Greater Degree In Response Research Articles

Paging Dr. JARVIS! Will people accept advice from artificial intelligence for consequential risk management decisions?

Artificial intelligence (AI), a branch of computer science based upon algorithms that can analyze data and make decisions autonomously, is becoming increasingly prevalent in the technology that powers modern society. Relatively little research has examined how humans modify their judgments in response to their interactions with AI. Our research explores how people respond to different types of risk management advice received from AI vs. a human expert in two contexts where AI is commonly deployed: medicine and finance. Through online studies with representative samples of Americans, we first find that participants generally prefer to receive medical and financial risk management advice from humans over AI. In two follow-up studies, we presented participants with a hypothetical medical or financial risk and asked them to make an initial decision—to address the risk immediately or to wait for more information—and to rate their confidence in this decision. Next, participants were informed that either a human expert or AI had analyzed their case and recommended either immediate risk management action or a wait-and-see approach. Participant then made a final decision using the same response scale as before. We compared participants’ initial and final decisions, examining the extent to which participants updated their decisions upon receiving their recommendation as a function of the recommendation itself and its source. We find that participants updated their decisions to a greater degree in response to recommendations from human experts as compared to AI, but the magnitude of this effect differed by context. Supplemental data for this article is available online at https://doi.org/10.1080/13669877.2021.1958047 .

Correlation Between Rostral Dorsomedial Prefrontal Cortex Activation by Trauma-Related Words and Subsequent Response to CBT for PTSD.

Trauma-focused cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) is an important component of evidence-based treatment for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), but the efficacy of treatment varies from individual to individual. It is hypothesized that some of this variability is derived from interindividual differences in the brain's intrinsic response to trauma-related stimuli and in activity of executive functional regions. The authors sought to characterize these differences using functional MRI (fMRI) in patients about to undergo CBT for PTSD. Blood-oxygenation-level-dependent signal was measured in 12 individuals with PTSD related to sexual and/or physical trauma while they read words with positive, neutral, and negative content. Some negative words had PTSD-related themes, while others did not. It was hypothesized that PTSD-related words would evoke emotional processes likely to be engaged by the CBT process and would be most likely to activate brain circuitry important for CBT success. A group-level analysis showed that the rostral dorsomedial prefrontal cortex (rdmPFC) was activated to a greater degree in response to PTSD-related words compared with other word types. This activation was strongest among patients with the best CBT responses, particularly in the latter part of the task, when differences between individuals were most pronounced. The rdmPFC activation observed in this study may reflect the engagement of neural processes involved in introspection and self-reflection. CBT may be more effective for individuals with a greater ability to engage these processes.

Influence of Sex on Platelet Reactivity in Response to Aspirin.

BackgroundThere are sex differences in the efficacy and safety of aspirin for the prevention of myocardial infarction and stroke. Whether this is explained by underlying differences in platelet reactivity and aspirin response remains poorly understood.Methods and ResultsHealthy volunteers (n=378 208 women) and patients with coronary artery disease or coronary artery disease risk factors (n=217 112 women) took aspirin for 4 weeks. Light transmittance aggregometry using platelet‐rich plasma was used to measure platelet reactivity in response to epinephrine, collagen, and ADP at baseline, 3 hours after the first aspirin dose, and after 4 weeks of daily aspirin therapy. A subset of patients underwent pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic assessment with levels of salicylate and cyclooxygenase‐1–derived prostaglandin metabolites and light transmittance aggregometry in response to arachidonic acid and after ex vivo exposure to aspirin. At baseline, women had increased platelet aggregation in response to ADP and collagen. Innate platelet response to aspirin, assessed with ex vivo aspirin exposure of baseline platelets, did not differ by sex. Three hours after the first oral aspirin dose, platelet aggregation was inhibited in women to a greater degree in response to epinephrine and to a lesser degree with collagen. After 4 weeks of daily therapy, despite higher salicylate concentrations and greater cyclooxygenase‐1 inhibition, women exhibited an attenuation of platelet inhibition in response to epinephrine and ADP.ConclusionsWe observed agonist‐dependent sex differences in platelet responses to aspirin. Despite higher cyclooxygenase‐1 inhibition, daily aspirin exposure resulted in a paradoxical attenuation of platelet inhibition in response to epinephrine and ADP over time in women but not in men.

