Psychopathy and Physiological Activity In a Mixed-Motive Game Situation

Heart rate (HR) and skin conductance (SC) were recorded while 17 psychopathic (P) and 17 nonpsychopathic (NP) inmates (referred to as A) were engaged in a mixed-motive game situation with another S (referred to as B). On each trial A had to choose the intensity of shock to be delivered to himself and to B. B then was given a chance to retaliate, although his choices were actually overridden by the experimenter. A 10 sec tone (CS) preceded delivery of shock to each S. There were no differences between Groups P and NP in the intensity of shock chosen for themselves and for the other (B) Ss. Compared with Group NP, Group P gave small unconditioned skin conductance (SC) responses to shock directly received and to shocks delivered to the other S. There were no differences between groups in the unconditioned HR response to either direct shock (acceleration) or to shocks delivered to the other S (slight deceleration). Group P gave small electrodermal orienting responses (ORs) and anticipatory responses (ARs) to the CS preceding shock to self and shock to other; Group NP gave relatively large ORs and ARs to the CS preceding shock to self, and small ones prior to shock to other. Both Groups gave a biphasic conditioned HR response–acceleration followed by deceleration; each component was larger in Group P than in Group NP, and the acceleratory component in Group P appeared on the first trial. The electrodermal data were consistent with the view that psychopaths experience little fear arousal prior to reception of aversive stimuli by themselves or by others. It was suggested that the anticipatory HR responses of the psychopathic Ss were part of an adaptive response that helped them to cope with stress.     

An outbreak of trichinellosis in farmed wild boar in Finland

Nine farmed wild boar out of 25 slaughtered from a single farm were condemned at meat inspection because of trichinellosis. With RAPD-PCR, Trichinella spiralis was identified in all positive wild boar. Out of the available serum samples (n=7), all wild boar which had failed the meat inspection showed seroconversion in ELISA and Western blotting, as did one additional animal which had passed the inspection. The animals became infected during an invasion of rats from an improperly closed dump near the farm. Unfortunately, by the time trichinellosis was discovered in the wild boar, the invasion had already been brought under control; thus, no samples from rats were available. However, having lived through the rat invasion was shown to be a risk factor for trichinellosis in wild boar (relative risk, RR=6.3). In wildlife samples from surrounding areas, sylvatic trichinellosis was found to be very common (74%; n= 19 red foxes). Intriguingly, the prevalent species in trichinella-positive foxes differed from that in wild boar, Trichinella nativa and T. spiralis being found in 12 foxes and in one fox, respectively.     

Microcomputer Automated System for Measuring Systolic Time Intervals in Response to Exercise and a Psychophysiological Task

A microcomputer automated system for measuring systolic time intervals is described. Electrocardiogram, phonocardiogram, and carotid pulse tracings were measured in 38 healthy male subjects during baseline conditions and during either exercise on a bicycle ergometer or a video-game task. These measurements were recorded on both a traditional 3-channel ECG recorder and the computerized system. Both methods of recording systolic time intervals were independently scored by two different experimenters. In this way, interrater reliability of hand-scoring, intermethod reliability between hand-scoring versus computer-scoring, and interrater reliability of computer-scoring could be assessed. The interrater reliabilities of hand-scored systolic time intervals were generally above .90, ranging from .73 for left ventricular ejection time to .99 for R-R intervals of the ECG, with a mean of .92. The intermethod reliability of the computer versus hand-scored systolic time intervals also proved to be generally above .90, ranging from .76 for S1-S2 components of the phonocardiogram to .99 for R-R, with a mean of .94. The interrater reliabilities of the computer-scored systolic time intervals were all above .90, ranging from .93 for S1-S2 to .99 for R-R, with a mean of .98. These data indicate that the computerized method of scoring systolic time intervals is at least as reliable as the more traditional scoring of paper tracing.     

大学生电脑游戏成瘾量表的编制和信效度检验

目的:编制适合大学生使用的电脑游戏成瘾量表(CGAI),并检验其信效度。方法:对477份来自北京市8所大学大学生的CGAI测试结果进行探索性因素分析,对405份来自北京市5所大学大学生的CGAI测试结果进行验证性因素分析。结果:探索性因素分析获得33个条目的CGAI问卷,分为4个因素可解释总方差的55·1%,四个维度依次为:依赖/成瘾行为表现维度、情绪唤起维度、功能损害维度、对现状羞耻或不满维度;验证性因素分析验证了4因素模型,其结果为χ2/df=2·304;IFI=0·885;CFI=0·884;NFI=0·813;RSMEA=0·057。该问卷的内部一致性信度(r=0·77~0·94)、重测信度(r=0·907,P<0·001)和效标效度(成瘾组被试CGAI四维度评分均高于正常对照组)均符合测量学的要求。结论:该量表具有良好的信度和效度,可在大学生中使用。     

Parenting and Digital Games

This article focuses on parenting and children's game play. The study is based on an ethnographic study of 32 American middle-class families and takes a discourse analytic approach. Earlier research has argued that parenting styles are dependent on social class, ethnicity, and gender. The present data reveal considerable diversity in how middle-class parents deal with game play, which is currently one of the most common child and youth leisure activities. This diversity is seen across stances taken within the same interview and across interviews. It is argued that differences in middle-class families' parenting styles are related to their view of the child and their stance on game technology. In addition, talk about parenting reveals parents' construction of good and bad parenting, where they see themselves as belonging to the former category.     

Purpura of the chin: Two consecutive cases

Two healthy children, a 10-year-old boy and a 13-year-old girl, both with no previous medical history, unrelated, presented with pinpoint purpura of the chin and the upper lip. It had appeared 2 days before and extended from the chin to the lower lip. Neither had fever or recent trauma, nor had they taken any medication. Their vital parameters and physical examination were normal. Their peripheral blood cell counts and coagulation parameters were normal. A week later, upon the follow-up consultation, the purpuric lesions had disappeared and both children reported they had played the glass game.     

19例护理不良事件原因分析与管理对策探讨

目的：分析护理不良事件发生的原因与特点，探讨如何采取持续有效的改进措施，减少不良事件的发生。方法回顾性分析综合内科病房2011年6月～2012年12月发生的19例护理不良事件，对不良事件发生原因及逐年发生情况进行分析对比。结果2011年发生7例护理不良事件，其中违反护理核心制度6例、针刺伤1例；2012年发生12例护理不良事件，其中违反护理核心制度3例、针刺伤2例、非计划性拔管3例、跌倒2例、压疮2例。结论护理管理者应根据护理不良事件的原因和特点，不断制定、完善整改措施，以达到减少不良事件的发生，提高护理安全的目的。