Vikas Palekar | Machine Leaning | Best Researcher Award

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Mr. Vikas Palekar | Machine Leaning | Best Researcher Award

 

Profile

Education

He is currently pursuing a Ph.D. in Computer Science and Engineering at Vellore Institute of Technology, Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh, since December 2018. His research focuses on developing an Adaptive Optimized Residual Convolutional Image Annotation Model with a Bionic Feature Selection Strategy. He holds a Master of Engineering (M.E.) in Information Technology from Prof. Ram Meghe College of Engineering Technology and Research, Badnera (SGBAU Amravati), which he completed in December 2012 with an impressive 88.00%, securing the first merit position in the university for the summer 2012 examination. Prior to that, he earned a Bachelor of Engineering (B.E.) in Computer Science and Engineering from Shri Guru Gobind Singhji Institute of Engineering Technology and Research, Nanded (SRTMNU, Nanded), in June 2007, achieving a commendable 74.40%.

Work experience

He is currently working as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Computer Engineering at Bajaj Institute of Technology, Wardha, since July 31, 2023. In addition to his teaching responsibilities, he serves as the Academic Coordinator of the department and has worked as a Senior Supervisor for the DBATY Winter-23 Exam at Government College of Engineering, Yavatmal.

Previously, he worked as an Assistant Professor (UGC Approved, RTMNU, Nagpur) in the Department of Computer Science and Engineering at Datta Meghe Institute of Engineering, Technology & Research, Wardha, from June 14, 2011, to June 30, 2023. During this tenure, he held the position of Head of the Department from April 21, 2016, to June 30, 2023. He taught various subjects, including Distributed Operating Systems, TCP/IP, System Programming, Data Warehousing and Mining, Artificial Intelligence, and Computer Architecture and Organization. Additionally, he contributed to university examinations as the Chief Supervisor in the Winter-2015 Examination and a committee member for the Summer-2013, Summer-2015, and Summer-2018 Examinations. He also played a key role in institutional development as a member of the Admission Committee, NBA & NAAC core committees at the department level, and as the convener of the National Level Technical Symposium “POCKET 16” organized by the CSE Department on March 16, 2016.

Earlier in his career, he served as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Computer Engineering at Bapurao Deshmukh College of Engineering, Wardha, from November 26, 2008, to April 30, 2011. He taught subjects such as Unix and Shell Programming, Object-Oriented Programming, and Operating Systems while also serving as a Department Exam Committee Member.

Achievement

He was the first university topper (merit) in M.Tech (Information Technology) and received the Best Paper Award at the 2021 International Conference on Computational Performance Evaluation (ComPE), organized by the Department of Biomedical Engineering, North Eastern Hill University (NEHU), Shillong, Meghalaya, India, from December 1st to 3rd, 2023. He has actively participated in various conferences, including presenting the paper “Label Dependency Classifier using Multi-Feature Graph Convolution Networks for Automatic Image Annotation” at ComPE 2021 in Shillong, India. He also presented his research on “Visual-Based Page Segmentation for Deep Web Data Extraction” at the International Conference on Soft Computing for Problem Solving (SocProS 2011) held from December 20-22, 2011. Additionally, he contributed to the Computer Science & Engineering Department at Sardar Vallabhbhai National Institute of Technology, Surat, by presenting “A Critical Analysis of Learning Approaches for Image Annotation Based on Semantic Correlation” from December 13-15, 2022. His work on “A Survey on Assisting Document Annotation” was featured at the 19th International Conference on Hybrid Intelligent Systems (HIS) at VIT Bhopal University, India, from December 10-12, 2022. Furthermore, he co-authored a study titled “Review on Improving Lifetime of Network Using Energy and Density Control Cluster Algorithm,” which was presented at the 2018 IEEE International Students’ Conference on Electrical, Electronics, and Computer Science (SCEECS) in Bhopal, India.

 

Publication

Nuray Alaca | Motor İmagery | Best Researcher Award

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Prof Dr. Nuray Alaca | Motor İmagery | Best Researcher Award

 

Profile

Education

She completed her Doctorate in Physiology at Marmara University, Institute of Health Sciences, Turkey, from 2011 to 2015. Prior to that, she earned her Postgraduate degree in Orthopedic Rehabilitation from the same institute between 1999 and 2002. Her academic journey began with an Undergraduate degree in Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation from Istanbul University, School of Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation, where she studied from 1995 to 1999.

Research 

Her research focuses on physiotherapy and rehabilitation, with a strong academic background in the field. She has been serving as an Associate Professor at Acibadem Mehmet Ali Aydinlar University, Faculty of Health Sciences, Department of Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation, since 2021. Prior to this, she worked as an Assistant Professor from 2016 to 2021 and as a Lecturer from 2011 to 2015 at the same institution.

