Convergent and discriminant validity of psychopathy factors assessed via self-report: a comparison of three instruments.

Psychopathy has been conceptualized as a personality disorder with distinctive interpersonal-affective and behavioral deviance features. The authors examine correlates of the factors of the Psychopathic Personality Inventory (PPI), Self-Report Psychopathy-II (SRP-II) scale, and Antisocial Process Screening Device (APSD) to understand similarities and differences among the constructs embodied in these instruments. PPI Fearless Dominance and SRP-II Factor 1 were negatively related to most personality disorder symptoms and were both predicted by high Dominance and low Neuroticism.

Footprint area sampled texturing.

We study texture projection based on a four region subdivision: magnification, minification, and two mixed regions. We propose improved versions of existing techniques by providing exact filtering methods which reduce both aliasing and overblurring, especially in the mixed regions. We further present a novel texture mapping algorithm called FAST (Footprint Area Sampled Texturing), which not only delivers high quality, but also is efficient.

Effects of sustained-release bupropion among persons interested in reducing but not quitting smoking.

Purpose: To determine whether sustained-release bupropion promotes smoking reduction leading to smoking cessation among persons who wish to reduce their amount of smoking, but who are unwilling to quit or who perceive themselves as being unable to quit.

Methods: Current smokers were assigned randomly to receive either sustained-release bupropion (150 mg twice daily) or matching placebo. During an initial 6-month smoking reduction phase, those who were willing to quit entered a 7-week cessation phase, during which study medication was continued.

Managing nicotine addiction.

Nicotine addiction has been identified as the primary contributor to continued widespread tobacco use worldwide. Although the health benefits of smoking cessation are well publicized, few smokers successfully quit on a long-term basis. A number of pharmacological agents have been shown to approximately double long-term smoking cessation rates and have, therefore, been recommended as first-line therapy for the treatment of nicotine dependence in the clinical practice guidelines recently released by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ).

Effect of nonnicotine pharmacotherapy on smoking behavior.

Smoking-related disease is the single biggest preventable cause of morbidity and mortality in the United States, yet approximately 25% of Americans continue to smoke. Various dosage forms of nicotine replacement therapy increase smoking quit rates relative to placebo, but they generally do not result in 1-year quit rates of over 20%. To increase these rates, a number of nonnicotine agents have been investigated.