Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Personalised depression forecasting using mobile sensor data and ecological momentary assessment

Introduction Digital health interventions are an effective way to treat depression, but it is still largely unclear how patients’ individual symptoms evolve dynamically during such treatments. Data-driven forecasts of depressive symptoms would allow to greatly improve the personalisation of treatments. In current forecasting approaches, models are often trained on an entire population, resulting in a general model that works overall, but does not translate well to each individual in clinically heterogeneous, real-world populations. Model fairness across patient subgroups is also frequently overlooked. Personalised models tailored to the individual patient may therefore be promising. Methods We investigate different personalisation strategies using transfer learning, subgroup models, as well as subject-dependent standardisation on a newly-collected, longitudinal dataset of depression patients undergoing treatment with a digital intervention (N=65 patients recruited). Both passive mobile sensor data as well as ecological momentary assessments were available for modelling. We evaluated the models’ ability to predict symptoms of depression (Patient Health Questionnaire-2; PHQ-2) at the end of each day, and to forecast symptoms of the next day. Results In our experiments, we achieve a best mean-absolute-error (MAE) of 0.801 (25% improvement) for predicting PHQ-2 values at the end of the day with subject-dependent standardisation compared to a non-personalised baseline (MAE=1.062). For one day ahead-forecasting, we can improve the baseline of 1.539 by 12% to a MAE of 1.349 using a transfer learning approach with shared common layers. In addition, personalisation leads to fairer models at group-level. Discussion Our results suggest that personalisation using subject-dependent standardisation and transfer learning can improve predictions and forecasts, respectively, of depressive symptoms in participants of a digital depression intervention. We discuss technical and clinical limitations of this approach, avenues for future investigations, and how personalised machine learning architectures may be implemented to improve existing digital interventions for depression.
The successional trajectory of bacterial and fungal communities in soil are fabricated by yaks’ excrement contamination in plateau, China

The soil microbiome is crucial in determining contemporary realistic conditions for future terrestrial ecological and evolutionary development. However, the precise mechanism between the fecal deposition in livestock grazing and changes in the soil microbiome remains unknown. This is the first in-depth study of bacterial and fungal taxonomic changes of excrement contaminated soils in the plateau (>3,500 m). This suggests the functional shifts towards a harmful-dominated soil microbiome. According to our findings, excrement contamination significantly reduced the soil bacterial and fungal diversity and richness. Furthermore, a continuous decrease in the relative abundance of microorganisms was associated with nutrient cycling, soil pollution purification, and root-soil stability with the increasing degree of excrement contamination. In comparison, soil pathogens were found to have the opposite trend in the scenario, further deteriorating normal soil function and system resilience. Such colonization and succession of the microbiome might provide an important potential theoretical instruction for microbiome-based soil health protection measures in the plateau of China.
White matter integrity as a mediator between socioeconomic status and executive function

Introduction Lower socioeconomic status (SES) is associated with poorer executive function, but the neural mechanisms of this association remain unclear. As healthy brain communication is essential to our cognitive abilities, white matter integrity may be key to understanding socioeconomic disparities. Methods Participants were 201 African American and White adults (ages 33–72) from the Healthy Aging in Neighborhoods of Diversity across the Life Span (HANDLS) SCAN study. Diffusion tensor imaging was used to estimate regional fractional anisotropy as a measure of white matter integrity. Adjusting for age, analyses examined if integrity of the anterior limb of the internal capsule (ALIC), external capsule (EC), superior longitudinal fasciculus (SLF), and cingulum mediated SES-executive function relations. Results Lower SES was related to poorer cognitive performance and white matter integrity. Lower Trails B performance was related to poorer integrity of the ALIC, EC, and SLF, and lower Stroop performance was associated with poorer integrity of the ALIC and EC. ALIC mediated the SES-Trails B relation, and EC mediated the SES-Trails B and SES-Stroop relations. Sensitivity analyses revealed that (1) adjustment for race rendered the EC mediations non-significant, (2) when using poverty status and continuous education as predictors, results were largely the same, (3) at least some of the study’s findings may generalize to processing speed, (4) mediations are not age-dependent in our sample, and (5) more research is needed to understand the role of cardiovascular risk factors in these models. Discussion Findings demonstrate that poorer white matter integrity helps explain SES disparities in executive function and highlight the need for further clarification of the biopsychosocial mechanisms of the SES-cognition association.
Detection of human case of dengue virus 2 belonging to sylvatic genotype during routine surveillance of fever in Senegal, Kolda 2021

