Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior / In professional training of the nursing degree courses, there are situations which may be evaluated as stressful by students. If effective strategies are not used for coping with these situations, the stress remains and can lead to Burnout. However, Hardiness Personality is a set of features that allow resistance to stress, what is opposed to Burnout occurrence. In this process, some sociodemographic and academic characteristics can contribute to Hardiness and, thus, reduce the possibility of Burnout occurrence. In this sense, we verified the relationships among sociodemographic and academic characteristics, Burnout Syndrome and Personality Hardiness in nursing students of three Brazilian universities. This research is part of an ongoing project whose collection and partial data analysis were performed between 2011 and 2012. It is an analytical, cross-sectional and quantitative research. For data collection, we used the following instruments: Form to sociodemographic and academic characterization of students, Maslach Burnout Inventory-Student Survey (MBI-SS) and Hardiness Scale (EH). For analysis and organization of information, we built a database in an electronic spreadsheet in Excel (Office 2007) and used the Statistical Analysis System and Statistica. The qualitative variables were presented through absolute (n) and percentile(%) values and quantitative variables through descriptive measures: minimum and maximum values, mean and standard deviation. Cronbach alpha was used to analyze instruments internal consistency. We applied groups comparison tests to analyze the associations and comparisons among interest variables and tests were selected according to type of each variable involved. p values <0,05 were considered statistically significant, with a confidence interval of 95%. There was predominance of students who are female (84.21%), with age between 20 and 24 years (47.37%), single (74.39%), without children (81.05%) and who live with family (75.57%). Concerning to MBI-SS subscales, we verified that 64.04% of students showed a high level of Emotional Exhaustion, 35.79% high level of Cynicism and 87.72% low level of Professional Efficacy. Associating these subscales, 24.74% (n = 141) of participants presented Burnout. Regarding to HS domains, we observed 48.77% of population with high level of Control, 61.40% high level of Commitment and 35.44% high level of Challenge. In these domains association, we evidenced 21.93% (n = 125) of students with Hardiness Personality. There was a statistically significant difference between Hardiness Personality and Burnout (p = 0.033) occurrence among nursing students, being that 68.00% (n = 85) of Hardy students were not in Burnout. The occurrence, both of Burnout, as of Hardiness, was higher among students who are female, unmarried, without children, aged between 20 and 24 years, do not perform sports, without academic scholarship, enrolled in first semester, attending 10 disciplines, as well as among those who are satisfied to the course and did not think about drop it. We confirmed Hardiness as a set of features that allow stress resistance and, therefore, it is opposed to Burnout occurrence among nursing students. The sociodemographic and academic context contributes both to negative stress outcomes, like Burnout, as for strengthening of hardiness personality characteristics. Therefore, the manner in which student interprets the academic context may be define the outcomes related to stress. / Na formação profissional dos cursos de graduação em enfermagem, há situações que podem ser avaliadas como desgastantes pelos estudantes. Se não forem utilizadas estratégias efetivas para o seu enfrentamento, o estresse mantém-se e pode levar ao Burnout. Contudo, a Personalidade Hardiness consiste em um conjunto de características que permitem resistência ao estresse, o que se opõem a ocorrência do Burnout. Ainda, algumas características sociodemográficas e acadêmicas podem contribuir para o Hardiness e, assim, reduzir a possibilidade de ocorrência do Burnout. Nesse sentido, verificou-se as relações entre as características sociodemográficas e acadêmicas, a Síndrome de Burnout e a Personalidade Hardiness nos discentes de enfermagem de três universidades brasileiras. Essa pesquisa faz parte de um projeto em andamento, cuja coleta e análise parcial dos dados foram realizadas em 2011 e 2012. Trata-se de uma investigação analítica, transversal e quantitativa. Para coleta dos dados, foram utilizados um Formulário para caracterização