bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Social Origins and Educational Attainment in Canada: 1985 and 1994
Authors: Nakhaie M. Reza
Published: June 2007

This paper assesses the effects of mothers' and fathers' education and occupational positions on the educational attainment of male and female offspring based on the data from two national representative samples of Canadians surveyed in 1985 and 1994. The analyses show that, for offspring of both genders, mothers' and fathers' education and occupation have a substantial effect on education, in both surveys. The advantage of social origin for both male and female offspring depends on the measure of social origin with some indication of same-sex effects. Furthermore, social origins have a stronger effect on offspring's university degree attainment than on postsecondary education in general. Finally, there are signs of increasing inequality in social origin effect on offspring's educational attainment. Theoretical and policy implications are discussed.
Infanticide in 19th century France: A quantitative interpretation
Authors: Bechtold Brigitte H.
Published: June 2007

Infanticide in 19th-century France is investigated by surveying historical evidence, and by modeling socioeconomic explanations of changes in secondary sex ratios, disaggregated by region and legitimacy status. The estimated seemingly unrelated regression model suggests that, while women received less than equitable access to the benefits of mechanization during the period of French industrial expansion, the need for low-wage female and child labor in the textile industry helped to significantly reduce female infanticide.
Burnout, chronic fatigue, and prozac in the professions: The iron law of salaries
Authors: Haight Alan Day
Published: June 2007

In this model of contested exchange, ambitious salaried yuppies (in accounting, consulting, engineering, higher education, investment banking, law, management, marketing, medicine, or other professions) inevitably toil on the verge of depression, much as wage workers once toiled on the verge of starvation. This depression reduces diligence yet maximizes profit, subject to the rejection-rate Laffer curve. Chronic fatigue syndrome provides a status defense (conspicuous excess capacity) for workers denied promotion. Wellness programs, psychological counseling, anti-depressant drugs, exercise, and cheerful human resources management techniques improve profits more than morale. This may constitute exploitation in the sense of Roemer or Steiner.
Why equity cannot be separated from efficiency: the welfare economics of progressive social pricing
Authors: Baiman Ron
Published: June 2007

Applied neoclassical microeconomists maintain that when profits are constrained, and average costs are higher than marginal costs, Ramsey "inverse elasticity" pricing optimizes static consumer welfare. However, when weighted, instead of unweighted, consumer surplus aggregation is used, the Ramsey pricing rule becomes a "progressive social pricing rule," which suggests that under plausible conditions "direct-elasticity" rather than "inverse-elasticity" pricing is consumer welfare optimal.
Contours of a non-modernist discourse: the contested space of history and development
Authors: Zein-Elabdin Eiman
Published: June 2007

Conventionally, postcolonial analysis has been confined to the field of literary criticism and history. More recently, it has extended to philosophy and anthropology. Despite the powerful role that economics has played in shaping current conditions in formerly colonized regions, a postcolonial position has yet to be articulated in economics. This paper draws on postcolonial thought to explore the idea of "history" and its expression in economics through the discourse on "development." The paper argues for an understanding of economics as a cultural practice in order to open up possibilities for non-Western ideas and interpretations of economic phenomena.
The development of Marx's theory of the distribution of surplus-value in the Manuscript of 1861-63
Authors: Moseley Fred
Published: June 2007

It has been discovered in recent years that Marx wrote four drafts of Capital, not just two (the Grundrisse and Capital), as was previously thought. The second draft is the Manuscript of 1861-63 in which Marx developed for the first time his theory of the distribution of the total surplus-value into individual parts (equal rates of profit, commercial profit, interest, and rent) that would later be the content of Volume 3 of Capital. This paper reviews how Marx developed his theory of the distribution of surplus-value in the Manuscript of 1861-63.
Marxism and economic determination: clarification and defence of an "old-fashioned" principle
Authors: Wetherly Paul
Published: June 2007

This paper clarifies and defends economic determination as a defining principle of explanation of Marxist political economy and state theory. Economic determination is a principle of causation or explanation which involves the claim that "politics" is "explained" by "economics" in a relevant sense of those three terms. This principle is refined by clarifying the meaning of each of these terms, particularly focusing on "determination." A defense is mounted on theoretical grounds by showing that Jessop's critique of "reductionism" and related argument for "contingency" does not succeed. Economic determination is defined as a strong tendency but consistent with a notion of the relative autonomy of the state.
Public employment programs, workfare, and welfare reform
Authors: Rose Nancy E.
Published: June 2007

This paper develops a spectrum of government work programs, from mandatory workfare to more progressive fair work. This model is then used to look at the work programs developed under the 1996 Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act, the most significant welfare reform in six decades, that ended the entitlement to welfare and mandated wage-work and work activities.
Did Nixon's wage and price controls set in motion the post-1970s decline in real wages?
Authors: Nilsson Eric
Published: June 2007

This paper argues that President Nixon's wage and price controls, in affect from August 1971 to April 1974, laid the groundwork for the post-1973 decline in U.S. production worker real wages.
The recent rise of profits in the United States
Authors: Wolff Edward N.
Published: June 2007

