TY - JOUR A1 - Watanabe, Mutsumi A1 - Tohge, Takayuki A1 - Balazadeh, Salma A1 - Erban, Alexander A1 - Giavalisco, Patrick A1 - Kopka, Joachim A1 - Mueller-Roeber, Bernd A1 - Fernie, Alisdair A1 - Hoefgen, Rainer T1 - Comprehensive Metabolomics Studies of Plant Developmental Senescence JF - Plant Senescence: Methods and Protocols N2 - Leaf senescence is an essential developmental process that involves diverse metabolic changes associated with degradation of macromolecules allowing nutrient recycling and remobilization. In contrast to the significant progress in transcriptomic analysis of leaf senescence, metabolomics analyses have been relatively limited. A broad overview of metabolic changes during leaf senescence including the interactions between various metabolic pathways is required to gain a better understanding of the leaf senescence allowing to link transcriptomics with metabolomics and physiology. In this chapter, we describe how to obtain comprehensive metabolite profiles and how to dissect metabolic shifts during leaf senescence in the model plant Arabidopsis thaliana. Unlike nucleic acid analysis for transcriptomics, a comprehensive metabolite profile can only be achieved by combining a suite of analytic tools. Here, information is provided for measurements of the contents of chlorophyll, soluble proteins, and starch by spectrophotometric methods, ions by ion chromatography, thiols and amino acids by HPLC, primary metabolites by GC/TOF-MS, and secondary metabolites and lipophilic metabolites by LC/ESI-MS. These metabolite profiles provide a rich catalogue of metabolic changes during leaf senescence, which is a helpful database and blueprint to be correlated to future studies such as transcriptome and proteome analyses, forward and reverse genetic studies, or stress-induced senescence studies. KW - Senescence KW - Metabolomics KW - Arabidopsis KW - GC/MS KW - LC/MS KW - HPLC KW - IC Y1 - 2018 SN - 978-1-4939-7672-0 SN - 978-1-4939-7670-6 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4939-7672-0_28 SN - 1064-3745 SN - 1940-6029 VL - 1744 SP - 339 EP - 358 PB - Humana Press CY - Totowa ER - TY - JOUR A1 - de Wiljes, Jana A1 - Reich, Sebastian A1 - Stannat, Wilhelm T1 - Long-Time stability and accuracy of the ensemble Kalman-Bucy Filter for fully observed processes and small measurement noise JF - SIAM Journal on Applied Dynamical Systems N2 - The ensemble Kalman filter has become a popular data assimilation technique in the geosciences. However, little is known theoretically about its long term stability and accuracy. In this paper, we investigate the behavior of an ensemble Kalman-Bucy filter applied to continuous-time filtering problems. We derive mean field limiting equations as the ensemble size goes to infinity as well as uniform-in-time accuracy and stability results for finite ensemble sizes. The later results require that the process is fully observed and that the measurement noise is small. We also demonstrate that our ensemble Kalman-Bucy filter is consistent with the classic Kalman-Bucy filter for linear systems and Gaussian processes. We finally verify our theoretical findings for the Lorenz-63 system. KW - data assimilation KW - Kalman Bucy filter KW - ensemble Kalman filter KW - stability KW - accuracy KW - asymptotic behavior Y1 - 2018 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1137/17M1119056 SN - 1536-0040 VL - 17 IS - 2 SP - 1152 EP - 1181 PB - Society for Industrial and Applied Mathematics CY - Philadelphia ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Thienen, Julia von A1 - Clancey, William J. A1 - Corazza, Giovanni Emanuele A1 - Meinel, Christoph T1 - Theoretical foundations of design thinking creative thinking theories JF - Design Thinking Research: Making Distinctions: Collaboration versus Cooperation N2 - Design thinking is acknowledged as a thriving innovation practice plus something more, something in the line of a deep understanding of innovation processes. At the same time, quite how and why design thinking works-in scientific terms-appeared an open question at first. Over recent years, empirical research has achieved great progress in illuminating the principles that make design thinking successful. Lately, the community began to explore an additional approach. Rather than setting up novel studies, investigations into the history of design thinking hold the promise of adding systematically to our comprehension of basic principles. This chapter makes a start in revisiting design thinking history with the aim of explicating scientific understandings that inform design thinking practices today. It offers a summary of creative thinking theories that were brought to Stanford Engineering in the 1950s by John E. Arnold. Y1 - 2018 SN - 978-3-319-60967-6 SN - 978-3-319-60966-9 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-60967-6_2 SP - 13 EP - 40 PB - Springer CY - New York ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Schmidt, Silke Regina A1 - Gerten, Dieter A1 - Hintze, Thomas A1 - Lischeid, Gunnar A1 - Livingstone, David M. A1 - Adrian, Rita T1 - Temporal and spatial scales of water temperature variability as an indicator for mixing in a polymictic lake JF - Inland waters : journal of the International Society of Limnology N2 - We applied coarse spectral analysis to more than 2 decades of daily near-surface water temperature (WT) measurements from Muggelsee, a shallow polymictic lake in Germany, to systematically characterize patterns in WT variability from daily to yearly temporal scales. Comparison of WT with local air temperature indicates that the WT variability patterns are likely attributable to both meteorological forcing and internal lake dynamics. We identified seasonal patterns of WT variability and showed that WT variability increases with increasing Schmidt stability, decreasing Lake number and decreasing ice cover duration, and is higher near the shore than in open water. We introduced the slope of WT spectra as an indicator for the degree of lake mixing to help explain the identified temporal and spatial scales of WT variability. The explanatory power of this indicator in other lakes with different mixing regimes remains to be established. KW - Lake number KW - polymictic lakes KW - Schmidt stability KW - seasonality KW - spectral analysis KW - variability Y1 - 2018 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1080/20442041.2018.1429067 SN - 2044-2041 SN - 2044-205X VL - 8 IS - 1 SP - 82 EP - 95 PB - Routledge, Taylor & Francis Group CY - Abingdon ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Krüger-Genge, Anne A1 - Schulz, Christian A1 - Kratz, Karl A1 - Lendlein, Andreas A1 - Jung, Friedrich T1 - Comparison of two substrate materials used as negative control in endothelialization studies BT - Glass versus polymeric tissue culture plate JF - Clinical hemorheology and microcirculation : blood flow and vessels N2 - The endothelialization of synthetic surfaces applied as cardiovascular implant materials is an important issue to ensure the anti-thrombotic quality of a biomaterial. However, the rapid and constant development of a functionallycon-fluent endothelial cell monolayer is challenging. In order to investigate the compatibility of potential implant materials with endothelial cells several in vitro studies are performed. Here, glass and tissue culture plates (TCP) are often used as reference materials for in vitro pre-testing. However, a direct comparison of both substrates is lacking. Therefore, a comparison of study results is difficult, since results are often related to various reference materials. In this study, the endothelialization of glass and TCP was investigated in terms of adherence, morphology, integrity, viability and function using human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC). On both substrates an almost functionally confluent HUVEC monolayer was developed after nine days of cell seeding with clearly visible cell rims, decreased stress fiber formation and a pronounced marginal filament band. The viability of HUVEC was comparable for both substrates nine days after cell seeding with only a few dead cells. According to that, the cell membrane integrity as well as the metabolic activity showed no differences between TCP and glass. However, a significant difference was observed for the secretion of IL-6 and IL-8. The concentration of both cytokines, which are associated with migratory activity, was increased in the supernatant of HUVEC seeded on TCP. This result matches well with the slightly increased number of adherent HUVEC on TCP. In conclusion, these findings indicate that both reference materials are almost comparable and can be used equivalently as control materials in in vitro endothelialization studies. KW - Negative control KW - endothelial cells KW - glass KW - TCP KW - reference Y1 - 2018 U6 - https://doi.org/10.3233/CH-189904 SN - 1386-0291 SN - 1875-8622 VL - 69 IS - 3 SP - 437 EP - 445 PB - IOS Press CY - Amsterdam ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Krüger-Genge, A. A1 - Braune, S. A1 - Walter, M. A1 - Krengel, M. A1 - Kratz, K. A1 - Küpper, J. H. A1 - Lendlein, Andreas A1 - Jung, Friedrich T1 - Influence of different surface treatments of poly(n-butyl acrylate) networks on fibroblasts adhesion, morphology and viability JF - Clinical hemorheology and microcirculation : blood flow and vessels N2 - BACKGROUND: Physical and chemical characteristics of implant materials determine the fate of long-term cardiovascular devices. However, there is still a lack of fundamental understanding of the molecular mechanisms occurring in the material-tissue interphase. In a previous study, soft covalently crosslinked poly(n-butyl acrylate) networks (cPnBA) were introduced as sterilizable, non-toxic and immuno-compatible