bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The development of the concept of “matter”: A cross‐age study of how children classify materials
Authors: Krnel Dušan , Glažar Saša S. , Watson Rod 
Published: August 2003

AbstractThe development of the concept of matter was explored in children aged 3–13. Eighty four children were asked to classify four sets of objects and matter and to explain their classifications during interviews. Younger children tended to classify using a mixture of extensive properties (properties of objects) and intensive properties (properties of matter), whereas older children (above 9 years old) tended to use intensive properties most of the time. The effect of using sets of objects and matter with different characteristics was explored. The different sets of objects and matter consisted of ones made of different substances, of various shapes and particle size, and of different states of matter. The ways in which children classified were analyzed from a Piagetian perspective, which hypothesizes that the epigenesis of concepts takes place through children acting on the world. Through their actions children gradually develop more elaborated schema which enable them to distinguish between extensive and intensive properties and hence between object and matter. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Sci Ed 87:621–639, 2003; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/sce.10080
Investigating the relationship between refutational text and conceptual change
Authors: Palmer David H. 
Published: August 2003

AbstractThe aim of this study was to identify the type of conceptual change (assimilation or accommodation) that can be induced by a refutational text. Individual interviews were carried out with a stratified sample of eighty‐seven grade 9 students. Forty‐four percent of them were found to have a misconception about the concept of ecological role—they believed that some living things do not have a role in nature. These 36 students were asked to read either a text that refuted the misconception, or a control text that consisted of a didactic explanation of ecological role. They then participated in an immediate posttest and a delayed posttest. Surprisingly, both texts were able to induce accommodation in a large proportion of the students. Factors such as the high motivation of the students, encouragement of metacognition, age‐readiness of the students, and a relative lack of robustness of the misconception were considered to have greatly facilitated the conceptual change process. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Sci Ed 87:663–684, 2003; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/sce.1056
Measuring student understanding of geological time
Authors: Dodick Jeff , Orion Nir 
Published: August 2003

AbstractThere have been few discoveries in geology more important than “deep time”—the understanding that the universe has existed for countless millennia, such that man's existence is confined to the last milliseconds of the metaphorical geological clock. The influence of deep time is felt in a variety of sciences including geology, cosmology, and evolutionary biology. Thus, any student that wants to master these subjects must have a good understanding of geological time. Despite its critical importance, there has been very little attention given to geological time by science education researchers. Of the work that has been done, much of it ignores the cognitive basis for students' understanding of geological time. This work addresses this gap by presenting a validation study for a new instrument—the GeoTAT (Geological Time Aptitude Test). Consisting of a series of open puzzles, the GeoTAT tested the subjects' ability to reconstruct and represent the transformation in time of a series of geological structures. Montagnero (1992, 1996) terms this ability “diachronic thinking.” This instrument was distributed to a population of 285 junior and senior high school students with no background in geology, as well as 58 high school students majoring in geology. A comparison of the high school (grades 11–12) geology and non‐geology majors indicated that the former group held a significant advantage over the latter in solving problems involving diachronic thinking. This relationship was especially strengthened by the second year of geological study (grade 12), with the key factor in this improvement being exposure to fieldwork. Fieldwork both improved the subjects' ability in understanding the 3‐D factors influencing temporal organization, as well as providing them with experience in learning about the types of evidence that are critical in reconstructing a transformational sequence. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Sci Ed 87:708–731, 2003; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/sce.1057
Transient hydrops fetalis of the donor fetus in twin–twin transfusion syndrome after therapeutic amnioreduction
Authors: Morine M. , Maeda K. , Higashino K. , Miura N. , Kinoshita T. , Endo S. , Irahara M. 
Published: August 2003

AbstractWe present a case of twin–twin transfusion syndrome associated with transient hydrops fetalis observed in the donor after therapeutic amnioreduction at 22 weeks of gestation. After the amnioreduction, the bladder of the donor could be visualized and the donor subsequently began to make amniotic fluid, with spontaneous regression of hydrops fetalis. It is suspected that after therapeutic amnioreduction, intrauterine hemodynamic changes occurred and the donor developed transient hydrops fetalis due to volume overload. Copyright © 2003 ISUOG. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Fetal cerebellar hemorrhage in a severely growth‐restricted fetus: natural history and differential diagnosis from Dandy–Walker malformation
Authors: Yüksel A. , Batukan C. 
Published: August 2003

