bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Bite Block Vowel Production in Apraxia of Speech
Authors: Jacks Adam 
Published: July 2008

Purpose
This study explored vowel production and adaptation to articulatory constraints in adults with acquired apraxia of speech (AOS) plus aphasia.

Method

Five adults with acquired AOS plus aphasia and 5 healthy control participants produced the vowels [
i
], [ɛ], and [æ] in four word-length conditions in unconstrained and bite block conditions. In addition to acoustic and perceptual measures of vowel productions, individually determined idealized vowels based on each participant’s best performance were used to assess vowel accuracy and distinctiveness.

Results
Findings showed (a) clear separation of vowel formants in speakers with AOS; (b) impaired vowel production in speakers with AOS, shown by perceptual measures of vowel quality and acoustic measures of vowel accuracy and contrastivity; and (c) incomplete compensation to bite block compensation both for individuals with AOS and for healthy controls.

Conclusions
Although adults with AOS were less accurate overall in vowel production than unimpaired speakers, introduction of a bite block resulted in similar patterns of decreased vowel accuracy for the two groups. Findings suggest that feedback control for vowel production is relatively intact in these individuals with AOS and aphasia. Predominant use of feedback control mechanisms is hypothesized to account for characteristic vowel deficits of the disorder.
Self-Esteem, Shyness, and Sociability in Adolescents With Specific Language Impairment (SLI)
Authors: Wadman Ruth , Durkin Kevin , Conti-Ramsden Gina 
Published: July 2008

Purpose
To determine if lower global self-esteem, shyness, and low sociability are outcomes associated with SLI in adolescence. Possible concurrent predictive relationships and gender differences were also examined.

Method
Fifty-four adolescents with SLI, aged between 16 and 17 years, were compared with a group of 54 adolescents with typical language abilities on the Rosenberg Self-Esteem scale (Rosenberg, 1965) and the Cheek and Buss Shyness and Sociability scales (Cheek & Buss, 1981).

Results
The SLI group had significantly lower global self-esteem scores than the group with typical language abilities. The adolescents with SLI were more shy than their peers, but the groups did not differ in their sociability ratings. Regression analysis found that language ability was not concurrently predictive of self-esteem but shyness was. Mediation analysis suggested that shyness could be a partial but significant mediator in the relationship between language ability and global self-esteem.

Conclusions
Older adolescents with SLI are at risk of lower global self-esteem and experience shyness, although they want to interact socially. The relationship between language ability and self-esteem at this point in adolescence is complex, with shyness potentially playing an important mediating role.
Maturation of Visual and Auditory Temporal Processing in School-Aged Children
Authors: Dawes Piers , Bishop Dorothy V. M. 
Published: July 2008

Purpose
To examine development of sensitivity to auditory and visual temporal processes in children and the association with standardized measures of auditory processing and communication.

Methods
Normative data on tests of visual and auditory processing were collected on 18 adults and 98 children aged 6–10 years of age. Auditory processes included detection of pitch from temporal cues using iterated rippled noise and frequency modulation detection at 2 Hz, 40 Hz, and 240 Hz. Visual processes were coherent form and coherent motion detection. Test–retest data were gathered on 21 children.

Results
Performance on perceptual tasks improved with age, except for fine temporal processing (iterated rippled noise) and coherent form perception, both of which were relatively stable over the age range. Within-subject variability (as assessed by track width) did not account for age-related change. There was no evidence for a common temporal processing factor, and there were no significant associations between perceptual task performance and communication level (Children’s Communication Checklist, 2nd ed.; D. V. M. Bishop, 2003) or speech-based auditory processing (SCAN-C; R. W. Keith, 2000).

Conclusions
The auditory tasks had different developmental trajectories despite a common procedure, indicating that age-related change was not solely due to responsiveness to task demands. The 2-Hz frequency modulation detection task, previously used in dyslexia research, and the visual tasks had low reliability compared to other measures.
Attentional Modulation of Word Recognition by Children in a Dual-Task Paradigm
Authors: Choi Sangsook , Lotto Andrew , Lewis Dawna , Hoover Brenda , Stelmachowicz Patricia 
Published: July 2008

Purpose
This study investigated an account of limited short-term memory capacity for children’s speech perception in noise using a dual-task paradigm.

