bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Blind Population of Massachusetts: Trends 1966—1977
Authors: Nuttall Ronald L. , DeLaney Anne Marie
Published: August 2021

An analysis of the annual reports of the Massachusetts Commission for the Blind from 1966 to 1975 and examination of numbers registered with the Commission from 1976 and 1977 revealed a 69 percent increase in the registered population for these 12 years. From 1966 to 1972 the rate of increase was about 3 percent per year, and from 1972 has been about 7 percent per year. Most of the increase results from growth in the population of people age 75 and older. The main cause of blindness has become macular and retinal degeneration and an increasing number of blind people suffer from multiple affections.
Personal Imagery and the Visually Handicapped
Authors: Macdonald James A.
Published: August 2021

A survey of the art education programs at 12 schools for the visually handicapped to determine whether art activities were aimed at developing skills, personal expression, and aesthetic judgement, points up the need for a model program. Suggestions are made for an art education curriculum and appropriate qualifications for instructors.
The Blind as “Ordinary People”
Authors: Feinman Saul
Published: August 2021

Seventy legally blind people in Wyoming were personally interviewed and asked a series of questions that had been asked of sighted populations in National Opinion Research Center surveys. In addition, several questions focused on the “special” nature of blind persons. The study revealed that, in comparison with their sighted counterparts, blind persons are older, poorer, less educated, and less often married. It was also found that blind persons are slightly higher in reported happiness than are sighted people, mainly because of differences in age and work status.
Tactile Perception and Braille Letter Recognition: Effects of Developmental Teaching
Authors: Mangold Sally S.
Published: August 2021

Studies the extent to which a developmental program of tactile perception and braille letter recognition would affect errors in tactile perception, braille letter recognition, and reduce scrubbing and backtracking behaviors of braille users. Experimental subjects showed significantly fewer errors in tactile perception, braille letter recognition, backtracking behaviors, and scrubbing behaviors than did control subjects.
Research and the Mobility Specialist
Authors: De L'Aune William R.
Published: August 2021

Practitioners in the field of blindness quite often view research with some apprehension. This article attempts to alleviate some of the uneasiness by explaining how research works, the different approaches to research, and some of the problems inherent in research methodology.
Teaching Handwriting to the Congenitally Blind
Authors: Weiss Johnette , Weiss Jeff
Published: August 2021

Poor knowledge of spatial relationships by congenitally blind persons makes it difficult for them to learn handwriting skills. As many blind people are familiar with braille, the braille cell can be used to explain the shapes and formations necessary in handwriting. The dots in the cell are numbered and instructions indicate how to connect the dots with a pen to form script letters.
Diabetic Retinopathy: Nature and Extent
Authors: Coughlin W. Ronald , Patz Arnall
Published: August 2021

The authors discuss the incidence and prevalence of diabetic retinopathy in juvenile and maturity onset diabetics, background and proliferative retinopathy, and current modalities of treatment. Theories of etiology are also considered.
Educating the Blind Diabetic about His Condition
Authors: Acton James J.
Published: August 2021

Staff of rehabilitation centers may assume that adult onset blind diabetics, having had diabetes for a number of years, will possess adequate understanding of their condition. The author's experience shows that usually this is not the case and suggests ways of educating the blind diabetic in the center.
Vocational Rehabilitation for the Visually Impaired Diabetic
Authors: Silver Frederick A.
Published: August 2021

Describes the specialized services the visually impaired diabetic requires in addition to the usual vocational rehabilitation services. The diabetic must be trained in self-administration of insulin, in proper hygiene, and the correct diet must be made available. Counselor and rehab center staff must cooperate in handling the diabetic's unstable physical and visual condition and must be prepared to cope daily with new complications and possible emergencies.
Research in a Rehabilitation Agency
Authors: Gillman Arthur E. , Gordon Arlene R. , Simon Ellen Perlman
Published: August 2021

A case study of how research methodology was introduced into one service agency. Points out difficulties of doing evaluation research in such an agency, especially in view of the moral and ethical imperatives not to interfere with delivery of services to clients.
Complementary Travel Aids for Blind Persons: The Sonicguide used with a Dog Guide
Authors: Jacobson William
Published: August 2021

Studies one dog guide traveler to determine if use of a Sonicguide along with the dog would enable her to make more educated judgments about her course of travel, so enhancing her overall mobility. A description of the training program is presented outlining the procedure of using the Sonicguide first with the long cane and then with the dog guide in each travel unit. Although the training proved successful, several questions were raised that need further research.
A High School Equivalency Program for Visually Impaired Students
Authors: Trief Ellen Benson
Published: August 2021

