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Journal of Sex Research Sep 2023Mating represents a suite of fundamental adaptive problems for humans. Yet a community of men, called incels (involuntary celibates), forge their identity around their...
Mating represents a suite of fundamental adaptive problems for humans. Yet a community of men, called incels (involuntary celibates), forge their identity around their perceived inability to solve these problems. Many incels engage in misogynistic online hostility, and there are concerns about violence stemming from the community. Despite significant media speculation about the potential mating psychology of incels, this has yet to be formally investigated in the scientific literature. In the first formal investigation of incel mating psychology, we compared a sample ( = 151) of self-identified male incels with non-incel single males ( = 149). Findings revealed that incels have a lower sense of self-perceived mate-value and a greater external locus of control regarding their singlehood. Contrary to mainstream media narratives, incels also reported lower minimum standards for mate preferences than non-incels. Incels (and non-incel single men) significantly overestimated the importance of physical attractiveness and financial prospects to women, and underestimated the importance of intelligence, kindness, and humor. Furthermore, incels underestimated women's overall minimum mate preference standards. Our findings suggest that incels should be targeted for interventions to challenge cognitive distortions around female mate preferences. Implications for incels' mental health and misogynistic attitudes are discussed, as well as directions for future research.
PubMed: 37676789
DOI: 10.1080/00224499.2023.2248096 -
Cold Spring Harbor Protocols Jul 2023Upon copulation, females undergo a switch-like change in their behavior and physiology, known as "postmating responses." These strong behavioral and physiological...
Upon copulation, females undergo a switch-like change in their behavior and physiology, known as "postmating responses." These strong behavioral and physiological changes are triggered by the transfer of male seminal proteins during copulation. Postmating response is associated with strong reduction in receptivity, indicated by the females kicking their legs toward the suitor and curving their abdomen downward to hide their genitalia from them and extruding their ovipositor at the tip of the abdomen, which physically prevents copulation. The transfer of male-specific pheromones, such as 11--vaccenyl-acetate, during copulation further reduces female attractiveness. In addition, mated females exhibit increased ovulation, egg-laying behavior, enhanced feeding behavior, and changes in food preference. However, females increase their rate of remating when they are in social groups or in the presence of food. This protocol describes methods for measuring female postmating behaviors, such as oviposition, female sexual receptivity, and mating plug ejection.
Topics: Animals; Female; Male; Sexual Behavior, Animal; Copulation; Ovulation
PubMed: 36781215
DOI: 10.1101/pdb.prot108108 -
Twin Research and Human Genetics : the... Sep 2023A simple model by which Hardy-Weinberg proportions are attained in a single generation while maintaining gene frequencies is stated and illustrated. The title...
A simple model by which Hardy-Weinberg proportions are attained in a single generation while maintaining gene frequencies is stated and illustrated. The title 'Quasi-random mating' is proposed. Confusion about the Hardy-Weinberg principle can be avoided only if there is clear separation between the basic deterministic model and factors influencing a population's structure. Eighty years passed before C. C. Li coined the term 'pseudo-random mating'. The lesson taught by Li has not been taken on board.
PubMed: 37706311
DOI: 10.1017/thg.2023.37 -
Enzyme and Microbial Technology Aug 2023Extracellular protein production is primarily preferred to facilitate the downstream processes in recombinant protein production. Secretion of recombinant proteins is...
Extracellular protein production is primarily preferred to facilitate the downstream processes in recombinant protein production. Secretion of recombinant proteins is mediated by the processing of signal peptides in their N-terminal portion by the secretory mechanism of host expression systems. These molecular elements involved in secretion are functionally interchangeable between different species and secretion sequence screening is one of the widely used approaches to improve extracellular protein production. In this study, α-mating and protein internal repeats (PIR) secretion sequences isolated from different yeasts (Kluyveromyces lactis, Kluyveromyces marxianus and Hansenula polymorpha) were tested in Pichia pastoris for the production of two different proteins (α-amylase and xylanase) and compared with the well-known secretory signals, S. cerevisiae α-mating factor (Sc-MF) and P. pastoris protein internal repeats PIR (PpPIR). The results obtained showed the potential of signal sequences tested. Among the tested peptides, the highest yields were achieved with H. polymorpha protein internal repeats (HpPIR) and K. lactis α-mating factor (Kl-MF) for xylanase and K. marxianus protein internal repeats (KmPIR) and K. lactis α-mating factor (Kl-MF) for amylase. In further studies, these sequences can be evaluated as alternatives in the production of different proteins in P. pastoris and in the production of recombinant proteins in different expression systems.