AbstractThis is a report of an intracerebellar hemorrhage in a severely growth‐restricted fetus with pathological Doppler findings of the fetal and uteroplacental circulations. The diagnosis was made sonographically at 22 weeks of gestation and the natural course of the hemorrhage was followed. Interestingly, the final sonographic appearance of the posterior fossa was quite similar to that of the classic form of Dandy–Walker malformation: absence of the vermis and an enlarged fourth ventricle. However, careful sonographic examination showed that the enlargement of the fourth ventricle was actually caused by a porencephalic cystic lesion of the left cerebellar lobe. Pathological examination revealed complete absence of the vermis and cerebellar hypoplasia. Copyright © 2003 ISUOG. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Introital and transvaginal ultrasound as the main tool in the assessment of urogenital and pelvic floor dysfunction: an imaging panel and practical approach
Authors: Tunn R. , Petri E. 
Published: August 2003

AbstractThis article reviews the different applications of ultrasound in benign urogynecological diseases. The findings presented here were obtained by introital and transvaginal ultrasound, both of which can be performed with the same equipment (5–7‐MHz sector transducer, emission angle of at least 90°; for introital sonography, the transducer is placed over the external urethral orifice with the transducer axis corresponding to the body axis). Female voiding dysfunction, including urge symptoms, recurrent urinary tract infections and urinary incontinence, may occur secondary to morphological and topographical changes of the urogenital organs. Findings such as urethral diverticula, periurethral masses, funneling of the urethra and distension cystoceles are identified by introital ultrasound. Transvaginal ultrasound enables the detection of pathologies of the bladder and uterus including its appendages. Ultrasound as part of the diagnostic work‐up of stress urinary incontinence and genitourinary prolapse allows for the morphological and dynamic assessment of the lower urinary tract. It is possible, for example, to classify sonographically identified changes of the endopelvic fascia as lateral (distraction cystocele, funneling of the urethra) and central (pulsation cystocele) defects as well as to determine the reactivity of the pelvic floor muscles. Ultrasound has replaced radiography in yielding information on the abnormal morphology of the urogenital organs, which should be taken into account in planning the treatment of urogynecological conditions. Copyright © 2003 ISUOG. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Outcome of antenatally diagnosed intracranial hemorrhage: case series and review of the literature
Authors: Ghi T. , Simonazzi G. , Perolo A. , Savelli L. , Sandri F. , Bernardi B. , Santini D. , Bovicelli L. , Pilu G. 
Published: August 2003

AbstractObjectivesPrenatal diagnosis of intracranial hemorrhage (ICH) has been widely reported. Hemorrhages may occur either within the cerebral ventricles, subdural space or infratentorial fossa. The aim of this study was to determine the sonographic criteria for the diagnosis of fetal ICH, the role of in utero magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and the outcome of this condition.MethodsThe archives of our ultrasound laboratory and the literature were searched for all cases of antenatally diagnosed ICH. A grading system was used to classify the intraventricular lesions as suggested in postnatal sonographic studies.ResultsAdding our series of 16 fetuses to the 93 cases identified in the literature, a group of 109 fetal ICHs was obtained: 89 were intracerebral (79 intraventricular and 10 infratentorial) and 20 were subdural hemorrhages. Intraventricular lesions were mostly classified as severe (32 each for Grades III and IV). In 27 cases antenatal MRI was performed additionally to ultrasound and confirmed the sonographic findings. Of the entire group, 65 infants (59%) were reported to be alive 1 month after birth (51 intraventricular hemorrhages, three infratentorial hemorrhages, 11 subdural hematomas). At 12 months, of the 48 infants whose follow‐up was available, 25 or 52% were judged neurologically normal (17/36 or 47% among the intraventricular hemorrhages, 6/9 or 66% among the hematomas, and 2/3 or 66% among the infratentorial hemorrhages).ConclusionsFetal ICH may be accurately identified and categorized by antenatal sonography. The outcome is usually poor, especially for those fetuses affected by higher‐grade intraventricular hemorrhages. Copyright © 2003 ISUOG. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Prenatal sonographic diagnosis of isolated agnathia: a case report
Authors: Yang S. H. , Seo Y. S. , Lee Y. S. , Choi S. J. , Kim Y. A. , Kim J. H. 
Published: August 2003

