Giving in to Group Pressure: The Impact of Socialization and Risk on Perceived Outcomes

The current study applies the perspective of decision theory to understanding how choices are made in an in-group setting involving social pressure and risk. Two hundred sixty-one undergraduate students provided assessments of consequences associated with illegally consuming alcohol in different environments with differing degrees of risk. In addition, size of the social group was varied as three, four, or nine. In order to determine the moderating effects, if any, of susceptibility to social influence, a measure of socialization was included. Results provide strong support for socialization as an explanation for how individuals interpret risk-related social situations

Housing and Ageing:Let’s get serious-“how do you plan for the future while addressing immediate chaos?"

This article presents findings from the Housing and Ageing programme conducted in 2018 that investigated how the housing sector can effectively plan for an ageing population. The project took a transdisciplinary approach to focus on new, critical insights into the process of decision making concerning housing and ageing across Scotland, England and Wales. A ‘Serious Game’ methodology was developed that explored over 200 policy maker, practitioner and service user perspectives. This was used as a framework to capture priorities, decisions, negotiations and processes that indicate how a ‘sense of place’ and ‘place belonging’ can influence the development of suitable housing for older people. Key housing provision challenges identified were tackling inequality, preserving autonomy, in(ter)dependence, empowerment and accessibility. Such challenges need consideration when strategically planning for the future. The findings recommend placing housing at the heart of service integration to support the co-production of decisions that emphasise the importance of working together across boundaries within social policy, service and stakeholder groups. A place-based approach can support the perception that we are all stakeholders in ageing

Weight change and ovarian steroid profiles in young women

Objective: To investigate possible short-term effects of voluntary weight loss on ovarian steroid profiles in young women, in light of better established long-term effects in older women. Design: We tested for an association of voluntary weight change over the course of a menstrual cycle with salivary E2 and P profiles in the same menstrual cycle. Setting: Students were recruited in a college residence hall, and they provided daily saliva samples to a researcher living nearby. Patient(s): The 65 women who participated were all college students and ranged in age between 18 and 23 years. Intervention(s): None. Main Outcome Measure(s): Weight was assessed in the first week of the menstrual cycle and first week of the following menstrual cycle. Estradiol and P were measured by radioimmunoassay in daily saliva samples. Result(s): We did not detect a suppressive effect of weight loss on the overall level of either hormone. However, we did find evidence for more distinct follicular and luteal E2 peaks in women who gained weight. Peak luteal P also arrived about 2 days earlier in women who gained weight. Conclusion(s): This finding adds to evidence that short-term response of ovarian function to weight loss in young women is less pronounced than long-term response in older women.AnthropologyHuman Evolutionary Biolog

Hematological Changes in Women and Infants Exposed to an AZT-Containing Regimen for Prevention of Mother-to-child-transmission of HIV in Tanzania.

Tanzanian guidelines for prevention of mother-to-child-transmission of HIV (PMTCT) recommend an antiretroviral combination regimen involving zidovudine (AZT) during pregnancy, single-dosed nevirapine at labor onset, AZT plus Lamivudine (3TC) during delivery, and AZT/3TC for 1-4 weeks postpartum. As drug toxicities are a relevant concern, we assessed hematological alterations in AZT-exposed women and their infants. A cohort of HIV-positive women, either with AZT intake (n = 82, group 1) or without AZT intake (n = 62, group 2) for PMTCT during pregnancy, was established at Kyela District Hospital, Tanzania. The cohort also included the infants of group 1 with an in-utero AZT exposure ≥4 weeks, receiving AZT for 1 week postpartum (n = 41), and infants of group 2 without in-utero AZT exposure, receiving a prolonged 4-week AZT tail (n = 58). Complete blood counts were evaluated during pregnancy, birth, weeks 4-6 and 12. For women of group 1 with antenatal AZT intake, we found a statistically significant decrease in hemoglobin level, red blood cells, white blood cells, granulocytes, as well as an increase in red cell distribution width and platelet count. At delivery, the median red blood cell count was significantly lower and the median platelet count was significantly higher in women of group 1 compared to group 2. At birth, infants from group 1 showed a lower median hemoglobin level and granulocyte count and a higher frequency of anemia and granulocytopenia. At 4-6 weeks postpartum, the mean neutrophil granulocyte count was significantly lower and neutropenia was significantly more frequent in infants of group 2. AZT exposure during pregnancy as well as after birth resulted in significant hematological alterations for women and their newborns, although these changes were mostly mild and transient in nature. Research involving larger cohorts is needed to further analyze the impact of AZT-containing regimens on maternal and infant health

