Not in Control,but Liable?Attributing Human Responsibility for Fully Automated Vehicle Accidents

Human agency has become increasingly limited in complex systems with increasingly automated decision-making capabilities.For instance,human occupants are passengers and do not have direct vehicle control in fully automated cars(i.e.,driverless cars).An interesting question is whether users are responsible for the accidents of these cars.Normative ethical and legal analyses frequently argue that individuals should not bear responsibility for harm beyond their control.Here,we consider human judgment of responsibility for accidents involving fully automated cars through three studies with seven experiments(N=2668).We compared the responsibility attributed to the occupants in three conditions:an owner in his private fully automated car,a passenger in a driverless robotaxi,and a passenger in a conventional taxi,where none of these three occupants have direct vehicle control over the involved vehicles that cause identical pedestrian injury.In contrast to normative analyses,we show that the occupants of driverless cars(private cars and robotaxis)are attributed more responsibility than conventional taxi passengers.This dilemma is robust across different contexts(e.g.,participants from China vs the Republic of Korea,participants with first-vs third-person perspectives,and occupant presence vs absence).Furthermore,we observe that this is not due to the perception that these occupants have greater control over driving but because they are more expected to foresee the potential consequences of using driverless cars.Our findings suggest that when driverless vehicles(private cars and taxis)cause harm,their users may face more social pressure,which public discourse and legal regulations should manage appropriately.

Risk factors for hepatocellular carcinoma associated with hepatitis C genotype 3 infection:A systematic review

BACKGROUND Hepatitis C virus(HCV)is a blood-borne virus which globally affects around 79 million people and is associated with high morbidity and mortality.Chronic infection leads to cirrhosis in a large proportion of patients and often causes hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC)in people with cirrhosis.Of the 6 HCV genotypes(G1-G6),genotype-3 accounts for 17.9%of infections.HCV genotype-3 responds least well to directly-acting antivirals and patients with genotype-3 infection are at increased risk of HCC even if they do not have cirrhosis.AIM To systematically review and critically appraise all risk factors for HCC secondary to HCV-G3 in all settings.Consequently,we studied possible risk factors for HCC due to HCV-G3 in the literature from 1946 to 2023.METHODS This systematic review aimed to synthesise existing and published studies of risk factors for HCC secondary to HCV genotype-3 and evaluate their strengths and limitations.We searched Web of Science,Medline,EMBASE,and CENTRAL for publications reporting risk factors for HCC due to HCV genotype-3 in all settings,1946-2023.RESULTS Four thousand one hundred and forty-four records were identified from the four databases with 260 records removed as duplicates.Three thousand eight hundred and eighty-four records were screened with 3514 excluded.Three hundred and seventy-one full-texts were assessed for eligibility with seven studies included for analysis.Of the seven studies,three studies were retrospective case-control trials,two retrospective cohort studies,one a prospective cohort study and one a cross-sectional study design.All were based in hospital settings with four in Pakistan,two in South Korea and one in the United States.The total number of participants were 9621 of which 167 developed HCC(1.7%).All seven studies found cirrhosis to be a risk factor for HCC secondary to HCV genotype-3 followed by higher age(five-studies),with two studies each showing male sex,high alpha feto-protein,directly-acting antivirals treatment and achievement of sustained virologic response as risk factors for developing HCC.CONCLUSION Although,studies have shown that HCV genotype-3 infection is an independent risk factor for end-stage liver disease,HCC,and liver-related death,there is a lack of evidence for specific risk factors for HCC secondary to HCV genotype-3.Only cirrhosis and age have demonstrated an association;however,the number of studies is very small,and more research is required to investigate risk factors for HCC secondary to HCV genotype-3.

