bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Political Communication Culture
Authors: Pfetsch Barbara
Published: November 2015

Political communication culture refers to the subjective dimension of the media and politics interface as well as to its public representation in contemporary democracy. Special attention must be paid to the comparative study of political communication culture across European countries because this culture is bound to vary by institutional and cultural context. Recent studies about the values and beliefs of political communication actors point to vulnerable exchange relations which are governed by ambiguity and cynicism.
Surveillance
Authors: Barnard‐Wills David
Published: November 2015

The technologically mediated surveillance of individuals, populations and space is increasingly implicated in many forms of political communication. The developing interdisciplinary field of surveillance studies has conducted research into the representation of surveillance practices across a range of political discoffurses, the impacts of surveillance upon political communication, and the ways in which surveillance itself is a type of political communication.
Knowledge, Political
Authors: Ivie Robert L. , Onge Jeffrey St.
Published: November 2015

Political knowledge, narrowly conceived, is the information the general public possesses about politics. Citizens can participate meaningfully in democratic governance only if they are sufficiently informed. Research indicates that the public generally retains a low level of factual information. The citizenry is uninformed about the political process, the structure of government, policy issues, and political actors. This information deficit raises the question of whether the public is capable of making correct decisions and, consequently, if democracy is a viable form of governance. Expanding the concept of political knowledge to include the process of interpretation takes into account ideational schemas. Idea‐based knowledge consists of beliefs, attitudes, arguments, and received wisdom as well as factual information. Conceptualizing politics as a process of persuasion and an exercise in conflict management suggests a more positive prospect for democratic governance.
Game Theory
Authors: Fukumoto Kentaro
Published: November 2015

In game theory, scholars construct generalized models in which players choose actions and obtain utility. Game theorists assume rational choice, that is, players maximize their own utility. A stable situation that results from this setup is called an equilibrium. The reason game theorists focus on the equilibrium is that it is expected to be representative of the real world and the model should explain how the real world operates.
Deliberation
Authors: Richards Robert C. , Gastil John
Published: November 2015

Political deliberation is a form of collective decision‐making about policy issues, in which a group thoroughly analyzes a problem, scrutinizes proposals that reflect a variety of perspectives, and then chooses a well‐reasoned solution. The practice of deliberation is described from its development in ancient Greece and Rome through the medieval period and the rise of modern deliberative institutions, and up to today's practices involving a variety of deliberative institutional designs. The long history of deliberative theory is recounted, from its roots in Aristotle's
Politics
through its revival in recent theories of democracy. Major methodologies employed in the empirical study of deliberation and notable findings of such research are explored.
Internet
Authors: Kluver Randolph
Published: November 2015

The Internet has become an important element of political communication, as political candidates, parties, organizations, and citizens have used the medium for activism, commentary, and organization. The Internet is used to form and maintain political constituencies, mobilize political action, and infuse citizen commentary into political processes. Globally, the Internet is mobilized to support a variety of political and social movements, and is contributing to the formation of transnational political movements. Other nations are using the Internet to reach international audiences. But it remains in doubt how much politics or political communication might be changing in the era of the Internet.
Marketing, Political
Authors: Lilleker Darren G.
Published: November 2015

Political marketing is a discipline that seeks to explain developments in political strategy and communication as well as propose tools for analyzing the relationship between political organizations and their stakeholders. In particular it is suggested marketing can bring politics closer to citizens by making party programs more relevant, more in line with public attitudes, and more appealing. While there are significant debates around the extent that marketing can explain or be applied to politics, as the discipline matures it offers interesting new perspectives that may have both analytical and practical benefits for understanding and shaping the behavior of political parties in modern democracies.
Communication Theory
Authors: Baym Geoffrey
Published: November 2015

Drawing on the social sciences and humanistic schools of thought, the field of political communication divides into three broad theoretical paradigms. The dominant approach is a
functionalist
paradigm that understands communication as a process of input variables and outcome effects. An
interactionist
paradigm considers communication to be a form of social action. A
culturalist
paradigm views communication as playing a constitutive role in shaping identities and political cultures. Built on differing definitions of communication, the three paradigms identify different kinds of problems as worthy of study, and privilege different methodologies. The cleavages among them threaten disciplinary coherence, but also provide a range of theoretical tools in a rapidly transforming media ecosystem and political environment.
Scandal, Political
Authors: Harmer Emily , Stanyer James
Published: November 2015

Political scandals are an important and increasingly visible feature of political communication in democracies. This article starts by defining political scandals before exploring Thompson's typology of political scandal. It examines the many causes that underlie scandals, before looking at the role of journalists and the media as crucial actors in the manufacturing of scandal. Finally, it looks at the consequences of political scandals. It should be noted that not all authors see scandals as necessarily significant; some see scandals as largely inconsequential distractions which are produced by a media culture that has become preoccupied with personalities and celebrity.
E‐Government
Authors: Jamil Marques Francisco Paulo , Abilio Pereira Marcus
Published: November 2015