A high school equivalency program for the visually impaired includes a rigorous evaluation process to determine if the person would make a good candidate for instruction. The instruction includes the teaching of math, spelling and grammar, literature, history, and science. The use of various materials, special aids and modifications for visually impaired students is discussed.
Preview: A Neglected Variable in Orientation and Mobility
Authors: Barth John L. , Foulke Emerson
Published: August 2021

The contribution of preview to the performance of open tasks is pointed out, and sensory anticipation and perceptual anticipation are discussed as components of preview. A case is then made for regarding the blind pedestrian's task as a typical example of an open task. Next, there is a review of research in which the contribution of preview to the performance of open tasks has been observed under controlled conditions. Preview has not been the variable of primary interest in the studies of the performance of blind pedestrians reported so far. However, some experiments have provided indications of the importance of preview, and these experiments are reviewed. The article concludes by urging the necessity of understanding preview, so that its contribution to the performance of blind pedestrians can be taken into account in the formulation of mobility training programs and the design of mobility aids.
Development of the Concept of Spoce
Authors: Simpkins Katherine E.
Published: August 2021

The blind child's concept of space and how this concept develops has been relatively little explored. Using the cognitive theory of Jean Piaget as a base, an overview of the conceptual development of space is presented at it occurs in sighted children. The outline is presented to provide a framework for studying notions of space in blind children.
Development of Efficiency in Visual Functioning: Rationale for a Comprehensive Program
Authors: Barraga Natalie C. , Collins Marcia E.
Published: August 2021

The rationale for a comprehensive program in visual functioning is based upon an assumed interaction between: (a) functions performed by the visual system, (b) developmental visual tasks organized in keeping with perceptual/cognitive milestones, and (c) a variety of indoor and outdoor environments.
The Blind Learning Aptitude Test
Authors: Newland T. Ernest
Published: August 2021

Against a general background of learning aptitude and educational achievement testing of blind children, and of basic orientation for such work, the development and nature of the Blind Learning Aptitude Test (BLAT), an individual test, are described. Standardized upon 961 widely representative educationally blind children, it had high reliability and its validity particularly with respect to the more complex school learnings was clearly indicated. It had particular value not only when its results were combined with those of the Hayes-Binet (though understandably lower when combined with those of the verbal portion of the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children), but especially when used with blind children coming from backgrounds offering limited cultural nurturance.
Criteria for Educational Toys for Pre-School Visually Impaired Children
Authors: Guthrie Sharon
Published: August 2021

There is a large variety of educational toys on today's market. This article presents criteria for selecting toys suitable for visually impaired children: (1) Does it fulfill the individual child's developmental needs? (2) It is attractive enough to stimulate a visually impaired child's interest? (3) If there is a specific purpose for the toy, does it fill this function? (4) Are the cost, size, and noise of the toy compatible with the environment where the child will use it.
A Taxonomy for Mannerisms of Blind Children
Authors: Eichel Valerie J.
Published: August 2021

This investigation set out to develop and validate a systematic, observational methodology to study mannerisms of blind children. A coding procedure was developed and validated employing a set of 34 descriptors with their corresponding definitions. In addition to coding for intensity, direction, synchronization, and order, individual profiles were composed for each of the 24 children, whose visual status ranged from legally blind to totally blind, in the sample. Compilation of these profiles allowed for general trends to be established. The use of this taxonomy enabled a detailed, systematic study of manneristic behavior in blind children.
The Canterbury Child's Aid: A Binaural Spatial Sensor for Research with Blind Children
Authors: Strelow E. R. , Boys J. T.
Published: August 2021

A binaural sensory aid for research with blind children is described along with the rationale for its design features. The basic operation of this form of aid is described in detail with particular reference to those features that control the sensing parameters of range, direction and field of view. A novel automatic level controller which ensures that device sounds remain audible but not excessively loud, in spite of changes in background noise levels, is also described. The likely future development of these forms of sonic aids is discussed.
The Visually Impaired Driver in New York State
Authors: Weiss Norman J.
Published: August 2021

Describes a three-part driving program for low vision persons. Potential trainees are first interviewed to detect problems that may interfere with success. Suitable candidates are then trained to quickly detect and recognize objects through a bioptic lens system. In the third phase, a mobility instructor gives training in various aspects of the automobile and driving, and the trainee is quizzed on road signs and markings while riding as a passenger. Students successfully completing all three phases may then go on to obtain a Learner's Permit and take driving lessons in the usual manner.
Increasing the Braille Reading Rate
Authors: Foulke Emerson
Published: August 2021

The possibilities of increasing the braille reading rate include changing the ability of braille readers, changing the way in which braille characters are displayed, and changing the braille code. The research that has been conducted to evaluate these possibilities is reviewed.
Experiments with Modified Grade 2 Braille Codes to Determine Their Effect on Reading Speed
Authors: Lorimer John , Tobin Michael J.
Published: August 2021

