50 research outputs found
KB - WOT Fisheries Research; programme for 2010
No full textLNV programme WOT 5 covers the execution of statutory tasks (WOT) in fisheries carried out by DLO. Part of the KB programme, presented in this report, contains resources earmarked to maintain and develop the expertise needed to carry out the WOT programme. As well as maintaining expertise, innovation is an important part of the programme. The programme is also part of the Wageningen UR Kennisbasis and comes under the theme KB01: “Groene en blauwe ruimte”. This report describes the allocation and utilisation of the Kennisbasis budget in 2010. The available budget in 2010 is €621 000. The structure of the KBWOT programme is similar to that in 2009. The money is spent through projects, each of which is described in this report. The projects are split up into four priority research areas: A) Influence of changes in the environment on marine ecosystems, B) impact of fisheries on ecosystems, C) changing fishery management, D) maintenance and international exchange of key WOT expertise. These priority research areas have been developed with the agreement of LNV. All of these areas fall under the wider WUR kennisbasis themes
Kennisbasis WOT Fisheries 2011 - what is in the Programme?
No full textThe KBWOT Fisheries programme is core to the maintenance and development of the expertise that underpins the statutory obligations of fisheries monitoring and advice for the Netherlands. The structure of the KBWOT Fisheries programme for 2011 changed to reflect the recent discussions on the research direction between IMARES, CVO and EL&I. One of the strengths of the structure of the KBWOT Fisheries programme was the bottom up approach to calls for projects to fulfil the research priorities. This however was seen as giving the programme the potential to miss strategic needs of both the science development within IMARES and the research questions of EL&I, thus the programme now also contains a specific project request on an research subject relevant to IMARES and EL&I needs. The KBWOT Fisheries programme will fund 12 projects in 2011. The projects will investigate competition in exploited fish communities, long term changes in eel populations, the spawning habitat of mackerel, sub-stock structure in fish, trawling impact on benthic communities, quality assurance in fish aging, surveys of shellfish, maturity staging of fish and acoustic methods. Plus a targeted project specifically designed to research needs of IMARES and EL&I will be carried out into the trade-offs in FMSY targets for North Sea flatfish fisheries
Multi Robot Surveillance and Planning in Limited Communication Environments
No full textDistributed robots that survey and assist with search & rescue operations usually deal with unknown environments with limited communication. This paper focuses on distributed & cooperative multi-robot area coverage strategies of unknown environments, having constrained communication. Due to restricted communication there is performance loss for the multi-robot team, in terms of increased number of steps to cover an area. From simulation results, it is shown that enabling partial communication amongst robots can recover a significant amount of performance by decreasing the number of steps required for area coverage. Additionally it is found that partially communicating robots that predict the paths of peers do not perform significantly different from robots that are only partially communicating. This is found due to predictions spreading the robots away from one another, which reduces meeting times and instances of inter-robot data sharing
Explainable depression classification:a machine learning approach based on brain network size and functional connectivity
No full textExplainable depression classification:a machine learning approach based on brain network size and functional connectivity
No full textFunctional MRI in major depressive disorder:A review of findings, limitations, and future prospects
Get PDFObjective diagnosis and prognosis in major depressive disorder (MDD) remains a challenge due to the absence of biomarkers based on physiological parameters or medical tests. Numerous studies have been conducted to identify functional magnetic resonance imaging-based biomarkers of depression that either objectively differentiate patients with depression from healthy subjects, predict personalized treatment outcome, or characterize biological subtypes of depression. While there are some findings of consistent functional biomarkers, there is still lack of robust data acquisition and analysis methodology. According to current findings, primarily, the anterior cingulate cortex, prefrontal cortex, and default mode network play a crucial role in MDD. Yet, there are also less consistent results and the involvement of other regions or networks remains ambiguous. We further discuss image acquisition, processing, and analysis limitations that might underlie these inconsistencies. Finally, the current review aims