E‐government includes activities related to developing and optimizing processes typical to state bureaucracy by using digital media. E‐government projects comprise at least two dimensions: internal (the cooperation and integration of different levels of government agencies, for example) and external government operations (to improve interaction with citizens and market). Initially, e‐government initiatives aimed to make the state more efficient and effective, while reducing the costs of government activities. However, in recent years, literature has shown an attempt to promote the change from a government‐centered approach to a citizen‐centered approach to create at an atmosphere that involves citizens in the decision‐making process. There are two barriers that hinder the success of e‐government programs: institutional and cultural. The digital divide is another challenge facing e‐government projects.
Capitalism
Authors: Wasko Janet
Published: November 2015

Capitalism is an economic system based on private ownership of the means of production with profit as its main goal. Economic systems have influences on political communication, including the political support of the economy and media systems, which influence elections. These relationships are analyzed here within the study of political communication under a capitalist economic system. Digital media is changing political communication, but may not be contributing to more democratic systems.
Progressive Movement
Authors: Soderlund Gretchen
Published: November 2015

Early 20th‐century industrialization and urbanization were central to the development of United States' political communication and media. Rapid economic and demographic changes were met with an increase in social movements, paralleling developments occurring elsewhere. However, unprecedented population growth madeUScities particularly ripe for experimentation in political communication. The groundwork for the contemporary media system was laid during the Progressive Era.
Risk Communication
Authors: Gutteling Jan M.
Published: November 2015

Risk is a central issue for policy areas as diverse as health, safety, technology, environment, and finance. Risk communication is seen as one of several policy instruments to achieve risk management goals in these areas. In this entry the complexity of risk communication as an academic discipline is discussed. Several risk communication models are presented, as well as some thoughts on what new directions are to be expected and which important questions are to be addressed in the future.
Political Sociology
Authors: Mayer Nonna
Published: November 2015

At the crossroad of sociology and political science, political sociology studies the social bases of power and domination. From the postwar era dominated by the radio to the age of Internet and social media, one of its central topics is the communication flow between citizens and the state. Special attention is given to studies of voting, public opinion, political culture, political participation and political talk. They explain the effects and limitations of political persuasion by elites and the changing forms of political expression from below.
Visual Communication
Authors: Griffin Michael
Published: November 2015

The broad field of visual communication studies extends beyond the political, yet has a long relationship with political communication due to the historical and the metaphorical relevance of pictures and framing for political theorizing, the centrality of visual images in political propaganda and advertising, and the apparent power of pictures to influence public opinion through political news. The growing dominance of television in politics in the second half of the 20th century led to “image bite” politics, presenting a special challenge for tracking the role and function of visual images in political discourse. While approaches to the study of political image‐making and management have become more sophisticated, theoretical and methodological challenges remain to fully comprehend the nature and function of visual imagery and define and distinguish measurable visual patterns and elements.
Nongovernmental Organizations
Authors: Lang Sabine
Published: November 2015

Nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) are vital to organizing citizens in the 21st century. Their performance, however, is still measured primarily in terms of policy outcomes. Not until recently have political communication perspectives been introduced into the study of the NGO sector. NGOs engage with their constituents and donors as well as with the media and larger publics in a rapidly changing communication environment. They advance their issues not primarily by way of using the traditionally contentious repertoires of social movements. Instead, they employ more professionalized communication strategies that are geared towards institutional influence. In addition, member‐based organizations give way to more loosely network‐based advocacy coalitions without a defined membership base. Finally, NGO communication is shaped by an altered media environment, in particular the loss of specialized journalist knowledge in areas of NGO expertise as well as the increasing role of new media and online advocacy.
Mass Communication
Authors: McQuail Denis
Published: November 2015

The concept of mass communication was coined in the early 20th century in response to the rise of mass media of press, film, radio, and television. It linked features of social structure and change, including the political system, to the core features of media systems. A central place was allocated to an expectation that mass media in this predominant form would exert great political and social power as instruments or on their own account. Decades of communication research have been devoted to these issues, latterly to the idea that the “demassification” of public communication media on the basis of new online technology has fundamentally changed the relationship between media and society, generally for the better. The question remains open, and the concept reduced in scope and relevance, redefined but not eliminated. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Leadership, Political
Authors: Barisione Mauro
Published: November 2015

