Inconsistency In Responses Research Articles

Understanding inconsistencies in risk attitude elicitation games: Evidence from smallholder farmers in five African countries

Recent empirical studies eliciting farmers’ risk attitudes through lab-in-the-field experiments have reported high levels of inconsistency in responses. We investigate inconsistencies in risk attitudes elicitation games using data from incentivized lotteries involving 2,319 smallholder farmers from Eastern Africa (Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania) and Northern Africa (Tunisia, Morocco). Our sample demonstrates high levels of inconsistent behavior, with 48% of the farmers exhibiting some type of inconsistency. Depending on the country, inconsistencies are explained by poverty, gender, and/or the interaction of gender and level of education. We find no significant impact (negative or positive) of education alone in all but one country model. Furthermore, we find session fixed effects to significantly explain inconsistencies in many cases, suggesting that session-specific circumstances, including inconsistencies across enumerators, play a crucial role in the successful implementation of these experiments. Our findings suggest that using risk attitude parameters without accounting for the presence and the potential causes of inconsistency may lead to unreliable results. This study may guide practitioners in identifying farmer typologies more prone to inconsistent decisions and inform policymakers about factors influencing operators’ choices.

ANTIOXIDANT AND HISTOLOGIC RESPONSES OF ARTEMETHER-LUMEFANTRINE IN EXPERIMENTALLY COMPROMISED RATS’ TESTES

Aim: The current study assessed the response of MSG and ALon rats' testes histomorphology and homogenate antioxidant markers. Methodology: Thirty (30) male Wistar rats were allotted to six groups(sample size, n=5) by random sampling and exposed to MSG and AL daily and per oral for 7 days thus: Groups A, distilled water (1 mL Kg−1), B, therapeutic concentration of Artemether-lumefantrine, TAL, (1.14 mg Kg−1AL), C, high dose Artemether- lumefantrine, HAL (5.7 mg Kg−1AL), D, MSG (8000 mg Kg−1), E, TAL (1.14 mg Kg−1AL)+ MSG (8000 mg Kg−1) and F, HAL (5.7 mg Kg−1AL)+ MSG (8000 mg Kg−1). Alterations in the testes histology and antioxidant markers were assessed while data were tested for statistical significance by acceptable protocols. Results: MSG mono-therapy altered the rats’ testes anti-oxidation mechanism and histology by increasing (p<0.05) glutathione peroxidase (GPX), superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), malondialdehyde (MDA), albumin (ALB), total protein (TP), and magnesium (Mg),but decreasing (p<0.05) zinc (Zn) levels and degenerating spermatids within the seminiferous tubules compared to control, and other treatments (except CAT activity in MSG + HAL-fed group that increased (p<0.05) above that of MSG–fed rats). These responses following TAL and HAL mono-treatments were inconsistent compared to control and MSG mono-therapies. These underscore the proclivity of MSG + HAL co-therapy to up-regulate the apparent dysfunction in CAT metabolism, and the inconsistency in the apparent modulatory responses by AL against effects by MSG mono-therapy in the rats’ testes. Conclusion: AL caused inconsistent modulation of alterations in rats’ testes histology and antioxidant function markers due to MSG assault. The modulation may not be sustainable and the alterations may be instead being spiked warranting caution in co-feeding AL and MSGto rats. Peer Review History: Received 5 December 2023; Revised 28 January 2024; Accepted 29 February; Available online 15 March 2024 Academic Editor: Dr. Amany Mohamed Alboghdadly, Ibn Sina National College for Medical Studies in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, amanyalboghdadly@gmail.com Average Peer review marks at initial stage: 6.5/10 Average Peer review marks at publication stage: 8.0/10 Reviewers: Dr. Rima Benatoui, Applied Neuroendocrinology Laboratory, Faculty of Sciences, University of Annaba, Algeria. benattouiryma@gmail.com Dr. Tamer Elhabibi, Suez Canal University, Egypt, tamer_hassan@pharm.suez.edu.eg

Evaluating capabilities of large language models: Performance of GPT-4 on surgical knowledge assessments