She has been actively involved in various research projects in physiotherapy and rehabilitation, supervising both postgraduate and doctoral students. Her ongoing research includes a randomized controlled trial on graded motor imagery as an adjunct to physiotherapy in chronic rotator cuff-related pain and an investigation into the sensorimotor representation of body schema in adolescent idiopathic scoliosis compared to healthy individuals. In 2024, she supervised a postgraduate study on the effect of manual lymph drainage in treating breast edema in patients undergoing breast-conserving surgery and adjuvant radiotherapy. Additionally, she is leading a doctoral study examining the effects of tactile stimulation, swimming exercise, or their combination on oxidative stress, inflammation, amyloid beta, neurogenesis, neurotrophic factors, and molecular signaling in an Alzheimer’s model. Her recent research includes a 2023 retrospective study on the effects of tumor type and treatments on lymphedema levels in breast cancer patients undergoing complex decongestive lymphedema therapy. She also supervised a 2021 postgraduate study exploring the effects of swimming exercise, low-level laser, or their combination on degeneration, inflammation, oxidative stress, utrophin protein, and irisin peptide in Duchenne muscular dystrophy (MDX) mice.

Publication

  • Comparison of Pressure Feedback Biofeedback Training with Conventional Lumbar Dynamic Strength Exercises for Chronic Low Back Pain: A Prospective Randomized Trial.

    Alternative therapies in health and medicine
    2024-11-18 | Journal article
    PMID: 39565706
    CONTRIBUTORS: Öztürk Ü; Çörekçi AA; Alaca N; Subaşı F

  • Comparison of static balance and pressure distribution in individuals with unilateral lower limb amputation: The role of barefoot, heel support, and vision.

    Prosthetics and orthotics international
    2024-11-08 | Journal article | Author
    DOI: 10.1097/pxr.0000000000000403
    PMID: 39514704
    CONTRIBUTORS: Tatar Y; Nilüfer Kablan; Nejla Gercek; Nuray Alaca

  • Kinesiophobia, physical activity levels and barriers in breast cancer patients, survivors, and healthy controls: A case-control analysis.

    JPMA. The Journal of the Pakistan Medical Association
    2024-08-01 | Journal article
    DOI: 10.47391/jpma.10558
    PMID: 39160708
    CONTRIBUTORS: Alaca N; Karayazi KT; Arslan DC; Karakus MB; Uras C

  • The immediate effect of thoracolumbar fascia taping on biomechanical properties, low back pain and balance in individuals with transfemoral amputation.

    Journal of back and musculoskeletal rehabilitation
    2024-01 | Journal article
    DOI: 10.3233/bmr-230314
    PMID: 38517772
    CONTRIBUTORS: Çalışkan Z; Alaca N; Kablan N

Jianbang Liu | AI-driven emotion | Best Researcher Award

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Dr. Jianbang Liu | AI-driven emotion | Best Researcher Award

JianBang Liu is a faculty member at the Xinyu University, China, where he actively contributes to both research and education. His research interests lie at the intersection of Artificial Intelligence (AI), Human-Computer Interaction (HCI), and Artificial Sentiment Analysis, with a specific focus on developing AI-driven emotion and cognition analysis. He has published extensively in international journals, significantly advancing the fields of HCI and AI. He continues to explore innovative applications of these technologies, aiming to bridge theoretical research with practical implementations.

Profile

Education

JianBang Liu obtained his Master’s degree from Qilu University of Technology (Shandong Academy of Sciences), China, in 2018. He then completed his Ph.D. at the Institute of Visual Informatics, UniversitiKebangsaan Malaysia (National University of Malaysia), specializing in Human-Computer Interaction (HCI) and Artificial Intelligence (AI).

Research Interests

Artificial Intelligence (AI), Human-Computer Interaction (HCI), AI-driven emotion and cognition analysisRe

Research Innovation

Completed/Ongoing Research Projects: State the number of research projects you have completed or are currently working on.

Citation Index: Provide information about your citation index in relevant databases such as SCI, Scopus, etc.

Consultancy/Industry Projects: Indicate the number of consultancy or industry-sponsored projects you have been involved in.

Books Published (ISBN): Specify the number of books you have published with ISBN numbers.

Patents Published/Under Process: Mention the number of patents you have published or are currently in the process of publishing.

JournalsPublished: State the number of articles you have published in indexed journals.

Editorial Appointments: If applicable, list any editorial positions you hold in journals or conferences.

Collaborations: Describe any significant collaborations you have been part of in your research career.

Professional Memberships: List memberships in professional organizations or societies relevant to your field.

Areas of Research: Specify the main areas or topics you focus on in your research work.

Books /Chapters in Books：

Local optimal Issue in Bees Algorithm: Markov Chain Analysis and Integration with Dynamic Particle Swarm Optimization Algorithm (Intelligent Engineering Optimisation with the Bees Algorithm (978-3-031-64935-6/ 978-3-031-64936-3 (eBook)))

Publication

  • Emotion assessment and application in human-computer interaction interface based on backpropagation neural network and artificial bee colony algorithm (SCI Q1)
  • Emotion assessment and application in human-computer interaction interface based on backpropagation neural network and artificial bee colony algorithm (SCI Q1)
  • Personalized Emotion Analysis Based on Fuzzy Multi-Modal Transformer Model (SCI Q2)
  • Immersive VR Learning experiences from the perspective of telepresence, emotion, and cognition(SSCI Q1)

said Pournaghash-tehrani | Neuroscience | Best Faculty Award

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Dr. said Pournaghash-tehrani | Neuroscience | Best Faculty Award

 

Profile

  • Googlescholar
  • Researchgate

Education

Said Pournaghash-Tehrani earned his Doctor of Philosophy in Psychology in 1993 from The American University in Washington, D.C., where he also completed his Master of Arts in Psychology in 1990. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Distributive Science from the same institution, which he obtained in 1986. Fluent in English and German, he also has familiarity with French. He can be reached via email at spournaghash@yahoo.com or by telephone at 011-98-09122074388.