Profitability in the United States has been rising since the early 1980s, and by 1997 was nearing its postwar peak in the mid-1960s. The profit share has also recovered from its postwar low in the early 1970s. In this paper, I examine the role of the change in the profit share and capital intensity on movements in the rate of profit between 1947 and 1997. Its recent recovery is traced to a rise in the profit share in national income and a decline in the capital-output ratio.
Waiting for an echo: the revolution in general equilibrium theory and the paralysis in introductory economics
Authors: Dorman Peter
Published: June 2007

The current framework for the introductory microeconomics course is predicated on the Invisible Hand lessons of mid-twentieth century General Equilibrium Theory. During the final decades of the century, however, the theory changed. Proofs of the path-dependent instability of general equilibrium, the multiplicity of equilibria and the problem of equilibrium selection, and the failure of asymptotic convergence to the properties of equilibrium (The General Theory of the Second Best) provided a sweeping disconfirmation of the Invisible Hand. This paper argues that these topics are fully teachable, even at the principles level, and that they point toward a new framework for the curriculum in which institutions can reclaim much of the explanatory space now occupied by market analysis.
Gender and cash child support in Jamaica
Authors: Wyss Brenda
Published: June 2007

Nonresident parents pay a small proportion of the total pecuniary costs of raising children in Jamaica. This paper uses household survey data to identify conditions that promote cash support by absent parents. The paper highlights several ways in which gender influences Jamaican child support decisions. Absent fathers contribute cash support more consistently than absent mothers do, and absent fathers support their daughters more consistently than they support sons. Gendered norms of resource transfer in adult relationships help explain low levels of paternal support for children. But results from Jamaica cast doubt on the argument that male poverty explains most paternal default on child support obligations.
Competition and profitability: A critique of Robert Brenner
Authors: Zacharias Ajit
Published: June 2007

Robert Brenner has argued in a recent essay that the decline in manufacturing profitability in the United States since the mid-1960s can be attributed mainly to intensified foreign competition. I attempt to show that Brenner's argument is logically incongruent, and does not fit with the observed behavior of the profit rate and the manufacturing trade balance. I also argue that Brenner's rejection of Marx's theory of the falling profit rate is questionable.
Surplus value and the Keynesian multiplier
Authors: Trigg Andrew B.
Published: June 2007

De Angelis [Review of Radical Political Economics 32 (1), 80] identifies a monetary expression for the value of labor power as a constituent component of the employment multiplier. By conjoining this multiplier with Marx's falling rate of profit thesis, a critique is formulated of alternative strategies of employment generation. This paper takes the dissection of the multiplier one step further by demonstrating the role of the value of labor power itself in both income and employment multipliers. Nesting this approach in Marx's reproduction schema, and using the Domar growth model, it is argued that De Angelis underestimates the importance of aggregate demand as a determinant of employment.
The Social Security reform debate: effects of financial and labor market institutions
Authors: Orr Douglas V.
Published: June 2007

Social Security is a defined benefit (DB) pension plan. Proposals for "reforming" Social Security suggest replacing it with a defined contribution (DC) savings plan. This paper compares the financial and non-financial aspects of DB pensions and DC savings plans, and discusses how changing financial and labor markets affect the interpretation of these plans. Recent wage stagnation has strengthened the arguments for "reform," but a return to the more historical pattern of wage growth would undermine the arguments for reform.
Whose bank is it anyway? The importance of unemployment and the stock market for monetary policy
Authors: Weller Christian E.
Published: June 2007

Prior research suggests that the Fed has consistently targeted unemployment rates, and, during the 1990s, stock prices. This paper uses a vector autoregression to test the importance of unemployment and the stock market in determining monetary policy, and to study the impact of monetary policy on unemployment and the stock market. The results show a shift in both the determinants and the impact of monetary policy in the 1990s from unemployment to the stock market.
Political conflict and the social structure of accumulation: The case of South African apartheid
Authors: Heintz James
Published: June 2007

This paper explores the institutional factors behind the crisis of capital accumulation in South Africa in the 1970s and 1980s. Estimations show that political instability accounted for most of the fall in the rate of accumulation, independent of distributive outcomes, such as the level of profitability. Contrary to prior criticisms, these results provide empirical support for a social structure of accumulation (SSA) interpretation of the performance of the South African economy.
Turkey: bankruptcy of neoliberal policies and the possibility of alternatives
Authors: Orhangazi Ozgur
Published: June 2007

The year 2001 in Turkey has been marked by a destructive economic crisis. This paper argues that the crisis can neither be explained solely by the coincidence of independent events nor by technical problems of economic policies. The increased fragility of the system after the implementation of an IMF-directed "disinflation and stabilization" program paved the way for the collapse of both the program itself and the economy. Insistence on these types of policies will only worsen the conditions, and results of the policies are both economically and socially undesirable. This paper proposes alternative policies and tools, which will provide improvements in growth, employment, and income distribution.
Vulgar economy in Marxian garb: a critique of Temporal Single System Marxism
Authors: Mongiovi Gary
Published: June 2007

