bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Principals’ Perceptions of Professional Development in High- and Low-Performing High-Poverty Schools
Authors: Moore Sheila , Kochan Frances
Published: January 2019

This is the second part of a two-part study examining issues related to professional development in high-poverty schools. The findings from the initial study indicated that principals in high-poverty, high-performing schools perceived higher levels of implementation of quality professional development standards in their schools than did principals of high-poverty, low-performing schools. This study was conducted to determine whether these principals faced similar or dissimilar barriers in implementing high-quality professional development standards and whether they had similar factors in place to facilitate the use of such standards. While the barriers appeared to be quite similar, there were wide differences in the facilitative factors present in the two types of schools. Principals in high-performing schools appeared to be aware of and able to use facilitative factors to foster high-quality professional development practices, while principals in low-performing schools are not. Implications of these findings are discussed.
Driven by History: Mathematics Education Reform
Authors: Permuth Steve , Dalzell Nicole
Published: January 2019

The advancement of modern societies is fueled by mathematics, and mathematics education provides the foundation upon which future scientists and engineers will build. Society dictates how mathematics will be taught through the development and implementation of mathematics standards. When examining the progression of these standards, it is important to note that the standards do not exist in and of themselves but are rather influenced by history. Examples in our society include the launching of Sputnik and the creation of the National Defense in Education Act, the publication of A Nation at Risk, policies developed as a result of the No Child Left Behind Act, and the current Common Core Standards. This article will explore these examples in which historical events significantly impacted mathematics standards. These standards have been part of the task of attempting to regulate the learning and teaching of mathematics to accommodate the needs and demands of an ever-changing society.
A Qualitative Inquiry of Career Exploration in Highly Implemented Career and Technical Education Programs of Study
Authors: Stipanovic Natalie , Stringfield Sam
Published: January 2019

This qualitative study explores career counseling and guidance services as provided to students engaged in career and technical education programs at three sites in the United States. The sites, consisting of high schools and community colleges, were part of the National Research Center for Career and Technical Education's 5-year studies of programs of study and were identified as providing highly implemented programs of study. This article provides insights about the career services offered in these systems of programs of study, with special attention paid to the role of school counselors. We found that career development occurs in a variety of forms and is provided by counselors and career and technical education teachers. However, the most comprehensive services were provided in settings where school counseling programs were highly developed and supported.
Is it Time for a U.S. Policy to Ban Corporal Punishment of Schoolchildren?
Authors: Breshears Elizabeth
Published: January 2019

This article examines corporal punishment in U.S. public schools, proposes a national conversation regarding its use, and advocates for a national policy to promote nonviolent discipline methods and prohibit corporal punishment of children in educational settings. The United States remains one of the few postmodern societies without a national policy, and close to a quarter of a million students are corporally punished in public schools annually. The article briefly reviews research regarding the effectiveness of corporal punishment, describes its historical roots and current use by educators, and examines corporal punishment of schoolchildren through a human rights and social justice lens.
Connecting the Disconnected
Authors: Cook Daniella Ann
Published: January 2019

When Hurricane Katrina slammed into New Orleans on August 29, 2005, the failure of the levees resulted in the largest single human-made disaster in the United States. In addition to the physical devastation of the city, the landscape of public schools in New Orleans was permanently altered, as was the national dialogue about school reform in the United States. The contested terrain of urban school reform in post-Katrina New Orleans led to the establishment of the National Coalition for Quality Education in New Orleans, an ad hoc group of New Orleans and national scholars who believe that New Orleans education, if rebuilt with thoughtful attention, can become a model for improving urban education in the nation. Drawing on data from two coalition-sponsored equity forums held during the summers of 2006 and 2007, this article discusses findings from the work of the coalition that deepen our understanding of how scholars can work with communities around education reform in three ways. First, it is crucial for scholars to focus work on the expressed needs of the community rather than from the imposed authority of the research community. Second, making use of academic research expertise requires acknowledging the diversity within the communities where the reform is being implemented. Finally, sustainable relationships between researchers and communities must be supported with mechanisms that facilitate clear expectations and communication. It is my hope that readers come away with a sense that working with marginalized communities to shape educational reform agendas is an important aspect of sustainable reforms.
Teacher Evaluation in Indiana: Principals’ Use and Perception of Field-Based Practices
Authors: Boyland Lori , Harvey Michael W. , Quick Marilynn , Choi Youngkung
Published: January 2019

Teacher evaluation is an important component of the education reform agenda. This study gathered and examined information regarding teacher evaluation practice in Indiana, which was needed before wide-scale implementation of new models mandated by recent legislation. Information was received from 477 principals regarding their current use and perceptions of effectiveness of summative, formative, and emergent evaluation methods. Elementary and secondary principals reported high use and effectiveness of many summative and several formative methods but reported low use of most emergent practices and disagreed that these methods were effective. Recommendations are provided to facilitate field-based support when implementing new models.
Unintended Consequences: Ohio's Required Retake of the Teacher Licensure Exam for Teachers in Low-Performing Schools
Authors: Firmin Michael W. , Markham Ruth Lowrie , Gruber Stephen S.
Published: January 2019

