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Brain and Behavior May 2024Living in a social dominance hierarchy presents different benefits and challenges for dominant and subordinate males and females, which might in turn affect their...
BACKGROUND
Living in a social dominance hierarchy presents different benefits and challenges for dominant and subordinate males and females, which might in turn affect their cognitive needs. Despite the extensive research on social dominance in group-living species, there is still a knowledge gap regarding how social status impacts brain morphology and cognitive abilities.
METHODS
Here, we tested male and female dominants and subordinates of Neolamprologus pulcher, a social cichlid fish species with size-based hierarchy. We ran three executive cognitive function tests for cognitive flexibility (reversal learning test), self-control (detour test), and working memory (object permanence test), followed by brain and brain region size measurements.
RESULTS
Performance was not influenced by social status or sex. However, dominants exhibited a brain-body slope that was relatively steeper than that of subordinates. Furthermore, individual performance in reversal learning and detour tests correlated with brain morphology, with some trade-offs among major brain regions like telencephalon, cerebellum, and optic tectum.
CONCLUSION
As individuals' brain growth strategies varied depending on social status without affecting executive functions, the different associated challenges might yield a potential effect on social cognition instead. Overall, the findings highlight the importance of studying the individual and not just species to understand better how the individual's ecology might shape its brain and cognition.
Topics: Animals; Cichlids; Female; Male; Executive Function; Brain; Social Dominance; Reversal Learning; Memory, Short-Term
PubMed: 38680075
DOI: 10.1002/brb3.3484 -
Antibiotics (Basel, Switzerland) Oct 2022Recent studies showed that the current endemic of carbapenem-resistant (CRE) in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi is dominated by highly resistant clones ST14, ST231, and...
Recent studies showed that the current endemic of carbapenem-resistant (CRE) in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi is dominated by highly resistant clones ST14, ST231, and CC147, respectively. In the absence of continuous, molecular typing-based surveillance, it remained unknown whether they lately emerged and rapidly became dominant, or they had been present from the early years of the endemic. Therefore, antibiotic resistance, the presence of carbapenemase and 16S methylase genes, and the sequence types of CRE strains collected between 2009 and 2015 were compared with those collected between 2018 and 2019. It was found that members of these three clones, particularly those of the most prevalent ST14, started dominating already in the very early years of the CRE outbreak. Furthermore, while severely impacting the overall antibiotic resistance patterns, the effect of these clones was not exclusive: for example, increasing trends of colistin or decreasing rates of tigecycline resistance were also observed among nonclonal isolates. The gradually increasing prevalence of few major, currently dominating clones raises the possibility that timely, systematic, molecular typing-based surveillance could have provided tools to public health authorities for an early interference with the escalation of the local CRE epidemic.
PubMed: 36290093
DOI: 10.3390/antibiotics11101435 -
Microorganisms Jul 2021Causal agents of schistosomiasis are dioecious, digenean schistosomes affecting mankind in 76 countries. Preventive measures are manifold but need to be complemented by... (Review)
Review
Causal agents of schistosomiasis are dioecious, digenean schistosomes affecting mankind in 76 countries. Preventive measures are manifold but need to be complemented by vaccination for long-term protection; vaccine candidates in advanced pre-clinical/clinical stages include Sm14, Sm-TSP-2/Sm-TSP-2Al, Smp80/SchistoShield, and Sh28GST/Bilhvax. Natural and anthropogenic changes impact on breaking species isolation barriers favoring introgressive hybridization, i.e., allelic exchange among gene pools of sympatric, interbreeding species leading to instant large genetic diversity. Phylogenetic distance matters, thus the less species differ phylogenetically the more likely they hybridize. PubMed and Embase databases were searched for publications limited to hybridale confirmation by mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase (COX) and/or nuclear ribosomal internal transcribed spacer (ITS). Human schistosomal hybrids are predominantly reported from West Africa with clustering in the Senegal River Basin, and scattering to Europe, Central and Eastern Africa. Noteworthy is the dominance of interbreeding with human and veterinary species leading due to hybrid vigor to extinction and homogenization as seen for in Cameroon and in Niger, respectively. Heterosis seems to advantage / interbreeds with dominant -ITS/-COX1 profile to spread from West to East Africa and reoccur in France. / interactions seen among Senegalese and Côte d'Ivoirian children are unexpected due to their high phylogenetic distance. Detecting pure and / crosses capable of infecting humans observed in Corsica and Côte d'Ivoire, and Niger, respectively, is worrisome. Taken together, species hybridization urges control and preventive measures targeting human and veterinary sectors in line with the One-Health concept to be complemented by vaccination protecting against transmission, infection, and disease recurrence. Functional and structural diversity of naturally occurring human schistosomal hybrids may impact current vaccine candidates requiring further research including natural history studies in endemic areas targeted for clinical trials.
