Search

Research on perceptions of sexual interest has documented the tendency for men to overperceive sexual interest (i.e., to perceive a social signal as indicating more sexual intent than the actor intended). However, this work has almost exclusively focused upon these dynamics among heterosexual individuals. Thus, the current set of studies aimed to understand how perceptions of sexual interest manifest among lesbian, gay, and bisexual (LGB) women and men. In Study 1 (N = 85), LGB women and men nominated behaviors that signal sexual intent. Using an act nomination approach, LGB women and men tended to nominate behaviors similar to those nominated by heterosexual women and men. In Study 2 (N = 43), gay men reported acts that were representative of their own and other gay men's sexual interest. Consistent with previous work-by comparing perceived self-reported versus others' sexual intent when engaging in specific behaviors-we found no evidence for a sexual overperception bias in gay men, albeit in a small field study. In Study 3 (N = 307), using a gender-by-sexual orientation design, heterosexual and LGB women and men reported previous experiences in which their friendliness was sexually misperceived. Bisexual women were less likely than other groups to report their friendliness being misinterpreted as sexual by other bisexual women and/or lesbians. Additionally, across all genders and sexual orientations, participants reported feelings of indifference, awkwardness and embarrassment when being misperceived. Ultimately, the current studies' results provide broader insight into the nature of sexual overperception among LGB populations., (© 2023. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature.)

Background: Sociosexuality-attitudes, behaviors, and desires related to casual sex-partly predicts drinking behavior in both men and women because drinking is thought to facilitate interactions that lead to casual sex. It follows that sociosexuality would predict drinking intake (e.g., quantity consumed)-but perhaps not drinking consequences (e.g., blacking out)-on the premise that drinking large quantities with high frequency (but not to such high degrees/levels of intoxication that negative consequences occur) would facilitate casual sex. Objectives: This set of studies evaluated whether baseline measures of sociosexuality predict drinking intake (i.e., frequency, quantity, and binge drinking) but not experiencing blacking out at follow-up in two samples (Study 1, N = 172; Study 2, N = 1,038) of college-aged men. Results: As predicted, men's sociosexuality prospectively predicted drinking frequency, quantity, and binge drinking. Contrary to our predictions, men's sociosexuality also predicted blacking out. Conclusions: College men's drinking interventions should be tailored to high-risk groups and consider individual differences like sociosexuality.

Masks and other non-pharmaceutical interventions can complement vaccines and treatments as a part of multilayered mitigation to reduce the burden of COVID-19 in high-risk settings like surges. Although N95s provide greater protection than cloth and procedure masks against airborne infectious illnesses, few people used N95s historically, potentially due to lack of familiarity and cost. The study was designed to examine the feasibility of distributing N95s during a COVID-19 surge. A follow-up survey summarized mask behavior. The investigators aimed to distribute 2,500 N95s to 500 adults in 5-packs with informational handouts at community locations during the COVID-19 Omicron BA.1 surge in New Orleans, Louisiana. A 1-month follow-up survey assessed utilization, safety perceptions, social diffusion of awareness of N95s, and purchase intentions. The investigators successfully distributed all 2,500 N95s during the peak of the BA.1 surge (December 13, 2021 to January 17, 2022). At 1-month follow-up, 96.7% of participants had tried an N95. They utilized an average of 3.42 (68.4%) of the five N95s, felt safer wearing N95s (Ps < 0.0001), discussed N95s with others (80.4%), and would wear N95s again if free (87.9%). Future utilization intentions were price sensitive. Communities will readily use public health tools like N95s when at risk and offered for free with useful information. Cost was identified as a key barrier to sustained utilization. Findings have immediate public policy implications for reducing national, regional, and organizational surges. The research provides an illustrative example of the importance of behavioral science in responding to public health crises., (© Society of Behavioral Medicine 2023. All rights reserved. For permissions, please e-mail: journals.permissions@oup.com.)

