Showing papers by "University of North Carolina at Greensboro published in 2003"

Executive Attention, Working Memory Capacity, and a Two-Factor Theory of Cognitive Control.

Abstract: Publisher Summary This chapter describes the nature of working memory capacity (WMC), and addresses the nature of WMC limitations, their effects on higher order cognitive tasks, their relationship to attention control and general fluid intelligence, and their neurological substrates. Much of work explores these issues in the context of individual differences in WMC and the cause of those individual differences. Measures of WMC are highly reliable and highly valid indicators of some construct of clear relevance to feral cognition. Macroanalytic studies have demonstrated that the construct reflected by WMC tasks has a strong relationship with gF above and beyond what these tasks share with simple span tasks. The conflict might also arise from stimulus representations of competing strength. This two-factor model fits with current thinking about the role of two brain structures: the prefrontal cortex as important to the maintenance of information in an active and easily accessible state and the anterior cingulate as important to the detection and resolution of conflict.

Comprehensive School Reform and Achievement: A Meta-Analysis

Abstract: This meta-analysis reviews research on the achievement effects of comprehensive school reform (CSR) and summarizes the specific effects of 29 widely implemented models. There are limitations on the overall quantity and quality of the research base, but the overall effects of CSR appear promising. The combined quantity, quality, and statistical significance of evidence from three models, in particular, set them apart. Whether evaluations are conducted by developers or by third-party evaluators and whether evaluators use one-group pre-post designs or control groups are important factors for understanding differences in CSR effects. Schools that implemented CSR models for 5 years or more showed particularly strong effects, and the benefits were consistent across schools of varying poverty levels. A long-term commitment to research-proven educational reform is needed to establish a strong marketplace of scientifically based CSR models.

Self-efficacy for reading and writing: influence of modeling, goal setting, and self-evaluation

Abstract: Perceived self-efficacy, or students' personal beliefs about their capabilities to learn or perform behaviors at designated levels, plays an important role in their motivation and learning. Self-efficacy is a key mechanism in social cognitive theory, which postulates that achievement depends on interactions between behaviors, personal factors, and environmental conditions. Self-efficacy affects choice of tasks, effort, persistence, and achievement. Sources of self-efficacy information include personal accomplishments, vicarious experiences, social persuasion, and physiological indicators. At the outset of learning activities, students have goals and a sense of self-efficacy for attaining them. Self-evaluations of learning progress sustain self-efficacy and motivation. Research on academic learning is summarized, showing how modeling, goal setting, and self-evaluation affect self-efficacy, motivation, and learning. Suggestions for applying these ideas to teaching are provided.

A Longitudinal Perspective on Dating Violence Among Adolescent and College-Age Women

Abstract: Objectives. We investigated physical assault in dating relationships and its co-occurrence with sexual assault from high school through college. Methods. Two classes of university women (n = 1569) completed 5 surveys during their 4 years in college. Results. Women who were physically assaulted as adolescents were at greater risk for revictimization during their freshman year (relative risk = 2.96); each subsequent year, women who have experienced violence remained at greater risk for revictimization than those who have not. Across all years, women who were physically assaulted in any year were significantly more likely to be sexually assaulted that same year. Adolescent victimization was a better predictor of college victimization than was childhood victimization. Conclusions. There is a need for dating violence prevention/intervention programs in high school and college and for research on factors that reduce revictimization.

The development of self-control of emotion: Intrinsic and extrinsic influences.

Abstract: In this paper, we review evidence that supports the notion that intrinsic and extrinsic factors contribute to the development of self-control of emotions. Intrinsic factors include the infant's temperament, and cognitive processes such as attention and inhibitory control. Extrinsic factors involve the caregiving environment, sibling and peer relationships, and cultural expectations regarding emotional displays. Integrative approaches to the study of the development of self-control of emotion will be most fruitful if investigations examine the interplay, over time, among these internal and external factors.

