bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Cyrtodactylus dumnuii (Squamata: Gekkonidae), a new cave-dwelling gecko from Chiang Mai Province, Thailand
Authors: BAUER AARON M. , KUNYA KIRATI , SUMONTHA MONTRI , NIYOMWAN PIYAWAN , PAUWELS OLIVIER S. G. , CHANHOME LAWAN , KUNYA TUNYAKORN
Published: January 2019

A new cave-dwelling species of Cyrtodactylus is described from Chiang Mai Province in northern Thailand. Cyrtodactylus dumnuii sp. nov. may be distinguished from all other congeners by the possession of a series of enlarged femoral scales, disjunct precloacal and femoral pores in males (minute precloacal pores variably present in females), a relatively high number (18–22) of closely spaced, regularly arranged dorsal tubercle rows, well-defined non-denticulate ventrolateral folds, transversely enlarged subcaudal plates, and a color pattern of approximately six pairs of alternating light and dark transverse bands on the trunk. It is the nineteenth member of the genus recorded from Thailand and the eighth Thai Cyrtodactylus known to be a facultative troglophile.
Solenotheres prolixus, a new genus and new species of pinnotherid crab (Crustacea: Decapoda: Brachyura) associated with the razor clam, Solen corneus Lamarck, 1818 (Solenidae) in Vietnam
Authors: NG PETER K. L. , VAN TRI NGO
Published: January 2019

A new genus and new species of pinnotherid crab, Solenotheres prolixus, is described from the razor clam, Solen corneus (Solenidae), in Vietnam. The new genus is characterised by its broad and subquadrate carapace, a spatuliform third maxilliped dactylus that is inserted near the base of the propodus, and asymmetrical third ambulatory legs.
A revision and redescription of the rock gecko Cnemaspis siamensis (Taylor 1925) (Squamata: Gekkonidae) from Peninsular Thailand with descriptions of seven new species
Authors: GRISMER L. LEE , SUMONTHA MONTRI , COTA MICHAEL , GRISMER JESSE L. , WOOD, JR. PERRY L. , PAUWELS OLIVIER S. G. , KUNYA KIRATI
Published: January 2019

A taxonomic revision of Cnemaspis siamensis (Smith 1925) revealed it to be a complex composed of four species: C. siamensis (Smith 1925) which occurs on Ko Tao Island, Surat Thani Province and on the peninsula ranges from Khao Mod, Surat Thani Province in the south, northward east of the Tenasserim Mountains to Kaeng Krachan National Park, Phetchaburi Province; C. chanardi sp. nov. ranging from Tai Rom Yen National Park, Surat Thani Province in the north, southward through the western foothills of the Nakhon Si Thammarat and Sankalakhiri Mountains to Phuphaphet Cave, Satun Province and westward to Khlong Thom District, Krabi Province; C. vandeventeri sp. nov. ranging from Kapur District, Ranong Province southward to at least Khlong Had Sompen, District, Ranong Province west of the Tenasserim and Phuket Mountains and possibly all the way to Phuket Island; and C. kamolnorranathi sp. nov. restricted to the northwestern section of the Itshmus of Kra, ranging from Tham Khao Sonk, Thachana District, Surat Thani Province southward to Tai Rom Yen National Park, Surat Thani Province. These species are easily separated from one another on the basis of their unique combination of having or lacking precloacal pores, dark gular markings, a series of lightly colored bars on the flanks, and a lightly colored, prescapular crescent as well as other aspects of squamation. Four additional new species from western and southern Thailand are also described: C. huaseesom sp. nov. from Sai Yok National Park, Kanchanaburi Province; C. punctatonuchalis sp. nov. from Thap Sakae District, Prachuap Khiri Khan Province; C. narathiwatensis sp. nov. ranging from Waeng District, Narathiwat Province south to Bang Lang, Yala Province; and C. niyomwanae sp. nov. from Thum Khao Ting, Palean District, Trang Province, Thailand. These species are differentiated from each other and all other Cnemaspis on the basis of their unique combinations of color pattern and squamation characters. This brings the total number of species of Cnemaspis in Thailand from five to 12 and continues to illustrate that the unrealized diversity in this group is a function of unfocused collecting efforts coupled with poor taxonomy.
A new species of dactyloid anole (SQUAMATA: IGUANIDAE) from the western Andes of Ecuador
Authors: AYALA-VARELA FERNANDO P. , VELASCO JULIÁN ANDRÉS
Published: January 2019

We describe a new species of Anolis from the western slopes of the Andes in Ecuador, Provincias Cotopaxi and Pichincha. The new species fits into (1) the aequatorialis species group by being of moderate to large size with narrow toe lamellae and (2) the eulaemus subgroup by having a typical Anolis digit, in which the distal lamellae of phalanx II distinctly overlap the proximal scales of phalanx I. The new species is most similar to A. gemmosus O’Shaughnessy but differs from it by features like the presence of a dark coppery brown stripe on the sides of the head (stripe absent in A. gemmosus), females with dark brown dorsal chevrons extending to the flanks (chevrons absent in A. gemmosus), male dewlap white with green scales (male dewlap greenish-yellow with green scales in A. gemmosus), dewlap with wide scale rows of three to six scales per row (narrow scale rows of 2−3 scales per row in A. gemmosus), and interparietal scale (if present) surrounded by relatively enlarged flat scales (interparietal surrounded by small swollen scales in A. gemmosus). These two species occur in sympatry in the Reserva de Bosque Integral Otonga, Provincia Cotopaxi, Ecuador.
An annotated catalogue of the Muscidae (Diptera) of Siberia
Authors: SOROKINA VERA S. , PONT ADRIAN C.
Published: January 2019

