The Development of Referential Communication and Autism Symptomatology in High‐Risk Infants

Non‐verbal referential communication is impaired in children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD). However, the development of difficulties with referential communication in the younger siblings of children with ASD (High‐Risk Siblings)—and the degree to which early referential communication predicts later autism symptomatology—is not clear. We modeled the early developmental trajectories of three types of referential communication: responding to joint attention (RJA), initiating joint attention (IJA), and initiating behavioral requests (IBR) across 8, 10, 12, 15, and 18 months of age in High‐Risk Siblings (n = 40) and the infant siblings of children without ASD (Low‐Risk Siblings; n = 21). Hierarchical linear modeling indicated that High‐Risk Siblings exhibited lower levels of baseline RJA and IJA and a lower rate of linear change in IBR than Low‐Risk Siblings. When the 10 High‐Risk Siblings who received an ASD diagnosis were excluded from analyses, group differences in the development of referential communication remained significant only for RJA. Baseline levels of IJA were associated with later ASD symptomatology among High‐Risk Siblings, suggesting that individual differences in referential communication development at 8 months may index early manifestations of ASD.     

“Drunkorexia”: Exploring the Who and Why of a Disturbing Trend in College Students’ Eating and Drinking Behaviors

Abstract. Objective: “Drunkorexia,” limiting food intake before alcohol consumption, increases college students’ risk for negative alcohol-related health consequences. The current study tested whether (1) women engage in drunkorexia more frequently than men; (2) weight control motivations explain sex differences in drunkorexia; and (3) among women, weight control motivations are a particularly strong predictor of drunkorexia for heavier drinkers. Participants: Undergraduate males and females (N = 63) recruited during fall of 2011. Methods: Participants self-reported their alcohol consumption, drunkorexia, and weight control motivations online. Results: Findings supported hypotheses: weight control motivations explained why women engage in drunkorexia more than men; and the weight control motivation → drunkorexia relation was strongest for heavier- (vs lighter-) drinking women. Conclusion: Women have more weight concerns than men, which makes them more likely to engage in drunkorexia. Heavy-drinking women with strong weight control motivations are at greatest risk for drunkorexia. Interventions should help students more safely reconcile pressures to be thin and drink alcohol.     

Culture-based versus risk-based screening for the prevention of group B streptococcal disease in newborns: A review of national guidelines

BackgroundMaternal colonisation with group B streptococcus (GBS) is recognised as the most frequent cause of severe early onset infection in newborns. National and international guidelines outline two approaches to the prevention of early onset disease in the neonate: risk based management and antenatal culture-based screening. We undertook an analysis of existing national and international guidelines in relation to GBS in pregnancy using a standardised and validated instrument to highlight the different recommended approaches to care.MethodsEnglish language guidelines on the screening and management of GBS colonisation in pregnant women and the prevention of early-onset group B streptococcal disease in newborns were sought.ResultsFour guidelines met the inclusion criteria, one from the United States of America (USA), the United Kingdom (UK), Canada and New Zealand. All four were appraised as at a high standard in terms of development using the AGREE II tool. Both approaches were recommended in the guidelines with different regions of the world advocating different approaches often based on the same evidence. Guidelines from the USA recommend an antenatal culture-based approach while the UK guidelines recommend risk-based management.ConclusionBased on an AGREE II analysis, the standard of the guidelines was high despite having disparate recommendations. Both approaches to the prevention of early onset GBS infection in neonates are recommended with the split being geographically-based.     

建设海峡西岸社会主义新农村的战略定位

从把握中央精神实质、反思国内外农村发展经验和融入海峡西岸经济区建设全局等3个方面分析探讨了海峡西岸社会主义新农村建设的战略定位问题。认为,准确定位要根据中央的精神实质,把握好世界现代化发展过程城乡演变的基本规律和我国城乡发展的特殊性、全国的共性和海峡西岸经济区的特点及其建设全局和新农村建设的关系,从海峡西岸经济区建设全局和持续发展的高度处理好新农村建设与加快工业化和城镇化发展的矛盾,加大外力推动促进内源发展,建立新型的城乡关系,促进农村经济与社会的综合发展,增进农民福祉。     

建设海峡西岸社会主义新农村的价值选择

建设社会主义新农村,本质是要缩小城乡差距,使农村在加速工业化、城市化的过程中能够与城市共同协调发展,使农民与城市居民一样享受等值不同质的现代生活。以等值不同质为取向增进农民福祉,是海峡西岸社会主义新农村建设的出发点和落脚点。建设海峡西岸社会主义新农村,要树立大资源观,以增量资源为杠杆激活存量资源,构建平等、互动、共福的新型城乡关系。     

After the wave-the Centrelink Social Work response offshore

Communities worldwide were affected by the tsunamis that struck a dozen Indian Ocean nations on 26 December 2004. More than 300,000 people were killed or left missing as a result of the tragedy. The Australian Government played a key role in the disaster response overseas and in Australia. As part of a whole-of-government response to the crisis, eight Centrelink Social Workers were deployed to tsunami-affected areas for two weeks after the initial disaster to provide personal support to Australian victims and their families. This paper presents the service delivery framework adopted offshore and delineates the role undertaken by the social workers. Drawing on their practice experience, the paper examines some of the challenges, dilemmas, learnings and implications for future service delivery.     

The Recalled Childhood Gender Questionnaire-Revised: a psychometric analysis in a sample of women with congenital adrenal hyperplasia

We administered the 18-item Recalled Childhood Gender Questionnaire-Revised (RCGQ-R), female version, to 147 adult women with congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH) representing three different degrees of prenatal androgenization due to 21-hydroxylase deficiency and to non-CAH controls. A principal components analysis generated three components accounting for 46%, 9%, and 6% of the variance, respectively. Corresponding unit-weighted scales (high scores = feminine) were labeled Gender Role (13 items; Cronbach alpha = .91), Physical Activity (3 items; alpha = .64), and Cross-Gender Desire (2 items; alpha = .47). Discriminant validity was demonstrated in terms of highly significant comparisons across the four groups. We conclude that the first 2 RCGQ-R scales show good psychometric qualities, but that the third scale needs to be further evaluated in a sample that includes women with gender identity disorder.