The role of coccolithophore calcification in bioengineering their environment.

Coccolithophorids are enigmatic plankton that produce calcium carbonate coccoliths, which over geological time have buried atmospheric CO2 into limestone, changing both the atmosphere and geology of the Earth. However, the role of coccoliths for the proliferation of these organisms remains unclear; suggestions include roles in anti-predation, enhanced photosynthesis and sun-screening. Here we test the hypothesis that calcification stabilizes the pH of the seawater proximate to the organisms, providing a level of acidification countering the detrimental basification that occurs during net photosynthesis. Such bioengineering provides a more stable pH environment for growth and fits the empirical evidence for changes in rates of calcification under different environmental conditions. Under this scenario, simulations suggest that the optimal production ratio of inorganic to organic particulate C (PIC : POCprod) will be lower (by approx. 20%) with ocean acidification and that overproduction of coccoliths in a future acidified ocean, where pH buffering is weaker, presents a risk to calcifying cells.

The role of coccolithophore calcification in bioengineering their environment.

Coccolithophorids are enigmatic plankton that produce calcium carbonate coccoliths, which over geological time have buried atmospheric CO2 into limestone, changing both the atmosphere and geology of the Earth. However, the role of coccoliths for the proliferation of these organisms remains unclear; suggestions include roles in anti-predation, enhanced photosynthesis and sun-screening. Here we test the hypothesis that calcification stabilizes the pH of the seawater proximate to the organisms, providing a level of acidification countering the detrimental basification that occurs during net photosynthesis. Such bioengineering provides a more stable pH environment for growth and fits the empirical evidence for changes in rates of calcification under different environmental conditions. Under this scenario, simulations suggest that the optimal production ratio of inorganic to organic particulate C (PIC : POCprod) will be lower (by approx. 20%) with ocean acidification and that overproduction of coccoliths in a future acidified ocean, where pH buffering is weaker, presents a risk to calcifying cells.

Molecular basis of canalization in an ascidian species complex adapted to different thermal conditions

Canalization is a result of intrinsic developmental buffering that ensures phenotypic robustness under genetic variation and environmental perturbation. As a consequence, animal phenotypes are remarkably consistent within a species under a wide range of conditions, a property that seems contradictory to evolutionary change. Study of laboratory model species has uncovered several possible canalization mechanisms, however, we still do not understand how the level of buffering is controlled in natural populations. We exploit wild populations of the marine chordate Ciona intestinalis to show that levels of buffering are maternally inherited. Comparative transcriptomics show expression levels of genes encoding canonical chaperones such as Hsp70 and Hsp90 do not correlate with buffering. However the expression of genes encoding endoplasmic reticulum (ER) chaperones does correlate. We also show that ER chaperone genes are widely conserved amongst animals. Contrary to previous beliefs that expression level of Heat Shock Proteins (HSPs) can be used as a measurement of buffering levels, we propose that ER associated chaperones comprise a cellular basis for canalization. ER chaperones have been neglected by the fields of development, evolution and ecology, but their study will enhance understanding of both our evolutionary past and the impact of global environmental change.

Molecular basis of canalization in an ascidian species complex adapted to different thermal conditions

Canalization is a result of intrinsic developmental buffering that ensures phenotypic robustness under genetic variation and environmental perturbation. As a consequence, animal phenotypes are remarkably consistent within a species under a wide range of conditions, a property that seems contradictory to evolutionary change. Study of laboratory model species has uncovered several possible canalization mechanisms, however, we still do not understand how the level of buffering is controlled in natural populations. We exploit wild populations of the marine chordate Ciona intestinalis to show that levels of buffering are maternally inherited. Comparative transcriptomics show expression levels of genes encoding canonical chaperones such as Hsp70 and Hsp90 do not correlate with buffering. However the expression of genes encoding endoplasmic reticulum (ER) chaperones does correlate. We also show that ER chaperone genes are widely conserved amongst animals. Contrary to previous beliefs that expression level of Heat Shock Proteins (HSPs) can be used as a measurement of buffering levels, we propose that ER associated chaperones comprise a cellular basis for canalization. ER chaperones have been neglected by the fields of development, evolution and ecology, but their study will enhance understanding of both our evolutionary past and the impact of global environmental change.

