Behavioral control and resiliency in the onset of alcohol and illicit drug use: a prospective study from preschool to adolescence

The developmental trajectories of behavioral control and resiliency from early childhood to adolescence and their effects on early onset of substance use were examined. Behavioral control is the tendency to express or contain one's impulses and behaviors. Resiliency is the ability to adapt flexibly one's characteristic level of control in response to the environment. Study participants were 514 children of alcoholics and matched controls from a longitudinal community sample (Time 1 age in years: M =4.32, SD =0.89). Children with slower rates of increase in behavioral control were more likely to use alcohol and other drugs in adolescence. Children with higher initial levels of resiliency were less likely to begin using alcohol.     

Predictors of Behavior Problems in Three-Year-Old Sons of Alcoholics: Early Evidence for the Onset of Risk

We investigated risk factors in a population-based sample of alcoholic (father) and comparison families with 3-year-old sons. Alcoholic and comparison parents did not differ in socioeconomic status (SES), education, years married, family size, or cognitive functioning. Anti-social behavior and depression were significantly greater in alcoholic parents. High risk children were more impulsive than comparison children, but there were no differences in developmental age, IQ, or behavior problems. A higher percentage of high-risk children were rated in the extreme clinical range for behavior problems than were comparison children. For alcoholic families, mothers' ratings of their children's total behavior problems, externalizing behavior problems, and internalizing behavior problems were predicted by mothers' lifetime alcohol problems, current depression, and family SES. Father variables failed to predict children's behavior problems. Maternal variables were stronger predictors of their 3-year-old sons' problem behaviors than were paternal variables.     

A hybrid fuzzy-molecular controller enhanced with evolutionary algorithms: A case study in a one-leg mechanism

Intelligent control systems are able to work well in uncertain nonlinear systems, mainly for: changes in the operating point, presence of environmental noise and disturbances, uncertainty in sensor measurements, miscalibration, uncertain model plant, and others. For instance, fuzzy controllers have been widely studied and applied. Recently, artificial organic controllers (AOC) have been proposed as an ensemble of fuzzy logic and artificial hydrocarbon networks. However, a weakness in AOC is the lack of training methods for tuning parameters for desired output responses in control. In this regard, this paper aims to introduce an evolutionary optimization method, i.e. particle swarm optimization, for tuning artificial organic controllers. Three objectives are proposed for automatic tuning of AOC: overall error, steady-state error and settling time of output response. The proposed methodology is implemented in the well-known cart-pole system. Also, the proposed method is applied on a one-leg unstable mechanism as case study. Results validate that automatic tuning of AOC over simulation systems can achieve suitable output responses with minimal overall error, steady-state error and settling time.     

A DESCRIPTIVE STUDY OF SELECTED STUDENT CHARACTERISTICS: TWENTY YEARS OF GERONTOLOGICAL EDUCATION

The Center for Studies in Aging at the University of North Texas was among the first to offer graduate training in aging. The primary objective was to develop and implement a curriculum in long‐term care administration. In the years since its establishment in 1967, the center has adapted its course offerings to meet the needs and career goals of a variety of students. Results of a 20‐year alumni survey are presented. The selected characteristics are instructive and suggest new directions for future recruitment efforts.