We address Ohio's newly enacted House Bill 153, which requires teachers in low-performing schools to retake the teaching licensure exam. Although we believe that the state legislature was well intended in passing the law, we also believe that the law is dangerous–-it should not be enacted in any further states, and it should be repealed in Ohio. We articulate the classical hallmarks of vocational disciplines that qualify to use the term “profession.” Furthermore, we advocate that Ohio's requiring experienced licensed teachers to retake the certification test affronts education's claim to possess status in belonging to a profession, thereby putting it in danger of being downgraded to the status of a “craft.”
Education Law in the Brazilian Legal System
Authors: Ranieri Nina
Published: January 2019

The right to education in the Brazilian legal system is not an abstract provision. On the contrary, it consists of a set of objective and consequent determinations that may be applied to situations and circumstances that happen in social development, through jurisprudential and doctrinal integration. This article examines the specific legal nature of the right to education in Brazil and its effects.
Examining the Status of Partnerships in University Educational Leadership Doctoral Programs
Authors: Reames Ellen H. , Kochan Frances
Published: January 2019

While there are consistent calls for educational leadership programs in higher education to develop partnerships with varied groups, a review of the educational leadership literature reveals a consistent lack of published manuscripts specifically focused on partnerships, particularly in doctoral programs. This study investigated the degree to which educational leadership doctoral programs in the United States are engaging in partnership activities. The study also investigated whether there are differences in EdD and PhD program partnerships in terms of their purposes and the practitioner roles within them. Implications for practice and suggestions for future research are presented.
Post-Brown School Reforms for Black Children
Authors: Reed Latish C.
Published: January 2019

This article critiques post-Brown educational reforms for Black children by examining what effects post-Brown educational reform efforts had on Black children. To frame the discussion, post-Brown is defined as the broad ideology that desegregation was supposed to improve education for Black children. This analysis explores how and why Brown came about. Next, post-Brown educational reforms and their impact on Black children are examined. These post-Brown reforms include charter schools, voucher programs, magnet schools, homeschooling, and special education programs.
The Title I Program
Authors: Grant Cosette M. , Arnold Noelle Witherspoon
Published: January 2019

Title I aims to tackle the academic achievement gap between disadvantaged and advantaged students via federal funding to school districts serving low-income students and to help equalize educational opportunities for students from poor households. Title I has been the largest K–12 program funded by the federal government. Yet, despite 49 years of Title I investments since 1965, persistent efforts to close the achievement gap between disadvantaged students and advantaged students have not been successful. Using existing research, we provide information on current fiscal issues that govern Title I funding to give a better understanding of challenges associated with managing Title I programs designed to close the achievement gap.
The Problems of Implementation of Educational Reform Initiatives after Brown and Their Impact on African American Children and Their Community
Authors: Hunter Richard C.
Published: January 2019

This article is organized into sections, with the first consisting of a discussion of many efforts to discrimination against African Americans citizens and public school students in the United States. These discriminations include slavery, Plessy v. Ferguson, and the “massive resistance” movement to public school desegregation, which was a major problem for the implementation of the Brown decisions. Additional forms of discrimination against African American public school students include school finance disparities, tracking, special education placements, and discipline practices. The second section of this article is based on educational innovations implemented in public schools to address the discriminations against African American citizens and public school students since the Brown decisions. These innovations include charter schools, vouchers, privatization, school reform, and restructuring the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 and Race to the Top–-the final two of which are federal programs advanced by presidents George W. Bush and Barrack Obama. The final section of the article includes 10 recommendations that I believe are necessary if the nation is to improve public education for African American students. This, I maintain, will not be possible without first fully recognizing the gravity of the 416-plus years of discrimination waged against African American citizens and public school students in the United States.
Perceptions of Culturally Responsive Leadership Inside and outside of a Principal Preparation Program
Authors: Gordon Stephen P. , Ronder Erin Ali
Published: January 2019

This was a qualitative study with the purpose of describing and comparing how culturally responsive leadership (CRL) was perceived by different types of educators inside and outside of a Master's program in educational leadership focused on social justice and CRL. Participants included new-to-the-program students, end-of-program students, and school administrators who had not attended the Master's program. Two interviews were held with each participant, and themes for each type of participant were identified and compared. End-of-program students generally had more sophisticated conceptions of CRL than new students or school administrators.
Communication as a Mediator between Principal Leadership and Teacher Professional Learning in Hong Kong Primary Schools
Authors: Lijuan Li , Hallinger Philip
Published: January 2019

