America COMPETES at 5 years: An Analysis of Research-Intensive Universities’ RCR Training Plans

This project evaluates the impact of the National Science Foundation's (NSF) policy to promote education in the responsible conduct of research (RCR). To determine whether this policy resulted in meaningful RCR educational experiences, our study examined the instructional plans developed by individual universities in response to the mandate. Using a sample of 108 U.S. institutions classified as Carnegie “very high research activity”, we analyzed all publicly available NSF RCR training plans in light of the consensus best practices in RCR education that were known at the time the policy was implemented. We found that fewer than half of universities developed plans that incorporated at least some of the best practices. More specifically, only 31% of universities had content and requirements that differed by career stage, only 1% of universities had content and requirements that differed by discipline; and only 18% of universities required some face-to-face engagement from all classes of trainees. Indeed, some schools simply provided hand-outs to their undergraduate students. Most universities (82%) had plans that could be satisfied with online programs such as the Collaborative Institutional Training Initiative's RCR modules. The NSF policy requires universities to develop RCR training plans, but provides no guidelines or requirements for the format, scope, content, duration, or frequency of the training, and does not hold universities accountable for their training plans. Our study shows that this vaguely worded policy, and lack of accountability, has not produced meaningful educational experiences for most of the undergraduate students, graduate students, and post-doctoral trainees funded by the NSF.     

Couples treatment for major depression: critique of the literature and suggestions for some different directions

Current couples approaches to the treatment of depression show considerable promise for some couples, but have substantial room for improvement – in terms of efficacy as well as applicability and acceptability to a broader population. Although conjoint approaches have been shown to be efficacious in reducing couple distress and are possibly efficacious in ameliorating depression that co-occurs with couple distress, methodological problems hamper generalization from the published findings. Therefore, it is not clear that most depressed persons are likely to benefit from currently available conjoint formats. Most basically, there may often be obstacles that prevent or delay partner involvement, highlighting the need for treatments that can enhance relationship functioning without relying on a conjoint format. Existing treatment delivery systems may also fail to reach a considerable segment of the population. Developing a more flexible set of options for implementing couple-focused treatment, as well as rethinking dominant assumptions about depression, may be integral to extending the viability of couples therapy for depression.     

生活医学化与健康恐慌的关系及其反思*--论Michael Fitzpatrick《健康的暴政：医生及生活方式的控制》

迈克尔·菲茨帕特里克的《健康的暴政：医生及生活方式的控制》一书,以健康干预为主线,以健康政治化、生活医学化、疾病道德化为主题,论述了生活医学化的不同方面和形成过程,并力图揭示医学化背后隐含着的医学对社会的干预和控制。其中作者关于生活医学化和健康恐慌的一些哲学思考,尤其是生活医学化与健康恐慌的内涵及特点、生活医学化与健康恐慌的关系以及对生活医学化的审视与反思,在一定程度上蕴涵着对当今社会发展的启示。     

Suicidal ideation and attitudes toward suicide

Although hopelessness and depression are known risk factors for suicide, most individuals who are hopeless or depressed never make a suicide attempt. In this study, we tested the hypothesis that college students' (n = 230) attitudes toward suicide (the degree to which they see it as an acceptable option under some circumstances) would moderate the link between both hopelessness and depressive symptoms and their levels of suicidal ideation. This moderation hypothesis was supported, but only among men. Specifically, among men, levels of hopelessness and depressive symptoms were significantly related to suicidal ideation among only those with relatively positive attitudes toward suicide.     

Negative and positive health effects of caring for a disabled spouse: longitudinal findings from the caregiver health effects study

Data from the first 2 waves of the Caregiver Health Effects Study (n = 680) were analyzed to examine the effects of changes in caregiving involvement on changes in caregiver health-related outcomes in a population-based sample of elders caring for a disabled spouse. Caregiving involvement was indexed by levels of (a) spouse physical impairment, (b) help provided to the spouse, and (c) strain associated with providing help. Health-related outcomes included perceived health, health-risk behaviors, anxiety symptoms, and depression symptoms. Increases in spouse impairment and caregiver strain were generally related to poorer outcomes over time (poorer perceived health, increased health-risk behaviors, and increased anxiety and depression), whereas increased helping was related to better outcomes (decreased anxiety and depression). Results suggest that caring for a disabled spouse is a complex phenomenon that can have both deleterious and beneficial consequences.     

Birth Planning Values and Decisions: The Prediction of Fertility1

This investigation was a prospective study based upon subjective expected utility theory, of the processes and determinants of birth planning decisions. The hypothesis tested was: Where maximum expected benefit will derive from having a (another) child, a pregnancy will occur and where maximum expected benefit will derive from not having a (another) child a pregnancy will not occur. Values associated with birth planning decisions for 74 married couples were found to be good predictors, one year later, of pregnancy status. The implications of these results were discussed as they related to birth planning counseling and to population policy.     

Sexual cycles in female dogs treated with androgen during development

This experiment was conducted to study hormonal and behavioral cycles in female dogs exposed to androgen during development. The four groups, each consisting of five subjects, were "Normal" females, "Prenatal" females exposed to testosterone propionate (TP) before birth, "Postnatal" females injected with TP for 3 months postpartum, and "Prepost" females exposed to TP in utero and again to testosterone for 4--6 weeks after birth. All Normal females had two estrous cycles during which they showed vaginal bleeding, ovulation, progesterone (P) secretion, sexual receptivity, and were attractive to males. All androgen-treated females showed at least 1 cycle with ovulation and P secretion. Three Postnatal females developed the delayed anovulatory syndrome. Genital bleeding through the vagina (Postnatal group), or through the "penis" (Prenatal and Prepost groups), occurred in 4 Postnatal, 3 Prenatal, and 1 Prepost female. Attractiveness for males was observed in all Prenatal and Postnatal females, but in no Prepost subject. Receptivity was present in four of five Prenatal females but not in any Postnatal or Prepost female. Occurrence of cycles in treated females indicated functional integrity and sensitivity to estrogen in brain mechanisms producing gonadotropin-releasing hormones. Absence of receptivity is referred to diminished responsiveness to ovarian hormones in brain mechanisms mediating receptive behavior. Absence of genital bleeding and lack of attractivity are due to lowered response to estrogen in uterine and vaginal epithelium which results in reduced extravasation of blood, and in failure to secrete the putative "pheromonal" agent normally responsible for attractiveness.     

The effects of strong belief structures on information-processing evaluations and choice

This study examined the influence of the strength of belief structures on selected aspects of the decision-making process. To examine these issues, a business-acquisition decision scenario was studied in an experiment. Subjects played the role of a CEO of an electronics firm and were asked to evaluate the attractiveness of six potential acquisition candidates and to rate various aspects of the associated decision process. We presented half the subjects with information that the belief structure of their organization was extreme, agreed upon, and clear. The other half was presented with information that there was disagreement about the belief structure and that it was more ambiguous and less extreme. The results clearly showed that the decision process is different for people who were presented with an agreed-upon, extreme, and tightly constructed belief structure when compared to those who received information reflecting a weak and loosely constructed belief structure. A strong belief structure resulted in less positive evaluations, information requested, and money allocated to explore incompatible acquisition candidates (and vice versa for a highly compatible candidate) when compared to subjects using a weak belief structure. In addition, subjects in the strong-belief condition reported that their decision process would be characterized by less doubt, less time, less difficulty, and less conflict compared to subjects in the weak-belief structure condition. Implications for both decision theory and practical decision processes are discussed.