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A large aspect of social psychology is the assumption that people derive their self-image from the social groups they belong to. However, because social positions are often dynamic, the need to achieve and maintain a positive and distinct social image is ever-present. While people can belong to multiple social groups within their lives, most research only tends consider one identity at a time, often leading to limited real-world applications. This is especially the case in contexts where people may have two or more identities that have, either historically, socially, or politically, been in conflict. This overlay of identities can, then, cause internal and intergroup conflicts that are often not easily explained by extant social identity frameworks. Borrowing from multicultural theories such as the Bicultural Identity Integration (BII) Model (Benet-Martinez, 2005), this project proposes to conduct a series of cross-cultural studies within contexts where biculturalism occurs during times of conflict (e.g., Hong Kong-China, Catalunya-Spain; Scotland-Britain). The project will largely focus on understanding how potential identity threats are activated during these contexts of intergroup conflict, and how these can affect biculturals' perceptions of their own identities. In turn, we will investigate how bicultural identity threat could affect intergroup relations and attitudes, as well as biculturals' wellbeing. Lastly, we wish to investigate how lay theories of culture could potentially moderate these factors, perhaps even potentially alleviate feelings of bicultural identity threat.

This project seeks to address the insurgence of anti-Asian sentiment in the post-COVID-19 era by examining whether the COVID-19 threat exacerbates implicit foreign bias towards Asian Americans. We posit that COVID-19 is not the root cause of the noted increase in Anti-Asian sentiments post-2020, but rather, it is perceived as a moral justification to more explicitly express Anti-Asian rhetoric that has always existed within American society. More importantly, it aims to investigate the individual risk factors that make people more prejudiced during the COVID-19 pandemic. Insights gained from the present study could help policymakers formulate better strategies that would enhance solidarity and reduce scapegoating. Below are the goals of the project: 1. To address the insurgence of anti-Asian sentiment from the COVID-19 pandemic via examining the implicit foreigner bias against Asian Americans. 2. To test whether COVID-19 conspiracy moderates the foreigner bias against Asian Americans through the perceived legitimization of such biases. 3. To examine the unique causal effects of the need for cognitive closure, national collective narcissism, and race essentialism on implicit foreigner bias towards Asian Americans.

Apoplastic iron (Fe) in roots represents an essential Fe storage pool. Reallocation of apoplastic Fe is of great importance to plants experiencing Fe deprivation, but how this reallocation process is regulated remains elusive, likely because of the highly complex cell wall structure and the limited knowledge about cell wall biosynthesis and modulation. Here, we present genetic and biochemical evidence to demonstrate that the Cdi-mediated galactosylation of rhamnogalacturonan-II (RG-II) is required for apoplastic Fe reallocation. Cdi is expressed in roots and up-regulated in response to Fe deficiency. It encodes a putative glycosyltransferase localized to the Golgi apparatus. Biochemical and mass spectrometry assays showed that Cdi catalyzes the transfer of GDP-L-galactose to the terminus of side chain A on RG-II. Disruption of Cdi essentially decreased RG-II dimerization and hence disrupted cell wall formation, as well as the reallocation of apoplastic Fe from roots to shoots. Further transcriptomic, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and Fe desorption kinetic analyses coincidently suggested that Cdi mediates apoplastic Fe reallocation through extensive modulation of cell wall components and consequently the Fe adsorption capacity of the cell wall. Our study provides direct evidence demonstrating a link between cell wall biosynthesis and apoplastic Fe reallocation, thus indicating that the structure of the cell wall is important for efficient usage of the cell wall Fe pool.

