Towards an individualised neural assessment of receptive language in children

AbstractPurposeWe aimed to develop a non-invasive neural test of language comprehension to use with non-speaking children for whom standard behavioural testing is unreliable (e.g., minimally-verbal autism). Our aims were three-fold. First, we sought to establish the sensitivity of two auditory paradigms to elicit neural responses in individual neurotypical children. Second, we aimed to validate the use of a portable and accessible electroencephalography (EEG) system, by comparing its recordings to those of a research-grade system. Third, in light of substantial inter-individual variability in individuals’ neural responses, we assessed whether multivariate decoding methods could improve sensitivity.MethodsWe tested the sensitivity of two child-friendly covert N400 paradigms. Thirty-one typically developing children listened to identical spoken words that were either strongly predicted by the preceding context or violated lexical-semantic expectations. Context was given by a cue word (Experiment 1) or sentence frame (Experiment 2) and participants either made an overall judgement on word relatedness or counted lexical-semantic violations. We measured EEG concurrently from a research-grade system, Neuroscan’s SynAmps2, and an adapted gaming system, Emotiv’s EPOC+.ResultsWe found substantial inter-individual variability in the timing and topology of N400-like effects. For both paradigms and EEG systems, traditional N400 effects at the expected sensors and time points were statistically significant in around 50% of individuals. Using multivariate analyses, detection rate increased to 88% of individuals for the research-grade system in the sentences paradigm, illustrating the robustness of this method in the face of inter-individual variations in topography.ConclusionsThere was large inter-individual variability in neural responses, suggesting inter-individual variation in either the cognitive response to lexical-semantic violations, and/or the neural substrate of that response. Around half of our neurotypical participants showed the expected N400 effect at the expected location and time point. A low-cost, accessible EEG system provided comparable data for univariate analysis but was not well suited to multivariate decoding. However, multivariate analyses with a research-grade EEG system increased our detection rate to 88% of individuals. This approach provides a strong foundation to establish a neural index of language comprehension in children with limited communication.

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Toward an Individualized Neural Assessment of Receptive Language in Children

Journal of Speech Language and Hearing Research ◽

10.1044/2020_jslhr-19-00313 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 63 (7) ◽

pp. 2361-2385 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Selene Petit ◽

Nicholas A. Badcock ◽

Tijl Grootswagers ◽

Anina N. Rich ◽

Jon Brock ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Language Comprehension ◽

Detection Rate ◽

Multivariate Analyses ◽

Interindividual Variability ◽

Receptive Language ◽

Grade System ◽

Neural Responses ◽

Time Points ◽

Lexical Semantic ◽

Research Grade

Purpose We aimed to develop a noninvasive neural test of language comprehension to use with nonspeaking children for whom standard behavioral testing is unreliable (e.g., minimally verbal autism). Our aims were threefold. First, we sought to establish the sensitivity of two auditory paradigms to elicit neural responses in individual neurotypical children. Second, we aimed to validate the use of a portable and accessible electroencephalography (EEG) system, by comparing its recordings to those of a research-grade system. Third, in light of substantial interindividual variability in individuals' neural responses, we assessed whether multivariate decoding methods could improve sensitivity. Method We tested the sensitivity of two child-friendly covert N400 paradigms. Thirty-one typically developing children listened to identical spoken words that were either strongly predicted by the preceding context or violated lexical–semantic expectations. Context was given by a cue word (Experiment 1) or sentence frame (Experiment 2), and participants either made an overall judgment on word relatedness or counted lexical–semantic violations. We measured EEG concurrently from a research-grade system, Neuroscan's SynAmps2, and an adapted gaming system, Emotiv's EPOC+. Results We found substantial interindividual variability in the timing and topology of N400-like effects. For both paradigms and EEG systems, traditional N400 effects at the expected sensors and time points were statistically significant in around 50% of individuals. Using multivariate analyses, detection rate increased to 88% of individuals for the research-grade system in the sentences paradigm, illustrating the robustness of this method in the face of interindividual variations in topography. Conclusions There was large interindividual variability in neural responses, suggesting interindividual variation in either the cognitive response to lexical–semantic violations and/or the neural substrate of that response. Around half of our neurotypical participants showed the expected N400 effect at the expected location and time points. A low-cost, accessible EEG system provided comparable data for univariate analysis but was not well suited to multivariate decoding. However, multivariate analyses with a research-grade EEG system increased our detection rate to 88% of individuals. This approach provides a strong foundation to establish a neural index of language comprehension in children with limited communication. Supplemental Material https://doi.org/10.23641/asha.12606311

