bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Safety and efficacy of linagliptin in type 2 diabetes patients with common renal and cardiovascular risk factors
Authors: Gallwitz Baptist
Published: April 2013

Dipeptidyl-peptidase-IV (DPP-4) inhibitors have become an important orally active drug class for the treatment of type 2 diabetes as second-line therapy after metformin failure or as monotherapy or combination therapy with other drugs when metformin is not tolerated or contraindicated. DPP-4 inhibitors act mainly by increasing endogenous incretin hormone concentrations. They stimulate insulin secretion and inhibit glucagon secretion in a glucose-dependent manner with a significantly lower risk for hypoglycaemia than sulfonylureas. Furthermore, DPP-4 inhibitors are weight neutral. Linagliptin is a DPP-4 inhibitor that is eliminated by a hepatobiliary route, whereas the other DPP-4 inhibitors available today show a renal elimination. Therefore, it can be used in normal kidney function as well as in all stages of chronic kidney disease to stage 5 (glomerular filtration rate <15 ml/min/1.73 m2) without dose adjustments. Linagliptin was noninferior to metformin and sulfonylureas in clinical studies. In recent studies, it showed a superior safety profile over sulfonylurea treatment regarding hypoglycaemia and weight gain. More patients reached an HbA1c <7% without hypoglycaemia and weight gain with linagliptin compared with glimepiride. The safety profile with respect to a composite cardiovascular endpoint and stroke was also favourable for linagliptin, most likely due to a higher incidence of hypoglycaemia associated with glimepiride therapy and titration. This review gives an overview on the efficacy and safety of linagliptin in comparison with other antidiabetic drugs in type 2 diabetes patients with renal and cardiovascular risk factors as well as an outlook on the perspective for linagliptin in this patient population in the future.
The Role of Religious Leaders in Suicide Prevention
Authors: Hirono Tatsushi
Published: April 2013

The purpose of this study is to examine American and Japanese clergy’s perception of their role in the prevention of suicide. The research questions are as follows: (a) How do clergy in the United States and Japan perceive suicide? (b) Do they see suicide differently? and (c) How do they envision the role of suicide prevention? The hypotheses are as follows: (a) Christian clergy think that suicide is an unacceptable “sin”; (b) Buddhist clergy are more accepting of suicide than Christian clergy; (c) there are role differences related to suicide prevention in the Japanese and American religious communities; and (d) American and Japanese religious leaders have a different view of their obligations related to suicide prevention. The investigator sent 400 anonymous mail surveys, respectively, to New York and Tokyo. The surveys asked about the clergy’s personal beliefs and the Church’s role in suicide prevention. The investigator analyzed the responses using both quantitative and qualitative methods. The major findings are that many American Christian clergy consider suicide to be a sin, but that “God’s love is available for people who committed suicide.” Many Japanese Buddhist clergy think how one dies is not the most important issue.
Teacher Technology Integration Professional Development Model (SMART Board), Pre-Algebra Achievement, and Smart Board Proficiency Scores
Authors: Minor Marice , Losike-Sedimo Nonofo , Reglin Gary , Royster Otelia
Published: April 2013

The study investigated a teacher technology integration professional development model. The model focused on using SMART Board to improve pre-algebra achievement. The importance of the study was that the pre-algebra students at the middle school had a lower passing rate on the pre-algebra standard of learning (SOL) assessment for the past 3 years compared with other middle school students within the district and state. The methodology was guided by the single group pretest and posttest research design. Two research questions were investigated. Data were collected from four pre-algebra teachers and their combined 240 students using the pre-algebra SOL strand test and the SMART Board Technology Proficiency Survey. Results from the descriptive and inferential statistics showed the intervention increased students’ mathematics scores and teachers’ SMART Board proficiency scores from pretest to posttest.
Corrosion study of SiO2–CaO–Al2O3–Na2O–TiO2 glass coating on steel
Authors: Kaur B. , Singh K. , Pandey O. P.
Published: April 2013

A protective coating of 60SiO2–15CaO–10Al2O3–10Na2O–5TiO2 glass ceramic was performed on the ferritic stainless steel substrate by slurry technique. X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy were used for detailed analyses of the coating. Open circuit potential, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy and potentiodynamic polarisation studies were carried out in artificial seawater to monitor the corrosion resistance behaviour of the coating at room temperature. The presence of coating reduced the corrosion current density Icorr and shifted corrosion potential Ecorr towards more noble values. It has been established through this study that glass ceramic coating on the steel substrate essentially improves the corrosion resistance property of the alloy and can be used for marine applications.
CoDP: predicting the impact of unclassified genetic variants in MSH6 by the combination of different properties of the protein
Authors: Terui Hiroko , Akagi Kiwamu , Kawame Hiroshi , Yura Kei
Published: April 2013

Background

Lynch syndrome is a hereditary cancer predisposition syndrome caused by a mutation in one of the DNA mismatch repair (MMR) genes. About 24% of the mutations identified in Lynch syndrome are missense substitutions and the frequency of missense variants in MSH6 is the highest amongst these MMR genes. Because of this high frequency, the genetic testing was not effectively used in MSH6 so far. We, therefore, developed CoDP (Combination of the Different Properties), a bioinformatics tool to predict the impact of missense variants in MSH6.

