How attributional ambiguity shapes physiological and emotional responses to social rejection and acceptance.

The authors examined White and Black participants' emotional, physiological, and behavioral responses to same-race or different-race evaluators, following rejecting social feedback or accepting social feedback. As expected, in ingroup interactions, the authors observed deleterious responses to social rejection and benign responses to social acceptance. Deleterious responses included cardiovascular (CV) reactivity consistent with threat states and poorer performance, whereas benign responses included CV reactivity consistent with challenge states and better performance. In intergroup interactions, however, a more complex pattern of responses emerged. Social rejection from different-race evaluators engendered more anger and activational responses, regardless of participants' race. In contrast, social acceptance produced an asymmetrical race pattern--White participants responded more positively than did Black participants. The latter appeared vigilant and exhibited threat responses. Discussion centers on implications for attributional ambiguity theory and potential pathways from discrimination to health outcomes. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Formation of spherical protein nanoparticles without impacting protein integrity

Protein formulation at the nanoscale is challenging because of protein susceptibility to chemical and physical degradation during processing. Herein, we present a straightforward method to prepare spherical protein nanoparticles by co-lyophilizing five structurally different enzymes (horseradish peroxidase, carbonic anhydrase, lysozyme, subtilisin Carlsberg and α-chymotrypsin) with methyl-β-cyclodextrin followed by suspension of the powders in ethyl acetate. The size distribution was narrow and varied from 88 ± 14 to 148 ± 16?nm as determined by dynamic light scattering. Scanning and transmission electron micrographs confirmed the size and spherical morphology of the protein nanoparticles. Residual activities for all enzymes tested were 100% upon dissolving the nanoparticles in buffer and no insoluble aggregates were formed.     

Gender differences in domain-specific self-esteem: A meta-analysis.

This meta-analysis examines gender differences in 10 specific domains of self-esteem across 115 studies, including 428 effect sizes and 32,486 individuals. In a mixed-effects analysis, men scored significantly higher than women on physical appearance (d = 0.35), athletic (d = 0.41), personal self (d = 0.28), and self-satisfaction self-esteem (d = 0.33). Women scored higher than men on behavioral conduct (d = ?0.17) and moral–ethical self-esteem (d = ?0.38). The gender difference in physical appearance self-esteem was significant only after 1980 and was largest among adults. No significant gender differences appeared in academic, social acceptance, family, and affect self-esteem. The results demonstrate the influence of reflected appraisals on self-esteem. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

The Youth-Nominated Support Team–Version II for suicidal adolescents: A randomized controlled intervention trial.

The purpose of this study was to examine the efficacy of the Youth-Nominated Support Team–Version II (YST-II) for suicidal adolescents, an intervention based on social support and health behavior models, which was designed to supplement standard treatments. Psychiatrically hospitalized and suicidal adolescents, 13–17 years of age, were randomly assigned to treatment-as-usual (TAU) + YST-II (n = 223) or TAU only (n = 225). YST-II provided tailored psychoeducation to youth-nominated adults in addition to weekly check-ins for 3 months following hospitalization. In turn, these adults had regular supportive contact with adolescents. Adolescents assigned to TAU + YST-II had an average of 3.43 (SD = 0.83) nominated adults. Measures included the Suicidal Ideation Questionnaire–Junior (SIQ-JR; W. M. Reynolds, 1988), Children’s Depression Rating Scale–Revised (E. O. Poznanski & H. B. Mokros, 1996), Beck Hopelessness Scale (A. T. Beck & R. A. Steer, 1993), and Child and Adolescent Functional Assessment Scale (CAFAS; K. Hodges, 1996). YST-II had very limited positive effects, which were moderated by history of multiple suicide attempts, and no negative effects. It resulted in more rapid decreases in suicidal ideation (SIQ-JR) for multiple suicide attempters during the initial 6 weeks after hospitalization (small-to-moderate effect size). For nonmultiple attempters, it was associated with greater declines in functional impairment (CAFAS) at 3 and 12 months (small effect sizes). YST-II had no effects on suicide attempts and no enduring effects on SIQ-JR scores. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Elementary Children's Shifting Views of Models and the Nature of Matter

