Moral Principles and Political Ideology: Exploring the Mediating Role of Abstract Value Endorsements

Much research has examined the association between political ideology and endorsement of distinct moral principles (e.g. Goren, 2005; Haidt & Graham, 2007; Haidt & Joseph, 2004). The associations that have typically been observed show that political liberals tend to endorse moral principles that place the individual at the center of concern, resulting in judgments of right and wrong based on caring for individuals and promoting fairness (individualizing foundations); while political conservatives tend to endorse moral principles that include the group as an equally worthy recipient of concern and priority (binding foundations), resulting in moral judgments based on maintaining and preserving important traditions, hierarchies, and social systems as well as caring for individuals and promoting fairness (Moral Foundations Theory, Haidt & Graham, 2007; Haidt & Joseph, 2004). However, research has also shown that endorsement of certain moral principles could be a result of adhering to specific political ideologies (i.e. liberalism versus conservatism) (Goren, 2005; Jost, Federico, & Napier, 2009). In addition, research has also shown that endorsement of abstract values, or overarching principles that guide our behavior, our judgment of others’ behavior, and assist us in explaining our choices, actions, beliefs, and intentions (e.g. universalism, egalitarianism, traditionalism, Schwartz, 1992), are associated with both political ideology and with endorsement of moral principles (Sverdlik, Roccas, & Sagiv, 2012). The main goals of the current research were to 1) provide an experimental test of the causal link from endorsement of moral foundations to endorsement of specific political ideology predicted by moral foundations theory researchers and to provide an experimental test of the causal direction of endorsement of specific political ideology to endorsement of specific moral foundations predicted by some political science researchers, and 2) propose a role for abstract value endorsements as a mediator between both the morals-to-ideology link and the ideology-to- morals link. In order to accomplish these goals, I conducted two studies that each examined one direction of the causal link between political ideology and endorsement of moral principles. Study 1 manipulated endorsement of moral foundations (increase individualizing foundations versus increase binding foundations conditions) through a writing task and measured responses to questions assessing abstract value endorsement and political ideology. Study 2 manipulated endorsement of political ideology (increase conservatism versus decrease conservatism conditions), also through a writing task, and measured responses to abstract values and moral foundations questions. For Study 1, I expected that those in the increase individualizing foundations condition would report more liberal leaning political ideology and that those in the increase binding foundations conditions would report more conservative political ideology. However, these associations would be mediated by endorsement of certain abstract values associated with the primed moral foundations. For Study 2, I expected that those in the increase conservatism condition would report greater endorsement of binding foundations and that those in the decrease conservatism condition would report greater endorsement of individualizing foundations. Again, these associations would be mediated by endorsement of specific abstract values associated with the primed political ideology. The results of Study 1 were inconclusive at best. Manipulating one’s moral foundation endorsement had no effect on their political ideology or their endorsement of specific abstract values within the context of this study. The current research showed that it is difficult to manipulate people’s locus of moral concern, which in turn makes it difficult to predict how those concerns will relate to their political ideology. The Study 2 data revealed that a relationship does exist between political ideology and moral principle endorsement and that this relationship was at least partially explained by the values that one endorsed. While the Study 1 was unsuccessful at manipulating moral foundation endorsement, it did shed some light on areas for future research to further address the methodological shortcomings. By taking into account the presented suggestions for future research, it may be possible to more clearly identify the causal role that moral concerns may have on one’s political ideology. And even though the results of Study 2 are not completely conclusive, they get us on the right track to further discovering the complex relationship between ideology, morality, and values

Cortical plasticity as a new endpoint measurement for chronic pain

Animal models of chronic pain are widely used to investigate basic mechanisms of chronic pain and to evaluate potential novel drugs for treating chronic pain. Among the different criteria used to measure chronic pain, behavioral responses are commonly used as the end point measurements. However, not all chronic pain conditions can be easily measured by behavioral responses such as the headache, phantom pain and pain related to spinal cord injury. Here I propose that cortical indexes, that indicate neuronal plastic changes in pain-related cortical areas, can be used as endpoint measurements for chronic pain. Such cortical indexes are not only useful for those chronic pain conditions where a suitable animal model is lacking, but also serve as additional screening methods for potential drugs to treat chronic pain in humans. These cortical indexes are activity-dependent immediate early genes, electrophysiological identified plastic changes and biochemical assays of signaling proteins. It can be used to evaluate novel analgesic compounds that may act at peripheral or spinal sites. I hope that these new cortical endpoint measurements will facilitate our search for new, and more effective, pain medicines, and help to reduce false lead drug targets

Activating Volunteers for Statewide COVID-19 Pandemic Response

Extension is known for facilitating local networks and having the capacity to organize and mobilize volunteers. These assets, critically important in crises and emergency situations, were drawn on to support Tennessee\u27s response to health care worker and community needs early in the coronavirus pandemic. Using local networks, we rapidly activated a statewide volunteer workforce to address potential shortages of cloth face masks before federal agencies recommended their widespread public use. We share social media communication strategies and a timeline of key events and acknowledge challenges we encountered in moving forward in an environment of inconsistent and evolving guidelines. Our actions may be applicable to addressing ongoing community needs as the pandemic persists and new circumstances arise

The Chemical Composition of Cattle Hair. I, The Fat, Ash and Nitrogen Content

Author Institution: Ohio Agricultural Experiment Station, Wooste

Trapezoidal Wing Experimental Repeatability and Velocity Profiles in the 14- by 22-Foot Subsonic Tunnel

