bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Halothane modulation of skeletal muscle ryanodine receptors: dependence on Ca2+, Mg2+, and ATP
Authors: Diaz-Sylvester Paula L. , Porta Maura , Copello Julio A.
Published: February 2008

Malignant hyperthermia (MH) susceptibility is a genetic disorder of skeletal muscle associated with mutations in the ryanodine receptor isoform 1 (RyR1) of sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR). In MH-susceptible skeletal fibers, RyR1-mediated Ca2+ release is highly sensitive to activation by the volatile anesthetic halothane. Indeed, studies with isolated RyR1 channels (using simple Cs+ solutions) found that halothane selectively affects mutated but not wild-type RyR1 function. However, studies in skeletal fibers indicate that halothane can also activate wild-type RyR1-mediated Ca2+ release. We hypothesized that endogenous RyR1 agonists (ATP, lumenal Ca2+) may increase RyR1 sensitivity to halothane. Consequently, we studied how these agonists affect halothane action on rabbit skeletal RyR1 reconstituted into planar lipid bilayers. We found that cytosolic ATP is required for halothane-induced activation of the skeletal RyR1. Unlike RyR1, cardiac RyR2 (much less sensitive to ATP) responded to halothane even in the absence of this agonist. ATP-dependent halothane activation of RyR1 was enhanced by cytosolic Ca2+ (channel agonist) and counteracted by Mg2+ (channel inhibitor). Dantrolene, a muscle relaxant used to treat MH episodes, did not affect RyR1 or RyR2 basal activity and did not interfere with halothane-induced activation. Studies with skeletal SR microsomes confirmed that halothane-induced RyR1-mediated SR Ca2+ release is enhanced by high ATP-low Mg2+ in the cytosol and by increased SR Ca2+ load. Thus, physiological or pathological processes that induce changes in cellular levels of these modulators could affect RyR1 sensitivity to halothane in skeletal fibers, including the outcome of halothane-induced contracture tests used to diagnose MH susceptibility.
Calcium sensitivity and cooperativity of permeabilized rat mesenteric lymphatics
Authors: Dougherty Patrick J. , Davis Michael J. , Zawieja David C. , Muthuchamy Mariappan
Published: February 2008

Lymphatic muscle contraction is critical for the centripetal movement of lymph that regulates fluid balance, protein homeostasis, lipid absorption, and immune function. We have demonstrated that lymphatic muscle has both smooth and striated muscle contractile elements; however, the basic contractile properties of this tissue remain poorly defined. We hypothesized that contractile characteristics of lymphatic myofilaments would be different from vascular smooth muscle myofilaments. To test this hypothesis, −log[Ca2+] (pCa)-tension relationship was determined for α-toxin permeabilized mesenteric lymphatics, arteries, and veins. The Ca2+sensitivity (pCa50) of mesenteric lymphatics was significantly lower compared with arteries (6.16 ± 0.05 vs. 6.44 ± 0.02; P < 0.05), whereas there was no difference in pCa50between lymphatics and veins (6.16 ± 0.05 vs. 6.00 ± 0.10; not significant). The Hill coefficient for α-toxin-permeabilized lymphatics was not significantly different from arteries but was significantly greater than that of the veins (1.98 ± 0.19 vs. 1.21 ± 0.18; P < 0.05). In addition, the maximal tension and pCa50values were significantly greater in α-toxin-permeabilized lymphatics compared with β-escin-permeabilized lymphatics (0.27 ± 0.03 vs. 0.15 ± 0.01 and 6.16 ± 0.05 vs. 5.86 ± 0.06 mN/mm, respectively; P < 0.05), whereas the Hill coefficient was significantly greater in β-escin-permeabilized lymphatics. Western blot analyses revealed that CPI-17 levels were significantly decreased by about 50% in β-escin-permeabilized lymphatics, compared with controls, whereas no change in the level of calmodulin was detected. Our data constitute the first description of the pCa-tension relationship in permeabilized lymphatic muscle. It suggests that differences in myofilament Ca2+sensitivity and cooperativity among lymphatic muscle and vascular smooth muscles contribute to the functional differences that exist between these tissues.
Representations of Cat Meows and Human Vowels in the Primary Auditory Cortex of Awake Cats
Authors: Qin Ling , Wang Jing Yu , Sato Yu
Published: February 2008

