The Psychological Science Accelerator's COVID-19 rapid-response dataset

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Psychological Science Accelerator coordinated three large-scale psychological studies to examine the effects of loss-gain framing, cognitive reappraisals, and autonomy framing manipulations on behavioral intentions and affective measures. The data collected (April to October 2020) included specific measures for each experimental study, a general questionnaire examining health prevention behaviors and COVID-19 experience, geographical and cultural context characterization, and demographic information for each participant. Each participant started the study with the same general questions and then was randomized to complete either one longer experiment or two shorter experiments. Data were provided by 73,223 participants with varying completion rates. Participants completed the survey from 111 geopolitical regions in 44 unique languages/dialects. The anonymized dataset described here is provided in both raw and processed formats to facilitate re-use and further analyses. The dataset offers secondary analytic opportunities to explore coping, framing, and self-determination across a diverse, global sample obtained at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, which can be merged with other time-sampled or geographic data.

A multi-lab test of the facial feedback hypothesis by the Many Smiles Collaboration

Following theories of emotional embodiment, the facial feedback hypothesis suggests that individuals' subjective experiences of emotion are influenced by their facial expressions. However, evidence for this hypothesis has been mixed. We thus formed a global adversarial collaboration and carried out a preregistered, multicentre study designed to specify and test the conditions that should most reliably produce facial feedback effects. Data from n = 3,878 participants spanning 19 countries indicated that a facial mimicry and voluntary facial action task could both amplify and initiate feelings of happiness. However, evidence of facial feedback effects was less conclusive when facial feedback was manipulated unobtrusively via a pen-in-mouth task.

Family still matters: Human social motivation across 42 countries during a global pandemic

The COVID-19 pandemic caused drastic social changes for many people, including separation from friends and coworkers, enforced close contact with family, and reductions in mobility. Here we assess the extent to which people's evolutionarily-relevant basic motivations and goals—fundamental social motives such as Affiliation and Kin Care—might have been affected. To address this question, we gathered data on fundamental social motives in 42 countries (N = 15,915) across two waves, including 19 countries (N = 10,907) for which data were gathered both before and during the pandemic (pre-pandemic wave: 32 countries, N = 8998; 3302 male, 5585 female; M_age = 24.43, SD = 7.91; mid-pandemic wave: 29 countries, N = 6917; 2249 male, 4218 female; M_age = 28.59, SD = 11.31). Samples include data collected online (e.g., Prolific, MTurk), at universities, and via community sampling. We found that Disease Avoidance motivation was substantially higher during the pandemic, and that most of the other fundamental social motives showed small, yet significant, differences across waves. Most sensibly, concern with caring for one's children was higher during the pandemic, and concerns with Mate Seeking and Status were lower. Earlier findings showing the prioritization of family motives over mating motives (and even over Disease Avoidance motives) were replicated during the pandemic. Finally, well-being remained positively associated with family-related motives and negatively associated with mating motives during the pandemic, as in the pre-pandemic samples. Our results provide further evidence for the robust primacy of family-related motivations even during this unique disruption of social life.

Fundamental social motives measured across forty-two cultures in two waves

How does psychology vary across human societies? The fundamental social motives framework adopts an evolutionary approach to capture the broad range of human social goals within a taxonomy of ancestrally recurring threats and opportunities. These motives—self-protection, disease avoidance, affiliation, status, mate acquisition, mate retention, and kin care—are high in fitness relevance and everyday salience, yet understudied cross-culturally. Here, we gathered data on these motives in 42 countries (N = 15,915) in two cross-sectional waves, including 19 countries (N = 10,907) for which data were gathered in both waves. Wave 1 was collected from mid-2016 through late 2019 (32 countries, N = 8,998; 3,302 male, 5,585 female; M_age = 24.43, SD = 7.91). Wave 2 was collected from April through November 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic (29 countries, N = 6,917; 2,249 male, 4,218 female; M_age = 28.59, SD = 11.31). These data can be used to assess differences and similarities in people’s fundamental social motives both across and within cultures, at different time points, and in relation to other commonly studied cultural indicators and outcomes.