sociodemográfica e acadêmica dos discentes, o Maslach Burnout Inventory- Student Survey (MBI-SS) e a Escala de Hardiness (EH). Para organização e análise dos dados, criou-se um banco de dados no programa Excel (Office 2007) e utilizado o programa Statistical Analisys System e Statistica. As variáveis qualitativas foram apresentadas em valores absolutos(n) e percentuais (%) e as quantitativas em medidas descritivas (valores mínimos e máximos, média e desvio padrão). Para análise da consistência interna dos instrumentos, utilizou-se o Coeficiente Alfa de Cronbach. Aplicou-se testes de comparação de grupos para análise das associações e comparações entre as variáveis de interesse e os testes foram selecionados segundo o tipo de variável envolvida. Valores de p<0,05 foram considerados estatisticamente significantes, com intervalo de confiança de 95%. Observou-se o predomínio de discentes do sexo feminino (84,21%), na faixa etária entre 20 e 24 anos (47,37%), solteiros (74,39%), sem filhos (81,05%) e que residem com a família (75,57%). Quanto às subescalas do MBI-SS, verificou-se que 64,04% dos discentes apresentaram alto nível de Exaustão Emocional, 35,79% alto nível de Despersonalização e 87,72% baixo nível de Eficácia Profissional. Na associação dessas subescalas, 24,74% apresentaram Burnout. Sobre os domínios da EH, observou-se 48,77% da população com alto nível de Controle, 61,40% com alto nível de Compromisso e 35,44% com alto nível de Desafio. Ao associar esses domínios, evidenciou-se 21,93% dos estudantes com Personalidade Hardiness. Houve diferença estatisticamente significativa (p=0,033) entre a ocorrência do Burnout e da Personalidade Hardiness nos discentes de enfermagem, sendo que dos 125 (100%) estudantes com Personalidade Hardiness, 68% (n=85) não estavam em Burnout. A ocorrência, tanto do Burnout, quanto do Hardiness, foi maior entre discentes do sexo feminino, solteiros, sem filhos, na faixa etária entre 20 e 24 anos, que não praticam Esportes, não possuem bolsa Acadêmica, estão matriculados no primeiro semestre, cursam 10 disciplinas, estão Satisfeitos com o curso e não pensaram em desistir do curso. Confirma-se o Hardiness como um conjunto de características que permite resistência ao estresse, e, portanto, opõe-se a ocorrência do Burnout entre os discentes de enfermagem. O contexto acadêmico contribui, tanto para desfechos negativos do estresse, como o Burnout, quanto para fortalecer as características da Personalidade Hardiness. Portanto, a forma com que o estudante interpreta o contexto acadêmico poderá definir os desfechos relacionados ao estresse.

A profissão de bombeiro é considerada uma das profissões mais exigentes. Trata-se de uma profissão de risco pela natureza das suas funções, onde são confrontados, na sua prática diária, com situações limite, muitas vezes envolvendo graves danos pessoais e materiais, em função das quais os recursos emocionais disponíveis são postos à prova de forma dramática. Estas situações, pela sua frequência são eventualmente indutoras de elevados níveis de stress e, quando continuadas, sem estratégias de enfrentamento adequadas, podem levar ao burnout. O presente estudo tem como propósito contribuir para um conhecimento mais aprofundado acerca destes profissionais, com o intuito de avaliar a percepção que tem sobre o stress no trabalho, assim como verificar a existência de hardiness e de quais estratégias de enfrentamento esta população adota para minimizar este stress percebido, na tentativa de não atingirem o burnout. Trata-se de um estudo de caráter descritivo, comparativo, de abordagem quali-quantitativa e transversal . A amostra foi composta por 132 bombeiros integrantes de um grupamento do Corpo de Bombeiros localizado em uma cidade da grande São Paulo. Foram utilizados os instrumentos Escala de Stress no Trabalho (EET), Escala de Stress Percebido (PSS-10), Maslach Inventory Burnout (MIB), Hardiness Scale (HS), Inventário de Estratégias de Coping de Folkman e Lazarus e um roteiro de questões semiestruturado para caracterização da população do estudo. Para cada bombeiro foi enviado o Termo de Responsabilidade com todos os dados pertinentes ao estudo, assim como o Termo de Consentimento Livre e Esclarecido em duas vias, devendo retornar uma das vias juntamente ao restante dos instrumentos, sinalizando a aceitação em participar da pesquisa. A amostra foi predominantemente do sexo masculino (96,9%), com idade média de 37 anos, e com ensino médio completo (59%). Quanto à patente, a maior predominância foi de soldados (57%), em média com 14 anos de trabalho na