bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Place Learning and the Dynamics of Spatial Navigation: A Neural Network Approach
Authors: Schmajuk Nestor A. , Blair Hugh T.
Published: March 2007

This study presents a real-time neural network capable of describing place learning and the dynamics of spatial navigation. The network incorporates detectors that can be tuned to the values of visual angles of different landmarks as perceived from the spatial location where a reinforcing event is encountered. After a detector has been tuned its output generates an effective stimulus that peaks at the distance from the landmark where positive or negative reinforcement was encountered previously. The outputs of the tuned detectors become associated with the reinforcing event. The network generates spatial generalization surfaces that can guide navigation from any location that is within view of familiar landmark cues, even if that location has never been visited before. Spatial navigation is accomplished by adopting a stimulus-approach principle-that is, by approaching appetitive places and avoiding aversive places. When generalization surfaces are assumed to represent forces exerted by the animal, the dynamics of spatial movements can be described. Computer simulations were carried out for appetitive, aversive, and aversive-appetitive place learning. This article shows that the network correctly describes the navigational trajectories and dynamics of many spatial learning tasks.
Behavior of an Adaptive Self-organizing Autonomous Agent Working with Cues and Competing Concepts
Authors: Szepesvári Csaba , Lórincz Andràs
Published: March 2007

A brain model-based alternative to reinforcement learning is presented that integrates artificial neural networks and knowledge-based systems into one unit or agent for goal-oriented problem solving. The agent may possess inherited and learned artificial neural networks and knowledge-based subsystems. The agent has and develops ANN cues to the environment for dimensionality reduction (data compression) to ease the problem of combinatorial explosion. Here, a dynamical concept model is put forward that builds cue models of the phenomena in the world, designs dynamical action sets (concepts), and makes them compete in a spreading-activation neural stage to reach decision. The agent works under closed-loop control. Here we examine a simple robotlike object in a two-dimensional conditionally probabilistic space.
Automatic Definition of Modular Neural Networks
Authors: Gruau Frédéric
Published: March 2007

This article illustrates an artificial developmental system that is a computationally efficient technique for the automatic generation of complex artificial neural networks (ANNs). The artificial developmental system can develop a graph grammar into a modular ANN made of a combination of simpler subnetworks. A genetic algorithm is used to evolve coded grammars that generate ANNs for controlling six-legged robot locomotion. A mechanism for the automatic definition of neural subnetworks is incorporated Using this mechanism, the genetic algorithm can automatically decompose a problem into subproblems, generate a subANN for solving the subproblem, and instantiate copies of this subANN to build a higher-level ANN that solves the problem. We report some simulation results showing that the same problem cannot be solved if the mechanism for automatic definition of subnetworks is suppressed. We support our argument with pictures that describe the steps of development, how ANN structures are evolved, and how the ANNs compute.
Evolutionary Robotics and the Radical Envelope-of-Noise Hypothesis
Authors: Jakobi Nick
Published: March 2007

For several years now, various researchers have endeavored to apply artificial evolution to the automatic design of control systems for real robots. One of the major challenges they face concerns the question of how to assess the fitness of evolving controllers when each evolutionary run typically involves hundreds of thousands of such assessments. This article outlines new ways of thinking about and building simulations upon which such assessments can be performed. It puts forward sufficient conditions for the successful transfer of evolved controllers from simulation to reality and develops a potential methodology for building simulations in which evolving controllers are forced to satisfy these conditions if they are to be reliably fit. It is hypothesized that as long as simulations are built according to this methodology, it does not matter how inaccurate or incomplete they are: Controllers that have evolved to be reliably fit in simulation still will transfer into reality. Two sets of experiments are reported, both of which involve minimal look-up table-based simulations built according to these guidelines. In the first set, controllers were evolved that allowed a Khepera robot to perform a simple memory task in the real world. In the second set, controllers were evolved for the Sussex University gantry robot that were able to distinguish visually a triangle from a square, under extremely noisy real-world conditions, and to steer the robot toward the triangle. In both cases, controllers that were reliably fit in simulation displayed extremely robust behavior when downloaded into reality.
ADTEP: An Agent-Based Decision-Supporting System for Taguchi Experiment Planning
Authors: Cho Seong-Jin , Lee Jae-Won
Published: March 2007

In this paper, we present an agent-based decision-supporting system for Taguchi experiment planning. Among the four major parts of Taguchi experiment, the planning phase includes the most important decision-making issues such as determination of experi ment objectives, quality characteristics, and control factors. The planning phase, however, has not been paid proper attention by experi ment designers. We have developed ADTEP (Agent-based Decision-supporting system for Taguchi Experiment Planning) to facilitate the planning tasks of experiment designer. ADTEP is composed of two agent-based mechanisms. The first employs an Internet agent that collects the domain knowledge from knowledge providers who may be distributed in remote places. Another agent then visualizes the collected knowledge and reports it to the experiment designer. Engineers who would normally have difficulties in collaborating because of limitations on their time or because they are in different places can easily work together in the same experiment team and brainstorm to make good decisions. The second agent-based mechanism offers context-sensitive advice generated by another intelligent agent dur ing the experiment planning process. It prevents the experiment designer from making mistakes, which will increase the feasibility of the experiment and minimize the unnecessary expense of time and resources.
The Development of Virtual Concurrent Engineering and its Application to Design for Producibility
Authors: Schmitz J. , Desa S.
Published: March 2007

