bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Improving advanced reading comprehension in a foreign language: summaries vs. short‐answer questions
Authors: Bensoussan Marsha , Kreindler Isabelle
Published: November 2005

Summarizing appears to be an activity well suited to sensitizing advanced foreign language readers to the inner workings of a text and weaning them away from word‐to‐word decoding. Indeed, recent research has emphasized the importance of summarizing as an aid to reading comprehension (Cohen, 1987; Bernhardt, 1986; Brown et al., 1981). We were interested in using summary writing as a tool in promoting reading comprehension and hypothesized that students who gained practice in extracting the main points of a text would become more effective readers.

The main purpose of the study was to determine whether the comprehension of students who were trained to summarize improved more than that of students who responded to short‐answer questions. The researchers, who teach EFL (English as a foreign language) at Haifa University, taught 6 classes totalling 179 students. Three classes summarized 10 academic texts of general interest, while the other three classes answered short‐answer questions on the same texts.

At the same time we collected information on the students’ background in order to identify possible non‐linguistic factors that may affect reading comprehension.

Since the reading comprehension of all the classes improved significantly, it was not possible to say that either summarizing or the answering of questions was a major cause of this improvement. However, results suggest that writing summaries helped students read more efficiently. Results of MANOVA pointed to the conjoint effects of three factors: task (summary vs. short‐answer questions), gender (male vs. female), and native language (Hebrew vs. Arabic).

Perhaps the most interesting finding is that classroom discussion in which students negotiated the scoring key of both summaries and responses to short‐answer questions (after handing in assignments) proved to be extremely valuable. This negotiation motivated students to become intensely involved with the text and more critical of their own responses.
Auditory perceptual processing in reading disabled children
Authors: Shapiro Jon , Nix Gary W. , Foster Steven F.
Published: November 2005

One hundred and three children attending Learning Assistance Centres due to reading difficulties and one hundred and three matched, average readers were administered a battery of auditory perceptual processing tasks. The battery was composed of auditory analysis and synthesis, auditory sequential memory, auditory discrimination, and phonemic segmentation tasks. A principal components analysis yielded four factors. These were determined to be advanced phonological awareness, sequential memory, discrimination, and simple phonological awareness. Discriminant analyses, using the factor scores, indicated that three of the four factors were able to discriminate between the able and disabled readers. Most notable among these was advanced phonological awareness. Auditory discrimination could not discriminate between the groups. The results suggest that there may not be one underlying phonological ability implicated in successful reading acquisition. Furthermore, it is clear that two levels of phonological awareness exist and that screening and diagnostic instruments should address both in order to have predictive validity.
Inferences and integrations made by readers of script‐based texts 1
Authors: van Oostendorp Herre
Published: November 2005

The purpose of the present study was to investigate the extent to which readers make inferences and integrations during reading. The research questions were: first, do subjects infer script‐arguments and second, do subjects search for earlier instantiations of script‐ or nonscript‐arguments in the episodic memory structure (integration)? In three experiments, subjects read stories with sentences mentioning concepts that were semantically highly related to the theme of a story or semantically less related (by using typical script‐arguments or nonscript‐arguments). In addition, reading style and reading‐instruction were varied. Slow readers and readers with a careful‐reading instruction appeared to infer script‐arguments and integrated arguments to a high degree. Fast readers and readers with a fluent‐reading instruction did not infer script‐information and showed few integrations. They seemed to constrain themselves to a context‐evaluation strategy.
Age‐related changes in reading attitudes of young children: a cross‐cultural study
Authors: Saracho Olivia N. , Dayton C. Mitchell
Published: November 2005

The Preschool Reading Attitudes Scale (PRAS) was administered to 2201 young children, from three to five years of age, in early childhood programs from several regions of the United States. The scale is categorized into four areas related to children's reading environment. School Reading Activities, Non‐school Reading Activities, Library Reading Activities and General Reading Activities. A validation sample revealed highly significant differences at all age levels between students receiving positive and negative teacher ratings of reading attitudes. The basic design involved three factors, age, sex, and ethnicity, and an analysis of variance was applied to total scores and subscores. The results showed significant outcomes for age and ethnicity, in addition to an age X ethnicity interaction. The results suggest that there are significant attitudinal differences between three‐year‐olds as opposed to four‐ and five‐year‐olds as well as age dependent differences among the ethnic groups.
Alternate eye suppression and reading ability: little or no effect
Authors: Goodman Gay , Holland Merle L.
Published: November 2005

The relationship between visual disorders and reading disability has been a source of controversy. Although much has been written, few clear relationships have been established. This study examined a particular visual disorder, alternating the use of the eyes. It has been generally assumed in the professional literature that eye alternation has a negative impact on a child's ability to read and perform visual‐motor tasks. To date, however, this assumption is without scientific validation.

The purpose of this study was to determine whether alternating the use of the eyes does in fact have a negative effect on reading ability and on timed visual‐motor tasks. Forty school‐aged children, aged six to 14, were selected from the patient population of four ophthalmologists. Twenty alternators, whose ocular conditions were verified by ophthalmologic examination, were obtained. The control group was obtained by matching children with normal eye exams to the alternators. All subjects were given the WISC‐R (Wechsler, 1974) and the Woodcock Reading Mastery Tests, Form B (1973).

