西双版纳文化、环境特征及建筑形态浅析

本文通过对西双版纳地区文化特征和环境特征的分析,认为西双版纳地区具有神奇、秀丽、柔美的特点。这种特点也反映在当地建筑形态上,作者根据这一特点提出了西双版纳允景洪民族风情园中心馆的设计方案。     

娜允傣族古城、建筑文化地理研究

笔者经过数年实地考察和相关资料研究分析中国傣族古城聚落地理,归纳傣族古城的指标体系,有如下结论:娜允是中国现存最完整的傣族历史文化古城。孟连宣抚司署是中国仅存的傣族古典礼制建筑。娜允是为世界提供历史悠久、已经消亡的华夏傣族土司文化最真实的特殊见证。娜允傣族建筑文化品类完整,文化脉络清晰,是傣族建筑文化的杰出代表,其特殊的地理特征向世界展示了娜允傣族社会近七百年的历史文化。所以具备了世界文化遗产的资质。应该积极保护娜允古城,使其成为世界了解傣族历史文化的窗口。     

The Importance of G Protein-Coupled Receptor Kinase 4 (GRK4) in Pathogenesis of Salt Sensitivity,Salt Sensitive Hypertension and Response to Antihypertensive Treatment

Salt sensitivity is probably caused by either a hereditary or acquired defect of salt excretion by the kidney, and it is reasonable to consider that this is the basis for differences in hypertension between black and white people. Dopamine acts in an autocrine/paracrine fashion to promote natriuresis in the proximal tubule and thick ascending loop of Henle. G-protein receptor kinases (or GRKs) are serine and threonine kinases that phosphorylate G protein-coupled receptors in response to agonist stimulation and uncouple the dopamine receptor from its G protein. This results in a desensitisation process that protects the cell from repeated agonist exposure. GRK4 activity is increased in spontaneously hypertensive rats, and infusion of GRK4 antisense oligonucleotides attenuates the increase in blood pressure (BP). This functional defect is replicated in the proximal tubule by expression of GRK4 variants namely p.Arg65Leu, p.Ala142Val and p.Val486Ala, in cell lines, with the p.Ala142Val showing the most activity. In humans, GRK4 polymorphisms were shown to be associated with essential hypertension in Australia, BP regulation in young adults, low renin hypertension in Japan and impaired stress-induced Na excretion in normotensive black men. In South Africa, GRK4 polymorphisms are more common in people of African descent, associated with impaired Na excretion in normotensive African people, and predict blood pressure response to Na restriction in African patients with mild to moderate essential hypertension. The therapeutic importance of the GRK4 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) was emphasised in the African American Study of Kidney Disease (AASK) where African-Americans with hypertensive nephrosclerosis were randomised to receive amlodipine, ramipril or metoprolol. Men with the p.Ala142Val genotype were less likely to respond to metoprolol, especially if they also had the p.Arg65Leu variant. Furthermore, in the analysis of response to treatment in two major hypertension studies, the 65Leu/142Val heterozygote predicted a significantly decreased response to atenolol treatment, and the 65Leu/142Val heterozygote and 486Val homozygote were associated in an additive fashion with adverse cardiovascular outcomes, independent of BP. In conclusion, there is considerable evidence that GRK4 variants are linked to impaired Na excretion, hypertension in animal models and humans, therapeutic response to dietary Na restriction and response to antihypertensive drugs. It may also underlie the difference in hypertension between different geographically derived population groups, and form a basis for pharmacogenomic approaches to treatment of hypertension.     

A framework for joint estimation of age,gender and ethnicity on a large database

Human age, gender and ethnicity are valuable demographic characteristics. They are also important soft biometric traits useful for human identification or verification. We present a framework that can estimate the three traits jointly. The joint estimation framework could deal with the mutual influence of age, gender, and ethnicity implicitly. Under this joint estimation framework, we explore different methods for simultaneous estimation of age, gender, and ethnicity. The canonical correlation analysis (CCA) based methods, and partial least squares (PLS) models are explored under our joint estimation framework. Both the linear and nonlinear methods are investigated to measure the performance. We also validate some extensions of these methods, such as the least squares formulations of the CCA methods. We found some consistent ranking of these methods under our joint estimation framework. More importantly, we found that the CCA based methods can derive an extremely low dimensionality in estimating age, gender and ethnicity. An analysis of this property is given based on the rank theory. The experiments are conducted on a very large database containing more than 55,000 face images.     

Is authoritative teaching beneficial for all students? A multi-level model of the effects of teaching style on interest and achievement.

