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At least 397 records · Page 22Linked to original sources

PubMed2004

Chinese-English biliteracy acquisition: cross-language and writing system transfer.

This study investigated cross-language and writing system relationship in biliteracy acquisition of children learning to read two different writing systems-Chinese and English. Forty-six Mandarin-speaking children were tested for their first language (Chinese-L1) and second language (English-L2) reading skills. Comparable experiments in Chinese and English were designed focusing on two reading processes-phonological and orthographic processing. Word reading skills in both writing systems were tested. Results revealed that Chinese onset matching skill was significantly correlated with English onset and rime matching skills. Pinyin, an alphabetic phonetic system used to assist children in learning to read Chinese characters, was highly correlated with English pseudoword reading. Furthermore, Chinese tone processing skill contributed a moderate but significant amount of variance in predicting English pseudoword reading even when English phonemic-level processing skill was taken into consideration. Orthographic processing skill in the two writing systems, on the other hand, did not predict each other's word reading. These findings suggest that bilingual reading acquisition is a joint function of shared phonological processes and orthographic specific skills.

China↗

PubMed2004

Mirror writing ability is genetic and probably transmitted as a sex-linked dominant trait: it is hypothesised that mirror writers have bilateral language centres with a callosal interconnection.

Mirror writing is the ability to write from right to left, reversing each letter so that when held to a mirror the script appears normal. There is no information on the prevalence of this trait but a suggestion was received that it may be hereditary. A newspaper survey was carried out to discover the approximate prevalence and whether a hereditary factor is involved. The results indicated a prevalence of 1 in 6500. There is strong evidence that the trait is hereditary and is associated with non-right-handedness'. It is hypothesised that mirror writers may comprise a very small group of people who not only have bilateral language centres but also have an interconnecting pathway between these centres via the corpus callosum. The surprising genetic nature of a trait with no obvious evolutionary consequences is discussed. The data can best be explained on the basis of the trait being the phenotypic expression of an X-linked dominant gene, which does have evolutionary consequences. Similarities are noted between the proposed genetics of mirror writing and those of synaesthesia and of a few pathological X-linked dominant syndromes such as Rett syndrome. Other similarities and contrasts between mirror writing and synaesthesia are noted.

Adult↗

PubMed1996

Order writing for parenteral nutrition by registered dietitians.

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of the study was to describe the involvement of registered dietitians in parenteral nutrition (PN) orders, to identify characteristics of those who write orders; and to rank education, training, and support elements that dietitians believe facilitate PN order-writing skills. DESIGN: Mail survey method. SUBJECTS: Usable returned questionnaires (n = 266) represented randomly sampled membership of the Dietitians in Nutrition Support (a dietetic practice group of The American Dietetic Association) and registered dietitian membership of the American Society of Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS: Data were analyzed using basic frequency displays on all questionnaire items, Pearson correlations between the quantitative variables, and one-way analysis of variance with each of the categorical variables and the quantitative variables. Detail exploration among variables was done by chi(2) analyses and two-tailed t tests. RESULTS: "Recommend" was the most frequent response to a query about participation in PN orders. An average of 37% of respondents sometimes or always wrote orders for nutrients. Specialists were more likely to write orders than clinicians and managers. No relationship was found between those who wrote orders and educational level, and writers had been registered for a shorter length of time. Agreement on the training and support needed for order-writing skills was nearly unanimous. APPLICATIONS: The PN skills of respondents who were specialists distinguished them from managers and clinicians. Specialists did not fit criteria for advanced practice, and specialty practice in metabolic nutrition care may be too broad to define their practice. Educators must recognize the importance of including PN training in didactic and clinical training programs. Registered dietitians with PN skills will be well positioned to play an active role in the evolving health care system.

Analysis of Variance↗

PubMed2002

Business plan writing for physicians.