Work experience
  • Said Pournaghash-Tehrani has extensive academic and research experience in psychology. He served as a Research Associate in 2001 at the Department of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, Loyola University’s Stritch School of Medicine in Chicago, Illinois. In 2002, he took a sabbatical as a researcher at the Department of Psychology, Carleton University in Ottawa, Canada, focusing on cross-cultural studies related to Iranian attitudes towards the West. Since 2002, he has been an Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychology at Tehran University, having previously held the same position at Azzahra University in Tehran from 1996 to 2001. Additionally, he was a member of the Scientific Council on Energy and Economic Studies at the Institute for International and Political Studies (IPIS) from 1998 to 2000, where he also worked as a political researcher. His early academic career included serving as a Teaching and Research Assistant at The American University’s Department of Psychology from 1987 to 1990, where he contributed to courses such as Introduction to Psychology, Neuroscience Seminar, Psychopharmacology, Neuropsychology, Biological Basis of Behavior, and Learning and Behavior.

Books

–Fundamentals of Clinical Psychopharmacology, (2007); Samt Publications
-Drugs and Behavior, (2004); Samt Publications.
-Physiological Psychology, Tehran University Publication.
-Intimacy; Alzahra University Publication.
-Theories of Addiction, Alzahra University Publication.

Conference Presentations

Said Pournaghash-Tehrani has contributed extensively to neuroscience and psychology research, presenting his findings at prestigious conferences such as the Society for Neuroscience and the Eastern Psychological Association. His work has focused on drug discrimination learning, conditioned taste aversion, and the effects of opioids and their antagonists. In 1987, he co-authored studies assessing the discriminative stimulus properties of naloxone and the failure of cholecystokinin to counteract morphine sulfate’s effects. His later research explored the antagonism of morphine stimuli, the role of buprenorphine in opiate-naive and dependent animals, and the impact of RO15-4513 on ethanol-induced taste aversion. He has collaborated with notable researchers, including A.L. Riley, contributing to investigations on diazepam exposure and behavioral toxicology. His presentations in New Orleans, Washington, D.C., Boston, and other major research venues highlight his significant role in advancing psychopharmacology and behavioral neuroscience.

Publication

Dingming Wu | Computer Science | Best Researcher Award

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Dr. Dingming Wu | Computer Science | Best Researcher Award

 

Profile

  • scopus

Education

He holds a Ph.D. in Computer Science and Technology from Harbin Institute of Technology, where he studied under the supervision of Professor Xiaolong Wang from March 2018 to December 2022. Prior to that, he earned a Master’s degree in Probability Theory and Mathematical Statistics from Shandong University of Science and Technology in collaboration with the University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, completing his studies under the guidance of Professor Tiande Guo between September 2014 and July 2017. His academic journey began with a Bachelor’s degree in Information and Computational Science from Shandong University of Science and Technology, which he completed between September 2006 and July 2010.

Work experience

He is currently a Postdoctoral Fellow at the University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, a position he has held since December 2022 and will continue until December 2024. His research focuses on EEG signal processing and algorithm feature extraction, specifically addressing the challenges posed by the complexity and individual variations of EEG signals. Given the limitations of traditional classification methods, his work aims to enhance recognition accuracy through advanced deep learning models, improving the decoding of intricate EEG signals and optimizing control accuracy. Additionally, he integrates artificial intelligence technologies to predict user intentions and provide proactive responses, ultimately enhancing the interactive experience. His system is designed for long-term stability and adaptability, leveraging self-learning mechanisms based on user feedback.

Previously, he worked as a Data Analyst at Qingdao Sanlujiu International Trade Co., Ltd., Shanghai, from September 2010 to July 2014. In this role, he was responsible for conducting statistical analysis of trade flow data.

