The SNAP™ Under 12 Outreach Project: Effects of a Community Based Program for Children with Conduct Problems

We examined the immediate, short- and long-term effectiveness of the SNAP™ Under 12 Outreach Project (ORP)—a community-based program for children under the age of 12 at risk of having police contact. Sixteen pairs of children were matched on age, sex and severity of delinquency at admission, and randomly assigned to the ORP or to a control group which received less intensive treatment. Level of antisocial behavior was assessed pre and post intervention (immediate effects) and at three follow-up periods (up to 15 months post treatment) to investigate maintenance of possible treatment effects. A search of criminal records was also performed to assess long term effects. Results indicated that ORP children decreased significantly more than controls on the Delinquency and Aggression subscales of the Child Behavior Checklist pre- to post-intervention, and these effects were maintained over time. For statistically significant differences, effect sizes were large (.79 to 1.19). Fewer ORP children (31%) had criminal records at follow-up compared to controls (57%), although this difference was not statistically significant. Overall, the ORP appears to be an effective cognitive-behavioral program for antisocial children in the short term, with possible effects that extend into adolescence and adulthood.     

Knowledge About Genetics Among African Americans

Although knowledge about genetic concepts is important for individuals to be active participants in medical technologies that use genetic science, limited information is available on knowledge about basic genetic concepts and terminology in African Americans. The purpose of this study was to evaluate knowledge about general genetic concepts and medical genetics terminology among African Americans and to identify factors having independent associations with knowledge. Participants were 109 adult African Americans enrolled in a study on attitudes about race, genetics, and smoking. The majority of respondents were knowledgeable about general genetic concepts, but were less knowledgeable about medical genetics terminology. Education was the only factor independently associated with knowledge about sporadic disorders in multivariate logistic regression analysis. Respondents with at least some college education were most likely to be knowledgeable about sporadic disorders (OR=2.70, 95% CI=1.10, 6.67, p=.03). The results of this study suggest that genetics education targeted to African Americans may need to focus on increasing understanding about technical concepts related to genetics.     

影响感觉寻求人格特质的生物遗传因素

综述了感觉寻求人格特质的生物遗传机制的相关研究。主要从3个方面对该问题进行了探讨：（1）单胺类物质与感觉寻求人格特质的关系;（2）激素对感觉寻求人格特质的影响;（3）感觉寻求人格特质的生物遗传性     

神经心理学手段及其在行为遗传学研究中的应用

神经心理学的检测手段包括神经心理学测验和仪器检查。行为遗传学是一门在多学科基础上发展形成的的交叉学科。近年来,应用神经心理学手段进行行为遗传学研究,已经取得了一些可喜的进展。     

The Persistence-Strengthening Effects of DRA: An Illustration of Bidirectional Translational Research

We summarize a series of bidirectional research studies that demonstrate the persistence-strengthening effects of differential reinforcement of alternative behavior on problem behavior. We model a possible solution to this problem with rats followed by replication with a human clinical population. The importance of coordinated basic and applied research to stimulate new behavioral technologies is emphasized.     

Social Emotions and Intertemporal Choice: "Hot" Mechanisms for Building Social and Economic Capital

ABSTRACT— Individuals regularly confront situations in which acceptance of short-term costs may lead to long-term gains. Given that individuals frequently discount the utility of future benefits with respect to more immediate ones, successfully solving such intertemporal choice dilemmas has been theorized to involve self-regulation aimed at controlling emotional responses that are sensitive to immediate rewards. In this article, I argue for a more multifaceted view of the role played by emotions in intertemporal choice. In support of this view, I review emerging evidence demonstrating the ability of specific, socially oriented emotions to facilitate behaviors designed to build social and economic capital in the long run.     

解偶联蛋白2基因启动子-866G／A多态性与2型糖尿病的相关性研究

研究解偶联蛋白-2基因启动子常见-866G／A基因多态性（UCP2—866G／A）与2型糖尿病发病相关性。用多聚酶链反应-限制内切酶长度多态性技术检测了76例非糖尿病对照（NDM）和115例糖尿病患者（DM）的UCP2—866G／A基因型分布,并分析各基因型与胰岛功能、代谢参数的差异性。结果DM的AA基因型分布显著高于NDM（32．2％vs15．8％,χ^2=6．526,P〈0．038）。在NDM组GG型携带者空腹C肽（FCP）水平高于AA和GG组（两两比较分别为t=2．99,P=0．005和t=2．229,P=0．03）;在DM各基因型之间FCP和餐后2小时C肽（2hCP）情况与NDM对照相似,各基因型混和餐刺激后2hCP差异更加明显。结论为UCP2—866G／A基因多态性与大连地区2型糖尿病发病相关,该基因多态性主要影响胰岛β细胞分泌功能。     

行为生命周期假设在慢性病防治中的应用

目前,慢性病已成为妨害人民健康的主要疾病,是我国重要的公共卫生问题,但人们并没有对此给予重视。本文运用行为经济学的理论与方法,对此进行分析解释,认为行为生命周期假说能够有效解释此种现象,并可以通过开展群体活动、完善机制和设立名义账户等措施来改变居民的行为方式,从而有效地防治慢性病。     

THE EFFECTS OF BEHAVIORAL SKILLS TRAINING ON IMPLEMENTATION OF THE PICTURE EXCHANGE COMMUNICATION SYSTEM

The effectiveness of a behavioral skills training (BST) package to teach the implementation of the first three phases of the picture exchange communication system (PECS) was evaluated with 3 adults who had no history teaching any functional communication system. A multiple baseline design across participants was used to evaluate the effectiveness of the training package, which consisted of a video, written and verbal instructions, modeling, rehearsal, and feedback. Results showed significant improvements relative to baseline in a short amount of training time and that skills generalized to a learner with a severe developmental disability. Skills were maintained at 1 month follow‐up for 1 participant.     

RESISTANCE TO CHANGE AND FREQUENCY OF RESPONSE‐DEPENDENT STIMULI UNCORRELATED WITH REINFORCEMENT

Stimuli uncorrelated with reinforcement have been shown to enhance response rates and resistance to disruption; however, the effects of different rates of stimulus presentations have not been assessed. In two experiments, we assessed the effects of adding different rates of response‐dependent brief stimuli uncorrelated with primary reinforcement on relative response rates and resistance to change. In both experiments, pigeons responded on variable‐interval 60‐s schedules of food reinforcement in two components of a multiple schedule, and brief response‐dependent keylight‐color changes were added to one or both components. Although relative response rates were not systematically affected in either experiment, relative resistance to presession feeding and extinction were. In Experiment 1, adding stimuli on a variable‐interval schedule to one component of a multiple schedule either at a low rate (1 per min) for one group or at a high rate (4 per min) for another group similarly increased resistance to disruption in the components with added stimuli. When high and low rates of stimuli were presented across components (i.e., within subjects) in Experiment 2, however, relative resistance to disruption was greater in the component presenting stimuli at a lower rate. These results suggest that stimuli uncorrelated with food reinforcement do not strengthen responding in the same way as primary reinforcers.