Measurement(s)	Motivation • Emotional Well-being • Socioeconomic Indicator • Culture • Cultural Diversity
Technology Type(s)	survey method • digital curation
Sample Characteristic - Organism	Homo sapiens
Sample Characteristic - Location	Australia • Austria • Bolivia • Brazil • Bulgaria • Canada • Chile • China • Colombia • Czech Republic • Germany • Hong Kong • India • Israel • Italy • Japan • Kenya • Lebanon • Mexico • The Netherlands • New Zealand • Nigeria • Pakistan • Peru • The Philippines • Portuguese Republic • Romania • Russia • Saudi Arabia • Senegal • Serbia • Singapore • Slovak Republic • South Korea • Spain • Sweden • Thailand • Turkey • Uganda • Ukraine • United Kingdom • United States of America

The Breast Size Satisfaction Survey (BSSS): Breast size dissatisfaction and its antecedents and outcomes in women from 40 nations

The Breast Size Satisfaction Survey (BSSS) was established to assess women's breast size dissatisfaction and breasted experiences from a cross-national perspective. A total of 18,541 women were recruited from 61 research sites across 40 nations and completed measures of current-ideal breast size discrepancy, as well as measures of theorised antecedents (personality, Western and local media exposure, and proxies of socioeconomic status) and outcomes (weight and appearance dissatisfaction, breast awareness, and psychological well-being). In the total dataset, 47.5 % of women wanted larger breasts than they currently had, 23.2 % wanted smaller breasts, and 29.3 % were satisfied with their current breast size. There were significant cross-national differences in mean ideal breast size and absolute breast size dissatisfaction, but effect sizes were small (η² = .02-.03). The results of multilevel modelling showed that greater Neuroticism, lower Conscientiousness, lower Western media exposure, greater local media exposure, lower financial security, and younger age were associated with greater breast size dissatisfaction across nations. In addition, greater absolute breast size dissatisfaction was associated with greater weight and appearance dissatisfaction, poorer breast awareness, and poorer psychological well-being across nations. These results indicate that breast size dissatisfaction is a global public health concern linked to women's psychological and physical well-being.

Quasistatic and quantum-adiabatic Otto engine for a two-dimensional material: The case of a graphene quantum dot

In this work, we study the performance of a quasistatic and quantum-adiabatic magnetic Otto cycles with a working substance composed of a single graphene quantum dot modeled by the continuum approach with the use of the zigzag boundary condition. Modulating an external or perpendicular magnetic field, in the quasistatic approach, we found a constant behavior in the total work extracted that is not present in the quantum-adiabatic formulation. We find that, in the quasistatic approach, the engine yielded a greater performance in terms of total work extracted and efficiency as compared with its quantum-adiabatic counterpart. In the quasistatic case, this is due to the working substance being in thermal equilibrium at each point of the cycle, maximizing the energy extracted in the adiabatic strokes.

Family Matters: Rethinking the Psychology of Human Social Motivation

What motives do people prioritize in their social lives? Historically, social psychologists, especially those adopting an evolutionary perspective, have devoted a great deal of research attention to sexual attraction and romantic-partner choice (mate seeking). Research on long-term familial bonds (mate retention and kin care) has been less thoroughly connected to relevant comparative and evolutionary work on other species, and in the case of kin care, these bonds have been less well researched. Examining varied sources of data from 27 societies around the world, we found that people generally view familial motives as primary in importance and mate-seeking motives as relatively low in importance. Compared with other groups, college students, single people, and men place relatively higher emphasis on mate seeking, but even those samples rated kin-care motives as more important. Furthermore, motives linked to long-term familial bonds are positively associated with psychological well-being, but mate-seeking motives are associated with anxiety and depression. We address theoretical and empirical reasons why there has been extensive research on mate seeking and why people prioritize goals related to long-term familial bonds over mating goals. Reallocating relatively greater research effort toward long-term familial relationships would likely yield many interesting new findings relevant to everyday people’s highest social priorities.