Methods

We integrated the prediction results of three methods, namely MAPP, PolyPhen-2 and SIFT. Two other structural properties, namely solvent accessibility and the change in the number of heavy atoms of amino acids in the MSH6 protein, were further combined explicitly. MSH6 germline missense variants classified by their associated clinical and molecular data were used to fit the parameters for the logistic regression model and to assess the prediction. The performance of CoDP was compared with those of other conventional tools, namely MAPP, SIFT, PolyPhen-2 and PON-MMR.

Results

A total of 294 germline missense variants were collected from the variant databases and literature. Of them, 34 variants were available for the parameter training and the prediction performance test. We integrated the prediction results of MAPP, PolyPhen-2 and SIFT, and two other structural properties, namely solvent accessibility and the change in the number of heavy atoms of amino acids in the MSH6 protein, were further combined explicitly. Variants data classified by their associated clinical and molecular data were used to fit the parameters for the logistic regression model and to assess the prediction. The values of the positive predictive value (PPV), the negative predictive value (NPV), sensitivity, specificity and accuracy of the tools were compared on the whole data set. PPV of CoDP was 93.3% (14/15), NPV was 94.7% (18/19), specificity was 94.7% (18/19), sensitivity was 93.3% (14/15) and accuracy was 94.1% (32/34). Area under the curve of CoDP was 0.954, that of MAPP for MSH6 was 0.919, of SIFT was 0.864 and of PolyPhen-2 HumVar was 0.819. The power to distinguish between pathogenic and non-pathogenic variants of these methods was tested by Wilcoxon rank sum test (p < 8.9 × 10-6 for CoDP, p < 3.3 × 10-5 for MAPP, p < 3.1 × 10-4 for SIFT and p < 1.2 × 10-3 for PolyPhen-2 HumVar), and CoDP was shown to outperform other conventional methods.

Conclusion

In this paper, we provide a human curated data set for MSH6 missense variants, and CoDP, the prediction tool, which achieved better accuracy for predicting the impact of missense variants in MSH6 than any other known tools. CoDP is available at http://cib.cf.ocha.ac.jp/CoDP/.
Mapping of pigmentation QTL on an anchored genome assembly of the cichlid fish, Metriaclima zebra
Authors: O’Quin Claire T , Drilea Alexi C , Conte Matthew A , Kocher Thomas D
Published: April 2013

Background

Pigmentation patterns are one of the most recognizable phenotypes across the animal kingdom. They play an important role in camouflage, communication, mate recognition and mate choice. Most progress on understanding the genetics of pigmentation has been achieved via mutational analysis, with relatively little work done to understand variation in natural populations. Pigment patterns vary dramatically among species of cichlid fish from Lake Malawi, and are thought to be important in speciation. In this study, we crossed two species, Metriaclima zebra and M. mbenjii, that differ in several aspects of their body and fin color. We genotyped 798 SNPs in 160 F2 male individuals to construct a linkage map that was used to identify quantitative trait loci (QTL) associated with the pigmentation traits of interest. We also used the linkage map to anchor portions of the M. zebra genome assembly.

Results

We constructed a linkage map consisting of 834 markers in 22 linkage groups that spanned over 1,933 cM. QTL analysis detected one QTL each for dorsal fin xanthophores, caudal fin xanthophores, and pelvic fin melanophores. Dorsal fin and caudal fin xanthophores share a QTL on LG12, while pelvic fin melanophores have a QTL on LG11. We used the mapped markers to anchor 66.5% of the M. zebra genome assembly. Within each QTL interval we identified several candidate genes that might play a role in pigment cell development.

Conclusion

This is one of a few studies to identify QTL for natural variation in fish pigmentation. The QTL intervals we identified did not contain any pigmentation genes previously identified by mutagenesis studies in other species. We expect that further work on these intervals will identify new genes involved in pigment cell development in natural populations.
Genome-wide promoter methylation profile of human testis and epididymis: identified from cell-free seminal DNA
Authors: Wu Chunlin , Ding Xiaofang , Li Honggang , Zhu Changhong , Xiong Chengliang
Published: April 2013

Background

DNA methylation analysis is useful for investigation of male fertility in mammals, whereas the reliance on tissues limits the research on human. We have previously found the presence of high concentration of cell-free seminal DNA (cfsDNA) in human semen. We proposed that some testis and epididymis-specific methylated promoters could be detected in human cfsDNA, and thus hold promise as noninvasive epigenetic biomarkers for male infertility, of which most cases are caused by defects in testicular sperm production or epididymal sperm maturation.

Results

The ejaculate of successfully vasectomized men does not contain any secretion from testis and epididymis. Here we compared genome-wide promoter methylation profiles in cfsDNA between health donors and post-vasectomy men. Promoters of 367 testis and epididymis-specific hypomethylated genes and 134 hypermethylated genes were identified. Subsequent validation by Methyl-DNA immunoprecipitation and MethyLight analysis confirmed the result of promoter microarray. Gene Ontology analysis revealed many genes involved in male reproduction.