BackgroundArtificial intelligence has the potential to dramatically alter health care by enhancing how we diagnose and treat disease. One promising artificial intelligence model is ChatGPT, a general-purpose large language model trained by OpenAI. ChatGPT has shown human-level performance on several professional and academic benchmarks. We sought to evaluate its performance on surgical knowledge questions and assess the stability of this performance on repeat queries. MethodsWe evaluated the performance of ChatGPT-4 on questions from the Surgical Council on Resident Education question bank and a second commonly used surgical knowledge assessment, referred to as Data-B. Questions were entered in 2 formats: open-ended and multiple-choice. ChatGPT outputs were assessed for accuracy and insights by surgeon evaluators. We categorized reasons for model errors and the stability of performance on repeat queries. ResultsA total of 167 Surgical Council on Resident Education and 112 Data-B questions were presented to the ChatGPT interface. ChatGPT correctly answered 71.3% and 67.9% of multiple choice and 47.9% and 66.1% of open-ended questions for Surgical Council on Resident Education and Data-B, respectively. For both open-ended and multiple-choice questions, approximately two-thirds of ChatGPT responses contained nonobvious insights. Common reasons for incorrect responses included inaccurate information in a complex question (n = 16, 36.4%), inaccurate information in a fact-based question (n = 11, 25.0%), and accurate information with circumstantial discrepancy (n = 6, 13.6%). Upon repeat query, the answer selected by ChatGPT varied for 36.4% of questions answered incorrectly on the first query; the response accuracy changed for 6/16 (37.5%) questions. ConclusionConsistent with findings in other academic and professional domains, we demonstrate near or above human-level performance of ChatGPT on surgical knowledge questions from 2 widely used question banks. ChatGPT performed better on multiple-choice than open-ended questions, prompting questions regarding its potential for clinical application. Unique to this study, we demonstrate inconsistency in ChatGPT responses on repeat queries. This finding warrants future consideration including efforts at training large language models to provide the safe and consistent responses required for clinical application. Despite near or above human-level performance on question banks and given these observations, it is unclear whether large language models such as ChatGPT are able to safely assist clinicians in providing care.

Fostering Students Collaborative Learning through Innovative Integrated Assessments in a Laboratory Setting

Educational experiences that are active, contextual, integrated, engaging, and student‐owned leads to deeper learning. In integrated medical curricula across the globe the impetus is on integration, collaboration and peer learning that involves students working in small groups to discuss concepts or find solutions to problems. Collaborative learning commonly occurs in the labs (anatomy, histology & pathology) where students learn /dissect/taught in teams. In spite of these learning experiences, the implicit objectives of a course are evident to students from the nature of its examinations. As assessment drives learning, can this type of learning be assessed in the labs?Presently, practical examinations are conducted in the lab are mainly discipline‐centered or even when integrated, knowledge is tested using pins and/or tags to indicate specific structures on dissections, prosection, radiological and bony landmarks. However, paucity of time & venues, reports of in‐consistency in marking free text responses, testing solely knowledge recall delayed or lack of feedback are some of the many drawbacks of the spotter examination.1 Hence addressing these issues through educational interventions is important for proper implementation of the integrated curriculum.In line with the best evidence based medical education (BEME),2 integrated team assessments in labs use the principles of constructive, collaborative and contextual approach that enable students in knowledge acquisition through assessments. It is a feasible and a novel method of testing the application of interdisciplinary knowledge using the available institutional resources (cadavers, radiological, pathological and histological images) within the lab setting using a modified TBL approach.3 It addresses (a) integration, (b) format of assessment (team & individual) (c) knowledge, application and analytical aspect of student learning and (d) feedback (immediate, self and peer feedback) (Fig 1). In addition, confronted with authentic cases around a cadaver exposes the students to a professionally relevant context and gives a simulated bed‐side environment as in wards.As we climb up the integration ladder, it is important as medical educators to make translational contribution by showing how educational evidence of constructivist learning theory can be brought into educational practice through assessments. It augments authenticity, motivation and lays foundation for collaborative learning for pre‐clinical medical students. Inuwa IM, Rawahy AM, Taranikanti V, Habbal O. (2011). Anatomy ‘steeplechase’ online‐ necessity sometimes is the catalyst for innovation. Anat Sci Educ, 4(2):115‐8. Harden RM, Grant J, Buckley G et al. (2000). Best evidence medical education. Adv Health Sci Educ Theory Pract, 5:71–90. Barremkala M, Taylor TAH, Taranikanti V. (2020). Team Assessment in Laboratory Setting: A Novel Approach Using Cadavers to Assess Collaborative Learning in the Gross Anatomy Lab. Med Science Educator 30:21‐22.