It is well known that so-called concurrent engineering is a desirable alternative to the largely sequential methods which tend to dominate most product-development methods However, the proper implementation of a concurrent engineering method is still relatively rare, due in part to unreliable guesswork, poor knowledge structuring and utilization, and the lack of integrated, global decision making. Thus, to remedy the current shortcomings, we propose an initial, straightforward theory for product development, which is based on properly-defined concurrent engineering principles. After establishing the overall goal for product development, we formulate an objective that a product- development method must meet. This objective then leads to three fundamental criteria, which basically govern where concurrent engineering must be implemented, how consistent communication between different domains must be carried out, and how to structure and network the vast amount of expert knowledge in an effective, feasible manner The product-development objective and the three criteria guide the establishment of a feasible computer-based implementation of concurrent engineering, called virtual concurrent engineering (VCE) The effectiveness of VCE is demonstrated by applying it to refine a method, called design for producibility (DFP), that integrates the design and manufacturing stages of product development. Two elements that are crucial to the success of DFP are the producibility cost function network, and the software package AUTOPROD (Automated Producibility) The refined DFP method has been successfully applied to concurrent product and process design in three domains: stamping, forming, and machining
A Negotiation Platform for Cooperating Multi-agent Systems
Authors: Polat Faruk , Shekhar Shashi , Guvenir H. Altay
Published: March 2007

Distributed artificial intelligence attempts to integrate and coordinate the activities of multiple, intelligent problem solvers that come together to solve complex tasks in domains such as design, medical diagnosis, business management, and so on Due to the different goals, knowledge, and viewpoint of the agents, conflicts might arise at any phase of the problem-solving process. Managing diverse knowledge requires well-organized models of conflict resolution. In this paper, a system for cooperating intelligent agents which openly supports multi- agent conflict detection and resolution is described. The system is based on the insights, first, that each agent has its own conflict knowledge which is separated from its domain-level knowledge; and, second, that each agent has its own conflict management knowledge which is not accessible to or known by others. Furthermore, there are no globally-known conflict-resolution strategies. Each agent involved in a conflict chooses a resolution scheme according to its self interest. The problem-solving environment allows a new problem solver to be added, or an existing one to be removed, without requiring any modification of the rest of the system, and therefore achieves open information system semantics
A Blackboard Architecture for Integrating Process Planning and Production Scheduling
Authors: Sadeh Norman M. , Hildum David W. , Laliberty Thomas J. , McA'Nulty John , Kjenstad Dag , Tseng Allen
Published: March 2007

As companies attempt to increase customization levels in their product offerings, move toward smaller lot production, and experi ment with more flexible customer/supplier arrangements such as those made possible by electronic data interchange (EDI), they increas ingly require the ability to (1) respond quickly, accurately, and competitively to customer requests for bids on new or modified products and (2) efficiently work out supplier/subcontractor arrangements for these products This in turn requires the ability to (1) rapidly convert standard-based product specifications into process plans and (2) quickly integrate process plans for new orders into the existing production schedule to best accommodate the current state of the manufacturing enterprise
Tool for the Management of Concurrent Conceptual Engineering Design
Authors: Hague Matthew J. , Taleb-Bendiab A.
Published: March 2007

The following article presents in summary, a prototype computational tool supporting localized design agents in the generation and management of conceptual engineering design variants within a distributed concurrent engineering design environment.
Teaching Ethics to Graduate Students: A Course Model
Authors: Jordan Karin , Stevens Patricia
Published: March 2007

Marriage and family counselors (MFCs) are challenged daily with ethical and legal dilemmas. Faculty members in Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP)—accredited programs have some guidance as to what knowledge base MFC students need to acquire; however, the how-to is left up to each faculty member. This article discusses the curriculum of an ethics course for MFC students, focusing on (a) course objectives and course schedule, (b) active learning techniques in the classroom, (c) homework assignments (including the use of technology), and (d) midterm and final exams. The use of active teaching techniques is encouraged for meeting today’s learning styles.
The Practice of Marriage and Family Counseling in Cyberspace
Authors: Jencius Marty , Sager Denise E.
Published: March 2007

