Convergent and Discriminant Validity of the Personality Inventory for Children

The Personality Inventory for Children (PIC) was compared with measures of cognitive functioning (e.g., WISC-R) and classroom behavior (e.g., WPBIC). The results demonstrated that the PIC can identify salient personality and cognitive features of learning-disabled, emotionally disturbed, and intellectually handicapped children. Furthermore, correlations between the PIC profile scales and the WISC-R showed that the majority of significant correlations clustered around PIC scales intended to identify cognitive deficits, whereas significant correlations with the WPBIC were with PIC scales intended to identify disruptive, acting-out behavior. These relationships provide support for both the construct validity and diagnostic potential of the PIC with children referred for special education services.

MMPI-2 Personality Profiles of High-Functioning Adults With Autism Spectrum Disorders

The Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory-Second Edition was administered to 20 adults with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) who fell in the average to above average range of intelligence and 24 age-, intelligence-, and gender-matched college students. Large group differences, with the ASD group scoring higher, were found on the L validity scale, Clinical Scales 2 (D) and 0 (Si), Content scale Social Discomfort (SOD), Supplementary scale Repression (R), and Personality Psychopathology Five (PSY-5) scale INTR (Introversion). The proportion of ASD adults scoring in the clinical range on these scales was between 25% and 35%. High scores on these scales are consistent with the clinical picture of Asperger syndrome and high-functioning autism in adulthood. Future directions and implications for identifying adults in need of a specialized autism assessment are discussed.

Self-Esteem, Gender-Role Perception, Gender-Role Orientation and Attributional Style as a Function of Academic Competence: Smart Girls are Different, But a Boy is a Boy is a Boy

This investigation examined adolescent self-esteem, gender-role perception, gender-role orientation, and attributional style as a function of academic achievement by having 3 groups of 10th-, 11th-, and 12th-grade males and females (n = 540) respond to (a) a self-esteem inventory under 2 sets of instructions, a standard set and a set in which participants responded as they thought a member of the same age and grade but of the opposite gender would respond; and (b) to an attributional style and a gender-role inventory under the standard set of instructions. The results of the self-esteem inventory under standard instructions revealed a significant difference in favor of males. Under opposite-gender instructions, academically below average and average females ascribed significantly higher levels of self-esteem to males. Males at all academic levels ascribed significantly lower levels of self-esteem to females. However, females in the above average academic group constituted an exception in that they attributed significantly lower self-esteem to males. Reported levels of self-esteem, positive attributional style, and androgynous gender-role orientation all significantly increased commensurate with higher academic achievement for both genders.

Face processing in children with autism

Recent eye tracking studies of face processing have produced differing accounts of how and whether children with autism differ from their typically developing peers. The two groups' gaze patterns appear to differ for dynamic videos of social scenes, but not for static photos of isolated individuals. The present study replicated and extended previous research by comparing the gaze patterns of individuals with and without autism for four types of stimuli: social dynamic, social static, isolated dynamic, and isolated static. Participants with autism differed from their typically developing peers only for social-dynamic stimuli; fixation durations were decreased for eye regions and increased for body regions. Further, these fixation durations predicted scores on a measure of social responsiveness. These findings reconcile differences in previous reports by identifying the specific social and dynamic task components associated with autism-related face processing impairments.

A Comparison of Two Theory-Based Measures of Intelligence: Are They Measuring the Same Thing?

Current intelligence tests are only weakly grounded in underlying theories of intelligence. Two current theories of intelligence are described, and a study is presented in which measures derived from these theories are compared with each other and traditional tests of ability. Measures derived from Jensen's neural oscillation theory were found to be related to motor speed. Measures derived from Sternberg's triarchic theory were found to be related to spatial reasoning and verbal ability. The two theories appear to measure different facets of intelligence, with neither, as operationalized here, giving a complete picture.

Personality Inventory for Children

The scores of 70 learning disabled (LD), 47 emotionally disturbed (ED) and 24 intellectually handicapped (IH) children were compared on the Personality Inventory for Children (PIC). The data were submitted to a series of 2 x 2 x 3 ANOVAs. The results indicated that the IH group was differentiated from the others on PIC scales reflecting cognitive weaknesses (Intellectual Screening and Development) and limited reality testing (Psychosis), and that the ED group was discriminated from the LD group on scales which predict general maladjustment (Adjustment) and from the IH group on scales which predict hyperactive behavior (Hyperactivity). When the protocols were analyzed using actuarial guidelines, the majority of children in all three groups showed significant elevations on scales intended to measure cognitive deficits and general maladaptive behavior (e.g. 100 percent of the IH group had significant scores on the Intellectual Screening and Development scales; a similarly high proportion of ED children had marked elevations on the Adjustment scale). It was actually the degree of scale elevation relative to the remaining profile which defined each group.

Self-Modeling with Preschoolers

A complex reversal design was used to investigate the effectiveness of self-modeling procedures in reducing aggression and noncompliance in six preschool-age children. Self-modeling was compared with peer modeling and a control condition over a ten-week period. Follow-up and maintenance of behavior change was studied, as was generalization. No positive effects were found for the selfmodeling intervention in reducing instances of aggression or noncompliance. Supplementary analysis of four subjects' data further showed no increase in prosocial behavior as a function of the self-modeling intervention.

