Seemingly altruistic behavior and strategic ignorance in a dictator game with potential loss.

Previous studies have indicated that in the standard binary version of the dictator game, people are less likely to behave altruistically when given the opportunity to be strategically ignorant. The present study aims to assess the robustness of individuals' strategic ignorance in the context of the emergence of empathic concern. It is reasonable to hypothesize that traditional standard dictator games may not be an optimal context for the emergence of empathic concern.

Anti-Obesity Effects of a Combination of Whole-Body Vibration Stimulus and Dietary D-Allulose on Rats Fed a High-Fat Diet.

Whole-body vibration (WBV) has gained attention as a light-resistance exercise and can increase energy metabolism. The rare sugar D-allulose has anti-obesity effects that are mediated by the suppression of hepatic lipogenesis. In this study, we examined the anti-obesity effects of a combination of WBV and dietary D-allulose in rats fed a high-fat diet.

Histidine and soy isoflavones co-ingestion induces browning of white adipose tissue and promotes lipolysis in female rats.

Beige adipocytes arise from white adipocytes in response to cold or other stimuli, known as browning of white adipose. Beige adipocytes play a role similar to that of brown adipocytes, express high levels of uncoupling protein 1 (UCP1), and are responsible for energy consumption via heat production, thus aiding in fat loss. Although histidine (His) and soy isoflavone (Iso) co-ingestion reportedly reduces food intake, body weight, and fat accumulation in female rats, the underlying mechanism remains unclear.

Effects of lactose content in milk replacer on apparent digestibility, growth, liver messenger RNA expression, and blood parameters related to metabolism of dairy calves.

Even with the same energy supply, differences in energy sources may affect calf growth and metabolism. In this study, we evaluated the effects of feeding 3 different milk replacers (MR) with different lactose supplies under isoenergetic conditions on calf digestibility, growth, and metabolism-related markers. Fifteen Holstein bull calves were randomly assigned to one of 3 MR feeding treatments: low lactose (L: 38%), medium lactose (M: 41%), or high lactose (H: 46%).

Bone regeneration-enhancing effects of extremely low-frequency electromag- netic fields: Analysis using fish scales as a bone model.

Electromagnetic fields (EMFs) noninvasively promote fracture healing, prevent osteoporosis, promote diaphyseal growth, enhance differentiation, and stimulate cell division. However, no good model systems for analyzing bone regeneration have been reported. In this study, we examined the in vivo regeneration of scales having osteoblasts and osteoclasts using a new magnetic field generator for exposing aquatic animals to EMFs at a sine-wave frequency of 60 Hz.

Effects of Dietary Allitol and D-Allulose on Body Fat Accumulation and Cecal Short-Chain Fatty Acid Production in Rats Fed a High-Fat Diet.

We investigated the effects of a single and simultaneous intake of allitol and d-allulose on body fat accumulation and cecal short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) production and accurately assessed the contribution of rare sugars to body fat in rats fed a high-fat diet that led to obesity. Thirty-two male 3-week-old Wistar rats were randomly divided into four groups: control, allitol, d-allulose, and allitol + d-allulose. The rats were fed experimental diets and water ad libitum for 11 weeks.

Dynamic Pathology of Enteric Neural Network using Curcumin-assisted Multiphoton Laser Imaging in Hirschsprung Disease.

Objective: In living tissue, it has been difficult to make microscopic-level observations without damaging the tissue.

Summary Background Data: We have invented a novel intravital fluorescent observation method (IFOM) for real-time tissue observation, combining multi-photon laser scanning microscopy (MPLSM) with curcumin vital staining (CVS-IFOM). The aim of this study was to use CVS-IFOM to analyze the enteric nervous system (ENS) in mice and human patients with hypoganglionosis and Hirschsprung disease.

Self-compassion-based online group psychotherapy for bereavement-related grief: The COMPACT feasibility trial.

Objective: This study aimed to examine the feasibility and effectiveness of online group psychotherapy focused on self-compassion for individuals experiencing bereavement-related grief.

Method: This single-arm feasibility trial involved participants aged 18 years or older who had experienced bereavement at least 6 months prior the five-week intervention. Outcomes were measured at baseline, immediately post-intervention, and 4 and 12 weeks later.

Prevalence of and Survival with Cachexia among Patients with Cancer: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Cachexia is associated with lower overall survival (OS) in patients with cancer; however, the relationship between the two is reported to differ according to the definitive criteria for diagnosing cachexia. We aimed to investigate 1) the difference in the prevalence of cachexia in patients with cancer and 2) the association between cachexia and OS, depending on the definitive criteria for diagnosing cachexia in patients with cancer. We searched PubMed and Web of Science from their inception until July 31, 2023, to identify eligible studies.

