Orthographic depth and developmental dyslexia: a meta-analytic study

AbstractCross-cultural studies have suggested that reading deficits in developmental dyslexia (DD) can be moderated by orthographic depth. To further explore this issue and assess the moderating role of orthographic depth in the developmental cognitive trajectories of dyslexic and typical readers, we systematically reviewed 113 studies on DD that were published from 2013 to 2018 and selected 79 in which participants received an official DD diagnosis. Each study was classified according to orthographic depth (deep vs. shallow) and participant age (children vs. adults). We assessed the difference between DD and control groups’ performance in reading tasks and in a wide range of cognitive domains associated with reading (phonological awareness (PA), rapid automatized naming (RAN), short-term working memory (WM), and nonverbal reasoning), including age and orthographies as moderators. We found an age-by-orthography interaction effect in word reading accuracy and a significant effect of age in pseudoword reading accuracy, but we found no effect of age and orthographic depth on the fluency parameters. These results suggest that reading speed is a reliable index for discriminating between DD and control groups across European orthographies from childhood to adulthood. A similar pattern of results emerged for PA, RAN, and short-term/WM. Our findings are discussed in relation to their impact on clinical practice while considering the orthographic depth and developmental level.

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Pilot evaluation of a partner-supported online reading intervention for Grade 3–6 children

Child Language Teaching and Therapy ◽

10.1177/0265659021989400 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 026565902198940

Author(s):

Jessica Dean ◽

Michelle Pascoe ◽

Jane le Roux

Keyword(s):

Prospective Study ◽

Retrospective Analysis ◽

Reading Intervention ◽

Reading Difficulties ◽

Reading Rate ◽

Control Groups ◽

Reading Accuracy ◽

Significant Difference ◽

Reading Partners ◽

And Control

Information and communication technology (ICT)-based reading interventions have potential to help children with reading difficulties, especially those in resource-constrained environments who otherwise might not have access to support. This pilot study aimed to describe the impact of an online, partner-supported reading intervention designed for South African children with reading difficulties. Objectives were to qualitatively describe participants’ experience of the intervention, and quantitatively evaluate changes in reading accuracy, rate, comprehension and receptive vocabulary after intervention. Two studies were conducted: (1) A retrospective analysis using data from intervention in mainstream Cape Town schools with peers as reading partners; (2) A prospective study in a Cape Town school with special needs educational provision where speech-language therapists served as reading partners. Both studies used matched participant, pre/post intervention designs. A total of 40 children in grades 3 to 6 participated. In each study the intervention group ( n = 20) received intervention 3 times per week (30 minutes per session) for 10 weeks, while the control group ( n = 20) continued with regular school activities. Participants enjoyed the ICT-based intervention, valued the role of the reading partners, believed they had made literacy gains, and reported positive attitudinal and behavioural changes related to reading. Retrospective analysis revealed no statistically significant differences between intervention and control groups. The prospective study found a statistically significant difference between the intervention and control groups’ gains on one measure of reading rate, but no significant difference in reading accuracy, vocabulary or reading comprehension gains. The study provides a preliminary description of one ICT-based reading intervention. Although an intervention effect could not be demonstrated, the changes noted in reading rate together with qualitative findings suggest a need for further research.

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Reading comprehension on the last grades of cicles I and II of elementary school

CoDAS ◽

10.1590/2317-1782/201420130069 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 26 (4) ◽

pp. 276-285

Author(s):

Eliane Mi Chang ◽

Clara Regina Brandão de Avila

Keyword(s):

