La mesure des fonctions exécutives chez les enfants d'age préscolaire.

Given the increasing number of tests used in research over the last two decades and their application potential for early intervention, we propose in this article a critical review of about sixty tools assessing executive functions (EF) in preschool age children (2 to 6 years old). In order to introduce the EF notion, we will briefly discuss theoretical models, development of EF in children, measurement and EF tests, especially for preschool age children. Consensus over conceptual issues seems to emerge: EF would be cognitive control processes for problem resolution in front of complex or new problems. Among these processes, we especially distinguish inhibition, flexibility, and updating. However, the demonstration of the efficiency of these tests for preschool children is far from complete. Therefore, we propose to establish which are the most promising measures after having identified which are the most commonly used. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Load Testing of Historic Cast Iron Stairs at Cape Hatteras Lighthouse

The Cape Hatteras Lighthouse is the tallest brick structure of its kind in the United States. The national icon was closed to visitors after several pieces of the cast iron stairs, original to the structure, dislodged and fell inside the lighthouse. This finding led to the investigative efforts outlined in this paper, on the load carrying capacity of the stairs. This article summarizes the engineering effort in the condition assessment of the stairs, the review of visitor statistical data for likely load exposures during peak times, and the development of a unique load test program for the stairs of the historic structure. The load testing program was unique because of the physical constraints of the lighthouse shaft as well as the dimensions of the stair treads. In addition, the engineering team had the added objective of protecting the integrity of the national icon and performing the load test without exposing the historic stairs to an unnecessary risk of failure.     

Theory of Seepage into an Auger Hole in a Confined Aquifer

A steady-state theory is presented for predicting flow into an auger hole partially penetrating a homogeneous and anisotropic confined aquifer that is underlain by an impermeable layer. The developed equations can be directly applied (i.e., without resorting to a coordinate transformation) to translate the rate of rise of the water in a pumped auger hole into directional conductivities of soil. The study shows that the conductivity values calculated by neglecting the confining pressure of an artesian aquifer (i.e., by applying the existing unconfined auger-hole seepage theories to experimental auger data obtained from a confined aquifer) may lead to serious error; hence, the confining head of an aquifer must be considered while the conductivity values are computed. Further, the distance of the outer layer also plays an important role in determining the flow to an auger hole penetrating a confined aquifer, and this parameter must therefore be included in the theoretical analysis of the problem. The validity of the proposed theory is checked by comparing a few results obtained from the theory with corresponding results obtained from numerical and analytical works. The developed theory is an addition to already existing auger-hole seepage theories for water-table aquifers; together with the available theories, the proposed solution is expected to cover the most commonly encountered auger hole experimental flow situations in the field.     

Self-Reported Gambling-Related Suicidality Among Gambling Helpline Callers.

Problem gamblers often attribute suicidal ideation or attempts to their gambling. Logistic regression analyses were applied to data from problem gamblers (N = 986) calling a helpline. Problem gamblers reporting gambling-related suicidality (n = 252; 25.6%) were more likely than those denying it (n = 734; 74.4%) to acknowledge family, financial, legal, and mental and substance-related problems. Of problem gamblers acknowledging gambling-related suicidality, those reporting gambling-related suicide attempts (n = 53; 21.5%) were more likely than those denying them (n = 193; 78.5%) to acknowledge gambling-related illegal behaviors, mental health and substance abuse treatment, and family histories of alcohol problems, and were less likely to report prior gambling treatment. The findings suggest that increased gambling severity is associated with gambling-related suicidality. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

L'échelle de dramatisation face à la douleur PCS-CF: Adaptation canadienne en langue fran?aise de l'échelle Pain Catastrophizing Scale.

