bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The copper/caeruloplasmin ratio in routine clinical practice in different laboratories
Authors: Twomey P J , Wierzbicki A S , Reynolds T M , Viljoen A 
Published: December 2008

Background:The diagnosis of copper deficiency and excess states is challenging. It was hoped that the non-caeruloplasmin-bound (“free”) copper would reduce this difficulty; however, it has its own problems. The copper/caeruloplasmin ratio has been advocated as an alternative index of copper status, especially as it would not need gender-derived or age-derived reference intervals. However, there are no comparative data for different populations using different assays.Method:Independent paired copper and caeruloplasmin data were retrospectively obtained for three laboratories. From these data, the copper/caeruloplasmin ratio was calculated, and descriptive statistics for the populations and methods were obtained. The relationship between the copper/caeruloplasmin ratio and both copper and caeruloplasmin were also investigated for the three laboratories.Results:All three datasets displayed a non-Gaussian distribution. The Burton median was statistically different from the two other medians, which did not differ significantly from each other. The regression lines for both copper and caeruloplasmin with the ratio differed from each other.Conclusion:The copper/caeruloplasmin ratio behaves differently depending on the laboratory, the population studied, or both. Thus, cut-offs in the literature are not transferable. Each laboratory should therefore derive its own cut-offs.
Neonatal screening for sickle cell anaemia in the Democratic Republic of the Congo: experience from a pioneer project on 31 204 newborns
Authors: Tshilolo L , Aissi L M , Lukusa D , Kinsiama C , Wembonyama S , Gulbis B , Vertongen F 
Published: December 2008

Background:Despite the high prevalence of sickle cell disease in Africa, a neonatal screening programme is available in only a few countries in the sub-Saharan region.Aim:To describe our experience of a pioneer study on 31 304 newborns screened systematically in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.Methods:The prevalence of haemoglobinopathies was determined by a thin-layer isoelectric focusing method on dry filter-paper samples.Results:Of the 31 204 newborns screened by isoelectric focusing, 5276 (16.9%) displayed sickle cell trait and 428 (1.4%) were homozygous for haemoglobin S. No statistical differences were observed in the different ethno-linguistic groups, but some tribes displayed a higher prevalence of the βS gene, attributable to a higher prevalence of malaria, and a greater frequency of haemoglobin S homozygotes, in part attributable to an endogamic marriage system.Conclusion:The neonatal screening programme has now been introduced in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, but the main challenges are to track all the new cases for a confirmatory test and to initiate early management.
Can we justify eliminating coercive measures in psychiatry?
Authors: Prinsen E J D , van Delden J J M 
Published: December 2008

The practice of coercive measures in psychiatry is controversial. Although some have suggested that it may be acceptable if patients are a danger to others or to themselves, others committed themselves to eliminate it. Ethical, legal and clinical considerations become more complex when the mental incapacity is temporary and when the coercive measures serve to restore autonomy. We discuss these issues, addressing the conflict between autonomy and beneficence/non-maleficence, human dignity, the experiences of patients and the effects of coercive measures. We argue that an appeal to respect autonomy and/or human dignity cannot be a sufficient reason to reject coercive measures. All together, these ethical aspects can be used both to support and to reject a non-seclusion approach.The total lack of controlled trials about the beneficial effects of coercive measures in different populations however, argues against the use of coercive measures.
The added value of peripheral blood cell morphology in the diagnosis and management of infectious diseases—part 1: basic concepts
Authors: Prokocimer M , Potasman I 
Published: December 2008

AbstractAs automated blood cell analysers and sophisticated diagnostic technologies become widespread, requests for peripheral blood smear (PBS) examination—for the diagnosis of infectious diseases—diminish. Yet, PBS examination can provide rapid and invaluable information on infection—host susceptibility, aetiology, severity, and systemic impact. Besides direct visualisation of certain microorganisms (for example, Plasmodium, Ehrlichia), PBS examination may detect characteristic footprints left by various infections on the morphology of blood cells, thus yielding the cytologic clues of the disease (for example, Döhle bodies, haemophagocytosis). Additionally, PBS examination may disclose certain infection predisposing conditions (for example, May–Hegglin anomaly, hyposplenism), and several infection related haematological and systemic complications. Combined with a careful medical history and physical examination data, all this information may yield a speedy diagnosis, a rationalised diagnostic work-up, and timely initiation of treatment. The intention of the following review is to highlight the value of PBS, and recommend that PBS examination should be fostered in the diagnostic work-up of infectious diseases.
Coupled Contributions in the Doppler Radar Spectrum Width Equation
Authors: Fang Ming , Doviak Richard J. 
Published: December 2008