PubMed: 34361901
DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms9071465 -
Archives of Toxicology Jul 2023Cannabis contains cannabinoids including Δ-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD). THC causes the psychoactive effects of cannabis, and both THC and CBD are...
Cannabis contains cannabinoids including Δ-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD). THC causes the psychoactive effects of cannabis, and both THC and CBD are thought to be anti-inflammatory. Cannabis is typically consumed by inhaling smoke that contains thousands of combustion products that may damage the lungs. However, the relationship between cannabis smoke exposure and alterations in respiratory health is poorly defined. To address this gap in knowledge, we first developed a mouse model of cannabis smoke exposure using a nose-only rodent inhalation exposure system. We then tested the acute effects of two dried cannabis products that differ substantially in their THC-CBD ratio: Indica-THC dominant (I-THC; 16-22% THC) and Sativa-CBD dominant (S-CBD; 13-19% CBD). We demonstrate that this smoke exposure regime not only delivers physiologically relevant levels of THC to the bloodstream, but that acute inhalation of cannabis smoke modulates the pulmonary immune response. Cannabis smoke decreased the percentage of lung alveolar macrophages but increased lung interstitial macrophages (IMs). There was also a decrease in lung dendritic cells as well as Ly6C and Ly6C monocytes, but an increase in lung neutrophils and CD8 T cells. These immune cell changes were paralleled with changes in several immune mediators. These immunological modifications were more pronounced when mice were exposed to S-CBD compared to the I-THC variety. Thus, we show that acute cannabis smoke differentially affects lung immunity based on the THC:CBD ratio, thereby providing a foundation to further explore the effect of chronic cannabis smoke exposures on pulmonary health.
Topics: Animals; Mice; Cannabis; Cannabidiol; Dronabinol; Smoke; CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes; Hallucinogens; Cannabinoid Receptor Agonists; Lung
PubMed: 37179517
DOI: 10.1007/s00204-023-03514-3 -
Animal Microbiome Apr 2022In recent years, the number of studies concerning microbiota of the intramammary environment has increased rapidly due to the development of high-throughput sequencing...
BACKGROUND
In recent years, the number of studies concerning microbiota of the intramammary environment has increased rapidly due to the development of high-throughput sequencing technologies that allow mapping of microbiota without culturing. This has revealed that an environment previously thought to be sterile in fact harbours a microbial community. Since this discovery, many studies have investigated the microbiota of different parts of the udder in various conditions. However, few studies have followed the changes that occur in the udder microbiota over time. In this study, the temporal dynamics of the udder microbiota of 10 cows, five with a low somatic cell count (SCC, SCC < 100,000 cells/mL) and five with a high SCC (SCC > 100,000 cells/mL), were followed over 5 months to gather insights into this knowledge gap.
RESULTS
Analysis of the temporal changes in the microbial composition of milk from udders with a low SCC revealed a dynamic and diverse microbiota. When an imbalance due to one dominating genus was recorded, the dominant genus quickly vanished, and the high diversity was restored. The genera dominating in the samples with a high SCC remained the dominant genera throughout the whole sampling period. These cows generally displayed a heightened SCC or an intramammary infection in at least one quarter though-out the sampling period.
CONCLUSION
Our results show that the bovine udder has a diverse microbiota, and that the composition and diversity of this community affects udder health with regards to SCC. Understanding what influences the composition and stability of this community has important implications for the understanding, control, and treatment of mastitis.