This study examined the effects of the two facets of authoritative teaching—high academic press and caring for students—on student interest and achievement in mathematics for middle and high school students (N = 3,602 in 198 classrooms), and whether those effects are moderated by students' ethnicity (Hispanic, Vietnamese, and Caucasian Non-Hispanic). Tested with hierarchical modeling, a trend suggested that the authoritative teaching style predicted higher levels of interest for Hispanic students; however, the trend for caring was approaching significance, which suggests that future research should be conducted to determine whether authoritative and authoritarian teaching styles truly have different effects on interest for this group. Authoritarian teaching (high press and low caring) was positively related to interest for Vietnamese students. Results for Caucasian students did not differ from Hispanic students, but should be interpreted with caution due to small sample size. For all students, authoritarian teaching was positively associated with achievement gains. Results are discussed in terms of the relationships between teaching style and different academic outcomes among particular student groups, as informed by the parenting style and teaching style literatures. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2011 APA, all rights reserved)     

西双版纳傣族民居屋面结构既有技术分析

西双版纳傣族竹楼屋顶,作为最能体现竹楼建筑特色的重要构件之一,与竹楼一同随着时代的进步、当地人民生活水平的提高以及汉族文化的深刻影响,在材料、形式、结构等方面发生了一系列的变化。该文对版纳地区傣族民居屋面结构既有技术现状进行了分析,在总结其各自优缺点的基础上,以可持续发展思想为指导,提出屋面采用新型竹结构的技术思路,试图为傣族民居的建造寻找到一种更为合理和适宜的屋面结构体系。     

Disparities in arteriovenous fistula placement in older hemodialysis patients

The benefits of an arteriovenous fistula (AVF) as the preferred vascular access for hemodialysis have been clearly demonstrated. However, only about 20% of patients in the United States initiate hemodialysis with an AVF. In this study, we assessed whether disparities exist in the type of first hemodialysis access placed prior to dialysis start (rather than that used at dialysis initiation), to detect whether certain disadvantaged groups might have lower likelihood of AVF placement. Study cohort of 118,767 incident hemodialysis patients ≥67 years of age (1/2005–12/2008) derived from the United States Renal Data System was linked with Medicare claims data to identify the type of initial access placed predialysis. We used logistic regression model with outcome being the initial predialysis placement of an AVF as opposed to an arteriovenous graft or a central venous catheter. Increasing age, female sex, black race, lower body mass index, urban location, certain comorbidities, and shorter pre–end‐stage renal disease nephrology care are all associated with a significantly lower likelihood of AVF placement as initial access predialysis. Our study suggests the presence of significant disparities in the placement of an AVF as initial hemodialysis vascular access. We suggest that additional attention should be paid to these patient groups to improve disparities by patient education, earlier referral, and close follow‐up.     

The irony of cultural psychology research.

Responds to R. E. Erard's comments (see record 2009-13007-011) on the current authors' original article (see record 2008-12151-002) which reviewed a number of studies that identified cultural differences in the use and effect of different types of social support among Asians and Asian Americans and European Americans. Essentially, in his comment, Erard denied the validity of research examining cultural differences. The authors strongly believe that the issues concerning within-culture variation do not nullify the importance of conducting research on culturally based psychological and behavioral patterns. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Distributing prejudice unequally: Do Whites direct their prejudice toward strongly identified minorities?

Across 6 studies, Whites expressed more negative attitudes toward strongly identified racial minorities than toward weakly identified minorities. Whites who personally endorsed worldviews that legitimize the status hierarchy were particularly likely to express negative attitudes toward strongly identified minorities relative to weakly identified minorities, whereas Whites who personally rejected status-legitimizing worldviews displayed the opposite pattern. In addition, Whites' biases against strongly identified minorities dissipated when strongly identified minorities expressed strong endorsement of status-legitimizing worldviews. These studies suggest that Whites do not distribute their prejudicial attitudes equally among all members of minority groups and that some subsets of minorities (the strongly identified) might bear the brunt of racial prejudice. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Future directions in studies of trauma among ethnoracial and sexual minority samples: Commentary.

Objective: Studies examining psychological trauma or posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in ethnoracial or sexual minority groups are relatively few. The Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology recently published 4 articles (Balsam, Lehavot, Beadnall, & Circo, 2010; Harrington, Crowther, & Shipherd, 2010; Lester, Resick, Young-Xu, & Artz, 2010; Marshall, Schell, & Miles, 2009) that examine trauma exposure and posttraumatic outcomes in ethnoracial and sexual minority samples. This commentary focuses on the overlap between traumatic stress and diversity studies in order to consider future areas in need of development. Method: Within the framework of a generalized overview of current trends in the study of traumatic stress, an assessment of the strengths and limitations of these 4 articles is provided. Populations and syndromes covered by the articles include ethnoracial differences in child maltreatment and adverse mental health outcomes among sexual minority participants, PTSD symptom elevations among Hispanic Americans, binge eating and the strong Black woman schema, and retention of African American female participants in cognitive behavioral psychotherapy trials for PTSD. Results: Recommendations to enhance culturally competent traumatic stress studies include increasing the examination of within-group cultural variability and key social, contextual, and cultural variables and constructs; examining the temporal sequencing of traumatic events and key transitions in sexual and ethnic minority identity development; and conducting prevention and treatment studies for those sexual minority children most at risk for maltreatment. Conclusions: By following these recommendations, the next generation of studies of traumatic stress studies will be enhanced. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)