Publication

  • [1] Dingming Wu, Xiaolong Wang∗, and Shaocong Wu. Jointly modeling transfer learning of
    industrial chain information and deep learning for stock prediction[J]. Expert Systems with
    Applications, 2022, 191(7):116257.
    [2] Dingming Wu, Xiaolong Wang∗, and Shaocong Wu.A hybrid framework based on extreme
    learning machine, discrete wavelet transform, and autoencoder with feature penalty for stock
    prediction[J]. Expert Systems with Applications, 2022, 207(24):118006.
    [3] Dingming Wu, Xiaolong Wang∗, and Shaocong Wu. Construction of stock portfolio based on
    k-means clustering of continuous trend features[J]. Knowledge-Based Systems, 2022,
    252(18):109358.
    [4] Dingming Wu, Xiaolong Wang∗, Jingyong Su, Buzhou Tang, and Shaocong Wu. A labeling
    method for financial time series prediction based on trends[J]. Entropy, 2020, 22(10):1162.
    [5] Dingming Wu, Xiaolong Wang∗, and Shaocong Wu. A hybrid method based on extreme
    learning machine and wavelet transform denoising for stock prediction[J]. Entropy, 2021,
    23(4):440.
    Papers to be published:
    [6] Wavelet transform in conjunction with temporal convolutional networks for time series
    prediction. Journal: PATTERN RECOGNITION; Status: under review; Position: Sole
    Author.
    [7] A Multidimensional Adaptive Transformer Network for Fatigue Detection. Journal: Cognitive
    Neurodynamics; Status: accept; Position: First Author.
    [8] A Multi-branch Feature Fusion Deep Learning Model for EEG-Based Cross-Subject Motor
    Imagery Classification. Journal: ENGINEERING APPLICATIONS OF ARTIFICIAL
    INTELLIGENCE; Status: under review; Position: First Author.
    [9] A Coupling of Common-Private Topological Patterns Learning Approach for Mitigating Interindividual Variability in EEG-based Emotion Recognition. Journal: Biomedical Signal
    Processing and Control; Status: Revise; Position: First Corresponding Author.
    [10] A Function-Structure Adaptive Decoupled Learning Framework for Multi-Cognitive Tasks
    EEG Decoding. Journal: IEEE Transactions on Neural Networks and Learning Systems;
    Status: under review; Position: Co-First Author.
    [11] Decoding Topology-Implicit EEG Representations Under Manifold-Euclidean Hybrid Space.
    Computer conference: International Joint Conference on Artificial Intelligence 2025 (IJCAI);
    Status: under review; Position: Second Corresponding Author.
    [12] Style Transfer Mapping for EEG-Based Neuropsychiatric Diseases Recognition. Journal:
    EXPERT SYSTEMS WITH APPLICATIONS; Status: under review; Position: Second
    Corresponding Author.
    [13] An Adaptive Ascending Learning Strategy Based on Graph Optional Interaction for EEG
    Decoding. Computer conference: International Joint Conference on Artificial Intelligence
    2025 (IJCAI); Status: under review; Position: Second Corresponding Author.
    [14] A Transfer Optimization Methodology of Graph Representation Incorporating CommonPrivate Feature Decomposition for EEG Emotion Recognition. Computer conference:
    International Joint Conference on Artificial Intelligence 2025 (IJCAI); Status: under review;
    Position: Second Corresponding Author.
    [15] An Interpretable Neural Network Incorporating Rule-Based Constraints for EEG Emotion
    Recognition. Computer conference: International Joint Conference on Artificial Intelligence
    2025 (IJCAI); Status: under review; Position: First Author.

Raveendra Pilli | Image Processing | Best Researcher Award

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Mr. Raveendra Pilli | Image Processing | Best Researcher Award

He mentored B.Tech. projects focused on the early detection of Alzheimer’s Disease. One project involved utilizing multi-modality neuroimaging techniques, where MRI and PET images were collected from the OASIS database, preprocessed, and robust features were extracted for classification. MATLAB and the SPM-12 toolbox were used for this task. Another project focused on the early detection of Alzheimer’s Disease using deep learning networks, where an MRI dataset from the ADNI database was collected, preprocessed, and the performance was compared with baseline algorithms. For this project, he used MATLAB and Python.

NIT-Silchar, India

Profile

Education

A dedicated research scholar with a Ph.D. in Electronics and Communication Engineering from the National Institute of Technology Silchar (Thesis Submitted, CGPA 9.0), specializing in brain age prediction and early detection of neurological disorders using neuroimaging modalities. With extensive teaching experience, a strong passion for research, and a proven ability to develop engaging curricula, deliver effective lectures, and guide students toward academic success, I am committed to contributing to the field through research, publications, and presentations. My academic journey includes an M.Tech. from JNTU Kakinada (76.00%, 2011) and a B.Tech. from JNTU Hyderabad (65.00%, 2007), along with a strong foundational background in science, having completed 10+2 (MPC) with 89.00% in 2003 and SSC with 78.00% in 2001.

Work experience

He worked as a Junior Research Fellow at the National Institute of Technology, Silchar, Assam, from July 2021 to June 2023, where he assisted professors with course delivery for Basic Electronics, conducted laboratory sessions, graded assignments, and provided office hours for student support. From July 2023 to December 2024, he served as a Senior Research Fellow at the same institute, taking on additional responsibilities, including mentoring B.Tech. projects and assisting with Digital Signal Processing laboratory duties. Prior to his research roles, he was an Assistant Professor at SRK College of Engineering and Technology, Vijayawada, Andhra Pradesh, where he taught courses such as Networks Theory, Digital Signal Processing, RVSP, SS, and LICA. He utilized innovative teaching methods, including active learning techniques, to enhance student engagement and learning outcomes. He also mentored undergraduate research projects in image processing and received positive student evaluations for his teaching effectiveness.

