Behavioral Effects Research Articles

Nomophobia syndrome and its impact on morale and behavior change in early childhood

Nomophobia has become a prevalent issue which affects individuals today. This leads many to feel constantly connected to their devices. The term, derived from "No Mobile Phone Phobia," describes an excessive reliance on gadgets. This psychological condition is recognized as a global psychosocial phenomenon that influences mobile phone users and affects their morals and behavior. Alarmingly, this issue has also emerged among young children, with many preschoolers showing signs of addiction. This study is aimed at exploring the effects of nomophobia on early childhood, focusing on its moral and behavioral consequences in daily life. The study employed a qualitative case study approach and it involved two 5-year-old children. Data were collected through observations and unstructured interviews with their parents. The findings indicated that excessive gadget used in early childhood could significantly alter children's morals and behaviors. This was primarily due to insufficient parental supervision of their app usage. The study emphasized the need for intervention from adults, including both parents and teachers, who are the closest guardians to children in monitoring smartphone usage. These collaborative preventive measures to monitor and mitigate the negative impacts of smartphone usage are important to do. Future studies for exploring nomophobia in early childhood contexts are encouraged to delve deeper into the surrounding events and circumstances that affect children.

Mical1 deletion in tyrosinase expressing cells affects mouse running gaits.

Neuronal development is a highly regulated process that is dependent on the correct coordination of cellular responses to extracellular cues. In response to semaphorin axon guidance proteins, the MICAL1 protein is stimulated to produce reactive oxygen species that oxidize actin on specific methionine residues, leading to filamentous actin depolymerization and consequent changes in neuronal growth cone dynamics. Crossing genetically modified mice homozygous for floxed Mical1 (Mical1fl/fl) alleles with transgenic mice expressing Cre recombinase under the control of a tyrosinase gene enhancer/promoter (Tyr::Cre) enabled conditional Mical1 deletion. Immunohistochemical analysis showed Mical1 expression in the cerebellum, which plays a prominent role in the coordination of motor movements, with reduced Mical1 expression in Mical1fl/fl mice co-expressing Tyr::Cre. Analysis of the gaits of mice running on a treadmill showed that both male and female Mical1fl/fl, Tyr::Cre mutant mice had significant alterations to their striding patterns relative to wild-type mice, although the specific aspects of their altered gaits differed between the sexes. Additional motor tests that involved movement on a rotating rod, descending a vertical pole, or crossing a balance beam did not show significant differences between the genotypes, suggesting that the effect of the Mical1fl/fl, Tyr::Cre genetic modifications was only manifested during specific highly coordinated movements that contribute to running. These findings indicate that there is a behavioral consequence in Mical1fl/fl, Tyr::Cre mutant mice that affects motor control as manifested by alterations in their gait.

A Study on How Social Media FOMO (Fear of Missing Out) Impacts the Gen Z Audience

Generation Z, or Gen Z, refers to people born between 1995 and 2010, often known as "zoomers," the first generation to fully embrace the internet. This paper focuses on the impact of socialmedia-induced Fear ofMissing Out (FOMO) on Generation Z, blending with the characteristics of digital nativity and extensive engagement with social media platforms. Fear of Missing Out, or FOMO, was uniquely introduced in 2004 with the rise of social networking sites. It centers on anxiety and how, for Gen Z, this plays a pivotal role in making one feel absent from rewarding experiences. This study delves into the effects on mental health, psychological well-being, self-esteem, and life satisfaction. It explores social media analytics regarding usage, compulsive checking, behavioural consequences, following trends, and real-life social interactions. The findings highlight the need for strategies to mitigate FOMO's adverse effects, promoting healthier social media habits and fostering a more balanced approach to digital consumption.

"Hot" affect-related aspects in emotional information processing: The role of facial muscle responses in the direct and indirect processing of emotion categories.

