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The paper is devoted to the issue of surveillance in capitalism (surveillance capitalism), a phenomenon which has spread in that socio-economic system since the beginning of the 21st century. We attempt to point out the harmfulness of information technologies developing in the wrong direction, carrying the ideas of dataism and post-truth, which increasingly colonize human living space. It turns out that the information (traces) that people leave while operating on the Internet is a source of predicting human behavior in the future (behavioral futures markets). Thus, for the most developed Internet enterprises in the world, they become a motive for violating what seem to be basic political rights, mainly freedom, property and security. As a result, under the influence of the disinformation often present on the Internet, people’s behavior may take the most socially undesirable forms, but desirable in the virtual world. The considerations in the paper are primarily theoretical. The descriptive method was used with elements of the conceptual analysis of surveillance capitalism in the context of dataism and post-truth.

Abstract Background Hyperesthesia syndrome (HS) is a common yet poorly understood condition in cats, with hypothesized neurological and behavioral causes and limited data on outcomes and treatment. Objectives This study aimed to describe the clinical outcomes and the treatment response of 28 cats with HS, managed through various therapeutic strategies. Animals Clinical records of 28 cats with HS and minimum of 1-year follow-up were reviewed. Methods Retrospective, observational, descriptive study conducted on a case series of cats affected by HS. Sixteen cats (57%) received fluoxetine alone (Fluoxetine-only), seven (25%) were managed with behavioral modification and gabapentin or fluoxetine (Fluoxetine/Gabapentin + Behavior) and five (18%) were treated with behavioral modification alone (Behavior-only). Results An episode-free period (EFP) ≥ 9 months was observed in 23 (82%) cats. Fifteen cats (94%) in the Fluoxetine-only group experienced an EFP of ≥ 9 months. Moreover, they had a shorter time to recovery (median [IQR] = 8 [3.5–18] days) compared to the Fluoxetine/Gabapentin + Behavior and Behavior-only groups (median [IQR] = 100 [90–210] and 60 [30–90] days, respectively). At the 1-year follow-up, 26 (93%) cats no longer had HS clinical signs and 14 (50%) were still under pharmacotherapy. Relapses were reported only in one case (4%). Conclusions Most of the cat's diagnosed with HS, and managed through various therapeutic strategies, experienced an EFP of more than 9 months and showed absence of clinical signs at 1 year follow-up.

•Decision-making theories suggest that altering choices requires value modification.•Food choices and values were tested before and after an approach-avoidance training.•AAT facilitated low-calorie food choices, leaving food values unchanged.•Choice shifts were associated with increased activity in the posterior cingulate cortex (PCC).•PCC gray matter density predicted individual differences in functional changes. Current theories suggest that altering choices requires value modification. To investigate this, normal-weight female participants’ food choices and values were tested before and after an approach-avoidance training (AAT), while neural activity was recorded during the choice task using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). During AAT, participants consistently approached low- while avoiding high-calorie food cues. AAT facilitated low-calorie food choices, leaving food values unchanged. Instead, we observed a shift in indifference points, indicating the decreased contribution of food values in food choices. Training-induced choice shifts were associated with increased activity in the posterior cingulate cortex (PCC). In contrast, the medial PFC activity was not changed. Additionally, PCC gray matter density predicted individual differences in training-induced functional changes, suggesting anatomic predispositions to training impact. Our findings demonstrate neural mechanisms underlying choice modulation independent of valuation-related processes, which has substantial theoretical significance for decision-making frameworks and translational implications for health-related decisions resilient to value shifts.

Study Objectives: To examine the association between modifiable lifestyle factors, and the risk of developing restless legs syndrome (RLS). Methods: This is a Prospective Cohort study of population including 12,812 men participating in Health Professionals Follow-up Study and 42,728 women participating in the Nurses’ Health study II. The participants were free of RLS at baseline (2002 for the HPFS and 2005 for the NHS II) and free of diabetes and arthritis through follow-up. RLS was assessed via a set of questions recommended by International Restless Legs Syndrome Study group. The Information was collected on height, weight, level of physical activity, dietary intake, and smoking status via questionnaires. Results: During 4–6 years of follow-up, we identified 1,538 incident RLS cases. Participants with normal weight, and who were physically active, non-smoker, and had some alcohol consumption had a lower risk of developing RLS. When we combined the effects of these four factors together, we observed a dose response relationship between the increased number of healthy lifestyle factors and a low risk of RLS: after adjusting for potential confounders the pooled odds ratio was 0.67 (95% CI: 0.47–0.97) for 4 vs.0 healthy factors (p trend < 0.001). In contrast, we did not observe significant associations between caffeine consumption or diet quality as assessed by the Alternate Healthy Eating Index, and altered RLS risk in men and women. Conclusions: Several modifiable lifestyle factors may play an important role in RLS risk. Citation: Batool-Anwar S, Li Y, De Vito K, Malhotra A, Winkelman J, Gao X. Lifestyle factors and risk of restless legs syndrome: prospective cohort study. J Clin Sleep Med 2016;12(2):187–194.

