Successful Replication Research Articles

Voicing Disagreement in Science: Missing Women

Abstract This paper examines the authorship of post-publication criticisms in the scientific literature, with a focus on gender differences. Bibliometrics from journals in the natural and social sciences show that comments that criticize or correct a published study are 20-40% less likely than regular papers to have a female author. In preprints in the life sciences, prior to peer review, women are missing by 20-40% in failed replications compared to regular papers, but are not missing in successful replications. In an experiment, I then find large gender differences in willingness to point out and penalize a mistake in someone's work.

Attenuation of IFN signaling due to m6A modification of the host epitranscriptome promotes EBV lytic reactivation

BackgroundReactivation of Epstein Barr virus (EBV) leads to modulation of the viral and cellular epitranscriptome. N6-methyladenosine (m6A) modification is a type of RNA modification that regulates metabolism of mRNAs. Previous reports demonstrated that m6A modification affects the stability and metabolism of EBV encoded mRNAs. However, the effect of reactivation on reprograming of the cellular mRNAs, and how this contributes to successful induction of lytic reactivation is not known.MethodsMethylated RNA immunoprecipitation sequencing (MeRIP-seq), transcriptomic RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) and RNA pull-down PCR were used to screen and validate differentially methylated targets. Western blotting, quantitative real-time PCR (RT-qPCR) and immunocytochemistry were used to investigate the expression and localization of different proteins. RNA stability and polysome analysis assays were used to detect the half-lives and translation efficiencies of downstream genes. Insertion of point mutation to disrupt the m6A methylation sites was used to verify the effect of m6A methylation on its stability and expression levels.ResultsWe report that during EBV reactivation the m6A eraser ALKBH5 is significantly downregulated leading to enhanced methylation of the cellular transcripts DTX4 and TYK2, that results in degradation of TYK2 mRNAs and higher efficiency of translation of DTX4 mRNAs. This resulted in attenuation of IFN signaling that promoted progression of viral lytic replication. Furthermore, inhibition of m6A methylation of these transcripts led to increased production of IFN, and a substantial reduction in viral copy number, which suggests abrogation of lytic viral replication.ConclusionOur findings illuminate the significance of m6A modification in overcoming the innate immune response during EBV reactivation. We now report that during lytic reactivation EBV targets the RNA methylation system of the host to attenuate the innate immune response by suppressing the interferon signaling which facilitates successful lytic replication of the virus.

Applying Functional Imaging to Clinical Practice: Are We Making Progress Toward Its Promise?

Applying Functional Imaging to Clinical Practice: Are We Making Progress Toward Its Promise?

TRPV1 participates in the protective effect of propolis on colonic tissue of ulcerative colitis.

Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a type of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) mainly characterized by inflammation, ulceration and erosion of colonic mucosa and submucosa. Transient receptor potential vanilloid 1 (TRPV1) is an important mediator of visceral pain and inflammatory bowel disease. This study aims to investigate the protective effect of water soluble propolis (WSP) on UC colon inflammatory tissue and the role of TRPV1. Male SD rats were randomly divided into 6 groups (n=8): a normal control (NC) group, an ulcerative colitis model (UC) group, a low-WSP (L-WSP) group, a medium-WSP (M-WSP) group, a high-WSP (H-WSP) group, and a salazosulfapyridine (SASP) group. The rats in the NC group drank water freely, and the other groups drank 4% dextran sulfate sodium (DSS) solution freely for 7 d to replicate the ulcerative colitis model. Based on the successful replication of the UC, the L-WSP, M-WSP, and H-WSP groups were given 50, 100, and 200 mg/kg of water-soluble propolis by gavage for 7 d, and the SASP group was given 100 mg/kg of sulfasalazine by gavage for 7 d. The body weight of rats in each group was measured at the same time every day, the fecal traits and occult blood were observed to record the disease activity index (DAI). After intragastric administration, the animals were sacrificed after fasted 24 h. Serum and colonic tissue were collected, and the changes of MDA, IL-6 and TNF-α were detected. The pathological changes of colon tissues were observed by HE staining, and the expression of TRPV1 in colon tissues was observed by Western blotting, immunohistochemistry, and immunofluorescence. The animals in each group that drank DSS freely showed symptoms such as weight loss, decreased appetite, depressed state, and hematochezia, indicating that the model was successfully established. Compared with the NC group, DAI scores of other groups were increased (all P<0.05). MDA, IL-6, TNF-α in serum and colon tissues of the UC group were increased compared with the NC group (all P<0.01), and they were decreased after WSP and SASP treatment (all P<0.01). The results of showed that the colon tissue structure was obviously broken and inflammatory infiltration in the UC group, while the H-WSP group and the SASP group significantly improved the colon tissue and alleviated inflammatory infiltration. The expression of TRPV1 in colon tissues in the UC group was increased compared with the NC group (all P<0.01), and it was decreased after WSP and SASP treatment. WSP can alleviate the inflammatory state of ulcerative colitis induced by DSS, which might be related to the inhibition of inflammatory factors release, and down-regulation or desensitization of TRPV1.