Results of the study indicated that the reading achievement of eye alternators was no different than it was for visually normal children. Also, alternators are no more likely to have difficulty with the visual‐motor tasks. Although alternators may score poorly on vision screening tests, there is no indication that their visual problems will affect their school achievement.
Evaluating the use of prediction: an experimental study with junior high remedial readers in individualized and small group settings
Authors: Foley Christy L.
Published: November 2005

Fifty‐four junior high school remedial readers served as subjects in this research study designed to examine the use of prediction during the silent reading of short stories with surprise endings. Investigated were the effects of instructional setting and content familiarity upon overall reading comprehension, literal comprehension, inferential comprehension, and interest. Verbal predictions and supportive evidence generated by students in the two prediction treatment groups at the story midpoint and climax were also examined. Data analyses revealed that both inferential comprehension and interest were negatively influenced by the use of the prediction strategy and that students in both prediction treatment groups had difficulty predicting accurately and supporting predictions with a combination of textual and scriptal information. Interest preferences related to the familiarity variable were present.
Is tradition english spelng mor dificlt than jermn?
Authors: Upward Christopher
Published: November 2005

Th role of th english riting systm has been neglectd in presnt debates on methods of teachng litracy skils. Its importnce can be demnstrated by comparing spelng dificlty in difrnt languajs, tho a meanngful comparisn has hithrto not been esy to make. This paper reports on a study wich elimnates variabls by examnng mispelngs made by english speakrs riting in english and jermn. Th numbr of errs is computed to produce a ranje of mesurs of comparativ dificlty, concluding that english spelng is almost 7 times mor dificlt than jermn. Th errs ar classifyd and ream for them discusd. It is sujestd that th iregularity of english spelng seriusly handicaps english speakrs and shud be remedid. Finaly, th mispelngs ar related to th redundnt letrs removed in Cut Spelng, to sho how far such a tecniqe for simplifyng ritn english wud help obviate mispelngs.
The level of abstraction of textual materials: a new and an old measure compared
Authors: Newton Douglas P.
Published: November 2005

The level of abstraction of textual material is one factor affecting the difficulty it presents to the reader and so effective ways of assessing it are potentially useful for the teacher and researcher. A ‘new’ measure was compared with an old one and some similarity found in their assessment of science texts. The earlier measure may be the easier one for the non‐specialist to use. The results also suggested a rule of thumb which practising teachers might find useful.
The effect of instruction in question‐answer relationships and metacognition on social studies comprehension
Authors: Benito Yolande M. , Foley Christy L. , Lewis Craig D. , Prescott Perry
Published: November 2005

L'effet de l'instruction dans les relations question‐réponse et dans la métacognition sur la compréhension en sciences sociales

Cette recherche avait pour but de comparer un enseignement de sciences sociales dans lequel on enseignait aux éléves les Relations Question‐Réponse (RQR) afin d'améliorer leur conscience métacognitive lors de la lecture d'un texte et à savoir répondre aux questions sur le texte de l'approche pédagogique traditionnelle des manuels. Dans cette étude, qui comportait une répétition de la mesure, les 29 sujets étaient des éléves de 4° et 5° année ayant le Chamorro comme langue maternelle et provenant d'une école du sud de Guam (Iles Mariannes en Océanie). Tous les participants avaient un niveau de lecture de 4° année. Les éléves de deux classes de lecture ont formé les groupes expérimental et contrôle pour cette recherche de 22 jours.

On a construit un instrument de compréhension en sciences sociales pour l'utiliser dans cette recherche et on a effectuéégalement une mesure de lecture standardisée en tant que pré et post‐test. La premiére variable dépendante évaluait la capacité des Clèves de répondre aux questions correspondant au livre de sciences sociales en usage et était sensible à l'entraînement métacognitif (RQR) fourni au groupe expérimental. Le second instrument évaluait la compréhension générale de la lecture pour essayer de mettre en évidence un transfert de l'enseignement de la compréhension en sciences sociales A une amélioration globale de la lecture.

A la suite de l'administration des deux mesures dépendantes, on a fourni aux éléves du groupe expérimental des occasions de formation par l'enseignant et des occasions de d'entraînement métacognitif mettant l'accent sur l'utilisation de la stratégie RQR dans le manuel de sciences sociales choisi dans la circonscription. Avec le groupe experimental on a suivi un modéle d'enseignement par apports progressifs. Le groupe contrôle a continué a suivre le programme prévu par le manuel.
High school students' use of diagrams during reading
Authors: Moore Phillip J. , Chan Lorna K.S. , Au Wing K.
Published: November 2005

