Self-Efficacy Belief and the Influential Coach: An Examination of Collegiate Athletes

Self-efficacy beliefs related to the performance of a task have been identified as strong predictors of performance success. Research has hypothesized that the most influential contextual factor in athlete self-efficacy development is the athlete-coach relationship, yet there is little research on this relationship. The purpose of this study was to examine collegiate athletes’ perceptions of the prevalence of transformative and destructive coaches, the teaching methods athletes perceive to be transformative (strengthening self-efficacy belief), and the influence of coaching methods on sport self-efficacy belief. Just over two-thirds of the athletes expressed having transformative coaches while over one-third experienced coaches they defined as destructive, with many of these coaches utilizing overtly abusive tactics. This positive and negative exposure was significantly related to athlete self-efficacy belief. Transformative coaching methods were highlighted which add to the body of sport management research by highlighting how coaches influence performance beliefs of their athletes

The role of giving and receiving emotional support in depressive symptomatology among older couples: An application of the actor-partner interdependence model

The present study investigated whether perception of receiving emotional support mediates the relationship between one partner’s giving of emotional support and the other partner’s depressive symptomatology using a population-based sample of 423 couples from the Changing Lives of Older Couples study. A path model was used guided by the Actor-Partner Interdependence Model. Results indicated that spouses’ giving emotional support was related to the degree to which their spouse reported receiving emotional support. Perception of receiving emotional support, in turn, was related to lower depressive symptomatology of the support recipient. Both husbands and wives can benefit from emotional support through their perception of receiving emotional support, and spouses’ perceptions, as well as their actions, should be considered in support transactions

Omega-Matter from the Temperature-Redshift Distribution of EMSS Clusters of Galaxies

We constrain Omega_m through a maximum likelihood analysis of temperatures and redshifts of the high-redshift clusters from the EMSS. We simultaneously fit the low-redshift Markevitch (1998) sample (an all-sky sample from ROSAT with z=0.04- 0.09), a moderate redshift EMSS sample from Henry (1997) (9 clusters with z=0.3- 0.4), and a more distant EMSS sample (5 clusters with z=0.5-0.83 from Donahue et al. 1999) finding best-fit values of Omega_m = 0.45+/-0.1 for an open universe and Omega_m=0.27+/-0.1 for a flat universe. We analyze the effects of our governing assumptions, including the evolution and dispersion of the cluster L-T relation, the evolution and dispersion of the cluster M-T relation, the choice of low-redshift cluster sample, and the accuracy of the standard Press-Schechter formalism. We examine whether the existence of the massive distant cluster MS1054-0321 skews our results and find its effect to be small. From our maximum likelihood analysis we conclude that our results are not very sensitive to our assumptions, and bootstrap analysis shows that our results are not sensitive to the current temperature measurement uncertainties. The systematic uncertainties are ~+/- 0.1, and Omega_m=1 universes are ruled out at greater than 99.7% (3 sigma confidence.Comment: 11 pages, 2 figures. Accepted to Astrophysical Journal Letters July 22, 199

Genomic architecture of adaptive color pattern divergence and convergence in Heliconius butterflies

Identifying the genetic changes driving adaptive variation in natural populations is key to understanding the origins of biodiversity. The mosaic of mimetic wing patterns in Heliconius butterflies makes an excellent system for exploring adaptive variation using next-generation sequencing. In this study, we use a combination of techniques to annotate the genomic interval modulating red color pattern variation, identify a narrow region responsible for adaptive divergence and convergence in Heliconius wing color patterns, and explore the evolutionary history of these adaptive alleles. We use whole genome resequencing from four hybrid zones between divergent color pattern races of Heliconius erato and two hybrid zones of the co-mimic Heliconius melpomene to examine genetic variation across 2.2 Mb of a partial reference sequence. In the intergenic region near optix, the gene previously shown to be responsible for the complex red pattern variation in Heliconius, population genetic analyses identify a shared 65-kb region of divergence that includes several sites perfectly associated with phenotype within each species. This region likely contains multiple cis-regulatory elements that control discrete expression domains of optix. The parallel signatures of genetic differentiation in H. erato and H. melpomene support a shared genetic architecture between the two distantly related co-mimics; however, phylogenetic analysis suggests mimetic patterns in each species evolved independently. Using a combination of next-generation sequencing analyses, we have refined our understanding of the genetic architecture of wing pattern variation in Heliconius and gained important insights into the evolution of novel adaptive phenotypes in natural populations

Changes in carbon and nitrogen stocks following conversion of plantation forest to dairy pasture on Vitrands (Pumice Soils), New Zealand

