Human social preferences cluster and spread in the field.

While it is undeniable that the ability of humans to cooperate in large-scale societies is unique in animal life, it remains open how such a degree of prosociality is possible despite the risks of exploitation. Recent evidence suggests that social networks play a crucial role in the development of prosociality and large-scale cooperation by allowing cooperators to cluster; however, it is not well understood if and how this also applies to real-world social networks in the field. We study intrinsic social preferences alongside emerging friendship patterns in 57 freshly formed school classes (n = 1,217), using incentivized measures. We demonstrate the existence of cooperative clusters in society, examine their emergence, and expand the evidence from controlled experiments to real-world social networks. Our results suggest that being embedded in cooperative environments substantially enhances the social preferences of individuals, thus contributing to the formation of cooperative clusters. Partner choice, in contrast, only marginally contributes to their emergence. We conclude that cooperative preferences are contagious; social and cultural learning plays an important role in the development and evolution of cooperation.

Sensor Positioning Influences the Accuracy of Knee Rom Data of an E-Rehabilitation System: A Preliminary Study with Healthy Subjects.

E-rehabilitation is the term used to define medical rehabilitation programs that are implemented at home with the use of information and communication technologies. The aim was to test whether sensor position and the sitting position of the patient influence the accuracy of knee range of movement (ROM) data displayed by the BPMpathway e-rehabilitation system. A preliminary study was conducted in a laboratory setting with healthy adults. Knee ROM data was measured with the BPMpathway e-rehabilitation system and simultaneously with a BIOPAC twin-axis digital goniometer. The main outcome was the root mean squared error (RMSE). A 20% increase or reduction in sitting height led to a RMSE increase. A ventral shift of the BPMpathway sensor by 45° and 90° caused significant measurement errors. A vertical shift was associated with a diminution of the measurement errors. The lowest RMSE (2.4°) was achieved when the sensor was placed below the knee. The knee ROM data measured by the BPMpathway system is comparable to the data of the concurrent system, provided the instructions of the manufacturer are respected concerning the sitting position of the subject for knee exercises, and disregarding the same instructions for sensor positioning, by placing the sensor directly below the knee.

Substance Use-Related Alterations of Social Decision Making in a Longitudinal Cohort of Young Adults.

BACKGROUND: Substance use disorders are associated with severe negative social and health-related outcomes. Evidence has accumulated that long-term substance use is associated with alterations in social interaction behavior, which likely contributes to the vicious cycle of substance use disorder. However, little is known about whether these social problems originate from contextual factors only or also from the substance use itself-in other words, if they are predisposed or substance induced. METHODS: We studied the causation behind behavioral alterations of substance users over a 9-year period (ages 11-20 years) in an urban age cohort (N = 1002) with a high prevalence of substance use at age 20. We identified common substance use patterns using toxicological hair analysis, examined behavioral alterations with incentivized games, and used teacher assessments across different ages to determine the causes and effects that underlie substance use-related impairments in social interaction. RESULTS: We found that opioid and stimulant users showed reduced prosocial behavior compared with nonusers, particularly in interpersonal trust and perspective taking (e.g., they were approximately 50% less likely to trust others). Our longitudinal analyses suggest a causal relationship between the nonmedical use of prescription opioids and impaired social behavior, whereas impairments among stimulant users seem to be partially predisposed. Moreover, women tended to be more severely affected by opioid use than men. However, no behavioral alterations were found among young adult cannabis or ecstasy users. CONCLUSIONS: Highly addictive substances such as opioids can impair users' social behavior by undermining fundamental human interaction, thereby fueling a vicious cycle of substance use and social isolation.

Correction: Satisfaction of scientists during the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1057/s41599-020-00618-4.].