Development and Evaluation of a Computer-Animated Tutor for Vocabulary and Language Learning in Children with Autism

Using our theoretical framework of multimodal processing, we developed and evaluated a computer-animated tutor, Baldi, to teach vocabulary and grammar for children with autism. Baldi was implemented in a Language Wizard/Player, which allows easy creation and presentation of a language lesson involving the association of pictures and spoken words. The lesson plan includes both the identification of pictures and the production of spoken words. In Experiment 1, eight children were given initial assessment tests, tutorials, and reassessment tests 30 days following mastery of the vocabulary items. All of the students learned a significant number of new words and grammar. A second within-subject design with six children followed a multiple baseline design and documented that the program was responsible for the learning and generalization of new words. The research indicates that children with autism are capable of learning new language within an automated program centered around a computer-animated agent, multimedia, and active participation and can transfer and use the language in a natural, untrained environment.     

Individual prostate biopsy core embedding facilitates maximal tissue representation

PURPOSE: The probability of detecting small foci of prostate cancer is related to the amount of tissue represented. When multiple prostate biopsy cores are embedded in a single block, less tissue is evaluated because it is difficult to embed all cores in a single plane for optimal tissue representation. A computer simulation of sectioning biopsy cores was devised to examine the total surface area available at various angles of embedding and predict the ability to detect small tumor foci. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The computer simulation of biopsy core was done using commercially available software. Biopsy cores were represented as 3-dimensional cylindrical objects and the cutting blade was represented by a 2-dimensional plane. The intersection of the plane and cylinder represented the cut surface, which varied depending on cylinder angle and position. The simulation program calculates available surface area. RESULTS: Maximal surface area was obtained when the plane was horizontal to the long axis of the core. Any divergence of the cylinder from horizontal decreased the represented area. A single section through a 1 x 15 mm. biopsy core at 0 degrees yielded a surface area of 15 mm(2). The surface area was decreased to 13.3, 9.01 and 4.52 mm(2) at 3, 5 and 10 degrees, respectively. At a small focus of 0.6 mm. there was 100% detection under optimal circumstance, which decreased to 56.2% and 27.9% as the angle increased to 3 and 10 degrees, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Optimal sectioning, that is maximal surface area, of the core is obtained when a biopsy core is sectioned at a 0-degree angle, that is horizontal to its long axis. It is much more likely when each biopsy core is embedded individually. When multiple cores are embedded together, it is difficult to position all cores in the same plane since cores move to different planes and the cut surface of the cylinders substantially decreases. Thus, for optimal surface representation and cancer detection embedding individual cores is appropriate.     

伴有副肿瘤性天疱疮和肺部异常的局限性Castleman病的临床与病理

目的：分析局限性Castleman病伴有副肿瘤性天疱疮（PNP)和肺浸润的临床、病理和CT表现。方法：4例患者均经手术证实。有完整的临床、实验室、CT影像和病理资料。结果：4例患者临床初诊症状均为PNP,继发性肺部异常包括闭塞性细支气管炎（3例）、多发肺梗塞（1例）和肺脓肿（1例）。CT扫描肿瘤均为单发较大的（直径5－14cm）高强化软组织肿块,病灶位于后腹膜腔3例,前纵隔1例。病理分型,透明血管型3例,中间型1例。PNP于切除肿瘤后2－32周完全消退,而3例闭塞性细支气管炎患者疗效不佳,至今仍有呼吸困难和刺激性咳嗽。结论：PNP和肺部异常为Castlaeman‘s病少见而严重合并症。早期诊断和手术切除肿瘤对患者愈合极为重要。     

计算机辅助立体定向手术定位方法的研究

目的　探讨神经外科立体定向手术的科学性 ,研制计算机辅助神经外科规划系统(CAPN)软件。方法　随机抽取 10 0组立体定向靶点 ,用CAPN系统测定的靶点三维坐标数值与传统的刻度盘测量的靶点数值进行统计学对照分析。临床应用CAPN实施 137例立体定向手术。结果刻度盘目测和CAPN 2种测量方法的靶点数值进行配对t检验的处理结果 :t0 .0 5 ,证明两种方法的结果差异无统计学意义 ,CAPN准确可靠。所有手术均获成功 ,临床效果满意。结论　CAPN对提高神经外科立体定向手术的科学性有积极的作用     

三维超声成像技术在宫内节育器定型与定位诊断中的应用

目的：探讨三维超声成像技术在宫内节育器（IUD）定型与定位诊断中的应用价值。方法：对30例经阴道二维超声检查怀疑IUD异常的患者行三维超声成像检查,通过对子宫腔与IUD的三维超声图像重建,明确IUD的形状与位置,将三维超声成诊断结果与宫腔镜,腹腔镜或剖腹诊治结果进行对照。结果：29例患者（96．7％）获取满意的三维超声声像图,可清晰显示IUD的形状,位置及其与子宫腔的关系;1例因绝经9年,子宫内菲薄而未能获取满意声像图,仅显示IUD嵌顿而无法显示IUD片段与宫腔的关系,诊断IUD完整者17例（单金属圆环10例,γ型IUD3例,宫腔型IUD2例,T型IUD2例）,IUD断裂者13例;IUD嵌顿24例,γ型IUD转位3例,宫腔型IUD转位1例,正常位置T型IUD2型,28例IUD异常患者中26例行宫腔镜,腹腔镜或剖腹取器手术,均一次取器成功,术中所见与三维超声诊断结果一致。结论：三维超声成像技术对IUD的定型和定位诊断具有很高的价值。对临床治疗方案的选择有指导意义。     

