Concerns regarding the Wide Range Achievement Test (WRAT).

The Wide Range Achievement Test (WRAT) continues to be used in the US and Canada as an indicator of academic achievement, despite continuing concerns from experts regarding its validity and reliability and the compounding problem for Canadian users involving a lack of Canadian norms. The present discussion emphasizes the magnitude of the perceived inadequacies of the WRAT, particularly with Canadian children, and offers suggestions for alternate achievement tests that Canadian users should find more appropriate and valid for their purposes. (French abstract) (12 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2011 APA, all rights reserved)     

Treatment of community-acquired pneumonia by pristinamycin (Pyostacine 500). Results of a non comparative open study

Activity of natural streptogramin (NSG) appears well adapted to pathogens responsible for CAP. The goal of this multicenter pilot study was to bring first data about efficacy of NSG in treatment of CAP. PATIENTS METHOD: Ten days of a NSG (1 gr b.i.d. or t.i.d.) regimen was administered to 46 hospitalized adult patients for CAP defined with fever > 38 degrees C, respiratory symptoms and X-ray opacity. Severely ill patients were excluded. A broncho-pulmonar sample (expectoration or trantracheal aspiration or protected distal sample) was performed in all patients. RESULTS: two patients were excluded because of pulmonary embolism (n = 1) or tuberculosis (n = 1) and 44 patients were analyzed. 50% of them had associated disease, 20% had failure of prior antibiotherapy. At inclusion, mean fever was 39.2 +/- 0.7 degrees C, respiratory rate was 22 +/- 5/mn, PaO2 was 74 +/- 10 mmHg, chest X-ray showed bilateral opacity in 16%, unilateral in 84% and pleural fluid level in 6 cases. Etiological diagnosis was determined in 70% of cases. Streptococcus pneumoniae (n = 14), Haemophilus influenzae (n = 5), Legionella pneumophila (n = 2), Mycoplasma pneumoniae (n = 2) and Chlamydia psittaci (n = 1) were the most frequent isolated pathogens. 40 patients (91%) were cured with NSG and delay to obtain apyrexia was 4.4 +/- 3.9 days. NSG was stopped in 4 patients: 1 clinical and bacteriological failure (Klebsiella pneumoniae), 2 clinical failures (1 pneumococcus with purulent pleurisy, 1 pneumococcus with worsening of respiratory status), 1 patient with resistant H. influenzae strain in spite of favourable clinical evolution. NSG was well tolerated in 86% of patients. CONCLUSION: these data invite to carry on evaluation of first line therapy of CAP with NSG.     

A comparative analysis of serial ordering in ring-tailed lemurs (Lemur catta).

Research over the last 25 years has demonstrated that animals are able to organize sequences in memory and retrieve ordered sequences without language. Qualitative differences have been found between the serial organization of behavior in pigeons and monkeys. Here the authors test serial ordering abilities in ring-tailed lemurs, a strepsirrhine primate whose ancestral lineage diverged from that of monkeys, apes, and humans approximately 63 million years ago. Lemurs' accuracy and response times were similar to monkeys, thus suggesting that they may share mechanisms for serial organization that dates to a common primate ancestor. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Five validation experiments of the Test of Memory Malingering (TOMM).

The Test of Memory Malingering (TOMM; T. N. Tombaugh, 1996) is a newly developed visual recognition test that uses pictures of common objects as stimuli. Prior normative research with community-dwelling adults and neurologically impaired patients has shown that the TOMM possesses a high degree of specificity and is not affected by demographic variables such as age and education. The current series of 5 integrated experiments was designed to provide important validation data. Converging evidence from all studies showed that scores on the TOMM are able to detect when an individual is not putting forth maximum effort. Overall, the TOMM's high levels of sensitivity and specificity suggest that it has high promise as a clinical test for detecting malingering of memory impairments. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Early prediction of reading achievement with the Sheppard School Entry Screening Test: A four-year longitudinal study.