biomaterials with mechanical properties adjustable to blood vessels. Here we study the influence of different surface treatments in particular oxygen plasma modification and fibrinogen deposition as well as a combinatorial approach on the adhesion and viability of fibroblasts. RESULTS: Compared to non-treated cPnBAs the advancing water-contact angles were found to be reduced after all surface modifications (p<0.05, each), while lowest values were observed after the combined surface treatment (OPT+FIB). The latter differed significantly from the single OPT and FIB. The number of adherent fibroblasts and their adherence behavior differed on both pristine cPnBA networks. The fibroblast density on cPnBA04 was 743 +/- 434 cells. mm(-2), was about 6.5 times higher than on cPnBA73 with 115 +/- 73 cells. mm(-2). On cPnBA04 about 20% of the cells were visible as very small, round and buckled cells while all other cells were in a migrating status. On cPnBA73, nearly 50% of fibroblasts were visible as very small, round and buckled cells. The surface functionalization either using oxygen plasma treatment or fibrinogen coating led to a significant increase of adherent fibroblasts, particularly the combination of both techniques, for both cPnBA networks. It is noteworthy to mention that the fibrinogen coating overruled the characteristics of the pristine surfaces; here, the fibroblast densities after seeding were identical for both cPnBAnetworks. Thus, the binding rather depended on the fibrinogen coating than on the substrate characteristics anymore. While the integrity of the fibroblasts membrane was comparable for both polymers, the MTS tests showed a decreased metabolic activity of the fibroblasts on cPnBA. CONCLUSION: The applied surface treatments of cPnBA successfully improved the adhesion of viable fibroblasts. Under resting conditions as well as after shearing the highest fibroblast densities were found on surfaces with combined post-treatment. KW - Biomaterial KW - poly(n-butyl acrylate) KW - fibroblast KW - oxygen plasma KW - fibrinogen KW - cell adhesion KW - focal adhesion KW - actin cytoskeleton KW - viability Y1 - 2018 U6 - https://doi.org/10.3233/CH-189130 SN - 1386-0291 SN - 1875-8622 VL - 69 IS - 1-2 SP - 305 EP - 316 PB - IOS Press CY - Amsterdam ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Kumar, Reddi K. A1 - Heuchel, Matthias A1 - Kratz, Karl A1 - Lendlein, Andreas A1 - Jankowski, Joachim A1 - Tetali, Sarada D. T1 - Effects of extracts prepared from modified porous poly(ether imide) microparticulate absorbers on cytotoxicity, macrophage differentiation and proinflammatory behavior of human monocytic (THP-1) cells JF - Clinical hemorheology and microcirculation : blood flow and vessels N2 - Remaining uremic toxins in the blood of chronic renal failure patients represent one central challenge in hemodialysis therapies. Highly porous poly(ether imide) (PEI) microparticles have been recently introduced as candidate absorber materials, which show a high absorption capacity for uremic toxins and allow hydrophilic surface modification suitable for minimization of serum protein absorption. In this work, the effects of extracts prepared from PEI microparticles modified by nucleophilic reaction with low molecular weight polyethylene imine (Pei) or potassium hydroxide (KOH), on human monocytic (THP-1) cells are studied. The obtained results suggested that the extracts of Pei and KOH modified PEI absorbers have no negative effect on THP-1 cell viability and do not initiate the critical differentiation towards macrophages. The extracts did not enhance transcript or protein levels of investigated proinflammatory markers in THP-1 cells, namely, TNF alpha, MCP1, IL6 and IL8. Based on these findings such modified PEI microparticles should be qualified for further pre-clinical evaluation i.e. in an in vivo animal experiment. KW - Chronic kidney disease KW - hemodialysis KW - Inflammation KW - Porous poly(ether imide) microparticulate absorbers KW - THP-1 cells KW - Uremic toxins Y1 - 2018 U6 - https://doi.org/10.3233/CH-189112 SN - 1386-0291 SN - 1875-8622 VL - 69 IS - 1-2 SP - 175 EP - 185 PB - IOS Press CY - Amsterdam ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Bourne, D. P. A1 - Cushing, D. A1 - Liu, S. A1 - Münch, Florentin A1 - Peyerimhoff, Norbert T1 - Ollivier-Ricci idleness functions of graphs JF - SIAM Journal on Discrete Mathematics N2 - We study the Ollivier-Ricci curvature of graphs as a function of the chosen idleness. We show that this idleness function is concave and piecewise linear with at most three linear parts, and at most two linear parts in the case of a regular graph. We then apply our result to show that the idleness function of the Cartesian product of two regular graphs is completely determined by the idleness functions of the factors. KW - Ollivier-Ricci KW - idleness KW - optimal transport Y1 - 2018 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1137/17M1134469 SN - 0895-4801 SN - 1095-7146 VL - 32 IS - 2 SP - 1408 EP - 1424 PB - Society for Industrial and Applied Mathematics CY - Philadelphia ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Soto, Paulina T1 - Una reeducación crítica: emergencia de revistas literarias digitales chilenas en el transcurso de la primera década del siglo XXI T1 - A criticism re-education: the emergence of ChileanWeb-supported literary journals in the course of the first decade of the twenty-first century JF - Estudios Avanzados N2 - Para inicios del siglo XXI se instalan nuevos medios de crítica literaria a través de soportes digitales. Estas publicaciones tensionan un campo letrado chileno que enfrenta cuestionamientos. Gestionadas mayoritariamente por creadores precedentes de la generación del 90, producen reaproximaciones a la cultura letrada. El objetivo es desafiar dinámicas de interacción lectora heredadas vinculadas a las luces patria, desarrollistas, de tipo linear y ciegas a la heterogeneidad cultural vivida en la época. El proceso comprende, de tal modo, una reeducación crítica centrada en ensayar poéticas de productividad analítico-literarias heteróclitas. Se trata de una interacción lectora diversa, sujeta a retóricas íntimas de apreciación estética, que ponen en cuestión las nociones tradicionales mayoritariamente instructiva de la cultura chilena. N2 - In the course of the first decade of the twenty-first century, Web-supported Literary Journals emerged as a mean to socialize and democratize Chilean Literary Culture. The tendency, conducted by creators associated to the 90’ generation poetry challenged traditional ways of cultural interaction as well as encouraged aesthetic communication, and otherness understanding. In this way, the tendency encouraged a cultural scenario in dispute. Traditional cultural institutions appeared to be corrupted by the post dictatorial progressivist national ethos. Linked to an affective and dialogic reader-encounter, the new critical approach shifted the traditional notion of lectureship as national instruction. KW - web-supported literary journals KW - literary canon KW - chilean literary critic KW - literature and education KW - Isabel Allende Y1 - 2018 SN - 0718-5022 SN - 0718-5014 IS - 28 SP - 121 EP - 137 PB - Universidad de Santiago de Chile (USACH) CY - Santiago ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Martinez-Chicharro, M. A1 - Torrejon, J. M. A1 - Oskinova, Lidia M. A1 - Furst, F. A1 - Postnov, K. A1 - Rodes-Roca, J. J. A1 - Hainich, Rainer A1 - Bodaghee, A. T1 - Evidence of Compton cooling during an X-ray flare supports a neutron star nature of the compact object in 4U1700-37 JF - Monthly notices of the Royal Astronomical Society N2 - Based on new Chandra X-ray telescope data, we present empirical evidence of plasma Compton cooling during a flare in the non-pulsating massive X-ray binary 4U1700-37. This behaviour might be explained by quasi-spherical accretion on to a slowly rotating magnetized neutron star (NS). In quiescence, the NS in 4U1700-37 is surrounded by a hot radiatively cooling shell. Its presence is supported by the detection of mHz quasi-periodic oscillations likely produced by its convection cells. The high plasma temperature and the relatively low X-ray luminosity observed during the quiescence, point to a small emitting area similar to 1 km, compatible with a hotspot on an NS surface. The sudden transition from a radiative to a significantly more efficient Compton cooling regime triggers an episode of enhanced accretion resulting in a flare. During the flare, the plasma temperature drops quickly. The predicted luminosity for such transitions, similar to 3 x 10(35) erg s(-1), is very close to the luminosity of 4U1700-37 during quiescence. The transition may be caused by the accretion of a clump in the stellar wind of the donor star. Thus, a magnetized NS nature of the compact object is strongly favoured. KW - stars: individual: 4U1700-37 KW - V*V884 Sco KW - X-rays: binaries Y1 - 2017 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1093/mnrasl/slx165 SN - 0035-8711 SN - 1365-2966 VL - 473 IS - 1 SP - L74 EP - L78 PB - Oxford Univ. Press CY - Oxford ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Verissimo, Joao Marques A1 - Heyer, Vera A1 - Jacob, Gunnar A1 - Clahsen, Harald T1 - Selective effects of age of acquisition on morphological priming BT - evidence for a sensitive period JF - Language acquisition : a journal of developmental linguistics N2 - Is there an ideal time window for language acquisition after which nativelike representation and processing are unattainable? Although this question has been heavily debated, no consensus has been reached. Here, we present evidence for a sensitive period in language development and show that it is specific to grammar. We conducted a masked