Does Culture Matter to Pro-Social Behavior? Evidence from a Cross-Ethnic Lab Experiment

Recent investigations have uncovered large, consistent deviations from the predictions of Homo economics that individuals are entirely self-regarding. Our study undertook a cross-cultural study of behavior search for the evidences of other-regarding behaviors and its ethnic difference, and accounted for by anatomy of culture. This study recruited 90 subjects of three ethnic groups from market trade-based (ethnic Han), nomadism-based (ethnic Zang) and agriculture-based (ethnic Bouyei) areas in China and conducted public good provision experiment with stranger-treatment design. Under the assumption of self-regarding preferences, the Nash equilibrium is zero contribution by all in public account using backward induction. However, we found contributions did not reduce to zero over all three sessions. Besides, the differences in contributions between ethnicities strongly depended on the degree of ethnic dominance, and Zang harbored the strongest reciprocal preference generally over all group structures. A particular set of measurable factors was identified as proxies for cultural influences on behavioral differences observed in experiments between ethnicities. The results showed all of the cultural factors accounted for the behavioral differences between the ethnic Han and the other two minor ethnicities. However, behavioral difference between minor ethnicities was attributed to group structure only. (1) People may harbor various forms of prosocial emotions in economic affairs, and especially exhibit stronger at the initial phase rather than what canonical model assumes. (2) Behavioral differences between ethnicities are prominent and can be explained by differences in cultural influence

Rank, strain, and corruption among Chinese public officials: A general strain theory perspective

The problem of corruption has long been a societal focus in China. Agnew’s general strain theory (GST) offers a good explanation of the drive to engage in corruption; that is, offenders are likely to be driven by various types of strains and engage in corrupt behavior as a coping mechanism. However, whether and how an official’s rank moderates the effect of strain on corrupt behavior has yet to be explored. The current study surveyed 687 inmates from 60 prisons in China who had been convicted of corrupt behaviors. The results show that although different levels of officials experience different types of strain, nearly all types of strains are significantly and positively associated with the frequency of corrupt behavior. As for the conditional effect, officials’ ranks significantly moderate the relationship between work-related strain and the frequency of corrupt behavior; that is, work-related strain is shown to have a more significant effect on officials at the clerk level (a higher rank) than on officials at non-clerk level (a lower rank). This research is believed to further expand on the applicability of GST to corruption in non-Western societies

Antimicrobial activity of <i>Laminaria japonica</i> extracts against bacterial canker of tomato disease agent <i>Clavibacter michiganensis</i> subsp. <i>michiganensis</i>

Laminaria japonica was extracted with ethanol, and tested for antimicrobial activity against Clavibacter michiganensis subsp. michiganensis (Cmm). This gram-positive bacterium is the agent of a serious tomato disease called bacterial canker. On in vitro antimicrobial assays, L. japonica extracts showed intensive antimicrobial activity to inhibit Cmm. Extracting parameters (time, temperature, and solid/liquid ratio) were investigated and further optimized integratedly with L27(313) orthogonal array design (OAD). Our data implied that the optimum extraction conditions were A3B3C3, that were extracting time 12 h, extracting temperature 80 °C, and solid/liquid ratio 1:30 (g:mL). Extracting temperature was the significant factor affecting extracting condition. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) of L. japonica extracts against Cmm were 2.5 mg/mL and 5 mg/mL. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) observation indicated L. japonica extracts caused considerable morphological alterations in Cmm cells, such as protoplast leakage, cell membrane disruption, cell clumped, and cell fragmented. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) level determination and ATPase activity assay revealed that L. japonica extracts did cause significant accumulation in ROS and reduce the intracellular ATPase activity rapidly. Accordingly, these results indicated that L. japonica extracts could open a new promising opportunity for this tomato disease control

Baicalin Protects Mice Brain From Apoptosis in Traumatic Brain Injury Model Through Activation of Autophagy

Autophagy is associated with secondary injury following traumatic brain injury (TBI) and is expected to be a therapeutic target. Baicalin, a neuroprotective agent, has been proven to exert multi-functional bioactive effects in brain injury diseases. However, it is unknown if Baicalin influences autophagy after TBI. In the present study, we aimed to explore the effects that Baicalin had on TBI in a mice model, focusing on autophagy as a potential mechanism. We found that Baicalin administration significantly improved motor function, reduced cerebral edema, and alleviated disruption of the blood-brain barrier (BBB) after TBI in mice. Besides, TBI-induced apoptosis was reversed by Baicalin evidenced by Nissl staining, terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) assay, and the level of cleaved caspase-3. More importantly, Baicalin enhanced autophagy by detecting the autophagy markers (LC3, Beclin 1, and p62) using western blot and LC3 immunofluorescence staining, ameliorating mitochondrial apoptotic pathway evidenced by restoration of the TBI-induced translocation of Bax and cytochrome C. However, simultaneous treatment with 3-MA inhibited Baicalin-induced autophagy and abolished its protective effects on mitochondrial apoptotic pathway. In conclusion, we demonstrated that Baicalin enhanced autophagy, ameliorated mitochondrial apoptosis and protected mice brain in TBI mice model

The Effect of Zn-Al-Hydrotalcites Composited with Calcium Stearate and β-Diketone on the Thermal Stability of PVC

A clean-route synthesis of Zn-Al-hydrotalcites (Zn-Al-LDHs) using zinc oxide and sodium aluminate solution has been developed. The as-obtained materials were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The effects of metal ions at different molar ratios on the performance of hydrotalcites were discussed. The results showed that the Zn-Al-hydrotalcites can be successfully synthesized at three different Zn/Al ratios of 3:1, 2:1 and 1:1. Thermal aging tests of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) mixed with Zn-Al-LDHs, calcium stearate (CaSt2) and β-diketone were carried out in a thermal aging test box by observing the color change. The results showed that Zn-Al-LDHs can not only enhance the stability of PVC significantly due to the improved capacity of HCl-adsorption but also increase the initial stability and ensure good-initial coloring due to the presence of the Zn element. The effects of various amounts of Zn-Al-LDHs, CaSt2 and β-diketone on the thermal stability of PVC were discussed. The optimum composition was determined to be 0.1 g Zn-Al-LDHs, 0.15 g CaSt2 and 0.25 g β-diketone in 5 g PVC