Life history correlates of vocational needs for a female adult sample.

According to vocational theory and practice, a relationship exists between vocational needs and life history developmental/experiential factors. A test of this hypothesis was conducted using self-report biodata and measured vocational needs. A 211-item Biographical Information Form (BIF) and the Minnesota Importance Questionnaire (MIQ) were administered to 290 female adults (median age 29 yrs). A weighted BIF was developed to predict scores on each of the 20 MIQ need scales. Using a double cross-validation design, significant average validities were obtained for 19 of the 20 vocational need scales, ranging from .13 to .47, with a median of .35. The female prediction equations failed to generalize to a male sample (N?=?100), with only 1 of the 20 MIQ subscale prediction equations being validated. Further analysis showed the practical utility of the BIF as a substitute measure of vocational needs for this female sample. Implications for counseling practice and work adjustment theory are discussed. (40 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

The structure of self-concept in female preadolescent twins: a behavioral genetic approach

Two hundred and forty-three female monozygotic (MZ) and 164 female dizygotic (DZ) twin pairs, aged 11 and 12 years, who participated in the ongoing Minnesota Twin Family Study, completed six specific scales of the Piers-Harris Children's Self-Concept Scale (P-H). Model-fitting analyses yielded three major conclusions. First, approximately 30% of the variance in specific self-concepts in female preadolescents was due to genetic factors, with the remaining variance being accounted for primarily by nonshared environmental factors and measurement error. Second, the underlying common genetic, shared environmental, and nonshared environmental factors influenced specific facets of self-concept directly and independently, rather than through an intervening phenotypic general self-concept. Finally, whereas genetic, shared environmental, and nonshared environmental factors were necessary to explain the commonality among the specific self-concept scales, only genetic and nonshared environmental factors were sufficient to explain the specificity of those scales.     

Genetic and environmental contributions to the association between quantitative ultrasound and bone mineral density measurements: a twin study

This study was designed to assess the relative contributions of genetic and environmental factors to the variation and covariation of quantitative ultrasound (QUS) measurements and their relationships to bone mineral density (BMD). Forty-nine monozygotic (MZ) and 44 dizygotic (DZ) female twins between 20 and 83 years of age (53 +/- 13 years, mean +/- SD) were studied. Digital (phalangeal) QUS (speed of sound [SOS]) and calcaneal QUS (broadband ultrasound attenuation [BUA] and velocity of sound [VOS]) were measured using a DBM Sonic 1200 ultrasound densitometer and a CUBA ultrasound densitometer, respectively. Femoral neck (FN), lumbar spine (LS), and total body (TB) BMD were measured using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. Familial resemblance and hence heritability (proportion of variance of a trait attributable to genetic factors) were assessed by analysis of variance, univariate, and multivariate model-fitting genetic analyses. In both QUS and BMD parameters, MZ twins were more alike than DZ pairs. Estimates of heritability for age- and weight-adjusted BUA, VOS, and SOS were 0.74, 0.55, and 0.82, respectively. Corresponding indices of heritability for LS, FN, and TB BMD were 0.79, 0.77, and 0.82, respectively. In cross-sectional analysis, both BUA and SOS, but not VOS, were independently associated with BMD measurements. However, analysis based on intrapair differences suggested that only BUA was related to BMD. Bivariate genetic analysis indicated that the genetic correlations between BUA and BMD ranged between 0.43 and 0.51 (p < 0.001), whereas the environmental correlations ranged between 0.20 and 0.28 (p < 0.01). While the genetic correlations within QUS and BMD measurements were significant, factor analysis indicates that common genes affect BMD at different sites. Also, individual QUS measurements appear to be influenced by some common sets of genes rather than by environmental factors. Significant environmental correlations were only found for BMD measurements and ranged between 0.50 and 0.65 (p < 0.001). These data suggest that QUS and BMD measurements are highly heritable traits. While it appears that there is a common set of genes influencing both QUS and BMD measurements, specific genes yet to be identified appear to have greater effects than that of shared genes in each trait.     