This paper presents a critique of recent efforts, under the rubric of Temporal Single System Marxism, to defend Marx's value theory against the claim that his transformation algorithm is flawed. Although Marx did make a number of errors in elaborating his theory of value and the profit rate, these missteps do not undermine his larger scientific project. Far greater damage has been inflicted by his would-be Temporal Single System defenders, who camouflage Marx's errors by detaching him from his Ricardian roots; in the process they redefine value in a way that trivializes its function in Marx's system. (2002 URPE. All rights reserved.
The field of capital mobility and the gravitation of profit rates (USA 1948-2000)
Authors: Dumέnil Gέrard , Lέvy Dominique
Published: June 2007

This study is devoted to the empirical investigation of the gravitation of profit rates among industries around a single value in the United States since World War II. The framework of analysis is that developed by classical economists and Marx, and used in many contemporary studies. The gravitation of profit rates around a single value results from the mobility of capital seeking a maximum profit rate. A preliminary concern is to determine the field in which this mobility of capital is likely to occur. A segment of the economy is excluded because of its deficient capitalist nature. After this exclusion, it appears that the profit rates of industries do tend to gravitate around a common value. An important finding of this study is that this gravitation is not observable within a subset of industries, such as Transportation or Public Utilities, which utilize very large amounts of fixed capital in comparison to employment or output.
Theory-Driven Facts and the Growth in Earnings Inequality
Authors: Howell David R.
Published: June 2007

It is widely accepted that the rise in U.S. wage inequality can be explained by skill-biased technological change: workplace computerization produced demand shifts that worked with a simply supply and demand "vision" of the labor market than with direct statistical evidence, which is remarkably limited. Indeed, the dominance of this elementary textbook vision has led, I argue, to a conflation between statistical facts and "theory-driven" facts-those statements about reality that are selected, interpreted, or simply created to confirm a vision of the way things work. The paper concludes by outlining an alternative explanation of the growth in wage inequality based on a sharply different, Gordonian, vision of the labor market.
Keeping People in Their Place: An Exploratory Analysis of the Role of Violence in the Maintenance of "Property Rights" in Race and Gender Privileges in the United States
Authors: King Mary C.
Published: June 2007

Economists' accounts of the experience of women and people of color in the United States completely omit the role of violence against them. This paper begins the process of incorporating violence into economic analysis, suggesting that violence maintains property rights in race and gender privileges. This paper presents the analytical underpinnings for this conceptualization, surveys the extent of race and gender violence in the United States, and sketches a research agenda investigating the dynamics of race and gender violence.
The U.S. Inflation Process: Does Nominal Wage Inflation Cause Price Inflation, Vice-versa, or Neither?
Authors: Palley Thomas I.
Published: June 2007

Low unemployment has revived concerns about accelerated inflation. This paper examines the relationship between price and nominal wage inflation. It finds that it varies by business cycle. Prior to the great oil shock of 1973, price and nominal wage inflation were unconnected in a Granger-causal sense. In the 1970s, wage inflation caused price inflation. In the 1980s, the relationship reversed and price inflation caused nominal wage inflation. In the 1990s, the pattern has changed again, and there is some weak evidence of bidirectional causality between wages and PPI inflation. However, wages continue to have no impact on CPI inflation, which is widely viewed as one of the Fed's target variables. This suggests that wage inflation should be de-emphasized as a monetary policy information variable.
The Eastward Expansion of the European Union and the Transformation of the Financial System
Authors: Green David M.A. , Petrick Karl J.
Published: June 2007

Accession to the European Union by countries in Central and Eastern Europe is a widely supported political imperative. Accession involves acceptance of the development of a fundamentally capitalistic economy in which the role of the state in these countries must be recast. The creation of such economies may take widely varying forms, ranging from crony dominated to the relatively honest and stable. These outcomes matter greatly to citizens of these states. The reform of the financial sector is particularly important, as its effective operation underpins the wider economy. The creation of an effective system of bank supervision, coupled with the development of strategic foreign investment in the banking system, seems to offer the best way of creating a more honest and stable financial regime.
Gordon's Accumulation Theory: The Highest Stage of Stadial Theory
Authors: McDonough Terrence
Published: June 2007

This essay examines the intellectual antecedents of David Gordon's social structure of accumulation (SSA) approach. It argues that Gordon's systematic treatment of long periods of growth and stagnation is the culmination of a long Marxist tradition which began early in the twentieth century with the work of Hilferding, Bukharin, and Lenin. Contemporary Marxist analyses of the recovery of capitalism from the great depression of the late nineteenth century parallel that developed by Gordon for the post-World War II period. Gordon's approach is genealogically linked to these turn of the century analyses through the work of Ernest Mandel on late capitalism and through the American monopoly capital school. Gordon's key contribution is to transform the early Marxist theory of the highest stage of capitalism into a general theory of capitalist stages.
Conflict, Distribution, and Finance in Alternative Macroeconomic Traditions
Authors: Palley Thomas I.
Published: June 2007