The present study investigated the involvement of facial muscle responses in the indirect and direct processing of emotional facial expressions. Five discrete emotion categories were used, and we assessed both facial muscle and behavioral responses on a trial-by-trial basis. Experiment 1 tested facial muscle activation of clearly visible stimuli in an emotion categorization task. We observed emotion-specific facial muscle responses and corresponding behavioral categorization effects, providing evidence for the specificity of facial muscle activation. By contrast, under masked indirect presentation conditions in which emotional facial expressions were presented as primes in an emotion misattribution procedure, a specific pattern of emotion-congruent and cross-category behavioral misattributions was observed (in line with Rohr et al., 2015, 2018). Multilevel analyses in Study 2 suggest that an emotional reaction feeds into the behavioral decision, as indicated by differential activation of the frontalis lateralis in response to angry faces. Thus, the present study provides evidence that facial muscle responses contribute to behavioral decisions under masked indirect processing conditions. The different pattern of effects in both studies suggests that facial muscle responses index different processes, depending on the processing conditions: sensorimotor simulation in direct processing conditions and emotional reactions in masked indirect processing conditions. We discuss the implications for models that aim to account for facial muscle activity in response to emotional facial expressions. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).

BNST CRF receptor type 1 modulates mechanical hypersensitivity induced by adolescent alcohol exposure in adult female mice.

Alcohol exposure during adolescence has been linked to long-lasting behavioral consequences, contributing to the development of alcohol use disorder. Negative affect and chronic pain during alcohol withdrawal are critical factors influencing problematic alcohol use and relapse. Our previous research demonstrated that adolescent intermittent ethanol (AIE) vapor exposure elicits sex-specific negative affect-like behavior in adult mice following stress exposure. Additionally, AIE induces persistent mechanical hypersensitivity, which is accompanied by increased activation of corticotropin-releasing factor receptor type 1 (CRFR1) neurons in the dorsolateral bed nucleus of the stria terminalis (dlBNST). This study extends previous work by investigating plasma corticosterone levels and CRFR1 protein expression in the dlBNST following restraint stress exposure in adult mice with an AIE history. We also aim to explore the role of dlBNST CRFR1 signaling in mediating negative affect-like behavior and mechanical hypersensitivity. Female mice exhibited elevated plasma corticosterone levels compared to males following restraint stress. Moreover, females with AIE history showed higher expression of CRFR1 protein in the dlBNST compared to air controls. Antagonism of CRFR1 in the dlBNST blocked AIE-induced mechanical hypersensitivity in adult females but did not affect stress-induced negative affect-like behavior. In alcohol-naïve females, intra-dlBNST administration of a CRFR1 agonist induced mechanical hypersensitivity. These findings provide new insights into the neurobiological mechanisms underlying stress-induced negative affect and pain-related behavior, both influenced by a history of adolescent alcohol exposure. The results suggest that CRFR1 antagonists warrant further investigation for their potential in addressing alcohol-related chronic pain.

Partial chemogenetic inhibition of the locus coeruleus due to heterogeneous transduction of noradrenergic neurons preserved auditory salience processing in wild-type rats.

The acoustic startle reflex (ASR) and prepulse inhibition of the ASR (PPI) assess the efficiency of salience processing, a fundamental brain function that is impaired in many psychiatric conditions. Both ASR and PPI depend on noradrenergic transmission, yet the modulatory role of the locus coeruleus (LC) remains controversial. Clonidine (0.05 mg/kg, i.p.), an alpha2-adrenoreceptor agonist, strongly reduced the ASR amplitude. In contrast, chemogenetic LC inhibition only mildly suppressed the ASR and did affect the PPI in virus-transduced rats. The canine adenovirus type 2 (CAV2)-based vector carrying a gene cassette for the expression of inhibitory receptors (hM4Di) and noradrenergic cell-specific promoter (PRSx8) had high cell-type specificity (94.4±3.1%) but resulted in heterogeneous virus transduction of DbH-positive LC neurons (range: 9.2-94.4%). Clozapine-N-oxide (CNO; 1mg/kg, i.p.), a hM4Di actuator, caused the firing cessation of hM4Di-expressing LC neurons, yet complete inhibition of the entire population of LC neurons was not achieved. Case-based immunohistochemistry revealed that virus injections distal (> 150μm) to the LC core resulted in partial LC transduction, while proximal (< 50 μm) injections caused neuronal loss due to virus neurotoxicity. Neither the ASR nor PPI differed between the intact and virus-transduced rats. Our results suggest that a residual activity of virus-non-transduced LC neurons might have been sufficient for mediating an unaltered ASR and PPI. Our study highlights the importance of a case-based assessment of the virus efficiency, specificity, and neurotoxicity for targeted cell populations and of considering these factors when interpreting behavioral effects in experiments employing chemogenetic modulation.

Personality and health behavior changes after pulmonary rehabilitation: A longitudinal observational study.

Pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) is the gold standard treatment for improving the health status of individuals with chronic respiratory diseases (CRD). However, to achieve lasting results, the adoption and maintenance of a physically active lifestyle are necessary. Unfortunately, the trajectories of change in physical activity (PA) and sedentary behavior (SB) following PR are marked by a high degree of heterogeneity between patients. This study aimed to better understand the factors underlying this variability by investigating the role played by the personality as defined by the five-factor model. Eighty eight CRD patients were assessed on personality upon PR admission (Time 1). PA and SB were assessed at Time 1 and 6 months post-PR (Time 2) using questionnaires. Multiple regression analyses revealed that "healthy neuroticism" is associated with an increase in PA 6 months after PR (β = .20, p < .05) independently of the PA at Time 1. A high level of neuroticism, when it is paired with a low level of conscientiousness, is related to an increase in SB 6 months after PR (β = -.20, p < .01), when the SB and exercise tolerance at Time 1 were controlled for. These findings highlight that investigating the interaction between personality traits is relevant to a better understanding of the interindividual differences in changes in PA and SB after PR in patients with CRD. The behavioral effects of PR could be improved if patients' personality traits were taken into account in the design of behavior-change interventions. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).

Positive Childhood Experiences are Associated With Alcohol Use in Adolescent and Emerging Adult Females by Adverse Childhood Experiences Dimension

PurposeExperiencing multiple adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) is associated with alcohol use in female adolescents and emerging adults. Protective and compensatory experiences (PACEs) have been theorized to off-set the health and behavioral consequences from the accumulation of ACEs throughout childhood. This study examines the association between protective experiences and subsequent alcohol and binge alcohol use frequency over one month among female adolescent and emerging adults reporting high and low levels of two ACE dimensions (household dysfunction and emotional abuse/neglect). MethodsOne hundred 43 females between the ages of 15–24 who indicated at least one binge episode in the past two weeks completed the six-item ACEs scale, the PACEs scale, and demographics at baseline. Alcohol consumption was measured prospectively over the next month during weekly appointments using the timeline follow back approach. ResultsTwo PACEs factors had significant direct associations, a source of unconditional love was associated with less frequent alcohol use (β = −0.437, 95% confidence interval [CI] -0.744, −0.131, exp(β) = 0.65, p = .005) in the context of high household dysfunction; and having a trusted adult to count on for help and advice (β = −1.373, 95% CI -2.283, −0.464, exp(β) = 0.25, p = .003) predicted fewer binge occasions in the context of high emotional abuse/neglect. Regardless of ACE dimension exposure, nonsport social group membership was associated more frequent alcohol use over the month across all ACE dimensions (β = 0.11-0.74, 95% CI -0.11, 0.74, exp(β) = 1.37 – 1.62, p ≤ .002); and having a trusted adult to count on for help and advice was associated with a 5.7 times more frequent of alcohol use among those with low household dysfunction (β = 1.74, 95% CI 0.83, 2.65, exp(β) = 5.70, p < .001). DiscussionFew PACE items are associated with direct reductions in alcohol outcomes. Indeed, there is consistently heightened risk associated with nonsport group membership for alcohol use frequency, regardless of experiences of childhood adversity. Future research should identify which protective factors have the most potential to off-set alcohol use by ACE dimension.

The Neurophysiological Costs of Learning in a Noisy Classroom: An Ecological Virtual Reality Study.

Many real-life situations can be extremely noisy, which makes it difficult to understand what people say. Here, we introduce a novel audiovisual virtual reality experimental platform to study the behavioral and neurophysiological consequences of background noise on processing continuous speech in highly realistic environments. We focus on a context where the ability to understand speech is particularly important: the classroom. Participants (n = 32) experienced sitting in a virtual reality classroom and were told to pay attention to a virtual teacher giving a lecture. Trials were either quiet or contained background construction noise, emitted from outside the classroom window. Two realistic types of noise were used: continuous drilling and intermittent air hammers. Alongside behavioral outcomes, we measured several neurophysiological metrics, including neural activity (EEG), eye-gaze and skin conductance (galvanic skin response). Our results confirm the detrimental effect of background noise. Construction noise, and particularly intermittent noise, was associated with reduced behavioral performance, reduced neural tracking of the teacher's speech and an increase in skin conductance, although it did not have a significant effect on alpha-band oscillations or eye-gaze patterns. These results demonstrate the neurophysiological costs of learning in noisy environments and emphasize the role of temporal dynamics in speech-in-noise perception. The finding that intermittent noise was more disruptive than continuous noise supports a "habituation" rather than "glimpsing" hypothesis of speech-in-noise processing. These results also underscore the importance of increasing the ecologically relevance of neuroscientific research and considering acoustic, temporal, and semantic features of realistic stimuli as well as the cognitive demands of real-life environments.

