Can RUDAS Be an Alternate Test for Detecting Mild Cognitive Impairment in Older Adults, Thailand?

The Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) is the commonly used cognitive test for detecting mild cognitive impairment (MCI) in Thailand. Nevertheless, cultural biases and educational levels influence its performance. The Rowland Universal Dementia Assessment Scale (RUDAS) seems to lower the limitation of the MoCA. This study aimed to compare the performance of the RUDAS and the MoCA for the diagnosis of MCI and demonstrate the correlation between them. A cross-sectional study of 150 older participants from the outpatient setting of the Internal Medicine Department, Srinagarind Hospital, Thailand was recruited during January 2020 and March 2021. The diagnostic properties in detecting MCI of the RUDAS and the MoCA were compared. MCI was diagnosed in 42 cases (28%). The AUC for both RUDAS (0.82, 95% CI 0.75–0.89) and MoCA (0.80, 95% CI 0.72–0.88) were similar. A score of 25/30 provided the best cut-off point for the RUDAS (sensitivity 76.2%, specificity 75%) and a score of 19/30 for the MoCA had sensitivity and specificity of 76.2% and 71.3%. The Spearman’s correlation coefficient between both tests was 0.6. In conclusion, the RUDAS-Thai could be an option for MCI screening. It was correlated moderately to the MoCA.

MULTIVARIATE DISTRIBUTIONS FOR FINANCIAL RETURNS

Multivariate return distributions consistent with bilateral gamma marginals are formulated and termed multivariate bilateral gamma (MBG). Tail probability distances and Wasserstein distances between return data, model simulations and their squares evaluate the model performance. A full Gaussian copula [Formula: see text] is taken as an alternate test model and the MBG delivers a comparatively better performance for equity pairs. The MBG is however inadequate for the S&P 500 index return when paired with the VIX returns. Applying MBG to the S&P 500 the index and regression residuals of VIX on the S&P 500 index return is successful. This model is termed MBGR. The residual taken as an independent bilateral gamma, delivers the model MBGIR. Characteristic function estimations are employed to develop asset-specific VIX levels and their joint returns with the asset return are studied. The CBOE SKEW index is generalized to be asset-specific and triples of returns for the asset, its VIX and its SKEW are studied using all four models and performance statistics. The model MBGR continues to deliver a good performance.

Brain Natriuretic Peptide to Predict Successful Liberation from Mechanical Ventilation in Critically Ill Patients: a Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Background: Predicting successful liberation from mechanical ventilation (MV) in critically ill patients is challenging. Brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) has been proposed to help guide decision-making for readiness to liberate from MV following a spontaneous breathing trial (SBT). Methods : We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized and prospective observational studies that measured BNP levels at the time of SBT in patients receiving MV. The primary endpoint was successful liberation from MV (absence of re-intubation or non-invasive ventilation at 48h). Statistical analyses included bi-variate and Moses-Littenberg models, and DerSimonian-Laird pooling of areas under ROC curve (AUROC). Results: A total of 731 articles were screened. Eighteen adult and 2 pediatric studies were fulfilled pre-specified eligibility. The measure of the relative variation of BNP during SBT (DBNP%) after exclusion of SBT failure by clinical criteria in adults yielded a sensitivity and specificity of 0.889 [0.831-0.929] and 0.828 [0.730-0.896] for successful liberation from MV respectively, with a pooled AUROC of 0.92 [0.88-0.97]. The pooled AUROC for any method of analysis for absolute variation of BNP (DBNP), pre-SBT BNP and post-SBT BNP were 0.89 [0.83-0.95], 0.77 [0.63-0.91], and 0.85 [0.80-0.90], respectively.Conclusion: The relative change in BNP during a SBT has potential value as an incremental tool after successful SBT to predict successful liberation from MV in adults. There is insufficient data to support the use of BNP in children or as an alternate test to clinical indices of SBT or the use of DBNP, BNP-pre and BNP-post as an alternate or incremental test.Trial registration number: PROSPERO CRD42018087474 (2018-02-06)

Empirical Evaluation of Computer-Adaptive Alternate Short Forms for the Assessment of Anomia Severity