PubMed: 35395785
DOI: 10.1186/s42523-022-00177-w -
Frontiers in Microbiology 2023Steep Cone Geyser is a unique geothermal feature in Yellowstone National Park (YNP), Wyoming, actively gushing silicon-rich fluids along outflow channels possessing...
Steep Cone Geyser is a unique geothermal feature in Yellowstone National Park (YNP), Wyoming, actively gushing silicon-rich fluids along outflow channels possessing living and actively silicifying microbial biomats. To assess the geomicrobial dynamics occurring temporally and spatially at Steep Cone, samples were collected at discrete locations along one of Steep Cone's outflow channels for both microbial community composition and aqueous geochemistry analysis during field campaigns in 2010, 2018, 2019, and 2020. Geochemical analysis characterized Steep Cone as an oligotrophic, surface boiling, silicious, alkaline-chloride thermal feature with consistent dissolved inorganic carbon and total sulfur concentrations down the outflow channel ranging from 4.59 ± 0.11 to 4.26 ± 0.07 mM and 189.7 ± 7.2 to 204.7 ± 3.55 μM, respectively. Furthermore, geochemistry remained relatively stable temporally with consistently detectable analytes displaying a relative standard deviation <32%. A thermal gradient decrease of ~55°C was observed from the sampled hydrothermal source to the end of the sampled outflow transect (90.34°C ± 3.38 to 35.06°C ± 7.24). The thermal gradient led to temperature-driven divergence and stratification of the microbial community along the outflow channel. The hyperthermophile dominates the hydrothermal source biofilm community, and the thermophiles and dominate along the outflow before finally giving way to more diverse and even microbial communities at the end of the transect. Beyond the hydrothermal source, phototrophic taxa such as , , and act as primary producers for the system, supporting heterotrophic growth of taxa such as , , and . Community dynamics illustrate large changes yearly driven by abundance shifts of the dominant taxa in the system. Results indicate Steep Cone possesses dynamic outflow microbial communities despite stable geochemistry. These findings improve our understanding of thermal geomicrobiological dynamics and inform how we can interpret the silicified rock record.
PubMed: 37206339
DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2023.1172798 -
Scientific Reports Nov 2021An animal's social position within a group can influence its ability to perform important behaviours like eating and resting, but little is known about how social...
An animal's social position within a group can influence its ability to perform important behaviours like eating and resting, but little is known about how social position affects the ability to express what are arguably less important but still rewarding behaviors, such as grooming. We set out to assess if dominance measured at the feeder is associated with increased use of a mechanical brush. Over a 2-year period, 161 dry cows were enrolled in a dynamically changing group of 20 individuals with access to a mechanical brush. We determined dominance using agonistic behaviors at the feeder and retrospectively analyzed brush use for the 12 most, and 12 least dominant individuals during the week before calving. Cows that were more dominant at the feeder used the brush more, especially during peak feeding times. Agonistic interactions at the brush did not differ between dominants and subordinates and were not related to brushing duration. These findings indicate that social position, calculated using competition for feed, affects mechanical brush access such that subordinates use the brush less than dominant cows independent of competition or time of day.
Topics: Agonistic Behavior; Animals; Behavior, Animal; Cattle; Dairying; Feeding Behavior; Female; Grooming; Retrospective Studies; Social Dominance
PubMed: 34837005
DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-02283-2 -
JACS Au Jul 2023The activity and selectivity of a copper electrocatalyst during the electrochemical CO reduction reaction (eCORR) are largely dominated by the interplay between local...