This study examines how high school students use diagrams and summaries during reading and the effects of such on comprehension. The roles of verbal and spatial ability are also examined. Seventy‐four Year 7 (13‐year‐old) students each read a text presented on a computer screen. The text was presented one sentence at a time and subjects could call up a diagram or content‐equivalent summary of the main ideas of the text at any time. Time to read the sentences and the adjunct aids was controlled by the subject and recorded by the computer. In addition, the computer kept a record of where in the text subjects made a text‐to‐aid move. After reading, the subjects completed a 10‐minute filler task and then produced free recalls of the text. The free recalls were examined for the inclusion of details and main ideas. Path analyses showed a significant direct effect of verbal ability on the recall of details and main ideas as well as a significant indirect effect through time on diagram. Spatial ability was not found to have any effect on recall, either directly or indirectly. Analyses of text‐to‐diagram moves showed more inspections in the first few sentences followed by an essentially random inspection pattern. Instructional implications are discussed.
Reading research in the primary classroom
Authors: Mason Anne
Published: November 2005

This paper attempts to show the importance of the interface between research findings and classroom practice. The writer demonstrates how the judicious use of research has informed the decisions made about reading in three schools of which she has been Head teacher. Two key influences have been an understanding of child development, and what that says about all learning, and the messages about learning to read conveyed by the psycholinguists. The link is made between these influences on learning and the context of overall ‘school effectiveness'. The central tenet in practical terms is the concept of the ‘literate environment'. In defining this term she recognizes the key role of parents and teachers as both ‘models’ for reading and supporters in the learning process. The component parts of the literate environment are described at length before finally the suggestion is made that perhaps it is time for there to be a less mechanistic type of reading research.
Coloured overlays, visual discomfort, visual search and classroom reading
Authors: Tyrrell Ruth , Holland Keith , Dennis Douglas , Wilkins Arnold
Published: November 2005

Forty‐six children aged 12–16 were shown a page of meaningless text covered in random order by different plastic overlays, including seven that were various colours and one that was clear. By successive pairwise comparison each child selected the overlay that provided the greatest perceptual clarity of the text. The children with below‐average reading ability were more likely to chose a coloured overlay, and they reported more perceptual difficulty on tasks devised by Irlen (1983). In separate sessions with and without the overlay of their choice, the children read for 15 minutes and performed a visual search task. The overlay had little effect on reading initially, but after about 10 minutes the children who chose a coloured overlay read more slowly without the overlay than with it. These children reported more symptoms of visual discomfort and showed signs of tiring when they read without the overlay. The visual search performance of the children who chose a coloured overlay was initially impaired but improved to normal levels when the overlay was used. Fourteen children aged 8–16 acted as chronological or reading age‐matched controls, and undertook the reading and visual search tasks using a clear overlay which had no effect on performance.
A longitudinal study of children's early literacy experiences at home and later literacy development at home and school
Authors: Weinberger Jo
Published: November 2005

Studies of literacy attainment in the early years of school have identified various measures at school entry which predict later attainment. The study reported has sought not only to replicate earlier findings but to investigate significant home factors from a younger age. Literacy experiences of 42 children at ages 3, 5 and 7 were investigated, and the relationship of home factors to literacy development explored. Findings are reported concerning two outcome measures at age 7: children's reading level, as determined by the difficulty level of their school reading book, and whether or not children at age 7 were judged to have literacy difficulties. Significant factors included having favourite books at age 3; letter knowledge and parents reading to children at school entry; and at age 7, access to home computers, and parents’ knowledge of literacy teaching in school. Children with literacy difficulties owned fewer books, were less likely to read to themselves or their parents, and generally had less support for literacy at home. Implications for teachers, highlighting the relevance of home literacy, are discussed. The findings underline the importance of home factors for children's literacy development.
Dyslexia: stability of definition over a five year period
Authors: Wright S.F. , Fields H. , Newman S.P.
Published: November 2005

The results of longitudinal studies suggest that although dyslexic children improve their reading skills with time, they do not outgrow their disability (Spreen, 1982). This paper compares the development of reading and spelling in a group of dyslexics and non‐dyslexics over a five‐year period. In addition to addressing the issue of the relative rates of development of reading in the two groups, a central focus of the paper is the extent to which dyslexia can be said to represent a stable disability. How many of the children classified as dyslexic at age eight would be reclassified as dyslexic at age thirteen? Three distinct groups emerged: ‘stable',‘transient’ and ‘late emerging dyslexics'. The ‘stable’ dyslexics were children classified as dyslexic at both ages, the transient were those classified only at the younger age, and the ‘late emerging’ were those classified at age thirteen. Regression analysis was used as the technique of identification of the dyslexics.
Combined strategy and attributional training for seventh grade average and poor readers
Authors: Chan Lorna K.S.
Published: November 2005

This paper reports on a study examining the effects of combined strategy and attributional training through small‐group intervention in a specific reading task context. The training aims to provide instruction in the use of reading strategies while at the same time to convince students that their reading performance is attributable to their use of effective strategies, which is under their personal control. Four grade 7 (13 year old) classes, consisting of 40 poor readers and 56 average readers, participated in the study. Students were randomly allocated to one of four instruction conditions involving different combinations of strategy instruction and attributional training. Instruction was provided in small groups of 6 to 8 students over nine one‐hour sessions. Results indicated that teaching poor readers use of effective reading strategies, while convincing them that reading successes and failures were attributable to use of effective or ineffective strategies, not only improved their comprehension performance and increased use of reading strategies, but also reduced their perceptions of learned helplessness.
Main idea comprehension: training teachers and effects on students
Authors: Carriedo N. , Alonso‐Tapia J.
Published: November 2005

