Paleoepidemiological Considerations of Mobility and Population Interaction in the Spread of Infectious Diseases in the Prehistoric Past

The processes of human mobility have been well demonstrated to influence the spread of infectious disease globally in the present and the past. However, to date, paleoepidemiological research has focused more on factors of residential mobility and population density as drivers for epidemiological shifts in prehistoric infectious disease patterns. A strong body of epidemiological literature exists for the dynamics of infectious disease spread through networks of mobility and interaction. We review the epidemiological theory of infectious disease spread and propose frameworks for application of this theory to bioarchaeology. We outline problems with current definitions of prehistoric mobility and propose a framework shift with focus on population interactions as nodes for disease transmission. To conceptualize this new framework, we produced a theoretical model that considers the interplay between climate suitability, population density, residential mobility, and human interaction levels to influence infectious disease patterns in prehistoric assemblages. We then tested observable effects of this model in paleoepidemiological data from Asia (n = 343). Relative risk ratio analysis and correlations were used to test the impact of population interaction, residential mobility, population density, climate, and subsistence on the prevalence and diversity of infectious diseases. Our statistical results showed higher levels of population interaction led to significantly higher prevalence of infectious disease in sedentary populations and a significant increase in pathogen diversity in mobile populations. We recommend that population interaction be included as an important component of infectious disease analysis of prehistoric population health alongside other biosocial factors, such as sedentism and population density. Daar is goed gedemonstreer dat die prosesse van menslike mobiliteit die verspreiding van aansteeklike siektes wêreldwyd in die hede en in die verlede beïnvloed. Maar tot op hede het paleo-epidemiologiese navorsing egter meer gefokus op faktore van residensiële mobiliteit en bevolkingsdigtheid as dryfvere vir epidemiologiese verskuiwings in die prehistoriese infeksiesiektepatrone. Sterk epidemiologiese literatuur bestaan vir die dinamika van aansteeklike siektes wat versprei word deur netwerke van mobiliteit en interaksie. Ons ondersoek die epidemiologiese teorie van die verspreiding van aansteeklike siektes en stel raamwerke voor vir die toepassing van hierdie teorie op die bioargeologie. Ons skets probleme met huidige definisies van prehistoriese mobiliteit en stel ‘n raamwerk verskuiwing voor met die fokus op bevolkings-interaksies as nodusse vir oordrag van siektes. Om hierdie nuwe raamwerk te konseptualiseer, het ons ‘n teoretiese model vervaardig wat die wisselwerking tussen klimaatsgeskiktheid, bevolkingsdigtheid, residensiële mobiliteit en menslike interaksievlakke oorweeg om die infeksiesiektepatrone in prehistoriese samestellings te beïnvloed. Daarna het ons die waarneembare effekte van hierdie model getoets in paleo-epidemiologiese data uit Asië (n = 343). Relatiewe risiko-verhoudingsanalise en korrelasies is gebruik om die impak van bevolkings-interaksie, residensiële mobiliteit, bevolkingsdigtheid, klimaat en bestaan op die voorkoms en diversiteit van aansteeklike siektes te toets. Ons statistiese resultate het gedemonstreer dat hoër vlakke van bevolkings-interaksie gelei het tot aansienlik hoër voorkoms van aansteeklike siektes in sittende bevolkings en ‘n beduidende toename in patogeen diversiteit in mobiele bevolkings. Ons beveel aan dat bevolkings-interaksie ingesluit word as ‘n belangrike komponent van die aantstekingsiekte-ontleding van die prehistoriese bevolkingsgesondheid, tesame met ander biososiale faktore soos sedentisme en bevolkingsdigtheid.

Paleoepidemiological Considerations of Mobility and Population Interaction in the Spread of Infectious Diseases in the Prehistoric Past