Novel combination therapy with imiquimod and sorafenib for renal cell carcinoma

To investigate whether the combination of the imidazoquinoline immune response modifier, imiquimod, and the multitargeted tyrosine-kinase inhibitor, sorafenib, inhibits the growth of renal cell carcinoma in mice. Female BALB/c mice were implanted subcutaneously with 2 × 10(5) RENCA mouse kidney cancer cells, and were treated with transcutaneously applied cream containing imiquimod and oral administrations of sorafenib beginning 5 days after implantation of the cells. Tumor incidence and burden were determined at 28 days after initiation of therapy. T cell infiltration in the tumor was determined by immunofluorescence staining with anti-CD3-ε and CD8-α antibodies. Therapy with imiquimod, sorafenib or their combination was well tolerated. Combination therapy with imiquimod and sorafenib significantly inhibited tumor growth when compared with administration of control vehicle, imiquimod or sorafenib alone (P < 0.05). The CD3- and CD8-positive T cells infiltrated into tumors to a greater degree in response to the combination therapy when compared with tumors treated with control vehicle or sorafenib alone. Combination therapy with a tyrosine-kinase inhibitor and an imidazoquinoline could be a promising therapeutic strategy for patients with renal cell carcinoma.

Preparation of Phosphorus by Carbothermal Reduction Mechanism in Vacuum

The purpose of this work was to investigated the carbothermic reaction of fluorapatite process by the means of thermodynamics analyses, XRD and element analysis, respectively. Thermodynamic calculations indicated that phosphorus can be prepared by heating the mixture of Ca5(PO4)3F2 and C at 1173K under the system pressure of 100Pa. CO cannot react with Ca5(PO4)3F2 in the carbothermic reduction process at 973-1873K and 100Pa. Experimental results demonstrated that phosphorus can be produced by the reaction between Ca5(PO4)3F2 and C, the main reaction phase is P2(g), CO(g), CaO and CaF2, and with increasing temperature, the greater degree of response. The best technology conditions, the molar ratio of Ca5(PO4)3F2 to C is 1:7.5 at 1723K for 1h when the system pressure was about 100Pa. This study to provide experimental evidence for preparation of phosphorus by carbothermal reaction of fluorapatite in vacuum.

Life‐history traits, but not season, affect the febrile response to a lipopolysaccharide challenge in highveld mole‐rats

Fever is part of an acute phase response that organisms launch to defend themselves against an invasion by microbial pathogens such as bacteria and viruses. The elevation of an individual's body temperature necessary to achieve a fever is considered energetically costly, and variation in the expression of the febrile response has been reported with respect to season, sex and the reproductive status of an animal. The effects of these parameters on fever responses are well characterized for laboratory rodents, but comparable data from wild rodents are currently lacking. We evaluated the febrile response of wild highveld mole-rats Cryptomys hottentotus pretoriae to lipopolysaccharide (LPS) during winter and summer. This social rodent retains its breeding potential throughout the year and exhibits a reproductive division of labour. Highveld mole-rats increased their body temperature to a greater degree in response to a dose of 1 mg kg−1 LPS than to saline or handling alone. The fever response did not differ between seasons, while the stress-induced hyperthermia in response to handling was greater in summer compared with winter. In contrast, males and breeders exhibited larger changes in body temperature following LPS administration than females and non-breeders, respectively. These findings are in accordance with those reported for laboratory species and suggest that general principles govern the modulation of innate immune responses such as fever among small mammals.