Genetic and environmental components of thyroxine variation in Mennonites from Kansas and Nebraska

Thyroxine is an endocrine hormone that regulates cellular and organismic metabolism. Current research on thyroxine has primarily examined its adaptive potential and genetic inheritance patterns. To date, no studies have attempted to investigate the interaction between the genetic and environmental components of thyroxine variation. This approach is useful because hormones are on feedback regulation; thus interaction occurs between the environment and gene expression. The purposes of this research are to characterize the genetic and environmental components of thyroxine variation using univariate statistics and to estimate the genetic and cultural heritabilities through path analysis. For univariate analyses, analyses of variance are used to determine whether or not age, sex, or community affiliation are covariates of thyroxine level. Significant differences existed in thyroxine level based on sex and community affiliation (p < 0.05). The genetic and environmental components of thyroxine variation were partitioned through path analysis. Heritability was estimated at 0.317 +/- 0.109 for the genetic component and at 0.060 +/- 0.029 for the environmental component. The environmental variables that contributed to the variation in thyroxine level were caffeine consumption, blood calcium level, and biceps skinfold thickness.     

Heritability of personality traits in adult male twins

Personality test data from the California Psychological Inventory were collected on 99 pairs of identical and 99 pairs of fraternal adult male twins. Heritabilities were comuted for all 18 scales and compared to the heritabilities for "pure" scales with overlapping items omitted. Two of the pure scales, Responsibility and Femininity, had zero heritabilities, whereas all of the full scales had moderate to high heritabilities. It was concluded that item overlap has contributed significantly to previous failures to find evidence for the differential heritability of personality traits as measured by the CPI. CPI items were classified into genetic or environmental categories and separate factor analyses of items in these categories revealed more differences than similarities in factor structure. The genetic personality factors included Conversational Poise, Compulsiveness, and Social Ease. Environmental factors included Confidence in Leadership, Impulse Control, Philosophical Attitudes, Intellectual Interest, and Exhibitionism. Compared to the genetic factors, each of the environmental factors accounted for only a very small percentage of the variance.     

Genetic and environmental variance in content dimensions of the MMPI.

To evaluate genetic and environmental variance in the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI), I studied 9 factor scales identified in the 1st item factor analysis of normal adult MMPIs in 820 adolescent and young adult co-twins. Conventional twin comparisons documented heritable variance in 6 of the 9 MMPI factors (Neuroticism, Psychoticism, Extraversion, Somatic Complaints, Inadequacy, Cynicism); significant influence from shared environmental experience was found for 4 factors (Masculinity vs Femininity, Extraversion, Religious Orthodoxy, Intellectual Interests). Genetic variance was more evident in results from sisters than those of brothers, and a developmental-genetic analysis, using hierarchical multiple regressions of double-entry matrixes of raw data, revealed that in 4 MMPI factor scales, genetic effects were significantly modulated by age and/or gender during the developmental period from early adolescence to early adulthood. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Three phenylethanoid glycosides and an iridoid glycoside from Picrorhiza scrophulariiflora

To identify risk factors associated with death in traumatized children, we prospectively studied 507 consecutive patients (7+/-4 yr) admitted to a level I pediatric trauma center over a 3-yr period. Pediatric Trauma Score (PTS), Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) score, and Injury Severity Score (ISS) were calculated. Age, injury mechanism, injury pattern, and initial critical care were recorded. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed for potential risk factors associated with mortality. Receiver operating characteristic curves were used to determine threshold values of variables identified by univariate analysis. Most children suffered from blunt trauma (99.6%), and head trauma was noted in 85%. Median values (range) of GCS scores, PTS, and ISS were 10 (3-15), 7 (-4 to 12), and 16 (3-75), respectively. The mortality rate was 12%. Using multivariate analysis, death was significantly associated with an ISS > or = 25 (odds ratio [OR] 22.2, 95% confidence interval 2.8-174.9), GCS score < or = 7 (OR 4.77, 1.8-12.7), emergency blood transfusion > or = 20 mL/kg (OR 4.3, 2.1-9.1), and PTS < or = 4 (OR 3.7, 1.4-9.7). An ISS > or = 25, GCS score < or = 7, immediate blood transfusion > or = 20 mL/kg, and PTS < or = 4 were significant and independent risk factors of death in an homogenous population of severely injured children. The probability of traumatic death was therefore 0 (95% confidence interval 0-0.0135) in children with no one of these threshold values in the four predictive factors and 0.63 (95% confidence interval 0.47-0.76) in those children with all the threshold values. IMPLICATIONS: Methods used for evaluating outcome of trauma patients have essentially been derived from adult series, and attempts to apply them to children have usually been inaccurate. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to identify risk factors associated with death in severely traumatized children, and Receiver operating characteristic curves were used to determine threshold values.     

