The impact of dynamic linking on cooperation on complex networks.

In complex social systems, individual relationships and the surrounding environment are constantly changing, allowing individuals to interact on dynamic networks. This study aims to investigate how individuals in a dynamic network engaged in a prisoner's dilemma game adapt their competitive environment through random edge breaks and reconnections when faced with incomplete information and adverse local conditions, thereby influencing the evolution of cooperative behavior. We find that random edge breaks and reconnections in dynamic networks can disrupt cooperative clusters, significantly hindering the development of cooperation. This negative impact becomes more pronounced over larger time scales. However, we also observe that nodes with higher degrees of connectivity exhibit greater resilience to this cooperation disruption. Our research reveals the profound impact of dynamic network structures on the evolution of cooperation and provides new insights into the mechanisms of cooperation in complex systems.

lncRNAs MALAT1 and LINC00657 upstream to miR-214-3p/BMP2 regulate osteogenic differentiation of human mesenchymal stem cells.

BACKGROUND: Osteogenic differentiation of human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs) holds significant clinical implications for patients with bone diseases. LncRNAs are an emerging group of epigenetic modulators involved in the osteogenesis of hMSCs. In this study, we explored lncRNA profiles that are upstream to the hsa-miR-214-3p/BMP2 axis in osteogenic differentiation of hMSCs. METHOD: HMSCs were induced toward osteogenesis for 14 days. Between day 1 and day 14, qRT-PCR was conducted to compare the expressions of BMP2, Runx2, hsa-miR-214-3p, and biochemical assays to compare alkaline phosphatase and Alizarin Red S activities. 145 lncRNAs, which were experimentally confirmed upstream to hsa-miR-214-3p were examined. Five significantly upregulated lncRNAs, MEG3, SNHG16, FAM83H-AS1, MALAT1 and LINC00657 were downregulated in differentiated hMSCs and their impact on osteogenic differentiation were examined. Hsa-miR-214-3p was silenced in lncRNAs-downregulated hMSCs to further examine the association between lncRNAs and hsa-miR-214-3p/BMP2 axis. RESULTS: From day 1 to day 14, hMSCs underwent significant osteogenic differentiation, and KCNQ1OT1, MEG3, SNHG16, FAM83H-AS1, MALAT1 and LINC00657 were significantly upregulated. Downregulations of MEG3, SNHG16, FAM83H-AS1, MALAT1 and LINC00657 all suppressed osteogenic differentiation. However, qRT-PCR and RIP assay demonstrated that only MALAT1 and LINC00657 acted through hsa-miR-214-3p/BMP2 to regulate osteogenic differentiation. Furthermore, silencing hsa-miR-214-3p only rescued osteogenic differentiation in MALAT1- or LINC00657- downregulated hMSCs. CONCLUSIONS: Our data strongly indicated that lncRNAs MALAT1 and LINC00657 acted through miR-214-3p/BMP2 axis to regulate osteogenic differentiation of hMSCs.

Peer pressure induced punishment resolves social dilemma on interdependent networks.

Despite the fruitful evidence to support the emergence of cooperation, irrational decisions are still an essential part of promoting cooperation. Among the many factors that affect human rational decision-making, peer pressure is unique to social organisms and directly affects individual cooperative behaviors in the process of social interaction. This kind of pressure psychologically forces individuals to behave consistently with their partners, and partners with inconsistent behaviors may suffer psychological blows. As feedback, this psychological harm may in turn affect individual cooperative decisions. There is evidence that when peer pressure exists, partnerships can reduce free-riding in enterprise. Based on interdependent networks, this paper studies the impact of peer pressure on cooperation dynamics when the strategies of corresponding partners from different layers of the networks are inconsistent. We assume that when individuals are under peer pressure, their payoffs will be compromised. The simulation results show that the punishment effect will force the expulsion of partners with different strategies, which will further reduce the proportion of partners with inconsistent strategies in the system. However, in most cases, only moderate fines are most conductive to the evolution of cooperation, and the punishment mechanisms can effectively promote the interdependent network reciprocity. The results on the small world and random network prove the robustness of the result. In addition, under this mechanism, the greater the payoff dependence between partners, the better the effect of interdependent network reciprocity.