This study examines high school expectancies in a sample of at-risk, rural youth, and how these e... more This study examines high school expectancies in a sample of at-risk, rural youth, and how these expectancies relate to 8th grade functioning, 9th grade functioning, and 9th grade experiences of high school. A total of 76 eighth-graders and their parents, drawn from a larger study of the transition to high school, participated in interviews the summer before 9th grade regarding students' expectations about high school. 59 of these students and their parents were again interviewed the summer following 9th grade to examine adjustment to high school. Overall, 8th grade students, such with greater academic competence and a more positive view of the school environment had more positive high school expectancies. High school expectancies did not predict change in socio-emotional functioning in high school, but they were associated with more positive experiences of high school. The study suggests that high school expectations may play an important role in high school experiences, and thu...
We examined US parent and youth perceptions of how life events, both positive and negative, assoc... more We examined US parent and youth perceptions of how life events, both positive and negative, associated with COVID-19 resulted in changes in family and youth functioning. Families ( n = 105, 80% white, 48% male, and 87% mothers) completed surveys during the pandemic (May to July 2020) and 3 years prior (for youth ages M = 10.6, SD = 1.17 and M = 13.6, SD = 1.19). Declines in youth, though not parent, report of open family communication, parental support, and family satisfaction were found. Declines were associated with various domains of pandemic-related stress in parent report, though positive life events served as buffers. Pre-pandemic family functioning also predicted pandemic stress. Spillover effects in turn impacted youth functioning. The current findings shed light on how experiences of the pandemic are linked with family functioning and have implications for how to support families during this time.
Phytochromes are red/far-red-light detecting photoreceptors that regulate plant growth and develo... more Phytochromes are red/far-red-light detecting photoreceptors that regulate plant growth and development. They photo-interconvert between an inactive Pr (red-light absorbing) and a physiologically active Pfr (far-red-light absorbing) form, acting as light-controlled molecular switches. Although the two major plant phytochromes A (phyA) and B (phyB) share similar absorption properties, they exhibit dramatic differences in their action spectra. Since both phytochromes antagonistically regulate seedling development under vegetative shade, it is essential for plants to clearly distinguish between phyA and phyB action. This discrimination is not comprehensible solely by the molecular properties of the phytochromes, but is evidently due to the dynamics of the phytochrome system. Using an integrated experimental and mathematical modelling approach we show that phytochrome dimerization is an essential element for phyB function. Our findings reveal that light-independent Pfr to Pr relaxation (dark reversion) and association/dissociation to nuclear bodies (NBs) severely depend on the conformational state of the phyB dimer. We conclude that only Pfr-Pfr homodimers of phyB can be responsible for triggering physiological responses, leading to a suppression of phyB function in the far-red range of the light spectrum.
This study examines high school expectancies in a sample of at-risk, rural youth, and how these e... more This study examines high school expectancies in a sample of at-risk, rural youth, and how these expectancies relate to 8th grade functioning, 9th grade functioning, and 9th grade experiences of high school. A total of 76 eighth-graders and their parents, drawn from a larger study of the transition to high school, participated in interviews the summer before 9th grade regarding students' expectations about high school. 59 of these students and their parents were again interviewed the summer following 9th grade to examine adjustment to high school. Overall, 8th grade students, such with greater academic competence and a more positive view of the school environment had more positive high school expectancies. High school expectancies did not predict change in socio-emotional functioning in high school, but they were associated with more positive experiences of high school. The study suggests that high school expectations may play an important role in high school experiences, and thu...