This study attempted to identify communication as a human relational “path” through which principal leadership influenced teacher professional learning. The data was collected from a sample of 970 teachers from 32 Hong Kong primary schools. Online survey was administered, with two questionnaires to measure teacher perceptions of principal leadership and school capacity. Baron and Kenny's (1986) four-step causal process for mediation analysis was employed and integrated with bootstrapping method. Further significance of the mediating effects of communication was tested, and the sizes for both the direct and indirect effects in the relationship were made explicit. The findings affirmed the role of communication as a mediator in the relationship between principal leadership and teacher learning.
The Educational–Industrial Complex in Comparative Perspective
Authors: Maranto Robert , van Raemdonck Dirk C. , Vasile Alexandra
Published: January 2019

Prior work has defined the Educational–Industrial Complex (EIC) as an interlocking set of public and private institutions which operate mainly to serve children and taxpayers, but also in part as budget maximizers. We test hypotheses about EIC growth using (mainly) cross-sectional data from Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) nations. Findings indicate that, as per capita wealth and unionization grow, nations spend relatively more on education and schools have a higher staff to student ratio (lower class size). Time series data indicate that cross-nationally, class size falls over time.
The Added Value of Improvisation to Effectiveness-Oriented Transformational Leadership
Authors: Nir Adam , Piro Peer-Li
Published: January 2019

Purpose: The power of improvisation to promote organizational behavior and outcomes has gained recognition in the last couple of decades. The point of departure for the current study is that improvisation is likely to mediate leaders’ impact on school effectiveness. Methodology: The study is based on the responses of 60 school principals and 696 teachers. Findings: The multilevel analysis provides evidence of the mediation effect apparent in the indirect effects of transformational leadership through principals’ improvisation discernible in their creativity in the two school effectiveness factors: perceived productivity and perceived adaptability. Implications: Our findings suggest that creativity may be considered an efficient coping mechanism for school leaders coping with variance and heterogeneity.
A Theoretical Framework to Enhance Constructivist Learning Reforms in Confucian Heritage Culture Classrooms
Authors: Thanh Pham Thi Hong
Published: January 2019

Constructivist learning practices have recently been chosen as an alternative instruction to the conventional teacher-centered approaches to teaching and learning in Confucian Heritage Culture (CHC) classrooms. However, the top–down management procedures of implementing this instruction has led to various innovation failures. This paper proposes a theoretical framework that is central to Activity Theory to assist reformers to achieve better success. This framework emphasizes that learning should be seen as a factor that has connections with many other factors in a complexity. Therefore, reformers need to address various factors at different implementation levels. It is crucially important that the teachers’ and students’ voices need to be taken into careful consideration because they play a key role in determining the reformative success.
Teacher Efficacy Calibration in Education Reform
Authors: Favre David E. , Knight Stephanie L.
Published: January 2019

This article provides a theoretical conceptualization of teacher efficacy calibration to explain instances when highly efficacious teachers fail to implement the pedagogical innovations prescribed by education reforms. We first examine the theoretical foundations for teacher efficacy calibration and its importance for successful implementation in educational reform. A reinterpretation of data from prior phases of our ongoing research into Qatar's K-12 far-reaching reform efforts provides specific support for the importance of teacher efficacy calibration accuracy in achieving expected implementation fidelity. Recommendations are offered to professional development programs and policymakers to promote conditions that facilitate teacher efficacy calibration precision.
Singapore Principals’ Understanding and Perceptions of the Challenges of “Teach Less, Less More” Policy
Authors: Retna Kala S. , Ng Pak Tee
Published: January 2019

This paper presents research that examines the perceptions of school principals of the “Teach Less, Learn More” (TLLM) initiative in Singapore schools. A qualitative research was conducted with 13 school principals to explore their understanding of TLLM and their perception of the challenges that they faced in the implementation of TLLM. The findings show that the research participants agreed that TLLM was a good policy that would prepare students with knowledge and skills for the future. However, there were also many challenges, the most pertinent of which being the readiness of the students and teachers for a new teaching and learning paradigm.
Shifting the Classical Paradigm
Authors: Sinagatullin Ilghiz M.
Published: January 2019

The article seeks to substantiate that contemporary epoch witnesses a rapid shift from the classical to information paradigm owing to an unprecedented impact of information technology on the sphere of education. The author examines the advantages and disadvantages of digital technology, focuses on the issues of Internet addiction, and concentrates on the necessity of developing school graduates’ information competence within a well-built information environment. Finally, he provides a range of recommendations that are worth taking into consideration as the super-modern information and communications technology continue gaining young people's minds.
Instructional Leadership Practices among Principals in Israeli and US Jewish Schools
Authors: Glanz Jeffrey , Shaked Haim , Rabinowitz Chanina , Shenhav Shmuel , Zaretsky Rachel
Published: January 2019

