scholarly journals Social-like responses are inducible in the asocial and blind Mexican cavefish despite the continued exhibition of strong repetitive behavior

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Motoko Iwashita ◽  
Masato Yoshizawa
Keyword(s):  
Repetitive Behavior ◽  
Evolutionary Process ◽  
Evolutionary Model ◽  
Repetitive Behaviors ◽  
Ex Situ ◽  
Behavioral Regulation ◽  
Collective Behaviors ◽  
Phenotypic Characters ◽  
Social Ability ◽  
Blind Cave

AbstractCollective behaviors, such as schooling of fishes and mass migrations of ungulates, are hallmark features of a wide variety of animal species. Such phenotypic characters can be lost, either through evolutionary process across generations or by certain environmental stressors within a generation. Such stressors simultaneously promote stereotypic repetitive behaviors in many mammals, such as those exhibited in certain ex-situ captive settings. However, in asocial species, it is unclear whether social ability is permanently lost or only suppressed. It is also unclear if this antagonistic regulation between repetitive and social behaviors is deeply conserved among vertebrates. An evolutionary model, the Mexican tetra, Astyanax mexicanus, has a blind cave-dwelling morph lacking collective behaviors but exhibiting repetitive circling. In contrast, the sighted surface riverine morph of A. mexicanus shows more normative behaviors. We here report that social-like interactions are recoverable in blind asocial cavefish under familiar environments but are suppressed under the stress-associated unfamiliar environments. In contrast, surface fish revealed robust social-like behaviors in the dark, regardless of familiarity to the environment. Treatment of a human antipsychotic drug also induced social-like interactions in cavefish even in unfamiliar environments. In addition, the level of repetitive behavior is positively correlated with that of asociality in cavefish, suggesting that the antagonistic regulation between repetitive and social-like behaviors is present in teleost fish. Asocial cavefish therefore, with a deeply conserved framework of behavioral regulation, are still capable of expressing social-like behavior following ca. 200,000 years of adaptation to caves.

scholarly journals Imbalanced social-communicative and restricted repetitive behavior subtypes of autism spectrum disorder exhibit different neural circuitry

2021 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Natasha Bertelsen ◽  
◽  
Isotta Landi ◽  
Richard A. I. Bethlehem ◽  
Jakob Seidlitz ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Repetitive Behavior ◽  
Resting State Fmri ◽  
Neural Circuitry ◽  
Autism Spectrum ◽  
Repetitive Behaviors ◽  
Typically Developing ◽  
Out Of Sample ◽  
Genetic Mechanisms ◽  
Social Communicative ◽  
The Eu

AbstractSocial-communication (SC) and restricted repetitive behaviors (RRB) are autism diagnostic symptom domains. SC and RRB severity can markedly differ within and between individuals and may be underpinned by different neural circuitry and genetic mechanisms. Modeling SC-RRB balance could help identify how neural circuitry and genetic mechanisms map onto such phenotypic heterogeneity. Here, we developed a phenotypic stratification model that makes highly accurate (97–99%) out-of-sample SC = RRB, SC > RRB, and RRB > SC subtype predictions. Applying this model to resting state fMRI data from the EU-AIMS LEAP dataset (n = 509), we find that while the phenotypic subtypes share many commonalities in terms of intrinsic functional connectivity, they also show replicable differences within some networks compared to a typically-developing group (TD). Specifically, the somatomotor network is hypoconnected with perisylvian circuitry in SC > RRB and visual association circuitry in SC = RRB. The SC = RRB subtype show hyperconnectivity between medial motor and anterior salience circuitry. Genes that are highly expressed within these networks show a differential enrichment pattern with known autism-associated genes, indicating that such circuits are affected by differing autism-associated genomic mechanisms. These results suggest that SC-RRB imbalance subtypes share many commonalities, but also express subtle differences in functional neural circuitry and the genomic underpinnings behind such circuitry.

scholarly journals The role of diversity and tolerance in economic development

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Witold Kwasnicki
Keyword(s):  
Economic Growth ◽  
Economic Development ◽  
Industrial Development ◽  
Evolutionary Process ◽  
Evolutionary Model ◽  
Industry Development ◽  
Radical Innovations ◽  
Long Run

