bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Cerebral Neurovascular Coupling Impairment in Central Serous Chorioretinopathy
Authors: Penas Susana , Castro Pedro , Pereira Gilberto , Oliveira Ana Marta , Carneiro Angela M. , Rocha-Sousa Amândio , Azevedo Elsa , Falcão-Reis Fernando M.
Published: June 2020

Background: Central serous chorioretinopathy (CSCR) is a chorioretinal disorder resulting from choroidal hyperpermeability. Its comorbidities as hypertension, coronary disease, and psychological stress, suggest that it might reflect a more generalized vascular dysfunction. Objectives: The aim of the study was to assess the cerebrovascular regulation integrity, using cerebral autoregulation (CA), carbon dioxide vasoreactivity (VR), and neurovascular coupling (NVC) in CSCR. Methods: This observational pilot study included 20 CSCR patients and 14 age- and sex-matched controls. A State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) inquiry was full-filled. Continuous measurement of cerebral blood flow velocity (CBFV), arterial blood pressure, heart rate, and end-tidal carbon dioxide was performed. VR was assessed during hypercapnia (inhaling carbogen gas) and hypnocapnia (hyperventilation). For NVC, the CBFV relative increase during mental activation using the N-Back Task was calculated. Results: No significant differences in systemic hemodynamic parameters, CA or VR, were found between both groups. During the NVC performance, the average CBFV rise during mental stress was significantly lower in CSCR (p = 0.011). A significant negative correlation was found between STAI scores and NVC. Conclusions: CSCR patients presented a significantly impaired cerebral NVC compared to controls, supporting the theory of a potential systemic vascular dysfunction. Stress could be related to this NVC impairment.
Signal propagation via cortical hierarchies
Authors: Vézquez-Rodríguez Bertha , Liu Zhen-Qi , Hagmann Patric , Misic Bratislav
Published: June 2020

The wiring of the brain is organized around a putative unimodal-transmodal hierarchy. Here we investigate how this intrinsic hierarchical organization of the brain shapes the transmission of information among regions. The hierarchical positioning of individual regions was quantified by applying diffusion map embedding to resting-state functional MRI networks. Structural networks were reconstructed from diffusion spectrum imaging and topological shortest paths among all brain regions were computed. Sequences of nodes encountered along a path were then labeled by their hierarchical position, tracing out path motifs. We find that the cortical hierarchy guides communication in the network. Specifically, nodes are more likely to forward signals to nodes closer in the hierarchy and cover a range of unimodal and transmodal regions, potentially enriching or diversifying signals en route. We also find evidence of systematic detours, particularly in attention networks, where communication is rerouted. Altogether, the present work highlights how the cortical hierarchy shapes signal exchange and imparts behaviorally relevant communication patterns in brain networks.
An appraisal of the genus Ptiloneura Enderlein (Insecta: Psocodea: Psocomorpha: Ptiloneuridae), new species from Colombia and Peru, and a key to the males
Authors: OBANDO RANULFO GONZÁLEZ , GIRONZA NANCY CARREJO , PANCHE JEFERSON , ALDRETE ALFONSO NERI GARCÍA
Published: June 2020

We describe and illustrate 15 species of Ptiloneura, from Colombia and Peru. The number of species of Ptiloneura is raised to 34, of which 28 (82.3%) are Colombian. One species is from Brazil, four species are from Peru, one is from Nicaragua and two species are from Venezuela. Two species are shared between Colombia and Peru, one species is shared between Colombia and Venezuela, and 25 species are endemic to Colombia. An identification key to the males and a phylogenetic analysis of Ptiloneura are included.
Four new species of caddisflies (Trichoptera: Polycentropodidae, Psychomyiidae, Hydropsychidae, Odontoceridae) from Khao Nan and Tai Rom Yen National Parks, southern Thailand
Authors: SUWANNARAT NANNAPHAT , MALICKY HANS , LAUDEE PONGSAK
Published: June 2020

Males of four new species of caddisflies, Polyplectropus hofmaierae n. sp. (Polycentropodidae), Eoneureclipsis chinachotiae n. sp. (Psychomyiidae), Hydropsyche khaonanensis n. sp. (Hydropsychidae), and Lannapsyche tairomyenensis n. sp. (Odontoceridae) are described and illustrated. Polyplectropus hofmaierae n. sp. is distinguished from other species by the shape of the apical end of its inferior appendages and its sharp intermediate appendages. The posterior edges of their inferior appendages run slanting to the ventrodistal point and are densely covered by short and stiff bristles. Eoneureclipsis chinachotiae n. sp. is differentiated by characters of its phallus, as the first two thirds of its length are slender and slightly curved. The distal part has a dorsal hump with a very slender thread on its caudal edge and is slightly bent downward and dilated. Hydropsyche khaonanensis n. sp. can be differentiated from the other species by its phallus, in which the two apicolateral lobes in ventral view have rounded outer edges. Lannapsyche tairomyenensis n. sp. can be separated from the others by characteristics of the dorsal view of segment IX and the harpago of its inferior appendages. Segment IX is triangular with distinctly convex preanal appendages along the posterior edge of this segment, and the harpago and subapical lobes are relatively similar in shape and length.
New Species and New Records of Caddisflies (Insecta: Trichoptera) from India
Authors: KAUR SIMARJIT , GARIMA DEEPTI , PANDHER MANPREET SINGH
Published: June 2020