Working Memory ◽

Elementary School ◽

Reading Comprehension ◽

Research Groups ◽

Control Groups ◽

Short Term ◽

Good Readers ◽

Spearman Coefficient ◽

Positive Correlations ◽

And Control

PURPOSE: To characterize students' performance in Cycle I and II of the Elementary School (EF), in decoding, reading comprehension and underlying skills of reading, and investigate correlations between these variables, in the absence and presence of reading comprehension deficits, identified by their teachers.METHODS: 125 students from ES were grouped according to Cycle and presence or absence of reading comprehension impairments. Two Control (good readers from both Cycles) and two Research groups (poor readers from both Cycles) were established. Assessment involved: fluency and reading comprehension; oral comprehension; working and short-term phonological memory; grammar closure. It was compared (Mann-Whitney test): in intragroup study, both Control and Research groups; in intergroup study, Control and Research from different cycles, and Control I and Research II. Spearman coefficient investigated correlations.RESULTS: Analyzing reading comprehension, we observed better performance of Control Groups in all tasks in comparison to the respective Research Groups, and better performance of Control II in comparison to Control I. Research Groups had similar results in most tests. Positive correlations have been observed between most of the variables.CONCLUSION: Students without reading comprehension impairments showed better performance in reading in both Cycles. Working memory and oral comprehension did not differentiate students with and without complaints in Cycle I, differently from what was observed in Cycle II. Research II presented similar or better performance than Research I and similar or worse performance than Control I. Underlying skills showed different profiles of correlation with reading comprehension capacity, according to the group.

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Learning Disability Research: How Far Have We Progressed?

Learning Disability Quarterly ◽

10.2307/1510738 ◽

1981 ◽

Vol 4 (4) ◽

pp. 372-381 ◽

Cited By ~ 8

Author(s):

Jean R. Harber

Keyword(s):

Learning Disabilities ◽

Learning Disability ◽

Learning Disabled ◽

Control Groups ◽

Wide Range ◽

Experimental Learning ◽

Quasi Experimental ◽

And Control ◽

Disability Research

This article presents an analysis of the 229 research reports which have appeared in two major learning disability journals since 1978. Findings indicate that (1) the vast majority of these studies are quasi-experimental in nature; (2) control of extraneous variables (e.g., intelligence) was not appropriately demonstrated in many studies; (3) comparability between experimental and control groups was not adequately established in numerous reports; (4) fewer than half of the studies utilized subjects classified as learning disabled; (5) in more than two-fifths of the studies involving learning disabled subjects, the criteria for such classification were not provided; (6) studies which did operationally define learning disabilities utilized a wide range of criteria. The ethical limitations of conducting experimental learning disability research are discussed and suggestions for enhancing such research are offered. Finally, the importance of focusing research efforts on homogeneous populations (e.g., the severely learning disabled) is illustrated.

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High physiological levels of epinephrine do not enhance muscle glycogenolysis during tetanic stimulation

Journal of Applied Physiology ◽

10.1152/jappl.1994.77.2.956 ◽

1994 ◽

Vol 77 (2) ◽

pp. 956-962 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

A. Chesley ◽

D. J. Dyck ◽

L. L. Spriet

Keyword(s):

Tetanic Stimulation ◽

Control Groups ◽

Perfusion Medium ◽

Short Term ◽

Muscle Lactate ◽

Rest Perfusion ◽

Train Duration ◽

Fast Twitch ◽

And Control ◽

White Gastrocnemius

This study examined whether high physiological concentrations of epinephrine (EPI) would enhance muscle glycogenolysis during intense muscular contractions. Muscles of the rat hindlimb were perfused for 12 min at rest and 45 s of tetanic stimulation (1.0-Hz train rate, 100-ms train duration at 80 Hz) without EPI (control) or with 15 or 35 nM EPI. In the EPI groups the muscles were perfused with EPI for the last 2 min of rest perfusion and throughout stimulation. Glycogenolysis in the white gastrocnemius, red gastrocnemius, plantaris, and soleus muscles during stimulation was unaffected by the presence of EPI in the perfusion medium. In addition, muscle lactate and hindlimb lactate efflux were similar in EPI and control groups. It is concluded that EPI is not important for enhancing glycogenolysis in rat muscles composed predominantly of fast-twitch fibers during intense short-term tetanic stimulation.