Commodity price inflation, retail pass-through and market power

When commodity prices rise, wholesalers and retailers of products derived from basic commodities respond by passing along at least a portion of the price increase to consumers. In this paper we examine whether firms respond differently to positive commodity price shocks than to negative commodity price shocks; that is, whether commodity price volatility alters market power. We exploit recent volatility in food commodity prices over the period 2007–2010 to investigate how commodity price shocks translate into market power in two different vertically-structured food product industries: potatoes and fluid milk. For potatoes, we find both wholesale and retail market power decreases (increases) during periods of rising (falling) commodity prices. Moreover, price–cost margins widen a substantially greater degree in response to negative shocks than margins narrow in response to positive shocks, indicating that commodity price volatility increases market power. For fluid milk, we find that market power likewise declines during periods of rising commodity prices; however, market power does not significantly change during periods of falling commodity prices, suggesting that commodity price volatility decreases market power.

Ralstonia solanacearum Extracellular Polysaccharide Is a Specific Elicitor of Defense Responses in Wilt-Resistant Tomato Plants

Ralstonia solanacearum, which causes bacterial wilt of diverse plants, produces copious extracellular polysaccharide (EPS), a major virulence factor. The function of EPS in wilt disease is uncertain. Leading hypotheses are that EPS physically obstructs plant water transport, or that EPS cloaks the bacterium from host plant recognition and subsequent defense. Tomato plants infected with R. solanacearum race 3 biovar 2 strain UW551 and tropical strain GMI1000 upregulated genes in both the ethylene (ET) and salicylic acid (SA) defense signal transduction pathways. The horizontally wilt-resistant tomato line Hawaii7996 activated expression of these defense genes faster and to a greater degree in response to R. solanacearum infection than did susceptible cultivar Bonny Best. However, EPS played different roles in resistant and susceptible host responses to R. solanacearum. In susceptible plants the wild-type and eps− mutant strains induced generally similar defense responses. But in resistant Hawaii7996 tomato plants, the wild-type pathogens induced significantly greater defense responses than the eps− mutants, suggesting that the resistant host recognizes R. solanacearum EPS. Consistent with this idea, purified EPS triggered significant SA pathway defense gene expression in resistant, but not in susceptible, tomato plants. In addition, the eps− mutant triggered noticeably less production of defense-associated reactive oxygen species in resistant tomato stems and leaves, despite attaining similar cell densities in planta. Collectively, these data suggest that bacterial wilt-resistant plants can specifically recognize EPS from R. solanacearum.

Conscientiousness and reactions to psychological contract breach: A longitudinal field study.

The authors examined the role of employee conscientiousness as a moderator of the relationships between psychological contract breach and employee behavioral and attitudinal reactions to the breach. They collected data from 106 newly hired employees within the 1st month of employment (Time 1), 3 months later (Time 2), and 8 months after Time 1 (Time 3) to observe the progression through contract development, breach, and reaction. Results suggest that conscientiousness is a significant moderator for 4 of the 5 contract breach-employee reaction relationships examined (turnover intentions, organizational loyalty, job satisfaction, and 1 of 2 facets of job performance). Specifically, employees who were lower in conscientiousness had more negative reactions to perceived breach with respect to turnover intentions, organizational loyalty, and job satisfaction. In contrast, employees who were higher in conscientiousness reduced their job performance to a greater degree in response to contract breach. Future research directions are discussed.

Asymmetric rivalry between strategic groups: response, speed of response andex ante vs.ex post competitive interaction in the spanish bank deposit market

