Hierarchical Differentiation Research Articles

What if we took autonomous recovery seriously? A democratic critique of contemporary western ethical foreign policy

Contemporary western ethical foreign policy, understood as foreign policy designed to contribute to the well-being of others – people(s), states and societies abroad – mostly looks at ways to do more, better or differently. Few accounts consider the need to do less or disengage to contribute to the others’ well-being, thus leaving the principles of ‘ethical retreat’ and ‘first-do-no-harm’ by the wayside in the literature. In the present contribution we seek to do two things: look into the concept of ‘autonomous recovery’ put forth by Africanist and ethnic and civil conflict scholar Jeremy Weinstein; and compare it to the literature on domestic ‘politics of difference’ as developed by critical (African-)American and African democracy theorists such as Iris M. Young, Cornel West and Claude Ake. By engaging these bodies of literature, we seek to contribute to research on viable alternatives to domination and violence in contemporary western ethical foreign policy embodied in hierarchical differentiation and the ensuing homogeny in both agenda and actors. We argue that at the international level, building on the identified merits of autonomous recovery, rather than global governance based on universal principles, a politics of difference amongst international actors might serve as a basis for more ethical foreign policy. As a theoretical and practical form of ethical retreat, we propose a commitment to ‘democratic hierarchy’ in view of self-realization, instead of mere self-management as we see in contemporary ethical foreign policy based on far-reaching international involvement guided by the democratic peace thesis.

The Media Contingencies of Generation Mashup: A Žižekian Critique

When the binary mashup was mainstreamed by way of DJ Danger Mouse's The Grey Album, media scholars celebrated the emerging genre as an exemplary case of digital emancipation because it eluded copyright law and the ownership system through the collusion of unlikely historical texts freely distributed online. I hesitate to celebrate the mashup in the same tone, if, for one reason, the mashup perpetuates the very philosophy of professional dissemination that the popular music and recording industries were founded upon, along with another reason: that the dynamic problematic of stereotypes and symbolic violence that has plagued the music industry from its inception continues to prosper under the new genre—the ideological edifice of racially hierarchical differentiation underlies the logic of the binary mashup. I ultimately suggest that the binary mashup, in its ironic distanciation from the weight of history, unconsciously reinforces the terrifying weight of history. This is less a response to the mashup and more to its academic reception, generated from a highly selective sampling of professional production. As an alternative, by being highly selective and choosing alternative and obscene examples of the mashup, I suggest that a critical re-reading of their symbolic violence is necessary in order to elucidate the structural antagonisms that continue to haunt our mediascapes and reinforce the hegemony of binary oppositions. This is done through a reading of Žižek, the obscene superego, and the underlying structures of racism in the binary mashup.

Scaling the Socioeconomic Ladder: Uyghur perceptions of class status

This paper asks: do most Uyghurs perceive themselves to be middle class or lower class? What are the major determinants of their perceptions? Data are drawn from a 2007 survey (N = 900) conducted in Ürümchi in China. This paper focuses on individualized and subjective hierarchical differentiation and reports three main findings about class identity among Uyghurs. Firstly, class identity is not closely linked to occupational attainment and income among Uyghurs. However, education is a key determinant of Uyghur class identification. Secondly, psychological well-being measures are not predictors of the choice of class label by Uyghurs. Thirdly, ethnic consciousness is closely related to class identification among Uyghurs, holding main background characteristics constant. Uyghurs give more attention to their group concerns (discrimination, prejudices, intergroup inequality, etc.) than to their individual worries (such as unemployment or stress) when choosing a class label.

The establishment of 'the public meeting regulation' established in 1880, Japan and the origin of the hierarchical differentiation of the political and academical discourse ― focused on the distinctiveness of formation of political public sphere in Meiji Japan.

The establishment of 'the public meeting regulation' established in 1880, Japan and the origin of the hierarchical differentiation of the political and academical discourse ― focused on the distinctiveness of formation of political public sphere in Meiji Japan.

