Women and women of color in leadership: Complexity, identity, and intersectionality.

This article describes the challenges that women and women of color face in their quest to achieve and perform in leadership roles in work settings. We discuss the barriers that women encounter and specifically address the dimensions of gender and race and their impact on leadership. We identify the factors associated with gender evaluations of leaders and the stereotypes and other challenges faced by White women and women of color. We use ideas concerning identity and the intersection of multiple identities to understand the way in which gender mediates and shapes the experience of women in the workplace. We conclude with suggestions for research and theory development that may more fully capture the complex experience of women who serve as leaders. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

The impact of a strategy-based intervention on the comprehension and strategy use of struggling adolescent readers.

This study examines the impact of the Learning Strategies Curriculum (LSC), an adolescent reading intervention program, on 6th- and 9th-grade students' reading comprehension and strategy use. Using a randomized treatment–control group design, the study compared student outcomes for these constructs for 365 students who received daily instruction in 6 LSC strategies and 290 students who did not receive intervention instruction. After 1 school year, 6th-grade students who received intervention instruction significantly outperformed students in the control group on a standardized measure of reading comprehension and reported using problem-solving strategies in reading to a greater extent than students in the control group. There were no significant differences between 9th grade intervention and control groups in reading comprehension or strategy use. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Numerical analysis of debond propagation in the single fibre fragmentation test

A numerical analysis, using the Boundary Element Method, of the stress state within the specimen in the single fibre fragmentation test is presented first. Thermal residual stresses and fibre–matrix interfacial friction along the debonding crack faces have been considered in the study. Special attention has been paid to the axial stresses along the fibre and the interfacial tractions and relative displacements in the neighbourhood closest to the debonding crack tips. In order to analyse the debond propagation, the associated Energy Release Rate has been evaluated from the near-tip elastic solution. Numerical results show that both the effects of thermal residual stresses and of fibre–matrix interfacial friction are opposed to the debond propagation. Additionally, the effect of the debond propagation on the load transfer through the interface has been studied, showing that fibre–matrix interfacial friction has a weak influence on the distance needed to re-establish the nominal axial load within the fragment.     

Evaluation of prenatal androgen and ovarian secretions on receptivity in female and male rats.

A total of 102 male and 146 female offspring of Sprague-Dawley rats injected daily from Day 16 through Day 20 of gestation with either 2 mg of testosterone propionate (TP) in .1 ml of sesame oil or oil alone were tested for sexual receptivity following injections of 3.3 μg of estradiol benzoate (EB) and .5 mg of progesterone (P) beginning at 40, 80, or 120 days of age. At each age, neonatally gonadectomized males and females from TP-injected litters exhibited less receptivity than corresponding oil-injected controls. Prenatally androgenized females were similar to neonatally castrated oil-injected males at all ages. Ovarian implants from birth to 35 days of age significantly increased receptivity in neonatally castrated males and androgenized females. Increasing the age at which testing was initiated systematically reduced receptivity in all groups. (21 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

PEGylated Cationic Serum Albumin for Boosting Retroviral Gene Transfer

Retroviral vectors are common tools for introducing genes into the genome of a cell. However, low transduction rates are a major limitation in retroviral gene transfer, especially in clinical applications. We generated cationic human serum albumin (cHSA) protected by a shell of poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG); this significantly enhanced retroviral gene transduction with potentially attractive pharmacokinetics and low immunogenicity. By screening a panel of chemically optimized HSA compounds, we identified a very potent enhancer that boosted the transduction rates of viral vectors. Confocal microscopy revealed a drastically increased number of viral particles attached to the surfaces of target cells. In accordance with the positive net charge of cationic and PEGylated HSA, this suggests a mechanism of action in which the repulsion of the negatively charged cellular and viral vector membranes is neutralized, thereby promoting attachment and ultimately transduction. Importantly, the transduction‐enhancing PEGylated HSA derivative evaded recognition by HSA‐specific antibodies and macrophage activation. Our findings hold great promise for facilitating improved retroviral gene transfer.     

Weight, self-esteem, ethnicity, and depressive symptomatology during pregnancy among inner-city women.

