Observing others give & take: A computational account of bystanders' feelings and actions

Social interactions influence people’s feelings and behavior. Here, we propose that a person’s well-being is influenced not only by interactions they experience themselves, but also by those they observe. In particular, we test and quantify the influence of observed selfishness and observed inequality on a bystanders’ feelings and non-costly punishment decisions. We developed computational models that relate others’ (un)selfish acts to observers’ emotional reactions and punishment decisions. These characterize the rules by which others’ interactions are transformed into bystanders’ reactions, and successfully predict those reactions in out-of-sample participants. The models highlight the impact of two social values—‘selfishness aversion’ and ‘inequality aversion’. As for the latter we find that even small violations from perfect equality have a disproportionately large impact on feelings and punishment. In this age of internet and social media we constantly observe others’ online interactions, in addition to in-person interactions. Quantifying the consequences of such observations is important for predicting their impact on society

Konzeptionelle und empirische Fragen der Krankheitsauswahl im Kontext der Einführung des morbiditätsorientierten Risikostrukturausgleichs in der GKV

Gemäß § 31 Abs. 1 Risikostrukturausgleichs-Verordnung (RSAV) soll sich das Versichertenklassifikationsmodell für den morbiditätsorientierten RSA an 50-80 Krankheiten orientieren. Dabei sollen insbesondere Krankheiten mit schwerwiegendem Verlauf und kostenintensive chronische Krankheiten berücksichtigt werden, bei denen die Leistungsausgaben der Versicherten im Mittel 50 % über den durchschnittlichen Ausgaben in der gesetzlichen Krankenversicherung (GKV) liegen. Die Krankheiten sollen eng abgrenzbar sein. Der Alfried Krupp von Bohlen und Halbach-Stiftungslehrstuhl für Medizinmanagement (Direktor: Prof. Dr. Jürgen Wasem) hat in Kooperation mit der CAREM GmbH ein Forschungsvorhaben durchgeführt, mit dem eine Liste von 50-80 Krankheiten für den morbiditätsorientierten Risikostrukturausgleich in der GKV entwickelt wurde. Für das Forschungsprojekt stand eine repräsentativer Individualdatensatz von rd. 3,2 Mio. Versicherten bei einer überregional tätigen Krankenkasse zur Verfügung. Die Begriffe der chronischen und schwerwiegenden Erkrankung wurden mittels systematischer Literaturrecherchen, der Definition in anderen Bereichen der GKV sowie einem Expertenworkshop operationalisiert. Es gibt keine einheitlichen Definitionen. Insgesamt erscheint es sachgerecht, chronischen Erkrankungen die folgenden Merkmale zuzuschreiben: ... --

Carbohydrate restricted diet in conjunction with metformin and liraglutide is an effective treatment in patients with deteriorated type 2 diabetes mellitus: Proof-of-concept study

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Type 2 diabetes mellitus is a chronic progressive disease. During the course of the disease intensive treatment is often necessary resulting in multiple interventions including administration of insulin. Although dietary intervention is highly recommended, the clinical results of the widely prescribed diets with low fat content and high carbohydrates are disappointing. In this proof-of-concept study, we tested the effect of dietary carbohydrate-restriction in conjunction with metformin and liraglutide on metabolic control in patients with type 2 diabetes.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Forty patients with type 2 diabetes already being treated with two oral anti-diabetic drugs or insulin treatment and who showed deterioration of their glucose metabolism (i.e. HbA1c <it>></it>7.5), were treated. A carbohydrate-restricted diet and a combination of metformin and liraglutide were instituted, after stopping either insulin or oral anti-diabetic drugs (excluding metformin). After enrollment, the study patients were scheduled for follow-up visits at one, two, three and six months. Primary outcome was glycemic control, measured by HbA1c at six months. Secondary outcomes were body weight, lipid-profile and treatment satisfaction.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Thirty-five (88%) participants completed the study. Nearly all participating patients experienced a drop in HbA1c and body weight during the first three months, an effect which was maintained until the end of the study at six months. Seventy-one percent of the patients reached HbA1c values below 7.0%. The range of body weight at enrollment was extreme, reaching 165 kg as the highest initial value. The average weight loss after 6 months was 10%. Most patients were satisfied with this treatment. During the intervention no significant change of lipids was observed. Most patients who were on insulin could maintain the treatment without insulin with far better metabolic control.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Carbohydrate restriction in conjunction with metformin and liraglutide is an effective treatment option for patients with advanced diabetes who are candidates for instituting insulin or who are in need of intensified insulin treatment. This proof-of-principle study showed a significant treatment effect on metabolic control.</p

Применение активной молниезащиты, как способ повышения уровня безопасности промышленной площадки

В данной работе автором проводится разработка инженерно-технических мероприятий направленных на повышение уровня безопасности промышленной площадки эксплуатирующей природный газ действующего производства города Томск.In the paper author presents the development of measures aimed at the improving safety level of the Tomsk ongoing production gas operating industrial site

An RNA-Seq Strategy to Detect the Complete Coding and Non-Coding Transcriptome Including Full-Length Imprinted Macro ncRNAs

Imprinted macro non-protein-coding (nc) RNAs are cis-repressor transcripts that silence multiple genes in at least three imprinted gene clusters in the mouse genome. Similar macro or long ncRNAs are abundant in the mammalian genome. Here we present the full coding and non-coding transcriptome of two mouse tissues: differentiated ES cells and fetal head using an optimized RNA-Seq strategy. The data produced is highly reproducible in different sequencing locations and is able to detect the full length of imprinted macro ncRNAs such as Airn and Kcnq1ot1, whose length ranges between 80–118 kb. Transcripts show a more uniform read coverage when RNA is fragmented with RNA hydrolysis compared with cDNA fragmentation by shearing. Irrespective of the fragmentation method, all coding and non-coding transcripts longer than 8 kb show a gradual loss of sequencing tags towards the 3′ end. Comparisons to published RNA-Seq datasets show that the strategy presented here is more efficient in detecting known functional imprinted macro ncRNAs and also indicate that standardization of RNA preparation protocols would increase the comparability of the transcriptome between different RNA-Seq datasets