This paper describes a study with two objectives. First, to test the effectiveness of a programme – carried out by teachers in natural contexts – for teaching the process of main idea identification. Second, to test whether the relationship between process and product variables are those expected according to the Van Dijk and Kintsch model (1983). In the first part of the study (Alonso‐Tapia and Carriedo, in press) teachers had been trained in what to teach about main idea comprehension and how to teach it according to a model of teachers’ training. After receiving training, the experimental group of teachers (n = 11), who had improved more than the control group (n= 15) in knowledge of main ideas and of comprehension training strategies, had to apply the strategies and the instruction method learned, whilst teaching their students (6th, 7th and 8th grades). Pupils of experimental and of control teachers (n= 303 and 287 respectively) were assessed in order to test whether, after training, the former overtook the latter in main idea identification and in knowledge of the strategies related to this process. Results show that the experimental group of students performed better than the control group in the variables trained. Theoretical implications about the variables mediating the process of main idea identification are also discussed.
The alien tort and the global rule of law
Authors: Teitel Ruti
Published: November 2005

This paper traces the genealogy of legal developments regarding the expansion of civil jurisdiction for human rights abuses. It endeavours to illuminate the relation between these civil remedy developments in alien tort action and globalisation. It elucidates the dimensions of this development, implied by the transformations in substantive and procedural jurisdiction, as well as in legal personality, and subjectivity, reflecting upon the ways that these normative changes help to constitute global rule of law. It ends by concluding that, whatever their contribution, these transnational remedies are best conceived as complementary to the protections offered by state legal systems.
Facts and Myths about Research on Public Policy Implementation: Out‐of‐Fashion, Allegedly Dead, But Still Very Much Alive and Relevant
Authors: Saetren Harald
Published: November 2005

Despite several decades of research on public policy implementation we know surprisingly little, not only about cumulative research results, but also about several other key aspects of this research field. This article tries to amend these deficiencies by presenting the results of a comprehensive literature survey. Its main purpose is to challenge, revise, and supplement some conventional wisdom about implementation research. A second motivation is to lay the foundation for and initiate a much needed synthesis of empirical research results. The main results are: The overall volume of publications on policy implementation has not stagnated or declined dramatically since the mid 1980s as is commonly asserted. On the contrary, it has continued to grow exponentially through the 1990s and into the twenty‐first century. Even more surprising is that a large number of publications are located outside the core fields. Hence, the literature is substantially larger and more multidisciplinary than most commentators realize. Doctoral dissertations are the most ignored, but probably the richest, largest, and best source of empirical research results. Tracing the origin as well as the location of the disciplinary and geographical cradle of implementation studies must also be readjusted significantly. The ethnocentric bias of this research field toward the Western hemisphere has been, and still is, strong and some policy sectors are given much more attention than others. Although positive in many ways, the predominant multidisciplinary character of implementation research still poses some serious problems with respect to theory development. Thus, I discuss whether a resurgence of interest in policy implementation among policy scholars may already be occurring. Finally, I suggest that the time is long overdue for efforts to synthesize research results in a more rigorous scientific manner than has hitherto been done.
Bureaucratic Leverage over Policy Choice: Explaining the Dynamics of State‐Level Reforms in Telecommunications Regulation
Authors: Kim Junseok , Gerber Brian
Published: November 2005

While state governments have enjoyed greater control over regulating local telephone service providers since 1984, movement toward efficiency‐based policy reform (e.g., adoption of competitive markets) has proceeded slowly. We investigate this pattern by addressing how the degree of policy discretion held by state public utility commissions (PUCs) affects reform of local telephone exchange regulation. Using precise measures of both PUC discretion and state policy changes over time, we find that states with “stronger” PUCs (more policymaking authority) are significantly more likely to move toward efficiency‐based policy regimes and away from traditional rate‐of‐return regimes. Greater PUC discretion systematically related to state adoption of efficiency‐based reforms over time suggests that regulators are using updated information about policy impacts to inform their policymaking activities. Our findings contradict a common presumption that regulatory bureaucracies are simply motivated by a desire to increase their control over policymaking. Instead, state PUCs are a key source of telecommunications policy reform in the states.
Employers as Mediating Institutions for Public Policy: The Case of Commute Options Programs
Authors: DeHart‐Davis Leisha , Guensler Randall
Published: November 2005