Bound states in the continuum poisoned by Majorana fermions

In this work, we study the bound states in the continuum (BICs) in a system formed by a triple quantum dot array embedded between two one-dimensional topological superconductors (TSCs), both hosting Majorana bound states (MBSs) at their ends. The results show the formation of BICs with topological characteristics due to the presence of MBSs. This is a consequence of the interplay between the BIC arising from quantum dots states by means of energy level symmetry breaking through gate voltages, and MBSs leaked into the quantum dots. The BIC is not observed when both TSCs are in long wire limit, i.e. for vanishing inter MBSs coupling, while it projects into the electronic transmission whenever the inter MBSs couplings are away from zero, regardless if they have different strength and/or the phase difference between both TSCs. We study the behavior of BICs poisoned by MBSs as a function of the parameters that are controlling the system. We believe our findings could be useful to implement a protection tool for BICs using MBSs based on tunable gate voltages.

Neutrophil CD64 expression, procalcitonin and presepsin are useful to differentiate infections from flares in SLE patients with SIRS

Background/Objective Differentiating systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) activity from infections in febrile patients is difficult because of similar initial clinical presentation. The aim of this study is to evaluate the usefulness of a number of biomarkers for differentiating infections from activity in SLE patients admitted with systemic inflammatory response (SIRS). Methods Patients with SLE and SIRS admitted to the emergency room were included in this study. Measurements of different markers including procalcitonin, neutrophil CD64 expression and presepsin, were performed. Infection was considered present when positive cultures and/or polymerase chain reaction were obtained. Sensitivity and specificity were calculated for all biomarkers. Results Twenty-seven patients were admitted, 23 women (82.5%), mean age 33.2 years. An infectious disease was confirmed in 12 cases. Markers for SLE activity including anti-DNA titers by IIF ( p = 0.041) and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay ( p = 0.009) were used for differentiating SLE flares from infection. On the contrary, increased procalcitonin ( p = 0.047), neutrophil CD64 expression by flow cytometry ( p = 0.037) and presepsin ( p = 0.037) levels were observed in infected SLE patients. Conclusions High neutrophil CD64 expression, presepsin and procalcitonin levels are useful to differentiate infections from activity in SLE patients. In most cases, a positive bioscore that includes these three markers demonstrate the presence of an infectious disease.

Efficacy and Mechanisms of Action of Fecal Microbiota Transplantation in Ulcerative Colitis: Pitfalls and Promises From a First Meta-Analysis

BACKGROUND

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is the results of a chronic inflammatory process deriving from disequilibrium between self-microbiota composition and immune response.

METHODS

New evidence, coming from Clostridium difficile infection, clearly showed that active and powerful modulation of microbiota composition by fecal microbiota composition (FMT) is safe, easy to perform, and efficacious, opening new frontiers in gastrointestinal and extra-intestinal diseases. FMT has been proposed also for IBD as well as other non-gastrointestinal conditions related to intestinal microbiota dysfunctions, with good preliminary data.

RESULTS

In this setting, ulcerative colitis (UC) represents one of the most robust potential indications for FMT after C difficile colitis.

CONCLUSIONS

In the present review, we focus on FMT and its application on ulcerative colitis, clarifying mechanisms of actions and efficacy data, trough completion of a meta-analysis on available randomized, controlled trial data in UC. Because microbiota is so crucially involved in this topic, a short review of microbial alterations in UC will also be performed.

Finite-size corrections to scaling of the magnetization distribution in the two-dimensional XY model at zero temperature

The zero-temperature, classical XY model on an L×L square lattice is studied by exploring the distribution Φ_{L}(y) of its centered and normalized magnetization y in the large-L limit. An integral representation of the cumulant generating function, known from earlier works, is used for the numerical evaluation of Φ_{L}(y), and the limit distribution Φ_{L→∞}(y)=Φ_{0}(y) is obtained with high precision. The two leading finite-size corrections Φ_{L}(y)-Φ_{0}(y)≈a_{1}(L)Φ_{1}(y)+a_{2}(L)Φ_{2}(y) are also extracted both from numerics and from analytic calculations. We find that the amplitude a_{1}(L) scales as ln(L/L_{0})/L^{2} and the shape correction function Φ_{1}(y) can be expressed through the low-order derivatives of the limit distribution, Φ_{1}(y)=[yΦ_{0}(y)+Φ_{0}^{'}(y)]^{'}. Thus, Φ_{1}(y) carries the same universal features as the limit distribution and can be used for consistency checks of universality claims based on finite-size systems. The second finite-size correction has an amplitude a_{2}(L)∝1/L^{2} and one finds that a_{2}Φ_{2}(y)≪a_{1}Φ_{1}(y) already for small system size (L>10). We illustrate the feasibility of observing the calculated finite-size corrections by performing simulations of the XY model at low temperatures, including T=0.