An annotated catalogue of the Muscidae (Diptera) of Siberia is given. The catalogue contains taxonomic and geographic information on 282 named species and subspecies, with a further 17 named or unnamed species for which the identifications require confirmation or revision. Taxonomic information for each species includes references to the original description, the type-locality, and the nature and depository of the primary type(s). Geographic information for each species includes all known records of Siberian localities and the published source for each of them. A comprehensive bibliography is included. The name Gymnodia Robineau-Desvoidy, 1863 is accepted as the valid name for the genus previously known as Brontaea Kowarz, 1873. Musca sugillatrix (Robineau-Desvoidy, 1830) is here treated as a nomen oblitum, and its junior subjective synonym Musca osiris Wiedemann, 1830, as a nomen protectum.
More notes on Alfredo Dugès’ names for Mexican reptilian taxa
Authors: FLORES-VILLELA OSCAR , REYNOSO VICTOR HUGO
Published: January 2019

Alfredo Dugès, considered the father of Mexican herpetology (Smith & Smith 1969) lived in the city of Guanajuato, México, where he formed a cabinet of natural history, today the Museo Alfredo Dugès. During the course of an investigation dealing with his life and contributions we have restudied his collections and contributions to Mexican herpetology. Dugès proposed 41 taxonomic names in herpetology. One of these names was considered a nomen nudum by Smith and Smith (1969), 10 were erected for new genera, two for new subgenera, 24 for new species, and four for new subspecies. Five names — three genera and two species — do not belong to the Mexican fauna (Flores-Villela et al. in prep). Previous comments on A. Dugès’ names have been made by Smith (1968, 1969) and Smith and Smith (1969).
Azumamiris vernalis: a new genus and species of Mirini from central Japan (Heteroptera: Miridae: Mirinae)
Authors: YASUNAGA TOMOHIDE
Published: January 2019

Azumamiris, a new genus of mirine plant bug, is established to accommodate a new species, A. vernalis, which has occasionally been found in central Honshu, Japan. This univoltine mirine was confirmed to be associated with a gramineous dwarf bamboo, Pleioblastus chino (Fr. et Sav.) Makino, and the adults appear only in early May. The final instar nymph is also diagnosed and described. The present new genus is assumed to be allied to Stenotus Jakovlev known from the Old World and to continental Chinese Elthemidea Zheng. A key to the genera under discussion is provided.
Description of new cicada species associated with the coffee plant and an identification key for the species of Fidicinoides (Hemiptera: Cicadidae) from Brazil
Authors: SANTOS RODRIGO SOUZA , MARTINELLI NILZA MARIA , MACCAGNAN DOUGLAS HENRIQUE BOTTURA , SANBORN ALLEN F. , RIBEIRO RENATO
Published: January 2019

The genus Fidicinoides Boulard & Martinelli is characterized by its partially exposed timbal, not totally covered by the meta-scutellar plate as occurs in Fidicina Amyot & Serville, and has an extensive geographic distribution in Central and South America. In this work a new species for the genus is described. Fidicinoides sarutaiensis Santos, Martinelli & Maccagnan sp. n. is a medium-sized cicada, with the collected and studied specimens associated with coffee (Coffee arabica L.), in the municipality of Sarutaiá, in the southeast region of São Paulo state. The species F. glauca (Goding, 1925) and F. viridifemur (Walker, 1850) are transferred to Dorisiana. An identification key for the Fidicinoides species of Brazil is also proposed.
The Impact of Locally Enhanced Vertical Diffusivity on the Cross-Shelf Transport of Tracers Induced by a Submarine Canyon
Authors: Ramos-Musalem Karina , Allen Susan E.
Published: January 2019

The exchanges of water, nutrients, and oxygen between the coastal and open ocean are key components of on-shelf nutrient budgets and biogeochemical cycles. On a regional scale, submarine canyons enhance physical processes such as shelf–slope mass exchange and mixing. There is good understanding of the flow around upwelling submarine canyons; however, the flux of biologically relevant tracers is less understood. This work investigates the impact of submarine canyons on the cross-shelf exchange of tracers and water, taking into account the impact of locally enhanced mixing within the canyon, and develops a scaling estimate for canyon-induced upwelling of tracers, proportional to local concentration, vertical diffusivity, and previously scaled upwelling flux. For that purpose, we performed numerical experiments simulating an upwelling event near an idealized canyon, adding a passive tracer with an initially linear profile. We varied the geographic distribution of vertical eddy diffusivity and its magnitude, the initial stratification, the Coriolis parameter, and the strength of the incoming flow. We find that a canyon of width 5% of the along-shelf length of the shelf upwells between 25% and 89% more tracer mass onto the shelf than shelfbreak upwelling. Locally enhanced vertical diffusivity has a positive effect on the tracer that is advected by the upwelling flow and can increase canyon-upwelled tracer flux by up to 27%.
Salaries and Pensions.
Authors: Eliot Charles W.
Published: January 2019