This article reviews the current practice of using the Internet to provide marriage and family counseling services. A history of how the Internet has developed into a medium that can be used for the provision of marriage and family counseling services will be discussed. Ethical guidelines developed by other associations have direct implication in how marriage and family therapists can ethically use this new technology. Future trends in cybercounseling include issues that marriage and family counselors will have to resolve in the coming years.
Using Systems Perspectives in Supervision
Authors: Montgomery Marilyn J. , Hendricks C. Bret , Bradley Loretta J.
Published: March 2007

This article emphasizes the important contributions of systems theory in the supervision process. A case study is used to illustrate how attention to the systemic contexts of the client, the supervisee, and the supervision process itself enlarges the possibilities for helpful change. The unifying themes of many systems theories are identified (diagnosing the system, viewing problems in context, and focusing on systemic change), and techniques for keeping supervision systemically focused are suggested. The usefulness of systems perspectives for conceptualizing diverse cultural influences and for framing advocacy efforts is explored. In addition, the supervision goals of three common systems-based approaches (structural, multigenerational, and linguistic/narrative) are presented. Specific guidance for supervisors is drawn from each approach and applied to the case study.
Rolling the Dice: An Experiential Exercise for Enhancing Interventive Questioning Skill
Authors: Main Frank O. , Boughner Shelly R. , Mims Grace A. , Schieffer Janet Logan
Published: March 2007

An exercise is presented, Rolling the Dice, that assists students in developing skill and clinical judgment in using interventive questions in counseling and therapy. Steps for using the exercise and different permutations of the exercise are presented, along with examples of its use with counselors in training at various experience levels.
Exploring Themes of Sibling Experience to Help Resolve Couples Conflict
Authors: Mones Arthur G.
Published: March 2007

This article highlights the important link between sibling experience and couples conflict. Several key themes of marital conflict are discussed: power and hierarchy, complementary role development, proximity-distance, fairness and justice, communication styles and conflict resolution, and friendship, loyalty, and altruism. It is suggested that by exploring these current themes and their historical antecedents, the couples counselor can help to propel partners from a state of disillusionment and conflict to one of acceptance, empathy, and true intimacy. By incorporating the exploration of sibling experience into a therapy process that conveys egalitarianism and warmth, the effectiveness of couples counseling can be greatly enhanced.
Relationship Enhancement Marital Therapy with a Schizophrenic Couple: A Case Study
Authors: Zahniser James H. , Falk Dana R.
Published: March 2007

A case study is presented in which Relationship Enhancement (RE) marital therapy was used with a couple in which both partners were diagnosed with schizophrenia. Both partners were able to learn the RE skills, use them to resolve minor and major relationship conflicts, and generalize use of the skills to relationships wvith otherfamily members.
Emergenesis: Adding to the Psychoeducational Armament
Authors: Huber Charles H.
Published: March 2007

Literature on the concept of emergenesis as it relates to a family psychoeducational framework for therapeutic efforts is reviewed.
Introduction
Authors: Walsh William M.
Published: March 2007

Concerns regarding adoption and the adaptive and non-adaptive behaviors that result are discussed. A case study is presented and a systemic perspective is reviezved. Let us know your thoughts.
Effects of a Group Treatment Model for the Predivorced on Participants' Level of Ambivalence
Authors: Blanton Gregg , Yingling Lynelle
Published: March 2007

A group treatment model designed for individuals in the predivorce stage of the divorce process was designed and tested. The pretest-posttest experimental versus control group design was used to measure the impact of the treatment program on the dependent variables of anger attachment (emotional involvement and affectional bonds with spouse), and ambivalence (conflicting feelings of attachment to and anger towiiard spouse). Participants received 6 weeks of treatment based on ideas from thefirst author's manualfor divorce adjustment (Blanton, 1994). Results of the study indicated that the experimental group, relative to the control group, significantly increased its levels of adjustment in the areas of anger, attachment, and ambivalence. This study is based on GreggBlanton s doctoral dissertation. Lynelle Yingling served as chair of the dissertation committee.
The Kokeshi Doll: A Tool for Family Supervision
Authors: Sampson Dick T.
Published: March 2007

Family supervision is an active process of increasing a supervisee 's ability to successfully counsel with families. The use of Kokeshi dolls allows the supervisee to focus on conceptualization, personalization, and pro- cess skills. A case study illustrates how Kokeshi dolls enhance the supervision process.
After Love: Attachment Styles and Grief Themes
Authors: Pistole M. Carole
Published: March 2007

This study examined the association of attachment organization and recalled grief responses following the dissolution of an important romantic relationship. College students (N = 118) completed questions about demographics, attachment organization, and grief. Factor analysis resulted in 4 interpretable grief themes. Multiple regression analyses indicated that the adult attachment style predicted 3 grief-related cognitive themes: Preoccupied attachment predicted self-reproach, fearful attachment predicted partner blame, and both fearful and secure attachment predicted a friendly resolution. Implications of the findings are discussed.
Helping Our Clients Move from Pain to Pleasure
Authors: Ruben Ann Moliver
Published: March 2007