Falling off the Social Ladder: Longitudinal Behavioral and Mental Health Consequences of Desiring Higher Popularity and Experiencing Popularity Status Insecurity

Falling off the Social Ladder: Longitudinal Behavioral and Mental Health Consequences of Desiring Higher Popularity and Experiencing Popularity Status Insecurity

Temporal changes in HIV-related stigma and sexual behaviours: An examination of 22 African countries.

ABSTRACTDespite non-trivial success against the HIV epidemic, health experts in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) remain concerned about new infections, stigma attitudes, and increasing rates of higher-risk sexual behaviours (HRSBs). Although this concern has produced voluminous scholarship on the behavioural consequences of belonging to stigmatised populations, scholars have only recently examined the behavioural consequences of holding stigmatising attitudes. Existing work generally finds a positive relationship between stigmatising beliefs and the practice of HRSBs. Yet, it is unknown whether this relationship has changed for countries over the past two decades. We fill this gap using Demographic and Health Survey data from 22 SSA countries. We first find that in most countries, the practice of HRSBs has increased, while stigma beliefs have become more tolerant. Second, the relationship between stigma beliefs and HRSBs changed in only six countries: Nigeria, Kenya, Mozambique, Sierra Leone, Ethiopia, and Lesotho. It changed from non-existent or negative to positive in Nigeria, Kenya, Mozambique, and Ethiopia, but non-existent to negative in Sierra Leone. In Lesotho, the positive association weakened over time. These findings highlight the importance of social and epidemic contexts when considering how stigma impacts sexual behaviours and HIV rates in SSA.

Moral injury and mental health outcomes in nurses: A systematic review.

Introduction: Moral injury involves the adverse psychological, biological, spiritual, behavioural, and social consequences of actions that violate moral values. It can lead to anxiety, depression, burnout, and post-traumatic stress disorder. Nurses, who often face ethical dilemmas, are particularly vulnerable. Despite its significance, the relationship between moral injury and mental health outcomes in nurses remains underexplored. Aim: This systematic review aimed to describe the associations among moral injury, anxiety, depression, and quality of life in nurses. Methods: The review was registered in PROSPERO (CRD42023438731) and was conducted following the PRISMA guidelines. A literature search was performed in December 2023 across PubMed, CINAHL, Scopus, and Web of Science. Peer-reviewed primary research involving nurses, published in English or Italian, without time restrictions, was considered eligible. The risk of bias and the quality of evidence were assessed using the Joanna Briggs Institute checklist and the GRADE approach. Results: Out of 4730 articles identified, eight met the inclusion criteria. The analysis revealed significant positive associations between moral injury, anxiety, and depression, along with a significant negative association with quality of life. Conclusion: These findings highlight the need for healthcare systems to implement strategies that mitigate moral injury among nurses. Future research should prioritize longitudinal studies to explore causal relationships and develop targeted interventions. Additionally, standardizing the concept and measurements of moral injury is crucial for enhancing the comparability and understanding of this phenomenon.

Consensus-based recommendations for the diagnosis and treatment of anxiety and depression in children and adolescents with epilepsy: A report from the Psychiatric Pediatric Issues Task Force of the International League Against Epilepsy.