[Report of his address upon two reports on these subjects before the Middlesex County (Mass.) Association.]
Correlating Art
Authors: Whitney Charles F.
Published: January 2019

[Abstract of paper read before the State Art Institute at Salem Normal School.]
Price-Matching Guarantees as a Direct Signal of Low Prices
Authors: Mamadehussene Samir
Published: January 2019

If consumers believe that stores offering price-matching guarantees (PMGs) charge low prices, high-search-cost consumers will purchase from PMG stores. This leads PMG stores’ demand to be less price sensitive, which drives these stores to charge higher prices. The belief that PMG stores charge low prices paradoxically leads them to charge high prices. For this reason, the literature finds that PMGs can only signal low prices when firm heterogeneity is sufficiently large. Because PMGs are offered by retailers that purchase the same product from the same producer, large firm heterogeneity may be a strong assumption. This article proposes a theory that explains how homogeneous firms may signal their low prices through PMGs: consumers perceive PMG stores to have lower prices not because they expect them to have low marginal costs or service quality, but simply because they offer a PMG.
Differential Acculturation: A Study of Well-Being Differences in Intergenerational Social Mobility between Rural and Urban China
Authors: Zhao Yizhang , Li Yaojun
Published: January 2019

This article examines the effects of China’s household registration ( hukou) system, which divides the population into rural and urban sectors with differential benefits and entitlements, on the link between intergenerational social mobility and people’s well-being. Using China General Social Surveys of 2005 and 2011, we find that upward mobility has a similarly positive effect in the urban and the rural sectors but downward mobility has a markedly negative effect chiefly in the rural sector. We propose a thesis of ‘asymmetrical permeability’ to account for the findings. In the context of rapid economic development and staggering institutional reform, the upwardly mobile in both sectors enjoy ample socio-economic resources as provided by the advantaged destination classes whereas the downwardly mobile depend very much on the hukou status they have. In the urban but not rural sector, families in advantaged positions are able to protect the downwardly mobile offspring in their well-being. It is therefore the differences in the hukou system that explain the differential acculturation.
Comparing the Effects of Congenital and Late Visual Impairments on Visuospatial Mental Abilities
Authors: Monegato Maura , Cattaneo Zaira , Pece Alfredo , Vecchi Tomaso
Published: January 2019

This study compared participants who were congenitally visually impaired and those who became visually impaired later in life in a spatial memory task. The latter showed less efficient visuospatial processes than did the former. However, these differences were of a quantitative nature only, indicating common cognitive mechanisms that can be clearly differentiated from those of people who are congenitally blind.
A Three-Dimensional Haptic Matrix Test of Nonverbal Reasoning
Authors: Miller Joseph C. , Skillman Gemma D. , Benedetto Joanne M. , Holtz Ann M. , Nassif Carrie L. , Weber Anh D.
Published: January 2019

Three-dimensional haptic matrices were pilot-tested as a nonvisual measure of cognitive ability. The results indicated that they correlated with convergent measures, with emphasis on spatial processing and that the participants who described items “visually” completed them more quickly and accurately and tended to have become visually impaired more recently than the other participants.
Teachers’ Perspectives on the Use of the Moon Code to Develop Literacy in Children with Visual Impairments and Additional Disabilities
Authors: McCall Steve , McLinden Mike
Published: January 2019

This article reports on a study of teachers in the United Kingdom who use the Moon Code to develop literacy skills through touch in children with visual impairments and additional disabilities. It explores the motives, purposes, and values that underpin the teachers’ decisions to embark on and sustain instruction in literacy for these children.
Microswitch Technology to Promote Adaptive Responses and Reduce Mouthing in Two Children with Multiple Disabilities
Authors: Lancioni Giulio E. , Singh Nirbhay N. , O'Reilly Mark F. , Sigafoos Jeff , Oliva Doretta , Severini Laura , Smaldone Angela , Tamma Manuela
Published: January 2019

This study assessed the viability of using microswitch clusters (combinations of microswitches) plus contingent stimulation to promote adaptive responding and to reduce aberrant behavior in two children with multiple disabilities. The results revealed that both children increased their adaptive responses, learned to perform these responses free from aberrant behavior, and maintained this level of performance three months later.
Gestures Expressed by Children who are Congenitally Deaf-Blind: Topography, Rate, and Function
Authors: Bruce Susan M. , Mann Allison , Jones Chelsea , Gavin Mary
Published: January 2019

