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Partisan animosity has been on the rise in America. Partisan animosity involves blame, wherein political partisans blame outparty members for their beliefs and actions. Here, we examine whether a historicist thinking intervention—drawn from research on blame mitigation—can reduce partisan animosity. The intervention consisted of three components: (1) a narrative about the idiosyncratic development of one political opponent paired with (2) a message about how unique life experiences shape everyone's political beliefs and (3) a suggestion that outparty members can be changed by future formative experiences. Experiments 1 and 2 showed that the intervention reduced cold feelings—measured via Feeling Thermometer—towards the outparty for both Democrats and Republicans. Experiments 3 and 4 focused on more specific emotional changes. Experiment 3 showed that, for Democrats, the intervention increased compassion. Experiment 4 showed that, for Republicans, the intervention reduced disgust, disapproval, anger, and contempt, but had no impact on compassion. For Democrats, but not for Republicans, reductions in animosity were mediated by reduced perceptions of control of self-formation, the mediator identified in prior work on historicist thinking and blame mitigation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The blameworthiness of an offender is often discussed in groups. Yet, the research literature overwhelmingly examines individuals assessing blameworthiness in isolation. To address this gap in the literature, the present study examines group deliberations about blameworthiness, with a particular focus on how group deliberations impact utilization of mitigating information about an offender's unfortunate life history. Participants from introductory psychology courses at a U.S. university were placed in groups of two or three and each group also included a confederate who followed a script. Groups were randomly assigned to one of four conditions. In one condition (deed only), groups learned only about the offender's heinous crimes. In the three remaining conditions, participants also received a historicist narrative regarding how the offender's unfortunate history deformed his moral character. These conditions differed in terms of the confederate's arguments: Neutral arguments, arguments to ignore the narrative, or arguments to give great weight to the narrative. Results showed that the historicist narrative was particularly effective at reducing outrage and increasing compassion when the confederate argued for its utilization. The reduction in outrage mediated a reduction in spiteful punitiveness toward the offender. Interestingly, the confederate who urged fellow deliberators to ignore the historicist narrative had no impact on outrage or compassion. We also examined mediation of the impact of historicist narratives on outrage and compassion. We found that when the confederate remained neutral the impact of historicist narratives on outrage and compassion was mediated via diminished perceptions of the offender's control of self-formation. This mirrors what is typically found in prior work focused on individual judgments. In contrast, when the confederate argued that great weight should be given to the narrative, reductions in outrage were mediated via diminished perceptions of offender freedom of action. This pattern of mediation is not typically found but has been found in one previous study where participants received social encouragement to mitigate blame. Results are discussed in terms of how social influence might alter the inferences draw from historicist narratives. Suggestions for future research on social influence in the context of blame are presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Since cattle are biologically capable of giving birth to only one calf per year, they are considered a single-fruited animal species. One of the cardinal methods of solving the problem of accelerated reproduction of livestock is biotechnological regulation of reproductive function in cows and synchronisation of their sexual activity. The aim of the study is to investigate the peculiarities of the reproductive function of Red Steppe cows under the influence of various methods of its regulation using modern hormonal agents. To evaluate the reproductive function of cows, generally accepted zootechnical methods were used, methods of variation statistics were used to calculate data, and biotechnological methods were used to regulate sexual activity in cows. Based on the analysis of the state of reproduction of the cattle herd, it was established that 164-187 cows and 85-96 heifers are artificially inseminated annually, which ensures the yield of calves per 100 cows of 89-91 heads and the annual introduction of 36 to 40 first-born calves per 100 cows. The shortened service period contributes to both a higher calf yield and an increase in milk yield, which is a desirable production effect. However, calving to conception interval, necessary to prepare the cow's body for a new insemination, can be reduced to at least 30 days. Insemination of heifers with artificial insemination devices should be started when they reach a live weight of 314 ± 6.5 kg, which will allow to obtain fertility from the first insemination at the level of 73.7-77.8% and thereby prevent obesity of heifers, which mainly reduces the percentage of fertility from the first insemination. It is necessary to establish obstetric and gynaecological examinations and treatment of problematic replacement heifers and cows, and it is advisable to use prostaglandin F2α analogues in combination with vitamins or biologically active drugs to stimulate the sexual function of cows and heifers. The use of prophylactic drugs will help to synchronise the heifers' sexual desire and increase their fertility during insemination. And the organisation of cattle reproduction and the proposed biotechnological ways to improve artificial insemination of the red steppe breed breeding stock will significantly improve their reproductive status, which will increase the overall economic efficiency of the industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Some argue that it is ethically justifiable to unilaterally withdraw life‐sustaining treatment during crisis standards of care without the patient's consent in order to reallocate it to another patient with a better chance of survival. This justification has been supported by two lines of argument: the equivalence thesis and the rule of the double effect. We argue that there are theoretical issues with the first and practical ones with the second, as supported by an experiment aimed at exploring whether the Knobe effect, which affects the folk concept of intention, applies to situations of unilateral withdrawal. Fifty‐two critical care physicians from one university were asked to ascribe intention in two hypothetical scenarios A and B in which outcomes differ—the patient from whom life‐sustaining treatment is withdrawn dies in scenario A but survives in scenario B—but the intention, to save the other patient regardless of the outcome of the other, is the same. The survey was administered via a web‐based survey and all answers were anonymous. A paired proportion test was used to compare responses to both questions. All 52 surveyed individuals responded in scenario A and 30 (57.7%) ascribed intention when outcomes were unfavorable, whereas 50 responded in scenario B and 8 (16%) ascribed intention when outcomes were favorable, a difference that was statistically significant (p < 0.001). There are theoretical and practical issues with the arguments proposed to justify the unilateral withdrawal of life‐sustaining treatment based on the equivalence thesis and the rule of double effect. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The influence of the housing system on sperm productivity and reproductive capacity of rabbits was studied. Indicators like ejaculate volume, sperm density, activity, and concentration, as well as the percentage of fertility were measured for silver breed rabbits of three coloured lines housed in aggregates "Rabbitax-8" and in a modular rabbit house developed by Mykolayiv National Agrarian University. The highest male sperm productivity and reproductive capacity were found for rabbits housed in aggregates "Rabbitax-8". [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The co-occurrence of frailty and cognitive impairment in older (50+ years) persons with HIV (PWH) is common and increases the risk of poor outcomes. In HIV clinics, the most commonly used frailty measures are the frailty phenotype (FP), which requires measuring grip strength and gait speed to implement, and the frailty index (FI) based on comprehensive health data collected on patients. We examined construct and criterion-related validity (as it predicts cognition) of the Clinical Frailty Scale (CFS), a less resource-intensive approach for assessing frailty, in relation to these more commonly used frailty assessments (FP and FI). Setting/ Methods: A total of 143 older (age 50+) PWH (mean age 57 years; 88% male) seen at the Southern Alberta Clinic underwent both frailty screening with the FP, CFS, and FI and neuropsychological testing. Mixed-effects regressions examined the associations between frailty status and cognition. Results: Concordance with the FP was slightly superior for the CFS than the FI. The FP and CFS had similar associations with domainspecific cognitive performance with frail PWH performing worse than nonfrail individuals on tests requiring manual dexterity (Trail Making Part A and B; Symbol Digit; and Grooved Pegboard; P values ,0.05). Neither were associated with executive function, learning, or memory performance. The FI was associated with worse fluency, fine motor skills (Grooved Pegboard), and Trail Making Part A. Conclusion: The CFS is a simple screening tool with good construct and criterion-related validity. It was associated with a similar pattern of cognitive deficits as the FP. If confirmed and the associations are extended to other clinically significant characteristics and outcomes, the CFS can be considered as an alternative to the FP and FI in assessing frailty in older PWH. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

When one learns that current struggles or transgressions of an individual or group are rooted in an unfortunate history, one experiences compassion and reduced blame. Prior research has demonstrated this by having participants receive (or not) a concrete historicist narrative regarding the particular individual or group under consideration. Here, we take a different approach. We explore the possibility that everyday people show meaningful variation in a broad lay theory that we call lay historicism. Lay historicists believe that—as a general fact—people's psychological characteristics and life outcomes are powerfully molded by their life histories. We present eight studies linking lay historicism to broad tendencies toward compassion and non-blaming. Collectively, Studies 1–5 suggest that lay historicism affects compassion and blame, respectively, via distinct mechanisms: (1) Lay historicism is associated with compassion because it creates a sense that—as a general fact—past suffering lies behind present difficulties, and (2) lay historicism is associated with blame mitigation because historicists reject the idea that—as a general fact—people freely and autonomously create their moral character. Thus, lay historicism increases compassion and decreases blame via distinct mechanisms. The remaining studies diversify our evidence base. Study 6 examines criminal justice philosophies rather than broad moral traits (as in the earlier studies) and shows that lay historicism is associated with preference for humane criminal justice philosophies. Study 7 moves from abstract beliefs to concrete situations and shows that lay historicism predicts reduced blaming of an irresponsible peer who is encountered face-to-face. One additional study—in our Supplemental Materials—shows that lay historicism predicts lower levels of blaming on implicit measures, although only among those who also reject lay controllability theories. Overall, these studies provide consistent support for the possibility that lay historicism is broadly associated with humane responding to the struggles and transgressions of others. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Genetic structure of animals of several Ukrainian modern breeds analysed by genes of protein and lipid exchange CSN3 (kappa-casein), BLG (betalactaglobulin), LEP (leptin), Pit-1 (pituitery transcription factor), TG-5 (thyroglobulin) were investigated in cows of three domestic breeds (Ukrainian Red Dairy, Ukrainian Black-speckled Dairy, Ukrainian Red-speckled Dairy). Polymer-ase chain reaction, followed by restriction fragment length polymorphism was used for the molecular-genetic analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Frailty is prevalent in persons with human immunodeficiency virus (PWH), but factors predisposing older PWH to frailty remain uncertain. We examined factors associated with frailty and determined whether there were multiple frailty subtypes in older adults with controlled HIV infection. This was a cross-sectional outpatient study in an urban HIV clinic. Twenty-nine clinical indicators were extracted from medical records to compute a Frailty Index (FI) for 389 older (age 50+) PWH (range = 50–93; mean = 61.1, standard deviation = 7.2; 85% men) receiving HIV treatment in Calgary, Canada. We used regressions to identify factors associated with FI values. Latent class analysis was used to identify FI subtypes. Age, employment status, and duration of known HIV infection were the strongest predictors of FI (p's < 0.05). Four FI subtypes were identified. Subtype 1 (severe metabolic dysfunction+polypharmacy) had the highest mean FI (0.30). Subtype 2 (less severe metabolic dysfunction+polypharmacy) and Subtype 3 (lung and liver dysfunction+polypharmacy) had lower but equivalent mean FIs (0.20 for each). Subtype 4 (least severe metabolic dysfunction) had the lowest mean FI (0.13; p's < 0.001). Sociodemographic and behavioral characteristics differed among the subtypes. Individuals with Subtype 1 were older and more frequently unemployed/retired, whereas those with Subtype 3 were more likely to smoke, use crack/cocaine, have heavy alcohol use, and live in temporary/unstable housing. The clinical presentation of frailty in older PWH is heterogeneous. The metabolic syndrome, hepatitis C virus coinfection, cirrhosis, lung disease, and polypharmacy were associated with frailty as were unemployment/retirement, unstable housing, and substance use. Impact statement: We certify that this work is novel and adds to the previous literature by identifying clinical subtypes associated with frailty in older persons living with HIV. Metabolic syndrome, liver and lung disease, and polypharmacy are associated with frailty in older persons living with HIV, as are socioeconomic factors including employment status, unstable housing, alcohol and drug use, and interpersonal violence. This knowledge will permit tailored approaches to addressing frailty in older persons with HIV. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Life‐history narratives describing how a transgressor developed aversive traits can mitigate blame. How is their effectiveness affected by narrative perspective? In particular, how is blame mitigation impacted when the transgressor appears to be knowledgeable of the story of his self‐formation? In three experiments, we compare the effectiveness of narratives that reflect an objective perspective to those that reflect the transgressor's perspective. The experiments contrast two hypotheses. The Perspective Taking hypothesis asserts that the transgressor perspective will be especially effective for blame mitigation because it encourages 'stepping into the shoes' of the transgressor. In contrast, the Should Know Better hypothesis asserts that the transgressor perspective will be especially ineffective because it reveals the transgressor to have self‐knowledge, which triggers an inference that he deeply comprehends the suffering he causes. Results support the Should Know Better hypothesis. Furthermore, Experiment 3 shows that the transgressor perspective increases blameworthiness regardless of whether the transgressor's prior life experiences parallel what he inflicts on his victims. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We report the results of a computer enumeration that found that there are 3155 perfect 1-factorisations (P1Fs) of the complete graph K16. Of these, 89 have a nontrivial automorphism group (correcting an earlier claim of 88 by Meszka and Rosa ['Perfect 1-factorisations of K16 with nontrivial automorphism group', J. Combin. Math. Combin. Comput. 47 (2003), 97–111]). We also (i) describe a new invariant which distinguishes between the P1Fs of K16, (ii) observe that the new P1Fs produce no atomic Latin squares of order 15 and (iii) record P1Fs for a number of large orders that exceed prime powers by one. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Indicators are necessary to monitor national progress toward commitments made to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), but countries often struggle to mobilize quantitative indicators for many biodiversity targets. Assessing the extent to which countries are using measurable indicators from global and national sources by surveying 5th National Reports to the CBD, we found that nationally generated indicators were used 11 times more frequently than global indicators and only one-fifth of indicators matched those recommended by the CBD, suggesting that countries and indicator experts should work more closely to agree upon measurable, scalable, fit-for-purpose indicators for the next generation of CBD targets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In both the early modern period and in contemporary debates, philosophers have argued that there are analogies between mathematics and morality that imply that the ontology and epistemology of morality are crucially similar to the ontology and epistemology of mathematics. I describe arguments for the math‐moral analogy in four early modern philosophers (Locke, Cudworth, Clarke, and Balguy) and in three contemporary philosophers (Clarke‐Doane, Peacocke, and Roberts). I argue that these arguments fail to establish important ontological and epistemological similarities between morality and mathematics. There are analogies between the two areas, but the disanalogies are more significant, undermining the attempt to confer on morality the same ontological and epistemological status that mathematics possesses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper explicates Shaftesbury’s idea that we ought to live our lives as though they are works of art. I show that this idea is central to many of Shaftesbury’s most important claims, and that an understanding of this idea enables us to answer some of the most contested questions in the scholarship on Characteristics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

When reprehensible conduct is explicable in terms of the offender's life history or underlying biology, blame is mitigated. Despite their shared capacity for blame mitigation, here we focus on differences between historical and biological explanations for bad conduct. We argue that historical explanations generate greater uncertainty about blameworthiness than do biological explanations. They do so because they have both competing and tentative implications regarding agent control. Furthermore, we argue that the blame uncertainty engendered by historical explanations enables motivated cognition in the blame process. We provide evidence for these claims in four studies. In Study 1, we show that computer mouse trajectories are less direct—suggesting uncertainty—when blame assessments are made in cases of historical as compared to biological causation. Studies 2, 3, and 4 test our claims regarding susceptibility to biased cognition. Predisposition to blame was measured in Studies 2 and 3 and manipulated in Study 4. In all studies, predisposition to blame was more potent in shaping blame judgments in cases of historical as compared to biological causation. Evidence suggests that this happened because cases of historical causation are relatively amenable to divergent construals regarding agent control, whereas the implications of biological causation are more definitive. Discussion centers on the importance of motivation—a “merciful mindset”—for effecting blame mitigation in cases where the offender has endured an unfortunate life history. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article explores moments of transmission of allergens through kissing, sexual intercourse, and other interpersonal interactions. How are activities--which can be expressions of love, desire, boredom, custom, and duty among others--interpreted when a thorough interrogation of potential allergens can precede these activities? For example, one lover to another: "Tell me about the pasta you had for lunch, did it have a garnish? Are you sure the sauce was only tomato based? What about anchovies? Did it taste fishy?" This hypothetical moment of dialogue samples the multiple ways when a kiss for allergic individuals--and those in proximity--is never just a kiss. And while kisses rarely are just kisses, as meaning is embedded in many expressions and moments of affection, kisses themselves blend boundaries as saliva, allergens, germs, and other matter get passed back and forth between participants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we offer a critical (crip) (re)reading of Rebecca Skloot's book, "The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks" to foreground the complex ways in which disability as a central organizing logic intersects with race, class, and gender to animate a "haunting" narrative. By centering Elsie's narrative, we call upon disability studies scholars to continue to engage in the project of dismantling ableist, capitalist, white supremacy. As such we privilege intersectionality as a critical framework in engaging disability at the intersections of race, class, and gender. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Harsh blame can be socially destructive. This article examines how harsh blame can be “civilized.” A core construct here is the historicist narrative, which is a story-like account of how a person came to be the sort of person she is. We argue that historicist narratives regarding immoral actors can temper blame and that this happens via a novel mechanism. To illuminate that mechanism, we offer a novel theoretical perspective on lay beliefs about free will. We distinguish 2 senses of free will: (a) Freedom of action, which portrays the will as a dynamic choice-making mechanism and concerns whether the actor can exert volitional control via that mechanism at the time of action, and (b) Control of self-formation, which portrays the will as an enduring disposition (e.g., persistent desire to humiliate) and refers to whether the actor is truly the source of that disposition. Six experiments show that historicist narratives have no effect on perceived freedom of action, but rather temper blame by reducing perceived self-formative control. We also provide evidence against several additional theoretically derived alternative mediators (e.g., intentionality, perceived suffering). Further underlining the need to distinguish free will concepts, we show that biological narratives—unlike historicist narratives—temper blame via reductions in perceived freedom of action. Finally, to illuminate the meaning of “civilized” blame,” we show that historicist narratives specifically reduce the urge to inflict spiteful punishments on offenders, but leave intact the urge to nonviolently guide the offender toward moral improvement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BMS-986094, a 2'-C-methylguanosine prodrug that was in development for treatment of chronic hepatitis C infection was withdrawn from Phase 2 clinical trials because of unexpected cardiac and renal adverse events. Investigative nonclinical studies were conducted to extend the understanding of these findings using more comprehensive endpoints. BMS-986094 was given orally to female CD-1 mice (25 and 150 mg/kg/d) for 2 weeks (53/group) and to cynomolgus monkeys (15 and 30 mg/kg/d) for up to 6 weeks (2-3/sex/group for cardiovascular safety, and 5/sex/group for toxicology). Endpoints included toxicokinetics; echocardiography, telemetric hemodynamics and electrocardiography, and tissue injury biomarkers (monkey); and light and ultrastructural pathology of heart, kidney, and skeletal muscle (mouse/monkey). Dose-related and time-dependent findings included: severe toxicity in mice at 150 mg/kg/d and monkeys at 30 mg/kg/d; decreased left ventricular (LV) ejection fraction, fractional shortening, stroke volume, and dP/dt; LV dilatation, increased QTc interval, and T-wave flattening/inversion (monkeys at⩾15 mg/kg/d); cardiomyocyte degeneration (mice at 150 mg/kg/d and monkeys at⩾15 mg/kg/d) with myofilament lysis/myofbril disassembly; time-dependent proteinuria and increased urine b-2 microglobulin, calbindin, clusterin; kidney pallor macroscopically; and tubular dilatation (monkeys); tubular regeneration (mice 150 mg/kg/d); and acute proximal tubule degeneration ultrastructurally (mice/monkeys); and skeletal muscle degeneration with increased urine myoglobin and serum sTnI. These studies identified changes not described previously in studies of BMS-986094 including premonitory cardiovascular functional changes as well as additional biomarkers for muscle and renal toxicities. Although the mechanism of potential toxicities observed in BMS-986094 studies was not established, there was no evidence for direct mitochondrial toxicity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

People respond compassionately to transgressors whose immorality is rooted in an unfortunate life history. But, are reactions to such historicist narratives uniformly compassionate? We suggest not. We propose that historicist narratives also have a dark side. Specifically, they encourage blame shifting, in which negative evaluations of humanity arise hand in hand with compassion for the focal transgressor of the narrative. Indeed, historicist narratives portray the focal transgressor as victimized by multiple others, who destroy her goodness and remove her chance to flourish in life. This destruction of another's potential is itself a profound moral violation and thus activates far-reaching blame responses that feed a disdainful view of humanity. In three studies, we provide evidence that historicist narratives evoke compassion for one but disdain for the multitude. We show that the resulting disdain can diminish prosocial behaviour in unrelated contexts, that it is elicited by both experimenter-provided and participantgenerated historicist narratives, and that it is created via blame shifting. Our findings question the assumption that proliferation of historicist thinking would necessarily contribute to creating a more compassionate, humane society. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Shaftesbury believed that the height of virtue was impartial love for all of humanity. But Shaftesbury also harboured grave doubts about our ability to develop such an expansive love. InThe Moralists, Shaftesbury addressed this problem. I show that while it may appear on the surface thatThe Moralistssolves the difficulty, it in fact remains unresolved. Shaftesbury may not have been able to reconcile his view of the content of virtue with his view of our motivational psychology. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Essentialist beliefs about social groups can contribute to prejudice and intergroup distancing. To date, little data have been gathered regarding minority group members’ essentialistic thinking about the White majority in the U.S. Do essentialist beliefs show a similar structure when minority group members are thinking about the majority as when the majority group is thinking about the minority group? Do minority group essentialist beliefs predict affective prejudice and diminished desire for intergroup contact as they do among White respondents? We sought answers to these questions in a study that included 248 African American participants. We found clear evidence that the structure of Blacks’ essentialist thinking about Whites matches the structure of Whites’ essentialist thinking about Blacks. Specifically, Black respondents made a distinction between bio-somatic and bio-behavioral essentialism, and reported stronger endorsement of the former as compared to the latter. Also replicating prior studies of Whites’ essentialist thinking, only bio-behavioral essentialist beliefs were predictive of negative attitudes. This suggests that essentialism can be linked to prejudice even in contexts that do not involve a dominant group rationalizing its social advantages. Discussion centers on implications of this work for prejudice reduction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Clinical coding data provide the basis for Hospital Episode Statistics and Healthcare Resource Group codes. High accuracy of this information is required for payment by results, allocation of health and research resources, and public health data and planning. We sought to identify the level of accuracy of clinical coding in general surgical admissions across hospitals in the Northwest of England. Method Clinical coding departments identified a total of 208 emergency general surgical patients discharged between 1st March and 15th August 2013 from seven hospital trusts (median = 20, range = 16-60). Blinded re-coding was performed by a senior clinical coder and clinician, with results compared with the original coding outcome. Recorded codes were generated from OPCS-4 & ICD-10. Results Of all cases, 194 of 208 (93.3%) had at least one coding error and 9 of 208 (4.3%) had errors in both primary diagnosis and primary procedure. Errors were found in 64 of 208 (30.8%) of primary diagnoses and 30 of 137 (21.9%) of primary procedure codes. Median tariff using original codes was £1411.50 (range, £409-9138). Re-calculation using updated clinical codes showed a median tariff of £1387.50, P = 0.997 (range, £406-10,102). The most frequent reasons for incorrect coding were “coder error” and a requirement for “clinical interpretation of notes”. Conclusions Errors in clinical coding are multifactorial and have significant impact on primary diagnosis, potentially affecting the accuracy of Hospital Episode Statistics data and in turn the allocation of health care resources and public health planning. As we move toward surgeon specific outcomes, surgeons should increase collaboration with coding departments to ensure the system is robust. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Do essentialist conceptions of racial groups foster prejudice and negative attitudes? Existing literature provides mixed results. We propose that relations between essentialism and negative attitudes will become clearer in light of a new conceptualization of essentialism derived from literature on how laypersons reason about biological inheritance. Accordingly, we propose a distinction between two types of essentialism: Bio-somatic essentialism and bio-behavioral essentialism. Further, we distinguish both of these types of essentialism from entitativity, and argue that essentialism and entitativity exert independent effects on prejudice and negative attitudes. Study 1 shows that bio-behavioral essentialism—but not bio-somatic essentialism—contributes to prejudice, and that bio-behavioral essentialism and perceived entitativity exert independent effects on prejudice. In Study 2, we manipulate whether participants hold a bio-somatic essentialist, bio-behavioral essentialist, or antiessentialist theory about a novel group and show that bio-behavioral essentialism is uniquely facilitative of negative attitudes toward a negatively behaving outgroup. Finally, in Study 3 we manipulate both essentialist theories and entitativity and show that bio-behavioral essentialism and strong perceptions of entitativity independently increase negative attitudes. Because both bio-somatic essentialism and bio-behavioral essentialism involve seeing a group as a “natural kind,” our work suggests that only particular types of natural kind beliefs are related to negative attitudes. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Paradoxically, the thymidine kinase (TK) encoded by Kaposi sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV) is an extremely inefficient nucleoside kinase, when compared to TKs from related herpesviruses. We now show that KSHV-TK, in contrast to HSV1-TK, associates with the actin cytoskeleton and induces extensive cell contraction followed by membrane blebbing. These dramatic changes in cell morphology depend on the auto-phosphorylation of tyrosines 65, 85 and 120 in the N-terminus of KSHV-TK. Phosphorylation of tyrosines 65/85 and 120 results in an interaction with Crk family proteins and the p85 regulatory subunit of PI3-Kinase, respectively. The interaction of Crk with KSHV-TK leads to tyrosine phoshorylation of this cellular adaptor. Auto-phosphorylation of KSHV-TK also induces a loss of FAK and paxillin from focal adhesions, resulting in activation of RhoA-ROCK signalling to myosin II and cell contraction. In the absence of FAK or paxillin, KSHV-TK has no effect on focal adhesion integrity or cell morphology. Our observations demonstrate that by acting as a tyrosine kinase, KSHV-TK modulates signalling and cell morphology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In a Phase 2 clinical trial, BMS-986020, a lysophosphatidic acid receptor-1 (LPA 1) antagonist, produced hepatobiliary toxicity (increased ALT, AST, and ALP; cholecystitis) and increases in plasma bile acids (BA). Nonclinical investigations conducted to identify a potential mechanism(s) for this toxicity examined BMS-986020 and two LPA 1 antagonists structurally distinct from BMS-986020 (BMS-986234 and BMS-986278). BMS-986020 inhibited hepatic BA efflux transporters BSEP (IC 50 1.8 μM), MRP3 (IC 50 22 μM), and MRP4 (IC 50 6.2 μM) and inhibited BA canalicular efflux in human hepatocytes (68% at 10 μM). BMS-986020 inhibited mitochondrial function (basal and maximal respiration, ATP production, and spare capacity) in human hepatocytes and cholangiocytes at ≥10 μM and inhibited phospholipid efflux in human hepatocytes (MDR3 IC 50 7.5 μM). A quantitative systems toxicology analysis (DILIsym®), considering pharmacokinetics, BA homeostasis, mitochondrial function, oxidative phosphorylation, and reactive intermediates performed for BMS-986020 recapitulated clinical findings ascribing the effects to BA transporter and mitochondrial electron transport chain inhibition. BMS-986234 and BMS-986278 minimally inhibited hepatic BA transporters (IC 50 ≥20 μM) and did not inhibit MDR3 activity (IC 50 >100 μM), nor did BMS-986234 inhibit BA efflux (≤50 μM) or mitochondrial function (≤30 μM) (BMS-986278 not evaluated). Multiple mechanisms may be involved in the clinical toxicity observed with BMS-986020. The data indicate that this toxicity was unrelated to LPA 1 antagonism since the mechanisms that likely influenced the adverse clinical outcome of BMS-986020 were not observed with equipotent LPA 1 antagonists BMS-986234 and BMS-986278. This conclusion is consistent with the lack of hepatobiliary toxicity in nonclinical and clinical safety studies with BMS-986278. • BMS first LPAR1 antagonist associated with bile acid transporter inhibition. • BMS first LPAR1 antagonist associated with phospholipid transporter inhibition. • BMS first LPAR1 antagonist associated with decreased mitochondrial function. • In vitro risk factors for DILI mitigated with BMS 2nd generation LPA1 antagonists. • Hepatobiliary toxicity is unrelated to antagonism of LPAR1. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Why is he poor? Why is she failing academically? Why is he so generous? Why is she so conscientious? Answers to such everyday questions—social explanations—have powerful effects on relationships at the interpersonal and societal levels. How do people select an explanation in particular cases? We suggest that, often, explanations are selected based on the individual's pre-existing general theories of social causality. More specifically, we suggest that over time individuals develop general beliefs regarding the causes of social events. We refer to these beliefs as social explanatory styles. Our goal in the present article is to offer and validate a measure of individual differences in social explanatory styles. Accordingly, we offer the Social Explanatory Styles Questionnaire (SESQ), which measures three independent dimensions of social explanatory style: Dispositionism, historicism, and controllability. Studies 1–3 examine basic psychometric properties of the SESQ and provide positive evidence regarding internal consistency, factor structure, and both convergent and divergent validity. Studies 4–6 examine predictive validity for each subscale: Does each explanatory dimension moderate an important phenomenon of social cognition? Results suggest that they do. In Study 4, we show that SESQ dispositionism moderates the tendency to make spontaneous trait inferences. In Study 5, we show that SESQ historicism moderates the tendency to commit the Fundamental Attribution Error. Finally, in Study 6 we show that SESQ controllability predicts polarization of moral blame judgments: Heightened blaming toward controllable stigmas (assimilation), and attenuated blaming toward uncontrollable stigmas (contrast). Decades of research suggest that explanatory style regarding the self is a powerful predictor of self-functioning. We think it is likely that social explanatory styles—perhaps comprising interactive combinations of the basic dimensions tapped by the SESQ—will be similarly potent predictors of social functioning. We hope the SESQ will be a useful tool for exploring that possibility. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The last 6 years have seen an unprecedented level of activity in the field of international aviation law, with the adoption of three new conventions and one new protocol. This is a testament to ICAO's leadership role and its ongoing relevance, particularly in the field of aviation security. The tragic events of 9/11 highlighted some weaknesses in the international law regime and were the impetus behind the nine-year process that led to the adoption of the 2010 Beijing Convention and Protocol. This Article reviews the historical background to the new treaties, including the journey taken through the ICAO process. It also analyzes in detail the provisions of the new treaties, assesses the views expressed in support as well as in opposition of their adoption, and considers the important perspective of the airline industry. Finally, the key question of whether or not the Beijing instruments will lead to improvements in aviation security is addressed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A wide range of developmental disorders present with characteristic psychopathologies and behaviors, with diagnoses including, inter alia, cognitive disorders and learning disabilities, epilepsies, autism, and schizophrenia. Each, to varying extent, has a genetic component to etiology and is associated with cytogenetic abnormalities. Technological developments, particularly array-based comparative genome hybridization and single nucleotide polymorphism chips, has revealed a wide range of rare recurrent and de novo copy number variants (CNVs) to be associated with disorder and psychopathology. It is surprising that many apparently similar CNVs are identified across two or more disorders hitherto considered unrelated. This article describes the characteristics of CNVs and current technological restrictions that make accurately identifying small events difficult. It summarizes the latest discoveries for individual diagnostic categories and considers the implications for a shared neurobiology. It examines likely developments in the knowledge base as well as addressing the clinical implications going forward. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The present work challenges the idea that implicit evaluative associations with outgroups necessarily provide information about negative or prejudiced attitudes. We argue that the manner in which one explains outgroup status and action shapes whether one''s implicit “negative” associations are prejudice-based or empathy-based. Four studies are consistent with this possibility. Study 1 suggests that whereas implicit “negative” associations are predictive of negative explicit attitudes among those who reject external explanations for African American status and action, such implicit “negativity” predicts positive explicit attitudes among those who endorse external explanations. Study 2 provides experimental evidence that the provision of external explanations results in the formation of implicit “negative” associations that are predictive of compassionate responding. Study 3 provides more direct support for the idea that implicit “negative” associations are empathy-based among external explainers by showing that such “negative” associations are positively correlated with a measure of dispositional empathy-proneness. Finally, Study 4 demonstrates that IAT “negativity” is associated with automatic activation of empathy-related associations among those who strongly endorse external explanations. Discussion centers on the importance of considering factors—such as social explanations—that may moderate whether implicit “negativity” is prejudice-based or empathy-based. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The article discusses the patterns of sexual transgression and gender in the web-based reality show "The Specials," which the publication "The Guardian" calls a docusoap. It states that the show is a story of white young adults who have intellectual disabilities and live together in Brighton, England. It says that web developer Daniel May and producer-director Katy Lock continued the series in 2009 even without institutional support and funding. It engages with the observation by writer Margrit Shildrick that interweaving of subjectivity, sexuality, and disability constitutes a risky combination. It mentions that the show was originally conceived as a television broadcast reality show.

The article presents the author's view on the argument made by Sinnott-Armstrong on a reason to reject consequentialism. The author states the Sinnott argument is based on based on promises that are made to get benefit in the future. Author also discusses that the promises depends upon the circumstances. Also information on decision to be taken during different circumstances is presented.

Masturbation in sexology and in sex education constitutes one of the only sanctioned sexualities for individuals with intellectual disabilities. The discourse around disease and infection prevention at times reinforces masturbation as a suitable expression of sexuality. Utilizing scenes from a 1975 American film, The ABCs of Sex Education for Trainables and other educational materials, I investigate how sexuality for individuals with intellectual disabilities is programmed, restricted and professionalized through different training methods in order to prevent the practices of public masturbation. Masturbation training for individuals with intellectual disabilities provides a unique vantage point to discuss how the sexuality of certain groups such as prisoners, people in group homes, and institutions fall under regulation and restriction of everyday life. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Viral enzymes that process small molecules provide potential chemotherapeutic targets. A key constraint- the replicative potential of spontaneous enzyme mutants-has been hard to define with human gammaherpesviruses because of their narrow species tropisms. Here, we disrupted the murid herpesvirus 4 (MuHV-4) ORF61, which encodes its ribonucleotide reductase (RNR) large subunit. Mutant viruses showed delayed in vitro lytic replication, failed to establish infection via the upper respiratory tract, and replicated to only a very limited extent in the lower respiratory tract without reaching lymphoid tissue. RNR could therefore provide a good target for gammaherpesvirus chemotherapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Cambridge Platonists were a group of religious thinkers who attended and taught at Cambridge from the 1640s until the 1660s. The four most important of them were Benjamin Whichcote, John Smith, Ralph Cudworth, and Henry More. The most prominent sentimentalist moral philosophers of the Scottish Enlightenment – Hutcheson, Hume, and Adam Smith – knew of the works of the Cambridge Platonists. But the Scottish sentimentalists typically referred to the Cambridge Platonists only briefly and in passing. The surface of Hutcheson, Hume, and Smith's texts can give the impression that the Cambridge Platonists were fairly distant intellectual relatives of the Scottish sentimentalists – great great-uncles, perhaps, and uncles of a decidedly foreign ilk. But this surface appearance is deceiving. There were deeply significant philosophical connections between the Cambridge Platonists and the Scottish sentimentalists, even if the Scottish sentimentalists themselves did not always make it perfectly explicit. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The author focuses on moral phenomenology, defined as a study of morality as experienced in the first-person. Moral phenomenology attempts to investigate the mental introspection involved in deciding whether or not to perform an act and in determining whether a person is virtuous. The author points out that philosophers commonly claim their moral theories are superior to others' theories because they better account for the human experience of moral judgment. He critiques the failure of phenomenological arguments of Francis Hutcheson and David Hume as illustrative of the limitations of moral phenomenology among rival theories of morality.