Evaluating inconsistency in health responses: evidence from elderly in India

Purpose This paper explored the reliability of self-reported health and the impact of the social position in determining the inconsistent health response (IHR), in late life. Reliability of self-reported health is important to evaluate, as it is the primary step for asking health-care facility. As self-reported health is a subjective measure, elderly people might have a tendency of under-reporting the health problem because of lower socioeconomic status. This incidence can cause inaccurate estimate of the health problem of the aged at the time of formulating health policy or providing health-care infrastructure. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to explore the sources of inconsistent responses of self-reported health by comparing it with the existence of chronicle ailment and to identify the vulnerable group that health care supports. Design/methodology/approach The study uses nationally representative unit-level data from the National Sample Survey of India. Using the bi-variate probit model, joint estimation of reported health and IHRs is determined. The study compares perceived and actual health status and explores how individual characteristics and socioeconomic position contributes to IHRs among the elderly population. Findings Major findings of this study are as follows: firstly, self-reported health has little reliability, as it is compared with the existence of chronicle ailment. Older people in the rural areas have greater tendency to under-estimate the health problem, whereas urban elders tend to over-estimate it; and secondly, the inconsistency in health response is significantly associated with social caste, economic status and attainment of education. Social implications The results of this study from bivariate probit model offer deeper understandings about the reliability of self-reported health and provide further insights to improve policy design formulated to mitigate the health inequality among the elders. This study might be helpful to design an inexpensive and easily available health measure, which is very important for a highly populated aging country with limited health-care resources. Originality/value To the best of author’s knowledge, it is the first study that has identified the sources of inconsistent health and direction of inconsistency that is where self-reported health over- or under-estimates the actual health response among the elderly in a developing country like India, where the growth rate of population aging is faster than the world.

Difference in Steady‐state Chemoreflex Drive Between Groups With and Without a Patent Foramen Ovale

Ventilatory acclimatization is a hallmark physiological response to high altitude. In ~30% of the population, a shunt located between the right and left atrium called patent foramen ovale (PFO) is present. People with a PFO have a reduced degree of ventilatory acclimatization which may contribute to their increased risk for high altitude illnesses. Recently, the development of a steady-state chemoreflex drive (SS-CD) index has provided a novel approach to assessing the overall ventilatory drive at altitude. Using data from a previous high-altitude expedition (AltitudeOmics), the SS-CD index (SS-CD = Minute ventilation (VE), / (arterial partial pressure of carbon dioxide (PaCO2) / arterial oxygen saturation (SaO2)) was utilized to quantify differences in the degree of ventilatory acclimatization between groups with a PFO, ­­­­­(PFO+) and without a PFO, (PFO-). We aimed to test two hypotheses: 1) PFO- subjects would have a higher SS-CD than PFO+ subjects 2) PFO+ subjects would have no significant change in their SS-CD from ALT1 to ALT16. Twenty-one participants (n=11 PFO+, n=10 PFO-) participated in a high-altitude study during which they spent 16 days at 5260 meters in Bolivia. VE, PaCO2, and SaO2 data were collected at sea level (SL), day 1 at 5260m (ALT1), and day 16 at 5260m (ALT16). VE was obtained using a pneumotach. PaCO2 and SaO2 were obtained from a radial artery catheter. A mixed-model 2 way repeat measure ANOVA was performed for statistical analysis with Tukey's multiple comparisons test. There was a main effect of time on the SS-CD (p<0.0001), but no significant difference between PFO+ and PFO- subjects (p=0.2). Within PFO+ and PFO- subject groups the SS-CD significantly increased from SL to ALT16 (PFO+ : 33.5 ± 5.9 vs 80.9 ± 47.8, p=0.0006; PFO- : 37.7 ± 10.3 vs 103.1 ± 44.2, p<0.0001) and from ALT1 and ALT16 (PFO+ : 43.16 ± 9.2 vs 80.9 ± 47.8, p=0.0077; PFO- : 52.08 ± 14.3 vs 103.1 ± 44.2, p=0.0052). Using the SS-CD to quantify chemoreceptor drive between groups, our findings suggest the overall chemoreflex drive from ALT1 to ALT16 in both groups reflects significant changes in ventilation. Additionally, PFO+ subjects exhibit no differences in their overall chemoreflex response to altitude from PFO- subjects, despite significant differences in a more classical index of drive (i.e., change in VE/change in SaO2). Future research should aim to investigate this inconsistency in chemoreflex responses in PFO+ and PFO- subjects at altitude.