The AIAA Applied Aerodynamics Technical Committee sponsored a High Lift Prediction Workshop held in June 2010. For this first workshop, data from the Trapezoidal Wing experiments were used for comparison to CFD. This paper presents long-term and short-term force and moment repeatability analyses for the Trapezoidal Wing model tested in the NASA Langley 14- by 22-Foot Subsonic Tunnel. This configuration was chosen for its simplified high-lift geometry, publicly available set of test data, and previous CFD experience with this configuration. The Trapezoidal Wing is a three-element semi-span swept wing attached to a body pod. These analyses focus on configuration 1 tested in 1998 (Test 478), 2002 (Test 506), and 2003 (Test 513). This paper also presents model velocity profiles obtained on the main element and on the flap during the 1998 test. These velocity profiles are primarily at an angle of attack of 28 degrees and semi-span station of 83% and show confluent boundary layers and wakes

A study of the vortex flow over 76/40-deg double-delta wing

A low-speed wind-tunnel study of the flow about a 76/40-deg double-delta wing is described for angles of attack ranging from -10 to 25 deg and Reynolds numbers ranging from 0.5 to 1.5 Million. The study was conducted to provide data for the purpose of understanding the vortical flow behavior and for validating Computational Fluid Dynamics methods. Flow visualization tests have provided insight into the effect of the angle of attack and Reynolds number of the vortex-dominated flow both on and off of the surface of the double-delta wing. Upper surface pressure recordings from pressure orifices and Pressure Sensitive Paint have provided data on the pressures induced by the vortices. Flowfield surveys were carried out at an angle of attack of 10 deg by using a thin 5-hole probe. Numerical solutions of the compressible thin-layer Navier-Stokes equations were conducted and compared to the experimental data

Optical Frequency Comb Generation based on Erbium Fiber Lasers

Citation: Droste, S., Ycas, G., Washburn, B. R., Coddington, I., & Newbury, N. R. (2016). Optical Frequency Comb Generation based on Erbium Fiber Lasers. Nanophotonics, 5(2), 196-213. doi:10.1515/nanoph-2016-0019Optical frequency combs have revolutionized optical frequency metrology and are being actively investigated in a number of applications outside of pure optical frequency metrology. For reasons of cost, robustness, performance, and flexibility, the erbium fiber laser frequency comb has emerged as the most commonly used frequency comb system and many different designs of erbium fiber frequency combs have been demonstrated. We review the different approaches taken in the design of erbium fiber frequency combs, including the major building blocks of the underlying mode-locked laser, amplifier, supercontinuum generation and actuators for stabilization of the frequency comb

Kolmogorov Similarity Hypotheses for Scalar Fields: Sampling Intermittent Turbulent Mixing in the Ocean and Galaxy

Kolmogorov's three universal similarity hypotheses are extrapolated to describe scalar fields like temperature mixed by turbulence. By the analogous Kolmogorov third hypothesis for scalars, temperature dissipation rates chi averaged over lengths r > L_K should be lognormally distributed with intermittency factors I that increase with increasing turbulence energy length scales L_O as I_chi-r = m_T ln(L_O/r). Tests of Kolmogorovian velocity and scalar universal similarity hypotheses for very large ranges of turbulence length and time scales are provided by data from the ocean and the Galactic interstellar medium. The universal constant for turbulent mixing intermittency m_T is estimated from oceanic data to be 0.44+-0.01, which is remarkably close to estimates for Kolmogorov's turbulence intermittency constant m_u of 0.45+-0.05 from Galactic as well as atmospheric data. Extreme intermittency complicates the oceanic sampling problem, and may lead to quantitative and qualitative undersampling errors in estimates of mean oceanic dissipation rates and fluxes. Intermittency of turbulence and mixing in the interstellar medium may be a factor in the formation of stars.Comment: 23 pages original of Proc. Roy. Soc. article, 8 figures; in "Turbulence and Stochastic Processes: Kolmogorov's ideas 50 years on", London The Royal Society, 1991, J.C.R. Hunt, O.M. Phillips, D. Williams Eds., pages 1-240, vol. 434 (no. 1890) Proc. Roy. Soc. Lond. A, PDF fil

The Hyaluronan Receptor for Endocytosis (HARE) Activates NF-κB-mediated Gene Expression in Response to 40–400-kDa, but Not Smaller or Larger, Hyaluronans

Background: HARE mediates systemic clearance of hyaluronan (HA), which turns over continuously in tissues. Results: HARE uptake of 40–400-kDa, but not larger or smaller, HA stimulated NF-κB activation. Conclusion: HA-HARE signal complexes activate NF-κB and gene transcription only with optimally sized HA. Significance: HARE responsiveness to a narrow size range ofHAdegradation products may be a sensing system to detect tissue ECM stress

The Hyaluronan Receptor for Endocytosis (HARE) Activates NF-κB-mediated Gene Expression in Response to 40–400-kDa, but Not Smaller or Larger, Hyaluronans

Background: HARE mediates systemic clearance of hyaluronan (HA), which turns over continuously in tissues. Results: HARE uptake of 40–400-kDa, but not larger or smaller, HA stimulated NF-κB activation. Conclusion: HA-HARE signal complexes activate NF-κB and gene transcription only with optimally sized HA. Significance: HARE responsiveness to a narrow size range ofHAdegradation products may be a sensing system to detect tissue ECM stress