scholarly journals Antidiscrimination Laws, Policy Knowledge and Political Support

2017 ◽  
Vol 49 (3) ◽  
pp. 1027-1044 ◽  
Author(s):  
Conrad Ziller ◽  
Marc Helbling
Keyword(s):  
Longitudinal Design ◽  
Political Support ◽  
Equal Treatment ◽  
Policy Feedback ◽  
Key Factor ◽  
Democratic System ◽  
Antidiscrimination Policy ◽  
Government Responsiveness ◽  
Antidiscrimination Laws

This study investigates how antidiscrimination policy and related policy knowledge influence citizens’ support for the democratic system and its institutions. The article argues that antidiscrimination measures and knowledge about rights to equal treatment foster perceptions of government responsiveness, which increase political support among target groups and citizens who advocate egalitarianism. Utilizing a longitudinal design and more valid measures to resolve causality issues, the results of the empirical models show that increases in policy knowledge over time systematically predict higher political support, especially among individuals who hold egalitarian values. Individuals who are discriminated against express particularly high political support in contexts where antidiscrimination laws are expanded. Overall, the results amplify the role of policy knowledge as a key factor in studying policy feedback effects.

A Framework to Analyze the Alignment of E-Government Projects

2012 ◽  
Vol 8 (2) ◽  
pp. 75-90
Author(s):  
Fatma Bouaziz ◽  
Jamil Chaabouni
Keyword(s):  
Influencing Factor ◽  
Political Support ◽  
Horizontal Integration ◽  
Implementation Success ◽  
Dynamic Approach ◽  
It Alignment ◽  
Partial Alignment ◽  
Key Factor ◽  
Government Project

Alignment is perceived as a key factor for profiting from the implementation of information system and technology (IS/IT). However, studies in the domain of e-government and alignment, particularly in developing countries are scarce. In this research, the authors examine the significant impact that IS/IT alignment can have on e-government project implementation success. Through inspecting e-government projects, the authors capture the role of alignment in e-government and discuss strategies that can be adopted to improve implementation success. An empirical enquiry based on case studies of e-government projects by Tunisian public administration reveals that a dynamic approach to alignment can be adopted and consequently supported through partial alignment of horizontal integration. This empirical enquiry also reveals that political support can be seen as a key influencing factor that impacted success. Finally, the findings are used to propose a framework to analyze the alignment of e-government projects.

Introduction

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Helen Callaghan
Keyword(s):  
Relevant Literature ◽  
Political Support ◽  
Policy Feedback ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Political Sources ◽  
Collective Action Problems ◽  
Policy Measures ◽  
Tracing Techniques

Chapter 1 introduces the puzzle and research agenda, reviews relevant literature, summarizes the argument, and reflects on the methodology used. Since the early 1980s, governments worldwide have taken a wide range of policy measures to strengthen and expand competition. The financial crisis that erupted in 2008 has not led to a major reversal. This prolonged phase of market liberalization runs counter to influential scholarly predictions that the role of markets would decline. Most doomsayers of marketization ignored mid-range political sources of capitalist dynamism, including endogenous policy feedback. Others focused too narrowly on the political representatives of market contestants, and on the collective action problems that afflict challengers more than incumbents. Process tracing techniques, mechanism-oriented research, and a stronger focus on the rejoicing profiteers can contribute to establishing whether and why market-restraining rules are more prone to undermining their own political support bases than market-enabling rules are.

scholarly journals Innovation Capabilities and the Performance of Start-Ups in Korea: The Role of Government Support Policies

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (11) ◽  
pp. 6009
Author(s):  
Se-Kyoung Choi ◽  
Sangyun Han ◽  
Kyu-Tae Kwak
Keyword(s):  
Firm Performance ◽  
Financial Support ◽  
Political Support ◽  
Sustainable Growth ◽  
Government Support ◽  
Role Of Government ◽  
Positive Effects ◽  
Start Up ◽  
Start Ups