Lexicographic Repair Under Querying Prioritised DL-Lite Knowledge Bases

This article discusses the issue of inconsistency in responses from various DL-Lite knowledge bases. This inconsistency problem is at the origin of several sources of assertions with different levels of reliability. The various solutions proposed in the literature that have to do with retrieving an exhaustive and coherent list of responses are not satisfactory from the point of view of reliability and performance. The solution that we present to solve this problem is articulated around two phases: the first phase consists of interrogating the different knowledge bases to retrieve all of the possible answers, which may be inconsistent and/or contradictory, and the second phase consists in repairing these inconsistencies and/or contradictions. To do this, we propose an approach based on three algorithms that we developed in this framework: a first algorithm for non-defeat repair, a second algorithm for lexicographic repair and a third algorithm for non-defeat repair based on lexicography of possible inconsistent responses. The experimental study carried out on the different data collections, as well as the analysis of the results obtained, confirm the performance of our approach as well as its efficiency in regards to productivity and complexity in terms of execution time.

Challenges to personalized exercise medicine: lack of repeatability and influence of genetics.

Challenges to personalized exercise medicine: lack of repeatability and influence of genetics.

Linking inter‐annual variation in environment, phenology, and abundance for a montane butterfly community

Climate change has caused widespread shifts in species’ phenology, but the consequences for population and community dynamics remain unclear because of uncertainty regarding the species‐specific drivers of phenology and abundance, and the implications for synchrony among interacting species. Here, we develop a statistical model to quantify inter‐annual variation in phenology and abundance over an environmental gradient, and use it to identify potential drivers of phenology and abundance in co‐occurring species. We fit the model to counts of 10 butterfly species with single annual generations over a mountain elevation gradient, as an exemplar system in which temporally limited availability of biotic resources and favorable abiotic conditions impose narrow windows of seasonal activity. We estimate parameters describing changes in abundance, and the peak time and duration of the flight period, over ten years (2004–2013) and across twenty sample locations (930–2,050 m) in central Spain. We also use the model outputs to investigate relationships of phenology and abundance with temperature and rainfall. Annual shifts in phenology were remarkably consistent among species, typically showing earlier flight periods during years with warm conditions in March or May–June. In contrast, inter‐annual variation in relative abundance was more variable among species, and generally less well associated with climatic conditions. Nevertheless, warmer temperatures in June were associated with increased relative population growth in three species, and five species had increased relative population growth in years with earlier flight periods. These results suggest that broadly coherent interspecific changes to phenology could help to maintain temporal synchrony in community dynamics under climate change, but that the relative composition of communities may vary due to interspecific inconsistency in population dynamic responses to climate change. However, it may still be possible to predict abundance change for species based on a robust understanding of relationships between their population dynamics and phenology, and the environmental drivers of both.