This descriptive study examined the topography, rate, and function of gestures expressed by seven children who are congenitally deaf-blind. Participants expressed a total of 44 conventional and idiosyncratic gestures. They expressed 6–13 communicative functions through gestures and 7 functions through a single type of gesture. They also expressed idiosyncratic gestures and used specific gestures for functions other than those that are typically associated with those gestures.
Low Vision Rehabilitation in a Nursing Home Population: The SEEING Study
Authors: Deremeik James , Broman Aimee T. , Friedman David , West Sheila K. , Massof Robert , Park William , Bandeen-Roche Karen , Frick Kevin , Muñoz Beatriz
Published: January 2019

As part of a study of 198 residents with low vision in 28 nursing homes, 91 participated in a low vision rehabilitation intervention. Among the rehabilitation participants, 78% received simple environmental modifications, such as lighting; 75% received low vision instruction; 73% benefited from staff training; and 69% received simple nonoptical devices. Because of the cognitive and physical fragility of many nursing home residents, the authors recommend an approach that centers on training nursing home staff and improving the environment of the facilities, especially in the area of illumination.
Domain-Specific Ratings of Importance and Global Self-worth of Children with Visual Impairments
Authors: Shapiro Deborah R. , Moffett Aaron , Lieberman Lauren , Dummer Gail M.
Published: January 2019

This study examined perceived competence; ratings of importance of physical appearance, athletic competence, and social acceptance; discrepancy scores; and global self-worth of 43 children with visual impairments. The findings revealed that the children discounted the importance of physical appearance, athletic competence, and social acceptance and had moderately high ratings of global, or overall, self-worth. The results are discussed in relation to understanding the effects of discounting strategies on domain-specific and overall self-esteem.
The Nature of the Social Experiences of Students with Deaf-Blindness who are Educated in Inclusive Settings
Authors: Correa-Torres Silvia M.
Published: January 2019

This qualitative case study investigated the nature of social experiences and opportunities for communication among students who are deaf-blind, their sighted peers with no hearing loss, and adults in inclusive settings. Strategies used by adults to promote interaction were also observed. Implications and suggestions for future research are provided.
Studies on Obtaining Assistance by Travelers who are Deaf-Blind
Authors: Bourquin Eugene , Moon James
Published: January 2019

This article presents a brief history of crossing or assistance cards for travelers who are deaf-blind, along with two studies on variables that predict effective solicitation of assistance to cross a street, Although gender does not greatly affect efficiency, the larger size of a communication card positively influences the receipt of assistance.
The Psychosocial Impact of Closed-Circuit Televisions on Persons with Age-Related Macular Degeneration
Authors: Huber Jessica G. , Jutai Jeffrey W. , Strong J. Graham , Plotkin Ann D.
Published: January 2019

Closed-circuit televisions (CCTVs) are used by many elderly people who have age-related macular degeneration (AMD). The functional vision of 68 participants, which was measured immediately after they adopted CCTVs, suggested successful outcomes, but the psychosocial impact of the use of CCTVs did not peak until a month later. The findings help identify circumstances in which CCTV-assisted rehabilitation may be enhanced for better long-term outcomes.
Eccentric Viewing Training in the Home Environment: Can it Improve the Performance of Activities of Daily Living?
Authors: Vukicevic Meri , Fitzmaurice Kerry
Published: January 2019

Macular degeneration has a severe impact on a person's ability to perform activities of daily living. This study investigated the impact of in-home training in eccentric viewing on near acuity and performance of activities of daily living. The results suggest that eccentric viewing can ameliorate the impact of the loss of vision that is due to macular degeneration.
Assistive Technology Competencies for Teachers of Students with Visual Impairments
Authors: Smith Derrick W. , Kelley Pat , Maushak Nancy J. , Griffin-Shirley Nora , Lan William Y.
Published: January 2019

Using the expert opinion of more than 30 professionals, this Delphi study set out to develop a set of assistive technology competencies for teachers of students with visual impairments. The result of the study was the development of a highly reliable and valid set of 111 assistive technology competencies.
Innovative Solutions for Words with Emphasis: Alternative Methods of Braille Transcription
Authors: Kamei-Hannan Cheryl
Published: January 2019

The author of this study proposed two alternative methods for transcribing words with emphasis into braille and compared the use of the symbols for emphasis with the current braille code. The results showed that students were faster at locating words presented in one of the alternate formats, but that there was no difference in students’ accuracy in identifying the indicators and naming the words with emphasis.
Assessment of Indoor Route-finding Technology for People who are Visually Impaired
Authors: Kalia Amy A. , Legge Gordon E. , Roy Rudrava , Ogale Advait
Published: January 2019

This study investigated navigation with route instructions generated by digital-map software and synthetic speech. The participants, either visually impaired or sighted wearing blindfolds, successfully located rooms in an unfamiliar building. Users with visual impairments demonstrated better route-finding performance when the technology provided distance information in the number of steps, rather than in the walking time or number of feet.
Teaching the Use of a Long Cane Step by Step: Suggestions for Progressive, Methodical Instruction
Authors: Sauerburger Dona , Bourquin Eugene
Published: January 2019

A fundamental part of the orientation and mobility curriculum is the acquisition and retention of skills in using a long cane automatically and proficiently to detect and negotiate obstacles and drop-offs. Using practitioners’ experiences and the principles of learning theory, instructors can monitor students’ advancement and adapt teaching strategies to optimize the results.
Could Specific Braille Reading Difficulties Result from Developmental Dyslexia?
Authors: Veispak Anneli , Ghesquière Pol
Published: January 2019