Effectiveness of Stimulant Drug Treatment for Attention Problems

Using a within-subject, repeated measure, double-blind design, methylphenidate was shown to be effective in treating the attention deficits of children with head injuries. Eight head-injured children, ages 7-15, meeting DSM III-R criteria for ADHD, were placed on a 2-week trial of methylphenidate (Ritalin), and similar 2-week trial of placebo. During the methylphenidate trial, all eight children were rated by parents as improved in their attentional capacities, and all but one, a child diagnosed as ADHD prior to injury and described as conduct-disordered, showed a pattern of general improvement across most attentional measures. Measures which showed less consistent results were the attentional tasks comprised of more complex stimuli requiring greater memory capacity. Implications for school psychologists working with head-injured children are discussed.

School Psychology and Infantile Autism

This paper presents an overview of infantile autism which includes theories of aetiology, definition of the condition, overlapping conditions, assessment procedures and prognosis. A model treatment that can be implemented by school psychologists is also presented.

Comparison of the spatial QRS-T angle derived from digital ECGs recorded using conventional electrode placement with that derived from Mason-Likar electrode position

BACKGROUND

The spatial QRS-T angle is ideally derived from orthogonal leads. We compared the spatial QRS-T angle derived from orthogonal leads reconstructed from digital 12-lead ECGs and from digital Holter ECGs recorded with the Mason-Likar (M-L) electrode positions.

METHODS AND RESULTS

Orthogonal leads were constructed by the inverse Dower method and used to calculate spatial QRS-T angle by (1) a vector method and (2) a net amplitude method, in 100 volunteers. Spatial QRS-T angles from standard and M-L ECGs differed significantly (57°±18° vs 48°±20° respectively using net amplitude method and 53°±28° vs 48°±23° respectively by vector method; p<0.001). Difference in amplitudes in leads V4-V6 was also observed between Holter and standard ECGs, probably due to a difference in electrical potential at the central terminal.

CONCLUSION

Mean spatial QRS-T angles derived from standard and M-L lead systems differed by 5°-9°. Though statistically significant, these differences may not be clinically significant.

Predicting colostrum quality from performance in the previous lactation and environmental changes

Nine New Hampshire Holstein dairies contributed to a study to investigate if colostrum quality could be predicted by cow performance in the previous lactation and by environmental factors during the 21-d prepartum period. The numbers of days below 5°C (D<), days above 23°C (D>), and days between 5 and 23°C (D) were used in the development of the regression equation. Between 2011 and 2014, 111 colostrum samples were obtained and analyzed for IgG. Producers recorded cow identification number, calf date of birth, sex of the calf, colostrum yield, hours from parturition to colostrum harvest, and weeks on pasture during the dry period (if any). Dairy Herd Improvement data from each cow and weather data were compiled for analysis. Information accessed was predicted transmitting abilities for milk, fat (PTAF), protein (PTAP), and dollars; previous lactation: milk yield, fat yield, fat percent, protein percent, protein yield, somatic cell score, days open, days dry, days in milk, and previous parity (PAR). Colostrum yield was negatively correlated with IgG concentration (r=-0.42) and D (r=-0.2). It was positively correlated with D> (r=0.30), predicted transmitting ability for milk (r=0.26), PTAF (r=0.21), and PTAP (r=0.22). Immunoglobulin G concentration (g/L) was positively correlated with days in milk (r=0.21), milk yield (r=0.30), fat yield (r=0.34), protein yield (r=0.26), days open (r=0.21), PAR (r=0.22), and tended to be positively correlated with DD (r=0.17). Immunoglobulin G concentration (g/L) was negatively correlated with D> (r=-0.24) and PTAF (r=-0.21) and tended to be negatively correlated with PTAP (r=-0.18). To determine the best fit, values >0 were transformed to natural logarithm. All nontransformed variables were also used to develop the model. A variance inflation factor analysis was conducted, followed by a backward elimination procedure. The resulting regression model indicated that changes in Ln fat yield (β=2.29), Ln fat percent (β=2.15), Ln protein yield (β=-2.25), and Ln protein percent (β=2.1) had largest effect on LnIgG. This model was validated using 27 colostrum samples from 9 different farms not used in the model. The difference between means for actual and predicted colostrum quality (IgG, g/L) was 13.6g/L. Previous lactation DHI data and weather data can be used to predict the IgG concentration of colostrum.

A cautionary tale; squamous cell carcinoma of the gingiva

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES

Oral squamous cell carcinoma is characterised by varied clinical manifestations and is often diagnosed at an advanced stage. This article highlights a case of gingival squamous cell carcinoma which was initially diagnosed and treated as localised periodontitis.

METHODS

A 64-year-old Caucasian male had a 2-year history of discomfort and swelling around his upper anterior teeth. His dentist diagnosed localised periodontitis around tooth 11. The patient was treated with regular scaling but showed no improvement. Teeth 11 and 21 were subsequently extracted. He returned later with a swelling in his anterior maxilla and was referred to the Whangarei Hospital Dental Department.

RESULTS

The histopathological report confirmed a diagnosis of squamous cell carcinoma. The patient was referred to Auckland for treatment and underwent a tracheostomy, maxillectomy, bilateral selective neck dissection and fibula free flap reconstruction. All lymph nodes retrieved and margins of the lesion were clear, and the patient did not require radiotherapy. He will be monitored over the next 5 years for recurrence.

CONCLUSIONS

Gingival squamous cell carcinoma can be easily misdiagnosed. Suspicious lesions which are non-responsive to conventional therapy should be biopsied, even if they are not in the classic high risk anatomical areas of the oral cavity.