Longitudinal inconsistency in responses to survey items that ask women about intimate partner violence

BackgroundLongitudinal research has demonstrated that experiences of abuse and adversity are not consistently reported over time; however, there is a paucity of available evidence regarding the consistency of reporting experiences of intimate partner violence (IPV) over time. This study aimed to investigate the consistency of self-reported IPV involving a partner or spouse. Differences in the health status of women according to consistency of IPV reporting was also investigated.MethodsSurvey data collected from the 1946–51 cohort of the Australian Longitudinal Study on Women’s Health (ALSWH) between 1996 and 2016 were used (n = 13,715). Consistency of self-reported IPV was evaluated by responses to the question “Have you ever been in a violent relationship with a partner/spouse?” Demographic and health characteristics of consistent and inconsistent reporters of IPV were compared. Multinomial logistic regression was used to determine the strength of the association between demographic and health characteristics of the women and their consistency of longitudinal reporting of IPV.ResultsThere were 10,966 women who answered IPV questions over six surveys, with 9610 women (87.6%) providing consistent responses. Inconsistent responses were provided by 1356 women (12.4%), of whom 258 (2.4%) reported IPV at all but one survey (Mainly IPV), 587 (5.3%) reported no IPV at all but one survey (Mainly no IPV), and 511 (4.7%) reported Mixed IPV responses over time. Women in the Mainly IPV group, and those in the Mixed IPV group were similar to those in the Consistent IPV group in demographic and health characteristics, whereas women in the Mainly no IPV group were similar to those in the Consistent never IPV group.ConclusionsIPV data collected at one time point may involve around 12% false negative or false positive responses. To increase reliability, IPV should be measured on more than one occasion, using different techniques and methods that account for intentional and unintentional over- and under-reporting.

Immunometabolic Alterations by HPV Infection: New Dimensions to Head and Neck Cancer Disparity.

Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) is the sixth most common cancer, with high morbidity and mortality. Racial disparity in HNSCC is observed between African Americans (AAs) and whites, effecting both overall and 5-year survival, with worse prognosis for AAs. In addition to socio-economic status and demographic factors, many epidemiological studies have also identified factors including coexisting human papillomavirus (HPV) infection, primary tumor location, and a variety of somatic mutations that contribute to the prognostic incongruities in HNSCC patients among AAs and whites. Recent research also suggests HPV-induced dysregulation of tumor metabolism and immune microenvironment as the major regulators of HNSCC patient prognosis. Outcomes of several preclinical and clinical studies on targeted therapeutics warrant the need to elucidate the inherent mechanistic and population-based disparities underlying patient responses. This review systematically reports the underlying reasons for inconsistency in disease prognosis and therapy responses among HNSCC patients from different racial populations. The focus of this review is twofold: aside from discussing the causes of racial disparity, we also seek to identify the consequences of such disparity in terms of HPV infection and its associated mutational, metabolic, and immune landscapes. Considering the clinical impact of differential patient outcomes among AA and white populations, understanding the underlying cause of this disparity may pave the way for novel precision therapy for HNSCC.

Student’s Use of English in German Lessons

In language learning, teachers often encounter multilingualism when teaching a specific language. Multilingualism is the ability to use languages in an interconnected way; languages as such can be thus approached rather as a linguistic repertoire. In this study, we look at how students (and teachers) in Czech schools deal with English use within German lessons. In this context English is the first foreign language taught to students and German the second foreign tongue taught in school. Twenty-eight lessons from four experienced language teachers were recorded at lower-secondary level. Conversational analysis of transcripts identified 65 instances of English use in German classes. The analysis suggests that English is used in three ways, either it is seen as a source of a problem that needs to be repaired, it is accepted practice, or the use of Eng- lish is initiated by the teacher. Our analysis suggests that using English language in German lessons and potentially multilingualism in teaching does not have a clearly defined status. Furthermore, inconsistency in teacher responses to multilingualism may require clearer consideration as to if languages are taught as discreet entities or more flexible linguistic mechanisms may be adopted to facilitate learning.

Pharmacogenetics of opioid analgesics in dogs.