Physicians are practicing in an era in which they are often expected to write business plans in order to acquire, develop, and implement new technology or programs. This task is yet another reminder of the importance of business principles in providing quality patient care amid allocation of increasingly scarce resources. Unfortunately, few physicians receive training during medical school, residencies, or fellowships in performing such tasks. The process of writing business plans follows an established format similar to writing a consultation, in which the risks, benefits, and alternatives to a treatment option are presented. Although administrative assistance may be available in compiling business plans, it is important for physicians to understand the rationale, process, and pitfalls of business planning. Writing a business plan will serve to focus, clarify, and justify a request for scarce resources, and thus, increase its chance of success, both in terms of funding and implementation. A well-written business plan offers a plausible, coherent story of an uncertain future. Therefore, a business plan is not merely an exercise to obtain funding but also a rationale for investment that can help physicians reestablish leadership in health care.

Commerce↗

PubMed2003

Comparing the effect of different design of desks with regard to motor accuracy in writing performance of students with cerebral palsy.

This study was conducted to examine the effect of ergonomic desk design for improving motor accuracy in the writing performance of cerebral palsy students. Thirty-two cerebral palsy students were tested in four workstations. The test order was randomized. Work surface design involved a regular work surface and a cutout work surface, and desk angle design included a horizontal desk top and a 20 degrees inclined desktop. The height of the desk and chair were adjusted relatively to each subject's height and popliteal height. Writing performance while using the four workstations were compared by administering the Motor Accuracy Test. Motor writing accuracy adjusted for speed was significantly better at the cutout work surface than at the regular work surface. Students with athetoid quadriplegia benefited more from the cutout surface. Although the inclined desktop was more appropriate for better vision and less neck flexion, there were no differences in accuracy scores and adjusted scores between the horizontal desk and the inclined desk. These findings support the hypothesis that the cutout work surface, which was accommodated to the anterior trunk, facilitates trunk control and provides forearm support in addition to improving writing performance.

Adolescent↗

PubMedDate not supplied

When consultants write orders: physicians' attitudes, beliefs, and practices.

The process by which a consultation is performed may significantly impact the extent to which the content of the consultation contributes positively to patient care. The practice of consultants writing orders independent of the explicit permission of the consultation requester is a common event. A survey of 211 multispecialty physicians on the medical staff of a large, urban, Northeastern, teaching hospital about their attitudes, beliefs, and practices regarding consultation on the inpatient service reveal that the majority of respondents in all specialties were unaware of departmental or hospital policy regarding the practice of consultant order writing. Significant differences between specialties existed in the perception of the impact of consultant order writing on patient outcomes, in the practice of discussion with the primary attending prior to order writing, and in the documentation practices. The authors discuss such results and their policy implications in light of important medico-legal and ethical principles, and best practice standards.

Adult↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Letter and number writing in agraphia: a single-case study.

The gradual recovery of writing abilities of a patient whose processing of Arabic numerals and alphabetic script evolved differently over time is reported. Writing of multidigit numerals was achieved when writing of letters was nil. However, despite an initial advantage for numbers, the final examination disclosed fluent and correct writing of letters and words together with specific syntactic difficulties in complex Arabic numerals. The differential improvement for Arabic and alphabetic stimuli is partly explained in terms of different processing requirements rather than in terms of script-specific mechanisms only.

Aged↗

PubMed2000

Ictal increased writing preceded by dysphasic seizures.

Ictal increased writing has never been concretely demonstrated to be an epileptic symptom. We reported the evolution of seizures, from the beginning of reading-writing dysphasia through increased writing to secondary generalization, in a schoolchild with benign partial seizures. The lateralizing value of inter- or non-ictal hypergraphia has been stressed for the right hemisphere, while ictal increased writing most likely originated from the language area in the dominant (left) cerebral hemisphere in our patient.

Aphasia↗

PubMed2006

Written spelling to dictation: Sound-to-spelling regularity affects both writing latencies and durations.

The authors examined the effect of sound-to-spelling regularity on written spelling latencies and writing durations in a dictation task in which participants had to write each target word 3 times in succession. The authors found that irregular words (i.e., those containing low-probability phoneme-to-grapheme mappings) were slower both to initially produce and to execute in writing than were regular words. The regularity effect was found both when participants could and could not see their writing (Experiments 1 and 2) and was larger for low- than for high-frequency words (Experiment 3). These results suggest that central processing of the conflict generated by lexically specific and assembled spelling information for irregular words is not entirely resolved when the more peripheral processes controlling handwriting begin.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2000

How to write a paper for publication.

