bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Comparison of the Morphological and Physical Properties of Different Absorbent Wound Dressings
Authors: Hasatsri Sukhontha , Pitiratanaworanat Anuphap , Swangwit Suwit , Boochakul Chadaporn , Tragoonsupachai Chamaipond
Published: May 2018

Good quality wound dressings should have exceptional properties for usage, such as being able to remove excess wound exudates, having rapid dehydration, and providing optimal water vapour permeability. This study evaluated and compared the morphological and physical properties of six different commercially absorbent wound dressings in Thailand: two hydrocolloids, two alginates, and two foams. These wound dressings are available in a variety of components and structures, some of which have a multilayer structure. The results showed that the calcium sodium alginate dressings had better absorption properties than the calcium alginate dressings, hydrocolloid dressings, hydrocolloid with foam layer dressings, foam with polyurethane film layer dressings, and foam with hydrogel and polyurethane film layer dressings. Furthermore, the calcium sodium alginate dressings had the highest rate of dehydration and provided an optimal water vapour transmission rate. However, the calcium sodium alginate dressings could not retain the original structure after being submerged with a wound exudate.
Molecular Mechanisms Underlying Accelerated Aging by Defects in the FGF23-Klotho System
Authors: Kuro-o Makoto
Published: May 2018

The basic research of aging has been primarily focused on elucidating mechanisms of aging and longevity that are evolutionarily conserved from yeasts to primates. Such efforts have culminated in the notion that (1) senescence at the cellular level is associated with aging at the organismal level and that (2) calorie restriction and growth suppression decelerate aging. However, these important findings in the basic research have not necessarily been linked to improvement of daily medical practice in the aging society. It has become increasingly important to investigate mechanisms of aging unique to mammals or humans and apply the research fruits for the treatment of major age-related disorders to extend the health span. Seminal studies on theklothomouse, a mutant exhibiting a premature aging syndrome, have identified phosphate as a proaging factor in mammals. In this review, mechanisms of phosphate-induced premature aging and potential therapeutic targets will be discussed, which may be directly applicable for developing novel strategies for the treatment of chronic kidney disease and its complications.
Apathy following Bilateral Deep Brain Stimulation of Subthalamic Nucleus in Parkinson’s Disease: A Meta-Analysis
Authors: Wang Ying , Li Yongsheng , Zhang Xiaona , Xie Anmu
Published: May 2018

Bilateral deep brain stimulation of subthalamic nucleus (STN-DBS) has proven effective in improving motor symptoms in Parkinson’s disease (PD) patients. However, psychiatric changes after surgery are controversial. In this study, we specifically analyzed apathy following bilateral STN-DBS in PD patients using a meta-analysis. Relevant articles utilized for this study were obtained through literature search on PubMed, ScienceDirect, and Embase databases. The articles included were those contained both pre- and postsurgery apathy data acquired using the Starkstein Apathy Scale or Apathy Evaluation Scale with patient follow-up of at least three months. A total of 9 out of 86 articles were included in our study through this strict screening process. Standardized mean difference (SMD), that is, Cohen’s d, with a 95% confidence interval (CI) was calculated to show the change. We found a significant difference between the presurgery stage and the postsurgery stage scores (SMD = 0.35, 95% CI: 0.17∼0.52, P<0.001). STN-DBS seems to relatively worsen the condition of apathy, which may result from both the surgery target (subthalamic nucleus) and the reduction of dopaminergic medication. Further studies should focus on the exact mechanisms of possible postoperative apathy in the future.
Nomogram Integrating Genomics with Clinicopathologic Features Improves Prognosis Prediction for Colorectal Cancer
Authors: Xiong Yongfu , You Wenxian , Hou Min , Peng Linglong , Zhou He , Fu Zhongxue
Published: May 2018

The current tumor staging system is insufficient for predicting the outcomes for patients with colorectal cancer because of its phenotypic and genomic heterogeneity. Integrating gene expression signatures with clinicopathologic factors may yield a predictive accuracy exceeding that of the currently available system. Twenty-seven signatures that used gene expression data to predict colorectal cancer prognosis were identified and re-analyzed using bioinformatic methods. Next, clinically annotated colorectal cancer samples (n = 1710) with the corresponding expression profiles, that predicted a patient's probability of cancer recurrence, were pooled to evaluate their prognostic values and establish a clinicopathologic–genomic nomogram. Only 2 of the 27 signatures evaluated showed a significant association with prognosis and provided a reasonable prediction accuracy in the pooled cohort (HR, 2.46; 95% CI, 1.183–5.132, P < 0.001; AUC, 60.83; HR, 2.33; 95% CI, 1.218–4.453, P < 0.001; AUC, 71.34). By integrating the above signatures with prognostic clinicopathologic features, a clinicopathologic–genomic nomogram was cautiously constructed. The nomogram successfully stratified colorectal cancer patients into three risk groups with remarkably different DFS rates and further stratified stage II and III patients into distinct risk subgroups. Importantly, among patients receiving chemotherapy, the nomogram determined that those in the intermediate- (HR, 0.98; 95% CI, 0.255–0.679, P < 0.001) and high-risk (HR, 0.67; 95% CI, 0.469–0.957, P = 0.028) groups had favorable responses.