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Unconstrained multivariate EEG decoding can help detect lexical-semantic processing in individual children

10.1101/797175 ◽

2019 ◽

Author(s):

Selene Petit ◽

Nicholas A. Badcock ◽

Tijl Grootswagers ◽

Alexandra Woolgar

Keyword(s):

Language Comprehension ◽

Semantic Processing ◽

Individual Variability ◽

Group Level ◽

Neural Responses ◽

Neural Signals ◽

Individual Subject ◽

Lexical Semantic ◽

Semantic Comprehension ◽

Autistic Population

AbstractIn conditions such as minimally-verbal autism, standard assessments of language comprehension are often unreliable. Given the known heterogeneity within the autistic population, it is crucial to design tests of semantic comprehension that are sensitive in individuals. Recent efforts to develop neural signals of language comprehension have focused on the N400, a robust marker of lexical-semantic violation at the group level. However, homogeneity of response in individual neurotypical children has not been established. Here, we presented 20 neurotypical children with congruent and incongruent visual animations and spoken sentences while measuring their neural response using EEG. Despite robust group-level responses, we found high inter-individual variability in response to lexico-semantic anomalies. To overcome this, we analysed our data using temporally and spatially unconstrained MVPA, supplemented by descriptive analyses to examine the timecourse, topography, and strength of the effect. Our results show that neurotypical children exhibit heterogenous responses to lexical-semantic violation, implying that any application to heterogenous disorders such as ASD will require individual-subject analyses that are robust to variation in topology and timecourse of neural responses.

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Syntactic Complexity and Frequency in the Neurocognitive Language System

Journal of Cognitive Neuroscience ◽

10.1162/jocn_a_01137 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 29 (9) ◽

pp. 1605-1620 ◽

Cited By ~ 7

Author(s):

Yun-Hsuan Yang ◽

William D. Marslen-Wilson ◽

Mirjana Bozic

Keyword(s):

Language Comprehension ◽

Multivariate Analyses ◽

Inferior Frontal Gyrus ◽

Temporal Cortex ◽

Frequency Effect ◽

Syntactic Complexity ◽

Left Inferior Frontal Gyrus ◽

Fmri Study ◽

Key Factor ◽

Frequent Items

Prominent neurobiological models of language follow the widely accepted assumption that language comprehension requires two principal mechanisms: a lexicon storing the sound-to-meaning mapping of words, primarily involving bilateral temporal regions, and a combinatorial processor for syntactically structured items, such as phrases and sentences, localized in a left-lateralized network linking left inferior frontal gyrus (LIFG) and posterior temporal areas. However, recent research showing that the processing of simple phrasal sequences may engage only bilateral temporal areas, together with the claims of distributional approaches to grammar, raise the question of whether frequent phrases are stored alongside individual words in temporal areas. In this fMRI study, we varied the frequency of words and of short and long phrases in English. If frequent phrases are indeed stored, then only less frequent items should generate selective left frontotemporal activation, because memory traces for such items would be weaker or not available in temporal cortex. Complementary univariate and multivariate analyses revealed that, overall, simple words (verbs) and long phrases engaged LIFG and temporal areas, whereas short phrases engaged bilateral temporal areas, suggesting that syntactic complexity is a key factor for LIFG activation. Although we found a robust frequency effect for words in temporal areas, no frequency effects were found for the two phrasal conditions. These findings support the conclusion that long and short phrases are analyzed, respectively, in the left frontal network and in a bilateral temporal network but are not retrieved from memory in the same way as simple words during spoken language comprehension.

