Original Hypothesis Research Articles

The unresolved mystery of dust particle swarms within the magnetosphere.

Early-generation in situ dust detectors in near-Earth space have reported the occurrence of clusters of sub-micron dust particles that seemed unrelated to human spaceflight activities. In particular, data from the impact ionization detector onboard the HEOS-2 satellite indicate that such swarms of particles occur throughout the Earth's magnetosphere up to altitudes of 60 000 km-far beyond regions typically used by spacecraft. Further account of high-altitude clusters has since been given by the GEO-deployed GORID detector, however, explanations for the latter have so far only been sought in GEO spaceflight activity. This perspective piece reviews dust cluster detections in near-Earth space, emphasizing the natural swarm creation mechanism conjectured to explain the HEOS-2 data-i.e. the electrostatic disruption of meteoroids. Highlighting this mechanism offers a novel viewpoint on more recent near-Earth dust measurements. We further show that the impact clusters observed by both HEOS-2 and GORID are correlated with increased geomagnetic activity. This consistent correlation supports the notion that both sets of observations stem from the same underlying phenomenon and aligns with the hypothesis of the electrostatic breakup origin. We conclude that the nature of these peculiar swarms remains highly uncertain, advocating for their concerted investigation by forthcoming dust science endeavours, such as the JAXA/DLR DESTINY+ mission. This article is part of the theme issue 'Dust in the Solar System and beyond'.

Cardiac evaluation in free-ranging giant anteaters (Myrmecophaga tridactyla) in the Brazilian Cerrado

The giant anteater (Myrmecophaga tridactyla) is classified as a Vulnerable species, but these animals are regularly brought into rescue centers and are also kept in zoos around the world. They occupy a highly specialized dietary niche with a feeding ecology that is difficult to replicate under human care. This can lead to numerous nutrition-related health problems, including frequent cardiomyopathies. Establishing reference parameters for free-ranging animals is an important tool to assess the health of animals under human care. For this reason, a cardiac assessment through plasma troponin I concentrations, vertebral heart score (VHS) based on thoracic radiographs, and echocardiographic parameters were established for 11 free-ranging giant anteaters in the Cerrado savanna of Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil. The troponin I concentrations were all lower than 0.2 ng/ml, the cutoff limit for detection in the assay used. The mean VHS in the right lateral projections was 7.49, a value almost identical to cats (7.5) and lower than dogs (9.7). A complete echocardiographic assessment is provided and compared with previous case reports. This paper validates the diet-related origin hypothesis for common dilated cardiomyopathy in giant anteaters. This is the first published study with radiographic and echocardiographic parameters for free-ranging giant anteaters, providing important reference parameters for future giant anteater in situ and ex situ conservation initiatives. This work highlights the benefits of veterinary research comparing health parameters for animals living under and outside of human care.

Internal Management Strategy of Chinese Internet Enterprises and Business Performance: A Study of Tencent Internet Enterprises in China

The objective of this research is to examine the relationship between the internal management strategy of Chinese internet enterprises and business performance. The research results in the fields of business models and innovations, internet business models and their innovation theories and practices, and business ethics are analyzed and discussed, while the internet development process of China is reviewed. Then, the existing problems are analyzed, and the concerned field and concepts in this study are clarified. Based on previous theoretical research and market research, the research methodology is designed, the research hypotheses are proposed, and the research models are constructed to perform quantitative and qualitative research. Next, the cases of Baidu, Alibaba and Tencent are engaged to conduct empirical analysis and verify the conclusions. The correlation analysis show that the impact on corporate financial performance is positive when social responsibility to shareholders, creditors, users, and government is undertaken, which is consistent with the original hypothesis. However, fulfilling social responsibility to employees and suppliers is significantly and negatively related to financial performance, which is inconsistent with the original hypothesis. Therefore, companies should take a long-term perspective and not just see short-term benefits at the expense of long-term social benefits. Companies pay attention to and carry out a series of social responsibility activities can establish stable emotional ties with the public, so that the company can gain the support and trust of many parties in society, and can enhance market competitiveness and bring good development opportunities, thus improving the viability of the company and increasing social and economic value for the company

Association of the bitter taste genes TAS2R38 and CA6 and breast cancer risk; a case-control study of Polish women in Poland and Polish immigrants in USA.