Scholars have recently noted the role that employers can play as “mediating institutions” for public policy. Mediating institutions connect the private lives of individuals with public policy concerns by communicating societal norms to members and providing social contexts that encourage a commitment to these norms. Despite the potential importance of employers as mediating institutions for public policy, little scholarly attention has been devoted to employer mediation behavior. Accordingly, this study examines two research questions. What factors influence an employer's willingness to mediate policy problems? And how effective are employers as mediating institutions? The mediation behaviors of interest relate to employer efforts to mitigate traffic congestion and air quality problems by enabling employee “commute options,” which are alternatives to single‐occupancy vehicle commuting to work. Drawing on theories of organization behavior, the study hypothesizes that self‐interest, organizational control, and association membership will affect willingness to provide commute options. The study also hypothesizes that employers providing commute options will have lower percentages of employees that drive to work alone. Both sets of hypotheses are supported by statistical analyses of data from a cross‐sectional mail survey of metropolitan Atlanta organizations.
Oral avascular bone necrosis associated with chemotherapy and biphosphonate therapy
Authors: Pires FR , Miranda ÁMMA , Cardoso ES , Cardoso AS , Fregnani ER , Pereira CM , Correa MEP , Almeida JP , Alves F de A , Lopes MA , Almeida OP de
Published: November 2005

Background:  Oral avascular bone necrosis is an important adverse effect of chemotherapy and biphosphate therapy.

Objective:  To report our experience in oral avascular bone necrosis in cancer patients assigned to undergo chemotherapy.

Patients and methods:  Fourteen patients presenting oral avascular bone necrosis were selected from the clinical files of five Stomatological Clinics in Brazil. Clinical data as well as treatment and prognosis information were obtained from all 14 patients.

Results:  Twelve patients (86%) were submitted to biphosphonate therapy. The most important symptom was pain, present in all cases, and the mandible was the most common involved site. Most patients (79%) had their conditions managed by antibiotic therapy and surgical debridation; however complete response was achieved in only three cases (21%).

Conclusion:  Avascular bone necrosis is a serious oral side‐effect of cancer chemotherapy, particularly in patients using biphosphonates, and antibiotic therapy and surgical debridation were not able to promote complete response in most cases.
Phenotypic methods and commercial systems for the discrimination between C. albicans and C. dubliniensis
Authors: Campanha NH , Neppelenbroek KH , Spolidorio DMP , Spolidorio LC , Pavarina AC
Published: November 2005

Candida dubliniensis is a recently described Candida species associated with oral candidosis that exhibits a high degree of phenotypic similarity to Candida albicans. However, these species show differences in levels of resistance to antimycotic agents and ability to cause infections. Therefore, accurate clinical identification of C. dubliniensis and C. albicans species is important in order to treat oral candidal infections. Phenotypic identification methods are easy‐to‐use procedures for routine discrimination of oral isolates in the clinical microbiology laboratory. However, C. dubliniensis may be so far underreported in clinical samples because most currently used identification methods fail to recognize this yeast. Phenotypic methods depend on growth temperature, carbon source assimilation, chlamydospore and hyphal growth production, positive or negative growth on special media and intracellular enzyme production, among others. In this review, some phenotypic methods are presented with a special emphasis on the discrimination of C. dubliniensis and C. albicans.
Preliminary results of moisture checker for Mucus in diagnosing dry mouth
Authors: Yamada H , Nakagawa Y , Nomura Y , Yamamoto K , Suzuki M , Watanabe NY , Saito I , Seto K
Published: November 2005

Objective:  To evaluate the ability of Moisture Checker for Mucus (MCM), a device which measures the weight percent of water content in the oral mucosal epithelium, for the diagnosis of dry mouth.

Method:  Forty‐three consecutive patients seen at the Dry Mouth Clinic of Tsurumi University were divided into two groups by the diagnostic criteria of hyposalivation defined by the stimulated salivary flow rate ≤10 ml per 10 min. The MCM values in the buccal, tongue and labial mucosa in each group were compared.

Results:  The value of the normal salivation group was significantly higher when compared with that of the hyposalivation group both in the buccal and tongue mucosa, P = 0.01 and P = 0.046, respectively.

Conclusion:  Moisture Checker for Mucus has the potential to be a useful device in the screening of hyposalivation.
The Role of Imaging for the Sports Physician
Authors: Pluim B. M.
Published: November 2005

In general, the patient population of the sports physician are highly motivated, competitive athletes, who tend to be under continuous time pressure. Imaging techniques can be very helpful in establishing the correct diagnosis and for choosing the appropriate therapy, monitoring the healing process and evaluating complications. In this chapter the role of imaging is discussed with specific focus on muscle and tendon injuries, stress fractures, shoulder and ankle injuries.
Imaging of Hip and Groin Athletic Injuries
Authors: Karantanas A. H.
Published: November 2005