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Subhypnotic dose of intravenous propofol stimulates appetite in cats with stress-induced anorexia

Veterinary Record ◽

10.1136/vr.105740 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 187 (8) ◽

pp. e58-e58

Author(s):

Victry Fredley ◽

Rachael Kreisler ◽

Kirk Miller

Keyword(s):

Treatment Group ◽

Control Groups ◽

Short Term ◽

Onset Of Action ◽

Adverse Side Effects ◽

Delayed Onset ◽

Wilcoxon Rank Sum Test ◽

And Control ◽

Median Amount ◽

Food Consumed

BackgroundStress-induced anorexia is common in cats. While medications are available to stimulate appetite, many require oral administration, have delayed onset-of-action or cause adverse side effects. The aim of this study was to determine whether cats diagnosed with stress-induced anorexia given a subhypnotic dose of intravenous propofol would have increased short-term appetite as compared to those given placebo.MethodsAnorexic shelter cats received either 1 mg/kg propofol or 1 mL saline placebo and then presented with various commercial cat foods. Grams of food consumed was measured at 15 and 30 min, and total grams compared between treatment and control groups using the Wilcoxon rank-sum test. 12 cats were enrolled, with six cats randomly assigned to each group.ResultsThe median amount consumed by the treatment group was 31 g (range: 0–72), with the median for the four cats (67 per cent) who consumed food being 45 g (range: 26–72), or 49 per cent of their daily maintenance calorie requirement. The median amount consumed by control cats was 0 g (range: 0–5), with one cat consuming food. Total grams consumed was different between treatment and control groups (P=0.05).ConclusionA subhypnotic dose of intravenous propofol increased appetite in cats with stress-induced anorexia for a 30 min period.

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Hypothalamus-Related Resting Brain Network Underlying Short-Term Acupuncture Treatment in Primary Hypertension

Evidence-based Complementary and Alternative Medicine ◽

10.1155/2013/808971 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 2013 ◽

pp. 1-9 ◽

Cited By ~ 9

Author(s):

Hongyan Chen ◽

Jianping Dai ◽

Xiaozhe Zhang ◽

Kai Wang ◽

Shuhua Huang ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Blood Pressure ◽

Cardiovascular System ◽

Acupuncture Treatment ◽

Bodily Pain ◽

Brain Network ◽

Control Group ◽

Control Groups ◽

Short Term ◽

Sf 36 ◽

And Control

The present study attempted to explore modulated hypothalamus-seeded resting brain network underlying the cardiovascular system in primary hypertensive patients after short-term acupuncture treatment. Thirty right-handed patients (14 male) were divided randomly into acupuncture and control groups. The acupuncture group received a continuous five-day acupuncture treatment and undertook three resting-state fMRI scans and 24-hour ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM) as well as SF-36 questionnaires before, after, and one month after acupuncture treatment. The control group undertook fMRI scans and 24-hour ABPM. For verum acupuncture, average blood pressure (BP) and heart rate (HR) decreased after treatment but showed no statistical differences. There were no significant differences in BP and HR between the acupuncture and control groups. Notably, SF-36 indicated that bodily pain (P= 0.005) decreased and vitality (P= 0.036) increased after acupuncture compared to the baseline. The hypothalamus-related brain network showed increased functional connectivity with the medulla, brainstem, cerebellum, limbic system, thalamus, and frontal lobes. In conclusion, short-term acupuncture did not decrease BP significantly but appeared to improve body pain and vitality. Acupuncture may regulate the cardiovascular system through a complicated brain network from the cortical level, the hypothalamus, and the brainstem.

