It is Not All About the Benjamins: Understanding Preferences for Mates with Resources

We contend that preferences for mates with resources or money might be calibrated on where a potential mate gets her/his money. In three studies (N= 668) we examined the nature of individuals' preferences for mates who have resources or money. Both sexes preferred a long-term mate who has earned her/his money over other sources. In particular, women preferred mates who earned their money over other potential means of getting resources (i.e., inheritance, embezzlement, and windfall). Women maintained a high level of interest in mates who earned their money regardless of duration of the mateship whereas men became less interested in a mate who earned her money in the context of short-term relationships. Overall, the sexes preferred a mate who earned their money more strongly in the long-term than the short-term context. Results are discussed from evolutionary and sociocultural models of mate preferences

A Phase 2a clinical trial of Molnupiravir in patients with COVID-19 shows accelerated SARS-CoV-2 RNA clearance and elimination of infectious virus

Molnupiravir (800 mg dose) accelerated SARS-CoV-2 RNA clearance in patients with COVID-19 compared to placebo

HIV-1 Populations in Semen Arise through Multiple Mechanisms

HIV-1 is present in anatomical compartments and bodily fluids. Most transmissions occur through sexual acts, making virus in semen the proximal source in male donors. We find three distinct relationships in comparing viral RNA populations between blood and semen in men with chronic HIV-1 infection, and we propose that the viral populations in semen arise by multiple mechanisms including: direct import of virus, oligoclonal amplification within the seminal tract, or compartmentalization. In addition, we find significant enrichment of six out of nineteen cytokines and chemokines in semen of both HIV-infected and uninfected men, and another seven further enriched in infected individuals. The enrichment of cytokines involved in innate immunity in the seminal tract, complemented with chemokines in infected men, creates an environment conducive to T cell activation and viral replication. These studies define different relationships between virus in blood and semen that can significantly alter the composition of the viral population at the source that is most proximal to the transmitted virus

Food Insecurity Prevalence Across Diverse Sites During COVID-19: A Year of Comprehensive Data

Key Findings NFACT includes 18 study sites in 15 states as well as a national poll, collectively representing a sample size of more than 26,000 people. Some sites have implemented multiple survey rounds, here we report results from 22 separate surveys conducted during the year since the COVID-19 pandemic began in March 2020. 18 out of 19 surveys in 14 sites with data for before and since the pandemic began found an increase in food insecurity since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic as compared to before the pandemic. In nearly all surveys (18/19) that measured food insecurity both before and during the pandemic, more Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) were classified as food insecure during the pandemic as compared to before it began. Prevalence of food insecurity for BIPOC respondents was higher than the overall population in the majority of surveys (19/20) sampling a general population. In almost all surveys (21/22), the prevalence of food insecurity for households with children was higher than the overall prevalence of food insecurity. Food insecurity prevalence was higher for households experiencing a negative job impact during the pandemic (i.e. job loss, furlough, reduction in hours) in nearly all surveys and study sites (21/22). Food insecurity prevalence in most sites was significantly higher before COVID-19 than estimates from that time period. Reporting a percent change between pre and during COVID-19 prevalence may provide additional information about the rate of change in food insecurity since the start of the pandemic, which absolute prevalence of food insecurity may not capture. Results highlight consistent trends in food insecurity outcomes since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, across diverse study sites, methodological approaches, and time

Infectious Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) Virus in Symptomatic Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Outpatients: Host, Disease, and Viral Correlates

Although severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infectious virus isolation in outpatients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has been associated with viral RNA levels and symptom duration, little is known about the host, disease, and viral determinants of infectious virus detection.COVID-19 adult outpatients were enrolled within 7 days of symptom onset. Clinical symptoms were recorded via patient diary. Nasopharyngeal swabs were collected to quantitate SARS-CoV-2 RNA by reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction and for infectious virus isolation in Vero E6-cells. SARS-CoV-2 antibodies were measured in serum using a validated ELISA assay.Among 204 participants with mild-to-moderate symptomatic COVID-19, the median nasopharyngeal viral RNA was 6.5 (interquartile range [IQR] 4.7–7.6 log10 copies/mL), and 26% had detectable SARS-CoV-2 antibodies (immunoglobulin (Ig)A, IgM, IgG, and/or total Ig) at baseline. Infectious virus was recovered in 7% of participants with SARS-CoV-2 antibodies compared to 58% of participants without antibodies (prevalence ratio [PR] = 0.12, 95% confidence interval [CI]: .04, .36; P = .00016). Infectious virus isolation was also associated with higher levels of viral RNA (mean RNA difference +2.6 log10, 95% CI: 2.2, 3.0; P < .0001) and fewer days since symptom onset (PR = 0.79, 95% CI: .71, .88 per day; P < .0001).The presence of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies is strongly associated with clearance of infectious virus. Seropositivity and viral RNA levels are likely more reliable markers of infectious virus clearance than subjective measure of COVID-19 symptom duration. Virus-targeted treatment and prevention strategies should be administered as early as possible and ideally before seroconversion.NCT04405570