Exploration du rôle modérateur des stratégies d’adaptation sur la relation entre les mauvais traitements perçus et les problèmes psychologiques d’adolescents à risque

Les adolescents qui ont subi de la négligence ou des abus substantiels dans leur famille risquent de présenter des symptômes anxieux et dépressifs et des comportements antisociaux plus importants. Parmi les ressources internes qui pourraient contribuer à la résilience de ces jeunes, les stratégies qu’ils adoptent pour composer avec les situations stressantes ont été peu examinées. Dans cette thèse, nous examinons les stratégies d’adaptation utilisées par 336 adolescents placés en centre de réadaptation, avec pour objectif de vérifier leur rôle modérateur dans la relation entre les mauvais traitements qu’ils perçoivent et l’ampleur de leurs problèmes intériorisés ou extériorisés. Le premier chapitre présente une revue de la recherche sur les liens entre divers stresseurs, les stratégies d’adaptation des jeunes et leur condition psychologique. Ces études mettent en lumière combien les effets des stratégies qu’ils utilisent peuvent varier selon les stresseurs familiaux ou sociaux auxquels ils sont exposés. Les deux études empiriques aux chapitres 2 et 3 portent sur les interactions entre trois types de maltraitance (abus émotionnel ou physique, négligence émotionnelle) et quatre stratégies d’adaptation (centrées sur les problèmes, les émotions, la diversion sociale et la distraction). Dans la première étude, ces interactions sont testées pour leurs effets sur l’ampleur des problèmes intériorisés rapportés par les jeunes ou leurs éducateurs; la seconde étude explore leurs effets sur l’ampleur des problèmes extériorisés. Quand les problèmes intériorisés sont rapportés par les adolescents, les stratégies centrées sur les problèmes, la diversion sociale et la distraction avaient un effet protecteur sur l’ampleur des symptômes associés à la maltraitance émotionnelle, surtout chez les filles. Les stratégies centrées sur les problèmes ont aussi un effet protecteur sur la relation entre l’abus émotionnel et les comportements agressifs rapportés par les jeunes. Toutefois quand il s’agit des problèmes extériorisés, plusieurs interactions montrent plutôt que les effets adaptatifs de certaines stratégies diminuent quand les mauvais traitements augmentent. Il en est ainsi pour les stratégies centrées sur les problèmes ou la diversion sociale quand ces problèmes sont observés par les éducateurs, et pour les distractions, lorsqu’ils sont rapportés par les filles. Enfin la diversion sociale est associée à des comportements délinquants plus marqués rapportés par les jeunes et son effet modérateur chez les garçons montre que cette relation est plus forte quand ils sont moins maltraités. Les stratégies d’adaptation examinées contribuent donc surtout à atténuer la détresse émotionnelle des filles victimes de maltraitance psychologique, mais elles semblent avoir peu d’impact sur les comportements antisociaux des jeunes maltraités. Ces résultats sont discutés en lien avec les caractéristiques de notre échantillon. Les implications cliniques qui s’en dégagent permettent de suggérer des pistes pour mieux soutenir ces jeunes dans l’apprentissage de stratégies adaptatives pour réguler leur stress.

Functions of the SLC36 transporter Pathetic in growth control of Drosophila sensory neurons

Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Washington, 2016-08

Letting the managers manage: analyzing capacity to conserve biodiversity in a cross-border protected area network

Biodiversity loss is one of the most significant drivers of ecosystem change and is projected to continue at a rapid rate. While protected areas, such as national parks, are seen as important refuges for biodiversity, their effectiveness in stemming biodiversity decline has been questioned. Public agencies have a critical role in the governance of many such areas, but there are tensions between the need for these agencies to be more “adaptive” and their current operating environment. Our aim is to analyze how institutions enable or constrain capacity to conserve biodiversity in a globally significant cross-border network of protected areas, the Australian Alps. Using a novel conceptual framework for diagnosing biodiversity institutions, our research examined institutional adaptive capacity and more general capacity for conserving biodiversity. Several intertwined issues limit public agencies’ capacity to fulfill their conservation responsibilities. Narrowly defined accountability measures constrain adaptive capacity and divert attention away from addressing key biodiversity outcomes. Implications for learning were also evident, with protected area agencies demonstrating successful learning for on-ground issues but less success in applying this learning to deeper policy change. Poor capacity to buffer political and community influences in managing significant cross-border drivers of biodiversity decline signals poor fit with the institutional context and has implications for functional fit. While cooperative federalism provides potential benefits for buffering through diversity, it also means protected area agencies have restricted authority to address cross-border threats. Restrictions on staff authority and discretion, as public servants, have further implications for deploying capacity. This analysis, particularly the possibility of fostering “ambidexterity”—creatively responding to political pressures in a way that also achieves a desirable outcome for biodiversity conservation—is one promising way of building capacity to buffer both political influences and ecological pressures. The findings and the supporting analysis provide insight into how institutional capacity to conserve biodiversity can be enhanced in protected areas in Australia and elsewhere, especially those governed by public agencies and/or multiple organizations and across jurisdictions.

