Fluorescent microsatellite analysis reveals duplication of specific chromosomal regions in papillary renal cell tumors

The traditional approach in epidemiology of relating exposure to an environmental agent such as a drug or infective agent has been to measure an overall risk (i.e., average and then "adjust risk for demographic variables and other confounders"). An attempt is sometimes made to define a "susceptible" subgroup. The analyses are usually based on good statistical methodology rather than an understanding of the interaction of body of host and agent. A twofold risk for 1000 exposed versus nonexposed people could be an average twofold risk for all 1000 exposed or a 20-fold risk for 100 exposed individuals (i.e., a drug-host interaction). Clearly, finding the 100 individuals with a 20-fold risk has much greater clinical importance than a twofold risk for 1000 people. The world of epidemiology may be changing-we may soon be able to define risk based on genetic susceptibility, at least sometimes.     

Acquisition of drug self-administration: Environmental and pharmacological interventions.

The development of drug-reinforced behavior is a transition process characterized by a relatively rapid shift from little or no drug-maintained responding to high, stable levels of responding. Animal studies of drug self-administration focus on how rapidly this process takes place or what percentage of animals acquire drug self-administration. It is essential to have animal models of acquisition because the process is difficult to study with drug-naive humans. Animal studies reveal a wide range of factors that can either accelerate or decrease acquisition of drug self-administration, such as environmental conditions (e.g., feeding conditions, palatable dietary substances, stress), pharmacological variables (e.g., drug dose, drug history, pretreatment drugs), and individual differences (e.g., reactivity level, age, sex, dietary preferences, genetics). This article discusses the methods used to study acquisition of drug-reinforced behavior in laboratory animals and the variables that have been reported to accelerate or prevent the acquisition of drug-reinforced behavior. An understanding of the conditions that can enhance acquisition in animals may help predict vulnerability to drug use in humans and lead to successful methods for prevention of drug abuse. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

The best intentions: Prospective remembering in psychotherapy.

Prospective remembering is the ability to recall previously formed intentions when the occasion is right to act on those intentions. Psychotherapists and their clients often formulate plans that are to be accomplished in the upcoming weeks. It is frequently assumed that failure to complete such plans reflects resistance to therapeutic change. However, research on prospective remembering suggests that prospective memory failure may be an alternative explanation in many such instances. The present article reviews recent research on prospective remembering, highlighting factors that influence prospective memory success. Such factors include how a prospective plan is originally formulated (i.e., the plan and the planning situation), how an individual typically organizes his future plans (i.e., metamemory strategies), and what the individual is doing when the plan is to be recalled (i.e., the prospective memory retrieval situation). The implication of these research findings for prospective planning in psychotherapeutic practice are discussed throughout. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Modeling the adversary and success in competition.

Competition has been studied as something to be averted, yet rarely has it been asked what processes may be involved in successful competition. The authors tested whether more accurate modeling of an adversary can assist competitive success. Pairs played a zero-sum game with no specific skill component over 40 trials. The authors measured the relative accuracy of the players' second-order model (i.e., what I think about my opponent: R2MA) and third-order model (i.e., what I think my opponent thinks of me: R3MA), using responses to adjectives indicating personality traits. Performance correlated with both R3MA and having a better strategy (i.e., a better distribution of responses), but these variables contributed separately to performance variance. However, R2MA did not correlate with performance. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Behavior instrumentation and social technology.

Analyzes the influences of electromechanical technology on traditional concerns of social and clinical psychology in terms of principles of behavior control (e.g., negative or positive reinforcement, information feedback, and stimulus discrimination), i.e., traffic lights, clocks, behavioral prosthetics, etc. A discipline of "psychotechnology" is advocated, and ethical and professional issues relative to such a development are discussed. (43 ref.) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Type IV errors and interactions.

Extends L. A. Marascuilo and J. R. Levin's notion of Type IV errors, emphasizing the interpretation of interactions in factorial analysis of variance (ANOVA) designs. To help clarify what an interaction is and what it is not in terms of the ANOVA model, it is emphasized that (a) comparisons designed to explain an interaction are acceptable only if they reduce to comparisons involving interaction parameters exclusively; and (b) such comparisons may be both specified and directional, i.e., they may be defined to test an E's a priori hypotheses. (17 ref.) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

The role of biochemical markers in peripheral body fluids in assessment of human neurotoxicity

