bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Developmental perspectives on bilingual Swedish‐Arabic children with and without language impairment: a longitudinal study
Authors: Salameh Eva‐Kristina , Håkansson Gisela , Nettelbladt Ulrika 
Published: April 2004

AbstractBackground: There is a need for studies on bilingual language acquisition in combination with language impairment (LI). The speech and language clinician must have tools to differentiate between problems depending on inadequate exposure to a language and problems depending on a LI. Another important issue is the pace of bilingual language acquisition relative to the severity of LI.Aims: To investigate grammatical development over 12 months in both languages in 10 Swedish‐Arabic pre‐school children with severe LI and 10 Swedish‐Arabic pre‐school children without LI.Methods & Procedures: The children were matched for age, gender, exposure to Swedish dialect, and exposure to Arabic dialect. The developmental hierarchy predicted by Processability Theory was used in tests in both Swedish and Arabic. Processability Theory was used as a yardstick to measure grammatical development in both languages.Outcomes & Results: Bilingual children, both with and without LI, developed grammatical structures in Swedish and Arabic in the same implicational way. Children with severe LI could develop two languages, although the pace of development was much slower in both languages. Bilingual children with severe LI were also more vulnerable to limited exposure of both their languages.Conclusions: A developmental perspective is important to understand the nature of LI in bilingual children. The results also have implications for the assessment of language development in bilingual children with severe LI, since a hardly perceptible development over time is observed.
Pragmatic language impairment and social deficits in Williams syndrome: a comparison with Down's syndrome and specific language impairment
Authors: Laws Glynis , Bishop Dorothy V. M. 
Published: April 2004

AbstractBackground: The social communication strength of individuals with Williams syndrome described by some researchers contrasts with the picture of social difficulties painted by others.Aims: To study the pragmatic aspects of language, social relationships and unusual interests in a group of children and adults with Williams syndrome, and to compare them with a group of children and adults with Down's syndrome, children with specific language impairment, and a group of typically developing children.Methods & Procedures: Parents or teachers completed the Children's Communication Checklist or a modified version of it with wording appropriate for adults. Study groups consisted of 19 children and young adults with Williams syndrome, 24 with Down's syndrome, 17 children with specific language impairment and 32 typically developing children.Outcomes & Results: Checklist ratings for the group with Williams syndrome indicated significant levels of pragmatic language impairment, and difficulties with social relationships. Together with evidence of unusual or restricted interests, the results suggested deficits across all three domains covered by the checklist.Conclusions: Despite earlier reports that emphasize a strong social interest and empathy, this study suggests that individuals with Williams syndrome have pragmatic language impairments, poor social relationships and restricted interests. Far from representing the polar opposite of autism, as suggested by some researchers, Williams syndrome would seem to share many of the characteristics of autistic disorder.
The Chemical Modification of the Essential Groups of β‐N‐Acetyl‐D‐glucosaminidase from Turbo cornutus Solander
Authors: Lin Jian‐Cheng , Chen Qing‐Xi , Shi Yan , Li Shao‐Wei , Zhao Hong 
Published: April 2004

AbstractThe chemical modification of β‐N‐acetyl‐D‐glucosaminidase (EC3.2.1.30) from Turbo cornutus Solander has been first studied. The results demonstrate that the sulfhydryl group of cysteine residues and the hydroxyl group of serine residues are not essential to the enzyme's function. The modification of indole group of tryptophan of the enzyme by N‐bromosuccinimide (NBS) can lead to the complete inactivation, accompanying the absorption decreasing at 278 nm and the fluorescence intensity quenching at 335 nm, indicating that tryptophan is essential residue to the enzyme. The modification of amino group of lysine residue by formaldehyde and trinitrobenzenesulfonic acid also inactivates the enzyme completely. The results show that lysine and tryptophan are probably situated in the active site of the enzyme. The modification of the imidazole residue and carboxyl group leads to inactivate incompletely, indicating they are not the composing groups of the enzyme active center, and they are essential for maintaining the enzyme's conformation which is necessary for the catalytic activity of the enzyme. IUBMB Life, 55: 547‐552, 2003
Social Construction and Policy Implementation: Inmate Health as a Public Health Issue*
Authors: Nicholson‐Crotty Jill , Nicholson‐Crotty Sean 
Published: April 2004