Previous investigation of neural responses to cat meows in the primary auditory cortex (A1) of the anesthetized cat revealed a preponderance of phasic responses aligned to stimulus onset, offset, or envelope peaks. Sustained responses during stationary components of the stimulus were rarely seen. This observation motivates further investigation into how stationary components of naturalistic auditory stimuli are encoded by A1 neurons. We therefore explored neuronal response patterns in A1 of the awake cat using natural meows, time-reversed meows, and human vowels as stimuli. We found heterogeneous response types: ∼2/3 of units classified as “phasic cells” responding only to amplitude envelope variations and the remaining 1/3 were “phasic-tonic cells” with continuous responses during the stationary components. The classification was upheld across all stimuli tested for a given cell. The differences of phasic responses were correlated with amplitude-envelope differences in the early stimulus portion (<100 ms), whereas the differences between tonic responses were correlated with ongoing spectral differences in the later stimulus portion. Phasic-tonic cells usually had a characteristic frequency (CF) <5 kHz, which corresponded to the dominant spectral range of vocalizations, suggesting that the cells encode spectral information. Phasic cells had CFs across the tested frequency range (<16 kHz). Instantaneous firing rates for natural and time-reversed meows were different, but mean rates for different categories of stimuli were similar. Evidence for cat's A1 preferring conspecific meows was not found. These functionally heterogeneous responses may serve to encode ongoing changes in sound spectra or amplitude envelope occurring throughout the entirety of the sound stimulus.
Upconversion Properties of Nanocrystalline ZrO2:Yb3+, Er3+Phosphors
Authors: Hyppänen Iko , Hölsä Jorma , Kankare Jouko , Lastusaari Mika , Pihlgren Laura
Published: February 2008

Combustion and sol-gel methods were used to prepare the upconverting nanocrystallineZrO2:Yb3+,Er3+phosphors. The crystal structure was studied by X-ray powder diffraction and the crystallite sizes were estimated with the Scherrer formula. Impurities and nanomaterials' thermal degradation were analyzed with FT-IR spectroscopy and thermal analysis, respectively. Upconversion luminescence and luminescence decays were studied with IR-laser excitation at 977 nm. All nanomaterials possessed the cubicZrO2fluorite-type structure except for a small monoclinic impurity obtained with the sol-gel method. The conventionalNO3−andOH−impurities were observed for the combustion synthesis products. TheZrO2:Yb3,Er3+nanomaterials showed red (630–710 nm) and green (510–570 nm) upconversion luminescence due to the4F9/2→4I15/2and(2H11/2,4S3/2)→4I15/2transitions ofEr3+, respectively. The products of the combustion synthesis exhibited the most intense luminescence intensity and showed considerable afterglow. It was concluded that excitation energy is partially trapped in the system and subsequently bleached thermally to the luminescentEr3+center to yield “persistent upconversion”.
Dynamics of a Class of Higher Order Difference Equations
Authors: Iricanin Bratislav D.
Published: February 2008

We prove that all positive solutions of the autonomous difference equationxn=αxn−k/(1+xn−k+f(xn−1,…,xn−m)), n∈ℕ0, wherek,m∈ℕ, andfis a continuous function satisfying the conditionβ min{u1,…,um}≤f(u1,…,um)≤β max{u1,…,um}for someβ∈(0,1), converge to the positive equilibriumx¯=(α−1)/(β+1)ifα>1.
Iterative Algorithms for Nonexpansive Mappings
Authors: Liou Yeong-Cheng , Yao Yonghong
Published: February 2008

We suggest and analyze two new iterative algorithms for a nonexpansive mapping T in Banach spaces. We prove that the proposed iterative algorithms converge strongly to some fixed point of T.
Asymptotic Analysis of a Loss Model with Trunk Reservation I: Trunks Reserved for Fast Traffic
Authors: Morrison John A. , Knessl Charles
Published: February 2008

We consider a model for a single link in a circuit‐switched
network. The link has C circuits, and the input consists
of offered calls of two types, that we call primary and secondary traffic. Of the C links, R are reserved for primary traffic. We
assume that both traffic types arrive as Poisson arrival streams.
Assuming that C is large and R = O(1), the arrival rate of primary traffic is O(C), while that of secondary traffic is smaller, of the order . The holding times of the primary calls are
assumed to be exponentially distributed with unit mean. Those
of the secondary calls are exponentially distributed with a large
mean, that is, . Thus, the primary calls have fast arrivals
and fast service, compared to the secondary calls. The loads for
both traffic types are comparable
(O(C)), and we assume that the system is “critically loaded”; that is, the system′s capacity is approximately
equal to the total load. We analyze asymptotically
the steady state probability that n1 (resp.,
n2) circuits are occupied
by primary (resp., secondary) calls. In particular, we obtain
two‐term asymptotic approximations to the blocking probabilities
for both traffic types.
Real‐Time Optimally Adapting Meshes: Terrain Visualization in Games
Authors: White Matthew
Published: February 2008

One of the main challenges encountered by interactive graphics programmers involves presenting high‐quality scenes while retaining real‐time frame rates on the hardware. To achieve this, level‐of‐detail techniques can be employed to provide a form of control over scene quality versus performance. Several algorithms exist that allow such control, including the real‐time optimally adapting mesh (ROAM) algorithm specifically aimed at terrain systems. Although ROAM provides an excellent approach to terrain visualization, it contains elements that can be difficult to implement within a game system. This paper hopes to discuss these factors and provide a more game‐orientated implementation of the algorithm.
Psychopathology of Schizophrenia in Ljubljana (Slovenia) From 1881 To 2000: Changes in the Content of Delusions in Schizophrenia Patients Related To Various Sociopolitical, Technical and Scientific Changes
Authors: Škodlar B. , Dernovšek M.Z. , Kocmur M.
Published: February 2008

Background: Clinical observations and research have found the content of delusions in schizophrenia to be sensitive to sociopolitical and cultural factors.