Conclusion

We detected the testis and epididymis-specific methylated promoters in human cfsDNA, which may be used for noninvasive epigenetic biomarkers for the study and diagnosis of male infertility.
Evidence for tankyrases as antineoplastic targets in lung cancer
Authors: Busch Alexander M , Johnson Kevin C , Stan Radu V , Sanglikar Aarti , Ahmed Yashi , Dmitrovsky Ethan , Freemantle Sarah J
Published: April 2013

Background

New pharmacologic targets are urgently needed to treat or prevent lung cancer, the most common cause of cancer death for men and women. This study identified one such target. This is the canonical Wnt signaling pathway, which is deregulated in cancers, including those lacking adenomatous polyposis coli or β-catenin mutations. Two poly-ADP-ribose polymerase (PARP) enzymes regulate canonical Wnt activity: tankyrase (TNKS) 1 and TNKS2. These enzymes poly-ADP-ribosylate (PARsylate) and destabilize axin, a key component of the β-catenin phosphorylation complex.

Methods

This study used comprehensive gene profiles to uncover deregulation of the Wnt pathway in murine transgenic and human lung cancers, relative to normal lung. Antineoplastic consequences of genetic and pharmacologic targeting of TNKS in murine and human lung cancer cell lines were explored, and validated in vivo in mice by implantation of murine transgenic lung cancer cells engineered with reduced TNKS expression relative to controls.

Results

Microarray analyses comparing Wnt pathway members in malignant versus normal tissues of a murine transgenic cyclin E lung cancer model revealed deregulation of Wnt pathway components, including TNKS1 and TNKS2. Real-time PCR assays independently confirmed these results in paired normal-malignant murine and human lung tissues. Individual treatments of a panel of human and murine lung cancer cell lines with the TNKS inhibitors XAV939 and IWR-1 dose-dependently repressed cell growth and increased cellular axin 1 and tankyrase levels. These inhibitors also repressed expression of a Wnt-responsive luciferase construct, implicating the Wnt pathway in conferring these antineoplastic effects. Individual or combined knockdown of TNKS1 and TNKS2 with siRNAs or shRNAs reduced lung cancer cell growth, stabilized axin, and repressed tumor formation in murine xenograft and syngeneic lung cancer models.

Conclusions

Findings reported here uncovered deregulation of specific components of the Wnt pathway in both human and murine lung cancer models. Repressing TNKS activity through either genetic or pharmacological approaches antagonized canonical Wnt signaling, reduced murine and human lung cancer cell line growth, and decreased tumor formation in mouse models. Taken together, these findings implicate the use of TNKS inhibitors to target the Wnt pathway to combat lung cancer.
Forecast analysis of the incidence of tuberculosis in the province of Quebec
Authors: Klotz Alexander , Harouna Abdoulaye , Smith Andrew F
Published: April 2013

Background

While the overall population prevalence of tuberculosis in Quebec has been declining for many years, tuberculosis is still disproportionately more prevalent among the immigrant and Inuit communities. As such, the aim of this study was to forecast the incidence of tuberculosis in the Province of Quebec over time in order to examine the possible impact of future preventative and treatment programs geared to reducing such disparities.

Methods

A compartmental differential equation based on a Susceptible Exposed Latent Infectious Recovered (SELIR) model was simulated using the Euler method using Visual Basic for Applications in Excel. Demographic parameters were obtained from census data for the Province of Quebec and the model was fitted to past epidemiological data to extrapolate future values over the period 2015 to 2030.

Results

The trend of declining tuberculosis rates will continue in the general population, falling by 42% by 2030. The incidence among immigrants will decrease but never vanish, and may increase in the future. Among the Inuit, the incidence is expected to increase, reaching a maximum and then stabilizing, although if re-infection is taken into account it may continue to increase. Tuberculosis among non-indigenous Canadian born persons will continue to decline, with the disease almost eradicated in that group in the mid 21st century.

Conclusions

While the incidence of tuberculosis in the Province of Quebec is expected to decrease overall, certain populations will remain at risk.
Insulin-like growth factor-1 rescues synaptic and motor deficits in a mouse model of autism and developmental delay
Authors: Bozdagi Ozlem , Tavassoli Teresa , Buxbaum Joseph D
Published: April 2013

Background

Haploinsufficiency of SHANK3, due to either hemizygous gene deletion (termed 22q13 deletion syndrome or Phelan-McDermid syndrome) or to gene mutation, accounts for about 0.5% of the cases of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and/or developmental delay, and there is evidence for a wider role for SHANK3 and glutamate signaling abnormalities in ASD and related conditions. Therapeutic approaches that reverse deficits in SHANK3-haploinsufficiency may therefore be broadly beneficial in ASD and in developmental delay.

Findings

We observed that daily intraperitoneal injections of human insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) over a 2-week period reversed deficits in hippocampal α-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionic acid (AMPA) signaling, long-term potentiation (LTP), and motor performance that we had previously reported in Shank3-deficient mice. Positive effects were observed with an IGF-1 peptide derivative as well.

