Economic pressure, parent personality and child development: an interactionist analysis

"Der gegenwärtige ökonomische Abschwung in den USA und auf der ganzen Welt hat wieder die Aufmerksamkeit auf die Prozesse gelenkt, durch die Familien und Kinder durch ökonomische Härten belastet sind. Diese Studie betrachtet die Reaktionen auf ökonomische Härten in einer Stichprobe von Erwachsenen, die zum ersten Mal vor 20 Jahren befragt wurden, als sie noch Jugendliche waren. Insgesamt 271 der ursprünglichen G2 Jugendlichen (Durchschnittsalter M = 25.6 Jahre) nahmen an dieser Studie zusammen mit ihren kleinen Kindern (G3, Durchschnittsalter M = 2.31 Jahre zum ersten Erhebungszeitpunkt) und, in 81% der Fälle, zusammen mit dem anderen Elternteil des Kindes. Die Datenanalysen folgten einem interaktionistischen Modell und gingen davon aus, dass positive Persönlichkeitseigenschaften im Jugendalter der G2 weniger ökonomische Belastungen im Erwachsenenalter vorhersagen würden. Gleichzeitig wurde erwartet, dass diese positiven Persönlichkeitseigenschaften die negativen Familienprozesse aufhalten würden, die eine kompetente Entwicklung in G3 wahrscheinlich behindern. Die Befunde waren mit dem Selektionsaspekt im interaktionistischen Modell konsistent. Das Model sagte darüber hinaus vorher, dass ökonomischen Belastungen und andere familienbezogene Stressprozesse die Entwicklung von G3 über die frühere G2 Persönlichkeit beeinflussten. Der Sozialisationsaspekt im interaktionistischen Modell erhielt also auch Unterstützung. Die Befunde sprechen dafür, dass die Beziehung zwischen den ökonomischen Bedingungen und der Entwicklung von Kindern einen dynamischen Prozess aus Selektion und Sozialisation darstellt, der über Zeit und über Generationen zum Tragen kommt." (Autorenreferat)"The current economic downturn in the U.S. and around the world has refocused attention on the processes through which families and children are affected by economic hardship. This study examines the response to economic pressure of a cohort of youth first studied 20 years ago as adolescents and now grown to adulthood. A total of 271 of the original G2 adolescents (M age = 25.6 years) participated in the study with their young child (G3, M age = 2.31 years at the first time of assessment) and the child's other parent in 81% of the cases. Data analyses were guided by the interactionist model which proposed that positive G2 personality attributes during adolescence would predict lower economic pressure during adulthood and would diminish the negative family processes related to economic pressure expected to disrupt competent G3 development. The findings were consistent with this social selection aspect of the interactionist model. The model also predicted that economic pressure and other aspects of the related family stress process would affect G3 development net of earlier G2 personality. This social causation aspect of the interactionist model also received support. The findings suggest that the relationship between economic conditions and child development reflect a dynamic process of selection and causation that plays out over time and generations." (author's abstract

Economic pressure, parent personality and child development : an interactionist analysis

That positive personality characteristics in the youth age of the G2 would predict less economic stresses in the adult age. At the same time, these positive personality traits were expected to stop the negative family processes that are likely to hinder a competent development in G3. The findings were consistent with the selection aspect in the interactionist model. The model also said beforehand that economic stress and other family-related stress processes influenced the development of G3 over the earlier G2 personality. The socialization aspect in the interactionist model thus also received support. However,The findings were consistent with this social selection. The model also predicted that of the G1 personality. This social causation of the interactionist model also received support. (Author\u27s abstract) The findings suggest that the relationship between the individual and the individual is the same. This social causation of the interactionist model also received support. (Author\u27s abstract) The findings suggest that the relationship between the individual and the individual is the same. This social causation of the interactionist model also received support. (Author\u27s abstract) The findings suggest that the relationship between the individual and the individual is the same