The work of Riane Eisler is reviewved, with special focus on her recent book, Sacred Pleasures: Sex, Myth, and the Politics of the Body. In this book, sex, spirituality, and society are examinedfrom the perspective of the "partnership culture."
A Social Constructionist Approach to Counseling Religious Couples
Authors: Frame Marsha Wiggins
Published: March 2007

This article describes the challenges couples andfamily counselors may encounter when working with particular religious clients, presents a rationale for integrating religious beliefs and counseling, suggests a so-cial constructionist perspective as a means of viewing the dilemma, and,by way of a case illustration, offers practical strategies for enhancingcouples counseling with this population.
Using "As If" Processes in Family Therapy Supervision
Authors: George Sally A. St.
Published: March 2007

Experiences with using 2 formats of "as if' listening in the process of family therapy supervision are chronicled. "As if' listening involves listening to case material from a specific position (e.g., a particular family member's position) and then responding to the case presenter from that same position. The "as if' process promotes the creation of multiple understandings of clients, their situations, and the therapist's position in supervision. Participants' comments about the application of "as if'processes in supervision were analyzed using a qualitative organizational scheme. The themes that emerged from the inquiry are reported and discussed. The themes relate to both the usefulness of "as if" processes in family therapy supervision and the research process itself
Enhancing Marital Intimacy Through Psychoeducation: The PAIRS Program
Authors: Durana Carlos
Published: March 2007

This study explores the enhancement and maintenance of intimacy, a critical element in the development of healthy relationships, through a psychoeducational method-the Practical Application of Intimate Relationship Skills (PAIRS) program. Using a pretest, posttest, andfollow-up design, married program participants (N = 137) volunteered to be evaluated pre-PAIRS, post-PAIRS, and 6 to 8 months after PAIRS. Participants tended to be more distressed and less intimate than the general population. The design included operational measures of intimacy (Waring Intimacy Questionnaire) and marital adjustment (Locke-Wallace Marital Adjustment Test) as well as open-ended questionnaires that revealed clients'perceptions of intimacy and what enhances and maintains intimacy; gender differences were also explored. The findings in this study suggest a multifaceted view of intimacy. For most participants (76%), significant gains in intimacy were sustained in the follow-up period. Gender differences in intimacy had been reduced at follow-up. Intimacy appears to be a skill that can be learned.
Family Resiliency: A Neglected Family Construct
Authors: Buckley Matthew R. , Thorngren Jill M. , Kleist David M.
Published: March 2007

Exploring resiliency in families provides a perspective for family counselors to interact with clients in more proactive ways. Researchers and practitioners across manyfields are currently refining our understanding of the construct of resiliency. This review examines research on the construct of resiliency and examinesfactors that promote resiliency in individuals and families. Implications for family counselors, societal systems, and future research are discussed.
Zen and the Art of Supervision
Authors: Oppenheimer Marina
Published: March 2007

For many years, the teaching offamily therapy has relied on the in vivo observation of the student behind a one-way mirror. A telephone line is connected between supervisor and supervisee, and the former interrupts the latter every so often to point out all her or his technical mistakes. Besides processing the information from the telephone, the supervisee has tofocus on thefamily sitting infront of her or him. Most of the time, the family is more interested in what goes on between supervisor and supervisee than in the therapy. After having endured this kind of teaching, the author contends that the practice of psychotherapy has more to do with the therapist's personality than with the display of effective techniques. As a result, the supervision of clinicians should consist of helping them develop their innate skills rather than of imposing on them a set of ready-made strategies.
Family Sculpting in Supervision of Family Therapy
Authors: Baldo Tracy D. , Softas-Nall Basilia C.
Published: March 2007

An adaptation offamily sculpting can be used as a supervision intervention with family therapists in training who are struggling with families and/or family members with whom they feel stuck orfrustrated. How to conduct thefamily sculpting method of group supervision is presented.
Single-Parent Families: A Difference that Makes a Difference?
Authors: Kleist David M.
Published: March 2007

Single-parent families can no longer be viewed as nontraditional families. More than 25% of American families are headed by either a mother or a father. As more single-parent families have appeared on the American landscape, interest has grown as to the effect of single-parent households on children’s well-being. A common myth has developed that single-parent households are detrimental to a child’s well-being. This article reviews current research on the effects of single-parent households on children’s well-being. Implications for family counselors will follow.
Violence in the Family Therapist’s Workplace: Preventive Measures
Authors: Arthur Gary L. , Brende Joel O. , McBride J. LeBron
Published: March 2007

