Dispositional and situational determinants of repression.

This research project posits a model of repression that incorporates both repressive personality and repressive social behavior. The 1st parameter of the model specifies the motivation for repressors' distancing of themselves from emotional events. Experiment 1 demonstrates that repressors are hypersensitive—in their cognitive attention—to both negative and positive emotional events. The 2nd parameter of the model specifies the conditions under which repressors distance themselves from emotional events. Experiments 2 and 3 demonstrate that repressors psychologically distance themselves when the situation threatens their self-evaluation and provides opportunity for them to attend to and process self-relevant and non-self-relevant information. This 2-factor model extends the current conceptualization of repression in that it identifies motivation ( dispositional emotional sensitivity ) and context ( situational threats to self-evaluation and distraction availability ) for repressors' distancing of themselves from negative and positive emotional events. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Dispositional affect and work-related stress.

Trait negative affectivity (NA) has been asserted to be a factor that spuriously inflates relationships between self-reported stressors and self-reported strain outcomes. This hypothesis was tested with conventional work stress instrument responses and physiological assessments obtained from 311 fire and police department employees. Confirmatory factor analyses indicated that NA did not measure a factor in common with measures of subjective strain. Latent-variable structural equations analyses, however, found that estimating the effects of NA on strain significantly attenuated the effects of work stressors. NA had no correlation with physiological stress outcomes. Trait positive affectivity did not attenuate relationships between work stressors and either subjective or objective stress outcomes. Implications for work stress research methodology and recommendations are discussed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Tektins as structural determinants in basal bodies

Tektins, present as three equimolar 47-55 kDa protein components, form highly insoluble protofilaments that are integral to the junctional region of outer doublet microtubules in cilia and flagella. To identify and quantify tektins in other compound microtubules such as centrioles or basal bodies, a rabbit antiserum was raised against tektin filaments isolated from Spisula solidissima (surf clam) sperm flagellar outer doublets and affinity-purified with nitrocellulose blot strips of tektins resolved by SDS- or SDS-urea-PAGE. These antibodies recognized analogous tektins in axonemes of organisms ranging from ctenophores to higher vertebrates. Quantitative immunoblotting established that outer doublet tektins occur in a 1:17 weight ratio to tubulin. Cilia and basal apparatuses were prepared from scallop gill epithelial cells; cilia and deciliated cells were prepared from rabbit trachea. Tektins were detected by immunoblotting in basal body-enriched preparations while tektins were localized to individual basal bodies by immunofluorescence. Supported by greater fluorescence in basal bodies than in adjacent axonemes in tracheal cells, analysis of basal apparatuses demonstrated both a proportionately greater ratio of tektin to tubulin (approximately 1:13) and two distinct solubility classes of tektins, consistent with tektins comprising the B-C junction of triplets in addition to the A-B junction as in doublets.     

Musical structural determinants of emotional judgments in dementia of the Alzheimer type.

People with dementia of the Alzheimer type (DAT) may well be emotionally soothed by listening to music. However, very few systematic studies have been conducted to support the anecdotal evidence. DAT does damage certain cerebral structures that subsume emotional processing, and some studies have demonstrated deficits affecting emotional judgments of facial expression and prosody in DAT. Accordingly, this study addressed the question of whether DAT might leave musical emotional judgment intact. Twelve early DAT participants and 12 healthy elderly participants took part in this study. Emotional judgments were examined in relation to mode and tempo, two important structural properties that contribute to the happy-sad distinction in music. Their respective contributions were assessed in four different experimental conditions. The DAT participants' responses were similar to those of healthy elderly participants, showing spared ability to employ tempo and mode as cues for emotional interpretation. The DAT participants' performance was not correlated with their global cognitive functioning. These results constitute a preliminary empirical demonstration that, in early DAT, musical emotional judgments appear to be based on normal structural analysis of musical input. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Fine structural specificity differences of trimethoprim allergenic determinants