priming task with a group of Turkish-German bilinguals and examined age of acquisition (AoA) effects on the processing of complex words. We compared a subtle but meaningful linguistic contrast, that between grammatical inflection and lexical-based derivation. The results showed a highly selective AoA effect on inflectional (but not derivational) priming. In addition, the effect displayed a discontinuity indicative of a sensitive period: Priming from inflected forms was nativelike when acquisition started before the age of 5 but declined with increasing AoA. We conclude that the acquisition of morphological rules expressing morphosyntactic properties is constrained by maturational factors. Y1 - 2018 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1080/10489223.2017.1346104 SN - 1048-9223 SN - 1532-7817 VL - 25 IS - 3 SP - 315 EP - 326 PB - Routledge, Taylor & Francis Group CY - Abingdon ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Waller, Nicole T1 - Connecting Atlantic and Pacific: Theorizing the Arctic JF - Atlantic studies : literary, cultural and historical perspectives N2 - This essay sets out to theorize the "new" Arctic Ocean as a pivot from which our standard map of the world is currently being reconceptualized. Drawing on theories from the fields of Atlantic and Pacific studies, I argue that the changing Arctic, characterized by melting ice and increased accessibility, must be understood both as a space of transit that connects Atlantic and Pacific worlds in unprecedented ways, and as an oceanic world and contact zone in its own right. I examine both functions of the Arctic via a reading of the dispute over the Northwest Passage (which emphasizes the Arctic as a space of transit) and the contemporary assessment of new models of sovereignty in the Arctic region (which concentrates on the circumpolar Arctic as an oceanic world). However, both of these debates frequently exclude indigenous positions on the Arctic. By reading Canadian Inuit theories on the Arctic alongside the more prominent debates, I argue for a decolonizing reading of the Arctic inspired by Inuit articulations of the "Inuit Sea." In such a reading, Inuit conceptions provide crucial interventions into theorizing the Arctic. They also, in turn, contribute to discussions on indigeneity, sovereignty, and archipelagic theory in Atlantic and Pacific studies. KW - Atlantic studies KW - Pacific studies KW - Arctic studies KW - Northwest Passage KW - indigeneity KW - sovereignty KW - archipelagic theory Y1 - 2018 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1080/14788810.2017.1387467 SN - 1478-8810 SN - 1740-4649 VL - 15 IS - 2 SP - 256 EP - 278 PB - Routledge, Taylor & Francis Group CY - Abingdon ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Wang, Guang A1 - Li, Pei-zhi A1 - Zhang, Shi-yao A1 - Zhong, Shan A1 - Chu, Chang A1 - Zeng, Shufei A1 - Yan, Yu A1 - Cheng, Xin A1 - Chuai, Manli A1 - Hocher, Berthold A1 - Yang, Xuesong T1 - Lipopolysaccharides (LPS) Induced Angiogenesis During Chicken Embryogenesis is Abolished by Combined ETA/ETB Receptor Blockade JF - Cellular physiology and biochemistry : international journal of experimental cellular physiology, biochemistry and pharmacology N2 - Background/Aims: Angiogenesis plays a key role during embryonic development. The vascular endothelin (ET) system is involved in the regulation of angiogenesis. Lipopolysaccharides (LPS) could induce angiogenesis. The effects of ET blockers on baseline and LPS-stimulated angiogenesis during embryonic development remain unknown so far. Methods: The blood vessel density (BVD) of chorioallantoic membranes (CAMs), which were treated with saline (control), LPS, and/or BQ123 and the ETB blocker BQ788, were quantified and analyzed using an IPP 6.0 image analysis program. Moreover, the expressions of ET-1, ET-2, ET3, ET receptor A (ETRA), ET receptor B (ETRB) and VEGFR2 mRNA during embryogenesis were analyzed by semi-quantitative RT-PCR. Results: All components of the ET system are detectable during chicken embryogenesis. LPS increased angiogenesis substantially. This process was completely blocked by the treatment of a combination of the ETA receptor blockers-BQ123 and the ETB receptor blocker BQ788. This effect was accompanied by a decrease in ETRA, ETRB, and VEGFR2 gene expression. However, the baseline angiogenesis was not affected by combined ETA/ETB receptor blockade. Conclusion: During chicken embryogenesis, the LPS-stimulated angiogenesis, but not baseline angiogenesis, is sensitive to combined ETA/ETB receptor blockade. KW - Lipopolysaccharides (LPS) KW - Angiogenesis KW - Chicken chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) KW - Endothelin (ET) Y1 - 2018 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1159/000492547 SN - 1015-8987 SN - 1421-9778 VL - 48 IS - 5 SP - 2084 EP - 2090 PB - Karger CY - Basel ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Krauskopf, Karsten