Despite an increasing focus on the neural basis of human decision making in neuroscience, relatively little attention has been paid to decision making in social settings. Moreover, although human ...social decision making has been explored in a social psychology context, few neural explanations for the observed findings have been considered. To bridge this gap and improve models of human social decision making, we investigated whether acquiring a good reputation, which is an important incentive in human social behaviors, activates the same reward circuitry as monetary rewards. In total, 19 subjects participated in functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) experiments involving monetary and social rewards. The acquisition of one's good reputation robustly activated reward-related brain areas, notably the striatum, and these overlapped with the areas activated by monetary rewards. Our findings support the idea of a “common neural currency” for rewards and represent an important first step toward a neural explanation for complex human social behaviors.
Human behaviors are motivated not only by materialistic rewards but also by abstract social rewards, such as the approval of others. When choosing an action in social situations, to evaluate each ...action, the brain must convert different types of reward (such as money or social approval) into a common scale. Here using fMRI, we investigated the neural correlates of such valuation computations while individuals freely decided whether to donate to real charities or to take the money for themselves in the presence or absence of observers. Behavioral evidence showed that the mere presence of observers increased donation rates, and neuroimaging results revealed that activation in the ventral striatum before the same choice (“donate” or “not donate”) was significantly modulated by the presence of observers. Particularly high striatal activations were observed when a high social reward was expected (donation in public) and when there was the potential for monetary gain without social cost (no donation in the absence of observers). These findings highlight the importance of this area in representing both social and monetary rewards as a “decision utility” and add to the understanding of how the brain makes a choice using a “common neural currency” in social situations.
A transparent garnet-type lithium-ion conducting solid electrolyte of 1.0wt% Al2O3-doped Li7La3Zr2O12 (A-LLZ) was prepared using hot isostatic pressing (HIP). The A-LLZ pellet sintered at 1180°C for ...36h was followed by HIP treatment at 127MPa and 1180°C under an Ar atmosphere. The bulk conductivity of the HIP treated A-LLZ was 9.9×10−4Scm−1 at 25°C. The Li/HIP treated A-LLZ/Li cell showed no short-circuit due to lithium dendrite formation at 0.5mAcm−2.
•Garnet-type solid electrolyte of HIP treated LLZ.•Bulk conductivity of 9.9×10−4Scm−1 at room temperature.•Light transmittance is 30%.•Li/transparent LLZ/Li showed no short-circuit.
Abstract
This paper introduces a new approach to measure the muon magnetic moment anomaly $a_{\mu} = (g-2)/2$ and the muon electric dipole moment (EDM) $d_{\mu}$ at the J-PARC muon facility. The goal ...of our experiment is to measure $a_{\mu}$ and $d_{\mu}$ using an independent method with a factor of 10 lower muon momentum, and a factor of 20 smaller diameter storage-ring solenoid compared with previous and ongoing muon $g-2$ experiments with unprecedented quality of the storage magnetic field. Additional significant differences from the present experimental method include a factor of 1000 smaller transverse emittance of the muon beam (reaccelerated thermal muon beam), its efficient vertical injection into the solenoid, and tracking each decay positron from muon decay to obtain its momentum vector. The precision goal for $a_{\mu}$ is a statistical uncertainty of 450 parts per billion (ppb), similar to the present experimental uncertainty, and a systematic uncertainty less than 70 ppb. The goal for EDM is a sensitivity of $1.5\times 10^{-21}~e\cdot\mbox{cm}$.
The diagnostic detection of abnormal findings with head imaging is low for dizziness. This study aimed to investigate the risk factors associated with abnormal computed tomography (CT) or magnetic ...resonance imaging (MRI) findings for patients with dizziness.
Medical records of patients who had CT or MRI examinations for dizziness complaints between January 1, 2019, and December 31, 2020, were retrospectively reviewed. Imaging outcomes were grouped as normal or abnormal findings. Risk factors, including demographics, dizziness pattern, symptoms, comorbidities, and medical history were assessed. A Chi-square automatic interaction detection decision tree model was used to classify abnormal imaging findings based on risk factors identified through multivariable analyses.
