An integrative conceptual framework of disability: New directions for research.

Advances in research on disability and rehabilitation are essential to creating equal opportunity, economic self-sufficiency, and full participation for persons with disabilities. Historically, such initiatives have focused on separate and specific areas, including neuroscience, molecular biology and genetics, gerontology, engineering and physical sciences, and social and behavioral sciences. Research on persons with disabilities should examine the broader context and trends of society that affect the total environment of persons with disabilities. This article examines the various disability paradigms across time, assessing the relative contribution of the socioecological perspective in guiding research designed to improve the lives of persons with disabilities. The authors recommend new research directions that include a focus on life span issues, biomedicine, biotechnology, the efficacy and effectiveness of current interventions, an emphasis on consumer-driven investigations within a socioecological perspective of disability, and the implications for research and practice. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Comparison of functional performance of a soldier in full chemical and biological protection versus battle dress

The comparison of functional performance between a soldier wearing a chemical and biological (CB) protective equipment and an ordinary battle dress (BD) was conducted at Protechnik's facilities and Jozini–South Africa. The basis of the comparison was that CB protective equipment causes compatibility problems such as mobility and clearance, and that these factors would affect the soldier when performing various activities. Sixteen obstacle courses were erected to simulate a range of functions normally performed by an infantry soldier. Time taken by each soldier to complete a variety of motions and obstacle clearance activities was recorded. It was found that the CB protective equipment interfered with the soldier's performance. The soldier's movements were observed to be restricted and abnormal. The time taken to complete similar activities was longer when wearing the CB protective equipment than ordinary BD.

Relevance to industry

To determine the effect of protective equipment on functional performance.     

Effect of the Presence of a Nonhost Herbivore on the Response of the Aphid Parasitoid <Emphasis Type="Italic">Diaeretiella rapae</Emphasis> to Host-infested Cabbage Plants

The vast majority of studies of plant indirect defense strategies have considered simple tritrophic systems that involve plant responses to attack by a single herbivore species. However, responses by predators and parasitoids to specific, herbivore-induced, volatile blends could be compromised when two or more different herbivores are feeding on the same plant. In Y-tube olfactometer studies, we investigated the responses of an aphid parasitoid, Diaeretiella rapae (McIntosh) (Hymenoptera: Braconidae), to odors from cabbage plants infested with the peach-potato aphid Myzus persicae (Sulzer) (Homoptera: Aphididae), in both the presence and absence of a lepidopteran caterpillar, Plutella xylostella L. (Lepidoptera: Plutellidae). Female parasitoids chose aphid-infested plants over uninfested plants but did not distinguish between caterpillar-infested and uninfested plants. When given a choice between odors from an aphid-infested plant and those from a plant infested with diamondback moth larvae, they significantly chose the former. Furthermore, the parasitoids responded equally to odors from a plant infested with aphids only and those from a plant infested with both aphids and caterpillars. The results support the hypothesis that the aphid and the caterpillar induce different changes in the volatile profile of cabbage plants and that D. rapae females readily distinguish between the two. Furthermore, the changes to the plant volatile profile induced by the caterpillar damage did not hinder the responses of the parasitoid to aphid-induced signals.     

A validity study of functionally-based behavioral consultation with students with emotional/behavioral disabilities.

Eighteen students (K-11th grade) with emotional/behavioral disorders who were at-risk for change of placement to more restrictive settings participated. Construct validity of functional behavioral assessment (FBA) was assessed with a multifunction-multimethod matrix that showed excellent convergent and divergent agreement with combined FBA methods and functional analysis results. Treatment validity was assessed with random assignment to either a FBA with consultation condition (FBC) or to a behavioral consultation without FBA condition (BC). Growth curve analysis showed a significant decrease in inappropriate behavior from baseline to treatment for both treatment groups compared to a control group. The efficiency of teachers' implementation effected treatment validity. Effect sizes showed that regardless of treatment condition that interventions with good fidelity realized the largest effect (d = -1.14). Social and habilitative validity was assessed with telephone interviews conducted a year after treatment. Sixty-five percent attributed the students' problem behaviors to their thoughts or feelings, whereas only 25% attributed it to classroom variables. Many (57%) indicated the most helpful intervention would be individual counseling, whereas only 14% indicated a more involved classroom management plan would be useful. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Copolymerization of methyl esters of unsaturated C18 fatty acids