Objectives.This article develops and tests a concise multi‐stage approach for assessing the impact of social construction on the implementation of public programs designed to benefit negatively constructed groups. The framework suggests that negative constructions lead to policy choices that create problems in the implementation process. These problems prevent the accomplishment of key subobjectives necessary for ultimate program success.Methods.We test the utility of the framework in an analysis of a key public health issue—the spread of HIV/AIDS and tuberculosis in prisons. Despite great strides in the treatment and prevention of these diseases outside prison walls, the incidence and severity of both in the incarcerated population has increased dramatically over the last five years. We hypothesize that the problem of inadequate funding, arising from the negative social construction of this unique target population, is to blame.Results.In an analysis of 50 state correctional systems, we find that states with the most negative constructions of criminals and potential criminals spend dramatically less on inmate health, relative to other states.Conclusions.Our analysis suggests that inadequate funding levels in states with negative constructions of criminals and potential criminals jeopardizes the implementation of prison programs targeted at the prevention and treatment of HIV/AIDS and tuberculosis.
American Indian Ethnic Identity: Tribal Nonresponse in the 1990 Census*
Authors: Liebler Carolyn A. 
Published: April 2004

Objectives.About 11 percent of American Indians did not report their tribal affiliation on the 1990 U.S. Census form. I use several theoretical perspectives as tools to explore the reasons behind this surprising omission.Method.Logistic regression analysis is the method employed.Results.American Indians living with someone who speaks an American Indian language are very likely to report a tribal affiliation, as are those living in “Indian states” (states with historically high numbers of American Indians). Those who are least likely to report a tribal affiliation are Hispanic women with low education who report no American Indian ancestry, do not live with other American Indians, and live in a metropolitan area of a “non‐Indian state.”Conclusions.Lack of knowledge of family history appears to be one of the primary causes of tribal nonresponse. Salience of tribal identity also affects responses.
Who Lives on the Wrong Side of the Environmental Tracks? Evidence from the EPA's Risk‐Screening Environmental Indicators Model*
Authors: Ash Michael , Fetter T. Robert 
Published: April 2004

Objective. We analyze the social and economic correlates of air pollution exposure in U.S. cities.Methods. We combine 1990 Census block group data for urbanized areas with 1998 data on toxicity‐adjusted exposure to air pollution. Using a unique data set created as a byproduct of the EPA's Risk‐Screening Environmental Indicators Model, we improve on previous studies of environmental inequality in three ways. First, where previous studies focus on the proximity to point sources and the total mass of pollutants released, our measure of toxic exposure reflects atmospheric dispersion and chemical toxicity. Second, we analyze the data at a fine level of geographic resolution. Third, we control for substantial regional variations in pollution, allowing us to identify exposure differences both within cities and between cities.Results. We find that African Americans tend to live both in more polluted cities in the United States and in more polluted neighborhoods within cities. Hispanics live in less polluted cities on average, but they live in more polluted areas within cities. We find an extremely consistent income‐pollution gradient, with lower‐income people significantly more exposed to pollution.Conclusions. Communities with higher concentrations of lower‐income people and people of color experience disproportionate exposure to environmental hazards. Our findings highlight the importance of controlling for interregional variation in pollution levels in studies of the demographic correlates of pollution.
Second‐Generation Immigrants? The “2.5 Generation” in the United States*
Authors: Karthick Ramakrishnan S. 
Published: April 2004

