Showing papers by "Denison University published in 2021"
TL;DR: In this paper, the Koru Mindfulness (KM) group therapy was used to help students cope with academic and COVID-19-related stressors by improving mindfulness and self-compassion.
Abstract: COVID-19 brought significant challenges to college students in Spring 2020 Mindfulness-based interventions might help students cope with COVID-19-related stressors in at least three ways: by cultivating attention that is self-directed rather than reactive to a rapidly changing situation;by teaching the acceptance and regulation of negative thoughts and feelings;and by encouraging individuals to view adverse events non-judgementally and as opportunities for growth The purpose of our study was to determine whether Koru Mindfulness (KM), a four-week, mindfulness-based group therapy designed for emerging adults, could help students cope with COVID-19-related stress and anxiety Students were assigned to either KM or waitlist at the beginning of the 2020 Spring semester Assessment of students? functioning occurred at baseline before the onset of COVID-19, mid-semester at the height of the COVID-19 crisis on campus, and the end of the semester after students had returned home and transitioned to remote learning After treatment, KM participants reported greater mindfulness and self-compassion and less stress, anxiety and sleep problems than controls KM participants also showed superior functioning on performance-based measures of attention Most gains were maintained over time Increased mindfulness mediated the relationship between KM and reductions in stress and anxiety KM can help students cope with academic and COVID-19-related stressors by improving mindfulness
39 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, an energy gap quantum yield master equation (EQME) was derived to describe the fundamental limits in SWIR quantum yields for organic chromophores for NIR/SWIR emitters.
28 citations
TL;DR: The authors found that individuals are more likely to identify with the party in which they believe their group is well represented, a finding which clarifies the role of party image shifts in constructing partisanship, the limits of the culture war motif, and the importance of social perception in shaping beliefs about party representation.
Abstract: While groups have been central to thinking about partisan identity and choices, there has been surprisingly little attention paid to the role of perceptions of the group composition of the parties. We explore this critical linking information in the context of religious groups, some of the chief pivots around which the parties have been sorting. Using three national samples, we show that perceptions of the religious group composition of the parties are often biased—evangelicals overestimate the presence of evangelicals within the Republican Party and the irreligious within the Democratic Party. The key finding is that individuals are far more likely to identify with the party in which they believe their group is well represented—a finding which clarifies the role of party image shifts in constructing partisanship, the limits of the culture war motif, and the importance of social perception in shaping beliefs about party representation.
20 citations
TL;DR: Data from the National Survey of American Life (NSAL), the largest and most detailed survey on Blacks residing in the United States, were analyzed and found associations between help-seeking utilization and sociodemographic factors.
Abstract: This article examined general help-seeking utilization and barriers among U.S. Black women reporting severe physical intimate partner violence (IPV). Data from the National Survey of American Life ...
17 citations
TL;DR: The authors assess how holding prosperity gospel views strongly shaped perceptions of the virus and reactions to state responses to the virus, and find that prosperity gospel beliefs systematically undermine that possibility by augmenting threat, raising outgroup barriers, and decreasing social trust.
Abstract: The sweep of the coronavirus pandemic across the world and the United States offers an almost unparalleled opportunity to study how social systems cope with the threat and opportunities for collective action. In this paper, we draw on survey data collected as the United States flailed in response and before a general consensus among executive officeholders developed in the following weeks. In particular, we assess how holding prosperity gospel views strongly shaped perceptions of the virus and reactions to state responses to the virus. Research on the prosperity gospel is slowly expanding and this paper helps to highlight some missing dimensions. At a time when concerted action for the social good could be uniting the country, prosperity gospel beliefs systematically undermine that possibility by augmenting threat, raising outgroup barriers, and decreasing social trust.
15 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, a triple therapy of vascular endothelial growth factor-A (VEGF-PlGF-2123-144), platelet-derived growth factorBB (PDGF-BB, PlGF- 2 123-144, and heparin-binding epidermal growth factor (HB-EGF-Pl GF-2 123- 144) was shown to improve wound healing and remained at the site of administration for significantly longer than wild-type growth factors.