Abstract
Contrary to accepted usage, the second central moment of the Doppler spectrum is not the sum of the second central moments of individual spectral broadening mechanisms. A rigorous theoretical derivation of the spectrum width observed with short dwell times reveals that the sum cannot strictly be taken for the variances associated with various spectral broadening mechanisms and that an added-term coupling shear with turbulence is needed. Furthermore, shear and antenna rotation are coupled. The theoretical expressions derived herein apply to radars with fixed or scanning beams.
Performance Characteristics of Integrating Nephelometers in the Australian Outback
Authors: Mitchell R. M. , Campbell S. K. , Qin Y. , Gras J. L. 
Published: December 2008

Abstract
Radiance Research M903 nephelometers have been operated at remote Australian Outback sites since April 1998. This paper describes the calibration procedures applied to these instruments and reports on the noise performance and other operational issues. It is found that instrument noise leads to a detection limit of ∼0.2 Mm−1 in scattering coefficient at the 95% confidence interval for a 5-min integration. Changes in ambient temperature cause drift with a coefficient of ∼0.06 Mm−1 K−1, leading to a typical diurnal drift of amplitude ∼0.9 Mm−1. Over the 10-yr deployment at an Outback station, the accuracy of the derived scattering coefficient is compromised by drifts in sensitivity and offset, in part related to gross changes in bandpass filter characteristics resulting from environmental degradation. A method is developed to track these changes. An uncertainty analysis suggests that the typical background scattering coefficient of ∼10 Mm−1 can be measured to within 15% at the 95% confidence level. For events where the scattering coefficient is &gt;100 Mm−1, the uncertainty falls to ∼5%. Correction factors are derived for angular truncation error and inlet efficiency for the particular inlet configuration adopted and illustrated via a case study using size distributions guided by collocated NASA Aerosol Robotic Network (AERONET) data.
A Smooth Cloud Model
Authors: Reisner J. M. , Jeffery C. A. 
Published: December 2008

Abstract
In this paper a large-eddy “smooth” cloud (SC) model will be presented with smooth implying that the entire model converges under a Newton-based solution procedure or that time scales within the SC model are being resolved. Besides ensuring that time scales within microphysical parameterizations are resolved, convergence of Newton’s method requires that advection schemes near cloud boundaries should not induce fast time scales. For example, flux-corrected transport (FCT) schemes that force cloud variables to stay oscillation free near boundaries are typically not differentiable in time and hence may prevent convergence of Newton’s method. To circumvent the use of a FCT scheme, an alternative approach, a cloud-edge (CE) diffusion-based approach, will be presented in this paper. Since the diffusion produced by the CE approach could conceivably lead to the fictitious evaporation of a real cloud, the first major point of this paper will be to document that the SC model when employing an evaporative limiter is able, like most traditional large-eddy cloud models, to reasonably reproduce nondrizzling stratus clouds observed during flight 1 of the Second Dynamics and Chemistry of Marine Stratocumulus field study (DYCOMS-II). However, the SC model obtains the accuracy offered by higher-order time-stepping approaches, unlike most traditional cloud models. In fact, temporal errors from the SC model are shown to be at least two orders of magnitude smaller than those of a traditional large-eddy cloud model. Hence, the second major point of this paper will be to demonstrate the consequence of these large temporal errors found in traditional large-eddy cloud models, that is, the inability to accurately track an identifiable cloud feature in time.
The Dimensions of Classroom Data
Authors: Lovitt Thomas C. , Kunzelmann Harold P. , Nolen Patricia A. , Hulten William J. 
Published: December 2008

Behavioral modification techniques have become quite widely utilized. Numerous instances exist where teachers, therapists and others in the field of rehabilitation have effectively used operant techniques to alter behavior. However the majority of reports from classroom settings describe how these techniques have been used to attenuate a variety of socially inappropriate behaviors. Few investigations have attempted to accelerate academic responses. Indeed, while many teachers see the use of behavioral management practices as effective with deceleration targets, they do not see it as effective with acceleration targets. The intent of this paper is to describe how behavioral modification techniques may be employed to increase academic performance through a three phase procedure of data diagnosis, data programming and data decisions. Initially described is a method of obtaining pupil performance data and information concerning relevant variables of the teacher-pupil dyad. A second method is presented whereby pupil and teacher data may empirically enable the teacher to evaluate curricular materials. Lastly, a discussion is provided pertaining to the use of data in making classroom managerial decisions.
Relationships Between Written Spelling, Motor Functioning and Sequencing Skills
Authors: Bannatyne Alex D. , Wichiarajote Penny 
Published: December 2008