The activity and selectivity of a copper electrocatalyst during the electrochemical CO reduction reaction (eCORR) are largely dominated by the interplay between local reaction environment, the catalyst surface, and the adsorbed intermediates. characterization studies have revealed many aspects of this intimate relationship between surface reactivity and adsorbed species, but these investigations are often limited by the spatial and temporal resolution of the analytical technique of choice. Here, Raman spectroscopy with both space and time resolution was used to reveal the distribution of adsorbed species and potential reaction intermediates on a copper electrode during eCORR. Principal component analysis (PCA) of the Raman spectra revealed that a working electrocatalyst exhibits spatial heterogeneities in adsorbed species, and that the electrode surface can be divided into CO-dominant (mainly located at dendrite structures) and C-C dominant regions (mainly located at the roughened electrode surface). Our spectral evaluation further showed that in the CO-dominant regions, linear CO was observed (as characterized by a band at ∼2090 cm), accompanied by the more classical Cu-CO bending and stretching vibrations located at ∼280 and ∼360 cm, respectively. In contrast, in the C-C directing region, these three Raman bands are suppressed, while at the same time a band at ∼495 cm and a broad Cu-CO band at ∼2050 cm dominate the Raman spectra. Furthermore, PCA revealed that anodization creates more C-C dominant regions, and labeling experiments confirmed that the 495 cm band originates from the presence of a Cu-C intermediate. These results indicate that a copper electrode at work is very dynamic, thereby clearly displaying spatiotemporal heterogeneities, and that micro-spectroscopic techniques are crucial for understanding the eCORR mechanism of working electrocatalyst materials.
PubMed: 37502158
DOI: 10.1021/jacsau.3c00129 -
Folia Morphologica 2023Coronary artery disease is the most common cause of morbidity and mortality especially in the developing countries. The aim of the study was to find out cardiac...
BACKGROUND
Coronary artery disease is the most common cause of morbidity and mortality especially in the developing countries. The aim of the study was to find out cardiac dominance percentages and its association with coronary artery stenosis among each pattern of dominance. The objectives were to assess coronary vessel morphology of patients within each pattern of dominance, to find if gender differences exist among dominance patterns and also to find the distribution percentages of stenosis among dominance patterns.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Four thousand angiograms from patients of Indian origin were studied prospectively after procuring the sanction for the same from the ethical committee of the pre-selected hospitals from four states of South India. Informed consents were obtained. Post coronary artery bypass grafting, post percutaneous coronary intervention patients and patient being diabetic for ≥ 5 years were excluded from the study.
RESULTS
Right cardiac dominance was seen in 85.5%, left in 9.7%, and co-dominant in 4.8% cases. The percentages of dominance were almost similar among both genders except for left dominance which were higher among male samples. The diameter of right coronary artery and left circumflex coronary artery coronary arteries were significantly associated with dominance patterns. The prevalence of stenosis was more for left dominance patterns, followed by right dominance patterns and least for co-dominant patterns.
CONCLUSIONS
There is a necessity to see association between dominance patterns with the coronary artery disease which can help the interventional cardiologists. The disease patterns in the present study were predominantly in the left dominant or in the co-dominant hearts.
Topics: Humans; Male; Female; Coronary Artery Disease; Constriction, Pathologic; Clinical Relevance; Coronary Angiography; Coronary Vessels
PubMed: 35099044
DOI: 10.5603/FM.a2022.0005 -
Scientific Reports Apr 2021The sensory dominance effect refers to the phenomenon that one sensory modality more frequently receives preferential processing (and eventually dominates consciousness...
The sensory dominance effect refers to the phenomenon that one sensory modality more frequently receives preferential processing (and eventually dominates consciousness and behavior) over and above other modalities. On the other hand, hand dominance is an innate aspect of the human motor system. To investigate how the sensory dominance effect interacts with hand dominance, we applied the adapted Colavita paradigm and recruited a large cohort of healthy right-handed participants (n = 119). While the visual dominance effect in bimodal trials was observed for the whole group (n = 119), about half of the right-handers (48%) showed a visual preference, i.e., their dominant hand effect manifested in responding to the visual stimuli. By contrast, 39% of the right-handers exhibited an auditory preference, i.e., the dominant hand effect occurred for the auditory responses. The remaining participants (13%) did not show any dominant hand preference for either visual or auditory responses. For the first time, the current behavioral data revealed that human beings possess a characteristic and persistent preferential link between different sensory modalities and the dominant vs. non-dominant hand. Whenever this preferential link between the sensory and the motor system was adopted, one dominance effect peaks upon the other dominance effect's best performance.
Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Auditory Perception; Functional Laterality; Humans; Psychomotor Performance; Visual Perception; Young Adult
PubMed: 33846508
DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-87396-4