Age, individuality, and context as factors in sustained visual attention during the preschool years

In 3 studies, the authors explored age changes and individual differences in preschool children's sustained attention in several different contexts--watching a videotape, playing with toys, and performing reaction time tasks. Various indexes of attention increased from 30 months to 54 months, whereas inattention decreased. Changes tended to occur earlier for play and television viewing than for the reaction time task. Together, the results also provide evidence for individual differences in measures of attention and inattention through high internal consistency and stability over time within situations. Correlations across situations, however, were low to modest. These results suggest that children have stable tendencies to focus and sustain attention in particular contexts but that their attention varies with the demands of the task and their ability or interest in meeting those demands.     

Social competence promotion with inner-city and suburban young adolescents: Effects on social adjustment and alcohol use.

Assessed the impact of school-based social competence training on skills, social adjustment, and self-reported substance use of 282 6th and 7th graders. Training emphasized broad-based competence promotion in conjunction with domain-specific application to substance abuse prevention. The 20-session program comprised 6 units: stress management, self-esteem, problem solving, substances and health information, assertiveness, and social networks. Findings indicated positive training effects on Ss' skills in handling interpersonal problems and coping with anxiety. Teacher ratings revealed improvements in Ss' constructive conflict resolution with peers, impulse control, and popularity. Self-report ratings indicated gains in problem-solving efficacy. Results suggest some preventive impact on self-reported substance use intentions and excessive alcohol use. In general, the program was found to be beneficial for both inner-city and suburban students. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Do Psychosocial and Study Skill Factors Predict College Outcomes? Comment on Robbins et al. (2004).

Evidence is cited in support of the claim that the results of the meta-analyses conducted by S. B. Robbins et al. (2004) are not generalizable to either baccalaureate-granting commuter institutions or certain demographically identified subgroups of students. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

The role of resistance in sex therapy

Resistance, the sum of forces opposing the treatment process, is particularly manifest in conjoint sex therapy and may well threaten the successful conduct of treatment unless recognized promptly and dealt with appropriately. A classification of resistant behaviour most common in sex therapy is proposed and illustrated with clinical vignettes. Treatment strategies are discussed as well as indications for referral to longer term therapy.     

Intracellular pH in vascular smooth muscle: regulation by sodium-hydrogen exchange and multiple sodium dependent HCO3- mechanisms

OBJECTIVES: The aim was to determine the mechanisms, particularly bicarbonate dependent mechanisms, of intracellular pH (pHi) recovery from various acidoses in vascular smooth muscle and to explore the ATP dependency of the respective mechanisms. METHODS: Experiments were conducted in rat aortic smooth muscle cells grown in primary culture and synchronised in a non-growing state by serum deprivation. pHi was measured in cells loaded with the pH sensitive fluorescent dye, 2',7'-bis-(2-carboxyethyl)-5-(and 6)-carboxyfluorescein (BCECF). Chloride efflux was studied by determination of the rate of efflux of 36Cl over 5 min. Cells were ATP depleted by substitution of glucose in the medium by 2-deoxyglucose. Acidoses were induced by CO2 influx and NH3 efflux techniques. RESULTS: In the absence of HCO3-, the 5-(N-ethyl-N-isopropyl) amiloride (EIPA) sensitive Na+/H+ exchange accounted for the recovery from intracellular acidosis. In the presence of HCO3- ions the response to respiratory acidosis (CO2 influx) was predominantly via activation of Na+/H+ exchange and an EIPA sensitive Na+ and HCO3- dependent mechanism. A 4-acetamido-4'-isothiocyanostilbene-2',2'-sulphonic acids (SITS) sensitive Na+ dependent Cl-/HCO3- mechanism which is also sensitive to EIPA makes a small contribution during severe intracellular acidosis. Under such conditions HCO3- dependent mechanisms contributed about 40% to the overall pHi regulating capacity of vascular smooth muscle cells. However, under conditions which deplete cellular ATP these pHi regulating mechanisms account for virtually all of theses cells' ability to regulate pHi. The inability of Na+/H+ exchange to participate in pHi recovery under these circumstances, reduces the ability of vascular smooth muscle cells to recover pHi by approximately 50-60%. Chloride efflux was approximately linear over 5 min and was increased by 36% in the presence of extracellular HCO3-. Efflux in the presence of HCO3- was inhibited similarly by both SITS and EIPA. CONCLUSIONS: At least three transporters contribute to recovery from acidosis in vascular smooth muscle: Na+/H+ exchange, an Na(+)-HCO3- cotransporter which is sensitive to EIPA, and an Na+ dependent HCO3-/Cl- exchange sensitive to both SITS and EIPA. The Na(+)-HCO3- cotransporter appears to be similar to that described in human vascular smooth muscle. When the Na+/H+ exchanger is attenuated by cellular ATP depletion, the alternative pathways, particularly the Na(+)-HCO3- cotransporter, ensure that substantial pHi regulatory capacity is maintained.     