The Psychiatric Pediatric Issues Task Force of the International League Against Epilepsy (ILAE) aimed to develop recommendations for the diagnosis and treatment of anxiety and depression in children and adolescents with epilepsy. The Task Force conducted a systematic review and identified two studies that assessed the accuracy of four screening measures for depression and anxiety symptoms compared with a psychiatric interview. Nine studies met the eligibility criteria for treatment of anxiety and depressive disorders or symptoms. The risk of bias and certainty of evidence were assessed. The evidence generated by this review followed by consensus where evidence was missing generated 47 recommendations. Those with a high level of agreement (≥80%) are summarized. Diagnosis: (1) Universal screening for anxiety and depression is recommended. Closer surveillance is recommended for children after 12 years, at higher risk (e.g., suicide-related behavior), with subthreshold symptoms, and experiencing seizure worsening or therapeutic modifications. (2) Multiple sources of ascertainment and a formal screening are recommended. Clinical interviews are recommended whenever possible. The healthcare provider must always explain that symptom recognition is essential to optimize treatment outcomes and reduce morbidity. (3) Questioning about the relationship between symptoms of anxiety or depression with seizure worsening/control and behavioral adverse effects of antiseizure medications is recommended. Treatment: (1) An individualized treatment plan is recommended. (2) For mild depression, active monitoring must be considered. (3) Referral to a mental health care provider must be considered for moderate to severe depression and anxiety. (4) Clinical care pathways must be developed. (5) Psychosocial interventions must be tailored and age-appropriate. (6) Healthcare providers must monitor children with epilepsy who are prescribed antidepressants, considering symptoms and functioning that may not improve simultaneously. (7) Caregiver education is essential to ensure treatment adherence. (8) A shared-care model involving all healthcare providers is recommended for children and adolescents with epilepsy and mental health disorders. We identified clinical decisions in the management of depression and anxiety that lack solid evidence and provide consensus-based guidance to address the care of children and adolescents with epilepsy.

Impulsivity mediates the relationship between sleep quality and interpersonal functioning: a cross-sectional study in a sample of university students

BackgroundAmid the current mental health pandemic, research continues to investigate potential contributors associated with increasing levels of negative mental health. Among such contributors is sleep, which is vital for physiological and psychological functioning with potential downstream behavioral consequences, including in relation to impulsivity and social functioning. Given the significant rates of disordered sleep behaviors reported in the literature, our study sought to investigate the relationship between sleep quality, impulsivity and interpersonal functioning among university students.MethodsAn anonymous online survey was administered to university students (Ages 18 + ; N = 526; 33% male, 67% female) addressing demographics, sleep quality, impulsivity, and interpersonal functioning.ResultsOur findings indicate a substantial proportion of students reporting poor sleep quality and impulsivity. Moreover, higher levels of impulsivity and lower interpersonal functioning were associated with poor sleep quality. Mediation analysis revealed a significant mediating role of attentional impulsivity in the relationship between sleep quality and interpersonal functioning.ConclusionsRepeated reports of significant levels of impulsivity underlying numerous psychiatric disorders, its prevalence socially, and the fundamental issue that impulsivity reflects (i.e., lack of self-control/self-discipline/self-regulation), suggests a necessity to reorient therapeutic efforts towards the root of the problem. Thus, efforts should seek to maximize preventative behaviors that strengthen the individual (e.g., improving sleep-related behaviors), and contribute to the building of character/virtue, through self-discipline, perseverance and consistency, in order to reduce negative outcomes (e.g., impulsivity, dysfunctional interpersonal functioning).

The longitudinal behavioral effects of acute exposure to galactic cosmic radiation in female C57BL/6J mice: Implications for deep space missions, female crews, and potential antioxidant countermeasures.

Galactic cosmic radiation (GCR) is an unavoidable risk to astronauts that may affect mission success. Male rodents exposed to 33-beam-GCR (33-GCR) show short-term cognitive deficits but reports on female rodents and long-term assessment are lacking. We asked: What are the longitudinal behavioral effects of 33-GCR on female mice? Also, can an antioxidant/anti-inflammatory compound (CDDO-EA) mitigate the impact of 33-GCR? Mature (6-month-old) C57BL/6J female mice received CDDO-EA (400 μg/g of food) or a control diet (vehicle, Veh) for 5 days and Sham-irradiation (IRR) or whole-body 33-GCR (0.75Gy) on the 4th day. Three-months post-IRR, mice underwent two touchscreen-platform tests: (1) location discrimination reversal (tests behavior pattern separation and cognitive flexibility, abilities reliant on the dentate gyrus) and (2) stimulus-response learning/extinction. Mice then underwent arena-based behavior tests (e.g. open field, 3-chamber social interaction). At the experiment's end (14.25-month post-IRR), an index relevant to neurogenesis was quantified (doublecortin-immunoreactive [DCX+] dentate gyrus immature neurons). Female mice exposed to Veh/Sham vs. Veh/33-GCR had similar pattern separation (% correct to 1st reversal). There were two effects of diet: CDDO-EA/Sham and CDDO-EA/33-GCR mice had better pattern separation vs. their respective control groups (Veh/Sham, Veh/33-GCR), and CDDO-EA/33-GCR mice had better cognitive flexibility (reversal number) vs. Veh/33-GCR mice. One radiation effect/CDDO-EA countereffect also emerged: Veh/33-GCR mice had slower stimulus-response learning (days to completion) vs. all other groups, including CDDO-EA/33-GCR mice. In general, all mice showed normal anxiety-like behavior, exploration, and habituation to novel environments. There was also a change relevant to neurogenesis: Veh/33-GCR mice had fewer DCX+ dentate gyrus immature neurons vs. Veh/Sham mice. Our study implies space radiation is a risk to a female crew's longitudinal mission-relevant cognitive processes and CDDO-EA is a potential dietary countermeasure for space-radiation CNS risks.

