Kindergarten children's representation and understanding of written number symbols

Two samples of kindergarten children's representation and understanding of written number symbols were examined in two time points in one academic year. About 85% of Chinese five year olds (mean = 5 years 10 months) were able to use conventional number symbols to represent the quantity of 30 or larger. At the end of the kindergarten year, 94% of Chinese six year olds (mean = 6 years 4 months) were able to use conventional number symbols to represent the quantity of 100 or larger. Some Chinese six year olds had problems in representing written addition and subtraction tasks. Children's ability to represent written number symbols, ability to represent written addition and subtraction formula and their performance on written addition and subtraction were closely related. The performance of children in a university-affiliated childcare center was better than that of the center serving working-class families in Time 1, but the performance reversed at the end of the kindergarten year.     

Myelination of the corpus callosum in the cat: time course, topography, and functional implications

The parameters of myelin development were ascertained in two specific regions of the corpus callosum in a series of cats aged 12 postnatal days through adult. The posteriormost portion of the splenium and the anterior-most portion of the genu were examined in cross section by using the electron microscope. Measurements were made to determine the age at which myelin first appeared, the number and distribution of myelinated fibers, the number and distribution of myelin lamellae, and cross-sectional area of ensheathed axons during development. The results indicate that myelination begins and ends earlier in the anterior region of the callosum. Measurements of myelin lamellae indicate similarities between anterior and posterior regions of the callosum, although development occurs earlier in the genu than in the splenium. No evidence was found for a sequence in the size of axons acquiring myelin sheaths, except that extremely small fibers are the last to begin myelinating. Myelination of the splenium of the corpus callosum begins at the very end of the behavioral and physiological critical period for the corpus callosum's role in visual functional development (Elberger: Behav. Brain Res. 11:223-231, '84; Elberger and Smith: Exp. Brain Res. 57:213-223, '85). Since myelination of a pathway is used as an index of functional reliability, this indicates that the basis for the callosal role in developing visual functions is probably not based on its physiological input to visual cortex.     

Estimated research and development costs of rotavirus vaccines

Diseases like rotavirus afflict both upper- and lower-income countries, but most serious illnesses and deaths occur among the latter. It is a vital public health issue that vaccines for these types of global diseases can recover research and development (R&D) costs from high-priced markets quickly so that manufacturers can offer affordable prices to lower-income nations. Cost recovery depends on how high R&D costs are, and this study attempts to replace high, unverified estimates with lower, more verifiable estimates for two new vaccines, RotaTeq (Merck) and Rotarix (GlaxoSmithKline or GSK), based on detailed searches of public information and follow-up interviews with senior informants. We also offer a new perspective on “cost of capital” as a claim for recovery from public bodies. Our estimates suggest that companies can recover all fixed costs quickly from affluent markets and thus can offer these vaccines to lower-income countries at prices they can afford. Better vaccines are a shared project between companies and public health agencies; greater transparency and consistency in reporting of R&D costs is needed so that fair prices can be established.     

搞好"病原生物学"教学及促进学科发展的实践与体会

将“医学微生物学”和“人体寄生虫学”整合为“病原生物学”符合现代医学教育的取向。中国医科大学是将两个教研室从形式到实质性合并为“病原生物学”教研室，并且将两门课完全融合成一门课程和一套教师队伍进行教学的少数院校之一。本文总结了在这一新学科教学和促进学科发展中的经验和体会。     

Histopathological characterisation of effects of the mouse Pax6 missense mutation on eye development