corporação, e com 11 anos trabalhando no grupamento onde foi realizado o estudo. Os indivíduos apresentaram níveis moderados de stress percebido e stress no trabalho, assim como para todos os domínios de Coping, sendo a estratégia de enfrentamento focada no problema, a mais utilizada pela amostra. Nos três domínios do MIB, o nível alcançado pela amostra também se enquadra como moderado, denotando que esta população não está em burnout. Referente à investigação do Hardiness, os indivíduos apresentaram escores moderados em todos os três domínios, não caracterizando a presença de indivíduos hardy na amostra em questão. Conclui-se que, apesar da inexistência de indivíduos hardy, e mesmo mediante forte demanda psicológica, física e emocional, esta população utiliza estratégias de enfrentamento que evitam o burnout, o que também pode ser explicado pela imensa satisfação em exercerem uma profissão que denota tanta admiração e respeito, sendo este um fator protetor para o stress. / The profession of firefighters is considered one of the most demanding professions. This is a risky profession for their duties, which are confronted in their daily practice, with extreme situations, sometimes involving serious injury or damage, according to which the emotional resources available are put to the test so dramatic. These conditions, by their frequency are eventually induce high levels of stress and when continued without adequate coping strategies can lead to burnout. The present study aims to contribute to a deeper knowledge about these professionals, in order to evaluate the perception that it has on stress at work, as well as check for hardiness and coping strategies which adopts this population to minimize this perceived stress, in an attempt not reach burnout. This is a study of descriptive, comparative, qualitative and quantitative approach and cross. The sample consisted of 132 members of a group from firefighters from the Fire Department located in a city of Sao Paulo. We used the instruments at Work Stress Scale (TSE), Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-10), Maslach Burnout Inventory (MIB), Hardiness Scale (HS), Coping Strategies Inventory of Folkman and Lazarus, and a script of questions semi-structured to characterize the study population. For each firefighter was sent to the disclaimer with all information pertinent to the study, as well as the Statement of Informed Consent in duplicate and shall return one of the routes along the rest of the instruments, signaling acceptance to participate in the research. A sample was predominantly male (96.9%), mean age 37 years, and completed high school (59%). As for the patent, the highest prevalence was of soldiers (57%), averaging 14 years working in the corporation, and with 11 years working in the group where the study was conducted. The subjects had moderate levels of perceived stress and stress at work, as well as all areas of Coping, and the coping strategy focused on the problem, the most used by the sample. In all three domains of the MIB, the level reached by the sample also fits as a moderate, indicating that this population is not burnout. Referring to the investigation of Hardiness, the subjects had moderate scores in all three areas, not characterizing the presence of individuals \"hardy\" in the sample in question. We conclude that, despite the lack of individuals \"hardy\" and even by strong demand psychological, physical and emotional, this population use coping strategies to prevent burnout, which can also be explained by the immense satisfaction in practicing a profession that denotes admiration and respect, which is a protective factor for stress.

The relationship between psychological hardiness and individuals' coping with two life events, involuntary job loss and post-parental launching of adolescent children, was investigated in a sample of 146 adults, 83 of which had experienced job loss and 61 of which had experienced the empty nest. Volunteers completed questionnaires which measured hardiness, distress, coping strategies, neuroticism, and extraversion. Multivariate analyses were performed, both with and without covariates, for overall hardiness as well as the hardiness subscales of control, commitment, and challenge. Significant hardiness by life event interactions on escape-avoidance coping were found in both sets of analyses. Main effects for hardiness, however, disappeared when controls for neuroticism and extraversion were utilized. Findings underscore the necessity of employing neuroticism controls in future hardiness research.

