Search

Introduction: Cognitive characteristics that differentiate normal from problematic gaming need to be identified, owing to the growing popularity of internet games and the rapid rise in mental health problems. Gaming disorder (GD) involves playing games despite their negative effects and is often related to unsuccessful attempts to reduce gaming. GD frequently results in adverse outcomes related to education, employment, and social responsibilities, thereby significantly influencing daily life. Objectives: We aimed to elucidate the neurocognitive features underlying GD development and preservation, and possible overlapping features between GD and other psychiatric disorders. Methods: We performed a literature search to identify GD-related studies. We focused on two key aspects: (a) altered executive functions (EFs) and (b) gaming urge. We mainly searched the PubMed and Web of Science databases using relevant keywords. All retrieved literature were assessed for eligibility to reduce selection biases. Results: Our preliminary review identified that GD features prominent deficits in EFs, including cognitive inflexibility, poor response inhibition, altered decision-making, and intensified susceptibility to game-related stimuli. These deficits were found to be associated with abnormal neural activity in brain regions subserving EFs and reward-based learning. Hence, excessive gaming may maladaptively suppress controlled and conscious processing, which can amplify automatic and implicit processes to develop gaming urges. In addition, many of these neuropsychological deficits have been observed in other addictions and seemingly unrelated disorders such as autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Similar EF deficits have been identified in ASD, which involve reduced cognitive flexibility and related dysfunction, including excessive attention focus, restricted interest, maladaptive reward processing, and reduced self-control. However, there is considerable variation among individuals and study methods, which requires more comprehensive research strategies. Conclusions: We elucidated comparable cognitive features among individuals with GD, addiction disorders, and ASD. These similarities provide clues regarding GD etiology, ideas for improving preventative therapies, and markers for risk evaluation. Additional investigations on how GD and other disorders possess similar and distinctive cognitive functions are worth pursuing. It is also crucial to further examine the extent of shared cognitive features in the general population, wherein the peripheral pathological characteristics lie on a continuum with typical and atypical populations. Disclosure of Interest: None Declared [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The oxygen isotopic composition of tree‐ring cellulose (δ18Ocell) has been widely used to reconstruct historical environmental changes; however, the control factors on δ18Ocell have not been fully constrained—especially in high latitudes. To evaluate the influence of metabolic processes and related environmental factors on δ18Ocell, we analyzed the δ18O values of soil water (1998–2015), stem water (1997–2016), leaf water (3 days in each 2014 and 2015), and tree‐ring cellulose (1981–2016), on a dominant larch species (Larix cajanderi) in an eastern Siberian boreal forest. We determined that the δ18O variability of water sources is dependent on the precipitation, and the 18O enrichment in leaf water is determined by relative humidity. These findings suggest that both water source uptake and leaf water enrichment processes can affect the δ18O values of oxygen‐containing compounds in larch trees in the study site. However, the δ18Ocell (one of the end oxygen‐containing products) was found dependent on water sources on which was related to the amount of summer rainfall in the previous year. This finding significantly differs from that of studies in other areas, which infer the positive correlation between δ18Ocell and leaf water enrichment rather than precipitation or water sources. These differences are predominantly due to the specific conditions of high‐latitude areas, such as the large seasonal δ18O difference in precipitation, the existence of permafrost, and the low growth rate. Our findings contribute toward the development of tree‐ring paleoclimate reconstructions—especially in eastern Siberia. Plain Language Summary: Scientists often find correlations between the oxygen isotopic composition of tree‐ring cellulose (δ18Ocell) and environmental parameters, such as temperature, precipitation, and relative humidity (RH), etc, and δ18Ocell become a good indicator for paleoclimate reconstruction. However, the trend of these correlations is not always the same among different sites. What and why has not been clearly clarified, especially in high latitudes. In this study, we focused on the δ18Ocell of larch trees and most related environmental factors in eastern Siberia. We also attempted to explain why the correlations occurred through the aspects of isotopic fractionation processes and compounds related to oxygen utilization. For the most important result, we found positive correlations between pre‐rain (previous summer rainfall) and δ18Ocell. We also found source water δ18O was positively dependent on the amount of pre‐rain, meanwhile, leaf water δ18O was negatively related to RH. These suggest that δ18Ocell are highly dependent on water sources stored in permafrost from previous year rather than leaf water evapotranspiration. The contradicts to the previous study is considered as the particular environmental conditions in our study site, including the large temperature variability, low snow amount, and slow growth. The conclusion can significantly contribute toward