Understanding how shared expectations can shape reality: an examination of the underlying mechanisms in the accumulation of perceptual bias effects

This research examined the underlying mechanisms in the accumulation of perceptual bias effects within the context of a criminal investigation. Biased assimilation processes, including the tendency to seek, interpret, and remember information in a manner consistent with one\u27s expectation, and perceived consensus were proposed as potential mediators of accumulation. Two experiments tested this proposition by manipulating perceivers\u27 expectations about a fabricated target\u27s guilt and their interaction with another person. Results from Experiment 1 indicated that perceptual bias effects accumulated across those perceivers who reported having similar beliefs with another person\u27s written statement. These perceivers reported more extreme beliefs about the suspect\u27s guilt in a direction consistent with their initial expectation than those who either did not perceive consensus with another person\u27s written statement or who were not exposed to information from another person. There was no evidence to indicate biased seeking tendencies mediated this effect; however, there was support for biased interpretation and some support for biased recall tendencies as mediators of accumulation. In contrast to Experiment 1, the results from Experiment 2 indicated that perceptual bias effects were not accumulating across perceivers. Perceivers who worked in pairs did not report more extreme beliefs about the suspect\u27s guilt than those who worked alone. Although perceivers\u27 sought, interpreted, and remembered information in a manner consistent with their expectations, they did not do so to a greater extent when working with someone who shared their beliefs about the suspect\u27s guilt than when working alone. In addition, the majority of perceivers perceived consensus even in situations in which they worked with someone who was given a dissimilar expectation about the suspect\u27s guilt. The inconsistent findings across the two experiments are discussed in regards to differences in methodology. The findings are also discussed in regards to their implications for understanding how and when expectations can shape social reality and for understanding factors that may contribute to errors within the criminal justice system

Weak Organizational Culture in Higher Education Leads to Unmet Organizational Goals

This qualitative case study explores the perception of weak organizational culture at one institution of higher education and the influence of weak culture on attaining organizational goals. The general problem addresses a weak organizational culture where department leaders operate independently of organizational policies and procedures, resulting in the inability to reach organizational goals. The study included fifteen survey responses from faculty and staff, two follow-up interviews, two observations of university-sponsored group activities, and current data from the 2021 Work and Well-Being Survey conducted by the American Psychological Association. Themes emerged from collected data and existing literature allowing the researcher to draw certain conclusions related to weak organizational culture and the attainment of organizational goals, suggested methods for improving weak culture, and recommended further studies

An experimental test of the accumulation of self-fulfilling prophecy effects and perceptual biases across perceivers

This research examined whether self-fulfilling prophecies and perceptual biases accumulated across perceivers. Two types of accumulation processes were tested: concurrent and synergistic accumulation. Concurrent accumulation occurs when the independent expectancy effects of multiple perceivers add up. Synergistic accumulation occurs when one perceiver\u27s expectancy effect is stronger when other perceivers hold similar expectations. Trios of same-sex participants (N= 107), each consisting of two perceivers and one target, were randomly assigned to one of three conditions: a no hostile expectation condition, a single hostile expectation condition, and a double hostile expectation condition. These conditions manipulated perceivers\u27 expectations of the target and the similarity of their expectations. In the no hostile expectation condition neither perceiver was given an expectation about the target\u27s personality. In the single hostile expectation condition one perceiver was given no expectation about the target\u27s personality, while the other was given the expectation that the target was hostile. In the double hostile expectation condition both perceivers were given an expectation that the target was hostile. Following the expectation manipulation, each trio participated in an interaction in which perceivers asked targets questions to find out more about them. These questions were selected from a larger pool of questions that were designed to elicit either a non-hostile or hostile response. After the interaction, targets\u27 mood and perceivers\u27 impressions of the target were assessed. Results were consistent with a hypothesis confirmation process. Perceivers given a hostile expectation asked more hostile questions than perceivers given no hostile expectation. However, targets did not confirm perceivers\u27 expectations by reporting a hostile mood; thus, no self-fulfilling prophecy or the accumulation of such effects occurred. Although targets\u27 mood did not change, perceivers rated the targets more negatively when given a hostile expectation compared to those given no hostile expectation, indicating that a perceptual bias occurred. Moreover, perceivers\u27 impressions of targets were more negative as the number of perceivers holding a hostile expectation increased. This pattern of results indicated that perceptual biases were accumulating across perceivers in a concurrent fashion. Results did not support a pattern of synergistic accumulation of perceptual biases

Development of Analytical Assays for Detection of Small Molecules Using Aptazymes.

