Beyond monetary value: how reward type drives cheating in a gender-judgment task.

Background: Investigating the effects of monetary incentives on dishonest behavior provides valuable insights into human integrity and ethical decision-making processes. This study is conducted through the lens of self-concept maintenance theory. Aim: The aim of this study is to examine the influence of different types of rewards (score-based vs. monetary) and their magnitude on dishonest behavior within a gender judgment task. Method: Using a quantitative experimental design, this study involved 116 participants who were randomly assigned to conditions that differed in reward type (score or money) and magnitude (10 yuan vs. 50 yuan). Dishonest behavior was assessed using a gender judgment task with mechanisms to simulate conditions conducive to planned cheating. Results: Results revealed significant differences in dishonesty rates between score and money conditions, with a higher proportion of dishonest participants observed in the score condition compared to the money condition. The timing of initial cheating was earlier in the score condition compared to the money condition. No significant differences were found in the proportion of dishonest participants, the cheating rate, or the timing of initial cheating across reward levels within either condition. The rate of cheating increased over time, suggesting a temporal dynamic in unethical decision making. Conclusion: The study demonstrates that the nature of rewards significantly influences the likelihood of dishonest behavior, with intangible score-based rewards facilitating rationalizations for dishonesty more readily than tangible financial incentives. These findings enrich the understanding of moral psychology by highlighting the complex interplay between reward types, ethical rationalization, and the dynamics of dishonest behavior.

Effects of vaginal dilation therapy on vaginal length, vaginal stenosis, vaginal elasticity and sexual function of cervical cancer survivors.

BACKGROUND: Cervical cancer survivors can experience vaginal length shortening, vaginal stenosis, vaginal elasticity deterioration, sexual frequency reduction and sexual dysfunction. This prospective, uncontrolled, monocentric clinical interventional study aimed to evaluate the effect of vaginal dilation therapy on vaginal condition and sexual function of cervical cancer survivors who had not received timely vaginal dilation. METHODS: A total of 139 patients completed the study. They received 6 months of vaginal dilation therapy. We evaluated their vaginal elasticity, vaginal diameter, vaginal length and sexual function before and after vaginal dilation therapy. Their vaginal conditions were evaluated by customised vaginal moulds, and the sexual function was assessed by female sexual function index. The SPSS 25 software was used to analyse all the data. RESULTS: Age, vaginal diameter and sexual intercourse frequency before diagnosis were significantly associated with female sexual dysfunction of the patients after cancer treatment. Vaginal dilation therapy improved vaginal stenosis, vaginal length and sexual function in all the patients; however, the vaginal elasticity and incidence of sexual dysfunction did not improve significantly. Sexual intercourse frequency before diagnosis, vaginal elasticity, time interval from last treatment and treatment modalities were significantly associated with the change in female sexual function index score before and after vaginal dilation therapy. Patients with a time interval from the last treatment less than 24 months or those who had moderate or good vaginal elasticity, benefitted more from vaginal dilatation therapy. CONCLUSIONS: Cervical cancer survivors who had not received timely vaginal dilation still benefitted from vaginal dilation therapy, irrespective of the treatment methods they received. Moreover, vaginal dilation therapy should be performed as early as possible after cervical cancer treatment.

Cervical cancer survivors can experience vaginal condition deterioration and sexual dysfunction after treatment. Vaginal dilation can help improve vaginal stenosis, vaginal length and sexual function of these patients. However, some medical institutions in China do not provide timely vaginal dilation for this population. This study aimed to explore whether vaginal dilation was still effective for cervical cancer survivors who had not received timely vaginal dilation. The results showed that these patients still benefitted from vaginal dilation, irrespective of the treatment methods they received. Patients with a time interval from the last treatment less than 24 months or those who had moderate or good vaginal elasticity, benefitted more from vaginal dilation. The findings of the study is an indication to developing countries that more attention should be given to sexual issue of cervical cancer survivors in clinical practice, and vaginal dilation therapy should be performed promptly after treatment.

Identification of therapeutic targets and prognostic biomarkers in the Siglec family of genes in tumor immune microenvironment of sarcoma.

Sarcomas (SARC) are a highly heterogeneous cancer type that is prone to recurrence and metastasis. Numerous studies have confirmed that Siglecs are involved in immune signaling and play a key role in regulating immune responses in inflammatory diseases and various cancers. However, studies that systematically explore the therapeutic and prognostic value of Siglecs in SARC patients are very limited. The online databases GEPIA, UALCAN, TIMER, The Kaplan-Meier Plotter, GeneMANIA, cBioPortal, and STING were used in this study. IHC staining was performed on the collected patient tissues, and clinical data were statistically analyzed. The transcript levels of most Siglec family members showed a high expression pattern in SARC. Compared with normal tissues, Siglec-5, Siglec-10, and Siglec-12 were abnormally highly expressed in tumor tissues. Importantly, Siglec-15 was significantly associated with poor prognosis. Functional enrichment analysis showed that the Siglec family was mainly enriched in hematopoietic cell lineages. The genes associated with molecular mutations in the Siglec family were mainly TP53 and MUC16, among which Siglec-2 and Siglec-15 were significantly associated with the survival of patients. The expression levels of all Siglec family members were significantly correlated with various types of immune cells (B cells, CD8 + T cells, CD4 + T cells, macrophages, neutrophils and dendritic cells). Furthermore, a significant correlation was found between the somatic copy number changes of all Siglec molecules and the abundance of immune infiltrates. Our study paints a promising vision for the development of immunotherapy drugs and the construction of prognostic stratification models by investigating the therapeutic and prognostic potential of the Siglec family for SARC.

Micro-architecture study of the normal infant auditory ossicles with micro-computed tomography / Estudio de microarquitectura de los osículos auditivos infantiles normales con tomografía microcomputarizada

This study aimed to investigate the micro-anatomical morphology of ossicular chain in term fetus using micro-CT, in order to analyze the parameters of internal ossicular structure that may affect sound conduction.Four ossicular chains from two term fetuses were scanned by micro-CT. The related structural parameters of the trabeculae within the incus and malleus were calculated and compared. The fine anatomical structure of the auditory ossicles was analyzed.The microstructure of each auditory ossicles in term fetuses was clearly revealed by micro-CT. A marrow cavity was observed in the incus and malleus. In statistical analysis of the structural parameters of trabeculae in the incus and malleus, significant differences were found in BS/BV and Tb.Th (P < 0.05). Micro-CT enables the visualization of internal ossicular structure. The auditory ossicles in term fetus has good bone quality. The obtained bone structure data will help to clarify the physiological functions of normal fetal auditory ossicles.

Este estudio tuvo como objetivo investigar la morfología microanatómica de la cadena osicular en el feto a término con micro-CT, con el fin de analizar los parámetros de la estructura osicular interna que pueden afectar la conducción del sonido. Cuatro cadenas osiculares de dos fetos a término fueron examinadas por micro-CT. Se calcularon y compararon los parámetros estructurales relacionados de las trabéculas dentro de los incus y malleus. Se analizó la estructura anatómica fina de los osículos. Se observó claramente la microestructura de cada osículo en los fetos y la cavidad medular en el incus y el malleus. En el análisis estadístico de los parámetros estructurales de las trabéculas en el incus y el malleus, se encontraron diferencias significativas en BS / BV y Tb.Th (P <0,05). Micro-CT permite la visualización de la estructura osicular interna. Los osículos en el feto a término tienen buena calidad ósea. Los datos obtenidos de la estructura ósea ayudarán para aclarar las funciones fisiológicas de los osículos auditivos fetales normales.