Gut Microbiota: A Key Modulator of Intestinal Healing in Inflammatory Bowel Disease

Mucosal healing (MH) represents a crucial factor for maintaining gut homeostasis. Indeed, in inflammatory bowel disease, MH has become the standard therapeutical target, because it is associated with more effective disease control, more frequent steroid-free remission, lower rates of hospitalization and surgery, and improved quality of life. In this scenario, gut microbiota is a crucial player in modulating intestinal repair and regeneration process. It can act on the tumor necrosis factor-α production, modulation of reactive oxygen and nitrogen species, activity of matrix metalloproteinases and on many other mechanisms strictly involved in restoring gut health. In this review, we analyze and review the literature on the role of gut microbiota in sustaining mucosal injury and achieving MH.

Genetic characterization of Latin-American Creole cattle using microsatellite markers

Genetic diversity in and relationships among 26 Creole cattle breeds from 10 American countries were assessed using 19 microsatellites. Heterozygosities, F-statistics estimates, genetic distances, multivariate analyses and assignment tests were performed. The levels of within-breed diversity detected in Creole cattle were considerable and higher than those previously reported for European breeds, but similar to those found in other Latin American breeds. Differences among breeds accounted for 8.4% of the total genetic variability. Most breeds clustered separately when the number of pre-defined populations was 21 (the most probable K value), with the exception of some closely related breeds that shared the same cluster and others that were admixed. Despite the high genetic diversity detected, significant inbreeding was also observed within some breeds, and heterozygote excess was detected in others. These results indicate that Creoles represent important reservoirs of cattle genetic diversity and that appropriate conservation measures should be implemented for these native breeds in order to minimize inbreeding and uncontrolled crossbreeding.

Cluster-algorithm renormalization-group study of universal fluctuations in the two-dimensional Ising model

In this paper we propose a method to study critical systems numerically, which combines collective-mode algorithms and renormalization group on the lattice. This method is an improved version of the Monte Carlo renormalization group in the sense that it has all the advantages of cluster algorithms. As an application we considered the 2D Ising model and studied whether scale invariance or universality are possible underlying mechanisms responsible for the approximate "universal fluctuations" close to a so-called bulk temperature T(L) . "Universal fluctuations" were first proposed in the work of Bramwell, Holdsworth, and Pinton [Nature (London) 396, 552 (1998)] and stated that the probability density function of a global quantity for very dissimilar systems, such as a confined turbulent flow and a two-dimensional (2D) magnetic system, properly normalized to the first two moments, becomes similar to the "universal distribution," originally obtained for magnetization in the 2D XY model in the low-temperature region. The results for the critical exponents and the renormalization-group flow of the probability density function are very accurate and show no evidence to support that the approximate common shape of the PDF should be related to both scale invariance or universal behavior.

[The factors associated with noncompliance with antimalarial treatment in Ecuadorian patients]

A total of 249 persons living in the northwest part of Ecuador with a clinical diagnosis of malaria confirmed by thick blood films were treated with chloroquine and primaquine according to the therapeutical system in force in the National Service for Eradication of Malaria. New clinical assessment and thick blood film were applied after 4 days in P. falciparum (n = 120) cases and after 8 days in P. vivax (n = 129) cases; patients were questioned about the compliance or non-compliance with the treatment, and the reasons for their acting in either way were studied. EPI-INFO 6.04 and SPSS PC 7.0 packages served to process the information: "kind adjustment test" (bondad de ajuste) abd factorial analysis of correspondences were used. The patient who daily took his/her pills for the number of days indicated, at the established intervals and at the right time was defined as a patient complying with the drug therapy. For every 3 patients complying with treatment, there were 2 who did not; non-compliance was not significantly related to age, sex, educational level, ethnic group, urban or rural setting or level of income, but learning about seriousness of the infection did help to compliance with the therapy. The reasons for non-compliance were mainly associated with drugs (side effects/reluctancy to take drugs), with the fact of forgetting to take them and of "getting cured quickly". The profile of the patient who did not comply with treatment corresponded to male, teenager, mixed race, poor and rural setting.

