Power boosts reliance on preferred processing styles

A significant amount of research has proposed that power leads to heuristic and category based information processing, however, the evidence is often contradictory. We propose the novel idea that power magnifies chronically accessible information processing styles which can contribute to either systematic or heuristic processing. We examine heuristic (vs. systematic) processing in association with the need for closure. The results of three studies and a meta-analysis supported these claims. Power increased heuristic information processing, manifested in the recognition of schema consistent information, in the use of stereotypical information to form impressions and decreased the complexity of categorical representations, but only for those participants who, by default, processed information according to simplified heuristics, i.e., are high in need for closure. For those who prefer this processing style less, i.e., low in need for closure, power led to the opposite effects. These findings suggest that power licenses individuals to rely on their dominant information processing strategies, and that power increases interpersonal variability

Individual differences in response to uncertainty and decision making : the role of behavioral inhibition system and need for closure

In two studies, we examined the influence of behavioral inhibition system (BIS) and need for closure (NFC) on information processing in decision making. We expected that BIS would regulate behavior in a decisional context and that this relationship would be mediated by epistemic motivation expressed by NFC. In addition, drawing on contradictory findings in the literature on anxiety, NFC, and information processing, we investigated the moderating role of decision rules. The results supported our predictions. BIS was strongly and positively related to NFC, and through NFC it was related to decision-making style. Moreover, decision task characteristics moderated the relationship between NFC and decision making. When a task did not offer a confident decision rule, high NFC participants prolonged the information search more than low NFC individuals. However, when a reliable strategy was suggested, high NFC participants behaved in line with it. These results are discussed within an uncertainty management framework

The Dirty Dozen Scale: Validation of a Polish Version and Extension of the Nomological Net

In five studies (total N = 1300) we developed and validated a Polish version of the Dirty Dozen measure (DTDD-P) that measures the three traits of the Dark Triad, Machiavellianism, psychopathy, and narcissism. We detail the presence and stability of a bifactor structure of the 12 items and present evidence for good internal consistency and test–retest reliability. We examine the nomological network surrounding the Dark Triad and show that both the Dark Triad total score and the subscales have acceptable validity. We also present evidence on the Dark Triad and moral behavior. Dark Triad predicts utilitarian moral choice (e.g., approval for sacrificing somebody's life for the sake of saving others) and this link is mediated by low empathic concern. In total, our results suggest that the Polish Dirty Dozen—Parszywa Dwunastka—is valid, stable, and useful for the study of lingering puzzles in the literature

Til gavn for bundlinjen: Forbedrer kvinder i topledelse og bestyrelse danske virksomheders bundlinje?

No abstractVirksomhedsledelse; Kvinder; Kvinders stilling på arbejdsmarkedet; Lønsomhed; Overskud

Why digitisation can cause anarchization : micro-identities on the Internet as a factor stimulating the processof state anarchisation

This article deals with the phenomenon of socio-political anarchization related to the dynamic process of digitisation, primarily connected with the functioning of social media. All issues are analysed from several perspectives, including the research areas of political science, sociology and psychology. According to the authors, many mechanisms of the internet described in this article not only contribute to the growing social and political polarisation, but may also lead to a recession of liberal democracy and the most important state institutions. The authors argue that the specific way in which digital media function and the available options of their application may strengthen gradual anarchization processes, ultimately leading to the creation of various types of social entities. These entities are defined by particular micro-identities and are less and less dependent on the State. At the same time, they contribute (or rather can contribute) to the actual atrophy of the existing state structures, as well as the rules and procedures hitherto present in society

Fast perinuclear clustering of mitochondria in oxidatively stressed human choriocarcinoma cells

Mitochondrial dysfunction plays a crucial role in cell types that exhibit necrosislike death after activation of their death program. Tumour necrosis factor (TNF) induces abnormal, perinuclear clustering of mitochondria from an evenly spread distribution throughout the cytoplasm. The mitochondria withdraw from the cell periphery and aggregate in a unipolar perinuclear cluster. TNF-induced mitochondrial clustering is caused by impaired kinesin-mediated transportation of mitochondria. In this report, we describe a novel activity of menadione (MEN), namely the induction of an altered spatial distribution of mitochondria in the choriocarcinoma JAR cells. Strikingly, 2 hours of cell exposition to menadione did not disrupt the integrity of the plasma membrane, while the intracellular ATP level significantly decreased. Control (untreated) cells displayed a typically scattered distribution of filamentary mitochondria inside the cell. After 2 hours of MEN treatment the spatial distribution of the mitochondria was markedly altered to an asymmetric perinuclear clustered distribution. Menadione-stressed cells displayed a highly asymmetrical perinuclear clustered distribution of the mitochondria. The exposure of cells to MEN also results in a change in shape of the mitochondria into a population of enlarged granular structures. The results of our study demonstrate that in JAR cells menadione causes mitochondria to translocate from the cell periphery into the perinuclear region several hours before disruption of cell membrane integrity and cell death

