Showing papers by "Georgia State University published in 1990"

Testosterone, Social Class, and Antisocial Behavior in a Sample of 4,462 Men:

Abstract: Two hypotheses have been offered to explain the relation between testosterone and antisocial behavior in delinquent and criminal populations. One is that testosterone leads directly to antisocial behavior. The other is that a constellation of dominance, competitiveness, and sensation seeking associated with testosterone leads to either antisocial or prosocial behavior, depending upon an individual's resources and background. Analysis of archival data from 4,462 U.S. military veterans supported the first hypothesis: Testosterone was correlated with a variety of antisocial behaviors among all individuals. However, socioeconomic status (SES) proved to be a moderating variable, with weaker testosterone-behavior relationships among high SES subjects.

Law and contemporary problems

Abstract: For the third time, Law and Contemporary Problems is devoting its attention to the topic of medical malpractice. The first medical malpractice issue of Law and Contemporary Problems explored how paradigms from contract law and private regulation of risk could be better incorporated into existing tort principles to improve the workings of the malpractice system or improve the quality of medical care. The second issue focused on legislative reforms and initiatives that were being actively considered and in some cases implemented by state legislatures or the Congress. This issue reports on the growing influence of outside forces on the malpractice system. Prior to the 1990s, interest in malpractice law was driven almost exclusively by the perception among medical care providers of a “crisis” in malpractice. The crisis mentality resulted in extensive legislative debates relating to a host of reform issues. Throughout the mid-1970s and 1980s, political interest and legislative activity in this area was high. Although the reform mentality has definitely cooled over the past few years, like a dormant volcano, the potential of another eruption remains ever possible should insurance rates or claims spike upwards. This current period of dormancy is due, in large part, to the general availability of malpractice insurance—the fuel for past tort reform efforts supported by physicians—at relatively constant if not decreasing costs. Over this same period, malpractice-specific legislation has also decreased, which may be due to the medical establishment’s resignation that tort reform

Screening for Traumatic Stress: A Scale for Use in the General Population1

Abstract: A short screening instrument for detecting the occurrence and impact of traumatic events is presented. It is proposed that a relevant event population for assessing exposure to traumatic events comprises “violent encounters with nature, technology, or humankind” and that loss, scope, threat, blame, familiarity, and post-traumatic stress are the dimensions of the experience that are most critical to assess. It is estimated that 8% of the U.S. adult population will experience one or more of the selected events within a year's time. Potential uses and contributions of the instrument are discussed.

Reading-Writing Relationships in First and Second Language†

Abstract: The study reported in this article examined the first language and second language reading and writing abilities of adult ESL learners to determine the relationships across languages (L1 and L2) and across modalities (reading and writing) in the acquisition of L2 literacy skills. Specifically, we investigated relationships (a) between literacy skills in a first language and literacy development in a second language (i.e., between reading in L1 and L2, and between writing in L1 and L2), and (b) between reading and writing in L1 and L2 (i.e., between reading and writing in L1, and between reading and writing in L2). The subjects, Japanese and Chinese ESL students in academic settings, were asked to write an essay and to complete a cloze passage in both their first and second languages. The results indicate that literacy skills can transfer across languages, but that the pattern of this transfer varies for the two language groups. It also appears that reading ability transfers more easily from L1 to L2 than does writing ability, and that the relationship between reading and writing skills varies for the two language groups. These data suggest that L2 literacy development is a complex phenomenon for already literate adult second language learners involving variables such as L2 language proficiency, L1 and L2 educational experience, and cultural literacy practices that may be related to different patterns of L2 literacy acquisition.

DNA sequence dependent binding modes of 4',6-diamidino-2-phenylindole (DAPI).

Abstract: The interactions of DAPI with natural DNA and synthetic polymers have been investigated by hydrodynamic, DNase I footprinting, spectroscopic, binding, and kinetic methods. Footprinting results at low ratios (compound to base pair) are similar for DAPI and distamycin. At high ratios, however, GC regions are blocked from enzyme cleavage by DAPI but not by distamycin. Both poly[d(G-C)]2 and poly[d(A-T)]2 induce hypochromism and shifts of the DAPI absorption band to longer wavelengths, but the effects are larger with the GC polymer. NMR shifts of DAPI protons in the presence of excess AT and GC polymers are significantly different, upfield for GC and mixed small shifts for AT. The dissociation rate constants and effects of salt concentration on the rate constants are also quite different for the AT and the GC polymer complexes. The DAPI dissociation rate constant is larger with the GC polymer but is less sensitive to changes in salt concentration than with the AT complex. Binding of DAPI to the GC polymer and to poly[d(A-C)].poly[d(G-T)] exhibits slight negative cooperativity, characteristic of a neighbor-exclusion binding mode. DAPI binding to the AT polymer is unusually strong and exhibits significant positive cooperativity. DAPI has very different effects on the bleomycin-catalyzed cleavage of the AT and GC polymers, a strong inhibition with the AT polymer but enhanced cleavage with the GC polymer. All of these results are consistent with two totally different DNA binding modes for DAPI in regions containing consecutive AT base pairs versus regions containing GC or mixed GC and AT base pair sequences. The binding mode at AT sites has characteristics which are similar to those of the distamycin-AT complex, and all results are consistent with a cooperative, very strong minor groove binding mode. In GC and mixed-sequence regions the results are very similar to those observed with classical intercalators such as ethidium and indicate that DAPI intercalates in DNA sequences which do not contain at least three consecutive AT base pairs.