Oral clindamycin and ciprofloxacin versus intramuscular ceftriaxone and oral doxycycline in the treatment of mild-to-moderate pelvic inflammatory disease in outpatients

This multicenter, prospective, double-blind study compared the safety and efficacy of clindamycin and ciprofloxacin versus ceftriaxone and doxycycline in the treatment of outpatients with mild to moderate pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) diagnosed by laparoscopy. Samples taken from the endocervix, endometrium, and abdominal cavity before treatment and from the endocervix after treatment were cultured for aerobes, anaerobes, Neisseria gonorrhoeae, and Chlamydia trachomatis. Of the 138 patients enrolled, 131 were evaluable for efficacy. The most prevalent bacteria were streptococci, staphylococci, and Escherichia coli (among aerobes) and Bacteroides species and peptostreptococci (among anaerobes). N. gonorrhoeae was present in 2% (3) of the 131 evaluable patients, and C. trachomatis was in 11% (15). The clinical cure rate was 97% (65 of 67) in the clindamycin and ciprofloxacin group and 95% (61 of 64) in the ceftriaxone and doxycycline group. Side effects were similar in both groups. In conclusion, the two regimens for the outpatient treatment of mild to moderate PID were similarly effective and safe.

Recent advances in antibiotic regimens for the treatment of obstetric-gynecologic infections

This paper reviews new information on antimicrobial agents for the treatment of obstetric-gynecologic infections. The bacteriology of these infections is complex, reflecting the bacteria that usually colonize the vagina and cervix. In general, these infections are polymicrobial in nature: the most frequently isolated microorganisms are gram-negative facultative aerobes, anaerobes, Chlamydia trachomatis, and Neisseria gonorrhoeae. Antibiotic regimens that do provide coverage of these pathogens showed unacceptably high failure rates. A review of the studies recently published confirmed the recommendations of the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for severe (inpatients) and mild-to-moderate (outpatients) pelvic inflammatory disease infections. In the case of severe infections, two regimens are recommended: a second-generation cephalosporin like cefoxitin or cefotetan, plus doxycycline or clindamycin/gentamicin. In the case of mild-to-moderate infection, a second- or third-generation cephalosporin plus doxycycline, or oral clindamycin plus an oral quinolone are recommended. Such studies produce high bacteriologic and clinical success rates. New studies indicate that gentamicin may be replaced with a monobactam such as aztreonam; this regimen leads to slightly better efficacy and less toxicity. The possibility of using clindamycin and a quinolone antibiotic is also discussed.

The role of anaerobic bacteria in human infections

Anaerobes are generally accepted as clinically important pathogens. Although they are found on most mucocutaneous surfaces, anaerobic bacteria are especially abundant in the upper and lower respiratory tracts, gastrointestinal tract, and female genital tract. They are involved in infections such as chronic sinusitis, aspiration pneumonia, lung abscess, intra-abdominal abscess, bacterial vaginosis, decubitus ulcer, and bite wounds. Depending on the type and location of the infection, treatment may involve surgical drainage and a multiple antibiotic regimen that provides protection against both anaerobes and gram-negative aerobes. Penicillin was the drug of choice for anaerobic infections, but its inactivity against most penicillinase-producing anaerobes has made it less useful for empiric therapy. Clindamycin, with its proven activity against anaerobic infections, is the current drug of choice. Clindamycin is particularly effective against upper and lower respiratory tract infections and infections of the female genital tract.