KCNQ1 rs2237895 gene polymorphism increases susceptibility to type 2 diabetes mellitus in Asian populations

BACKGROUND The association of single nucleotide polymorphism of KCNQ1 gene rs2237895 with type 2 diabetes mellitus(T2DM)is currently controversial.It is unknown whether this association can be gene realized across different populations.AIM To determine the association of KCNQ1 rs2237895 with T2DM and provide reliable evidence for genetic susceptibility to T2DM.METHODS We searched PubMed,Embase,Web of Science,Cochrane Library,Medline,Baidu Academic,China National Knowledge Infrastructure,China Biomedical Literature Database,and Wanfang to investigate the association between KCNQ1 gene rs2237895 and the risk of T2DM up to January 12,2022.Review Manager 5.4 was used to analyze the association of the KCNQ1 gene rs2237895 polymorphism with T2DM and to evaluate the publication bias of the selected literature.RESULTS Twelve case–control studies(including 11273 cases and 11654 controls)met our inclusion criteria.In the full population,allelic model[odds ratio(OR):1.19;95%confidence interval(95%CI):1.09–1.29;P<0.0001],recessive model(OR:1.20;95%CI:1.11–1.29;P<0.0001),dominant model(OR:1.27.95%CI:1.14–1.42;P<0.0001),and codominant model(OR:1.36;95%CI:1.15–1.60;P=0.0003)(OR:1.22;95%CI:1.10–1.36;P=0.0002)indicated that the KCNQ1 gene rs2237895 polymorphism was significantly correlated with susceptibility to T2DM.In stratified analysis,this association was confirmed in Asian populations:allelic model(OR:1.25;95%CI:1.13–1.37;P<0.0001),recessive model(OR:1.29;95%CI:1.11–1.49;P=0.0007),dominant model(OR:1.35;95%CI:1.20–1.52;P<0.0001),codominant model(OR:1.49;95%CI:1.22–1.81;P<0.0001)(OR:1.26;95%CI:1.16–1.36;P<0.0001).In non-Asian populations,this association was not significant:Allelic model(OR:1.06,95%CI:0.98–1.14;P=0.12),recessive model(OR:1.04;95%CI:0.75–1.42;P=0.83),dominant model(OR:1.06;95%CI:0.98–1.15;P=0.15),codominant model(OR:1.08;95%CI:0.82–1.42;P=0.60.OR:1.15;95%CI:0.95–1.39;P=0.14).CONCLUSION KCNQ1 gene rs2237895 was significantly associated with susceptibility to T2DM in an Asian population.Carriers of the C allele had a higher risk of T2DM.This association was not significant in non-Asian populations.

Caliper-based precise positioning of the target(CALIPPOT)for transcranial magnetic stimulation without neuronavigation system

To the editor:Transcranial magnetic stimulation(TMS)is a non-invasive brain modulation technique.One important usage of TMS is the transient interruption of cognitive brain function(also named virtual lesion)for investigating precisely where and when a specific cortical region contributes to a specific cognitive function.1 A more important usage of TMS is the treatment of brain disorders by repetitive TMS(rTMS).

Effects of a periodic intermittent theta burst stimulation in Alzheimer's disease

Background Previous studies havedemonstrated that excitatory repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation(rTMS)can improve the cognitive function of patients with Alzheimer's disease(AD).Intermittent theta burst stimulation(iTBS)is a novel excitatory rTMS protocol for brain activity stimulation with the ability to induce long-term potentiation-like plasticity and represents a promising treatment for AD.However,the long-term effects of iTBS on cognitive decline and brain structure in patients with AD areunknown.Aims We aimed to explore whether repeating accelerated iTBS every three months could slow down the cognitive decline in patients with AD.Methods In this randomised,assessor-blinded,controlled trial,iTBS was administered to the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex(DLPFC)of 42 patients with AD for 14days every 13weeks.Measurements included the Montreal Cognitive Assessment(MoCA),a comprehensive neuropsychological battery,and the grey matter volume(GMV)of the hippocampus.Patients were evaluated at baseline and after follow-up.The longitudinal pipeline of the Computational Anatomy Toolbox for SPM was used to detect significant treatment-related changes over time.Results The iTBS group maintained MoCA scores relative to the control group(t=3.26,p=0.013)and reduced hippocampal atrophy,which was significantly correlated with global degeneration scale changes.The baseline Mini-Mental State Examination(MMSE)score,apolipoprotein E genotype and Clinical Dementia Rating were indicative of MoCA scores at follow-up.Moreover,the GMV of the left(t=0.08,p=0.996)and right(t=0.19,p=0.977)hippocampus were maintained in the active group but significantly declined in the control group(left:t=4.13,p<0.001;right:t=5.31,p<0.001).GMV change in the left(r=0.35,p=0.023)and right(r=0.36,p=0.021)hippocampus across the intervention positively correlated with MoCA changes;left hippocampal GMV change was negatively correlated with global degeneration scale(r=-0.32,p=0.041)changes.Conclusions DLPFC-iTBS maybe a feasible and easy-to-implement non-pharmacological intervention to slow down the progressive decline of overall cognition and quality of life in patients with AD,providing a new AD treatment option.Trial registration number NCT04754152.