Method
Sixty-four normal-hearing children (7–14 years of age) participated in this study. Dual tasks were repeating monosyllabic words presented in noise at 8 dB signal-to-noise ratio and rehearsing sets of 3 or 5 digits for subsequent serial recall. Half of the children were told to allocate their primary attention to word repetition and the other half to remembering digits. Dual-task performance was compared to single-task performance. Limitations in short-term memory demands required for the primary task were measured by dual-task decrements in nonprimary tasks.

Results
Results revealed that (a) regardless of task priority, no dual-task decrements were found for word recognition, but significant dual-task decrements were found for digit recall; (b) most children did not show the ability to allocate attention preferentially to primary tasks; and (c) younger children (7- to 10-year-olds) demonstrated improved word recognition in the dual-task conditions relative to their single-task performance.

Conclusions
Seven- to 8-year-old children showed the greatest improvement in word recognition at the expense of the greatest decrement in digit recall during dual tasks. Several possibilities for improved word recognition in the dual-task conditions are discussed.
The effects of the polymorphism in exon 3 of the FAS gene on the death of chicken embryos during the incubation period
Authors: Wu J. J. , Li W. M. , Zhao R. X. , Fang J. , Wang C. , Peng X. L. , Li X. , Xiong J. J. , Yang L. G. , Zhang S. J. 
Published: July 2008

SummaryTo investigate the effect of a factor‐associated suicide (FAS) gene polymorphism on the death of chicken embryos, we genotyped 190 dead embryos and 69 normally developing embryos from 7200 hatching Short‐Leg Yellow Chicken eggs, as well as 119 dead embryos and 69 normally developing embryos from 4650 hatching Yellow B Chicken eggs. The results showed that there were significant (P < 0.05) genotypic differences between dead and normally developing embryos for this FAS gene polymorphism, a SNP in exon 3 (NC_006093.2:g.6514A>C, rs15793179). Logistic regression revealed that Short‐Leg Yellow Chicken embryos with genotype g.6514CC had a significantly (P < 0.01) higher risk of death than those with genotype g.6514AC. This polymorphism has the potential to be an effective tool when used in conjunction with traditional selection methods.
A comparative study of two methods for attaining constant alcohol levels
Authors: Zoethout Remco W. M. , Van Gerven Joop M. A. , Dumont Glenn J. H. , Paltansing Sunita , Van Burgel Nathalie D. , Van Der Linden Monique , Dahan Albert , Cohen Adam F. , Schoemaker Rik C. 
Published: July 2008