Publication

Marcelo Luis Berthier | Neuroscience| Best Researcher Award

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Prof. Marcelo Luis Berthier | Neuroscience| Best Researcher Award

 

Unversidad de Málaga, Spain

Profile

Education

Marcelo Luis Berthier obtained his degree in Medicine (1972-1976) and completed residency training in Neurosurgery (1977-1980), later specializing in Neurology (1980). He served as a staff neurologist at the Institute of Neurological Research, FLENI, Buenos Aires, Argentina (1980-1989), before becoming a research fellow in the Department of Neurology at Clinic Hospital of Barcelona, Spain (1989-1990). From 1991 to 2000, he was a staff neurologist and physician in charge of the Behavioural Neurology Unit at the Clinic University Hospital of Malaga. He earned a PhD in Neuroscience (cum laude) from the University of Malaga and coordinated the Group of Behavioural Neurology and Dementia of the Spanish Neurological Society (2004-2006). In 2004, he founded and directed the Unit of Cognitive Neurology and Aphasia at the Centro de Investigaciones Médico-Sanitarias, University of Malaga, leading it until 2023. Additionally, he served as the director of the Consolidated Research Group on Cognitive Neuroscience: Aphasia and Related Disorders (UNCA, C-12) at the Instituto de Investigación Biomédica de Málaga (IBIMA – Plataforma BIONAND).

Work experience

Dr. Marcelo L. Berthier Torres has led and contributed to several groundbreaking research projects in cognitive neurology and aphasia. As a co-investigator, he participated in the Telerehabilitation in Aphasia project (2021-2023), which evaluated the effectiveness of telerehabilitation compared to face-to-face therapy and identified predictive biomarkers of response, funded by the Junta de Andalucía. He also served as the principal investigator for a study on the efficacy of combined treatment with donepezil, intensive rehabilitation, and transcranial direct current stimulation in chronic post-stroke aphasia (2016-2019), funded by the Instituto de Salud Carlos III. Additionally, he has contributed to the Proyectos de Generación de Conocimiento “Frontera”, an initiative under the FEDER Andalucía 2014-2020 program, which investigates brain biomarkers for individualized treatment approaches in chronic post-stroke aphasia

Areas of Research

Dr. Marcelo L. Berthier Torres has made significant contributions to the treatment of post-stroke aphasia and speech-language disorders. He conducted the first open-label and randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind trials investigating the use of cognitive-enhancing drugs (donepezil and memantine) alone and in combination with standard aphasia therapy or intensive language-action therapy (ILAT) in chronic post-stroke aphasia. His pioneering studies stimulated international research on aphasia pharmacotherapy, leading to clinical translation. Today, donepezil and memantine, alone or combined with therapy, are widely used off-label for post-stroke aphasia and language disturbances associated with neurodegenerative disorders like Alzheimer’s disease and primary progressive aphasia.

Publication

  • Revisiting the boundaries of different altered accents profiles

    Cortex
    2025-03 | Journal article
    DOI: 10.1016/j.cortex.2025.01.001
    CONTRIBUTORS: Marcelo L. Berthier; Ignacio Moreno-Torres; Jo Verhoeven; Guadalupe Dávila

  • Turning the Spotlight to Cholinergic Pharmacotherapy of the Human Language System

    CNS Drugs
    2023-07 | Journal article
    DOI: 10.1007/s40263-023-01017-4
    CONTRIBUTORS: Guadalupe Dávila; María José Torres-Prioris; Diana López-Barroso; Marcelo L. Berthier

  • Pharmacotherapy for post-stroke aphasia: what are the options?

    Expert Opinion on Pharmacotherapy
    2023-07-24 | Journal article
    DOI: 10.1080/14656566.2023.2221382
    CONTRIBUTORS: Marcelo L. Berthier; Guadalupe Dávila

  • Brain structural and functional correlates of the heterogenous progression of mixed transcortical aphasia

    Brain Structure and Function
    2023-05-31 | Journal article
    DOI: 10.1007/s00429-023-02655-6
    CONTRIBUTORS: Diana López-Barroso; José Paredes-Pacheco; María José Torres-Prioris; Guadalupe Dávila; Marcelo L. Berthier

  • Controlling the past, owning the present, and future: cholinergic modulation decreases semantic perseverations in a person with post-stroke aphasia

    Aphasiology
    2022-11-02 | Journal article
    DOI: 10.1080/02687038.2021.1957082
    CONTRIBUTORS: Marcelo L. Berthier; Daniel Santana-Moreno; Álvaro Beltrán-Corbellini; Juan C. Criado-Álamo; Lisa Edelkraut; Diana López-Barroso; Guadalupe Dávila; María José Torres-Prioris

Emmanuel Kaboja Magna | Cognitive | Cognitive Rehabilitation Impact

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Dr. Emmanuel Kaboja Magna | Cognitive | Cognitive Rehabilitation Impact

