bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Prevalence and Incidence of Precocious Pubertal Development in Denmark: An Epidemiologic Study Based on National Registries
Authors: Teilmann Grete , Pedersen Carsten B. , Jensen Tina Kold , Skakkebæk Niels E. , Juul Anders
Published: December 2005

Objective. To our knowledge, no population-based epidemiologic studies on the incidence and prevalence of precocious pubertal development have been published. Danish national registries provide sufficient data for estimating the prevalence and incidence of this condition. The aim of this study was to estimate the prevalence and incidence of precocious pubertal development in Denmark in a 9-year period.

Methods. The age- and gender-specific incidence rates as well as prevalence rates of precocious pubertal development in Denmark were estimated using data from the Danish National Patient Registry and Statistics Denmark from 1993 to 2001.

Results. Overall, 670 children with precocious pubertal development were registered with a diagnosis of precocious puberty (PP) from 1993 to 2001, corresponding to 50 to 70 new cases of PP per year in Denmark. The incidence of PP was constant during the study period from 1993 to 2001. The incidence of PP subdivided by gender and age at diagnosis was ∼0.5 per 10000 in girls who were younger than 2 years, decreasing to levels below 0.05 per 10000 in girls aged 2 to 4 years, thereafter gradually rising to 8 per 10000 for girls aged 5 to 9 years. For boys who were younger than 8 years, the incidence was very low (<1 per 10000) and increased only slightly to 1 to 2 per 10000 in boys aged 8 to 10 years. The prevalence of PP was ∼20 to 23 per 10000 in girls, whereas the prevalence was fivefold lower for boys (<5 per 10000).

Conclusions. From this first epidemiologic study based on national registries, we estimated that 0.2% of all Danish girls and <0.05% of Danish boys had some form of precocious pubertal development.
Validation of the National Institutes of Health Consensus Definition of Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia
Authors: Ehrenkranz Richard A. , Walsh Michele C. , Vohr Betty R. , Jobe Alan H. , Wright Linda L. , Fanaroff Avroy A. , Wrage Lisa A. , Poole Kenneth ,   for the National Institutes of Child Health and Human Development Neonatal Research Network
Published: December 2005

Objective. A number of definitions of bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD), or chronic lung disease, have been used. A June 2000 National Institute of Child Health and Human Development/National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute Workshop proposed a severity-based definition of BPD for infants <32 weeks’ gestational age (GA). Mild BPD was defined as a need for supplemental oxygen (O2) for ≥28 days but not at 36 weeks’ postmenstrual age (PMA) or discharge, moderate BPD as O2 for ≥28 days plus treatment with <30% O2 at 36 weeks’ PMA, and severe BPD as O2 for ≥28 days plus ≥30% O2 and/or positive pressure at 36 weeks’ PMA. The objective of this study was to determine the predictive validity of the severity-based, consensus definition of BPD.

Methods. Data from 4866 infants (birth weight ≤1000 g, GA <32 weeks, alive at 36 weeks’ PMA) who were entered into the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development Neonatal Research Network Very Low Birth weight (VLBW) Infant Registry between January 1, 1995 and December 31, 1999, were linked to data from the Network Extremely Low Birth Weight (ELBW) Follow-up Program, in which surviving ELBW infants have a neurodevelopmental and health assessment at 18 to 22 months’ corrected age. Linked VLBW Registry and Follow-up data were available for 3848 (79%) infants. Selected follow-up outcomes (use of pulmonary medications, rehospitalization for pulmonary causes, receipt of respiratory syncytial virus prophylaxis, and neurodevelopmental abnormalities) were compared among infants who were identified with BPD defined as O2 for 28 days (28 days definition), as O2 at 36 weeks’ PMA (36 weeks’ definition), and with the consensus definition of BPD.

Results. A total of 77% of the neonates met the 28-days definition, and 44% met the 36-weeks definition. Using the consensus BPD definition, 77% of the infants had BPD, similar to the cohort identified by the 28-days definition. A total of 46% of the infants met the moderate (30%) or severe (16%) consensus definition criteria, identifying a similar cohort of infants as the 36-weeks definition. Of infants who met the 28-days definition and 36-weeks definition and were seen at follow-up at 18 to 22 months’ corrected age, 40% had been treated with pulmonary medications and 35% had been rehospitalized for pulmonary causes. In contrast, as the severity of BPD identified by the consensus definition worsened, the incidence of those outcomes and of selected adverse neurodevelopmental outcomes increased in the infants who were seen at follow-up.

Conclusion. The consensus BPD definition identifies a spectrum of risk for adverse pulmonary and neurodevelopmental outcomes in early infancy more accurately than other definitions.
Initially Misleading Communication of Carrier Results After Newborn Genetic Screening
Authors: La Pean Alison , Farrell Michael H.
Published: December 2005

Background. Newborn screening saves lives, but the way in which parents learn of a positive screening test is also important for adherence with treatment plans and avoidance of psychosocial complications. The first messages provided to parents may be particularly important for understanding, especially when the infant is found to be a heterozygous carrier for sickle cell hemoglobinopathy (SCH) or cystic fibrosis (CF). This study investigated the prevalence of “initially misleading” communication, defined as the inclusion of 1 of 55 “bad-news” content items (eg, the screening test is positive) before any of 39 “good-news” content items (eg, the infant is healthy, normal, a carrier, or otherwise without problems).

