title: Emotion regulation in dyadic pretend play: Preschoolers' responses to positively and negatively valenced scenarios

authors: Galyer, Karma T.

abstract: The diverse set of skills that facilitate emotion regulation are crucial for adaptive developmental outcomes. The foundations for these skills are consolidated in social interactions during pre-school years. Dyadic pretend play is a social interaction that is posited to provide valuable opportunities for emotion regulation in this age group. However, our understanding of dyadic pretend play has not progressed to the point where this activity can be reliably structured to create a zone of proximal development for emotion regulation skills. 
In Study 1, a repeated-measures experiment was conducted to observe individual differences in emotion regulation during positively and negatively valenced dyadic pretend play. Thirty children between four and five years of age participated in two unstructured and two structured pretend play sessions. The structured sessions included a "pretend creature in a box" scenario where interaction with a pretend monster (negatively valenced condition), or kitten (positively valenced condition) was required in order for the pretend game to continue. It was expected that individual differences in the children's regulation of negative emotion tone and intensity would be observed in their response to the pretend monster. However, there were no significant differences in children's emotion tone and intensity, approach to the creature, and ability to continue the pretend play across the positively and negatively valenced conditions. Instead, individual differences were observed in the children's continuation of pretend play when information was gained about the pretend/reality status of the creature. The "pretend creature in a box" scenario was hypothesised to challenge children's regulation of anticipatory arousal elicited by uncertainty about the pretend/reality status of the creature. 
Study 2 examined this hypothesis in an experiment that explored emotion regulation across positively and negatively valenced pretend play, and conditions of high, low, and no uncertainty. Sixty children aged between four and five years participated in a structured pretend play game, which included an adaptation of the "pretend creature in a box" scenario. Anticipatory arousal elicited by uncertainty was manipulated by providing visual, verbal, and no information about the pretend/reality status of the creature. It was expected that individual differences in regulation of anticipatory arousal elicited by uncertainty would be observed in children's efforts to gain information about the pretend/reality status of the creature. Under conditions of uncertainty, a significantly greater proportion of children discontinued the pretend game by approaching the box and checking the pretend/reality status of the creature. Consistent with the results from Study 1, the intended emotional valence of the condition was not influential. 
Overall, this research programme highlights the challenges that occur in structuring dyadic pretend play to create a zone of proximal development for emotion regulation. Study 1 and Study 2 linked emotion regulation in pretend play with children's experience of anticipatory arousal elicited by uncertainty, and information seeking as an emotion regulation strategy. Study 2 demonstrated that pretend play has the potential to be utilised in the development of a set of skills that regulate the anticipatory arousal elicited by uncertainty. Variation in the particular strategies that a more experienced play partner might use to create and direct the experience of emotion and emotion regulation is a useful starting point for future research in this area.

text: Emotion regulation in dyadic pretend play: Preschoolers' responses to positively and negatively valenced scenarios The diverse set of skills that facilitate emotion regulation are crucial for adaptive developmental outcomes. The foundations for these skills are consolidated in social interactions during pre-school years. Dyadic pretend play is a social interaction that is posited to provide valuable opportunities for emotion regulation in this age group. However, our understanding of dyadic pretend play has not progressed to the point where this activity can be reliably structured to create a zone of proximal development for emotion regulation skills. 
In Study 1, a repeated-measures experiment was conducted to observe individual differences in emotion regulation during positively and negatively valenced dyadic pretend play. Thirty children between four and five years of age participated in two unstructured and two structured pretend play sessions. The structured sessions included a "pretend creature in a box" scenario where interaction with a pretend monster (negatively valenced condition), or kitten (positively valenced condition) was required in order for the pretend game to continue. It was expected that individual differences in the children's regulation of negative emotion tone and intensity would be observed in their response to the pretend monster. However, there were no significant differences in children's emotion tone and intensity, approach to the creature, and ability to continue the pretend play across the positively and negatively valenced conditions. Instead, individual differences were observed in the children's continuation of pretend play when information was gained about the pretend/reality status of the creature. The "pretend creature in a box" scenario was hypothesised to challenge children's regulation of anticipatory arousal elicited by uncertainty about the pretend/reality status of the creature. 
Study 2 examined this hypothesis in an experiment that explored emotion regulation across positively and negatively valenced pretend play, and conditions of high, low, and no uncertainty. Sixty children aged between four and five years participated in a structured pretend play game, which included an adaptation of the "pretend creature in a box" scenario. Anticipatory arousal elicited by uncertainty was manipulated by providing visual, verbal, and no information about the pretend/reality status of the creature. It was expected that individual differences in regulation of anticipatory arousal elicited by uncertainty would be observed in children's efforts to gain information about the pretend/reality status of the creature. Under conditions of uncertainty, a significantly greater proportion of children discontinued the pretend game by approaching the box and checking the pretend/reality status of the creature. Consistent with the results from Study 1, the intended emotional valence of the condition was not influential. 
Overall, this research programme highlights the challenges that occur in structuring dyadic pretend play to create a zone of proximal development for emotion regulation. Study 1 and Study 2 linked emotion regulation in pretend play with children's experience of anticipatory arousal elicited by uncertainty, and information seeking as an emotion regulation strategy. Study 2 demonstrated that pretend play has the potential to be utilised in the development of a set of skills that regulate the anticipatory arousal elicited by uncertainty. Variation in the particular strategies that a more experienced play partner might use to create and direct the experience of emotion and emotion regulation is a useful starting point for future research in this area.