Healthy Living in Hard Times

Abstract: Using microdata for adults from the 1987-2000 years of the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, I show that smoking and height-adjusted weight decline during temporary economic downturns while leisure-time physical activity rises. The drop in tobacco use occurs disproportionately among heavy smokers, the fall in body weight among the severely obese, and the increase in exercise among those who were completely inactive. Declining work hours may provide one reason why behaviors become healthier when the economy weakens, possibly by increasing the non-market time available for lifestyle investments. Conversely, there is little evidence that reductions in income play an important role. The overall conclusion is that changes in behaviors supply one mechanism for the procyclical variation in mortality and morbidity observed in recent research.

Universities as Research Partners.

Abstract: Universities are a key institution in the U.S. innovation system, and an important aspect of their involvement is the role they play in public-private partnerships. This note offers insights into the performance of industry-university research partnerships, using a survey of precommercial research projects funded by the Advanced Technology Program. Although results must be interpreted cautiously because of the small size of the sample, the study finds that projects with university involvement tend to be in areas involving new science and therefore experience more difficulty and delay, yet are more likely not to be aborted prematurely. Our interpretation is that universities are contributing to basic research awareness and insight among the partners in ATP-funded projects.

Regulatory Contributors to Children's Kindergarten Achievement

Abstract: The present study sought to examine whether preschool children’s emotion regulation, problem behaviors, and kindergarten behavioral self-regulation in the classroom were predictors of kindergarten achievement scores. The children (N = 122, 47% male and 63% European American) who were participating in an ongoing longitudinal study, were seen at both a preschool and kindergarten assessment. The present study examined the relation between parent report, teacher report, and laboratory measures of regulation and children’s achievement test scores. Children’s emotion regulation and behavioral self-regulation in the classroom were related to all measures of achievement. The relation between preschool emotion regulation and kindergarten achievement was mediated by behavioral self-regulation in the kindergarten classroom. In addition, all measures of regulation were correlated, suggesting that some children who have difficulty regulating their behavior in one setting (such as home) may also have difficulty with regulation in other settings (such as school).

Motivation and Self-Regulation as Predictors of Achievement in Economically Disadvantaged Young Children

Abstract: The primary purpose of the present study was to better understand the roles of motivation and self-regulated task behavior for early school achievement differences among young, economically at-risk and not-at-risk children. Of the at-risk participants, 43 were 5-6-year-olds and 42 were 7-8-year-olds. Of the not-at-risk participants, 21 were 6-year-olds, and 21 were 8-year-olds. Results of the study showed that child-and-teacher-reported motivation levels were comparable among the at-risk and the not-at-risk children. However, the at-risk children showed poorer abilities to regulate their task attention than the not-at-risk children did. In addition, younger at-risk children's achievement scores were predicted by their levels of attention-regulation abilities. Results are discussed in relation to the importance of at-risk children's attention-regulation skills.

Biologic and Quality-of-Life Outcomes From the Mediterranean Lifestyle Program: A randomized clinical trial

Abstract: OBJECTIVE —Few multiple lifestyle behavior change programs have been designed to reduce the risk of coronary heart disease in postmenopausal women with type 2 diabetes. This study tested the effectiveness of the Mediterranean Lifestyle Program (MLP), a comprehensive lifestyle self-management program (Mediterranean low–saturated fat diet, stress management training, exercise, group support, and smoking cessation), in reducing cardiovascular risk factors in postmenopausal women with type 2 diabetes. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS —Postmenopausal women with type 2 diabetes ( n = 279) were randomized to either usual care (control) or treatment (MLP) conditions. MLP participants took part in an initial 3-day retreat, followed by 6 months of weekly meetings, to learn and practice program components. Biological end points were changes in HbA 1c , lipid profiles, BMI, blood pressure, plasma fatty acids, and flexibility. Impact on quality of life was assessed. RESULTS —Multivariate ANCOVAs revealed significantly greater improvements in the MLP condition compared with the usual care group on HbA 1c , BMI, plasma fatty acids, and quality of life at the 6-month follow-up. Patterns favoring intervention were seen in lipids, blood pressure, and flexibility but did not reach statistical significance. CONCLUSIONS —These results demonstrate that postmenopausal women with type 2 diabetes can make comprehensive lifestyle changes that may lead to clinically significant improvements in glycemic control, some coronary heart disease risk factors, and quality of life.

