786 research outputs found

    A yes vote in the Scottish referendum would start a serious debate about independence for Wales

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    Roger Sculley argues that while independence for Wales does not presently enjoy significant backing, this would change with a Yes vote in the Scottish independence referendum. It would offer a clear example to which advocates of independence could point and would alter the fundamental character of the UK rump that remained

    Initial experimental evidence that the ability to choose between items alters attraction to familiar versus novel persons in different ways for men and women

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    Nonhuman species may respond to novel mates with increased sexual motivation (‘The Coolidge Effect1). In humans, novel technological advances, such as online dating platforms, are thought to result in ‘Choice Overload’2. This may undermine the goal of finding a meaningful relationship3, orienting the user toward novel possible partners versus committing to a partner. Here, we used a paradigm measuring change in attraction to familiar faces (i.e. rated on second viewing4) to investigate Coolidge-like phenomena in humans primed with choice of potential online dating partners. We examined two pre-registered hypotheses (https://osf.io/xs74r/files/). First, whether experimentally priming choice (viewing a slideshow of online dating images) directly reduces the attractiveness of familiar preferred sex faces compared to our control condition. Second, whether the predicted effect is stronger for men than women given the role of the Coolidge effect in male sexual motivation5.<br/

    Host immune response to a bacterial toxin at single-nuclei resolution in the chicken

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    Understanding the intricate dynamics of the host immune response to a bacterial pathogen, including both the innate and adaptive systems, to a bacterial pathogen is crucial for improving our knowledge of avian immunology, advancing genetic selection strategies for immune resilience, and more broadly enhancing commercial disease management practices. In this study, we employed single-nuclei RNA sequencing (snRNAseq) to investigate gene expression patterns of chickens exposed to lipopolysaccharide (LPS), a well-established bacterial toxin, in comparison to untreated chickens (Gallus gallus). In two distinct avian immune organ systems, spleen, and bursa, our research offered a unique and comprehensive examination of the bird's nuclear transcriptome when faced with systemic bacterial pathogen mimic, LPS. Throughout our data, we have identified and characterized gene expression profiles in non-immune and immune cell types under the influence of LPS. We identified 12 transcriptionally unique clusters across 10,190 nuclei in the spleen and 16 clusters across 14,923 nuclei in the bursa. What emerged is a detailed molecular overview of an avian hosts immune signaling networks, shedding light on a dynamic interplay of immune-related genes in each organ that extends beyond prior aggregate RNAseq studies. The dissection of these complex regulatory networks showed which genes were most transcriptionally prominent in these cellular responses such as those involved in chemokine signaling. We found many novel gene regulatory events including spleen-associated tyrosine kinase (SYK) gene signaling in B-cells, specifically the B pro BU1+ type. Our data showcases the many network connections that are possible to identify and not previously reported in chickens. Unexpected SEMA4D ligand-receptor interactions were discovered that could open new avenues of investigation into host response. From a host perspective this study broadens the knowledge of immune cell subtypes in the chicken spleen and bursa and their transcriptional responses to a bacterial toxin.Includes bibliographical references
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