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Prediction of Outcome for Transabdominal Cerclage in Women with Cervical Insufficiency

BioMed Research International ◽

10.1155/2015/985764 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 2015 ◽

pp. 1-5 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Ji Eun Song ◽

Keun Young Lee ◽

Ga Hyun Son

Keyword(s):

Risk Factors ◽

Multivariate Analysis ◽

Cohort Study ◽

Pregnancy Outcomes ◽

Retrospective Cohort ◽

Multivariate Analyses ◽

Univariate Analysis ◽

Cervical Length ◽

Cervical Insufficiency ◽

Prediction Of Outcome

We investigated pregnancy outcome following transabdominal cerclage (TAC) in women with cervical insufficiency (CI) and explored parameters for predicting pregnancy outcomes following TAC. In this retrospective cohort study, we included 161 women with TAC. We considered demographic, obstetric, and gynecologic histories, pre- and postoperative cervical length (CL), and CL at 20–24 weeks as parameters for predicting outcomes following TAC. Univariate and multivariate analyses were used to identify risk factors for predicting delivery before 34 weeks after TAC. 182 pregnancies occurred after TAC, and 290 pregnancies prior to TAC were identified. The rate of delivery <34 weeks significantly decreased following TAC (5% versus 82%,P<0.001). Univariate analysis demonstrated that a short CL (<25 mm) at 20–24 weeks and adenomyosis were associated with delivery at <34 weeks’ gestation following TAC (P=0.015andP=0.005, resp.). However, multivariate analysis demonstrated that only a short CL (<25 mm) at 20–24 weeks was a significant predictor (P=0.005). TAC is an efficacious procedure that prolongs pregnancy in women with CI. A short CL at 20–24 weeks may predict the delivery at <34 weeks’ gestation following TAC.

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Prognostic Value of Tumor-Infiltrating TIA-1+ Cytotoxic T Cells (TIA1-CTCs) and FOXP3+ Regulatory T Cells (Tregs) in Post-Transplant Lymphoproliferative Disorder (PTLD) Following Solid Organ Transplant (SOT).

Blood ◽

10.1182/blood.v110.11.54.54 ◽

2007 ◽

Vol 110 (11) ◽

pp. 54-54

Author(s):

Raymond E. Tsao ◽

Bill Richendollar ◽

Tony Jin ◽

Eric Hsi ◽

Brad Pohlman

Keyword(s):

