Moral foundations conflict task: measuring intuitive conflict between moral foundations using a novel task

This thesis represents a body of work to validate the Moral Foundations Conflict Task (MFCT), a novel measure that aims to probe directly at intuitive conflict between moral foundations. Moral Foundations Theory (MFT) explains variation in moral judgments on the basis of innate and intuitive foundations, representing distinct moral concerns. However, little work has explored how foundations might compete within individuals. Prior research has tended to rely on an explicit self-report measure – the Moral Foundations Questionnaire (MFQ). In contrast, the MFCT requires quick, intuitive choices between foundations, tracking endorsement based on how often they are chosen, and how long it takes to choose them (response times – RTs). Across five studies, we test whether responses on the MFCT: reflect explicitly-endorsed moral values measured by the MFQ (Study 1); are altered under cognitive load (Study 2 and 3); and under deliberation (Study 4); and are predicted by established correlates of the MFQ (Study 5). Endorsements on the MFCT reliably correlate with those on the MFQ. Increased load does not affect this correlation, enhancing confidence that the MFCT is an effective measure of moral intuitions. Increasing deliberation over choices in the MFCT also does not seem to alter this correlation, though this finding is subject to limitations to Study 4. Furthermore, the MFCT performs better than the MFQ in models with political orientation, authoritarianism and social dominance, indicating that the MFCT captures unique variance that the MFQ does not. Across all studies, we employ exploratory analyses of RTs, applying Ex-Gaussian decomposition alongside analyses of mean RT to support interpretation of the MFCT as a direct measure of inter-foundation conflict. An Ex-Gaussian approach models RTs as a combination of pure decision processes and conflict resolution, where the τ parameter corresponds to the latter. Generally, we find that mean RT and τ decrease as the value, and the difference in value, of foundations in a choice increases. In conclusion, this work provides a significant theoretical and methodological contribution, allowing future research to explore inter-foundation conflict. It demonstrates that the MFCT captures systematic variance in foundation endorsement, and can therefore contribute to understanding of moral value conflicts and their consequences

Will you get vaccinated? Trade‐offs between purity, liberty and care predict attitudes towards Covid‐19 vaccination

How do tensions between moral values predict how likely we are to receive Covid-19 vaccination? Previous work suggests that moral foundations, particularly purity and liberty, relate to decisions to vaccinate. In addition, research on the moral trade-off hypothesis suggests value in exploring trade-offs between foundations. We conducted three studies across the pandemic: at the start of the vaccine rollout (Study 1, N = 170); during delivery (Study 2, N = 328) and 2 years later (Study 3, N = 388). We find that trade-offs between purity and care and between liberty and care are predictive of higher levels of vaccine reluctance—individuals who endorse purity or liberty more, relative to care, were more reluctant towards Covid-19 vaccination, less likely to have received a vaccine and have lower intention to get future Covid-19 vaccines. This research highlights the relevance of moral values, and trade-offs between them, in vaccine attitudes and decisions.</p

On the misrecognition of identity:Muslims’ everyday experiences in Scotland

Political theory is interested in the misrecognition of identity because it impacts individuals' autonomy in their self-definition and thus their ability to articulate and pursue identity-related interests. Here, we explore minority group members' experiences of being seen in terms that do not accord with their self-definition. Our data are qualitative, gathered through walking interviews with 24 Muslims in Scotland. Focusing on interactions in which they reported discrepancies between how they and others saw them, we differentiate four forms of misrecognition: (1) having the meaning of a valued identity (i.e., one's Muslim identity) defined by others in ways that one judges inaccurate and inappropriate; (2) having one's membership of a valued community (e.g., as a member of Scottish society) denied or rejected; (3) having one's identity (i.e., one's Muslim identity) overlooked such that one's distinctive identity-related needs are not taken into account; (4) being seen in terms of just one of one's many social identities (i.e., one's Muslim identity) such that other identities (judged more situationally relevant) are ignored. This empirically grounded typology contributes to wider debates about the forms of identity (mis)recognition and their political implications.</p

Reduced NGF in gastric endothelial cells is one of the main causes of impaired angiogenesis in aging gastric mucosa

This study detected reduced nerve growth factor (NGF) expression within gastric endothelial cells in both elderly patients and aged rats. Reduced NGF correlated with impaired angiogenesis and delayed gastric ulcer healing in aged rats. The defects could be reversed by exogenous NGF via phosphoinositide-3 kinase/serine threonine kinase signaling protein, and mammalian target of rapamycin signaling, and was dependent on serum response factor. These data show that down-regulation of endothelial NGF expression in aging is a significant contributor to impaired gastric mucosal repair

