Effect of reactance traits on buying behavior in a limited sales advertisement

This study examined the effects of the reactance traits on people's intention to purchase limited products aod on their reactance reactions. Advertising limited sales can cause two independent responses: increase in the intention to purchase and increase in resistance to persuasion. We manipulated the magnitude of the pressure of persuasion in the advertising of chocolates. Participants were asked about their intention to purchase the chocolate, and their reactance reactions to the advertisement. Intention to purchase was lower with high-pressure advertisement than with low-pressure advertisement, regardless of reactance traits. High-pressure advertisement of limited products could cause psychological reactance to persuasion. The high-reactance participants, however, responded more negatively to the advertisement, and felt more frustration with the restriction. Although the reactance characteristics of participants did not affect their intention to purchase, it affected their reactance reactions to a limited sales advertisement

Social comparison and self-stereotyping : Gender of compared targets influences self-perceptions of men and women <Article>

This study examined whether gender differences in self-rated personality traits are context dependent. Japanese university students rated themselves on positive and negative aspects of agency (masculine) and communion (feminine) traits in three comparative conditions: between-gender, within-gender, and control conditions. Results indicated that men perceived themselves as less feminine with regard to the positive aspects of communion than women in the intergroup comparison condition. Men in the intergroup condition had significantly lower ratings for the positive aspects of communion, compared to those in the other two conditions; however, these ratings were provided only by men with low social dominance orientation. Additionally, no significant differences were observed among women. Thus, the gender self-stereotyping process among men was discussed.本研究の一部はJSPS科研費（課題番号263808440）の助成を受けた

miR-124 dosage regulates prefrontal cortex function by dopaminergic modulation

MicroRNA-124 (miR-124) is evolutionarily highly conserved among species and one of the most abundantly expressed miRNAs in the developing and mature central nervous system (CNS). Previous studies reported that miR-124 plays a role in CNS development, such as neuronal differentiation, maturation, and survival. However, the role of miR-124 in normal brain function has not yet been revealed. Here, we subjected miR-124-1⁺/⁻ mice, to a comprehensive behavioral battery. We found that miR-124-1⁺/⁻ mice showed impaired prepulse inhibition (PPI), methamphetamine-induced hyperactivity, and social deficits. Whole cell recordings using prefrontal cortex (PFC) slices showed enhanced synaptic transmission in layer 5 pyramidal cells in the miR-124-1⁺/⁻ PFC. Based on the results of behavioral and electrophysiological analysis, we focused on genes involved in the dopaminergic system and identified a significant increase of Drd2 expression level in the miR-124-1⁺/⁻ PFC. Overexpression or knockdown of Drd2 in the control or miR-124-1⁺/⁻ PFC demonstrates that aberrant Drd2 signaling leads to impaired PPI. Furthermore, we identified that expression of glucocorticoid receptor gene Nr3c1, which enhances Drd2 expression, increased in the miR-124-1⁺/⁻ PFC. Taken together, the current study suggests that miR-124 dosage modulates PFC function through repressing the Drd2 pathway, suggesting a critical role of miR-124 in normal PFC function

Additional file 1: of Late stage definitive endodermal differentiation can be defined by Daf1 expression

Daf1-positive cells are negative for Nanog expression. Mouse Nanog-iPS cells, in which GFP expression is driven by Nanog promoter [45], are differentiated into DE. Cxcr4+/E-cadherin + cells were sorted and analyzed for Daf1 and Nanog-GFP expression. Daf1-positive cells are negative for Nanog expression. (TIF 312 kb

Additional file 3: of Late stage definitive endodermal differentiation can be defined by Daf1 expression

Primer sequences used for RT-PCR analysis. Primer sequences used for detection of gene expression in Fig. 1, 2. (DOCX 15 kb

Additional file 2: of Late stage definitive endodermal differentiation can be defined by Daf1 expression

Flow cytometric analyses of the cell cycle. Histograms of flow cytometric analyses of Daf1-DE and Daf1 + DE (n = 5) are shown. Cell cycle was analyzed by measuring DNA quantities using DyeCycle. (TIF 314 kb

Neuropsychological Impairment and Its Association with Violence Risk in Japanese Forensic Psychiatric Patients: A Case-Control Study.

BACKGROUND:In Japan, the legislation directing treatment of offenders with psychiatric disorders was enacted in 2005. Neuropsychological impairment is highly related to functional outcomes in patients with psychiatric disorders, and several studies have suggested an association between neuropsychological impairment and violent behaviors. However, there have been no studies of neuropsychological impairment in forensic patients covered by the Japanese legislation. This study is designed to examine the neuropsychological characteristics of forensic patients in comparison to healthy controls and to assess the relationship between neuropsychological impairment and violence risk. METHODS:Seventy-one forensic patients with psychiatric disorders and 54 healthy controls (matched by age, gender, and education) were enrolled. The CogState Battery (CSB) consisting of eight cognitive domains, the Iowa Gambling Task (IGT) to test emotion-based decision making, and psychological measures of violence risk including psychopathy were used. RESULTS:Forensic patients exhibited poorer performances on all CSB subtests and the IGT than controls. For each group, partial correlational analyses indicated that poor IGT performance was related to psychopathy, especially antisocial behavior. In forensic patients, the CSB composite score was associated with risk factors for future violent behavior, including stress and noncompliance with remediation attempts. CONCLUSION:Forensic patients with psychiatric disorders exhibit a wide range of neuropsychological impairments, and these findings suggest that neuropsychological impairment may increase the risk of violent behavior. Therefore, the treatment of neuropsychological impairment in forensic patients with psychiatric disorders is necessary to improve functional outcomes as well as to prevent violence