A proportion of children with visual impairments have specific reading difficulties that cannot be easily explained. This article reviews the data on problems with braille reading and interprets them from the framework of the temporal–processing deficit theory of developmental dyslexia.
An Assessment-for-Learning System in Mathematics for Individuals with Visual Impairments
Authors: Hansen Eric G. , Shute Valerie J. , Landau Steven
Published: January 2019

This study examined the usability of an assessment-for-learning (AfL) system that provides audio-tactile graphics for algebra content (geometric sequences) for individuals with visual impairments—two who are blind and two with low vision. It found that the system is generally usable as a mathematics AfL system.
The Role of Sound in Encouraging Infants with Congenital Blindness to Reach for Objects
Authors: Ihsen Elfriede , Troester Heinrich , Brambring Michael
Published: January 2019

Reaching for sound-producing and silent objects was assessed in seven infants who had been blind from birth. Objects were presented while they were in tactile contact with their bodies, immediately after withdrawal, or without prior contact. The study found that sound elicited reaching earlier than did antecedent tactile contact. These findings are compared with those of previous studies.
Alcohol Use in German Adolescents with Visual Impairments and Sighted Adolescents
Authors: Pinquart Martin , Pfeiffer Jens P.
Published: January 2019

Alcohol use was studied in 158 adolescents with visual impairments and 537 sighted adolescents in Germany. The students with visual impairments reported lower levels of alcohol use and drunkenness, and between-group differences increased across adolescence. The lower alcohol use by students with visual impairments was explained, in part, by the lower peer group integration of these adolescents.
Associations of Extroversion and Parental Overprotection with Forming Relationships with Peers among Adolescents with and without Visual Impairments
Authors: Pinquart Martin , Pfeiffer Jens P.
Published: January 2019

We analyzed the role of parental overprotection and extroversion in forming relationships with peers among 158 adolescents with visual impairments and 158 adolescents who were sighted. Negative associations of overprotection with the number of friends and membership in a peer group and of low extroversion with having a close friend were stronger in the adolescents with visual impairment.
A Pilot Study of a Self-voicing Computer Program for Prealgebra Math Problems
Authors: Beal Carole R. , Rosenblum L. Penny , Smith Derrick W.
Published: January 2019

Fourteen students with visual impairments in Grades 5–12 participated in the field-testing of AnimalWatch-VI-Beta. This computer program delivered 12 prealgebra math problems and hints through a self-voicing audio feature. The students provided feedback about how the computer program can be improved and expanded to make it accessible to all users.
Assessment of Dog Guides by Users in Japan and Suggestions for Improvement
Authors: Koda Naoko , Kubo Masumi , Ishigami Tomomi , Furuhashi Hiroaki
Published: January 2019

Dog guide users in Japan were mostly satisfied with and used their dogs frequently; however, they requested some improvements in training and in basic guiding work. The findings of the study suggest the need for further improvement of training methods, considering cultural factors and individual users’ needs.
Assisting Handlers following Attacks on Dog Guides: Implications for Dog Guide Teams
Authors: Godley Cheryl A. , Gillard Marc A.
Published: January 2019

Attacks by dogs on dog guides are traumatic for dog guide teams. One variable that affects a team's recovery is how handlers cope with emotional responses to the attack. This article presents a three-stage model for assisting handlers that is useful for handlers and dog guide instructors.
Performance Measurement and Accommodation: Students with Visual Impairments on Pennsylvania's Alternate Assessment
Authors: Zebehazy Kim T. , Zigmond Naomi , Zimmerman George J.
Published: January 2019

Introduction

This study investigated the use of accommodations and the performance of students with visual impairments and severe cognitive disabilities on the Pennsylvania Alternate System of Assessment (PASA)γÇöan alternate performance-based assessment.

Methods

Differences in test scores on the most basic level (level A) of the PASA of 286 students with visual impairments, grouped into one of three functional vision levels, in grades 3/4 or 7/8 were analyzed descriptively as well as inferentially using the non-parametric Kruskal-Wallis and ad hoc Mann Whitney U tests. In addition, teachers of students with visual impairments viewed the videotaped assessments of 257 of these students to record accommodations used. Accommodations data were analyzed for patterns and relationships with test item types. Chi-Squares were calculated.

Results

There was a significant difference in test scores by functional vision level, with students who predominantly use vision performing significantly better than students who use a combination of vision and other senses or use other senses in place of vision. The accommodations used generally matched a student's reported level of functional vision with layout and presentation accommodations being the most prevalent.

Discussion

The types of accommodations selected may be due to the structure of alternate assessments but also raise questions about what is a progression in reading for students who do not access pictures and print with vision. Differences in performance raise questions of accessibility vs. ability and the level of difficulty of test items when accommodations are used.