Dengue virus 2 (DENV-2) was detected in a febrile patient living in Saré Yoba in the Kolda region of southern Senegal. Phylogenetic analysis based on the full coding region revealed that the virus belongs to the DENV-2 sylvatic genotype and is closely related to a strain (JF260983/99.66% identity) detected in Spain in a tourist who traveled to Guinea-Bissau (which borders the Kolda region) in 2009. This highlights a potential recent under-reported circulation of sylvatic dengue in the southern part of Senegal and calls for reinforced integrated surveillance among humans, non-human primates, and arboreal mosquitoes through a one-health approach.
Have a good day! An experience-sampling study of daily meaningful and pleasant activities

We organize our daily lives with a relatively high degree of freedom. Some things must be done; others are optional. Some we find meaningful, some pleasant, some both, and some neither. The present study looks at such evaluations of daily activities and how they relate to perceived meaning in life. Sixty-two students from an Austrian university first completed the meaningfulness scale from the Sources of Meaning and Meaning in Life Questionnaire (SoMe). They then participated in a 1-week experience-sampling assessment, wherein they completed a short questionnaire at five random time-points per day. They indicated their current activity and then reported, on a 6-point Likert scale, how pleasant and meaningful they perceived it to be. Activities could thus be categorized as meaningful, pleasant, both, or neither. Results reflected that activities grouped under culture/music, communication, intimacy, and sports are experienced as both highly meaningful and pleasant. A two-level hierarchical linear regression suggested that people with high trait meaningfulness experience their daily activities as more meaningful than people with lower trait meaningfulness if they also enjoy what they are doing. People with low trait meaningfulness, however, tended to experience their daily activities as rather meaningless, even if they enjoyed them very much. Thus, when looking for advice on how to have a good day, clarifying one’s meaning in life seems to represent the best starting point.
Ultrastructural destruction of neurovascular unit in experimental cervical spondylotic myelopathy

Background and purpose The pathogenesis of cervical spondylotic myelopathy (CSM) remains unclear. This study aimed to explore the ultrastructural pathology of neurovascular unit (NVU) during natural development of CSM. Methods A total of 24 rats were randomly allocated to the control group and the CSM group. Basso–Beattie–Bresnahan (BBB) scoring and somatosensory evoked potentials (SEP) were used as functional assessments. Hematoxylin–eosin (HE), toluidine blue (TB), and Luxol fast blue (LFB) stains were used for general structure observation. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) was applied for investigating ultrastructural characteristics. Results The evident compression caused significant neurological dysfunction, which was confirmed by the decrease in BBB score and SEP amplitude, as well as the prolongation of SEP latency (P < 0.05). The histopathological findings verified a significant decrease in the amount of Nissl body and myelin area and an increase in vacuolation compared with the control group (P < 0.05). The TEM results revealed ultrastructural destruction of NVU in several forms, including: neuronal degeneration and apoptosis; disruption of axonal cytoskeleton (neurofilaments) and myelin sheath and dystrophy of axonal terminal with dysfunction mitochondria; degenerative oligodendrocyte, astrocyte, and microglial cell inclusions with degenerating axon and dystrophic dendrite; swollen microvascular endothelium and loss of tight junction integrity; corroded basement membrane and collapsed microvascular wall; and proliferated pericyte and perivascular astrocytic endfeet. In the CSM group, reduction was observed in the amount of mitochondria with normal appearance and the number of cristae per mitochondria (P < 0.05), while no substantial drop of synaptic vesicle number was seen (P > 0.05). Significant narrowing of microvascular lumen size was also observed, accompanied by growth in the vascular wall area, endothelial area, basement membrane thickness, astrocytic endfeet area, and pericyte coverage area (rate) (P < 0.05). Conclusion Altogether, the findings of this study demonstrated ultrastructural destruction of NVU in an experimental CSM model with dorsal–lateral compression, revealing one of the crucial pathophysiological mechanisms of CSM.
The mechanism and efficacy of GLP-1 receptor agonists in the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease

