Experiential Avoidance, Emotional Expression, and Psychopathology in Early and Late Adulthood

Experiential avoidance (EA) is an unwillingness to remain in contact with private and overt experiences, with higher EA associated with increased psychopathology. This study investigated relationships among EA, age, and the use of emotion words in positive and negative autobiographical narratives, as well as whether EA was associated with depression, anxiety, quality of life, and social support. Participants included younger (n=60) and older adults (n=60), who completed a positive and negative emotion narrative task along with measures of psychopathology. Results indicated that relative to younger adults, older adults spoke for longer time intervals in both narrative conditions. EA did not significantly affect narrative duration in either age cohort. However, despite longer narrative durations, older adults high in EA used fewer negative emotion words in the negative emotion narrative task compared to young adults high in EA. EA was positively associated with anxiety and depression and inversely related to quality of life and social support. Results are explained in the developmental context of the Socioemotional Selectivity Theory (Carstensen, 1991), which posits that young adults are more prone to communicate in situations that involve information attainment, whereas older adults verbal behaviors may be more a function of emotion regulation. Clinical implications are discussed

Anthropogenic impacts on recharge processes and water quality in basin aquifers of the desert Southwest : a coupled field observation and modeling study

textThe development of natural grass/scrubland for agricultural use within the Trans-Pecos basins has altered recharge mechanisms and raised questions about groundwater sustainability. Past efforts focused on recharge in arid basin systems used three main assumptions: there is minimal modern recharge, no widespread recharge on basin floors, and no recharge from anthropogenic sources. However, in the Trans-Pecos, nitrate (NO₃-) concentrations have increased in basin groundwater (up by 3-4 mg/l as NO₃- in 40 yrs), refuting the “classic” model and posing water quality risks. Grazing and irrigated agriculture have impacted basin hydrology by altering vegetation regime and the magnitude and spatial distribution of infiltration. This has increased recharge, Cl⁻, and mobile N flux to basin groundwater. A series of spatially-distributed net infiltration models were used to estimate potential recharge from natural and anthropogenic sources. Between 7-20% of potential recharge results from widespread recharge on the basin floors. Additionally, from 1960-2000, irrigation return flow may have contributed 3.0 × 10⁷ - 6.3 × 10⁷ m³ of recharge. These results are supported by field observations. Cores collected beneath agricultural land document changes in water content and pore water chemistry that imply increased downward flux of moisture and solute, and NO₃- and Cl- inventories beneath irrigated land are distinct in amount and profile from those in natural areas. There are significant implications for sustainability based upon the trends in groundwater NO₃- concentrations, core results, and net infiltration models: more recharge may enter the basins than previously estimated and there is a potential long-term concern for water quality. Due to thick unsaturated zones in the basins, long travel times are anticipated. It is unknown if NO3- and Cl⁻ flux has peaked or if effects will continue for years to come. Further study should be undertaken to examine anthropogenic impacts on basin water quality. Additionally, these impacts may occur in similar systems globally and there is considerable evidence for the re-evaluation of the validity of the “classic” model of recharge in arid basin systems. Future studies and management plans should incorporate potential impacts of changes in vegetation and land use on recharge processes and water budgets in arid basins.Geological Science

Nutrient Cycling Processes Along the Sierran Front to the Cascades

ABSTRACTPrevious research has identified a corresponding relationship between O horizon accumulation and high concentrations of N and P in overland/litter interflow leachate. This nutrient rich leachate can discharge directly into surrounding tributaries in the form of surface runoff or infiltrate into the soil matrix via preferential flow paths. The presence of seasonal preferential infiltration in forested Sierran soils is now well documented, but less known is whether or not the preferential infiltration of nutrient laden percolate results in the development of isolated nutrient "hot spots" in the underlying mineral soil. The purpose of this investigation was to assess the spatio-temporal dynamics of nutrient cycling in sub-alpine forest soils along the Sierran front northward to the Cascades. Large quantities of nutrients were found to reside in the O horizon, leaching at mostly unknown locations into the soil matrix; varying with total water flux and retention time. Nutrient rich "hot spots" were also found under natural conditions, but rarely occurred at the same sampling point for two consecutive years, fluctuating seasonally and annually. Only four of the 256 resin capsule grid points (1.5%), one of 96 first fall precipitation capsule grid points (0.01%) and one of the 128 resin lysimeter grid points (0.78%) exhibited similar trends over both years. Nutrient infiltration variability and sporadic distribution of "hot spots" may facilitate excessive nutrient loading into hydrologic systems and the opportunistic advancement of invasive plant species to out-compete natives. The proper understanding of nutrient cycling dynamics in forested ecosystems is essential for sustaining historical landscape attributes. Key Words: nutrient cycling, sub-alpine forests, hydrologic, water quality</italic

