Digital Phenotype of Mood Disorders: a conceptual and critical review (Preprint)

BACKGROUND Mood disorder is commonly diagnosed and staged using clinical features that rely merely on subjective data. The concept of digital phenotyping is based on the idea that collecting real-time markers of human behavior allow one to determine the "digital signature of a pathology". This strategy assumes that behaviors are "quantifiable" from data extracted and analyzed through digital sensors, wearable devices or smartphones. That concept could bring a shift for the diagnosis of mood disorder, introducing for the first time paraclinical testing on psychiatric routine care. OBJECTIVE The main objective of this review was to propose a conceptual and critical review of the literature regarding the theoretical and technical principles of digital phenotypes applied to mood disorders. METHODS We conducted a selective review of the literature by updating a previous article and querying the PubMed database between February 2017 and November 2021 on titles with the relevant keywords regarding digital phenotyping, mood disorders and artificial intelligence. RESULTS 858 articles were included for evaluation, 43 articles were taken into account and classified by data source (multimodal, actigraphy, ECG, smartphone use, voice analysis, body temperature). For depressive episodes, the main finding is the decrease in terms of functional and biological parameters (decrease in activities and walking, decrease in the number of calls and SMS, decrease in temperature and HRV) while the manic phase produces the reverse phenomenon (increase in activities, number of calls and HRV). CONCLUSIONS The various studies presented support the potential interest in digital phenotyping to computerize the clinical characteristics of mood disorders

[The renewability of the groundwater resource in clean-up interventions: legal assumptions and technical implications of environmental sustainability]

[This Technical Note highlights some legal aspects and technical principles closely related to the concept of ground water renewability, in as far as this concept is considered when designing and implementing environmental clean-up projects and works. After outlining the quantitative importance of groundwater in meeting Italian water demand, some key points of the current regulations are commented on, and some practical guidelines are proposed which could be adopted during remediation of groundwater at contaminated sites, aiming at the protection and qualitative-quantitative restoration of the aquifers as an indication of sustainability]. [In Italian]

Digital sovereignty of Russia based on the element base of topological nanostructures on a solid surface induced by laser radiation

The purpose of this work is to develop breakthrough technologies and technology transfer in the field of topological photonics, nanoelectronics and new materials with controlled functional and structural characteristics using a unique line of the Vladimir State University (VlSU) equipment (within the framework of the corresponding created structures - Centre of collective use, Center for Structural Materials Science and Breakthrough Engineering Physical Technologies, Center for Engineering Competencies, etc.) for carrying out work in the direction of high-tech industrial sectors. The report deals with the following issues on this topic: basic physical and scientific and technical principles, methods for measuring laser-induced structures on the surface of materials in real time, obtaining surface nanostructures on solid materials by deposition from colloidal systems using a two-stage scheme with laser ablation, modeling macroscopic quantum states in the functional properties of laser-induced 4d-topological nanoclusters in thin films on a solid surface and experimental demonstration of the work of real prototypes.

Simulation of inorganic Al/Pt platforms

The understanding of semaphores is an important issue. In this work, we disprove the understanding of voice-over-IP, which embodies the technical principles of cryptoanalysis. We introduce a novel algorithm for the study of access points, which we call BlandTrub

Extracorporeal Life Support for Cardiac Arrest and Cardiogenic Shock

The rising incidence and recognition of cardiogenic shock has led to an increase in the use of veno-arterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VA-ECMO). As clinical experience with this therapy has increased, there has also been a rapid growth in the body of observational and randomized data describing the clinical and logistical considerations required to institute a VA-ECMO program with successful clinical outcomes. The aim of this review is to summarize this contemporary data in the context of four key themes that pertain to VA-ECMO programs: the principles of patient selection; basic hemodynamic and technical principles underlying VA-ECMO; contraindications to VA-ECMO therapy; and common complications and intensive care considerations that are encountered in the setting of VA-ECMO therapy.

High-Precision 3D Reconstruction for Small-to-Medium-Sized Objects Utilizing Line-Structured Light Scanning: A Review

Three-dimensional reconstruction technology has demonstrated broad application potential in the industrial, construction, medical, forestry, agricultural, and pastural sectors in the last few years. High-quality digital point cloud information exists to help researchers to understand objects and environments. However, current research mainly focuses on making adaptive adjustments to various scenarios and related issues in the application of this technology rather than looking for further improvements and enhancements based on technical principles. Meanwhile, a review of approaches, algorithms, and techniques for high-precision 3D reconstruction utilizing line-structured light scanning, which is analyzed from a deeper perspective of elementary details, is lacking. This paper takes the technological path as the logical sequence to provide a detailed summary of the latest development status of each key technology, which will serve potential users and new researchers in this field. The focus is placed on exploring studies reconstructing small-to-medium-sized objects, as opposed to performing large-scale reconstructions in the field.