Phang Tsui-Hung. / Thesis (M.Phil.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2002. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 146-162). / Abstracts in English and Chinese. / Thesis committee --- p.i / Statement --- p.ii / Abstract --- p.iii / Acknowledgement --- p.vi / Abbreviations --- p.viii / Table of contents --- p.xii / List of figures --- p.xviii / List of tables --- p.xx / Chapter 1. --- Literature Review --- p.1 / Chapter 1.1 --- Salinity as a global problem --- p.1 / Chapter 1.2 --- Formation of saline soil --- p.1 / Chapter 1.3 --- Urgent need to reclaim saline lands --- p.2 / Chapter 1.4 --- Cellular routes for Na+ uptake --- p.2 / Chapter 1.4.1 --- Carriers involved in K+ and Na+ uptake --- p.2 / Chapter 1.4.2 --- Channels involved in K+ and Na+ uptake --- p.4 / Chapter 1.5 --- Adverse effects of high salinity --- p.5 / Chapter 1.5.1 --- Hyperosmotic stress --- p.5 / Chapter 1.5.2 --- Ionic stress --- p.6 / Chapter 1.5.2.1 --- Deficiency of K+ --- p.6 / Chapter 1.5.2.2 --- Perturbation of calcium balance --- p.7 / Chapter 1.5.3 --- Toxicity of specific ions --- p.7 / Chapter 1.5.4 --- Oxidative stress --- p.10 / Chapter 1.6 --- Mechanisms of salt stress adaptation in plants --- p.11 / Chapter 1.6.1. --- Maintenance of ion homeostasis --- p.12 / Chapter 1.6.1.1 --- Regulation of cytosolic Na+ concentration --- p.12 / Chapter 1.6.1.2 --- SOS signal transduction pathway --- p.15 / Chapter 1.6.2 --- Dehydration stress adaptation --- p.17 / Chapter 1.6.2.1 --- Aquaporins ´ؤ water channel proteins --- p.17 / Chapter 1.6.2.2 --- Osmotic adjustment --- p.20 / Chapter 1.6.2.2.1 --- Genetic engineering of glycinebetaine biosynthesis --- p.23 / Chapter 1.6.2.2.2 --- Genetic engineering of mannitol biosynthesis --- p.27 / Chapter 1.6.3 --- Morphological and structural adaptation --- p.28 / Chapter 1.6.4 --- Restoration of oxidative balance --- p.29 / Chapter 1.6.5 --- Other metabolic adaptation --- p.31 / Chapter 1.6.5.1 --- Induction of Crassulacean acid (CAM) metabolism --- p.34 / Chapter 1.6.5.2 --- Coenzyme A biosynthesis --- p.34 / Chapter 1.7 --- Soybean as a target for studying salt tolerance --- p.36 / Chapter 1.7.1 --- Economical importance of soybean --- p.36 / Chapter 1.7.2 --- Reasons for studying salt stress physiology in soybeans --- p.38 / Chapter 1.7.3 --- Salt tolerant soybean in China --- p.39 / Chapter 1.7.4 --- Exploring salt tolerant crops by genetic engineering --- p.41 / Chapter 1.8 --- Significance of this project --- p.47 / Chapter 2. --- Materials and methods --- p.48 / Chapter 2.1 --- Materials --- p.48 / Chapter 2.1.1 --- Plant materials used --- p.48 / Chapter 2.1.2 --- Bacteria strains and plasmid vectors --- p.48 / Chapter 2.1.3 --- Growth media for soybean --- p.48 / Chapter 2.1.4 --- Equipment and facilities used --- p.48 / Chapter 2.1.5 --- Primers used --- p.48 / Chapter 2.1.6 --- Chemicals and reagents used --- p.49 / Chapter 2.1.7 --- Solutions used --- p.49 / Chapter 2.1.8 --- Commercial kits used --- p.49 / Chapter 2.1.9 --- Growth and treatment condition --- p.49 / Chapter 2.1.9.1 --- Characterization of salt tolerance of Wenfeng7 --- p.49 / Chapter 2.1.9.2 --- Samples for subtractive library preparations --- p.50 / Chapter 2.1.9.3 --- Samples for slot blot and northern blot analyses --- p.50 / Chapter 2.1.9.4 --- Samples for gene expression pattern analysis --- p.50 / Chapter 2.2. --- Methods --- p.52 / Chapter 2.2.1 --- Total RNA extraction --- p.52 / Chapter 2.2.2 --- Construction of subtractive libraries --- p.53 / Chapter 2.2.3 --- Cloning of salt-stress inducible genes --- p.53 / Chapter 2.2.3.1 --- Preparation of pBluescript II KS(+) T-vector for cloning --- p.53 / Chapter 2.2.3.2 --- Ligation of candidate DNA fragments with T-vector --- p.53 / Chapter 