Extant research indicates that principals are expected to serve as instructional leaders. Instructional leadership practices of principals in Israeli and US Jewish schools have, until recently, been unexplored. Therefore, this mixed-methodological study explores instructional leadership perceptions and behaviors among Israeli and US principals. Data, via questionnaires and interviews, were collected from 90 principals from each country. Findings suggest that US principals demonstrated significantly higher levels of instructional leadership. In both groups, women principals demonstrated higher levels of instructional leadership. Our interviews provided unique insights leading to our suggestions for ways of promoting greater attention to instructional leadership by principals of both countries.
Improving Student Achievement through Strengthening Principal and School Counselor Partnership
Authors: Yavuz Olcay , Cayirdag Nur , Dahir Carol , Gümüşeli Ali İlker
Published: January 2019

The purpose of the study was to examine 1466 school principals’ opinions on six different aspects of counseling practices in K-12 public and private schools. Results indicated that there were significant differences between public and private school principals’ opinions on school counseling priorities, perceptions, academic development, and program management. School type and school-level interactions were significant for career and academic development and marginally significant for personal–social development. School level had also significant main effects on personal–social, career, and academic developments. These results may be of value to school leaders and educators concerned with improving student achievement and school effectiveness through revising and improving their school counseling services.
Investigating Global–Local Networks and Policy Learning in University Curriculum Policy Transformations
Authors: O'Donoghue Thomas , Vidovich Lesley
Published: January 2019

The focus is on universities around the world strengthening their competitive positioning in a global knowledge era through curriculum policy transformations. It highlights the need to study how ideological shifts and policy flows as well as networks between global and local levels are producing ‘radical’ change in curriculum policies in certain research-intensive universities. The article sets out a research approach for such study in relation to the Asia-Pacific Region. Pursuing such a research approach should make a significant contribution to the field of globalization and higher education.
Interdisciplinary Curriculum: This Time for Real
Authors: Jenkins John M.
Published: January 2019

Unlike the school day, the world is not divided into discrete disciplines.

—Scott Willis
Toward an Accurate Description of the Student Dropout Program
Authors: McNamara James F. , McNamara Maryanne
Published: January 2019

The intent of this article was to demonstrate that reporting only student dropout rates can be extremely misleading. Precisely how this common reporting practice is misleading was demonstrated first by using a hypothetical case study, and then by using a real data case study based on student dropout information provided for the 1988–1989 school year in the Bryan ISD.

The solution to this problem was straightforward. School district reports and newspaper articles on school dropouts should present both student dropout rates and student dropout counts in a single graphic representation or data table. This reporting practice would substantially reduce opportunities for anyone in the school community to reach incorrect conclusions or to advance unwarranted stereotypic statements about the school district and any racial group of students residing in the district.
Reflecting on Teacher Supervision and Evaluation
Authors: Jenkins John M.
Published: January 2019

The very act of observing disturbs the system.

— Werner Heisenberg
Nongrading the High School
Authors: Jenkins John M.
Published: January 2019

We have innovated cautiously, taking baby steps where giant steps are needed. Instead of experimenting boldly with promising new ideas, our innovations have been introduced with caution and trepidation. The bravery with which schools introduce new heresies can best be compared to the quavering whistle of a man taking a short cut through a cemetery at midnight in the dark of the moon.

—B. Frank Brown (1963)
Marital Rape and HIV Risk in Uganda: The Impact of Women’s Empowerment Factors
Authors: Mengo Cecilia , Okumu Moses , Ombayo Bernadette , Nahar Shamsun , Small Eusebius
Published: January 2019

This study used Uganda Demographic Health Survey data (2011) to examine the role of women’s empowerment in reducing HIV risk among married women who experienced sexual violence in Uganda. The sample size was 8,674 ever-married women aged 15–49 years. Significant differences were revealed for marital rape, women’s empowerment variables, and reducing HIV risk according to sociodemographic characteristics. Women’s labor force participation partially mediated the relationship between sexual violence and reducing HIV risk, but decision making did not. Findings highlight the need for the development and implementation of policies and programs to address marital rape and reduce HIV risk within institutions of marriage.
New evidence on pectin-related instantaneous pressure softening mechanism of asparagus lettuce under high pressure processing
Authors: Sun Yaxin , Yao Jia , Zhang Liang , Chen Fang , Hu Xiaosong , Zhang Yan
Published: January 2019