Political leadership is a process that involves at least one person aspiring to rule a country, party, or other organization, and a large group of followers. Being based on a mixture of coercion and discourse, political leadership places special emphasis on communicative forms of persuasion such as visions, slogans, images, and frames. The communication of political actors has become increasingly personalized, but findings on the effects of leader images on actual voting behavior remain somewhat inconclusive. The leadership styles in populist right‐wing and left‐wing parties constitute a particularly important topic for future research, as does the use of new social media technologies by political leaders that might lead to a new model of leadership that overemphasizes responsiveness and followership.
Political Culture
Authors: da Silva Filipe Carreira , Clark Terry N. , Vieira Mónica Brito
Published: November 2015

This article critically discusses the field of political culture research. It reviews the historical development of the concept of political culture since the 1950s. It examines some of the key authors and approaches in political science and political sociology. Special attention is paid to the conceptual and methodological innovations of the last few decades, including neo‐Tocquevillian, multicausal, and neo‐Durkheimian approaches to the study of the concept.
Local Government
Authors: Coelho Vera Schattan P.
Published: November 2015

Local government is the level of government which is most decentralized from the central state and, thus, closer to the citizens. Its territorial borders and its fiscal, administrative, and political capacities and powers are defined by its relationship with intermediary and central governments. Local government enables one particular set of state–society relations that can positively impact local development, service delivery, citizen participation, and accountability.
Religion
Authors: Maraffi Marco
Published: November 2015

Communication is at the very heart of all religions. From the presence of religion on the Internet to the effects of religious beliefs on popular advertising, communication and media are integral to religion and the expression of religious belief. The ongoing process of transformation of religion from state‐centered to society‐centered institution is making political communication increasingly vital for religious institutions, policy‐makers, and public opinion at large. Communication of a political character will become an essential aspect of the activities of religions, within a general process of the “mediatization of society” and the challenge of new interactive technologies. These changes have forced social scientists to place religion in an increasingly international, comparative, and global framework, whether their interest is in fundamentalism, charismatic Christianity, new religious movements, or any other major topic of research. The increased awareness of the relevance of the issues involved promises to yield a substantial growth in our knowledge of the interplay between religion and communication.
Political Psychology
Authors: Elad‐Strenger Julia , Mintz Alex
Published: November 2015

Political psychology is an interdisciplinary academic field drawing on various disciplines in the social and natural sciences. Political psychologists attempt to understand, explain, and predict the effects of psychological dynamics, political structures, and political processes in broad social and historical contexts on political behavior, decision‐making processes, intergroup relations, and other political phenomena, such as terrorism, conflict, and peace. This chapter traces the history of the field, provides an overview of the main topics and central tendencies that have characterized the modern era of political psychological research, and identifies some emerging and promising lines of inquiry in political psychology.
Media System
Authors: Hallin Daniel C.
Published: November 2015

The concept of media system is fundamental to the use of the comparative method in media studies. This entry explores the intellectual roots of that concept in general systems theory, and a number of issues about the scope and conceptualization of media systems. It examines the strengths and weaknesses of two main approaches to comparative analysis, one focusing on analysis of media systems as wholes, often using case study methods, and one focusing on relationships among variables across systems, often using large‐Nstatistical methods.
Political Participation
Authors: van Deth Jan W.
Published: November 2015

Political participation can be loosely defined as citizens' activities affecting politics. Participation enables citizens to evolve their capacities, to articulate their demands, and to legitimize decisions. The repertoire of political activities expanded considerably, and by now, the list is virtually infinite (ranging from voting and signing a petition to joining a flash mob or buying fair‐trade coffee). Besides, Internet‐based technologies offer opportunities for political communication and mobilization at virtually no costs. Explanations for political participation are divided in supply‐side and demand‐side approaches. Supply‐side approaches stress contextual and situational factors (including institutional and constitutional arrangements). Demand‐side approaches identify individual resources, motivations, and social networks as important determinants. Despite the ongoing proliferation of the modes of participation marginalized and underprivileged social groups constantly participate less than other groups. Debates about a “post‐democracy” underline the continuing tensions between participation and a vibrant democracy.
Radio
Authors: Owen Diana
Published: November 2015

Radio is the first broadcast medium, and has been a source of political news and information for almost a century. Radio's power as a medium of democracy or a tool of propaganda has been debated since its inception. The medium has been used extensively by political leaders to address constituents, especially during periods of political stress. Radio brought important events, like elections and war, into the audience's living rooms. With the advent of television, radio's political influence waned. However, radio has adapted to changes in technology and format to remain viable. Talk radio has emerged as a new political medium that attracts a primarily conservative audience.
Media as Political Actors
Authors: Eberwein Tobias , Porlezza Colin , Splendore Sergio
Published: November 2015