Rational and Continuous Measurement of Emotional-Fingerprint, Emotional-Quotient and Categorical vs Proportional Recognition of Facial Emotions with M.A.R.I.E., Second Half

Context: The advent of Artificial Intelligence (AI) requires modeling prior to its implementation in algorithms for most human skills. This observation requires us to have a detailed and precise understanding of the interfaces of verbal and emotional communications. The progress of AI is significant on the verbal level but modest in terms of the recognition of facial emotions even if this functionality is one of the oldest in humans and is omnipresent in our daily lives. Dysfunction in the ability for facial emotional expressions is present in many brain pathologies encountered by psychiatrists, neurologists, psychotherapists, mental health professionals including social workers. It cannot be objectively verified and measured due to a lack of reliable tools that are valid and consistently sensitive. Indeed, the articles in the scientific literature dealing with Visual-Facial-Emotions-Recognition (ViFaEmRe), suffer from the absence of 1) consensual and rational tools for continuous quantified measurement, 2) operational concepts. We have invented a software that can use computer-morphing attempting to respond to these two obstacles. It is identified as the Method of Analysis and Research of the Integration of Emotions (M.A.R.I.E.). Our primary goal is to use M.A.R.I.E. to understand the physiology of ViFaEmRe in normal healthy subjects by standardizing the measurements. Then, it will allow us to focus on subjects manifesting abnormalities in this ability. Our second goal is to make our contribution to the progress of AI hoping to add the dimension of recognition of facial emotional expressions. Objective: To study: 1) categorical vs dimensional aspects of recognition of ViFaEmRe, 2) universality vs idiosyncrasy, 3) immediate vs ambivalent Emotional-Decision-Making, 4) the Emotional-Fingerprint of a face and 5) creation of population references data. Methods: M.A.R.I.E. enables the rational, quantified measurement of Emotional Visual Acuity (EVA) in an individual observer and a population aged 20 to 70 years. Meanwhile, it can measure the range and intensity of expressed emotions through three Face- Tests, quantify the performance of a sample of 204 observers with hypernormal measures of cognition, “thymia” (defined elsewhere), and low levels of anxiety, and perform analysis of the six primary emotions. Results: We have individualized the following continuous parameters: 1) “Emotional-Visual- Acuity”, 2) “Visual-Emotional-Feeling”, 3) “Emotional-Quotient”, 4) “Emotional-Decision-Making”, 5) “Emotional-Decision-Making Graph” or “Individual-Gun-Trigger”, 6) “Emotional-Fingerprint” or “Key-graph”, 7) “Emotional-Fingerprint-Graph”, 8) detecting “misunderstanding” and 9) detecting “error”. This allowed us a taxonomy with coding of the face-emotion pair. Each face has specific measurements and graphics. The EVA improves from ages of 20 to 55 years, then decreases. It does not depend on the sex of the observer, nor the face studied. In addition, 1% of people endowed with normal intelligence do not recognize emotions. The categorical dimension is a variable for everyone. The range and intensity of ViFaEmRe is idiosyncratic and not universally uniform. The recognition of emotions is purely categorical for a single individual. It is dimensional for a population sample. Conclusions: Firstly, M.A.R.I.E. has made possible to bring out new concepts and new continuous measurements variables. The comparison between healthy and abnormal individuals makes it possible to take into consideration the significance of this line of study. From now on, these new functional parameters will allow us to identify and name “emotional” disorders or illnesses which can give additional dimension to behavioral disorders in all pathologies that affect the brain. Secondly, the ViFaEmRe is idiosyncratic, categorical, and a function of the identity of the observer and of the observed face. These findings stack up against Artificial Intelligence, which cannot have a globalist or regionalist algorithm that can be programmed into a robot, nor can AI compete with human abilities and judgment in this domain. *Here “Emotional disorders” refers to disorders of emotional expressions and recognition.