Personality stability and change in early adulthood: A behavioral genetic analysis.

79 monozygotic and 48 same-sex dizygotic twin pairs completed the Multidimensional Personality Questionnaire twice, averaging 20 yrs of age at 1st and 30 yrs at 2nd testing. There were significant mean decreases in measures of Negative Emotionality (NE), increases in measures of Constraint (CO), but no significant mean changes for measures of Positive Emotionality (PE). Variance decreased for measures of NE but remained stable for measures of PE and CO. Biometrical analyses revealed that (1) NE variance reduction was due to diminishing genetic influences, (2) personality stability was due largely to genetic factors, and (3) although some evidence for genetic influence on personality change was observed, change was determined largely by environmental factors. It is concluded that the stable core of personality is strongly associated with genetic factors but that personality change largely reflects environmental factors. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Developmental genetic studies of adult personality.

Investigated genetic determinants of personality development and vulnerability to environmental influences during young adulthood, using a longitudinal twin study design. 133 college-age twin pairs completed an abbreviated MMPI twice over a period of 4.5 yrs at ages 20 and 25 yrs. Of the 6 MMPI scales investigated, significant genetic variance was found for 4 at both time periods (Wiggins's Social Maladjustment, Schizophrenia, Welsh A, and D?? scales). Two scales (Psychopathic Deviate and Wiggins's Religiosity) showed significant genetic variance at age 20 but not at age 25. There were no significant genetic influences on directional developmental change over time, and instead, idiosyncratic environmental influences appeared most important for the developmental profiles. In contrast, significant genetic influences were present for generalized vulnerability, or instability, for the Sc scale. (61 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

MMPI—2 findings in schizophrenia and depression.

Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory—2 profile differences between patients with a discharge diagnosis of schizophrenia (n?=?42) vs. depression (n?=?42) were investigated. Multivariate analyses of variance indicated significant multivariate effects associated with diagnosis for the basic validity and clinical scales and for the content scales. The depression group obtained significantly higher mean scale scores on Scales 2 (Depression), 4 (Psychopathic Deviate), 7 (Psychasthenia), O (Social Introversion), Anxiety, Depression (DEP), and Social Discomfort. In an attempt to replicate work by Y. S. Ben-Porath, J. N. Butcher, & J. R. Graham (1991), a stepwise multiple regression analysis was performed to predict diagnosis, with similar findings obtained. Scale 2 was identified as the 1 significant clinical scale predictor. Two content scales, DEP and Bizarre Mentation, were identified as contributing significantly to prediction beyond Scale 2. When the order of the analysis was reversed, none of the basic clinical and validity scales contributed beyond prediction afforded by the content scales. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Multivariate analysis of variance by multiple regression methods.

Discusses multivariate analysis of variance as a general case of familiar multiple regression analysis. A consequence of this approach is a unified treatment of multivariate analysis of variance which can be used by psychologists who are generally familiar with multiple regression approaches to univariate analysis of variance. It is suggested that the generality of the approach permits solutions consistent with any of the several available strategies for dealing with problems of unequal and disproportionate cell frequencies. Inherent in the multiple regression formulation is the otherwise not so obvious fact that univariate analysis of variance results are an integral part of the multivariate solution and that both are important for understanding complex data. Methods of interpreting multivariate analysis of variance results in complex factorial experimental designs are discussed. (32 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Genetic relationships between personality and eating attitudes and behaviors.

Genetic and environmental factors underlying relationships between personality traits and disordered eating were examined in 256 female adolescent twin pairs (166 monozygotic, 90 dizygotic). Eating behaviors were assessed with the Total Score, Body Dissatisfaction, Weight Preoccupation, Binge Eating, and Compensatory Behavior subscales from the Minnesota Eating Disorders Inventory (M-EDI; K. L. Klump, M. McGue, & W. G. Iacono, 2000). Personality characteristics were assessed with the Negative Emotionality, Positive Emotionality, and Constraint scales from the Multidimensional Personality Questionnaire: (MPQ; A. Tellegen, 1982). Model-fitting analyses indicated that although genetic factors were more likely to contribute to MPQ and M-EDI phenotypic associations than environmental factors, shared genetic variance between the 2 phenotypes was limited. MPQ personality characteristics may represent only some of several genetic risk factors for eating pathology. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Treadmill exercise duration and dyspnea recovery time in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: effects of oxygen breathing and repeated testing

