The Benefit of Gratitude: Trait Gratitude Is Associated With Effective Economic Decision-Making in the Ultimatum Game

The current research investigated the role of gratitude in economic decisions about offers that vary in fairness yet benefit both parties if accepted. Participants completed a trait/dispositional gratitude measure and then were randomly assigned to recall either an event that made them feel grateful (i.e., induced gratitude condition) or the events of a typical day (i.e., neutral condition). After the gratitude induction task, participants played the ultimatum game (UG), deciding whether to accept or reject fair offers (i.e., proposer: responder ratio $5:5) and unfair offers (i.e., proposer: responder ratios of$9:1, $8:2, or$7:3) from different proposers. Results showed that trait gratitude was positively correlated with respondents’ acceptance of unfair offers. However, experimentally induced momentary gratitude did not influence acceptance of unfair offers. The trait or disposition to be grateful involves the enduring capacity across different types of situations and benefactors to see the good that is present, even when that benefit is small. Accordingly, dispositional gratitude – but not momentarily induced gratitude – was associated with a greater propensity to accept even the small benefits within unfair offers which otherwise pose barriers to making the effective economic decision of accepting offers regardless of their relative size

A many-analysts approach to the relation between religiosity and well-being

The relation between religiosity and well-being is one of the most researched topics in the psychology of religion, yet the directionality and robustness of the effect remains debated. Here, we adopted a many-analysts approach to assess the robustness of this relation based on a new cross-cultural dataset (N=10,535 participants from 24 countries). We recruited 120 analysis teams to investigate (1) whether religious people self-report higher well-being, and (2) whether the relation between religiosity and self-reported well-being depends on perceived cultural norms of religion (i.e., whether it is considered normal and desirable to be religious in a given country). In a two-stage procedure, the teams first created an analysis plan and then executed their planned analysis on the data. For the first research question, all but 3 teams reported positive effect sizes with credible/confidence intervals excluding zero (median reported β=0.120). For the second research question, this was the case for 65% of the teams (median reported β=0.039). While most teams applied (multilevel) linear regression models, there was considerable variability in the choice of items used to construct the independent variables, the dependent variable, and the included covariates

A Many-analysts Approach to the Relation Between Religiosity and Well-being

The relation between religiosity and well-being is one of the most researched topics in the psychology of religion, yet the directionality and robustness of the effect remains debated. Here, we adopted a many-analysts approach to assess the robustness of this relation based on a new cross-cultural dataset (N = 10, 535 participants from 24 countries). We recruited 120 analysis teams to investigate (1) whether religious people self-report higher well-being, and (2) whether the relation between religiosity and self-reported well-being depends on perceived cultural norms of religion (i.e., whether it is considered normal and desirable to be religious in a given country). In a two-stage procedure, the teams first created an analysis plan and then executed their planned analysis on the data. For the first research question, all but 3 teams reported positive effect sizes with credible/confidence intervals excluding zero (median reported β = 0.120). For the second research question, this was the case for 65% of the teams (median reported β = 0.039). While most teams applied (multilevel) linear regression models, there was considerable variability in the choice of items used to construct the independent variables, the dependent variable, and the included covariates

Near vertical incidence skywave: interaction of antenna and propagation mechanism