The processes of human mobility have been well demonstrated to influence the spread of infectious disease globally in the present and the past. However, to date, paleoepidemiological research has focused more on factors of residential mobility and population density as drivers for epidemiological shifts in prehistoric infectious disease patterns. A strong body of epidemiological literature exists for the dynamics of infectious disease spread through networks of mobility and interaction. We review the epidemiological theory of infectious disease spread and propose frameworks for application of this theory to bioarchaeology. We outline problems with current definitions of prehistoric mobility and propose a framework shift with focus on population interactions as nodes for disease transmission. To conceptualize this new framework, we produced a theoretical model that considers the interplay between climate suitability, population density, residential mobility, and human interaction levels to influence infectious disease patterns in prehistoric assemblages. We then tested observable effects of this model in paleoepidemiological data from Asia (n = 343). Relative risk ratio analysis and correlations were used to test the impact of population interaction, residential mobility, population density, climate, and subsistence on the prevalence and diversity of infectious diseases. Our statistical results showed higher levels of population interaction led to significantly higher prevalence of infectious disease in sedentary populations and a significant increase in pathogen diversity in mobile populations. We recommend that population interaction be included as an important component of infectious disease analysis of prehistoric population health alongside other biosocial factors, such as sedentism and population density. Daar is goed gedemonstreer dat die prosesse van menslike mobiliteit die verspreiding van aansteeklike siektes wêreldwyd in die hede en in die verlede beïnvloed. Maar tot op hede het paleo-epidemiologiese navorsing egter meer gefokus op faktore van residensiële mobiliteit en bevolkingsdigtheid as dryfvere vir epidemiologiese verskuiwings in die prehistoriese infeksiesiektepatrone. Sterk epidemiologiese literatuur bestaan vir die dinamika van aansteeklike siektes wat versprei word deur netwerke van mobiliteit en interaksie. Ons ondersoek die epidemiologiese teorie van die verspreiding van aansteeklike siektes en stel raamwerke voor vir die toepassing van hierdie teorie op die bio-argeologie. Ons skets probleme met huidige definisies van prehistoriese mobiliteit en stel ‘n raamwerk verskuiwing voor met die fokus op bevolkings-interaksies as nodusse vir oordrag van siektes. Om hierdie nuwe raamwerk te konseptualiseer, het ons ‘n teoretiese model vervaardig wat die wisselwerking tussen klimaatsgeskiktheid, bevolkingsdigtheid, residensiële mobiliteit en menslike interaksievlakke oorweeg om die infeksiesiektepatrone in prehistoriese samestellings te beïnvloed. Daarna het ons die waarneembare effekte van hierdie model getoets in paleo-epidemiologiese data uit Asië (n = 343). Relatiewe risiko-verhoudingsanalise en korrelasies is gebruik om die impak van bevolkings-interaksie, residensiële mobiliteit, bevolkingsdigtheid, klimaat en bestaan op die voorkoms en diversiteit van aansteeklike siektes te toets. Ons statistiese resultate het gedemonstreer dat hoër vlakke van bevolkings-interaksie gelei het tot aansienlik hoër voorkoms van aansteeklike siektes in sittende bevolkings en ‘n beduidende toename in patogeen diversiteit in mobiele bevolkings. Ons beveel aan dat bevolkings-interaksie ingesluit word as ‘n belangrike komponent van die aantstekingsiekte-ontleding van die prehistoriese bevolkingsgesondheid, tesame met ander biososiale faktore soos sedentisme en bevolkingsdigtheid.

The Dimensions and Units of the Population Interaction Coefficients

We discuss the interpretation and dimensions of the population dynamic parameters that are commonly used to quantify the strength of intraspecific and interspecific interactions. The concept of “interaction strength” is not unequivocal. Its theoretical formalization relies on the generalized Lotka–Volterra model. However, four different ways of parameterizing the model have been proposed in the literature, leading to four different definitions of the term “interaction strength.” In particular, the dimensions of these four definitions are not identical, some of these incorporating explicitly the dimension used to measure the population size. Using an individual-based simulation model as an illustration, we show that, in the latter case, the interaction strength depends implicitly on the habitat size. As a consequence, it is of crucial importance to quantify the population as a density rather than an absolute population abundance. We insist that the dimension of the interaction strength coefficient should not be overlooked and any quantitative estimation must be given with explicit units.

Invasion front dynamics of interactive populations in environments with barriers

Invading populations normally comprise different subpopulations that interact while trying to overcome existing barriers against their way to occupy new areas. However, the majority of studies so far only consider single or multiple population invasion into areas where there is no resistance against the invasion. Here, we developed a model to study how cooperative/competitive populations invade in the presence of a physical barrier that should be degraded during the invasion. For one dimensional environment, we found that a Langevin equation as $dX/dt=V_ft+\sqrt{D_f}\eta(t)$ describes invasion front position. We then obtained how $V_f$ and $D_f$ depend on population interactions and environmental barrier intensity. For the 2D case, for the average interface position we found a Langevin equation as $dH/dt=V_Ht+\sqrt{D_H}\eta(t)$. Similar to the 1D case, we found how $V_H$ and $D_H$ respond to population interaction and environmental barrier intensity. Finally, the study of invasion front morphology through dynamic scaling analysis showed that growth exponent, $\beta$, depends on both population interaction and environmental barrier intensity. Saturated interface width, $W_{sat}$, versus width of the 2D environment ($L$) also exhibits scaling behavior. Comparing results for the 2D environment revealed that competition among subpopulations leads to more rough invasion fronts. Considering the wide range of shreds of evidence for clonal diversity in cancer cell populations, our findings suggest that interactions between such diverse populations can potentially participate in the geometry of the tumor border.

