Erythrolamprus dorsocorallinus (Esqueda, Natera, La Marca & Ilija-Fistar, 2005) (Squamata: Dipsadidae): range extension, new country record, and comments on color pattern

We present a new country record and significant range extension of Erythrolamprus dorsocorallinus from Bolivia. Locality data on this species is lacking and this account significantly contributes to the knowledge its distributional status throughout South America.

Risk and protective factors for suicide: a populational case-control study, Brazil, 2019

OBJETIVE: To estimate risk and protection factors associated with suicide in Campinas, Brazil, in 2019. METHODS: This is a populational case-control study analyzing 83 cases of suicide that occurred in 2019 in Campinas, a Brazilian city with about 1.2 million inhabitants. Controls were composed of 716 inhabitants. An adjusted multiple logistic regression was used. Cases and controls were the dichotomous response variables. Sociodemographic and behavioral variables were the predictor variables. RESULTS: The categories which presented higher risk of suicide were: males [OR = 5.26 (p < 0.001)]; people aged 10–29 years [OR = 5.88 (p = 0.002)]; individuals without paid work [OR = 3.06 (p = 0.013)]; individuals presenting problematic use of alcohol [OR = 33.12 (p < 0.001)] and cocaine [14.59 (p < 0.007)]; and people with disabilities [OR = 3.72 (p < 0.001]. Moreover, the perception of fear was associated with reduced suicide risk [OR = 0.19 (p = 0.015)]. Higher district HDI levels also showed a 4% decrease in risk for each 0.01 increase in district HDI levels [OR = 0.02 (p = 0.008)]. CONCLUSIONS: This study evidenced the association between sociodemographic and behavioral variables and suicide. It also emphasized the complexity in the dynamics between personal, social, and economic factors to this external cause of death

Data-Driven Path Analytic Modeling to Understand Underlying Mechanisms in COVID-19 Survivors Suffering from Long-Term Post-COVID Pain: A Spanish Cohort Study

Pain can be present in up to 50% of people with post-COVID-19 condition. Understanding the complexity of post-COVID pain can help with better phenotyping of this post-COVID symptom. The aim of this study is to describe the complex associations between sensory-related, psychological, and cognitive variables in previously hospitalized COVID-19 survivors with post-COVID pain, recruited from three hospitals in Madrid (Spain) by using data-driven path analytic modeling. Demographic (i.e., age, height, and weight), sensory-related (intensity or duration of pain, central sensitization-associated symptoms, and neuropathic pain features), psychological (anxiety and depressive levels, and sleep quality), and cognitive (catastrophizing and kinesiophobia) variables were collected in a sample of 149 subjects with post-COVID pain. A Bayesian network was used for structural learning, and the structural model was fitted using structural equation modeling (SEM). The SEM model fit was excellent: RMSEA < 0.001, CFI = 1.000, SRMR = 0.063, and NNFI = 1.008. The only significant predictor of post-COVID pain was the level of depressive symptoms (?=0.241, p = 0.001). Higher levels of anxiety were associated with greater central sensitization-associated symptoms by a magnitude of ?=0.406 (p = 0.008). Males reported less severe neuropathic pain symptoms (-1.50 SD S-LANSS score, p < 0.001) than females. A higher level of depressive symptoms was associated with worse sleep quality (?=0.406, p < 0.001), and greater levels of catastrophizing (?=0.345, p < 0.001). This study presents a model for post-COVID pain where psychological factors were related to central sensitization-associated symptoms and sleep quality. Further, maladaptive cognitions, such as catastrophizing, were also associated with depression. Finally, females reported more neuropathic pain features than males. Our data-driven model could be leveraged in clinical trials investigating treatment approaches in COVID-19 survivors with post-COVID pain and can represent a first step for the development of a theoretical/conceptual framework for post-COVID pain.Funding: The project was supported by a grant of Comunidad de Madrid y la Unión Europea, a través del Fondo Europeo de Desarrollo Regional (FEDER), Recursos REACT-UE del Programa Operativo de Madrid 2014–2020, financiado como parte de la respuesta de la Unión a la pandemia de COVID-19 (LONG-COVID-EXP-CM), and by a grant from Next-Val 2021 de la Fundación Instituto de Investigación Marqués de Valdecilla (IDIVAL). Neither sponsor had a role in the design, collection, management, analyses, or interpretation of the data, nor the draft, review, or approval of the manuscript or its content. The authors are responsible for the decision to submit the manuscript

Data-Driven Path Analytic Modeling to Understand Underlying Mechanisms in COVID-19 Survivors Suffering from Long-Term Post-COVID Pain: A Spanish Cohort Study

