Les qualités psychométriques de l'échelle de comportements d'adaptation Loranger-Pépin.

Presents results of 3 studies on the psychometric properties of the LP-ABC (M. Loranger and M. Pépin, 1993), a French-language instrument for assessing general functioning in adults with mental retardation. The studies involved a total of 299 male and female Canadian adults with mental retardation. Results confirm the internal consistency, construct validity, criterion validity, discriminant validity, interrater reliability, and test–retest reliability of the LP-ABC. (English abstract) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Characterizing the structure of pharmaceutical granules obtained by wet granulation with varying amounts of water via Raman chemical imaging

A pharmaceutical formulation containing metformin hydrochloride (MET), hydroxypropyl cellulose (HPC), and microcrystalline cellulose (MCC) was wet granulated with varying amounts of water and the structure of the obtained granules was characterized by Raman chemical mapping. Univariate Raman mapping was found to be satisfactory for producing the images of the two components of interest (HPC and MCC). In addition to the images, the average Raman spectra from the maps as well as the micro-Raman spectra from the hot pixels were analyzed. HPC is found to strongly respond to the addition of water, with its domain dissipating and Raman bands becoming weaker as the water addition increases. MCC is also responsive to water, reacting similarly to HPC but to a much smaller extent and only for the largest amounts of water. Granules made with increasing water content also have improved tabletting properties and flow.     

Mental symptoms in Parkinson''s disease during chronic treatment with levodopa

The influence of epidural block with bupivacaine (Marcaine-adrenalin) on fetal heart rate, uterine activity, and the frequency and intensity of contractions was studied in twenty-five nulliparae at term. Uterine activity was found to decrease during the first 30 minutes following epidural block. In the time interval 30 to 40 minutes after epidural block uterine activity increased again and attained the same level as during the last 10 minutes before analgesia. The frequency of uterine contractions did not decrease after the block. The lower levels of uterine contractility were due only to a lower amplitude of the contractions. The regularizing effect of epidural analgesia on incoordinate uterine action was noted. The recording of fetal heart rate in the time interval studied revealed no pathological findings. Mode of delivery, mean labour duration and Apgar scores after epidural block were comparable with earlier studies of a larger patient population. This study suggest that epidural analgesia does not induce any important changes in fetal heart rate but temporarily decreases uterine activity.     

Le comportement de l'élève en classe spéciale et son rendement académique.

Tested the relationship between classroom behavior and academic success among 29 7th-grade males with learning difficulties. A number of observations were collected, and repeated measures were used across 3 experimental classes. Academic achievement, as measured by Ss' report cards, was the dependent variable. 19 categories of behavior served as the independent variables. The ability of behavioral categories to predict academic achievement was tested with W. J. Dixon's (1975) BMD-O2R program. Observer reliability was 83%. Results confirm the relationship between several classroom behaviors and academic success. For the 6 regression analyses that were performed, R indexes ranged from .51 to .91, attaining the .05 level of significance for 5 of the equations. Predictive equations were not stable across experimental phases. (12 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Différences entre adolescents et adolescentes à quatre taches de visualisation spatiale.

Compared the performance of 64 adolescent boys and 42 adolescent girls (aged 15–17 yrs) on 4 visual-spatial skills tasks. The administrative conditions of these computerized tasks are highly standardized. Three of these tasks, Spatial Visualization, Perception and Spatial Relations, are taken from the Computerized Aptitude Test for adolescents and adults, whereas the 4th task is an adaptation for adolescents of the Puzzle subtest of the Computerized Aptitude Test for infants. The dependent variables are the average success scores and the speed of execution scores derived from latency times in a group of the best scores for each of the 4 tasks. The results show that the adolescent boys are more successful at the Spatial Visualization and Spatial Relations tasks. On the whole, the boys and the girls showed a comparable speed of success, except in the Spatial Relations subtest, where the girls were much faster. The observed differences are interpreted as reflecting the better strategies adopted by the boys to solve mental rotation tasks. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Psychosis proneness and clinical psychopathology: Examination of the correlates of schizotypy.

The present report examined the associations between the Perceptual Aberration Scale (PAS), a prominent psychometric index of hypothetical psychosis proneness, and several measures of clinical psychopathology in a nonpsychotic psychiatric sample (N?=?101). Patients were examined by experienced clinicians using structured psychiatric interviews to assess Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders-III—Revised (DSM-III—R) Axis I and II conditions and rated for anxiety, depression, severity of illness, and current adult social competence. Elevated scores on the PAS were most closely associated with anxiety and depression as well as schizotypal, schizoid, avoidant, and obsessive–compulsive personality disorder symptomatology. Hierarchical regression analysis identified schizotypal symptoms and anxiety as the two underlying psychopathological processes most useful in explaining variance in PAS scores. Results are interpreted as supporting both the clinical relevance and research utility of the PAS and enhancing the construct validity of Meehl's model of schizotypy. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Hydrodynamic behaviour of a fluidized bed reactor for paper machine whitewater contaminant removal

To comply with future stringent environmental regulations, paper mills will need to reduce fresh water consumption and reject loads by closing down their whitewater systems. However, excessive build‐up of contaminants will occur affecting paper machine runnability (performance) and paper quality. We propose removing contaminants from paper machine whitewater by adsorption on matrices in a fluidized bed reactor. The aim of this study is to determine the effect of fines and fibres on bed expansion behaviour. Results show that bed expansion follows the Richardson and Zaki correlation but parameters must be modified according to the type of pulp found in the whitewater.     

Les enseignants et les conduites sociales de leurs élèves.

Compared the viewpoints of 45 teachers and 744 students concerning social behaviors in secondary school. Questionnaire data indicate that girls were evaluated by teachers or evaluated themselves more postively than boys and that behaviors found more appropriate for the academic environment were more often observed among Ss with above-average scholastic attainments. (English abstract) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Rendement scolaire et tutorat en mathématiques au secondaire III.

Presents preliminary results on the application of a tutoring program at the secondary school level and focuses on the benefits that can accrue to both students and tutors. Using a single-case experimental design, the efficacy of tutoring on performance in mathematics was analyzed. Tutor and student interactions were guided by a set of instructions based on a cognitive-behavioral approach (D. Meichenbaum and J. Asarnow, 1979) and on a psychosocial theory (W. Doise and G. Mugny, 1981; A. N. Perret-Clermont, 1979). Both tutors (n?=?4) and students (n?=?4) generally improved their performances. (English abstract) (21 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)