Optimization of cognitive assessment in Parkinsonisms by applying artificial intelligence to a comprehensive screening test.

The assessment of cognitive deficits is pivotal for diagnosis and management in patients with parkinsonisms. Low levels of correspondence are observed between evaluations assessed with screening cognitive tests in comparison with those assessed with in-depth neuropsychological batteries. A new tool, we named CoMDA (Cognition in Movement Disorders Assessment), was composed by merging Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA), and Frontal Assessment Battery (FAB). In total, 500 patients (400 with Parkinson's disease, 41 with vascular parkinsonism, 31 with progressive supranuclear palsy, and 28 with multiple system atrophy) underwent CoMDA (level 1-L1) and in-depth neuropsychological battery (level 2-L2). Machine learning was developed to classify the CoMDA score and obtain an accurate prediction of the cognitive profile along three different classes: normal cognition (NC), mild cognitive impairment (MCI), and impaired cognition (IC). The classification accuracy of CoMDA, assessed by ROC analysis, was compared with MMSE, MoCA, and FAB. The area under the curve (AUC) of CoMDA was significantly higher than that of MMSE, MoCA and FAB (p < 0.0001, p = 0.028 and p = 0.0007, respectively). Among 15 different algorithmic methods, the Quadratic Discriminant Analysis algorithm (CoMDA-ML) showed higher overall-metrics performance levels in predictive performance. Considering L2 as a 3-level continuous feature, CoMDA-ML produces accurate and generalizable classifications: micro-average ROC curve, AUC = 0.81; and AUC = 0.85 for NC, 0.67 for MCI, and 0.83 for IC. CoMDA and COMDA-ML are reliable and time-sparing tools, accurate in classifying cognitive profile in parkinsonisms.This study has been registered on ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT04858893)

Glicophyllum stylopterum

Angiosperm

Tetrapterys styloptera

Angiosperm

Tetrapterys crispa

Angiosperm

Anomospermum chloranthum

Angiosperm

Pollen morphology of 25 species in the family Apocynaceae from the Adolpho Ducke Forest Reserve, Amazonas, Brazil

The Apocynaceae family consists of approximately 4555 species worldwide, distributed among 415 genera. In Brazil, this family is represented by 90 genera and 850 species. The Adolpho Ducke Forest Reserve, part of the Instituto Nacional de Pesquisas da Amazônia (INPA) since 1963, comprises 100 km2 of non-isolated continuous primary forest, and 40 species and 16 genera of Apocynaceae have been recorded in this area. Pollen grains, collected from flower buds and/or flowers of voucher specimens deposited at the INPA Herbarium collection, were processed using the acetolysis method, and measured, described and photographed by light microscopy and scanning electron microscopy. The study included 25 Apocynaceae species distributed among 14 genera. The pollen grains were porate to colporate, with exine ornamentation varying from psilate or scabrate to microreticulate. Other morphological characteristics were pores with granules at the base of the annulus in Odontadenia, a distinct margo forming arches around the colpus in Geissospermum, and the presence of a thick endocingulum in the equatorial region in species of Tabernaemontana. © 2016 AASP–The Palynological Society

An integrated assessment of the vascular plant species of the Americas

The cataloging of the vascular plants of the Americas has a centuries-long history, but it is only in recent decades that an overview of the entire flora has become possible. We present an integrated assessment of all known native species of vascular plants in the Americas. Twelve regional and national checklists, prepared over the past 25 years and including two large ongoing flora projects, were merged into a single list. Our publicly searchable checklist includes 124,993 species, 6227 genera, and 355 families, which correspond to 33% of the 383,671 vascular plant species known worldwide. In the past 25 years, the rate at which new species descriptions are added has averaged 744 annually for the Americas, and we can expect the total to reach about 150,000.Fil: Ulloa Ulloa, Carmen. Missouri Botanical Garden; Estados UnidosFil: Acevedo Rodríguez, Pedro. Smithsonian Institution; Estados UnidosFil: Beck, Stephan G.. Herbario Nacional de Bolivia; BoliviaFil: Belgrano, Manuel Joaquin. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Instituto de Botánica Darwinion. Academia Nacional de Ciencias Exactas, Físicas y Naturales. Instituto de Botánica Darwinion; ArgentinaFil: Bernal, Rodrigo. Jardín Botánico del Quindío; ColombiaFil: Berry, Paul E.. University Michigan Ann Arbor; Estados UnidosFil: Brako, Lois. University of Michigan; Estados UnidosFil: Celis, Marcela. Universidad Nacional de Colombia; ColombiaFil: Davidse, Gerrit. Missouri Botanical Garden; Estados UnidosFil: Forzza, Rafaela C.. Instituto de Pesquisas Jardim Botanico Do Rio de Janerio; BrasilFil: Robbert Gradstein, S.. Museum National d'Histoire Naturelle; FranciaFil: Hokche, Omaira. Universidad Central de Venezuela; VenezuelaFil: León, Blanca. University of Texas at Austin; Estados UnidosFil: León-Yánez, Susana. Pontificia Universidad Catolica del Ecuador; EcuadorFil: Magill, Robert E.. No especifíca;Fil: Neill, David A.. Universidad Estatal Amazónica; EcuadorFil: Nee, Michael. Missouri Botanical Garden; Estados UnidosFil: Raven, Peter H.. Missouri Botanical Garden; Estados UnidosFil: Stimmel, Heather. Missouri Botanical Garden; Estados UnidosFil: Strong, Mark T.. Smithsonian Institution; Estados UnidosFil: Villaseñor, José L.. Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México; MéxicoFil: Zarucchi, James L.. Missouri Botanical Garden; Estados UnidosFil: Zuloaga, Fernando Omar. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Instituto de Botánica Darwinion. Academia Nacional de Ciencias Exactas, Físicas y Naturales. Instituto de Botánica Darwinion; ArgentinaFil: Jørgensen, Peter M.. Missouri Botanical Garden; Estados Unido