Transnational University Limburg

The counting algorithm is a classic approach to incremental view maintenance for queries on relational data. We adapt this algorithm to SPARQL queries on RDF (Resource Description Framework) datasets. In the decentralized Web, data are customarily stored in RDF, which is linked data that can be queried using SPARQL. The efficiency of retrieval of query results can be improved through maintaining views on the data incrementally as the underlying data change. SPARQL operators give rise to heterogeneous sets of solution mappings and involve multi-set semantics. We develop a theory of SPARQL algebra on annotated sets of solution mappings and show how to handle operators traditionally perceived as difficult, including LeftJoin, Diff, and Minus. We discuss the implementation of our methods—based on the counting algorithm—and assess the feasibility using data and queries from the Berlin SPARQL Benchmark. Performant incremental view maintenance will be instrumental when querying the decentralized web at scale.

BackgroundDementia risk reduction through lifestyle modification has much potential but is not widely implemented in routine care. Patients referred to memory clinics are at high risk for dementia and tend to have worse health and lifestyle profiles. There is currently no service available to help these persons make lifestyle changes. We aim to improve lifestyle profiles through implementing a personalized and multidomain lifestyle intervention in the memory clinic. Here, we describe the design of our study assessing the effectiveness of this intervention.MethodLifestyle Intervention in the memory clinics of General and academic Hospitals Trial (LIGHT) is a 12‐month multicentre randomized controlled trial investigating the effects of an innovative lifestyle intervention. Starting early 2025, the trial aims to include 300 older adults (≥ 50 years) with subjective cognitive decline (SCD) or mild cognitive impairment (MCI) who have ≥2 modifiable dementia risk factors (to ensure room for improvement) primarily from the memory clinics of Maastricht UMC+ and Amsterdam UMC. Participants are randomized 1:1 to the intervention or usual care with general health advice. The intervention comprises three components: 1) Three individual sessions with a certified lifestyle coach to work on personal goals, 2) Vouchers for access to brain‐healthy activities from local providers, and 3) Online access to a recently developed risk self‐management platform (www.breinzorg.nl). Primary outcome is the 12‐month change in participants dementia risk profiles as measured by the LIfestyle for BRAin Health (LIBRA) index. Secondary outcomes include cognitive functioning, health‐related quality of life, activities of daily living, psychological measures, as well as individual lifestyle components.ResultLIGHT provides insight into the implementability and (cost‐) effectiveness of a lifestyle intervention in a memory clinic setting. Recruitment has started early 2025 and will continue until 2027.ConclusionLIGHT may provide evidence for a personalized multidomain lifestyle intervention for preventing dementia. The results would support implementing personalized lifestyle coaching in the regular service offered by Dutch memory clinics.

The reliability of grid-connected photovoltaic (PV) inverters is critically influenced by the degradation of electrolytic DC-link capacitors, whose ageing modifies both thermal behaviour and semiconductor lifetime. This work evaluates that impact under two contrasting climatic conditions Belgium and Niger by combining one-year mission profiles with electrothermal simulations and a four-dimensional junction temperature estimator. Although the temperature swings <tex xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">$\Delta T_{j}$</tex> observed here remain modest compared with the high-amplitude conditions typically reported in the literature, clear climatic differences persist. After five years of capacitor degradation, Belgium remains within a relatively mild thermal range, with mean junction temperatures between <tex xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">$323-350\ \mathrm{K}$</tex> and temperature swings <tex xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">$\Delta T_{j}$</tex> typically below 10 K. In contrast, Niger reaches substantially higher mean junction temperatures of around 370 K and exhibits much larger thermal-cycle amplitudes of <tex xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">$20-25 ~\mathrm{K}$</tex>. These thermal differences lead to distinct lifetime consumption (LC) trajectories: Belgium accumulates LC slowly due to its moderate climate, whereas Niger experiences markedly higher LC driven by elevated temperatures and stronger cycling. When extrapolated to 20 years, Niger reaches nearly 45% cumulative LC compared with about 22 % in Belgium, underscoring the strong climatic influence on inverter wear-out. The proposed framework enables climatespecific lifetime assessment and supports more robust design strategies for future PV inverters.