Physiological role for nitrate-reducing oral bacteria in blood pressure control

AbstractCirculating nitrate (NO3−), derived from dietary sources or endogenous nitric oxide production, is extracted from blood by the salivary glands, accumulates in saliva, and is then reduced to nitrite (NO2−) by the oral microflora. This process has historically been viewed as harmful, because nitrite can promote formation of potentially carcinogenic N-nitrosamines. More recent research, however, suggests that nitrite can also serve as a precursor for systemic generation of vasodilatory nitric oxide, and exogenous administration of nitrate reduces blood pressure in humans. However, whether oral nitrate-reducing bacteria participate in “setting” blood pressure is unknown. We investigated whether suppression of the oral microflora affects systemic nitrite levels and hence blood pressure in healthy individuals. We measured blood pressure (clinic, home, and 24-h ambulatory) in 19 healthy volunteers during an initial 7-day control period followed by a 7-day treatment period with a chlorhexidine-based antiseptic mouthwash. Oral nitrate-reducing capacity and nitrite levels were measured after each study period. Antiseptic mouthwash treatment reduced oral nitrite production by 90% (p < 0.001) and plasma nitrite levels by 25% (p = 0.001) compared to the control period. Systolic and diastolic blood pressure increased by 2–3 .5mmHg, increases correlated to a decrease in circulating nitrite concentrations (r2 = 0.56, p = 0.002). The blood pressure effect appeared within 1 day of disruption of the oral microflora and was sustained during the 7-day mouthwash intervention. These results suggest that the recycling of endogenous nitrate by oral bacteria plays an important role in determination of plasma nitrite levels and thereby in the physiological control of blood pressure

NITRATE-CIN Study: Protocol of a Randomized (1:1) Single-Center, UK, Double-Blind Placebo-Controlled Trial Testing the Effect of Inorganic Nitrate on Contrast-Induced Nephropathy in Patients Undergoing Coronary Angiography for Acute Coronary Syndromes

Background: Contrast-induced nephropathy (CIN), an acute kidney injury resulting from the administration of intravascular iodinated contrast media, is a significant cause of morbidity/mortality following coronary angiographic procedures in high-risk patients. Despite preventative measures intended to mitigate the risk of CIN, there remains a need for novel effective treatments. Evidence suggests that delivery of nitric oxide (NO) through chemical reduction of inorganic nitrate to NO may offer a novel therapeutic strategy to reduce CIN and thus preserve long term renal function. Design: The NITRATE-CIN trial is a single-center, randomized, double-blind placebo-controlled trial, which plans to recruit 640 patients presenting with acute coronary syndromes (ACS) who are at risk of CIN. Patients will be randomized to either inorganic nitrate therapy (capsules containing 12 mmol KNO3) or placebo capsules containing potassium chloride (KCl) daily for 5 days. The primary endpoint is development of CIN using the Kidney Disease Improving Global Outcomes (KDIGO) criteria. A key secondary endpoint is renal function over a 3-month follow-up period. Additional secondary endpoints include serum renal biomarkers (e.g. neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin) at 6 h, 48 h and 3 months following administration of contrast. Cost-effectiveness of inorganic nitrate therapy will also be evaluated. Summary: This study is designed to investigate the hypothesis that inorganic nitrate treatment decreases the rate of CIN as part of semi-emergent coronary angiography for ACS. Inorganic nitrate is a simple and easy to administer intervention that may prove useful in prevention of CIN in at-risk patients undergoing coronary angiographic procedures

Science forum : sex differences and sex bias in human circadian and sleep physiology research

Growing evidence shows that sex differences impact many facets of human biology. Here we review and discuss the impact of sex on human circadian and sleep physiology, and we uncover a data gap in the field investigating the non-visual effects of light in humans. A virtual workshop on the biomedical implications of sex differences in sleep and circadian physiology then led to the following imperatives for future research: (1) design research to be inclusive and accessible, (2) implement recruitment strategies that lead to a sex-balanced sample, (3) use data visualization to grasp the effect of sex, (4) implement statistical analyses that include sex as a factor and/or perform group analyses by sex, where possible, (5) make participant-level data open and available to facilitate future meta-analytic efforts

Endothelial C-type natriuretic peptide maintains vascular homeostasis

PMCID: PMC4151218Wellcome Trust (084449/Z/07/Z and 078496/Z/05/Z