AbstractAgnathia is a rare malformation characterized by the absence of the mandible, microstomia, aplasia or hypoplasia of the tongue, and low‐set or medially fused ears. It occurs alone or in combination with a variety of malformations such as holoprosencephaly. All previous cases of the prenatal diagnosis of agnathia have been accompanied with fatal anomalies. We report here the first case of isolated agnathia, which was diagnosed by prenatal sonography at 32 weeks of gestation. In this case, prenatal sonographic examination showed the severe defect of the chin, small opening of the mouth and severe polyhydramnios. There was no sonographic evidence of holoprosencephaly or anomalies in other organ systems. The diagnosis was confirmed postnatally. Copyright © 2003 ISUOG. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
The pedicle artery sign based on sonography with color Doppler imaging can replace second‐stage tests in women with abnormal vaginal bleeding
Authors: Timmerman D. , Verguts J. , Konstantinovic M. L. , Moerman P. , Van Schoubroeck D. , Deprest J. , Van Huffel S. 
Published: August 2003

AbstractObjectiveUnenhanced transvaginal sonography is not accurate in the detection of endometrial polyps. Currently, second‐stage tests such as saline contrast sonohysterography and office hysteroscopy are used to diagnose endometrial lesions, but both have limitations and side effects. We proposed visualization of the pedicle artery on color Doppler imaging as a sign of polyps.MethodsThis was a prospective observational study involving 3099 consecutive patients referred for assessment of the endometrium and myometrium. The uterus was assessed in sagittal and coronal planes using color Doppler sonography. Patients with suspected endometrial pathology on sonography were noted and the volume of the focal lesion was calculated. Patients with a clearly visible pedicle artery reaching the central part of the endometrium were regarded as test‐positive. The gold standard was defined as the presence or absence of an endometrial polyp at hysterectomy, hysteroscopy and/or endometrial histology on dilatation and curettage within 1 year of sonography.ResultsOf the 3099 women, no gold standard was available in 2230. Only 28 of the 199 patients who were test‐positive did not have a gold standard. In the 869 patients in whom a gold standard was available, 182 had one or more endometrial polyps. The pedicle artery test had an apparent sensitivity for detection of endometrial polyps of 76.4%, specificity of 95.3%, positive predictive value (PPV) of 81.3%, and negative predictive value of 93.8%. When extending the test to the prediction of any focal intracavitary pathology the PPV was 94.2%.ConclusionsThe pedicle artery test has a very high PPV for intracavitary pathology. We expect that in the majority of patients with an endometrial polyp this test may replace more invasive established second‐stage tests, such as saline contrast sonohysterography and office hysteroscopy. Copyright © 2003 ISUOG. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Levocetirizine is effective for symptom relief including nasal congestion in adolescent and adult (PAR) sensitized to house dust mites
Authors: Potter P. C. ,   on behalf of the Study Group
Published: August 2003

Background: Antihistamines are the most commonly prescribed class of medication for perennial allergic rhinitis (PAR). The primary objective of this study was to determine whether levocetirizine (Xyzal®), the active enantiomer of cetirizine, could achieve at least a 50% improvement in PAR symptoms compared to the placebo over the first week of treatment.Methods: A total of 294 patients with PAR due to house dust mites were randomized in this 8‐week double‐blind, placebo‐controlled, multicentre trial to receive either levocetirizine 5 mg/day or placebo. Mean Total Four‐Symptom Scores (T4SS) (nasal pruritus, ocular pruritus, rhinorrhoea and sneezing) were compared between treatment groups over weeks 1, 4 and 6. All individual symptom scores, including nasal congestion, were also studied.Results: Levocetirizine showed an 86% improvement in T4SS over the first week of treatment and a 47% improvement over the entire treatment period compared with placebo. Absolute changes from baseline were 3.64 and 2.47 for levocetirizine and placebo, respectively. Individual symptom scores showed statistically significant (P ≤ 0.01) differences in favour of levocetirizine for all study time‐points. Nasal congestion was unexpectedly significantly improved (P < 0.001). The incidence of reported adverse events was comparable between treatment and placebo group.Conclusions: Levocetirizine 5 mg/day is an effective and well‐tolerated treatment of PAR. In addition, levocetirizine is effective for the relief of nasal congestio.
Effect of anti‐nerve growth factor on early and late airway responses in allergic rats
Authors: Glaab T. , Hoymann H. G. , Hecht M. , Korolewitz R. , Tschernig T. , Hohlfeld J. M. , Krug N. , Braun A. 
Published: August 2003