AbstractThis paper presents an evolutionary model of industry development, and uses simulations to investigation the role of diversity and heterogeneity in firms’ behaviour, and hence industrial development. The simulations suggest that economic growth is increased with greater variety, in the sense of the evolutionary process approaching the equilibrium faster and also, in the long run, moving faster from one equilibrium to a new, more advanced, equilibrium. This occurs due to higher variety caused by a more tolerant environment, and due to the higher probability of emergence of radical innovations.

scholarly journals Sex-dependent role for EPHB2 in brain development and autism-associated behavior

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ahlem Assali ◽  
Jennifer Y. Cho ◽  
Evgeny Tsvetkov ◽  
Abha R. Gupta ◽  
Christopher W. Cowan
Keyword(s):  
Pyramidal Neurons ◽  
De Novo ◽  
Repetitive Behavior ◽  
Autism Spectrum ◽  
Repetitive Behaviors ◽  
Male Mice ◽  
Sensory Sensitivity ◽  
Hyperactivity Disorder ◽  
Specific Effects ◽  
Layer V

AbstractAutism spectrum disorder (ASD) is characterized by impairments in social communication and interaction and restricted, repetitive behaviors. It is frequently associated with comorbidities, such as attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, altered sensory sensitivity, and intellectual disability. A de novo nonsense mutation in EPHB2 (Q857X) was discovered in a female patient with ASD [13], revealing EPHB2 as a candidate ASD risk gene. EPHB2 is a receptor tyrosine kinase implicated in axon guidance, synaptogenesis, and synaptic plasticity, positioning it as a plausible contributor to the pathophysiology of ASD and related disorders. In this study, we show that the Q857X mutation produced a truncated protein lacking forward signaling and that global disruption of one EphB2 allele (EphB2+/−) in mice produced several behavioral phenotypes reminiscent of ASD and common associated symptoms. EphB2+/− female, but not male, mice displayed increased repetitive behavior, motor hyperactivity, and learning and memory deficits, revealing sex-specific effects of EPHB2 hypofunction. Moreover, we observed a significant increase in the intrinsic excitability, but not excitatory/inhibitory ratio, of motor cortex layer V pyramidal neurons in EphB2+/− female, but not male, mice, suggesting a possible mechanism by which EPHB2 hypofunction may contribute to sex-specific motor-related phenotypes. Together, our findings suggest that EPHB2 hypofunction, particularly in females, is sufficient to produce ASD-associated behaviors and altered cortical functions in mice.

scholarly journals SARS-CoV-2 Spike Affinity and Dynamics Exclude the Strict Requirement of an Intermediate Host

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Matteo Castelli ◽  
Luigi Scietti ◽  
Nicola Clementi ◽  
Mattia Cavallaro ◽  
Silvia Faravelli ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Intermediate Host ◽  
Receptor Binding ◽  
Animal Species ◽  
Evolutionary Process ◽  
Evolutionary Model ◽  
Model Based ◽  
Rhinolophus Affinis ◽  
Strict Requirement ◽  
Spike Dynamics

SARS-CoV-2 proximal origin is still unclear, limiting the possibility of foreseeing other spillover events with pandemic potential. Here we propose an evolutionary model based on the thorough dissection of SARS-CoV-2 and RaTG13 - the closest bat ancestor - spike dynamics, kinetics and binding to ACE2. Our results indicate that both spikes share nearly identical, high affinities for Rhinolophus affinis bat and human ACE2, pointing out to negligible species barriers directly related to receptor binding. Also, SARS-CoV-2 spike shows a higher degree of dynamics and kinetics optimization that favors ACE2 engagement. Therefore, we devise an affinity-independent evolutionary process that likely took place in R. affinis bats and limits the eventual involvement of other animal species in initiating the pandemic to the role of vector.

scholarly journals Delineating Repetitive Behavior Profiles across the Lifespan in Fragile X Syndrome

2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (4) ◽  
pp. 239
Author(s):  
Debra L. Reisinger ◽  
Rebecca C. Shaffer ◽  
Nicole Tartaglia ◽  
Elizabeth Berry-Kravis ◽  
Craig A. Erickson
Keyword(s):  
Fragile X Syndrome ◽  
Fragile X ◽  
Repetitive Behavior ◽  
Autism Spectrum ◽  
Repetitive Behaviors ◽  
Motor Behaviors ◽  
Sensory Motor ◽  
Adolescents And Adults ◽  
Males And Females ◽  
The Impact