Aims: The aim of this retrospective case-note study was to determine changes in the frequencies of various contents of delusions in schizophrenia patients over time.

Methods: A total of 120 records of first-time admission schizophrenia patients at Ljubljana's psychiatric hospital in the period from 1881 to 2000 were randomly selected. Information was taken from each record to fill out a form specially created for this study. The frequencies of delusions with regard to their content in various time spans were compared.

Results: A marked increase in two delusional themes — persecution and self-reference — was found after the change of political regime (1941—2000) in Slovenia. After the spread of radio in the 1920s and television in the 1950s in Slovenia, there was an obvious increase in delusions of outside influence and control as well as delusions with technical themes. A striking increase in the percentage of Schneiderian first-rank symptoms was found after the spread of Schneider's ideas in the 1950s.

Conclusions: Sociopolitical changes and scientific and technical developments have a marked influence on the delusional content in schizophrenia.
What Does Recovery From Schizophrenia Mean? Perceptions of Long-Term Patients
Authors: Ng Roger M.K. , Pearson Veronica , Lam May , Law C.W. , Chiu Cindy P.Y. , Chen Eric Y.H.
Published: February 2008

Background: The study investigated the meaning of recovery to eight people with chronic schizophrenia.

Method: A qualitative methodology was used based on a 3-hour focus group. The material was transcribed and analysed into 18 subcategories and 4 categories; namely recovery as a multi-dimensional construct, the relationship of medication to recovery, a sense of hopelessness and helplessness about recovery, factors that promoted recovery.

Discussion: Respondents believed that full recovery could not be said to have been achieved until they stopped medication and had a steady job. The support and care of family and friends were also vital, although sometimes problematic. Independent living has a different meaning in Chinese culture.

Conclusions: Further research directions are suggested as well as ways to change attitudes to the inclusion of medication in recovery.
On Social Interaction and the Communicative Construction of Personal Identity, Knowledge and Reality
Authors: Luckmann Thomas
Published: February 2008

After a note on the main assumption of all science — the existence of a world — the implications of this ontological realism are pointed out. The subject of the social sciences is a human world — no doubt an evolutionary emergent one — that is built up, modified and sometimes partly destroyed by human social interaction over the generations. The constitution of meaning in experience and action is described (with a lengthy footnote on the phenomenological details of the matter) as the foundation of social, and most importantly, communicative interaction. This provides the basis for a formal analysis of the communicative formation and transmission of personal identity, knowledge and historical social words.
Psychological and Communication Processes Associated With Intergroup Conflict Resolution
Authors: Stephan Walter G.
Published: February 2008

This article examines the nature of intergroup conflicts and some of the psychological and communication processes that can facilitate their resolution. It focuses specifically on conflicts between individual members of different social identity groups and elaborates on the differences between interpersonal and intergroup conflict resolution. It continues with a presentation of the prevailing psychological conditions that exist prior to attempts to resolve intergroup conflict along with a series of psychological and communication processes that can be employed in small group settings to improve the climate for intergroup conflict resolution. It ends by discussing how people can be trained to recognize and take advantage of the beneficial effects of these psychological and communication processes in small group settings.
Participation in Inclusive Preschool Programs and Sensitivity to the Needs of Others
Authors: Diamond Karen E. , Carpenter Ellen S.
Published: February 2008

This study examined how children's ideas about a prosocial behavior, helping, are related to their experiences in an inclusive preschool. Thirty three preschool children enrolled in inclusive classes, and 30 children enrolled in early childhood classes for typically developing children only participated in the study. Children's ideas about helping were elicited in interviews. In addition, preschool teachers rated each child's prosocial behaviors. Results revealed that children in inclusive classes received statistically significantly higher helping strategy scores and were statistically significantly more likely to refer to disability in their responses than children in early childhood classes for typically developing children only. These results are consistent with previous work, and suggest that young children are capable of sensitivity to the needs and competencies of children with disabilities. Implications for classroom practice are offered.
Comfort Zone Revisited: Child Characteristics and Professional Comfort with Consultation
Authors: Wesley Patricia W. , Buysse Virginia , Keyes Lynette
Published: February 2008

This study examined professional comfort of 84 early intervention professionals in providing consultation about children with varying types, severity levels, and combinations of disabilities. A replication of an earlier study with classroom teachers, the study involved a structured interview using the ABILITIES Index to assess professional comfort on the basis of child characteristics. Preliminary analyses suggested that discomfort was consistent with reported disability (behavioral, orthopedic, sensory, cognitive, or multiple disabilities). Significantly more discomfort was reported if the child had severe disabilities or difficulties in communication and behavior. Additionally, training in consultation and experience in early intervention predicted professional comfort in providing consultation. Findings have implications for professional development aimed at improving consultation practice to support early childhood inclusion.
Forming Partnerships With Tribal Colleges to Meet Early Childhood Personnel Preparation Needs
Authors: Jacobs Geralyn M. , Head Joanne Wounded , Forest Sue , Struck Judy , Pituch Keenan , Jacobs Gerard A.
Published: February 2008