Since type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is a risk factor for Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and both have the same pathogenesis (e.g., insulin resistance), drugs used to treat T2DM have been gradually found to reduce the progression of AD in AD models. Of these drugs, glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor (GLP-1R) agonists are more effective and have fewer side effects. GLP-1R agonists have reducing neuroinflammation and oxidative stress, neurotrophic effects, decreasing Aβ deposition and tau hyperphosphorylation in AD models, which may be a potential drug for the treatment of AD. However, this needs to be verified by further clinical trials. This study aims to summarize the current information on the mechanisms and effects of GLP-1R agonists in AD.
Eocene-Oligocene southwest Pacific Ocean paleoceanography new insights from foraminifera chemistry (DSDP site 277, Campbell Plateau)

Despite its major role in the Earth’s climate regulation, the evolution of high-latitude ocean dynamics through geological time remains unclear. Around Antarctica, changes in the Southern Ocean (SO) circulation are inferred to be responsible for cooling from the late Eocene and glaciation in the early Oligocene. Here, we present a geochemical study of foraminifera from DSDP Site 277 (Campbell Plateau), to better constrain thermal and redox evolution of the high latitude southwest Pacific Ocean during this time interval. From 56 to 48 Ma, Mg/Ca- and δ18O-paleothermometers indicate high surface and bottom water temperatures (24–26°C and 12–14°C, respectively), while weak negative Ce anomalies indicate poorly oxygenated bottom waters. This is followed by a cooling of ∼4° between 48 and 42 Ma, possibly resulting from a weakening of a proto-EAC (East Australian Current) and concomitant strengthening of a proto-Ross gyre. This paleoceanographic change is associated with better ventilation at Site 277, recorded by an increasing negative Ce anomaly. Once this proto-Ross gyre was fully active, increasing biogenic sedimentation rates and decreasing Subbotina sp. δ13C values indicate enhanced productivity. This resulted in a shoaling of the oxygen penetration in the sediment pile recorded by increasing the foraminiferal U/Ca ratio. The negative Ce anomaly sharply increased two times at ∼35 and ∼31 Ma, indicating enhanced seawater ventilation synchronously with the opening of the Tasmanian and Drake Passage gateways, respectively. The Oligocene glaciation is recorded by a major increase of bottom seawater δ18O during the EOT (Eocene-Oligocene Transition) while Mg/Ca-temperatures remain rather constant. This indicates a significant ice control on the δ18O record.
Identification and validation of quantitative trait loci for chlorophyll content of flag leaf in wheat under different phosphorus treatments

In wheat, the leaf chlorophyll content in flag leaves is closely related to the degree of phosphorus stress. Identifying major genes/loci associated with chlorophyll content in flag leaves under different phosphorus conditions is critical for breeding wheat varieties resistant to low phosphorus (P). Under normal, medium, and low phosphorus conditions, the chlorophyll content of flag leaves was investigated by a double haploid (DH) population derived from a cross between two popular wheat varieties Jinmai 47 and Jinmai 84, at different grain filling stages. Chlorophyll content of the DH population and parents decreased gradually during the S1 to the S3 stages and rapidly at the S4 stage. At the S4 stage, the chlorophyll content of the DH population under low phosphorus conditions was significantly lower than under normal phosphate conditions. Using a wheat 15K single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) panel, a total of 157 QTLs were found to be associated with chlorophyll content in flag leaf and were identified under three phosphorus conditions. The phenotypic variation explained (PVE) ranged from 3.07 to 31.66%. Under three different phosphorus conditions, 36, 30, and 48 QTLs for chlorophyll content were identified, respectively. Six major QTLs Qchl.saw-2B.1, Qchl.saw-3B.1, Qchl.saw-4D.1, Qchl.saw-4D.2, Qchl.saw-5A.9 and Qchl.saw-6A.4 could be detected under multiple phosphorus conditions in which Qchl.saw-4D.1, Qchl.saw-4D.2, and Qchl.saw-6A.4 were revealed to be novel major QTLs. Moreover, the closely linked SNP markers of Qchl.saw-4D.1 and Qchl.saw-4D.2 were validated as KASP markers in a DH population sharing the common parent Jinmai 84, showed extreme significance (P <0.01) in more than three environments under different phosphorus conditions, which has the potential to be utilized in molecular marker-assisted breeding for low phosphorus tolerance in wheat.
First Order Conditions for General Nonlinear Optimization