Background: The increased production of nerve growth factor (NGF) has been associated with allergen‐induced airway hyperresponsiveness and enhanced airway inflammation in experimental models of asthma. The aim of this study was to investigate whether a local application of anti‐NGF to the lungs may affect the allergen‐specific early (EAR) and late (LAR) airway responses to ovalbumin (Ova) of Ova‐sensitized brown Norway rats.Methods: Rats were sensitized systemically with Ova and were boosted twice intratracheally with Ova aerosol using a microsprayer. Two hours before every boost, the animals were pretreated either with aerosolized anti‐NGF or with a control antibody. On day 21, all animals were challenged with inhalational Ova aerosol and pulmonary resistance was recorded in anesthetized, orotracheally intubated animals during the early and late asthmatic responses. In addition, differential cell counts from bronchoalveolar lavage and serum immunoglobulin E (IgE) levels were determined 48 h post‐Ova challenge.Results: Pretreatment with anti‐NGF significantly attenuated the EAR but had no significant effect on the LAR. Serum IgE levels and inflammatory cell influx into the lungs were not affected by anti‐NGF pretreatment.Conclusion: The data from this study suggest that NGF is directly involved in the development of the EAR without affecting the inflammatory airway response or LAR.
A further evaluation of the clinical use of specific IgE antibody testing in allergic diseases
Authors: Söderström L. , Kober A. , Ahlstedt S. , de Groot H. , Lange C.‐E. , Paganelli R. , Roovers M. H. W. M. , Sastre J. 
Published: August 2003

Background: The evaluation and interpretation of the results from blood tests measuring specific immunoglobulin E (IgE) antibody concentration is currently made using the dichotomized result from the test despite a quantitative result is obtained. It has been shown that different levels of IgE antibodies, assessed by blood test and skin prick test, may have a relation to presence of symptoms, implying that there is more information in a quantitative result than in the dichotomous – positive or negative.Objective: To investigate the clinical utility of quantification of IgE antibodies in the diagnosis of allergic patients and whether such procedure has any advantage to the presently dichotomously used sensitivity and specificity at a fixed cut‐off.Methods: Data from a previously published study (R. Paganelli, I.J. Ansoteugi, J. Sastre, C.‐E. Lange, M.H.W.M. Roovers, H. de Groot, N.B. Lindholm, P.W. Ewan, Allergy, 1998; 53) analysing diagnosis of allergic patients in four different clinics were re‐evaluated. In the original study consecutive patients with suspected IgE‐mediated allergy had been examined and evaluated according to the clinical routine at each clinic, using case history, physical examination, skin tests and laboratory tests, except the test to be evaluated, and given an ‘doctors’ allergen‐specific diagnosis’ as positive or negative. In the present study the relation between ‘doctors’ allergen‐specific diagnosis’, expressed as pos/neg, and the quantitative levels of specific IgE antibody concentration was analysed using a logistic regression model. This presentation of results was also compared with the more common characteristics of sensitivity and specificity, and also with Receiver–operator characteristics (ROC) curves.Results: The used logistic model described the relationship between allergen‐specific diagnosis in each study and the levels of IgE antibodies. The shape of the curve illustrated the physicians’ disposition for a positive diagnose in the study, in relation to the specific IgE antibody level. Differences in the shape of the curve was found both between allergens within clinics and between clinics for the same allergen. No association could be demonstrated between prevalence and shape of the curve.Conclusions: Conventional sensitivity/specificity figures or ROC concepts only use the qualitative statement of whether IgE is present or not. A risk assessment using the quantitative level of IgE antibody to an allergen increases the utility of the information in clinical context compared with a qualitative statement of whether IgE is present or not. The quantification demonstrated the link between specific IgE antibodies and allergic reactions. The use of objective, well performing quantitative tests should help improve diagnostic accuracy and might provide a way for the patient to understand and manage his or her daily situation and risk for reactions.
Detection of specific IgE antibodies in the sera of patients allergic to birch pollen using recombinant allergens Bet v 1, Bet v 2, Bet v 4: evaluation of different IgE reactivity profiles
Authors: Rossi R. E. , Monasterolo G. , Monasterolo S. 
Published: August 2003