Hip and groin injuries are usually seen with kicking, running and jumping athletic activities. Both recreational and elite athletes can be involved with hip and groin injuries. Although not very common, sports‐related injuries of the hip and groin may impose a significant diagnostic dilemma for both the clinicians and the radiologists. Delayed diagnosis and treatment may result in complications, such as permanent disability or premature degenerative joint disease. Plain X‐rays are the initial examination although usually unremarkable. Computed tomography can be helpful in certain cases such as tiny avulsion injuries, intraarticular loose bodies and myositis ossificans. Magnetic resonance (MR) imaging of the hip and groin area has proven to be extremely valuable in the diagnosis of radiographically occult osseous abnormalities as well as musculotendinous injuries. MR imaging is helpful in clinically confusing disorders such as stress bone marrow reactions and bursitis. MR imaging following the intraarticular administration of gadolinium is valuable for evaluating the cartilaginous, osteochondral and acetabular labral injuries. The osseous and soft tissue conditions summarized in this article represent those most commonly considered in the differential diagnosis of hip and groin injuries in athletes.
Update of Imaging of Sports Injuries to the Upper Extremity: Shoulder and Elbow
Authors: Lee Bennett D. , El‐Khoury G. Y.
Published: November 2005

This is an update on both clinical and imaging aspects of athletic injuries to the shoulder and elbow. This article focuses on injuries that are primarily seen in athletes. The lesions discussed in this update are: Bennett lesion of the shoulder, internal (posterosuperior) impingement of the shoulder, little leaguer's shoulder, little leaguer's elbow (both medial epicondylar avulsion injuries and osteochondral injuries of the capitellum) and tears of the medial ulnar collateral ligament.
Occult pneumothorax in trauma patients: Should this be sought in the focused assessment with sonography for trauma examination?
Authors: Tam Michael MK
Published: November 2005

Objective:  At present, CT scan is the gold standard for detecting occult traumatic pneumothorax not apparent on supine chest X‐ray radiograph. Recently there were suggestions to expand focused assessment with sonography for trauma (FAST) to include thoracic ultrasound for detecting pneumothorax. The aim of the present study is to determine the incidence of occult pneumothorax (as shown by CT) in the subgroup of trauma patients undergoing FAST.

Methods:  Review of all trauma patients with FAST done from 1 June 2001 to 31 October 2002. Incidence of occult pneumothorax as diagnosed by CT was determined. Patients were not counted as having true occult pneumothorax if they had chest drains inserted before arrival or imaging studies. Selected clinical findings were tested for association with occult pneumothorax.

Results:  In total, 143 patients underwent FAST, of whom 137 (95.8%) had chest X‐ray examination performed. Of the 137 patients 59 required CT abdomen and/or thorax. Occult pneumothorax was found in three patients (2.1%). A history of thorax and/or abdominal injury plus one or more of: (i) mechanisms potentially causing major trauma; (ii) abnormal chest examination; and (iii) chest X‐ray radiograph abnormality in the absence of pneumothorax, was significantly associated with the presence of occult pneumothorax (P = 0.03, Fisher's exact test; sensitivity: 100%; specificity: 71%; likelihood ratio: 3.42).

Conclusion:ensp; The incidence of occult pneumothorax in the subgroup of trauma patients undergoing FAST is low. It implies that routine screening for its presence by adding thoracic ultrasound to FAST is unnecessary. Identifying those at risk of occult pneumothorax for further investigation appeared feasible.
Cutaneous reflexes evoked during human walking are reduced when self‐induced
Authors: Baken B. C. M. , Nieuwenhuijzen P. H. J. A. , Bastiaanse C. M. , Dietz V. , Duysens J.
Published: November 2005

Reflex responses are often less pronounced when they are self‐induced, but this question has barely been investigated quantitatively. The issue is particularly relevant for locomotion since it has been shown that reflexes elicited during normal gait are important for the regulation of locomotion. The cortex is thought to be involved in the control of reflexes during gait, but it is unclear whether it plays a role in the modulation of these reflexes during the step cycle. During gait, weak electrical stimulation of the sural nerve elicits reflexes in various leg muscles. Are these reflexes different when subjects themselves trigger the stimuli instead of being randomly released by the computer? Cutaneous reflexes were elicited by sural nerve stimulation in 16 phases of the gait cycle in healthy subjects. The stimuli were triggered either by computer or by the subjects themselves. In 6 out of 7 subjects it was observed that the facilitatory responses in leg muscles were smaller and the suppressive responses were more suppressive following self‐generated stimuli. In some muscles such as tibialis anterior (TA) both effects were seen (reduced facilitation at end stance and exaggerated suppression at end swing). In all subjects the modulation of anticipatory influences was muscle specific. In the main group of six subjects, the mean reduction in reflex responses was strongest in the TA (max. 30.7%; mean over 16 phases was 12.5%) and weakest in peroneus longus (PL, max. 10.1%; mean over 16 phases was 2.6%). The observation that facilitation is reduced and suppression enhanced in several muscles is taken as evidence that anticipation of self‐induced reflex responses reduces the excitatory drive to motoneurones, for example through presynaptic inhibition of facilitatory reflex pathways.
Transvascular fluid flux from the pulmonary vasculature at rest and during exercise in horses
Authors: Vengust Modest , Staempfli Henry , Viel Laurent , Heigenhauser George
Published: November 2005