Patient preference for physician discussion and practice of spirituality

Abstract: OBJECTIVE: To determine patient preferences for addressing religion and spirituality in the medical encounter. DESIGN: Multicenter survey verbally administered by trained research assistants. Survey items included questions on demographics, health status, health care utilization, functional status, spiritual well-being, and patient preference for religious/spiritual involvement in their own medical encounters and in hypothetical medical situations. SETTING: Primary care clinics of 6 academic medical centers in 3 states (NC, Fla, Vt). PATIENTS/PARTICIPANTS: Patients 18 years of age and older who were systematically selected from the waiting rooms of their primary care physicians. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Four hundred fifty-six patients participated in the study. One third of patients wanted to be asked about their religious beliefs during a routine office visit. Two thirds felt that physicians should be aware of their religious or spiritual beliefs. Patient agreement with physician spiritual interaction increased strongly with the severity of the illness setting, with 19% patient agreement with physician prayer in a routine office visit, 29% agreement in a hospitalized setting, and 50% agreement in a near-death scenario (P<.001). Patient interest in religious or spiritual interaction decreased when the intensity of the interaction moved from a simple discussion of spiritual issues (33% agree) to physician silent prayer (28% agree) to physician prayer with a patient (19% agree; P<.001). Ten percent of patients were willing to give up time spent on medical issues in an office visit setting to discuss religious/spiritual issues with their physician. After controlling for age, gender, marital status, education, spirituality score, and health care utilization, African-American subjects were more likely to accept this time trade-off (odds ratio, 4.9; confidence interval, 2.1 to 11.7). CONCLUSION: Physicians should be aware that a substantial minority of patients desire spiritual interaction in routine office visits. When asked about specific prayer behaviors across a range of clinical scenarios, patient desire for spiritual interaction increased with increasing severity of illness setting and decreased when referring to more-intense spiritual interactions. For most patients, the routine office visit may not be the optimal setting for a physician-patient spiritual dialog.

Structured leisure activities in middle childhood: Links to well‐being

Abstract: Associations between children’s (N = 147) participation in structured leisure activities and their adjustment were examined. Caregivers provided lists of extracurricular activities (clubs, sports, and church activities) in which children participated. Children and caregivers participated in interviews and completed questionnaires designed to measure children’s adjustment in four domains (academic competence, psychosocial development, externalizing behavior, and internalizing behavior). Classroom teachers completed additional measures of children’s academic and social competence. Greater participation in club activities was linked with higher academic grades and more positive teacher ratings of academic competence. Greater participation in sports was associated with higher levels of psychosocial maturity and more positive teacher ratings of social competence. There were no associations between involvement in church activities and any indicators of adjustment. Activity involvement was unassociated with externalizing or internalizing behavior. Findings are discussed in terms of both selection into different types of extracurricular activities and the skills emphasized in the pursuit of such activities.

Redox-sensitive mechanisms of phytochemical-mediated inhibition of cancer cell proliferation (review).

Abstract: Phytochemicals are potential cancer chemopreventive agents, based partly on cellular research establishing that phytochemicals inhibit the proliferation of cancer cells. To elucidate the mechanism of phytochemicals, a basic understanding is needed of what stimulates cancer cell proliferation. Cancer cells, particularly those that are highly invasive or metastatic, may require a certain level of oxidative stress to maintain a balance between undergoing either proliferation or apoptosis. They constitutively generate large but tolerable amounts of H2O2 that apparently function as signaling molecules in the mitogen-activated protein kinase pathway to constantly activate redox-sensitive transcription factors and responsive genes that are involved in the survival of cancer cells as well as their proliferation. With such a reliance of cancer cells on H2O2, it follows that if the excess H2O2 can be scavenged by phenolic phytochemicals having antioxidant activity, the oxidative stress-responsive genes can be suppressed and consequently cancer cell proliferation inhibited. On the other hand, phenolic phytochemicals and another group of phytochemicals known as isothiocyanates can induce the formation of H2O2 to achieve an intolerable level of high oxidative stress in cancer cells. As an early response, the stress genes are activated. However, when the critical threshold for cancer cells to cope with the induced oxidative stress has been reached, key cellular components such as DNA are damaged irreparably. In conjunction, genes involved in initiating cell cycle arrest and/or apoptosis are activated. Therefore, phytochemicals can either scavenge the constitutive H2O2 or paradoxically generate additional amounts of H2O2 to inhibit the proliferation of cancer cells.

