Perceived acculturation discrepancies and intergenerational conflict in Asian Canadian families

Research on Asian immigrant families indicates that children often acculturate to the host culture more quickly than their parents, resulting in parent-child acculturation discrepancies, intergenerational conflicts, and psychological distress. The existing literature focuses on adolescents, and little is known about young adults\u27 experiences. Furthermore, there is a need in the current literature to apply a bilineal model of acculturation, in which orientations towards the heritage and mainstream cultures exist on separate dimensions. This study used a Web-based survey to examine the degree to which demographic factors, perceived parent-child bilineal acculturation discrepancies, and intergenerational conflicts predicted distress in 179 Asian Canadian young adults. Hierarchical multiple regression results indicated that mother-child heritage acculturation discrepancies predicted mother-child conflicts. Mother-child conflicts predicted distress, whereas father-child conflicts did not. Canadian acculturation predicted distress over and above perceived parent acculturation and parent-child acculturation discrepancies. Results are discussed in terms of implications for research and counselling

Do Welfare Programs Damage Interpersonal Trust? Experimental Evidence from Representative Samples for Four Latin American Cities

This paper argues that welfare programs are linked with the destruction of social capital, as measured by interpersonal trust in laboratory games. The paper employs experimental data for representative samples of individuals in four Latin American capital cities (Bogota, Lima, Montevideo, and San Jose), finding that participation in welfare programs damage trust. This result is robust to the inclusion of individual risk measures and a broad array of controls. The findings also support the notion that low take-up rates may be due to stigma linked with trust and social capital, rather than transaction costs.Experiments, Surveys, Social Programs, Trust, Stigma, Latin America

Describe your scientific journey and your current research focus

First Person is a series of interviews with the first authors of a selection of papers published in Biology Open, helping researchers promote themselves alongside their papers. Vanessa Chong-Morrison is first author on ‘ Ac/Ds transposition for CRISPR/dCas9-SID4x epigenome modulation in zebrafish’, published in BiO. Vanessa conducted the research described in this article while a D.Phil. candidate, then as a postdoc in Tatjana Sauka-Spengler's lab at Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine, University of Oxford. She is now a postdoc in the lab of Steve Wilson at UCL, investigating Molecular and multiomics approaches to understand how components of the genome, including but not limited to protein-coding genes, orchestrate developmental processes

Racial Identity Profiles of Asian-White Biracial Young Adults: Testing a Theoretical Model With Cultural and Psychological Correlates

Although the biracial population is expected to grow at astonishing rates in the upcoming decades across North America, rigorous quantitative psychological research on biracial identity is currently scarce. Therefore, the purpose of the present study was to examine biracial identity profiles in a large sample of Asian-White biracial young adults (n=330, aged 18-30) living in the United States and Canada, as well as assess the interrelationships among biracial identity and psychological adjustment variables. Grounded in the expanded theoretical model of Multiracial Heritage Awareness and Personal Affiliation (M-HAPA:Choi-Misailidis, 2004) and its corresponding biracial identity measure, cluster analysis was conducted to evaluate participants’ ‘patterns’ or ’profiles’ of scores on biracial identity orientation subscales. Three unique biracial identity groups emerged: the Asian-White Integrated, the Asian Dominant, and the White Dominant groups. Between-groups differences on participants’ measures of cultural socialization, psychological distress, and internalized oppression were analyzed and compared. The Asian-White Integrated group reported more cultural socialization than the other 2 groups. Furthermore, Asian Dominant participants showed the highest levels of psychological distress, whereas White Dominant participants showed the highest levels of internalized oppression among all groups. The results lend empirical support to the study’s hypotheses and the M-HAPA model. Theoretical, conceptual, and methodological implications for future biracial identity research are discussed

Depression and its psychosocial correlates among older Asian immigrants in North America: A critical review of two decades’ research

This article critically reviews two decades of empirically based depression studies on older Asian immigrants (OAIs) in North America published in English. The Psychosocial Model of Late-Life Depression is proposed as the conceptual roadmap to help interpret the findings across studies. Methods: Using multiple bibliographic databases, this review systematically summarized and evaluated findings in 24 studies in terms of: (a) the prevalence and severity of depression; (b) demographic, psychosocial, cultural, and health risk factors of depression; and (c) methodological approaches and designs. Results: The results showed that depression is prevalent among OAIs and is linked to gender, recency of immigration, English proficiency, acculturation, service barriers, health status, relationship with children and family, and social support. However, considerable variability in the results, the sample sizes, and the use of measurements were also found across studies. Discussion: Recommendations for future research and the provision of clinical and community services are discussed within the psychosocial model

Racial Identity, Family, and Psychological Adjustment in Asian-White Biracial Young Adults

