The Acute Effect of Environmental Tobacco Smoke Exposure on Asthmatics: Studies with a Dynamic Challenge Chamber

Abstract To determine the acute effects of environmental tobacco smoke on respiratory tract lung function, 130 asthmatics and 28 non-asthmatics were exposed up to 4 hours to side stream environmental tobacco smoke (SS-ETS) in a dynamic challenge chamber. The vast majority of the subjects exposed to SS-ETS reported upper respiratory and ocular irritant symptoms; the prevalence of these symptoms was not significantly associated with any particular study groups analyzed, or with the self-perception of tobacco smoke allergy by the study subject. All 28 SS-ETS-exposed non-asthmatics had no significant change in lung function, while 26/130 asthmatics demonstrated a significant drop in pulmonary function (FEV₁≥20% decline), generally within 90 to 240 minutes after start of exposure. Classical late phase bronchoconstriction was not observed up to 24 hours following the challenge. Six/26 reactors had a significant drop in lung function following a sham control challenge, indicating that 20/130 asthmatics had a specific bronchoconstrictive response to SS-ETS. Responses to diminishing levels of SS-ETS demonstrated that some asthmatics can react to levels as low as 0.0128 cigarette – min/m³ (comparable to ETS levels in the homes of many smokers).     

Differences between more and less effective psychotherapists: A study of select therapist variables.

Examined differences between more and less effective trainee psychotherapists. Therapists were assigned to one of two groups depending on whether the preponderance of their patients' changes in symptomatology indicated more or less improvement over the course of therapy. Therapist variables included emotional adjustment, relationship skills, eliciting patient involvement, credibility, directiveness, and theoretical orientation. Less effective therapists were revealed to have lower levels of empathic understanding, to rate their patients as more involved in treatment, and to rate themselves as more supportive than the more effective therapists. Less effective therapists also valued comfort and stimulation significantly more and valued intellectual goals significantly less than did more effective therapists. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Body weight and bulimia as discriminators of psychological characteristics among anorexic, bulimic, and obese women.

Bulimic women from underweight (n?=?20), normal-weight (n?=?31), and overweight (n?=?22) categories were compared with restrictor anorexics (n?=?20), normal controls (n?=?31), and obese Ss (n?=?22). Ss' mean age was 21.13 yrs. Each S was administered the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI), Rotter's Internal–External Locus of Control scale, the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale (M. Rosenberg, 1965), and the Semantic Differential scale. Bulimic women in all 3 weight categories exhibited greater psychopathology, more external locus of control, lower self-esteem, and lower sense of personal effectiveness than nonbulimic women at similar weight levels. The highest psychopathology, lowest self-esteem, and most external locus of control were found among the underweight bulimic women. Significant differences between bulimic women of different weight levels suggest the need for some modification of treatment approaches depending on the bulimic woman's weight level. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Talking about internal states: The acquisition of an explicit theory of mind.

Hypothesized that a rudimentary capacity to impute internal states to self and to other emerges with the onset of communicative intentions. The ability to speak about mental states begins late in the 2nd yr and burgeons in the 3rd yr. Mothers of 30 28-mo-olds were asked to report child utterances containing 6 categories of internal-state words (perception, physiology, affect, volition/ability, cognition, and moral judgment/obligation). Of these, affect, cognition, and moral terms were less common than the others. Ss who applied a specific label to self and other tended to use it also to speak about nonpresent states. Use of a term for only self was more common than use for only other. Causal statements referred primarily to affect. Three categories of causal statements were identified: state change/maintenance, antecedents of states, and definitions of states in terms of other states, physical symptoms, and behaviors. Assessments of internal-state language that were obtained through maternal observation/report and directly from the child were highly correlated. (40 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

The social concomitants of competitive and impatient/aggressive components of the Type A behavior pattern in preschool children: Peer responses and teacher utterances in a naturalistic setting.