Exercise causes changes in pulmonary haemodynamics through redistribution of blood flow, increase in the pulmonary surface area, and increase in pulmonary vascular pressures. These changes contribute to the increase in fluid exchange across the alveolar–capillary barrier. To determine the extent of the fluid exchange across the alveolar–capillary barrier at rest and during exercise, six horses were exercised on a high‐speed treadmill until fatigue. Arterial and mixed venous blood were sampled at rest and during exercise and recovery. Blood volume changes across the lung (ΔBV; measured in percentage) were calculated from changes in plasma protein and haemoglobin concentration, and haematocrit. Cardiac output (Q) was calculated using the Fick equation. Fluid flux (JV−A; measured in l min−1) across the alveolar–capillary barrier was then quantified based onQand ΔBV. At rest, no fluid movement occurred across the pulmonary vasculature (0.6 ± 0.6 l min−1). During exercise, the amount of fluid moved from the pulmonary circulation was 8.3 ± 1.3 l min−1at 1 min, 6.4 ± 2.9 l min−1at 2 min, 10.1 ± 1.0 l min−1at 3 min, 12.9 ± 2.5 l min−1at 4 and 9.6 ± 1.5 l min−1at fatigue (allP< 0.0001). Erythrocyte volume decreased by 6% (P< 0.01) across the lungs, which decreased the colloid osmotic gradient in the pulmonary vasculature. Decrease colloid osmotic gradient along with increased hydrostatic forces in the pulmonary vasculature would enhance displacement of fluid into the pulmonary interstitium. In conclusion, exercise caused large increases in transpulmonary fluid fluxes in horses. Here, we present a simple method to calculate transpulmonary fluid fluxes in different species, which can be used to elucidate mechanisms of lung fluid balancein vivo.
The influence of mouse Ped gene expression on postnatal development
Authors: Watkins Adam , Wilkins Adrian , Osmond Clive , Warner Carol M. , Comiskey Martina , Hanson Mark , Fleming Tom P.
Published: November 2005

The Ped (preimplantation embryo development) gene, whose product is Qa‐2 protein, is correlated with a faster rate of preimplantation development (Ped fast phenotype) in mice that express Qa‐2 protein compared with mice with an absence of Qa‐2 protein (Ped slow phenotype). In the current study, we have used two congenic mouse strains differentially expressing the Ped gene, strain B6.K1 (Ped slow; Qa‐2 negative) and strain B6.K2 (Ped fast; Qa‐2 positive), to investigate the effects of Ped gene expression on postnatal growth profiles, systolic blood pressure and adult organ allometry. At birth, B6.K1 mice were moderately lighter than B6.K2 mice. B6.K1 mice became heavier during postnatal life (P < 0.05) and had elevated systolic blood pressure at 21 weeks of age when compared with B6.K2 mice (P= 0.006). B6.K1 mice also demonstrated elevated serum angiotensin‐converting enzyme (ACE) activity, a known regulator of blood pressure (P= 0.037). Altered organ:body weight ratios were also observed, with the B6.K1 females having a higher ratio for lungs than B6. K2 females (P= 0.014). These data provide evidence of an association between the rate of preimplantation embryo development, postnatal growth and later cardiovascular function.
MRI Guided 3D Mesh Generation and Registration for Biological Modeling
Authors: Zhang James Qingyang , Sullivan John M. , Ghadyani Hamid , Meyer Donna M.
Published: November 2005

An accurate three-dimensional (3D) mesh of biological models is fundamental for analysis and treatment simulations. Generally noninvasive magnetic resonance image (MRI) data are taken as the input for the simulation. The topologic relationship of anatomy is extracted from MR images through segmentation processes. To accelerate the biological modeling phase, template surface and volume meshes are generated based on MR images and∕or anatomical atlases (e.g., brain atlas, etc.). The boundary surfaces are extracted from segmented regions on the image slices, which are used as the input for 3D volume mesh generation. An intuitive graphic user interface was developed for biomedical applications. It integrated MRI data manipulation with surface mesh and volume mesh generators. Image volume and mesh geometries are registered in the MRI working space. As the core component of the system, a robust 3D mesh generation approach is presented. It is capable of describing irregular geometries exhibiting concave and convex surfaces. It uses deltahedral building blocks for volume mesh generation and creates high-quality, regular-shaped tetrahedral mesh elements. The approach supports multiple levels of localized refinement without reducing the overall mesh quality. The validity of this new mesh generation strategy and implementation is demonstrated via the medical applications in brain vasculature modeling, multimodality imaging for breast cancer detection, and numerous anatomically accurate models presented. Multiple material boundaries are preserved in each mesh with fidelity.
New Spectral Decomposition Method for Three-Dimensional Shape Models and Its Applications
Authors: Murotani Kohei , Sugihara Kokichi
Published: November 2005

This paper presents a generalization of a data analysis technique called a singular spectrum analysis (SSA). The original SSA is a tool for analyzing one-dimensional data such as time series, whereas the generalization presented in this paper is suitable for multidimensional data such as three-dimensional polygonal meshes. The basic idea is to generalize the autocorrelation matrix so as to represent mutual relations of multidimensional data flexibly. Two applications of the proposed generalization are also shown briefly.
Systolic and diastolic function in middle aged patients with sickle β thalassaemia. An echocardiographic study
Authors: Moyssakis I , Tzanetea R , Tsaftaridis P , Rombos I , Papadopoulos D P , Kalotychou V , Aessopos A
Published: November 2005

Objective

To evaluate the right and left ventricular systolic and diastolic function in middle aged patients with sickle β thalassaemia.