The relationship of weight and self-esteem to depressive symptomatology was examined among 36 African American and 96 European American pregnant inner-city women. Lower self-esteem and higher deviations from medically ideal weight predicted increased dysphoria during the 3rd trimester for European American women, but only lower self-esteem predicted increased dysphoria for African American women. These results support the hypothesis that African Americans are less likely than European Americans to experience negative psychological repercussions of greater weight. Consistent with findings among nonpregnant middle-class samples, these results extend the association between heavier weight and increased risk for psychological distress to pregnant women of European American descent. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Tuberculin skin test reactivity, anergy, and HIV infection in hospitalized patients. Longcope Firm of the Osler Medical Housestaff

Immunotoxicological studies, based on processing of samples in the field and laboratory, were conducted on fish collected from a stream receiving point-source contaminants near its headwaters. Previous studies in this stream have revealed that cytochrome P4501A activity, liver somatic indices, macrophage aggregates, and parasitic liver lesions are significantly elevated in sunfish with the degree of impact decreasing with distance from the contaminant source. Fish collected from each sampling site were equally divided, One group was sacrificed in the field and the spleen and anterior kidney tissues were removed and placed in buffer on ice. The other group was kept in MS-222 for 2 hr and transported to the laboratory for processing. The spleen and anterior kidney from each fish were then prepared as a single cell suspension and shipped overnight to Mississippi State University. Cells were then evaluated for PMA-stimulated phagocyte oxidative burst and non-specific cytotoxic cell (NCC) activity against K562 tumor targets. Oxidative burst responses were dramatically suppressed in both groups at sampling sites near the headwaters but returned to reference levels further downstream. There were no differences between processing strategies at each station. NCC activities did not follow gradient-response patterns observed with phagocyte oxidative burst data and there were inconsistent differences between processing strategies at each site. These data indicate that simple immune function assays, such as phagocyte oxidative burst responses, can be used as a ancillary bioindicator in fish health monitoring and that immune function in these fish can be reliably assessed even if samples are not immediately processed.     

Cognitive coping, affective distress, and maternal sensitivity: Mothers of children with Down syndrome.

This study investigated relations among maternal cognitive coping style (approach-avoidance), affective state, and sensitivity. Fifty-six mothers and their children with Down syndrome were followed for 2 years. Cognitive coping and affective distress inventories were administered and sensitivity was rated on the basis of mother-child observations. Results indicated that approach and avoidance have been widely studied under different designations and are stable across time. These cognitive coping variables may mediate the stress of parenting a child with a disability in complex ways. Mothers with a strong tendency to monitor stressors report greater affective distress than do mothers who adopt a less vigilant coping style. At the same time, cognitive avoidance of stressors and affective distress reduce the behavioral sensitivity of the mother toward her child. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

The dissertation in professional psychology programs: I. A survey of clinical directors on requirements and practices.

Examined dissertation policies and practices in 40 Vail-model, clinical psychology programs. A survey of their training directors revealed that 90% of programs required a dissertation, but only 25% dictated that the dissertation be empirical. Traditional experimental and correlational designs accounted for 66% of completed dissertations, and 34% reflected less traditional methodologies. All but the dissertation (ABD) rates averaged 24% 2 yrs after students' expected graduation. Dissertation methodologies were unrelated to ABD rates. Results were discussed with regard to potential obstacles to dissertation research and the need for training programs to encourage appropriate and innovative methodologies to answer relevant questions in the field of clinical psychology. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

The relative durability of a conventional and a platinum-modified aluminide coating

One of the major maintenance problems for gas turbine engine operators is the degradation of high pressure turbine blades and vanes. The Australian Department of Defence was experimenting unacceptably high rejection rates of these components in one of its high performance engines as a result of severe hot corrosion attack. Accordingly a programme was initiated to find a more durable coating than the conventional aluminide coating supplied for the first-stage blades by the engine manufacturer. The coating chosen for the trial was a platinum-modified aluminide coating. Metallographic examination of both coating systems after 750 hours of service in an operational aircraft clearly established the superiority of the platinum-modified coating. This coating has now been adopted by the Australian Defence Force as the specified coating for first-stage blades in this engine.