Implications: These findings offer evidence that genomic data provide independent and complementary prognostic information, and incorporation of this information refines the prognosis of colorectal cancer. Mol Cancer Res; 16(9); 1373–84. ©2018 AACR.
Adaptive NK Cells Resist Regulatory T-cell Suppression Driven by IL37
Authors: Sarhan Dhifaf , Hippen Keli L. , Lemire Amanda , Hying Skyler , Luo Xianghua , Lenvik Todd , Curtsinger Julie , Davis Zachary , Zhang Bin , Cooley Sarah , Cichocki Frank , Blazar Bruce R. , Miller Jeffrey S.
Published: May 2018

Natural killer (NK) cells are capable of fighting viral infections and cancer. However, these responses are inhibited by immune suppressor cells in the tumor microenvironment. Tumor progression promotes the recruitment and generation of intratumoral regulatory T cells (Treg), associated with a poor prognosis in cancer patients. Here, we show that canonical NK cells are highly susceptible to Treg-mediated suppression, in contrast to highly resistant CD57+ FcϵRγ−NKG2C+ adaptive (CD56+CD3−) NK cells that expand in cytomegalovirus exposed individuals. Specifically, Tregs suppressed canonical but not adaptive NK-cell proliferation, IFNγ production, degranulation, and cytotoxicity. Treg-mediated suppression was associated with canonical NK-cell downregulation of TIM3, a receptor that activates NK-cell IFNγ production upon ligand engagement, and upregulation of the NK-cell inhibitory receptors PD-1 and the IL1 receptor family member, IL1R8 (SIGIRR or TIR8). Treg production of the IL1R8 ligand, IL37, contributed to the phenotypic changes and diminished function in Treg-suppressed canonical NK cells. Blocking PD-1, IL1R8, or IL37 abrogated Treg suppression of canonical NK cells while maintaining NK-cell TIM3 expression. Our data uncover new mechanisms of Treg-mediated suppression of canonical NK cells and identify that adaptive NK cells are inherently resistant to Treg suppression. Strategies to enhance the frequency of adaptive NK cells in the tumor microenvironment or to blunt Treg suppression of canonical NK cells will enhance the efficacy of NK-cell cancer immunotherapy. Cancer Immunol Res; 6(7); 766–75. ©2018 AACR.
As obras de saneamento e o traçado das primeiras avenidas em Lourenço Marques, Moçambique
Authors: Franco de Mendonça Lisandra
Published: May 2018

Este artigo põe o enfoque em alguns aspetos da implantação do “Projecto de Ampliação da Cidade de Lourenço Marques” em Moçambique, levada a efeito a partir de 1887, inserido no contexto da transição da vila a cidade (1887) e a capital da colónia (1898). A pesquisa permitiu sobretudo concluir sobre as dificuldades técnicas, materiais e de recursos humanos encontradas pelas Obras Públicas no pequeno assentamento urbano de Lourenço Marques ao longo do último quartel do século XIX, em claro contraste com a ambição do seu projeto de ampliação. A pesquisa teve por base relatórios das Obras Públicas de Moçambique ao Ministério da Marinha e Ultramar (Portugal), correspondência dos diretores de Obras Públicas de Lourenço Marques das duas últimas décadas do século XIX e primeira do século XX, cartografia e coleções iconográficas desse período presentes no Arquivo Histórico Ultramarino — AHU (Portugal), no Arquivo Histórico de Moçambique — AHM, na Sociedade de Geografia de Lisboa — SGL e no Centro de Estudos e Desenvolvimento do Habitat — CEDH da Faculdade de Arquitetura e Planeamento Físico — FAPF da Universidade Eduardo Mondlane — UEM.
Siza e Wright: dois museus e o visitante
Authors: Kohlmann Andrya Campos , Aguiar Douglas Vieira de
Published: May 2018

O artigo apresenta um estudo comparativo sobre dois edifícios – o museu da Fundação Iberê Camargo (FIC), em Porto Alegre, e o museu Guggenheim, em Nova York – analisados desde o ponto de vista da sua qualidade espacial ou seja, do modo de acolhimento e acomodação do visitante. A motivação deste trabalho está na oportunidade que o edifício do museu da FIC vem oferecendo desde sua implantação em Porto Alegre – em virtude das honrarias e distinções das quais ele foi alvo pela crítica de arquitetura, local e internacional – para uma discussão sobre o tema da qualidade na arquitetura. Já o museu Guggenheim foi selecionado para compor esse estudo por ser um edifício análogo, tanto do ponto de vista formal quanto funcional, ao Museu da FIC, e também, por seu caráter icônico, consagrado como paradigma no cenário arquitetônico mundial. O artigo tem uma natureza eminentemente empírica. A metodologia utilizada tem antecedentes no passeio arquitetônico, no sentido corbusiano do conceito, na qualidade desse passeio, tendo em conta o modo como as edificações são entendidas pelo observador em movimento – a legibilidade – e o modo como as edificações acomodam o corpo – a funcionalidade/comodidade.
Reduction in Regulatory T Cells in Early Pregnancy Causes Uterine Artery Dysfunction in Mice
Authors: Care Alison S. , Bourque Stephane L. , Morton Jude S. , Hjartarson Emma P. , Robertson Sarah A. , Davidge Sandra T.
Published: May 2018