Post implementation evaluation of computer-based information systems: current practices

Abstract: Contrary to the widely-held view that post implementation evaluations are performed to assess and improve the information system and the system development practices, this study suggests that in practice, the primary reason for such evaluations seems to be project closure and not project improvement.

The new environmental paradigm and further scale analysis.

Abstract: (1990). The New Environmental Paradigm and Further Scale Analysis. The Journal of Environmental Education: Vol. 21, No. 4, pp. 20-26.

A cross-cultural comparison of IS designer values

Abstract: The values of system designers have a significant influence on the extent to which information system meet the broad effectiveness needs of an organization.

Risky debt maturity choice in a sequential game equilibrium

Abstract: In this paper the choice of risky debt maturity structure is analyzed in a sequential game framework. The focus is on the set of viable equilibria when there are not transaction costs associated with the choice of debt maturity structure. It is shown that when changes in firm value are independent over time, both short- and long-term debt pooling are Nash sequential equilibrium outcomes. However, only the short-term debt pooling outcome satisfies the universal divinity refinements. Relaxing the assumption of independent changes in firm value, it is demonstrated that a separating equilibrium in which higher-quality firms issue short-term debt and low-quality firms issue long-term debt may exist. Furthermore, conditions exist under which long-term debt pooling is the universally divine outcome.

Job and organizational attitudes in relation to employee behavioral intentions

Abstract: A theoretical model was developed and evaluated which describes the differential relationship that organizational attitudes (organizational commitment and satisfaction job attitudes (job involvement and satisfaction) have with several behavioral intentions (turnover, absenteeism, and performance). One hundred and fifty-seven male and 409 female participants filled out a survey. Results generally supported the proposed model.

Social support, life events, and stress as modifiers of adjustment to bereavement by older adults.

Abstract: As part of a larger panel study, interviews were obtained from 3 samples of older adults: 45 persons who had recently lost a spouse, 40 who had lost a parent or child, and 45 who were not bereaved. Assessments were conducted before and after the deaths. In the widowed sample, health remained quite stable, but depression increased sharply, then remained elevated. Changes were minimal in the sample who had lost a parent or child and in the nonbereaved sample. Multiple regression procedures were used to identify factors that contribute to depression and health 9 months after the spouse's death. Postbereavement depression was associated with higher prebereavement depression, higher financial pressures, higher global stress, fewer new interests, and lower social support. Health was a function of prebereavement health, new interests, financial pressures, and global stress. In general, life events and resources had stronger effects in the widowed sample than in the comparison samples.

Attention in children: A neuropsychologically based model for assessment

Abstract: Attention is considered the foundation of most cognitive and neuropsychological functions. In child development literature, research on attention develops from two major sources—studies of children with attention deficits and studies of attentional development in normal children. These two lines of research, in addition to the adult literature, have produced diverse theories, concepts, and measures of the construct of attention. The developmental neuropsychological literature has made few attempts to study the relationship of developing brain systems to the development of various components of attention. This review attempts a synthesis of those components typically called selective, divided, and sustained attention in an attempt to integrate them within a developmental neuropsychological perspective. It describes a neuropsychologically‐based model for the assessment of the attentional system that can be used to guide the assessment and study of attention in children.

Running addiction: measurement and associated psychological characteristics.

Abstract: Runners frequently become addicted to running and continue to run even when it is detrimental to their health. In the present study a paper and pencil test to measure running addiction, the running addiction scale (RAS) was constructed and evaluated and used to investigate the psychological correlates of running addiction. The RAS, symptom check list, locus of control scale, commitment to running scale (CR), and a questionnaire about the individual's running habits and degree of addiction were administered to 32 male and 15 female runners. The results suggest that the RAS is reliable and valid, correlating with self-rated addiction. The CR score was correlated with self-rated addiction for males but not for females suggesting that the RAS and CR measure different characteristics and that for female runners commitment to running can occur without addiction. Large gender differences were found in the correlations between the RAS, CR, run frequency, and run duration with the personality, mood, and locus of control scores. Running addiction was found to be associated with high frequency of running and with positive personality characteristics but not with mood enhancement, while the duration of running was found to be associated with mood enhancement. These results suggest that the benefits of running to mood may be obtained without addiction.