Abstract: Chronic non-healing wounds, frequently caused by diabetes, lead to lower quality of life, infection, and amputation. These wounds have limited treatment options. We have previously engineered growth factors to bind to exposed extracellular matrix (ECM) in the wound environment using the heparin-binding domain of placental growth factor-2 (PlGF-2123-144), which binds promiscuously to ECM proteins. Here, in the type 1 diabetic (T1D) NOD mouse model, engineered growth factors (eGFs) improved both re-epithelialization and granulation tissue formation. eGFs were even more potent in combination, and the "triple therapy" of vascular endothelial growth factor-A (VEGF-PlGF-2123-144), platelet-derived growth factor-BB (PDGF-BB-PlGF-2123-144), and heparin-binding epidermal growth factor (HB-EGF-PlGF-2123-144) both improved wound healing and remained at the site of administration for significantly longer than wild-type growth factors. In addition, we also found that changes in the cellular milieu of a wound, including changing amounts of M1 macrophages, M2 macrophages and effector T cells, are most predictive of wound-healing success in the NOD mouse model. These results suggest that the triple therapy of VEGF-PlGF-2123-144, PDGF-BB-PlGF-2123-144, and HB-EGF-PlGF-2123-144 may be an effective therapy for chronic non-healing wounds in that occur as a complication of diabetes.
13 citations
TL;DR: The results suggest weak bottom-up regulation in the experimental community, but strong top-down regulation, emphasizing the potential consequences of introducing non-native Western Mosquitofish to native aquatic ecosystems.
Abstract: Introduction of exotic predators or runoff of fertilizers can alter aquatic food webs, in particular zooplankton communities, through top-down and bottom-up effects. In a mesocosm experiment, we manipulated the density of Western Mosquitofish (Gambusia affinis) and nutrient levels (nitrate and phosphate independently) and observed effects on zooplankton and phytoplankton in a fall, temperate zone system. If top-down regulation were important, we expected mosquitofish predation to reduce zooplankton abundance, which would indirectly benefit phytoplankton. If bottom-up regulation were important, we expected nutrient addition to increase both primary producers and zooplankton. Western Mosquitofish predation significantly decreased the abundance of several zooplankton taxa, resulting in a trophic cascade with increased chlorophyll a (i.e., primary productivity). This effect did not differ between mesocosms with 5 or 10 fish. Nutrient addition had no significant effects on zooplankton; however, chlorophyll a was positively affected by both nitrogen addition and phosphorus addition. Our results suggest weak bottom-up regulation in our experimental community, but strong top-down regulation, emphasizing the potential consequences of introducing non-native Western Mosquitofish to native aquatic ecosystems.
10 citations
TL;DR: In this article, contractive projections, isometries, and real positive maps on algebras of operators on a Hilbert space were studied, and a new Banach-Stone type theorem was proved for real positive projections.
Abstract: We study contractive projections, isometries, and real positive maps on algebras of operators on a Hilbert space. For example we find generalizations and variants of certain classical results on contractive projections on C*-algebras and JB-algebras due to Choi, Effros, Stormer, Friedman and Russo, and others. In fact most of our arguments generalize to contractive `real positive' projections on Jordan operator algebras, that is on a norm-closed space A of operators on a Hilbert space which are closedunder the Jordan product. We also prove many new general results on real positive maps which are foundational to the study of such maps, and of interest in their own right. We also prove a new Banach-Stone type theorem for isometries between operator algebras or Jordan operator algebras. An application of this is given to the characterization of symmetric real positive projections.
10 citations
TL;DR: This paper examined the interdependency between changes in abundance, evenness and richness more than 1100 assemblages sampled either through time or across space, and found that changes in species richness and relative abundance were strongly correlated for assemblage sampled through time, meaning temporal changes in local biodiversity showed greater inertia and stronger relationships between the components changes when compared to site-to-site variation.