The Effects Of Collaborative Action Research On Preservice And Experienced Teacher Partners In Professional Development Schools

Abstract: This study describes the perspectives of five pairs of preservice teachers and their experienced mentor teachers who engaged collaboratively in planning, implementing, and evaluating action research projects during a semester-long internship experience in their professional development school sites. The views of novice and experienced teachers about the costs and benefits of doing collaborative action research are presented, and the authors elaborate on the development of the mentor/mentee relationship between the preservice and experienced teacher pairs. The authors also offer guidelines for successfully engaging preservice and experienced teachers in collaborative action research.

On the efficiency of competitive electricity markets with time-invariant retail prices

Abstract: Most customers in electricity markets do not face prices that change frequently to reflect changes in wholesale costs, known as real-time pricing (RTP). We show that not only does time-invariant pricing in competitive markets lead to prices and investment that are not first best, it even fails to achieve the constrained second-best optimum. Increasing the share of customers on RTP is likely to improve efficiency, though surprisingly it does not necessarily reduce capacity investment, and it is likely to harm customers that are already on RTP. Simulations demonstrate that the efficiency gains from RTP are potentially quite significant.

Frequency and intensity of activity of third-grade children in physical education.

Abstract: BACKGROUND: Health recommendations are for preadolescent children to have daily school physical education (PE) classes that engage children in moderate to vigorous physical activity at least 50% of class time. OBJECTIVE: To observe activity of children in PE classes in third grades across 10 different sites. DESIGN: Observational study. SETTING: Six hundred eighty-four elementary schools in 10 sites. SUBJECTS: A total of 814 children (414 boys, 400 girls; mean age, 9.0 years) enrolled in the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development Study of Early Child Care and Youth Development. METHODS: Each child was observed during 1 scheduled PE class. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: The SOFIT (System for Observing Fitness Instruction Time) observation method, a validated, heart rate observation system, yields levels of activity the child is engaged in as well as the lesson context, type of teacher, and location of the PE class. RESULTS: Children averaged 2.1 PE lessons per week, of 33 minutes each. Only 5.9% of children had daily PE. Children accrued 4.8 very active and 11.9 minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activity per PE lesson, 15.0% and 37.0% of lesson time, respectively. Lesson length and number of minutes per week were similar for boys and girls; however, boys spent proportionately more PE time in very active and moderate to vigorous activity. This resulted in boys having a higher energy expenditure rate than girls. CONCLUSION: Children observed in this study received 25 min/wk of moderate to vigorous activity in school PE, falling far short of national recommendations.

Conjugated Linoleic Acid in Humans: Regulation of Adiposity and Insulin Sensitivity

Abstract: Conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) isomers, a group of positional and geometric isomers of linoleic acid [18:2(n-6)], have been studied extensively due to their ability to modulate cancer, atherosclerosis, obesity, immune function and diabetes in a variety of experimental models. The purpose of this review was to examine CLA's isomer-specific regulation of adiposity and insulin sensitivity in humans and in cultures of human adipocytes. It has been clearly demonstrated that specific CLA isomers or a crude mixture of CLA isomers prevent the development of obesity in certain rodent and pig models. This has been attributed mainly to trans-10, cis-12 CLA, both in vivo and in vitro. However, CLA's ability to modulate human obesity remains controversial because data from clinical trials using mixed isomers are conflicting. In support of some studies in humans, our group demonstrated that trans-10, cis-12 CLA prevents triglyceride (TG) accumulation in primary cultures of differentiating human preadipocytes. In contrast, cis-9, trans-11 CLA increases TG content. Closer examination has revealed that CLA's antiadipogenic actions are due, at least in part, to regulation of glucose and fatty acid uptake and metabolism. This review presents our current understanding of potential isomer-specific mechanisms by which CLA reduces human adiposity and insulin sensitivity.

Encoding fluency is a cue used for judgments about learning.