Political communication studies have long described political actors, media, and citizens as distinct actor groups. Various strands of research, however, have shown that there are many reasons to conceptualize media as political actors as well. Particularly in media systems that are shaped by political parallelism, media operate under a high degree of partisanship and pursue open political objectives. Moreover, in the course of a mediatization of political communication, they are increasingly imposing their conditions and rules on political actors who are forced to rely on media to obtain electoral success. Recent debates about the relationship between media, democracy, and participation have emphasized the media's potential as an instrument for civil mobilization and empowerment. However, many of the current shifts in political communication, mainly resulting from advancing commercialization and digitization, are still largely unexplored.
Comparative Research
Authors: Pfetsch Barbara , Esser Frank
Published: November 2015

Comparative research guides our attention to understanding how communication phenomena vary in different spatial, cultural, or temporal environments and how macro‐level societal contexts shape communication and outcomes differentially. In this review we argue that the significance of comparative research in political communication has been to describe and explain the effects of system‐level factors on processes of communication on the individual, organizational, or group level. Based on findings from current research we highlight that comparative approach has significantly advanced the study of media and political communication systems, journalism and political communication culture, election campaigning and information environments as well as research on the Internet and civic attitudes. In the concluding section we argue particularly that globalization puts new challenges on comparative research in future communication scholarship.
Language, Political
Authors: Jarvis Sharon E. , Stephens Maegan
Published: November 2015

Political language encompasses the words that political actors use in public life. Office holders use these words to maintain control and challengers use them to propose change. Citizens come to know their political environments through repeated interactions with these messages. Over time and across cultures, political language has been shown to exert power over people as it shapes and sanctions worldviews, holds coalitions together, and makes mass action possible.
Public Service Broadcasting
Authors: Lund Anker Brink , Lowe Gregory Ferrell
Published: November 2015

This entry addresses political and economic dimensions of public service broadcasting (PSB), focusing mainly on the phenomenon from a perspective informed by the historic birth, development, and current situation in Europe, where this approach to mediation was largely invented. We consider PSB in terms of political legitimacy and relative interdependence from state and market forces, with particular emphasis on the transformation of broadcasting in the narrow sense into multifunctional organizations of public service media (PSM). It is concluded that increasingly complex societies with diverse and pluralistic media systems pose important challenges for policy‐making regarding PSB. The balance between private and public players acting not only in competition but also in cooperation demands continually reestablished regulation with restraint respecting the so‐called arm's‐length principle. In general, most political decision makers have accepted that public service institutions of the PSB type are important for sociocultural reasons. But heated debates on adequate financing, hands on management, and quality of programming trigger controversy in political systems around the world.
Indexing Theory
Authors: Lance Bennett W.
Published: November 2015

Indexing refers to the norms used by news organizations to select news sources and frames. When indexing norms become widely shared across organizations, media systems may display familiar national characteristics and act as an institution. The most common indexing norm found in many democratic press systems is to index sources and their views according to the power balances among actors in political institutions that journalists deem likely to affect the outcomes of political conflicts or policy processes. New areas of research include how changes in media systems, such as fragmenting audiences and proliferating media channels, may change information production routines.
Media–Politics Relations
Authors: Semetko Holli A.
Published: November 2015

Media–politics relations or interactions have long been the subject of considerable discussion and debate among scholars and practitioners. Theoretical perspectives on media–politics interactions from the mid‐20th century to the early 21st century are critically assessed before turning to a discussion of the present. A new era of media–politics interactions has emerged due to the growth of new communications technologies and the Internet. Challenges and opportunities for media–politics interactions and related scholarship in the future are discussed in conclusion.
Contact Hypothesis
Authors: Richey Sean
Published: November 2015

This article gives an overview of the longstanding literature on the contact hypothesis. It examines the traditional research as well as newer ways to test intergroup contact. It considers several potential critiques of these findings, and notes potential ideological conflict in these critiques.
Spectacle, Political
Authors: Taïeb Emmanuel
Published: November 2015

The spectacular is inherent in political activity. Power is always “staged,” a “theatrocracy,” and a manipulation of images and symbols. While the idea that political power must make itself seen is well known, its use of spectacle is often delegitimized as it denotes an impoverishment of political participation. But it can also be a factor of politicization, an opportunity to expand the public space, or a tool for civil checks against power. Political spectacle hence appears as the place and the medium for a dialogue between social groups and between the state and the people in a democratic society.
Print Media
Authors: Eilders Christiane
Published: November 2015

