We provide an overview of the most commonly used social network measures in animal research for static networks or time‐aggregated networks.
For each of these measures, we provide clear explanations ...as to what they measure, we describe their respective variants, we underline the necessity to consider these variants according to the research question addressed, and we indicate considerations that have not been taken so far.
We provide a guideline indicating how to use them depending on the data collection protocol, the social system studied and the research question addressed. Finally, we inform about the existent gaps and remaining challenges in the use of several variants and provide future research directions.
The hybrid electronically addressable random (HEAR) laser is a novel type of random fiber laser that presents the remarkable property of selection of the fiber section with lasing emission. Here we ...present a joint analysis of the correlations between intensity fluctuations at distinct wavelengths and replica symmetry breaking (RSB) behavior of the HEAR laser. We introduce a modified Pearson coefficient that simultaneously comprises both the Parisi overlap parameter and standard Pearson correlation coefficient. Our results highlight the contrast between the correlations and presence or not of RSB phenomenon in the spontaneous emission behavior well below threshold, replica-symmetric ASE regime slightly below threshold, and RSB phase with random lasing emission above threshold. In particular, in the latter we find that the onset of RSB behavior is accompanied by a stochastic dynamics of the lasing modes, leading to competition for gain intertwined with correlation and anti-correlation between modes in this complex photonic phase.
In social networks analysis, two different approaches have predominated in creating null models for hypothesis testing, namely pre‐network and node network permutation approaches. Although the ...pre‐network permutation approach appears more advantageous, its use has mainly been restricted to data on associations and sampling methods such as ‘group follows’.
The pre‐network permutation approach has recently been adapted to data on interactions and the focal sampling method, but its performance in different scenarios has not been thoroughly explored. Here, we assessed the performance of the pre‐network and node network permutation approach in several simulated scenarios based on proneness to false positive or false negatives and with or without observation bias.
Our results showed that the pre‐network permutation was sensitive to false positives in scenarios with or without observation bias. The node network permutation approach produced fewer false positives and negatives than the pre‐network approach, but only in scenarios without observation bias. In scenarios with observation bias, the node network permutation approach was outperformed by pre‐network permutation.
Caution should be taken when using the pre‐network and node network permutations to create null models with data collected via focal sampling. This study provides future methodological research perspectives for social network analyses.
Résumé
Dans l'analyse des réseaux sociaux, deux approches différentes ont prédominé pour créer modèles nuls aidant à tester des hypothèses, respectivement la permutation des liens et la permutation des nœuds. Bien que la permutation des liens semble plus avantageuse, elle a été principalement réservée aux données d'associations spatiales et aux méthodes d'échantillonnage de suivi de groupe.
L'approche par permutation des liens a été récemment adaptée aux données d'interactions et à la méthode d'échantillonnage par individu, mais ses performances dans ces différents scénarios n'ont pas été rigoureusement testées. Dans ce papier, nous analysons les performances des permutations de liens et des permutations de nœuds à travers différentes simulations favorisant les faux positifs et les faux négatifs ainsi que les biais d'observation.
Les résultats montrent que les permutations de liens sont sensibles aux faux positifs dans les scénarios avec ou sans biais d'observation. L’approche par permutation de nœuds conduit à moins de faux positifs ou de faux négatifs, mais seulement dans les scénarios sans biais d'observation. Dans les scénarios avec biais d'observation, l'approche par permutation de liens donne de meilleurs résultats que celle par permutation de nœuds.
Ainsi, les scientifiques doivent faire preuve d'une grande prudence en utilisant les permutations de liens et les permutations de nœuds pour créer des modèles nuls avec des données collectées par un échantillonnage par individu. Ainsi, cette étude propose des méthodologies pour les recherches futures dans l'analyse des réseaux sociaux.
Treatment of prostate cancer (PCa), a leading cause of cancer among males, lacks successful strategies especially in advanced, hormone‐refractory stages. Some clinical studies have shown an increase ...in neuroendocrine‐like cells parallel to the tumor progression but their exact role is a matter of debate. The prostate is a well‐known target for melatonin, which reduces PCa cells proliferation and induces neuroendocrine differentiation. To evaluate the mechanisms underlying the indole effects on neuroendocrine differentiation and its impact on PCa progression, we used a cell culture model (LNCaP) and a murine model (TRAMP). Persistent ERK1/2 activation was found in both, melatonin and androgen‐deprived cells. Melatonin blocked nuclear translocation of androgen receptor (AR), thus confirming anti‐androgenic actions of the indole. However, using a comparative genome microarray to check the differentially expressed genes in control, melatonin, or androgen‐deprived cells, some differences were found, suggesting a more complex role of the indole. By comparing control cells with those treated with melatonin or depleted of androgen, a cluster of 26 differentially expressed genes (±2.5‐fold) was found. Kallikreins (KLK)2 and KLK3 (PSA) were dramatically downregulated by both treatments whereas IGFBP3 and IGF1R were up‐ and downregulated, respectively, in both experimental groups, thus showing a role for IGF in both scenarios. Finally, melatonin prolonged the survival of TRAMP mice by 33% when given at the beginning or at advances stages of the tumor. Serum IGFBP3 was significantly elevated by the indole in early stages of the tumor, confirming in vivo the role of the IGF signaling in the oncostatic action of the indole.