In the mid-20th century, descriptive meta-ethics addressed a number of central questions, such as whether there is a necessary connection between moral judgment and motivation, whether moral reasons are absolute or relative, and whether moral judgments express attitudes or describe states of affairs. I maintain that much of this work in mid-20th century meta-ethics proceeded on an assumption that there is good reason to question. The assumption was that our ordinary discourse is uniform and determinate enough to vindicate one side or the other of these meta-ethical debates. I suggest that ordinary moral discourse may be much less uniform and determinate than 20th century meta-ethics assumed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Many have held that there is some kind of incompatibility between a commitment to good end-of-life care and the legalization of physician-assisted suicide. This opposition to physician-assisted suicide encompasses a cluster of different claims. In this essay I try to clarify some of the most important of these claims and show that they do not stand up well to conceptual and empirical scrutiny. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article provides information on three perspectives in making moral judgments such as moral sentimentalism, descriptive and prescriptive moral pluralism. It cites several works which prove that emotions play a crucial role in making ordinary moral judgments to explain the moral sentimentalism. The basic rules that affect judgment, along with the details of descriptive and prescriptive moral judgment, are also discussed.

All gamma-herpesviruses encode at least one homolog of the cellular enzyme formyl-glycineamide-phosphoribosylamidotransferase. Murid herpesvirus-4 (MuHV-4) encodes 3 (ORFs 75a, 75b and 75c), suggesting that at least some copies have acquired new functions. Here we show that the corresponding proteins are all present in virions and localize to infected cell nuclei. Despite these common features, ORFs 75a and 75b did not substitute functionally for a lack of ORF75c, as ORF75c virus knockouts were severely impaired for lytic replication in vitro and for host colonization in vivo. They showed 2 defects: incoming capsids failed to migrate to the nuclear margin following membrane fusion, and genomes that did reach the nucleus failed to initiate normal gene expression. The latter defect was associated with a failure of in-coming virions to disassemble PML bodies. The capsid transport deficit seemed to be functionally more important, since ORF75c- MuHV-4 infected both PML+ and PML- cells poorly. The original host enzyme has therefore evolved into a set of distinct and multi-functional viral tegument proteins. One important function is moving incoming capsids to the nuclear margin for viral genome delivery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Viruses lack self-propulsion. To move in multi-cellular hosts they must therefore manipulate infected cells. Herpesviruses provide an archetype for many aspects of host manipulation, but only for alpha-herpesviruses in is there much information about they move. Other herpesviruses are not necessarily the same. Here we show that Murine gamma-herpesvirus-68 (MHV-68) induces the outgrowth of long, branched plasma membrane fronds to create an intercellular network for virion traffic. The fronds were actin-based and RhoA-dependent. Time-lapse imaging showed that the infected cell surface became highly motile and that virions moved on the fronds. This plasma membrane remodelling was driven by the cytoplasmic tail of gp48, a MHV-68 glycoprotein previously implicated in intercellular viral spread. The MHV-68 ORF58 was also required, but its role was simply transporting gp48 to the plasma membrane, since a gp48 mutant exported without ORF58 did not require ORF58 to form membrane fronds either. Together, gp48/ORF58 were sufficient to induce fronds in transfected cells, as were the homologous BDLF2/BMRF2 of Epstein-Barr virus. Gp48/ORF58 therefore represents a conserved module by which gamma-herpesviruses rearrange cellular actin to increase intercellular contacts and thereby promote their spread. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Autism is a neurodevelopmental disorder with high heritability and a likely complex genetic architecture. Much genetic evidence has accumulated in the last 20 years but no gene has been unequivocally identified as containing risk variants for autism. In this article we review the past and present literature on neuro-pathological, genetic linkage, genetic association, and gene expression studies in this disorder. We sought convergent evidence to support particular genes or chromosomal regions that might be likely to contain risk DNA variants. The convergent evidence from these studies supports the current hypotheses that there are multiple genetic loci predisposing to autism, and that genes involved in neurodevelopment are especially important for future genetic studies. Convergent evidence suggests the chromosome regions 7q21.2–q36.2, 16p12.1–p13.3, 6q14.3–q23.2, 2q24.1–q33.1, 17q11.1–q21.2, 1q21–q44 and 3q21.3–q29, are likely to contain risk genes for autism. Taken together with results from neuro-pathological studies, genes involved in brain development located at the above regions should be prioritized for future genetic research. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Two studies examined whether social explanations—causal frameworks used to make sense of a group's status and behavior—are associated with prejudice-related compunction. In Study 1, based on Devine, Monteith, Zuwerink, & Elliott, (1991), participants who endorsed external explanations (e.g. low socioeconomic status of Blacks stems from historical maltreatment) showed a particularly strong tendency to experience compunction in response to prejudice- related discrepancies. Study 2 involved a novel paradigm. Participants were induced to admit that they would discriminate against Black males. Conceptually replicating Study 1, endorsement of external explanations was positively associated with compunction in response to this imagined discrimination. Across both studies, there was also evidence that the effects of external explanations are not explicable in terms of internal motivation to avoid prejudice, global prejudice, or global positive evaluation of African Americans. Discussion centers on the importance of explanations in shaping intergroup emotions and how the concept of explanation links the intergroup emotion literature to other emotion literatures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The nucleoside kinase encoded by Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV) is a relatively inefficient enzyme with substrate specificity for thymidine alone, unlike alphaherpesvirus thymidine kinases (TKs). Similar to all gammaherpesvirus TKs, KSHV TK is composed of two distinct domains, a conserved C-terminal kinase and a novel and uncharacterized N terminus. Ectopic expression of KSHV TK in adherent cells induced striking morphological changes and anchorage independence although cells survived, a property shared with the related rhadinovirus TKs of rhesus monkey rhadinovirus and herpesvirus saimiri. To determine whether KSHV TK served alternate functions relevant to the rhadinovirus life cycle and to reveal the contribution of the N terminus, an enhanced green fluorescent protein-tagged fusion protein and serial mutants were generated for investigation of intracellular localization and cell biology. Analysis of truncation mutants showed that a proline-rich region located within the N terminus cooperated with the conserved