When Hierarchical Differentiation Increases Group Effectiveness

Two experiments examined the psychological and biological antecedents of hierarchical differentiation and the resulting consequences for productivity and intragroup conflict within small groups. In Experiment 1, hierarchically differentiated groups (i.e., comprised of one high-power, one low-power, and one baseline individual) had higher performance on a procedurally interdependent task than groups comprised exclusively of either all high-power or all low-power individuals. There were no effects of hierarchy on a procedurally independent task. Experiment 2 used a biological marker of power motivation (prenatal testosterone exposure as measured by 2D:4D ratio) to manipulate hierarchical differentiation. Replicating the pattern of results from Experiment 1, mixed-testosterone groups achieved greater productivity than groups comprised of all high-testosterone and all low-testosterone individuals. Furthermore, intragroup conflict mediated the productivity decrements for the all high but not the all low-testos...

Identification Targets and Well-Being within the Workplace: A Function of Hierarchy

This study focuses on the impact of hierarchy on identification patterns and well-being in organizations. We predict that workplace identification patterns will vary according to one’s position in an organizational hierarchy with important consequences for well-being. Hypotheses were tested with 790 personnel from 10 Navy ships. In support of our predictions, we find that: a) individuals occupying operational, mid-level and strategic positions within the Navy differentially identify with multiple identity targets; b) the relationship between multiple identifications and well-being vary according to hierarchical position. These findings offer new insights into the nature of hierarchical differentiation in the workplace, providing a deeper understanding of the role of multiple identifications in shaping the well-being of hierarchical subgroups.

Global Levels of H3K27me3 Track with Differentiation in Vivo and Are Deregulated by MYC in Prostate Cancer

Cancer cells and stem cells share a number of biological characteristics including abundant amounts of decondensed chromatin. However, the molecular correlates and the factors involved in altering chromatin structure in cancer cells are not well known. Here, we report that less differentiated stem-like cells in the basal compartment of human and mouse prostate contain lower levels of the polycomb heterochromatin marker H3K27me3 than more differentiated luminal cells. This link to differentiated normal cells is also found in a number of other human and rodent tissues characterized by hierarchical differentiation. In addition to MYC's traditional role as a gene-specific transcription factor, recent studies indicate that MYC also affects global chromatin structure where it is required to maintain "open" or active chromatin. We now demonstrate that in both MYC-driven prostate cancers in mice and human prostate cancers, global levels of H3K27me3 are reduced in prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia and invasive adenocarcinoma lesions. Moreover, decreased levels of H3K27me3 correlate with increased markers of disease aggressiveness (eg, Gleason score and pathological stage). In vitro, experimentally forced reductions in MYC levels result in increased global levels of H3K27me3. These findings suggest that increased levels of decondensed chromatin in both normal progenitor cells and cancer cells are associated with global loss of H3K27me3, which is linked to MYC overexpression.

The Path to Glory Is Paved With Hierarchy

Two experiments examined the psychological and biological antecedents of hierarchical differentiation and the resulting consequences for productivity and conflict within small groups. In Experiment 1, which used a priming manipulation, hierarchically differentiated groups (i.e., groups comprising 1 high-power-primed, 1 low-power-primed, and 1 baseline individual) performed better on a procedurally interdependent task than did groups comprising exclusively either all high-power-primed or all low-power-primed individuals. There were no effects of hierarchical differentiation on performance on a procedurally independent task. Experiment 2 used a biological marker of dominance motivation (prenatal testosterone exposure as measured by a digit-length ratio) to manipulate hierarchical differentiation. The pattern of results from Experiment 1 was replicated; mixed-testosterone groups achieved greater productivity than did groups comprising all high-testosterone or all low-testosterone individuals. Furthermore, intragroup conflict mediated the productivity decrements for the high-testosterone but not the low-testosterone groups. This research suggests possible directions for future research and the need to further delineate the conditions and types of hierarchy under which hierarchical differentiation enhances rather than undermines group effectiveness.