Background: Chronic spinal cord injury (SCI) significantly accelerates morbidity and mortality, partly due to the increased risk of cardiometabolic diseases (CMD), including neurogenic obesity, dyslipidemia, and impaired glucose metabolism. While exercise and dietary interventions have shown some transient benefits in reducing CMD risk, they often fail to improve clinically relevant disease markers and cardiovascular events. Moreover, SCI also places caregiving demands on their caregivers, who themselves experience health and functional decline. This underscores the need for more substantial interventions that incorporate appropriate physical activity, heart-healthy nutrition, and behavioral support tailored to the SCI population. Objectives: This randomized clinical trial (RCT) protocol will (1) assess the health and functional effects, user acceptance, and satisfaction of a 6-month comprehensive therapeutic lifestyle intervention (TLI) adapted from the National Diabetes Prevention Program (DPP) for individuals with chronic SCI and (2) examine the impact of a complementary caregiver program on the health and function of SCI caregivers and evaluate user acceptance and satisfaction. Caregivers (linked with their partners) will be randomized to ‘behavioral support’ or ‘control condition’. Methods: Dyadic couples comprise individuals with SCI (18–65 years, >1-year post-injury, ASIA Impairment Scale A-C, injury levels C5-L1) and non-disabled SCI caregivers (18–65 years). Both groups undergo lock-step circuit resistance training, a calorie-restricted Mediterranean-style diet, and 16 educational sessions focused on diet/exercise goals, self-monitoring, psychological and social challenges, cognitive behavioral therapy, and motivational interviewing. The outcome measures encompass the cardiometabolic risks, cardiorespiratory fitness, inflammatory stress, multidimensional function, pain, life quality, independence, self-efficacy, program acceptance, and life satisfaction for SCI participants. The caregiver outcomes include multidimensional function, pain, quality of life, independence, and perceived caregiver burden. Discussion/Conclusions: This study evaluates the effects and durability of a structured, multi-modal intervention on health and function. The results and intervention material will be disseminated to professionals and consumers for broader implementation. Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov, ID: NCT02853149 Registered 2 August 2016.

Early in the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, many national public health authorities implemented non-pharmaceutical interventions to mitigate disease outbreaks. Panamá established mandatory mask use two months after its first documented case. Initial compliance was high, but diverse masks were used in public areas. We studied behavioral dynamics of mask use through the first two COVID-19 waves in Panama, to improve the implementation of effective, low-cost public health containment measures when populations are exposed to novel air-borne pathogens. Mask use behavior was recorded from pedestrians in four Panamanian populations (August to December 2020). We recorded facial coverings and if used, the type of mask, and gender and estimated age of the wearer. Our results showed that people were highly compliant (>95%) with mask mandates and demonstrated important population-level behaviors: (1) decreasing use of cloth masks over time, and increasing use of surgical masks; (2) mask use was 3-fold lower in suburban neighborhoods than other public areas and (3) young people were least likely to wear masks. Results help focus on highly effective, low-cost, public health interventions for managing and controlling a pandemic. Considerations of behavioral preferences for different masks, relative to pricing and availability, are essential for optimizing public health policies. Policies to increase the availability of effective masks, and behavioral nudges to increase acceptance, and to facilitate mask usage, during the ongoing SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, and for future pandemics of respiratory pathogens, are key tools, especially for nations lagging in access to expensive vaccines and pharmacological approaches.

