Теоретические подходы к идентификации регионов

Типология регионов позволит разработать унифицированные подходы к выявлению тех особенностей, которыми обладает регион и с учетом этого разрабатывать стратегии социально-экономического развития конкретного региона относительно его экономического, экологического и социального потенциалов.Типологія регіонів дозволить розробити уніфіковані підходи до виявлення тих особливостей, якими володіє регіон і з урахуванням цього розробляти стратегії соціально-економічного розвитку конкретного регіону щодо його економічного, екологічного і соціального потенціалів

SEREEGA: Simulating Event-Related EEG Activity

Abstract Electroencephalography (EEG) is a popular method to monitor brain activity, but it can be difficult to evaluate EEG-based analysis methods because no ground-truth brain activity is available for comparison. Therefore, in order to test and evaluate such methods, researchers often use simulated EEG data instead of actual EEG recordings, ensuring that it is known beforehand which e ects are present in the data. As such, simulated data can be used, among other things, to assess or compare signal processing and machine learn-ing algorithms, to model EEG variabilities, and to design source reconstruction methods. In this paper, we present SEREEGA, short for Simulating Event-Related EEG Activity . SEREEGA is a MATLAB-based open-source toolbox dedicated to the generation of sim-ulated epochs of EEG data. It is modular and extensible, at initial release supporting ve different publicly available head models and capable of simulating multiple different types of signals mimicking brain activity. This paper presents the architecture and general work ow of this toolbox, as well as a simulated data set demonstrating some of its functions. Highlights Simulated EEG data has a known ground truth, which can be used to validate methods. We present a general-purpose open-source toolbox to simulate EEG data. It provides a single framework to simulate many different types of EEG recordings. It is modular, extensible, and already includes a number of head models and signals. It supports noise, oscillations, event-related potentials, connectivity, and more

When semantics aids phonology: a processing advantage for iconic word forms in aphasia

Iconicity is the non-arbitrary relation between properties of a phonological form and semantic content (e.g. “moo”, “splash”). It is a common feature of both spoken and signed languages, and recent evidence shows that iconic forms confer an advantage during word learning. We explored whether iconic forms conferred a processing advantage for 13 individuals with aphasia following left-hemisphere stroke. Iconic and control words were compared in four different tasks: repetition, reading aloud, auditory lexical decision and visual lexical decision. An advantage for iconic words was seen for some individuals in all tasks, with consistent group effects emerging in reading aloud and auditory lexical decision. Both these tasks rely on mapping between semantics and phonology. We conclude that iconicity aids spoken word processing for individuals with aphasia. This advantage may be due to a stronger connection between semantic information and phonological forms

Spatial abilities play a major role in BCI performance

Introduction: Despite their promising potential impact for many applications, Mental-Imagery based BCIs (MI-BCIs) remain barely used outside laboratories. One reason is that 15% to 30% of naïve users seem unable to control them [1] and only a few reach high control abilities. Although different predictors of BCI performance (i.e., command classification accuracy) have been investigated to explain this huge inter-user variability [2, 3], no strong predictive model has yet been determined. This could be due to (a) the often small samples used (N=5 or 6) and (b) the fact that these predictors have been mostly determined based on one-session experiments. Yet there is no evidence that performance obtained at the first session is predictive of users' MI-BCI control ability. Material, Methods and Results: In [4], we investigated the impact of the user's personality and cognitive profile on MI-BCI performance based on a 6-session experiment. Averaging performances over these sessions reduced the intra-subject variability (e.g., due to fatigue or external factors), and thus led to a better estimation of participants' MI-BCI control ability. Each session comprised 5 runs during which the participants (N=18) had to learn to perform 3 MI tasks: left-hand motor imagery, mental rotation and mental calculation. The results stressed the impact of mental rotation scores (measured using questionnaires), and which reflect Spatial Abilities (SA), on mean MI-BCI performance [r=0.696, p<0.05] (see Fig. 1[A]). SA are the mental capacities which enable the construction, transformation and interpretation of mental images. In a more recent study (to be published), we trained 20 participants to control a 2-class MI-BCI by performing motor-imagery of their left-and right-hands, within 1 session of 5 runs. Results confirmed the role of SA: mental rotation scores were correlated with peak MI-BCI performance [r=0.464, p<0.05]. This suggests that SA are a generic predictor of MI-BCI performances. Figure 1. [A] Diagram representing the mean classification accuracy for the different subjects as a function of their mental rotation score; [B] One item per exercise included in the Spatial Ability training:the shape on top is the target, and the participant must identify the two shapes that are identical to the target among the four below

Early childhood predictors of anxiety in early adolescence

This longitudinal study examined a multitude of early childhood predictors of anxiety symptoms and disorders over an 8-year period. The purpose of the study was to identify early life predictors of anxiety across childhood and early adolescence in a sample of at-risk children. The sample included 202 preschool children initially identified as behaviorally inhibited or uninhibited between the ages of 3 years 2 months and 4 years 5 months. Temperament and familial environment variables were assessed using observation and parent report at baseline. Anxiety symptoms and disorders were assessed using questionnaires and diagnostic interviews at baseline (age 4), and at age 6, 9 and 12 years. In line with our hypotheses, the findings showed that preschool children were more likely to experience anxiety symptoms and disorders over time i) when the child was inhibited, ii) when there was a history of maternal anxiety disorders or iii) when mothers displayed high levels of overinvolvement. Further, the study identified a significant interaction effect between temperament and maternal overvinvolvement such that behaviorally inhibited preschoolers had higher anxiety symptoms at age 12, only in the presence of maternal overinvolvement at age 4. The increased risk of anxiety in inhibited children was mitigated when mothers demonstrated low levels of overinvolvement at age 4. This study provides evidence of both additive and interactive effects of temperament and family environment on the development of anxiety and provides important information for the identification of families who will most likely benefit from targeted early intervention

Grand Challenges in Neurotechnology and System Neuroergonomics

SPECIALTY GRAND CHALLENGE ARTICL

The minimal access cranial suspension (MACS) lift:A systematic review of literature 18 years after its introduction

BACKGROUND: One of the most popular short-scar rhytidectomy techniques used nowadays is the minimal access cranial suspension (MACS) lift developed by Tonnard and Vaerpele. The technique uses purse-string sutures in combination with limited skin undermining to obtain a clear vertical tissue repositioning. Since its introduction, the technique has extensively been described and used around the world by facial plastic surgeons. Now, 18 years after its introduction, a systematic review concerning the results and complications of the MACS lift is presented to establish its current position in facial rejuvenation. METHODS: The MEDLINE, Embase, Cochrane Central, and Google Scholar databases were searched for studies evaluating the MACS lift (June 10, 2020). Outcomes of interest were long-term effect, satisfaction, and complications of the MACS lifting as determined by the patient and/or surgeon. RESULTS: Six studies were included, with 739 patients treated with the MACS lift in total. No major complications were reported, four studies did report on the occurrence of minor complications. All of the six studies reported relatively high levels of satisfaction. Three studies reported a shorter procedural duration for the MACS lift compared with the conventional facelift. In three of the six included studies, the level of evidence was low. The effect on neck rejuvenation is limited. CONCLUSION: The MACS lift can be considered a minimally invasive facelift procedure with a relatively low complication rate. The procedure, often combined with additional procedures, results in evident patient and/or surgeon satisfaction. To obtain a better desired result on an aged neck area, additional procedures are warranted