Methods. As part of a larger study of the content of counseling after newborn genetic screening, we used a quantitative, explicit-criteria method to abstract 59 transcribed conversations between pediatric residents and standardized parents of an “infant” who was found through newborn screening to carry either CF or SCH.

Results. Of 59 transcripts, 41 were found to be misleading (at least 1 bad-news content statement before the first good-news content statement). There were significantly more misleading likely-CF-carrier than SCH-carrier transcripts (89.7% vs 50%). Among the misleading transcripts, the mean number of misleading statements was 5.5. The mean distance between the first bad-news and first good-news statements was 28.1 statements (20.5% of the total duration of counseling).

Discussion. The high prevalence of misleading content and the time lag before clarification does not bode well for parental understanding of infant carrier status. Future projects should improve curricula for training programs and develop quality-assurance efforts for community clinicians both to improve parental understanding and help assuage society's fears about the safety of genetic screening technologies.
Early Puberty and Adolescent Pregnancy: The Influence of Alcohol Use
Authors: Deardorff Julianna , Gonzales Nancy A. , Christopher F. Scott , Roosa Mark W. , Millsap Roger E.
Published: December 2005

Objective. Early pubertal timing predicts deleterious outcomes for young girls, including substance use, risky sexual behavior, and pregnancy. In turn, adolescent pregnancy predicts long-term negative consequences such as reduced educational attainment and income-earning potential. Despite evidence of the direct links between early puberty and negative outcomes, this study is the first to examine the role that alcohol plays in the timing of sexual intercourse and pregnancy among early-maturing females.

Design. Participants were 666 females, aged 18 to 22 years, from 4 major ethnic groups in Arizona (non-Hispanic white, black, Latino, and Native American). All women included in the sample had experienced a pregnancy in their teens or early 20s. Participants completed a self-administered questionnaire that inquired about their timing of menarche, sexual initiation, first alcohol use, and age at first pregnancy. A mediating model predicting age at pregnancy was tested by using path modeling.

Results. Early puberty was found to be associated with earlier age of alcohol use and sexual initiation, which in turn predicted early pregnancy. Age at first sexual intercourse and age at first substance use significantly mediated the relation between age at menarche and age at first pregnancy. The results did not vary by ethnic group.

Conclusions. Girls who mature early are more likely to engage in early substance use and sexual intercourse, which in turn puts them at greater risk for adolescent pregnancy. It is important that health care providers are sensitive to the risks associated with early maturation among young girls and provide preventive screening, education, and counseling related to alcohol use and sexual initiation for this group.
Cardiovascular Health Supervision for Individuals Affected by Duchenne or Becker Muscular Dystrophy
Authors:   Section on Cardiology and Cardiac Surgery
Published: December 2005

Duchenne muscular dystrophy is the most common and severe form of the childhood muscular dystrophies. The disease is typically diagnosed between 3 and 7 years of age and follows a predictable clinical course marked by progressive skeletal muscle weakness with loss of ambulation by 12 years of age. Death occurs in early adulthood secondary to respiratory or cardiac failure. Becker muscular dystrophy is less common and has a milder clinical course but also results in respiratory and cardiac failure. The natural history of the cardiomyopathy in these diseases has not been well established. As a result, patients traditionally present for cardiac evaluation only after clinical symptoms become evident. The purpose of this policy statement is to provide recommendations for optimal cardiovascular evaluation to health care specialists caring for individuals in whom the diagnosis of Duchenne or Becker muscular dystrophy has been confirmed.
Mouse models of transforming growth factor β impact in breast development and cancer
Authors: Serra R , Crowley M R
Published: December 2005

It is now recognized that transforming growth factor β (TGF-β) is an important factor that regulates normal breast development as well as breast cancer. Genetically engineered mouse models have been used to determine the role and mechanism of TGF-β action in normal development and diseases of the breast. Using these models, it has been determined that TGF-β regulates many steps of normal mammary gland development including branching morphogenesis, functional differentiation, cell-lineage decisions, and involution. Effects of TGF-β on normal development are mediated through signaling in both the epithelial and stromal compartments. In cancer, mouse models have indicated that TGF-β has biphasic effects on tumor progression, acting as a tumor suppressor in early stages of cancer and promoting invasion and metastasis at later stages. In addition, TGF-β may play a role in tumor progression through effects on the microenvironment. Recently, experiments in several mouse models have suggested that antagonism of TGF-β signaling may provide a therapeutic target for late-stage breast cancer, blocking metastasis without detrimental side effects. In the future, genetically altered mice will be used to establish models of human breast disease providing opportunities to test strategies for disease prevention and treatment.
Expression and function of the ghrelin axis, including a novel preproghrelin isoform, in human breast cancer tissues and cell lines
Authors: Jeffery P L , Murray R E , Yeh A H , McNamara J F , Duncan R P , Francis G D , Herington A C , Chopin L K
Published: December 2005