Regulation of pSYSA defense plasmid copy number in Synechocystis through RNase E and a highly transcribed asRNA.

Synthetic biology approaches toward the development of cyanobacterial producer strains require the availability of appropriate sets of plasmid vectors. A factor for the industrial usefulness of such strains is their robustness against pathogens, such as bacteriophages infecting cyanobacteria. Therefore, it is of great interest to understand the native plasmid replication systems and the CRISPR-Cas based defense mechanisms already present in cyanobacteria. In the model cyanobacterium Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803, four large and three smaller plasmids exist. The ~100 kb plasmid pSYSA is specialized in defense functions by encoding all three CRISPR-Cas systems and several toxin-antitoxin systems. The expression of genes located on pSYSA depends on the plasmid copy number in the cell. The pSYSA copy number is positively correlated with the expression level of the endoribonuclease E. As molecular basis for this correlation we identified the RNase E-mediated cleavage within the pSYSA-encoded ssr7036 transcript. Together with a cis-encoded abundant antisense RNA (asRNA1), this mechanism resembles the control of ColE1-type plasmid replication by two overlapping RNAs, RNA I and II. In the ColE1 mechanism, two non-coding RNAs interact, supported by the small protein Rop, which is encoded separately. In contrast, in pSYSA the similar-sized protein Ssr7036 is encoded within one of the interacting RNAs and it is this mRNA that likely primes pSYSA replication. Essential for plasmid replication is furthermore the downstream encoded protein Slr7037 featuring primase and helicase domains. Deletion of slr7037 led to the integration of pSYSA into the chromosome or the other large plasmid pSYSX. Moreover, the presence of slr7037 was required for successful replication of a pSYSA-derived vector in another model cyanobacterium, Synechococcus elongatus PCC 7942. Therefore, we annotated the protein encoded by slr7037 as Cyanobacterial Rep protein A1 (CyRepA1). Our findings open new perspectives on the development of shuttle vectors for genetic engineering of cyanobacteria and of modulating the activity of the entire CRISPR-Cas apparatus in Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803.

Scientific Analysis on the Manufacturing Technique of Early Historic Pottery of Bangladesh: Application of Experimental Archaeology

The present study wants to identify the making technique of an early historic pottery type of Bangladesh and for this research potshard samples were collected from archaeological excavated site with documented stratigraphic data. The used method for analysis is known as ‘Polished thin-section’ which is now commonly using for petrographic analysis in modern world. Another important aspect for this archaeological analysis is experiment to reproduction of the same quality object, and present research did successful replication of an early historic pottery of Bangladesh known as ‘Northern Black Polished ware’ or NBPW. Archaeological pottery analysis with modern scientific method is still faces challenges in Bangladesh because lack of proper knowledge and absence of modern equipped laboratory. Prepared Thin-section petrography from collected samples shows that NBPW of Bangladesh has possess thin polished surface of multi-layered coating. The practical experiments were successful by achieving the reproduction of a black colored surface which is almost resembled with original potsherd of Northern Black Polished Ware. This research tells us a story of vigorous cultural aesthetic behavior as well as provides information on scientific sustainable technique of pottery decoration.

Anti-cancer activity of ultra-short single-stranded polydeoxyribonucleotides.

One of the features that differentiate cancer cells is their increased proliferation rate, which creates an opportunity for general anti-tumor therapy directed against the elevated activity of replicative apparatus in tumor cells. Besides DNA synthesis, successful genome replication requires the reparation of the newly synthesized DNA. Malfunctions in reparation can cause fatal injuries in the genome and cell death. Recently we have found that the ultra-short single-stranded deoxyribose polynucleotides of random sequence(ssDNA) effectively inhibit the catalytic activity of DNA polymerase[Formula: see text]. This effect allowed considering these substances as potential anti-tumor drugs, which was confirmed experimentally both in vitro(using cancer cell cultures) and in vivo(using cancer models in mice). According to the obtained results, ssDNA significantly suppresses cancer development and tumor growth, allowing consideration of them as novel candidates for anti-cancer drugs.

