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Abstract Many species, including humans exhibit a wide range of social behaviors that are crucial for the adaptation and survival of most species. Brain organization and function are shaped by genetic and environmental factors, although their precise contributions have been relatively understudied in the context of artificial selection. We used divergent lines of quail selected on their high versus low level of motivation to approach a group of conspecifics (S + and S-, respectively) to investigate the influence of genetic selection and early social environment on sociability. We observed distinct sex- and brain-region-specific expression patterns of three neuronal markers: mesotocin, and vasotocin, the avian homologues of mammalian oxytocin and vasopressin, as well as aromatase, the enzyme that converts androgens into estrogens. These markers displayed pronounced and neuroanatomically specific differences between S + and S- quail. Additionally, in a second experiment, we assessed the influence of early social environment on social skills in juvenile birds. Mixing S + and S- resulted in more S- males approaching the group without affecting the sociability of S + or other behaviors, suggesting that the early social environment may influence the results of genetic selection. In conclusion, the divergent quail lines offer a valuable model for unraveling the neuronal and behavioral mechanisms underlying social behaviors.

The prevalence of hormone-related health issues caused by exposure to endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) is a significant, and increasing, societal challenge. Declining fertility rates together with rising incidence rates of reproductive disorders and other endocrine-related diseases underscores the urgency in taking more action. Addressing the growing threat of EDCs in our environment demands robust and reliable test methods to assess a broad variety of endpoints relevant for endocrine disruption. EDCs also require effective regulatory frameworks, especially as the current move towards greater reliance on non-animal methods in chemical testing puts to test the current paradigm for EDC identification, which requires that an adverse effect is observed in an intact organism. Although great advances have been made in the field of predictive toxicology, disruption to the endocrine system and subsequent adverse health effects may prove particularly difficult to predict without traditional animal models. The MERLON project seeks to expedite progress by integrating multispecies molecular research, new approach methodologies (NAMs), human clinical epidemiology, and systems biology to furnish mechanistic insights and explore ways forward for NAM-based identification of EDCs. The focus is on sexual development and function, from foetal sex differentiation of the reproductive system through mini-puberty and puberty to sexual maturity. The project aims are geared towards closing existing knowledge gaps in understanding the effects of EDCs on human health to ultimately support effective regulation of EDCs in the European Union and beyond.

Abstract Since the first applications of nanohoops in organic electronics appear promising, the time has come to go deeper into their rational design in order to reach high‐efficiency materials. To do so, systematic studies dealing with the incorporation of electron‐rich and/or electron‐poor functional units on nanohoops have to be performed. Herein, the synthesis, the electrochemical, photophysical, thermal, and structural properties of two [4]cyclo‐2,7‐carbazoles, [4]C‐Py‐Cbz, and [4]C‐Pm‐Cbz, possessing electron‐withdrawing units on their nitrogen atoms (pyridine or pyrimidine) are reported. The synthesis of these nanohoops is first optimized and a high yield above 50% is reached. Through a structure‐properties relationship study, it is shown that the substituent has a significant impact on some physicochemical properties (eg HOMO/LUMO levels) while others are kept unchanged (eg fluorescence). Incorporation in electronic devices shows that the most electrically efficient Organic Field‐Effect transistors are obtained with [4]C‐Py‐Cbz although this compound does not present the best‐organized semiconductor layer. These experimental data are finally confronted with the electronic couplings between the nanohoops determined at the DFT level and have highlighted the origin in the difference of charge transport properties. [4]C‐Py‐Cbz has the advantage of a more 2D‐like transport character than [4]C‐Pm‐Cbz, which alleviates the impact of defects and structural organization.

Ex-vivo lung perfusion (EVLP) has extended the number of transplantable lungs by reconditioning marginal organs. However, EVLP is performed at 37°C without homeostatic regulation leading to metabolic wastes’ accumulation in the perfusate and, as a corrective measure, the costly perfusate is repeatedly replaced during the standard of care procedure. As an interesting alternative, a hemodialyzer could be placed on the EVLP circuit, which was previously shown to rebalance the perfusate composition and to maintain lung function and viability without appearing to impact the global gene expression in the lung. Here, we assessed the biological effects of a hemodialyzer during EVLP by performing biochemical and refined functional genomic analyses over a 12h procedure in a pig model. We found that dialysis stabilized electrolytic and metabolic parameters of the perfusate but enhanced the gene expression and protein accumulation of several inflammatory cytokines and promoted a genomic profile predicting higher endothelial activation already at 6h and higher immune cytokine signaling at 12h. Therefore, epuration of EVLP with a dialyzer, while correcting features of the perfusate composition and maintaining the respiratory function, promotes inflammatory responses in the tissue. This finding suggests that modifying the metabolite composition of the perfusate by dialysis during EVLP can have detrimental effects on the tissue response and that this strategy should not be transferred as such to the clinic.