Supplemental material, Supplementary Material 1, for Missing the Forest for the Trees: Prior Entrepreneurial Experience, Role Identity, and Entrepreneurial Creativity by Siran Zhan, Marilyn A. Uy and Ying-yi Hong in Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice

Mechanistic insight into metal hyperaccumulation is largely restricted to Brassicaceae plants; therefore, it is of great importance to obtain corresponding knowledge from system outside the Brassicaceae. Here, we constructed and screened a cDNA library of the Cd/Zn hyperaccumulator Sedum plumbizincicola and identified a novel metallothionein-like protein encoding gene SpMTL. SpMTL showed functional similarity to other known MT proteins and also to its orthologues from non-hyperaccumulators. However, three additional cysteine residues were observed in SpMTL and appeared to be hyperaccumulator specific. Removal of these three residues significantly decreased its ability to tolerate Cd and the stoichiometry of Cd against SpMTL (molar ratio of Cd/SpMTL) to a level comparable to those of Cd/SaMTL and Cd/SeMTL in the corresponding non-hyperaccumulating relatives. SpMTL expressed in S. plumbizincicola roots at a much higher level than those of its orthologues in the non-hyperaccumulator roots. Interestingly, a positive correlation was observed between transcript levels of SpMTL in roots and Cd accumulation in leaves. Taking these results together, we propose that elevated transcript levels and heterotypic variation in protein sequences of SpMTL might contribute to the trait of Cd hyperaccumulation and hypertolerance in S. plumbizincicola.

Nitrogen deficiency induces leaf senescence. However, whether or how nitrate might affect this process remains to be investigated. Here, we report an interesting finding that nitrate-instead of nitrogen-starvation induced early leaf senescence in nrt1.5 mutant, and present genetic and physiological data demonstrating that nitrate starvation-induced leaf senescence is suppressed by NRT1.5. NRT1.5 suppresses the senescence process dependent on its function from roots, but not the nitrate transport function. Further analyses using nrt1.5 single and nia1 nia2 nrt1.5-4 triple mutant showed a negative correlation between nitrate concentration and senescence rate in leaves. Moreover, when exposed to nitrate starvation, foliar potassium level decreased in nrt1.5, but adding potassium could essentially restore the early leaf senescence phenotype of nrt1.5 plants. Nitrate starvation also downregulated the expression of HAK5, RAP2.11, and ANN1 in nrt1.5 roots, and appeared to alter potassium level in xylem sap from nrt1.5. These data suggest that NRT1.5 likely perceives nitrate starvation-derived signals to prevent leaf senescence by facilitating foliar potassium accumulation.

A great proportion of nitrate taken up by plants is stored in vacuoles. Vacuolar nitrate accumulation and release is of great importance to nitrate reallocation and efficient utilization. However, how plants mediate nitrate efflux from vacuoles to cytoplasm is largely unknown. The current study identified NPF5.11, NPF5.12 and NPF5.16 as vacuolar nitrate efflux transporters in Arabidopsis. Histochemical analysis showed that NPF5.11, NPF5.12 and NPF5.16 were expressed preferentially in root pericycle cells and xylem parenchyma cells, and further analysis showed that these proteins were tonoplast-localized. Functional characterization using cRNA-injected Xenopus laevis oocytes showed that NPF5.11, NPF5.12 and NPF5.16 were low-affinity, pH-dependent nitrate uptake transporters. In npf5.11 npf5.12 npf5.16 triple mutant lines, more root-fed 15NO3− was translocated to shoots compared to the wild type control. In the NPF5.12 overexpression lines, proportionally less nitrate was maintained in roots. These data together suggested that NPF5.11, NPF5.12 and NPF5.16 might function to uptake nitrate from vacuoles into cytosol, thus serving as important players to modulate nitrate allocation between roots and shoots.

Elevations in extracellular calcium ([Ca(2+)]o) are known to stimulate cytosolic calcium ([Ca(2+)]cyt) oscillations to close stomata. However, the underlying mechanisms regulating this process remain largely to be determined. Here, through the functional characterization of the calcium underaccumulation mutant cau1, we report that the epigenetic regulation of CAS, a putative Ca(2+) binding protein proposed to be an external Ca(2+) sensor, is involved in this process. cau1 mutant plants display increased drought tolerance and stomatal closure. A mutation in CAU1 significantly increased the expression level of the calcium signaling gene CAS, and functional disruption of CAS abolished the enhanced drought tolerance and stomatal [Ca(2+)]o signaling in cau1. Map-based cloning revealed that CAU1 encodes the H4R3sme2 (for histone H4 Arg 3 with symmetric dimethylation)-type histone methylase protein arginine methytransferase5/Shk1 binding protein1. Chromatin immunoprecipitation assays showed that CAU1 binds to the CAS promoter and modulates the H4R3sme2-type histone methylation of the CAS chromatin. When exposed to elevated [Ca(2+)]o, the protein levels of CAU1 decreased and less CAU1 bound to the CAS promoter. In addition, the methylation level of H4R3sme2 decreased in the CAS chromatin. Together, these data suggest that in response to increases in [Ca(2+)]o, fewer CAU1 protein molecules bind to the CAS promoter, leading to decreased H4R3sme2 methylation and consequent derepression of the expression of CAS to mediate stomatal closure and drought tolerance.

