for interpreting total scores