Fabrication of superhydrophobic concrete with stable mechanical properties and self-cleaning properties

Superhydrophobic concrete has the ability to remove surface stains and resist water erosion. In this paper, a fabrication medium of self-cleaning concrete with green environmental protection and stable mechanical properties is proposed. Hierarchical micro-nano composite structure was obtained by directly copying the micro-nano composite structure from the modified copper mesh to the surface of the newly poured concrete and then using octadecylamine-grafted humic acid to obtain low surface energy. Moreover, the microstructure and chemical composition of the fabricated concrete were characterized. The superhydrophobicity, wetting durability, and self-cleaning performance of the fabricated concrete were studied. Results indicated that the water contact angle of the prepared S-concrete reaches 158° and the water sliding angle were as low as 5°. In addition, due to the successful replication of the micro-nano composite structure, the precast concrete has good mechanical stability and self-cleaning performance compared with ordinary concrete.

A Systematic Review of the Aerobic Exercise Program Variables for Patients with Non-Specific Neck Pain: Effectiveness and Clinical Applications.

Studies have shown that aerobic exercise (AE) may improve symptoms related to non-specific neck pain (NNP); however, the variables of the exercise programs and the overall effectiveness of AE have not been evaluated in a systematic review. Therefore, this review aimed to describe and discuss the variables of the AE programs used in clinical trials for patients with NNP. Included studies were analyzed for the selected AE variables such as intensity, frequency, duration, delivery, supervision, and adherence. The PEDro scale was used to assess the methodological quality of the studies. From the literature search, six studies met the inclusion criteria and were evaluated. After reviewing all the included studies, it was found that a range of AE interventions were used such as cycling, brisk walking, aerobics, stationary bike, treadmill running, circuit training, and swimming. Further, the duration was between 30 and 45 min for each session, with or without progressive increases from week to week. The intervention periods ranged from 1 month to 6 months in duration. Most studies used AE three times per week. Furthermore, exercise intensity was measured with either subjective (BORG) or objective measures (heartrate reserve). Justification for the specified intensity and reporting of adverse events was reported only in two studies and differed between studies. Exercise interventions were poorly reported. This review showed that moderate-intensity AE undertaken three times per week, in patients with NNP, may be beneficial for pain and function; however, the development of reporting standards is essential for the successful replication of studies.

Evolution of codon usage in Taenia saginata genomes and its impact on the host.

The beef tapeworm, also known as Taenia saginata, is a zoonotic tapeworm from the genus Taenia in the order Cyclophyllidea. Taenia saginata is a food-borne zoonotic parasite with a worldwide distribution. It poses serious health risks to the host and has a considerable negative socioeconomic impact. Previous studies have explained the population structure of T. saginata within the evolutionary time scale and adaptive evolution. However, it is still unknown how synonymous codons are used by T. saginata. In this study, we used 90 T. saginata strains, applying the codon usage bias (CUB). Both base content and relative synonymous codon usage (RSCU) analysis revealed that AT-ended codons were more frequently used in the genome of T. saginata. Further low CUB was observed from the effective number of codons (ENC) value. The neutrality plot analysis suggested that the dominant factor of natural selection was involved in the structuring of CUB in T. saginata. Further analysis showed that T. saginata has adapted host-specific codon usage patterns to sustain successful replication and transmission chains within hosts (Bos taurus and Homo sapiens). Generally, both natural selection and mutational pressure have an impact on the codon usage patterns of the protein-coding genes in T. saginata. This study is important because it characterized the codon usage pattern in the T. saginata genomes and provided the necessary data for a basic evolutionary study on them.

A Multilevel Model to Assess the Effectiveness of an Affective-Sexual Education Program for People with Intellectual Disabilities: the Influence of Participants’ Characteristics

IntroductionPersonal characteristics have been shown to influence the psychosexual development of people with intellectual disabilities. This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of the SALUDIVERSEX program about affective-sexual education depending on gender, age, relationship status, and degree of autonomy.MethodsTwo hundred fifty-four participants, clustered within 28 daytime support services, completed a battery of instruments before and after the intervention. The data was collected between January 2021 and April 2022.ResultsMultilevel analyses, controlling for participant’s dependence within the same center, confirm that the program is equally effective regardless of gender. Likewise, younger participants, who have greater autonomy and who have a partner, seem to benefit more from the intervention.ConclusionsThis suggests that the SALUDIVERSEX program is a useful tool for educating adults with intellectual disabilities on sexuality, when they possess a high degree of autonomy.Policy ImplicationsThe present study contributes to the successful replication of the intervention being tested, providing information on the aspects that may be more difficult to learn depending on the personal characteristics of the individuals.