Power and conflict are issues that loom large in the work of David Gordon. They are also issues that are largely absent in conventional macroeconomics. This paper shows how these concepts can be introduced within alternative macroeconomic traditions, and it shows how their significance depends on the particulars governing the construction of the macroeconomic process. The paper details the implicit economic process embedded in the new classical, neo-Keynesian, classical Marxist, and Kaleckian constructions of macroeconomics. It then develops a general post Keynesian model that fuses the insights of the classical Marxist and Kaleckian models regarding the significance of conflict and income distribution, with the insights of the neo-Keynesian model regarding the place of finance. Last, the paper argues that finance matters both for aggregate demand and as a worker discipline device. This represents a supply side channel for finance that links with modern new classical models that emphasize credit rationing.
The Importance of Relationship: Elders and Their Paid Family Caregivers in the Arkansas Cash and Counseling Qualitative Study
Authors: Antonio Patricia M. San , Eckert J. Kevin , Simon-Rusinowitz Lori
Published: June 2007

This article examines the preference of elder consumers for family caregiving, family caregivers' willingness to work for them, and what quality of care means to these elders and their families. It draws on 26 interviews with elders and their family caregivers who participated in Arkansas's Cash and Counseling Program, as part of a consumer-directed national research project. Elders chose family members as caregivers to control the type and scheduling of the care they received. Both elders and family caregivers valued care that took place in the context of a reciprocal relationship. Policy implications include the suitability of consumer direction for elder consumers, an understanding of the way elders define quality of care, and the experience of family caregivers in a consumer-directed program.
Effects of Reading Habits, Reading Comprehension, and Memory Beliefs on Older Adults' Knowledge About Medicare
Authors: Bann Carla M. , Bayen Ute J. , McCormack Lauren A. , Uhrig Jennifer D.
Published: June 2007

Medicare provides insurance coverage for almost 35 million older Americans. To ensure that Medicare beneficiaries can make informed health insurance decisions, they need to understand their coverage and remain current with policy changes and new legislation that affect the Medicare program. This study explored whether reading habits and metamemory are related to older adults'knowledge of two primary components of the Medicare program, original Medicare and Medicare managed care (MMC). The sample included 1,111 Medicare beneficiaries aged 65 and older who participated in the Medicare Current Beneficiary Survey. Regression analyses indicated that reading habits and metamemory significantly predicted Medicare knowledge, even after controlling for education, time spent reading Medicare educational materials, and other variables previously found to be associated with knowledge. Results varied according to the type of knowledge measured, possibly due to greater cognitive functioning required to understand MMC plans.
Measuring the Effectiveness of Adult Day Care as a Facility to Support Family Caregivers of Dementia Patients
Authors: Schacke Claudia , Zank Susanne R.
Published: June 2007

This study reports findings from an evaluation of adult day care that are drawn from ANOVAs based on a comparative longitudinal design. To obtain a suitable outcome measure considering all relevant dimensions of caregiver stress, qualitative data from semistructured caregiving interviews were analyzed using content analytical techniques. Response scales were developed to assess the intensity of caregiving stress to allow for further statistical analyses. Results from the ANOVAs showed that use of day care significantly reduced conflicts between caregiving and job requirements, caregiving and family needs, and recreational constrictions. It is important to note that day care is effective in reducing specific, but not all, aspects of caregiving stress. For an adequate assessment of interventions meant to alleviate caregiving stress, the different dimensions of the concept must be considered.
Is Psychological Distress a Risk Factor for the Incidence of Diabetes Among American Indians? The Strong Heart Study
Authors: Daniels Mark C , Goldberg Jack , Jacobsen Clemma , Welty Thomas K.
Published: June 2007

This study was conducted to determine if psychological distress increases the risk of type2 diabetes in American Indians. A prospective cohort study of 919 individuals free of diabetes from 13 Native communities was conducted to determine who developed diabetes. Psychological distress was assessed at baseline (1993-1995) by the Mental Component Summary (MCS) of the Short Form-36. The risk of diabetes was estimated at follow-up (1997-1999) according to quartiles of the MCS score. There was no evidence of a trend between psychological distress and the development of diabetes (ptrend = .73). The risk of diabetes in individuals in the highest quartile (17.5%) was nearly identical to that in the lowest quartile (16.5%) (odds ratio = 1.1, 95% confidence interval 0.7-1.7). The absence of association persisted even after adjustment for known risk factors for diabetes. Thus the study concludes that psychological distress is not related to the incidence of diabetes in American Indians.
Self-Rated Health Among Adult Women of Mexican Origin
Authors: Wilkinson Anna V. , Hernández-Valero Maria A. , Etzel Carol J. , Barcenas Carlos H. , Spitz Margaret R. , Bondy Melissa L. , Strom Sara S.
Published: June 2007

