Mutual Responsiveness Research Articles

Interplay between de novo and salvage pathways of GDP-fucose synthesis

GDP-fucose is synthesised via two pathways: de novo and salvage. The first uses GDP-mannose as a substrate, and the second uses free fucose. To date, these pathways have been considered to work separately and not to have an influence on each other. We report the mutual response of the de novo and salvage pathways to the lack of enzymes from a particular route of GDP-fucose synthesis. We detected different efficiencies of GDP-fucose and fucosylated structure synthesis after a single inactivation of enzymes of the de novo pathway. Our study demonstrated the unequal influence of the salvage enzymes on the production of GDP-fucose by enzymes of the de novo biosynthesis pathway. Simultaneously, we detected an elevated level of one of the enzymes of the de novo pathway in the cell line lacking the enzyme of the salvage biosynthesis pathway. Additionally, we identified dissimilarities in fucose uptake between cells lacking TSTA3 and GMDS proteins.

Solitude and serotonin: juvenile isolation alters the covariation between social behavior and cFos expression by serotonergic neurons.

Variation in the mutual responsiveness of social partners to each other can be reflected in behavioral suites that covary with neural activity in ways that track the salience or valence of interactions. Juvenile social isolation alters social behavior and neural activity during social interaction, but whether and how it alters the covariation between behavior and neural activity has not been as well explored. To address this issue, four classes of experimental subjects: isolated males, socially housed males, isolated females, and socially housed females, were paired with an opposite-sex social partner that had been socially housed. Social behaviors and c-Fos expression in the serotonergic dorsal raphe nucleus (DRN) were then measured in subjects following the social interactions. Relative to social housing, postweaning isolation led to a decrease in the density of neurons double-labeled for tryptophan hydroxylase and c-Fos in the dorsomedial subdivision of the DRN, regardless of sex. Vocal and non-vocal behaviors were also affected by isolation. In interactions with isolated males, both ultrasonic vocalization (USVs) and broadband vocalizations (squeaks) increased in conjunction with greater male investigation of females. Neural and behavioral measures also correlated with each other. In the isolated male group, the density of double-labeled neurons in the dorsomedial DRN was negatively correlated with USV production and positively correlated with a principal component of non-vocal behavior corresponding to greater defensive kicking by females and less investigation and mounting behavior. This correlation was reversed in direction for socially housed males, and for isolated males versus isolated females. These findings confirm that the dynamics of social interactions are reflected in c-Fos activation in the dorsomedial DRN, and suggest an altered responsiveness of serotonergic neurons to social interaction following social isolation in males, in parallel with an altered male response to female cues.

Towards a New Ethos of Science or a Reform of the Institution of Science? Merton Revisited and the Prospects of Institutionalizing the Research Values of Openness and Mutual Responsiveness

In this article, I will explore how the underlying research values of ‘openness’ and ‘mutual responsiveness’, which are central to open science practices, can be integrated into a new ethos of science. Firstly, I will revisit Robert Merton's early contribution to this issue, examining whether the ethos of science should be understood as a set of norms for scientists to practice ‘good’ science or as a set of research values as a functional requirement of the scientific system to produce knowledge, irrespective of individual adherence to these norms. Secondly, I will analyse the recent codification of scientific practice in terms of ‘scientific integrity’, a framework that Merton did not pursue. Based on this analysis, and illustrated on the case of COVID-19 as a case in which the institution of science was challenged to deliver urgently on societal desirable outcomes, I will argue that promoting open science and its core norms of collaboration and openness requires broader governance of the institution of science in its relationship with society at large, rather than relying solely on self-governance within the scientific community through a new ethos of science. This conclusion has implications for re-evaluating research assessments, suggesting that the evaluation of the scientific system should take precedence over evaluating individual researchers, and that incentives should be provided to encourage specific research behaviour rather than solely focusing on individual research outputs.

The Promises of Responsible Open Science: Is Institutionalization of Openness and Mutual Responsiveness Enough?