Restricted repetitive behaviors (RRBs) are a core area of impairment in autism spectrum disorder (ASD), but also affect several other neurodevelopmental disorders including fragile X syndrome (FXS). Current literature has begun to describe the RRB profile in FXS up through adolescence; however, little is known about the subtypes of RRBs in adolescents and adults. Further, literature on the RRB profile of females with FXS is limited. The present study examines the RRB profile across subtypes and specific items in both males and females with FXS while assessing for differences based on age, ASD diagnosis and the impact of IQ. Participants included 154 individuals with FXS (ages 2 to 50 years old). Results revealed a peak in RRB severity in FXS between 7–12 years for the majority of RRB subscales with the exception of Sensory-Motor behaviors peaking between 2 and 12 years before declining. Distinct RRB profiles in males and females with FXS emerged in addition to significant overlap among the item and subscale levels of RRBs across gender. Further, an added diagnosis of ASD significantly increased rates of RRBs across all subscale levels, but not necessarily across all items. Lastly, IQ did not solely account for the presence of RRBs in FXS, with Sensory-Motor behaviors being driven by comorbid ASD in males with FXS, and Restricted Interest behaviors being driven by comorbid ASD regardless of gender. These findings build on the current understanding of RRBs in FXS based on gender and comorbid ASD and lay important groundwork for the development of targeted behavioral and pharmacological treatments.

Uncertain Technology Evolution and Decision Making in Design

2012 ◽  
Vol 134 (10) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jonathan L. Arendt ◽  
Daniel A. McAdams ◽  
Richard J. Malak
Keyword(s):  
Research And Development ◽  
Pareto Frontier ◽  
Evolutionary Process ◽  
Evolutionary Model ◽  
Development Effort ◽  
Technology Evolution ◽  
Curve Model ◽  
S Curve ◽  
Over Time

The potential for engineering technology to evolve over time can be a critical consideration in design decisions that involve long-term commitments. Investments in manufacturing equipment, contractual relationships, and other factors can make it difficult for engineering firms to backtrack once they have chosen one technology over others. Although engineering technologies tend to improve in performance over time, competing technologies can evolve at different rates and details about how a technology might evolve are generally uncertain. In this article we present a general framework for modeling and making decisions about evolving technologies under uncertainty. In this research, the evolution of technology performance is modeled as an S-curve; the performance evolves slowly at first, quickly during heavy research and development effort, and slowly again as the performance approaches its limits. We extend the existing single-attribute S-curve model to the case of technologies with multiple performance attributes. By combining an S-curve evolutionary model for each attribute with a Pareto frontier representation of the optimal implementations of a technology at a particular point in time, we can project how the Pareto frontier will move over time as a technology evolves. Designer uncertainty about the precise shape of the S-curve model is considered through a Monte Carlo simulation of the evolutionary process. To demonstrate how designers can apply the framework, we consider the scenario of a green power generation company deciding between competing wind turbine technologies. Wind turbines, like many other technologies, are currently evolving as research and development efforts improve performance. The engineering example demonstrates how the multi-attribute technology evolution modeling technique provides designers with greater insight into critical uncertainties present in long-term decision problems.

scholarly journals Elastase-2 knockout mice display anxiogenic‐ and antidepressant-like phenotype: putative role for BDNF metabolism in prefrontal cortex

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
CRAF Diniz ◽  
C Becari ◽  
A Lesnikova ◽  
C Biojone ◽  
MCO Salgado ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Prefrontal Cortex ◽  
Knockout Mice ◽  
Alternative Pathway ◽  
Repetitive Behavior ◽  
In Silico Analysis ◽  
Total Activity ◽  
Repetitive Behaviors ◽  
Arterial Blood ◽  
Plus Maze ◽  
Marble Burying