Print media are traditional mass media published on paper. The concept not only includes the published products but also regards the organizational context shaping the journalistic routines and norms behind the printed products. Print media represents the oldest and the most widespread type of mass media because as opposed to electronic media it does not require an elaborate technical infrastructure on the part of the user. It mainly comprises of newspapers and magazines. Newspapers are clearly associated with information and show an emphasis on political issues and current events. They are valued as a backbone of the democratic public sphere because they enable comprehensive public discourse. News magazines also serve an information function, whereas most other magazines are more committed to entertainment and leisure. These magazines show a diverse spectrum ranging from lifestyle to special interest magazines. With the rise of online communication print newspapers and magazines have come under considerable economic pressure.
Migration
Authors: Titley Gavan
Published: November 2015

Migration involves human movement across political boundaries and reshapes sociocultural and communicative relations across borders. For political communication research, migration is important both in terms of political communication about migrants and with respect to the communicative relations and engagements of migrants themselves. This entry examines how research on the practices and politics of migration has focused on the production of discourses of anti‐immigrant racism; on the responses of media institutions, most particularly public service broadcasters, to social realities increasingly represented as multicultural and diverse; and on diasporic and transnational media networks and audiences.
Interpersonal Communication
Authors: Gilkerson Nathan D.
Published: November 2015

Interpersonal communication can be defined as the exchange of information between two or more people. The role played by interpersonal communication is a key component to understanding dynamics of political communication, especially related to influences of the mass media, information diffusion, and political opinion formation. Early models of conversation within politics, such as the two‐step flow and the function of opinion leaders, have evolved into a more nuanced understanding of the complexities of conversation. Current research perspectives better incorporate environmental and contextual factors, as well as individual media usage, political knowledge, and personal motivation. Future exploration into how interpersonal communication can interact with mass media effects to influence political perceptions and behaviors will require examining the role of mediated conversations and political exchanges taking place on online social networks.
Media Regulation, Political
Authors: Puppis Manuel
Published: November 2015

Media regulation refers to the formulation and enforcement of rules concerning mediated communication that are deployed on media organizations to achieve specified policy goals. Going beyond simply maintaining economic competition, political or societal media regulation aims at creating a media system that offers diversity and quality of content to citizens. Media regulation is of vital importance for political communication. First and foremost, safeguarding the media's contribution to a well‐functioning democracy is one of the main rationales for political media regulation. Moreover, a related but distinct area of research focuses on the regulation of political campaigns. And finally, the vested interests of policy‐makers and media owners are directly affected by such regulation.
Gatekeeping
Authors: Shoemaker Pamela J. , Riccio Jaime R.
Published: November 2015

Gatekeeping theory illustrates how gatekeepers reduce the world's information flood to the relatively few political messages that are published in print media, on television, and online (including in the social media). Gates are decision points at which political and other forces work to facilitate and constrain the movement of information past one gate and to move information toward the next gate in a channel. Although originally used to understand the process of national news flow in the latter half of the 20th century, today's theory recognizes the complexity of the global web of communication systems and networks that merge with messages from governments,NGOs, transnational conglomerates, and local sources. The Internet has made the globe a field against which the gatekeeping web of information must be understood.
Political Communication Research Methods
Authors: Bucy Erik P.
Published: November 2015

Research methods consist of rules and procedures that structure data collection or observations for supporting research and evaluating claims for knowledge. In political communication, research methods facilitate systematic analyses of the press and public sphere, whether relying on nonnumerical interpretation or quantitative inference, for the purpose of discovering meaning and patterns in communication about politics. Specialization and refinement have accelerated fragmentation of this dynamic and disunited field, with the influence of qualitative approaches diminishing under the perceived authority of numbers. New technologies and platforms promise unprecedented opportunities for social listening—but also for exclusion because access to big data and the advanced analytical tools to parse them raise new issues about specialized expertise. As a branch of social research, political communication should strive to better integrate its humanistic background and scientific leanings, finding creative ways to combine different approaches to research.
Globalization
Authors: Rizman Rudolf M.
Published: November 2015

Due to all too often inflationary use of the notion of globalization, it is urgent to take a serious and critical stand toward this salient and recent social phenomenon. In this vein the author discusses the following relevant themes concerning globalization: definitions, conceptualizations, different theoretical strategies, repertoire of potential research questions, and
last but not least
problems associated with the deficit of global governance (democracy, civil society, autonomy).
Poststructuralism
Authors: Bowman Paul
Published: November 2015

This entry introduces post‐structuralism, focusing on Derridean deconstruction, Foucauldian power/knowledge, post‐colonialism, and post‐modernity.
Bargaining, Political
Authors: de Albuquerque Afonso , Reis Bruno P. W.
Published: November 2015

This article provides a summary of political bargaining from the viewpoint of Political Communication Studies. In a general manner, it is defined as a process in which decisions result from the reciprocal adjustment of interests by self‐oriented individuals or groups. The concept of political bargaining sheds light on a diversified scope of interactions involving media and political actors, which include news production transactions between sources and journalists, and the use of the media as a resource in inter‐elites disputes and negotiations.
Justice and Politics
Authors: Guarnieri Carlo
Published: November 2015