Genetic variation causes interindividual variability in drug absorption, distribution, metabolism and excretion. These pharmacokinetic processes will influence the observed efficacy and toxicity of a drug. Polymorphisms in the genes encoding the metabolizing enzymes, transport proteins and receptors have been linked to the inconsistency in responses to opioid treatment in humans and laboratory animals. Pharmacogenetics is relatively less developed field in veterinary medicine compared to significant advances in knowledge on genetic basis of variation in drug responses and clinical applications in human medicine. This review discusses the opioid drug metabolism and possible genetic polymorphism of metabolizing enzymes in dogs. Polymorphism of genes encoding opioid drug transporter proteins and its effect on opioid response and opioid receptor gene variants are also discussed. Due to the scarcity of studies reported on opioid pharmacogenetics in dogs, relevant studies in humans and rodents have also been discussed to indicate current trends and potential targets for research in dogs.

Revisiting inconsistency in large pharmacogenomic studies

In 2013, we published a comparative analysis of mutation and gene expression profiles and drug sensitivity measurements for 15 drugs characterized in the 471 cancer cell lines screened in the Genomics of Drug Sensitivity in Cancer (GDSC) and Cancer Cell Line Encyclopedia (CCLE). While we found good concordance in gene expression profiles, there was substantial inconsistency in the drug responses reported by the GDSC and CCLE projects. We received extensive feedback on the comparisons that we performed. This feedback, along with the release of new data, prompted us to revisit our initial analysis. We present a new analysis using these expanded data, where we address the most significant suggestions for improvements on our published analysis — that targeted therapies and broad cytotoxic drugs should have been treated differently in assessing consistency, that consistency of both molecular profiles and drug sensitivity measurements should be compared across cell lines, and that the software analysis tools provided should have been easier to run, particularly as the GDSC and CCLE released additional data.Our re-analysis supports our previous finding that gene expression data are significantly more consistent than drug sensitivity measurements. Using new statistics to assess data consistency allowed identification of two broad effect drugs and three targeted drugs with moderate to good consistency in drug sensitivity data between GDSC and CCLE. For three other targeted drugs, there were not enough sensitive cell lines to assess the consistency of the pharmacological profiles. We found evidence of inconsistencies in pharmacological phenotypes for the remaining eight drugs.Overall, our findings suggest that the drug sensitivity data in GDSC and CCLE continue to present challenges for robust biomarker discovery. This re-analysis provides additional support for the argument that experimental standardization and validation of pharmacogenomic response will be necessary to advance the broad use of large pharmacogenomic screens.

Revisiting inconsistency in large pharmacogenomic studies

In 2013, we published a comparative analysis of mutation and gene expression profiles and drug sensitivity measurements for 15 drugs characterized in the 471 cancer cell lines screened in the Genomics of Drug Sensitivity in Cancer (GDSC) and Cancer Cell Line Encyclopedia (CCLE). While we found good concordance in gene expression profiles, there was substantial inconsistency in the drug responses reported by the GDSC and CCLE projects. We received extensive feedback on the comparisons that we performed. This feedback, along with the release of new data, prompted us to revisit our initial analysis. We present a new analysis using these expanded data, where we address the most significant suggestions for improvements on our published analysis — that targeted therapies and broad cytotoxic drugs should have been treated differently in assessing consistency, that consistency of both molecular profiles and drug sensitivity measurements should be compared across cell lines, and that the software analysis tools provided should have been easier to run, particularly as the GDSC and CCLE released additional data. Our re-analysis supports our previous finding that gene expression data are significantly more consistent than drug sensitivity measurements. Using new statistics to assess data consistency allowed identification of two broad effect drugs and three targeted drugs with moderate to good consistency in drug sensitivity data between GDSC and CCLE. For three other targeted drugs, there were not enough sensitive cell lines to assess the consistency of the pharmacological profiles. We found evidence of inconsistencies in pharmacological phenotypes for the remaining eight drugs. Overall, our findings suggest that the drug sensitivity data in GDSC and CCLE continue to present challenges for robust biomarker discovery. This re-analysis provides additional support for the argument that experimental standardization and validation of pharmacogenomic response will be necessary to advance the broad use of large pharmacogenomic screens.

Revisiting inconsistency in large pharmacogenomic studies.

