Feats: A database of semantic features for early produced noun concepts

Semantic feature production norms have several desirable characteristics that have supported models of representation and processing in adults. However, several key challenges have limited the use of semantic feature norms in studies of early language acquisition. First, existing norms provide uneven and inconsistent coverage of early-acquired concepts that are typically produced and assessed in children under the age of three, which is a time of tremendous growth of early vocabulary skills. Second, it is difficult to assess the degree to which young children may be familiar with normed features derived from these adult-generated datasets. Third, it has been difficult to adopt standard methods to generate semantic network models of early noun learning. Here, we introduce Feats-a tool that was designed to make headway on these challenges by providing a database, the Language Learning and Meaning Acquisition (LLaMA) lab Noun Norms that extends a widely used set of feature norms McRae et al. Behavior Research Methods 37, 547-559, (2005) to include full coverage of noun concepts on a commonly used early vocabulary assessment. Feats includes several tools to facilitate exploration of features comprising early-acquired nouns, assess the developmental appropriateness of individual features using toddler-accessibility norms, and extract semantic network statistics for individual vocabulary profiles. We provide a tutorial overview of Feats. We additionally validate our approach by presenting an analysis of an overlapping set of concepts collected across prior and new data collection methods. Furthermore, using network graph analyses, we show that the extended set of norms provides novel, reliable results given their enhanced coverage.

Vocabulary size and structure affects real-time lexical recognition in 18-month-olds

The mature lexicon encodes semantic relations between words, and these connections can alternately facilitate and interfere with language processing. We explore the emergence of these processing dynamics in 18-month-olds (N = 79) using a novel approach that calculates individualized semantic structure at multiple granularities in participants’ productive vocabularies. Participants completed two interleaved eye-tracked word recognition tasks involving semantically unrelated and related picture contexts, which sought to measure the impact of lexical facilitation and interference on processing, respectively. Semantic structure and vocabulary size differentially impacted processing in each task. Category level structure facilitated word recognition in 18-month-olds with smaller productive vocabularies, while overall lexical connectivity interfered with word recognition for toddlers with relatively larger vocabularies. The results suggest that, while semantic structure at multiple granularities is measurable even in small lexicons, mechanisms of semantic interference and facilitation are driven by the development of structure at different granularities. We consider these findings in light of accounts of adult word recognition that posits that different levels of structure index strong and weak activation from nearby and distant semantic neighbors. We also consider further directions for developmental change in these patterns.

An Australian perspective on chiropractic spinography

Daniel David Palmer and Wilhelm Conrad Roentgen were born in the same year, and each of them, at the age of fifty, made the discovery for which he came to be best known. Both of them built upon earlier theories and discoveries. Roentgen's discovery, x-ray, was to become an indispensable diagnostic tool for the profession which grew out of Palmer's discovery, chiropractic. This paper traces some of the developments which led to the discovery of x-ray, early milestones in applied radiography, and the emergence of spinography in chiropractic. Special emphasis is given to chiropractic innovations in roentgenography and the use of spinography by chiropractors practising in Australia.

Chiropractic in Australia: the first forty years (1905-1945)

The history of chiropractic in Australia is traced from the first grateful patient who also attended a course of instruction at the Palmer School and Infirmary of Chiropractic under D.D. Palmer and B.J. Palmer and brought chiropractic to Australia. The influence of Henry Otterholt--a U.S.-born Palmer graduate who was recruited by an untrained manipulator to take over his practice in order to study chiropractic at Palmer--on the early development of chiropractic in Australia and New Zealand is noted. He actively recruited students to the Palmer school, who upon graduation not only spread chiropractic in New Zealand, but also in the various states of Australia. The first twenty years saw the establishment of chiropractic practices in the capital cities of most states, but it would take more years before chiropractic was established in the capital cities. By this time country circuits had been established to serve patients in provincial centers. The advent of World War II brought further development to a standstill. This early period saw the emergence of the first group of what is considered today as the second stream in chiropractic in Australia, practitioners who would later be registered as chiropractors in the various Australian jurisdictions under grandfather clauses.

Leukemia-associated changes identified by quantitative flow cytometry. III. B-cell gating in CD37/kappa/lambda clonality test