Mechanistic insight into metal hyperaccumulation is largely restricted to Brassicaceae plants; therefore, it is of great importance to obtain corresponding knowledge from system outside the Brassicaceae. Here, we constructed and screened a cDNA library of the Cd/Zn hyperaccumulator Sedum plumbizincicola and identified a novel metallothionein-like protein encoding gene SpMTL. SpMTL showed functional similarity to other known MT proteins and also to its orthologues from non-hyperaccumulators. However, three additional cysteine residues were observed in SpMTL and appeared to be hyperaccumulator specific. Removal of these three residues significantly decreased its ability to tolerate Cd and the stoichiometry of Cd against SpMTL (molar ratio of Cd/SpMTL) to a level comparable to those of Cd/SaMTL and Cd/SeMTL in the corresponding non-hyperaccumulating relatives. SpMTL expressed in S. plumbizincicola roots at a much higher level than those of its orthologues in the non-hyperaccumulator roots. Interestingly, a positive correlation was observed between transcript levels of SpMTL in roots and Cd accumulation in leaves. Taking these results together, we propose that elevated transcript levels and heterotypic variation in protein sequences of SpMTL might contribute to the trait of Cd hyperaccumulation and hypertolerance in S. plumbizincicola.

Nitrate reallocation to plant roots occurs frequently under adverse conditions and was recently characterized to be actively regulated by Nitrate Transporter1.8 (NRT1.8) in Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) and implicated as a common response to stresses. However, the underlying mechanisms remain largely to be determined. In this study, characterization of NRT1.5, a xylem nitrate-loading transporter, showed that the mRNA level of NRT1.5 is down-regulated by salt, drought, and cadmium treatments. Functional disruption of NRT1.5 enhanced tolerance to salt, drought, and cadmium stresses. Further analyses showed that nitrate, as well as Na+ and Cd2+ levels, were significantly increased in nrt1.5 roots. Important genes including Na +/H + exchanger1, Salt overly sensitive1, Pyrroline-5-carboxylate synthase1, Responsive to desiccation29A, Phytochelatin synthase1, and NRT1.8 in stress response pathways are steadily up-regulated in nrt1.5 mutant plants. Interestingly, altered accumulation of metabolites, including proline and malondialdehyde, was also observed in nrt1.5 plants. These data suggest that NRT1.5 is involved in nitrate allocation to roots and the consequent tolerance to several stresses, in a mechanism probably shared with NRT1.8.

Nitrogen plays an important role in plant growth and development. Nitrate transporters have been extensively studied in Arabidopsis, but in tomato they have not been functionally characterized. In this study, we report the functions of LeNRT2.3 in nitrate transport in tomato. Our results show that LeNRT2.3 is induced by nitrate, and mainly localizes to the plasma membranes of rhizodermal and pericycle cells in roots. Further analysis in Xenopus oocytes showed that LeNRT2.3 mediates low-affinity nitrate transport. 35S:LeNRT2.3 increased nitrate uptake in root and transport from root to shoot. More interestingly, 35S:LeNRT2.3 showed high biomass and fruit weight. Taken together, these results suggest that LeNRT2.3 plays a double role in nitrate uptake and long-distance transport in tomato.