Abstract: Biodiversity metrics often integrate data on the presence and abundance of multiple species. Yet our understanding of how changes to the numbers of individuals, the evenness of species’ relative abundances, and the total number of species covary remains limited, both theoretically and empirically. Using individual-based rarefaction curves, we first show how expected positive relationships among changes in abundance, evenness and richness arise, and how they can break down. We then examined the interdependency between changes in abundance, evenness and richness more than 1100 assemblages sampled either through time or across space. As expected, richness changes were greatest when abundance and evenness changed in the same direction, whereas countervailing changes in abundance and evenness acted to constrain the magnitude of changes in species richness. Site-to-site variation in diversity was greater than rates of change through time. Moreover, changes in abundance, evenness, and richness were often spatially decoupled, and pairwise relationships between changes in these components were weak between sites. In contrast, changes in species richness and relative abundance were strongly correlated for assemblages sampled through time, meaning temporal changes in local biodiversity showed greater inertia and stronger relationships between the components changes when compared to site-to-site variation. Both temporal and spatial variation in local assemblage diversity were rarely attributable solely to changes in assemblage size sampling more or less of a static species abundance distribution. Instead, changing species’ relative abundances often dominate local variation in diversity. Moreover, how these altered patterns of relative abundance combine with changes to total abundance strongly determine the magnitude of richness changes. Interdependencies found here suggest looking beyond changes in abundance, evenness and richness as separate responses offering unique insights into diversity change can increase our understanding of biodiversity change.
9 citations
DOI•
01 Oct 2021
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors examined whether the risks and patterns of suicide mortality among people with a cancer diagnosis differ by US county-level median income and rural or urban status and found that people living in the lowest-income counties had a significantly higher risk (SMR, 1.30; 95% CI, 126-1.34).
Abstract: Importance Studies suggest the risk of suicide among people with cancer diagnosis is higher compared with the general population. However, little is known about how suicide risk among people diagnosed with cancer might vary according to area-level income and rurality. Objective To examine whether the risks and patterns of suicide mortality among people with a cancer diagnosis differ by US county-level median income and rural or urban status. Design, setting, and participants A retrospective, population-based cohort study following up individuals who were diagnosed with cancer between January 1, 2000, and December 31, 2016, was conducted. The Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results Program 18 registries (SEER 18) database was used to obtain data on persons diagnosed with a first primary malignant tumor. Comparisons with the general US population were based on mortality data collected by the National Center for Health Statistics. Analyses were conducted from February 22 to October 14, 2020. Exposures County-level median household income and urban or rural status. Main outcomes and measures Standardized mortality ratios (SMRs) of suicide deaths and annual percentage changes (APCs) of SMRs. Results The SEER 18 database included 5 362 782 persons with cancer diagnoses living in 635 counties. Most study participants were men (51.2%), White (72.2%), and older than 65 years (49.7%). Among them, 6357 persons died of suicide (SMR, 1.41; 95% CI, 1.38-1.44). People with cancer living in the lowest-income counties had a significantly higher risk (SMR, 1.94; 95% CI, 1.76-2.13) than those in the highest-income counties (SMR, 1.30; 95% CI, 1.26-1.34). Those living in rural counties also had significantly higher SMR than those in urban counties (SMR, 1.81; 95% CI, 1.70-1.92 vs SMR, 1.35; 95% CI, 1.32-1.39). For all county groups, the SMRs were the highest within the first year following cancer diagnosis. However, among people living in the lowest-income counties, the risk remained significantly high even after 10 or more years following cancer diagnosis (SMR, 1.83; 95% CI, 1.31-2.48). The comparative risk of suicide mortality within 1 year following cancer diagnosis significantly decreased over the years but then plateaued in the highest-income (2005-2015: APC, 2.03%; 95% CI, -0.97% to 5.13%), lowest-income (2010-2015: APC, 4.80%; 95% CI, -19.97% to 37.24%), and rural (2004-2015: APC, 1.83; 95% CI, -1.98% to 5.79%) counties. Conclusions and relevance This cohort study showed disparities in suicide risks and their patterns among people diagnosed with cancer by county-level income and rural or urban status. The findings suggest that additional research and effort to provide psychological services addressing these disparities among people with cancer may be beneficial.
