Conformation,Coordination and Ion Selectivity of the Ionophore X206

The conformation and the cation coordination of the ionophore X206, which selectively transports potassium over sodium, are evaluated in an effort to correlate the structural features of the ionophore with its ion selectivity. For this purpose, the crystal structure of the Na⁺-complex of X206 has been determined by X-ray diffraction and is compared with those of the free acid form of X206, its Ag⁺-complex and the K⁺-complex of the closely related ionophore alborixin. The ionophore conformation is very similar in all four structures. The carboxylic acid end is essentially invariant, but small changes in torsion angles of up to 26° at the other end of the molecule, combined with differences in the positions of the cations, result in very different coordination geometries for the cations. The conformations of the Ag⁺- and K⁺-complexes resemble the free acid conformation more closely than does that of the Na⁺-complex. The K⁺ ion is 8 coordinate while the Ag⁺ and Na⁺ ions are 6 and 5 coordinate, respectively. Empirical calculations of the bond strength on the basis of the coordination bond lengths show a stronger binding of K⁺ than of Na⁺ which is consistent with the greater selectivity for binding of the former.     

Comparison of counselees and noncounselees with reference to Holland's theory.

Attempted to determine whether there are any significant differences between groups of counselees and noncounselees when compared on the basis of J. L. Holland's 6 personality types as assessed by the Vocational Preference Inventory (VPI). During the 1st 2 mo of the academic year, 2,092 college freshmen were given the VPI. At the end of the academic year, names of freshmen counselees were collected from the university counseling center, and a random selection of noncounselees was made. Comparisons made between counselees and noncounselees using chi-square analyses showed no significant differences. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Stress, depressive symptoms, and smoking cessation among pregnant women.

Perceived stress and depressive symptoms were examined as correlates and predictors of smoking cessation during pregnancy in a sample of 819 pregnant smokers (454 baseline smokers and 365 baseline quitters). Women who quit early in pregnancy had lower levels of stress and depressive symptoms than baseline smokers. Adjusting for level of addiction and other demographic factors related to stress and depressive symptoms eliminated the significant association between depressive symptoms and smoking cessation. Lower levels of stress and depressive symptoms were not predictive of cessation in later pregnancy. Prenatal healthcare providers should continue to assess level of addiction and provide targeted intensive cessation interventions. Interventions that reduce stress and depression may also be of benefit to women who are continuing smokers in early pregnancy. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Effects of admission and treatment strategies of DWI courts on offender outcomes

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to classify DWI courts on the basis of the mix of difficult cases participating in the court (casemix severity) and the amount of involvement between the court and participant (service intensity). Using our classification typology, we assessed how casemix severity and service intensity are associated with program outcomes. We expected that holding other factors constant, greater service intensity would improve program outcomes while a relatively severe casemix would result in worse program outcomes.

Methods

The study used data from 8 DWI courts, 7 from Michigan and 1 from North Carolina. Using a 2-way classification system based on court casemix severity and program intensity, we selected participants in 1 of the courts, and alternatively 2 courts as reference groups. Reference group courts had relatively severe casemixes and high service intensity. We used propensity score matching to match participants in the other courts to participants in the reference group court programs. Program outcome measures were the probabilities of participants’: failing to complete the court's program; increasing educational attainment; participants improving employment from time of program enrollment; and re-arrest.

Results

For most outcomes, our main finding was that higher service intensity is associated with better outcomes for court participants, as anticipated, but a court's casemix severity was unrelated to study outcomes.

Conclusions

Our results imply that devoting more resources to increasing duration of treatment is productive in terms of better outcomes, irrespective of the mix of participants in the court's program.     

In vitro digestibility of flaxseed (Linum usitatissimum L.) protein: effect of seed mucilage,oil and thermal processing

Flaxseed (Linum usitatissimum L.) protein is reported to release physiologically important amino acids and bioactive peptides during gastrointestinal (GI) digestion. The effect of seed mucilage and oil and thermal processing on the in vitro protein digestibility (IPD) of flaxseed protein was assessed under simulated GI digestion. Protein in ground whole flaxseed that contained both mucilage and oil had the lowest digestibility (12.61%). Baking and boiling before size reduction significantly (P < 0.05) improved the IPD (31.77% and 28.04%, respectively). Further increase in IPD occurred when mucilage (51.00%) and both mucilage and oil (66.79%) were removed. Isolated flax protein had a similar IPD value (68.00%) as the mucilage and oil–removed flaxseed. The polypeptide of approximately 13 kDa showed resistance to GI digestion compared with other polypeptides of all these treated seeds. Removal of oil and mucilage as well as thermal treatment enhanced protein digestibility of flaxseed.     

Generativity and authoritarianism: Implications for personality, political involvement, and parenting.

Generativity (Erikson, 1950) and authoritarianism have recently received increased attention in the personality and social psychology literature. The authors articulate connections and distinctions to test hypotheses concerning personality, politics, and parenting on a sample of adults and their adolescent children. The Big 5 Openness to Experience factor was positively related to generativity and negatively related to authoritarianism. In addition, high scorers on generativity were interested in political issues, whereas those scoring high on authoritarianism were not. High scorers on authoritarianism also used a punitive parenting style that had adverse consequences for parent–child relationships, whereas generative parents used an authoritative style that produced positive outcomes. Although generative and authoritarian individuals may share a focus on passing down traditions, the content of those traditions seems to span a wider range for people who are high in generativity. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2011 APA, all rights reserved)     

Family play therapy using a resiliency model.

Children are at risk for current and future problems when they are faced with multiple life transitions. Their families are also significantly effected during these times of change and crisis. The authors describe a family play therapy approach for treating these children at risk, using M. Rutter's resiliency model as a framework for conceptualizing treatment planning and the therapeutic process. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Developmental Trajectories of Cigarette Smoking and Their Correlates From Early Adolescence to Young Adulthood.

Smoking initiation typically occurs in adolescence and increases over time into emerging adulthood. Thus adolescence and emerging adulthood compose a critical time period for prevention and intervention efforts. To inform these efforts, this study used latent growth mixture modeling to identify 6 smoking trajectories from ages 13 to 23 among 5,914 individuals: nonsmokers (28%), stable highs (6%), early increasers (10%), late increasers (10%), decreasers (6%), and triers (40%). By age 23, the trajectories merged into 2 distinct groups of low- and high-frequency and their standing on age 23 outcomes reflected this grouping. Consideration of these results can help researchers identify at-risk individuals before their smoking becomes too problematic, providing an opportunity for intervention and possible prevention of nicotine dependence. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)