Discusses the braille code as a medium of communication and describes four experiments in which Standard English Grade 2 Braille is compared with three “reduced” codes and one “expanded” code. Although the criterion used in the experiments is “speed of reading,” other criteria that need to be taken into account are discussed, the most important being space-saving and ease of learning. The authors see these investigations as part of the preliminary work that must be undertaken if braille is to be made accessible to a larger number of readers, particularly to children and adults of average and below-average ability.
Driving with Low Vision
Authors: Kelleher Dennis K.
Published: August 2021

Discusses the current status of driving with low vision, both with and without a bioptic telescope. It specifies licensing criteria, training sequences, and identifies problem areas. Preliminary data from a comparison of safety records in three states are presented and recommendations are made for future licensing standards and for conducting research on visually impaired drivers.
Assessment, Counseling, and Training of Integrated Visually Impaired Children
Authors: Lindstedt Eva
Published: August 2021

Describes experimental work that has been carried out in creating services for integrated visually handicapped children at a Center of assessment, counselling and training, located at a residential school. The principles and methods applied are outlined and a report given of 70 children visiting the Center during one time period. The clinical procedure and follow-up is described. The complexity of the problems and the necessity of an individual approach in habilitation is stressed as well as the importance of team work engaging both professional and nonprofessional persons.
Factors Influencing the Integration of Visually Impaired Children
Authors: Thomas John E.
Published: August 2021

Attributes of visually impaired children such as chronological age, grade placement, visual acuity, sex, arithmetic, and reading achievement are of primary concern in this investigation. These attributes or variables are studied in relation to their association with or influence upon the integration of visually impaired children into classes and activities with normally seeing children in the Detroit Public Schools. Findings are believed to be generalizable in view of the diverse abilities, experiences, and ethnic background of the general and special student population in the large public school district studied, and given the flexibility necessarily deployed in programming to provide meaningful learning experiences for all students enrolled.
Mobility Training: Who Comes for it and who Succeeds at It?
Authors: Gillman Arthur E. , Simon Ellen Perlman , Rosenheim Shari , Rosenblatt Barbara
Published: August 2021

Reports a retrospective study of the records of 183 men and women who had received mobility training at the New York Lighthouse. It was found that how well and quickly the trainees learned to travel was affected by age, sex, presence of other handicaps, visual acuity, and whether or not they still traveled at intake or had previously received mobility training.
Active and Passive Perceptual Learning in the Visually Impaired
Authors: Conrod Beverley E. , Bross Michael , White Charles W.
Published: August 2021

Active and passive perceptual training methods were tested with 30 macular degeneration patients to improve their residual vision. Four different measures assessed improvement: a reading test, the Frostig Figure Ground Test (FFG), the Bender-Bestalt Test, and the Farnsworth-Munsell 100-Hue Test (FM-100). Participants were grouped according to two levels of impairment (moderate or severe) and three training conditions (active, passive, and control) in a 2 x 3 multivariate design. It was expected that the training sessions would improve visual task performance, and that active participants would show more improvement than other groups. A multivariate ANOVA found an overall main effect for the learning factor, and univariate tests showed that the active group improved significantly more than the passive and control groups on the FFG test. The main conclusion was that perceptual training may contribute to successful visual adjustment and that the effect of training is not limited to a particular level of visual impairment.
Evaluating Methods for Teaching Orientation and Mobility with Sonicguide
Authors: Suzuki Sigeo
Published: August 2021

Sonicguide (S.G.) serves the function of “an eye” for blind persons. To make most effective use of the Sonicguide, trainers must evaluate training methods. This report introduces one way of evaluating training with S.G., through the handling of miniatures and of schematic drawings.
Broward County Mass Transit: Meeting the Needs of the Blind and Visually Impaired
Authors: Hanley Delores
Published: August 2021

A special forum for individuals to respond in detail to material published in the Journal of Visual Impairment & Blindness or to raise issues which relate to the specialized field of work with blind and visually handicapped persons. Contributions should be 350–1000 words in length.
Proactive Personnel Administration: A Model for Administration as a Helping Profession
Authors: Bina Michael J.
Published: August 2021

A study of the role of administrators in education and rehabilitation, this article confronts the problems arising from a lack of constructive, interpersonal communication and discusses prevalent trends in administration which focus more on technological and electronic advancements rather than daily staff concerns. Suggesting that all too often administrators become managers of things rather than people, the author proposes the need for a proactive administrative approach, introducing a help-giving attitude rather than a bureaucratic style of management. Concrete recommendations for improving the work environment through an ongoing responsiveness to staff needs and concerns are offered.
Blindness Statistics (Part 2): Blindness Registers in the United States
Authors: Desantis Vito , Schein Jerome D.
Published: August 2021