to address and discuss possible remedies and future opportunities that could improve the search for consistent functional imaging biomarkers of depression. Novel acquisition techniques, such as multiband and multiecho imaging, and neural network-based cleaning approaches can enhance the signal quality in limbic and frontal regions. More comprehensive analyses, such as directed or dynamic functional features or the identification of biological depression subtypes, can improve objective diagnosis or treatment outcome prediction and mitigate the heterogeneity of MDD. Overall, these improvements in functional MRI imaging techniques, processing, and analysis could advance the search for biomarkers and ultimately aid patients with MDD and their treatment course.</p
Objective biomarkers of depression: A study of Granger causality and wavelet coherence in resting-state fMRI
Get PDFBackground and Purpose The lack of a robust diagnostic biomarker makes understanding depression from a neurobiological standpoint an important goal, especially in the context of brain imaging. Methods In this study, we aim to create novel image-based features for objective diagnosis of depression. Resting-state network time series are used to investigate neurodynamics with the help of wavelet coherence and Granger causality (G-causality). Three new features are introduced: total wavelet coherence, wavelet lead coherence, and wavelet coherence blob analysis. The fourth feature, pair-wise conditional G-causality, is used to establish the causality between resting-state networks. We use the proposed features to classify depression in adult subjects. Results We obtained an accuracy of 86% in the wavelet lead coherence, 80% in Granger causality, and 86% in wavelet coherence blob analysis. Subjects with depression showed hyperconnectivity between the dorsal attention network and the auditory network as well as between the posterior default mode network and the dorsal attention network. Hypoconnectivity was found between the anterior default mode network and the auditory network as well as the right frontoparietal network and the lateral visual network. An abnormal co-activation pattern was found between cerebellum and the lateral motor network according to the wavelet coherence blob analysis. Conclusion Based on abnormal functional dynamics between brain networks, we were able to identify subjects with depression with high accuracy. The findings of this study contribute to the understanding of the impaired emotional and attention processing associated with depression, as well as decreased motor activity
The Cognitive Profile of Ethosuximide in Children
No full textIntroduction Although ethosuximide is one of the oldest antiepileptic drugs (AEDs), little information is available about the cognitive side effects of ethosuximide. Objective The aim of this study was to investigate the cognitive profile of ethosuximide. Methods In this cross-sectional study, we used an extensive neuropsychological test battery in patients with epilepsy aged 6-16 years who were treated with monotherapy ethosuximide. We evaluated the efficacy of the drug by seizure frequency (seizure free or not). Results We included 61 patients with a mean age of 9.4 years [standard deviation (SD) 2.7] who used on average 686 mg/day (SD 245) ESM as monotherapy. ESM was effective in the majority of the patients (70 % were seizure free for at least 6 months at moment of inclusion). The total study population showed impairments of intelligence, visuomotor, and attentional function including activation/alertness. Comparisons between the well-controlled patients and patients who were not in remission showed significantly lower intelligence values and lower performance on the visual-perceptual and attentional tasks for the group with ongoing seizures. Our results suggested that the higher order cognitive dysfunctions (such as intelligence and visual-perceptual functions) may be regarded as seizure or aetiology effects and that the impaired fluid cognitive functions, such as activation/alertness, sustained auditory attention and attentional control or switching, were due to ESM. Conclusion This study suggests the attentional dysfunction resulting in psychomotor slowing and alertness deficits may be regarded as effects of ethosuximide. Although no untreated baseline assessment was available, these effects are comparable to those of other AEDs, and ethosuximide may therefore be considered an AED with only mild effects on cognition. As ethosuximide is a first-line therapy for absence seizures in childhood, and drug-induced cognitive impairment may interfere with development, learning, and academic achievement, these findings are of interest to clinicians who prescribe this drug, especially when informing parents
Objective prognosis of major depressive disorder by MRI volumetry and intensity analysis
No full textObjective prognosis of major depressive disorder by MRI volumetry and intensity analysis
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