The urgent need to address unsustainable consumption practices has become increasingly evident. While much traditional consumer behavior research serves to stimulate consumption, the focus needs to shift towards encouraging more sustainable consumption patterns. This commentary synthesizes insights from a roundtable discussion at the 2023 Society for Consumer Psychology Conference, which comprised an exploration of novel, creative, actionable, and theoretically sound avenues for getting people to consume less, consume better. The commentary tackles three essential questions: (1) What do we mean by consuming less, consuming better? (2) Who is/are responsible for such behaviors? (3) How do we get people to consume less, consume better? In doing so, it lays out several future research directions.

The recent development of π-conjugated nanohoops in organic electronics has opened new perspectives for this family of curved materials. Addressing the difference arising from curved vs. non-curved materials is an important concern in order to highlight the specific properties of curved materials. Herein, we discuss the significant differences arising between [4]-cyclo-N-pyridine-2,7-carbazole [4]C-Py-Cbz and its linear counterpart, N-pyridine-2,7-tetracarbazole [4]L-Py-Cbz. This study gathers optical, electrochemical, structural, morphological and charge transport properties and highlights the key role played by the curvature. We notably show how the electronic effects of the pending pyridines differently affect the molecular orbitals energies. We have also shown how structural rearrangements between ground and first excited states can be at the origin of the peculiar emission of nanohoops. Finally, the huge difference in terms of charge transport properties was discussed. Nanohoop [4]C-Py-Cbz displays a field-effect mobility in the saturated regime μFEsat of 3.4 × 10-6 cm² V-1 s-1, six times higher than that of its linear analogue [4]L-Py-Cbz (5.7 × 10-7 cm² V-1 s-1). However, the detailed study of the charge transport properties shows that the linear analogue forms a semi-conducting layer with a lower trap density, more favourable to the charge hopping processes. Theoretical calculations have provided clues on the origin of these differences, revealing that despite the intensity of electronic couplings is significantly in favor of [4]L-Py-Cbz, their highly anisotropic character renders them more sensitive to defects and disorder. This is consistent with the fact that [4]C-Py-Cbz displays experimentally better charge transport properties than [4]L-Py-Cbz. Such a type of structure-property relationship study provides fundamental findings of interest for the future design of high-performance nanohoops. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ex-vivo lung perfusion (EVLP) has extended the number of transplantable lungs by reconditioning marginal organs. However, EVLP is performed at 37°C without homeostatic regulation leading to metabolic wastes' accumulation in the perfusate and, as a corrective measure, the costly perfusate is repeatedly replaced during the standard of care procedure. As an interesting alternative, a hemodialyzer could be placed on the EVLP circuit, which was previously shown to rebalance the perfusate composition and to maintain lung function and viability without appearing to impact the global gene expression in the lung. Here, we assessed the biological effects of a hemodialyzer during EVLP by performing biochemical and refined functional genomic analyses over a 12h procedure in a pig model. We found that dialysis stabilized electrolytic and metabolic parameters of the perfusate but enhanced the gene expression and protein accumulation of several inflammatory cytokines and promoted a genomic profile predicting higher endothelial activation already at 6h and higher immune cytokine signaling at 12h. Therefore, epuration of EVLP with a dialyzer, while correcting features of the perfusate composition and maintaining the respiratory function, promotes inflammatory responses in the tissue. This finding suggests that modifying the metabolite composition of the perfusate by dialysis during EVLP can have detrimental effects on the tissue response and that this strategy should not be transferred as such to the clinic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The urgent need to address unsustainable consumption practices has become increasingly evident. While much traditional consumer behavior research serves to stimulate consumption, the focus needs to shift towards encouraging more sustainable consumption patterns. This commentary synthesizes insights from a roundtable discussion at the 2023 Society for Consumer Psychology Conference, which comprised an exploration of novel, creative, actionable, and theoretically sound avenues for getting people to consume less, consume better. The commentary tackles three essential questions: (1) What do