Hypotonia during amikacine administration in a patient treated with continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis

Częstość hipotonii u chorych leczonych ciągłą ambulatoryjną dializą otrzewnową (CADO) wynosi około 12%, a jej patofizjologia jest złożona. W niniejszej pracy przedstawiono przypadek chorej leczonej za pomocą CADO, u której epizody niskiego ciśnienia tętniczego można wiązać ze stosowaniem antybiotyku z grupy aminoglikozydów - amikacyny. Chorą w wieku 68 lat przyjęto do kliniki w celu leczenia niewydolności nerek za pomocą metody CADO. W pierwszym tygodniu po wszczepieniu cewnika chora zgłaszała objawy dysuryczne. Ze względu na znamienną bakteriurię E. coli zgodnie z antybiogramem podawano dożylnie 250 mg amikacyny i 1 g cefazoliny raz na dobę. W 3. dniu stosowania antybiotyków chora zasłabła, ciśnienie tętnicze wynosiło 90/60 mm Hg. W trakcie kolejnych dni 2- lub 3-krotnie w ciągu dnia występowały spadki ciśnienia tętniczego do wartości 90/60-80/50 mm Hg. Chora czuła się źle. Odstawiono wszystkie leki hipotensyjne. W kontrolnym badaniu moczu nie stwierdzono leukocyturii. Po 2 dniach od odstawienia antybiotyków stan pacjentki poprawił się, ustąpiły epizody hipotonii. Wartości ciśnienia tętniczego podwyższyły się, ponownie wdrożono leczenie amlodipiną i perindoprilem w uprzednio stosowanych dawkach. Mechanizm działania hipotensyjnego aminoglikozydów nie jest do końca wyjaśniony. Jedna z hipotez zakłada, że aminoglikozydy są jednym z ligandów wykazujących powinowactwo do receptora wapniowego i tą drogą mogą wpływać na sekrecję PTH i PHF. Efekt hipotensyjny mógłby się pośrednio wiązać z obniżeniem stężenia wapnia błonowego. Spadek ciśnienia tętniczego, po dożylnym podawaniu amikacyny, z dużym prawdopodobieństwem można wiązać z kalcymimetycznym działaniem aminoglikozydu i z jednoczesnym zahamowaniem PHF.The prevalence of hypotonia in patients on continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CADO) is about 12%, and its pathophysiology is complex. The study presents a case of a patient on CADO, whose episodes of low blood pressure may be associated with the use of antibiotic amikacine (group of aminoglycosides). Female, aged 68, was admitted to the Clinic for CADO treatment of the renal failure. In the first week after the catheter implantation the patient complained of dysuric symptoms. Due to significant E. coli bacteriuria 250 mg amikacine and 1 g cefazolin was introduced according to antibiogram. In the third day of antibioticotherapy the patient fainted with the blood pressure of 90/60 mm Hg. In the following days the patient presented blood pressure falls to the values of 90/60–80/50 mm Hg 2- or 3-times a day. The patient was feeling ill. All anti-hypertensives were stopped. In the repeated urinalysis leukocyturia was not found. Two days following the cessation of antibiotics patient’s state improved and the episodes of hypotonia disappeared. Blood pressure values increased and amlodipine and perindopril treatment was introduced in previously used doses. The mechanism of the hypotensive effect of aminoglycosides remains unclear. One of the hypotheses assumes that aminoglycosides are one of ligands with the affinity to bind at calcium receptor and may influence the parathormone (PTH) and parathyroid hypertensive factor (PHF) via this path. The hypotensive effect could be indirectly associated with the lowered membrane calcium concentration. The blood pressure fall observed after intravenous administration of amikacine may be with high probability associated with calcimimetric operation of the aminoglycoside and simultaneous PHF inhibition

Pandemic chronicles 2020-2021

Kroniki pandemii to zbiór 27 stanowisk opublikowanych przez interdyscyplinarny Zespół doradczy ds. COVID-19 przy Prezesie Polskiej Akademii Nauk, działający od lipca 2020 roku. Jest to już drugie po Zrozumieć COVID-19 obszerniejsze opracowanie naszego zespołu porządkujące wiadomości dotyczące wirusa SARS-CoV-2 i powodowanej przez niego choroby COVID-19. Wydane we wrześniu 2020 roku Zrozumieć COVID-19 miało na celu podsumowanie przebiegu pierwszych miesięcy pandemii i przygotowanie społeczeństwa w Polsce do ciężkiego sezonu jesienno-zimowego 2020/2021. Niniejsze opracowanie powstaje po dwóch latach trwania pandemii, która rozpoczęła się w Wuhan w grudniu 2019 roku. Mamy nadzieję, że dzięki na bieżąco tworzonym tekstom raportującym przebieg pandemii i dylematy, przed którymi stawało społeczeństwo, w przypadku kolejnych podobnych wyzwań skorzystamy z tych trudnych i ważnych doświadczeń