Objective. This article takes issue with the way that second‐generation immigrants have been traditionally defined. In most studies, respondents are considered to be “second generation” if they are born in the United States and if at least one of their parents was born outside the United States. This article considers whether the experiences and outcomes of those with one U.S.‐born parent and one foreign‐born parent (the “2.5 generation”) are different from those with no U.S.‐born parents (the “2.0 generation”) and those with two native‐born parents (the “third generation”).Methods. The article analyzes data from the March Current Population Survey (CPS) from 1999 to 2001.Results. The evidence indicates that the 2.5 generation is a numerically significant population, and that it varies from other groups in age structure, racial identification, educational attainment, and income.Conclusions. In studying the U.S.‐born children of immigrants, scholars should avoid lumping together the 2.5 generation with those who have no native‐born parents. The members of the 2.5 generation also should be treated as distinct from those born in the United States to two native‐born parents.
What Price Nondisclosure? The Effects of Nondisclosure of Real Estate Sales Prices*
Authors: Berrens Robert P. , McKee Michael 
Published: April 2004

Objective. Only a select set of states still do not require mandatory public disclosure of real estate sales prices. In this article we examine the possible public‐sector consequences of failing to make real estate sales prices publicly accessible.Methods. We propose a set of possible public‐sector consequences of sales price nondisclosure (property tax assessment inequities, tax revenue leakages, administrative inefficiencies, and related ancillary effects). We identify examples, provide limited empirical evidence (simple regressions and distributional analyses) on the restricted data available, and discuss the relevant legal considerations at a variety of administrative and geographic scales.Results. The limited statistical results and examples provide evidence of possible inequities in effective tax rates and tax revenue leakages that may be connected to sale price nondisclosure.Conclusions. We argue that there is a strong prima facie case for legitimate public concerns attached to real estate sales price nondisclosure.
Laparoscopic radical prostatectomy: an audit after 2 years
Authors: CHAN S.W.H. , YUNG M.Y.P. , AU W.H. , MAH I.S.F. , MAN C.W. 
Published: April 2004

Introduction: Laparoscopic radical prostatectomy (LRP) was first attempted in 1992. It was not until 1998 that this technique was recognized as an feasible alternative to traditional open surgery. Laparoscopy offers good visualization, magnification and allows precise dissection and intracorporeal suturing. An audit on the clinical outcomes was done on this novel technique.Patients and Methods: 28 patients underwent LRP from March 2002 to February 2004. Inclusion criteria for surgery were similar to conventional open surgery's criteria: patients with high chance for organ‐confined disease and life expectancy of more than 10 years were included. Earlier series of open retropubic radical prostatectomy in the same hospital was used as the audit's standard for comparison.Results: Favourable results over the open series were found with regard to catheter time, transfusion, hospital stay and later functional outcomes including continence and erectile function. Complications and oncological control was found to be similar for the two groups. Operative time was observed to have reduced from 480 min to less 200 min in the 28‐case series for the laparoscopic cases.Conclusion Early results suggested favourable outcomes, but longer follow up and a controlled comparative study is needed to justify any definite conclusion for this relatively novel technique.
Clinico‐pathologic prediction of malignancy of thyroid follicular lesion with FNAC‐A multivariate analysis
Authors: CHOW T.L. , IP D.S.F. , CHAN T.T.F. , LAM S.H. 
Published: April 2004

Background: Patients suffering thyroid nodules with the diagnosis of follicular lesion on FNAC normally undergo thyroidectomy as the diagnosis of follicular carcinoma can only be ascertained by histopatholoigc examination. We undertake this study to examine the likelihood of various preoperative clinicopathologic parameters to predict malignancy.Methods: All the patients presented with thyroid nodules with follicular lesion diagnosed by FNAC were retrospectively evaluated if they have undergone thyroidectomy. The final histopathologic diagnoses were the gold standard. The clincopathologic parameters studied encompassed: gender, age, previous thyroidectomy, enlarging nodule, nodule size, presence of symptom, incidental finding, presentation duration, presence of Hurthle cell, cytological atypia and colloid content. The statistical analysis was carried out by SSPS 11.0 software. P‐value <*Τ*0.05 was considered statistically significant.Results: A total of 354 thyroidectomies have been carried out from January 1998 to December 2003. Sixty‐seven patients satisfied the inclusion criteria. The mean age was 51.3 ± 15.4 years old. There were only eight male patients. The final histopathologic results were: hyperplastic nodule (n = 32), follicular or Hurthle cell adenoma (n = 22), follicular carcinoma (n = 3), Hurthle cell carcinoma (n = 3), papillary carcinoma (n = 4), medullary carcinoma (n = 1) and two cases of Hashimotos thyroiditis. On univariate analysis, nodule enlargement and cytological atypia were found to be significant predictors of malignancy. (Table) However, only the nodule enlargement remained significant on multivariate analysis. (P=0.048)