CSIR-Water Research Institute, Ghana

Dr. Emmanuel Kaboja Magna is a Research Scientist at the Fisheries and Aquaculture Division of the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research-Water Research Institute (CSIR-WRI). He earned his Bachelor’s degree in Biological Sciences (Oceanography and Fisheries) from the University of Ghana in 2007, followed by a Master’s degree in Health Informatics from the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Ghana, in 2014. He completed his PhD in Environmental Science in 2020 at the Institute for Environment and Sanitation Studies (IESS), University of Ghana. His doctoral research focused on the ecological and human health implications of contaminants linked to cage aquaculture on the Volta Basin of Ghana. He investigated the levels of polychlorinated biphenyls, organochlorine pesticides, and heavy metals in water, sediment, and cage tilapia, highlighting the ecological risks and pollution status of sediment, as well as the health risks of consuming such fish. Dr. Magna has also conducted research on solid waste, the impact of climatic variables on crop yield, malaria distribution, and a review of Ghana’s mental health policy. His research has resulted in thirteen publications in reputable international journals. Apart from his work at WRI, he has participated in various research activities focusing on pesticides, antibiotics, PBDEs, and PAHs in different environmental matrices, wastewater quality treatment, and reuse. He is known for his innovation, intellectual acumen, and high research curiosity. Dr. Magna has jointly supervised undergraduate students at several Ghanaian universities and serves as a reviewer for the international journal Food Chemistry Advances. He also has about eight years of teaching experience at the senior high school level.

 

Profile

Education

Dr. Emmanuel Kaboja Magna holds a PhD in Environmental Science from the University of Ghana, which he completed between 2016 and 2020. His doctoral thesis focused on the ecological and human health implications of contaminants linked to cage aquaculture in the Volta Basin of Ghana. He earned a Master’s degree in Health Informatics from Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) in 2014, with his thesis exploring the implementation of Electronic Medical Record (EMR) systems at Tema General Hospital, addressing the potential benefits and challenges. Dr. Magna obtained his Bachelor’s degree in Oceanography and Fisheries from the University of Ghana in 2007, where he completed his dissertation on the application of GIS to coastal tourism in Ghana. He also completed his SSSCE in General Science at St. Mary’s Seminary Secondary School in 2001. In addition to his academic qualifications, Dr. Magna has earned several professional certificates, including a certificate in System Thinking for Sustainable Development in Ghana from the Institute for Environment and Sanitation Studies (IESS), University of Ghana, and North Carolina State, in June 2017. He also completed training on pesticide, PAH, PCB, and antibiotic analysis using LC-MS/MS and GC-MS at the Ghana Standard Authority in Accra from December 2017 to April 2018.

MERITORIOUS AWARDS

Dr. Emmanuel Kaboja Magna has received several meritorious awards and recognitions for his academic and professional achievements. In 2000, he was awarded the Distinguished Award for being the 3rd Year Best Mathematics Student at St. Mary’s Seminary Secondary School in Lolobi, Ghana. He has also been actively involved in outreach and community service. In 2023, he earned a Certificate of Excellence as the 1st Runner-up for a poster presentation at the FDA Scientific Forum, where he presented on the risk assessment of antibiotics in cultured Nile tilapia at Tema Roundabout. Additionally, he served as a panel discussant at the 2023 National Fish Festival on promoting safe fish consumption, as well as at the 2023 National Budget Dialogue on Agro-Based Policy Interventions focusing on Fisheries and Aquaculture. Dr. Magna has contributed to the review of manuscripts for peer-reviewed journals such as Food Chemistry Advances, Water, Air, & Soil Pollution, and Heliyon. His co-supervision of student dissertations includes work on the physicochemical and heavy metals analysis of the Birim River impacted by illegal small-scale mining, completed by Cecelia Asimah at the University for Development Studies in 2023.

Research Project

Dr. Emmanuel Kaboja Magna is currently involved in several research projects, including assessing the impact of environmental change on freshwater species in River Oti, studying algal dynamics in freshwater ecosystems in the Saboba districts, and conducting a comparative analysis of the nutritional composition of different fish species cultured in Ghana, all under the CSIR-WRI, Ghana. His coursework and research modules cover a wide range of topics, including coastal ecology, freshwater ecology, aquatic biology, aquaculture, biodiversity and conservation, fish stock assessment, coastal hydrology, marine biogeochemistry, environmental management, and coastal management, with a particular focus on community aspects. He has also studied advanced quantitative research methods, emerging environmental issues for the 21st century, coastal ecosystems of West Africa, and the applications of remote sensing and GIS to fisheries and marine science. Dr. Magna is affiliated with the Ghana Chemical Society (GCS) since 2017 and was a member of the Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT) from 2009 to 2016. He holds leadership positions as the Deputy Secretary of the CSIR-Research Staff Association of Ghana since November 2023 and was the President of the St. Mary’s Old Boys Association (UG Charter) from September 2006 to May 2007.

Publications

Mahmoud Alimoradi | Machine Learning | Best Researcher Award

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Mr. Mahmoud Alimoradi | Machine Learning | Best Researcher Award

Lahijan Azad ,Iran

He understands the growing need for Machine Learning and has a keen interest in the field, which he considers a blessing. Recognizing the importance of managing large and complex computations to control various aspects of the human environment has led him into this vast world. He is particularly fascinated by machine learning, especially reinforcement learning, supervised learning, semi-supervised learning, outliers, and basic data challenges. Furthermore, optimization, an area of artificial intelligence that requires fundamental studies and a change in approach, is another of his key research interests.