Administered the Sheppard School Entry Screening Test (SSEST) to 320 kindergarten pupils to examine its ability to predict reading performance in Grades 1, 2, and 3. The 3 SSEST factors (i.e., Figure Drawing, Language, and Perceptual-Motor Skills) were each significantly correlated with reading achievement in all 3 grades, even after correcting for initial IQ. Prediction was much better for pupils with the lowest reading ability. Findings demonstrate the validity of the SSEST as an early indicator of later reading achievement. (46 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

The Attitudes Test in Human Relations (ATHURE).

The development of a forced-choice form of a human relations attitude test is described. After item selection (and cross-validation of item selection) of four forms, test-retest reliabilities were computed following two administrations to new samples. None of the reliabilities was greater than .43. The reasons for this low reliability are discussed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Recommendations for training in the use of the Thematic Apperception Test (TAT).

Comments on the article by E. D. Rossini and R. J. Moretti (see record 1997-04849-016) regarding interpretation of the Thematic Apperception Test (TAT). The present author notes that issues of test validity, use of quantified scoring systems, and appropriate normative data when interpreting the TAT were ignored. The present author notes that one should not evade issues of validity by alluding to "self-conferred expert clinical judgment." It is also argued that because predictive methods have almost always been more accurate than or as accurate as clinicians, it is inappropriate to assert that such expertise is exactly what the master psychodiagnostician offers beyond actuarial personality evaluation. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

A comparative study of the economics of home care

The costs of home care and treatment solely in hospital for patients in a variety of short-term diagnostic categories are compared. Five hundred and eighty-three patients included in an experimental home care program were randomly assigned either to a group which received home care as part of their treatment, or to a control group that remained in hospital the traditional length of time. It is argued that the only costs relevant in an economic comparison of the two modes of treatment are those attributable to the direct care of the patient. A technique is presented whereby changes in the daily amount of nursing service provided can be costed. The economic analysis shows that, when similar diagnoses are compared for an episode of illness, there is basically no difference in cost between home care and treatment in hospital.     

Separating optimism and pessimism: A robust psychometric analysis of the Revised Life Orientation Test (LOT-R).

The internal structure of the revised Life Orientation Test (LOT-R, German version; M. F. Scheier, C. S. Carver, & M. W. Bridges, 1994) was analyzed in a sample of 46,133 participants who ranged in age from 18 years to 103 years. Confirmatory factor analysis showed that dispositional optimism, as measured by the LOT-R, is bidimensional, consisting of an Optimism and a Pessimism factor. Consistent with previous results, there were small to moderate negative correlations between Optimism and Pessimism, but the strength of the association continuously decreased with age. The relative independence of the 2 dimensions occurred in both genders and across different age groups of patients with different medical disorders. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Validation d'un questionnaire du sentiment d'imposture pour enfants et adolescents (QSIEA).

This paper presents the results of the validation of an instrument designed to assess the impostor feeling amongst children and adolescents. The first study was conducted with samples of students aged 10 to 17. It allowed showing that all the eight items loaded on a single factor that explains 57.6% of the variance. The test-retest procedure allowed concluding that the instrument was very stable over a 6-week period. The second study was conducted with a sample of late elementary school students. Results confirmed the factorial structure observed in the first study as well as its convergent validity. The discussion emphasises the potential utility of the instrument for both research and intervention purposes with young French speaking students. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Sandplay: A comparative study.

Examined differences in play themes, play characteristics, object use, and narratives, elicited by the sandplay technique, with 5 coping (CG) and 5 difficulty-coping (DCG) 6–8 yr olds. Differences between the 2 groups, and the assessment and therapeutic value of sandplay was ascertained. Sandplay was adapted from the work of M. Lowenfield (1979), who in 1929 developed the technique of using miniature figures in a sand tray to encourage children to create a symbolic representation of their world in concrete form. Ss participated individually in sandplay, on 4 separate occasions, and over a 2 mo period. The CG tended to view their world as more balanced, vital, and organized, where others guide them, and they are safe. They showed resourcefulness in dealing with adversity and had hope for the future. The DCG tended to perceive their world as barren, a struggle, and consisting of threat and danger. The tended to lack resourcefulness in dealing with adversity and had a lack of hope for the future. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Moving faces, looking places: Validation of the Amsterdam Dynamic Facial Expression Set (ADFES).

