Gossip and competitive altruism support cooperation in a Public Good game

When there is an opportunity to gain a positive reputation, individuals are more willing to sacrifice their immediate self-interest. Partner choice creates opportunities for competitive altruism, i.e. individuals compete to be regarded as more generous and to be chosen for future partnerships. Tests of the competitive altruism hypothesis have focused so far on reputation based on direct observation, whereas the role of gossip has not been theoretically and empirically addressed. Partner choice can create an incentive to cooperate and to send truthful messages, but it can also work in the opposite direction. In order to understand the consequences of partner choice on cooperation and gossip, we designed an experimental study in which participants played a sequence of Public Goods games and gossip rounds. In our two treatments, we observed that cooperation increased when there was an opportunity to be selected, but also that cooperators sent more honest messages than defectors, and that this strategy was prevalent in the treatment in which inter-group competition was implemented. We also found evidence that participants detached themselves from the information more often when lying. Taken together, our study fills a theoretical and empirical gap by showing that partner choice increases both cooperation and honesty of gossip. This article is part of the theme issue ''The language of cooperation: reputation and honest signalling''

Gossip and competitive altruism support cooperation in a Public Good game

When there is an opportunity to gain a positive reputation, individuals are more willing to sacrifice their immediate self-interest. Partner choice creates opportunities for competitive altruism, i.e. individuals compete to be regarded as more generous and to be chosen for future partnerships. Tests of the competitive altruism hypothesis have focused so far on reputation based on direct observation, whereas the role of gossip has not been theoretically and empirically addressed. Partner choice can create an incentive to cooperate and to send truthful messages, but it can also work in the opposite direction. In order to understand the consequences of partner choice on cooperation and gossip, we designed an experimental study in which participants played a sequence of Public Goods games and gossip rounds. In our two treatments, we observed that cooperation increased when there was an opportunity to be selected, but also that cooperators sent more honest messages than defectors, and that this strategy was prevalent in the treatment in which inter-group competition was implemented. We also found evidence that participants detached themselves from the information more often when lying. Taken together, our study fills a theoretical and empirical gap by showing that partner choice increases both cooperation and honesty of gossip. This article is part of the theme issue ‘The language of cooperation: reputation and honest signalling’

Study of faecal parameters and body condition in dogs with a diet supplemented with Lactobacillus acidophilus D2/CSL (CECT 4529)

n/

Preliminary researches to standardize a method of quantitative analysis on Lactobacillus acidophilus in poultry feed

The study focuses on the method and the problems about quantitative analyses in the research on Lactobacillus acidophilus after its addition to commercial poultry-feed, whose rough grinding is not suitable for the "IDF Standard quantitative method for lactic acid bacteria count at 37°C" employed in dairy products. Poultry-feed was prepared every month. A sample was collected before and after adding Lactobacillus acidophilus, while analyses were carried out respectively at T 0, 15 and 28 days after the food storage at 4-6°C. The best outcomes (more 30% of recovered cells compared to the standard method) resulted from samples subjected to the homogenization and the addition of Skim Milk Powder

Effect of dietary supplementation with Lactobacillus acidophilus D2/CSL (CECT 4529) on caecum microbioma and productive performance in broiler chickens

This study examines the effects of the dietary supplementation with Lactobacillus acidophilus D2/CSL (CECT 4529) (LA) on productive performances, incidence of foot pad dermatitis and caecum microbioma in broiler chickens. A total of 1,100 one-day old male Ross 308 chicks were divided into 2 groups of 16 replicates with 25 birds each and reared from 1-41 d. One group was fed a basal diet (CON) and the other group the same diet supplemented with LA. Caecum contents were collected from 4 selected birds at day one and 5 selected birds at the end of the rearing period. Then, they were submitted to DNA extraction and whole DNA shotgun metagenomic sequencing. Overall, the LA supplementation produced a significant beneficial effect on body weight gain between 15-28 d and improved feed conversion rate in the overall period. On the contrary, litter moisture, pH and incidence of the foot pad lesions were not affected by LA. Birds treated with LA showed a lower occurrence of pasty vent at both 14 and 28 d. At the end of the rearing period, Lachanospiraceae were significantly higher in LA birds in comparison to CON (17.07 vs 14.39%; P = 0.036). Moreover, Ruminococcus obeum, Clostridium clostridioforme, Roseburia intestinalis, Lachnos-piraceae bacterium 14-2T and Coprococcus eutactuswere significantly higher in LA birds in comparison to CON. The relative abundance of Lactobacillus acidophilus was comparable between LA and CON groups. However, a positive effect was observed in relation to the metabolic functions in the treated group, with particular reference to the higher abundance of \u3b2-glucosidase. In conclusion, the LA supplementation improved broiler productive performances and metabolic functions promoting animal health