A total of 2,342 scans were examined. Detection of abnormal findings was 4.8% (n = 96), including acute cerebral infarction (n = 33), acute cranial hemorrhage (n = 15), cancer/tumor-like lesions (n = 27), and inner ear abnormalities (n = 21). The risk factor most indicative of abnormal findings were loss of consciousness and neurologic deficit (Odds Ratio 55.57, p < 0.001). The likelihood of abnormality indicating acute brain lesions was 44.4% for patients with loss of consciousness and neurologic deficits. Loss of consciousness and neurologic deficits, hearing loss, nausea/vomiting, and comorbid malignancy distinguished abnormal findings from negative imaging findings (AUC 0.729; 95%CI 0.672–0.785; p < 0.001). Patients with unspecific dizziness complaints were less likely to have abnormal imaging findings.
These findings highlighted the significance of specific risk factors in recognizing individuals with dizziness complaints who may have abnormal imaging findings indicative of serious diseases. Further studies are warranted to verify the findings.
•2,342 CT and MRI scans of patients with dizziness complaints were examined.•Unspecific dizziness complaints were often without abnormal image findings.•Neurologic deficit was highly indicative of abnormal findings (OR 55.57).•Abnormality % was 66.7, 19.3, 8.8 for neurologic deficit, hearing loss, malignancy.•Without these factors, the abnormality rates were 4.2%, 3.8%, 3.2%, respectively.
Over the past decade, research on the aftereffects of stressful or traumatic events has emphasized the negative outcomes from these experiences. However, the positive outcomes deriving from adversity ...are increasingly being examined, and such positive changes are described as posttraumatic growth (PTG). To investigate the relationship between basal whole-brain functional connectivity and PTG, we employed resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging and analyzed the neural networks using independent component analysis in a sample of 33 healthy controls. Correlations were calculated between the network connectivity strength and the Posttraumatic Growth Inventory (PTGI) score. There were positive associations between the PTGI scores and brain activation in the rostral prefrontal cortex and superior parietal lobule (SPL) within the left central executive network (CEN) (respectively, r = 0.41, p < 0.001; r = 0.49, p < 0.001). Individuals with higher psychological growth following adverse experiences had stronger activation in prospective or working memory areas within the executive function network than did individuals with lower psychological growth (r = 0.40, p < 0.001). Moreover, we found that individuals with higher PTG demonstrated stronger connectivity between the SPL and supramarginal gyrus (SMG). The SMG is one of the brain regions associated with the ability to reason about the mental states of others, otherwise known as mentalizing. These findings suggest that individuals with higher psychological growth may have stronger functional connectivity between memory functions within the CEN and social functioning in the SMG, and that their better sociality may result from using more memory for mentalizing during their daily social interactions.
Annealed 1050-aluminum sheets were severely deformed at the strain magnitude of 2.32 through constrained groove pressing (CGP) process. Texture variations and mechanical properties were investigated ...during CGP and subsequent friction stir processing (FSP) with different volume fractions of SiC nanoparticles. The results revealed that the predominant texture component in the annealed aluminum was {001}〈100〉 cube texture. After CGP, deformed and shear texture components developed while the cube texture was partially remained. In the specimen undergone FSP without nanoparticles, {001}〈110〉 rotated cube and nearly {001}〈110〉 shear texture component C were mainly pronounced, which was indicative of shear deformation of material in the stir zone. Orientation distribution function analysis from the stir zone demonstrated variations in the texture development with the incorporation of SiC nanoparticles. An increase in the fraction of nanoparticles changed the grain orientation in such a way that the {001}〈110〉 shear texture component C gradually developed from the rotated cube texture. However, the overall texture intensity became weaker by increasing the fraction of SiC nanoparticles due to the activation of particle stimulated nucleation mechanism forming randomly oriented grains. The incorporation of SiC nanoparticles in the stir zone also enhanced the yield strength, Young's modulus, and hardness of the stir zone without considerable reduction in the elongation. In such situation, Orowan strengthening was suggested as a dominant mechanism involved.