While oestrogen, progesterone and growth factors, including growth hormone (GH), are clearly implicated in the pathogenesis of breast cancer, there is now evidence that the newly described ghrelin axis is also involved. The aims of this study were to investigate the expression of the ghrelin axis in breast cancer tissues and cell lines and to examine the effect of ghrelin on breast cancer cell proliferation in vitro. Ghrelin and its functional receptor, the growth hormone secretagogue receptor (GHSR) type 1a, were expressed in normal breast tissue and breast cancer specimens and cell lines. In contrast, the truncated GHSR type 1b isoform was exclusively expressed in breast carcinoma, suggesting that it has potential as a diagnostic marker. Ghrelin treatment significantly increases the proliferation of the MDA-MB-435 and MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cell lines in vitro. In addition, we have described the expression of a human preproghrelin isoform, exon 3-deleted preproghrelin, which encodes mature ghrelin plus a novel C-terminal peptide. Quantitative RT-PCR was used to demonstrate that this mRNA isoform is highly expressed in the MDA-MB-435 metastatic breast cancer cell line relative to the benign MCF-10A breast epithelial cell line. The unique C-terminal peptide of exon 3-deleted preproghrelin is expressed in the glandular epithelium of breast cancer tissues, with high-grade carcinoma exhibiting the strongest immunoreactivity. The data presented here suggest that components of the ghrelin axis may represent novel markers for breast cancer and potential therapeutic targets.
No mutations but an increased frequency of SDHx polymorphisms in patients with sporadic and familial medullary thyroid carcinoma
Authors: Montani M , Schmitt A M , Schmid S , Locher T , Saremaslani P , Heitz P U , Komminoth P , Perren A
Published: December 2005

Germline mutations of the three succinate dehydrogenase subunits SDHB, SDHC and SDHD have recently been associated with familial pheochromocytoma and paraganglioma. Several reasons make these genes candidate tumor suppressor genes for medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC): (1) SDHB lies on chromosome 1p, the region known to be deleted most frequently in MTC, (2) MTCs develop from neural crest-derived cells, as do pheochromocytomas and paragangliomas and (3) patients with germline mutations of the Ret-protooncogene develop MTCs as well as pheochromocytomas, indicating a relationship of these tumors on a genetic level. Therefore, we attempted to determine whether the tumor suppressor genes SDHB, SDHC and SDHD are involved in sporadic and familial MTC. Somatic mutations of the SDH subunits were absent in all 35 investigated MTCs. Loss of heterozygosity was found in 27% (SDHB) and 4% (SDHD) respectively. While the frequency of non-coding, intronic polymorphisms did not differ in MTC patients compared with a control population, an accumulation of amino-acid coding polymorphisms (S163P in SDHB as well as G12S and H50R in SDHD) was found among MTC patients especially patients with familial tumors, suggesting a functional connection of coding SDH polymorphisms to activating Ret mutations.
A single-gene biomarker identifies breast cancers associated with immature cell type and short duration of prior breastfeeding
Authors: Symmans W F , Fiterman D J , Anderson S K , Ayers M , Rouzier R , Dunmire V , Stec J , Valero V , Sneige N , Albarracin C , Wu Y , Ross J S , Wagner P , Theriault R L , Arun B , Kuerer H , Hess K R , Zhang W , Hortobagyi G N , Pusztai L
Published: December 2005

The pathogenesis of breast cancers that do not express estrogen receptors or Her-2/neu receptors (ER−/HER2− phenotype) is incompletely understood. We had observed markedly elevated gene expression of gamma-aminobutyric acid type A (GABAA) receptor subunit π (GABAπ, GABRP) in some breast cancers with ER−/HER2− phenotype. In this study, transcriptional profiles (TxPs) were obtained from 82 primary invasive breast cancers by oligonucleotide microarrays. Real-time reverse transcription–polymerase chain reaction (RT–PCR) was used to measure GABAπ gene expression in a separate cohort of 121 invasive breast cancers. GABAπ gene expression values from TxP and RT–PCR were standardized and compared with clinicopathologic characteristics in the 203 patients. GABAπ gene expression was increased in 16% of breast cancers (13/82 TxP, 20/ 121 RT–PCR), particularly in breast cancers with ER−/HER2− phenotype (60%), and breast cancers with basal-like genomic profile (60%). The profile of genes coexpressed with GABAπ in these tumors was consistent with an immature cell type. In multivariate linear regression analysis, the level of GABAπ gene expression was associated with ER−/HER2− phenotype (P<0.0001), younger age at diagnosis (P=0.0003), and shorter lifetime duration of breastfeeding (≤ 6 months) in all women (P=0.017) and specifically in parous women (P=0.013). GABAπ gene expression was also associated with combinations of high grade with ER−/HER2− phenotype (P=0.002), and with Hispanic ethnicity (P=0.036). GABAπ gene expression is increased in breast cancers of immature (undifferentiated) cell type and is significantly associated with shorter lifetime history of breastfeeding and with high-grade breast cancer in Hispanic women.
Compartmentalized expression of kallikrein 4 (KLK4/hK4) isoforms in prostate cancer: nuclear, cytoplasmic and secreted forms
Authors: Dong Y , Bui L T , Odorico D M , Tan O L , Myers S A , Samaratunga H , Gardiner R A , Clements J A
Published: December 2005