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Analysis of Volatile Compounds in Soju, a Korean Distilled Spirit, by SPME-Arrow-GC/MS

Foods ◽

10.3390/foods9101422 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 9 (10) ◽

pp. 1422

Author(s):

Jiyoon Cha ◽

Young-Wook Chin ◽

Jun-Young Lee ◽

Tae-Wan Kim ◽

Hae Won Jang

Keyword(s):

Volatile Compounds ◽

Solid Phase ◽

Isoamyl Alcohol ◽

Isoamyl Acetate ◽

Gas Chromatography Mass Spectrometry ◽

Volatile Components ◽

Control Groups ◽

Study Results ◽

Wide Range ◽

And Control

The SPME Arrow technology—a novel solid phase micro-extraction technique—was used to analyze Soju, a traditional Korean distilled liquor, in barrels made of Quercus spp. The volatile compounds detected when the barrels were toasted were analyzed. Five types of sorbents—carbon wide range/polydimethylsiloxane, divinylbenzene/carbon wide range/polydimethylsiloxane, divinylbenzene/polydimethylsiloxane, polydimethylsiloxane, and polyacrylate—were used for this investigation. Fifty-four volatile compounds were detected in Soju using gas chromatography/mass spectrometry. A high extraction efficiency was obtained using carbon wide range/polydimethylsiloxane. Nineteen samples were analyzed using barrels made of six species of carbonated oak (Q. aliena, Q. variabilis, Q. dentate, Q. acutissima, Q. mongolica, and Q. serrata) and control groups in three ways: noncharring, medium charring, and heavy charring. Ethanol, 1-propanol, isoamyl acetate, and isoamyl alcohol can be used as indicator volatile components for Soju and other such traditional Korean distilled liquors. We believe our study results can be used to design better analysis methods for Soju and other distilled liquors.

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Effects of FGF-2 and EGF removal on the differentiationof mouse neural precursor cells

Anais da Academia Brasileira de Ciências ◽

10.1590/s0001-37652009000300009 ◽

2009 ◽

Vol 81 (3) ◽

pp. 443-452 ◽

Cited By ~ 27

Author(s):

Telma T. Schwindt ◽

Fabiana L. Motta ◽

Barnabé Gabriela F. ◽

Massant Cristina G. ◽

Alessander O. Guimarães ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Growth Factors ◽

Precursor Cells ◽

Neural Precursor Cells ◽

Neural Precursor ◽

Control Groups ◽

Endogenous Production ◽

Wide Range ◽

And Control ◽

The Ideal

Cell therapy for neurological disorders has advanced, and neural precursor cells (NPC) may become the ideal candidates for neural transplantation in a wide range of diseases. However, additional work has to be done to determine either the ideal culture environment for NPC expansion in vitro, without altering their plasticity, or the FGF-2 and EGF mechanisms of cell signaling in neurospheres growth, survival and differentiation. In this work we evaluated mouse neurospheres cultured with and without FGF-2 and EGF containing medium and showed that those growth factors are responsible for NPC proliferation. It is also demonstrated that endogenous production of growth factors shifts from FGF-2 to IGF-1/PDGFb upon EGF and FGF-2 withdrawal. Mouse NPC cultured in suspension showed different patterns of neuronal localization (core versus shell) for both EGF and FGF-2 withdrawal and control groups. Taken together, these results show that EGF and FGF-2 removal play an important role in NPC differentiation and may contribute to a better understanding of mechanisms of NPC differentiation. Our findings suggest that depriving NPC of growth factors prior to grafting might enhance their chance to effectively integrate into the host.

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Cue-Based Feeding and Short-Term Health Outcomes of Premature Infants in Newborn Intensive Care Units(NICU) : A None-Randomized Trial

10.21203/rs.3.rs-509074/v1 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

samane Sefatbaqa ◽

Yadollah Zahedpasha ◽

Marzieh Hasanpour ◽

Karimollah Hajian Tilaki ◽

Mohammad Reza Zarkesh ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Intensive Care ◽