Preeclampsia, fetal growth restriction, and miscarriage remain important causes of maternal and perinatal morbidity and mortality. These complications are associated with reduced numbers of a specialized T lymphocyte subset called regulatory T cells (Treg cells) in the maternal circulation, decidua, and placenta. Treg cells suppress inflammation and prevent maternal immunity toward the fetus, which expresses foreign paternal alloantigens. Treg cells are demonstrated to contribute to vascular homeostasis, but whether Treg cells influence the vascular adaptations essential for a healthy pregnancy is unknown. Thus, using a mouse model of Treg-cell depletion, we investigated the hypothesis that depletion of Treg cells would cause increased inflammation and aberrant uterine artery function. Here, we show that Treg-cell depletion resulted in increased embryo resorption and increased production of proinflammatory cytokines. Mean arterial pressure exhibited greater modulation by NO in Treg cell-deficient mice because the L-N
G
-nitroarginine methyl ester–induced increase in mean arterial pressure was 46% greater compared with Treg cell-replete mice. Uterine artery function, which is essential for the supply of nutrients to the placenta and fetus, demonstrated dysregulated hemodynamics after Treg-cell depletion. This was evidenced by increased uterine artery resistance and pulsatility indices and enhanced conversion of bET-1 (big endothelin-1) to the active and potent vasoconstrictor, ET-1 (endothelin-1). These data demonstrate an essential role for Treg cells in modulating uterine artery function during pregnancy and implicate Treg-cell control of maternal vascular function as a key mechanism underlying normal fetal and placental development.
Pollen morphology of selected species of Lentibulariaceae Rich. from Western Cuba based on light microscopy and its taxonomic implications
Authors: CRUZ DASMILIÁ , DOMÍNGUEZ YOANNIS , VALDÉS CRISTINA M. PANFET , MIRANDA VITOR F. O. , GASPARINO EDUARDO CUSTÓDIO
Published: May 2018

We present here pollen morphology of 12 native taxa of Lentibulariaceae from Western Cuba with the aim of surveying pollen traits useful for species identification. Pollen grains were studied using light microscopy and scanning electron microscopy to search for new characteristics to contribute to the taxonomy of Lentibulariaceae from western Cuba with the aim of increasing our understanding of pollen morphology. Pollen grains were acetolysed, measured, photographed, and described based on qualitative characteristics. Here we present statistical analyses and multivariate statistics for quantitative data. The pollen grains are medium-sized, isopolar, subprolate to prolate, circular, subcircular to quadrangular amb, zonaperturate, 3-colporate, 4(5)-colporate, (6–)7–18-colporate or porate, lalongate or lolongate endoaperture, or endocingulate in some species. They may also be psilate, psilate-perforate, microreticulate to rugulate exine, and sexine thicker than nexine. Endoaperture with fastigia was reported for Pinguicula ser. Albidae and Lentibulariaceae for the first time in this study. The Utricularia species studied were grouped into three pollen types on the basis of aperture and endoaperture characteristics and shape. Morphological variations observed showed intergeneric pollen diversity in Lentibulariaceae, corroborating the taxonomic importance of such characteristics at a family level.
Senecio pseudodensiserratus (Asteraceae, Senecioneae), a new species from China
Authors: TONG TIAN-JING , TANG MING , REN CHEN , YANG QIN-ER
Published: May 2018

Senecio pseudodensiserratus (Asteraceae, Senecioneae), a new species from Muli, southwestern Sichuan, China, is described and illustrated. It is closely similar to S. densiserratus, a species mainly occurring in northern Sichuan and southeastern Gansu, China, but differs by having nodding and larger capitula.
A New Anthurium from La Amistad International Park (PILA), Panama-Costa Rica Border
Authors: ORTIZ ORLANDO O. , CROAT THOMAS B. , BALDINI RICCARDO M.
Published: May 2018

La Amistad International Park (PILA) is a binational protected area from Costa Rica and Panama, which comprises 401,000 ha of natural vegetation. This nature reserve contains 3,046 vascular plant species, including 114 species of Araceae. Anthurium represents the second largest genus in the area, which consists of 62 species (six endemic to PILA). In this paper, a new endemic species of Anthurium is decribed from PILA, A. jorgemendietanum. The affinities are discussed; also photographs and illustrations of this new species are provided.
Notes on the typification of the names Utricularia bremii Heer and U. intermedia Dreves & Hayne (Lentibulariaceae)
Authors: ASTUTI GIOVANNI , PERUZZI LORENZO
Published: May 2018

In the framework of a systematic revision of Central European Utricularia L. (Astuti & Peruzzi 2018), we came across a first-step typification (Meister 1900) concerning the name Utricularia bremii Heer in Koelliker (1839: 142), and a name yet untypified, i.e. U. intermedia Dreves & Hayne (1798: 104). A second-step typification and a lectotypification are designated here, respectively.
Teleconnection between Summer NAO and East China Rainfall Variations: A Bridge Effect of the Tibetan Plateau
Authors: Wang Ziqian , Yang Song , Lau Ngar-Cheung , Duan Anmin
Published: May 2018