The prostate-specific antigen-related serine protease gene, kallikrein 4 (KLK4), is expressed in the prostate and, more importantly, overexpressed in prostate cancer. Several KLK4 mRNA splice variants have been reported, but it is still not clear which of these is most relevant to prostate cancer. Here we report that, in addition to the full-length KLK4 (KLK4-254) transcript, the exon 1 deleted KLK4 transcripts, in particular, the 5′-truncated KLK4-205 transcript, is expressed in prostate cancer. Using V5/His6 and green fluorescent protein (GFP) carboxy terminal tagged expression constructs and immunocytochemical approaches, we found that hK4-254 is cytoplasmically localized, while the N-terminal truncated hK4-205 is in the nucleus of transfected PC-3 prostate cancer cells. At the protein level, using anti-hK4 peptide antibodies specific to different regions of hK4-254 (N-terminal and C-terminal), we also demonstrated that endogenous hK4-254 (detected with the N-terminal antibody) is more intensely stained in malignant cells than in benign prostate cells, and is secreted into seminal fluid. In contrast, for the endogenous nuclear-localized N-terminal truncated hK4-205 form, there was less difference in staining intensity between benign and cancer glands. Thus, KLK4-254/hK4-254 may have utility as an immunohistochemical marker for prostate cancer. Our studies also indicate that the expression levels of the truncated KLK4 transcripts, but not KLK4-254, are regulated by androgens in LNCaP cells. Thus, these data demonstrate that there are two major isoforms of hK4 (KLK4-254/hK4-254 and KLK4-205/hK4-205) expressed in prostate cancer with different regulatory and expression profiles that imply both secreted and novel nuclear roles.
Lack of deleterious effect on bone mineral density of long-term thyroxine suppressive therapy for differentiated thyroid carcinoma
Authors: Reverter J L , Holgado S , Alonso N , Salinas I , Granada M L , Sanmartí A
Published: December 2005

The effect of subclinical hyperthyroidism on bone mineral density is controversial and could be significant in patients with differentiated thyroid carcinoma who receive suppressive doses of levothyroxine (LT4). To ascertain whether prolonged treatment with LT4 to suppress thyrotropin had a deleterious effect on bone mineral density and/or calcium metabolism in patients thyroidectomized for differentiated thyroid cancer we have performed a cross-sectional study in a group of 88 women (mean ± SD age: 51 ± 12 years) treated with LT4 after near-total thyroidectomy and in a control group of 88 healthy women (51 ± 11 years) matched for body mass index and menopausal status. We determined calcium metabolism parameters, bone turnover marker N-telopeptide and bone mass density by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. No differences were found between patients and controls in calcium metabolism parameters or N-telopeptide except for PTH, which was significantly increased in controls. No differences were found between groups in bone mineral density in femoral neck (0.971 ± 0.148 gr/cm2 vs 0.956 ± 0.130 gr/cm2 in patients and controls respectively, P = 0.5). In lumbar spine, bone mineral density values were lower in controls than in patients (1.058 ± 0.329 gr/cm2 vs 1.155 ± 0.224 gr/cm2 respectively, P<0.05). When premenopausal (n = 44) and postmenopausal (n = 44) patients were compared with their respective controls, bone mineral density was similar both in femoral neck and lumbar spine. The proportion of women with normal bone mass density, osteopenia and osteoporosis in patient and control groups was similar in pre- and postmenopausal women. In conclusion, long-term suppressive LT4 treatment does not appear to affect skeletal integrity in women with differentiated thyroid carcinoma.
Association of polymorphisms and haplotypes in the human growth hormone 1 (GH1) gene with breast cancer
Authors: Wagner K , Hemminki K , Israelsson E , Grzybowska E , Klaes R , Chen B , Butkiewicz D , Pamula J , Pekala W , Försti A
Published: December 2005