Health Outcomes ◽

Preterm Infants ◽

Control Group ◽

Phase Lag ◽

Control Groups ◽

Short Term ◽

The Mean ◽

Newborn Intensive Care ◽

And Control

Abstract Background: Feedings based on behavioral cues is a method relying on infants’ behavioral expressions of readiness to feed. The objective of this interventional study was to determine the effect of cue-based feeding on the short-term health outcomes of preterm infants.Methods: This quasi-experimental study utilized a historical or phase lag design. It involved 60 preterm infants admitted to an Iranian referral hospital’s Level III-Newborn Intensive Care Unit (NICU) from June 2018 until January 2019. The experimental group (n=30) received a three-step intervention of offering behavioral-cue-based oral (BCBO) feedings: Step 1 – One BCBO feeding every twelve hours for three days; Step 2 - Two BCBO feedings every 12 hours for three days; and Step 3 – All feedings as BCBO feedings for three days. The control group received standard care feedings. Group difference data were analyzed with SPSS version 16 using descriptive and inferential statistics.Results: The infants’ mean weight at time of discharge for the intervention and control groups were 1492.79 ± 21.65 gr and 1395.71 ± 17.61 gr (P = .003) respectively. The mean durations of achieving full oral feedings in the intervention and control groups were 17 ± 6 and 20 ± 11 days, respectively (P = .19). The mean frequencies of hypoxia were 1 ± 1.54 and 5 ± 9.31 respectively (P = .03) and of gavage feedings 725 ± 584 and 1846 ± 2097 respectively (P = .009). No apnea events were reported for the intervention group; the frequency of apnea in the control group was 1 ± 2.11 (P = .16).Conclusion: The findings indicate that cue-based feeding is beneficial for preterm infants. Therefore, it is recommended that nurses employ cue-based feeding in the NICU.Trial Registration: IRCT20170828035962N2. Registered, 27 /05/ 2018- Prospectively registered, https://www.irct.ir/trial/27024.

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Safety and efficacy study: Short-term application of radiofrequency ablation and stereotactic body radiotherapy for Barcelona Clinical Liver Cancer stage 0–B1 hepatocellular carcinoma

PLoS ONE ◽

10.1371/journal.pone.0245076 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 16 (1) ◽

pp. e0245076

Author(s):

Feiqian Wang ◽

Kazushi Numata ◽

Atsuya Takeda ◽

Katsuaki Ogushi ◽

Hiroyuki Fukuda ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Hepatocellular Carcinoma ◽

Radiofrequency Ablation ◽

Side Effects ◽

Liver Cancer ◽

Stereotactic Body Radiotherapy ◽

Control Group ◽

Control Groups ◽

Short Term ◽

Safety And Efficacy ◽

And Control

Aim To evaluate the safety and efficacy of the administration of radiofrequency ablation (RFA) and stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) in the short term to the same patients in Barcelona Clinical Liver Cancer (BCLC) stages 0–B1. Methods From April 2014 to June 2019, we retrospectively reviewed BCLC stage 0–B1 patients with fresh hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) lesions that were repeatedly treated by RFA (control group, n = 72), and by RFA and subsequent SBRT (case group, n = 26). Propensity score matching (PSM) was performed to reduce the selection bias between two groups. Recurrence, survival, Child–Pugh scores and short-term side effects (fever, bleeding, skin change, abdominal pain and fatigue) were recorded and analyzed. Results After PSM, 21 patients remained in each group. Seventeen and 20 patients in the case and control groups experienced recurrence. For these patients, the median times to progression and follow-up were 10.7 and 35.8 months, respectively. After PSM, the 1-year progression-free survival rate in case and control groups were 66.7% and 52.4%, respectively (P = 0.313). The inter-group overall survival (OS) was comparable (3 and 5-year OS rates in case groups were 87.3% and 74.8%, while rates in control groups were 73.7% and 46.3%, respectively; P = 0.090). The short-term side effects were mild, and the incidence showed no inter-group difference. The 1-year rates of the Child–Pugh score deterioration of ≥2 in case and control groups were 23.8% and 33.3% (P > 0.05), respectively. Conclusion The short-term administration of RFA and SBRT to the same BCLC stage 0–B1 patients may be feasible and effective because of their good prognosis and safety.

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