Having enough well-trained early intervention personnel continues to be a challenge on the reservations of our country. The Higher Education Partnership Project was designed to help address this challenge by providing a model of outreach training for reservation sites. The project involved collaboration with two tribal colleges, offering courses to students and professionals working with children with disabilities and their families. The program was successful in teaching critical competencies and building a local capacity for teacher training. Factors that led to this success were the involvement and support of personnel from the reservation in all phases of the project, making the courses sensitive and relevant to students' needs and cultures, and planning for the long-range continuation of the courses.
A Statewide Profile of Early Intervention Services Using the Part C Data System
Authors: Buysse Virginia , Bernier Kathleen Y. , McWilliam R.A.
Published: February 2008

This study used the Part C data base and the Health Statistics Information System to profile North Carolina's early intervention services. The Part C sample consisted of 8,696 infants and toddlers eligible for early intervention services from 1991 to 1996. Data analysis consisted of descriptive statistics, chi-square analyses, and an examination of standardized residuals. Findings revealed that the majority (approximately 70%) of infants and toddlers were identified as having a developmental delay, with the mean age of entry into the system at approximately 17 months. Notable trends included a marked reduction in the proportion of home- and center-based services and an increase in referrals from parents. Implications are presented for program planning and evaluation, and improving information systems.
Families ' Perceptions of the Ability to Pay for Early Intervention Services
Authors: Shannon Patrick , Grinde Lisa R. , Cox Ann W.
Published: February 2008

One issue for families in need of early intervention services has been the determination of their ability to pay for services. The purpose of this study was to obtain information from families receiving early intervention services regarding the ability to pay for services and the impacts that fees for services have on families. Five focus groups were conducted with 38 family participants receiving early intervention services in Virginia. Two themes emerged from the perspectives family participants expressed related to how cost affects the family and their decision making regarding services. We explore implications for early intervention policy at the local, state, and federal level; early intervention practice; and future research related to cost and families' abilities to pay for services.
Effect Sizes and "What If" Analyses as Supplements to Statistical Significance Tests
Authors: Pedersen Susan
Published: February 2008

As shortcomings of traditional statistical significance testing have been highlighted, calls have been heard within the research community for alternative or supplemental analyses that reflect the practical significance of test results and the role of sample size in the interpretation of results. Effect size reporting, which is designed to reflect on the practical value of results, is now required by 23 journals, including the flagship journals of the American Counseling Association, the Council for Exceptional Children, and several American Psychological Association journals. "What-if" analyses, though less well established, offer a method for reflecting on the role of sample size in the decision to accept or reject the null hypothesis. Explanations of these methods and guidelines for their use and interpretation are offered.
Early Intervention Curricula and Subsequent Adolescent Social Development: A Longitudinal Examination
Authors: Cole Kevin N. , Mills Paulette E. , Jenkins Joseph R. , Dale Philip S.
Published: February 2008

In a previous study of the differential effects of contrasting early intervention programs on later social behavior (Mills, Cole, Jenkins, & Dale, 2002), we found no differences in self-report of juvenile delinquency at age 15 for children enrolled in direct instruction and child-directed models. These results disconfirmed the conclusion of Schweinhart, Weikart, and Larner (1986b) that direct instruction was linked to higher rates of juvenile delinquency and other social differences. Our previous study was limited to self-report of juvenile delinquency, a very coarse measure of social development, in an attempt to replicate the key finding of Schweinhart et al. (1986b). In the present study, we examine additional measures of social development, which might be more sensitive to subtle program differences, including school satisfaction, loneliness, and depression. We administered a battery of social development measures to 174 children at age 15 who had been randomly assigned at preschool age to the two early childhood models. We found no differences on any social outcome for program type. Across a wide range of social behaviors at age 15, there is no evidence that type of early intervention program differentially influences subsequent adolescent social behavior.
Benefits and Risks of Reverse Inclusion for Preschoolers with and without Disabilities: Perspectives of Parents and Providers
Authors: Rafferty Yvonne , Griffin Kenneth W.
Published: February 2008

This study compares perspectives about benefits and risks of inclusion of 237 parents of children with and without disabilities and 118 providers in the same community-based reverse inclusion preschool program, using the same measures. Confirmatory factor analyses revealed a two-factor structure, risks and benefits, based on scale scores from the study samples. Providers and parents strongly agreed that inclusion was beneficial for both preschoolers with and without disabilities. Parents' perspectives about potential risks for both groups of children were greater than providers' perspectives. Providers and parents reported greater support for including children with mild and moderate disabilities than children with severe disabilities. Attitudes toward inclusion among providers were not associated with years of experience. Implications for practice and research are discussed.
Impact of Community Mentors on Maternal Behaviors and Child Outcomes
Authors: Dieterich Susan E. , Landry Susan H. , Smith Karen E. , Swank Paul R. , Hebert Heather M.
Published: February 2008