This pedagogical prime aimed to examine whether undergraduate education in personality psychology was associated with increases in dispositional intelligence, a key variable underlying social skills. The sample consisted of students enrolled in a small Introduction to Personality college course who completed a summative performance-based assessment of their conceptual reasoning that required a complex application of their understanding of personality. On the first day of class, the students completed a dispositional intelligence scale, demonstrating their pre-course understanding of how personal adjectives (e.g., insecure ) correspond to particular personality dispositions (e.g., neuroticism). They took the same scale again on the last day of class to assess if learning about the Five-Factor Model (FFM) during the class was associated with increased dispositional intelligence scores. Results from this longitudinal study revealed that participants had an increase in dispositional intelligence from the first to last day of class ( d = 0.89, p = .001), especially when perceiving the dispositions of openness ( d =.59, p =.04) and agreeableness ( d =.69, p =.019). In conclusion, a college personality course emphasizing the Five-Factor Model was associated with increases in a measure of personality understanding.

We observed COVID-19 concern during goal pursuit data collection, where some undergraduates self-reported COVID-19 specific goals. Thus, we analyzed the individual difference in students who self-reported COVID-19 specific goals in this current exploratory study. The results revealed ( N  = 496) that there were no differences in those who reported COVID-19 goals with their self-reporting of the Five-Factor Model. Additionally, participant's most reported goal was to 1) not contract COVID-19, 2) be social during COVID-19, and 3) follow health and safety protocols. This study provides researchers with both qualitative and quantitative evidence about college students' concern with COVID-19., (© 2021 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Viewing online pornography is common among US adults, with mixed-sex threesome (MST) videos being one of the top 10 most popular categories of pornography for both men and women. The current content analysis applied sexual script theory to understand the themes present in these mixed-sex threesome videos. Independent coders viewed a total of 50 videos (25 MMF and 25 FFM) at each timepoint (2012, 2015, 2020) and coded for different sexual behaviors and themes in each video. By examining both same-sex (female-female, male-male) and other-sex (female-male) behaviors, as well as themes of aggression and sexual initiation in different videos and across three timepoints, it was determined that other-sex behaviors are more common in MST videos than same-sex behaviors. Same-sex behaviors between two female actors were more common than same-sex behaviors between two male actors. Aggression was a common theme in videos, with male actors being more aggressive on average than female actors. Most of these trends did not change across 8 years, suggesting that the impacts of traditional sexual scripts are pervasive in pornography, even in current online content. Important implications for both researchers and clinical professionals are discussed.

Given the persistent threat posed by infectious disease throughout human history, people have a sophisticated suite of cognitive and behavioral strategies designed to mitigate exposure to disease vectors. Previous research suggests that one such strategy is avoidance of unfamiliar outgroup members. We thus examined the relationship between dispositional worry about disease and support for COVID-19-related travel bans across three preregistered studies ( N  = 764) conducted at the outset of the pandemic in the United States and Singapore. Americans higher in Perceived Infectability were more supportive of travel bans, whereas Singaporeans higher in Germ Aversion were more supportive of travel bans. In Study 2, priming saliency of the pandemic increased support for travel bans from high (but not low) pandemic-risk countries. This prime did not increase general xenophobia. These results are consistent with threat-specific perspectives of outgroup avoidance, and provide an ecologically-valid test of the implications of perceived disease threat for policy-related attitudes and decision-making., Supplementary Information: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s40806-021-00283-z., Competing Interests: Conflict of InterestThe authors declare no competing interests., (© The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2021.)