It is known that the perception of bitterness is mediated by type 2 bitter taste receptors (TAS2Rs). However, recent reports have suggested that the carbonic anhydrase 6 (CA6) gene may also influence bitterness sensing. Genetic variants in these genes could influence dietary intake of brassica vegetables, whose increased consumption has been observed in the literature, though inconsistently, to decrease breast cancer (BC) risk. We hypothesized that the estimated odds ratios (ORs) for the association between BC and taster diplotype (PAV/PAV) and/or genotype A/A, will be in the direction of increased BC risk, potentially due to reduced consumption of brassica vegetables. Using a case-control study of BC in Polish women in Poland (210 cases and 262 controls) and Polish immigrant women to USA (78 cases and 170 controls) we evaluated the association of the taster diplotypes in TAS2R38 gene and genotypes in the CA6 gene and BC risk in these two populations individually and jointly. No significant increase in risk was observed for the TAS2R38 PAV/PAV diplotype (tasters) in each population individually or in the joint population. For the CA6 gene, in the joint population, we observed an increased BC risk for the combined G/A and G/G genotypes (non-tasters) vs A/A (tasters), OR = 1.41 (95% CI 1.04-1.90, p = 0.026) which after adjustment for False Discovery Rate (FDR), was not significant at p≤0.05 level. However, for the joint population and for the combined genotype of the two genes AVI/AVI+G* (non-tasters) vs. PAV/*+A/A (tasters), we observed a significant increase in BC risk, OR = 1.77 (95%CI 1.47-2.74, p = 0.01), for the non-tasters, which remained significant after FDR adjustment. In conclusion for the joint population and the joint effect for the two bitter sensing genes, we observed an increase in BC risk for the bitterness non-tasters, association which is in the opposite direction to our original hypothesis.

A digoxin derivative that potently reduces intraocular pressure: efficacy and mechanism of action in different animal models.

Glaucoma is a blinding disease. Reduction of intraocular pressure (IOP) is the mainstay of treatment, but current drugs show side effects or become progressively ineffective, highlighting the need for novel compounds. We have synthesized a family of perhydro-1,4-oxazepine derivatives of digoxin, the selective inhibitor of Na,K-ATPase. The cyclobutyl derivative (DcB) displays strong selectivity for the human α2 isoform and potently reduces IOP in rabbits. These observations appeared consistent with a hypothesis that in ciliary epithelium DcB inhibits the α2 isoform of Na,K-ATPase, which is expressed strongly in nonpigmented cells, reducing aqueous humor (AH) inflow. This paper extends assessment of efficacy and mechanism of action of DcB using an ocular hypertensive nonhuman primate model (OHT-NHP) (Macaca fascicularis). In OHT-NHP, DcB potently lowers IOP, in both acute (24 h) and extended (7-10 days) settings, accompanied by increased aqueous humor flow rate (AFR). By contrast, ocular normotensive animals (ONT-NHP) are poorly responsive to DcB, if at all. The mechanism of action of DcB has been analyzed using isolated porcine ciliary epithelium and perfused enucleated eyes to study AH inflow and AH outflow facility, respectively. 1) DcB significantly stimulates AH inflow although prior addition of 8-Br-cAMP, which raises AH inflow, precludes additional effects of DcB. 2) DcB significantly increases AH outflow facility via the trabecular meshwork (TM). Taken together, the data indicate that the original hypothesis on the mechanism of action must be revised. In the OHT-NHP, and presumably other species, DcB lowers IOP by increasing AH outflow facility rather than by decreasing AH inflow.NEW & NOTEWORTHY When applied topically, a cyclobutyl derivative of digoxin (DcB) potently reduces intraocular pressure in an ocular hypertensive nonhuman primate model (Macaca fascicularis), associated with increased aqueous humor (AH) flow rate (AFR). The mechanism of action of DcB involves increased AH outflow facility as detected in enucleated perfused porcine eyes and, in parallel, increased (AH) inflow as detected in isolated porcine ciliary epithelium. DcB might have potential as a drug for the treatment of open-angle human glaucoma.