2.2.3.3 --- Transformation --- p.54 / Chapter 2.2.3.4 --- PCR screening --- p.54 / Chapter 2.2.4 --- Preparation of recombinant plasmid for sequencing --- p.55 / Chapter 2.2.5 --- Sequencing of differentially expressed genes --- p.55 / Chapter 2.2.6 --- Homology search of differentially expressed genes --- p.56 / Chapter 2.2.7 --- Expression pattern analysis --- p.56 / Chapter 2.2.7.1 --- Preparation of single-stranded DIG-labeled PCR probes --- p.56 / Chapter 2.2.7.2 --- Preparation of cRNA DIG-labeled probes --- p.57 / Chapter 2.2.7.3 --- Testing the concentration of DIG-labeled probes --- p.58 / Chapter 2.2.7.4 --- Slot blot --- p.58 / Chapter 2.2.7.5 --- Northern blot --- p.59 / Chapter 2.2.7.6 --- Hybridization --- p.60 / Chapter 2.2.7.7 --- Stringency washed --- p.60 / Chapter 2.2.7.8 --- Chemiluminescent detection --- p.60 / Chapter 3. --- Results --- p.61 / Chapter 3.1 --- Characterization of salt tolerance of Wenfeng7 --- p.61 / Chapter 3.2 --- Identification of salt-stress induced genes from Wenfeng7 --- p.70 / Chapter 3.2.1 --- Screening subtractive libraries of Wenfeng 7 for salt inducible genes --- p.70 / Chapter 3.2.1.1 --- Results of homology search for salt inducible genes --- p.71 / Chapter 3.2.1.2 --- Northern blot showing the salt inducibility of selected clones --- p.72 / Chapter 3.3 --- Genes expression pattern of selected salt inducible genes --- p.104 / Chapter 3.3.1 --- Expression of genes related to dehydration adjustment --- p.104 / Chapter 3.3.1.1 --- Dehydration responsive protein RD22 (Clone no.: HML806) --- p.104 / Chapter 3.3.1.2 --- Beta-amylase (Clone no.: HML767) --- p.104 / Chapter 3.3.2 --- Expression of genes related to structural modification --- p.105 / Chapter 3.3.3 --- Expression of genes related to metabolic adaptation --- p.105 / Chapter 3.3.3.1 --- Subgroup 1: Gene related to protein synthesis --- p.105 / Chapter 3.3.3.1.1 --- Translational initiation factor nsp45 (Clone no.: HML1042) --- p.105 / Chapter 3.3.3.1.2 --- Seed maturation protein PM37 (Clone no.: HML931) --- p.106 / Chapter 3.3.3.2 --- Subgroup 2: Genes related to phosphate metabolism (Clone no.: HML1000) --- p.107 / Chapter 3.3.3.3 --- Subgroup 3: Genes related to storage and mobilization of nutrient resources --- p.107 / Chapter 3.3.3.3.1 --- Vegetative storage protein A (Clone no.: HML762) --- p.107 / Chapter 3.3.3.3.2 --- Cysteine proteinase (Clone no.: HML928) --- p.107 / Chapter 3.3.3.4 --- Subgroup 4: Genes related to senescence --- p.109 / Chapter 3.3.4 --- Expression of genes encoding novel protein (Clone no.: HML782) --- p.109 / Chapter 4. --- Discussion --- p.125 / Chapter 4.1 --- Evaluation of salt tolerance of Wenfeng7 --- p.125 / Chapter 4.2 --- Isolation of salt inducible genes in Wenfeng7 --- p.127 / Chapter 4.2.1 --- Genes associated with dehydration adaptation --- p.129 / Chapter 4.2.1.1 --- Dehydration responsive protein RD22 --- p.129 / Chapter 4.2.1.2 --- Beta-amylase --- p.130 / Chapter 4.2.2 --- Genes associated with structural adaptation --- p.132 / Chapter 4.2.3 --- Genes associated with metabolic adaptation --- p.133 / Chapter 4.2.3.1 --- Subgroup 1: Genes related to protein synthesis --- p.133 / Chapter 4.2.3.2 --- Subgroup 2: Genes related to phosphate metabolism --- p.137 / Chapter 4.2.3.3 --- Subgroup 3: Genes related to storage and mobilization of nutrient resources --- p.138 / Chapter 4.2.3.4 --- Subgroup 4: Genes related to senescence --- p.140 / Chapter 4.2.4 --- Novel genes --- p.142 / Chapter 4.3 --- Brief summary --- p.142 / Chapter 5. --- Conclusion and perspectives --- p.144 / References --- p.146 / Appendix I: Screening for salt tolerant soybeans --- p.163 / Appendix II: Major equipment and facilities used --- p.165 / Appendix III: Major chemicals and reagents used in this research --- p.166 / Appendix IV: Major common solutions used in this research --- p.168 / Appendix V: Commercial kits used in this research --- p.170