Von Schomberg offers a compelling examination of key open science principles and their potential role in fostering responsible research and innovation (RRI). Utilizing Merton's Ethos of Science framework, the paper constructs a series of arguments supporting a central thesis: “the transition towards open science is vital to facilitate RRI.” This transition necessitates significant institutional reforms within the scientific community and adjustments to incentive structures that promote the adoption of open and mutually responsive practices.The manuscript reframes the discourse surrounding responsibility and responsiveness in light of the evolving landscape of open science, shifting the focus from normative commitments to actionable frameworks in research and open science practices. Overall, the position paper strives to bridge the gap between idealised models of scientific communities based on RRI principles and the reality of actual scientific endeavour (Anderson et al., 2007; Politi, 2021, 2024).However, it is important to acknowledge certain omissions that could enrich the analysis. Firstly, a more comprehensive examination of the profound crisis facing science amidst the increasing marketisation and commodification of academia and research would provide valuable context beyond discussions of system failures related to productivity and reproducibility. Secondly, a more nuanced and critical approach to conceptualising open science would enrich the discussion, considering its multifaceted nature and potential pitfalls. Thirdly, the validity of the Mertonian framework and its selective analysis of values, particularly its exclusive focus on the norm of communism. Lastly, a deeper exploration of the challenges and promises inherent in the pursuit of responsible Open Science within ongoing institutional processes.

Responses to the critics

Personal comment on the responses to “Towards a New Ethos of Science or a Reform of the Institution of Science? Merton Revisited and the Prospects of Institutionalizing the Research Values of Openness and Mutual Responsiveness” by René von Schomberg.

Towards the Non-Mertonian Ethos of a Non-Mertonian Science: Situating the Research Value of Openness

It is hard to disagree with the thrust of René von Schomberg’s position paper. It is driven by the worry that current conceptions of “open science” are all too impoverished – that they need to be complemented by the social practice of “mutual responsiveness”. In terms of political theory or notions of democracy, on the one hand, in terms of socially relevant research practice, on the other hand, only an ambitious commitment to open science will be robust enough to make a difference and contribute to the solution of pressing problems. In contrast, it is paying lip service only to the ideal of openness when “open science” becomes reduced to “open access publishing” or data storage rituals. As von Schomberg shows, this might actually deepen disparities and redundancies within dysfunctional science.

Responsive Research and Scientific Autonomy

Von Schomberg’s call to place mutual responsiveness – which I understand as the ability of researchers and the research system as a whole to foster meaningful exchanges and learn from novel experiences, no matter where those originate – at the core of Open Science and related efforts to reform the scientific landscape is both timely and significant. Widespread sharing is not enough to guarantee responsible and inclusive research, nor are vague appeals to improve research culture, whatever it is that such culture may turn out to include (Leonelli, 2023). Rather, emphasis needs to be placed on the conditions under which sharing materials, methods and insights – and debating the goals and directions towards which these may be put to use – may improve research exchange, communication and scrutiny, resulting in scientific outputs that are both reliable and socially responsive. Hence von Schomberg’s focus on the interplay between institutional and behavioural features of science and his plea for a reform in governance structures, such as initiated by COARA, are very well-taken. He is, however, too quick to dismiss the importance of some degree of autonomy for those involved in creating knowledge. To show why this matters, I here briefly discuss two of von Schomberg’s additional claims: (1) his focus on ‘knowledge actors’ as the protagonists of research efforts; and (2) his critique of the effectiveness of self-governance efforts by researchers.

A longitudinal study of breastfeeding relationships at home during the COVID-19 pandemic: A grounded theory method.