Although available research shows that psychotherapists have been subject to assault by clients, very little research has been conducted on assaults on marriage and family therapists as a specific group. The authors report on a preliminary study of 67 marriage and family therapists who returned surveys as a subset of a larger study. Forty-four percent reported that they had experienced a physical or psychological assault from a client, and 30% reported they had feared their lives were in danger while working with clients. Although this was a preliminary study with a low return rate, the data is used to raise awareness of the potential for violence in the workplaces of therapists. The authors emphasize the importance of training and continuing education in the assessment and management of threatening or violent clients. The authors also describe basic preventive, assessment, management, and coping measures for working with violent clients.
The Interest Structure of Native American College Students
Authors: Hansen Jo-Ida C. , Scullard Mark G. , Haviland Mark G.
Published: March 2007

This study investigated the fit of Holland's vocational interest structure for samples of female and male Native American college students. The spatial arrangement of Native American interest types was expected to (a) be ordered in a R-I-A-S-E-C circular order, (b) approximate a hexagon, and (c) occupy a two-dimensional space. Strong Interest Inventory General Occupational Theme scores for 103 female and 73 male Native American college students first were submitted to a multidimensional scaling (MDS) analysis. The MDS analysis allowed a visual test of the circular order and hexagonal hypotheses and a statistical test of the two-dimensional hypothesis. A randomized test of hypothesized order also was used to statistically test the circular order hypothesis. All of the statistical tests and visual analyses supported the circular order and two-dimensional hypothesis. The female interest data, however, were more consistent with Holland's proposed hexagonal interest structure than were the male interest data.
Using a Person-Environment Fit Framework to Predict Satisfaction and Motivation in Work and Marital Roles
Authors: Ton My-Tien N. , Hansen Jo-Ida C.
Published: March 2007

This study explored whether person-environment fit of interests and values predicted individuals' satisfaction with, and motivation for, work and marital roles. The hypotheses were that (a) work satisfaction is a function of congruence of values and interests between individuals and their work environment; (b) marital satisfaction is a function of congruence of values and interests between individuals and their spouses; (c) life happiness is a function of work satisfaction and marital satisfaction; (d) work satisfaction mediates the relationship between values and interests congruence and work motivation; (e) marital satisfaction mediates the relationship between values and interests congruence and marital motivation; and (f) work performance is a function of work motivation and general cognitive ability. Results supported all proposed hypotheses except that life happiness was not significantly related to work satisfaction.
Career Assessment With Latinos/Hispanics
Authors: Fouad Nadya A.
Published: March 2007

Career assessment with Latinos/Hispanics in the United States is a topic that is attracting attention among test users and test takers. Latino/Hispanic clients and their counselors are asking if tests administered to them are fair, or useful. Counselors are wondering what effect language proficiency has on test taking, and how culture, socioeconomic status, and racial/ethnic identity may affect both taking and interpreting the results of assessment tools. Decisions on whether a test is useful or valid for Latinos/Hispanics depends on the psychometric aspects of the test itself, as well as culturally appropriate interpretation of the test. This article will present demographic characteristics of Latinos/Hispanics, identify some of the measurement issues involved in testing Latinos/Hispanics, review some of the cultural values of Latinos/Hispanics, and briefly discuss interpretation of vocational tests within the context of culturally appropriate career counseling.
Career Assessment in a Culturally Diverse Society
Authors: Ibrahim Farah A. , Ohnishi Hifumi , Wilson Regina P.
Published: March 2007

This paper discusses how a culture-sensitive assessment can be conducted to prepare clients for career counseling. The approach presented is developmental in nature. It considers cognitive and affective variables to arrive at a clear understanding of the client's cultural and gender identity. It is recommended that this assessment be completed first, before the client's interests, abilities, and aptitudes are evaluated to outline possible career directions.
Assessments for Use With Mid-Career Changers
Authors: Perosa Linda M. , Perosa Sandra L.
Published: March 2007

Comprehensive models of the mid-career change process are described and critiqued. Career process inventories highlighting psychological resources and barriers identified in the models are discussed for use with voluntary and involuntary career changers.
Vocational Identity Development: Its Relationship to Other Identity Domains and to Overall Identity Development
Authors: Skorikov Vladimir , Vondracek Fred W.
Published: March 2007

This article examines age-related trends in general ideological identity status and identity in the domains of vocation, religion, lifestyle, and politics during early adolescence and relationships between adolescent vocational identity and identities in the other domains. A cross-sectional study of 1,099 high school students in Grades 7 through 12 revealed a developmental progression in adolescent vocational identity characterized by an increase in the proportion of students classified as identity achieved and moratorium and a decrease in the proportion of students classified as identity diffused and foreclosed. Statuses in the general ideological, religious, lifestyle, and political identity domains appeared to be related to, but clearly lagged behind, identity status development in the domain of vocation. No sex differences were found in the age-related trends in vocational identity status and its relationships with the other identity domains. The results are interpreted as indicative of the leading role of vocational development in adolescent identity formation. Applicability of the construct of vocational identity status to career assessment is discussed.
The Greening of NAFTA: Implications for Continental Environmental Cooperation in North America
Authors: Reilly William K.
Published: March 2007

