Humoral Influences Research Articles

Phenotype of obesity and gastroesophageal reflux disease in the context of comorbidity in patients with cardiovascular diseases.

The relevance of studying such problems as gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and obesity is caused by their high prevalence in the developed countries of the world. Epidemiological data indicate that obesity is a significant risk factor for developing GERD due to increased intra-abdominal pressure and gastroesophageal gradient, slowing of gastric evacuation and formation of hiatal hernia. Abdominal obesity increases the likelihood of complications of GERD: erosive esophagitis, Barrett's esophagus and adenocarcinoma. This fact is connected with humoral influences: increased production of pro-inflammatory cytokines and leptin, and decreased secretion of adiponectin. Treatment of comorbid patients requires higher dosages and longer courses of antisecretory medicines, and an additional prescription of ursodeoxycholic acid.

The influence of the vitreous humor viscosity during laser-induced thermal damage in choroidal melanomas

The study of heat transfer within the human eye is of utmost importance due to the wide variety of existing treatments commonly given by the aid of devices which expose the eye to external heat sources. Also, the ocular tissues are very sensitive to incident radiation, which is focused by the lens in a small area of the retina. Damage may be often intense because of the lack of blood flow in this region and the limited cooling effect. The transpupillary thermotherapy (TTT) is a laser treatment used to treat choroidal melanomas – malignant ocular tumors that arise from the choroid. In the present work, a 3-D computational model of the eye was created to simulate treatments of two different choroidal melanomas. The goal was to calculate the heat transfer and the thermal damage during TTT. Eight models were studied to determine the influence of the Vitreous Humor (VH) viscosity, the laser output power, and the tumor size following the treatment. The models included the Navier-Stokes equations to consider natural convection inside the VH since the VH's viscosity may decrease with age. A numerical strategy was used to represent tumor shrinkage due to thermal damage. The results showed that the liquefied VH presented natural convection, and dramatically reduced the thermal damage in a small tumor (Eye Model 2) from 26.15% to 1.40%, after 60 s of TTT application. Large tumors (Eye Model 1) also presented less tissue destruction in the presence of liquefied VH. However, large tumors do not respond well to TTT, even with normal VH viscosity, as in both cases less than 1% volume of the tumor is damaged after 60 s (s) of exposure time to an infrared continuous diode laser. Our results suggested that in patients with advanced age and liquefied vitreous humor, treatments choices such as TTT should be more carefully considered since it can be less effective due to the laser induced natural convection inside the VH.

Advertising: The contribution of applied cognitive psychology

SummaryThis paper looks at the contribution of applied cognitive psychology primarily to the research on advertising. The first issue is to attempt to define and specify the unique contribution of applied, as opposed to “pure,” cognitive psychology to this research area. Next, the issue of the medium of message delivery is discussed. The importance of program involvement and mood impact on memory for advertisements is then reviewed. The major part of the review looks at the influence of humor, sex, violence, and unconventional sex roles in advertisements on their impact on viewer's memory. An attempt is made to document important and replicated findings in this area. Finally, some effort is made to consider future avenues of research.

Using Creativity Tools to Achieve Advertising effectiveness in Organizations

This study access using creativity tools to achieve Advertising Effectiveness in Organizations. The major objective of this study was to examine how to use best creativity tools to achieve advertising effectiveness in organizations, specific objectives includes determining the influence of brainstorming on achieving advertising effectiveness: To examine the impact of Humor in achieving Advertising Effectiveness. The design of the study was descriptive survey with a sample size of 89 subjects randomly selected, A Structural Questionnaire was the Instrument used to gather Data from the field for Analysis; Multivariate Regression was employed to rest the four hypotheses formulated. The findings revealed that the influence of brainstorming on achieving advertising in organization were greater than the influence of Humor, Novelty and creativeness (58.34>23A1 and 12.074) respectively. The study concluded that organization should strengthen on these two major that yield the highest value for achieving advertising effectiveness in organizations. The study recommended among others that the model used in this work should, be properly adopted by the firm's for adequate sustainability of its existence.