What kind of capacity is needed to improve the performance of start-ups? How effective are government support policies in improving start-up performance? Start-ups are critical firm group for ensuring the prospective and sustainable growth of an economy, and thus many countries’ governments have established support policies and they are likely to engage more widely in forward-looking political support activities to ensure further growth and expansion. In this paper, the effect of innovation capabilities and government support policies on start-up performance is examined. We used an unbalanced panel data analysis with a random effect generalized least squares. We investigated the effect of government support policies on 4368 Korean start-ups. The findings indicated that technology and knowledge capabilities had positive effects on the sales performance of start-ups, and government financial support positively affected the relationship between knowledge capability and firm performance. However, when government financial support increased, marketing capability was negatively associated with firm performance. These results demonstrate the significant role of government financial support, including its crowding in but also its crowding out effect. Practical implications: To be more effective, governments should employ innovation-driven entrepreneurship policy approaches to support start-ups. To improve their performance, start-ups need to increase their technology and knowledge capabilities. This study extends recent efforts to understand more fully the effect of government support policies on start-ups differing in their technology, knowledge, and marketing capabilities.

scholarly journals Protective Role of Glutathione in the Hippocampus after Brain Ischemia

2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (15) ◽  
pp. 7765
Author(s):  
Youichirou Higashi ◽  
Takaaki Aratake ◽  
Takahiro Shimizu ◽  
Shogo Shimizu ◽  
Motoaki Saito
Keyword(s):  
Oxidative Stress ◽  
Neuronal Death ◽  
Excitatory Amino Acid ◽  
Ischemia Reperfusion ◽  
Thiol Group ◽  
Protective Role ◽  
Key Factor ◽  
Rate Limiting ◽  
Cysteine Uptake

Stroke is a major cause of death worldwide, leading to serious disability. Post-ischemic injury, especially in the cerebral ischemia-prone hippocampus, is a serious problem, as it contributes to vascular dementia. Many studies have shown that in the hippocampus, ischemia/reperfusion induces neuronal death through oxidative stress and neuronal zinc (Zn2+) dyshomeostasis. Glutathione (GSH) plays an important role in protecting neurons against oxidative stress as a major intracellular antioxidant. In addition, the thiol group of GSH can function as a principal Zn2+ chelator for the maintenance of Zn2+ homeostasis in neurons. These lines of evidence suggest that neuronal GSH levels could be a key factor in post-stroke neuronal survival. In neurons, excitatory amino acid carrier 1 (EAAC1) is involved in the influx of cysteine, and intracellular cysteine is the rate-limiting substrate for the synthesis of GSH. Recently, several studies have indicated that cysteine uptake through EAAC1 suppresses ischemia-induced neuronal death via the promotion of hippocampal GSH synthesis in ischemic animal models. In this article, we aimed to review and describe the role of GSH in hippocampal neuroprotection after ischemia/reperfusion, focusing on EAAC1.

scholarly journals Changing Technology or Behavior? The Impacts of a Behavioral Disruption

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (11) ◽  
pp. 5861
Author(s):  
Marianne Pedinotti-Castelle ◽  
Pierre-Olivier Pineau ◽  
Kathleen Vaillancourt ◽  
Ben Amor
Keyword(s):  
Energy Transition ◽  
Energy System ◽  
Behavior Changes ◽  
Ghg Emission ◽  
The North ◽  
Behavioral Disruption ◽  
Transportation Sector ◽  
Key Factor ◽  
Additional Costs

Transportation is a key factor in the fight against climate change. Consumer behavior changes in transportation are underrepresented in energy policies, even if they could be essential to achieve the fixed GHG emission reduction targets. To help quantify the role of behaviors in energy transition and their implications on the dynamics of an energy system, this study is conducted using the North American TIMES Energy Model, adapted to Quebec (Canada). A behavioral disruption scenario (an increase in carpooling) is introduced in the model’s transportation sector and is compared to a massive electrification scenario. Our results highlight the fact that a behavioral disruption can lead to the same GHG emission reductions (65%) by 2050 as an electrification policy, while alleviating different efforts (such as additional electrical capacity and additional costs) associated with massive electrification. Moreover, the results are sensitive to behavior-related parameters, such as social discount rates and car lifetimes.

scholarly journals Parental Warmth, Gratitude, and Prosocial Behavior among Chinese Adolescents: The Moderating Effect of School Climate

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (13) ◽  
pp. 7033
Author(s):  
Haocheng Luo ◽  
Qingqi Liu ◽  
Chengfu Yu ◽  
Yangang Nie
Keyword(s):  
School Climate ◽  
Prosocial Behavior ◽  
Longitudinal Design ◽  
Positive Association ◽  
Theoretical Explanation ◽  
Parental Warmth ◽  
Physical And Mental Health ◽  
Low Levels ◽  
Moderating Role