공여국 원조품질의 영향 요인 분석

Purpose: This study aims to identify the factors that influence the quality of aid provided by donors.
 Originality: Unlike existing aid effectiveness research that mainly focuses on institutional improvements in recipient countries, this study focuses on enhancing aid quality of donors for aid effectiveness. It also differentiates itself from previous studies by adopting a more comprehensive approach to defining and analyzing aid quality rather than treating it as a single factor.
 Methodology: The dependent variable, aid quality, is measured through principal component analysis of five variables from the QuODA dataset. The independent variables consist of five factors influencing aid quality: institutional, structural, macro-economic, strategic importance, and aid volume factor. Panel regression analysis with a fixed effect model was conducted on 22 OECD DAC bilateral donors over the five years(2008, 2009, 2012, 2016, 2019) for which the CGD collected QuODA data.
 Result: Peer pressure and income level of donors were found to have a statistically significant effect on aid quality. Consistent with the original hypothesis, increased pressure from other countries was associated with higher aid quality. Contrary to the original hypothesis, however, higher income level of donors was associated with lower aid quality.
 Conclusion and Implication: Creating a competitive environment that allows for comparison of aid effectiveness among donors can enhance aid quality by motivating donors to refine their aid policies and practices. In addition, economically wealthier donors can improve aid quality by expanding their contributions to multilateral aid, ensuring that aid policies and practices are closely aligned with the needs of recipient countries.

The Known and Unknown "Knowns" of Human Susceptibility to Coccidioidomycosis.

Coccidioidomycosis occurs after inhalation of airborne spores of the endemic, dimorphic fungus, Coccidioides. While the majority of individuals resolve the infection without coming to medical attention, the fungus is a major cause of community-acquired pneumonia in the endemic region, and chronic pulmonary and extrapulmonary disease poses significant personal and economic burdens. This review explores the literature surrounding human susceptibility to coccidioidomycosis, including chronic pulmonary and extrapulmonary dissemination. Over the past century of study, themes have emerged surrounding factors impacting human susceptibility to severe disease or dissemination, including immune suppression, genetic susceptibility, sex, pregnancy, and genetic ancestry. Early studies were observational, frequently with small numbers of cases; several of these early studies are highly cited in review papers, becoming part of the coccidioidomycosis "canon". Specific genetic variants, sex, and immune suppression by TNF inhibitors have been validated in later cohort studies, confirming the original hypotheses. By contrast, some risk factors, such as ABO blood group, Filipino ancestry, or lack of erythema nodosum among black individuals, are repeated in the literature despite the lack of supporting studies or biologic plausibility. Using examination of historical reports coupled with recent cohort and epidemiology studies, evidence for commonly reported risk factors is discussed.

Does Conceptual Abstraction Moderate Whether Past Moral Deeds Motivate Consistency or Compensatory Behavior? A Registered Replication and Extension of Conway and Peetz (2012).

A long-standing debate in psychology concerns whether doing something good or bad leads to more of the same or the opposite. Conway and Peetz proposed that conceptual abstraction moderates if past moral deeds lead to consistent or compensatory behavior. Although cited 384 times across disciplines, we did not find any direct replications. It was also unclear how increases or decreases from one's baseline prosociality might underlie the effect. A large-scale experiment (N = 5,091) in the registered report format tested Conway and Peetz's original hypothesis. The hypothesized interaction was not replicated: conceptual abstraction did not moderate the effect of recalling moral vs. immoral behavior on prosocial intentions. Our results show that recalling moral behavior led to higher prosocial intentions than recalling either immoral or neutral behavior, irrespective of recalling from the recent or distant past. Thus, the current research found no evidence for compensatory moral behavior, only for positive moral consistency.

Clinical features and outcome of 10 dogs with suspected idiopathic vestibular epilepsy.

In humans, vestibular epilepsy (VE) is described as focal seizures with transient signs of vestibular disease. In dogs, 2 cases of vestibular episodes, called vestibular paroxysmia, are reported. The objective of this study was to define the clinical features, phenotypical manifestation, and outcome of suspected VE in dogs. Ten dogs with recurrent vestibular episodes. Retrospective study. Medical records between 2009 and 2023 were reviewed, and dogs with a normal neurological examination, a history of transient signs of vestibular disease, absence of abnormalities detected on blood exams and brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) or computed tomography (CT), besides a minimum 10-month follow-up were included. Clinical improvement was defined as a ≥50% reduction in frequency or the cessation of clinical signs after the onset of antiseizure medications (ASMs). Pugs were the most prevalent breed (5/10; 50%). In 2 cases, additional generalized tonic-clonic (GTC) seizures were reported. MRI exam was performed in most cases (9/10; 90%), whereas 1 dog underwent a CT scan (1/10; 10%). Electroencephalography (EEG) was carried out in 3 dogs that showed interictal spikes in the fronto-temporal and fronto-parietal areas. All cases received ASMs, with clinical improvement in 10/10 dogs (100%). The presence of GTC seizures, EEG interictal spikes, and responsiveness to ASMs supported the hypothesis of an epileptic origin of vestibular episodes and thus the existence of VE in these dogs, with a presumed idiopathic cause and apparent favorable outcome.

