String-pulling in the Goffin's cockatoo (Cacatua goffiniana)

Does bumblebee preference of continuous over interrupted strings in string-pulling tasks indicate means-end comprehension?

Bumblebees (Bombus terrestris) have been shown to engage in string-pulling behavior to access rewards. The objective of this study was to elucidate whether bumblebees display means-end comprehension in a string-pulling task. We presented bumblebees with two options: one where a string was connected to an artificial flower containing a reward and the other presenting an interrupted string. Bumblebees displayed a consistent preference for pulling connected strings over interrupted ones after training with a stepwise pulling technique. When exposed to novel string colors, bees continued to exhibit a bias towards pulling the connected string. This suggests that bumblebees engage in featural generalization of the visual display of the string connected to the flower in this task. If the view of the string connected to the flower was restricted during the training phase, the proportion of bumblebees choosing the connected strings significantly decreased. Similarly, when the bumblebees were confronted with coiled connected strings during the testing phase, they failed to identify and reject the interrupted strings. This finding underscores the significance of visual consistency in enabling the bumblebees to perform the task successfully. Our results suggest that bumblebees' ability to distinguish between continuous strings and interrupted strings relies on a combination of image matching and associative learning, rather than means-end understanding. These insights contribute to a deeper understanding of the cognitive processes employed by bumblebees when tackling complex spatial tasks.

Bioinformatics analysis of the role of RNA modification regulators in polycystic ovary syndrome

Purpose

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is the most common metabolic and endocrine disorder affecting women of reproductive age. The pathogenesis of PCOS is influenced by factors such as race, genetics, environment, hyperandrogenemia, hyperinsulinemia, and obesity. However, the molecular mechanisms linking RNA modification and PCOS remain underexplored. This study aims to investigate the potential genetic and molecular pathways connecting RNA modification with PCOS through bioinformatics analyses.

Methods

The GSE34526, GSE5850, and GSE98421 datasets were obtained from the National Center for Biotechnology Information Gene Expression Omnibus database. We identified intersecting differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and RNA modification-related genes within the GSE34526 dataset and visualized the overlaps using a Venn diagram. Subsequent analyses included Gene Ontology (GO), pathway enrichment (Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes), gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA), gene set variation analysis (GSVA), and immune infiltration analysis. Additionally, we constructed a protein-protein interaction network as well as mRNA-miRNA, mRNA-RNA binding protein, and mRNA-transcription factor (TF) regulatory networks. The expression and receiver operating characteristic curves of hub genes were also identified.

Results

The expression of several RNA modification-related DEGs (RMRDEGs) (ALYREF, NUDT1, AGO2, TET2, YTHDF2, and TRMT61B) showed significant differences in PCOS patients. GSEA and GSVA indicated that RMRDEGs were enriched in the hedgehog, MAPK, JAK STAT, and Notch pathways. Key transcription factors, including SP7, KLF8, HCFC1, IRF1, and MLLT1, were identified in the TF regulatory networks.

Conclusions

These findings suggest that there are gene and miRNA profile alterations exist in PCOS patients and highlight immune-related differences. This knowledge could pave the way for new research directions in the diagnosis and treatment of PCOS.

Bioinformatic analysis of the role of immune checkpoint genes and immune infiltration in the pathogenesis and development of premature ovarian insufficiency

PURPOSE

With advances in immunology, increasing evidence suggests that immunity is involved in premature ovarian insufficiency (POI) pathogenesis. This study investigated the roles of immune checkpoint genes and immune cell infiltration in POI pathogenesis and development.

METHODS

The GSE39501 dataset and immune checkpoint genes were obtained from the Gene Expression Omnibus database and related literature. The two datasets were intersected to obtain immune checkpoint-related differentially expressed genes (ICRDEGs), which were analyzed using Gene Ontology and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Gene and Genomes enrichment analysis, weighted correlation network analysis, protein-protein interaction and related microRNAs, transcription factors, and RNA binding proteins. The immune cell infiltration of ICRDEGs was explored, and receiver operating characteristic curves were used to validate the diagnostic value of ICRDEGs in POI.

RESULTS

We performed ICRDEG functional enrichment analysis and found that these genes were closely related to immune processes, such as T cell activation. Specifically, they are enriched in various biological processes and pathways, such as cell adhesion molecule and T cell receptor signaling pathways. Weighted correlation network analysis identified seven hub genes: Cd200, Cd274, Cd28, neurociliary protein-1, Cd276, Cd40lg, and Cd47. Furthermore, we identified 112 microRNAs, 17 RNA-binding proteins, and 101 transcription factors. Finally, immune infiltration analysis showed a clear positive correlation between hub genes and multiple immune cell types.

CONCLUSION

Bioinformatic analysis identified seven potential ICRDEGs associated with POI, among which the immune checkpoint molecules CD200 and neurociliary protein-1 may be involved in the pathogenesis of POI.

Bumblebees attend to both the properties of the string and the target in string-pulling tasks, but prioritize the features of the string

Previous studies have demonstrated that associative learning and experience play important roles in the string-pulling of bumblebees (Bombus terrestris). However, the features of the target (artificial flower with sugar reward) and the string that bees learn in such tasks remain unknown. This study aimed to explore the specific aspects of the string-flower arrangement that bumblebees learn and how they prioritize these features. We show that bumblebees trained with string-pulling are sensitive to the flower stimuli; they exhibit a preference for pulling strings connected to flowers over strings that are not attached to a target. Additionally, they chose to pull strings attached to flowers of the same color and shape as experienced during training. The string feature also plays a crucial role for bumblebees when the flower features are identical. Furthermore, bees prioritized the features of the strings rather than the flowers when both cues were in conflict. Our results show that bumblebees solve string-pulling tasks by acquiring knowledge about the characteristics of both targets and strings, and contribute to a deeper understanding of the cognitive processes employed by bees when tackling non-natural skills.