Abstract: The authors used paired-associate learning to investigate the hypothesis that the speed of generating an interactive image (encoding fluency) influenced 2 metacognitive judgments: judgments of learning (JOLs) and quality of encoding ratings (QUEs). Results from Experiments 1 and 2 indicated that latency of a keypress indicating successful image formation was negatively related to both JOLs and QUEs even though latency was unrelated to recall. Experiment 3 demonstrated that when concrete and abstract items were mixed in a single list, latency was related to concreteness, judgments, and recall. However, item concreteness and fluency influenced judgments independently of one another. These outcomes suggest an important role of encoding fluency in the formation of metacognitive judgments about learning and future recall.

Consumer-perceived risk in e-commerce transactions

Abstract: A major promise of the Internet is its potential for online shopping and its benefits in the form of cost reduction, for consumers and businesses alike. For example, according to Penton Research (www.penton.com), using the Web site as a marketing tool provides a compelling means for cost reduction in terms of cost per contact statistics (Internet: $0.98, direct mail: $1.68, telemarketing: $31.16, tradeshows: $162). Yet the new medium is far from the true electronic marketplace of the future. This is due largely to the reluctance of consumers to engage in transactions over the Internet. In their study, Hoffman, Novak and Peralta found that consumers, on the Web, may fear providing credit card information to any commercial Web provider and that consumers simply do not trust most Web providers enough to engage in exchange relationships involving money [4]. This perceived risk among consumers translates into their reluctance to use debit and/or credit card information over the Internet resulting in their disengagement from electronic transactions. Most sites on the Internet today do not focus on building and nurturing trust as part of an ongoing relationship with their customers [7, 9]. Millions of consumers browse thousands of Web vendor sites everyday with the intention of buying products and services. Yet, the majority of these consumers opt for buying the products or services from a brick-andmortar facility rather than completing the purchase process online. Reliable encryption and authentication methods are available. But we believe that secure technological infrastructure is only a necessary foundation and by itself not sufficient for creating the level of trust needed for spontaneous electronic transactions over the Internet. This is due to the fact that secure transaction methods using encryption and

Dietary fish oil decreases C-reactive protein, interleukin-6, and triacylglycerol to HDL-cholesterol ratio in postmenopausal women on HRT.

Abstract: Background: Atherogenesis is a complex process involving both a low-grade inflammation and a disturbed lipid profile. Although dietary fish and fish oil improve the latter of these two risk factors, their impact on the former is less clear. Objective: This study addressed the effect of supplementation with fish oil in doses achievable with diet on serum C-reactive protein (CRP), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and the lipid profile. Methods and results: Thirty healthy subjects taking HRT were randomly divided into three groups and supplemented for five weeks with 14g/day safflower oil (SO), 7g/day of both safflower oil and fish oil (LFO), or 14g/day fish oil (HFO). Measurements included serum high-sensitivity CRP, IL-6 in plasma and in cell culture supernatant collected from 24-hr lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated whole blood, and lipid profile markers. CRP and IL-6 were adjusted for body mass index (BMI). Fish oil supplementation significantly decreased CRP and IL-6 compared to SO, with a greater effect in the LFO than HFO groups. Plasma triacylglycerol (TG) and the TG/HDL-C ratio were significantly lower in the HFO compared to the SO group. Conclusions: These results suggest that dietary fish oil may decrease the risk for cardiovascular disease through the modulation of both plasma lipids and inflammatory markers in healthy postmenopausal women.

Training monitoring skills improves older adults' self-paced associative learning.

Abstract: We investigated a memory-enhancement program that involved teaching older adults to regulate study through self-testing A regulation group was taught standard strategies along with self-testing techniques for identifying less well-learned items that could benefit from extra study This group was compared with a strategy-control group, which was taught only strategies, and with a waiting-list control group Greater training gains were shown for the regulation group (effect size, d = 072) than for the strategy-control (d = 028) and waiting-list control (d = 003) groups, indicating that training a monitoring skill--self-testing--can improve older adults' learning

The Growth of Research Triangle Park

Abstract: In light of the history of Research Triangle Park, we develop an analytical model to characterize the Park's growth. The model is based on the hypothesis that the Park's growth can be thought of as the adoption of an innovation, where the innovation is the new innovative environment created by the Park and its infrastructure.