We report two studies validating a new standardized set of filmed emotion expressions, the Amsterdam Dynamic Facial Expression Set (ADFES). The ADFES is distinct from existing datasets in that it includes a face-forward version and two different head-turning versions (faces turning toward and away from viewers), North-European as well as Mediterranean models (male and female), and nine discrete emotions (joy, anger, fear, sadness, surprise, disgust, contempt, pride, and embarrassment). Study 1 showed that the ADFES received excellent recognition scores. Recognition was affected by social categorization of the model: displays of North-European models were better recognized by Dutch participants, suggesting an ingroup advantage. Head-turning did not affect recognition accuracy. Study 2 showed that participants more strongly perceived themselves to be the cause of the other's emotion when the model's face turned toward the respondents. The ADFES provides new avenues for research on emotion expression and is available for researchers upon request. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2011 APA, all rights reserved)     

A comparative study of geometric rule learning by nutcrackers (Nucifraga columbiana), pigeons (Columba livia) and jackdaws (Corvus monedula).

Three avian species, a seed-caching corvid (Clark's nutcrackers; Nucifraga columbiana), a non-seed-caching corvid (jackdaws; Corvus monedula), and a non-seed-caching columbid (pigeons; Columba livia), were tested for ability to learn to find a goal halfway between 2 landmarks when distance between the landmarks varied during training. All 3 species learned, but jackdaws took much longer than either pigeons or nutcrackers. The nutcrackers searched more accurately than either pigeons or jackdaws. Both nutcrackers and pigeons showed good transfer to novel landmark arrays in which interlandmark distances were novel, but inconclusive results were obtained from jackdaws. Species differences in this spatial task appear quantitative rather than qualitative and are associated with differences in natural history rather than phylogeny. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Discrimination of artificial categories structured by family resemblances: A comparative study in people (Homo sapiens) and pigeons (Columba livia).

Adult humans (Homo sapiens) and pigeons (Columba livia) were trained to discriminate artificial categories that the authors created by mimicking 2 properties of natural categories. One was a family resemblance relationship: The highly variable exemplars, including those that did not have features in common, were structured by a similarity network with the features correlating to one another in each category. The other was a polymorphous rule: No single feature was essential for distinguishing the categories, and all the features overlapped between the categories. Pigeons learned the categories with ease and then showed a prototype effect in accord with the degrees of family resemblance for novel stimuli. Some evidence was also observed for interactive effects of learning of individual exemplars and feature frequencies. Humans had difficulty in learning the categories. The participants who learned the categories generally responded to novel stimuli in an all-or-none fashion on the basis of their acquired classification decision rules. The processes that underlie the classification performances of the 2 species are discussed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Screening for problem drinking: comparison of CAGE and AUDIT. Ambulatory Care Quality Improvement Project (ACQUIP). Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test

OBJECTIVE: To compare self-administered versions of three questionnaires for detecting heavy and problem drinking: the CAGE, the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT), and an augmented version of the CAGE. DESIGN: Cross-sectional surveys. SETTING: Three Department of Veterans Affairs general medical clinics. PATIENTS: Random sample of consenting male outpatients who consumed at least 5 drinks over the past year ("drinkers"). Heavy drinkers were oversampled. MEASUREMENTS: An augmented version of the CAGE was included in a questionnaire mailed to all patients. The AUDIT was subsequently mailed to "drinkers." Comparison standards, based on the tri-level World Health Organization alcohol consumption interview and the Diagnostic Interview Schedule, included heavy drinking (> 14 drinks per week typically or > or = 5 drinks per day at least monthly) and active DSM-IIIR alcohol abuse or dependence (positive diagnosis and at least one alcohol-related symptom in the past year). Areas under receiver operating characteristic curves (AUROCs) were used to compare screening questionnaires. MAIN RESULTS: Of 393 eligible patients, 261 (66%) returned the AUDIT and completed interviews. For detection of active alcohol abuse or dependence, the CAGE augmented with three more questions (AUROC 0.871) performed better than either the CAGE alone or AUDIT (AUROCs 0.820 and 0.777, respectively). For identification of heavy-drinking patients, however, the AUDIT performed best (AUROC 0.870). To identify both heavy drinking and active alcohol abuse or dependence, the augmented CAGE and AUDIT both performed well, but the AUDIT was superior (AUROC 0.861). CONCLUSIONS: For identification of patients with heavy drinking or active alcohol abuse or dependence, the self-administered AUDIT was superior to the CAGE in this population.     