In the publication by Kaur et al. (2020), the depository for the holotype of Chimarra gangtokensis new species was given as “(NPC)”, but no corresponding explanation for this acronym was provided in that publication. Therefore, the name of the species is unavailable (International Code of Zoological Nomenclature 1999, Art. 16.4.2). We clarify here that the holotype is a male deposited in the National Pusa Collection, Division of Entomology, Indian Agricultural Research Institute, Pusa, New Delhi (NPC). The purpose of this note is to validate the name of the new species from the publication date of this erratum by a reference to the original description and diagnosis as an indication (International Code of Zoological Nomenclature 1999, Art. 13.1.2).
The Year of Polar Prediction in the Southern Hemisphere (YOPP-SH)
Authors: Bromwich David H. , Werner Kirstin , Casati Barbara , Powers Jordan G. , Gorodetskaya Irina V. , Massonnet François , Vitale Vito , Heinrich Victoria J. , Liggett Daniela , Arndt Stefanie , Barja Boris , Bazile Eric , Carpentier Scott , Carrasco Jorge F. , Choi Taejin , Choi Yonghan , Colwell Steven R. , Cordero Raul R. , Gervasi Massimo , Haiden Thomas , Hirasawa Naohiko , Inoue Jun , Jung Thomas , Kalesse Heike , Kim Seong-Joong , Lazzara Matthew A. , Manning Kevin W. , Norris Kimberley , Park Sang-Jong , Reid Phillip , Rigor Ignatius , Rowe Penny M. , Schmithüsen Holger , Seifert Patric , Sun Qizhen , Uttal Taneil , Zannoni Mario , Zou Xun
Published: June 2020

The Year of Polar Prediction in the Southern Hemisphere (YOPP-SH) had a special observing period (SOP) that ran from 16 November 2018 to 15 February 2019, a period chosen to span the austral warm season months of greatest operational activity in the Antarctic. Some 2,200 additional radiosondes were launched during the 3-month SOP, roughly doubling the routine program, and the network of drifting buoys in the Southern Ocean was enhanced. An evaluation of global model forecasts during the SOP and using its data has confirmed that extratropical Southern Hemisphere forecast skill lags behind that in the Northern Hemisphere with the contrast being greatest between the southern and northern polar regions. Reflecting the application of the SOP data, early results from observing system experiments show that the additional radiosondes yield the greatest forecast improvement for deep cyclones near the Antarctic coast. The SOP data have been applied to provide insights on an atmospheric river event during the YOPP-SH SOP that presented a challenging forecast and that impacted southern South America and the Antarctic Peninsula. YOPP-SH data have also been applied in determinations that seasonal predictions by coupled atmosphere–ocean–sea ice models struggle to capture the spatial and temporal characteristics of the Antarctic sea ice minimum. Education, outreach, and communication activities have supported the YOPP-SH SOP efforts. Based on the success of this Antarctic summer YOPP-SH SOP, a winter YOPP-SH SOP is being organized to support explorations of Antarctic atmospheric predictability in the austral cold season when the southern sea ice cover is rapidly expanding.
What Explains Racial/Ethnic Inequality in Job Quality in the Service Sector?
Authors: Storer Adam , Schneider Daniel , Harknett Kristen
Published: June 2020

Precarious work in the United States is defined by economic and temporal dimensions. A large literature documents the extent of low wages and limited fringe benefits, but research has only recently examined the prevalence and consequences of unstable and unpredictable work schedules. Yet practices such as on-call shifts, last minute cancellations, and insufficient work hours are common in the retail and food-service sectors. Little research has examined racial/ethnic inequality in this temporal dimension of job quality, yet precarious scheduling practices may be a significant, if mostly hidden, site for racial/ethnic inequality, because scheduling practices differ significantly between firms and because front-line managers have substantial discretion in scheduling. We draw on innovative matched employer-employee data from The Shift Project to estimate racial/ethnic gaps in these temporal dimensions of job quality and to examine the contribution of firm-level sorting and intra-organizational dynamics to these gaps. We find significant racial/ethnic gaps in exposure to precarious scheduling that disadvantage non-white workers. We provide novel evidence that both firm segregation and racial discordance between workers and managers play significant roles in explaining racial/ethnic gaps in job quality. Notably, we find that racial/ethnic gaps are larger for women than for men.
Early Diagnosis and Treatment of Chylous Mesenteric Cysts
Authors: Sullivan Gwyneth A. , Skertich Nicholas J. , Millikan Keith W. , Madonna Mary Beth , Shah Ami N.
Published: June 2020

