Urban Adolescents' Personality and Learning Styles: Required Knowledge to Develop Effective Interventions in Schools

Researchers identified personality typologies (Myers-Briggs Type Indicator; Myers, 1962) among urban African American high school Juniors and seniors (n = 173). Introverted Sensing Thinking Judging (ISTJ) and the Introverted Sensing Thinking Perceptive (ISTP) were the two most represented typologies. Implications for school counselors, teachers, and teacher and counselor educators are discussed.     

Neurocardiac toxicity of racemicd,l-lactate fluids

Racemicd,l-lactate has long been used in burn therapy as Ringer’s lactate and in peritoneal dialysis fluid for treatment of renal failure. The d-lactate component of this racemic mixture is known to cause two forms of neurological toxicity in patients: encephalopathy and, in a subset of the population, panic reaction. Here we demonstrate that coma, similar in degree to that produced by blood levels of 75 mM ethanol was induced in rats by the intraperitoneal infusion of sodiumd-lactate sufficient to raise serumd-lactate concentration to 25 mM, whereas infusion of equal quantities of sodiuml-lactate produced no observable neurological effect. We further demonstrate that the intravenous infusion of racemicd,l-lactic acid into 48-hour fasted rats produced serious disturbances of cardiac rate and rhythm leading to death. When serumd-lactate concentration had reached 1–2 mM there was bradycardia, at 2–3 mM prolongation of QT interval, at 6–7 mM AV block with ectopic escape rhythms, and at 11 mM death in ventricular standstill or fibrillation. In contrast, intravenous infusion ofl-lactic acid to blood levels of 25 mM failed to produce any change in cardiac rhythm. On the other hand, the isolated working heart, free of influence from the central nervous system, displayed no change of cardiac rhythm or physiological function when perfused with 25 mM sodiumd,l-lactate.     

Field independence, lateralization and defensive style

This study investigated the relationship between field independence and defense clustering as measured by the Defense Mechanisms Inventory and lateral eye movements. Subjects had previously been classified either as hysterical or obsessive style by the Rorschach and WAIS Comprehension subtest. Previous findings indicate that these subjects have a preferred direction of lateral eye movement in a questioning format (hysterical style = left; obsessive style = right). This study found no relationship between field independence and defense clustering and lateral eye movements. To the extent that eye gaze indexes hemispheric activation, we conclude that neither field independence nor defense clustering was related to hemispheric lateralization.     

Escape from deficits in sodium intake after thalamic lesions as a function of preoperative experience

Saline and water intakes in response to treatments with a natriuretic agent and a mineralocorticoid were studied in intact rats and in rats with lesions centered in the taste delay of the thalamus. Intact rats responded to the treatments by increasing both saline and water intake. Rats with thalamic lesions that had never drunk saline prior to induction of the lesions generally did not increase their saline intake in response to the treatments but showed normal increases in water intake. In contrast, rats with thalamic lesions that had drunk saline prior to induction of the lesions showed normal increases in both saline and water intake. Preoperative experience of sodium need did not protect rats against the lesion-induced deficit.     

The factor structure of ADHD items in DSM-III-R: Internal consistency and external validation

Previous research employing factor-analytic procedures to study the underlying dimensions of DSM-III attention deficit disorder with hyperactivity (ADDH) symptoms have consistently supported a two-factor model. Revision of the structure of the ADHD diagnosis in DSM-HI-R, as well as inclusion of new items, has raised the question of comparability of the two diagnoses. To explore the significance of these changes, teacher ratings of DSM-III ADDH items and DSM-III-R ADHD items of 85 nonreferred school children were factor-analyzed to determine their underlying factor structures. A similar two-factor solution was obtained for each diagnostic scale. The factors consisted of items believed to reflect inattention and hyperactivity-impulsivity constructs. These factors were further evaluated against results of a cognitive test battery to ascertain whether objective, external validation could be demonstrated. The hyperactivity-impulsivity factor scores were related to continuous performance test measures of response inhibition, while inattention-disorganization factor scores were related to measures of attention and visual search. Implications for assessment and diagnosis of ADHD are discussed.The authors gratefully acknowledge the assistance of Sister Hildegarde Koger, the St. Francis de Sales School, and the parents and children who participated in this study.