“For all their story sound, from a place as deep”: The Influence of Kurt Vonnegut's Humor on Anne Sexton's Transformations

ABSTRACT Critics have regarded Transformations (1974) as a turning point in Anne Sexton's poetic canon, because it utilizes a narrative framework and engages extensively with humor. Though Sexton admired Kurt Vonnegut's Slaughterhouse-Five (1969) and convinced him to write the foreword for her collection, critics have yet to note the impact of his influence. This article argues that Vonnegut's influence on Sexton's humor is twofold. First, Sexton draws from Vonnegut in the craft of her humor—her poetic lines utilize specifically Vonnegut-esque techniques. Second, Sexton's collection uses Vonnegut's understanding of humor as it relates to trauma, mimicking his use of multiple perspectives and concept of time travel in Slaughterhouse-Five. Ultimately, Sexton draws from Vonnegut's understanding of humor in order to subtly embolden the confessional claims in her poetry, embracing a new way of writing that broadened her ability to speak to human suffering.

Humor and Satire on Contemporary Television: Animation and the American Joke

Humor and Satire on Contemporary Television: Animation and the American Joke

Changing farmers’ behavior intention with a hint of wit: The moderating influence of humor on message sidedness

This study investigates how to change farmers' unsustainable use of anthelmintic drugs. More specifically, it focuses on discouraging this behavior by using message sidedness in a humorous advertisement. The effects of the message on intentions to change behavior were measured through a cognitive and affective route of persuasion. Using a 2 (message sidedness: one-sided vs. two-sided) x 2 (humor: humorous vs. non-humorous message framing) between-subjects design (N=167), we tested the persuasiveness of the advertisement. Results show that a two-sided message without humor evoked more negative cognitive responses (e.g. negative thoughts), than a one-sided message, leading to fewer changes in behavioral intention. However, a two-sided message resulted in increased pro-environmental behavioral intention compared to a one-sided message when humor was used as a frame in the advertisement.

Social influence of humor in virtual human counselor's self‐disclosure

AbstractWe explored the social influence of humor in a virtual human counselor's self‐disclosure while also varying the ethnicity of the virtual counselor. In a 2 × 3 experiment (humor and ethnicity of the virtual human counselor), participants experienced counseling interview interactions via Skype on a smartphone. We measured user responses to and perceptions of the virtual human counselor. The results demonstrate that humor positively affects user responses to and perceptions of a virtual counselor. The results further suggest that matching styles of humor with a virtual counselor's ethnicity influences user responses and perceptions. The results offer insight into the effective design and development of realistic and believable virtual human counselors. Furthermore, they illuminate the potential use of humor to enhance self‐disclosure in human–agent interactions.

Septic cardiomyopathy: evidence for a reduced force-generating capacity of human atrial myocardium in acute infective endocarditis.

BackgroundThis study analyzes the myocardial force-generating capacity in infective endocarditis (IE) using an experimental model of isolated human atrial myocardium. In vivo, it is difficult to decide whether or not alterations in myocardial contractile behavior are due to secondary effects associated with infection such as an altered heart rate, alterations of preload and afterload resulting from valvular defects, and altered humoral processes. Our in vitro model using isolated human myocardium, in contrast, guarantees exactly defined experimental conditions with respect to preload, afterload, and contraction frequency, thus not only preventing confounding by in vivo determinants of contractility but also excluding effects of other factors associated with sepsis, hemodynamics, humoral influences, temperature, and medical treatment.MethodsWe analyzed right atrial trabeculae (diameter 0.3–0.5 mm, initial length 5 mm) from 32 patients undergoing aortic and/or mitral valve replacement for acute valve incompetence caused by IE and 65 controls receiving aortic and/or mitral valve replacement for nonendocarditic valve incompetence. Isometric force amplitudes and passive resting force values measured at optimal length in the two groups were compared using Student’s t-test.ResultsThere were no significant differences between the groups in terms of the passive resting force. The isometric force amplitude in the endocarditis group, however, was significantly lower than in the nonendocarditis group (p=0.001). In the endocarditis group, the calculated active force, defined as the isometric force amplitude minus the resting force, was significantly lower (p<0.0001) and the resting force/active force ratio was significantly higher (p<0.0001). Using linear regression to describe the function between resting force and active force, we identified a significant difference in slope (p<0.0001), with lower values found in the endocarditis group.ConclusionOur data suggest that the force-generating capacity of atrial myocardium is significantly reduced in patients with IE. In these patients, an elevated resting force is required to achieve a given force amplitude. It remains unclear, however, whether this is due to calcium desensitization of the contractile apparatus, presence of myocardial edema, fibrotic remodeling, disruption of contractile units, or other mechanisms.