C-terminal kinase to tether KSHV TK to a reticular network in the cytoplasm and to induce morphological change. Fusion of the KSHV N terminus to herpes simplex virus type 1 TK, a nucleus-localized enzyme, similarly resulted in cytoplasmic redistribution of the chimeric protein but did not alter cell shape or adhesion. Unlike other human herpesvirus TKs, KSHV TKs and related rhadinovirus TKs are constitutively tyrosine phosphorylated; a KSHV TK mutant that was hypophosphorylated failed to detach and grow in suspension. Loss of adhesion may enhance terminal differentiation, viral replication, and egress at the cellular level and at the organism level may facilitate detachment and distant migration of KSHV-replicating cells within body fluids—promoting oropharyngeal transmission and perhaps contributing to the multifocal lesions that characterize KS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper investigates notions of transition and independence, as well as the current circumstances that detain countless disabled people in employment endeavors that not only pay meager wages but also cement a lifelong servitude to the workshop. Sheltered workshops exist on the basis and replication of a structure that incarcerates disabled people within vocational‐like settings. This paper begins a discussion of the social contract that occurs between the disabled person in the workshop. The workshop is no longer a place of societal liberation that affords the individual the opportunity to learn vocational skills, but rather it has become an institution that creates its own army of workers that will forever be subjected to a life in the workshop because of their disability status. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Since 1998, physician-assisted suicide has been legal in the American state of Oregon. In this paper, Idefend Oregon's physician-assisted suicide (PAS) law against two of the most common objections raised against it. First, I try to show that it is not intrinsically wrong for someone with a terminal disease to kill herself. Second, I try to show that it is not intrinsically wrong for physicians to assist someone with a terminal disease who has reasonable grounds for wanting to kill herself. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

One conclusion emerging from the stereotyping literature is that behavioral information can undercut stereotyping of individuals. Two studies examined whether this holds for descriptive but not prescriptive stereotypes. In Study 1, participants whose descriptive and prescriptive stereotypes had been measured chose between equally qualified male and female job applicants. Results indicated that descriptive stereotypes did not predict gender bias, but prescriptive stereotypes did. In Study 2, participants whose descriptive and prescriptive stereotypes had been measured provided evaluations of either male or female job applicants who were enacting either masculine or feminine roles. Results indicated that descriptive stereotypes did not predict gender bias, but prescriptive stereotypes fostered—among male participants—a bias against females enacting masculine roles and in favor of males enacting masculine roles. These studies suggest that prescriptive stereotyping can persevere after behavioral information has undercut descriptive stereotyping. Thus, the studies underline both the tenacity of stereotyping and the need to reconsider the generalization that information deters stereotyping. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Postconsumer plastic chips that cannot be processed for useful applications may end up in a landfill. This constitutes an environmental problem and is considered an additional burden on the already tight landfill space. In this research, plastic chips were used as partial replacement of coarse aggregates in concrete mixtures. The testing program was organized to study the effect of adding plastic aggregates to the concrete in order to reduce the density and gain superior deformation qualities. In this study, plastic aggregates replaced 5, 10, and 15% by mass of coarse aggregates. A total of 198 concrete cubes were made to examine the effect of plastic content and water/cement ratio on the mechanical properties of concrete. The cubes were tested in compression at 1, 7, 14, 21, and 28 days where measurements of deformation were made. The measured load and deformation were used to calculate stress, strain, and modulus of elasticity as related to different plastic content and water/cement ratio. Test results were used to optimize mix design and to establish mathematical relationships between plastic content in the mix and the strength and deformation characteristics of the hardened concrete. Furthermore, digital imaging was employed to scan cross sections of cubes with plastic aggregates to study the orientation of plastic chips in the cube, and to correlate the area of plastics to the increase in durability or the decrease in strength. Test results demonstrated that plastic aggregates are viable in providing the concrete with a high degree of deformability as compared with regular concrete. This characteristic makes the concrete useful in situations where it will be subjected to harsh weather, such as expansion or contraction, or freeze and thaw. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

CD21 is a multifunctional receptor for Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), for C3dg and for CD23. Upon engagement of immune complexes CD21 modulates immunoreceptor signaling, linking innate and adaptive immune responses. The mechanisms enabling CD21 to independently relay information between the exterior and interior of the cell, however, remain unresolved. We show that formin homologue overexpressed in spleen (FHOS/FHOD1) binds the cytoplasmic domain of human CD21 through its C terminus. When expressed in cells, EGFP-FHOS localizes to the cytoplasm and accumulates with actin in membrane protrusions. Plasma membrane aggregation, redistribution and co-localization of both proteins are stimulated when EBV (ligand) binds CD21. Though widely expressed, FHOS RNA is most abundant in the littoral cell, a major constituent of the red pulp of human spleen believed to function in antigen filtration. Formins are molecular scaffolds that nucleate actin by a pathway distinct from Arp2/3 complex, linking signal transduction to actin reorganization and gene transcription. Thus, ligand stimulation of FHOS-CD21 interaction may transmit signals through promotion of cytoskeletal rearrangement. Moreover, formin recruitment to sites of actin assembly initiated by immunoreceptors could be a general mechanism whereby co-receptors such as CD21 modulate intracellular signaling. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two studies provide support for W. B. Swann's (1984) argument that perceivers achieve substantial pragmatic accuracy-accuracy that facilitates the achievement of relationship-specific interaction goals-in their social relationships. Study 1 assessed the extent to which group members reached consensus regarding the behavior of a member in familiar (as compared with unfamiliar) contexts and found that groups do indeed achieve this form of pragmatic accuracy. Study 2 assessed the degree of insight romantic partners had into the self-views of their partners on relationship-relevant (as compared with less relevant) traits and found that couples do indeed achieve this form of pragmatic accuracy. Furthermore, pragmatic accuracy was uniquely associated with relationship harmony. Implications for a functional approach to person perception are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]