Social Dominance Orientation: A Personality Variable Predicting Social and Political Attitudes

Social dominance orientation (SDO), one's degree of preference for inequality among social groups, is introduced. On the basis of social dominance theory, it is shown that (a) men are more social dominance-oriented than women, (b) high-SDO people seek hierarchy-enhancing professional roles and low-SDO people seek hierarchy-attenuating roles, (c) SDO was related to beliefs in a large number of social and political ideologies that support group-based hierarchy (e.g., meritocracy and racism) and to support for policies that have implications for intergroup relations (e.g., war, civil rights, and social programs), including new policies. SDO was distinguished from interpersonal dominance, conservatism, and authoritariansim. SDO was negatively correlated with empathy, tolerance, communality, and altruism. The ramifications of SDO in social context are discussed.African and African American StudiesPsycholog

An anisotropic interaction model for simulating fingerprints.

Evidence suggests that both the interaction of so-called Merkel cells and the epidermal stress distribution play an important role in the formation of fingerprint patterns during pregnancy. To model the formation of fingerprint patterns in a biologically meaningful way these patterns have to become stationary. For the creation of synthetic fingerprints it is also very desirable that rescaling the model parameters leads to rescaled distances between the stationary fingerprint ridges. Based on these observations, as well as the model introduced by Kücken and Champod we propose a new model for the formation of fingerprint patterns during pregnancy. In this anisotropic interaction model the interaction forces not only depend on the distance vector between the cells and the model parameters, but additionally on an underlying tensor field, representing a stress field. This dependence on the tensor field leads to complex, anisotropic patterns. We study the resulting stationary patterns both analytically and numerically. In particular, we show that fingerprint patterns can be modeled as stationary solutions by choosing the underlying tensor field appropriately

Nonworksite Interventions to Reduce Sedentary Behavior among Adults: A Systematic Review

Sedentary behavior has been identified as a major health risk. Although interventions to reduce time spent sedentary have become increasingly prevalent, the vast majority of this work in adults has been focused on workplace sedentary behavior and often pairs sedentary reduction interventions with increasing physical activity. As research designed to specifically decrease sedentary time that is not limited to the workplace becomes available, identifying strategies and approaches, along with feasibility and efficacy of these interventions, is warranted. Electronic databases were searched for sedentary interventions with eligibility criteria, including (a) interventions designed to explicitly reduce sedentary behavior that were not limited to the workplace, (b) outcomes specific to sedentary behavior, (c) adults at least 18 yr of age, and (d) written in English. A total of 767 full-text manuscripts were identified, with 13 studies meeting all eligibility criteria. Although intervention characteristics and methodological quality varied greatly among studies, 10 of the 13 studies observed a significant reduction in objectively measured sitting time postintervention. In those studies that collected participant feasibility/acceptability data, all reported that the intervention was viewed as “favorable to very favorable,” would use again, and that participant burden was quite low, suggesting that these interventions were feasible. Sedentary behavior interventions not limited to the workplace appear to be largely efficacious. Although results varied with respect to the magnitude of the decrease in time spent sedentary, they are encouraging. However, because of the small body of evidence and the variability of study designs, our ability to make overarching statements regarding “best practices” at this time is limited. Well-controlled trials of longer duration with larger samples, using theoretically based interventions with consistent prescriptions for limiting sedentary time, are needed

Enhancing LibGuides Usability and Discoverability Within a Complex Library Presence

At the University of Michigan Library, we use Springshare’s LibGuides to manage subject, course, and specialized information guides comprising thousands of individual web pages. While LibGuides can be used to build a robust library website, complete with features for managing electronic reserves and databases, we maintain it as a supplementary tool focused around instruction and guidance. LibGuides is one of several open-source and proprietary components making up our library’s complex web presence. In such a complex online environment, it can be challenging to make LibGuides content discoverable and to present it as a functional, integral part of the whole. Doing so, however, is critical if we are to efficiently connect users to relevant information resources. In the following chapter, we will share examples of how we have integrated LibGuides into our library website and learning management systems (LMS) in order to facilitate access to content through search and discovery.https://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/136549/1/Enhancing LibGuides Usability and Discoverability Within a Complex Library Presence.pdfDescription of Enhancing LibGuides Usability and Discoverability Within a Complex Library Presence.pdf : Book Chapte

Stability analysis of line patterns of an anisotropic interaction model

Motivated by the formation of fingerprint patterns, we consider a class of interacting particle models with anisotropic, repulsive-attractive interaction forces whose orientations depend on an underlying tensor field. This class of models can be regarded as a generalization of a gradient flow of a nonlocal interaction potential which has a local repulsion and a long-range attraction structure. In addition, the underlying tensor field introduces an anisotropy leading to complex patterns which do not occur in isotropic models. Central to this pattern formation are straight line patterns. For a given spatially homogeneous tensor field, we show that there exists a preferred direction of straight lines, i.e., straight vertical lines can be stable for sufficiently many particles, while many other rotations of the straight lines are unstable steady states, both for a sufficiently large number of particles and in the continuum limit. For straight vertical lines we consider specific force coefficients for the stability analysis of steady states, show that stability can be achieved for exponentially decaying force coefficients for a sufficiently large number of particles, and relate these results to the Kücken--Champod model for simulating fingerprint patterns. The mathematical analysis of the steady states is completed with numerical results.The work of the first author was partially supported by the EPSRC through grant EP/P031587/1. The work of the second author was supported by the Leverhulme Trust research project grant ``Novel discretizations for higher order nonlinear PDE"" (RPG-2015-69). The work of the third author was supported by the UK Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) grant EP/L016516/1 and the German Academic Scholarship Foundation (Studienstiftung des Deutschen Volkes). The work of the fourth author was supported by the Leverhulme Trust project on breaking the non-convexity barrier, EPSRC grant EP/M00483X/1, the EPSRC Centre EP/N014588/1, the RISE projects CHiPS and NoMADS, the Cantab Capital Institute for the Mathematics of Information, and the Alan Turing Institute