Pain can be present in up to 50% of people with post-COVID-19 condition. Understanding the complexity of post-COVID pain can help with better phenotyping of this post-COVID symptom. The aim of this study is to describe the complex associations between sensory-related, psychological, and cognitive variables in previously hospitalized COVID-19 survivors with post-COVID pain, recruited from three hospitals in Madrid (Spain) by using data-driven path analytic modeling. Demographic (i.e., age, height, and weight), sensory-related (intensity or duration of pain, central sensitization-associated symptoms, and neuropathic pain features), psychological (anxiety and depressive levels, and sleep quality), and cognitive (catastrophizing and kinesiophobia) variables were collected in a sample of 149 subjects with post-COVID pain. A Bayesian network was used for structural learning, and the structural model was fitted using structural equation modeling (SEM). The SEM model fit was excellent: RMSEA < 0.001, CFI = 1.000, SRMR = 0.063, and NNFI = 1.008. The only significant predictor of post-COVID pain was the level of depressive symptoms (β=0.241, p = 0.001). Higher levels of anxiety were associated with greater central sensitization-associated symptoms by a magnitude of β=0.406 (p = 0.008). Males reported less severe neuropathic pain symptoms (−1.50 SD S-LANSS score, p < 0.001) than females. A higher level of depressive symptoms was associated with worse sleep quality (β=0.406, p < 0.001), and greater levels of catastrophizing (β=0.345, p < 0.001). This study presents a model for post-COVID pain where psychological factors were related to central sensitization-associated symptoms and sleep quality. Further, maladaptive cognitions, such as catastrophizing, were also associated with depression. Finally, females reported more neuropathic pain features than males. Our data-driven model could be leveraged in clinical trials investigating treatment approaches in COVID-19 survivors with post-COVID pain and can represent a first step for the development of a theoretical/conceptual framework for post-COVID pain

Ectopic Wnt/Beta–Catenin Signaling Induces Neurogenesis in the Spinal Cord and Hindbrain Floor Plate

The most ventral structure of the developing neural tube, the floor plate (FP), differs in neurogenic capacity along the neuraxis. The FP is largely non-neurogenic at the hindbrain and spinal cord levels, but generates large numbers of dopamine (mDA) neurons at the midbrain levels. Wnt1, and other Wnts are expressed in the ventral midbrain, and Wnt/beta catenin signaling can at least in part account for the difference in neurogenic capacity of the FP between midbrain and hindbrain levels. To further develop the hypothesis that canonical Wnt signaling promotes mDA specification and FP neurogenesis, we have generated a model wherein beta–catenin is conditionally stabilized throughout the FP. Here, we unambiguously show by fate mapping FP cells in this mutant, that the hindbrain and spinal cord FP are rendered highly neurogenic, producing large numbers of neurons. We reveal that a neurogenic hindbrain FP results in the altered settling pattern of neighboring precerebellar neuronal clusters. Moreover, in this mutant, mDA progenitor markers are induced throughout the rostrocaudal axis of the hindbrain FP, although TH+ mDA neurons are produced only in the rostral aspect of rhombomere (r)1. This is, at least in part, due to depressed Lmx1b levels by Wnt/beta catenin signaling; indeed, when Lmx1b levels are restored in this mutant, mDA are observed not only in rostral r1, but also at more caudal axial levels in the hindbrain, but not in the spinal cord. Taken together, these data elucidate both patterning and neurogenic functions of Wnt/beta catenin signaling in the FP, and thereby add to our understanding of the molecular logic of mDA specification and neurogenesis