Popular culture has recently publicized a seemingly new postbreakup behavior called breakup sex. While the media expresses the benefits of participating in breakup sex, there is no research to support these claimed benefits. The current research was designed to begin to better understand this postbreakup behavior. In the first study, we examined how past breakup sex experiences made the individuals feel and how people predict they would feel in the future ( n = 212). Results suggested that men are more likely than women to have felt better about themselves, while women tend to state they felt better about the relationship after breakup sex. The second study ( n = 585) investigated why men and women engage in breakup sex. Results revealed that most breakup sex appears to be motivated by three factors: relationship maintenance, hedonism, and ambivalence. Men tended to support hedonistic and ambivalent reasons for having breakup sex more often than women. The two studies revealed that breakup sex may be differentially motivated (and may have different psychological consequences) for men and women and may not be as beneficial as the media suggests.

Although allelic diversity at the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) has implications for adaptive immunity, mate choice, and social signalling, how diversity at the MHC influences the calibration of life history strategies remains largely uninvestigated. The current study investigated whether greater MHC heterozygosity was associated with markers of slower life history strategies in a sample of 789 North American undergraduates. Contrary to preregistered predictions and to previously published findings, MHC heterozygosity was not related to any of the psychological life history-relevant variables measured (including short- vs. long-term sexual strategy, temporal discounting, the Arizona life history battery, past and current health, disgust sensitivity, and Big Five personality traits). Further, no meaningful effects emerged when analysing women and men separately. Possible reasons for why the current results are inconsistent with previous work are discussed.

The mechanisms regulating the cellular uptake of long-chain fatty acids are poorly understood. Although there is evidence that hepatocytes facilitate the uptake of ligands from the protein-bound fraction, it is not known whether cardiac myocytes also facilitate the uptake process. The present studies were designed to address the role of albumin in the uptake of long-chain fatty acids by cardiac myocytes isolated from adult male rats. At low albumin concentrations (1 microM), the myocyte palmitate clearance rate did not exceed that predicted by the diffusion-reaction model. At high albumin concentrations (300 and 600 microM), the clearance ratio test was used to determine whether myocytes facilitate the uptake of palmitate. As with the low albumin concentrations, the diffusion-reaction model accounted for the overall clearance rates. Because endothelial cells might be involved in enhancing fatty acid transport into myocytes, we also determined the effects of endothelial cells on palmitate uptake by cardiac myocytes. Based on cell number, the palmitate clearance rate by endothelial cells in the presence of albumin was only 7% of the cardiac myocyte clearance rate. Combining the endothelial cells with the myocytes did not result in any synergistic effect on the palmitate clearance rate.

We used the clearance ratio test to determine whether the presence of albumin enhances the uptake of palmitate by hepatocyte monolayers. If uptake is facilitated, then the ratio of palmitate clearance by hepatocytes in the presence of 600 and 300 microM albumin (i.e., Clt600/Clt300) will exceed the square root of the ratio of the unbound fractions at 600 and 300 microM albumin (i.e., square root of alpha 600/alpha 300). The latter value was determined using the heptane-water partitioning technique. The hepatocyte clearance ratio (0.92 +/- 0.06) exceeded the predicted value (0.80) by 15% (p < 0.05). The observed clearance rate also exceeded that predicted by the diffusion-reaction model.

Experiments were conducted comparing palmitate clearance by hepatocyte monolayers, polyethylene and that predicted by the diffusion-reaction model. The objective was to learn whether the albumin-dependent enhancement of unbound palmitate clearance was wholly attributable to codiffusion of bound and unbound fatty acid across an unstirred fluid layer, or whether the uptake flux was also contributed by facilitated dissociation of albumin-fatty acid complexes at the cell surface. We use a model-independent formulation of the facilitation phenomenon to explore this question at low concentrations of albumin. The central finding that facilitation occurs takes into consideration albumin-dependent changes in solution viscosity, endogenous albumin secretion and the adsorption of albumin to the polyethylene surface.