Normal and malignant B-lymphoid cells were studied for CD37 antigen expression with three-color immunofluorescence (IF) in combination with kappa/lambda light chain staining, and by quantitative immunofluorescence utilizing the QIFI test. Peripheral B cells brightly expressed CD37 antigen (median 80-114 x 10(3) molecules/cell). Moderate to high levels (> 20 x 10(3)/cell) of CD37 expression were detected in 364 in 366 cases of peripheral B-cell disorders including all cases of B-ALL, B-cell lymphomas and B-CLL as well as eight of ten cases of PLL. By contrast, slg- B-cell precursors and other cell types in normal bone marrow (BM) were CD37-/CD37dull (< 10 x 10(3) molecules/cell). The negativity for CD37 or only CD37dull expression was confirmed in 180 of 182 cases of precursor B-ALL and 196 cases of non-B malignancies. Among the CD37 cluster, the RFB7 antibody of IgM class showed the weakest binding to non-B cells. In 64 normal samples of blood and BM the CD37+ gated cells showed normal kappa/lambda ratios as expected, while in 100 cases of B malignancy striking changes such as kappa/lambda monoclonality (79%) and aberrant slg- or sigdull expression (21%) were seen among the gated CD37+ B cells. The CD37/kappa/lambda test identified as few as 0.5% kappa+ or lambda- monoclonal B cells admixed to normal BM: circulating B-lymphoma cells were seen in nine patients with morphologically normal blood count. The discrimination of the Kolmogorov-Smirnov (KS) test for kappa/lambda excess was also improved by CD37+ B gating. Thus CD37+ B-cell gating and kappa/lambda analysis is a simple and sensitive routine test, e.g. when combined with autogating on a Cytoron-Absolute cytometer, for identifying malignant B cells in minimally involved BM and blood.

Immunophenotyping of normal lymphocytes

We report the data of direct and indirect immunofluorescence labelling of peripheral blood mononuclear cells obtained from 40 normal controls and nine patients having blood tests for non-haematological disorders (PNHD controls) using flow cytometric analysis. Polyclonal and monoclonal antibodies were used to define the expression of cell surface antigen of T cells, their subsets, B cells, natural killer cells (NK) and myeloid cells. Normal values of absolute number and percentages of each of the populations of mononuclear cells were established and were sufficiently reproducible to be of clinical use. The percentages of positive values of T cells, T-cell subsets, and B cells in ten normal controls when mononuclear cells were used, were comparable to those using whole blood lysis, APAAP immuno-alkaline phosphatase, and E and M rosettes. The results obtained were similar in both the normal and PNHD controls. In most instances the percentage recovery of identified T, B and NK cells was complete. Currently we are using the results as reference values for lymphoid sub-populations in normal controls.

Effect of ozone on metabolic activities of rat hepatocytes and mouse peritoneal macrophage

Peritoneal macrophage from mice and isolated hepatocytes from rats were exposed to ozone. Ozone dosages were expressed as 0-5 nmol/10(6) cells. Measurements were made of viability, glucose transport, glutathione, glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase, Mg-ATPase, Na/K-ATPase, and lipid synthesis. The most sensitive parameter was glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase in the peritoneal macrophage. In hepatocytes both lipid synthesis and glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase were sensitive to ozone. Effects on viability, glucose transport, Mg-ATPase, and Na/K-ATPase were small to negligible in both cell types.

Growth of human-human hybridomas in serum-free media enhances antibody secretion

Human-human hybridomas derived from fusing lymph node lymphocytes with UC 729-6 were adapted to grow in commercially available serum-free medium and were compared with serum-supplemented [10% fetal bovine serum (FBS)] cultures. Over a 6-d period, no significant changes occurred in the growth of the cells in 10% FBS or serum-free medium. In cultures supplemented with 10% FBS more total proteins were secreted than in serum-free cultures. However, there was an enhanced secretion of three- to four-fold of both immunoreactive human IgG and IgM under serum-free conditions compared to serum-supplemented conditions. Serum-free conditions may provide the appropriate milieu for the increased level of Ig secretion from human hybridomas derived from UC 729-6 in that there are no inhibitors that may be present in serum.

Increased alpha:non-alpha globin chain synthesis ratios in myelodysplastic syndromes and myeloid leukaemia

Globin chain synthesis ratios (alpha:beta + gamma) in leucocyte free reticulocytes from six of 11 patients with various myelodysplastic syndromes were high, ranging from 1.28 to 2.43. High ratios were also found for reticulocytes from two of four patients with acute myeloblastic leukaemia. Of the eight cases in which high ratios were found, seven were in patients who were either undergoing leukaemic transformation or who had already transformed. The reason for these findings is not known, but an understanding of the mechanism may give us further insight into the process of leukaemic transformation.