9 citations
TL;DR: In this article, the authors identify sectoral contributions to labor productivity growth in thirty sub-Sahara African LDCs over 1991-2018 and assess the strength of the relation between aggregate labor productivity and its sectoral components.
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors used a high-precision theoretical approach to predict a quasibound spectrum of a negative ion using a test case due to a recent experiment that measured energies of 11 resonances in its photodetachment spectrum attributed to transitions to quasibround states.
Abstract: We demonstrated the accurate prediction of a quasibound spectrum of a negative ion using a high-precision theoretical approach. We used ${\mathrm{La}}^{\ensuremath{-}}$ as a test case due to a recent experiment that measured energies of 11 resonances in its photodetachment spectrum attributed to transitions to quasibound states [Phys. Rev. A 102, 042812 (2020)]. We identified all of the observed resonances and predicted one more peak just outside the range of the prior experiment. Following the theoretical prediction, the peak was observed at the predicted wavelength, validating the identification. The same approach is applicable to a wide range of negative ions.
TL;DR: In this article, the authors describe the way disability service providers are directed to evaluate accommodation requests, the limitations of these procedures, and the dangers of well-intentioned, but indiscriminate accommodation-granting.
Abstract: Neuropsychologists are often asked to evaluate students for attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and to provide documentation to support their requests for academic accommodations in college. Research points to the importance of multi-method, multi-informant data when evaluating ADHD and determining the need for accommodations. However, the Association on Higher Education and Disability (AHEAD) directs disability service providers to give primacy to students' self-reports and their own impressions of students' narratives over objective, third-party data when rendering accommodation decisions. The organization asserts that in many cases information from parents, teachers, and psychologists is not needed to confirm the existence of a disability or students' need for accommodations. In this article, we describe the way disability service providers are directed to evaluate accommodation requests, the limitations of these procedures, and the dangers of well-intentioned, but indiscriminate accommodation-granting. We then provide recommendations for neuropsychologists who conduct ADHD evaluations for college students in light of these professional guidelines.
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors classified species into seven unique categories of temporal dynamics based on the ordered sequence of presences and absences that each species contributes to an assemblage time series.
Abstract: The species composition of plant and animal assemblages across the globe has changed substantially over the past century. How do the dynamics of individual species cause this change? We classified species into seven unique categories of temporal dynamics based on the ordered sequence of presences and absences that each species contributes to an assemblage time series. We applied this framework to 14,434 species trajectories comprising 280 assemblages of temperate marine fishes surveyed annually for 20 or more years. Although 90% of the assemblages diverged in species composition from the baseline year, this compositional change was largely driven by only 8% of the species' trajectories. Quantifying the reorganization of assemblages based on species shared temporal dynamics should facilitate the task of monitoring and restoring biodiversity. We suggest ways in which our framework could provide informative measures of compositional change, as well as leverage future research on pattern and process in ecological systems.
TL;DR: In this article, the authors used quantitative protection factors (PFs) from hydrogen-deuterium exchange (HDX) NMR data for protein structure prediction and achieved an average improvement of 5.13 A in root-mean-square deviation (RMSD) for cases of inaccurate Rosetta predictions.
TL;DR: In this article, a triple therapy of vascular endothelial growth factor-A (VEGF-PlGF-2123-144), platelet-derived growth factorBB (PDGF-BB, PlGF2 123-144, and heparin-binding epidermal growth factor (EGF-2 123 -144) was shown to improve wound healing and remained at the site of administration for significantly longer than wild type growth factors.