Functional brain activation during arithmetic processing in females with fragile X Syndrome is related to FMR1 protein expression

Arithmetic processing deficits in persons with fragile X Syndrome (fraX), the most common heritable cause of mental retardation, are well known. In this study, we characterize the neural underpinnings of these performance deficits using functional MRI. Given that a single gene defect (FMR1) is known to be responsible for this disorder, we also assess whether brain activation in arithmetic processing areas is related to amount of FMR1 protein expression (FMRP). Subjects included 16 females with fraX, and 16 female age-matched controls. Subjects viewed arithmetic equations with two (1 + 3 = 4) or three (2 + 3 - 1 = 5) operands, and were asked to judge whether the results were correct or not. Subjects with fraX showed significant impairment in behavioral performance on the 3-operand but not the 2-operand arithmetic equations. Significant brain activation was observed bilaterally in the prefrontal and parietal cortices for unaffected subjects, and bilateral prefrontal and left angular gyrus for subjects with fraX, for both trial types. Subjects with fraX exhibited less overall activation than did unaffected subjects in both types of trials; and, unlike the unaffected group, did not show increased extent of activation in association with greater task difficulty. During the 3-operand trials, activation in bilateral prefrontal and motor/premotor, and left supramarginal and angular gyri were positively correlated with FMRP, suggesting that decreased FMR1 protein expression underlies deficits in math performance in persons with fraX. More broadly, this investigation demonstrates a unique bridging of cognitive and molecular neuroscience and represents a useful approach for the study of brain development and function.     

Selective inflammatory stimulations enhance release of microglial response factor (MRF)-1 from cultured microglia

The mrf-1 gene has been isolated from microglia exposed to cultured cerebellar granule neurons undergoing apoptosis. We have shown that mrf-1 is upregulated in response to neuronal death and degeneration both in vitro and in vivo. However, the exact role of MRF-1 remains unknown. Here we show that MRF-1 is released from cultured rat microglia, and its release is greatly enhanced under inflammatory conditions. When microglia were treated with ATP, the amount of MRF-1 that was released increased 10-fold compared to the basal level of release. Enhanced MRF-1 release was induced within 10 min and peaked within 1 h; after approximately 4 h, the MRF-1 release had returned to normal. MRF-1 release was stimulated by 2-methyl-thio-ATP (five-fold) and a P2X(7) selective agonist, 2'- and 3'-O-(4-benzoylbenzoyl)-ATP (ten-fold). Moreover, the ATP-stimulated MRF-1 release was inhibited by a P2X(7) selective antagonist, oxidized ATP (oATP), and also under a Ca(2+)-free condition. These results indicate that the effects of ATP are dependent on Ca(2+) influx through P2X(7) receptors. MRF-1 release was enhanced by Ca(2+)-ionophore A23187 (sixfold), thapsigargin (threefold); however, it was not enhanced by glutamate or lipopolysaccharide. Moreover, a platelet-activating factor enhanced microglial MRF-1 release in a dose-dependent manner. We also showed that a conditioned medium from cerebellar granule neurons undergoing apoptosis markedly increased MRF-1 release from microglia; that effect was significantly inhibited by oATP. These results indicate that selective inflammatory stimulations, including ATP and PAF, enhance MRF-1 release from microglia through a Ca(2+)-dependent mechanism and suggest that MRF-1 may play a role in cell-cell interactions under inflammatory conditions.     

The effect of moving textures on the responses of cells in the cat's dorsal lateral geniculate nucleus

Neurons in the dorsal lateral geniculate nucleus (dLGN) of the anaesthetized cat were activated with test stimuli (flashing spots, counterphased gratings and moving bars) in the presence of a moving background texture. Moving texture alone produced mild excitation, as a result of stimulation of the receptive field centre. Fast moving coarse textures were more effective than fine slow moving textures. The predominant effect of texture motion, however, was to reduce the response to all test stimuli displayed in the receptive field centre. The effects were similar for X- and Y-like cells. In the case of flashed spots, the sustained response was more strongly suppressed than the transient response. The direction of motion of the texture and differences in the relative motion of bar and texture had no influence on the degree of suppression. These observations are similar to effects seen on cat retinal ganglion cells, and are probably a form of gain control. Such suppressive effects are transmitted to the cortex and are likely to be evoked by large gratings, textures and by natural stimuli, all of which activate extensive regions of the receptive field surround.     

Association between bone lead concentration and blood pressure among young adults

BACKGROUND: Occupational and environmental exposure to lead has been examined for its effect on blood pressure (BP) in adults with varying results. The present analyses assessed the association between bone lead concentration and BP in early adult life in persons exposed during childhood. METHODS: Study participants included young adult members of two cohorts with different past histories of lead exposure. Lead exposure was assessed using noninvasive K-X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy to quantify bone lead concentration, an index of long-term lead exposure superior to current blood lead concentration. Systolic and diastolic BP measurements were obtained using conventional clinical methods. Multiple linear regression models were constructed to allow for control of covariates of BP identified a priori. RESULTS: Analyses were performed on 508 participants. While controlling for potential confounders, systolic BP was 4.3 mm Hg greater among members of the highest of four bone lead concentration groups (> 10 microg Pb/g bone) when compared with the lowest bone lead concentration group (< 1 microg Pb/g bone; P = 0.004), and diastolic BP was 2.8 mm Hg greater among members of the highest bone lead concentration group when compared with the lowest bone lead concentration group (P = 0.03). CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that substantial lead exposure during childhood can increase BP during young adulthood.