The growth hormone 1 (GH1)/insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) axis plays an important role in the development of breast cancer. By binding to its receptor, GH1 stimulates the production of IGF-I and its binding protein IGFBP3, resulting in the regulation of cell proliferation, differentiation and apoptosis. The GH1 gene expression is regulated by a highly polymorphic proximal promoter and a distal locus control region (LCR) 14.5 kb upstream of the gene. We investigated the effect of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the LCR and in the promoter region and an intron 4 SNP (IVS4+90 T/A) on breast cancer risk in a large cohort of Polish and German familial breast cancer cases and controls. SNPs in the LCR did not show an influence on breast cancer risk, either alone or in haplotypes. Three SNPs in the promoter region (G-340T, A-68G/C and A-63T/C) showed an increased and four SNPs (A-137G, G-119T, G-93delG and T-4G) a decreased allele frequency in the cases compared with the controls. Two of the SNPs (A-137G and G-93delG) lead to a decreased breast cancer risk among the minor allele carriers in the joint analysis of the two populations (odds ratio (OR) 0.62, 95% confidence interval (95% CI) 0.44–0.89, P=0.01 and OR 0.65, 95% CI 0.47–0.90, P=0.01, respectively). Haplotype analysis with these seven promoter SNPs revealed a protective association (OR 0.61, 95% CI 0.37–1.00, P=0.04) for the haplotype GAGdAAT, containing the G-93delG variant allele, which in the single analysis already showed a protective effect. The effect was marginally stronger in combination with the LCR GC haplotype (OR 0.49, 95% CI 0.23–1.01, P=0.04).
Methylation of estrogen receptor β promoter correlates with loss of ER-β expression in mammary carcinoma and is an early indication marker in premalignant lesions
Authors: Rody A , Holtrich U , Solbach C , Kourtis K , von Minckwitz G , Engels K , Kissler S , Gätje R , Karn T , Kaufmann M
Published: December 2005

The function of estrogen receptor beta (ER-β) in mammary tissue is not completely understood. While early observations were often conflicting, more recent data suggest an important role as a tumor-suppressor gene. A decrease of ER-β expression has been observed in ductal carcinoma in situ and invasive carcinoma as compared with benign mammary epithelial cells. The loss of ER-β resulted in abnormal growth of mammary epithelial cells. We have previously shown that the mRNA expression of the ER-β gene is almost totally suppressed in breast carcinomas from patients with a poor prognosis. Here we analyzed whether methylation changes in the different promoters of ER-β are responsible for the loss of expression of the gene. A methylation assay with high specificity and sensitivity was developed, and a panel of breast tissue samples (n = 175) was characterized for methylation status. In contrast to benign breast, more than two-thirds of invasive breast cancers showed a high degree of methylation. Importantly, increased methylation was also detectable in numerous premalignant lesions. By analysis of breast tumors, previously characterized by gene-expression profiling, methylation was predominantly detected in a subgroup of patients with an unfavorable prognosis, suggesting a possible prognostic value of the ER-β methylation status. We also investigated the structural characteristics of the two ER-β promoters, which were both found to be closely associated with a second, downstream, localized and opposite-oriented promoter. However, we could not detect endogenous antisense RNA transcribed from these promoters, which may be involved in epigenetic gene silencing. We also failed to induce ER-β promoter methylation by expressing siRNAs in cell lines. Interestingly, by comparing the promoter sequences of ER-β with other genes known to be epigenetically inactivated in breast cancers, we identified a sequence motif possibly involved in promoter methylation.
Properties of azo‐dye alignment layer on plastic substrates
Authors: Osterman Jesper , Tong Au Ping , Skarp Kent , Chigrinov Vladimir , Kwok Hoi Sing
Published: December 2005

Abstract— The alignment properties of the azo‐dye photo‐alignment material SD‐1/SDA‐2 on plastic substrates are investigated. Important liquid‐crystal cell parameters, such as azimuthal and polar anchoring energy, pretilt angle, voltage holding ratio, and the corresponding electro‐optical properties are presented. Excellent alignment with high anchoring energy can be achieved with a polarized UV dose less than 1.0 J/cm2. A reflective six‐digit flexible passive‐matrix‐driven TN‐LCD for smart‐card applications showing excellent electro‐optical properties is demonstrated.
A bistable viologen‐TiO2 color switch
Authors: Edwards Mårten O. M. , Persson Roger
Published: December 2005

Abstract— The electro‐optical characteristics of a pixel configuration used in electrochromic viologen‐TiO2 passive‐matrix devices are studied. The configuration has two stable color states in an intermediate voltage regime. Color switching is performed by applying voltages outside this regime. The bistability is due to electrolyte‐additive controlled electron trapping in the color‐changing viologen molecules.
Imaging performance of displays: Past, present, and future*
Authors: Hunt Robert W. G.
Published: December 2005

Abstract— Some display devices that were tried unsuccessfully in the past are reviewed briefly. Then the display devices that are in use at present are described and their advantages and disadvantages discussed. Properties where improvements are needed include greater consistency between pictures displayed from the same signals on different devices, greater color gamut, less impairment by ambient illumination, and better resolution. Finally, consideration is given to some of the ways in which these needs may be met.
Optoelectronic properties of poly(fluorene) co‐polymer light‐emitting devices on a plastic substrate*
Authors: Kanicki Jerzy , Lee Shu‐Jen , Hong Yongtaek , Su Chia‐Chen
Published: December 2005

