Computer-based spelling remediation for dyslexic children

Abstract The SelfSpell programs provide a multi-media environment for dyslexic children which uses synthesised speech to augment the written text. In earlier research we established that by encouraging users to enter a rule to help them remember how to spell each word, SelfSpell was very effective in improving spelling ability. The evaluation study reported here confirmed the efficacy of the rule-based approach using a group of 11-year-old dyslexic children with severe impairments in spelling. Of particular theoretical significance, however, was the finding that use of a mastery learning technique for learning spellings was just as effective as the rule-based approach. These findings are interpreted in the light of Frith's influential framework for the development of reading and spelling ability. It is suggested that the multimedia presentation approach may provide a uniquely effective method for helping dyslexic children to acquire the 'alphabetic' stage of linguistic processing.     

Inhibition of in vivo tumorigenicity and invasiveness of a human glioblastoma cell line transfected with antisense uPAR vectors

Our previous studies showed that glioblastomas express increased urokinase-type plasminogen activator receptors (uPARs) in comparison to low-grade gliomas (Yamamoto et al., Cancer Res., 54, 5016-5020, 1994). To explore whether downregulation of uPAR inhibits tumor formation and invasiveness, a human glioblastoma cell line was transfected with a cDNA construct corresponding to 300 bp of the human uPAR's 5' end in an antisense orientation, resulting in a reduced number of uPA receptors. Co-culture studies with tumor spheroids and fetal rat brain aggregates showed that antisense SNB19-AS1 cells expressing reduced uPAR failed to invade fetal rat brain aggregates. Intracerebral injection of SNB19-AS1 stable transfectants failed to form tumors and were negative for uPAR expression in nude mice. Thus uPAR appears in this model to be essential for tumorigenicity and invasion of glioblastomas in vivo.     

Effects of daily events on mood states in major depressive disorder.

Major depressive disorder (MDD) is characterized by high negative affect (NA) and low positive affect (PA), but little is known about emotional reactivity in daily life. The authors used experience sampling methodology to investigate changes in NA and PA following minor daily events in MDD compared with healthy participants. Contrary to expectation, MDD participants did not report more frequent negative events, although they did report fewer positive events. Multilevel regression showed that both NA and PA responses to negative events were blunted in the MDD group, whereas responses to positive events were enhanced. NA responses to negative events persisted longer in MDD participants. Depressed participants with a positive family history or longer current episodes showed relatively greater NA responses to negative events. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Continuous infusional topotecan in advanced breast and non-small-cell lung cancer: no evidence of increased efficacy

Two open, phase II studies were performed to evaluate the activity and toxicity of infusional topotecan in patients with advanced non-small-cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC) and advanced breast cancer who had not received previous chemotherapy for metastatic disease. Twenty-five patients with an ECOG performance score < 2 were treated with infusional topotecan administered as a daily, continuous intravenous infusion starting at 0.6 mg m(-2) day(-1) (NSCLC) and 0.5 mg m(-2) day(-1) (breast cancer) for 21 days every 4 weeks. Three patients achieved a partial response as defined by WHO criteria: one with NSCLC (8%; 95% CI 0-39%) and two with advanced breast cancer (15%; 95% CI 2-45%). The major toxicities were neutropenia and thrombocytopenia, with one episode of neutropenic sepsis. These data suggest that topotecan delivered as a continuous intravenous infusion over 21 days as single-agent therapy does not appear to offer a clinical advantage over conventional 5-day schedules against advanced NSCLC and advanced breast cancer.     

Minimum norm target estimation algorithm for phased array radar

An algorithm is proposed that uses a broadside phased array to profile any number of arbitrary targets as a function of bearing. The technique places no restriction on either the number or location of the array elements.<>     

Ovarian metastases from primary gastrointestinal malignancies: the Royal Marsden Hospital experience and implications for adjuvant treatment

