Wallenius Naive Bayes

Traditional event models underlying naive Bayes classifiers assume probability distributions that are not appropriate for binary data generated by human behaviour. In this work, we develop a new event model, based on a somewhat forgotten distribution created by Kenneth Ted Wallenius in 1963. We show that it achieves superior performance using less data on a collection of Facebook datasets, where the task is to predict personality traits, based on likes.Faculty of Applied Economics, University of Antwerp, Belgium; Department of Information, Operations & Management Sciences, NYU Stern School of Busines

Limbic grey matter changes in early Parkinson's disease

The purpose of this study was to investigate local and network related changes of limbic grey matter in early Parkinson’s disease (PD) and their interrelation with non-motor symptom severity. We applied voxel-based morphometric methods in 538 T1 MRI images retrieved from the Parkinson's Progression Markers Initiative website. Grey matter densities and cross-sectional estimates of age-related grey matter change were compared between subjects with early PD (n=366) and age-matched healthy controls (n=172) within a regression model, and associations of grey matter density with symptoms were investigated. Structural brain networks were obtained using covariance analysis seeded in regions showing grey matter abnormalities in PD subject group. Patients displayed focally reduced grey matter density in the right amygdala, which was present from the earliest stages of the disease without further advance in mild-moderate disease stages. Right amygdala grey matter density showed negative correlation with autonomic dysfunction and positive with cognitive performance in patients, but no significant interrelations were found with anxiety scores. Patients with PD also demonstrated right amygdala structural disconnection with less structural connectivity of the right amygdala with the cerebellum and thalamus but increased covariance with bilateral temporal cortices compared with controls. Age-related grey matter change was also increased in PD preferentially in the limbic system. In conclusion, detailed brain morphometry in a large group of early PD highlights predominant limbic grey matter deficits with stronger age-associations compared with controls and associated altered structural connectivity pattern. This provides in vivo evidence for early limbic grey matter pathology and structural network changes that may reflect extranigral disease spread in PD

Neuroanatomical and Functional Correlates of Cognitive and Affective Empathy in Young Healthy Adults

Neural substrates of empathy are mainly investigated through task-related functional MRI. However, the functional neural mechanisms at rest underlying the empathic response have been poorly studied. We aimed to investigate neuroanatomical and functional substrates of cognitive and affective empathy. The self-reported empathy questionnaire Cognitive and Affective Empathy Test (TECA), T1 and T2∗-weighted 3-Tesla MRI were obtained from 22 healthy young females (mean age: 19.6 ± 2.4) and 20 males (mean age: 22.5 ± 4.4). Groups of low and high empathy were established for each scale. FreeSurfer v6.0 was used to estimate cortical thickness and to automatically segment the subcortical structures. FSL v5.0.10 was used to compare resting-state connectivity differences between empathy groups in six defined regions: the orbitofrontal, cingulate, and insular cortices, and the amygdala, hippocampus, and thalamus using a non-parametric permutation approach. The high empathy group in the Perspective Taking subscale (cognitive empathy) had greater thickness in the left orbitofrontal and ventrolateral frontal cortices, bilateral anterior cingulate, superior frontal, and occipital regions. Within the affective empathy scales, subjects with high Empathic Distress had higher thalamic volumes than the low-empathy group. Regarding resting-state connectivity analyses, low-empathy individuals in the Empathic Happiness scale had increased connectivity between the orbitofrontal cortex and the anterior cingulate when compared with the high-empathy group. In conclusion, from a structural point of view, there is a clear dissociation between the brain correlates of affective and cognitive factors of empathy. Neocortical correlates were found for the cognitive empathy dimension, whereas affective empathy is related to lower volumes in subcortical structures. Functionally, affective empathy is linked to connectivity between the orbital and cingulate cortices

RELAÇÕES ÉTNICO-RACIAIS NO BRASIL

Abstract The present text attempts to discuss the ethnic-racial relations based on the recognition of the other individual and also of oneself, in order to look at one's own origin and to be proud of it, regardless of geographic location or cultural origin. It reflects on the importance of cultural identity and its importance in the historical construction of Brazilian culture, and on the process of sharing many cultural elements, different from one another, generating a social subject who has a different way of life from the Eurocentric vision. It presents the existing plurality in the different ways of being in the world as wealth that needs to be shared and respected in the current historical reality in Brazil. The text argues that cultural difference should be seen as a possibility of seeing the world from someone else`s point of view, with a different perspective of reality, not as a movement that isolate what is different.   Keywords: Ethnic-Racial Relations; Cultural identity; Black Culture.Resumo: O presente texto procura discutir as relações étnico-raciais pautadas no reconhecimento do outro e também de si mesmo, no sentido de olhar à própria origem e orgulhar-se dela, independentemente da localização geográfica ou da origem cultural. Reflete sobre a importância da identidade cultural e sua importância na construção histórica da cultura brasileira, onde o processo de partilha dos elementos culturais diversos e diferentes entre si, deu origem à um sujeito social diferente ao modo vivido pela visão eurocêntrica. Apresenta a pluralidade existente nos diferentes modos de ser e de estar no mundo como riqueza que precisa ser compartilhada e respeitada na realidade histórica atual no Brasil. O texto defende que a diferença cultural deve ser encarada como possibilidade de ver o mundo de outra maneira, com os olhos de outros, com outra visão da realidade, e não como movimento que separa aquilo que é diferente. Palavras Chaves: Relações Étnicos-Raciais; Identidade Cultural; Cultura Negra