Blip glitches in Advanced LIGO data

Blip glitches are short noise transients present in data from ground-based gravitational-wave observatories. These glitches resemble the gravitational-wave signature of massive binary black hole mergers. Hence, the sensitivity of transient gravitational-wave searches to such high-mass systems and other potential short duration sources is degraded by the presence of blip glitches. The origin and rate of occurrence of this type of glitch have been largely unknown. In this paper we explore the population of blip glitches in Advanced LIGO during its first and second observing runs. On average, we find that Advanced LIGO data contains approximately two blip glitches per hour of data. We identify four subsets of blip glitches correlated with detector auxiliary or environmental sensor channels, however the physical causes of the majority of blips remain unclear

The spectrum of BPS branes on a noncompact Calabi-Yau

We begin the study of the spectrum of BPS branes and its variation on lines of marginal stability on O_P^2(-3), a Calabi-Yau ALE space asymptotic to C^3/Z_3. We show how to get the complete spectrum near the large volume limit and near the orbifold point, and find a striking similarity between the descriptions of holomorphic bundles and BPS branes in these two limits. We use these results to develop a general picture of the spectrum. We also suggest a generalization of some of the ideas to the quintic Calabi-Yau.Comment: harvmac, 45 pp. (v2: added references

Comparing families of dynamic causal models

Mathematical models of scientific data can be formally compared using Bayesian model evidence. Previous applications in the biological sciences have mainly focussed on model selection in which one first selects the model with the highest evidence and then makes inferences based on the parameters of that model. This “best model” approach is very useful but can become brittle if there are a large number of models to compare, and if different subjects use different models. To overcome this shortcoming we propose the combination of two further approaches: (i) family level inference and (ii) Bayesian model averaging within families. Family level inference removes uncertainty about aspects of model structure other than the characteristic of interest. For example: What are the inputs to the system? Is processing serial or parallel? Is it linear or nonlinear? Is it mediated by a single, crucial connection? We apply Bayesian model averaging within families to provide inferences about parameters that are independent of further assumptions about model structure. We illustrate the methods using Dynamic Causal Models of brain imaging data

Women, men and coronary heart disease: a review of the qualitative literature

Aim. This paper presents a review of the qualitative literature which examines the experiences of patients with coronary heart disease. The paper also assesses whether the experiences of both female and male patients are reflected in the literature and summarizes key themes. Background. Understanding patients' experiences of their illness is important for coronary heart disease prevention and education. Qualitative methods are particularly suited to eliciting patients' detailed understandings and perceptions of illness. As much previous research has been 'gender neutral', this review pays particular attention to gender. Methods. Published papers from 60 qualitative studies were identified for the review through searches in MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL, PREMEDLINE, PsychINFO, Social Sciences Citation Index and Web of Science using keywords related to coronary heart disease. Findings. Early qualitative studies of patients with coronary heart disease were conducted almost exclusively with men, and tended to generalize from 'male' experience to 'human' experience. By the late 1990s this pattern had changed, with the majority of studies including women and many being conducted with solely female samples. However, many studies that include both male and female coronary heart disease patients still do not have a specific gender focus. Key themes in the literature include interpreting symptoms and seeking help, belief about coronary 'candidates' and relationships with health professionals. The influence of social roles is important: many female patients have difficulties reconciling family responsibilities and medical advice, while male patients worry about being absent from work. Conclusions. There is a need for studies that compare the experiences of men and women. There is also an urgent need for work that takes masculinity and gender roles into account when exploring the experiences of men with coronary heart disease

5‑Substituted Pyridine-2,4-dicarboxylate Derivatives Have Potential for Selective Inhibition of Human Jumonji‑C Domain-Containing Protein 5