T Cells ◽

Prognostic Value ◽

Multivariate Analyses ◽

Cytotoxic T Cells ◽

Univariate Analysis ◽

Single Agent ◽

Cleveland Clinic ◽

Organ Transplant ◽

Progression Free Survival ◽

Solid Organ

Abstract Background: PTLD is a rare, often fatal, complication of SOT. Several studies have identified clinical prognostic factors in PTLD. However, no published studies to our knowledge have yet correlated outcome with the number (#) or type of tumor infiltrating T-cells, which in other types of lymphoma may have prognostic value. We hypothesized that tumor infiltrating T-cells, including TIA1-CTCs and Tregs, would predict survival in SOT PTLD. Methods: We searched the Cleveland Clinic pathology archives for SOT patients (pts), who were diagnosed with PTLD between 1987 and 2007; reviewed the medical records and extracted clinical information and outcomes; performed immunohistochemical (IHC) studies for CD3, TIA-1, and FOXP3; and analyzed the data by Cox proportional univariate and multivariate analyses. Results: We identified 62 SOT pts (heart, 22; lung, 17; kidney 15; liver, 7; pancreas, 1), who were diagnosed with PTLD at median age of 51 years (range 7–73). The median time from SOT to PTLD was 1.8 years (range 0.2–20.9). 1st therapeutic intervention (1st TI) (usually >1) included “complete” resection (4), decreased immunosuppression (51), acyclovir or gancyclovir (32), rituximab (R) (18), “CHOP” chemotherapy (11), radiation therapy (7), and interferon (4). Response to 1st TI was CR (34) or PR (10). The median follow-up among surviving pts is 3.6 years (range 0.1–11.7). 35 (including 4 CHOP and 9 R) pts have died; only 2 CHOP but all 9 R pts died from PTLD. IHC studies in 42 evaluable cases showed the following median # (and range) of cells /10 hpf: CD3 525 (8–2451), TIA1-CTCs 304 (6–1238) and FOXP3 13 (1–338). On univariate analysis, younger age, prior rejection episodes <2, PS <2, LDH normal, extranodal sites (ENS) <2, IPI <4, 1st TI >1, 1st TI with CHOP, # of CD3 cells >550/10 hpf, and # of TIA1-CTCs >300/10 hpf were associated with an improved overall survival (OS), PTLD-specific survival (PSS), and/or progression-free survival (PFS). On multivariate analyses, only PS <2, ENS <2, and 1st TI with CHOP remained independent predictors of outcome. Among the subset of 47 pts with monomorphic B-cell (MMBC) PTLD, these same clinical factors were also independently statistically significant. Conclusions: High #s of infiltrating T cells and TIA1-CTCs are associated with a favorable outcome and may reflect a relatively intact local anti-tumor response. Tregs, which may potentially antagonize such a response, are uniformly low and do not correlate with outcome in PTLD. In this analysis, a significant minority of SOT pts treated initially with single agent R still died from PTLD while pts treated initially with CHOP (with or without R) appeared to have a better outcome, arguing for its early use - at least in a subset of pts. Future studies should attempt to identify biological factors that predict which MMBC PTLD pts might benefit from the addition of CHOP to standard R as part of 1st TI.

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Clinical Outcomes and Pharmacokinetics of Targeted Intravenous Busulfan in Children Receiving Stem Cell Transplantation for Thalassemia.

Blood ◽

10.1182/blood.v112.11.1117.1117 ◽

2008 ◽

Vol 112 (11) ◽

pp. 1117-1117 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Javi d Gaziev ◽

Luca Spitaleri ◽

Alessia Mozzi ◽

Laurent Nguyen ◽

Christian Puozzo ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Univariate Analysis ◽