The objective of this study is to examine asymmetric rivalry between strategic groups in a given industry. Two research hypotheses argue for the existence of asymmetric rivalry in the sense that strategic groups of small companies have a greater degree of response but a slower speed of response to the actions of strategic groups of large companies, than vice versa. To test this, we use an ex post approach that examines the news releases published on the strategic actions and reactions of firms. A third hypothesis compares ex ante competitive expectations with ex post asymmetric rivalry between strategic groups. To test this, we compare ex post news on actions/reactions with an ex ante approach that estimates conjectural variations. The empirical application carried out on bank deposits in the Spanish market defines strategic groups in terms of size due to the historical and institutional conditions of the industry (deregulatory change). The results obtained show that rivalry patterns between strategic groups in terms of company size can be predicted as asymmetric in the sense that smaller bank strategic groups have a greater degree of response (Stackelberg ‘leader–follower’ competitive interaction), and a slower speed of response to the actions of larger bank strategic groups than is found the other way around. Moreover, ex ante expectations of aggressiveness on the part of larger strategic groups characterize greater ex post reactions from the smaller-size strategic groups. Therefore, the size distribution of strategic groups is valuable to research on complex industries with deregulation changes. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Enhanced calcium signaling to bradykinin in airway smooth muscle from hyperresponsive inbred rats.

Inbred Fischer 344 rats display airway hyperresponsiveness (AHR) in vivo compared with the normoresponsive Lewis strain. Fischer AHR has been linked with increased airway smooth muscle (ASM) contraction ex vivo and enhanced ASM cell intracellular Ca(2+) mobilization in response to serotonin compared with Lewis. To determine the generality of this association, we tested whether bradykinin (BK) also stimulates greater contraction of Fischer airways and greater Ca(2+) mobilization in Fischer ASM cells. Explants of Fischer intraparenchymal airways constricted faster and to a greater degree in response to BK than Lewis airways. BK also evoked higher Ca(2+) transients in Fischer than in Lewis ASM cells. ASM cell B(2) receptor expression was similar between the two strains. BK activated both phosphatidylinositide-specific phospholipase C (PI-PLC) and phosphatidylcholine-specific PLC to mobilize Ca(2+) in Fischer and Lewis ASM cells. PI-PLC activity, as measured by inositol polyphosphate accumulation, was similar in the two strains. PKC inhibition with GF109203X, Go6973, or Go6983 attenuated BK-mediated Ca(2+) transients in Fischer cells, whereas GF109203X potentiated while Go6976 and Go6983 did not affect Ca(2+) transients in Lewis cells. Enhanced Ca(2+) mobilization in ASM cells can arise from variations in PKC and may be an important component of nonspecific, innate AHR.

Mechanical properties of obstructed colon in a Hirschsprung's model

Hirschsprung's disease, induced by aganglionosis of the distal intestinal tract, results in significant morbidity in affected children. This study uses a murine model of congenital aganglionosis in the distal colon to determine the effects of this type of obstruction on the proximal colon. In lethal spotted mice (Ls/Ls) there is a greater increase in the thickness of circular muscle (in the obstructed colon immediately proximal to the aganglionic region) than longitudinal muscle compared with controls. The active forces generated in vitro, as determined by length-tension curves of the circular muscle, are larger than in control littermates, and isolated muscle cells from the area proximal to the obstruction are larger and shorten to a significantly greater degree in response to acetylcholine. These data are consistent with increased muscle mass subsequent to hypertrophy, although simultaneously occurring hyperplasia cannot be excluded. However, the increased forces that developed are not entirely explained by increased muscle mass. When forces are normalized per crosssectional unit of circular muscle present in the obstructed rings, stress is considerably higher in the rings proximal to the obstruction than in matched rings from obstruction-free littermates. Pressure-diameter relationships calculated from in vitro data show that the Ls/Ls colon is capable of exerting higher intraluminal pressures than the control colon. The increases in circular muscle thickness, forces, and stress are similar to those observed in other models of obstruction. The increased pressurediameter relationships observed in the colon are unlike an experimental model of obstruction in the ureter and may reflect longstanding obstruction or a difference in response of colonic muscle to obstruction. It is possible that these mechanical changes may affect the course of Hirschsprung's disease.

