In COVID-19 Health Messaging, Loss Framing Increases Anxiety with Little-to-No Concomitant Benefits: Experimental Evidence from 84 Countries

The COVID-19 pandemic (and its aftermath) highlights a critical need to communicate health information effectively to the global public. Given that subtle differences in information framing can have meaningful effects on behavior, behavioral science research highlights a pressing question: Is it more effective to frame COVID-19 health messages in terms of potential losses (e.g., "If you do not practice these steps, you can endanger yourself and others") or potential gains (e.g., "If you practice these steps, you can protect yourself and others")? Collecting data in 48 languages from 15,929 participants in 84 countries, we experimentally tested the effects of message framing on COVID-19-related judgments, intentions, and feelings. Loss- (vs. gain-) framed messages increased self-reported anxiety among participants cross-nationally with little-to-no impact on policy attitudes, behavioral intentions, or information seeking relevant to pandemic risks. These results were consistent across 84 countries, three variations of the message framing wording, and 560 data processing and analytic choices. Thus, results provide an empirical answer to a global communication question and highlight the emotional toll of loss-framed messages. Critically, this work demonstrates the importance of considering unintended affective consequences when evaluating nudge-style interventions

A global experiment on motivating social distancing during the COVID-19 pandemic

Finding communication strategies that effectively motivate social distancing continues to be a global public health priority during the COVID-19 pandemic. This cross-country, preregistered experiment (n = 25,718 from 89 countries) tested hypotheses concerning generalizable positive and negative outcomes of social distancing messages that promoted personal agency and reflective choices (i.e., an autonomy-supportive message) or were restrictive and shaming (i.e., a controlling message) compared with no message at all. Results partially supported experimental hypotheses in that the controlling message increased controlled motivation (a poorly internalized form of motivation relying on shame, guilt, and fear of social consequences) relative to no message. On the other hand, the autonomy-supportive message lowered feelings of defiance compared with the controlling message, but the controlling message did not differ from receiving no message at all. Unexpectedly, messages did not influence autonomous motivation (a highly internalized form of motivation relying on one’s core values) or behavioral intentions. Results supported hypothesized associations between people’s existing autonomous and controlled motivations and self-reported behavioral intentions to engage in social distancing. Controlled motivation was associated with more defiance and less long-term behavioral intention to engage in social distancing, whereas autonomous motivation was associated with less defiance and more short- and long-term intentions to social distance. Overall, this work highlights the potential harm of using shaming and pressuring language in public health communication, with implications for the current and future global health challenges

A global experiment on motivating social distancing during the COVID-19 pandemic

Finding communication strategies that effectively motivate social distancing continues to be a global public health priority during the COVID-19 pandemic. This cross-country, preregistered experiment (n = 25,718 from 89 countries) tested hypotheses concerning generalizable positive and negative outcomes of social distancing messages that promoted personal agency and reflective choices (i.e., an autonomy-supportive message) or were restrictive and shaming (i.e. a controlling message) compared to no message at all. Results partially supported experimental hypotheses in that the controlling message increased controlled motivation (a poorly-internalized form of motivation relying on shame, guilt, and fear of social consequences) relative to no message. On the other hand, the autonomy-supportive message lowered feelings of defiance compared to the controlling message, but the controlling message did not differ from receiving no message at all. Unexpectedly, messages did not influence autonomous motivation (a highly-internalized form of motivation relying on one’s core values) or behavioral intentions. Results supported hypothesized associations between people’s existing autonomous and controlled motivations and self-reported behavioral intentions to engage in social distancing: Controlled motivation was associated with more defiance and less long-term behavioral intentions to engage in social distancing, whereas autonomous motivation was associated with less defiance and more short- and long-term intentions to social distance. Overall, this work highlights the potential harm of using shaming and pressuring language in public health communication, with implications for the current and future global health challenges

A multi-country test of brief reappraisal interventions on emotions during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The COVID-19 pandemic has increased negative emotions and decreased positive emotions globally. Left unchecked, these emotional changes might have a wide array of adverse impacts. To reduce negative emotions and increase positive emotions, we tested the effectiveness of reappraisal, an emotion-regulation strategy that modifies how one thinks about a situation. Participants from 87 countries and regions (n = 21,644) were randomly assigned to one of two brief reappraisal interventions (reconstrual or repurposing) or one of two control conditions (active or passive). Results revealed that both reappraisal interventions (vesus both control conditions) consistently reduced negative emotions and increased positive emotions across different measures. Reconstrual and repurposing interventions had similar effects. Importantly, planned exploratory analyses indicated that reappraisal interventions did not reduce intentions to practice preventive health behaviours. The findings demonstrate the viability of creating scalable, low-cost interventions for use around the world

Natural root cellular variation in responses to osmotic stress in arabidopsis thaliana accessions