Play and Learning Strategies (PALS), a research-based parent education and support program, was delivered to families with low income via home visiting using a facilitator. Facilitators completed 12 home visits addressing responsive parenting, behavioral support, language stimulation, and support of attentional skills. This report compares PALS to M-PALS, a program that included a community mentor in addition to a facilitator. Community mentoring provided modeling of parenting skills and supportive services to decrease external stressors for mothers. Mothers who participated in the M-PALS and PALS programs for longer durations demonstrated more responsive behaviors. Mothers in the M-PALS program also had greater increases in verbal scaffolding and their children showed greater gains in cognitive scores. Verbal scaffolding was a mediating factor for child cognitive outcomes. Mentoring impacted child changes indirectly and should be studied further to determine other beneficial functions mentors might serve.
Preliminary Investigations of the Application of the Early Communication Indicator (ECI) for Infants and Toddlers
Authors: Greenwood Charles R. , Carta Judith J. , Walker Dale , Hughes Kere , Weathers Mary
Published: February 2008

Early interventionists are accountable for the progress of children receiving their services. Technically adequate measures of the progress of individual children are needed. While the Early Communication Indicator (ECI) for infants and toddlers is one such measure, data to support its use are limited to a single research report. In this manuscript, findings from new samples are presented. Results indicated that growth parameters reported in the original ECI study were replicated generally and differences in growth were associated with differences in samples' and children's characteristics. Overall, more representative growth parameters were estimated for the larger composite sample of children. These findings demonstrate the feasibility and potential contribution of the ECI to assessing the progress of young children learning to communicate.
Adaptation of the 36-Month Ages and Stages Questionnaire in Taiwan: Results From a Preliminary Study
Authors: Tsai Huei-Ling Agnes , McClelland Megan M. , Pratt Clara , Squires Jane
Published: February 2008

Identification of children with developmental disabilities is the first critical step in providing early intervention services. Currently, only 20% of Taiwanese children who could potentially benefit from early intervention have been identified. One possible reason for this low identification rate is the lack of a culturally appropriate, developmental screening instrument for Taiwanese children. A multi-pronged pilot study was conducted to explore the reliability and validity of scores using a Chinese translation of the 36-month version of the Ages and Stages Questionnaire (ASQ) with a sample of Taiwanese children. Results indicated that the translated Chinese version of the 36-month ASQ demonstrates initial cultural appropriateness, and reliability and validity of scores when used with a sample of 3-year-old Taiwanese children. The potential viability of the 36-month ASQ as a developmental screening instrument to identify Taiwanese children in need of early intervention services and the need for further validation research are discussed.
Mother-Child Interaction as a Predictor of Mastery Motivation in Children with Disabilities Born Preterm
Authors: Young Jessica Mercer , Hauser-Cram Penny
Published: February 2008

This study examined mother-child interaction as a predictor of mastery motivation (i.e., persistence on a problem-posing task) in 3-year-old children who were born premature and had either motor impairment or developmental delay (n = 34). Two aspects of mother-child interaction were hypothesized to predict for mastery motivation: response to child's distress and cognitive growth-fostering behaviors. Hierarchical regression analyses revealed that maternal response to distress, but not cognitive growth promotion, added significant unique variance (15.3%) beyond child cognitive performance in the prediction of mastery motivation. Results suggest that interventions focused on emotional aspects of the mother-child dyad provide important benefits to young children with disabilities who are born preterm.
Proximal Variables in Families of Children Prenatally Exposed to Cocaine and Enrolled in a Center- or Home-Based Intervention
Authors: Bolzani Dinehart Laura H. , Dice Jaime L. , Dobbins Dionne R. , Claussen Angelika H. , Bono Katherine E.
Published: February 2008

The present study examined proximal variables in families of children prenatally exposed to cocaine and enrolled in a large-scale intervention program. Fifty-six high-risk families of children enrolled in the center-based (n = 30) or home-based (n = 26) intervention of the Linda Ray Intervention Program were interviewed. Four proximal variables were assessed: (a) quality of the caregiving environment, (b) family's regularity and predictability of daily routines, (c) caregiver's perception of the family's adequacy of resources, and (d) frequency and intensity of caregiver's experience with daily hassles. Results suggested that families of children enrolled in the center-based condition had more predictable daily routines than families of home-based participants. A family's adequacy of resources influenced the quality of the caregiving environment. Families with adequate resources were more likely to provide daily routines. Caregivers with fewer years of education were less able to establish and maintain daily routines which predicted, in part, a poorer caregiving environment.
Project SELF: Preparing Professionals to Facilitate Self-Determination
Authors: Mulhearn Blasco Patricia , Falco Ruth A. , Munson Leslie J.
Published: February 2008