Iron Concentration ◽

Conditioning Regimen ◽

Systemic Exposure ◽

Thalassemia Major ◽

Individual Variability ◽

Target Range ◽

High Dose ◽

Liver Iron ◽

Transplant Outcomes

Abstract Background: High dose busulfan (BU) in combination with cyclophosphamide (BUCY) is a preferred conditioning regimen for patients with hemoglobinopathies. Recently introduced intravenous BU (IVBU) has decreased intra-and inter-individual variability of BU systemic exposure (AUC) when compared to oral dosing. There are no data available on IVBU pharmacokinetics (PK) in a large group of patients with thalassemia to date. Purpose: to asses the IVBU PK in relation to patient and disease-related (hepatomegaly, blood transfusion, ferritin, liver iron concentration, hepatitis, liver fibrosis) variables and the relationship of BU exposure to toxicities and transplant outcomes in children and young adults given SCT for thalassemia from HLA-matched related donors. Methods: 57 patients with thalassemia major with median age of 9 years (range, 1.6–24) received IVBU (Busilvex, Pierre Fabre Medicament, France) as a part of conditioning regimen between 2006 and 2008. BU doses were based on actual body weight: <9–16= 1.2 mg/kg (n=10); 16–23= 1.1 mg/kg (n=13); 23–34= 0.95 mg/kg (n=23) and >34=0.8 mg/kg (n=11) and were given every 6 hours for 4 days. Valproic acid (Depakin) was administered before and during BU treatment as anticonvulsant prophylaxis. Most patients had liver disease and moderate to severe iron overload. Class 1 and class 2 patients (n=24) received IVBU in combination with CY200 ± thiotepa as conditioning regimen. Class 3 patients (n=33) before conditioning with IVBU/CY160 ± thiotepa were given cytoreduction/immunosuppression with hydroxyurea, azathioprine and fludarabine between −45 and −12 days pretransplant. GVHD prophylaxis consisted of CSA+ short MTX. Blood samples were drawn just before and 2h, 4h, and 6h after BU administration following the 1st, 5th, 9th, and 13th doses for PK assessment by HPLC-MS. Dose adjustment (DA) was made at the 3rd dose as needed, to target an AUC range of 900–1350 μol/L/min. The influence of patient and disease-related variables on IVBU PK was investigated by a population PK-based approach using the NONMEM program. Results: PK parameters following the 1st dose are reported in Table. Overall, 58% of patients AUC were within, 37% were below and 5% were above the target range following the 1st dose of IVBU. Dose elevations of 5.2–54% (median, 18.8%) were made in 17 patients and dose reductions of 5–34.2% (median,9.2%) in 19 patients. Following DA 79 % of patients after the 5th and 9th doses and 91 % after the 13th dose reached the target range. The inter-patient variability in IV BU clearance was moderate (CV=19%) and the intra-patient variability was low (CV=7%). Only weight or body surface area significantly explained the PK variability. Fifty three patients had sustained engraftment, 4 had primary (n=2) or secondary (n=2) graft failure. Forty eight (89%) of 54 evaluable patients were complete and 6 (11%) mixed chimeras. One patient had moderate hepatic VOD resolved with supportive care. Seventeen patients developed grade 2–4 acute GVHD. None of patients had seizure within 30 days post-transplant. Grade 1 or 2 ALT/AST increases were observed in 19,3% and 44% of patients and stomatitis/diarrhoea in 47% and 19% of patients respectively. Five patients died. There was no relationship between busulfan exposure and toxicities, engraftment time, chimerism, rejection, GVHD and survival in univariate analysis. No association was found between PK parameters and transplant outcomes in a subgroup of patients (n=19) who never needed DA. This study demonstrates that IVBU in children with thalassemia who have important organ damage due to their disease and treatment is well tolerated with no increase in organ system toxicity. IVBU exposure did not predict rejection, liver VOD or death in patients with thalassemia who received HLA-matched related SCT. AUC, μol/min Css, ng/ml Cmax, ng/ml Cmin, ng/ml Cl, ml/min/kg Vd, L T ½, h Mean ± sd 982± 203 672± 139 1071± 207 239± 72 4.23± 0.95 16.8±6.8 1.8±0.2 Range 630–1621 431–1109 735–1614 101–450 2.31–6.43 7.3–43.6 1.2–2.3

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Role of progesterone receptor status (PR) as predictive factor of pathological complete response (pCR) to neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NACT) in breast cancer (BC) patients (pts)

Journal of Clinical Oncology ◽

10.1200/jco.2009.27.15_suppl.637 ◽

2009 ◽

Vol 27 (15_suppl) ◽

pp. 637-637

Author(s):