The dynamic buffering of social support on depressive symptoms and cancer worries in patients seeking cancer genetic counseling.

Social support is a crucial protective factor against psychological concerns in patients with cancer. However, there is limited knowledge regarding the differential impacts of social support on cancer worries and depressive symptoms in patients undergoing genetic counseling for hereditary cancer. The current study utilized a high-volume database from a multi-site cancer genetics clinic to assess the impact of perceived social support on depressive symptoms and cancer worries among patients of different age groups (young versus older patients) and diagnosis status (diagnosed survivors versus undiagnosed). 6,666 patients completed brief assessments of depressive symptoms, cancer worries, social support, and demographic questionnaires as part of routine clinical care between October 2016 and October 2020. Logistics and moderated regression were used to analyze the relationships between social support, depressive symptoms, and cancer worries. Increased social support was associated with fewer depressive symptoms and fewer cancer worries across all patients. Social support mitigated depressive symptoms most significantly for young adult patients with and without cancer. Social support mitigated cancer worries most significantly for young adults with cancer and older adults without cancer. While results were mixed, general findings upheld original hypotheses. Social support buffered depressive symptoms and cancer worries differentially for patients of different ages and different disease status. Social support groups are beneficial for all patients and should be emphasized by cancer clinics. However, increasing patient-tailored and age-appropriate support networks will be crucial for managing depression and cancer worries for high-risk survivors: young adults with cancer.

The Effect of Male Body Dissatisfaction on Sexual and Relationship Satisfaction in the Presence of Pornography Use and Depression

There is a well-researched relationship between sexual satisfaction and relationship satisfaction, and recent literature has explored how body image impacts this relationship. The purpose of this study was to assess the degree to which the body dissatisfaction-sexual satisfaction-relationship satisfaction causal sequence varied at levels of pornography use and depression. Mechanical Turk data from a related study was used to explore three sets of hypotheses for the variables’ relationships. Surprising results prompted the exploration of a three-way interaction outside of the original hypotheses. The exploratory analysis revealed that the moderating impact of pornography use on the relationship between body dissatisfaction, sexual satisfaction, and relationship satisfaction depends on the level of depression. These findings carry important implications for research and clinical practice.

Differentiated adaptative genetic architecture and language-related demographical history in South China inferred from 619 genomes from 56 populations

BackgroundThe underrepresentation of human genomic resources from Southern Chinese populations limited their health equality in the precision medicine era and complete understanding of their genetic formation, admixture, and adaptive features. Besides, linguistical and genetic evidence supported the controversial hypothesis of their origin processes. One hotspot case was from the Chinese Guangxi Pinghua Han people (GPH), whose language was significantly similar to Southern Chinese dialects but whose uniparental gene pool was phylogenetically associated with the indigenous Tai-Kadai (TK) people. Here, we analyzed genome-wide SNP data in 619 people from four language families and 56 geographically different populations, in which 261 people from 21 geographically distinct populations were first reported here.ResultsWe identified significant population stratification among ethnolinguistically diverse Guangxi populations, suggesting their differentiated genetic origin and admixture processes. GPH shared more alleles related to Zhuang than Southern Han Chinese but received more northern ancestry relative to Zhuang. Admixture models and estimates of genetic distances showed that GPH had a close genetic relationship with geographically close TK compared to Northern Han Chinese, supporting their admixture origin hypothesis. Further admixture time and demographic history reconstruction supported GPH was formed via admixture between Northern Han Chinese and Southern TK people. We identified robust signatures associated with lipid metabolisms, such as fatty acid desaturases (FADS) and medically relevant loci associated with Mendelian disorder (GJB2) and complex diseases. We also explored the shared and unique selection signatures of ethnically different but linguistically related Guangxi lineages and found some shared signals related to immune and malaria resistance.ConclusionsOur genetic analysis illuminated the language-related fine-scale genetic structure and provided robust genetic evidence to support the admixture hypothesis that can explain the pattern of observed genetic diversity and formation of GPH. This work presented one comprehensive analysis focused on the population history and demographical adaptative process, which provided genetic evidence for personal health management and disease risk prediction models from Guangxi people. Further large-scale whole-genome sequencing projects would provide the entire landscape of southern Chinese genomic diversity and their contributions to human health and disease traits.