The relation between values and social competence in early adolescence.

Examined relationships between the social competence of early adolescents, as viewed by different reference groups, and the values adolescents place on controversial social behaviors. Assessed social competence for 65 seventh- and eight-graders with self-ratings of perceived competence, peer sociometric status ratings, teacher ratings, and academic achievement tests. Ss also completed an inventory assessing their values toward controversial social behaviors. A factor reflecting adolescents' valuing of direct, constructive communication in social interactions was positively related to competence with all reference groups. However, a factor that reflected valuing conforming to adult norms was negatively related to status with peers but positively related to teacher ratings of competence. The role of social values in the developmental task of achieving autonomy in interactions with adults while maintaining positive social relationships with peers and adults is discussed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Support for school-based social competence promotion.

Notes omissions from the February 1989 special issue of American Psychologist on children and their development. Insufficient attention was paid to (1) the prevention of dysfunctional health-compromising behaviors through the promotion of children's social competence and (2) schools as a primary arena in which such research is conducted. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Respiratory and cardiovascular effects of prostaglandins in the conscious guinea pig

A technique to assess respiratory and cardiovascular effects of prostaglandins (PGs) in conscious guinea pigs was developed. Animals were placed in a plethysmograph and tidal volume, airflow, and heart rate were recorded. In addition, blood pressure and/or pleural pressure were obtained. Some experiments involved the use of a pulmonary calculator that processed the appropriate pulmonary signal and provided on-line readout of dynamic compliance and airway resistance. Aerosolized antagonists were evaluated for their ability to block responses to aerosolized histamine. We found the relative antagonistic potencies of PGE1, PGE2, isoproterenol, and salbutamol to be 5.5, 2.3, 1 and 0.2, respectively. Aerosolized PGE1 and PGE2 but not PGF2alpha given prior to histamine caused decreases in tidal volume, airflow and heart rate. These effects were not seen in animals that were prepared for measurements involving invasive surgical techniques. The aerosolized PGE2 induced tidal volume changes were not prevented by pretreatment with salbutamol, chlorpheniramine, atropine or hexamethonium, though the latter two drugs inhibited the fall in heart rate. We suggest that the bradycardia following aerosolized PGE2 administration may originate from airway irritant receptors. The results validate use of our methods for the assessment of responses to bronchoactive agents under physiological conditions.     

Physical contact in helping interactions with young children.

Studied frequency of occurrence of 4 types of physical contact (touching, holding hands, sitting on lap, and hugging) during school-based helping interactions between 49 nonprofessional child aides and a total of 559 children from kindergarten through 6th grade and from special education classes. The Physical Contact Survey was used to assess the frequency of occurrence of the 4 types of physical contact; the Classroom Adjustment Rating Scale, Aide Status Evaluation Form, and Professional Termination Report were used to assess children's referral and outcome status. Findings indicate that contacts varied markedly from a high of 81% for touching to a low of 4% for sitting on lap. Four parametric variables accurately predicted the occurrence of contact behaviors: (a) Girls had more contact than boys; (b) younger children had more contact than older; (c) aides from different buildings differed in the amount of contact they had with children; and (d) aides previously trained in Ginnottian limit-setting approaches had fewer physical contacts with children than those without such training. Frequency of contact behaviors did not relate either to a child's adjustment status at referral or to intervention outcomes. (20 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)