Differentiating schizophrenic patients from healthy control; application of machine learning to resting state fmri

In recent years, one analysis approach that has grown in popularity is the use of machine learning algorithms to train classifiers to decode stimuli, mental states, behaviors and other variables of interest from fMRI data. Most of these studies focus on fMRI low frequency oscillations. This study focuses on the amplitude of low-frequency fluctuations (ALFF) and fractional amplitude of low-frequency fluctuations (fALFF). A Voxel-wise analysis is performed on the whole brain for two groups of subjects. A machine learning algorithm is applied to two independent groups of subjects (a total of 160 healthy control and schizophrenic subjects) to classify Schizophrenia subjects from healthy control. Kendall tau rank correlation coefficient is also used to dominate most important voxels (features). This study is done on three datasets: a) fALFF b) mALFF dataset and c) combination of mALFF and fALFF. The results show that using the combination dataset improves the classification and demonstrates that machine learning algorithms can extract new information from a resting state image of schizophrenia which can help in diagnosing and treating schizophrenic patients in the future. Future studies can focus on testing these algorithms on different modalities and moreover on different physiological disorders

Using Modified Similarity Multiple criteria Decision Making technique to rank countries in terms of Human Development Index

Purpose:Human Development Index (HDI) reported annually by the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) is apopular measure of human well-being. The purposeof this study is to propose a Multiple Criteria Decision Making (MCDM) technique named Modified Similarity technique for ranking countries based on multi criteria HDI. Design/methodology/approach:In Human Development Reports (HDRs), the HDI for each country isfirst calculated from the average of the health, education and income dimension indices with equally allocatedweight. Then the countries are ranked based on this index. Regarding the criticisms the method ofcalculating the HDI has received, this study usesModified Similarity Multi Criteria Decision Making methodfor ranking countries based on multi criteriaHDI, as an alternative method to the average method, which is being used in annually reported HDRs. Findings: We used the four HD indices mentioned in the 2010 and 2011 HDRs to rank 187 countries which have been investigated in the 2011 HDR. The results of ranking countries by the Modified Similarity technique were somewhat different from the 2011 HDR ranking. Originality/value:Some of the HDI criticisms are related to the method of calculating the index in the form of computing theaverage of the three health, education and income dimension indices with equally allocated weight. in an attempt to eliminatesome of the weaknesses associated with the index, this study uses Similarity technique, as an alternative to the average method of ranking countries in terms of humandevelopment. In addition due to some discrepancies associated with the Similarity technique introduced by Deng (2007), a Modified Similarity technique is discussed.Peer Reviewe

Simulated Tornado Optimization

We propose a swarm-based optimization algorithm inspired by air currents of a tornado. Two main air currents - spiral and updraft - are mimicked. Spiral motion is designed for exploration of new search areas and updraft movements is deployed for exploitation of a promising candidate solution. Assignment of just one search direction to each particle at each iteration, leads to low computational complexity of the proposed algorithm respect to the conventional algorithms. Regardless of the step size parameters, the only parameter of the proposed algorithm, called tornado diameter, can be efficiently adjusted by randomization. Numerical results over six different benchmark cost functions indicate comparable and, in some cases, better performance of the proposed algorithm respect to some other metaheuristics.Comment: 6 pages, 15 figures, 1 table, IEEE International Conference on Signal Processing and Intelligent System (ICSPIS16), Dec. 201

Effect of Supportive Nursing Care on Self Esteem of Patients Receiving Electroconvulsive Therapy: A Randomized Controlled Clinical Trial

Introduction: Self-esteem is an important potential indicator in etiology, diagnosis and treatment of patients with severe mental illness. ECT is a popular treatment for these patients that can effect on their self-esteem and reinforce their problems. The purpose of this study is to determine the effect of supportive nursing care in increasing self esteem of patients receiving ECT. Methods: This clinical trial was conducted in the Baharan psychiatric hospital of Zahedan. A total of 70 cases of patients who received ECT were randomly allocated to control (n=35) and intervention (n=35) groups. The data were collected by demographic characteristics questionnaire and Rosenberg Self Esteem Scale (RSES). Intervention group received the supportive nursing care. The control group received only routine treatment. Self esteem level was measured and compared before and after intervention for two groups. The data was analyzed by SPSS using the χ2, t-test and ANCOVA. Results: Results showed that both groups were homogeneous on the socio- demographic characteristics. The mean self esteem in the intervention group compared with the control group was significantly increased. While controlling the effects of individual and social variables, the result shows significant differences between two groups in the mean scores of self esteem after the intervention.Conclusion: The results suggest that supportive nursing care can have positive effect on self esteem of patients receiving ECT. It is recommended to use this method for increasing self esteem of these patients

The Scope of Pre - Pregnancy Care Conducted at Health Centers of Tabriz, Iran: Women's Viewpoints

Pre-pregnancy care is considered as preventive medicine related to pregnancy and delivery. This Questionnaire based study upon 384 women in the first half of the pregnancy showedthe scope of pre-pregnancy care in the area of physical health was either weak (75%) or average (25%). All women declared that they had not received mental health-related care during the pre-pregnancy care. The scope of pre-pregnancy care in the area of life-style was categorized as weak, average, and good by 69.79%, 29.69%, and 0.52% of the studied women, respectively