Individual differences in gelotophobia predict responses to joy and contempt

In a paradigm facilitating smile misattribution, facial responses and ratings to contempt and joy were investigated in individuals with or without gelotophobia (fear of being laughed at). Participants from two independent samples (N1 = 83, N2 = 50) rated the intensity of eight emotions in 16 photos depicting joy, contempt, and different smiles. Facial responses were coded by the Facial Action Coding System in the second study. Compared with non-fearful individuals, gelotophobes rated joy smiles as less joyful and more contemptuous. Moreover, gelotophobes showed less facial joy and more contempt markers. The contempt ratings were comparable between the two groups. Looking at the photos of smiles lifted the positive mood of non-gelotophobes, whereas gelotophobes did not experience an increase. We hypothesize that the interpretation bias of “joyful faces hiding evil minds” (i.e., being also contemptuous) and exhibiting less joy facially may complicate social interactions for gelotophobes and serve as a maintaining factor of gelotophobia.The research leading to these results has received funding from a research grant from the Swiss National Science Foundation (SNSF; 100014_126967-1

Tracking visual engagement in mixed reality : a framework for analysing interaction with digital models

Due to technological advances, affordable mixed reality devices, including both virtualreality and augmented reality, are beginning to be used to support participatory planning to better inform stakeholders of design interventions. Stakeholder participation and perception studies often utilize both qualitative interviews and quantitative techniques to gauge how a model can effectively communicate design intentions. In this paper, we examine how mixed reality enables new methods of investigating how users interact with digital models, enhancing existing techniques. We introduce a non-invasive perspective tracking system, to track how a participant explores a 3D model of a landscape intervention through the perspective of their mixed reality device. Our software provides a supplementary technique to better analyse user interaction patterns with digital models, allowing a data-driven approach to support participation studies and enable novel analytical approaches. We introduce the concept of naturally salient perspectives and show that tracking how a user frames a model during free exploration can provide new quantitative insights to support traditional qualitative participation methods

Finding the difference : measuring spatial perception of planning phases of high-rise urban developments in virtual reality

Planning is a process in which the contents of planning is gradually refined. However, research in planning communication and perception is often conducted using contrasting scenarios, e.g. by comparing a with/without case. It is not surprising that drastic differences in planning content and representation result in significant differences in perception. Instead, and as a reflection of sequential and gradually evolving projects in planning practice, we are focusing on two planning phases with only subtle differences (2015 and 2018) for a new high-rise development district in Guangzhou. We introduce 3D gaze-tracking and spatial perception experiments to investigate how participants respond to virtual representations of the two planning phases. The results provide implications for planning and design practice and suggest more substantial roles for the general public in participatory planning processes

Antagonists of retinoic acid receptors (RARs) are potent growth inhibitors of prostate carcinoma cells

Novel synthetic antagonists of retinoic acid receptors (RARs) have been developed. To avoid interference by serum retinoids when testing these compounds, we established serum-free grown sub-lines (>3 years) of the prostate carcinoma lines LNCaP, PC3 and DU145. A high affinity pan-RAR antagonist (AGN194310, Kd for binding to RARs = 2–5 nM) inhibited colony formation (by 50%) by all three lines at 16–34 nM, and led to a transient accumulation of flask-cultured cells in G1 followed by apoptosis. AGN194310 is 12–22 fold more potent than all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA) against cell lines and also more potent in inhibiting the growth of primary prostate carcinoma cells. PC3 and DU145 cells do not express RARβ, and an antagonist with predominant activity at RARβ and RARγ (AGN194431) inhibited colony formation at concentrations (∼100 nM) commensurate with a Kd value of 70 nM at RARγ. An RARα antagonist (AGN194301) was less potent (IC50 ∼200 nM), but was more active than specific agonists of RARα and of βγ. A component(s) of serum and of LNCaP-conditioned medium diminishes the activity of antagonists: this factor is not the most likely candidates IGF-1 and EGF. In vitro studies of RAR antagonists together with data from RAR-null mice lead to the hypothesis that RARγ-regulated gene transcription is necessary for the survival and maintenance of prostate epithelium. The increased potencies of RAR antagonists, as compared with agonists, suggest that antagonists may be useful in the treatment of prostate carcinoma. © 2001 Cancer Research Campaign http://www.bjcancer.co