The Matthews Youth Test for Health described by K. A. Matthews and J. Angulo (see record 1980-24519-001) was used to classify 120 children from 9 preschool classrooms as high or low on behaviors associated with the Type A pattern. Peer responses to the children were gathered sociometrically, and utterances of classroom teachers were tape recorded in a naturalistic setting. Boys gave higher sociometric ratings to high-competitive girls, and girls gave higher ratings to low-competitive boys. Teacher verbal utterances addressed to high-competitive children were characterized by less challenging cognitive processes and lower affective quality. Teacher verbal utterances addressed to children high on impatience/aggression were characterized by lower affective quality, fewer opportunities for child autonomy, more social/behavioral instructions, and more physical expressions of affection. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

A developmental investigation of sex differences in spatial (visual-analytic) and mathematical skills in three ethnic groups.

Investigated sex differences in mathematical and spatial (visual-analytic) skills in 3 ethnic groups (Black, Hispanic, and White) prior to and during adolescence. Ss were 240 3rd, 4th, 5th, and 9th graders, and instruments included the Children's Embedded Figures Test and the Modern Mathematics Supplement to the Iowa Tests of Basic Skills. Significant interaction effects were demonstrated between ethnic group membership and sex for both mathematical and spatial skills. In Hispanic adolescent groups, significant sex differences were found in scores on both skills in favor of the female. A similar but not significant trend was seen in the scores of Black adolescent groups. In contrast, White adolescent males scored higher than White adolescent females, but not significantly so. No prior study has reported the observed pattern of sex differences in Hispanic Ss, one that differs from that usually found in White Ss. (10 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Utilities and health: Energy efficiency as a common link

The interconnections between health, housing and energy are increasingly apparent. Fossil fuel combustion has a clear negative effect on public health, with impacts that are disproportionately felt among communities of color, the poor, and other vulnerable populations in the U.S. and globally. Energy efficiency has a well-documented positive impact on household health, including decreases in asthma and cardiovascular disease. The utility industry has an important role to play in improving the health of its customers.     

Labeling of Vanilla Type Affects Consumer Perception of Vanilla Ice Cream

The effects of labeling vanilla type on consumer liking of vanilla ice cream were evaluated. Three experiments with 144 to 150 panelists using 4 commercial ice creams were done where the samples were initially not labeled with the type of vanilla flavoring, then labeled, and finally labeled either correctly or incorrectly. Three experiments (116 to 150 panelists) then were conducted similarly for 3 laboratory‐made ice creams. When the 4 commercial samples were not labeled, a natural vanilla‐flavored sample was liked less (P < 0.05) than mixed‐flavored samples overall; when labeled, the naturally flavored and 1 of the mixed‐flavor ice creams were liked equally overall (P > 0.05). Products labeled “natural” (correctly or incorrectly) were liked more (P < 0.05) overall than products with other labels. When laboratory‐made ice creams (natural, artificial, mixed flavored) were evaluated, the labeled, naturally flavored sample was liked more than the unlabeled sample overall; when labeled, the artificially flavored ice cream was liked less than the unlabeled sample. Labeling was shown to affect consumer liking.     

Client Science: Bad News and the Fully Informed ADR Client

Professor Aaron comments that this piece, excerpted from: “Bad News and the Fully Informed Client,” the first chapter of her book, Client Science, addresses the lawyer's challenge when counseling clients where “bad” news—negative, pessimistic or unwelcome developments or analysis—must be conveyed, whether or not within an ADR process. “As a mediator of civil cases, I suspect that mediation involves a higher than average percentage of cases involving ill‐counseled clients or ‘difficult clients’ who may fairly be characterized as ‘counseling‐resistant’ despite the best efforts of skilled lawyers. When the lawyer explains ‘bad news’ about case developments or likely outcomes, he risks the client's suspicion or accusation of less than zealous advocacy. While a mediator can assist with client communication when legal circumstances are grim, counsel are obligated to ensure their clients are well informed of realistic expectations when exercising autonomy and self determination.”