We show how first order optimality conditions for a very general nonlinear optimization problem may be derived in a conceptually simple and unified manner in terms of certain multivalued functions associated with the problem. Necessary conditions for general problems and sufficient conditions for convex problems are developed, and the classical multiplier conditions are shown to be related in a simple way to these.
Neurological, neurobehavioral, and radiological alterations in patients with mucopolysaccharidosis III (Sanfilippo's syndrome) in Brazil

Mucopolysaccharidosis type III (MPS III) or Sanfilippo syndrome is the most common form of MPS, in which neurological involvement in all stages of the disease is prominent. The current study aimed to comprehensively describe the neurological profile of children and adolescents with MPS III who visited the largest pediatric hospital in South America. A prospective/retrospective cohort analysis was performed on 10 patients with MPS III from eight unrelated families. Most patients <12 months of age had achieved development milestones within the expected range for their age, with delay in walking independently and first single word acquisition. Behavioral symptoms were reported in seven patients. Eight patients (80%) developed profound intellectual disabilities. Six patients (60%) had epilepsy, among whom 75% had their first seizure between 2 and 4 years of age; the frequency of which increased with age. Monotherapy was effective in 60% of patients. Two patients, both aged <8 years, had normal baseline electroencephalographic activity. Epileptiform activity was observed in three patients. Cortical atrophy was visualized using magnetic resonance imaging in 71% patients; all but one of these patients were aged >6 years. Neurological abnormalities increased in prevalence and severity with age. Anti-seizure drug resistance was uncommon. Dysmorphological and systemic manifestations were uncommon and mild and did not correlate with neurological involvement. Despite high allelic heterogeneity, neurodegeneration was similar among all patients. Overall, these data contribute to the scarce literature from developing countries.
The immitigable nature of assembly bias: the impact of halo definition on assembly bias

Dark matter halo clustering depends not only on halo mass, but also on other properties such as concentration and shape. This phenomenon is known broadly as assembly bias. We explore the dependence of assembly bias on halo definition, parametrized by spherical overdensity parameter, $\Delta$. We summarize the strength of concentration-, shape-, and spin-dependent halo clustering as a function of halo mass and halo definition. Concentration-dependent clustering depends strongly on mass at all $\Delta$. For conventional halo definitions ($\Delta \sim 200\mathrm{m}-600\mathrm{m}$), concentration-dependent clustering at low mass is driven by a population of haloes that is altered through interactions with neighbouring haloes. Concentration-dependent clustering can be greatly reduced through a mass-dependent halo definition with $\Delta \sim 20\mathrm{m}-40\mathrm{m}$ for haloes with $M_{200\mathrm{m}} \lesssim 10^{12}\, h^{-1}\mathrm{M}_{\odot}$. Smaller $\Delta$ implies larger radii and mitigates assembly bias at low mass by subsuming altered, so-called backsplash haloes into now larger host haloes. At higher masses ($M_{200\mathrm{m}} \gtrsim 10^{13}\, h^{-1}\mathrm{M}_{\odot}$) larger overdensities, $\Delta \gtrsim 600\mathrm{m}$, are necessary. Shape- and spin-dependent clustering are significant for all halo definitions that we explore and exhibit a relatively weaker mass dependence. Generally, both the strength and the sense of assembly bias depend on halo definition, varying significantly even among common definitions. We identify no halo definition that mitigates all manifestations of assembly bias. A halo definition that mitigates assembly bias based on one halo property (e.g., concentration) must be mass dependent. The halo definitions that best mitigate concentration-dependent halo clustering do not coincide with the expected average splashback radii at fixed halo mass.
Correlation between the severity of COVID-19 vaccine-related adverse events and the blood group of the vaccinees in Saudi Arabia: A web-based survey