The role of humor usage on creativity, trust and performance in business relationships: An analysis of the salesperson-customer dyad

Using humor wisely is known to have many benefits in a work-related setting. Despite these potential benefits, there is limited research on this phenomenon in a business-to-business selling context. In light of this absence, the authors introduce a theoretical model explaining the role of humor usage in a salesperson-customer encounter. Specifically, the purpose of this paper is to examine the simultaneous influence of salesperson humor usage on creativity and customer trust, which in turn affect objective sales performance. Using 149 salesperson-customer dyads from a cross-industry survey, the results indicate that (1) salesperson humor usage positively influences salesperson creativity and customer trust, (2) which in turn mediates the influence of humor on objective sales performance. In addition, (3) customer trust also influences word-of-mouth propensity and expectation of relationship continuity. The article's broader contribution is that humor usage may be a fundamental human ability that is central for enhancing creativity and developing strong relationships in a business-to-business setting.

The influence of humor and amusement on mother-adolescent sexual communication

AbstractThis study examines the impact of a humorous intervention designed to increase mothers’ intentions to talk to their child about sex (

Influence of humor on individual and organizational outcomes

Though, encouraging humor at the workplace may be a cost-effective method of increasing organizational performance (Breeze, Dawson, & Khazhinsky, 2002), very few studies have empirically examined humor in organizational settings (Robert & Yan, 2007). In addition, since humor can have both positive and negative effects in the organizations, companies need to strategize before introducing humor in organizational cultures. This paper provides a critical summary of the literature on the influence of humor on individual and organizational outcomes.

유머가 직무스트레스에 미치는 영향과 정서성향의 매개효과

본 연구의 목적은 유머, 직무스트레스 및 정서성향과 관련한 이론적 검토를 통해, 유머의 구체화된 유 형으로서 긍정적 유머와 부정적 유머가 직무스트레스에 미치는 영향을 파악하고자 한다. 또한 유머와 직 무스트레스 간의 인과관계서 정서성향의 매개효과를 실증분석하는 것이다. 이에 몽골 기업 종사자에 대 한 설문조사를 통해 조직구성원들이 어느 정도 직무스트레스를 지각하고 있으며, 유머가 그들의 직무스 트레스에 어떠한 영향을 미치고 있는지를 살펴 보고자한다. 이를 통해 몽골 조직구성원들이 어느 정도 직무스트레스를 지각하고 있으며, 유머와 직무스트레스의 인과관계와 이들 관계에서 정서성향의 매개효 과에 대한 실증적 분석을 통해 조직관리 시사점 제시하고자 한다.

Humor in Teams: Multilevel Relationships Between Humor Climate, Inclusion, Trust, and Citizenship Behaviors

This study examines the cross-level influence of positive and offensive leader humor climates on employee inclusion and citizenship behaviors, and the moderating effect of trust in such relationships. We collected data from a sample of 225 respondents nested within 23 teams from a Canadian financial organization. A multilevel confirmatory analysis was used to provide evidence that variables of this study are distinct and a HLM analysis to test the hypotheses. We find that employees’ perception of inclusion is influenced much more by an offensive humor climate than by a positive one. The results also suggest that the perception of inclusion plays a significant intermediary role in the influence of humor climates on citizenship behavior. Finally, trust in leaders acts as an important contingent condition in the effectiveness of a humor climate. Use of humor does not always pay. Offensive humor by supervisor is a risky strategy that may undermine the beneficial effects of positive humor climate, increase employee exclusion and weaker individual performance. Our study shows the utility of using micro- and macro-approaches, and more specifically, the relevance of adopting an integrative multilevel view of the effect of a humor environment in predicting individual inclusion and citizenship behaviors.

