Prevalence, Course, and Predictors of Emotional Distress in Pregnant and Parenting Adolescents.

This study examines trajectories and correlates of emotional distress symptoms in pregnant adolescents (n = 203) and nulliparous adolescents (n = 188) from economically disadvantaged communities over an 18-month period. For both groups, the prevalence of significant emotional distress exceeded expectation based on adolescent norms; however, the severity of symptoms did not differ between the 2 groups. Results from growth curve modeling revealed a significant decline in symptoms during the study period for both groups, but pregnant adolescents experienced a different pattern of decline. Also, certain interpersonal factors (e.g., history of physical maltreatment, partner support) appeared to play a more important role in the emotional well-being of pregnant and parenting adolescents relative to nulliparous adolescents. Implications for early identification and intervention are discussed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Misperceived risk among female adolescents: Social and psychological factors associated with sexual risk accuracy.

This study of 411 urban female adolescents had 3 objectives: (a) assess the relationship between perceived risk and sexual risk behavior (condom use, number of partners, partner risk, presence of STDs, and aggregate sexual risk), (b) assess the accuracy of risk perceptions, and (c) identify variables related to inaccurate sexual risk perceptions. Participants were classified as accurate or inaccurate risk perceivers on the basis of actual sexual behavior and perceived risk. Accurate versus inaccurate risk perceivers were compared on psychological maintenance variables (self-esteem, distress, and coping), relationship context variables (partnership duration and pressure to have unprotected sex), and risk knowledge at different levels of sexual risk. Approximately half of the participants underestimated the risk of their sexual behavior. Accurate and inaccurate risk perceivers differed on risk knowledge, partnership duration, and pressure to have unprotected sex. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

战略项目办公室：执行官的角色和责任

项目失败率在下降,成本和时间的超标在减少,同时大公司已取得惊人的改进.这三个现象解释了以下鼓舞人心的结果:①更小、更不复杂项目的趋势;②更好的项目管理;③更多地使用"标准基础设施(standard infrastructures)",例如建立项目办公室(Project Office)的标准基础设施.     

Comparative Characterisation of Aqueous Starch Dispersions by Light Microscopy,Rheometry and Iodine Binding Behaviour

Aqueous potato, wheat and pea starch dispersions (2 g dry Starch/100 g dispersion) were prepared at different time-temperature conditions and characterised by light microscopy of stained cryo-sections, amperometric iodine titration and rheometry. Depending on the gelatinisation conditions and the type of starch, a broad range of microstructures was obtained ranging from limited swelling to complete disintegration of starch granules. The swelling was accompanied by leaching of amylose from the granules and accumulation of amylose in the centre of the granules. The iodine binding capacity of the starch systems was related to the extent of swelling and solubilisation of starch and is therefore an appropriate indicator to follow the gelatinisation process. The flow behaviour was also sensitive to differences in the microstructure. The combination of light microscopy, iodometry and rheology successfully allowed the extensive characterisation of the supramolecular structure of low concentration starch systems.     

Long-term effects of HIV counseling and testing for women: Behavioral and psychological consequences are limited at 18 months posttest.

Behavioral and psychological consequences of HIV counseling and testing (HIV C&T) for women were examined in a longitudinal, prospective study. Women who received HIV C&T at community health clinics (n?=?106) and a comparison group of never-tested women (n?=?54) were interviewed five times over 18 months. There was no change in risk behaviors as a consequence of testing: tested and untested women engaged in high-risk sexual behavior at baseline and 18 months later. Tested women reported more anxiety, depression, and intrusive thoughts about AIDS than did untested women. Although tested women were more concerned about AIDS, their potential risk factors over the study period generally were equivalent to those for untested women. HIV counseling and testing should be considered one aspect of a broader program of HIV prevention. Identification of alternative interventions must be a public health priority. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

The punitive beliefs and behaviors of adolescent delinquent boys.

In a study with 22 institutionalized male delinquent and 22 matched high school students, delinquents were found to have very punitive beliefs relative to previously tested populations. The delinquents tended to have more punitive beliefs and did have more punitive behavior than the controls. Responses to Piagetian interview stories that represented 3 relationships between thief and victim (adolescent to mother, teacher, or peer) were significantly different with the mother story eliciting the most number of punitive responses. In a subsequent rat-training procedure the delinquent boys used punishment as their predominant response to the "misbehaving" rat showing cooccurrence of punitive belief and behavior. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Handedness as a function of sex and age in a large population of Lemur..

A population of 194 lemurs (Lemur spp.), 116 males and 78 females, from 1 to 30 years of age, was assessed for lateralized hand use in simple food reaching with a minimum of 100 reaches per animal. A hand preference was present in 80% of the population with a bias for use of the left hand that was most characteristic of male lemurs and young lemurs. The results confirm the presence of lateralization in prosimians, and we interpret the sex and age differences in relation to current theories of neural lateralization. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

A critique of Plomin and Foch's "A twin study of objectively assessed personality in childhood."

Criticizes the 1980 study by R. Plomin and T. T. Foch (see record 1981-25190-001) on 5 points: (a) conceptual validity of the measures, (b) stability of the measures for the population age range, (c) comparability of populations, (d) accuracy of the literature review, and (e) interpretation of broad heritability data. The study is judged to contain major errors and to be theoretically and methodologically flawed. These defects are especially significant because the study represents problems that are critical in research on the genetic correlates of personality. (22 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)