Arabidopsis naturally occurring populations have allowed for the identification of considerable genetic variation remodeled by adaptation to different environments and stress conditions. Water is a key resource that limits plant growth, and its availability is initially sensed by root tissues. The root’s ability to adjust its physiology and morphology under water deficit makes this organ a useful model to understand how plants respond to water stress. Here, we used hyperosmotic shock stress treatments in different Arabidopsis accessions to analyze the root cell morphological responses. We found that osmotic stress conditions reduced root growth and root apical meristem (RAM) size, promoting premature cell differentiation without affecting the stem cell niche morphology. This phenotype was accompanied by a cluster of small epidermal and cortex cells with radial expansion and root hairs at the transition to the elongation zone. We also found this radial expansion with root hairs when plants are grown under hypoosmotic conditions. Finally, root growth was less affected by osmotic stress in the Sg-2 accession followed by Ws, Cvi-0, and Col-0; however, after a strong osmotic stress, Sg-2 and Cvi-0 were the most resilience accessions. The sensitivity differences among these accessions were not explained by stress-related gene expression. This work provides new cellular insights on the Arabidopsis root phenotypic variability and plasticity to osmotic stress.UNAM-DGAPA-PAPIIT: IN204217, IN211516, IN208517, IN205517 and IN211319. E.R.Á.-B and U.R. received funding from CONACYT: 240180 and 180380 and INFRA-268109. The C.G. laboratory is funded by RTI2018-094793-B-I00 from MCIU and institutional grants from Fundacion Ramon Areces and Banco de Santande

Metaloproteinasas de la matriz extracelular y su participación en el proceso de cicatrización

Matrix metalloproteinases are essential for structural maintenance of extracellular matrix enzymes, as well as degradation in situations where tissue repair process is warranted. Objective: To review the most current aspects of matrix metalloproteinases and their role in the healing process. Research Methodology: A review of about 95 papers was conducted during the period from July 18,  2015 to September 20, 2016; PubMed, Scopus, Scielo and Science Direct were used. Results: There are six subfamilies of metalloproteinases: collagenases, stromalysins, elastases, gelatinases, matrilysins and metalloproteinases associated with the plasma membrane. Vascular endothelial cells secrete them where there is epithelial damage and a healing process is required. Conclusions: Metalloproteinases are zinc dependent endopeptidases that are essential for the maintenance and degradation of the extracellular matrix. When the adjustment mechanism fails and matrix metalloproteinases are overexpressed, poor healing processes occur, causing problems such as liver chronic wounds, keloids or hypertrophic scars, pterygium, pulmonary and liver fibrosis, among other clinical conditions. MÉD.UIS. 2017;30(2):55-62.Las metaloproteinasas son enzimas fundamentales para el mantenimiento estructural de la matriz extracelular, así como para su degradación en situaciones donde se requiere un proceso de reparación tisular. Objetivo: realizar una revisión de los aspectos más actuales de las metaloproteinasas y su papel en la cicatrización. Metodología de búsqueda: se realizó una revisión de 95 artículos, durante el período comprendido entre el 18 de julio de 2015 y 20 de septiembre de 2016 se utilizó las bases de datos Medline, Scopus, Scielo y Science Direct. Resultados: existen seis subfamilias de metaloproteinasas: colagenasas, estromalisinas, elastasas, gelatinasas, matrilisinas y las metaloproteinasas asociadas a la membrana plasmática. Las células endoteliales vasculares las secretan en donde hay daño epitelial y serequiere de un proceso de cicatrización. Conclusiones: las metaloproteinasas son endopeptidasas dependientes de zinc fundamentales para el mantenimiento y degradación de la matriz extracelular. Cuando el mecanismo de regulación falla y las metaloproteinasas tiene una sobreexpresión, ocurren procesos de cicatrización deficientes, condicionando la aparición de heridas crónicas, cicatrices hipertróficas o queloides, pterigión, fibrosis pulmonar y hepática, entre otras condiciones. MÉD.UIS. 2017;30(2):55-62

The greening reaction of skipjack tuna (Katsuwonus pelamis) metmyoglobin promoted by free cysteine during thermal treatment

Background Tuna muscle greening is a problem that occurs after heating. A hypothesis has been postulated to address this problem, involving a conserved Cys residue at position 10 (Cys-10) present on tuna myoglobin (Mb) that is exposed during the thermic treatment, forming a disulfide bond with free cysteine (Cys) in the presence of trimethylamine oxide (TMAO), resulting in the greening of the tuna Mb. Methods We present a study using skipjack tuna (Katsuwonus pelamis) metmyoglobin (MbFe(III)-H2O) where the effect of free Cys (1–6 mM), TMAO (1.33 mM), and catalase on the greening reaction (GR) was monitored by UV-vis spectrometry during thermal treatment at 60 °C for 30 min. Moreover, the participation of Cys-10 on the GR was evaluated after its blocking with N-ethymaleimide. Results The GR occurred in tuna MbFe(III)-H2O after heat treatment with free Cys, forming sulfmyoglobin (MbFe(II)-S) as the responsible pigment for the tuna greening. However, the rate constants of MbFe(II)-S production depended on Cys concentration (up to 4 mM) and occurred regardless of the TMAO presence. We postulate that two consecutive reactions involve an intermediate ferrylmyoglobin (promoted by H2O2) species with a subsequent MbFe(II)-S formation since the presence of catalase fosters the reduction of the rate reaction. Moreover, GR occurred even with blocked Cys-10 residues in tuna Mb and horse Mb (without Cys in its sequence). Discussion We found that GR is not exclusive to tuna Mb´s, and it can be promoted in other muscle systems. Moreover, Cys and thermal treatment are indispensable for promoting this pigmentation anomaly