Detecting Accurate Emotions in Faces

Anger race bias is the tendency to misidentify expressions of emotion, specifically anger, in Black or racially ambiguous faces that are fearful or neutral (Hutchings & Haddock, 2008). Anger is often associated with aggression (Murphy et al., 2005). Therefore, the inaccurate perception of anger and threat may lead to an inappropriate response and could increase the likelihood that a police officer will shoot at a suspect (Correll et al., 2007). From 2015 to 2020, police officers shot and killed over 100 unarmed Black males (Washington Post, 2020). This study examined if anger race bias could be reduced through emotion identification training. Faces from the Chicago Face Database were used to train participants on the emotions of neutrality, fear, and anger. Participants identified emotions on a series of Black, White, LatinX, and Asian faces on pre-and post-test measures. Two weeks following the post-test, participants were invited to complete a follow-up test to determine their retention of the training. We found that the experimental group accurately identified more facial expressions on average than the control group. These preliminary results demonstrate feasibility in developing emotion recognition trainings to decrease anger race bias with the potential to be helpful in police settings

Functional analysis of the cell cycle control gene cdc18 in Schizosaccharomyces pombe

The Schizosaccharomyces pombe gene cdc18 has a role both in promoting DNA replication and initiating the checkpoint that acts to prevent mitosis until DNA replication has been successfully completed. It therefore plays an essential role in coordinating the cell cycle, thus maintaining genome integrity. I performed a functional analysis of cdc18 in order to understand its role throughout the cell cycle. I used different cdc18p constructs to discover which domains of the protein are required to carry out its functions. I examined this by assaying the ability of cells to re-replicate and block mitosis when the constructs were overexpressed. I discovered that the C-terminus of cdc18p is required for the re-replication phenotype and that this does not require a decrease in the activity of the mitotic kinase. The C-terminus is also required for the checkpoint function of cdc18p. The N-terminus of cdc18p can also block mitosis indirectly by binding to cdc2p. I then examined the Saccharomyces cerevisiae (ScCDC6), Xenopus laevis (XICDC6) and Homo sapiens (HsCDC6) cdcl8 homologues to determine their ability to complement the cdc18-K46 mutant. I also investigated whether they, like cdc18, are able to induce re-replication when overexpressed. None of the homologues was able to complement cdc18-K46, but overexpression of ScCDC6 was able to induce re-replication. Finally, I constructed a strain in which cdc18 was under the control of a repressible promoter. I made several site specific mutants of cdc18-the nucleotide triphosphate (NTP) binding and hydrolysis motif mutants, known as the Walker A (WA) and Walker B (WB) mutants, respectively, the putative nuclear localization signal mutants (NLS1, NLS2 and NLS1+NLS2) and the cdc2p phosphorylation site mutant (P1-6)-and introduced these at a different locus, where they were expressed under control of the cdc18 promoter. I investigated whether the mutants could proliferate in the absence of wildtype cdc18. Only the cdc18 WA and WB mutants failed to proliferate under these conditions. The WA mutant cannot initiate replication but is unable to inhibit mitosis, so undergoes an aberrant mitosis. The WB mutant is able to initiate, but not complete, replication and initiates a checkpoint signal. However, the checkpoint cannot be maintained and cells also enter an aberrant mitosis

Comparison of the generic neuronal differentiation and neuron subtype specification functions of mammalian achaete-scute and atonal homologs in cultured neural progenitor cells

In the vertebrate peripheral nervous system, the proneural genes neurogenin 1 and neurogenin 2 (Ngn1 and Ngn2), and Mash1 are required for sensory and autonomic neurogenesis, respectively. In cultures of neural tube-derived, primitive PNS progenitors NGNs promote expression of sensory markers and MASH1 that of autonomic markers. These effects do not simply reflect enhanced neuronal differentiation, suggesting that both bHLH factors also specify neuronal identity like their Drosophila counterparts. At high concentrations of BMP2 or in neural crest stem cells (NCSCs), however, NGNs like MASH1 promote only autonomic marker expression. These data suggest that that the identity specification function of NGNs is more sensitive to context than is that of MASH1. In NCSCs, MASH1 is more sensitive to Notch-mediated inhibition of neurogenesis and cell cycle arrest, than are the NGNs. Thus, the two proneural genes differ in other functional properties besides the neuron subtype identities they can promote. These properties may explain cellular differences between MASH1- and NGN-dependent lineages in the timing of neuronal differentiation and cell cycle exit

Detecting Accurate Emotions in Faces

Anger race bias is the tendency to misidentify expressions of emotion, specifically anger, in Black or racially ambiguous faces (Hutchings & Haddock, 2008). Hutchings & Haddock (2008) found that Black faces are more likely to be perceived as angry by people high in implicit bias. Since January 1st, 2015, 119 unarmed Black males have been shot and killed by police (Washington Post, 2020). When police officers perceive a threat, they are more likely to shoot, and mistaking expressions such as fear for anger causes the perception of increased threat that can lead to inaccurate responses such as excessive force (Correll et al., 2010). Accurate perception of emotion, therefore, is necessary in order to react correctly. The purpose of this study was to investigate if anger race bias could be reduced through emotion identification training. The current study used photos of faces from the Chicago Face Database to train participants on the emotions of neutral, fear, and anger. Participants identified emotions on a series of Black, White, LatinX, and Asian faces on pre-and post-test measures. Two weeks following the post-test, participants were invited to complete a follow-up test to determine their retention of the training. We found that participants who were in the experimental group accurately identified more facial expressions on average, than participants in the control group. This shows that there is feasibility in developing emotion recognition trainings to be implemented in police settings to potentially decrease anger race bias

Does Emotion Training Reduce Implicit Racial Bias?

