Narrative influence on support of a public policy: The case of nuclear power in The Netherlands.

We propose a new methodology to systematically transform presurveyed argument preferences into fictional narratives, that can help people to imagine the consequences of future events, and measure how they impact willingness to pay for a public policy. We apply narrative theory to construct two short narratives that depict an imaginary future, bleak due to climate change or energy dependence, and show experimentally that exposure to these narratives increases contributions in a Public Goods game, framed as payments toward the construction of new nuclear plant in The Netherlands. Our results suggest that fictional narratives can be used (and misused) as a tool of economic policy that allows conveying relevant information to people about complex issues.

Analysis of very long-chain fatty acids using electrospray ionization mass spectrometry.

Elevated levels of very long-chain fatty acids (VLCFA) in plasma and tissues are the biochemical hallmark for patients with X-linked adrenoleukodystrophy (X-ALD). Current methods for the determination of VLCFA levels are laborious and time-consuming. We describe a rapid and easy method using electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS) with deuterated internal standards.

Behavioral biochemical and neuroendocrine concomitants of lactate-induced panic anxiety.

In a single-blind study using sodium lactate infusions to provoke panic attacks, 11 of 15 patients with panic disorder panicked with lactate. None of the 15 control subjects panicked during lactate administration. Before receiving lactate, higher preinfusion anxiety levels were present in the patient group as compared to controls.