Intolérence à l'effort en hypertension artérielle pulmonaire : Implication des déterminants périphériques

L’hypertension artérielle pulmonaire (HTAP) est une maladie caractérisée par l’augmentation progressive des résistances vasculaires pulmonaires causant une augmentation de la pression artérielle pulmonaire qui mène au décès prématuré des patients. Malgré une amélioration rapide ces dernières années des traitements spécifiques, les patients souffrant d’HTAP demeurent dyspnéiques et intolérants à l’effort. L’atteinte vasculaire pulmonaire est actuellement irréversible. Elle est également la source de plusieurs anomalies au niveau des systèmes cardiovasculaires, ventilatoires et musculaires constituant les principaux déterminants physiologiques de la capacité à l’effort des patients. Cette thèse a investigué différentes facettes de la tolérance à l’effort en HTAP : les différents mécanismes ayant un impact sur l’apport musculaire en oxygène, l’altération des voies de signalisation cellulaire impliquées dans l’angiogenèse musculaire et les mécanismes ayant un impact sur la régulation du débit sanguin et l’oxygénation cérébrale en HTAP. Nous avons premièrement documenté une diminution de l’apport en oxygène aux muscles squelettiques à l’effort des patients en relation avec une diminution de la densité capillaire musculaire. Ce défaut d’angiogenèse corrélait d’ailleurs avec la capacité à l’effort des sujets. Par la suite, nous avons étudié les voies de signalisations cellulaires de l’angiogenèse musculaire. Ces résultats ont permis de démontrer une diminution de l’expression de miR-126, unique aux patients HTAP, qui était responsable de la diminution de la densité capillaire et qui contribuait à leur intolérance à l’effort. De plus, il était possible de moduler in vivo l’expression de miR-126. L’expérimentation in vivo, à l’aide d’un modèle murin d’HTAP, a permis de rétablir l’expression de miR-126, d’augmenter la microcirculation musculaire et d’améliorer la tolérance à l’effort des animaux, ce qui met en lumière le potentiel thérapeutique de l’angiogenèse musculaire pour améliorer la capacité à l’effort en HTAP. Notre dernier projet a démontré que les patients HTAP présentaient une diminution de débit sanguin cérébral. Ce projet a également démontré que les changements de pression artérielle sont moins bien amortis par les vaisseaux cérébraux des patients et que leurs vaisseaux cérébraux étaient moins réactifs aux changements de CO2. Les patients présentaient aussi une augmentation de la sensibilité des chémorécepteurs centraux qui contribuait à augmenter leur ventilation au repos, mais aussi à l’exercice. Finalement, à l’effort, nous avons démontré que le débit sanguin cérébral des patients HTAP était principalement influencé par la pression artérielle alors que chez les sujets sains, le débit sanguin cérébral était influencé principalement par la PETCO2. Nous avons également démontré que les patients HTAP présentaient une diminution progressive de leur oxygénation cérébrale, qui corrélait avec leur capacité à l’effort. Les résultats obtenus au cours de ce doctorat démontrent bien que la capacité à l’effort en HTAP est aussi déterminée par plusieurs anomalies physiopathologiques périphériques.

Native Women, Intimate Partner Violence, and Drug Use and Consequences: Prevalence and Associations Among Tribal College and University Students

Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Washington, 2016-08

The role of intracellular calcium perturbations in muscle damage and dysfunction in mouse models of muscular dystrophy

Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is a neuromuscular disease caused by mutations in the dystrophin gene. DMD is clinically characterized by severe, progressive and irreversible loss of muscle function, in which most patients lose the ability to walk by their early teens and die by their early 20’s. Impaired intracellular calcium (Ca2+) regulation and activation of cell degradation pathways have been proposed as key contributors to DMD disease progression. This dissertation research consists of three studies investigating the role of intracellular Ca2+ in skeletal muscle dysfunction in different mouse models of DMD. Study one evaluated the role of Ca2+-activated enzymes (proteases) that activate protein degradation in excitation-contraction (E-C) coupling failure following repeated contractions in mdx and dystrophin-utrophin null (mdx/utr-/-) mice. Single muscle fibers from mdx/utr-/- mice had greater E-C coupling failure following repeated contractions compared to fibers from mdx mice. Moreover, protease inhibition during these contractions was sufficient to attenuate E-C coupling failure in muscle fibers from both mdx and mdx/utr-/- mice. Study two evaluated the effects of overexpressing the Ca2+ buffering protein sarcoplasmic/endoplasmic reticulum Ca2+-ATPase 1 (SERCA1) in skeletal muscles from mdx and mdx/utr-/- mice. Overall, SERCA1 overexpression decreased muscle damage and protected the muscle from contraction-induced injury in mdx and mdx/utr-/- mice. In study three, the cellular mechanisms underlying the beneficial effects of SERCA1 overexpression in mdx and mdx/utr-/- mice were investigated. SERCA1 overexpression attenuated calpain activation in mdx muscle only, while partially attenuating the degradation of the calpain target desmin in mdx/utr-/- mice. Additionally, SERCA1 overexpression decreased the SERCA-inhibitory protein sarcolipin in mdx muscle but did not alter levels of Ca2+ regulatory proteins (parvalbumin and calsequestrin) in either dystrophic model. Lastly, SERCA1 overexpression blunted the increase in endoplasmic reticulum stress markers Grp78/BiP in mdx mice and C/EBP homologous protein (CHOP) in mdx and mdx/utr-/- mice. Overall, findings from the studies presented in this dissertation provide new insight into the role of Ca2+ in muscle dysfunction and damage in different dystrophic mouse models. Further, these findings support the overall strategy for improving intracellular Ca2+ control for the development of novel therapies for DMD.

Chromatographic determination of fatty acids profiles in regionally-produced Portuguese goat cheese along curing

The biochemistry of cheese ripening involves mechanisms such as glycolysis, proteolysis and lipolysis. Fatty acids are released by the action of lipases from different sources, milk, rennet, bacteria, moulds included as secondary starters, and other exogenous lipases, during lipolysis [1]. The composition of the lipid fraction contributes positively to the flavour of cheese, for being precursors of more complex aroma compounds responsible for the characteristic “goaty flavour” of goat cheeses [2]. Goat milk is recognized by its easier digestibility, alkalinity, buffering capacity and certain therapeutic values in medicine and human nutrition [3]. A high total content of fatty acids is strongly linked to a rancid and tart off flavour in goat milk and may be considered undesirable in most cheese varieties [4]. In this sense, the purpose of the present study was to examine the composition and changes in fatty acids and saponification value of goat cheese during curing period (2, 7 and 12 months). Goat cheese was made in industrial unit of Cachão - Mirandela (Trás-os- Montes) with raw milk Serrana goats’ race, salt and rennet from animal origin. During the first two months, the samples were stored in a ripening chamber (9.5-11 °C and RH 75-85%). From the second month to one year, the samples were stored in a preservation chamber (10.5-12 °C and RH 75-85%). The fatty acids profile of the inner part of the cheese was analyzed by gas-chromatography coupled to flame ionization detection (GC-FID). The degree of saponification was determined both in the crust and inside the cheese by HCl titration of ethanol KOH solution of the samples. Twenty-six fatty acids (FA) were identified and quantified in the inner part of the cheese (total fat was 45-46 g/100 g during the curing period). Saturated fatty acids (SFA) did not change up to 7 months of curing, increasing only after 12 months, being palmitic (C16:0), stearic (C18:0), myristic (C14:0) and capric (C10:0) acids the most abundant FA in this class. Monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFA) decreased only after 12 months, and oleic acid (C18:1) was the predominant FA. In polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) class, the most abundant were linoleic (C18:2) and linolenic (C18:3) acids, and followed the same tendency of MUFA. This is corroborated by an increase in the degree of saponification, either in the crust as in the inner part of the cheese, after 12 months of curing, probably related with the saturation of the fatty acids [3]. Extra-long curing can be done in cheeses produced with goat milk up to seven months of storage without changing the total fat and individual FA content.