Only recently have professionals recognized the importance of self-determination for young children and their families. Project SELF used the philosophy of self-determination in an interdisciplinary model to prepare graduate students to serve young children with disabilities and their families. Through Participatory Action Research (PAR) projects, students had the opportunity to support the foundations of self-determination in themselves and with children and families. This article describes the conceptual framework and evaluation of this innovative preservice personnel program.
Effectiveness of Training Parents to Teach Joint Attention in Children With Autism
Authors: Rocha Marie L. , Schreibman Laura , Stahmer Aubyn C.
Published: February 2008

Young children with autism have deficits in initiating and responding to joint attention bids. This study was designed to examine a parent-implemented intervention targeting joint attention responding in children with autism. Parents were trained to increase their joint attention bids using behavior analytic techniques to facilitate appropriate responding. Parents effectively employed joint attention intervention techniques. As parent joint attention bids increased, children's responses increased. Children's joint attention initiations also increased, even though they were not direct targets of intervention. Findings suggest that parent behaviors during and after intervention impact generalization and maintenance of behavior changes. Implications for practice and future investigations are discussed.
Parent and Teacher Ratings of Peer Interactive Play and Social-Emotional Development of Preschool Children at Risk
Authors: Gagnon Sandra Glover , Nagle Richard J. , Nickerson Amanda B.
Published: February 2008

Estimates of agreement and consistency between parent and teacher ratings of peer-interactive play and social emotional development were examined in a sample of preschool children at risk for academic difficulties. Eighty-three pairs of parents and teachers of 4-year-old children completed the Penn Interactive Peer Play Scale (PIPPS) and 69 of these pairs also were interviewed with the Vineland Social-Emotional Early Childhood Scales (SEEC). Significant mean differences were found between parent and teacher scores on the PIPPS, but not on the SEEC. No noteworthy correlations were found between raters on the PIPPS, though low to moderate correlations were revealed between parent and teacher responses on the SEEC. Multivariate techniques revealed statistically significant and noteworthy correlations between parent and teacher responses on the SEEC but not on the PIPPS. Results are discussed within the context of conducting multifaceted, ecological assessments with preschool children. Implications for early childhood educators and interventionists are noted regarding the importance of gathering and interpreting multiple sources of information that contribute to an understanding of young children's behavior.
The Public Health Approach to the Prevention of Sexual Violence
Authors: McMahon Pamela M.
Published: February 2008

This paper presents the public health approach to the prevention of sexualviolence. The public health approach addresses primary, secondary, and tertiary levels of prevention. An explanation of each level of prevention is given as it relates to the area of sexual violence. Additionally, the public health approach attempts to shift the focus of prevention from potential victims to potential perpetrators. The four steps of the public health model are presented with examples of how the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention are applying this model to sexual violence prevention.
Problems with the DSM-IV Diagnosis of Pedophilia
Authors: O'Donohue William , Regev Lisa G. , Hagstrom Anne
Published: February 2008

This paper examines the taxonomic adequacy of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual, 4th ed., DSM-IV (American Psychiatric Association, 1994) diagnostic category of pedophilia. This diagnosis, as well as the other sexual disorders, have been ignored in DSM field trials. There is no empirical information about the reliability or validity of this diagnosis. Moreover, because the vagueness of the diagnostic criteria, clinicians would need to make inferences that would likely lead to reliability problems in diagnosis. Further, the DSM diagnostic criteria include constructs that are not intersubjectively verifiable and for which there are no valid measures. This can also lead to lack of diagnostic reliability and accuracy. Most problematical however, there are aspects of the diagnostic criteria, most notably the presence of an "ego dystonic sexual attraction to children," that are incorrect exclusion criteria. Suggestions for improvement are provided.
Sexual Offenders' Implicit Planning: A Conceptual Model
Authors: Ward Tony , Hudson Stephen M.
Published: February 2008

In recent years empirical research, clinical observation, and theoretical models about sexual offending have emphasized the importance of problem solving and decision making throughout different phases in the offense chain. This work suggests that sometimes offense planning is explicit, systematic, and analytical, while at other times it appears to be implicit and intuitive. The latter style of decision making has been called seemingly unimportant decisions. We attempt to provide an explanation of offenders' implicit decision making and suggest two social cognitive mechanisms capable of generating these types of decisions. We believe that implicit decision making in offenders has the appearance of automaticity, that is, decision making that is implicit, fast, relatively autonomous, frequently associated with a lack of control, effortless, and occurring without conscious awareness. Drawing from diverse theoretical sources, we hypothesize that these types of decisions are generated by underlying automatic goal dependent action plans. More specifically, we suggest that there are at least two types of automatic goal dependent plans evident in offenders' decision making: offense scripts and mental simulations. We draw implications for generating future hypotheses and provide suggestions for future research.
Attitudinal Effects of Degrading Themes and Sexual Explicitness in Video Materials
Authors: Golde Jeffrey A. , Strassberg Donald S. , Turner Charles M. , Lowe Kristie
Published: February 2008