Although the impact of the North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO), especially the antecedent NAO in winter and spring, on East Asian summer climate has been studied extensively, the possible connection from the summer NAO (SNAO) and then the Tibetan Plateau (TP) to East China summer rainfall remains unclear. This study reveals that on interannual time scales the SNAO is significantly correlated with the variations of East China summer rainfall and the thermal forcing of the TP provides an intermediate bridge effect in this Eurasian teleconnection. The SNAO primarily regulates the rainfall variability over the TP through large-scale wave trains and the TP rainfall anomalies in turn lead to a change in local diabatic heating, which excites Rossby waves to the downstream regions. To the northeast of the TP, an anomalous barotropic cyclone is formed in the nearly entire troposphere, generating low-level northerly flow anomalies over northern China. Meanwhile, the TP heating also induces low-level southerly flow anomalies over southern China. The anomalous northerly and southerly winds converge in the lower troposphere, enhancing the summer rainfall over central East China. Compared to the SNAO, the TP thermal forcing exerts a more direct impact on the variations of East China summer rainfall in the Eurasian teleconnection discussed.
Assessing the Relationship between MJO and Equatorial Pacific WWBs in Observations and CMIP5 Models
Authors: Feng Jie , Lian Tao
Published: May 2018

This study evaluates the relationship between the Madden–Julian oscillation (MJO) and the occurrence of equatorial Pacific westerly wind bursts (WWBs). During the convective MJO phase, anomalous surface westerlies prevail in and west of the convective MJO center, providing favorable conditions for WWBs. Compared with the probability of WWBs expected under a null hypothesis that WWBs occur randomly, the convective MJO phase almost doubles the probability of a WWB occurring. Nevertheless, only 34.46% of WWBs co-occur with the convective MJO, which is much less than that reported in previous studies. We show that when the MJO and WWBs are defined using the same field with overlapping frequencies, the percentage of WWBs co-occurring with the convective MJO shows a significant increase. However, the higher percentage is simply caused by the fact that the strong WWBs during a convective MJO are more likely to be identified than those during the suppressed and neutral MJO phases. A total of 45.80% of WWBs are found to occur in the full MJO phase (both the convective and suppressed MJO phases), which is slightly higher than that expected based on randomness. Although the full MJO has statistically significant impact on the likelihood of WWBs, the influence from the full MJO on the tropical Pacific sea surface temperature anomaly is much weaker as compared to that from the WWBs. The relationships between the MJO and WWBs simulated in CMIP5 models are also assessed, and the percentage of WWBs that co-occur with the MJO simulated in models is in general less than that in observations.
Contrasting the Antarctic and Arctic Atmospheric Responses to Projected Sea Ice Loss in the Late Twenty-First Century
Authors: England Mark , Polvani Lorenzo , Sun Lantao
Published: May 2018

Models project that Antarctic sea ice area will decline considerably by the end of this century, but the consequences remain largely unexplored. Here, the atmospheric response to future sea ice loss in the Antarctic is investigated, and contrasted to the Arctic case, using the Community Earth Systems Model (CESM) Whole Atmosphere Coupled Climate Model (WACCM). Time-slice model runs with historic sea ice concentrations are compared to runs with future concentrations, from the late twenty-first century, in each hemisphere separately. As for the Arctic, results indicate that Antarctic sea ice loss will act to shift the tropospheric jet equatorward, an internal negative feedback to the poleward shift associated with increased greenhouse gases. Also, the tropospheric response to Antarctic sea ice loss is found to be somewhat weaker, more vertically confined, and less seasonally varying than in the case of Arctic sea ice loss. The stratospheric response to Antarctic sea ice loss is relatively weak compared to the Arctic case, although it is here demonstrated that the latter is still small relative to internal variability. In contrast to the Arctic case, the response of the ozone layer is found to be positive (up to 5 Dobson units): interestingly, it is present in all seasons except austral spring. Finally, while the response of surface temperature and precipitation is limited to the southern high latitudes, it is nonetheless unable to impact the interior of the Antarctic continent, suggesting a minor role of sea ice loss on recent Antarctic temperature trends.
Can the Salt-Advection Feedback Be Detected in Internal Variability of the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation?
Authors: Cheng Wei , Weijer Wilbert , Kim Who M. , Danabasoglu Gokhan , Yeager Steve G. , Gent Peter R. , Zhang Dongxiao , Chiang John C. H. , Zhang Jiaxu
Published: May 2018