To describe the process of breastfeeding relationships among stay-at-home mother and infant dyads at 1, 3, 5 and 6 months. A longitudinal qualitative online survey design was used. Data were obtained at 1, 3, 5 and 6 months from 26 breastfeeding mothers who stayed home with their infants and directly breastfed at least once a day for the first 6 months between June 2022 and August 2023. Mothers' written responses to 3 open-ended questions were analysed to assess breastfeeding experiences at home, thoughts/comments while directly breastfeeding and breastfeeding concerns/problems and strategies they used. Based on grounded theory, inductive content analysis was used to analyse the data. Trustworthiness of results was established by coding to consensus, formal peer debriefing and maintaining an audit trail. 'Breastfeeding Relationships at Home,' the core construct, was identified and organized the process of breastfeeding relationships into 5 domains: (1) mothers' emotional well-being while breastfeeding, (2) infant-led feeding, (3) alternatives to breastfeeding, (4) evaluation of breastfeeding and (5) changes in breastfeeding as infants grow older. Breastfeeding is not simply about feeding breast milk but also involves nurturing and developing a relationship between mother and infant. Across the domains, mutual responsiveness, a central element of the breastfeeding relationship was clear. Mothers who were committed to breastfeeding with embedded infant suckling reached emotional well-being in return for their engagement which has potential to reduce maternal stress and prevent postpartum depression. Findings from the current study add to nurses' knowledge about the relationship building process between stay-at-home mothers and their infants in the first 6 months of breastfeeding during the COVID-19 pandemic. Nurses must remain sensitive to aid the development of breastfeeding relationships in the home environment to maximize mutual responsiveness. No patients or public involved.

Clinically defining the opioid-exposed birthing person and infant as a dyad to support bedside care, surveillance, and research.

An increased incidence of maternal opioid use disorder (OUD) and neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS) has prompted recommendations supporting a dyadic approach to care for birthing persons and their infants. However, there are no consensus guidelines outlining how the dyad is clinically defined. To examine how the opioid-exposed birthing person-infant dyad has been defined for purposes of data collection and research, a literature review applying the RAND/UCLA Appropriateness Method was conducted. The search yielded 320 abstracts, with 110 articles identified as having a dyadic focus. While no articles included a specific definition for the dyad, 33 (30%) contained a descriptive reference to the birthing person-infant dyad. Thematic analysis revealed eight recurring elements characteristic of the dyad: (1) engagement, (2) communication, (3) bonding, (4) attachment, (5) mutual responsiveness, (6) reciprocity, (7) synchrony, and (8) attunement. Integrating these elements revealed the interactional relationship between the opioid-exposed birthing person and infant as the foundational principle that defines the dyad. This definition shifts the focus of the opioid-exposed dyad from two individual patient populations to an interactional relationship that has broad applicability for clinical use, public health data collection, and research considerations.

Multiple faces of stress in the zebrafish (Danio rerio) brain.

The changing expressions of certain genes as a consequence of exposure to stressors has not been studied in detail in the fish brain. Therefore, a stress trial with zebrafish was conducted, aiming at identifying relevant gene regulation pathways in different regions of the brain. As acute stressors within this trial, feed rewarding, feed restriction, and air exposure have been used. The gene expression data from the experimental fish brains have been analyzed by means of principal component analyses (PCAs), whereby the individual genes have been compiled according to the regulation pathways in the brain. The results did not indicate a mutual response across the treatment and gender groups. To evaluate whether a similar sample structure belonging to a large sample size would have allowed the classification of the gene expression patterns according to the treatments, the data have been bootstrapped and used for building random forest models. These revealed a high accuracy of the classifications, but different genes in the female and male zebrafish were found to have contributed to the classification algorithms the most. These analyses showed that less than eight genes are, in most cases, sufficient for an accurate classification. Moreover, mainly genes belonging to the stress axis, to the isotocin regulation pathways, or to the serotonergic pathways had the strongest influence on the outcome of the classification models.

Towards a New Ethos of Science or a Reform of the Institution of Science? Merton Revisited and the Prospects of Institutionalizing the Research Values of Openness and Mutual Responsiveness

Towards a New Ethos of Science or a Reform of the Institution of Science? Merton Revisited and the Prospects of Institutionalizing the Research Values of Openness and Mutual Responsiveness

ORGANIZATIONAL CAPACITY FOR LEARNERS: LET THEM ALL SPEAK AND WRITE

In classroom situations encouraging learners to holistically engage in spoken and written tasks in English language learning with characteristics of being additional and unfamiliar, is equated to enhancing learning environment, thereby fostering individual and collective growth. For organizations to inspire recipients with speaking and writing abilities, this leads to innovative solutions. This paper seeks to inquire whether fostering opportunities in an organizational capacity for learners to engage in speaking and written activities have any significant importance towards enhanced language development. Underpinning this inquiry is a qualitative research approach with a case study design to explore key characteristics of the studied case. To gather data, five conveniently nominated participants were identified from a rurally located institution of higher learning. Semi-structured interviews led to a thematic analysis of gathered data. Findings revealed that through consistent engagements in spoken and written texts (i) there were improved communication skills and (ii) the development of an inclusive learning environment. The study concludes that when learner communication skills have been refined, this is tantamount to academic excellence with recommendations that individual learner contributions should be valued as inclusion promotes mutual responsiveness among teachers and learners not only in language learning but across all subjects underpinning curriculum.