This study examined the independent and interactive effects of sexual explicitness and degrading themes toward women on mens' attitudes following exposure to video presentations of male-female interactions. Subjects were 83 male college students who viewed video vignettes under one of four stimulus conditions: (a) sexually explicit/degrading, (b) sexually explicit/nondegrading, (c) nonexplicit/degrading, and (d) nonexplicit/nondegrading. Results revealed that men exposed to degrading material, regardless of explicitness, were significantly more likely to express attitudes supportive of rape, while explicitness had no significant main or interactive effect on these attitudes. Further, the interaction of explicitness with degradation was found to impact scores on a measure of sexual callousness. Theoretical and clinical implications of these findings are discussed.
Alcohol and Drug Abuse in Sexual and Nonsexual Violent Offenders
Authors: Abracen Jeffrey , Looman Jan , Anderson Dana
Published: February 2008

According to a literature review by Marshall (1996), presently available data have not clarified the proportion of sexual offenders who would meet diagnostic criteria for addictive problems. Our own literature review failed to find published studies comparing sexual offenders to nonsexual violent offenders on standardized measures of substance abuse. Our study is a preliminary investigation of the differences between sexual offenders (rapists: n = 72; child molesters: n = 34) and nonsexual violent offenders (n = 24) on measures of alcohol and drug abuse. The findings indicate that sexual offenders were more likely to abuse alcohol than were nonsexual violent offenders. Nonsexual offenders were significantly more likely to have had a history of other forms of substance abuse. The results are considered in terms of theories of alcohol's contribution to aggressive behavior and sexual aggression. Implications for assessment and treatment of sexual offenders are discussed.
Phallometric Assessments Designed to Detect Arousal to Children: The Responses of Rapists and Child Molesters
Authors: Looman Jan , Marshall W.L.
Published: February 2008

The phallometric responses of child molesters and rapists were assessed using two assessments of sexual arousal to children. Groups responded to both audiotaped depictions of sexual activity with children and to a set of slides of nude adults and children. Analyses revealed that the audiotaped child sexual violence assessment was as effective as the slide assessment in discriminating child molesters from rapists. It was also found that rapists displayed some degree of deviant response to both stimulus sets.
Mental Health Professionals' Perspectives on Sex Offender Registry Web Sites
Authors: Malesky Alvin , Keim Jeanmarie
Published: February 2008

In an attempt to reduce the occurrence of childhood sexual abuse, some state governments have passed legislation allowing the public access to sex offender registries. One of the ways this access is granted is through the world wide web (web). There is, however, limited research on the impact this type of community notification has on actual rates of child sexual abuse. This study investigates the opinions of 133 mental health professionals who work with sex offenders regard ing the implications of public sex offender registry web sites. Over 80% of the participants in this study do not believe that sex offender registry sites will affect the number of children who are sexually abused each year. Seventy percent of the respondents also believe that a listing of sex offenders on the web will create a false sense of security for parents, and over 60% of the respondents believe that sex offenders who are listed on these sites will become targets of vigilantism in their community. Implications, for future research are provided.
An Exploration of Factors Related to Deviant Sexual Arousal Among Juvenile Sex Offenders
Authors: Murphy William D. , DiLillo David , Haynes Mary R. , Steere Elaine
Published: February 2008

To date, there has been limited literature on the measurement of sexual arousal in adolescent sex offenders. The data that exist have been somewhat mixed in terms of factors related to deviant sexual arousal in this group. The present study, with 71 adolescent sex offenders, investigates the relationship between offender and offense characteristics, including gender of victim, history of sexual abuse, history of physical abuse, race, and interactions between these factors in the prediction of physiologically measured sexual arousal to deviant and nondeviant stimulus categories. A number of variables significantly predicted sexual arousal. The most consistent predictors were gender of victim, race, the interaction of race and gender of victim, and to some extent the interaction of offender abuse history and gender of victim. Caucasian subjects tended to respond more than African American subjects did, and this has not been reported previously in the literature. The data are discussed in terms of consistency with other literature, suggesting that those juvenile offenders who target male victims and have been abused themselves may be a high risk group. Limitations of this study are also addressed.
Sexual Aggressors' Perceptions of Effectiveness of Strategies to Cope With Negative Emotions and Deviant Sexual Fantasies
Authors: McKibben André , Proulx Jean , Lussier Patrick
Published: February 2008