Effects of a Fructose-Enriched Diet on Plasma Insulin and Triglyceride Concentration in SHR and WKY Rats

Significant increases (P less than 0.001) in plasma insulin and triglyceride concentrations and in blood pressure were seen when SHR and WKY rats ate a fructose-enriched diet for 14 days. However, all of the changes were significantly accentuated (P less than 0.02-0.001) in SHR rats. Specifically the increment in plasma insulin concentration following the fructose-enriched diet was 42 +/- 4 microU/ml in SHR as compared to 25 +/- 4 microU/ml in WKY rats (P less than 0.001). Plasma triglyceride concentrations also increased to a greater degree in response to fructose in SHR rats (260 +/- 24 vs. 136 +/- 20 mg/dl, P less than 0.001). Finally, the fructose-induced increase in blood pressure of 29 +/- 4 mm of Hg in SHR rats was greater (P less than 0.02) than that seen in WKY rats (19 +/- 2 mm of Hg). There was no change in plasma glucose concentration in response to the fructose diet. WKY rats gained more weight than did the SHR rats. Thus, although plasma triglyceride and insulin concentration and blood pressure increased when either WKY or SHR rats consumed a fructose enriched diet, the magnitude of these changes was greater in SHR rats.

The influence of fresh gas flow and inspiratory/expiratory ratio on tidal volume and arterial CO 2 tension in mechanically ventilated surgical patients

The relative importance of fresh gas flow and inspiretory/expiratory ratio in determining delivered tidal volume and PaCO 2 was studied in anesthetized adult patients ventilated with a fixed ventilator bellows volume. The fresh gas flows studied were 2, 6, and 10 L/min, and inspiratory/expiratory ratio was either 1:2 or 1:4.5. Bellows volume and respiratory rate were held constant throughout the study. At the lowest fresh gas flow and smallest inspiratory/expiratory ratio, PaCO 2 was 43 ± 2 mm Hg. The PaCO 2 decreased progressively and significantly with each increase in fresh gas flow during ventilation with either inspiratory/expiratory ratio setting. PaCO 2 averaged 30 ± 3 during ventilation with the highest fresh gas flow and largest inspiratory/expiratory ratio. As fresh gas flow increased, PaCO 2 and tidal volume changed to a significantly greater degree in response to changes in inspiratory/expiratory ratio. These data demonstrate that altering either fresh gas flow or inspiratory/expiratory ratio can produce clinically significant perturbations in PaCO 2 and tidal volume during anesthesia. These perturbations occur even if bellows volume is held constant. Furthermore, changes in inspiratory/expiratory ratio will affect these parameters to a greater degree as fresh gas flow is increased.

A comparative and regional study of potassium induced relaxation of vascular smooth muscle

The current study was undertaken to assess species and regional variations in the relaxation of vascular smooth muscle in response to potassium and in the ouabain sensitivity of this relaxation. The effect of species variation was investigated through the use of tail arteries from rats, dogs, cats, monkeys, and pigs; the effect of regional variation was studied in tail, middle cerebral, femoral, and posterior coronary arteries from baboons. Helical strips from all of these vessels were made to contract with norepinephrine or serotonin in a potassium-free solution. The vessels relaxed when potassium was added back to the solution. Strips of tail artery from rats, dogs, and monkeys showed greater relaxation in response to potassium than did strips from pigs and cats. Helical strips from tail, cerebral, and coronary arteries of the baboon relaxed to a greater degree in response to potassium than did strips from the femoral artery. Ouabain produced a concentration-dependent decrease in the magnitude of potassium relaxation in all vessel types. Half-maximal inhibition occurred at approximately 10−8 to 10−7 M in all arterial strips except those obtained from rat tail artery (5×10−5 M). The inhibition of potassium relaxation by ouabain was fully reversed by 30 min exposure to a ouabain-free solution in only the rat tail artery strips. A component of potassium-induced relaxation in tail artery strips from monkeys and baboons was not inhibited by ouabain. The results show that the magnitude of response, potassium and ouabain sensitivity, and recovery from ouabain treatment of potassium relaxation are species related. The regional bed from which the vascular smooth muscle is derived also determines the magnitude and potassium sensitivity of the relaxation. These parameters of potassium-dependent relaxation may reflect corresponding differences in the electrogenic pumping of sodium and potassium among various animal species and various regional vascular beds.