Background: Recent epidemiological studies have reported an association between the ABO blood group and the acquisition, symptom severity, and mortality rate of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). However, the association between the ABO blood group antigens and the type and severity of COVID-19 vaccine-related adverse reactions has not been elucidated. Patients and Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional, questionnaire-based study in Saudi Arabia from February to April 2022. The study cohort included adults who had received or were willing to receive at least two doses of a COVID-19 vaccine of any type. We used Chi-square test to assess the association between the ABO blood groups and vaccine-related adverse reactions. p values of <0.05 were considered significant. Results: Of the 1180 participants, approximately half were aged 18–30 years old, 69.2% were female, and 41.6% reported their blood group as O. The most frequent COVID-19 vaccine-related adverse reactions were fatigue (65%), pain at the injection site (56%), and headache (45.9%). These adverse reactions demonstrated significant correlations with the education level (p = 0.003) and nationality (p = 0.018) of the participants following the first dose, with gender (p < 0.001) following the second dose, and with the general health status (p < 0.001) after all the doses. Remarkably, no correlation was observed between the severity of the vaccine-related adverse reactions and ABO blood groups. Conclusion: Our findings do not support a correlation between the severity of COVID-19 vaccine-related adverse reactions and the ABO blood groups of the vaccinees. The creation of a national database is necessary to account for population differences.
Sero – epidemiology of brucellosis in people and their livestock: A linked human – animal cross-sectional study in a pastoralist community in Kenya

Background Brucellosis is associated with massive livestock production losses and human morbidity worldwide. Efforts to control brucellosis among pastoralist communities are limited by scarce data on the prevalence and risk factors for exposure despite the high human-animal interactions in these communities. This study simultaneously assessed the seroprevalence of brucellosis and associated factors of exposure among pastoralists and their livestock in same households. Methods We conducted a cross-sectional study in pastoralist communities in Marsabit County – Kenya. A total of 1,074 women and 225 children participated and provided blood samples. Blood was also drawn from 1,876 goats, 322 sheep and 189 camels. Blood samples were collected to be screened for the presence of anti-Brucella IgG antibodies using indirect IgG Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) kits. Further, Individual, household and herd-level epidemiological information were captured using a structured questionnaire. Group differences were compared using the Pearson's Chi-square test, and p-values < 0.05 considered statistically significant. Generalized mixed-effects multivariable logistic human and animal models using administrative ward as the random effect was used to determine variables correlated to the outcome. Results Household-level seropositivity was 12.7% (95% CI: 10.7–14.8). The individual human seroprevalence was 10.8% (9.1–12.6) with higher seroprevalence among women than children (12.4 vs. 3.1%, p < 0.001). Herd-level seroprevalence was 26.1% (23.7–28.7) and 19.2% (17.6–20.8) among individual animals. Goats had the highest seroprevalence 23.1% (21.2 – 25.1), followed by sheep 6.8% (4.3–10.2) and camels 1.1% (0.1–3.8). Goats and sheep had a higher risk of exposure OR = 3.8 (95% CI 2.4–6.7, p < 0.001) and 2.8 (1.2–5.6, p < 0.007), respectively relative to camels. Human and animal seroprevalence were significantly associated (OR = 1.8, [95%CI: 1.23–2.58], p = 0.002). Herd seroprevalence varied by household head education (OR = 2.45, [1.67–3.61, p < 0.001]) and herd size (1.01, [1.00–1.01], p < 0.001). Conclusions The current study showed evidence that brucellosis is endemic in this pastoralist setting and there is a significant association between animal and human brucellosis seropositivity at household level representing a potential occupational risk. Public health sensitization and sustained human and animal brucellosis screening are required.