Evaluating the Effect of a Probiotic on Prevention of Diarrhea, Stress Response, and Social Interactions in a Colony of Macaca fascicularis

Background: Social housing changes are associated with diarrhea in macaques, presumably due to stress. Objective: Since probiotics are utilized in humans for diarrhea, we tested the effectiveness of a species- specific probiotic, SDPro™ (composition: ~2 billion CFU each of live Lactobacillus reuteri and Saccharomyces boulardii), to prevent relocation-associated diarrhea. Assessments of the gutmicrobiome and diarrhea severity were made. Behavioral observations and cortisol levels were examined after relocation to test the effects of the probiotic treatment. Methods: The probiotic was administered to 60 juvenile macaques of both sexes (Probiotic +) and outcomes were compared to 60 control (Probiotic -) macaques. The effects on gut microbiome composition were analyzed via 16s microbiome analysis in half the animals from both groups. Social behaviors were monitored twice-weekly in the morning and afternoon for five weeks following 10- days of SDPro™ administration in 56 subjects and hair cortisol was assayed. Results: Probiotic administration altered beta, but not alpha, diversity, and caused changes in taxa abundance at the phylum, genus, and species levels. The Probiotic + group was enriched in Firmicutes, Clostridium, and Lactobacillus and diminished in Bacteriodies (p’s &lt; 0.05) compared to controls. Although SDPro™ did not alter diarrhea incidence following relocation, it reduced diarrhea severity in males only. Males also exhibited higher cortisol levels than females but there was no probiotic effect. Probiotic treatment had minor behavioral effects; the typical reduction in locomotion seen in the afternoon was eliminated. Conclusion: The results suggest that SDPro™ may be a viable tool to prevent relocation-induced diarrhea in juvenile male macaques.

Deterrent Effects of Clary Sage Oil and Two Major Constituents against Drosophila suzukii (Diptera: Drosophilidae)

Drosophila suzukii (Diptera: Drosophilidae), spotted-wing drosophila, poses a significant threat to soft-skinned fruit crops in the Americas, Europe, Africa, and Oceania, as well as in Asia. The application of chemical insecticides is the primary control strategy for D. suzukii; however, resistance has developed with the indiscriminate use of chemical insecticides. Essential oils, considered potential alternatives to pesticidal strategies, exhibit potent toxic and sublethal behavioral effects against numerous pests, including D. suzukii. Clary sage oil repels a variety of agricultural and household pests; however, whether it has a repellent effect against D. suzukii remains unknown. Here, we found that clary sage oil exhibited dose-dependent repellency against D. suzukii adults in a T-maze assay, a two-choice assay and a two-choice attraction assay. Also, clary sage oil showed a significant repellent effect against D. suzukii larvae. Next, we explored the chemical constituents of clary sage oil by GC-MS and identified two major constituents, linalyl acetate (40.03%) and linalool (23.02%). Furthermore, the behavioral assays of linalyl acetate and linalool showed that both compounds conferred comparable repellency against D. suzukii adults and larvae. Finally, we found clary sage oil, linalyl acetate, and linalool elicited EAG responses in D. suzukii, especially clary sage oil, suggesting the repellency was mediated by the olfactory system. These findings indicate that D. suzukii shows olfactory-based behavioral avoidance of clary sage oil, linalyl acetate, and linalool. Clary sage oil and its major constituents may be possible alternatives in the management of D. suzukii.