The mechanism of neuropathy in peripheral myelin protein 22 mutant mice

Mutations in the gene for peripheral myelin protein 22 (PMP22) are associated with peripheral neuropathy in mice and humans. PMP22 is produced mainly in Schwann cells in the peripheral nervous system where it is localised to compact myelin. The function of PMP22 is unclear but its low abundance makes it unlikely to be a structural myelin protein. I have studied the peripheral nerves of two different mouse models with alterations in the pmp22 gene. (1) The Trembler-J (TrJ) mouse which has a point mutation [L16P] in the first transmembrane domain of PMP22. (2) PMP22 overexpressing transgenic mice which have 7 (C22), 4 (C61) and 2 (C2) copies of the human PMP22 gene in addition to the mouse pmp22 gene. In the nerves of adult TrJ mice there was considerable evidence of abnormal Schwann cel1-axon interactions. Abnormal features were reproduced in the early stages of regeneration following crush injury. This demonstrates that the abnormalities are a result of an intrinsic abnormality of TrJ Schwann cells and not secondary changes related to demyelination. In the initial stages of postnatal development the number of axons that were singly ensheathed was the same in all the mutants examined, indicating that PMP22 does not function in the initial enclosure of groups of axons and subsequent separation of single axons. All strains examined had an increased proportion of fibres that were incompletely surrounded by Schwann cell cytoplasm indicating that this step is disrupted in PMP22 mutants. Increasing the number of copies of PMP22 resulted in an increasing severity of phenotype. In C22 (7 copy) animals myelin formation was delayed or non-existent in many fibres whereas in C61 animals myelination initially appeared normal with abnormality appearing later in a small population of fibres. The C2 strain appeared relatively unaffected. It is concluded that PMP22 functions in the initiation of myelination and most probably involves the ensheathment of the axon by the Schwann cell, and the extension of this cell along the axon. Abnormalities are most likely to result from defective interactions between the axon and the Schwann cell

Laying the Foundations for an Organizational Reincarnation Plan: Identifying STERPDB\u27s Future

Southern Tier East Regional Planning Development Board (STERPDB) is the primary funneling system of the Economic Development Administration and Appalachian Regional Commission Federal Funds to the Southern Tier area of New York State. STERPDB currently has leadership approaching retirement within the next five years and there is no succession plan in place. This would leave STERPDB with a lack of leadership and result in an ineffective organization. This study strives to answer what the key stakeholders at STERPDB would like to see for the future of STERPDB as well as what action will be necessary to foster a successful transition of leadership at STERPDB. To approach this problem, Stevens\u27 (2001) diagnostic framework based on Organizational Lifecycle Theory is used in the administering of an internet-based survey of the key stakeholders of STERPDB. Results showed that the perception of STERPDB in a decline stage is statistically different than the perception of STERPDB in a mature stage.Finally, recommendations are offered to STERPDB as to how they can move their organization into a viable maturity stage through the appointment of new leadership and reassessment of current structure of the organization