Recent approaches in designing bioadhesive materials inspired by mussel adhesive protein

Marine mussels secret protein-based adhesives, which enable them to anchor to various surfaces in a saline, intertidal zone. Mussel foot proteins (Mfps) contain a large abundance of a unique, catecholic amino acid, Dopa, in their protein sequences. Catechol offers robust and durable adhe-sion to various substrate surfaces and contributes to the curing of the adhesive plaques. In this article, we review the unique features and the key functionalities of Mfps, catechol chemistry, and strategies for preparing catechol-functionalized poly- mers. Specifically, we reviewed recent findings on the contributions of various features of Mfps on interfacial binding, which include coacervate formation, surface drying properties, control of the oxidation state of catechol, among other features. We also summarized recent developments in designing advanced biomimetic materials including coacervate-forming adhesives, mechanically improved nano- and micro-composite adhesive hydrogels, as well as smart and self-healing materials. Finally, we review the applications of catechol-functionalized materials for the use as biomedical adhesives, therapeutic applications, and antifouling coatings

Les droits disciplinaires des fonctions publiques : « unification », « harmonisation » ou « distanciation ». A propos de la loi du 26 avril 2016 relative à la déontologie et aux droits et obligations des fonctionnaires

The production of tt‾ , W+bb‾ and W+cc‾ is studied in the forward region of proton–proton collisions collected at a centre-of-mass energy of 8 TeV by the LHCb experiment, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 1.98±0.02 fb−1 . The W bosons are reconstructed in the decays W→ℓν , where ℓ denotes muon or electron, while the b and c quarks are reconstructed as jets. All measured cross-sections are in agreement with next-to-leading-order Standard Model predictions.The production of $t\overline{t}$, $W+b\overline{b}$ and $W+c\overline{c}$ is studied in the forward region of proton-proton collisions collected at a centre-of-mass energy of 8 TeV by the LHCb experiment, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 1.98 $\pm$ 0.02 \mbox{fb}^{-1}. The $W$ bosons are reconstructed in the decays $W\rightarrow\ell\nu$, where $\ell$ denotes muon or electron, while the $b$ and $c$ quarks are reconstructed as jets. All measured cross-sections are in agreement with next-to-leading-order Standard Model predictions

Measurement of the J/ψ pair production cross-section in pp collisions at s=13 \sqrt{s}=13 TeV

The production cross-section of J/ψ pairs is measured using a data sample of pp collisions collected by the LHCb experiment at a centre-of-mass energy of $\sqrt{s}=13$ TeV, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 279 ±11 pb$^{−1}$. The measurement is performed for J/ψ mesons with a transverse momentum of less than 10 GeV/c in the rapidity range 2.0 < y < 4.5. The production cross-section is measured to be 15.2 ± 1.0 ± 0.9 nb. The first uncertainty is statistical, and the second is systematic. The differential cross-sections as functions of several kinematic variables of the J/ψ pair are measured and compared to theoretical predictions.The production cross-section of $J/\psi$ pairs is measured using a data sample of $pp$ collisions collected by the LHCb experiment at a centre-of-mass energy of $\sqrt{s} = 13 \,{\mathrm{TeV}}$, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of $279 \pm 11 \,{\mathrm{pb^{-1}}}$. The measurement is performed for $J/\psi$ mesons with a transverse momentum of less than $10 \,{\mathrm{GeV}}/c$ in the rapidity range $2.0<y<4.5$. The production cross-section is measured to be $15.2 \pm 1.0 \pm 0.9 \,{\mathrm{nb}}$. The first uncertainty is statistical, and the second is systematic. The differential cross-sections as functions of several kinematic variables of the $J/\psi$ pair are measured and compared to theoretical predictions

Measurements of prompt charm production cross-sections in pp collisions at s=5 \sqrt{s}=5 TeV