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate biochemical outcome after definitive radiotherapy as a function of family history groupings. METHODS: Biochemical freedom from disease for 920 men treated for prostate cancer with external beam radiation alone between March 1987 and December 1997 was compared according to hereditary/familial history (PFH) and sporadic family history. To adjust for known predictors of biochemical outcome, 97 PFH patients were randomly matched 2:1 to 194 sporadic patients according to age, grade, pretreatment prostate-specific antigen level, and palpation stage and compared in terms of biochemical outcome. Cox multivariate regression analyses were also performed to identify independent predictors of outcome in the two patient populations. RESULTS: In both patient populations, univariate analysis of biochemical outcome demonstrated no difference according to family history groupings. After adjusting for known predictors of biochemical outcome, multivariate analysis confirmed the nonsignificant univariate findings. CONCLUSIONS: No difference was found in this study between patients with a PFH (combined hereditary and familial) and patients with the sporadic form of prostate cancer. Recent published reports are conflicting and the question of whether a genetic change influencing prostate cancer causation is associated with factors altering treatment response should be addressed using a multi-institutional, carefully documented, prospective family history data collection and outcome analysis.     

Etiology of obsessions and compulsions: A behavioral-genetic analysis.

It is unknown whether various types of obsessive-compulsive (OC) symptoms have a common genetic or environmental etiology. For example, it is unknown whether hoarding is etiologically associated with prototypic OC symptoms, such as washing, checking, and obsessing. Also unknown is whether particular OC-related symptoms are etiologically linked to the general tendency to experience emotional distress (negative emotionality). To investigate these and other issues, a community sample of 307 pairs of monozygotic and dizygotic adult twins provided scores on 6 OC-related symptoms (obsessing, neutralizing, checking, washing, ordering, and hoarding) and 2 markers of negative emotionality (trait anxiety and affective lability). Genetic factors accounted for 40%–56% of variance in the 8 phenotypic scores (M = 49% of variance for OC-related symptoms). Remaining variance was due to nonshared (person-specific) environment. More detailed analyses revealed a complex etiologic architecture, where OC-related symptoms arise from a mix of common and symptom-specific genetic and environmental factors. A general genetic factor was identified, which influenced all symptoms and negative emotionality. An environmental factor was identified that influenced all symptoms but did not influence negative emotionality. Each of the 6 types of symptoms was also shaped by its own set of symptom-specific genetic and environmental factors. The importance of genetic factors did not vary as a function of age or sex, and the architecture of general and specific etiologic factors was replicated for participants having relatively more severe OC symptoms. Gene–environment interactions were identified. Implications for an etiology-based classification system are discussed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Bullying and Victimization in Elementary Schools: A Comparison of Bullies, Victims, Bully/Victims, and Uninvolved Preadolescents.

Research on bullying and victimization largely rests on univariate analyses and on reports from a single informant. Researchers may thus know too little about the simultaneous effects of various independent and dependent variables, and their research may be biased by shared method variance. The database for this Dutch study was large (N=1,065) and rich enough to allow multivariate analysis and multisource information. In addition, the effect of familial vulnerability for internalizing and externalizing disorders was studied. Gender, aggressiveness, isolation, and dislikability were most strongly related to bullying and victimization. Among the many findings that deviated from or enhanced the univariate knowledge base were that not only victims and bully/victims but bullies as well were disliked and that parenting was unrelated to bullying and victimization once other factors were controlled. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Phenotypic, genetic, and nonshared environmental parallels in the structure of personality: A view from the Multidimensional Personality Questionnaire.

How closely do observed, phenotypic personality structures correspond with underlying, genetic, and environmental personality structures? This question was addressed using data from 2,490 pairs of twins from the Minnesota Twin Registry, who completed A. Tellegen's (1982) Multidimensional Personality Questionairre (MPQ). Phenotypic, additive genetic, and nonshared environmental correlations were computed among the MPQ's eleven primary scales. Principal component analyses of all three matrices revealed three broad, higher-order components that were readily interpreted as negative emotionality, positive emotionality, and constraint. The components from all three matrices were highly comparable, suggesting, that the observed, phenotypic structure of personality corresponds closely with the underlying, etiological structure of personality. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Intelligent Multivariable Modeling of Blast Furnace Molten Iron Quality Based on Dynamic AGA-ANN and PCA

