scholarly journals Home Language Activities and Expressive Vocabulary of Toddlers from Low-SES Monolingual Families and Bilingual Immigrant Families

Author(s):  
Elena Florit ◽  
Chiara Barachetti ◽  
Marinella Majorano ◽  
Manuela Lavelli

Children from low-SES (socioeconomic status) and minority language immigrant families are at risk of vocabulary difficulties due to the less varied and complex language in the home environment. Children are less likely to be involved in home language activities (HLA) in interaction with adults in low-SES than in higher-SES families. However, few studies have investigated the HLA variability among low-SES, minority language bilingual immigrant families. This longitudinal study analyzes the frequency and duration of HLA and their predictive roles for expressive vocabulary acquisition in 70 equivalent low-SES monolingual and bilingual toddlers from minority contexts. HLA and vocabulary were assessed at 24 and 30 months in the majority language (Italian) and in total (majority+minority language) using parent and teacher reports. The frequency and duration of HLA in interaction with adults in total, but not in the majority language, at 24 months were similar for the two groups. These activities uniquely accounted for expressive vocabulary at 30 months, after accounting for total vocabulary at 24 months, in both groups. In conclusion, a minority-majority language context is not an additional risk factor for vocabulary acquisition if HLA is considered in interaction with adults in both languages. HLA are proximal environmental protective factors for vocabulary acquisition.

2019 ◽  
Vol 10 (5) ◽  
pp. 587-622 ◽  
Author(s):  
Josefin Lindgren ◽  
Ute Bohnacker

Abstract This paper investigates vocabulary comprehension and production in 46 bilingual Swedish-German children age 4–6 growing up in Sweden. Using a newly developed tool, the Cross-linguistic Lexical Task (CLT, Haman, Łuniewska & Pomiechowska 2015), the children’s receptive and expressive vocabulary knowledge of nouns and verbs is assessed in both their languages, compared to each other and over age. Performance on test items of different word types (nouns/verbs; cognates/non-cognates) is also explored. There are clear vocabulary gains with age for the majority language Swedish, but not for the minority (home) language German. Overall vocabulary scores are higher in Swedish than in German, but this difference only concerns verbs, not nouns. Cognate facilitation occurs both ways in these closely-related languages, but is stronger in the minority language German. We suggest that what at first sight looks like a noun advantage on the German CLT is largely an effect of Swedish/German cognate status.


2021 ◽  
pp. 1-14
Author(s):  
Chiara BARACHETTI ◽  
Marinella MAJORANO ◽  
Germano ROSSI ◽  
Elena ANTOLINI ◽  
Rosanna ZERBATO ◽  
...  

Abstract The relationship between first and second language in early vocabulary acquisition in bilingual children is still debated in the literature. This study compared the expressive vocabulary of 39 equivalently low-SES two-year-old bilingual children from immigrant families with different heritage languages (Romanian vs. Nigerian English) and the same majority language (Italian). Vocabulary size, vocabulary composition and translation equivalents (TEs) were assessed using the Italian/L1 versions of the CDI. Higher vocabulary in Italian than in the heritage language emerged in both groups. Moreover, Romanian-Italian-speaking children produced higher proportions of TEs than Nigerian English-Italian-speaking children, suggesting that L1-L2 phonological similarity facilitates the acquisition of cross-linguistic synonyms.


Diabetes ◽  
1990 ◽  
Vol 39 (7) ◽  
pp. 855-857 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. Easteal ◽  
M. R. Kohonen-Corish ◽  
P. Zimmet ◽  
S. W. Serjeantson

2020 ◽  
Vol 41 (Supplement_2) ◽  
Author(s):  
T.J Jernberg ◽  
E.O Omerovic ◽  
E.H Hamilton ◽  
K.L Lindmark ◽  
L.D Desta ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Left ventricular dysfunction after an acute myocardial infarction (MI) is associated with poor outcome. The PARADISE-MI trial is examining whether an angiotensin receptor-neprilysin inhibitor reduces the risk of cardiovascular death or worsening heart failure (HF) in this population. The aim of this study was to examine the prevalence and prognosis of different subsets of post-MI patients in a real-world setting. Additionally, the prognostic importance of some common risk factors used as risk enrichment criteria in the PARADISE-MI trial were specifically examined. Methods In a nationwide myocardial infarction registry (SWEDEHEART), including 87 177 patients with type 1 MI between 2011–2018, 3 subsets of patients were identified in the overall MI cohort (where patients with previous HF were excluded); population 1 (n=27 568 (32%)) with signs of acute HF or an ejection fraction (EF) <50%, population 2 (n=13 038 (15%)) with signs of acute HF or an EF <40%, and population 3 (PARADISE-MI like) (n=11 175 (13%)) with signs of acute HF or an EF <40% and at least one risk factor (Age ≥70, eGFR <60, diabetes mellitus, prior MI, atrial fibrillation, EF <30%, Killip III-IV and STEMI without reperfusion therapy). Results When all MIs, population 1 (HF or EF <50%), 2 (HF or EF <40%) and 3 (HF or EF <40% + additional risk factor (PARADISE-MI like)) were compared, the median (IQR) age increased from 70 (61–79) to 77 (70–84). Also, the proportion of diabetes (22% to 33%), STEMI (38% to 50%), atrial fibrillation (10% to 24%) and Killip-class >2 (1% to 7%) increased. After 3 years of follow-up, the cumulative probability of death or readmission because of heart failure in the overall MI population and in population 1 to 3 was 17.4%, 26.9%, 37.6% and 41.8%, respectively. In population 2, all risk factors were independently associated with death or readmission because of HF (Age ≥70 (HR (95% CI): 1.80 (1.66–1.95)), eGFR <60 (1.62 (1.52–1.74)), diabetes mellitus (1.35 (1.26–1.44)), prior MI (1.16 (1.07–1.25)), atrial fibrillation (1.35 (1.26–1.45)), EF <30% (1.69 (1.58–1.81)), Killip III-IV (1.34 (1.19–1.51)) and STEMI without reperfusion therapy (1.34 (1.21–1.48))) in a multivariable Cox regression analysis. The risk increased with increasing number of risk factors (Figure 1). Conclusion Depending on definition, post MI HF is present in 13–32% of all MI patients and is associated with a high risk of subsequent death or readmission because of HF. The risk increases significantly with every additional risk factor. There is a need to optimize management and improve outcomes for this high risk population. Figure 1 Funding Acknowledgement Type of funding source: Private company. Main funding source(s): Novartis