Direct Replication in Psychological Assessment Research

Direct Replication in Psychological Assessment Research

Main and papain-like proteases as prospective targets for pharmacological treatment of coronavirus SARS-CoV-2.

The pandemic caused by the coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 led to a global crisis in the world healthcare system. Despite some progress in the creation of antiviral vaccines and mass vaccination of the population, the number of patients continues to grow because of the spread of new SARS-CoV-2 mutations. There is an urgent need for direct-acting drugs capable of suppressing or stopping the main mechanisms of reproduction of the coronavirus SARS-CoV-2. Several studies have shown that the successful replication of the virus in the cell requires proteolytic cleavage of the protein structures of the virus. Two proteases are crucial in replicating SARS-CoV-2 and other coronaviruses: the main protease (Mpro) and the papain-like protease (PLpro). In this review, we summarize the essential viral proteins of SARS-CoV-2 required for its viral life cycle as targets for chemotherapy of coronavirus infection and provide a critical summary of the development of drugs against COVID-19 from the drug repurposing strategy up to the molecular design of novel covalent and non-covalent agents capable of inhibiting virus replication. We overview the main antiviral strategy and the choice of SARS-CoV-2 Mpro and PLpro proteases as promising targets for pharmacological impact on the coronavirus life cycle.

Using Correspondence Tests to Assess Replicability of Open Science Collaboration Results: Inferences from a SMART Design-based, Meta-analytic Approach

The logic of the SMART (Sequential Multiple Assignment Randomization Trial) design was applied to assess the replicability of original-replicate study pairs for Open Science Collaboration (OSC) intervention studies. Within SMART, we utilized both subtests of the correspondence test (CT) to assess study pair comparability. First, we implemented a CT difference test to determine if an effect size difference between the original study and its replicate pair was close to zero; second, we implemented a CT equivalence test to determine if the effect size difference of that study pair was within a designated threshold. In Stage 1 of SMART, each study pair was randomly assigned to one of two alphas (.01 and .05), thereby creating two, probabilistically similar subsets of study pairs. Within each alpha subset, successful difference tests (test of significance was not significantly different than zero) and unsuccessful difference tests were then determined. In Stage 2 of SMART, study pairs in each combination of alpha level and successful or unsuccessful difference tests were randomly assigned to one of two thresholds (±.25 SD, ±.50 SD). Equivalence tests were then conducted for all study pairs in each of these four subsets. Successful equivalence occurred when the distance between an original and its replicate pair was statistically significantly less than a given threshold. Thus, initial randomization followed by a second randomization was used to gauge comparability of each OSC original study and its replicate, for two alpha levels and two thresholds. In the first set of results, to mirror the common replicability assessment case in which only difference tests are conducted, 16 of 96 difference tests (16.7%) conducted in Stage 1 were successful. In the second set of results, for initially successful difference tests, two thresholds were used to determine the percent of study pairs that also passed the equivalence test. Depending on α and threshold, 8.0%-13.8% of studies successfully passed both difference and equivalence CT subtests. In the third set of results, using SMART, after randomization to two α-values and contingent on success or lack of success of a difference test, study pairs were randomized to two thresholds and a statistical test of equivalence conducted. Using meta-analysis methods within SMART-based subsets of study pairs, original-replicate average effect size differences were compared to differences in the second set of results. We found a similarly-sized 10.3% of study pairs passed both CT subtests (nine of 87 study pairs successfully passed the difference test at either alpha and successfully passed the equivalence test at either threshold). Reflecting the importance of incorporating both CT subtests, of 16 study pairs that initially passed the difference test, nearly half (43.7%) failed the equivalence test. Thus, for CT success, we found that α choice had little impact, while threshold choice was an important determinant. In all three sets of results, the percent of successful replications was substantially smaller than the 36% of OSC replicates that were statistically significant. To confirm this study’s replicability, we found very similar patterns of CT success and lack of success for two, SMART-based tables, one for alpha = .01 and one for alpha = .05. The current research extends the utility of CT established by Steiner and Wong (2018) in which results were based on simulation data.

