Neural signals predict information sharing across cultures

Information sharing influences which messages spread and shape beliefs, behavior, and culture. In a preregistered neuroimaging study conducted in the United States and the Netherlands, we demonstrate replicability, predictive validity, and generalizability of a brain-based prediction model of information sharing. Replicating findings in Scholz et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 114, 2881–2886 (2017), self-, social-, and value-related neural signals in a group of individuals tracked the population sharing of US news articles. Preregistered brain-based prediction models trained on Scholz et al. (2017) data proved generalizable to the new data, explaining more variance in population sharing than self-report ratings alone. Neural signals (versus self-reports) more reliably predicted sharing cross-culturally, suggesting that they capture more universal psychological mechanisms underlying sharing behavior. These findings highlight key neurocognitive foundations of sharing, suggest potential target mechanisms for interventions to increase message effectiveness, and advance brain-as-predictor research

One-pion transitions between heavy baryons in the constituent quark model

Single pion transitions of S wave to S wave, P wave to S wave and P wave to P wave heavy baryons are analyzed in the framework of the Heavy Quark Symmetry limit (HQS). We use a constituent quark model picture for the light diquark system with an underlying SU(2N_{f}) X O(3) symmetry to reduce the number of the HQS coupling factors required to describe these transitions. We also use the quantum theory of angular momentum to rewrite the one-pion transitions constituent quark model results in a more general form using the 6j- and 9j-symbols. We finally estimate the decay rates of some single pion transitions between charm baryon states.Comment: Latex, 33 pages including 2 figures (Postscript). Some typos are corrected with minor changes. Two references were added to the final version which will appear in Phy. Rev.

Leptonic μ \mu - and τ \tau -decays: mass effects, polarization effects and O(α) O(\alpha) radiative corrections

We calculate the radiative corrections to the unpolarized and the four polarized spectrum and rate functions in the leptonic decay of a polarized $\mu$ into a polarized electron. The new feature of our calculation is that we keep the mass of the final state electron finite which is mandatory if one wants to investigate the threshold region of the decay. Analytical results are given for the energy spectrum and the polar angle distribution of the final state electron whose longitudinal and transverse polarization is calculated. We also provide analytical results on the integrated spectrum functions. We analyze the $m_e \to 0$ limit of our general results and investigate the quality of the $m_e \to 0$ approximation. In the $m_e \to 0$ case we discuss in some detail the role of the $O(\alpha)$ anomalous helicity flip contribution of the final electron which survives the $m_e \to 0$ limit. The results presented in this 0203048 also apply to the leptonic decays of polarized $\tau$-leptons for which we provide numerical results.Comment: 39 pages, 11 postscript figures added. Updated version. Four references added. A few text improvements. Final version to appear in Phys.Rev.

Peri-operative chemotherapy with or without bevacizumab in operable oesophagogastric adenocarcinoma (UK Medical Research Council ST03): primary analysis results of a multicentre, open-label, randomised phase 2–3 trial

