Talking frames : the assessment, use, and impact of message frames in conversational perspective

Choice behavior is susceptible to slight changes in the representation and formulation of messages (e.g., Tversky & Kahneman, 1981), thus violating the normative requirement of "description invariance". Even logically equivalent message frames (e.g., "80% success rate of a new product launch" vs. "20% failure rate of a new product launch") may invoke substantially different appraisals. In decision making research the social context of message framing has been underappreciated. This dissertation addresses the social context by considering framing effects in a conversational framework (e.g., Schwarz, 1996). In particular, previous research focused on the listener’s perspective. In contrast, this research examined speakers’ assessment and selection of message frames and its corresponding persuasiveness was evaluated using listeners’ responses. In chapter 2, experimental results on risky choice framing showed that speakers exhibit a consistent preference for positive over negative framing. Judged from listeners’ responses, this preference is effective for promoting riskless, but not risky options. The incompatibility between speakers and listeners may be resolved by noting that speakers can usually assess the information and the persuasive qualities of alternative frames jointly (i.e., comparatively). In contrast, listeners are usually exposed only to one of these frames and, consequently, can only assess the information separately (i.e., non–comparatively). Further experiments revealed that no incompatibility exists when both speakers and listeners are either in separate, or in joint evaluation mode. This line of research elaborates and applies Hsee’s (1996) joint– separate distinction to the domain of framing. In chapter 3, subsequent research on speakers’ assessments of message frames suggested that (i) speakers have a default preference for positive over negative frames when jointly considering frames, and (ii) compatibility effects operate to enhance or diminish this positivity effect thereby affecting speakers’ success rate in persuasive communication. For better or worse, the positive formulation of ideas, facts, and opinions serves as a social lubricant in human communication. Positive frames simply make "better stories" (Dawes, 1999). Notwithstanding, negative framing may be employed whenever there is compatibility between frames and elements of the choice situation (e.g., Shafir, 1995). In particular, a distinction was proposed between recommending for preferred choice options (i.e., encourage) and recommending against non–preferred choice options (i.e., discourage). In binary choice cases, both recommendation modes are logically, though not psychologically, equivalent. Most important, empirical results showed that speakers that recommend for preferred options predominantly select positive frames. Positive frames were used less when speakers recommend against non–preferred options. In chapter 4, findings from Meyerowitz and Chaiken (1987) were re–examined and re– interpreted from a conversational viewpoint. Meyerowitz and Chaiken found that breast self– examination (BSE) is more effectively promoted by negatively framed messages that highlight dangers of neglecting to performBSE than by logically equivalent positively framed messages that emphasizes benefits of performing BSE. Experiments in this chapter (i) corroborated our previous finding that speakers prefer positive frames, but surprisingly, (ii) yielded results opposite fromMeyerowitz and Chaiken, i.e., listeners were influenced most by positively framed messages about BSE. Finally, in chapter 5, a framework for framing was developed which stresses the importance of reference information contained in message frames. The framework complements previous classifications (e.g., Druckman, 2001b; Levin et al., 1998; Soman, 2004), and explicates the importance of a central theme of this dissertation, namely the joint–separate destinction

The importance of dry woodlands and forests in rural livelihoods and poverty alleviation in South Africa

Indigenous forests and savannas, along with plantation forests, offer numerous benefits to rural communities and society at large. Yet, the role of forests and forestry in contributing to sustainable livelihoods and poverty alleviation are widely debated. However, much of the debate pertains to lessons from the humid tropics, with little consideration of the widespread dry forests and savannas. This paper considers the role of dry forest types, including savannas, using South Africa as a case example. It concludes that a large proportion of the population makes use of forests and the resources from them. These are vital components of local livelihoods, which probably prevent people from slipping into deeper poverty. Moreover, for a measurable proportion, engagement in informal forest activities, as well as the formal forestry sector, has resulted in them being able to move out of poverty. Additionally, the generally dry nature of forests in South Africa, coupled with the high unemployment rate, limit the extent of alternative locally based livelihood options, thereby magnifying the contributions from forests and forest products. The depressing effects of widespread HIV/AIDS on labour availability, economic activities and livelihoods has exacerbated peoples' dependence on forest products