Purpose The purpose of this study was to verify the equivalence of 2 alternate test forms with nonoverlapping content generated by an item response theory (IRT)–based computer-adaptive test (CAT). The Philadelphia Naming Test (PNT; Roach, Schwartz, Martin, Grewal, & Brecher, 1996)was utilized as an item bank in a prospective, independent sample of persons with aphasia. Method Two alternate CAT short forms of the PNT were administered to a sample of 25 persons with aphasia who were at least 6 months postonset and received no treatment for 2 weeks before or during the study. The 1st session included administration of a 30-item PNT-CAT, and the 2nd session, conducted approximately 2 weeks later, included a variable-length PNT-CAT that excluded items administered in the 1st session and terminated when the modeled precision of the ability estimate was equal to or greater than the value obtained in the 1st session. The ability estimates were analyzed in a Bayesian framework. Results The 2 test versions correlated highly ( r = .89) and obtained means and standard deviations that were not credibly different from one another. The correlation and error variance between the 2 test versions were well predicted by the IRT measurement model. Discussion The results suggest that IRT-based CAT alternate forms may be productively used in the assessment of anomia. IRT methods offer advantages for the efficient and sensitive measurement of change over time. Future work should consider the potential impact of differential item functioning due to person factors and intervention-specific effects, as well as expanding the item bank to maximize the clinical utility of the test. Supplemental Material https://doi.org/10.23641/asha.11368040

REAKSI PASAR MODAL SEBELUM DAN SESUDAH PERISTIWA UPACARA PEMBUKAAN ASEAN GAMES 2018 DI JAKARTA

<p><em>The improvement of the capital market is impacted by a few capital market pointers, for example, capitalization esteems, the estimation of offers exchanged, and the stock value record. Changes from these factors will influence financial strength and political and security steadiness which mirror the dimension of certainty of monetary on-screen characters in household conditions, in this manner capital markets can influence the economy. </em></p><p><em>This investigation utilizes an occasion consider examination technique. The estimation time frame utilized amid the opening function of the Asian Games 2018 in Jakarta. </em></p><p><em>In this examination, the populace is all customer merchandise fabricating division organizations, nourishment and refreshment sub-segments on the Indonesia Stock Exchange (IDX). The examining system utilized immersed testing, which turned into the investigation test of 18 organizations. Specialized examination in the investigation utilizing an alternate test Paired Sample t-Test. </em></p><p><em>In view of the consequences of the distinction test, the Abnormal Return normal and Trading Average Activity Volume when the Asian Games 2018 are the equivalent (not unique). </em></p>

Validity of Teleneuropsychological Assessment in Older Patients with Cognitive Disorders

Objective The feasibility and reliability of neuropsychological assessment at a distance have been demonstrated, but the validity of this testing medium has not been adequately demonstrated. The purpose of this study was to determine the ability of video teleconferencing administration of neuropsychological measures (teleneuropsychology) in discriminating cognitively impaired from non-impaired groups of older adults. It was predicted that measures administered via video teleconference would distinguish groups and that the magnitude of differences between impaired and non-impaired groups would be similar to group differences achieved in traditional administration. Methods The sample consisted of 197 older subjects, separated into two groups, with and without cognitive impairment. The cognitive impairment group included 78 individuals with clinical diagnoses of mild cognitive impairment or Alzheimer’s disease. All participants completed counterbalanced neuropsychological testing using alternate test forms in both a teleneuropsychology and a traditional face-to-face (FTF) administration condition. Tests were selected based upon their common use in dementia evaluations, brevity, and assessment of multiple cognitive domains. Results from FTF and teleneuropsychology test conditions were compared using individual repeated measures ANCOVA, controlling for age, education, gender, and depression scores. Results All ANCOVA models revealed significant main effects of group and a non-significant interaction between group and administration condition. All ANCOVA models revealed non-significant main effects for administration condition, except category fluency. Conclusions Results derived from teleneuropsychologically administered tests can distinguish between cognitively impaired and non-impaired individuals similar to traditional FTF assessment. This adds to the growing teleneuropsychology literature by supporting the validity of remote assessments in aging populations.