BACKGROUND: Adverse reactions, including immediate hypersensitivity, to the widely used antibacterial agent trimethoprim occur quite frequently. In recent years some progress has been made in developing an immunoassay to aid diagnosis of type 1 allergic reactions to trimethoprim and to define the basis of IgE antibody recognition of the drug. OBJECTIVES: The molecular basis of IgE binding to trimethoprim was examined more closely with a view to defining the fine structural recognition differences between patient's sera. Utilization of such information may lead to immunoassays that are more specific and sensitive and of greater diagnostic value. METHODS: Immunoassays for specific IgE antibodies and quantitative hapten inhibition studies with trimethoprim and selected structural analogues were employed, together with sera from eight subjects clearly defined clinically as allergic to trimethoprim. RESULTS: Three different allergenic determinant structures have been identified on the trimethoprim molecule. Identification of the 3,4-dimethoxybenzyl group as a determinant was achieved on the basis of inhibitory activities of diaveridine, 3,4-dimethoxyphenylethylamine, 3,4-dimethoxybenzoic acid and 3,4,5-trimethoxycinnamic acid. Evidence that the opposite end of the trimethoprim molecule was not being recognized was obtained from results with some pyrimidine derivatives, each of which showed no activity. Identification of the second determinant, the 2,4-diamino-5-(3',4'-dimethoxybenzyl) pyrimidine group, rested mainly on the superior inhibitory potency of diaveridine, which differs from trimethoprim by just one methoxy group. With sera from some trimethoprim-allergic subjects, only trimethoprim was active, suggesting that the entire molecule was a third IgE-binding determinant structure. CONCLUSION: As with other drug allergenic determinants defined so far, heterogeneity of trimethoprim IgE-binding determinants exists, and fine structural differences between determinants may be as small as a single methoxy group. Identification of the 2,4-diamino-5-(3',4'-dimethoxybenzyl) pyrimidine group as an allergenic determinant increases the number of known trimethoprim determinants to three, and suggests that the number and heterogeneity of determinants will be a reflection of the number of allergic subjects studied.     

On the dimensionality of the Dispositional Hope Scale.

The Dispositional Hope Scale (DHS; C. R. Snyder et al., 1991) consists of two subsets of items measuring Agency and Pathways. The authors used bifactor analysis to evaluate the dimensionality structure of the scale. Data from 676 persons (295 psychiatric patients, 112 delinquents, and 269 students) were analyzed. The authors conclude that although the Pathway items seem to explain some additional variance when the Hope scale variance is partionalized out, the DHS allows unidimensional measurement. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

AP site structural determinants for Fpg specific recognition

The binding of Escherichia coli and Lactococcus lactis Fapy-DNA glyosylase (Fpg) proteins to DNA containing either cyclic or non-cyclic abasic (AP) site analogs was investigated by electrophoretic mobility shift assay (EMSA) and by footprinting experiments. We showed that the reduced AP site is the best substrate analog for the E.coli and L.lactis enzymes ( K Dapp = 0.26 and 0.5 nM, respectively) as compared with the other analogs tested in this study ( K Dapp >2.8 nM). The 1,3-propanediol (Pr) residue-containing DNA seems to be the minimal AP site structure allowing a Fpg specific DNA binding, since the ethyleneglycol residue is not specifically bound by these enzymes. The newly described cyclopentanol residue is better recognized than tetrahydrofuran (for the E.coli Fpg, K Dapp = 2.9 and 25 nM, respectively). These results suggest that the hemiacetal form of the AP site is negatively discriminated by the Fpg protein suggesting a hydrogen bond between the C4'-hydroxyl group of the sugar and a Fpg residue. High-resolution hydroxyl radical footprinting using a duplex containing Pr shows that Fpg binds to six nucleotides on the strand containing the AP site and only the base opposite the lesion on the undamaged complementary strand. This comparative study provides new information about the molecular mechanism involved in the Fpg AP lyase activity.     

