ABSTRACT
When in gliding flight, gulls are observed to adopt a drooped wing-tip configuration. This paper investigates whether this configuration might represent an aerodynamic optimum or if it is the result of constraints imposed by the gull's anatomy. A computational model was developed for the aerodynamic performance of a gull in gliding flight. This model was used in conjunction with both global and local optimizers to determine the most aerodynamically optimal configuration for cases where the gull was constrained to move its wing within its natural flapping cycle as well as when the wing had full freedom of motion. The results of this analysis determined the best wing configuration for a gull in gliding flight and demonstrated that such a configuration not only had the highest lift-to-drag ratio but also could be achieved within the constraints of the kinematics of the gull wing. These results are of interest outside studies of gulls, since the drooped wing-tip configuration could be relevant for new designs of small air vehicles.
Subject(s)
Aircraft , Biomimetics/instrumentation , Biomimetics/methods , Charadriiformes/physiology , Flight, Animal/physiology , Models, Biological , Wings, Animal/physiology , Animals , Charadriiformes/anatomy & histology , Computer Simulation , Equipment Design , Equipment Failure Analysis , Friction , Pressure , Rheology/methods , Stress, Mechanical , Wings, Animal/anatomy & histologyABSTRACT
The current study examined the presence of anxiety in children with suicide ideation. From a sample of 100 inpatients, children who displayed suicide ideation (n = 27) were selected and divided into two groups, high and low anxiety. Findings indicated that children with suicide ideation and anxiety were less happy and satisfied, experienced more negative life events, and were more distractible and intense than children with suicide ideation only. Additionally, according to their self-reports, parents of children with high anxiety reported more obsessive-compulsive and anxiety symptoms as well as greater hostility than parents of children with low anxiety. The authors have identified a subgroup of children with suicide ideation who are highly anxious and can be termed as experiencing "anxious suicidality."
Subject(s)
Anxiety/psychology , Suicide/psychology , Child , Female , Humans , Male , Surveys and QuestionnairesABSTRACT
This study examined the effects of parental hostility on the families of 100 psychiatrically hospitalized children. Parents and their children were administered an assessment battery. The results for families who scored high on parental hostility were compared to families with low parental hostility. Parents who exhibited high hostility scored differently on a variety of temperament constructs (e.g., lower adaptability, worse mood, and lower rhythmicity) than parents who scored low in hostility. High parental hostility was also associated with an elevated level of family relation problems, which includes family effectiveness and cohesion.
Subject(s)
Family Health , Hostility , Mental Disorders/psychology , Parents/psychology , Child , Female , Humans , Male , Social Adjustment , Statistics, Nonparametric , Temperament , United StatesABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: To examine the individual and family characteristics of children and adolescents with high levels of hopelessness. METHOD: One hundred inpatient youngsters participated in the study. Several measures, including the Hopelessness Scale for Children, Problem Behavior Scale of the Scales of Independent Behavior, Social Support Questionnaire-Revised, Pediatric Anger Expression Scale, and Differential Emotions Scale, were used to compare differences between youngsters who scored high or low on hopelessness. RESULTS: The results indicated that youngsters with high hopelessness scores tended to perceive their families and peers as providing little support, to express their anger overtly and aggressively, and to demonstrate more negative emotions than youngsters with low hopelessness scores. CONCLUSIONS: Hopelessness in youths appears to be associated with a specific pattern of behavioral and emotional problems. Clinical implications of the findings include integrating anger management, emotional expression interventions, and involving the family in treatment to enhance the social support network of youngsters with high levels of hopelessness.
Subject(s)
Adolescent Psychiatry , Affective Symptoms/psychology , Depressive Disorder/psychology , Self Concept , Social Support , Adolescent , Anger , Child , Family Characteristics , Family Therapy , Female , Hospitalization , Humans , Male , Psychiatric Status Rating ScalesABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: This clinical and descriptive study examined the existence, phenomenology, and frequency of dysthymic disorder in a sample of clinically referred preschool children. In addition, the frequency of DSM-IV symptoms and the alternative research criterion for dysthymic disorder were investigated. METHOD: Three hundred consecutive preschool admissions (aged 2 to 6 years) to a child development unit were given a comprehensive evaluation by a treatment team. Data were collected from multiple informants based on the suitability of each source. RESULTS: The findings indicated that eight children met criteria for dysthymic disorder according to the DSM-IV criteria and the alternative research criterion for dysthymic disorder. CONCLUSIONS: The results support the existence of dysthymic disorder in preschool-age children. Recommendations are made for future versions of DSM as well as the appropriateness and significance of various sources of information, such as the child, parents, teachers, and clinician observations, for the evaluation of symptoms of dysthymic disorder in preschoolers.