AbstractSeveral pieces of evidence indicate that elastase-2 (ELA2; chymotrypsin-like ELA2) is an alternative pathway to the generation of angiotensin II (ANG II). Elastase-2 knockout mice (ELA2KO) exhibit alterations in the arterial blood pressure and heart rate. However, there is no data on the behavioral consequences of ELA2 deletion. In this study we addressed this question, submitting ELA2KO and wild-type (WT) mice to several models sensitive to anxiety‐ and depression-like, memory, and repetitive behaviors. Our data indicates a higher incidence of barbering behavior in ELA2KO compared to WT, as well as an anxiogenic phenotype, evaluated in the elevated plus maze (EPM). While a decrease in locomotor activity was observed in ELA2KO in EPM, this feature was not the main source of variation in the other parameters analyzed. The marble burying test (MBT) indicated increase in repetitive behavior, observed by a higher number of buried marbles. The actimeter test indicated a decrease in total activity and confirmed the increase in repetitive behavior. The spatial memory was tested by repeated exposure to the actimeter in a 24h interval. Both ELA2KO and WT exhibited decreased activity compared to the first exposure, without any distinction between the genotypes. However, when submitted to the cued fear conditioning, ELA2KO displayed lower levels of freezing behavior in the extinction session when compared to WT, but no difference was observed during the conditioning phase. Increased levels of BDNF were found in the prefrontal cortex but not in the hippocampus of ELA2KO mice compared to WT. Finally, in silico analysis indicates that ELA2 is putatively able to cleave BDNF, and incubation of the purified enzyme with BDNF led to the degradation of the later. Our data suggested an anxiogenic‐ and antidepressant-like phenotype of ELA2KO, possibly associated with increased levels of BDNF in the prefrontal cortex.

scholarly journals Compulsive Disorder in Border Collie bitch

2019 ◽  
Vol 47 ◽  
Author(s):  
Isabel Rodriges Rosado ◽  
Juliana Gonzaga Da Silva ◽  
Dilmas Mendes De Freitas ◽  
Aline Silva Dos Reis ◽  
Julia Perinotto Picelli ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Repetitive Behavior ◽  
Clinical Signs ◽  
Clinical Manifestations ◽  
Repetitive Behaviors ◽  
Duration Of Treatment ◽  
Presumptive Diagnosis ◽  
Genetic Characteristics ◽  
Compulsive Disorder ◽  
Compulsive Disorders

Background: Compulsive disorders are excessive and repetitive behaviors that jeopardize the quality of life of both animal and tutor. It generally affects dogs between 6 and 36 months of age, and its etiology is associated to stress, anxiety and genetic predisposition. Clinical manifestations are the usual behaviors of the dog, but overly and inappropriately done. Diagnosis is based on a history of repetitive behavior, and on clinical and complementary exams to discard other diseases. The aim of this study is to report a case of compulsive disorder in a female Border Collie dog, including diagnostic and therapeutic approaches.Case: A 5-month-old, female, Border Collie dog was presented to Uberaba’s Veterinary Hospital (HVU) owing to a chasing shadows behavior that started as a playtime activity but intensified to the point of becoming a repetitive and excessive act, followed by self-trauma and excessive barking. Clinical examination showed lesions in nasal planum region. No alterations were observed on neurological examination apart from the chasing of shadows that also happened in the consultation room. Therefore, since there were no other findings on clinical and neurological exams, and since the manifestation occurred as a response to environmental stimuli (presence of shadows), it was established a presumptive diagnosis of compulsive disorder. Treatment with trazodone chlorhydrate was performed, and it was indicated ovariohysterectomy, a follow-up with a professional behaviorist and trainer and environment modifications.  After a fortnight, it was observed a discreet improvement of the clinical signs, hence a second anxiolytic, clomipramine, was added to the treatment. Approximately 3 months after the beggining of therapy, there was improvement of the animal’s clinical picture, being calmer and most days ignoring the shadows.Discussion: Compulsive disorders are described as exaggerated and repetitive behaviors that jeopardize the animal’s interaction with its environment and with its tutor. The animal of this report showed repetitive behavior of chasing shadows, with claw abrasion and self-inflicted nasal lesions caused by leaping and biting on the surfaces where the shadows were projecting. Additionally, during the manifestation of the behavior, the animal barked excessively, which compromised the quality of the tutors’ lives. The patient was a Border Collie female dog, though there are no descriptions of this type of behavior in this breed. The starting age of this patient’s manifestations is consistent with previous reports, which observed it more frequently in animals with 6 to 36 months of age. The absence of alterations on clinical and neurological exams that could indicate maladies in other systems, in addition to a detailed anamnesis and assessment of videos of the animal recorded in his domicile, enabled the diagnosis of compulsive disorder. Ovariohysterectomy was done with the purpose of reducing the previously mentioned behavior. Drug therapy in addition to behavior training were efficient to promote significant improvement, although the duration of treatment is a long-term one, as described by other authors. Further studies are necessary for enlightenment of compulsive disorder’s physiopathology in dogs, and to investigate and identify the causes, such as environmental factors and genetic characteristics, that trigger these behaviors.