Identification of 5’ upstream sequence involved in HSPBP1 gene transcription and its downregulation during HIV-1 infection

The Human Immunodeficiency Virus-1 (HIV-1) is known to modulate the host environment for successful replication and propagation like other viruses. The virus utilises its proteins to interact with or modulate host factors and host signalling pathways that may otherwise restrict the virus. A previous study from our lab has shown that the host heat shock protein 70 (HSP70) binding protein (HSPBP1) is a co-chaperone that inhibits viral replication. We have also shown that the virus downregulates HSPBP1 during infection. However, the mechanism of downregulation remains to be elucidated. In the present study, we hypothesized that the HSPBP1 promoter may be repressed during infection leading to its downmodulation at the RNA and protein levels. The 5’ upstream region of the HSPBP1 gene was first mapped and it was identified that a fragment comprising of a ∼600 bp upstream region of the transcription start site show the highest promoter-like activity. Further, the Sp1 transcription factor was shown to be essential for normal promoter activation. Our results further demonstrate that HIV-1 downregulates the activity of the identified promoter. It was seen that the viral transactivator protein, Tat, was responsible for the downmodulation of the HSPBP1 promoter. HIV-1 Tat is known to bind and regulate several cellular promoters during infection, thereby making the environment conducive for establishment of the virus. Our results further show that Tat is recruited to the HSPBP1 promoter and in the presence of Tat, recruitment of Sp1 on HSPBP1 promoter was decreased, which explains the suppression of HSPBP1 during HIV-1 infection. Therefore, this study further adds to the list of cellular promoters that are modulated by Tat during HIV-1 infection either directly or indirectly.

Analysis of codon usage bias of lumpy skin disease virus causing livestock infection.

Lumpy skin disease virus (LSDV) causes lumpy skin disease (LSD) in livestock, which is a double-stranded DNA virus that belongs to the genus Capripoxvirus of the family Poxviridae. LSDV is an important poxvirus that has spread out far and wide to become distributed worldwide. It poses serious health risks to the host and causes considerable negative socioeconomic impact on farmers financially and on cattle by causing ruminant-related diseases. Previous studies explained the population structure of the LSDV within the evolutionary time scale and adaptive evolution. However, it is still unknown and remains enigmatic as to how synonymous codons are used by the LSDV. Here, we used 53 LSDV strains and applied the codon usage bias (CUB) analysis to them. Both the base content and the relative synonymous codon usage (RSCU) analysis revealed that the AT-ended codons were more frequently used in the genome of LSDV. Further low codon usage bias was calculated from the effective number of codons (ENC) value. The neutrality plot analysis suggested that the dominant factor of natural selection played a role in the structuring of CUB in LSDV. Additionally, the results from a comparative analysis suggested that the LSDV has adapted host-specific codon usage patterns to sustain successful replication and transmission chains within hosts (Bos taurus and Homo sapiens). Both natural selection and mutational pressure have an impact on the codon usage patterns of the protein-coding genes in LSDV. This study is important because it has characterized the codon usage pattern in the LSDV genomes and has provided the necessary data for a basic evolutionary study on them.

ISG15 Is a Novel Regulator of Lipid Metabolism during Vaccinia Virus Infection.

Interferon-stimulated gene 15 (ISG15) is a 15-kDa ubiquitin-like modifier that binds to target proteins in a process termed ISGylation. ISG15, first described as an antiviral molecule against many viruses, participates in numerous cellular processes, from immune modulation to the regulation of genome stability. Interestingly, the role of ISG15 as a regulator of cell metabolism has recently gained strength. We previously described ISG15 as a regulator of mitochondrial functions in bone marrow-derived macrophages (BMDMs) in the context of Vaccinia virus (VACV) infection. Here, we demonstrate that ISG15 regulates lipid metabolism in BMDMs and that ISG15 is necessary to modulate the impact of VACV infection on lipid metabolism. We show that Isg15-/- BMDMs demonstrate alterations in the levels of several key proteins of lipid metabolism that result in differences in the lipid profile compared with Isg15+/+ (wild-type [WT]) BMDMs. Specifically, Isg15-/- BMDMs present reduced levels of neutral lipids, reflected by decreased lipid droplet number. These alterations are linked to increased levels of lipases and are independent of enhanced fatty acid oxidation (FAO). Moreover, we demonstrate that VACV causes a dysregulation in the proteomes of BMDMs and alterations in the lipid content of these cells, which appear exacerbated in Isg15-/- BMDMs. Such metabolic changes are likely caused by increased expression of the metabolic regulators peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ (PPARγ) and PPARγ coactivator-1α (PGC-1α). In summary, our results highlight that ISG15 controls BMDM lipid metabolism during viral infections, suggesting that ISG15 is an important host factor to restrain VACV impact on cell metabolism. IMPORTANCE The functions of ISG15 are continuously expanding, and growing evidence supports its role as a relevant modulator of cell metabolism. In this work, we highlight how the absence of ISG15 impacts macrophage lipid metabolism in the context of viral infections and how poxviruses modulate metabolism to ensure successful replication. Our results open the door to new advances in the comprehension of macrophage immunometabolism and the interaction between VACV and the host.

