Estimation in a growth study with irregular measurement times

Between 1982 and 1988 a growth study was carried out at the Division of Pediatric Oncology of the University Hospital of Groningen. A special feature of the project was that sample sizes are small and that ages at entry may be very different. In addition the intended design was not fully complied with. This paper highlights some aspects of the statistical analysis which is based on (1) reference scores, (2) statistical procedures allowing for an irregular pattern of measurement times caused by missing data and shifted measurement times

Dentist and orthodontist. A vision for the future

The Advisory Committee on the future of dentistry in the Netherlands recommends to deliver dental care through oral health care teams consisting of dental hygienists, dental assistants and other oral health care workers with extended qualifications with a new dental professional, the oral physician, as the director of those teams. What does this mean for the orthodontist?As modern orthodontics is far more multidisciplinary than in the past a structured collaboration between the orthodontist and the oral physician under one roof will be the future, probably supported by a management service organisation. Furthermore a quality system for orthodontic professionalssuch as the one that was developed though the EURO-QUAl-network needs to be established. And finally, orthodontists should change their clinical behaviour by applying evidence-based treatment strategies. It is clear that these developments need to be tailored in a European context

Sociological and Human Developmental Explanations of Crime: Conflict or Consensus

This paper examines multidisciplinary correlates of delinquency in an attempt to integrate sociological and environmental theories of crime with human developmental and biological explanations of crime. Structural equation models are applied to assess links among biological, psychological, and environmental variables collected prospectively from birth through age 17 on a sample of 800 black children at high risk for learning and behavioral disorders. Results show that for both males and females, aggression and disciplinary problems in school during adolescence are the strongest predictors of repeat offense behavior. Whereas school achievement and family income and stability are also significant predictors of delinquency for males, early physical development is the next strongest predictor for females. Results indicate that some effects on delinquency also vary during different ages. It is suggested that behavioral and learning disorders have both sociological and developmental correlates and that adequate educational resources are necessary to ensure channels of legitimate opportunities for high-risk youths