Retrograde Procedural Memory in Parkinson’s Disease: A Cross-Sectional, Case-Control Study

in Journal of Parkinson's Disease (2022)

Background: The analysis of the procedural memory is particularly relevant in neurodegenerative disorders like Parkinson’s disease, due to the central role of the basal ganglia in procedural memory. It ... [more ▼]

Background: The analysis of the procedural memory is particularly relevant in neurodegenerative disorders like Parkinson’s disease, due to the central role of the basal ganglia in procedural memory. It has been shown that anterograde procedural memory, the ability to learn a new skill, is impaired in Parkinson’s disease. However, retrograde procedural memory, the long-term retention and execution of skills learned in earlier life stages, has not yet been systematically investigated in Parkinson’s disease. Objective: This study aims to investigate retrograde procedural memory in people with Parkinson’s disease.We hypothesized that retrograde procedural memory is impaired in people with Parkinson’s disease compared to an age- and gender-matched control group. Methods: First, we developed the CUPRO evaluation system, an extended evaluation system based on the Cube Copying Test, to distinguish the cube copying procedure, representing functioning of retrograde procedural memory, and the final result, representing the visuo-constructive abilities. Development of the evaluation system included tests of discriminant validity. Results: Comparing people with typical Parkinson’s disease (n = 201) with age- and gender-matched control subjects (n = 201), we identified cube copying performance to be significantly impaired in people with Parkinson’s disease (p = 0.008) No significant correlation was observed between retrograde procedural memory and disease duration. Conclusion: We demonstrated lower cube copying performance in people with Parkinson’s disease compared to control subjects, which suggests an impaired functioning of retrograde procedural memory in Parkinson’s disease. [less ▲]

Defeating Super-Reactive Jammers WithDeception Strategy: Modeling, SignalDetection, and Performance Analysis

in IEEE Transactions on Wireless Communications (2022), 21(9), 7374-7390

This paper aims to develop a novel framework to defeat a super-reactive jammer, one of the mostdifficult jamming attacks to deal with in practice. Specifically, the jammer has an unlimited power budgetand ... [more ▼]

This paper aims to develop a novel framework to defeat a super-reactive jammer, one of the mostdifficult jamming attacks to deal with in practice. Specifically, the jammer has an unlimited power budgetand is equipped with the self-interference suppression capability to simultaneously attack and listen tothe transmitter’s activities. Consequently, dealing with super-reactive jammers is very challenging. Thus,we introduce a smart deception mechanism to attract the jammer to continuously attack the channel andthen leverage jamming signals to transmit data based on the ambient backscatter communication whichis resilient to radio interference/jamming. To decode the backscattered signals, the maximum likelihood(ML) detector can be adopted. However, the method is notorious for its high computational complexityand require a specific mathematical model for the communication system. Hence, we propose a deeplearning-based detector that can dynamically adapt to any channel and noise distributions. With the LongShort-Term Memory network, our detector can learn the received signals’ dependencies to achieve theperformance close to that of the optimal ML detector. Through simulation and theoretical results, wedemonstrate that with proposed approaches, the more power the jammer uses to attack the channel, thebetter bit error rate performance we can achieve [less ▲]

State Responsibility for Judicial Acts in Investment Arbitration

Doctoral thesis (2022)

This thesis deals with the issue of state responsibility for judicial acts in investment arbitration. In general, it is undisputed that states can be held internationally liable for the conduct of their ... [more ▼]

This thesis deals with the issue of state responsibility for judicial acts in investment arbitration. In general, it is undisputed that states can be held internationally liable for the conduct of their judiciary. The protection against denial of justice was traditionally the main international standard used for determining state responsibility for judicial acts, characterized by a relatively high threshold. Only with the proliferation of primary obligations of states towards individuals, the practical relevance of this standard was somewhat decreased. Nonetheless, this type of state responsibility – arising from domestic judicial acts – remains particularly sensitive due to the special nature and position of the national judiciary. It is commonly noted that role of national courts and their decision-making process is so particular that international courts and tribunals should not treat national judicial acts in an identical manner as acts of other state organs. Against this background, this thesis examines whether and to what extent the investment tribunals’ practice on cases concerning domestic judicial acts differs from comparable practices of other international adjudicatory bodies – in particular, the International Court of Justice and the European Court of Human Rights. Through the analysis of various standards of protection – when applied to judicial acts – and the relevant case law, the thesis aims to address two different questions. Firstly, whether the standards of protection granted investment treaties substantially differ from standards commonly applied by other international adjudicatory bodies. Secondly, if the investment tribunals practice’ in cases concerning host states’ judicial acts is influenced only by these substantive standards or protection, or it is also shaped by more general features of investment law and the investor investor-state dispute settlement mechanism. Ultimately, this research – through the analysis of these particular types of investor-state disputes – tries to offer novel insights into the deficiencies of the ISDS regime that should be taken into account, especially in light of the current initiatives for the reform of this regime. [less ▲]

Presenter: The War in Ukraine and History

Presentation (2022, March 16)

MECHANO-BIOLOGY OF TUMOR GROWTH WITH THE AIM OF CLINICAL APPLICATIONS, A REACTIVE MULTIPHASE POROMECHANICAL APPROACH

Doctoral thesis (2022)