year: 2003

title: Understanding Allosteric Arginine Mutations Using Macromolecular Rate Theory

authors: Hamill, Carlin James

subjects: macromolecular rate theory

abstract: Enzyme catalysed reaction rates have been traditionally modelled with the Arrhenius and Eyring-Polanyi equations. These models assume that the reaction rate is exponential with temperature, and thus the natural log of the reaction rate versus 1/T is linear. Significant deviations from these models at high temperatures has traditionally been attributed to thermal denaturation. An increasing body of evidence has shown that denaturation alone is insufficient to account for these deviations from Arrhenius behaviour. Macromolecular rate theory (MMRT) accounts for these deviations with the introduction of the activation heat capacity (Δ𝐶𝑃‡) to the rate equation. The activation heat capacity is a consequence of the restriction in conformational freedom along the reaction coordinate, as an enzyme moves from the enzyme-substrate complex to the transition state complex – thus for an enzymatic reaction the activation heat capacity is negative. A non-zero activation heat capacity imparts temperature dependence to the activation entropy and activation enthalpy, introducing curvature to the rate equation independent of thermal denaturation. The activation heat capacity may itself be temperature dependent. MMRT equations of increasing complexity have been developed to reflect this and are suitable for different applications.
This thesis explores the effects of allosteric arginine mutations on the temperature dependence of enzyme rates through the lens of MMRT and evolution using the model enzyme MalL. An in-depth analysis of a previously characterised arginine mutant is described along with four additional arginine mutants. The arginine mutants were designed to mimic urea ligand binding across the enzyme surface. These mutants were characterised kinetically and with biophysical methods. Two were further characterised structurally, with high resolution structures being produced. These mutant enzymes showed significant rate improvements at low temperatures, suggesting two possible mechanisms for evolution towards psychrophily. These arginine mutants showed significant improvement in crystallographic resolution, indicating surface arginine mutations may be a general route for crystallographic improvement.

text: Understanding Allosteric Arginine Mutations Using Macromolecular Rate Theory Enzyme catalysed reaction rates have been traditionally modelled with the Arrhenius and Eyring-Polanyi equations. These models assume that the reaction rate is exponential with temperature, and thus the natural log of the reaction rate versus 1/T is linear. Significant deviations from these models at high temperatures has traditionally been attributed to thermal denaturation. An increasing body of evidence has shown that denaturation alone is insufficient to account for these deviations from Arrhenius behaviour. Macromolecular rate theory (MMRT) accounts for these deviations with the introduction of the activation heat capacity (Δ𝐶𝑃‡) to the rate equation. The activation heat capacity is a consequence of the restriction in conformational freedom along the reaction coordinate, as an enzyme moves from the enzyme-substrate complex to the transition state complex – thus for an enzymatic reaction the activation heat capacity is negative. A non-zero activation heat capacity imparts temperature dependence to the activation entropy and activation enthalpy, introducing curvature to the rate equation independent of thermal denaturation. The activation heat capacity may itself be temperature dependent. MMRT equations of increasing complexity have been developed to reflect this and are suitable for different applications.
This thesis explores the effects of allosteric arginine mutations on the temperature dependence of enzyme rates through the lens of MMRT and evolution using the model enzyme MalL. An in-depth analysis of a previously characterised arginine mutant is described along with four additional arginine mutants. The arginine mutants were designed to mimic urea ligand binding across the enzyme surface. These mutants were characterised kinetically and with biophysical methods. Two were further characterised structurally, with high resolution structures being produced. These mutant enzymes showed significant rate improvements at low temperatures, suggesting two possible mechanisms for evolution towards psychrophily. These arginine mutants showed significant improvement in crystallographic resolution, indicating surface arginine mutations may be a general route for crystallographic improvement.

year: 2024

title: Utilising matauranga Maori to improve the social functioning of tangata whaiora in Maori mental health services

authors: Wirihana, Rebecca

subjects: Maori

abstract: Maori mental health services under the Auckland District Health Board (ADHB) have been utilising Matauranga Maori as a key community based intervention since the closing of the kaupapa Maori inpatient service (Manawaanui) in 2003. Kapa haka has been a central component in the provision of the marae based recovery programmes. The following paper is a review of the development and progress.

text: Utilising matauranga Maori to improve the social functioning of tangata whaiora in Maori mental health services Maori mental health services under the Auckland District Health Board (ADHB) have been utilising Matauranga Maori as a key community based intervention since the closing of the kaupapa Maori inpatient service (Manawaanui) in 2003. Kapa haka has been a central component in the provision of the marae based recovery programmes. The following paper is a review of the development and progress.

year: 2008