The Level of Personality Functioning Scale (LPFS) operationalizes Criterion A of the DSM-5 alternative model for personality disorders. Yet, research on this measure has been slow to accumulate and questions remain regarding its reliability and validity. This study examined the LPFS observer-rated (OR) and self-report (SRA) versions of Criterion A in a sample of 240 students who provided psychological life history data and a variety of self-report measures. The results suggested the LPFS OR could be reliably coded, and the LPFS OR and LPFS SRA were significantly associated with outcome variables across psychodynamic and interpersonal paradigms. We discuss the implications of assessing personality dysfunction using the LPFS and the importance of expanding the research base for the AMPD model.

This study used latent growth curve modeling to identify normative development and individual differences in the developmental patterns of shyness and anger/frustration across childhood. This study also examined the impacts of maternal intrusiveness and frontal electroencephalogram (EEG) asymmetry at age 4 on the developmental patterns of shyness and anger/frustration. 180 children (92 boys, 88 girls; M age = 4.07 years at baseline; 75.6% White, 18.3% Black, 6.1% multiracial/other) participated in the study. Normative development included significant linear decreases in shyness and anger/frustration. Individual variation existed in the developmental patterns. Children with left frontal EEG asymmetry showed a faster decreasing pattern of shyness. Children who experienced higher maternal intrusiveness and had left frontal EEG asymmetry showed a slower decreasing pattern of anger/frustration.

In an effort to reduce plasmid template preparation costs for large-scale genomic sequencing projects, a boiling minipreparation protocol has been developed that enables a single individual to easily prepare 768 sequence-quality templates in 8 h, without automation. The maximum throughput for one individual using one centrifuge in the manual configuration is 1920 templates in about 8 h. The most time-consuming manual steps of this method involve pipetting, which can be automated, resulting in a significant increase in throughput and about a 60% increase in yield. This method in the fully manual configuration yields sufficient double-stranded template for two sets of cycle sequencing reactions, membrane spotting for hybridization analysis and host cell transformation for the recovery of the original recombinant. The current materials cost per template using this method is less than twenty cents. The quality of the sequence generated has been evaluated by manual 35S radioactive cycle sequencing. Initial results have shown templates prepared by this method to yield greater than 300 bp of readable sequence when the radioactively labeled products were resolved on 6% modified denaturing polyacrylamide gels.

No abstract

No abstract