We compared the uptake of bound palmitate by rat hepatocytes to its uptake by polyethylene using beta-lactoglobulin (BLG) as the binding protein. The experiments were designed to supply a direct measure of the protein-dependent change in the diffusive conductance of extracellular fluid without determining the diffusion coefficients for free and bound fatty acid or the off-rate constant for protein binding. Rate-limiting dissociation in the stirred phase of extracellular fluid was excluded. The results obtained with BLG are strikingly similar to those previously obtained with albumin and provide additional circumstantial evidence that when the free fraction is small, palmitate uptake is partially driven by the concentration of bound fatty acid. Because this phenomenon is not specific for the binding protein, it may reflect direct exchange of ligand between the binding protein in extracellular fluid and the putative transport protein in the hepatocyte plasma membrane.

The past and current EPA research and regulatory programs as they relate to non-regulated emissions from light-duty motor vehicles are reviewed. Provisions of Sections 202(a) and 211 of the 1970 Clean Air Act Amendments are discussed and their relationships to the nonregulated emissions issue detailed. The EPA position regarding non-regulated emissions from oxidation catalyst-equipped vehicles is discussed and related to technical papers presented in this symposium. The planned EPA research programs addressing the "catalyst" issue are reviewed.

We compared uptake of palmitate by hepatocyte monolayers with uptake by polyethylene membranes under conditions of identical binding and stirring. Hepatocytes and polyethylene display similar clearances when the fatty acid is free, reflecting partial rate limitation by diffusion across the unstirred water layer. When palmitate is 99.8% bound to albumin, however, hepatocytes clear free fatty acid about seven times faster than does polyethylene. We analyzed the uptake of palmitate by polyethylene at two different pHs to isolate the diffusive resistance of the unstirred layer and to show that codiffusion of bound and free palmitate to the hepatocyte surface accounts for only approximately 20% of the albumin-dependent increment in the clearance of free palmitate. The clearance data are supported by independent measurements of the stagnant layer thickness obtained from indicator dilution data and by an electrochemical method. The findings suggest that hepatocytes facilitate the dissociation of albumin-palmitate complexes. Alternatively, albumin may modulate the uptake capacities of hepatocytes and/or polyethylene.

The metabolic energy source used by the pig red cell, which is unable to metabolize blood-borne glucose, was examined. Potential physiological substrates include adenosine, inosine, ribose, deoxyribose, dihydroxyacetone and glyceraldehyde, of which inosine was previously implicated. A net ATP synthesis by red cells occurs during in situ perfusion through the adult miniature pig liver. HPLC analysis of the perfusate revealed the presence primarily of inosine and hypoxanthine. Inosine production by the liver was 0.015 mumol/g per min. Moreover, red cells maintain ATP when suspended in a balanced salt medium during a 6 h incubation at 38 degrees C, in which inosine is continuously infused to give an external concentration of no more than 3 mumol/l, mimicking its plasma level. Inosine consumption under these infusion conditions was 56 nmol/ml cell per h, which is two orders of magnitude lower than when inosine is present in millimolar concentration. The total red cell inosine consumption of 9.63 mumol/h is much less than the total liver inosine production of 212 mumol/h. These findings suggest that the liver is an organ site elaborating inosine, and that maintenance of a 3 mumol/l inosine in plasma is sufficient to meet the energy requirements of the pig red cells.

One of the fractions obtained by the carboxymethylcellulose ion-exchange chromatography of northern copperhead (Agkistrodon contortrix mokasen) venom prevented the thrombin-induced clotting of fibrinogen by proteolytically degrading the fibrinogen. The active component has been further purified to apparent electrophoretic homogeneity by molecular sieve chromatography. Sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS)-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis indicated a molecular weight of 22 900 +/- 600 for the purified enzyme. In addition to its fibrinogenase activity, it catalyzed the hydrolysis of hide power azure and had an intraperitoneal LD50 value in mice of less than 5.1 microgram/g body weight. The enzyme rapidly destroyed fibrinogen's ability to form clots. Electrophoresis of fibrinogen which had been incubated only a few minutes with the fibrinogenase revealed the rapid disappearance of the alpha-chain and the appearance of lower molecular weight fragments. The neutral pH optimum and ethylenediamine-tetraacetic acid (EDTA) and dithiothreitol sensitivity indicated that this enzyme belonged to the class metalloproteinases. Atomic absorption studies have revealed one zinc atom per molecule of protein. The apoenzyme's activity was restored by incubation with ZnCl2.