Psychological resilience, conceptualized as the ability to bounce back from stress (Tugade, 2011), has garnered increased attention across various fields of psychology and related disciplines. Despite its popularity, researchers have yet to come to a consensus regarding the nomological network of this construct, as well as its distinctiveness from conceptually similar constructs (i.e., hardiness, grit). In this paper, I use meta-analytic techniques (Hunter & Schmidt, 2004) to quantitatively synthesize three decades of previous empirical work on resilience and related-constructs and their correlates, integrating findings from more than 400 studies. Results show that resilience overlaps substantially with big-five personality traits as a set and shows consistent, though more moderate, relationships with social support variables. Furthermore, results indicate that resilience and hardiness are not isomorphic constructs, as they demonstrate differential relationships with dispositional and situational correlates. Results also show that resilience and hardiness are both moderately to strongly related to health and well-being outcomes, in the anticipated directions, as well as proposed mediators in the literature (i.e., positive emotion, adaptive coping). However, incremental validity analyses consistently show that both resilience and hardiness only increment very marginally (i.e., on average 1-3% of the variance) over the big-five personality traits in predicting health and well-being outcomes. Taken together, this large-scale quantitative summary calls into question the distinctiveness of resilience from existing dispositional traits as well as its predictive utility in the health and well-being domain. Implications for future research, theory development, and measurement issues are discussed.

The current nursing shortage is a pressing crisis that is expected to worsen over time. A key reason nurses leave nursing is burnout. The purpose of this study was to investigate personality hardiness and adult attachment style in relation to the development of burnout in licensed professional nurses. Hardiness theory and attachment theory indicated that each provided protection against burnout, but no research has been conducted to examine both factors in relation to burnout in nurses. Research Question 1 asked if there was a relationship between attachment style and total hardiness score; Research Question 2 asked if there was a relationship between attachment style and each of the hardiness facet scores (commitment, control, and challenge), and Research Question 3 asked if hardiness and attachment style had a combined impact on burnout scores. An online invitation was published on Facebook and linked to the study; 128 nurses agreed to participate in this survey. Participants provided demographic information, they completed the Dispositional Resilience Scale-Revised (DRS-15) to measure total hardiness and hardiness facet scores, the Experiences in Close Relationships-Revised (ECR-R) to measure attachment-related anxiety and avoidance, and the Burnout Measure, Short Version (BMS) to measure burnout. The data was analyzed using analysis of variance (ANOVA), a Kruskal-Wallis H test, and a post-hoc multiple regression. Findings confirmed that secure attachment was associated with higher total hardiness, commitment was significant to attachment, and hardiness and attachment scores each contributed to burnout, but an interaction was not found. This study has implications for positive social change: more effective burnout prevention programs for nurses are needed to help limit the nursing shortage.