Parental warmth plays an important role in the development of adolescents’ physical and mental health. There are numerous empirical studies indicating a relationship between parental warmth and prosocial behavior among adolescents, although the underlying mechanisms of this association remain unclear. Adopting a longitudinal design across two time points, the present study proposes a moderated mediation model to explore the mediating role of gratitude and the moderating role of the school climate between parental warmth and prosocial behavior. The sample consisted of 943 participants (483 boys and 451 girls) who participated in the second assessment and completed questionnaires assessing gratitude, school climate, and prosocial behavior in April 2019. Their parents participated in the first assessment and completed a questionnaire pertaining to parental warmth in October 2018. After controlling for the gender and age of the adolescents, the results showed that the positive association between parental warmth and prosocial behavior is mediated by gratitude, and school climate does play a moderating role in the second half of the mediating path. Specifically, the school climate can play a protective role in adolescents with low levels of gratitude. For adolescents with less gratitude, a strong school climate can promote more prosocial behaviors and can effectively alleviate the negative prediction of low levels of gratitude. This study provides a theoretical explanation for the generation of adolescents’ prosocial behavior and provides theoretical guidance for the interventions of schools and parents.

scholarly journals sFasL—The Key to a Riddle: Immune Responses in Aging Lung and Disease

2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (4) ◽  
pp. 2177
Author(s):  
Shulamit B. Wallach-Dayan ◽  
Dmytro Petukhov ◽  
Ronit Ahdut-HaCohen ◽  
Mark Richter-Dayan ◽  
Raphael Breuer
Keyword(s):  
Cell Death ◽  
Lung Disease ◽  
Fas Ligand ◽  
Death Receptor ◽  
Mesenchymal Cells ◽  
Soluble Form ◽  
Cell Accumulation ◽  
Key Factor ◽  
Aged Subjects

By dint of the aging population and further deepened with the Covid-19 pandemic, lung disease has turned out to be a major cause of worldwide morbidity and mortality. The condition is exacerbated when the immune system further attacks the healthy, rather than the diseased, tissue within the lung. Governed by unremittingly proliferating mesenchymal cells and increased collagen deposition, if inflammation persists, as frequently occurs in aging lungs, the tissue develops tumors and/or turns into scars (fibrosis), with limited regenerative capacity and organ failure. Fas ligand (FasL, a ligand of the Fas cell death receptor) is a key factor in the regulation of these processes. FasL is primarily found in two forms: full length (membrane, or mFasL) and cleaved (soluble, or sFasL). We and others found that T-cells expressing the mFasL retain autoimmune surveillance that controls mesenchymal, as well as tumor cell accumulation following an inflammatory response. However, mesenchymal cells from fibrotic lungs, tumor cells, or cells from immune-privileged sites, resist FasL+ T-cell-induced cell death. The mechanisms involved are a counterattack of immune cells by FasL, by releasing a soluble form of FasL that competes with the membrane version, and inhibits their cell death, promoting cell survival. This review focuses on understanding the previously unrecognized role of FasL, and in particular its soluble form, sFasL, in the serum of aged subjects, and its association with the evolution of lung disease, paving the way to new methods of diagnosis and treatment.

scholarly journals Innovative Work Behavior—A Key Factor in Business Performance? The Role of Team Cognitive Diversity and Teamwork Climate in This Relationship

2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (4) ◽  
pp. 185
Author(s):  
Nadežda Jankelová ◽  
Zuzana Joniaková ◽  
Juraj Mišún
Keyword(s):  
Business Performance ◽  
Main Tool ◽  
Work Behavior ◽  
Cognitive Diversity ◽  
Staff Perceptions ◽  
Innovative Work Behavior ◽  
Positive Effects ◽  
Key Factor ◽  
Innovative Work

The aim of our paper is to examine whether the support of innovative work behavior by management is positively related to business performance and at the same time, whether this relationship is mediated by the teamwork climate and cognitive diversity of teams. Cognitive diversity is defined as differences in knowledge and perspective, which arise from professional diversity and account for its positive effects. A teamwork climate represents staff perceptions of collaboration between personnel. Business performance is defined by the level of sales. Our sample consisted of 211 managers of companies operating in Slovakia, and data collection took place in the form of a questionnaire. The main tool for examining the mechanism of operation of the investigated relationships is mediation using regression analysis and the Sobel test to determine the significance of the indirect effect of mediation variables. The findings point to a significant direct relationship between the innovative work behavior of company employees and business performance. The intensity of this relationship can be partly influenced by promoting cognitive diversity, especially in the area of knowledge and ways of thinking. The significant role of a teamwork climate was not demonstrated in the examined model.