Implications for practitioners

Practitioners should advocate for guidance from alternate assessments on accommodation use that mirrors the intent of test items and consider how state alternate standards translate when tasks addressing those standards are adapted for students with visual impairments. Test developers should consider students with visual impairments when designing and interpreting alternate assessment test items.
The Changing Role and Practice of Teachers of Students with Visual Impairments: Practitioners’ Views from Australia
Authors: Brown Jane Emily , Beamish Wendi
Published: January 2019

Introduction

This study examined the everyday work of eight teachers of students with visual impairments at governmental primary and secondary schools in Queensland, Australia. The small-scale study aimed to capture the scope and complexity of the activities of these teachers and the regular challenges they face in their expected everyday roles.

Methods

Telephone interviews were used to collect descriptive data from the teachers. A direct field-sampling procedure was used across the governmental schools to recruit qualified and specialist teachers who met prespecified criteria, most of whom lived in Brisbane, Queensland's capital city. The content of the interviews was generated from two sequenced activities with a different group of experienced teachers of students with visual impairments.

Results

The teachers carried out complex and demanding duties as part of their everyday roles. These duties were consistent with those performed by their counterparts around the world. The most frequently performed and most important activities including providing direct support to students, advocating for students’ needs, and collaborating across school and community contexts. The identified challenges were linked primarily to the lack of time to undertake important activities.

Discussion

Three important and interconnected findings can be drawn from the results: role complexity, time and collaboration, and the importance of the expanded core curriculum.

Implications for Practitioners

The findings provide an initial snapshot of the changing role reported by the teachers. Thus, these data offer a beginning point for future probes into the workplace knowledge and skills required by teachers of students with visual impairments.
Conceptual Understanding of Shape and Space by Braille-Reading Norwegian Students in Elementary School
Authors: Klingenberg Oliv G.
Published: January 2019

Introduction

The study presented here investigated the ways in which students who read braille were able to complete geometric tasks and how they constructed mental representations of the shapes of objects.

Methods

Data were collected in an educational experiment conducted as a geometry course for students who read braille. A case study approach was used to study two students, aged 10 and 11, who were competent in mathematics.

Results

The two students complemented their multiple manual explorations with body movements and postures that corresponded to characteristic features of the shapes of objects. They typically rotated small three-dimensional objects and experimented with the objects’ point of balance. Another important result is that they continually measured geometric properties, such as length, area, and volume, as part of their way of “seeing” the shapes of objects.

Discussion

The two students “played with” the physical characteristics of environments. Each used his whole body as an explorative instrument. Thus, the study makes a powerful claim for the idea of embodied mathematics.

Implications for practitioners

What seems to be important for students aged 10–11 who read braille is to offer a diversity of objects and geometric figures, not only prototypes. Teachers should challenge students to talk about the dimensions of objects in everyday language and in natural situations as a prerequisite to the transition to studying standard units in numerical measurements.
Using Repeated Reading to Improve Reading Speed and Comprehension in Students with Visual Impairments
Authors: Savaiano Mackenzie E. , Hatton Deborah D.
Published: January 2019

Introduction

This study evaluated whether children with visual impairments who receive repeated reading instruction exhibit an increase in their oral reading rate and comprehension and a decrease in oral reading error rates.

Methods

A single-subject, changing-criterion design replicated across three participants was used to demonstrate the association between a repeated reading intervention and the oral reading rate, comprehension, and error rate.

Results

Visual analysis of the data indicates that there was a functional relation between repeated reading and oral reading rate for two participants, and a functional relation between repeated reading and comprehension for all participants. There was not a functional relation between repeated oral reading and error rate.

Discussion

Based on the results of this study, repeated reading appears to be an effective practice for some students with visual impairments.

Implications for practitioners

Teachers and parents can engage children in repeated reading activities in an effort to develop automaticity in reading and to improve oral reading rates.
Effects of Wait Time when Communicating with Children who have Sensory and Additional Disabilities
Authors: Johnson Nicole , Parker Amy T.
Published: January 2019

Introduction

This study utilized wait-time procedures to determine if they are effective in helping children with deafblindness or multiple disabilities that include a visual impairment communicate in their home.

Methods

A single subject with an alternating treatment design was used for the study. Zero- to one-second wait time was utilized before prompting for a response during three baseline sessions. This was compared to 5-, 10-, and 15-second wait-time increments used during six intervention sessions. Three participants with visual impairments, developmental disabilities, and communication delays participated in the study. One of the participants was deafblind.

Results

All three participants responded twice as often during intervention phases as in baseline sessions. The results showed that 5-, 10-, and 15-second wait times were effective when reciprocally communicating with children who have multiple disabilities with a visual impairment or deafblindness.

Discussion

The findings of this study determined that wait time was effective and showed promising results for children with deafblindness or multiple disabilities. The study indicated that such children need time to process what is being asked in order to respond appropriately. Prompting quickly can frustrate the child with disabilities. Limitations of the study included heterogeneity and fragile medical condition of the participants, distractions, and the need for future research on the use of this technique.

