Different methods to define utility functions yield different results and engage different neural processes

Although the concept of utility is fundamental to many economic theories, up to now a generally accepted method determining a subject\u27s utility function is not available. We investigated two methods that are used in economic sciences for describing utility functions by using response-locked event-related potentials in order to assess their neural underpinnings. For defining the certainty equivalent (CE), we used a lottery game with probabilities of 0.5, for identifying the subjects\u27 utility functions directly a standard bisection task was applied. Although the lottery tasks\u27 payoffs were only hypothetical, a pronounced negativity was observed resembling the error related negativity (ERN) previously described in action monitoring research, but this occurred only for choices far away from the indifference point between money and lottery. By contrast, the bisection task failed to evoke an ERN irrespective of the responses\u27 correctness. Based on these findings we are reasoning that only decisions made in the lottery task achieved a level of subjective relevance that activates cognitive-emotional monitoring. In terms of economic sciences, our findings support the view that the bisection method is unaffected by any kind of probability valuation or other parameters related to risk and in combination with the lottery task can, therefore, be used to differentiate between payoff and probability valuation

Different Methods to Define Utility Functions Yield Similar Results but Engage Different Neural Processes

Although the concept of utility is fundamental to many economic theories, up to now a generally accepted method determining a subject's utility function is not available. We investigated two methods that are used in economic sciences for describing utility functions by using response-locked event-related potentials in order to assess their neural underpinnings. For determining the certainty equivalent, we used a lottery game with probabilities to win p = 0.5, for identifying the subjects’ utility functions directly a standard bisection task was applied. Although the lottery tasks’ payoffs were only hypothetical, a pronounced negativity was observed resembling the error related negativity (ERN) previously described in action monitoring research, but this occurred only for choices far away from the indifference point between money and lottery. By contrast, the bisection task failed to evoke an remarkable ERN irrespective of the responses’ correctness. Based on these findings we are reasoning that only decisions made in the lottery task achieved a level of subjective relevance that activates cognitive-emotional monitoring. In terms of economic sciences, our findings support the view that the bisection method is unaffected by any kind of probability valuation or other parameters related to risk and in combination with the lottery task can, therefore, be used to differentiate between payoff and probability valuation

Vasopressin increases human risky cooperative behavior

The history of humankind is an epic of cooperation, which is ubiquitous across societies and increasing in scale. Much human cooperation occurs where it is risky to cooperate for mutual benefit because successful cooperation depends on a sufficient level of cooperation by others. Here we show that arginine vasopressin (AVP), a neuropeptide that mediates complex mammalian social behaviors such as pair bonding, social recognition and aggression causally increases humans’ willingness to engage in risky, mutually beneficial cooperation. In two double-blind experiments, male participants received either AVP or placebo intranasally and made decisions with financial consequences in the “Stag hunt” cooperation game. AVP increases humans’ willingness to cooperate. That increase is not due to an increase in the general willingness to bear risks or to altruistically help others. Using functional brain imaging, we show that, when subjects make the risky Stag choice, AVP down-regulates the BOLD signal in the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (dlPFC), a risk-integration region, and increases the left dlPFC functional connectivity with the ventral pallidum, an AVP receptor-rich region previously associated with AVP-mediated social reward processing in mammals. These findings show a previously unidentified causal role for AVP in social approach behavior in humans, as established by animal research

Etanercept leads to a rapid recovery of a Dabrafenib‐/Trametinib‐associated toxic epidermal necrolysis‐like severe skin reaction

Targeted therapy with BRAF‐ and MEK‐Inhibitors (BRAFi, MEKi) provides an excellent therapeutic option for patients with malignant melanomas with a BRAF‐Mutation. Mild cutaneous adverse events have been common under the BRAF‐ and MEK‐Inhibitor therapy, on the contrary, severe cutaneous adverse reactions to drugs (SCARs) are rarely reported. We present the case of a 59‐ year‐old female patient who after the resection of cutaneous in‐transit metastases of a malignant melanoma received one adjuvant cycle of Nivolumab followed by a switch of the therapy to an oral BRAFi/MEKi therapy. 3–4 Weeks after the therapy switch she developed high fever, chills, progredient general weakness, headaches, abdominal complaints, generalised rash as well as thrombocytopaenia, eosinophilia, elevated liver enzymes, declining kidney, and pulmonary function as well as a maculopapular exanthema. She was diagnosed with drug reaction with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms (DRESS) and quickly started recovery after initiation of a high steroid substitution. Under steroid dose reduction, the exanthema worsened and toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN) was histologically diagnosed. After a series of unsuccessful therapeutic approaches (high dose steroid, human immunoglobulins and ciclosporin) the patient received a single dose of the TNF‐alpha inhibitor etanercept, which led to a quick recovery. This case demonstrates that DRESS and TEN can present a spectrum of possibly transitioning SCARs providing a diagnostic and therapeutic challenge. Nevertheless, in a such complicated therapeutic setting, etanercept may be lifesaving even after multiple previous unsuccessful therapies. This effective approach provides evidence SCARs due to BRAF/MEK targeted therapy may be driven by TNF‐alpha

