Unresolved controversies concerning psychopathy: Implications for clinical and forensic decision making.

At some point in their careers, clinicians who work or consult in forensic and correctional settings will almost certainly encounter individuals who exhibit psychopathic personality features. Because of the widespread use of this disorder to inform legal and clinical decision making, psychologists should be exceedingly familiar with the relevant research literature on this topic before venturing into these settings. This article reviews the empirical bases of several clinically relevant claims and assertions regarding psychopathy and concludes that many areas of research are decidedly more equivocal in their findings than is commonly perceived. Although there is much to be gained by assessing psychopathy in various contexts, clinicians need to be cautious about drawing overzealous and empirically questionable conclusions about an important disorder that also has great potential for abuse. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Psychopathy and suicide: A multisample investigation.

Evidence suggests that behavioral aspects of psychopathy are associated with suicidal behavior, whereas the affective and interpersonal aspects are not. The authors tested the robustness of this bifurcated association across 1,711 persons and 12 samples of adult and juvenile criminal offenders, forensic psychiatric patients, and civil psychiatric patients. The authors observed a small but significant partial correlation (.13) between the behavioral/impulsive lifestyle features of psychopathy and suicidality, but no effect for affective/interpersonal features. Several method and sample features (mental disorder; psychopathy and suicidality measurement format) significantly strengthened or weakened this association. The authors conclude that it is not possible to speak of "the" association between psychopathy and suicide, but that this relationship appears to be partially dependent on methodological (i.e., self-report vs. clinician-administered psychopathy measures) and sample composition (i.e., age; mental illness) factors. Recommendations for practice are provided, including that clinicians should not consider psychopathy a buffer against suicidal behavior. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Identification of mental disorders in an in-patient prison psychiatric unit: Examining the criterion-related validity of the Personality Assessment Inventory.

Identifying inmates with mental disorders is a crucial function of correctional mental health services. This study examined the utility of several theoretically relevant scales and subscales of the Personality Assessment Inventory (PAI; Morey, 1991, 2007) to identify various broad diagnostic categories (i.e., mood, psychotic, and substance use disorders) in a sample of prisoners in an inpatient psychiatric facility (N = 57). Results indicated moderate effect sizes and classification accuracy for most but not all PAI scales and subscales. Experimental scales for the detection of substance use disorders performed worse than the PAI Drug Problems scale in isolation. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Expression of growth hormone-binding protein with a hydrophilic carboxyl terminus by the mouse placenta: studies in vivo and in vitro

GH-binding protein (GHBP) or GH receptor is present in numerous extrahepatic tissues in the rodent. From mid- to late gestation in the mouse, the maternal serum concentration of GHBP increases 30- to 50-fold. We have investigated whether the placenta might synthesize GHBP and potentially contribute to this increase. RNA was isolated from placentas and subjected to Northern analysis using a cDNA probe to the shared region of GHBP and GH receptor-encoding mRNAs. From day 8 to day 18 of gestation, the GHBP-encoding mRNA (1.4 kb) increased 45-fold in quantity. The GH receptor-encoding mRNA (4.2 kb) increased sixfold by day 14 and then remained steady until day 18. These changes which were not co-ordinated parallel reported changes in the steady-state concentrations of 1.4 and 4.2 kb mRNAs in maternal liver, suggesting shared regulatory factors. Extracts of freshly isolated trophoblasts were assayed for GHBP with a radioimmunoassay specific for GHBP with a hydrophilic carboxyl terminus. The cytosolic content of immunoreactive GHBP increased fourfold from mid- to late gestation. Trophoblasts were isolated from placentas and cultured for 2 days on collagen gels in defined medium. Cultured cells were at least 90% viable and secreted mouse placental lactogen-II (mPL-II). Immunocytochemistry was carried out simultaneously on cells cultured from day 7 to day 17 of gestation using a monoclonal antibody (MAb 4.3), which recognizes the hydrophilic C-terminus of GHBP. Cell-localized GHBP was present in trophoblasts cultured for 2 days, but GHBP was not detectable by radioimmunoassay or by immunoprecipitation in concentrated culture media from cultures treated with 100 ng mouse GH/ml or 100 ng mPL-II/ml or from untreated cultures. RNA was isolated from cells cultured in an identical manner to those analysed by immunocytochemistry. Three GH receptor/GHBP mRNA species of 8, 4.2 and 1.4 kb were observed. The quantity of 4.2 and 1.4 kb mRNAs did not change significantly in cultures from day 7 to day 15 of gestation but, in cultures from day 17 of gestation, the amount of 1.4 kb mRNA dropped significantly, while that of the 4.2 kb mRNA remained unchanged. GHBP- and GH receptor-encoding mRNAs are not co-ordinately regulated in vivo or in vitro. Although mPL-II was secreted into the medium by cultured trophoblasts, secretion of GHBP could not be detected. The culture medium may not contain the specific factors required for secretion of placental GHBP, or placental GHBP may not be destined for secretion.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)     

Treating prison inmates with co-occurring disorders: an integrative review of existing programs

The tremendous growth in state and federal correctional populations has focused greater attention on the needs of mentally ill and substance abusing inmates. Although an estimated 3-11% of prison inmates have co-occurring mental health (psychotic and major mood) disorders and substance abuse disorders, few treatment programs are described in the literature and there is little available information regarding effective treatment strategies for this population. The current study provides an integrative review of seven 'dual diagnosis' treatment programs that recently have been developed in state and federal prisons. Many of these have evolved from existing substance abuse treatment programs and approaches. Key program components include an extended assessment period, orientation/motivational activities, psychoeducational groups, cognitive-behavioral interventions such as restructuring of 'criminal thinking errors', self-help groups, medication monitoring, relapse prevention, and transition into institution or community-based aftercare facilities. Many programs use therapeutic community approaches that are modified to provide (a) greater individual counseling and support, (b) less confrontation, (c) smaller staff caseloads, and (d) cross-training of staff. Research is underway in three of the seven sites to examine the effectiveness of these new programs.     