To date the evaluation of chemically-induced neurotoxic effects on humans has been dependent mostly on electrophysiological measurements, neurobehavioral tests and biological exposure assessment. However, recently attempts have been made to develop biochemical parameters in peripheral body fluids which can be easily obtained from humans and which can represent markers for the same parameters in nervous tissue. The approach of this kind is logically based on the following facts: 1) Blood cells (e.g., platelets and lymphocytes) possess some characteristics of monoaminergic neurons such as the existence of storage vesicles of monoamines, membrane neurotransmitter receptors, high affinity uptake sites and neurotransmitter-related metabolizing enzymes. 2) Leakage of nerve-specific markers from nervous tissue to peripheral body fluids may occur following damages of target neuronal cells or macromolecules. 3) Quantitative and/or qualitative alterations of peripheral biochemical markers (e.g. neurotransmitter receptors) can be induced by the regulation mechanisms of neuronal, endocrinal and immunologic interactions when the nervous functions are perturbed by various exogenous or endogenous factors. Erythrocyte acetyl cholinesterase (AChE), free erythrocyte protoporphyrin (FEP), lymphocyte neurotoxicity target enzyme (NTE), blood aminolevulinic acid dehydratase (ALA-D), and carboxyhemoglobin (CO-Hb) are well-known peripheral markers of the effects induced by organophosphates (AChE, NTE), lead (FEP, ALA-D) and carbon monoxide (CO-Hb). Many studies have been made on the effects of organic solvents, heavy metals and pesticides on neurotransmission parameters in blood cells such as neurotransmitter uptake, receptor binding and enzyme activity. This paper summarizes the present knowledge on the development and clinical applications of some peripheral biochemical markers such as neurotransmission parameters in blood cells and neuronal or glial cell marker proteins in CSF, blood and urine. The role of these peripheral biochemical markers in the assessment of environmental chemically-induced human neurotoxicity is also discussed.     

Valence focus and self-esteem lability: Reacting to hedonic cues in the social environment.

Individuals differ in the extent to which they emphasize feelings of pleasure or displeasure in their verbal reports of emotional experience, termed valence focus (VF). Two event-contingent, experience-sampling studies examined the relationship between VF and sensitivity to pleasant and unpleasant social cues. It was predicted, and found, that individuals with greater VF (i.e., who emphasized feelings of pleasure/displeasure in reports of emotional experience) demonstrated greater self-esteem lability (i.e., larger changes in self-esteem) to pleasant and unpleasant information contained in social interactions than did those lower in VF. These effects held even after statistically controlling for possible confounding variables (neuroticism, affect intensity). Implications for understanding the psychological impact of valenced interpersonal events are discussed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Maritally violent men's heart rate reactivity to marital interactions: A failure to replicate the Gottman et al. (1995) typology.

In an attempt to replicate the J. A Gottman et al. (1995) batterer typology, 58 men who had engaged in moderate-to-severe marital violence in the past year were studied. The sample was split into Gottman et al.'s Type 1 men (i.e., whose heart rates decreased, from baseline, during a marital conflict task) and Type 2 men (i.e., whose heart rates increased). The groups did not differ in the manner predicted on measures of marital violence, antisocial or aggressive-sadistic personality, drug dependence, criminality, general violence, childhood exposure to interparental violence, behavior during marital interactions, or relationship stability. Contrary to expectations, wives of Type 1 men rated their husband as more jealous and angry and reported more marital distress. In the only finding consistent with Gottman et al., Type 2 men scored higher on a measure of dependent personality. Implications for future research are discussed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Gene × environment interactions in reading disability and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder.

This article examines Gene × Environment (G × E) interactions in two comorbid developmental disorders--reading disability (RD) and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)--as a window on broader issues on G × E interactions in developmental psychology. The authors first briefly review types of G × E interactions, methods for detecting them, and challenges researchers confront in interpreting such interactions. They then review previous evidence for G × E interactions in RD and ADHD, the directions of which are opposite to each other: bioecological for RD and diathesis stress for ADHD. Given these results, the authors formulate and test predictions about G × E interactions that would be expected at the favorable end of each symptom dimension (e.g., above-average reading or attention). Consistent with their prediction, the authors found initial evidence for a resilience interaction for above-average reading: higher heritability in the presence of lower parental education. However, they did not find a G × E interaction at the favorable end of the ADHD symptom dimension. The authors conclude with implications for future research. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Anchoring on the "here" and "now" in time and distance judgments.

Time and distance estimates were elicited with either unit-based (e.g., "How many days until...") or end-based (e.g., "On what date...") questions. For intervals of uncertain extent, unit-based estimates were consistently lower than were the corresponding end-based estimates. The observed patterns are consistent with an anchoring and adjustment process: When people generate unit-based estimates of uncertain dates or distances, they may anchor on the "here" or "now" and adjust incrementally by the unit; such adjustment, however, is often insufficient and yields systematic underestimation. Although this anchoring and adjustment cannot be directly observed, consistent with the hypothesized process, reliance on larger units yielded higher estimates and warning about insufficient adjustment reduced the effect. Implications for research on anchoring, the planning fallacy, and everyday judgment are discussed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Neural Gate Keeping: The Role of Interhemispheric Interactions in Resource Allocation and Selective Filtering.

The corpus callosum has been proposed to contribute to attention by modulating resource allocation between the hemispheres and filtering interhemispheric signal transmission (M. T. Banich, 1998). The resource allocation hypothesis predicts that interhemispheric interactions become more advantageous with increasing resource demands. The selective filtering hypothesis predicts that interhemispheric interactions become less advantageous as filtering requirements increase. The authors tested both predictions by comparing within- and across-hemisphere letter matching under dual-task (Experiment 1) and selective attention conditions (Experiment 2). Task-specific resource demands (i.e., letter processing load) alter the bihemispheric advantage, but the general demand imposed by an unrelated secondary task does not. Filtering requirements influenced the advantage from interhemispheric interactions, providing new evidence for the role of the corpus callosum in selective attention. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Measuring reinforcer efficacy: Does relative persistence do it? Comment on Meisch (2000).