Rational and Continuous Measurement of the Emotional Decision Making in Visual Recognition of Facial Emotional Expressions with M.A.R.I.E.: First Half

Context: The advent of Artificial Intelligence (AI) requires modeling prior to its implementation in algorithms for most human skills. This observation requires us to have a detailed and precise understanding of the interfaces of verbal and emotional communications. The progress of AI is significant on the verbal level but modest in terms of the recognition of facial emotions even if this functionality is one of the oldest in humans and is omnipresent in our daily lives. Dysfunction in the ability for facial emotional expressions is present in many brain pathologies encountered by psychiatrists, neurologists, psychotherapists, mental health professionals including social workers. It cannot be objectively verified and measured due to a lack of reliable tools that are valid and consistently sensitive. Indeed, the articles in the scientific literature dealing with Visual-Facial-Emotions-Recognition (ViFaEmRe), suffer from the absence of 1) consensual and rational tools for continuous quantified measurement, 2) operational concepts. We have invented a software that can use computer-morphing attempting to respond to these two obstacles. It is identified as the Method of Analysis and Research of the Integration of Emotions (M.A.R.I.E.). Our primary goal is to use M.A.R.I.E. to understand the physiology of ViFaEmRe in normal healthy subjects by standardizing the measurements. Then, it will allow us to focus on subjects manifesting abnormalities in this ability. Our second goal is to make our contribution to the progress of AI hoping to add the dimension of recognition of facial emotional expressions. Objective: To study: 1) categorical vs dimensional aspects of recognition of ViFaEmRe, 2) universality vs idiosyncrasy, 3) immediate vs ambivalent Emotional-Decision-Making, 4) the Emotional-Fingerprint of a face and 5) creation of population references data. Methods: With M.A.R.I.E. enable a rational quantified measurement of Emotional-Visual-Acuity (EVA) of 1) a) an individual observer, b) in a population aged 20 to 70 years old, 2) measure the range and intensity of expressed emotions by 3 Face-Tests, 3) quantify the performance of a sample of 204 observers with hyper normal measures of cognition, “thymia,” (ibid. defined elsewhere) and low levels of anxiety 4) analysis of the 6 primary emotions. Results: We have individualized the following continuous parameters: 1) “Emotional-Visual-Acuity”, 2) “Visual-Emotional-Feeling”, 3) “Emotional-Quotient”, 4) “Emotional-Deci-sion-Making”, 5) “Emotional-Decision-Making Graph” or “Individual-Gun-Trigger”6) “Emotional-Fingerprint” or “Key-graph”, 7) “Emotional-Finger-print-Graph”, 8) detecting “misunderstanding” and 9) detecting “error”. This allowed us a taxonomy with coding of the face-emotion pair. Each face has specific measurements and graphics. The EVA improves from ages of 20 to 55 years, then decreases. It does not depend on the sex of the observer, nor the face studied. In addition, 1% of people endowed with normal intelligence do not recognize emotions. The categorical dimension is a variable for everyone. The range and intensity of ViFaEmRe is idiosyncratic and not universally uniform. The recognition of emotions is purely categorical for a single individual. It is dimensional for a population sample. Conclusions: Firstly, M.A.R.I.E. has made possible to bring out new concepts and new continuous measurements variables. The comparison between healthy and abnormal individuals makes it possible to take into consideration the significance of this line of study. From now on, these new functional parameters will allow us to identify and name “emotional” disorders or illnesses which can give additional dimension to behavioral disorders in all pathologies that affect the brain. Secondly, the ViFaEmRe is idiosyncratic, categorical, and a function of the identity of the observer and of the observed face. These findings stack up against Artificial Intelligence, which cannot have a globalist or regionalist algorithm that can be programmed into a robot, nor can AI compete with human abilities and judgment in this domain. *Here “Emotional disorders” refers to disorders of emotional expressions and recognition.