State commissions for the blind and visually impaired have long been associated with the use of registers to determine the size and characteristics of the blind populations of their states (Goldstein, 1973). In recent years, some states have abandoned their registers; others have reduced their investments in them. It is also true that some states have never established them. A recent accounting of the number of states that have registers has not been published, though the information is of interest to those concerned with statistics on the blind and visually impaired population. Accordingly, we sought to determine how many states now maintain registers and also to gather information about those that do. This paper presents the results of a state-by-state survey of state agencies serving blind and visually impaired individuals.
Age at Onset of Blindness and Development of Space Concepts: From Topological to Projective Space
Authors: Birns Shayne L.
Published: August 2021

Age at onset of blindness does not seem to be the critical factor in children's masters of space concepts. Although only half the subjects of this study successfully completed Piagetian tasks of projected space, congenitally and adventitiously blind subjects were equally able to do so. Neither was performance age-related: success and failure rates were distributed evenly over the 6-to-12 age span. One-third of the subjects exhibited atypical spatial development, mastering relative positions of left and right before mirror-image orientation.
Visual Handicap in the Aged: Self-Reported Visual Disability and the Quality of Life of Residents of Public Housing for the Elderly
Authors: Gillman Arthur E. , Simmel Arnold , Simon Ellen Perlman
Published: August 2021

Declining vision adds to the frustrations and deprivations which make the life of the elderly difficult. This opinion is supported by the experience of clinicians and other providers of services to the visually impaired. However, there is little systematic information available about those elderly visually impaired persons who do not come to clinicians and social agencies for help. Our aim is to describe how reduced vision affects a part of the general population of elderly people.
A Program for Sighted, Blind, Low Vision, and Disabled Volunteers
Authors: Franks Jeanette
Published: August 2021

This article describes the structure of a volunteer program in a social service agency serving the blind and visually impaired in Seattle, Washington. The program's manual, screening, placement, job descriptions, evaluations, and statistics are reviewed. Examples of volunteering, including opportunities for disabled volunteers, are given.
Frequencies and Types of Questions in the Language of Visually Impaired Children
Authors: Erin Jane N.
Published: August 2021

The study examined question frequencies and types in language samples from 36 sighted and visually impaired children. Blind, low vision, and sighted groups between the ages of 4 and 10 produced spontaneous samples while discussing a group of household objects. An ANOVA demonstrated significant differences between blind/sighted and low vision/sighted groups in the ratio of questions asked per 100 utterances. Non-statistical comparison of question types indicated some minor distinctions of type usage by age and visual function.
Effect of Exercise on Blind Persons
Authors: Hanna Richard S.
Published: August 2021

This paper looks at the present physical fitness level of blind persons, and presents recreational activities that promote a high level of physical fitness. Test results from students at schools for blind children and from visually impaired students in public schools show significant differences in lateral posture (Kein, 1975), biological functioning (Jan, 1978), and cardiovascular endurance (Stanford; Laughlin; George; 1975) between the blind students and their sighted peers. Other studies suggest methods for integration of visually impaired students into physical education classes with their sighted peers. Recreational activities for blind people should include activities that make moderate demands on the cardiovascular system.
Approaches to Increasing Assertive Behavior and Communication Skills in Blind and Visually Impaired Persons
Authors: Harrell Rona L. , Strauss Felice A.
Published: August 2021

Many visually impaired individuals are found to be too passive or too aggressive in their social interactions. Lack of assertive behavior is related to the concept of learned helplessness. Components of assertive behavior are described with suggestions for enabling the visually impaired person to develop these skills. The underlying concepts of assertion training are explained along with specific techniques to be utilized in the school or rehabilitative setting. With a structured intervention resulting in improved assertiveness skills, blind or partially sighted individuals can increase their effectiveness in communicating with others and can feel more in control of their lives.
Interfacing the Echo GP with the TRS-80 Color Computer
Authors: Czerwinski Michael H.
Published: August 2021

A monthly section highlighting the impact of technological development on consumers and the blindness/visual impairment field. We need your support. Please send news, reviews, and descriptions of new hardware, software, interfacing ideas, prototypes, training programs, job opportunities, volunteer usage, user evaluations, educational opportunities, exhibits—in short, anything and everything—to the Editor-in-Chief, Journal of Visual Impairment & Blindness, 15 W. 16th St., New York, NY 10011. In addition, we will attempt to direct reader queries to the appropriate experts, and publish questions and answers of general interest. Ideas and suggestions are welcomed.
In Brief
Authors: Erickson Wendy
Published: August 2021

Most of the informational pamphlets and booklets described below may be obtained at minimal or no cost by contacting the publishers directly.
Computerized Image Enhancement for Visually Impaired Persons: New Technology, New Possibilities
Authors: Pell E. , Arend L. E. , Timberlake G. T.
Published: August 2021