We propose the modeling of glioblastoma isocitrate dehydrogenase wild-type (GBMwt) build on the following hypotheses: the brain tissue is a porous medium, the coupling of hypoxia consequences and ... [more ▼]

We propose the modeling of glioblastoma isocitrate dehydrogenase wild-type (GBMwt) build on the following hypotheses: the brain tissue is a porous medium, the coupling of hypoxia consequences and mechanical interplay between extra-cellular matrix and tumor cells is the driver of the malignant evolution of the disease. In this thesis, a poromechanical model is developed with the aim of a clinical application in oncology. A review, with a large scope, is done on mechanical applications in clinical management of cancer. The model is first validated on in vitro experimental data of encapsulated multi-cellular spheroids. Then, a clinical collaboration is initiated with the Neuro-imaging center of Toulouse, and the targeted clinical application is the modeling of non- operable GBMwt. To this end, the model is first adapted to the specificity of brain tissue mechanics. Characteristic features of the disease are modeled: necrotic core, modified extra-cellular matrix production, emerging malignant phenotype and invasion. Clinical imaging data are pre- treated to inform the model in a patient specific basis. A proposition of modeling is provided with an evaluation against clinical data. [less ▲]

Figuring out where you are on the Moon: The selection and validation of different pose-estimation techniques for lunar surface robotics.

Doctoral thesis (2022)

With many New Space companies aiming to return to the surface of the Moon in the coming years, novel missions are being considered that can only last up to a single lunar day (14 earth days). In ... [more ▼]

With many New Space companies aiming to return to the surface of the Moon in the coming years, novel missions are being considered that can only last up to a single lunar day (14 earth days). In combination with the communication time delay (2.4 seconds), this leads to an increased incentive for enabling more autonomy to maximise operations for any mobile surface robot. Since the primary component for this type of autonomy is good localisation estimates, both relative and absolute, are the main focus of this work. While this has been demonstrated before for terrestrial applications, the challenge here is to propose systems (software and hardware) which function within the limitations of what is physically possible on the lunar surface, and more importantly, what is financially viable for private companies, leading to more conservative mass and power requirements. In terms of relative localisation, we address which sensor hardware should be considered for such applications. Additionally, we propose a novel software approach to improve localisation around lunar landers. The resulting localisation estimates can then be used to either support and accelerate the operator’s decision making, or to allow for the rover to perform some of its driving independently. On the absolute localisation side, we have turned towards machine learning to propose two novel methods to speed up the absolute localisation process through orbital and surface perspective imagery. Through this approach, we can more rapidly determine a rover’s position in orbital imagery, which in turn, can be used to quickly commence surface operations after landing, as well as correct the localisation drift on longer traverses. Because none of these methods could be validated on the Moon, we also considered the how to effectively configure testing environments to achieve the required confidence for private investors to support this technology. As such, two lunar analogue facilities were built, multiple virtual simulators were configured and an extensive field test was also conducted for the completion of this work. [less ▲]

Screening for Consensus: Delegation with Collective Principals

Presentation (2022, March 14)

A group of principals collectively and sequentially screen an agent. The principals hold heterogeneous values from the relationship that may evolve over time. At each date, the principals use a collective ... [more ▼]

A group of principals collectively and sequentially screen an agent. The principals hold heterogeneous values from the relationship that may evolve over time. At each date, the principals use a collective decision rule to propose a contract to the agent. We unearth circumstances in which every non-dictatorial decision rule yields inefficiency in the form of excessive learning: relative to a single-principal benchmark, collective principals screen the agent too aggressively. They do so in order to reduce uncertainty about the agent’s preferences, and alleviate dynamic conflicts of interest between the principals that exist regardless of their static alignment. [less ▲]

Big Five personality traits and sex

in Journal of Population Economics (2022), online first

Sexual well-being plays an important role in the quality of life. Against this background, we provide an economics-based approach to the relationship between the Big Five personality traits and various ... [more ▼]

Sexual well-being plays an important role in the quality of life. Against this background, we provide an economics-based approach to the relationship between the Big Five personality traits and various dimensions of sexuality. From a theoretical viewpoint, personality influences sexual well-being not only by how a person feels about sex, but also by how the person behaves in a sexual relationship. Personality shapes information sharing about sexual preferences, the way dissonant sexual preferences of the partners are handled, and the extent to which a person is committed to promises made to a partner. Using a large representative dataset from Germany, we find that personality traits play a role in a person’s own sexual satisfaction, in (the self-assessment of) fulfilling their partner’s sexual needs and desires, in sexual communication, in actual and desired frequency of sex, and in extradyadic affairs. Conscientiousness contributes to a mutually beneficial sex life and increases a person’s commitment to their partner. The opposite holds true for neuroticism. While extraversion and openness to experience help realize a mutually beneficial sex life, we find no evidence that they have a commitment value. On the contrary, extraversion is associated with lower commitment to the partner. Agreeableness contributes to higher commitment. However, agreeableness appears to make people more reluctant to express their sexual needs and desires. [less ▲]

Laudatio fir de Jazzmuseker, Komponist an Historiker Luciano Pagliarini

Speeches/Talks (2022)

‘Entropy in Differing Constitutional Traditions? Standing in Climate Actions across the EU before the Court of Justice and National Courts

E-print/Working paper (2022)