Implications for practitioners

By utilizing at least five seconds of wait time, parents and educators may be able to see an increase in appropriate responses from the child. Wait-time interventions could increase opportunities for learning, social interaction, and communication, and are easily implemented with little to no training.
Effects of compression therapy and venous surgery on tissue oxygenation in chronic venous disease
Authors: Chiang Nathaniel , Rodda Odette , Oldham Simone , Sleigh Jamie , Vasudevan Thodur
Published: January 2019

Objectives

This study aimed to determine if compression therapy or surgical intervention improves tissue oxygenation in chronic venous disease.

Method

Thirty lower limbs with chronic venous disease were placed into three groups, being compression, open surgical and endovenous ablation. Tissue oxygenation was assessed using a hyperspectral transcutaneous oxygen measurement system. Measurements were recorded at baseline and 28 days following therapy.

Results

Fourteen patients completed the study; therefore, the cohort was re-categorised into two groups: compression therapy and surgical. There were no differences in demographics and baseline hyperspectral transcutaneous oxygen measurement. In compression therapy, skin perfusion was enhanced in all locations in the supine position and lateral malleolus in standing position. Skin temperature (°C) increased in all locations. In the surgical group, oxyhaemoglobin and oxyhaemoglobin saturation increased at the medial malleolus in standing position; however, no other significant improvements were identified.

Conclusions

Compression increased tissue oxygenation and skin temperature to a greater extent than surgical intervention. This supports the importance of compression therapy in chronic venous disease.
Ku86 alleviates human umbilical vein endothelial cellular apoptosis and senescence induced by a low dose of ionizing radiation
Authors: Wu Kai , Chen Zejin , Peng Qing , Chen Guojian , Yan Weihong , Chen Xiaoping
Published: January 2019

Objective

The aim of this study was to observe the effect of Ku86 on cellular senescence and apoptosis induced by various doses of ionizing radiation in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs).

Methods

Senescence-associated β-galactosidase activity was detected to evaluate cell senescence. Apoptosis was determined by flow cytometry and a caspase enzyme determination kit. p16Ink4a, Sirt1, superoxide dismutase 2 (SOD2), xanthine oxidase (XOD), and Bcl-2 protein expression levels were measured by western blotting.

Results

Low doses of ionizing radiation induced cellular senescence and apoptosis in a dose-dependent manner. The Ku86 protein was negatively correlated with ionization intensity. After transfection of Ku86 with a vector (pcDNA 3.1), or interference with siRNA (si-Ku86), apoptosis/senescence and related protein expression were observed. Western blot results revealed that this induction of senescence was associated with activated Sirt1 and SOD2, and downregulation of p16Ink4a and XOD in 0.2 Gy ionizing radiation. The expression levels of apoptosis-associated proteins, such as Bcl-2, cleaved caspase-3, caspase-8, and caspase-9, were significantly altered in both the presence and absence of Ku86 with ionizing radiation (0.2 Gy).

Conclusions

Our study revealed that Ku86 overexpression inhibits HUVEC apoptosis and senescence induced by low doses of ionizing radiation.
Clinical efficacy of OrthoPilot navigation system versus conventional manual total hip arthroplasty: A systematic review and meta‐analysis
Authors: Chen Cheng-long , Han Peng-fei , Zhang Zhi-liang , Sun Xiao-juan , Lv Zhi
Published: January 2019

Objective

This study was performed to compare the clinical efficacy between the OrthoPilot navigation system and conventional manual surgery in patients undergoing total hip arthroplasty.

Methods

The Embase, PubMed, CINAHL, and Cochrane databases were searched for clinical trials. The outcome measurements were the anteversion angle, inclination angle, and complications. Review Manager 5.3 statistical software was used for the data analysis.

Results

Significant differences were found in the femoral offset and overall complication rate between the conventional and navigation groups. Additionally, the conventional group had significantly less anteversion than the navigation group. However, the navigation group had significantly better inclination. The operation time was significantly shorter in the conventional than navigation group.

Conclusion

Both the OrthoPilot navigation system and conventional total hip arthroplasty result in significant improvements in patient function with similar overall complication rates and have their own advantages in achieving good cup position. The conventional procedure has a shorter operation time than does use of a navigation system.
Clinically useful flow cytometry approach to identify immunophenotype in acute leukemia
Authors: Ouyang Guifang , Xu Zhijuan , Jiang Danjie , Zhu Huiling , Wang Yi , Wu Wenmiao , Sun Yongcheng , Sheng Lixia , Xu Kaihong , Lou Yanru , Mu Qitian , Zhang Yi , Wu Ningning , Cheng Jia , Duan Shiwei
Published: January 2019

Objectives

Acute leukemia (AL) is a highly heterogeneous malignant disease caused by hematopoietic cell abnormalities. Our study investigated the potential for immunophenotyping of leukemic cells via flow cytometry and the clinical usefulness of this approach in treatment of AL.

Methods

Bone marrow (BM) specimens were collected to detect antigen expression on hematopoietic cells in pre-treatment samples from patients with AL. In addition, fraction survival curves were calculated using the Kaplan-Meier method to explore the effect of markers on prognosis in AL.

Results

Expression levels of immunophenotypic markers in patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) were significantly different from those in patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML). In addition, there was a potential association between the surface marker, cluster of differentiation 2 (CD2), and fraction survival in AML. However, no similar result was found in ALL. Moreover, genetic tests showed greater positive variation of the break point cluster-Abelson tyrosine kinase ( BCR-ABL) fusion gene in samples from patients with ALL than in samples from patients with AML.