Engaging in the scientific publication process can be for both altruistic and egotistical reasons; publication advances the state of scientific knowledge while advancing your institution and your career. Writing for publication means setting aside a location and time dedicated entirely to the process of planning and writing. It is easiest to begin with the Methods section, then the Results, followed by the Discussion, which is the most challenging part of a paper. A realistic assessment of the value of the article will determine the level of journal into which it is likely to gain acceptance. If your article is rejected by a journal, be consoled by the fact that 50% of articles that are initially rejected are eventually published. Following the steps outlined here can reduce the daunting task of writing to one of manageable proportions and can help overcome the mental block and procrastination that all of us have experienced when we set out to write a scientific paper.

Journal Article↗

PubMed2001

The speech-language pathologist's role in a writing lab approach.

In a writing lab approach, speech-language pathologists (SLPs) work on collaborative teams with general and special educators to foster language growth using inclusive, curriculum-based, computer-supported writing process instruction. By engaging students in authentic writing projects using recursive writing processes--planning, organizing, drafting, revising, editing, publishing, presenting--and supporting them with instructional scaffolding, peer feedback, and computers, SLPs can address individualized needs while achieving goals of the general education curriculum. Case examples illustrate how intervention can be designed to meet the needs of students with diverse disabilities to interact socially and progress academically within the general education curriculum.

Computer-Assisted Instruction↗

PubMed1991

Effects of vertical vibration on passenger activities: writing and drinking.

Two laboratory studies have investigated how handwriting ability and holding a cup of liquid depend on the characteristics of whole-body vertical vibration. The effects of vibration magnitude (0.16 to 2.5 ms-2 r.m.s.), vibration frequency (0.5 to 10 Hz), and vibration duration (2 cycles to 10 s) on handwriting were studied with 20 subjects. Subjects were asked to copy letters of the alphabet by writing on a hand-held surface. Writing speed decreased and subjective ratings of writing difficulty increased with increasing vibration magnitude, particularly in the frequency range 4 to 8 Hz. Writing difficulty also increased with increasing duration of vibration. A 10 s exposure to 5 Hz vibration at 2.0 ms-2 r.m.s. resulted in subjective estimates corresponding to 'extremely difficult'. The effects of vibration magnitude (0.63 to 1.6 ms-2 r.m.s.), vibration frequency (0.5 to 10 Hz), and vibration duration (2 cycles to 10 s) on the spilling of liquid from a hand-held cup were also investigated in a group of 20 subjects. The probability of spilling the liquid, the quantity of liquid spilt, and subject's estimates of the probability of spillage were determined for all conditions. Greatest interference with the task occurred at 4 Hz, with the lowest vibration magnitude (0.63 ms-2 r.m.s.) causing measured and estimated spillage probabilities of approximately 85%. The interference was much less at other frequencies, with 0.63 ms-2 r.m.s. causing less than 10% measured probability of spillage below 3 Hz and above 5 Hz. The estimated probability of spillage was generally greater than the observed probability of spillage when the spillage probability was low, but less than the observed probability when the spillage probability was high. Increasing the duration of vibration increased the probability of spillage, and also increased the volume of liquid spilt.

Adult↗

PubMed1999

Effect of Hand Posture on the Temporal and Kinematic Properties of Pointing and Drawing Movements Executed by Healthy Subjects and by a Patient With Primary Writing Tremor.

Healthy individuals (n = 6) and a patient with "pure" primary writing tremor executed pointing and drawing movements while adopting different hand postures. The control subjects and the patient exhibited similar kinematics for most conditions. The patient displayed a severe right hand 4- to 6-Hz tremor and prolonged movements only when drawing with his normal hand posture. His tremor was manifested after a ready cue, in anticipation of a go command. The premovement tremor was abolished when the authors simply eliminated the ready cue and instructed the patient to relax and not think about drawing until he heard the go cue. Thus, the patient's writing tremor depended not only upon the writing or drawing act but also upon the hand position adopted and the intent to write, even in the absence of movement. The present results suggest that (a) similar high-level control mechanisms exist for pointing and drawing in healthy subjects and (b) the patient's deficits are compatible with a higher motor defect in central nervous system structures involved in the control of pointing and drawing movements.

Journal Article↗

PubMed2003

Adaptations of writing posture in response to task demands for left- and right-handers.

