Moral Behavior

Prosocial and antisocial behaviors take place in sport and correspond to proactive and inhibitive morality. These behaviors could have important consequences not only for the recipient's physical and psychological well being, but also for the quality of the overall sport experience. Thus, understanding the factors that lead to, or inhibit, these behaviors is important. Motivational variables stemming from achievement goal theory and self-determination theory have been associated with both prosocial and antisocial behaviors in sport, highlighting the important role of motivation on moral behavior. Moral disengagement, a strong positive predictor of antisocial behavior, could explain the effects of motivational variables on this behavior. Moral variables are also highly influential with both moral identity and empathy inhibiting antisocial behavior; anticipated guilt has been identified as a mediator in this process, underlining the significance of emotion on moral behavior. Finally, bracketed morality exists in sport, and may be a manifestation of the intergroup bias phenomenon

Monetary and Fiscal Policies in Canada: Some Interesting Principles for EMU?

Choosing a well-designed framework for fiscal and monetary policies is a challenge for economic authorities. Although they have chosen the same objectives to promote economic growth—price stability and fiscal sustainability—the Canadian and European economic authorities have adopted different frameworks in which to attain them. The author examines some principles of the Canadian framework that have gained broad public support and provide a good degree of macroeconomic stabilization, and examines whether the European authorities might wish to consider adopting some of those principles.Monetary policy framework; Fiscal policy

“It Was Only Harmless Banter!” The development and preliminary validation of the moral disengagement in sexual harassment scale.

Sexual harassment represents aggressive behavior that is often enacted instrumentally, in response to a threatened sense of masculinity and male identity. To date, however, theoretical attention to the social cognitive processes that regulate workplace harassment is scant. This article presents the development and preliminary validation of the Moral Disengagement in Sexual Harassment Scale (MDiSH); a self-report measure of moral disengagement in the context of hostile work environment harassment. Three studies (total N = 797) document the excellent psychometric properties of this new scale. Male U.K. university students (Study 1: N = 322) and U.S. working males (Studies 2 and 3: N = 475) completed the MDiSH and an array of measures for construct validation. The MDiSH exhibited positive correlations with sexual harassment myth acceptance, male gender identification, and hostile sexism. In Study 3, participants were exposed to a fictitious case of hostile work environment harassment. The MDiSH attenuated moral judgment, negative emotions (guilt, shame, and anger), sympathy, and endorsement of prosocial behavioral intentions (support for restitution) associated with the harassment case. Conversely, the MDiSH increased positive affect (happiness) about the harassment and attribution of blame to the female complainant. Implications for practice and future research avenues are discussed

Mepolizumab and benralizumab in patients with severe asthma and a history of eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis

IntroductionAsthma associated with eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis (EGPA) is often severe and corticosteroid-dependent, leading to significant morbidity. Mepolizumab and benralizumab are humanized monoclonal antibodies targeting interleukin 5 (IL-5) and its receptor, respectively. They have been shown to be effective in steroid-sparing in patients with severe eosinophilic asthma.ObjectiveOur aim was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of mepolizumab and benralizumab prescribed for severe asthma in patients with EGPA under “real-world” conditions.MethodsThis was a retrospective analysis of patients with EGPA and persistent asthma who received either mepolizumab 100 or 300 mg administered every 4 weeks, or benralizumab 30 mg administered every 4 weeks for the initial 3 injections and followed by an injection every 8 weeks thereafter, whilst combined with oral glucocorticoids. The follow-up every 6 ± 3 months included an assessment of clinical manifestations, pulmonary function tests and eosinophil cell count. The primary outcome was the proportion of patients at 12 months receiving a daily oral dose of prednisone or equivalent of 4 mg or less with a BVAS of 0.ResultsTwenty-six patients were included. After 12 months of treatment with mepolizumab or benralizumab, 32% of patients met the primary outcome and were receiving less than 4 mg of prednisone per day with a BVAS of 0. The median dose of prednisone was 10 mg per day at baseline, 9 mg at 6 months, and 5 mg at 12 months (p ≤ 0.01). At 12 months, 23% of patients were weaned off corticosteroids, while an increase or no change in dose was observed in 27% of patients. The median eosinophil count was significantly reduced from 365 cells/mm3 to 55 cells/mm3 at 6 months and 70 cells/mm3 at 12 months, respectively. No significant change was observed in FEV1. After 12 months of treatment, 14% of patients had had an average of 1 exacerbation of asthma, compared with 52% of patients before baseline. The tolerability profile was favorable.ConclusionIn this real-world study in patients with severe asthma and a history of EGPA asthma, mepolizumab and benralizumab had a significant steroid-sparing effect and reduced asthma exacerbation, but no significant effect on lung function

<i>Gymnosiphon mayottensis</i> Cheek, sp. nov. (Burmanniaceae), une nouvelle espèce à Mayotte, archipel des Comores

Une nouvelle espèce de Gymnosiphon Blume (Burmanniaceae), G. mayottensis Cheek, sp. nov. est décrite du Mont Bénara et du Mont Mtsapéré sur l’île de Mayotte, dans l’archipel des Comores. Il s’agit de la première description d’une espèce de ce genre pour l’archipel. Cette nouvelle espèce ressemble à G. longistylus (Benth.) Hutch. avec ses six longs stigmates filamenteux, deux apparaissant sur chacun des trois styles, mais aussi par l’absence d’un tubercule souterrain ou d’un rhizome épais. Cette nouvelle espèce diffère également par : ses bractées appliquées aux rachis et de longueurs à peu près égales (érigées et &lt; 1/4 de la longueur chez G. longistylus), ses tépales externes passant rapidement de blanc à translucide à l’anthèse (alors qu’ils restent blancs chez G. longistylus), l’absence de lobes internes sur le périanthe (présents et visibles chez G. longistylus) et par ses stigmates plus larges que longs, horizontaux et unis par les bordures latérales (plus longs que larges, pendants, libres entre eux au niveau des bordures latérales chez G. longistylus). Cette nouvelle espèce est connue de deux zones forestières menacées avec moins de 50 individus recensés. De ce fait, elle est évaluée en « danger critique d’extinction » (CR B1ab(i-iv), B2ab(i-iv), D) selon les critères de l’UICN (2012). Gymnosiphon mayottensis Cheek, sp. nov. est illustrée dans cet article par des photos en couleurs, des dessins et sa distribution est cartographiée.A new species of Gymnosiphon Blume (Burmanniaceae), G. mayottensis Cheek, sp. nov. is formally described from Mount Bénara and Mount Mtsapéré on the island of Mayotte in the Comores. This is the first named species of the genus published from the Comoro Islands. The new species resembles G. longistylus (Benth.) Hutch. in the six long, filamentous, stigma appendages, two arising from each of the three styles, also in the absence of an underground tuber or thickened rhizome; it differs in that the bracts are appressed to the rhachises, and about equal in length to them (not patent, and &lt; 1/4 as long), the outer tepals turn rapidly from white to translucent at anthesis (not remaining white), the inner perianth lobes are absent (not present and conspicuous), the stigmas are broader than long, held horizontally and are united along their lateral margins (not longer than broad, pendulous, free from each other along their lateral margins). The new species is known from two forest sites, both with threats, and less than 50 individuals are known. Accordingly, it is assessed as Critically Endangered (B1ab(i-iv), B2ab(i-iv), D) using the IUCN 2012 standard. The new species is illustrated by colour photos and line drawings, and mapped.</p