The purpose of the current study was to examine the interrelationships among biracial identity, family, and psychological adjustment variables in biracial young adults. A mixed methods design was used to investigate a large sample (N=356) of Asian-White biracial young adults (aged 18-30) from Canada and the United States. This study was based on the Multiracial Heritage and Personal Affiliation (M-HAPA) Model of biracial identity, which incorporates the integrated, singular, and marginal identity orientations and posits identity fluidity and dominance (Choi-Misailidis, 2004). Additional variables included family relationship quality, two aspects of racial-ethnic socialization (cultural socialization and preparation for bias), and four aspects of psychological adjustment (self-esteem, positive affect, psychological distress, and internalized oppression). Exploratory factor analyses were conducted to test the psychometric properties of measures developed or adapted for the current study. Hierarchical multiple regression analyses were used to identify the biracial identity orientations and family variables that predicted psychological adjustment, as well as test whether family relationship quality moderated racial-ethnic socialization and psychological adjustment. Results demonstrated that: 1) internalized oppression was predicted by marginal identity, singular-majority identity, and minority cultural socialization; 2) psychological distress was predicted by marginal identity and poor family relationship quality; and 3) positive affect was predicted by integrated identity, better family relationship quality, and minority cultural socialization. Family relationship quality was not found to be a significant moderator. Cluster analysis was also used to group participants according to patterns of scores on biracial identity orientation subscales. Three groups were identified: the Integrated Asian-White Dominant group, the Asian Dominant group, and the White Dominant group. The Integrated Asian-White Dominant group demonstrated better family relationships and less psychological distress than the Asian Dominant and White Dominant groups. The Integrated Asian-White Dominant was also higher on White cultural socialization than the Asian Dominant group. The White Dominant group was higher on internalized oppression than the other groups. Evidence for identity fluidity and dominance was found. Participants were also asked qualitative questions related to biracial identity development, the positive aspects of being biracial, racial-ethnic socialization, and internalized oppression. Thematic analysis was used to identify overall themes

Variation in incidence and severity of injuries among crown-of-thorns starfish (Acanthaster cf. solaris) on Australia's Great Barrier Reef

Despite the presence of numerous sharp poisonous spines, adult crown-of-thorns starfish (CoTS) are vulnerable to predation, though the importance and rates of predation are generally unknown. This study explores variation in the incidence and severity of injuries for Acanthaster cf. solaris from Australia's Great Barrier Reef. The major cause of such injuries is presumed to be sub-lethal predation such that the incidence of injuries may provide a proxy for overall predation and mortality rates. A total of 3846 Acanthaster cf. solaris were sampled across 19 reefs, of which 1955 (50.83%) were injured. Both the incidence and severity of injuries decreased with increasing body size. For small CoTS (60% of individuals had injuries, and a mean 20.7% of arms (±2.9 SE) were affected. By comparison, 450 mm total diameter) CoTS had injuries, and, among those, only 8.3% of arms (±1.7 SE) were injured. The incidence of injuries varied greatly among reefs but was unaffected by the regulations of local fisheries