A1 - Foulger, Teresa S. A1 - Williams, Mia Kim T1 - Prompting teachers’ reflection of their professional knowledge BT - proof-of-concept study of the Graphic Assessment of TPACK Instrument JF - Teacher Development N2 - Many educational technology proponents support the Technological Pedagogical Content Knowledge (TPACK) model as a way to conceptualize teaching with technology, but recent TPACK research shows a need for empirical studies regarding the development of this knowledge. This proof-of-concept study applies mixed-methods to investigate the meta-cognitive awareness produced by teachers who participate in the Graphic Assessment of TPACK Instrument (GATI). This process involves creating graphical representations (circles of differing sizes and the degree of their overlap) that represent what teachers understand to be their current and aspired TPACK. This study documented teachers’ explanations during a think-aloud procedure as they created their GATI figures. The in-depth data from two German teachers who participated in the process captured the details of their experience and demonstrated the potential of the GATI to support teachers in reflecting about their professional knowledge and in determining their own professional development activities. These findings will be informative to future pilot studies involving the larger design of the GATI process, to better understand the role of teachers’ meta-conceptual awareness, and to better ascertain how the GATI might be used to support professional development on a larger scale. KW - TPACK KW - professional development KW - Graphic Assessment of TPACK Instrument KW - GATI KW - reflective practice KW - meta-cognitive prompts Y1 - 2017 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1080/13664530.2017.1367717 SN - 1366-4530 SN - 1747-5120 VL - 22 IS - 2 SP - 153 EP - 174 PB - Routledge CY - Abingdon ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Bunk, Bettina T1 - The dynamics of donor and domestic elite interaction in Mozambique BT - formal decentralisation and informal power structures JF - Conflict, Security & Development N2 - This paper analyses the interaction of domestic political elites and external donors against the backdrop of Mozambique’s decentralisation process. The empirical research at national and local levels supports the hypothesis that informal power structures influence the dynamics of this interaction. Consequently, this contributes to an outcome of externally induced democratisation different to what was intended by external actors. The decentralisation process has been utilised by ruling domestic elites for political purposes. Donors have rather focused on the technical side and ignored this informal dimension. By analysing the diverging objectives and perceptions of external and internal actors, as well as the instrumentalisation of formal democratic structures, it becomes clear, that the ‘informal has to be seen as normal’. At a theoretical level, the analysis contributes to elite-oriented approaches of post-conflict democratisation by adding ‘the informal’ as an additional factor for the dynamics of external-internal interaction. At a policy level, external actors need to take more into account informal power structures and their ambivalence for state-building and democratisation. KW - Decentralisation KW - democratisation KW - donors KW - elites KW - informal KW - interaction KW - legitimation KW - Mozambique KW - power Y1 - 2018 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1080/14678802.2018.1483555 SN - 1467-8802 SN - 1478-1174 VL - 18 IS - 4 SP - 321 EP - 346 PB - Routledge CY - Abingdon ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Jasniak, Michael A1 - Ermakova, Tatiana A1 - Baierl, Ronny A1 - Halberstadt, Jantje T1 - What drives social entrepreneurial appraisal among hearing-impaired individuals? JF - International Journal of Entrepreneurial Venturing N2 - Involvement of disadvantaged individuals into entrepreneurship facilitates their social integration into mainstream societies. The present study addresses the drivers of social entrepreneurial appraisal among hearing-impaired individuals within a unique social minority environment. In prior research, social appraisal was empirically shown to determine social entrepreneurial intention. Adopting the theory of planned behaviour, this study investigates the impact of entrepreneurial self-efficacy, general social support and perceived barriers on social entrepreneurial appraisal. Based on a survey with 221 respondents, our results demonstrate that social entrepreneurial appraisal of hearing-impaired individuals result from their entrepreneurial self-efficacy and general social support. In terms of taking advantage of social opportunities, importance should be given to the role of entrepreneurial education and heterogeneous networks across