Data for functional MRI connectivity in transgender people with gender incongruence and cisgender individuals

We provide T2 *-weighted and T1-weighted images acquired on a 3T MRI scanner obtained from 17 transwomen and 29 transmen with gender incongruence; and 22 ciswomen and 19 cismen that identified themselves to the sex assigned at birth. Data from three different techniques that describe global and regional connectivity differences within functional resting-state networks in transwomen and trans men with early-in-life onset gender incongruence are provided: (1) we obtained spatial maps from data-driven independent component analysis using the melodic tool from FSL software; (2) we provide the functional networks interactions of two functional atlases' seeds from a seed to-seed approach; (3) and global graph-theoretical metrics such as the smallworld organization, and the segregation and integration properties of the networks. Interpretations of the present dataset can be found in the original article, doi:10.1016/j.neuroimage.2020.116613 [1] . The original and pro cessed nifti images are available in Mendeley datasets. In addition, correlation matrices for the seed-to-seed and graph theory analyses as well as the graph-theoretical measures were made available in Matlab files. Finally, we present supplementary information for the original article. (C) 2020 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Inc

Brain network interactions in transgender individuals with gender incongruence

Functional brain organization in transgender persons remains unclear. Our aims were to investigate global and regional connectivity differences within functional networks in transwomen and transmen with early-in-life onset gender incongruence; and to test the consistency of two available hypotheses that attempted to explain gender variants: (i) a neurodevelopmental cortical hypothesis that suggests the existence of different brain phenotypes based on structural MRI data and genes polymorphisms of sex hormone receptors; (ii) a functional-based hypothesis in relation to regions involved in the own body perception. T2*-weighted images in a 3-T MRI were obtained from 29 transmen and 17 transwomen as well as 22 cisgender women and 19 cisgender men. Restingstate independent component analysis, seed-to-seed functional network and graph theory analyses were performed. Transmen, transwomen, and cisgender women had decreased connectivity compared with cisgender men in superior parietal regions, as part of the salience (SN) and the executive control (ECN) networks. Transmen also had weaker connectivity compared with cisgender men between intra-SN regions and weaker inter-network connectivity between regions of the SN, the default mode network (DMN), the ECN and the sensorimotor network. Transwomen had lower small-worldness, modularity and clustering coefficient than cisgender men. There were no differences among transmen, transwomen, and ciswomen. Together these results underline the importance of the SN interacting with DMN, ECN, and sensorimotor networks in transmen, involving regions of the entire brain with a frontal predominance. Reduced global connectivity graph-theoretical measures were a characteristic of transwomen. It is proposed that the interaction between networks is a keystone in building a gendered self. Finally, our findings suggest that both proposed hypotheses are complementary in explaining brain differences between gender variants

Sleep quality in individuals with post-COVID-19 condition: relation with emotional, cognitive and functional variables