2018 ◽  
Vol 12 (2) ◽  
pp. 21-29 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anoop Mayampurath ◽  
Christopher Ward ◽  
John Fahrenbach ◽  
Cynthia LaFond ◽  
Michael Howell ◽  
...  

Objective: To investigate whether a patient’s proximity to the nurse’s station or ward entrance at time of admission was associated with increased risk of adverse outcomes. Method: We conducted a retrospective cohort study of consecutive adult inpatients to 13 medical–surgical wards at an academic hospital from 2009 to 2013. Proximity of admission room to the nurse’s station and to the ward entrance was measured using Euclidean distances. Outcomes of interest include development of critical illness (defined as cardiac arrests or transfer to an intensive care unit), inhospital mortality, and increase in length of stay (LOS). Results: Of the 83,635 admissions, 4,129 developed critical illness and 1,316 died. The median LOS was 3 days. After adjusting for admission severity of illness, ward, shift, and year, we found no relationship between proximity at admission to nurse’s station our outcomes. However, patients admitted to end of the ward had higher risk of developing critical illness (odds ratio [ OR] = 1.15, 95% confidence interval [CI] = [1.08, 1.23]), mortality ( OR = 1.16, 95% CI [1.03, 1.33]), and a higher LOS (13-hr increase, 95% CI [10, 15] hours) compared to patients admitted closer to the ward entrance. Similar results were observed in sensitivity analyses adjusting for isolation room patients and considering patients without room transfers in the first 48 hr. Conclusions: Our study suggests that being away from the nurse’s station did not increase the risk of these adverse events in ward patients, but being farther from the ward entrance was associated with increase in risk of adverse outcomes. Patient safety can be improved by recognizing this additional risk factor.


2013 ◽  
Vol 5 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Galina Surkova

AbstractAn initial investigation of recirculation is carried out for the coast of the Black Sea. The local mesoscale circulations (land-sea breezes, mountain and valley winds) in coastal areas are shown to be an additional risk factor in creating favorable conditions for air stagnation and accumulation of air pollutants in the surface atmosphere layer. Two types of annual recirculation patterns are revealed for northern and north-eastern coast of the Black Sea. Long-term changes in recirculation are investigated. It is shown that the recirculation parameter values remained quasistable until the mid-1970s. Since 1976–1977, steady intensification of recirculation in both winter and summer is identified.


2016 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 45-48
Author(s):  
Daniela POPESCU ◽  
◽  
Dumitru MATEI ◽  
◽  
◽  
...  

Retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) represents a determinate cause of blindness in children that could be avoided. Blindness due to ROP and the stage of it when its being diagnosed is mostly determined by: socioeconomic degree of country development; availability of the screening in neonatal care; gestational age and hospital screenings; treatment programs available at any given time in the country; screening and treatment costs (material and human resources). ROP is the number one cause of blindness in Romania at the time being. Early discovery decreases exponentially the chances of blindness onset. Low birth weight (LBW), fewer than 1,500 g, represents an additional risk factor together with the degree of prematurity. Mandatory screening both during hospitalization as well as in the first 4-6 weeks after birth may avoid a major social problem. It is a simple process – eye exam with fundus examination – and it depends entirely on the availability, consistency and seriouseness of the parents. Thus a major social impact with disastrous consequences could be avoided.


2021 ◽  
Vol 33 ◽  
pp. 84-87
Author(s):  
Maria Teresa Sciarrone Alibrandi ◽  
Giancarlo Joli ◽  
Rodolfo F. Rivera ◽  
Elena Brioni ◽  
Romina Bucci ◽  
...  

The SARS-CoV-2 (Covid-19) infection affected about 106 million people worldwide and the total amount of casualties now sits at a staggering 2 millions. Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) emerged as the first risk factor in worst patients, not considering old age. Kidney disease and acute kidney injury have been correlated with a higher chance of death. This combination of CKD and higher Covid-19 related mortality requires immediate response from a prevention point of view at first and then from a therapeutic one. There is not a clear relation between Covid-19 and ADPKD. What can be inferred is the following: Covid uses the ACE2 receptors on cell membranes to “lock on” its target. It is well-established in fact that the RAAS is more active in ADPKD patients and it may represent an additional risk factor for these patients. At the moment three Covid-19 vaccines have been approved, and two of them have been already administered, such as Pfizer BioNTech and Moderna, sharing the same mechanism. AstraZeneca released a third option. All of them are completely safe and reliable, each one with its own feature. Therefore, considering how delicate ADPKD patients are, vaccination is strongly recommended.


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