Conclusions

We observed significant beneficial effects of IGF-1 in a mouse model of ASD and of developmental delay. Studies in mouse and human neuronal models of Rett syndrome also show benefits with IGF-1, raising the possibility that this compound may have benefits broadly in ASD and related conditions, even with differing molecular etiology. Given the extensive safety data for IGF-1 in children with short stature due to primary IGF-1 deficiency, IGF-1 is an attractive candidate for controlled clinical trials in SHANK3-deficiency and in ASD.
Inhaled aerosolized insulin ameliorates hyperglycemia-induced inflammatory responses in the lungs in an experimental model of acute lung injury
Authors: Fan Wei , Nakazawa Koichi , Abe Shinya , Inoue Miori , Kitagawa Masanobu , Nagahara Noriyuki , Makita Koshi
Published: April 2013

Introduction

Previous studies have shown that patients with diabetes mellitus appear to have a lower prevalence of acute lung injury. We assumed that insulin prescribed to patients with diabetes has an anti-inflammatory property and pulmonary administration of insulin might exert beneficial effects much more than intravenous administration.

Methods

Twenty-eight mechanically ventilated rabbits underwent lung injury by saline lavage, and then the animals were allocated into a normoglycemia group (NG), a hyperglycemia group (HG), an HG treated with intravenous insulin (HG-VI) group or an HG treated with aerosolized insulin (HG-AI) group with continuous infusion of different fluid solutions and treatments: normal saline, 50% glucose, 50% glucose with intravenous insulin, or 50% glucose with inhaled aerosolized insulin, respectively. After four hours of treatment, the lungs and heart were excised en bloc, and then high-mobility group B1 concentration in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid, interleukin-8 and toll-like receptor 4 mRNA expression in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid cells, and lung myeloperoxidase activity were measured.

Results

Treatment with both aerosolized insulin and intravenous insulin attenuated toll-like receptor 4 mRNA expressions in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid cells. Interleukin-8 and toll-like receptor 4 mRNA expression was significantly lower in the HG-AI group than in the HG-IV group. The lung myeloperoxidase activity in the normal healthy group showed significantly lower levels compared to the NG group but not different compared to those of the HG, HG-VI and HG-AI groups.

Conclusions

The results suggest that insulin attenuates inflammatory responses in the lungs augmented by hyperglycemia in acute lung injury and the insulin's efficacy may be better when administered by aerosol.
Alcohol-induced IL-1β in the brain is mediated by NLRP3/ASC inflammasome activation that amplifies neuroinflammation
Authors: Lippai Dora , Bala Shashi , Petrasek Jan , Csak Timea , Levin Ivan , Kurt-Jones Evelyn A , Szabo Gyongyi
Published: April 2013

Alcohol-induced neuroinflammation is mediated by proinflammatory cytokines, including IL-1β. IL-1β production requires caspase-1 activation by inflammasomes—multiprotein complexes that are assembled in response to danger signals. We hypothesized that alcohol-induced inflammasome activation contributes to increased IL-1β in the brain. WT and TLR4-, NLRP3-, and ASC-deficient (KO) mice received an ethanol-containing or isocaloric control diet for 5 weeks, and some received the rIL-1ra, anakinra, or saline treatment. Inflammasome activation, proinflammatory cytokines, endotoxin, and HMGB1 were measured in the cerebellum. Expression of inflammasome components (NLRP1, NLRP3, ASC) and proinflammatory cytokines (TNF-α, MCP-1) was increased in brains of alcohol-fed compared with control mice. Increased caspase-1 activity and IL-1β protein in ethanol-fed mice indicated inflammasome activation. TLR4 deficiency protected from TNF-α, MCP-1, and attenuated alcohol-induced IL-1β increases. The TLR4 ligand, LPS, was not increased in the cerebellum. However, we found up-regulation of acetylated and phosphorylated HMGB1 and increased expression of the HMGB1 receptors (TLR2, TLR4, TLR9, RAGE) in alcohol-fed mice. NLRP3- or ASC-deficient mice were protected from caspase-1 activation and alcohol-induced IL-1β increase in the brain. Furthermore, in vivo treatment with rIL-1ra prevented alcohol-induced inflammasome activation and IL-1β, TNF-α, and acetylated HMGB1 increases in the cerebellum. Conversely, intracranial IL-1β administration induced TNF-α and MCP-1 in the cerebellum. In conclusion, alcohol up-regulates and activates the NLRP3/ASC inflammasome, leading to caspase-1 activation and IL-1β increase in the cerebellum. IL-1β amplifies neuroinflammation, and disruption of IL-1/IL-1R signaling prevents alcohol-induced inflammasome activation and neuroinflammation. Increased levels of acetylated and phosphorylated HMGB1 may contribute to alcoholic neuroinflammation.
Linear and cyclic oligo-β-(1→6)-D-glucosamines: Synthesis, conformations, and applications for design of a vaccine and oligodentate glycoconjugates
Authors: Gening Marina L. , Tsvetkov Yury E. , Titov Denis V. , Gerbst Alexey G. , Yudina Olga N. , Grachev Alexey A. , Shashkov Alexander S. , Vidal Sébastien , Imberty Anne , Saha Tanmoy , Kand Dnyaneshwar , Talukdar Pinaki , Pier Gerald B. , Nifantiev Nikolay E.
Published: April 2013