Justice and politics are inevitably related, since judges participate in the authoritative allocation of values. In recent decades, the domain of adjudication has expanded thanks to institutional reforms such as constitutional review and the strengthening of judicial independence. The relationship between justice and the media has also become more significant, with courts providing the media with important news and the media supporting judges facing political pressure. However, the expansion of judicial power has triggered a reaction in the political class as it tries, with varying success, to influence judicial decisions.
Consensus
Authors: Pasquino Gianfranco
Published: November 2015

Political consensus is the changing product of dialogues, discussions, deliberations. It may refer to the ultimate values of a society, to the formation and functioning of the governments, to the shaping and approval of public policies. All democratic regimes are based on consensus, but their actual working entails competition and conflict to different degrees. Even authoritarian regimes may show some degree of consensus, albeit passive, selective, not susceptible to be mobilized. Free and fair elections are the best procedures to express approval and to channel dissent. Indeed, dissent is in many ways not just the salt of democratic competition, but an indispensable element in constructing overall consensus. The mass media are the instruments through which competition, conflict, dissent are communicated and consensus can be formed, challenged, and even, in not so few cases, manufactured by manipulation.
Democracy
Authors: Parkinson John
Published: November 2015

Democracy is often presented as a concept whose content is so contested as to have been emptied of meaning, and robbed of critical bite. This article argues that there is a common core based on political equality in determining acts of governance, and that while there is much disagreement over principles and procedures, solutions to those disagreements depend on—and are resolved in—particular political contexts. Issues considered include the origins and aims of democracy, the concept of representation, decision rules and voting systems, the public sphere and democratic innovations, concluding with challenges to democracy and some related speculations about its future.
Public Opinion
Authors: Moy Patricia , Johnson Courtney N.
Published: November 2015

Public opinion is a frequent topic of discussion among many people, from heads of state to news commentators to everyday citizens. Among academic scholars, the study of public opinion has been approached from numerous perspectives. This article explores public opinion from the viewpoint of communication scholars and outlines the contemporary theories and methods commonly used to study the role communication plays in shaping people's attitudes, behaviors, and cognitions.
Public Diplomacy
Authors: Gilboa Eytan
Published: November 2015

This entry explores the meaning and evolution of public diplomacy (PD) in historical and theoretical contexts. It traces the origins of the concept and contemporary definitions and practices. It summarizes the PD of the cold war, explains the theoretical linkage between PD and “soft power,” and the differences between PD and the New Public Diplomacy (NPD). The entry discusses central components including “nation branding” and “international public relations,” and the effects of the digital media, the multidisciplinary nature of the field as well as strengths and weaknesses in existing research and analysis.
Gold‐Catalyzed Intermolecular anti‐Markovnikov Hydroamination of Methylenecyclopropanes with 2‐Pyridones
Authors: Timmerman Jacob C. , Widenhoefer Ross A.
Published: November 2015

The cationic gold phosphine complex [(o‐biphenylPCy2)Au(NCMe)]+ SbF6− catalyzes the intermolecular, anti‐Markovnikov hydroamination of methylenecyclopropanes (MCPs) with 2‐pyridones at 80 °C. The transformation was effective for a range of pyridones and for monosubstituted and cis‐ and trans‐disubstituted MCPs to form 1‐cyclopropylmethyl‐2‐pyridones with excellent regio‐ and diastereoselectivity in moderate to good yields.

magnified image
Multifunctional ternary drug‐loaded electrospun scaffolds
Authors: Llorens Elena , del Valle Luis J , Puiggalí Jordi
Published: November 2015

Multifunctional electrospun scaffolds were prepared from two polylactide (PLA) grades having slightly differentd‐lactide content (4.2 wt % and 2.0 wt %). Triclosan (TCS), ketoprofen (KTP), andp‐coumaric acid (CUM) were selected as bactericide, anti‐inflammatory, and antioxidant agents, respectively. Single, binary, and ternary drug‐loaded microfibers having a unimodal diameter distribution could be prepared using a common chloroform:acetone:dimethylsulfoxide mixture and similar operational parameters (i.e., voltage, flow rate, and tip–collector distance). FTIR spectra were sensitive to the low amount of drugs loaded and even showed slight differences in PLA conformation. DSC heating scans clearly demonstrated the ability of electrospinning to induce molecular orientation of PLA and also the nucleation effect of incorporated drugs to induce crystallization. Thus, crystallinity of binary drug‐loaded scaffolds was significantly higher than observed for unloaded samples. Release behavior of the three drugs from loaded scaffolds and PLA matrices in PBS:ethanol medium was evaluated. A rapid release was always detected, together with partial drug retention which was higher when the more stereoregular PLA matrix was employed. A strong bactericidal effect was found when scaffolds were loaded with 3 wt/vol % of TCS, but incorporation of a small percentage of KTP (i.e., 1 wt/vol %) had a bacteriostatic effect even in the absence of TCS. The inherent cytotoxicity of TCS could be well neutralized by enhancing cell viability by incorporation of CUM and/or KTP. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci.2016,133, 42751.
Synthesis and characterization of LiFePO4–carbon nanofiber–carbon nanotube composites prepared by electrospinning and thermal treatment as a cathode material for lithium‐ion batteries
Authors: Zhang Changhuan , Yao Lan , Qiu Yiping
Published: November 2015