Mediale Hochschul-Perspektiven 2020 in Baden-Württemberg : empirische Untersuchung im Rahmen der Allianz "Forward IT"

Die Digitalisierung in der akademischen Bildung wird in der Studie aus der organisationalen Perspektive einer Hochschule - als „Modell“ – betrachtet und konkretisiert anhand der Fallbeispiele des Karlsruher Instituts für Technologie und der Universität Stuttgart. Als wesentliche Einflussbereiche gelten die digitale Durchdringung der Wissenschaft und des Studiums, die digitale Vernetzung der hochschulischen Systeme sowie die gewohnheitsmäßige Nutzung digitaler Medien bei Lehrenden und Lernenden

Different pathways for activation and deactivation in CaV1.2: a minimal gating model

Point mutations in pore-lining S6 segments of CaV1.2 shift the voltage dependence of activation into the hyperpolarizing direction and significantly decelerate current activation and deactivation. Here, we analyze theses changes in channel gating in terms of a circular four-state model accounting for an activation R–A–O and a deactivation O–D–R pathway. Transitions between resting-closed (R) and activated-closed (A) states (rate constants x(V) and y(V)) and open (O) and deactivated-open (D) states (u(V) and w(V)) describe voltage-dependent sensor movements. Voltage-independent pore openings and closures during activation (A–O) and deactivation (D–R) are described by rate constants α and β, and γ and δ, respectively. Rate constants were determined for 16-channel constructs assuming that pore mutations in IIS6 do not affect the activating transition of the voltage-sensing machinery (x(V) and y(V)). Estimated model parameters of 15 CaV1.2 constructs well describe the activation and deactivation processes. Voltage dependence of the “pore-releasing” sensor movement ((x(V)) was much weaker than the voltage dependence of “pore-locking” sensor movement (y(V)). Our data suggest that changes in membrane voltage are more efficient in closing than in opening CaV1.2. The model failed to reproduce current kinetics of mutation A780P that was, however, accurately fitted with individually adjusted x(V) and y(V). We speculate that structural changes induced by a proline substitution in this position may disturb the voltage-sensing domain

Orally Available Selective Melanocortin-4 Receptor Antagonists Stimulate Food Intake and Reduce Cancer-Induced Cachexia in Mice

BACKGROUND: Cachexia is among the most debilitating and life-threatening aspects of cancer. It represents a metabolic syndrome affecting essential functional circuits involved in the regulation of homeostasis, and includes anorexia, fat and muscle tissue wasting. The anorexigenic peptide alpha-MSH is believed to be crucially involved in the normal and pathologic regulation of food intake. It was speculated that blockade of its central physiological target, the melanocortin (MC)-4 receptor, might provide a promising anti-cachexia treatment strategy. This idea is supported by the fact that in animal studies, agouti-related protein (AgRP), the endogenous inverse agonist at the MC-4 receptor, was found to affect two hallmark features of cachexia, i.e. to increase food intake and to reduce energy expenditure. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: SNT207707 and SNT209858 are two recently discovered, non peptidic, chemically unrelated, orally active MC-4 receptor antagonists penetrating the blood brain barrier. Both compounds were found to distinctly increase food intake in healthy mice. Moreover, in mice subcutaneously implanted with C26 adenocarcinoma cells, repeated oral administration (starting the day after tumor implantation) of each of the two compounds almost completely prevented tumor induced weight loss, and diminished loss of lean body mass and fat mass. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE: In contrast to the previously reported peptidic and small molecule MC-4 antagonists, the compounds described here work by the oral administration route. Orally active compounds might offer a considerable advantage for the treatment of cachexia patients

Chronic mucocutaneous candidiasis in APECED or thymoma patients correlates with autoimmunity to Th17-associated cytokines

Chronic mucocutaneous candidiasis (CMC) is frequently associated with T cell immunodeficiencies. Specifically, the proinflammatory IL-17A–producing Th17 subset is implicated in protection against fungi at epithelial surfaces. In autoimmune polyendocrinopathy candidiasis ectodermal dystrophy (APECED, or autoimmune polyendocrine syndrome 1), CMC is often the first sign, but the underlying immunodeficiency is a long-standing puzzle. In contrast, the subsequent endocrine features are clearly autoimmune, resulting from defects in thymic self-tolerance induction caused by mutations in the autoimmune regulator (AIRE). We report severely reduced IL-17F and IL-22 responses to both Candida albicans antigens and polyclonal stimulation in APECED patients with CMC. Surprisingly, these reductions are strongly associated with neutralizing autoantibodies to IL-17F and IL-22, whereas responses were normal and autoantibodies infrequent in APECED patients without CMC. Our multicenter survey revealed neutralizing autoantibodies against IL-17A (41%), IL-17F (75%), and/ or IL-22 (91%) in >150 APECED patients, especially those with CMC. We independently found autoantibodies against these Th17-produced cytokines in rare thymoma patients with CMC. The autoantibodies preceded the CMC in all informative cases. We conclude that IL-22 and IL-17F are key natural defenders against CMC and that the immunodeficiency underlying CMC in both patient groups has an autoimmune basis