Mindset Matters: Measuring Anxiety Mindsets

Considerable research supports Dweck’s (2006) theory of mindsets, yet few researchers have studied mental health mindset. The current study explores this link through developing a measure that applies Dweck’s dimensions of fixed vs. growth mindset to appraisals of anxiety while also assessing beliefs about strategies for managing anxiety. In Studies 1-4, we develop this measure and report the correlations among the four scales - Fixed, Growth, Acceptance, and Change - as well as the correlations between these scales and various measures of wellbeing in both undergraduate and high school samples. Study 5 builds on and extends this research by using an education paradigm to teach participants about either an acceptance or change approach to anxiety and measuring the effects of this training. Implications of the results and ideas for the future use of this measure are discussed

Implementing the Strut-and-Tie Method for the Design of Bridge Components

The strut-and-tie method (STM) is used for the design of D-regions (disturbed regions) of reinforced concrete structures. Many typical bridge substructure components consist of D-regions and warrant the use of the STM for design. Implementation of the STM is more complex than typical design methods, and engineers are often unfamiliar with the design process. As a result, designing using the STM is more time consuming than traditional design methods. The Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT) identified a need for resources and tools that assist with the design of typical bridge substructure components using the STM. The primary tool created to fulfill this role is a computer program titled STEP (Strut-and-Tie Evaluation Program). To use the computer program, engineers input geometric conditions, material properties, reinforcement information, and loading conditions for a structural component. STEP uses this information to develop a strut-and-tie model and perform STM design procedures. A graphical representation of the model and a summary of the design results are provided as program outputs for the user. STEP, created using Excel VBA, is intended to aid in the design of multi-column bent caps, straddle bent caps, and integral and semi-integral end bent caps. To accompany the computer program, a guidebook was developed to provide basic STM guidance, describe the procedures that are executed by STEP, and present instructions for using the program for the design of bridge substructure components

Octilinear Force-Directed Layout with Mental Map Preservation for Schematic Diagrams

We present an algorithm for automatically laying out metro map style schematics using a force-directed approach, where we use a localized version of the standard spring embedder forces combined with an octilinear magnetic force. The two types of forces used during layout are naturally conflicting, and the existing method of simply combining these to generate a resultant force does not give satisfactory results. Hence we vary the forces, emphasizing the standard forces in the beginning to produce a well distributed graph, with the octilinear forces becoming prevalent at the end of the layout, to ensure that the key requirement of line angles at intervals of 45? is obtained. Our method is considerably faster than the more commonly used search-based approaches, and we believe the results are superior to the previous force-directed approach. We have further developed this technique to address the issues of dynamic schematic layout. We use a Delaunay triangulation to construct a schematic “frame”, which is used to retain relative node positions and permits full control of the level of mental map preservation. This technique is the first to combine mental map preservation techniques with the additional layout criteria of schematic diagrams. To conclude, we present the results of a study to investigate the relationship between the level of mental map preservation and the user response time and accuracy

A Multiple-Objective Decision Analysis of Stakeholder Values to Identify Watershed Improvement Needs

The paper describes the use of multiple objective decision analysis to qualitatively and quantitatively assess the quality of an endangered watershed and guide future efforts to improve the quality of the watershed. The Upham Brook watershed is an urban watershed that lies at the interface of declining inner city Richmond, Virginia and growth-oriented Henrico County. A section of stream within the watershed has been identified as so dangerously polluted that it threatens the health of the residents who live within the watershed boundaries. With funding provided by the National Science Foundation, the Upham Brook watershed project committee was formed to address the quality of the Upham Brook watershed; it consisted of experts from multiple disciplines: stream ecology, environmental policy, water policy, ground and surface water hydrology and quality, aquatic biology, political science, sociology, citizen participation, community interaction, psychology, and decision and risk analysis. Each members\u27 values and goals were brought together using a watershed management framework to meet the overall objective of the committee: to maximize the quality of the Upham Brook watershed. The resulting model was used to identify the largest value gaps and to identify future programs needed to improve the quality of the watershed

Spatiotemporal Patterns and Phenology of Tropical Vegetation Solar-Induced Chlorophyll Fluorescence across Brazilian Biomes Using Satellite Observations