paleoclimate reconstructions in close sites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Recent advances in artificial intelligence (AI) have recaptured and revised the essential roles of death in life and mind. However, their prospects and risks require further study. Because of the development of digital technologies (for example, AI-based chatbots), the process of bereavement may have become complex, immersive, and even addictive. Furthermore, AI-enabled generation of medical notes can ease the administrative burden for healthcare professionals; however, the clinical application of generative AI remains largely speculative. Objectives: This study aimed to illuminate the emerging concept and experience of death, bereavement, and addiction associated with cybernetics, thereby expanding their cognitive and ethical aspects. Methods: In this preliminary review, we performed a literature search to identify the current state-of-the-art literature on AI and Internet addiction. We also inspected the possible adaptations to pursue mental well-being with the modified death concept. We mainly searched the PubMed and Web of Science databases using relevant keywords. All retrieved studies were assessed for eligibility to reduce the selection bias. Results: Current cybernetics have meaningfully recontextualized death that allows interaction with deceased individuals (for example, scholars and artists) to establish their virtual, besides biological, existence using AI-based chatbots. Furthermore, AI consistently provides evidence-based answers to public health inquiries; nevertheless, it may offer unsuitable advice rather than referrals that can sometimes facilitate suicide or harm (instead of help) people in grief, thus requiring more fine-tuned governance. Accordingly, the maladaptive use of existing AI-related communication (such as metaverse characters) can increase Internet addiction prevalence and further complicate autonomy and self-motivation. In addition, excessive internet access is frequently associated with reduced self-control, cognitive flexibility, and exaggerated automatic processing. Conclusions: We are challenged to acknowledge the tradeoffs of AI and consider ways to compromise by employing flexible perspectives. The emerging concept of death affects or improves the conventional one. The potential advantages and pitfalls of AI-related technology must be carefully weighed against the profound effects they may have on people's identities, relationships, and mental health. These issues require continued monitoring and assessment in light of the AI/cybernetic-related studies. We hope these results will inspire further research into the appropriate use of AI and palliative care, including suicide prevention, euthanasia, and grief management. Disclosure of Interest: None Declared [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rock blasting is one of the most common techniques for rock breakage in the open-pit mining excavation. On the other hand, the application of the technique has been restricted by law since it may cause a serious impact on surrounding environment, such as flyrock, ground vibration and noise. According to the statistics, more than 70% of accidents relating to the usage of explosives is flyrock. This accident may cause serious damage to buildings, human beings, and objects in the surrounding area. However, a detailed guideline for prevention of flyrock has not been developed yet. From these points of views, a series of field experiments was conducted and initial velocity and flying direction of fragmented rock were discussed by considering blasting standard and rock mass conditions such as strength, fractures/cracks and joints. The result shows that powder factor and burden have strong influence on the initial velocity of fragmented rock. Not only blasting designs but also rock mass conditions, cracks/joints strongly effect on the initial velocity. In addition, it was also made clear that the existence of fractures/cracks/joints in the blasting face have an obvious impact on the direction of fragmented rock.

In this study the ultrastructure of Rana esculenta skin is described.Cytochemical methods were used to localize guanylate cyclase in the presenceof atrial natriuretic peptide and immunocytochemical methods showed the presenceof the atrial natriuretic peptide in various levels of skin. The peptide ismainly found in the epithelium and in the lymph sacs of the tela subcutanea.Its receptors are located in the same zones and are indicated by guanylatecyclase activity. We demonstrate that frog skin is a target organ for atrialnatriuretic peptide and propose that, at this level, the peptide carries out animportant osmoregulatory role. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study on the internal gills of the larvaeof Bufo bufo we examined the ultrastructural features and, usingcytochemical methods, showed the localization of guanylate cyclase in thepresence of atrial natriuretic peptide. The gill apparatus consists of a seriesof arches each with a dorsal part or gill rakers with filtering and glandularfunctions. In the epithelium, cells were found that contain granular secretionssimilar to those atrial natriuretic factor-immunoreactive granules of larval Bufo arenarum gill rakers. The ventral portion of the gill arches ismade up of gill tufts with a respiratory function. The cytochemical localizationof the guanylate cyclase in the presence of exogenous atrial natriuretic peptidedemonstrates that the internal gills of the larvae are an important targetorgan for the peptide and therefore, it is proposed that, at this level, theatrial natriuretic peptide carries out an important osmoregulatory role. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]