Self-rated health (SRH), a consistent predictor of mortality among diverse populations, is sensitive to health indicators and social factors. American-born Hispanics report better SRH than their foreign-born counterparts but simultaneously report poorer health indicators and have shorter life expectancy. Using a matched prospective cross-sectional design, we analyzed data from 631 age-matched pairs of women, born in the United States or Mexico. The first goal was to describe the relationships between SRH and health behaviors, physician-diagnosed chronic conditions, acculturation, and socioeconomic status (SES) by birthplace. The second goal was to investigate the relative influence of these factors in explaining expected differences in SRH between the two groups. Number of chronic conditions reported, particularly depression, more strongly influenced SRH than SES, acculturation, birthplace, or reported health risk behaviors.
Validation of Four Measures of Social Support With Latina/o and Non-Hispanic White Undergraduates
Authors: Bordes Veronica , Sand Jennifer K. , Arredondo Patricia , Kurpius Sharon E. Robinson , Rayle Andrea Dixon
Published: June 2007

This study investigated the psychometric properties of the Perceived Social Support-Family and -Friends Scales, the Family Valuing of Education Scale, and the Mentoring Scale with Latina/o and non-Hispanic White college freshmen. When scores for 112 Latina/o and 597 non-Hispanic White freshmen were examined, strong reliability was found for the Perceived Social Support Scale scores and acceptable reliability for the Family Valuing of Education and Mentoring Scale scores for both groups. Evidence of concurrent validity was found for the Perceived Social Support-Friend and Mentoring Scale scores for Latina/o students. Evidence of construct and concurrent validity was found for both of the Social Support scales and the Mentoring Scale scores for non-Hispanic White students.
The Salience of Racial and Ethnic Identification in Friendship Choices Among Hispanic Adolescents
Authors: Kao Grace , Vaquera Elizabeth
Published: June 2007

Using data from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health, a nationally representative sample of youth in 7th to 12th grades, this study examines how racial and ethnic identification overlap among Hispanic adolescents ( N = 6,399). The study examines the choices of friends to evaluate the proximity of race and ethnic identifiers among Hispanics. The result show evidence that ethnicity and race are distinct stratifiers as evidenced by their friendship choices, but that ethnicity is more significant than race in determining the choice of friends of Hispanics. Racial identification of Hispanics is closely associated with choosing a friend of the same race, whether or not that person is Hispanic. Finally, when Hispanics interact with non-Hispanics, racial identity becomes another determinant of friendships.
Pædiatric HIV/AIDS
Authors: Roberts Jillian
Published: June 2007

The last few years has shown great advances in HIV/AIDS treatments. As a result, many HIV/AIDS infected children are living longer and attending school. Educational and psychological professionals will need to understand all of the factors influencing the developmental trajectory of HIV/AIDS infection in children to be able to accommodate their overall needs. With this aim in mind, the present article reviews pertinent American and Canadian research regarding the neurological and psychosocial implications of pædiatric HIV/AIDS. Suggestions regarding directions for future research in these areas is also offered.
The Validity of Functional Behavioral Assessment with Students of Average Intellectual Ability
Authors: Stage Scott A.
Published: June 2007

In the United States, functional behavioral assessment (FBA) is a new requirement of the 1997 Amendments to Individuals with Disabilities Education Act for students who exhibit challenging behavior. FBA has been extensively studied with persons with severe and profound intellectual disabilities within clinical settings. However, there is limited research with students with average intellectual ability in public education settings. This article reviews seven pertinent validity indices associated with FBA: external validity, content validity, convergent validity, criterion validity, treatment validity, social validity, and habilitative validity. In short, much research is needed to inform practitioners about conducting valid FBAwith students with average intellectual ability.
Enhancing Home-School Partnerships: How School Psychologists Can Help
Authors: Graham-Clay Susan
Published: June 2007

Parents and families are becoming increasingly involved in schools. School psychologists should be prepared to respond to this important and developing trend which will impact their work. Indeed, school psychologists are in a unique position to promote and enhance the potential partnership between school and home. This article provides a rationale, summarizes the literature on home-school partnerships, and describes a range of possible opportunities for the school psychologist to develop and enhance such partnerships. The potential barriers and benefits are considered.
Diagnostic Utility of WISC-III Subtest Variability among Students with Learning Disabilities
Authors: Watkins Marley W.
Published: June 2007

Psychologists have long conjectured that Wechsler subtest variability may be an indicator of learning disability. Research on intersubtest scatter (range) with previous Wechsler scales indicated that scatter could not reliably discriminate between disabled and nondisabled children. The Profile Variability Index (PVI) also failed to demonstrate adequate diagnostic utility with the WISC-R. The present study assessed the diagnostic utility of subtest variability indices on the WISC-III by comparing 684 student with learning disabilities to the 2,200 children in the standardization sample. Results of Receiver Operating Curve (ROC) analyses indicated that WISC-III subtest variability as quantified by range and variance exhibited no diagnostic utility in distinguishing between children with learning disabilities and children from the standardization sample. It was concluded that interpretation of WISC-III subtest variability has no place in the scientific practice of school psychology.
Development and Refinement of a Measure for Assessing the Acceptability of Assessment Methods: The Assessment Rating Profile-Revised
Authors: Eckert Tanya L. , Hintze John M. , Shapiro Edward S.
Published: June 2007

