ADHD Rating Scale-IV: Checklists, Norms, and Clinical Interpretation

The ADHD Rating Scale-IV attempts to measure behaviors associated with ADHD and its DSM-IV subtypes. The scale was developed to closely approximate the DSM-IV diagnostic criteria for ADHD primarily inattentive subtype, ADHD primarily hyperactive-impulsivity subtype, and ADHD combined subtype. This is an 18-item scale to be completed by the parent and/or guardian or teacher of a 4- to 20-year-old student. There are two separate versions of this scale: the home (also available in Spanish) and the school version. The administration of both versions is preferable, particularly for subtype specification. The ADHD Rating Scale-IV has adequate reliability and validity, although some of the technical aspects suggest caution when using this scale. The standardization sample closely matches the 1990 census data on ethnic group and region. However, limited and generalized information is provided on the socioeconomic status of the participants. No information is provided on the urban/rural residence status and the parent education levels of the norm population. Limited information is provided on the education classroom for the normative participants (i.e., special education vs. general education). The only information provided is for the school version normative group (91% general education and 8% special education), and then there is no discussion of how this breakdown compares to the school district or the population in general. The limited cell size for ethnic groups restricts interpretation of the ADHD Rating Scale-IV with minority populations. Data were not provided separately for different ethnic groups. The authors caution a possible overidentification of African Americans. When sample participants were grouped by ADHD subtype, no individuals qualified for the ADHD primarily hyperactive-impulsive subtype. This limits the use of the ADHD Rating Scale-IV as a measure of this subtype. Considering the low specificity ratings for the ADHD primarily inattentive and ADHD combined subtypes, this scale should be used with caution and in conjunction with other measures for subtype specific diagnoses. The ADHD Rating Scale-IV has other limitations as well. As mentioned, the ADHD Rating Scale-IV results are limited for use with ethnic minority groups, particularly African Americans. In general, more research is needed to determine the best use of the ADHD Rating Scale-IV as it differs by setting, version (home or school), referral source, and subtype functioning. Nonetheless, many clinicians will find the ADHD Rating Scale-IV a useful screening tool. It is user friendly and time efficient for the parent, teacher, and clinician. It can also be a valuable tool as a treatment outcome measure when employing the RCI formula, assuming a pretreatment rating is obtained. The ADHD Rating Scale-IV is a good tool for gathering essential information in an initial ADHD referral despite its limitations

Enhancing Academic Engagement: Providing Opportunities for Responding and Influencing Students to Choose to Respond

Although educators often provide opportunities for students to engage in active academic responding, in many situations, students either cannot or will not respond. In the current article, we analyze the reasons students fail to respond. Practical procedures educators can use to prevent can\u27t do problems are provided. Won\u27t do problems are conceptualized as choice behaviors. Both applied and theoretical research on choice behavior provides the basis for recommendations designed to enhance the probability of students choosing to engage in active accurate academic (AAA) responding. Such procedures can increase skill development and achievement while decreasing inappropriate behaviors that are incompatible with AAA responding. School psychologists may utilize this information during the initial stages of collaborative problem solving (e.g., consultation) to help conceptualize problems. This conceptualization may then guide the assessment and intervention processes

Supplementing Accelerated Reading with Class-wide Interdependent Group-Oriented Contingencies

An across-groups (classrooms), multiple-baseline design was used to investigate the effects of an interdependent group-oriented contingency on the Accelerated Reader (AR) performance of fourth-grade students. A total of 32 students in three classes participated. Before the study began, an independent group-oriented reward program was being applied (i.e., a student received access to a tangible reward after passing each AR comprehension test). This program was supplemented with an interdependent group-oriented contingency, and results showed that the number of quizzes passed per week increased immediately after the intervention was applied; however, this increase was not maintained. When students were divided into ability groups based on their average baseline performance, the lowest performing students exhibited a statistically significant increase in quiz performance (i.e., quizzes taken, quizzes passed, and book level), but no significant changes were found in the average and high performing groups

Linking Theoretical Models to Actual Practices: A Survey of Teachers in Gifted Education

A regional survey of teachers of gifted and talented (G/T) programs, grades kindergarten through nine, in a southeastern state, was carried out. The principle foci of the survey were on theoretical models identified and used by teachers, and the importance of perceived outcome goals for children who are gifted. Respondents claimed awareness of several models of intervention but varied widely in the use of these models. Implications of the disparity between awareness and use of models are discussed. Outcome goals ranked by respondents varied in order, based on three grade level groupings of the teachers, most likely indicating changing perceptions of developmental needs as children progress through grade levels

High-throughput SNP genotyping in the highly heterozygous genome of Eucalyptus: assay success, polymorphism and transferability across species