WHAT IS ALREADY KNOWN ABOUT THIS SUBJECT • In determining the effects of alcohol or assessing alcohol–drug interactions, it is helpful if the alcohol plasma concentration can be maintained at reasonably stable levels.• To achieve pseudo‐steady state alcohol concentrations various methods are used.• In this study two different methods were optimized and compared in the search for an accurate method to maintain constant alcohol levels for a prolonged period of time. WHAT THIS STUDY ADDS • Although it seems clear that alcohol clamping improves the stability of alcohol levels, it has not yet been established how this compares with other procedures, such as two‐step prekinetic methods.• The adapted clamping paradigm was superior to the prekinetic method in this study.• The novel clamping procedure is an accurate, user‐friendly method, with low variability, able to maintain constant alcohol levels for hours.• Moreover, the procedure gave an opportunity to perform intensive pharmacodynamic or functional assessments during the execution of the clamp, which could be of great value for future studies of alcohol.AIMSAlcohol effects or drug–alcohol interactions are preferably studied at constant blood levels. To achieve pseudo‐steady state levels, various methods are used, which usually produce adequate averages but variable individual concentration profiles. The aim was to compare two modes of alcohol administration: a ‘two‐step prekinetic procedure’ and a ‘clamping method’.METHODSThe two‐step prekinetic procedure started with determination of individual pharmacokinetic (PK) parameters, during a prestudy occasion. Individual infusion regimens were calculated afterwards, based on a pseudo‐steady state breath alcohol concentration (BrAC) of 0.65 g l−1 and applied on a separate occasion. For the clamping procedure, a spreadsheet‐based paradigm was developed using BrAC‐guided adjustments of infusion rates, to maintain stable BrAC levels of 0.6 g l−1.RESULTSThe mean BrAC during clamping [0.61 g l−1, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.58, 0.63] did not differ from its intended level of 0.6 g l−1 (1.0% on average). In contrast, the mean BrAC during the prekinetic procedure was significantly lower than the 0.65 g l−1 set‐point (0.59 g l−1, 95% CI 0.54, 0.63) and deviated from this target by 9.7% on average. The clamping method also showed less variation between subjects [coefficient of variation (CV) 6.2%] compared with the prekinetic procedure (CV 14.6%).CONCLUSIONSAlthough the two methods differ considerably in their approach, clamping of BrAC resulted in more accurate alcohol levels than infusion based on PK modelling and does not require an extra prestudy occasion. The novel alcohol clamping paradigm can be of value in future studies of alcohol interactions or the pharmacodynamics of acute alcohol administration.
Impact of adherence to statins on chronic heart failure in primary prevention
Authors: Perreault Sylvie , Dragomir Alice , Blais Lucie , Bérard Anick , Lalonde Lyne , White Michel 
Published: July 2008

WHAT IS ALREADY KNOWN ABOUT THIS SUBJECT • The effects of statins may be beneficial to patients with chronic heart failure.• However, one question that has not yet been answered and that may clarify the role of statins in chronic heart failure (CHF) is whether statins prevent the development of CHF in patients with a low risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD)? WHAT THIS PAPER ADDS • The study results demonstrate that, in primary prevention, adherence to statins has a positive impact on CHF.• This study provides evidence of the potential role of statins in CHF.AIMSStatins are effective in the prevention of an atherosclerotic event, e.g. coronary artery disease and cerebrovascular disease. Patients at high risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD), such as chronic heart failure (CHF), might benefit from the effects of statin therapy. However, one question that has not yet been answered and that may clarify the role of statins in CHF is whether statins prevent the development of CHF in patients with a low risk of CVD. Our aim was to evaluate the impact of adherence to statins on the incidence of CHF.METHODSA cohort of 111 481 patients was reconstructed using the Régie de l'Assurance Maladie du Québec databases. Patients were eligible if they were between 45 and 85 years old, without CVD, and newly treated with statins between 1999 and 2004. A nested case–control design was used to study CHF. Every case of CHF was matched for age and duration of follow‐up in up to 15 randomly selected controls. The adherence level was measured by calculating the medication possession ratio. Rate ratios (RR) of CHF were estimated by conditional logistic regression adjusting for several covariables.RESULTSThe mean patient age was 63 years, 49% had hypertension, 21% had diabetes and 41% were male. A high level of adherence to statins was associated with a reduction of CHF (RR 0.81; 0.71, 0.91). The risks associated with CHF were the development of CVD during follow‐up, being a social‐aid recipient, and suffering from hypertension, diabetes mellitus, or having a higher chronic disease score.CONCLUSIONOur study indicates that better adherence to statins is associated with a reduced risk of CHF.
Predation by an exotic lizard,Anolis sagrei, alters the ant community structure in betelnut palm plantations in southern Taiwan
Authors: HUANG SHAO‐CHANG , NORVAL GERRUT , TSO I‐MIN 
Published: July 2008

