Functions and recruitment patterns of one- and two-joint muscles under isometric and walking conditions

Hypotheses advanced concerning the functions and advantages of the two-joint (and multi-joint) muscles in the lower limb include transferring energy, ease of control, muscle bulk reduction and decreased velocity of contraction. The aim of this investigation was to assess quantitatively the generality of one such suggestion seen in the literature. It was hypothesized that two-joint muscles would be recruited preferentially when they produced appropriate moments at the joints they crossed. This organizing strategy was used to partition the sagittal plane joint moment at the hip, knee and ankle between the one- and two-joint muscles crossing those joints. If the conditions of the strategy were not met, the moment was considered to be producted by one-joint muscles only. Ten representative muscles were modelled: tibialis anterior, soleus, gastrocnemius, short head of biceps femoris, vasti, rectus femoris, long head of biceps femoris, sartorius, gluteus maximus and iliopsoas. A number of static loading and walking conditions were recorded and then compared to simultaneously measured linear envelope EMG records of each activity. The joint moments were determined from a sagittal plane kinetic analysis using cinematography and measurements of the ground reaction force. Overall, the strategy partitioned the moment between the one- and two-joint muscles in accordance with the EMG records. The strategy tended to underestimate the contributions of the one-joint musculature, implying the existence of other important control strategies, such as cocontraction of antagonists for joint stability, or of synergistic activation to share the joint moment. It was, however, observed that predicted activity of two-joint musculature did agree well with recorded EMG activity.     

Engagement techniques in family therapy

A number of basic engagement techniques in family therapy are identified and illustrated. These include (1) techniques that enable the therapist to achieve a position of influence with family members or to gain entry into the family system, (2) techniques utilized in teaching the family how to behave in the therapy setting, and (3) the tactics the therapist may use to manage difficult moments in the session. Issues in the relationship between technique and the theory and practice of family intervention are also examined.A videotape (Wells, R.A., & Page, M.H.Engaging the Family in the Helping Process: Basic Techniques. Pittsburgh, PA: UIRC, 1979) is available from the author. Discussion with such colleagues as Patrick McNamee, Larry Pacoe, Mary Page, and Susan Schilling has been invaluable.     

Relative olfactory intensity perception as mediated by ratio-range category scale responses

Scales whose categories are labeled with ranges of ratio values are compared with verbal category scales and magnitude estimation. Relative perceived intensities of Eugenol odor were scaled by power law methods, using 102 Ss, five scaling methods-one verbal, two numerical, and two magnitude estimation-and making comparisons against two alternate odor reference standards. Variations in the psychophysical exponent values derived under each condition were examined. Comparisons between scale types were made: numerical ratio-range category scales may behave as magnitude estimations or as category scales depending on the way responses are scored by the experimenter.     

Holding points of view does not amount to knowledge

I argue that knowing and having points of view are fundamentally different epistemic states if we assume that having justified true beliefs is necessary for knowledge. Knowers necessarily possess justified true beliefs, but persons holding points of view may, for example, lack justification, have false beliefs, or both. I examine these differences and expose other crucial differentiating patterns between the structure of knowledge and points of view that make the latter more likely to lead to disagreements. I hypothesize that these patterns remain invariant in alternative views of knowledge like contextualism as long as we preserve the classical structure. Yet there is much research to be done on the multiple and contrasting properties that emerge if we consider non-classical analyses of knowledge and points of view.     

Who has to act? A qualitative exploration of emerging adults' critical consciousness during the COVID-19 pandemic

The COVID-19 pandemic and violence against people of Color during 2020 brought troubling racial inequities to the forefront of American discourse. In line with the Critical Consciousness (CC) and Social Justice Youth Development (SJYD) frameworks, emerging adults may have developed their capacity for critical reflection, motivation, and action against systemic inequities. We drew from interviews with 27 emerging adults (ages 18–23) across the US, and used thematic analysis to explore differences in their reflections, motivations to act, and actions based on their racial/ethnic identification. We found nuanced variability in their critical reflections based on self, social, or global awareness and experiences of marginalization. White and Asian emerging adults used vague language or expressed feeling their reflections were insufficient. Black and Latinx emerging adults emphasized the importance of education and raising awareness. Although all emerging adults took action based on a sense of duty, few engaged in critical action; decisions to take in-person action varied based on whether they viewed racism or COVID-19 as a greater threat. Findings demonstrate that emerging adults' experiences of racialization may have related to their CC development. We share implications for community psychologists conducting antiracist research addressing White fragility and dismantling racial hierarchy.     

Redemptive processing of impactful COVID-19 experiences predicts well-being among older but not younger adults

People engage in autobiographical reasoning to make sense of major life events. This study examined whether younger and older adults utilized different autobiographical reasoning strategies to make sense of highly emotional and impactful experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic. We hypothesized that older adults would show higher levels of redemptive processing, younger adults would show higher levels of exploratory processing, and that these respective processes would be associated with well-being for each group. Two samples of younger (n = 245; ages 17–22) and older (n = 224; ages 55–83) adults provided written narratives about their most impactful positive and negative experiences from the COVID-19 pandemic and responded to a questionnaire assessing well-being. We found that younger and older adults did not differ in their use of exploratory and redemptive processing. Redemptive processing was uniquely predictive of well-being among older adults, although this relationship disappeared when positive and negative events were considered independently. These results suggest that the ability to positively reframe COVID-related events could be particularly important for the well-being of older adults.     

Acculturation,Language Use,and Demographic Variables as Predictors of the Career Self-Efficacy of Latino Career Counseling Clients

A sample of 95 Latino career counseling clients of a social services agency voluntarily completed a demographic questionnaire, the American-International Relations Scale (Sodowsky & Plake, 1991), and a questionnaire designed to assess career self-efficacy (Bandura, 1977, 1986; Betz & Hackett, 1981). Acculturation and English language use predicted career self-efficacy, unlike years of residence in the United States, age, and educational level (p < .05). The Implications of the results to career counseling for Latinos are discussed.     

Prevention of depression with primary care patients: A randomized controlled trial

The prevention of major depression is an important research goal which deserves increased attention. Depressive symptoms and disorders are particularly common in primary care patients and have a negative impact on functioning and well-being comparable with other major chronic medical conditions. The San Francisco Depression Prevention Research project conducted a randomized, controlled, prevention trial to demonstrate the feasibility of implementing such research in a public sector setting serving low-income, predominantly minority individuals: 150 primary care patients free from depression or other major mental disorders were randomized to an experimental cognitive-behavioral intervention or to a control condition. The experimental intervention group reported a significantly greater reduction in depressive levels. Decline in depressive levels was significantly mediated by decline in the frequency of negative conditions. Group differences in the number of new episodes (incidence) of major depression did not reach significance during the 1-year trial. We conclude that depression prevention trials in public sector primary care settings are feasbile, and that depressive symptoms can be reduced even in low-income, minority populations. To conduct randomized prevention trials that can test effects on incidence with sufficient statistical power, subgroups at greater imminent risk have to be identified.     

Using the family life cycle with later life families

The development of a family clinic for later life families within an Old Age Psychiatry service is briefly described. An extended life cycle model has been found useful in understanding and working with such families and is also described, together with two cases which illustrate the practical application of the model.