Background:  Birch pollen is a significant cause of immediate hypersensitivity among susceptible subjects in temperate climates, affecting 5–54% of the population in western Europe. We examined the specific serum IgE antibodies towards recombinant allergens Bet v 1, Bet v 2 and Bet v 4 in birch‐sensitive patients from the province of Cuneo, north‐west Italy.Methods:  Sera were obtained from 372 patients with symptomatic birch pollen‐induced allergic rhinitis and/or asthma. A subgroup of these patients suffered from oral allergy syndrome after eating apple. Their sera were evaluated for specific IgE against natural birch pollen and apple extract, as well as Bet v 1, Bet v 2 and Bet v 4 using Pharmacia CAP system (Pharmacia, Uppsala, Sweden).Results:  Of 372 patients 215 (57.80%) had serum‐specific IgE towards Bet v 1. A total of 166 sera (44.62%) contained serum‐specific IgE to Bet v 2, while Bet v 4 IgE reactivity was documented in 35 subjects (9.41%). Moreover, 146 (39.25%) patients were monosensitized to Bet v 1; 96 (25.81%) patients were monosensitized to Bet v 2; only four sera (1.08%) contained specific IgE towards Bet v 4. Thirty‐nine sera (11.02%) did not contain specific IgE to these individual birch pollen allergens. Of course, all 372 sera (100%) had specific IgE against natural birch pollen extract, of which 162 (43.55%) contained specific IgE to apple extract (75.35% of Bet v 1 positive sera).Conclusion:  In this study we observed that three birch pollen recombinant allergens alone, could sufficiently identify 90% of birch pollen‐sensitive patients. Therefore, for a more precise IgE profile of patients allergic to birch, further purified birch pollen allergens (i.e. Bet v 6, Bet v 7, Bet v 8) will be required.
Breastfeeding and allergic disease: a multidisciplinary review of the literature (1966–2001) on the mode of early feeding in infancy and its impact on later atopic manifestations
Authors: van Odijk J. , Kull I. , Borres M. P. , Brandtzaeg P. , Edberg U. , Hanson L. Å. , Høst A. , Kuitunen M. , Olsen S. F. , Skerfving S. , Sundell J. , Wille S. 
Published: August 2003

Background:  Strategies to prevent children from developing allergy have been elaborated on the basis of state‐of‐the‐art reviews of the scientific literature regarding pets and allergies, building dampness and health, and building ventilation and health. A similar multidisciplinary review of infant feeding mode in relation to allergy has not been published previously. Here, the objective is to review the scientific literature regarding the impact of early feeding (breast milk and/or cow's milk and/or formula) on development of atopic disease. The work was performed by a multidisciplinary group of Scandinavian researchers.Methods:  The search in the literature identified 4323 articles that contained at least one of the exposure and health effect terms. A total of 4191 articles were excluded mainly because they did not contain information on both exposure and health effects. Consequently, 132 studies have been scrutinized by this review group.Results:  Of the 132 studies selected, 56 were regarded as conclusive. Several factors contributed to the exclusions. The studies considered conclusive by the review group were categorized according to population and study design.Conclusions:  The review group concluded that breastfeeding seems to protect from the development of atopic disease. The effect appears even stronger in children with atopic heredity. If breast milk is unavailable or insufficient, extensively hydrolysed formulas are preferable to unhydrolysed or partially hydrolysed formulas in terms of the risk of some atopic manifestations.