The current study examined the settings in which adolescents use alcohol and drugs, emphasizing s... more The current study examined the settings in which adolescents use alcohol and drugs, emphasizing sex and peer group differences in where substance use occurs, settings associated with more problematic substance use, and settings potentially serving as sites of initiation of adolescent substance use. Subjects were 449 juniors and seniors attending two Midwestern high schools (51% male; aged 16–19) who completed
This study examines high school expectancies in a sample of at-risk, rural youth, and how these e... more This study examines high school expectancies in a sample of at-risk, rural youth, and how these expectancies relate to 8th grade functioning, 9th grade functioning, and 9th grade experiences of high school. A total of 76 eighth-graders and their parents, drawn from a larger study of the transition to high school, participated in interviews the summer before 9th grade regarding students' expectations about high school. 59 of these students and their parents were again interviewed the summer following 9th grade to examine adjustment to high school. Overall, 8th grade students, such with greater academic competence and a more positive view of the school environment had more positive high school expectancies. High school expectancies did not predict change in socio-emotional functioning in high school, but they were associated with more positive experiences of high school. The study suggests that high school expectations may play an important role in high school experiences, and thu...
We examined US parent and youth perceptions of how life events, both positive and negative, assoc... more We examined US parent and youth perceptions of how life events, both positive and negative, associated with COVID-19 resulted in changes in family and youth functioning. Families ( n = 105, 80% white, 48% male, and 87% mothers) completed surveys during the pandemic (May to July 2020) and 3 years prior (for youth ages M = 10.6, SD = 1.17 and M = 13.6, SD = 1.19). Declines in youth, though not parent, report of open family communication, parental support, and family satisfaction were found. Declines were associated with various domains of pandemic-related stress in parent report, though positive life events served as buffers. Pre-pandemic family functioning also predicted pandemic stress. Spillover effects in turn impacted youth functioning. The current findings shed light on how experiences of the pandemic are linked with family functioning and have implications for how to support families during this time.
Phytochromes are red/far-red-light detecting photoreceptors that regulate plant growth and develo... more Phytochromes are red/far-red-light detecting photoreceptors that regulate plant growth and development. They photo-interconvert between an inactive Pr (red-light absorbing) and a physiologically active Pfr (far-red-light absorbing) form, acting as light-controlled molecular switches. Although the two major plant phytochromes A (phyA) and B (phyB) share similar absorption properties, they exhibit dramatic differences in their action spectra. Since both phytochromes antagonistically regulate seedling development under vegetative shade, it is essential for plants to clearly distinguish between phyA and phyB action. This discrimination is not comprehensible solely by the molecular properties of the phytochromes, but is evidently due to the dynamics of the phytochrome system. Using an integrated experimental and mathematical modelling approach we show that phytochrome dimerization is an essential element for phyB function. Our findings reveal that light-independent Pfr to Pr relaxation (dark reversion) and association/dissociation to nuclear bodies (NBs) severely depend on the conformational state of the phyB dimer. We conclude that only Pfr-Pfr homodimers of phyB can be responsible for triggering physiological responses, leading to a suppression of phyB function in the far-red range of the light spectrum.
This study examines high school expectancies in a sample of at-risk, rural youth, and how these e... more This study examines high school expectancies in a sample of at-risk, rural youth, and how these expectancies relate to 8th grade functioning, 9th grade functioning, and 9th grade experiences of high school. A total of 76 eighth-graders and their parents, drawn from a larger study of the transition to high school, participated in interviews the summer before 9th grade regarding students' expectations about high school. 59 of these students and their parents were again interviewed the summer following 9th grade to examine adjustment to high school. Overall, 8th grade students, such with greater academic competence and a more positive view of the school environment had more positive high school expectancies. High school expectancies did not predict change in socio-emotional functioning in high school, but they were associated with more positive experiences of high school. The study suggests that high school expectations may play an important role in high school experiences, and thu...
The current study examined the settings in which adolescents use alcohol and drugs, emphasizing s... more The current study examined the settings in which adolescents use alcohol and drugs, emphasizing sex and peer group differences in where substance use occurs, settings associated with more problematic substance use, and settings potentially serving as sites of initiation of adolescent substance use. Subjects were 449 juniors and seniors attending two Midwestern high schools (51% male; aged 16–19) who completed
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