Some of the inconsistencies in previous studies of WMHIs are due to differences in visual rating scales. Our findings may warrant international debate regarding harmonization of WMHI ratings.

Background and Purpose-We sought to determine the relations between infarct subtype and white matter hyperintensities (WMHIs) on MRI. Materials and Methods-We studied 395 ischemic stroke patients with 1.0-T MRI. The number of lacunar, border-zone, and cortical infarcts was registered. WMHIs were analyzed in 6 areas. Univariate and multivariate statistical analyses were used to find the risk factors for different infarct subtypes and to study the connections between WMHIs and brain infarcts. Results-Lacunar

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No uniform criteria currently exist for rating white-matter (WM) high-signal foci on MRI. Ratings are based on descriptive terms, different pulse sequences and different WM areas. Reports on the prevalence and clinical correlates of high-signal foci have been contradictory. We wanted to examine the contribution of the pulse sequence and WM area on rating WM changes. We analysed WM changes separately on T2-, protondensity (PD)- and T1-weighted images in periventricular, subcortical, watershed area and deep WM. The difference between T2- and PD-weighted images was significant for frontal caps, counting small foci or analysing subcortical changes. T1-weighted images showed significantly less change, but the number of foci detected was greater than previously thought. The prevalence of WM high-signal foci was greatest in the watershed zone and smallest in the subcortical area. There was a significant correlation between foci in different areas.

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This study investigated whether children born in a second language (L2) environment pronounce their L2 with foreign accents and, if so, when foreign accents first emerge. This study also examined the latest age of onset (AO) of extensive L2 experience at which native L2 pronunciation is possible and explored several factors that affect the degree of perceived accent for child L2 learners. Participants included 20 native Finnish children and 19 Finnish-born Turkish children 7-17 years of age (mean AO = 3) as well as 61 native Finnish raters who evaluated the speech samples for foreign accent using a 9-point scale. Only 4 of the 19 Turkish children spoke Finnish without foreign accents, which were first detectable at an AO of 2.5 years. AO was the main determiner of perceived accent, followed by home use of first language (L1), and the amount of L2 and L1 use. These findings suggest that there is an interplay between AO and language use factors in determining child L2 learners' accent.

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