Parenting-related stress and psychological distress in mothers of toddlers with autism spectrum disorders

Parents of children with autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) are at risk for higher stress levels than parents of children with other developmental disabilities and typical development. Recent advances in early diagnosis have resulted in younger children being diagnosed with ASDs but factors associated with parent stress in this age group are not well understood

Post hoc Analysis for Detecting Individual Rare Variant Risk Associations Using Probit Regression Bayesian Variable Selection Methods in Case-Control Sequencing Studies

Rare variants (RVs) have been shown to be significant contributors to complex disease risk. By definition, these variants have very low minor allele frequencies and traditional single-marker methods for statistical analysis are underpowered for typical sequencing study sample sizes. Multimarker burden-type approaches attempt to identify aggregation of RVs across case-control status by analyzing relatively small partitions of the genome, such as genes. However, it is generally the case that the aggregative measure would be a mixture of causal and neutral variants, and these omnibus tests do not directly provide any indication of which RVs may be driving a given association. Recently, Bayesian variable selection approaches have been proposed to identify RV associations from a large set of RVs under consideration. Although these approaches have been shown to be powerful at detecting associations at the RV level, there are often computational limitations on the total quantity of RVs under consideration and compromises are necessary for large-scale application. Here, we propose a computationally efficient alternative formulation of this method using a probit regression approach specifically capable of simultaneously analyzing hundreds to thousands of RVs. We evaluate our approach to detect causal variation on simulated data and examine sensitivity and specificity in instances of high RV dimensionality as well as apply it to pathway-level RV analysis results from a prostate cancer (PC) risk case-control sequencing study. Finally, we discuss potential extensions and future directions of this work

Optimization of an internally finned rotating heat pipe.

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Mental Accounting and Saving Behavior

This study examines the validity of the mental‐accounting concept. Three hierarchical mental accounts are conceptually identified, representing a continuum from most basic (ACCT1) to least basic (ACCT3) needs, and empirically formed. Families are hypothesized to have different marginal propensities to consume from different mental accounts, and two related hypotheses are developed. Using data from 1983 and 1986 Surveys of Consumer Finances, estimates of stock adjustment models indicate that all families at low‐, middle‐, and high‐income level adjusted their savings from real stocks to desirable stocks fastest in ACCT3 and slowest in ACCT1. In the middle‐income sample, results showed that savings in ACCT1 at the end of the previous period had the largest negative influence on changes in ACCT2 and ACCT3, and savings in ACCT3 had the least influence on changes in the other two accounts, over one period of time. These findings supported the hypotheses derived from the mental‐accounting assumption. 1993 American Association of Family and Consumer Science

Effects of relative advantage on time use in farm families

An assumption of comparative advantage (CA) is that all members in efficient households specialize in market or household work. The CA for Oregon farm households was measured by differences between husbands and wives in wages and schooling for nonfarm work, and in farm decision-making responsibility and years lived on a farm for farm work. The spouse with the advantage is assumed to spend more time in that work sector and less time in household work than his (her) spouse. The hypothesis is supported for market work. For farm decision making, results are consistent with the hypothesis but not significant. Years lived on a farm is consistent for husbands, but wives who have the CA do significantly less farm work than wives of men who hold the CA. Experience may not be a good measure of CA, or perhaps farm work provides process satisfaction to farm men (and their wives) who work longer hours. © 1996 Human Sciences Press, Inc

Factors Associated with Emergency Food Recipient\u27s Information Search

Data from a survey of emergency food recipients conducted in a northwestern state were used to identify factors associated with recipient\u27s information search behavior when they sought emergency food help. Results from logistic and general linear multiple regressions indicated that age, phone possession, family income, and household size influenced the use of interpersonal communication as information sources. Age, number of years in residence, television possession, food box usage food stamp usage, and working status affected the use of free‐food‐distributing agencies as information sources. The choice of other information sources differed by gender, life satisfaction status, food stamp usage family income, education, and household size. The use of media as information sources was affected by food box usage, education, life satisfaction status, and household size. Recipients who had more information sources were those who used more food boxes and food stamps, females, and those who had no telephones at home. 1995 American Association of Family and Consumer Science

Chronic Postoperative Endophthalmitis Associated With Actinomyces Species

• Actinomyces species, gram-positive, non—spore-forming anaerobic bacilli were isolated from intraocular fluid obtained from four otherwise healthy patients with a delayed onset of postoperative endophthalmitis. One patient had a mixed anaerobic infection with recovery of both Actinomyces israelii and Propionibacterium acnes. In all four patients, early postoperative visual acuity was good but was eventually markedly reduced by intraocular inflammation that was first observed between 21 days and 4 months following uneventful extracapsular cataract extraction and posterior chamber intraocular lens implantation. Inflammation was characterized by anterior segment and vitreous cellular debris in all cases. All eyes responded to therapy that included intraocular, topical, and systemic antibiotics as well as pars plana vitrectomy and partial iridectomy. These cases further illustrate the need for microbiologic investigation, including anaerobic cultures, in all cases of chronic postoperative inflammation following extracapsular cataract extraction, regardless of the time of onset

Time demands on families: Is there a bottom line?

As families continue to adapt to interpersonal and marketplace pressures, time available for household production is becoming scarce. The purpose of the study reported here is to explore the utility of regional economic analyses in determining minimal levels of household production as measured in terms of time. The results provide a minimum family time required in the long term of approximately 35 hours per week and a short term requirement of 2 hours per week. Theoretical frameworks used in family science are integrated in the discussion to explain these findings