J. M. Perez Garcia ◽

C. Saura ◽

E. Muñoz ◽

G. Sanchez-Olle ◽

P. Gomez ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Predictive Factor ◽

Multivariate Analyses ◽

Histological Grade ◽

Statistical Significance ◽

Univariate Analysis ◽

Complete Response ◽

Her 2 ◽

Few Data

637 Background: While estrogen receptor (ER) negativity has been consistently associated to higher pCR rates after NACT in BC, few data regarding the association of PR with pCR has been reported. PR positivity has been related to taxol resistance in in vitro chemosensitivity assays. Our aim was to investigate the putative role of PR in the prediction of pCR in a cohort of BC pts receiving NACT. Methods: Medical reports of all pts receiving NACT and breast surgery between 2004 and 2006 in our institution were reviewed. Baseline clinical and histological features, along with type of preoperative therapy were examined as variables for association with pCR (no invasive tumor in breast and axilla) using univariate and multivariate analyses. Results: 128 pts were included. 73.4% received anthracycline and taxanes (A&Tx) based CT and 9.4% also received trastuzumab (T). PR+ (≥ 10%) was significantly associated with low histological grade (HG), low Ki67 (<10%), HER-2- (Herceptest 0,1,or 2 with FISH-) and ER+ (≥10%). Overall pCR rate was 18.8%. No PR+ patient achieved pCR. In univariate analysis, high HG, ER-, PR-, HER-2-, high Ki67, T therapy, and number of CT cycles were significantly associated with pCR. In multivariate analysis only HER-2 and PR status were statistically significant. Similarly, PR and HER-2 status were independently related to pCR in the subgroup of pts receiving A&Tx (N = 94, 20.2%pCR). In the HER-2- subgroup (n = 89, 9%pCR) only ER independently predicted pCR, while in the HER-2+ subgroup (n = 33, 42.4%pCR, 57.1%pCR with T), both PR- and T therapy were the only predictive factors for pCR in the univariate and multivariate analyses. When the 24 HER-2+ pts treated with A&Tx (23 taxol/1 taxotere) ± T were separately analyzed, only PR retained statistical significance in the multivariate model. Conclusions: In our cohort of BC pts treated with NACT, PR status independently predicts pCR in the whole population as well as in the A&Tx-treated and in the HER-2+ subgroups. In the HER-2+ pts receiving A&Tx ± T PR negativity was the only factor associated with pCR. PR status merits further investigation as a predictive factor for pCR to NACT, in particular in HER-2+ population. No significant financial relationships to disclose.

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Bleeding propensity of cavernous malformations: impact of tight junction alterations on the occurrence of overt hematoma

Journal of Neurosurgery ◽

10.3171/2014.6.jns132775 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 121 (3) ◽

pp. 613-620 ◽

Cited By ~ 11

Author(s):

Dejan Jakimovski ◽

Hannah Schneider ◽

Karl Frei ◽

Lieven N. Kennes ◽

Helmut Bertalanffy

Keyword(s):

Protein Expression ◽

Tight Junction ◽

Multivariate Analyses ◽

Univariate Analysis ◽

Cerebral Cavernous Malformations ◽

Developmental Venous Anomaly ◽

Cavernous Malformations ◽

Perilesional Edema ◽

Significant Difference ◽

Endothelial Tight Junction

Object Endothelial tight junction (TJ) expression is mostly absent in cerebral cavernous malformations (CMs), which causes increased perilesional erythrocyte and fluid oozing. However, in a subset of CM lesions, foci of preserved TJ staining are observed along endothelial cell contacts. The clinical relevance of this finding is unclear. This study investigates the relevance of the focal TJ protein expression and its association with CM bleeding propensity. Methods Immunohistochemical staining for the TJ proteins claudin-5, occludin, and ZO-1 was performed on 32 CM specimens that were resected during 2008–2010. The patients were allocated to 2 groups according to TJ protein expression, and the clinical and radiological parameters of aggressiveness were analyzed and compared. Results Complete absence of TJ expression was identified in 20 specimens, and focal TJ protein expression in 12. CMs without TJ immunoreactivity were significantly larger (p = 0.022) and had a significantly greater propensity for development of frank hematomas (p = 0.028) and perilesional edema (p = 0.013). Symptom severity, multiplicity, developmental venous anomaly (DVA) presence, and CM location did not show a significant difference depending on TJ expression. Conclusions In a univariate analysis the authors observed significantly less propensity for frank hematomas and perilesional edema as well as smaller size in CM lesions with focal TJ expression compared with CMs without TJ expression. The observed difference in TJ protein expression might be the reason for differences in bleeding propensity of the CM lesions. Although this finding cannot be used in predictive manner at this time, it is a basis for further multivariate analyses of possible CM biological predictors.