Mesenteric cysts are benign congenital cysts typically discovered incidentally during abdominal explorations for other reasons. When feasible, they should be excised to prevent recurrence, bowel obstruction or volvulus, and resulting complications. We present a unique case of an infant, diagnosed prenatally by ultrasound with possible bowel obstruction, found to have micro and macro chylous mesenteric cysts. Although initially asymptomatic with normal abdominal x-ray and discharged on day of life 2, the parents were taught how to recognize symptoms of bowel obstruction. He presented at 1 month with obstructive symptoms, was confirmed to have large mesenteric cystic structures on ultrasound, and was immediately taken to the operating room. Due to the extensive number of cysts and intimate involvement of the largest cyst with the superior mesenteric artery, he was treated with partial excision and observation since resection may have resulted in short gut syndrome. Given a prenatal ultrasound suggestive of mesenteric cysts, we recommend abdominal imaging at birth with close follow-up until the appropriate time for elective resection. When disease is extensive precluding full enucleation and resection, we advocate for enucleation in combination with unroofing of as many cysts as possible followed by postoperative surveillance ultrasounds and family counseling.
Organizational Posttraumatic Growth: Thriving After Adversity
Authors: Alexander Benjamin N. , Greenbaum Bruce E. , Shani Abraham B. (Rami) , Mitki Yoram , Horesh Arik
Published: June 2020

This research explores organizational trauma and the phenomenon of organizational posttraumatic growth (OPTG). Many organizations experience traumatic events, events that disrupt core organizational activities. While some affected organizations never recover their prior level of well-being, others surpass their pretrauma state. This research explores this phenomenon by examining how one organization, which was traumatized by a substantial theft committed by a senior leader, emerged transformed and stronger. In the exploration of this intriguing phenomenon, we extend individual-level trauma research to the organization level to address how OPTG occurs. We draw on these findings to chart paths for future research on OPTG and organizational change and consider their implications for development and change practitioners in organizations experiencing trauma.
Migration Dynamics in Africa: Expectations and Lived Experiences of Immigrants in South Africa
Authors: Kanayo Ogujiuba , Anjofui Patience
Published: June 2020

International migration has continued to increase over the years. As people relocate to seek opportunities, their hopes and aspirations for a better life become a driving force. The extent to which their expectations are achieved is not documented in South Africa. This paper examines the expectations versus experiences of international immigrants in South Africa using Cameroonian and Democratic Republic of Congo immigrants residing in Cape Town. A qualitative approach with snowball sampling selected key informants from Cameroonian and Congolese nationalities in Cape Town. Results suggest that most immigrants did not meet their expectations for migrating, due to migration policy limitations of the host country exempting them from opportunities. The results align with both the Capability Approach theory and Lee’s model of migration. Most of the immigrants showed despondency but do not prefer the option of returning to their home country. This is because they have not attained their goals for migration. The paper recommends that policy discussion between the South African government and stakeholders has become imperative to obtain an informed perspective on the dynamics of migration.
Asian Labourers, the Thai Government and the Thai-Burma Railway
Authors: Subrahmanyan Arjun , Sturma Michael
Published: June 2020

While the suffering of Allied prisoners of war on the Thai-Burma railway during the Second World War is well documented, much less is known about the Asian labourers employed on the project. Focusing on Thai and Chinese workers in Thailand, this study argues that although Asian labourers often suffered in a way comparable to prisoners of war, they also exercised some agency in their dealings with the Japanese. Many workers were motivated to work on the railway by relatively high wages, and at times they employed physical resistance against their treatment. Those workers resident in Thailand often exercised the option of absconding from railway work sites. At times, as elsewhere in the war, race became a central issue and showed not merely social prejudice but political calculation as well. The Thai government acted to protect Thai workers from the excesses of Japanese employment, but this was often at the expense of Chinese labourers resident in Thailand, outsiders who bore the brunt of harsh treatment.
A World Class Industry: Honda in Alabama and the Rise of the Foreign-Owned Auto Sector
Authors: Minchin Timothy J.
Published: June 2020

This article provides the first in-depth historical case study of Honda’s assembly plant in Lincoln, Alabama. Established in 1999, the plant became one of the biggest auto factories in the US, employing over 4,500 workers. Drawing on a wide range of sources, including rare interviews with top company and state officials, it argues that the establishment of the plant did not just reflect financial subsidies, the prevailing view in the press (and limited academic literature). Other factors were crucial, including site location, the availability of a willing and qualified workforce, and union avoidance. The personal intervention of state leaders, especially Governor Don Siegelman, is also uncovered here. In a broader context, the article illuminates the globalization of the car industry. In 2018 foreign-owned companies accounted for half of US auto production, and Alabama was a leading producer. Despite this, the burgeoning sector has been overlooked by scholars compared to domestically-owned carmakers. Honda in Alabama has been particularly neglected, yet its story is significant and distinctive. A highly successful plant, Honda Manufacturing of Alabama had one of the highest levels of domestic content in the country, along with more American managers than Honda’s better-known factory in Marysville, Ohio, and a more diverse work force.
Beliefs in Free Will Versus Determinism: Search for Meaning Mediates the Life Scheme–Depressive Symptom Link
Authors: Li P. F. Jonah , Wong Y. Joel
Published: June 2020