Poly-β-(1→6)-N-acetyl-D-glucosamine is an exopolysaccharide secreted by numerous pathogenic bacteria, including Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Yersinia pestis, Bordetella pertussis, Acinetobacter baumannii, Burkholderia spp., and others. A convergent approach was developed for the synthesis of oligosaccharide fragments consisting of 5, 7, 9, and 11 glucosamine or N-acetylglucosamine units and for the preparation of five nona-β-(1→6)-D-glucosamines with various N-acetylation patterns. Penta- and nona-β‑(1→6)-D-glucosamines conjugated to protein carriers through a specially developed sulfhydryl linker proved to be highly immunogenic in mice and rabbits and elicited antibodies that mediated opsonic killing of multiple strains of S. aureus (including methicillin-resistant S. aureus, MRSA) and E. coli, and protected against S. aureus skin abscesses and lethal E. coli and B. cenocepacia peritonitis. These findings provide a basis for the construction of a unique semisynthetic vaccine against multiple bacterial targets. Conformational studies by means of special NMR experiments and computer modeling revealed that the oligo-β-(1→6)-D-glucosamine chain exists mostly in a helix-like conformation, where the terminal monosaccharides are arranged close to each other. Owing to this feature, oligoglucosamines consisting of 2 to 7 residues easily form products of cycloglycosylation. Cyclooligo-β-(1→6)-D-glucosamines represent a new family of functionalized cyclic oligosaccharides. Owing to their molecular architectonics, these compounds are convenient scaffolds for the design of conjugates with defined valency, symmetry, flexibility, and function.
Towards solvent-controlled reactivity in ionic liquids
Authors: Yau Hon Man , Keaveney Sinead T. , Butler Bradley J. , Tanner Eden E. L. , Guerry Max S. , George Stephen R. D. , Dunn Michelle H. , Croft Anna K. , Harper Jason B.
Published: April 2013

Ionic liquids are frequently touted as alternatives to traditional molecular solvents but are limited in their applicability as the outcome of reactions may be altered on moving from a molecular to an ionic solvent. This manuscript summarizes our progress towards a predictive framework through understanding how ionic solvents affect organic processes, with an emphasis on how these findings might be applied. Particularly, we will consider the importance of the mole fraction of the ionic liquid used, including some hitherto undisclosed results, as well as the importance of understanding the key interactions of the solvent with the components along the reaction coordinate.
The Structure of Nonverbal Intelligence in Deaf and Hearing Subjects
Authors: Braden Jeffery P.
Published: April 2013

Factors extracted from the normative samples of the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children Performance Scale (WISC PS; Wechsler, 1949), Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children-Revised Performance Scale (WISC-R PS; Wechsler, 1974) and Hiskey Nebraska Test of Learning Aptitude (HNTLA; Hiskey, 1966) are compared to factors emerging from deaf normative samples on these nonverbal intelligence tests (WISC N = 300; WISC-R N = 1,228; HNTLA N = 550, N = 529). All data sets yield a first principal factor which is virtually identical ( r c ≥ .986) for deaf and hearing samples. The similarity of first principal factors supports arguments that deaf and hearing people do not exhibit major qualitative differences in nonverbal intellectual structure, and contradicts suggestions that mental abilities develop more independently in deaf children than in hearing children.
Teaching Self-Control to Dually Diagnosed Deaf Students: Promising Procedures
Authors: Morrow Lonny W.
Published: April 2013

Despite awareness that deaf students are at risk for developing a significantly higher incidence rate of behavior disorders, there exists a lack of programs and techniques to serve this dually diagnosed population. Although the use of self-control techniques has been successful with other handicapped populations, no reports of their use with a deaf population were found in the literature. Three author-conducted investigations of the use of self-control techniques with dually diagnosed deaf adolescents are reported. Implications of the results for teachers of the deaf are discussed.
A National Survey of Programs for Intellectually and Academically Gifted Hearing-impaired Students
Authors: Gamble Harold W.
Published: April 2013

This study gathered information about the number and characteristics of existing programs for gifted hearing-impaired students. It also attempted to determine the number of students believed to be gifted in educational programs for hearing-impaired students that do not provide special gifted programs. Questionnaire responses were received from 16 gifted programs serving hearing-impaired school-age students in the United States. Data were analyzed to provide a quantitative assessment of the features of the reported gifted programs. Information obtained in this study suggests that only 15% of the 877 gifted hearing-impaired students reported are enrolled in special programs for the gifted. An unusually high percentage of the reported identified gifted students were residential students who came from families having two deaf parents.
A Comparison of Three Speech Intelligibility Measures for Deaf Students
Authors: Porter Kathleen F. , Bradley Sandra
Published: April 2013