Abstract: Chronic non-healing wounds, frequently caused by diabetes, lead to lower quality of life, infection, and amputation. These wounds have limited treatment options. We have previously engineered growth factors to bind to exposed extracellular matrix (ECM) in the wound environment using the heparin-binding domain of placental growth factor-2 (PlGF-2123-144), which binds promiscuously to ECM proteins. Here, in the type 1 diabetic (T1D) NOD mouse model, engineered growth factors improved both re-epithelialization and granulation tissue formation. Engineered growth factors were even more potent in combination, and the "triple therapy" of vascular endothelial growth factor-A (VEGF-PlGF-2123-144), platelet-derived growth factor-BB (PDGF-BB-PlGF-2123-144), and heparin-binding epidermal-growth factor (EGF-PlGF-2123-144) both improved wound healing and remained at the site of administration for significantly longer than wild-type growth factors. In addition, we also found that changes in the cellular milieu of a wound, including changing amounts of M1 macrophages, M2 macrophages and effector T cells, are most predictive of wound healing success in the NOD mouse model. These results suggest that the triple therapy of VEGF-PlGF-2123-144, PDGF-BB-PlGF-2123-144, and EGF-PlGF-2123-144 may be an effective therapy for chronic non-healing wounds in that occur as a complication of diabetes.
TL;DR: The authors found that differences in poverty among racial and ethnic groups can be attributed to differences in income and education levels, not race or ethnicity, and attributed these differences to different socio-economic conditions.
Abstract: Advances in poverty measurement have opened new opportunities for investigating differences in poverty among racial and ethnic groups. Some researchers have attributed differences in poverty to dif...
TL;DR: In this article, male to female intimate partner violence (IPV) among college students (dating violence) is a significant problem in the United States and most of the previous research in this area has been based upon...
Abstract: Male to female intimate partner violence (IPV) among college students (dating violence) is a significant problem in the United States. Most of the previous research in this area has been based upon...
TL;DR: Wang et al. as discussed by the authors conducted an online survey using PHQ-9, GAD-7, and several questions related to substance abuse frequency, self-injury, and suicidal thoughts, and found that Chinese international college students' mental health and substance abuse situation has been negatively influenced during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Abstract: Introduction: The outbreak of coronavirus disease has negatively impacted college students' mental health across the world. In addition, substance abuse also is trouble among these students. This study aims to find the gender difference in Chinese international college students' mental health and substance abuse during the COVID-19 pandemic. Method: We conducted an online survey using PHQ-9, GAD-7, and several questions related to substance abuse frequency, self-injury, and suicidal thoughts, 535 male and 475 female Chinese international college students whose ages ranged from 18 to 23 years old (x = 20.19, SD = 1.50) were recruited during the epidemic. We utilized t-test and binary logistic regression in our study to find out the difference and statistical significance between substance abuse issues and mental health problems across gender. Results: Both male and female Chinese international college students had statistical significance with self-injury ideas and behaviors (t = -2.21, p < 0.05). Furthermore, the male college students with anxiety problems had positive statistical significance with medicine (OR = 3.47, 95%CI = 1.45-8.30, p < 0.01) and negative statistical significance with drinks (OR = 0.23, 95%CI = 0.08-0.65, p < 0.01). While for female college students with an anxiety problem, they had positive statistical significance with medicine (OR = 4.88, 95%CI = 1.53-15.57, p < 0.01), drugs (OR = 4.48, 95%CI = 1.41-14.25, p < 0.05) and cigarettes (OR = 6.63, 95%CI = 1.95-22.57, p < 0.01) and negative statistical significance with drinks (OR = 0.18, 95%CI = -0.05 to 0.65, p < 0.01). Conclusion: This is the first cross-sectional study focusing on the Chinese international college students' mental health and substance abuse problems during the COVID-19 pandemic. We found that Chinese international college students' mental health and substance abuse situation has been negatively influenced during this period. In addition, the self-injury ideas and behaviors also showed a high tendency for these students. The findings of our study also highlight the need to find more interventions and preventions to solve the different mental health and substance abuse problems for college students, especially for female Chinese international college students.
