Reliability and validity of a quick test of cognitive speed (AQT) in screening for mild cognitive impairment and dementia

Background Cognitive disorders are one of the important issues in old age. There are many cognitive tests, but some variables affect their results (e.g., age and education). This study aimed to evaluate the reliability and validity of A Quick Test of Cognitive Speed (AQT) in screening for mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and dementia. Methods This is a psychometric properties study. 115 older adults participated in the study and were divided into three groups (46 with MCI, 24 with dementia, and 45 control) based on the diagnosis of two geriatric psychiatrists. Participants were assessed by AQT and Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE). Data were analyzed using Pearson correlation, independent t-test, and ROC curve by SPSS v.23. Results There was no significant correlation between AQT subscales and age and no significant difference between the AQT subscales in sex, educational levels. The test-retest correlations ranges were 0.84 from 097. Concurrent validity was significant between MMSE and AQT. Its correlation was with Color − 0.78, Form − 0.71, and Color-Form − 0.72. The cut-off point for Color was 43.50 s, Form 52 s, and Color-Form 89 s were based on sensitivity and specificity for differentiating older patients with MCI with controls. The cut-off point for Color was 62.50 s, for Form 111 s, and Color-Form 197.50 s based on sensitivity and specificity measures for differentiating older patients with dementia and MCI. Conclusion The findings showed that AQT is a suitable tool for screening cognitive function in older adults.

New Records of Polymita venusta (Gmelin, 1792) Populations in Northern Foothills of Sierra de Boniato, Santiago de Cuba Province

Three new localities of Polymita venusta are uncovered from the northern foothills of Sierra de Boniato in the Santiago de Cuba province. In those, five new populations inhabiting fragmented forests over karstic substratum were found between 238-405 meters above sea level. The rediscovery of a unique color form took place in one colony from the La Luz vicinity. These populations occupy a highly deforested area where the main activities are cattle grazing and agriculture, combined with other anthropic threats. Protected Areas planning for this human highly disturbed zone is nonexistent.

Form design in interface of display and control system based on visual search

To explore the design pattern and guidelines for the forms displayed on the interfaces, we studied the factors of form design from the perspective of ergonomics. These factors include orientation (horizontal, vertical), color grouping and color combination. In combination with the analysis and conclusion of the experimental data, we proposed some design guidelines for human-computer interface that has many forms, such as weapon command and control system. A visual searching program was designed to simulate the display interface. Reaction time and accuracy are recorded by orthogonal experiment. Analyses such as double factor variance analysis, simple main effect are conducted on the experimental data. The following conclusions are obtained: two-color form has a faster reaction time than single color form; reaction time of the horizontal form is shorter than the vertical form. Color combination has significant influence on accuracy, and the blue-green is suiTable for form design; color grouping has significant influence on reaction time and accuracy; the interaction of color grouping and color combination shows significant differences. When designing forms in display interface, we should choose the horizontal layout with sparse coloring density as much as possible, and the effect of color combination on the recognition efficiency should be considered.

Capabilities to Use Plants Grown in Wetlands of Erzurum for Landscape Design

Based on how a wetland is defined by the Ramsar Convention, the Erzurum province is a rich region in terms of wetlands. This study aimed to identify capabilities to use wetland plants, which are grown in running waters (rivers, streams, brooks, and estuaries), temporary wetlands, swamp lakes, and high-water table area located within the provincial confines of Erzurum, for landscape design. As a part of the study, the samples were taken from a total of 287 spots in 6 main locations to identify wetland plants. A survey was conducted for the plants identified, carried out a one to one questionnaire with 100 students of different ages educated in the Department of Landscape Architecture. Plants were evaluated with their aesthetic properties such as their color, form, tissue, richness, and fascination. Based on the survey, it was concluded that 36 of them could be used for landscape architecture on grounds of their aesthetic characteristics.