Mutations in PAX6/Pax6 lead to a variety of ocular anomalies in humans and mice. The aim of the study was to characterise the ocular abnormalities caused by the missense Pax6^Leca4 mutation and compare them to published observations on Pax6 alleles that are functionally equivalent to Pax6⁻ null alleles (such as Pax6^Sey and Pax6^Sey-Neu) and human inherited eye diseases. Ocular features of homozygous Pax6^Leca4/Leca4 and heterozygous Pax6^Leca4/+ embryos at E12.5-E18.5, heterozygous Pax6^Leca4/+ young mice at P18 and heterozygous Pax6^Leca4/+ adults at 12 weeks were analysed histologically with their wild-type Pax6^+/+ littermates. Homozygous Pax6^Leca4/Leca4 fetuses died perinatally with no eyes although an optic cup rudiment with pigmented cells developed. Pax6^Leca4/+ mice were microphthalmic and a range of other severe ocular phenotypes affected both the anterior and the posterior segments. In contrast to Pax6^+/−, the Pax6^Leca4/+ eyes had no goblet cells in the corneal epithelium, the iris was not hypoplastic and there was no lens-corneal epithelial plug. However, microphthalmia was more severe, corneal vascularisation occurred earlier (during fetal stages), pigmented cells were present in the vitreous and corneal stroma and the ciliary body was malformed or abnormal. These results show that, although Pax6^Leca4/+ lacked some eye abnormalities commonly seen in Pax6^Sey/+ and Pax6^Sey-Neu/+ eyes, in most respects their eyes were more severely affected. These differences probably reflect both differences between the Pax6^Leca4 and the Pax6^Sey-Neu mutations and differences in modifier gene expression in different genetic backgrounds. The presence of pigmented cells in the cornea is a novel observation. Some Pax6^Leca4/+ ocular abnormalities were similar to those present in human Peters' anomaly and persistent hyperplastic primary vitreous (PHPV) so Pax6^Leca4/+ mice provide a useful model for some inherited eye diseases.     

关于中成药口腔崩解片开发应用的思考

通过对口腔崩解片的特点及主要制备工艺的分析,结合当前中成药工业的现状及具体实际,认为口腔崩解片可以应用于中成药制剂的开发。     

Contemporary Models of Youth Development and Problem Prevention: Toward an Integration of Terms,Concepts, and Models

Over the past several years, increased interest in preventing youth problems and promoting healthy youth development has led youth and family practitioners, policy makers, and researchers to develop a wide range of approaches based on various theoretical frameworks. Although the growth in guiding frameworks has led to more complex models and a greater diversity in the options available to scholars and practitioners, the lack of an integrative conceptual scheme and consistent terminology has led to some confusion in the field. Here, we provide an overview of three approaches to youth development and problem prevention, critically examine their strengths and weaknesses, and offer some elaborations to help clarify, extend, and integrate the models. We conclude by discussing some general implications for researchers, practitioners, and policy makers.     

预适应锻炼对急进高原新兵脑功能的保护作用

目的探讨预适应锻炼对新兵急进高原后脑功能的改善作用。方法120名新兵随机分为4组:对照组、面罩组、运动组和面罩复合运动组。在进入高原前,面罩复合运动组佩带低氧呼吸器小步快走10 min,休息5 min后重复进行,上、下午各进行4次,连续进行7 d;面罩组、运动组分别只佩带低氧呼吸器或单纯运动。在空运进入高原后,比较进高原前、后的神经行为核心测试组合系统指标的改变,并对急性高原反应症状进行分析。结果使用低氧呼吸器复合小步快走5 min时动脉血氧饱和度可降到(80.5±5.7)%,达到预缺氧的目的。新兵进入3 658 m高原后,对照组、面罩组和运动组的数字跨度、目标追踪测试分值明显下降(P<0.05),而面罩复合运动组无明显改变(P>0.05);各组进藏前、后的简单反应时、数字译码和视觉保留均无显著性改变(P>0.05),手敏捷度则显著提高(P<0.05)。对照组、面罩组、运动组和面罩复合运动组的急性高原反应发病率分别为13.3%、20.0%、20.0%、3.3%。结论进入高原前,应用低氧呼吸器辅以适当运动,能改善急进高原人群的即时听觉记忆能力和手部运动的速度及准确性,避免部分脑功能的损害,并使急性高原反应发病率呈降低趋势。