A novel monoclonal antibody-defined antigen which distinguishes human non-small cell from small cell lung carcinomas

Spleen cells from BALB/c mice hyperimmunized with the human epidermoid lung carcinoma cell line T222 were fused with NS-1 mouse myeloma cells to produce monoclonal antibodies to human lung cancer antigens. Hybridoma culture supernatants were tested by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for reactivity against a panel of human lung tumor cell lines. Supernatant from hybridoma EA1 (immunoglobulin G1) displayed strong reactivity with four of four non-small cell lung carcinomas but did not react with three of three small cell lung carcinoma (SCLC) cell lines. This hybridoma was cloned by limiting dilution and utilized to generate ascites antibody for subsequent immunohistochemical and antigen characterization studies. Evaluation of fresh frozen tumor tissue sections by immunoperoxidase staining methods revealed EA1 reactivity with the vast majority of non-SCLCs tested (21 of 21 epidermoid, 17 of 18 adenocarcinomas, four of four large cell, two of two bronchioloalveolar) and no reactivity with nine of nine small cell lung carcinomas. EA1 also stained bronchial epithelium and other benign and malignant epithelial tissues. The EA1 antigen was determined to have a molecular weight of 75,000 by immunoprecipitation and sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis of human non-SCLC tumor extracts. These data imply that EA1 recognizes a novel antigen expressed by non-SCLCs and other epithelial tissues. The absence of EA1 reactivity with SCLCs suggests that this monoclonal antibody may find future application in distinguishing non-SCLC from SCLC and prove useful in furthering our understanding of the histogenesis of lung carcinomas.

Palliation of pelvic recurrence of colorectal cancer with intra-arterial 5-fluorouracil and mitomycin

Twenty-one patients with inoperable colon cancer in the pelvis were treated with intra-arterial 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) and mitomycin C, given bilaterally into the internal iliac arteries. Seventeen of the 21 patients had failed previous radiation therapy and 15 had also failed systemic intravenous chemotherapy. Eighteen of the 21 patients received intra-arterial treatments because of pelvic pain. Effect of this treatment on the pain could be evaluated in 16 patients. A measurable decrease in pain medication occurred in 8 of 16, whereas a subjective feeling of pain relief was observed in 12 of 16 patients for a mean period of 3.5 months. However, objective tumor response was considered definite only if associated with a greater than 50% decline of an elevated plasma carcinoembryonic antigen level; this was observed in 5 of 11 patients (45%). Reduction in tumor mass as measured by imaging techniques was observed in two of ten patients in whom it was evaluable. Improvement in hydronephrosis was observed in five of seven evaluable patients. Hematuria was present in 12 patients and improved in 10 of those patients. The most significant side effect of chemotherapy was perineal and gluteal skin erythema, which was observed in 36% of the patients after the first course and in 24% during the second course. This frequently escalated to cutaneous vesiculation and desquamation. This side effect was prevented by concurrent administration of steroids. Pelvic arterial infusion of 5-FU and mitomycin C can offer temporary pain relief to patients who have failed other means of therapy. Objective antitumor effects may have also resulted but were much harder to assess in this group of patients.

Effective retreatment of patients with colorectal cancer and liver metastases

Twenty-two patients with colorectal cancer and metastatic liver disease in whom systemic intravenous therapy with 5-fluorouracil previously had failed were given fluorodeoxyuridine and mitomycin C by hepatic arterial infusion. Ten of the 22 patients (45.4 percent) had a partial response and median survival of 14 months, as opposed to a median survival of six months among the 12 patients who did not have response to the treatment (p = 0.02). Hepatic arterial occlusion was effected in seven of the 10 patients who responded and in seven of the 12 nonresponding patients. Such manipulation of hepatic arterial blood flow did not have a significant effect on the survival duration in either group. Retreatment of patients with colon cancer and liver metastases by hepatic arterial infusion of fluorodeoxyuridine and mitomycin C can result in significant prolongation of survival in patients with response to this treatment.

Globin chain synthesis ratios in sideroblastic anaemia

Globin synthesis ratios were measured on reticulocytes from nine patients with primary acquired sideroblastic anaemia (SA), four patients with hereditary or congenital SA, two patients with secondary acquired SA and three patients with iron deficiency (ID). Ten of the samples from patients with SA and all the samples from patients with ID had normal ratios. Samples from three patients had significantly abnormal ratios, one from a patient with SA and acquired Hb H disease (alpha/beta 0 X 26), one from a patient with secondary acquired SA (alpha/beta 0 X 88), and one from a patient who went on to develop acute myeloblastic leukaemia (alpha/beta 1 X 36). Globin synthesis was stimulated by 100 microM haem similarly in normal, SA and ID reticulocytes. Any limitation of globin synthesis in SA and ID is therefore not easily reversible by adding haem. Inhibition of haem synthesis in nonsideroblastic reticulocytes using 4 mM isonicotinic acid hydrazide for 1 h incubation affected neither total globin synthesis nor the alpha/beta ratio. These results contradict the view that decreased haem synthesis decreases globin chain synthesis and decreases the alpha/beta globin chain synthesis ratios in human reticulocytes. Previously reported findings that haem could reverse globin chain synthesis inhibition in SA were good evidence for a primary deficiency of haem synthesis in the erythroblasts of these patients. Our inability to substantiate these findings emphasizes the need for a re-evaluation of the aetiology of sideroblastic anaemia.