Solar-induced fluorescence (SIF) has been empirically linked to gross primary productivity (GPP) in multiple ecosystems and is thus a promising tool to address the current uncertainties in carbon fluxes at ecosystem to continental scales. However, studies utilizing satellite-measured SIF in South America have concentrated on the Amazonian tropical forest, while SIF in other regions and vegetation classes remain uninvestigated. We examined three years of Orbiting Carbon Observatory-2 (OCO-2) SIF data for vegetation classes within and across the six Brazilian biomes (Amazon, Atlantic Forest, Caatinga, Cerrado, Pampa, and Pantanal) to answer the following: (1) how does satellite-measured SIF differ? (2) What is the relationship (strength and direction) of satellite-measured SIF with canopy temperature (T can), air temperature (T air), and vapor pressure deficit (VPD)? (3) How does the phenology of satellite-measured SIF (duration and amplitude of seasonal integrated SIF) compare? Our analysis shows that OCO-2 captures a significantly higher mean SIF with lower variability in the Amazon and lower mean SIF with higher variability in the Caatinga compared to other biomes. OCO-2 also distinguishes the mean SIF of vegetation types within biomes, showing that evergreen broadleaf (EBF) mean SIF is significantly higher than other vegetation classes (deciduous broadleaf (DBF), grassland (GRA), savannas (SAV), and woody savannas (WSAV)) in all biomes. We show that the strengths and directions of correlations of OCO-2 mean SIF to T can , T air , and VPD largely cluster by biome: negative in the Caatinga and Cerrado, positive in the Pampa, and no correlations were found in the Pantanal, while results were mixed for the Amazon and Atlantic Forest. We found mean SIF most strongly correlated with VPD in most vegetation classes in most biomes, followed by T can. Seasonality from time series analysis reveals that OCO-2 SIF measurements capture important differences in the seasonal timing of SIF for different classes, details masked when only examining mean SIF differences. We found that OCO-2 captured the highest base integrated SIF and lowest seasonal pulse integrated SIF in the Amazon for all vegetation classes, indicating continuous photosynthetic activity in the Amazon exceeds other biomes, but with small seasonal increases. Surprisingly, Pantanal EBF SIF had the highest total integrated SIF of all classes in all biomes due to a large seasonal pulse. Additionally, the length of seasons only accounts for about 30% of variability in total integrated SIF; thus, integrated SIF is likely captures differences in photosynthetic activity separate from structural differences. Our results show that satellite measurements of SIF can distinguish important functioning and phenological differences in vegetation classes and thus has the potential to improve our understanding of productivity and seasonality in the tropics

Books

Mental health services - the future New Directions for Mental Health Services. Ed. by C. A. Taube, D. Mechanic and A. A. Hohmann. pp. xii + 324. Illustrated. Rl72,SO. USA: Hemisphere Publishing Corporation. 1990.Clinical and Neuropsychological Aspects of Closed Head Injury. Ed. by J. T. E. Richardson. pp. xi + 351. Illustrated. R13l,lO. London: Taylor & Francis. 1990.Studies in Health Economics 13: Do Expanded Home Care Services Reduce Costs? Ed. by J. H. Sommer. pp. 57. Illustrated. SFr. 8,50. Basle: Pharma Information. 1990. Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics: A Primer for Clinical Investigators and Decision-makers. Ed. by Michael S. Kramer. pp. xii + 286. Illustrated. DM 76. Berlin: Springer-Verlag. 1989.Food: What's in it for You? Ed. by Anne Bryce. pp. 320. lllusrrated. Cape Town: Don Nelson. 1990

Editorial: Celebrating Microbial Diversity: The Many Cell Cycles of Eukaryotic Microbes.

Editorial on the Research Topic Celebrating Microbial Diversity: The Many Cell Cycles of Eukaryotic MicrobesCM: ERC research grant ‘Plasmocycle’. ZL: NIH R01 grant AI101437. MB: Swiss National Science Foundation 31003A_179321

TMC Behavior Modeling and Life Prediction Under Multiaxial Stresses

The goal of this program was to manufacture and burst test small diameter SCS-6/Ti-6Al-4V composite rings for use in the design of an advanced titanium matrix composite (TMC) impeller. The Textron Specialty Metals grooved foil-fiber process was successfully used to make high quality TMC rings. A novel spin test arbor with "soft touch" fingers to retain the TMC ring was designed and manufactured. The design of the arbor took into account its use for cyclic experiments as well as ring burst tests. Spin testing of the instrumented ring was performed at ambient, 149C (300F), and 316C (600F) temperatures. Assembly vibration was encountered during spin testing but this was overcome through simple modification of the arbor. A spin-to-burst test was successfully completed at 316C (600F). The rotational speed of the TMC ring at burst was close to that predicted. In addition to the spin test program, a number of SCS-6/Ti-6Al-4V test panels were made. Neat Ti-6Al-4V panels also were made

Parental affect profiles predict child emotion regulation and classroom adjustment in families experiencing homelessness

Parenting shapes the development of emotion regulation skills in early childhood, laying a key foundation for social-emotional adjustment. Unfortunately, high adversity exposure may disrupt parental emotion socialization practices and children\u27s regulatory development. The current study used variable- and person-centered approaches to evaluate links among parental emotion expressiveness, children\u27s observed emotion regulation, and teacher-reported adjustment among 214 4- to 6-year-old children experiencing homelessness, an indicator of high cumulative risk and acute adversity. Structured parent-child interaction tasks were recorded on site in emergency shelters over the summer and micro-socially coded for parent and child expressions of anger, positive affect, and internalizing distress. We anticipated that parental modeling of predominantly negative emotion expression would be associated with more child dysregulation during parent-child interaction and worse adjustment at school, as reported by teachers the following school year. Preliminary analyses indicated that children\u27s observed difficulty downregulating anger was associated robustly with teacher-reported social-behavioral problems. Latent profile analysis was used to identify three patterns of parental emotion expression characterized by above-average expression of positive affect, internalizing distress, and anger. Parents’ likelihood of membership in the elevated anger profile significantly predicted children\u27s observed difficulty down-regulating anger and higher social-behavioral problems at school. In addition to ongoing efforts to reduce poverty-related risk, supporting adaptive anger regulation in parents and young children may be important for enhancing resilience among families experiencing homelessness and similar conditions of high cumulative risk