Anxiety; COVID-19; Sleep qualityAnsietat; COVID 19; Qualitat del sonAnsiedad; COVID-19; Calidad de sueñoThe study aimed to assess sleep quality in PCC patients and its predictors by analysing its relationship with emotional, cognitive and functional variables, as well as possible differences based on COVID-19 severity. We included 368 individuals with PCC and 123 healthy controls (HCs) from the NAUTILUS Project (NCT05307549 and NCT05307575). We assessed sleep quality (Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, PSQI), anxiety (Generalized Anxiety Disorder, GAD-7), depression (Patient Health Questionnaire, PHQ-9), global cognition (Montreal Cognitive Assessment, MoCA), everyday memory failures (Memory Failures of Everyday Questionnaire, MFE-30), fatigue (Chadler Fatigue Questionnaire, CFQ), quality of life (European Quality of Life-5 Dimensions, EQ-5D), and physical activity levels (International Physical Activity Questionnaire, IPAQ). 203 were nonhospitalized, 83 were hospitalized and 82 were admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU). We found statistically significant differences in the PSQI total score between the PCC and HC groups (p < 0.0001), but there were no differences among the PCC groups. In the multiple linear regressions, the PHQ-9 score was a predictor of poor sleep quality for mild PCC patients (p = 0.003); GAD-7 (p = 0.032) and EQ-5D (p = 0.011) scores were predictors of poor sleep quality in the hospitalized PCC group; and GAD-7 (p = 0.045) and IPAQ (p = 0.005) scores were predictors of poor sleep quality in the group of ICU-PCC. These results indicate that worse sleep quality is related to higher levels of depression and anxiety, worse quality of life and less physical activity. Therapeutic strategies should focus on these factors to have a positive impact on the quality of sleep.L'estudi pretenia avaluar la qualitat del son en pacients amb PCC i els seus predictors mitjançant l'anàlisi de la seva relació amb variables emocionals, cognitives i funcionals, així com les possibles diferències en funció de la gravetat de la COVID-19. Es van incloure 368 individus amb PCC i 123 controls saludables (HC) del projecte NAUTILUS (NCT05307549 i NCT05307575). Es va avaluar la qualitat del son (índex de qualitat del son de Pittsburgh, PSQI), l'ansietat (trastorn d'ansietat generalitzada, GAD-7), la depressió (Patient Health Questionnaire, PHQ-9), la cognició global (Montreal Cognitive Assessment, MoCA), errors de memòria diària (memòria). Falles del Qüestionari diari, MFE-30), fatiga (Qüestionari de Fatiga de Chadler, CFQ), qualitat de vida (Qualitat de Vida Europea-5 Dimensions, EQ-5D) i nivells d'activitat física (Questionari Internacional d'Activitat Física, IPAQ). 203 estaven no hospitalitzats, 83 estaven hospitalitzats i 82 estaven ingressats a la unitat de cures intensives (UCI). Hem trobat diferències estadísticament significatives en la puntuació total de PSQI entre els grups PCC i HC (p <0, 0001), però no hi va haver diferències entre els grups PCC. En les regressions lineals múltiples, la puntuació PHQ-9 va ser un predictor de la mala qualitat del son per als pacients amb PCC lleus (p = 0,003); Les puntuacions GAD-7 (p = 0,032) i EQ-5D (p = 0,011) van ser predictors de mala qualitat del son en el grup de PCC hospitalitzat; i les puntuacions de GAD-7 (p = 0,045) i IPAQ (p = 0,005) van ser predictors de mala qualitat del son en el grup d'UCI-PCC. Aquests resultats indiquen que una pitjor qualitat del son està relacionada amb nivells més alts de depressió i ansietat, pitjor qualitat de vida i menys activitat física. Les estratègies terapèutiques haurien de centrar-se en aquests factors per tenir un impacte positiu en la qualitat del son.This research was supported by: Grants from the Agency for Management of University and Research Grants (AGAUR) from the Generalitat de Catalunya (Pandemies, 202PANDE00053) and La Marató de TV3 Foundation (202111-30-31-32) to MG.- Grants from the Instituto de Salud Carlos III de Madrid (PI22/01687, ISCIII) and Agency for Management of University and Research Grants (2021SGR 00761) to GPR

Wallenius Naive Bayes

Traditional event models underlying naive Bayes classifiers assume probability distributions that are not appropriate for binary data generated by human behaviour. In this work, we develop a new event model, based on a somewhat forgotten distribution created by Kenneth Ted Wallenius in 1963. We show that it achieves superior performance using less data on a collection of Facebook datasets, where the task is to predict personality traits, based on likes.Faculty of Applied Economics, University of Antwerp, Belgium; Department of Information, Operations & Management Sciences, NYU Stern School of Busines

MEG resting state functional connectivity in Parkinson's disease related dementia

Parkinson's disease (PD) related dementia (PDD) develops in up to 60% of patients, but the pathophysiology is far from being elucidated. Abnormalities of resting state functional connectivity have been reported in Alzheimer's disease (AD). The present study was performed to determine whether PDD is likewise characterized by changes in resting state functional connectivity. MEG recordings were obtained in 13 demented and 13 non-demented PD patients. The synchronization likelihood (SL) was calculated within and between cortical areas in six frequency bands. Compared to non-demented PD, PDD was characterized by lower fronto-temporal SL in the alpha range, lower intertemporal SL in delta, theta and alpha1 bands as well as decreased centro-parietal gamma band synchronization. In addition, higher parieto-occipital synchronization in the alpha2 and beta bands was found in PDD. The observed changes in functional connectivity are reminiscent of changes in AD, and may reflect reduced cholinergic activity and/or loss of cortico-cortical anatomical connections in PDD. © 2008 The Author(s)

Whole‐brain dynamics differentiate among cisgender and transgender individuals

How the brain represents gender identity is largely unknown, but some neural differences have recently been discovered. We used an intrinsic ignition framework to investigate whether there are gender differences in the propagation of neural activity across the whole-brain and within resting-state networks. Studying 29 trans men and 17 trans women with gender incongruence, 22 cis women, and 19 cis men, we computed the capability of a given brain area in space to propagate activity to other areas (mean-ignition), and the variability across time for each brain area (node-metastability). We found that both measurements differentiated all groups across the whole brain. At the network level, we found that compared to the other groups, cis men showed higher mean-ignition of the dorsal attention network and node-metastability of the dorsal and ventral attention, executive control, and temporal parietal networks. We also found higher mean-ignition values in cis men than in cis women within the executive control network, but higher mean-ignition in cis women than cis men and trans men for the default mode. Node-metastability was higher in cis men than cis women in the somatomotor network, while both mean-ignition and node-metastability were higher for cis men than trans men in the limbic network. Finally, we computed correlations between these measurements and a body image satisfaction score. Trans men's dissatisfaction as well as cis men's and cis women's satisfaction toward their own body image were distinctively associated with specific networks in each group. Overall, the study of the whole-brain network dynamical complexity discriminates gender identity groups, functional dynamic approaches could help disentangle the complex nature of the gender dimension in the brain