Dispositional and situational influences on dominance behavior in small groups.

101 college students were observed in small-group discussions to determine the degree to which a previously administered personality measure (the Dominance scale of the California Personality Inventory) would predict overt verbal and nonverbal behaviors. Results indicate that within all-male and all-female groups, scores on the Dominance scale exhibited only modest power to predict the frequency of any single behavior but were highly correlated with the overall pattern of dominance-related behaviors displayed by the Ss. In addition, situational influence was indicated by the negligible personality–behavior correlations obtained for both males and females in the mixed-sex discussion groups. (47 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Dispositional Attribution: Multiple Inferences About Motive-Related Traits.

This research views dispositional inference as a process whereby perceivers integrate multiple inferences about a target person's motives and traits. The findings suggest that although perceived motives may stimulate extra attributional processing (S. Fein, 1996), the content of the inferred motive is important as well. Perceivers learned about situational forces implying that a target person had free choice, no choice, or an ulterior motive for helpful behavior. Inferences about the target's helpfulness differed depending on whether the target's behavior was attributed to an obedience motive (no-choice condition) or to a selfish motive (ulterior-motive condition). In general, inferences about motives were more predictive of dispositional inferences than were global causal attributions (to situational vs. dispositional forces) or base rate assumptions. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Dispositional optimism and engagement: The moderating influence of goal prioritization.

Research indicates that a positive relationship generally exists between dispositional optimism and goal engagement and attainment. The authors argue, however, that dispositional optimism may not always be associated with more active goal pursuit. Rather, they hypothesized that this relationship is moderated by how highly a goal is prioritized. For high-priority goals, they predicted that optimistic individuals would indeed increase goal engagement and would be more likely to attain their goal relative to individuals low in optimism. For low-priority goals, they anticipated that optimistic individuals would not display greater goal engagement or attainment. In 5 studies they assessed these predictions across a variety of domains, including friendship formation, exercise persistence, and scholastic achievement. Results supported their contention that goal priority acts as a moderator of the relationship between dispositional optimism and both goal engagement and goal attainment. Evidence of 1 mediator of this moderation effect—behavioral intentions—and of a limiting factor—the temporal ordering of goals—is also presented. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Social-cognitive determinants of nutrition behavior among supermarket food shoppers: A structural equation analysis.

A social-cognitive model of nutrition behavior (A. Bandura, 1997) was tested using structural equation modeling of data from 307 food shoppers recruited from 5 supermarkets in Southwest Virginia. The shoppers were participating in the baseline phase of an ongoing nutrition promotion program. As part of the evaluation, data were collected on the self-efficacy and outcome-expectations components of social-cognitive theory as well as on food purchases and intake. The structural analyses presented here support the social-cognitive model. Self-efficacy, physical outcome expectations, age, socioeconomic status, and number of children were important predictors of nutrition behavior among shoppers. Implications for interventions using social-cognitive variables to improve the nutritional content of food purchases and intake are discussed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Examining social-cognitive determinants of intention and physical activity among Black and White adolescent girls using structural equation modeling.

Structural equation modeling was used to evaluate components within the theories of reasoned action (TRA), planned behavior (TPB), and self-efficacy (SET) for understanding moderate and vigorous physical activity among 1,797 Black and White adolescent girls. Modest to strong support was provided for components of TPB and SET; weak support was provided for components of TRA. Perceived behavioral control was related to vigorous physical activity. Self-efficacy was related to moderate and vigorous physical activity, and it accounted for the effect of intention on physical activity. The observed relationships were similar between Black and White girls. Self-efficacy and perceived behavioral control are independent influences on physical activity among Black and White adolescent girls and warrant study as potential mediators in physical activity interventions. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Dispositional effects on job and life satisfaction: The role of core evaluations.