A life scheme can be understood as the cognitive representation of individuals’ life events and their goal attainment in the past and future. We conceptualize beliefs in free will and determinism as two life schemes. The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between beliefs in free will and determinism, search for meaning, and depressive symptoms. While belief in free will uniquely and negatively predicted depressive symptoms, deterministic belief was uniquely and positively associated with depressive symptoms. Moreover, a multiple mediation model revealed that beliefs in free will and determinism were indirectly associated with increased depressive symptoms via their positive relations with search for meaning. These findings are discussed in view of the relationship between inconsistent life schemes and the need to search for meaning, as well as the mediating role of the search for meaning.
The doctor in a minority
Authors: Samuels Alec
Published: June 2020

Suppose that a doctor carrying out a treatment or advising on a treatment or acting as an expert in litigation or writing or lecturing about a treatment is in a minority so far as contemporary medical opinion is concerned. It may be a matter of choice for the doctor between treatment A (the majority practice) or treatment B (the minority practice), and the minority treatment may be of an innovative character. Unfortunately, things went badly wrong, the patient suffered harm and the doctor finds him/herself a defendant in a case for clinical negligence. What is the legal duty of the doctor? Is it sufficient that he/she acted in good faith? Or that he/she was a competent doctor? Or that he/she was a doctor following the practice of a substantial number of doctors, albeit a minority? Or that he/she was in effect acting ‘on his/her own’? The legal test is: Was the doctor following the practice of a responsible body of medical clinical opinion, albeit a minority opinion? Medicine has made huge advances over the years – one of the great achievements. But many advances have come about because of the initiative of one individual or a small group of individuals, often in the face of strong disbelief or opposition. The medical profession is a conservative profession, understandably so in view of the obvious inherent risks. Original ideas may not be well received. Therefore, the minority innovative doctor must proceed carefully because he/she runs the risk of a medical mishap, criticism and litigation.
Political Veganism: An Empirical Analysis of Vegans’ Motives, Aims, and Political Engagement
Authors: Kalte Deborah
Published: June 2020

Scholars increasingly argue that the vegan lifestyle reflects a broader pattern of how political behavior is becoming more individualized and private. Veganism is particularly viewed as an unconventional form of political participation, as it is conducted to address ethical concerns and to change market practices. However, this argumentation lacks detailed empirical data. By means of an original standardized survey of a purposive sample of 648 vegans in Switzerland, this study shows that (1) a vast majority of vegans is politically motivated and aims to induce change in society at large; (2) they are highly engaged in a broad variety of political activities; and (3) politically motivated vegans live vegan more strictly and are more politically active than vegans motivated by personal concerns. This study contributes to the understanding of political participation in current times, and the insights gained may prove useful to vegan movement groups or the food industry.
Wealth Implications of Slavery and Racial Discrimination for African American Descendants of the Enslaved
Authors: Craemer Thomas , Smith Trevor , Harrison Brianna , Logan Trevon , Bellamy Wesley , Darity William
Published: June 2020

We compare the 2018 per capita Black–White wealth gap of about US$352,250 with portions of the estimated total cost of slavery and discrimination to African American descendants of the enslaved. For the period of slavery in the United States, we arrive at estimates of about US$12 to US$13 trillion in 2018 dollars using Darity’s land-based and Marketti’s price-based estimation methods, respectively. Estimates using Craemer’s wage-based method tend to be higher ranging from US$18.6 trillion at 3% interest to US$6.2 quadrillion at 6% interest. The value of lost freedom (LF) based on Japanese American World War II internment reparations is estimated at 3% interest to amount to US$35 trillion and at 6% to US$16 quadrillion. Further research is required to estimate the cost of lost opportunities (LC) and pain and suffering (PS). Further research is also required to estimate the costs of colonial slavery, as well as racial discrimination following the abolition of slavery in the United States to African American descendants of the enslaved. Whether the full cost of slavery and discrimination should be compensated, or only a portion, and at what interest rate remain to be determined by negotiations between the federal government and the descendant community.
Who Deserves Compassion? The Moral and Emotional Dilemmas of Volunteering in the ‘Refugee Crisis’
Authors: Maestri Gaja , Monforte Pierre
Published: June 2020

