A simple model of decision-making in the application process

In decision-making, individuals often rely on intuition, which can occasionally yield suboptimal outcomes. This study examines the impact of intuitive decision-making on individuals who are confronted with limited position information in the job application process. We propose a measure, the mismatch index, that gauges allocation efficiency by comparing the final application rate to the preset admission rate. By simulation and analytical results, we counter-intuitively find that under the intuitive strategy, acquiring more information does not always lead to more efficient allocation. Additionally, a shift from despondency to a bandwagon effect occurs when the initial application rate surpasses the admission rate, which can be observed in our field experiments. Meanwhile, experimental data also unveil variations in individuals' reliance on intuition, indicating the presence of inherent adventurous and conservative inclinations. To account for these effects, we introduce an enhancement factor into our model. The improved results align well with these real data, showing that compared to mediate competitive scenarios, individuals exhibit a stronger conservative tendency in fierce or less competitive scenarios. These findings offer significant insights into resource allocation, especially in the competitive job market context.Comment: 18 pages, 4 figure

Research progress on histone acetylation/methylation in oral diseases

Histone acetylation and methylation can affect chromatin conformation and regulate a variety of biological activities. Abnormal histone acetylation and methylation modifications are related to the occurrence and development of a variety of oral diseases. Histone acetylation and methylation increase or decrease in an orderly manner to regulate the development of teeth. Fluoride ions can destroy the balance between histone acetylation and methylation, which may be related to the occurrence of dental fluorosis. In addition, histone acetylation and methylation are involved in the regulation of oral inflammatory diseases. In the inflammatory microenvironment, the expression of histone acetyltransferase GCN5 decreases, and the expression of Dickkopf 1 (DKK1) decreases, activating the Wnt/β-catenin pathway and ultimately inhibiting the osteogenic differentiation of periodontal ligament stem cells. Enhancer of zeste homolog 2 (EZH2) and H3K27me3 levels were decreased in inflamed dental pulp tissues and cells. EZH2 inhibition inhibited the expression of interleukin (IL)-1b, IL-6 and IL-8 in human dental pulp cells under inflammatory stimulation. Histone acetylation/methylation modifications can interact with multiple signaling pathways to promote the occurrence and development of oral tumors and are related to the high invasiveness of salivary gland tumors. Small molecule drugs targeting histone acetylation and methylation-related enzymes can regulate the level of histone methylation/acetylation and have shown potential in the treatment of oral and maxillofacial diseases. For example, the histone deacetylase inhibitor vorinostat can inhibit the secretion of inflammation-related cytokines; it also promotes the maturation of odontoblasts and the formation of dentin-related matrix, demonstrating its potential in pulp preservation. Understanding the role of histone acetylation/methylation modifications in the occurrence and development of oral diseases will help promote research on epigenetic modifications in oral diseases and provide new perspectives for disease diagnosis and treatment

The impact of Chinese COVID-19 pandemic on the incidence of peripheral facial nerve paralysis after optimizing policies

ObjectiveTo evaluate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the occurrence of Peripheral Facial Nerve Paralysis (PFNP) in Chinese patients, identify contributing factors, and explore the relationship between COVID-19 and PFNP.MethodsWe conducted a retrospective study covering the years 2020 to 2023, categorizing patients into three groups based on their visit dates: Group 1 (December 8, 2020 to February 28, 2021), Group 2 (December 8, 2021 to February 28, 2022), and Group 3 (December 8, 2022 to February 28, 2023). We collected and compared data on disease onset and patient characteristics among these groups.ResultsIn Group 3, following the widespread COVID-19 outbreak, there was a significant increase of 22.4 and 12.1% in PFNP cases compared to the same periods in the preceding 2 years (p < 0.001). Group 3 patients were more likely to be aged between 30 and 60 years, experience onset within 7 days, present with Hunter syndrome, and have a higher H-B score of VI compared to the previous 2 years (p < 0.017). Logistic regression analysis revealed a strong association between the COVID-19 pandemic and the incidence of Hunter syndrome in PFNP (OR = 3.30, 95% CI 1.81–6.03, p < 0.001).ConclusionThe incidence of PFNP increased in China after the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly in patients with Hunter syndrome, indicating that COVID-19 infection can trigger and worsen PFNP

Epigenetic control of mesenchymal stem cells orchestrates bone regeneration

Recent studies have revealed the vital role of MSCs in bone regeneration. In both self-healing bone regeneration processes and biomaterial-induced healing of bone defects beyond the critical size, MSCs show several functions, including osteogenic differentiation and thus providing seed cells. However, adverse factors such as drug intake and body senescence can significantly affect the functions of MSCs in bone regeneration. Currently, several modalities have been developed to regulate MSCs’ phenotype and promote the bone regeneration process. Epigenetic regulation has received much attention because of its heritable nature. Indeed, epigenetic regulation of MSCs is involved in the pathogenesis of a variety of disorders of bone metabolism. Moreover, studies using epigenetic regulation to treat diseases are also being reported. At the same time, the effects of epigenetic regulation on MSCs are yet to be fully understood. This review focuses on recent advances in the effects of epigenetic regulation on osteogenic differentiation, proliferation, and cellular senescence in MSCs. We intend to illustrate how epigenetic regulation of MSCs orchestrates the process of bone regeneration.</jats:p