Equine Asthma Does Not Affect Circulating Myostatin Concentrations in Horses.

(1) Background: The number of horses suffering from chronic respiratory diseases, resembling human asthma, is increasing but there is still a lack of reliable and accurate methods to detect these disorders. Numerous studies have found elevated plasma concentrations of one of the myokines, namely, myostatin (MSTN), in people suffering from severe asthma. MSTN normally inhibits myoblast proliferation and differentiation through autocrine or paracrine signals. Therefore, given the pathogenesis of asthma, we hypothesize that MSTN could be a useful biomarker of equine asthma. Thus, this study aimed to compare the concentration of MSTN in the blood plasma of fully healthy and asthmatic horses. (2) Methods: A total of 61 horses were clinically examined to confirm or exclude the occurrence of equine asthma, including bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid cytology performed on 49 horses. This study included three groups of horses, two of which were clinically healthy, and one of which was asthmatic. (3) Results: The mean circulatory MSTN concentration determined using the ELISA method in asthmatic horses was significantly higher than that in clinically healthy young Thoroughbred racehorses (p < 0.05), but it did not differ as compared to the group of healthy, adult leisure horses. (4) Conclusions: The obtained results did not unambiguously support our original hypothesis that MSTM may be a reliable marker for the early diagnosis of equine asthma. To the best of the authors' knowledge, this is the first study to analyze the plasma MSTN concentration in equine asthma patients, and therefore further studies are needed to confirm our novel findings.

Pairwise fitting of piecewise mixed models for the joint modeling of multivariate longitudinal outcomes, in a randomized crossover trial.

Many statistical models have been proposed in the literature for the analysis of longitudinal data. One may propose to model two or more correlated longitudinal processes simultaneously, with a goal of understanding their association over time. Joint modeling is then required to carefully study the association structure among the outcomes as well as drawing joint inferences about the different outcomes. In this study, we sought to model the associations among six nutrition outcomes while circumventing the computational challenge posed by their clustered and high-dimensional nature. We analyzed data from a 2 2 randomized crossover trial conducted in Kenya, to compare the effect of high-dose and low-dose iodine in household salt on systolic blood pressure (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) in women of reproductive age and their household matching pair of school-aged children. Two additional outcomes, namely, urinary iodine concentration (UIC) in women and children were measured repeatedly to monitor the amount of iodine excreted through urine. We extended the model proposed by Mwangi etal. (2021, Communications in Statistics: Case Studies, Data Analysis and Applications, 7(3), 413-431) allowing flexible piecewise joint models for six outcomes to depend on separate random effects, which are themselves correlated. This entailed fitting 15 bivariate general linear mixed models and deriving inference for the joint model using pseudo-likelihood theory. We analyzed the outcomes separately and jointly using piecewise linear mixed-effects (PLME) model and further validated the results using current state-of-the-art Jones and Kenward methodology (JKME model) used for analyzing randomized crossover trials. The results indicate that high-dose iodine in salt significantly reduced blood pressure (BP) compared to low-dose iodine in salt. Estimates for the random effects and residual error components showed that SBP and DBP had strong positive correlation, with effect of the random slope indicating that significantly related outcomes are strongly associated in their evolution. There was a moderately strong inverse relationship between evolutions of UIC and BP both in women and children. These findings confirmed the original hypothesis that high-dose iodine salt has significant lowering effect on BP. We further sought to evaluate the performance of our proposed PLME model against the widely used JKME model, within the multivariate joint modeling framework through a simulation study mimicking a crossover design. From our findings, the multivariate joint PLME model performed exceptionally well both in estimation of random-effects matrix (G) and Hessian matrix (H), allowing satisfactory model convergence during estimation. It allowed a more complex fit to the data with both random intercepts and slopes effects compared to the multivariate joint JKME model that allowed for random intercepts only. When a hierarchical viewpoint is adopted, in the sense that outcomes are specified conditionally upon random effects, the variance-covariance matrix of the random effects must be positive definite. In some cases, additional random effects could explain much variability in the data, thus improving precision in estimation of the estimands (effect size) parameters. The key highlight in this evaluation shows that multivariate joint JKME model is a powerful tool especially while fitting mixed models with random intercepts only, in crossover design settings. Addition of random slopes may lead to model complexities in most cases, resulting in unsatisfactory model convergence during estimation. To circumvent convergence pitfalls, extention of JKME model to PLME model allows a more flexible fit to the data (generated from crossover design settings), especially in the multivariate joint modelingframework.

