Finite Mixtures for Simultaneously Modeling Differential Effects and Nonnormal Distributions

Regression mixture models have been increasingly applied in the social and behavioral sciences as a method for identifying differential effects of predictors on outcomes. Although the typical specification of this approach is sensitive to violations of distributional assumptions, alternative methods for capturing the number of differential effects have been shown to be robust. Yet, there is still a need to better describe differential effects that exist when using regression mixture models. This study tests a new approach that uses sets of classes (called differential effects sets) to simultaneously model differential effects and account for nonnormal error distributions. Monte Carlo simulations are used to examine the performance of the approach. The number of classes needed to represent departures from normality is shown to be dependent on the degree of skew. The use of differential effects sets reduced bias in parameter estimates. Applied analyses demonstrated the implementation of the approach for describing differential effects of parental health problems on adolescent body mass index using differential effects sets approach. Findings support the usefulness of the approach, which overcomes the limitations of previous approaches for handling nonnormal errors.     

Sleep on it, but only if it is difficult: Effects of sleep on problem solving

Previous research has shown that performance on problem solving improves over a period of sleep, as compared with wakefulness. However, these studies have not determined whether sleep is beneficial for problem solving or whether sleep merely mitigates against interference due to an interruption to solution attempts. Sleep-dependent improvements have been described in terms of spreading activation, which raises the prediction that an effect of sleep should be greater for problems requiring a broader solution search. We presented participants with a set of remote-associate tasks that varied in difficulty as a function of the strength of the stimuli–answer associations. After a period of sleep, wake, or no delay, participants reattempted previously unsolved problems. The sleep group solved a greater number of difficult problems than did the other groups, but no difference was found for easy problems. We conclude that sleep facilitates problem solving, most likely via spreading activation, but this has its primary effect for harder problems.     

Outpatient Psychotropic Medication Use in the US: A Comparison Based on Foster Care Status

Using data from the Client/Patient Sample Survey, a nationally representative study of outpatient mental health service utilization, the prevalence and correlates of psychotropic medication receipt for youth who live with families and in foster care are compared. The medication rate is similar for both groups, with slightly more than one-third of youth treated with medication. Additionally, when medication is prescribed, it is the sole intervention provided for close to one half of each group, and the distribution of other services received (such as clinical case management and collateral services) is similar, regardless of living situation. However, the predictors of medication use differ for the two groups. Among foster care youth, only presenting problems of depressed mood, being withdrawn, and suicidality significantly increase the odds of medication; among youth with families, sociodemographic characteristics (male gender), and a range of clinical factors (disruptive behavior disorder, presenting problems of hyperactivity and sleep disturbance, prior mental health service receipt, and inpatient or residential care referral sources) increase the likelihood of medication. The conclusion that distinct sets of factors predict medication for the two groups was reinforced by results of multivariate analyses; foster care status moderates the association between medication receipt and only one of the correlates examined (gender). Implications, limitations, and areas for future research are presented.     

阿尔茨海默病的非药物干预与照料

目前阿尔茨海默病尚无根治性的治疗方法,药物治疗基本上是针对临床症状的对症治疗,只能在一定时期内起到改善或延缓疾病发展的作用。非药物治疗包括心理、社会、环境等综合干预,通过多重感官刺激、身体和智能锻炼、芳香治疗、感觉刺激、个性化音乐等方法,配合药物治疗以期尽可能长地保持阿尔茨海默病患者的功能水平,延迟日常生活能力的下降,减轻照料者负担,从而改善阿尔茨海默病患者及其家属的生活质量。对照料者的培训是非药物治疗的重要环节,照料的质量直接影响患者及家属的情绪和生活质量。     

Examining the Relationship between Social Support,Parenting Stress,and Depression in South Korean Single Mothers

Journal of Child and Family Studies - The purpose of this study is to examine the relationships among social support, parenting stress, and depression in single mothers with young children in South...     

Collective‐efficacy as a mediator of the relationship of leaders' personality traits and team performance: A cross‐level analysis

The relationship between a leader's personality and his team's performance has been established in organisational research, but the underlying process and mechanism responsible for this effect have not been fully explored. Both the traditional multiple linear regression and the multilevel structural equation model approaches were used in this study to test a proposed mediating model of subordinates' perception of collective efficacy between leader personality and team performance. The results show that the team leader's extraversion and conscientiousness personality traits were related positively to both the team‐average (individual) perception of collective efficacy and team performance, and the collective efficacy mediated the relationship of the leader's personality traits and team performance. This study also discusses how Chinese cultural elements play a role in such a mediating model.     

金钱刺激和决策者角色对个体道德决策的影响——基于过程分离范式

以大学生为被试,采用3（金钱刺激：无金钱刺激、金钱奖励、金钱惩罚）×2（决策者角色：决策者、旁观者）的被试间实验设计,利用过程分离范式分别计算被试道德决策中的功利主义倾向和道义论倾向,从而探讨金钱刺激和决策者角色对个体道德决策的影响。结果发现：（1）无论是决策者还是旁观者,金钱刺激都不会影响其道义论倾向;（2）决策者的道义论倾向大于旁观者;（3）只在有金钱奖励时决策者的功利主义倾向才大于旁观者。     

Misorientation characteristics of penetrating morphologies at the growth front of abnormally growing grains in aluminum alloy

The initial stage of abnormal grain growth of the aluminum alloy 5052 has been investigated using electron back-scattered diffraction to analyze the characteristic of misorientations of the penetrating morphology at the growth front. Among the 84 penetrating morphologies examined, none of the penetrated grain boundaries has low angles or coincidence site lattice (CSL) relations, whereas 66 penetrating grain boundaries have low angles or CSL relations. These results strongly suggest that the penetrating morphologies should result from triple-junction wetting.     

早期子宫颈癌根治性子宫颈切除术的临床应用

近年来子宫颈癌发病率呈现上升及年轻化趋势,年轻宫颈癌患者需要保留生育功能。随着新术式和腹腔镜的发展,子宫颈根治性切除术作为治疗早期宫颈癌的一种新的治疗方法,严格掌握其手术实施的适应证,结合医学伦理学和循证医学的原则,既达到了根治性的目的,又充分考虑到生育功能的保留。因此子宫颈根治性切除术是一种可行、有效、合理的手术方式。     

早期子宫颈癌根治性子宫颈切除术的临床应用

近年来子宫颈癌发病率呈现上升及年轻化趋势,年轻宫颈癌患者需要保留生育功能.随着研术式和腹腔镜的发展,子宫颈根治性切除术作为治疗早期宫颈癌的一种新的治疗方法,严格掌握其手术实施的适应证,结合医学伦理学和循证医学的原则,既达到了根治性的目的,又充分考虑到生育功能的保留.因此子宫颈根治性切除术是一种可行、有效、合理的手术方式.