R. A. Meisch (see record 2000-00465-009) offers a new way to scale the effectiveness of reinforcers. Specifically, he uses as a measure the ratio of output under a relatively large fixed-ratio schedule to the output under a smaller fixed-ratio schedule. With such metrics, it is usually the case that as reinforcer magnitude is increased, the measured ratio increases. The method, however, violates a foundation of all measurement, comparison against a fixed standard. Some of the data provided in this article illustrate the problem of selecting what will serve as the "baseline" for comparison (i.e., what will serve as the denominator of the measure). Depending on the selection of baseline, one can find effects of a particular experimental operation ranging from none to substantial. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Discrimination in the 21st century: Are science and the law aligned?

Although scholars agree that traditional forms of discrimination have generally been supplanted by subtler interpersonal manifestations of discrimination, it is yet unknown whether targets of these behaviors or the American judicial branch recognize such negative behaviors as violations of extant law. Extending research and theory, we propose that denigrating messages toward women and ethnic minorities (i.e., microaggressions) emerge in workplace interactions and are sometimes interpreted as discrimination. Specifically, this research explores the presence, severity, and frequency of microaggressions that appear in a random sample of race and gender discrimination cases in federal court dockets since the year 2000. The results suggest that microinsults, microinvalidations, and microassaults are reported in a variety of discrimination claims. However, only overt and intentional forms of microaggressions (microassaults) increased the likelihood that decisions favored plaintiffs. Thus, there may be a disconnect between forms of discrimination perceived by claimants and how those forms are evaluated by the legal system that protects victims of discrimination. This potential misalignment of science and practice is discussed, as are directions for future research. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2011 APA, all rights reserved)     

Review of Shifting contexts: The generation of effective psychotherapy.

Reviews the book, Shifting contexts: The generation of effective psychotherapy by Bill O'Hanlon and James Wilk (see record 1987-98642-000). The premise of the book is that what prevents people from achieving their (physically) attainable goals is their belief that they cannot achieve them because of some obstacle. The authors argue that by "sifting facts" (i.e., observable behavior) from meanings and attributions (i.e., the presuppositions) the therapist can negotiate a solvable problem with the client. Solvable problems are negotiated by creating doubt and uncertainty about the presuppositions that support the self-perceived, unsolvable "problem." The authors contend that the negotiation process itself is the key to the "dissolution" in language--as opposed to the solution--of the problem, and it is this process that accounts for their successful one-session cases. Two fundamental criticisms may be leveled at an otherwise practical and stimulating book. First is the unfortunate use of the term "epistemology." Readers familiar with the "epistemology debates" of the (family) systems movement may recoil from the confusion engendered there by that much-abused term. Other readers may simply be confused. The second and perhaps more important criticism concerns the position on psychology. To adopt a therapy model that focuses on process and disavows the value of "psychological" content is neither new nor, depending upon one's definition, necessarily outside the discipline of psychology. What this book does provide is a refreshing, witty, and appealing approach to the doing of psychotherapy. It is written with grace and style, and with an appreciation of the power and intricacies of language found in the common discourse of life, including therapy sessions. It succeeds most surely in bringing new articulations, understandings, and approaches to some not-so-new ideas. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Toward the incorporation of costs, cost-effectiveness analysis, and cost-benefit analysis into clinical research.

Most research in clinical psychology and related disciplines does not measure, report, or analyze costs, cost-effectiveness, or cost–benefit analysis. Reasons for this are discussed. It may be thought, for example, that costs are trivial to measure. Data are presented to show that the values of resources consumed in treatment (i.e., costs) actually can be quite complex to assess accurately and completely. Research findings are assembled to show that costs, as experienced by clients, may be beneficial to assess in that they can be significantly related to the outcomes of treatment. Empirical findings also show that costs also can be useful to measure because costs and outcomes can be related inversely rather than directly (i.e., clients may benefit most from treatments that cost less than several viable alternatives). Finally, perceived impediments to assessing costs and to cost-effectiveness and cost–benefit analysis in psychology are considered. Dialogue is encouraged on the scientific study of relationships between (1) monetary and other costs, (2) treatment techniques and treatment delivery systems, and (3) psychological and economic outcomes. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Diagnosis and treatment of normal eating.

The shift in societal preference toward a thin physique has led to an increasing prevalence of dieting such that "normal" eating for North American women is now characterized by dieting. In this article, we explore similarities between such normal dieters and individuals with an eating disorder and question whether a continuity exists between normal and abnormal eating behavior. The regulation of intake among normal dieter and patient populations is compared and is explained by the boundary model of consumption, which leads to the conclusion that in neither group is eating technically disordered, although it does depart from appropriate physiological norms. We conclude that many normal eaters (i.e., dieters or restrained eaters) display characteristics of eating-disorder pathologies and should be treated accordingly. Such treatment involves changing both the patient and the environment, especially societal attitudes toward body weight and shape. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)