Since the ‘refugee crisis’ in 2015, civil society across Europe has participated in an unprecedented wave of support towards migrants. This article focuses on the volunteers engaged in this movement and explores how they relate emotions of compassion and evaluations about the ‘deservingness’ of refugees. We do so by analysing the moral dilemmas British volunteers face in their interaction with refugees, and the strategies they develop to avoid the difficulties that emerge when judging who the ‘deserving’ refugees are. We illustrate how these coping strategies lead them to emphasise the practicality of their role and to move beyond logics of deservingness. We argue that these dilemmatic situations reshape the meaning of compassionate acts in ambivalent ways: while reinforcing a tendency to create an emotional distance, they also allow volunteers to challenge idealised representations of refugees and foreground the political nature of their vulnerability.
The Established and the Delegated: The Division of Labour of Domination among Effective Agents on the Field of Power in Denmark
Authors: Lunding Jacob Aagaard , Ellersgaard Christoph Houman , Larsen Anton Grau
Published: June 2020

What is the relationship between the various forms of power held by elites in contemporary society? Using Bourdieu’s notion of the field of power, we address this question by exploring the division of labour of domination among contemporary Danish elites. Via a specific multiple correspondence analysis of 44 variables with 198 categories, we examine the relationship between the volume and distribution of various forms of capital held by 423 individuals at the core of Danish elite networks, arguing that they constitute effective agents in the field of power. We find three major differentiations between: (1) established and newcomers; (2) public and private forms of legitimation; and (3) rural or industrial-based, but nonetheless organisationally well connected, elites and the social elite surrounding Copenhagen state nobility. The legitimising pole of the field of power does not necessarily derive its positions from the cultural field but can also rely on delegated forms of capital.
On the Harm Inflicted by Urban Teacher Education Programs: Learning From the Historical Trauma Experienced by Teachers of Color
Authors: Souto-Manning Mariana , Emdin Christopher
Published: June 2020

Throughout the country, urban teacher education programs ubiquitously employ the terms “diversity” and “social justice” on their websites. But—what do these terms mean and how do they influence (if at all) the programs represented by these terms according to the lived experiences of students of color in these programs? Through historical trauma theory, this study seeks to understand the experiences of teachers of color who graduated from urban teacher education programs that employed “diversity” and “social justice” on their websites. Through the analysis of interviews conducted with eight teachers of color, it unveils how teacher education programs dehumanize and exclude pre-service teachers of color, fostering psychological violence, promoting segregation and displacement, and cultivating economic deprivation. Findings show that the rhetorical and visual portraits of “diversity” and “social justice” on these programs’ websites are experienced by teachers of color as incongruent to their lived experiences within them. In particular, the outward facing diverse racial images do not reflect the populations these teacher education programs serve (mostly white) and the classroom and field experiences are dissonant from the commitments the programs espouse. Implications call for transforming teacher education from spaces where historical trauma is reproduced to spaces where racial healing and reconciliation can occur.
Prescribed performance trajectory tracking control of dynamic positioning ship under input saturation
Authors: Wang Yuanhui , Wang Haibin , Fu Mingyu
Published: June 2020

This paper investigates concentrates on the trajectory tracking control problem of dynamic positioning (DP) ship, in the presence of the time-varying disturbance and input saturation. Firstly, a simplified mathematical model of three degrees of freedom is established. According to the characteristics of the DP ship, an adaptive backstepping controller which combine the prescribed performance function with disturbance observer is proposed. The control scheme can guarantee the transient and steady state performance of the trajectory tracking and meet the prescribed performance criteria. In addition, an auxiliary dynamic system is introduced into the controller to deal with the input saturation problem of the actuator, so that the DP ship can accomplish the task of trajectory tracking under the condition of actuator constraint. Subsequently, in combination of barrier Lyapunov function (BLF), it is proved that the DP system can stabilize and converge rapidly to the small neighborhood of the equilibrium point, which can achieve the prescribed performance. Finally, the effectiveness of the DP control law is demonstrated by a series of simulation experiments.
Occupational mobility, employment transitions and job quality in Europe: The impact of the Great Recession
Authors: Bisello Martina , Maccarrone Vincenzo , Fernández-Macías Enrique
Published: June 2020

This article investigates employment and occupational transitions that are behind structural changes in European labour markets before, during and after the Great Recession. The study introduces a new methodological approach for studying labour market flows considering the quality of the jobs from and into which the flows are taking place by differentiating them into wage quintiles. The analysis compares six European countries that are usually associated with different institutional clusters – France, Italy, Poland, Spain, Sweden and the UK. It tracks the transitions of their working age populations into and out of inactivity, unemployment and employment (in five wage categories). The findings show the extent to which employment and occupational mobility patterns differ across European countries, resulting in very different outcomes in terms of employment opportunities and life chances. Results also suggest that the countries studied fall into three distinct categories based on the degree of occupational mobility characterising their economies.
The Wundermop
Authors: Pendergast Frederick W.
Published: June 2020