Evidence for the assumptions of the salt-advection feedback in box models is sought by studying the Atlantic meridional overturning circulation (AMOC) internal variability in the long preindustrial control runs of two Earth system models. The first assumption is that AMOC strength is proportional to the meridional density difference between the North Atlantic and the Southern Oceans. The model simulations support this assumption, with the caveat that nearly all the long time-scale variability occurs in the North Atlantic density. The second assumption is that the freshwater transport variability by the overturning at the Atlantic southern boundary is controlled by the strength of AMOC. Only one of the models shows some evidence that AMOC variability at 45°N leads variability in the overturning freshwater transport at the southern boundary by about 30 years, but the other model shows no such coherence. In contrast, in both models this freshwater transport variability is dominated by local salinity variations. The third assumption is that changes in the overturning freshwater transport at the Atlantic southern boundary perturb the north–south density difference, and thus feed back on AMOC strength in the north. No evidence for this assumption is found in either model at any time scale, although this does not rule out that the salt-advection feedback may be excited by a strong enough freshwater perturbation.
How Wet and Dry Spells Evolve across the Conterminous United States Based on 555 Years of Paleoclimate Data
Authors: Ho Michelle , Lall Upmanu , Cook Edward R.
Published: May 2018

Evolving patterns of droughts and wet spells in the conterminous United States (CONUS) are examined over 555 years using a tree-ring-based paleoclimate reconstruction of the modified Palmer drought severity index (PDSI). A hidden Markov model is used as an unsupervised method of classifying climate states and quantifying the temporal evolution from one state to another. Modeling temporal variability in spatial patterns of drought and wet spells provides the ability to objectively assess and simulate historical persistence and recurrence of similar patterns. The Viterbi algorithm reveals the probable sequence of states through time, enabling an examination of temporal and spatial features and associated large-scale climate forcing. Distinct patterns of sea surface temperature that are known to enhance or inhibit rainfall are associated with some states. Using the current CONUS PDSI field the model can be used to simulate the space–time PDSI pattern over the next few years, or unconditional simulations can be used to derive estimates of spatially concurrent PDSI patterns and their persistence and intensity across the CONUS.
A Three-Dimensional Scale-Adaptive Turbulent Kinetic Energy Scheme in the WRF-ARW Model
Authors: Zhang Xu , Bao Jian-Wen , Chen Baode , Grell Evelyn D.
Published: May 2018

A new three-dimensional (3D) turbulent kinetic energy (TKE) subgrid mixing scheme is developed using the Advanced Research version of the Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) Model (WRF-ARW) to address the gray-zone problem in the parameterization of subgrid turbulent mixing. The new scheme combines the horizontal and vertical subgrid turbulent mixing into a single energetically consistent framework, in contrast to the conventionally separate treatment of the vertical and horizontal mixing. The new scheme is self-adaptive to the grid-size change between the large-eddy simulation (LES) and mesoscale limits. A series of dry convective boundary layer (CBL) idealized simulations are carried out to compare the performance of the new scheme and the conventional treatment of subgrid mixing to the WRF-ARW LES dataset. The importance of including the nonlocal component in the vertical buoyancy specification in the newly developed general TKE-based scheme is illustrated in the comparison. The improvements of the new scheme with the conventional treatment of subgrid mixing across the gray-zone model resolutions are demonstrated through the partitioning of the total vertical flux profiles. Results from real-case simulations show the feasibility of using the new scheme in the WRF Model in lieu of the conventional treatment of subgrid mixing.
Size-Resolved Evaluation of Simulated Deep Tropical Convection
Authors: Senf Fabian , Klocke Daniel , Brueck Matthias
Published: May 2018

Deep moist convection is an inherently multiscale phenomenon with organization processes coupling convective elements to larger-scale structures. A realistic representation of the tropical dynamics demands a simulation framework that is capable of representing physical processes across a wide range of scales. Therefore, storm-resolving numerical simulations at 2.4 km have been performed covering the tropical Atlantic and neighboring parts for 2 months. The simulated cloud fields are combined with infrared geostationary satellite observations, and their realism is assessed with the help of object-based evaluation methods. It is shown that the simulations are able to develop a well-defined intertropical convergence zone. However, marine convective activity measured by the cold cloud coverage is considerably underestimated, especially for the winter season and the western Atlantic. The spatial coupling across the resolved scales leads to simulated cloud number size distributions that follow power laws similar to the observations, with slopes steeper in winter than summer and slopes steeper over ocean than over land. The simulated slopes are, however, too steep, indicating too many small and too few large tropical cloud cells. It is also discussed that the number of larger cells is less influenced by multiday variability of environmental conditions. Despite the identified deficits, the analyzed simulations highlight the great potential of this modeling framework for process-based studies of tropical deep convection.
Comparing Swedish Foundations: A Carefully Negotiated Space of Existence
Authors: Wijkström Filip , Einarsson Stefan
Published: May 2018

Foundations and philanthropy currently play a very limited role in the Swedish welfare. The same is true in fields like Culture and Recreation or International Activities. Only in the case of funding of research do Swedish foundations exhibit a role possible to define in terms of substitution rather than weak complementarity in relation to government. Despite marginal positions for philanthropy, Sweden displays a wealthy as well as growing foundation population, which seems like a paradox, at least in comparison to the situation in Germany and the United States where foundations traditionally play a more visible and pronounced role in society. A striking difference between the Swedish foundations and their U.S. or German counterparts is their weak bonds to religious communities or causes. Instead, we can identify in our new data set a growing segment of the Swedish foundation world that is affiliated with other parts of civil society. The same is true for the category of independent foundations, which points toward the U.S. model. We find in the article some limited support for a “philanthropic turn” in Sweden, but overall the foundation world is still deeply embedded in the social contract and strong Social-Democratic regime of the 20th century. In comparison to neighboring Scandinavian or Nordic countries, both similarities and differences are identified where, for example, the Norwegian case display a much larger segment of operating foundations, closely affiliated with government, while in Denmark, on the other hand, the corporate-owning foundation seems to be a much more important form than in Sweden.
Addressing Recognition Gaps: Destigmatization and the Reduction of Inequality
Authors: Lamont Michèle
Published: May 2018