Abstract 2210: Global levels of H3K27me3 track with differentiation in vivo and are deregulated by MYC in prostate cancer

Abstract Both embryonic stem cells and various cancer cell types contain abundant amounts of decondensed chromatin. However, the molecular mechanisms responsible for altering chromatin states in stem cells and cancer cells are not well understood. One factor may be the oncogenic transcription factor, MYC. MYC is overexpressed in many tumor types and affects a wide array of essential cellular processes including ribosome and mitochondrial biogenesis, metabolism, and cell cycle progression. MYC is also a key factor in reprogramming of somatic adult cells into induced pluripotent stem cells. Less well known is that MYC also affects global chromatin structure where it is required to maintain open or active chromatin. We hypothesize that in prostate cancer, MYC affects global chromatin structure keeping it in a more open conformation thus maintaining the cells in a less differentiated state resembling that of stem cells. We show by immunohistochemistry that compared to the more differentiated luminal cells, less differentiated stem-like cells in the basal compartment of the human and mouse prostate contain lower levels of the polycomb heterochromatin mark, H3K27me3. This link to the differentiated state of normal cells is also found in a number of other human and rodent tissues characterized by hierarchical differentiation and rapid turnover of stem cell compartments. Further, in MYC-driven prostate cancers in mice, global levels of H3K27me3 are reduced in both prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia (PIN) and invasive adenocarcinoma lesions. This pattern of global H3K27me3 reduction in PIN and invasive prostate cancers is also observed in humans, correlates with global chromatin decondensation, and correlates with increased markers of disease aggressiveness (e.g. Gleason score and pathological stage). In prostate and breast cancer cells, experimentally forced reductions in MYC levels result in increased global levels of H3K27me3. These findings suggest that increased levels of decondensed chromatin in normal stem/progenitor cells and in cancer cells are associated with global loss of the H3K27me3 polycomb mark, and furthermore, MYC overexpression could be one mechanism for this H3K27me3 deregulation. Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 103rd Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2012 Mar 31-Apr 4; Chicago, IL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2012;72(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 2210. doi:1538-7445.AM2012-2210

The Path to Glory is Paved with Hierarchy: When Hierarchical Differentiation Increases Group Effectiveness

Two experiments examined the psychological and biological antecedents of hierarchical differentiation and the resulting consequences for productivity and conflict within small groups. In Experiment 1, which used a priming manipulation, hierarchically differentiated groups (i.e., groups comprising 1 high-power-primed, 1 low-power-primed, and 1 baseline individual) performed better on a procedurally interdependent task than did groups comprising exclusively either all high- power or all low-power individuals. There were no effects of hierarchical differentiation on performance on a procedurally independent task. Experiment 2 used a biological marker of dominance motivation (prenatal testosterone exposure as measured by a digit-length ratio) to manipulate hierarchical differentiation. The pattern of results from Experiment 1 was replicated; mixed-testosterone groups achieved greater productivity than did groups comprising all high-testosterone or all low-testosterone individuals. Furthermore, intragroup conflict mediated the productivity decrements for the high- testosterone but not the low testosterone groups. This research suggests possible directions for future research and the need to further delineate the conditions and types of hierarchy under which hierarchical differentiation enhances rather than undermines group effectiveness.

Concise Review: Cancer Stem Cells and Minimal Residual Disease

Evidence gathered over the past two decades confirms earlier reports that suggested that hematologic malignancies exhibit a hierarchical differentiation structure similar to normal hematopoiesis. There is growing evidence that some solid tumors may also exhibit a differentiation program similar to the normal tissue of origin. Many excellent reviews on the topic of cancer stem cells (CSCs) document the recent explosion of information in the field, particularly highlighting the phenotypic and functional characteristics of these putative cells in vitro. Accordingly, here we only briefly discuss these concepts, and instead primarily examine the potential clinical relevance of CSCs, arguably the major unresolved issue in the field. Although it is generally accepted that CSCs are resistant to chemotherapy in vitro, only recently have data surfaced that suggest a role for these cells in disease relapse. Importantly, cancer cells with a stem cell phenotype have been found to be enriched in minimal residual disease of several malignancies. If the role of CSCs in relapse is confirmed, targeting these cells would hold substantial potential for improving the outcome of cancer patients.