Patients with age-related visual loss suffer reduced ability to recognize faces and other scenes in photographs and on television. Recently, progress has been made in image enhancement, using controlled distortion of digitally stored images that increases their usefulness in particular applications. Described are two approaches to image enhancement for the visually impaired. In one approach, the visual losses that characterize individual patients and disease classes are described using detailed measurements of visual degradation transfer functions, which are profiles of loss of image information at various spatial scales. The particular distortion used for image enhancement is then adjusted to the impairment of the individual patient or disease class. A second approach takes advantage of the resemblance between the visual losses of many patients and the degradation of picture information in other applications due to external limitations (e.g., fog and haze) on photography. Several enhancement algorithms have been found useful with such images and may also improve picture recognition by the visually impaired.
The Impact of Retinitis Pigmentosa on Young Adults: Psychological, Educational, Vocational and Social Considerations
Authors: Nemshick L. A. , Vernon McC. , Ludman F.
Published: August 2021

Retinitis pigmentosa (RP) refers to a group of inherited retinal degenerative disorders in which night and peripheral vision are gradually lost. A national sample of young adults with RP reveals that a significant number feel that RP adversely affects their education, employment, mobility and socialization. Participants feel that special counseling is needed to accept and adjust to their condition, and that sharing with peers would be beneficial.
Nominal Realism in Congenitally Blind Children
Authors: Anderson D. W. , Fisher K. P.
Published: August 2021

To add to our understanding of language and cognition in congenitally blind children, the notion of nominal realism was probed. Subjects responded to questions regarding the origin of object names and whether these names could be changed. Inquiry also focused on whether the children assigned animistic qualities to the objects. Results of the investigation indicated that nominal realism, as an attribute of preoperational thought, remains a characteristic of blind children's thinking longer than it does for sighted children. This finding is related to the limitations blindness is thought to impose on children's interactions with objects, and the general delay in (Piagetian) cognitive development observed among congenitally blind youngsters. These results underscore the need for providing appropriate cognitive and linguistic experiences for young blind children.
Effects of Exercise on the Insulin Levels in Diabetics
Authors: Kevorkian G. A.
Published: August 2021

This article concerns a study of the effects of aerobic exercise on lowering the insulin requirements of the diabetics in the exercise group. A two-way analysis of variance revealed significant interaction effects.
An Alternative to Braille Labeling
Authors: Shafrath M. R.
Published: August 2021

The Fishburne Code provides a practical alternative in labeling for those adult blind who are unwilling or unable to learn braille. The system is standardized, versatile, easy to learn, and easy to use. My clients have been enthusiastic about learning Fishburne and have continued to use it after training for labeling a variety of personal possessions.
Orthographic Effects of Braille and Print in the Auditory Modality
Authors: Pring L.
Published: August 2021

Three experiments were carried out to explore the influence of orthographic codes in the comprehension by blind subjects and sighted subjects of words presented auditorially. In the first experiment, the task was to detect a target word, which rhymed with a previously given cue word, and to press a reaction-time key when it was heard. Rhyme pairs that shared similar orthographic codes (e.g., lake and take) were detected by both groups significantly faster than were rhyme pairs that did not share similar orthographic codes (e.g., lake and ache). The results suggested that a braille-derived orthographic code, as well as a print-derived code, affects auditory word processing. The second and third experiments compared the two groups’ speeds in detecting letters presented auditorially in letter-number pairs.
Uses of Mechanical Vibration in the Education of Multiply Handicapped Blind Children
Authors: Hobbis V. , Williams T.
Published: August 2021

Multiply handicapped blind children, particularly those with severe or profound mental and/or auditory handicaps, are effectively deprived of many sensations, and hence many opportunities for learning. It is therefore of particular interest when a technique is developed that appears to utilize an intact portion of their sensorium. In this paper, the uses of mechanical vibration for stimulating, rewarding and suppressing the behaviors of multiply handicapped children are discussed. A review of the published literature, together with our experience, indicate how the use of mechanical vibration has helped to develop new skills for multiply handicapped children. Suggestions for further research and refinement of the techniques are made.
Night Vision Aid Option: Streamlights
Authors: Mosler V. L.
Published: August 2021

Other authors have compared commercially available night vision aids used by visually impaired persons who have night blindness. The Wide Angle Mobility Lantern (WAML) is usually the more recommended device. This article suggests that other night vision aids, as yet unmentioned in the literature, may be equally effective and sometimes preferred to the WAML. Lights in the Streamlight series are comparable in price and size to the WAML and are more widely available. Personnel working with school-aged children who are night blind are encouraged to provide them with information about, and hands-on experience with, various night vision aids.
Recurrent Respiratory Papillomatosis With Complete Response to Systemic Bevacizumab Therapy
Authors: Gorelik Daniel , Frantz Amy , Dome Jeffrey S. , Reilly Brian K.
Published: August 2021