On the Distribution and Origin of Sortal Classifiers in Altaic Languages (in Chinese)

The grammatical feature of sortal classifiers, common in East and Southeast Asian languages, is also found in 15 of the 65 Altaic languages we have examined, though the classifiers are far fewer and used optionally. These observations suggest that the Altaic classifier systems are not indigenous. Based on the Single Origin Hypothesis that Chinese is the only language with an indigenous classifier system in Eurasia, we propose that the rise of classifiers in Altaic is due to the influence of neighboring classifier languages. Having first confirmed that the putative classifiers in these 15 languages are genuine classifiers, we then examine the phonological and semantic characteristics of the classifiers identified in each language and detect the influence from either Chinese or Persian. Taking historical and geographical factors into consideration, we suggest that classifier languages east of Uyghur were influenced by Chinese, while those to the west are influenced by Persian; Uyghur itself was influenced by both. Assuming that Persian classifiers are not indigenous either, these findings suggest that the Single Origin Hypothesis is applicable to classifier languages in Altaic.

Systematics and evolutionary dynamics of insect-fern interactions in the specialized fern-spore feeding Cuprininae (Lepidoptera, Stathmopodidae)

Fern-spore-feeding (FSF) is rare and found in only four families of Lepidoptera. Stathmopodidae is the most speciose family that contains FSF species, and its subfamily Cuprininae exclusively specializes on FSF. However, three species of Stathmopodinae also specialize on FSF. To better understand the evolutionary history of FSF and, more generally, the significance of specialization on a peculiar host, a phylogenetic and taxonomic revision for this group is necessary. We reconstructed the most comprehensive molecular phylogeny, including one mitochondrial and four nuclear genes, of Stathmopodidae to date, including 137 samples representing 62 species, with a particular focus on the FSF subfamily, Cuprininae, including 33 species (41% of named species) from 6 of the 7 Cuprininae genera. Species from two other subfamilies, Stathmopodinae and Atkinsoniinae, were also included. We found that FSF evolved only once in Stathmopodidae and that the previous hypothesis of multiple origins of FSF was misled by inadequate taxonomy. Moreover, we showed that (1) speciation/extinction rates do not differ significantly between FSF and non-FSF groups and that (2) oligophage is the ancestral character state in Cuprininae. We further revealed that a faster rate of accumulating specialists over time, and thus a higher number of specialists, was achieved by a higher transition rate from oligophagages to specialists compared to the transition rate in the opposite direction. We finish by describing three new genera, Trigonodagen. nov., Petalagen. nov., and Pediformisgen. nov., and revalidating five genera: Cuprina, Calicotis, Thylacosceles, Actinoscelis, Thylacosceloides in Cuprininae, and we provide an updated taxonomic key to genera and a revised global checklist of Cuprininae.

The Roots of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics: What Are the Evolutionary and Neural Bases of Human Mathematics and Technology?

Introduction: Neural exaptations represent descent via transitions to novel neural functions. A primary transition in human cognitive and neural evolution was from a predominantly socially oriented primate brain to a brain that also instantiates and subserves science, technology, and engineering, all of which depend on mathematics. Upon what neural substrates and upon what evolved cognitive mechanisms did human capacities for science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM), and especially its mathematical underpinnings, emerge? Previous theory focuses on roles for tools, language, and arithmetic in the cognitive origins of STEM, but none of these factors appears sufficient to support the transition. Methods: In this article, I describe and evaluate a novel hypothesis for the neural origins and substrates of STEM-based cognition: that they are based in human kinship systems and human maximizing of inclusive fitness. Results: The main evidence for this hypothesis is threefold. First, as demonstrated by anthropologists, human kinship systems exhibit complex mathematical and geometrical structures that function under sets of explicit rules, and such systems and rules pervade and organize all human cultures. Second, human kinship underlies the core algebraic mechanism of evolution, maximization of inclusive fitness, quantified as personal reproduction plus the sum of all effects on reproduction of others, each multiplied by their coefficient of relatedness to self. This is the only “natural” equation expected to be represented in the human brain. Third, functional imaging studies show that kinship-related cognition activates frontal-parietal regions that are also activated in STEM-related tasks. In turn, the decision-making that integrates kinship levels with costs and benefits from alternative behaviors has recently been shown to recruit the lateral septum, a hub region that combines internal (from the prefrontal cortex, amygdala, and other regions) and external information relevant to social behavior, using a dedicated subsystem of neurons specific to kinship. Conclusions: Taken together, these lines of evidence suggest that kinship systems and kin-associated behaviors may represent exaptations for the origin of human STEM.