TL;DR: In this article, the authors compared oxygen isotope (δ18O) profiles from shells of two contemporary marine bivalve mollusks (Mercenaria mercenaria and Crassostrea virginica) growing in the same locality (Cape Lookout region, North Carolina, USA).
TL;DR: In this paper, a unified classification for extended 2D aggregates using temperature dependent peak shifts, thermal broadening and quantum yields is provided, which can be tuned with the packing geometries within the aggregates providing supramolecular pathways for controlling them.
Abstract: Molecular aggregates with long-range excitonic couplings have drastically different photophysical properties compared to their monomer counterparts. From Kasha’s model for 1-dimensional systems, positive or negative excitonic couplings lead to blue or red shifted optical spectra with respect to the monomers, labelled H-and J-aggregates respectively. The overall excitonic couplings in higher dimensional systems are much more complicated and cannot be simply classified from their spectral shifts alone. Here, we provide a unified classification for extended 2D aggregates using temperature dependent peak shifts, thermal broadening and quantum yields. We
discuss the examples of six 2D aggregates with J-like absorption spectra but quite drastic changes quantum yields and superradiance. We find the origin of the differences is, in fact, a different excitonic band structure where the bright state is lower energy than the monomer but still away from the band edge. We call this an ‘I-aggregate’. Our results provide a description of the complex excitonic behaviors that cannot be explained solely on Kasha’s model. Further, such properties can be tuned with the packing geometries within the aggregates providing supramolecular pathways for controlling them. This will allow for precise optimizations of aggregate properties in their applications across the areas of optoelectronics, photonics, excitonic energy transfer, and shortwave infrared technologies.
29 Aug 2021
TL;DR: This article examined the relationship between classroom materials and discourse in various second language education contexts, and provided a collection of research that examines the relationships between classroom material and discourse, and concluded that classroom materials can be used to teach second-language education.
Abstract: This special issue provides a collection of research that examines the relationships between classroom materials and discourse in various second language education contexts. Together, these studies...
TL;DR: In this article, a detailed experimental and theoretical study of excited states in the negative ion of iridium was presented, where the ions were stored at cryogenic temperatures using the double electrostatic ion ring experiment facility at Stockholm University.
Abstract: The properties of atomic negative ions are to a large extent determined by electron-electron correlation which makes them an ideal testing ground for atomic many-body physics. In this paper, we present a detailed experimental and theoretical study of excited states in the negative ion of iridium. The ions were stored at cryogenic temperatures using the double electrostatic ion ring experiment facility at Stockholm University. Laser photodetachment was used to monitor the relaxation of three bound excited states belonging to the [Xe] $4{f}^{14}5{d}^{8}6{s}^{2}$ ionic ground configuration. Our measurements show that the first excited state has a lifetime much longer than the ion-beam storage time of $1230\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}100\phantom{\rule{0.28em}{0ex}}\mathrm{s}$. The binding energy of this state was measured to be $1.045\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.002\phantom{\rule{0.28em}{0ex}}\mathrm{eV}$. The lifetimes of the second and third excited states were experimentally determined to be $133\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}10$ and $172\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}35\phantom{\rule{0.28em}{0ex}}\mathrm{ms}$, respectively. Multiconfiguration Dirac-Hartree-Fock calculations were performed in order to extract binding energies and lifetimes. These calculations predict the existence of the third excited bound state that was detected experimentally. The computed lifetimes for the three excited bound states agree well with the experimental results and allow for a clear identification of the detected levels.
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors investigated the allosteric communication between Hsp90Ec and DnaK and how the chaperones couple their conformational cycles using elastic network models (ENM), normal mode analysis (NMA), and a structural perturbation method (SPM).