USU junior Marisa and senior Emma are Utah natives studying psychology. Both are Honors students and the team is leading this project through a student grant they received. Some people mistakenly perceive Black people as being angry when they are actually showing neutral or fearful expressions, which puts Black individuals at higher risk in police interactions. Marisa and Emma have been developing and testing trainings on emotion recognition to challenge this implicit bias, which they hope will be implemented in police forces in the future. The two see undergraduate research as a way to help other people. While they agree that this project has enhanced their educational experience, both students care more that their work will benefit their community

Experiences of older people dying in nursing homes : a narrative systematic review of qualitative studies

Objectives To identify and synthesise qualitative research from 2001 investigating older people's (65+ years) experiences of dying in nursing and care homes. Methods and outcomes Eight electronic databases (AMED, ASSIA, CINAHL Plus, Embase, HMIC, Medline, PsychINFO and Scopus) from 2001 to July 2017 were searched. Studies were included if they were qualitative, primary research and described the experiences of dying in nursing or care homes from the perspectives of the older people themselves, their families or staff. Study quality assessment was undertaken to systematically assess methodological quality, but no studies were excluded as a result. Results 1305 articles were identified. Nine met the inclusion criteria. North American studies dominated. Most used a mixture of observations and interviews. All the included studies highlighted the physical discomfort of dying, with many older people experiencing potentially avoidable symptoms if care were to be improved. Negative psychosocial experiences such as loneliness and depression were also often described in addition to limited support with spiritual needs. Conclusions More qualitative research giving a holistic understanding of older people’s experiences of dying in residential care homes is needed. Undertaking research on this topic is challenging and requires great sensitivity, but the dearth of qualitative research from the perspectives of those most closely involved in older people’s deaths hampers service improvement

Statistical models for over-dispersion in the frequency of peaks over threshold data for a flow series.

In a peaks over threshold analysis of a series of river flows, a sufficiently high threshold is used to extract the peaks of independent flood events. This paper reviews existing, and proposes new, statistical models for both the annual counts of such events and the process of event peak times. The most common existing model for the process of event times is a homogeneous Poisson process. This model is motivated by asymptotic theory. However, empirical evidence suggests that it is not the most appropriate model, since it implies that the mean and variance of the annual counts are the same, whereas the counts appear to be overdispersed, i.e., have a larger variance than mean. This paper describes how the homogeneous Poisson process can be extended to incorporate time variation in the rate at which events occur and so help to account for overdispersion in annual counts through the use of regression and mixed models. The implications of these new models on the implied probability distribution of the annual maxima are also discussed. The models are illustrated using a historical flow series from the River Thames at Kingston

A randomised trial of an internet weight control resource: The UK Weight Control Trial [ISRCTN58621669]

BACKGROUND: Obesity treatment is notoriously unsuccessful and one of the barriers to successful weight loss reported by patients is a lack of social support. The Internet offers a novel and fast approach to the delivery of health information, enabling 24-hour access to help and advice. However, much of the health information available on the Internet is unregulated or not written by qualified health professionals to provide unbiased information. The proposed study aims to compare a web-based weight loss package with traditional dietary treatment of obesity in participants. The project aims to deliver high quality information to the patient and to evaluate the effectiveness of this information, both in terms of weight loss outcomes and cost-effectiveness. METHODS: This study is a randomised controlled trial of a weight loss package against usual care provided within General Practice (GP) surgeries in Leeds, UK. Participants will be recruited via posters placed in participating practices. A target recruitment figure of 220 will enable 180 people to be recruited (allowing for 22% dropout). Participants agreeing to take part in the study will be randomly allocated using minimisation to either the intervention group, receiving access to the Internet site, or the usual care group. The primary outcome of the study will be the ability of the package to promote change in BMI over 6 and 12 months compared with traditional treatment. Secondary outcomes will be the ability of the Internet package to promote change in reported lifestyle behaviours. Data will be collected on participant preferences, adherence to treatment, health care use and time off work. Difference in cost between groups in provision of the intervention and the cost of the primary outcome will also be estimated. CONCLUSION: A positive result from this study would enhance the repertoire of treatment approaches available for the management of obesity. A negative result would be used to inform the research agenda and contribute to redefining future strategies for tackling obesity

Cumbria book and high street retailing

This article produced for the British Library Management and Business Studies Portal describes a project that set out to identify issues faced by, and a solution for, independent traders on the high street because of the increasing use of the internet by consumers. Involved in the project were Keith Jackson, Emma Kerr, Charles Dobson, Anthony Greenwood and Joanna Tate, all from the University of Cumbria, and Steve Matthews of Books Cumbria Limited