Reliability and validity of A Quick Test of Cognitive Speed (AQT) in Iranian older adults

Background: Cognitive disorders are one of the most important issues in old age. They may remain hidden in the early stages. There are many cognitive tests, but some variables affect their results (e.g., age and education.) This study aimed to evaluate the reliability and validity of A Quick Test of Cognitive Speed (AQT) in Iranian older adults.Methods: This study aimed to test the psychometric properties of AQT. 114 older adults participated in the study and were divided into three groups (46 with mild cognitive impairments (MCI), 24 with dementia, and 45 without MCI and dementia) based on the diagnosis of two geriatric psychiatrists. Participants were assessed by AQT and Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE). Data were analyzed using Pearson correlation, independent t-test, and ROC curve by SPSS v.23.Results: There was no significant correlation between AQT subscales and age and no significant difference between the AQT subscales in male and female, educational levels, and marital status. The test-retest correlations (r) were significant for Color (C) 0.84, Form (F) 0.91 and Color-Form (CF) 0.94. Convergent validity was significant between MMSE and AQT. Its correlation was with Color -0.78, Form -0.71, and Color-Form -0.72. The cut-off point for Color was 43.50 s, Form 52 s, and Color-Form 89 s were based on sensitivity and specificity for differentiating older patients with MCI with controls. The cut-off point for Color was 62.50 s, for Form 111 s, and Color-Form 197.50 s based on sensitivity and specificity measures for differentiating older patients with dementia and MCI.Conclusion: The findings of this study showed that A Quick Test of Cognitive Speed (AQT) is a suitable tool for assessing cognitive function in older adults.

Religious nature of Duggar graffiti

The primary goal of art is the feeling of beauty. The creative expression of aesthetics in the arts has been possible due to the creation of religious spiritual artifacts since the beginning of human civilization. Both religion and art make human life orderly and consistent and presents the great truth of human life. Art and religion have acted as inspiration to each other.The Duggar culture of Jammu has special significance in the context of religious manifestation of art, where art has developed a variety of forms for the manifestation of religious expression, of which mural painting is prominent. In the murals of the Duggar culture, the realization of the religious spirit of the people is visible, whose purpose is to propagate the religion and preserve the past. Dogra artists did not originate the art only because of the sublime beauty there, but the power of their inner inspirations and the divine beliefs conferred within them gave color, form, speech and expression to their thoughts and feelings. Presentation of the expression of the religious instincts of Dogra kings is visible to us in the architectural works of these Dogra kings, such as the frescoes built in the cave, temples and palaces, Dogra kalin has various construction under the concept of Hinduism in these murals. कला का प्रधान लक्ष्य सौन्दर्य की अनुभूति है। कलाओं में सौन्दर्यानुभूति की सृजनात्मक अभिव्यक्ति की उत्पत्ति मानव सभ्यता के आदि काल से ही धार्मिक आध्यात्मिक कलाकृतियों की रचना के कारण सम्भव हुई है। धर्म एवं कला दोनों ही मानवीय जीवन को व्यवस्थित एवं संगतिपूर्ण बनाते हैं तथा मानवीय जीवन के महान सत्य को प्रस्तुत करती है। कला तथा धर्म ने एक दूसरे के निहितार्थ प्रेरणा का कार्य किया है।कला की धार्मिक अभिप्यक्ति के सन्दर्भ में जम्मू की डुग्गर संस्कृति का विशेष महत्व है जहाँ कला ने धार्मिक अभिव्यक्ति के प्रकटन हेतु विविध स्वरूपों का विकास किया, जिनमें से भित्ति चित्रण प्रमुख है। डुग्गर संस्कृति के भित्ति चित्रों में लोगों की धार्मिक भावना का साकार रूप दृष्टिगोचर होता है, जिसका उदेश्य धर्म का प्रचार एवं अतीत का सरंक्षण करना है। डोगरा कलाकारों ने वहाँ के बाहय सौन्दर्य के वशीभूत होकर ही कला की उद्भावना नहीं की अपितु उसकी अन्तः प्रेरणाओं और उसके भीतर प्रसुप्त दैवीय विश्वासों के बल ने इनके विचारों व भावों को रंग, रूप, वाणी और अभिव्यक्ति प्रदान की है। डोगरा राजाओं की धार्मिक प्रवृत्ति की अभिव्यक्ति का प्रस्तुतीकरण हमें इन डोगरा राजाओं के वास्तु सम्बन्धी कृतियों यथा-गुफा, मन्दिरों एवं महलों में निर्मित भित्तिचित्रों में दृष्टिगोचर होते हैं डोगरा कालीन इन भित्ति चित्रों में हिन्दू धर्म की अवधारणा के अन्तर्गत विभिन्न निर्माण हुआ है।