When ratified, the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) will create the world's largest trading bloc with 360 million consumers and $6 trillion in annual output. Yet the prospect of NAFTA has raised environmental questions never before addressed in the negotiation of any bilateral or multilateral trade agreement. Through NAFTA's "green" provisions, a number of specific environmental and health concerns are being addressed. Additionally, a variety of NAFTA "parallel track" initiatives are underway, including the establishment of the North American Commission on the Environment (NACE). Recognizing the growing global commitment to sustainable development in today's post-UNCED era, the creation of NACE and the green provisions of the NAFTA represent an historic effort toward environmental protection across the North American continent.
Focus and Effectiveness of Environmental Activism in Eastern Europe: A Comparative Study of Environmental Movements in Bulgaria, Hungary, Slovakia, and Romania
Authors: Botcheva Liliana
Published: March 2007

The collapse of communist governments ensured free political space and greater organizational opportunities for environmental movements in Eastern European countries. The prominence of eco-groups has declined since 1989, how ever, and only a few pressing environmental problems have attracted vocal and effective action. Green groups are most successful in rallying public opinion around ecological crises that can be linked strategically to issues of greater political resonance, such as anticommunism before 1989 and nationalism now.
The Convention to Combat Desertification: Lessons Learned for Sustainable Development
Authors: Chasek Pamela S.
Published: March 2007

The 1994 UN Convention to Combat Desertification is considered to be the first "sustainable development" treaty because it considers economic and social development needs while also addressing a serious environmental problem. The challenge during the negotiations was to ensure that the convention addressed socioeconomic concerns without losing sight of its mandate to combat desertification in those countries experiencing serious drought and/or desertification, particularly in Africa. This article examines how delegates grappled with the multifaceted causes of desertification within the context of sustainable development, which is viewed quite differently by developed and developing countries, and identifies some lessons that can be applied to future negotiations. These lessons address the difficulty of incorporating the cross-sectoral nature of environmental issues in a legally binding instrument, implementing the goals of sustainable development within the context of current North-South relations, and working under the principle of "common but differentiated responsibilities" for global environmental degradation.
In Search of Pollution Havens? Dirty Industry in the World Economy, 1960 to 1995
Authors: Mani Muthukumara , Wheeler David
Published: March 2007

The past three decades have witnessed rapid economic development, particularly in countries that have pursued relatively open economic policies. Rising environmental awareness in the 1960s also led to a rapid tightening of pollution regulation in the industrial economies. According to the "pollution havens" hypothesis, the result should have been more rapid growth of dirty industries in unregulated economies that were open to international trade. Using data for the period 1960 to 1995, the authors find that the displacement of pollution to developing countries has not been a major phenomenon for several reasons. Tendencies toward formation of pollution havens have been self-limiting because economic growth has generated countervailing effects through increases in regulation, technical expertise, and investment in cleaner production. In practice, the authors argue that pollution havens have apparently been as transient as low-wage havens.
Comparison of MMPI-2 Profiles of Gulf War Veterans with Epileptic and Nonepileptic Seizure Patients
Authors: Binder Laurence M. , Storzbach Daniel , Campbell Keith A. , Rohlman Diane S. , Anger W. Kent , Salinsky Martin C. , Campbell Brian R. , Mueller Reed
Published: March 2007

As part of a larger study of illnesses related to service in the Gulf War, MMPI-2 profiles of epileptic seizure (ES) patients; nonepileptic seizure (NES) patients; Gulf War veterans with unexplained cognitive, psychological, musculoskeletal, fatigue, or dermatologic symptoms; and asymptomatic Gulf War veterans (Controls) were analyzed. There were 70 people in each group. Seizure diagnosis was based upon intensive EEG monitoring. Gulf War cases were mildly abnormal on MMPI-2 Scales Hs and D and significantly higher than controls on 8 of 10 MMPI-2 clinical scales, but they were significantly lower than NES patients on several scales including Hs and Hy.
Scale 5 of the MMPI and MMPI-A: Evidence of Disparity
Authors: Finlay Steven W. , Kapes Jerome T.
Published: March 2007

Scale 5 of the MMPI and MMPI-A was compared in a repeated measures design. Participants for the study were 43 adolescents classified as emotionally disturbed in a public school system and 17 inpatients at a residential treatment center. The MMPI Scale 5 mean score was substantially higher than that of the MMPI-A. The alternate-form reliability between Scale 5 of the two forms was surprisingly low, suggesting that the deletion of 16 items and rewording of 6 additional items changed the scale on the MMPI-A to an extent that may have significantly altered the underlying construct. The authors discuss factors that could be associated with the findings, including: (a) the diminished ability to express feminine interest on the MMPI-A, and (b) general changes in attitudes among adolescents over the 3 or more decades since the MMPI norms were developed.
Reliability of the WAIS-Ill Subtests, Indexes, and IQs in Individuals with Substance Abuse Disorders
Authors: Ryan Joseph J. , Arb Julie D. , Paul Christine A. , Kreiner David S.
Published: March 2007