The “Wundermop,” manufactured and sold by the Massachusetts Division of the Blind of the State Department of Education is, without doubt, the best shop employment for blind people that has ever been undertaken. This industry became possible through the efforts of a blind man, who, after trying: out other available crafts, discovered that the best and easiest form of employment for the blind consisted in working yam. The result of his experiments was his invention of the Wundermop, which has proved its merits by an annual increase of sales from sixteen hundred dollars in 1906 to seventy-three thousand five hundred and thirty-one dollars and fifty-one cents in 1922, and this without special effort along selling lines. Better yet is the fact that the Wundermop has always paid all its employees good wages in addition to all other expenses of the mop department, with a large margin over to assist in carrying the other industries. Mop work, therefore, is heartily indorsed as the simplest and most profitable industry for the blind so far brought to our knowledge. —The Editor.
The Assessment of Education for the Visually Impaired Population in Latin America
Authors: Crespo S.E.
Published: June 2020

The author describes how culture, poverty, religion, and geography interact and impact on the development of education for blind and visually impaired people in Latin America.
Blindness and Educational Services for Blind Persons in the Middle East Region
Authors: Al-Ghanim A.M.
Published: June 2020

The magnitude of blindness among children and services available in the Middle East are described. The role for prevention services is discussed and recommendations for future action provided.
Services for Blind and Visually Impaired Persons in Switzerland
Authors: Goergen E.
Published: June 2020

This article presents a broad overview of the blind and visually impaired population in Switzerland and the services that are provided to them. In general, Switzerland has been slower than the United States and the Scandinavian countries to develop new programs for this population.
Educational Opportunities for Blind Children in the Developing World
Authors: Winkley W.
Published: June 2020

For many blind youth in developing countries, where education for the general population often reaches less than half of the children, education is still a long way from being realized. However, progress is being made, often with the help of such international agencies as Helen Keller International (HKI) of the United States, the Christoffel Blindenmission (CBM) of West Germany, and the Royal Commonwealth Society of the Blind (RCSB) of the United Kingdom. These agencies have developed and offer training programs to nationals in developing countries in an effort to prove the feasibility of, and initiate training for, blind youngsters in the existing educational system.
Integration of Blind and Visually Impaired Children: The Philosophy
Authors: Saez P. Eguren
Published: June 2020

The author examines integration of disabled children into society as a way of achieving a far-reaching goal—mainstreaming— whereby the differences inherent to each individual are considered by society as something normal, and taken for granted as part of the human variety underlying the various communities and groupings that compose society.
A Pre-Employment Course in Argentina
Authors: Piccione L.
Published: June 2020

The author discusses a project of the Helen Keller Institute in Argentina to better prepare blind individuals for seeking and obtaining employment. The issue of societal attitudes is addressed, and findings show that post-course results have been positive for both the clients and the employers.
Educational and Professional Opportunities for Blind Persons in China: A European Perspective
Authors: Schulze H.E.
Published: June 2020

The author presents statistics on prevalence and causes of blindness in China. Schools in various regions are described. Issues of higher learning and employment opportunities are also addressed.
The Development of Low Vision Services in Poland
Authors: Adamowicz-Hummel A. , Walczak G.
Published: June 2020

This article discusses Poland's developing efforts in the field of low vision, first providing a historical review of the education of blind and visually impaired children. It presents data on education, professional preparation programs, research on low vision, and the adaptation of materials and teaching methods to the cultural needs of the Polish low vision population.
The African Braille Computer Development (ABCD) Program
Authors: Johns A.W.
Published: June 2020

The author presents the rationale and procedures for an innovative protocol for producing braille in English and indigenous languages for the blind and visually impaired population of Commonwealth Africa. Issues addressed include: essential technological changes; modes of transport and communication; and manpower and training demands.
Course for Teachers of Visually Impaired Students in New Zealand
Authors: Thorburn J.
Published: June 2020

New Zealand has had a course for teachers of visually impaired students since 1984. The course contains generic and specialist components and requires students to do independent study on various areas of visual impairment. The papers produced are used as resources for other students.
An Unassisted Method of Psychological Testing of Visually Impaired Individuals
Authors: Johnson D.G.
Published: June 2020

There is a clear need for a standardized, validated, and objective means of psychologically testing people with visual or reading impairments.
Shackled Imagination: Literary Illusions about Blindness
Authors: Kent D.
Published: June 2020

This article reviews the ways blind characters have been depicted by writers from Sophocles ( c 429 BC) to James Dickey (AD 1987). Blindness as usually tragic metaphor predominates in literature through the ages, except for certain popular romances and novels by blind writers. Well-known blind characters throughout the literature and fictional creations of writers of the past two decades are discussed in detail, and discussed in relation to stereotypes of blind people.
Determining the Reading Medium for Students with Visual Impairments: A Diagnostic Teaching Approach
Authors: Koenig A.J. , Holbrook M.C.
Published: June 2020