Improvement of washing properties of liquid laundry detergents by modification with N-hexadecyl-N,N-dimethyl-3-ammonio-1-propanesulfonate sulfobetaine

Detergency of commercial liquid detergents before and after modification with SB3C16 (5%, m/m) sulfobetaine (N-hexadecyl-N,N-dimethyl-3-ammonio-1-propanesulfonate) was examined using colorimetric analysis based on a CIELab system. The EMPA 101 standard cotton fabric soiled with carbon black and olive oil was used in washing tests under the following experimental conditions: the concentration of liquid laundry detergents 1.25–50 g/L, 30 min washing cycle, water hardness 5.35 mval/L, 40℃, 200 rpm. Results of physicochemical analysis of color, form, odor, pH, viscosity, density and content of anionic surfactants in detergents, as well as construction parameters of tested cotton fabrics, showed compliance with the requirements of standards and manufacturers’ declarations. The studies revealed that increasing the concentration of laundry detergent solutions caused a gradual increase in foaming power and detergency. Modification with SB3C16 positively improved washing ability and the maximum values were achieved at 23.7% (m-L1, 50 g/L) and 37% (m-L2, 40–45 g/L), respectively. Detergency efficiency was improved by 6.86% (m-L1) and 10.72% (m-L2) on average. EMPA 101 fabrics before and after washing were subjected to microscopic observations, which showed no serious damage to the fibers, but only slight loosening of individual fibers. In summary, the results clearly indicate that SB3C16 sulfobetaine favorably improves washing performance and can be successfully used in liquid laundry detergents due to its good surface properties.

Linguoculturological aspect of studying Turkic toponyms of Crimea

The object of this research is the Turkic toponymic units of the Crimean Region. The subject of this research is the Crimean Tatar toponymic lexicon in the linguocultural aspect. The article examines the Turkic (Crimean Tatar) toponymic system as a fragment of the linguistic worldview of its native speakers. The need is underlined for comprehensive characteristics of geographical denominations of the Crimean Peninsula, with consideration of linguoculturological components as a full-fledged element. The goal consists in description of the Turkic toponymic units of Crimean Region as a phenomenon generated by the culture of Crimean Tatars. It is determined that the semantic of Turkic toponyms is motivated by different associations related to images of the animals and their habitat, plants, historical events and legends that defined names of the objects, etc. There also nomens with unmotivated semantics, permitting variable semantization. As a result of analysis, the examined in linguoculturological aspect toponyms of Crimea of Turkic origin are classified by most significant thematic groups. The Crimean Tatar toponymic lexicon is viewed from linguoculturological perspective for the first time, which defines the scientific novelty of the research. The following conclusions were made: geographical denominations of Crimea are the cultural artifact of Crimean Tatars, reflecting the historical stages of their settlement, ancient migrations and interethnic contacts, economic activity. Political and social transformations, geographical specificities, location, territorial traditions, including those that no longer exist.  The geographical nominations, alongside the instances of creation of toponyms based on external resemblance of geographical object with the realities surrounded Crimean Tatars (color, form), also used cultural and mental associative principles of nomination. This is why the terms included religious, somatic, legend-based, and other components.