Reliability of the WAIS-III for 100 male patients with substance abuse disorders was determined. Means for age and education were 46.06 years (SD = 8.81 years) and 12.70 years (SD = 1.51 years). There were 63 Caucasians and 37 African Americans. Split-half coefficients for the 11 subtests (Digit Symbol-Coding, Symbol Search, and Object Assembly were omitted) ranged from .92 for Vocabulary and Digit Span to .77 for Picture Arrangement. The median subtest reliability coefficient was .86. Composite reliabilities were excellent for the Indexes (.94 to .95) and IQs (.94 to .97), with all coefficients? .94. Using the Fisher z test to compare correlation coefficients from independent samples, none of the reliability estimates differed significantly from those reported for the WAIS-III standardization sample. Similar findings emerged when reliabilities were determined separately for Caucasian and African American participants.
Computerization and Adaptive Administration of the NEO PI-R
Authors: Reise Steven P. , Henson James M.
Published: March 2007

This study asks, how well does an item response theory (IRT) based computerized adaptive NEO PI-R work? To explore this question, real-data simulations (N = 1,059) were used to evaluate a maximum information item selection computerized adaptive test (CAT) algorithm. Findings indicated satisfactory recovery of full-scale facet scores with the administration of around four items per facet scale. Thus, the NEO PI-R could be reduced in half with little loss in precision by CAT administration. However, results also indicated that the CAT algorithm was not necessary. We found that for many scales, administering the "best" four items per facet scale would have produced similar results. In the conclusion, we discuss the future of computerized personality assessment and describe the role IRT methods might play in such assessments.
Use of Structured Self-Report Assessment to Diagnose Borderline Personality Disorder during Major Depressive Episodes
Authors: Kurtz John E. , Morey Leslie C.
Published: March 2007

Diagnosis of borderline personality disorder (BPD) during episodes of major depression (MDE), although clinically important, is complicated in several respects when using selfreport methods. Structured interview data were used to select a group of patients with comorbid BPD (n = 21) from a sample of outpatients presenting with MDE. This group was compared with a group of MDE patients without BPD (n = 24) and with a group of community controls (n = 20) using self-report data from the Personality Assessment Inventory (PAI), the revised Personality Diagnostic Questionnaire (PDQ), and the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI). Analyses revealed that the BPD group obtained significantly higher scores on PAI and PDQ scales measuring features of BPD and on the PAI Negative Impression Management scale. The severity and type of MDE symptoms reported on the PAI and BDI did not differentiate the clinical groups. These data show that useful information for the diagnosis of BPD during depressive episodes can be gathered from selfreport assessment instruments like the PAL.
Validity of the Kaufman Brief Intelligence Test (K-BIT) in Children with Traumatic Brain Injury
Authors: Donders Jacques
Published: March 2007

The concurrent and construct validity of the Kaufman Brief Intelligence Test (K-BIT) was evaluated in a sample of 47 children with traumatic brain injury (TBI). When K-BIT standard scores were compared to Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children-Third Edition (WISC-III) IQ scores, correlations ranged from .32 to .79, and standard errors of estimation ranged from 6.87 to 10.39. Correlations with length of coma were not statistically significant for any of the K-BIT indexes, whereas such correlations were statistically significant for several of the WISC-III indexes. It is concluded that great caution is needed in the utilization of the K-BIT in the context of pediatric neuropsychological assessment, particularly with children with TBI.
MMPI Scale Elevations before and after Right and Left Temporal Lobectomy
Authors: Trenerry Max R. , Hermann Bruce P. , Barr William B. , Chelune Gordon J. , Clinic Cleveland , Loring David W. , Perrine Kenneth , Strauss Esther , Westerveld Michael
Published: March 2007

Using the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI), this study investigated preoperative and postoperative emotional and personality adjustment of temporal lobectomy patients from two major epilepsy surgery centers. Temporal lobectomy patients were included only if they were without evidence of lesional pathology on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI; other than evidence of mesial temporal sclerosis), were left-hemisphere language-dominant, and had Wide Range Achievement Test-Revised (WRAT-R) reading achievement standard scores of 70 or higher. The MMPI was completed by 175 patients before and after a temporal lobectomy. There were no significant preoperative differences on any MMPI scale between right temporal (n = 79) and left temporal (n = 96) lobectomy patients. Analysis of MMPI data from one of the surgical centers revealed significant effects for postoperative seizure control. Minimal effects of laterality of seizure onset on preoperative or postoperative psychological adjustment were found. Adequacy of preoperative psychological adjustment and postoperative seizure control have a greater impact on preoperative to postoperative psychological adjustment than side of seizure onset.
Frontal Behavioral Syndromes in Cortical and Subcortical Dementia
Authors: Paulsen Jane S. , Stout Julie C. , DeLaPena Jody , Romero Ramon , Tawfik-Reedy Zeena , Swenson Michael R. , Grace Janet , Malloy Paul F. , Hospital Butler
Published: March 2007