The speech intelligibility of 21 severely to profoundly hearing-impaired adolescents representing a broad range of speaking proficiency was measured by using each of three assessment procedures: The National Technical Institute for the Deaf (NTID) rating scale, the Speech Intelligibility Evaluation (Monsen, 1981), and the Speech Intelligibility Test for Deaf Children (Magner, 1980). The three measures were correlated at better than the 1% level of significance. Interjudge reliability was examined for the NTID scale and the Magner test. For both procedures the greatest variability in between-rater judgments was observed for intelligibilities in the middle of the range. The practical advantages and disadvantages of each procedure are discussed and recommendations made for their use.
Congenital Rubella Syndrome and Diabetes: A Review of Epidemiologic, Genetic, and Immunologic Factors
Authors: Shaver Kathleen A. , Boughman Joann A. , Nance Walter E.
Published: April 2013

Persons with the congenital rubella syndrome, characterized by the well-recognized abnormalities of the otologic, ocular, cardiac, and neurologic systems, also have an increased risk of developing endocrine disorders. Comprehensive medical studies of 201 rubella-deafened students from three residential schools for the deaf revealed that 20% had either diabetes or other significant abnormalities of glucose metabolism. In addition, 23% had thyroid autoantibodies, and 20% of these had thyroid function disorders. Examination of genetic markers including the human leukocyte antigens demonstrated that a genetically conferred susceptibility to the rubella syndrome may exist. This new evidence dramatically emphasizes the need for further investigation of the endocrine and immunologic systems in deaf individuals with the congenital rubella syndrome as an integral component of their present and future health care.
Using the Scale of Independent Behavior With Hearing-impaired Students
Authors: Klansek-Kyllo Valerie , Rose Susan
Published: April 2013

Social competence and independent functional behavior of children with hearing impairments is an area of growing interest to parents, educators, and researchers alike. This study reports the independent-social behaviors as measured by the Scales of Independent Behavior (SIB). Twenty-five parents of children with hearing impairments and 25 parents of hearing children were asked to complete measures of independent behavior. Hearing and hearing-impaired children demonstrated equivalent independent social behaviors in areas of motor development, personal living, and community living. Significant discrepancies were identified in home-community orientation, money and value, and social and communication skills. Results are discussed in terms of their implications for intervention programs.
Speech Instruction for Deaf Children: A Communication-Based Approach
Authors: Nittrouer Susan , Hochberg Irving
Published: April 2013

This article discusses a concept of speech instruction based on the definition of speech as oral communication. According to this definition, the goal of speech instruction is the development of spoken language abilities for both production and perception. Six specific skill areas and three levels of learning are identified as fundamental to the development of these abilities. Emphasis is placed on the teacher's role in the speech learning process.
Using Video Resumes to Teach Deaf College Students Job Search Skills and Improve Their Communication
Authors: Kelly Jacquelyn F. , O'Brien Elizabeth H.
Published: April 2013

For several years the National Technical Institute for the Deaf (NTID) at the Rochester Institute of Technology has offered a course that focuses on preparing video resumes. Professionals from the Instructional Television Department and the National Center of Employment for the Deaf have collaborated with communication instructors to develop this option for NTID students. This paper describes the instruction and evaluation process from the perspective of NTID instructors, students, and other technical professionals. Employers who have hired NTID students and those who have no familiarity with deaf employees also participated in the evaluation. Their comments give valuable insights into the often different perspectives of deafness between those who have worked with deaf employees and those who lack such experience. Video resumes were found to be a viable tool in the job search, and the process of preparing the video was found to be a stimulating and rewarding experience for the participating students.
Partnering to Run a Community-Based Program for Deaf-Blind Young Adults
Authors: Riester Albert E.
Published: April 2013

Community-based programs that assist deaf-blind young adults with living skills can be a cost effective alternative to institutional care. Their unique medical, psychosocial training, and daily living needs require services and support from a variety of agencies and providers. The elements and concepts necessary to conduct a program 24 hours a day for young adults who are deaf and blind includes sound management, realistic staff expectations for clients, developmentally appropriate activities, family participation in planning accessible medical and psychological services, and close collaboration with universities and community organizations. Management must also be sensitive to the emotional concerns of the staff and provide ongoing opportunities for supervision and training.
Reforming Teacher Education: A Model Program for Preparing Teachers of Deaf Children
Authors: Shroyer Edgar H. , Compton Mary V.
Published: April 2013

Recent literature is replete with the concerns of general educators that students majoring in elementary and pre-primary education do not acquire sufficient content and liberal arts matter as a part of their knowledge base. Educators in undergraduate teacher preparation programs in deafness have expressed the same concerns. This article describes how the Program in Education of Deaf Children at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro added courses in a second major and in liberal arts to expand the knowledge base of prospective teachers of deaf and hard of hearing children.
A Survey of the Appropriateness of Instructional Language Materials Used With Deaf Students
Authors: Wathum-Ocama John C.
Published: April 2013

A questionnaire survey was conducted of the instructional language materials used by educators in programs for deaf and hard of hearing students. The results indicated that over half (51%) of the materials used are not developed specifically for use with deaf students. The majority of the respondents (67%) cited problems finding age- and interest-appropriate materials. Dissatisfaction with current language materials was one reason many educators (60%) made their own materials. Their comments emphasized the need to develop language materials and assessment tools specifically for deaf and hard of hearing students.
Subgroup Differences in Educational Placement for Deaf and Hard of Hearing Students
Authors: Allen Thomas E.
Published: April 2013

