Transforming brain signals related to value evaluation and self‐control into behavioral choices

The processes involved in value evaluation and self‐control are critical when making behavioral choices. However, the evidence linking these two types of processes to behavioral choices in intertemporal decision‐making remains elusive. As the ventromedial prefrontal cortex (vmPFC), striatum, and dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (dlPFC) have been associated with these two processes, we focused on these three regions. We employed functional magnetic resonance imaging during a delayed discounting task (DDT) using a relatively large sample size, three independent samples. We evaluated how much information about a specific choice could be decoded from local patterns in each brain area using multivoxel pattern analysis (MVPA). To investigate the relationship between the dlPFC and vmPFC/striatum regions, we performed a psychophysiological interaction (PPI) analysis. In Experiment I, we found that the vmPFC and dlPFC, but not the striatum, could determine choices in healthy participants. Furthermore, we found that the dlPFC showed significant functional connectivity with the vmPFC, but not the striatum, when making decisions. These results could be replicated in Experiment II with an independent sample of healthy participants. In Experiment III, the choice‐decoding accuracy in the vmPFC and dlPFC was lower in patients with addiction (smokers and participants with Internet gaming disorder) than in healthy participants, and decoding accuracy in the dlPFC was related to impulsivity in addicts. Taken together, our findings may provide neural evidence supporting the hypothesis that value evaluation and self‐control processes both guide the intertemporal choices, and might provide potential neural targets for the diagnosis and treatment of impulsivity‐related brain disorders.     

Share control of surgery robot master manipulator guiding tool along the standard path

Recently, minimally invasive surgery (MIS) robotics enters the phase of autonomous operation. However, because of the high variability of the environment, conducting a fully autonomous surgery is still extremely difficult. This paper presents a share control system, the objective of which is to suggest the optimum path of tool guidance through the use of force on the master manipulator (hereinafter as master), meaning the surgeon's hand. Owing to this type of control, the surgeon has full control over the position of the tool the entire time and is supported by the system to better and faster guide the tool during surgery. The force should be felt by the surgeon but, simultaneously, must not hinder or impact the surgical process. Furthermore, the share control system presented in the paper can be turned on or off at any moment during surgery.     

半定量综合指数法在某油墨生产企业防毒措施整改效果评价中的应用

采用半定量综合指数法对某油墨生产企业作业岗位防毒措施整改前后的职业健康风险进行评估。通过防毒措施整改后,该油墨生产企业分散和包装岗位的甲苯浓度明显降低,所有岗位的化学有害因素风险等级均降至2级。半定量综合指数法可用于化学有害因素防护设施整改效果评价,也可为企业设计防护措施整改方案提供依据。     

两种干预方法缓解早产儿眼底筛查所致疼痛的效果研究

目的探讨两种干预方法缓解早产儿眼底筛查所致疼痛的效果。方法纳入2017年7月～2019年6月某三级甲等专科医院早产儿病房进行眼底筛查的168例早产儿进行研究,依据随机对照原则分为三组,各56例,对照组早产儿采取常规眼底筛查,非营养性吸吮(NNS)组早产儿接受NNS护理,25%葡萄糖(GS)+NNS组早产儿接受25%GS安慰奶嘴护理。比较三组早产儿不同时间点疼痛、心率(HR)、血氧饱和度(SpO_2)变化情况。结果 NNS组与25%GS+NNS组早产儿筛查过程中、筛查后1 min PIPP评分、HR均低于对照组,SpO_2均高于对照组,差异显著(P0.05);GS+NNS组早产儿筛查过程中、筛查后1 min PIPP评分、HR均低于NNS组,SpO_2高于NNS组,差异显著(P0.05)。结论采取25%GS+NNS的干预方式能够有效减轻早产儿眼底筛查所致疼痛,值得临床推荐。