A systematic review of the theory of mind studies and the potential for replications in linguistics

The theory of mind is a psychological concept that refers to the awareness of one’s mental states and others’. In the seminal study conducted by Kidd and Castano (2013), the researchers found that reading literary fiction led to better performance in the theory of mind test relative to reading popular fiction, nonfiction, or reading nothing at all. This paper collates seven subsequent replications of the original study: five direct replications and two indirect ones using other media, namely the visual narrative of television and movies. The findings of these replications are then compared to the original findings in terms of whether they achieved successful replication of the results as well. After that, key differences between the genres of the media used in the original study and its replications are elaborated, namely the writerly and readerly texts. For discussion, this paper further argues the case for replicating the original study in linguistics. In particular, this paper explores two main points pertaining to second language acquisition and emotions. The first one is that the original study and its replications were carried out exclusively with native speakers of English. Accordingly, this necessitates replicating the original study with participants other than first speakers. Meanwhile, considering the call for more replications, this paper makes the argument that since songs are short and also elicit emotions, they present another viable medium for indirect replications.

Toward the Scalable Fabrication of Fully Bio-Based Antimicrobial and UVB-Blocking Transparent Polylactic Acid Films That Incorporate Natural Coatings and Nanopatterns.

Microbial transmissions via membrane surface and single-use plastic-induced pollution are two urgent societal problems. This research introduces a scalable fabrication strategy for fully biobased antibacterial and ultraviolet-B block polylactic acid (PLA) films integrating natural coatings and nanopatterns via ultrasonic atomization spray coating and thermal nanoimprinting lithography (TNIL) techniques, respectively. Tannic acid (TA) and gallic acid (GA) were formulated prior to TNIL using anode aluminum oxide template. Results reveal that TA and GA inks display intense adsorption in the UVB region. Plasma increases the hydrophilicity of PLA films for fast spreading of ink droplets. Micron-sized pillars observed on film confirm the successful structural replication. TA-coated PLA films display higher transparency than GA-coated ones. Nanopatterned PLA films have a modest antibacterial resistance of c. 45% against Escherichia coli. TA/GA coatings, however, impart PLA films with a bacterial reduction rate of over 80%. The integration of a TA or GA coating with nanopatterns further promotes the antibacterial rate up to 98%. The cytocompatibility of TA and GA demonstrates that the engineered film can potentially be applied as food packaging. Finally, a continuous mass production strategy is proposed along with an outline of the associated challenges and costs. This study provides a scalable strategy to the sustainable development of eco-benign and functional films.

Revisiting the effects of an inoculation treatment on psychological reactance: a conceptual replication and extension with self-report and psychophysiological measures

Abstract Research published by Richards and Banas and Richards et al. demonstrated that an inoculation treatment given to participants prior to their exposure to a series of freedom-threatening persuasive health messages mitigates audiences’ freedom-threat perceptions, state psychological reactance, and behavioral intentions. We sought to conceptually replicate the studies by Richards and Banas and Richards et al. with a sample of ever-vapers who were either assigned to an inoculation condition or control condition and then exposed to a series of dogmatic anti-vaping messages while psychophysiological responses were recorded. In doing so, we also sought to replicate the pattern of results observed by Clayton et al. and Clayton who used the same stimuli, methods, and measures. The results from our study provided a successful conceptual replication of each of these studies, with a few exceptions that are discussed. This study provides greater confidence in recent psychological reactance findings and the efficacy of an inoculation treatment for circumventing psychological reactance.