This Presidential Address offers elements for a systematic and cumulative study of destigmatization, or the process by which low-status groups gain recognition and worth. Contemporary sociologists tend to focus on inequality in the distribution of resources, such as occupations, education, and wealth. Complementing this research, this address draws attention to “recognition gaps,” defined as disparities in worth and cultural membership between groups in a society. I first describe how neoliberalism promotes growing recognition gaps. Then, drawing on research on stigmatized groups across several societies, I analyze how experiences of stigma and destigmatization are enabled and constrained by various contextual factors and actors, including institutions, cultural repertoires, knowledge workers, and social movement activists. I conclude by proposing a research agenda for the sociology of recognition and destigmatization, and by sketching how social scientists, policymakers, organizations, and citizens can contribute to the reduction of recognition gaps.
The Constitutionalization of Indigenous Group Rights, Traditional Political Institutions, and Customary Law
Authors: Holzinger Katharina , Haer Roos , Bayer Axel , Behr Daniela M. , Neupert-Wentz Clara
Published: May 2018

Many constitutions of the world contain special provisions for indigenous communities, granting them particular rights and regulating their traditional political institutions and customary law. Building on rational theories of constitution-making, we employ a demand and supply framework to explain the constitutionalization of such provisions. To test our hypotheses, we code the presence of indigenous provisions in the current constitutions of 193 United Nations member states. We find full democracy and previous conflict to stimulate the inclusion of indigenous group rights but not of customary law and traditional institutions. Customary law and traditional institutions are more likely constitutionalized in countries with high ethnic fractionalization. Low levels of modernity affect particularly the constitutionalization of traditional political institutions, while low levels of development correlate with provisions on customary law. Former British colonies are more likely to constitutionalize customary law.
India–Japan CEPA
Authors: Gaurav Kumar , Bharti Nalin
Published: May 2018

Most of the studies on free trade agreements (FTAs) concentrate on merchandise trade, either in the North-North or South-South framework. This study is different because it evaluates services trade under the FTA in North–South structure between India and Japan. Research methodology for this work includes both qualitative as well as quantitative approach. Qualitative analysis of the General Agreement on Trade in Services and the India–Japan Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement has been undertaken to evaluate the commitments and obligations at the policy level. Quantitative analysis explores key areas of potential in services trade between India and Japan, applying Revealed Comparative Advantage index. The study observes huge untapped potentials and strong trade complementarities between India and Japan, which offers lessons to the other economies of the world.

JEL: F10, F13, F15
Bringing the ugly back: A dialogic exploration of ethics in leadership through an ethno-narrative re-reading of the Enron case
Authors: Edwards Gareth , Hawkins Beverley , Schedlitzki Doris
Published: May 2018

In this article, we adopt a dialogic approach to examining narratives on ethics in leadership. We do this through an ethno-narrative re-reading of writing on the Enron case informed by Bakhtin’s ideas on dialogue. Employing concepts such as beautyism, aesthetic craving and recent writing around disgust and abjection in organizations helps us to develop a deeper relational interpretation of written accounts of leadership and ethics in organizations. We identify two underlying and interrelated social tensions exemplified in existing narratives on this popular example of ‘unethical’ leadership practice. Both tensions, we conclude, are linked to denigrating the ugly in favour of the beautiful, and we have labelled them ‘suppressing the ugly’ and a fetish for ‘looking good’. We go on to suggest that these two tensions then combine in the stories about this case to ultimately beautify a toxic masculinized persona. We suggest therefore that our dialogic perspective on ethical leadership narratives helps to uncover how accounts about Enron are developed through an intricate interplay between seeking to ‘look good’ and the suppression of moral judgment by leaders of the organization.
Chinese perspectives on primary care for common mental disorders: Barriers and policy implications
Authors: Sun Kai Sing , Lam Tai Pong , Wu Dan
Published: May 2018

Background:

The World Health Organization (WHO) has called for integration of mental health into primary care for a decade. In Western countries, around 15% to 25% of patients with common mental disorders including mood and anxiety disorders seek help from primary care physicians (PCPs). The rate is only about 5% in China.

Aims:

This article reviews the Chinese findings on the barriers to primary care for common mental disorders and how they compared with Western findings.

Methods:

A narrative literature review was conducted, focusing on literature published from mid-1990s in English or Chinese. Patient, PCP and health system factors were reviewed.

Results:

Although Chinese and Western findings show similar themes of barriers, the Chinese have stronger barriers in most aspects, including under-recognition of the need for treatment, stigma on mental illness, somatization, worries about taking psychiatric drugs, uncertainties in the role, competency and legitimacy of PCPs in mental health care and short consultation time.