Until recently, breastfeeding has been contraindicated for women living with HIV (WHIV) in the U.S. However, given the numerous health benefits of breastfeeding, recommendations have changed to ...support parental choice to breastfeed through shared decision-making. Although specific guidelines for managing the care of these women and their infants are not yet available, various approaches have been successful without infants acquiring HIV from their virologically suppressed mothers, thus, establishing breastfeeding as a viable option for the rising number of interested WHIV. This descriptive qualitative study aimed to identify factors influencing infant feeding choices decisions among WHIV in a multiethnic and multicultural population. A qualitative description design was used. WHIV who had given birth within 6 months were recruited using purposeful sampling. Data were collected using a semistructured interview guide in the participant's preferred language. Content analysis was used, and barriers and facilitators were separated and used to generate the themes and categories. In total, 20 participants were interviewed, and from these interviews, 11 barriers and 14 facilitators that influenced the decision to breastfeed were identified. Major barriers were related to the interference with daily activities, fear of transmission, lack of a standardized approach to education, and maternal concerns. Key facilitators included the benefits and advantages of breastmilk, access to more scientific research information on breastfeeding in the context of HIV, advice from a lactation consultant, emotional connection and attachment with the child, support from family and partners, empowering and supporting autonomy and decision-making about infant feeding, providing feeding choices, access to the lived experiences of women who have successfully breastfed their infants, and collaborative relationship with the physician and other healthcare providers. The study identified barriers and facilitators to breastfeeding among WHIV that may influence their infant feeding decision-making process. More research is needed to guide the standardization of institutional policies and develop strategies to support breastfeeding in this population.
Infants with congenital Zika syndrome (CZS) are known to exhibit characteristic brain abnormalities. However, the brain anatomy of Zika virus (ZIKV)-exposed infants, born to ZIKV-positive pregnant ...mothers, who have normal-appearing head characteristics at birth, has not been evaluated in detail. The aim of this prospective study is, therefore, to compare the cortical and subcortical brain structural volume measures of ZIKV-exposed normocephalic infants to age-matched healthy controls.
We acquired T2-MRI of the whole brain of 18 ZIKV-exposed infants and 8 normal controls on a 3T MRI scanner. The MR images were auto-segmented into eight tissue types and anatomical regions including the white matter, cortical grey matter, deep nuclear grey matter, corticospinal fluid, amygdala, hippocampus, cerebellum, and brainstem. We determined the volumes of these regions and calculated the total intracranial volume (TICV) and head circumference (HC). We compared these measurements between the two groups, controlling for infant age at scan, by first comparing results for all subjects in each group and secondly performing a subgroup analysis for subjects below 8 weeks of postnatal age at scan. ZIKV-exposed infants demonstrated a significant decrease in amygdala volume compared to the control group in both the group and subgroup comparisons (p<0.05, corrected for multiple comparisons using FDR). No significant volume differences were observed in TICV, HC, or any specific brain tissue structures or regions. Study limitations include small sample size, which was due to abrupt cessation of extramural funding as the ZIKV epidemic waned.
ZIKV-exposed infants exhibited smaller volumes in the amygdala, a brain region primarily involved in emotional and behavioral processing. This brain MRI finding may lead to poorer behavioral outcomes and warrants long-term monitoring of pediatric cases of infants with gestational exposure to Zika virus as well as other neurotropic viruses.
Well-differentiated rectal neuroendocrine tumors (R-NETs) are increasingly being detected by screening colonoscopy, commonly manifesting as polyps. Chromogranin A is frequently negative in R-NETs. ...Insulinoma-associated protein 1 (INSM1) is a novel transcription factor that has recently shown excellent sensitivity and specificity for neuroendocrine (NE) differentiation in various anatomic sites but has not been systematically evaluated in R-NET. A retrospective histologic review of all available R-NETs was performed and stained for INSM1 immunohistochemistry, as well as for Ki-67 and chromogranin A, if not already available. Clinical and follow-up information was obtained from the medical chart. A total of 94 R-NETs were included in our cohort. Of these, 82 (87%) were <10 mm in greatest dimension, and submucosal involvement was noted in 70 patients (74%). The tumors displayed a variety of histologic patterns, and the majority of the cases had intratumoral fibrosis (61%). Synaptophysin and INSM1 were reactive in 100% cases, whereas chromogranin A was reactive in 45% cases. The mean Ki-67 proliferative index was 1.6% (range: 0.5–5%). The median follow-up of the cohort was 30 months (80 cases, range: 3–226 months). Only three patients were identified with regional lymph node metastasis, all of which showed a tumor size ≥10 mm and had lymphovascular invasion (LVI). R-NETs in our fairly large cohort display an indolent biologic behavior without distant metastasis. Metastatic disease in lymph nodes was associated with tumor size and the presence of LVI, but not with the Ki-67 proliferative index. This is also the first systematic study documenting INSM1 as a highly sensitive NE marker in R-NET.