Mechanically Active Electrospun Materials

Electrospinning, a technique used to fabricate small diameter polymer fibers, has been employed to develop unique, active materials falling under two categories: (1) shape memory elastomeric composites (SMECs) and (2) water responsive fiber mats. (1) Previous work has characterized in detail the properties and behavior of traditional SMECs with isotropic fibers embedded in an elastomer matrix. The current work has two goals: (i) characterize laminated anisotropic SMECs and (ii) develop a fabrication process that is scalable for commercial SMEC manufacturing. The former ((i)) requires electrospinning aligned polymer fibers. The aligned fibers are similarly embedded in an elastomer matrix and stacked at various fiber orientations. The resulting laminated composite has a unique response to tensile deformation: after stretching and releasing, the composite curls. This curling response was characterized based on fiber orientation. The latter goal ((ii)) required use of a dual-electrospinning process to simultaneously electrospin two polymers. This fabrication approach incorporated only industrially relevant processing techniques, enabling the possibility of commercial application of a shape memory rubber. Furthermore, the approach had the added benefit of increased control over composition and material properties. (2) The strong elongational forces experienced by polymer chains during the electrospinning process induce molecular alignment along the length of electrospun fibers. Such orientation is maintained in the fibers as the polymer vitrifies. Consequently, residual stress is stored in electrospun fiber mats and can be recovered by heating through the polymer\u27s glass transition temperature. Alternatively, the glass transition temperature can be depressed by introducing a plasticizing agent. Poly(vinyl acetate) (PVAc) is plasticized by water, and its glass transition temperature is lowered below room temperature. Therefore, the residual stress can be relaxed at room temperature simply by hydrating the PVAc fibers. This work investigated the response of PVAc to the application of water on one surface. More specifically, the folding of films of PVAc fibrous webs in response to water lines drawn locally on the mat surface was quantified and characterized based on fiber mat characteristics

Obesity in international migrant populations

Purpose of Review: This review examines the risk of obesity in migrant groups—specifically migrants from countries with lower prevalence of obesity to countries with higher prevalence of obesity. We examine obesity prevalence within migrant groups compared with native populations and the evidence on factors that might shape obesity risk in these migrant groups. Recent Findings: Migrants may arrive in new countries with a health advantage including generally a healthier body weight. Genetic and epi-genetic factors, as well as body size preference, socio-economic factors, and stress exposure, may play a role in increasing unhealthy weight gain in migrant populations. This unhealthy weight gain leads to similar or greater obesity risk in migrant populations compared with native populations 10–15 years after migration. Summary: Meeting the challenge of prevention and treatment of obesity in diverse populations will require greater attention to minority groups in research in the future

Does globalisation affect crime? theory and evidence

Globalization skeptics argue that trade liberalization has high social costs, including an increase in expropriative behavior such as civil-conflict, coercion of labor and crime. We show that a theoretical relationship between trade and expropriation exists, but the sign differs for developed and developing economies. We verify this empirically using data on crime rates. Specifically we find trade liberalization,as measured by both higher openness and lower import duty rates, tends to increase burglaries and theft in very labor abundant countries. For other countries, however,we find that trade liberalization has either a small negative effect on crime,or no effect, depending on the country’s capital abundance

The tyranny of distance and the gravity of resources

To what extent does geography remain an important determinant of comparative advantage and factor incomes in resource markets? We estimate gravity models for resources and find that some minerals and fuels, particularly Iron Ore and Gas, do have very high elasticities of trade with respect to distance. To assess the implications of this we then consider a simple counterfactual where location advantages are eliminated. We find that for a few countries, including Australia and New Zealand, distance barriers have a large impact of their market share

Children’s perspectives and experiences of health, diet, physical activity and weight in an urban, multi-ethnic UK population: a qualitative study

Background: Children from Black and South Asian ethnic groups are at risk for childhood obesity in the UK. To inform local action for childhood obesity prevention, it is crucial to explore the basis of ethnic disparities and consider the perspectives of children. This study aimed to understand cultural and contextual factors influencing childhood obesity in an ethnically diverse population using child‐centred methodology. Methods: ‘Draw, write and tell’ interviews were held with children aged 9‐10 years in Coventry, an urban, multi‐ethnic city in the UK. Data were analysed thematically using framework analysis. Results: Twenty‐six children participated (85% from Black or Minority Ethnic Groups). Children’s perspectives revealed universal themes around health, diet, physical activity and weight and highlighted issues specific to ethnic groups and those living in deprived areas. An underlying feature was weight‐based stigmatisation and group stereotyping, and an emphasis on internal factors as the cause of obesity. Children described some experiences of social disadvantage, but did not regard these as a barrier to being physically active. Children identified cultural or religious practices or experiences of migration that influenced diet and physical activity. Conclusions: These findings allow a broad range of children’s perspectives to inform future intervention design. In addition, the study was able to identify the many similarities and small amount of diversity in children’s perspectives across ethnic groups