minorities. KW - social entrepreneurial appraisal KW - social entrepreneurship KW - social minority entrepreneurship KW - hearing-impaired individuals KW - disabled minority sample Y1 - 2018 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1504/IJEV.2018.092734 SN - 1742-5360 SN - 1742-5379 VL - 10 IS - 2 SP - 236 EP - 255 PB - Inderscience Enterprises Ltd CY - Geneva ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Liu, Yuk-Chien A1 - Groth, Detlef T1 - Body height, social dominance and the political climate BT - a comment JF - Journal of biological and clinical anthropology JF - Anthropologischer Anzeiger ; Mitteilungsorgan der Gesellschaft für Anthropologie N2 - Background: The association between stature and social dominance is known. Dominance within social groups and current politics are related issues. We therefore aimed to compare estimates of the opinion of a population about their current political issues, with physical growth. Material and methods: We used data on the 2012 and the 2014 elections for the Japanese House of Representatives and the percent proportion of votes of the 47 prefectures of Japan, and regional data on body height of 17.5 year old men and women. Information on capita income, possession of mobile phones, urban/rural population ratio, and age distribution were added to capture socioeconomic factors. Four political parties were present in most of the 47 prefectures: the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), the Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ), the New Komeito Party (Kom) that is known for their social network community, and the Japanese Communist Party (JCP). Results: A dense network of associations exists between height, age distribution, per capita income, number of smartphones, and voting results. Male and female body height was inversely related with the proportion of votes for New Komeito Party. Average stature decreases by one mm per percent votes for this political party. Medium strong positive associations were found for male body height and voting results of the DPJ and for female body height with the JCP election results. Conclusion: In modern Japan, popular preferences for conservative political structures coincide with shorter stature. KW - stature KW - social dominance KW - strategic growth adjustments Y1 - 2018 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1127/anthranz/2018/0855 SN - 0003-5548 VL - 74 IS - 5 SP - 445 EP - 450 PB - Schweizerbart CY - Stuttgart ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Bents, Dominik A1 - Groth, Detlef A1 - Satake, Takashi T1 - The secular trend and network effects on height of male Japanese students from 1955 to 2015 JF - Journal of biological and clinical anthropology JF - Anthropologischer Anzeiger ; Mitteilungsorgan der Gesellschaft für Anthropologie N2 - Introduction: Body height is influenced by biological factors such as genetics, nutrition and health, but also by the social network, and environmental and economical factors. During centuries, the Japanese society has developed on islands. This setting provides ideal natural conditions for studying the influence of social networks on human height. Material and methods: We investigated body height of male Japanese students aged 17.5 years obtained in 47 prefectures, from the Japanese school health survey of the years 1955, 1975, 1995, and 2015. Results: Japanese students increased in height from 163.23 cm in 1955 to 170.84 cm in 1995, with no further increase thereafter (170.63 cm in 2015). Students living in neighboring prefectures were similar in height. The correlation of height between neighboring prefectures ranged between r = 0.79 and r = 0.49 among first degree neighbors, between r = 0.49 and r = 0.21 among second degree neighbors and dropped to insignificance among third degree neighbors indicating psychosocial effects of the community on body height. Tall stature and short stature prefectures did not remain tall or short throughout history. Autocorrelations of height within the same prefectures decreased from the 20 years periods of 1955-1975, 1975-1995 and 1995-2015 (r = 0.52, r = 0.61, r = 0.63, respectively) to the 40 years periods of 1955-1995 and 1975-2015 (r = 0.49, r = 0.52), down to the 60 years period of 1955-2015 (r = 0.27), indicating significant volatility of height. Conclusion: Body height of 17.5 years old Japanese students increased since 1955. Body height depended on height of the neighboring prefecture, but was volatile with decreasing autocorrelation during a period of 60 years. KW - body height KW - community effect KW - neighbor correlation KW - Japan Y1 - 2018 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1127/anthranz/2018/0838 SN - 0003-5548 VL - 74 IS - 5 SP - 423 EP - 429 PB - Schweizerbart CY - Stuttgart ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Scheffler, Christiane A1 - Kruetzfeldt, Louisa-Marie