Social comparison processes in organizations

We systematically analyze the role of social comparison processes in organizations. Specifically, we describe how social comparison processes have been used to explain six key areas of organizational inquiry: (1) organizational justice, (2) performance appraisal, (3) virtual work environments, (4) affective behavior in the workplace, (5) stress, and (6) leadership. Additionally, we describe how unique contextual factors in organizations offer new insight into two widely studied sub-processes of social comparison, acquiring social information and thinking about that information. Our analyses underscore the merit of integrating organizational phenomena and social comparison processes in future research and theory

New New Painting

Moffett defines the modernist context which informs "New Acrylic Painting" and examines the development of this movement in North America during the 1980s. Ten artists making use of the vivid colors and material properties of acrylic comment on their individual evolution. Includes a text where Paquet considers what is at stake in 20th-century painting. Biographical on artists and authors. 10 bibl. ref

Selective Cancer Targeting via Aberrant Behavior of Cancer Cell-associated Glucocorticoid Receptor

Glucocorticoid receptors (GRs) are ubiquitous, nuclear hormone receptors residing in cell types of both cancer and noncancerous origin. It is not known whether cancer cell–associated GR alone can be selectively manipulated for delivery of exogenous genes to its nucleus for eliciting anticancer effect. We find that GR ligand, dexamethasone (Dex) in association with cationic lipoplex (termed as targeted lipoplex) could selectively manipulate GR in cancer cells alone for the delivery of transgenes in the nucleus, a phenomenon that remained unobserved in normal cells. The targeted lipoplex (i) showed GR-targeted transfections in all cancer cells experimented (P < 0.01), (ii) significantly diminished transfection in cancer cells when GR is downregulated (P < 0.01), and (iii) elicited specific nuclear translocation of targeted lipoplex in cancer cells, followed by upregulated transactivation of glucocorticoid response element (GRE)– promoted gene. Using anticancer gene, targeted lipoplex induced significant tumor growth retardation in mice in comparison to different control groups (P < 0.05). Interestingly, cell surface–associated Hsp90 in cancer cells assisted the intracellular uptake of GR-targeted lipoplex. Moreover, selective inhibition of Hsp90 in noncancer cells resulted in cancer cell-like, aberrant, GR activation. The current study discovers a therapeutically important, unique property of cancer cell associated–GR that may be linked to a compromised role of Hsp90

THE CHANGING NATURE OF RURAL AMERICA-super-1

Rural regions are changing, both in terms of economic dispersal and population patterns. Rural growth is attributed to technological innovation, improving capacity to deal with impending problems as well as improving quality of life, and intercommunity linkage. For some communities, this means the prospects of indigenous economic development. Copyright 1982 by The Policy Studies Organization.

Determinants of Corruption: A Cross‐National Analysis

The background literature survey points to the fact that the degree of corruption is a function of multiple factors of a society. Thus, it is imperative to take a more comprehensive and cross-disciplinary approach to understand the complete picture of corruption. The research findings indicate economic freedom, socio-political stability, tradition of law abidance and national cultures are the major variables that dictate the degree of corruption. This study expands the existing knowledge about the determinants of corruption and provides incremental information to help the policy makers fight against this cancerous social disease. © 2003, MCB UP Limite