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Aspect-based sentiment analysis is a fine-grained task in the field of sentiment analysis. Various GCN approaches have recently emerged to work on this, but many approaches ignored the critical role of aspectual word information and the effect of noise. In view of this situation, we propose an aspect-based word embedding graph convolutional network (AWEGCN) model. In order to make good use of the aspect information and distinguish the contextual information that is more important for a particular aspect, the aspect information is embedded in the output of the hidden layer. To reduce the noise effect when multiple aspect words appear in a sentence, after going through the bidirectional graph convolutional network, the aspect information is embedded. A specific contextual representation is computed through an attention mechanism, which is used as the final classification feature. Experiments show that our model achieves impressive performance on five public datasets, and we also apply BERT and XLNet pre-trained models to this task and obtain advanced results that validate the effectiveness of our model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Glioblastoma is the most common and most aggressive type of primary brain tumor.Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the efficacy and safety of intranasal granulocyte-macrophage colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF) administration combined with chemoradiotherapy in patients with glioblastoma who underwent surgery.Methods: Ninety-two patients were randomly divided into two groups: a control group (n= 46), who received radiotherapy with adjuvant local delivery of nimustine hydrochloride (ACNU) and systemic administration of temozolomide, and an intervention group (n= 46), who received intranasal GM-CSF prior to each cycle of adjuvant chemotherapy in addition to the treatment of the control group. Karnofsky performance status (KPS) scores, progression-free survival (PFS), overall survival (OS), and adverse effects were calculated and compared between the two groups.Results: Compared with the control group, the intervention group had longer PFS (7.8 vs. 6.9 months, P= 0.016) and OS (19.2 vs. 17.1 months, P= 0.045, without adjustment for interim analyses). The KPS scores were also higher in the intervention group than in the control group after 6 months (84.35 ± 8.86 vs. 80.65 ± 7.72; t= 4.552, P= 0.036). Furthermore, the patients in the intervention group had lower incidence of neutropenia and thrombocytopenia (8.7% vs. 29.5%, P= 0.012; 8.7% vs. 18.2%, P= 0.186). Other adverse events were similar in both groups, and most adverse events were grade I/II and resolved spontaneously.Conclusion: Intranasal GM-CSF enhances the efficacy of the local ACNU administration combined with oral temozolomide chemotherapy. The survival and performance status were significantly improved in patients with glioblastoma after surgery. Additionally, the GM-CSF therapy was able to reduce the occurrence of chemotherapy-related neutropenia and thrombocytopenia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The apolipoprotein E (APOE) ɛ4 allele is a well-known risk factor for AD and is associated with higher amyloid deposition and earlier dementia onset. However, the relationship between amyloid pathology and the most common APOE allele, ɛ3, has not been well studied.Objective: In this study, we aimed to identify the risk factors predicting amyloid PET positivity in patients with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and APOEɛ3/ɛ3 genotypes.Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of MCI patients with APOEɛ3/ɛ3 genotypes who underwent amyloid PET scanning. Demographics, neuropsychological tests, and brain MRI were obtained. We analyzed which risk factors could affect amyloid PET positivity in MCI patients with APOEɛ3/ɛ3 genotypes using logistic regression models.Results: We recruited 171 MCI patients with APOEɛ3/ɛ3 genotypes in this study. Out of 171 patients, 49 patients (28.65%) showed positive results in the amyloid PET scans. In a multivariate logistic regression model, amyloid positivity was associated with frontal atrophy (OR = 2.63, p = 0.009), and CDR-SOB scores (OR = 2.46, p = 0.013). The odds ratio for amyloid PET positivity in patients older than and equal to 75 years with both frontal atrophy and CDR-SOB scores >1.0 was 3.63.Conclusion: Our study demonstrated that frontal atrophy, high CDR-SOB scores, and old age were risk factors associated with amyloid PET positivity in MCI with APOEɛ3/ɛ3 genotypes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background/objective: Vascular risk factors and neurovascular dysfunction may be closely related to cognitive impairment and dementia. In this study, we evaluated the association between hemodynamic markers and longitudinal cognitive changes in patients with mild cognitive impairment (MCI). Furthermore, we investigated whether hemodynamic markers could predict the risk of progression to Alzheimer's disease (AD) in patients with MCI.Methods: A total of 68 subjects with amnestic MCI were recruited. Using transcranial Doppler (TCD) ultrasonography, cerebrovascular reactivity was evaluated with a breath-holding test (breath holding index; BHI) in addition to the mean flow velocity (MFV) and pulsatility index (PI) of the middle cerebral artery. We followed subjects for 24 months and each subject underwent neuropsychological