Abstract— The optoelectronic properties of red, green, and blue poly(fluorene) co‐polymer light‐emitting devices (PLEDs) on a plastic substrate having a multi‐layered structure with water vapor and oxygen transmission rates of less than 10−5 g/cm2‐day‐atm and 10−7 cc/cm2‐day‐atm, respectively, is reported. A semitransparent thin metal multi‐layer (i.e., Au/Ag/Au or Ag/Au/Ag) is placed between the plastic substrate and the ITO coating, achieving a low sheet resistance of 12–13 Ω/□ and an adequate optical transmission greater than 75%. A wider color gamut and a maximum emission efficiency of 0.7, 10, and 1.7 cd/A for red, green, and blue PLEDs, respectively, was obtained. Finally, a simple equivalent‐circuit model was used to simulate the current‐density—voltage characteristics of PLEDs.
Clinical Characteristics and Management of Bipolar Disorder in Women across the Life Span
Authors: Dodd Seetal , Katsenos Spiri , Tiller John , Berk Michael
Published: December 2005

Though prevalent in both genders, specific consideration needs to be given when treating a woman suffering from bipolar disorder over her lifetime. Bipolar disorder is a serious and incapacitating illness affecting an estimated 5% of women. The first episode of illness in women is usually a depressive episode. Female gender has been associated with greater axis-one comorbidity, more depressive episodes, rapid cycling and mixed affective states. Special consideration is required for the treatment of bipolar disorder during reproductive events. More studies are required to better understand the course, outcome and gender-specific treatment strategies of this disorder.
The Evaluation and Treatment of Hirsute Women
Authors: Unluhizarci Kursad , Sahin Yilmaz , Kelestimur Fahrettin
Published: December 2005

Hirsutism in women is defined as an excess of body hair in the androgen-sensitive skin regions. The different genetic backgrounds of various populations may affect the causes of hirsutism. In fact, the most important reason for investigation is to identify those women with androgen-secreting tumors, since they require different therapy. Hirsutism may have various causes, such as polycystic ovary syndrome, enzyme defects in adrenal steroid biosynthesis, Cushing's syndrome, acromegaly, ovarian or adrenal tumors, or it may be idiopathic. In most patients, hirsutism is associated with hyperandrogenemia and the most common cause of androgen excess is polycystic ovary syndrome. Androgen-secreting tumors should be suspected when the onset and progression of hirsutism is rapid and/or when it is associated with virilization. Patients should be informed about the type and duration of therapy. The selection of drug/drugs depends on the severity of the hirsutism, associated conditions such as menstrual irregularities, systemic disorders such as diabetes mellitus, hypertension and any contraindication to possible therapeutic agents. Diane® 35 is the most common drug used for the suppression of ovarian androgen production. Peripheral blockade of androgen actions, by using spironolactone, finasteride or flutamide on the skin, is also effective in the treatment of hirsutism.
The Scientific Discourse of Education: Predetermining the Lives of others — Foucault, Education, and Children
Authors: Cannella Gaile S.
Published: November 2005

A discourse of education has emerged that legitimizes the belief that science has revealed what younger human beings are like, what we can expect from them at various ages, and how we should differentiate our treatment of them in educational settings. Recent poststructuralist, critical, and postmodern work has called to question the notion of predetermined, universal childhoods that require particular forms of educational experience determined by scientific discovery and by human beings who are older. The purpose of this article is to further problematize the discourse of education that has justified the construction of younger human beings as the ‘other’ and legitimizes the continued regulation of their lives through the institution of education. This particular problematization is based on and limited by the work of Foucault and addressed from two positions: (1) rules that govern the discourse of education; and (2) disciplinary technologies that produce docile bodies as objects that yield to the discourse.
‘Click on Miaow!’: How Children of Three and Four Years Experience the Nursery Computer
Authors: Brooker Liz , Siraj-Blatchford John
Published: November 2005

This article reports the findings of an ecological, mixed-method study of the ways in which children aged three and four, from a variety of class and ethnic backgrounds, learn from the computer in their inner-urban nursery setting. In doing so, it acknowledges and contributes to the ongoing debate over the effects of information and communications technology (ICT) on young children's development and learning (both at home and at school), and explores the claims that are currently made for a positive role for ICT as a context for development in early childhood. The study was undertaken as part of a larger project, DATEC (Developmentally Appropriate Technology in Early Childhood), which is seeking to develop and disseminate exemplary uses of ICT with young children in a range of European settings. DATEC itself follows in the footsteps of an earlier project with European partners, CHAT (Children's Awareness of Technology), which launched a website for the exchange of research ideas and information in this field. Both DATEC and CHAT have aimed to develop cross-national (European) understandings of developmentally appropriate uses of technology, in a manner which parallels the work of the National Association for the Education of Young Children in the USA.
Validating Young Children's Feelings and Experiences of Fear
Authors: Sorin Reesa
Published: November 2005

