The social norms of alcohol-related negative consequences.

Social norms for alcohol use are important influences on individual college student drinking. The present study extends social norms research by examining alcohol-related consequences and, in particular, whether similar misperceptions exist regarding the frequency and evaluation of these consequences over time. College student drinkers (N = 624) participating in a longitudinal study completed Web-based surveys assessing alcohol use and related consequences, as well as their beliefs about frequency and evaluation of consequences for the typical college student. Findings suggest that students overestimated how often typical college students experience negative consequences and underestimated how negatively other students evaluated those consequences. Finally, results support a bidirectional model for alcohol-related consequences, possibly indicating a reciprocal, mutually influential feed-forward loop of norms and consequences that promotes maintenance of college student drinking and consequences. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Being controlled by normative influences: Self-determination as a moderator of a normative feedback alcohol intervention.

The objectives of this research were to evaluate the efficacy of computer-delivered personalized normative feedback among heavy drinking college students and to evaluate controlled orientation as a moderator of intervention efficacy. Participants (N = 217) included primarily freshman and sophomore, heavy drinking students who were randomly assigned to receive or not to receive personalized normative feedback immediately following baseline assessment. Perceived norms, number of drinks per week, and alcohol-related problems were the main outcome measures. Controlled orientation was specified as a moderator. At 2-month follow-up, students who received normative feedback reported drinking fewer drinks per week than did students who did not receive feedback, and this reduction was mediated by changes in perceived norms. The intervention also reduced alcohol-related negative consequences among students who were higher in controlled orientation. These results provide further support for computer-delivered personalized normative feedback as an empirically supported brief intervention for heavy drinking college students, and they enhance the understanding of why and for whom normative feedback is effective. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

3-Deoxyschweinfurthin B Lowers Cholesterol Levels by Decreasing Synthesis and Increasing Export in Cultured Cancer Cell Lines

The schweinfurthins have potent antiproliferative activity in multiple glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) cell lines; however, the mechanism by which growth is impeded is not fully understood. Previously, we demonstrated that the schweinfurthins reduce the level of key isoprenoid intermediates in the cholesterol biosynthetic pathway. Herein, we describe the effects of the schweinfurthins on cholesterol homeostasis. Intracellular cholesterol levels are greatly reduced in cells incubated with 3‐deoxyschweinfurthin B (3dSB), an analog of the natural product schweinfurthin B. Decreased cholesterol levels are due to decreased cholesterol synthesis and increased cholesterol efflux; both of these cellular actions can be influenced by liver X‐receptor (LXR) activation. The effects of 3dSB on ATP‐binding cassette transporter 1 levels and other LXR targets are similar to that of 25‐hydroxycholesterol, an LXR agonist. Unlike 25‐hydroxycholesterol, 3dSB does not act as a direct agonist for LXR α or β. These data suggest that cholesterol homeostasis plays a significant role in the growth inhibitory activity of the schweinfurthins and may elucidate a mechanism that can be targeted in human cancers such as GBM.     

Predicting risky and angry driving as a function of gender

The present study was designed to examine putative risk factors of driving anger, traffic citations, and traffic-related injuries as a function of gender. Participants included 785 (65% men) drivers identified by the Washington State Department of Licensing. Just over half of participants (55%) were identified as high-risk drivers based on multiple traffic violations, whereas 45% were recruited from a random sample of drivers. Participants completed a mailed survey assessing indicators of risky driving and risk factors including sensation seeking, stressful events, negative affect, tobacco use, and drinking behavior. Hierarchical regression analysis was used to evaluate risky driving outcomes as a function of theoretically prioritized risk factors and to evaluate gender as a moderator. Overall, men reported more traffic citations and injuries, but did not differ from women in reported driving anger. All putative risk factors were associated with one or more indicators of risky driving. Moderation results revealed that the positive relationship between drinking frequency and driving anger was stronger for women. In contrast, typical number of drinks consumed was negatively associated with driving anger, which was also more evident for women. In addition, the positive association between sensation seeking and number of traffic citations was stronger among women.     

Commit to Quit in the YMCAs: translating an evidence-based quit smoking program for women into a community setting.