Binder‐free LiFePO4–carbon nanofiber (CNF)–multiwalled carbon nanotube (MWCNT) composites were prepared by electrospinning and thermal treatment to form a freestanding conductive web that could be used directly as a battery cathode without addition of a conductive material and polymer binder. The thermal decomposition behavior of the electrospun LiFePO4 precursor–polyacrylonitrile (PAN) and LiFePO4 precursor–PAN–MWCNT composites before and after stabilization were studied with thermogravimetric analysis (TGA)/differential scanning calorimetry and TGA/differential thermal analysis, respectively. The structure, morphology, and carbon content of the LiFePO4–CNF and LiFePO4–CNF–MWCNT composites were determined by X‐ray diffraction, high‐resolution transmission electron microscopy, Raman spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and elemental analysis. The electrochemical properties of the LiFePO4–CNF and LiFePO4–CNF–MWCNT composite cathodes were measured by charge–discharge tests and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. The synthesized composites with MWCNTs exhibited better rate performances and more stable cycle performances than the LiFePO4–CNF composites; this was due to the increase in electron transfer and lithium‐ion diffusion within the composites loaded with MWCNTs. The composites containing 0.15 wt % MWCNTs delivered a proper initial discharge capacity of 156.7 mA h g−1 at 0.5 C rate and a stable cycle ability on the basis of the weight of the active material, LiFePO4. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2016, 133, 43001.
Face‐Capped M4L4 Tetrahedral Metal–Organic Cage: Iodine Capture and Release, Ion Exchange, and Electrical Conductivity
Authors: Xu Wei‐Qin , Li Yu‐Hao , Wang Hai‐Ping , Jiang Ji‐Jun , Fenske Dieter , Su Cheng‐Yong
Published: November 2015

An M4L4 type metal–organic cage (MOC‐19) has been synthesized from the one‐pot reaction of tri(pyridinylmethylene)phenylbenzeneamine (TPBA) with hydrated Zn(ClO4)2 under mild conditions and characterized by single‐crystal X‐Ray diffraction. Iodine capture studies show that the porous crystals of MOC‐19 exhibit a versatile behavior to accumulate iodine species not only in vapor (for I2) but also in solution (for I2 and I3−), and anion‐exchange experiments indicate the capacity to extract IO3− anions from aqueous solution. Enrichment of iodine species from KI/I2 aqueous solution proceeds facilely, revealing a pseudo‐second‐order kinetics of I3− adsorption. Furthermore, the electrical conductivity of MOC‐19 single crystals could be significantly altered by I2 inclusion.
Secondary structural analysis of the carboxyl‐terminal domain from different connexin isoforms
Authors: Spagnol Gaëlle , Al‐Mugotir Mona , Kopanic Jennifer L. , Zach Sydney , Li Hanjun , Trease Andrew J. , Stauch Kelly L. , Grosely Rosslyn , Cervantes Matthew , Sorgen Paul L.
Published: November 2015

The connexin carboxyl‐terminal (CxCT) domain plays a role in the trafficking, localization, and turnover of gap junction channels, as well as the level of gap junction intercellular communication via numerous post‐translational modifications and protein–protein interactions. As a key player in the regulation of gap junctions, the CT presents itself as a target for manipulation intended to modify function. Specific to intrinsically disordered proteins, identifying residues whose secondary structure can be manipulated will be critical toward unlocking the therapeutic potential of the CxCT domain. To accomplish this goal, we used biophysical methods to characterize CxCT domains attached to their fourth transmembrane domain (TM4). Circular dichroism and nuclear magnetic resonance were complementary in demonstrating the connexin isoforms that form the greatest amount of α‐helical structure in their CT domain (Cx45 > Cx43 > Cx32 > Cx50 > Cx37 ≈ Cx40 ≈ Cx26). Studies compared the influence of 2,2,2‐trifluoroethanol, pH, phosphorylation, and mutations (Cx32, X‐linked Charcot‐Marie Tooth disease; Cx26, hearing loss) on the TM4‐CxCT structure. While pH modestly influences the CT structure, a major structural change was associated with phosphomimetic substitutions. Since most connexin CT domains are phosphorylated throughout their life cycle, studies of phospho‐TM4‐CxCT isoforms will be critical toward understanding the role that structure plays in regulating gap junction function. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Biopolymers 105: 143–162, 2016.
Case report: vitamin D‐dependent rickets type 1 caused by a novel CYP27B1 mutation
Authors: Füchtbauer Laila , Brusgaard Klaus , Ledaal Pål , Frost Morten , Frederiksen Anja L.
Published: November 2015