BackgroundStudies of multidomain lifestyle interventions show mixed results on preventing or delaying cognitive decline in aging. A better understanding of central and peripheral mechanisms underlying these interventions could help explain these mixed findings.ObjectiveThe HELI (Hersenfuncties na LeefstijlInterventie) study aims to investigate the brain and peripheral mechanisms of a multidomain lifestyle intervention in older adults at risk of cognitive decline.MethodsThe HELI study is a 6-month multicenter, randomized, controlled multidomain lifestyle intervention trial powered to include 104 Dutch older adults at risk of cognitive decline. Individuals were deemed at risk when scoring ≥2 points on a lifestyle-modifiable risk factor scale (eg, overweight, physical inactivity, hypertension, and hypercholesterolemia). The intervention consisted of 5 domains (diet, physical activity, stress management and mindfulness, cognitive training, and sleep) and participants were randomized to one of two groups: (1) a high-intensity coaching group with weekly supervised online and on-site group meetings, exercises, and lifestyle-specific course materials, and (2) a low-intensity coaching group receiving general lifestyle health information sent through email every 2 weeks. The primary study outcomes are changes between baseline and 6-month follow-up in (1) brain activation in dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (dlPFC) and hippocampus and task accuracy during a functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) working memory task, (2) arterial spin labeling-quantified cerebral blood flow in dlPFC and hippocampus, (3) systemic inflammation from blood plasma (interleukin-6, tumor necrosis factor-α, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein) and (4) microbiota profile from feces (gut microbiome diversity [Shannon and phylogenetic diversity] and richness [Chao1]). In addition, we will investigate intervention-induced gut-immune-brain links by assessing relations between effects in primary brain and gut outcomes. Secondary study outcomes include (1) structural and neurochemical magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), (2) anthropometric measurements, (3) neuropsychological test battery scores, (4) lifestyle-related questionnaire and smartwatch measures, and peripheral measures from (5) fecal, (6) blood, and (7) breath analyses.ResultsThis work was supported by a Crossover grant (Maintaining Optimal Cognitive Functioning In Aging [MOCIA] 17611) of the Dutch Research Council (NWO), granted in December 2019. The MOCIA program is a public-private partnership. Between April 2022 and October 2023, we successfully included 102 older Dutch adults (mean age 66.6, SD 4.3 years; 67/102, 65.7% female) with ≥2 lifestyle-modifiable risk factors of cognitive aging (median risk 3, IQR 2-3). The most common self-reported lifestyle-modifiable risk factors at baseline were overweight or obesity (76/102, 74.5%), followed by hypertension (58/102, 56.9%), hypercholesterolemia (57/102, 55.9%), and physical inactivity (57/102, 55.9%).ConclusionsThe HELI study aims to enhance our understanding of the working mechanisms of multidomain lifestyle interventions through its comprehensive characterization of central and peripheral markers. We intend to achieve this aim by assessing lifestyle intervention-induced changes in functional and structural MRI brain measures, as well as peripheral measures of the gut-immune–brain axis involved in cognitive aging.

BACKGROUNDThe apolipoprotein E (APOE) gene includes the strongest protective (ε2) and risk (ε4) variants for sporadic Alzheimer's disease (AD), but underlying mechanisms remain unclear. We studied APOE genotype effects on the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) proteome.METHODSUsing untargeted tandem mass tag mass spectrometry, we analyzed CSF from 227 cognitively normal (CN) controls (A–T–), 165 CN A+, and 177 individuals with mild cognitive impairment (MCI A+) from two large cohorts. We compared protein levels across APOE genotypes using linear regression and characterized biological pathways.RESULTSFive hundred forty‐nine of 978 proteins (56%) differed between ε2/ε3 (n = 32 individuals) or ε4 carriers (n = 181 individuals) and ε3/ε3 controls. ε2/ε3 controls showed the most differences, with higher levels of 280 proteins enriched for neuronal plasticity. ε4 carrier controls showed increased proteins linked to blood–brain barrier dysfunction, and A+ ε4 carriers were related to glucose metabolism.DISCUSSIONCombining two cohorts enabled analysis of the rare APOE ε2 genotype, suggesting protective effects may occur through improved neuronal plasticity.HighlightsApolipoprotein E (APOE) genotypes show distinct cerebrospinal fluid proteomic mechanisms in early Alzheimer's disease (AD).Combining cohorts enabled analysis of rare APOE ε2–associated protection in AD.The rare ε2 genotype may confer protection through improved neuronal plasticity.APOE ε4 carriers show increased blood–brain barrier dysfunction and glucose metabolism.These findings offer new insights into genotype‐specific mechanisms in early AD.

This paper proposes a novel full-bridge LLC resonant converter with a stacked voltage-doubler rectifier, which offers a wide output voltage range through pulse frequency modulation (PFM), reduced voltage stress on the secondary side, soft switching operation, and galvanic isolation. On the secondary side of the proposed converter, the circuit adopts voltage doubling rectification, which increases step-up ratio, simultaneously reducing the voltage stress of each diode. In addition to playing the role of voltage doubling, the two filter capacitors equipped at the output end can effectively smooth the output voltage, providing a solution for occasions with high voltage regulation requirements. The operating mode analysis, type III compensator design, and prototype experimental results with <tex xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">$200-400 \mathrm{V}$</tex> output demonstrate that the proposed topology exhibits the feasibility and forementioned advantages.

Het wetenschappelijk onderzoek naar schematherapie bij ouderen toont eerste, bemoedigende bevindingen. Schematherapie blijkt goed toepasbaar en effectief als behandeling voor ouderen met persoonlijkheidsstoornissen. Schematherapie wordt in toenemende mate toegepast bij ouderen, zowel in de ggz als in verpleeghuizen. De tijd is rijp voor een praktijkboek schematherapie bij ouderen, dat een bredere toepassing – en doorontwikkeling – van schematherapie voor ouderen met persoonlijkheidsstoornissen stimuleert.