Topics: Protein Sorting Signals; Saccharomyces cerevisiae; Mating Factor; Pichia; Recombinant Proteins
PubMed: 37196384
DOI: 10.1016/j.enzmictec.2023.110256 -
FEBS Letters Jun 2024Transporters for organic cations (OCs) facilitate exchange of positively charged molecules through the plasma membrane. Substrates for these transporters encompass... (Review)
Review
Transporters for organic cations (OCs) facilitate exchange of positively charged molecules through the plasma membrane. Substrates for these transporters encompass neurotransmitters, metabolic byproducts, drugs, and xenobiotics. Consequently, these transporters actively contribute to the regulation of neurotransmission, cellular penetration and elimination process for metabolic products, drugs, and xenobiotics. Therefore, these transporters have significant physiological, pharmacological, and toxicological implications. In cells of renal proximal tubules, the vectorial secretion pathways for OCs involve expression of organic cation transporters (OCTs) and multidrug and toxin extrusion proteins (MATEs) on basolateral and apical membrane domains, respectively. This review provides an overview of documented regulatory mechanisms governing OCTs and MATEs. Additionally, regulation of these transporters under various pathological conditions is summarized. The expression and functionality of OCTs and MATEs are subject to diverse pre- and post-translational modifications, providing insights into their regulation in various pathological conditions. Typically, in diseases, downregulation of transporter expression is observed, probably as a protective mechanism to prevent additional damage to kidney tissue. This regulation may be attributed to the intricate network of modifications these transporters undergo, shedding light on their dynamic responses in pathological contexts.
PubMed: 38831380
DOI: 10.1002/1873-3468.14943 -
Current Biology : CB Jul 2023Sleep is essential, but animals may forgo sleep to engage in other critical behaviors, such as feeding and reproduction. Previous studies have shown that female flies...
Sleep is essential, but animals may forgo sleep to engage in other critical behaviors, such as feeding and reproduction. Previous studies have shown that female flies exhibit decreased sleep after mating, but our understanding of the process is limited. Here, we report that postmating nighttime sleep loss is modulated by diet and sleep deprivation, demonstrating a complex interaction among sleep, reproduction, and diet. We also find that female-specific pC1 neurons and sleep-promoting dorsal fan-shaped body (dFB) neurons are required for postmating sleep plasticity. Activating pC1 neurons leads to sleep suppression on standard fly culture media but has little sleep effect on sucrose-only food. Published connectome data suggest indirect, inhibitory connections among pC1 subtypes. Using calcium imaging, we show that activating the pC1e subtype inhibits dFB neurons. We propose that pC1 and dFB neurons integrate the mating status, food context, and sleep drive to modulate postmating sleep plasticity.
Topics: Animals; Female; Drosophila; Drosophila Proteins; Sleep; Sleep Deprivation; Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders; Drosophila melanogaster
PubMed: 37352854
DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2023.05.054 -
The Veterinary Clinics of North... Sep 2023Veterinary care of breeding dogs begins before a breeding takes place, during prebreeding consultations, through matings, gestation, and delivery of newborns. (Review)
Review
Veterinary care of breeding dogs begins before a breeding takes place, during prebreeding consultations, through matings, gestation, and delivery of newborns.
Topics: Pregnancy; Female; Animals; Dogs; Dystocia; Reproduction; Dog Diseases
PubMed: 37414692
DOI: 10.1016/j.cvsm.2023.05.004 -
Trends in Ecology & Evolution Mar 2024Anthropogenic change threatens global biodiversity by causing severe ecological disturbance and extinction. Here, we consider the effects of anthropogenic change on one... (Review)
Review
Anthropogenic change threatens global biodiversity by causing severe ecological disturbance and extinction. Here, we consider the effects of anthropogenic change on one process that generates biodiversity. Sexual selection (a potent evolutionary force and driver of speciation) is highly sensitive to the environment and, thus, vulnerable to anthropogenic ecological change. Anthropogenic alterations to sexual display and mate preference can make it harder to distinguish between conspecific and heterospecific mates or can weaken divergence via sexual selection, leading to higher rates of hybridization and biodiversity loss. Occasionally, anthropogenically altered sexual selection can abet diversification, but this appears less likely than biodiversity loss. In our rapidly changing world, a full understanding of sexual selection and speciation requires a global change perspective.
PubMed: 38503640
DOI: 10.1016/j.tree.2024.02.005 -
Twin Research and Human Genetics : the... Feb 2024This study starts with a simple model by which Hardy-Weinberg proportions are attained in a single generation while maintaining gene frequencies. The question of...
This study starts with a simple model by which Hardy-Weinberg proportions are attained in a single generation while maintaining gene frequencies. The question of differentiating between random and non-random mating is explored by simulation. Sample mating proportions are generated using the model as base. The difficulty of differentiating between random and non-random mating is illustrated.
PubMed: 38410078
DOI: 10.1017/thg.2024.6 -
Physical Review. E Aug 2023Swarmalators are phase oscillators that cluster in space, like fireflies flashing in a swarm to attract mates. Interactions between particles, which tend to synchronize...
Swarmalators are phase oscillators that cluster in space, like fireflies flashing in a swarm to attract mates. Interactions between particles, which tend to synchronize their phases and align their motion, decrease with the distance and phase difference between them, coupling the spatial and phase dynamics. In this work, we explore the effects of inducing phase frustration on a system of swarmalators that move on a one-dimensional ring. Our model is inspired by the well-known Kuramoto-Sakaguchi equations. We find, numerically and analytically, the ordered and disordered states that emerge in the system. The active states, not present in the model without frustration, resemble states found previously in numerical studies for the two-dimensional swarmalators system. One of these states, in particular, shows similarities to turbulence generated in a flattened media. We show that all ordered states can be generated for any values of the coupling constants by tuning the phase frustration parameters only. Moreover, many of these combinations display multistability.
PubMed: 37723809
DOI: 10.1103/PhysRevE.108.024212