Participants-based Synchronous Optimization Network for skeleton-based action recognition

Nowadays, graph convolutional networks are widely used in skeleton-based action recognition. However, these methods ignore the difference between main participant and subordinate participant, as well as the consistency and causality reasoning in human–human interactive actions. In this paper, we construct a novel Participants-based Synchronous Optimization Network (PSONet). Firstly, we construct main participant branch, subordination participant branch and relative movements branch for the individual and interactive information of participants. Secondly, in the training process, Participants-based Synchronous Response (PSR) loss is constructed to optimize our network. Online mutual response mechanism in PSR regulates the consistency and captures the causality between the main participant action and the overall interactive action. Joint cross-entropy loss in PSR is used to constrain the action instances with individual and interactive action information. Finally, Representative Temporal Enhanced (RTE) block is proposed to complement representative temporal aggregation features and enhance the spatial modeling of representative temporal frames. Experiments have been conducted on the NTU RGB+D 60 dataset and the NTU RGB+D 120 dataset, which have verified that PSONet outperforms state-of-the-art methods.

Elucidating mechanisms linking mothers’ and fathers’ mind-mindedness in infancy with children’s self-regulation at early preschool age

Extensive research has examined factors that contribute to individual differences in children’s self-regulation (SR), a key social-emotional competence crucial to adjustment and mental health. Those differences become salient and measurable at late toddler age. In the CAPS (N = 200 community families), we examined mothers’ and fathers’ appropriate mind-mindedness (MM)—the ability to view the child as a psychological agent and correctly interpret his or her mental states—as a predictor of children’s SR. MM was observed in parent–child interactions at 8 months, and SR was observed as the capacity for deliberate delay in standard tasks at 3 years. Reflecting a family system perspective, processes both within and across mother–child and father–child relationships were examined in one model. Parent–child mutual responsiveness, observed during interactions at 16 months, was modeled as a mediator of the paths from MM to SR. Fathers’ MM had a significant, direct positive effect on SR; in addition, it enhanced mutual responsiveness in both father–child and mother–child dyads and promoted child SR through enhanced mother–child mutual responsiveness. The findings elucidate relatively poorly understood mechanisms linking parental MM in infancy with SR at early preschool age, highlight similarities and differences in the processes unfolding in mother–child and father–child relationships, and emphasize interparental dynamics in socialization.

Who influences whom? Inequality in the mutual responsiveness between voters and elites

ABSTRACT Recent years have seen a proliferation of research on the connection between voters and elites. One literature explores whether elites’ responsiveness is biased towards affluent voters, but does not allow for reverse causality. Another literature investigates voters’ responsiveness to elite cues but pays limited attention to potential inequality in such responsiveness. This study combines insights from both literatures by analysing income inequality in elite responsiveness to voters, and vice versa. It does so using detailed time-series data on citizens’ preferences and party positions towards government spending in the Netherlands. Empirical analyses reveal that there is no exclusive pro-middle or pro-rich bias in voter influence, while adaptation increases with income. The analysis has important implications for the study of representation and inequality and, more broadly, for the relationship between citizens and elites in established democracies.