Abstract

This exploratory qualitative study focuses on one Grade 5 (ages 10–11) class who participated in an instructional sequence designed to scaffold their abilities to think critically about models and then to use various models to help them understand the particle nature of matter. Data showed that the extent to which the children exhibited a naïve or evolving understanding of models varied with the features of the model under consideration, as did their understanding of the particle nature of matter.     

The relation between instrumental musical activity and cognitive aging.

Objective: Intensive repetitive musical practice can lead to bilateral cortical reorganization. However, whether musical sensorimotor and cognitive abilities transfer to nonmusical cognitive abilities that are maintained throughout the life span is unclear. In an attempt to identify modifiable lifestyle factors that may potentially enhance successful aging, we evaluated the association between musical instrumental participation and cognitive aging. Method: Seventy older healthy adults (ages 60–83) varying in musical activity completed a comprehensive neuropsychological battery. The groups (nonmusicians, low and high activity musicians) were matched on age, education, history of physical exercise, while musicians were matched on age of instrumental acquisition and formal years of musical training. Musicians were classified in the low (1–9 years) or high (>10 years) activity group based on years of musical experience throughout their life span. Results: The results of this preliminary study revealed that participants with at least 10 years of musical experience (high activity musicians) had better performance in nonverbal memory (η2 = .106), naming (η2 = .103), and executive processes (η2 = .131) in advanced age relative to nonmusicians. Several regression analyses evaluated how years of musical activity, age of acquisition, type of musical training, and other variables predicted cognitive performance. Conclusions: These correlational results suggest a strong predictive effect of high musical activity throughout the life span on preserved cognitive functioning in advanced age. A discussion of how musical participation may enhance cognitive aging is provided along with other alternative explanations. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2011 APA, all rights reserved)     

Establishing Priorities for Urban Green Infrastructure Research in Australia

Green infrastructure (GI) is a vital asset for sustainable cities, but an interdisciplinary approach must be taken if multifunctional and socially acceptable GI is to be developed. Here, we present the results of a workshop process to connect researchers and practitioners across academia, industry, and government and to enable a multidisciplinary group of participants to coalesce on a set of cross-cutting issues and prioritise a research agenda to address and advance GI research and uptake in Australia. We found that many of the challenges were ubiquitous across regions and scales, but research in a few key priority areas could advance GI across multiple cities. The key research areas were: Attitudes & Perceptions of GI; Increasing Biodiversity through GI; Optimising Spatial Configuration and Composition for Multiple Benefits; Economic Valuation of GI; Metrics, Models and Tools for Benchmarking Assessments; and Turning Research into Policy and Implementation. Although participants saw that there were many synergies across the research topics, there were challenges of translating the science for decision making and of establishing long-term institutional collaborations. However, urgency for sound evidence to support policy development and planning will require an interdisciplinary process to be maintained so that clear communication can be established across sectors.     

The role of familism in the relation between parent–child discord and psychological distress among emerging adults of Mexican descent.

Although parent–child discord is a predictor of distress among emerging adults, little is known about this important link among Mexican-descent populations. This is an important gap, given Mexican Americans’ high risk for psychological distress and their expected high value placed on close family ties. This topic was studied in a sample of 392 college students from El Paso, TX (n = 193) and from Ciudad Juárez, México (n = 199). The authors tested a stress-appraisal model with self-report measures of familism, parent–child discord, threat appraisals of parent–child discord, and psychological distress. As predicted, threat appraisals partially mediated the relation between parent–child discord and psychological distress. Moreover, the relation between parent–child discord and threat appraisals was stronger at higher than at lower levels of familism. Study findings highlight the need to consider that, under certain conditions, familism may increase risk of distress among emerging adults. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)