Psychological controversies in gastroparesis: A systematic review

AIM To systematically review literature addressing three key psychologically-oriented controversies associated with gastroparesis. METHODS A comprehensive search of Pub Med, CINAHL, and PsycI NFO databases was performed to identify literature addressing the relationship between gastroparesis and psychological factors. Two researchers independently screened all references. Inclusion criteria were: an adult sample of gastroparesis patients, a quantitative methodology, and at least one of the following:(1) evaluation of the prevalence of psychopathology;(2) an outcome measure of anxiety, depression, or quality of life; and(3) evidence of a psychological intervention. Case studies, review articles, and publications in languages other than English were excluded from the current review. RESULTS Prevalence of psychopathology was evaluated by three studies(n = 378), which found that combined anxiety/depression was present in 24% of the gastroparesis cohort, severe anxiety in 12.4%, depression in 21.8%-23%, and somatization in 50%. Level of anxiety and depression was included as an outcome measure in six studies(n = 1408), and while limited research made it difficult to determine the level of anxiety and depression in the cohort, a clear positive relationship with gastroparesis symptom severity was evident.Quality of life was included as an outcome measure in 11 studies(n = 2076), with gastroparesis patients reporting lower quality of life than population norms, and a negative relationship between quality of life and symptom severity. One study assessed the use of a psychological intervention for gastroparesis patients(n = 120) and found that depression and gastric function were improved in patients who received psychological intervention, however the study had considerable methodological limitations. CONCLUSION Gastroparesis is associated with significant psychological distress and poor quality of life. Recommendations for future studies and the development of psychological interventions are provided.

Surveying the Relationship between Psychological Disorders and Spending Time on Facebook

Introduction: This research is a descriptive and correlational research which has been done with the purpose of surveying the relationship between mental disorders and the amount of time that people spend on Facebook. 147 members out of Facebook active users were chosen randomly. Then epidemiology questionnaire of mental disorders (SCL-90-R) was used to collect data. Data analysis was done using Spearman correlation coefficient and multiple regression. The results showed that there was a significant relation between characters such as aggression, obsession, psychosis, paranoia, depression and using Facebook (p < 0.05), but this relation was not significant in anxiety, interpersonal sensitivity, physical complaints and phobia. Furthermore, this relationship was significant regarding to subjects’ gender and marital status (p < 0.05), but there was no relationship regarding to their age.

Resting-state electroencephalography theta predicts neurofeedback treatment 4-month follow-up response in nicotine addiction

Background The high rate of long-term relapse is a major cause of smoking cessation failure.Recently,neurofeedback training has been widely used in the treatment of nicotine addiction;however,approximately 30%of subjects fail to benefit from this intervention.Our previous randomised clinical trial(RCT)examined cognition-guided neurofeedback and demonstrated a significant decrease in daily cigarette consumption at the 4-month follow-up.However,significant individual differences were observed in the 4-month follow-up effects of decreased cigarette consumption.Therefore,it is critical to identify who will benefit from pre-neurofeedback.Aims We examined whether the resting-state electroencephalography(EEG)characteristics from pre-neurofeedback predicted the 4-month follow-up effects and explored the possible mechanisms.Methods This was a double-blind RCT.A total of 60 participants with nicotine dependence were randomly assigned to either the real-feedback or yoked-feedback group.They underwent 6 min closed-eye resting EEG recordings both before and after two neurofeedback sessions.A follow-up assessment was conducted after 4 months.Results The frontal resting-state theta power spectral density(PSD)was significantly altered in the real-feedback group after two neurofeedback visits.Higher theta PSD in the real-feedback group before neurofeedback was the only predictor of decreased cigarette consumption at the 4-month follow-up.Further reliability analysis revealed a significant positive correlation between theta PSD pre-neurofeedback and post-neurofeedback.A leave-one-out cross-validated linear regression of the theta PSD pre-neurofeedback demonstrated a significant correlation between the predicted and observed reductions in cigarette consumption at the 4-month follow-up.Finally,source analysis revealed that the brain mechanisms of the theta PSD predictor were located in the orbital frontal cortex.Conclusions Our study demonstrated changes in the resting-state theta PSD following neurofeedback training.Moreover,the resting-state theta PSD may serve as a prognostic marker of neurofeedback effects.A higher resting-state theta PSD predicts a better long-term response to neurofeedback treatment,which may facilitate the selection of individualised interventions.