Clindamycin in the treatment of obstetric and gynecologic infections: a review

The spectrum of clindamycin's activity includes anaerobes and gram-positive aerobes other than enterococci. No inactivation or incompatibility of clindamycin phosphate has been shown in intravenous solutions usually used clinically. After oral administration, clindamycin is almost completely absorbed, with mean peak serum levels reached in 45 to 60 minutes. Clindamycin is widely distributed in many body fluids and tissues. Its normal half-life is two to three hours, and thus it can be given at six-hour intervals. Because of its excellent coverage against anaerobes, gram-positive cocci, and Chlamydia trachomatis, clindamycin is the preferred antimicrobial agent for serious infections of the female genital tract. Clindamycin plus tobramycin or an aminoglycoside is effective treatment for pelvic inflammatory disease, particularly when a tubo-ovarian abscess is present. In post-cesarean section endometritis, clindamycin plus gentamicin has been shown to be more effective than any other treatment. Clindamycin (alone or with an aminoglycoside) has been used successfully in posthysterectomy vaginal cuff infections and, with an aminoglycoside, in septic abortions. Clindamycin has been well tolerated in studies of animals and human subjects; its most significant side effects develop in the gastrointestinal system.

Effect of large doses of methylprednisolone on supratentorial intracranial tumors. A clinical and CAT scan evaluation

We studied the action of high doses (500 mg/daily for 7 days) of methylprednisolone sodium succinate in 12 patients with supratentorial intracranial tumors. 10 tumors were malignant (5 gliomas and 5 metastases), and 2 benign (meningiomas). Clinical improvement ranged from moderate to marked after 24-48 h of therapy. In the 5 metastases, mean reduction of peritumoral edema was 27%, and in apparent tumor volume was 18%; in the gliomas, corresponding reductions were 31 and 15%. 1 of the meningioma cases showed a decrease in edema volume of 21%. These results indicate that methylprednisolone, at least for a short period of time, produces a definite decrease in apparent tumor size, in addition to the reduction of peritumoral edema.

The ultrastructure, catecholamine, and prolactin contents of the rostral pars distalis of the fish Mugil platanus after reserpine or 6-hydroxydopamine administration

The rostral pars distalis (RPD) of the teleost Mugil plantanus from animals pretreated with reserpine or 6-hydroxydopamine (6-HODA) were assayed for dopamine (DA) or noradrenaline (NA) or for prolactin hormone. Such determinations were coupled with electron microscopy. It was found that reserpine and 6-HODA produced a significant decrease in the content of DA, NA, and prolactin. Electron microscope studies revealed that prolactin cells became activated as judged by ultrastructural criteria. After 6-HODA treatment type "B" neurosecretory fibers entering the RPD became selectively destroyed. These observations lead us to suggest that prolactin secretion is under inhibitory control by type "B" neurosecretory fibers of adrenergic nature.

The effect of thyrotrophic releasing factor on different hypothalamic areas and the anterior pituitary gland: a biochemical and ultrastructural study

A study on the effect of synthetic thyrotrophic releasing factor (TRF) on different areas of the central nervous system and on the anterior pituitary gland was performed in a system in vitro. These observations were combined with ultrastructural studies of the anterior pituitary gland after intracarotid TRF administration. TRF specifically decreased the incorporation in vitro of labelled amino acids into proteins of the medial hypothalamus, whereas the anterior pituitary gland showed enhanced protein synthesis. At the electron microscope level, only thyrotrophs showed enhanced signs of activation after 5, 15 and 30 min of TRF administration, which consisted in hypertrophy of the rough endoplasmic reticulum and Golgi complexes associated with a marked increase in the number of secretory granules undergoing extrusion into the perivascular and extracellular spaces. These observations indicate that the medial hypothalamus may be related to regulatory mechanism(s) of TRF secretion. They provide further morphological identification of the thyrotrophs and corroborate that TRF acts on these cells by promoting release and synthesis of thyrotrophin.

The adenohypophysis of female rats after hypothalamic oestradiol implants: an electron microscopic study

The ultrastructural effect of oestradiol implants into the hypothalamus on the adenohypophysis of adult female rats was studied. The main results are the demonstration that mammotrophs or prolactin cells, and to a lesser extent somatotrophs, increased their secretory activity after bilateral implants into the median eminence and arcuate nuclei; in the periventricular area the reaction was weaker and in the anterior hypothalamus the response was negative. In animals with implants in the basal tuberal region, mammotrophs showed an asynchronous secretory activity. Mitosis has been found to occur in fully differentiated mammotrophs, a finding which can be correlated with the increased number of such cells after basal tuberal implants. The gonadotrophs appeared to be atrophied.