The aim of this study was to investigate sexual aggressors' perceptions of effectiveness of strategies to cope with high-risk situations and their reasons for not using the adaptive coping strategies they learned in treatment. A total of 32 sexual aggressors, incarcerated in a maximum security psychiatric institution, filled out the Coping Strategy Report daily for 2 months. A lack of will, ignorance, and an emotional disturbance were the most frequently reported reasons for not using adaptive coping strategies to deal with a negative mood, whereas anticipation of failure and emotional disturbance were most frequently reported with interpersonal conflicts. For deviant sexual fantasies, child molesters most frequently reported a lack of will and an anticipation of failure as justification for not using adaptive coping strategies, whereas sexual aggressors of women most frequently reported a lack of will and emotional disturbance. For negative moods and interpersonal conflicts, behavioral strategies, such as social skills, were reported to be the most effective. Cognitive strategies, such as covert sensitization, were reported to be most effective for coping with deviant sexual fantasies. Theoretical and clinical implications of these results are discussed.
Olfactory Aversion: Notes on Procedure, With Speculations on Its Mechanism of Effect
Authors: Laws D.R.
Published: February 2008

The use of a self-administered noxious agent to suppress deviant sexual arousal is the focus of this paper. A recommended procedure for the use of olfactory aversion is described. Data from two publications by the author, wherein different noxious agents had been used, are presented and discussed. Several explanations for the mechanism of effect in olfactory aversion have been offered. Two of these, one using a nausea-producing agent and one using a pain-producing agent are described. The procedure using the pain-producing agent is the simplest to implement, the least ambiguous, and offers the least cumbersome explanation for the behavioral effect observed in olfactory aversion. However, a conditioning explanation is probably too simple. Several examples of cognitive mediation in conditioning procedures are presented and discussed.
Juvenile Sex Offenders in Diversion
Authors: Campbell Justin S. , Lerew Cherise
Published: February 2008

This study was designed to address the treatment of juvenile sex offenders within diversion programs. Using data from 32 diversion programs in Colorado during the 1998-1999 fiscal year, the study observed the demographic and legal characteristics of 112 juvenile (Mean age = 14.64) sex offenders referred to diversion programs for seven types of sex assault, incest, and indecent exposure charges. Descriptions of services offered to juveniles and their in-program outcome were also observed. Data support previous contentions in the literature that diversion is an option for adjudicated juvenile sex offenders as well as diversion's traditional nonadjudicated population. However, the assumption that only nonserious juvenile sex offenders are referred to diversion was challenged by the data observed in this study.
A Brief History of Behavioral and Cognitive Behavioral Approaches to Sexual Offender Treatment: Part 2. The Modern Era
Authors: Marshall W.L. , Laws D.R.
Published: February 2008

This paper is the second in our attempt to highlight the major influences, trends, and emerging issues in cognitive behavioral approaches to treating sexual offenders. In this paper the developments from 1970 until the present are covered.
Predicting Psychological Distress in Sex Offender Therapists
Authors: Ennis Liam , Home Sharon
Published: February 2008

The provision of psychological services to sexual offenders presents therapists with many challenges, including exposure to vivid descriptions of sexual violence and trauma. Although there is an increasingly robust body of literature investigating the effects of such traumatic exposure on therapists who work with the victims of sexual abuse, there have been few studies of its impact on those who treat the perpetrators. This study provides an exploratory investigation of the experience of psychological distress among therapists who work with sex offenders, as well as the social support mechanisms that may serve to mitigate therapist risk. Fifty-nine sex offender therapists completed a self-report measure of posttraumatic stress symptomatology, and rated their perceptions of family and peer support. Therapists also reported the number of hours that they devote to sex offender treatment and the amount of clinical supervision they participate in on a weekly basis. As a group, participants reported experiencing low levels of general and trauma-related distress. Although statistical analyses failed to indicate the existence of a significant positive correlation between number of hours devoted to sex offender treatment and the experience of therapist distress, greater perceptions of peer support were significantly predictive of lower levels of psychological distress and PTSD symptoms. These results are discussed relative to their implications for sex offender therapist self-care and future research.
Who Cares? The Views of Sexual Offenders About the Group Treatment They Receive
Authors: Garrett Tanya , Oliver Caroline , Wilcox Daniel T. , Middleton David
Published: February 2008

This paper describes one of the first systematic focused attempts to elicit the views of sexual offenders about the treatment that they have received. The paucity of previous research in this area is suggested to be the result of negative societal attitudes towards sexual offenders, as exemplified by recent tabloid newspaper coverage of this population. It is suggested that these attitudes may have a negative impact upon the attitudes of clinicians and researchers, and thus upon the treatment offered to this client group. Therefore, it is argued that seeking the views of the clients is essential in order to ensure that treatment is relevant and reflexive, and promotes relapse prevention. A questionnaire was distributed to participants who had completed treatment groups run by the Psychology Service at a Regional Secure Unit and at a Probation Service Sexual Offender Unit. The questionnaire aimed to elicit their views of the group experience, including issues to do with programme structure and content, group process, and therapeutic style of group facilitators. The results (including a pilot study) indicated that, on the whole, participants' experiences of the group were positive, for example aspects of the group process, understanding and preventing reoffending. Some suggestions for the modification and development of future sexual offender treatment are outlined, based on the feedback from subjects, for example, consideration of alternative treatment modalities, enhancing the content of group sessions, improving the organization of groups and modifying the training of groups leaders.