Population physical activity legacy from major sports events:The contribution of behavior change science

In a commentary paper in the Journal of Sport and Health Science,world-renowned physical activity researchers,Barbara Ainsworth and James Sallis,discussed the opportunities arising from the Beijing 2022 Olympic Winter Games for increasing physical activity in youth.1 Moreover,a clarion call from the Asia-Pacific Society for Physical Activity has been made concerning the physical activity legacy that could arise from the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games in Brisbane,Australia(see:ASPA vision for Olympic legacy-ASPA(aspactivity.org)).

A Bifactor Analysis Approach to Construct Validity and Reliability of the Affective Exercise Experience Questionnaire among Chinese College Students

Affective exercise experience as an emerging theoretical concept has great potential to provide a more nuanced understanding of individual factors that influence exercise behavior.However,concerning the Affective Exercise Experiences(AFFEXX)questionnaire,it has not been examined yet whether the structural score of the AFFEXX is a useful index to predict physical activity(refers to any bodily movement produced by skeletal muscles that requires energy expenditure).Furthermore,there is currently a gap in knowledge regarding the psychological mechanisms that can explain the relationship between affective exercise experiences and the level of physical activity(PA).In order to adress these gaps in the literature,we conducted two studies among Chinese collge students that aimed(i)to investigated whether the total score of the three AFFEXX-C constructs(antecedent appraisals,core affective exercise experiences,and attraction-antipathy towards exercise)is a relaible indicator that can be utilized in research and pratical settings and(ii)to evalute the specific psychological mechanisms that can explain the relationship between affective exercise experience and PA.In Study 1,we recruited 801 voluntary Chinese college students for bifactor and correlational analyses.In Study 2,875 Chinese college students were enrolled to verify our findings from Study 1 and to explore the aforementioned mechanism.Results from the bifactor analyses supported our hypothesis that the total scores of the three AFFEXX-C constructs can be used among Chinese college students to establish a link with PA.Additionally,our results suggested that core affective exercise experiences and attraction-antipathy mediated the relationship between antecedent appraisals and the level of moderate-to-vigorous intensity PA.Therefore,measuring affective exercise experiences using the AFFEXX-C,specifically the total scores of each individual construct may be a useful approach to predict future PA levels.

Internet addiction and problematic Internet use: A systematic review of clinical research

AIM: To provide a comprehensive overview of clinical studies on the clinical picture of Internet-use related addictions from a holistic perspective. A literature search was conducted using the database Web of Science.METHODS: Over the last 15 years, the number of Internet users has increased by 1000%, and at the same time, research on addictive Internet use has proliferated. Internet addiction has not yet been understood very well, and research on its etiology and natural history is still in its infancy. In 2013, the American Psychiatric Association included Internet Gaming Disorder in the appendix of the updated version of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual for Mental Disorders(DSM-5) as condition that requires further research prior to official inclusion in the main manual, with important repercussions for research and treatment. To date, reviews have focused on clinical and treatment studies of Internet addiction and Internet Gaming Disorder. This arguably limits the analysis to a specific diagnosis of a potential disorder that has not yet been officially recognised in the Western world, rather than a comprehensive and inclusive investigation of Internet-use related addictions(including problematic Internet use) more generally. RESULTS: The systematic literature review identified a total of 46 relevant studies. The included studies used clinical samples, and focused on characteristics of treatment seekers and online addiction treatment. Four main types of clinical research studies were identified, namely research involving(1) treatment seeker characteristics;(2) psychopharmacotherapy;(3) psychological therapy; and(4) combined treatment. CONCLUSION: A consensus regarding diagnostic criteria and measures is needed to improve reliability across studies and to develop effective and efficient treatment approaches for treatment seekers.