This study presents crosstabulations of educational placement variables by selected demographic characteristics and reports the different patterns of educational placement for subgroups of the deaf and hard of hearing population. Type of school, amount of academic integration with hearing students, and the number of deaf or hard of hearing students attending the same school building were considered as dependent variables in the analysis. Degree of hearing loss, age, ethnic and racial background, and additional handicap status were considered as independent variables. Data from the 1990-1991 Annual Survey of Hearing Impaired Children and Youth were analyzed. Results indicate that subgroups defined by each of these variables differ markedly with regard to patterns of educational placement. The importance of paying attention to subgroup statistics, as opposed to global population statistics, in the formulation of educational policy is discussed.
A National Survey of Educational Preparation Programs for Early Intervention Specialists
Authors: Roush Jackson , Harrison Melody , Palsha Sharon , Davidson Diana
Published: April 2013

To examine the status of preprofessional education in early intervention, we conducted a nationwide survey of college and university programs offering degrees in education of the deaf. Curriculum content and practicum experiences with infants and toddlers and their families were examined, as well as general comments and recommendations of program directors. Additional information was sought from programs offering specializations at the preschool level to determine whether they had CED affiliation, and if so, whether they were certified in the areas of parent-infant education or early childhood education. The findings are discussed in the context of Public Law 99-457 and the growing emphasis on family centered early intervention.
The Receptive Communication Abilities of Deaf Students Under Oral, Manual, and Combined Methods
Authors: Hyde M. B. , Power D. J.
Published: April 2013

Two groups of severely and profoundly deaf students aged 10 to 17 years were tested on their abilities to choose, from a set of four pictures, the one matching a sentence presented on videotape under 11 different communication conditions. The communication conditions involved individual and combined presentations of lipreading, listening, fingerspelling, and signed English. Severely deaf students scored higher than profoundly deaf students under all conditions except those that involved signed English, where the profoundly deaf group scored as high as the severely deaf group. All the students scored higher under conditions that involved audition, including lipreading plus audition, than under audition alone. The discussion of the results highlights methodological problems that made it difficult to interpret some previous studies in this area. Practical implications of the results for both oral education of the deaf and simultaneous communication are also discussed.
Combining Cognitive Learning Theory and Computer Assisted Instruction for Deaf Learners
Authors: Mertens Donna M. , Rabiu Jubril
Published: April 2013

This study investigated the effects of implementing cognitive learning theory principles in computer assisted instruction of educational psychology concepts. A total of 19 preservice deaf teachers participated in the study. We used a pre-post design to measure the learning and attitude changes of the teachers. The results of the analysis of pretests and posttests of cognitive outcomes indicated that significant learning occurred as a result of the computer-based instruction. Also, the majority of the students reacted positively to the quality of the lessons. The results also suggest that applying an appropriate theoretical framework to the design of instruction offers an avenue for meaningfully addressing the appropriate use of technology.
The Feeling of Knowing in Deaf Adolescents
Authors: Krinsky Suzanne G.
Published: April 2013

Forty prelingually deaf high school students were asked to define words from the 1981 Peabody Picture Vocabulary Test (PPVT). The students then ranked the words they had missed in terms of the difficulty they would expect to have in picking out a picture of the word; that is, they were asked to judge their "feeling of knowing" for the missed words. The PPVT was then given to the students and served as a measure of accuracy for their rank-order judgments. Two comparison groups were established: one was a group of hearing adolescents of the same age as the deaf students, and the second was a group of hearing students of the same reading level as the deaf students. The deaf students were unable to judge their feeling of knowing, but both hearing groups were able to do so.
Roberto Francisco Prádez: Spain's First Deaf Teacher of the Deaf
Authors: Plann Susan
Published: April 2013

This article examines developments surrounding the establishment of the school for the deaf in Madrid in the 19th century and the role played by Roberto Prádez, Spain's first deaf teacher of the deaf, during the school's first three decades of existence. Although he has been neglected historically, Prádez is a founding father of deaf education, a heroic figure who contributed crucially to the establishment and operation of Spain's first state-sponsored school. This study underscores the need to reexamine the historical record to recover Spanish deaf history.
An Innovative Program for Multihandicapped Deaf Students Using the FSSI
Authors: Garner Diane , Becker Heather , Schur Sally , Hammer Ed
Published: April 2013

Teachers in public schools now have more students with more severe disabilities than they did in the past. Unfortunately, efforts to provide them with a quality education have been hampered by a lack of focused instructional planning. This article describes an innovative program developed for deaf multihandicapped students that has created an integrated focus for instruction. The organizing framework for the program incorporates the Functional Skills Screening Inventory, a domain referenced assessment of living and working skills. This structured approach enables teachers to identify current functional levels, develop meaningful short- and long-term objectives, and monitor student progress throughout their educational programs. It also facilitates long-range planning and evaluation of the instructional program on an ongoing basis.
The Garden Cafe: An Experiment in Vocational Education in the Philippines
Authors: Olson Jack R.
Published: April 2013