This article presents a two-phase process to be used by multidisciplinary teams in making decisions on the reading medium for students with visual impairments. The first phase is used as a diagnostic teaching phase primarily to collect information on a student's use of sensory information during the reading readiness stage in order to guide the team decision on introduction of a specific reading medium. In the second phase, continued evaluation of the initial decision takes place over a number of years to evaluate and adjust, as appropriate, the reading medium as determined in the first phase and to assure that the student has access to the combination of media necessary to be successful in academic and vocational settings.
Management Training Needs: A National Survey of Managers in Blindness Services
Authors: Kirchner C. , Nelipovich M. , Esposito R.
Published: June 2020

This article reports findings of a mail survey of 519 managers in blindness services on their preferences for management training seminars. Top and mid-level managers, as well as aspirants and people with partial managerial roles in the education and rehabilitation sectors, provided data on preferred topics, fees and timing for seminars, work settings, and prior training. Results show diversity in topic preferences: “Strategic Planning & Needs Assessment,” and “Program Evaluation” are most popular. Preferences vary somewhat according to management level; there is little or no variation by region; public versus private auspices; education versus rehabilitation; or time in present position. Implications of the results are discussed.
A Model for Training Vision Functioning
Authors: Hall A. , Bailey I.L.
Published: June 2020

We propose a model describing relationships between vision and visually dependent behaviors, and from this we developed a basic model for the process of training vision functioning. The purpose is to provide a conceptual framework to help define basic assumptions, goals, components, and methods, of training programs, and to assist practitioners in program design.
Assessment and Training of Low Vision Clients for Mobility
Authors: Dodds A.G. , Davis D.P.
Published: June 2020

This article discusses the need to develop ecologically valid measures of visual functioning and mobility performance in the context of current theories of perceptual functioning and learning, and describes the development of a visual assessment and training program, known as OCULA. An evaluation of the effectiveness of four tasks in predicting initial and final low vision mobility performance demonstrated that the tasks are better predictors of visual performance than are existing clinical measures and that learning can be transferred to real-life mobility situations. The results are interpreted in terms of differentiation theory, and the practical relevance of the approach to the training of low vision clients is emphasized, as is the potential of the system as a research tool.
Attitudes of Visually Impaired Persons toward Cane Use
Authors: Wainapel S.F.
Published: June 2020

Semistructured telephone interviews were conducted with 10 visually impaired adult cane users to analyze the attitudes and emotions associated with their transition to cane use. Images of stigma, prominent during the early stages of orientation and mobility (O&M) training, were usually replaced by more positive (or at least pragmatic) attitudes in longer-term cane users. Several factors contributed to the lengthy (mean 1¾ years) delay between the onset of severe visual impairment and the commencement of O&M training: the clients’ inertia, fear of stigmatization, and difficulty in interfacing with the vision rehabilitation system.
An Orientation and Mobility Approach to Problems of a Neurologically Impaired Adult
Authors: Hirschkatz K.
Published: June 2020

A San Francisco woman with no visual impairment but a neurological processing deficit has been helped through O&M training. She is completely unable to process spatial relationships, and this has resulted in difficulties in travel and problems at work and school. Applying Orientation and Mobility methods helped her cope with street crossings, perform simple household tasks, and locate specific rooms within buildings. Techniques used included “hands-on” guidance; taping lessons and direction so they could be reviewed; memorizing essential information; and using an index-card system to “signpost” regular routes.
Retinopathy of Prematurity
Authors: Trief E. , Duckman R. , Morse A.R. , Silberman R.K.
Published: June 2020

Retinopathy of prematurity (ROP), formerly called retro-lental fibroplasia (RLF), has increased in the 1980s due to a high incidence of premature, low birthweight infants. Apparently, oxygen administration alone does not account for all these ROP babies. Birth-weight, gestational age, and duration of administration of oxygen are primary contributors to ROP development. The stages of severity range from no visual damage to total blindness. Treatments are either pharmacological or surgical. Vitamin E therapy, photocoagulation procedures, cryotherapy, scleral buckling procedures, and vitrectomy are common treatments, but none is totally successful in ameliorating this condition. The educational problems of children with ROP parallel those of other visually impaired children, with deficits found primarily in exploration, mobility, and language. Referral to early intervention programs can provide a comprehensive structured learning situation and support to the entire family.
The Tactile TON I, a Possible New Performance IQ Test for Blind Adults?
Authors: Duncan E. , Wiedel J. , Prickett H. , Vernon M. , Hollingsworth-Hodges T.
Published: June 2020

A tactile, raised-line form of the TONI (test of nonverbal intelligence), a graphic performance test, may effectively measure the performance IQ of adults who are blind (that is, who habitually use senses other than vision to input the environment). Although the Tactile TONI may be too difficult for blind persons with low IQs, a pilot study shows that it may identify some kinds of learning disabilities or brain damage in blind adults who have low verbal intelligence scores relative to their achievement.
Toward a Better Understanding of the Reciprocal Relations Between Adolescent Psychological Need Experiences and Sleep
Authors: Campbell Rachel , Vansteenkiste Maarten , Soenens Bart , Vandenkerckhove Beatrijs , Mouratidis Athanasios
Published: June 2020