Advances in understanding the complexity of cellular mechanisms depend upon methods that can quantify affinity interactions between biological molecules. Additionally, fields such as chemical biology and drug discovery require methods for identifying molecules that can probe these affinity interactions. Aptazymes are RNA-based enzymes that catalyze chemical reactions in response to binding interactions with targets of interest, making them suitable for use in quantifying affinity interactions and screening for bioactive molecules. Much of the promise of aptazymes comes from the ability to design or select them for chosen target molecules, and remains unexplored as relatively few of the known aptamers have been appended to ribozymes to create aptazymes. The analytical potential, which arises from the unique and tunable ability of these molecules to translate effector binding into a detectable signal in the form of an RNA cleavage reaction, is also still in early stages of development. We have developed glucosamine-6-phosphate (GlcN6P) sensitive assays that detect substrate cleavage by the naturally occurring GlcN6P-dependent glmS ribozyme via either fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) or capillary electrophoresis with laser induced fluorescence (CE-LIF). We achieve a dynamic range extending from 0.5 to 500 ìM GlcN6P when turning over a single substrate. Signal amplification and 13-fold increased sensitivity are achieved under multiple-turnover reaction conditions. We have analyzed aptazymes that are activated by ATP and cAMP for compatibility in multiplexed assays and developed a qualitative assay for these molecules based on polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE) with fluorescence detection. We also developed a multiplexed assay for simultaneous detection of GlcN6P and ATP using the glmS ribozyme and ATP aptazyme. This assay detects GlcN6P with a limit of detection (LOD) of 40 nM and ATP with an LOD of 1 ìM. Our assays demonstrate the potential of aptazymes, in conjunction with FRET, CE-LIF, and PAGE detection, to serve as recognition and transduction elements for assays of small molecules.Ph.D.ChemistryUniversity of Michigan, Horace H. Rackham School of Graduate Studieshttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/57669/2/jrwillar_1.pd

A Public Health Approach to Uncovering the Health-Related Needs of Teen Library Patrons

Widespread problems with health literacy significantly limit effective dissemination and understanding of health information, particularly among vulnerable populations. As libraries are re-envisioned as community centers and resource providers, librarians are well positioned to help patrons overcome health literacy challenges by helping them to search for and use health information. Librarians often have not had health reference training, and some are unsure of the appropriateness of their role in patrons’ health. This study presents the results of a health needs assessment done in collaboration between the Teen Services Department of a major urban library and faculty from a state university. Using survey and focus group data, the research team sought to uncover the most common health-related needs among community teens as perceived by teen services librarians and staff, preparedness to respond to these needs, and interventions in addressing these needs. Findings confirm that some teens do turn to branch libraries for health information. Additional results revealed which types of health-related questions participants felt most equipped to answer (social health) and least equipped (substance abuse) and indicate staff have had altogether little formal training to address patrons’ health questions. This needs assessment presents replicable tools and questions for libraries aiming to improve health literacy in their local communities

Self-Verification as a Mediator of Mothers’ Self-Fulfilling Effects on Adolescents\u27 Educational Attainment

This research examined whether self-verification acts as a general mediational process of self-fulfilling prophecies. The authors tested this hypothesis by examining whether self-verification processes mediated self-fulfilling prophecy effects within a different context and with a different belief and a different outcome than has been used in prior research. Results of longitudinal data obtained from mothers and their adolescents (N = 332) indicated that mothers’ beliefs about their adolescents’ educational outcomes had a significant indirect effect on adolescents’ academic attainment through adolescents’ educational aspirations. This effect, observed over a 6-year span, provided evidence that mothers’ self-fulfilling effects occurred, in part, because mothers’ false beliefs influenced their adolescents’ own educational aspirations, which adolescents then self-verified through their educational attainment. The theoretical and applied implications of these findings are discussed

Assembly and characterization of heterochromatin and euchromatin on human artificial chromosomes

BACKGROUND: Human centromere regions are characterized by the presence of alpha-satellite DNA, replication late in S phase and a heterochromatic appearance. Recent models propose that the centromere is organized into conserved chromatin domains in which chromatin containing CenH3 (centromere-specific H3 variant) at the functional centromere (kinetochore) forms within regions of heterochromatin. To address these models, we assayed formation of heterochromatin and euchromatin on de novo human artificial chromosomes containing alpha-satellite DNA. We also examined the relationship between chromatin composition and replication timing of artificial chromosomes. RESULTS: Heterochromatin factors (histone H3 lysine 9 methylation and HP1α) were enriched on artificial chromosomes estimated to be larger than 3 Mb in size but depleted on those smaller than 3 Mb. All artificial chromosomes assembled markers of euchromatin (histone H3 lysine 4 methylation), which may partly reflect marker-gene expression. Replication timing studies revealed that the replication timing of artificial chromosomes was heterogeneous. Heterochromatin-depleted artificial chromosomes replicated in early S phase whereas heterochromatin-enriched artificial chromosomes replicated in mid to late S phase. CONCLUSIONS: Centromere regions on human artificial chromosomes and host chromosomes have similar amounts of CenH3 but exhibit highly varying degrees of heterochromatin, suggesting that only a small amount of heterochromatin may be required for centromere function. The formation of euchromatin on all artificial chromosomes demonstrates that they can provide a chromosome context suitable for gene expression. The earlier replication of the heterochromatin-depleted artificial chromosomes suggests that replication late in S phase is not a requirement for centromere function