Effect of an Internet-based mental health promotion intervention among immigrant Chinese women: A quasi-experimental study.

Background: Owing to a lack of social support, child-rearing Chinese women in Japan experience mental health disorders, such as depression and parenting stress. Effective interventions to improve the mental health of these women are lacking. This study aimed to develop an Internet-based mental health promotion intervention for this subsection of the population and evaluate the effectiveness of the intervention.

Single-housing-induced islet epigenomic changes are related to polymorphisms in diabetic KK mice.

A lack of social relationships is increasingly recognized as a type 2 diabetes (T2D) risk. To investigate the underlying mechanism, we used male KK mice, an inbred strain with spontaneous diabetes. Given the association between living alone and T2D risk in humans, we divided the non-diabetic mice into singly housed (KK-SH) and group-housed control mice.

Micrographia after midbrain infarction alleviated by Japanese calligraphy-style writing: A case report.

•A 77-year-old right-handed man experienced an infarct in the right midbrain.•Ipsilesional progressive micrographia occurred after the midbrain infarct.•Micrographia improved when the patient wrote as if practicing Japanese calligraphy.

Low blood glucose and fatigue accumulation at peak hours of occupational trauma in secondary industry workers.

The incidence of occupational traumatic injuries caused by human error has been reported to occur at 11:00 and 8-9 h after commencing work. Impaired attention is closely related to the incidence of these accidents. Therefore, this study aimed to clarify the changes in blood glucose, fatigue and stress response hormone levels over time among workers in a secondary industry.

Effect of Single Oral Coingestion of GABA and Malic Acid on Postprandial GLP-1, Glucose, and Insulin Responses in Healthy Volunteers: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled, Crossover Study.

Scope: This study examines whether coingestion of γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) and malic acid (MA) before meals enhances glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) secretion, and which affects subsequent insulin and glycemic responses in humans.

Methods And Results: Initially, a murine enteroendocrine STC-1 cell line is used to verify coadministration of GABA and MA synergistically induces GLP-1 secretion. Next, 22 healthy adults are given water (50 mL) containing 400 mg GABA and 400 mg MA (Test), or only 400 mg citric acid (CA) (Placebo) 20 min before meal tolerance test (MTT).

Surname order and revaccination intentions during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Teachers in Japanese schools employ alphabetical surname lists that call students sooner, with surnames appearing early on these lists. We conducted Internet surveys nearly every month from March 2020 to September 2022 with the same participants, wherein we asked participants where the alphabetical columns of their childhood and adult surnames were located. We aimed to identify how surname order is important for the formation of noncognitive skills.

Comparison survey on family caregivers of older persons in Japan and Thailand.

Background: While rapid population ageing is occurring worldwide, its speed is especially prominent in Asian countries. In Asia, cultural diversity might significantly affect care burden; however, few studies have investigated the differences in care burden, and mental, physical and social conditions among Asian countries. This study aimed to clarify the situations of and differences in family caregivers (FCs) of older persons in Japan and Thailand, and evaluate the factors associated with care burden in both countries.

The Effect of Being Vaccinated and National Vaccination Rates on Individuals' Cognitions, Emotions, and Economic Expectations: Evidence from Israel.

Background: Israel was the first nation to establish a vaccination program during the COVID-19 pandemic. Thus, its citizens could look to no other country to help them judge its influence. People's predictions of their safety should depend on whether they were vaccinated, whereas their predictions regarding the COVID-19 pandemic should be based on the degree of progress of the vaccination program.

Movement of the stimulated finger in a Go/NoGo task enhances attention directed to that finger as evidenced by P300 amplitude modulation.

Somatosensory cues and the optimal allocation of attentional resources are critical for motor performance, but it is uncertain how movement of a body part modulates directed attention and the processing of somatosensory signals originating from that same body part. The current study measured motor reaction time (RT) and the P300 event-related potential during a required movement response to stimulation of the same body part in a Go/NoGo task under multiple response. In the Movement Condition, participants were instructed to extend their right index finger in response to mild electrical stimulation of the same finger (Go signal) or remain still when receiving electrical stimulation to the fifth right finger (NoGo signal).

Fucoxanthin Inhibits Development of Sigmoid Colorectal Cancer in a PDX Model With Alterations of Growth, Adhesion, and Cell Cycle Signals.

Background/aim: Fucoxanthin (Fx), a dietary marine xanthophyll, exerts potent anticancer effects in various colorectal cancer (CRC) animal models. However, therapeutic effects of Fx in human cancer tissues remain unclear. A patient-derived xenograft (PDX) mouse model transplanted with cancer tissues from patients is widely accepted as the best preclinical model for evaluating the anticancer potential of drug candidates.