Production cross-sections of prompt charm mesons are measured using data from $pp$ collisions at the LHC at a centre-of-mass energy of $5\,$TeV. The data sample corresponds to an integrated luminosity of $8.60\pm0.33\,$pb$^{-1}$ collected by the LHCb experiment. The production cross-sections of $D^0$, $D^+$, $D_s^+$, and $D^{*+}$ mesons are measured in bins of charm meson transverse momentum, $p_{\text{T}}$, and rapidity, $y$. They cover the rapidity range $2.0 < y < 4.5$ and transverse momentum ranges $0 < p_{\text{T}} < 10\, \text{GeV}/c$ for $D^0$ and $D^+$ and $1 < p_{\text{T}} < 10\, \text{GeV}/c$ for $D_s^+$ and $D^{*+}$ mesons. The inclusive cross-sections for the four mesons, including charge-conjugate states, within the range of $1 < p_{\text{T}} < 8\, \text{GeV}/c$ are determined to be \begin{equation*} \sigma(pp\rightarrow D^0 X) = 1190 \pm 3 \pm 64\,\mu\text{b} \end{equation*} \begin{equation*} \sigma(pp\rightarrow D^+ X) = 456 \pm 3 \pm 34\,\mu\text{b} \end{equation*} \begin{equation*} \sigma(pp\rightarrow D_s^+ X) = 195 \pm 4 \pm 19\,\mu\text{b} \end{equation*} \begin{equation*} \sigma(pp\rightarrow D^{*+} X)= 467 \pm 6 \pm 40\,\mu\text{b} \end{equation*} where the uncertainties are statistical and systematic, respectively.Production cross-sections of prompt charm mesons are measured using data from pp collisions at the LHC at a centre-of-mass energy of 5 TeV. The data sample corresponds to an integrated luminosity of 8.60 ± 0.33 pb$^{−1}$ collected by the LHCb experiment. The production cross-sections of D$^{0}$, D$^{+}$, D$_{s}^{+}$ , and D$^{∗+}$ mesons are measured in bins of charm meson transverse momentum, p$_{T}$, and rapidity, y. They cover the rapidity range 2.0 < y < 4.5 and transverse momentum ranges 0 < p$_{T}$ < 10 GeV/c for D$^{0}$ and D$^{+}$ and 1 < p$_{T}$ < 10 GeV/c for D$_{s}^{+}$ and D$^{∗+}$ mesons. The inclusive cross-sections for the four mesons, including charge-conjugate states, within the range of 1 < p$_{T}$ < 8 GeV/c are determined to be $\begin{array}{l}\sigma \left( pp\to {D}^0X\right)=1004\pm 3\pm 54\mu \mathrm{b},\\ {}\sigma \left( pp\to {D}^{+}X\right)=402\pm 2\pm 30\mu \mathrm{b},\\ {}\sigma \left( pp\to {D}_s^{+}X\right)=170\pm 4\pm 16\mu \mathrm{b},\\ {}\sigma \left( pp\to {D}^{\ast +}X\right)=421\pm 5\pm 36\mu \mathrm{b},\end{array}$ where the uncertainties are statistical and systematic, respectively.Production cross-sections of prompt charm mesons are measured using data from $pp$ collisions at the LHC at a centre-of-mass energy of $5\,$TeV. The data sample corresponds to an integrated luminosity of $8.60\pm0.33\,$pb$^{-1}$ collected by the LHCb experiment. The production cross-sections of $D^0$, $D^+$, $D_s^+$, and $D^{*+}$ mesons are measured in bins of charm meson transverse momentum, $p_{\text{T}}$, and rapidity, $y$. They cover the rapidity range $2.0<y<4.5$ and transverse momentum ranges $0 < p_{\text{T}} < 10\, \text{GeV}/c$ for $D^0$ and $D^+$ and $1 < p_{\text{T}} < 10\, \text{GeV}/c$ for $D_s^+$ and $D^{*+}$ mesons. The inclusive cross-sections for the four mesons, including charge-conjugate states, within the range of $1 < p_{\text{T}} < 8\, \text{GeV}/c$ are determined to be \sigma(pp\rightarrow D^0 X) = 1004 \pm 3 \pm 54\,\mu\text{b} \sigma(pp\rightarrow D^+ X) = 402 \pm 2 \pm 30\,\mu\text{b} \sigma(pp\rightarrow D_s^+ X) = 170 \pm 4 \pm 16\,\mu\text{b} \sigma(pp\rightarrow D^{*+} X)= 421 \pm 5 \pm 36\,\mu\text{b} where the uncertainties are statistical and systematic, respectively