High Quality Factor Silicon Cantilever Driven by PZT Actuator for Resonant Based Mass Detection

A high quality factor (Q-factor) piezoelectric lead zirconat titanate (PZT) actuated single crystal silicon cantilever was proposed in this paper for resonant based ultra-sensitive mass detection. Energy dissipation from intrinsic mechanical loss of the PZT film was successfully compressed by separating the PZT actuator from resonant structure. Excellent Q-factor, which is several times larger than conventional PZT cantilever, was achieved under both atmospheric pressure and reduced pressures. For a 30 micrometer-wide 100 micrometer-long cantilever, Q-factor was measured as high as 1113 and 7279 under the pressure of 101.2 KPa and 35 Pa, respectively. Moreover, it was found that high-mode vibration can be realized by the cantilever for the pursuit of great Q-factor, while support loss became significant because of the increased vibration amplitude at the actuation point. An optimized structure using node-point actuation was suggested then to suppress corresponding energy dissipation.Comment: Submitted on behalf of EDA Publishing Association (http://irevues.inist.fr/handle/2042/16838

Remembering unexpected beauty: Contributions of the ventral striatum to the processing of reward prediction errors regarding the facial attractiveness in face memory

The COVID-19 pandemic has led people to predict facial attractiveness from partially covered faces. Differences in the predicted and observed facial attractiveness (i.e., masked and unmasked faces, respectively) are defined as reward prediction error (RPE) in a social context. Cognitive neuroscience studies have elucidated the neural mechanisms underlying RPE-induced memory improvements in terms of monetary rewards. However, little is known about the mechanisms underlying RPE-induced memory modulation in terms of social rewards. To elucidate this, the present functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) study investigated activity and functional connectivity during face encoding. In encoding trials, participants rated the predicted attractiveness of faces covered except for around the eyes (prediction phase) and then rated the observed attractiveness of these faces without any cover (outcome phase). The difference in ratings between these phases was defined as RPE in facial attractiveness, and RPE was categorized into positive RPE (increased RPE from the prediction to outcome phases), negative RPE (decreased RPE from the prediction to outcome phases), and non-RPE (no difference in RPE between the prediction and outcome phases). During retrieval, participants were presented with individual faces that had been seen and unseen in the encoding trials, and were required to judge whether or not each face had been seen in the encoding trials. Univariate activity in the ventral striatum (VS) exhibited a linear increase with increased RPE in facial attractiveness. In the multivariate pattern analysis (MVPA), activity patterns in the VS and surrounding areas (extended VS) significantly discriminated between positive/negative RPE and non-RPE. In the functional connectivity analysis, significant functional connectivity between the extended VS and the hippocampus was observed most frequently in positive RPE. Memory improvements by face-based RPE could be involved in functional networks between the extended VS (representing RPE) and the hippocampus, and the interaction could be modulated by RPE values in a social context

Inclusion of gaming disorder criteria in ICD-11: A clinical perspective in favor

Data from a specialist treatment facility for Internet addiction (IA) in Japan showed that (a) the vast majority of treatment seekers are addicted to online games, (b) their symptoms are often quite severe, and (c) there is a significant demand for IA treatment. In addition, systemic obstacles to the delivery of medical services in Japan exist due to the exclusion of IA criteria from ICD-10. Consequently, the inclusion of GD criteria in ICD-11 will almost certainly increase the capacity and quality of treatment through advances in research and possible changes in national medical systems to meet treatment demand