Evidence on mechanism of instantaneous pressure softening of asparagus lettuce under high pressure processing was explored with respect to pectin methylesterase activity, degree of methylation of pectin, degree of methylation patterns of pectin fractions, and pectin distribution in cell wall matrix. Instantaneous pressure softening was observed at 300 MPa, while texture recovery was obtained at 500 MPa. Pectin methylesterase activity was not significantly affected at 100 and 300 MPa, but dramatically activated at 500 MPa (p < 0.05). Correspondingly, the degree of methylation of pectin decreased as pressure rose. Results of in situ immuno-dot blotting and immunolabeling based on specific bindings of antipectin antibodies showed a significant reduction of chelator-soluble pectin at 300 MPa, in contrast to a remarkable increase at 500 MPa. High pressure processing-induced demethoxylation was further verified by the enhanced fluorescence intensity of LM19 (an antihomogalacturonan antibody specifically binds to nonmethoxylated pectin) immunolabeled pectin, which was mainly located in tricellular junctions at 300 MPa, but covered the full cell surface at 500 MPa. In conclusion, instantaneous pressure softening of asparagus lettuce is strongly associated with loss of chelator-soluble pectin at 300 MPa.
An International Mapping of Medical Care in Nursing Homes
Authors: Ågotnes Gudmund , McGregor Margaret J , Lexchin Joel , Doupe Malcolm B , Müller Beatrice , Harrington Charlene
Published: January 2019

Nursing home (NH) residents are increasingly in need of timely and frequent medical care, presupposing not only available but perhaps also continual medical care provision in NHs. The provision of this medical care is organized differently both within and across countries, which may in turn profoundly affect the overall quality of care provided to NH residents. Data were collected from official legislations and regulations, academic publications, and statistical databases. Based on this set of data, we describe and compare the policies and practices guiding how medical care is provided across Canada (2 provinces), Germany, Norway, and the United States. Our findings disclose that there is a considerable difference to find among jurisdictions regarding specificity and scope of regulations regarding medical care in NHs. Based on our data, we construct 2 general models of medical care: (1) more regulations—fee-for-service payment—open staffing models and (2) less regulation—salaried positions—closed staffing models. Some evidence indicates that model 1 can lead to less available medical care provision and to medical care provision being less integrated into the overall care services. As such, we argue that the service models discussed can significantly influence continuity of medical care in NH.
Angiotensin Converting Enzyme Gene Insertion/Deletion Polymorphism Is Not Responsible for Antihypertensive Therapy Induced New Onset of Type 2 Diabetes in Essential Hypertension
Authors: Jhawat Vikas , Gupta Sumeet , Agarwal Bimal K , Roy Partha , Saini Vipin
Published: January 2019

Background:

Antihypertensive drug therapies have been reported to be associated with new onset of type 2 diabetes mellitus in some hypertensive patients after prolonged use. Angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) gene has been found to affect essential hypertension, response of antihypertensive therapies, and glycemic disturbances. Therefore, ACE gene I/D polymorphism may be associated with risk of new onset of type 2 diabetes via metabolic disturbances, glycemic dysregulation, and insulin resistance.

Aim:

To assess the correlation between ACE gene I/D polymorphism and glycemic disturbance under influence of diuretic and other antihypertensive drug therapies.

Materials and methods:

We recruited 270 normotensive patients as control (150 men and 120 women), 270 hypertensive patients (95 men and 175 women), and 240 hypertensive with new onset of diabetes patients (80 men and 160 women). All samples were genotyped for ACE gene polymorphic alleles and relationship between different genotypes and anthropometric and clinical parameters along with drug therapies was established and analyzed.

Results:

Baseline clinical (systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, and fasting blood glucose level) and anthropometric parameters (height, weight, waist circumference, hip circumference, waist-hip ratio, and body mass index) of study populations were found highly statistically significant ( P < .05) when compared among study groups. Furthermore, genotype wise comparison of all these parameters in essential hypertensive (EH) and essential hypertensive with onset of diabetes (EHNOD) patients found most of them nonsignificant and no variation was found with respect to different genotypes of ACE gene. The genotype wise comparison of clinical parameters among different antihypertensive drug therapy was found statistically nonsignificant in both EH and EHNOD patients.

Discussion:

Anthropometric parameters can be taken as the risk indicator factors for hypertension and diabetes. However, ACE gene polymorphism may not be a risk factor for development of diabetes in hypertensive patients.

Conclusion:

The present study suggested that ACE gene polymorphism did not show any significant association with the risk of new onset of diabetes in EH patients and more detailed studies with large population size are needed. [Formula: see text]
Atmospheric Practices: On Affecting and Being Affected
Authors: Bille Mikkel , Simonsen Kirsten
Published: January 2019