Jumonji-C domain-containing protein 5 (JMJD5) is a 2-oxoglutarate (2OG)-dependent oxygenase that plays important roles in development, circadian rhythm, and cancer through unclear mechanisms. JMJD5 has been reported to have activity as a histone protease, as an Nε-methyl lysine demethylase, and as an arginine residue hydroxylase. Small-molecule JMJD5-selective inhibitors will be useful for investigating its (patho)physiological roles. Following the observation that the broad-spectrum 2OG oxygenase inhibitor pyridine-2,4-dicarboxylic acid (2,4-PDCA) is a 2OG-competing JMJD5 inhibitor, we report that 5-aminoalkyl-substituted 2,4-PDCA derivatives are potent JMJD5 inhibitors manifesting selectivity for JMJD5 over other human 2OG oxygenases. Crystallographic analyses with five inhibitors imply induced fit binding and reveal that the 2,4-PDCA C5 substituent orients into the JMJD5 substrate-binding pocket. Cellular studies indicate that the lead compounds display similar phenotypes as reported for clinically observed JMJD5 variants, which have a reduced catalytic activity compared to wild-type JMJD5

Using a stair horizontal-vertical illusion to increase foot clearance over an inconsistently taller stair-riser

Introduction: Stair falls can be caused by inconsistent stair dimensions. During ascent, inconsistently taller stair risers lead to reduced foot clearances as the inconsistency goes unnoticed. A stair horizontal-vertical illusion increases perceived riser heights and foot clearance and could offset reduced foot clearances over inconsistently taller risers, though this might impact other stair safety measures. Method: Twelve participants (age: 22 (3) years) ascended a seven-step staircase under three conditions: i) all steps consistent in riser height (consistent), ii) a 1cm increase in step 5 riser height (inconsistent) and iii) a 1cm increase in step 5 riser height, superimposed with a stair horizontal-vertical illusion (illusion). Vertical foot clearance, foot overhang, and margins of stability were assessed over step 4, 5 and 6. Perceived riser height due to the illusion was determined through a computer perception test. A One-Way Repeated Measures ANOVA compared biomechanical variables between conditions. A One Sample t test compared perceived riser height to the true height. Results: Over the inconsistent step 5, foot clearance reduced by 0.8cm compared to consistent. Illusion increased foot clearance by 1.1cm and decreased foot overhang by 4% compared to inconsistent. On step 4 the illusion led to more anterior instability compared to inconsistent. Illusion and inconsistent led to more mediolateral stability compared to consistent. The illusion increased perceived riser height by 12%. Discussion: Foot clearance reductions over inconsistently taller risers can be offset by a stair horizontal-vertical illusion. Additional benefits included a safer foot overhang and unaffected stability over the inconsistent riser. Changes to step 4 stability might have resulted from leaning forward to look at the step 5 illusion. The stair horizontal-vertical illusion could be a practical solution for inconsistently taller stair risers, where a rebuild is usually the only solution

Coping with the Lionfish Invasion: can targeted removals yield beneficial effects?

Invasive species generate significant environmental and economic costs, with maintenance management constituting a major expenditure. Such costs are generated by invasive Indo-Pacific lionfish (Pterois spp.) that further threaten already stressed coral reefs in the western Atlantic Ocean and Caribbean Sea. This brief review documents rapid range expansion and potential impacts of lionfish. In addition, preliminary experimental data from targeted removals contribute to debates about maintenance management. Removals at sites off Little Cayman Island shifted the size frequency distribution of remaining lionfish toward smaller individuals whose stomachs contained less prey and fewer fish. Fewer lionfish and decreased predation on threatened grouper, herbivores and other economically and ecologically important fishes represent key steps toward protecting reefs. However, complete evaluation of success requires long-term data detailing immigration and recruitment by lionfish, compensatory growth and reproduction of lionfish, reduced direct effects on prey assemblages, and reduced indirect effects mediated by competition for food. Preventing introductions is the best way to avoid impacts from invasive species and early detection linked to rapid response ranks second. Nevertheless, results from this case study suggest that targeted removals represent a viable option for shifting direct impacts of invasive lionfish away from highly vulnerable components of ecosystems