testing and TCD ultrasonography, annually. According to the follow-up neuropsychological studies and clinical interviews at 12 months, we divided the patients with MCI into two groups: patients with stable cognitive performance and patients who progressed to AD.Results: Lower BHI and higher PI were observed in patients who progressed to AD. The changes of MMSE score over the first 12 months correlated with lower baseline MMSE score and changes of MFV and BHI. The changes of MMSE score over 24 months were closely related to higher baseline resistance index and PI values. Multivariate logistic regression showed that abnormal baseline BHI value could predict a conversion from MCI to AD.Conclusions: We confirmed there is a close association between hemodynamic changes represented by TCD markers and cognitive decline, supporting the clinical value of hemodynamic markers in predicting MCI patients who will progress to AD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Feature weighting is one of the popular and effective ways to improve clustering quality. How to choose a proper weighting method for a data object is widely recognized as a difficult problem. Among majority of weighting schemes and combination weighting methods, the traditional way is evaluating the performance of feature weighting by measuring the quality of clustering. However, it is a time-consuming task because clustering algorithms should be run many times, and the number of times depends on the number of weighting schemes or the number of combination weighting iteration. To address the issue, we propose to apply the Mutual Information to predict the performance of feature weighting. We propose to judge the quality of feature weighting by the resulting gain in mutual information. Therefore, the top s weighted data representations can be selected from the weighting data representation set. Then, the best/second best cluster result can be obtained from the top s representations. Experimental results show that the Mutual Information evaluation reduces the running time without sacrificing the quality of clustering. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Subjective cognitive decline (SCD) refers to the self-reported persistent cognitive decline despite normal objective testing, increasing the risk of dementia compared to cognitively normal individuals. Objective: This study aims to investigate the attributes of SCD patients who demonstrated memory function improvement. Methods: In this prospective study of SCD, a total of 120 subjects were enrolled as part of a multicenter cohort study aimed at identifying predictors for the clinical progression to mild cognitive impairment or dementia (CoSCo study). All subjects underwent 18F-florbetaben PET and brain MRI scans at baseline and annual neuropsychological tests. At the 24-month follow-up, we classified SCD patients based on changes in memory function, the z-score of the Seoul verbal learning test delayed recall. Results: Of the 120 enrolled patients, 107 successfully completed the 24-month follow-up assessment. Among these, 80 patients (74.8%) with SCD exhibited memory function improvements. SCD patients with improved memory function had a lower prevalence of coronary artery disease at baseline and performed better in the trail-making test part B compared to those without improvement. Anatomical and biomarker analysis showed a lower frequency of amyloid PET positivity and larger volumes in the left and right superior parietal lobes in subjects with improved memory function. Conclusions: Our prospective study indicates that SCD patients experiencing memory improvement over a 24-month period had a lower amyloid burden, fewer cardiovascular risk factors, and superior executive cognitive function. Identifying these key factors associated with cognitive improvement may assist clinicians in predicting future memory function improvements in SCD patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Preclinical studies in transgenic models of Alzheimer's disease (AD) suggest that DHP1401 has neuroprotective and memory-enhancing effects.Objective: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of DHP1401 in AD patients treated with donepezilMethods:Methods: In a double-blind study, patients with mild-to-moderate AD were randomized (1:1:1) to receive a twice daily total dose of 500 mg or 1000 mg DHP1401 or placebo for 24 weeks. Tolerability and safety were monitored at baseline and weeks 12 and 24.Results: total of 180 patients were randomized to Active 1 (500 mg: n = 62), Active 2 (1000 mg: n = 53), and control groups (n = 65) in 16 sites in Korea. There was no significant difference in the Alzheimer's Disease Assessment Scale (ADAS-cog) score, the primary efficacy endpoint, from baseline. However, in the subgroup with mild AD patients (MMSE, 20-26) who received the high dose of DHP1401 and the group that received donepezil 5 mg, the ADAS-cog scores improved. MMSE and K-TMT-e type B were significant in both active groups at week 24. The most frequently observed symptom was dizziness (2.78%), and the most commonly observed reactions were related to metabolism and nutrition disorders (5.00%). No remarkable adverse events were observed for 24 weeks.Conclusion: Although the effectiveness of DHP1401 was not proved to be superior as the primary efficacy endpoint, the secondary endpoints, MMSE and K-TMT-e type B, showed significant beneficial effects. Also, the subgroups showed that