This article reviews and discusses recent literature on affect by highlighting two central problems: the problem of distinction and the problem of transmission. To deal with these problems, we argue, literature within geography has turned from affect to affective atmospheres to emphasize the spatial and material aspects of affect. Yet in so doing, such literature has largely omitted the role of practices, which has simultaneously been studied in both other strands of geography and other social sciences. Simultaneously, little attention has been paid to the affective aspects of practices. This article seeks to combine the perspectives from these diverse fields. We argue for a need to understand the affective as engrained in the practices of attuning atmospheres. In this way, affect is not a noun with a clear ontological status; it only takes such status through verbal or adjectival forms as qualities of materialities connected to bodily practices of affecting and being affected. This necessitates that the lived body become an entry point for exploring how individuals actively are attuned and attune themselves and others through atmospheres.
The use of analytic hierarchy process for measuring the complexity of medical diagnosis
Authors: Ben-Assuli Ofir , Kumar Nanda , Arazy Ofer , Shabtai Itamar
Published: January 2019

Diagnostic complexity is an important contextual factor affecting a variety of medical outcomes. Existing measurements of diagnosis complexity either rely on crude proxies or use fine-grained measures that employ indicators from proprietary data that are not readily available. Hence, the study of this important construct in fields such as medical informatics has been hampered by the difficulty of measuring diagnostic complexity. This article presents a novel approach for conceptualizing and operationalizing diagnostic task complexity as a multi-dimensional construct, which employs the readily available International Classification of Diseases codes from medical encounters in hospitals and uses Analytic Hierarchical Process methodology. We demonstrate the reliability of the proposed approach and show that despite using a relatively simple procedure, it is able to predict readmission rates just as well as (or even better) than some of the sophisticated measures that have been used in recent studies (namely, the LaCE score index).
Practical Considerations for Questionable IVs
Authors: Clarke Damian , Matta Benjamín
Published: January 2019

In this article, we examine several techniques that allow for the construction of bounds estimates based on instrumental variables, even when the instruments are not valid. We introduce the plausexog and imperfectiv commands, which implement methods described by Conley, Hansen, and Rossi (2012, Review of Economics and Statistics 94: 260–272) and Nevo and Rosen (2012b, Review of Economics and Statistics 94: 659–671). We examine the performance of these bounds under a range of circumstances, which leads to several practical results related to the informativeness of the bounds in different situations.
Giniinc: A Stata Package for Measuring Inequality from Incomplete Income and Survival Data
Authors: Hong Long , Alfani Guido , Gigliarano Chiara , Bonetti Marco
Published: January 2019

Often, observed income and survival data are incomplete because of left- or right-censoring or left- or right-truncation. Measuring inequality (for instance, by the Gini index of concentration) from incomplete data like these will produce biased results. We describe the package giniinc, which contains three independent commands to estimate the Gini concentration index under different conditions. First, survgini computes a test statistic for comparing two (survival) distributions based on the nonparametric estimation of the restricted Gini index for right-censored data, using both asymptotic and permutation inference. Second, survbound computes nonparametric bounds for the unrestricted Gini index from censored data. Finally, survlsl implements maximum likelihood estimation for three commonly used parametric models to estimate the unrestricted Gini index, both from censored and truncated data. We briefly discuss the methods, describe the package, and illustrate its use through simulated data and examples from an oncology and a historical income study.
Implementing a General Framework for Assessing Interrater Agreement in Stata
Authors: Klein Daniel
Published: January 2019

Despite its well-known weaknesses, researchers continuously choose the kappa coefficient (Cohen, 1960, Educational and Psychological Measurement 20: 37–46; Fleiss, 1971, Psychological Bulletin 76: 378–382) to quantify agreement among raters. Part of kappa's persistent popularity seems to arise from a lack of available alternative agreement coefficients in statistical software packages such as Stata. In this article, I review Gwet’s (2014, Handbook of Inter-Rater Reliability) recently developed framework of interrater agreement coefficients. This framework extends several agreement coefficients to handle any number of raters, any number of rating categories, any level of measurement, and missing values. I introduce the kappaetc command, which implements this framework in Stata.
Gencrm: A New Command for Generalized Continuation-Ratio Models
Authors: Bauldry Shawn , Xu Jun , Fullerton Andrew S.
Published: January 2019

A continuation-ratio model represents a variant of an ordered regression model that is suited to modeling processes that unfold in stages, particularly those in which a return to a previous stage is not possible (for example, educational attainment, job promotion, or disease progression). The parameters for covariates in continuation-ratio models may be constrained to be equal, vary by a set of common factors (that is, proportionality constraints), or freely vary across stages. Currently, there are three community-contributed commands that fit continuation-ratio models. Each of these commands fits some subset of continuation-ratio models involving parameter constraints, but none of them offer complete coverage of the range of possibilities. The new gencrm command expands the options for continuation-ratio models to include the possibility for some of or all the covariates to be constrained to be equal, to freely vary, or to vary by a set of common factors across stages. gencrm relies on Stata's maximum likelihood routines for estimation and avoids reshaping the data. gencrm includes options for three link functions (logit, probit, and cloglog) and supports Stata's multiple-imputation suites of commands.
Power and Sample-Size Analysis for the Royston–Parmar Combined Test in Clinical Trials with a Time-to-Event Outcome: Correction and Program Update
Authors: Royston Patrick
Published: January 2019