The suitability of iodinated Angiotensin-(1-7) peptides as pharmacological tools

INTRODUCTION: The heptapeptide Angiotensin-(1-7) [(Ang-(1-7)] is a biologically active component of the Renin-Angiotensin System. Pharmacological studies often involve Ang-(1-7) radioactively labelled with (125)I. Given the small size of the original peptide, we investigated whether introduction of a rather bulky iodine label interferes with the biological activity of Ang-(1-7). METHODS: Ang-(1-7) was labelled with nonradioactive iodine with the chloramine-T method. The reaction products were separated on HPLC and analysed with mass spectrometry. The products were tested for biological activity in two ways: The ability of labelled Ang-(1-7) to block Ang II-induced contraction in rat aortic rings was tested in an organ bath setup. The affinity of labelled angiotensin for ACE in rat plasma was examined in vitro. RESULTS: Iodination of Angiotensin-(1-7) resulted in two main products: monoiodinated and diiodinated Ang-(1-7) that could be easily separated on HPLC. In an organ bath experiment, monoiodinated Ang-(1-7) blocked Ang II responses identical to the native compound, whereas diiodinated Ang-(1-7) had lost its ability to block Ang II responses. Likewise, monoiodinated Ang-(1-7) had retained its affinity for ACE, while the affinity of diiodinated Ang-(1-7) was greatly reduced. DISCUSSION: Monoiodinated Ang-(1-7) has a biological activity identical to the native compound, whereas this is lost in diiodinated Ang-(1-7). Therefore, only the monoiodinated radioactive form seems suited for pharmacological studies

The High-redshift Clusters Occupied by Bent Radio AGN (COBRA) Survey: Investigating the Role of Environment on Bent Radio AGNs Using LOFAR

© 2023. The Author(s). Published by the American Astronomical Society. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY), https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/Bent radio active galactic nucleus (AGN) morphology depends on the density of the surrounding gas. However, bent sources are found inside and outside clusters, raising the question of how environment impacts bent AGN morphology. We analyze new LOw-Frequency Array the LOFAR Two-metre Sky Survey (LoTSS) Data Release II observations of 20 bent AGNs in clusters and 15 not in clusters from the high-z Clusters Occupied by Bent Radio AGN (COBRA) survey (0.35 1.2 Mpc) or bent AGNs in weaker groups rather than the field.Peer reviewe

Homozygous whole body Cbs knockout in adult mice features minimal pathology during ageing despite severe homocysteinemia

Deficiencies in Cystathionine-β-synthase (CBS) lead to hyperhomocysteinemia (HHCy), which is considered a risk factor for cardiovascular, bone and neurological disease. Moreover, CBS is important for the production of cysteine, hydrogen sulfide (H2 S) and glutathione. Studying the biological role of CBS in adult mice has been severely hampered by embryological disturbances and perinatal mortality. To overcome these issues and assess the effects of whole-body CBS deficiency in adult mice, we engineered and characterized a Cre-inducible Cbs knockout model during ageing. No perinatal mortality occurred before Cbs-/- induction at 10 weeks of age. Mice were followed until 90 weeks of age and ablation of Cbs was confirmed in liver and kidney but not in brain. Severe HHCy was observed in Cbs-/- (289 ± 58 µM) but not in Cbs+/- or control mice (<10 µM). Cbs-/- showed impaired growth, facial alopecia, endothelial dysfunction in absence of increased mortality, and signs of liver or kidney damage. CBS expression in skin localized to sebaceous glands and epidermis, suggesting local effects of Cbs-/- on alopecia. Cbs-/- showed increased markers of oxidative stress and senescence but expression of other H2 S producing enzymes (CSE and 3-MST) was not affected. CBS deficiency severely impaired H2 S production capacity in liver, but not in brain or kidney. In summary, Cbs-/- mice presented a mild phenotype without mortality despite severe HHCy. The findings demonstrate that HHCy is not directly linked to development of end organ damage