This study examined the psychometric properties of the PCS-CF, a French-Canadian adaptation of the Pain Catastrophizing Scale (Sullivan, Bishop & Pivik, 1995). One hundred and twenty undergraduate students (83 women; 37 men) completed the PCS-CF and measures of anxiety and depression prior to immersing their hand in ice water for 1-minute. A subset of 39 participants (28 females; 11 males) also completed a second pain task involving an ascending series of electrocutaneous stimulations. Participants' verbal and non-verbal pain behaviours during and immediately after the immersion task were recorded and subsequently independently coded. Reliability analyses revealed that the PCS-CF total score and subscale scores have a high degree of internal consistency and test-retest reliabilities that are comparable to the original Pain Catastrophizing Scale. PCS-CF scores were associated with higher levels of self-reported pain during the ice water immersion task and decreased pain tolerance during electrocutaneous stimulation. Individuals with elevated PCS-CF scores also displayed a more diverse repertoire of pain behaviours than their low PCS-CF counterparts. Previous findings that catastrophizing scores are able to discriminate criterion groups of males and females were also replicated. Given the highly correlated factors obtained in analyses of the dimensionality of the PCS-CF, the structure suggested by the authors of the original scale is only partially supported. However, the results taken together suggest that the PCS-CF is both a reliable and valid measure of the pain catastrophizing construct that is psychometrically comparable to the original PCS. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Professionals in mutual help groups: Impact on social climate and members' behavior.

This study assessed the impact of professional involvement in mutual help groups for the mentally ill. Social climate data and behavioral data on members in groups led either by a mental health professional (n?=?36) or an indigenous group member (n?=?70) were compared. The results of the study indicated a more formal, psychologically directed approach in the professionally led groups. Although professional involvement in mutual help groups does not necessarily produce different member outcomes, it does seem to affect both the perceptions and the behavior of members. Professionals should be cautious when they get involved in mutual help groups to avoid professionalizing them. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Tension and compression testing of single-crystalline gamma Ti-55.5 pct Al

High-quality single crystals 6 to 10 mm in diameter of γ-Ti 55.5 pct Al have been grown using the optical float zone furnace technique. These crystals have been oriented and cut into microsample tension and compression specimens with a gage area of 250×250 μm and an effective gage length of 300 μm. These specimens have been deformed using a microsample testing machine which applies loads on the order of 50 N and measures strain using an interferometric strain/displacement gage. Stress-strain curves have been obtained for four different orientations and two temperatures and as a function of the sense of the applied load. Of special interest is the availability of tensile data for the resolved shear stress. Preliminary comparison of tension and compression microsample tests indicates that the tension-compression asymmetry is negligible at 500 K. This article is based on a presentation made in the symposium “Fundamentals of Gamma Titanium Aluminides,” presented at the TMS Annual Meeting, February 10–12, 1997, Orlando, Florida, under the auspices of the ASM/MSD Flow & Fracture and Phase Transformations Committees.     

Interfaces in MoSi2-SiC In Situ composites synthesized by melt processing

Interfaces between the primary β-SiC and the surrounding MoSi₂ matrix in melt-synthesized in situ composites have been investigated, with emphasis on the chemistry and crystallographic relationships developed during solidification. Primary SiC growth occurs with {002} and {111} facets, both of which are found to template the subsequent nucleation and epitaxial growth of the MoSi₂ matrix. Eight independent orientation relationships (ORs) were identified, involving the following combinations of planes: $$\begin{gathered} \left\{ {002} \right\}_{Sic} \parallel \left( {001} \right)_{MoSi_2 } \left( {3 rotational variants} \right), or \{ 101)_{MoSi_2 } \hfill \\ \left\{ {111} \right\}_{Sic} \parallel (001)_{MoSi_2 } , or \{ 100)_{MoSi_2 } \left( {2 rotational variants} \right),or \{ 101)_{MoSi_2 } \hfill \\ \end{gathered} $$ The interfacial relationships were rationalized using coincident site lattice arguments as well as energetic simulations based on the Grey-Bohr algorithm. The latter analysis suggests that the multiplicity of relationships arises from local effects associated with the size and shape of the adsorbate layers preceding the formation of the MoSi₂ nuclei. An amorphous carbon layer, 2- to 5-nm thick, was detected at all interfaces and some of the matrix grain boundaries. This interphase is believed to evolve by solid-state precipitation of C during postsolidification cooling and is, in principle, metastable. The C interphase enables easy debonding and thus may have important implications for the mechanical performance of materials involving SiC/MoSi₂ constituents.