無爲思想의 應用과 自然治癒力의 醫術

This paper investigates the relationship of medical practitioners based on the concepts of Naturalism and Power of natural treatment(自然治癒力) in Taoism. It focuses on how the concept of Naturalism has been applied and evolved in 『Laozi』, 『Zhuangzi』, 『Huainanzi』, and 『Huangdi-Neijing』. The characteristic of the Naturalism in 『Laozi』 is to minimize artificial acts(人爲) and preserve the essence(精) and spirit(神) of the body, achieving maximum effects with minimal involvement and effort. 『Laozi』 emphasizes emptying desires and delusions, achieving inner stability, behaving with gentleness and humility, practicing moderation in vital energy(精氣) and conduct, and cultivating physical essence. The teaching of 『Laozi』 aims to let the state and the body operate naturally without artificial acts. Furthermore, 『Laozi』 suggests that even when problems occur in any process, the body has an inherent self-healing power that resolves the health problems and restores its original state.
 『Zhuangzi』 depicts the ideal of living with empty mind without greed for external things, practicing deep breathing, and cultivating the union of heaven and human(天人合一). It emphasizes the possibilities of the universal system and the motive power of medicine and science within the concept of Naturalism. Interpreted through Guo Xiang(郭象)'s theory of self-becoming(獨化論), Taoist philosophy of 『Zhuangzi』 enhances its natural scientific characteristics. If the meaning of self-perception(自得) in 『Zhuangzi』 is interpreted through Guo Xiang's theory of inner sage and outer ruler(內聖外王論), it can be summarized as the perception of governing the external world through the inactive attitude(無爲). The theory of Naturalism in 『Zhuangzi』 respects the principles of nature and individual nature and personality, aiming to govern all affairs in accordance with the will of heaven(天命) and prolong the lifespan of individuals and communities.
 In 『Huainanzi』, the concept of Naturalism is supplemented with the notion of assisting the realization of one's innate nature, emphasizing the necessity of active efforts and education. According to 『Huainanzi』, there are conditions for natural healing in the spirit(神) and body(形). If the body follows the spirit, it leads to survival and healing, while if the spirit follows the body, it leads to death. The theory of mutual response(感應論) and the relation of heaven and men(天人相通) in 『Huainanzi』 control the fundamental aspects to the terminal symptoms through the power of natural healing. 『Huainanzi』 emphasizes the importance of active actions based on one's nature. In the context of 『Huainanzi』, Naturalism as an inactive attitude, amplifies the realization of all possibilities by adding human actions, embodying an active and intentional philosophy. The characteristic of 『Huainanzi』 is respecting the natural disposition while considering the importance of human actions.
 『Huangdi-Neijing』 is a medical theory that applies the Taoist concept of Naturalism. In 『Huangdi-Neijing』, the role of medical techniques based on the power of natural healing is crucial. The direction of life and death is determined by the principles of direct motion(順行) and retrogression(逆行) respectively. The treatment approach focuses on balancing and promoting circulation. The human body possesses dynamism. It is important to regulate the balance between Yin and Yang and the fullness and emptiness of Qi(氣) within the appropriate therapeutic period. By addressing the problem within the progressing time period, one can resolve a problem and restore the body to its original healthy state. The emphasis here lies in the timing propriety of treatment. The logic of cause and effect(本末) from Taoism has been specialized into the medical theory of 『Huangdi-Neijing』. In essence, diseases have both root causes and peripheral symptoms, and the relationship between diseases and treatments involves addressing both the root cause and the peripheral symptoms.

Sympathetic Organizations: body, mind, and society in Robert Whytt and David Hume

This paper argues that Robert Whytt's concepts of ‘particular’ and ‘general sympathy’ in animate bodies are homologous with a less-discussed concept of sympathy in David Hume. There are at least three different concepts of sympathy in Hume's Treatise of human nature. Hume is rather critical of alleged sympathies between different bodies, but he elaborates a much-discussed theory of sympathy explaining the interpersonal exchange of sentiments. He invokes a third concept to designate the phenomenon of mutual responsiveness between, and coordination for a common end among, the parts of the mind while suggesting that the mind's unity and identity is of the same kind as the unity of organized living bodies. Without deploying this concept explicitly, he speaks a remarkably identical language while discussing social coordination and convention. This third concept is congruent with the physiological sympathies that Whytt finds in animate bodies. According to the unfolding picture, Whytt and Hume provide conceptually highly integrated accounts of living bodies, minds, and societies inspired by an idea of vital matter.