Abstract1. Predators can affect prey directly by reducing prey abundance and indirectly by altering behavioural patterns of prey. From previous studies, there is little evidence that ant community structure is affected by vertebrate predation.2. Researchers tend to consider the interactions between vertebrate predators and ants to be weak. The present study examined the impact of the exotic invasive lizard,Anolis sagrei, on the ant community structure by manipulating the density of lizards within enclosures. The natural density ofA. sagreiin the field was surveyed and used as the stocking density rate in the lizard‐present sub‐enclosures.3. Before the lizard density was manipulated, there was no difference in the ant diversity between sub‐enclosures. After the lizard density manipulation, the ant diversity in sub‐enclosures withA. sagreipresent was significantly different from that of enclosures where the lizards were absent, although the overall ant abundance did not differ significantly.4. The ant diversity difference was generated by a significant reduction of the ant speciesPheidole fervensin sub‐enclosures withA. sagreipresent. Such an abundance change might be the result of direct predation by the lizards, or it might be generated by a foraging site shift by this ant.5. The results of this study thus demonstrated that the invasion of an exotic vertebrate can significantly alter the community structure of ants, perhaps through the combined direct and indirect effects of lizards on ants.
Leaf mining in the Myrtaceae
Authors: SINCLAIR ROBYN JEAN , HUGHES LESLEY 
Published: July 2008

Abstract 1. Leaf mining insects feed within plant tissue and thus have close physical associations with their host plants. Little is known about the evolution of relationships between leaf miners and their host species.2. The prevalence of leaf mining was examined in relation to the phylogeny of a dominant family of Australian plants, the Myrtaceae. Sixty‐eight species from the 10 major phylogenetic groups within the family were sampled in south‐eastern Australia.3. Fifty‐seven per cent of the plant species examined were found to be mined. Several leaf traits were compared between mined and unmined plant species to investigate the potential role of both physical and nutritional characteristics in determining host‐plant susceptibility to these herbivores.4. The physical leaf traits measured were leaf area, specific leaf area (SLA), lamina thickness, toughness, and amount of fibre (percentage hemicellulose). The nutritional traits were water content, and concentrations of carbon, nitrogen, total phenols and condensed tannins. Principal component analysis showed mined plant species differed from unmined in terms of several leaf traits.5. In a post hoc regression weighted for phylogeny, leaf miner presence was significantly positively correlated with plant species having thinner laminas and higher phenol concentrations, and was positively correlated with marginal significance to SLA and water content.
Variation in food availability influences prey‐capture method in antlion larvae
Authors: ELIMELECH EFRAT , PINSHOW BERRY 
Published: July 2008

Abstract 1. Larvae of a Myrmecaelurus sp. are unique among antlions because they have two prey‐capture methods; they either ambush prey at the surface, or dig pit traps that prey fall in to. It was hypothesised that larvae will use the capture method that maximises their net rate of energy gain, which will be influenced by food availability (encounter rate) and by past energy inputs (body condition).2. Costs were estimated by measuring resting and activity metabolic rates and determining the duration of pit maintenance at various encounter rates with ants that served as prey. Benefits were estimated from the energy gained per ant captured at different encounter rates.3. Net energy gained was higher with a pit than without one, and was influenced more by the differences in prey capture rate between the two capture methods, and less by the differences in energy costs associated with each method. The proportion of larvae that constructed pits was higher when they were in intermediate body condition than when in good or in poor body condition.4. Thus, the use of one capture method or the other depends on a combination of the influences of past net energy gain and the antlion’s most recent change in encounter rate with prey. Ambushing without a pit may serve as a default when physiological constraints limit the larvae’s ability to invest in pit construction and maintenance, or when larvae are sated, and saving the energy of pit construction and maintenance is worthwhile.
Negative interactions between chemical resistance and predators affect fitness in soybeans
Authors: BARTLETT RYAN 
Published: July 2008