Background: Peri-operative chemotherapy and surgery is a standard of care for patients with resectable oesophagogastric adenocarcinoma. Bevacizumab, a monoclonal antibody against VEGF, improves the proportion of patients responding to treatment in advanced gastric cancer. We aimed to assess the safety and efficacy of adding bevacizumab to peri-operative chemotherapy in patients with resectable gastric, oesophagogastric junction, or lower oesophageal adenocarcinoma. Methods: In this multicentre, randomised, open-label phase 2–3 trial, we recruited patients aged 18 years and older with histologically proven, resectable oesophagogastric adenocarcinoma from 87 UK hospitals and cancer centres. We randomly assigned patients 1:1 to receive peri-operative epirubicin, cisplatin, and capecitabine chemotherapy or chemotherapy plus bevacizumab, in addition to surgery. Patients in the control group (chemotherapy alone) received three pre-operative and three post-operative cycles of epirubicin, cisplatin, and capecitabine chemotherapy: 50 mg/m2 epirubicin and 60 mg/m2 cisplatin on day 1 and 1250 mg/m2 oral capecitabine on days 1–21. Patients in the investigational group received the same treatment as the control group plus 7·5 mg/kg intravenous bevacizumab on day 1 of every cycle of chemotherapy and for six further doses once every 21 days following chemotherapy, as maintenance treatment. Randomisation was done by means of a telephone call to the Medical Research Council Clinical Trials Unit, where staff used a computer programme that implemented a minimisation algorithm with a random element to establish the allocation for the patient at the point of randomisation. Patients were stratified by chemotherapy centre, site of tumour, and tumour stage. The primary outcome for the phase 3 stage of the trial was overall survival (defined as the time from randomisation until death from any cause), analysed in the intention-to-treat population. Here, we report the primary analysis results of the trial; all patients have completed treatment and the required number of primary outcome events has been reached. This study is registered as an International Standard Randomised Controlled Trial, number ISRCTN 46020948, and with ClinicalTrials.gov, number NCT00450203. Findings: Between Oct 31, 2007, and March 25, 2014, 1063 patients were enrolled and randomly assigned to receive chemotherapy alone (n=533) or chemotherapy plus bevacizumab (n=530). At the time of analysis, 508 deaths were recorded (248 in the chemotherapy alone group and 260 in the chemotherapy plus bevacizumab group). 3-year overall survival was 50·3% (95% CI 45·5–54·9) in the chemotherapy alone group and 48·1% (43·2–52·7) in the chemotherapy plus bevacizumab group (hazard ratio [HR] 1·08, 95% CI 0·91–1·29; p=0·36). Apart from neutropenia no other toxic effects were reported at grade 3 or worse severity in more than 10% of patients in either group. Wound healing complications were more prevalent in the bevacizumab group, occurring in 53 (12%) patients in this group compared with 33 (7%) patients in the chemotherapy alone group. In patients who underwent oesophagogastrectomy, post-operative anastomotic leak rates were higher in the chemotherapy plus bevacizumab group (23 [10%] of 233 in the chemotherapy alone group vs 52 [24%] of 220 in the chemotherapy plus bevacizumab group); therefore, recruitment of patients with lower oesophageal or junctional tumours planned for an oesophagogastric resection was stopped towards the end of the trial. Serious adverse events for all patients included anastomotic leaks (30 events in chemotherapy alone group vs 69 in the chemotherapy plus bevacizumab group), and infections with normal neutrophil count (42 events vs 53). Interpretation: The results of this trial do not provide any evidence for the use of bevacizumab in combination with peri-operative epiribicin, cisplatin, and capecitabine chemotherapy for patients with resectable gastric, oesophagogastric junction, or lower oesophageal adenocarcinoma. Bevacizumab might also be associated with impaired wound healing. Funding: Cancer Research UK, MRC Clinical Trials Unit at University College London, and F Hoffmann-La Roche Limited

Calculation of 1/m^3 terms in the total semileptonic width of D mesons.

We calculate the 1/$m^3_c$ corrections in the inclusive semileptonic widths of $D$ mesons. We show that these are due to the novel penguin type operators that appear at this level in the transition operator. Taking into account the nonperturbative corrections leads to the predicted value of the semileptonic width significantly lower than the experimental value. The $1/m^3_c$ worsen the situation or at the very least, within uncertainty, give small contribution. We indicate possible ways out. It seems most probable that violations of duality are noticeable in the energy range characteristic to the inclusive decays in the charm family. Theoretically these deviations are related to divergence of the high-order terms in the power expansion in the inverse heavy quark mass.Comment: Final version accepted for publication in Physical Review D (19 pages, 5 figures appended as two PS files at the end of the LATEX file

Analysis of the Three-Body B→D+D−π0B \to D^+ D^- \pi^0 Decay

The decay process $B\to D^+ D^- \pi^0$ is an interesting channel for the investigation of CP violating effects in the $b-$ sector. We write down a decay amplitude constrained by a low-energy theorem, which also includes the contribution of resonant $S-$ and $P-$wave beauty and charmed mesons, and we determine the relevant matrix elements in the infinite heavy quark mass limit, assuming the factorization ansatz. We estimate the rate of the decay: ${\cal B}(B \to D^+ D^- \pi^0)\simeq 1 \times 10^{-3}$. We also analyze the time-independent and time-dependent differential decay distributions, concluding that a signal for this process should be observed at the B-factories. Finally, we give an estimate of the decay rate of the Cabibbo-favoured process $B\to D^+ D^- K_S$.Comment: LaTex, 20 pages, 4 figure

What Drives Fitness Apps Usage? An Empirical Evaluation

Part 3: Creating Value through ApplicationsInternational audienceThe increased health problems associated with lack of physical activity is of great concern around the world. Mobile phone based fitness applications appear to be a cost effective promising solution for this problem. The aim of this study is to develop a research model that can broaden understanding of the factors that influence the user acceptance of mobile fitness apps. Drawing from Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT) and Elaboration Likelihood Model (ELM), we conceptualize the antecedents and moderating factors of fitness app use. We validate our model using field survey. Implications for research and practice are discussed