Conclusions

We have shown a rapid and effective flow cytometry method that enables the identification of immunophenotype in AL. Moreover, CD2 may constitute a predictive marker for prognosis in patients with AML.
Decitabine combined with all-trans retinoic acid as treatment in a case of primary myelofibrosis transforming into acute myeloid leukaemia
Authors: Lin Yan , Lin Rongrong , Zhou Guangquan , Liu Yue , Dong Weimin , Cao Yang , Xie Xiaobao , Gu Weiying
Published: January 2019

Primary myelofibrosis (PMF) is a type of cloned myeloproliferative neoplasm stemming from haematopoietic stem cells, and tends to transform to acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) in approximately 10–20% of cases over a 10-year period. The transformation into AML has a poor prognosis, with a median overall survival of only 2.6 months in patients receiving supportive treatment. To date, treatment of AML transformation remains poor. The case of a 58-year-old female patient with AML transformed from PMF, who was treated with decitabine combined with all-trans retinoic acid, is reported. The patient had complete remission and a 17-month overall survival from initial diagnosis of transformed AML, with tolerated haematologic toxicity during the treatment period.
Gender Differences in Research Productivity among Academic Psychiatrists in Canada
Authors: Chauvin Sarah , Mulsant Benoit H. , Sockalingam Sanjeev , Stergiopoulos Vicky , Taylor Valerie H. , Vigod Simone N.
Published: January 2019

Objectives:

Gender inequity in academic medicine persists despite increases in the number of women physicians. We sought to explore gender differences in research productivity for academic psychiatrists in Canada.

Methods:

In a cross-sectional study of the 3379 psychiatrists in all 17 university departments of psychiatry in Canada, research productivity, as measured by the h-index and number of publications, was compared between women and men using a negative log binomial regression model to generate relative rates (RRs), adjusted for career duration (aRR). Findings were stratified by academic rank, institution region, and institution size. A subanalysis of those with 10 or more publications was conducted as a proxy for identifying physicians on a research track.

Results:

Women (43% of the sample) had a lower mean (standard deviation) h-index than men (2.87 [6.49] vs. 5.31 [11.1]; aRR, 0.62; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.54 to 0.72). Differences were significant only for junior faculty and not for associate and full professors. Comparison by number of publications followed a similar pattern (aRR, 0.46; 95% CI, 0.39 to 0.55). Among those with 10 or more publications ( n = 721), differences between men and women were smaller than in the overall cohort for both the h-index (aRR, 0.77; 95% CI, 0.68 to 0.87) and number of publications (aRR, 0.62; 95% CI, 0.53 to 0.72).

Conclusions:

Gender differences in research productivity at the national level in academic psychiatry in Canada support a call to adopt a more systematic approach to promoting equitable opportunities for women in research, especially in early career, to improve diversity and enhance future psychiatric research and discovery.
Happily Ever After? Life Satisfaction After Childhood Exposure to Violence
Authors: LaBrenz Catherine A. , Dell Peter J. , Fong Rowena , Liu Vera
Published: January 2019

A plethora of research has linked exposure to violence during childhood to negative long-term physical health, mental health, and risk behavior outcomes. Yet, despite estimates that up to 60% of children in the United States will be exposed to violence, little is known about the impact on adult life satisfaction among different racial and ethnic groups, or for different types of violence exposure. This article seeks to explore factors that are associated with life satisfaction in adults who were exposed to family violence or physically abused as a child, while adjusting race, ethnicity, gender, and emotional support. Employing data from the 2010 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS), links are examined between childhood exposure to violence and adult life satisfaction. For this study, noninstitutionalized adults aged 18 and above in the United States were included. Adults who reported exposure to physical abuse as a child had lower odds of reporting life satisfaction, and those with both physical abuse and interpersonal violence exposure had the lowest odds of long-term life satisfaction. Higher levels of income, emotional support, and marriage were associated with higher levels of satisfaction for both adults who were not exposed to violence as children and those who were. After controlling for sociodemographic factors, adults who identified as Asian or Pacific Islander had higher odds of reporting life satisfaction than their Caucasian counterparts. Implications from these findings include targeting interventions to increase emotional support and social networks for individuals who have been exposed to violence.
Obscuring English Learners From State Accountability: The Case of Indiana’s Language Blind Policies
Authors: Morita-Mullaney Trish , Singh Malkeet
Published: January 2019

The conjoining of Indiana state and federal accountability plans during the No Child Left Behind (NCLB) flexibility waiver (2012-2015) was an attempt at one combined system to furnish information in a simple and transparent manner, while obscuring the performances of English learner’s (EL) English progress and EL reclassification. We identify how school grades are impacted by English learning progress and reclassification relative to district’s demographic profiles. Findings suggest that English learning progress significantly impacts school grades, but most sanctions are placed on achievement and EL reclassification, sending incomplete and incoherent signals to Indiana schools. Implications related to educational decentralization throughout the globe and the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) are discussed.