故事情景下儿童回答问题的反应倾向

本研究选取5、6、8、10岁儿童各32名，采用故事情景来考察儿童处于不可回答问题情况下猜测答案的倾向。研究结果表明：（1）5～10岁儿童在故事情景下面对不可回答问题时存在猜测答案的倾向，且年龄差异不显著。（2）问题形式对儿童猜测答案的倾向有显著影响，较不可回答的开放问题，儿童在不可回答的封闭问题上的猜测答案倾向更强烈。（3）在不可回答的封闭问题上，儿童倾向给出否定的答案。

Tai Ji Quan as antihypertensive lifestyle therapy:A systematic review and meta-analysis

Background:Professional health organizations are not currently recommending Tai Ji Quan alongside aerobic exercise to treat hypertension.We aimed to examine the efficacy of Tai Ji Quan as antihypertensive lifestyle therapy.Methods:Tai Ji Quan interventions published in English and Chinese were included when they involved healthy adults,reported pre-and postintervention blood pressure(BP),and had a non-exercise/non-diet control group.We systematically searched 11 electronic databases for studies published through July 31,2018,yielding 31 qualifying controlled trials.We(1)evaluated the risk of bias and methodological study quality,(2)performed meta-regression analyses following random-effects assumptions,and(3)generated additive models representing the largest possible clinically relevant BP reductions.Results:Participants(n=3223)were middle-aged(56.6±15.1 years of age,mean±SD)adults with prehypertension(systolic BP(SBP)=136.9±15.2 mmHg,diastolic BP(DBP)=83.4±8.7 mmHg).Tai Ji Quan was practiced 4.0±1.4 sessions/week for 54.0§10.6 min/session for 22.3±20.2 weeks.Overall,Tai Ji Quan elicited significant reductions in SBP(-11.3 mmHg,95%CI:-14.6 to-8.0;d+=-0.75)and DBP(-4.8 mmHg,95%CI:-6.4 to-3.1;d+=-0.53)vs.control(p<0.001).Controlling for publication bias among samples with hypertension,Tai Ji Quan trials published in English elicited SBP reductions of 10.4 mmHg and DBP reductions of 4.0 mmHg,which was half the magnitude of trials published in Chinese(SBP reductions of 18.6 mmHg and DBP reductions of 8.8 mmHg).Conclusion:Our results indicate that Tai Ji Quan is a viable antihypertensive lifestyle therapy that produces clinically meaningful BP reductions(i.e.,10.4 mmHg and 4.0 mmHg of SBP and DBP reductions,respectively)among individuals with hypertension.Such magnitude of BP reductions can lower the incidence of cardiovascular disease by up to 40%.

Smoking in schizophrenic patients:A critique of the selfmedication hypothesis

A common remark among laypeople, and notably also among mental health workers, is that individuals with mental illnesses use drugs as self-medication to allay clinical symptoms and the side effects of drug treatments. Roots of the self-medication concept in psychiatry date back at least to the 1980 s. Observations that rates of smokers in schizophrenic patients are multiple times the rates for regular smoking in the general population, as well as those with other disorders, proved particularly tempting for a self-medication explanation. Additional evidence came from experiments with animal models exposed to nicotine and the identification of neurobiological mechanisms suggesting self-medication with smoking is a plausible idea. More recently, results from studies comparing smoking and non-smoking schizophrenic patients have led to the questioning of the self-medication hypothesis. Closer examination of the literature points to the possibility that smoking is less beneficial on schizophrenic symptomology than generally assumed while clearly increasing the risk of cancer and other smoking-related diseases responsible for early mortality. It is a good time to examine the evidence for the self-medication concept as it relates to smoking. Our approach is to focus on data addressing direct or implied predictions of the hypothesis in schizophrenic smokers.

