University of Massachusetts Boston

About: University of Massachusetts Boston is a education organization based out in Boston, Massachusetts, United States. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & Health care. The organization has 6541 authors who have published 12918 publications receiving 411731 citations. The organization is also known as: UMass Boston.

Corporate financial crime: social diagnosis and treatment

Abstract: Purpose – The purpose of this viewpoint paper is to assist in finding solutions for the growing moral and social issues of financial crime plaguing corporations today.Design/methodology/approach – Methodology includes the synthesis of existing theories in economic sociology and criminology to “diagnose” and “treat” the existing flaws in corporate structures that have led to malaise and malfeasance. Theories include differential association, self‐control, and control balance, taking into consideration the characteristics of individuals and corporate structures.Findings – Findings suggest that corporate structure has to be critically scrutinized and changes implemented, including close examination of informal and formal communication and salary structures.Practical implications – This paper suggests concrete strategies and policy changes for regulators, corporate decision makers, and academics.Originality/value – The synthesis of existing theories in white collar malfeasance and crime provides a template to...

Not all butterfly eyes are created equal: Rhodopsin absorption spectra, molecular identification, and localization of ultraviolet-, blue-, and green-sensitive rhodopsin-encoding mRNAs in the retina of Vanessa cardui

Abstract: Surveys of spectral sensitivities, visual pigment spectra, and opsin gene sequences have indicated that all butterfly eyes contain ultraviolet-, blue-, and green-sensitive rhodopsins. Some species also contain a fourth or fifth type, related in amino acid sequence to green-sensitive insect rhodopsins, but red shifted in absorbance. By combining electron microscopy, epi-microspectrophotometry, and polymerase chain reaction cloning, we found that the compound eye of Vanessa cardui has the typical ultrastructural features of the butterfly retina but contains only the three common insect rhodopsins. We estimated lambda-max values and relative densities of the rhodopsins in the Vanessa retina (0.72, P530; 0.12, P470; and 0.15, P360) from microspectrophotometric measurements and calculations based on a computational model of reflectance spectra. We isolated three opsin-encoding cDNA fragments that were identified with P530, P470, and P360 by homology to the well-characterized insect rhodopsin families. The retinal mosaic was mapped by opsin mRNA in situ hybridization and found to contain three kinds of ommatidia with respect to their patterns of short wavelength rhodopsin expression. In some ommatidia, P360 or P470 was expressed in R1 and R2 opposed receptor cells; in others, one cell expressed P360, whereas its complement expressed P470. P530 was expressed in the other seven cells of all ommatidia. P470-expressing cells were abundant in the ventral retina but nearly absent dorsally. Our results indicated that there are major differences between the color vision systems of nymphalid and papilionid butterflies: the nymphalid Vanessa has a simpler, trichromatic, system than do the tetrachromatic papilionids that have been studied.

Family processes as resources for African American children exposed to a constellation of sociodemographic risk factors.

Abstract: Examined positive functions of family processes among African American children exposed to a constellation of stresses associated with urban residence and low socioeconomic status. Several measures of risk were integrated to form a risk factor index (RFI), which quantified the degree of each child's exposure to stresses. Two family process variables were examined: parental monitoring and a supportive mother-child relationship. The direct and interactive associations between risk factors, family process variables, and children's depressive mood and disruptive behavior were assessed. For both domains of child functioning, higher scores on the RFI were cross-sectionally associated with less optimal functioning. Results consistently revealed significant associations between a more supportive mother-child relationship and more optimal child functioning. Higher levels of parental monitoring were also associated with lower levels of depressive mood and disruptive behavior. Limited support was found for a moderat...