Dissimilar friction stir welding between magnesium and aluminum alloy plates with thicknesses of 2 mm was performed. The tool for welding was rotated at speeds ranging from 800 to 1600 rpm under a ...constant traverse speed of 300 mm/min. For tool rotation speeds of 1000, 1200, and 1400 rpm, defect-free welds were successfully obtained and the surface morphology of the welds became smoother as the tool rotation speed was increased. The relatively simple bonded interface was clearly evident and had a zigzag pattern. A mixed microstructure of magnesium and aluminum alloys was formed near the bonded interface. The maximum tensile strength of about 132 MPa was obtained at the tool rotation speed of 1000 rpm. However, there were not noteworthy changes in the tensile strength as a function of the tool rotation speed. The elongation was 2% or less, regardless of the tool rotation speed.
The effects of different transient liquid phase (TLP) bonding times on the microstructure and mechanical properties of Hastelloy X joints made by Ni–Cr–B–Si–Fe filler alloy were investigated. The ...specimens were TLP bonded at 1070 °C for holding times of 5, 20, 80, 320, and 640 min. The electron probe microanalysis (EPMA) results revealed that the main eutectic phases observed at the joints following incomplete isothermal solidification were Ni-rich borides, Ni-rich silicides, Ni–Si eutectic, and some Cr-rich borides. A high density of plate-like, blocky, and acicular (Mo and Cr)-rich borides were observed in the diffusion-affected zone (DAZ) of the samples; however, increasing the holding time decreased the contents of these phases. The solid-state diffusion was found to be a more effective transportation phenomenon than base metal dissolution at longer holding times. The increased DAZ thickness and the complete isothermal solidification as a result of the improved solid-state diffusion helped increase the uniformity of the hardness profile of the TLP bond at higher holding times (320 and 640 min). The results showed reverse relationship between the athermally solidified zone (ASZ) width and the bonding strength. The highest tensile strength (∼617 MPa) was achieved for the sample bonded at a holding time of 320 min; this strength was more than 80% of the base metal strength. A fractographic analysis of the tensile failure revealed a cellular fracture surface, exhibiting the characteristics of both brittle and ductile fractures. The sites prone to stress concentration and crack initiation were reduced with the completion of isothermal solidification.
•Bonding of Hastelloy X joints by TLP method using Ni-Cr-B-Si-Fe filler alloy.•Effect of time on joint microstructure and mechanical properties.•Reduction in the room-temperature tensile strength of the joint owing to a layer of continuous borides.•Higher strength of samples prepared at longer holding times due to complete isothermal solidification.•Change in the joint fracture from brittle to cellular at longer holding times.
Abstract Background We conducted a randomized controlled trial (JCOG0212) to determine whether the outcome of mesorectal excision (ME) alone for rectal cancer is not inferior to that of ME with ...lateral lymph node dissection (LLND). The present study focused on male sexual dysfunction after surgery. Method ology: Eligibility criteria included clinical stage II/III rectal cancer, the lower margin of the lesion below the peritoneal reflection, the absence of lateral pelvic lymph node enlargement, and no preoperative radiotherapy. After confirmation of R0 resection by ME, patients were intraoperatively randomized. Questionnaires using the International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF-5) about the sexual function of men were collected before and 1 year after surgery. Sexual dysfunction incidence was defined as the ratio of patients showing sexual dysfunction after surgery relative to the number who had no erectile dysfunction before surgery. Results Among 701 patients enrolled between June 2003 and August 2010, 472 males were included. Among them, 343 (73%) completed preoperative and postoperative questionnaires. According to the study protocol, the incidences of sexual dysfunction in patients who underwent ME alone and ME with LLND were 68% (17/25; 95%CI, 47%–85%) and 79% (23/29; 95%CI, 60%–92%), respectively (p = 0.37). Incidences of sexual dysfunction in patients with no or only mild erectile dysfunction before surgery who underwent ME alone and ME with LLND were 59% (48/81) and 71% (67/95), respectively (p = 0.15). Multivariate analysis identified age as the only risk factor for sexual dysfunction after surgery (p = 0.02). Conclusions LLND may not increase sexual dysfunction incidence after rectal cancer surgery. This incidence is associated with increased age. This trial is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, number NCT00190541 and University Hospital Medical Information Network Clinical Trials Registry, number C000000034.
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