Sex (M vs F)
NS

Age (<50 vs >/50 year)
NS

Previous thyroid surgery (Yes vs No)
NS

Enlarging nodule (Yes vs No)
P=0.024

Nodule size (<3 vs >/=3 cm)
NS

Symptoms (Yes vs No)
NS

Incidental finding (Yes vs No)
NS

Presentation duration (<2 vs >/=2 year)
NS

Hurthle cell (Yes vs No)
NS

Cytological atypia (Yes vs No)
P=0.046

Colloid content (Yes vs scanty/nil)
NS

Conclusion: Enlargement of thyroid nodules with follicular lesion diagnosed by FNAC significantly associate with malignancy. This category of patients should receive early thyroidectomy.
Treatment of Ruptured Anterior Communicating Artery Aneurysm: Outcome and cost analysis of the combined microsurgical and endovascular team approach
Authors: WONG G.K. , BOET R. , YU S.C. , LAM J.M. , POON W.S. 
Published: April 2004

Introduction: The practice model of case‐by‐case evaluation by a combined microsurgical and endovascular team based on the individual characteristics of each ruptured intracranial aneurysms, is the model used in most neurovascular centres in the US and in our centre. We aim to audit the outcome and cost (in terms of intensive care unit stay and hospital stay) in the microsurgical treatment group and endovascular treatment group.Methods: The records of patients having ruptured anterior communicating artery aneurysm admitted to our unit between 1996 and 2002 were reviewed. A total of 54 patients were reviewed. Twenty‐seven patients had endovascular treatment and 27 patients had microsurgical treatment.Results: The profiles for age, sex and admitting WFNS grading and Fisher grading were similar between the endovascular treatment and microsurgical treatment groups. Two patients in the endovascular group and one patient in the microsurgical group need further treatment for recurrent aneurysm. The mean intensive care unit stay is 7 days for the microsurgical group and 5 days for the endovascular group (P=0.40). The mean hospital ward stay is 20 days for the microsurgical group and 27 days for endovascular group (P=0.31). Favourable outcome was achieved in 70% of patients in 1 year in both groups of patients.Conclusion: The outcome in both microsurgical and endovascular groups is satisfactory. There is no difference in terms of outcome and cost analysis between the two groups. The practice model of case‐by‐case evaluation by a combined microsurgical and endovascular team based on the individual characteristics of each ruptured intracranial aneurysm should be continued.
Physical, mental and social factors affecting self‐rated verbal communication among elderly individuals
Authors: Miura Hiroko , Kariyasu Makoto , Yamasaki Kiyoko , Sumi Yasunori 
Published: April 2004

Background:  Satisfactory verbal communication is necessary to improve the quality of life in elderly individuals. However, few studies have directly analyzed the factors that influence the ability to achieve satisfactory verbal communication. The purpose of the present study was to identify the physical, mental and social factors that affect self‐rated verbal communication.Methods:  A cross‐sectional survey was used to obtain the required data from 197 elderly (75.5 ± 8.3 years of age) individuals in the southern area of Japan who independently carried out basic activities of daily living. Subjective evaluation on verbal communication, general health status, oral function and hearing ability were assessed using a self‐administered questionnaire. Age, sex, instrumental activities of daily living, intellectual activity, social activity, cognitive status, the number of present teeth, maximum phonetic time and status regarding the use of dentures and hearing aids were also evaluated.Results:  In bivariate analyses, self‐rated verbal communication ability was significantly related to age, instrumental activities of daily living, intellectual activity, social activity, cognitive function, maximum phonation time, the number of present teeth, the wearing of dentures, self‐rated general health and oral function. However, self‐rated hearing ability and the wearing of hearing aids were not significantly related to self‐rated verbal communication. The backward logistic regression analysis was refined until it included only two independent variables: social activity and self‐rated general health status.Conclusion:  These results suggest that social activity and self‐rated general health status are the most influential factors of satisfactory verbal communication in the present model, and that self‐rated verbal communication is not related to hearing factors.
G‐substrate gene promoter SNP (−1323T>C) modifies plasma total cholesterol and triglyceride phenotype in familial hypercholesterolemia: Intra‐familial association study in an eight‐generation hyperlipidemic kindred
Authors: Nobe Yukiko , Sato Keiko , Emi Mitsuru , Ezura Yoichi , Fujita Yuko , Takada Daisuke , Ishigami Tomoaki , Umemura Satoshi , Xin Yunpei , Wu Lily L , Larrinaga‐Shum Stacey , Stephenson Susan H , Hunt Steven C , Hopkins Paul N 
Published: April 2004