When Hierarchy Wins

Past research on pay dispersion has found that hierarchy hurts commitment, cooperation, and performance. In contrast, functional theories of social hierarchy propose that hierarchy can facilitate coordination and performance. We investigated the effects of hierarchical differentiation using a sample of professional basketball teams from the National Basketball Association (NBA). Analyses of archival data revealed that hierarchical differentiation in pay and participation enhanced team performance by facilitating intragroup coordination and cooperation. The data provide the basis for a theoretical analysis which suggests that hierarchy is particularly beneficial for procedurally interdependent tasks (e.g., basketball) but can harm team performance for procedurally independent tasks (e.g., baseball; Bloom, 1999). Overall, the current data indicate that team structure (hierarchy) affects team outcomes (performance) through team processes (cooperation and coordination). Thus, under certain conditions, hierarchical differentiation helps lead groups to victory.

Hierarchical Differentiation of Myeloid Progenitors Is Encoded in the Transcription Factor Network

Hematopoiesis is an ideal model system for stem cell biology with advanced experimental access. A systems view on the interactions of core transcription factors is important for understanding differentiation mechanisms and dynamics. In this manuscript, we construct a Boolean network to model myeloid differentiation, specifically from common myeloid progenitors to megakaryocytes, erythrocytes, granulocytes and monocytes. By interpreting the hematopoietic literature and translating experimental evidence into Boolean rules, we implement binary dynamics on the resulting 11-factor regulatory network. Our network contains interesting functional modules and a concatenation of mutual antagonistic pairs. The state space of our model is a hierarchical, acyclic graph, typifying the principles of myeloid differentiation. We observe excellent agreement between the steady states of our model and microarray expression profiles of two different studies. Moreover, perturbations of the network topology correctly reproduce reported knockout phenotypes in silico. We predict previously uncharacterized regulatory interactions and alterations of the differentiation process, and line out reprogramming strategies.

Sectoral Differentiation and Network Structure Within Contemporary Worldwide Corporate Networks

This article contributes to the converging literatures on global production networks and new regionalism, which show that these two entities and their respective geographic scales are complexly interdependent. It explores two key conceptual differences between the leading world city network studies of Alderson and Beckfield and the work of the Global and World City (GaWC) Research Network. The first is the sectoral differentiation of the data, in which the former focuses on multinational corporations in all industrial sectors and the latter specifically targets only advanced producer services. The second involves methodological differences that lead to dissimilar network structures. Alderson and Beckfield made only a basic hierarchical differentiation of the firms, while the GaWC study used a more elaborate classification method. Combining these approaches, we explore firms’ global and regional interdependencies (their centrality within their network and its structure). Using a single data set of the top 100 global multinationals (2005) and their ownership linkages with thousands of subsidiaries in 2,259 unique cities worldwide. The findings not only reveal the nodal centralities and linkage structures within the “all industrial sector” network and the “producer service sector” network but also show a strong correlation between these two networks, specifically toward the apex of the economic systems, and evidence of the coexistence of hierarchical and heterarchical city network structures.

A functional model of hierarchy

We propose that hierarchy is such a prevalent form of social organization because it is functionally adaptive and enhances a group’s chances of survival and success. We identify five ways in which hierarchy facilitates organizational success. Hierarchy (a) creates a psychologically rewarding environment; (b) motivates performance through hierarchy-related incentives; (c) capitalizes on the complementary psychological effects of having versus lacking power; (d) supports division of labor, and, as a result, coordination; and (e) reduces conflict and enhances voluntary cooperation. Overall, we specify a causal model linking organizational structure (hierarchy), processes (motivation, leadership, coordination, and cooperation) and outcomes (performance). We also discuss three variables that moderate the need for and acceptance of hierarchy—(a) the level of task interdependence; (b) the legitimacy of hierarchical differentiation; and (c) the alignment of different bases of hierarchy—and link them to the mediating processes through which hierarchy facilitates organizational success.

Ideal-Types and the Medieval Church

Ideal-types are preliminary sketch maps, simplifications to help scholars get to grips with historical phenomena too multifarious to be represented, or even understood, through point-by-point description. Some of the main long-term features of the medieval Church can be captured in a preliminary way by the following ideal-types. (1) It employed formal legal rules ingeniously designed to make good the deficiencies of its bureaucratic underpinning (so formal legal rationality and bureaucracy are not welded together as in the original Weberian version of the ideal-type). (2) Hierarchical differentiation was a value, as in Hinduism as conceived by Louis Dumont (not merely as in modern management where hierarchy is primarily instrumental). (3) Purity rules: Hierarchy was intricately linked with condensed symbolism — an ideal-type borrowed from the anthropologist Mary Douglas.

