Self- and Other-Oriented Motivations Associated with Emotional Suppression of Internalized and Externalized Negative Emotions: A Multiethnic Self-Report Study in the Netherlands

We were interested in the motivations associated with emotional suppression, their relationship with negative emotions in self-reported emotional events, and their cross-cultural similarities and differences. Based on a framework of human values (Schwartz, 1994) and internalization-externalization (Krueger & Markon, 2006), we expected in the current study that self-reported motivations to suppress negative emotions are either self- or other-oriented. The sample consisted of 354 Dutch majority members, 319 immigrants from non-Western, and 368 from Western countries. The two-dimensional solution of self- and other-oriented motivations was confirmed. Non-Western immigrants scored higher on other-oriented motivation than Western immigrants, but no interethnic differences were found in self-oriented motivation. Non-Western immigrants scored higher on anxiety, compassion, guilt, and hate compared to Dutch group. Associations of negative emotions with self- and other- oriented motivation were the same in all groups. Sadness was positively related to self-oriented motivation, whereas anger was positively related to other-oriented motivation. We concluded that emotional suppression depends not only on self- or other-orientation but also on the type of emotions (internalized versus externalized) and the relationships are not influenced by ethnicity

Interethnic Similarity of Anger Suppression-Aggression Association in Conflicts in Intimate and Non-Intimate Relationships Across Ethnic Groups in the Netherlands

This study examined associations between emotional suppression, anger, and aggression in intimate (parent and friend) and non-intimate (boss and shop assistant) conflicts in a vignette study conducted among immigrants and majority group members in the Netherlands. The sample consisted of 456 Dutch majority group members, 445 immigrants from non-Western, and 477 immigrants from Western countries. Path analyses showed that anger fully mediated the emotion suppression-aggression relationship in a similar way across groups and conflicts with a parent, boss, and shop assistant (only in a conflict situation with a boss, emotional suppression and anger were both directly related to aggression). As expected, non-Western immigrants experienced less anger in these conflicts. However, no interethnic differences were found in the tendency to suppress anger and aggression in any conflict situation. We could not replicate earlier observed cross-cultural differences in obedience, hierarchy, and restriction of emotional expression among the samples. We concluded that non-Western immigrants do not seem to differ in management of anger in interpersonal conflict situations from Western groups

Semantic Priming of Colored Signs in the Peripheral Vision during Electronic Text Reading

This study explores if peripheral colored ambient light or colored light can be noticed and semantically associated with text while reading a novel from an Electronic Visual Display (EVD). Additionally, it is investigated if those colored signs are perceived as supplementary to the story and result in a more immersive experience. For that purpose, a user evaluation study was performed based on attention theory (selective attention, semantic priming, and divided attention), reading behavior, and semantics of colors. Participants received a reading assignment. While reading a novel from an e-book, dynamic colored ambient light or colored light was emitted. Throughout the reading assignment, the colors were adapted to the particular scenes the participant was reading. Findings suggest that attention can be divided between reading the novel from an EVD and the ambient color signs

The role of perceived discrimination, intergroup contact and adoption in acculturation among four Dutch immigrant groups

Perceived discrimination, intergroup contact and acceptance are often encountered during acculturation processes. Based on large-scale survey data collected in the Netherlands among Antillean-Dutch, Moroccan-Dutch, Surinamese-Dutch, and Turkish-Dutch immigrant groups, re-lations were tested between acculturation antecedents (perceived discrimination, intergroup con-tact, and perceived acceptance), mediating conditions (cultural maintenance and cultural adoption), and acculturation outcomes (psychological and sociocultural outcomes). Confirmatory factor analyses pointed to adequate psychometric qualities for all concepts in the total group and to invariance in the four Dutch immigrant groups. Structural equation modeling revealed a very good fit for our model in the total group and the four immigrant groups. The acculturation model captured similar experiences, notwithstanding the different cultural backgrounds of the four groups. Experiencing discrimination had a direct negative effect on sociocultural and psycho-logical outcomes such as well-being, and indirectly via cultural adoption. The frequency of im-migrants’ contacts with various groups positively affected adopting the new culture and maintaining their own. This implies both attitudes are needed, that is, appreciating their back-ground culture while also having a positive attitude toward Dutch society and more confidence in sociocultural skills. Surinamese-Dutch appeared to best fit the described acculturation process. However, there were also some differential effects. For example, for the Turkish-Dutch group, experiencing more discrimination did not result in a more negative attitude toward Dutch society. In addition, for Antillean-Dutch the frequency of contact with various cultures had no direct effect on mediating conditions. Further research should uncover general acculturation mechanisms without neglecting singular patterns within the various immigrant groups

Supplementation with Bio-Calcium from Shells Pinctada Maxima in Postmenopausal Women with Decreased Mineral Bone Density – Pilot Study

Introduction Treatment of osteoporosis, in addition to a specific antiresorptive or anabolic treatment, requires supplementation with calcium and vitamin D. Widespread cultivation of pearl shells has made pearls available for commercial use for a very reasonable price. The main chemical compound of pearls from shells Pinctada maxima is calcium-carbonate (CaCO 3). Recently developed technologies applied in a micronisation process have provided increased gastrointestinal resorption of calcium, estimated at over 90 % of calcium intake

Beneficial implications of sugar beet proteinase inhibitor BvSTI on plant architecture and salt stress tolerance in Lotus corniculatus L.

Food demands of increasing human population dictate intensification of livestock production, however, environmental stresses could jeopardize producers' efforts. Forage legumes suffer from yield losses and poor nutritional status due to salinity increase of agricultural soils. As tools aimed to reduce negative impacts of biotic or abiotic stresses, proteinase inhibitors (PIs) have been promoted for biotechnological improvements. In order to increase tolerance of Lotus corniculatus L. to salt stress, serine PI, BvSTI, was introduced into this legume using Agrobacterium rhizogenes, with final transformation efficiency of 4.57%. PCR, DNA gel-blot, RT-PCR and in-gel protein activity assays confirmed the presence and activity of BvSTI products in transformed lines. Plants from three selected transgenic lines (21, 73 and 109) showed significant alterations in overall phenotypic appearance, corresponding to differences in BvSTI accumulation. Lines 73 and 109 showed up to 7.3-fold higher number of tillers and massive, up to 5.8-fold heavier roots than in nontransformed controls (NTC). Line 21 was phenotypically similar to NTC, accumulated less BvSTI transcripts and did not exhibit an additional band of recombinant trypsin inhibitor as seen in lines 73 and 109. Exposure of the transgenic lines to NaCl revealed different levels of salt stress susceptibility. The NaCl sensitivity index, based on morphological appearance and chlorophyll concentrations showed that lines 73 and 109 were significantly less affected by salinity than NTC or line 21. High level of BvSTI altered morphology and delayed salt stress related senescence, implicating BvSTI gene as a promising tool for salinity tolerance improvement trials in L. corniculatus