Introduction: To establish better approaches to alcoholism, this scale was developed with a focus on cognitive-behavioral aspects. Objective: Considering alcoholism as an issue that requires self-efficacy attention, the scale is designed to guide the psychotherapist in the behavioral change process of the alcoholic patient. Method: This psychometric research, with a non-experimental mixed-method descriptive design, is delineated by a non-probabilistic sampling method that employs structural equation modeling for an infinite sample. Using statistical software, the Aiken's V was obtained from seven expert judges, and 20 items were considered in the exploratory factor analysis for factor loadings (two factors) and factorial weights (λ = 0.62 - λ = 0.94), with Kaiser-Meyer-Olkin and Bartlett's test of sphericity results (KMO = 0.96, p < 0.01). Results: A two-factor model was found with adequate goodness-of-fit values (CFI = 0.987; TLI = 0.985; SRMR = 0.073; RMSEA = 0.077), with the removal of item C11 due to its low factorial loading (λ = 0.24). The scale, which contains 19 items and 2 factors, shows a good reliability coefficient (Cronbach's Alpha and McDonald's Omega ranging from 0.801 to 0.963). In terms of convergent validity, a strong inverse correlation (Rho = -0.670; p = 0.000) was found between the SRCAA and GAD-7. Conclusion: Based on these statistical findings, the scale demonstrates that it meets the objective of identifying the degree of awareness regarding alcohol consumption and the behavioral changes a person makes to overcome the detrimental habit.

The goal of cortical neuroprosthetics is to imprint sensory information as precisely as possible directly into cortical networks. Sensory processing, however, is dependent on the behavioral context. Therefore, a specific behavioral context may alter stimulation effects, and thus, perception. Here we report how passive vs. active touch i.e. the presence or absence of whisker movements affects local field potential (LFP) responses to micro-stimulation in barrel cortex in head-fixed behaving rats trained to move their whiskers voluntarily. The LFP responses to single current pulses consisted in a short negative deflection corresponding to a volley of spike activity followed by a positive deflection lasting ~100 ms, corresponding to a long-lasting suppression of spikes. Active touch had a characteristic effect on this response pattern. While the first phase including the negative peak remained stable, the later parts consisting of the positive peak were considerably suppressed. The stable phase varied systematically with distance of the electrode from the stimulation site, pointing to saturation of neuronal responses to electrical stimulation in an intensity dependent way. The response suppression during active touch was seen as well after cutting the sensory nerve indicating that it corresponds to a central interaction. Our results suggest that modulatory effects known from normal sensory processing affect the response to cortical micro-stimulation as well. The network response to micro-stimulation is highly amenable to the behavioral state and must be considered for future approaches to imprint sensory signals into cortical circuits with neuroprostheses.

Background Anopheles sinensis is the primary vector of vivax malaria in China and its control is under great threat as the development of insecticide resistance. In contrast to physiological resistance, there is no report of behavioural modifications of resistant An. sinensis after long-term insecticide use, despite their huge potential impact on malaria transmission. Methods Larvae or pupae of An. sinensis were collected from Yuanyang, Bishan, and Wuhe counties from southwestern to eastern China. Resistance to deltamethrin was assayed using the standard World Health Organization (WHO) susceptibility test. The frequency distribution of the kdr allele of the para -type sodium channel gene was determined by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification and DNA sequencing. Contact repellency to deltamethrin-impregnated bed nets was evaluated using a modified WHO cone bioassay. Results All contemporary field populations for all three geographic locations were resistant to deltamethrin, with mortality ranging from 6.00 to 26.79%. Three kdr genotypes with either an L1014F or L1014C substitution with frequencies of 76.10–100% were identified in the Bishan and Wuhe populations, but no kdr mutations were detected in the Yuanyang samples despite high phenotypic resistance. The susceptible mosquitoes exhibited significantly longer flying time and more takeoffs on deltamethrin-treated bed nets (DTN) than on untreated bed nets (UTN), suggestive of robust avoidance behaviour. However, no significant increases in the frequency of takeoffs or flying time were observed in deltamethrin-resistant An. sinensis populations when exposed on DTNs, regardless of the presence of a kdr mutation. Moreover, the first takeoff from DTNs by resistant mosquitoes significantly lagged behind compared to susceptible mosquitoes. Conclusion The An. sinensis populations were highly resistant to deltamethrin and exhibited decreased avoidance behaviour. Behavioural modification significantly associated with deltamethrin resistance, but not directly related to the presence of kdr mutations, indicating that there are additional factors contributing to the changes.