Stresses decouple nitrate assimilation and photosynthesis through stress-initiated nitrate allocation to roots (SINAR), which is mediated by the nitrate transporters NRT1.8 and NRT1.5 and functions to promote stress tolerance. However, how SINAR communicates with the environment remains unknown. Here, we present biochemical and genetic evidence demonstrating that in Arabidopsis thaliana, ethylene (ET) and jasmonic acid (JA) affect the crosstalk between SINAR and the environment. Electrophoretic mobility shift assays and chromatin immunoprecipitation assays showed that ethylene response factors (ERFs), including OCTADECANOID-RESPONSIVE ARABIDOPSIS AP2/ERF59, bind to the GCC boxes in the NRT1.8 promoter region, while ETHYLENE INSENSITIVE3 (EIN3) binds to the EIN3 binding site motifs in the NRT1.5 promoter. Genetic assays showed that cadmium and sodium stresses initiated ET/JA signaling, which converged at EIN3/EIN3-Like1 (EIL1) to modulate ERF expression and hence to upregulate NRT1.8. By contrast, ET and JA signaling mediated the downregulation of NRT1.5 via EIN3/EIL1 and other, unknown component(s). SINAR enhanced stress tolerance and decreased plant growth under nonstressed conditions through the ET/JA-NRT1.5/NRT1.8 signaling module. Interestingly, when nitrate reductase was impaired, SINAR failed to affect either stress tolerance or plant growth. These data suggest that SINAR responds to environmental conditions through the ET/JA-NRT signaling module, which further modulates stress tolerance and plant growth in a nitrate reductase-dependent manner.

This paper addresses an investigation of control sequence for improving voltage stability in power systems. The controllers include transformers (step-up, EHV and on-load-tap-changer (OLTC)), generators, and shunt capacitors. Dynamic simulations are performed first for a typical five-bus system covering the above mechanisms: (1) the time constants for the EHV transformer and the OLTC transformer are evaluated first; (2) the generator voltage and the step-up transformer are utilized to evaluate the performance; (3) the effectiveness of the shunt capacitors at load buses and at EHV buses is assessed; (4) the effectiveness of lock of the OLTC is examined; and (5) finally, the system voltage evolutions with different starting times for both EHV/OLTC taps are compared to ensure a proper control action. Based on the above results, a set of 12 dynamic simulations is used to explore the control sequence for effectiveness in improving voltage stability. It is found that the best control sequence is as follows: generator voltages, shunt capacitors at load buss, EHV transformer taps and then OLTC taps.

This paper investigates the impacts of different three-phase transformer connections and load models on unbalance in power systems. New three-phase transformer models are presented. These models are derived from a new primitive impedance matrix incorporated with positive, negative and zero sequence elements. The constant power and constant impedance load models are discussed. The three-phase models are implemented in a general-purpose optimization software package. Two power systems are used to illustrate the test results. The test results provide assistance to engineers in understanding the effect of different connections on the transformers. This paper also emphasizes that a proper load model should be used; otherwise, an incorrect solution will be obtained.

The APLC (active power line conditioner) is a type of active power filter that compensates voltage waveform distortion caused by harmonics in power systems. This paper presents a new approach, based on optimization theory, to investigate the determination of locations and sizes of APLCs. The objective is to minimize the new APLC injection currents and the voltage distortion while satisfying the harmonic standard. The test results for an 18-bus distribution system show the applicability of the proposed method.

Much of our dietary uptake of heavy metals is through the consumption of plants. A long-sought strategy to reduce chronic exposure to heavy metals is to develop plant varieties with reduced accumulation in edible tissues. Here, we describe that the fission yeast (Schizosaccharomyces pombe) phytochelatin (PC)-cadmium (Cd) transporter SpHMT1 produced in Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) was localized to tonoplast, and enhanced tolerance to and accumulation of Cd2+, copper, arsenic, and zinc. The action of SpHMT1 requires PC substrates, and failed to confer Cd2+ tolerance and accumulation when glutathione and PC synthesis was blocked by l-buthionine sulfoximine, or only PC synthesis is blocked in the cad1-3 mutant, which is deficient in PC synthase. SpHMT1 expression enhanced vacuolar Cd2+ accumulation in wild-type Columbia-0, but not in cad1-3, where only approximately 35% of the Cd2+ in protoplasts was localized in vacuoles, in contrast to the near 100% found in wild-type vacuoles and approximately 25% in those of cad2-1 that synthesizes very low amounts of glutathione and PCs. Interestingly, constitutive SpHMT1 expression delayed root-to-shoot metal transport, and root-targeted expression confirmed that roots can serve as a sink to reduce metal contents in shoots and seeds. These findings suggest that SpHMT1 function requires PCs in Arabidopsis, and it is feasible to promote food safety by engineering plants using SpHMT1 to decrease metal accumulation in edible tissues.