Abstract 1. Plants may benefit from both chemical resistance traits and the presence of predators of herbivores. In past studies, the interaction between resistance and predators varies from complementary to antagonistic among different systems. However, this interaction has primarily been quantified by effects on predator abundance or vigor, not effects on plant fitness.2. In this study, the combined effects of chemical resistance and predators on plant fitness were examined using soybeans (Glycine max), herbivorous Mexican bean beetles (Epilachna varivestis), and predaceous spined soldier bugs (Podisus maculiventris). Mexican bean beetles were reared in field cages in the presence or absence of spined soldier bugs on soybeans with or without strong constitutive chemical resistance.3. Spined soldier bugs were more likely to feed on Mexican bean beetles that fed on susceptible than on resistant plants.4. Susceptible plants with predators produced significantly more seeds than those without predators, while resistant plants did not produce significantly different numbers of seeds based on the presence or absence of predators.5. Selection for the production of some types of chemical resistance in plants would thus be expected to be stronger with lower predation rates.6. These results also suggest predator introductions would be more effective on plants without a strong constitutive chemical resistance to herbivores.
The relative importance of dispersal and local processes in structuring phytoplankton communities in a set of highly interconnected ponds
Authors: VANORMELINGEN PIETER , COTTENIE KARL , MICHELS ERIK , MUYLAERT KOENRAAD , VYVERMAN WIM , DE MEESTER LUC 
Published: July 2008

Summary1. The recognition that both local and regional processes act together in shaping local communities makes determining their relative roles in natural communities central to understanding patterns in community structure.2. We investigated the relative influence of these processes on the phytoplankton communities of a highly interconnected pond system. We sampled the phytoplankton communities of 28 ponds concurrently with 20 local environmental variables.3. We found that phytoplankton community variation, in terms of both phytoplankton community composition (PCC) and diversity, was only significantly explained by local environmental variables. These were mainly associated with the contrasting clear‐water and turbid ecological states of the shallow ponds studied. Clear‐water conditions favoured only a few taxa, resulting in a significantly lower taxon diversity and richness under these conditions.4. The failure to explain variation in PCC by a dispersal model based on the water flow between ponds points at very effective species sorting. This is attributed to the high population turn‐over rates and sensitivity to environmental conditions of phytoplankton communities. Some evidence was found, however, that dispersal influences local communities through mass effects between neighbouring ponds.5. Overall, our results emphasize both the strong selection pressure that components of the food web exert on phytoplankton communities and the high potential of these communities to respond to such environmental change, thereby effectively opposing the homogenizing effects of continuous dispersal.
Methyl bromide emissions to the atmosphere from temperate woodland ecosystems
Authors: DREWER JULIA , HEAL KATE V. , SMITH KEITH A. , HEAL MATHEW R. 
Published: July 2008

AbstractThe environmental importance of methyl bromide (CH3Br) arises from its contribution to stratospheric ozone loss processes and, as a consequence, its emissions from anthropogenic sources are subject to the Montreal Protocol. A better understanding of the natural budget of CH3Br is required for assessing the benefit of anthropogenic emission reductions and for understanding any potential effects of environmental change on global CH3Br concentrations. Measurements of CH3Br flux in temperate woodland ecosystems, in particular, are very sparse, yet these cover a large fraction of terrestrial land surface. Results presented here from 18 months of field measurements of CH3Br fluxes in four static flux chambers in a woodland in Scotland and from enclosures of rotting wood and deciduous and coniferous leaf litter suggest net emissions from temperate woodlands. Net CH3Br fluxes in the woodland varied between the chambers, fluctuating between net uptake and net emissions (−73 to 279 ng m−2 h−1 across 161 individual measurements), and with no strong seasonality, but with time‐averaged net emission overall [27±57 (1 SD)] ng m−2 h−1]. This work demonstrates that scale‐up needs to be based on sufficient individual measurements to provide a reasonably constrained estimate of the long‐term mean. Mean (±1 SD) net CH3Br emissions from deciduous and coniferous leaf litter were 43 (±33) ng kg−1 (dry weight) h−1 and 80 (±37) ng kg−1 (dry weight) h−1, respectively, and ∼1–2 ng kg−1 (fresh weight) h−1 from rotting woody litter. Despite the intrinsic variability, data obtained here consistently point to the conclusion that the temperate forest soil/litter ecosystem is a net source of CH3Br to the atmosphere.