Blast furnace(BF)ironmaking process has complex and nonlinear dynamic characteristics.The molten iron temperature(MIT)as well as Si,P and S contents of molten iron is difficult to be directly measured online,and large-time delay exists in offline analysis through laboratory sampling.A nonlinear multivariate intelligent modeling method was proposed for molten iron quality(MIQ)based on principal component analysis(PCA)and dynamic genetic neural network.The modeling method used the practical data processed by PCA dimension reduction as inputs of the dynamic artificial neural network(ANN).A dynamic feedback link was introduced to produce a dynamic neural network on the basis of traditional back propagation ANN.The proposed model improved the dynamic adaptability of networks and solved the strong fluctuation and resistance problem in a nonlinear dynamic system.Moreover,a new hybrid training method was presented where adaptive genetic algorithms(AGA)and ANN were integrated,which could improve network convergence speed and avoid network into local minima.The proposed method made it easier for operators to understand the inside status of blast furnace and offered real-time and reliable feedback information for realizing close-loop control for MIQ.Industrial experiments were made through the proposed model based on data collected from a practical steel company.The accuracy could meet the requirements of actual operation.     

Psychoticism as a dimension of personality: A multivariate genetic test of Eysenck and Eysenck's psychoticism construct.

In this study, we applied multivariate genetic analysis, a generalization of factor analysis and behavior genetic analysis, to responses to items of the Psychoticism scale of the Eysenck Personality Questionnaire by 2,903 adult same-sex Australian twin pairs. Item loadings on genetic, shared environmental, and nonshared environmental common and specific factors were estimated. The genetic factor structure differed considerably from the environmental structures, particularly in men. The genetic factor correlation between suspiciousness items and items reflecting unconventional or tough-minded attitudes or hostility to others was negative, but the environmental correlation was positive. Thus, conventional behavior genetic studies that have reported significant heritability of psychoticism, on the basis of analyses of scale scores, are misleading as to what trait is being inherited. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Social networks and coronary heart disease among Japanese men in Hawaii

A group of 4653 men of Japanese ancestry living in Hawaii were studied for the association of measures of social networks with both the prevalence and incidence rates of coronary heart disease (Honolulu Heart Program, 1971-1979). Prevalence rates for myocardial infarction, angina, and total coronary heart disease were inversely associated with the social network scales in bivariate analyses with age, and in multivariate analyses including 12 other risk factors. With the incidence data, the associations were less evident. Bivariate analysis with age revealed inverse associations for nonfatal myocardial infarction and total coronary heart disease with only one of the social network scales. With multivariate analyses, there was no significant association of any subgroup of coronary heart disease with any scale, although there was a borderline association (p = 0.08) of nonfatal myocardial infarction with one scale. No individual question was significantly associated with either prevalence or incidence rates for coronary heart disease. There was also little evidence of reduced risk of incident coronary heart disease associated with the social network scale for men in high risk categories of serum cholesterol, blood pressure, and cigarette smoking.     

Cathepsin-D in primary breast cancer: prognostic evaluation involving 2810 patients

There is controversy regarding the prognostic value of cathepsin-D in primary breast cancer. An increased level of cathepsin-D in tumour extracts has been found to be associated with a poor relapse-free and overall survival. Studies performed with immunohistochemistry or Western blotting have produced diverse results. We have analysed 2810 cytosolic extracts obtained from human primary breast tumours for cathepsin-D expression, and have correlated their levels with prognosis. The median follow-up of the patients still alive was 88 months. Patients with high cathepsin-D levels had a significantly worse relapse-free and overall survival, also in multivariate analysis (P < 0.0001). Adjuvant therapy which was associated with an improved prognosis in node-positive patients in univariate analysis, also significantly added to the multivariate models for relapse-free and overall survival. There were no statistically significant interactions between the levels of cathepsin-D and any of the classical prognostic factors in analysis for relapse-free survival, suggesting that the prognostic value of cathepsin-D is not different in the various subgroups of patients. Indeed, multivariate analyses in subgroups of node-negative and -positive patients, pre- and post-menopausal patients, and their combinations, showed that tumours with high cathepsin-D values had a significantly poor relapse-free survival, with relative hazard rates ranging from 1.3 to 1.5, compared with tumours with low cathepsin-D levels. The results presented here on 2810 patients confirm that high cytosolic cathepsin-D values are associated with poor prognosis in human primary breast cancer.