FERTILIZACIÓN CON MAGNESIO EN PLÁTANO ‘BARRAGANETE’ (MUSA AAB) ECUADOR

El cultivo de plátano es importante por el aporte que genera en la socio-economía y seguridad alimentaria de Ecuador, pues suministra alimentos ricos en energía a la mayor parte de la población. Además, se hace necesario realizar manejos de la fertilización que permitan una mejor utilización de este recurso e incrementar los rendimientos. Por ello, se evaluó la fertilización con magnesio en plátano ‘Barraganete’ (Musa AAB) en El Carmen, Manabí, Ecuador. La investigación se condujo en la Granja Experimental “Rio Suma”, Universidad Laica Eloy Alfaro de Manabí, extensión en El Carmen, ubicada a 260 msnm, temperatura promedio de 24 C, precipitación anual de 2 684 mm. Se aplicaron seis niveles de MgO (0, 25, 50, 75, 100, 125 kg ha1) para conocer su efecto sobre la morfo-fisiología y el rendimiento de las plantas. Se utilizó un diseño de bloques completos al azar con seis tratamientos y tres repeticiones; la siembra se realizó con un distanciamiento de 2,50 m 1,80 m (2 222 plantas ha1), y las variables de crecimiento vegetativo se evaluaron como medidas repetidas en el tiempo. Los resultados demostraron diferencias en todas las variables morfo-fisiológicas, lo que demostró que la fertilización con 30% de MgO afectó el crecimiento de las plantas; no obstante, las variables reproductivas no fueron afectadas por las dosis aplicadas; la dosis de 25 kg ha1 generó los mejores rendimientos, eficiencia agronómica y factor parcial de productividad.//Plantain is an important crop for Ecuador due to its contribution in socio-economy and food security of this country, supplying rich-energy food to most of the population; in addition, it is necessary to carry out fertilization management that allows a better use of this resource and increase the yield. Magnesium fertilization in ‘Barraganete’ (Musa AAB) plantain was evaluated in El Carmen, Manabí, Ecuador. The research was conducted in the Experimental Farm “Rio Suma”, Universidad Laica Eloy Alfaro de Manabí, Extension El Carmen, located at 260 masl, average temperature of 24 C, annual rainfall of 2 684 mm. Six levels of MgO (0, 25, 50, 75, 100, 125 kg ha1) were applied to know its effect on morpho-physiology and plant yield. A completely randomized block design with six treatments and three replications was used; the sowing was carried out with a distance of 2.50 m 1.80 m (2 222 plants ha1), and the variables of vegetative growth were evaluated as repeated measures over time. The results demonstrated significant differences in all the morpho-physiological variables, which showed that fertilization with 30% MgO affected the growth of the plants; however, the reproductive variables were not affected by the applied doses; the 25 kg ha1 dose generated the best yields, agronomic efficiency and partial productivity factor

A global experiment on motivating social distancing during the COVID-19 pandemic

Finding communication strategies that effectively motivate social distancing continues to be a global public health priority during the COVID-19 pandemic. This cross-country, preregistered experiment (n = 25,718 from 89 countries) tested hypotheses concerning generalizable positive and negative outcomes of social distancing messages that promoted personal agency and reflective choices (i.e., an autonomy-supportive message) or were restrictive and shaming (i.e., a controlling message) compared with no message at all. Results partially supported experimental hypotheses in that the controlling message increased controlled motivation (a poorly internalized form of motivation relying on shame, guilt, and fear of social consequences) relative to no message. On the other hand, the autonomy-supportive message lowered feelings of defiance compared with the controlling message, but the controlling message did not differ from receiving no message at all. Unexpectedly, messages did not influence autonomous motivation (a highly internalized form of motivation relying on one’s core values) or behavioral intentions. Results supported hypothesized associations between people’s existing autonomous and controlled motivations and self-reported behavioral intentions to engage in social distancing. Controlled motivation was associated with more defiance and less long-term behavioral intention to engage in social distancing, whereas autonomous motivation was associated with less defiance and more short- and long-term intentions to social distance. Overall, this work highlights the potential harm of using shaming and pressuring language in public health communication, with implications for the current and future global health challenges

Measurement of the top quark forward-backward production asymmetry and the anomalous chromoelectric and chromomagnetic moments in pp collisions at √s = 13 TeV

Abstract The parton-level top quark (t) forward-backward asymmetry and the anomalous chromoelectric (d̂ t) and chromomagnetic (μ̂ t) moments have been measured using LHC pp collisions at a center-of-mass energy of 13 TeV, collected in the CMS detector in a data sample corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 35.9 fb−1. The linearized variable AFB(1) is used to approximate the asymmetry. Candidate t t ¯ events decaying to a muon or electron and jets in final states with low and high Lorentz boosts are selected and reconstructed using a fit of the kinematic distributions of the decay products to those expected for t t ¯ final states. The values found for the parameters are AFB(1)=0.048−0.087+0.095(stat)−0.029+0.020(syst),μ̂t=−0.024−0.009+0.013(stat)−0.011+0.016(syst), and a limit is placed on the magnitude of | d̂ t| < 0.03 at 95% confidence level. [Figure not available: see fulltext.

Measurement of t(t)over-bar normalised multi-differential cross sections in pp collisions at root s=13 TeV, and simultaneous determination of the strong coupling strength, top quark pole mass, and parton distribution functions

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An embedding technique to determine ττ backgrounds in proton-proton collision data

An embedding technique is presented to estimate standard model tau tau backgrounds from data with minimal simulation input. In the data, the muons are removed from reconstructed mu mu events and replaced with simulated tau leptons with the same kinematic properties. In this way, a set of hybrid events is obtained that does not rely on simulation except for the decay of the tau leptons. The challenges in describing the underlying event or the production of associated jets in the simulation are avoided. The technique described in this paper was developed for CMS. Its validation and the inherent uncertainties are also discussed. The demonstration of the performance of the technique is based on a sample of proton-proton collisions collected by CMS in 2017 at root s = 13 TeV corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 41.5 fb(-1).Peer reviewe