National identity predicts public health support during a global pandemic

Changing collective behaviour and supporting non-pharmaceutical interventions is an important component in mitigating virus transmission during a pandemic. In a large international collaboration (Study 1, N = 49,968 across 67 countries), we investigated self-reported factors associated with public health behaviours (e.g., spatial distancing and stricter hygiene) and endorsed public policy interventions (e.g., closing bars and restaurants) during the early stage of the COVID-19 pandemic (April-May 2020). Respondents who reported identifying more strongly with their nation consistently reported greater engagement in public health behaviours and support for public health policies. Results were similar for representative and non-representative national samples. Study 2 (N = 42 countries) conceptually replicated the central finding using aggregate indices of national identity (obtained using the World Values Survey) and a measure of actual behaviour change during the pandemic (obtained from Google mobility reports). Higher levels of national identification prior to the pandemic predicted lower mobility during the early stage of the pandemic (r = −0.40). We discuss the potential implications of links between national identity, leadership, and public health for managing COVID-19 and future pandemics.publishedVersio

Uso do triticale (Triticum turgidosecale) na alimentação de suínos em crescimento (25 - 60 kg) Use of triticale (Triticum turgidosecale) in swine feeding during the growing phase (25 - 60 kg)

Dois experimentos foram realizados para avaliar o desempenho e a digestibilidade dos nutrientes (matéria seca, matéria orgânica e energia bruta e o coeficiente de metabolização da energia bruta) das rações contendo triticale. Os tratamentos consistiram de uma ração à base de milho e farelo de soja e outras três com 33, 66 e 100% de substituição do milho pelo triticale. No primeiro experimento, 144 suínos na fase de crescimento (25,27 - 59,60 kg PV) foram distribuídos em delineamento de blocos casualizados, com quatro tratamentos, quatro repetições e nove animais (cinco fêmeas e quatro machos) por unidade experimental. No segundo experimento, 12 suínos machos, com peso médio inicial de 32,14 kg, foram alojados em gaiolas de metabolismo e distribuídos em delineamento experimental de blocos casualizados, com quatro tratamentos e três repetições, sendo o animal a unidade experimental. O método da coleta total de fezes e urina foi usado neste experimento. A inclusão de níveis crescentes de triticale não influiu no ganho de peso médio e no consumo de ração, porém melhorou linearmente a conversão alimentar e reduziu linearmente o custo da ração por quilograma de peso vivo ganho. A inclusão de triticale reduziu linearmente o coeficiente de digestibilidade da energia bruta das rações experimentais.<br>Two experiments were conducted to evaluate the performance and nutrient digestibility (dry matter, organic matter and gross energy, and the metabolization coefficient of the gross energy) of triticale based diets. The treatments consisted in a corn and soybean meal based diet and three other ones with corn 33, 66 and 100% of substitution of corn by triticale. In the first experiment, 144 pigs in the growing phase (25.27-59.60 kg LW) were allotted to a randomized block design, with four treatments, four replicates and nine animals (five females and four males) per experimental unit. In the second experiment, twelve barrows averaging 32.14 kg LW were placed in metabolic cages and allotted to a randomized block design, with four treatments and three replicates,and one animal on experimental unit. The method of total feces and urine collection was used in this experiment. The inclusion of crescent levels of triticale did not affect the average weight gain and feed intake, however it linearly improved the feed: gain ratio and linearly reduced the diet cost per kilogram of live weight gain. The levels of triticale linearly decreased the gross energy digestibility coefficient of the experimental diets

Genome-wide karyomapping accurately identifies the inheritance of single-gene defects in human preimplantation embryos in vitro

Purpose: Our aim was to compare the accuracy of family- or disease-specific targeted haplotyping and direct mutation-detection strategies with the accuracy of genome-wide mapping of the parental origin of each chromosome, or karyomapping, by single-nucleotide polymorphism genotyping of the parents, a close relative of known disease status, and the embryo cell(s) used for preimplantation genetic diagnosis of single-gene defects in a single cell or small numbers of cells biopsied from human embryos following in vitro fertilization. Methods: Genomic DNA and whole-genome amplification products from embryo samples, which were previously diagnosed by targeted haplotyping, were genotyped for single-nucleotide polymorphisms genome-wide detection and retrospectively analyzed blind by karyomapping. Results: Single-nucleotide polymorphism genotyping and karyomapping were successful in 213/218 (97.7%) samples from 44 preimplantation genetic diagnosis cycles for 25 single-gene defects with various modes of inheritance distributed widely across the genome. Karyomapping was concordant with targeted haplotyping in 208 (97.7%) samples, and the five nonconcordant samples were all in consanguineous regions with limited or inconsistent haplotyping results. Conclusion: Genome-wide karyomapping is highly accurate and facilitates analysis of the inheritance of almost any single-gene defect, or any combination of loci, at the single-cell level, greatly expanding the range of conditions for which preimplantation genetic diagnosis can be offered clinically without the need for customized test development

Distribution and Evolution of von Willebrand/Integrin A Domains: Widely Dispersed Domains with Roles in Cell Adhesion and Elsewhere

The von Willebrand A (VWA) domain is a well-studied domain involved in cell adhesion, in extracellular matrix proteins, and in integrin receptors. A number of human diseases arise from mutations in VWA domains. We have analyzed the phylogenetic distribution of this domain and the relationships among ∼500 proteins containing this domain. Although the majority of VWA-containing proteins are extracellular, the most ancient ones, present in all eukaryotes, are all intracellular proteins involved in functions such as transcription, DNA repair, ribosomal and membrane transport, and the proteasome. A common feature seems to be involvement in multiprotein complexes. Subsequent evolution involved deployment of VWA domains by Metazoa in extracellular proteins involved in cell adhesion such as integrin β subunits (all Metazoa). Nematodes and chordates separately expanded their complements of extracellular matrix proteins containing VWA domains, whereas plants expanded their intracellular complement. Chordates developed VWA-containing integrin α subunits, collagens, and other extracellular matrix proteins (e.g., matrilins, cochlin/vitrin, and von Willebrand factor). Consideration of the known properties of VWA domains in integrins and extracellular matrix proteins allows insights into their involvement in protein–protein interactions and the roles of bound divalent cations and conformational changes. These allow inferences about similar functions in novel situations such as protease regulators (e.g., complement factors and trypsin inhibitors) and intracellular proteins (e.g., helicases, chelatases, and copines)