A1 - Dasgupta, Parasmani A1 - Hermanussen, Michael T1 - No association between fat tissue and height in 5019 children and adolescents, measured between 1982 and 2011 in Kolkata/India JF - Journal of biological and clinical anthropology JF - Anthropologischer Anzeiger ; Mitteilungsorgan der Gesellschaft für Anthropologie N2 - Body height has traditionally been looked upon as a mirror of the condition of society, short height being an indicator of poor nutritional status, poor education, and low social status and income. This view has recently been questioned. We aimed to quantify the effects of nutrition, education, sibship size, and household income, factors that are conventionally considered to be related to child growth, on body height of children and adolescents raised under urban Indian conditions. Sample and methods: We re-analyzed several anthropometric measurements and questionnaires with questions on sibship size, fathers’ and mother’s education, and monthly family expenditure, from two cross-sectional growth studies performed in Kolkata, India. The first Kolkata Growth Study (KG1) took place in 1982-1983, with data on 825 Bengali boys aged 7 to 16 years; and the second Kolkata Growth Study (KG2) between 1999 and 2011 with data of 1999 boys aged 7 to 21 years from Bengali Hindu families, and data of 2195 girls obtained between 2005 and 2011. Results: Indian children showed positive insignificant secular trends in height and a significant secular trend in weight and BMI between between 1982 and 2011. Yet, multiple regression analysis failed to detect an association between nutritional status (expressed in terms of skinfold thickness), monthly family expenditure and sibship size with body height of these children. The analysis only revealed an influence of parental education on female, but not on male height. Conclusion: We failed to detect influences of nutrition, sibship size, and monthly family expenditure on body height in a large sample of children and adolescents raised in Kolkata, India, between 1982 and 2011. We found a mild positive association between parental education and girls’ height. The data question current concepts regarding the impact of nutrition, and household and economic factors on growth, but instead underscore the effect of parental education. KW - body height KW - nutrition KW - social growth adjustment Y1 - 2018 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1127/anthranz/2018/0827 SN - 0003-5548 VL - 74 IS - 5 SP - 403 EP - 411 PB - Schweizerbart CY - Stuttgart ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Mumm, Rebekka A1 - Godina, Elena A1 - Koziel, Slawomir A1 - Musalek, Martin A1 - Sedlak, Petr A1 - Wittwer-Backofen, Ursula A1 - Hess, Volker A1 - Dasgupta, Parasmani A1 - Henneberg, Maciej A1 - Scheffler, Christiane T1 - External skeletal robusticity of children and adolescents BT - European references from birth to adulthood and international comparisons JF - Journal of biological and clinical anthropology JF - Anthropologischer Anzeiger ; Mitteilungsorgan der Gesellschaft für Anthropologie N2 - Background: In our modern world, the way of life in nutritional and activity behaviour has changed. As a consequence, parallel trends of an epidemic of overweight and a decline in external skeletal robusticity are observed in children and adolescents. Aim: We aim to develop reference centiles for external skeletal robusticity of European girls and boys aged 0 to 18 years using the Frame Index as an indicator and identify population specific age-related patterns. Methods: We analysed cross-sectional & longitudinal data on body height and elbow breadth of boys and girls from Europe (0-18 years, n = 41.679), India (7-18 years, n = 3.297) and South Africa (3-18 years, n = 4.346). As an indicator of external skeletal robusticity Frame Index after Frisancho (1990) was used. We developed centiles for boys and girls using the LMS-method and its extension. Results: Boys have greater external skeletal robusticity than girls. Whereas in girls Frame Index decreases continuously during growth, an increase of Frame Index from 12 to 16 years in European boys can be observed. Indian and South African boys are almost similar in Frame Index to European boys. In girls, the pattern is slightly different. Whereas South African girls are similar to European girls, Indian girls show a lesser external skeletal robusticity. Conclusion: Accurate references for external skeletal robusticity are needed to evaluate if skeletal development is adequate per age. They should be used to monitor effects of changes in way of life and physical activity levels in children and adolescents to avoid negative health outcomes like osteoporosis and arthrosis. Y1 - 2018 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1127/anthranz/2018/0826 SN - 0003-5548 VL - 74 IS - 5 SP - 383 EP - 391 PB - Schweizerbart CY - Stuttgart ER -