Conclusion:

Current policies in China emphasize enhancement of mental health facilities and workforce in the community. Our review suggests that patients’ intention to seek help and PCPs’ competency in mental health care are other fundamental factors to be addressed.
The manifold meanings of ‘post-New Public Management’ – a systematic literature review
Authors: Reiter Renate , Klenk Tanja
Published: May 2018

For more than 30 years, New Public Management has been the most popular label for public sector reform. For more than 15 years, however, New Public Management has also been heavily criticized. There is a growing trend to consider New Public Management as ‘dead’ and claim the evolution of a new reform trend, called post-New Public Management. Like New Public Management, post-New Public Management is an umbrella term that is used to prescribe and/or describe different reform trends. The aim of this article is to give a state of the art of recent post-New Public Management literature by discerning the manifold meanings of this label. For this purpose, a systematic review of 84 articles published in peer-reviewed high-quality journals has been conducted. The article shows that, so far, the post-New Public Management idea has been very influential as an ‘ideational weapon’ to indicate a crisis of the New Public Management model. The use of the post-New Public Management idea as a blueprint for future reform, however, still needs further treatment.

Points for practitioners

Since the 1980s, New Public Management has served as a toolbox for the reform of public administrations all over the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development and beyond. In the course of its ‘pick and choose’ application, New Public Management has become an object of manifold criticism. In order to overcome the New Public Management ‘leftovers’, reformers of public management have reintroduced old concepts or invented new reform tools since the late 1990s. Systematically reviewing both theoretical and empirical academic works on this ‘post-New Public Management’ movement, we – inter alia – shed light on the question of whether ‘post-New Public Management’ can be considered a (new) model for practitioners of public management reform.
Not a Trophy Wife: (Re)Interpreting the Position Held by Queens of Kemet During the New Kingdom as a Political Seat
Authors: Alameen-Shavers Antwanisha
Published: May 2018

This research examines various duties given to prominent Queens of Ancient Egypt that reigned during the New Kingdom from an Afrocentric methodological perspective. History indicates that such women were employed with various obligations that were the same as the King. Although the literature seems to take these facts for granted, this article asserts that the position held by Queens or “the Great Royal Wives” were in fact political posts—as was the King’s position—and that both were instrumental to Kemet’s sustainability and advancement.
Cultural Genomics: Promises and Challenges
Authors: Chen Chuansheng , Moyzis Robert K.
Published: May 2018

In this article, we attempt to integrate recent advances in our understanding of the relations between culture and genes into an emerging field—cultural genomics—and discuss its promises and theoretical and methodological challenges. We first provide a brief review of previous conceptualizations about the relations between culture and genes and then argue that recent advances in molecular evolution research has allowed us to reframe the discussion away from parallel genetic and cultural evolution to focus on the interactions between the two. After outlining the key issues involved in cultural genomics (unit of analysis, timescale, mechanisms, and direction of influence), we provide examples of research for the different levels of interactions between culture and genes. We then discuss ideological, theoretical, and methodological challenges in cultural genomics and propose tentative solutions.
Replication and Reproducibility in Cross-Cultural Psychology
Authors: Milfont Taciano L. , Klein Richard A.
Published: May 2018

Replication is the scientific gold standard that enables the confirmation of research findings. Concerns related to publication bias, flexibility in data analysis, and high-profile cases of academic misconduct have led to recent calls for more replication and systematic accumulation of scientific knowledge in psychological science. This renewed emphasis on replication may pose specific challenges to cross-cultural research due to inherent practical difficulties in emulating an original study in other cultural groups. The purpose of the present article is to discuss how the core concepts of this replication debate apply to cross-cultural psychology. Distinct to replications in cross-cultural research are examinations of bias and equivalence in manipulations and procedures, and that targeted research populations may differ in meaningful ways. We identify issues in current psychological research (analytic flexibility, low power) and possible solutions (preregistration, power analysis), and discuss ways to implement best practices in cross-cultural replication attempts.
A Cognitive Dimensional Approach to Understanding Shared and Unique Contributions to Reading, Math, and Attention Skills
Authors: Child Amanda E. , Cirino Paul T. , Fletcher Jack M. , Willcutt Erik G. , Fuchs Lynn S.
Published: May 2018

Disorders of reading, math, and attention frequently co-occur in children. However, it is not yet clear which cognitive factors contribute to comorbidities among multiple disorders and which uniquely relate to one, especially because they have rarely been studied as a triad. Thus, the present study considers how reading, math, and attention relate to phonological awareness, numerosity, working memory, and processing speed, all implicated as either unique or shared correlates of these disorders. In response to findings that the attributes of all three disorders exist on a continuum rather than representing qualitatively different groups, this study employed a dimensional approach. Furthermore, we used both timed and untimed academic variables in addition to attention and activity level variables. The results supported the role of working memory and phonological awareness in the overlap among reading, math, and attention, with a limited role of processing speed. Numerosity was related to the comorbidity between math and attention. The results from timed variables and activity level were similar to those from untimed and attention variables, although activity level was less strongly related to cognitive and academic/attention variables. These findings have implications for understanding cognitive deficits that contribute to comorbid reading disability, math disability, and/or attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder.
An Investigation of Adult Listeners’ Conservation of Melody Under Harmonic Deformations
Authors: Liu Jing
Published: May 2018