Past research has suggested that dispositional sources of job satisfaction can be traced to measures of affective temperament. The present research focused on another concept, core self-evaluations, which were hypothesized to comprise self-esteem, generalized self-efficacy, locus of control, and nonneuroticism. A model hypothesized that core self-evaluations would have direct effects on job and life satisfaction. It also was hypothesized that core self-evaluations would have indirect effects on job satisfaction. Data were collected from 3 independent samples in 2 countries, using dual source methodology. Results indicated that core self-evaluations had direct and indirect effects on job and life satisfaction. The statistical and logical relationship among core evaluations, affective disposition, and satisfaction was explored. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Dispositional emotionality and regulation: Their role in predicting quality of social functioning.

Individual differences in emotionality and regulation are central to conceptions of temperament and personality. In this article, conceptions of emotionality and regulation and ways in which they predict social functioning are examined. Linear (including additive) and nonlinear effects are reviewed. In addition, data on mediational and moderational relations from a longitudinal study are presented. The effects of attention regulation on social functioning were mediated by resiliency, and this relation was moderated by negative emotionality at the first, but not second, assessment. Negative emotionality moderated the relation of behavior regulation to socially appropriate/prosocial behavior. These results highlight the importance of examining different types of regulation and the ways in which dispositional characteristics interact in predicting social outcomes. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Interaction of hepatocyte growth factor with heparan sulfate. Elucidation of the major heparan sulfate structural determinants

We have demonstrated by affinity chromatography that hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) binds strongly to heparan sulfate (HS). This substantiates previous suggestions that cell-surface heparan sulfate proteoglycans constitute the so-called low affinity cellular binding sites for HGF. Using a recombinant human HGF affinity column, we have analyzed the effects of various specific chemical and enzymatic modifications/depolymerizations of HS on its affinity in order to elucidate the polysaccharide structural determinants. Interaction is shown to be only slightly affected by digestion with heparinase I or III or by replacement of N-sulfates with N-acetyl groups. This suggests a specific role for sulfated domains containing nonsulfated IdceA residues, with only a small contribution from N-sulfates and IdceA(2-OSO3) residues. In addition, disaccharide analyses of various HGF-binding oligosaccharides indicate that affinity is more closely associated with 6-O-sulfation of GlcNSO3 residues than with sulfation at any other position. Although interaction can be demonstrated with heparinase III-resistant oligosaccharides as small as hexasaccharides, the highest affinity was found with oligosaccharides containing a minimum of 10-12 monosaccharides. The structural specificity of the HGF-HS interaction is thus shown to be radically different from that previously described for the basic fibroblast growth factor-HS interaction.     

Enhancing the impact of counterstereotypic information: Dispositional attributions for deviance.

Counterstereotypic behavior by a single out-group member often fails to change out-group stereotypes because it can be dismissed as an exception to the rule. The impact of the "exception" can be strengthened by making the exception appear to be a typical out-group member and by encouraging a dispositional attribution for the exception's counterstereotypic behavior. These hypotheses were supported in 3 experiments using both artificial and real social categories and both positive and negative stereotypes. When counterstereotypic behavior by a typical member of the out-group was attributed to a stable internal cause, it was effective in moderating out-group stereotypes. However, the same behavior had virtually no impact when it was either performed by an atypical group member or attributed to external causes or to unstable internal causes. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Self-critical perfectionism and daily affect: Dispositional and situational influences on stress and coping.

This study of university students (64 men and 99 women) examined both dispositional and situational influences of self-critical (SC) perfectionism on stress and coping, which explain its association with high negative affect and low positive affect. Participants completed questionnaires at the end of the day for 7 consecutive days. Structural equation modeling indicated that the relation between SC perfectionism and daily affect could be explained by several maladaptive tendencies associated with SC perfectionism (e.g., hassles, avoidant coping, low perceived social support). Multilevel modeling indicated that SC perfectionists were emotionally reactive to stressors that imply possible failure, loss of control, and criticism from others. As well, certain coping strategies (e.g., problem-focused coping) were ineffective for high-SC perfectionists relative to low-SC perfectionists. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)