The changes made to Royston (2018) and to power_ct are i) in section 2.4 ( Sample-size calculation for the combined test), to replace ordinary least-squares (OLS) regression using regress with grouped probit regression using glm; ii) in section 4 ( Examples), to revisit the worked examples of sample-size estimation in light of the revised estimation procedure; and iii) to update the help file entry for the option n( numlist). The updated software is version 1.2.0.
Two Lifestyle Risks Intertwined: Parental Smoking Predicts Child Gambling Behavior at Age 12 Years
Authors: Gonzalez-Sicilia Daniela , Derevensky Jeffrey L. , Pagani Linda S.
Published: January 2019

Background. Parental smoking can create a toxic environment for child development. A parental smoking lifestyle can predispose children to executive deficits, influencing precocious risk activities. Using a prospective birth cohort design, we examine the association between 2 lifestyle factors by estimating the relative contribution of long-term parental household smoking in predicting subsequent precocious child gambling behavior. Method. Parents reported on the amount of household smoke exposure from ages 1.5 to 7.5 years for children from the Quebec Longitudinal Study of Child Development. The main outcome measure was children’s self-report of gambling behavior (at age 12 years). Results. Sixty percent of parents reported that their children were never exposed to secondhand smoke in the home, while 27% and 13% reported transient and continuous levels of secondhand smoke, respectively. Overall, 16% of children reported gambling participation. When compared with never-exposed children, children exposed to secondhand smoke had 18% more chances of having participated in gambling at age 12 years (odds ratio = 1.18; 95% CI = 1.080-1.293). These results are adjusted for competing explanations and possible individual and family confounders. Conclusions. Higher levels of early childhood household smoke exposure are associated with greater odds of reporting gambling participation at age 12 years, which is more than several years before it is normative youthful behavior. By connecting the neurotoxic influence of one lifestyle factor on another, we show a nontrivial link between 2 public health issues (smoke exposure and precocious gambling) associated with considerable individual and societal costs that are amenable to community information campaigns.
The Actress in Nature: Environments of Artistic Development in Victorian Fiction and Memoir
Authors: Wiet Victoria
Published: January 2019

This essay provides a new approach to reading actress memoirs in light of the influence of environmental thinking on Victorian culture more broadly and acting theory in particular. By demonstrating that actress autobiographies were written within a discursive domain that understood human temperaments and biographical trajectories to be fundamentally shaped by social and physical surroundings, I examine how renowned actresses narrate the conditions within which their temperament developed. In order to do so, I first examine the entanglement of environment and character in novels about actress protagonists in order to develop a framework for analysing the narrative qualities of actress memoirs. This essay focuses specifically on the trope of the ‘wild’ girl who, undisciplined by parents or teachers, develops a sensitive yet wilful and even anti-social temperament that enables her to become an actress praised for her authentic displays of spontaneous emotion.
Poor Sensitivity of Magnetic Resonance Arthrography to Detect Hip Chondral Delamination: A Retrospective Follow-Up of 227 FAI-Operated Patients
Authors: Konstantinidis George , Mitchell Michael , Boyd Gordon , Coady Catherine , Ghosh Swagata , Wong Ivan
Published: January 2019

Objective

The purpose of this study was to retrospectively assess the frequency and characteristics of acetabular cartilage delamination (CD) in femoroacetabular impingement (FAI) patients and to assess the sensitivity, specificity, negative predictive value (NPV), and positive predictive value (PPV) of magnetic resonance arthrography (MRA) in detecting CD based on the radiologist report.

Design

This is a single-center retrospective review of consecutive patients operated for symptomatic FAI. All of the patients had a 1.5-T MR-arthrogram within 12 months preoperatively. MRA reports of these patients were compared with operation notes and surgical videos of all patients by two trained assessors.

Results

At surgery, CD of the acetabulum was present in 169 patients out of a total of 229 patients (74%). Only 6.5% (11 patients) of CD was described on the MRA reports preoperatively. The mean age of the patients was 37.6 ± 13.3 years. The average extent of delamination was 3.12 ± 1.5 cm2 with a mean coronal × sagittal extent of 0.68 × 4.33 cm. There was a significant difference regarding age ( P = 0.002), alpha angle from frog view ( P = 0.002), and alpha angle from anteroposterior view ( P = 0.012) between the patients with delamination and without delamination. The majority of labral tears and cartilage damage were located in the anterosuperior quadrant. MRA sensitivity was 6%, specificity 98%, NPV 27%, and PPV 91% based on the radiologist report.