Between 1990 and 2010 some New Zealand plantation forests underwent deforestation to establish dairy farms. The main area of land-use conversion to pasture is to the north of Lake Taupo in the Central North Island (Figures 1 and 2). Pinus radiata (radiata pine) plantations were established in the late 1920s-early 1930s because the Vitrands (Pumice Soils) predominant in the Central North Island were deficient in Co and other trace elements, causing a fatal stock disease in sheep and cattle known as ‘bush sickness’. Bush sickness was subsequently rectified in the mid-1930s with the regular addition of Co, so pastoral farming became viable. The high price of milk solids has recently led to renewed interest in dairying. Recent studies have shown carbon can accumulate following deforestation and establishment of pasture (Fearnside and Barbosa, 1998; Murty et al. 2002; Hedley et al. 2009). However, more information on the rate of accumulation of carbon after deforestation is needed. Increases in soil carbon can improve physical and chemical soil properties, and is an important store of global carbon

Nasal Epithelial Cells of Donor Origin after Allogeneic Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation are Generated at a Faster Rate in the First 3 Months Compared with Later Posttransplantation

Detection of donor-type epithelial cells (ECs) after allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (allo-HCT) using XY chromosome fluorescein in situ hybridization (FISH) has suggested that hematopoietic stem cells carry a degree of developmental plasticity. This is controversial, given artifacts of XY-based detection and the possibility of hematopoietic–nonhematopoietic cell fusion. Moreover, the kinetics of donor-type ECs (quantity at different time points after transplant) is unknown. Here, we document unequivocally the existence of donor-type ECs using a method obviating the artifacts of XY-FISH and study their kinetics. Nasal scrapings and blood specimens were collected from 60 allo-HCT survivors between 7 days and 22 years posttransplantation. DNA extracted from laser-captured nasal ECs (ie, CK+CD45− cells) and blood leukocytes was polymerase chain reaction–amplified for a panel of 16 short tandem repeat markers. The median percentage of donor-type ECs (among nasal ECs) was 0% on day 7 posttransplantation, 2.8% at 3 months posttransplantation, and 8.5% at 12-22 years posttransplantation. Cell fusion was ruled out by FISH analysis for two autosomes. We conclude that donor-type nasal ECs exist after HCT, and that their percentage rises rapidly in the first 3 months posttransplantation and more slowly thereafter

Supporting Parental Decisions About Genomic Sequencing for Newborn Screening: The NC NEXUS Decision Aid

Advances in genomic sequencing technology have raised fundamental challenges to the traditional ways genomic information is communicated. These challenges will become increasingly complex and will affect a much larger population in the future if genomics is incorporated into standard newborn screening practice. Clinicians, public health officials, and other stakeholders will need to agree on the types of information that they should seek and communicate to parents. Currently, few evidence-based and validated tools are available to support parental informed decision-making. These tools will be necessary as genomics is integrated into clinical practice and public health systems. In this article we describe how the North Carolina Newborn Exome Sequencing for Universal Screening study is addressing the need to support parents in making informed decisions about the use of genomic testing in newborn screening. We outline the context for newborn screening and justify the need for parental decision support. We also describe the process of decision aid development and the data sources, processes, and best practices being used in development. By the end of the study, we will have an evidenced-based process and validated tools to support parental informed decision-making about the use of genomic sequencing in newborn screening. Data from the study will help answer important questions about which genomic information ought to be sought and communicated when testing newborns

Mediators of fruit and vegetable consumption among colorectal cancer survivors

Due to early detection and treatment, survival from colorectal cancer (CRC) diagnosis has been steadily increasing. A CRC diagnosis could be considered a “teachable moment,” a time when interventionists might successfully promote dietary changes. CRC interventions with tailored print communication (TPC) and telephone motivational interviewing (TMI) have been shown to be effective in promoting fruit and vegetable consumption (FVC) among CRC survivors. However, little is known about how these interventions work to exert their effect. This study investigated whether information processes mediate the relationship between a CRC intervention and FVC among CRC survivors

Translational control of E2f1 regulates the Drosophila cell cycle

E2F transcription factors are master regulators of the eukaryotic cell cycle. In Drosophila, the sole activating E2F, E2F1, is both required for and sufficient to promote G1 -> S progression. E2F1 activity is regulated both by binding to RB Family repressors and by posttranscriptional control of E2F1 protein levels by the EGFR and TOR signaling pathways. Here, we investigate cis-regulatory elements in the E2f1 messenger RNA (mRNA) that enable E2f1 translation to respond to these signals and promote mitotic proliferation of wing imaginal disc and intestinal stem cells. We show that small upstream open reading frames (uORFs) in the 5' untranslated region (UTR) of the E2f1 mRNA limit its translation, impacting rates of cell proliferation. E2f1 transgenes lacking these 5'UTR uORFs caused TOR-independent expression and excess cell proliferation, suggesting that TOR activity can bypass uORF-mediated translational repression. EGFR signaling also enhanced translation but through a mechanism less dependent on 50'TR uORFs. Further, we mapped a region in the E2f1 mRNA that contains a translational enhancer, which may also be targeted by TOR signaling. This study reveals translational control mechanisms through which growth signaling regulates cell cycle progression.Peer reviewe