scholarly journals HIF-1α promoted vasculogenic mimicry formation in lung adenocarcinoma through NRP1 upregulation in the hypoxic tumor microenvironment

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ran Fu ◽  
Wenwen Du ◽  
Zongli Ding ◽  
Yi Wang ◽  
Yue Li ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Lung Adenocarcinoma ◽  
Vasculogenic Mimicry ◽  
Tube Formation ◽  
Luciferase Reporter ◽  
Vimentin Expression ◽  
Cell Metastasis ◽  
Therapeutic Value ◽  
Key Factor ◽  
Important Form

AbstractNeovascularization is a key factor that contributes to tumor metastasis, and vasculogenic mimicry (VM) is an important form of neovascularization found in highly invasive tumors, including lung cancer. Despite the increasing number of studies focusing on VM, the mechanisms underlying VM formation remain unclear. Herein, our study explored the role of the HIF-1α/NRP1 axis in mediating lung adenocarcinoma metastasis and VM formation. HIF-1α, NRP1 expression, and VM in lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) patient samples were examined by immunohistochemical staining. Quantitative real-time (qRT-PCR), western blot, transwell assay, wound healing assay, and tube formation assay were performed to verify the role of HIF-1α/NRP1 axis in LUAD metastasis and VM formation. ChIP and luciferase reporter assay were used to confirm whether NRP1 is a direct target of HIF-1α. In LUAD tissues, we confirmed a positive relationship between HIF-1α and NRP1 expression. Importantly, high HIF-1α and NRP1 expression and the presence of VM were correlated with poor prognosis. We also found that HIF-1α could induce LUAD cell migration, invasion, and VM formation by regulating NRP1. Moreover, we demonstrated that HIF-1α can directly bind to the NRP1 promoter located between −2009 and −2017 of the promoter. Mechanistically, MMP2, VE-cadherin, and Vimentin expression were affected. HIF-1α plays an important role in inducing lung adenocarcinoma cell metastasis and VM formation via upregulation of NRP1. This study highlights the potential therapeutic value of targeting NRP1 for suppressing lung adenocarcinoma metastasis and progression.

scholarly journals Body image, self-esteem, and sense of masculinity in patients with prostate cancer: a qualitative meta-synthesis

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jessica Bowie ◽  
Oliver Brunckhorst ◽  
Robert Stewart ◽  
Prokar Dasgupta ◽  
Kamran Ahmed
Keyword(s):  
Prostate Cancer ◽  
Body Image ◽  
Cancer Survivors ◽  
Self Esteem ◽  
Qualitative Studies ◽  
Prostate Cancer Survivors ◽  
Key Factor ◽  
Key Topics

Abstract Purpose Body image, self-esteem, and masculinity are three interconnected constructs in men with prostate cancer, with profound effects on quality of life. This meta-synthesis aimed to evaluate all known qualitative studies published studying the effect of prostate cancer on these constructs. Methods A systematic review utilising PubMed, Embase, MEDLINE, and PsycINFO databases up to May 2020 was conducted in line with PRISMA and ENTREQ guidelines. All qualitative studies of men’s experiences with body image, self-esteem, and masculinity whilst living with prostate cancer were included. A thematic meta-synthesis was conducted to identify emergent descriptive and analytical themes under the main study constructs. Results Of 2188 articles identified, 68 were included. Eight descriptive themes were identified under two analytical themes: ‘Becoming a Prostate Cancer Patient’ and ‘Becoming a Prostate Cancer Survivor’. These described the distress caused by changes to body image, sexual functioning, sense of masculinity, and self-esteem, and the subsequent discourses men engaged with to cope with and manage their disease. A key element was increased flexibility in masculinity definitions, and finding other ways to re-affirm masculinity. Conclusions Prostate cancer has an important effect on men’s health post-diagnosis, and we identified strong relationships between each construct evaluated. The role of hegemonic masculinity is important when considering men’s coping mechanisms and is also a key factor when addressing these constructs in counselling post-treatment. Implications for Cancer Survivors This meta-synthesis provides key topics that uniquely affect prostate cancer survivors, enabling these patients to be effectively counselled, and have their concerns recognised by clinicians.

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