In 2013, we published a comparative analysis mutation and gene expression profiles and drug sensitivity measurements for 15 drugs characterized in the 471 cancer cell lines screened in the Genomics of Drug Sensitivity in Cancer (GDSC) and Cancer Cell Line Encyclopedia (CCLE). While we found good concordance in gene expression profiles, there was substantial inconsistency in the drug responses reported by the GDSC and CCLE projects. We received extensive feedback on the comparisons that we performed. This feedback, along with the release of new data, prompted us to revisit our initial analysis. Here we present a new analysis using these expanded data in which we address the most significant suggestions for improvements on our published analysis - that targeted therapies and broad cytotoxic drugs should have been treated differently in assessing consistency, that consistency of both molecular profiles and drug sensitivity measurements should both be compared across cell lines, and that the software analysis tools we provided should have been easier to run, particularly as the GDSC and CCLE released additional data. Our re-analysis supports our previous finding that gene expression data are significantly more consistent than drug sensitivity measurements. The use of new statistics to assess data consistency allowed us to identify two broad effect drugs and three targeted drugs with moderate to good consistency in drug sensitivity data between GDSC and CCLE. For three other targeted drugs, there were not enough sensitive cell lines to assess the consistency of the pharmacological profiles. We found evidence of inconsistencies in pharmacological phenotypes for the remaining eight drugs. Overall, our findings suggest that the drug sensitivity data in GDSC and CCLE continue to present challenges for robust biomarker discovery. This re-analysis provides additional support for the argument that experimental standardization and validation of pharmacogenomic response will be necessary to advance the broad use of large pharmacogenomic screens.

Dealing with the contradiction of agency and control during dialogic teaching

Abstract This study investigated the contradiction between student agency and teacher control in classroom interactions during dialogic teaching. The study focused on interactional moments when the students opposed or questioned the instructional activity, because it was hypothesized that the agency-control contradiction (Rainio, 2008) becomes particularly evident in these moments. The video data were collected in a heterogeneous Finnish third-grade classroom and analyzed with interaction analysis. The results show how promoting student agency is a contradictory endeavor that requires balancing between the aspirations of dialogic teaching and institutional demands. The results showed that the students' criticism and questioning of instructional activity were targeted at the contents, procedures, and purpose of the instructional activity. We found inconsistency in the teacher's responses to the students' opposition according to the type of opposition. Providing space for negotiation created opportunities for achieving student agency. Conversely, the teacher also silenced students' opposition by enforcing his institutional authority or disregarding student opposition, resulting in interactions that suppressed student agency. This study adds to the understanding of what is at stake when students' agency is promoted in classroom interactions.

Affective responses to ambivalence are context-dependent: A facial EMG study on the role of inconsistency and evaluative context in shaping affective responses to ambivalence

It has long been debated whether attitudinal ambivalence elicits negative affect and evidence for such a link is inconclusive. Using facial EMG, we tested the idea that affective responses to ambivalence are dependent on the inconsistency of evaluations in the current situation. In a person perception task, participants were presented with positive (e.g., friendly, intelligent), negative (e.g., jealous, dominant), or positive and negative information (e.g., intelligent, dominant) about different target persons. When participants were only exposed to the information without having to respond, ambivalent information elicited the same affective response as positive stimuli, participants showed more zygomaticus (positive affect) and less corrugator activation (negative affect) than to negative stimuli (task 1). When participants had to make a choice, ambivalent information elicited the same affective response as negative information (task 2). This was qualified by the possibility to resolve the inconsistency between evaluations. Specifically, ambivalence only led to a relative decrease in positive affect when evaluative context did not help resolve the inconsistency between ambivalent evaluations and created a choice conflict (e.g., “Bob is intelligent and dominant. Do you think Bob is a good collaborator?”). When the same ambivalent information (e.g. “Bob is intelligent and dominant”) was presented in a context in which the opposing evaluations were not inconsistent (e.g., “Do you think Bob can write a good research paper?”), participants reported to experience lower levels of conflict and displayed more positive affect (i.e., more zygomaticus activation). The current data contribute to the reconciliation of previously inconclusive results on affective responses to attitudinal ambivalence. The results suggest that ambivalence only leads to relatively more negative affect (i.e., a decrease in positive affect) when ambivalent information is inconsistent in a current situation and thus creates conflict. Implications of these findings are discussed.