This paper describes the development and psychometric properties of the Assessment Rating Profile-Revised (ARP-R), an instrument designed to evaluate the acceptability of assessment methods. First, an overview of the initial exploratory work on the original scale, the Assessment Rating Profile (APR; Kratochwill & Van Someren, 1984), is provided. Research examining the reliability and validity of the ARP is reviewed and psychometric inadequacies are highlighted. Next, the results of a study examining the psychometric properties of the revised measure are reported. The results of the study indicated that the ARP-R demonstrated good internal consistency, with coefficients ranging from .94 to .99. Test-retest reliability across 1-, 3-, 6-, and 12-month intervals rangedfrom .82 to .85, suggesting adequate stability over time. Confirmatory factor analytic procedures indicated a reasonable fit of the data to the proposed one-factor model, “General Assessment Acceptability.” Lastly, suggestions are made regarding use of the ARP-R in applied and research settings.
Correlates of Mother-and Teacher-Ratings of Hyperactivity-Impulsivity and Inattention in Children with AD/HD
Authors: Schwean V. L. , Burt K. , Saklofske D. H.
Published: June 2007

This study examined whether the relationships between mother-versus teacher-rated hyperactivity-impulsivity and inattention, and cognitive, intellectual, academic, and behavioral competencies in children previously diagnosed with Attention Deficit-Hyperactivity Disorder (AD/HD) varied as afunction of the rater. Findings revealed variability between mother and teacher perceptions in how AD/HD primary symptomatology were expressed as well as in correlate patterns. While mothers were more likely to see hyperactivity-impulsivity and inattention as overlapping, teachers saw these dimensions as functionally distinct. Moreover, intellectual, academic, and behavioral correlates of the two dimensions differed depending on the who identified the hyperactivity-impulsivity and/or inattention.
Status Epilepticus and Acute Serial Seizures in Children
Authors: Mitchell Wendy G.
Published: June 2007

Status epilepticus is defined as a seizure that persists for a sufficient length of time or is repeated frequently enough to produce a fixed and enduring epileptic condition of 30 minutes or longer. Status epilepticus is a life-threatening condition that often occurs in children. The degree of mortality and neurologic morbidity, as well as the risk for recurrence, is highly dependent on the etiology and duration of the seizures. Although much has been written about pediatric status epilepticus, many issues remain unresolved. A better understanding of the different types of seizures and their etiologies may help in the prevention and treatment of status epilepticus. The vast extent of status epilepticus in both children and adults mandates that new options for prevention and treatment be given a close scrutiny and high priority. This article will review the most current information on convulsive and nonconvulsive status epilepticus, including the potential for neurologic damage, changes in magnetic resonance imaging after status epilepticus, risk for recurrence, and current treatment options available for treating status epilepticus in children. (J Child Neurol 2002; 17: S36—S43).
Antiepileptic Drug Selection in Pediatric Epilepsy
Authors: Crumrine Patricia K.
Published: June 2007

This review article presents information concerning treatment options for various pediatric epilepsy syndromes. The decisions made in the selection of antiepileptic drugs are determined by a number of variables that include, but are exclusive of, risk of seizure recurrence, patient age, epilepsy syndrome, known drug reactions, and prognosis of the epilepsy syndrome. The review discusses issues pertinent to antiepileptic drug selection including simple pharmacokinetic principles, antiepileptic drug formulations, and information concerning clinical studies using some of the antiepileptic drugs. Information is provided concerning the issues of seizure recurrence. Suggested paradigms for antiepileptic drug selection for partial seizures are provided. A table of antiepileptic drug costs is provided for assistance in prescribing and advising families. Psychosocial issues pertinent to the treatment of children are discussed. (J Child Neurol 2002;17:2S2—2S8).
Efficacy and Safety of Lamotrigine in Pediatric Patients
Authors: Messenheimer John
Published: June 2007

Accumulating data suggest that lamotrigine, which has been available for adult use in epilepsy for more than a decade in clinical practice, also confers effective, well-tolerated control of a range of childhood epilepsies. Lamotrigine is currently approved for the treatment of epilepsy by regulatory authorities in 93 countries, more than 70 of which have approved its use in pediatric patients on the basis of data from well-controlled clinical trials. The controlled clinical trials data have been supplemented over the years by clinical practice data, primarily from uncontrolled studies, confirming or demonstrating additional efficacy of lamotrigine for a range of seizure types. This article reviews the data from well-controlled clinical trials and studies conducted in clinical practice to present an updated perspective on the efficacy and safety of lamotrigine in pediatric patients. (J Child Neurol 2002;17:2S34—2S42).
Infantile Spasms and Lennox-Gastaut Syndrome
Authors: Trevathan Edwin
Published: June 2007