Report of the Link Resolver Implementation Team

The Link Resolver Implementation Team was charged in March 2016 with carrying out the recommendations of the Link Resolver Investigation Team (http://hdl.handle.net/2027.42/117361), which were to re-launch the MGet It link resolver service as a locally-hosted application using the existing 360 Link knowledge base and the Umlaut open-source software. Specifically, the Implementation Team was asked to: 1) Design a user interface using Umlaut and the 360 Link API; 2) Select and prioritize added services in the link resolver menu interface; 3) Determine what, if anything, should be part of a report-a-problem link and implement corresponding workflows; and 4) Determine in which circumstances the link resolver menu page should appear for which kinds of users. This report outlines our decisions on these three points, details user studies to design the interface, and describes the roll-out process. The new MGet It service was released as a limited beta for library staff on September 14, 2016. After a period of review and feedback from library staff, and subsequent adjustments to the interface, the new interface replaced the native 360 Link interface on Monday, October 17, 2016.http://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/135723/1/link resolver implementation team final report.pdfDescription of link resolver implementation team final report.pdf : Final Repor

Effect of Pediatric Behavioral Health Screening and Colocated Services on Ambulatory and Inpatient Utilization

Objective The study sought to determine the impact of a pediatric behavioral health (BH) screening and co-location model on BH care utilization Methods In 2003, Cambridge Health Alliance, a Massachusetts public health system introduced BH screening and co-location of social workers within its pediatric practices in a sequential manner. An interrupted time series study of the change in trends of ambulatory, emergency and inpatient BH utilization in the 30 months following model implementation compared to the 18 months prior was conducted to determine the impact of this model on BH care utilization, Utilization data on 11,223 children ≥4 years 9 months to < 18 years 3 months seen from 2003 to 2008, contributed to the study. Results In the 30 months following implementation of pediatric BH screening and co-location there was a 20.4% cumulative increase in specialty BH visit rates (trend = 0.013% per month; p=0.049), and 67.7% cumulative increase in BH primary care visit rates (trend = 0.019% per month; p=0.002) compared to the expected rate predicted by the 18 month pre- intervention trend. In addition, BH emergency department visit rates increased 245% compared to the expected rate (trend = 0.01% per month; p<.001). Conclusions Following the implementation of a BH screening/co-location model, more children received BH treatment. Contrary to expectations, BH emergency department visits also increased. Further study is needed to determine if this is an effect of how care was organized for children newly engaged in BH care or a reflection of secular trends in BH utilization or both

The paradoxical signals of two TrkC receptor isoforms supports a rationale for novel therapeutic strategies in ALS

Full length TrkC (TrkC-FL) is a receptor tyrosine kinase whose mRNA can be spliced to a truncated TrkC.T1 isoform lacking the kinase domain. Neurotrophin-3 (NT-3) activates TrkC-FL to maintain motor neuron health and function and TrkC.T1 to produce neurotoxic TNF-α; hence resulting in opposing pathways. In mouse and human ALS spinal cord, the reduction of miR-128 that destabilizes TrkC.T1 mRNA results in up-regulated TrkC.T1 and TNF-α in astrocytes. We exploited conformational differences to develop an agonistic mAb 2B7 that selectively activates TrkC-FL, to circumvent TrkC.T1 activation. In mouse ALS,2B7 activates spinal cord TrkC-FL signals, improves spinal cord motor neuron phenotype and function, and significantly prolongs life-span. Our results elucidate biological paradoxes of receptor isoforms and their role in disease progression, validate the concept of selectively targeting conformational epitopes in naturally occurring isoforms, and may guide the development of pro-neuroprotective (TrkC-FL) and anti-neurotoxic (TrkC.T1) therapeutic strategies.Fil: Brahimi, Fouad. Mc Gill University. Lady Davis Research Intitute; CanadáFil: Maira, Mario. Mc Gill University. Lady Davis Research Intitute; CanadáFil: Barcelona, Pablo Federico. Mc Gill University. Lady Davis Research Intitute; Canadá. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Córdoba. Centro de Investigaciones en Bioquímica Clínica e Inmunología; ArgentinaFil: Galan, Alba. Mc Gill University. Lady Davis Research Intitute; CanadáFil: Aboulkassim, Tahar. Mc Gill University. Lady Davis Research Intitute; CanadáFil: Teske, Katrina. Mc Gill University. Lady Davis Research Intitute; CanadáFil: Rogers, Mary Louise. Flinders University, Department Of Human Physiology; AustraliaFil: Bertram, Lisa. University of British Columbia; CanadáFil: Wang, Jing. University of British Columbia; CanadáFil: Yousefi, Masoud. University of British Columbia; CanadáFil: Rush, Robert. Flinders University, Department Of Human Physiology; AustraliaFil: Fabian, Marc. Mc Gill University. Lady Davis Research Intitute; CanadáFil: Cashman, Neil. University of British Columbia; CanadáFil: Saragovi, H. Uri. Mc Gill University. Lady Davis Research Intitute; Canad