Long-COVID-19 autonomic dysfunction: An integrated view in the framework of inflammaging

The recently identified syndrome known as Long COVID (LC) is characterized by a constellation of debilitating conditions that impair both physical and cognitive functions, thus reducing the quality of life and increasing the risk of developing the most common age-related diseases. These conditions are linked to the presence of symptoms of autonomic dysfunction, in association with low cortisol levels, suggestive of reduced hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis activity, and with increased pro-inflammatory condition. Alterations of dopamine and serotonin neurotransmitter levels were also recently observed in LC. Interestingly, at least some of the proposed mechanisms of LC development overlap with mechanisms of Autonomic Nervous System (ANS) imbalance, previously detailed in the framework of the aging process. ANS imbalance is characterized by a proinflammatory sympathetic overdrive, and a concomitant decreased anti-inflammatory vagal parasympathetic activity, associated with reduced anti-inflammatory effects of the HPA axis and cholinergic anti-inflammatory pathway (CAP). These neuro-immune-endocrine system imbalanced activities fuel the vicious circle of chronic inflammation, i.e. inflammaging. Here, we refine our original hypothesis that ANS dysfunction fuels inflammaging and propose that biomarkers of ANS imbalance could also be considered biomarkers of inflammaging, recognized as the main risk factor for developing age-related diseases and the sequelae of viral infections, i.e. LC.

The Impact of Environmental Regulation on Technological Innovation of Enterprises: Based on Empirical Evidences of the Implementation of Pollution Charges in China

Abstract Environmental protection is closely related to high-quality economic developments. Based on the matching of micro-databases from 2000 to 2008, this study used the “Regulations on the Collection and Use of Pollution Fees” policy implemented in China in 2003 as the exogenous impact to construct the intensity Difference in Differences model in order to investigate the effects of pollutant discharge fee on technological innovation of enterprises and the underlying mechanisms. The results showed that governmental environmental regulations significantly improved the level of technological innovation of enterprises, and the conclusion was still valid after a series of robustness tests. The results of the parallel trend verified the rationality of the differential setting and the dynamic effects showed that the pollutant discharge fees had a continuous promoting effect on the technological innovation of enterprises. The results of the placebo tests rejected the original hypothesis of the mistaken model. The mechanism verifications revealed that the strengthening of environmental regulation by the government acted on the innovation level of enterprises through the two mechanisms, i.e., the promotion of enterprises’ fixed asset investments and government subsidies, and finally improved the enterprises’ technological innovation levels.

Effect of binocular visual cue availability on fruit and insect grasping performance in two cheirogaleids: Implications for primate origins hypotheses

Forward-facing eyes with parallel optic axes, which provide a wide field of binocular vision and precise depth perception, are among the diagnostic features of crown primates; however, the adaptive significance of this feature remains contentious. Two of the most prominent primate-origins hypotheses propose that either foraging for fruit or nocturnal predation on insects created selective pressures that led to the evolution of diagnostic primate traits, including a wide binocular field. To determine whether either of these hypotheses provides a viable explanation for the evolution of primates' derived eye orientation, the importance of binocular depth cues for the two tasks invoked by these hypotheses was evaluated experimentally in Microcebus murinus and Cheirogaleus medius, cheirogaleids' considered reasonable living analogs of the earliest euprimates. Performance in grasping insects and fruit was evaluated when the animals made use of their full binocular visual field and when their binocular visual field was restricted using a helmet-mounted blinder. Restriction of the binocular field had no effect on fruit grasping performance; however, restriction of the binocular field resulted in a significant deficit in insect predation performance. Differences in behavioral variables also suggest that insect predation is a more visually demanding task than fruit foraging. These results support the role of insect predation, but not fruit foraging, in contributing to the selective pressures that led to the evolution of parallel optic axes and a wide binocular field in crown primates.