Methods

Forty three patients with sickle β thalassaemia were recruited for echocardiographic study while 55 controls, matched for age and sex, served as the control group. Parameters measured included: dimensions and wall thickness of left (LV) and right (RV) ventricle and left atrium, LV mass, and cardiac index. LV and RV contractility variables—ejection fraction, circumferential fibre shortening velocity, end systolic stress, end systolic stress/volume index ratio, mitral and tricuspid annulus systolic excursion, and Tei index—were also calculated. The study also evaluated parameters of RV and LV diastolic function including early and late atrioventricular flow velocities (E and A wave respectively), E/A ratio, deceleration time (DT), isovolumic relaxation time (IVRT) as well as pulmonary and hepatic veins systolic to diastolic (S/D) ratio.

Results

Chamber enlargement, greater LV mass index, cardiac index, and RV wall thickness were found in the anaemic group compared with controls. The LV and RV contractility variables of the patients were similar to controls. Conversely the LV and RV Tei index was significantly greater in the patient group. Diastolic dysfunction was present in the anaemic patients resulting from the increased LV and RV A-wave, the longer LVIVRT, RVIVRT, and RVDT, as well as the higher hepatic and pulmonary veins S/D ratio.

Conclusions

The results show that in middle aged patients with sickle β thalassaemia the diastolic function is abnormal in both ventricles but still more in RV, whereas the systolic function remains unchanged.
HOW POLITICAL PARTIES ADJUST TO FIXED VOTER OPINIONS
Authors: KUŁAKOWSKI KRZYSZTOF
Published: November 2005

We propose a new version of the spatial model of voting. Platforms of five parties were allowed to evolve in a two-dimensional landscape of political issues so as to get maximal numbers of voters. For a Gaussian landscape the evolution leads to a spatially symmetric state, where the platform centers form a pentagon around the Gaussian peak. For a bimodal landscape the platforms located at different peaks get different numbers of voters.
TOP-CHARM ASSOCIATED PRODUCTION OF THE TOP-HIGGS AT HIGH ENERGY e+e- COLLIDERS
Authors: JIA YONG , ZHANG YANMING
Published: November 2005

We have studied a top-Higgs production process [Formula: see text] in the topcolor assisted technicolor (TC2) model. The studies show that the production cross-section of [Formula: see text] is at the order of magnitude 10 fb in reasonable parameters space of TC2 model. A few hundred events of top-Higgs can be produced each year at the high energy linear e+e- colliders (LC). The top-Higgs may be directly observed via this process.
NEURAL MODELS FOR PREDICTING VIRAL VACCINE TARGETS
Authors: ZHANG GUANG LAN , KHAN ASIF M. , SRINIVASAN KELLATHUR N. , AUGUST J. THOMAS , BRUSIC VLADIMIR
Published: November 2005

We applied artificial neural networks (ANN) for the prediction of targets of immune responses that are useful for study of vaccine formulations against viral infections. Using a novel data representation, we developed a system termed MULTIPRED that can predict peptide binding to multiple related human leukocyte antigens (HLA). This implementation showed high accuracy in the prediction of the promiscuous peptides that bind to five HLA-A2 allelic variants. MULTIPRED is useful for the identification of peptides that bind multiple HLA-A2 variants as a group. By implementing ANN as a classification engine, we enabled both the prediction of peptides binding to multiple individual HLA-A2 molecules and the prediction of promiscuous binders using a single model. The ANN MULTIPRED predicts peptide binding to HLA-A*0205 with excellent accuracy (area under the receiver operating characteristic curve — AROC > 0.90), and to HLA-A*0201, HLA-A*0204 and HLA-A*0206 with high accuracy (AROC > 0.85). Antigenic regions with high density of binders ("antigenic hot-spots") represent best targets for vaccine design. MULTIPRED not only predicts individual 9-mer binders but also predicts antigenic hot spots. Two HLA-A2 hot-spots in Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (SARS–CoV) membrane protein were predicted by using MULTIPRED.
Gaussian Modes and Fabry-Perot Resonators Including Uniaxially Anisotropic Medium
Authors: Suematsu Yasuharu
Published: November 2005

The Gaussian mode expression of electromagnetic waves in a uniaxial medium is formulated for the purpose of understanding the properties of an optical resonator containing such a medium.
The ordinary ray case is the same as in the isotropic medium, therefore, the extraordinary ray case is the primary topic of this paper. From this formulation a derivation of the \tildeF matrix in a uniaxial medium is obtained. Fabry-Perot resonators completely or partially filled with the uniaxial medium are considered, and the use of a spheroidal or a displaced spherical mirror is shown to be desirable in the extraordinary wave case.