School psychologists have unique advisory, consultative, interventional, and therapeutic leadership functions within schools. Consequently, they are confronted with increased levels of occupational stress, which test their cognitive appraisal, coping mechanisms, and feelings of self-efficacy. Although studies have included school psychologists, none have examined the moderating effect of psychological hardiness on the relationship between occupational stress and self-efficacy. A cross-sectional, nonexperimental, and quantitative design used convenience, single-stage, and self-administered web-based surveys with 112 Georgia school psychologists. Using a framework structured by the theory of psychological hardiness, self-efficacy theory, and transactional model of stress and coping, sequential multiple linear regression revealed that occupational stress was not related to self-efficacy, psychological hardiness was related to self-efficacy, and psychological hardiness moderated the relationship between occupational stress and self-efficacy. Noting levels of increasing stress for American educators, these findings underscore the importance that school psychologists incorporate self-care techniques into their practice to maintain efficacious service. Future research might investigate other psychological constructs, which affect school psychologists' perceptions of occupational stress, psychological hardiness, and self-efficacy. Given school psychologists' important functions and responsibilities within communities and schools, the study endorsed positive social change with explication of the multidimensional influence of psychological health as a means to ensure the well-being of children, families, and schoolhouse personnel.

The relationship between intelligence as measured by the Shipley Institute of Living Scale, Coping Processes as measured by the Ways of Coping Scale and resilience as measured by Global Severity Index of the Brief Symptom Inventory, was examined in 88 individuals who had been sexually abused and 88 individuals who had not been sexually abused. The study attempted to assess whether more intelligent individuals and those who used certain coping styles would experience less distress in the face of adversity than individuals with lower levels of intelligence and who used different coping styles. The results indicated that intelligence was not associated with resilience in either the sexually abused or the non-sexually abused group. In the sexually abused group, the coping processes of Confronting, Distancing, Self Controlling, Accepting Responsibility, Escape Avoidance, Planful Problem Solving and Positive Reappraisal were all significantly positively correlated with the GSI. In the non-sexually abused group, however, the coping processes of Self Controlling, Accepting Responsibility and Escape Avoidance were all significantly positively correlated with the GSI. Results of a simultaneous regression indicated that in the sexually abused group, none of the variables that were correlated with resilience accounted for a significant amount of variance in GSI scores. In the sample of individuals who had not been sexually abused, the coping strategy of Escape Avoidance was the only individual predictor accounting for a significant amount of the GSI variance in the model. Possible reasons and implications of these results are discussed.

Bibliography: leaves 155-182. Most agricultural crop seeds are 'orthodox' ie. desiccation is a necessary feature of their complete life cycle. Low moisture content lengthens the storage life of orthodox seeds. Recalcitrant seeds, which do not tolerate low moisture content, lose viability in dry storage. The thesis studies the role of sugars in desiccation tolerance in developing seeds and investigates other mechanisms which might be involved in desiccation tolerance and desiccation sensitivity.

Genes responsible for differences in gene regulation and expression in normal cells and freezing tolerant cells were identified using two related wintergreen orchid species, Aplectrum hyemale and Tipularia discolor. Changes in gene expression observed in field-collected tissues obtained from different seasons were compared as were changes observed in plants subjected to cold shock in a laboratory environmental chamber. In order to clone these differentially expressed genes which may confer photosynthesis cold tolerance, the recently developed technique, mRNA differential display was employed. Using this process, mRNA was isolated from the tissue and reverse transcribed to cDNAs, which were amplified using specific anchored 3' primers and various random 5' primers. The 50-100 bands resulting from specific primers were compared on denaturing polyacrylamide gels. Bands differently expressed were excised from the gel and purified. In the future, if partial sequence analysis indicates they may code important regulatory proteins, they will be used as probes to obtain full-length genes from a cDNA library for further characterization. This study provides an opportunity not only to obtain important regulatory genes in plants, but also to understand more about temperature regulated gene expression in orchids. / Department of Biology