Three studies supported the proposal that Need for Closure (NFC) involves a wish for consensual validation that leads to cultural conformity. Individual differences in NFC interact with cultural group variables to determine East Asian versus Western differences in conflict style and procedural preferences (Study 1). information gathering in disputes (Study 2), and fairness judgment in reward allocation (Study 3). Results from experimental tests indicated that the relevance of NFC to cultural conformity reflects consensus motives, not effort minimization (Study 2) nor political conservatism (Study 3). Implications for research on conflict resolution and motivated cultural cognition are discussed. Keywords: Culture, need for closure, conflict resolution, reward allocation.

Objective: To explore the causes of unplanned extubation of deep venous catheter in the Department of Neurosurgery and nursing countermeasures. Methods: Retrospectively analyze the causes of unplanned extubation of deep venous catheter in neurosurgery department in 2012. Results: 228 cases of deep venous catheter were collected, 28 cases of unplanned extubation of deep venous catheter, 15 cases of suspected infection, accidental extubation in 5 cases, puncture liquid leaking in 3 cases and skin allergy in 2 cases. Conclusion: Nursing that did not follow the operating rule may result in unplanned removal of deep venous catheter during the period of indwelling deep venous catheter. Training of nursing staff, strict implementation of nursing operation rules and effective intervention of adverse factors can decrease the incidence of unplanned extubation.

This paper presents a new method for determining a set of candidate buses which should be considered for passive filter installation in large industrial distribution systems. Linear programming (LP) was used to evaluate the marginal costs of buses. The objective function for the linear programming is the linearized harmonic voltages and the cost of the slackness for the harmonic standard. The equality constraints consist of the linearized harmonic power flow equations. The linearized harmonic standard is formulated as inequality constraints. A large marginal cost obtained from LP flags a requirement for installing filters and its corresponding bus is considered as a candidate bus. A 6-bus power station system and an 18-bus industrial power system were used as examples for showing the applicability of the proposed method.

Supplemental material, Sprong_Open_Practices_Disclosure for “Our Country Needs a Strong Leader Right Now”: Economic Inequality Enhances the Wish for a Strong Leader by Stefanie Sprong, Jolanda Jetten, Zhechen Wang, Kim Peters, Frank Mols, Maykel Verkuyten, Brock Bastian, Amarina Ariyanto, Frédérique Autin, Nadia Ayub, Constantina Badea, Tomasz Besta, Fabrizio Butera, Rui Costa-Lopes, Lijuan Cui, Carole Fantini, Gillian Finchilescu, Lowell Gaertner, Mario Gollwitzer, Ángel Gómez, Roberto González, Ying-Yi Hong, Dorthe Høj Jensen, Inga Jasinskaja-Lahti, Minoru Karasawa, Thomas Kessler, Olivier Klein, Marcus Lima, Laura Mégevand, Thomas Morton, Paola Paladino, Tibor Polya, Tuuli Anna Renvik, Aleksejs Ruza, Wan Shahrazad, Sushama Shama, Heather J. Smith, Ana Raquel Torres, Anne Marthe van der Bles and Michael J. A. Wohl in Psychological Science