Infantile spasms and Lennox-Gastaut syndrome are rare but are important to child neurologists because of the intractable nature of the seizures and the serious neurologic comorbidities. New antiepileptic drugs offer more alternatives for treating both infantile spasms and Lennox-Gastaut syndrome. Selected children with infantile spasms are candidates for epilepsy surgery. Vagus nerve stimulation, corpus callosotomy, and the ketogenic diet are all options for selected children with Lennox-Gastaut syndrome. The epidemiology, clinical manifestations of the seizures, electroencephalographic characteristics, prognosis, and treatment options are reviewed for infantile spasms and Lennox-Gastaut syndrome. Additional therapies are needed for both infantile spasms and Lennox-Gastaut syndrome as many children fail to achieve adequate seizure control in spite of newer treatments. (J Child Neurol 2002;17:2S9—2S22).
Peripheral Markers of the γ-Aminobutyric Acid (GABA)ergic System in Angelman's Syndrome
Authors: Borgatti Renato , Piccinelli Paulo , Passoni Davide , Romeo Antonino , Viri Maurizio , Musumeci Sebastiano A. , Elia Maurizio , Cogliati Tiziana , Valseriati Daniela , Grasso Rita , Raggi Maria E. , Ferrarese Carlo
Published: June 2007

It has recently been demonstrated that patients with Angelman's syndrome who exhibited a deletion on cytogenetic tests show more severe clinical pictures with drug-resistant epilepsy than patients with Angelman's syndrome not carrying the deletion. To verify if this difference in clinical severity can be attributed to genes for the three γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA)A receptor subunits ( GABRB3, GABRA5, GABRG3) located in the deleted region, a possible modification of peripheral markers of the GABAergic system was investigated in 12 subjects with Angelman's syndrome and 20 age-matched subjects (8 with idiopathic epilepsy and 12 not affected by neurologic diseases). The results confirmed a more severe clinical picture, and epilepsy syndrome in particular, in Angelman's syndrome patients with deletions versus patients without deletions. In contrast, biochemical study (based on dosage of plasma levels of GABA and diazepam binding inhibitor, an endogenous ligand of GABAA and peripheral benzodiazepine receptors, showed contradictory results: patients with Angelman's syndrome showed significantly higher levels of GABA and diazepam binding inhibitor than patients without neurologic impairment but significantly lower levels than epileptic controls. ( J Child Neurol 2003; 18: 21—25).
Atypical Features of Medulloblastoma on Magnetic Resonance Imaging
Authors: Lopez-Alberola Robert , Bhattacharjee Meena , Borne Jessica , Lee Deborah A.
Published: June 2007

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is the radiologic modality of choice used to evaluate suspected lesions in the posterior fossa, given its greater sensitivity compared with other neuroimaging techniques. The case of a 9-year-old girl with progressive ataxia is presented. MRI of the brain demonstrated nonspecific T 2 -weighted abnormalities involving the cerebellar vermis with minimal mass effect suggested by asymmetric enlargement of the left superior cerebellar peduncle. Postgadolinium studies showed only minimal enhancement of the left superior cerebellar peduncle. After an MRI of the spine demonstrated drop metastases, a cerebellar biopsy was performed, which revealed an infiltrating medulloblastoma confined to the granular layer and leptomeninges. Hence, MRI is an important ancillary tool in the diagnosis of medulloblastoma, but caution needs to be taken when interpreting imaging studies. ( J Child Neurol 2003; 18: 64—67).
Neurofibromatosis—Noonan's Syndrome With Associated Rhabdomyosarcoma of the Urinary Bladder in an Infant: Case Report
Authors: Agras Pinar Isik , Baskin Esra , Sakallioglu A. Ebru , Arda I. Serdar , Ayter Sükriye , Oguzkan Sibel , Derbent Murat , Alehan Füsun , Hicsonmez Akgün , Saatci Umit
Published: June 2007

Neurofibromatosis 1 is an autosomal dominant disorder. Noonan's syndrome is known to be associated with neurofibromatoses. Patients with neurofibromatosis are predisposed to developing malignant tumors. The relationship between the genetic changes in the neurofibromin gene and mechanisms associated with tumor development in neurofibromatosis has been investigated. A nonsense mutation C2446T→R816X of the neurofibromin gene has been detected in some patients with the neurofibromatosis 1—Noonan's syndrome phenotype. We describe a case of an infant with the overlapping features of neurofibromatosis 1 and Noonan's syndrome who presented with rhabdomyosarcoma of the urinary bladder. The genetic analysis of our patient revealed neither mutation in the neurofibromatosis 1—guanosine triphosphatase-activating protein-related domain nor the R816X nonsense mutation. The phenotypic and genotypic features of neurofibromatosis, Noonan's syndrome, and cases with the overlapping features of both syndromes have been reviewed. The presentation of our case underlines the importance of careful examination for the clinical features of neurofibromatosis and phenotypic traits of associated diseases, especially in patients with malignant tumors. ( J Child Neurol 2003; 18: 68—72).
Early-Onset Occipital Idiopathic Epilepsy: A Syndrome To Be Treated?
Authors: Lanzi Giovanni , Longaretti Francesca , Romeo Antonino , Capovilla Giuseppe , Granocchio Elisa , Viri Maurizio , Veggiotti Pierangelo
Published: June 2007