Mutual response hypothesis between surface temperature and aerosol (BC and non-BC) mass concentration observed in an urban environment

The mutual response between near surface aerosol concentration and surface temperature works in a complicated manner. A recent study has introduced a hypothesis of mutual response between surface temperature and near surface black carbon (BC) mass concentration which states that ‘more fall in morning hour surface temperature (T) contribute to the enhancement of BC fumigation peak after the sunrise which positively impacts the extra rise in mid-day temperature over a region during the day time’. Morning hour surface temperature is proportionally linked with the strength of the night time near surface temperature inversion which contributes to the enhancement of the fumigation peak of BC aerosols after the sunrise and the enhanced fumigation peak can impact the degree of the mid-day surface temperature rise by influencing the instantaneous heating. However, it didn't mention the role of non-BC aerosols. Further, the hypothesis was drawn based on the co-located ground-based observations of surface temperature and BC concentration at a rural location of peninsular India. Though, it was mentioned that the hypothesis can be tested independently of locations, but was not thoroughly validated for an urban environment where the loading of both BC and non-BC aerosols are high. In this context, the first objective of the present work is to methodically test the BC –T hypothesis over an Indian metropolitan city, Kolkata, using the suite of measurements obtained from Kolkata Camp Observatory of NARL (KCON) along with other supporting data. In addition, the validity of the hypothesis for the non-BC fraction of PM2.5 aerosols over the same location is also tested. Besides ascertaining the above-mentioned hypothesis over an urban location, it is found that the enhancement of non-BC PM2.5 aerosols peak after the sunrise can negatively influences the mid-day temperature rise over a region during the day time.

Determinants of exclusive direct breastfeeding using constructs from the breastfeeding relationship scale

ABSTRACT Objectives This study examined the relationship among constructs of the Breastfeeding Relationship Scale and exclusive direct breastfeeding (EDBF) while controlling for covariates in US breastfeeding dyads in the first 3 months. Background The Breastfeeding Relationship Scale was developed to measure mother-infant mutual responsiveness during breastfeeding in response to perceived insufficient milk, but there is no clear understanding about the relationships between the Breastfeeding Relationship Scale’s constructs and EDBF. Methods A cross-sectional design was used. The convenience sample of 589 directly breastfeeding mothers in the US whose infants were between 1 and 12 weeks of age were included for analysis using a structural equation model. Covariates for EDBF included mother’s age, education, marital status, parity, prior breastfeeding experience, infant’s age, weight, and sex. Results Mother-Infant Breastfeeding Interaction and Breastfeeding Synchronicity were related (β = 0.33, p < .001), as were Breastfeeding Synchronicity and Perceived Adequate Milk Supply (β = 0.35, p < .001) and Mother-Infant Breastfeeding Interaction and Perceived Adequate Milk Supply (β = 0.08, p = .05). The relationship between Mother-Infant Breastfeeding Interaction and Breastfeeding Synchronicity with EDBF was fully mediated by Perceived Adequate Milk Supply, where the odds of EDBF was higher for mothers with higher scores on Perceived Adequate Milk Supply (OR = 1.61, p < .001) and prior breastfeeding experience (OR = 2.31, p = .006). Conclusions Perceived Adequate Milk Supply and prior breastfeeding experience are major determinants of EDBF in the first 3 months. Breastfeeding Synchronicity can bolster Mother-Infant Breastfeeding Interaction and promote Perceived Adequate Milk. More attention should be paid to breastfeeding relationship to be the result of EDBF.

From action to ethics: A process-relational approach to prosocial development.

Explaining how children first become active prosocial and then later moral agents requires, we argue, beginning with action and interaction with others. We take a process-relational perspective and draw on developmental systems theory in arguing that infants cannot be born knowing about prosociality or morality or anything else. Instead, they are born with emerging abilities to act and react. Their biological embodiment links them to their environment and creates the social environment in which they develop. A clear distinction between biological and social levels cannot be made in the context of ongoing development because they are thoroughly interwoven in a bidirectional system in which they mutually create each other. We focus on infants' emerging ability to interact and develop within a human developmental system, and prosociality and morality emerge at the level of interaction. Caring is a constitutive aspect of the forms of experience in which infants are embedded in the process of becoming persons. Infants are immersed in a world of mutual responsiveness within caring relationships that are infused with concern, interest, and enjoyment. In such a developmental system, infants become persons when they are treated as persons.