Exploration du rôle modérateur des stratégies d’adaptation sur la relation entre les mauvais traitements perçus et les problèmes psychologiques d’adolescents à risque

Les adolescents qui ont subi de la négligence ou des abus substantiels dans leur famille risquent de présenter des symptômes anxieux et dépressifs et des comportements antisociaux plus importants. Parmi les ressources internes qui pourraient contribuer à la résilience de ces jeunes, les stratégies qu’ils adoptent pour composer avec les situations stressantes ont été peu examinées. Dans cette thèse, nous examinons les stratégies d’adaptation utilisées par 336 adolescents placés en centre de réadaptation, avec pour objectif de vérifier leur rôle modérateur dans la relation entre les mauvais traitements qu’ils perçoivent et l’ampleur de leurs problèmes intériorisés ou extériorisés. Le premier chapitre présente une revue de la recherche sur les liens entre divers stresseurs, les stratégies d’adaptation des jeunes et leur condition psychologique. Ces études mettent en lumière combien les effets des stratégies qu’ils utilisent peuvent varier selon les stresseurs familiaux ou sociaux auxquels ils sont exposés. Les deux études empiriques aux chapitres 2 et 3 portent sur les interactions entre trois types de maltraitance (abus émotionnel ou physique, négligence émotionnelle) et quatre stratégies d’adaptation (centrées sur les problèmes, les émotions, la diversion sociale et la distraction). Dans la première étude, ces interactions sont testées pour leurs effets sur l’ampleur des problèmes intériorisés rapportés par les jeunes ou leurs éducateurs; la seconde étude explore leurs effets sur l’ampleur des problèmes extériorisés. Quand les problèmes intériorisés sont rapportés par les adolescents, les stratégies centrées sur les problèmes, la diversion sociale et la distraction avaient un effet protecteur sur l’ampleur des symptômes associés à la maltraitance émotionnelle, surtout chez les filles. Les stratégies centrées sur les problèmes ont aussi un effet protecteur sur la relation entre l’abus émotionnel et les comportements agressifs rapportés par les jeunes. Toutefois quand il s’agit des problèmes extériorisés, plusieurs interactions montrent plutôt que les effets adaptatifs de certaines stratégies diminuent quand les mauvais traitements augmentent. Il en est ainsi pour les stratégies centrées sur les problèmes ou la diversion sociale quand ces problèmes sont observés par les éducateurs, et pour les distractions, lorsqu’ils sont rapportés par les filles. Enfin la diversion sociale est associée à des comportements délinquants plus marqués rapportés par les jeunes et son effet modérateur chez les garçons montre que cette relation est plus forte quand ils sont moins maltraités. Les stratégies d’adaptation examinées contribuent donc surtout à atténuer la détresse émotionnelle des filles victimes de maltraitance psychologique, mais elles semblent avoir peu d’impact sur les comportements antisociaux des jeunes maltraités. Ces résultats sont discutés en lien avec les caractéristiques de notre échantillon. Les implications cliniques qui s’en dégagent permettent de suggérer des pistes pour mieux soutenir ces jeunes dans l’apprentissage de stratégies adaptatives pour réguler leur stress.

Contributo de betões de cânhamo na regulação passiva da humidade no interior dos edifícios

Verifica-se um crescimento no interesse do uso de materiais de construção amigos do ambiente, tais como o betão de cânhamo, devido à necessidade de minimizar o impacto ambiental do sector da construção nas mudanças climáticas. O betão de cânhamo possui reduzida energia incorporada durante o processo de fabrico devido à sua composição: elevado teor de fibras de cânhamo, um ligante e água que formam uma pasta que aglutina as fibras. Este material de construção pode ser utilizado em elementos de alvenaria leves ou, geralmente, em placas de revestimento e isolamento. É muito higroscópico, podendo trazer vantagens a nível de economia energética, bem como da saúde e conforto térmico dos habitantes do espaço onde é aplicado. Apresenta-se um estudo experimental que teve como objetivo comparar a higroscopicidade de três tipos de betões de cânhamo e a correspondente capacidade de contribuírem para a regulação da humidade relativa (HR) no interior dos edifícios. Os betões diferem fundamentalmente no tipo de ligante utilizado nas suas formulações: cal aérea (PF70), cal hidráulica (Calco) e um ligante não identificado produzido pelo Grupo Parex (NL). Pretendeu-se ainda avaliar a contribuição da espessura de material nessa função de regulação passiva da HR. Provetes com distintas espessuras dos três betões foram sujeitos ao ensaio de determinação do Moiture Buffering Value (MBV), com ciclos diários de variação de HR: 8h a 75% de HR e 16h a 33% de HR em condições isotérmicas (23°C). Registou-se um bom MBV e não foi detetada uma diferença significativa na capacidade higroscópica dos diferentes betões, formulados com os distintos ligantes. A análise dos resultados, feita com o auxílio de modelos teóricos, permitiu destacar que a espessura envolvida na regulação da HR se mantém, na generalidade, limitada a 5cm em todas as formulações em estudo. Contudo, algumas irregularidades da superfície podem ter um forte impacto sobre a espessura ativa.