we mean by consuming less, consuming better? (2) Who is/are responsible for such behaviors? (3) How do we get people to consume less, consume better? In doing so, it lays out several future research directions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Polystyrene (PS) is a thermoplastic polymer commonly used in various applications due to its bulk properties. Designing functional polystyrenes with well-defined structures for targeted applications is of significant interest due to the rigid and apolar nature of the polymer chain. Progress is hindered to date by the limitations of current analytical methods in defining the atomistic-level folding of the polymer chain. The integration of ion mobility spectrometry and molecular dynamics simulations is beneficial in addressing these challenges. However, data on gas-phase polystyrene ions are rarely reported in the literature. We herein investigate the gas phase structure of polystyrene ions with different end groups to establish how the nature and the rigidity of the monomer unit affect the charge stabilization. We find that, in contrast to polar polymers in which the charges are located deep in the ionic globules, the charges in the PS ions are rather located at the periphery of the polymer backbone, leading to singly and doubly charged PS ions adopting dense elliptic-shaped structures. Molecular dynamics (MD) simulations indicate that the folding of the PS rigid chain is controlled by phenyl ring interactions with the charge ultimately remaining excluded from the core of the globular ions, whereas the folding of polyether ions is initiated by the folding of the flexible polyether chain around the sodium ion that remains deeply enclosed in the core of the ions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The development of n‐type organic thermoelectric materials, especially π‐conjugated small molecules, lags far behind their p‐type counterparts, due primarily to the scarcity of efficient electron‐transporting molecules and the typically low electron affinities of n‐type conjugated molecules that leads to inefficient n‐doping. Herein, the n‐doping of two functionalized (carbonyl vs dicyanovinylene) indenofluorene‐based conjugated small molecules, 2,8‐bis(5‐(2‐octyldodecyl)thien‐2‐yl)indeno[1,2‐b]fluorene‐6,12‐dione (TIFDKT) and 2,2′‐(2,8‐bis(3‐alkylthiophen‐2‐yl)indeno[1,2‐b]fluorene‐6,12‐diylidene)dimalononitrile (TIFDMT) are demonstrated, with n‐type dopant N‐DMBI. While TIFDKT shows decent miscibility with N‐DMBI, it can be hardly n‐doped owing to its insufficiently low LUMO. On the other hand, TIFDMT, despite a poorer miscibility with N‐DMBI, can be efficiently n‐doped, reaching a respectable electrical conductivity of 0.16 S cm−1. Electron paramagnetic resonance measurements confirm the efficient n‐doping of TIFDMT. Based on density functional theory (DFT) calculations, the LUMO frontier orbital energy of TIFDMT is much lower, and its wave function is more delocalized compared to TIFDKT. Additionally, the polarons are more delocalized in the n‐doped TIFDMT. Remarkably, as indicated by the grazing‐incidence wide‐angle X‐ray scattering (GIWAXS), the molecular order for TIFDMT thin‐film is enhanced by n‐doping, leading to more favorable packing with edge‐on orientation and shorter π‐π stacking distances (from 3.61 to 3.36 Å). This induces more efficient charge transport in the doped state. Upon optimization, a decent thermoelectric power factor of 0.25 µWm−1K−2 is achieved for n‐doped TIFDMT. This work reveals the effect of carbonyl vs dicyanovinylene on the n‐doping efficiency, microstructure evolution upon doping and thermoelectric performance, offering a stepping stone for the future design of efficient n‐type thermoelectric molecules. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Problematic smartphone use (PSU) is frequently considered a public health issue, especially in East Asia and Europe. Yet, there is a paucity of research focusing on cultural and familial determinants of PSU. This cross-cultural study aimed to investigate smartphone usage patterns and possible mediating effects of perceived family support (PFS) from a stress-coping perspective. Convenience samples of 790 Chinese and 439 Belgian undergraduates completed an online survey that focused on sociodemographics and psychological variables ( i.e. , anxiety, depression, PFS, and PSU). In both samples, PSU was positively associated with anxiety and depression, and negatively associated with PFS. However, after controlling for sex and age in structural equation models, the consistent mediating effects of PFS were only found between anxiety and PSU in both cultural settings. These findings suggest that psychological interventions that take into account familial factors could be helpful for young people presenting with anxiety and PSU., (Copyright © 2023 Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. All rights reserved.)