A histochemical study on hydrolytic and oxidative enzymes in human sarcomas

Histochemical evaluations of human sarcomas such as reticulum cell sarcoma, fibrosarcoma, lymphosarcoma and neurofibrosarcoma, were carried out with five hydrolytic enzymes and eight oxidative enzymes. The activities of acid phosphatase and beta-glucuronidase were slightly positive in the neoplastic cells observed. Beta-esterase activity was also positive but varied according to the kind of sarcomas. Alkaline phosphatase activity was faint or negative in sarcoma cells, though positive in capillary walls. Leucine aminopeptidase activity was negative giving not any appreciable coloration of the cell as far as the method employed is concerned. Among the activities of dehydrogenases, the most intense activity was observed in lactic dehydrogenase. The activities of succinic and beta-hydroxybutyric dehydrogenases were slight. The activities of alpha-glycerophosphate, glutamic and betahydroxybutyric dehydrogenases were faint or slight. The activities of NADPlinked dehydrogenases, glucose-6-phosphate and isocitric dehydrogenase were all faint or slight in these sarcoma cells.</p

Successful Treatment of Epilepsy by Resection of Periventricular Nodular Heterotopia

We report on a case of successful surgical treatment of drug-resistant epilepsy associated with a solitary lesion of periventricular nodular heterotopia (PNH). In the reported patient, intracranial ictal electroencephalography disclosed that seizures did not originate from the heterotopic nodules. However, the seizures were completely suppressed by lesionectomy of PNH alone. Epileptogenesis associated with PNH likely involves a very complex network between PNH and the surrounding cortex, and the disruption of this network may be an effective means of curing intractable, PNH-associated epilepsy

Internet use and problematic Internet use among adolescents in Japan: A nationwide representative survey

AbstractIntroductionJapan is assumed to have serious health and social problems due to Internet overuse, but little is known about the actual conditions. This study was conducted to investigate the prevalence of problematic Internet use (PIU) and associated Internet use in adolescents in Japan.MethodsA nationwide survey of adolescent Internet use was conducted in 2012 and 2013. The participants were 100,050 students from randomly selected junior and senior high schools nationwide who gave valid responses to a self-reported questionnaire. The questionnaire included questions on Internet use and the Japanese version of the Young's Diagnostic Questionnaire (YDQ) as well as other questions related to lifestyle habits. Internet users were classified by gender according to three categories on the basis of their YDQ scores: adaptive use, maladaptive use, and PIU.ResultsThe estimated prevalence of PIU was 6.2% in males, 9.8% in females, and 7.9% in total; it closely correlated with female gender, school grades, and number of Internet hours. The following common and gender-specific applications that conferred a risk of PIU were identified: downloading (both genders), online gaming (males), social networking services, blogs, and bulletin boards (females).ConclusionsA cross-sectional survey using YDQ of a large number of high school students yielded a PIU prevalence of 7.9% in Japan. This study showed that problems associated with Internet overuse have already become serious; therefore, planning and implementation of prevention and control measures is urgently required

Assessment of Humeral Retroversion Angle in Baseball Players: A Chronological Study

The objective of this study was to compare the humeral retroversion angles (HRA) between baseball players, including children, and those without a history of playing baseball, clarify the characteristics of the HRA in baseball players, and to determine whether or not chronological changes of the HRA are affected by a throwing motion. We studied 32 young baseball players (Group A), 10 elementary and junior high school students who had never played competitive overhead throwing sports (Group B), 65 adult baseball players who had been playing baseball since childhood in a little league or boy\u27s baseball team (Group C), and 11 adults who had never played competitive overhead throwing sports such as baseball or handball (Group D). Computed tomography of both humeri in these subjects was taken with a 5mm slice thickness. For the measurement of HRA, slices from the center of the humeral head and slices from the humeral epicondyle were examined. In baseball players, the mean HRA on the throwing side was larger than that on the non-throwing side, regardless of age and carrier. The HRAs of the elementary and junior high school baseball players as well as those of adult baseball players were larger on the throwing side. The HRA of the throwing side was significantly greater than that of the non-throwing side in both groups of baseball players. Furthermore, the mean HRA on the throwing side of young baseball players was significantly larger than that of adult baseball players, suggesting that the adaptive bony change of the humerus was caused by throwing stress and might occur in the early formative years of a player\u27s career