Children experience a wide range of emotions, from happiness and excitement to anger and disgust. When children are happy, their caregivers encourage their expression of happiness and often join in to share this emotion with them. Yet when they are angry, afraid or disgusted, often children are encouraged to suppress or change their emotions. This is particularly true of the emotion of fear. While parents and caregivers currently employ a variety of strategies to respond to fear in young children, some of these methods may be positioning children in ways that increase their fears or invalidate their feelings of fear altogether. Well-intentioned parents and caregivers may be unaware of the effect that messages such as ‘there's nothing to be afraid of’ or ‘don't worry, you're safe with me’, could have on children. This article examines a range of adult responses to children's fears and the effectiveness of these responses.
Young Children and the Natural World
Authors: Phenice Lillian A. , Griffore Robert J.
Published: November 2005

A concept associated with ecopsychology is that children are born with a sense of relatedness to their environments, and through the processes of socialization they acquire a sense of separateness from environments, including the natural environment. Young children were asked about their views concerning several aspects of the natural environment. The data suggest that young children are constructing understandings concerning the relationship of humans to the natural world. This implies that their educational experiences can shape and augment their conception of relatedness to the natural world.
Empowering Young Children in Art Museums: Letting Them Take the Lead
Authors: Weier Katrina
Published: November 2005

Young children bring a wide repertoire of visitor behaviours to traditional art museums, using their minds, senses, and bodies to respond to and interpret artworks. When given opportunities for self-expression, choice, and control during an art museum visit, children are empowered in this environment. Allowing children to take a leading role as tour guides for their peers or adult partners is one way to engender such empowerment. This kind of experience shows them they have a valuable contribution to make and allows them to learn actively from artworks, through self-directed inquiry. This article outlines a number of art museum programs that have encouraged children as guides during school and family visits, and discusses the benefits of these programs — for both the children and their adult companions. The author also notes the importance of a supportive, responsive adult, who can extend children's conversations to introduce the language and concepts of the visual arts during child-led tours.
Looking at Education through a Deweyan Lens: How Play Could Take Shape in Singapore's Preschools
Authors: Lim Ene M.Y.
Published: November 2005

This article outlines key characteristics of Singapore's national values and the preschool education context, and provides a discussion of what the spirit of play could be like in Singaporean preschools. The article uses Deweyan principles to advocate for socially just curricula in Singaporean preschools that embrace ‘play’ as a vehicle for children's learning.
Improving Practices in Early Childhood Classrooms in Pakistan: Issues and Challenges from the Field
Authors: Juma Audrey
Published: November 2005

This article focuses on an early childhood programme that has been initiated by the Institute for Educational Development at the Aga Khan University in Karachi, Pakistan. The programme is a Certificate in Education and involves training teachers so as to enable them to understand early childhood education and development, and to become effective practitioners in their classrooms. The early childhood education and development programme is a field-based programme of six months' duration, where the emphasis is on supporting and mentoring course participants as they implement the High/Scope approach in their classrooms and engage children in active learning. The article outlines the structure and content of the programme and also highlights the processes engaged in when improving practices in the classroom with regard to setting up the classroom environment, establishing routines, and integrating the curriculum. In the course of working with teachers as they made a shift from formal classroom settings with an emphasis on teacher-directed teaching to settings that were more child-oriented with an active encouragement of learning, various issues and challenges emerged. These issues and challenges are discussed in this article. Subsequently, some recommendations are made for improving the status of early childhood education and development in Pakistan.

Conclusion: Even though it is just the beginning of ensuring better practices, the certificate programme has been instrumental in improving practices in early childhood education. The work with teachers in this programme has been on an incremental basis, with the involvement of staff, parents, and school management from the beginning. A major constraint that will need to be addressed is that of finance, especially if practices such as these are to be sustained in the future.
Teaching Islam: A Look inside an Islamic Preschool in Malaysia
Authors: Borhan Lihanna
Published: November 2005

Although required to use the National Preschool Curriculum for the five- to six-year-old age group, preschools in Malaysia can add to this curriculum to suit their individual purposes. Thus, preschools with religious emphasis are common in Malaysia. Parents send their children to the religiously affiliated preschools in the hope of inculcating particular religious values in their young children. However, parents, and outsiders, may not actually be privy to what and exactly how the children are learning with regard to the religious curriculum. By providing thick descriptions of the activities in an Islamic preschool, this article is largely aimed at those who would like to understand the schooling experience of children going to such schools.
Early Textbooks in Educational Research: The Birth of a Discipline
Authors: Nisbet John
Published: November 2005

The publication of textbooks summarising experimental results and procedures marks a significant stage in the recognition of an area of knowledge as a new discipline. These early textbooks also play an important part in shaping the subsequent development of the discipline. In educational research, the first textbooks appeared in the first decade of the twentieth century. The psychological emphasis in these texts influenced the concept and style of educational research for much of the next half-century.
Observations from Quebec: The Emergence of a Research Culture in Education through Legitimacy and Universitarisation, 1940–2000
Authors: Hamel Thérèse , Larocque Marie-Josée
Published: November 2005