Functional Neuroimaging of the Social Regulation of Emotion in Schizophrenia

Negative symptoms in schizophrenia are characterized by deficits in normative experiences and expression of emotion. Social anhedonia (diminished pleasure from social experiences) is one negative symptom that may impact patients’ motivation to engage in meaningful social relationships. Past research has begun to examine the mechanisms that underlie social anhedonia, but it is unclear how this lack of social interest may impact the typically positive effects of social buffering and social baseline theory whereby social support attenuates stress. The present pilot study examines how social affiliation through hand holding is related to subjective and neural threat processing, negative symptoms, and social functioning. Twenty-one participants (14 controls; 7 schizophrenia) developed social affiliation with a member of the research staff who served as the supportive partner during the threat task. Participants displayed greater subjective benefit to holding the hand of their partner during times of stress relative to being alone or with an anonymous experimenter, as indicated by self-reported increased positive valence and decreased arousal ratings. When examining the effects of group, hand holding, and their interaction on the neurological experience of threat during the fMRI task, the results were not significant. However, exploratory analyses identified preliminary data suggesting that controls experienced small relative increases in BOLD signal to threat when alone compared to being with the anonymous experimenter or their partner, whereas the schizophrenia group results indicated subtle relative decreases in BOLD signal to threat when alone compared to either of the hand holding conditions. Additionally, within the schizophrenia group, more positive valence in the partner condition was associated with less severe negative symptoms, better social functioning, and more social affiliation, whereas less arousal was correlated with more social affiliation. Our pilot study offers initial insights about the difficulties of building and using social affiliation and support through hand holding with individuals with schizophrenia during times of stress. Further research is necessary to clarify which types of support may be more or less beneficial to individuals with schizophrenia who may experience social anhedonia or paranoia with others that may challenge the otherwise positive effects of social buffering and maintaining a social baseline.

When Love Becomes Hate(?): The Interplay Between Consumer-Brand Relationships and Crisis Situations

This study had three purposes. First, it aimed to re-conceptualize organization-public relationships (OPRs) in public relations and crisis communication. This OPR re-conceptualization helps find out when the OPR buffering effect or the OPR love-becomes-hate effect happens. Second, it aimed to examine how consumer emotions are influenced by OPRs and influence consumer behavioral intentions. Third, it aimed to address the current problematic operationalization of the concept of consumer. Three pilot studies and one main study were conducted. Apple and Whole Foods were the two brands examined. One crisis that undermined the self-defining attributes shared between the brand and its consumers and another crisis that did not were examined for each brand. Almost 500 Apple consumers and 400 Whole Foods consumers provided usable questionnaires. This study had several major findings. First, non-identifying relationship and identifying relationship were different constructs. Moreover, trust, satisfaction, and commitment were not conceptually separate dimensions of OPRs. Second, the non-identifying relationships offered buffering effects by increasing positive attitudes and tempering anger and disappointment. The identifying relationships primarily offered the love-becomes-hate effects by increasing anger and disappointment. Third, if the crisis was relevant to consumers’ daily lives, brand response strategies were less effective at mitigating consumer negative reactions. Moreover, apology-compensation-reminder strategy was more effective compared to no-comment strategy. However, the apology-compensation-reminder strategy was no more effective than other strategies as long as brands compensate to the victims. Identifying relationships increased the effectiveness of response strategies. If the crisis did not undermine the self-defining attributes shared between consumers and brands, the response strategies worked even better. This study contributes to crisis communication research in multiple ways. First, it advances the OPR conceptualization by demonstrating that non-identifying relationship and identifying relationship are different concepts. More importantly, it advances the theory building of OPRs’ influences on crises by finding out when the buffering effect and the love-becomes-hate effect happen. Second, it adds to emotion research by demonstrating that strong OPRs can lead to negative emotions and positive emotions can have negative behavioral consequences on organizations. Third, the precise operationalization of the concept of consumer gives more insights about consumer reactions to crises.