The purpose of this study was to evaluate prognostic factors in early-onset childhood epilepsy with occipital paroxysms. We studied retrospectively a population of 46 patients, which was divided into three groups according to seizure frequency: group 1, patients experiencing a single seizure (33%); group 2, patients experiencing two to six seizures (48%); and group 3, patients experiencing more than six seizures (20%). The mean follow-up period was about 5 years in the three groups. At the end of the first 6 months of this retrospective follow-up, the average number of seizures was higher in group 3 (2.9 seizures) than in groups 2 and 1 (1.8 and 1 seizure, respectively). We suggest that low seizure frequency in the first 6 months of follow-up could have prognostic value. We propose that the introduction of anti-epilepsy drugs be delayed for 6 months following epilepsy onset and be subsequently limited to patients with frequent seizure recurrence. ( J Child Neurol 2003; 18: 72—74).
Topical Review: Fetal and Neonatal Neurologic Case Histories: Assessment of Brain Disorders in the Context of Fetal-Maternal-Placental Disease. Part 1: Fetal Neurologic Consultations in the Context of Antepartum Events and Prenatal Brain Development
Authors: Scher Mark S.
Published: June 2007

The pediatric neurologist can contribute to a fetal diagnostic service that includes the maternal-fetal specialist as well as placental and pediatric pathologists, neonatologists, neurosurgeons, geneticists, and other pediatric subspecialists. Selected case histories of patients who presented to our fetal neurology service illustrate the wide spectrum of disease entities that are highly dependent on the time during gestation, location of brain injury, and the direct as well as indirect effects of fetal/maternal/placental disease processes on brain maturation. The pediatric neurologist has the opportunity to provide an important consultative role, bridging prenatal to neonatal life and integrating medical and ethical concerns for the child in the context of the family. ( J Child Neurol 2003; 18:85—92).
Extrapontine Myelinolysis in a Pediatric Case of Diabetic Ketoacidosis and Cerebral Edema
Authors: Bonkowsky Joshua L. , Filloux Francis M.
Published: June 2007

Central pontine and extrapontine myelinolysis are characterized by symmetric demyelination following rapid shifts in serum osmolality, although in extrapontine myelinolysis, demyelination is confined to the supratentorial compartment. We present a case of extrapontine myelinolysis in a 17-year-old female that occurred in the setting of diabetic ketoacidosis, cerebral edema, mannitol therapy, and meningitis. The rate of correction of this patient's glucose and electrolyte levels was within well-accepted limits. Extrapontine myelinolysis is rare in pediatric patients: there are only 12 reports of extrapontine myelinolysis in children under age 20 years and no pediatric cases of extrapontine myelinolysis or central pontine myelinolysis associated with diabetic ketoacidosis. We review the published cases of extrapontine myelinolysis and examine the underlying etiologies and electrolyte disturbances that characterize these cases. This case expands the list of conditions in which extrapontine myelinolysis occurs to include pediatric patients with complicated diabetic ketoacidosis, emphasizing the importance of sudden osmolar shifts in the genesis of this disorder. ( J Child Neurol 2003; 18: 144—147).
Cranial Ultrasonography Has a Low Sensitivity for Detecting Arterial Ischemic Stroke in Term Neonates
Authors: Golomb Meredith R. , Dick Paul T. , MacGregor Daune L. , Armstrong Derek C. , deVeber Gabrielle A.
Published: June 2007

The aim of this study was to investigate the sensitivity of cranial ultrasonography for detecting acute arterial ischemic stroke in term neonates. Thirty-six neonates with gestational age 36 weeks who had cranial ultrasonography followed by computed tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) confirming arterial ischemic stroke were identified from a consecutive cohort study of all children diagnosed with arterial ischemic stroke by CT or MRI and seen at Chedoke McMaster Hospital between January 1992 and December 1998 or at The Hospital for Sick Children between January 1992 and December 2000. Cranial ultrasonography demonstrated focal abnormalities in 11 patients, giving the initial cranial ultrasonography a sensitivity of 30.5% for identifying neonates with infarction (95% CI 15.5—45.5%). The sensitivity of cranial ultrasonography performed in the two pediatric referral centers (Chedoke McMaster Hospital and Hospital for Sick Children; n = 19) was higher than that in community hospitals ( n = 17) (47.3% versus 11.7%; P =.031). Neonates with suspected infarction should be evaluated with CT or MRI. ( J Child Neurol 2003; 18: 98—103).
Microcephaly, Cerebellar Atrophy, and Focal Segmental Glomerulosclerosis in Two Brothers: A Possible Mild Form of Galloway-Mowat Syndrome
Authors: Shiihara Takashi , Kato Mitsuhiro , Kimura Toshiyuki , Matsunaga Akira , Joh Kensuke , Hayasaka Kiyoshi
Published: June 2007

We report two brothers with microcephaly, cerebellar atrophy, and focal segmental glomerulosclerosis. The elder brother showed nephrotic syndrome from 2 years of age and died of renal failure at 8 years of age. The younger brother showed mild proteinuria from 2 years of age, and his renal function was still preserved at 15 years of age. We propose that our patients may be affected with a mild form of Galloway-Mowat syndrome or another autosomal recessive syndrome with focal segmental glomerulosclerosis and central nervous system abnormalities. ( J Child Neurol 2003;18:147—149).