Haematology parameters were measured in buffalo, Bali, Madura, Ongole and Grati (Friesian cross) bulls fed on either a high concentrate or a high roughage-based diet. Animals fed the high concentrate diet had the higher packed cell volumes and haemoglobin concentrations but lower red blood cell and white blood cell counts. Species differences were significant for all blood parameters measured, except red blood cell count. The buffalo and Bali had the highest packed cell volumes, haemoglobin concentrations and white blood cell counts followed by the Madura, Ongole and Grati bulls. When growth rate and feed efficiency were related to liveweight and blood values, only haemoglobin concentration and red blood cell count had significant partial regression coefficients. Within breed or species blood and performance parameters were significantly related only for buffalo and Madura bulls.

1. Commercially available preparations of venoms of three subspecies of copperhead snake (Agkistrodon contortrix) were compared as to toxicity, enzymatic activities, effect on a nerve-muscle preparation and capacity to induce clotting of a fibrinogen solution or plasma. 2. Northern copperhead venom contained apparent neurotoxic activities that were not present in broadbanded copperhead venom and only partially present in southern copperhead venom. 3. Procoagulant activity was demonstrated in whole northern copperhead venom in the absence of exogenous calcium. Procoagulant activity was present in certain isolated fractions of southern and broadbanded copperhead venoms, but was not apparent in the whole venoms. 4. Differences were noted in the levels of enzyme activities and electrophoretic patterns of the three venoms.

Thin polyethylene membranes permit ready diffusion of protonated long-chain fatty acids but are impermeable to protein and ions. This circumstance recommends polyethylene for measuring the free fraction of fatty acids in the presence of a binding protein and for estimating the ionization constant with which to compute the equilibrium constant for the binding of fatty acid anions. As an example of this approach we report the binding of tracer palmitate to bovine albumin and bovine beta-lactoglobulin. We find a binding constant for the high-affinity site on albumin that is close to that calculated by others from heptane:H2O partition ratios. Our procedure is simpler, however, and free of the theoretical objection that heptane may alter the binding characteristics of the protein. Our estimate of the pKa for palmitic acid is 4.9, a finding that conforms to the widely predicted but heretofore unconfirmed expectation that long-chain fatty acids should have a pKa of about 4.8. Unidirectional flux measurements exclude direct exchange of palmitate between albumin and polyethylene.

The procoagulant component has been purified from timber rattlesnake (Crotalus horridus horridus) venom by DEAE-cellulose ion-exchange chromatography followed by affinity chromatography on immobilized p-aminobenzamidine and a final DEAE-Sepharose chromatography. As obtained, the procoagulant gave a single band of Mr 29 500 +/- 2000 on SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis whether or not the sample was reduced prior to electrophoresis. Schiff's stain indicated the presence of some carbohydrate. The procoagulant showed one predominant and four minor bands on discontinuous gel electrophoresis. All caused fibrinogen solutions to clot. Treatment of the preparation with neuraminidase did not cause the minor bands to comigrate with the major band. Amino acid analysis revealed the presence of eight half-cystines, all of which were present as cystines in the intact molecule. The procoagulant has 13 tryptophans per molecule and an extinction coefficient for a 1% solution at 280 nm of 26.3. This venom procoagulant was found to induce clotting by catalyzing the hydrolysis of only the A fibrinopeptide from the A alpha-chain of fibrinogen. It was not inhibited by protein trypsin inhibitors, N-ethylmaleimide or dithiothreitol, but it was inactivated by phenylmethylsulfonyl fluoride, indicating an active-center serine. The procoagulant catalyzed the release of negligible acid-soluble peptides from bovine serum albumin, casein and hemoglobin.