Age and seasonal variation in serum testosterone concentration among men.

Abstract: Serum testosterone concentrations from 4.462 military veterans, ages 32-44, were examined for age and seasonal variation. Testosterone concentrations were assayed from a single serum sample from each subject. All samples were drawn before breakfast, at about 8:00 a.m., from subjects recruited over a 16-month study period. Mean levels declined with age (P less than .001), from 864 ng/dl at age 32 to 602 ng/dl at age 44. Mean levels also varied with month of testing (P less than .01), with a seasonal peak in December (the seasonal peak was in November for men in their early 30s). The age effect was greater than the seasonal effect. Both effects may bear upon behaviour and should be treated as possible sources of error in studies of testosterone.

The matching model: An examination of the processes underlying realistic job previews.

Abstract: Using information systems and data processing personnel in 9 major insurance companies, this research assessed the validity of Wanous's (1980)matching model as a framework of the processes linking realistic job previews (RJPs) to employee adjustment and employment stability. Because the matching model is an adaptation of the Theory of Work Adjustment (TWA), this study also assessed the TWA's applicability to RJP and turnover research. Structural equation methodology tested the fit of the matching model to the data of newcomers and of more tenured employees. Also, two-group structural analysis was performed to determine differences between groups. Support for the matching model was obtained with newcomer data but not with data from tenured employees. Results also supported the applicability of the TWA to RJP and turnover research. Implications of the findings to work adjustment and RJP research are discussed.

The effect of hearing impairment on the quality of attachment and mother-toddler interaction.

Abstract: In the present study, 41 hearing impaired and 41 hearing toddlers together with their hearing mothers were observed in Ainsworth's Strange Situation and during free play Both security of attachment and ratings of maternal and toddler behavior during free play were remarkably similar for the hearing impaired and hearing dyads In addition, security of attachment was related to the ratings of maternal and toddler behavior in a similar way for the hearing impaired and hearing toddlers The results suggest that development of a secure attachment and maintaining a good mother-toddler relationship does not depend on normal language development during the toddler years

How Appraisers Do Their Work: A Test of the Appraisal Process and the Development of a Descriptive Model

Abstract: Actual decisionmaking behavior is rarely the focus of real estate valuation research, but this paper argues the need for just such investigations and reports the results of one study. Two hypothese...

Point charge distributions and electrostatic steering in enzyme/substrate encounter: Brownian dynamics of modified copper/zinc superoxide dismutases.

Abstract: The electrostatic steering mechanism of bovine erythrocyte Cu/Zn superoxide dismutase (SOD) was investigated through the use of Brownian dynamics. Simulations of enzyme/substrate encounter were carried out on 14 different SOD models defined by simple changes in the enzyme's point charge distribution. The magnitude and ionic strength dependence of reaction rates, rates for collision anywhere on the enzyme surface, and collision efficiency factors were analyzed to elucidate both the general and specific roles for point charges associated with amino acid residues. Collision rates for the general enzyme surface appear to be solely determined by the net charge on the enzyme. At physiological ionic strength this effect is negligible, with only 6% variation in collision rates observed as the net charge ranges from +2e to -10e. With the exception of a few charged residues in the active-site channel of SOD, point charge modifications had modest effects on reaction rates. For a large region within and surrounding the channel, reaction rates increased or decreased by only 10-15% with the addition or subtraction of a protonic unit of charge, respectively. This effect simply disappeared with increasing distance from the active site. More dramatic effects were seen at only three residues: arginine-141, glutamate-131, and lysine-134. Implications for rate enhancement through site-directed mutagenesis are discussed.

Hispanic Cultural Influence on Environmental Concern

Abstract: The New Environmental Paradigm scale of environmental concern was applied in two survey populations in south Florida to determine whether differences in ethnic background influenced preferences toward the environment Hispanic respondents from the general population were found to be very sensitive to an ecological model, whereas non-Hispanics in the general population moderately favored the ecological view However, the results of the field survey (ie, sample of Bkayne National Park users) indicated that Hispanic users were ecologically attuned to the environment on a par with non-Hispanics from the general population and from park samples Although cultural heritage may play a role in determining environmental attitudes, exposure to situational opportunities such as park use and other social factors may influence a shift in those beliefs