The research was carried out on a representative sample of normal third-grade school children to investigate whether or not there were any meaningful relationships between spelling ability, motor functioning, balance, handedness, visuo-spatial ability (independent of motor activity), and various auditory and vocal (articulemic) skills. The results reported in this paper and the subsequent discussion refer mainly to the relationship between spelling, psycholinguistic skills and motor functioning. The latter term is used here in its widest meaning in that it includes balance, vocal activity, writing and to some extent handedness. Obviously, kinesthetic sensory feedback is essential to muscular action and therefore it, too, is implicated.
The Bookless Curriculum
Authors: Silberberg Norman E. , Silberberg Margaret C. 
Published: December 2008

As more children in this country are exposed to education, and for longer periods of time, the number who are encountering difficulty in school increases. For many of these children, the problem is simply that, in order to learn, they must read. For a large number of children with learning problems or IQ's below 100, this requisite artificially deprives them of comfortable avenues for learning. Modern technology provides equipment to educate many of the children for whom reading is either an uncomfortable or inefficient technique. For such children, a bookless curriculum is proposed which would provide children with an education while reading is relegated to a more realistic role in education, that of a skill area which is only one of the many tools available for learning. Development and preparation of the material was made possible under a Grant RT-2 of the Social and Rehabilitation Service of the Department of Health, Education and Welfare, awarded to the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation of the University of Minnesota Medical School, and the Kenny Rehabilitation Institute.
Considerations in Educating Children with Cerebral Dysfunction
Authors: Fine Marvin J. 
Published: December 2008

The current state of educating children with cerebral dysfunctions seems to be one of dealing with a poorly defined and poorly understood commodity, through the use of unvalidated procedures and with the expectation of great gains. This paper provides elaboration and elucidation on the following constructs: (1) An “experimental attitude” stressing the tentative nature of our knowledge and the need for systematic exploration of the child's behavior and consequent modification of remedial approaches should prove more effective than an attitude of certainty, as if we had truth at hand. (2) The motivational-attitudinal system of the child and how he sees himselfand the remedial experience needs to be understood. (3) The classroom teacher will be better able to aid in the remedial process if he can understand the complexities of educating the child and if his own value system is not in conflict with program objectives. (4) There are ways of structuring the learning environment to match the child's inner psychological state that are well within the capabilities of most teachers.
The Interrelationship of Perceptual - Motor Achievement, Academic Achievement & Intelligence of Fourth Grade Children
Authors: Skubic Vera , Anderson Marian 
Published: December 2008

The relationship of perceptual-motor achievement, academic achievement, and intclligence was investigated. Eighty-six fourth grade boys and girls of normal intelligence were studied. On the basis of performance on the Stanford Achievement Test (SAT), 41 pupils were designated as low achievers and 45 were designated as high achievers. The California Test of Mental Maturity (CTMM) and a perceptualmotor battery consisting of 11 tests were also administered to the children. Scores on the perceptual-motor battery for all children correlated significantly with their CTMM and SAT scores. The combined group of male and female high achievers performed significantly better than the low achiever group on all subtests of the CTMM including IQ. They also scored significantly better on six of the 11 perceptual-motor tests. On the remaining five tests, no differences were noted.
Programs, Materials, and Techniques
Authors: Bannatyne Alex 
Published: December 2008

The consensus of our reader survey and followup consultations indicated that a question of major interest is: How shall we handle this child? On behalf of our readers, we are expanding the section, Programs, Materials, and Techniques on dealing with children with learning disabilities. This month we have reviewed a wide variety of programs and topics. The Rebus reading program is novel, The KeyMath Test is useful and the handbook by Anne Rogovin is valuable. A physical education program is included for those who teach a full curriculum. Each month I intend presenting a different “Techniques” section in which I will describe in some detail a practical method for helping learning disability children. which has proved useful in our Learning Center. These will not be THE technique. There is no technique for dealing with all these children as yet, but we feel a contribution can be made by telling what has been successfully used before. If readers have any tips or techniques they would like to share, send them to me and I will print them with full credit as to who supplied them. Material submitted for publication should be limited to two typewritten pages, maximum, and should include the following: (1) the rationale on which the method or program is based; (2) an explicit and detailed description of the type of children with whom the method was used; (3) a clear description of the method; and (4) some caution (include pro and con) as to the value of this experience for the children. Thus, we really don't know how much training in visual discrimination or auditory discrimination has to contribute to an 8-year-old child. But given that caution, it seems useful to provide material for professionals working with children so they can make their own judgments.
Programs, Materials and Techniques
Authors: Bannatyne Alex 
Published: December 2008