Subject(s)
Dysthymic Disorder/diagnosis , Child , Child, Preschool , Dysthymic Disorder/psychology , Female , Humans , Male , Referral and ConsultationABSTRACT
The current study examines a sample of 112 adolescents convicted of murder. From this sample, 11 adolescents who murdered a member of their family were chosen for in-depth examination. All participants were convicted as an adult for murder and received a prison sentence. Characteristics of the crimes were explored, including demographic information, relationship to victim, motive, and weapon used in the commission of the crime. Additionally, DSM diagnosis information was available for some participants. A majority of the homicides (N = 8) were committed with a gun that was available in the home. More than half of the subjects murdered a parent or parental figure and the most salient characteristic was the presence of a chaotic family life prior to the homicide. No single motive was dominant, indicating that intrafamilial homicide is the culmination of a number of factors, including abuse and psychopathology. Based on the findings, recommendations are provided to address the needs of youth who are at risk for committing violent crimes such as intrafamilial homicide.
Subject(s)
Adolescent Behavior , Family Relations/psychology , Homicide/prevention & control , Adolescent , Adult , Educational Status , Female , Firearms , Homicide/psychology , Humans , Intelligence Tests , Male , Personality Disorders/diagnosisABSTRACT
Questions about the existence of panic disorder in youngsters are now evolving into questions about the phenomenology of panic disorder in children and adolescents. The current study thus examined the primary clinical features of panic disorder in an outpatient sample of older children and adolescents with panic disorder. Youngsters with panic disorder were compared to a matched-gender group of youngsters with non-panic anxiety disorders. Dependent variables included diagnoses and self-ratings of fear, depression, general anxiety, and anxiety sensitivity. The panic group was found to display more frequent diagnoses of depression and greater levels of self-reported anxiety sensitivity than the non-panic group. These results are discussed in the context of one potential cognitive developmental pathway of panic disorder, and preliminary assessment and treatment recommendations are offered.
Subject(s)
Panic Disorder/psychology , Adolescent , Age Factors , Anxiety/psychology , Case-Control Studies , Child , Depression/psychology , Female , Humans , Male , Panic Disorder/etiology , Prevalence , Psychiatric Status Rating Scales , Risk Factors , Severity of Illness Index , Substance-Related Disorders/psychologyABSTRACT
The purpose of the current study was to examine the psychometric properties and clinical utility of the Scale for Suicide Ideation (SSI) for children. The SSI was administered to 100 children who were hospitalized. Data were not used from 13 subjects due to the presence of a psychotic disorder or IQ less than 70, leaving 87 participants. The SSI was examined regarding its internal consistency, concurrent validity, construct validity, and factor structure when used with children. Based on the findings, the SSI appears to have adequate psychometric properties and can be used by clinicians and researchers examining children in an inpatient setting. Recommendations for clinicians are included to help make the SSI more functional in use for children.
Subject(s)
Mental Disorders/diagnosis , Psychiatric Status Rating Scales , Psychometrics/methods , Suicide/psychology , Child , Factor Analysis, Statistical , Female , Humans , Male , Midwestern United States , Reproducibility of Results , Suicide PreventionABSTRACT
The purpose of the current study was to explore the relationship between childhood depression and family functioning. 11 children with depression and 11 children without depression were compared via scores on the adaptability and cohesion dimensions of the FACES-III-K. Children with depression reported significantly less cohesive and more disengaged (displaying emotional separateness and lack of closeness) families than children without depression. Cohesion (the emotional bonding and individual autonomy of family members), but not adaptability, appears to be an important factor in the relationship between family functioning and childhood depression. Clinicians are advised to use treatments designed to help alleviate low family cohesion for children with depression.