Approximately 22% of women continue to smoke cigarettes despite the increased risk of cancer associated with smoking. Regular aerobic exercise added to our Commit to Quit smoking cessation program for women improved cessation rates compared with the same cessation program plus equal contact time. This trial tested the feasibility of conducting Commit to Quit in the YMCA setting. Among the 77 women who attended informational sessions, 68% (n = 52) were eligible and 56% (N = 43) enrolled in one of five cohorts. All cohorts received the same intervention: the Commit to Quit smoking cessation program, led by Ph.D.-level psychologists, coupled with the YMCA Personal Fitness Program, led by YMCA personal trainers. On quit day in the program 17 women (39.5%) reported a 24-hr quit, and by the end of treatment 3 women (7.0%) reported a 7-day quit. Intent-to-treat analysis (baseline values carried forward) revealed a decrease in the mean number of cigarettes smoked from 9.9 at baseline (SD = 5.0) to 4.8 at the end of treatment (SD = 5.2; t = 4.7; p<.001). Self-reported exercise increased from 530.3 kcal (SD = 587.0) at baseline to 1,256.4 kcal (SD = 1,263.1) at end of treatment (t = -2.489 p = .017). Participants reported high ratings of satisfaction with the smoking cessation program and Personal Fitness Program. Preliminary feasibility and acceptability were demonstrated as we translated an evidence-based intervention into the YMCA setting.     

ALDH2, ADH1B and alcohol expectancies: Integrating genetic and learning perspectives.

The present study evaluated associations of ALDH2 and ADH1B genotypes with alcohol expectancies and drinking behavior in a sample of Asian American young adults. In addition to assessing global alcohol expectancies, the authors developed a measure of physiological expectancies to evaluate an expectancy phenotype specific to the mechanism by which ALDH2 and ADH1B variations presumably influence drinking behavior. Compared with individuals with the ALDH2*1/*1 genotype, those with the ALDH2*2 allele reported greater negative alcohol expectancies, greater expectancies for physiological effects of alcohol and lower rates of alcohol use. ADH1B was not associated with alcohol expectancies or drinking behavior. Hierarchical models showed that demographic factors, ALDH2 genotype, and expectancy variables explained unique variance in drinking outcomes. Mediation tests showed significant indirect effects of ALDH2 on drinking frequency and peak lifetime consumption through expectancies. These results provide support for influences of genetic factors and alcohol sensitivity on alcohol-related learning and suggest the importance of developing biopsychosocial models of drinking behavior in Asian Americans. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Clinician attributions associated with the diagnosis of schizophrenia in African American and non-African American patients.

The authors examined the schizophrenia diagnosis in 292 psychiatric inpatients in a largely African American community. Clinicians completed a free-response questionnaire that described their diagnostic decisions. Psychotic symptoms such as hallucinations, which were attributed to African American and non-African American patients at different rates, did not necessarily correspond to differences in diagnostic rates. Rather, symptoms not differentially attributed between groups often corresponded with higher rates of schizophrenia for African American patients. Attributions of negative symptoms showed the largest differences between African American and non-African American patients in rates of schizophrenia diagnosis; thought disorder equalized rates of the diagnosis between the 2 groups of patients. Logistic regression analyses suggested that different aggregate decision models were applied to patients of differing race. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Fitting in and feeling fine: Conformity and coping motives as mediators of the relationship between social anxiety and problematic drinking.

The present research was conducted to clarify the relationships among social anxiety, alcohol consumption, alcohol-related problems, and negative-reinforcement drinking motives among college students. Heavy drinking students (N = 316, 53.80% female) completed self-report measures of social anxiety, alcohol consumption, alcohol-related problems, and drinking motives. Findings indicated that students higher in social anxiety consumed less alcohol but experienced more negative consequences. Moreover, the relationship between social anxiety and negative consequences was mediated by coping and conformity drinking motives in addition to alcohol consumption. In the context of social anxiety, the current research demonstrates the importance of examining problematic drinking as distinct constructs: alcohol consumption and negative consequences. Findings are also discussed in terms of implications for interventions with socially anxious students. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Family functioning and adolescent alcohol use disorders.

Adolescents with alcohol dependence or abuse (n?=?126) were compared with 124 adolescents with other (nondrug) mental disorders and with a control group of 94 adolescents with no mental disorders on dimensions of family functioning. General family functioning, mother–adolescent relationships, and parental monitoring and discipline practices were assessed by using both adolescent and mother reports. Although overall the groups differed significantly on all family variables, the relationships among groups differed for adolescent and mother reports. By mother reports, families of adolescents with alcohol use disorders functioned less well than did families of adolescents with other mental disorders, whereas by adolescent reports these groups were not significantly different. Examination of both adolescent and mother perspectives may be important in understanding the relationship between family functioning and adolescent alcohol use disorders. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

The Draco Approach to Constructing Software from Reusable Components

This paper discusses an approach called Draco to the construction of software systems from reusable software parts. In particular we are concerned with the reuse of analysis and design information in addition to programming language code. The goal of the work on Draco has been to increase the productivity of software specialists in the construction of similar systems. The particular approach we have taken is to organize reusable software components by problem area or domain. Statements of programs in these specialized domains are then optimized by source-to-source program transformations and refined into other domains. The problems of maintaining the representational consistency of the developing program and producing efficient practical programs are discussed. Some examples from a prototype system are also given.