Comprehensive microRNA expression profiling of the hematopoietic hierarchy

The hematopoietic system produces a large number of highly specialized cell types that are derived through a hierarchical differentiation process from a common stem cell population. miRNAs are critical players in orchestrating this differentiation. Here, we report the development and application of a high-throughput microfluidic real-time quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR) approach for generating global miRNA profiles for 27 phenotypically distinct cell populations isolated from normal adult mouse hematopoietic tissues. A total of 80,000 RT-qPCR assays were used to map the landscape of miRNA expression across the hematopoietic hierarchy, including rare progenitor and stem cell populations. We show that miRNA profiles allow for the direct inference of cell lineage relations and functional similarity. Our analysis reveals a close relatedness of the miRNA expression patterns in multipotent progenitors and stem cells, followed by a major reprogramming upon restriction of differentiation potential to a single lineage. The analysis of miRNA expression in single hematopoietic cells further demonstrates that miRNA expression is very tightly regulated within highly purified populations, underscoring the potential of single-cell miRNA profiling for assessing compartment heterogeneity.

Measuring hierarchical differentiation: connectivity and dominance in the European urban network

This paper presents an examination of the empirical merits of a set of spatial interaction indices for measuring hierarchical differentiation (i.e. dominance and connectivity) in a spatial network. To allow for the comparison of the degree of hierarchical differentiation in networks with different numbers of nodes/links, we propose to normalize the ratio between the real measures and the corresponding values for a rank size distribution in order to obtain readily interpretable measures of hierarchical differentiation. When applied to data on air passenger flows within Europe, the normalized indices, interpreted together, appear to give a good idea of the tendency toward hierarchical differentiation. The potential usefulness of this analytical framework is discussed in the context of studies on (transnational) inter-city relations and empirical assessments of changes in the spatial configuration of airline networks.

The Pre- and ProtohistoricToguéof the Niger Alluvial Plain, Mali

The Inland Niger Delta in Mali is scattered with thousands of tell-like dwelling mounds that testify to the rich archaeological heritage of this attractive occupation area. The results of archaeological research suggest an occupation history of more than two millennia in which large urban settlements such as Djenné-Djeno and Dia play a central role. Regional surveys have revealed primary information on the vast rural hinterland of these extensive cities, but little is known about the structure and evolution of this considerable settlement system. The aim of the re-examination of 128 sites in the southern part of the Niger alluvial plain was to obtain an understanding of intersite relations based on sites' chronological, functional, socio-economic, and hierarchical differentiation and their participation in different trade networks. For the research it was crucial to find a method to date the last occupation period of the sites using surface remains. The results of the study emphasise the former occupants' preference for the most elevated landscape units close to fertile pastures, good cultivation grounds, and extensive fishing potential for their settlement sites. The occupants' ability to distribute and exchange agricultural surplus for luxury goods – imported via regional, inter-regional and trans-Saharan trade networks – is impressive, showing that they were able to compete with occupants of the large urban centres. Although the rural sites were much smaller than Djenné-Djeno and Dia, they were well connected. The rural hinterland apparently played an important role in most of the great West African empires. Population densities of the Inland Niger Delta were high for a long time, until the trade routes changed in the 15th century AD and the region became socio-politically unstable. This led to the abandonment of settlements, first around the urban settlements, and later also in the rural hinterland. The present-day occupation of the region is only a poor reflection of its impressive past.

The Case of Vanishing Borders: Theorizing Diversity Management as Internal Border Control

This article adopts a postcolonial lens to contribute to the theorizing of diversity management. It draws on an empirical study of a Swedish municipal school for adults in order to theorize how construction of privileged and disadvantaged ethnic identities is an integral diversity management practice, situated in the Swedish context. Further, the article looks not only at limiting identity construction effects, but also at the traces of ongoing resistance. The contribution of the postcolonial lens in the study of workplace diversity lies in the conceptual space it provides for rendering visible, and legitimizing, non-traditional forms of resistance to hierarchical differentiation of cultural identities.