Key Clinical Message

Vitamin D‐dependent rickets type 1 VDDR‐1 is a recessive inherited disorder with impaired activation of vitamin D, caused by mutations in CYP27B1. We present long‐time follow‐up of a case with a novel mutation including high‐resolution peripheral quantitative computed tomography of the bone. Adequate treatment resulted in a normalized phenotype.
Familial florid Cemento‐osseous dysplasia – case report and review of literature
Authors: Thorawat Amit , Kalkur Chaitra , Naikmasur Venkatesh G. , Tarakji Bassel
Published: November 2015

Key Clinical Message

Familial Florid cemento‐osseous dysplasia is a very uncommon condition. Cemento‐osseous dysplasia is totally asymptomatic in many cases, in those conditions, lesions are detected in a radiograph taken for other purposes. In this report, we describe a family in which mother and daughter exhibited clinical, radiographic, and histologic features of florid cemento‐osseous dysplasia.
Papillary reconstruction and guided tissue regeneration for combined periodontal–endodontic lesions caused by palatogingival groove and additional root: a case report
Authors: Miao Hui , Chen Min , Otgonbayar Tsetsen , Zhang Sha Sha , Hou Min Hong , Wu Zhou , Wang Yong Lan , Wu Li Geng
Published: November 2015

Key Clinical Message

We described a combined periodontal–endodontic lesion, which was caused by a palatogingival groove and an additional root. An interdisciplinary approach involving endodontic therapy, mineral trioxide aggregate (MTA) filling, root resection, guided tissue regeneration, and papillary reconstruction was used for the case. The tooth presents morphologically and functionally normal except tooth discoloration caused by MTA.
Ln12‐Containing 60‐Tungstogermanates: Synthesis, Structure, Luminescence, and Magnetic Studies
Authors: Wang Kai‐Yao , Bassil Bassem S. , Lin Zhengguo , Römer Isabella , Vanhaecht Stef , Parac‐Vogt Tatjana N. , Sáenz de Pipaón Cristina , Galán‐Mascarós José Ramón , Fan Linyuan , Cao Jie , Kortz Ulrich
Published: November 2015

A new class of hexameric Ln12‐containing 60‐tungstogermanates, [Na(H2O)6⊂Eu12(OH)12(H2O)18Ge2(GeW10O38)6]39− (Eu12), [Na(H2O)6⊂Gd12(OH)6(H2O)24Ge(GeW10O38)6]37− (Gd12), and [(H2O)6⊂Dy12(H2O)24(GeW10O38)6]36− (Dy12), comprising six di‐Ln‐embedded {β(4,11)‐GeW10} subunits was prepared by reaction of [α‐GeW9O34]10− with LnIII ions in weakly acidic (pH 5) aqueous medium. Depending on the size of the LnIII ion, the assemblies feature selective capture of two (for Eu12), one (for Gd12), or zero (for Dy12) extra GeIV ions. The selective encapsulation of a cationic sodium hexaaqua complex [Na(H2O)6]+ was observed for Eu12 and Gd12, whereas Dy12 incorporates a neutral, distorted‐octahedral (H2O)6 cluster. The three compounds were characterized by single‐crystal XRD, ESI‐MS, photoluminescence, and magnetic studies. Dy12 was shown to be a single‐molecule magnet.
Surviving Mass Extinctions through Biomineralized DNA
Authors: Turon Pau , Puiggalí Jordi , Bertrán Oscar , Alemán Carlos
Published: November 2015

Even in the worst of conditions, such as those which occurred during mass extinction events, life on Earth never totally stopped. Aggressive chemical and physical attacks able to sterilize or poison living organisms occurred repeatedly. Surprisingly, DNA was not degraded, denatured or modified to the point of losing the capability of transferring the genetic information to the next generations. After the events of mass extinction life was able to survive and thrive. DNA was passed on despite being an extremely fragile biomolecule. The potential implications of hydroxyapatite protection of DNA are discussed in this Concept article including how DNA acts as a template for hydroxyapatite (HAp) formation, how cell death can trigger biomineralization, and how DNA can be successfully released from HAp when the conditions are favorable for life.