This month the section begins with a review of Project LIFE which is a series of programs using a novel teaching machine. Head Start teachers and those with many young learning disability children would do well to look into this series. The psychologists (and others) among our readers will be interested in Dr. Donald Holmes' refreshing book, Psychotherapy. It is intended for anyone interested in the topic and I found it excellent. Those interested in the adolescent with learning disabilities (that includes almost all of us) will read my review of The Educator's Enigma with close attention. There is room for much more research on adolescents with learning disabilities and how best to treat them. Also reviewed are Specific Helps for Specific Learning Disabilities, a book which suggests remedial activities for specific perceptual deficits, and the Sensory Programmer, a kit of 10 tasks to help children in achieving readiness in various perceptual and motor skills. For my own contribution this time I have chosen the topic of auditory closure. If I was asked to name one language processing deficit which was most often found in learning disability children I would be hard put to decide between auditory closure and auditory sequencing memory. Coding would be a close third.
Programs, Materials and Techniques
Authors: Bannatyne Alex 
Published: December 2008

The first program reviewed this month in some detail is the Prescriptive Profile Procedure, developed as a Title IV B project in Miami, Florida. It is a useful model which other school districts would do well to examine thoroughly. This is followed by a review of a publication which contains a welter of practical materials from the Ashlock Learning Center, and in a sense i t follows on naturally from the Prescriptive Profile Procedure. Next there is a section on large type editions of books. I have suggested that these novels might be used with advantage with older more advanced learning disability children to help them attain fluency in their reading. But of course, they should not be used exclusively. Finally, there is a review on one of our own programs — a different approach to the physical development programs which have been so popular over the last two decades. If you have any interesting and effective materials, programs or ideas you may wish to share send them to me addressed to Dr. Alex Bannatyne, Bannatyne Children's Learning Center, 6950 North Kendall Drive, Miami, Florida 331 56.
Assessing the Parents of the Learning Disabled Child
Authors: MRCS Leon Sloman , Webster Christopher D. 
Published: December 2008

The obvious and inevitable fact that parents of the LD child are intimately involved with the child's disability stands in marked contrast to the paucity of studies in this area. Many speak of their difficult situation, but there are few tools to assist them. While no interview form can replace sound psychological training, teachers will increasingly be required to interact with parents and will “recognize, more or less accurately, kinds of emotional expression - warmth, criticism, dissatisfaction.'' This article presents a descriptive and non-theoretical interview-based rating scale. While it focuses on the procedure's reliability, the article is published primarily to provide practitioners with a straightforward means of organizing their subjective reactions to parents. Further research may point out prognostic and therapeutic implications, though no such conclusions can yet be drawn. — G.M.S. In trying to help parents of learning disabled children, clinicians often cannot give useful advice because they themselves differ concerning the important aspects of family dynamics. A semistructured interview procedure is described, permitting the clinician to rate the family on five main dimensions-evaluation, permissiveness of autonomy, mutual affection, hostility, and pressuring. The main aim of the study was to see if acceptable interrater reliability could be obtained. Twenty-two parents were interviewed by experienced clinicians (first assessment) and then reinterviewed after an interval of 6 to 12 weeks (second assessment). The interviews, which were audio-and videotaped, were then examined by two coders. Significant correlations were obtained between coder scores on all dimensions during both first and second assessment. With all five dimensions combined, a Spearman's rho of +.74 was found for the second assessment. Possible future uses of the instrument are considered.
Stability or Change in Reading Achievement over Times Developmental and Educational Implications
Authors: Belmont Ira , Belmont Lillian 
Published: December 2008

Just as IQ is thought to be a relatively stable attribute, skill acquisition is considered an orderly, continuous growth process. Teachers must set goals based on such an assumption. Researchers often define their LD samples assuming that a reading achievement score reflects the skill growth rate. Federal LD standards have formalized both assumptions by defining LD as the difference between these two indices. Belmont and Belmont's findings may not measurably help teachers set reading goals for their pupils but do confirm suspicions regarding the predictability of a specific child's short-range accomplishments. Group statistics are found not to represent individual growth patterns in reading which suggests the need for a more detailed understanding of the reading skill acquisition process and for a more sensitive measurement technology. — G.M.S. Previous work has led to conflicting conclusions regarding the long-term stability or variability of individual reading performance. This paper attempts to resolve the contradictory findings through a preliminary study of the course of individual performance and explores the results in terms of implications for normal growth and development and for the early prediction of later reading performance.