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>High-throughput SNP genotyping has become an essential requirement for molecular breeding and population genomics studies in plant species. Large scale SNP developments have been reported for several mainstream crops. A growing interest now exists to expand the speed and resolution of genetic analysis to outbred species with highly heterozygous genomes. When nucleotide diversity is high, a refined diagnosis of the target SNP sequence context is needed to convert queried SNPs into high-quality genotypes using the Golden Gate Genotyping Technology (GGGT). This issue becomes exacerbated when attempting to transfer SNPs across species, a scarcely explored topic in plants, and likely to become significant for population genomics and inter specific breeding applications in less domesticated and less funded plant genera.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>We have successfully developed the first set of 768 SNPs assayed by the GGGT for the highly heterozygous genome of <it>Eucalyptus </it>from a mixed Sanger/454 database with 1,164,695 ESTs and the preliminary 4.5X draft genome sequence for <it>E. grandis</it>. A systematic assessment of <it>in silico </it>SNP filtering requirements showed that stringent constraints on the SNP surrounding sequences have a significant impact on SNP genotyping performance and polymorphism. SNP assay success was high for the 288 SNPs selected with more rigorous <it>in silico </it>constraints; 93% of them provided high quality genotype calls and 71% of them were polymorphic in a diverse panel of 96 individuals of five different species.</p> <p>SNP reliability was high across nine <it>Eucalyptus </it>species belonging to three sections within subgenus Symphomyrtus and still satisfactory across species of two additional subgenera, although polymorphism declined as phylogenetic distance increased.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>This study indicates that the GGGT performs well both within and across species of <it>Eucalyptus </it>notwithstanding its nucleotide diversity ≥2%. The development of a much larger array of informative SNPs across multiple <it>Eucalyptus </it>species is feasible, although strongly dependent on having a representative and sufficiently deep collection of sequences from many individuals of each target species. A higher density SNP platform will be instrumental to undertake genome-wide phylogenetic and population genomics studies and to implement molecular breeding by Genomic Selection in <it>Eucalyptus</it>.</p

Model-based design for seizure control by stimulation

ObjectiveCurrent brain stimulation paradigms are largely empirical rather than theoretical. An opportunity exists to improve upon their modest effectiveness in closed-loop control strategies with the development of theoretically grounded, model-based designs.ApproachInspired by this need, here we couple experimental data and mathematical modeling with a control-theoretic strategy for seizure termination. We begin by exercising a dynamical systems approach to model seizures (n = 94) recorded using intracranial EEG (iEEG) from 21 patients with medication-resistant, localization-related epilepsy.Main resultsAlthough each patient's seizures displayed unique spatial and temporal patterns, their evolution can be parsimoniously characterized by the same model form. Idiosyncracies of the model can inform individualized intervention strategies, specifically in iEEG samples with well-localized seizure onset zones. Temporal fluctuations in the spatial profiles of the oscillatory modes show that seizure onset marks a transition into a regime in which the underlying system supports prolonged rhythmic and focal activity. Based on these observations, we propose a control-theoretic strategy that aims to stabilize ictal activity using static output feedback for linear time-invariant switching systems. Finally, we demonstrate in silico that our proposed strategy allows us to dampen the emerging focal oscillatory sources using only a small set of electrodes.SignificanceOur integrative study informs the development of modulation and control algorithms for neurostimulation that could improve the effectiveness of implantable, closed-loop anti-epileptic devices

Variables affecting penetrance of gastric and duodenal phenotype in familial adenomatous polyposis patients

Abstract Background Patients with familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP) frequently undergo colectomy to reduce the 70 to 90% lifetime risk of colorectal cancer. After risk-reducing colectomy, duodenal cancer and complications from duodenal surgeries are the main cause of morbidity. Our objective was to prospectively describe the duodenal and gastric polyp phenotype in a cohort of 150 FAP patients undergoing pre-screening for a chemoprevention trial and analyze variables that may affect recommendations for surveillance. Methods Individuals with a diagnosis of FAP underwent prospective esophagogastroduodenoscopy using a uniform system of mapping of size and number of duodenal polyps for a 10 cm segment. Gastric polyps were recorded as the total number. Results The distribution of the count and sum diameter of duodenal polyps were statistically different in two genotype groups, those with APC mutations associated with classic FAP had a greater count (median 17) and sum diameter of polyps (median 32 mm) than those with APC mutations associated with attenuated FAP (median count 4 and median sum diameter of 7 mm) (p < 0.0001). The number of gastric polyps did not differ based on genotype (p = 0.67) but advancing age correlated with severity of gastric polyposis (p = 0.019). Spigelman (modified) staging of II or greater was found in 88% of classic FAP patients and 48% attenuated FAP patients. Examples of severe and mild upper GI phenotype are observed in patients with identical APC mutations, showing that the APC mutation location is not absolutely predictive of an upper GI phenotype. Conclusions Most FAP patients have duodenal and gastric polyps which become more prevalent and advanced with age. Standard upper endoscopic surveillance is recommended based on personal history independent of APC mutation location. Trial registration NCT 01187901 registered August 24, 2010, prospective to enrollment