Recurrent respiratory papillomatosis is a condition caused by human papilloma virus, usually sub types 6 and 11. Papillomas are benign neoplasms that are most commonly found on the larynx and can be often associated with significant airway involvement. Frequency of episodes varies among patients as do the clinical symptoms. Patients often present with symptoms such as hoarseness but there is potential for respiratory compromise and even complete airway obstruction.
Time Theft in the Los Angeles Retail Sector: The Need for New Labor Standards and a Fair Workweek
Authors: Sharma Preeti , Stepick Lina , Shadduck-Hernández Janna , Waheed Saba
Published: August 2021

We argue that employers subject workers to time theft by controlling workers’ time—both on and off the clock. Time theft considers employer control of workers’ time without the promise of pay through unstable scheduling practices as well as beyond their scheduled work hours. We develop a typology of time theft through a discussion of survey and workshop data with retail workers in Los Angeles. We underscore how federal labor law is inadequate to address unstable scheduling and we discuss retail worker organizing and the implications of time theft for labor policy and worker movements.
Who Counts as Trans? A Critical Discourse Analysis of Trans Tumblr Posts
Authors: Jacobsen Kai , Devor Aaron , Hodge Edwin
Published: August 2021

Internet and social media sites have long served as a rich form of community-building and knowledge exchange within transgender communities. In particular, Tumblr has become a popular site among trans youth in recent years. Paralleling changes in medical and mainstream societal understandings of what it means to be transgender, trans Tumblr users have engaged in dialogue and debate about the definitions and limits of trans identity. While research has established the potential for positive identity-formation among LGBTQ+ youth on Tumblr, it is also important to consider how online trans communities may re-inscribe hegemonic narratives in addition to disrupting dominant discourses and ideologies. Using a critical discourse analysis of Tumblr posts, this research analyses how trans Tumblr users define “who counts as trans,” including how users define gender dysphoria and its relationship to trans identities. Our findings provide critical insight into how trans communities define the boundaries of their identities in a struggle for visibility, resources, and respect.
What fresh hell? UK policies targeting homeless migrants for deportation after Brexit and Covid-19
Authors: Morgan Benjamin
Published: August 2021

Before Covid-19 around a quarter of the UK’s rough sleeping population were non-UK nationals, with the proportion rising above half in some metropolitan areas. The UK government’s targeting of rough-sleeping EU citizens for ‘administrative removal’ between 2010–2017 reflected a trend in social policy towards enforcement- rather than support-based ‘solutions’ to migrant homelessness. Changes to the Immigration Rules in late 2020 to make rough sleeping a ground for refusal or cancellation of permission to be in the UK represent a revival of this tendency. This commentary analyses UK policies targeting rough sleeping non-UK nationals for deportation from a practitioner’s perspective – the author ran a rights project for homeless migrants between 2018 and 2021.
Correlates of post-traumatic stress among victimized women on probation and parole
Authors: Prost Stephanie Grace , Golder Seana , Higgins George E. , Pettus-Davis Carrie , Renn Tanya , Edmond Tonya , Logan TK
Published: August 2021

The current study aimed to identify the correlates of post-traumatic stress among a sample of women on probation and parole with a history of victimization. Community-based sampling was used to recruit 406 women on probation and parole in Jefferson County, Kentucky. The post-traumatic stress diagnostic scale was used to measure three indicators of post-traumatic stress: post-traumatic stress disorder diagnosis, symptom severity, and the number of life domains impacted by symptoms. Shaped by the comprehensive health seeking and coping paradigm, logistic and ordinary least squares regression analyses were used to examine the relationships between sociodemographic factors, criminal justice involvement, cumulative victimization, substance use, social support, material loss, homelessness, and post-traumatic stress. Models identifying correlates of post-traumatic stress accounted for between 18.6% and 26% of the variance and point to critical opportunities for intervention surrounding the dynamic factors of recent intimate partner violence and material loss. Targeting these important factors during community supervision is anticipated to decrease post-traumatic stress and increase the likelihood of success under criminal justice system supervision.
Design thinking approach to simplify monetary transactions for the people with visual impairment
Authors: Manjunath Akanksh A , Sohan MC , Anala MR , Subramanya KN
Published: August 2021