In Search of Digital Dopamine: How Apps Can Motivate Depressed Patients, a Review and Conceptual Analysis

Introduction: Depression is highly prevalent and causes considerable suffering and disease burden despite the existence of wide-ranging treatment options. Momentary assessment is a promising tool in the management of psychiatric disorders, and particularly depression. It allows for a real-time evaluation of symptoms and an earlier detection of relapse or treatment efficacy. Treating the motivational and hedonic aspects of depression is a key target reported in the literature, but it is time-consuming in terms of human resources. Digital Applications offer a major opportunity to indirectly regulate impaired motivational circuits through dopaminergic pathways. Objective: The main objective of this review was twofold: (1) propose a conceptual and critical review of the literature regarding the theoretical and technical principles of digital applications focused on motivation in depression, activating dopamine, and (2) suggest recommendations on the relevance of using these tools and their potential place in the treatment of depression. Material and Methods: A search for words related to “dopamine”, “depression”, “smartphone apps”, “digital phenotype” has been conducted on PubMed. Results: Ecological momentary interventions (EMIs) differ from traditional treatments by providing relevant, useful intervention strategies in the context of people’s daily lives. EMIs triggered by ecological momentary assessment (EMA) are called “Smart-EMI”. Smart-EMIs can mimic the “dopamine reward system” if the intervention is tailored for motivation or hedonic enhancement, and it has been shown that a simple reward (such as a digital badge) can increase motivation. Discussion: The various studies presented support the potential interest of digital health in effectively motivating depressed patients to adopt therapeutic activation behaviors. Finding effective ways to integrate EMIs with human-provided therapeutic support may ultimately yield the most efficient and effective intervention method. This approach could be a helpful tool to increase adherence and motivation. Conclusion: Smartphone apps can motivate depressed patients by enhancing dopamine, offering the opportunity to enhance motivation and behavioral changes, although longer term studies are still needed.

Towards a Common Framework for Mediated Embodiment

Mediated embodiment is the technologically generated illusion of replacing a person’s body with an avatar body. Virtual reality is the most representative technology of mediated embodiment. However, other forms of embo- diment are emerging and need to be examined. The inclusion of all mediated embodiment technologies under a common paradigm would more readily facilitate their study. Here, a unified conceptual framework of mediated embodiment is presented, which integrates robot embodiment as part of the phenomenon, and allows the in- clusion under the same umbrella of embodiment technologies that might emerge in the future. The minimum conditions necessary to induce the embodiment illusion, as well as the technical principles used to create this illusion, are discussed. Furthermore, it is suggested that mediated embodiment technologies can be regarded as tools that increase human capabilities in four directions: embodiment of a new self; expansion of traveling capa- bilities; expansion of body capabilities; and the reach of immortality. The principal research conducted in the field of mediated embodiment is explained in connection to these categories. The framework is expected to contribute to creating awareness of the commonalities of mediated embodiment technologies among the different research communities that work with mediated embodiment.

Bel canto sangonderrigbeginsels met spesiale verwysing na die begrip appoggio – ʼn tweedelige ondersoek in die pedagogiek van Werner Nel (Artikel 1)

Opsomming Gedurende sy vaste ampstermyn (1974–2010) as sangdosent by die Skool vir Musiek van die Potchefstroomse Universiteit vir Christelike Hoër Onderwys – sedert 2004 bekend as die Noordwes-Universiteit (Potchefstroomkampus) – is Werner Nel verantwoordelik vir die tegniese ontwikkeling wat sangstudente sou benodig om vokale kunsmusiek in die Europese tradisie uit te voer. Hierdie artikel ondersoek die stemtegniese beginsels wat Nel gebruik het om sy studente op te lei, met spesiale verwysing na die sentrale en kennelik moeilike begrip appoggio. Laasgenoemde is ʼn kernbelangrike stemtegniese en -estetiese ideaal van die bel canto sangtegniek en dit word gevolglik in hierdie artikel as vertrekpunt gebruik om Nel se onderrigmetodes, onderrigbeginsels of opvoedkundige benadering rakende effektiewe asemhaling vir esteties bevredigende klankproduksie in oënskou te neem. Die metodes van data-insameling vir hierdie enkele, beskrywende gevallestudie sluit beide ʼn tradisionele en sistematiese literatuuroorsig van die bel canto sangtegniek in, sommige van Nel se handgeskrewe en getikte dokumente, asook semi-gestruktureerde onderhoude met Nel en geselekteerde deelnemers wat by hom gestudeer het en wat huidig professioneel werk as sangers en pedagoë. Abstract During his fixed tenure (1974–2010) as singing lecturer at the School for Music of the Potchefstroom University for Christian Higher Education – known as the North-West University (Potchefstroom campus) since 2004 – Werner Nel was responsible for the technical development that singing students would need to perform vocal art music in the European tradition. This article investigates the voice-technical principles that Nel used to teach his students, with special reference to the fundamental and admittedly difficult concept appoggio. The latter is a voice-technical and aesthetic ideal of core importance for the bel canto singing technique and accordingly it is used in this article as a point of departure to examine Nel’s teaching methods, teaching principles or educational approach concerning effective breathing for aesthetically pleasing sound production. The methods of data collection for this single, descriptive case study includes both a traditional and systematic literature overview of the bel canto singing technique, some of Nel’s handwritten and typed documents, as well as semi-structured interviews with Nel and selected participants who studied with him and who currently work professionally as singers and pedagogues.