Gewalt im Strafvollzug

Die Existenz von Gewalt unter Gefangenen in deutschen Haftanstalten ist spätestens seit dem Foltermord in der Justizvollzugsanstalt Siegburg im Jahre 2006 in das Bewusstsein der Öffentlichkeit getreten. Auch in der Forschung widmet man sich seit diesem entsetzlichen Vorfall häufiger der Thematik, die zuvor selbst unter kriminologischen Wissenschaftlern eher vernachlässigt wurde. Die Erkenntnisse für den deutschen Strafvollzug sind in diesem Bereich dennoch gering. Das Anliegen der vorliegenden Untersuchung ist primär, den bisherigen Forschungsstand zur Gewalt im deutschen Strafvollzug im Wege einer Sekundäranalyse nachzuzeichnen. Außerdem soll eruiert werden, ob nach aktuellen wissenschaftlichen Erkenntnissen subkulturelle Phänomene in der Haft Auslöser für Gewalt unter deutschen Gefangenen sein können. Im ersten Kapitel der Arbeit befasst sich die Verfasserin zunächst mit der Frage, welche Regelungen als Rechtsgrundlage für den Vollzugsdienst zum Schutz Gefangener vor wechselseitigen Übergriffen auf internationaler und nationaler Ebene vorhanden sind. Der Gesamtbefund geht dahin, dass die Lage lückenhaft geregelt ist und verbessert werden muss. Das zweite Kapitel arbeitet im Wege der Sekundäranalyse die bisherigen empirischen Befunde zu Ausmaß und Erscheinungsformen der Gewalt unter Gefangenen in deutschen Haftanstalten auf. Zugleich werden die amtlich berichteten Befunde aus den Besuchen des Europäischen Komitees zur Verhütung von Folter und unmenschlicher und erniedrigender Behandlung oder Strafe (CPT) in deutschen Haftanstalten zusammengefasst und gewürdigt, um einen Überblick zum derzeitigen Wissensstand zu verschaffen und um einschätzen zu können, inwieweit der Haftalltag in Deutschland davon geprägt ist. Kapitel 3 behandelt zunächst die theoretischen Erklärungsansätze zur Bestimmung möglicher Risikofaktoren für die Gewalt unter Gefangenen. Anschließend werden zur Unterstützung entsprechender Befunde aus deutschen Studien exemplarisch auch internationale Erkenntnisse zu möglichen Risikofaktoren der Inhaftierten und der Justizvollzugsanstalten für das Gewaltverhalten Gefangener aufbereitet. Der zentrale Kern der Arbeit befindet sich in Kapitel 4, das sich mit der Frage beschäftigt, ob es nach aktuellen wissenschaftlichen Erkenntnissen Zusammenhänge zwischen dem Gewaltverhalten unter Gefangenen und einer Subkultur im Gefängnis gibt, wie es häufig in der deutschen Strafvollzugsliteratur behauptet wird. Insgesamt werden vier Komplexe untersucht, von denen mehrheitlich behauptet wird, dass sie Einfluss auf das Gewaltverhalten unter Gefangenen haben. Die Sekundäranalyse stützt sich aufgrund der Knappheit deutscher Studien im Wesentlichen auf zwei englischsprachige Untersuchungen. Die Übertragbarkeit der ausländischen Forschungsergebnisse auf den deutschen Strafvollzug wird neben einem Vergleich mit den Befunden aus den wenigen deutschen Untersuchungen des Weiteren durch eine kritische Gegenüberstellung der persönlichen Eindrücke der Verfasserin untersucht, die sie aus Gesprächen mit Gefangenen gewonnen hat. Die Untersuchung kommt zu dem Ergebnis, dass nach aktuellen wissenschaftlichen Studien sowie den eigenen Eindrücken der Verfasserin aus der Praxis angenommen werden kann, dass die in verschiedenen Ausprägungen existierende Subkultur im Vollzug zu Gewalt unter Gefangenen führen kann. Der Forschungsstand lässt es bislang jedoch nicht zu, gesicherte Schlüsse zu ziehen. Weitere insbesondere empirische Forschung ist in diesem Bereich dringend angezeigt.The issue of prisoner on prisoner violence in German prisons started to stir the awareness of the general public at the latest in the year 2006, when a case of fatal torture occurred in the youth prison of Siegburg in the Federal State of Northrhine-Westfalia. Subsequently to this horrible incident also scholarly research efforts turned more frequently to this subject which previously had been neglected even among researchers of corrections. However, the state of knowledge as acquired for the German penal system in this field is still rather low up to day, a situation which may probably change soon via the results of a larger study funded by the German Research Association elsewhere. The primary aim of the present study is, comparatively modest, to take meticulous stock of the current state of research on violence in German prisons through a secondary analysis of other recent projects resp. research results. In addition, the question will be thoroughly discussed whether according to the latest scientific evidence subcultural phenomena in custody can be a substantial trigger for violence among German prisoners. In the first chapter, the author deals in detail with currently legal and other valid rules resp. instruments on international and national levels, which provide a base, and partially also a formal duty, for the Correctional Service to protect prisoners against mutual attacks. The eventual conclusion is that the whole set of laws resp. rules needs to be improved. The second chapter analyses in depth and weighs the recent empirical findings concerning the extent and manifestations of violence among prisoners in German prisons. In addition, the officially reported findings from the visits of the European Committee for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (CPT) in German prisons are summarized and appraised in order to gain an overview of the current state of knowledge and in order to assess to what extent prison life in Germany is actually affected by it. The third chapter deals first with the extant theoretical models to determine possible risk factors for violence among prisoners. International developments on possible risk factors of the detainees and prisons for the violent behavior of prisoners are then considered in an exemplary manner. In the core chapter 4 the author stresses the central question whether there is actually, regarding the international state of knowledge, a causal link between the violent behavior among prisoners and a subculture in prison as German prison literature often claims. A total of four complexes is investigated, which are claimed by the majority of practitioners and scholars to have an influence on the occurrence of violent behavior among prisoners. The secondary analysis is mainly based on two English-language studies due to the scarcity of suitable German studies. The transferability of foreign research results to the German penal system is examined with a comparison of the findings from the few German studies, in addition with a critical comparison of the personal impressions of the author, which she has gained from interviews with prisoners. According to these sources the study concludes with the assumption that various extant forms of prison subculture in German prisons are conducive to violence among prisoners. In order to draw firm conclusions, however, more and broader conceived empirical research is urgently needed in this area

Extension of the crRNA enhances Cpf1 gene editing in vitro and in vivo.

Engineering of the Cpf1 crRNA has the potential to enhance its gene editing efficiency and non-viral delivery to cells. Here, we demonstrate that extending the length of its crRNA at the 5 end can enhance the gene editing efficiency of Cpf1 both in cells and in vivo. Extending the 5 end of the crRNA enhances the gene editing efficiency of the Cpf1 RNP to induce non-homologous end-joining and homology-directed repair using electroporation in cells. Additionally, chemical modifications on the extended 5 end of the crRNA result in enhanced serum stability. Also, extending the 5 end of the crRNA by 59 nucleotides increases the delivery efficiency of Cpf1 RNP in cells and in vivo cationic delivery vehicles including polymer nanoparticle. Thus, 5 extension and chemical modification of the Cpf1 crRNA is an effective method for enhancing the gene editing efficiency of Cpf1 and its delivery in vivo