Conclusion

The CD in patients with FAI can be severely underdiagnosed with MRA. There is a need for better standard diagnostic criteria to detect CD in patients with FAI.
Knowledge sharing and accumulation dynamics in autonomous online consumer communities: Individual and collective levels
Authors: Demangeot Catherine , Sankaran Kizhekepat , Tagg Stephen
Published: January 2019

Enabling the sharing of dormant consumer knowledge, autonomous online consumer communities constitute communities of consumption practice. Drawing from the knowledge management literature, this article investigates consumer knowledge activation and accumulation dynamics in online communities within the naturalistic setting of an online forum. The netnographic study identifies different patterns of knowledge activation, giving insights into the kind of consumer knowledge that emerges in autonomous online communities. Different characteristics of online communities such as potential presence of rare knowledge, breadth of views or additive value of similar views are leveraged, to produce different types of collective knowledge. The study contributes to the online communities literature by deconstructing the dynamics of knowledge sharing and accumulation in autonomous communities; these function as communities of consumption practice and contribute to consumer empowerment through building collective knowledge from individual activations. It contributes to the consumer knowledge literature a two-level, individual and collective, characterisation of knowledge activation and accumulation.
An analysis of educators’ understandings of cultural competence
Authors: Sinclair Karen
Published: January 2019

This article presents the findings of a research study that used Q methodology to explore educators’ understandings of cultural competence. Cultural competence has been acknowledged as an important concept in the education profession and has also been the subject of considerable debate across other disciplines. It is a multifaceted concept in that there is a multiplicity of meanings associated with it. This article describes the application of Q methodology as a comprehensive and rigorous approach to explore educators’ understandings of cultural competence. Data collected from 18 participants were subjected to a by-person factor analysis that yielded two significant factors. The findings validate some common elements of existing understandings of cultural competence, however, discrepancies between factors pointed to a more nuanced understanding of the role of families and communities in developing understandings about cultural competence. The findings reported are specifically in an Australian context, however, given the current importance of the nature of cultural competence across a range of disciplines worldwide, it is suggested that the findings may resonate across disciplines locally and globally.
Effect of Sphenopalatine Ganglion Block With Bupivacaine on Postoperative Pain in Patients Undergoing Endoscopic Sinus Surgery
Authors: Rezaeian Ahmad , Hashemi Seyed Mostafa , Dokhanchi Zeinab Sadat
Published: January 2019

Background

Postoperative pain is one of the most complications in endoscopic sinus surgery. We aimed to evaluate the effect of the sphenopalatine ganglion block (SPGB) with bupivacaine on postoperative pain in patients undergoing endoscopic sinus surgery. Methods and Materials: In this clinical trial, 40 patients who indicated functional endoscopic sinus surgery were selected and then divided into 2 parallel groups as intervention and control. The intervention group was received 1.5 mL of bupivacaine 0.5% (injected to sphenopalatine ganglion) and while control was injected 1.5 mL of normal saline at the same injection site. Also, the visual analogue scale (VAS) was recorded immediately after anesthesia, along with 6, 12, 24, 48 h, 7 days, and 21 days after the operation for all patients.

Results

Immediately after anesthesia, as well as 6, 12, and 24 h after the operation, VAS in the intervention group was significantly lower than in the control group ( P < .05, for all). However, there were no significant differences between the 2 groups regarding VAS 48 h as well as 7 and 21 days after surgery ( P > .05, for both). Also, the rescue analgesia in the intervention group was significantly lower than in the control group ( P = .01).

Conclusion

SPGB with bupivacaine 0.5% (1.5 mL) was a simple, effective, safe, and noninvasive method for the management of postoperative pain in the patients undergoing endoscopic sinus surgery.
Does Mechanical Bowel Preparation Ameliorate Surgical Performance in Anterior Lumbar Interbody Fusion?
Authors: Jeon Chang-Hoon , Lee Han-Dong , Chung Nam-Su
Published: January 2019

Study Design:

Retrospective case-control study.

Objectives:

To investigate whether mechanical bowel preparation (MBP) improve surgical performance and decrease operative complications in anterior lumbar interbody fusion (ALIF).

Methods:

This study involved a retrospective analysis of 48 consecutive patients who underwent ALIF with MBP and a control cohort of 50 consecutive patients who underwent the same surgeries without MBP. The quality of each surgical procedure, operative time, estimated blood loss (EBL), intraoperative complications, changes in vital signs and patient symptoms on the day of surgery, and bowel function postoperatively were also compared between the procedures.

Results:

Baseline demographic characteristics were similar between the 2 groups (all Ps > .05). The quality of each procedure, operative time, EBL, intraoperative complications, and changes in body temperature and heart rate were not different between the groups (all Ps > .05). The MBP group showed more headache, tiredness, thirst, and abdominal discomfort (all Ps < .001) and decrease of the systolic blood pressure ( P = .041) on the day of surgery. The return of bowel movement was not different between the groups ( P = .278).

Conclusions:

Given the similar surgical result with the substantial patient discomfort, MBP can be omitted in ALIF.