Profile

Education

He holds a Master’s degree in Artificial Intelligence Engineering from the University of Shafagh, completed in 2020. His thesis was titled “Trees Social Relations Optimization Algorithm: A New Swarm-Based Metaheuristic Technique to Solve Continuous and Discrete Optimization Problems.” He also earned a Bachelor’s degree in Software Engineering from Azad Lahijan University, which he attended from 2007 to 2011.

Research Interests

Theory: Reinforcement Learning (high-dimensional problems, regularized algorithms, model
learning,
representation learning and deep RL, learning from demonstration, inverse optimal control, deep
Reinforcement Learning); Machine Learning (statistical learning theory, nonparametric
algorithms, time series. processes, manifold learning, online learning); Large-scale Optimization;
Evolutionary Computation, Metaheuristic Algorithm, Deep Learning, Healthcare Machine
learning, Big Data, Data Problems (Imbalanced), Signal Analysis
Applications: Automated control, space affairs, robotic control, medicine and health, asymmetric
data, data science, scheduling, proposing systems, self-enhancing systems

Work Experience

He is a freelance programmer with expertise in various operating systems, including Microsoft Windows and Linux (Arch, Ubuntu, Fedora). He is proficient in software tools such as Microsoft Office, Anaconda, Jupyter, PyCharm, Visual Studio, Tableau, RapidMiner, MATLAB, and Visual Studio. His programming skills include Matlab, Python, C++, Scala, Java, and Julia, with a focus on data mining, data science, computer vision, and machine learning. He is experienced with Python libraries like Pandas, Numpy, Matplotlib, Seaborn, PyCV, TensorFlow, Time Series Analysis, Spark, Hadoop, and Cassandra. Additionally, he is skilled in using Github, Docker, and MySQL. His expertise spans machine learning, deep learning, imbalanced data, missing data, semi-supervised learning, healthcare machine learning, algorithm design, and metaheuristic algorithms. He is fluent in English and Persian.

Publications

Wei Jiang | Cognitive and neuropathology | Women Researcher Award

Posted on by Cognitive Scientist Awards

 Dr. Wei Jiang | Cognitive and neuropathology | Women Researcher Award

Medical University of South Carolina , United States

Her academic focus includes microbiome, B cell/autoantibody interactions, and disease pathogenesis, with particular emphasis on HIV, addictive drugs, and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). She is involved in several clinical and translational research projects, including R01DA059854 (Jiang & Sheng), investigating the impacts of drug abuse on autoantibodies and immune reconstitution in HIV. She also works on CSRD Merit I01 CX002422, exploring B cell-mediated immunological failure in HIV-infected individuals on antiretroviral therapy. Additionally, she contributes to NIDA-funded studies, such as R01DA055523, examining the oral microbiome’s effect on cognition in HIV-infected cannabis users, and R01DA059538, investigating HIV persistence in cocaine users. Furthermore, she collaborates on a Translational Science Award project exploring the oral microbiome’s impact on cognition in Alzheimer’s disease.

 

 

Profile

Education:

She earned her M.S. in Epidemiology and Biostatistics from Case Western Reserve University, Medical School, Cleveland, USA, in 2012. Prior to that, she completed a Postdoctoral fellowship at Case Western Reserve University, Medical School, Cleveland, USA, in 2008. She holds an M.S. in Immunology from Capital Medical University, Beijing, China, which she completed in 2001. She also received her M.D. in Internal Medicine from Capital Medical University, Beijing, China, in 1997.

BRIEF RESEARCH INTEREST STATEMENT:

She has 8 years of clinical experience in infectious diseases and 22 years of translational research experience in disease immunopathogenesis. As a corresponding author, she has published 52 peer-reviewed articles on microbiome and disease immunopathogenesis in high-profile journals like Microbiome, Arthritis & Rheumatology, J Autoimmunity, and EbioMedicine, bringing her total number of peer-reviewed publications to 101. As a physician-scientist, she has served as Principal Investigator on five R01 grants from NIAID or NIDA, along with a VA clinical merit grant, focusing on microbiomes, drug abuse, autoimmunity, and HIV immunopathogenesis. Her research primarily focuses on two major areas. The first is understanding the role of B cell perturbation and autoantibodies in disease pathogenesis, particularly in HIV and SLE. In 2017, her team first determined that autoimmunity impacts antiretroviral therapy outcomes in HIV without inducing autoimmune disease. This concept was later corroborated in studies on COVID-19. Her team is currently developing monoclonal autoantibodies and inhibitors to prevent anti-CD4 autoantibody binding, aiming to improve CD4+ T cell recovery and reduce morbidity in HIV patients. The second area of focus is the role of microbiomes in disease pathogenesis, including HIV, SLE, and drug abuse. She has identified the impact of disease-associated pathobionts on immune perturbations and disease progression, with findings validated in animal models. Her microbiome research is supported by R01DA055523.