We investigated the pattern and frequency of ovarian metastases in patients with primary gastrointestinal malignancies and evaluated the response to surgery, chemotherapy and in three cases radiotherapy. The literature reports that this group of patients have a poor prognosis, but no report has specifically addressed the response to chemotherapy. Using a database which is generated prospectively, we analysed 51 patients with primary gastrointestinal malignancies and ovarian metastases. All patients received chemotherapy but only 36 were evaluable for response; five had adjuvant treatment and ten had non-measurable disease. Seventeen patients had surgical oophorectomy and three patients received radiotherapy. The overall response rate to chemotherapy was 22%; eight partial responses and no complete responses. When stratified according to site of response, 11 (31%) patients had a partial response at sites of extraovarian metastases and only five (14%) had a partial response in the ovaries. Seven patients with primary colorectal cancer had a differential response in favour of extraovarian sites. The median survival was 9 months for the 51 patients. Three premenopausal women with resected gastric carcinoma received adjuvant chemotherapy and relapsed only in the ovaries. In primary colorectal tumours the response of ovarian metastases to chemotherapy is less than that for other sites. Therefore, the ovary may be a sanctuary site for metastases which has important implications for adjuvant chemotherapy in women. These women could be followed up regularly by transvaginal ultrasonography to detect such metastases at an early stage when they would be amenable to surgical resection. Surgery should be considered for selected patients who develop metachronous metastases, as patients may be rendered disease free for several months.     

Embodied Energy and Gas Emissions of Retaining Wall Structures

The embodied energy (EE) and gas emissions of four design alternatives for an embankment retaining wall system are analyzed for a hypothetical highway construction project. The airborne emissions considered are carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), nitrous oxide (N2O), sulphur oxides (SOX), and nitrogen oxides (NOX). The process stages considered in this study are the initial materials production, transportation of construction machineries and materials, machinery operation during installation, and machinery depreciations. The objectives are (1)?to determine whether there are statistically significant differences among the structural alternatives; (2)?to understand the relative proportions of impacts for the process stages within each design; (3)?to contextualize the impacts to other aspects in life by comparing the computed EE values to household energy consumption and car emission values; and (4)?to examine the validity of the adopted EE as an environmental impact indicator through comparison with the amount of gas emissions. For the project considered in this study, the calculated results indicate that propped steel sheet pile wall and minipile wall systems have less embodied energy and gas emissions than cantilever steel tubular wall and secant concrete pile wall systems. The difference in CO2 emission for the retaining wall of 100?m length between the most and least environmentally preferable wall design is equivalent to an average 2.0?L family car being driven for 6.2?million miles (or 62 cars with a mileage of 10,000??miles/year for 10?years). The impacts in construction are generally notable and careful consideration and optimization of designs will reduce such impacts. The use of recycled steel or steel pile as reinforcement bar is effective in reducing the environmental impact. The embodied energy value of a given design is correlated to the amount of gas emissions.     

A technique for the evaluation of AFFF sealing characteristics

The authors describe an apparatus that permits the study and evaluation of the performance of aqueous film forming liquids on any volatile liquid that has an infrared absorption spectrum in the gas phase.     

Breast cancer metastasis-associated genes: prognostic significance and therapeutic implications

The metastatic spread of breast cancer accounts for most of its morbidity and mortality; therefore, identifying the genes and gene products involved in breast cancer metastasis formation should be useful for better diagnosis, prognosis, treatment, and follow-up of patients with metastatic breast cancer. Unfortunately, little is known about these genes or the functions of their encoded products. Abnormalities in at least three broad gene categories (oncogenes, regulatory genes or effector genes, and tumor-suppressor genes) have been shown to contribute to the origin and/or progression of breast neoplasias. Such abnormalities are mainly manifested by quantitative changes in gene expression, resulting in loss of normal cellular regulation and enhanced cellular diversification. In addition, qualitative genetic alterations, such as gene amplifications and mutations, may also be involved in breast cancer progression. The role(s) of different breast cancer metastasis-associated genes, if known, in the complex multistep process of invasion and metastasis is discussed along with studies that have identified new molecular probe(s) that may be useful in predicting metastasis formation and outcome in breast cancer and for selecting candidates for adjuvant therapy. Understanding the genetic and thus molecular basis of metastasis formation should also provide important insights on the development of new therapeutic approaches for treatment of metastatic breast cancers based on gene targeting and repair of genetic defects that control metastatic properties.