Efectos de un programa de prevención de la violencia en el noviazgo

Este estudo avaliou os efeitos de uma intervenção para prevenção à violência no namoro sobre intenções de enfrentamento a esse tipo de violência, dificuldades em regulação das emoções e endosso a normas tradicionais de papéis de gênero masculino. Participaram 45 adolescentes, alocados não randomicamente em um grupo experimental (N = 21) e um grupo controle (N = 24). A intervenção compreendeu nove sessões focadas em informações sobre violência no namoro, habilidades sociais, tomada de decisão, papéis de gênero, direitos sexuais e reprodutivos e empoderamento. Análises intra e entre grupos revelaram redução significativa em crenças que apoiam a restrição emocional como característica masculina no grupo experimental, ao passo que intenções de enfrentamento à violência no namoro e regulação emocional não sofreram mudanças significativas em nenhum dos grupos. Contudo, avaliações qualitativas evidenciaram a prática extrassessão de habilidades de autocontrole e expressão emocional, assertividade e empatia. Novos estudos, principalmente longitudinais, são recomendados para elucidar esses resultados.This study evaluated the effects of a dating violence prevention intervention on intentions of coping with this type of violence, difficulties in regulating emotions and endorsement of traditional male gender norms. There were 45 adolescent participants, not randomly placed in an experimental group (N = 21) and a control group (N = 24). The intervention encompassed nine sessions focused on information about dating violence, social skills, decision making, sexual and reproductive rights, and empowerment. Analyses intra and between groups had shown significant reduction in beliefs that supported emotional restriction as a masculinity characteristic in the experimental group, whereas the intentions of coping with dating violence and emotional regulation had not suffered significant changes in any of the Groups. However, qualitative evaluations had evidenced the external practice of self-control and emotional expression skills, assertiveness and empathy. New studies, mainly longitudinal, are recommended to elucidate these results.Este estudio evaluó los efectos de una intervención para la prevención a la violencia en el noviazgo sobre cómo hacer frente a tales intenciones de violencia, dificultades en la regulación de las emociones y aprobación de normas tradicionales de roles de género masculino. Participaron 45 adolescentes, no asignados no aleatoriamente en un grupo experimental (N = 21) y un grupo de control (N = 24). La intervención consistió en nueve sesiones que se centraron en información sobre violencia en el noviazgo, habilidades sociales, toma de decisiones, roles de género, derechos sexuales y reproductivos y en la potenciación. Análisis intra y entre grupos revelaron una reducción significativa en las creencias que apoyan la restricción emocional como característica masculina en el grupo experimental, mientras que las intenciones de enfrentamiento a la violencia en el noviazgo y la regulación emocional no sufrieron cambios significativos en ninguno de los grupos. Pese a eso, las evaluaciones cualitativas mostraron la práctica externa al período de las sesiones de habilidades de autocontrol y expresión emocional, asertividad y empatía. Son recomendados nuevos estudios, principalmente longitudinales, para esclarecer estos resultados

Triple Negative Breast Cancers Have a Reduced Expression of DNA Repair Genes

DNA repair is a key determinant in the cellular response to therapy and tumor repair status could play an important role in tailoring patient therapy. Our goal was to evaluate the mRNA of 13 genes involved in different DNA repair pathways (base excision, nucleotide excision, homologous recombination, and Fanconi anemia) in paraffin embedded samples of triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) compared to luminal A breast cancer (LABC). Most of the genes involved in nucleotide excision repair and Fanconi Anemia pathways, and CHK1 gene were significantly less expressed in TNBC than in LABC. PARP1 levels were higher in TNBC than in LABC. In univariate analysis high level of FANCA correlated with an increased overall survival and event free survival in TNBC; however multivariate analyses using Cox regression did not confirm FANCA as independent prognostic factor. These data support the evidence that TNBCs compared to LABCs harbour DNA repair defects