The Ursinus Weekly, May 22, 1975

Dr. Cope accepts history post at U. of Nebraska • Questionnaire summarized • UC faculty hears speaker from AAUP • U.C. Plans for Bicentennial • From the cluttered desk of the U.S.G.A. president • George Bause wins Scotland scholarship • Editorial: Last moments • Focus: Ms. Swanson • Wolsey Hall: British study • Alvarez attends seminar • Changes at library: Dr. Yost resigns post • Letters to the editor: Pets • Alumni elects • Intramural golf winners • Senior comments: Geoffery Higgins • Commencement • Earns degree • From the president • Cub and Key elects • Senior Spotlight: Dave McNamara • Reflections • Spring festival review • Study center success • New professors appointed • Ursinus bear squad • Volunteers needed at Pennhurst • Mulch queen contest • Concert review: Jesse Colin Young • Miller chosen • Dick Allen returns • Lacrosse wins 2 • Women\u27s tennis given team honors • Baseball: Season ends wrap-up • New results • Golf wins seven • Faculty-student net tournament • Intramural winnershttps://digitalcommons.ursinus.edu/weekly/1039/thumbnail.jp

The Ursinus Weekly, May 22, 1975

Dr. Cope accepts history post at U. of Nebraska • Questionnaire summarized • UC faculty hears speaker from AAUP • U.C. Plans for Bicentennial • From the cluttered desk of the U.S.G.A. president • George Bause wins Scotland scholarship • Editorial: Last moments • Focus: Ms. Swanson • Wolsey Hall: British study • Alvarez attends seminar • Changes at library: Dr. Yost resigns post • Letters to the editor: Pets • Alumni elects • Intramural golf winners • Senior comments: Geoffery Higgins • Commencement • Earns degree • From the president • Cub and Key elects • Senior Spotlight: Dave McNamara • Reflections • Spring festival review • Study center success • New professors appointed • Ursinus bear squad • Volunteers needed at Pennhurst • Mulch queen contest • Concert review: Jesse Colin Young • Miller chosen • Dick Allen returns • Lacrosse wins 2 • Women\u27s tennis given team honors • Baseball: Season ends wrap-up • New results • Golf wins seven • Faculty-student net tournament • Intramural winnershttps://digitalcommons.ursinus.edu/weekly/1039/thumbnail.jp

Ultra-low temperature structure determination of a Mn12 single-molecule magnet and the interplay between lattice solvent and structural disorder

We have determined the ultra-low temperature crystal structure of the archetypal single-molecule magnet (SMM) [Mn12O12(O2CMe)16(H2O)4]·4H2O·2MeCO2H (1) at 2 K, by using a combination of single-crystal X-ray and single-crystal neutron diffraction. This is the first structural study of any SMM in the same temperature regime where slow magnetic relaxation occurs. We reveal an additional hydrogen bonding interaction between the {Mn12} cluster and its solvent of crystallisation, which shows how the lattice solvent transmits disorder to the acetate ligands in the {Mn12} complex. Unusual quantum properties observed in 1 have long been attributed to disorder. Hence, we studied the desolvation products of 1, in order to understand precisely the influence of lattice solvent on the structure of the cluster. We present two new axially symmetric structures corresponding to different levels of desolvation of 1, [Mn12O12(O2CMe)16(H2O)4]·4H2O (2) and [Mn12O12(O2CMe)16(H2O)4] (3). In 2, removal of acetic acid of crystallisation largely resolves positional disorder in the affected acetate ligands, whereas removal of lattice water molecules further resolves the acetate ligand disorder in 3. Due to the absence of acetic acid of crystallisation, both 2 and 3 have true, unbroken S4 symmetry, showing for the first time that it is possible to prepare fully axial Mn12–acetate analogues from 1, via single-crystal to single-crystal transformations

Secondary school pupils' preferences for different types of structured grouping practices

The aim of this paper is to explore pupils’ preferences for particular types of grouping practices an area neglected in earlier research focusing on the personal and social outcomes of ability grouping. The sample comprised over 5,000 year 9 pupils (aged 13-14 years) in 45 mixed secondary comprehensive schools in England. The schools represented three levels of ability grouping in the lower school (years 7 to 9). Pupils responded to a questionnaire which explored the types of grouping that they preferred and the reasons for their choices. The majority of pupils preferred setting, although this was mediated by their set placement, type of school, socio-economic status and gender. The key reason given for this preference was that it enabled work to be matched to learning needs. The paper considers whether there are other ways of achieving this avoiding the negative social and personal outcomes of setting for some pupils