Ethical Matrix Manual

The ethical matrix is a conceptual tool designed to help decision-makers (as individuals or working in groups) reach sound judgements or decisions about the ethical acceptability and/or optimal regulatory controls for existing or prospective technologies in the field of food and agriculture

'Redlands for Regions': Producer demonstration sites of psyllid-resistant leucaena across north Queensland

Leucaena, a tree legume with potential to greatly improve cattle performance, has not been readily adopted in northern Queensland primarily due to prevalence of the psyllid (Heteropsylla cubana) insect in higher rainfall zones. Psyllids reduce edible biomass in leaves by 40–52%, combined with a 46–83% reduction of stem yield (Bray and Woodroffe 1991). Losses to the Central Queensland beef industry due to psyllid impact on animal performance are estimated at $2 M per year (Mullen et al. 1998). Cultivar Redlands is a psyllid-resistant leucaena variety recently developed by Meat and Livestock Australia (MLA) and the University of Queensland

Financial Doping in the English Premier League

Whilst the relationship between money and success in elite sport is acknowledged, the exact nature, extent and implications of this relationship is one that has not been carefully examined. In this paper we have three main aims. Firstly, to provide empirical evidence of the extent that money buys success in the English Premier League. Secondly, to evaluate this evidence from a sports ethics perspective, and, finally, to discuss potential solutions to the problem. We argue that the evident performance advantage teams gain through financial investments is contrary to the spirit of sport as it undermines athletic excellence and the ‘sweet tension of uncertainty of outcome’ that is central to good competition. Consequently, financial investments in elite football ought to be regulated and controlled. We argue, however, that current attempts to do so (via Financial Fair Play Regulations) are inadequate as they focus on issues concerning financial health, rather than the health of the game in terms of spirit and fairness

Detection of structural mosaicism from targeted and whole-genome sequencing data.

Structural mosaic abnormalities are large post-zygotic mutations present in a subset of cells and have been implicated in developmental disorders and cancer. Such mutations have been conventionally assessed in clinical diagnostics using cytogenetic or microarray testing. Modern disease studies rely heavily on exome sequencing, yet an adequate method for the detection of structural mosaicism using targeted sequencing data is lacking. Here, we present a method, called MrMosaic, to detect structural mosaic abnormalities using deviations in allele fraction and read coverage from next-generation sequencing data. Whole-exome sequencing (WES) and whole-genome sequencing (WGS) simulations were used to calculate detection performance across a range of mosaic event sizes, types, clonalities, and sequencing depths. The tool was applied to 4911 patients with undiagnosed developmental disorders, and 11 events among nine patients were detected. For eight of these 11 events, mosaicism was observed in saliva but not blood, suggesting that assaying blood alone would miss a large fraction, possibly >50%, of mosaic diagnostic chromosomal rearrangements

The formation of professional identity in medical students: considerations for educators

<b>Context</b> Medical education is about more than acquiring an appropriate level of knowledge and developing relevant skills. To practice medicine students need to develop a professional identity – ways of being and relating in professional contexts.<p></p> <b>Objectives</b> This article conceptualises the processes underlying the formation and maintenance of medical students’ professional identity drawing on concepts from social psychology.<p></p> <b>Implications</b> A multi-dimensional model of identity and identity formation, along with the concepts of identity capital and multiple identities, are presented. The implications for educators are discussed.<p></p> <b>Conclusions</b> Identity formation is mainly social and relational in nature. Educators, and the wider medical society, need to utilise and maximise the opportunities that exist in the various relational settings students experience. Education in its broadest sense is about the transformation of the self into new ways of thinking and relating. Helping students form, and successfully integrate their professional selves into their multiple identities, is a fundamental of medical education

Affect--or feeling (after Leys)

In recent years the ‘affective turn’ has permeated the arts, humanities, social sciences, and psychology, but like any influential academic movement has not escaped critique. We outline and agree in general terms with the critique by Leys (2011b), which emphasises the influence of the basic emotion paradigm; the dualisms that accompany its deployment; and concerns regarding intentionality and meaning. We then propose an alternate approach to affect and feeling, derived from the philosophies of Whitehead and Langer; demonstrate how this avoids the endorsement of cognitivism to which Leys critique succumbs; illustrate the strengths of this approach with respect to analyses of former U.S. President Reagan; and highlight two strengths of affect theory which are compatible with it. We conclude that our approach closes the intentionality gap that Leys identifies whilst retaining a fruitful emphasis upon the affective realm