Book Review: Politics Is a Joke! How TV Comedians Are Remaking Political Life, by S. Robert Lichter, Jody C. Baumgartner, and Jonathan S. Morris

Politics Is a Joke! How TV Comedians Are Remaking Political Life. S. Robert Lichter, Jody C. Baumgartner, and Jonathan S. Morris. Boulder, Colorado: Westview Press, 2015. 253 pp. $32 pbk. $22.99 ebk.In Politics Is a Joke! scholars S. Robert Lichter, Jody C. Baumgartner, and Jonathan S. Morris offer a comprehensive analysis of political humor over time. Their research analyzes the volume of political jokes, the targets of these jokes, and their content across multiple entertainment programs. The culmination of this work is a text that is not only accessible to undergraduate students but one that is suitable for a general audience. The authors offer strong support for the increasing relevancy of political humor; their vivid examples underscore the influence of humor in a modern democracy. Given the dearth of research exploring entertainment media in our polity, this text is a welcome addition to the literature.The text begins with a brief outline in Chapter 1, followed by an overview of the evolution of political humor in Chapter 2, noting its prolific nature in our changing media environment. Chapter 3 succinctly examines the individual and institutional targets of political jokes. Chapter 4 explores the event-driven nature of humor- the scandals and missteps fueling the punchlines; Chapter 5 explores the personal nature of these jokes (e.g., character and traits of targets). In Chapter 6, the authors nicely situate political humor in the context of the news media, exploring how patterns in humor influence public opinion. In Chapter 7, the authors discuss strategic implications of their work and strategies for candidate engagement with late-night comedy. In Chapter 8, the data are discussed in a broader context.A key strength of the text lies in its unique dataset gathered at George Mason University's Center for Media and Public Affairs, a dataset totaling more than 100,000 jokes. The authors identify correlations between political humor and public opinion of certain candidates. The implications of Chapter 6 are particularly compelling: In exploring the relationship between news and political humor, they find that jokes not only draw from negative news coverage, but further amplify negative news narratives. Another strength of the text comes from the accessibility of the literature review and its balance. The authors synthesize a highly measured review of the literature that balances the civic benefits of humor with the studies suggestive of cynicism and disengagement effects.The researchers acknowledge that the audience for late night talk shows is limited; however, by overlooking the role of social media, the authors somewhat undersell the significance of their work. Today jokes are swiftly disseminated online, and the longer shelf life afforded through social media may accidentally expose non-viewers to punchlines. Future research should also incorporate satirical programs such as Saturday Night Live, which one could argue is as or more influential than late night talk programs. …

Dysregulated TNFα promotes cytokine proteome profile increases and bilateral orofacial hypersensitivity

BackgroundTumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFα) is increased in patients with headache, neuropathic pain, periodontal and temporomandibular disease. This study and others have utilized TNF receptor 1/2 (TNFR1/2) knockout (KO) animals to investigate the effect of TNFα dysregulation in generation and maintenance of chronic neuropathic pain. The present study determined the impact of TNFα dysregulation in a trigeminal inflammatory compression (TIC) nerve injury model comparing wild-type (WT) and TNFR1/2 KO mice. MethodsChromic gut suture was inserted adjacent to the infraorbital nerve to induce the TIC model mechanical hypersensitivity. Cytokine proteome profiles demonstrated serology, and morphology explored microglial activation in trigeminal nucleus 10weeks post. ResultsTIC injury induced ipsilateral whisker pad mechanical allodynia persisting throughout the 10-week study in both TNFR1/2 KO and WT mice. Delayed mechanical allodynia developed on the contralateral whisker pad in TNFR1/2 KO mice but not in WT mice. Proteomic profiling 10weeks after chronic TIC injury revealed TNFα, interleukin-1alpha (IL-1α), interleukin-5 (IL-5), interleukin-23 (IL-23), macrophage inflammatory protein-1β (MIP-1β), and granulocyte–macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) were increased more than 2-fold in TNFR1/2 KO mice compared to WT mice with TIC. Bilateral microglial activation in spinal trigeminal nucleus was detected only in TNFR1/2 KO mice. p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) inhibitor and microglial inhibitor minocycline reduced hypersensitivity. ConclusionsThe results suggest the dysregulated serum cytokine proteome profile and bilateral spinal trigeminal nucleus microglial activation are contributory to the bilateral mechanical hypersensitization in this chronic trigeminal neuropathic pain model in the mice with TNFα dysregulation. Data support involvement of both neurogenic and humoral influences in chronic neuropathic pain.