TRAINING, PROFESSIONAL APPOINTMENTS

She currently serves on the Appointment, Promotion & Tenure (APT) committee in the Department of Microbiology and Immunology at the Medical University of South Carolina, a position she has held since 2024. She was promoted to Full Professor with tenure in the Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine at the same institution in 2023. She has been a Faculty Senator for the College of Medicine and a Research Health Scientist at the Ralph H. Johnson VA Medical Center since 2022. Additionally, she is a member of the Translational Science Laboratory IAC (2020-2022) and the MUSC College’s Curriculum Committee (2019-Present). She has held various positions at MUSC, including Associate Professor (2018-2022) and Assistant Professor (2012-2018) in the Department of Microbiology and Immunology. Since 2018, she has been a member of the Hollings Cancer Center at MUSC and has served on the award committee for the Advancement, Recruitment, and Retention of Women in Science. Her academic career began as an Instructor (2008-2012) and Research Associate (2002-2008) at Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine in Cleveland, OH.

AWARDS

She received her Chinese Board of Internal Medicine certification in Infectious Diseases in July 1997 and was certified as an Attending Medical Doctor in Infectious Diseases in November 1999 (No: 10203C089758). In July 1997, she also earned a Teacher Qualification from the Educational Institute, National Educational Committee in China (No: 971100071069382). Her licensure is from Beijing, China.

She has received several awards throughout her career, including the Laboratory Travel Grant from the American Association of Immunologists (AAI) in 2019, the MUSC High Impact Research Publication Award in 2019, and multiple travel grants from AAI for various international immunology congresses. She was awarded the Early Career Faculty Travel Grant by AAI and ECI in 2018 and 2017, and received the Travel Award and HIV Section Chair recognition at the 2016 International Congress of Immunology. In 2015, she was honored with the MUSC Foundation Developing Scholar Award and an Early Career Faculty Travel Grant from AAI. Her earlier achievements include multiple Young Investigator Awards from the 13th and 15th Conferences on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections (2006, 2008) and the Keystone Meeting on HIV Pathogenesis (2006, 2008). Additionally, she was recognized as an Outstanding Student Leader for five consecutive years during her medical school years from 1986 to 1991.

OTHER EXPERIENCE AND PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS

She has held several key professional roles and memberships throughout her career. Since 2024, she has been serving as a mentor for the American Society for Microbiology (ASM) Future Leaders Mentorship Fellowship (FLMF) Program. She is a member of the Society on NeuroImmune Pharmacology 2024 committee and has been a Treasurer Elect for the Association of Chinese Virologists in America from 2022 to 2024. She has been a member of the American Society for Microbiology (ASM) since 2021 and the Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA) since 2020. She has also been serving on the Editorial Board of the Journal of Neuroimmune Pharmacology since 2019 and is a member of the Society on NeuroImmune Pharmacology. Additionally, she has been part of the Society of Chinese Bioscientists in America (SCBA) and the American College of Rheumatology since 2018. She has contributed as an award committee member for the Advancement, Recruitment, and Retention of Women in Science at the Medical University of South Carolina since 2017 and is an associate member of the Hollings Cancer Center at MUSC.

She is also an active member of the MUSC Oral Health Center, College of Dental Medicine, and the Medical University of South Carolina College of Graduate Studies. Her previous memberships include being part of the American Association of Immunologists from 2011 to 2021, the Center for AIDS Research from 2008 to 2012, and the AIDS Clinic Trial Group since 2008. Her certification in Chinese Board of Internal Medicine in Infectious Diseases dates back to 1997, along with her teacher qualification from the Educational Institute, National Educational Committee, China.

CURRENT RESEARCH PROJECTS

She is currently leading several impactful research projects. As the Principal Investigator (PI) on R01DA059854 (9/30/2024-5/31/2029), funded by NIDA with a total of $3,924,302, she is studying the impacts of drug abuse-mediated inflammatory perturbations on affinity maturation of anti-CD4 autoantibodies and poor immune reconstitution from ART in HIV. This project aims to understand the role of cocaine in autoimmunity and immune recovery in HIV patients. Her role in this project is as PI (25% effort).

She is also a multiPI on R01DA059538 (9/30/2023-7/31/2028), with a total of $1,724,585 from NIDA, investigating host gene isoforms contributing to HIV persistence in cocaine users. The study focuses on identifying gene isoforms associated with HIV infection in elite controllers and its implications for cocaine users. Her role is PI (25% effort).

In addition, she is the PI on I01CX002422 (3/1/2022-2/28/2026), funded by the VA Medical Center CSRD Merit with a total of $1,195,899. This project examines the mechanism of autoreactive B cell-mediated immunological failure in HIV-infected individuals on antiretroviral therapy despite virologic suppression. She is focused on understanding the molecular mechanisms of anti-CD4 IgG-producing B cells and the pathologic effects of anti-CD4 autoantibodies. Her role is PI with 62.5% effort.

Additionally, she is involved as multiPI on R01DA055523 (9/30/2022-7/31/2027), with a total funding of $1,731,992, where she is working alongside Fitting to investigate the effects of microbiome-related mechanisms on H

 Publication