Background:  Plasma lipid and lipoprotein generally reflect the complex influences of multiple genetic loci, for instance, even familial hypercholesterolemia (FH), a representative example of monogenic hyperlipidemia, often presents with phenotypic heterogeneity.Methods:  In the course of investigating familial coronary artery disease in Utah, we studied 160 members of an eight‐generation extended family of FH, to examine possible genetic modification of lipoprotein phenotype by ‘modifier locus’. G‐substrate (GSBS) is an endogenous substrate for cGMP‐dependent protein kinase. We carried out an intrafamilial correlation analysis of modifier effect of −1323T>C substitution in the GSBS gene among 85 LDLR‐mutation carriers and 75 non‐carriers.Results:  In the LDLR‐mutation carriers, the plasma cholesterol levels were highest among −1323C homozygotes (mean ± SD = 454 ± 101 mg/dL), lowest among −1323T homozygotes (mean ± SD, 307 ± 72 mg/dL) and intermediate among −1323T/C heterozygotes (mean ± SD, 314 ± 62 mg/dL; P = 0.015). Similarly, in the LDLR‐mutation carriers, the plasma triglyceride levels were highest among −1323C homozygotes (mean ± SD, 371 ± 381 mg/dL), lowest among −323T homozygotes (mean ± SD, 171 ± 94 mg/dL), and intermediate among −1323T/C heterozygotes (mean ± SD, 218 ± 130 mg/dL; P = 0.003). No such gene‐interactive effect was observed among non‐carriers of the LDLR‐mutation.Conclusion:  These results indicate a significant modification of the phenotype of FH with defective LDLR allele, by GSBS‐1323C allele in the kindred studied.
Development of a new method for simple dietary education in elderly patients with diabetes mellitus*
Authors: Takahashi Mitsuko , Araki Atsushi , Ito Hideki 
Published: April 2004

Background:  The objective of this study was to compare the effects of simple dietary education on food intake, nutritional components and glycemic control to those of conventional dietary education.Methods:  A randomized control trial was used to investigate the effects of this type of education. We randomly allocated 30 new elderly diabetic outpatients and 38 outpatients who had been visiting our clinic for a long time to the simple education group and the conventional education group. At baseline and 3 months after either the simple or conventional education, we assessed food and nutrient intake for a week using a Yoshimura's food frequency questionnaire. The HbA1c levels of patients were measured at baseline, 3, 6, and 12 months after education.Results:  We developed a new method for simple dietary education, including several dietary lessons. In new diabetic patients, simple and conventional nutritional courses reduced HbA1c to similar levels at 3, 6, and 12 months as well as intake of total energy, sweets, and fruits at 3 months after the education. However, long‐term patients had no significant differences in total energy intake and HbA1c levels at 3 months, but at 6 and 12 months small decreases in HbA1c levels were observed for both the simple and conventional dietary education courses.Conclusions:  Our results suggest that simple dietary education is useful and effective for elderly diabetic patients on their first visit in a similar fashion to the conventional dietary education. Because of the small effects of both types of education on glucose control in the long‐term patients, more psychosocial support may be necessary.