The author visited Bohol, a picturesque island in the Philippines 350 miles south of Manila, in 1986 and 1990 to observe and record the emerging deaf culture. Before the Peace Corps started a school program on the island some eight years ago, deaf children grew up functionally illiterate. Those who have not been found and are not enrolled in the fledgling school program still do, as they are completely isolated from the deaf community. This article describes heroic efforts to teach vocational skills to the deaf in Bohol. The project not only succeeded but led to the island's best restaurant, The Garden Cafe .
The Black and Deaf Movements in America Since 1960: Parallelism and an Agenda for the Future
Authors: Rittenhouse Robert K. , Johnson Calvin , Overton Betty , Freeman Shirley , Jaussi Kyle
Published: April 2013

This paper traces the political and educational movements of both black and hearing-impaired Americans since 1960 and compares their common as well as disparate but equally significant experiences. The purpose of the comparisons is to identify problems and proven solutions that collectively suggest a strategy for the continuing movement of hearing-impaired people. The authors, through their ethnicity—three are black and two are white—and personal and professional experiences bring divergent but relevant points of view to the question of multicultural coalitions and their abilities to effect social change. Four principles or suggestions for advancing the agenda of hearing-impaired Americans are presented: (1) the need to define the issues that will continue to confront hearing-impaired Americans through the year 2000, (2) the need to enlarge the membership and participation of existing coalitions, (3) the need to address local, vocational, technical, and educational issues, and (4) the need to facilitate hearing-impaired networking groups within religious, social, business, and cultural organizations.
Mainstreaming and Postsecondary Educational and Employment Status of a Rubella Cohort
Authors: Kasen Stephanie , Ouellette Robert , Cohen Patricia
Published: April 2013

The postsecondary education and work status of 46 rubella deaf young adults was described and evaluated as an outcome of ethnicity, socioeconomic status, preschool attendance, early parent involvement, and degree of prior mainstreaming. With regard to postsecondary education attendance, 24 had two or more years, 11 had one year or less, and 11 had none. At time of interview, 19 were still attending school, 22 were working and five were neither working nor attending an educational program. Ethnic minority young adults were underrepresented in the group with two or more years of postsecondary education, and overrepresented in the group neither working nor in school at time of interview. Prior mainstreaming was a determinant of postsecondary education attendance over and above the effects of demographic and background characteristics. Implications of these findings are discussed.
Let's Talk About It: Using Conversation to Facilitate Language Development
Authors: Miller Kevin J. , Luckner John L.
Published: April 2013

For centuries, educators have searched for the best way to teach language to deaf students. Throughout this time period, no one specific approach has emerged. In this article, we examine and justify the use of conversational approaches to teach language to deaf students. Classrooms for deaf students are often not conducive to conversation. We suggest that to promote conversation in classrooms, teachers must reexamine how they teach as well as how they structure their classrooms and curriculums. The article closes with descriptions of activities that teachers can use to encourage conversation in their classrooms.
Classification of the Hearing Impaired for Independent Living Using the Vineland Adaptive Behavior Scale
Authors: Dunlap William R. , Sands Deanna Iceman
Published: April 2013

Training hearing-impaired persons in independent living skills has become a focus of education and rehabilitation programs for the hearing impaired. Yet, few programs and assessment instruments are designed to evaluate a person's potential for acquiring independent living skills. In this study, the Vineland Adaptive Behavior Scale was used to classify 118 hearing-impaired persons in groups based on their ability to be trained in independent living skills. Cluster analysis was used to group the subjects according to four domains: communication, daily living, socialisation, and maladaptive behavior. The results indicate that the behavior scale can be used to classify hearing-impaired persons according to their ability to acquire independent living skills. The cluster analysis resulted in three groups. The persons in the lowest group did not have the most severe hearing losses, but they were more likely to have additional handicaps. This suggests that additional handicaps may be more important than degree of hearing loss in determining whether hearing-impaired persons can acquire independent living skills.
The Influence of Personal Characteristics on Rumor Knowledge and Transmission Among the Deaf
Authors: Anthony Susan
Published: April 2013

Students who viewed themselves as members of the deaf culture listed all the current rumors they knew and the number of people to whom they typically transmit rumors. These two rumor variables, knowledge and transmission, were related to general anxiety level, extraversion, gender, self-reported preferred mode of communication, and type of high school attended. Congruent with previous research on hearing populations, deaf participants who were more anxious knew more rumors than did less anxious deaf participants. Results unique to the deaf population are also discussed.
Training for Equity and Excellence for College Teachers of Hearing-Impaired Students
Authors: Sass-Lehrer Marilyn , Cohen-Silver Louise G. , Bodner-Johnson Barbara
Published: April 2013

A two-year research and faculty development project at Gallaudet University examined professor-student interactions and developed and implemented a faculty development model designed to promote equitable and effective teacher-student classroom interaction. A discussion of the research design, training model and results of the investigation are discussed.