Biologic effects of light: An enlighting prospective

During the past several decades our knowledge on the effects of light on human health and its underlying mechanisms has been expanded exponentially. These findings have led to an enormous scientific progress including new concepts for prevention and treatment of many diseases such as autoimmune diseases, cardiovascular disease, skin cancer and other malignancies. To summarize our present knowledge on this topic and to stimulate new research initiatives, an international symposium entitled Biologic Effects of Light, that was organized by J. Reichrath, Th. Vogt and M.F. Holick, and that was supported by Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG), was held June 11/12, 2015 in Homburg/Saar, Germany. This meeting was specially designed to offer scientists and clinicians a platform to discuss the latest developments in this intriguing research area. Plenary and Keynote lectures as well as Round Table Discussions gave an update on carefully selected hot topics, including Vitamin D, skin cancer prevention, UVA radiation and cellular homeostasis, photocarcinogenesis, and photochemical internalization (PCI). Some of the relevant findings and conclusions of this meeting are published in this issue of Anticancer Research (1-13) and can be summarized as follows

Colossal Positive Magnetoresistance in a Doped Nearly Magnetic Semiconductor

We report on a positive colossal magnetoresistance (MR) induced by metallization of FeSb$_{2}$, a nearly magnetic or "Kondo" semiconductor with 3d ions. We discuss contribution of orbital MR and quantum interference to enhanced magnetic field response of electrical resistivity.Comment: 5 pages, 5 figure

Bayesian Methods for Analysis and Adaptive Scheduling of Exoplanet Observations

We describe work in progress by a collaboration of astronomers and statisticians developing a suite of Bayesian data analysis tools for extrasolar planet (exoplanet) detection, planetary orbit estimation, and adaptive scheduling of observations. Our work addresses analysis of stellar reflex motion data, where a planet is detected by observing the "wobble" of its host star as it responds to the gravitational tug of the orbiting planet. Newtonian mechanics specifies an analytical model for the resulting time series, but it is strongly nonlinear, yielding complex, multimodal likelihood functions; it is even more complex when multiple planets are present. The parameter spaces range in size from few-dimensional to dozens of dimensions, depending on the number of planets in the system, and the type of motion measured (line-of-sight velocity, or position on the sky). Since orbits are periodic, Bayesian generalizations of periodogram methods facilitate the analysis. This relies on the model being linearly separable, enabling partial analytical marginalization, reducing the dimension of the parameter space. Subsequent analysis uses adaptive Markov chain Monte Carlo methods and adaptive importance sampling to perform the integrals required for both inference (planet detection and orbit measurement), and information-maximizing sequential design (for adaptive scheduling of observations). We present an overview of our current techniques and highlight directions being explored by ongoing research.Comment: 29 pages, 11 figures. An abridged version is accepted for publication in Statistical Methodology for a special issue on astrostatistics, with selected (refereed) papers presented at the Astronomical Data Analysis Conference (ADA VI) held in Monastir, Tunisia, in May 2010. Update corrects equation (3

B Production Asymmetries in Perturbative QCD

This paper explores a new mechanism for B production in which a b quark combines with a light parton from the hard-scattering process before hadronizing into the B hadron. This recombination mechanism can be calculated within perturbative QCD up to a few nonperturbative constants. Though suppressed at large transverse momentum by a factor Lambda_QCD m_b/p_t^2 relative to b quark fragmentation production, it can be important at large rapidities. A signature for this heavy-quark recombination mechanism in proton-antiproton colliders is the presence of rapidity asymmetries in B cross sections. Given reasonable assumptions about the size of nonperturbative parameters entering the calculation, we find that the asymmetries are only significant for rapidities larger than those currently probed by collider experiments.Comment: 17 pages, LaTeX, 4 ps figures, tightenlines, sections added, final version accepted for publication in Phys. Rev.

Tofacitinib Loaded Squalenyl Nanoparticles for Targeted Follicular Delivery in Inflammatory Skin Diseases

Tofacitinib (TFB), a Janus kinase inhibitor, has shown excellent success off-label in treating various dermatological diseases, especially alopecia areata (AA). However, TFB’s safe and targeted delivery into hair follicles (HFs) is highly desirable due to its systemic adverse effects. Nanoparticles (NPs) can enhance targeted follicular drug delivery and minimize interfollicular permeation and thereby reduce systemic drug exposure. In this study, we report a facile method to assemble the stable and uniform 240 nm TFB loaded squalenyl derivative (SqD) nanoparticles (TFB SqD NPs) in aqueous solution, which allowed an excellent loading capacity (LC) of 20%. The SqD NPs showed an enhanced TFB delivery into HFs compared to the aqueous formulations of plain drug in an ex vivo pig ear model. Furthermore, the therapeutic efficacy of the TFB SqD NPs was studied in a mouse model of allergic dermatitis by ear swelling reduction and compared to TFB dissolved in a non-aqueous mixture of acetone and DMSO (7:1 v/v). Whereas such formulation would not be acceptable for use in the clinic, the TFB SqD NPs dispersed in water illustrated a better reduction in inflammatory effects than plain TFB’s aqueous formulation, implying both encouraging good in vivo efficacy and safety. These findings support the potential of TFB SqD NPs for developing a long-term topical therapy of AA