In two diary studies, we examined the reciprocal daily association between the satisfaction and frustration of adolescents’ basic psychological needs and sleep, and the role of stress and fatigue in these associations. In Study 1 ( N = 211; 52% female; Mage = 15.86 years, SD = 1.18 years), daily need experiences were unrelated to daily fluctuations in subjective sleep outcomes. However, shorter daily sleep quantity was related to higher daily fatigue, which in turn related to more daily need frustration and less need satisfaction. Study 2 ( N = 51; 49% female; Mage = 15.88 years, SD = 2.88 years) extended these findings by demonstrating that daily need frustration related to shorter objective sleep quantity and longer wake after sleep onset, indirectly through higher symptoms of stress. Poor sleep quality also related to worse need experiences via higher daily fatigue. These findings underscore the dynamic interplay between daily need experiences and adolescent sleep.
A Bayesian Rate Ratio Effect Size to Quantify Intervention Effects for Count Data in Single Case Experimental Research
Authors: Natesan Batley Prathiba , Shukla Mehta Smita , Hitchcock John H.
Published: June 2020

Single case experimental design (SCED) is an indispensable methodology when evaluating intervention efficacy. Despite long-standing success with using visual analyses to evaluate SCED data, this method has limited utility for conducting meta-analyses. This is critical because meta-analyses should drive practice and policy in behavioral disorders more than evidence derived from individual SCEDs. Even when analyzing data from individual studies, there is merit to using multiple analytic methods since statistical analyses in SCED can be challenging given small sample sizes and autocorrelated data. These complexities are exacerbated when using count data, which are common in SCEDs. Bayesian methods can be used to develop new statistical procedures that may address these challenges. The purpose of the present study was to formulate a within-subject Bayesian rate ratio effect size (BRR) for autocorrelated count data that would obviate the need for small sample corrections. This effect size is the first step toward building a between-subject rate ratio that can be used for meta-analyses. We illustrate this within-subject effect size using real data for an ABAB design and provide codes for practitioners who may want to compute BRR.
Thoracic endovascular aortic repair for an ascending aortic pseudoaneurysm
Authors: Takago Shintaro , Kato Hiroki , Yamamoto Yoshitaka , Iino Kenji , Kimura Keiichi , Takemura Hirofumi
Published: June 2020

An 80-year-old woman underwent aortic valve replacement and ascending aortic replacement. Two years later, computed tomography revealed a pseudoaneurysm of the ascending aorta replaced with a prosthesis. The pseudoaneurysm arose from the stump of a side branch of the prosthesis. Endovascular treatment for the pseudoaneurysm was carried out using the aortic extension cuff of an infrarenal endovascular system. The postoperative course was uneventful.
Frequency of risk factors in patients of acute coronary syndrome due to coronary ectasia
Authors: Dastgir Noor , Masood Arslan , Muqeet Ahmed , Khan Niazi Gul Zaman
Published: June 2020

Background

Coronary artery ectasia is a relatively common entity characterized by inappropriate dilatation of the coronary vasculature. In some cases of acute coronary syndrome without obstructive coronary lesions, coronary ectasia is the sole cause. The exact mechanism of its development is unknown but evidence suggests a combination of genetic predisposition, common risk factors for coronary artery disease, and abnormal vessel wall metabolism. As there are few data regarding the pattern of coronary risk factors in patients with coronary ectasia, the objective of the study was to determine the frequency and distribution of coronary risk factors in patients with acute coronary syndrome solely due to coronary ectasia.

Methods

The study included 155 patients over a period of 6 months, with coronary angiographic evidence of coronary ectasia as the sole cause of acute coronary syndrome. There were 79 (51%) men and 76 (49%) women with a mean age 51.92 ± 7.83 years; 73 (47.10%) were aged 20–50 years and 82 (52.90%) were 51–80 years of age. The frequencies of coronary risk factors were stratified according to sex and the two age groups.

Results

Seventy-one patients (45.80%) had diabetes mellitus, 83 (53.54%) had hypertension, 55 (35.48%) were smokers, 46 (29.68%) had dyslipidemia, and 47 (30.3%) were obese.

Conclusion

Hypertension is the leading coronary risk factors in patients with acute coronary syndrome solely due to coronary ectasia, followed by diabetes mellitus and smoking.
Corridor technique for coronary arteries from a single arterial sinus
Authors: Agematsu Kota , Nagashima Mitsugi , Nishimura Yoshiharu , Higaki Takashi
Published: June 2020

The introduction of the arterial switch operation has improved the surgical outcome of transposition of the great arteries. However, coronary anomalies such as intramural coronary arteries, single coronary artery, or coronary arteries originating from a single arterial sinus have been reported as independent risk factors for early mortality and late morbidity after an arterial switch operation. We performed an arterial switch operation using a unique technique for translocation of the coronary arteries originating from a single left-side arterial sinus, to prevent coronary artery distortion and subsequent coronary malperfusion.