Examining the Energizing Effects of Humor: The Influence of Humor on Persistence Behavior

Purpose This paper examines whether, when, and how humor can increase individuals’ persistence.

Indian Culture and its Reflection on Advertising: A Perceptual Study of Advertising Practitioners

India's diverse culture is reflected in the advertising released by top advertisers. This study looked at how advertisers and advertising agency personnel perceived the culture prevalent among Indian consumers, the cultural dimensions of Indian advertising, and its impact on the effectiveness of advertising campaigns. This is a qualitative study conducted amongst senior advertising practitioners from advertising agencies and advertisers. In-depth interviews were conducted to study how the depiction of different stimuli in advertising like celebrity endorsements, humor, language, clothing, religion, patriotism, festivity, and lifestyle influence the culture of consumers. Other aspects like romance, technology, family, friendship, and environment were also studied. Hofstede's dimensions of culture were used to gain insights on the subject from practitioners. The research identified five waves of change that are transforming the culture of Indian consumers and this is reflected in Indian advertising. These waves have been discussed in detail as waves that bring a change in consumer culture, for a better life, a change to succeed, a change in traditions, a change in the concept of globalization, and a change in the perceptions of value for money. The paper concluded with an assessment of the challenges that advertisers face in dealing with the diverse culture that is prevalent amongst Indian consumers to create effective advertising.

Influence of intraocular lens implantation on anterior capsule contraction and posterior capsule opacification

To evaluate whether and how intraocular lens (IOL) implantation influences the development of anterior capsule contraction and posterior capsule opacification (PCO). Department of Ophthalmology, Dokkyo Medical University, Mibu, Tochigi, Japan. Experimental study. Phacoemulsification was performed in 8-week-old white rabbits. A hydrophobic acrylate IOL (12.5 mm) (YA-60BBR) was implanted in 1 eye and no IOL was implanted in the fellow eye. Slitlamp microscopy and anterior segment analysis were performed to evaluate anterior capsule contraction after the surgery. Four weeks postoperatively, sections of the eyes were made, and the thickness of the proliferated lens epithelial cell (LEC) layer at the posterior capsule was measured to assess the PCO. In addition, LECs from white rabbits were cultured in medium containing 50% aqueous humor or in medium containing 50% saline to determine the influence of the aqueous humor on LECs and to compare the degree of LEC proliferation. Starting 2 weeks after surgery, anterior capsule contraction progressed more significantly in the IOL group than in the group without IOLs. Four weeks postoperatively, LEC thickness at the posterior capsule was significantly less in the group without IOLs than in the IOL group. In the culture study, LEC proliferation was more inhibited in the aqueous humor group than in the saline group. Progression of anterior capsule contraction and PCO is less likely in aphakic eyes than in IOL-implanted eyes. The mechanism of prevention may involve aqueous humor-induced inhibition of LEC proliferation.

He Who Laughs Best, Leaves Last: The Influence of Humor on the Attitudes and Behavior of Interns

Internships have become both an important part of undergraduate education and a critical tool for management education and organizational recruitment. To better understand the drivers of interns’ work outcomes, we hypothesize that supervisor humor plays a signaling role related to interns that sends implicit messages about organizational and supervisory relationships, and thereby, affects interns’ attitudes and behaviors. Using a sample of 184 students enrolled in internship programs, through structural equation modeling, our study empirically examines the relationship between supervisor humor use and intern satisfaction, intention to stay, and negligent behavior at work. Our findings suggest that the use of positive humor is associated with a higher level of intern satisfaction, whereas the use of negative humor has the opposite effect. Intern satisfaction, moreover, is found to mediate the relationship between humor and interns’ attitudes at work, suggesting that a supervisor’s use of appropriate humor can, through satisfaction, reduce negligent behavior and improve willingness to accept permanent employment at the organization. Based on these findings, we discuss the importance of the dyadic intern–supervisor relationship as a key determinant of internship effectiveness.