Adjudicative competence: Evidence that impairment in “rational understanding” is taxonic.

In Dusky v. United States (1960), the U.S. Supreme Court articulated 3 abilities that determine a criminal defendant's competence to stand trial: He or she must be able to consult with counsel, have a factual understanding of the proceedings, and have a rational understanding of the proceedings. Although the legal determination of a defendant's competence involves a dichotomous judgment, the latent structures of the constructs that underlie the abilities articulated in Dusky are unknown. The current study focused on the rational understanding prong of the Dusky standard. We hypothesized that, whereas factual knowledge of the legal system and ability to assist counsel may fall on a continuum, plausible (i.e., rational) beliefs about legal proceedings may be dichotomous in nature. Taxometric analyses of the Appreciation scale of the MacArthur Competence Assessment Tool—Criminal Adjudication, with a sample of 721 defendants, provided support for a taxonic structure. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Principles of ex ovo competitive exclusion and in ovo administration of Lactobacillus reuteri

The data that have been presented indicate that the in ovo use of competitive exclusion (CE) agents is feasible for both chickens and turkeys. However, there are many pitfalls that await the use of in ovo application of CE agents, including the use of nonspecies-specific intestinal microbes and the use of harmful proteolytic, gas-producing and toxin-producing intestinal microbes. Of the potential CE agents that have posthatch application, only Lactobacillus reuteri has been shown to be safe and effective in terms of not affecting hatchability and in having a prolonged effect in the hatched chick or poult. Lactobacillus reuteri administration in ovo increases its rate of intestinal colonization and decreases the colonization of Salmonella and Escherichia coli in both chicks and poults. Additionally, mortality due to in-hatcher exposure to E. coli or Salmonella is reduced with in ovo L. reuteri. Use of antibiotics in ovo may preclude the use of co-administered CE agents, but Gentamicin and L. reuteri are a compatible mixture when administered in ovo in separate compartments. Nevertheless, the intestinal morphology can be affected by both the CE agent and by antibiotics. Lactobacillus reuteri both in ovo and ex ovo will increase villus height and crypt depth, and Gentamicin in ovo causes a shortening and blunting of the villus. Both Gentamicin and L. reuteri in ovo suppress potentially pathogenic enteric microbes, but with diminished antibiotic effects shortening and blunting of the intestinal villi does not correct itself. Goblet cell numbers increase significantly on the ileum villus of chicks treated with Gentamicin in ovo, and this is presumably due to the increase in potentially pathogenic bacteria in the intestinal tract. Diminishing antibiotic effects posthatch would then negatively affect the absorption of nutrients and reduce growth at least in a transitory manner. Thus, L reuteri administration in ovo singly or in combination with Gentamicin followed by L reuteri via drinking water or feed appears to have potential to control many enteric pathogens in poultry. Additional work in the use of in ovo CE cultures is mandated because there is a world-wide movement to reduce antibiotic use in poultry due to increased microbial resistance to antibiotics. Use of naturally occurring intestinal bacterial cultures, either in mixed culture or as single well-defined cultures, has potential for immediate use in the poultry industry.     

Automatic Control Chart for Micropipet

Abstract

The control chart is defined and exemplified, and the importance of controlling the volume delivered by a micropipet is discussed. A LabVIEW VI is described, which automates control chart generation and routine use based on the gravimetric calibration of a micropipette, using a Sartorius balance. A user selects between creating a new control chart and adding a data point to the control chart. File storage and retrieval, and construction of the control chart are automated. A sample control chart for a micropipet is presented.     

Effects and measurements of polyoxyethylene block length in polyoxyethylene-polyoxybutylene copolymers

Block copolymer surfactants, made from 1,2-butylene oxide (BO), propylene oxide (PO) and ethylene oxide (EO), exhibit wide ranges of properties and performance. In particular, BO/EO block copolymers exhibit improved surfactant performance with respect to PO/EO analogs. One interesting difference between these two classes of surfactants is the EO capping efficiency of polyoxypropylene (POP) vs. polyoxybutylene (POB) hydrophobe secondary hydroxyl groups. In this regard, nuclear magnetic resonance measurements have shown that POP secondary diols react more readily with EO than POB diols. For the case of ethoxylated POB polymers, the amount of unethoxylated secondary hydroxyl is proportional to the average length of the polyoxyethylene (POE) blocks. Differential scanning calorimetry was used to observe crystallinity of POE blocks. For a given POB hydrophobe molecular weight and weight percentage EO, surfactant performance properties can be augmented by affecting POE block length in the ethoxylation process.