•The majority of rectal neuroendocrine tumors (R-NETs) are <10 mm in size and do not extend beyond the submucosa.•R-NETs display a variety of histologic patterns, and the majority show prominent intratumoral fibrosis.•Synaptophysin and INSM1 show excellent sensitivity in these tumors (100%), whereas chromogranin A is less sensitive (45%%).•The majority of R-NETs were classified as WHO grade 1 (91%), with a mean Ki-67 proliferative index of 1.6%.•Regional lymph node metastasis (in 3% cases) is associated with lymphovascular invasion and a tumor size >10 mm.
Previous primate social network studies largely limited their focus to grooming and/or aggression networks, particularly among adult females. In addition, the consistency of individuals' network ...centrality across time and/or different networks has received little attention, despite this being critical for a global understanding of dynamic social structure. Here, we analyzed the grooming, aggression, and play social networks of a group of 26–28 wild vervet monkeys (Chlorocebus pygerythrus), including adults and juveniles, over two periods of 6 months. We collected data on grooming, play, and aggression using focal animal sampling with instantaneous recording and ad libitum sampling. We examined whether individuals' network centralities were consistent over the two periods and across networks, as well as the effect of age, sex, and dominance rank on three individual centrality metrics in each network and within each study period. We found that individuals were quite consistent in their network position from 1 year to the next despite changes in group composition. However, their network centralities were not correlated across networks, except for Strength and weighted Eigenvector centrality between grooming and aggression networks. We also found that in the aggression network, high‐rankers showed the highest centrality in most network metrics (e.g., Degree, Strength, and Eigenvector centrality) and compared to males, females were most central in 2017 but not in 2018. In the grooming network, high‐ranking females had the highest Eigenvector centrality, whereas in the play network, juvenile males had the highest Eigenvector centrality. Our findings corroborate previous findings on vervet monkeys. In addition, they show that individuals' network centralities may vary among networks and over time; thus highlighting the effect of sociodemographics and behaviors' functions on the group level dynamics of social behavior.
Grooming network in 2017. Each node represents an individual labelled by its name. Colors of the label names code for the age: juvenile females are written in pink; juvenile males in yellow; adult females are written in red; adult males in orange. Size node is ranked according to the weighted Eigenvector centrality: bigger is a node, the more an individual is involved in grooming and has partners who are also involved in great number of grooming.The color gradation of the nodes represents the hierarchical ranks: dark blue represents the higher‐ranked individuals while light blue represents lower‐ranked individuals.
Highlights
In wild vervet monkeys, higher ranked animals were more central in aggression and grooming networks, and females were more central in aggression and grooming networks than males, especially when the group included few adult males.
Juvenile males were the more central in the play network, having more playmates, playing more, and being connected to other central conspecifics than females.
Individuals were consistent in their network position across years despite changes in group composition.
To explain the evolutionary emergence of uniquely human skills and motivations for cooperation, Tomasello et al. (
2012
, in
Current Anthropology
53(6):673–92) proposed the interdependence ...hypothesis. The key adaptive context in this account was the obligate collaborative foraging of early human adults. Hawkes (
2014
, in
Human Nature
25(1):28–48), following Hrdy (
Mothers and Others
, Harvard University Press, 2009), provided an alternative account for the emergence of uniquely human cooperative skills in which the key was early human infants’ attempts to solicit care and attention from adults in a cooperative breeding context. Here we attempt to reconcile these two accounts. Our composite account accepts Hrdy’s and Hawkes’s contention that the extremely early emergence of human infants’ cooperative skills suggests an important role for cooperative breeding as adaptive context, perhaps in early
Homo
. But our account also insists that human cooperation goes well beyond these nascent skills to include such things as the communicative and cultural conventions, norms, and institutions created by later
Homo
and early modern humans to deal with adult problems of social coordination. As part of this account we hypothesize how each of the main stages of human ontogeny (infancy, childhood, adolescence) was transformed during evolution both by infants’ cooperative skills “migrating up” in age and by adults’ cooperative skills “migrating down” in age.
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