Supplemental material, Sprong_Supplemental_Material_rev for “Our Country Needs a Strong Leader Right Now”: Economic Inequality Enhances the Wish for a Strong Leader by Stefanie Sprong, Jolanda Jetten, Zhechen Wang, Kim Peters, Frank Mols, Maykel Verkuyten, Brock Bastian, Amarina Ariyanto, Frédérique Autin, Nadia Ayub, Constantina Badea, Tomasz Besta, Fabrizio Butera, Rui Costa-Lopes, Lijuan Cui, Carole Fantini, Gillian Finchilescu, Lowell Gaertner, Mario Gollwitzer, Ángel Gómez, Roberto González, Ying-Yi Hong, Dorthe Høj Jensen, Inga Jasinskaja-Lahti, Minoru Karasawa, Thomas Kessler, Olivier Klein, Marcus Lima, Laura Mégevand, Thomas Morton, Paola Paladino, Tibor Polya, Tuuli Anna Renvik, Aleksejs Ruza, Wan Shahrazad, Sushama Shama, Heather J. Smith, Ana Raquel Torres, Anne Marthe van der Bles and Michael J. A. Wohl in Psychological Science

Supplemental material, Sprong_Open_Practices_Disclosure for “Our Country Needs a Strong Leader Right Now”: Economic Inequality Enhances the Wish for a Strong Leader by Stefanie Sprong, Jolanda Jetten, Zhechen Wang, Kim Peters, Frank Mols, Maykel Verkuyten, Brock Bastian, Amarina Ariyanto, Frédérique Autin, Nadia Ayub, Constantina Badea, Tomasz Besta, Fabrizio Butera, Rui Costa-Lopes, Lijuan Cui, Carole Fantini, Gillian Finchilescu, Lowell Gaertner, Mario Gollwitzer, Ángel Gómez, Roberto González, Ying-Yi Hong, Dorthe Høj Jensen, Inga Jasinskaja-Lahti, Minoru Karasawa, Thomas Kessler, Olivier Klein, Marcus Lima, Laura Mégevand, Thomas Morton, Paola Paladino, Tibor Polya, Tuuli Anna Renvik, Aleksejs Ruza, Wan Shahrazad, Sushama Shama, Heather J. Smith, Ana Raquel Torres, Anne Marthe van der Bles and Michael J. A. Wohl in Psychological Science

Supplemental material, Sprong_Supplemental_Material_rev for “Our Country Needs a Strong Leader Right Now”: Economic Inequality Enhances the Wish for a Strong Leader by Stefanie Sprong, Jolanda Jetten, Zhechen Wang, Kim Peters, Frank Mols, Maykel Verkuyten, Brock Bastian, Amarina Ariyanto, Frédérique Autin, Nadia Ayub, Constantina Badea, Tomasz Besta, Fabrizio Butera, Rui Costa-Lopes, Lijuan Cui, Carole Fantini, Gillian Finchilescu, Lowell Gaertner, Mario Gollwitzer, Ángel Gómez, Roberto González, Ying-Yi Hong, Dorthe Høj Jensen, Inga Jasinskaja-Lahti, Minoru Karasawa, Thomas Kessler, Olivier Klein, Marcus Lima, Laura Mégevand, Thomas Morton, Paola Paladino, Tibor Polya, Tuuli Anna Renvik, Aleksejs Ruza, Wan Shahrazad, Sushama Shama, Heather J. Smith, Ana Raquel Torres, Anne Marthe van der Bles and Michael J. A. Wohl in Psychological Science

This dissertation proposes a theoretical framework of how personal and external motivations may shape entrepreneurs' early venture creation experience, conceptualized as a simultaneous pursuit of the dual goals of venture uniqueness and commercial viability, throughout the founding and growth phases of venture creation. I then develop propositions on how such a psychological and behavioral experience may provide the learning context where entrepreneurs clarify their role schema and the relationship among their multiple role identities. Based on this reasoning, I then develop additional propositions and hypotheses regarding the moderating role of entrepreneurial experience on how role identities motivate entrepreneurs' cognition and behavior, specifically, when generating and evaluating creative business ideas. Across three studies, I found preliminary support for this framework. Particularly, entrepreneurial experience moderates the relationship between role identities and creative behavior such that role identification predicts creativity evaluation criteria consistent with the role schema, only among experienced entrepreneurs but not among nascent entrepreneurs. Moreover, when one (but not the other) role is made salient, experienced entrepreneurs (but not nascent entrepreneurs) still fulfill the schema of the nonsalient role. This work contributes to the literatures on entrepreneurial experience, entrepreneurial motivation, and creativity. Practical implications and future directions are discussed. Doctor of Philosophy (NBS)