Design thinking, having applications in many fields, is emerging to be a pragmatic technique for facilitating Human Centred Design (HCD), a modern-day necessity, through a well-defined systematic process. This paper presents a case study detailing the application of design thinking principles to approach and develop solutions for the visually challenged to recognize the denomination of Indian currencies. Throughout the paper, specific implementations of design thinking principles have been detailed with emphasis on the key takeaways from the various stages. A comprehensive review of our approach compared to existing and unconventional applications has been provided to underline the importance of incorporating design thinking into emergent consumer-oriented solutions. A lot of research has been done in developing denomination classification models, however, there seems to be a lack of solutions designed through the perspective of a blind person who plays the critical factor in determining effectiveness once deployed. The design procedure helped us realize the importance of developing a simple user-friendly interface with a single input button and audio relays to guide the blind user during operation. Establishing a good platform for interaction and feedback was found to be critical in helping us modify and prioritize aspects such as achieving a low false-positive percentage and the addition of a high threshold Softmax function which made the solution design effective.
Anti-Semitism, Denunciation, and the Frankfurt Trial against Rosa Luxemburg
Authors: Bonnell Andrew G.
Published: August 2021

This paper examines the largely overlooked role of denunciation in initiating the Frankfurt trial of Rosa Luxemburg in early 1914 for inciting disobedience among German soldiers, and corrects errors that have entered the scholarly literature on the topic. This is then taken as the starting point for wider reflections on the connections between denunciation, anti-Semitism, and anti-socialism in Germany in the ‘long nineteenth century’. It will be argued that the practice of denunciation, directed both against the political Left and against Jews, long preceded the now well-documented salience of denunciation in the Nazi dictatorship. Denunciation was thus an asymmetrical political weapon – it could be invoked against the political Left by their right-wing and conservative opponents in nineteenth-century Germany, but was not available to the democratic Left, nor would it have been palatable to them. The capacity of German anti-Semites to resort to denunciation of Social Democrats also highlights the extent to which anti-Semites could count on being regarded as among the ‘state-supporting’ parties in Imperial Germany.
Undergraduate students with musical training report less conflict in interpersonal relationships
Authors: MacDonald Jordan , Wilbiks Jonathan M P
Published: August 2021

Recent research has shown that formal musical training has a wealth of benefits in terms of cognition, mental health, social skills, and even speech perception. Of these benefits, there is strong support for a relationship between formal musical training and an improved ability to recognize emotions in speech prosody. Given this connection, interpersonal relationships stand to benefit from improved communication efficacy, which includes an improved ability to recognize emotions in speech. Interpersonal relationships rely on successful expression and interpretation of emotions in speech. If formal musical training can improve the perception of emotions in speech, it should indirectly benefit interpersonal relationship quality. The current study collected data from 197 undergraduate students about their formal musical training and interpersonal relationship quality through an online survey. The results showed that formal musical training accounted for 8% of the difference in relationship conflict but did not benefit relationship support or depth. While musical expertise does not necessarily improve relationship quality overall, it may help reduce conflict in relationships. Further research is needed, with participants who have greater musical expertise, to clarify the relationship between formal musical training and relationship conflict.
Predictors of music performance anxiety in conservatory students
Authors: Lupiáñez Mariola , Ortiz Francisco de Paula , Vila Jaime , Muñoz Miguel A.
Published: August 2021

Music performance anxiety (MPA) is one of the main problems experienced by music students. It manifests in affective, cognitive, somatic, and behavioral symptoms that can occur regardless of the quality of the musical performance. The aim of this study was to perform a regression analysis to determine the variables that contribute to the prediction of MPA in conservatory students. A total of 295 Spanish music students aged 15–68 years enrolled in Spanish conservatories completed a battery of questionnaires selected to collect information about demographic characteristics, musical training, learning processes, and health and psychological variables. Pearson’s correlations and ANOVA were calculated, and a regression analysis was done to predict the development of MPA. The results showed that MPA is largely predicted by health and psychological variables, including depression, fear of negative evaluation, social avoidance, poor achievement motivation, and use of substances to alleviate MPA. Age at first musical performance with an audience was the only musical training variable with sufficient strength to predict MPA (the older the participant, the greater the MPA). The article concludes with a discussion of the need to implement psychological and educational counseling in music education centers as well as specific training to increase the quality of the musical career and personal wellbeing of the students.
A Multicenter Randomized Controlled Trial Comparing Single-Row With Double-Row Fixation in Arthroscopic Rotator Cuff Repair: Long-Term Follow-up
Authors: Lapner Peter , Li Ang , Pollock J. W. , Zhang Tinghua , McIlquham Katie , McRae Sheila , MacDonald Peter
Published: August 2021

Background:

The long-term outcomes of single- versus double-row fixation in arthroscopic rotator cuff repair are not currently known.

Purpose:

To compare the treatment effects of the single- versus double-row suture technique in arthroscopic rotator cuff repair of full-thickness tears at 10-year follow-up.

Study Design:

Randomized controlled trial; Level of evidence, 1.