The Frontal Lobe Personality Scale (FLOPS; Grace & Malloy, 1992) was administered to the caregivers of 51 patients with neurodegenerative disease to examine personality and behavioral features associated with prototypical "cortical" dementia (i.e., Dementia of the Alzheimer Type; DAT) and "subcortical" dementia (i.e., Huntington's disease; HD). The FLOPS is a 45-item behavior rating scale designed to identify three frontal syndromes: (a) apathy, (b) disinhibition, and (c) executive dysfunction.

Comparing subgroups of HD and DAT that were matched for age and dementia severity (ns = 12), the HD subgroup had higher FLOPS apathy ratings. Using all patients, FLOPS ratings were associated with traditional neuropsychological measures as well as a measure of everyday functioning.

Discriminant function analyses, accurately classified over 92% of the DAT patients and nearly 77% of the HD patients, which is consistent with the discriminative utility of other traditional neuropsychological tests. These data suggest that informant-based ratings of so-called "frontal lobe" behaviors may be a useful adjunct to current neuropsychological evaluations in an attempt to characterize personality changes that co-occur with neurodegenerative disease.
Operating Characteristics of Six Response Distortion Indicators for the Personality Assessment Inventory
Authors: Morey Leslie C. , Lanier V. Whitson
Published: March 2007

The characteristics of six different indicators of response distortion on the Personality Assessment Inventory (PAI; Morey, 1991) were evaluated by having college students complete the PAI under positive impression management, malingering, and honest responding conditions. The six indicators were the PAI Positive Impression (PIM) and Negative Impression (NIM) scales, the Malingering and Defensiveness Indexes, and two discriminant functions, one developed by Cashel and the other by Rogers. Protocols of students asked to malinger were compared with those of actual clinical patients, while protocols of students asked to manage their impression in a positive direction were compared with those of students asked to respond honestly. Comparisons between groups were accomplished through the examination of effect sizes and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves. All six indicators demonstrated the ability to distinguish between actual and feigned responding. The Rogers function was particularly effective in identifying malingering. The Cashel function was less effective than other measures in identifying positive impression management, although it appears to also have promise as an indicator of malingering.
The Construct Validity of The Tower of London DX As a Measure of The Executive Functioning of ADHD Children
Authors: Culbertson William C. , Zillmer Eric A.
Published: March 2007

Currently, there are a limited number of measures that have been developed to assess childhood executive planning and problem-solving abilities. The present study represents ongoing efforts to determine the psychometric properties of the newly developed Tower of London-Drexel (TOLDX), a measure of executive functions. Specifically, the construct-related validity of the TOLDX was investigated with a sample of attentiondeficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) children (N = 129), 7 to 15 years of age. The performance of the children on a neuropsychological battery of measures sensitive to executive abilities, psychometric intelligence, and memory was subjected to maximumlikelihood factor analysis. A four-factor solution was extracted that "best fit" the selected variables. The TOLDX was found to produce the highest loading on an Executive Planning/Inhibition factor comprised of other executive measures. The Executive Planning/Inhibition measure was separate from factors of Executive Concept Formation/Flexibility, Psychometric Intelligence, and Memory. Moreover, the two executive factors were found to be correlated (r = .42) suggesting that each assesses, to varying degrees, related executive dimensions. The neuropsychological construct structure of the TOLDX is discussed in relationship with the temporal organization of behavior and frontal lobe functioning.
Peripheral Neuropathies: Will Growth Factors Be Effective as Therapies?
Authors: Apfel Stuart C. , Kessler John A.
Published: March 2007

Neurotrophic factors are proteins that promote the survival and differentiation of specific neuronal popula tions. With the successful cloning and large-scale production of many different neurotrophic factors, it has become practical to consider their application in the treatment of neurological disease. Several categories of neurotrophic factors hold particular promise for the treatment of peripheral neuropathy in the near future. Preclinical studies have demonstrated the potential utility of factors like nerve growth factor for the treatment of small-fiber peripheral neuropathy and, possibly, compressive sensory neuropathies. Brain-derived neu rotrophic factor, ciliary neurotrophic factor, and insulin-like growth factor-I are likely to be applied in the treatment of motor neuropathy. Neurotrophin-3 has particular promise for the treatment of large-fiber sensory neuropathy. Although, for the most part, neurotrophic factors do not appear to have major toxicity, they represent a new class of drugs and clinical trials must proceed with caution. Clinical trials of several of these growth factors are currently underway, and others are being planned. The Neuroscientist 1:176-182, 1995