Validation of the Adolescent Drug Use Screening Inventory: Preliminary findings.

Documented the validity of the Substance Use and Psychiatric Disorder scales of the newly developed Drug Use Screening Inventory (DUSI). 25 adolescents (mean age 15.6 yrs) were administered the DUSI. Results were correlated with the Kiddie Schedule for Affective Disorders and Schizophrenia (K-SADS) and Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders-III-Revised (DSM-III-R) substance abuse symptoms. Significant positive correlations were observed between number of symptoms on the DSM-III—R checklist and severity scores on the Substance Use, Health Status, Psychiatric Disorder, Social Skills, Family System, School, Work, and Peer Relations scales of the DUSI. Number of psychiatric symptoms reported on the K-SADS correlated with severity scores on the Substance Use, Behavior Problems, Health Status, and Psychiatric Disorder scales of the DUSI. Drug use was also related to psychosocial disturbances in this sample of adolescents. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

A comparative study of spirochaetes from the porcine alimentary tract

Strains of Treponema hyodysenteriae capable of inducing swine dysentery in specific pathogen-free pigs were compared with other spirochaetes from the porcine alimentary tract by biochemical and serological tests and by electrophoresis of their proteins. Carbohydrate fermentation and esculin hydrolysis were similar in all the spirochaetes. Indole was produced by T. hyodysenteriae and by some of the other spirochaetes. Analysis of the fatty acids produced from glucose showed a difference between T. hyodysenteriae and other spirochaetes only in the amount of n-butyric acid produced. The indirect fluorescent antibody test showed extensive cross-reactions between all the spirochaetes unless antisera were first absorbed. A microtitre agglutination test and a growth-inhibition test were both more specific; strains of T. hyodysenteriae could be distinguished from the other spirochaetes using unabsorbed sera. Both tests revealed some antigenic heterogeneity among strains of T, hyodysenteriae. The cell proteins of a single strain of T. hyodysenteriae gave an electrophoretic pattern distinct from those of the other spirochaetes. Two of the six spirochaetes not associated with swine dysentery, PWS/B and PWS/C, were indistinguishable serologically and electrophoretically. The other four strains were serologically distinct from one another and from PWS/B and PWS/C. Only two of these spirochaetes were examined electrophoretically, but each gave a different pattern from PWS/B and PWS/C. The diversity observed among spirochaetes not associated with swine dysentery indicates that their suggested inclusion in a single species, T. innocens, may prove to be unjustified.     

高层剪力墙结构墙体间距方案比较研究

现代钢筋砼高层建筑中,剪力墙体系是一种利用建筑中的内、外墙作为承重构件的结构体系.之所以承重墙体系通常被称之为剪力墙体,主要是由于在高层建筑中,结构除了要承受平时的垂直(重力)荷载外,还要承受阵发的风荷载以及突发的地震等水平荷载引起的剪力和弯矩.根据建筑功能、布置的需要,一般住宅、宾馆等高层建筑的纵横墙的间距都不大,除了房间之间的分户墙外,还有许     

A significant stride toward the comparative study of control.

Comments on the discussion by J. R. Weisz et al (see record 1985-19980-001) of the distinction between the primary form of control, which is characteristic of Americans and emphasizes influence over existing reality, and the secondary form of control, which is characteristic of Japanese and emphasizes accommodation. The present author discusses forms of control in Japan in relation to the methods of control used, the context boundedness of interpersonal relations, and the concept of the self. (3 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)