ADAS-cog scores significantly were improved. DHP1401 could be proven beneficial for the AD treatment by further clinical trials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The time uncertainty and the resource conflict are two very important aspects in modeling and analyzing real-time system. The paper defines a kind of Fuzzy Time Petri Nets (FTPN) to simulate the behavior of real-time system limited by time. It studies the conflict with time attribute and space-time collision in real-time system and utilizes time constraints property and the collision possibility to resolve the conflict through knowledge reasoning of fuzzy time interval. Compared with existing methods of conflict analysis and resolution, it takes into account the uncertainty of the time with the system of conflict and contact behavior, which could be better to simulate and analyze real-time system in reality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aims to analyze magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) features of ejaculatory duct obstruction, and to provide an accurate diagnostic imaging approach for surgical planning of minimally invasive procedures treating ejaculatory duct obstruction. A total of 18 men with ejaculatory duct obstruction were enrolled in the study. The patients were admitted to our hospital and had undergone MRI examination and surgical treatment from January 2003 to February 2011. The data was collected by searching keywords ('ejaculatory duct obstruction') from our PACS. Patients suspected having ejaculatory duct obstruction according to the manifestations through MRI examinations and further being confirmed by surgery were included. The MRI features of ejaculatory duct obstruction in these patients were summarized. Five cases with ejaculatory duct cysts were detected by MRI, ranging in size from 4 mm × 4 mm × 7 mm to 4 mm × 4 mm × 9 mm and located in the paramedian line; ejaculatory duct dilation near the median line, with the internal diameter ranging from 5 mm to 30 mm was detected in nine cases; and among thirteen cases who underwent both non-contrast enhanced and contrast enhanced MRI scanning, significant enhancement of the wall of the ejaculatory duct on enhanced scanning was observed in three cases. Mullerian duct cysts complicated with dilation of the ejaculatory duct and seminal vesicles were detected in four cases; in these cases, the cysts were located in the median line, ranging in size from 4 mm × 5 mm × 6 mm to 34 mm × 35 mm × 44 mm, tear-drop appearance, with the tip pointing toward the area of the seminal colliculus. Findings of MRI were confirmed by the observations during the surgery. MRI is more accurate at displaying the ejaculatory duct. We recommend that ejaculatory duct diameter of > 2 mm can be used as a diagnostic criterion with MRI image analyses for ejaculatory duct dilation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Provides information on a study which discussed the key points of Chinese marine environmental quality status, pollution monitoring and environmental management. Details on the general survey for national marine environmental quality; Status of marine pollution; Sources of pollutants; Discussion on the monitoring network of marine environment.

Background: Effective treatments to alleviate depression in Alzheimer's disease (AD) have been scarce.Objective: To investigate the efficacy and tolerability of escitalopram in the treatment of depression in AD.Methods: In this 12-week randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial with open-label, 12-week extension, AD subjects over 50 years of age, with depression defined by Olin's provisional diagnostic criteria, were enrolled. The Cornell Scale for Depression in Dementia (CSDD), and other measures of depression and cognition were repeated.Results: 91 subjects were screened, and 84 were randomized into either the study group or placebo group (n = 42 for both groups). Twenty-four subjects (29%) were unable to finish the study, yielding a per protocol population of 60 subjects (study group: n = 27; placebo group: n = 33). At week 12, differences in measures of depression and cognition between the two groups were not statistically significant. However, exploratory analysis suggested that further research on a subset of subjects with 'definite major depression' (baseline CSDD score ≥18) is needed. The number of treatment-related adverse-events (AE) did not differ between groups (p = 0.83) and no serious treatment-related AE were observed.Conclusion: The use of escitalopram was well tolerated in depressive dementia patients. Future studies focusing on subjects with more severe levels of depression, and with more statistical power, will be needed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background& Objective: Depression frequently combines with dementia, including early-onset Alzheimer's disease (EOAD). We investigated differences in prevalence and characteristics of depressive symptoms according to dementia severity in EOAD patients.Methods: The 15-item Korean version of the Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS-15) was administered to 412 EOAD patients. Factor analysis was used to assess GDS-15 factor structure. We subdivided participants into three groups by disease severity, then compared the frequencies and scores of individual GDS-15 items and performed logistic regression analysis to assess associations between depressive symptoms and EOAD