Handedness and writing posture are visible manifestations of differences between left- and right-handers. Although an inverted posture is witnessed in both groups, there is a much higher proportion of left-handers who invert. This study is framed within the adaptation hypothesis of writing posture, which states that invertedness in left-handers develops in response to the demands of cursive writing. Participants (N = 57) comprising left-handed inverters, left-handed standard writers, and right-handed standard writers engaged in tasks that required them to form letters and pen strokes at extreme angles. In addition participants were questioned about attempts to change writing posture. We hypothesised that letter angle controls posture in both left- and right-handers and that inverted posture would be a target of intervention. The results of the study showed some support for these hypotheses in that left- and right-handers adapted their posture in response to the constraints placed upon them and inverters reported more intervention.

Journal Article↗

PubMed2001

Lateral preference patterns as possible correlates of successfully switched left hand writing: data and a theory.

Left-handers often have had to contend with pressure to switch their preferred writing hand and shift attempt reports are common, especially among older adult left-handers. Three groups of left-handers can be defined by combining two variables, writing hand side and the report of a rightward hand preference shift attempt. The three groups are, first, right hand writers who report a rightward shift (successfully shifted left-handers); second, left hand writers who report a rightward shift attempt (unsuccessfully shifted left-handers); and, finally, left hand writers who do not report a rightward shift attempt. The underlying mechanisms that determine the success or failure of a handwriting shift attempt remain unclear. The present study examined the history of attempts to switch the preferred writing hand in a sample of 1277 adults aged 65 to 100 years of age. Older adults are well suited to participate in such a study because pressure to switch hand preference was especially severe for those who grew up in the early part of the 20th century; reports of rightward shift attempts are more common in this age group than among younger adults. Our results suggest that the three groups of left-handers, distinguished by the presence or absence of a shift history report and writing hand side, can also be distinguished from each other on the basis of their overall lateral preference profiles (the sides of hand, foot, eye, and ear preferences). Left hand writers, with and without reports of a rightward shift history, showed stronger left side lateralisation patterns when compared to right hand writers who reported a rightward switch (the successfully shifted left-handers).

Journal Article↗

PubMed2000

Cerebral localization of the center for reading and writing music.

The mechanisms that underlie the ability to read and write music remain largely unclear compared to those involved in reading and writing language. We had the extremely rare opportunity to study the cerebral localization of the center for reading and writing music in the case of a professional trombonist. During rehearsal immediately before a concert, he suffered a hemorrhage that was localized to the left angular gyrus, the area that has long been known as the center for the ability to read and write. Detailed tests revealed that he showed symptoms of alexia with agraphia for both musical scores and language.

Agraphia↗

PubMed2003

The writing of arabic numerals, kanji, and kana in brain-damaged patients.

This study investigated the neural mechanisms involved in the writing of Arabic numerals, kanji, and kana. Tasks involving writing numerals in Arabic, kanji, and, kana were administered to four patients with Gerstmann's syndrome and to five Wernicke aphasics. The results indicated that the ability to write Arabic numerals was well preserved in the Wernicke aphasics despite their serious phonological disturbances. The patients with Gerstmann's syndrome, who have a deficit with the concept of number, could write kanji numerals better than Arabic and kana numerals. Unlike Arabic numerals (ideogram) and kana (syllabogram), kanji (morphogram) have both semantic and phonetic values. The results suggested that Arabic numerals may be somesthetic and linked directly to the concept of number bypassing phonological analysis.

Aged↗

PubMed1981

Prescription-writing by pediatric house officers.

Prescription-writing is an important aspect of medical practice. Illegible and/or incorrect prescriptions can result in loss of patient, physician, and pharmacist time and may cause therapeutic errors or drug toxicity. An examination to evaluate prescription-writing was administered to a group of pediatric house officers and faculty. Follow-up monitoring of actual prescriptions written in the pediatric clinic was performed. Deficient prescription-writing techniques and weakness in the therapeutic knowledge of beginning pediatric interns were identified. The data indicate that proper prescription-writing (especially the use of controlled substances) should be taught to house officers and that the therapeutic knowledge of beginning pediatric interns cannot be assumed to be adequate.

Arizona↗