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Diagnostic efficacy and safety of transperineal prostate targeted and systematic biopsy: The preliminary experience of first 100 cases

Archivio Italiano di Urologia e Andrologia ◽

10.4081/aiua.2021.2.127 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 93 (2) ◽

pp. 127-131

Author(s):

Shahbaz Mehmood ◽

Khalid Ibraheem Alothman ◽

Abdulaziz Alwehaibi ◽

Samia Mohamed Alhashim

Keyword(s):

Prostate Biopsy ◽

Detection Rate ◽

Univariate Analysis ◽

Specific Antigen ◽

Efficacy And Safety ◽

Diagnostic Efficacy ◽

Psa Density ◽

Transperineal Prostate Biopsy ◽

Clinically Significant ◽

A Prospective Study

Background: Post-biopsy urosepsis is a major concern for patient morbidity and cost. Trasperineal biopsy is reported to have less complications and higher detection rate of clinically significant prostate cancer (csPCa).Objectives: To determine the diagnostic efficacy and safety of transperineal prostate biopsy in patients with elevated prostatic specific antigen (PSA). Material and methods: A prospective study included men with elevated PSA > 3 ng/ml and previous negative biopsy from January 2018 to April 2019. All patients had multiparametric magnetic resonance imaging (mpMRI) and suspicious lesions reported as Prostate Imaging Reporting and Data System (PIRADS) score version 2. Average twelve systematic and two targeted cores were biopsied under general anaesthesia. Patients received single dose of antibiotic prebiopsy. Results: 100 Consecutive patients having median age 64.0 years and median PSA of 6.1ng/ml were included for mpMRI-US fusion transperineal biopsies. Cancer detection rate was 45% (targeted 38% and systematic 22%) and csPCa were detected in 75.55% (targeted 86.84% and systematic 59.09%). MRI-US fusion targeted biopsies detected 63.88% csPCa in PIRADS 5, 33.33% in PIRADS 4 and 5.88% in PIRADS 3 lesions. PSA > 10 (p = 0.012), PSA density > 0.15 (p = 0.0002), and PIRADS 5 (0.0001) were significantly associated with PCa. Factors like Age (0.0001), initial PSA (0.022) and PSA density (0.006) were significant on univariate analysis while age (0.0001) was significant on multivariate analysis. There was no case of urinary tract infection. Conclusions: Transperineal prostate biopsy is safe and effective in diagnosing csPCa. There is no risk of sepsis and major complications.

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The semantics of conversion nouns and -ing nominalizations: A quantitative and theoretical perspective

Journal of Linguistics ◽

10.1017/s0022226721000311 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 1-37

Author(s):

ROCHELLE LIEBER ◽

INGO PLAG

Keyword(s):

Fundamental Problem ◽

Theoretical Perspective ◽

Univariate Analysis ◽

Conditional Inference ◽

Morphological Form ◽

Semantic Framework ◽

Lexical Semantic ◽

Conditional Inference Trees ◽

Form Type ◽

The Relationship

This paper addresses a fundamental problem of derivational morphology: which meanings are possible for the words of a given morphological category, which forms can be chosen to express a given meaning, and what is the role of the base in these mappings of form and meaning? In a broad empirical study we examine the extent to which two types of nominalizations in English – conversion nouns and -ing nominalizations – can express either eventive or referential readings, can be quantified as either count or mass, and can be based on verbs of particular aspectual classes (state, activity, accomplishment, achievement, semelfactive). Past literature (for example, Grimshaw 1990 Brinton 1995, 1998 Borer 2013) has suggested an association between conversion nominalization, count quantification, and referential reading on the one hand, and between -ing nominalization, mass quantification and eventive reading on the other. Using a subset of the data reported in Andreou & Lieber (2020), we give statistical evidence that the relationship between morphological form, type of quantification, and aspectual class of base verb is neither categorical, as the literature suggests, nor completely free, but rather is probabilistic. We provide both a univariate analysis and a multivariate analysis (using conditional inference trees) that show that the relationship among the variables of morphological form, eventivity, quantification and aspectual class of base is complex. Tendencies sometimes go in the direction suggested by past literature (e.g. -ing forms tend to be eventive), but sometimes contradict past predictions (conversion also tends to be eventive). We also document that an important role is played by the specific verb underlying the nominalization rather than the aspectual class of verb. Finally, we consider what the pattern of polysemy that we uncover suggests with respect to theoretical modeling, looking at syntactic models (Distributed Morphology), lexical semantic models (the Lexical Semantic Framework), Analogical Models, and Distributional Semantics.

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