stage.Results: Factor analysis yielded three factor categories: 1) "hopelessness and ominousness" (symptoms no. 6, 8, 12, 14, 15); 2) "unhappiness and dissatisfaction" (no. 1, 3, 5, 7, 11); and 3) "monotony and lack of energy" (no. 2, 4, 9, 10, 13). Factor 2 depressive symptoms (no. 1, 5, 11) were less common in moderate EOAD. The risk of Factor 1 symptoms: no. 12 (OR, 2.04; 95% CI, 1.19-3.50; p = 0.010) and 14 (OR, 1.84; 95% CI, 1.07-3.16; p = 0.028) was higher in mild than very mild EOAD. The risk of Factor 2 symptoms: no. 9 (OR, 2.69; 95% CI, 1.08-6.71; p = 0.033) and 13 (OR, 2.12; 95% CI, 1.02-4.40; p = 0.043) was higher in moderate than mild EOAD.Conclusion: We confirmed that depressive symptoms differ according to EOAD severity. When assessing depressive symptoms related to dementia progression, we recommend focusing on "hopelessness and ominousness" in very mild EOAD and "unhappiness and dissatisfaction" in mild EOAD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Only a few studies have investigated disease progression in patients with early-onset Alzheimer's disease (EOAD). Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate disease progression in patients with EOAD and the influence of various factors, such as gender, education, and apolipoprotein E (APOE) genotype on disease progression.Methods: A total of 288 EOAD patients were enrolled in the study. Linear mixed models were used to investigate the rate of cognitive and functional decline in terms of age at onset, gender, education, follow-up period, and APOE genotype.Results: EOAD patients showed an annual decline of -1.54 points/years in the Korean version mini-mental examination score, an annual increase of 3.46 points/year in the Seoul instrumental activities of daily living (SIADL) score, and an annual increase of 1.15 points/year in the clinical dementia rating scale-sum of boxes score. After stratification, higher educated patients showed faster disease progression in all three parameters, and female patients demonstrated faster disease progression as assessed by the SIADL score. Age at onset and APOE genotype had no influence on disease progression.Conclusion: We confirmed the rate of disease progression in Korean patients with EOAD in real-life hospital-based clinical practice. The results of this study suggest that education and female gender, not APOE genotype, may be important as independent strong predictive factors for disease progression in patients with EOAD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background & Objective: Early-onset Alzheimer's disease (EOAD, onset age < 65 years) may differ from late-onset Alzheimer's disease (LOAD) in terms of cognitive profiles and neuropsychiatric symptoms. There have been few studies for Korean EOAD patients using well-structured databases. Previous studies focusing on cognitive profiles between the two groups had a variety of demographic data and comparability. The purpose of this study was to identify the unique profiles of cognitive functions and neuropsychiatric symptoms in Korean EOAD patients that differentiate from LOAD. Methods: Through propensity score matching, a total of 435 patients with EOAD and a total of 435 patients with LOAD were included in this nationwide, multicenter, hospital-based study. Each patient underwent comprehensive neurological examination, interview for caregiver, neuropsychological tests, and brain magnetic resonance imaging. Results: Neuropsychological test results showed worse performances on frontal/executive functions, visuospatial function, and visual memory in EOAD patients as compared to LOAD patients. In terms of neuropsychiatric symptoms, apathy was more common in EOAD patients, while delusions were more prevalent in LOAD patients. The differences in neuropsychiatric symptoms between the two groups were most pronounced in patients with the APOE ε4 allele, suggesting that neuropsychiatric symptoms in AD may be influenced by the APOE genotype. Conclusion: Our results suggested that EOAD may be an important phenotype, fronto-parietal dysfunction, in the spectrum of AD, and this finding can provide for early diagnosis of EOAD patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate the motor recovery mechanism following diffuse axonal injury (DAI) using transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) and functional MRI (fMRI). Methods: Twenty-six hands of 13 control subjects and 14 affected hands of 8 patients (two hemiparetics and six quadriparetics) were evaluated. All the patients were initially diagnosedwith DAIand were evaluated after they had reached their maximal motor recovery. fMRI was performed at 1.5 T using a hand grasp-release movement paradigm and TMS was applied with a round coil over the vertex. Results: fMRI revealed that both normal subjects and patients with DAI showed increased contralateral primary sensori-motor cortex activation during affected hand movement.The motor evoked potentials (MEPs) of the patient group was slightly delayed in latency and significantly increased in duration and turns. The relative MEP amplitude, phase, and excitatory threshold were not significantly different between the groups. Conclusions: These findings may indicate the heterogeneity of the axons in the recovery process of the corticospinal tract. It seems that the motor recovery in patients who had suffered DAI was attributable to the recovery of the corticospinal tract. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]