Cardiac effects of seasonal ambient particulate matter and ozone co-exposure in rats.

BackgroundThe potential for seasonal differences in the physicochemical characteristics of ambient particulate matter (PM) to modify interactive effects with gaseous pollutants has not been thoroughly examined. The purpose of this study was to compare cardiac responses in conscious hypertensive rats co-exposed to concentrated ambient particulates (CAPs) and ozone (O3) in Durham, NC during the summer and winter, and to analyze responses based on particle mass and chemistry.MethodsRats were exposed once for 4 hrs by whole-body inhalation to fine CAPs alone (target concentration: 150 μg/m3), O3 (0.2 ppm) alone, CAPs plus O3, or filtered air during summer 2011 and winter 2012. Telemetered electrocardiographic (ECG) data from implanted biosensors were analyzed for heart rate (HR), ECG parameters, heart rate variability (HRV), and spontaneous arrhythmia. The sensitivity to triggering of arrhythmia was measured in a separate cohort one day after exposure using intravenously administered aconitine. PM elemental composition and organic and elemental carbon fractions were analyzed by high-resolution inductively coupled plasma–mass spectrometry and thermo-optical pyrolytic vaporization, respectively. Particulate sources were inferred from elemental analysis using a chemical mass balance model.ResultsSeasonal differences in CAPs composition were most evident in particle mass concentrations (summer, 171 μg/m3; winter, 85 μg/m3), size (summer, 324 nm; winter, 125 nm), organic:elemental carbon ratios (summer, 16.6; winter, 9.7), and sulfate levels (summer, 49.1 μg/m3; winter, 16.8 μg/m3). Enrichment of metals in winter PM resulted in equivalent summer and winter metal exposure concentrations. Source apportionment analysis showed enrichment for anthropogenic and marine salt sources during winter exposures compared to summer exposures, although only 4% of the total PM mass was attributed to marine salt sources. Single pollutant cardiovascular effects with CAPs and O3 were present during both summer and winter exposures, with evidence for unique effects of co-exposures and associated changes in autonomic tone.ConclusionsThese findings provide evidence for a pronounced effect of season on PM mass, size, composition, and contributing sources, and exposure-induced cardiovascular responses. Although there was inconsistency in biological responses, some cardiovascular responses were evident only in the co-exposure group during both seasons despite variability in PM physicochemical composition. These findings suggest that a single ambient PM metric alone is not sufficient to predict potential for interactive health effects with other air pollutants.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12989-015-0087-3) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Jus in bello, Rape and the British Army in the American Revolutionary War

This essay offers a case study in jus in bello in the American Revolutionary War by focusing on responses to sexual violence committed against American women by soldiers in the occupying British army and their Loyalist auxiliaries. Two main bodies of sources are juxtaposed in order to explore the contexts and manner in which jus in bello was adjudicated: British courts-martial and American Congressional investigations documenting British and Loyalist breaches of the codes of war. By putting the fragmentary evidence of instances of rape in the context of contemporary legal and sociocultural practices of sexual violence in peacetime, as well as of the British army's disciplinary regime, we can elucidate the horizon of experiences and expectations against which survivors, assailants and prosecutors acted. The British army disciplined some soldiers for sexual offenses that violated military law and the codes of war, and it executed a few of them at a time when even their home society featured very low prosecution and conviction rates for the capital crime of rape. Prosecutorial discretion on the part of individual British officers helps explain the discrepancy between the formal law of rape and its application in the theater of war. The inconsistency in British responses to rape in turn supported American allegations that the British violated jus in bello. The new American state invested in unprecedented legalistic, empiricist efforts to expose enemy violations of the codes of war. In their quest to assert national difference and to claim the moral high ground vis-à-vis Britain, and to establish America's place among the ‘civilized’ nations of the world, the Revolutionaries both reflected existing notions of jus in bello and sought to define them further. The ethical dimension of jus in bello thus resided in formal law, in the choices made by British officers concerned with force discipline, military–civilian relations, and the codes of war, as well as in the American state's forensic exposure of the enemy's illegitimate violence.