Abstract: The 70 kDa and 90 kDa heat shock proteins Hsp70 and Hsp90 are two abundant and highly conserved ATP-dependent molecular chaperones that participate in the maintenance of cellular homeostasis. In Escherichia coli, Hsp90 (Hsp90Ec) and Hsp70 (DnaK) directly interact and collaborate in protein remodeling. Previous work has produced a model of the direct interaction of both chaperones. The locations of the residues involved have been confirmed and the model has been validated. In this study, we investigate the allosteric communication between Hsp90Ec and DnaK and how the chaperones couple their conformational cycles. Using elastic network models (ENM), normal mode analysis (NMA), and a structural perturbation method (SPM) of asymmetric and symmetric DnaK-Hsp90Ec, we extract biologically relevant vibrations and identify residues involved in allosteric signaling. When one DnaK is bound, the dominant normal modes favor biological motions that orient a substrate protein bound to DnaK within the substrate/client binding site of Hsp90Ec and release the substrate from the DnaK substrate binding domain. The presence of one DnaK molecule stabilizes the entire Hsp90Ec protomer to which it is bound. Conversely, the symmetric model of DnaK binding results in steric clashes of DnaK molecules and suggests that the Hsp90Ec and DnaK chaperone cycles operate independently. Together, this data supports an asymmetric binding of DnaK to Hsp90Ec.
TL;DR: This article argued that those insights were encumbent by the authors of the article. Butterworth's lead article in the August-October special issue of Communication & Sport raised important insights about unity within sport.
Abstract: Michael Butterworth’s lead article in the August-October special issue of Communication & Sport raised important insights about unity within sport. This reply argues that those insights were encumb...
01 Jan 2021
TL;DR: The way that psychologists conceptualize visual perception directly influences the way they conceptualize the environment from a psychological standpoint as discussed by the authors, which can be seen as an implicit way of conceptualizing visual perception.
Abstract: The way that psychologists conceptualize the nature of visual perception directly influences the way they conceptualize the environment from a psychological standpoint. For that reason, commentary on the contributions to this symposium volume addressing the relationship between the natural environment and psychological functioning is organized with regard to the implicit approach to visual perception each chapter adopts. Such theoretical commitments shape how we think about the environment from a psychological perspective, the kind of research questions we ask, the particular methodologies that are employed and, in some cases, the practical applications that stem from them. This examination of the volume’s chapters is preceded by a discussion of the complexities attending a definition of the natural environment, and a proposal that psychologists might base that definition on those environmental properties that perceivers attend to when designating an environment as natural. Having specified those perceivable properties, we can proceed to inquire on what basis perceivers express greater preference for natural environments. In the course of these reflections, other pertinent issues are discussed, including environmental preference in relation to evolutionary theory; affordances and environmental preference; and psychological restoration as a process of re-establishing functional stability. Particular attention is paid to the place of perception-action in relation to the environment.
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors quantitatively track spatial and temporal changes in Symbiodiniaceae and biomolecule abundance that are essential to the processes of acclimatization and biomineralization.
Abstract: The Scleractinian corals Orbicella annularis and O. faveolata have survived by acclimatizing to environmental changes in water depth and sea surface temperature (SST). However, the complex physiological mechanisms by which this is achieved remain only partially understood, limiting the accurate prediction of coral response to future climate change. This study quantitatively tracks spatial and temporal changes in Symbiodiniaceae and biomolecule (chromatophores, calmodulin, carbonic anhydrase and mucus) abundance that are essential to the processes of acclimatization and biomineralization. Decalcified tissues from intact healthy Orbicella biopsies, collected across water depths and seasonal SST changes on Curacao, were analyzed with novel autofluorescence and immunofluorescence histology techniques that included the use of custom antibodies. O. annularis at 5 m water depth exhibited decreased Symbiodiniaceae and increased chromatophore abundances, while O. faveolata at 12 m water depth exhibited inverse relationships. Analysis of seasonal acclimatization of the O. faveolata holobiont in this study, combined with previous reports, suggests that biomolecules are differentially modulated during transition from cooler to warmer SST. Warmer SST was also accompanied by decreased mucus production and decreased Symbiodiniaceae abundance, which is compensated by increased photosynthetic activity enhanced calcification. These interacting processes have facilitated the remarkable resiliency of the corals through geological time.