This study extends Zimmerman’s research on children’s music conservation to adult listeners, investigating participants’ ability to conserve melody under different harmonic conditions. Specifically, I investigated whether listeners in the study could identify melody when primary, diatonic, and secondary chords were added (Task 1) and when melody was harmonized differently (Task 2). Additionally, could they dissociate melody from harmony (Task 3)? Participants ( N = 80) listened to 34 pairs of examples and identified if the melody was the same or different in each pair. Results indicated that (a) listeners could conserve melody with addition of harmony regardless of harmonic conditions, (b) they could conserve melody when harmony was changed but were significantly better conserving melody when harmony was changed from primary to diatonic chords than from primary to secondary chords, and (c) they could dissociate melody from harmony but were significantly better with diatonic chords than secondary chords. As Task 3 was the reverse of Task 1, the finding that adult listeners conserved in one direction (Task 1) but not necessarily in the opposite direction (Task 3) and vice versa may suggest the existence of musical reversibility.
Acoustic Correlates of Focus Marking in Czech and Polish
Authors: Hamlaoui Fatima , Żygis Marzena , Engelmann Jonas , Wagner Michael
Published: May 2018

Languages vary in the type of contexts that affect prosodic prominence. This paper reports on a production study investigating how different types of foci influence prosody in Polish and Czech noun phrases. The results show that in both languages, focus and givenness are marked prosodically, with pitch and intensity as the main acoustic correlates. Like Germanic languages, Polish and Czech patterns show prosodic focus marking in a broad range of contexts and differ in this regard from other fixed-word-stress languages such as French. This suggests that (a) Polish and Czech are similar to Germanic languages and are unlike Romance languages in marking a variety of types of focus prosodically; (b) there is no close correlation between fixed word stress and lack of prosodic focus marking because Polish, which has fixed stress on the penult, shows prosodic focus marking for all types of focus; and (c) there is no straightforward relationship between flexible word order and whether focus and givenness are prosodically marked, contrary to earlier claims, because both Czech and Polish, with their relatively flexible word order, are more similar to English than Romance languages.
Is the Airline Trustworthy? The Impact of Source Credibility on Voluntary Carbon Offsetting
Authors: Zhang Beile , Ritchie Brent , Mair Judith , Driml Sally
Published: May 2018

Airlines have introduced voluntary carbon offsetting (VCO) products to encourage consumers to mitigate emissions from their air travel. However, literature has suggested a low VCO adoption partly because of low perceived credibility. This study investigates the impact of source credibility (expertise and trustworthiness) on air travelers’ purchase intention for aviation VCO products. This is the first study to conceptualize and test the influence of source credibility on air travelers’ carbon offsetting behavior using communication theory. Source credibility of a message directly influences air travelers’ purchase intention of aviation VCO products in a positive way. Examining source credibility components shows that trustworthiness has a significant positive impact on purchase intention, while the impact of expertise is not significant. Theoretical and practical implications of the findings are discussed, which highlight the importance of improving source credibility, and trustworthiness in particular, to encourage consumers to mitigate air travel emissions.
Factors Influencing Academic Success Among African American College Women: The Impact of African American Acculturation and Religiosity
Authors: Johnson Monica J. , Reynolds Amy L.
Published: May 2018

African Americans are historically an underresearched, underrepresented, and underserved population. Furthermore, academic success research has primarily focused on White students, thus creating questions as to the appropriateness of generalizing results to students of color. This study explored factors that influence academic success in African American college women, specifically examining the impact of African American acculturation and religiosity. A total of 129 self-identified Black/African American college women completed an online survey assessing level of acculturation, religious commitment, and academic college success as determined by GPA and a college student academic success inventory. Simple regression analysis revealed that the relationship between acculturation and GPA was found to be statistically indiscernible, as was the relationship between GPA and religiosity. Significant relationships were found between the independent variables, African American acculturation and religiosity, and certain domains of the success inventory utilized in this study. The results of this study add to the current and contradictory research involving factors that influence African American women college success. This study provides suggestions for future research on this topic.
Prosodic modulation in the babble of cochlear implanted and normally hearing infants: A perceptual study using a visual analogue scale
Authors: De Clerck Ilke , Pettinato Michèle , Gillis San , Verhoeven Jo , Gillis Steven
Published: May 2018

This study investigates prosodic modulation in the spontaneous canonical babble of congenitally deaf infants with cochlear implants (CI) and normally hearing (NH) infants. Research has shown that the acoustic cues to prominence are less modulated in CI babble. However acoustic measurements of individual cues to prominence give incomplete information about prosodic modulation. In the present study, raters are asked to judge prominence since they simultaneously take into account all prosodic cues. Disyllabic utterances produced by CI and NH infants were presented to naive adult raters who had to indicate the degree and direction of prosodic modulation between syllables on a visual analogue scale. The results show that the babble of infants with CI is rated as having less prosodic modulation. Moreover, segmentally more variegated babble is rated as having more prosodic modulation. Raters do not perceive the babble to be predominantly trochaic, which indicates that the predominant stress pattern of Dutch is not yet apparent in the children’s productions.