In areas where no telecommunication infrastructure exists, or when that infrastructure is destroyed by a natural disaster, Near Vertical Incidence Skywave (NVIS) radio wave propagation may provide a lifeline to the outside world. In NVIS propagation, radio waves are transmitted straight up; the ionosphere (at 80 and 350 km altitude) bends these waves back towards the earth. Typical frequencies are between 3 and 10 MHz. Due to the great reflection height a large continuous area around the transmitter, exceeding 400 x 400 km, will be covered. As the downward waves arrive at steep angles, large objects such as buildings and mountain ridges cannot block the NVIS radio path. \ud In this Thesis the interface between antenna and propagation mechanism is investigated, as well as the propagation mechanism itself. Emphasis is on empirical verification of antenna performance and propagation phenomena, and several novel measurement methods are introduced for this purpose. It is shown that elevation angles, polarization, fading and noise are important parameters in NVIS telecommunication system optimization. Characteristic wave propagation in NVIS has been demonstrated by measurement, showing nearly perfectly circular polarization of downward waves and high isolation (>25 dB) between both characteristic waves. Using this phenomenon for diversity reception, a reduction of 8 to 11 dB of the necessary link budget is demonstrated.\ud It is shown that NVIS transmit and receive antenna optimizations require a different approach, and have different optima. Optimum transmit antenna height of a horizontal dipole used as transmit antenna ranges from 0.18 to 0.22 λ for most soil types. For a receive antenna this is around 0.16 λ, but that optimum is less pronounced. \ud Significant interaction between the NVIS antenna and the NVIS propagation mechanism is shown, and optimization considering antenna and propagation as a hybrid system is likely to yield better results than isolated optimization of the antenna alone.\ud The measurements are performed in The Netherlands (52°N, 6°E), and are considered representative for mid-latitudes in the Northern hemisphere

Accountability as a virtue in medicine: from theory to practice

Accountability is a norm basic to several aspects of medical practice. We explore here the benefits of a more explicit focus on the virtue of accountability, which as distinct from the state of being held accountable, entails both welcoming responsibility to others and welcoming input from others. Practicing accountably can limit moral distress caused by institutional pressures on the doctor patient relationship. Fostering a mindset that is welcoming rather than resistant to feedback is critical to enhancing a culture of learning. Analysis of failures of accountable practice offers opportunities for improving the delivery of clinical care

Interrogating the ccm-3 Gene Network

Summary: Cerebral cavernous malformations (CCMs) are neurovascular lesions caused by mutations in one of three genes (CCM1–3). Loss of CCM3 causes the poorest prognosis, and little is known about how it regulates vascular integrity. The C. elegans ccm-3 gene regulates the development of biological tubes that resemble mammalian vasculature, and in a genome-wide reverse genetic screen, we identified more than 500 possible CCM-3 pathway genes. With a phenolog-like approach, we generated a human CCM signaling network and identified 29 genes in common, of which 14 are required for excretory canal extension and membrane integrity, similar to ccm-3. Notably, depletion of the MO25 ortholog mop-25.2 causes severe defects in tube integrity by preventing CCM-3 localization to apical membranes. Furthermore, loss of MO25 phenocopies CCM3 ablation by causing stress fiber formation in endothelial cells. This work deepens our understanding of how CCM3 regulates vascular integrity and may help identify therapeutic targets for treating CCM3 patients. : Lant et al. use C. elegans genetics to better understand the human disease cerebral cavernous malformation (CCM). Through a whole-genome screen, and bioinformatics, they uncover a set of conserved genes that exhibit ccm-3 phenotypes. These targets may be able to inform therapeutic studies. Keywords: biological tubes, cerebral cavernous malformation, CCM3, C. elegans, endothelial cells, whole-genome screen, phenologs, bioinformatic

Oxytocin indexes relational distress following interpersonal harms in women

The hypothalamic neuropeptide oxytocin, known for its involvement in social affiliation and bonding in animals, has recently been associated with a host of prosocial behaviors that are beneficial for maintaining positive social relationships in humans. Paradoxically, however, people with high endogenous levels of oxytocin also tend to report relational distress and interpersonal difficulties in their everyday lives. To address these contradictory findings, oxytocin reactivity was measured in response to a well-defined laboratory task in young adult women following recent interpersonal harms. Elevated mean peripheral oxytocin reactivity (but not baseline levels of oxytocin or cortisol reactivity) was associated with increased post-conflict anxiety and decreased levels of forgiveness. These results corroborate previous research implicating oxytocin as a neuroendocrine marker of relational distress, but not general stress, and demonstrate the utility of studying oxytocin in response to naturally occurring relational events