Identification and validation of voltage-dependent anion channel 1-related genes and immune cell infiltration in diabetic nephropathy

AIMS/INTRODUCTION

This study investigated the roles of voltage-dependent anion channel 1-related differentially expressed genes (VRDEGs) in diabetic nephropathy (DN).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We downloaded two datasets from patients with DN, namely, GSE30122 and GSE30529, from the Gene Expression Omnibus database. VRDEGs associated with DN were obtained from the intersection of voltage-dependent anion channel 1-related genes from the GeneCards database, and differentially expressed genes were screened according to group (DN/healthy) in the two datasets. The enriched pathways of the VRDEGs were analyzed. Hub genes were selected using a protein-protein interaction network, and their predictive value was verified through receiver operating characteristic curve analysis. The CIBERSORTx software examined hub genes and immune cell infiltration associations. The protein expression of hub genes was verified through immunohistochemistry in 16-week-old db/db mice for experimentation as a model of type 2 DN. Finally, potential drugs targeting hub genes that inhibit DN development were identified.

RESULTS

A total of 57 VRDEGs were identified. The two datasets showed high expression of the PI3K, Notch, transforming growth factor-β, interleukin-10 and interleukin-17 pathways in DN. Five hub genes (ITGAM, B2M, LYZ, C3 and CASP1) associated with DN were identified and verified. Immunohistochemistry showed that the five hub genes were highly expressed in db/db mice, compared with db/m mice. The infiltration of immune cells was significantly correlated with the five hub genes.

CONCLUSIONS

Five hub genes were significantly correlated with immune cell infiltration and might be crucial to DN development. This study provides insight into the mechanisms involved in the pathogenesis of DN.

Integrated Analysis of Ferroptosis and Immunity-Related Genes Associated with Diabetic Kidney Disease

Purpose

Diabetic kidney disease (DKD) is the leading cause of chronic kidney disease (CKD) worldwide. Elucidation of the molecular mechanisms underlying ferroptosis and immunity in DKD could aid the development of potentially effective therapeutics. This study aimed to perform an integrated analysis of ferroptosis and immune-related differentially expressed mRNAs (DEGs) in DKD.

Materials and Methods

Gene expression profiles of samples obtained from patients with DKD and controls were downloaded from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database. The potential differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were screened using R software, and ferroptosis immune-related differentially expressed genes (FIRDEGs) were extracted from the DEGs. We performed functional enrichment analyses, and constructed protein-protein interaction (PPI) networks, transcription factor (TFs)-gene networks, and gene-drug networks to explore their potential biological functions. Correlation analysis and receiver operating characteristic curves were used for evaluating the FIRDEGs. We used the CIBERSORT algorithm to examine the composition of immune cells and determine the relationship between FIRDEG signatures and immune cells. Finally, the RNA expression of six FIRDEGs was validated in animal kidney samples using RT-PCR.

Results

We identified 80 FIRDEGs and performed their functional analyses. We identified six hub genes (Ccl5, Il18, Cybb, Fcgr2b, Myd88, and Ccr2) using PPI networks and predicted potential TF gene networks and gene-drug pairs. Immune cells, including M2 macrophages, resting mast cells, and gamma-delta T cells, were altered in DKD; the FIRDEGs (Fcgr2b, Cybb, Ccr2, and Ccl5) were closely correlated with the infiltration abundance of M2 macrophages and gamma-delta T cells. Finally, the hub genes were verified in mouse kidney samples.

Conclusion

We identified six hub FIRDEGs (Ccl5, Il18, Cybb, Fcgr2b, Myd88, and Ccr2) in DKD, and predicted the potential transcription factor gene networks and possible treatment targets for future research.

Recent developments in parrot cognition: a quadrennial update

Psittacines, along with corvids, are commonly referred to as 'feathered apes' due to their advanced cognitive abilities. Until rather recently, the research effort on parrot cognition was lagging behind that on corvids, however current developments show that the number of parrot studies is steadily increasing. In 2018, M. L. Lambert et al. provided a comprehensive review on the status of the most important work done so far in parrot and corvid cognition. Nevertheless, only a little more than 4 years after this publication, more than 50 new parrot studies have been published, some of them chartering completely new territory. On the 25th anniversary of Animal Cognition we think this warrants a detailed review of parrot cognition research over the last 4 years. We aim to capture recent developments and current trends in this rapidly expanding and diversifying field.

Kea (Nestor notabilis) fail a loose-string connectivity task

Naïve individuals of some bird species can rapidly solve vertical string-pulling tasks with virtually no errors. This has led to various hypotheses being proposed which suggest that birds mentally simulate the effects of their actions on strings. A competing embodied cognition hypothesis proposes that this behaviour is instead modulated by perceptual-motor feedback loops, where feedback of the reward moving closer acts as an internal motivator for functional behaviours, such as pull-stepping. To date, the kea parrot has produced some of the best performances of any bird species at string-pulling tasks. Here, we tested the predictions of the four leading hypotheses for the cognition underpinning bird string-pulling by presenting kea with a horizontal connectivity task where only one of two loose strings was connected to the reward, both before and after receiving perceptual-motor feedback experience. We find that kea fail the connectivity task both before and after perceptual-motor feedback experience, suggesting not only that kea do not mentally simulate their string-pulling actions, but also that perceptual-motor feedback alone is insufficient in eliciting successful performance in the horizontal connectivity task. This suggests a more complex interplay of cognitive factors underlies this iconic example of animal problem-solving.