BIFURCATION ANALYSIS FOR A ONE PREDATOR AND TWO PREY MODEL WITH PREY-TAXIS

This paper concerns spatio-temporal pattern formation in a model for two competing prey populations with a common predator population whose movement is biased by direct prey-taxis mechanisms. By pattern formation, we mean the existence of stable, positive non-constant equilibrium states, or nontrivial stable time-periodic states. The taxis can be either repulsive or attractive and the population interaction dynamics is fairly general. Both types of pattern formation arise as one-parameter bifurcating solution branches from an unstable constant stationary state. In the absence of our taxis mechanism, the coexistence positive steady state, under suitable conditions, is locally asymptotically stable. In the presence of a sufficiently strong repulsive prey defense, pattern formation will develop. However, in the attractive taxis case, the attraction needs to be sufficiently weak for pattern formation to develop. Our method is an application of the Crandall–Rabinowitz and the Hopf bifurcation theories. We establish the existence of both types of branches and develop expressions for determining their stability.

Genome-resolved metagenomics suggests a mutualistic relationship between Mycoplasma and salmonid hosts

Salmonids are important sources of protein for a large proportion of the human population. Interaction between the gut microbiota and host has been shown to affect the host phenotype in mammals, but relatively little is known about microbiota-host interaction in fish. Mycoplasma species are a major constituent of the gut microbiota of salmonids, often representing the majority of microbial cells. Despite the frequent reported dominance of intestinal Mycoplasma species, very little is known about their phylogenetic placement, functions and potential evolutionary relationships with their salmonid hosts.In this study, we utilise 2.9 billion metagenomic reads generated from 12 samples from three different salmonid host species to I) characterise and curate the first metagenome-assembled genomes (MAGs) of Mycoplasma dominating the intestines of three different salmonid species, II) establish the phylogeny of these salmonid candidate Mycoplasma species using known Mycoplasma genomes, III) perform a comprehensive pangenomic analysis of Mycoplasma, IV) decipher the putative functionalities of the salmonid MAGs and reveal specific functions expected to benefit the host.Our data provide a basis for future studies examining the composition and function of the salmonid microbiota, with a potential for being further exploited in order to increase animal health and growth in aquaculture.

Genetic-Mathematical Modeling of Population Interaction, New Psychoneuroimmunoendocrinology and Psychoneuroimmunology

Modern digital healthcare, biophysics and biology create new problems that stimulate the development of a new biophysical circuit and mathematical models from nuclear fusion (nuclear medicine) to genomic cell-organizational prognosis in neurophysiology, neuroendocrinology, psychoneuroimmunology and psychoneuroimmunoendocrinology. In this case, the following are effectively used: deterministic, stochastic, hybrid, multiscale modeling methods, as well as analytical and computational methods. The solution of a genetical-mathematical problem of interaction of cages of human population and virus population in relation to COVID-19 pandemic problem is submitted. A mathematical model based on the Hardy-Weinberg law is used, consisting of two interdependent differential equations. The equations reflect the temporal dynamics of the cells of human and viral populations during their interaction. Solutions of differential equations were found and the results of these solutions were analyzed. The pandemic duration is estimated using parameters of human liver cells and influenza virus. Perspective of further development of psychoneuroimmunology as interdisciplinary science, through algorithms and routing of digital health care, with expansion of psychoneurocommunications of professional interests in medicine, economics, sociology, cultural studies is shown. Modern neurobes and neuromarketing are built around Homo sapiens within a “reasonable environment” — a healthy individual space.

Urban territory development and the territorial public self-government

The article analyzes the experience of the Novosibirsk city administration in the development of urban territory, which under the general name of TPS (territorial public self-government) involves, in addition to the councils of TPS, the office of the city administration, district administrations, management campaigns, condominiums, housing and communal services departments, municipal unitary enterprises, business structures of all types, social institutions and the other interested bodies and organizations. The author draws attention to the fact that this practice, despite its effectiveness, does not correspond to the concept of territorial public self-government established by the Federal law 131-FL “On general principles of the organizing local self-government in the Russian Federation”, where it is interpreted as a form of direct democracy, direct participation of the population in the local self-government. The author sees the inconsistency of practice with the provisions of the law in the article of the law, especially in the terms of territorial organization, financial sources, motivation of the population, interaction with the other organizations and local authorities. The practice of implementing TPS in the life of municipalities shows the need to adopt the special Federal law on the territorial public self-government, which would remove all the problems and contradictions mentioned in the article.