Integrating insulin-like growth factor 1 and sex hormones into neuroprotection:Implications for diabetes

Brain integrity and cognitive aptitude are often impaired in patients with diabetes mellitus, presumably a result of the metabolic complications inherent to the disease. However, an increasing body of evidence has demonstrated the central role of insulin-like growth factor 1(IGF1) and its relation to sex hormones in many neuroprotective processes. Both male and female patients with diabetes display abnormal IGF1 and sexhormone levels but the comparison of these fluctuations is seldom a topic of interest. It is interesting to note that both IGF1 and sex hormones have the ability to regulate phosphoinositide 3-kinase-Akt and mitogen-activated protein kinases-extracellular signal-related kinasesignaling cascades in animal and cell culture models of neuroprotection. Additionally, there is considerable evidence demonstrating the neuroprotective coupling of IGF1 and estrogen. Androgens have also been implicated in many neuroprotective processes that operate on similar signaling cascades as the estrogen-IGF1 relation. Yet, androgens have not been directly linked to the brain IGF1 system and neuroprotection. Despite the sex-specific variations in brain integrity and hormone levels observed in diabetic patients, the IGF1-sex hormone relation in neuroprotection has yet to be fully substantiated in experimental models of diabetes. Taken together, there is a clear need for the comprehensive analysis of sex differences on brain integrity of diabetic patients and the relationship between IGF1 and sex hormones that may influence brain-health outcomes. As such, this review will briefly outline the basic relation of diabetes and IGF1 and its role in neuroprotection. We will also consider the findings on sex hormones and diabetes as a basis for separately analyzing males and females to identify possible hormone-induced brain abnormalities. Finally, we will introduce the neuroprotective interplay of IGF1 and estrogen and how androgen-derived neuroprotection operates through similar signaling cascades. Future research on both neuroprotection and diabetes should include androgens into the interplay of IGF1 and sex hormones.

Astrocytic modulation of potassium under seizures

The contribution of an impaired astrocytic K^+ regulation system to epileptic neuronal hyperexcitability has been increasingly recognized in the last decade.A defective K^+ regulation leads to an elevated extracellular K^+ concentration([K^+]o).When[K^+]o reaches peaks of 10-12 mM,it is strongly associated with seizure initiation during hypersynchronous neuronal activities.On the other hand,reactive astrocytes during a seizure attack restrict influx of K^+ across the membrane both passively and actively.In addition to decreased K^+ buffering,aberrant Ca^2+ signaling and declined glutamate transport have also been observed in astrogliosis in epileptic specimens,precipitating an increased neuronal discharge and induction of seizures.This review aims to provide an overview of experimental findings that implicated astrocytic modulation of extracellular K^+ in the mechanism of epileptogenesis.

Factor Structure of the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale in South Korea

Results of previous studies from North America reported that only 14 out of the 20 items from the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D) were required to assess negative affect, somatic symptoms, and anhedonia. However, it remains unclear whether this three-factor structure of the CES-D would be valid in South Korea. The purpose of this study is to examine the validity of the three-factor structure with a Korean version of the CES-D. The participants were Korean college students (N = 215), elementary school teachers (N = 234), and parents of elementary school students (N = 230). Confirmatory factor analysis was performed to examine the scale’s validity. Results indicated that the three-factor structure showed acceptable fit to data (comparative fit index = 0.95;root mean square error of approximation = 0.06). The findings indicated that the three-factor structure of the CES-D was valid in South Korea.

Personality Traits and Facebook Use: The Combined/Interactive Effect of Extraversion, Neuroticism and Conscientiousness

This study examined the influence of Big Five personality traits on Facebook usage and examined the interactions of traits in this context based on Torgersen’s (1995) typological approach. The effect of self-esteem, narcissism, loneliness, shyness and boredom proneness on Facebook usage was also investigated. The sample included both student (N = 190) and (N = 184) non-student samples. Narcissism was the strongest predictor of time spent on Facebook per day for both students and non-students. Narcissism was also the strongest predictor of number of daily logins for non-students, however, agreeableness was the strongest predictor of logins for students. Extraversion was the strongest predictor of number of Facebook friends for both students and non- students, however the interaction of Extraversion and Neuroticism was also a predictor of Facebook friends for students, and the interaction of Extraversion and Conscientiousness for non-students. Future research should consider the combined effect of personality traits on overall Facebook use.