Methods:

Patients were evaluated at 10 years postoperatively. The primary outcome measure was the Western Ontario Rotator Cuff Index (WORC). Secondary outcome measures included the American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons (ASES) score, Constant score, strength, and incidence of revision surgery. Ultrasound was used to evaluate the rotator cuff to determine repair integrity. Statistical analyses consistent with those of the main trial were conducted.

Results:

Of the original 90 participants, 77 (85%) returned at a mean follow-up of 10 years. At ten year follow-up, the WORC score was higher in the double row group (79.9 [95% CI, 16.2 to 99.1]) compared with the single row group (72.9, [95% CI, 4.3 to 100]), P = .020. From baseline to 2 years, the mean change in WORC scores for the single-row group was –48.5 compared with −40.6 for the double-row group, with a between-group difference of −7.8 (95% CI, −20.4 to 4.7). From 2 to 10 years, the change in WORC scores for the single-row group was 11.5 compared with −0.2 for the double-row group, with a between-group difference of 11.7 (95% CI, −0.7 to 24.3). From baseline to 10 years, the mean between-group difference was 3.9 (95% CI, −7.8 to 15.6). Similarly, a decrease in ASES scores was observed between 2 and 10 years for the single-row group (9.2 [95% CI, 0.9 to 17.5]; P = .029), with a nonsignificant decrease in ASES scores for the double-row group (6.2 [95% CI, −3.2 to 15.6]; P = .195) as well as a decrease in Constant scores for both the single- (9.5 [95% CI, 1.4 to 17.5]; P = .020) and double-row (14.4 [95% CI, 5.6 to 23.3]; P = .001) groups. Overall, 3 participants developed a full-thickness tear after 2 years: 2 from the double-row group and 1 from the single-row group. One participant from each study group underwent revision surgery after the 2-year time point.

Conclusion:

A statistically significant (but likely not clinically important) difference in WORC scores was seen at 10-year follow-up in favor of double-row fixation. Between baseline and 10-year follow-up, a decrease in most outcome scores was observed in both the single- and the double-row groups.

Registration:

NCT00508183 ( ClinicalTrials.gov identifier).
Colony Forming Potential and Protein Composition of Commercial Umbilical Cord Allograft Products in Comparison With Autologous Orthobiologics
Authors: Berger Dustin R. , Centeno Christopher J. , Kisiday John D. , McIlwraith C. Wayne , Steinmetz Neven J.
Published: August 2021

Background:

Umbilical cord (UC) connective tissues contain plastic-adherent, colony forming unit–fibroblasts (CFU-Fs) amenable to culture expansion for potential therapeutic use. Recently, UC-derived allograft products have been made available to practitioners in orthopaedics and other specialties, by companies purporting “stem cell”–based healing. However, such marketing claims conflict with existing regulations for these human tissues, generating questions over the cellular and protein composition of current commercially available UC allograft products.

Purpose:

To evaluate commercial UC allograft products for viable cells, CFU-Fs, and protein makeup.

Study Design:

Descriptive laboratory study.

Methods:

Five commercial UC allograft products claiming to contain viable, undescribed “stem cells,” 2 obtained from UC blood (UCB) and 3 from UC tissue (UCT), were analyzed. Image-based methods were used to measure cell concentration and viability, a traditional CFU-F assay was used to evaluate in vitro behavior indicative of a connective tissue progenitor cell phenotype often referred to as mesenchymal stem/stromal cells, and quantitative immunoassay arrays were used to measure a combination of cytokines and growth factors. Bone marrow concentrate (BMC) and plasma derived from the blood and bone marrow of middle-aged individuals served as comparative controls for cell culture and protein analyses, respectively.

Results:

Viable cells were identified within all 5 UC allograft products, with those derived from UCB having greater percentages of living cells (40%-59%) than those from UCT (1%-22%). Compared with autologous BMC (>95% viability and >300 million living cells), no CFU-Fs were observed within any UC allograft product (<15 million living cells). Moreover, a substantial number of proteins, particularly those within UCB allograft products, were undetectable or present at lower concentrations compared with blood and bone marrow plasma controls. Interestingly, several important growth factors and cytokines, including basic fibroblast growth factor, hepatocyte growth factor, interleukin-1 receptor antagonist, and osteoprotegerin, were most prevalent in 1 or more UCT allograft products as compared with blood and bone marrow plasma.

Conclusion:

CFU-Fs, often referred to as stem cells, were not found within any of the commercial UC allograft products analyzed, and clinicians should remain wary of marketing claims stating otherwise.

Clinical Relevance:

Any therapeutic benefit of current UC allograft products in orthopaedic medicine is more likely to be attributed to their protein composition (UCT > UCB) or inclusion of cells without colony forming potential (UCB > UCT).