This article sets out the preliminary findings of a study on the emergence of a research culture in the field of teacher training, focusing specifically on the case of Laval University in Quebec (Canada). The authors first define some concepts and discuss the period when teacher training in normal schools was highly rudimentary, then focus mainly on the three types of university institution at the time (higher normal school, school of education and faculty of education). Based on a number of indicators, they determine how this research culture found a place for itself in, among other things, the universitarisation of teacher training. In the second part, the authors highlight some periods of disruption which reveal that a fledgling research culture appeared before 1955, truly emerging between 1955 and 1969, and gaining a dominant place and true legitimacy after 1969. The authors conclude by outlining the issues raised by this change in the institutional culture and argue that the emergence of a research culture in Quebec and elsewhere has changed the traditions and marked the transitions in the development of education and teacher training.
A Comparative History of Educational Sciences: The Comparability of the Incomparable?
Authors: Depaepe Marc
Published: November 2005

Based upon a series of comments and reflections made at the Symposium meeting in Lisbon, this short article raises questions about the difficulties of period comparison when analysing the history of the educational sciences, the issue of ‘disciplinarisation’ and the heterogeneity of the subject, and the methodological problems in operationalising research.
Modernisation of Educational Governance in Greece: From State Control to State Steering
Authors: Zambeta Evie
Published: November 2005

This article attempts to understand the emergent forms of education governance that are developing in the context of the Greek educational system. The methodology used is discourse analysis, which draws upon interviews with political actors at the central and local level, while it also takes into consideration other written texts and parliamentary proceedings relevant to the recent educational reform. The article argues that education policy constructs modernisation as an inevitable process related to globalisation and European integration. The introduction of competitiveness and entrepreneurialism is perceived as the main means to accomplish the task of modernisation, while social exclusion remains unvoiced in contemporary education policy.
Changing Educational Governance in Spain: Decentralisation and Control in the Autonomous Communities
Authors: Pereyra Miguel A.
Published: November 2005

This article explores the impact of change in the governance of education in Spain by exploring the views of system actors engaged in education policy-making in two autonomous communities within the Spanish state. The interviews reflect on the long process of reform of education in Spain, and the shaping principles of that reform. They also consider the ways in which the process has altered as Spanish society has changed. A key issue is the tension between the legacy of a history of centralisation and the pressure for modernisation, which is seen to require decentralisation. Issue that relate to the definition of ‘national identity’ within a decentralised education system are also considered.
The Reconfiguration of the Modern Social Contract: New Forms of Citizenship and Education
Authors: Stoer Stephen R. , Magalhães António M.
Published: November 2005

This article argues that a reconfiguration of the modern social contract is taking place as a process that involves the reconceptualisation of citizenship as difference. At the base of this process is one the authors have previously described as ‘the rebellions of differences' (Stoer & Magalhães, 2001). The rebellions are against the cultural, political and epistemological yoke of Western modernity. What characterises differences and their social relations today is precisely their heterogeneity and their inescapable resistance to any attempts at epistemological or cultural domestication. The implications of this rebellion of differences for the concept and practices of citizenship are profound. The main implication explored here is the reconfiguration of what we call ‘attributed citizenship’ into ‘demanded’ or ‘claimed citizenship’. The authors conclude by relating the latter to the political management of education systems.
The Role of Teacher Attitudes and Judgement in Decision-Making: The Case of Grade Retention
Authors: Bonvin Patrick
Published: November 2005

This article presents a study of grade retention as it ‘naturally’ occurs, focusing on teachers' role in the process leading to retention or promotion for comparable peers. Achievement and IQ were measured prior to the retention decision. A total of 4248 second grade students initially participated in the study, of which 2.3% were retained. Eighty-three retained students were involved in the study, and matched with 83 low-achieving peers. Measures at the teacher's level included attitude towards the efficiency of retention, towards criteria that ought to be taken into account in the decision and general attribution of children's difficulties in school. Teacher decision-making shows internal consistency but seems biased when objective criteria are examined. The probability of a child being retained was substantially influenced by teachers' attitude towards the efficiency of retention as well as by their evaluations of developmental maturity, intellectual potential and their achievement expectancies in language.
Civic Education: What are We Getting from Research?
Authors: Roldão Maria
Published: November 2005

In this article, some of the more relevant aspects found in the studies presented in ECER's Conference in Lisbon, 2002, developed within IEA Civic Education Project, are briefly highlighted. The emerging need for rethinking the concept of civic education itself is pointed out, as well as the nature of research questions for future studies in the field, taking into account and expanding the present findings and their contributes for illuminating the complexity of the concept.
Introduction
Authors: Menezes Isabel
Published: November 2005

The articles assembled in this issue of EERJ represent a considerable amount of consistent knowledge on civic education across Europe. They were produced as a variety of particular studies developed by some of the 20 countries that participated in the International Association for the Evaluation of Educational Achievement (IEA) International Civic Education Project, initiated in 1994. This set of studies followed, re-examined or expanded the results of the second phase of the general study, looking at particular dimensions, combining or expanding aspects worked within the study, now focused on more restricted universes, or confined to more specific dimensions