In order to assay the possibilities of making high polymers from linseed oil, the copolymerizations of styrene with the methyl esters of oleic, linoleic, linolenic, and conjugated linolenic acids were studied at 60–130C and copolymerizations of the last three esters with acrylonitrile were studied at 60C. Appropriate free radical initiators were employed in all cases. The esters without conjugated unsaturation show little tendency to enter a copolymer with styrene, but copolymers containing up to 40% by weight of conjugated linoleate can be obtained. Linoleic, linolenic, and conjugated linoleic esters copolymerize readily with acrylonitrile. Products containing up to 45 mole %, 80 wt %, of the conjugated ester can be made. However, methyl eleostearate, with three conjugated double bonds, inhibits the polymerization of both styrene and acrylonitrile. Quantitative comparisons of the behaviors of the esters are made through the copolymerization equation. The probable performance of these and other vinyl monomers in copolymerization with linseed oil is discussed. Presented at the Symposium on Recent Advances in Drying Oil Chemistry, Division of Organic Coatings and Plastics Chemistry, Am. Chem. Soc. meeting in Washington, 1962.     

Self-evaluation maintenance and the mediational role of emotion: The perception of friends and strangers.

Examined the causal role of emotional arousal in self-evaluation maintenance (SEM) processes. In previous work, A. Tesser and J. Campbell (see record 1983-12693-001) found that Ss were most charitable in their perception of another's performance when self-relevance was low and the other was close. If emotional arousal mediated this pattern of behavior, then the pattern of behavior should be replicated when arousal is present but attenuated when arousal is misattributed or low. The misattribution hypothesis was tested in Study 1. Study 2 was a correlational study in which physiological arousal and misattribution were measured. Results supported the prediction that SEM processes would be attenuated when arousal was attributed to external sources. The misattribution effect was particularly pronounced among more highly aroused Ss. Results are discussed in terms of their implications for the SEM model and person perception. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Generation of stress in the course of unipolar depression.

The effect of stressful events on depression has been amply demonstrated, but the opposite relation is also important. The author examined event occurrence over 1 yr in 14 women with unipolar depression who were compared with demographically matched groups of women with bipolar disorder (n?=?11), chronic medical illness (n?=?13), or no illness or disorder (n?=?22). Interview assessments of life events, severity, and independence of occurrence confirmed the hypothesis that unipolar women were exposed to more stress than the normal women, had significantly more interpersonal event stress than all others, and tended to have more dependent events than the others. The implication is that unipolar women by their symptoms, behaviors, characteristics, and social context generate stressful conditions, primarily interpersonal, that have the potential for contributing to the cycle of symptoms and stress that create chronic or intermittent depression. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Axis II symptomatology, depression, and life stress during the transition from adolescence to adulthood.

This study examined 2 models of the relationship between personality disorder symptomatology and depression, incorporating life stress as an intervening variable. In a community sample of late adolescent women, symptoms of Cluster B disorders predicted interpersonal chronic stress and self-generated episodic stress over 2 years, controlling for initial depression. Cluster A symptoms also predicted subsequent chronic interpersonal stress, over initial depression. Cluster C pathology did not predict subsequent stress. Personality disorder symptomatology was also associated with partner reported relationship dissatisfaction. Support was found for a mediation model whereby women with higher levels of initial personality disturbance in Clusters A and B generated excessive amounts of episodic stress and interpersonal chronic stress in the next 2 years, which, in turn, increased vulnerability for depressive symptoms. A moderation model, whereby the presence of greater personality disorder symptoms would increase the likelihood of depression in response to stress, was not supported. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)