Transgenic expression of human cytochrome P450 2E1 in C. elegans and rat PC-12 cells sensitizes to ethanol-induced locomotor and mitochondrial effects

Chronic alcohol (ethanol) use is increasing in the United States and has been linked to numerous health issues in multiple organ systems including neurological dysfunction and diseases. Ethanol toxicity is mainly driven by the metabolite acetaldehyde, which is generated through three pathways: alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH2), catalase (CAT), and cytochrome P450 2E1 (CYP2E1). ADH2, while the main ethanol clearance pathway in the liver, is not expressed in the mammalian brain, resulting in CAT and CYP2E1 driving local metabolism of ethanol in the central nervous system. CYP2E1 is known to generate reactive metabolites and reactive oxygen species and localizes to the mitochondria (mtCYP2E1) and endoplasmic reticulum (erCYP2E1). We sought to understand the consequences of mtCYP2E1 and erCYP2E1 in the nervous system during acute ethanol exposure. To answer this question, we generated transgenic Caenorhabditis elegans roundworms expressing human CYP2E1 in the mitochondria, endoplasmic reticulum, or both and exposed them to ethanol. We found that at lower concentrations, wild-type and mtCYP2E1-expressing worms had a small but significant inhibition of locomotion, whereas the erCYP2E1-expressing worms showed protection from this inhibition. At higher doses, all strains had reduced locomotion, but the erCYP2E1-expressing worms recovered faster than wild-type controls. CYP2E1 expression, regardless of organellar targeting, reduced mitochondrial respiration in response to ethanol. Similarly, transgenic expression of CYP2E1 in either organelle in PC-12 rat neuronal cell lines sensitized them to ethanol-induced cell death. Together, these findings suggest that subcellular localization of CYP2E1 impacts behavioral effects of ethanol and should be further studied in the mammalian central nervous system.

Antidepressant-like effects of the leaf extract of Mallotus oppositifolius (Geiseler) Müll. Arg. (Euphorbiaceae) in the chronic unpredictable mild stress model: A role of the gut-brain axis

The gut microbiota has been posited as a target for the treatment of major depressive disorder. Herein, we investigated the effect of the hydroethanolic leaf extract of Mallotus oppositifolius (MOE) on the gut microbiota of mice and how this contributes to its known antidepressant-like effect. A 6-week chronic unpredictable mild stress (CUMS) procedure was employed in 7 groups of mice to induce depression. From the third week, oral MOE treatments (10, 30, 100 mg/kg) and two reference drugs, fluoxetine (12 mg/kg) and minocycline (40 mg/kg), known to affect the gut microbiota, were administered. The sixth and seventh groups were the vehicle stressed (VEH-S) and non-stressed groups (VEH-NS). Changes in depressive-like behaviors were assessed using sucrose preference test while the forced swimming test (FST) was used to assess sustained antidepressant-effect after treatment discontinuation. Moreover, changes in prefrontal cortex (PFC) and hippocampal serotonin (5-HT) levels were evaluated using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The effect of treatment on the profile of the gut microbiota of the groups was elucidated using 16S rRNA Oxford Nanopore sequencing. MOE and reference drugs reversed the depression-associated reduction in sucrose preference when compared to VEH-S. MOE (with peak effect at 30 mg/kg) reduced immobility while increasing swimming and climbing behaviors. MOE reversed CUMS-induced reduction of 5-HT concentration in PFC and hippocampus. The behavioral effects of MOE were associated with shifts in the gut microbiota of CUMS-exposed mice. The study has provided seminal evidence that MOE ameliorates CUMS-induced depressive symptoms by modulating gut microbiota and increasing brain 5-HT levels.

EXPRESS: How Observed Queue Length and Service Times Drive Reneging Behavior in Queues

Customers who renege from a queue signal dissatisfaction with the wait, possibly leading to lost business opportunities. Service organizations need to understand how queue features observed by waiting customers drive decisions to renege. Through a series of experiments run in the lab and online, this paper demonstrates a relative progress effect in queues. This behavioral effect is created when a series of fast service times are observed early in a wait, followed by slower service times that make the total wait equal to that in a comparable queue progressing at a steady rate. The observer experiences a fast depletion of the queue and a lower proportion of the original queue length remaining. This generates a sense of relative progress for the observer which leads to a reduction in renege behavior. In one of the studies, a relative progress effect enables participants to wait for a longer queue or longer duration compared to a benchmark queue without this effect. A simulation analysis, where individuals in a queue are modeled as experiencing a similar behavioral effect, shows that the individual-level effects lead to systematic differences in the queue performance. Behavioral effects that increase individual patience for some are shown to reduce the overall renege rate in the queue. Our findings suggest that queue practices that modulate the perception of relative progress can reduce renege behavior.