Abbreviated dignity therapy for adults with advanced-stage cancer and their family caregivers: Qualitative analysis of a pilot study

Objective Dignity therapy (DT) is designed to address psychological and existential challenges that terminally ill individuals face. DT guides patients in developing a written legacy project in which they record and share important memories and messages with those they will leave behind. DT has been demonstrated to ease existential concerns for adults with advanced-stage cancer; however, lack of institutional resources limits wide implementation of DT in clinical practice. This study explores qualitative outcomes of an abbreviated, less resource-intensive version of DT among participants with advanced-stage cancer and their legacy project recipients. Method Qualitative methods were used to analyze postintervention interviews with 11 participants and their legacy recipients as well as the created legacy projects. Direct content analysis was used to assess feedback from the interviews about benefits, barriers, and recommendations regarding abbreviated DT. The legacy projects were coded for expression of core values. Result Findings suggest that abbreviated DT effectively promotes (1) self-expression, (2) connection with loved ones, (3) sense of purpose, and (4) continuity of self. Participants observed that leading the development of their legacy projects promoted independent reflection, autonomy, and opportunities for family interaction when reviewing and discussing the projects. Consistent with traditional DT, participants expressed “family” as the most common core value in their legacy projects. Expression of “autonomy” was also a notable finding. Significance of results Abbreviated DT reduces resource barriers to conducting traditional DT while promoting similar benefits for participants and recipients, making it a promising adaptation warranting further research. The importance that patients place on family and autonomy should be honored as much as possible by those caring for adults with advanced-stage cancer

Reproductive inequality in humans and other mammals

To address claims of human exceptionalism, we determine where humans fit within the greater mammalian distribution of reproductive inequality. We show that humans exhibit lower reproductive skew (i.e., inequality in the number of surviving offspring) among males and smaller sex differences in reproductive skew than most other mammals, while nevertheless falling within the mammalian range. Additionally, female reproductive skew is higher in polygynous human populations than in polygynous nonhumans mammals on average. This patterning of skew can be attributed in part to the prevalence of monogamy in humans compared to the predominance of polygyny in nonhuman mammals, to the limited degree of polygyny in the human societies that practice it, and to the importance of unequally held rival resources to women’s fitness. The muted reproductive inequality observed in humans appears to be linked to several unusual characteristics of our species—including high levels of cooperation among males, high dependence on unequally held rival resources, complementarities between maternal and paternal investment, as well as social and legal institutions that enforce monogamous norms

Adenoviral-mediated correction of methylmalonyl-CoA mutase deficiency in murine fibroblasts and human hepatocytes

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Methylmalonic acidemia (MMA), a common organic aciduria, is caused by deficiency of the mitochondrial localized, 5'deoxyadenosylcobalamin dependent enzyme, methylmalonyl-CoA mutase (MUT). Liver transplantation in the absence of gross hepatic dysfunction provides supportive therapy and metabolic stability in severely affected patients, which invites the concept of using cell and gene delivery as future treatments for this condition.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>To assess the effectiveness of gene delivery to restore the defective metabolism in this disorder, adenoviral correction experiments were performed using murine <it>Mut </it>embryonic fibroblasts and primary human methylmalonyl-CoA mutase deficient hepatocytes derived from a patient who harbored two early truncating mutations, E224X and R228X, in the <it>MUT </it>gene. Enzymatic and expression studies were used to assess the extent of functional correction.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Primary hepatocytes, isolated from the native liver after removal subsequent to a combined liver-kidney transplantation procedure, or <it>Mut </it>murine fibroblasts were infected with a second generation recombinant adenoviral vector that expressed the murine methylmalonyl-CoA mutase as well as eGFP from distinct promoters. After transduction, [1-¹⁴C] propionate macromolecular incorporation studies and Western analysis demonstrated complete correction of the enzymatic defect in both cell types. Viral reconstitution of enzymatic expression in the human methylmalonyl-CoA mutase deficient hepatocytes exceeded that seen in fibroblasts or control hepatocytes.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>These experiments provide proof of principle for viral correction in methylmalonic acidemia and suggest that hepatocyte-directed gene delivery will be an effective therapeutic treatment strategy in both murine models and in human patients. Primary hepatocytes from a liver that was unsuitable for transplantation provided an important resource for these studies.</p