scholarly journals Central norepinephrine transmission is required for stress-induced repetitive behavior in two rodent models of obsessive-compulsive disorder

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniel Lustberg ◽  
Alexa Iannitelli ◽  
Rachel P. Tillage ◽  
Molly Pruitt ◽  
L. Cameron Liles ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder ◽  
Symptomatic Relief ◽  
Repetitive Behavior ◽  
Repetitive Behaviors ◽  
Anterior Cingulate ◽  
Obsessive Compulsive ◽  
General Anxiety ◽  
Compulsive Disorder ◽  
Adrenergic Drugs ◽  
Compulsive Behaviors

AbstractRationaleObsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is characterized by repetitive behaviors exacerbated by stress. Many OCD patients do not respond to available pharmacotherapies, but neurosurgical ablation of the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) can provide symptomatic relief. Although the ACC receives noradrenergic innervation and expresses adrenergic receptors (ARs), the involvement of norepinephrine (NE) in OCD has not been investigated.ObjectiveTo determine the effects of genetic or pharmacological disruption of NE neurotransmission on marble burying (MB) and nestlet shredding (NS) in two animal models of OCD.MethodsWe assessed NE-deficient (Dbh -/-) mice and NE-competent (Dbh +/-) controls in MB and NS tasks. We also measured the effects of anti-adrenergic drugs on NS and MB in control mice and the effects of pharmacological restoration of central NE in Dbh -/- mice. Finally, we compared c-fos induction in the locus coeruleus (LC) and ACC of Dbh -/- and control mice following both tasks.ResultsDbh -/- mice virtually lacked MB and NS behaviors seen in control mice but did not differ in the elevated zero maze (EZM) model of general anxiety-like behavior. Pharmacological restoration of central NE synthesis in Dbh -/- mice completely rescued NS behavior, while NS and MB were suppressed in control mice by anti-adrenergic drugs. Expression of c-fos in the ACC was attenuated in Dbh -/- mice after MB and NS.ConclusionThese findings support a role for NE transmission to the ACC in the expression of stress-induced compulsive behaviors and suggest further evaluation of anti-adrenergic drugs for OCD is warranted.

scholarly journals The Genetic Diversity of Two Subpopulations of Shenxian Pigs as Revealed by Genome Resequencing

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Liu Diao ◽  
Cao Hongzhan ◽  
Lu Chunlian ◽  
Li Shang ◽  
Jia Mengyu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Genetic Diversity ◽  
Genetic Distance ◽  
Evolutionary Process ◽  
Principal Component ◽  
Hebei Province ◽  
Genome Resequencing ◽  
Phylogenetic Tree Analysis ◽  
Tree Analysis ◽  
Phenotypic Characters ◽  
Whole Genome Resequencing

ABSTRACTShenxian pigs can be divided into two main strains from their shape and appearance: Huangguazui and Wuhuatou. There are significant differences in the phenotypic characters between the two subpopulations. The Shenxian pig, as the only local pig breed listed in China Pig Breeds in Hebei Province, has the excellent traits of Chinese local pigs. In order to explore the genetic diversity and genetic distance of the different subpopulations of Shenxian pig, as well as understand their evolutionary process, whole genome resequencing and genetic structure analyses were performed for the two sub-population types of Shenxian pigs.The results showed that a total of 14,509,223 SNP sites were detected in the Huangguazui type and 13,660,201 SNP sites were detected in the Wuhuatou type. This study’s principal component analysis results showed that the genetic differentiation of the Shenxian pig population was serious, and there was obvious stratification in the population. The phylogenetic tree analysis results indicated that there was a certain genetic distance between the Huangguazui and Wuhuatou types.

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