Risk factors for emotional/behavioral problems in young adolescents: A prospective analysis of adolescent and parental stress and symptoms.

Stressful events in the lives of 309 10- to 15-year-olds and stressful events and psychological symptoms reported by their parents were examined in a 9-month study. Ss' self-reported emotional/behavioral problems were predicted by their reports of stressful events and their fathers' reports of psychological symptoms in cross-sectional analyses. Analyses at follow-up after controlling for initial reports of emotional/behavioral problems and prospective analyses predicting from first assessment to follow-up yielded significant effects for Ss' self-reported stressful events. Mothers' reports of children's problems were predicted by mothers' psychological symptoms in cross-sectional analyses and at follow-up after controlling for initial emotional/behavioral problems. Only prior levels of maternal reports of emotional/behavioral problems predicted mothers' reports of their children's problems 9 months later. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Minima equalization: A useful strategy in automatic processing of microscopic images

Specifically stained features in microscopic images rarely have a unique range of grey levels which would permit selection of the features by simple thresholding. The spaces between features and immediately surrounding them are often as dark or darker than the more lightly stained features. An algorithm for minima equalization which facilitates the extraction and segmentation of such features was designed and is explained in intuitive terms. It is applied to the analysis of cross-sections of peripheral myelinated nerve fibres. It is shown that the binary image obtained can be combined with a gradient image to give a binary image which accurately reflects the thickness of the myelin in the original image. Using silver-impregnated nerve endings and bile canaliculi stained for thiamine pyrophosphatase, binary images like those prepared manually from thick specimens using a camera lucida can be obtained using the minima equalization procedure. The image processor is used to develop a composite image by combining images at various focal planes through the thick specimen. This image is then processed to obtain the binary image.     

The image of women in psychology textbooks.

In an analysis of the content of ten recently published textbooks in psychology, the author concludes that most textbooks contain the implication that psychologists are male by using language and illustrations reinforcing this suggestion, and by citing women authors less frequently than their number and eminence would suggest. Experiments and studies reported in psychology textbooks frequently fail to indicate sex of subjects or, alternatively, are based on male samples. The results of such studies are then frequently generalized to both sexes. The image of psychology as presented in textbooks is biased, therefore, toward the study of male behaviour by male psychologists. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Development of a pressure control system for brace treatment of scoliosis

Bracing is a common nonsurgical treatment for scoliosis, but its effectiveness has been debated. Some clinical studies have shown efficacy of brace treatment is correlated to how the brace has been worn. The more often the patients wear their braces to the prescribed tightness as well as the prescribed length of wear each day, the better the treatment outcome. A system of four wireless pressure control devices was developed to understand brace wear-time and regulate a target pressure range at the brace-body interface. Each pressure control device could function independently and be embedded in the brace at key pressure areas. Such a system could improve the quality of brace wear-making the treatment more effective and refining our understanding of the three-pressure-point brace treatment concept during daily activities. This paper reports the system development and validation. The system was tested on four healthy subjects for 2 h without pressure regulation and 2 h with regulation. The results show that the pressure regulation doubled the time spent in a desired pressure range on average (from 31% to 62%). Brace-wear time was logged correctly. The system was also validated through a seven-day continuous test, and a fully charged battery could run for 30 days without requiring recharge.     

Mathematical model for calculating the shaded and sunlit areas in a circular courtyard geometry

This paper presents a mathematical model that was developed specifically to calculate the produced shaded and sunlit areas in a circular courtyard geometry. It examines the interaction taking place between the sun at any time throughout the year and a circular courtyard form with any dimensions and proportions in any place on the earth. This model was included in a new computer program, which allowed detailed investigation to be undertaken into the effect of circular courtyard proportions on the generated wall and floor exposed and shaded areas. The results showed that changing the form's proportions significantly influences the shading or exposure potential of the internal courtyard envelope.     

Fathers' ratings in the assessment of their child's anxiety symptoms: A comparison to mothers' ratings and their associations with paternal symptomatology.

We examined the comparability between mothers' and fathers' ratings in the assessment of their child's anxiety symptoms. The sample consisted of 78 youth (6 to 17 years) and their mothers and fathers who presented to a childhood anxiety disorders specialty research clinic. Using intraclass correlation coefficients, mother?father agreement of their child's anxiety symptoms was found to be moderate. Mean differences between mothers' and fathers' ratings of their child's anxiety were not significantly different. Both maternal and paternal self-ratings of psychopathology predicted respective ratings of their child's anxiety. Although either mothers or fathers can provide useful information, use of multiple informants is encouraged, especially when parental psychopathology is present. Additional implications and suggestions for future research are discussed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)